Star of Peace

St Patrick's Marist College

Newsletter Number 15 - 25 September 2019

From the Principal ....

What a wonderful week to return to school to celebrate our Year 12 Graduation day. It started with a fantastic breakfast, followed by Year 12’s last year group assembly, an emotional walk through the school being cheered on by staff and students before celebrating Mass together. I have attended many Year 12 Graduation Masses over the years; ours here at St Patrick’s Marist stands out as a truly moving experience. As I watched our Year 12 students up on the balconies surrounding us with their candles lit, it not only exemplified the coming to an end of their Marist journey but the wonderful family spirit here at the College. To complete the night we celebrated each student’s achievements at St Joseph’s College Hunter’s Hill.  It was a wonderful evening enjoyed by all and a fitting way to conclude the Academic life of our students. I thank the many staff and students who helped to make the day so successful and memorable.

I dedicate this newsletter to our Graduands of 2019 and share a few of my reflections on the Class of 2019. The way that they presented themselves and moved through the day and evening was validation of what we know and have verbalised about this group of young men and women. “They are an outstanding example of what we hope a Marist Graduate should be”. Their involvements have been wide ranging and they have left us with a great legacy for younger students to follow, forever a part of the heart of St Patrick’s Marist College Dundas.

Our Year 12 Graduands and I started together in 2014. I can’t believe they are graduating, it has been a privilege to watch them grow, to share their journey. I am so proud of them and they will always hold a special place in my heart.

They have worked as a team in 2019. They have been positive, supportive, generous, hardworking and thoughtful.  Generous of spirit, compassionate in service and you have always shown loyalty and kindness.

They have, as was said in our readings during our Graduation Mass, loved each other as brothers and sisters and have shown a profound respect for one another, especially in their final years together.

I think it is important to acknowledge the wonderful leadership of Year 12 2019. The House Captains and Prefects have left their mark. Not only promoting our Marist values and traditions, but living them out in a real and authentic way.

We especially recognise Emma, Joshua, Claudia and Max for your outstanding Leadership. The role of College Captains and Vice Captains is a serious and important one. The success of the year group, in how they work as a unit to make a difference in the school lies with them. Their sense of service and witness has been demonstrated time and time again.

They have truly exemplified what it means to be Marist. I am so proud and thankful that they have led the student body with pride, strong minds and gentle hearts.

They will be remembered not only for their leadership, but as truly genuine people – with a desire to build a stronger Marist Culture for all students to be proud of.

I hope that term 3 has been a happy and rewarding experience for our students and families. 

As always I remind families if there are any concerns please contact us so that we can resolve any issue or assist as needed.

I wish Year 12 All the very best in their preparations for their HSC.

Have a safe and happy holiday.

Mrs Angela Hay

Principal

Assistant Principal - Innovation, Teaching and Learning

YEAR 11 END OF COURSE EXAMINATIONS

Year 11 End of Course Examinations have now concluded and students return to lessons to conclude their Year 11 studies. The HSC courses do not begin until Week 5 of next term, and students are encouraged to explore deeply their feedback from their examinations to ensure that they have a comprehensive understanding so to begin the HSC journey. Year 11 students will also have the opportunity to review their pattern of study and may drop a subject depending on their units. Students are reminded that they are required to have 10 units including a religion course.  Please see me or Miss Hagarty for further guidance and advice. Students will be given a short block of time to change / drop courses next term.

YEAR 11 PARENT / TEACHER INTERVIEWS

A reminder that Year 11 Parent/Teacher Interviews are on the 6th November from 4.00pm to 7.00pm. Please ensure that your sons and daughters see as many teachers of their subjects especially those they may wish to change.

YEAR 12 PROGRAMME OF STUDY

As we celebrate the Graduation of the Class of 2019 the final four weeks leading up to the HSC examinations are very important. Over the school holidays many teachers have organised holiday classes and students are encouraged to make time to attend these. These final weeks are known to be incredibly important for student success, as working with feedback received from the Trial HSC exams together with increased practice of examination style questions can lead to significant gains and greatly improved performance.  

HSC AND ATAR RELEASE DATE

This year, the HSC results and the ATAR will be released on the same day.  HSC results will be released at 6.00 am and ATARs at 1.00 pm. Students are encouraged to please inform the College Leadership Team of their ATAR achievement to assist in our collation of data as this data is not provided to schools.

2019 NAPLAN

The NAPLAN results have been released and are now being analysed.  This year the NAPLAN tests were conducted online, overcoming some technical difficulties. The initial view of results look positive and encouraging with some very significant growth in Year 9 literacy.

YEAR 10 MINIMUM STANDARDS TESTS

This term our Year 10 students will undertake the Minimum Standards Test. This test is able to be taken twice a year to then attain the HSC credential. Students will undertake a numeracy, reading and writing test online on the 15-16 October.

The minimum standard online tests are based on the Australian Core Skills Framework

(ACSF) with student results reported as a level of achievement from 1-4. The test

achievement level descriptions describe the skills needed for each of the four levels. Level 3 skills indicate a nationally agreed level of functional literacy and numeracy.

Minimum Standard Reading Test

  • 45 multiple choice questions 
  • Adaptive — meaning it tailors to a student’s ability. Questions become harder or easier depending on whether a student is answering questions correctly or incorrectly.
  • Marked electronically according to the achievement level descriptions

Minimum Standard Numeracy Test

  • 45 multiple choice questions 
  • Adaptive — meaning it tailors to students ability. Questions become harder or easier depending on whether a student is answering questions correctly or incorrectly.
  • Marked electronically according to the achievement level descriptions

Minimum Standard Writing Test

  • One question based on a visual or text prompt with up to a 500 word-response marked by trained markers according to the achievement level descriptions and the following, equally weighted, criteria:  relevance of writing to the topic; structure and sequence of ideas and control of language
  • Get help on understanding what to expect in the tests here.

Mr J. Scanlon

Assistant Principal:  Innovation, Teaching & Learning

Assistant Principal - Mission and Wellbeing

Parent Forum

TUESDAY, 29th OCTOBER

6.00 - 7.00 pm in the Theatre

The Sleep Connection Sleep for Better Health, Resilience and Performance

We are pleased to announce that Lisa Maltman from 'The Sleep Connection', will be sharing with our parent community the “Sleep for Better Health, Resilience and Performance”  message on Tuesday, 29th October at 6.00pm. 

Lisa is  passionate about healthy sleep and concerned about the fact that over 30% of primary school children and 70% of teenagers are sleep deprived. This is having significant consequences on many areas of their lives such as learning and academic performance along with their emotional and mental health.

The Sleep Connection was established by Lisa to meet the growing need to educate students, teachers and parents in schools on the importance of sleep health.

Lisa collaborates with key Australian adolescent sleep specialists and psychologists from the Woolcock Medical Institute in Sydney which is world-renowned in the area of sleep research.

Lisa trained as registered nurse and has spent much of her career in business development, corporate and sleep health. She is married with two daughters in high school.

 

Social Justice Statement 2019-2020

MAKING IT REAL: Genuine Human Encounter in our Digital World

We celebrate Social Justice Sunday on 29 September.   This year, the Australian Bishops' Social Justice Statement is titled: 'Making it Real: Genuine Human Encounter in our Digital World".  It shares Pope Francis' challenge to us to 'boldly become citizens of the digital world'.  It points out that we are called not just to be inhabitants of this world, but active citizens shaping it.

For further details about the Social Justice Statement, visit the Office for Social Justice website www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au or call (02) 8306 3499.  Order the Statement online at: bit.ly/socialjusticeshop.  Follow them on Facebook: @socialjusticeACBC or Twitter: @JusticeCatholic

HSC Prayers

Keep our Year 12 students in your prayers over the coming months as they graduate and being their final preparations for the HSC Examination.  Dedicated Masses have been organised by Catholic Youth Care over the coming weeks.  Please see attached notice.

A STUDENT'S HSC PRAYER

Lord, you have loved me into life and I thank you. In this exam period, give me a calm heart and quiet confidence in the knowledge that you hold me in the palm of your hand. Bless me with keen understanding and a retentive memory. Give me the ability to grasp things correctly, and express myself clearly. Help me to look beyond this time of exams and see clearly whatever you are calling me to be in life. Show me my gifts and talents and help me to have the courage to use them to love others, to give you glory and to leave this world a better place. Amen.

Business Manager

Evacuation and Lockdown Drills

These are part of our WHS compliance routine practice to ensure all students and all staff are aware of our emergency procedures, know what to do and where to go! Our procedures are designed to keep students and staff safe while emergency services deal with a real situation (if it was to occur).

Following multiple routine drills, the evacuation drill for Term 3 (to be practised this week) will include a “scenario” whereby a staff member will act as the fire at one location, and students and staff in that area will have to use alternate route to evacuate.

In the latter part of Term 4, the lockdown drill (date to be advised) will be practised during either recess or lunch breaks.

In the unlikely event of a real evacuation or lockdown being required, parents will be notified as soon as it is practical to do so. Please ensure that your contact mobile numbers and email addresses are up-to-date. Do NOT to come to school or call student mobiles.

Payments at office

School fees are best paid via payment arrangements set up by Catholic Education Office or by billpay at the local post office. For your child’s personal safety, do not send large sum of cash with them. You can also pay by credit card over the phone or by EFTPOS or cash at reception.

Payments for other items can be made via credit card over phone, by EFTPOS at reception or cash/cheque can be put into a sealed envelope with student’s name, homeroom, amount and what it is for, on it. Students are to put in drop box at student counter. If you are paying in cash, please put correct money in envelope. We can’t give change immediately and students have to be called back to the office later in day to collect it.

Uniform Shop

Our uniform shop is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays (before school and during recess and lunch breaks). We sell schoolbags, sports bags, hats, junior & senior ties and representative sports uniforms. We also sell good-quality second-hand uniforms.

Costs of uniform items are:

·         School bag $65;  Chiro bag $95, Sports Bag $15, Senior/Junior Ties $20, Hats $20

·         Soccer/Rugby Shorts $30; Cricket Shirt $35; Netball Shirt/Skirt $25; Rep Socks $15

·         Second hand uniform items – various (please ask)

Lost Property

By the end of this week, any unclaimed uniform items will be added to our second-hand uniform stock and other items such as water bottles, lunch boxes, umbrellas, etc will be discarded. Please ensure your child’s name is on their belongings so that if found, we can call them to office to collect.

Lowes Uniform Shop, Carlingford

I have recently liaised with our account rep and a large delivery of items has just arrived in their Melbourne warehouse. These will be transported to the Carlingford store and are expected to arrive just before the school holidays.

Lowes have customer feedback/complaints email address (customercare@lowes.com.au) for customers who want to know information, or have a problem that cannot be solved at the store level. Customer email and contact details will be sent directly to the Key Accounts Manager to follow up on.

Ms V. Fraser

Business Manager

Wellbeing

Year 11

As I write this, some of our Year 11 students and teachers are participating in an Immersion experience in India. We look forward to hearing stories upon their return of this special experience but in the meantime, we send our thoughts and prayers and wish them safe travels.

Next term we will hold the Year 11 Retreat at Mittagong which is a compulsory event. Permission notes have been issued for this and we ask that students return them as soon as possible. Students will be travelling in two groups with students from Chavoin, Edwin and Ludovic on retreat from Monday 11th November to Wednesday 13th November and students from Mackillop, Paul and Xavier on retreat from Wednesday 13th November to Friday 15th November. On the days that students are not on retreat they will be required to do home study or if this is not possible, they can come to school and complete schoolwork.

Mr D. Bonora

Pastoral Leader of Learning - Year 11 

Year 10

HARBOUR CRUISE

This week Year 10 received payment instructions and information relating to the Harbour Cruise which will be taking place on the Starship Cruises boat departing from King St Wharf. It is an expectation that all of Year 10 attend. 

It has come to the attention of the school that there are a number of students who are interested in hiring luxury cars to bring them to the formal. It is our recommendation that students do not go to this expense as the public road and drop off points for King St Wharf are not visible from the boat. Students should return their signed permission slip as soon as possible.  If there is a problem with payment for the cruise please don't hesitate to contact the front office where a payment plan can be organised. 

HOLIDAYS

I would like to take the opportunity to wish the Year 10 cohort a restful and safe holiday. School will return as normal on Monday the 14th of October. A reminder to all students that full school summer uniform is to be worn on that day. Please ensure that any haircuts or other fashion accessories are in line with college expectation when you return. 

Mr D. Berner

Pastoral Leader of Learning - Year 10

Year 8

Congratulations to Year 8 on another successful term. With many assessments out of the way, students can enjoy a well deserved break these holidays. Remembering to work on the little things and getting these right, so that the big things fall into place. 

We start back next term in summer uniform. Ladies will need to check their dress length before returning to school in case they have grown. Hair, make-up and jewellery rules still apply on your return to school. 

Can we also make an effort to be at school on time, first bell goes at 8:40am and students must be in their homeroom by the second bell at 8:45am.

May we keep Annabella and Chelsea Mejalli in our prayers as they head overseas to do volunteer work for 4 weeks.

I wish all students and their families a happy and safe holiday. See you in Term 4 refreshed and ready to work hard and finish the year on a fantastic note!

Mrs N. Padden

Pastoral Leader or Learning - Year 8 

Year 7

Week 9’s Pastoral Care lesson saw Year 7 students working as a team in a Homeroom based tug of war challenge!  Students showed great determination and strength to hold strong with their peers, even beating the teachers team! 

Congratulations to Year 7 for successfully navigating their way through their first three terms of high school. Students are reminded that Term 4 requires the summer uniform as per the College diary. I wish all students and their families a happy and safe holiday. See you in Term 4

Mr J. Hornby

Year 7 Leader of Learning - Pastoral

Key Learning

Bernhard Tandean - Staff Morning Tea

Bernhard Tandean from Year 11 recently hosted a staff morning tea with great success!

Bernhard has been undergoing hospitality training and he was able to display his food preparation, customer service and communication skills with a yummy morning tea. Well done Bernhard !!

History

YEAR 10 VIETNAM INCURSION

On the 13th of September, Year 10 students who study history were lucky enough to meet Brett Hunt (the son of Frankie in Redgum’s: 'I was only 19') to be entertained and moved in learning his personal story. He shared his father’s experiences relating to family and the lives of Australian soldiers in the Vietnam War. 

In learning about the Vietnam War, Year 10 had the chance to meet and listen to Australian singer-songwriter and theatre-in-education performer Brett Hunt. Hunt was the son of a veteran war hero (Francis Hunt) who served in the 3rd Battalion at the Vietnam War. He told us about his father’s journey by using an electric guitar and various methods of sound to replicate different scenes and settings of the war. Hunt told us a story about his father enlisting in the army for the Vietnam War but was soon injured from ‘jumping jacks’  just after he was engaged with his love, Conney. After two months of basic training, Francis Hunt was sent to Vietnam to help the South Vietnamese to defend their territory. After many months of conflict in Vietnam, Francis Hunt suffered emotional and physical trauma that his affect his life after returning to Australia. 

Overall, Year 10 thoroughly enjoyed today's performance and found it very captivating to listen to the stories of the Vietnam War. Hunt was able to balance the funny moments with those that were more serious and this was done in a creative way so that it was engaging and enjoyable. There were many links that could be made between Mr Hunt's performance and what we have learnt in class, which helped us in fully understanding our learning. Thank you Mr Hunt for sharing your stories with us and making this incursion a very valuable experience.

Serena Biason

10 Ludovic

As of the 9th August 2019, the Year 10s studying the Aboriginals‘ Changing Rights & Freedoms’ were given a chance to be shown insight into the various Aboriginal cultures, people groups, and lifestyles of Palm Island. This was all thanks to a man named Phil. He told us of his home island and the animals that lived there, of goats, and wild horses. He told us of his travels in other countries, and how he showed his culture to them. All the while being entertaining and detailed in his words and presentation. On that day we were given an insight into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. Yet it was drastically more revealing and showed us how deep a connection these people from different tribes of origin feel with their waters, lands, heritage, communities, as well as their songs and dances. I think my favourite part about the incursion was when he told us about Palm Island with its surrounding islets and all the things which make it so unique. Overall I can easily say that my classmates and I had a great time, enjoying it thoroughly, and that if any class or year group was given this opportunity it would be a shame to miss out on such an incursion. Thank you to our school for organising this and thank you to Phil for coming out on that day.

Chris Litsas

10 Edwin


Tech Team Support

Thank you to the following Tech Team students who so willingly use their IT talents to serve the College with support for vision and sound at our special events throughout the calendar year. They play such a vital role at our College and work tirelessly behind the scenes long before and after each event, to enable proceedings to run smoothly. 

  • Jakob Reid
  • Hamish Davidson
  • Matthew Raish
  • Anthony Khatchigian
  • Will Spooner

Graduation Mass: Musicians and Singers

Congratulations to the following Musicians and Singers who performed for the Graduation Mass on Tuesday afternoon. These musicians accompanied the College with their beautiful renditions of the Mass hymns, solo item 'I lived' by One Republic, and lead us with pride in singing the College song 'Sub Tuum'. Thank you for giving freely of your own time to learn the music and perform it with such reverence on this important occasion.

Year 7

Justin Burns

Joshua Khoury

Year 8 

Sebeen Chung

Isabella Filardo

Elizabeth Hogan

Leah Kim

Won Lim

Sam Moore

Year 9

Olivia Baker

Natasha Ball

Finn Bowly

Hayley Garbutt

Kayla Mills

Grace Moody

Nicholas Said

Aleksandr Zhigunov

Ashlee Liwanag

Eve Giacomelli

Year 10

Michael Blazevic

Alex Bozanic

Kaitlyn Brain

Marissa Browne

Nikolai Dmitrieff

Bianca Garth

Alisha Geraghty

Matt Hunter

Alex Johnson

Anthony Khatchigian

Jack McMaster

Gemma Smythe

Briana Webster

Amelia White

Year 11

Jaymelee BouFrancis

Laetitia Gugliotta

Eubeen Chung

Sam Markarian

Elina Myeong

Hugo Zhao

Ms T. Andrews

Leader of Learning - Performing Arts


Learning Enrichment Centre

Donations of Discovery Garden Tubs

The Learning Enrichment Centre would gladly receive any donations of the Discovery Garden Pots that Woolworths gives to their customers when they spend over a certain amount.

We are looking at using some of these pots as part of a work skills program?

Families can send them into the College c/o Catherine Thomson C101.

Mrs C. Thomson

Leader of Learning - Learning

Thank You to our Walkathon Sponsors

Community News

Local Library Services

To help students who require a study space outside of their homes, Parramatta Library is providing a YA Study space for Year 10 to year 12 students during October. https://www.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/events/young-adult-study-space

There will also be HSC Workshops conducted at Parramatta Library and a HSC study space at Epping Library during September to November. https://www.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/events/hsc-study-space