Issue 32 - 25 October 2024

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Photo of the week

Reminders and Events

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

This week is Children’s Week (19 - 27 October), an annual event celebrated in Australia to promote the right of children to enjoy childhood. The Children’s Week Council of Australia advocates for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child, selecting Article 24 as the 2024 theme: Children have the right to a clean and safe environment . Children’s physical and mental health should not be affected by climate change, pollution, unhealthy ecosystems, and loss of biodiversity. A very real way of achieving global positive change is in the education of children so that they can make informed decisions about issues that affect them and their future, advocating for governments to reduce the threats of environmental harm and climate change. Just this week our Year 8 students completed a Geography Assessment on the topic Water in the World , whilst Year 9 STEM students submitted an Engineering Design portfolio evidencing their research and design skills to develop a prototype to benefit a specific group in society - including groups based on age, disability, sustainable goals, etc. We have senior students preparing for the weekend Independent Girls’ Schools Association Festival of Speech , one section of the competition being Current Affairs in which two teams explore two different perspectives on a topical issue in a moderated discussion modelled on the ABC current affairs panel show “Q&A”. Students are to engage synergistically to provide sophisticated analysis of the different perspectives, on issues of both national and international significance. I feel confident in predicting that somewhere in this thinking across the ages of all our students is advocacy for the rights of children to enjoy clean and safe environments in which to grow and thrive.

It seems fitting therefore that we also celebrate World Teachers Day (25 October) within this week. The question of what is education for? is a driving motivator within a school that seeks to integrate faith and knowledge so that our students are equipped, challenged and nurtured to contribute to the common good. We are intentional in identifying the poor and marginalised in society and responding with innovative minds and compassionate hearts in co-creating a more just and equitable world for all. Such education requires educators committed to mission, nurturing of relationships that recognise the values and motivations of students, with a preparedness to design learning experiences and resources that stimulate curiosity ignited by new knowledge whilst developing critical and creative thinking skills to be solution seekers. I pay tribute to all the staff of St Vincent’s College who contribute to the education of our students.

Parents and carers may be also keeping abreast of the current Social Media Age debate , another very real way of keeping children safe. The Albanese government has pledged to introduce a bill to ban children from social media. Some of you may have joined the September webinar facilitated by clinical psychologist Dr Danielle Einstein aimed at providing the community with the essential arguments and evidence relevant to this issue. Dr Einstein's research and expert opinion was included in the South Australian report of the Independent Legal Examination into Banning Children's Access to Social Media . Her research focuses on explaining the connection between technology use, uncertainty and anxiety.

Einstein’s webinar addressed the following arguments:

- The more a young person does not like uncertainty, the more likely they are to have anxiety or struggles with mental health. Technology may be contributing to increased levels of uncertainty with increased rates of social media use correlating with decreased levels of life satisfaction. When a young person socialises 1:1 with a peer they are more likely to listen and talk through an issue; when this ratio increases to 1:5, which is often the case in group chats, there is more potential for scrutiny and being guarded in how one projects themself. Accessing social media as a quick flick to access information to stamp out uncertainty does not develop a young person’s self-efficacy in solution-finding; they need to live with uncertainty to build resilience. It has been found that socially anxious and lonely young people use social media more often leading to problematic use.
- Whilst some proponents against raising the age to access social media arguing that teenagers have access to on-line supports for mental health, Dr Einstein would encourage us to zoom out and consider how we may better direct kids for mental health support via ‘the front door’ accessing family and community support systems firstly. Social media support ought not be constantly needed by adolescents. Learning to manage a situation with check-in supports in place encourages resilience and confidence. Whilst marginalised groups such as LGBTQ+ youth report finding connection in on-line spaces we need to ask if this really overrides the broader negative impact on mental health and focus on improving provisions for disadvantaged groups.
- Whilst on-line safety often has a focus on content, attention on the impact of addictive behaviours is being called for. Exponential build up of overuse of technology can lead to deterioration in attention, memory, executive functioning resulting in a loss of grey matter in the brain. For young people experiencing difficulties in socialisation or attention the impact can be even worse. Developing social goals and skills, such as learning how to make conversation, are fundamental in adolescence. When supporting a young person with social anxiety, they are required to go out and test strategies, learning how to face things that are hard. ADHD is a legitimate cause of stress with school work for some students. The distractibility of notifications and scrolling in social media adds greater challenge. Child-safe social media platforms alone will not address time the addictive behaviours associated with social media use. Young people are wiring themselves for dopamine hits from hyperlinks and social validation, and yet the reverse can also apply. Experiencing positive emotion in lived experience, play and nature is proven to offer so much more satisfaction.

BOARDERLINES

In Ava’s words, “my vision for boarding at Vinnies in 2025, is to create a community where everyone feels welcome and included. I want all the boarders to enjoy their time here as well as pushing themselves to step out of their comfort zones and use the environment and community around them to thrive. I want to work with Zali (Community Care & Support) to create stronger bonds within the boarding community across all year groups, as well as create connections with the outer community through social justice activities (e.g. visiting the St Luke’s elderly home). I will work with Jemima (Communications & PR) to promote boarding within the Bulletin and at assemblies, as well as work on creating our own boarding instagram page. Finally, I will work with Janna (Celebrations & Events) to create ideas for in-weekend activities as well as Sunday activities for the junior floor. I am so excited for the year ahead and can’t wait to work with everyone”!!

Communications and PR (Jemima Alty)

From Jemima - “My role is Communications and PR in boarding. This will celebrate and showcase boarder achievements and provide a way for families and past students to appreciate the life of the boarders. The role will seek to build and strengthen the Vinnies boarding community and school spirit. This will initially be done by creating a private boarding instagram site with agreed protocols that will be administered on an ongoing basis”.

Celebrations and Events (Janna Taylor)

From Janna - “For my role as a BRC and Celebrations and Event management, I take on the duties of organising in-weekends, Sunday activities and social events and hope to provide a fun and positive environment for the Boarding community”.

Community Care and Support (Zali Porter

From Zali - “In my leadership role in the boarding house, I will focus on building a supportive and inclusive community. I will encourage open communication and will organise boarding house group activities that will help the girls connect and collaborate. My goal is to ensure everyone feels valued and empowered, creating a positive living environment for all”.

Year 8 on a Sunday Outing

Last weekend the year 8’s were keen to spend their Sunday outing time studying for their assessments. They worked hard and were focused. Linda escorted the girls to the Arthur McElhone Reserve (known by Vinnies girls as ‘the fish pond’). They spent a wonderful hour there with the fish, a wedding party and harbour views before returning to their studies.

DIRECTOR OF TEACHING AND LEARNING

At the same time we have welcomed our class of 2025 into Year 12, working to establish strong foundations so that they might flourish in their learning over the next year. I spoke to the parents of this cohort on Monday evening about Stage 6, the HSC credential and the role and function of the ATAR. I thought that given that all of these items will be the focus of much social and media attention shortly, when HSC results are released, that I would share some insights for our community, particularly around the HSC and ATAR.

The HSC is a credential, acknowledging that the student has completed learning to a particular level. When we offer courses and engage in teaching and learning, we are supporting your daughter to have achieved the learning outcomes that make her eligible for this credential.
The HSC credential is issued by our governing educational body, NESA (NSW Educational Standards Authority)
The ATAR is not a credential, or a mark. It is a rank, issued to try to determine where all students in the State sit in relation to each other
The ATAR is generated by UAC (University Admissions Centre) and is therefore separate from the curriculum we deliver. We do not teach to the ATAR, although acknowledge that through good teaching and learning our students will receive really strong ATARs!
You can’t play the system and boost your ATAR by doing anything other than your very best. Your ATAR is affected by how you perform in relation to all other students in the State. It’s not possible to predict or determine how the State performs (there are 71,619 students sitting the HSC this year). Therefore it’s always more helpful to focus on completing your studies to the best of your abilities and know that you will be ranked appropriately.
To determine the ATAR rank, students’ results are scaled to try to determine where students sit in comparison to each other, if all students had studied all courses. There is a belief that some courses scale up or down. However:
it’s your place in the course that determines how your mark is scaled, not the course itself
Scaling is completed each year, so what happened last year may not occur this year

Our commitment to learning continues to be that we aim for growth for every student, irrespective of their goals and whether they plan to receive an ATAR or not. Our core focus is on ensuring that every student is being stretched and challenged, and is supported to do so, so that she might achieve her learning potential.

DIRECTOR OF FAITH AND MISSION

My office is FULL of food for the kitchen in Room 5 of the Open Support Refuge, thanks to the can-do attitude of O’Brien House. Go go go, O’Brien. I’m delivering the food on Monday morning. The support officer, Ruth, is thrilled with us. She’s just so encouraging. If you haven’t heard from your daughter yet what she has signed up to bring in - probably it will be a shared responsibility with a friend to bring in towels or bedding - then a reminder over the weekend would be very helpful. No student is expected to spend more than $5 or $10 on an item. She might need a nudge to pop into Target or similar. I’ve done costings based on what’s available at Target. There is no expectation, of course, that girls bring in items, but I want to tell you that the girls were very keen to help out with this project when I spoke to all the houses last week. They understood that supporting women who are imprisoned by violent or coercive relationships, is just like what the first five sisters were doing back in 1838 for the convict women in Parramatta. It’s just that the bars are fear and the shackles are threats. For the women we seek to help the ‘incarceration’ time can be much longer than 7 years. We want to help free these women.

Thanks to all the families who continue to support “Fund a Filling”. That is our way of supporting the Sandwich Project, which supports Night Patrol. Sandwich project was a hoot yesterday, and a brand new team of students went out with Ms Playoust and Ms Agius. They were brilliant, and I hear they are all keen to do it again. It’s not about the sandwiches and snacks. It’s about meeting people and really talking to them. Because as Jemima Hickey tells us, a cupcake is never just a cupcake, and a sandwich is never just a sandwich. Any assistance you can give is deeply appreciated. A Woolies voucher stretches a long way. I promise I will use the money wisely. Just email it to me. kenderesj@stvincents.nsw.edu.au

We did Cooking at St Canice’s on Monday. We were a small but highly talented group. We made club sandwiches and fried rice with BBQ pork. We chopped and sliced and stirred and wrapped. Vicki, executive chef, always gets us to taste the food. Delicious. And Mr Woolbank did a great job on the watermelon cutting. Go us.

Vinnies@SVC is preparing to run their special “Festive Food Hamper” drive. Our contact, Jen, will send me the list of families we hope to support with a hamper of food for Christmas Day very soon. Families will be very welcome to sign up to support a family. I promise to be over excited about this, but usually I am just overwhelmed by the generosity of Vinnie’s families.

MISC.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP

College Co-Captains Address - Jemima Hickey and Tara Sukumaran

Good morning staff and students,
We are incredibly excited to be addressing you at our first College Assembly for Term 4. We begin by congratulating the newly appointed student advocates and representatives. We are excited to work with you and we already see the leadership qualities in each and every one of you. Today we also welcome new students and staff - teachers Ms Gilligan and Ms Stafford, nurse Olivia and students Sefi, Miriam and Sierra.

Last Monday, we gathered with the Year 12 Leadership Team to discuss our goals and aspirations for the year ahead. It was an incredible experience connecting with such passionate and motivated girls, dedicated to leading this community. During this retreat, we explored what it truly means to live out our values at the College, crafted time capsules reflecting the type of leaders we aspire to be, and brainstormed exciting ideas for the coming year. We left with a clear sense of purpose and confidence in our roles, ready to take on the challenges ahead.

One key idea that resonated with all of us was to carry forward the momentum of the outgoing leadership team's vision of respect. Their message of fostering respect for persons, earth, and learning remains at the heart of our College. To bring these three dimensions together, we want to finish 2024 by focusing on being a “community of respect”— a community that respects all relationships we build here at school. In classes, clubs or teams as well as in our interactions with the wider community, whether on public transport or supporting others in need. We want to be a community that respects our learning and respects the earth for which we have the privilege to be stewards.

This week also happens to be Children’s Week, a celebration dedicated to empowering young people and highlighting their abilities. The overarching theme is: “Children have the right to a clean and safe environment,” reminding us that the future rests in the hands of young people like us. For us, a safe and healthy learning environment is one where young people aren’t underestimated and can explore with our imaginations and grow into our fullest potential—whatever that may look like for each of us. And one of the most powerful aspects of being part of a safe, supportive community is that we’re given room to take risks, to fail, and to rise again.

This community is heavily shaped by the teachers and all learning staff here at Vinnies, who devote their time and care to all students at the College. World Teachers’ Day this Friday, offers an opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the role the staff at our school play in creating this healthy learning space.

To conclude our address, we invite you to take a moment at the beginning of this last term of 2024 to consider the following question: What is one thing that you could do to contribute to or extend yourself that helps Vinnies to be the community of respect we can all feel proud of? This might be a gesture- like taking the time to smile more often at students you pass in the stairwells or even a more deliberate effort like signing up for a new social justice opportunity. Whatever you commit to - know we each have the power to live the value of respect everyday.

DEAN OF MIDDLE SECONDARY

Dean's Reflection

Dean of Middle Secondary School - Supporting Our Year 9 and 10 Students:

As the Dean of the Middle Secondary School, one of the most rewarding parts of my role is listening to our Year 9 and 10 girls share their experiences at Vinnies. They often speak about the strong friendships, inclusivity, and exceptional support from our teachers. Many highlight how unique our community feels—caring and genuine. They appreciate being part of a school that values learning both in and out of the classroom, focusing on nurturing compassionate and courageous young women.

In our Middle Secondary Dean assemblies, we delve into societal issues to help students understand the importance of quality education in empowering their future choices. As we welcome new students into the Middle Secondary years, we dedicate time to reassure them that adjusting to our school is a process. Concepts like the "circle of control" help them recognise what they can and cannot influence, which has a profound effect on their mindset, allowing them to let go of negative self-talk. My recent conversations with these students have reinforced the significance of this insight.

Our goal is to build confidence, self-esteem, and problem-solving skills, often through learning from mistakes. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many students noting the support from their peers and teachers and appreciating the caring atmosphere we cultivate.

A highlight was our recent Science of Wellbeing session on Relationships: Belonging and Group Dynamics. Students participated in activities that encouraged them to connect with peers they typically haven’t socialised with. This experience brought joy and reassurance, reinforcing our school as a safe and nurturing community. Many shared how this helped them feel more included and confident in forming new friendships.

It’s heartwarming to see our sports courts filled with energetic students playing volleyball during lunch. Watching them laugh and bond through team sports reminds us of the importance of disconnecting to connect. These interactions foster learning and engagement outside the classroom.

Looking ahead, we’ll continue to address the issues that matter most to our teens. As they navigate middle secondary, it’s vital for them to understand that evolving peer dynamics are normal and that developing the strength of compassion is essential. Students at Vinnies know they can always seek out an adult for support.

Our focus on Habits & Goals will tackle the challenges of today’s digital landscape. Our ‘Endeavouring’ experiences in Broken Hill highlighted our students’ dependence on technology, with many expressing a desire for a tech-free environment while grappling with the fear of missing out. We can see the impacts of technology on their attention spans and sustained focus.

To equip our students with the skills to manage their technology use, we actively stay informed about current research and relate it to our own experiences. This helps us educate students and collaborate with families to promote healthy digital habits. Unplugging and immersing ourselves in nature is a fantastic way to find balance in our busy lives. I encourage you to set an example by engaging in activities like face-to-face conversations, playing board games, going for walks, or simply appreciating the beauty of spring with your daughter(s).

I invite all parents and guardians to join us on this journey. Together, we can enliven our vibrant community and empower our girls to flourish academically, socially, and personally.

Thank you for your continued support!

CAREER NEWS

Career News

Career News October 25

Macquarie University and UTS, Sydney

3 November 10 November

InspirEd Free Kickstart Seminar

This is a free day of HSC sessions designed to help students get ahead in their studies. This is for students entering Year 11 and Year 12 in 2025, and their parents to learn all about:

How to manage stress during the year

Secrets to HSC success

Understanding the ATAR

English tips and tricks

Strategies for parents: communication & emotional support

Registrations are essential for these events, using the link provided here .

University of Sydney

Webinar - Building your future: Architecture and the Built Environment

13 November

4pm

In this webinar, USYD will explore how studying at the Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning can help students build transferable skills to pursue a variety of careers across architecture, urban planning and design, sustainability consulting, construction and property.

To register your interest please use the attached link found here.

Webinar - Discover the journey to university

13 November

5pm

Follow a high schoolers steps to uni – explore the crucial decisions, gain an inside look at what drives your aspirations, discover the support available, and gather the practical insights you need to navigate the road to university.

This webinar offers:

A personal insight into the transition from high school to university.

Realistic guidance to navigate through various university options.

Valuable resources and networks to support your journey

To register your interest for this event use the link found here .

UTS, Sydney

Discover Nursing at UTS

20 November

Onsite: 5.15pm-7.30pm

Discover how you can become a Registered Nurse at Australia’s #1 uni for academic reputation in nursing and midwifery*. Hear about diverse nursing careers from industry speakers, meet the academics; ask current students about the UTS Bachelor of Nursing. Tour the world-class clinical facilities and explore the UTS campus. Registrations are essential using the link found here.

University of Notre Dame.

Notre Dame Pathways to Medicine

Information Session

19 November

Students interested in studying MEDICINE should register to watch this information session exploring the University of Notre Dame's undergraduate Medicine programs For more information and to register use the attached link found here . Parents are also welcome to register.

LEARNING RESOURCE CENTRE

PERFORMING ARTS

Mamma Mia!

SPORT REPORT

IGSA TENNIS
The tennis season has begun with tremendous success, with five out of seven teams securing victories in their first round. The girls have displayed exceptional enthusiasm, showing a strong commitment to return to training under the guidance of our new coaching team this term. It is also encouraging to hear that several players maintained their training or playing schedules during the off season, which based on their feedback, has provided them with an early competitive advantage.
Congratulations to all teams for their outstanding efforts and results in the opening week. We are excited to see this momentum carry forward into the next round.
For those interested in participating in the Tildesley 2025 competition, training will commence next Monday morning from 7:15 to 8:15am This will be in addition to your current IGSA team training sessions. Training will initially focus on both singles and doubles players. If you know someone who is not currently involved in IGSA but would like to participate, please reach out to either myself or Ms Jacobs.
Ms Tonya Hetreles - Head Tennis Coach

IGSA WATER POLO
The water polo season has commenced with a promising start for the school. SVC 2 delivered an impressive defensive performance against Monte, conceding only 5 goals in a closely fought match that ended in a narrow 5-6 loss. The Junior Firsts showcased their strength with a commanding 11-5 victory over Danebank, while SVC 5 put in a valiant effort in their opening match but were defeated by Loretto.
Although SVC 1, 5, and 6 faced narrow defeats in tightly contested games against strong opponents, there is much to build on for the rest of the season, especially considering that all teams had only one training session before their first matches. The potential is clear, and we are looking forward to the continued development and success of each team in the coming weeks.
Mr Jo Schuleer - Head Water Polo Coach

ESTA TOUCH FOOTBALL
This season, we have a total of 19 teams competing in the ESTA Touch Football competition, held on Saturday mornings at Queens Park and Reservoir fields. Games are scheduled between 8:00am and 12:30pm, and it is important that all players arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. Details about game venues can be found on the SVC website, so please ensure you are familiar with the document.
SVC 1,2, 3, 7, 8 and SVC 16 had outstanding performances, securing impressive wins in their opening matches with strong teamwork and sharp plays. The potential across all teams is clear, and we look forward to building on these promising results throughout the season.
Please remember to support your boarding teammates by arranging transportation for them on Saturday mornings. Organising this during our training sessions would be greatly appreciated. Should you have any issues or concerns regarding transportation, please contact me before Thursday so we can address them promptly.
For any questions or if you anticipate being absent from training or games, please email myself or Ms Jacobs. If you are sick or injured while attending school, your attendance at the session is still expected, as you can assist your coach and continue learning from the sidelines.
Good Luck & Go Vinnies!

SANTA SABINA VOLLEYBALL
This season, we have a total of five teams competing in the Santa Sabina Volleyball competition, held on Saturday mornings at Santa Sabina College, Strathfield. Games are scheduled between 7:30 am and 12:30pm, and it is essential that all players arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. Details about game venues can be found on the SVC website, so please ensure you are familiar with the document.
SVC 2, SVC 5, and SVC 3 had very impressive wins in their opening matches, showcasing strong teamwork and skill on the court. SVC 1 played exceptionally well, with a close contest in their sets, narrowly missing out on victory. There is great potential for all teams this season, and we are excited to see continued growth and success.
Please support your boarding teammates by arranging transportation for them on Saturday mornings. It would be greatly appreciated if you could organise this during our Tuesday training sessions. If you encounter any issues or concerns regarding transportation, please reach out to me, preferably before Thursday, so we can address them promptly.
For any questions or if you anticipate being absent from training or games, please email myself or Ms Jacobs. If you are sick or injured while attending school, your attendance at the session is still expected, as you can assist your coach and continue learning from the sidelines.
Good Luck & Go Vinnies!
Ms Elyse Harmanis - Head Touch Football and Volleyball Coach

In this Issue

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Photo of the week

Reminders and Events

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

BOARDERLINES

BOARDERLINES

BOARDERLINES

DIRECTOR OF TEACHING AND LEARNING

DIRECTOR OF FAITH AND MISSION