From the Principal

From the Assistant Principal

Attendance

Attendance in class is one of the most critical aspects of learning. Deep learning is relational and relies on the interaction between the learner and the teacher, and the learner and other learners. Not being in class has significant impact on how the learner is able to process new knowledge and skill acquired, and then to process in such a way as to be able to draw significant meaning and understanding. Being in class is not just a legal requirement, but an essential element in the learning process.

Personal Presentation

I would like to congratulate most students and their families on the way in which they have presented themselves on return to the College this week. The wearing of the College uniform reflects our College to the wider community and the expectation therefore, is that all students maintain a high standard of neatness while wearing our uniform. It is important that all students adhere to our expectations and in advance I wish to thank all of the parents and carers for their support in this matter.

Mobile Phones

I would like to remind students that there is to be no use of mobile devices from the time a student enters the College gates until the final bell at 3:15pm. Where a student needs to make contact with home/parents during the course of the school day, students should attend the General Administration Office to use the College phone or seek permission to use their mobile device in Pieta Place. Please be reminded that messaging or texting on a mobile device is inappropriate and will result in devices being confiscated.

My best wishes to each student and each family as we begin our year together in 2021! 

From the Religious Education Coordinator

From the Leader of Wellbeing

Study Skills Tip for February – Why do we have to do Homework?

Homework, or Home Learning as some schools now prefer to call it, serves many purposes. It may be to consolidate or check or extend the learning from the day, or prepare for the learning to come in subsequent days. It could be to do with longer term work such as assignments or preparing for tests and examinations. Ultimately it comes back to what school is all about – learning. And learning not just about learning content, but learning and developing skills. At times students feel that the work they are doing at school is not relevant to their lives, however sometimes we need to look beyond the content to the purpose of the learning exercise. At times the content will be a vehicle to teach particular skills. Much of what we learn in Mathematics develops the problem solving circuits in our brain. When you are analysing Shakespeare you are learning not just about Shakespeare, but to think critically and expand your point of view and broaden your experience of the world through examination of different lives, emotions and experiences. The message is that everything you learn at school has purpose and value, even if you can’t always quite see it at the time.

There is much debate in the media as to the value of homework. In primary school it has been shown that only a small amount of students actually benefit from doing homework in terms of academic achievement. The exception to this is reading at home – every student benefits from this. However, other benefits can’t be discounted: developing independent working skills, establishing study routines necessary for learning in later years, helping students master things they are struggling with and allowing parental involvement.

In secondary school, homework has been proven to be an essential component of academic success in the senior years. The reality of Year 11 and 12 is that a large component of independent learning needs to be undertaken at home. One of the biggest problems for students transitioning to the senior years is that they have not learnt to work effectively and efficiently in the home environment. This is why developing good habits and learning to do at least a solid hour a day of home study is essential in Years 7-10. It is also about developing the qualities of discipline and perseverance, both essential for senior studies. Students will not like every subject equally, so students need to learn how to make themselves do the work even for their least favourite subjects.

What can you do this year to manage your homework effectively? Try these top tips:

1. GET ORGANISED STRAIGHT AWAY: As soon as you get home unpack your bag before you have a break and something to eat. Lay out all the work first. It is easier to get started if you have everything ready to go.
2. PRIORITISE AND PLAN: Before you start work, write a list of what needs to be done and decide what order you will do it. Focus on what is most important, not just what subject you like best!  Also write down how long you think each task will take to do.
3. DEVELOP THINKING PATHWAYS: Keep in your mind that it is all about learning. Try and look beyond the actual content to what type of skill this homework might be developing in you – analysing, critical thinking, writing skills, or problem-solving skills for example.
4. CHUNK TIME INTO FOCUSED BLOCKS: Do your work in 20-30 minute blocks with no distractions during that time. So switch off the TV, turn off your phone for that 20-30 minutes. When you just focus on the work that needs to be done you’ll be amazed at how much work you complete. Of course if you are on a roll, you can keep going past the 30 minutes.
5. ALTERNATE AND CHIP AWAY: If there is a task you really don’t want to do then alternate this with a task you enjoy doing. For example, 15 minutes on the homework you like, 5 minutes on the homework you don’t like. When you chip away at it you will be surprised how quickly you get through the work. 

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

Sports News

Welcome back to an exciting term of Sport at MSCW! 

It will be a busy term with both the College Swimming and Athletics carnivals this term and the usual Year 7-10 Thursday sport and representative competitions starting in Week 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 provide 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. 

Please see the information below and contact details for any questions.

Sport news will be distributed to students via COMPASS, the College’s Newsletter and announcements at assemblies.  

Years 7-10 Thursday Sports Program

Term 1 

On Thursday sport days, 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.

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.  Trials for the following teams will be held during Weeks 2-3:

MCCS Term 1 (Students leave the College 12noon EVERY Thursday and return by 4pm)

Contact Ms Hurley for MCCS questions.

CGSSSA Term 1 

CGSSSA 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 notifications. 

Contact Ms Kemp via email for CGSSSA questions

Representative Pathway 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 information on the CSNSW website. Students are to discuss with Ms Kemp 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 1 Individual Nominations Sport Registrations are now open for:

• Cricket – 15 Years Girls – 15 February – Close 10 February
• Softball – Girls – 22 February – Close 12 February
• Tennis –  Girls – 1 March – Close 22 February
• Golf – Girls – 8 March – Close 25 February
• Volleyball – Girls – 10 March  – Close 5 March
• Water Polo – Girls – 15 March – Close 11 March
• Hockey – Open Girls, 16s Girls – 22 March – Close 15 March
• Diving – Girls – 29 March – Close 19 March
• Swimming and Touch Football registrations are through the Diocesan/Association pathways.

For further information, please refer to the CSNSW Sport website Sport pages

Sports Trials

Trials have commenced this week and students must check emails/ask Sport Coordinators for further details. Teams will be finalised by Tuesday of Week 3 and students will be notified. Students are required to wear the PE uniform for trials. 

These include the following;

• MCCS Touch Football Years 7 – 10
• MCCS Volleyball Trials Years 7 -10
• CGSSSA Softball Years 7 – 12
• CGSSSA Cricket Years 7 – 12.

Sailing

Please see the next College Newsletter for details.  

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

Marists in Action

St Josephine Bakhita

This coming Monday, the 8th of February, marks the feast day of St Josephine Bakhita, the Patron Saint of victims of human trafficking and modern slavery. Bakhita was born in Sudan in 1869, and after being kidnapped at the age of nine, spent twenty years enslaved in both Sudan and Italy, before being freed by an Italian court in 1889. She was baptised soon after this event, after discovering a strong connection to God whilst still a slave. St Josephine is regarded as a modern victim of enslavement due to the fact that slavery had been outlawed in Sudan prior to her capture in 1878, and thus was not legally permissable as part of an archaic tradition. 

The legacy of St Josephine and her patronage is still an important one in our modern day. In 2016, it was estimated that approximately 40.3 million people were living in modern slavery, 

This may seem far from the reality of us in Australia, but we are all closer to this issue than we believe. The Global Slavery Index suggested that in 2018 there were 15,000 people living in conditions of modern slavery in our country, and many of us utilise products which benefit from the use of slave labour every day. The beauty, fast fashion and caffeine sectors are particular proponents of this, with many primary materials being sourced using child labour such as micah, cotton, cacao and coffee beans, often without the knowledge of the general population.

Marists in Action have placed posters around the school with some suggestions of how we can all, as Marist women of action, help to eradicate this issue. 

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

Jarnosse News – New Opening Hours

Jarnosse will now be open until 5.30pm Monday through Thursday for girls wishing to access library resources or work after school in a quiet space.

Clothing Pool News

The Clothing Pool is available ONLINE through Flexischools

Simply log into your account and select the Marist Sisters’ College Shop>Clothing Pool Order tab on the home page. 

Canteen News

Volunteers are needed in the Canteen on a Friday for Recess and Lunch

Any amount of time you have to assist the Canteen Staff would be much appreciated. Thank you.

MENU FOR TERM 1

Weekly specials available on Wednesday and Thursday
All lunch orders need to be in by 8:30am.

Road Safety