SMC NEWS 2023 - Term 2, Week 6

Week Ahead

From the College Principal

Year 7 Camp

This week, our Year 7 campers travel to Currimundi for what is a very important part of their development at the College. For our more reserved boys, there is always some nervousness and anxiety around going out of their comfort zone to a camp. For our extroverts, they can’t wait for day 1 of camp to come on Wednesday! Whether we fit into a generation past or present, our teachers have found, and continue to find, immense value and many benefits in running school camps.

What are the benefits of St Mary's College camps?

Building up self-confidence

School camps give students an opportunity to try so many new and different activities. Each new activity is a new challenge, a new opportunity to succeed, to learn, to overcome a fear, and even fail a few times along the way. Activities are conducted within a safe environment with qualified instructors and teachers. Students walk away with a great sense of achievement when they complete new experiences and at the same time receive affirmation from instructors, teachers, and peers for what they have achieved.

Independence

Year 7 camp could be the first time a child has gone away from home without a parent or family member. Boys on camp must adapt and manage themselves within the camp rules, completing tasks that they may not be responsible for at home. They may have to manage their own time to ensure their teeth get brushed, and make sure they choose to eat the right foods (and not only dessert).  A student has to make sure they look after their belongings they take with them to camp, beginning to be responsible for their own behaviour.

Building relationships and participating in community

The school camping experience is unique in that it can bring individuals together who otherwise may not have interacted together in the school yard. It is an opportunity for students to share a real meal together. Team camping activities also promote teamwork, where it is simply not possible to get through the activity without help from others. This is where whole groups are engaged and responsible for each other, promoting "brotherhood".  Many a playground antagonist and protagonist may find themselves working together and even concerned for each other’s welfare. In some cases, new friendships will develop, or even old friendships will be redeemed.  The traditional schooling experience is one of education in community with others. School camping amplifies this community aspect further where the environment is unfamiliar, the daily routine is unfamiliar, and the activities are unfamiliar. This level playing field is a positive aspect for relationship building. It is often the positive relationships built and the supportive community experience that ends up being that fantastic and lasting memory of a school camp.

Digital Detox

Whether it is a 3-day camp or a 5-day camp, getting kids to disconnect from technology for a few days is an essential part of the learning for camps. Instead of computer games, campers are playing outdoor games or board games or real group games with real people. Camps break the cycle of dependence children may have on their devices and provide plenty of healthy and safe distractions that help them take a break from those devices.

Outdoor learning

A school camp is a valuable opportunity for students to get out of the classroom and engage in some meaningful activities that build skills, teamwork, and even connect well with what they have been learning in the classroom e.g. science and nature, mathematics and problem-solving. Connecting classroom learning to outdoor activities helps students understand that there is value in what they are learning in the classroom. Outdoor education activities provide students with the opportunity to participate physically in activities they may not have encountered before, such as high ropes courses, bushwalking and survival, canoeing, archery, and Aboriginal cultural activities. Some students thrive in the outdoor education environment and discover a newfound love for learning.

Adapted from: <https://www.qccc.org.au/benefits-of-school-camps/>

Have a wonderful week,

Deputy Principal

Exams and Study Advice 

As we approach the second half of term, it is timely to reflect on our student's study habits. It is essential that they use their time well and develop effective study techniques. This will help them enjoy the learning process and feel they are being rewarded for the time spent on study. A summary of the advice is detailed below:

1. Don't cram: Ideally students should break study time into 30-50 minute breaks, with short rests in between. This is an effective way to ensure that the brain continues to work at its optimum level. Longer time periods will result in a loss of concentration and inefficent use of time. 
2. Set achievement goals: Research shows students should aim to achieve sometheing in each study session, rather than aim for a time limit. Working for 45 minutes is not an achievement. Decide on a task or tasks that would feasibly take approximately 45 minutes, and then aim to complete the work to the highest standard. This might be perfecting one or more specific skills or processes, developing some better ideas for written work, or learning a set of facts or a system. These are achievements. 
3. Practice test questions: Research shows that posing and practicing questions is a very effective mechanism for developing understanding and creating a long term memory, as opposed to summarising and reading notes. It is important to work under some pressure in order to develop the ability to respond to questions with accuracy and precision. 
4. Do something active every day: Regular exercise and activity improves blood flow, relieves stress and improves memory. Research shows that exercise assists with the development of a sharper memory and thinking skills. Endorphins that are released through exercise that make you feel better are the same ones that help you concentrate, and stimulate the growth of new brain cells. 
5. Get plenty of rest and sleep: Working for too long can be detrimental to performance. Periods of deep sleep are when the brain consolidates the events and learning experiences from the day and creates long term memory. Without appropriate sleep, most work or study done that day will be forgotten. 

Mr Stephen Monk
Deputy Principal
monks@stmaryscollege.com

Identity

Year 10 Reflection Morning

On Wednesday 31^st May, Year 10 students will have their reflection morning in the ERCC.

The purpose of this mini-retreat is to start our boys thinking about leadership and the responsibilities that the white shirt brings in Year 11.

Various activities are planned for the morning, designed around this concept.

Students should bring food for a shared morning tea. A BBQ lunch will be provided.

Dress code is sports uniform.

Mr Kevin Murphy
Assistant Principal Identity
murphyk@stmaryscollege.com

Curriculum

Curriculum Leader Spotlight - Jennifer Guild

1. If you could teach any subject other than the one you currently teach, what would it be and why?

If I could teach any subject other than English and Study of Religion, it would be the most romantic of languages, French. Why? Because full immersion in French would mean going to French restaurants, visiting French-speaking places and experiencing the joie de vivre of French everyday life. What a great way to teach students about the world!

2. If you could invite any three fictional characters to a dinner party, who would they be and why? 

Once my knowledge of French cuisine had improved, I might throw a dinner party and invite Leah Price, the social justice warrior in Barbara Kingsolver’s amazing novel, The Poisonwood Bible. She would be a great match for Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird) and they could inspire me with tales of life in the Congo and Alabama. Just to spice things up a little, Lisbeth Salander, who had a habit of kicking hornet nests, would be my third guest. Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor? No. More like lawyer, preacher, vigilante, teacher... I’m the last one.

3. What is your favourite book or book series that you enjoy sharing with your students?

Speaking of dinner parties, Macbeth – The Scottish Play – is my favourite play to share with students. Classes always seem to enjoy the coronation dinner party where Macbeth’s place is taken by the ghost of Banquo. And what an interesting dinner guest Banquo proved to be! With the coronation of King Charles III recently, this classic story of kings and queens is even more relevant in 2023.

4. What is your favourite educational excursion that you’ve taken with your students?

Perhaps an excursion to France is out of reach since I don’t teach French, but a not-so-distant excursion to Brisbane with SOR students to visit the Brisbane Synagogue and the Holland Park Mosque was amazing. Students and teachers were left in awe of the commitment and devoutness displayed by the young Jewish university speaker, the Imam Uzair and adherents of both faith traditions. Our SOR excursion this year included a visit to the Sri Lanka Buddhist Monastery at Ellen Grove where we enjoyed a guided meditation conducted by the Most Venerable Wattegama Dhammawasa Nayaka Thero. It was wonderful to see the students immerse themselves in the quiet peace of the monastery and its surrounds in Ellen Grove.

5. What is the most inspiring or rewarding aspect of being a teacher for you?

And that is one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching – providing opportunities for students to grow and mature in their attitudes towards others through experiencing cultural and religious diversity which may lead to a more tolerant and respectful world for all. That provides real joie de vivre!

Mr Mark Watson
Assistant Principal Curriculum
watsonm@stmaryscollege.com

Director of 5-9 Curriculum

Australian History Competition

The College has selected students, who have achieved exceeding results in their history studies, the opportunity to compete in the Australian History Competition.

Across Years 8 – 10, 27 students will be competing in the competition, which provides students the opportunity to demonstrate their critical thinking skills. The Australian History Competition is being held on Monday 29th May during lesson 3. We wish the boys well as they participate in this competition.

Mrs Jade Love
Years 5-9 Curriculum Leader
lovej@stmaryscollege.com

Student Engagement

Touchstone - Justice and Solidarity 

The touchstone that we are focusing on this term is Justice and Solidarity. As a part of that, we have been considering the meaning of ‘solidarity’ and what it means to ‘stand together’ with those on the margins of our society. Your son may have seen these videos during the week:

What to do when you see injustice

Understanding privilege

As always, anything we do here at school is much more meaningful if it is followed up with conversations at home.

For those who might be struggling with the parenting of teenagers – or those of you who can see it looming in the near future – this article is perfect. The best line says “What they need to know is that you love them anyway.” How true! 8 messages your teenager needs you to hear

Mrs Samantha Parle
Assistant Principal Student Engagement
parles@stmaryscollege.com

Director of Sport

Term 2 Fundraiser 

I am writing to inform you about the St Mary's College Term 2 Fundraiser, which is now in its third year. We are fortunate to have many local businesses supporting this fundraiser, and we would like to invite your son to take part. Last year, the boys who participated raised an amazing $20,000 towards their sporting ventures.

The fundraiser is open to any student who wishes to fundraise for their various sporting endeavours, including school sporting camps and representative camps. 

• School Sporting Camps: As the expenses around these camps are known quantities, the amount to fundraise will be the total cost of the camp. Please note that if your son is fundraising for a camp later in the year, it may eventuate that they don't make selection to that team. In these instances, money can either be held over in lieu for future years or it can be attributed to the travelling group.  

• Representative Camps: There will be a consultation with the stakeholders to determine a suitable fundraising amount to work towards.

It is important to note that our goal is to support our boys to access these sometimes expensive sporting opportunities. Please ensure that you have a conversation with your son about the associated costs of attending these camps. This will give him an appreciation of the sacrifices that families routinely make to provide wonderful opportunities for their children. If your son is interested in participating, please visit the Sports Office to collect your cards. We will then determine an overall fundraising goal for him. This will be determined by the sports opportunities he may be accessing. Once the nominated amount has been fundraised, any surplus funds will be attributed towards that sporting group. This will be discussed with families on an individual basis, as needed.

• Cash Sales: Managed by the student and his family selling tickets. The College does not accept responsibility for any lost sales through the duration of the fundraiser. Please do not allow your son to come to school with large amounts of money on his person.

• Electronic Sales: These payments will come to the College. We will then attribute the overall totals to each student's school tuition fee up to the overall fundraising goal. You will not receive a lump sum amount for these sales. You will notice this amount on your school statement. If the funds raised are greater than the fundraising goal, the extra amount will go towards supporting other boys on the trip/s your son is involved in. Alternatively, you may nominate another boy to support.

Last year, we also had some great young men in the College wanting to fundraise on behalf of the Sports Department. These funds were attributed towards general purchases of gear to help support our numerous sports programs. Should your son wish to participate on behalf of the Sports Department, please direct him to our office to discuss.

In 2023, we will have the following groups attending sporting camps:

• EREA Football Tournament
• Mercy Shield Rugby League
• Confraternity Shield Rugby League
• Intermediate and Senior Schools Volleyball
• All Schools Touch
• CBSQ Basketball
• Christian Brothers Cricket

These sporting camps sit alongside our extensive offerings of sports here at St Mary's College.

Please understand that there is some skepticism amongst the community regarding scams. Therefore it is very important that our young men are dressed in full academic uniform and supported by an adult when selling their tickets. If anyone has any significant concerns you can direct them to our school phone number within business hours to confirm the validity of the fundraiser. Each student will his receive own card with his name on it.

We greatly appreciate your support for this cause and look forward to working with you. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at smc-sport@stmaryscollege.com.

Mr Scott Cowan
Director of Sport/HPE
cowans@stmaryscollege.com

Business Manager

Attention Parents and Guardians

As we approach the end of Term 2, we kindly remind you to ensure that all fees are up to date. Unless you have arranged a payment plan with our finance department, we appreciate your prompt attention in settling outstanding fees to ensure smooth operation of the College.

Mr Patrick Wilson
Business Manager
wilsonp@stmaryscollege.com

Have Your Say

The Queensland Government is exploring free kindy for all families across the state. What do you think about free kindy? Have your say today: www.qld.gov.au/kindy