Newsletter - T3W4 - 6/8/21

From the Principal

I would like to start this weeks newsletter by welcoming Mrs Vanessa Galvin to our College. Vanessa will be taking the place of Mr Ed Curran while he is on leave. She comes to us from Mt St Patrick’s College in Murwillumbah and has taught Maths at various schools for many years. We have been very lucky to employ Vanessa at this time of year. I'm sure that Vanessa will be welcomed by the whole community.

Mrs Clare Axman and Ms Dana Barnsley spoke to the Year 11 students this week regarding the process which the College uses to elect our leadership team for 2022. The students need to go through a rigorous but rewarding procedure starting with an application to the College executive. Students will then be asked to attend an interview with Mrs Axman and Ms Barnsley before addressing their entire Year group. Year 11 students as well as teachers will be then asked to vote. All of the different parts of this process are important as we are committed to appointing leaders that embody the best of our College and who will lead us ably into the future. The application forms can be collected at the front office and they need to be handed back into the office by 9.00am, Monday, 9 August.  I would encourage all students in Year 11 to consider applying for a leadership position.

I would like to wish all our senior students the very best of luck for their upcoming Trial HSC examinations. Albert Einstein said “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” The exams may be difficult, but they are an important tool to help you prepare for the HSC, to be able to demonstrate your knowledge and to gain valuable feedback. This is a very stressful time for students and their families so my advice for families with a stressed out student is the following:

• Give them a calm, supportive environment
• Make sure they're well fed
• Sleep, Sleep, Sleep
• Help them to keep balanced
• When the going gets tough, keep a level head
• Be supportive and take the gloves off
• Remind them it's not the end of the world

The new building is certainly starting to take shape. The beautiful weather has allowed the builders to make real progress over the last couple of months and the ‘bones’ of this new facility are in place. I have added a couple of photos below to highlight some of the progress taking place. Our teachers are preparing for lessons in the new spaces which will be unlike what we have had in the past. Lots of thought and effort has gone into the design of the innovative learning spaces as well as the technology to go with them. I can't wait for it to be finished and to be able to have our kids learning in these spaces.

Best wishes for the next fortnight.

Tracy Robinson
Principal

Upcoming Dates

Week 6

Wednesday, 18 August - Aspire (young adults Diocesan event) - Parish Hall

Parish Mass Times

WEEKEND MASS

5pm (Sat) & 8am (Sun)

WEEKDAYS

Monday 9.00am,

Tuesday 8.00am

Wednesday 8.00am,

Thursday 9.00am, 

(Feast St Mary Magdalene)

Friday 9.00am

Saturday 9.00am

RECONCILIATION

Saturday 8.30am - 9.00am

COUNTRY MASS

Sunday, 8 August - Mallanganee - 10.30am

MASKS MUST BE WORN

NSW HEALTH ORDER FOR HOUSES OF WORSHIP

* All are required to check in using the Service NSW App for

contact tracing purposes OR please fill in the sheets if you do not have a phone.

* Ensure social distancing is maintained.  

* Masks are to be used as per current legislation.

This information will be sent to NSW Health

From the Assistant Principal - Mission

We have had a quiet few weeks onsite which has allowed us to really focus on our student outcomes in classrooms. The current restrictions have meant we have less disruption to our classroom environment and can better work with students to access their learning. We have made the decision to extend this to students using class time to access the bathroom or to go to get a drink. We want all students to be in class at all times to be able to achieve success in their studies. There is ample opportunity for students to use the bathrooms and bubblers between classes and at designated break times. 

Bite Back - Mental Health Challenge
Our students will be participating in a mental health challenge during this term. We have made space in our Religious Education classes for this to occur. Our aim to educate our students in all areas includes wellbeing and mental health. The program is provided through Beyond Blue and we look forward to working with students over the coming weeks to increase their awareness of the issues. 

Tuning into Teens
Tuning into Teens is an online program run by Interrelate. The flyer for this program is attached at the bottom of this week's newsletter. The Interrelate organisation have a great reputation locally and this program looks like it could be of benefit to our families. 

TikTok
As parents of teenagers, you are well aware of the issues around the use of social media (you definitely don’t need me to tell you about it). However, there was a 4-Corners episode last week which may assist you in staying informed about the app TikTok. 

Yondr
We have had an increase in the number of students using a fake/old phone in their Yondr pouch. This is causing concern as students are becoming increasingly more distracted by their phone again. When a staff member asks to see their phone, students are giving false information and when they are exposed in the lie, they do admit fault. Please remind your child this rule (of no phones) is to allow them to increase their engagement with their studies and build solid relationships with their peers. 

Wishing all our families continued safety in this time of uncertainty. 

Clare Axman
Assistant Principal - Mission

From the Leader of Curriculum

Electives Selections for Year 8 Going Into Year 9 - 2022
On Wednesday of this week, Year 8 students were walked through choosing Electives for Years 9 and 10. During that session, I highlighted some important considerations for selecting 2 electives that they will be taking through from Year 9 and into Year 10.

The vast majority of that session involved teachers of the various electives, briefly explaining what each elective is about, however, this information is also available on the St Mary’s Year 9 Electives site.

• Here is the link to the St. Mary's Year 9 Electives which contains information about all of the electives St Mary’s offers.
• The 2022 Electives Selection Form, for which there is a link on the above site, went live on Wednesday afternoon and all Year 8 students received an email explaining this and other important information. The form will close at 5pm next Friday, 13 August.
• Please note that students will need to pick three Electives in order of priority even though they will only be studying two of them. This is to help ensure that a student gets two of their chosen electives.
• Some electives may not end up running due to an insufficient number of students selecting it. There is no hard and fast rule what the minimum size of a class may be as other factors are always considered.
• Students and their parents/guardians are strongly encouraged to engage with the information on the above site and direct any questions they may have to the Electives teachers, Mr Lynch, Mr Hayward or myself.

Trial Exams 2021
As posted in the Assessment Calendar (Google), the 2021 Trial Exams will be held during Week 6 of this term. An email with the timetable attached as well as a few reminders about requirements for these exams was sent to all Year 11 & 12 students on Friday of last week. I have included part of that email below:

• If you are sick on the morning of an exam, you need to let the office know by 9am AND organise a Medical Certificate.
• If you are going to miss an exam for another reason that you know of in advance, you must come and see me to get a Variation of Assessment form. Please be mindful of the fact that the Trial exam period has been advertised since early in the year and hence absence from an exam may well lead to being awarded zero for that exam.
• Catch-up exams for the above scenarios will be held on Monday & Tuesday of Week 7 (23 and 24 August).
• A screenshot of the timetable is included below

Michael Woerner
Leader of Curriculum

From the Leaders of VET, Careers and Resources

As we move closer to the end of Term 3, Year 12 students are reminded to ensure they have considered their career options and put applications in place.

Ideally, students should have University applications completed by mid-September and I am available to support all students with this process. Appointments can be made via the smcccareers website. Senior students are emailed a copy of Careers Corner which provides a range of Study option updates. 

For students interested in Construction, the school will be running White Card Training on Friday, 27 August. If students have not already registered their interest, they should see me at their earliest convenience.

Any available traineeships and apprenticeships will appear on the Careers website under the Student Secure Area/Job Vacancies. I will add them as I hear about them.

Out and About; Events students may be interested in:
UNSW - Yr 8 to Yr 12 Girls - Ever wondered where studying maths and science at school can take you?
Young Women In Engineering (YoWIE)

Registrations will open approximately August 2021. 

Our next YoWIE event will take place in the April School Holidays 2022 (exact dates to be confirmed).

Please check again to register your interest in attending.

As an engineer, your world is full of opportunities. UNSW Canberra’s YoWIE Program is committed to inspiring young women currently in Year 9 – 12 to consider a future in engineering. This free three-day workshop aims to show you how your maths and science studies at school can help shape your future.

The YoWIE program began in 2016 and has grown in popularity as more young women join us each year to experience what it’s like to be an engineer. By participating in the YoWIE program, you’ll have access to a range of hands-on activities, talks by practising female engineers and the chance to meet other like-minded young women in a fun and supportive environment. 

https://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/school-of-engineering-and-information-technology/yowie/act-young-women-engineering-yowie-2020

ASD Cyber EXP - Free Program Available Now 
ASD Cyber EXP will take you through a day in the life of five cyber specialists experts working in the Australian Signals Directorate helping to secure the government’s information, services and personnel.

The ASD CyberEXP sponsored by the Australian Signals Directorate, is an interactive online cyber career exploration experience run on the LifeJourney platform.

It enables students to test drive a day in the life of five ASD cyber professionals.

Users will participate in challenging real-life cyber scenarios, discover the skills and tools used by these ASD cyber mentors and explore the vast number of careers available in cyber security today.

Why should students participate?
The ASD CyberEXP is a powerful and exciting way for students to see and experience the benefit of following a cyber and STEM education pathway. By participating in the ASD CyberEXP, students will be more prepared to make decisions for their future.

https://asdcyberexp.com.au

Entrepreneurship Education
Unlock your entrepreneurial potential and gain the skills necessary to succeed. We’ve seen thousands of students reach their goals and potential and this is now your opportunity to do the same.

Study on the stunning East Coast of Australia. Enjoy beautiful sun and surf filled days and progress your career with Entrepreneur Education. We look forward to nurturing your ambition and helping you reach your goals and potential.

https://www.entrepreneur.edu.au/

Work Experience 2022 at the Zoo – Heads Up
Applications for 2022 Work Experience placements will open on Monday, 5 October 2021.

Sydney Taronga Zoo Sydney offers school work experience opportunities for students in Years 10 – 12 who are interested in pursuing a career in zoo keeping, animal care, tourism or zoo horticulture. 

https://taronga.org.au/get-involved/school-work-experience/sydney

Bev Champion
Leader of VET, Careers and Resources

Student Support Services

To assist Yr 10-12 students and families in their considerations of pathways to post school life, Virtual Information Sessions are available to support this process. Please note the upcoming dates as registrations close three business days before the event. Two business days prior to the event, details to join the session will be sent from events@ndis.gov.au to the email address you provide at registration. Following these sessions if you have any queries please don't hesitate to contact me. 

Kelly Scurr
Leader of Student Support Services

Family Connect

A reminder to families that the College can offer a support service through Family Connect. Please see the following flyer for further details.

SMCC Ministry Corner

School is back and despite new COVID restrictions, we are pushing on with ministry events and activities in any way possible. This means a few things have been postponed but there is still so much happening. Here is a wrap up of last term's activities and some upcoming events to look forward to. 

Ministry In Leadership
On Thursday, 22 July our Year 10 Ministry Class participated in a new initiative called Ministry In Leadership. We decided to implement a leadership ministry skills day for our Year 10 Ministry class students. The Ministry in Leadership program develops ministry based leadership skills that are used at student discipleship events such as SHINE, IGNITE, LEAD, College ministry events and Leadership opportunities within the College. The day was a great success and all involved took plenty of skills and learning out of it. 

Apostoli
Our Year 9 and 10 ministry classes will again be attending the Apostoli ministry sessions run by the YMO’s this term. Our first session for the term took place on Friday, 23 July and was a great opportunity for students to learn a little bit more about the Church, in particular, the importance of the Mass. Thanks to Mrs Axman, Mr Humphreys and Ms Day in assisting on the day. The next session will be run on Friday, 20 August where Father Peter will be joining us to speak about how we can better participate in the Mass. 

The Igloo Room:
This week during lunch time in the Marian Cottage we have introduced a new room called ‘The Igloo’ a place where students can come and eat their lunch, listen to music, play some games and meet new people. Even though this is a new program we have had almost 20 students coming to The Igloo which is an amazing number of students for our first week. 

IGNITE Conference
At this stage, IGNITE Conference is still going ahead in the term 3 holidays. We are overjoyed to announce this year we will be sending 20 students, from Year 7-10 and 6 staff - the biggest group we have ever sent. Anyone that is attending and hasn’t yet paid or set up a payment plan is urged to make contact with the College office to arrange this. The CSO will give refunds if the Conference does not go ahead. We look forward to sharing more information as this event gets closer.

SHINE Conference
SHINE Conference which was scheduled for Thursday and Friday of Week 5 has unfortunately been postponed. We will contact participants once we have new information.

Dan and Theo
Youth Ministry Officers

Reach Out

5 Steps to Study Success

These are scientifically proven steps to study success from ReachOut.

1. Break your study up into manageable 20-minute chunks. Get some more info about setting small goals here.
2. Talk about it or say it out loud. When you say something out loud, you'll find it much easier to remember it. Chatting with someone about what you're studying is even better.
3. Remove the distractions. Put your phone on silent and out of reach and turn off the pop-up notifications on your computer. Research shows that it can take up to 20 minutes to refocus on what you're doing once you've been distracted.
4. Take breaks. If you plan your study chunks with breaks in between, having the time away can help you to come back refreshed.
5. Get some sleep. Getting a good night's rest helps your brain and body to rest and recharge. In fact, you'll do better at your exams and remember more of what you studied if you get a good night's sleep, rather than if you stayed up late studying.

Other things you can do include eating the right foods, perfecting your time management skills and knowing when to take a break from studying and getting some physical activity or social time in.

Find out more at: https://au.reachout.com/articles/5-steps-to-study-success

Canteen

Volunteers
We are looking for volunteers to assist in the Canteen. Please contact the Canteen via the College office if you are available at any time to help.

Flexischools
Flexischools is a well-established organisation allowing you to easily place all your canteen orders online at any time.

Download the Flexischools app from the App store or Google Play. Click here for details on how to set up your account. 

Once registered, you can start placing orders immediately.

Please note that sushi orders will need to be placed before Tuesday afternoon at 1pm as Sushi will only be available for Wednesday orders.

There is a charge of $0.29 per order for using this service.

If you have any questions, please contact the Flexischools Customer Service Team via their website contact page.

The normal process of ordering from the canteen (cash, eftpos, morning lunch orders) is still available.

Flexischools - Uniform Shop

The College is pleased to announce that Uniforms can soon be ordered and purchased online through the Flexischools service. This will be 'live' from Wednesday, 11 August. No fees are charged to families for using this service.

The Uniform Shop will continue to operate as normal via the College office on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Please note the following information for orders made via this service:

Tuesday Orders
- Cut off time is 4pm on Monday
- Pick up available from the College office on Wednesday morning

Thursday Orders
- Cut off time is 4pm on Wednesday 
- Pick up available from the College office on Friday morning

Whilst all care will be taken to ensure that stock availability is correct at the time of ordering, there may be some items that are not in stock at the time of packing the online orders. In this case, you will be contacted to advise of an estimated time of arrival for new stock of that item or given the option of a refund processed through Flexischools.

All uniform shop order enquiries can be emailed to: cash-uniform@lism.catholic.edu.au

We are very excited about offering this service to families to provide flexibility for purchasing uniforms. 

Uniform Shop

Uniform Shop Opening Hours
Tuesdays         3.15pm to 5.00pm
Thursdays        2.00pm to 5.00pm

Payments of cash, cheque or EFTPOS are welcome.

Second Hand Uniforms

Sustainable School Shop is an online shop dedicated to buying and selling of second hand uniforms. For more information ring 1300683337 or visit www.sustainableschoolshop.com.au.

 Please note that this facility is available for use with the new College uniforms only.

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