From the Principal

MSCW Showcase of talents – Starting now! 

Over these last few weeks of the year, our students will take the lead and share their talents through presentation and performance evenings. The first performance on Tuesday evening involved our TDP and Co-Curricular students. It highlighted a remarkable standard, high proficiency and wide array of dance, instruments and voice. Next Monday 4 November, we host the Newman Symposium, which showcases our Gifted and Talented Program, as well as our HSC and Year 7 – 11 student works in Creative Arts, Performing Arts and TAS. I look forward to seeing our student performances and projects as well as seeing parents on the night. 

Advent: the Christmas Journey has begun

This weekend, at Parish Masses, and as a College community within our global Catholic community, we begin our Advent journey. You will observe that the colour purple appears in church ceremonies signifying a time of change. This change begins a new year in the Churches’ liturgical calendar and is one of the key Church seasons. It is an exciting church season as it prepares us all to celebrate the birth of Christ. It is a time when we are invited to learn how to ‘wait patiently and hopefully’ for the coming of the Lord. The temptation is to eliminate Advent and move directly to Christmas, because we are impatient. In today’s modern society, advertising  and commercial sales appear to promote instant gratification as well as spending or buying – often missing the real Christmas message. So, to balance and counter the trend, let’s unpack our family Nativity scenes, practice patience and invite the Holy Spirit into our homes as we prepare for the coming of the Lord.

Advent Prayer

Lord Jesus,

Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.

We who have so much to do and seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day,

We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.

We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom.

We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence.

We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.

To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!’

Amen.

– Henri J.M. Nouwen

 

From the Assistant Principal

Year 12 Formal

On Friday 17 November, the class of 2023 celebrated in style their Year 12 Formal. It was a wonderful evening of dancing, fun and celebration. 

Term 1 2024 Commencement Dates

College Second Hand Uniform Shop

Starting in 2024, as the College introduces its new uniform, the College second-hand uniform shop will close its doors at the end of 2023. Any remaining items by the year’s end will find a new home through donation to the Marist Sisters’ in Fiji.

Donate your old uniforms!

We are inviting our community to donate old uniforms for collection to be sent to our Marist Sisters in Fiji. The uniforms will then be distributed to local schools.

Donations can be sent through to the General Administration Office

Reminder to Parents and Carers – Apply Now for 2024 School Opal Cards

Applications are now open for 2024 Student Opal cards on Transport for NSW website. We encourage parents and carers to apply now to make sure their children receive their School Opal card before the start of the 2024 new school year.

Getting to school by bus in 2024

Will your child be catching the bus to school next year? Applications are now open for a 2024 School Opal cards.  As it’s a busy time of year, we highly recommend you make this application before the end of this year. It’s also good to check the bus timetable to make your child’s journey to school as easy as possible. Here is how it works:

School Opal Cards

• All students catching the bus in 2024 will need a School Opal card.
• Under the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS), eligible students can apply for free or subsided travel between home and school.
• For more information about the SSTS and how to apply for a School Opal Card, visit https://apps.transport.nsw.gov.au/ssts/#/ from a desktop computer, and click ‘apply for a school travel pass’. 

Bus timetables

Busways is the school bus operator that runs your schools’ bus services. To find your child’s school bus timetable visit the Busways website by using the following steps:
1. Go to busways.com.au/nsw 
2. Click on ‘school services’ in the navigation bar and then proceed to ‘school timetables’
3. Enter the school’s name in the field that says ‘enter a school name’
4. Select the school’s name and the timetable should open on your device.
5. If you are unable to find or search for the school’s name, use the drop-down menus on the same web page to find the school.
6. Once the timetable is opened, you will be able to identify which school bus services are available in your area for your child to use.

This article on College life meets The Archbishop’s Charter for Catholic Schools – Charter #2, #6 & #8

From the Religious Education Coordinator

In our Church …… 

The Liturgical Year begins at the end of the secular year, in early December and begins with the season of Advent.

Advent means waiting or coming and the liturgical colour for Advent is violet, a royal purple that symbolises the Kingdom of God. Advent then is a period of waiting, of spiritual anticipation, preparation and longing for the coming of Christ and the Kingdom of God.  In this sense, Advent is a season of hope, faith joy and peace, reflected in the lighting of the three purple and one pink candle in the Advent Wreath.

In the business of today’s world we have become used to instant gratification: you can get an answer to a Google search in under one second, you can ask Google Home to add grocery items to you shopping list as you run out, you can express most things, express post, express checkout and express recharge your prepaid phone, and now you can ‘tap and go’ payments for everything you purchase!  It is no wonder then that the concept of waiting, preparing and anticipating has become foreign to many of us.  And yet, this is what belief in Jesus Christ and Kingdom of God is all about.  Waiting for the coming of the Saviour and working toward the fulfilment of the Kingdom of God is the preparation we undergo as we seek eternal life with God.

In this Advent season, let us slow down and celebrate the discipline of waiting: enjoy the long sunny but cool afternoons of early summer just relaxing with friends and family, read that book you’ve been meaning to read or see that movie that you promised yourself you would.

In the life of our new Year 12 Leaders….

Archbishop’s Student Leadership Forum 

On Friday 24 November, our College Co-captains, Monet Lobina and Sienna Duarte, and two House Liturgy Leaders, Melodie Brown and Kaia Wilkowska, represented the College at the 2023 Archbishop’s Student Leadership forum held at St Mary’s Cathedral Hall. They had the opportunity to workshop with Archbishop Anthony Fisher and other student leaders from Catholic schools in Sydney about faith-based ideas that they could potentially implement into their school community in 2024. Students engaged in conversations based on ways to promote community engagement, climate change, mental health, and developing the prayer life of students. 

Archbishop Anthony Fisher centred his keynote address on “Leaders as Missionaries of Joy”, which led to a discussion forum where students were able to voice their issues they see as important in society. The forum concluded with a Q & A session and a prayer service in the Cathedral where the student leaders received a blessed candle to bring back to the College. The forum was valuable because it provided the leaders with ways in which they can further enhance the faith formation of students within the College community.          

Marist Student Gathering 

In Week 7, the College and Social Justice Co-captains were invited to the Marist Youth Leaders Gathering held at The Hermitage in Mittagong for three days. Facilitated by the Marist Youth Ministry (MYM) Team, the gathering was an amazing experience where we connected with other leaders from over fifteen Marist schools all the way from Canberra and up to Newcastle. We took part in a range of activities that centred around learning about Marist leadership, which is modelled by St Marcellin Champagnat and Jean-Marie Chavoin. Being one of the two Marist sisters schools, it was very interesting learning about St Marcellin’s significant contribution to our own founder. 

Throughout these different activities, we were placed in small groups with other student leaders, allowing us to build new connections and learn what other schools’ leadership looks like. An activity, The Amazing Grace, pushed us to use our strengths and learn to work together as leaders. We were also given an Emmaus partner whom we bonded with and discovered more about ourselves and each other as leaders through many thought-provoking conversations. Ultimately, through collaborating with all the other leaders we were able to learn and take inspiration from the unique initiatives held across the schools.

On a Monday night, all the school’s principals travelled down to Mittagong and engaged in a lovely mass, followed by a formal dinner. It was a lovely celebration and a great way for Dr Ireland to recap on what we had been doing the past few days. During this dinner, we all received wooden crosses to keep throughout our HSC journey to guide us and remind us of our Marist connection and faith. 

Finally, we ended the camp with a lighthearted night of trivia and a talent show where we were able to bond as a group for one final night.

Overall the experience helped us build our skills as leaders and collaborate with one another to discover best methods and approaches to leadership within our own schools.

Sienna Duarte and Mia Bartram, College Co-captain and Social Justice Co-captain

Ms Jenny Vu, Youth Ministry Coordinator

 In our Community…. 

Marist Sony Camp Formation Day

In preparation for the Marist Sony Camp, our Year 11 students with Ms. Negrine, attended their second Formation Day at St. Joseph’s in Hunters Hill.

“Last Friday on 24 November, we had the opportunity to spend the day at St Joseph’s College in Hunters Hill to prepare ourselves for the upcoming Marist Sony Foundation Children’s Holiday Camp. The program is a unique respite program that sees high school students volunteer to take on the responsibility of caring for children with a disability, allowing their families to have a valuable weekend off. We were joined by students from Loreto Normanhurst and St Joseph’s College who, guided by their faith, shared a passion for positively impacting the lives of others. The purpose of the day was to connect with our fellow student volunteers and step into the shoes of the campers. 

We started the day with icebreaker activities. This included feeding each other yoghurt and brushing each other’s teeth. Whilst it was awkward at first, we all came to understand how important the activities were in showing how different people have different needs and how to approach situations in a way that is comfortable for them. Following this, we took the time to familiarise ourselves with different challenges we may face and received folders containing the information about our individual campers. 

At the end of the day, we spent time wrapping Christmas gifts for our campers and listened to the experience of a past camper’s mother, Theresa. Theresa’s speech emphasised the importance of immersing yourself in the world of the campers with her main message being to ‘let go of the rope and get in the water’. She showed us the importance of acceptance, kindness and basic human dignity emphasising that we need to be guided by kindness and faith. Her speech inspired us all to look at people in a new, brighter light and to continually strive for a kinder, accepting community. 

Overall, the day opened our eyes to many new ideas and experiences and I’m sure we all walked out of it looking at the world in a slightly different way.”

Jade Dunleavy and Gabrielle Foster, Year 11 Students

Thank you to our Year 11 students and Ms. Negrine for their engagement with the activities on this day in  preparation for the Marist Sony Camp.

Ms Samantha Ison, Assistant Religious Education Coordinator

In our Curriculum 

Year 11 Curriculum 

Our Year 11 cohort have begun their first topics of the HSC course in Studies of Religion II, Studies of Religion I and Studies in Catholic Thought. 

In Studies of Religion II, our students have completed their study on Religion in Australia Post-1945 which will be assessed in Assessment Task 1 which was a Source Analysis Task. Currently, our students are studying their topic on Religious Depth Study on Christianity. The focus of this study is the contribution of significant people, ideas, practices and ethical teachings to an understanding of Christianity as a living religious tradition that links directly with the life of adherents. Specifically, students have been learning about Pope Francis, Baptism and Environmental Ethics. The particular focus is on the ways in which Christianity, as an integrated belief system, provides a distinctive answer to the enduring questions of human existence. 

Similarly, our Studies of Religion I, our students are currently completing their topic on Religion and Belief in Australia Post-1945. The focus of this study is religious expression in Australia’s multicultural and multi faith society since 1945. The study includes an appreciation of Aboriginal spiritualities and their contribution to an understanding of religious beliefs and religious expression in Australia today. 

In Studies of Catholic Thought, students are currently studying their first HSC topic on Virtue, Vice and Salvation. In this topic, students investigate the challenge of evil and suffering in the world. Students consider where God is in both ‘the good’ and ‘the evil’. Students also explore the works of St Paul and other theologians and encyclicals, which developed a Christian framework for understanding what is good, how to be good and the gift of grace. Through this topic, students will analyse how Scripture and other relevant Church documents, with the integration of faith and reason continue to guide the Church, and explain the contributions of the Catholic tradition to the understanding of what is good, true and beautiful in society, using a range of examples.

Thank you Year 11 for your efforts! Thank you to our teaching team for their continued commitment and dedicated to Year 11:

• Ms Caroline Morizzi
• Ms Irena Jajcevic
• Ms Jenny Vu
• Ms Leoni Hopkins
• Ms Katie Ellis
• Ms Angela Bowland

Ms Samantha Ison, Assistant Religious Education Coordinator

This article on College life meets The Archbishop’s Charter for Catholic Schools – Charter #1, #2

From the Leader of Learning

NEWMAN SYMPOSIUM and FORM: Shape, SPACE and SOUND

As Dr Ireland mentioned, our students will showcase their learning and work this coming Monday. I especially encourage all students, parents and carers to attend FORM: Shape, Space and Sound.

On Monday afternoon, in addition to our Newman students showcase, you will be able to view major works from our recent Year 12 students in Visual Arts and Design & Technology. To whet your appetite please see the Visual Arts News article.

Our Stage 5 Music elective students will also perform in the Theatrette from 5pm.

I guarantee that you will leave amazed and in awe of what our students achieve.

Semester 2 Reporting in Stages 4 & 5

Teachers are currently preparing academic reports and determining grades for students. The grade determined is with reference to the typical performance of a student using evidence from all learning activities and assessment tasks across the year. The grade determined reflects the typical performance of a student for the year, not just Semester 2. 

The Common Grade Scale and Course Performance Descriptors

The common grade scale is a standardized NSW framework that allows teachers to evaluate student performance consistently across different schools and subjects. It ensures fairness, transparency, and reliability in the grading process, providing a shared language for teachers, students, and parents to understand and interpret grades meaningfully.

In our Assessment Handbooks, each subject has a grid that details the grade scale.

It is important to note the following about the Semester 2 Academic Reports:

• The Semester 2 Grade is determined by each teacher’s on-balance judgement using a range of evidence
• Grades are not determined mathematically or with reference to numeric benchmarks
• The reportable outcomes are not totalled to generate a grade, and there can be variation in reportable outcome levels
• No one formal assessment task will determine a grade
• Earning consistent grades in both Semester 1 and Semester 2 indicates academic growth, as the student has successfully navigated the increasing challenges and demands of the course over time
• For Year 10 students, the Semester 2 Grade is the grade reported to NESA for a student’s Stage 5 Record of Student Achievement (ROSA).

As parents, we encourage you to familiarize yourself with the common grade scale and course performance descriptors, enabling you to support your daughter’s education effectively. By working together, we can create an environment that fosters growth, recognizes achievement, and nurtures a love for learning.

From the Leader of Wellbeing

Gala Day Preparation 2023

Learning how to make new friends and keep them involves a number of skills every young person needs to understand and develop. For some these skills will come very naturally, allowing them to easily move between different friendship groups, sharing their experiences and opening up to new people. For others, this can be much harder to navigate. Belonging to a group that is like-minded with similar interests is highly beneficial to a young person’s wellbeing. It gives them a sense of security helping them feel valued which in turn builds their confidence.

Positive friendships are an important part of the journey to adulthood. Adult carers can support their child or teenager by providing guidance in the many social and emotional skills required for a healthy relationship. This will help them to obtain, retain and maintain friendships. However, not all friendship are regarded as positive. Sometimes young people develop negative or toxic friendships. Therefore it is also important for them to learn how to identify, avoid or deal with such a friendship.

This Special Report adult carers can learn how to support their young person’s friendship so that they experience a sense of belonging.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your daughter, please contact her Tutor Teacher or House Coordinator for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to this special on FRIENDSHIP & BELONGING edition of SchoolTV: LINK

Helping Kids Cope With Cliques

An article to that will help you to address this issue with your daughter

LINK

 This article on College life meets The Archbishop’s Charter for Catholic Schools – Charter #1, #2, #8 

Newman News

The Newman Symposium will be held at the College on 4 December from 4.00 pm to 7.00 pm. The Newman Symposium will also be combined with the Creative Arts, Performing Arts and TAS showcases. It is an exciting evening where current parents and carers are invited to the College for a showcase of Newman learning throughout the year. Future parents and students are also invited to attend, and this is an excellent opportunity for them to learn about the enrichment opportunities offered through the Newman program. In showcasing Newman students’ work, we are encouraging the acknowledgement of the gifts that these students possess across all areas within College life. 

2023 Cape York Immersion

Students who attended the 2023 Cape York Immersion recently fundraised to pay for the materials used in their community service project. The students built stairs and extended the outdoor kitchen shelter at Panamunji homeland, to enable Traditional Owners Tim and Elaine to safely access the creek and to be able to host more groups of students on immersion. 

Year 8 STEM News

In Weeks 7 and 8 of Term 4, the Year 8 students delved deep into the realms of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), embarking on a three-day learning experience.

During the first leg of their STEM journey in Week 7, the students spent a day at the University of Technology, Sydney. The visit included a tour of the university’s diverse faculty buildings and lab facilities. Exploring the protolab, students encountered a fascinating array of 3D printers, showcasing 3D printed items of varying sizes, colours, and materials.  Following the tour, students collaborated in groups for a design project guided by the principles of design thinking, facilitated by UTS engineering students. The focus of the project was on civil engineering, challenging students to select a terrain and devise an appropriate structure for a specific group or individuals to inhabit.

The students also visited the Powerhouse Museum in Week 7, where they engaged in a scavenger hunt. This involved solving riddles to uncover key information within the museum’s exhibits on Space, Experimentations and the Steam Revolution. Congratulations to the scavenger hunt winning team; Chiara Belmont, Ivy-Marie Proven, Cassandra Maldonado, Elissa Kawtal and Kayla Yildirim.

Following the scavenger hunt, students worked on a STEM design challenge, drawing inspiration from a nearby UTS building. Specifically, they examined the sustainable design features of UTS Building 8, using it as inspiration to craft a sustainable room of their choice at home, adhering to specified criteria. Congratulations to the winning design team; Poppy Simmonds, Alyanna Tabuso and Tiffany Tsoi for their innovative solutions.  

The culmination of the student project unfolded on the final STEM day in Week 8. Students continued to work on their civil engineering projects with the assistance of the UTS engineering students. Bringing their ideas to life, students crafted prototypes of structures within their chosen terrains.  Each group then presented their comprehensive background research, justifying the design features tailored for the specific group and terrain.

These immersive STEM experiences not only provided our Year 8 students with hands-on learning opportunities but also nurtured their creativity, critical thinking, and collaborative skills. 

Year 9 Commerce – Market Day

Visual Arts News

ARTEXPRESS 

Marist Sisters Woolwich extends heartfelt congratulations on the inclusion of “My Porcelain Dolls” by Mana Sugimoto and “Star Stories” by Gabby Ip in the prestigious 2023 ARTEXPRESS exhibition. Witnessing our students, Mana and Gabby, showcased among the finest visual arts talents in the 2023 HSC cohort brings immense pride. We would also like to extend our warmest congratulations to Isabelle Mourani and Georgie Letsios for their notable nominations, further enhancing the recognition of our Visual Arts program. We celebrate the accomplishments of all our Visual Arts students and wish them well in all future creative pursuits.

HSIE News

On Friday 19 November some Marist Sister students from Years 7 and 8 went to St Clair’s to compete in the annual History Mastermind Competition  2023.

We used perseverance and integrity whilst doing the questions and quizzes. One that stood out was the naming flags of the countries. We had a fun time answering all the quizzes and working as a team.

Overall it was a fun learning experience and we would like to thank everyone who made the fun day possible including Ms Dito for her organisation and Ms O’Neill who took us to St Clair’s.

Annabelle Piggott Silva, Year 7 Student

Post School Pathways News – Information Sessions for Students & Parents to assist with UAC Course Preference Choices

The University of Sydney Information Day – Friday 15 December 

Students attending will have an opportunity to get personalised course advice before finalising their UAC preferences, along with information sessions and campus tours. Students can register now to plan their schedule and utilise the resources offered on Info Day to embark on their dream study and career journey. Find out more and register here. 

The University of Sydney: UAC – Understanding How Preferences and Offers Work – Friday 15 December 

This webinar will provide information for Year 12 students, parents and guardians to help them confidently navigate the UAC offer rounds, engage with offers received, and use the UAC system to their advantage. The webinar will also give top tips to help prepare students for their first year of university. The session will end with a Q&A with admissions experts. Register here. 

The Women’s College within The University of Sydney Information Day – Friday 15 December 

Students can secure their accommodation and learn about academic support for their university studies by visiting Women’s College on Info Day, before finalising their UAC preferences. Meet the Principal and Women’s College students, tour College and enjoy some light refreshments. Register here.  

Notre Dame Invitation to Options Day – Friday 15 December, 10.00 am – 2.00 pm 

Join in at the bustling Broadway campus for Options Day 2023. Students can find out everything they need and want to know about Notre Dame so they can start their studies in 2024 with confidence. Students can discuss their options, change preferences and enrolment information including their Early Offer and more. Registrations essential.

UNSW | Info Week – December 13 to December 15, 2023

Join staff at Info Week events to get personalised advice and all the information you need to finalise your UAC preferences. Your ATAR doesn’t have to be a make or break. Info Week is your opportunity to learn more about your transition to uni – tour our campus, attend lectures, and chat with current students and academics to explore how your UNSW journey could look. To find out more click here.

University of Newcastle | ATAR Info Day 2023  December 14, 2023

Join staff on campus at the ATAR Info Day to get all your questions answered. If you have questions about studying in 2024 or didn’t quite get the marks you need, the ATAR Info Day is a chance to chat with admission staff and pathways teams to help you understand your adjusted ATAR and entry options. Talk to the teams about degrees, changing preferences and alternative entry options plus tour the campus with current students.  Find out more here. 

ACU | Change of Preference Tours – 14 to 16 December 2023

Explore ACU’s campuses and discuss your study options by booking a guided campus tour with our friendly staff. Tours are available at 10am, 1pm and 3pm AEDT.

North Sydney: December 14 to December 16, 2023 (register here)

Strathfield: December 14 to December 16, 2023 (register here)

Blacktown: December 14 to December 16, 2023 (register here)

University Of Wollongong events – 14 – 15 December 

ATAR Live Chat –  14 December

Is your ATAR higher or lower than you expected? Is it enough to get into your dream course? What about your other options and pathways? Join us online as we answer your questions live – giving you the answers you need so you can make the right decisions. Find out more. 

Options Day – 15 December (Wollongong and Liverpool campuses)  

Looking for clarity around which courses to apply for or what to do next once your have your ATAR? UOW will be hosting Options Day in December to guide you around the decisions you need to make to study at UOW in 2024. We will have faculty experts, current students and important information ready for this event at our Wollongong and Liverpool campuses. Find out more

UTS | Info Day  –  December 15, 2023

Info Day is your chance to explore undergraduate course and pathways options. Speak 1:1 with UTS staff, attend an info session or join a campus tour to discover more about your options at UTS. Find out more here.

Western Sydney Uni HSC True Reward Program – still time to apply for December and January rounds

The program can provide students with an offer into most university degrees based on their individual HSC subject results rather than a scaled ATAR. Students still have time to apply for the HSC True Reward program to be considered in December and January offer rounds. Click here for more information.

Western Sydney University Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pathway Program 

An alternative entry program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Applicants can gain entry to any undergraduate degree at Western Sydney University by completing an entry assessment. Assessments in January are conducted online and are available for registration now. 

For Parents

Strengths Based Parenting for Neurodivergent Families  December 5, 2023

Join Mariane Power for online training and information.  Learn how you can apply the science of positive psychology to unlock your children’s potential and improve their wellbeing.

In this 2 hour webinar, you’ll learn how to:

• Help leverage your child’s unique strengths and specific interests,
• Create sensory friendly spaces that nurture their energy and improve their focus and mood,  and
• Tackle those tricky behaviours and talk about difficult situations with confidence.

The webinar will consist of:

• Live online training with clinical Psychologist and certified Neurodivergent Coach, Mariane Power
• Group based Q&A session, with the opportunity to submit questions via email prior to the event
• Access to a bonus Strengths Playbook PDF, to help you capture new ideas and turn them into action straight away
• A recording of the session, available for 30 days, so you can review your learnings or catch up on anything you’ve missed!

Find out more here.

Charles Sturt University Parent Podcast on students and university life

Charles Sturt has developed a new podcast series to help parents of a child thinking about going to university. The podcast aims to inform parents of information they need to know, in short episodes designed for busy people. The latest episode showcases how much of an impact a scholarship can make to a student’s career and study journey, listen here.

Upcoming Events

University of Sydney | Alumni Festival  December 2, 2023 (open to everyone)

Your chance to explore behind the scenes of some of Sydney’s state of the art facilities.  We’re excited to give our future students the opportunity to connect with some of our incredible alumni – including big names like Dr Kar Krusznelnickil (scientist), Jordon Raskopolous (comedian) and Adam Liaw (celebrity chef) – and show off our incredible campus. Find out more here.

Open Day | JMC ACADEMY – Saturday 20 January 2024

Tour world-class facilities and activations, network and meet students and industry experts, check out live performances. Address is 561 Harris Street, Ultimo. Register your expression of interest here.

Campion College Summer Program | 9-12 or 17-19 January 2024 

Experience college life and a taste of Campion’s Bachelor of Arts in the Liberal Arts. Open to students aged 16 plus. Includes accommodation on campus, meals, social activities and sample lectures in history, literature, philosophy and theology. Free to attend but spaces are limited so please register.

TAFE NSW Pathway with the University of Newcastle 

The dynamic tourism, hospitality and events industries offer students a career filled with vibrant experiences. This pathway begins with an Advanced Diploma at TAFE NSW with students then able to transition into the Bachelor of Tourism, Hospitality and Events (484400) at the University of Newcastle. Find out more here.

Charles Sturt University | Making it in Media 2024 Save the date

Charles Sturt University is once again holding a Making it in Media workshop for students interested in Communication. As part of the event, students will work on a simulated media event in a TV studio, radio station and creative hub in Charles Sturt’s newly upgraded $4.6 million facility in Bathurst. Please save the dates for 2024: 21 June for Year 11 and 12 and 15 November for Year 9 and 10.  More information to follow.

Scholarships

UNSW Young Women in Engineering Pathway Program Open Now for Registrations 

The UNSW Young Women in Engineering Pathway Program for 2024 Year 11 and Year 12 students interested in undertaking an engineering challenge at UNSW is now open. The program runs February to March 2024 taking the place of the UNSW GIE FEAS Program as an alternate pathway to UNSW Engineering. For more information visit this link.

Charles Sturt University Scholarships are Now Open 

Charles Sturt have hundreds of grants and scholarships available, awarding over $3 million worth every year. Every scholarship has a different criteria and students are encouraged to apply for as many as they are eligible for. To make the search easier, Charles Sturt has a tool on their website to help narrow down what a student could be eligible for. Find it here.

Ms Leonie Clarke, Post-School Pathways & VET Coordinator 

This article on College life meets The Archbishop’s Charter for Catholic Schools – Charter #2, #6 & #8

Sports News

Mixed League Tag

Congratulations to the Marist Sisters/Holy Cross Mixed League Tag team for their fantastic effort at the Kids vs Cops League Tag Championships on Monday 20 November held at Barker College. The squad, made up of four skilled students from MSCW—Maddison Tannous, Miah O’Shea, Lily Lamborn, and Natalie Russo, along with eleven formidable players from Holy Cross, put on a great show in the pool games. Despite a tough loss in the semi-final against Oak Hill College with a score of 2-3, their performance was truly commendable. 

Awesome effort!

CGSSSA Tennis Championships

The MSCW Tennis team played at the CGSSSA Tennis Championships on a windy Friday, 17 November . Despite challenging weather, our students faced tough competition from Monte, Loreto, Santa, Scholastica’s, OLMC and Domremy.

Our Marist Sisters’ students demonstrated excellent determination and sportswomanship, showcasing a commendable representation of our school.

Congratulations to the following students:

• Junior Singles: Sienna Voetterl – 3rd Place in the pool Rounds
• Junior Singles: Savannah McAllan – 3rd Place in the pool Rounds
• Junior Double: Pia Lapanaitis & Ao Huyen Tran – 5th  Place in the pool Rounds
• Open Singles: Jessica Elliott – 3rd Place in the pool Rounds
• Open Singles: Ginetta Richetti – 4th Place Overall
• Open Doubles: Alexandra McKenzie & Isabella Cicciari – 2nd Place Overall
• Open Double: Lottie Amato & Allegra Dalino – 3rd Place in the pool Rounds

CGSSSA Touch Football

Congratulations to the MSCW Junior and Open Touch Football Teams on their triumphant victories as crowned Champions at the CGSSSA Invitational Touch Football Championships.  The attacking moves were like a dance of precision, with players showing incredible agility and coordination that left defenders fish out of water!  Solid passes and strategic side-to-side movements showcased the team’s touch football skills at their absolute best!  In the final showdown against Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College, the Junior team secured a thrilling 2-1 victory, while the Open Team emerged victorious with a commendable 4-2 score line.

Awesome achievement!

Sydney Catholic Schools – December/January Holiday Programs

Click on link below:

Ryde Network – SCS Holiday Sport Camp Opportunities

AFL News

The Canada Bay Cannons AFL Club would like to pass on an invitation to join them at their Youth Girls AFL Development Clinic in January.

This free of charge clinic is open to players of all ages and abilities but particularly looking for 12/13/14 & 15 year-olds to come and try AFL club football.

The January clinic is an opportunity to build on your current skills and learn new skills in a fun welcoming environment over the school holidays. Held for 6 sessions over 3 weeks, the program is free, so sign up for just 1 or all 6 sessions if you like. More details in the flyer attached. The clinic is run as a pre-season introduction to the regular winter completion that runs from April until the end of August. 

For more information on the clinic or the regular season please reach out to the contact address in the flyer, email: iallan@canadabaycannons.com.au   or phone: 0448 693 000

Mr Ian Allan, Youth Girls Coordinator – Canada Bay Cannons

This article on College life meets The Archbishop’s Charter for Catholic Schools – Charter #2, #6 & #8

Sports News

Sydney FC School Cup – U14 Girls Tournament

Congratulations to the MSCW Football team who showcased their outstanding performance at the Sydney FC 14 Girls School Cup 2023.  They secured victories in Games 1 to 4, dominating opponents with scores of 3-0, 6-0, 7-1 and 3-1.  Although the Final against St Ursulas ended in a 1-4 loss, the team’s journey was commendable.

Special congratulations to Mikaela Gavranic (Year 8 Student) who was named Player of the Tournament, earning a prize pack featuring a signed Sydney FC hat and four tickets to any Sydney FC home game.

Awesome effort!

Cheerleading World Championships

Congratulations to Sarah Reynolds (Year 9 Student) on her outstanding performance at the AASCF Allstar cheerleading nationals in Melbourne last weekend!  Bringing home 2 gold medals and securing a 4th place in challenging divisions is a remarkable achievement.

Awesome effort!

This article on College life meets The Archbishop’s Charter for Catholic Schools – Charter #2, #6 & #8

Sports Results

Please see the results and MVP (Most Valuable Player) for each team.

Week 7

MVP

Week 8

MVP

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Zoe Mara	Alyse Oppedisano	Claudia Lacalandra
Anabelle Doueihi	Montana McCormick	Maddison Tannous
Michaela Ibrahim	Sienna Price	Catherine Kandalaft
Ashley Alam

This article on College life meets The Archbishop’s Charter for Catholic Schools – Charter #2, #6 & #8

Canteen News

Change to Flexischools

There will be a change to the time for ordering lunch online commencing in Week 1, Term 4.

Due to the increase of online orders, the cut off time will now be 8:00 am!

Please order as soon as you are able to.

Calling on volunteers

Enrol Now At Marist Sisters’ College – Year 7: 2024, 2025 & (NEW) 2026!

Parish of Our Lady of the Way – Christmas Mass Schedule 2023