Dear Parents and Carers

At last week’s College Assembly, I spoke to the community about the importance of persistence in the face of adversity and the character development that would accompany this. Persistence in spite of challenges or opposition is such an important character trait, especially when it is driven by dignity and conviction.

I spoke of the example of the Australian World Number 1, tennis player Ash Barty and the humility with which she approaches successes and losses. She constantly speaks of herself, her family and her team as simply trying to do the best that they can every single day. Before and after any tennis match Ash Barty never minimises her opponent’s skills or exaggerates her own. She just references 'trying to be the best you can be, and that’s all you can ask of yourself.'

Such a positive philosophy aligns perfectly with who we are as a Mercy community. What matters to us is being our best selves every day 'expanding beyond what we know we can be' and affording others the same opportunities for growth. It is about never giving up - persisting - valuing growth and valuing one’s family and the team (the College staff) who support you to be your best. At the Assembly, I encouraged the community to consider what persistence would look and feel like for each of them both inside and outside the classroom? It is a good conversation for us all to have.

On Wednesday, 19 February the Master Plan Information Evening was held at the College. As well as an address from me as Principal and the College Board Chair, Ms Kerrie Walshaw, Mayoh architects were in attendance and were very thorough in outlining the campus changes with the new Master Plan, including the imperative of maintaining the heritage of the Brigid Shelly building. It was an opportunity for all to ask questions about the refurbishment of buildings and the implementation of the Plan. Emphasis was on the vision for the Master Plan, including the provision of a “connected oasis of learning” that will continue to meet the evolving needs of dynamic OLMC learners. The first phase of the Plan will commence in the second half of this year and further timely updates will be provided.

I have to say that last week’s College Twilight Swimming Carnival was a great example of the OLMC community coming together! From the moment the students gathered to board the buses to Homebush, to the conclusion of the Carnival that evening, the enthusiasm and House Spirit was palpable. There was much friendly rivalry because House points towards the Spirit cup were to be won, however, what really stood out, apart from the colourful decorations, was the joy and positivity of everyone - students and staff alike. Thank you to Mr Stuart Guthrie, Sports Coordinator, to the PDHPE staff, to the House Leaders and to all staff who made this event such an enjoyable experience. Thank you also, to the many parents who were able to join us for this evening.

As a faith community, everyone gathered together in the Ailsa Mackinnon Community Centre for our Ash Wednesday Liturgy on 26 February. We were reminded that, as we begin our Lenten journey, it is important to focus not only on the dignity and integrity of our friends and family but also on the people whom we endeavour to help through Project Compassion. Lent is a time for reflection, and traditionally, for the foregoing of a luxury. This allows us to consider the needs of others and to be grateful for the many gifts that we have in our lives. Sometimes, it can be an opportunity to consider how we might help others and show our appreciation of them. As well as fasting and donating to Project Compassion, we might forgo watching our favourite television program, limiting or halting our social media usage or we might commit to completing some chores on a regular basis that would really make a difference to a family member. Just some ideas to consider.

Upcoming events to note:

• 5 March – Year 10 Reflection Day
• 6 March – International Women’s Day – Guest speaker - Dr Erin Mackenzie is a lecturer in science, STEM, and educational psychology in the School of Education at Western Sydney University. She is also a researcher in the Centre for Educational Research, where her studies focus on why girls choose to study STEM subjects (or not), and on how and why teenagers use social media. In this talk, Dr Mackenzie will discuss the possibilities that studying STEM subjects open up for future careers
• 12 & 13 March - Year 7 Camp
• 18 March - Year 9 Reflection Day

Open Day

A reminder that the Annual College Open Day is this Sunday, 8 March from 10.00am to 2.00pm.

The P&F always show their Mercy hospitality in providing a BBQ for the visiting families. The P&F are calling for parent helpers throughout the day. Please click here to volunteer some of your time at the P&F BBQ.

To return to the beginning:

Ash Barty has been named as the 2020 Young Australian of the Year in the recent Australia Day Awards. Amongst other qualities, she has been recognised for her

 “Dynamic tennis game, formidable serve and down-to-earth attitude.”

I would add: “Nevertheless, she persisted.” What a fine role model for us all!

Warm regards

Mrs Marie Wood
Principal (Acting)

History is a subject in which high levels of literacy are both valued and necessary. As a discipline, History has moved from a view of the past as a series of ‘immutable truths’ or ‘grand narratives’ to a much more inclusive view, which incorporates diverse narratives and interpretations (Coffin, 2002). By engaging with the broad range of discursive and linguistic features of these narratives and interpretations, students interact with the building blocks of argument and causal explanations.

In the History Faculty at OLMC, we are taking a new approach to the development of literacy within our discipline. Students will be engaging with the processes of historical debate, explanation, interpretation and evaluation by understanding the fundamental role of linguistics in the construction of history. Our focus will be on the process of communicating complex historical understanding through reading and writing activities that challenge students to think and communicate outside their comfort zone.

The model of literacy development that we are adopting has student understanding of language and grammar in context as its aim, drawing heavily on the research of linguist Caroline Coffin (see Coffin, 2009). Students are immersed in rich and varied historical texts, forming the foundation upon which content knowledge and understanding is built. In this three-stage model of textual analysis and construction, students:

Deconstruct – read exemplars, predict content and purpose, label parts of the genre, cut and paste features in order, and erase keywords and predict replacements.

Jointly Construct – co-construct a text genre with teacher or peers using scaffolding that helps them to identify the organisational and language features of the genre of historical text.

Independently Construct – draft, revise and publish a sample of the genre text with authority and confidence.

These learning routines will be applied to the different genres of historical reading and writing: the recording, explaining and arguing genres, teaching students to first identify the key linguistic and grammatical features that characterise each genre, and then to reproduce these appropriately in their own writing and speaking.

We are also setting aside dedicated time in class for students to engage with wider historical reading of choice (fiction, non-fiction, popular magazines etc.), connecting students with a facet of History that holds appeal, while continually building student literacy.

This year, OLMC is also participating in two separate History Debating competitions: the J.A. Thompson History Debating Competition and the Les Gordon History Debating Competition, both designed to build student skills in historical research and argumentation. This will be the practical application for students in Years 10 and 11 of their skills in reading, writing and speaking the language of History.

References:

Coffin, Caroline (2002). ‘The Voices of History: theorising the interpersonal semantics of historical discourses’. Text, 22(4), pp. 503-528.

Coffin, Caroline (2009) Historical Discourse: The Language of Time, Cause and Evaluation; Continuum: London.

Ms Melissa Riley
Leader of Academic Programs (Acting)

Year 12 Work Placement

The Hospitality and Business Services students recently completed their final work placement for VET. The girls attended venues across Sydney, the experience providing a valuable opportunity for them to put their skills and knowledge into practice in a real-world setting. Olana Lai from the Year 12 Hospitality class reflects on her week:

'My time at Novotel in Darling Square was such a positive and fun work placement. I learnt so much about working in a commercial kitchen and in the hotel industry. During my work placement, the head chefs gave me tasks which needed to be completed for the day and expected it to be done in a certain time frame. The pressure was a bit intense at first but soon became easier. I was able to practise my cutting skills and I believe they have improved immensely. The head chefs put a great deal of emphasis on working as a team and clear communication as working in a hotel can get very busy and difficult. I got a taste of just how chaotic it gets as I was helping prepare food during a heavy service period. As I would like to work in hotels, meeting employees from different areas in the hotel was a great chance for me to discover the employment opportunities available. Overall it was a great experience and it has helped me figure out what kind of job I would like to pursue after school.' (Olana Lai, Year 12)

School holiday experiences
There is a range of school holiday workshops and experiences on offer for students looking for creative experiences and STEM opportunities.
Australian Theatre for Young People - School Holiday Program
Monday, 14 April – Friday, 17 April. 9.30am to 3.30pm
Surry Hills
Years 10, 11, 12
'I know I’m meant to enjoy Shakespeare but I find it hard to understand.' Sound familiar? Don’t worry you’re not alone. Spend a week with a former Bell Shakespeare actor and uncover the tools that will make these plays make sense to you. Learn some of the great speeches, examine some of the classic scenes and unlock the endless potential that is found in Shakespeare’s work. There is a reason he is considered the greatest of all time so join us and find out why. Participants will explore the language and meaning of Shakespeare’s work, rehearse Shakespearean text and perform with direction. Most auditions for Drama Schools require a Shakespearean monologue, so this session will give participants invaluable feedback and new methods for performance. https://atyp.com.au/product/year-10-12-shakespeare-intensive/

Australian Theatre for Young People - Yrs 10, 11, 12 Audition Technique
Wednesday 22 April – Friday 24 April. 10.00am to 4.00pm
Surry Hills
Whether it be for drama school, a play or a television series, one thing is for certain – if you want to be an actor you will have to audition. The audition room can be a daunting place, so learn the tricks of the trade and leave those nerves at the door and make the most of your time in the room. Discover how to prepare in the right way, choose the right piece, learn how the industry works and know what is expected to deliver your best. Find a monologue that works for you, spend 3 days really intensively working on it with an industry professional and finish your week with a mock audition to test your new found skills. https://atyp.com.au/product/year-10-12-audition-technique-3-days/

2020 Curious Minds – Winter Camp
12-16 July 2020
A residential and mentoring program for girls in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Curious Minds is aimed at highly capable girls in Years 9 and 10 who have an interest in STEM learning areas. This is a six-month program that combines two residential camps and a STEM coaching program. The camps will enable the girls to explore all aspects of science, technology, engineering and maths through guest lectures, interactive sessions, practicals and field trips. The coaching program will see each student matched with a female coach recruited from a variety of STEM backgrounds and together they will construct personal goals for the student. This might include discussing study options and career pathways, undertaking further extension work with support from their coach, developing ideas based on learnings from the camp or working on a project. https://www.asi.edu.au/programs/curious-minds/

The College is exploring several potential areas of connection and partnership with Western Sydney University, based on a Memorandum of Understanding signed by our Principal (Acting) Mrs Marie Wood and the Vice-Chancellor of WSU, Professor Barney Glover.

These areas are:

• Facilities sharing
• Teaching and Learning connections
• Professional Development
• Pre-Service Teacher programs
• Research
• Offsite learning opportunities

Staff from OLMC are working with representatives of WSU to explore these areas before presenting our findings to the College Board in June.

As part of this process, we will be seeking feedback from stakeholders on the various exciting possibilities we uncover. This may include surveys, focus groups and workshops.

The first of these consultation events is a Design The Future workshop which will be held on Tuesday, 31 March in the AMCC. All parents/guardians are welcome to attend and bring their daughter with them to participate – numbers are limited so please do RSVP.

Please click here to see the Design The Future flyer for more information and use the following link to RSVP: http://bit.ly/DTF2020

CSDA State Champions

Our 2019 10A debating team consisting of Yasmine Alwakal, Veronica Chacty, Kyah Day and Riley Rodewald were victorious in the Catholic Schools Debating Association (CSDA) State final last Friday evening! Our students were up against a formidable team in St Pius X College Adamstown, and faced an even more formidable case to prove, having to take the negative for the topic:

‘That public safety is more important than an individual’s right to privacy’

Our debaters were simply superb – strong conceptualisation of the topic formed the basis of their matter, the logic of their arguments and finesse of their refutation demonstrated their superior method, and their easy confidence and persuasive manner clinched the debate for them! A cleverly crafted team line of ‘The exception should not be the norm’ was argued very effectively in relation to infringements on personal privacy, and the audience was left with little choice other than agree that an equal balance between the rights of the individual and the greater good must be upheld.

Congratulations to Yasmine, Veronica, Kyah and Riley for an outstanding result to end what was quite an extended season. They will soon launch into the defence of their title when CSDA debating begins again in Term 2.

New Inter-school Debating opportunities

OLMC will be broadening its participation in debating competitions in 2020, entering into two competitions designed for debaters with an affinity for history. The J.A. Thompson History Debating Competition, open to students in Years 10, and 11 is a round-robin debating competition which focuses on broad themes and issues of contention from history. Students have forewarning of the historically-themed topics for each debate, giving them time to research and support their case with robust and detailed historical information. Historical Matter far outweighs Manner and Method in the adjudication, so beyond providing just another opportunity to hone debating skills, the J.A. Thompson Competition with its research, deep thinking and historical argumentation builds skills that can be directly applied to student learning. Similarly, the Les Gordon History Debating Competition, a knock-out competition open to Year 10 students, provides an intellectual challenge for students not readily found elsewhere in the curriculum.

OLMC will enter teams in both of these competitions, so students in Years 10 and 11 should keep their eye out for an email in the next few weeks calling for participants.

Developing our young debaters

With more than 100 students signing up to participate in Debating this year, we are hoping to offer as many opportunities as possible to develop the skills and dispositions required for high level debating. To this end, we will be offering a series of after-school debating workshops, small-group coaching and mentoring, and a school-based competition for students in all Year groups. These will be offered progressively throughout the year, so students should watch out for emails and announcements for these opportunities.

We look forward to an exciting and rewarding year of Debating in 2020!

Ms Melissa Riley
Debating Coordinator 

Congratulations also to Tiana Karl who broke the 12 years 50m Breaststroke Record on the night, setting a time of 41.00 seconds.

'From birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders. He is bolted to earth. But man has only to sink beneath the surface and he is free.'

Jacques Cousteau, Time Magazine, 28 March 1960

…and the same applies for OLMC students in 2020.

This year OLMC students from Years 9 to 11 have the opportunity to participate in a co-curricular activity that will give them a skill (and joy) for life: their Open Water PADI Dive Certification. The program has both a theory and practical component: the online theory component and knowledge examination is crucial for an understanding of the importance of safety underwater. The practical component enables students to action the skills and knowledge that they have learned in safe environments under the direct supervision of a PADI Dive Master. The online theory component of the program will commence in Term 2.

After passing their knowledge test, students then complete a series of confined water (pool) dives on a Saturday in August to apply their theoretical learning, and then travel to Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef in December to complete their open water (ocean) dives over five days. The trip also provides students with an opportunity to interact with some of the other ecological wonders in this part of the world such as turtle nesting, bird watching, reef walking and a special trip to the University of Queensland’s Research Station, where the scientists on hand will explain the work they are doing to better understand the effects of climate change on reef systems. We are also very fortunate to have been asked by the Australian National Maritime Museum to help gather data on the shipwreck HMAS Protector, an ex-Australian Navy ship which was scuttled off Heron Island as a breakwater.

To be eligible to participate in this co-curricular activity, students must be 15 years or older by 30 June 2020, be able to swim 200m unaided and have no history of asthma. Students should indicate their interest by nominating the dive program in the co-curricular preferences form, the link to which was emailed to them last week.

As we say in diving, see you at the bottom!

Ms Melissa Riley
Scuba Diving Program Coordinator

The Committee of the OLMC P&F Association would like to extend a warm welcome to you as we begin the 2020 school year.  It will be a year of great opportunities for our community that we are excited to be a part of.

The P&F meet twice per school term in the Staff Common Room, from 7.00pm to 8.30pm. The 2020 dates are as follows:

Please add these dates to your calendar and join us as often as possible. 

Meetings provide an opportunity to hear from the College Principal, discuss events and any issues of interest to the College community.   

Our Annual General Meeting will take place during our scheduled meeting on Tuesday, 10 March 2020, at 7.00pm.  We invite you to attend, and also consider joining our Committee, comprised of the following positions:

• President   
• Vice-President 
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Parents Representative Council (PRC) Representative
• Social Co-Ordinator
• Ordinary Members - up to 3.

For further information about the OLMC P&F Association, please visit the College website: https://www.olmc.nsw.edu.au/life-college/community-engagement/olmc-parents-friends-association/

Should you be interested in communicating with the Committee for any reason, including nominations for Committee roles, to vote by proxy at the AGM, or to receive meeting minutes, please contact the Secretary via email: pandf@olmc.nsw.edu.au

The success of the P&F, as part of the College community, is dependent on the involvement of its members – you, the Parents and Guardians. 

So, we ask you to join us and become involved as we look forward to seeing new faces and hearing fresh ideas from new members in 2020.

OLMC P&F Association Committee

College Uniform Shop Hours

The Uniform Shop hours will be changing from Monday, 9 March.

Opening Hours: Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8.00am to 9.30am

Appointments are now open for Year 7 winter uniform fittings. Please go to the College website and follow the links to Make a Uniform Shop Appointment.

Year 10 students will not be required to make an appointment but can visit the uniform shop during the opening hours to purchase winter blouses, tights or scarves. 

These items can also be ordered online and paid for via the College online payment system. Please ensure that you indicate the items you are ordering (possibly in the same field as the name or homeroom).

College Blazers

The Uniform Shop has now received stock for the College blazer backorder for winter for the current Year 7 and Year 10, 2020. Your blazer can be collected from the Uniform Shop during opening hours, or at the same time as your winter uniform fitting. In some cases, the Uniform shop may not have received your size. Should this be the case, students will be permitted to wear the College jumper or cardigan to and from school until blazers have been received.

We have experienced some issues with the new College blazer fabric. Consequently, our uniform provider has sourced alternative fabric and will be replacing all blazers for Years 7, 8, 10, and 11 once the new production run is complete. It is likely that this will occur by mid-July.

At this time all blazers will be replaced at no charge to families. We will advise you when the new orders have been received for collection.

We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused and can assure you that the College is working closely with our supplier to ensure we provide a quality blazer for all students.

The College canteen provides a wide range of healthy affordable food for students and staff. Food is prepared fresh daily and includes both a set menu and regular daily specials.

The College has managed to keep the canteen prices down for a number of years. However, due to rising costs, there will be a 4% increase in prices commencing Monday 9th March. This will ensure that the Canteen is able to manage its operating costs effectively while continuing its excellent level of service.

The Canteen price list can be found by clicking here, as well as on the College website.

Attending School Camps

School camps can be a great opportunity for children to make new friends or enhance existing relationships, develop new skills, develop independence and increase their resilience. However, for many students (and their parents) school camps can provoke anxiety. Students may be worried about not being able to sleep properly, not liking the food, who they will room with, not feeling confident about the activities they will be expected to participate in and feeling homesick. Anxiety in general often derives from not feeling in control or not knowing what to expect.

However, there are many things that can be done to help alleviate these worries. Talking to your daughter about what her worries or concerns are is the starting point. Helping her to feel more in control and develop an understanding of what to expect will assist in reducing her anxiety. Talk about the activities she will be doing, what she thinks she may find challenging and which ones she is looking forward to. You could visit the camp’s website and familiarise your daughter with what the camp will look like. Ensuring that your daughter has successfully slept away from home, at a family member or close friends home, in the lead up to Camp can also make a big difference as it will increase her confidence in her ability to spend the night away from you. Include your daughter in the packing for Camp, both to increase her independence, but to also reassure her where her belongings are. Encourage your daughter to take a small comfort toy or photo to assist with making her feel more comfortable.

If you have concerns about your daughter’s ability to self-manage her anxiety whilst away, please speak with her House Leader about this. You may also like to seek out extra support for your daughter via the College counsellors or an external counsellor or psychologist who will be able to provide her with strategies to assist her in regulating her anxiety.

If you think you have prepared your child as above, but she is still feeling anxious, remember that there will be more opportunities to attend camp in the future. Keep encouraging them and preparing them for some wonderfully rewarding experiences at future school camps.

Mrs Sandra Portela
Senior College Counsellor

We would like donations of any good condition, second hand OLMC school bags please...

If you do have one please bring it to the Student Centre.

Thank you!

Click here for tips on how to prepare for the year ahead.

We have had a busy fortnight in the Mission team with Project Compassion in full swing. As well as collecting money this year, we are also asking for donations to the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRF). At this time of year when the focus turn to Project Compassion, we can forget about our local families who still need assistance. Information is below on how you may be able to assist.

We wish Year 10 girls the best of luck for their Reflection Day tomorrow and look forward to hearing about their day.

Project Compassion

Shrove Tuesday was a terrific way to start our Lenten fundraising and I am pleased to say that we raised $390! Thank you to the staff and students who assisted so capably with pouring, flipping and serving the pancakes. It was such a lovely community activity and one we hope to run again in the future!

Disabled Surfers Association 'Hands on Day'

Thalia (Year 12), Mikeeli (Year 10) and Sierra (Year 7) Lake's grandfather founded The Disabled Surfers Association’s annual 'Hands-on Day' over 30 years ago. Each February they hold an event at Collaroy. London Ardeleanu (Year 7) and Claudia Attard (Year 10) also volunteered at this day as well. 

Their role was to assist disabled children and adults paddling on the surfboard, surfing in the ocean, playing volleyball and also serving a BBQ lunch. Summer Giddings (Year 12) participated in the event and had a great time commenting that the support she had was amazing.

This is a terrific way of putting your Mercy value of Service into action. Thank you girls for volunteering in such a positive way!

Mrs Gabby Scanlon
Director of Mission

What is your Leadership Portfolio?

Kavanagh House Leader

What are the key responsibilities of your Portfolio?

Some of the key responsibilities of a House Leader include overseeing house councillor meetings, organising chapel agendas and working with your mentor and fellow Kavanagh girls by discussing what improvements can be made within the House.

What is your vision as Leader of this Portfolio in 2019/2020?

One of my key goals is to unify the Kavanagh homerooms by having more activities where all of Kavanagh can get to know each other. I think developing these relationships with both the Leaders and among the girls is important, as it will raise House spirit and make Kavanagh a more welcoming and inclusive House.