Term 4, Week 2, 12.10.2021
Principal News
Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope your sons had a good week at the College during Week 1. Now that the weather has changed, we are again seeing more activity around the school during break times and the boys are looking forward to a very positive culmination to the school year.
Term 3 Reports Reflection
Years 7 - 9
On closer inspection of our middle school reports, a concern has been raised regarding the number of students not "passing", especially in the key subject areas of English and Mathematics. I have asked each of the CLs to work with their teaching team on identifying these students in each class and giving them an academic target for the term; however, we need your support at home.
For these boys to be successful, and for performances to rise, we need to see some consistent homework being completed for the core subject areas. One of my understandings for the year is that as a community, we need to lift our game regarding the amount and quality of homework being completed. The ultimate goal for students is to achieve their academic potential. Quality revision and homework must become part of the solution in trying to achieve higher grades.
Students in Years 7-9 should be working from 60-90 minutes per night, 5 nights a week. Our boys need also to be using their diaries to record set homework, and then ideally, this would be checked by you as parents or carers who are vitally engaged with your son/son's education.
If you have any further queries about your son's academic performance, please don't hesitate to contact your son's teacher, or our Academic Team:
- AP Curriculum: Mr Mark Watson
- Year 5 - 9 Curriculum Leader: Ms Jade Love
- Year 10 - 12 Curriculum Leader: Ms Eleighta Hannam
Years 7 – 9 Final Day of Attendance Change
An important message to all parents and carers of Year 7-9 students at the College.
The following information is not linked to the above concern, but it will give us, as a community, an opportunity for the boys to have some extra revision time before final assessments are completed for Years 7-9.
Over the recent school holidays, I was directed by our Head Office, Toowoomba Catholic Schools, to change the finishing date of attendance for Years 7–9 students at St Mary’s so that it is in line with other schools in the Diocese. Therefore our Year 7, 8 and 9 students will be asked to attend until Friday, December 3. I will speak to the ELT in the days ahead about how this impacts on other events at the College. I am mindful that this is a change to previous practice, but I am simply following the requirements of Head Office at this time. I apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Consequently, our St Mary’s Sentral calendar now reflects that our Year 12s finish Wednesday November 17, Years 10 and 11 finish on Friday November 26, and Years 5 to 9 on Friday December 3.
Reflection for the Week
Plenary Council of Australia - FAQs
For my reflection this week, I am passing on some FAQs about the recently completed first cycle of the Plenary Council of Australia. The intention of a Plenary Council is to dialogue about the future of the Catholic Church. Society is changing rapidly at this time, and it is significant that the Church has chosen this moment to reflect and discern a future path for the Church and its followers. The Plenary Council is the forerunner to a Synod for Bishops, to be held in 2023.
What is a Plenary Council?
A Plenary Council is the highest formal gathering of all local churches in a country. Our Plenary Council is being held so that we can dialogue about the future of the Catholic Church in Australia.
Why are we having a Plenary Council?
There are many reasons for having a Plenary Council for the Catholic Church in Australia: Pope Francis has invited the local Church to dialogue; contemporary Australian society has changed significantly; and the Royal Commission into Institutional Response to Child Sexual Abuse has been a significant and influential event that requires deep consideration and response.
When the Australian Catholic Bishops announced the decision to hold a Plenary Council, Archbishop of Brisbane, Mark Coleridge said that “the Church is not the presence in our society it once was. We need to take a measure of that and make decisions accordingly. The culture in which we have to proclaim the Gospel is very different to what it was even 20 or 30 years ago.”
The journey is taking place over several years in order to give the Catholic community in Australia time to listen, dialogue and discern guided by the Holy Spirit, the future, the role and relevance of the Catholic Church in Australia.
How is a Plenary Council different from a Synod?
Both gatherings are potentially influential for the Church. A Plenary Council is the highest form of gathering of local church and has legislative and governance authority. The decisions that are made at the Council become binding for the Catholic Church in Australia. A Synod does not have this legislative and governance authority.
How can I be involved in Plenary Council?
There are many ways you can be involved, including being part of Communal Discernment session.
Go to the Resources page for more.
How can I follow the Plenary Council assemblies as a non-member?
There are many ways you can be involved, including being part of Communal Discernment session.
Go to the Resources page for more.
Can I pray for the success of the Plenary Council?
Yes, you can. And we’d be most grateful if you did. The Plenary Council prayer was composed to coincide with the opening of the Plenary Council process at Pentecost 2018, but it will guide the journey towards the final assembly in 2022.
You can access the prayer here in multiple formats.
When was the last Plenary Council in Australia?
The last Plenary Council was held 80 years ago in Australia in 1937. For a detailed insight into Plenary Councils in Australasia, read Peter Wilkinson’s article published in The Swag. You can find it here.
Adapted from <https://plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au/frequently-asked-questions/>
A Prayer for the Plenary Council in Australia
Peace,
Mr Brendan Stewart - College Principal
Student Engagement News
As parents, you would be aware that our young people are influenced more and more by social media and a range of entertainment streams. While we attempt to ‘keep up’ with the trends and influences, nothing can replace open and frequent communication in your family home. In talking to your son about what he’s seeing on various platforms, you can gain an insight into what makes him tick, and be in a position to counter-influence when necessary.
A recent Tiktok trend has found its way into our school and resulted in several boys being suspended last term. The Devious Lick challenge encouraged students to steal items from their school and video the outcome. While this trend seems to be fading now, it will no doubt be replaced by the next clever idea. In this world, our boys need to develop a filter so that they can keep the influence of social media in its place. If you would like some support in this, please make contact with us – we are more than happy to support families with information and advice.
At the risk of sounding like a very old person, do you remember the days when we had to wait a week to see the next episode of Friends? Or Melrose Place? In the world of streaming entertainment, our young men can now be exposed to an entire season of a TV show – all in one sitting if they are dedicated! This poses as issue when the content may not be appropriate – there’s not a lot of time for you as parents to be made aware and then be able to intervene. With that in mind, we would like to make you aware of the new show on Netflix at the moment – Squid Game. This show is not appropriate for young viewers and I have been hearing that it is atopic of discussion in our classrooms. In some instances, the boys aren’t necessarily watching the show on Netflix, but are watching shows about Squid Game on YouTube. A review of the series can be found here.
Common Sense Media is a great resource for parents – I recommend you save it as a favourite for future reference.
Mrs Samantha Parle, AP Student Engagement - parles@stmaryscollege.com
Mrs Chantler's Pink Day
This Friday is our annual fundraiser for research into women’s cancers, particularly ovarian cancer, in memory of Mrs Robyn Chantler. Mrs Chantler passed away four years ago whilst a long-standing member of our teaching staff.
On this day, you are to wear your usual school uniform but are permitted to wear a pink tie and/or pink socks, paying a donation for the privilege.
Pink ties and socks will be sold through the uniform shop and main reception.
- Socks $10
- Bowties $5
- Ties $5
Please join in and be generous with your donations.
The Hub
Support is available to all students who require assistance with homework, assignments or reviewing current classwork. Support is available with Mr Roy in the Hub every morning before school from 7.00am and at both lunch breaks. Support will also be available after school on Thursday afternoons from 3.05pm until 4.00pm. If you would like further information, please contact Dave Roy on 07 4631 7333.
Can you lend a helping hand?
Drama News
Drama Club is back!
Mr Condon is pleased to announce that Drama Club is returning every Friday at first break in the drama room (DUHIG 15). The club will be run by some of our Yr 10 and 11 drama students. Drama games will be played, and it is a fun way to further develop your drama skills and interact with students from all year levels. Bring your lunch and see you there!
Congratulations to Tui Rei (Year 7) who has been awarded the 2021 Empire Theatre Youth Bursary for the Arts. The bursary will allow Tui to attend the Queensland Theatre Residency Week in Brisbane during September 2022.
Mr John Condon, Head of Arts - condonj@stmaryscollege.com
Sport News
Cricket
On the Queen’s Birthday holiday our Middle School Cricket team played in the T20 Queensland Southern Conference final against Brisbane State High School. This school had been the GPS cricket champions in this age group the past three years and the boys knew they were up against a strong opposition especially considering a number of our boys are still eligible to play in this division for 2 more years. Brisbane State High School batted first and faced some quality bowling. Our boys bowled and fielded well restricted them to 138 runs with the loss of 6 wickets. Some great fielding created 2 run outs with the remainder of the wickets shared between bowlers Sam Monk and Damon Marsh at 2 apiece. Mentions to Aaron Convery for 2 sharp catches and Lachlan Ottobrino who did some great work behind the stumps.
In the run chase the boys started off very cautiously. After 10 overs we had only lost 2 wickets and were ready to launch. However our steady start had resulted in the run rate creeping up over 10 an over. Some lofty hitting from Hugh Howard ably supported by Conor Ward rotating the strike gave us a glimmer of hope but unfortunately we ran out of balls and were unable to chase down the total.
Mr Scott Cowan, Head of Sport - cowans@stmaryscollege.com
Music News
The Music department would like to welcome Ms Cherie Runciman as a vocal coach and conductor of the school choral program. In Term 4 the college will have two choirs: The St Marys College Choir (open to all students) who will rehearse 7:30am on Thursdays. We also have a new specialist choir which has been formed with a more challenging vocal repertoire. They will meet on Thursdays before school. Please join us in welcoming Ms Runciman to the St Mary's Community. Originally from Dubbo, Cherie graduate with Honours in Music from University of Southern Queensland in 2006 and has completed a Diploma in Performance through the International Examination Music Board. Her role credits include 'Miss Grace' in Annie, 'Lucy' in The Telephone, 'Lucy' in The Beggar's Opera, 'Julie' in Carousel, 'Despina' in Cosi fan tutte, 'Mabel' in The Pirates of Penzance, 'Tuptim' in King and I, 'Carlotta' in The Phantom of the Opera and ‘Fabulous Singlettes’ in Essgee’s The Pirates of Penzance. On the concert platform, Cherie has been a guest artist in The Seasons by Haydn, Gloria by Vivaldi, Elijah by Mendelssohn, and Messiah by Handel, World Premiere of Elena Kats-Chernin Lillian's Aria and many other local and interstate concerts. Cherie finds great enjoyment in helping other performers reach their potential, working with local performers as Director (Cinderella Jr, Annie Jr, Godspell, Aida, Grease) and Vocal Coach (Annie, Little Shop of Horrors, Mary Poppins, Evita, Legally Blonde, Grease, Wicked). Cherie also keeps busy with her vocal studio and teaching ‘The Arts’ at Sacred Heart School. Cherie is very excited about her new role here at St. Mary’s College and looks forward to making beautiful music with the school community.
The Music Department would also like to thank Mr Jack Hickey (guitar tutor) for his many years of tutoring and assistance developing our guitar students on their musical journey. We would also like to congratulate him on his new role at St Mary’s as Manager of the ERCC and CANVAS co-ordinator. We look forward to the continuing collaboration with him in his new role. Thank you, Mr Hickey. We welcome Mr George Bellinger will be stepping in as our new guitar tutor and is excited to take our students on to their next steps.
Mr Benn Tracy, Head of Music - tracyb@stmaryscollege.com
Tuckshop Menu - Term 4
