Newsletter | See as God sees - Our Lady of Sion Newsletter

The last 18 months have undoubtedly been a challenging time for all. Across our world and country, we continue to see a wave of restrictions as each country and state comes to terms with its particular context and unique needs. Within our families and friendship circles, we also see those who have adapted to the lockdowns and those for whom this time is understandably a great ongoing burden and time of sadness. Some families within our own school community have mourned the loss of loved ones who have succumbed to this insidious virus; most of us have so far escaped its direct health impact. Last week we celebrated R U OK? Day with events on offer each day for our students and staff. I thank all who contributed to this timely way of supporting each other’s wellbeing, in particular those who participated in our online Gratitude Wall which attracted many heartfelt comments and photos that lifted us all up.

In the last few weeks, I have made a concerted effort to spend time in my garden over the weekend. It has not only been a chance to address some of the neglected corners where there are more weeds than healthy plants, but it has also been a chance to enjoy the increasing signs of Spring; the scented blossoms that are emerging, the bright green leaves as they unfurl, the increased birdlife that wakes us up earlier and earlier as the days become noticeably longer, and the sounds of more people enjoying their neighbourhood walks and activities along the bike path and park which are adjacent to my home. Spring is definitely my favourite season because of the new life that emerges and of the promise of hope that it brings. I acknowledge the challenges we are all facing at this time especially when each day reminds us of the movie Groundhog Day, however, the two things that I feel may help us to overcome the limitations we currently face are to venture outside as much as possible and to connect with as many different people as we can, even if it is online. The upcoming term break is an ideal time to re-establish these habits even more strongly.

In this our final week of Term 3, I am grateful that our students have enjoyed almost all of the major activities that we had planned for this year and in the context of school life, this time of year is also a time of promise and hope for what the next term and the new year will bring. We are looking forward to a return to onsite learning in Term 4 once the government and health authorities notify us of the operational guidelines we must follow. While we do not have the details yet, we are already planning what may need to be adjusted so that events can proceed albeit in different ways.

The Leadership Team and key leaders within the College are also hard at work planning for the 2022 academic year. This is also undertaken with great hope and positivity based on how much we have learned since the start of the pandemic. We have been affirmed in our efforts to maintain learning continuity by the way our students are progressing. While they have not been physically at school as much as we would have liked this term, their teachers and the support staff continue to provide them with predictability in their learning through our academic and co-curricular programs. Pleasingly, our 2021 Year 7 and Year 9 NAPLAN results show that our students continue to perform well above the State with many Year 9 students receiving Certificates of Growth and Certificates of Excellence which the VCAA has introduced this year. Well done to our Year 7 and 9 students in this area of their learning.

Finally, congratulations to our 2022 Year 12 Student Leadership Team who I had great pleasure in announcing to the College community this week. All applicants are to be congratulated for putting themselves forward for the twenty roles that are offered to our final year students. Their hopes for the future are evident in their letters of application and their speeches to their peers. Well done to our 2022 College leaders and I, together with their families, staff and students, offer them our prayerful support.

Please see Christine Kralj’s article for a full list of our 2022 Student Leadership Team.

With every blessing for a happy and safe term break.

Tina Apostolopoulos

What is best practice in Learning and Teaching?

Our Lady of Sion College is a member of the Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools (MACS) School Improvement Learning Collaborative. This ongoing process is underpinned by the work of Lynn Sharratt and Micheal Fullan through their work, ‘Putting Faces on the Data’ and Sharratt’s text ‘Clarity’. In ‘Clarity’, Sharratt speaks about assessment for, as, and of learning and asks five questions of students:

1. What are you learning and why?

2. How are you going in your learning?

3. How do you know this?

4. How can you improve? and

5. Where do you go for help?

This is all about leading students to be ‘assessment ready’ and points to John Hattie’s meta-analysis where student’s assessment readiness has an effect size of 1.74, the most significant he has identified.

What struck me as I listened and engaged with the most recent Zoom presentation with MACS and Lynn Sharratt, was how ahead of the process the teachers and students of Our Lady of Sion College already are. During the collaborative meeting, Sion teachers were able to contribute methods in which our students are already receiving feedback for, as, and of learning, as well as the ways in which students can answer the above five questions, indicators of their assessment readiness. These strategies are both structural, through SEQTA, as well as processes that the College has established and teachers have embraced.

Coincidentally, earlier in the same day, I had attended an early morning Sion professional learning session (called Teacher’s Lounge), where each week teachers volunteer to share pedagogical strategies to enable just this sort of professional practice and improvement in learning outcomes.

With all that is happening at the moment, with the stretching and challenging of Online Home Learning, Sion is still providing our students with best practice learning and teaching. What an amazing community to be a part of.

NAPLAN – Education Minister's Award recipients

The National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) was held in May for the Year 7 and 9 students. The test assessed the student’s knowledge and skills in Writing, Reading, Spelling, Grammar, Punctuation and Numeracy.

We would like to congratulate the following students on their exceptional results which have been recognised with the Education Minister’s Award:


Alana B, 9 Blue
Severine C, 9 Red
Amy C, 9 Blue
Caitlin C, 9 White
Tahlia C, 9 White
Hannah D, 9 Red
Sarah D, 9 Orange
Tianna D, 9 Purple
Isabel G, 9 Blue
Alyssa G, 9 Silver
Amy G, 9 Blue
Marli H, 9 Purple
Hanna H, 9 Silver
Abigail H, 9 Red
Emily J, 9 Gold
Chloe K, 9 Silver
Sophie K, 9 Gold
Rachel L, 9 Silver
Alicia L, 9 Red
Bianca L, 9 Gold
Mercedes M, 9 Blue
Sofia M, 9 Gold
Abbey M, 9 Purple
Alana M, 9 Blue
Grace M, 9 Silver
Chloe M, 9 White
Monica P, 9 Blue
Stephanie P, 9 Orange
Isabella P, 9 Orange
Bella R, 9 White
Claudia R, 9 White
Mieke V, 9 Gold
Emily W, 9 Blue
Lee X L, 9 Red

Congratulations to all.

A Bright Future for Student Leadership in 2022

On Monday 13 September, we appointed our 2022 Student Leadership Team. Throughout the process, it was clear every applicant displayed a genuine interest in the role and enthusiasm to lead our College community. We were extremely impressed by the quality of speeches, interviews and written responses received from all applicants.

We had a strong field of applicants who shared a passion for the school. During the interviews, it was obvious applicants were interested in giving Our Lady of Sion College students a voice in decision-making and that they wanted to foster a truly inclusive learning environment.

I always remind unsuccessful applicants that leadership is so much more than wearing a badge and having a title. We look forward to seeing the Year 12 cohort of 2022 get behind and support the Student Leadership Team as they plan and run events throughout the year. The real success in 2022 will not come from the actions of a few leaders, but from the readiness of individuals to be active participants and caring people within the College community.

It is with great pleasure that I introduce the 2022 Student Leadership Team and I look forward to working with these amazing young women next year.

2022 Student Leadership Team pictured above. From top row, left to right:

Visual Arts Captain, Alannah W
Liturgy Captain, Caitlin G
Social Justice Captain, Charlotte S
Drama, Captain Emma H
Debating, Captain Jaimee M
Environment, Captain Winnie W
Music, Captain Natalie K-S
Sports Captain, Mia M
Sports Captain, Sienna S
Carmel Captain, Grace N
Carmel Captain, Tahlia P
Fatima Captain, Alexandra P
Fatima Captain, Victoria S
Loreto Captain, Ariana C
Loreto Captain, Georgia W
Lourdes Captain, Chloe L
Lourdes Captain, Jessica D

As we head into the Term 3 holidays, I wish Our Lady of Sion College students and their families, a safe break and well-deserved rest. The coming weeks are a time for experiences away from computer screens, a change of routine and, with luck, time to enjoy some warmer weather.

Congratulations to all Year 12 families on your daughter's completion of her final full term of secondary education. This is a reason for celebration and joy, and as a family unit, you should be so proud. Getting to this stage reflects all the hard work, patience, tenacity, resilience and willingness to dream about what the future will bring, for both your daughter and your family.

The past fortnight has again challenged our Year 12 cohort. They completed their final assessments and are now preparing for the upcoming trial exams, and the end of year exams.

In the hustle and bustle of all of this, I encourage all families to find the joy and celebration of what they are achieving. You are achieving many ‘lasts’ and although they may not look exactly the way you had planned, each last is a celebration of the journey you have taken as a family unit.

This fortnight, I would like to share some resources around the importance of rest. Rest is a vital ingredient to help produce the best performance possible. Rest is not simply limited to sleep. It is about balancing the needs of the body to learn and process information which allows the best cognitive transfer of knowledge during times of tests, exams or final assessments.

Resources:

The importance of rest: https://learningfundamentals.com.au/the-importance-of-rest-why-studying-for-long-periods-of-time-is-counterproductive/
Reason for a good night’s sleep: https://www.richmondregister.com/community/more-needed-than-a-good-nights-rest-prior-to-exams/article_6d09b4a2-a0f6-5eaa-995b-7e70f1431684.html
Deakin University: Why exercise can help, https://this.deakin.edu.au/study/stress-less-why-exercise-could-help-you-ace-that-exam

Over the next two weeks, there must be a balance between study and rest. Although our Year 12 students are approaching their final examinations, they must ensure that they approach these in a sustainable way – a little bit each day, targeted periods of study that are time bound and focused.

Supporting these periods of study, we need to have that ‘rest’ that allows our body to process this information. This can be sleep, or it could be going for a walk. Either way, it allows the body to synthesise the material being focused on, at that time.

Term 4 will move quickly, with occasions to celebrate as a cohort and as a College to recognise all the amazing things the Class of 2021 has achieved. This is something we should all look forward to with much joy.

On behalf of the Year 12 Pastoral Team, I wish all families the very best for the Term 3 break. Remember to be kind to yourselves, enjoy some much-needed downtime. Lastly, if you need any support over the break, we are only an email away.

Stay safe, be proud and always push your boundaries each and every day.

Hooray, we are finally here…HOLIDAYS!

I take this opportunity to focus on how we can make the holidays a positive experience and provide the Year 8 families with some ideas/tips to take into the break.

This holiday break, in particular, is a crucial time to stop, reset and create some small, fun and achievable objectives over the 17 days.

Below are some options you can consider as a family and potentially focus on during the break ahead:

After many weeks on screens, it is so important to step away. Instead, fill this time with conversations with family/friends, walks, mindfulness or even a book.
Work with your daughter to create goals for the holidays so she can feel accomplished by the time we return to school. This can look like: going for a walk each day, cleaning out childhood items in her bedroom, donating old clothes to charity, getting up-to-date on any missed school work to start Term 4 fresh; the list goes on.
Try to break up the routine. The learning day is quite structured so aim to create some change/difference in the day.
Also, in contrast to that, you could aim to plan out the days. One day for your daughter to clean out her room, the next to read a book, the next to go for a walk as a family and the next, to give her grandparents a call to check in. It shouldn’t be the ONLY thing she completes that day but this may leave her looking back on the holidays with a sense that she accomplished something.
Get outside on the days Melbourne delivers good weather. It really does shift the mood of the day in a positive way.
Finally, screen time is okay if it’s ‘different’ screen time. There is a difference between watching a favourite childhood movie for two hours in comparison to scrolling through Instagram for two hours. Balance technology with play, and take the pressure off academic performance to allow your daughter to regenerate in time for the term’s return.

As always, please reach out to the Pastoral Team (Homeroom teachers or myself), if you have any growing concerns. In this challenging time, we need to work together to support our students in the best way possible.

I wish all families the best for the weeks ahead and I look forward to what Term 4 has to offer - supporting the Year 8s and preparing them for their transition into Year 9.

Recently we celebrated Humanities Week at Sion. While the on-campus activities originally planned had to be altered, it was fantastic to see that the level of engagement from students remained high with the online and virtual activities on offer.

Over the week, we had 136 students across all year levels participate in a range of activities including local litter clean-ups, historical dress ups, documentary reviews, design a new Australian flag, reflections on our biggest challenges with a growing population, and the documentation of family history during wartime.

Congratulations to all students for their participation throughout the week. The list of winners for the various categories has been published in the Humanities Classroom and also in the Student Bulletin.

Here are some reflections that highlight what the girls noticed when conducting a litter clean up in their local neighbourhoods:

‘The most common type of litter that I saw in the area was paper, napkins and receipts. I picked up litter near a very popular shopping centre and found a few bits of paper flying with the wind. I actually thought that there would be a lot of rubbish for me to collect, but there wasn’t as much as I expected. I think there wasn’t much rubbish because of COVID-19 or people in this area don’t litter as much anymore. Overall, I was really glad that there wasn’t too much rubbish flying around but everyone should try their best not to litter.’ Ananya de S. Year 7 Purple

‘We all wear masks; they are a government mandated thing we all need to wear to stay safe. The most common piece of litter in my area is discarded reusable masks. They are found most commonly near supermarkets, in gutters, streams and generally in most public places. To reduce litter and make our streets cleaner, when you see some rubbish don’t hesitate to go and pick it up!’ Ella P. Year 7 White

‘The most common type of litter in my area included drinks (e.g. beer, wine, Slurpee) and food (e.g. lollies, chocolate, McDonald’s). However, surprisingly, the type of litter that filled up my bag the most was the stuffing from a torn apart Peppa Pig toy hidden in the bushes.’ Annie S. Year 12 White

On Monday 6 September, Year 10, 11 and some Year 9 students of Italian participated in the Dante Alighieri Recitation Competition. The competition has two categories – Italian /Australian and Non-Italian, and the results are reflective of internal year level and category.

We congratulate the following winners for their outstanding achievements.

Italian/Australian Category

First Prize Winners

Sienna A, Year 9
Emilia R, Year 10
Alicia P, Year 11

Second Prize Winners

Nadia S, Year 9
Amelia F, Year 10

Third Prize Winner

Mia G, Year 10

Non-Italian Category

First Prize Winners

Severine C, Year 9
Olinda E, Year 9
Sofia F, Year 10
Scarlet M, Year 10
Emilie R, Year 11

Second Prize Winners

Anabel K, Year 9
Karina B, Year 10
Chiara P, Year 10
Stephanie C, Year 11

Third Prize Winners

Zoe B, Year 10
Isabela G, Year 10

We congratulate the following students who achieved a High Distinction or an Honourable Mention, and all students who participated for their enthusiasm and commitment.

High Distinction

Year 9 - Sofia M
Year 10 - Gemma C, Ciara D, Bettina Z, Frances W and Olivia D.
Year 11 - Mia B, Eloise E, Tahlia F, Natasha G, Tiya B and Madison C.

Honourable Mention

Year 10 - Gabriella B, Sofia A and Niquita B.
Year 11 - Jasmine A, Sophie C and Jasmine F.

Three of our students have shared their reflections below:

‘The Dante Alighieri Poetry Competition was a great experience to practise and improve our memory, pronunciation and speaking in Italian. It was good to build on the skills we have learnt, whilst gaining even more. As well as the poem, the little conversation dialogue beforehand with the assessor will help to make us more confident whilst we continue to learn the language. Even though the majority of us were nervous leading up to it, it definitely was a rewarding feeling after presenting our poem to the judge’. Ciara D.

‘The Dante Alighieri Recitation Competition was an opportunity for us girls to learn an Italian poem and practise speaking in Italian with each other and the assessor. The process of learning our poems was fulfilling and allowed us to improve our oral skills in ways we were not used to.’ Stephanie C.

‘The Poetry Competition showcases and awards students' creative abilities. I very much enjoyed learning and reciting my Italian poem. Learning this poem further enhanced my Italian vocabulary, and I was able to connect further with the Italian culture through another perspective, one that I had not previously had!’ Sofia F.