SMC NEWS 2022 - Term 4, Week 7

Principal's Note

Dear Parents and Carers,

Toowoomba Catholic Schools - Leadership Forum

Last week I had the privilege of spending time at our Toowoomba Catholic Schools office for a leadership forum, and I am happy to provide a brief summary of the learnings for me from the conference.  The theme for the week was "Staying on Mission", with a strong focus on the future of the Catholic schools in the Diocese and how to remain distinctively Catholic in a competitive educational landscape.

Monday - New Principal Mentor Day

As a new Principal to the Diocese, our Head Office encourages us to be involved in formation and professional learning.  The focus for the week was on Leadership Team cohesion and having difficult conversations.

Tuesday - Being Distinctively Catholic

We were visited by Br David Hall a Marist Brother from Sydney.  Together, we reflected on the challenges of education in the 21st Century, but also on the opportunities.  For example, Br Hall believes that education is formation of our students and staff and that we are co-creators of the boys in our care.  David spoke to us about the idea of humility in our leadership and work with others.

Wednesday - Structure and System Support

Dr Pat Coughlan provided an uplifting report on the state of the game in Toowoomba Catholic Schools.  This was followed by reports on Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum from the QCAA, and Workplace Health and Safety.

Thursday - Further System Support

Ms Julie Payne, Director at TCS, gave a report on key enrolment issues as did a further director, Hayley Farry, on staffing and HR issues at the office.  It is good to get an insight into the work being completed at the office level on providing further layers of support and guidance to our schools.

I appreciate the opportunities that the community provides to myself for this formation and development experience, and I want to thank Stephen Monk as Acting Principal during this time each term. 

Final Dates for 2022

You will be aware that the final day for classes for Years 5 - 11 varies depending on the grade level. 

The final dates for the 2022 school year at St Mary's College are confirmed below:

Years 5 - 9 assessment will conclude in Week 8, on or before Friday 25th November.  From November 28th - December 2nd, marking, reporting and preparation for 2023 begins in earnest. 

Some regular classes and other supervision will be offered during the week.  However, over the past few years attendance during the final week has declined as the week has progressed and clearly new work for 2023 cannot begin at this time.

To assist us in our planning for the week, could you please indicate your intention for your son to attend during this week using the form which is being emailed to you today.

A sincere thanks for your co-operation and we wish you all the very best during the upcoming holiday period with your families!

Reflection

Why "St Mary's College"?

One of the Leadership sessions from Br David Hall was about Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Mary is also the name given to our College, St Mary's College.  Mary has a significant place in the Catholic Church, and especially Christian Brother schools.  Sometimes I'll hear students ask "Who is Mary?" or "What does she stand for"?  This brief reflection from Pope Francis may be able to help.

There is a Marian “style” to the Church’s work of evangelization. Whenever we look to Mary, we come to believe once again in the revolutionary nature of love and tenderness. In her we see that humility and tenderness are not virtues of the weak but of the strong who need not treat others poorly in order to feel important themselves. This interplay of justice and tenderness, of contemplation and concern for others, is what makes the ecclesial community look to Mary as a model of evangelisation. (288)

Adapted from Pope Francis, "The Church of Mercy", 2014.

Peace,

In Our Prayers

Old Boy, Geoffrey Ludgate (1947-1955) has sadly passed away. Dearly loved husband to Gayle. Father of Paul, Andrew, Susan and Jane. Brother of Peter and Bruce. May he rest in peace.

What's On: Term 4, Weeks 7 & 8

Student Engagement

Schoolies and Safe Parties

This time every year, parties and school leaver activities can be an important part of a teenager’s social life.  Many school leavers will be attending Schoolies events and it is a good idea for parents and young people to talk about alcohol, drugs, and parties. In fact, don’t wait until you have a boy who is graduating – start having these conversations early!

Schoolies

Whilst Schoolies is about fun, drugs and alcohol can result in diminished fun and potential harm to young people during this time. Ideally school leavers will avoid alcohol and drugs to create good memories instead of bad ones. 

To support school leavers to make good choices at Schoolies parents are encouraged to discuss with their young people :

• The plan for the week - find out about activities before leaving home. 
• An activity plan that doesn’t have a focus on alcohol and drugs.
• The legal ramifications of alcohol and drug use - legally, young people could face fines for possessions and/or trafficking if found in possession of a ‘trafficable quantity’ of drugs.
• Future safeguarding - having a criminal record can restrict future opportunities in life.
• Driving - young people on their learners or probationary driving licences must maintain a zero blood-alcohol level.  Never travel with a drinker.
• Drugs - during Schoolies young people may come across synthetic drugs which mimic the effects of common illegal drugs.  These are often ‘pushed’ to young people as ‘herbal’, ‘party pills’, ‘bath salts’.  Far from being benign, these are often more unpredictable than the illegal drugs and should be strenuously avoided, as should illegal drugs.
• Drink Spiking – avoid sharing drinks and vigilantly watch drinks to avoid the risk of spiking.  If there is a suspicion that a drink is spiked just leave it.
• Physical safety - report all threats of violence to police and trust your instincts about physical safety.  
• Energy drinks - don’t mix energy drinks and alcohol.
• Water safety - don’t drink and swim.
• Being an upstander - plan for the safety of self and friends. Don’t hesitate to call an ambulance if anyone looks like they have had a bad reaction to any substance – call 000.
• Help friends make good decisions and avoid risky situations.  Plan activities that can be done together.
• Mental health – drugs and alcohol can exacerbate mood disturbances.  Have a plan to support your Schoolie’s mental health while away.
• Stay hydrated, but don’t drink more than 500ml of water in an hour.
• Consent – pressuring someone into having non-consensual sexual activity is sexual assault and illegal. 

Hosting a teen party

From a legal perspective a parent or adult who hosts a party for teenagers will be the person responsible if something goes wrong.  Therefore, many parents will be concerned about alcohol, cigarettes, vaping and other drugs being used by teenagers at parties and will benefit from the following information about how to safely host a teenage party.

Registering your party

• It’s a good idea to register your party with local police six weeks before the event.  Police can provide safe partying tips, let you know of noise regulations, and help out if the party gets out of control.  Police will provide a party safe poster and wristbands.
• Register via Party Safe
• Policelink 131 444

Other considerations

• Alcohol use – In Queensland it is an offence to supply a minor with alcohol at a private place unless the person supplying the alcohol is the young person’s parent, guardian or responsible adult.  The responsible parent/guardian/adult must only supply alcohol to the minor in a way which is consistent with reasonable supervision.  In other words, things to consider would be the young person’s age, whether the adult is intoxicated, whether the young person is intoxicated, the amount of liquor consumed and other factors relating to the circumstances.
• Obtaining alcohol – it is an offence for a minor to falsely represent their age to obtain alcohol, or for someone to help a minor make or provide a fake ID to obtain alcohol. 
• Smoking and Vaping – consider whether smoking and/or vaping will be allowed at the party?  If so, how will it be managed?
• Transport – consider how guests will get safely to and from the party.  Make sure no-one has to walk home by themselves.  If people will be staying, think about where they will sleep, to ensure everyone’s safety
• Out of limits areas – decide on areas that will be off limits to guests, and ways to mark these for clarity.
• Adult supervisors – ensure that there are sufficient adult supervisors available for the number of expected guests.
• Emergency planning – ensure that emergency vehicles and/or police can readily access the location if required.
• Illegal drugs – develop a contingency plan in case someone attends with illegal drugs.  Have a plan to ask them to leave and for the appropriate authorities or parents to be informed.  If you are having a big party, you might consider hiring security.
• Guests – discuss people that should not be invited, and ways for those invited to rsvp so that numbers can be predicted.  If you invite people via text, email or through social networking you will have less control.  If you do use Facebook, make sure the event page is private and invite-only.  Gate crashers can be a problem – to assist with this have one entrance to the party and secure other points of entry.
• Safe Party planner – use this Safe Party Planner to guide the conversation with your teen.

If your child is attending someone else’s party

• Contact the host and ask about the ages of the attendees, whether there will be supervision, whether food will be provided, whether alcohol will be at the party and whether you give permission for your young person to drink alcohol or not, when the party will start and end, and what the plans are to prevent gate crashers.

Mrs Samantha Parle, AP Student Engagement - parles@stmaryscollege.com

Stymie Message

Sport News

Grand Final Winners!

Congratulations to the U13 7-a-side Rugby team who had a win last week against Downlands. The score was 27-10 - a great achievement!

The U15 team also versed Downlands in the Grand Final last week and won 24-22. The game was a challenging one with a lot of calls going against the boys in the blue and white. They did well to keep their heads and not lose their cool. They definitely deserved the win! 

Primary Senior Cricket

Our team of 13 players have equipped themselves brilliantly over the term. They have been led in the bowling by Marcus Kelderman, Jake Garrahy, James Ottobrino, Toby Gillece and Jace Morris. These boys also batted well and other strong batting displays have included great knocks by James Dennis, Lochlan Lucas, Jam Acquisto , Dominic Delander-Taylor and Cameron Watt. Good fielding and some fantastic improvement over the season has come from Connor Forde, Elijah Hopper and Bailey Bryant. Well done lads, on a great season.

Mrs Vanessa Priebe, Coach

Careers

Congratulations Mr Grealy

Congratulations Mr Paul Grealy, Assistant Principal - Identity on winning the Senior Leader Award in the IEU-QNT Member Awards. Very well deserved!

St Vincent 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 de Paul Christmas Appeal. The money raised will go towards purchasing gift cards that will be donated to St Vincent de Paul in Week 8. Please think about generously donating to this important cause.

Notice Board

Principal's Tours

Family or friends considering St Mary's College? Term 4 tour dates now available.