SMC NEWS 2023 - Term 3, Week 4

Week Ahead

From the College Principal

St Mary's College Presentation Night - Academic Awards Change 

The core activity for each student at St Mary's College is to strive for excellence in his academic work. We are proud of the learning growth of all of our students at the College, whatever level of "natural" learning ability they bring. Our job as staff is to develop and hone their skills as they move through the year levels of St Mary's College.

In a positive change to the Academic Awards Night in 2023, there are a number of new initiatives that have been brought on board based on feedback from previous Awards Nights:

1. Bringing back Year 12 into our Presentation Night
2. The addition of a Dux for each Year level: Years 5 - 12
3. The addition of Gold, Silver and Bronze general academic awards in the middle school
4. The addition of Commitment to Learning Awards in each year level
5. Subject awards will be awarded in Years 11 and 12 only
6. Lifting the profile of sporting awards during the ceremony

The intention of the changes is to continue to raise the profile of learning and academics at the College. ALL students are eligible for learning awards. For our high achievers, they will aspire to Dux and Gold, Silver and Bronze awards in each year level. For all other students, they may aspire to the Commitment to Learning Awards in addition to the myriad of other prizes that are awarded on the night.

The last 3 years, our Year 12 students have had a separate set of awards on Valedictory Night.  These awards have now been added back into the main event in October. We look forward to seeing our Year 12 students be recognised in front of the whole community this year.

As is now tradition at the College, the night will feature humorous video presentations, the cultural highlights of the year, and our student leaders hosting the night - a challenging package for two hours!

I would like to thank in advance our Events and Marketing team who are putting together this night on Thursday 19th October. Save the date!

Mr Brendan Stewart
College Principal

Deputy Principal

Zscaler Website and Content Filtering Services for Students

As part of Toowoomba Catholic Schools (TCS) increased focus on cyber security, our Information Services department continually assess and restrict access to websites and content that do not align with our Acceptable Use of ICT Systems policy. We currently use many systems to protect our students online. Zscaler is one of the many tools that TCS utilises to help protect our staff and students from harmful websites and content when browsing the internet. 

Up until this week, this program has been implemented across all laptop computers while they are connected to our networks (on the school campus). This protection has now been extended to include the use of these devices while at home. Our number one priority is to keep our boys safe.

Mr Stephen Monk
Deputy Principal 
murphyk@stmaryscollege.com

Identity

Brother Paul Conn Visit 

This week we have been visited by Brother Paul Conn.

Brother Paul is the deputy Province Leader of Oceania for the Christian Brothers.

He has spent the last three days with staff and students helping us to further embed the four Edmund Rice Touchstones.

So what are touchstones?

The Touchstones encapsulate the enduring values of Edmund Rice, the founder of the Christian Brothers. They represent the core elements that define our educational philosophy and inspire us all - students and staff to become well-rounded individuals. Each touchstone serves as a beacon, guiding us towards a real understanding of our world and our place within it as a College in the Edmund Rice tradition.

Liberating Education encourages us to embrace knowledge as a liberating force, empowering us to question, analyse, and think critically.

Gospel Spirituality invites us to nurture our spiritual selves, fostering a sense of purpose and connection to the broader community.

Inclusive Community reminds us to celebrate diversity, promote inclusivity, and stand in solidarity with those on the margins.

Justice and Solidarity call us to advocate for fairness, equity, and social change, extending a helping hand to those in need.

If you have a chance, try to discuss these touchstones with your son. These are the values that make St Mary’s the great place it is.

Thanks again to Brother Paul for giving up his time to spend it with us. It was very much appreciated.

Mr Kevin Murphy
Assistant Principal Identity
murphyk@stmaryscollege.com

Curriculum

Subject Selection 

Students currently in Years 7 to 10 must have their subject selections in by Thursday 3rd August.  

Year 10 SET plans will begin next week. Please have a chat to your son about his post-schooling pathway prior to this meeting.  Is he thinking trade, work or university straight after year 12?

Mr Mark Watson
Assistant Principal Curriculum
watsonm@stmaryscollege.com

Director of 5-9 Curriculum

NAPLAN Data

Individual student reports for NAPLAN 2023 have been posted to families for students in Year 5, 7 and 9 who completed NAPLAN testing. Each report contains:  

• Information sheet for parents 
• Individual student report

It’s important to note,  interpretation of results differs from previous years, as students are now measured against proficiency standards.  

 2023 NAPLAN Data  

Percentage of students in the top 3 levels of achievement: 

We are excited to share that our students have perfored above Stage Average in the following domains: 

• Reading (Years 7 & 9) 
• Grammar & Punctuation (Years 5, 7 & 9) 
• Numeracy (Years 5, 7 & 9). 

• 69% of our Year 5 students placed in the Upper Two proficiency scales. 
• 65% of our Year 7 students placed in the Upper Two proficiency scales. 
• 63% of our Year 9 students placed in the Upper Two proficiency scales.

Mrs Jade Love 
Director of 5-9 Curriculum 
lovej@stmaryscollege.com

Student Engagement

Attendance

Last week on Assembly, Mrs Connolly spoke with the boys regarding their attendance and the importance of being here at school every day. This expectation means that our boys build good habits and can develop their full potential during their school years. This theme will be revisited in more depth this term.

Our most significant piece of advice with regard to attendance is that parents should set clear expectations, and then stick to them. Recent articles (that I have shared in previous newsletters) warn against the idea of granting a regular day off or ‘mental health day’ for your son. If this is a struggle in your family, and you would like support, please make contact with your son’s House Leader.

Getting Home

At the end of a busy school day, our 900 boys are released from classes at the 3.05pm bell. Boys are collected by family members, hop on buses, start walking or drive themselves to their homes, or after-school activities. We are facing a few issues at the moment with regard to the behaviour of some boys in this after-school period. We would appreciate it if families could speak with their son and clarify your expectations with regard to his ‘getting home’ routine. For example, is your son allowed to walk up to the convenience store at the Newtown shops to buy a treat before the bus comes? Is your son allowed to drive other students home in his (or your) car? Do their parents know? If your son is waiting for his bus, is he interacting with others and with our neighbours in a respectful manner? If your son is walking home, do you know which route he follows? Does he let you know when he changes his plans?

We understand that the boys like to take the chance to socialise and hang out with their mates, but it’s important that you – as the parents – are kept informed.

While it may be out of school hours, boys who can be identified as St Mary’s students and who choose poor behaviours on their way to or from school, will face consequences here at school.

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

Teens and Sleep

Teens and Sleep is the wellbeing focus for Term 3. Over the course of the term the boys will be exposed to some key messages through daily notices. Let's start with why sleep is essential:

Sleep is essential for teenagers because it plays an important role in their physical and mental development. Most teens should get between 8 and 10 hours of sleep per night. Unfortunately, research indicates that many teens get far less sleep than they need.

Teens face numerous challenges to getting consistent, restorative sleep. Recognising those challenges helps teens and their parents make a plan so that teens get the sleep they need.

Business Manager

Important Reminders and Updates 

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We hope this newsletter finds you well. As we approach the halfway point of Term 3, we would like to share some important updates and reminders.

August Statements:

The August statements will be sent out early next week once receipting is completed for this week. We kindly request all parents and guardians to carefully review the transactions on the statement. If you notice any discrepancies or have any queries or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact our accounts department at accounts@stmaryscollege.com. We are here to assist you and ensure accurate record-keeping.

Outstanding Balances:

For those with an outstanding balance, we understand that individual circumstances may vary. If you are not currently on a payment plan or Direct Debit and need assistance with payment arrangements, please reach out to us. We value open communication and are willing to work with you to find a suitable solution.

Thank you for your continued support in making St Mary's College a vibrant and nurturing learning community. We look forward to working together for the betterment of our students.

Mr Patrick Wilson
Business Manager
wilsonp@stmaryscollege.com