1 Reϐlection “To change the world we must be good to those who cannot repay us.” Pope Francis St Mary’s College Gunnedah Newsletter 24 th November 2017 www.stmaryscollege.nsw.edu.au Telephone: 6742 2124 Dear Parents, Teachers, Students and Friends, On Friday November 17 th St Mary’s celebrated the completion of schooling for our Year 12 students at their Year 12 Formal. It was a wonderful occasion for parents, friends and teachers to gather around our departing students for the last ofϐicial event after 13 years of schooling. They will now move on to the next stage of their lives and begin to make their own way in the world. They have been a ϐine group of young men and women and they will make a great contribution to our world in whatever capacity they decide to take. We wish them well as our thoughts and prayers continue to follow them wherever they may be. As one class exits another enters. On Thursday November 16 th we welcomed the new Year 7 class for 2018 for their Orientation Day. Year 6 students came to visit St Mary’s for the day from as far aϐield as Narrabri, Wee Waa, Curlewis, Carroll and Boggabri, as well as our local students from St Xavier’s Primary School and Gunnedah South Public School. The students had a very enjoyable day, taking the place of the current Year 7 class which went out on their Rewards Day. They were mentored by student leaders from our Senior Council who helped to welcome the visitors and guide them through the various activities. This week the Year 10 students begin a special program called, Senior School Experience. For the remainder of this term they have been allocated to senior classes with senior teachers who have been freed from their Year 12 classes. In these classes the students will be learning about the expectations and content in the various senior subjects as well as revising some of the vital content from Year 10 that they will require to begin Year 11 at the start of next year. The early days of the program have received positive reviews from teachers and students and it is anticipated that the students will beneϐit greatly from the experience which will assist in preparing them for the demands of senior study in Year 11. This week a group of St Mary’s students and teachers ϐly to the Philippines to begin their Emersion Experience in some of the poorer locations in that country, see page 4 for more detail. It is an opportunity for them to put into practice the Gospel reading from this Sunday, The Feast of Christ the King. “I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.” Mt 25:36‐36 `tå dâ|Ü~ Principal Congratulations to Eliza Perkins The 2018 Lion’s Youth of the Year. Upcoming events 27th Nov ‐ 1st Dec ‐ Year 10 Work Experience 12th Dec ‐ Presentation Day 7‐11 12th Dec ‐ End of Year Mass 13th Dec ‐ Carols in the Convent 15th Dec ‐ Last Day of Term 4 2018 Term Dates 29th Jan Staff Return 30th Jan Year 7, 11 & 12 return 31st Jan Year 8, 9 & 10 return Uniform Shop January Dates Monday 22nd Tuesday 23rd Wednesday 24th Monday 29th Tuesday 30th Wednesday 31st
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DearParents,Teachers,StudentsandFriends,OnFridayNovember17thStMary’scelebratedthecompletionofschoolingforourYear12studentsattheirYear12Formal.Itwasawonderfuloccasionforparents, friendsandteachersto gather around our departing students for the last of icialevent after 13 years of schooling. Theywill nowmove on tothenextstageoftheirlivesandbegintomaketheirownwayin theworld.Theyhavebeena inegroupofyoungmenandwomenandtheywillmakeagreatcontributiontoourworldinwhatevercapacity theydecide to take.Wewish themwellasourthoughtsandprayerscontinuetofollowthemwherevertheymaybe.Asoneclassexitsanotherenters.OnThursdayNovember16thwewelcomedthenewYear7classfor2018fortheirOrientationDay.Year6studentscametovisitStMary’s for theday fromas far a ieldasNarrabri,WeeWaa, Curlewis, CarrollandBoggabri, aswell asour local students fromStXavier’sPrimarySchoolandGunnedahSouthPublicSchool.Thestudentshadaveryenjoyableday,takingtheplaceofthecurrentYear7classwhichwentoutontheirRewardsDay.TheywerementoredbystudentleadersfromourSeniorCouncilwhohelpedtowelcomethevisitorsandguidethemthroughthevariousactivities.This week the Year 10 students begin a special program called, Senior SchoolExperience. For the remainder of this term they have been allocated to seniorclasseswithsenior teacherswhohavebeen freed fromtheirYear12classes. IntheseclassesthestudentswillbelearningabouttheexpectationsandcontentinthevariousseniorsubjectsaswellasrevisingsomeofthevitalcontentfromYear10thattheywillrequiretobeginYear11atthestartofnextyear.Theearlydaysoftheprogramhavereceivedpositivereviewsfromteachersandstudentsanditisanticipatedthatthestudentswillbene itgreatlyfromtheexperiencewhichwillassistinpreparingthemforthedemandsofseniorstudyinYear11.This week a group of StMary’s students and teachers ly to the Philippines tobegintheirEmersionExperienceinsomeofthepoorerlocationsinthatcountry,seepage4 formoredetail. It isanopportunity forthemtoput intopracticetheGospelreadingfromthisSunday,TheFeastofChristtheKing.
PLEASEGIVEGENEROUSLYOver the next three weeks we will be collecting food items to present to our local St Vincent DePaul centre to make Christmas hampers for families in the community. If you can spare one or two non-perishable food items, could you please send them with your child/children to school for collection at Mentor Groups.
MINISTRY ROSTER for MASS9th DECEMBER: Saturday 6.00pm
Youth Mass INTRO and POF: SMC FIRST READING: SMC
SECOND READING: SMC ALTAR GIFTS: SMC
16th DECEMBER: Saturday 6.00pm SECOND READING: Vicki Isbester
17th DECEMBER: Sunday 8.30am SECOND READING: Zoe Palmer
ALTAR GIFTS: David and Tanya Palmer
24th DECEMBER: Sunday 8.30am SECOND READING: Tim Kennedy
CHRISTMASMASS SCHEDULE
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CATHOLICIMMERSIONTOTHEPHILIPPINESOnthe22ndNovember,sevenSt.Mary’sCollegestudentsandtwoteachersareparticipatinginaCatholic Missions Immersion to Bantayan Island in the Philippines. Fundraising has been inoperation for over a yearwith the girls conductingpie drives, a garage sale, pizza days, raf les,sellingchocolates&providingfoodattheschoolsocialinTerm3.TheparticipantshavealsobeenkindlygivendonationsfromtheKnightsoftheSouthernCross,theCombined Catholic Schools P&F, St Mary’s College School Board and St. Joseph’s Churchparishioners.Proceedsraisedwillbedonatedtocommunityprojects,suchasbuildingachildren’splaygroundintheMadridejosvillagegivingthechildrenaspacetoplay.AlsototheGoodShepherdorganisationwhichaddressesissuessuchaspoverty,exploitiveemploymentandtraf icking.
Last year, Carrie Woods and GeorgiaWoodward, accompanied by MrsMooney visited Cambodia. The 10 dayvisit was truly memorable and lifechanging.Through theCatholicMissionsprogramwe were able to witness irst‐hand thework of the Church in schools,kindergartens, hospitals and healthclinics,aswellasarangeofpastoralandsocialprogramstheChurchimplements.UponreturningtoAustraliatheparticipantsdonatedmoneytoFatherTotetinSiemReaptoensurethechildreninthekindergartenvisitedreceivedan‘EggaDay’.Sucha small gesture can make a huge difference to the lives of these children. (seeaccompanyingphoto)Thisissuchavaluableexperienceforouryoungadults–onewhichtheywillsurelytreasureforever!
Mrs Kelly Swain – In Stitches - 38 Barber St Gunnedah – 6742 3870
It is essential that all skirts made are no higher than 10cm above the knee, as stated in the Uniform & Grooming Policy, with ample hems to allow for growth over the two years. Year 11 girls may need to readjust hems over the summer break or order new skirts of the correct length for Year 12.
LanguagesFacultyTerm4hasbeenagreattermintheLanguageLabforChineseatStMary’s.ThistermtheYear8studentshavebeenabletohaveconversationsinChineseincludingthedaysoftheweekandcoun‐tries,aswellaspracticingaskingeachotherwherewearefrom.WehadsomeYear6studentsvis‐itandgetatasteofwhatChinesewillbelikewhentheycometoStMary’s.TheChineseGunnedahcommunitycontinuestosupportthisinnovativeprogramwiththestudentsbene itingfromthreenativeChinesespeakingvolunteersintheclassroomassistingMrHarristoteachthestudents.Students were excited to learn more about the Chinese culture this term, Mr Harris has beenteachingthestudentshowtodoChinesecalligraphyandplaytheChinesetilegameMajhong.
Year 6 students visited the Chinese language classroom with their Peer support team and geo a taste of Chinese Calligraphy on the year 7 orientation day.
The students had a great time and took home their artwork.
Year 8 students learnt the Chinese art form of Chinese Caligraphy from Mr Harris and his team of Chinese volunteers.
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LanguagesFacultyContinued
Year 8 students are making great improvements with their Chinese writing with Madeline and Katrina being judged the best in an in class competition to write Monday and China. Lillian one of our Chinese volunteers judged the competition.
Year 8 students are learning how to play the Traditional Chinese game Majhong as part of a Chinese culture lesson.
GreenValleyFarmOnThursday16thofNovemberYear7boardedacoachveryearlyonroutetoGreenValleyFarmforourannual "BigDayOut".Afterour long trip,wearrived safely fora fun illeddayofwaterslides,bigslide,jumpingpillow,animalparkandmuchmore.Allthestudentsenjoyedtheirday.