Term 4, Week 3, 19.10.2021
Principal News
External Exams and ATAR
As we move into Week 3, I want to acknowledge the work of our current Year 12 students at St Mary's. On Friday, we reach another significant milestone - the External Exam phase for Year 12. External Exams will begin on Friday 22 October and end the week beginning Monday 15 November. Students who do not complete ATAR subjects will be completing other assessments at this time. The final "normal" day of school lessons for Year 12s will be this Thursday, 21 October.
This is the second year that ATARs will be awarded in Queensland. Although the year has not been significantly impacted by COVID regarding assessment, it has still been a disrupted year for many of our Year 12 students because of the anticipation of the change of events due to the pandemic. I would like to acknowledge the persistent and skilful work that our senior students have completed this year, to strive for their best ATAR result. St Mary's has a well-earned reputation for excellent senior results, and we look forward to further building on that reputation this year. Our ATAR predictions are certainly looking promising.
In addition to ATAR scores, every one of our students, whether striving for an ATAR or an alternative pathway, will be ensuring that they complete requirements for their QCE. At the time of writing, it is possible for St Mary's Year 12 students to have 100% QCE successful completion rate this year. This result is one of our basic aspirations and I strongly encourage all students to finish the work required to complete the QCE.
Please keep our senior students in your thoughts and prayers in the coming days and weeks. Thank-you to our Year 12s for your academic contribution this year.
Staffing News
We have confirmed a number of new staff appointments over the past couple of weeks.
Jenna Eyres - Jenna has been acting in the Library Technician role since Cathy Collins's resignation and we congratulate her on her continuing appointment at St Mary's after a successful application. Jenna will join Joshua Schonfeld and Kate Burke in continuing roles in the library and we congratulate the team on their appointments. We are building an enthusiastic, young team to bring reading and the resources of the library to the fore with our young men.
Dan Eagleson - We welcomed Dan to the College yesterday in the role of PE Teacher Aide. Dan is an Old Boy of the College and we look forward to Dan bringing some expertise in the swimming and general sports area to the College.
It is with sadness that I inform you of the departure of two of our trusted staff from St Mary's. Tanya Dickenson is one of our experienced counsellors at the College and will work in private practice from the beginning of 2022. Ryan Baines has been our chaplain and part-time teacher at the College for some years. Ryan has been successful applying for a role in Noosa, closer to his extended family. Ryan will begin work at the Noosa Flexible Learning Centre on November 22 this year. We shall miss both Tanya and Ryan, and their care and concern for the young men and families at St Mary's.
Reflection for the Week
Olympic gold and a blue bandanna
One of the stars of this summer’s Olympics was American swimmer Caeleb Dressel, winner of five gold medals in Tokyo.
Each time he stood on the podium, Caeleb had a blue bandanna wrapped around his hand. The bandanna, dotted with cows and flowers, is with Caeleb at every meet. The bandanna belonged to Claire McCool, Caeleb’s high school math teacher in Green Cove Springs, Florida. When Caeleb walked into Mrs McCool’s’ freshman geometry class, he was already an accomplished swimmer. Olympic gold was clearly in his future, but the pressure of those expectations was a lot for a 17-year-old.
Three years later, Caeleb decided to take a break from swimming. Mrs McCool was there for him as a mentor and sounding board. After undergoing surgery for a deviated septum and missing six months in the pool, Caeleb sought out Mrs McCool for help. “I was a 17-year-old kid, a top recruit coming out of high school, a lot of talk around me about expectations. I wasn’t used to that. I was like any high schooler, trying to figure out my life.” Mrs McCool “helped me identify myself without swimming, and I think that’s the one big thing that has helped me . . . that I am a person without the sport.”
“He went through a little rough patch his senior year,” Mrs McCool said of that time. “We were already close, but we had some really serious conversations about life and what is important.” He returned to competitive swimming in 2016 at the SEC championships that propelled him to the Olympics in Rio. Caeleb swam the 50-yard freestyle with the word McCool written on his cheek. Later that year, it was Caeleb who became Claire’s support and inspiration when she was diagnosed with cancer. She died in 2017 at the age of 62 — after Caeleb won an astounding seven gold medals at the world championships in Budapest.
Claire’s husband Mike gave Caeleb one of Claire’s workout bandannas — and he’s kept it with him ever since. Caeleb doesn’t talk much about Claire — it’s personal for him, not just another Olympic “feel good story.” Claire’s bandanna on his hand says it all. “There’s no worldly possession that means more to me than that bandanna . . . It’s a piece of her that I’m always going to have, one physical piece that I have left of her.”
In this week's Gospel, Jesus poses the challenge: Can you drink the cup I will drink? Can you immerse yourself in My baptism? Jesus’ question is a challenge; what Jesus asks us to take on is not easy: His life of humble service, His emptying himself of His own needs and wants for the sake of others. But there is also a promise here: that if we resolve to try to imitate Jesus’ compassion, if we seek what is right and good and just, if we are motivated by generosity of heart, then the grace of God’s wisdom and strength will be ours, the Spirit of God’s compassion and mercy will be upon us. Claire McCool modelled such wisdom and generosity for Caeleb Dressel: the authority of her example enabled Caeleb to realise his “greatness” — and not just in the pool. May our lives be touched by similar “blue bandannas”: living signs of those who inspire us and whom we inspire to realise the greatness of service and generosity in the Kingdom of God.
Peace,
Mr Brendan Stewart - College Principal
Senior Curriculum News
Year 12 External Exams
Year 12 External Exams begin this Friday, 22 October and will run through until Monday, 15 November. All students are asked to arrive at the ERCC 30 minutes proir to the commencment time for each exam session. Student's are also required to present in full academic uniform.
For more on the schedule and student requirments, please refer to the following links:
The QCAA external assessment timetable - 2021
Approved exam equipment list - 2021
Directions for students - 2021
Study Leave
Year 12 students will not have to attend school outside of their scheduled exams. however it is important to note that exam block is a privilege to provide students with additional study time for exams.
Study leave privileges will be revoked for any of the following reasons:
- Not up to date with coursework in any classes
- Found in town without parent or in school uniform
- Failure to attend any scheduled session without a medical certificate
- Failure to wear full academic uniform when on campus
- Failure to engage appropriately during exams
- Poor behaviour during exams
If students are not at school, the expectation is they are at home studying.
myQCE Student Reference Group
The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) is recruiting new members for the myQCE Student Reference Group in 2022.
The group gives students in Years 10, 11 and 12 the chance to have their say about the QCE system processes and senior schooling.
Queensland students who will be in Year 10 (in 2022) are eligible to apply.
The group meets up to six times per year and membership is ongoing until students graduate from Year 12.
Nominations close on Friday 29 October 2021 — for more information and to
nominate, visit the myQCE website
Mr Mark Watson, AP Curriculum - watsonm@stmaryscollege.com
Presentation Night
You are invited to virtually attend Presentation Night on 19 November. The evening represents a special occasion on the College calendar, where we celebrate and recognise our boys acheivments across the year.
Years 5 -9 Curriculum News
At our recent College assembly, students across Years 5, 7 and 9 who achieved a Gold, Silver or Bronze High Achievement in NAPLAN Award were recognised. NAPLAN is a series of Literacy and Numeracy tests administered to all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 across Australia. The purpose of the testing is to provide a snapshot of reading, writing, language and numeracy skills.
The criteria for the St Mary’s College High Achievement in NAPLAN awards is outlined below:
During our recent College Assembly, students who met the criteria were presented with their certificate by our College Principal, Mr Brendan Stewart. Following the assembly, students and their parents celebrated with an afternoon tea. Below is the list of students who achieved the High Achievement in NAPLAN awards.
Year 5 | Bronze | Silver | Gold |
Cooper Brandon Harry Mungham Dominic Delander-Taylor Flynn Hogan | Noah Van Lathum Noah Betros Alex Burke Jasper Eagleson Patrick Chappel Elijah Grundon Caleb Anderson | Hamish Tomlinson Jonah Greenaway | |
| Year 7 | Bronze | Silver | Gold |
Henry Brown Andrew Burke Benjamin Clarke Daniel Desmond Kobe Driscoll Cameron Flohr James Geddert Heath Jefferies Kenneth Romeo Lara Brodie Laws Mahir Mohammed Xavier Newton Isaac Peacock Tui Rei Jasper Rixon Darcy Willis Jackson Winnett | Jett Beutel Cameron Dennis Coby Edmondson Samuel Goodall Benjamin Hawkless Jayden Hintz Benjamin Otto Isaac Palmer Noah Van Heerden Conor Ward | Stirling Balmain Rylan Borger Martin Collins Harry Hales Lachlan Ottobrino Jacob Page Ryan Reeves Dulan Urala Gamage Aloysius Va’a Benjamin Wightman | |
| Year 9 | Bronze | Silver | Gold |
Thomas Chapman Aaron Convery Harvey Steffen Noah Taylor Mitchell Willett | Andrew Dennis Samuel Gleeson Humphrey Miles Lomocso Luke Pascoe Ethan Payne Sebastian Seeto | Jared Fry Nathan Ottobrino |
Mrs Jade Love, Years 5-9 Curriculum Leader - lovej@stmaryscollege.com
Art News
This year, Year 12 students, Liam Creese and Jack Fraser represented St Mary’s College in the annual Creative Generations exhibition at the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery. This exhibition features the best artwork from Senior Visual Art students from high-schools in the Toowoomba region. In 2021, due to health restrictions, there will be no official opening ceremony; however, the artworks will be on display until the 7th November, if you get the chance, go and check it out. Congratulations, Liam and Jack for creating outstanding artworks which have been selected for this exhibition.
FREE ADMISSION | GALLERY OPEN: Tuesday to Saturday 10.30am – 3.30pm | Sunday 1pm – 4pm | Closed Mondays & Public Holidays
by Liam Creese
by Jack Fraser
Pink Day
Last Friday, there was a splash of pink around the College, with our community raising almost $1,000 on the day for women's cancer research.
Drama News
Students from Year 5 through to Year 10 showed up with great enthusiasm to Drama Club last Friday. We had enough time once lunch was eaten to play four drama games. The Milk Bottle Game is simple - where the group needs to keep an empty carton of milk in the air by batting it like a ball. This may sound easy, but it takes team work and focus to succeed. On Friday we reached a total of 40 hits and will strive to improve upon this next week. Also played was a crowd favourite of River, Boat and Bank. Congratulations to James Geddert on winning this game. It is always competitive. Also played was the Alphabet Game and Bang. The 40 students who attended had an enjoyable time, and together with our Year 10 Leaders (Isaac Lee and Sean Woodall), look forward to seeing everyone again next week.
Congratulations to Will Thomas on his involvement in the Empire Theatre's Senior Impact performance of Off with Their Head. Will has been kept busy this year by performing in two musicals and a play, all while studying for Year 12 exams. Will has been a strong advocate for the Arts at St Marys by being active in drama, music ensembles and choir. We wish him all the best for final exams and hope he is successful in life outside of St Marys.
Mr John Condon, Head of Arts - condonj@stmaryscollege.com
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.
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