SMC NEWS 2023 - Term 4, Week 8

Week Ahead

From the College Principal

Dear Parents and Carers, 

I want to thank you as friends of the College for your support of St Mary's and your willingness to journey with us this year.  It has been a very busy, successful year and I am grateful for the support of all parents, staff and students as part of our community.  I sincerely hope we were able to meet your expectations as a College and look forward to spending another year together next year.

As this is the final newsletter for the year, I wish you all the joys and blessings that Christmas brings. The birth of Jesus renews our hope in realising God’s plan for each of us.  It is a special time as family and friends get together. Thankfully the shops, on this day at least, will be shut so we can be focused on being together!  At these times, we remember those who are less fortunate and will have not family or friends to share the Christmas spirit with. The students have already made a start on this approach with their generous donations towards the Vinnies Christmas Appeal food hampers that will be delivered to Vinnies later this week. 

I wanted to take a moment this week to acknowledge our outgoing Deputy Principal, Stephen Monk.  Stephen has been at the College for 3 and a half years.  He has been the instigator of our successful timetable schedule operating over the past 2 years.  For me as Principal, he has been a confidante and a trusted ally in everything a secondary school journey brings.  He will be missed as he and wife Sarah begin their new journey in Brisbane from the beginning of 2024.  We will announce Stephen's successor in the coming weeks.

Finally, congratulations and well done to the 112 Year 12 students who graduated last week and to the over 200 students who will attend the Merit Trip this Friday and we hope you again enjoyed the experience.  Our Year 12 students were a truly engaged group who gave the best of themselves during 2023.

Please take care of yourselves and your family as you prepare to spend some quality time together in the coming weeks.  Merry Christmas from St Mary's College!

Christmas blessings

A family gathers around their table for the traditional Christmas lunch (what does it look like in your family?).  I'm constantly fascinated by the rituals and history that families build together.  As parents, we work hard to hold on to these rituals because we understand our children will carry on these traditions in the future and I believe it creates meaning for us all

Like most families, they’ve experienced their moments of unconditional love and crushing hurt. Like most homes, theirs has been visited by joy and tragedy, conflict and struggle, life and death. This Christmas day they not only carve pieces of chicken, beef or turkey, but they carve out a moment of time: to come together and realise that, all in all, they’re a blessing to one another and resolve to be more so, fully realising that the future will continue to be a mix of mystery and struggle.

Their Grace and Prayer boils down simply to this:

This is our family. This is who we are. Thank God we have one another.

Peace and Merry Christmas,

Mr Brendan Stewart
College Principal

Deputy Principal

Holiday Activities

Holiday Activities

As our boys relax over the break, I remind them to keep their brains active. The brain is like a muscle and needs continuous stimulation to retain its abilities. A leading educational researcher, John Hattie, notes the negative impact of school holidays on the retention of knowledge from previously learned material. The holidays also provide an opportunity to make time for physical exercise - another key component for growing optimal brains.

Google John Medina and John Ratey if you are interested in reading more about the importance of physical exercise for a healthy brain. Lastly, I remind students of the benefits of reading good literary fiction. Whilst it is self-evident this can increase your vocabulary, reading also has been shown to increase an important aspect of emotional intelligence. Psychologists David Comer Kidd and Emanuele Castano, at the New School for Social Research in New York, have proved that reading literary fiction enhances the ability to detect and understand other people's emotions, a crucial skill in navigating complex social relationships.

Mr Stephen Monk
Deputy Principal 
monks@stmaryscollege.com

Identity

Year 5 Reflection Day 

On Monday 27^th November, the Year 5 classes will take part in a reflection day to prepare them for the leadership of the primary school. The theme of the day is “Everyday Heroes”. They will identify positive characteristics that make them special that they want to develop in Year 6.

The venue will be the Daddirri Classroom. They should wear sport uniform. The group will go to swimming as usual, so they should bring their equipment for that activity too.

Boys will be sharing a morning tea, so they should bring a plate of food.

Social Justice Activities

As we approach the holidays, it is a good time to remind students that any social justice hours they have completed should be logged for verification. The link for this is on their House Canvas homepage. Logging activities will allow students to be eligible for Footsteps of Jesus awards. It's also worthwhile reminding students that any unpaid, voluntary work which assists someone in the community can be counted in this.

Mr Kevin Murphy
Assistant Principal Identity
murphyk@stmaryscollege.com

Curriculum

Year 7 Induction and Term 1 adjustments

As we approach the end of another school year, we recognise the significance of the transition our young students will be making from the familiar confines of primary school to the dynamic landscape of high school. The leap to Year 7 can be quite challenging for our students, who have grown accustomed to the comfort of a single classroom and a familiar teacher over the past six years.

In high school, Year 7 students will encounter a significant shift as they move between eight different classes, each with its unique teacher and teaching style. This adjustment can be overwhelming, and to support our young men through this transition, St Mary's will provide a two-week induction program at the beginning of the term.

The induction aims to familiarise students with the intricacies of our educational environment. From utilising essential IT tools such as Canvas, Box of Books, and OneDrive to embracing cultural aspects like the War Cry and School Song, the program is designed to ease the learning curve and create a sense of belonging within our St Mary's community. Students will also have the opportunity to meet their buddies and get to know their teachers, fostering connections that will contribute to a positive and supportive learning experience.

With the shift of NAPLAN testing to Term 1, the standard classes for our Year 7 students will be condensed, leaving only a short window for formal assessments. Considering this and the anticipated challenges of the transitional period, we have made the decision not to administer any summative assessments in Term 1.

While students may engage in short formative tasks to reinforce their learning, these will not contribute to a formal grade on the report card. We believe that removing this added stressor during the initial weeks will allow our young learners to focus on adapting to their new environment and building a strong foundation for their academic journey.

The first summative assessments for Year 7 students will take place in Term 2, providing a more settled and conducive atmosphere for meaningful evaluations. We appreciate your understanding and support as we strive to create an environment that nurtures not only academic growth but also the holistic development of our students.

Mr Mark Watson
Assistant Principal Curriculum
watsonm@stmaryscollege.com

Director of 5-9 Curriculum

Subject Choices

If your child has any questions or needs guidance regarding their subject choices, please encourage them to email me at lovej@stmaryscollege.com.  I am here to assist them in making informed decisions that align with their academic goals. 

As we wrap up the school year, please be reminded that report cards will be published through Sentral. Take the time to review your child's progress and celebrate their achievements. Additionally, I encourage students and parents to reflect on the past year and set goals for the upcoming school year. Setting clear objectives will help pave the way for continued success and growth. 

As 2023 draws close, I’d like to thank our students and parents for another fantastic year of learning and collaboration. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. 

Wishing you all a restful and enjoyable Christmas break. 

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

Student Engagement

Thank you 

The end of the school year brings a HUGE ‘thank you’ from my team to the parents and families of our SMC boys. We know that everything for these boys is better when the messages from home align with the messages from school. We are very grateful for the efforts that parents and families put in to hold the College’s high expectations and to continue to challenge these young men as they grow. I hope that all of you will find some small slice of time over the holidays to have a good look at your son and appreciate him for the amazing human being he is. We have certainly seen some significant growth over the school year – both literally and in their capacity as good young men. We look forward to seeing everyone back next year, and getting on with whatever 2024 will bring.

Some lovely words of advice from Maggie Dent to guide you through the ups and downs of the looooong summer holiday break - Seven tips for parenting teen boys: 'Nagging them is like shouting into a void' - The Guardian - Maggie Dent

Phone Policy

All families are reminded that the College will be aligning the Mobile Phone Policy to that of Education Qld. As of January 2024, students will be required to have their phone away for the whole school day. That means that all phones will be stored in lockers from the 8:10am bell and not be used or carried by a student until the 3:05pm bell in the afternoon. All of our boys are allocated a locker and provided with a combination lock – this ensures that their belongings can be secured and safe through the school day. Boys who have been using their phones to pay for tuckshop will need to have other plans in place for the beginning of the new school year.

House Points

Looks like McGoldrick will be finishing the year on top! The final cutoff is over a week away at the moment but this is looking like an impressive lead – well done to the McGoldrick Dragons!

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

Business Manager

Dear Parents & Caregivers

As we approach the conclusion of yet another enriching academic year, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude, along with my finance team and support staff, for your collaboration and dedication in helping to make St Mary's College Toowoomba the best it can be. Your commitment to our collective mission has been instrumental in fostering an environment where our students thrive.

Looking forward to the coming year, we are excited about the prospect of implementing our Masterplan and strategic initiatives. These endeavours are designed not only to enhance the educational experience for our current students but also to pave the way for a bright future, benefitting many generations to come.

I am pleased to announce that the 2024 School fees will be released this week and will be distributed to all families. You can also find this information readily available on our website, www.stmaryscollege.com. Our team has diligently worked to absorb cost increases, ensuring that our fees remain as affordable as possible. While there are some slight adjustments to the fees for 2024, please rest assured that we have strived to keep any changes minimal.

Should you have any queries or concerns regarding the fee structure or any other matters, please do not hesitate to contact me directly. Your feedback is invaluable as we continue to refine our offerings for the benefit of our school community.

As the festive season approaches, I extend warm wishes to you and your families for a safe and joyous Christmas filled with moments of togetherness and cherished memories.

Thank you once again for your ongoing support and partnership. Here's to a promising year ahead for our school and the St Mary's College Toowoomba community.

Mr Patrick Wilson
Business Manager
wilsonp@stmaryscollege.com