SMC NEWS 2023 - Term 3, Week 7
Week Ahead
From the College Principal
Multicultural Futsal Competition
This week we conducted our Multicultural Futsal Competition for 2023. As a Principal, I am proud to lead a school that provides opportunities to families from an extraordinary range of backgrounds to be enrolled at the College. In short, our diversity is our strength! I would like to acknowledge the efforts of our First Nations and Multicultural Co-ordinator, Ms Ash Sowter, in helping to support these boys and families at the College.
Futsal is indoor soccer and is very popular in many countries. It is roughly similar to what Touch Football does for Rugby League. Our Third Annual Futsal Multicultural Cup (running Monday - Thursday at first break on the oval) contained eight teams of varying cultures and backgrounds. Each team consisted of players with a connection to the culture at St Mary's College.
We had eight teams compete this year:
- First Nations
- Iraq
- Sri Lanka
- Scotland
- Africa
- Central America
- Germany
- India
Congratulations to Germany who won the Multicultural Futsal Cup.
The final results:
- Germany (Mr Martens)
- Central America (Mr Peralta)
- India (Mr Williams)
- Scotland (Mr Kev Murphy)
I look forward to continue celebrating our diversity this week with many other activities around the College.
Multicultural Inclusion
Fostering multicultural inclusion is essential to ensuring a vibrant and prosperous school community in which everyone is welcomed, feels safe and is supported to participate. St Mary's College plays a critical role in strengthening multicultural inclusion in our community by providing an environment where acceptance of diversity, knowledge of other cultures and an understanding of global and local issues can be developed. All school parents and carers, staff and students are strongly encouraged to be involved in shaping multicultural inclusion in our school community.
Parents and Carers - Toowoomba Catholic Schools Charter
When enrolling your son at St Mary's College, we enter into an agreement about the support for your son's education. Together, a respectful dialogue between the College and Parents is what we strive for at all times. We recognise that it would not be appropriate, for example, for conversation between school and home to be harsh or abusive at any time.
To this end, last week I shared the Education Queensland Code of Conduct for feedback. Please find below the current Parent Engagement Charter for Toowoomba Catholic Schools
ParentEngagementCharter (twb.catholic.edu.au)
Have a wonderful Multicultural week around the College!
Mr Brendan Stewart
College Principal
Deputy Principal
Exams and Study Advice
As we approach the end of term, it is timely to reflect on our children’s study habits. It is essential that students use their time well and develop effective study techniques. This will help them enjoy the learning process and feel that they are being rewarded for the time spent on study. A summary of the advice is detailed below:
1. Don’t cram: Ideally students should break study time into 30–50 minute breaks, with short rests in between. This is an effective way to ensure that the brain continues to work at its optimum level. Longer time periods will result in a loss of concentration and inefficient use of time.
2. Set achievement goals: Research shows that students should aim to achieve something in each study session, rather than aim for a time limit. Working for 45 minutes is not an achievement. Decide on a task or tasks that would feasibly take approximately 45 minutes, and then aim to complete the work to the highest standard. This might be perfecting one or more specific skills or processes, developing some better ideas for written work, or learning a set of facts or a system. These are achievements.
3. Practice test questions:Research shows that posing and practicing questions is a very effective mechanism for developing understanding and creating a long term memory, as opposed to summarising and reading notes. It is important to work under some pressure in order to develop the ability to respond to questions with accuracy and precision.
4. Do something active every day: Regular exercise and activity improves blood flow, relieves stress and improves memory. Research shows that exercise assists with the development of a sharper memory and thinking skills. Endorphins that are released through exercise that make you feel better are the same ones that help you concentrate, and stimulate the growth of new brain cells.
5. Get plenty of rest and sleep: Working for too long can be detrimental to performance. Periods of deep sleep are when the brain consolidates the events and learning experiences from the day and creates long term memory. Without appropriate sleep, most work or study done that day will be forgotten.
Mr Stephen Monk
Deputy Principal
monks@stmaryscollege.com
Identity
Creating a culture of encounter: Multicultural Week
Isn't it amazing when people tell you their story? Even old friends can have a moment where one tells the other something we never knew about them. In that 'Aha' moment, we learn something about the other. We understand them better. These moments are always illuminating, even when they seem trivial.
Something we often hear in that moment is: 'You never told me that' to which the response is generally 'you never asked'.
Creating a culture of story and encounter is something we have been doing at the College for a long time. The Irish are great storytellers, and the Christian Brothers whose heritage we share must have told plenty in the old days.
Multicultural week is an extension of this. We celebrate the rich cultural tapestry of the College by telling each other our stories. By encountering each other in this way, we open ourselves up to true dialogue, where our eyes are opened to our shared humanity.
In the Acts of the Apostles, we read of Peter meeting Cornelius, the Roman centurion. This is a transformational meeting. Peter, the leading Christian disciple but also a devout Jew, learns that Cornelius is also a follower of Jesus. In this moment, he exclaims: 'I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism'. This is our example of how an inclusive community can be created and how peace can be the result.
There are plenty of cultural and sporting activities during Multicultural Week that provide opportunities for dialogue and encounter. Please ask your young men about these to create your own dialogue about our inclusive community.
Upcoming Identity dates:
Rosies: Friday 25th August 4.00pm -7.00pm. Meet at St Joseph’s Convent Building at St Thomas More’s Parish, South Street.
Mr Kevin Murphy
Assistant Principal Identity
murphyk@stmaryscollege.com
Curriculum
Version 9.0 of the Australian Curriculum
A glimpse into the educational horizon reveals the forthcoming implementation of version 9.0 of the Australian Curriculum. Our teachers are currently familiarising themselves with this evolution, which promises significant changes.
Let's dive into the key points of version 9.0 and our school's approach.
Version 9.0 focuses on preparing students for a dynamic world by nurturing critical thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability. Our teachers are dedicated to incorporating version 9.0 into our practices, undergoing necessary professional development this year. Curriculum departments will be focussing on this topic at the upcoming CTJ pupil-free day. Next year, all Year 7 subjects will adopt version 9.0, enriching learning experiences with an emphasis on critical thinking.
Version 9.0 will also impact primary education, focusing on literacy and numeracy to establish strong foundations. Anticipation surrounds version 9.0 and the positive impact it will have going forward, including fostering seamless transitions between year levels and better learning outcomes for our students.
Mr Mark Watson
Assistant Principal Curriculum
watsonm@stmaryscollege.com
Director of 5-9 Curriculum
Literacy
As we have been celebrating Book Week at the College this week, I thought it would be timely to share with you some of the exciting literacy-focused initiatives our boys have been immersed in to enrich their learning journey.
Primary Book Week Parade:
Our students recently participated in the much-anticipated Primary Book Week Parade. The energy of our Year 5 and 6 boys was alive with a display of characters, showcasing not just their costumes but their enthusiasm for literature.
Book Week Lunchtime Activities:
During Book Week, our boys had the opportunity to engage in lunchtime activities held in the Library. From book-related trivia contests to creative writing workshops with a guest author, the school buzzed with energy, reinforcing the idea that reading can be both enjoyable and educational.
Dedicated Focus on Literacy:
Every morning, our primary classes immerse themselves in a dedicated 30-minute session as part of our Promoting Literacy Development (PLD) program. These sessions are designed to develop essential reading and writing skills in a structured and engaging manner, with a strong focus on spelling. Since implementing the program in Term 1, we have seen fantastic growth in literacy within our Primary classrooms.
Inclusive Approach to Literacy:
We are proud to share that recently, our students with English as an additional language (EALD) have embarked on their journey with the PLD program this term. This initiative underpins our commitment to liberating education, ensuring that language barriers are no longer obstacles to their literary exploration.
As we reflect on these literacy-focused initiatives, we are reminded of the immense potential within every young mind. The gift of literacy keeps on giving, enriching lives and empowering individuals to shape their futures. We thank our dedicated educators, passionate students, and supportive parents for making these initiatives possible.
Let's continue cultivating a love for reading and writing, nurturing a generation of thinkers, dreamers, and doers.
Mrs Jade Love
Director of 5-9 Curriculum
lovej@stmaryscollege.com
Student Engagement
Inclusive Community
The idea of an ‘inclusive community’ is easily identified this week at SMC. We held our Multicultural Futsal competition, the Year 8 students enjoyed a multicultural education day on Thursday and the College will be marking Wear It Purple Day on Friday. What a great celebration of the range of people and personalities that we have here.
Cultural diversity brings a greater depth to our community and allows our young men to understand more effectively the differences in backgrounds, viewpoints and values. We all have a story to tell about where we come from and what drives us – we will be encouraging our boys to “be curious, and not judgemental” about those that they might see as different from themselves. Today, we were excited to see boys dressed in the culture that they identify with or that they admire.
The research into young people who identify as rainbow people clearly indicates that the likelihood of mental health issues and self-harm (including suicide) is much higher for those students who identify as queer. This is frequently the result of discrimination and disrespectful treatment from others, which has a long term impact on a young person’s mental health. The one clear factor that can significantly reduce this risk, is the presence of a single supportive adult in that young person’s life. Wrist bands can be purchased and worn this week – see your House Leader or the Library staff – and stickers (limited amount) will be available on Friday.
Mrs Samantha Parle
Student Engagment
parles@stmaryscollege.com
Business Manager
College Fees
Hello Parents and Guardians,
As we approach the conclusion of Term 3, we kindly request that you settle any outstanding account balances before the term ends.
September Statements:
Expect to receive your September statements on the 4th or 5th of September. Please review them carefully and don't hesitate to reach out with any queries.
Your prompt attention to account settlement helps ensure seamless operations within our school. We're here to support you with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your statement.
Thank you for your cooperation and ongoing partnership.
Mr Patrick Wilson
Business Manager
wilsonp@stmaryscollege.com