From the Principal
Teaching And Learning
English
English
Ria Iyer (Year 9) had the opportunity to write a poem for a charity event supporting Bravehearts, a children’s charity organisation. Her poem was published at this event in their memoir and she was given the opportunity to read it to the audience. Alison Geale, CEO of Bravehearts, who attended the event commended Ria on her thoughtful poem that reflects the mission and purpose of the organisation that promotes the safety and protection of all children.
I walk back home, with precaution and care,
I walk back home, the wind blowing in my hair
I sense eyes all around me, as I take each step,
‘This doesn’t seem right,’ I said to myself
I have the right to walk happily, each step I take,
I have the right to be free, each minute of each day
To be able to walk proudly, with my head held high,
To wave at my friends as I see them walk by
I want to walk down the street with the sun shining bright,
Looking up at the sky and seeing birds flying high
Then I finally get home, with my smile spread wide,
I made it home happily, safely and on time
Home; where my family will always be there,
I can them anything and they will listen with care
And at night I think about today’s knowledge I have gained
After all you can’t make a rainbow without a little sunshine and rain
By Ria Iyer
OLMC Connect
Public Speaking
Public Speaking
The year might be coming to an end but public speaking at OLMC continues as strong as ever. Over the last two weeks, no fewer than six activities gave our students the opportunity to shine.
Open Morning Tours
The final Open Morning Tour saw two of our outstanding Year 7 speakers, Tia Monga and Summer Rayne Roughley, once again impress our visitors with their professional delivery and their welcoming manner. Tia and Summer Rayne, along with Laurice Behan and Maddison Starkey, have proven to be wonderful ambassadors for the College throughout the year. The number of positive comments from parents and OLMC staff alike are testament to the exceptional ability of our public speakers. In the Year of Service, all four girls epitomize what the Mercy value of Service is. Thank you to all of them.
UN Voice Competition
In an exceptional achievement, Alanah Issa of Year 8 has reached the State Final of the UN Voice competition. Alanah is now among the elite speakers in this competition as only ten of over 200 entrants attain this level of success. Alanah’s performance in the semi-final deserves praise not only because of her own outstanding delivery but because the opposition she faced was formidable. All speakers were excellent and having to wait two days for results to be announced was quite nerve-racking.
Alanah now advances to the State Final at Government House on Monday, 9 December. Further challenges await for the top five place getters: a position in the NSW team to compete at the National Final next Easter. We wish Alanah all the best for next Monday.
Christmas Competition
Although numbers were down from previous years, this year’s Christmas Competition still proved to be of very high quality. Years 7, 8 and 9 have separate competitions, all being held at separate lunchtimes last week in the Library. The winners in each Year level were as follows:
Year 7: Lily Moujalli
Year 8: Ainslie McNally
Year 9: Maeve Nolan
Thank you to our DAPS leaders, Daphne Fong and Lily Tambrchi, for organising the event and to Mrs Melissa Riley for adjudicating along with Daphne and Lily. The three winning girls will now have their names engraved on the respective Speaker of the Year shields for their respective year levels.
Public Speaking Day of Excellence
Possibly the biggest day on our public speaking calendar is the end-of-year workshop that prepares our girls for the year ahead. As always, over seventy enthusiastic students attended, including many Year 6 students who will become Mercy Girls next year. The day unearthed many new students whose talent promises to keep our successes rolling into 2020.
Special mention must go to our four Year 7 girls who have become such an integral part of public speaking at OLMC. Laurice Behan and Maddison Starkey gave a brilliant 15-minute presentation on how to deliver a speech with style, Summer Rayne Roughley delivered an outstanding speech which provided an excellent model for her listeners while Tia Monga gave an excellent speech on the benefits of entering public speaking competitions. These girls are truly an inspiration to others.
The day could not be successful without the input of many other OLMC students, both past and present. Several ex-students gave up their time to come in and help as group leaders and mentors. Thank you to Anita Donovan, Amishi Handoo, Imogen King, Andrea Kozera and Gabrielle Mizzi. Each of these girls was an outstanding speaker in past years and sharing the wisdom of their experience was a significant contribution on the day. Unfortunately, Anita Venkatesh was unwell and couldn’t attend but Anita has contributed in the past and we hope to see her next year. Our current DAPS leaders, Daphne and Lily, were also indispensable in so many ways. They were not only group leaders and mentors but were ready at a moment’s notice to organise whatever needed to be organised. Apart from these wonderful girls, a big thank you to all the OLMC students who were willing to help at a moment’s notice whenever it was required.
It is also important to mention others whose support is essential in such an activity. Thank you to Ms Bujnowski, Mrs Portelli and Ms Rowan who took time out of their teaching duties to contribute in so many ways, to the endlessly patient ladies in the Student Centre and others in the College administration who spent so much time and effort supporting the program. The behind-the-scenes work done by so many people is very much appreciated.
On a final note, thank you to all who have ensured the success of public speaking at OLMC: the College Administration, the teachers and support staff, the families of our speakers but above all, over 130 of our wonderful students whose talent and enthusiasm have made 2019 our most successful year ever.
Mr Christopher Ostrowski
Public Speaking Coordinator
Sport
Sport
Sport Photos
Just a reminder that you can view and purchase action shots from http://www.akphotos.com.au/album/3002571/ for the following 2019 sports:
OLMC Swimming Carnival
- OLMC Athletics Carnival
- Saturday Volleyball & Basketball
- Saturday Netball
- CGSSSA Tennis
- CGSSSA Volleyball
- CGSSSA AFL
- CGSSSA Dance
An email has been sent to all students with our password.
Merry Christmas
2019 is coming to a close, but that does not mean that Sport has finished yet. Students are still competing and producing fantastic results.
I want to thank all the students, parents, friends and families who have supported numerous sports throughout 2019. It was wonderful to see so many girls competing, having fun, doing their best and enjoying sport. I look forward to working with you again in 2020.
Physical Culture
Congratulations to Holly Walker who achieved 3rd place at the Physi NSW Grand Finals on Sunday, 24 November!
Tennis
Congratulations to Catherine Yue who competed at the 2019 Schoolgirls Junior Tennis Tournament. Catherine was victorious in the Year 10 girls' consolation final, despite only being in year 8!
The OLMC lunchtime tennis event has now finished. Congratulations to Catherine Yue who won the Junior Division and to Angelene Lu who won the Intermediate division.
Athletics
Good luck to Summer Giddings as she competes at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships in Perth from 6-8 December.
Futsal
Best of Luck to Annabelle Ruskin who is currently competing over in Spain as part of the Australian Women’s Youth Futsal Team.
NSWCCC 2020
In 2020, the NSWCCC will be introducing a new website. A new information sheet will be sent out to help with all registrations. Students who have previously registered with NSWCCC will receive an email outlining the changes with registrations.
Saturday Basketball and Volleyball
The Santa Sabina Volleyball & Basketball concluded on the weekend. We had a number of amazing matches and wonderful achievements. Here are the latest results:
Basketball
Week 6
OLMC 1 – defeated Rosebank, 14-12
OLMC 2 – defeated OLMC 3, 51-20
OLMC 4 – were defeated by MLC, 50-8
Week 7
OLMC 1 – defeated Loreto, 25-14
OLMC 2 – defeated Monte, 22-17
OLMC 3 – were defeated by Loreto
OLMC 4 – were defeated by St Scholastica, 14-12
Final Placings
OLMC 1 (Open Div 2A) – 5th
OLMC 2 (Inter Div 2B) - 3rd
OLMC 3 (Inter Div 2B) - 5th
OLMC 4 (Yr 7) - 4th
Volleyball
Week 6
OLMC 1 – defeated Loreto, 2-1
OLMC 2 – were defeated be Brigidine, 3-1
OLMC 3 – were defeated by Rosebank, 3-1
OLMC 4 – defeated MLC, 3 nil
OLMC 5 – were defeated by Brigidine, 3 nil
OLMC 6 – defeated St Scholastica’s, 3 nil
OLMC 7 – defeated PLC Sydney, 2-1
OLMC 8 – were defeated by Sydney Girls, 3 nil
Week 7
OLMC 1 – defeated Loreto, 3 nil
OLMC 2 – drew with St Scholastica’s, 2 all
OLMC 3 – defeated Meriden, 2-2 (won on points)
OLMC 4 – were defeated by PLC Sydney, 3 nil
OLMC 5 – were defeated by Monte, 3 nil
OLMC 6 – were defeated by St Vincent’s, 3 nil
OLMC 7 – BYE
OLMC 8 – were defeated by PLC, 3 nil
Final Placings
OLMC 1 – (Open Div 2) 9th
OLMC 2 – (Open Div 2) 7th
OLMC 3 – (Yr 10 Div 2) 3rd
OLMC 4 – (Yr 9 Div 2) 18th
OLMC 5 – (Yr 8 Div 1) 8th
OLMC 6 – (Yr 8 Div 2) 2nd
OLMC 7 – (Yr 8 Div 2) 17th
OLMC 8 – (Yr 8 Div 2) 8th
Well done to all the girls that competed and thank you to all the families and friends that came to support the teams.
Wednesday Touch Football
Parramatta Junior Touch Football has now concluded. The Grand Final was held on Friday, 29 November. Well done to OLMC 5 finishing Runners up in 15 Years Div 2 and to OLMC 2 who finished Runners Up in 17 Years Div 2. They were defeated by OLMC 1 who were the 17 Years Div 2 Champions!.
Well done to all the girls for a great season!
You can view all the results here - http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=0-531-0-0-0anda=COMPS
Mr Stuart Guthrie
Sport Coordinator
College Notices
Other Careers Event
Amelie-Aiko Loof
Amelie-Aiko Loof
Advent
We have embarked on the season of Advent which commences four weeks prior to Christmas. This is a time for waiting and preparing. The prayer below is a lovely Advent prayer.
Dear Jesus
You are the hope in our messy world.
This Advent, help us to slow down, listen to your voice, and focus on what is really important.
We place our hope in you as we prepare our hearts to celebrate your birth on Christmas.
Amen.
Vinnies Hampers
Thank you to the College community for your generosity in providing goods for the Vinnies Christmas Hampers. We prepared 20 hampers which will be distributed to families in need within our local area.
Drought Relief
Thank you all so much for the tremendous response to our Drought Relief Appeal. We raised almost $2,000. We have donated $500 to Catholic Religious Australia (assists vulnerable people in society) and will donate the balance to Drought Angels.
Cambodia Trip
Thank you to the College Community who have so generously donated and supported the fundraising efforts of the 2019 Cambodia Trip. We are all packed and ready to go on Saturday morning. The girls will be accompanied by myself, Mrs Wood, Mrs Johnston and Mrs Kemmis. We will be completing several service activities including building two houses. We look forward to sharing our adventures with you upon our return.
I would like to wish all the students and families a very happy and holy Christmas. May this special time of year provide an opportunity to stop and celebrate with your loved ones. Have a safe holiday period and I look forward to seeing you next year in 2020 for another terrific year.
God bless
Mrs Gabby Scanlon
Director of Mission