From the Principal

MSCW – Getting involved and giving back to the broader community

Last weekend was a shining example of our students getting involved and giving back to the broader community through the Humpty Dumpty Foundation Balmoral Burn. Our girls certainly put Woolwich on the map among other schools showing ‘determination’, ‘grit’ and ‘courage’ to take the challenge of running up Sydney’s steepest hill. However, more importantly the MSCW girls demonstrated a passionate and generous commitment to get involved and give back to others. As Marist women we have a responsibility and obligation to step out of our ‘privileged’ world and look to ways of giving ‘service’ to those in need. 

Supporting the Humpty Dumpty Foundation is just one way that as a College Community we reach out to others. A part of being a Marist girl we ask all students to contribute to Marist Service. As a minimum we ask for 10 hours per year. A small amount of voluntary time and as students find out, when they give, they receive much more in return.

The Humpty Dumpty Foundation is certainly one of the charities that I like to support because supporting children and their families is part of my DNA as an educator and Principal. To support young families and to see the enormous impact of the lifesaving equipment provided by Humpty Dumpty Foundation is immensely satisfying. In fact, it simply amazing! Young families, across Sydney and regional towns are often desperate to see their sick children nursed and cared for with the best equipment. There are now many stories of families who are forever grateful to Humpty Dumpty and the person, family or corporate fundraisers who donated the equipment that saved their daughter’s or son’s life.

A young Dad I spoke to on Sunday told me,

I will forever be a lifelong supporter of Humpty Dumpty. My second daughter was born 3.5 months premature and she spent 5 months in the NICU ward at RNSH. She was born weighing 715grams and was given very little chance of survival. All the equipment used on her life support was donated by Humpty Dumpty. Pleased to say she is now a happy, healthy, thriving 5 year old with no complications. Without Humpty Dumpty we wouldn’t have her with us.

Thank you to the students who ran that Hill last Sunday and to those who sponsored them. It was such a successful day and we contributed by raising almost $4000.00 as a school community for this great cause.

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Key Community Skills for the future

More and more I read how society attitudes and expectations are changing especially after the pandemic. Society is looking for higher ethical standards from individuals, leaders and companies. Those who are making real progress on social change as well as looking beyond “going green” and leaning towards building an equitable society for a truly sustainable future. David de Carvalho, Chief Executive of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, recently wrote that: “Schooling, while preparing our children as best it can for the changing world of work, is going to need to focus more on those aspects of humanity that are exclusively human and vitally important for our development as democratic communities. In addition to reading, writing, numeracy and digital literacy, the other four capabilities in the Australian Curriculum – ethical understanding, personal and social capability, intercultural understanding, and critical and creative thinking, are going to be more and more important.

It is these aspects that future employers, TAFE, and universities are starting to look for when employing and enrolling students. Apart from academic capability, they are looking for the personal attributes of a student. It is the contribution and passion for something that is beyond themselves, that students have made to their community, that is also significant in their employment or study pattern for future jobs. 

So…how are our girls, your daughters, our leaders and decision makers of the future reaching out and living their Marist Service. The Marist Service Program is active on Student Cloudshare. So, I end where I began…… get involved and give back to the broader community.

From the Assistant Principal

New Uniform 2024

2024 will see our new uniform at Marist Sisters’ College! This is an exciting venture to update the uniform using materials that are durable and environmentally sustainable. NOONE will be our new provider and we are currently working with NOONE to finalise the design for both the formal College uniform and our sports uniform. 

We will be launching the new uniform at our parent engagement meeting on Tuesday 6 June. Please register your attendance via the link.

From 2024, Year 7 and Year 11 will be in the new College uniform and all other year groups will have a transition time to the new uniform.

A reminder that the College has a second hand uniform shop that items can be viewed, ordered and paid for via Flexischools.

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.

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. Access to the survey can be found on the COMPASS news feed.

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

Ms Melinda Alvarez, Assistant Principal

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 ……

PENTECOST

Pentecost is a Christian holiday, observed on the seventh Sunday after Easter, that celebrates the blessing of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ, as mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1-31). The day of Pentecost is known in the Christian Church as the day on which the Spirit descended upon the apostles. Guided by Peter’s preaching, many thousands were converted in Jerusalem.

“Modern Christians observe Pentecost as a holiday, not to celebrate a wheat harvest, but to remember when the Holy Spirit invaded the Church in Acts 2.”

https://www.christianity.com/jesus/early-church-history/pentecost/where-did-pentecost-come-from.html

The description states that, after Jesus ascended into heaven, Jesus’ followers were gathered together for the Feast of Harvest (aka Pentecost), and the Holy Spirit “filled the whole house where they were sitting”. “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them”. This unusual event drew a large crowd, and Peter stood up to speak to them about repentance and the gospel of Christ. By the end of the day that the Holy Spirit came, the Church grew by 3,000 people. This is why Christians still celebrate Pentecost.

On Monday the 29th, Year 12 Studies Of Religion students Studies in Catholic Thought students had the wonderful opportunity to visit The Emanuel Synagogue at Woollahra. Bronte Fisher, Zara Chand and Jaimie Woo from Year 12 have written the following article describing their experience at the excursion:

We spent the morning expanding on the knowledge stemming from our study of Judaism, and within this, synagogue services. Rabbi, Sam Zwarenstein, spoke to us about the significance of the Torah, the different variants of Judaism, and his personal experience of growing up as a conservative Jew. 

When entering the beautiful synagogue we were able to identify the specific symbols and features. Initially, we saw the ‘tzitzit’ which are the fringes or tassels worn on traditional or ceremonial garments by Jewish men as reminders of the commandments. In the center of the room we saw the ‘Sefirot’, the Tree of Life, which represents the manner in which consciousness expresses itself in creation. Moreover, we observed the Torah ark facing the north, towards Jerusalem as they do in all synagogues in the Southern Hemisphere. The progressive stream of Judaism was embodied through the inscriptions on the synagogue walls which had both Hebrew scripture and the English translations. Having these inscriptions on the walls welcomes all individuals, not just adherents of Judaism, therefore showing the progressive nature of Emanuel Synagogue. At the end, we were gifted the opportunity to see and touch the back of the Torah, which inscribes the Hebrew teaching, direction, guidance, and law. 

It was a very informative and sacred experience, to see the Jewish synagogue and deepen our knowledge on our study of Judaism in Studies Of Religion. Visiting Emanuel synagogue was an eye-opening experience which enabled Year 12 to embrace the dynamic Jewish congregation committed to the Hebrew tradition. 

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

From the Leader of Wellbeing

Managing your daughter’s Personal Safety

What can you do?

• Talk with your daughter to empower her to recognise what type of content is age-appropriate, and  make informed decisions, even when she unsupervised
• Seek advice from wellbeing and support services to help manage any wellbeing impacts if your child is involved with creating, accessing or sharing this type of content

Current Statistics on this issue

Talking about Sex & Pornography 

In this edition of SchoolTV – ONLINE PORNOGRAPHY

Experts say that the internet is sexualising kids too soon. It is making it easier for children to engage with pornography, by choice and in this edition of SchoolTV – ONLINE PORNOGRAPHY inadvertently. Regrettably, this is forcing parents to have the ‘birds and bees’ chat with their children at a very young age.

With the rise of social media and online porn, many parents are alarmed about protecting the innocence of their children. Unfortunately, what kids are seeing is distorting their idea of sexuality and intimacy. Parents are encouraged to educate their kids on sex and sexuality with age appropriate information.

However, when it comes to having conversations with their kids around pornography, many parents feel ill-equipped. A young person’s brain is highly impressionable and vulnerable to forming addictive patterns of behaviour which can affect their development and even impact their academic performance.

In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will learn strategies on how to have those difficult conversations and what they can do to minimise the negative effects of online pornography.

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 the Online Pornography edition of SchoolTV
Online advice from Dr Michael Carr-Gregg regarding Pornography 

Ms Angela Bowland, Leader of Wellbeing

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

From the Leader of Learning

Learning Profiles

This is the final article in the series on Academic Reports for Stages 4 & 5 students. In Week 2, I wrote about NESA’s reporting requirements in Stages 4 & 5, and in Week 4, I wrote about the framework teachers use to determine a student’s grade. The intention of this article is to explore the College’s ‘Learning Profiles’. These profiles provide valuable insights into students’ learning behaviours, attitudes, and achievements, enabling a comprehensive understanding of their educational progress.

In stages 4 and 5 reports, learning profiles go beyond assessing academic performance and delve into the various aspects contributing to a student’s overall learning experience.

These profiles provide a holistic view of a student’s classroom behaviour, engagement, and commitment. Let’s explore some of the key descriptors used:

1. Completed set work as required:

This descriptor indicates whether the student has fulfilled the required tasks, homework and assignments as instructed by the teacher. It highlights their ability to meet the academic expectations set for them. It includes meeting submission deadlines set by the teacher. Timeliness is an essential aspect of effective learning. This descriptor evaluates whether students consistently submit their work within the designated deadlines, demonstrating responsibility and discipline.

2. Used class time effectively:

This descriptor evaluates how well the student utilizes their time during class. It indicates their level of focus, attentiveness, and ability to stay on task, maximizing their learning opportunities.

3. Behaved in a manner that promotes learning:

Positive classroom behaviour is crucial in creating an environment conducive to learning. This descriptor assesses the student’s behaviour, including their respect for teachers and peers, ability to follow instructions, and willingness to contribute to classroom discussions.

4. Committed to achieving a high standard of work:

This descriptor reflects the student’s dedication and commitment to producing work of a high standard. It evaluates their willingness to invest the necessary time and effort into their assignments and exceed the expectations set by their teacher.

5. Adopted recommendations provided through feedback:

Receiving and incorporating feedback is a valuable part of the learning process. This descriptor assesses the student’s ability to use feedback constructively, making appropriate adjustments and improvements to their work based on the guidance received. It also measures the willingness of a student to seek assistance and guidance. This descriptor highlights the student’s proactiveness in seeking support from their teacher or peers when faced with challenges or uncertainties.

These profiles aim to provide a comprehensive picture of your daughter as a learner.

Academic Reports are being prepared by teachers at present and will be published to parents and carers via COMPASS in Week 10.

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

Gifted and Talented Report

How are Newman students enriched in their classes?

In Newman classes students can expect to be challenged through higher order thinking. This involves the transformation of information and ideas. This transformation occurs when students combine facts and ideas and synthesise, generalise, explain, hypothesise or arrive at some conclusion or interpretation. When students engage in the construction of knowledge, an element of uncertainty is introduced into the instructional process and the outcomes are not always predictable; in other words, the teacher is not certain what the students will produce. In helping students become producers of knowledge, the teacher’s main instructional task is to create activities or environments that allow them opportunities to engage in higher-order thinking.

Thinking should be deep! Deep knowledge involves establishing relatively complex connections to central concepts. Knowledge is shallow, thin or superficial when it is not connected with significant concepts or central ideas of a topic i.e students just receive or recite factual information through repetitive routines.

If the needs of high-ability students are not met, they can become disengaged. If the learning is too easy, high-ability students may not develop persistence, which is often referred to as ‘grit’ in psychology. 

Cathcart (2005) provides a list of the needs of high-ability students:

• Challenge: high-ability students need challenging tasks and resources at their point of need
• Interaction: high-ability students need opportunities to interact with other high-ability students
• Higher order thinking skills: high-ability students need opportunities to extend their:
  • thinking
  • problem solving
  • metacognitive skills

Speak to your daughter about the type of learning happening in her classroom everyday. Ask your daughter’s teachers in the upcoming parent teacher interviews about how your daughter is being enriched in her learning.

Taken from: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/high-ability-toolkit/Pages/learning-needs-of-high-ability-students.aspx#link1

Senior Ethics Olympiad

Congratulations to the Senior “ethletes” who very impressive in their arguments involving some very tricky ethical dilemmas.

The team of 4 (Yolanda Busetto, Alessandra Carlo, Siena Sardelic and Grace Saoud) competed against a number of high schools across NSW and whilst they did not place, they were highly commended.

The competition had contemporary examples of relativism and the girls had to use their knowledge of ethical theories such as consequentialism, deontology and virtue ethics to build their arguments.

One dilemma was whether bullfighting in Spain should be banned. Is it better for the bull to die in battle or to be killed later for meat consumption? Are we being ethnocentric if we insist it should be outlawed? 

Congratulations ladies on showing great courage!

Mrs Colreavy’s Conundrum

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

Taken from: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/school/parents/secondary/verbalreasoningpractice.pdf

Year 7 Camp

It was exciting to see Year 7 students participate in a range of activities last week as part of their Year 7 Camp experience. Students travelled to Stanwell Tops and took part in both challenging and fun activities from the leap of faith, to survivor challenges, to high ropes courses, to abseiling, archery, team building activities and night time activities to name a few. Each activity encouraged students to step outside of their comfort zone, and that our Year 7 group did with enthusiasm and bravery. 

The camp was also a wonderful opportunity for students to strengthen connections with their MSCW ‘sisters’, foster positive relationships and further develop their courage and resilience. 

The Year 7 Camp Cup enabled students to gain House points when they demonstrated dimensions of their Marist Compass for Life. Throughout the camp students worked through challenges and demonstrated their Sisterly relationships as they supported each other, Courage was seen as students took risks and showed their independence, Empowerment was key as students became more confident in their abilities and students shared their many Gifts with their friends and camp groups. The challenge to take home the cup was welcomed by all of Year 7 with joy and eagerness. A big congratulations to Chavoin House our 2023 Year 7 Camp Cup winners. 

My Camp Experience by Emily Barrett, Year 7

The day of camp had finally come. I couldn’t wait to make new friends, enjoy the company of my current ones and push myself to venture beyond my comfort zone. The week prior I had packed all my clothes and triple checked everything to make sure that I had all that was needed. Before I knew it I was on the bus talking about the day ahead of us. As we alighted from the bus, it struck me how beautiful and calm this place really was. We were thrilled that the tiring bus ride was over and were finally here. My friends and I set out to the meeting room to meet the rest of our grade. Some of the activities I did included archery, vertical cluster, which was a vertical obstacle course where you climb up to however high you want, and survivor. One of my favourite parts of this experience was the night time trivia because I found out my friends’ hidden talents and interests that I didn’t know before. Another thing that I liked about the trivia was the competitiveness of it all and how everyone was just enjoying themselves. My favourite activity was archery, I loved the way that everyone cheered each other on when they got a bullseye or just on the target. Another great thing about camp is people pushing themselves and reaching a new high. In this regard, on the vertical cluster, people would do better and better every single time. But no matter how far you went up people would always encourage one another. This camp was a truly amazing experience and I can not wait to do it all again and more in Year 9.

Jaricot Week

Week 5, the College community come together to celebrate Jaricot Week in recognition of Pauline Jaricot who demonstrated Devotion to supporting those less fortunate and sacrifices were made to achieve what was right through quiet devotion and faith. The Week saw members of the Jaricot and College Community come together to live out these values and pledge their support and actions for creating an inclusive and nurturing environment at MSCW. 

Jaricot House students led a number of activities throughout the week to raise awareness of Pauline and the values of our amazing Pink House. Monday saw each homeroom write a reflection on how they can create a nurturing and caring environment at MSCW on an image of the Jarbiru Bird, a key symbol on the Jaricot Crest and a symbol of protection and support. These are on display in Coutouvre Foyer. 

To make those frosty mornings more tolerable, a Hot Chocolate stand was set up on Futuna where students were invited to donate what they could in return for a hot chocolate. This act reflects the work that Pauline Jaricot started in seeking donations to help those less fortunate and accepted any donation, large or small. 

Students were encouraged to come together and live out the Jaricot value of striving together with some skipping on the flat on Tuesday and an intense couple of games of Dodge Ball on Thursday. The highlight being the Yr11 V Yr12 match up in which Year 12 came out victorious. 

The week concluded with the much awaiting Bake Sale with a range of delicious treats provided by Jaricot students (and a very dedicated and supportive Marcellin student). A great level of support was given by the whole community raising much needed funds for the Marist Missions. 

A huge thank you to the Jaricot House and all staff and students for their support and involvement throughout the week. 

Maths Club

We extend a warm invitation to everyone seeking study support and an opportunity to share their passion for mathematics with like-minded individuals.

At the Math Club, our mission is to create a nurturing environment that fosters growth and academic success. Whether you’re grappling with complex equations or simply looking to deepen your understanding of mathematical concepts, our dedicated team is here to provide the guidance you need.

We’re thrilled to announce that our Math Club Website now offers weekly puzzles and challenges for all eager problem solvers. Test your mettle and engage your critical thinking skills by taking on these captivating mathematical quests. And here’s an added incentive: the first person to submit a correct answer will be rewarded with a well-
deserved merit! To ensure you don’t miss out on the latest updates and puzzle releases, we encourage you to join our Google Classroom. The classroom code you’ll need to join is: m7qqyoe.

On another note, we would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to our esteemed Math Club Ambassadors and the exceptional efforts of Ms. Pulumbarit, Ms. Pracey and Mrs. Chappell. Their unwavering dedication and countless hours of support have greatly benefited our junior students and we are grateful for their valuable contributions.

Thank you all for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you at the Math Club!

Year 11 Geography

On Tuesday, Year 11 Geography had an exciting opportunity to visit several important government agencies as part of our study of Population challenges. Students were guided through the NSW Ambulance Headquarters where we learnt about the process of building Ambulance Stations and how patient care is categorised in NSW. 

We then visited the NSW Ambulance Sydney Control Centre where students got to see 000 live in action. We looked at how the Ambulance service uses Geographical Information Systems to locate and treat patients, as well as the high-speed, high-stress environment call takers experience every day. After a visit to the Aeromedical control centre, we finished the day at the NSW Traffic Management Centre, where we saw the importance of governmental agencies cooperating with each other to keep NSW moving. 

Thank you to all the experts who guided us through the day, and Superintendant Mick who arranged the entire excursion. 

Students walked away from today with answers to key Global challenges NSW Health faces every day. 

• What legal frameworks does Australia have in place to guarantee basic Health coverage to its Citizens?

• How does Australia compare to other Developed countries with regard to access to Healthcare?

• Why is healthcare a Political issue? 

• How do non-healthcare services affect healthcare services in NSW?

MSCW Athletics Carnival

The weather was perfect and provided outstanding conditions for track and field events for MSCW students. 

Participation, once again, from all students in all houses was off the charts, and several records were broken. 

Results and records will be announced at the next Principal’s Assembly on Wednesday 19 July.

Thank you to all the staff who helped make the carnival enjoyable for all and congratulations to all students on their enthusiasm and their MSCW spirit throughout the day.

Mr Daniel Watts, Sports Coordinator

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

2023 MSCW Cross Country

The annual MSCW Cross Country Carnival was held on Monday 8 May.

The House with the most participation points was Chavoin in 1st with Jaricot 2nd and Marcellin 3rd

Congratulations to the 2023 Age Champions.

MSCW Cross Country Carnival Overall Results

A very big congratulations to the 160 students for their outstanding participation at the recent Cross Country Carnival. 

Congratulations to the 2023 AGE CHAMPIONS AND RUNNERS UP:

OVERALL HOUSE CHAMPIONS

Congratulations to Jaricot House who are the 2023 Cross Country Champions!

1st	Jaricot
2nd	Chavoin
3rd	Perroton

Mr Daniel Watts, Sports Coordinator

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

Sports News

NSW CCC Rugby League

Congratulations to Elsie Gray (Year 11 Student) who had the privilege to play in Sydney Catholic Schools first Under 18s Women’s Rugby League team in history. The two-day program from the 17-18 May consisted of a training day at NSW Blues Centre of Excellence and a game of playing at St Mary’s Stadium. The training day on Wednesday consisted of a tour of the Blues training facility and a talk from Women’s Rugby League advocate Ruan Sims. Ruan was an inspiration to the young girls, continually repeating the question “Why Not?” In relation to women in rugby league. Thursday consisted of 3 games against Metropolitan, Country Southern and Country Northern. It was an extremely tough competition for the Sydney team, not getting a win on the day. Elsie played in her usual positions of Centre and Second Rower. A NSWCCC team was announced at the end of the day, chosen from the 4 teams. Elsie was unsuccessful but is looking forward to trying again next year.

Awesome achievement!

SCS Cross Country  

On Tuesday 23 May, the Marist Sisters’ Cross Country team competed at the Sydney Cross Country Championship. The attitude from the team was outstanding and we had some awesome results. 

The MSCW team consisted of the following students:

The following ten students placed in the top 12 and will now progress to represent Sydney Catholic Schools at the NSWCCC Cross Country Championship:

• Junior Conference 2 Champions
• Intermediate Conference 2 Champions
• Senior Conference 2 Champions
• Overall Conference 2 Champions
• Overall Sydney Champions

SCS NSW CCC Football

Congratulations to the following MSCW students who represented Sydney Catholic Schools at the annual NSW CCC Football Championships:  

• Natalie Russo
• Maddison Tannous 
• Matilda Gilbert 
• Ruby Betro
• Mikaela Gavranic
• Georgia Vassallo
• Claudia Lacalandra
• Georgia Andrianakos

Sydney Catholic Schools successfully gained five selections into the NSW CCC Open Girls Team with one of the players coming from MSCW.

Well done to Matilda Gilbert who will now represent NSW CCC at the All Schools Championships later this month.

NSW All School Mixed Touch Challenge

On Tuesday 23 May, six MSCW students: Holly Lloyd, Ellie Barnett, Leah Russell, Amelie Fehir, Brianna Kelly and Georgia Southcombe combined with six Holy Cross students to participate in the NSW All School Mixed Touch Challenge. 

The Championship occurred at Doyle Park, Parramatta where the team fought hard in 4 round games, winning 3 games and drawing 1. This led the team into the semi-final where MSCW knew it would be a challenging game coming from high-scoring round games. Fighting till the last minute the team went down losing in the semi-final 4-2 to Balgowlah High School who then went on to win the competition. The Holy Cross/Marist Sisters team consisted of only 3 year 12 players meaning all other players were year 11 and younger allowing them to return next year to win the premiership!

Mr Daniel Watts, Sports Coordinator

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.

Round 5

MVP

Round 6

MVP

Mr Daniel Watts, Sports Coordinator

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

Canteen News

Flexischools

Calling on volunteers