Teachers too enjoy the opportunity to pursue passion and imagine possibilities in the crafting of our teacher practice. This week we have had the pleasure of working with a Professional Companion in Daniel Kinzer, who spent time with us in June 2024 to understand our St Vincent’s College vision for education and coming to know our context and culture. This visit was carefully shaped to work with teams of teachers across faculties as we delve deeper into inquiry learning that is human centred, exploring opportunities for both place based learning and play-spaced learning. Dan is an ocean lover, Hawaiian based and very comfortable in this beautiful harbour city of Sydney. He explained his approach as an educator is one of a voyager - cultivating culture, community and curriculum to provoke curiosity that ignites innovation and offers real world solutions that make a positive contribution to our world. His provocation that the most dangerous thing a voyaging vessel can do is to remain tied to the dock is a metaphor for the need for risk-taking, shared story for the vision of all crew members with a commitment to contribute in ways that all can participate to move towards new horizons. Thank you to Ms Alison Boyd-Boland, Director of Teaching and Learning, for crafting such a week of rich professional learning and commendation to all teachers for their commitment  to exploring different ways we can engage our students in teaching and learning.

Thank you to Heads of House and Tutor teachers for today’s phone pouch audit and to our students for their diligence in presenting their pouches in Tutors. Our efforts are a refresh of the rationale and procedures for why we are a phone free school. The research on the impact of phones on adolescent attention and relationships, coupled with our lived experience strengthens our commitment to maintaining a safe and inclusive school that supports students’ attention and awareness on learning and relationships. We started the year with great commitment, but are aware of some lapsed behaviours, more to do with keeping to routines - hence we are leaning back into raising students’ awareness of the impact of digital distraction and expectations for practice. I commend the Year 11 students who are supporting the Heads of House in leading school culture. If you receive communication from your daughter’s Tutor teacher regarding either a missing or broken pouch or to verify that she leaves her phone at home, please know our intentions is not punitive but a proactivity in ensuring we are indeed doing our very best to shape the school environment we want it to be for your daughters. If you want some good reading as a parent raising your children in our digital world, I recommend the highly popular The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt.

The weekend holds a plethora of activities as students enjoy the opportunity to shine. A full fixture of sport, public speaking in a variety of formats in the annual Festival of Speech, and a leadership colloquium for the 2025-2026 Year 12 Leadership Team. Last Sunday we welcomed back the Class of 2000 for their 25 year Reunion, their first reunion on site due to building works and Covid. The stories they shared about their learning both in and beyond the classroom clearly shaped the women they have become, making incredible impacts in the world around them. At the core was a group of classmates - women whose shared stories of ‘living school’ together (some fascinating to a Deputy Principal!)  - affirming the value of being a community. I hope whatever your daughter’s experience has been this week shall carry a story she will enjoy sharing 25 years from now.

Parents of Year 11, please place in your diaries the Year 12 2026 Information Evening on Monday 3 November 6.30pm (letter from Ms Newbond and Ms Boyd-Boland). Your daughter’s last year at the College goes all too quickly and this evening provides an opportunity to guide you in strengthening your daughter’s engagement as a senior student in her HSC year. Clarity of messaging and procedures strengthens our partnership with you and positions us well as we celebrate together the fullness of her time at St Vincent’s College. We look forward to seeing you; your daughters are also encouraged to attend.

Mrs Fry will be back from her overseas leave next week. I know the girls have missed her walking the pathway through the yard each morning, amongst the lockers and the chatter. No doubt she too will have stories to share!

Elizabeth Brooks

Deputy Principal

This milestone reflects not only years of dedicated practice, but also a teacher’s ability to demonstrate deep professional knowledge, evidence-informed pedagogy, and a reflective approach to student learning and wellbeing. It affirms a teacher’s capacity to create meaningful learning experiences, respond thoughtfully to student needs, and contribute to the broader professional life of the College.

St Vincent’s College prides itself on consistently having teachers achieve this level of accreditation each year. We are proud to congratulate the five teachers who have attained this level of accreditation at St Vincent’s in 2026. Their achievement represents the collective strength of our teaching community  as a team of educators committed to continual growth, collaboration, and excellence. Each teacher who reaches this milestone enriches the College’s learning environment, helping to build a dynamic culture of shared expertise and high expectations.

This commitment to professional growth sits at the heart of our College’s values and purpose. Guided by the spirit of the Sisters of Charity, we seek to educate young women who are compassionate, courageous, and committed to making a difference. Our teachers model these same qualities in their daily work,  through their curiosity, perseverance, and deep care for their students and each other.

We celebrate this important professional accomplishment and thank all our teachers for the expertise, generosity, and integrity they bring to their work each day.

Alison Boyd-Boland

Director of Teaching and Learning

Mr Bob Anderson
Director of College Operations

Our IGSA Water Polo teams made a strong return to the pool, showcasing excellent skill and determination in their opening matches. The IGSA Tennis players began their season with great success, demonstrating impressive sportsmanship and commitment on court. Over at Queens Park, our ESTA Touch teams enjoyed the sunshine, playing with confidence, communication and teamwork. Meanwhile, in Volleyball, the energy was high with some incredible rallies and plenty of supportive sideline cheers from teammates.

A reminder that all training times and draws have now moved to Clipboard for this term and beyond. Please ensure you check Clipboard regularly for updates.

Good luck to all teams this weekend & Go Vinnies!

VOLLEYBALL
Vinnies had an amazing day at volleyball on Saturday, with almost all of our teams walking away with a win! The energy, teamwork, and school spirit on display were absolutely fantastic. A huge shoutout to our incredible Year 7s for their outstanding performance and well deserved victory!

Our senior teams also started their term strong, showing great skill, determination, and leadership on the court. It’s shaping up to be an exciting season ahead for all our teams, and we can’t wait to see what the next few weeks bring.

Just a friendly reminder to all players: please wear the correct uniform and always bring a hat and water to your games.

Go Vinnies!

Ms Bianca Wallace - Head of Volleyball

TENNIS
It’s been a strong start to the tennis season this term, with many teams putting up great fights, showcasing impressive rallies, and demonstrating noticeable improvement across the board. Five of our teams came away with wins over the weekend, with some dominating their matches and winning nearly every game. The girls showed fantastic perseverance in the heat, and it’s wonderful to see them back supporting one another both on and off the court to start the term on such a positive note.

Ms Tonya Hetreles - Head of Tennis

Ms Elyse Harmanis

SPORTS STAR OF THE WEEK

SPORTS STAR OF THE WEEK

If your daughter has represented her state or country recently in her chosen Sport, please send us any results, photos or blurbs on her performance to elyse.harmanis@stvincents.nsw.edu.au

Congratulations to Siara McCreery Yr10, Seren Goddard Yr 10, Evie Bresnahan Yr11, Zahara Johnson Yr 11, Billie Rollo Yr 7, Milla Sammut Yr 7 & Chloe Galloway Yr 7 - who competed at the National Oztag Championships last weekend in Coffs Harbour. A special mention to Taylor Galloway Yr 10 and Paige Debreczeni Yr 10 , who were part of the U16 team that won the Championship.

Well done to all students on their outstanding achievements.

Co-ordinator of Sport:  : 0434 610 870 -  elyse.harmanis@stvincents.nsw.edu.au

Head of Touch: Ms Elyse Harmanis - 0434 610 870 - elyse.harmanis@stvincents.nsw.edu.au

Head of Volleyball: Ms Bianca Wallace - 0452 525 441 - volleyball@stvincents.nsw.edu.au

Head of Waterpolo: Mr Jo Schuler - 0450 886 973 - waterpolo@stvincents.nsw.edu.au

Head of Tennis: Ms Tonya Hetreles - 0411 984352 - tennis@stvincents.nsw.edu.au

Website: www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au/learning/sport

For all draw and venue information, go to: www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au/sport/weekly-sports-draw/

IGSA Spawtz: https://igsasport.spawtz.com/