LOVE OF GOD - LOVE OF LEARNING - HOSPITALITY - STEWARDSHIP - PEACE

Newsletter 2 2011 ~ 24 February

Dear parents,

Our new students are settling into collegeroutines and all students have made a verypositive start to the school year. Term 1 isalways a busy time as we have our openingMass, a number of camps and retreats, theswimming carnival, parent informationevenings and, of course, the commencementof assessment tasks. Our Year 7 studentsappear to be enjoying the opportunities thatthe college offers. The girls also seem to beenjoying the social aspects of college lifeand I am led to believe that many newfriendships are already being made.

I had the pleasure of meeting a group of ex-students who meet each year for lunch. Thegirls completed high school in 1960 andthey returned to visit and view a statue thatthey had presented as their leaving gift. Theladies were very excited to be back in thecollege and they recounted many fondmemories of school life in 1960. I amcontinually amazed by the connection thatthe ex-students have with the college andtheir great pride in being a St Mary’s girl.

Another ex-student, Catherine Woods, gavethe keynote address at our HSC assemblywhich acknowledged the success of the2010 graduates. Catherine was CollegeCaptain and is now a successful journalist.She spoke about the wonderful benefits of aSt Mary’s education, captivating the girlswith her reflections on life after school.While we are very proud of our current StMary’s students, we have much to be proudof when we reflect on the contributions andachievements of our ex-students.

Friday 11 February saw the launch of our“Living Water” project where we recognisedour responsibility to care for the environ-ment. This project was an initiative ofParrys Raines, a Year 10 student, whobrought the proposition (of making ourcollege free of plastic water bottles) to theschool executive last year. Parrys workedwith our Stewardship Captain, OliviaTodhunter, our Conservation Club Chair,Kayla Steele, and our Business Manager,Darren Grant, to bring this project to life.The initiative was launched with an

assembly and liturgy that drew out theimportance to our future of “living water”.All students received a metal water bottle touse at the newly-installed filling stationsstrategically located across the college.This project has very much been an exampleof student power, with students involved inevery aspect of the process, including thechoice of water bottle.

My thanks to both the students and staffwho have shown us a way to positivelycontribute to the environment. Our nextproject involves cleaner and more efficientways of dealing with our waste, includingrecycling, waste as compost for our gardensand educating students on using recyclablematerials. We are also preparing to put oursolar panels on line and to make full use ofour water tanks. I will keep you updated onnew initiatives as they are launched.

The AGM of our Parents & FriendsAssociation was held on Wednesday night. Iwould like to thank our 2010 P&F executivefor their great work and generosity of bothtime and talent. I was very grateful to havesuch a supportive team in my first year asPrincipal of St Mary’s. I am delighted towelcome back a number of our 2010executive to our 2011 executive team. Ithank your for your commitment and lookforward to working with you in 2011. Thenew executive team is: President Helen Bow,Vice Presidents Megan Waud and CatherineSutton, Secretary Maggie Henderson,Treasurer Kevin Grimmer.

The political climate has been somewhattense over past weeks with much discussionaround asylum seekers and speculationabout the upcoming State election. In manycases, politics can cloud people’s percep-tions and result in compassion being lost indecisions that are made. At such times I amreminded of the words of that greatstatesman, Abraham Lincoln. He was beingcriticised for his attitude towards hisenemies and was asked “why do you try tomake friends with them? You should try todestroy them”. Lincoln responded gently bysaying “I am destroying them. I do this when Imake them my friends.” Perhaps there is a

message in his wise words for all of us.

I pray that you and your family have arelaxing weekend and a peace-filled andhappy week.

Yours sincerely, Frank Pitt, Principal

Opening Mass 2011

Careers corner

Discovery Day: On 7 February Year 12attended the Wollongong Uni Discovery Day,which allows them to live the life of auniversity student for a day. Each studenthad a time table of lectures which theyattended. They also had an opportunity tolisten to current students’ stories of howthey got to be at UOW.

Work experience: Year 10 are preparing forwork experience which will be held from 14to 18 March. We have many aspiring careerwomen, including accountants, solicitors,nurses, actors, vets, zoologists and one ortwo teachers. We look forward to hearingmany great stories. We thank the parentsfor all their support during this hectic time. Pauline Judd, Post School Advisor

Parking

I have had a number of requests fromboth bus drivers and teachers regardingparking and the need to ensure that weare leaving bus zones clear for buses topark. This is an issue for the college bothin the morning and afternoon and it iscausing a degree of stress for thoseresponsible for keeping our girls safe. CanI ask that parents please park in theappropriate spaces and if they aredropping their daughters off that they doso in a manner that is safe for all of ourgirls. Thank you for your cooperation inthis matter. Frank Pitt

Creative Arts

Many wonderful results were achieved withour 2010 HSC cohort. We had excellentresults in all Creative Arts subjects andsome exemplary individual results.

Hannah Edensor had an amazing HSC Danceresult of 98 and was awarded 2nd in theState for Dance. Stephanie Power wasnominated for Call Back, a showcase ofexemplary works from the HSC Dancepractical examinations, for both her majorstudy performance and her coreperformance. Megan Biggs was nominatedfor Call Back for her core composition,danced by Claire McKinnon.

Amy Boyle’s Music 1 composition wasnominated for Encore. She wasawarded the Vice Chancellor’sScholarship at Wollongong Universityand will be studying a double degree,Bachelor of Creative Arts, Bachelor ofArts.

Imogen Malfitano achieved 100% inher Music extension performance andhas successfully gained placement atthe Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

America Dance tour: 17 Dance electivestudents have been preparing withexcitement for their tour to Americaand Hawaii in June/July this year. Thegirls from Years 10, 11 and 12auditioned late last year to take part in twoperformances at the Los Angeles DisneyPark as well as the Disney CaliforniaAdventure Park. The girls will also performin Hawaii on the way back and will takepart in Dance workshops within the DisneyPerforming Arts Academy as well as at TheEdge studios. A showcase of the girls’concert will take place during the CreativeArts Showcase on Wednesday 15 June in theSGN hall.

Mary Poppins excursion: Elective CreativeArts classes from Years 9 to 12 will have theopportunity to experience the magic of aprofessional Broadway musical at theCapital Theatre in Term 2. Based on thebooks by Australian author PL Travers andthe classic 1964 Walt Disney film, MaryPoppins has already dazzled audiencesoverseas. This spectacular production hasmany of the best-loved songs from the film.After the huge popularity of our Wickedexcursion last year, it is clear that ourstudents share a love of live theatre.

Dance ensembles: This year the college iscatering for a large number of interestedstudents in a variety of dance ensemblesrunning before school and at lunchtime. TheAmerica Dance Troupe meets twice a weekto build their 30-minute performance forJune. One of these rehearsals is taken byCassie James and the other by me.

We continue to offer a range of leadership

opportunities at the college and seniorDance students this year have offered tolead a Junior Dance Ensemble. We havestarted two Year 7 ensembles, one for jazzand one for modern dance. These twoensembles currently have over 60 girlsattending. They are led by Bethany Toohey,Lauren Farrugia, Amelia Carrasco and ChloeBradley. A Year 8 dance ensemble is led byRebecca Hobbs and Claire and EmmaStanley, and a Year 9 ensemble is led byClaudia Edensor and Kate Marning. All ofthese students currently study Dance at thecollege and will be supervised by me. Kerri Harrigan, Creative Arts Coordinator

Our America dance troupe

St Mary’s students at UOW Discovery Day

Year 12 students at a recent Geographyexcursion

Opening Mass dancers

2010 Dux, Rachael Zuzec, beingcongratulated by Mr Pitt at a school assembly

Thank you from Harshi

Harshi is a very capable young woman fromSri Lanka whom St Mary’s has helped tocomplete her university education since2005. Harshi was left an orphan followingthe devastating 2004 tsunami in the IndianOcean. She had little prospects of apromising future so over the years, Year 11students, the college Interact Club and staffhave rallied behind Harshi and helped hermeet her expenses.

Last year, staff held a book sale and moneywas sent to Harshi in December. Despite heroutstanding academic achievements, she isstill unable to secure employment, partlybecause she lives far away from majorcentres and she lacks work experience. Wecontinue to search for options for her. Hereis her letter of thanks and a recent photo ofher graduation. Liz Davis

“Dear Miss LizDavis and staff atSt Mary’s, Thankyou very much forthe lovely surpriseof a Christmas giftyou sent me. MrsManori handedme Rupees 22,000which is $210 thatyou had given her.Once again, thank you very much. I am verygrateful for your kindness and will neverforget you all. Happy New Year to you!Harshi”

Lions Youth of the Year Quest

Last week, Annalise Farrugia (Year 12)competed at the region final against fourother Lions representatives from otherschools.

Contestants had to answer questions posedby judges in a 30-minute interview onleadership, sporting, cultural andcommunity interests, general knowledgeand academic achievements.

Contestants then had to prepare for the“speech evening” where they were requiredto respond to two impromptu questions anddeliver a prepared five-minute speech.

The judges found their task was difficultbecause the standard was so high.

Annalise spoke eloquently about her viewson “mobile etiquette”. She was a standoutperformer and had the audience captivated.Although not the overall winner, we werevery proud of her presentation, poise andperformance. Well done Annalise.

Thank you to Olivia Todhunter, MadeleineDiggins, Mrs Todhunter, Sr Rita and MrsMayhew (ex-teacher) for their attendanceand support, and Mrs Morris and MrsPulford for their assistance in preparingAnnalise for this opportunity. Liz Davis

From the Dean of Studies

The 2011 student calendar is availableonline through the St Mary’s website. Thiscalendar includes year and whole-schoolevents and mapping of assessment tasks.

I encourage all parents to go through thiswith their daughters to help them develop astudy timetable which will assist with timemanagement and preparation for futuretasks.

In developing good study habits, followingis a set of guidelines to be considered:

1. Set aside a particular time each day forstudy and revision and create atimetable which covers all subject areas.

2. Create a study environment away frominterruptions with adequate lighting andventilation.

3. Drink plenty of fluids, expecially waterand eat healthy foods. Regular exerciseand enough sleep each night is alsoimportant.

4. Provide rewards for studying, such aswatching a favourite television show andspending time with family and friends.

5. Avoid interruptions by organisingappropriate materials beforecommencing a revision session tominimise distractions.

6. Parents and family members can quiztheir daughters on work covered.

7. Ask teachers for guidance if difficultiesare encountered with a new concept orunderstanding something learnt earlierin the year.

It is important that students have time forthemselves and practise balance in theirlives. It is through valuing this that ourstudents will be better prepared to meet thechallenges they will encounter throughoutthe year.

Congratulations to all our students on anexcellent start to the year! Gerry Sozio, Dean of Studies

Middle School news

Year 7 students are to be congratulated onhow well they have settled into their MiddleSchool classes. I have had a chance to visitmost classes and it has been a delight tosee the girls working very collaborativelywith their new classmates and teachers.

This week the students commenced lessonsusing their new laptops and were learningthe basics such as how to log on, navigatearound the college homepage, send anemail and access material on the on-lineclassrooms. As part of the Quality Learningapproach in Year 7, students will beworking this week with their teachers andpeers to negotiate criteria for their LearningProcess Reviews which will enable studentsto undertake self-reflection on theirapproach to their learning.

Year 8 students will be looking at theinteresting topic of forensics in theirenrichment classes, integrating key Maths,Science and RE concepts.

Year 8 and 9 students will be issued withtheir assessment manuals this week toassist the students in planning theirschedule of tasks each term. Terese ColemanAnnalise Farrugia

and Olivia Todhunter

Mrs Brenda Wilson (Director), Ms EmmaMagill (Dean of Pastoral Care) and SrChristine Manning (Chair of Members)

after the Opening Mass

Hockey

The Wollongong Diocese 16 years hockeytrials were held at Unanderra on 21February. Congratulations to Taylor Dean,Mikayla Kelly, Jessica Knight and JessicaWotherspoon on gaining selection, withRebecca Panozzo named as a shadowplayer.

The girls will travel to Wyong in March toattend the NSW CCC hockey trials. Goodluck girls! Belinda Sparks, Sports Coordinator

Locked Bag 42 - Wollongong NSW 2500 - Phone 02 4228 6011 - Fax 02 4229 8555 - www.stmarys.nsw.edu.au

For student enquiries and notifications, please ring Student Office direct: 4226 3959

25 Feb Swimming carnival at Corrimal pool (Years 7, 8, 12 and competitors from all years)

11 Mar School Certificate awards assembly13 Mar Year 7 P&F welcome BBQ 4pm in BBQ area15 Mar Open Day tours 9am, 11.30am, 2pm, 4.30pm

ADHD Support Group Drop In Morning - support and information - Friday 25 Feb, CitylifeChurch, 10.30am-12pm. No cost, donations welcome. contact Jill 0414 650 506 or Cathy 0407292 190.

News from the P&F

Thanks to all parents who came along toour first P&F meeting of the year. Minutes ofthe meeting will be available with the nextNewsletter.

If you have concerns, issues or ideas youwould like to raise with the school, don’twait for the next meeting, email or call theme (0438 662 333), Megan Waud (0408292 233 ) or Maggie Henderson (0425 358649).

What next for education in the State ofNSW? The NSW Parent’s Council and theAustralian Council for Educational Leadersare co-hosting an Educational Forum at theIllawarra Grammar School, WesternAvenue, Wollongong on Wednesday 2March at 7pm. All are welcome to attend.

“This is an excellent opportunity for ourparents and caregivers to discover their localcandidates’ views on a vast range ofeducational issues affecting our children’sfuture”, stated Anne Crabb, Executive Officer,NSW Parents’ Council.

Year 7 Welcome BBQ: The P&F are lookingforward to meeting our Year 7 students andtheir parents and families at the upcomingYear 7 BBQ. If you haven’t already, pleaseRSVP as soon as you can for cateringpurposes.

If you are a Year 8 parent and can help out,please email or call Megan Waud on 42292222, 0408 292 233 or email meganjwaud@bigpond.com.

Outdoor Movie Night: We are keen to hold amovie night towards the end of this term butneed volunteers to help organise the event.If this is something you’d like to help with,please let us know.

Family Care Project: We need volunteers tocook meals for our college families who arein need. If you can help, please complete theform (available on the college website) andsend it to the college addressed to the P&F.Regards, Helen Bow, President P&F Association

Kulilla Corner

Sleep and young people: Sleep is superimportant and it changes duringadolescence. Making sure you get enoughsleep can be tricky, but it’s important to findthe right balance so you can be alert andenergetic during the day and feel goodabout yourself.

What can HELP a good night’s sleep? Createyour own relaxing bedtime routine toprogram your body clock:

• Ensure you’re not too hot or too cold.Keep your feet at the right temperature byputting on or taking off socks.

• Have a warm drink. Milk contains aminoacids that can make you drowsy, andcamomile tea can also help with sleep.

• Create a sleep space that works for you -it should be quiet, dark, less cluttered.

• Do relaxing activities in order to winddown. These might include reading orlistening to music softly. A warm bath orshower can help to make you feel sleepy.

• Turn off your computer and phone anhour before you go to sleep.

Kick start your day...

• Wake up at the same time each day andcatch the morning sun. Waking up withsunlight will restart your body clock and

help your brain switch on.

• Try to get out of bed when you wake uprather than going back to sleep.

• Get out in the fresh air and do someexercise. Even if it feels difficult, this willhelp you to wake up and improve yoursleep the next night.

While you’re out and about...

• Stay off caffeine after midday or if you’resensitive try to cut it out altogether.

• Try not to nap unless you’re tired. If youdo nap, keep it short.

• Write a Journal to get out all theimportant thoughts, worries or eventsfrom the day.

Don’t stress if you find yourself waking upin the night. It’s actually pretty normal, andworrying about getting back to sleep willprobably keep you up longer. Try to relaxand wait for the next wave of sleepiness toarrive, and if you find yourself staring atthe clock, try turning it around. Reference: Orygen Youth Health

Parent Line NSW

The State Government funded helpline, Parent LineNSW (managed by CatholicCare) provides a freesupport service to parents across NSW. Skilledprofessional counsellors are available 24 hours aday 7 days a week to take calls from parents andcarers about any parenting issue, from concernsabout distant adolescents to complex challenges ofliving in blended families. It is the only freecounselling service available to parents, at anytime of the day or night, anywhere in NSW. It’sconvenient because parents can call when it suitsthem, they don’t have to arrange child care to talkto a professional counsellor and they can call asmany times as they need.

We have a website for parents, carers andprofessionals (www.parentline.org.au) with a rangeof tip sheets for parents about contemporaryissues facing families today, some parenting storieswritten by our counselling team that normaliseparenting challenges and some links to other NSWservices.

Our telephone counselling line is 1300 1300 52 andis available for the cost of a local call from a landline.

Catherine Woods, former College Captain,having morning tea with Frank Pitt after the

HSC awards assembly