From the Principal
Teaching And Learning
Learning in Science
Learning in Science
2020 has certainly presented some challenges, but learning in Science is continuing, and our students and teachers are demonstrating resilience and creativity in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Moving to an on-line mode of delivery has been a steep learning curve for both teachers and students. Eight weeks ago, most Science teachers had never heard of Zoom, let alone imagined they would be delivering lessons directly to their students’ homes via this platform. We are now in our fifth week of zooming lessons, and we have learned a lot in this time, both through observing the level of engagement the lessons generate, and also from each other, by debriefing about the lessons that went well, as well as the glitches and setbacks. We have also improved our skills at making videos and designing on-line quizzes and other interactive learning experiences for our students. Indeed, many of the resources we have created for the purpose of teaching in the pandemic will undoubtedly be useful to our students beyond 2020.
For Science teachers the trickiest part of online learning has been the teaching of investigation skills. Practical work makes up a large component of the Science courses, and the best way for our students to develop their skills is by carrying out investigations. This can be challenging away from the Science laboratories. To address this, we have reorganized the order in which topics will be taught in 2020. During Term 2 our junior students are studying topics that include less practical work. The Chemistry topics have been pushed back to later in the year for our Year 8 and 10 students. Our Year 10 students will be doing their Student Research Project in Term 3 rather than Term 2. Year 7 students are currently studying a topic about body systems. Learning how to use the microscope has been moved to Term 3 for them. For Year 9 students the topic on light and electricity, which has a large practical component, will be studied later in the year as well.
Where possible we have incorporated some practical work that can be carried out at home. Year 7 students made a model of a body system. Sofia Maruncic can be seen in photo 1 with her model of the digestive system. Year 7 students also carried out a home experiment involving birthday candles and glasses, where they investigated how quickly a burning candle uses up the oxygen in different size glasses. Maelys Pace is working on this investigation in photo 2. Year 8 students are currently investigating the effect of light on seed germination and plant growth by growing plants in a cupboard and under normal conditions. Senior Chemistry students made acid-base indicators from garden flowers and other household items. They also created models to represent strong and weak acids from items as diverse as Lego, cardboard, and lollies.
We are certainly very glad to welcome back our students this week, and while we are looking forward to an increase in the number of face to face lessons, the skills that both teachers and students have learned during the pandemic will make us more adaptable and resilient in an ever-changing world.
Mrs Pascale Warnant
Leader of Learning Science
OLMC Connect
Public Speaking
Public Speaking
Launch of STUDENT SPEAK
As we all know, the current pandemic has resulted in many restrictions to activities that were an integral part of our College community. One of these was the cancellation of public speaking competitions such as CSDA finals, Rostrum Voice of Youth and the Parramatta Eisteddfod among others. This has resulted in over 100 girls being denied the opportunity to develop skills so vital in a “normal” world.
To help overcome these unfortunate circumstances, OLMC has initiated a program that offers our students a shared forum to communicate their ideas with others. Known as Student Speak, it is a program where students write a speech, then, after an editing process, record it on video that is available for others to view on the College’s CANVAS website.
All 130 students originally listed for competitions have been emailed details but this does not prevent any other interested student from participating. The program can be found on the CANVAS Dashboard under “Courses” and all students now have access to that site. The intention is to keep this program for as long as social restrictions remain in force. Even after that, it is hoped we will have a permanent bank of resources showing others what successful public speaking looks like.
It is important to point out that students can get support at every stage of the process.
Thanks must go to DAPS Leaders Daphne Fong and Lily Tambrchi who have contributed an introductory video to the program and to Laurice Behan of Year 8 who designed the title page, as well as Mr Matthew Esterman and the IT staff who were so helpful in setting up the site.
Student Speak: A Voice for Every Student is now open to all students at the College.
Speaking 4 the Planet
All public speakers have been emailed with details of a competition run by the Sutherland Shire Environment Centre.Known as Speaking 4 the Planet, it encompasses a wide range of opportunities for students in two sections: Years 7-8 and Years 9-11.Entrants can choose from prepared speaking, presenting a video, or creating a meme, a writing challenge of no more than 30 words, submitting artwork or performing a drama. If any student is interested, please contact me and I will send you details. You don’t have to be a public speaker. Entries must be submitted by Friday, 26 June.
An associated competition is Writing for the Environment, requiring an essay of 800-1000 words, open to any student 18 years or under. Prize money is $500 and entries close Friday, 3 July. Contact me for further information.
Mr Christopher Ostrowski
Public Speaking Coordinator
From The Uniform Shop
College Notices
Other Careers Event
Lily Tambrchi
Lily Tambrchi
A woman of character, where is she to be found?
She is more precious than a jewel.
She reaches out her hand to the helpless and gives to the poor.
She is strong and dignified and looks with confidence to the future.
She speaks wisely and her words are kind.
May she enjoy the fruits of her labour,
and may all praise her for her works.
The extract from Proverbs above was read at our Mother/Daughter Liturgy and talks about the qualities that many may associate with a Mother or nurturer, regardless of gender. Reaching out to help others, looking forward with confidence to the future and speaking wisely are all qualities that I am sure many of us would love to possess, and sometimes it is through difficult times that we are encouraged to look more closely at who we are and who we want to be.
“The tender Mercy of God has given us one another”. As the students begin returning to OLMC, this quote from Catherine McAuley rings true. Together, as a community, we can come together and celebrate the many things that make us a truly unique and special Mercy community - a community centred around the love of Jesus and the guidance of Mary.
Mother/Daughter Liturgy
The College community shared in our virtual Mother/Daughter Liturgy. It was a moving tribute to all of our mothers and other significant role models in our lives. Thank you to all of the people involved in bringing this Liturgy to life. We are an adaptable community who openly embraced this new way of celebrating together. If you did not get the opportunity to view this Liturgy, you can do so by following the link: Mother's Day Liturgy
May - the Month of Mary
May is traditionally a month when we remember Mary, and whilst the Chapel doors remain closed, we are still remembering Mary, the mother of Jesus, for the important role she plays in our Catholic faith. We have set up a sacred space outside the Chapel where we have a lovely wooden statue of Mary as well as some paper and pens. We invite the girls to come and place their prayer intentions into the box provided. These will then be presented to Fr Walter at the end of the month and offered up as special intentions at our next College Friday morning Mass. Thank you to Ms Ellen Lonergan for assisting in setting up this prayerful space.
Families Week
Stronger Families. Stronger Communities. This is the theme for Families Week 2020 and this year we are celebrating families and community with the return to school - and what a better way to do it than by creating a “Wall of Us”. All girls have been sent or provided an image of a person. They have been encouraged to colour these in and display them on the glass wall of the Christina Creede Music Centre. Visit the National Families Week website for great resources.
I wish you all a very happy and healthy week ahead
Mrs Gabby Scanlon
Director of Mission