SMC NEWS 2022 - Term 4, Week 3
In Our Prayers
Carmel Theresa Lincoln (Fitzpatrick) has sadly passed away. Wife of Old Boy, Fred Lincoln. Mother and mother-in-law of Maree and Russell, Peter and Lyn and sister of Veronica (dec’d), Joan (dec’d) and John (dec’d).
Principal's Note
Dear Parents and Carers,
Thank you all for your support over the first two weeks of the term. It has been wonderful to see the success of students in the classroom, on the sporting field and in the many cultural pursuits that we have at the College. I am truly grateful for the support of our many staff and volunteers who continue to give of their precious family time to support the students of the College.
Could I thank you and remind parents that it is important to keep up to date with emails from the College that indicate various events that your son is involved in.
I would like to share a few of the highlights of the first fortnight in Term 4 at the College:
- Parent Engagement Night - Live Reporting Year 7 at the ERCC.
- School-Based Employer Breakfast - This recognises the many students in Years 10 - 12 who have an SBA and a big thank you to the employers involved.
- Orientation Day for new students - A big success and thank you to our new parents and boys. Welcome to SMC!
- NAPLAN High Achievers Assembly.
- All Schools Touch Football - U15's champions, U13's finalists. Many thanks to the staff involved.
Please be mindful that our Sentral Calendar, through the Parent Portal, is our "source of truth" in terms of events at the College. This is monitored daily and is our live reflection of what is upcoming at St Mary's College.
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 College. On Monday 24th October, we reach another significant milestone - the External Exam phase for Year 12 begins. External Exams will end the week beginning Monday 14th November. Students who do not complete ATAR subjects will be completing other assessments during this time. The College is responsible for the outcomes of our boys, both academically and pastorally until Friday 18th November.
This is the third year that ATAR's will be awarded in Queensland. St Mary's College 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 for our Year 12 students.
In addition to ATAR scores, each and 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.
Reflection
The picture below is widely known as "Homeless Jesus".
Homeless Jesus was designed by Timothy Schmalz, a Canadian sculptor and devout Catholic. It depicts Jesus as a homeless person, sleeping on a park bench. His face and hands are obscured, hidden under a blanket, but crucifixion wounds on his feet reveal his identity. The statue has been described as a "visual translation" of the Gospel of Matthew passage in which Jesus tells his disciples, "as you did it to one of the least of my brothers, you did it to me". Schmalz intended for the bronze sculpture to be provocative, admitting, "That's essentially what the sculpture is there to do. It's meant to challenge people."
For many Christians, "Homeless Jesus" helps us to remember the plight of the homeless in our own community. I offer the following prayer for the homeless in our community.
Prayer for the Homeless
God of Compassion, your love for us is revealed in your beloved son Jesus, who was born into homelessness, lived with nowhere to lay his head, and died for us in agony on the cross.
Inspire us to act in justice, by all means at our disposal, to right the wrongs of peoples who are suffering the deprivations of homelessness, and to see in them the dignity of a brother and sister redeemed by Jesus Christ.
Let us have the commitment, as people of the Gospel, to be ever mindful of our obligations we have to the poor and marginalised, to work in your name, O God, to turn sorrow into joy and to bring all those who live in darkness into your own wonderful light.
Amen
Adapted from <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeless_Jesus>
Peace,
What's On: Term 4, Weeks 3 & 4
Identity
Welcome to Week 3 and the induction of a new year of leadership in the College community, and all that that entails - the excitement, the hopes, the aspirations to be a year group that makes a difference. From an Identity and Faith perspective I hope this year also sees the openness to God’s ongoing encounter with human beings in the celebrations and challenges of the year.
Last week the Church celebrated 60 years since the opening of the second Vatican Council, an event that reshaped the Church forever and "threw open the windows of the Church" to acknowledge the quiet breeze, and sometimes roaring thunder, of the Holy Spirit. Today the Church is halfway through one of the greatest consultations in human history with the synodal process attempting to “get a sense of the faithful” from the world’s 1.36 billion Catholics. Like our new young leaders of 2023, the Church is on the edge of something wonderous.
Today is also International Day for the eradication of poverty. Our world needs our young men, and we as the community around them, to be men of hope so that they can change the world, and all can have the resources to grow into "the image and likeness of God”(Genesis).
Let us all pray the following:
It is not from your own possessions that you are bestowing alms on the poor, you are but restoring to them what is theirs by right.
We dare to imagine a world where poverty has no chance to show its face.
We dare to dream of a world where war and terror are afraid to leave their mark.
We dare to share in the creation of a world where all people’s rights are respected.
God of the impossible, we pray for justice, peace and reconciliation.
And when the challenges seem too many, remind us of your resurrection power and the miracles of your love that happen whenever injustice is dismantled and rebuilt with peace.
Help us to hope that the impossible can happen and live as if it might do so today.
Live Jesus in Our Hearts,
Forever.
Mr Paul Grealy, AP Identity - grealyp@stmaryscollege.com
Year 5-9 Curriculum Leader
PAT Testing
As part of the College's ongoing commitment to helping students continue to improve in their literacy skills, all students across Years 5 - 9 have recently sat PAT testing. The result from this testing outlines each student’s growth; assisting to determine areas for continual development.
Find about more about the Progressive Achievement Approach and Tests at this site: https://www.acer.org/au/pat
NAPLAN High Achiever Awards
During assembly, we had the opportunity to recognise students at the College who had excellent results in their recent NAPLAN testing. Students in Years 5, 7 and 9 who achieved in the upper two bands were awarded with a gold, silver, or bronze NAPLAN award. Following the assembly, students and their parents enjoyed an afternoon tea.
Gold: Achieved in the upper two bands across all 5 domains
Silver: Achieved in the upper two bands across 4 domains
Bronze: Achieved in the upper two bands across 3 domains
Congratulations to our award recipients!
Commitment to Learning
Students across Years 5 – 11 at the College demonstrating commitment to their learning have been recognised through a presentation during assembly and an afternoon tea. To receive the Commitment to Learning award, students are to meet the following criteria:
- Learning Attributes consisting of only "Good" or “Very Good”.
- Minimum of 95% attendance.
Congratulations again to all boys who met the criteria for this award from Term 3 reports.
Ms Jade Love, Year 5-9 Curriculum Leader - lovej@stmaryscollege.com
Sport News
Orienteering Success
Year 12 student, Lachlan Moore recently competed in the Australian Schools Orienteering Championships in Victoria. The competition was held over three days and consisted of a sprint event, a long distance bush event and a team relay. Lachlan received a bronze medal as part of the QLD Senior Boys team. The team placed third overall against the other states and three New Zealand teams. This competition was also combined with the Victorian and Australian Open Championships, which saw Lachlan compete in 9 races over 8 days. He also received third place in the Grand Prix event which was part of the Australian Championships. Congratulations Lachlan!
Rugby 7s
Last week, the Under 13 Rugby 7s team played two games at Highfields against Grammar. The SMC boys won 25-5 and 53-0. Congratulations team on a tremendous effort!
SWQ Primary All Schools Touch
Massive Sunday out at the Dalby touch fields for the 37 boys who represented the College in SMC White, Blue and Gold.
Thanks to the SMC referees; Frazer Trapp, Tameka Dyne, Tom Wilson and Caelan Williams. Also Noah Rogers and Kobe Driscoll who helped with coaching. Thanks to Mr Steer, Mrs Pauli and Mrs Dyne for giving up your Sunday.
The boys were very excited to have received their jerseys, thanks Toowoomba Firewood for the sponsorship. Mark Delaney you saved the day again by meeting up with Jimmy from Inferno and collecting the jerseys. It really does take a community.
The results from the carnival were a credit to the College:
SMC Gold (Mr Steer) 5-0 v OLSCC Dalby, 0-4 v SMC White, 1-5 v Dalby South A, 3-1 v TAS
SMC Blue (Mrs Pauli & Noah) 5-0 v Dalby Christian College, 2-3 v Mater Dei, 6-3 v Dalby SS, 11-0 v Dalby South B, 9-1 v St John's Roma
SMC White (Mrs Dyne & Kobe) 4-0 v SMC Gold, 10-0 v TAS, 5-1 v Dalby South A, 11-0 v OLSCC Dalby
This resulted with:
- SMC White finished 1st in their pool and overall with 30 tries for and 1 conceded.
- SMC Blue finished 2nd in their pool with 32 tries for and 9 conceded.
- SMC Gold finished 3rd in their pool with 9 tries for and 10 against.
SMC White and SMC Blue progressed to the semi-finals and played against each other. This was a tough battle and the boys literally put their bodies on the line. Our thoughts and prayers are with Charlie Wilson and Leo Ellison who were transported by ambulance to hospital for monitoring of concussion. It's great to hear both boys are on the mend. The game was a tough one with two boys down for SMC Blue, who didn't back down. SMC White ended up winning 3-1.
SMC White then progressed to the final and beat Mater Dei 5-3. Well done to Xander Driscoll who was named player of the final and Charlie Suey who was awarded most valuable player.
Thanks to Terry Mc Sweeney, Queensland Touch Football and Jodie May, South West Qld Touch.
We look forward to seeing the results of QLD All Schools the first weekend in November.
CBSQ Photos
Cricket
St Mary's College Art Exhibition
Recently, boys who created outstanding artwork for the St Mary’s College Art Exhibition were invited to a celebratory afternoon tea to receive their certificates of commendation. Riley Cawkwell and Deklin Hargens received encouragement awards provided by School Art Supplies. There was a tie for the People’s Choice awards with both Zack Lyons and Jaydon Murtagh receiving medallions. Nelson Zoduah won first prize in the Catholic Education Week Child Protection Art Prize and was awarded his prize during this afternoon tea. Congratulations boys on your magnificent efforts.
Ozanam Leadership Awards
Last Thursday, the annual Ozanam Leadership awards took place at St Anthony’s Church Hall. These awards recognise the participation of Year 11 students from schools across the Toowoomba region who have completed the Ozanam Leadership programme.
The Ozanam Leadership programme is organised by Vinnies. It aims to develop leadership skills in young people at the same time as promoting social justice activities. Some of the activities the students took part in were Zoo visits with underprivileged children, Leadership camps, a sleep out in Brisbane and advocacy work.
Two of our Year 11 students, Jacob Lasserre and Samir Alazeez were involved and graduated from the course with high praise for their participation.
The Hub
Support is available to all students who require assistance with homework, assignments or reviewing current classwork. Support is available 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 get in touch.
Mr Dave Roy, Learning Support Teacher - royd@stmaryscollege.com
Notice Board
Principal's Tours
Family or friends considering St Mary's College? Term 4 tour dates now available.
