SMC NEWS 2023 - Term 2, Week 10

Week Ahead

From the College Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the fine work of the College Parents and Friends Association over many years.

Later this year, the P and F will move into a new chapter of its life by becoming a committee centred around special events at the College.  Given the attendance that we have had to the meetings over the past two years, regular meetings will be a thing of the past. However, interested parents will still have many opportunities to engage in life at the College.

The College P and F has been a significant part of the life of St Mary's College for many years. The group has raised money for many projects such as grounds, classroom resources and in more recent years, fully air-conditioning St Mary's College. I want to sincerely thank the P and F for its generosity of time and spirit over many years. From Term 3, the College can now proudly boast being fully air-conditioned.

As an example of its future role, the P and F organised a very successful College Race Day last Saturday 10th June at Clifford Park. It was truly special to see so many supporters of the College, including Old Boys, parents and staff come together for a wonderful afternoon. A special thank you to Tracy Dann, Katrina Thom, Tyhla Roper, Petra Barnes and the Parents and Friends who helped put the Race Day together. I would also like to acknowledge the College Showband for its professional performance! The event raised over $10,000 which will be put towards further capital projects at the College. 

"Couldn't Do It Without You" Award

This year's "Couldn't Do It Without You" nominee is Tracy Dann, the Secretary of the P and F Association at the College. Tracy has been at the forefront of organising the Race Day in 2021 and 2023 and has been a tireless worker for the committee and the College. The Race Day would not go ahead without Tracy's kind and engaging energy and we salute her as we nominate her for this award at the College. On behalf of the staff of the College, thank you Tracy!

Have a wonderful end of Term 2 and enjoy the time with your sons in the days ahead.

Mr Brendan Stewart
College Principal

Deputy Principal

Holiday Activities

As our boys relax over the break, I remind them to keep their brains active. The brain is like a muscle and needs continuous stimulation to retain its abilities. A leading Educational researcher, John Hattie, notes the negative impact of school holidays on retention of knowledge from previously learnt material.

The holiday break provides an opportunity to make time for physical exercise; another key component for growing optimal brains. Google John Medina and John Ratey if you are interested in reading more about the importance of physical exercise for a healthy brain.

Lastly, I remind students of the benefits of reading good literary fiction. Whilst it is self-evident this can increase your vocabulary, reading also has been shown to increase an important aspect of emotional intelligence. Psychologists David Comer Kidd and Emanuele Castano, at the New School for Social Research in New York, have proved that reading literary fiction enhances the ability to detect and understand other people's emotions, a crucial skill in navigating complex social relationships. 

Term 3 Week 1 Overview

We have a few events in Week 1 that we are excited about. Please see below overview:

Mr Stephen Monk 
Deputy Principal
monks@stmaryscollege.com

Identity

Edmund Rice Beyond Borders Project 

On Tuesday of this week we had our initial contact with the Christian Brothers College, St John’s in Cape Town, South Africa.

This will be a fantastic opportunity for our boys to expand their horizons and make meaningful connections with another school in the Edmund Rice tradition in another part in the world.

We hope that our boys will see key connections between our College and St John’s which reflect our shared heritage. We also hope this exciting project allows our boys to put our commitment to global solidarity into action.

I look forward to sharing the progress of this project in Term 3 and hopefully beyond!

Mr Kevin Murphy
Assistant Principal Identity
murphyk@stmaryscollege.com

Curriculum

Curriculum Leader Spotlight - Russell Baldock 

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

Another subject I would teach would be strength and conditioning – I believe in the saying “If you don’t know failure, you will never know success”. Pushing your boundaries, failing, and learning how to be better are critical life skills.

2. If you could travel back in time and attend a historical event or period, which one would you choose and why?

First Council of Nicaea – to understand the personalities and reasoning behind the formation of the Christian Church.

3. What is a unique talent or skill you possess outside of teaching that your students find surprising?

I play the Paino Accordion - not very well anymore.

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

Not one favorite educational excursion – but many great outdoor education camps in fantastic locations. The sports tour of New Zealand with the Glennie School was very cool.

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

Albert Einstein, William Shakespeare, Martin Luther King – to get their thoughts on what they think about our current world based on how they saw their part in its development.

6. If you were to create a motto or slogan for your teaching style, what would it be?

Learning is life.

Mr Mark Watson
Assistant Principal Curriculum
watsonm@stmaryscollege.com

Director of 5-9 Curriculum

Elective Subject Changes 

As we prepare to enter Semester 2 this year, our students in Years 8 and 9 will have the chance to explore different elective subjects that align with their interests and aspirations. These subjects were selected by students and their families following our Subject Selection Evening in 2022. 

If any Year 8 or 9 students wish to make changes to their elective preferences, students are to collect a Subject Change Form from the Junior Curriculum Office, where I will be available to assist them. Alternatively, parents can reach out to me via email to discuss any changes. 

Please note, elective class changes are subject to availability. While we will make every effort to accommodate these changes, certain subjects may have limited capacity, and we encourage students to have alternative options in mind. All subject changes are to be finalised by the conclusion of Week 1, Term 3. 

Listed below are the subjects on offer for Semester 2, 2023: 

Year 8 Elective Choices: 

 Year 9 Elective Choices: 

If you have any questions or require further information, please don't hesitate to contact me. I look forward to assisting our Year 8 and 9 students in making the most of their elective choices for Semester 2. 

Semester 1 Reports  

With Semester 1 report cards being issued to families this week, it is important for students to take some time to reflect on their academic journey so far this year. I encourage students to reflect on the following three questions when reviewing their report card: 

• What went well for me?
• What didn't go so well for me?
• If I could do one thing differently in the next term to improve, what would it be? 

These questions encourage students to celebrate their successes, acknowledge areas that need improvement, and set goals for the upcoming term. It is an opportunity to foster self-awareness, resilience, and a commitment to personal growth. 

I wish you all a restful and rejuvenating mid-year break and look forward to welcoming you back in Term 3. 

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

Student Engagement

End of Term 

End of term, end of semester. As I write those words, I’m not quite sure how I feel about that… There is no doubt that everyone in the College community needs a break, so I'm very pleased to see the holidays approach. But I’m not really ready to be half-way through the school year. Mother-Son Luncheon this week marks the ‘beginning of the end’ for our Year 12 group and I know how fast the second half of the year flies. Our ‘new’ Year 5 and Year 7 boys are settled and have found their way in most cases. Wherever your family sits in their time at St Mary’s College, I hope that you have a chance over the next few weeks to check in with your son and see how he is feeling about the year so far.

Holiday Top-up

The holidays are a great time to check on uniforms and school equipment. Some of the Year 11 and Year 12 blazers definitely need a trip to the dry-cleaners and some growing boys in our middle years might need the hems on their trousers dropped – again. The freshly packed pencil case from January may now be missing a few pieces, and the holidays are a good opportunity for your son to undertake a little ‘stock-take’ of his school supplies. We really appreciate the effort that families put in to ensure that their boys are properly presented and equipped each day.

Problem Gaming and Screen time

This is a common issue with boys at our school and a very difficult habit to break, once it has become established. I highly recommend Maggie Dent – such a wise woman. Her entire website is a fantastic resource but she is also hosting a masterclass in July that will specifically address gaming. I have included some information below and this link will take you there:

Plugged In & Tuned Out: When gaming and screen use becomes a problem (commonsenseparenting.com.au)

From Maggie Dent:

I so often hear from parents of tweens and teens who are concerned about their child's screen use, whether it's gaming, streaming or social media. Certainly, screen use has become a major issue for many families but what do we do when someone's screen use becomes problematic? How do we know when their behaviour has moved beyond enthusiasm into unhealthy excessive use or, worse, a disorder? And why are boys more likely to struggle with problematic gaming? 

I am really chuffed to have 'The Unplugged Psychologist' Brad Marshall joining me for my next masterclass, Plugged In & Tuned Out: When gaming and screen use becomes a problem, next month. Brad is one of Australia's leading minds when it comes to this stuff. In fact he is Director of the Screens and Gaming Disorder Clinic (Sydney), the first clinic of its kind established in this country over a decade ago. He is also the author of a fabulous book, The Tech Diet for your Child & Teen: The 7-step plan to regain your kid’s childhood (and your Family’s Sanity).

We're also going to hear from a young man I met recently, Isaac Waddell, founder of the Goldfish Academy who will share his inspiring story with masterclass participants and share some strategies from someone who has lived experience of a screen addiction.

So join us on Thursday 20th July (8.00pm Sydney time) for this live masterclass in which we will help you understand why screens are so addictive, when you need to worry, and how to help manage problematic usage, without destroying your relationship with your child.

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

Business Manager

College Fees

As we approach the last days of Term 2, please ensure your account is fully paid and if you are having financial difficulties, you can contact me confidentially to discuss. 

Term 3 fees will be issued prior to the start of the term as will your July statement. Please review carefully and let us know if there are any discrepancies. We hope you have an enjoyable and safe holiday over this term break.

Mr Patrick Wilson
Business Manager
wilsonp@stmaryscollege.com