Newsletter | Hear the Call of Jerusalem: widen your horizons

As we approach the end of Term 2, we enter a period where senior students are preparing to plan their final years at the College and ultimately their next steps beyond secondary school.

Careers Week

Last week, Careers Week offered them a range of experiences to learn more about their career options. I hope Year 10 families and students who attended the Morrisby evening found it an effective way to consider advice recently shared with them following the completion of the career survey by Year 10 students.

Mentors Breakfast

On Thursday morning, we hosted our annual Mentors' Breakfast for Year 12 students and past students who shared the opportunities that unfolded for them as they navigated their careers once they completed Year 12. I thank the past students who generously gave their time and expertise, and to our keynote speaker, Ms Joanne Rock (Class of 1983), Principal of Santa Maria College, Northcote who spoke so passionately about her leadership journey in education.

Melbourne University Newman College Forum

Last Friday I also had the pleasure of attending the Melbourne University Newman College Forum dinner with three of our Year 11 students, Lily L (11 Gold), Nakita N (11 Blue), and Ilaria F (11 Purple). The keynote speaker was Dr Michael Keem, a senior neuropsychiatry registrar based in Melbourne whose clinical and research interests span neurosciences, public mental health, neurodevelopmental impacts of trauma, psychotherapies, and psychoneuroimmunology. Dr Keem’s presentation “Nemanitarian aid on the global front: advocating for nuclear disarmament” resonated strongly with those present including our students who spoke with him. Our students also gained insights into where tertiary studies might lead them and what residential life at Newman College might be like.

The tour at Newman College on Friday night was a wonderful and insightful experience and a great opportunity to have taken part in. We attended a tour of the campus with a passionate student attending the college, who informed us about the numerous opportunities and pathways available at the college. It allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the university lifestyle and how it differs to the way things are done in high school. The night concluded with a delicious dinner and an inspiring speech by Dr Michael Keem. The main take away from my night is to do something that you are passionate about and do what makes you happy. Lily L (11 Gold)

The Newman College Dinner Forum was a great way to broaden my understanding of what University entails. I enjoyed taking a student led tour of the campus, whilst learning about the various courses and programs Melbourne University has to offer. Dr Michael Keem’s speech also provided valuable and interesting insights within his specialised field of neuroscience. Overall, I am very grateful to have partaken in this amazing experience. Nakita N (11 Blue)

These experiences underscore the key messages we aim to convey to our students: the importance of being curious about career possibilities, undertaking research, talking to people who are currently in the fields they are considering and the value of looking at your interests and strengths but also having the courage to challenge oneself with new opportunities. Finally, the importance of working hard and aiming high as they should never under-estimate their capacity to fulfill their goals nor should they think that certain careers are bound by gender expectations.

Looking towards a future with hope

One of the things I appreciate about our students is the way they engage with me about their learning. Last week I valued the spontaneous way that a Year 10 student shared how much she appreciated the opportunity to visit the Holocaust Museum and Synagogue, an Islamic Mosque and the United Muslim Migrants Association centre. She shared how much she learned and the importance of understanding more about other traditions and the holocaust experience from a survivor. I hope all Year 10 students felt inspired, and equally motivated to live justly and with compassion and empathy.

Recently over 60 students who now form the Our Lady of Sion St Vincent de Paul conference, attended a workshop with SVDP representatives to learn more about the founder and history of this association and the important social justice work they undertake. The students have volunteered for this position and received their badges as part of the day. I am proud of the way they have responded to the needs of the marginalised and those who suffer at this time of economic need.

Finally, at our Term 2 assembly today, Liz C (12 Silver), Teaghan VdB (12 Silver) and Emma G (12 Blue) entered into dialogue with Mrs Christine Kralj about how our College themes are chosen and the implications inherent in our 2024 theme: Hear the call of Jerusalem: widen your horizons. They also discussed what they feel are the greatest challenges for them as they prepare to graduate and what they are most hopeful about.

I share these moments from the last fortnight to firstly thank our staff who work to create them, and our students for how they embrace them and are inspired into action. Our world needs strong young women who are discerning, and have the courage to speak the truth, and the energy to act for change. (College Mission statement).

This will be my final newsletter item for this term as I prepare to take a short period of leave. From 3 June, Mrs Christine Kralj will be Acting Principal and Mr Paul Kerr will take up the role of Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing. I thank them for their support and look forward to returning to the College for the beginning of Term 3.

In the meantime, I wish all students every success as they approach their final assessments and for Years 10 and 11 students, their exams. In particular I encourage our Year 12 students to continue the commitment they have shown so far to their studies. Ultimately I hope their admirable efforts, regardless of the outcome will be rewarded with knowing they tried their very best.

With every blessing for the weeks ahead.

Tina Apostolopoulos

Year 10 Retreat Day

Last week, Year 10s spent their Retreat Day at the Islamic Museum and the UMMA Centre. Through touring the galleries at the Islamic Museum and listening to the story of Education Director, Mrs Sherene Hassan, the students were able to deepen their understanding of the Islamic faith and its rich history here in Australia. During our visit to the mosque at the UMMA Centre, the students observed prayer and asked questions relating to the mosque and life as a Muslim.

To complement this experience the Year 10 students had further opportunities to enter into interfaith dialogue through their RE excursion to the Jewish Museum and Melbourne Holocaust Museum.

Holocaust Memorial Service

Also last week, Mrs Garnham and I accompanied 15 of our Year 10 students to Wesley College Elsternwick for the Holocaust Memorial Service which was a Christian service to remember and pray for the six million Jews who were killed in the Holocaust.

At the start of the service, we witnessed the dressing of the altar with symbols of the Holocaust and, in memory of the six million Jews, six lit candles were placed on the altar.

The incredible story of survival told by Holocaust survivor Professor Louis Roller AM, PhC, BPharm, BSc, MSc, PhD, DipEd, FPS, FACPP who was born in France on 27 February 1940, and then the personal reflection given by a Jewish student, truly highlighted the significance of the evening.

After the recitation of the Kaddish, which is a traditional Jewish prayer for those who have died, the Candle of Hope was placed on the altar and we were invited to commit ourselves to building a world of peace and justice.

The Holocaust Memorial Service was an eye-opening and extremely interesting experience for me. The service was beautiful and the stories from the Survivor and young Jewish student, have really helped deepen my understanding of the Shoah. Cecilia B (10 Red)

Pentecost

Last Sunday, the Church celebrated Pentecost, one of the most important feast days of the year that concludes the Easter season and celebrates the beginning of the Church. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and other disciples (Acts 2) and marks the beginning of the Christian Church's mission to the world. May we be people who live out this mission in word and action.

Wishing all members of the College community many blessings.

Year 10 and 11 Exams

It is that time of year again, where our Year 10 and 11 students are preparing for the end of semester exams. Families and students have now been sent all of the information they need for a successful experience. While the word ‘exam’ can be scary, it is important that students consistently hear the following messages:

The exams themselves are for learning purposes. The results come second to the processes and practices that students put in place in terms of revision and assessment readiness.
Students have already been assessed on the skills and knowledge that will be reflected in the exam. This is an opportunity to take on board feedback and to show growth. The semester has already been a success for the students, before they even start the exam.
There is a good level of stress leading into any assessment. What are the ways that stress can be experienced? What are productive ways of responding to this?

If you have any concerns or questions, please make contact with the relevant Homeroom teacher or WaGL.

2024 GAT

All Year 12 students, and any Year 11 accelerated student, will sit the VCAA General Achievement Test on Tuesday 18 June. The GAT is the most important external measure for the moderation of internal SAC results and for the VCAA subject exams. It is important that the students ‘show off’ their best skills on the GAT. For most students, this will be the first ‘official’ exam (and this is why we have them in Years 10 and 11) and so it can be daunting. We do everything that we can to support the students with the GAT, including providing them with a trial where they will receive feedback on the writing tasks, in order to remove any uncertainty and allow the students to focus on what matters.

Families and students have key information sent directly to them, and again, they can raise questions with their Homeroom teacher and WaGL, as well as Ms Hunter.

Semester Change

Tuesday June 18 will see the beginning of Semester 2. This means that elective classes will change and students will receive a new timetable in SEQTA. For students in Year 10 in particular, the change in elective subjects results in a change in some core classes; namely Maths or English. While we endeavour to minimise these changes, we also ensure that a thorough handover between the teachers is undertaken to ensure a smooth transition.

Our girls need good role models like never before

In today's world, young women need strong, positive role models more than ever. While there are countless inspiring figures in sports, science, and the arts, they often don't receive the recognition they deserve. It's crucial for parents to ask: who are the role models in your daughter's life? Are they individuals who inspire her to be a kinder, more compassionate person, or do they focus more on superficial aspects like fashion and looks?

Consider some incredible role models such as Richmond’s Monique Conti, a star in the AFL Women's league, or Dr Katherine Bennell-Pegg, Australia's own astronaut. Even some media personalities and influencers can have positive attributes, but it's important to balance these with other figures who emphasise inner qualities and achievements.

Parents play a key role in helping their daughters broaden their horizons. Talk to them about women who are making a positive difference in their community or workplace. Talk to them about grandmothers and great great aunts who held their families together during wars and depressions. This week, our Year 12 students had the opportunity to meet women excelling in various fields at our Mentors Breakfast. They interacted with lawyers, teachers, business owners, and government officials who are making their mark on the world. In a positive way.

It's essential to remember that some role models can set unrealistic expectations, making life seem harder and goals unattainable especially when they are famous for extreme wealth or a model body and face. On the other hand, many inspire us to be our best selves. Having a range of role models is important, but balance is key. Encourage your daughter to find role models who help her strive for personal growth and kindness rather than just external success.

As we support the young women in our lives to choose their role models, let’s remember that 'comparison is the thief of joy'. By guiding them to appreciate a diverse array of inspiring women, we help them become well-rounded individuals who value themselves and others for their true worth.

The past two weeks have been action packed for our Year 10s. House Athletics Carnival, 39 Steps, Retreat Days, Fatima Feast Day and our Morrisby Information Evening. One of the commonalities in all of these events is the ability to engage within our community, to enhance our sense of belonging within the simplicity of giving freely of ourselves at each of these events.

Our Retreat Days and Morrisby Information session allowed our students and families to see opportunities for what might be. Morrisby showed us where our skills and talents might lead us. Our Retreat days allowed our students to see how important interfaith relationships are and that by living our true values we have the opportunity to create something special. Both opportunities illuminated the possibilities that lay ahead for our young people and their families. Now is the time for our Year 10s to be courageous and step into these opportunities that await them.

Exams

All information with regards to timetables, expectations and how our Year 10 exams will proceed was sent to all families. I ask that all families take the time to read this information carefully and should you have any questions please don’t hesitate to make contact with me.

Also earlier this week the Year 10 students engaged in the third part of our three part seminar series to help the students in the lead up to their exams. Our focus this week was on feedback. How do we receive feedback, what do we do with feedback and how can we improve as a result of feedback. Feedback and growth mindset are two areas that our young people can struggle with. They understand what they would like to be, but can be challenged with how to get there. That is, how do I apply feedback through a growth mindset to my advantage. I encourage all families to talk openly about both of these topics over the next two weeks.

As we have said, often, to the Year 10s, in these upcoming exams we are not seeking perfection. What we are seeking are the habits that allow success. Success in the exams ahead, but also in the building of successful habits that will be sustained over a lifetime. Reach for the stars in the weeks to come, but do so with your head held high, eyes open, and enjoying every step along this journey.

Duke of Edinburgh's International Award

It is fantastic to see that we now have 55 students who have successfully completed their Bronze Award in their Duke of Edinburgh journey. This, however, does not have to be the final number. Within the Year 10 cohort we have another 18 students and all they need to do is complete the final reflection about their adventurous journey and submit them on their online record book. That could take our number to 73. Then we have another 36 students, who still have some hours to complete for their physical recreation, skill and service and to complete their reflections. Again, this is all achievable and it would be fantastic to celebrate over 100 students completing their Bronze Award in August of this year at our Duke of Edinburgh awards evening.

I encourage all families to take the time to look at your daughters online record book and ensure that all elements are completed. The Duke of Edinburgh award is an international award that is highly recognised when applying for post secondary opportunities. If you need any support with this, please come and see either myself or Ms Bennett.

Last Tuesday during our Pastoral lesson, we continued to discuss the harmful nature of gossiping and rumours. We emphasised that if the answer to any of the following questions is no, what they’re going to say must be stopped and not shared; Is it true? Is it nice? Is it helpful?

In small groups, they were presented with a variety of different scenarios that may occur in their day-to-day lives and given the opportunity to discuss the best way to respond to information about somebody else that a friend might have passed on to them. ‘Stopping the chain of transmission’ is a crucial aspect of reducing this harmful practice and the students were guided through ways to respond to the situations presented. In most cases, the correct response was to not spread the information and keep it to themselves or to speak with a trusted adult depending on the seriousness of the information.

This lesson also provided the opportunity for reflection on their current friendships and whether gossiping and talking negatively about other people was a significant part of their conversations. If this is the case, it is worth considering whether that friendship can continue in its current form to have a positive influence on their life rather than a negative and harmful one. A friendship that is built on gossip and treating others poorly will often end in the same way.

Please encourage your daughters to approach their Homeroom teacher or myself if they would like any further support with any of the above. Your support with maintaining consistent messages about what has been covered is greatly appreciated.

Finally, I recently came across a fantastic podcast by the ABC called Parental As Anything, presented by teen educator and author, Rebecca Sparrow, who speaks with parents and experts to unpack the biggest challenges of parenting teens. There are a variety of episodes on different topics as well as further reading and videos. I would encourage you to check it out as there may be answers to some of the questions you might have been asking about how to approach a concern with your child.

This week we have been celebrating our annual ‘Languages Week’ between Monday the 20 and Friday 24 May. Students have had the opportunity to taste delicious foods, to participate in a Homeroom Kahoot, competitions, badge making, incursions, excursions and more!

Past and present students shared their stories, providing insight into their experiences learning a language and how a second language has benefited them in their lives and careers. Our guest speaker Mr Matthew Absalom, an Italian lecturer at Melbourne University, spoke to our Year 10 language students and visiting students from Marcellin and Whitefriars Colleges about the importance of learning a language in Australia.

All language students have been involved in special activities throughout the week. In particular, the Year 7 students were entertained by well-known performer Filippo who plays the accordion, sings, Chinese, French and Italian songs, and teaches the students traditional Italian and French dances. Students have also enjoyed a gelato from a visiting gelato van and lots of different foods.

Some of our students wish to share their thoughts with us all:

On Monday 20 May, during Period 1, all the Year 7 students participated in a language incursion. We sang lots of songs lead by a presenter called Filippo who played interesting instruments and he had a great singing voice. Filippo was very talented, being able to speak and sing in French, Italian and Chinese. Everyone participated, in singing, dancing or even clapping along to the songs. I really enjoyed this and hope it happens again next year! Alyssa Z (7 Gold)

We had the chance to listen to songs in new and different languages as well as learning fun dances, Including relearning the beloved chicken dance! It was great that so many of us got involved and it put a smile on our faces. We enjoyed and appreciated Filippo coming and spending one hour with us. Chloe G (7 White)

Years 8, 9 and 10 Chinese language students had a wonderful experience on Monday exploring Chinese culture as a part of Language Week. We travelled into Melbourne CBD where we visited the Chinese Immigration Museum. A Museum guide led us on a tour highlighting significant elements of Chinese immigration and culture through Australia. We developed a deeper understanding of local Chinese immigration. Following our visit to the Museum, we explored China Town precinct including eating some local Chinese food. Thank you to Mrs Amato, Mrs Tan, Mrs Wang and Miss Cardaci for making this possible. Clare N (8 Gold)

Throughout the museum tour, we learnt about Chinese immigration, the gold rush, different herbs, the Han Dynasty, ancient seismographs, the Silk Road, Jade burial suits and Chinese dragons. A fact that stood out to me was that the Millennium dragon that is showcased on Chinese Lunar New Year and the Moomba festival in Melbourne is 53m long, takes four people to carry the head, 22 people to carry the body and four people to carry the tail. Overall, this excursion to Chinatown Melbourne and the Museum was a great opportunity and experience learning about Chinese culture and history. Charissa Velante (10 White)

Participating in the Year 10 Language Forum was an engaging experience, allowing us to build connections with other language students from Marcellin College and Whitefriars College. I was part of the Italian group in the session, where we were able to extend our knowledge of Italian culture and geography through a team quiz. The session was a great opportunity to relate with people undertaking the same language as you and encouraged social interaction through team spirit.

For the second half of the forum, we were asked to reflect on the idea of learning a language in VCE and beyond. We were enlightened on the academic and personal benefits of undertaking this course of study by Matt Abslom, professional linguist and lecturer at The University of Melbourne. He discussed benefits such as gaining enhanced cognitive skills and the opportunity for social connections, as well as the career pathways it opens and the way it improves performance in other academic areas. We also heard from past language students, including two Sion students, who related their experiences of learning a language. This included the benefits it had on their ATAR and diversity it brought to their VCE curriculum, and the advantages it provided when travelling and the way it enhanced their employability. It was a fantastic opportunity to hear from the perspectives of different language learners and understand the way language can enhance many aspects of your life. Siena F (10 Purple)

In Religious Education this semester, the Year 10 students have been focusing on Identity and Diversity, where they have explored the monotheistic faiths of- Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Currently, students are exploring the meaning of Humanity, with a particular focus on the Shoah (the Holocaust). To enhance and support their learning, the students recently visited the Jewish Museum of Australia and the Melbourne Holocaust Museum. They participated in a range of activities that allowed them to gain a much greater understanding of Jewish history, faith, customs and beliefs and the terrible plight the Jewish population in Europe experienced during the Holocaust.

One of the most significant moments for the students, was hearing first-hand from Holocaust survivor, Joe Szwarcberg. Joe spoke about his experiences as a child, having spent time in a Ghetto from the age of nine, to being deported to a harsh labour camp before being liberated from the Buchenwald concentration camp when he was 15 years old. Through his incredible story of survival Joe also shared his messages of hope with the students and his firm belief in the importance of educating the next generation about the need to fight against hatred and intolerance.

Upon their return, the students had the opportunity to share their reflections on the significance of the day and the impact it had on them, especially hearing from Holocaust survivors.

The experience had a different impact on me when compared to simply reading about the atrocities in the book ‘Night’. Joe’s story really hit home, and added another level of reality and horror to this historical event. Siena F (10 Purple)

The Holocaust Museum was really interesting, as we got to see a person who had survived the Holocaust. He talked about his journey and how he survived that horrific time in his life. Brigitte C (10 Purple)

The Holocaust Museum gave us an insight of what Jews experienced throughout the Shoah. By listening to a survivor's story, we were able to gain first-hand knowledge of what it was like to live through such terrors. Michaela U (10 Purple)

As a College community we pray for peace in our world today and that we have the courage to speak out against all forms of hatred and discrimination.

St Vincent De Paul School Conference

St Vincent De Paul SnapShot

This issue of the SnapShot provides an overview of the mission, vision and values of the St Vincent De Paul Society along with an explanation of their logo.

Mission, Vision, Values and Logo

The mission of the St Vincent de Paul Society is to aspire 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 just and compassionate society. Their vision is to be recognised as a caring Catholic charity offering a ‘hand up’ to people in need by respecting their dignity, sharing their hope and encouraging them to take control of their own destiny. The society believes that their mission and vision can be achieved through the fulfilment of their values. There are seven values that the society believes captures their ‘good works’.

The SVDP logo is a symbol of hope and goodwill. It has the hands symbol and slogan. The three hands signify the following:

Their slogan ‘good works’ encompasses all the good work they strive to do every day in local communities. It underpins every interaction and every conversation they have with people and families in our community.

St Vincent De Paul Workshop

Please see the student reflection by Bani K (10 Purple) and Diya P (10 White) below:

Recently the St Vincent De Paul conference group at Our Lady of Sion College had the opportunity to participate in a workshop that enhanced our knowledge and awareness of the work we do.

We were fortunate enough to have Rob and Tayla from the SVDP Youth Engagement Team come in and educate us on social justice issues of homelessness, cost of living and poverty. We participated in a number of interactive activities which deepened our understanding of these significant issues our community is currently experiencing. All new members to the group were also commissioned and made a pledge to make a difference in our world through good works and action.

We were lucky to have Aldo De Cunto, Soup Van coordinator, come in and assist us in the creation of Rough Sleeper packs that are to be distributed out to homeless people to give them something to eat and were accompanied by a small message of hope written by the students. It’s important to remember that not all homeless people are the same and many did not choose to end up in that situation. Keep an eye out in the future on how you can get involved and help out! Bani K and Diya P

House Athletics

How good was House Athletics on Friday 10 May! It wasn’t the best Melbourne morning but the rain held off and students were able to run, jump and throw for their House teams. Participation throughout the day was fantastic and the attitudes of all involved made the event one to remember. Congratulations to FATIMA on painting Doncaster Athletics RED, adding to their consecutive streak of Athletics Carnivals. Results from the day are below:

Novelty Trophy: Lourdes

Cheering Trophy: Loreto

Overall Results:

A big thank you to all staff that made the day what it was, your efforts don’t go unnoticed, especially by the Year 12s who celebrated their last House Carnival in style.

Year Level Champions will be announced at Year Level Assemblies shortly.

GSV Rep Netball and Soccer Team Trials

The best Year 9-12 netballers from 20 GSV schools came together to showcase their talent throughout the evening on Thursday 16 May at Lauriston Girls' School. The selectors were very impressed with the exceptional standard of play displayed this year! With only 1 GSV team being selected this year from a pool of almost 70 trialists, the selection process was incredibly competitive. The below students represented Our Lady of Sion, we would like to thank them for their participation and being selected as our strongest Netballers.

Congratulations to Ava M (10 Blue) and Olivia M (10 Blue) on being selected for the GSV Representative Netball Team. They will play AGSV in the Premier Match on Wednesday 31 July. We wish them all the best.

GSV Rep Soccer trials are held at Genazzano on Tuesday 28 May. We wish the very best to our three students trialing for the team! We are also very excited to hear what they learn from the experience as they continue to develop their skills.

Well done Alexis, Katie and Stephanie!

GSV Cross Country

Our GSV Cross Country squad represented the College on Tuesday 21 May at the GSV Preliminary event. The students showed fantastic dedication throughout the run and we celebrated some fantastic individual results with Erin M (10 B) and Sophie F (9 W) finishing 1^st and 3^rd respectively.

We have qualified for the Division 3 Championship Cross Country scheduled for Friday 31 May at Cruden Farm. Next week will be our final week of morning Cross Country training sessions.

Keep an eye out for upcoming GSV Track and Field squad trainings scheduled for the end of Term 2 and Term 3.

CGSAV AFL

Congratulations to the Junior, Intermediate and Senior students selected for the upcoming CGSAV AFL tournament on Tuesday 4 June. The team has one last final training session on 28 May at Box Hill City Oval before we play 4 matches (2 x 14 minute) at Royal Park. Our opponents on the day at Kilbreda, Genazzano, Mater Christi and Our Lady of Mercy with the winning school receiving a potential pathway toward the Herald Sun Shield. We will provide a recap of the day in our next Newsletter.

National Gymnastics Championships – Gabriela T (9 White)

Gabriela Tse's performed outstandingly at the Australia Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships. Over two days of competition, Gabriela delivered exceptional routines that contributed to her team's success. Her efforts helped the Victoria State Team secure the Gold Medal, earning them the title of Future International Australian National Champions. Additionally, she won the individual 'All-Rounder' Bronze medal and placed 4th in both the Beam and Floor events. Congratulations!

Counselling

As we approach the end of Semester 1, senior exams loom near, and students in all year levels may find themselves juggling multiple assessment tasks at the one time.

Recently, a self-nominated, pilot group of Year 11 students completed the Study Without Stress program. This was an eight-week program using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques to equip senior students with knowledge and tips on how to manage anxiety with increased workload, stress and demands attached to study, exams and academic performance including procrastination and perfectionism. Students were encouraged to try new skills in and out of sessions to ensure they could seek help with implementation and achieve a level of mastery.

One of the areas that was covered within the program was ‘Study/Life Balance’ relaxation. It is important to recognise the role relaxation can play in managing stress. Our bodies are geared to respond to stressful situations and anxious thoughts with muscle tension. Long term muscle tension can lead to irritability, headaches and sleeping problems.

There are lots of different ways we can relax during stressful assessment periods. The following are some examples of ways we support adolescents to relax:

Exercise (go for a walk, run, bike ride, yoga, swim)
Meditation
Slow breathing
Listening to music
Do a creative activity (baking, drawing, playing an instrument)
Get outdoors
Spending time with pets.

The following are instructions for Slowed Breathing and a link to Progressive Muscle Relaxation. These are quick and easy ways to relax and can be done anywhere and anytime especially in times of high stress preceding an exam.

Slowed Breathing Instructions

Sit comfortably with your legs uncrossed, good posture and place your hands on your thighs.

Close your eyes or look down at a spot on the floor. Inhale deeply through your nose into your abdomen for a slow count of five seconds. If it helps, you can rest your hands on your abdomen and feel it rise gently.

Hold your breath for a slow count of two and then breathe out slowly through your mouth for a slow count of five.

Inhale deeply through your nose into your abdomen for a slow count of five seconds. If it helps, you can rest your hands on your abdomen and feel it rise gently.

Hold your breath for a slow count of two and then breathe out slowly through your mouth for a slow count of five.

Repeat the slow breathing in for a five count, hold for two, breathe out for a five count eight more times.

After you have got the hang of slowed breathing, you might try to say the word 'relax' in your mind as you breathe out.

Newsletter | Hear the Call of Jerusalem: widen your horizons

Important Dates

What's On

From the Principal

Principal's Message

Careers Week

Mentors Breakfast

Melbourne University Newman College Forum

Looking towards a future with hope

From the Deputy Principals

Deputy Principal Faith and Mission – Anna Gionfriddo

Year 10 Retreat Day

Holocaust Memorial Service

Pentecost

Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching – Allison Stott

Year 10 and 11 Exams

2024 GAT

Semester Change

Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing – Christine Kralj

Our girls need good role models like never before

In Remembrance

Year Level News

Year 12 – Leanne Anderson, Wellbeing and Growth Leader

Year 11 – Beth Amos, Wellbeing and Growth Leader

Exam Preparation

Year 10 – Adam Rieusset, Wellbeing and Growth Leader

Exams

Duke of Edinburgh's International Award

Year 9 – Jennifer Tilley, Wellbeing and Growth Leader

Year 8 – Chris Wilkes, Wellbeing and Growth Leader

Year 7 – Stephanie Jones, Wellbeing and Growth Leader

Tips for supporting homework routines

Learning Area News

Languages – Gail Amato, Learning Leader

Humanities – Sarah Chalmers, Learning Leader

Year 9 Geography field trip

Religious Education – Amy Garnham, Learning Leader

Co-curricular News

Music – Martin Macaulay, Head of Music

Term 2 Music Soiree

Sion First Music Program Debut Concert

2024 Ensembles Concert Thursday 27 June 2024

Social Justice – Lucy Miotello, Coordinator

St Vincent De Paul School Conference

St Vincent De Paul Workshop

Sport – Liam Cox, Head of Sport

House Athletics

GSV Rep Netball and Soccer Team Trials

GSV Cross Country

CGSAV AFL

National Gymnastics Championships – Gabriela T (9 White)

House & Student Leadership Coordinator – Jennifer Tilley

Careers and Pathways – Brooke O'Hara, Coordinator

Parent News

College Counsellor – Pamela Ioannidis

Counselling

Slowed Breathing Instructions

Important Dates

From the Principal

From the Deputy Principals

Year Level News

Learning Area News

Co-curricular News

Parent News

Important Dates

From the Principal

From the Deputy Principals

Year Level News

Learning Area News

Co-curricular News

Parent News

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