Newsletter | Hear the Call of Jerusalem: widen your horizons

Friday 10 May

• The 39 Steps Senior Production

Saturday 11 May

• The 39 Steps Senior Production (matinee and evening performances)

Sunday 12 May

• Mother's Day

Monday 13 May

• Careers Week begins
• Fatima Feast Day
• Year 7 Junior Concert Band 1 Open Rehearsal 7.30 - 8.30 am, Miriam Theatre
• Term 2 Music Soirée, 5 pm, Miriam Theatre
  
• VCE Music Recital, 5 pm, Notre Dame Centre Foyer
• DAV debating, 7.30 - 9.00 pm

Tuesday 14 May

• Year 7 Junior Choir Open Rehearsal 7.30 - 8.30 am, Chapel
  
• Year 10 Retreat
• Year 7 Junior Concert Band 2 Open Rehearsal 3.30 - 4.30 pm, Miriam Theatre
• Tuning into Teens 6.30 - 8.00 pm (online)
  

Wednesday 15 May

• Careers Week Year 9/10 Expo (lunchtime)
• Year 7 Junior Strings Open Rehearsal 3.30 - 4.30 pm, Miriam Theatre
• Sion First Music Program Debut Concert, 5 pm, Miriam Theatre
  
• Prospective Parents Information Evening, 7 pm, Miriam Theatre

Thursday 16 May

• Year 12 Mentors Breakfast
• Year 10 Retreat
• Unit 1 & 3 Drama Performance Evening

• Languages Week Crepe Van (Recess and Lunch)

Monday 20 May

• Languages Week begins
• Years 8-10 Chinese Museum Tour

Tuesday 21 May

• Tuning into Teens, 6.30 – 8.00 pm (online)
  

Wednesday 22 May

• Year 10 Languages Forum

Thursday 23 May

• Term 2 Assembly (changed bell times)
• Year 10 Drama Performance Evening

Friday 24 May

• Sorry Day
• Languages Week Gelato Van

Saturday 25 May

• Past Students Reunion

Our students are very familiar with the expression, Daughter of Sion. Most students are introduced to this title when they begin in Year 7 and they learn about the founder of the congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, Theodore Ratisbonne, his life, and commitment to the education. Theodore chose the name, Our Lady of Sion for the congregation because of the centrality of Sion to both his Jewish roots and eventually through his baptism, to his Catholic identity. He had a strong devotion to Mary, the mother of Jesus and was drawn to her courage and faith. The title we read for her in scripture, Daughter of Sion, remains emblematic of the values we invite our students to adopt and cherish.

Mary lived during the Roman occupation when life was very challenging. In Luke’s Gospel, she is presented as a young woman who challenges the injustices of her oppressors and places her faith and trust in God. She shows gratitude for what God has blessed her with and focusses her attention on those who suffer.

Daughter of Sion Award

Last week, I had the pleasure of sharing morning tea with the recipient of the 2023 Daughter of Sion Award, Violet D (9 White).

Each year, this award is bestowed upon a Year 7 or 8 student who demonstrates what it means to be a Daughter of Sion. It was lovely to hear from Violet who is now in Year 9, what her first two years at the College have been like for her. She shared about the many friends she has made through her involvement in the Arts, Sport, House, and Community events, and how she is committed to achieving her very best academically. Last year, Violet demonstrated great commitment to sharing the positive experiences she enjoyed with others through the activities she organised and the encouragement she offered others. This award presents the recipient $500 to donate to a cause of her choice. Violet has chosen to donate this money to the Generosity Collective. This is what Violet wrote recently for the Past Students’ magazine, Sionians.

"$500 is a lot of support for a charity, however, I feel that a local charity, The Generosity Collective is deserving and in need of support. This is not a large charity but the work they do is life changing for those in desperate need. The Generosity Collective looks at helping people in need of clothing and basic supplies that are escaping a variety of different situations. This is an incredible example of kindness for the community and I feel that it really reflects the values of kindness, compassion, and generosity that I strive to show each day.”

Congratulations Violet. We admire your commitment to our school community and, in particular, to addressing needs within the broader community.

Drama Week

This fortnight we acknowledge and congratulate Mrs Alex Bleazby, Mrs Catherine Bennett, our Drama Captain Clea M (12 Gold) and all our Drama Leaders for their leadership of our annual Drama Week activities. We also wish all students and staff – front of house, cast and back of stage all the very best, as the College hosts our Senior Production, The 39 Steps. Last night’s opening performance was outstanding. I encourage all families to support this production even if your daughter is not directly involved. Tickets are still available for tonight’s performance and tomorrow’s matinee and evening shows. The production is sure to entertain and inspire families and students alike.

My congratulations and gratitude are also extended to those who have engaged and contributed to College life in the last fortnight, including but not limited to:

• All staff and students for recent House events including Cross Country and our Athletics Carnival today
• Our three aerobics teams who all qualified for the State finials last Friday evening
• Students and staff who attended Generations in Jazz in Mt Gambier last weekend
• Students and staff who supported our Vinnies baking afternoon with all products donated to the St Vinnie’s food vans for distribution to the homeless within Melbourne
• Year 11 students and staff who supported the meal service at Ozanam House
• The 63 students and Mrs Miotello as they were formally commissioned as members of the St Vincent de Paul Conference at Our Lady of Sion College
• Our debating teams who participated in DAV debates last week
• Parents and staff who supported our recent Year 9 Ayin Mock interviews
• Our College Psychologist Claire Jenkins who is facilitating the Tuning onto Teens program for parents/carers
• Our Parents Association who met this week to plan Parent engagement activities and discuss issues that pertain to families and young people today.

Significant Women’s Breakfast

Yesterday morning the College once again hosted a very successful Significant Women’s Breakfast. The six hundred attendees enjoyed refreshments and each other’s company in celebration of what is clearly a very special relationship. Thank you to all who attended not only for your presence but for your support of the young people who are the focus of all that we do at the College. As we know, our relationship with at least one significant person can offer meaningful support for our wellbeing. It only takes this one relationship to provide a protective factor against life’s challenges. And to this end, it is a privilege to host this event.

Our Lady of Sion College Information Evening

If parents/carers have daughters currently in Year 5 or know another family who has, please join us for our Information Evening for prospective families and students next Wednesday evening. This evening provides families with the chance to hear about our learning and wellbeing programs directly from our students. Members of our Leadership Team and other senior leaders will also be on hand to answer questions.

With every blessing for the fortnight ahead.

Tina Apostolopoulos

This week, our Year 8 students gathered at Holy Cross in Templestowe for their Retreat Day. The theme of the retreat was Building Positive Relationships and the students seemed to embrace all of the different opportunities offered to them throughout the course of the day.

Through participating in various workshops, the students considered the significance of building positive relationships with others and what they had to do to ensure that their relationships stayed strong and healthy. How relationships are impacted by making assumptions, identifying qualities of healthy and unhealthy relationships and the importance of being authentic with one another were of particular focus.

The College theme for 2024- Hear the Call of Jerusalem: widen your horizons was discussed and reflected upon and the students shared ways of how the theme could be lived out in their relationships with others. They created Homeroom banners, which will be displayed in their Homerooms.

The retreat concluded with a beautiful Eucharist which was prepared by the students and celebrated by our College Chaplain Fr Mark Reynolds. The reading from John’s gospel, reminded all present about the power of God’s love and Jesus’ commandment that we too show love.

“This is my commandment, that you love each other as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

Wishing all members of the College community many blessings.

Tools for Learning

Last week I asked my students to watch a youtube explanation of a concept. One student’s airpods ‘leaked’ sound (a new way of using that verb for me) and instantly got onto an Apple website to look for a solution. When she could not do this, she engaged with a help chat where she explained her problem, answered specific questions about what was going on, then applied the solutions offered. This student had a problem and worked out a way to fix it, learning new skills along the way. We had a discussion in class about whether it was a bot ‘talking’ or a real person (the class is English Language and we are looking at the underlying meaning of what we communicate and how we do it).

On the same day, a teacher of a more junior class came to me and explained that she had shared some sources of information with her students, asked them to read the passages and take key notes, which they were then asked to form into a paragraph. She made a comment that the students could not copy and paste, thinking this would be the shortcut that some students may take. The teacher then watched as some of the students went straight to ChatGPT to input the content and form the summary paragraph.

Always early adopters of new technologies, our students are adept at using the internet and resources available to them to support their progress and growth. They get things done. In the case of fixing the airpods, this was successful and a great way to quickly solve the problem. In the second case, the students inadvertently disengaged from the content knowledge, and skipped the skill of note taking and then synthesising the information into another form. These are both teachable moments for the students and the staff. Discerning when to use the internet and technology to support us, and when it is actually holding us back from learning, is an important skill for students to master. Having discussions about the reason behind tasks, when it is ok to use content that is generated for us, and when to use our own ideas is key to this.

What conversations about AI are you having? What can you learn from the way that the younger generation access technology? How are you shaping your child’s understanding of the best way to integrate AI into our lives?

Robert Marzano articulated a very straightforward model of note taking that allows for clear distilling of information - Keep, Delete, Paraphrase. This model requires readers to deeply understand what they are reading, to reduce what is repetition or unnecessary and to transfer to other words (synthesis). This article, ‘Delete, Substitute and Keep: A practical guide for teaching Summarising and Note-taking’ brings together these ideas really clearly, explains why note taking is so important to learning and provides an example of how to do it. Hopefully it can start a good conversation in your house!

Helping your child navigate challenging social settings

Teenage parties and gatherings can be exciting milestones in their social development. In the early years of secondary school, activities like sleepovers or themed celebrations at places like Bounce are common and enjoyable, often with plenty of parental oversight to ensure safety and fun.

However, as teenagers grow older, it's essential for parents to be aware of potential shifts in these gatherings. Some parties may involve less parental supervision and could include elements like alcohol, vaping, or even drug use, along with increased social expectations that might lead to risky sexual behaviours.

While not every celebration your daughter attends will be like this, it's important to understand what she might encounter and how to support her in navigating these situations.

Hosting responsible gatherings is key to promoting safety and well-being for all involved.

Here are some vital tips for hosting or managing such events:

• Legal Responsibilities: Remember that as a host, you have a legal duty to ensure the safety of all attendees. Failure to do so can have serious consequences.

• Alcohol and Drug Awareness: Underage drinking and drug use can have harmful effects on developing brains

• Be vigilant about monitoring alcohol and drug access, as some young people may try to conceal these substances. e.g in reusable water bottles under the guise of hydration

• Vaping Concerns: Vaping is neither safe nor legal for minors. Make sure that any vaping products are not accessible to underage guests.

• Guest List: Encourage your daughter to invite only those she knows and trusts. Meeting new friends online and then inviting them to a party can be risky.

• Supervision: Regardless of age, having responsible adult supervision is crucial for maintaining a safe environment.

• Be present: You need to be aware of what is happening at the party and available to guests should they or their friends need your support. This might mean caring for a child that has drunk too much and helping them contact home. Something they need but will be reluctant to do.

• Expectations for Adults: If enlisting help from other adults, ensure they understand the rules and refrain from engaging in physical altercations with teenagers or consuming alcohol during the event.

• Security Measures: Have a plan in place to handle uninvited guests or gatecrashers to avoid disruptions.

By approaching party hosting with knowledge, responsibility, and a focus on safety, parents/carers can create positive and enjoyable experiences for their teenagers while minimising risks.

Our particular thoughts and prayers go to Heidi A (7 Silver) whose great grandmother mother recently passed away. Also, to Isabella T (12 White) whose grandmother passed away, and to Lilly L (11 Gold) whose grandmother also passed away.

We remember Heidi, Isabella, Lilly and their families in a special way at this sad time.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and may your perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace, Amen.

It has been a busy couple of weeks for our Year 12 students completing a number of SACs across all subject areas. The girls are working consistently and I encourage them to continue seeking feedback and support from their teachers.

In addition to their studies the girls looked forward to the Athletics Carnival. The rivalry across the Houses continued and all our leaders were keen to take out the winning cup. Hopefully everyone had a great day celebrating this significant event in our school calendar.

Next week Brooke O’Hara, our Careers and Pathways Co-ordinator, has done a wonderful job in organising a range of opportunities as part of Careers Week. I encourage all Year 12 students to look at the calendar of events and attend the seminars that are of interest to them. We have a significant number of students involved in the Food Handling and First Aid courses on offer next Thursday 16 May.

Although the process of creating and selecting a design started in Term 1, I will be sending out some important communication via email regarding the purchase of rugby tops by our Year 12 students. This has been a tradition here at Our Lady of Sion College for some time now. The purchase of the rugby tops will be through Reform Clothing. A box of sample sizes arrived this week so students have been given the opportunity to try the rugby tops on to ensure they select the correct size. Stay tuned for more information.

We have well and truly settled back into term, working towards their final assessment tasks for Unit 1, VET subjects and work placements.

For Lesson 2 of Pastoral (Tuesday 7 May) we looked at the role healthy habits play to improve wellbeing. We asked students to reflect on their overall diet, nutrition, exercise, and sleep habits. Students were able to share with Homeroom teachers some of their favourite meals and shared some recipes. We encouraged the students to consider trying something new, and maybe cook for the family!

Many students struggle with their sleep hygiene practices. We also asked them to consider what are some of the factors, that get in the way of making healthy decisions. Students spoke to the experience of having a busy mind, not ‘switching off’, staying up late doing homework, or on their devices. As young people navigate the balance between family, school, work, and social commitments, this often comes at the cost of sleep.

We hope that students can recognise their own priorities when it comes to decisions regarding their physical health, in a way that promotes overall wellbeing. To help promote how they approach their final assessments, deadlines and Semester 1 examinations.

Thank you for your support in completing the relevant permission forms and payments for Year 11 Formal. All permission forms and payments are DUE Wednesday 22 May (Week 6, Term 2). Please refer to the EdSmart Broadcast sent on Wednesday 1 May (Week 3, Term 2).

Source for image: VeryWellMind

Over the past two weeks we have reflected upon what is working well and what we can improve on as a Year 10 cohort.

Working well:

• Active willingness to engage in opportunities
• Reaching out for support
• Taking on board new strategies

Can improve:

• Punctuality and consistency (being at school every day)
• Uniform
• Organisation (proactively using planners/diaries)

As you can see above, there is much to celebrate in our working well column, and these are skills and habits that we encourage all families to foster and acknowledge. Our ‘can improve’ column is about taking that ‘next step’. It's not that these items are not occurring (they are), these items are how we can continue to thrive and take responsibility for our growth. I encourage all families to share your experiences you have had at school and at work that have allowed you to see and feel the importance of the ‘can improve’ items.

Study, Organisation, Preparation:

Earlier this week, the Year 10 Pastoral Team delivered our second seminar on study, organisation and preparation to the Year 10 students. We spoke about the importance of sleep, exercise and nutrition.

We then explored the importance of having a designated study space that is free of distractions and ideally not located within a bedroom.

We then spoke about the importance of looking at what we CAN do, rather than focusing on what we cannot do. The metaphor of how do we eat an elephant...something that can seem really big, hard and challenging to do. We challenge our thinking… Look at it from a new perspective and make the active choice to take on this challenge by ‘eating our elephant’, one bite at a time.

The continued focus for our Year 10 cohort is to ensure that each student experiences and develops the skills necessary to create lifelong habits that allow them to navigate life and all the periods of change and challenge that occurs.

Year 9 Wellbeing and Growth Leader

This past fortnight has been one that has allowed the Year 9 students to try new things and to challenge themselves to participate in activities that may have been new and out of their comfort zone. It was great to see students participating so enthusiastically in the Intermediate House Theatre Sports Competition and looking very professional for their AYIN World of Work Interviews, which Rebecca Bennet discusses further in her article. All of these opportunities provide students with safe and encouraging spaces to try and experience new things which will build their sense of resilience and confidence.

In response to student feedback, Pastoral this week focused on time management. We looked to divide up the day and encouraged students to consider what they ‘need’ to do and what they ‘want’ to do, as well as the importance of making time for both. The students were provided with a range of time management templates and the assurance that the Year 9 Homeroom Team would be happy to assist them in making use of these so that their study skills continue to improve.

Finally, congratulations to Gabriella T (9 White) who has been selected to the Victorian State Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Team – a great achievement that has taken great dedication; well done!

House and Student Leadership Coordinator

It has been a busy start to the House and Student Leadership program in Term 2, with a number of events happening over the last few weeks. On Tuesday students met in their Houses to hear information regarding our new House/Environment Team initiative to collect recyclables for charity as a House. Students were also given information about our upcoming House Athletics Carnival and given time to sign up for the events. Following this, over 100 students participated in the House Cross Country event at Springfield Park. It was fantastic to see this event back on the calendar this year. Congratulations to Fatima for winning this House event.

Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of announcing the Year 7 Leadership Team for 2024. Congratulations to the successful students and to the huge number of students who applied for leadership positions. We are excited to look for opportunities to foster this sense of leadership among the cohort as the year and years progress.

Following on from our last Pastoral lesson on embracing our differences, it is common for young people to build new connections and friendships as they learn more about who they are and the people that they want to surround themselves with. This could mean that old friendships may fade as they grow into their own identity. In our next pastoral session, we will be discussing this along with how to respectfully manage this complex dynamic. Kindness and respect are essential in these situations, remaining friendly with those that they may no longer be ‘friends’ with as they have been in the past.

Three common friendship challenges were discussed:

1. Communication (not being able to talk freely)
2. Exclusion (leaving people out)
3. Movement (wanting to move groups but don’t know how to)

The following questions were used as conversation starters and would be great to continue these at home.

• Could my friendships change this year? If so, why?
• Is it okay for my friendships to change?
• What might some reasons be that my friendships change?
• What is the best way to react if one of your friends begins to create new friendships?
• What is the best way to go about creating new friendships yourself?

Whilst friendship changes are normal and expected, it is essential that these are done in a respectful way as they will most likely be interacting with these people in the future. The Homeroom teachers and myself are more than happy to speak with students if they would like some support in how this can be done.

Finally, I would like to ask parents/carers to ensure that your daughter’s school iPad is only being used for educational purposes. There should not be anything on there that is not related to school work, nor any social media apps. The ICT guidelines are in their college planners as well if they are unsure. We also conduct random iPad audits to ensure these devices are being used appropriately.

Year 7 is a year of transitions, growth, and learning to embrace changes. This term has brought a new set of changes for this year level, including leadership roles being announced, new ways of thinking and assessment, and new co-curricular activities to be involved in.

With all of this in mind, it is important that we consider what others may be going through, and where we may be able to support them with our care and kindness. Through Chapel sessions and Pastoral this week, the Year 7s have been asked to consider what kindness looks like, and how do we show this to those in our lives. Kindness and mutual respect are expected behaviours for all members of the Our Lady of Sion community, and it is important that we show this through our words and actions.

Ways that all of us can show kindness to each other may involve:

• Inviting new people to sit with us

• Offering to help someone carry their books

• Asking someone about their day, and listening to their answer

• Catching someone up on missed work while they’ve been away

• Writing someone a note of appreciation

These small acts of kindness never go unnoticed, and may be the key to brightening someone's day, as well as making a new friend!

Ayin Mock Job Interviews

On Friday 3 May, our Year 9 students arrived at the College dressed to impress, ready for their mock job interviews. Students had the opportunity to put into practice their learnings from their most recent unit of study The World of Work, wherein they have been exploring types of work, how to apply for jobs, how to construct an effective resume and cover letter, their rights as young workers and how to impress in a job interview.

Our wonderful parent and community volunteers who facilitated the opportunity spoke very highly of the students’ performance, commenting on their professionalism, their ability to think on the spot, their preparedness and their eloquence. With this experience now undertaken so successfully, we hope our students will be confident in themselves when they take the next step of seeking employment.

A big thank you to our volunteers:

• Gwyneth Bowen
• Suzanne Cunningham
• Debra Dal Bosco
• Deirdre Diamante
• Fiona Dimitriou
• Jessica Galea
• Simone Kelson
• Reena Moraes
• Vicky Stavros
• Liz Varga

It has been great to see so many Year 7s at the Year 7 Literacy Skill Builders workshops on Monday afternoons. Sessions so far have focused on developing positive literacy practices by integrating reading in daily routines and honing the ability to make predictions, thereby enhancing the skills of drawing inferences from our reading. This provides students with skill to respond to texts with enquiry and interpretation.

Establishing a daily reading routine of at least 30 mins has many benefits. Reading every day, stimulates mental activity which improves our memory and improves focus and concentration. To put it simply, regular reading provides consistent exercise for our brain to be healthy, similarly to the way our body needs exercise to stay healthy. As a learner, reading provides knowledge enhancement of content and when developed as a daily habit, expands our vocabulary and spelling, develops our analytical thinking skills and improves our writing skills. Furthermore, reading is a wonderful way to reduce stress and provide a mental space for diversion in a world that is full of distractions, notifications and alerts.

The Year 7 Literacy Skill Builders Workshops are closely linked to the Year 7 English course using related texts to explicitly teach a range of literacy skills. The learning intentions of each workshop aim to strengthen students’ knowledge of texts, whilst also foster transferable literacy skills. Sessions begin at 3.25 pm and conclude at 4.00 pm in EC 1.1

Year 9 students at Our Lady of Sion College have been participating in Maths Masterclasses, a program designed to bolster their confidence and skills as they transition into senior maths.

The Year 9 Masterclasses have been well-received, with a strong turnout of students eager to enhance their mathematical abilities. This initiative provides a supportive environment where students can develop their skills at their own pace, whether they're aiming for developing their algebraic skills or simply looking to improve their basic numeracy.

Inclusivity is a key aspect of our program. All Year 9 students are encouraged to join, regardless of their current proficiency in mathematics. We believe in nurturing every student's potential through personalised support and encouragement.

For updates on session timings and other details, students can keep an eye on the Year Level Google Classroom, where important announcements will be shared regularly.

In addition to the Year 9 Masterclasses, we're also introducing our Junior Intervention Program. This program aims to provide extra support to students who may need it, helping them build confidence and skills in mathematics. Providing opportunities for students at all levels to be named and known within their mathematical classroom.

Generations in Jazz – Mt Gambier, South Australia

Congratulations to the 24 musicians who represented Sion at the ‘Generations in Jazz’ National Jazz Music championships held under the big tent in beautiful Mt Gambier, South Australia. CVE and the Senior Jazz Ensemble performed the required test piece, ballad and own choice very well. Part of the requirement was for singers and instrumentalists to improvise solos – a difficult task at the best of times. Our girls performed very well, led by our senior musicians who are ‘veterans’ of GIJ, and the younger members of both groups gained some valuable experience. Over 350 schools, and about 5000 students from across Australia participated. Highlights were the concert performances of guest artists The Hot Potato Band from Sydney, Kate Ceberano, vocal group Coco’s Lunch, young indigenous singer and Aria award winner Budjerah and the visit to the beautiful Blue Lake. Note the dates for 2025!

Term 2 Music Soiree – Monday 13 May

I encourage as many instrumental and classroom students to sign-up to preform solo music items at the term 2 Music Soiree, to be held this coming Monday 13 May at 5pm in the Miriam Theatre. Interested students need to talk to their instrumental/classroom teacher, or email mmacaulay@sion.catholic.edu.au

VCE Music Unit 1 & 3 Recitals

VCE students studying Music Performance (Repertoire) at Year 11 & 12 are presenting their semester recitals on Monday 15 May @ 5pm in the Notre Dame foyer. Parents/carers and friends of these students are most welcome to attend.

Year 7 Ensembles Open Rehearsals

Parents/carers of our newest Sionians are invited to attend one of the rehearsal sessions of the group your daughter is involved in. Go behind the scenes to see how an ensemble practise session runs! Please refer to the poster below for specific times for each group.

2024 Ensembles Concert Thursday 27 June 2024

We are very excited to present the annual Music Department Ensembles Concert this year as part of Music Week. All OLSC ensembles, large and small, will be performing. It will run in two ‘acts’ according to the schedule below. TryBooking links will open soon.

• Act 1 5.00 – 6.30 pm Year 7 Junior Concert Band 1 (Monday morning group), Brass Ensemble, Jazz Club, Year 7 Junior Strings, Flute Ensemble, Intermediate Strings, College Choir, Senior Concert Band, Combined Strings, Symphony Orchestra & Combined Choir
• Act 2 7.00 – 8.30 pm Year 7 Junior Concert Band 2 (Tuesday afternoon group), Rock Band, Jazz Club, Year 7 Choir, Senior Strings, VCE Music Class, Intermediate Concert Band, College Vocal Ensemble, Senior Jazz Ensemble, Combined Strings, Symphony Orchestra & Combined Choir

Watch this space for booking details.

Prospective Students Years 3, 4, 5 Information Evening – Combined Strings

The Combined Strings, under the direction of Mrs Jackie Tinsley and Mr Woinarski, are performing music next Wednesday 15 May, to support this important Information Evening for prospective students and families interested in sending their daughter to Our Lady of Sion College.

Drama Week

Our annual Drama Week was held last week from 29 April to 3 May.

We were thrilled that so many students got involved in Junior, Intermediate and Senior House Theatresports. Creativity, fun and new friendships are forged in this inclusive environment.

Homeroom competitions and activities challenged the students’ creativity and knowledge of theatre.

Drama Breakfast

The Drama Breakfast on Thursday morning saw an enthusiastic group of students come together before school, share some breakfast treats and then work collaboratively to create characters and scenes through Drama based games.

Circus Skills workshops

We were very lucky to have Circus Skills workshops presented by ‘The Circus Crew’ for some of our junior classes. Students learned skills, focus and persistence. Nicoletta K (7 Blue) shares her reflection below:

This Monday we were fortunate enough to get an amazing circus program to come visit a few classes for Drama! We had fun activities like hula hoops, spinning plates and many more! We were so lucky to have this awesome experience and we had so much fun! Nicoletta K (7 Blue)

Thank you to the students for their involvement, in particular our Drama Reps at each level and the wonderful Clea M (12 Gold) for her leadership, enthusiasm and organisation to create a fantastic week for all.

Senior Play

The Drama continues... with the Senior Play, ‘The 39 Steps’ which launched on Thursday and continues tonight and on Saturday. If you are reading this newsletter while it's hot off the press, there may still be time to attend our wonderful Senior play. Please head to Trybooking to purchase your tickets to either of the two Saturday performances. Our students have done such a wonderful job of bringing this comedic joy to the stage. We commend them on their dedication and the great enthusiasm and sense of fun they have brought to every rehearsal. We love how adaptable our performers are and that they show not only great talents as performers but such a great sense of what it means to be a Sion community member off stage as well as on. Best wishes to all of the students and staff involved in cast and crew for the rest of the shows. Don’t miss your opportunity to enjoy this engaging performance by our very talented senior students.

Aerobics

Our three Aerobics teams headed to State Qualifiers at Doncaster Secondary College on Friday 3 May. We are super proud of the students’ efforts and commitment so far this season and their hard work was rewarded with a state finals qualification!

Results from State Qualifiers:
2^nd Place - One Step Ahead
4^th Place – Step It Up!
7^th Place – Sion’s On My Mind

A big thank you to Ms Frood, Ms Macdonald and our amazing coaches Aylssa, Isabella, Lilly and Scarlett for their guidance over the past 3 months. State Finals will be held at Rowville Performing Art Centre on Saturday 1 June.

House Cross Country

House Cross Country was a great success last week. Over 130 students made the walk down to Springfield Park and ran in their House colours for two laps of the 1.5km loop.

Congratulations to the below students on winning their Year Level races. Presentations will be held in Year Level Assemblies with the House Athletics awards in the coming weeks:
Year 7: Emma R (7 Silver)
Year 8: Jessica P (8 Red)
Year 9: Sophie F (9 White)
Year 10: Erin M (10 Blue)
Year 11: Hannah G (11 Blue)
Year 12: Pippa L (12 Red)

Fatima won the day (331), closely followed by Loreto (321). Carmel (231) and Lourdes (172) finished 3^rd and 4^th respectively.

GSV Cross Country

Our GSV Cross Country squad attended The Tan on Tuesday afternoon (7 May) for a training meet in preparation for the Preliminary (21 May) and Championship (31 May) Carnivals.

All students ran exceptionally well and encouraged each other around the course. It isn’t too late to come along to our Monday (endurance focus) and Wednesday (speed focus) training sessions, Mr Rieusset and his team of coaches have been implementing a specific program to increase fitness across the squad.

Artistic Gymnastics – Gabriela T (9 White)

Gabriela T (9 White) has been selected for the VIC state women's artistic gymnastics team to compete in the 2024 Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championship at the Future International level on Gold Coast this weekend.

Gabriela won 1 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronzes, as well as an all-arounder bronze in the State Team Trial Competition. Additionally, she won a silver in Floor in the VIC State Championship. Gabriela provided this reflection in the lead up to the event below:

I am thrilled to represent the Victoria State team at the Australian National Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championship on the Gold Coast this week. This year, I am committed to training rigorously, dedicating 25 hours per week to mastering the skills and techniques required for apparatuses. It's an honour to be part of the team, training and competing alongside other talented gymnasts from different states. I'm determined to showcase my best performance and enjoy every moment of the competition.

Everyone at the College will be cheering you on Gabriela, enjoy the experience!

St Vincent de Paul School Conference

SVDP SnapShot

As I mentioned in the last newsletter, every fortnight, members from our conference will provide a snapshot on an aspect of SVDP Society. This week’s snapshot is written by Emma H (8 Red) and Nilushca N (8 Silver).

What is the St Vincent de Paul Society?

The St Vincent de Paul Society is a global organisation rooted in Catholic Social Teaching principles, dedicated to helping those in need. The society aspires to live the gospel message by serving Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice, hope and joy, and by working to shape a more compassionate society. In Victoria, there are over 11,000 dedicated volunteers who offer friendship and crucial assistance/support to thousands of individuals and families facing poverty, homelessness and other challenges to achieve self-sufficiency. The society offers various forms of support, including food aid, clothing, shelter, financial assistance, and emotional support. With a focus on solidarity and charity, the St. Vincent de Paul Society seeks to alleviate suffering and promote social justice. Emma H (9 Red) and Nilushca N (8 Silver)

Baking for Inner-City Soup Van

Conference members participated in our first baking session for the year. Access to adequate food is a fundamental human right; however, many within our community are going without and food has become an out of reach luxury. Conference members donated ingredients and brought along their enthusiasm to bake over 200 chocolate chip cookies which were donated to the Inner-City Soup Van and created a sense of solidarity and shared purpose amongst our members. Aldo De Cunto, Soup Van Coordinator, acknowledged the commitment of our students and how they are part of a larger network of individuals who come together to support the most vulnerable in the community.

BBC Earth Experience Excursion

Please see the student reflection by Cassandra B (10 Gold) below:

Recently, the 2024 Environment Team embarked on an eye-opening journey at the BBC Earth Experience, narrated by the iconic David Attenborough. As we immersed ourselves in the captivating visuals of wildlife from every corner of the globe, we were reminded of the unparalleled diversity and beauty of our planet. The main concept of the experience in a broader tone was seven continents, one world.

Looking into each continent we were informed about the native animals, the environments they live in and the way they survive in their biomes. We also listened to information provided on the wildlife and the statistics telling us about the future extinction of certain animals and the deep damage climate change is currently having on our planet and the future damage.

This experience served as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for environmental action. Witnessing the effects of climate change and human activity on Earth's delicate ecosystems compelled us to reflect on our role as stewards of the environment.

Moreover, the BBC Earth Experience underscored the importance of sustainable practices. It showcased how small changes in our daily lives, coupled with collective action, can make a significant difference in preserving our planet for future generations and for the wildlife living here. Cassandra B (10 Gold)

Sion Container Collection Program

The Environment Team is excited to have launched the Sion Container Collection Program at the College last week. Students, families and staff are encouraged to collect eligible containers with the 10c return label to bring in as part of the program and deposit them in the bins located in the Piazza.

The collection is proudly supporting House and Social Justice programs at the College, with collections running as a House competition contributing to the end of year House Cup, as well as acting as a fundraising initiative with money collected going towards College fundraising initiatives. Term 2 collections will go to each of the chosen House charities:

• Carmel = The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
• Loreto = Generosity Collective
• Lourdes = Operation Toilets
• Fatima = Opening the Doors Foundation

We look forward to the support of members of the wider College community as part of this important program to promote sustainability.

"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are". Kurt Cobain (Musician)

Students and families can find the fortnightly Careers newsletter here.

In this fortnightly Newsletter there is information relating to:

• Upcoming Events: Our Lady of Sion College Careers Week, Focus on Melbourne Information Session, ACU talk with Industry, Law Week
• Career Industry in the Spotlight – Clinical Technology
• Things to consider: Financial Aid and Scholarships to study in the USA, UCAT reminder for Year 12 2024 students, The University of Sydney Information evening webinar, Swinburne Early entry program, La Trobe Aspire
• Researching options: Federation University, Holmesglen Institute – Bachelor of Sports Media, New Public Health and Epidemiology Major in Biomedicine

Talking about World Events with Your Teenager

In today's hyper-connected world, news of distressing events or conflict across the globe can reach us in an instant. These events can leave us feeling overwhelmed and uncertain and are often unavoidable to hear about. Young people are not immune to this news and have more access and awareness of current events than ever before.

For parents, broaching these topics with teenagers can be challenging. Yet is crucial for teenagers to be given the opportunity to discuss world events for their understanding, compassion, and wellbeing.

• Create a Safe Space: Provide time/space for your teenager to feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and emotions. Let them know that it's okay to feel upset, confused, or even angry about what they see and hear in the news. Encourage them to ask questions and share their perspectives and actively listen to their response without judgement.
• Provide Context: Help your teen understand the context of the event by providing factual information. Avoid overwhelming them with too much information at once.
• Encourage Critical Thinking: Foster critical thinking skills by encouraging your teen to analyse news sources critically. Teach them to question biases, verify information, and seek multiple perspectives. Empower them to form their own opinions based on evidence and reasoning.
• Focus on Empathy and Action: Encourage empathy by discussing the impact of the event on individuals and communities. If your teen wants to contribute or take action to create positive change, help them explore ways they can do this.
• Limit Exposure: While it's important to stay informed, excessive exposure to distressing news can take a toll on mental health. Encourage your teen to take breaks from media consumption and engage in activities that promote relaxation and self-care.
• Model Healthy Coping Mechanisms: Lead by example by demonstrating healthy coping mechanisms when discussing distressing events. Practice self-care, manage your own emotions, and seek support when needed and be open about your own journey to coping with world events.
• Stay Connected: Keep the lines of communication open beyond the initial conversation. Check in with your teen regularly to see how they're coping and if they have any new questions or concerns. Reassure them that you're there to support them every step of the way.