From the Principal

Our start to Term 3 has certainly been disrupted and very different to what we had planned. As COVID-19 continues to challenge us in the Greater Sydney Region, I have been heartened by the energy and agility of our staff to accommodate optimal learning for our students in these changing circumstances. Having been in remote learning before, this time I feel we have been very agile to move quickly again. In these uncertain times, I have enjoyed the communication Zooms with parents and Year Groups. I hope you feel we have responded to your questions and concerns on all matters. We are here to support all girls and families, whether we are working from home or in our workplace.

The dedicated staff are working hard to ensure your daughters are supported in both their wellbeing and learning through Zoom Tutor Group meetings and Zoom lessons. I very much appreciate what they do, as they too are balancing their role of teacher with their own family life. Our support staff are also working on-site to support College operations and families.

I would also say that we are grateful to parents for their positive feedback via emails. It certainly keeps spirits high!

Welcome

This term we welcome back from leave:

• Ms Jenna Cremin, Perroton House Coordinator
• Ms Ellie Phillips, Visual Arts Teacher

We also welcome to the College: 

• Angelique Ockert, English teacher
• Steve Saliba, Maths and Science Teacher
• Alana Free, Support Staff – Communications

Click here to see the New Staff Introductions

Holiday Building works

During the holiday break, improvements to our College facilities continued. Some of the major enhancements include:

• Shade structure footings. The shade structure coverings will be installed during the next holidays.
• Solar panels installed on the Bon Repos and Belley rooves.
• Gardens at the entrance to the sports courts and general maintenance. 
• Lockers have been removed from the corridors around Jarnosse and Hospitality walkways to ease congestion. 

23 July Fourvière Celebrations… 205 years since the Marist story began!

Today we celebrate the anniversary of the Fourvière pledge. This anniversary recognises the commitment made by twelve young men, who climbed the 800 steps to the Fourvière Chapel on 23 July in 1816, to begin a new community in the Church to be called Marists. It is to this Marist family that we belong as a College community. In our current lockdown, celebrations have been on a small scale and celebrated online.

I include below part of the Fourvière pledge. This pledge dedicates the life work of Marists and our MSCW community to building the Kingdom of God with Mary, our role model.

We are doing this with the sole motive of working for God’s greater glory and the honour of Mary, the Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  We pledge ourselves to this undertaking even to hardships, toil, difficulties and if need be, extreme suffering, since, with the help of Jesus Christ who gives us strength, there is nothing we cannot master. We solemnly promise to give ourselves and all that we have, in every way possible, for the salvation of souls, in the most honoured name of the Virgin Mary and under her patronage…

Our current COVID-19 times certainly challenge our patience and resilience as we live out this pledge daily.

I include below photos of the Fourvière Bascilica and Chapel beside it, and the image of Mary as seen on top of the Bascilica, as well as behind the altar in the Fourvière Chapel.

I look forward to when we can visit there again!

Stay safe and well. Reach out if you need assistance. Looking forward to chatting again in the Zoom meeting next week.

Dr Anne Ireland, Principal

From the Assistant Principal

Our start to Term 3 is not one we envisaged, however, our experiences in 2020 have guided our transition into remote learning. There has been the need to adjust quickly to a new routine of how we plan, deliver and engage in learning, that both staff and students have responded to in a positive and successful manner. The flexibility of our community continues to ensure that our practices as both teachers and students remain successful and effective.

Students have maintained their confidence and focus, as they attend their lessons and interact with their peers and teachers. We know that students learn best when they are strongly connected and in a supportive and engaging environment. Through Zoom, we are providing them with this opportunity.

I thank the staff for their professionalism, the countless hours of lesson preparation and for always placing the students at the forefront of everything that they do. Thank you to the many parents who have expressed their support for the efforts of our staff, they provide encouragement when it is most needed.

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From the Religious Education Coordinator

Thursday, 22 July is the feast of St Mary Magdalene. From what has been written in the Bible, we know that she was a woman from Magdala, a small fishing town in Galilee, a female disciple of Jesus and was the first witness to Jesus’ resurrection. 

There has been much speculation regarding the life and circumstances of Mary Magdalene. What we do know is that her love and belief in Jesus, even after witnessing his crucifixion, was so great that she attended his tomb to anoint his body. Two thousand years ago, Mary Magdalene was told by the risen Jesus to “go and tell”. Her words “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18) are a declaration to others of her great faith and personal witness. 

May we too be willing to see Jesus through new eyes while under current restrictions. While we are separated by distance, we are united through faith.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney has links to live streaming of Masses, prayer resources and other activities in the Archdiocese. 

Many blessings for the days ahead.

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From the Leader of Wellbeing

“A room does not make a classroom; students, teachers and a love of learning are what makes a classroom…” 

As we come to the close of our second week of remote learning, staff and students continue to convert to an adaptive style of learning in our new learning environment. 

Adjusting to what is considered our new ‘normal’ has created all sorts of confusion, anxiety and unintended consequences. There will be learnings and challenges along the way, from both a learning and wellbeing perspective. However, we are also finding out in real life what it means to be ‘flexible’, ‘resilient’ and ‘self-controlled’, and how to exercise ‘grit’. All of these mental toughness qualities are what we identify as being important skills in our social and emotional toolkit. During this time, we also need to remember to be kind to ourselves, as we navigate through this period of uncertainty.

To support the wellbeing of all students across the Year Groups, each Tutor, House Coordinator, College Counsellor, Learning Enrichment and various members of the Leadership Team have committed to engaging in conversation with parents regarding how students have adapted to remote learning. Please encourage your daughter to attend each of her Zoom sessions and actively participate in discussions and activities that have been adapted to be fun and integrative. We are certainly aware and are working with many families and students who may be finding remote learning challenging. 

A few wellbeing tips when in Remote Learning:

• Avoid procrastination and try to stay on track with the daily timetable

• Remove mobile phones from the learning space to minimise distraction

• Create a dedicated work space that is clear of clutter

• Engage with Zoom during class and Community Time

• Place clear boundaries and know when to stop – finish each day by 3pm 

• Make time to ‘give back’ to yourself and do something away from the screen.

Community Time

We are asking our students to take their wellbeing into consideration during this period of time, by considering and balancing the six key elements of their life – intellectual, physical, spiritual, emotional, social and environmental. To support this, the Wellbeing Team has worked hard to adapt our House and Year Group Community Time program to a remote learning platform through Google Classrooms.

This week, all Year Groups were involved in an array of activities during Wednesday Community Time, which reinforces the importance of engagement and connection during this allocated wellbeing time. I would encourage a conversation with your daughter to discuss this further where possible. Activities included:

Year 12 – Post school to Pathways communication (Zoom) by Mrs Leonie Clarke (Careers Coordinator)

Year 11 – Study Skills and preparing for Preliminary examinations

Year 10 – Subject Selection Interviews, as well as self-care program

Year 9 –  E-safety and understanding how to keep safe online 

Year 8 –  The YES project – a new digital and social health program in all social online spaces 

Year 7 –  Reviewing My Marist Compass Goals for Semester 2, offscreen  physical and creative challenge   

In the event however that greater social, emotional or learning support is needed, please reach out to your daughter’s House Coordinator, the Learning Enrichment team, the College Counsellors (Monica.Rogenmoser@syd.catholic.edu.au, Louise.Scuderi@syd.catholic.edu.au) or myself (Sia.Mastro@syd.catholic.edu.au).

We are here to offer the necessary support during this time in a confidential and sensitive manner. 

For Students:         Headspace, Beyond Blue, Black Dog, eHeadspace, ReachOut

Year 12 Students:  A Guide for Year 12

Apps:                      Niggle by Kids Helpline, Breath, Smiling Minds, Yoga: Down dog

For Parents:           Black Dog, SchoolTV, Emerging Minds

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From the College Counsellors

Supporting Teenagers Navigating the Pandemic

The last year has been incredibly stressful with the coronavirus pandemic and the challenges of remote learning. Most individuals, especially parents, have felt overwhelmed and frustrated throughout the pandemic, which is completely understandable as the nation goes through unpredictable times. It has also been challenging for students not to see their friends and engage in face-to-face learning. 

We felt it would be helpful to share some resources and tips around supporting your daughter during these unpredictable times.

How do I support my daughter during lockdown?

• Talk with them about what is going on in the world and be as open as you can be. Let them know that it is okay to be angry, frustrated or scared. 
• Allow them to be curious and ask questions about the pandemic. You don’t need to know all the answers, however talking through these issues and providing reassurance can help them feel calmer.
• Reassure them that we will not be in lockdown forever and it will pass. Recognise how difficult it is at the moment.
• Try and set time to engage in meaningful activities with your daughter. It might be taking the dog for a walk in the afternoon or watching TV together after a school and work day. 
• Regular breaks and time to connect with friends is especially important for teenagers. Maybe your daughter can schedule a weekly group chat with friends or video call a friend so they can do some cooking/baking (together). 
• Try and keep a routine to structure the day. This may include getting up at a certain time or ensuring that your daughter get dressed and out of bed to engage in school work.

Support services are still accessible and we encourage you to get in touch if you need support or help accessing further support. There is a mixture of online, face to face and telephone supports available.

• Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
• Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
• Headspace 1800 650 890

If you would like to discuss the above or have any concerns about your daughter, please feel free to contact us – Louise Scuderi via louise.scuderi@syd.catholic.edu.au or Monica Rogenmoser via monica.rogenmoser@syd.catholic.edu.au or phone (02) 9816 2041 / 0435 659 694

New Native Garden at MSCW

The College was successful in receiving funding from the Federal Government, via the Communities Environment Program, to establish a new native garden on the lower section of the campus, near the sports courts. This site was previously covered in weeds, but its terraced position and sunny aspect provided the perfect location for our new garden.

The aim of the project was to deliver both positive environmental and social outcomes. The garden will provide staff and students with a first-hand experience of native bush regeneration, at the same time showing the importance of sustaining native flora and fauna. In fact, native birds began to visit during the planting stage!

It is hoped the garden will provide the opportunity for ongoing education to those that visit the site. We have included before and after photos to allow you to see what we were able to achieve.

The College would like to thank Mr Trent Zimmerman MP, Member for North Sydney, for his support with our funding application.

Encounters With God Youth Afternoon

We welcomed Year 11 and 12 students from Marist College Eastwood, Holy Cross College Ryde and Domremy College Five Dock to MSCW on Friday, 18 June for a Youth Afternoon on the theme ‘Encounters with God’.

Students participated in activities such as icebreaker games and prayer, and had the privilege of hearing from a range of inspiring speakers. The first, Mrs Ivanka Rancic, SCS Education Officer, spoke about her relationship with her faith and how she aims to live out God’s mission through her work as an educator. Father Steve and Father Daniel spoke about their ‘calling’ to their priestly vocation. Ms Cheryl Fernadez, SCS Education Officer, spoke about how the passing of her father provided her the opportunity to put her faith into action.

Overall, the Youth Afternoon was an excellent way to connect with other local Catholic schools and empower us to walk in the light of Christ; whilst reminding ourselves each day that ‘we are beautiful, we are kind, and we are smart!’

Danielle Muha, Year 11

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English News

As part of their studies in English last term, all Year 8 students read the novel We Were Liars by E. Lockhart and used the text as a means for exploring the concept of resilience. Students submitted a range of work demonstrating their growing understanding of the importance of being able to display resilience and the skills needed in order to overcome particular challenges in life.

It was especially interesting to read the insights they offered in the personal essays that they worked on and two of these responses have been included for you to read.  Thank you Chloe and Isabel for sharing your work with us all. Please click on the links below to view the student’s personal essays.

Resilience – Isabel Petraglia

Resilience – Chloe Murray

Mrs Carly La Rosa, English Teacher

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Year 9 Visual Arts Assessment and Art Wall

Sports News

Unfortunately, due to the NSW Greater Sydney lockdown, our usual variety of Year 7-10 Thursday Sports activities – MCCS, CGSSSA and NSW CCC competitions – which students would participate in have been put on hold. My hope is Sport will be up and running sometime in Term 3. 

The College is a part of CGSSSA (Catholic Girls Secondary Schools Sport Association) and MCCS (Metropolitan Catholic Colleges Sports Associations). CGSSSA and MCCS provide students with the opportunity to compete against other schools in our region. Participation in CGSSSA Championship events provides a pathway for selection in NSWCCC (Combined Catholic Colleges) teams. MCCS is a part of our weekly Thursday Sport program, where each term students have an opportunity to compete in a different sport. 

Sport news is distributed to students via COMPASS, emails and this newsletter. Announcements are also made at Principal’s Assemblies.  

Years 7-10 TERM 3 Thursday Sports Program

On Thursday Sport days, upon return from the current remote learning period, all students must wear their full PE uniform to/from school and bring their MSCW sport cap. Students should check their emails/COMPASS for details about Sport groups.

Year 7 and 9 Sport every Day 4 (Week 1 of Timetable)

Year 8 and 10 Sport every Day 9 (Week 2 of Timetable)

Sports

Representative Sport

Teams will be selected to represent the College for the MCCS and CGSSSA competitions. Students will be required to sign up for trials and attend trials as advised via COMPASS notifications. Students are to wear their PE uniform for trials. 

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected to represent Marist Sisters’ College at MCCS during Term 3.

MCCS Basketball 

MCCS Football

CGSSSA and NSW CCC FOR Term 3 

CGSSSA and NSW CCC Championship carnivals will be held throughout the year in various sports. Students will be required to sign up for trials and attend trials as advised via COMPASS and email notifications. 

CGSSSA Term 3 dates:

NSW CCC Term 3 dates:

Representative PathwayS for Elite Sportswomen

Students may also trial for the CGSSSA Representative Team to compete at the NSW CCC and NSW All Schools. These trials are extremely competitive and they are designed for elite athletes. Please see the information on the CSNSW website. Students are to discuss with Mr Watts prior to registering.

Parents/carers must register via the CSNSW.sport portal. For instructions on how to register go to Guide For Parents – Sport Registrations >>

Term 3 Individual Nominations Sport Registrations are now. For further information, please refer to the CSNSW Sport website Sport pages.

• Athletics registrations are through the Diocesan/Association pathways.

Sports Trials for Term 4 TEAMS

We hope trials will commence in Week 6 and students must check emails/ask the Sports Coordinator for further details. Teams will be finalised by Friday of Week 10 and students will be notified. Students are required to wear the PE uniform for trials. 

These include the following;

• MCCS Oz Tag Years 7 – 10
• MCCS Cricket Years 7 -10
• MCCS Junior Water Polo Years 7 – 8
• MCCS Tennis Years 7-12
• CGSSSA Volleyball Years 7 – 12
• CGSSSA Tennis Years 7 – 12.
• CGSSSA Aquathon Years 7 – 12.

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Official Results: MSCW Athletics Carnival 2021

Competition was fierce at our 2021 Athletics Carnival. Congratulations to the following students who broke records on the day:

The House with the most participation points was Marcellin, with Perroton placing second and Jaricot third.

Congratulations to the 2021 Age Champions:

Overall House Champion:

Congratulations to Chavoin House who are the 2021 Athletics Champions.

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All Schools Diving Championships

Congratulations to Milly Puckeridge (Year 11) who represented NSW Combined Catholic Colleges at the recent All Schools Diving Championship at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

She was up against the best divers from independent, public and Catholic schools across the state – these athletes were formidable opponents. Milly, a NSW Institute of Sport member, persevered through a recent wrist injury and achieved the silver medal in the Under 16s age group.

Awesome effort, Milly!

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STEM News

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

Jarnosse News

Year 7 – Take a break, relax and read!

As part of their English programme, all Year 7 students are undertaking the Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC), a challenge to read 20 books across the 12 months from September last year to the closing date on 20 August this year.

With the limitations of lockdown and the experience of remote learning, there couldn’t be a better opportunity for the students to take some time out every day to relax and read.

By this stage, students should have filled in their PRC Student Reading Record with most, if not all, of the 20 books they need to read to complete the challenge.

Please ask your daughter to log in and show you where she’s up to. She has her username and password, and the PRC site is accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. If she cannot log in for any reason at all, ask her to email me and I will find a solution.

Our online e-book library (SORA) has a huge range of interesting and appropriate titles, including a special section for PRC titles, and is easily accessible to the girls. If they’ve forgotten their login details or can’t remember how to use SORA, there are three short helpful videos on the Jarnosse site, which is accessible via their student cloudshare page.

There’s no better time for snuggling up and reading than during a winter lockdown, when social and sporting activities are so restricted. So encourage your daughter to find some books, and set aside some reading time each day.

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