Newsletter

Congratulations! I look forward to working with and supporting their initiatives.

Following a very sad and often demanding term, due to the passing of Mrs Kalmus and the COVID restrictions, I hope students, staff and their families enjoy a safe and well-earned holiday break. I look forward to a refreshed, re-energised and productive Term 3.

Dr Anne Ireland, Principal

This article on College life meets The Archbishop's Charter for Catholic Schools - Charter #2, #8

Most notably I thank the staff for providing such enriching opportunities throughout the term, the students for their willingness to embrace such opportunities and to our parents for your endless support. 

I would like to remind students that there are to be no use of mobile devices from the time a student enters the College gates until the final bell at 3.15pm. Where a student needs to make contact with home/parent during the course of the school day, students should attend the General Administration Office to use the College phone or seek permission to use their mobile device in Pieta Place. Please be reminded that messaging or texting on a mobile device is inappropriate and will result in devices being confiscated.

The wearing of the College uniform reflects our College to the wider community and the expectation therefore, is that all students maintain a high standard of neatness while wearing our uniform. The College blazer is always compulsory when the winter uniform is worn and similarly the wearing of navy tights is also compulsory. 

I wish you all a happy holiday and I look forward to working with you again next term. 

Ms Julie Bjazevich, Acting Assistant Principal

This article on College life meets The Archbishop's Charter for Catholic Schools - Charter #2 & #8

After school study sessions will again be offered at the College for Year 12 students prior to the upcoming Trial Exams. Supervised silent study will be located in Jarnosse from 3:30-5:30, Monday - Wednesday in Weeks 3 and 4 of Term 3. Students are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity and are reminded that these sessions will be silent individual study sessions and are not designed for group work.

All of Year 10 are currently involved in the process of selecting preferences for their subjects in Years 11 and 12, in consultation with their parents/carers, their teachers and various Coordinators. Presentations and resources including the comprehensive Subject Selection Handbook, are available via COMPASS. This week all Year 10 students and parents/carers received written recommendations for Religious Education, English, Mathematics and Science to guide their selections for Years 11 and 12 and details of the online subject selection process. Online subject selection is open from 1-22 July and optional parent and student interviews to discuss selections will be held at the College on Wednesday 29 July. Parents have been provided with the opportunity to express their interest in these interviews and provide feedback on the Subject Selection process thus far. This form can be found in the COMPASS news feed for Year 10 parents.

Year 11 will return to their final term in their Preliminary Courses and will have an Assessment Block in Weeks 8 and 9. Year 12 Students will return for their final term and will complete their HSC Courses in this time. Trial Exams are set down for Weeks 5-7 and will run from Monday 17 August to Monday 31 August. During the Trial Examinations Year 12 students will only be required to attend school for the exams and should use other time available to study and prepare for their exams at home.

Mrs Melinda Alvarez, Leader of Learning and Curriculum

This article on College life meets The Archbishop's Charter for Catholic Schools - Charter #2 & #8

Leadership is about the art of motivating, influencing and directing people so that they work together to achieve the unified goals or vision for our broader school community. It’s important for students of all years to experience leadership opportunities during their schooling, so that they learn the art of building relationships within teams, defining identities and achieving tasks effectively. 

During our Foundress Day celebrations, this was evident amongst all of the Houses beginning with our Mass and concluding with the fun filled and entertaining activities throughout the day. Collectively, it was reassuring and warming to see and hear the sounds of laughter, excitement and high energy levels that were demonstrated through the engagement of our students. Leadership was clearly evident not only amongst our senior students throughout the activities, but confidently, all year groups participated, facilitated, actioned and created opportunities of showing courage. Thank you to all the House Coordinators and Ms Kathy Reid for organising such an action filled day. It epitomised the core values of a Marist education and all that our Founder; Jeanne - Marie Chavoin encapsulated as a Marist woman of action.

The two week holiday period will certainly be a welcomed break for our Year 12 students with an opportunity to combine study whilst balancing good habits of self care.  ReachOut have a fantastic page on managing emotions during times of exam stress. I would encourage ‘checking in’ with your daughter and if need be, help plan a combined balance of study and  down time, inclusive of rewarding meeting targets and goals during the break. Whilst we have prioritised  this area of topic in our Wellbeing Community time, it is important that we communicate this as being a life skill that our students will continue to engage with well after their time here at the College.

Equally, many parents often seek guidance and advice in how best to help their daughter(s) at home leading up to assessments or examination periods.   Beyond Blue  has also compiled another useful resource that can help parents to support their young person at home. Be sure to reach out via email to the College Counsellor or myself if there is a significant concern over the holiday. 

The EMI  (Emotional Intelligence program) program is currently being used in Year 9 to break down the stigmas that are related to uncertainty, envy, fear, screen addiction and how this impacts on the mental health of young people. Dr Danielle Einstein has developed a program for parents, called ‘Chilled and considerate - parent boot camp'; it is most relevant during this COVID period to assist in managing technology use at home with our teens. I would encourage you to explore the website and consider this as a useful tool, to better understand the pressures of young people today whilst continuing to make good connections within our home environment. 

The following graphic identifies the material in the modules. 

Mrs Sia Mastro, Leader of Wellbeing

This article on College life meets The Archbishop's Charter for Catholic Schools - Charter #2 & #8

Congratulations... you and your family have survived Term 2! There have been uncertainties, difficulties, sadness, confusion, and family/work adjustments for all, parents, teachers and students. It is at these times that we can find our strength to adapt to our “new normal”. It is not easy, but in struggling times we can learn much about ourselves and in getting through such times grow our resilience. Resilience is not something you can simply learn - the more you actually experience adversity and overcome it or adjust to it, the more you grow your resilience. 

There has been an  increase in students accessing counselling support this year which is a credit to the students (and parents) (and their friends) acknowledging that looking after their mental health (especially during COVID times) is an essential ingredient to improving not only their academic performance but the enjoyment of their school/family/and social life experience. Building resilience involves acknowledging that change can be difficult but that there is support out there to get through the other side. Parents have done a wonderful job in supporting their children to access counselling either out or within school, and keeping the school advised of any concerns that may be impacting their children.

Experiencing and managing adversity provides good evidence for young people to reflect on when they are facing future uncertainty. It proves to young people that they can survive and get through the anxieties and worries that they feel and are often surrounded by, either at school, home, personally or even globally. Now however we want to encourage our young people to look toward the second half of the year for hopeful opportunities. 

Each step that young people take despite their difficulties is an achievement. The school community spirit was evident at the guard of honour for Mrs Kalmus' funeral and reminds us of the power of the collective, the sense of “we are all in the this together” - I think the students will remember that moment singing the Salve Regina as part of the guard of honour, for many years to come as a highlight in the essence of community, reverence and connectedness.

“Change is the only constant in life”… (Heractilus, Greek philosopher). Written some 2500 years ago, the quote reminds us that there is genuine hope in the face of adversity which can also lead us to appreciate and be grateful for what we have at any moment in time. I encourage you and your family to spend as much quality downtime as you can in these coming holidays to recharge those batteries to prepare for a fresh start and hopeful outlook for Term 3.

• Lifeline on 13 11 14
•  Kids Helpline on Ph: 1800 55 1800
• Your GP/Local ED
• Headspace Chatswood/Ryde Ph: 8021 3668  https://headspace.org.au/headspace-centres/chatswood/
• Mental Health Access Line - Ph: 1800 011 511

-  https://au.reachout.com/ 

In addition the Child and Youth Mental Health Services (CYMHS) provide specialist mental health assessment and intervention to children and young people experiencing significant emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties. These services are free to medicare holders. 

CYMHS provide:

• Counselling and therapy for children and adolescents
• Family consultations and therapy
• Groups for child, young people and/or parents
• Information and referral to other services

CYMHS provides outpatient clinical services in four locations:

• Hornsby Ku-ring-gai 02 9485 6155
• Northern Beaches 02 9388 5155
• Lower North Shore 02 9462 9222/ Ryde 02 9448 6877

Also for further reading last week's article on “emotional regulation”, please refer to Linda Stade’s website. which provides insightful and practical information for parents and teens. https://lindastade.com/ 

If you feel your young daughter is struggling with their mental health or you would like to discuss any concerns, please feel free to contact the College Counsellor, Becky Salter via email: rebecca.salter@syd.catholic.edu.au or phone: 0435 659 694. 

 

Ms Becky Salter, College Counsellor

This article on College life meets The Archbishop's Charter for Catholic Schools - Charter  #8