Term 1, Week 5 - 23.02.2021
Principal News
The Power of Grit
As a teacher you spend a huge amount of time trying to work out how to “get” students to succeed in their schoolwork. The way our current standards system is structured, it is theoretically possible for all students to receive A's or B's, if the standard of work all students produce is at that level. Unfortunately, this does not happen.
The reasons why are many and varied of course. Some key research, however, is being done at the moment on “persistence” or “grit” as they call it in the United States. It is believed that people who have it tend to do better in life, and in education.
I came across this explanation for the word recently and I have left a link to the website below. I hope you are able to get something from this reflection, as I did.
What separates students who get straight A's from students who struggle to pass their classes? Is it a high IQ that pushes students to excel in their classes or is there something else? Angela Lee Duckworth, a teacher turned psychologist, has an answer to that question. After several studies conducted in the military, spelling bees, classrooms, and companies, Angela determined what causes people to excel. Simply put Duckworth says,
“IQ was not the only difference between my best and my worst students."
In fact, she often saw cases in which students with higher IQ scores performed worse than students with lower IQ scores. So now we are back to our initial question – what separates students who get straight A's from students who struggle to pass their classes?
Angela says grit is the separating factor. She defines grit as “passion and perseverance for very long-term goals”. Contrary to popular belief, grit has a more significant correlation to high school graduation rates than things like family income and social status do. So now you know you do not need to be some inherently intelligent individual to succeed in life, but how do you form grit?
Unfortunately, the answer is not easy, and science does not have enough studies showing what actually builds grit, but on the bright side, we do not need to be talented individuals. Angela has observed cases where high talent could be inversely related to grit – in other words, the more talent one possesses, the less grit they may possess.
Additionally, Angela offers some hope from a study called “growth mindset” performed by Stanford’s Dr. Carol Dweck. Angela says the concept of growth mindset is, “the belief that the ability to learn is not fixed and it can change with your effort.” This means that if you failed to show grit in the past, you still have time to develop it.
The YouTube link to Angela's Ted Talk is below:
Grit: the power of passion and perseverance | Angela Lee Duckworth
Youth Survey and Well-Being
This year, St Mary's College is engaging in the Mission Australia Youth Survey. You will see information about this in the coming week. The Mission Australia Youth Survey is the largest annual survey of young people in Australia. Now in its 19th year, the Mission Australia Youth Survey continues to provide a platform for young people aged 15 to 19 to share their values, aspirations and concerns.
The results of the Youth Survey are shared with governments, non-government organisations, schools and social commentators to inform the debate around the circumstances of young people in Australia and to support the development of policies, services and programs that have the needs of young people at their core.
Please encourage your son to contribute to the survey and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Ms Tanya Dickenson and Ms Loe Stanford at St Mary's College. For St Mary's College, the well-being of our boys is obviously a primary concern for all of us here. We feel a strong responsibility to the community to contribute to the work being done to support young people in their life and work at school.
What is Pastoral Care?
Pastoral Care is a contemporary term for an ancient model of emotional, social and spiritual support that can be found at St Mary's College and the term is common in many Catholic schools. The term includes many types of work and activity at St Mary's, including mentor groups, house activities, counselling services and the time spent with students by our staff at the College.
Mentor groups are at the heart of our pastoral system. To ensure students’ individual needs are met, each House is divided into mentor groups comprising approximately 20 students. Students remain in the same group with their mentor teacher throughout their schooling at St Mary’s, offering continued support and guidance throughout their journey. The relationships within each group are unique yet all groups exemplify a familial quality where our older students also mentor the younger boys in their group.
Under the direction of the Heads of House and mentor teachers, students are encouraged to become involved in all aspects of College life. Belonging to a House provides many avenues for students to interact on a social level, to support each other, to learn from each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and to develop leadership skills to actively serve the College and wider community.
Organised activities range from house liturgies and prayer, House assemblies, challenges, barbeques and break-up events, all of which aim to support a sense of belonging and brotherhood. Our College song and war cries help extend the brotherhood felt in Houses to the whole school.
Enrolments
Once again, St Mary's College has a healthy enrolment list to begin the year. It is clear that the school is, and has been for a number of years, operating well and attracting a healthy clientele from across the Darling Downs. Consequently, St. Mary's will begin this year to request that interested new families submit enrolment forms earlier than has been the case in the past. This will allow us to organise interviews in a timely fashion during 2021 and to help all families make positive decisions for the future.
Therefore, the closing date for new enrolments this year in any year level for 2022 will be Monday 21 June 2021. This date will be heavily advertised. We will allow a small number of late enrolments due to transfers and change of circumstances, but we would like most submitted by the closing date.
If you have any questions about enrolling your son at St Mary's College, please contact Lucia Armstrong on 07 4631 7333. Additionally, there are a limited number of places left in some year levels this year.
Please feel free to let friends and family know of our change in approach to managing enrolments!
My reflection for this week:
Reflection from Caritas Australia
FIRST WEEK OF LENT – Week beginning Monday 22nd February
Readings: Genesis 9:8-15; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:12-15
All three readings today remind us of the desire of God leading us to “aspire not to have more, but to be more.”
The rainbow in the sky, the covenant, the baptism of Jesus and His temptation in the wilderness all remind us of the salvation that God wants for us and for our world. In the Gospel Jesus proclaims: “This is the time of fulfilment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” As John baptises Jesus, His true identity as the Son of God is revealed. "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." Immediately following this we are told that Jesus was driven into the wilderness for forty days.
We have all experienced being in a wilderness in our lives. Sometimes there is more than one experience of wilderness in our lives where we are lost, confused and searching.
The first Project Compassion story is of Jamila, a Rohingya woman, living in the world’s largest refugee camp in Bangladesh. A single mother, she fled armed conflict in Myanmar to save herself, her elderly mother and eight-month-old baby. Thanks to the generosity of Caritas Australia’s supporters and through our partnership with Caritas Bangladesh, Jamila had access to emergency food and shelter. Then, as her stay in the camp stretched on, Jamila joined the Women Friendly Spaces project where she received counselling and emotional support. She learnt about health and hygiene, and participated in a parenting program. She also learnt to sew, which enables her to fulfil her dream of supporting her now four-year-old daughter and having what they need for a bright future. Through the Women’s Friendly Spaces program, Jamila has found a family to support her through times of wilderness. Project Compassion invites us to ‘be more’ as we continue to show our love and compassion for our global family. How can we be more for others when they experience times of wilderness?
Prayer of Intercession: Loving God, we pray for all refugees who are forced to flee their homeland. That we, as a global family, will respond generously to their needs and assist in developing a safe and secure future for all.
Amen
Peace.
Mr Brendan Stewart, Principal - stewartb@stmaryscollege.com
In Our Prayers
Old Boy, Tom Hutchinson sadly passed away. Dearly loved husband of Daphne and father of Michael, Helen, Peter, David, Elizabeth and Jonathon. Brother of Bill (dec’d) and John (dec’d).
Student Welfare
Mobile Phone Policy
While the full policy can be found on the College website, the following points provide a summary of the College expectations regarding students and their mobile phones:
- Once students arrive at school, phones are to be in their bag in their locker.
- Students are not to access their mobile phone through the school day.
- Students who use their phones through the school day can expect that it will be confiscated.
- Phones that are confiscated are stored in the College safe.
- Phones are confiscated until 3.00pm on the following school day i.e. Phones are kept at the College overnight.
- Students are expected to complete a reflection about mobile phone use before they are able to collect their phone the next day.
In some circumstances, teachers will request that students use their phones, to take photographs on an excursion for example, but this is not the norm.
While we understand that phones are a necessity in modern life, the College would not recommend that any boy under the age of 15 should have unrestricted and unsupervised access to the internet. This, combined with the impulsive nature of a teenage boy, frequently results in negative outcomes for many young people.
If your son needs to communicate with you or someone else, we are happy to accommodate that. If, for example, your son needs to check his phone for a message from work, or call you during the day, he can speak with is Head of House or with me to make those arrangements.
If your son is feeling unwell, it is essential that he reports to his teacher and speaks to Mrs Donaldson at Student Reception. Boys are not to message their parents directly if they are unwell.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the College policy on mobile phones, please raise these with me or with your son’s Head of House.
April’s Fool Presentation on Wednesday
All of our Year 10, 11 and 12 boys will be seeing a dramatic presentation on Wednesday afternoon. The performance of April’s Fool, by the Grin and Tonic Theatre Group, is an opportunity for our boys to become observers of the lives a Toowoomba family, the decisions made and the consequences of those choices. The play presents the real life events of the family and sends a powerful message to the audience about the life-changing consequences that can sometimes follow a careless decision.
Day-Lockers
All students at the College have a day-locker where they are expected to keep their bags during the school day. Boys are not permitted to carry their school bags around the classrooms and grounds during the day as this represents a WHS hazard. The usual practice is that boys bring to school, all the books and equipment that they will need for the school day. This is left in their locker and boys take with them the books and equipment for each session. At breaks, boys return to their lockers to swap books, collect their lunch and reorganise themselves for the next session.
At the end of the day, boys take their school bag, as well as all of their school books and equipment home, leaving their locker empty overnight. Leaving any items in lockers overnight, is done so at your own risk. As the College campus is not locked and secured overnight, this risk is significant.
Because lockers are used to keep items that are valuable, the College requires all boys to have a sturdy lock to secure their day-locker.
Mrs Samantha Parle, AP Welfare - parles@stmaryscollege.com
Primary News
Primary Easter Hat Parade
It is time to get creative! Each boy is to create an Easter hat at home that they can wear to the Primary Easter Hat Parade in Week 9. More information will be sent to parents in the coming weeks.
Interschool Sport - Hockey Training
Hockey training will take place on a Wednesday afternoon, from 3.15pm until 4.15pm on the College Oval.
Boys are to wear free dress and they must have a hockey stick, shinpads, socks, mouthguard and water bottle.
We understand families are busy, so this training is not compulsory.
Interschool Sport - AFL Training
AFL training will take place on a Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, from 3.15pm until 4.15pm on the College Oval.
Boys are to wear free dress and they must have a mouthguard and water bottle.
We understand families are busy, so this training is not compulsory.
College Careers
QUT Online Webinar for Year 11 and 12 Students
Year 11 and 12 students and their parents are invited to attend the QUT Advice Night on Wednesday 24th March from 5.30pm until 7.00pm. The webinar will offer advice about course and career planning, how to apply to university, study costs, and resources available to support parents and students throughout the year. There will also be the chance to hear from real students about their university experience and ask questions about courses and university life.
QUT Young Accelerators
QUT's Young Accelerators program offers on-campus curriculum-mapped STEM workshops, events and teacher professional development sessions that aim to excite and inspire learning by combining STEM with creative learning and entrepreneurship. Find out more about how Young Accelerators continues to excite the next generation of STEM leaders and explore the 2021 event calendar.
2020 School Leavers
The Tertiary Access Payment (TAP) is a one-off payment of $5,000 to assist 2020 school-leavers from outer regional or remote areas who relocate more than 90 minutes from their home to undertake full-time, higher-level tertiary education (Certificate IV or above). The payment is intended to assist students with the additional costs associated with relocating to undertake tertiary study. The TAP aims to encourage individuals in outer regional and remote Australia to access high-level tertiary study (Certificate IV or above) in the year immediately following Year 12, rather than taking a gap year.
School-Based Apprenticeships & Traineeships
SBA | Year Levels | Location | Link/ Attachment | Closing date |
Certificate III in Hospitality (Front of House ) | 10 & 11 | Kingfishers Cafe Restaurant | Contact Mr Barber for more info | ASAP |
Certificate III in Commercial Cookery | 10 & 11 | Monkey Business Catering | Contact Mr Barber for more info | ASAP |
Certificate III in Hospitality (Front of House ) | 10 & 11 | Stellarossa, Bernoth Centre | Contact Mr Barber for more info | ASAP |
Certificate III in Hairdressing | 10, 11 & 12 | Fringe Hair & Beauty | Contact Mr Barber for more info | ASAP |
If you are interested in a SBA, please contact the Career Support Officer, Mr Barber via email at barberp@stmaryscollege.com or drop in to the Careers Centre in DUHIG 21.
You will need to complete a SBA Expression of Interest Form and have a current resume and cover letter.
Resume templates and information to assist are available on the Careers Canvas page, link below.
Library News
Queensland School Library Week 2021
The Queensland School Library Association (QSLA) supports School Libraries across Queensland by providing advocacy, communication and information to its members. In 2018, QSLA introduced the inaugural Queensland School Library Week (QSLW) to highlight the important work of school libraries. QSLW is celebrated in February each year and provides us with an opportunity to showcase the excellent work of all qualified teacher-librarians and library staff in improving literacy and research skills in print and digital formats.
Following on from Library Lovers Week, we celebrate the significant impact a library has in a school setting. Queensland school libraries positively influence the learning outcomes of students through teaching multiple literacies and encouraging a lifelong love of learning and reading.
This week we thought we would share with you some of the ways the SMC Library assists the college community:
- Connecting students with digital literacy skills
- Resourcing teachers to deliver curriculum
- Fostering a reading culture that connects students to the wider world
The St Mary's College Library connects our students and staff to the world and the wider school community in various areas, including:
Curriculum
Research lessons - Students are introduced to safe and effective researching skills, using the internet, databases, online encyclopaedias and referencing tools.
Relevant and current resources - The SMC Library regularly updates its library collections to maintain a current and relevant catalogue to encourage reading and research.
Reading
Literature promotion - Students partake in literature promotion lessons to encourage free and voluntary reading.
Library initiatives - Initiatives such as author visits, book week celebrations, reader of the term and Australia Reads.
Peer Connections
The Library offers many ways for students to connect with their peers in the library, including:
- Chess Club
- Irish Brigade
- Card games
- Study & research
- Quiet reading
- Peer tutoring
Connections to the wider school community
Newsletter: Connects our school library to the wider school community by informing students, parents, guardians, grandparents and SMC staff of current library news, information and initiatives on a weekly basis.
Library Web App: Connects our school library with the students, by providing access to the library catalogue, databases, online encyclopaedias and current library news and information. Students can manage their loans, check on their overdue library items and reserve books to read. It is a one-stop-shop for students available 24/7, both at home and at school.
"Bad libraries build collections, good libraries build services, great libraries build communities."
– R. David Lankes
Mrs Gemma Tracy, Teacher Librarian - tracyg@stmaryscollege.com
Sport News
Primary School Volleyball
Alterate Pick Up from Sport
Jesus Christ Superstar the Musical
After such an emotional rehearsal last week it was refreshing to have a more jovial rehearsal by wearing Hawaiian themed or bold and bright shirts for a bit of fun. As always, the cast jumped into this with enthusiasm. The cast were also able to meet Mr John Parker: Stage Manager of the show.
Rehearsals also focussed on some of the dance numbers in Act Two. Of course, Mrs Pauli and Ms Cowen kept the cast on their toes. Thanks to some mammoth effort, King Herod will be sure to wow and dazzle on opening night and Superstar will be a fitting finale.
Information regarding production week was sent via Ed Smart last week. This has also been sent to the cast. It will involve some late nights. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Peters at petersl@stmaryscollege.com.
Book Online
Tickets are now available for purchase!
World Hearing Day
Celebrate World Hearing Day by booking your son a heavily discounted hearing test.
For only $44, your son can access the services of an Audiologist without even leaving the school.
When did you last have your child’s hearing assessed?
As you are aware, good hearing health is essential for children to reach their full potential in all life areas, especially when it comes to school performance.
Quite often, hearing loss has a profoundly negative effect on academic performance. Research indicates that approximately 15% of children between the ages of 6 and 19 have hearing loss of at least 16dB in one or both ears. This could mean that in every classroom, there could be 3 or 4 students with a hearing loss. Most commonly, hearing loss in children is temporary and treatable, but if left undetected, it can have a significant negative impact on a child’s learning. Often the signs of poor hearing can be overlooked and mistaken for other behaviours or conditions.
Children with a history of ear infections, grommets or other poor hearing health are recommended to engage with this service.
Other concerns may include:
- Inattentiveness
- Inappropriate responses to questions
- Daydreaming
- Trouble following directions
- Speech concerns
In Week 10 of Term 1, St Mary’s College is hosting Audiologist, Ms Dendra Cole, to perform hearing testing at the school.
Thanks to the support from TCSO and our Principal, the cost of this Audiology assessment has been heavily subsidised and is now only $44. This cost will be added to your school fees. Families will receive a full Audiology report, and this can be used as a referral to other specialist services if required.
If you would like to take advantage of this service, please email Kerrin Cridland at cridlandk@stmaryscollege.com by Wednesday 3rd March, 2021.
There are limited places, so please notify the College of your intent as soon as possible.
Kerrin Cridland (Enhanced Learners Curriculum Leader)
Year 11 Visual Art Excursion
The Year 11 ATAR Visual Art students went on an excursion to Picnic Point recently. The purpose of this excursion was to provide stimulus for their investigation task. Students were encouraged to experience, view, collect samples from and record this iconic and culturally significant Toowoomba location. At school, students are now required to research artists who respond to physical environments and to make experimental artworks in response to this stimulus.
Tuckshop Weekly Lunch Plan
The Weekly Lunch Plan will start back up again in Week 4. Please click on the following link to place an order: www.smcmeals.com
Please note the order window does not open until Wednesday afternoon, and will close Sunday evening at 8.00pm.
Sandra Kelly, Tuckshop Manager - kellys@stmaryscollege.com
Clothing Pool
Please note the Clothing Pool will not be open on Tuesday 2nd March 2021.
SMC Business Register
Calling all St Mary's College Old Boys and Parents! Do you own a business or work for a business located in the Toowoomba region that would be interested in joining our Business Register?
We are often looking for businesses interested in mentoring, work experience, school-based apprenticeships, traineeships and more!
If this sounds like you, please fill out the following form.
