Term 1, Week 7 - 09.03.2021
Principal News
The Importance of Reading for Boys
I believe that most of us would agree that reading and comprehension are critical skills, probably the most critical skills our boys can develop in their time at school. It has been a constant source of curiosity of mine that some young men avoid tasks that require a high reading level, or do not take the time to read something properly. On the other hand, high achievers tend to excellent readers. Why is this the case?
In the weeks leading up to Easter, I would like to share a few thoughts about reading and ask a few questions. I certainly don't have all the answers but I'm happy to share some observations during my 27 or so years of teaching boys and 22 years of being a father to young men!
Firstly, it's important to promote quiet reading at home as a good thing to do. Even if other past-times like gaming are used as a reward after quiet reading time, I think this is worthwhile. I have found it is important that I model to my sons that reading is important in my own life. Try to provide opportunities at home, maybe special times that are agreed upon, for quiet reading where everyone in the house is reading for a period of time - could be as little as 20 or 30 minutes. I have found it is something to talk about with the family and negotiate if possible. It's an "argument" worth winning!
Secondly, there is still a place for paper books, especially for school-age boys. I think it is easy for all of us to believe that reading is all going online, and that there is no place for paper-based books or fiction. I know, however, from experience that boys of all ages love fiction authors, and not just JK Rowling and Harry Potter! Rick Riordan and the Percy Jackson books; Lemony Snicket and a Series of Unfortunate Events; and Jeff Kinney and the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books are worldwide best-sellers which continue to engage boys of all ages. There is something unique about reading a paper book that is different to reading online. I believe that it promotes patience, calmness and better comprehension in the long-run.
Thirdly, the data would say that it is true that girls tend to outperform boys in reading in standardised testing. The differences between genders, however, is not as great as the differences within each gender. In other words, all young men can improve their reading level, but there are great differences between excellent readers and those who struggle in each year level - not just at St Mary's College, but across the country. Good readers have access to EVERY subject, because they understand and decode the requirements of all subject activities.
I hope to extend on this discussion in the coming weeks, and I'm happy to hear your perspectives about our young men and reading at stewartb@stmaryscollege.com.
Red Weeks
This week, we have instituted the concept of Red Weeks in our calendar. We have announced that Weeks 8 and 9 will become red weeks (Monday 15 March - Friday 26 March). Red weeks are weeks where co-curricular activity is limited to unavoidable events only, or those excursions directly related to assessment. In other words, we want our boys to concentrate on exams during this key period of the term. We have promoted this to our staff and already knocked back a couple of requests for excursions during this time. I am a believer in "practical, hands-on" activities for young men. There is also a time, however, to slow down and concentrate on the key assessments and this is a small way of contributing to a quieter, more studious period of the College calendar.
The Red Weeks concept will be repeated in Terms 2, 3 and 4 this year.
Fees and the Collection Notice
Thank-you all so much for your patience regarding our fees this year. The problem that we have experienced is largely out of our control. I understand, however, that statements have been sent and our team is working very hard to ensure that our first 2021 invoices are correct when they are sent this coming week. The following notice was sent early last week, and I appreciate the fact that you continue to co-operate with the College in regards to our fees.
College Fees
Firstly, thank you for your patience whilst we transfer to our new Finance System. We have been unable to send out invoices to families at this stage, whilst we work on fixing some of the issues that have arisen with the software.
Please note, we will be sending your invoices as soon as possible. Given that you have not received your invoice yet, we will be extending the early discount on upfront Tuition payments until 31st March 2021. Please note we may reassess this date if invoices are not able to be sent in a timely manner due to unforeseen circumstances.
We are able to accept payments towards your fees during this time.
Kind regards,
St Mary's College
My reflection for this week:
THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT – Week beginning Monday 8th March Readings: Exodus 20:1-17 or 20:1-3, 7-8, 12-17; 1 Corinthians 1:22-25; John 2:13-25
In this week's gospel, Jesus drives the traders out of the temple saying, “Stop making my Father’s house a market place!” Jesus cleanses the temple because values have gone astray. This cleansing is symbolic of reform and renewal.
We are the Church - it is through our actions and works that we are the hands and feet of Christ in our world today.
Caritas Australia’s annual Lenten campaign theme for this year is ‘Be More’, which comes from the words of St Oscar Romero “Aspire not to have more, but to be more.” This is a wonderful invitation to rethink what is important to us, what renewal or reform is needed in our own lives and as a community. Hearing of how, with some support from Caritas, communities are able to be architects of their own development, brings about a change in us. We are invited to be part of the story, of working in partnership for a better world.
One such good news story is of Oliva which is featured in Project Compassion. Oliva is a mother of four who did not have the opportunity to go to school in Tanzania and was embarrassed that she was unable to read, write or count. As an adult, her business was losing money because she couldn’t add up. Then Oliva enrolled in Caritas Australia’s literacy and numeracy classes. She also set up a home classroom to teach her neighbours, for free, because they were too shy to attend larger classes. Oliva has now graduated, attendance at her home classes is growing, her kiosk is thriving, and she is helping her children with their homework. She aims to become a pastor and run for leadership in the next local election - to help her community to ‘Be More.’
Access to education liberated Oliva, her family and her community. Oliva has transformed her life. What kind of reform would Jesus call us to make today? What are the things that need renewal or might be changed in our world? How can you “Be More”?
Prayer for Intercession: We pray for the millions of adults who did not have the opportunity to receive an education. That with our support, they find new opportunities to learn and grow so they can be architects of their own development.
Peace.
Mr Brendan Stewart, Principal - stewartb@stmaryscollege.com
College Careers
Men at Work Mentoring Program
The 'Men at Work' mentoring program links St Mary’s College Old Boys and community members with current St Mary’s College students for the purpose of assisting students to develop the tools, knowledge and networks necessary to achieve their career goals. The program is only open to Year 11 and 12 students in 2021, so take this excellent opportunity to get a head start on your career journey.
For those gentlemen interested in applying for this program please:
- Complete the Mentee student Men at Work Application form below - Student Mentoring Application
- Return it in person to the Careers Centre or email it back to Mr Barber, Career Support Officer at barberp@stmaryscollege.com by Friday 12th March
If you have any queries about the program, please don’t hesitate to come and see us in the Careers Centre in DUHIG 21.
Interested in entry to Medicine/Dentistry in 2022?
The UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) is a 2-hour computer-based test that assesses a range of abilities identified by universities as important in practicing in the fields of medicine, dentistry, and clinical sciences. The UCAT is required for entry to Medicine and Dentistry at certain universities, but not all. UCAT will be offered on a choice of dates throughout the month of July and early August 2021. UCAT bookings are open now and the deadline for bookings is 10th May, 2021.
- Students should be aware of important dates
- Students are encouraged to browse University Clinical Aptitude Test to find out more
- Browse details about the UCAT test format
- Read the essential Practice Tips to become familiar with the test before preparation
- UCAT practice tests are to assist students familiarise themselves with the type of questions they can expect to see in the test
- Completing practice tests is a vital part of preparation for the UCAT
- Another excellent link to browse is iCan Med - Resources
If you require assistance navigating the UCAT process, then please visit the Careers Centre as soon as possible.
Make a head start to your career in health
If you are keen to pursue a career in health, then here are the top 6 tips for success in health from James Cook University healthcare students and recent graduates.
Wonderful Work Experience
Recently, some St Mary’s College students completed work experience to explore the world of work. Whilst on work experience, students experienced work in their careers of interest as well as completed a trial for a potential offer of a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship.
Work experience is a great way for students to determine what their future career pathway may look like or which careers is not of interest. Either way, work experience is extremely valuable.
Harry Jones (Year 10) explored his interest in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology at Toowoomba Toyota.
Riley Wockner (Year 12) was hard at work installing new kitchen joinery for Halls Cabinets and Joinery.
Joel Saffy (Year 12) was honing his carpentry skills whilst on work experience with Phoenix Built QLD.
School-Based Apprenticeships & Traineeships
If you are interested in a School-Based Apprenticeship, please contact the Career Support Officer, Mr Barber via email at barberp@stmaryscollege.com or drop in to the Careers Centre in DUHIG 21.
You will need to complete a SBA Expression of Interest Form and have a current resume and cover letter.
Resume templates and information to assist are available on the Careers Canvas page, link below.
School Based Apprenticeship | Year Level | Location | Closing date |
Certificate III in Hospitality (Front of House) | 10, 11 and 12 | Jilly’s Café, Margaret Street, Toowoomba For further information click here | ASAP |
Certificate III in Business | 10, 11 and 12 | Berny’s on West, Toowoomba For further information click here | ASAP |
Certificate III in Business | 10, 11 and 12 | Duo Bakery & Café, Toowoomba For further information click here | ASAP |
Certificate III in Business Administration | 10 and 11 | Tilly’s Crawler Parts, Toowoomba For further information click here | 19th March |
Certificate III in Hospitality (Front of House) | 10 and 11 | Downs Club Toowoomba For further information click here | ASAP |
Senior Pathways
USQ Head Start Program
Congratulations to Mitchell Quinlan (Year 11) and Harold Shelton (Year 12) who have completed the USQ Head Start program through the University of Southern Queensland (USQ). The Head Start program gives students an opportunity to access the university experience. It can also result in direct entry into undergraduate courses.
Mitchell Quinlan received a Distinction in his Organisational Behaviour course which is an outstanding result. Harold Shelton also completed an Accounting for Decision Making course. Well done, boys!
Benefits of the USQ Head Start Program
Save money: The first course is free! Want to study more? Additional courses are available at a discounted rate.
Gain QCE points: Receive two points towards your Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) for each USQ Head Start course you successfully complete. You can receive a maximum of 8 credits.
Gain credit towards a degree: You may gain credit for the courses you complete; which means you'll have fewer courses to study when you start your degree.
Get ahead: Prepare yourself for university by getting a feel for on-campus or online study, developing uni-level study skills and discovering more about your potential degree, all before you finish Year 12!
Entry into USQ: Complete a USQ Head Start course and gain entry into a related USQ Degree (remember, you still need to meet the degree pre-requisites)!
Any students in Year 10, 11 or 12 who are interested in applying for a USQ Head Start course in Semester 2, please see Ms Hannam to discuss your options.
Sport News
Sporting Results
Seniors Cricket Gala Day
| SMC | 3/91 | Oakey State High | 90 |
| SMC | 6/192 | Assumption College | 8/136 |
| SMC | 1/154 | Toowoomba State High | 3/153 |
Please see below Junior Sport results for last week:
AFL
| Win | Junior White | 30 | Our Lady of Lourdes | 12 |
| Win | Junior Blue | 50 | East State School | 12 |
| Win | Senior White | 30 | East State School | 25 |
| Win | Senior Blue | 48 | Harlaxton State School | 0 |
Hockey
| Loss | Junior White | 1 | East State School | 4 |
| Win | Junior Blue | 4 | Glenvale State School | 0 |
| Loss | Senior White | 3 | Glenvale State School | 4 |
| Win | Senior Blue | 3 | Our Lady of Lourdes | 1 |
Swimming
Congratulations to the below students for being selected to compete at the State Championships in Swimming:
- Lincoln Sack
- Kaiden Sack
- Alex Fischer
- Brock Smith
- Lachlan Parker
- Jasper Eagleson
Lachlan Parker broke two records - the 200m freestyle and 200m backstroke. He also won 12 Years Age Champion.
Tonie Carroll Cup
The Rugby League Tonie Carroll Cup on the weekend was a great success! The boys had a fantastic time and played some quality rugby league. Our young men walked away with confidence and pride.
Special thank you to Mr Michael Pike and Mr Brian Steer for their help in taking the boys away and providing quality coaching.
Please click HERE to view a photo montage.
| Win | Year 7 Rugby League Team 1 | 2 | Beenleigh | 1 |
| Win | St Mary's College Team 2 | 4 | Woodbridge | 0 |
| Loss | Year 7 Rugby League Team 1 | 0 | Marsden | 4 |
| Win | Year 7 Rugby League Team 1 | 5 | Foxwell | 1 |
| Loss | St Mary's College Team 2 | 0 | Marsden Team 2 | 3 |
| Win | St Mary's College Team 2 | 6 | Mabel Park | 1 |
| Win | Year 7 Rugby League Team 1 | 3 | Woodbridge | 0 |
| Tie | St Mary's College Team 2 | 2 | Keenest Park | 2 |
Mr Scott Cowan, Head of Sport - cowans@stmaryscollege.com
Library News
New Manga
The SMC Library has just added new Manga titles to its collection and the books are flying off the shelves. Manga is one of the most popular genres in the SMC Library and we are proud to have one of the largest collections in Toowoomba, with over 830 Manga titles available for students to borrow.
For those of you who are not familiar with Manga, please read ahead.
Manga in Japanese means "flowing words" and it is an ancient art that has been used for centuries as a form of entertainment. To put it simply, Manga is Japanese comic books, that are easily translated to English.
Our Manga collection has continued to grow each year due to the high demand. It is very popular and widely read by our students for enjoyment, with many reading three plus books per day. We encourage Manga to be a part of a balanced reading approach, where the boys' reading experiences are from several different genres.
Our main supplier of Manga is Zombster, a Brisbane-based online store keeping us up-to-date with all the new series on offer. Some of our newest Manga series are Demon Slayer and Dr Stone, please see below a short overview of each title.
Demon Slayer
Tanjiro sets out on the path of the Demon Slayer to save his sister and avenge his family!
In Taisho-era Japan, Tanjiro Kamado is a kindhearted boy who makes a living selling charcoal. But his peaceful life is shattered when a demon slaughters his entire family. His little sister Nezuko is the only survivor, but she has been transformed into a demon herself! Tanjiro sets out on a dangerous journey to find a way to return his sister to normal and destroy the demon who ruined his life.
Learning to destroy demons won’t be easy, and Tanjiro barely knows where to start. The surprise appearance of another boy named Giyu, who seems to know what’s going on, might provide some answers - but only if Tanjiro can stop Giyu from killing his sister first!
Imagine waking to a world where every human has been mysteriously turned to stone...
One fateful day, all of humanity turned to stone. Many millennia later, Taiju frees himself from the petrification and finds himself surrounded by statues. The situation looks grim - until he runs into his science-loving friend Senku! Together they plan to restart civilization with the power of science!
High-schooler Taiju is also petrified the moment he’s about to confess to his high-school crush. Flash forward several thousands of years later, Taiju awakens and joins up with his friend Senku, who has ambitious dreams. His plan: to restart civilization from square one with the power of science!
Manga Testimonials
"Manga provides a unique, multi-faceted approach to reading, which encourages a younger reader to broaden their appreciation for differing cultural approaches to storytelling." - Year 10 student
"I mainly read Manga because of its unique and interesting style. Manga is limitless in its potential, due to its style, genre and authors." - Year 12 student
Overdue Library Loans
Please remind your son to keep-up-to-date with library loans. Students manage library loans through the Library Web App, where they can see overdue items. Students also receive a weekly reminder via email. Overdue library items will need to be returned or renewed before the end of term to avoid a bill. Thanks for your help with this!
Mrs Gemma Tracy, Teacher Librarian - tracyg@stmaryscollege.com
Jesus Christ Superstar the Musical
We are only four weeks out from production, and it is amazing to see everything come together!
Our Year 11 Visual Art students with the assistance of Ms Anne O’Sullivan and Ms Maine Firkins, have been painting our backdrops for the set.
The Visual Arts in Practice syllabus encourages students to create artworks for a purpose such as the school musical. The boys are currently working on a project which requires students to manipulate 2D mediums, so the task of painting backdrops fits quite well into this assessment item.
Harry Easterbrook and Ruben Sellar also need mentioning for coming in on the weekend and adding some finer touches.
The Production team have been very fortunate to be able to incorporate the talents and skills of many staff and students across the College to assist with various tasks. This support is greatly appreciated!
Mrs Peters is always available at petersl@stmaryscollege.com if you have any questions.
Book Online
Tickets are now available for purchase!
The Hub
Mr Roy provides support in the Hub to all students who require assistance with homework, assignments or reviewing current class work. Mr Roy is available every morning before school from 7.30am and at both lunch breaks each day.
There will also be an after school support session every Thursday afternoon from 3.05pm - 4.00pm.
Should special circumstances occur, times can be varied according to need, so please contact Mr Dave Roy on 4631 7333 to arrange a suitable time.
Maths Tutoring Club
Hello Parents,
I would like to extend an invitation for your son to attend maths tutoring. Whether your son needs help, would like to extend himself, or would like to work with other students while completing homework, he is welcome to attend. This is open to all students from Year 5 to 12.
Maths tutoring is on a Wednesday from 7.30am - 8.30am and 3.15pm - 4.15pm in The Hub. For the senior students only (Year 11-12), tutoring will go until 5.00pm on Wednesday.
St Mary's College also has a Maths Club. If your son has an interest in mathematics or would like the opportunity to compete against other schools, he is welcome to join us! Maths Club is held during morning tea on a Thursday in Byrne 12. We'll always be delving into the exciting world of mathematics.
Mr Andrew Canard - canarda@stmaryscollege.com
Chess Coaching
Lost Property
The SMC Clothing Pool has receieved many clothing items left behind at various camps this year. The lost property items are unnamed. We have non-uniform hoodies, coats, shoes, hats, caps, towels, swim shirts and swim shorts.
If your son is missing an item of clothing, please come to the SMC Clothing Pool and have a look.
We are open on a Monday and Thursday from 8.00am - 9.00am and a Tuesday from 2.30pm - 3.30pm.
Waterford Social Afternoon
A reminder for all Waterford boys. Mrs Connolly is running a social afternoon on Wednesday 10th March from 3.15pm - 5.00pm on the College Oval. The cost is $5.00 and includes a pizza and a drink. Please drop your money to Mrs Connolly before school on Wednesday.
Tuckshop Weekly Lunch Plan
The Weekly Lunch Plan has restarted. Please click on the following link to place an order: www.smcmeals.com
Please note the order window does not open until Wednesday afternoon, and will close Sunday evening at 8.00pm.
Sandra Kelly, Tuckshop Manager - kellys@stmaryscollege.com
SMC Business Register
Calling all St Mary's College Old Boys and Parents! Do you own a business or work for a business located in the Toowoomba region that would be interested in joining our Business Register?
We are often looking for businesses interested in mentoring, work experience, school-based apprenticeships, traineeships and more!
If this sounds like you, please fill out the following form.
St Ursula's College Open Day
