Delany College - Granville

Why play against students in basketball? 

I think it's necessary to do such things as it puts a human face on the priesthood. Most youth perceive the priest as this mystic figure who spends day and night on his knees in prayer. While there's certainly a need for that, recreation is also essential. In playing basketball against students we want to show the human side of the priesthood. Hopefully there are some students considering the priesthood after such a great event.

Father Chris

Why do you enjoy playing basketball against the priests?

When it was mentioned that we would be playing basketball against the priests we weren’t entirely sure what this meant. After the first game the priests came to play we were in two minds. A priest seemed to be this unrelatable, holy being, how could they play basketball?

That thought led us to question; ‘What does a priest actually do in their spare time?’

We find these matches to be challenging yet rewarding. It is a nice feeling to play against someone not from the school, especially the priests. The unique nature of the event allows us to see they are human and do have hobbies and interests just like ourselves. We hope that we can participate more regularly in events like this.

Brandon Zaiter, Lorenz Valenciano and Altan Unsal 

Year 10 students

The first Vinnies Van shift for Year 12, 2020 was on Tuesday, 24 September. Students Aaliyah, Brianna, Dania and Ellah were joined by Mrs Findlay, Miss Ortiz and Miss Katrib to service the van at Mt Druitt and Parramatta. The night was eventful, to say the least, and the girls finished the shift feeling a heightened sense of empathy and desire to help those in the wider community.

Miss Kelsey Ortiz

It was my great pleasure to attend the Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta Post School Options " On Track " Presentation on Friday 20 September. 

The two Delany College graduates were Jay Filo and Tevita Latu who were outstanding representatives throughout the duration of the course. Comments from the boys included: “ This was an eye-opening experience as to how different the workforce is compared to school life. At school, we often say we want to enter the work force

but do not realise how difficult work-life really is.” Jay Filo, and  “ I learned what to say in an interview and what clothes to wear to impress a future employer.” Tevita Latu.

On Track is a work preparation course that includes work orientation, effective communications, White Card accreditation, resume writing and job-seeking activities that culminate in a mock interview. Students are then provided with feedback and suggestions to improve in the above areas.

Post School Options provides students with opportunities including “short pre-vocational courses for students in Year 9 and 10, work experience, mentoring, enterprise training, culturally specific supports and vocational education opportunities. Teachers and workplace trainers support students undertaking workplace learning tailored to the needs of the student.” More information may be found at https://www.parra.catholic.edu.au/en/Learning/Learning-Pathways

Ms. Sharon McManus

Teacher Learning Leader - Pedagogy

As I’m sure you’ve learnt throughout your time at Delany, sometimes the seemingly simple lessons are the ones that have the most value. For example, the age old saying that “ friends are the family you choose” - is one which I’m sure you’re starting to realise on this momentous day as you say goodbye to the family you have created here at Delany. Even our own school motto “ love serve hope” is simple in words, and yet as you have lived these words throughout your time here at Delany, you know how important these simple words are in living out the Gospel in our everyday actions. So today, I’m going to follow in suite and give you some seemingly simple advice, taken from the childhood author Dr Seuss... 

Congratulations!

Graduating class of 2019, today is your day. 

You’re off to great places!

You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself any direction you choose.

Today, we bid farewell to you, Year 12. It seems like just yesterday that you walked through the gates of the College in 2014, yet here we are, gathering to celebrate you, all that you have achieved and the mark you have left on Delany College. 

Let’s take a look back at your journey. 

2014 was an exciting year for you and all of us here. In your oversized blazers, with oversized backpacks and skirts that were actually knee length, you were welcomed into a new learning space by Mrs Rancic and you embarked on a year of great innovation and learning. As scientists, artists, navigators, communicators and designers, you collaborated, created, communicated and critically reflected. I look out at you at all, and see how much you have grown since that time in the “Year 7 Space”. 

In Year 8, you became a little more confident as high school became a little less scary. You were ever enthusiastic, both on the sporting field and in the classroom, giving everything a go. As a group, even then, you certainly had drive, and it was only a matter of time before you started to consider what you could use it for. 

Year 9 was when I had the great fortune of getting to know you better as a group. I have fond memories of our time in the Drama Space. 2016 saw you become representatives of the UN, champions of historical causes, writers of war poetry, backpackers in Sydney and ultimate survivors. 

In 2017, Year 10 was the year for big decisions. All of a sudden you were making decisions that would affect the rest of your life… subject selections, career market days, staying at school, starting a job. You felt more like an adult than you ever had… and sometimes your teachers and I’m sure your parents had to remind you that there was still a lot more growing up to do! Standing at the edge of these big decisions, you looked into Year 11, and graduating still seemed so far away.

As Year 11 students in 2018, you embarked on a new adventure together and became senior students.  Academically you were pushed more than ever before and you had to learn the life skills around balancing school, family and a part time job. You had the opportunity to choose your leadership team that would represent you through your final year at Delany College and at your retreat you started to wonder what kind of a legacy you would leave at the end of 2019. Year 12 still seemed quite far away and I distinctly remember being told by my Modern History class at the time to “lighten up, the HSC is ages away” anytime I made mention of the HSC year. 

Well, here you are. You’ve made it. This year, as a group, you have tackled many challenges together, championed many causes, celebrated your differences and created many memories. Now it is time for you to move into the great unknown, the world beyond the gates of the College and your future. 

Oh the places you’ll go!

You’ll be on your way up!

You’ll be seeing great sights!

You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.

Graduating class of 2019, as you leave the gates of Delany College today, with your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet... step with care and great tact and remember that life’s a great balancing act. As you begin the next phase of your life, I encourage you to accept the future as a new challenge, always having confidence that you can accomplish all that you set out to do. I ask that you continue to hold close the values of love, service and hope.  

So....

Be your name Ta'a or Tavishi or MJ

Or Taleb Salameh

You’re off to Great Places!

Today is your day!Your mountain waiting.

So...get on your way!

Mrs Renee McCarren

Student Learning Leader

Good afternoon friends, family, staff and alumni, I stand before you representing the illustrious class of 2019, Christ and Delany College, to tell you what a privilege it has been to serve and represent you as College Captain for 2019. Just like my 73 paged presentation on young drivers and the law, I shall enlighten you on the class of 2019, so strap yourself in for a long journey ahead. 

My motivation has been rooted in my Armenian heritage and migrant culture. I am the proud daughter of two migrants who have worked tirelessly from sunrise to sunset to provide for my sister and I. 

While my sister and I did not reflect the lifestyle of an ideal Australian Family, what I gained was far more valuable. Instead, my family has given me intangible gifts. The gift of a strong work ethic, the gift of resilience and the will to succeed. A phrase that has always inspired me is; “Tun ches grnal pochel ovesneh. Inch bes for znades, anancal ge mernis.”  “You can't change who you are. The way you were born is the way you will die.” A phrase that distinguishes the inherent uniqueness of every individual, and that rather than choosing a path disguised as practicality, we should nurture our own intrinsic gifts. And what my parents have taught me is exactly that, to be a thorn, a thorn in the side of injustice; disruptive, talkative, a distraction, with a passion, that transcends the confines of societal expectations, beyond the school curriculum and beyond standards. 

Current statistics indicate that some of us should not have made it, we come from refugee, migrant and disparate racial backgrounds, yet we made it! Even you Joey. We made it because we chose how to construct meaning from experience, to determine the lense from which we see the world, to be a part of an institution that teaches us how to think, not what to think, to exercise control over our own thoughts, not the thoughts of others. 

They say great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave and impossible to forget, yet I have been so blessed to have met all of you and to have watched you grow into the young men and woman you are today.

And while some judged us for not being ripe enough and others rejected us as we were turning rotten, Delany College welcomed us as we were, nurtured us, and made us into better versions of ourselves. 

Therefore whatever we do and whoever we become, we must never forget our Patrician roots, those teachers, mentors and staff administrators that guided us and moulded our identity. Thank you to our educators, who rather than raising their voices over the rustling of our chains, and the weeping of our hearts, took them off, uncuffed us for the systemic ignorance, discrimination and academic poverty we previously experienced. Thank you to those that heard us, beyond our race, religion and gender, those that encouraged and guided us to find our voice, introducing us to the sound of active citizens, the sound of change makers and policy breakers, the sound of people who we are today. For leading us to the stairs rather than the elevator, to be hard workers rather than workers who find it hard. Because to educate requires patience, persistence and creativity. So on behalf of the graduating class we thank you for being the artists of our tapestry, symbolic of the sheer emotional richness of life and the strange patterns it takes on, taking the time to connect the dots to mould a group of educated leaders. 

So I ask the graduating class of 2019, that as you venture into a wider world, to continue opening your hearts and minds to society, to be a thorn and stand out in the crowd; unapologetic, well versed and ready to show people how amazing you all are.

And so, to the class of 2019, whether you are a banana, an apple or a durian or even if you don't identify as a fruit and prefer to be a vegetable, I challenge you to take every opportunity, appreciate every experience, every adversity, every challenge, and take a bite, because the harder the battle, the sweeter the victory.

Mary Ghribian

The final round for Maths Olympiad was held on Wednesday 11 September for students in Year 7 and 8. These students are commended for their resilience in problem solving over the course of this competition. I am very proud of their efforts and enthusiasm for mathematics!

Miss Kelsey Ortiz

Throughout term 3, a number of students from year 7-8 volunteered to participate in the NSW Olympiad competition.

The Olympiad competition is a math test consisting of a series of 5 questions. This may not sound challenging, though there was a catch. These five questions were really hard, some from senior tests up to year 12!

However, this didn’t stop us from attacking these questions. I myself have greatly improved, along with many others from succeeding, and failing.

To conclude, on behalf of all attendants I would like to thank Miss Ortiz. If it wasn’t for her hard work, dedication, and love for math we wouldn’t of had this beneficial experience.

Khan Salicioglu-Achi 

Year 8 student

The APSMO Maths Olympiad is a competition held in Australia and New Zealand, where students in year 7 and year 8 participate in answering difficult, mathematical problems. Between the 22nd of May and the 11th of September, students in stage 4 volunteered to participate in solving these complicated mathematical problems. Each round, we would receive 5 questions and 30 minutes to complete the test. Even though some questions were hard all the students gave it their best. We attempted each question and felt more confident in our problem-solving abilities. A special thanks to Miss Ortiz for organising the Maths Olympiad and arranging these sessions. Also, congratulations to all the students who volunteered and gave it their best. 

Annie Hara 

Year 7 student

Dear Miss Ortiz,

It was a really good experience in Maths Olympiad, as it was difficult and challenging. I personally love doing challenging things because life is nothing without challenging times and because Maths Olympiad was really challenging I really admired doing it.

I thank you so much for picking me as one of the Olympians and I hope that our school comes first in the APSMO Challenge.

Sehaj Bajwa 

Year 7 student

STEAMpop facilitated the most recent Mathematics Matters workshop held at UTS. They value the intersection between the Arts and STEM: STEAM.

STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

Pop = curiosity; the spark emerging from learning by making and the experience of creating something beautiful. 

The mathematical concepts underpinning the activities include making patterns and creating structures through the application of geometry symmetry, iteration and glide reflection.

Miss Kelsey Ortiz

On Thursday the 19th of September, a group of Stage 5 students and Miss Ortiz partook in Mathematics Matters in UTS. There, we crafted a flexible shape made of mostly triangles in a cylindrical form. This shape was quite flexible, as it was able to be twisted, squeezed and stretched. We used very precise folding and we punctured holes within the shape. To finish it, we used LED lights to illuminate this shape. After an hour andof maths work, we finished the night with a hefty dinner.

Rhys Ramos 

Year 9 student

On Wednesday 18 September, our Year 7 Music Band class performed 'Power Rock' and 'Star Wars Theme Song' to their cohort.  Their performance was exceptional!  These students attend rehearsal every Wednesday at 8:40am and practice for 30 minutes as a band.  During these rehearsals, they learn not only how to improve their technical skills but also understand the importance of collaboration and dedication.  They also attend 30 minute private lessons every week to improve their performance techniques, which helps them realise the importance of responsibility and resilience.  The whole Year 7 cohort was so amazed and impressed by their performance that some students gasped 'wow!' at the end.  We are so proud of our band students and are looking forward to more performances throughout the year and next.  Well done Year 7 Band!

Ms Lauren Kwon

Music Teacher

Magie Fahed, Year 10 student, was a contestant of the singing competition "Najem Anoujoum 2019". The event this year was at the Bryan Brown Theatre and Function Centre, Bankstown. There were 8 finalists that went up against each other in front of a crowd of 200+ people, with the aim of taking the title and winning the prize.