Principal’s Post on Empowering Young Women

Since 1935, Our Lady of Mercy Catholic College has held a legacy of instilling the values of leadership, excellence and service, nurturing confident young women. We empower our girls to make their make on society with confidence and compassion.

As technology continues to play a huge role in our lives, it’s essential we stay informed about its impact on our teenagers. A recent report highlighted in The Australian newspaper from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found that Australian teens are now spending an alarming average of 49 hours a week on digital devices.

This extensive screen time, which includes a lot of leisure use, is linked to some serious well-being concerns. We’re seeing connections to anxiety, depression, sleep deprivation, and negative impacts on body image, especially for girls who are more vulnerable to cyberbullying and problematic social media use. While boys tend to spend more time gaming, both genders face risks like exposure to inappropriate content and the development of digital addictions. These issues can actually hinder brain development and even lead to more family conflicts. The report also reminds us that parents’ own digital habits, including “sharenting,” can unintentionally compromise a child’s privacy and safety online.

As a school, we’re dedicated to promoting a balanced and healthy approach to technology. We strongly encourage all parents to have open conversations with their daughters about healthy digital habits and online safety. By working together, we can help our girls navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.

Australian teens spend 49 hours a week on digital devices

NATASHA BITA

May 15, 2025.Updated 7:23pmMay 15, 2025, The Australian newspaper

Australian teenagers average 49 hours a week glued to digital devices, with boys hooked on video games and girls exposed to some of the world’s worst cyber-bullying.

A global survey of 15-year-old students shows that 12 per cent of Australian teenagers spend more than 80 hours a week including time spent using computers for schoolwork.

For leisure, nearly one in five Australian “screenagers” spends at least 40 hours a week scrolling through social media or playing video games, a new Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development report reveals.

More than half Australia’s 15-year-olds spend at least two hours each weekday using digital devices for leisure – in breach of the federal Health Department’s advice that kids spend no more than two hours a day on screens.

Nearly one in five Australian teenagers spends more time playing online than studying at school.

On weekdays, 39 percent of teenagers spend at least three hours a day scrolling through social media, while 29 per cent game for more than three hours before or after school.

Screenagers

How Australian teenagers use digital devices:

98% Own a smartphone

49 hours average time per week on digital devices

58% Spend at least 2 hours per school day using digital devices for leisure

87% Play video games

95% Browse social networks

29% Play video games more than 3 hours per weekday

39% Browse social networks more than 3 hours per weekday

15% Feel nervous or anxious without digital devices

46% Felt upset when information about them was posted online without consent

---

Source: OECD

Spelling out the dangers and damage of digital addictions, the OECD report warns of cyber-bullying, exposure to violence and pornography, sleep deprivation, obesity, and interference with children’s brain development.

Policing kids’ online behaviour is one of the biggest challenges of modern parenting, it says, triggering conflicts between parents and their children.

“Parents are generally anxious about the amount of time children and teenagers spend playing video games, surfing the internet, and using social media applications, over which they have limited control,’’ the report states.

But the OECD report also chides parents for spending too much time online instead of playing with their children, and exposing their kids to pedophiles by posting photos and videos online.

“Technological distractions, such as background television or parental use of mobile devices, can diminish the quality and quantity of both solitary and ­parent-child play,’’ it states.

“Sharenting’’ – where parents “gain gratification from posting stories, images and videos of their children’’ – raises concerns for kids’ privacy. “Parents may disclose personal information without their child’s consent,’’ the report states. “Sharenting can also expose children to risks like online grooming, pedophiles and identity theft.’’

Boys are more likely to spend time gaming. The OECD report reveals that boys are more prone to gaming addictions, while girls are more likely to have problems with social media and mobile phone use.

“Globally, girls are more likely to use social media intensively and report being more often affected by exposure to inappropriate content or hate speech,’’ it states.

“Boys are more likely to engage in risky digital behaviours; they tend to spend excessive amounts of time playing video games, enable notifications on their devices when they go to bed, participate in cyber-bullying, and more frequently recklessly share online information they know to be untrue.’’

Spending more than two hours a day online is linked to depression, anxiety, body image concerns and poor sleep, the report says. But some online games are engineered to be addictive.

“Structural features of games, such as in-game rewards that trigger dopamine release and the unpredictability of these rewards, play a key role in reinforcing prolonged gaming sessions and sustaining gaming disorders,’’ the report, titled How’s Life for Children in the Digital Age?, states. “Strict time limits may provoke rebellion or withdrawal systems,’’ it adds.

The OECD casts doubt on the effectiveness of Australia’s world-first ban on under-16s setting up social media accounts, due to take effect in November.

“Access to digital services and devices is already deeply integrated into children’s lives from a young age, making it difficult to reverse the trends, and raising questions about the effectiveness of such measures,’’ it states.

“(A ban faces) challenges in enforceability, potential circumvention, and implications for children’s rights and digital participation.’’

The OECD calls on social media and gaming companies to safeguard children’s health and welfare online, insisting that the responsibility cannot rest with teenagers and parents.

Virtual reality games, the OECD report warns, can “blur the line between virtual and real experiences’’ for young children, while “fast-paced content may hinder cognitive and executive skill development’’.

The OECD findings are based on a survey of 690,000 students from 81 countries, including 13,500 students from 743 schools in Australia, who were asked about their time using digital devices as part of the 2022 Program for International Student Assessment literacy and numeracy test.

Australia banned smartphones in public schools in 2024 but many students spend hours every day scrolling online

Australian students spend twice as much time online as teenagers in Japan, but the report notes that Japanese students have “demanding school and extra-curricular schedules’’ that leave little time to relax.

The data shows 18.5 percent of Australian teens spend more than 40 hours a week online for leisure – fewer than the 22.5 percent averaged across industrialised countries but much higher than the 5.8 per cent in Japan.

The OECD warns that online violence and pornography can be distressing for children and harm their development.

• “Pornography has never been more accessible to children and adolescents,’’ it states.
• “Pornography often depicts distorted or unrealistic portrayals of sex and relationships, which can affect children’s understanding of healthy sexual behaviour and consent.
• “Repeated exposure to explicit content can desensitise children, potentially affecting their future relationships.

Acting Commander Frank Rayner, to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation details the rising rate of image based…

• “Exposure to violent or gory content can be disturbing or traumatising for children. It can create conditions that perpetuate dangerous practices, such as self-harm, which is increasingly ­frequent among teenagers, particularly girls.’’
• Australian girls’ levels of distress are among the highest in the industrialised world, with 60 per cent saying they got upset when they received unkind, vulgar or offending messages, comments or videos online – more the OECD average of 45 per cent and 30 per cent of girls in Japan.
• Eating disorders can be triggered or worsened by social media content regarding body image, beauty norms or dietary habits, the report warns.
• “Social media platforms, where adolescents are highly active, often promote and normalise idealised and stereotypical beauty standards, a trend further reinforced by the use of filters and photo editing software,’’ it states.
• “Being exposed to such imagery can foster a negative self-­perception, leading to feelings of dissatisfaction and despair.’’
• The report also notes the growing trend of “sextortion’’, as criminals impersonate teenage girls to coerce boys into sending sexualised images – then blackmail them for money or details of parents’ credit cards and bank ­accounts.
• Pedophiles are also contacting children online.

Year 7 Enrolment for 2027

Limited places are now available for Year 7 2027 – Enrol Now.

https://olmcburraneer.syd.catholic.edu.au/enrolment/enrol-now

OLM Biggest Morning Tea

Assistant Principal – Karen Shawcross

As outlined clearly in the student diary, phones seen are confiscated and held at Student Services for the day, with a demerit issued. For repeat offenders, phones will be kept at Student Services for a week or more. There is no need for a mobile phone at school; if you ever need to reach your daughter urgently, our office is always happy to pass on a message. Thank you for your support in reinforcing this important policy and helping us foster a focused learning environment.

The Year 10 cohort is to be commended in the manner in which they have conducted themselves over this exam block, approaching each exam with focus and a keen desire to do well.  In supervising an exam this week, I noticed that the majority of girls continued to write responses until the time was up, a remarkable effort.   This dedication to study has filtered through the school with students in Years 7 – 9 studying for their own assessments before school, during recess and lunch and a number of them attending Open Learning on Tuesday afternoon to get some extra assistance in understanding concepts.   Congratulations to these students as well, I am sure that their efforts will be rewarded.

A quick reminder to all parents: College photographs have been distributed to students and should have made their way home this week. Please check with your daughter if you haven’t seen them yet.

What an exciting few weeks it’s been for many students, with so many opportunities to take their learning beyond the classroom. From representative sporting events to engaging debating competitions and other enriching excursions, our girls have been embracing new challenges.

These experiences are invaluable, helping students hone their collaborative skills, communicate effectively, and proudly represent our college. A huge congratulations to all the students who have participated – your willingness to step outside your comfort zones and make the most of these opportunities is commendable.  

Karen Shawcross, Assistant Principal

Year 12 Trivia Fridays

Friday lunch times have become a very popular event in the OLM library, with competitive team spirit being at the forefront of this time spent together.

Thank you to our Year 12 students who have revelled in creating Trivia @ Lunch for our school community.

Calendar Update

Term 2 Important Dates

Monday – 9 June
King’s Birthday Public Holiday

Tuesday – 10 June
Year 11 (HSC 2027) Subject Selection Information Evening

Friday – 20 June
Year 9 Commerce Market Day

Friday – 27 June
Mercy Action Group Op Shop

Friday – 27 June
Year 7 and 8 Solemnity Mass at St Aloysius, Cronulla

Thursday – 3 July
Last Day of Classes Term 2

Thursday – 3 July
Years 7 – 10 Parent, Teacher, Student interviews at OLM (3.30pm-7.45pm)

Friday – 4 July
Years 7 – 10 Parent, Teacher, Student Interviews at OLM (9am-1pm)

Monday – 7 July
School Holidays

Monday – 7 July – Thursday 10 July
HSC Holiday Workshops @ OLM

Monday – 21 July
Staff Professional Learning Day – No students (if you require supervision please contact the College)

Tuesday – 22 July
Students Return for Term 3 in Winter uniform

Religious Education Coordinator – Ian Anderson

This Sunday the Church celebrates Pentecost. Often referred to as the birthday of the Church, the moment Christ’s Apostles left the locked room and preached the Gospel to all nations. Our first reading, taken from the book of the Acts of the Apostles, references the Apostles speaking to a large crowd made up of many nations and all people understanding them. I often reflect on how this story is mirrored against the story in Genesis, the Tower of Babel where God confuses the peoples speech. In Genesis we see mankind using their speech to act in opposition to God, leading to division. In the Pentecost story, God demonstrates that there is no barrier, not even language in communicating his goodness. As Christians, the spreading of the Gospel is our legacy and duty. We received this from those who love us and are called to spread the gospel to those who we love also. The magician Penn Jilette, while not a Christian himself, was asked how he felt about Christians who preach the Gospel openly. He said, “How much do you have to hate someone to believe in everlasting life and not tell them that?” Perhaps this Pentecost you could share the Gospel with your children, maybe in words and in action. Attend Church, do acts of love for your loved ones, call a friend or family member who is on your mind and ask how they are. These are all great ways to celebrate our Christian heritage.

Our young girls here at the College have begun building on their contribution to acts of Mercy in our community. For the past weeks, ten of our students have been attending Stella Maris Aged Care facility to minister to the residents. They have been playing games, listening to their stories and assisting with their technology problems. Our students love to serve the residents and the residents love the presence and gentleness of our girls. 

We are also part way into our Winter Appeal. The Mercy In Action (MAG) group is organising an OP Shop on the 27 June (week 9). All girls are encouraged to bring in clothes that can be sold on the day. The money raised will go to support the Charitable Works Fund (CWF). The CWF is responsible for collecting funds for the purpose of supporting the charitable and pastoral works of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney involving over 100 services including, fostering, adoptions, counselling and aged care services.

At a recent conference in Perth, I had the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Mother Ursula Frayne. I would like to do a snapshot about each of our houses in the upcoming newsletters as I found Sr Ursula’s story to be a fascinating one.

SNAPSHOT

Religious Education Coordinator – Ian Anderson

Leader of Learning – Integrated Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment – Lisa Romberg

2025 da Vinci Decathlon – State Final

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was one of the world’s greatest thinkers and scholars. Da Vinci demonstrated an ability to perceive the interconnected nature of knowledge and embraced learning with a lifelong passion and determination to uncover the unknown. The Decathlon competition places a particular emphasis on higher order thinking skills, problem solving and creativity.

Students compete in teams of eight across 10 disciplines:

1. Engineering 
2. Mathematics and Chess
3. Code Breaking
4. Art and Poetry
5. Science
6. English
7. Ideation
8. Creative Producers 
9. Cartography
10. Legacy

Fifty schools from across the state compete in each Year Group. We are very proud of all the students who participated in this event. They also performed well on the day with the Year 8 Team placing 14th in the Art & Poetry discipline and the Year 9 Team placing 15th in the Engineering discipline.

Congratulations to the following students who were part of this event. They have shown great commitment to the training for this Decathlon, perseverance and determination while competing. 

Year 7 Esme Bowring Emma Broadhurst Lillian Greaves Sophia Kheiri Ava Kopke Ruby Ryan Lexi Usher Harper Zmuda

Year 8 Zoe Andrews Stella Bloom Lauren Cuddihy Alice Donohoe Frankie Grocott Charlotte Kain-Blatch Eila Ponder Mia You

Year 9 Mya Deguara Sophie George Jessica Hammon Tamarli Haydon Sophia Iffland Molly Lewis Saoirse O’Brien Jenai Taleyarkhan

Year 10 Rosalie Barnes Yeonee Branwhite Eliana Maceri Mia Murray Rosie O’Connor Avy Stockwell Nikita Sullivan

Year 11 Amelia Baillon Selena Contarino Daniella Edwards Chloe English Cyan McKinnon Sophie Mooney Hannah Simonet Isabella Smith

Thank you to Ms Berger for her wisdom and insight in training the da Vinci Teams during sport and lunchtimes over the past term and for navigating the difficulties of the rail system on the day which saw major delays due to cables on the track. We are very much looking forward to next year’s Decathlon. 

Year 7-10 Parent, Student Teacher Conferences

We look forward to discussing your daughter’s learning in Semester 1 with you at the end of this term during our Parent, Student, Teacher Conferences 

Please save the dates: 

Thursday 3 July – 3:30pm – 7:45pm

Friday 4 July –  9:00am – 1:00pm

Reports will be released on Wednesday 2 July. 

NEWMAN Symposium

For students in the NEWMAN cluster classes, students will be starting our NEWMAN Symposium planning and production this term. This symposium will be held in Term 3 and all students involved are expected to attend this symposium. We ask that parents assist their daughter’s to clear the afternoon calendar for  Monday 11 August. We look forward to the many wonderful and creative projects that the girls will produce.

ICAS Tests

Our Lady of Mercy Catholic College is pleased to invite students to participate in the ICAS Assessments^TM in Term 3 this year.

ICAS is designed to target students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Science and we have recently added Mathematics. Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition and development. Every student will receive a printed certificate and an online results report. Top performers will be eligible for medals and are invited to attend special award ceremonies to have their academic excellence publicly recognised. 

We encourage you to consider entering your daughter into ICAS this year. The opportunity to sit ICAS assessments at OLMC will continue to be optional, and students may sit one or all of the assessments on offer at OLMC. The assessments are suitable for students wishing to extend themselves academically and take up the personal challenge of competing in an international assessment that has been running for 40 years. Your daughter will be presented with high-quality, expert-developed questions, allowing them to apply their learning without the need for prior study or revision. 

2025 Participation – Parent payment system 

Our school has signed up for the ICAS Assessments parent payment system (PPS) for all assessments. Through this system parents can pay for ICAS directly online while tests will still be held at our school. Please use the following details to register and pay for your daughter no later than Friday, 25 July (Term 3 Week 1). 

Access details for parents

OLM parent page link is: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/parent-payment/GFC685

OLM school access code is: GFC685

Fuel Your Body, Fuel Your Mind

How the Right Nutrition Powers Your School Success

Your brain is like a high-performance engine—it needs the right fuel to run at its best. The food you eat doesn’t just affect your body; it plays a huge role in your focus, energy levels, and overall mental health. When you fuel your body properly, you’ll find it easier to stay alert in class, power through study sessions, and handle the demands of school life. Here’s how to optimise your nutrition for both body and mind.

1. Start with a Balanced Breakfast

Set the tone for a productive day.

• A good breakfast provides the energy and nutrients your brain needs to focus and retain information. Aim for a mix of protein (like eggs or yoghurt), whole grains (like oats or wholemeal toast), and healthy fats (like avocado or nuts).
• Skipping breakfast can lead to brain fog and low energy—two things you definitely don’t want during a busy school day.

Tip: Short on time? Prep overnight oats or grab a banana and a handful of nuts for an easy, on-the-go option.

2. Stay Hydrated

Your brain thrives on water.

• Dehydration can make you feel tired, unfocused, and even irritable. Keep a water bottle with you and sip throughout the day.
• If plain water feels boring, try adding a slice of lemon, cucumber, or a splash of juice for flavour.

Tip: Get in the habit of drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning and before you start studying.

3. Snack Smart

Avoid the sugar slump.

• When hunger strikes between meals, reach for snacks that provide lasting energy, like fruit, nuts, or whole-grain crackers.
• Avoid sugary snacks and drinks—they might give you a quick energy boost, but it’ll be followed by a crash that leaves you feeling worse.

Tip: Keep healthy snacks in your school bag or locker so you’re not tempted by vending machine treats.

4. Don’t Skip Meals

Your brain needs regular fuel.

• Skipping meals might seem like a way to save time, but it can leave you feeling sluggish and unable to focus. Make sure you eat lunch every day, with a mix of carbs, protein, and vegetables.
• For example, a chicken and salad wrap or a rice bowl with veggies and tofu are great balanced options.

Tip: If you’re in a rush, pack a sandwich or leftovers the night before to take with you.

5. Prioritise Brain-Boosting Foods

Feed your brain with the nutrients it loves.

• Include foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, walnuts, or chia seeds, to support brain function.
• Other brain-boosting options include leafy greens, berries, eggs, and whole grains.
• These foods help improve memory, focus, and overall cognitive performance.

Tip: Try adding spinach to your morning smoothie or swapping regular snacks for trail mix with nuts and seeds.

Small Changes, Big Results

Fuelling your body with the right foods and staying hydrated isn’t just about feeling good—it’s about giving your brain the tools it needs to perform at its best. By starting with a balanced breakfast, making smart snack choices, and staying consistent with your meals, you’ll notice a big difference in your energy and focus.

Start today by planning one brain-friendly meal or snack. With time, these small steps will become habits that help you achieve your best at school and beyond.

Challenge: For the next week, drink a glass of water with every meal and choose at least one healthy snack per day. Notice how much better your brain feels when it’s properly fuelled!

You and your parents can learn more at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au by logging in with the details below and working through some of the units.

School username: OLMBurraneer

School password: Mercy

Tuesday Afternoon Open Learning

Tuesday Afternoon Open Learning has started. This will be held in the Library each Tuesday afternoon from 3pm until 4pm.  This time will provide students with the opportunity to collaborate with fellow students, complete any group tasks or learning experiences or provide a quiet space for study and home learning. In addition teachers will be available to assist students with their learning. This includes: assistance with time management and planning tips and tricks to developing study tools such as mind maps, study notes, flash cards subject specialists who can help answer questions.

Lisa Romberg, Leader of Learning – Integrated Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment

English Faculty – Bernadette Coppock

Year 12 English Advanced and English Standard attended the English Teachers’ Association Student Day.

The day is designed for students to meet with experienced HSC markers to unpack the English HSC examinations, as well as gain fresh insights and perspectives into the texts studied across their course.

Year 12 Advanced and Standard students, along with their teachers Ms Peric and Miss
Berger had the opportunity to attend the English Teacher’s Association Paper 2 Study Day at
the University of Sydney for a day of English lectures.

The Advanced class attended lectures comparing Shakespeare’s King Richard III and Al Pacino’s Looking for Richard, one on T.S. Eliot’s poetry and one on improving our creative writing.

Standard English explored Robert Gray poetry and the film One Night The Moon.

We also had the opportunity to tour the campus and see some highlights such as the Main Quad and Manning House. Overall, we really enjoyed the opportunity to both improve our understanding of our class texts as we head towards HSC Trials and explore the campus of Sydney University.
– Amelia Buhagiar, Year 12

Ms Lisa Peric, English Faculty

HSIE Faculty – Luke Reynolds

HSIE Faculty – ASX Sharemarket Game

Over the past 10 weeks, students in Year 10 Commerce, Year 11-12 Business and Year 11-12 Economics participated in the ASX sharemarket game.

Students receive a virtual $50,000 they can invest over a 10 week period, in over 300 companies listed on the ASX. The prices students buy and sell at are the same prices as they would get in the live market. Orders to buy or sell shares could be placed at any time with those orders executed when the market opened each week day at 10.00 am.

Students could monitor the performance of their chosen share portfolio and were given the choice to take part as a group or individually.

The game taught students knowledge of the sharemarket, how economic and world events shape the value of shares and how to begin preparing to invest in the future.

Congratulations to the top performing students in each subject:

Year 10 Commerce – Sabrina Salem and Starla Abraham (portfolio valued at $53,439.15)

Year 11 Economics – Selena Contarino (portfolio valued at $57,111.99)

Year 12 Business – Dakota Strettles (portfolio valued at $58,124.53)

Year 12 Economics – Mia Rajkovic (portfolio valued at $51,739.66).

Each winner received a voucher to the School canteen.

This learning experience generated a large amount of curiosity and discussion in the share market in the classroom. Hopefully the sharemarket game inspired students to consider making their own long term investments.

Luke Reynolds, HSIE Faculty

Debating News

Debating   

As the preliminary rounds of debating progress, the OLM teams have taken the opportunity to develop their debating skills and create cohesive teams.

Thus far they have shown determination and good sportsmanship across all year levels. Year 7 has been particularly strong, securing victories in their first three debates, while Year 11 has demonstrated resilience with two solid wins. Year 9 bounced back with a strong win in Round 3, and Year 8 showed great improvement with their Round 4 success. Each round has been an opportunity for growth and learning, proving that the teams are developing both confidence and capability. With such a promising performance, the teams are set to continue improving for future debates. 

Well done to the students who have received compliments for their polite and respectful manners and thank you to our parent and teacher supporters.

Ms Kamp, Debating Coordinator

Round 1 verse St Pats Sutherland
Year 7	WON
Year 8	LOSS
Year 9	LOSS
Year 11	WON

Round 2 BYE

Round 3 verse Aquinas
Year 7	WON
Year 8	LOSS
Year 9	WON
Year 11	WON

Round 4  verse De La Salle Caringbah or St Ursula’s
Year 7	WON
Year 8	WON
Year 9	BYE
Year 11 v St Urs	LOSS

Instructional Leader – Co-Curricular – Danielle Polson

The following link has important information from Sydney Catholic Schools regarding sport.

https://sport.syd.catholic.edu.au/

Gatorade, a subsidiary of PepsiCo, is launching its global initiative, Fuel Tomorrow, with the goal of empowering 2.5 million teens worldwide to access the life-changing benefits of sport by 2030.  You can access the press release detailing the initiative here. 

As part of the campaign, Gatorade is seeking parents and teens to participate in case studies that highlight the challenges around teen confidence and dropout rates in sport.    

Who they are looking for:

• Teens aged 14+ who are currently playing sport or have considered dropping out
• Parents who are actively encouraging their kids to stay in sport
• Confidence or self esteem challenges relating to sport participation
• Parent and child must be comfortable participating together

What’s involved:

• Sharing your experience as part of media interviews (print, online, and TV) – all talent will be fully briefed ahead of time
• Payment – $300 gift card
• Must be available between 26th May – 19th June. Must be out of school times.

Sydney Catholic Schools is excited to offer students the opportunity to participate in the Fuel Tomorrow case study – an initiative focused on empowering young people through sport, leadership, and wellbeing.

If you are interested in being part of this exciting program, please complete the form below. This is an expression of interest only – selected students will be contacted with further details.

Cross Country

Congratulations to the OLM Cross Country team who represented OLM at the Conference 3 and Sydney Catholic Schools Cross Country Championships at Sydney International Equestrian Centre on 21 May.

In cold and rainy conditions the girls displayed an excellent attitude and excelled. Congratulations to the following students who medalled in their respective events:

Veronica Rogers- 13 years 3rd SCS and 2nd Conference 3

Felicity Barnes- 14 years 3rd Conference 3

Layla White- 15 years 1st SCS and 1st Conference 3

Liesl Spinner- 15 years 3rd SCS and 3rd Conference 3

Congratulations to our Intermediate Girls who were Conference 3 Champions.

Best of luck to Felicity Barnes, Abby Cowan, Ella McGuinness, Veronica Rogers, Liesl Spinner, Roma Taylor and Layla White who will represent Sydney Catholic Schools at the NSW CCC Cross Country in June.

Danielle Polson, Instructional Leader Co-Curricular

Creative and Performing Arts Faculty – Verneen Mason

Sydney Catholic Schools Eisteddfod – Dance

Facing experienced and strong competition, our OLM Dance Troupe students produced a stunning performance, narrowly missing out on placing at the Sydney Catholic Schools Dance Eisteddfod recently.

Their dedication and talent is to be applauded.

Visual Arts at OLM

The OLM Visual Arts Department has been buzzing with creativity recently.

So many amazing artworks are taking shape, showcasing the incredible talent and imagination of our students.

We are so proud of their hard work.

Verneen Mason, Instructional Leader Creative and Performing Arts

Leader of Pathways and Partnerships – Lisa Formica

Year 11 students travelled to the city last week and undertook a tour of University of Technology Sydney and Ultimo TAFE. They then travelled by light rail to Randwick Racecourse and the HSC and Careers Expo.

They enjoyed an informative day and developed a stronger and broader understanding of their career pathways opportunities after school.

OECD REPORT – The state of global teenage career preparation.

The OECD has just released a report titled “The State of Global Teenage Career Preparation”

“Students are now expressing very high levels of career uncertainty and confusion.” The report has utilised data from across 8 countries and has identified some key areas where teenagers need support. Interestingly the overall findings of the report “shows that participation in many career development activities is positively associated with better employment outcomes”

Empower Presentations

At OLM one area we provide support in career development is through our Empower Presentations during a recess or lunch. Our Empower Presentations bring a community member from a selected industry to come and talk to the students in an informal setting about their career path, training and qualifications and what it is really like to work in this job. This week we have had hairdressing. The owner of Allegra Hair Studio in Jannali, Leanne spoke about her career which involved many career pivots over the years, and now she is the owner of a growing salon. 

Later this term we have Hospitality with Cronulla RSL presenting and speech therapy with Leap Therapy presenting. I am in the process of re-scheduling our construction executive and childcare presenters who both had a last minute work emergency and could not present. Term 3 is shaping up to be a great term with presenters, so keep an eye out for that timetable.

All these presentations provide students with contact with employers who will allow students to explore career options they may not have considered and to potentially think differently about their pathways post-school.

UAC and Tertiary Pathways Information Evening

To further support students, the careers advisers of the Sutherland Shire hold a biannual UAC and Tertiary Pathways Information Evening (this year to be hosted by Innaburra on Fri 6 June 5.15pm to 8.30pm. UAC will provide two presentations, one to Year 9 and 10 students around subject selection, and the other to Year 11 and 12 around the ATAR and university application processes. More information can be found here.

Year 11 Excursion – UTS / Ultimo TAFE / HSC and Careers Epo

To support their post-school pathways, Year 11 attended an excursion – touring UTS and Ultimo TAFE, as well as attending the HSC and Careers Expo. The students found this experience very fulfilling as they were able to see first-hand what being a university student may be like, seeing the facilities TAFE offer, then understanding all their options.

Parent Career Workshop

On Monday night of this week we held our first Parent Career Workshop. The aim of the workshop was to support parents in assisting their daughters with post-school decisions. As there is a plethora of information available, it can be overwhelming. The parents who attended received a workbook resource to assist with understanding how to guide their daughters, current research around careers education, and some suggested websites to aid in their information gathering. A huge thank you to all the parents who gave up their time to attend.

Lisa Formica, Leader of Pathways and Partnerships

Wellbeing and Diverse Learning – Carolyn Burden

Dear Parents, Guardians and Carers

National Reconciliation Week started this week, we celebrated the theme of 2025, Bridging Now to Next.

OLM First Nations students had the experience of attending Bangarra Dance Theatre’s production of Illume which explores the concept of light as “a glowing bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds”.

Volunteers Required

We are currently seeking skilled volunteers with strong abilities in writing, spelling, and numeracy, who are available during school hours (Monday to Friday) for short periods at various times throughout the year.

Volunteers will assist senior students with diverse learning needs, primarily in the areas of reading and writing. This support plays a vital role in ensuring equity for our students, in accordance with guidelines set by the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA).

If you are interested in contributing to this valuable initiative, please contact Carolyn Burden at the College.

Carolyn Burden
Leader of Wellbeing & Diverse Learning
carolyn.burden@syd.catholic.edu.au

Carolyn Burden, Leader of Wellbeing and Diverse Learning