Newsletter | See as God sees

Typically, the final weeks of Term 2 are always some of the busiest in a secondary school. Final assignments are due and final assessments under timed conditions, including examinations for senior students, are undertaken. These opportunities are designed to support students to demonstrate the learning they have experienced over the semester; to reflect on their achievement, evaluate their progress and ultimately to identify the areas for continued learning growth. I firmly believe that all students, and adults for that matter, are capable of learning growth. With a positive mindset and a willingness to adjust our approaches when needed, we can all continue to achieve our goals.

This point in time is exactly that, a point in time where we can take stock and focus on the next steps. I encourage all students to use this time to recognise the progress they have made and to set their directions for the second half of the year.

In fact, Semester 2 electives and studies commenced two weeks ago. Teachers have already outlined the work for the next two terms and students have started their first topics for the second semester. So our term break is an ideal time to undertake this reflection and ensure that everything is in place for a very positive start to Term 3. The break is also a time to then rest and recharge so that when they return in two weeks’ time, students are ready to work productively with their teachers and most importantly to do two things: firstly, to engage in all class discussions and activities no matter how challenging; and secondly, to never be afraid of asking questions. If we don’t ‘put ourselves out there’, we don’t learn and if we don’t ask questions, we also don’t learn. I ask all parents and guardians to support us by encouraging their daughters to adopt these final two messages. Our students have great capacity and a strong desire to do well. No matter what the rest of the year brings us, our goal is to help each student to achieve their best.

Since our recent return to onsite learning and teaching, we have also enjoyed many of the activities that bring our students enjoyment and a sense of belonging, and that support them to have hope for their future. I thank our staff and student leaders for their commitment to organising and leading our recent House Cupcake Competition and House Theatre Sports. On Wednesday, we were finally able to enjoy our House Athletics Carnival – a great way to conclude the term.

Last Friday a group of Year 9 and 10 students also enjoyed an inspiring Girls in STEM Day, while on Sunday the cast and musicians of our Musical attended an all-day rehearsal, the fruits of which we hope to enjoy in August. Students enjoyed many Arts competitions and GSV tryouts in the last fortnight and many have availed themselves of the many clubs and LRC events the College offers. Finally, this week, students in Years 10 and 11 attended Tertiary Seminars, VCE/VCAL Expos, Subject Selection Forums and Information Evenings, all designed to support planning for their senior studies and future pathways.

On Wednesday evening, families and students from Years 7–12 attended the Actura Marine Science School Information Evening, which promises to be an extraordinary opportunity for students who wish to engage in this unique program in 2022.

We also concluded Term 2 with an outward-facing experience: Refugee Week. I thank our Social Justice Captains and Mrs Miotello for creating the online Refugee Week Prayer and reflection that was shared with all year levels. In particular, I thank all staff and students who contributed to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre food drive. Each year Refugee Week is marked with a theme. This year’s theme is ‘Unity', a theme that takes us to the core of our Catholic and Sionian identity and that reminds us that we share a common divinity.

So, God created us in His own image; in the image of God … then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.

Genesis 1: 27 & 31

Loving God, we are made in your image. Help us to see the face of Christ in our brothers and sisters who seek refuge and asylum in our common home. May we open our borders and our hearts to those seeking shelter and security.

With every blessing for a happy and safe term break.

Tina Apostolopoulos

On Monday and Tuesday of this week, we have held two Information Evenings – conducted via Zoom. The focus of these nights has been to provide students and parents information in relation to choosing their subjects for the upcoming years. These nights have been conducted by Mrs Stott, Mrs Hunter and Ms O’Hara.

On each of these occasions, I was invited to begin the evenings with an Acknowledgment of Land and prayer. This should not be taken for granted. We are a Catholic learning community, committed to reconciliation and justice, so prayer is so much of the fabric of who we are and what we do.

On both occasions, we attempted to choose a particular prayer that would be suitable for that particular evening.

The first night was the VCE/VCAL Information Evening. It coincided with the beginning of Refugee Week so the following was our prayer:

Lord Jesus, we pray for those who are Refugees and Asylum Seekers. Give us more of your compassion for their plight, soften our hearts to their situation, and help us follow your lead in seeking justice and mercy on their behalf. We pray for an end to the wars, poverty and human rights abuses that drive desperate people to become refugees and asylum seekers in the first place.

Amen

The second night was the Year 10 Information Evening. These students are about to make choices of what they will ‘learn’ across the next three years of schooling.

What will they learn?

Well, perhaps alongside what they learn in Maths, English, Science, Arts, Humanities, PE, etc., perhaps the message of the prayer we chose for this particular night might also be a part of their learning:

I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3: 17–19.

Subject Selection

We are well underway in the subject selection process. Thank you to families that participated in the two Parent Information Evenings; contributing questions and areas upon which to focus.

Families with older students will notice changes to the structure of the Year 11 program for 2022. Students will no longer select a ‘tag’ subject but will instead complete a Unit 1 and 2 sequence, rather than a single unit. This will provide students with a greater grounding in the subject as well as an additional unit to their VCE program.

Recently added to the program was the Student Subject Expo for the current Year 10s. Intended as a casual drop in, the students turned up in great numbers, demonstrating their commitment to selecting the right subjects for them and their thinking processes behind it. The Expo was intentionally held in the Notre Dame Centre so that the students had a sense of pathway and place, and they got to be Notre Dame students, even for just a lunch time.

The information for the Subject Selection Interviews will be sent to current Year 10 families shortly. Relevant dates for all year levels are also included in the Important Dates section of this newsletter.

GAT 2021

The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority has now announced the date for the Units 3 and 4 students to sit the statewide General Achievement Test. Thursday, July 29 will now become a class-free day for Years 11 and 12 students, allowing space and time for the GAT to take place. Once again, our senior students have been well supported in their preparation for the GAT and their teachers will continue this process. Students and families are encouraged to access the information provided by the VCAA here and of course, the internet has abundant resources in support of achieving well on the GAT.

Literacy and Numeracy Tutors

We are in the very fortunate position to be able to extend our tutoring program in Literacy and Numeracy for an additional term. Ms Pamela Ioannides will continue in her role for Literacy whilst Ms Rena McKenzie will take up the mantle for Numeracy. The programs will be shaped a little differently, allowing the tutors to work with different levels of students in Term 3 and therefore spreading their positive impacts.

Term Break

It has been a very busy semester, and students, staff, and I are sure that families are ready for a well-earned break over the next two weeks. I hope that everyone is able to enjoy time as a family, recuperating from the busyness of the term time and return feeling refreshed, relaxed and ready for the next stage in our learning.

How much chocolate cake?

Today’s young people are living in unprecedented times with COVID but for the most part, they still live in an affluent and physically safe environment. They have more possessions, increasing rights, greater access to education and yet the quality of their mental wellbeing is steadily decreasing. Many young people appear to have low self-esteem and telling them that they are ‘wonderful’, ‘beautiful’ and ‘can do anything if they want’, even from childhood, is of little or no help in the long term. Current research into adolescent wellbeing suggests that young people need to strive to have meaning in their life, be skilled at something, and get involved in their community as a way of developing good self-esteem. Deeds not words is the message.

At a conference that I attended, Dr Thomas Nielsen posed the question, 'How much chocolate cake is good for me?' A strange statement for the University of Canberra, Associate Professor to begin with, but he used it to highlight that intrinsically we all know that too much of a good thing is not beneficial for us and, in time, it can be very detrimental. Parents should consider this when attempting to ‘save’ their children from challenging experiences such as, normal consequences of lazy or poor behaviour, compensating for low self-esteem with indulgent gifts or soothing hurt feelings with experiences that are not age appropriate.

Support is a vital aspect of good parenting. This is best done by guiding your daughter through problem-solving approaches rather than finding problem-avoiding solutions. Getting involved in College life or working through tough times will do much to build your daughter’s self-esteem, and can be used as a point of reference for further success.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Adventurous Journey and Year 9 City Experience in Term 3 are great examples of social emotional learning that build confidence, independence and self-esteem while delivering wonderful academic learning. Dr. Nielsen’s research suggests that even when students undertake compulsory volunteering or activities, the positive wellbeing effects are immeasurable.

As you read your daughter’s Semester 1 report in the coming weeks, keep in mind the protective factor our College co-curricular program provides. If her Homeroom teacher has recommended that your daughter becomes more involved in the life of the College, perhaps together set one activity or role that she can take on in Semester 2. By doing so, she has a chance of developing a skill, meeting new students and deepening her belief that she can be of service to others; all of these help support mental health, promote positive self-esteem and build resilience.

I wish you and your daughter a restful and safe Term 2 holiday.

Our particular thoughts and prayers go to Mr Chris Wilkes, our College Year 7 Wellbeing and Growth Leader and teacher of English, French and Italian, whose grandfather passed away recently.

We remember Mr Wilkes and his family in a special way at this sad time.

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

Congratulations to all Year 12 students on completing Term 2. It certainly threw a few challenges our way. Families should be proud of their daughter(s), they continue to turn up and do their best each and every day.

I would like to encourage all families to ensure that this term break is one in which you allow your daughter(s) and family to switch off, to have down time away from the normal routine of Year 12. Allow yourselves to get out and re-explore all the opportunities that are just outside your doorstep. Reconnect with family and friends that you may not have been able to see over the past few weeks.

Our Year 12 year is not a sprint, but a marathon, consecutive days of repeated efforts. Just like any journey we need to have periods of rest, to allow our body to recover (mentally and physically) from the days that have gone and get ready for the days to come. The importance of rest during the upcoming term break cannot be under-estimated. In reality, as individuals and as a family, these will be the last two weeks of rest and recovery until after the final exams are completed in mid–late November. So enjoy this time together, don’t rush, don’t hurry, simply invest in this opportunity to celebrate all that is good about you and your family.

Key dates for Term 3:

• Start Term 3: Monday 12 July
• GAT: Thursday 29 July
• Year 12 Mentors Breakfast: Friday 30 July
• Sion Day: Friday 13 August
• Student Progress Meetings: Wednesday 25 August and Thursday 26 August
• Student Free Day: Thursday 26 August and Friday 27 August
• End Term 3: Friday 17 September
  
• September Trial Exams: Monday 20 – Thursday 23 September.

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

Year 12 Leaders in focus

Livinia T (12R) and Emily B (12G) – College Captains:

What a great semester we have all had! From the Easter Liturgy led by our liturgy reps, to celebrating female role models in our lives at the Significant Women's Breakfast, there have been many memorable and fun moments we have shared as a school community.

Even through the brief lockdown, we didn’t let it dampen our spirits. We encouraged each other to ‘carry on’ through our ‘Action For Happiness’ calendars which the SRC posts at the beginning of every new month. Today’s message on the Joyful June calendar is to ‘look for something good in a difficult situation’. How can you implement this simple act of happiness in your day? Perhaps you already have without even realising. By taking a moment to stop and appreciate the things that make you smile and feel proud, you can find the good in a difficult situation.

Coming into our last full term as the 2021 College Captains, we hope to continue to encourage the blossoming relationships between different year levels. Starting from Week 1 of Term 3, we will be running Conversation Cafe at lunchtimes, which will provide a safe space for dialogue and allow important conversations to arise. As well as this, we are looking forward to many year level competitions and most importantly Sion Day, which will be a great first experience for many.

We wish each and every one of you a joyful, safe and restful break and we look forward to continuing this energetic camaraderie.

Ellie S (12S) – Debating Captain:

Hello everyone. I’m Ellie, Year 12’s newest Debating Captain. I first dipped my toe into the debating and public speaking waters when I lived overseas in Hong Kong, around Year 4 or 5. Oral presentations in class arguing whether dogs or cats are the better animal led to interschool debates and public speaking competitions. Year 7 presented me with a huge opportunity: the chance to participate in my first Model United Nations conference. After being accepted to participate in AISMUN (Australian International School Model United Nations) and getting allocated the position of delegate of Honduras in the Economic and Social Council, I got hard to work, enthusiastically writing speeches and resolutions. Across the three days of the conference, my love for debating was amplified. It was an experience that invoked a feeling that words aren’t capable of illustrating.

Public speaking and debating have provided me with confidence, the ability to critically analyse speech and argument, interpersonal and communication skills, an interest in the world around me and so much more. It’s truly something I would encourage everyone to try.

Every Friday, debaters from a range of year levels have been meeting with Ms Kloprogge and I, practising their skills and being presented with different debating opportunities. We have already achieved a successful result in the DAV Debating competition, the Year 9 girls presenting an amazing debate against different schools. We have lots of exciting events coming up, including slam poet Emily Zoe Baker visiting us in Term 3 for our public speaking day.

I’m truly excited to be a leader in this department for 2021.

A few reflections from students in Year 11:

Mia M (11W):

Our first semester of Year 11 has been great. We started the year enjoying the normality of school life that we experienced differently online last year. Given the recent snap lockdown, we’ve had to yet again adapt to change, especially leading up to our exam period. Just recently finishing our exams, we’ve learnt about stress management and supporting one another, particularly during challenging times of the year. The nature of our exams pushed us to work hard but I speak on behalf of all of Year 11 to say it was rewarding and relieving to have finished. Our focus has shifted (if it wasn’t already on our minds) to our upcoming Year 11 Formal early next term, which we are all incredibly excited for. We’ve had a great year already and are looking forward to more good times ahead as a year level.

Jess D (11W) and Ella B (11R):

Growth, Resilience, Integrity and Tenacity.

This is GRIT, a quality that is essential to surviving Year 11. Personally, we have found that Year 11 was a big step up from Year 10, especially as a result of online learning last year. In the recent weeks leading up to the Unit 1 exams, our year level has been experiencing a range of emotions, particularly stress. Our Pastoral sessions have involved learning how to recognise and adapt to our constantly changing emotions. Prior to our exams, our year level experienced stress, nervousness and confusion regarding the government's decision as to whether we should return to face-to-face learning, which would greatly affect whether we completed exams online or in the usual school setting. However, with the support of our teachers and families, we were all able to proudly walk out of the gates at 3.30 with smiles on our faces feeling confident in our achievements. Now, the waiting game has begun for results. Good luck to everyone and stay safe.

Jess and Ella refer to the below positive psychology concept: GRIT. A video was played to students in our final assembly together, congratulating the cohort for demonstrating this important characteristic.

There is much to celebrate at the conclusion of Semester 1. Firstly, I would like to once again congratulate the cohort on their exemplary approach to the examination period in very trying conditions. Semester 2 is underway, changing over from Semester 1 last week with students moving to new electives and in many cases a new mix in their English and Mathematics classes. During our Pastoral session this week, the year level took part in a session where they had their exams handed back, and had a chance to review their results, including what worked well and what they need to improve on. The students have then created goals to improve outcomes for Semester 2.

This semester has been incredibly busy, with a range of activities including our Peer Mentoring program, The Adventurous Journey, Year 10 Retreat, The Holocaust Experience and our visit to the Jewish Museum, as well as GSV, Drama and music nights plus the continued work on the College production of The Wizard of Oz.

Second semester is once again very busy beginning with Work Experience, the continuation of subject selection and a range of other activities the Class Leaders would like to run.

Work Experience

I would like to wish the girls well as they embark on their work experience in the first week of Term 3. A staff member from the College will be visiting all student placements generally between Tuesday and Thursday.

I would like to thank the many parents for their partnership and support in Semester 1 and look forward to working with you in in Semester 2.

It has been yet another term whereby our Year Nine students have needed to be both committed and adaptable with their learning. I extend my congratulations to all the students for persevering and problem solving their way through different challenges, especially through the high peak period of assessments that took place in Term 2. They are learning skills and strategies that will better equip them for their studies in the higher year levels. I also want to congratulate those who have involved themselves in the school community by taking on the extra-curricular activities that are offered at the College. I am very aware this requires motivation, effort and time.

As you would be aware, we are in the middle of the subject selection process for our students who will be moving into Year 10 in 2022. Hopefully, you were able to attend the Parent Information Evening regarding this on Tuesday night. If you were unable to attend, you can view the presentation here. Access will be available until 4.00 pm on Monday 28 June.

Some of the key dates for Year 10 2022 Subject Selection are as follows:

• Monday 12 July – Unit 1/2 Acceleration Applications Due
• Tuesday 27 July – Web Preferences Open at 4.00 pm
• Monday 2 August – Web Preferences Close at 8.00 am.

If you or your daughter require support throughout any part of this process, the relevant people to contact are listed in the Year 10 Subject Handbook which can be accessed on the school website.

I encourage Year Nine to have an enjoyable, fun and restful break in preparation for Term 3. It will be another eventful term with preparation for the Significant People Project taking place, as well as the much-awaited City Experience later in the term. Further details regarding this will be communicated to you next term.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

In the final weeks of term, the Year 8s have been busy planning and organising events for our social justice initiative ‘The Generosity Collective’.

The Year 8s have shown great enthusiasm, commitment and generosity for the cause and justice for others.

Throughout the term, the Year 8s have been inspired to spread the word about The Generosity Collective to the Sion community and to raise some funds to help provide resources to those in need.

Some of the activities and initiatives that have been run this term are:

• a 'guess the lollies in the jar' competition
• a bake sale
• a Dodgeball competition
• mindfulness activities (colouring)
• ‘Just Dance’ battles
• a hair braid and ribbon day (the teal colour was used to represent the foundation).

We also hope to have a sausage sizzle next term when the students return, if restrictions ease.

The Year 8s were also able to donate clothes and bags during our Pastoral period to the co-founders Natalie and Elise, to put in their ‘Crisis packs’ for those in need.

All these initiatives have been led and run by the Class Leaders and SRCs, supported by the generosity and willingness to participate from the whole year level.

I think all the students should be extremely proud of their contribution and the difference this has made to those in our community. I will announce the final amount raised when we collate the amount next term.

This week during our pastoral session, we had the privilege of welcoming one of our College Counsellors, Janine Crociani, to speak to us about the brain and what we can do to be more aware of the control we can have over it.

Some key take-aways from this were:

• Our brain controls what we think and feel, how we learn and remember, the way we move and talk. It also controls things like the beating of our heart and the digestion of food.
• neurons send messages from our brain to our body and our body to our brain
• during adolescence two big things are happening in the teenage brain:
  • the teenage brain is pruning itself – synapses are removed as adolescents find their passions – use it or lose it!
  • Myelin formation causes the signals in the brain to become more effective and attention becomes more focused to reinforce the parts of the brain that we want to hold onto

• when we flip our lid, we no longer think or act clearly because our prefrontal cortex has gone offline and we are thinking with our emotional brain.

This can happen because we haven’t slept well, haven’t eaten, are under pressure, or feel emotional. It’s a part of being human.

What helps keep our lid down?

• getting enough sleep
  
• eating healthy meals
• exercising
• being organised

Strategies to help put our lid down:

• taking deep breaths
• moving away
• taking a break and doing something different
• mindfulness
• holding ourselves tense and relaxing.

I would like to thank Janine again for her expertise and her insightful presentation. I would also encourage you to discuss the above with your daughter so that they can continue this work at home and at school.

With Semester 2 drawing to a close it will soon be time for students in Years 8–11 to make their subject selections for 2022.

The following is a reflection from Nina Hughes, the College’s 2019 Valedictorian. Nina received an ATAR of 98.55, undertaking studies in Media Studies, Drama and Visual Communication Design, which she completed as an accelerated study in Year 11.

I think overall, by doing multiple Art subjects concurrently, it teaches you to be an independent learner. Creativity is such a sought-after skill, which is developed through Art studies and can be so easily transferred to different subject matters.

While it’s easy to say the key to success is focus, it can be extremely difficult to maintain a strong focus at times. Which is why you must choose subjects, projects, stimulus, concepts which you are PASSIONATE about. Passion drives focus and engagement, and in that you will create your best work.

Subject selection can be a time that brings up many questions – it’s a great idea to unpack these with your daughter’s subject teacher and to make use of our subject selection website: artsatsion.com. If you do have any additional questions about the Arts please feel free to contact myself directly via the College.

Student Reflections

Term 2 has presented a large number of opportunities for our students to engage and participate in the Arts both in the classroom and in a co-curricular capacity. Please find below reflections from some of our Arts Representatives on their favourite part of Semester 1:

In Year 7 Art we experimented with a range of different media. We got to work with many things such as pastels, acrylic paint, printing ink, ceramics and even PVA glue, which I particularly loved because it was challenging to get the lines even. – Tiana K (7B)

Commedia dell’arte in Drama was a great experience. I enjoyed this as I got to experiment with many different elements of Drama while learning about the history of that style of theatre. In the first week of Semester 2, we have been discussing and working with abstract, unique and imperfect designs for the front covers of our sketchbooks. We have also been attempting to make our work unrealistic and more imaginative. – Jessica H (8P)

In Visual Communication Design, we created a Planometric drawing of an interior of a room and designed it ourselves, styling and rendering the space. I really enjoyed creating and drawing my room, I learnt something new and it was an enjoyable process. – Nikitha B (9W)

My favourite thing that I have done this semester within the visual arts was studying different artists and focusing on how their life experiences would have impacted their artworks. It was interesting to apply different frameworks in order to explore further into the artwork and its meaning. Looking into artist's works alone also allowed me to develop my skills even more through using their pieces as references and examining the methods in which they used their tools to create a specific look on their piece. – Chloe L (10G)

Creating something tangible in Visual Communication was my favourite part because I felt like my hard work was demonstrated though a final product that I can see and touch. This made me feel accomplished and proud of myself. I am really proud of both the tote bag (print design) and skateboard. I am able to physically see a design that I created from scratch in front of my face. This encourages me to be more creative. – Ava L (11S)

In Year 12 Art I have enjoyed being able to see my personal growth in both my conceptual and physical work throughout my Unit 3 Folio. Through the documentation process around my work I was able to see my progression from start to finish – Julia T (12R)

We look forward to seeing the work our students produced in Semester 1 at our annual Creative Arts and Technologies Week celebrations later in the year and hope you will join us at our launch evening on Tuesday 19 October.

Instrumental Music Lessons – Sign Up for Semester 2

Any student considering taking up private instrumental lessons in Semester 2, starting the first week of Term 3, is encouraged to do three things:

1. Talk to Mr Macaulay or one of the Music staff
2. Read the Instrumental Music brochure with all the details here
3. Complete the online registration process here.

Any charges will be added to your school fees. We would love to hear from anyone considering enrolling or re-enrolling in Music lessons!

Ensembles Concert Night – New date announced

I am pleased to announce that the rescheduled Ensembles Concert Night will be held on Thursday 19 August (Term 3, Week 6). The concert will be in two halves:

• Act 1: 5.00 – 6.30 pm. Ensembles involved are: Year 7 Junior Concert Band 1 (Monday morning group), Brass Ensemble, College Choir, Jazz Club, Year 7 Junior Strings, Intermediate Strings, Flute Ensemble and Senior Concert Band
• Act 2: 7.00 – 8.30 pm. Ensembles involved are: Notre Dame String Quartet, Combined Choir, Year 7 Junior Concert Band 2 (Tuesday afternoon group), Rock Band, Year 7 Junior Choir, Senior Strings, Symphony Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, Intermediate Concert Band, College Vocal Ensemble (CVE) and Senior Jazz Ensemble.

Upcoming Dates

We have some very exciting music performance opportunities scheduled in Term 3, notably:

• Intermediate Concert Band – Victorian Schools Music Festival, Monday 26 July
• The Wizard of Oz – Our Lady of Sion College Musical, 5, 6 & 7 August
• Jazz Club – Victorian Schools Music Festival, Tuesday 10 August
• Senior Jazz Ensemble – Victorian Schools Music Festival, Wednesday 11 August
• College Vocal Ensemble – Monash Youth Music Festival, Thursday 12 August
• Ensembles Concert Night – Thursday 19 August
• Senior Concert Band – Victorian Schools Music Festival, Monday 23 August
• Year 12 – Unit 4 Music Performance Recitals, Monday 13 September
• Year 11 – Unit 2 Music Performance Recitals, Monday 11 October.

Do. Or do not. There is no try.
Yoda (Star Wars)

Students and families can find the fortnightly Careers newsletter at https://olsccareers.com/newsletter

In this fortnight's newsletter there is information relating to:

• upcoming events – A Day at Melbourne, Torrens University Virtual Careers Expo, RMIT Music Careers Expo
• Career Industry in the Spotlight – Occupational & Environmental Physician
• things to consider – University/TAFE open days, Year 12 2021 Information Evening, OT as a career
• research ideas – Bachelor of Arts (Screen): Production, University of Melbourne webinar recordings.

The 2021 House Theatre Sports Grand Final was held on Thursday 17 June in the LHC at lunchtime.

We had a wonderful audience turnout to support Fatima, Lourdes and Loreto in the quest for Theatre Sports glory and the coveted House points for the winners.

Our glamorous COVID masks were no barrier to great performance work, enabling the girls to focus strongly on their use of movement and body language to convey meaning and create some fantastic scenarios.

Thank you to Chloe, our Drama Captain, the other Drama Reps and House Leaders for their support of Theatre Sports 2021, and congratulations to the winners.

It is once again another busy period on the House calendar, but also another incredible opportunity to be able to gather as part of our House community. The House Theatre Sports were hosted over three days, with the finals being held on Thursday 17 June. An incredible display of creativity, movement, and expression was demonstrated by those performing on the LHC stage. Thank you to those who came along to support their peers and congratulations to all those who performed. A special congratulations to the following Houses for winning in their division:

I want to thank Chloe B (Year 12 Drama Rep) for coordinating the games, the staff members who volunteered to judge, and Mrs Catherine Bennett for assisting with her coordination of the overall event.

On Wednesday 16 June, the College also held its annual House Cupcake Competition. Students had the opportunity to enter their uniquely crafted cupcake in any one of the following three themes: See as God Sees, House or Music Week.

There was a stunning display of cupcakes in each category and I commend each student on their efforts. I would like to congratulate the following winners in their respective divisions:

Victorian Premiers' Reading Challenge

Finding time to read each day

'I am too busy,' the student remarks as I ask what their ‘reading at home’ is like. I encourage her to find time to quiet her mind with 15–20 minutes of recreational reading.

If students have lots of co-curricular activities scheduled outside of school, then I invite them to be more creative in how they find time to read. Some suggestions are to:

• take your novel to class and grab a few minutes at the end of a lesson once you have completed all set work.
• try reading before dinner – when we ask Mum or Dad when dinner is ready they always say 10 minutes. Use that time!
• grab your book and read a few pages while waiting for a bus to arrive.

Set your reading goal each week for the number of pages that you want to read e.g. 20 pages. Pop it onto a post-it and stick it onto your mirror. Read towards your goal!

We participate in the Victorian Premiers' Reading Challenge each year as a mechanism for encouraging students to read regularly. We encourage them to set their own reading goals and work as a team to support each other.

Victorian Premiers' Reading Challenge

The competition is heating up and we have many more students who have already completed the challenge. But do not fear, help your friends to complete the challenge and reap the prizes at the end of Term 3.

We have had 19 students complete the challenge so far this year. Please congratulate the following students for finishing the challenge this week:

• Layla N, 7B
• Giulia C, 7P
• Cecilia B, 7R
• Sinead K, 7R
• Ava M, 7R
• Brigitte C, 7S
• Charlise D, 7W
• Samantha P, 8W

Top 5 VPRC Homerooms on 22nd June, 2021

• Year 7 Silver – 185 books
• Year 8 White – 172 books
• Year 7 Purple – 166 books
• Year 7 Red – 163 books
• Year 7 Blue – 153 books.

Term 3 GSV Weekly Sport and SCSA AFL Trials

Term 3 tryouts commenced last week with fantastic participation. Trials will continue in Week 1 and 2 of Term 3. All trial dates for Senior, Intermediate and Junior sports can be found in Year Level Classrooms. We would like to encourage our students to continue working on their fitness and sport-specific skills over the term break and are looking forward to the seasons getting underway. Keep up the great work girls!

Athletics Carnival

Well done to students on a terrific effort at the House Athletics Carnival on Wednesday 23 June. A full report of the event will be included in the next edition of the Newsletter.

Sports Star of the Week

This week, our Star of the Week is Georgia W (12P). Georgia led by example at the House Athletics Carnival participating in multiple events and encouraging students throughout the day. She was a strong contributor to both the Term 2 GSV Senior Netball and Cross Country squads attending training and supporting others to perform at their best.