Dear Parents, Teachers and Students

Course selection evening – Year 10

Thank you to the many teachers and leadership staff who ran and attended the course selection evening on Tuesday night. I was impressed with the quality of the advice, the serious engagement of the students and the warm support that parents were giving to their children and to the school. If I could re-state some of the general points for all of you:

• The Australian curriculum provides a wide range of opportunities for students to develop their knowledge, understanding and skills in a range of subjects that promote personal growth and knowledge and a capacity to participate in a flexible and diverse workforce. There’s a lot to be said that’s good about knowing things and applying that knowledge to strategy, planning and problem solving; and improving one’s own life is important also.

• The last few years have shown the world in general and Melburnians in particular, that the future in unpredictable. They’ve also shown us that the people who prosper and do well in rapidly changing and often adverse situations are the people who can bring flexibility, openness, dynamism and good will to those changes.
  
• In this world of easily acquired information (as opposed to understood information) personal integrity and honesty still applies. We are still working out what artificial intelligence can do for us. 50 years ago, pretending that some work was yours when it wasn’t was called plagiarism or cheating. The emergence of AI has not changed this fact. We want honest people of integrity in our classrooms and so this fundamental fact still applies.
  
• The dangers of emerging technologies in my lifetime revolved around who would be the master and who would be the servant with these technologies. Humankind has embraced these communication and information technologies for all their good and all their bad. In doing this successfully, we have to ask ourselves, ‘What kind of person do I want to be?’ and ‘How can I be my best self for my own peace of mind and for the enhancement of those who trust me and love me, for my community and for human progress?’.

These are big ideas that land on us out of nowhere, when we least expect it. Students should choose subjects that they like and they’re good at, and they should work with trusted expert teachers to apply critical thinking, research, problem-solving, listening, agency and integrity to that learning. Rarely does the sun rise on a day where I’m not optimistic about the future. I’m very excited about the future of this country because your children and our students will be part of it.

Michael Lee OAM
Principal (Acting)
Written on Boon Wurrung Country

Dear St Mary’s College Families,

In recent days, I have had many insightful conversations with Year 10 students, as they embark on the important process of selecting their senior pathway and subjects. Many of these students are well researched and have largely determined their Year 11 and 12 pathway, following extensive research, careers advice (via Mandy Ellwood) and conversation around the dinner table. For some, there is work to be done to ensure that important decisions, such as whether to enrol in the VCE or VCE Vocational Major, or which subjects to choose that best cater to personal interests and strengths, are well informed. Our senior studies information session, which involved subject displays and a Q&A session, was designed to provide the information needed for all students and parents to understand the structure of the senior years of schooling. This was backed up the next day with individual course counselling meetings for parents and their daughter / son to engage with a staff member to discuss their planning and the decisions to be made in the coming weeks. Please ensure you reach out and ask for help if you or your child is in any way uncertain about any aspect of this process.

On Monday 7 August we have a group of students, accompanied by two staff members, setting off on the annual indigenous immersion to Lake Mungo. We wish all those attending all the best and safe travels. The stories reported back to the school community by last year’s group reflected a transformational experience for all.

Over the past couple of weekends, we have had two ski trips, fully subscribed by 24 students each trip, and several snow loving staff. We are lucky to have a committed team of staff and a very generous and caring student group, who often placed the needs of others ahead of their own on what can be a physically challenging experience. Thanks and well done to all.

Last week Year 10 students attended a performance of Macbeth in Logue Hall, delivered by professional actors, in support of the Year 10 English curriculum. This is always a highlight for Year 10 students, who should be congratulated for the way they respectfully engaged with the actors on the day.

On Monday evening last week, a group of students and staff slept at school! This event was in support of the St Vincent De Paul Winter Sleepout and will lead to a range of fundraising and collection efforts, particularly in the form of toiletries. We had an education session with a representative from Vinnie’s, ate soup together, gathered around the campfire and were led through a documentary and reflective activity by College Captain, Raj Johnston. Well done and thankyou to all involved.

On a personal note, I will be on leave for the last five weeks of this term. My last day will be on Tuesday 15 August, and I’ll return in the first week of the holidays. I look forward to travelling to Europe, with plans to visit the Edmund Rice and Nano Nagle heritage centres in Ireland, to meet with a number of schools in multiple cities, to spend time with Br. Peter Clinch in Rome, and some R and R along the way.

Kate Johnston will be Acting Deputy Principal in my absence. I wish Kate well and have passed onto her the support I am fortunate to receive from the St Mary’s College community.

Shaun Lancashire
Deputy Principal

Homelessness Week

A committed group of students gathered on Monday evening to learn about who in our town is homeless, why they are homeless and what each one of us can do to support the 24,000 Victorians who are homeless every night. Homelessness Week occurs every year and the theme for 2023 is “It's time to end homelessness”.

A representative from St Vincent de Paul shared part of the evening with us, and our understanding of homeless vastly improved through a workshop and games.

Our College Co Captain, Raj led the group through a discussion after watching a documentary on the homeless of Melbourne. We pondered who are those most in need, what circumstances led to their homelessness and how we can uphold their dignity.

Before bed, we spent some time in reflective prayer. Our prayer called us to focus on ways in which we might engage in the mission of Jesus, particularly through works of mercy. We are all called to be in solidarity – to stand shoulder to shoulder with the voiceless, the powerless, the homeless and the helpless. Our time of reflection asked us to take another step to being in solidarity, to recognise the connection that exists between us all. As human beings, we are all part of a global family. The things that we have in common are far greater than the things that separate us. Jesus reminds us that the greatest commandment of all is two-fold: to love God and to love neighbour. We concluded our prayer with the opportunity to light a candle for or intentions.

Our meals had been kindly prepared for us by Ms Saundry and we started our morning with a shared breakfast with Mr. Lee. 

Mr. Lancashire and Mrs. Pettit generously gave of their time to be with us overnight I thank them for their generosity.

The evening was cold, the floor was hard, however we did enjoy the warmth of the fire pit and the solidarity of each other.

As an ongoing commitment to supporting those experiencing homelessness, we have connected with our local St Vinnies group, and they are most in need of toiletries (soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, non-aerosol deodorant etc.) and women’s socks. All pastoral groups will be asked for donations in the coming weeks. Please support this initiative.

Kate Johnston
Director of Identity

How are you?

I happened to walk into a junior Italian class the other day. Being in a slightly garrulous mood, I asked a member of the class to ask me a question in Italian. The one they asked took me back to the days when I (briefly and badly) studied Italian.

‘Come stai?’ (How are you?). This isn’t especially relevant to the piece but I proffered a mangled response that was neither Italian…or English for that matter. But I was pleased to be asked this question.

On one hand, the quote above is a common salutation, a reflexive sentence often made to start a conversation. However, I believe it is much more than that. Indeed, even if it is reflexive, it highlights a widespread default to check-in with other people. It is socially agreeable to do so which, in a subtle way, reinforces my belief that most people do care about others. We can’t be that bad if this is a commonality, right?

It can, of course, be very hard to answer honestly to the question of how you are. Often, we meet treat it as a nicety and say generic things like ‘Yeah, not bad’ or words to that effect. However, sometimes a person will emote and explain how they really are. Pleasantry becomes personal and a conversation can occur that is really helpful. I’m sure most of us have had these conversations. It is humanity writ large – admitting vulnerability, looking out for each other, knitting together.

Our Pulse Wellbeing Data App is the technological form of the how are you sentence opener. However, social nicety is not a part of this exchange as recipients of this question can be honest and tell us how they really are. It is a key part of our wellbeing strategy to provide care for our students. Please encourage your son or daughter to use this app, either to let us know that they are going well or may need some support.

Buona Giornata (Have a nice day).

Chris Pye
Director of Students

Student Voice

As prefects, we get the unique opportunity to make changes and initiate events at the school, some of which last for years to come. Independent decisions are made by us as students, with a thumbs up and additional aid from teachers. Of late, we have been up and about, growing our plans and seeking advice.

Just last week the Year 12 prefects held a subject selection expo for the year 10s, aiding them in their future selection process and guiding them on their path. This initiative planned by the prefects will hopefully remain an annual event throughout the years.

Here are some of the key points we spoke about with the Year 10s:

• While academic learning and the formation of good study habits are both important, I would say that the latter is more so. While your scores in Year 11 does not direct your future, good study habits formed during this time will have a direct influence on your scores in Year 12, which do count in terms of future opportunity.

• Knowing what the subject really involves is also important. Maths Methods and General Maths aren’t just an easier and harder version of the same content. Whilst both maths, they are considerably different, not just in content, but the way this content is learnt. This is true for many ‘similar’ subjects. For example, while Economics may involve more external study and discussion, a subject like Business Management is often seen as more direct learning of the content as it is at face value. Both are valuable, they just have different methods of learning content. Knowing these differences can be helpful in knowing what suits your learning style.

• VCE is about you, what you enjoy. Too often Uncle Barry at the dinner table will scowl at the thought of you doing one subject compared to another, and too often these external factors influence a student’s choices to their detriment. To clarify this, it is beneficial to generally abide by three guidelines when making choices on education and occupation: what you are good at, what you enjoy, and what you need. Though cliché: follow your passion and your enjoyment, for that is what, at the end of the day, will ultimately guide you to your career path. In terms of looking at what you need, try to be specific. Look at what you really need and less what you think you need, though if you have little to no idea of what you want to do in the future, just take your time, take your opportunities, feel free to explore, and eventually you will find your way.

We also went over various study tips and conducted a session that allowed the Year 10s to walk around and inspect various posters with information, ask questions to prefects about various subjects, and any other related questions, all in a free form manner. 

All in all, I would say this event was a great success.

After traversing the Edmund Rice campus, I gauged some of the subjects, projects and assessments of note that students in other year levels – especially Years 7, 8, and 10 – have been involved in. 

Starting in Year 7, they have been learning about Ancient China, and started book reports on the text they have studied, such as ‘Wonder’.

In Year 8, Lacrosse has been the sport of interest in PE, and Ancient Japan is being explored. Samantha, Evi, Millie, and Michala were willing to recount their learning of cells and atomic weights in science class, and their involvement in the Run like a Girl program.

In Year 10 Food-Tech, the students have designed food trucks. Eva from this Food-Tech class was very keen in detailing her Italian inspired ‘la vita bella’ food truck. Also from Year 10, studying Shakespeare has commenced with the famous play Macbeth. Of special note is Lincoln Dinh, a student accelerating in Mathematical Methods, who is enjoying it, and getting right into trigonometry. Additionally, in music class, the students are completing an assessment where they pick any piece they wish to play on any instrument, and then perform it.

Whilst the Year 10s are involving themselves in all these interesting tasks and projects, they are getting ready for Year 11, and I, as well as all the other prefects, were glad to help them in this endeavour.

In Year 12, the exams draw ever closer, and in the advent of this arduous mission – a simultaneously exciting and terrifying task – our noses are thoroughly stuffed into our books. 

Ethan Oyston
Prefect of Academia

“We’re Off to See the Wizard!”

St. Mary’s proudly presents the timeless classic ‘The Wizard of Oz’ this September.

Set in Kansas at the turn of the twentieth century, this beloved story sees Dorothy and her dog Toto whisked away to the wonderful land of Oz where she meets a host of characters including the Scarecrow, Tinman, Lion and of course, the Wicked Witch of the West!! With memorable songs such as ‘If I Only Had a Brain’, ‘Munchkin Land’ and ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’, this production ensures that families of all ages will enjoy their journey through Oz.

Over the last two months, our cast of 34 students and student orchestra have been working tirelessly to ensure our production is a magical experience for all.

Performance dates are 7th, 8th and 9th of September in Logue Hall at Edmund Rice Campus. 

Tickets will go on sale Monday 7 August

We look forward to following the Yellow Brick Road with you in September!

Brendan Tollit
Drama Co-ordinator

‘Elvis To The Extreme’ Showcase Extravaganza - Saturday 19 August

As you are aware the St Mary's College Parents and Friends are hosting an entertaining live event on Saturday 19 August "Elvis to the Extreme". This promises to be a fun night of entertainment and an opportunity for College Families to gather and meet and have some fun.

Be mesmerized with the complete package of a stunning, authentic show - including a 9 piece big-band and backing vocalists. With a strong following of fans and enviable reputation as a tribute artist, Marcus Jackson has accomplished worldwide recognition as a respected Elvis Tribute Artist and is Australia’s best 'Elvis' act to date.

St Mary's ELVIS 2023

Saturday 19 August, 7:00pm Doors open for drinks, eating and mingling, 7:30pm Pre-show entertainment, 8:10pm Elvis To The Extreme showcase

BYO Food / Drinks at Bar Prices (due to our licencing permit, this is an over 18yo's event)

• 'VIP Experience' tables of 10 for $600 per table
• The P&F committee have recently generously extended the opportunity to purchase EARLY BIRD TICKETS until Friday 11 August. 

Book Here Now

DONATIONS

We understand that not everyone can attend these events, but are wanting to contribute in some way. The P&F are also looking for donations of vouchers, experiences, products for hampers that will be raffled on the night. If you're able to donate towards these hampers, please contact me at dformosa@stmaryscollege.vic.edu.au

We would love to see many families supporting this event in some way.

Join us for this fantastic evening - wear your best Elvis gear and dancing shoes, if you wish. If you are unavailable and would prefer to give a donation, there is an option on the booking site - all donations to the generous work of our wonderful P&F are greatly appreciated.

There are strictly limited seats for this extravaganza, so contact family and friends to organise your tables ASAP and take advantage of the Earybird special. See promotional flyer or contact Jane Balme at jbalme@stmaryscollege.vic.edu.au with any queries.

Jane Leroi
Parents & Friends Chairperson

Toiletries Donations

As you read earlier in the newsletter a Winter Sleep Out was held to raise awareness of homelessness.

Did you know that 25,000 Victorians sleep rough every night, 9000 of them are young people.

Our local St Vinnies is most in need of toiletries ( soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, non-aerosol deodorant, face wipes, liquid body wash, dental floss etc.) and women’s socks.

All homerooms will be asked to fill a basket and be visited by Social Justice leaders to remind everyone.

Please send your child to school with a donation to help others.

Kate Johnston
Director of Identity

TRADING HOURS

The Midford Uniform Shop is now returning to our regular trading hours

• Tuesday & Thursday 8am-4pm
• First Saturday of the month 9am-1pm

The next scheduled Saturday opening is Sat 5 August 9:00am – 1:00pm

The uniform shop now has full suite of St Mary's College Uniform, so it is a great opportunity to update your child's uniform.

The Midford Uniform Shop is located at 11 Westbury Street, St Kilda East 3183

(Entrance D)

Midford uniform shop purchases can also be made at your convenience from their online uniform shop

Use the code SMC2021 and your order will be filled when the store is next open.

Online Uniform Shop

If required, the Midford uniform shop can also be contacted on opening days by calling 9520-8519.

A reminder also that all Midford full-uniform fittings require an appointment, which can be made by clicking the link below.

Midford Uniform Fitting Booking

Midford Price List

P&F College Uniform Shop

Edmund Rice Campus, Entrance B. During school terms, the P&F Recycled Uniform shop is run by P&F volunteers – usually from 10:30am-12:30pm (please note these revised hours) on the first Saturday of the month.

The P&F Recycled Uniform shop have limited items only.