SMC NEWS 2024 - Term 3, Week 3
Week Ahead
From the College Principal
Dear Parents and Carers,
Thank you for your support in what has been a very cold fortnight! We are hoping that the weather will warm up a little over the next few days.
It is important that our students adhere to the requirements around uniforms during these times. If you have any queries about this, please do not hesitate to contact the Student Engagement Team at the SMC office.
Our Faith and Identity - Catholic Education Week
Catholic Education Week began this week and is celebrated in every Diocese in Queensland. Each Diocese has a series of events to mark the occasion. For us in Toowoomba, this Friday is Bishop's Inservice Day at ERCC and the Excellence Awards Thursday night. Thank you all for your work in Catholic Education! A quote from Dr Pat about the week: "Catholic Education Week is celebrated locally, within each school community, and more broadly in gatherings across the Diocese. The Bishop makes available the Bishop’s Inservice Days, providing space and time to reflect on and learn more about our roles and purpose. "
Excellence Awards - Toowoomba Catholic Schools
Every year in Catholic Education Week, Toowoomba Catholic Schools (TCS) hosts the TCS Excellence Awards. This year, I am proud to say that four St Mary's College staff have been shortlisted for their outstanding work at the College. Congratulations and good luck to this year's nominees for TCS Awards! Winners will be announced on Thursday night! All the very best of luck to:
- Tyhla Roper - Public Relations (currently on leave)
- Jake Weise - Year 7 Co-ordinator
- Kerrie Connolly - Director of Student Wellbeing
- Shari Pauli - Director Middle Years 5 - 9
Toowoomba Together Award – Kev Murphy!
A big congratulations to our AP Identity, Mr Kev Murphy, for winning the Toowoomba Together Award for Education Action at the awards dinner last Friday night! This is a wonderful recognition of Kev’s advocacy for education around DV issues in our community, amongst other areas. Well done, and thank you to Kev Murphy!
Upcoming School Review (SRIP)
St Mary’s College is scheduled for a School Renewal and Improvement quadrennial school review from 26 – 28 August 2024.
The Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office has a school renewal and improvement framework in place, which is a key element of a quadrennial school review. In this review, a panel consisting of senior staff from the Toowoomba Catholic Schools (TCS) Teaching and Learning Directorate and a peer principal from another school in the Diocese visit the school for three days.
Through a process of appreciative inquiry, panel members interview staff, parents/carers, students and community members. The questions asked are “In your opinion, what is going well at the school?” and “What could be done better?” The purpose is for the panel to report its findings to the school community and suggest improvement strategies. These inform the process of strategic plan development and the annual action plans which are also linked to the TCS Strategic Plan.
The aim is to assist schools to strategically plan to improve teaching and learning and these reviews occur in all TCS schools.
The review team would like to hear from the school community, and I encourage anyone who is interested to have their say. Your feedback is important and will help us to continue to achieve the two pillars of TCS: that all students will come to personally know Jesus and that all students will achieve academic success.
Feedback can be provided to the review panel in person or by telephone. All feedback remains confidential.
Please contact the school office if you are interested in speaking to a reviewer on one of these dates. You may also register your interest by emailing my assistant, Marisa Roper, at principal@stmaryscollege.com
Thank you for your support of the SRIP process
Looking Back
We were proud to host two major Rugby League semi-finals at Clive Berghofer Stadium last Thursday. In 2 tight games, the First 13 lost V Stretton College 28-18, and the Year 10 team defeated Caloundra State High School 24-14. The feedback from the stadium staff about students and staff was highly positive! The Year 10 team will now have a final in Brisbane this week. We are considering hosting a major final day once a year at this venue.
The defeat last week to Stretton sees the end of the 2024 season for the First 13 RL team. Thank you to all associated with the First 13 for another solid year, especially Luke Duggan, Hugh Sedger and Aidan Watterson.
Bishop’s Inservice Day (BID) on Friday
Please be aware of the student free day this coming Friday 26 July for our annual Bishop's Inservice Day.
Reflection - Catholic Education Week
Over two hundred years ago, the first official Catholic school opened in Australia. Catholic schools have long held that education should be directed not just towards personal enrichment for the individual student but also to community contribution.
In his recent encyclical, Fratelli Tutti: On Fraternity and Social Friendship, Pope Francis commented that schooling is a right for all children and that a good education can make an enormous difference in the lives of young people, setting them up for life (§§109 & 130). Among other things, Catholic schools and universities should offer an education in human solidarity and Christian fraternity (§§103, 114, 151 & 167) and make it possible “for each human being to shape his or her own future” (§187). Teachers must, therefore, “be conscious that their responsibility extends also to the moral, spiritual and social aspects of life. The values of freedom, mutual respect and solidarity can be handed on from a tender age” (§114). “Let the little children come to me,” said Jesus, “for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs” (Matt 19:14).
Have a wonderful week ahead,
Brendan Stewart
College Principal
principal@stmaryscollege.com
Acting - Deputy Principal
Term 3 Week 3
It is hard to believe we are in week 3. A plethora of curricular and co-curricular activities have taken place. I sincerely applaud the time management, resilience and diligence seen thus far by students, parents/carers, and staff to engage and adapt themselves through these events. Schools are extremely busy places. We will continue seeing multiple events over the coming weeks, so please stay proactive and aim to be as successful as possible.
I wanted to again reiterate the challenge I set in my previous article to evaluate one’s own performance regularly. Setting and communicating goals is a powerful tool to act on a decision, interest or theme. It heightens motivation. It is fundamental to witness progression in your son.
Lock Down - Drill
I wanted to let all families know that there will be a lock down drill taking place next Thursday 1st August. It is a known drill that will be practiced during the second break. I will provide the boys with more information; however, I would appreciate it if you could also prepare your son with a conversation.
Lastly, to assist you through my challenge, here is another weekly tip for success. Enjoy!
Weekly Tip for Success
Find and Execute Small Wins
I feel the power of small wins is undervalued in our modern world. The perception of being busy and time poor exacerbates and distorts strategies that can assist in achieving more throughout the day.
1. Establish Clear, Daily Win Habits Early
Daily Wins Habit: Start each day by identifying three achievable/manageable tasks. They are easy and begin your day with small wins. It is a good starting point to accomplish more throughout the day.This is a good starting point for accomplishing more throughout the day, helping you stay focused and motivated.
2. Track Your Progress
Use Tools: Utilising apps or tools to track your tasks and accomplishments is a good way to track progress.
3. Celebrate Small Wins
Acknowledge Achievements: Take time to recognise and celebrate your small victories. This boosts your motivation and reinforces positive behaviour.
Reward Yourself: Give yourself a small reward for completing tasks. This can be anything from a short break to a treat.
Marty Hollis
Acting -Deputy Principal
hollism@stmaryscollege.com
Identity
Catholic Education Awards 2024
This week is Catholic Education Week in Queensland, where we celebrate what is distinct about our schools and colleges.
The theme for Catholic Education Week this year is “Communities of Faith, Hope and Love.”
This is reference to St Paul’s first Letter to the Corinthians, where he reminds the community that all of their actions have to be guided by Jesus’ supreme commandment to love each other.
Almost 2000 years later, as members of St Mary’s Community, we continue to promote that message. We are lucky enough to be able to work with young people every day who, in their actions, show faith, hope and love in all they do.
This week, we celebrate the students who embody the best in Catholic Education by recognizing one student from each year group with a Catholic Education Award at our assembly. I am proud to share their names with you:
Year 6 – Joey Booth
Year 7 – Ted Ford
Year 8 – Wil Russell
Year 9 – Zeke Drew
Year 10 – Lucas Taylor
Year 11 – Gian Bautista
Year 12 – Mitch Chambers
Kevin Murphy
Assistant Principal Identity
murphyk@stmaryscollege.com
Curriculum
Subject Selection Evening
On Monday, we held our Subject Selection Evening to support students in Years 8 to 10 to make informed decisions about their 2025 subject selections to support their future career aspirations.
Students and their families are encouraged to access the relevant subject selection information, which is accessible through the links below:
- Subject Selection Information – Year 11 in 2025
- Subject Selection Information – Year 10 in 2025
- Subject Selection Information – Year 9 in 2025
All students have now received their individual webcode, which will enable them to submit their subjects. This information has also been emailed to families. All students must submit their subject selection form through the weblink by Thursday 1st August 2024.
Year 10 SET Plan Meetings
As you may be aware, in Queensland, students must be "learning or earning" for two years after they complete Year 10 or complete a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE), QCIA, Senior Statement, or Certificate III or IV.
In the Senior phase of learning (Years 10-12), students can choose from a wide range of learning options that will help them when they leave school, whether they are planning to go to University, TAFE, take up an apprenticeship or get a job.
To assist with the transition into Year 11, all Year 10 students across Queensland develop a Senior Education and Training (SET) plan. A SET plan is a confidential document that students will develop, in consultation with their parents/carers and key staff, to map their learning and career pathways. These SET plans help students to:
- set & achieve learning goals in Years 11 & 12
- include flexible pathway options in their Senior course of study
- think about their education, training and career options after Year 12
- structure their learning around abilities, interests & ambitions
- communicate with parents, teachers & guidance officers about learning pathways & post-school plans.
SET Plan interviews are on Thursday, the 1st, and Friday, the 2nd of August, in the ERCC. Parents are encouraged to attend these meetings, with bookings occurring through the provided TryBooking Link. If you have any questions or concerns, you can email the Career Office (smc-careers@stmaryscollege.com), or contact the College office on (07) 4631 7333.
Jade Love
Assistant Principal - Curriculum
lovej@stmaryscollege.com
Student Engagement
Parent Engagement Night - The Hopefull Institute
St Mary’s College recently hosted an evening with Glen Gerreyn, key speaker for The HOPEFULL Institute.
This night was well attended by parents who were able to benefit from Glen’s messages of hope, which he has shared with over a million people around the world. His message centred on 5 positive parenting tips. For your reference, the following resources were shared on the night.
- Give the vision
- Encourage them
- Be where you are
- Teach them how to fail
- Make the house a haven
Additional Resources
The following topics were also covered on the night, the links below will open to user friendly resources that you may want to utilise in discussion with your son/s.
Paul Dillon
Last week, we had the privilege of hosting Paul Dillon. Paul Dillon has been working in the area of drug education for almost 30 years and has worked internationally, presenting workshops and training seminars in countries as diverse as the UK, the Philippines, New Zealand and Indonesia.
Paul presented outstanding drug information sessions to our Year 10,11 and 12 students. One of the topics Paul presented was Smokeless Tobacco Products. A special Report on this can be found at
SPECIAL REPORT: Smokeless Tobacco Products | St Mary's College - Toowoomba (schooltv.me)
If you have not yet had the opportunity to explore School TV. I would encourage you to do so. This new addition to our college website has had over 700 hits in the last 3 months with parents accessing current and cutting-edge information.
Matt Draper
Assistant Principal - Student Engagement
draperm@stmaryscollege.com
Primary and Middle School Curriculum
Commitment to Learning Awards
Last week, we had the chance to celebrate the boys who earned an award for their Commitment to Learning during Term 2. To qualify for this award, the boys had to have an attendance rate of over 90% and receive all ‘very good’ and ‘good’ marks for their learning attributes on their report cards.
As a reward for their hard work, they enjoyed some delicious cake and were presented with certificates to recognize their achievements. We can’t wait to celebrate with all the boys again in Term 3!
Shari Paul
Director of Junior Curriculum
Paulis@stmaryscollege.com
Head of Primary
Primary Communication
To ensure clear and prompt communication between the Primary staff and parents, updates regarding events will be communicated in the College newsletter and/or sent via the College app. Parents who have any queries are encouraged to email their son’s teacher after checking the newsletter and the app.
Punctuality
Starting the day on time, being organised and following routine are part of the formula for having a successful day. Being on time for school is a fundamental aspect of personal and academic development. Students arriving late to school miss vital Mentor/class time where they hear daily notices, engage with others and prepare for the day ahead. This causes undue stress on themselves and the staff supporting them.
Timeliness establishes a positive routine that carries over into various aspects of life. When students consistently arrive at school on time, they develop a sense of discipline and responsibility. This routine fosters good habits and instils a strong work ethic that will serve them well in the future.
The first bell is at 8.25 am and the first lesson begins at 8.30 am. Students should be at school ready to start the day by this time. As little as 5 minutes late per day over a year equates to 3 school days missed. This can have a huge impact on your son’s learning. Thank you for ensuring that your son is punctual each day.
Primary Sport
Monday Soccer Lessons
Soccer lessons will be held in Weeks 5-9. The students will need to bring their sports uniforms for these lessons. Students without uniforms will not be allowed to participate.
Friday Sport
Interschool sports will be held in Weeks 4-7. This term, we will be competing in soccer and rugby league, and students can also play chess at school. Students will need their gear to train during sport time this Friday.
Catholic Education Week Carnival
St Mary’s Primary will once again compete in the Catholic touch football and netball carnivals on Thursday 25th July (Week 3). An Edsmart to parents will be sent from the Sports Department regarding this day.
Year 6 Sydney/Canberra Trip
The Year 6 Sydney/Canberra trip is not far off! Parents are reminded to have any medications and forms to the office by Thursday, 25th July, and to check the What to Bring list that was sent home. It will be an early start on Monday 29th July, with students arriving at school by 4.45 am for a 5.00 am sharp departure. We will arrive back in Toowoomba by approximately 11.30 pm on Friday, 2 August. An update on our return will be communicated by the College app.
Stephen Coren
Head of Primary
corens@stmaryscollege.com
Business Manager
July Statement
Dear Parents and Caregivers
It's great to have some warmer weather after the brief cold spell, though am sure there is a little more of winter to arrive. We had some technical issues issuing the July statements that included the Term 3 fees, though everyone should now have received the July statement. Please review this carefully to ensure all transactions are correct. If you require an invoice, please reach out to our friendly finance team at accounts@stmaryscollege.com. You can also find all fee information on our website here.
You can reach our accounts team via email at accounts@stmaryscollege.com or by telephone 07 4631 7333 (Option 3) to speak to one of our friendly team.
Just a reminder, there is a strict 14-day payment policy once fees are issued unless you have a direct debit/credit or agreed payment plan in place. Timely payments help us maintain the high-quality education we provide to your children. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact us.
Patrick Wilson
Business Manager
accounts@stmaryscollege.com