Caroline Chisholm College Newsletter

Dear Parents, Friends, Staff and Students of Caroline Chisholm College,

When Ms Murray and I travelled to the birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem, and visited the Church of the Nativity we had to enter the church through the ‘Humility Door’. This is a door in the stone wall which is about 1.2 metres high. To get through you need to bend low or crouch down. It is a powerful reminder of the need to have an attitude of humility and meekness, especially when approaching Jesus in that special place in the Holy Lands.  The act of bowing low to enter the church calls to mind God’s act of sharing in our humanity in the person of Jesus and of our mission, as Christians, to be people of humility and service and to help build the Kingdom of God through our loving actions. Unfortunately, we don’t see too many examples of humble leadership in the world, and this servant style of leadership is not valued as highly as being overtly powerful, arrogant, hostile to the marginalised or self-serving. Currently, the most powerful people in the world are also the rudest and the cruellest, far from the example set by Jesus born in a stable. That is why the election of our student leaders is such an important moment for Caroline Chisholm College each year. These young leaders are recognised by their peers for the way they embody the values at the heart of our Catholic faith and our College charism: faith, courage, tolerance, compassion, dignity and justice. As I said to our Year 11 students when making the announcement, the students always get the election of leaders right. The young women they choose are strong, faith-filled and humble people determined to make a positive difference through their service. For me, it is a privilege to serve alongside them and draw inspiration from their vision and their energy. It gives me great pleasure to introduce the leadership team in this newsletter. Our College Captain for 2020 is Alanah Eisenhuth and our Vice Captains are Claudia Fava and Micquella Grima. The complete senior team and Student Representative Council members for the other year groups are detailed in the next section of the newsletter.

Our Year 12 students have returned to classes having completed their HSC Trials. This period, in the lead up to the final exams in October, should be dedicated to focused and highly disciplined study, practice and preparation. It is a small sacrifice for less than two months to make success in the examinations a priority over socialising, part-time work or sleeping in!  Acting on feedback from these exams will make a real difference to students’ results in the HSC, which in turn will increase the choices our students have when they finish school. Our teachers stand ready to provide whatever support the girls need to prepare them for success, but they certainly shouldn’t be working harder than the students. Please contact Mrs Peters, the Year 12 Leader of Learning if you have concerns about your daughter and her commitment to her studies in this critical phase.

Last week we marked Science Week with wonderful, educational and entertaining science activities culminating in our rocket launch competition on Friday. Congratulations to Tamika Gonzales whose rocket flew the highest and furthest. Congratulations also to the winner of the paper plane battle at assembly. (... Oh, that was me!). Thanks and congratulations must go to our Year 12 Learning Committee Co-Chairs, Simone Spisiak and Ellie Loughman, for their superb organisation of Science Week. Excellence in all areas of science prepares our graduates for a future that will more and more depend on scientific thinking to solve remarkable problems. It also gives us a deep appreciation of God’s grandeur in creation. It inspires us to pray:

Oh God of all creation, 

you have given us life

and set us in a world that is filled with your glory. 

Be with us on this journey of discovery 

and gift us with insight and understanding 

as we continue to explore the unfolding wonders of your creation. 

Give us the wisdom to guide all our work 

as we strive to serve the common good. 

We ask all of this in Jesus' name, Amen. 

Mr Greg Elliott
Principal

Last Sunday was World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Our diocesan online newspaper, Catholic Outlook, has two articles worth reading. I have linked these documents below for anyone interested in reading them. The first link is to Pope Francis’ message for the day and the second is a reflection by Fr Frank Brennan SJ. Below are some excerpts from Pope Francis’ message in which he poses a series of challenges, based on scriptural references, for us to see how our attitudes to migrants and refugees is about us as much as it is about them. His recurring theme is that “it is not just about migrants”.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The most economically advanced societies are witnessing a growing trend towards extreme individualism which is producing a “globalisation of indifference”. In this scenario, migrants, refugees, displaced persons and victims of trafficking have become emblems of exclusion. 

For this reason, the presence of migrants and refugees – and of vulnerable people in general – is an invitation to recover some of those essential dimensions of our Christian existence and our humanity that risk being overlooked in a prosperous society. That is why it is not just about migrants. 

“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” (Mt 14:27). It is not just about migrants: it is also about our fears. 

“For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same?” (Mt 5:46). It is not just about migrants: it is about charity. 

“But a Samaritan traveller who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight” (Lk 10:33). It is not just about migrants: it is about our humanity. 

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father” (Mt 18:10). It is not just about migrants: it is a question of seeing that no one is excluded. 

“Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all” (Mk10:43-44). It is not just about migrants: it is about putting the last in first place. 

“I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:10). It is not just about migrants: it is about the whole person, about all people. 

“So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God” (Eph 2:19). It is not just about migrants: it is about building the city of God and man. 

Dear brothers and sisters, our response to the challenges posed by contemporary migration can be summed up in four verbs: welcome, protect, promote and integrate. If we put those four verbs into practice, we will promote the integral human development of all people. Migrants, especially those who are most vulnerable, help us to read the “signs of the times”. Through them, the Lord is calling us to conversion, to be set free from exclusivity, indifference and the throw-away culture. 

In expressing this prayerful hope, and through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Way, I invoke God’s abundant blessings upon all the world’s migrants and refugees and upon all those who accompany them on their journey.

Pope Francis’ message: https://catholicoutlook.org/pope-francis-message-for-the-2019-world-day-of-migrants-and-refugees/

Fr Frank Brennan’s reflection: https://catholicoutlook.org/homily-reflection-for-migrant-and-refugee-sunday-2019/

“Doing the Right Thing Awards”

Students who help with clean up and litter are eligible for a “Doing the Right Thing Award”.  Congratulations to Mischa Partridge (7 MacKillop), Jasmeet Kaur (7 Wright), Kate Rennie (8 Gilmore) and Meg Whittaker (9 MacKillop) who receive vouchers for the canteen for being the students drawn from the box.  All students who put in award slips will have points credited to their house. 

Appreciation of Honesty

Students at Caroline Chisholm College regularly display outstanding honesty in returning items they find on the college grounds. Often these can be of quite substantial value. Students handing in found items receive a certificate of appreciation. I would like to congratulate the following students who have handing items in over the last fortnight: Mischa Partridge (7 MacKillop), Ella Loughland Larsen (7 Jackson) and Emma Pratsch (7 Jackson).

Mr Greg King - Assistant Principal

National Science Week 2019

50 years ago, humans landed on the moon.

Amidst the buzz and gloom of everyday life, we are often guilty of forgetting such monumental accomplishments. It is for this reason that the inaugural celebration of National Science Week 2019 was themed ‘Destination Moon’, with an aim to not only commemorate past success but more importantly, to showcase that STEM [Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics] at CCC is powerful and relevant.

In honour of the semi-centennial celebration, the week comprised many exciting and interactive space themed activities. Students were provided the opportunity to participate in CCC’s Inaugural Rocket Launch Competition, take photos in an Instagram Frame, add to a CCC Universe display and dance to the science themed songs played as bell music during the week. We would like to congratulate the following students for their performance in the rocket launch competition:

Furthest Flying Rocket at 45 degrees: Tim Tim - Tamika

Team Spirit Award: Fuzz Bun - Amy and Megan

Most Quirky Rocket: Inner Peace - Alanah H, Alanah E, Claudia, Alison, Melinda, Isabella, Loralei and Tamin

There are many lessons that can be learnt from the Apollo missions which have applications that extend further than the realm of school.

Commit to a lifetime of learning

• Prior to the landing on the moon, NASA invested in four lunar landing training vehicles. They crashed three on Earth.
• The ‘Eagle’ landed on the moon with only 20 seconds of fuel to spare and exceeded the abort limit by about 50% when it started its descent.

The mission still went on.

While we may never find ourselves in control of a spacecraft, each and every student, parent and teacher must develop opportunities to expand their knowledge base and place themselves in uncomfortable positions to ensure optimal success.

Truly Believe that failure is not an option

‘Failure is not an option’

In 1967, Genz Kranz presented a monumental address titled, ‘Kranz Dictum’ which holds a timeless significance, highlighting the importance of failing in the little things to get the big things right. Failure was certainly not an option in the Apollo 11 mission nor the rocket launching competition at school.

The Leader Sets the Culture

Genz Kranz’ Dictum cultivated a new culture at NASA and one that would prove imperative for the leading future missions. The values of discipline,competence, confidence, responsibility, toughness, teamwork, trust must be honed so each and every one of us has ‘the right stuff’. Many students demonstrated these qualities in mitigating issues with their rocket designs, imbuing team spirit and confidence in presenting innovative designs.

Send off to the Next Launch...

We hope that by introducing this initiative, we can build an evolving legacy of STEM at the College and encourage students to be courageous, engaging in fields that they love, even perhaps those that are not typically pursued by women.

As Leaders of the Learning Committee, we’d like to extend our gratitude to all the students, teachers and staff that participated in and facilitated in the running of events with special recognition of the following: Ms Scollard, Ms Ashley, Ms Kozlowski, Mr Fuller, Mr Rapley, Mr Caws, the Student Learning Committee and other students across year groups who assisted with all of the preparation. Without your assistance, this celebration could never had been out of this world!

To teachers and Year 12, thank you for entrusting us with this role, we hope that we did you proud. To the leaders of the Student Learning Committee 2019/2020 ...

The challenge is set.

You have approximately 31’536’000 seconds to the launch!

National Science Week 2020, get planning!

This week we leave you with this food for thought and we encourage you to consider its implications ...

Kranz Dictum;

Spaceflight will never tolerate carelessness, incapacity, and neglect.

Somewhere, somehow, we screwed up. It could have been in design, build, or test. Whatever it was, we should have caught it. We were too gung-ho about the schedule and we locked out all of the problems we saw each day in our work. Every element of the program was in trouble and so were we. The simulators were not working, Mission Control was behind in virtually every area, and the flight and test procedures changed daily. Nothing we did had any shelf life.

Not one of us stood up and said, ‘Dammit, STOP!’

From this day forward, Flight Control will be known by two words: ‘Tough and Competent’.

Tough means we are forever accountable for what we do or what we fail to do. We will never again compromise our responsibilities. Every time we walk into Mission Control we will know what we stand for.

Competent means we will never take anything for granted. We will never be found short in our knowledge and in our skills.

Mission Control will be perfect.

These words are the price of admission to the ranks of Mission Control.

From your Flight Directors, Simone and Ellie

Welcome Back Year 12

Last week we welcomed our Year 12 students back to normal classes after the completion of their Trial Higher School Certificate Examinations.

The most important aspect of the Trial examinations is not the mark the students will receive but the feedback which their teachers will provide. I know that the staff at Caroline Chisholm have spent a significant amount of time providing feedback on the trial examinations. Feedback, however, is only valuable if it is acted upon and consequently I encourage all students to rewrite their examination responses, attending to the feedback provided. These responses can then be given to teachers for further feedback.

Year 12 is like a marathon – the key is to keep going! Consistency is the key to success – students who schedule regular times for revision and who complete numerous past papers can improve their answers and results enormously. Year 12 students still have eight weeks left before their Higher School Certificate Examinations. Eight weeks is a long time and with application much can be achieved in this time frame ... it is never too late to improve and grow.

Year 9 (2020) Electives

Year 8 students are finalising their choice of elective subjects for Years 9 and 10. The Year 8 students have been very proactive in this process and have asked lots and lots of questions about the elective subjects – it is wonderful to see them taking such a serious interest in their studies. We recommend that students select subjects they are interested in and subjects that will challenge them and allow them to develop their skills and knowledge. Elective subjects being offered include:

• Agriculture
• Commerce
• Dance
• Design and Technology
• Drama
• Food Technology
• History
• Information and Software Technology
• iSTEM
• Japanese
• Music
• Photographic and Digital Media
• Textiles Technology
• Visual Arts
• Visual Design

We have asked students to indicate three subjects they would like to study in Years 9 and 10 and we will endeavour to place them into two of their chosen subjects.

Ms Deborah Scollard - Assistant Principal

Last week marked Migrant and Refugee Week and to celebrate 105th World Day of Migrants and Refugees Pope Francis released a message titled “ It’s Not Just About Migrants.”

In the Australian Catholic Church The World Day of Migrants and Refugees will be celebrated on Sunday 29 September 2019. The With this theme, Pope Francis wants to highlight that his frequent appeals for migrants, refugees, displaced and trafficked people should be understood as integral to his deep concern for all the inhabitants of today’s existential peripheries. The hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and the prisoner who knock on our door today are Jesus Himself, asking to be encountered and supported. As the Holy Father emphasized in his homily at Sacrofano on Friday 15 February 2019: “It is really [Jesus], even though our eyes struggle to recognise Him; with torn clothes, dirty feet, a deformed face, a wounded body, unable to speak our language.”

The following is taken from the migrants and refugees webpage, a part of the kit that was released by the Australian Catholic Migrant and refugee Office https://migrants-refugees.va/2019/04/30/also-about-our-fears/.

For the first week of the campaign we are asked to focus on the aspect of the message 
“It is not just about migrants”. It’s also about our fears. 

“The ugly cruelty of our time tempts us to abandon any dream of freedom. And so we close in on ourselves, within our fragile certainty and security, inside the circle of people we like, in our safe routine. Withdrawing into ourselves is a sign of defeat, and it increases our fear of “others”, strangers, outsiders, foreigners especially today, when migrants and refugees arrive to knock at our door in search of protection, security, and a better future. It is not easy to enter into someone else’s culture, to put on the shoes of people who are so different from us and understand their thoughts and experiences. And so we often refuse to encounter others and raise barriers to protect ourselves. Instead of this, we are called to overcome fear and open up to encounter.” Pope Francis

#NotJustAboutMigrants #WDMR2019

https://migrants-refugees.va/resource-center/world-day-of-migrants-refugees-2019/

Ms Bernadette Murray - Leader of Religious Education

On Tuesday 13th August and Wednesday 14th August, our junior and intermediate Oztag teams represented the college at the NSW Secondary Schools Champion of Champions Oztag gala day. This was the next level after qualifying on the 8th May at the regional tournament. The girls played in 5 round games over two days and just missed out on proceeding to the finals. We finished 11th in the state overall in both age groups. Everyone played exceptionally well and represented the college with pride and enthusiasm. They should be very proud of their efforts and achievements.  

A special thank you to all the parents who came along to watch and support the girls over the two days, and a special mention to Jamie Godwin (father of Annalise Godwin, Year 8) for coaching the junior girls over the two days. 

Girls involved on the day:

Mrs Desley Hodges and Mrs Tenniel Todd

Intermediate Years 9 and 10 Team

On Thursday 15th August, the College Intermediate Netball Team once again showcased their excellent teamwork and netball skills at the NSW Schools Cup Netball finals at Netball Central at Homebush. Whilst the competition was extremely strong, we held our ground in most games and played to the best of our ability. As always, I was very proud of the girls’ efforts and want to particularly thank Caitlin Maher from Year 9 who once again umpired our games on the day. I would also like to thank all the parents who joined us on the day and the wonderful mums who helped to score our games. I am very appreciative of your support and dedication to your daughters’ sport.

The team consisted of:

Results:
Game 1: CCC v Matraville Sports High School - loss 17-12

Game 2: CCC v Pymble Ladies College - draw 16-16

Game 3: CCC v Westfield Sports High School - loss 23-9

Game 4: CCC v William Carey Christian School - win 20-14

We ended our day with a play off between 9th and 10th place resulting from all the results across the three pools. Unfortunately we lost that very physical game against Colo High School 15-14.

Mrs Suzanne Muscat