Mrs Elizabeth Brooks
Deputy Principal

We helped serve breakfast to the homeless and met a variety of people, each with such different lives. The enjoyment we had from this is unexplainable, it has opened our eyes to so much more to what is going on in the world and especially the community surrounding us. It has also inspired us to adopt a more positive outlook on our lives, even when dealing with negative situations. Witnessing first hand the optimism of the people we met has encouraged us to approach our own problems with a new sense of gratitude and hope.

This opportunity was a powerful reminder that little acts of kindness can make a significant difference to someone's life and that we all have the ability to give back to our community. Seeing the gratitude of the people we served breakfast to made us stop and reflect on our own lives, realising how fortunate we are and how we often take simple things like breakfast for granted.

By Millie Spora, Ava Freemantle, Amelia Mason and Cecilia Tym.

Bus Safety

NSW has one of the largest bus fleets in Australia. Almost 4,000 buses operate in the Sydney area. Since launching in 2015, the Be Bus Aware campaign, comprising of Bus Safety Week, has been raising awareness on how to improve safety on and around buses for all road users.

Key messages for school students and bus passengers

- Use the handrail to help get on and off the bus

-Take a seat quickly and place large bags or bulky items under the seat. Avoid placing any items in the aisle that might
cause a hazard

- Buckle up if the bus has seatbelts

- If you are standing, hold on at all times

- Stay alert and avoid being distracted by mobile devices and headphones

- Press the stop button well before your stop to give the driver plenty of time to stop

- Stay in your seat until the bus has come to a complete stop.

Helping Learner Drivers Become Safer Drivers Workshop - 26 March 2025

Bob Anderson

Director of College Operations

Two ways that we are supporting students to develop engagement behaviours and their capacity to focus are:

Making SVC a phone free school. This reduces the ‘pull’ of the phone which is such an enticing distraction. Even having it in one’s pocket is enough for it to lure our attention away from the present moment and the task at hand, in favour of the online world. The presence of mobile phones can, as an example:

Delaying the use of laptops in Year 7 . The devices, like the phone, can become an addictive habit. The moment there is a minute of downtime between classes, or the learning isn’t ‘exciting’, laptops will open and students will be engrossed in everything but their actual, real life surroundings. This decision has been intended to:

We trust that these two initiatives ensure that students are developing healthy learning habits and giving themselves every opportunity to achieve growth and personal academic success.

Alison Boyd-Boland

Director of Teaching and Learning

With parties, social gatherings, and events becoming more frequent at this pivotal stage in a young person’s development, Paul focused on the importance of making smart and safe choices. He emphasized the risks associated with alcohol and social drugs, particularly during a time when students are most vulnerable to peer pressure. Rather than simply highlighting the consequences, Paul’s message centred on prevention and responsible decision-making. Students were given practical advice for managing social situations. Paul also shared the critical advice of never letting a friend who has consumed alcohol lie down, but instead ensuring they remain sitting upright.

The seminar also addressed growing concerns about inhalants and vaping, providing students with accurate and up-to-date information to help them make informed decisions. Additionally, Paul introduced the innovative What3Words app, to Year 10, already shared with our senior students in previous years which allows users to share precise GPS coordinates with emergency services—a tool that could prove invaluable in emergency situations when socialising in public places like parks or beaches. He also shared his own free DARTA Digital Cards app with senior students, an app designed to help young people to help their mates out when things go wrong on a night out.

Our students engaged enthusiastically throughout the session, interacting with Paul and absorbing his messages. By the end of the seminar, it was clear that they had gained valuable insights that would guide their decision-making in the future.

This seminar reinforced our College’s commitment to holistic education and child safety, equipping students with essential life skills to make responsible choices as they move forward into adulthood.

Below are some reflections from our students who always show appreciation for Paul’s presentations.

“What I love most about Paul is that he teaches me how to keep my friends safe. I  hope to remember his advice even in the future well beyond school” - Zahli Year 12 Student

“A group of us are going to Byron Bay at the end of the year and he gave really good advice on how to look out for drink spiking which apparently is really bad in Byron. I will definitely be more alert to this and I know what to look out for” - Milly Year 12

“We came away from the presentation feeling so much more confident in knowing what to do with our friends going out in the next few years." - Eadie Cullen Year 10

"It was really refreshing and comforting to receive this knowledge from him, rather than a warning of what not to do." Olivia Wheeler - Year 10

Mr Woolbank and Ms Newbond

Dean of Middle Secondary School and Dean of Senior Secondary School

Michael Harvey
Social Justice Leader

Career News -February 28

UAC News

University applications open for 2025 to 2026 domestic undergraduate admissions on

2 April and close on September 30. Yr 12 students will receive an email from UAC on April 2 that contains their UAC PIN. To lodge your preferences you will need to create an account with UAC. To do this you require your NESA student number and your UAC Pin.

University of Sydney
Applications Casper Test Dates for Veterinary Science 2026 at USYD.

All applicants for veterinary science are required to complete the Casper online testing (via Altus Suite) for the 2025/26 admission cycle.

Casper Test Dates for entry into this course are:

Sunday 26 May 2024 - 10:00 am AEST

Sunday 23 June 2024 - 10:00 am AEST

Thursday 8 August 2024 - 7:00 pm AEST

Friday 13 September 2024 - 10:00 am AEST

Sunday 24 November 2024 -  10:00 am AEST

Applicants must register for a Casper test at least 3 days prior to the testing date.

Please use the link here to register your interest and to find out more about taking the Casper.

UTS, Sydney
UTS Bachelor of Accounting (BAcc) Scholarship

Applications Open 1st March

All students in the course receive a tax-free scholarship worth up to $55,000.

If you are a high-achieving school leaver and believe you could be one of Australia’s future business leaders, then the Bachelor of Accounting cooperative education scholarship program has been designed for you.

The Bachelor of Accounting (BAcc) provides students with a multi-skilled accounting degree with strong emphasis on both accounting and financial management, both essential business tools. For more information go here.

Interested students in Year11 and 12 should also be aware that Polly Sewell (SVC Class of 2024) will be giving a lunchtime presentation on March 6 about the B of Accounting programme at UTS. Polly is a current B Accounting scholar and will be sharing her insights and experiences thus far. Check daily admin announcements for more details.

ANU Canberra
Open Day - 29 March

What to expect:

Dive deeper into degrees at information sessions.

Connect with experts and students at the Study Options Expo.

Take a campus tour.

Explore student accommodation.

Wander around the campus and discover ANU’s welcoming community.

This event is essential for any student thinking of studying at Canberra after their HSC. Register your interest using the link found here .

UNSW
Campus Tours - Run Every Second Saturday

Welcome to UNSW’s Kensington Campus, home to over 60 000+ students. Join UNSW’s student ambassadors who will guide you through a tailored tour showcasing the campus, buildings and facilities. The student ambassadors will be able to answer any questions you may have about studying on campus and student life. Registrations are essential using the link found here . This is an excellent opportunity to explore what one of Australia's leading university's has to offer.

UCAT For Entry to Medicine in Australian and New Zealand Universities

The UCAT ANZ is a compulsory entry requirement for our Australia and New Zealand Consortium universities. You are required to sit the UCAT ANZ 2025 test (between 1 July and 5 August 2025) if you are intending to apply for entry in 2026 to a relevant course or programme listed here .

UCAT ANZ results cannot be carried over from one year to the next. For example, results from UCAT ANZ 2025 can only be used to apply for courses commencing in 2026. Some pathways to medicine/dentistry/clinical sciences will not require the UCAT ANZ. For some applicants a different test may be required. You should always check the entry requirements for each course or programme using the websites of the universities to which you intend to apply before booking a test. There are no general exemptions from the test.

Study in the US - Virtual Information Session
19 March at 6pm online
Internationally Educated will host an online information session providing students and families from years nine to twelve (9-12) the opportunity to learn more about Studying in the US. This general presentation draws on the presenters experience in US university admissions and will provide insight to the US university application process and the higher education system in the US. A brief Q&A session will follow the presentation. Registrations are essential using the link found her

Sydney West Careers and Employment Expo

The SydneyWest Careers & Employment Expo will provide senior students with a helpful experience, where they can talk with educators, course providers and employers all at the one location. Free Career advice and seminars will also be on offer at the expo. Please visit the webpage here for more details. (Please note that students have not been given to be absent from school on Friday 14 March therefore, their best option is to attend the Expo on Saturday 15 March)

Helen Marshall
Careers Adviser

We wanted to start by saying a huge congratulations to all of you for the incredible effort, spirit and enthusiasm you brought to yesterday’s swimming carnival. Seeing everybody gather in the stands supporting each other created a really amazing atmosphere as well as watching some incredibly talented swimmers absolutely smash it in the water. Whether you were competing or supporting, everyone contributed to the success of yesterday.

When we talk about filling a cup and lifting us up, it's not just about winning races or scoring points. Yesterday, we saw what it truly means to lift each other up, the cheering, signing up for events out of your comfort zone, and encouraging friends who might have been nervous to do the same. That’s Service of the Poor in Spirit- coming together, pushing each other to be our best, and making sure everyone feels included in the process.

In our younger grades, we recall certain phrases that we were constantly told by the older girls like, “savour every moment because it goes by so quickly” or “don't stress too much about assessments’ ( personally the Year 7 me thought every assessment would be the be all or end all - I have since learnt that learning is a journey). Sometimes school can feel like a countdown. You’re waiting for the bell to ring, for the next weekend, or holidays. But in the rush to get to the next big thing, we often miss the small moments, which are the ones that really matter. Whether it's laughing with your friends on the way to classes or connecting with someone who you had not connected with before, these are the things, when you look back on your time at Vinnies that you will remember.

If there is one thing that I know I am going to remember when I one day look back at highschool, it will be the moments that I share with the people around me. The way I talk to others and the impact my friends and the students at Vinnies have had on me. This could be the encouragement given to me by a peer when I was about to do an assessment or the smile at the locker area with the girls in my Tutor. So while it is only the fourth week of school, the last thing you or we want to do is get to the end of the year or term and realise that you forgot to grab every moment. Today, we want to remind you: be present, and while this is harder to do than say, we are all learning to do this together, so show up for each other and keep filling each other's cups, because when we do, we all rise.

As we move along this year of Service of the poor, we remind you of the way in which the Student Leadership team is directing our focus.  While there will be action across all actions of service throughout the entire year, our College Assemblies will focus on three dimensions: service within our own school community in Term 1, service for our broader Potts Point community in Term 2 and service globally in Term 3.

For our College community this term, we encourage each of us to reflect on what it means to lift each other up to strengthen Vinnies as a whole. We want to ensure no student is left behind and that we can fulfill what people lack for example confidence and support. We truly think by strengthening ourselves as a community it will really help us to have a greater effect on the outside world. There is a quote from Albert Einstein which is “A ship is always safe on the shore but that is not what it was built for” we think this quote reflects how we want to lift up our vinnies community in this term, as this term we want to step out of our comfort zone, ‘the shore’ and aim to understand what someone might feel they lack and attempt to fill their cup; as often to fight poverty we have to put ourselves in a place that we are not used to, because this will make a more effective impact.

We are excited for the term ahead. We are so proud of everyone’s start to the term, and the amazing spirit you all showed this week especially, and we hope this continues.

Jemima Hickey and Tara Sukumaran

College Co-captains

A sincere thank you goes to all the staff and officials who worked tirelessly to ensure the day ran smoothly.  Your efforts behind the scenes do not go unnoticed. A big thank you and special shoutout to Ms Harmanis for her leadership and organisation of the carnival, all your hard work definitely did not go unnoticed! Thank you to our incredible House Captains and Heads of House for creating the atmosphere, leading the chants and keeping the vinnies spirit alive. To Ms McDonnell & Ms Hamilton, who kept the energy high on the microphone all day, the Maths staff who worked relentlessly to tally up the points, Fran for keeping track of attendance, and Mr Anderson for his detailed instructions ensuring no one got lost, this event wouldn’t have been possible without each and every one of you.

And finally, to every student whether you were in the pool, supporting from the sidelines, or embracing the spirit of the day, thank you for making this carnival a truly special one, especially the Year 12s as we celebrate our final one. Your enthusiasm, participation and commitment make these events what they are, and I hope we can carry this same energy and sense of pride into the rest of the year.

Saskia Emery
Sport and Health Captain

Some of you may be wondering what day 10 is? Once a cycle on a Friday day 10 lunchtime, we host a multitude of performances in Caritas Christi, all are welcome to come and watch, and as day 10 is open to all students, I encourage those in the arts, especially drama, dance and public speaking to apply, as day 10 is used to showcase all aspects of the arts.  This year as Arts captain I have an aim to go into each day 10 with a theme, today's theme was Musical Theatre, we had performances from all year groups, with duets and solo performances. We heard theatre songs from SIX the Musical, Waitress, Frozen and Wicked, even with a special duet dedicated to Billie Eilish to commemorate her concert. I'd like to mention our performers, Em Emmett, Samara Alexandratos, Evie Crinis, India Barker and Sage Croft for their diligence and courage to do what they love up on stage. Down below I have attached a link to the google form to apply, as I said, ALL are welcome to apply.

Stephanie Pantazis
Arts Captain

Congratulations to the following students who are the 2025 Swimming Age Champions!

12 Years - Mila Martin
13 Years - Sophie Rowles
14 years - Matilda Dillon
15 Years - Jade Deguara
16 years - Sybella Daly
17 Years - Jana Kowalski
18 Years - Waverly Martinus

The 2025 list of students selected for the IGSA Team will be announced next week. We can't wait to see our athletes represent the College at the IGSA Carnival in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, our Summer Sports teams have been delivering some outstanding performances in their Saturday morning matches across Sydney. Let’s keep up the momentum this week and rally as many spectators as possible to cheer on our women in sport!

Let's go Vinnies!

Ms Harmanis

TERM 2 & 3 SPORT REGISTRATIONS - Netball, Basketball, Hockey and Soccer

Registrations for Winter Sport selections are now open on the Parent Clipboard Portal. Before signing up, please discuss this commitment with your family, as participation requires attendance at trials in the coming weeks, as well as all training sessions and games throughout Terms 2 and 3.

Payment for Term 2 must be made online via credit card at the time of registration, while Term 3 fees will be billed to your account.

Registrations close at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, 12th March. Don’t miss out!

https://go.clipboard.app/login?returnUrl=%2Fhome

ESTA TOUCH

As the Term 1 2025 touch season is well and truly flying, St Vincent's has kicked off this term with great achievements.  All teams are fired up and looking at winning our ‘Champion School’ trophy.  This term we have been welcomed the first few weeks with sunshine and open fields and we hope this weather continues for this week and next.

Please remember that Vinnies play at two venues on the weekends (Mission Fields and Queens Park). This weekend the weather is looking very hot so make sure we are all prepared for our games. The draw for this week has been updated on the college website also, so please visit the College website under the 'Sport' section, Learning/Sport/Touch as some teams have some minor changes to their games.

Please help any boarders in your team with transport on Saturday mornings.  This needs to be organised at training sessions and if there are any problems please contact me before Thursday, so that we can sort it out before the weekend
.

Good luck to all teams for their games on Saturday!  Any problems or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me on the details above.

Ms Elyse Harmanis - Head Touch Coach

IGSA TENNIS
Last weekend was a challenging round for our SVC tennis teams, but in true Vinnies spirit, the progress, determination, and perseverance displayed by all players were truly commendable. Each week, the girls continue to refine their skills, strategy, and confidence on the court. Their rallies are growing longer, shot selection is improving, and doubles partnerships are becoming more seamless. Even in tough matches, their sportsmanship and resilience shine through.

We are incredibly proud of their growth and dedication, keep up the hard work, and the results will follow!

Ms Tonya Hetreles - Head Tennis Coach

VOLLEYBALL

Congratulations to all teams on some great games last weekend. A special mention to year 7 for their awesome teamwork, skills and dedication they are showing the int St Vincent's College Volleyball program keep up the good work girls! This weekend is going to be super hot, so please make sure you are well prepared for this weather.

Please help any boarders in your team with transport on Saturday mornings. This needs to be organised at training sessions and if there are any problems please contact me before Thursday, so that we can sort it out before the weekend.

Ms Bianca Wallace - Head Volleyball Coach

IGSA CROSS COUNTRY and FITNESS TRAINING

Fitness Training with Tash will start this coming  week (3rd of March) and will be on every Monday and Wednesday for any students who would like to get fitter or get ready for the IGSA Cross Country Carnival next Term on May 16th at Frensham. All fitness levels will be catered for. This is a great way to get fitter for your sport like Touch, get ready for the IGSA Cross Country Carnival or just have some fun with your friends. Students will get changed after school and meet Tash outside the change rooms. They do a mixture of running and exercises around the Wooloomooloo and Rushcutters Bay area. If it is raining they stay at school and do boxing, circuits and stairs etc. It runs from 3.15pm - 4.30pm. Please email Ms Harmanis if you would like to join in.

Swimming training will continue to be held on Friday mornings from 7.15am to 8.15am at the college pool, led by our Head Water Polo and Swimming coach, Jo. With his extensive experience in water sports, we have no doubt that Jo’s knowledge and skills will be a great asset to our swimming team. We welcome all students, regardless of their skill level, to join us for these training sessions. I encourage all students to take advantage of this opportunity and participate this term, particularly our Water Polo players, as it will definitely help you with your fitness in the fourth quarter! There is no additional cost. This will only run until Friday March 15 as the camps and Easter will be on after that.

SPORTS STARS OF THE WEEK This section is to make the College community aware of some of the exceptional athletes we have in the College.  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 Evie Bresnahan, Cyan Geelan & Zahara Johnson in Yr 11 who competed in the NSW State Oztag State Cup and came out State Champions!

SVC Mothers Weekend

The Boarder Parent Association are excited to invite you to Tamworth in 2025 for our annual

Mothers Weekend.

Friday 2nd May

Welcome to Tamworth Cocktail Party

Hopscotch Bar & Restaurant

from 6pm

Come dressed in your best country & western outfit and get ready to be entertained

Tickets $100

Saturday 3rd May

Depart Tamworth at 4pm to experience the beautiful Dungowan Station. Great food wine and dancing.

Return by bus at 10pm

Tickets $225

Sunday 4th May

Finish off the weekend with brunch at

The Pig & Tinder Box

Enjoy a buffet breakfast, coffee & mimosa

Tickets $35

For more details of the weekend check out our guide

There is a strict no refund policy on tickets