De La Vida by Santa Maria College

De La Vida

MAY 2012 EDITION 14

In this

Edition

Feature Article

College News

18 Community News

20 Old Girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Association

24 Archives

Amor Discendi

Contributors A warm thanks to those who helped put this magazine together. Ian Elder

Gemma Morris

Julie Schubert

Karen Bickerton

Latha Plandran Snare

Claire Newton

Linda Bulloch

Bee Choo

Amanda Huxtable

De La Vida

Carol Bell

Jacinta Speering

Danielle Cattalini

Tracy Webster

Marianne Foster

Terri Rustand

Andrea Dopson

Kirstie Cribb

Patricia McLaughlin

Anthony Phillips

Sian Angel

Roberta Cowan

Chrissie Yeates

Amber Stieber

Sam Rees

Jennifer Jansen

Gateway Printing

Rod Gaynor

Paul Morris

Zipform Distribution

Published biannually: Term 1 and Term 3 Please direct all correspondence to: De La Vida Santa Maria College Locked Bag 1, Melville, WA 6156 Telephone: +61 8 6330 0200 Facsimile: +61 8 9317 2838 Editor: Kimberly Maslin Email: delavida@santamaria.wa.edu.au

At College Assemblies, parent evenings, Awards Nights and in my newsletters I refer to the four pillars on which our school is built ie Faith, Academia, Sport and Culture. It is the successes we enjoy in not one, but all of these pillars that makes Santa Maria College an effective and outstanding school. The challenge for all students is to use their God-given talents to fulfil their potential and in doing so, be of service to others. The model of Jesus as a servant-leader is constantly promoted and our Senior student leaders continue to set high standards for those who will follow them. It has always been my vision to give students true leadership roles so they become more than a leader with a badge. They become an integral and essential part of the College structure. When interviewing families who apply to attend Santa Maria College, I ask two things of all the girls: 1. That academically, they strive to do their best and reach their potential. 2. That they embrace the Co-curricular Program on offer and become involved in their College. We believe there is something for every girl in the vast range of co-curricular activities that are offered. In saying this I need to acknowledge the staff who generously give their time to this program. Within this edition of De La Vida are many examples of extending what happens in the classroom by offering a broader holistic education that is a key to Santa Maria Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success. The focus on leadership, service, achievement, belonging and being part of a community as featured within De La Vida is wonderful reading. Best wishes and God Bless.

Ian Elder Principal

From the Editor There are several themes that have been carried across the different sections of this edition of the De La Vida. These themes reflect what it means to be part of Santa Maria College. Our feature story, Amor Discendi, or Love of Learning, explores some of the many Co-curricular Programs that are challenging and inspiring students from all Year groups. We see how students are not only able, but willing, to give up their non-class time to further their learning. Service, Integration and Leadership are the focus of our schools pages, whilst in the boarding pages we welcome our seven new Year 7 boarders. Our annual events, Hot Autumn Night and the College Production are reviewed, as are the different achievements of our current and past students. As always, if you have any comments or suggestions for the magazine, please feel free to email delavida@santamaria.wa.edu.au.

Kim M aslin Editor

De La Vida | May 2012

Principalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Message

This passion for learning is apparent across all Year groups and with programs available to cater for every interest, it is easy for students to explore their potential and extend their knowledge. In doing so, they are not only challenging themselves intellectually, they are also developing friendships with others who share similar interests. The skills learnt in these programs enhance their progress within class, as well as give the students greater experience in a particular industry. Come on a journey and see just what these girls are engaging in, and what is facilitating their love for learning…

Writing Club Heads are bent over paper, pens are scratching away furiously. There is barely a noise to be heard. It is hard to imagine that less than ten minutes ago, the room was full of eager chatter as members of the Writing Club enthusiastically discussed the observations they made from secretly studying various individuals going about their business around the College. With discussion time over, the girls are now completely immersed in creating a character profile on one of the people they observed. The skills learnt from this exercise will contribute to the girls understanding of short fiction writing, enabling them to successfully pen two stories of their own over the course of the year. At the front of the classroom sits English Teacher Mr Anthony Phillips, coordinator of the Writing Club, quietly giving feedback to a girl who has already begun her first short story. A published author himself, Anthony hopes the club will help the girls “improve and better their own writing and appreciate other authors techniques”. Already, this seems to be the case. Jessica Tobin (Year 12, de la Hoyde) explains her thoughts on the new club. “It’s really fun to talk about our different writing styles and talents in a comfortable environment. It’s great to be able to work with these girls and feed off each other’s enthusiasm”.

De La Vida | May 2012

The bell rings out, signaling the end of another school day. This is a time when students ought to be joining the stampede to their lockers, packing up their bags and heading down to the Figure Eight to meet their parents. However, this is not the case for a growing number of girls. Instead, they can be found in classrooms scattered across the College, eating afternoon tea and talking amongst themselves as they wait for their teacher to arrive and begin the Academic Co-curricular Program they have signed up for.

Maths Enrichment Program Imagine being faced with a mathematical question so challenging it would take you over one hour to complete, and require every method of problem solving you have been exposed to and then some. It may seem a daunting challenge, yet it is one that a group of girls from Years 7 to 10 are embarking on. Maths enthusiast, Paige Spence (Year 9, O’Reilly) explains what she enjoys most about the program. “I have always enjoyed Maths by itself so really I like every part of the Maths Enrichment Program, but the best thing is the group work. It’s really great to work with some of my close friends to come up with answers to some really tough questions. The feeling of achievement is momentous!” The Maths Enrichment Program is a national one offering students a unique opportunity to learn advanced mathematical concepts from the curriculum of higher Year groups, or that are not in the curriculum at all. There are between twelve and sixteen problems the students are to complete over the course of the year. These answers are then sent away, where they are assessed and certificates are awarded accordingly. “The focus is on the process, not the answer”, explains Maths Teacher Dr Chrissie Yeates, coordinator of the program. “It is a chance for the girls to extend their knowledge and really get involved in very sophisticated problem solving, while working with other enthusiastic students”. In addition to this, Santa Maria College is looking to engage the Maths Enrichment Program participants in the Engineering in Schools Project, which aims to promote engineering as a potential career path for young women.

Japanese Cultural Club Sakura Sakura, noyama mo sato mo, miwatasu kagiri, kasumi ka kumoka, asahi ni nio, sakura, sakura hanazakari Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms, across the Spring sky, as far as you can see, is it mist or clouds. Fragrant in the air. Come now, come. Let’s look at last. Slowly, the beautiful pink form of the Sakura is blossoming from the hands of the Japanese Cultural Club members. “Sakura is the national flower of Japan”, explains Japanese Teacher and club coordinator, Mrs Bee Choo. “During Spring time, sakura is in its full bloom and Japanese people like to have a picnic under the tree”. Like the flower making for the Flower Viewing Festival, the activities of each meeting are based around one of the many Japanese festivals that occur throughout the year. With the help of Japanese Teaching Assistant, Ms Yuki Mitsumori, the twenty-five members across Years 7 to 12 have created origami, cooked traditional Japanese food and created Japanese fans. “I enjoy how every time we have Japanese Cultural Club it is different and is always interesting”, explains Imogen Kyros (Year 9, de la Hoyde). “Through learning the culture I also learn more about the language itself and it gives what I learn more meaning in class. If you don’t know the culture, how are you suppose to know the language?”

“I enjoy seeing people learn and enjoy working with technology”. With this outlook, Merryl Sequeira (Year 12, Dillon) has been elected as the first Media Captain at Santa Maria College. A significant part of this role is organising and coordinating the Media Team. The Media Team is a new initiative for 2012, and one that promises to further promote, encourage and integrate the use of technology throughout the school. Members of the group can be found across the College, taking photographs of important events, creating presentations for Assemblies and controlling these presentations from the Bio Box in McDonald Building. With the group constantly evolving, there is scope for almost any area of media to be explored. With this experience, members are given a taste of various career options in the growing industry of Information, Communications and Technology. They are also provided with the chance to work with different Year groups and improve their skills and knowledge for media classes. Director of Learning Technologies and coordinator of the Media Team, Mr Rod Gaynor, is optimistic of the group’s future, “I hope it ends up being responsible for the student face at the College, in whatever form that is”.

Mock Trials For most of us, the closest we will get to a dramatic courtroom scene is watching one unfold on television. Yet for the members of Mock Trials, entering the Supreme Court and taking on the role of a barrister, witness, Court Orderly or Judge’s associate occurs several times a year, and is the source of much planning and enjoyment. The students involved across Years 10 to 12 are divided into teams and meet once a week to discuss the case material and prepare for the trial, which is acted out against other schools. In joining Mock Trials, the girls are given the opportunity to further their knowledge of Australian law. “Girls join Mock Trials for the experience and challenge of taking part in a trial”, explains Society and Environment teacher and co-coordinator of Mock Trials, Mrs Gemma Morris. Further to this, the girls are able to engage with others who share the same interests. Danielle Norman (Year 12, Frayne) elaborates. “I enjoy meeting new people who share a similar passion for the justice system. I enjoy the competition side of things, competing against other schools, and taking on different roles and acting them out. It’s really fun, which makes it easy to enjoy”.

Over an hour after the bell first rang out to signal the end of the school day, the last of the girls descend the stairs to the Figure Eight to join their parents waiting in their cars. What they have gained in the past hour has been rewarding, challenging and inspiring. Their friendships are stronger, their knowledge is deeper and their love for learning growing.

De La Vida | May 2012

Media Group

Junior School

Service

With Service being the College value of 2012, it is fitting the Junior School girls have been hard at work in a variety of Service Programs aimed at helping those less fortunate. Students in Years 5 and 6 have been using beads, herbs and dolls to successfully raise money for charity and at the same time, raise awareness of various social issues.

Mini Vinnies is an extension of the Service Program Young Vinnies, which runs throughout the year in the Middle and Senior Schools. The focus of Mini Vinnies this term has been the creation of Easter bracelets, which symbolise the Easter story. Over several afternoons, the girls carefully beaded their bracelets and created delicate gift cards outlining the Easter story and significance of each coloured bead. The money raised from these bracelets will go towards a charity yet to be determined. “I enjoy the feeling you have when someone in the world is happy because you made a difference”, explains Eloise Kon-Yu, when asked why she chose to join Mini Vinnies. In conjunction with the Easter bracelets, the girls have also been gathering chocolate Easter eggs, for the Junior School Easter raffle. Money raised from this will also go to charity.

Uthando Doll In the room next door, the girls have been spending their Wednesday afternoons busily cutting, stuffing and sewing dolls as part of the Uthando Doll Project. Under the guidance of Year 11 students Alyssa Balharrie (O’Donnell) and Natasha Mulia (Kelly), the Junior School girls create, dress and name their dolls before sending them to disadvantaged children in South Africa. The dolls will help these children in various ways such as “giving them a friend to tell stories to and share their feelings with”, as Year 5 student Jacinta Appleton explained. Year 6 student Isabel Preston elaborates. “My doll will help others by giving the children love and someone to talk to during the day. It will help the children develop their pretend play. The dolls will also make the children happy and laugh as well as give them comfort if they are sad”. The Uthando Doll Project is in its second year at Santa Maria College and provides the younger girls with an opportunity to employ their creative abilities for a good cause.

Junior Sprouts The Junior School students do not limit themselves to just helping people. There is also a growing enthusiasm to help the environment. This is what the girls of the Junior Sprouts Service Program have been dedicating their time to since 2009. “Junior Sprouts helps the environment by growing new plants and teaching kids about looking after the environment”, explains Natasha Stevens (Year 5). In Term 1 alone, the students have established a vegetable garden, set up a worm farm and grown potted herbs. Each week, the urine collected from the worms is sold at the Junior School Assembly, providing purchasers with a great fertilizer. The money raised from this and the potted herbs will go towards a charity of the girls choosing. As the girls enter Term 2 they are looking forward to their involvement in an environmental photography competition, creating recycled jewellery and continuing with the maintenance of their worms and garden.

7 9

De La Vida | May 2012

Mini Vinnies

“

We put a smile on the face of others. We help people who aren’t as lucky as us.

Eloise Kon-Yu (Year 6)

”

Image Left: Mini Vinnie, Eloise KonYu with her Easter bracelet.

Image Below: (L-R) Nicki Xanthis (Year 5) and Jessica Toomath (Year 5) working on their Uthando Dolls.

v Image Right: Year 7 O’Reilly girls at Orientation Day (L-R) Olivia Naven, Jasmine Catton, Jacqueline Tan. Image Below: Year 9 O’Donnell girls participating in the ‘I Rock’ body mapping activity (L-R) Monique Sader, Maria-Jose Soto.

Middle School

Integration Starting a new school year can be a daunting experience with new teachers, new classrooms and new peers. This is why several transition programs are implemented across the Middle School throughout Term 1.

“

It really helped some of the girls share what they had inside of them.

Hannah Benaquista (Year 9, Corbett)

”

De La Vida | May 2012

If one were to have walked through the Middle School on Year 7 Orientation day, they would have noticed blue string draped over tables and chairs in the Kelly Homeroom, with girls strategically navigating themselves through the maze. They would have observed the O’Reilly Homeroom cutting out flowers with their names on them, to display on their Homeroom window. They would have been transfixed by the Year 11 Peer Support Leaders in the Byrne Homeroom leaping into each others arms to demonstrate the bonding game ‘Indians and Cowboys’ in which the girls were about to participate. It was in this engaging and interactive way the Year 7s spent their first two days in Middle School. “Our Orientation days were good because not everyone knew each other and the activities helped us learn things about each other, which will make being in Year 7 more enjoyable”, explains Olivia Daniels (Year 7, Dillon). Year 7 Camp, held in Week 5 further strengthened these friendships, as Pia Piggott (Year 7, Byrne) found. “We built strong relationships with people in our House group and the dorms and tents were fun because we met new people”. The new Year 8 students were welcomed to the College in a similar fashion. The Year 8 Buddy System has paired each new student with someone who attended the College in 2011. This provides new students with a friendly face to turn to whilst they settle in. Together, they attended the Year 8 Integration Afternoon on Friday 3 February.

With circuit activities and an ‘Amazing Race’ style competition, the girls were kept busy working together in small groups. “The afternoon provided the girls with a great opportunity to begin forming strong relations with fellow peers and Homeroom teachers”, reflected Head of Year 8, Miss Amber Stieber. Getting to know one another is only part of the integration process into Middle School. The Middle School Alternative Learning Day, held on Friday 10 February, was aimed at providing Middle School students with the opportunity to challenge and explore their own identities. “It was the culmination of different activities, which meant the students were challenged as individuals and experienced thought-provoking experiences by working as a team”, summarised Head of Year 9, Ms Jennifer Jansen. Whether it was rock climbing, goal setting or body mapping, students discovered when they push the limits the opportunities to succeed are endless. As Head of Year 7, Mrs Sian Angel explained, “The girls in Year 7 can now apply their experiences from rock climbing to Year 7 on the whole. Although it may be scary and challenging at times, it can also be a lot of fun and highly rewarding”. Whilst Year 7 students were rock climbing, Year 8 students were rotating through a series of sessions educating them on learning styles and goal setting. “I really enjoyed the Alternative Learning Day”, says Abbey Agostino (Year 8, Byrne). “My favourite part was the speech

about setting goals because it was really inspirational and has helped me heaps so far this year”. A performance by the Big HOO-HAA! foreshadowed the challenge of improvisation the girls will face in Drama classes later this year. The ‘I Rock!’ body mapping activity Year 9 students participated in provided them with the chance to explore their own identities by delving beyond the physical to piece together the facets of their lives that merge to make them who they are. “We really enjoyed the activity ‘I Rock’ body mapping as it allowed us to let our creative sides shine”, explains Hannah Benaquista (Year 9, Corbett), “We all had a fun day and I think it really helped some of the girls share what they had inside of them”. However it was the successful launching of the Strive9 Program that was the highlight of the day, introducing all Year 9 students to the important work they will be carrying out this year. “We found it helpful when the previous Year 9 girls came in and talked to us about their Strive9 projects, because it gave us an insight into what we are doing and made us start thinking about what we would do”, explained Ella Brindley (Year 9, Dillon). Although the transition to Middle School and the journey of self-discovery are ongoing themes throughout the year, the programs carried out during Term 1 have gone a long way to ensuring the smooth and successful integration for all students.

Senior School

Leadership When we look for leadership in the Senior School, we see the Year 10 to 12 Student Representative Councillors working alongside the Year 12 Student Leadership Councillors to ensure the smooth running of various events, assemblies and carnivals. However, we also see many other girls displaying great leadership qualities, such as the Year 11 Peer Support Leaders, Squad Sport Captains and Presidents of Service Programs. As de la Hoyde House Captain, Rachel Webb (Year 12) summarised, “Being a student leader is a great privilege; however, all of the girls are wonderful leaders in their own ways”.

“

”

Passion. Without passion there is no drive or incentive to make changes. Caroline Warr, Head Girl (Year 12, Kelly)

will all remember”, reflects Rachel Webb.

It is likely Corbett House Captain, Isabella Mosole (Year 12), speaks on behalf of all the elected Senior School Leaders when she says, “Being elected was a great achievement for me, in fact, a dream come true! I have always looked up to those in leadership positions and aspired to have the qualities they role modeled”. The first Senior School Combined Leaders Meeting, held on Monday 20 February, gave the girls a chance to get to know leaders from other Year groups, as well as share and brainstorm ideas for the upcoming events in which they will be involved. These have included the Interhouse Swimming and Cross Country Carnivals for the Year 10 and 11 House SRCs, whilst for the Year SRCs it has been upcoming events such as the Year 10 Pasta Night and Year 11 Dinner Dance. “I feel the Year 10 SRC are very enthusiastic about helping Mr Morris and Mrs Bell, and all our Homeroom Teachers with important jobs about the school”, explains SRC Alexandra Morgan (Year 10, O’Donnell). “We all love to contribute our ideas and opinions to make a decision and also to make an event enjoyable. I feel that the Year 10 SRC are very committed to our school and the Mercy values”. Meanwhile, the Year 12 SRC and SLC have been meeting every second Friday to coordinate plans for some of the other annual events, such as Girls for Girls Education and Purple Bra Day. “Leadership is a very good quality to have and to be able to get the opportunity in a school environment with the help and guidance of the teachers is something we

Two students from every Year group are selected as captains for each of the Squad Sports at Santa Maria College. Two Year 12s are then selected as overall leaders. These girls are chosen based upon their commitment, attitude and performance, and this allows them to display leadership in an area about which they are passionate. The Captains assist with the various jobs at training and carnivals as well as represent their team at presentation ceremonies. The Senior School Captains provide further leadership to the whole squad, supporting the younger team members and assisting in the organisation of carnivals. “They displayed great leadership in their roles by motivating their peers and setting an example as a true team player”, says Swimming Squad Captain, Stephanie Sumich (Year 12, O’Reilly) of all the Sqad Captains.

Leadership isn’t about being the best, it’s about being part of the team – Emma Pontre, SRC (Year 11, Dillon).

I believe that good leadership is about active service – Adriana Costanzo, Cultural Captain (Year 12, Frayne) It takes courage to decide change needs to occur, and even more so to go about making those changes. In recognition of her ongoing commitment to helping others, Zoe Botica (Year 11, O’Reilly) has been elected as President of Young Mercies for 2012. Zoe is one of several Senior School girls who have been selected to coordinate a Service Program. Passionate about making a difference and leading others to do the same, Zoe hopes to be a good leader by “being a mentor to draw girls who have a passion about Service like I do together to create a

strong community”. By arranging regular meetings, establishing a Wiki page where members can share information, and being heavily involved in the service activities the Young Mercies do, Zoe is going a long way to prove that by engaging in active service, one can bring about positive change. Always acting appropriately and having enthusiastic views on learning to inspire the girls to strive for excellence – Claudia Kirby, Peer Support Leader (Year 11, de la Hoyde). Each year, a group of Year 11 students are selected to be Peer Support Leaders. Their role is to assist the Junior School and Middle School students. This year, they attended the Year 7 Orientation Day, where they conducted a number of fun activities that gave the younger girls a chance to get to know one another. They have since been matched with one student from one of the younger Schools, with whom they have developed a close bond that allows for encouragement and guidance. Meeting with their partner every second Tuesday and Thursday in the Plaza, the Peer Support Leaders assist with homework, revision, organisation or Macbook skills. Monique Ziegelaar (Year 11, Kelly) explains how it feels to be a Peer Support Leader to the younger girls. “You are not just their tutor, but their friend also. Peer Support Leaders display good leadership through leading by example, being inclusive and friendly towards everyone and encouraging the younger girls to do the same”.

Image Left: Senior School Leaders at the Combined Senior School Leaders Meeting. Image Below: Year 10 SRC at their Year meeting with Head of Year 10, Mr Paul Morris.

De La Vida | May 2012

Being a leader with confidence and enthusiasm is very important as it inspires confidence in others and motivates them to reach excellence – Elizabeth Stanley, Liturgy Captain (Year 12, Dillon).

Boarding

Seven Year 7s

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

The best thing that helped me settle in was the House Mothers and all the other girls in Boarding. Pippa Johns (Year 7, Kelly)

â&#x20AC;?

Mikayla Hogg Hometown: Williams Interests: Drawing, watching movies and shopping Best thing about Boarding: Doing all the different activities on the weekends and having so many great friends around you all the time.

Sarah Dennis Jordan Evans Hometown: Nhulunbuy Interests: Art and crafts Best thing about Boarding: Making friendships with boarders and day girls alike.

Hometown: Miling Interests: Dancing, reading and gardening Best thing about Boarding: The girls. Everyone is so nice, helpful and considerate.

and homework. Each of the girls have been paired with a Year 12 buddy. These buddies have gone out of their way to make sure the Year 7 students are settled and happy, by making them welcome cards, cooking them breakfast and playing games with them. With caring Housemothers, friendly older boarders and a whole range of co-curricular activities to get involved in, the girls have quickly come to love boarding life. ‘When I first came to Santa Maria College I was really nervous, but now I am very comfortable and have made lots of new friends’, explains Pippa Johns (Year 7, de la Hoyde). Mikayla Hogg (Year 7, Kelly) felt similarly, ‘When I first came to Santa Maria College I felt quite nervous because it was so different from my last school, but now I have been here for a while so it¹s not that scary and it feels like I have been here for a very long time’. With Year 7 soon to become part of Secondary School, no doubt the number of Year 7 boarders will rise, and it is fortunate the Boarding Community already has in place such welcoming programs. Let’s now meet these new additions.

Organised games and activities with children from other schools are part of the recreation calendar so the girls have the opportunity to meet up with friends from home and other students who are the same age. There have been extra tutors brought in to assist the Year 7s in organising their study and to help the girls complete assignments

Hannah Laing Hometown: Newman Interests: Art, sport and keeping active Best thing about Boarding: Being able to make lifelong friends that you will have forever.

De La Vida | May 2012

Boarding at Santa Maria College is growing younger. This year, seven Year 7s have been welcomed into the Boarding community, three more than last year, and four more than the year before. Despite coming from very different backgrounds all of the girls have settled into boarding life extremely well, much to the delight of Head of Boarding, Ms Linda Bulloch. ‘There was an expectation the girls would be different because of their age, but they are not. They are amazingly independent. However, we have not forgotten that they are still young girls’, says Linda. In keeping with this, a range of activities occurred throughout Term 1 to ensure that the girls settled in and also had fun.

Chelsea O’Leary

Olivia Clifford Hometown: Dongara Interests: Volleyball, piano and karate Best thing about Boarding: You get to meet a lot of people.

Pippa Johns Hometown: Moolyella Interests: Reading, painting and playing with my dog at home Best thing about Boarding: Hanging out with the friends I’ve made 24/7.

Hometown: Karratha Interests: Dancing, baking and having fun with friends Best thing about Boarding: Experiencing new things and making new friends.

School News

College Production

Stories from suburban road ‘I walked by myself down the old white road, the road where we’ve often strolled’. It looks a little bit different today, but it’s still there, just use your imagination and look through the eyes of a child. Nine weeks of rehearsals. Twelve Year 12 Drama students, six male actors and technicians from Years 11 and 12. The stage had been transformed and the audience was being transported back in time. Stories from Suburban Road brought to life the stories of T A G Hungerford, a young boy growing up in South Perth between the wars. “Stories from Suburban Road is very different to anything we’ve ever done at Santa Maria College”, explains Drama Teacher and Production Director, Miss Amanda Huxtable. “The cast embraced the style of the play and really threw themselves into the process”. Rather than employing a conventional dramatic structure, Stories from Suburban Road took the audience on a journey through snapshots of young Tom’s life. Milking cows, sneaking into the Zoo and visiting a large goanna are just some of the activities Tom experienced in his transition from childhood to adulthood. “My favourite part of the production was discovering who Tom is, where he comes from and putting myself in his shoes to experience what he experienced”, reflected Performing Arts Captain, Brittany Sims (Year 12, de la Hoyde). “I am very proud with how it all came together, and how such a small group could create something so amazing. Miss Huxtable has such a unique way of directing, which has resulted in a fantastic production”. Stories from Suburban Road was performed from Wednesday 28 March to Saturday 31 March in the Santa Maria College Theatre.

De La Vida | May 2012

School News

Student News Year 8 Picture Books Throughout Term 4 of 2011, Mrs Sian Angel’s Year 8 English class spent time in class, during lunchtime and at home creating innovative picture books and flash cards. These were then delivered to a remote school in Bali by Sian during the Christmas holidays, where she also spent half the day teaching. The aim of the books and flashcards were to assist in the Balinese children’s development of the English language. “The students were so committed”, says Sian, “they really feel like they contributed in some way”. Maddison Moulin (Year 9, O’Donnell) outlines the book her group created and how it felt to be helping other children. “Our book was a nursery rhyme book that involved pictures of what we were writing, so the Bali kids could have a visual if they didn’t know much English. It was really fun to be drawing and doing a fun activity we knew would please others. I think our books will help the children in Bali learn to read English. They will also learn a bit about Australia, and the types of things we learnt as children”.

De La Vida | May 2012

Rebecca Simons (Year 11, Corbett) At the end of 2011, Rebecca Simons successfully completed a three-stage selection process to be announced as a Student Representative for the 2012 Premier’s ANZAC Student Tour. Of the 320 students to enter this competition, Rebecca was one of just ten to be selected. In November 2011, Rebecca attended the Remembrance Day ceremony at Kings Park, where she met Western Australian Premier, Colin Barnett. In April she will embark on a ten day tour of Malaysia, which will commemorate the seventieth anniversary of the fall of Singapore and Borneo in World War II. Of her achievement, Rebecca says, “I feel privileged to be able to represent my school, my state and my country. I am very excited about being able to discover more about Australia’s war history in Malaysia.”

Ashlee Collova (Year 11, Kelly) In April 2011, Ashlee Collova developed a website based on an idea she had been harboring for some months. With the goal of promoting young talent, Ashlee’s website Kid Star Interviews gives a voice to young rising stars through interviews and videos. In her own time, Ashlee designed and now maintains her website and hopes it will continue to grow as word spreads. “Working on Kid Star Interviews is lots of fun. It has given me the opportunity to explore the industry in different ways and meet great people, as well as helping me work my way up through the industry as a talent manager” explains Ashlee. We wish Ashlee all the best with the continued success of her website.

Jessica Darmago (Year 11, Corbett) In July 2011, Jessica Darmago competed as a member of the Western Australia State Team in the FFA National Youth Championship in New South Wales. This national tournament for football, or soccer as it is known in Australia, sees young teams from all states compete against one another in order to gain the National Champions title. Whilst there, Jessica was chosen by national selectors to play in the All Star Team, which competed against the winning team of the competition. Football is a passion of Jessica’s, and she has played in the Senior team at Santa Maria College since Year 8. Through determination and perseverance, Jessica hopes to one day play for the Australian National Team in the World Cup.

De La Vida | May 2012

College Community

Hot Autumn Night The night air of Saturday 17 March was filled with the sounds of ABBA, Queen, Gotye and more, as over 2,300 members of the College Community came together for our annual family music concert, Hot Autumn Night. A Saint Patrick’s Day theme ran across all aspects of the event, as guests enjoyed performances by the Years 5 to 12 Choirs, various College musical groups including the Year 10 Class Band ‘The White Shadows’, followed by Todd Johnston and Peace Love & All That Stuff. The night could not have happened without the hard work and dedication of many fantastic volunteers. A big thank you goes out to the Parent Council and in particular the Hot Autumn Night Working Group, for all their time and energy. Thank you also to the parent volunteers who gave up their time on the night. To our sponsors and local businesses who donated gifts for the raffles, thank you for your generosity. Please see a list of our sponsors on the back cover of this edition.

From the Old Girls’ Association President As Santa Maria College will celebrate its 75th year in 2013, the Old Girls’ Association is discussing ways in which we can mark this important milestone. It is difficult for a lot of us “oldies” to believe how fast time goes by and for many, it feels like it was only yesterday we were running (and getting into trouble) in the corridors of the College. So, 2013 will be a year of reflection, celebration and looking to the future – for the College, Old Girls’ Association and for students past and present. Friendships formed during your school years become some of the strongest in your life. The Santa Maria College Old Girls’ Association aims to be a connection between past students and the College and enable people to come together and celebrate their history and future. The Association provides a network for past students and is continually looking at ways to assist in this goal. For the past few months, the Committee has been developing a strategic plan that aims to guide the Association over the next five years. One of the objectives of the strategic plan is to improve our database in order to expand our contact list and enable us to connect with more past students. The Association recently employed Charmaine Versluis (Priest, 1977) as an Administration Officer to assist with this important task and we welcome Charmaine to this position. The Santa Maria College Old Girls’ Association is open to all girls who attended the College for at least one year and are over the age of seventeen. A number of reunions, networking and other events and activities are held each year and we welcome members input, opinions and ideas. For further information on the Association or to give your ideas or suggestions, please contact the College.

Danielle Cattalini OGA President

Win a $150 voucher for The Leftbank! Despite being called the ‘Old Girls’ Association’, we do understand new technology. Gone are the days of the abacus and the blackboard. Even the fax machine is becoming redundant. Keeping in touch is becoming less about sending telegrams and more about instant communications that can be accessed anytime, anywhere. And then Facebook was born… Did you know that the OGA has a Facebook page? What an excellent way to keep in touch with the College without being bombarded with letters or emails. You may like to see what events are coming up, keep an ear out for your reunion celebrations, be offered the chance to volunteer your time, hear about achievements of current and past students or simply reminisce about the good ol’ days. Whatever the reason, we’d love you to join our page! To kick-start the page this year, we are running a competition to win a $150 voucher to spend at The Leftbank in East Fremantle. Just be one of the first 500 people to ‘like’ our page and you will be automatically entered into the random draw. How easy is that?

Find us on Facebook: ‘Santa Maria College Old Girls’ Association’.

Vale

Carli Rustand (2005) Carli Rustand commenced as a Year 8 student at Santa Maria College in 2001. Her mother Terri, had been the College Nurse for several years before she started as a student and for a year after she graduated in 2005. Carli made many friends at the College who she remained close to after school. While at school, she represented Santa Maria College for many years in netball and played in the flute choir, but her passion was drama. In Year 12 she landed a leading role in the College Production of Anything Goes where she played a convincing role as an old, aristocratic lady. Carli achieved Colours for Drama in Year 12. Carli was also Vice Captain of O’Reilly House in Year 12. After graduation, Carli enrolled in a Drama Teaching degree at Edith Cowan University. After two years, she realized the course was not for her and she transferred to Curtin University, where she recently graduated with a degree in Commerce. Carli landed her ‘dream job’ at Hays Recruitment as a consultant, specializing in mining placements five months ago and she felt as though she had really found her niche. She was well respected and loved her new job and the people she worked with. Tragically, her life was cut short just a week after her graduation and two days after her 24th birthday on 4 March 2012 as a result of a motorbike accident. Cali was always a beautiful, happy and positive person and was loved by all. Her mother Terri, father Alan and brothers Tim and Grant will always find life hard to live without her.

Margo Wearing (Scott, 1941) and Peggy Douglas (Anderton, 1943) The College Community extends condolences to the families of Margo Wearing and Peggy Douglas, two of our Golden Girls who passed away in 2011. Lifelong friend Patricia McLaughlin (Rodoreda, 1942) remembers both fondly. “Margo’s Christmas card would be the first one I would receive every year. I missed receiving that card this year, and I miss Margo terribly”. Peggy’s family celebrated her memory by scattering her ashes at the North Cottesloe groin.

Weddings Randell Hill (2004) On March 26 2011, Randell Hill was married to Mathew Yeomans in a beautiful ceremony attended by 140 family and friends at the Santa Maria College Chapel. Previous students Brianne Hill (2007) and Amy Panizza (2004) along with current student, Claudia Hill (Year 11) formed the bridal party. On choosing the Santa Maria College Chapel as the venue for their ceremony, Randell says, “It was a simple decision to have our wedding at Santa Maria College, as when I pictured being married in a church I could not imagine anywhere but the Santa Maria College Chapel.” Randell and Mathew are expecting their first child in July. Huge congratulations to you both!

Janine Newman (1994) On December 10 2011, Janine Newman was married to Troy Manning at the Santa Maria College Chapel. This was followed by a lovely reception at Incontro Restaurant in South Perth. Janine is also a former employee of the College, having worked as the inaugral Director of Community Relations and Development from 2004 to 2008. On choosing Santa Maria College as the venue for their ceremony, Janine says, “I chose Santa Maria College because I now live in Auckland with my husband and wanted to share with all our family and friends a place that is very special to me.” Janine and Troy are expecting their first child in September. Congratulations Janine, we wish you all the best!

De La Vida | May 2012

Old Girls’ Association

Old Girls’ Association Diana Rigg (1988) Having studied as a speech pathologist, Diana Rigg has spent the past two years working with the teachers at Rawa Community School, located 650 kilometres East of Port Hedland, with the aim of improving the literacy levels of their students. “When I first began, the majority of the schools’ seventy students were assessed as non-readers. Now the whole school is reading”, Diana explains. Diana describes her time spent working directly with the students as the most valuable part of the trip. Santa Maria College has enjoyed a close relationship with Rawa Community School since the introduction of the Punmu Immersion Program in 2007, and we wish Diana all the best in this challenging and rewarding work.

Ailsa Piper (1976) Head Girl of 1976, Ailsa Piper is celebrating the recent release of her first book, Sinning Across Spain. A novel that ‘celebrates the mysteries of faith, the possibilities for connection and the beautiful act of setting one foot down in front of the other’, Sinning Across Spain came about after Ailsa embarked on a journey on foot across Spain. Of its release Ailsa says, “I’m thrilled and excited that I have a book being published, particularly now when publishing is such a difficult game. I’ve always written – for the theatre, and for radio and some articles – but the book is a great gift”. We wish Ailsa all the success with the release of Sinning Across Spain.

De La Vida | May 2012

Kate Abercromby (2001) After leaving Santa Maria College, Kate completed an Advanced Diploma of Costume for Performance at WAAPA. Since then, she has worked on a number of theatre productions including The Boy from Oz, Phantom of the Opera and Cloudstreet, which has been the highlight of her career. Having also worked in television and film, Kate is currently in New South Wales working on a French-Australian film called The Grandmothers, starring Naomi Watts and Robin Wright. Of her career, Kate says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;there is something really exciting about being part of the team that creates what you see on the screen or stage. The connection you have with the cast, your designer and other crew members is truly specialâ&#x20AC;?. Kate will be working on a television adaption of Puberty Blues until June this year, and looks forward to what the rest of 2012 has to offer.

Jaclyn Pearson (1996) Big congratulations to former student Jaclyn Pearson for winning a Victoria Fellowship in November 2011. This award serves to acknowledge young researchers with leadership potential and to enhance their future careers. Jaclyn plans to travel to Europe to conduct further research and present at an international symposium. Jaclyn has studied how some types of Escherichia coli bacteria have evolved to cause diarrhoeal disease and kidney failure. Currently based in Victoria, Jaclyn hopes to eventually establish the same cutting edge biomedical imaging technology that is available in Europe, at the new Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity.