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  • Issue 13/September 7, 2022
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In This Issue

From the Principal

  • College Assembly
  • Jersey Day
  • P&F Cocktail Party

Student Wellbeing

  • Mobile Phones – Love them or hate them, we can control them if we all work together.
  • Galmatic
  • Panic attacks - what they are and what can help - Ms Chloe Gresham - School Counsellor

Identity

  • Bishop of Parramatta’s Awards for Student Excellence
  • Mercy Day
  • Father-Daughter Mass

OLMC Connect

  • Sport and Co-curricular Photographs
  • Debating
  • Public Speaking
  • IGSA Choral Festival
  • Sport

From the Principal

From the Principal

From the Principal

Ms Lucie Farrugia, Principal

Last week we held our Father-Daughter Mass. It allowed us to reflect on the wonderful role that our dads play in our lives. I wanted to share with you the speech that I delivered.

Last month my family and I commemorated the 9th anniversary of my Father’s death. His absence in our lives is still felt day to day because his love, humour, wisdom and mercy were the hallmarks of this great man.

My Dad wasn’t famous, nor did he have a powerful job that earned a lot of money. He was a family man, who was orphaned early in his life and took responsibility for the many brothers and sisters he had. He bravely moved them, with his young bride (my Mum) and my brother, then aged 2 years old from Egypt to Australia back in the 1950s for the promise of a better life. Like many men in his generation, he was a pioneer for this developing country we call home. Creating that better life was achieved and my Dad died with an intense love for Australia and what it could provide for his family.

My father wanted for his children, what every father wants - that they are provided for, well-educated and able to take their rightful place in Australian society or indeed in a global society.   He wants to see his children succeed and especially be happy and content with the life choices that await them. He wants to know that when hard times fall on his children, they will come to him for support, and when they cannot do this, they will have the capacity and resilience to come through those times and bounce back to life.  

The love between a father and his children is sometimes unspoken and sometimes challenging for both the grown man and his children – particularly when his children become teenagers. It is difficult to acknowledge that his little girl has become quite the young woman, in what seems to be a blink of an eye.

I offer you this, as one who misses her dad often - treasure the moments, not just the highlights. Treasure today with us at OLMC…take it all in and remember it, share the story of today with those in your family this evening and beyond. Girls, take a visual snapshot of your dad’s face today and dads do that with your daughters too…so you’ll hold dear to your hearts that you shared this moment…today in your wonderful and ever-changing relationship as father and daughter.

College Assembly

College Assembly

College Assemblies are always special at OLMC. As a community, we get together and celebrate the many achievements of our students.  Our last Assembly held a fortnight ago, left me and hopefully all students and staff experienced, with a true sense of connectedness and positivity. It made me so proud to be the Principal of this great school.

During the Assembly, we celebrated many achievements including our girls winning first place at the Metro Minds STEAM Challenge and the successes of students in The Living Stories Western Sydney Writing Prize. Our College Orchestra, led by Ms Belinda Angilletta, was incredible. They performed lively and upbeat pieces. One of our very talented alumnae, Carla Wehbe (Class of 2011) visited and sang her brand new single ‘Is Forever Off The Table?’. To say she has a beautiful voice is an understatement. She captivated our girls. The Assembly ended with an emotionally charged rendition of the Alma Mater. This was the first time since COVID, that the College song was sung at an assembly!

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Jersey Day

Jersey Day

The College was awash with a sea of colours last Friday with students and staff wearing their favourite jersey for Jersey Day. Tim Mannah, retired Parramatta Eels Rugby League player, joined us to support awareness of organ donation. Jersey Day has been inspired by the gift of life that Nathan Gremmo gave to six people when he became an organ donor at age 13. To register to be an organ or tissue donor, please join the Australian Donor Register. 

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P&F Cocktail Party

P&F Cocktail Party

P&F Cocktail Party

What a wonderful evening we had last Friday at the P&F Cocktail Party. Despite the cold weather, many parents came along to meet new parents and others reconnected with old friends.

Many thanks to the P&F and to all parents who joined us for the evening. Thanks must also go to our wonderful Year 12 Hospitality students and staff, Mrs Nguyen Tring and Ms Kim Spits who prepared and served the delicious food.

Ms Lucie Farrugia
College Principal

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Student Wellbeing

Mobile Phones – Love them or hate them, we can control them if we all work together.

Mobile Phones – Love them or hate them, we can control them if we all work together.

We all recognise that mobile phones are an easy way for people to stay in touch, however, ongoing research indicates that mobile phones should not be used in school during the day. The ability for young people to ‘switch off’ from social media and other distractions, means they are more engaged in their learning and can create real friendships. There is also evidence of a decrease in the incidence of bullying.

OLMC has a Personal Electronic Devices Policy which covers the appropriate use by students of personal electronic devices including, but not limited to, mobile phones, smart watches, fitness watches, tablets, and handheld games. Any policy, however, is only useful if all members of the community adhere to it. The main expectations we have are:

  • Students, with the exception of Year 12 in lessons designated by their teachers, may not use mobile phones or similar devices while on College grounds from the time a student arrives at school to the end of the school day
  • Devices that are brought to school must be on silent or turned off, securely locked in the student’s locker and must not be accessed during the school day
  • Students are also not permitted to have earphones or earbuds in their ears at recess or lunch and when walking around the College grounds.

In the last few weeks, staff have been reinforcing these rules, however, students often tell us the reason they have their phone on them is they need to get a message from their parent/carer or need to pay for their lunch. I would ask for your assistance by doing the following:

  • Have a conversation with your daughter about the policy and why she, as a member of the College community, must follow it (or she is likely to be on a Monday afternoon detention)
  • If you need to contact your daughter during the day, please only ring the Student Centre on 8838 1213
  • Ensure your daughter has her key card or cash to pay for items at the canteen.

Social Media and Apps used by students

Parents and carers all too often tell me they are worried about the daughter’s use of social media.  Sadly, this is usually after their daughter has been involved in or been the victim of online bullying or inappropriate behaviour. As a College, we want to empower our parents/careers with the knowledge and the ability to have a conversation with their daughter/s. 

Some useful links are resources for you are:

https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-issues/esafety-guide - which gives parents information about Apps such as Snapchat, Tik Tok and Discord.

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/resources and specifically parents/ careers should be taking time to view:

  • Parental controls: https://vimeo.com/612389757
  • Cyberbullying and online drama: https://vimeo.com/582320787
  • Online sexual harassment and image-based abuse: https://vimeo.com/595727241

Galmatic

Galmatic

On Tuesday 30 September, Year 12 took part in a workshop delivered by Galmatic. Galmatic provide specialised training and education on car maintenance. The aim of this workshop is to empower the girls with knowledge and skills.

The girls also received access to a Glovebox Guide designed to be downloaded straight onto a mobile phone and is a ‘how-to’ checklist covering such things as:

  • The 10-minute monthly car check
  • How to change a tyre https://galmatic.com/how-to-change-a-tyre/
  • What to do in accident and accident recording
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Panic attacks - what they are and what can help - Ms Chloe Gresham - School Counsellor

Panic attacks - what they are and what can help - Ms Chloe Gresham - School Counsellor

When the body is faced with immediate danger (perceived or otherwise), the brain orders the autonomic nervous system to activate an important survival mechanism, called the ‘fight or flight’ response. A range of chemicals including adrenaline flood the body which trigger physiological changes. For instance, blood is shifted to the muscles to prepare to run away or fight.

A panic attack occurs when this survival response is triggered but there is no real danger that is about to happen. Panic attacks can happen to anybody and in and of themselves are not a psychiatric condition. This ‘false alarm’ can be very frightening, and you may feel a strong desire to escape the situation. They can occur frequently and unexpectedly and are not necessarily related to any external threat. They can last from only a few minutes to half an hour, but the physical and emotional effects can linger for hours later. 

A panic attack is characterised as a sudden rush of intense fear or anxiety that is accompanied with a surge of frightening physical sensations and thoughts. Panic attack symptoms can include:

  • Skipping, racing, or pounding heart
  • Sweating
  • Trembling or shaking
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Choking sensations
  • Chest pain, pressure, or discomfort
  • Nausea or sudden diarrhoea
  • Dizziness, light-headedness, feeling faint
  • Tingling or numbness in parts of your body
  • Hot flushes or chills
  • Feeling things around you are strange, unreal, detached, unfamiliar, or feeling detached from the body
  • Thoughts of losing control or going crazy
  • Fear of dying

Many of the symptoms may appear to indicate some medical condition or in a truly dangerous situation and some people seek emergency assistance.

Some of the factors that can increase the risk of developing panic attacks include: 

  • Major or ongoing stress or a traumatic experience – this causes the body to produce higher than usual levels of stress chemicals such as adrenaline.
  • Excessive caffeine intake – the caffeine in coffee, tea and other beverages is a strong stimulant.
  • A sudden change of environment – such as walking into an overcrowded, hot, or stuffy environment.

What to do during a panic attack to reduce their severity:

1. Try not to fight what you are feeling – often fighting the feelings or ‘pushing them away’ can increase your fear of panic and give it more power. Accepting the experience and reminding yourself that the symptoms are uncomfortable but not life-threatening and will pass in a few minutes will help you gain confidence in your ability to cope

  • Distracting yourself by focusing your attention on something outside your own body can be helpful. Such as counting the things they see, naming their feelings out loud, chewing gum, or counting backwards in threes from 100.

2. Control your breathing - this can be very effective when used at the first signs of a panic attack. It needs to be continued for around four minutes to allow the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide to return to normal.

  • An example of breathing control is slow breathing; Breathe in slowly, counting silently to yourself: 1…2…3…4…5…, Hold your breath for a moment, breathe out slowly, counting silently to yourself: 1…2…3…4…5…

3. Challenge your fear - try to be aware of what you are thinking and see if you can challenge these fears. Ask yourself:

  • 'Given what I now know about panic, and a recent medical check-up has ruled out any physical explanations, am I really having a heart attack, stroke, or being irrational? Is what I fear actually occurring, or is it more likely these symptoms are part of my anxiety response?'
  • 'What do I know from my experience with panic attacks? Have I had these feelings before and did they kill me, or did they turn out to be a panic attack?'
  • 'If someone I know was experiencing these symptoms, what would I say to them to reassure them these are just anxiety symptoms?'

 4. Give yourself time - try not to rush yourself through the panic attack. Don’t try to distract yourself or pretend you are not feeling anxiety – this will often make the anxiety worse. Acknowledge your symptoms as “just symptoms” - remind yourself that you can separate how you feel from what you think, or fear is happening.

  • Some people find it helpful to think of panic as like ‘surfing a wave’ – it builds up, peaks, and then washes up on the beach. When you are ready, simply go back to what you were doing.

In the long term, it is important not to let a few panic attacks become a bigger and continuing problem. If you find your daughter is starting to fear or avoid certain situations, it may be useful to reach out to a psychologist or school counsellor who can teach her practical skills to help manage her panic attacks.

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Identity

Bishop of Parramatta’s Awards for Student Excellence

Bishop of Parramatta’s Awards for Student Excellence

Congratulations to Bernadette Grima who was awarded the 2022 Bishop of Parramatta’s Student excellence Award for 2022. Bishop Vincent presented the award during a ceremony held in St Patrick’s Cathedral. Jessica Abrahams, from Year 11, read out the citation, an extract is included below:

Bernadette is a person of action who shares her faith and many skills generously with others. She is a natural leader with a warm personality and has been involved in various school-based activities including: Max Potential, Mock Trial, sporting teams and the Tech Crew. She is a conscientious and dedicated student who does her best at all times.

Thank you to Jessica, Mrs Bell and Ms Farrugia who were there on the night to see Bernadette receive this award.

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Mercy Day

Mercy Day

A final reminder to the College community about Mercy Day which we are celebrating on Friday, 16 September. The theme for the Mass is Women of Courage and all money raised will be donated to Mercy Works for use in programs and initiatives they run to help women and children live lives of security and dignity.

One of these projects is in PNG in the Simbu Province. It focusses on addressing specific needs of the community such as life skills and technical training; strengthening of community self-help groups or cooperatives, rehabilitation activities for prisoners in Barawagi Prison, a radio program across the Highlands and agricultural and farming activities.

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Father-Daughter Mass

Father-Daughter Mass

The Annual Father-Daughter Mass was a true celebration of faith and love and was held in the Mother Clare Dunphy Memorial Chapel on Friday, 2 September. Fr Walter led the Mass which was accompanied by beautiful music provided by the Music Department. Thank you to all of the staff and students who assisted. It was wonderful to be able to join once again for this Mass in our Chapel which was almost at capacity.

Mr Matt Nolan (father of Maeve, Niamh and Frankie) shared his reflections on being a Mercy dad. He shared his understanding about the variety of activities OLMC offers which have allowed each of his daughters to find things that they enjoy and excel at. To read Matt's speech, please click on the Show More button below: 

Good morning everyone.

My name is Matt Nolan, I have three daughters here at OLMC, Maeve in Yr 12, Niamh in Yr 10 and Frankie in Year 7. I’ve been asked by the college to reflect on my role as a father of Mercy girls.

My wife Emma and I both attended independent private schools, our hope was to provide the same opportunity for our daughters. Being close to home, OLMC seemed like the perfect fit for us.

Most of you here today will recall sitting in Edith Angel Hall or the AMCC listening to the Open Day address detailing the history of Catherine McAuley, the Sisters of Mercy and the College itself.

Like most prospective parents attending that day, we left with an understanding of the College history, but also with a strong sense of what this Mercy community stood for and why.

A few years later, we came back with Maeve for the Year 7 Information Evening. I clearly remember an address from a teacher who said the focus of OLMC  was to empower the girls to become their own person. There should be no one driving them to school, checking when notes were to be handed in or dropping off a forgotten PE bag.

We were told it was time to let our daughters grow up, to become independent, to develop resilience, which would involve letting them make mistakes, working out how to fix them and bounce back.

As we count down the last few weeks of school for Maeve, I realise that the past six years have gone by in a flash. From that very first morning of Year 7, we’ve proudly watched from the sidelines as Maeve charted her own course here at OLMC.

Mercy Values have played a large part in our families journey, so I thought I’d mention a few that relate to us:

The first is 'Excellence'

The 12-year-old Maeve who started here back in 2017 was a quiet and shy kid who was often overlooked for roles in primary school.

Within months of starting at OLMC, she found her voice. Her shyness began to disappear. She developed new interests, entered Public Speaking events and joined the Debating team. I believe it’s here that Maeve’s confidence grew and ultimately helped prepare her for her leadership role at the College.

Niamh has had the opportunity to represent the College in Cross Country, Athletics and Soccer, as well as Public Speaking, Debating and Band.

Frankie’s journey has only just started at OLMC, but already she has tried her hand at Saturday Soccer, Public Speaking, Choir and Craft Club.

I believe the diverse range of opportunities offered here at OLMC, allows each girl to excel in whatever subject or co-curricular they choose.  

Then there is the Compassion and Hospitality shown by the wonderful teachers and staff, who go above and beyond to support learning & co-curricular activities, but more importantly, the care and consideration during every step of their journey at OLMC.  

These Values are also clear in friendships. You may remember being told early on about the 'open circle' policy here at OLMC. A policy of always welcoming someone into your group, to never turn your back on someone in need. We’ve watched our daughters and their friends, care, encourage and support each other, celebrate each other's successes and build each other up.

There is the Mercy Value of 'Justice'.

Justice is the quality of being just, equitableness and moral rightness, knowing right from wrong.

The concept of Justice is very clear in all three of our girls. Knowing right from wrong, having the confidence to stand up for themselves, their peers, those who have no voice and those who haven’t found their voice.  

Finally, there is Stewardship, the focus value for 2022. Stewardship can mean many different things and typically we associate it with care for all of creation. But I think at OLMC it is so much more than that, and as a parent I have come to see the College itself embody the role of stewards of our daughters, nurturing and helping them to grow into empowered young women, and in this sense, I truly believe it is the thread that runs through all the Mercy Values

Today, as we look ahead to Maeve’s final few weeks at school, I refer to the lyrics of a well-known Abba song, that is very popular in our house of three girls.

Schoolbag in hand, she leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile
I watch her go with a surge of that well-known sadness
And I have to sit down for a while

The feeling that I'm losing her forever
And without really entering her world

Sometimes I wish that I could freeze the picture
And save it from the funny tricks of time.

As parents, you always remember the firsts. The first words, the first steps. But it’s harder to remember the 'lasts' as most of the time you don’t realise they are happening.

The last time they ask you to carry them on your shoulders, the last bedtime story, the last time you’re allowed to hold their hand when you walk them to the school gates. Little moments that pass us by so quickly.

While it’s a bittersweet feeling, it gives me comfort knowing Maeve will go off to University and into the world armed with her Mercy Values, which have helped develop confidence, self-reliance, compassion and self-motivation.

Looking forward, we now start the HSC journey with Niamh and start the whole six years again with Frankie, feeling excited and confident about what’s ahead for them both.

I’d like to finish by thanking Ms Farrugia, Father Walter, Ms Lonergan, Mrs Scanlon and the whole College team for the opportunity to speak today.

Finally, I’d like to wish all the Fathers here today, a Happy Father’s Day.

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OLMC Connect

Sport and Co-curricular Photographs

Sport and Co-curricular Photographs

MSP Photography attended the College on the 19 August to take Sports and Co-curricular Photographs.

This week, a letter will be sent to every student involved in these group photographs. It will contain instructions on where families can view and order the photos.

Debating

Debating

Intraschool Debating

As the preliminary rounds of this competition wind down over the next week, all teams need to be complimented on the quality of their preparation. I have received many comments from adjudicators about the exceptional standard of speakers but that couldn’t happen without the additional support of those girls acting as coaches. Well done to all.

Special mention goes to Year 11 student Ella McGirr who kindly stepped in at short notice as an adjudicator and also to Cassidy Turrell who has become a mainstay of the adjudication panel.

The new trophies for the two divisions of Intraschool Debating have arrived and in Term 4, semi-finals and finals will decide which names are the first ones to be inscribed on them. Those making the finals will be announced early in Term 4.

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Public Speaking

Public Speaking

This Saturday, 17 of our girls are competing in the Soroptimist Public Speaking Competition. Judging by the quality of their speeches, the College is certain to be among the placegetters in the various sections we are contesting. Good luck to all.

Also next week, the eight girls competing in the Australian Debating and Public Speaking Titles will be submitting two of their events on video: their Prepared Speeches and Interpretive Readings. The following week will revert to Zoom in the Debating and Impromptu Speaking sections. This event is very demanding but the selected girls have the talent to match it with the best student speakers in Australia. Results will be announced in the next edition of Parragraph.

Christopher Ostrowski
Debating and Public Speaking Coordinator

IGSA Choral Festival

IGSA Choral Festival

On 12-14 August, we participated in the Independent Girls’ School Association Choral Festival. Over the three days, we were required to sight read many different pieces from all different periods and styles of music, including works by Vivaldi and Brahms. We rehearsed with the orchestra and watched professional singers perform different pieces. The Festival concluded with a concert before family and friends of the works studied on the Sunday at Queenwood School, Mosman. Our second concert was on 4 September from 3.30-4.30 p.m. at St James’ Church, Sydney.

Highlights included learning from professional singers and tutors, including a professional opera singer, and singing a new and contemporary arrangement of Waltzing Matilda. The chance to meet new people from across Sydney and share common interests was also a great experience (as was the beautiful venue).

We would like to thank Ms Farrugia and Mrs Angilletta, as well as the organisers of the event for giving us the opportunity to participate in the Festival.

Isabelle Liew, Haynin Lai, Rachael Gock and Selena Madrio

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Sport

Sport

CGSSSA Dance

On Wednesday, 24 August, 15 students from Years 7-10 attended the CGSSSA Dance Championships at Santa Sabina College. 

The students who represented OLMC were Stella Kemmis, Kari Traynor, Charlotte Dawson, Emma Biviano, Jorgia Abdisho, Zoe Winthrop, Adrianne Sultana, Gabby Fleming, Lexie Elphinstone, Zara Lewis, Ashlyn Kumar, Jemima Scothern, Caitlin Velasquez, Ava Caruso and Kokoda Mahony.

Our Year 10 Dance class had terrific success and was awarded 2nd place in the Contemporary section.

The OLMC Dance Company performed an upbeat jazz routine and we had two senior soloists, Emma Biviano & Jorgia Abdisho, and one junior soloist, Ava Caruso. Well done to all our dancers and a big thankyou to Miss Ieroianni & Mr Jones for all their help with the girls.

Mr Stuart Guthrie
Sports Coordinator

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