Love of God · Love of Learning · Hospitality · Stewardship · Peace

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY21 Sept Term 3 ends

8 Oct Term 4 commences STUDENTS RETURN IN SUMMER UNIFORM

10 Oct Year72013orientationday

17 Oct Year11leadershipday

17-19 Oct Year 7 camp

23 Oct Year7immunisations

26 Oct Year11achievementassembly

For student enquiries and notifications, please ring Student Office on 4226 3969

Newsletter 13 2012 - 21 September

Dear parents and carers,

Over the last few weeks I have been readingsomeworkbySrJoanChittisteron the teachings of St Benedict and the Benedictinevalueofstability.JoanisaBenedictinenun,authorandrenownedspeakerwhohaswrittenextensivelyonTheRuleofBenedict.Shespeaksofstabilityasthe act of being the best of who we are, whereverweare.Itisbasicallyaninvitationtoslowdown,tostaylongerinthesamewaythatthemonkscommittedthemselvestomonasticlife,evenifwecan’tstayputindefinitely.JoanChittistercontendsthatstabilitybringsoutthebestinus.Slowingdownorstayingputdoesn’tstopusfromgrowing:itactuallydemandsthatwegrow.

ThepolaroppositetostabilityismobilityandSrJoandescribesmobilityaspromotingasortofrunningawaymechanism.Shetellsusthatmobilitytotallyworksagainststillnessandpeace.Wecanseethisinourdailylivesasweareencouragedtovieweveryshopwindowasholdingabetterbargainandeveryrelationshippromisingamoresatisfyingpartnership.Everynewplace,everynewpersonandnewpossibilitytemptsustotryagain,totryover,totryoncemoretofindtheperfectplaceoratleasttheplaceperfectlysuitedtous.

Ourcurrentculturedoesn’tvalueperseverance or persistence; we tend to lookatquickfixesandinstantgratification.ItendtofavourJoanChittister’sapproachofvaluingthemomentandappreciatingtheconstancyofthejourney.Aswereachtheendofanotherterm,myhopeisthatinthemidstofverybusylivesyoucanspendtimefindingpeaceandstabilityinyourlivesasthebenefitsaretrulylifegiving.

TheYear12girlshavefinishedtheirschoolcareersonaveryhighnote,withanactivitiesdayonFridaythatwasgreat

fun,theiracademicassemblyonMondayand their Grad Mass and lunch with their parentsonTuesday.ThiswillbefollowedbytheYear12DinnerDanceonFridayevening.Thisyear’sYear12havebeenoutstandingleadersandwewishthemwellastheybeginanewchapterintheirlives.IwouldaskthatyoukeeptheminyourthoughtsandprayersastheypreparefortheirHSCexamscommencingon15October.

Thankyoutothemanyparentswhorespondedtomyletterregardingthefreezing of State Government grants to Catholicandindependentschoolsforthenextfouryears.ThistranslatesintoasignificantcutingovernmentsupportforourschoolfromJuly2013.Weareintheprocessofformulatingourbudgetsatpresentandthisnewshascertainlyalteredourapproachandourthinking.Wearenowconsideringwaysinwhichwecancontinueto provide our level of support and services withoutundulyimpactingonstudentsandfamilies.Iwillkeepyouupdatedonthissituationaseventsunfold.

AswereachtheendofTerm3Iagainthankyouforyoursupportandcooperation.Weareblessedtohaveawonderfulcommunitythatprovidesasupportiveandwelcomingenvironmentandthisonlyoccursasaresultofthetrustandcooperationthatyou

provide.OnbehalfofthestaffIofferyouourmostsincerethanks.

IwillbeaccompanyingthegirlsontheItaliantripoverthetermholidaysandwillnotbebackatthecollegeuntilthemiddleofthesecondweekofTerm4.IwouldaskthatyoudirectallinquiriestoDrHackwhowillbeactingprincipalatthistime.

Ipraythatyouandyourfamilieshaveapeacefilledandhappyholiday.

Yourssincerely,FrankPitt-Principal

Setting the scene - Year 12 Grad Mass 2012 at the Wollongong Entertainment Centre

FromtheDeanofPastoralCare…

KEEPING OUR PROPERTY SAFE

Itisunfortunate,butfromtimetotimethepersonalpropertyofourstudentscangomissing.Inmostinstancestheitemsarefoundwithinashortspaceoftime,afterhavingbeenleftsomewhereinadvertently.Weallhavemomentswhenwethinktheworst,butmoreoftenthannotithasbeenthebusynatureofourdaysthathascloudedourmemoryofwherethingshavebeenleft.However,itisthecasethatonsomerareoccasionstheftdoesoccur.

Studentstodayhaveawidevarietyofitemsthatarevaluable.Moststudentscarryatleastamobilephoneand/oranMP3player,eachstudenthasalaptoporiPadandstudentsfromtimetotimecarryreasonablysignificantamountsofcashintheirwallets.

Pleasebeawarethatthecollegedoesnottakeanyresponsibilityorliabilityforthelossofmobilephones,MP3playersorcash.Parentsareencouragedtoremindtheirdaughterstoconsiderthefollowingtipstoassistinprotectingpersonalpropertyatschool.

• Don’tbringvaluableitemstoschool.Ifyoudon’tabsolutelyneedsomething,leaveitathome.Keeponlyasmuchcashinyourwalletasyouneedinoneday.

• Havevaluablesclearlylabelledormarked,toensuretheycanbeidentifiedtoyoupersonally.YoumaybeinterestedtoknowthatAppledoprovideanengravingoptionfortheirproducts.

• Avoidcallingattentiontoyourvaluables.Keepvaluablessecurelyinyourlockeroronyourperson,tuckeddiscreetlyinblazerpocketorpencilcase.

• Neverleavevaluablesunattended.Mostitemsgomissingpermanentlywhenleftunattended.Pleaseensurethatyourphone/MP3playerorcashisremovedfromschoolbagswhenleftincommonareas.

• Secureyourlockeratalltimes.Students should not share their locker combinationsorleavelockersunlocked.Itissurprisinghowmanylockersareleftunlockedattimes. Emma Magill

EQUESTRIAN COMPETITION

CongratulationstoIsabel Parnell and Meg CumminswhocompetedattheCamdenInterschoolsCarnivallastweek.Over300competitorsenteredacrossallagedivisions.

Thecompetitionwasveryhigh.Thegirlsboth placed 4thinGallowayHackfortheirrespectiveyearsandcombinedtorecorda5thinthePairsevent.Megplaced5th on DollyandIsabelplaced3rdonIvyinHandyPonycombinedevent.BelindaSparks

Isabel and Meg

PRAYERS FOR OUR HSC STUDENTS

Dear parents, IfyouwouldliketoprayforaYear12studentwhowouldappreciateyourspiritualsupport,couldyoupleasesendan email message to natty.apolo@stmarys.nsw.edu.au.Nattywillthenemailyouthenameofastudentwhoyoucanincludeinyourfamily’sprayers. JoanneHack

YEAR 8 SCIENCE RAISE FUNDS FOR TARONGA ZOO

Thanks to all students who created wonderful “Zootopia” products, aswellasbeingsuchwillingcustomers.Students were able to choose from toys,masks,puzzles,keyrings,cakesandpaintings...tonameafew!Inall,$294wasraisedinashortspaceoftime.ThismoneyhasnowbeendonatedtotheTigerAppealatTarongaZoo.Year8Sciencestaff

NATIONAL TITRATION COMPETITION

StMary’scame4thintheprestigiousNationalTitrationCompetitionfinalsheldattheUniversityofNSWon15September.Year 12 students Beth Grimmer, Brigitte Bradley and Grace Waring competed with 50otherteamsinNSWtoclaim4th place, and will know their rank against other States inlateNovember.Eachhasreceivedagoldmedalfortheirprecisetitrationtechniqueswithanerroroflessthan1%.Theaimofthetitrationcompetitionistoaccuratelydeterminetheunknownconcentrationofanacidbyusingtitrationtechniques.

Overall,15studentsfromMsHarris’andMsHsu’sYear12ChemistryclassesenteredtheregionalstageinJuneattheUniversityofWollongong.All15girlshavetrainedrigorouslyafterschoolhoursonafortnightlybasis.ItwasapleasuretoannouncethatBethGrimmer,BrigitteBradleyandGraceWaringalsocame1stinNSWattheregionalstageofthecompetition.Congratulationsgirls!Ching-WenHsu

Grace Waring, Brigitte Bradley and Beth Grimmer

____________YEAR 12 ACHIEVEMENT ASSEMBLY_______________SIOBHAN O’BRIEN Siobhan’sachievements:1stPlaceinChemistry,1stPlaceinEconomics,1st PlaceinEnglishAdvanced,1stPlaceinMathematics,1stPlaceinMathematicsExtension1,1stPlaceinPhysics,1stPlaceinStudiesofReligionI,CollegeSpiritAward,OverallAcademicExcellence,Principal’sAward,SportsAward,StMary’sAward,StudentLeadershipBodyAward,UniversityofWollongongAward-1stPlaceinEconomics,100%Attendance.

JESSICA GROZDANOV Jessica’sachievements:1stPlaceinChemistry,CaltexAward,CollegeSpiritAward,DukeofEdinburghBronzeAward,HonoursinMathematics,HonoursinPDHPE,HonoursinPhysics,Principal’sAward.

BRIDGET HAYWOOD Bridget’sachievements:Applicationaward,CollegeSpiritAward,HonoursinBiology,HonoursinEnglishAdvanced,HonoursinModernHistory,HonoursinStudiesofReligionI,SrRitaHayesLeadershipAward,StudentLeadershipBodyAward.

MEG CONNELL Meg’sachievements:1stPlaceinEnglishExtension1,1stPlaceinGeneralMathematics,1stPlaceinMusic1,Applicationaward,BevRigbyMemorialPlaque,CollegeSpiritAward,CulturalAward,HonoursinEnglishAdvanced,HonoursinLegalStudies,StudentLeadershipBodyAward.

Siobhan O’Brien with her parents

BARNARDOS FIND-A-FAMILY

Barnardosisanon-profitorganisationworkingwithchildrenwhorequirelong-termandpermanentfostercarersastheyareunabletolivewiththeirbirthfamily.Theyarelookingforpeoplewhocanprovide:

• monthlyweekendcare• temporarycare• permanentcareoradoption.

Ifyouthinkyoucanhelp,callBarnardosintheIllawarraon42970670.

VISIT BY MEMBERS OF THE KOREAN WAR VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION

TheHSIEfacultywerehonouredtoreceiveavisitfrommembersoftheKoreanWarVeterans’Associationlastweekaspartoftheir program of visits to schools across the State to present valuable teaching resources tocommemorate60yearssinceAustralia’sinvolvementintheKoreanWar.

MrAllenLewis,MrNormCharmanandMrsAliceBurnspresentedthefacultywitharesourcekitcomprisingofCDs,booksandmaps that have been designed to bring a greater awareness to students of the service performedbyAustralianservicemenandwomeninKoreabetween1950and1953.TheseresourceswillnowbeusedinStage5Historyclasses.TereseColeman

LAUNCH OF WORLD MISSION MONTH

On4SeptemberfivestudentsfromYear10(JessCruickshank,SiobhanBack,CassieGrant,ChloeRodgersandAlanaRidley)accompaniedbyDrJolaKusters-Sztaba,travelledtoStJoseph’sCatholicHighSchoolinAlbionParktoattendtheofficiallaunchofworldMissionMonth.

TheliturgywasledbyBishopPeterInghamandvariousCatholichighandprimaryschools from across the Illawarra were represented.Thethemewas‘’Restorehopetosomeonespecial’’.Itwasaverymovingceremonywhichhighlightedtheimportanceofsocialjusticeandcompassiontowardspeopleinneed.

TheliturgywasaccompaniedbythechoirfromStJoseph’sCatholicHighSchoolwhichmaytheceremonyespeciallybeautiful.Thesimplemessageweleftwithwas‘’letyourlifechangetheworldonepersonatatime’’. JolaKusters-Sztaba

CCC ATHLETICS

CongratulationstoAndrea Berrell on her outstandingperformanceatCCCAthleticsatHomebushlastFriday.Andreawonthe16years200mandcame2nd in the 100m.Unfortunatelyshewithdrewfromher favoured event, the 400m, due to a footinjury.CongratulationstoAlexandra Parkeronwinningthe13yearsLongJumpevent, and Hannah Preeo, 2ndinthe13year1500m.

OurSeniorRelayteamfinished3rd, beaten by100thofasecond.RunnerswereLucyFormosa,CassieGrant,MaddyFisherandAndreaBerrell.Welldonegirls. Belinda Sparks

Mr Lewis and Mr Charman with Mrs Coleman, Mrs Chenery and Mrs Dawson

Bishop Peter with our students and Dr Kusters-Sztaba

ARCADIANS CHILDRENS’ THEATRE

TheArcadianscongratulateMeg Kunkler, Gabby Bussoletti and Tash Bussoletti on theirrolesintheupcomingproductionofYou’re History.

You’reHistorybeginswithanerdyteenagerturningaportableclassroomintoatimemachine-amischievousdetentionclassissenthurtlingbackthroughhistory!Withparallelsbetweenhierarchicalhistoryandtoday’sschoolyard,hereisarollickingmusical full of wonderful characters, historicalmayhemandsensationalsongs.

Theproductionruns12-23SeptemberattheMinersLampTheatre,141PrincesHighway,Corrimal.Ticketsare$10forconcession,$15foradults,andgroupsof10+are$10each.Bookingscanbemadeatwww.arcadians.org.auor42848348.

THE MATHEMATICS ENRICHMENT CLUB

AtStMary’sstudentsarefortunatetohaveawidevarietyofclubs.AmongthemistheMathematicsEnrichmentClub.

Earlierthisyear,studentsintheMathsEnrichmentClubparticipatedintheMathematicsChallengeforYoungAustralians,whichisanationalcompetitionrunbytheAustralianMathematicsTrust.

ElevenstudentsfromacrossYears7and8completedtheJuniorLeveloftheChallengeStageforYoungAustralians.ThefollowingstudentsachievedaHighDistinctionwhichrepresents results achieved in the top 10% nationally:Year 7KiarnaRosandicandStefanieKusters;Year 8RebeccaJones,HannahShipp,KiaraZentrichandIsabellaTodd.

SimoneCarmodyofYear7receivedaDistinctionwhichrepresentsthenext15%ofresultsnationally.

ThefollowingstudentsreceivedaCreditwhichrepresentsthenext25%ofresultsnationally:Year 7MaritaFegan,CellinaZayyaandJessicaHewett;Year 8LucyNichols.

Allstudentsarecongratulatedonachievingoutstandingresults.JolaKusters-Sztaba

Top: Andrea Berrell, Lucy Formosa and Cassie Grant Above: Andrea Berrell

SERVICE AND ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

RecentlyMsMargaretHorewascongratulatedbyMrPeterTurner,DirectorofSchools,WollongongCatholicEducationOffice,onheroutstandingservicetoCatholiceducation-45yearsasamemberofStMary’sCollegestaff.

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

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECNICOLOUR DREAMCOAT PresentedbythechildrenfromStColumkillesCatholicPrimarySchoolatArcardiansTheatreCorrimal-Friday12October,1pmand7.30pm-Saturday13October,7.30pm.Ticketscanbepurchasedattheschoolorring42847987.

HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE PEOPLES TRUCK? Each November, in conjunctionwiththei98CampQualityConvoy,McMahonsTransportdonatesaB-DoubletrucktothepeopleoftheIllawarra.Forasmalldonationyournamecanbesign-writtenonthesideofthetruckfor12months.100%ofthemoneyraisedisdonatedtoCampQuality,awonderfulcharitythatprovidesfunprogramstochildrenandtheirfamiliesaffectedbycancer.In2011$43,276.20wasraised.Formoreinformationortodonatesimplyfollowthislink:http://www.mycampquality.org.au/peoplestruck.ContactNicoleMcMahon0438343683orCarmalBurgess42568884.McMahonsTransportmeetsallcostsinvolvedintheorganisationofthePeoplesTruck.

YEAR 12 ...CLAPOUT

AFL 9-A-SIDE COMPETITION FOR GIRLS... startingTerm4foran8-weekperiod.Weeks1and2willprovideintensivetrainingandgames,thenthefollowing6weekswillbefullgames.Year7-8-9startat4.50pm.Year10-11startat5.15pm.PhoneDaveJohnsonformoreinfoon42266302.Costis$55forthecompandyoureceiveafreefooty.Whynotgetagroupoffriendstojoin?

...GRADUATION MASS