From the Principal

Welcome to new Staff

We warmly welcome the following staff member who has recently joined the MSCW Community:

• Annie Meridjanian: Support Officer in Finance and Student Office. Mrs Meridjanian has provided a brief introduction later in the Newsletter.

SAVE THE DATE: 28 May The Humpty Dumpty Balmoral Burn

The Humpty Dumpty Foundation “Balmoral Burn” is celebrating its 21st year. It is an opportunity for our students and staff to be involved in the broader community. A physical challenge but one that will make a huge difference for kids in Australian hospitals and those medical professionals on the frontline.

Last Thursday night, I had the opportunity to be part of the 2023 Humpty Dumpty Balmoral Burn Launch. Both Paul Francis OAM, Founder and Chairman and Claire Reaney, CEO, spoke about the importance of this significant event and Phil Kearns AM, reminded those present about how the Balmoral Burn began through the need of his son to use emergency hospital equipment.

The Humpty Dumpty Foundation is a children’s charity that, for more than 30 years, has been purchasing essential and often life-saving medical equipment for sick and injured children in Paediatric Wards, Neonatal Units, Maternity and Emergency Departments in hospitals across Australia. It now donates vital equipment to over 500 metropolitan and rural hospitals.

This year I again will be taking the challenge to run the 420 metres up Sydney’s steepest street and I invite the community to run with me!

Our Marist girls are always up for a challenge so they can enter an individual race, or enter as a team of 4 to compete in either of the ‘Head of the Hill Novelty Relay, ‘Just for Fun’ Walk or ‘In it to Win It’ categories. No matter what event, their contribution goes towards a very worthy cause.

Date: Sunday, 28 May (Start time 8.00am)

Venue: Awaba Street, Balmoral.  Watch this video to see how much fun it is. Look out for our Marist girls!

The school information can be accessed via the link below:

“School Information”

Individual and Family information can be accessed via the link below:

‘Individual and Family information’

In recognition of student donation through the registration process, as well as the time commitment students will give on Sunday morning, 28 May, each will earn 4 hours of Marist Service for their involvement in this event.

So, think about making it a family affair and come along for a great community day. Sunday 28 May for the Balmoral Burn!

Season of Lent

In the remaining two weeks of the term, we hope to further support the work of Caritas and the overseas aid they provide through Project Compassion. As a Marist community, this Project is a tangible way of living Marist service and reaching out to those less fortunate.

From the Assistant Principal

Compass Student Card

It is a College expectation that all students have their COMPASS student ID card with them everyday. The card is used in particular for students to tap in and out of the College for late arrival or early departure. I ask for the support of parents in ensuring that your daughter/s have this with them everyday.  If students have misplaced or lost their student ID card it is a requirement that the card is replaced. Please see below for how to order a new card online.

MSCW Parent Engagement

Our MSCW Parent Engagement Model strives to build quality relationships across the College community.

Aims:

• A model of partnership with parent and families to increase parental engagement, belonging and communication;
• An avenue for parents to be involved in the College community with parents of their daughter’s year group;
• Helping out and working with other parents in a service or social event;
• Providing a parental perspective to assist the Principal in decision making;
• Organising and running events that support the values and strategic directions of the College;

2023 Events:

• Year 9 Parent Engagement group will host the Mother’s Day Mass and supper on Wednesday 10 May.
• Year 10 parent engagement group will host the Father’s Day Mass and Breakfast (Term 3)
• Year 11 parent engagement group will host the Year 12 Graduation supper (Term 3)

Please email the College info@mscw.catholic.edu.au if you would like more information regarding involvement in your daughter/s parent engagement/s group.

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. 

As we progress through Term 1, we will continue to communicate with you on the design timeline. We will also provide an opportunity for parents to view the new uniform at our Parent Engagement Meeting.

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.

We are really looking forward to the uniform updates to ensure our College uniform remains at the highest standard. 

Ms Melinda Alvarez, Assistant Principal

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

From the Leader of Wellbeing

From the Leader of Learning and Curriculum

Year 12 – FLEX during Retreat Week

Next week, Year 12 students will attend Retreat for 3 days and engage in FLEX for 2 days. The FLEX program will run on Monday 27 & Tuesday 28 March and repeat on Thursday 30 & Friday 31 March.  

On these days, workshops will be offered either face-to-face or online via Google Classrooms to allow student choice in their preferred learning mode or focus on skill development areas. 

Year 11 – Study Skills Session with Dr Prue Salter

This week Dr Prue Salter from Enhanced Learning Educational Services (www.enhanced-learning.net) ran a study skills session with Year 11, titled “Achieving your Personal Best”.  The session focused on helping students identify changes and improvements they could make to their approach to their studies to maximise their results in their final years of school.

The main areas covered with Year 11 were working effectively in the evenings and dealing with distractions, managing time efficiently, planning for assessments, making brain-friendly study notes regularly and using a wide variety of active study techniques to suit individual learning preferences.

Parents are encouraged to review the handout from the session with students and discuss the main areas identified where changes need to be made.

Parents can also find additional study skills tips on the following website: http://studyskillstoptipsparents.com/.  

All students, parents and carers at our College also have access to an excellent study skills website to help students develop their skills.

Go to www.studyskillshandbook.com.au and enter the username: MSCW and the password:  93success.

There are lots of valuable handouts on the THINGS TO PRINT page on this site, and students can work through the units where they need additional help.

Is your daughter getting enough sleep?

What does blue light do to the human body?

Non-visible light has a lot of energy, and studies show that a lot of exposure to this type of light can impair your sleep cycle. During sleep, many essential physical processes take place, and it is also when learning from the day is consolidated in memory. This means that having enough sleep is vital for students.

Blue light is naturally generated only during the day from sunlight. When it gets dark, naturally occurring blue light ceases, signalling the body to produce melatonin, the hormone associated with sleep. Using artificial lighting and devices which emit a blue light at night confuses the body clock (the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle) by stopping the body from producing melatonin. This can result in disrupted sleep patterns, including difficulty in falling asleep, staying asleep and shortened sleep duration.

Those at greatest risk from night-time exposure to blue light are those with existing sleep disorders and adolescents who often experience delayed sleep patterns as a result of biological changes.

What can students do to limit their exposure to blue light at night?

 Some suggestions include:

• Be exposed to sunlight during the day to assist in accurately setting your body clock.
• Stop using all electronic devices, preferably an hour before bed.
• Get a red or orange reading lamp, which does not emit blue light.
• Use blue light blocking glasses at night. 
• Install a program or app on your computer or device to change the type of light it emits.
• Invert the colours on your smartphone or change the device to the night-time setting.
• Turn the brightness down on your device for a few hours before bed (not perfect, but better than nothing!).

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

New Staff Introduction

News from the College Counsellors

Anxiety and Avoidance

We talk to a lot of the students we see about avoiding the avoidance trap that anxiety likes so much. Parents can also fall into this trap and often ask how they can help and what they can do when anxiety becomes unmanageable and causes so much distress in the home and in the family.

Most feelings of anxiety last for only a short time – a few hours or a day. An anxiety problem or an anxiety disorder is when anxious feelings are consistently very intense and severe, go on for weeks, months or even longer and are so distressing that they interfere with a young person’s learning, socialising and ability to do everyday things.

Anxiety comes from a strong, healthy brain that is a little overprotective. The amygdala (the part of the brain responsible for keeping us safe) will fire up at the first sign of possible threat. Separation from a loved one, shame, embarrassment, humiliation, unfamiliarity, exclusion, missing out on something important – all count as a ‘possible threat’ to a protective brain. 

When our children feel unsafe, their distress will alert us – a bigger, stronger adult, to a possible threat and need for protection. The human response to threat is the fight or flight response (anxiety). Therefore anxiety in our children is likely to trigger anxiety in us. This is the way parent-child attachment is meant to work. As loving, committed parents, when our children are distressed, our own powerful, instinctive fight or flight response will motivate us to take action to keep them safe. 

Their anxiety brings out our own, as it is meant to. It’s primitive and it’s powerful, and we’ve been doing it this way for a very long time. What happens next is up to us. We can send back anxiety or we can short-circuit their anxiety by sending back calm. We can lead by co-regulation or follow in co-dysregulation.

If we calm our own nervous system, it will eventually calm theirs. This doesn’t mean we cause anxiety. We don’t. It means we feel the anxiety that is in them first, as we are meant to. 

Anxiety can inadvertently be encouraged by behaviours such as supporting avoidance of uncomfortable places, people or experiences, over-reassuring, changing the environment to avoid anything that might fuel anxiety, or accommodating obsessive-compulsive behaviours (either by joining in or making way for them). 

Avoidance takes away the opportunity for the amygdala to learn that there is another way to feel calm, and that is to stay with the situation for long enough for anxiety to ease on its own. When we lift our children out of the way of anxiety by supporting their avoidance, we take away the opportunity for them to learn that anxiety is temporary, and will always ease on its own eventually. 

What are we protecting our children from? 

The answer most often is fear. When the situation is actually safe, we are not protecting them from harm, but from them experiencing the fear of harm. Protecting them when they don’t need protection is over-protection. This is usually done with the most loving intent but it can also shrink their world as it is just on the other side of fear that our children learn what they are capable of. It’s how they stretch their boundaries and start to discover their potential. When they move through fear, they learn that what feels scary most often isn’t, that they can be anxious and brave at the same time, and that they can do hard things and survive. When our children respond to anxiety with avoidance, rather than moving through this, they lose the opportunity to learn these important lessons. They will stay safe in that moment, but they won’t realise they are capable of bigger, braver things. 

For further reading and help on this topic go to Hey Sigmund 

Always seek guidance and advice from your doctor if you are concerned about a young person’s persistent anxiety or low mood. 

If you would like to discuss these or other issues, please contact your daughter’s House Coordinator or the College Counsellors on 02 9816 2041 or email Carly.boaler@syd.catholic.edu.au and Louise.scuderi@syd.catholic.edu.au

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

Gifted and Talented Report

MSCW girls are gifted across all domains!

We acknowledge Year 8 elite sailor Lily Mercer, who sails both at a national and state level! 

MANAGING ASSESSMENT TASKS AND ANXIETY

As assessment tasks start piling up, your gifted daughter may start to show signs of great anxiety- often linked to perfectionism, a trait not uncommon to gifted students.

An article from the National Association for Gifted Students published an interesting article on what’s healthy and what might be signs of unhealthy perfectionism.

“It’s not uncommon for high-ability children to also be perfectionists. Whether they worry about getting it exactly right, earning all A’s in school, or feeling helpless in fixing society’s downfalls, approximately 20% of gifted children suffer from perfectionism to the degree it causes problems.  

All perfectionism is not bad. Setting personal standards and pursuing excellence is important and healthy in many life situations. However, perfectionism can become unhealthy when it causes stress, pain, illness, procrastination, and underachievement.  While not inclusive, some causes of perfectionism include a desire to please others, early successes and no failures at a young age, and difficulty setting realistic goals.

Healthy perfectionism

• Doing the best you can with the time and tools you have–and then moving on

• Setting high personal standards with a gentle acceptance of self

• Managing behaviours to not interfere with daily life

Unhealthy perfectionism

• Emphasising and/or rewarding performance over other aspects of life

• Perceiving that one’s work is never good enough

• Feeling continually dissatisfied about one’s work–which can lead to depression, anxiety, and other physical symptoms

• Feeling guilty if not engaged in meaningful work at all times

• Having a compulsive drive to achieve, where personal value is based on what is produced or accomplished

Tips for Parents & Teachers in Managing Perfectionism

• Watch for signs of unhealthy perfectionism and intervene if necessary

• Adults should model a healthy approach and be aware of their own predispositions toward compulsive excellence

• Refrain from setting high, non-negotiable standards

• Emphasise the effort and process, not the end-result 

• Do not withhold affection, support, or encouragement if goals are not met

• Teach your gifted child to manage perfectionistic behaviours and focus on positive self-talk” 

Taken from: https://www.nagc.org/resources-publications/resources-parents/social-emotional-issues/perfectionism

If you think your daughter needs support in this area please do not hesitate to contact me.

Mrs Colreavy’s Conundrum

Can you solve this logic puzzle? 

The first student with the correct answer to email rachael.colreavy@syd.catholic.edu.au wins a prize!

Jaricot House Mass

Monday 13 March, the extended Jaricot family gathered together to celebrate mass as a community, share the talents and gifts of the Jaricot girls and join together as one. The evening had a theme of ‘Striving Together’ – our Jaricot House Motto and was lived out in all aspects of the celebration. We were blessed with performances from our Jaricot Choir and musicians in particular Sofia, Ava, Eva and Hannah. 

Marcellin House Mass

On Tuesday 14 March, the Marcellin House was united in Mass celebrated by Fr Greg from the Ryde/Gladesville Parish. Our House Co-Captains Amelia Lathum and Holly Lloyd welcomed all, speaking to the values we hold true as students of Marcellin, as captured by our motto “Perceive, Believe, Achieve”. Marcellin House Coordinator, Mrs Carolyn Criss shared with us St Marcellin Champagnat’s achievements, especially in the area of providing education for young people so that they would come to know and love Jesus and Mary. Fr Greg’s homily reminded everyone of the power of prayer and that God will always answer with what they need according to His plan. As sisters, we worked toget

her to prepare for the celebration and stepped up to share our gifts as readers, singers and musicians, all of whom did an amazing job! Special mention to our House tutors who continually support and encourage us and, kindly oversaw the refreshments enjoyed by all families following the Mass.

Ava Turnbull, Year 12 – Marcellin Liturgy Captain

Public Speaking Grand Final results

On Friday 17 March, Dr Ireland,  Gabriella Michalopoulos, Natalie Broom and Mr Bray accompanied Sophie Murphy, Year 8 and Leia Gonzales, Year 9 to the Grand final for the CSDA Public Speaking competition. Sophie and Leia were part of the twelve representatives MSCW entered for Public Speaking. In each respective age group, each student was competing against 164 other students from around Sydney. Both Sophie and Leia made it into the top 12. An incredible result. Although neither made it to the top 4, their achievement is astronomical. Sophie who entered for the first time and Leia who was speaking in the Year 10 competition despite being younger than her competition have achieved an incredible feat. As a college, we are so incredibly proud of their achievement. Congratulations to Sophie, Leia, and all students who participated in this year’s competition. Given the caliber of speakers, we are looking forward to the debating season, which starts in Week 1 of Term 2. 

MSCW celebrates Pi Day!

The College community celebrated Pi Day, the international day of Mathematics, on March 14 (3.14 by American format). Along with a competition, activities and snacks to celebrate the love of Mathematics, the event doubled as a launch for the new initiative in the College of Maths Club, which will run in Jarnosse on Tuesdays (after school) and Wednesdays (lunch time). 

At the Pi Day celebration, many students signed up to be helpers and leaders at Maths Club for future sessions, which will involve providing tutoring to their peers. Ms Pulumbarit, Mathematics Coordinator made some delicious mathematical cookies for the girls who signed up to the club, while other snacks like meat pies and oreos were also available to our leaders and participants in the event. 

Students worked in groups with Year 11 and 12 leaders on activities involving measurement and circles to better understand how pi can be used in different and meaningful ways. 

The main event was the Digits of Pi reciting competition, where students from Year 7 to 12 dazzled the audience of staff and students with their incredible memorisation skills! The audience was absolutely amazed by the efforts of all students involved, with most of them reaching above 100 digits. We congratulate Jaimie Woo of Year 12, who recited the most digits – a whopping 146! All participants will be acknowledged at our next assembly. The Mathematics teachers were delighted to see the subject and field of mathematics celebrated throughout our community. We wish to thank the MSCW staff for dressing up in polka dots and circular-themed dress to join the occasion! We are very excited to see the students’ skills and efforts shown on the day translate into more fun and opportunities at Maths Club and in Maths classes in the future. 

Catholic Education Foundation

Year 12 Legal Studies

On Friday 17 March, the Year 12 Legal Studies students had Sister Noelene Simmons SM talk to them about Human Trafficking and Slavery. Sister Noelene is in charge of Communications and Advocacy at ACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans). ACRATH’s mission is to eliminate human trafficking and the harm it causes, in Australia. Sister Noelene’s talk tied in with the students’ Contemporary Human Rights Issue which they are currently studying. Students learned about the enormity of the issue both globally and locally, the work that is being done on advocating on behalf of victims of human trafficking and measures being taken here and overseas to shut down human trafficking. Sister Noelene’s talk left a lasting impression on the students as well as preparing them for their upcoming assessment task.

WSU Dignity Drive

The Woolwich Students’ Union thanks the College community, students, staff and parents, for the many generous donations to the 2023 International Women’s Day Dignity Drive.

Following the success of the first 2022 Dignity Drive, a team of student volunteers helped the WSU Co-Captains, Charlotte O’Brien and Clare Thomas, staff the WSU donation stand on the Futuna Terrace for the second WSU Dignity Drive. For 3 days, Wednesday to Friday, the stand was run before school and at recess. This was a change from the first one day Dignity Drive held and it allowed more students the opportunity to make a donation. On one of the mornings, the team enjoyed a hot chocolate drink brought in by one of the team, and the next day, Mr Keller brought in some zataar bread and Middle Eastern sweets to give the team some energy as they manned the stand. Donors received a small gift of a WSU Mentos as a thank you for their donation.

The WSU thanks Dr Ireland, Mrs Alvarez, Ms Vu and Ms Morizzi for their support with the organisation and promotion of the Dignity Drive. 

The donated goods will be distributed to women in less fortunate circumstances by the Mary’s House Community Refuge, the St Vincent de Paul Night Patrol, and the Exodus Foundation Night Van.

Sports News

The MSCW Triathlon Team competed at the NSW All Schools Team Triathlon at Penrith Sydney International Regatta Centre on Friday 24 February. The students gave it their all, racing against School teams from all over NSW Catholic, Private and Public sectors. 

The Relay Distances consisted of the following:

Juniors – 400m Swim, 10km Cycle and 3km Run.

Intermediates and Seniors – 400m Swim, 15km Cycle and 3km Run.

Junior Results:

• Olivia Treadwell, Chloé Yam and Erica Jago – 31st Place
• Sophie Mitchell-Cook, Laura Tambasco and Charlotte Megarrity – 44th Place

Intermediate Results:

• Angela Lakic, Rosie Tozer and Hannah Sacco – 15th Place
• Amy Linssen, Charlotte McClelland and Miah O’Shea – 25th Place
• Maya Ostapenko, Annabella Di Marco and Alessia Rizzuto – 35th Place
• Evie Lange, Lara Carvallo and Tola Blicharska – 54th Place
• Georgia Sherry, Bridget Butler and Caitlin Russel – 49th Place

Senior Results:

• Ava Gibson, Tamara Jago and Maddison Sherry – 35th Place
• Sofia Watts, Bronte Fisher and Remy Donoghue – 32nd Place
• Elsie Gray, Matilda Gilbert and Ella Rochester – 23rd Place

Awesome effort!

Mixed Kids vs Cops League Tag Championships

Congratulations to the Marist Sisters/Holy Cross Mixed League Tag team who competed at the Kids vs Cops League Tag Championships on Wednesday 21 March at Knox Grammar School. The team consisted of four students from MSCW (Maddison Tannous, Miah O’Shea Hannah Sacco, Natalie Russo) and fourteen boys from Holy Cross. The team smashed the competition and won all 5 games including the grand final with a score of 8-3. 

Awesome effort!

Mr Daniel Watts, Sports Coordinator

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

Sports Results

Round 6

MVP

Round 7

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

Calling on volunteers

Flexischools Canteen ordering

Flexischools is our preferred method for purchasing lunch through the Canteen. Flexischools offers the following:

• Safer and more convenient than cash 
• Convenient online account top-ups 
• Online record of transaction history 
• Faster service for students 

The following link provides all the information to set up a new account or update your existing account.

Link to Flexischools Information

1. When linking your Compass Card you need to enter the letters and numbers appearing on the front of your card, just above the expiry date (see image below). Do not use the number on the back of the card. If there is an issue using the card at the Canteen, please check you have the correct number.
2. Make sure the funds on the account have been correctly entered into, either Food/ Canteen or printing credit. You cannot use printing credit for purchasing at the Canteen.
3. Linking your card to Flexischools or topping up can take up to 24 hours.
4. Students can check their card is correctly linked and their current balance by visiting the Canteen.
5. For any other questions, please feel free to contact FlexiSchools on 1300 361 769 or via email  help@flexischools.com.au or the website.

STEM Workshops