From the Principal

Welcome back to Term 2! 

I hope that students, staff and families enjoyed a happy and restful break over the holiday period. I’m looking forward to the term ahead and the many opportunities our students take to engage and excel in the classroom as well as in all co-curricular activities. 

RIP Bishop Peter Ingham: Good Friend of our College  

Bishop Peter Ingham was a strong supporter of MSCW and celebrated significant masses for us. A gentle, humble man. One of the great ones.

Today, the Solemn Pontifical Mass of Christian Burial for Bishop Peter Ingham took place at St Francis Xavier Cathedral, Wollongong. On Wednesday night, Archbishop Fisher celebrated a Requiem Mass for Bishop Peter Ingham at St Mary’s Cathedral. 

Bishop Peter Ingham was ordained a priest on 18 July 1964. In his early ministry in the Archdiocese of Sydney he served as Assistant Priest in Rosebury, Newtown, St Mary’s (near Penrith) and Auburn South followed by six years as private secretary to Cardinal Sir James Freeman and ten years as Secretary of the Archdiocese of Sydney. He was nominated a Prelate of Honour (Monsignor) to his holiness Pope John Paul II in 1986. In 1990, he returned to parish ministry as Parish Priest of St Charles, Ryde. He was ordained an auxiliary Bishop of Sydney in 1993 by his Eminence Cardinal Edward Clancy, with the title of Bishop of Pudenziana. Bishop Peter Ingham was installed as the fourth Bishop of Wollongong on 25 July 2001. 

Happy Mother’s Day to all Mums, Grandmothers, Aunts and female role models for Sunday, 12 May. On Wednesday night, we enjoyed a great celebration with our Mums here at the College at our annual Mother’s Day Mass & Supper. Read on to see the highlights of the night.

The Term started with our annual ANZAC Day Assembly where, as a College community, we stopped to both remember and commemorate all those Australians who had fallen in theatres of war or conflict. We keep in our prayers our families who have loved ones currently serving in our defence forces in Australia and overseas. You will read more about our special Assembly later in our Newsletter.

Daughter and Mother duo inspiring others to run the “Humpty Dumpty Balmoral Burn”

The Humpty Dumpty Foundation “Balmoral Burn” is now only 2 weeks away. One of our Year 12 students, Elsie Gray, is keen to be involved again and this year she is excited that her Mum, Louise, is joining her in the run up the hill.

Elsie’s motivation to support the Humpty Dumpty Foundation and run the Balmoral Burn again is to raise money to ensure that “no family has to experience barriers in healthcare”. Humpty Dumpty provides vital equipment to our hospitals for sick kids.

Elsie hopes to accomplish three things:

• To make it to the top, look down to the bottom of Awaba Street and commend myself for running the whole way. 

• To raise a funds to contribute to the Humpty Dumpty Foundation with the help of my family and friends. 

• To encourage as many people as I can to take on the challenge! In addition to my mum, I am motivating all of my family members and friends to run with me and tackle the street together! 

Elsie describes her preparation as a little different to last year.

“Last year, the whole experience and lead up to running the Balmoral Burn was filled with excitement and I told myself to ignore that I was going to run up one of Sydney’s Steepest Streets! I was shocked to find how difficult it was and was astonished watching hundreds run all the way up and some even sprint! In order to master the burn this year, my mum, Louise and I are undertaking many different training strategies. In addition to training for our upcoming half marathon, implementing hill sprint intervals is a must in addition to focusing on refuelling our bodies, stretching and especially good warm-ups and cool downs!”

Well done to Elsie and Louise. They are such an inspiration!

This event, a physical challenge, is a great opportunity for our students and staff to make a huge difference for kids in Australian hospitals and those medical professionals on the frontline.

Date: Sunday, 26 May
Venue: Awaba Street, Balmoral 

From the Assistant Principal

ANZAC Day 2024

Last week, as a College community we stopped to remember and commemorate ANZAC Day. I would like to acknowledge Mrs Watson and the Years 7-12 students who prepared the Assembly. I would also like to acknowledge Katie Mackay, Year 9 who played the Rouse and Last Post. The College was privileged to have Chief Petty Officer Jo Hammett, Royal Australian Navy, address the College in her experiences as an actively serving member of the Australian Defence force. 

The theme for this year’s ANZAC Day was the acknowledgement of the 25th anniversary of the Australian-led deployment of the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET). Australia contributed more than 5,000 personnel to the 22-nation regional force. This also marks the beginning of almost 14 years of Australian Defence Force deployment to East Timor, now Timor-Leste. 

Many of our staff and students have grandparents, mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters who served or who are serving in Australian Defence forces. Let us remember all those in our community who have lost a loved one through war and we also remember those who currently have loved ones serving in areas of conflict around the world.

As we continue to focus on school effectiveness, we are excited to announce that our school will be participating in the Tell Them From Me® (TTFM®) online survey. This survey aims to gather valuable feedback from parents, staff, and students about school life, engagement levels, and staff interactions.

The survey has been used by schools in Australia and around the world to improve their practices. We encourage all staff, parents, and students to take the time to participate in this survey, which will be available over the next few weeks.

Students from Years 7-12 will complete the survey during regular school hours. All participants will be provided with a random username and password to ensure complete anonymity. The survey takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.

While participation in the survey is voluntary, we believe that it will provide us with important data to improve our practices and ensure that we work together as a thriving Catholic community. 

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in our school community.

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 ……

May – The Month of Mary

As we begin May we are reminded that this is the month the Church especially remembers Mary, the Mother of God.  The following is taken from a resource Mr Anthony Cleary, Director of Mission and Identity for Sydney Catholic Schools, published for schools to use to honour Mary throughout this month.

 In what ways can Mary be honoured in May?

In what ways can Mary be honoured in May? The ways of honouring Mary are as varied as the people who honour her. The most common way is through praying the Rosary, either at home or in parishes. It is common for parishes to have a daily recitation of the Rosary during May, and many parishes erect a special ‘May altar’ with a statue or picture of Mary as a reminder of Mary’s month. It’s also traditional to crown a statue of Mary during May – a custom known as ‘May Crowning.’ Usually, the crown is made of flowers representing Mary’s beauty and virtue, a reminder how we should strive to imitate Mary’s virtue in our own lives.

In addition to the Rosary, there are litanies and specific prayers such as the Angelus, the Regina Coeli, the Memorare, the Hail Holy Queen. Readings from Scripture can accompany these prayers, especially from the Gospels and Matthew and Luke relating to Mary’s role in salvation history. Mary’s great prayer of praise and thanksgiving – the Magnificat – can also be recited and/or reflected upon. 

Why have devotion to Mary? Because she is Jesus’ mother and hence Mother of God. At the foot of the Cross, Jesus gave Mary to St John to be our spiritual mother, to care for all the followers of Jesus day-in-and-day-out without fail, interceding before the throne of God on our behalf for all our needs. For that, Mary deserves an entire month in her honour.

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

From the Leader of Learning

Harnessing Neuroplasticity: Unlocking Your Brain’s Potential

Have you ever wondered how your brain adapts and evolves in response to your experiences and environment? Welcome to the fascinating world of neuroplasticity – the brain’s remarkable ability to form and reorganize connections, particularly through learning and experience.

Here’s what the latest brain science tells us about neuroplasticity and its implications for your learning journey:

Dynamic Brain Growth: Your brain is not a static organ; it’s a dynamic powerhouse that constantly evolves based on your experiences and surroundings. Every interaction, every lesson learned, and every challenge overcome shapes the structure and function of your brain.

Use It or Lose It: Like a muscle, your brain requires regular exercise to stay strong and healthy. If you neglect certain skills or cognitive abilities, your brain may “prune” those neural connections, leading to a decline in proficiency. In other words, you might lose it if you don’t use it.

The Power of Brain Rewiring: The exciting news is that you can “rewire” your brain to enhance your abilities and intelligence. You can strengthen neural pathways associated with specific skills and knowledge by engaging in targeted activities and deliberate practice.

But what does this mean for you in practical terms? Here are some actionable strategies to leverage neuroplasticity and maximize your learning potential:

Commit to Short, Regular Practice Sessions: Consistency is key in brain training. Instead of marathon study sessions, aim for shorter, focused practice sessions spread out over time. This approach prevents burnout and allows for better retention and skill development.

Ensure Correct Practice: Practice doesn’t make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect. When you’re practising, pay attention to the quality of your efforts. Focus on precision and accuracy, and seek feedback to ensure you’re on the right track.

Embrace Intense Practice Sessions: Intensity breeds progress. Rather than passively going through the motions, challenge yourself with intense practice sessions that push your limits. Pushing beyond your comfort zone stimulates neural growth and accelerates skill acquisition.

Create a Mimicked Environment: Context matters. Practice in environments that mimic the conditions you’ll need to perform whenever possible. Whether it’s a quiet library for studying or a simulated exam setting, familiarizing yourself with the context can enhance your performance when it counts.

By incorporating these strategies into your study routine, you can harness the power of neuroplasticity to achieve your academic goals and unlock your full potential.

Remember, your brain is a remarkable organ capable of extraordinary growth and adaptation. With the right mindset and approach, you can cultivate a learning environment that nurtures your cognitive abilities and fuels your success.

Keep exploring, keep learning, and keep growing!

In Our Community….

IN our Community…. 

MOTHER DAUGHTER MASS

It was lovely to see so many mothers and daughters at the college last week to celebrate our beautiful Mother’s Day Mass and supper. We were very fortunate to have Fr Michael de Stoop from the Seminary of the Good Shepherd, Homebush, who celebrated the Eucharist with our many mums and daughters. The Mass highlighted the love and nurture the mothers and mother figures provide with a focus on Richard Campbell’s Madonna and Child Artwork.

A huge thank you to all who participating in the mass; Mrs. Eda Battaglia, Elena Battaglia, Angela Lakic, Cate Davis, Hannah Khoury, Mrs. Teresa Talarico, Luciana Arfi, Mrs. Natalye Ibrahim, Emily Ibrahim, Charlotte Brailey, Dr. Regina Schultz, Isobel Janda, Stephanie Gee, Mrs. Kathryn-Ann Gee, Cleo Wockner, Mrs. Donna Wockner and Mrs. Carolyn Criss. Thank you to Mrs Melinda Alvarez for her coordination of the supper.

Thanks to the following staff who supported the event: Mrs Caroline Morizzi, Ms Emma Pracey, Ms Marissa Spiteri, Mrs Caroline Marsh, Ms Christina O’Neill, Mr Matthew Iskander, Mrs Caterina Fara, Ms Rosario Poli, Mrs Michelle Johns, Mrs Antonina Arcidiacono, Ms Claire Scott, Ms Virginia El-Koura and Mrs Erin Healey.

A special thanks to Mrs Erin Healey’s Year 12 Hospitality students who prepared the supper and our fabulous Marist Sisters’ College Fathers; Pete Magner and Benjamin Nah for their wonderful help at the supper.

YEAR 11 REFLECTION DAY

The Year 11 students had a wonderful day at their Year 11 Reflection Day on Friday. A Reflection Day is significantly different from an incursion or excursion. At Marist Sisters’ College Woolwich, Reflection Days are an integral part of our communities focus on faith formation. They are an integral part of the Religious Education program and allow students throughout their time at Marist Sisters to build on, extend and deepen the reflection on their emerging self in relationship to their family, their peers and God.

The purpose of the Reflection Day program is to assist students to recognise the importance of their holistic development, to give them further understanding of “fullness of life”.  Activities are designed to open students to their spirit dimension as well as fostering a sense of community and a heightened awareness of their own faith and that of others. 

The Year 11 Students participated in a range of activities that focused on the theme: Lead with a Heart of Service, with a focus on Servant Leadership and the qualities of what makes a good leader. The students were asked the question: what does leadership look like for you? What courage do you need to be a leader? This reflection day is the first step in the process of Senior Leadership for our Year 11 students.

I would like thank the following teachers for being a wonderful support on the day and for leading their small groups: Dr Anne Ireland, Ms Melinda Alvarez, Ms Jennifer Dove, Ms Samantha Ison, Ms Irena Jajevic, Ms Mary-Anne Boutros, Ms Angela Bowland, Ms Veronica Barbagallo, Ms Marissa Watson, Ms Luisa Navanteri and Mr Liam Story

Social Justice Week

Next week is Social Justice Week! Our social justice group, Marists in Action (MIA), has been working hard in organising a range of engaging initiatives, such as students creating their own vision boards of inspiring women, inviting an Aboriginal guest to run a rock painting activity, and watching Hidden Figures in the Theatrette. 

The theme of Social Justice Week is ‘Bridging the Gap’. It refers to minimising the differences between the privileged and disadvantaged groups in order for everybody to have the same rights and experience the same opportunities. The MIA team is looking forward to ‘bridging the gap’ by creating more awareness about gender equality, homelessness, Aboriginal Australians and people with disabilities throughout this exciting week. 

Vinnies Winter Appeal

Alongside Social Justice Week, the College community is invited to support the Vinnies WinterAppeal this year. Students, parents and staff are asked to donate items needed for those who are experiencing housing hardship and disadvantage despite being in employment. These donations will be packed by students on the night of the Winter Sleepout and then distributed by Vinnies Van Services in the local Ryde area.

Please refer to the  allocated items within your House. They can be delivered to Marian House from Weeks 3 – 5 during tutor time.  Thank you for your support.

Event from Archdiocese

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

New Staff Introductions

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BONNIE CHEN – TAS TEACHER Bonnie is a dedicated educator who has spent the last two years teaching in secondary schools, where she has honed her skills and developed a passion for fostering student growth. Currently, she is pursuing a postgraduate diploma in Technology and Applied Science at Australian Catholic University, with a goal of further enriching her teaching repertoire and staying abreast of technological advancements in education. By the end of this year, she will be fully qualified, equipped to integrate innovative teaching methods into her classroom. Outside of her professional endeavors, Bonnie is actively involved in her church’s women’s ministry. This involvement showcases her commitment to community engagement and personal growth beyond the academic sphere. Bonnie’s multifaceted background underscores her dedication to both her students’ development and her own continuous learning journey.

JUDIE MURATORE – ATTENDANCE OFFICER Please Welcome Judie to the MSCW family as our Attendance Office. Please contact Judie if you have any queries relating to daughters’ attendance.

Chanel House News

We celebrated Chanel Week in Week 1 of Term 2, and we are overjoyed with the efforts and participation of Chanel students, as well as students from other houses. Chanel Week was filled with different activities such as handing out Chanel ribbons for a gold coin donation on Tuesday and Wednesday, hosting a bake sale on Wednesday, making friendship letters at recess on Thursday and selling pizzas for ten dollars on Friday. We are incredibly proud of all the money we raised for the Caritas women’s fundraiser and want to thank all the students and staff who got involved. Chanel Week captured the essence of Saint Peter Chanel, our House patron saint, who lived his life modelling the values of compassion, kindness, servitude and justice. By participating in Chanel Week, students were able to give back and mirror St Peter Chanel’s values in their lives here at MSCW as well as “reaching outwards and upwards” for the benefit of the common good.

STEM CORNER: Highlighting Successful Women in STEM

 

On Thursday of Week 1, Year 11 Advanced Maths students were lucky enough to hear from former MSCW student Charlotte about her studies and career pathway in Chemical Engineering and Commerce. Charlotte has been working at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) as a Chemical Engineer in the Minerals department, and has also completed an internship with Santos. 

 

She was kind enough to return to share insights about her career journey and offer advice to current students about pursuing interests in fields of STEM. Year 11 students enjoyed the opportunity to ask questions about HSC success, university study and STEM career pathways. 

 

We’d love to hear from any other community members (alumni or family) who have interesting and exciting study and career journeys to share with us. Please email Miss Emma Pracey at emma.pracey@syd.catholic.edu.au if you are interested. 

Gifted and Talented Report

Thank you to the many parents who completed the Newman Parent Survey. It is not too late!

Here is the link for those that would still like to give feedback:

https://forms.gle/CiamE6jPSQ7oT53v9

In the survey, I asked about the emotional and social support the College provides Newman students, so I would like to take this opportunity to explain our approach.

Not all high-ability students will present with the same social-emotional needs. Some high-ability students will need little help, whereas others may need extensive support. 

Social emotional issues that seem to be common are struggles with peer relationships, perfectionism, anxiety, poor resilience, imposter syndrome, heightened emotional sensitivity, 

Some of the signs to look for in unhealthy perfectionism are:

• high levels of anxiety
• self-criticism
• tendency to magnify imperfections
• criticism of others
• reluctance to try new things
• difficulty sharing responsibility in group work – “I’d rather do it myself”.
• feelings of inadequacy.

High-ability students should be challenged in their learning when they are young. High-ability students may not develop the necessary skills for learning if things are always easy. These skills include risk-taking and perseverance. Both of these are needed for healthy perfectionism.

When students are not challenged, they may become fixated on grades or results. 

To encourage healthy perfectionism, teachers need to:

• provide challenging and rigorous learning experiences
• support students to set realistic goals
• provide feedback on effort and process
• model positive self-talk
• model and encourage a growth mindset.
• providing experiences for the different levels of development
• providing opportunities for high-ability students to show higher levels of thinking and learning.

Metacognitive strategies teach students to think about their thinking and learning. Metacognitive activities can include:

• planning how to approach learning tasks
• evaluating progress
• tracking comprehension.

High-ability students who have trouble with self-regulation may have other issues. These can stem from:

• depression
• perfectionism
• high-ability spread across many areas
• eccentricity
• emotional sensitivity.

Some high-ability students may also develop asynchronously. This means their social-emotional development does not match their cognitive and/or physical development. This may cause frustration for the student and can lead to more difficulties.

• setting positive personal best (PB) goals
• learning experiences that explore real-life issues

Taken from: Supporting the social-emotional needs of high-ability students
A useful resource for families: Managing Perfectionism: 10 Tips for Helping Your Gifted Child – Raising Lifelong Learners

Mrs Colreavy’s Conundrum

Email: rachael.colreavy@syd.catholic.edu.au with your answer. Correct answers will win a prize.

Sports News

Footlockers National Basketball Championships

Congratulations to Izabella Mansory (Year 8 Student) who has been selected to compete in the Footlockers National Basketball Championships down in Melbourne later in July. She will be representing U16 NSW Metro State Team.

Good luck Izabella!

Sports News

Years 7-11 Internal Thursday Sports Program
Term 2

On Thursday Sport days, all students must wear their full sports uniform to/from school and bring their MSCW sport cap. Students should check their emails/ compass for details about sport groups.

Internal Sport – Sport offered by the College, may be onsite or offsite. Change of Internal Sport will take place twice a term. (Every 5 Weeks)

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

Sports News

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

Sports News

Australian Dragon Boat Championships

Congratulations to Sophia Chandler, Year 7 Student who excelled at the 2024 Australian Dragon Boat Championships, representing The Sydney Zodiacs. Juniors Races spanned 200m, 500m, and 2km distances, with participants averaging 8 races daily. Amidst the action, a mesmerising Chinese Dragon Dance captivated attendee. Results were based on combined race times, showcasing spirited competition and sportswomanship throughout the weekend.

Results 

• Junior Mixed 20s boat 200m – 1st Place
• Junior Women’s 10s boat 200m – 2nd Place
• Junior Mixed 20s boat 500m – 1st Place
• Junior Women’s 10s boat 500m – 2nd Place
• Junior Mixed 20s boat 2km – 1st Place
• Junior Women’s 10s boat 2km – 3rd Place

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

Sports Results

Week 2

MVP

Sorcha Reid	Mikayla Gavranic	Lilli Moujalli
Chloe Yam	Carla Bragg	Bianca Magner

Week 3

MVP

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Ella Rochester	Michaela Ibrahim	Emma Ward
Lily Clarke	Riley Wagener	Tola Bilcharska
Samara Naidu	Sasha Bartram	Analisa Hernandez
Alicia Jordan

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

Maths Club

Canteen News

Change to Flexischools

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

Teaching a Learner Driver? Free Workshop…..

This free workshop supports parents and supervisors of learner drivers to be confident and effective teachers. Topics include information about licence conditions for learner and P-plate drivers, tips for using the learner driver log book and the importance of providing constructive feedback.

The workshop will run on Thursday 23 May 2024, 6pm to 7:30pm.  Participants can find out more at https://saferdrivers.eventbrite.com.au