SMC NEWS 2023 - Term 3, Week 1

Week Ahead

From the College Principal

Semester 1 Academic Reports

Welcome back to the College in Term 3!  Thank you for your support with our Parent-Teacher interviews this week. Your continued engagement with the College is appreciated.

I would like to make a couple of comments about the recent school reports. It was pleasing again to see the large number of students who made a productive effort in their studies in Semester 1. At St Mary's College, we truly believe that academic improvement is possible for everyone. A student's sustained, patient and gritty efforts are the most common way that this improvement occurs. We will recognise outstanding effort and achievement with upcoming events at the College. Congratulations in advance to all of these young achievers!

Through our intentional College goal of improving writing, many students will achieve improvement through the standard academic expectations of a St Mary's College classroom.  However, as I have mentioned above, openness to feedback is a vital skill for all aspiring improvers. I have worked with many boys over the years, and the one reflection I would have is that the boys who "get there" are almost always the students who tailor their work to the feedback for improvement that they receive from teaching staff.  Please ask your son to reset his goals for Semester 2, based on his Semester 1 reports.

Staffing Update

I would like to welcome the following new staff members to the College starting this term.

• Mr Corey Morrissey - Technologies
• Ms Tamara Southee - Business/Humanities teacher
• Mr Darcy Walker - Music
• Ms Sarah Babineau-Braye - Food Tech and English
• Mr Oliver Stewart - Maths/Science teacher

Oliver returns to us and we are looking forward to welcoming him back in Week 3!

At the end of Term 2, we said many thanks and farewell to the following staff.  I want to thank Flora and Dan for their contributions to the College in Semester 1.

• Ms Flora John - Mathematics
• Mr Dan Townson - Food Technology

Thank you for your continued support and have a great week!

Mr Brendan Stewart
College Principal

Identity

Welcome back to Term 3

A new term means a new start, and a new touchstone focus for us. This term focuses on the Edmund Rice Touchstone of Gospel Spirituality.

Gospel Spirituality challenges and invites all of us in the St Mary’s Community to act in the ways that Jesus did in the Gospels.

This means reaching out to the margins, looking for ways to include people and treating everyone with deep respect for their sacred individuality. It means dialogue, encounter and learning from each others’ stories.

There are lots of ways we can do this in our daily interactions, so please encourage your son to think about this as we start a new term.

Opportunities for active spirituality are everywhere!

Also, please don’t forget to remind your boys to log hours of service learning work on the Footsteps of Jesus links. The hours for the year will be finalised at the end of this term. Gold, Silver and Bronze service awards will be awarded to students who have notched up the hours!

Mr Kevin Murphy
Assistant Principal Identity
murphyk@stmaryscollege.com

Curriculum

Curriculum Leader Spotlight - Kris Glass

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

Chemistry. I do not understand it, and I feel like it would be a real accomplishment for me to understand it.

2. What is the most memorable or funniest moment you’ve had in the classroom?

Probably being upstaged by Year 7 students back in my earlier teaching days. I was a proud sportsman and was outgunned well and truly by some talented younger students in a P.E. class activity. They thought it was hilarious.

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

I’d love to be able to return to the Roman Emperor days and see the gladiator fights within the Colosseum in Rome.

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

I love chasing a white Bridgestone around on the weekend. Chasing is the right word; it never goes straight!

5. If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only have three items with you, what would they be and why?

Carl Barron, he would make my time on the island an enjoyable one. Tim Tam’s – a wonderful source of energy. Pitching wedge and a golf ball – to pass the time by.

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

Camps. I always love attending camps with different year levels and getting to know the boys a bit better. Seeing them out of their comfort zone, being put to the test is always a rewarding part of the camp, especially when they work together as a team and have success.

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

Seeing students combine school with their future career/s. Seeing students leave SMC with a clear and decisive pathway is extremely rewarding.

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

You will never know, unless you give it a go.

Mr Mark Watson
Assistant Principal Curriculum
watsonm@stmaryscollege.com

Director of 5-9 Curriculum

Assessment Calendars 

Assessment Calendars are now accessible via the College App under the “Links” tab, followed by “Teaching and Learning”. It is important for students to carefully go through their assessment calendar to ensure they are aware of their assessments for the term. 

Assessment Calendars are designed to: 

• Assist students in planning their study time
• Help students to prioritise their work
• Be an organisational tool
• Communicate due dates to parents/carers and students

Assessment Calendars should inform the amount of study and assignment work needed at different points in the term and students’ commitments. Please see the  flowchart to help with navigating student absences around assessment. 

Subject Information Evening   

On Monday 24th July, we will hold our Subject Information Evening. This event aims to provide further information regarding our subject offerings and future career pathways. 

During the evening, three sessions will be held according to each year level: 

• 6.00pm: Year 9 in 2024 
• 6.45pm - Year 10 in 2024 
• 7.30pm - Year 11 in 2024

Venue: Edmund Rice Cultural Centre (ERCC), cnr Hill & Helen St, Newtown. 

In addition to our Subject Information Evening, we encourage students and their families to explore the information links below to gain an additional understanding of the subject offerings available at the College.   

Year 8 Subject Selection 2023 (website) 
Year 9 Subject Selection 2023 (website) 
Year 10 Subject Selection 2023 (website) 
Year 11 Subject Selection 2023 (website) 

If any Year 8 or 9 students wish to discuss their subject selections, they can speak with me in the Junior Curriculum Office, where I can assist them. Alternatively, parents can reach out to me via email. Students in Years 10 or 11 are to speak with Mr Mark Watson regarding their subject choices.  

ICAS Testing  

We are delighted to inform you that St Mary’s College will be participating in the world-renowned ICAS Assessments this year. ICAS is developed by UNSW Global, a wholly owned subsidiary of UNSW Sydney, with over 40 years experience in educational assessments.  

ICAS is designed to target students’ higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, and Writing. 

Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition.  

Every student will receive a printed certificate and an online result report. Top performers will be eligible for medals and are invited to attend special award ceremonies to have their academic excellence publicly recognised.  

We encourage you to consider entering your child into ICAS this year. The assessments are suitable for students wishing to extend themselves academically and take up the personal challenge of competing in an international assessment. Your child will be presented with high-quality, expert-developed questions, allowing them to apply their learning without the need for prior study or revision.  

These competitions/assessments are not compulsory. Competitions are held at school on the following days: 

 All purchases are to be made by Monday 31st July via the ICAS Parent Payment System: 

Should you have any questions regarding ICAS testing, please don’t hesitate to contact me via email at lovej@stmaryscollege.com or (07) 4631 7333. 

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

Student Engagement

Welcome Back!

It has been wonderful to see all the boys back this week at school with a busy couple of days to kick us off into Term 3. Families will have seen the email over the holidays regarding attendance, correct school bags and the College expectation that boys come to school clean-shaven. We will be following up on those issues as the term progresses. You may have seen the announcement from Education Minister Grace Grace regarding student access to mobile phones during the school day. We will be looking at the impact of that decision on our current Mobile Phone Policy and will be communicating any changes to families before the end of the year.

It was great to see Paul Dillon back here at the College this week. Paul spoke to our Year 10, 11 and 12 boys about the use of alcohol and drugs, and then spent the evening with a group of parents here at the College. Paul is a national expert on these issues for young people and it is reassuring to have his research and advice in this area. If you would like to learn more about this, I would encourage you to follow Paul on Facebook or Instagram.

Earlier this year, we hosted the team from Collective Shout. Daniel was a great hit with our boys, staff and parents and was featured in an article in the Sydney Morning Herald last week. You can read the article here.

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

Business Manager

Welcome to Term 3!

We have reached the halfway point of the school year, and I hope all students and families are enjoying their academic journey with us. As we enter this new term, we would like to bring your attention to some important administrative matters.

Invoices and July statements have been sent out to all families. We kindly request that you carefully review these documents and notify us immediately if you have any questions or concerns. Your statement provides an overview of your overall balance, while the invoice specifically outlines the fees for Term 3. Please note that unless you are enrolled in a payment plan, the payment for your Term 3 invoice is due by Monday, 24th July.

We understand that some families may be facing financial challenges during these uncertain times. If you are experiencing financial hardship and need assistance or alternative arrangements, please do not hesitate to contact me directly. We are here to support you and explore possible solutions.

Thank you for your attention to these matters, and we look forward to a successful and productive Term 3.

Mr Patrick Wilson
Business Manager
wilsonp@stmaryscollege.com