SMC NEWS 2022 - Term 4, Week 5
Principal's Note
Dear Parents and Carers,
College Board
We have been fortunate to have a very supportive College Board at St Mary's College for many years. The purpose of the College Board is to advise the Principal on strategic matters as defined by the St Mary's College Strategic Plan. We meet up to 10 times a year from about 7.00 - 8.30pm.
There is currently a vacancy on the Board. If you are interested in serving the College community in this way from 2023, could you please prepare a one page expression of interest and email to principal@stmaryscollege.com before Monday, 6th November. Please contact me if you have any questions about this opportunity.
SMC Camp and Retreat Program
Our camp and retreat program at the College is a key part of our overall pastoral care and student engagement program at the College.
Our way of explaining this to others is that our two primary responsibilities at the College are: our academic interactions with our students in every lesson of every day and our well-being and pastoral care responsibility towards our students and families.
School camps (for example, last week's Year 9 and next week's Year 5 camp) are meant to take boys out of their comfort zone for a short period of time, in a safe and supportive environment. For some boys, it is these camps that help to cement friendships for many years to come. Camps build skills and teamwork that in many ways, connect with the curriculum in the classroom.
Our retreat program is slightly different. These experiences are meant to be reflective experiences, when students are challenged to think a little more deeply about their journey at the College, or their own life journey. Our retreat program will generally have a spiritual element. The Year 12 retreat is a good example of this, and also doubles as part of our "rite of passage" program for students.
Respectful Relationships Education
Queensland Education Minister, Grace Grace, has recently announced the following resources regarding Respectful Relationship Education (RRE) which complement and enhance the Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools’ Relationships and Sexuality Education and Protective Behaviours Resources. The resources are entitled "Respect". The revised resources are aligned with the Australian Curriculum and are accessible to parents and carers through the link below: https://learningplace.eq.edu.au/cx/resources/file/a0ba1327-a69e-474d-a220-acfff7542960/1/index.html
Reflection
What is All Souls Day?
November 2 is the Commemoration of All of the Faithful Departed, or All Souls. On this day, we pray that all those who have died— our loved ones, and also those people around the world who we will never meet— through the mercy of God, will rest in peace.
All Souls Day Prayer
Merciful Father,
On this day, we are called to remember those who have died,
Particularly those who have died in the past year,
And pray for their joyful reunion with you, their loving creator.
As your son taught us to call the stranger
neighbour, our fallen are many—
Names we will never know,
Voices we have never heard,
In lands we may never visit,
Yet brothers and sisters all.
And so we pray.
For victims of war, caught in the crossfires of
conflicts we could not quell,
for soldiers and civilians,
adults and children, we pray…
Grant eternal rest, O Lord.
For victims of hunger, denied their share in the
bounty you have placed before us, we pray…
Grant eternal rest, O Lord.
For those refugees seeking asylum from war,
who died in a land that was not their home, we pray…
Grant eternal rest, O Lord.
For victims of emergencies and calamities everywhere,
who died amid chaos and confusion, we pray…
Grant eternal rest, O Lord.
Lord, as you command, we reach out to the fallen.
We call on you on behalf of those we could not reach this year.
You raised your son from the dead,
That all may share in his joyful resurrection.
Live Jesus in Our Hearts,
Forever.
Adapted from <https://www.crs.org/resource-center/all-souls-day-prayer>
Peace,
What's On: Term 4, Weeks 4 & 5
Sport News
Australian Futsal Representative
We would like to congratulate Sam Hinton on his performance at the 2023 National School Futsal Championships. Following this success, he has been selected in the Australian Youth Men's team that will tour India in April, 2023!
Cultural News
Creative Generations Excellence Awards
On Saturday, 5th November at 3.30pm, the Creative Generations Excellence Awards in Visual Arts will open in the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery on Ruthven Street. This exhibition features outstanding artwork from students in the Toowoomba region. The awards will be announced at the opening on Saturday with the winning artworks installed in the Gallery of Modern Art in 2023. This year, St Mary’s College will be represented by Year 12 students, Zack Lyons, Matthew Morgan and Cooper Cameron. Zack has created a series of digital drawings entitled, ‘Kodak Moment’ while Matthew has made a series of light paintings using the medium of photography. Cooper’s artwork features a video of figure, which will be projected taller than a human and made with blended clips, a greenscreen, Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects. Best of luck, gentlemen!
State Honours Ensemble Program
In the September school holidays, Ned Murry participated in the State Honours Ensemble Program (SHEP), at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University, South Bank Campus. This is an educational program for music students that helps extend and encourage students in their pursuit of musical excellence. Ned was part of the Brian Hogg Wind Orchestra, playing percussion. Ned thoroughly enjoyed this experience and is looking forward to participating in the program again in 2023.
St Vincent's de Paul Christmas Appeal
St Mary's College students are encouraged to bring a monetary donation and wear Christmas themed free dress on Friday 18th November to raise funds for the St Vincent's de Paul Christmas Appeal. The money raised will go towards purchasing gift cards that will be donated to St Vincent's de Paul in Week 8. Please think about generously donating to this important cause.
P&F Annual Annual General Meeting
The P&F Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday 14th November at 6.00pm in the St Mary's College Boardroom. All parents are welcome to attend.
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
PEERS for Teens
Notice Board
Principal's Tours
Family or friends considering St Mary's College? Term 4 tour dates now available.
