Newsletter | Speaking the Truth in Love

I have written about the importance of feedback a number of times this year: the power of formative feedback designed to help students understand what they need to do next, how learning from mistakes supports learning growth and the importance of using teacher advice to implement change and develop strong approaches to learning.

In recent weeks, we have celebrated some outstanding achievements in the co-curricular program. Our three aerobics teams competed in the National School Aerobics Competition held in Queensland. Our Senior team was rewarded with first place – the best team in Australia. Our Junior teams, which included students who were competing for the first time, won fourth and eighth respectively.

Last week I had the pleasure of welcoming students as they returned from competing in the GSV Track and Field Championship. Two Year 7 students alighted from the bus with huge smiles and presented me with a winning cup. They proudly told me that the Junior team came first and that Our Lady of Sion College came fourth overall in Division 2. This is a significant achievement and is by far the best performance Sion has ever experienced in this competition.

Last week concluded our participation in the Victorian Schools Music Festival. The final event witnessed our Senior Concert Band gain a Gold award; our Jazz Club, Senior Jazz Ensemble, Intermediate String Ensemble and Intermediate Concert Band each won a Silver award. A few weeks earlier our College Vocal Ensemble (CVE) was also awarded Gold at the Monash Youth Music Festival. As an aside, our CVE has also been selected to sing at the National Catholic Education Conference Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral which will be attended by 1000 educators from Australia and overseas next week.

You may be wondering about the relevance of these achievements to the importance of feedback. At the heart of sporting and music performance is the ability for athletes, musicians and competitors to seek out feedback because they understand it is vital for improving performance. When feedback is provided, they understand that they need to do something with the advice and that this often involves persistence and commitment. With constant practice they begin to see improvement which in turn provides motivation to achieve even greater performance over time.

Last week, we also held our Student Progress Meetings (SPMs). As the title highlights, the dialogue that we encourage between student, parent and teacher is about engaging in feedback to support progress in learning. The College is committed to supporting each student to achieve their best. We can see this through the dedication of Jordyn Frood who trains the Aerobics teams on a weekly basis, Martin Macaulay and the music and choral instructors who run daily music practice sessions, and Monica Clarke and the GSV teachers and coaches who train our students and constantly provide opportunities to improve performance.

Has there been further discussion at home about what was shared and advised at our recent SPMs? I encourage parents and carers to open up conversations with their children about the importance of seeking feedback – not just the grade - and then using the feedback their teachers provide to improve their academic performance. The benefits of doing so are clearly evident in the learning of music or in the sporting arena. Competitors don’t just want to know whether they won or not, they want to know how they can perform better in the future. Why would this approach not be equally applicable in how students succeed in their studies? I believe our students have great capacity, and supportive people and structures at home and at school that work together to help them achieve. And why do we do this? Academic success leads to broaden future pathways but most importantly it also leads to a greater sense of achievement, wellbeing, confidence and self-fulfilment.

Feedback is also important for our school structures, processes and programs. Parents and carers have now received an email inviting them to provide the College with feedback via the MACSSIS surveys. We look forward to as many parents and carers as possible availing themselves of this opportunity and thank you in advance for your participation in this process.

Significant Men's Breakfast

Finally, this morning we celebrated our Significant Men's Breakfast. I thank those who were able to attend and wish all a very happy Father's Day as we reflect on or perhaps spend time with these special people in our lives.

With every blessing for the fortnight ahead.

Tina Apostolopoulos

So much of all we value at Our Lady of Sion College was able to be experienced this week. Last Tuesday, we conducted our annual Day of Dialogue where we invited students and staff from fellow Catholic schools along with those from Jewish and Islamic schools.

A wonderful day was had that enabled all to sit and share with each other – reflecting not so much as what the differences between us are but rather the similarities.

Below are a some reflections from our Year 10 participants:

Day of Dialogue was such a valuable experience from which we have learnt so much. We really enjoyed meeting new people from other faiths and from all around Victoria. We were lucky enough to have the opportunity to discuss questions which allowed us to deepen our understanding of other faiths, as well as learn about the lives of others. We especially enjoyed watching and filming “You Can’t Ask That” videos! Overall, we had such an enriching experience which we would love to do again. Emma G, 10 Silver

On the Day of Dialogue, we were able to interact with many people from different backgrounds and religions, and throughout the day I was able to open my mind up by learning about different cultures and their beliefs. This day wasn't only about speaking about religion, but I was also able to meet so many people and become friends with them. This day helped me to create friendships and also learn many things about others. This experience is something I would take part in again if given the opportunity. Liz C, 10 Blue

The Day of Dialogue was an amazing experience. We met many people who attend other schools and practise different faiths. These include Islam and Judaism. I learned that Muslims donate 15% of their income to poor people during Ramadan. It was very interesting to learn about their faith and see how amazing different faiths are. Mary P, 10 Silver

The Day of Dialogue was an exciting and rewarding experience for us all. We were able to make new friends from the other schools and gain an insight on their perspectives of their own faiths, as well as ours and we had the opportunity to have conversations with the other students about what we knew about each other's faiths, as well as talk about the differences and similarities between the three faiths. Sophie K, 10 White

The Day of Dialogue was an opportunity I am extremely grateful to have had! After the conclusion of our unit last semester, which focused on interfaith education, specifically Judaism and Islam and their relation to Christianity, it was very beneficial to my understanding to discuss these faiths alongside others my age who practise one of the aforementioned religions. Emma S, 10 Silver

On Wednesday 7 September our Units 3 and 4 students, as well as the Senior VCAL students, will sit the revised GAT. VCAA has amended the GAT to include two sections, the first focusing on Numeracy and Literacy, and the second focusing on Maths/Science, Arts/Humanities skills. For the first time, students will receive a certificate acknowledging their Literacy and Numeracy skills which they can use as part of their resumes and also as an entry requirement. In preparation, the students have sat a Trial GAT, received feedback and worked through the process with their English teachers.

The timing of the GAT reminds us that we are fast approaching the end of the year. The end of Term 3 is a busy time for all VCE students as assessments conclude, and can pile into one another. A good tip for families to support their young person is to have a calendar of assessment on the fridge (or an open public space) so that everyone knows when the busy times are, and when to offer support. A lot of students work with flash cards or posters of terms and concepts, and it is great to have families quiz the students so that they have to recall the information without having the answer in front of them.

All students, no matter the age, benefit from having conversations about what they have been learning. We encourage families to ask the below questions:

• What was the main learning focus (intention) in your period 3 class today?
• Can you explain it to me?
• What did you have to do to apply this learning?
• What are your next steps to deepen your understanding?
• If you got stuck; what did that feel like?
• What did you do to get unstuck?
• What are your strategies for correcting any errors?

Remember that mistakes are a crucial part of learning and indicate that the learning is pitched at the right place. Mistakes should be recognised and celebrated to show that they are part of the learning cycle and not something to avoid or be ashamed of.

We wish all our senior students all the very best as they move into this last phase of the year and remind them that they have worked hard all year, and are well prepared. Teachers, the Wellbeing and Growth Leaders, Ms Hunter and all the College staff, are here to support them as much as possible. Please reach out if you have any concerns.

As we move to the end of term, the work rate increases, and personal relationships may become strained; the need for resilient behaviours is important. Parents and carers are vital in supporting their child practise skills that increase confidence and self-reliance.

Tips for developing resilience in teenagers

Developing resilience in your daughter is one of the best ways to support her through school. Here are some tips:

1. Promote belonging – it is important for teenagers to have a role in the family e.g. Specific chores that contribute to family functioning
2. Encourage connection to outside groups and activities e.g. Sporting groups, church, friends
3. Encourage some down time – life can be busy and both parents and children need some time each week just to be at home without anything structured happening (including homework)
4. Rediscover some family rituals – family rituals protect young people and build memories, whether it’s a walk after dinner, Sunday roast, Friday night pizza, or Saturday morning clean up
5. Self-care is important – both for you and your teenager. Self-care fosters good mental health and it is important for us to model this for our children
6. Love kids for their differences – when families function well, people are allowed to be different and to be loved for those differences
7. Coach your daughter to work through difficult times rather than working to remove them. Removing challenges can often build more anxiety when the next challenge comes, as removal is the go-to fix.

I encourage parents and carers to also reflect on Pope Francis’ address when meeting with families in 2015: I am very fond of dreams in families. For nine months, every mother and father dream about their baby. They dream about what kind of child he or she will be... You can’t have a family without dreams. Once a family loses the ability to dream, children do not grow, love does not grow, life shrivels up and dies. So, I ask you each evening, when you make your examination of conscience, to also ask yourselves this question: Today did I dream about my children’s future? Today did I dream about the love of my husband, my wife? Did I dream about my parents and grandparents who have gone before me?

Our particular thoughts and prayers go to Mrs Vicky Kapourelakos, our former Head of Communication and Development, whose father passed away recently.

We remember Mrs Kapourelakos and her 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.

There was great excitement in the Notre Dame building on Thursday morning as Year 12 students received their rugby tops as the graduating year level of 2022. I continue to be so very proud of the commitment and consistency the students are demonstrating towards completion of their Unit 4 studies.

The Year 12 students have a number of assessments over the coming weeks so I encourage them to look after their wellbeing during this busy time by eating well, exercising and allocating enough time for sleep.

In the final week of Term 3 on Thursday 15 September our school leaders Chelsea L (12 Purple) and Alannah M (12 White) have organised a film night for the year level. The evening will commence at 6.00 pm with a pizza dinner and conclude at 9.00 pm after viewing High School Musical 3. A long time favourite movie of this year level and a relaxed way to gather socially at the end of a very busy term. The tickets for the evening will be $10.00. This will cover the cost of the dinner and the remaining funds will be donated to St Vincent de Paul. The students were very keen to make a final contribution to this organisation before leaving at the end of the year.

A reminder also that all students wishing to apply for courses of study in 2024 need to have their VTAC applications in by Thursday 29 September.

Earlier this week Year 11 students completed Lesson 2 for Respectful Relationships during Pastoral. Throughout this lesson, students had the opportunity to reflect on their lived experience when it comes to gender, society and culture. We looked at Disney as a case study, reflecting on the stories they consumed as children. In particular we looked at how Disney characterised and presented relationships on screen. We also considered the media they consume, reflecting on the relationships presented in these stories.

We had some really great class discussions, in an open environment to share our thoughts and opinions. Discussing Disney and the media was a fun way to learn and reflect on the stories we grew up on. Sarah H, 11 Red

Everyone was contributing and enjoying the discussion. Reflecting on the film and TV we were watching was helpful and exciting to consider. Akshita G, 11 Purple

During our Pastoral lesson we were able to explore gender stereotypes that we have been subject to from a young age. I found myself re-evaluating the movies and television that I enjoyed as a kid and even now. I felt encouraged to look deeper into the media I consume and how it could play a role in the way I perceive relationships and gender roles. Rebecca J, 11 Red

So far throughout these lessons, the students overall have been eager to contribute and talk about their lived experience, views and ideas about the world! Looking ahead we have one more Pastoral lesson for the term, focussing on consent and gender based violence. Parents and carers please refer to the letter sent (Tuesday 23 August), should you have any questions about the Pastoral program.

Year 10 has been a very busy environment over the past two weeks. Ballroom continues to be practised and refined. Opportunities to apply for leadership positions for 2023 have commenced, Day of Dialogue has also occurred as well as our tertiary education excursion to either La Trobe, Monash, RMIT, Deakin or ACU has occurred.

Year 10 students are continually presented with opportunities to see what is possible for them, for this year and for many years to come. For some students this is helping clarify what they might like to pursue as a person (personal skills and qualities) or as an educational pathway (VCE or VCEM). For others it presents a new set of challenges that they endeavour to solve.

Earlier this week we work-shopped the following six steps on how students can approach a challenge or problem they may face. Be that at school or in life in general. I provide these steps for all our Year 10 community to see, so that you may also help use these steps when the need arises.

Solve it! Six Steps for Problem Solving

1. Name the challenge: What exactly is the problem? No blaming, no emotion, just the facts!
2. Brainstorm ideas: Write down as many ideas as you can. Get ideas from others. Collect any idea even if you’re unsure about it. Collect at least five ideas.
3. Evaluate them: Weigh up each idea. Could it work? Will it have positive (pro) or negative (con) consequences? Assign a mark out of 10 to each.
4. Choose one: Which looks like the best option? (Often the one with the highest score.)
5. Think through what it would sound like or look like to take this action: What needs to be done? Who does it? When?
6. Try it. Assess it. Did it work? If not, repeat the steps. Assess: Is it likely to be a long term or a short-term solution?

Next Monday is our Year 10 Ballroom presentation and I think you will all be very impressed with the quality of dancing that you will see. On behalf of the College, I am looking forward to seeing our Year 10 community on Monday evening.

As was mentioned earlier in the year, ‘Days for Girls’ is our Year 9 Charity for Sion's social justice initiative. A reminder that ‘Days for Girls’ is an international non-profit organisation that prepares and distributes sustainable menstrual health solutions to girls who would otherwise miss school during their monthly periods due to lack of access to products and toilets.

On 17 August, 48 Year 9 students participated in a packing activity for Days For Girls. They gave up one period of their class time to assist in the creation of packs and preparation of materials. This activity demonstrates compassion, empathy and a willingness to provide help for those less fortunate.

I really enjoyed volunteering for Days for Girls. During our time we traced, cut and sewed reusable pads for girls in developing countries. Before hearing about Days for Girls I hadn’t heard that this was an issue for girls around the world our age and I am very grateful to have had this opportunity”. – Amelie Q, 9 Blue, Social Justice Representative.

The experience Sion has offered me to participate in helping Days for Girls was an enriching opportunity that allowed me to do something for someone else in need. I know that my small actions have made a big difference to girls in developing countries. I had a lot of fun overall, sewing and tracing the outlines for the reusable pads. Gisele C, 9 White, Social Justice Representative.

We have one more day coming up (12 October) where students will again have the opportunity to volunteer their time, so if they missed out on the first session, get in fast when sign-up sheets are released.

Thank you to all students who were involved and a big thank you to Ms Rebecca Bennett for assisting in organising this informative and rewarding opportunity to help those less fortunate.

This week during Pastoral, students worked with their classes on their performance for the Homeroom Dance Competition. Their enthusiasm for this is incredible and there’s a lot of healthy competition between Homerooms. It has been wonderful to see students work so well together to create a performance to win this competition. Whilst not all of them are as interested in performing, they have been able to utilise their individual strengths to contribute to this competition in a variety of ways; from choreography, to mixing music and coming up with costumes and themes. This performance will take place on Tuesday 11 October.

Last week, we reminded students of some key expectations at the College as staff have noticed these starting to slip. I made a post on our Year Level Google Classroom for their reference, but below is a summary of these for your knowledge to support us from home with these expectations as well:

• All required materials need to be brought to class at the beginning of the lesson
• They need to take responsibility for their learning and completing the work they have been assigned
• Have respect for their classmates and teachers by paying attention and not disrupting the lesson, considering how their behaviour is impacting the others in the room
• Chewing gum is not permitted under any circumstances at school
• They should be using break times to use the bathroom. The need may, of course, arise throughout the lesson but it shouldn't be at the start after they’ve returned from recess or lunch.
• Punctuality is expected. Particularly for periods three and four, they need to be factoring in travel time and moving as soon as the first warning bell goes so that they are in their classroom by the second bell. Being late to class can cause disruption and they may miss important information.

We have been noticing an increase in students wearing their PE uniforms when they have no need to be. If they do not have practical sport or GSV, they should be wearing their academic uniforms. The only exception to this is if there is a medical reason. We ask for your support in checking with your daughters on the night before they wear their sport uniform to ensure they have a valid reason to be doing so.

Forms for camp also went out this week. Students should have come home with all the information required for camp taking place in week five of next term (7-9 November). Please complete these at your earliest convenience and have your daughter return them to facilitate our planning for this wonderful experience!

The end of Term 3 is fast approaching and with that came the latest Student Progress Meetings. It was fantastic to touch base with families and communicate the Year 7 students' progress so far. A common concern that was raised is how much pressure students are placing on themselves to achieve high scores in their subjects. Whilst we encourage all students to try their best and apply themselves to their studies, it is important to reflect on what skills are being demonstrated in each assessment piece. When teachers are designing their assessments for each subject, the skills and progression of learning is at the forefront during planning, not the end score.

I would like to challenge each Year 7 student to pause and reflect on what it is that the teachers are asking them to demonstrate. During the course of the year students have been asked to write their first essays, solve algebraic equations, analyse drama performances, create using sewing machines, draw conclusions from scientific experiments and so much more. When we step back and look at their progress we can not quantify learning with a single percentage, but rather what new skills have been developed over the course of a subject.

Go Girl Tech Conference for Girls

Last week we spent our Thursday with 2000 school girls from all over Melbourne as part of the bi-annual Go Girl, Go For IT event hosted by Vic ICT for Women at Deakin University in Melbourne. It was a fantastic opportunity for our Year 9 STEM/IT class and selected Year 10 students to attend a fun day out attending different workshops.

The Go Girl event showcased a number of different STEM careers and alternatives to excite and engage us. The day focused on inspiring us with fantastic role model speakers, showcasing technology of the future and challenging our preconceptions of what a career in IT might look like. It opens up the possibilities of following careers in everything from analysis to user design to development to data science (just to name a few!). Georgia P, 9 White

VCAL Fundraiser – Bean There, Drank That

Over the last fortnight, VCAL students have been putting their barista and business skills to the test. Bean There, Drank That is a unique business created by VCAL students that serves coffees and hot chocolates for staff and students at Our Lady of Sion College, with a focus on high quality customer service.

As part of the VCAL program, students organised and undertook a fundraiser to support the work of the Sisters of Sion. The VCAL students’ aim was to raise as much money as possible for the Sisters. The students put their Bean There, Drank That business skills into practice and raised funds by operating the coffee cart at lunchtimes and applying their finely turned barista and customer service skills.

The fundraiser was well received, with lots of positive feedback from staff and students. Through hard work, time, skills and determination, a total of $155 was raised.

The VCAL students look forward to seeing how Bean There, Drank That progresses in the future at Our Lady of Sion College and seeing how their donations benefit the Sisters of Sion. Siena C, 11 Silver

Science Week 2022!

From 15-19 August we celebrated Science@Sion. The theme of this year's National Science Week was Glass: More than meets the eye.

The week was celebrated by students participating in the Science Week challenge. Students completed four experiments during lunchtime to attain House points. These included identifying mystery specimens under the microscope, mixing laser light colours, completing titrations or the iodine clock experiment and solving and decoding messages. Overall Fatima had the most participation. Congratulations to Isabel S (11 White) for winning the correct answer for the lucky dip!

A photo competition exploring the theme of Science Week fielded these two fantastic entries:

I have taken a photo of my glasses as I believe it is relevant to the theme. When closely looking through normal eyes, you do not notice the minor details or imperfections of life and believe it is as it is, whereas when you have glasses on, you closely examine more than you can see with your own eyes. Ava K, 9 Red

My photo depicts me standing in front of the school through a glass ball which inverts the image behind. Glass is an amazing substance, because when it is at a particular lens zoom it inverts the image, which can create some cool photos. Alana B, 10 Silver

Recently the Year 9 History class visited Ballarat for the day. This is what they had to say about their trip.

While we were in Ballarat, we were privileged with the opportunity to attend two amazing demonstrations. The first was learning how to remove the impurities from gold, and learning about today's selling value. The second experience was the candy making, where we learnt about the history of the business, and the process of making boiled sweets. At the end of the demonstration, we got to sample handmade candy that was made right before our eyes. Overall, it was a great day! Ava VH, 9 Gold

I really enjoyed our trip to Ballarat. We visited Sovereign Hill as well as the Eureka Centre to enhance our knowledge about the Eureka Stockade. I learnt lots of insightful information about what was happening at the time of the Stockade and how it had major effects on the ways people lived. Due to Sovereign Hill being a living museum I was able to deepen my understanding of people’s lifestyles and habits during the time of the Gold Rush. Plus the raspberry drops were an added bonus! At the Eureka Centre I gathered as much information as I could considering the time we were there. All in all, the trip to Ballarat was very beneficial. Not only was it extremely fun but it also reinforced my knowledge of the Eureka Stockade. Zoe F, 9 Gold

Year 10 Food by Design

This semester Year 10 students have completed some fantastic work in Food Studies. They are eager to try all the challenges set by their teachers.

I really enjoy the Food by Design class. One of the activities was to design a ‘Me-Too’ product, which is defined as a product that is designed to be similar to a very popular product made by another company. One of these products was a Tim Tam. We used a base recipe to recreate what we knew of a Tim Tam. The ‘Me-Too’ assignments are an application of our knowledge of how and why a product sells, as well as how we can recreate it to sell better than it originally was. The Tim Tams were a great success in our classes with many girls making an almost exact replica. We applied our problem-solving skills with our knowledge of the biscuit to recreate this fantastic family favourite. Hayley B, 10 Silver

Year 7 Literacy Masterclass

For students wanting extra support with their English classwork and assessment preparation, a reminder that every Thursday at lunchtime in EC1.1 the Year 7 Literacy Masterclass is available. These sessions run every week and are designed to support students with the development of their reading and writing skills. The sessions focus on skills that are taught in the English classes, to both extend and consolidate learning. If your child is wanting additional support, please encourage them to attend these sessions.

Year 9 Literacy Masterclass

Over the last two weeks we have been running our Year 9 Literacy Masterclass after school on a Monday, to support Year 9 students in their preparation for their upcoming English Assessment. The focus of the sessions has been how to break down essay questions, create thorough and useful plans, and how to structure an essay for success. It was great to see a number of students attend and engage so well with the Masterclass. The final session for the term will be conducted on Monday 5 September and all Year 9 students are encouraged to attend.

Senior Concert Band grab a ‘Gold’ at the Victorian Schools Music Festival

Congratulations to Our Lady of Sion College Senior Concert Band who performed last week at the Victorian Schools Music Festival held at the Hawthorn Town Hall. After four ‘Silvers’ from other ensembles in previous weeks, Mr Parks' group was able to go one better – an outstanding achievement of a ‘Gold’ award. Congratulations to all students!

Also, last weekend the Senior Concert Band gave up part of their long weekend to rehearse for a very special event. In preparation for the world premiere of the piece ‘Rising’, composed by Robert McIntyre, which was commissioned in 2021 especially for this ensemble, the composer himself attended and gave tips on how to best realise his work. The ensemble was also joined by former Sion music students from the Class of 2021, Annie S (flute), Chelsea H (oboe), Megan DB (euphonium) and Judy L (flute). The concert will be held on Wednesday 14 September at 7.00 pm in the Miriam Theatre and our groups will be joined by the University of Melbourne, Conservatorium of Music Brass Ensemble. A great evening of music is guaranteed!

Term 3 Music Soiree

Due to an overwhelming list of performers, two venues ran concurrently with over 35 students performing solo and small group items at the Term 3 Winter Soirée. While it may have been cold outside, the music presented was anything but as students from every year level performed repertoires they have been working on with their specialist instrumental teacher. A special note of thanks to our wonderful College accompanist, Ms Adeline Han who supported many of the students with her brilliant piano playing.

Senior String Octet play at Significant Men's Breakfast

Congratulations to the Senior String Octet who performed at the Significant Men’s Breakfast. This ensemble continues to extend their technique and play some challenging pieces.

Year 7 Spring Concert – Save the Date

All Year 7 ensembles, small groups, and those Year 7 students who are in Intermediate level ensembles will be performing at the annual Year 7 Spring Music Concert, to be held on Tuesday 15 November.

Upcoming Music Department dates

• CVE Performance at the NCEC Conference Mass: Tuesday 6 September, 9.00 am, St Patrick’s Cathedral
• VCE Music Performance Unit 4 Recitals: Monday 12 September, 5.00 pm, Miriam Theatre
• Celtic Fiddle Workshop: String Students with Coral Reid, Tuesday 13 September
• Senior/Intermediate Band Commissioning Concert with the University of Melbourne, Conservatorium of Music Brass Ensemble: Wednesday 14 September, 7.00 pm, Miriam Theatre. World premiere of the work ‘Rising’.
• Intermediate Strings Performance: Saturday 8 October, 11.00 am, Holy Spirit Primary School Fete (Ringwood East)

Our Year 8 Drama classes performed their Greek Tragedy duologues this past fortnight. The students rehearsed and refined their performances over a number of weeks and undertook a peer feedback session to seek advice to further refine their assessments. The students were very supportive of each other throughout the process and their final performances were dramatic, engaging and demonstrated a strong understanding of the Greek Tragedy style. Well done to 8 Red, Silver and White.

Emma H (12 Gold), our fabulous Drama Captain for 2022, has continued to run some fantastic workshops for Senior Drama Students on Tuesday lunchtimes. Each of these sessions have been themed around different topics such as Rapping Shakespeare, Lip Sync Battles and Epic Theatre. Our passionate Senior Drama students have loved these workshops and this club looks set to be a tradition to continue. We are preparing some Junior Drama Club sessions to come as we speak!

Laura Geilings and Alex Bleazby

Junior Play A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Our wonderful cast of Years 7, 8 and 9 students are busy creating their fabulous Shakespeare characters for A Midsummer Night’s Dream. We have been rehearsing every Monday night after school and are now inviting other Juniors to apply for crew roles such as set painting, backstage and front of house. These are terrific opportunities to get involved in one of the performance highlights of the year. Collect a permission form and application if you are interested from outside the Drama Room this week.

Catherine Bennett

Over the last two weeks Sion Sport has achieved wonderful success across Aerobics and Track and Field. All three Aerobics teams were challenged on the National stage where the Senior team, coached by Ms Jordyn Frood successfully took out the win. The last time Sion won a National championship was when Ms Frood was in Year 8 herself as a student at the College. The Track and Field team took on Division Two for the first time in history. The team saw amazing success with over 20 students qualifying for Finals Evening on Tuesday. We look forward to celebrating our sporting achievements in the coming weeks with Sports Awards Night on Monday 12 September, as well as HPE / Sport week in Week 10 (12-16 September).

Aerobics Nationals

On 20 August, after countless hours of rehearsals and training, our three Sion Aerobics teams headed to the Gold Coast for the National Championships. After a very successful result at State Finals, each student involved was extremely excited yet nervous for the final round. For many of us it was our first time competing at Nationals, and the environment was new and slightly intimidating but it was also a testament to what we had achieved as a squad. After a few days of sun, shopping, and lots of nerves, the incredible routines were performed by all three teams, with each scoring very highly. Congratulations to our two Junior teams who placed 8th and 4th in their extremely competitive section, and also to Ms Frood’s Senior team who won Gold and were crowned National Champions! We are so proud of each of the team members for their hard work in perfecting the routines. These scores highlight how much effort was put in over the year. A special thanks to each of the coaches – Coach Mia, Coach Julia, and Ms Frood – for the countless hours and positive energy brought to every training. Without this, none of us would have ever been able to attend Nationals and we are all immensely grateful. Another big thank you to Mr Cox for his assistance in organising the weekend, and also to Ms Clarke who joined us on the trip and encouraged us every step of the way. Finally, thank you to all the girls who were a part of the squad. We have loved seeing everyone’s dedication this year and look forward to Aerobics in 2023! Aerobics Captains - Alyssa M (11 Blue) and Scarlett M (11 Silver)

GSV Track and Field

This year's athletics season has been very exciting and filled with great results that each individual should be extremely proud of. The positive outcome of attending weekly morning training has definitely shown in the efforts and outcome of each squad member. Together as a team we were able to make history and bring our squad to Division 2 for the first time ever for Sion. This also brings us to Division 2 across all our carnival sports. Recently, we competed in our Championship Carnival on Thursday 25 August at Lakeside Stadium. Despite the poor weather at the beginning of the day, the girls showed up and gave it their best efforts in all their events. We received some great results in both our Track and Field events, and overall it is exciting to say that we finished with fourth overall, and our Juniors smashed it out with a first place overall for their age group. Congratulations to all of the girls, you should each be very proud, and we look forward to seeing you all return again for athletics next year.

Track and Field Captain - Ciara D (11 Purple)

Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Work, continuous work and hard work, is the only way to accomplish results that last. Hamilton Holt

Students and families can find the Fortnightly Careers newsletter here.

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

• Upcoming Events: ACU Allied Health and Youth Industry Seminars, Monash University School Holiday Workshops, Richmond Institute Information sessions,
• Career in the Spotlight: Forensic Psychology
• Things to consider: Year 12 VTAC applications, Monash University Great Entrepreneurial Challenge
• Research ideas : Pathways to Paramedicine with VU, Photography Studies College course options.

Next week marks R U OK? Day, a national day of action where we are reminded that every day is a day to ask, ‘Are you OK?’ and check in with and notice people who might be struggling with life. An R U OK? conversation can be a turning point for those going through difficult times. It contributes to suicide prevention by encouraging people to invest more time in their personal relationships and support networks before, during, and after times of crisis.

However, R U OK? Day can also be a difficult day for many people. For those who have recently lost a loved one (whether or not through suicide) or know someone who is currently struggling with their mental health, they may have negative emotions such as shame or guilt around, ‘Why didn’t I ask if they were OK sooner?’ Young people may be particularly sensitive about this as they have the greatest awareness of mental health issues and social connectedness of any generation so far.

If you are noticing that your child is struggling in the lead up to or on R U OK? Day, there are a few things that parents and carers can do to support them:

• Remind your child of all the people in their support network who they can speak to if there is something on their mind
• Share your own thoughts, emotions, and struggles with them if you feel comfortable to – it can be reassuring to know that even adults struggle and may not have all the answers but things become easier to work out together
• Reassure your child it is OK to take things at their own pace – if they don’t feel up to getting involved on the day they can choose not to.

R U OK? Day is about inspiring and empowering connection, and parents and carers play a huge role in supporting this process in young people. If you have any concerns about your child’s wellbeing that you would like to discuss, please do not hesitate to get in touch with your child’s Homeroom teacher, their Wellbeing and Growth Leader, or the Counselling Team (counselling@sion.catholic.edu.au).