On Friday, 16 February, the Year 12 Dance class travelled to Seymour Centre to see Callback 2023.

Callbackis an annual showcase of exemplary performances and compositions by HSC students of Dance. The event celebrates dance as an art form and is hosted by the NSW Education Standards Authority and the NSW Department of Education.

 Our Year 12 dancers were excited to attend the showcase and left the theatre feeling inspired and motivated to continue developing their own practical dance works.

The start of the term saw the Wellbeing team ensuring all our students, particularly those who are new to our community, feel welcome. On Tuesday, 30 January, we welcomed Years 7, 10 and 12 to the College and we ran several activities to provide students with an opportunity to develop a greater sense of purpose and wellbeing.

Year 7 spent time with their Year 10 Big Sisters learning how to read their timetable and navigate the College. My congratulations to Year 10 who displayed great care and leadership in their interactions with Year 7 girls.

Year 12 attended a presentation by Susie Edmunds from Inner Directions. This provided an opportunity for students to reset and refocus for the start of the year, learn practical strategies to manage a positive mindset and maintain motivation, develop skills on how to cope with setbacks, failure and disappointment and build self-awareness skills for resilience and confidence.

On 31 January, we welcomed back Years 8, 9 and 11 and ensured that they too felt settled into the new year. Since that time, we have been busy with several events all of which have been designed to build connections, either with students' Homerooms, their House or Year group. This was particularly evident on College Photo Day, where each of the Heads of House took great care to design activities that would promote a sense of self for each individual, as well as a connection with others.

Year 7 attended Activities Day on Friday, 9 February after the Opening School Mass. It was wonderful to see the girls not only having fun but also extending the hand of friendship to others. The work of Ms McNulty and Mrs Chand in coordinating the day was truly appreciated by all staff and students. 

The Year 7 House Welcome evening on Monday, 12 February provided an opportunity to officially welcome Year 7 into their Houses. The event proved invaluable for parents/carers of our new Year 7 students as it allowed them to meet others, as well as their daughters' teachers.  

On Friday, 16 February, Year 10 engaged in their Wellbeing Day. The day was designed for Year 10 to gather as a Year group and build stronger relationships by connecting with their peers, teachers and community enabling them to thrive in their senior years. Furthermore, the day aimed to foster a sense of belonging, strengthen interpersonal skills and promote overall wellbeing.

The theme of the day was Thrive - Connect – Explore. By emphasising the importance of positive connections and community, the day contributed to a healthy, resilient and socially adept student body, laying the foundation for success in both academic and personal endeavours. The Year 10 cohort was challenged to think about what was important to them and what would be their driving values throughout their senior years. Mrs Christine Roumanus and Mrs Antonija Mustac guided students through a series of engaging activities and challenges, culminating in the group's unanimous decision to stand for Respect, Connection and Faith. These values provide a building block to allow everyone to share their unique perspectives and strengths. 

In the weeks ahead, we look forward to meaningful lessons during Community Time on a Tuesday as well as the following upcoming events:

1.       Compulsory Cybersafety Evening for Year 7

On Monday 26 February, Year 7 parents/carers and their daughters are invited to listen to a presentation by Susan McLean. Susan is passionate about keeping young people safe online and provides education programs to schools and other key stakeholders. She aims to empower people to use technology with respect and responsibility. She also has many resources for parents that assist in keeping their children safe. We encourage parents/carers to connect with Susan via Facebook page and Twitter, and to utilise the parent portal of the eSafety Commissioner as a resource.

2.       Year 8 Wellbeing Day - 12 March

Our Wellbeing Day will be run by Susie Edmonds from Inner Directions and will provide an opportunity for the girls to build skills in self-awareness to manage thinking, emotions and actions. This interactive workshop will help them with practical strategies to interact positively with others, build confidence and step out of their comfort zone.

Following Homeroom, the girls will move to the Ailsa McKinnon Community Centre for the day. PE Uniform can be worn by all students but please ensure this meets the uniform regulations. Girls are allowed to bring a sports bag on the day as they will only need their diary, pencil case, recess, lunch and water.

Please feel free to reach out to the College if you have any questions or concerns as we are here to work in partnership with you to support your daughter.

Ann-Marie Heard
Director of Wellbeing

Lent

As we continue on our Lenten journey toward Easter, we are reminded to continue to pray, repent and think of others. Project Compassion continues to run at school, and we invite all students to make donations which will be passed on to the Caritas Australia appeal for use in communities here in Australia and overseas.

This week’s focus is on Samoa:

Leaia and her family do not have access to a reliable source of clean water and their home is not connected to a piped water system, so they had to rely solely on rainwater collected in old fridges which was never really clean for drinking.

Imagine living without access to clean water. So much of what we do at home involves water - bathing, washing up, cooking and drinking. We are incredibly privileged and we often forget the harsh realities that individuals in our global community face.

Watch her video here: https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion/leaia-story/

Reflection Days

We commence the 2024 series of Reflection Days with Year 8 who will go to Mt Schoenstatt on 20 March. Further details to come.

This is a compulsory school day where the girls are taken off-site to engage in activities, prayer and reflection.

Once again, there has been a very strong interest in Public Speaking for 2024, with 155 girls registering to compete.

The first events begin very soon. CSDA begins on Friday, 1 March and our entrants are Georgia Baissari and Aarna Gaur (Year 7), Riya Kanade and Eva Kukucka (Year 8), Elissa Abboud and Miriam Chacty (Year 9), Ysabel Daelo and Bianca Mina (Year 10, while A’ishah Ali, Lizzy Butler, Tara Quinn and Avni Mathur are our representatives in the Senior section of the competition. Special thanks to Ysabel, A’ishah and Lizzy who are competing in a division above their Year level.

Over the next two weeks, Gabby Fleming and Lohita Gollavilli (Year 11) are participating in the Lions Youth of the Year competition. The demands of this event are significant: a forty-minute interview in front of a panel, a prepared speech and two impromptu speeches with no preparation time. Entrants are also required to show wide school and community involvement. Both girls are worthy entrants and we wish them luck.

In addition, in less than two weeks, Isabella Bousimon (Year 9) will be contesting the Parramatta Rotary Public Speaking competition. As always, our girls work hard and perform well in every competition we enter.

All girls will receive their competition allocations this week. Throughout the year, students are notified at least three weeks before their event is due. Good luck to all the girls competing in 2024.

Christopher Ostrowski
Debating and Public Speaking Coordinator

Open Dance Ensembles launch in Week 5 and are open to all students from Years 7-11.

These groups meet weekly before school and are run by external dance tutors. Students learn new movement skills and create a group dance routine. This is performed in our annual Dance Extravaganza showcase in Term 4.

Each ensemble focuses on a different dance style. See the 2024 timetable below.

Registrations for the Open Dance ensembles can be made through the new electronic Clipboard platform. Please note that there is a fee of $200 for each ensemble to cover tutor expenses for the year. Open ensembles will run from Term 1, Week 5 to Term 4, Week 1.

You can view all of our Sporting information on the OLMC Sports Page - https://myolmc.instructure.com/courses/39/pages/olmc-sport

Sport trials/selections and Gala days – OLMC Connect

Our new Co-Curricular Program, OLMC Connect, is now up and running. Information for all co-curricular activities, including sport, is available via the Clipboard platform. Parents and students can access this platform through the links below.

Through the Clipboard platform, students and parents can select any sporting event. This includes Gala day trials, OLMC Carnival nominations, PDSSSC and NSWCCC Sporting selection nominations. Specific details regarding events, including if there is an associated cost, will also be available. Students can select OLMC trials and Carnival nominations, while all other selections require parental sign in.

A summary of co-curricular activities and sporting events offered during Semester 1 is available via Clipboard. Clipboard offers access to activity selection, payment and parental approval of these activities where required.

Students can access Clipboard by clicking here. Parents can access Clipboard by clicking here. 

For further information, please email stuart.guthrie@olmc.nsw.edu.au

NSWCCC Sport Selections

If any students play state-level representative sports and would like to be considered for NSW Combined Catholic Colleges selection trials, then please choose the corresponding Sport via Clipboard. 

Some sports have individual trials, while others have team trials through Parramatta Diocese (PDSSSC).

You can view all the sports information on the CSNSW Sport page or the PDSSSC page.

For further information, please email stuart.guthrie@olmc.nsw.edu.au

Saturday Netball

Saturday Netball registrations are now available for students who wish to play for OLMC at Eastwood Ryde. All registrations must be completed online by clicking here, as well as completing the co-curricular registration through Clipboard by Friday, 23 February. Please note the netball season runs from 6 April - 7 September. Information regarding this has been sent to all students via email. 

For families that qualify for the Active Kids Rebate, this can be used for registration. Please note that you will need to register for an Active Kids Rebate before you register for netball.

It is a requirement that all players purchase the OLMC Netball Uniform, including the OLMC Tracksuit.

Netball Australia uses an online system called PlayHQ. All registrations and payments go through their PlayHQ system.

Saturday Soccer

Saturday Soccer registrations are now open via Clipboard. Games are held on Saturday mornings during Term 2 only. Our Home venue is Fairfield Rd Park, Yenoora, but teams may play at different schools/venues around Sydney and Mittagong.

If anyone is interested in playing for OLMC, then please select Saturday Soccer on Clipboard. Payment is made via this platform. 

The closing date for registration is 21 March.

Stuart Guthrie
Sports Coordinator

Opening Hours  

The Uniform Shop will be open Monday to Thursday, from 8.00am–9.30am and from 3.00pm–4.00pm on Monday and Wednesday (school days only, no booking appointment necessary). 

Online purchases can be made via the Online Uniform Shop and all orders will be delivered to the Student Centre for collection by students.  If parents/carers have completed an online purchase, please remind your student to collect the items from the Student Centre.

Terms 1 - All girls are to wear the  summer uniform. 

Terms 2 and 3 - All girls are to wear the full winter uniform. 

Winter Uniform Fittings 2024

Junior Uniform

Appointment times will be available online from the beginning of March until early April for the junior uniform fittings. The booking system will be open next week and appointments can be booked online via the Uniform Shop. 

Senior Uniform

Tights and optional long-sleeve blouse will be available to purchase from the Uniform Shop.

For uniforms enquiries, please contact the Uniform Shop on 8838 1275 or uniformshop@olmc.nsw.edu.au

On Open Day, the P&F supports the College by providing a BBQ for our guests and students. We are calling for parent helpers who can assist with setting up, cooking, service and packing up on the day. This is a great way to meet other parents and represent the College parent community. If you are able to assist, even for a short period, please click here to register.