VOLUME XXXV Nº 12 31st August, 2018
FROM THE HEAD OF COLLEGE Congratulations to the First XI Football Team-ISA Division 1 Champions We are pleased to announce that on Saturday 25th August the St Spyridon College First XI’s defeated St Patricks College 3-2, in the ISA Football final. Winning the ISA Division 1 Football Trophy makes us all very proud. For our Year 12 boys this is a fitting finish to their outstanding sporting commitment to their College. Indeed, we congratulate all the boys, together with their coach Dane Ivanovic (HSC Class 2014), for their team loyalty, school spirit, skill and determination. We thank the parents of our students who model these attributes in their own conduct, and who have a deep appreciation for the ethos and «Έργο» of our College. We see this appreciation in the parents’ material and moral support for all our endeavours. We commend Mr F. Kaldis, Sports Coordinator Boys for his hard work and staunch commitment to building determination and excellence in our students’ character. For our students to reach this level of achievement, much thought, focus and sacrifice is required of our teachers. We are blessed that to have educators of their calibre across all fields of endeavour and expertise. It is interesting to consider that the final victory was secured by a school of 400 boys against one of 1400 boys showing that here at St Spyridon College, we do our best to stay true to the spirit of our ancestors, of «Αιἐν Αριστεὐειν».
Mrs E. Stefanou-Haag
K-12 NEWS DATES TO REMEMBER SEPTEMBER Father’s Day
2nd
Year 11 Preliminary Exams begin
3rd
Father’s Day Doxology/Breakfast - JS
4th
Maths Cup - JS
6th
Greek Orthodox Athletics Carnival – JS
10th
ISA Athletics Carnival
11th
Vaccinations Year 7
12th
Year 12 Farewell Assembly
20th
CONDOLENCES Our sincere condolences are extended to Previstera Patricia and Reverend Father Steven and their family on the passing of their beloved mother Valsamo Giaouris. May her memory be eternal. CONGRATULATIONS Congratulations to our Classical Greek and Modern Greek Teacher Mrs V. Alexandropoulou on the birth of her first grandson James.
May Christ bless both families with good health and long life. FAREWELL MANAGER
TO
OUR
CANTEEN
It is with sadness that we farewell Mrs Irene Paraskevas who, after 13 years of service in our School canteens, is leaving us to support her husband in his family business. Irene’s journey at St Spyridon College began as a parent. She is a strong supporter of our College, and has always been proactive in responding to our growing needs. On behalf of Mrs Katsogiannis and Mrs Synesios, all staff and students, I extend our thanks for her outstanding service to our School community over the years. Her deep understanding of our ethos, her embrace of initiatives such as multicultural menus, her catering for major events, including the AIS NSW School based Research Network, make her a hard act to follow. She leaves having won the love and respect of our teachers, parents and students. We hope to see her in our uniform shop, our Spring Fairs and school performances. We wish her and her family health, love and prosperity. Mrs E. Stefanou-Haag FATHER’S DAY BREAKFAST – SOLD OUT
Congratulations also to our Administration Assistant Mrs M. Diakanastasis on the birth of her grandson Luca, second son of Tanya Sideratos (HSC Class 1996).
The annual Father’s Day Breakfast organised by the P&F is once again a great success and it is a sell-out event - no further bookings will be accepted. Thank you for all who have purchased their tickets.
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JUNIOR SCHOOL REPORT On the 27th August, Year 1 commemorated the feast of St Phanourios. As part of our Orthodox Studies program, the children attended Church with their own φανουρόπιτα (phanouropita) that was prepared at home the previous day. They lined up and took their phanouropites to the front of the Church, where Mrs Gambierakis assisted in placing a candle in the middle of the phanouropita and placing on the table provided.
PARKING JUNIOR SCHOOL KINGSFORD – PLEASE RESPECT THE RULES Please Note: Repeated violation of the parking laws by some of our parents have reached a stage where we are now being threatened with legal action and negative publicity by our neighbours. They have been subjected to their driveways being blocked and entry/exit to their properties being constantly obstructed. Some of these people are old and blocking egress and exit to their driveways could cause serious problems in case of an emergency. Please remember that the residents, neighbours, have right of way at all times.
We pray to St Phanourios to help us find things that have been lost or to help us find a solution to a problem. As he often answers our prayers, the custom has been to bake a φανουρόπιτα to thank him. This is then shared with others. We thank the Year One parents for baking the phanouropites.
our
I humbly urge you to please use common courtesy when driving, parking and interacting with our neighbours. You can assist by departing the school vicinity as soon as possible so as to free up parking spaces for other parents. For the safety of our children, may I also request that your child is always within arm’s reach when you are walking them to and from your vehicle. PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE The Premier’s Reading Challenge finishes for all students on Friday 31st August. All forms need to be in to the Library by this date. Mrs Bartlett will be in on 3rd September to send the details to the Premier’s department. No late entries will be accepted. ST PHANOURIOS FEAST DAY 27th August 2018
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YEAR THREE VISIT LOCAL NURSING HOME On Friday 24th August, Year 3 students were invited to a Greek Culture morning at the Southern Cross Nursing Home. The children presented a recital of the story of Assumption of Panayia, chanted hymns and performed Greek dancing from the Islands. The residents from the nursing home were overjoyed to see our children perform. The performance brought tears of joy to the appreciative audience who reminisced about their youth as they clapped along to the Greek music. We thank Mrs Gambierakis, Mrs Georgakopoulos and Mr Amditis for accompanying the students and preparing them for this special presentation. A special thanks goes to Mrs Haskas for organising costumes and teaching the Greek Dances to the dance group. BOOK WEEK 2018 Each year, schools and libraries across Australia spend a week in August celebrating books. Since 1945, the Children’s Book Council of Australia has hosted Children’s Book Week to honour and celebrate the work of Australian authors and illustrators. There are a number of categories that nominated books are a part of, including: Early Childhood, Picture Book, Younger Reader, Older Reader, the Eve Pownall Award for Non-Fiction books and the Crichton Award for New Illustrators. During Library lessons this term students have been reading the short-listed books, have engaged in activities relating to the books and have even voted for the book they wish to win ‘Book of the Year’ in certain categories. Last week, students enjoyed celebrating BOOK WEEK. The theme for Book Week this year was Find Your Treasure. Students have been discussing how books can be considered as a ‘treasure’. During book week, students were asked to bring to school a book that they treasure. Students thoroughly enjoyed sharing their books with their peers. 4
Students from Kindergarten were lucky enough to share their favourite books with their Year 6 buddies, during a glorious buddy reading session on Monday 20th August. Infants also participated in a Find Your Treasure colouring-in competition. Winners will be announced in our next Newsletter. On Friday 24th August as a finale to Book Week all students from K-6 enjoyed an interactive and educational in-school performance called Treasure Hunt that explored the issues of sustainability and our relationship with the environment. It also celebrated the idea that books and reading can create understanding and bring people of different backgrounds together.
Mrs A. Karpouzos Librarian
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JUNIOR SCHOOL SPORTS PROGRAM
ASISSA ATHLETICS CARNIVAL
HALF DAY ATHLETICS TRAINING
On Thursday 23rd August, 58 St Spyridon students took park in the ASISSA Athletics Carnival at E.S. Marks. It was a superb day of Athletics with over 20 Independent Schools involved. Our students displayed great sportsmanship and were well behaved throughout the day. The top 3 students in each of the track and field events go through the CIS trials, and top 2 in the 800m events.
On Thursday 16th August we had an Athletics training day at Hensley Oval for all the students who were representing St Spyridon at the ASISSA Athletics Carnival. The Junior School had the morning session and the Senior School Squad had the afternoon session. Glen from Little Athletics led the warm up, the sprinting and long distance running groups on the track. Mr Volas, Mrs Bennet, Mrs Mantsis and I led the field events. It was a great opportunity for our students to train on the Oval before the big day.
Congratulations to the following students who will be representing ASISSA at the Athletics oval in the Olympic Park on the 13th September: Sarah Constantinidis – 11yrs Shot Put Necta Imisides – 8yrs 100m Ioanna Panayi – 11yrs Shot Put Sophia Paparsenos- 11yrs 800m Zakari Vukoman- 11yrs Shot Put 8 - ASIDE FUTSAL GALA DAY On Tuesday 28th August St Spyridon hosted an 8 Aside Futsal Gala Day at David Phillips Sports Complex, in Daceyville. 13 teams entered and we held a Girls and a Boys competition. It was a sensational day with social interaction, healthy competition and a lot of fun! 6
UPCOMING EVENTS FOR THIS TERM:
10th September: Greek Orthodox Athletics Carnival, Crest Oval Bass Hill 13th September: CIS Athletics, Athletics Track, Sydney Olympic Park
Mrs C. Diavatiotis Sports Coordinator Junior School
I would like to thank all the players, officials and supporters who were involved in making this day a success. Some great feedback from all the coaches and all were asking if this will be an annual event.
UNIFORM SHOP Orders by Email now available
The top four teams in the Girls Competition were St Spyridon College, All Saints Grammar, Moriah College and The International Grammar School.
Orders can now be made by Email through SpySchool:
All Saints comfortably beat Moriah in the Semi Final. St Spyridon played TIGS in the SemiFinal and went into extra time with no goals scored. After a nail biting game, they went into penalty shoot-out. Unfortunately we did not progress into the finals.
Please download the form from Parent portal through SpySchool. Complete the order form and email to: spyschool@stspyridon.nsw.edu.au
All orders will be collected from the Administration Office of the Junior School for Kindergarten to Year 6 or the Senior School for Years 7 – 12. Orders will be available on Thursdays only after recess. Please email orders by Tuesday 3.00pm at the latest for Thursday pickup. Orders placed after Tuesday 3.00pm, will NOT be available for pickup until the following Thursday.
The Boys teams who finished at the top of the ladder were St Spyridon College, Moriah College, Reddam House and The International Grammar School. St Spyridon beat Moriah in the Semi Final 2-0 sending them to the Grand Final against TIGS who beat Reddam House.
The Uniform Shop will be closed on 5th and 12th September, however Email orders will be available.
All Saints Grammar won the Grand Final in the Girls Competition and St Spyridon College in the Boys! Both very exciting games with some great football played!
Mr A. Dookie Acting Principal Junior School
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SENIOR SCHOOL REPORT CANTEEN For 13 years I have had the pleasure and joy of working in our Senior and Junior School canteens but the time has come for me to hang up my apron and put away my tongs. I would like to thank the Parish, Mrs Stefanou, Mrs Katsogiannis and all of the Staff for their ongoing support over the years and a special thank you to the teachers and students who have helped us to serve at recess and lunch during rush-hour. To my amazing volunteers and co-workers I am very grateful for the help, friendship and enthusiasm you have shown over the years, you have made this time together enjoyable and memorable.
At the beginning of the tournament we were seated in the positions where we were to play our first game. The rules were quite strict something we weren’t used to as this was St Spyridon College’s first team entered into a chess tournament. We each played seven matches and our goal was to get as many wins as a team in order to move on to the grand final. Overall, we ended up coming 4th and just missed out on making the grand final by half a point. However, individually we all placed in the top ten (out of 25-30 students) - a feat within itself! Although we lost, it was a great experience and an honor to be part of St Spyridon College’s first official chess team. We all look forward to training and improving our skills before next year’s tournament, and we encourage other students to get involved in the game!
A special thank you to Marie who was so kind to help out in addition to her normal duties, she assisted me with my bread deliveries and brought sunshine and laughter! My sincere gratitude and affection to her. To the wonderful students of our school, you bring fun and laughter everyday and you inspired me to experiment in the kitchen. I have enjoyed cooking for you all and I hope I encouraged you to try something new. I wish the students and staff all the very best. May God Bless. Paraskevas IIrene will miss you all! Canteen Supervisor CHESS TOURNAMENT On 21st of August, James Bletsas, Bosko Stosic, Christo Keramitzis, Jake Vassilis, Dr McPhee and I travelled to Woollahra Public School to compete in the Interschool Chess Tournament semi-finals. We arrived at the school at 8am and warmed up for the main event by helping set up chairs, tables and chess boards. We had been training for weeks and had prepared ourselves to be in the best possible mental state. Schools from all over New South Wales had travelled to get there for the tournament.
Gianni Keramitzis - Year 9
YEAR 9 FOOD TECHNOLOGY – OUR BIG KITCHEN This Term, Year 9 Food Technology have been studying the topic area of ‘Food Equity’. They are learning that both globally and locally, not all people have access to food and basic living conditions. Students have examined inequitable food distribution patterns, groups at risk of food inequity and circumstances that contribute to this unfortunate situation, as well as aid agencies and their role in providing relief. To support their learning process, students had the opportunity to visit Our Big Kitchen in Bondi, a voluntary industrial kitchen, to give back to those in need by preparing and cooking meals for distribution to various charities and shelters such as Women’s and Children’s refuges, Domestic Violence shelters, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Youth off the Streets and many more. In 2 ½ hours, the students prepared over 200 meals for distribution. This exercise by our students contributed to nourishing, empowering and supporting people in need.
Mrs V. Grillakis Team Leader TAS Creative Arts YEAR 10 PDHPE EXCURSION ROAD SAFETY FORUM On Tuesday 28th August, Year 10 accompanied by the PDHPE staff, attended a road safety day at Qudos Bank Arena, Homebush. The day was about teaching the many students across many different schools in NSW about the dangers of the road and how to be safe when driving. We got to witness a re-enactment of a fatal car accident and saw firsthand the work of the emergency services and everything that is involved with a serious car crash. This was very eye opening to see how one wrong decision could shape the rest of your life as in this case, one wrong move by the passenger left her dead. We were also introduced to people who had experienced a serious accident and had to live the rest of their life with brain disabilities or in a wheelchair. These speakers were very intense 9
however delivered the message of the fact that one irresponsible move can change your life. These people had spent upwards of a year in hospital and will never be able to live the life they once had again.
SCIENCE WEEK Recently the Science Team celebrated National Science Week. This year’s theme was Game Changers and Change Makers. Students from Years 7 – 11 prepared various experiences throughout the week involving showing the latest award winning science documentaries from Scinema. Various experiments and demonstration were conducted in class, including attempting to produce clouds in fish tanks.
During the lunch break, we had the opportunity to visit different stands and play wheelchair basketball. The day concluded with a speaker who really had an impact on everyone. This speaker was a mother who lost her son in a crash. She emotionally recalled the story of her boy and highlighted the message that one wrong move will not only ruin your own life but the lives of the loved ones around you.
The week concluded with Friday lunchtime celebration where the students were able to showcase various experiments to the rest of the school. We look forward to an even bigger celebration of Science next year.
I believe this day especially this final speaker will never be forgotten by anyone in attendance who has the option of an irresponsible decision in relation to vehicles.
Nicholas Drakoulis – Year 10
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Mr J. Croft Curriculum Leader Science Mrs A. Katsogiannis Principal Senior School Deputy Head of College 11
MIDDLE SCHOOL REPORT home, specifically the difficult times faced by farmers who are battling terrible drought. They will once again brainstorm ways in which our school community can assist. To date we have raised $10,000.00. HIGH RESOLVE Social Justice Workshop Recently Year 8 began the second stage of their Global Citizens and Leadership Program with a 2 hour workshop and follow up lesson on Social Justice. The specific focus being on helping instil in students a personal sense of responsibility to make the world a fairer place. The learning undertaken through this program is aligned to developing ‘Ethical Understanding’ as set out under the General Capabilities element of the Australian Curriculum. With ethical concepts and issues students examine some of the inequities faced by members of the global community, specifically:
SHARE WITH GREECE FUNDRAISER It is always heartening to see the enthusiasm and willingness of our students to step in and help whenever the call out is given. Students actively live our Student Principles by “contributing to their community… exercising their responsibilities… working together… to achieve a school… whose distinguishing characteristics are… of friendship, compassion and decency”. Last week SRC’s gathered to discuss ways in which they could rally their peers to support the community fundraiser in aid of rebuilding the Lyreio Children’s Foundation Orphanage that was destroyed by the recent fires in Athens, leaving mass devastation and 65 orphaned children without a place to call home. Many ideas were floated, but the one finally decided upon for expediency was a Mufti Day with a $20 contribution from each student. This occurred on Monday with a most fabulous result. Well done to all SRC’s who promoted the event and to all students and staff members who got on board and contributed. These acts of kindness, though simple, will make a difference to the lives of young people who have unfortunately met tragedy more than once. In the near future, the SRC hope to draw attention to issues closer to
Inequalities in wealth and how these may be linked to lack of fair access to resources; Poor literacy levels and how these may be linked to the lack of fair access to opportunities; People living in hunger and how these may be linked to the lack of fair access to human rights.
Social Justice demonstrated:
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Student
Evaluations
91% of students were able to identify that 'Social Justice' meant making sure that everyone has fair access to resources, opportunities and human rights; 87% of students agreed that the current distribution of the world's resources and opportunities is not as fair as it could be; 97% of students agreed that depending on the situation, it can sometimes be fair to give some people more and others less;
I RESOLVE TO…
100% of students agreed that a global citizen would not use violence to make the world a fairer place; 99% of students agreed that they feel more likely to act in ways that make the world a fairer place. 100% of students rated the overall module as 'great' or 'good'.
At the end of the workshop students were given a card with the instruction: “What is one thing you can do today that will make a difference?” This is a small selection of what they wrote:
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SOUP KITCHEN & FLAG DUTY
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE A TALENTED BUNCH
Each week students from Year 9 are rostered to assist at the Soup Kitchen (Thursdays) and to raise and take down the school flags (every day). This provides them with a sense of added responsibility as leaders of the Middle School and deeper insights into the world and how they can make a positive impact. Assigned duties are always carried out with enthusiasm and pride. Keep up the great work Year 9!
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
David Vinokur - Year 8 Ballroom and Latin American Dancer David first started dance lessons at the age of 4 in Israel where he was born. He had a break after moving to Australia with his family, but took up dance again at age 8. David’s first instructor in Sydney was Michael Miziner (husband of Rachel Finch – former Miss Universe and winner of ‘Dancing with The Stars’). David and former partner Tiana Troyanovsky (now in Year 10) won numerous times in Juvenile competitions. During the last couple of years David experienced changes in instructors, dance studio and dance partner. Even though there were some challenging times, David believes they helped him further develop his skills and resilience. Now, under the guidance of Aric Yegudkin and Marsha Belash (both of which are accomplished dancers and have partnered celebrities on ‘Dancing with the Stars’), David has gone on to experience even greater success in competitions across NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. Currently, David attends 7-9 hours of dance classes a week and with his new dance partner, are ranked 19th in the whole of Australia! Even though it’s hard work and takes up lots of time, David enjoys the creative and physical side of dance. He says “it’s a bit like acting... each dance has its own personality or character… that you need to manipulate according to the music”.
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Well done David! We look forward to hearing about future successes and watching your performance at the upcoming Showcase!
Veronika Demkov - Year 8 Latin American Dancer I began dancing Latin American at the age of 4, that’s almost 10 years now! Latin is a partner style dance and I really enjoy it a lot. I was with my first dance teacher for about 5 years and I also worked with a professional dancer called Michael Miziner. In more recent years I have been going to a studio in Randwick called ‘Move Dance Studio’. It is run by two really great dancers called Aric and Marsha who worked regularly on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and ranked 13th in the World for Latin American. Because of all their experiences, I feel I can learn a lot from them.
My dance partner Ben Torban and I have been dancing together for 7 years and have become great friends, almost like family even. We have won many competitions over the years and many awards. In 2014 we received 1st place and the title of Australian Juvenile Champions in Latin American. Now that I am older, I have passed into the Junior class (for those aged 1316 years) , which is also a higher level. Last year we competed in the Australian Open Championships. This competition happens every December. Dancers from all around Australia come to compete, so it’s pretty massive. Lots of money needs to be spent on creating great costumes as well. It was an exciting, wonderful experience and my partner and I were lucky enough to place 3rd in the whole of Australia! 15
Two weeks ago my family and I travelled to Tasmania to compete in a championship. It was another great opportunity in which Ben and I placed 3rd and were also priviledged to have a special lesson with an international champion called Hans.
TECH TALK FRIDAY 5 WAYS DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING CHILDHOOD By Anna Bruce-Lockhart Editor, World Economic Forum
When even tech veterans such as Napster founder Sean Parker critique how smartphones are affecting childhood development, you know a shift is coming. In 2017, Parker warned that social media "literally changes your relationship with society, with each other… God only knows what it’s doing to our children’s brains." Parker has two young children, so he's surely familiar with the universal tactic of handing over a screen to buy a moment's peace - the so-called "digital pacifier". The Council of Europe recently issued recommendations on children's rights in the digital environment, which establishes the limits of children’s consent to use of their data. There's even a guide for parents on how to monitor children's digital development, published by the Digital Intelligence Quotient (DQ) Institute, in association with the World Economic Forum. There's more awareness than ever that technology in childhood needs to be policed properly, by both governments and parents. Veronika is a truly talented dancer and we will be able to all enjoy watching her perform here at School with David at the upcoming Showcase!
To help you weigh up some of the issues involved, here are five ways in which the screen is reframing children's lives. 1. Physical changes The evidence is still anecdotal, but it's likely that technology's ubiquity from the earliest years onwards - a fifth of children aged three and four have their own tablet - is reshaping our bodies. Short-sightedness has doubled since the 1960s, and obesity is increasing. Only half of seven16
and eight-year-olds get the recommended daily hour of exercise in the UK. Spine surgeons have reported an increase in young patients with neck and back pain, likely related to bad posture during long periods of smartphone use. But with the increasing number of apps and devices to monitor physical activity levels, the solution could be digital, too.
Entry into the world of social media suddenly gives immature children a relatively independent space in which to test out "risky behaviours" that they can't necessarily understand or cope with, according to the 5Rights report. The collision between incongruous age groups and behaviours that social media entails means that both children and adults need to understand their respective responsibilities under the new digital compact.
2. Rewiring the brain The addictive design of many video games and apps could be rewiring children's brains. Many of them are structured around "reward loops", which regularly dispense incentives, including a biochemical dopamine hit, to keep playing. Autoplay functions on YouTube and other video websites reinforce these rhythms.
5. Crowdsourcing mental health There has been much discussion of the growing sense of inadequacy and loneliness fostered by social media, and its impact on young people’s mental health. Teenagers who spend more than three hours a day online are 35% more likely to be at risk of suicide, according to a recent US study. But perhaps that's confusing cause and effect. The last decade has seen a growing awareness of and sensitivity to mental health issues. Much of this discussion is being held by young people in the environment that is most natural - as well as discreet - for them: the internet.
"Almost all digital interactions, social media particularly, are deliberately designed to make an individual want to undertake the cycle again, immediately and repeatedly, whatever the time of day or night", stated a recent landmark report on Digital Childhood by the UK-based 5Rights foundation. It believes that tech companies need to adjust the design of their products for children - for example, by switching off Autoplay.
There's no doubt that the new digital frontier is drastically redrawing childhood, threatening tender bodies and minds. But perhaps we can meet these challenges if they are handled in the spirit of the internet's original precept: free and frank discussion.
3. Space, not time Amid the hand-wringing about cognitive decline, it's worth remembering that perhaps technology is just making children different to us. Even early studies of the effects of video games suggested they improved spatial reasoning. While verbal skills, logical argument and attention spans may now need more offline encouragement, most toddlers will benefit from accelerated hand-eye coordination and image recognition abilities, as well as the general digital literacy that is now essential to growing up.
Ms G Kokinelis Dean of Middle School
4. The definition of childhood Just as the pressures of industrialization created the concept of "childhood" in the Victorian age, and post-war consumerism gave birth to the idea of the "teenager", the digital era is shaking up life boundaries once again. While the first year of high school may be regarded as a default age for a child to receive their first smartphone, 39% of 8-to-11-year-olds already have them.
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PREFECT PROFILE Name: Kalliopi Mentis. Number of years at St Spyridon College: 5 years. Previous Leadership Role: Year 11 SRC member. Subjects I am currently studying: Standard English, General Mathematics, Ancient History, Business Studies, Legal Studies, and Hospitality. Hobbies: Dancing, surfing, swimming and cooking. My future aspirations: NSW Police Officer. My role models: My parents, Yiayia and Papou. Favourite quote: “You are in control of your own happiness”. I take this quote into high regards each day. I apply it to situations when I’m feeling down and tell myself, you can either sit around and feel sorry for yourself or smile and be happy. My proudest moment: My proudest moment was when I cut 41cm of my hair and donated it to the Beautiful Lengths Program, which was then made into a wig and given to a cancer survivor who had lost all her hair due to chemotherapy. Along with the help of ‘The World Greatest Shave’ I was able to raise over $3,000 that contributed towards cancer research and patient treatment. Our student principle that is most meaningful to me and why: Student Principle 9: “We respond to the difficulties of life with patience, dignity and faith, never fearing to start again”. This is important to me because no matter what life throws at us we must maintain faith in not only ourselves but also our religious heritage to proceed forward with life. These principle continue to not only affect us throughout our schooling years but through everyday life experiences. I apply this principle in my everyday life when I face problems that I have difficulty overcoming. At school, there are times I am overwhelmed by the work and feel like giving up. Nonetheless I strive to push past these barriers with patience and dignity, all through the help of God so that I forever excel in all aspects of life.
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PREFECT PROFILE Name: Bianca Frazis. Number of Years at St Spyridon College: 13 Years (K-12). Previous Leadership Roles: SRC (Years 7-10), Peer Support Leader (Year 10). Subjects I am currently studying: English Advanced, Mathematics (2 Units), Drama, Music, PDHPE, Business Studies. Hobbies: Performing Arts (Singing/Acting). My future aspirations: Psychology, Drama Teaching or Special Education. My role models: My Parents; for their guidance, knowledge, love and endless support in everything I do. Favourite Quote: “The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow”. My proudest moment: Receiving Academic Awards and Performing Lead Role in School Musical. One Student Principle that is most important to me and why: Student Principle 2: “We contribute to the life of our Church and community, and exercising our responsibility as citizens of a Democratic nation, always obeying the rule of law.” I value this principle greatly as I believe faith is the centre of our lives and involving ourselves and contributing the church is a rewarding and humbling experience that has shaped me into the person I am today and has strengthened my Christian values. I love to independently take part in the church’s fundraisers, attend Sunday School and support local community services such as soup kitchens and nursing homes, as I find that by doing so I grow spiritually and establish strong connections within the church community. In a society that is so fast paced, I feel it is so important to take time out of our day for those who are less fortunate and involve ourselves in community activities, as such good deeds strengthen our connection with God and help shape ourselves into better people.
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GREEK COLUMN Αγαπητοί γονείς και φίλοι,
Ήταν μια φανταστική βραδιά κάτω από τον ιερό βράχο της Ακρόπολης.
Στην έκδοση αυτή θα σας κρατήσουμε συντροφιά με δυο γραπτά μαθητριών σχετικά με μια έξοδο σε εστιατόριο και με τη ζωή στο σχολείο. Η πρώτη εργασία συνδέεται με την ενότητα «Διασκέδαση» την οποία συμπληρώσαμε στη διάρκεια της τρίτης σχολικής περιόδου για τους μαθητές της Γ΄ Λυκείου εφόσον η πρώτη περίοδος άρχισε γι’αυτούς από πέρυσι. Η άλλη εργασία έχει να κάνει με την σχολική ζωή και τις διάφορες σχολικές δραστηριότητες.
Eleni Preketes - Year 11 (Modern Greek Year 12)
As a former student you have been invited to address a school assembly, reflecting on your experiences and giving some advice to others. Καλημέρα κύριε Διευθυντά, καθηγητές και μαθητές.
Καλή ανάγνωση
Με λένε Στέλλα και κάποιοι από εσάς θα θυμούνται ότι ήμουν κι εγώ μαθήτρια στο κολέγιό σας, από το Νηπιαγωγείο έως την Γ΄ Λυκείου, δηλαδή, μέχρι που αποφοίτησα πριν δυο χρόνια. Μάλιστα, είναι τιμή μου που με καλέσατε να σας μιλήσω για την δική μου, προσωπική, σχολική εμπειρία.
κα Μ. Φαλέτα Χρησιμοποιώντας το παραπάνω λεξιλόγιο (page 9) περιγράψτε μια έξοδο σας σε εστιατόριο σε 10 σειρές περἰπου. Ως οικογένεια, πάμε συχνά σε ταβερνάκια και σε εστιατὀρια με τους γονείς μου, αλλά αυτό που μου ‘χει μείνει είναι ένα ταβερνάκι κάπου στην Πλάκα.
Τώρα που έχω βιώσει δύο χρόνια έξω απ’ το σχολείο, μπορώ να πω με βεβαιότητα ότι τα χρόνια που πέρασα στο σχολείο ήταν από τα πιο ευχάριστα χρόνια της ζωής μου! Όλη η σχολική μου εμπειρία με δίδαξε τόσα πολλά «μαθήματα» που με έκανε αυτή που είμαι σήμερα, τον άνθρωπο που στέκεται μπροστά σας.
Με το που μπήκαμε, μας έσπασαν τη μύτη οι θεσπέσιες μυρωδιές που έρχονταν από την κουζίνα. Πεινούσαμε σαν λύκοι μετά τον ποδαρόδρομο στα στενά της Πλάκας... Καθίσαμε στην αυλή κάτω από τα δέντρα και ενώ μας χάιδευε ένα απαλό καλοκαιρινό αεράκι, άρχισαν να έρχονται οι δίσκοι με τα ορεκτικά και τους μεζέδες.
Ένα από αυτά τα «μαθήματα» που μου έδωσε το σχολείο αυτό ήταν για την φιλία. Όταν άρχισα σχολείο ήμουν ντροπαλή με άτομα που γνώριζα για πρώτη φορά, δηλαδή, δεν είχα το θάρρος να δημιουργήσω φιλίες εύκολα. Αλλά με την βοήθεια και την ενθάρρυνση των δασκάλων και των συμμαθητών μου, άρχισα να νιώθω πιο άνετα και άφησα τον εαυτό μου ελεύθερο να δημιουργήσει υπέροχες φιλίες που ακόμα κρατούν κι ελπίζω να κρατήσουν για πάντα. Άρα το σχολείο, σε αυτή την περίπτωση με δίδαξε ότι η αυτοπεποίθηση είναι ένα χαρακτηριστικό που μπορούμε όλοι να αποκτήσουμε με λίγη προσπάθεια. Γι’ αυτό σας συμβουλεύω, αν ποτέ αισθανθείτε όπως εγώ στα πρώτα σχολικά μου χρόνια, ζητήστε βοήθεια και συμβουλές για να μπορέσετε να απολαύσετε όλες τις υπέροχες φιλίες που μπορούν να δημιουργηθούν στο σχολείο.
Όταν έφτασε και το κύριο πιάτο, αισθανόμασταν σαν αρκούδες έτοιμες να πέσουν σε νάρκη μετά από το πολύ φαγητό. Όλα αυτά φυσικά συνοδεύονταν με κρασάκι με το οποίο οι ευγενικοί σερβιτόροι γέμιζαν συνεχώς τα ποτήρια μας. Η μητέρα μου δεν κρατήθηκε και πήγε στην κουζίνα για να γνωρίσει τη μαγείρισσα και να την συγχαρεί για τα υπέροχα πιάτα της. Ο λογαριασμός ήταν απίστευτα λογικός και ο μπαμπάς χαρούμενος με την εξυπηρέτηση που μας έκαναν, άφησε για τους σερβιτόρους ένα γενναίο φιλοδώρημα που το χάρηκαν πάρα πολύ! 20
Επίσης ένα άλλο «μάθημα» από τη σχολική μου εμπειρία, στο οποίο δίνω μεγάλη αξία είναι η κριτική σκέψη που απόκτησα. Η κριτική σκέψη είναι απαραίτητο πράγμα να ανακαλύψετε και να αξιοποιήσετε επειδή θα το χρειαστείτε για όλη την διάρκεια της ζωής σας. Αυτό το έμαθα μέσω όλων των μαθημάτων και της υποστήριξης και κατεύθυνσης όλων των δασκάλων και των καθηγητών μου. Γι’ αυτό σας συμβουλεύω να μην σπαταλάτε αυτόν τον πολύτιμο χρόνο όπως έκαναν πολλοί, αλλά προσπαθήστε να μάθετε χρήσιμα πράγματα που θα σας βοηθήσουν στη ζωή σας αργότερα. Το τελευταίο «μάθημα» που ανακάλυψα από την σχολική μου εμπειρία, το οποίο συνδέεται με όλα όσα σας ανέφερα παραπάνω, ήταν πώς να είμαι καλός, ευαίσθητος και θετικός άνθρωπος. Αυτό έγινε μέσω όλων των εμπειριών που βίωσα, όλων των ευχάριστων αλλά και των δύσκολων καταστάσεων που έζησα στο σχολείο και όλη την βοήθεια και στήριξη που πήρα από φίλους και καθηγητές. Τελικά, σας συμβουλεύω να χρησιμοποιήσετε προς όφελός σας κάθε ευκαιρία και κάθε δραστηριότητα που σας προσφέρει το σχολείο σας. Να προσέχετε στα μαθήματά σας, να ακούτε τους καθηγητές σας και να συνεργάζεστε με αυτούς και είμαι βεβαία ότι όταν έρθει η ώρα της αποφοίτησης, θα φύγετε πλούσιοι σε γνώσεις, ικανότητες και πολύτιμες εμπειρίες. Stella Ktenas - Year 11 (Modern Greek Year 12)
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SPORTS COLUMN The Second XI was absolutely dominant in their game against Oakhill College winning 1-0. The boys had many opportunities and could easily have won by more, if not for the windy conditions which impacted adversely on the quality of football. I acknowledge the work of Peter Giokas who is learning how to coach and has made a positive impact on the students.
BOYS SPORTS Boys ISA Football Semi Finals - Saturday 18th August Saturday 18th August the U14 A, U15 A, U16, 2nd XI and First XI were all involved in the ISA football semi-finals. It was a very exciting and memorable day for the teams who have worked consistently hard all season to achieve success.
The First XI game was a repeat of last year’s semi- final between the two schools. This year, the boys were able to reverse the result from last year. It was a captivating game of football, with the Open boys securing a place in the grand final after a penalty shootout.
The U14 boys played against St Pius X College after finishing 4th on the table. The boys really took the game to the St Pius X team but found the St Pius X attack was too decisive when in front of goal, taking their opportunities to win the game 3-0. Despite this loss the boys should be proud of their achievements.
This was no doubt a very memorable victory and one that displayed and showcased the positive attitude and relentless drive the boys had in wanting to reach the final. The Year 12 boys were outstanding as were the younger players. It was a game that ultimately was all about the goal keepers and thankfully Jordan Polyzos of Year 10 really stood tall and helped the School qualify for their first final in over 20 years. Another stand out performer was Harilaos Papas, who really took on a leadership role in the middle of the park, which helped the team create opportunities and diffuse their attacking possibilities.
The U15 boys were up against St Andrews Cathedral School. The boys had done well throughout the season to secure two victories against this same team but they were very close encounters and the boys were aware that they would need to be at their best to secure victory. The wind at Chifley made playing attractive football very difficult, but the boys were persistent and by far the better team in most parts of the game. Despite their dominance, the game ended in a draw and extra time followed with the scores still locked at 0-0 penalties ensued. Unfortunately, the team would not prevail losing the penalties. Although defeated, the boys showed tremendous courage and resilience throughout the game and often the best team does not always win.
Boys ISA Football Finals - Saturday 25th August 2nd XI The second XI boys’ football team have had a wonderful year in boys’ football, securing their finals birth after a very strong showing against Oakhill. The final would be a different proposition with the team playing against St Patricks College. From all accounts, the boys gave a very good account of themselves and had their chances. However, they were unable to consolidate their opportunities which invited the St Patricks team to take advantage handing them victory 3-0.
Our U16 boys were extremely unlucky against St Patricks College. The team really rallied behind each other and they defended stoutly taking the game into extra time. The relentless attacking pressure did tell and St Patricks were able to clinch a narrow 2-1 win in extra time. Despite the loss, the boys gained the belief necessary to take the next step next season and make a final. Once again I commend and thank Mr Jenkins for his professionalism in steering our young footballers in the right direction.
While not the desired result, this team have battled and have been relentless in their 22
approach to all games. I look forward to the boys trying out for the first XI team next season. I also acknowledge their coach Peter Giokas and all families and friends who attended and supported the students on the day.
teams have met twice and the result has been two draws, with nothing separating the teams. Pre match nerves and anticipation were no match for our boys, nor was the weight and expectation from School friends. In the first 10 minutes of the game, Nicholas Tsintominas crossed in a perfectly weighted ball from the left to find a buzzing Hesan Soufi rising to the ball to swiftly header the ball into the goal for the first of the game. A perfect start and a perfect way to silence the doubters and an even better way to confirm the boy’s intentions to play attacking football.
First XI A carefully planned sports model for success is often the catalyst for achieving long term goals. It has been 6 years since the school began an ambitious plan to help the school aspire to reach the premier divisions of the ISA and to attempt to excel in those divisions. I am delighted that over the years the school has managed to execute the planned and coordinated approach to improving the sporting skills of the students and at the same time, collectively motivate the students to aspire to be better and to be at peak performance because of deliberate, adequate and relevant preparation.
St Patricks slowly but gradually tried to make inroads into the defensive line but the schools defence was tireless as it was relentless. Daniel Xeras proved to be a handful, controlling many balls before they reached the backline and distributing beautifully through the midfield. By the middle of the first half, the pressure was telling and the corners in our favour were building. The plan was to attack and this it seems caught the opposition off guard. On this occasion, the corner would be telling with Nicholas Kollias leaping up above all others to header home a very decisive goal to help the team to a 2-0 lead, a very valuable goal from the schools centre back, his second for the school in all his years playing for the College. The team held on to maintain the 2-0 lead, they rightly deserved from the first half.
This elaborate sports model has helped the school achieve excellent results in Athletics, in Swimming, in Basketball and in Football. The College proudly competes in Division 1 Athletics and Swimming and the boys Basketball teams were recently promoted once again to the ISA division 2 competition. Football has been a different proposition. The school lingered in division 2 for 4 years winning the championship shield in both 2013 and 2014. In 2015, the School regained its position in the division 1 competition winning the U14 ISA Division 1 football title. The same boys made the final the following year, only to lose to St Patricks College. Many of the boys joined the First XI team the year after and experienced success with a semi-final birth. 2018 was definitely different, the First XI team had the potential to do well and the boys who were once U 14 ISA Champions had an opportunity to also claim the First XI title, a title that the School last achieved in 1996, twenty two years ago.
Despite the heroics of the first half it was obvious at the back end of the half that the St Patricks team would not surrender and would play until the final whistle. This would be telling especially in the second half. The second half started much the same as the first, with the boys still applying pressure. Hesan Soufi of year 12 was instrumental in drawing attention to himself to create space and room for all the other boys. This gave the team time to prepare for the next piece of the game plan. With 16 minutes in the second half gone and the score still at 2-0, Nathan Adam entered the fray when he was substituted on the field and his presence immediately lifted the team. Almost instantaneously, Nathan made a precise run on the left and instantaneously and instinctively made way for the goal after receiving the ball. The keeper was beaten and he took the plunge,
It is no coincidence that this team have added a significant piece to the Schools sporting puzzle. The team made this year’s final against St Patricks College and on Saturday 25th August, they were presented with the challenge to play against a very well organised St Patricks College team. During the course of the year, the two 23
taking down Nathan in the process. The referee without hesitation awarded the school a penalty. Hesan Soufi stepped up to take the spot kick and coolly he slotted the ball in the bottom left of the goal.
staff for a great season of football. It has been a long time since the Firsts have experienced success and we are now looking forward to celebrating their success at this year’s sports presentation evening and we definitely look forward to season 2019.Thank you also to all the families, staff and former students who attended to make this a very memorable occasion for the College. Congratulations also to Mr Magoulias who did a stellar job convening for the ISA in this year’s football finals.
The school now had a commanding lead 3-0 with 20 minutes to play. St Patricks then committed numbers forward and not before long they scored two of their own goals. It would be a nervous 6 minute wait to see what would transpire. The team did very well to close the game and much of this is due to the excellent defensive effort from all the boys and in particular the back 4. Jonathon Lynch (stand in captain) was an inspirational leader and Nicholas Kollias, Chris Kumar and Adam Geortsis also helped to ensure the back 4 together with the ever present Jordan Polyzos in goal would ensure victory. It was a day to remember, not since 1996 has the school won an ISA Division 1 Boys Football First XI trophy. The post-match celebrations revealed how much this victory meant to the boys. I commend all the boys and particularly the Year 11 and Year 10 boys, who have stepped up this season to make the year one of the most successful in recent memory. I also congratulate and commend their coach Mr Dane Ivanovic and all staff who have accompanied Dane to help the team achieve success. I take this opportunity to thank all the Year 12 boys for their tireless efforts and contribution to school sport, not only for this year but for their entire school journey. They have been excellent sportspeople for the College, they have aspired to be the best that they can and they have managed to excel in all their endeavours. They leave a legacy that will no doubt be difficult to follow, especially considering that boys sport, this year has achieved incredible and unprecedented success, unlike any other year in the schools sporting history. Much of this is due to the commitment and drive of the Year 12 boys. It is their commitment and resolve that will strengthen the remaining students’ inspiration to do well in the years to come. Congratulations division 1 First XI ISA football champions 2018. I would also like to take the opportunity to congratulate all the football teams, coaches and 24
Upcoming sports events:
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Invitational Athletics @ E.S. Marks Saturday 1st September 8am - 3pm;
Basketball trials continue this Thursday 30th August during ISA scheduled lessons - Team lists to be posted on the sports notice board by Thursday 6th September;
ISA Athletics carnival 11th September @ Sydney Olympic Park.
previous weeks. The second round came I backed off because I wanted to save my stamina for the next two rounds. I always try out different methods to see what is better for when I spar, so I don’t get tired easily so I have energy to continue on to the fourth or fifth round. So when the third round came I was going for the low kicks which are the thighs. The way to get points in a fight is by kicking to the thighs, ribs, body and head and by punching and using knees and elbows. The fourth round came and I stared going downhill because I was getting tired but when the trainer that was refereeing said thirty seconds left I pushed myself to the limits. We were both exhausted and needed a brake but we both had put so much effort into this and we both needed to put everything into this. This was not a fight but a friendly sparring match. At the end of the spar I didn’t really care about the win or the loss but the fact that we both had respect for each other and we both spoke about what need to do improve.
STUDENT PROFILE Hello, my name is Kosta Ioannou and I do Muay Thai. Muay Thai is a combat sport of Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. I have been doing Muay Thai for a year and a half. The first day I started Muay Thai I was very unfit and needed to do something about my weight. The next day my body was aching from all the muscles I haven’t used for quite a while. At that time I loved soccer but after the first lesson at the gym, I got hooked into the sport. From the minute I started Muay Thai my dad has said to me that I should never fight but that I should only train for fitness and self-defence reason. I understand him in a way because it is a very dangerous sport. The minute I started I pushed myself to the limits because I wanted to lose weight and learn how to defend myself in case of a danger. I love what I do and will never stop it but one thing that I am learning is that I will have respect for everyone and anyone. Even if I do look at fighting when I get older, I will always have respect and loyalty because that is what will get me over the line. A week ago I had a sparring match with my great friend and classmate Andreja Jovanovic. A spar is one thing that absolutely needs to be done in order for a fighter to improve. Sparring is when you can have fun by testing your skills on your opponent by not going hard like you’re in a fight but hitting lightly. My opponent has been doing Muay Thai for 3 years. I have sparred with him twice already and we wanted to test our skills and techniques. We weren’t in the ring to kill each other but the most important purpose was to have fun and to see what techniques we need to work on. We both trained hard for this last spar to see where we both were from the beginning of the year till now. I train hard every time I put my foot into the gym. I hit some pads and did some sparring with the trainers.
Kosta Ioannou – Year 9
When the 18th of August came I was really excited to see how much we had improved. The second I stepped into the ring, I knew I had to put all my knowledge together to win. Indeed there was no real winner because we both won. The first round I felt good and had stamina and was punching and kicking and doing everything I had been practising and training all the 26
had more losses than wins, the girls individually showed that they are all highly skilled athletes and that no matter what the score line there was no giving up. I feel privileged to work with such a fun and athletic bunch and can't wait for what next season holds.
GIRLS SPORTS ISA WINTER SPORT 2018 has seen a successful ISA winter season. This year we entered 8 teams in the netball and 3 teams in the girl’s football. We had 5 teams qualify for the Semi Finals; Open C Netball, Junior C Netball, Junior D3 Netball, Junior A Football, Open A Football. With the Junior C netball and Open A football qualifying for the Grand Finals, unfortunately neither were winners on the day but never the less an outstanding effort to qualify.
Farewell to Rhea Tsimboukis and Maria Krassas of Year 12 and thank you for your presence in the Open As over the years.
Whilst we had no championship teams in 2018 there were many positives to take from the season. Firstly, the inclusion of the girls’ Junior A netball team to play in Division 1, this is the first time since my time at the college that we have had students of the required ability to compete at this level. These girls exceeded our expectations and were competitive each week, proving that they belonged amongst the Division 1 standard.
Open B – Coach: Mr Meintanis
Secondly, I pleased to watch the growth of girl’s football each year. We had 3 teams in total the most ever in the school’s history and the standard of footballers in Year 7 were exceptional allowing us to be competitive in Division 1 and qualify for a Semi Final. Most of these girls will still be able to play the same division next year so hopefully they can qualify one step further.
The Open B netball team started the season extremely well but disruptions throughout the year meant that momentum was lost and unfortunately the team did not make the semifinals. Even though the girls were disappointed in not making the finals, there enthusiasm and passion for the game and their school was never in question. The team consisting of Year 10 and 11 girls tried hard in every game and they gave their all in every quarter. Every girl tried the best when selected to play and their sportsmanship was outstanding.
This season would not have been possible without the support and expertise of all our coaches for each team. All coaches dedicate their time an efforts to support the girls in their sporting endeavours. Please see below for their season reports.
To single out any player would be unfair but special mention needs to be made of our shooters Stephanie Andreou and Yana Vergotis, as well as Niki Kondou, our Goal Defence. Her absence in the last half of the season was severely felt.
Open A – Coach: Cassandra Georgiou This season I was fortunate enough to be able to coach the Open A girls netball team again. It was a tough year for all the girls as we moved to a higher division and we had many positional changes. The girls most definitely showed that they are able to win or come close to beating top of the table teams and for that they should be commended for their efforts. Even though we
I would like to thank all the girls for their efforts this year and I can’t wait to watch them next year. 27
Intermediate C-Coach: Nansia Koukounaris The inter C girls are a hardworking, dedicated and passionate team of girls who worked to improve weekly. Since the girls have worked together in a team previously, they were able to work on each other’s strength to have a successful season of netball. Although the girls didn’t make the finals they have made a dramatic improvement in all areas of netball over the years including skill, communication and teamwork. Overall, the girls had an amazing season.
Open C - Coach: Larissa Andrianakos A team of ten girls, but a team of one goal; our Open C girls netball team together had played to their best of their abilities this season. Regardless of having majority of the players away due to the Greece Trip for two weeks or so, the girls together had gained more familiarity and experience with each other's unique abilities in their defence and attack. Initially, the first couple of games were unfortunate losses, however, with new plays of “Schmiddie” and “Anna” integrated; it created a flow which resulted in a few wins. The Open C’s had won their first game, 30-21, with one less player; however, they powered through and displayed a great play, working with each other by communicating and thinking strategically. Throughout the season, several players had to play positions they had not previously played in before which showcased their sportsmanship within the team. The girls had made it into the semi finals versing Barker, but unfortunately lost by one point: 19-18 in the last four seconds. The girls played to the best of their ability in this game, showing their true sportsmanship with not only myself but with each other.
Junior A-Coach: Ms Flokis This season proved to be one of great development for our Junior As. The team comprised of some Year 8 girls who won the Junior C competition the previous year as well as three new additions from Year 7. It was the first time two year groups were combined in an attempt to form a very strong Junior A team that would be competitive in Division 1. As a result of having moved up two divisions, Ms O’Shea encouraged the girls to play the St Catherine’s Wednesday night netball competition, in another effort to get the girls playing together and forming good combinations for our Saturday games. The girls showed a great deal of maturity during this difficult season, as their determination only improved even though they were up against some very strong competition. The Junior A’s won two games at home which boosted their spirits and gave them motivation to push through the season. Absences throughout the year due to travel meant that for many games the team had no reserves. This made it that much 28
more difficult to win. However it formulated a great sense of team spirit and never give up attitude that is very hard to foster as a coach. I am extremely proud of the girls this season as they just fell short of making the semi-finals. This year was one of great development which will make their transition into the Intermediate division next year a lot smoother.
Junior D3 - Coach: Lia Albanakis The Junior D3s were an enthusiastic group of girls, comprising of Year 7 and Year 8s. The girls showed dedication to the sport showing up to morning training and giving it their all at every game. The combination of team plays and team work assisted the girls to win the majority of their games, finishing with a spot in the Semi Finals. Unfortunately going down to Chevalier, the girls were unlucky to lose this far into the season, although their enthusiasm to learn new skills will help them improve for next year. Junior C - Coach: Tina Ventoura Our Junior C girls had a fantastic netball season this year, making it all the way to the grand final. Being a mixed team made up of Year 7 and 8 girls, not everyone was familiar with each other, and for some this was their very first season of netball at the school. Taking this into account, the girls got off to a bit of a slow start. However, with early morning trainings every single week, the girls showed their determination, and their improvement was clearly evident as they started to win games and eventually even win some games by large margins.
Junior D4 - Coach: Georgia Koukounaris The Junior D4 girls were a dedicated group of girls who tried their hardest every week. With the majority of the team not having much experience with playing team netball, the improvement these girls demonstrated as the season progressed was impressive, narrowly losing their last game 11-10. Overall, it was a positive and successful season and I look forward to seeing further improvement in the skills of these girls next year.
Making it all the way to the grand final in our first season together, and seeing their improvement, has definitely been a highlight for myself, and the girls should all be very proud of their efforts and hard work.
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Open A Football – Ms O’Shea
main aim of our season. The first few games the girls started off on a bit of a rough patch, as most of them had never played together before. Over the season, there was a massive improvement in the girls’ effort. The Junior B’s had many matches that ended in a draw so unfortunately they didn’t qualify for Semi Finals.
These girls had a very rewarding season for many reasons. Firstly their success in the competition spending most of the season undefeated only losing a couple of games when there were missing girls overseas or studying for the HSC. The competition was very close with their round 10 loss resulting in them losing a home Semi Final and slipping into 4th position. They did not let this discourage their beliefs facing 1st place Redlands and defeating them in extra time earning them a position in the ISA grandfinal. Unfortunately, they were defeated 30 on the final but an excellent effort to qualify. However, the most positive element for this team was to watch the mentoring provided by the Year 12 students particularly Victoria Zois and Nikki Cardamis. These girls took it upon themselves to train, coach and provide encouragement to the younger players and witnessing this was perhaps the most rewarding moment in girls sport for 2018. These girls are to be commended for their exceptional leadership and dedication to the School.
The Junior As ended up making it through to the semi-finals at Central Coast Grammar School. Unfortunately, they lost 4-2 in extra time, however reflecting to the previous games against Central Coast Grammar, they beat us 8-1 a few rounds into the season. Even though the girls played to the best of their ability and the outcome wasn’t what we wanted, we see this as a massive achievement and improvement in their performance.
I would like to acknowledge the Year 12 girls as they played their final matches for their school, Rhea Tsimboukis, Maria Krassas, Victoria Zois, Nikki Cardamis, Elaine Andrew and Kaliope Mentis. All girls have been involved in sport since Year 7 and their dedication has been appreciated. Hopefully, they can take with them memories that they will cherish for years to come.
Junior A and B Football - Coach: Natalie Michos Having the privilege to coach the junior A’s and B’s this season was an honour. Coming together at the start of the season, with some girls not even knowing each other’s names, to finishing off the season with such strong friendships being made through football was an honourable experience. Week in and week out, the girls turned up to training and to their games with the mentality that they were playing to win and represent their school. Playing their hardest every week and coming together as a team to have fun and play the sport they enjoyed was the
So finally, well done to all the girls’ participants of the winter ISA season and I look forward to the summer season commencing in Term 4. Ms K. O’Shea Girls Sports
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