050_news12%20070912s

Love of God · Love of Learning · Hospitality · Stewardship · Peace

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY17 Sept Year 12 Academic Assembly

18 Sept Year 12 Grad Mass and lunch at The Lagoon

21 Sept Term 3 ends Year 12 Dinner Dance

8 Oct Term 4 commences STUDENTS RETURN IN SUMMER UNIFORM

10 Oct Year72013orientationday

For student enquiries and notifications, please ring Student Office on 4226 3969

Newsletter 12 2012 - 7 September

Middle School students enjoyed Literacy Week

Dear parents,

IhopethatthebeginningofSpringfindsyou well and enjoying the many blessings that this season brings. I was reminded of one of my favourite quotes last weekend as ourfamilywascelebratingFather’sDay.Thequote comes from St John of the Cross who wrote that “In the evening of our lives, we will be judged by love alone.” While we can debate when the evening of our life occurs, thecentraltruthofStJohn’swordsremainsunchanged. In our families, we will not be rememberedforthelavishgiftsthatweprovide or the inheritances we might leave. We will be remembered for the love and the compassion that we show to our families and to our neighbours. We all have a need to be loved yet there are many people who eitherfeelunlovedorwhohaveno-onelefttolovethem.Thequestionforeachofusishow do we want to be judged and will we measure up with regard to the love that we share?

The college hosted a very successful Decades Reunion on Saturday 1 September, with almost 200 ex-students joining us for morning tea, a tour of the college and the opportunity to catch up with old friends. TheladiesreminiscedaboutStMary’sasthey knew it and they provided insights into school life and their experiences of the wonderful nuns and lay teachers who taught them. They also spoke of the fun they had as they shared the many joys and challenges that they experienced in an all-girls school in muchdifferenttimes.Ithoroughlyenjoyedthe reunion as I listened to the stories and met the people who have been such a strong part of our history. I thank Marie Pulford, Margaret Hore and the many girls andstaffmemberswhoassistedtomakethis decades reunion such a success.

The college student leaders for 2013 were announced at the college assembly last week and judging by the responses of the girls,ourseniorstudentsandstaffhavemade wise choices. We are blessed with excellent student leaders at the college and sadly, while we have increased the number ofpositions,weareunabletoallocateanofficialpositiontoallstudentswhodeserveportfolios.

To the girls who were elected, my congratulations.Ibelievethatyouwilldoan outstanding job in leading the college in 2013.InparticularIcongratulateourCollegeCaptaininwaiting,Lucy Packer. I wish her every success as she takes up her role at the commencement of Term 4.

Ournewleadershavebigshoestofillasour2012 leaders have been excellent in their roles and have led by example in working withthestafftosupportallaspectsofcollegelife.Iamsurewewillcontinuetoenjoy excellent leadership from our student leaders in 2013.

Our Year 12 students have a very busy few weeks ahead of them as they come to the endoftheirschoolcareersatStMary’s.Thegirls have the Year 12 assembly on Monday 17September,theGraduationMassandP&Fluncheonon18SeptemberandtheDinnerDanceonFriday21September.

Fromtheretheymoveintoafurtherperiodofintensestudyastheycontinuetopreparefor the HSC. I ask that you keep these girls in your thoughts and prayers as they bring their school careers to a close and embark on the HSC journey.

FinallyIextendmythankstothemanyDadswhoturnedupforourFather’sDaybreakfastlastFriday.Itwasdelightfultoobserve the girls with their Dads and the Dads with their daughters. There was much love and a great deal of pride on display and I hope that all Dads enjoyed a wonderful dayonFather’sDay.

Ihopeyouhaveahappyandpeace-filledweekend.

Yourssincerely,FrankPitt-Principal

DECADES REUNION SATURDAY 1 SEPTEMBER

DIOCESAN ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

StMary’sfinished2ndinthegirls’pointscoreatthe2012DiocesanAthleticsCarnivalheldatCampbelltownonFriday31August.Several girls excelled to win their events and will represent our diocese at the NSW CCC Athleticscarnivalon14September.

Congratulationstoallourteammemberswhoattendedthecarnival-youreffortand sportsmanship were commendable. Unfortunately we were missing a few competitorsandthisleftusshortinafewevents. Thanks to the girls who stepped in tofilleventspacesontheday.

SpecialmentiontoourwinningSenior4x100m Relay team who broke the record in atimeof52.46s:Andrea Berrell, Lakeisha Graham-Jackson, Lucy Formosa and Cassie Grant.Fantasticachievementgirls!

Threegirlswerenamedagechampions:Lucy Formosa in the 17+; Andrea Berrell in the16yearsandAlexandra Parker in the 13 years.Welldonegirls!

Girlsselectedinthediocesanteamare:Andrea Berrell16year100,200,400;Lakeisha Graham-Jackson16year100,200, 400; Lucy Formosa 17+ 100, 200, 400; Hannah Preeo13year1500m;Alex Parker 13 year High Jump and Long Jump; Levana Wayne-Boyle 13 year Shot; Isabel Parnell 14 yearJavelin.Congratulationsgirlsandgoodluck at the CCC carnival. Belinda Sparks

SKIING

During the July holidays Chelsea Morelli competed in several downhill skiing competitions.Shewasplaced7th in the NSW InterschoolsAlpineeventand5th in the Skier eventwhilecompetinginafieldofaround70 girls. Well done Chelsea. Belinda Sparks

INTERACT PRESENTATION TO MANORI

Last week, the Interact Club presented a cheque for $1000 to our friend, Mrs Manori Indraratna.Wehavehadalongassociationwith Manori since the terrible Tsunami in the Indian Ocean on Boxing Day 2004.

Sincethen,staff,studentsandourInteractClubhavesupportedtheeducationofayoung woman, Harshi, who was orphaned but showed promise academically. Harshi graduated in 2010 with a double degree and ITqualifications.Twoweeksagoshesecureda permanent job as a high school teacher. A wonderful achievement for someone who lost everything but who was given a chance by our college community and her family.

WehavecontinuedtosupportManoriinother areas of need in Sri Lanka. The $1000 will go a very long way to helping very sick

Chelsea Morelli

children and adults in a cancer hospital, a Buddhist monk who houses the poor parents of thesechildren,andaboys’orphanage.Manorigivesusfeedbackonhowevery$1isspent.

Manorimadeaheartfeltspeechofthankstoallwhogenerouslygavetheirsupport.Thankyou to our Interact Club students, Mrs Guillaume and Ms Riordan for helping to achieve such a wonderful goal. Liz Davis

Senior relay team

Andrea Berrell

The college congratulates its recently-elected 2013 Student Executive

Lucy Packer College Captain Nicola Downing Liturgy Captain Melissa Irvine Liturgy Captain

Gabrielle Bow Social Justice Captain Shakira Cappetta Social Justice Captain Tanita Gordon Stewardship Captain Azkah Khan Stewardship Captain

Kate Marning SRC Captain Kara Agostinho SRC Captain Georgia Ohrdorf Sport Captain Sophie McGovern Sport Captain

Paige Mandy Cultural Captain Lauren Farrugia Cultural Captain

Luce Formosa Carmel House Captain Noni Martin Fatima House Captain Maddison Fisher Loreto House Captain Holly Heffernan Lourdes House Captain

KIDZWISH MUSIC AND DANCE PROGRAM

Shellharbour Branch KidzWish Music and Dance Program is an opportunity for sick, disabled and disadvantaged children to enjoy love and laughter that comes with music, instruments and dancing - to help improve health while helping children’smotorskills,communicationandsocialinteraction.ClassesruneveryWednesday4.30-5.30pmduringschooltermsatKidzWishPlace,Shell Cove. To register your child or for more information,contactKidzWishon1300260990.

FROM THE DEAN OF PASTORAL CARE

Part of our recent professional development daywasspentreflectingonpastoralcareas well as focusing on some of the current pastoral concerns we have for our students.

Staffdiscussedthepastoralcareprogramwhich has been running within an extended tutorgrouptimeonathree-weeklybasisthis year. These sessions have given tutor groupstimetodeveloptherelationshipswithintheirgroups.Feedbackhasshownthese sessions to be very successful. Studentsandstaffhaveenjoyedspendingmoretimetogetherindiscussionandthesessionsenabledopportunitiesforleadership by the older students.

OnthePDdaystaffsharedideasabouthowpastoralcarecouldcontinuetogrowatthecollege.Itwasfantastictoseethetutor groups teachers speak with such passion, care and concern for their students. This week the Pastoral Team will develop these ideas as they meet to plan for 2013. As part of this process we will shortly be invitingparentstojoinfocusgroups.Ifyouare interested please contact me via email [email protected].

The second part of the professional developmentsessiondrewattentiontocurrent pastoral concerns. These included challengesthegirlsfaceinrelationtofriendships, family, body image and self-esteem, anxiety, depression and self harm. Eachofthesewasdiscussed,withparticularattentiononself-harmingbehaviour.Thediscussionfollowedstimulusfromarecent7.30 Report story which focused on this largely taboo subject, and some successful strategies taken by San Sisto College in Brisbane.

It is important to recognise that self harm is a behaviour and not a mental illness. It oftenbeginsinteenageyearsandcanbeawayofcommunicatingorcopingwithdistress. Not all people who self harm aresuicidal.Overtimethisbehaviourcanbecomecompulsiveandaddictiveandasaresultyoungpeoplecanfinditdifficulttostop. If you are aware of a young person who is self harming, it is important to seek profession help and support. Should you haveanyquestionsaboutthisbehaviouror are worried about your daughter please contact a member of the Pastoral Team at the college.

Other resources are available through www.reachout.com, www.youthbeyound blue.com, www.headspace.org.au. Emma Magill

FATHER’S DAY BREAKFAST 31 AUGUST WHAT’S HAPPENING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL? Last week was certainly a busy weekinYear7and8MiddleSchool!

YEAR 7 LITERACY WEEK: Year 7 had an opportunity to take part in some wonderful LiteracyWeekactivities.Studentsdressedup as book characters and took part in a costumeparade.Wehadsomeverycreativeentries and many fabulous book prizes for thewinners!OurlibrarianMrsBaezshowedthestudentsthenewrangeoffictionnovelsavailable and the students took part in a whole group spelling bee.

MIDDLE SCHOOL’S GOT TALENT FUNDRAISER: CongratulationstoKiarna Rosandic from Year 7 who performed a wonderfuldanceroutinetotakeout1st prize intheGotTalentshow.Congratulationsalsoto Paige Colby (dance) and Ally Jurriaans (piano) for achieving 2nd place, and Alana Arif(martialarts)achieving3rd place. I thank our wonderful judges Mr Goldrick, Miss VisaggioandMissHsu,aswellastheYear9Middle School Leaders who were integral in organisingthisfundraiserforTheGirlEffect.

YEAR 8 SCIENCE ZOOTOPIA PROJECT STUDENT REVIEW: From Charlotte Simpson, Year 8. Seven weeks of hard work finallypaidoff,asYear8studentspresentedtheir group task Zootopia. In week 3 of this termYear8visitedTarongaZooandthisproject linked with the study of Ecology in Science.Studentsproducedinformationboardsandhand-madepromotionalproducts, with all proceeds going to Taronga Zoocharities.Thedisplayslookedamazing! Tracey Sullivan, Middle School Director

Students showing their Zootopia displays

UOW INFORMATION EVENING FOR YEAR 12 STUDENTS: Tuesday 11 September, 6.30-8.30pmatUniHall,UniversityofWollongong. Bookings can be made online www.uow.edu.au/future/events/ or by callingUniAdviceon1300367869.

15 Harbour Street Wollongong - Locked Bag 42 Wollongong NSW 2500Phone (02) 4228 6011 Fax (02) 4229 8555 www.stmarys.nsw.edu.au

STAFF LEAVE TERM 4

We wish Mrs Katrina Wall a well-earned break during Term 4. Mrs Denise TemplemanwillbeactingEnglishCoordinatorduringthistime.

NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY

Hannah Preeo of Year 7 represented NSW AllSchoolsattheNationalSchoolSportCross Country event in Adelaide last week. Hannah worked her way through a tough field,withrainandheavymud,tofinish17thinthe13Yeardivision.CongratulationsHannah on a very credible result. Her hard workintraininghaspaidoff.

NATIONAL SCHOOLS BASKETBALL

CongratulationstoYear11studentGeorgia Ohrdorf. Georgia was in the NSW All SchoolsBasketballteamthatfinished3rd attheNationalSchoolSportBasketballChampionships in Dandenong last week.

SPORT SELECTIONS FOR TERM 4

Students in Years 7-10 will enrol in sports for Term 4 from Monday to Thursday 10-13 September. They will then need to return a sport permission note to their Tutor Group teacherbyFriday14September.Enrolmentswill be via Moodle on the college website. Permission notes will be distributed in Tutor Groups, and a copy is also available on Moodle.

New sports available for Term 4 include WaterPoloandAquaFitnessattheUni,aswell as Aquarobics at Beaton Park Leisure Centre.GirlsselectingWaterPoloorSurfingat North Wollongong beach must be strong swimmers. Please discuss the sport selectionswithyourdaughtertoassistherin making a suitable enrolment. Belinda Sparks, Sports Coordinator

A MESSAGE FROM WOLLONGONG COUNCIL: Parking unsafely can put children’slivesatrisk.Increasedfinesandloss of demerit points apply when certain offencesarecommittedinanoperatingschool zone.

• Aminimumpenaltyofa$344fineandthe loss of 2 demerit points applies for stopping or parking a vehicle on or nearapedestriancrossing,achildren’scrossing or any marked foot crossing.

• Theminimumfinefordoubleparkingis$258andthelossof2demeritpoints.

• The minimum penalty for making an illegalU-turnisa$258fineandthelossof 3 demerit points.

BUSZONE

• The minimum penalty for parking on a footpath or across a driveway is $143 and the loss of 2 demerit points.

• Theminimumfineforparking in a bus zone is$258andthelossof2 demerit points.

WOULD YOU LIKE $500 TO SPEND ON EDUCATION COSTS? Youmaybeeligibletoreceive$500tospendoncostssuchascomputers,subjectcosts,tutors,uniformsandsport.Doyouoryourpartnerhave:aHealthCareCardorPensionCard?Someincomefromwork(includesparttime,casual,seasonalandcash)?ContactLindiJamieson-Brown,yourlocalSaverPlusCoordinatoron1300610355oremailLindi.Jamieson-Brown@thesmithfamily.com.au.

CELEBRATING 60 YEARS: 1952 TO 2012

KeiravilleCommunityPreschooliscelebration60years. Memory sharing:Recordingthememoriesof our preschool community members.Please email or send in memories and include the dates that you were associated with the preschool [email protected] pavers:Haveyour name as a permanent part of Keiraville CommunityPreschoolforaslittleas$30.

60th Birthday picnic:Saturday20October-11am-3pm,BYOfood,freeteaandcoffee,2pmofficialceremony.

Hannah: before and after the cross

country run

CHILD PROTECTION SUNDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2012

Working together to protect children

and young people in our Church and

society

iSTAND WEEKEND FOR 14-18 YEAR OLDS FRIDAY 5-SUNDAY 7 OCTOBER

The Wollongong Youth Mission Teams is running an iSTAND weekend at Cataract Scout Park - a greatweekendfilledwithfantasticactivitieslikearchery,challengevalley,bonfiresandcampfireswithmarshmallowroasting,andtotopitoff,anawesomeband!Costis$98perpersonandthisincludes,accommodation,foodandactivities.Email [email protected] to receive a rego formortextorringChrisBrennanon0433636359formoredetails.

EXCHANGE STUDENT TABEA NYDEGGER

We’dliketointroduceournewexchangestudent, Tabea Nydegger, who arrived in July from Switzerland and is sponsored by Illawarra Sunrise Rotary Club. Tabea is in Year 11 and will be with us for 12 months. Shewilllivewithfourdifferenthostfamiliesandislookingforwardtogettingtoknowmany people and experience as much of Australian life and culture as possible. We welcome Tabea and hope that she will enjoy her stay. Liz Davis

Tabea (centre) with Noni Martin and Lucy Nuttall

COURSE EVENINGS AT TAFE ILLAWARRA

Year 10:Wednesday12September 6-8pm,BlockA.2.09,WollongongCampus

Years 11 and12:Wednesday19September 6-8pm,BlockA.2.09,WollongongCampusTAFEwillgiveeachpersonabriefcareerassessmentdesignedtoidentifysuitablecourses.TAFEwillalsoprovideinformationandanswerquestionsabouttheircourses.Itissuggestedthat each student brings a parent or other adult. To book or make enquiries please phone 42290535.

LEARNING LABS AT UOW

Wollongong University thanked the college forsupportingtheirgiftedandtalentedprogram - Learning Labs - which was held in July. To join the program students had toprovideinformationthatindicatedtheycan work at a Year 11 or 12 level in their area of interest. This could be a teacher recommendation,academicscholarship,placement in a self-contained class or a scorewithinthetopbandofNaplan.Fifteenstudentswereabletoattendandwehopetoseemoreattendinginthefuture. Mary Boyle, Diverse Learning Needs Coordinator