SMC NEWS 2023 - Term 3, Week 2
Week Ahead
From the College Principal
Shaping Our Future Survey
Every two years we ask parents, staff and students in our schools to share their views, to ‘check in’ on how St Mary's College is progressing. This survey is completed as a group of 31 Diocesan Catholic schools during the first part of Term 3, every two years. We do this by asking each of you to complete a perception survey. The Shaping Our Future – Toowoomba Catholic Schools perception survey will be sent via Sentral on the Monday 17th July, so please keep an eye out for it. This 15 minute survey closes on Sunday, 6th August, 2023. Please check your email for a link to the survey.
The purpose of the survey is to provide feedback to support improvement of our school. I am proud of what the College has achieved over the past two years, but there are always areas for improvement for the College. Please participate in the survey so that we can learn from you feedback and respond to your ideas and thoughts about the College.
For more information about the survey, please email: ropert@stmaryscollege.com
Thank you for your continued support and have a great week!
Mr Brendan Stewart
College Principal
Deputy Principal
Upcoming Events
ESU Speaking Competition
This Friday night we have five of our boys competing in the senior division of the ESU Speaking Competition in the ERCC. This event starts at 5.30pm. Feel free to come and support the boys. Good luck Ethan Payne, Nathan Ottobrino, Sebastian Seeto, Jacob Lasserre and Alex Eddie.
Subject Selection night
This coming Monday night, our Year 8, 9, and 10 boys along with parents are invited to the Subject Selection Evening. Details have been emailed. This is an opportunity to find out more about potential subjects and speak to the teachers who will be delivering the subjects.
Mr Stephen Monk
Deputy Principal
murphyk@stmaryscollege.com
Identity
Social Justice Matters Term 3
The footsteps of Jesus initiative is still ongoing. If your young person has completed any extra service hours over the holiday and are still yet to log them, try to ensure they do this do before the end of term.
At the start of Term 4, the Footsteps of Jesus awards will be handed out for the inaugural year.
In order to be eligible for these gold, silver and bronze awards, boys have to complete some short reflections on their service activity to their online journal.
Only five hours of service work are required for a bronze award, so there is still plenty of time to get busy helping the community in a way that suits your son.
Vinnies Opportunities
There are also some Vinnies opportunities for those in Years 10 to 12.
The Vinnies shop on Ruthven Street has contacted us to ask for any volunteers who are willing to give up some time to volunteer on a Saturday morning. This is a good chance to develop a resume, log some service hours and gain working skills whilst helping the community.
Additionally, UniSQ are holding a sleepout in conjunction with Vinnies in solidarity with the homeless. This takes place on Friday 4th August at the University of Southern Queensland Engineering Green. It requires a 5.00pm arrival for registration, cardboard fort building and donation drive bin collection. At 6.00pm there will be stage presentations, including guest speakers and the announcement for the highest fundraiser. Following this, throughout the night will be a soup kitchen style dinner, education and awareness activities, movies and more.
St Mary's College students would not be expected to sleep out overnight and would need to be collected at 9.00pm from UniSQ.
If your son has any interest in the previous social justice matters, they should contact Mr Murphy or Mr Jayawardhana.
Mr Kevin Murphy
Assistant Principal Identity
murphyk@stmaryscollege.com
Curriculum
Agrifood Innovation Forum
This morning, two of our year 12 students, Lachlan Thompson and Luke Conway, presented a ‘call to action’ to delegates from the Agriculture industry at the Agrifood Innovation Forum.
The boys prepared a speech with the help of Mr Paul Martin to highlight the need for technological advancement in the Agricultural industry to ensure food security for Australia and to meet the needs of the growing global population to ensure no people go hungry in the future.
Mr Mark Watson
Assistant Principal Curriculum
watsonm@stmaryscollege.com
Director of 5-9 Curriculum
Academic Awards Assembly
In Week 6, the College will celebrate our students' 2023 Semester One academic results. Eligibility for our Academic Assembly is based on students’ Semester One Academic Report results. As we commence Semester Two, this is an opportunity for all students to be aware of our Academic Award Criteria, assisting them to develop personal goals and strive for academic excellence.
Students and their families have been notified this week through email if they are eligible for a Semester One Academic Award. We look forward to celebrating students’ academic achievements at our awards ceremony later this term.
NAPLAN Awards Assembly
2023 NAPLAN results have now been made available to schools. Once ACARA releases Individual Student Reports, they will be distributed to families. We will be able to celebrate our NAPLAN awards at our upcoming Academic Awards Assembly in Week 6 this term. Students who have met our NAPLAN High Achievement Awards criteria have been notified of their eligibility and have been invited to attend.
Absent for Assessment
Following the release of our Term 3 Academic Assessment Calendars, students and their families need to be aware of the College processes following absences around key assessment dates.
The TCS Student Attendance Guidelines determine our ability to make changes to assessment due dates. As a College, we cannot change assessment timelines due to an unapproved student absence. Should a student have an unapproved absence, he is required to submit any assessments before the absence. He may be issued an NR for any exams/assessments missed during unapproved leave.
Please refer to the flow chart below that outlines the processes when a student is absent for assessment.
Mrs Jade Love
Years 5-9 Curriculum Leader
lovej@stmaryscollege.com
Student Engagement
Compassion
At Assembly this week, I spoke to the boys about the concept of ‘compassion’. Compassion is the feeling of sympathy and care that occurs when you see someone else in distress, usually followed by a desire to help. Compassion forms a part of the Gospel Spirituality touchstone which we are unpacking this term.
Sometimes, the boys find it difficult to develop the capacity for compassion because they frequently see things just at face value. They look at the boy they sit next to in class, and they can tell you that he’s pretty good at Maths and he likes the Broncos and he gets tuckshop on a Wednesday.
My challenge to the boys this week was to find out a little bit more about the boys in their friendship group – even just one small piece of information. When we know ‘the story’ that goes with a person, we are more able to practice compassion. I used this graphic to demonstrate to the boys that they shouldn’t rely on assumptions about others, but try to find out a little more.
The House Points totals have been re-set after the holidays and it looks like McGoldrick are away to an early lead.
It’s wonderful to see boys getting involved in activities here at school and earning merits in their classes.
Mrs Samantha Parle
Assistant Principal Student Engagement
parles@stmaryscollege.com
Business Manager
Reminder - Term 3 Fees
I hope all students and families have settled back into the school routine. I know my eldest son was struggling in the first week, falling asleep on the way home from school!
A friendly reminder that Term 3 fees are due by Monday, July 24, unless you are on a payment plan. All outstanding invoices will be followed up next week.
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.
Mr Patrick Wilson
Business Manager
wilsonp@stmaryscollege.com