Library and Information Week commences College Assembly (Principal's Awards. Changed bell times.) 100 days at Sion (Year 7)
Tuesday 25 July Victorian School Music Festival Intermediate Strings performance, 9.15 am–1.00 pm Years 9–12, 2024 Web Preferences Open 4.00 pm Year 11 (current Year 10) 2024 Interviews, 9.00 am–7.00 pm (Onsite - Notre Dame Centre) Tuning into Teens Parent Forum 6.30 pm–8.30 pm
Wednesday 26 July Year 11 (current Year 10) 2024 Interviews 9.00 am–1.00 pm (Onsite - Notre Dame Centre)
Thursday 27 July Ballroom Dancing Program, 4.00 pm–5.00 pm, Our Lady of Sion College
Friday 28 July Year 8 Horizons Program Year 12, 2022 Reunion, 3.30 pm–4.30 pm, Miriam Theatre Foyer
Monday 31 July Maths Week commences Years 9–12, 2024 Web Preferences close 8.00 am USA Partnership Program students depart Ballroom Dancing Program, 4.00 pm–5.00 pm, Our Lady of Sion College
Tuesday 1 August Talk and Tour House Maths Competition (lunchtime) Year 12 VTAC Information Evening 7.00 pm Tuning into Teens Parent Forum 6.30 pm–8.30 pm
Thursday 3 August Shrek the Musical 7.00 pm
Friday 4 August Shrek the Musical 7.00 pm
Saturday 5 August Shrek the Musical 2.00 pm (Matinee) and 7.00 pm (Evening)
From the Principal
Principal's Message
Personal connections play such a critical part in our lives and are vital to our sense of purpose and overall wellbeing. Most importantly they also contribute to shaping who we are and strengthening our sense of belonging.
This fortnight we have been truly blessed to re-establish our Sion Schools Partnership Program which has been in abeyance since 2019. On the first day of term, we welcomed the Mission Director, Ms Annie Riggs and four students Lily, Camryn, Caroline and Amelia from our sister school, Notre Dame de Sion in Kansas City. During their three week stay they are being hosted by eight of our families whose daughters will then visit the Kansas City school this coming December/January.
It is sometimes easy to forget that we are actually part of a global Sion school community but when we support our students to engage in this program, their response is always one of connection and welcome. All involved in the program have enjoyed the opportunity to share so many things that we have in common as well as learn about school, life and the culture of the United States and Australia.
As a result, this interaction has allowed all involved to gain new perspectives and to broaden their horizons. Next week our Kansas visitors will share reflections of their stay and some information about their school at our whole school assembly. Thank you to Mrs Gail Amato for organising the program and an extra special thank you to the families of Year 11 students Kyah B (11 Silver), Bethany S (11 Blue), Sameera K-K (11 White), Abby H (11 Gold), Molly P (11 Red), Olivia W (11 Silver), Lucy S (11 Blue) and Emma W (11 Silver) for the hospitality they have shown to our visitors.
The sense of belonging was also evident at our Semester 1 Ensembles Evening. What a superb evening of entertainment our families and friends enjoyed! The evening was testament to the hard work and dedication of so many students who feel such a sense of pride in belonging to the 18 ensembles that entertained us. Thank you to the hundreds of students who performed, to Mr Martin Macaulay, our Head of Music, all staff who make up the Music department at the College, and to our student leaders and volunteers. Thank you also to the many families who ensure students attend their early morning and after school music classes. Without everyone’s contribution, such evenings could not occur. Congratulations to all.
Finally, the highlight of Term 3 is fast approaching. We will celebrate the College Feast Day, namely Sion Day on Friday 11 August. For families who are new to our community, a feast day is a time to come together, to give thanks for who we are as a community as well as to enjoy each other’s company and celebrate. It draws from the Catholic tradition of celebrating days that are set apart by the Church to reflect with gratitude on all we have been gifted by God. Sion Day will begin with a whole school Eucharist followed by competitions, activities and food stalls. The day concludes with House activities involving every student in the school. This year we also have some fun activities involving staff. All money raised on the day goes to the San Luis Lumad Community School for indigenous students in the Philippines.
This term we welcome to our school the following teachers replacing those who are on leave: Mrs Sarah Bath (RE and English), Mrs Susan Morris (Humanities), Mr Reymond Bolano (Music) and Ms Amanda Fisher (Humanities and RE). We are grateful for their support. We also welcome back Ms Alice Dawes, and introduce Ms Jane Murone, our new Voice Instructor.
With every blessing for the fortnight ahead.
Tina Apostolopulos
Do you have a daughter currently in Year 5?
Applications for Year 7, 2025, are closing soon
Families already enrolled at the College still need to submit an Application of Enrolment Form for each additional child wishing to attend Our Lady of Sion College. If you have a daughter in Year 5, please ensure you submit her Application for Enrolment by Friday 18 August 2023.
Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching – Allison Stott
Subject Selection
We have now finished the student seminars and family presentations for the 2024 Subject Selection process.
Families are reminded that web preferences for 2024 Years 9-12 open on Tuesday 25 July at 4.00 pm and close on Monday 31 July at 8.00 am. Students have been given Subject Selection Preference forms to assist with the discussion and planning at home, and electronic copies are also available on SEQTA Learn under Forms/Info.
2024 Year 11 families (current Year 10) are reminded of the Year 11 Subject Selection Interviews being held on Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 July in the upper Notre Dame Centre. This is a very important part in the counselling process as Year 10 students make the step into VCE as Notre Dame students. Bookings are made through PTO and a teacher will be allocated once appointments have been made. Please select a time that suits your family and contact the College if you are not able to make an appointment.
Acceleration Requests are being processed and confirmations will be emailed shortly.
Seeking and Applying Feedback
Now that students and families have had the opportunity to reflect upon the Semester One reports, it is timely to talk about the importance of the learning behaviours that are reflected in the Approaches to Learning. These are the transferable skills that will enable students to become lifelong learners. Often students find it difficult to understand ‘Seeks Feedback’ and ‘Responds to Feedback’. Some forms of seeking and applying feedback include:
Show the teacher what you have been working on and ask if you are on the right track
‘Re-do’ a task, applying teacher feedback, and showing it to the teacher to check that you have made improvements
Asking clarifying questions in class
Work through an application with the teacher and ‘lead them’ in your process.
Feedback takes lots of forms and there are as many ways to apply it. Consider having a conversation at home about what seeking and applying feedback looks like in our individual contexts and how we all benefit from it.
Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing – Christine Kralj
Party Safe for Young Teens
Often for parents and carers it is a tremendous relief to know that their child is well liked and has lots of positive social connections at school. It is also inevitable that sometime in their early teens that you will either host or your child will go along to a party.
This can also be a time where you find your expectations differ significantly from other parents and carers, and feel the pressure to accept or provide arrangements outside your level of comfort. If you are hosting a party it is important that it is drug, alcohol, and vaping free. As our children grow older, it can become more challenging to create a party environment that still promotes safety and wellbeing.
Here are some tips to help you plan a responsible and enjoyable gathering:
Open communication: Talk openly with your teen about your expectations regarding drugs, alcohol, and vaping. Set clear boundaries and discuss the potential risks and consequences. Encourage them to come to you with any concerns or questions.
Involve other parents: Reach out to the parents of your teen's friends and discuss your intentions to host a safe party. Collaborate with them to ensure a unified approach and consistent messaging about drug, alcohol, and vaping prevention. Encourage parents to drop off and pick up at the door.
Be good role models: If you have invited other adults to help supervise the party, they should refrain from smoking/vaping in front of guests and they should definitely not drink alcohol. The last thing you want is for an emotionally charged adolescent is being addressed by an adult who has been drinking.
Know who is coming: Be mindful that it is really common for young people to send invitations via social media, especially SnapChat. This information can easily be sent on to others who might try to gate crash. For large parties, it is best to have a list at the door and an adult tasked to check it.
Set clear rules: Clearly communicate your rules regarding substance use at the party. Make it known that drugs, alcohol, and vaping are strictly prohibited. Enforce consequences for breaking these rules.
Offer alternative activities: Provide engaging and fun activities that do not involve substances. Arrange games, music, or creative projects to keep the teens entertained and focused on positive experiences.
Secure the premises: Monitor the party area to ensure that substances are not brought in or consumed. Limit access to areas in your home where alcohol or prescription medication may be stored.
Be vigilant: Pay attention to any signs of substance use or intoxication among the attendees. Address any concerns promptly and involve the parents of the involved individuals, if necessary.
By providing guidance and setting clear expectations, you can help your teen and their friends make responsible choices. If you need additional resources or support, the Victorian Police have helpful resources here.
We hope you find these suggestions helpful in ensuring a safe and enjoyable gathering for your young teens.
In Remembrance
Sr Joan Mack
We are saddened to share that Sr Joan Mack nds has passed away. Sr Joan continued to support the College through her presence at many of our whole school gatherings and more recently she joined us for our Lenten Liturgy. She will also be remembered for the beautiful nativity scenes she knitted for us to auction for our Sion Day and Christmas fundraising.
Our particular thoughts and prayers also go to Hannah B (11 Red) whose grandfather passed away, and to Mia G (12 Gold) whose grandmother passed away. Our thoughts also go out to Vanessa Cheng, College Psychologist, whose grandmother passed away, and to Christina Kambelos, College ICT Manager, whose aunt passed away.
We remember Hannah, Mia, Ms Cheng, Ms Kambelos and their families, the family of Sr Joan Mack and the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion in a special way at this sad time.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and may your perpetual light shine upon them. May their soul and the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace, Amen.
Year Level News
Year 12 – Leanne Anderson, Wellbeing and Growth Leader
Welcome back to Term 3. It was great to see our Year 12 students return looking refreshed after all their hard work throughout Term 2. As mentioned in the previous newsletter we had professional photographers come and a take a photo of the whole year level which will be a lovely keepsake for our students. We also celebrated a morning tea and I thank all the girls for sharing in this occasion which marked the midway point of their final year.
As you would be aware a calendar of key dates for our Year 12 students was given out to parents at the start of the year but I would like to draw your attention to some of the upcoming events that are fast approaching.
It is a very exciting time for our Year 12s as they travel through their final months here at Our Lady of Sion College and as you can see we have a lot to look forward to and celebrate. Details regarding the different events will be shared in a timely manner but please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any initial queries.
Year 11 – Beth Amos, Wellbeing and Growth Leader
What an incredible evening the Year 11 cohort had for their Year 11 Formal, last Friday night. It was such a great celebration as a cohort, with the attendance of several guests and staff.
The moment students and guests arrived, they were so excited and happy to be there. The preparation, planning, anticipation and expectations were high! Some of my favourite moments were watching all students and guests arrive as they entered the venue and interacting with each other with so much joy and love.
I was so impressed by the way students and guests conducted themselves throughout the evening. From greeting staff, their behaviour throughout the night was respectful and appreciative, and thanking staff on their departure. A lot of work and planning went into the night, thank you to the student leaders for sharing their ideas, in particular students who contributed to the designs - Astrid H (11 Silver), Soph K (11 White), and Chloe K (11 Red). Thank you to all students, guests and staff for making the formal such a memorable night!
Last Friday, after much anticipation, dress planning, and rushing to appointments, the Year 11’s attended the 2023 Formal following the theme of 'A Night With The Stars'. It was a beautiful event, held at The Centre in Ivanhoe, with students beaming with excitement and laughter. The dance floor began to crowd as the students came together, singing, chatting, and dancing, making many memories along the way. The highlight of the night for most of us was the photo booth, with props and big smiles. Thank you to Ms Amos for putting together such a special night for all of us, this event was truly a night to remember!Amelie F (11 Gold)
Year 10 – Adam Rieusset, Wellbeing and Growth Leader
Welcome back to Term 3 and I hope that all our Year 10 community have a great term ahead.
It has been a fast paced start to the term for our Year 10s. Commencing with our work experience week where it was fantastic to see the enthusiasm and passion that our students had with their placements. It was great to see how our students embraced their week, taking on new responsibilities and a variety of tasks. Just as pleasing was the variety of placements including plumbing and mechanics to marketing, physiotherapists and working with pre school and primary aged students. Being willing to explore what might be possible in years to come is one of the foci for our work experience program and I hope that all Year 10 students bring back with them a better understanding of what a life post secondary education can look and feel like. Along the way our students may also have a new appreciation for what all parents / guardians do each and every day.
This week we commenced our ballroom dancing program with Whitefriars College. Our two sessions so far have been really positive. The way in which our young people interacted with each other was fantastic. Once the nerves settled, much dancing and engaging conversation was held by all. After one week the students have already learned their first dance, albeit with much counting 1….2….3….., and we have commenced our second dance. Both the Sion and Whitefriars students are to be congratulated for the way they have so positively embraced this opportunity.
Then, on Tuesday of this week, during Pastoral care, the Year 10 students focused on study skills. With the learnings from Semester 1 and especially the end of semester exams, we looked for the trends and themes through the feedback gained from Semester 1 reports. We also looked at what an afternoon routine could look like and why failure is good. This session was aimed at supporting the students to further deepen their understanding of the difference between homework and study and how they can implement strategies to support them with all assessments that will be held in Semester 2.
The last reflection we asked the students to make was what:
3 new strategies, thoughts or ideas did they gain from our session
2 new actions will they take as a result of this learning
1 way will they implement actions to keep themselves accountable
To further support our session I would invite our Year 10 community to remember:
1. When compiling a schedule try to be as realistic as possible. Do not try to overburden your day with an agenda that you have no real chance of completing
2. Make a list of the subjects that you need to revise for between now and your exams
3. Work out which subjects have the most content that needs to be revised. For example, when teachers give you a revision guide, work out which subjects are content driven and which are skill based.
Finally, I would like to welcome Ms Alice Dawes to our Year 10 community who will look after 10 Red throughout Semester 2. We look forward to learning from all that Ms Dawes will bring to Year 10. Until our next newsletter, explore those intrinsic strengths that support you to develop and cherish your #innerexcellence.
Year 9 – Jordyn Frood, Wellbeing and Growth Leader
I would like to start by welcoming all the students and families back to Semester Two. The beginning of the year was full of extra-curricular opportunities, personal discovery and growth through learning. At Year 9 in Semester Two, we will be focusing on preparing the students for their step into the senior years and we encourage families, as always, to have these conversations at home as well.
In Pastoral this week, the Year 9s learnt about the differences between having a ‘Fixed’ or ‘Growth’ Mindset.
I have linked some videos below that explained these concepts to the students.
Having a ‘growth mindset’ is so important. To push through challenging tasks, to find positives in mistakes, to see the learning opportunity when given feedback, to seek out new friendships/connections and to be flexible when confronted with challenges. These are all things that will assist the students in their academic and personal lives both now and in the future, and can be improved with hard work, dedication and motivation.
I would like to remind you of some key items occurring in Year 9 at the moment:
D.O.E hours - as we are approaching August, most if not all components should now be underway
‘Significant People, Significant Lives’ - interviews and a draft of the biographies should be completed
Subject Selections - web preferences opening Tuesday 25 July and closing Monday 31 July.
It is also worth mentioning that ‘organisation’ is something that many students across the year level are currently struggling with and is something worth encouraging at home.
Some suggestions:
‘To do’ lists
Use of diary or electronic calendar
A board at home with all required upcoming school tasks
Effective emailing to teachers if confused by tasks
Regular and consistent study, rather than cramming in before an assessment
Planning out time to work on assessments if many are coming in at once.
These will also help better prepare the students for the years ahead whilst still having enough time in Year 9 to practice these and over the next two terms.
Year 8 – Chris Wilkes, Wellbeing and Growth Leader
Welcome back to Term 3. We have planned an exciting term for the Year 8s with many events for the students to enjoy and be a part of. We recently launched the year level cheer & dance competition as well as the year level basketball competition that are taking place over the course of this term. The student leaders across the level have been putting in a lot of work to get these going, so I thank them for all the work they have done so far and will continue to do to develop the sense of community and team/Homeroom spirit at Year 8!
In our recent Pastoral session, we revisited email etiquette with school staff and went through the following components that are key to appropriate electronic communication:
Write a clear subject line
Staff may receive many emails each day, so it's essential to be clear about who you are and why you're sending the message. E.g. Upcoming maths test help or English practice essay
Address your teacher formally
It's important to establish a respectful tone in your email, so start with 'Dear Mr./Ms./Mrs. [Last Name] on its own line before creating the rest of the email.
Be straightforward and concise
Staff have a limited amount of time per day to answer your questions, so make your email quick and to the point. Begin by explaining why you're sending the email in one sentence. Ask any questions that you need to ask. Keep your message to five sentences or fewer, unless you have a very detailed question. For example, your email's body might read: 'I'm emailing to ask you about this Monday's homework. I'm not sure what the last sentence of question number 3 means - could you please explain it to me?'
Understand how to ask for favours
If you are asking for something, briefly explain the circumstances and ask in one sentence if it's something they'd be able to do. It's also important to end requests with a sign of gratitude like 'I appreciate your consideration'.
End the email/sign off
There are many ways to end most emails, but you should always end emails to staff with some variation of 'Thank you,' on its own line and then your name on a separate line.
Possible alternatives include Sincerely', 'Kind regards,'.
Year 7 – Stephanie Jones, Wellbeing and Growth Leader
Semester 2 has begun and with it, new subjects, new teachers and new opportunities for our Year 7 students to engage in College life. During pastoral last Tuesday, we posed the following questions to each student as a reflection of their first full semester of secondary school:
What have you enjoyed the most about starting at Our Lady of Sion College?
What are three things you have found difficult about starting secondary school?
What are two techniques you are using to help you stay organised and up to date with your work?
Are these techniques effective? Why or why not? Would you change anything about them?
Looking at your SEQTA page, what result are you most proud of? Why?
What was the teacher's feedback on this result? What can you do to continue your progress?
Identify three tasks/subjects that you would like to improve on next semester. What feedback are you receiving on these tasks?
What strategies or techniques can you use to progress in these subjects? What will progress look, feel or sound like?
I encourage all families to take time to continue this discussion outside of school, particularly focusing on the last point regarding progress. After multiple years of impacted learning, we know that the transition to secondary school has been challenging for many, and progress may not look, feel or sound as we are expecting it to. Approaching the remainder of the academic year with a growth mindset may help students to engage with their learning. This can also be applied to extracurricular activities, such as GSV sport, ensembles and bands, and out of school activities.
Having a growth mindset involves actively seeking feedback from peers and teachers about how best to improve, as well as recognising that success and progress are individual to each person. Students who are reflective in this manner often find themselves able to articulate their areas of strengths and weaknesses in a way that allows them to celebrate their achievements and personal development over the course of their schooling.
Learning Area News
CASE Ocean School Study Program 2024 – Cassie Marsden, Science Learning Leader
As reported in last week's Newsletter, Sion is once again proud to promote the Ocean School 2024 facilitated by Actura. We have promoted the Ocean and Space school trips since 2018 and many students have benefitted from the amazing enriching STEM experiences.
Online Information Evening
Please RSVP here for our online information evening on Tuesday 8 August at 6.00 pm for the Junior expedition Years 7–9, 2024 and 7.30 pm for the Senior expedition Years 10–12, 2024.
CASE Ocean School is an Australian study program providing students with an all-encompassing STEAM experience focusing on marine biology, ocean ecology, cutting-edge research, and technologies. Delivered using real-life content, CASE Ocean School also focuses on building students' personal leadership and development skills by improving higher order and critical thinking skills.
CASE Ocean School inspires a new generation of leaders and is recommended to all students, especially those with a passion for adventure and looking to kick-start their career with 21st century skills.
Key Dates and More Information
Click on the links below for more information about the CASE Ocean School 2024 programs:
After four long years, due to the Covid pandemic, one of our Partnership Programs has finally resumed, bringing joy and enthusiasm to all the participants.
We are delighted to announce that on Monday 10 July we welcomed four students and the Mission Director, Mrs Annie Riggs, from our sister school Notre Dame de Sion in Kansas City, USA. Our visiting students, Amelia, Camryn, Lily and Carolinewere welcomed by their host sisters and families, and immediately new friendships were fostered, and lasting bonds were created.
The past two weeks have been very exciting for all our guests, their host sisters and other students at our college. Our visiting students have been wearing the Sion uniform with pride, have immersed themselves in our educational system, attending classes alongside their host sisters and exploring a diverse range of subjects. They have participated in the Medieval Day Incursion, attended the Year 11 Formal, had a special dinner with Mrs Apostolopoulos, saw the sights of Melbourne, and visited the Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre. The fun will continue over the coming week with special classes of interest, an excursion to Phillip Island and of course spending more time getting to know their host sisters and new friends.
Mrs Annie Riggs has been attending our school every day, spending time with the visiting students during organised excursions and has been involved in many programs that our school offers. She has been having a great time in Melbourne and will return to the USA on Monday 31 July with her students. Her visit is giving us the opportunity to exchange ideas and knowledge as to better provide for the needs of our students, while on the program.
Reflections
Two of our hosting sisters, Sameera K-K (11 White), and Bethany S (11 Blue) have shared their reflection of the partnership program so far with us:
Hosting Amelia has been such a great experience. I’ve had the opportunity to take Amelia to the city, Healesville Sanctuary, Australian Costco and Target, Eastland Shopping centre and many other places. Amelia is delighted to be a part of this program and hopes to come back again with her family soon. I have learned so much about my host sister and we have had much fun learning about the similarities and differences between our countries. I like being involved in this partnership program because it allows me to showcase what Our Lady of Sion College Box Hill has to offer as well as Melbourne. Furthermore, when I go to Kansas City, I hope to experience the many diverse range of subjects Notre Dame De Sion has to offer. Being able to experience the school in Kansas City will allow us to broaden our views and allow us to share ideas with others in our own school. It will also be interesting to live with an American family! Sameera K-K (11 White)
Last year when I found out that I was successful in being part of the USA exchange program I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Once I met Caroline (my exchange student) for the first time everything became real. Hosting Caroline so far has been a great experience that I will cherish forever. I have been able to take her around Melbourne and show her some of my favourite places and sharing her with Kyah my best friend is so much fun. I have already gained a friend for life who lives across the world, and I am so excited when it's my turn to go and stay with her in Kansas City in December.Bethany S ( 11 Blue)
Humanities – Sarah Chalmers, Learning Leader
Last week the Year 8 students immersed themselves in medieval life for a day. They participated in six different workshops throughout the day that each taught different aspects about what life would have been like in Medieval times.
The effort that students went to dressing in Medieval style was impressive and there were many award winners in the fashion parade. Here is what the Year 8s had to say about Medieval Day:
The focus of Medieval Day was to learn about what life would have been like in the Middle Ages. We participated in interactive activities such as sword fighting, costumes and games; learning about how the people in Medieval time would have dressed, what they would have done in their free time and how they would battle. We looked at the Medieval times in both Europe and Japan. I found the experience very fun and interesting, and I learned so many new things. Isla D, 8 Silver
Medieval Day taught us more about how our life now differed from life during Medieval times. There were activities teaching us about sword fighting, games, clothing and illnesses during Medieval times. Overall Medieval Day was quite enjoyable and taught us a lot.Ilia P, 8 White
I really enjoyed Medieval Day, this is because I was able to gain a lot of knowledge of the teachings and culture that people did in order to survive in these times. Medieval Day taught me about ethical teachings of the Christian church, helping me in the future to learn and understand these teachings.Matilda P, 8 White
Drama – Alex Bleazby and Catherine Bennett, Drama Teachers
Shrek the Musical
Our biggest event in the Drama world is almost upon us! Week four is our production week for 'Shrek the Musical.' Our cast are busily tying up loose ends and polishing their moves ready for a wonderful run of performances, sets are being painted, costumes are being fluffed, there's a whiff of excitement and nervous energy in the air! Not long to go now and we will be inviting our school community into our beautiful Miriam Theatre to support our fabulous cast, crew and orchestra.
Ticket sales have opened, and we are filling up! Book your tickets through Trybooking for August 3-5 performances by searching up Our Lady of Sion College or using the link www.trybooking.com/CIQOL. Tickets are limited and selling fast, don't miss out on what is sure to be a wonderful experience for the whole family!
Drama Club
Drama Club has been running throughout the year hosted by our brilliant 2023 Drama Captain Ella Curry and has been successfully attended by Junior and Senior groups on alternating weeks. For something different we will be running some all-in workshops where all levels can attend together and get to know some Drama students outside of the usual workshops. All are welcome, keep an eye out for posters in Homerooms for details.
Year 11 Drama
The Year 11 Drama class attended a professional performance of ‘Away’ by Michael Gow on Thursday 13 July.
We travelled to Theatre Works in St Kilda to experience theatre in a smaller theatre venue. ‘Away’ is a classic Australian play with Shakespearean aspects that traces the journey of three Australian families experiencing loss, conflict and generational change in the 1960s. The girls will discuss and analyse this play in class and formally in their final exam.
Learning Enhancement Leader – Laura Geilings
Executive Functioning Skills
Mastering the ability to plan, organise and time manage are important skills that support all students learning and wellbeing. In the busy life of a student at secondary school, understanding and practising different executive functioning skills are essential for both school and lifelong learning.
Executive functions are skills performed by our brain that help us to control and manage our thoughts and actions. Having the skills to organise and plan, shift attention, be flexible with thinking and self-regulate can all have an impact on how a young person copes with daily tasks.
Often parents ask for resources that they can use at home to support their child’s development of these skills. Positive Partnerships is an organisation aimed at supporting parents, carers, and educators, where the website has resources, workshops, and webinars available.
If you are looking for some resources to support your child’s executive functioning skills, I would encourage you to look at the website and resources.
Co-curricular News
Music – Martin Macaulay, Head of Music
Ensemble Concert Night a Triumph!
What a fantastic night of music that was had on the penultimate day of Term 2. Sion students from 18 junior, intermediate, senior and combined ensembles performed incredibly well across two ‘acts’ to full houses in the Miriam Theatre. The undoubted highlight was the coming together of the symphony orchestra and all the choirs in the performance of ‘Baba Yetu’. It was terrific to have so many of the Year 7 cohort perform at an Ensembles Concert Night for the very first time and the students were supported by a terrific crew that included staff, current students and former students from the Year 12 class of 2022.
This Year 7 Ensembles concert was a great way to end my first semester of Year 7. It was a great insight to what music at Sion was going to be like. I really enjoyed the rehearsals and then hearing it as one piece, it was a great sense of accomplishment that made me more self-assured about Sion. Overall, it was a really fun experience and I look forward to learning new pieces and preforming them as a group. Amani I (7 Blue)
The Ensembles Concert was so enlightening and inspiring. Hopefully, it encourages others to continue to pursue music. Ella M (7 Blue)
It was a wonderful experience being part of a group. To make music individually is wonderful but to make music in a group takes it to another level as shown in the piece ‘Baba Yetu’, which I think was the highlight of the night for me. It was absolutely mind-blowing to see so many people performing as one and creating a positive impact on the audience. Clare N (7 Blue)
Music Week String Masterclass
During Music Week, our string players were treated to a dynamic masterclass and workshops with Karen Kyriakou. Karen’s work as an educator, author, and composer/arranger is underpinned by her passion for music’s unique capacity to unite and inspire. She works broadly in the area of music education, with students from kindergarten to tertiary level. Karen holds a Bachelor of Music Education, a Masters of Music Education and is a current PhD student at Monash University. Karen is renowned for her ever-innovative approach to music education. She is in demand as a presenter and workshop facilitator with many of Australia’s leading arts organisations and delivers professional learning seminars to teachers of all levels of skill and experience. In 2022 she was awarded into the Association of Music Educators (aMuse) Hall of Fame for her contribution to music education for students with disabilities. Our students benefited from her unique presentations.
Welcome to new Music Staff members!
The Music Department welcomes two new music staff to the team, Mr Reymond Bolano, who is replacing Mrs Stancombe while she takes some well-deserved long service leave in Semester 2 and Ms Jane Murone, who is teaching some of our singing students and taking the College Vocal Ensemble.
Instrumental Music Lessons Semester 2
Please note if any student wants to enrol in Instrumental Music lessons in Semester 2, you can!
For instrumental lessons at Sion, the brochure details including fees, instrument hire charges and conditions are available at the link here
Confirmation of enrolment needs to be completed here
Victorian Schools Music Festival and Monash Youth Music Festival – Term 3
The ensembles are working very hard at the start of Term 3, preparing their ensemble pieces for their performances at the Monash Youth Music Festival and the Victorian Schools Music Festival. The schedule of participating groups, dates and venues are as follows:
Intermediate Strings VSMFTuesday 25 July Depart Sion 9.15 am
College Vocal Ensemble Monash Youth Music Festival Monday 14 August Depart Sion 1.00 pm
Jazz Club VSMFTuesday 15 August Depart Sion 12.15 pm
Senior Jazz Ensemble VSMFTuesday 15 August Depart Sion 2.45 pm
Intermediate Concert Band VSMFFriday 25 August Depart Sion 8.45 am
Senior Concert Band VSMFTuesday 29 August Depart Sion 12.45 pm
Save the dates!
Please note the upcoming performance dates in Terms 3 and 4:
Shrek the Musical 3, 4 and 5 August – Miriam Theatre
Sion First Music Program Winter Concert – Wednesday 16 August 5.00 pm, Miriam Theatre
Term 3 Music Soiree, instrumental music students - Monday 28 August 5.00 pm, Miriam Theatre
VCE Music Unit 4 Recitals Monday 11 September 5.00 pm, Music Room OG6
VCE Music Unit 2 Recitals Monday 9 October 5.00 pm, Miriam Theatre
Year 7 Music Program Spring Concert – All Year 7 Ensembles and small groups, Tuesday 14 November 7.00 pm, LHC
House & Student Leadership Coordinator – Jennifer Tilley
House and Student Leadership
It has been a busy start to the term for both House activities and Student Leadership.
Monday saw our annual House Cupcake Competition held with a great number of students participating and making beautiful creations in their House theme or in the College Theme – ‘With a Grateful Heart’. It was so wonderful to see the creativity and skill shown by students which made judging very difficult. Congratulations to the Overall Winners for each category:
Fatima House: Remi P (8 Purple)
Carmel House: Lorena G (9 Red)
Loreto House: Sadie D (7 Blue)
Lourdes House: Ashanti C (7 Purple)
College Theme Winner: Clare N (7 Blue)
On Tuesday our current Year 11 students presented their speeches for 2024 College Captain. There are a number of students who have applied for the broad range of leadership opportunities we have at the College and we look forward to listening to their ideas and passions as they interview over the coming weeks.
Finally, Wednesday saw Carmel House celebrate their Feast Day. The College was filled with House spirit when each House met to gather for prayer, to learn about the story of Carmel and then to participate in the Just Dance Marathon at lunchtime. It was so fantastic to see students enjoying the day.
We look forward to more House events this term: the Sion Day Spirit Competition, House Maths Competition and House Science Competition all taking place in the coming weeks.
Careers and Pathways – Brooke O'Hara, Coordinator
Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. John Wooden (Sports Coach)
Congratulations to the Year 10 cohort for a successful work experience week. We sincerely hope that they had an enjoyable experience and gained valuable insights from it.
Students and families can find the Fortnightly Careers newsletter here.
In this fortnights newsletter there is information relating to:
Dates to diarise
Upcoming Events –Year 12 VTAC Information Evening, 2023 Tertiary Open Days
Career Industry in the Spotlight – What can I do with an Arts degree?
Things to Consider – Year 10 2024 work experience with the Zoo
Research ideas – Richmond Institute of Sports Leadership, La Trobe – New Climate change major, Box Hill Institute – Certificate IV in Cyber Security.
Social Justice – Lucy Miotello, Coordinator
Last term we held our Social Justice Day allowing students and staff to connect House Spirit to Social Justice causes. Students were asked to make donations to their House charity allowing them to connect with the charism of their House, ‘build bridges with others’, to ‘bring gifts of healing’ and to be ‘concerned always for justice’. Showing support to the House charities allowed students to live out the College theme this year, ‘With a Grateful Heart’.
The House charities include:
Fatima - Opening the Doors Foundation: an Aboriginal-led community organisation supporting educational opportunities for Aboriginal children in Victoria.
Loreto - The Generosity Collective: are dedicated to providing essential clothing and items to those facing hardship within our local area while focusing on supporting a circular economy.
Lourdes - Operation Toilets: builds toilets and delivers hygiene education programs in schools in developing countries with the special aim of improving the educational opportunities for adolescent girls who are often extremely disadvantaged in the school environment in developing countries.
Carmel - The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre: support and work with more than 7000 people each year in their journey to freedom and as the largest independent human rights organisation for people seeking asylum in Australia; they offer programs that provide protection, aid, empowerment and dignity.
Days for Girls
Year 9’s participated in the second packing day for Days for Girls. This was a chance to assist with the Balwyn chapter of the organisation who sew and pack reusable sanitary items for women around the world to ensure that girls get to go to school/work year-round and not miss days during menstruation because of a lack of access to appropriate period products. Tasks included tracing patterns, sewing parts of the reusable items, attaching press studs, overlocking and cutting material.
Winter Appeal
Our inaugural Winter Appeal concluded last term. This was a great opportunity for us to support St Vincent De Paul Society and the needs of our local community. Thank you to families who donated blankets, jackets and coats. These will be donated to the Vinnies shop in Fitzroy. Vinnies Shops enable us to donate and buy second-hand items in good condition. Every dollar spent goes back into our local community to help people experiencing homelessness or disadvantage.
Casual Day for a Cause
On the last day of Term Two, students and staff donated money to a ‘Casual Day for a Cause’ in support of St Vincent De Paul Society. All money raised will be used to purchase Coles and Woolworths vouchers which will be donated to the SVDP Fitzroy and Kew Conference. These vouchers will be distributed to vulnerable individuals and families within our community.
Parent News
Shrek The Musical
Sion Day
Sion Day Op Shop – Donations needed
The Op Shop is a highlight of Sion Day with a steady stream of students moving through the library in search of a bargain. Ultimately, it does rely on donations and we would greatly appreciate it if you could search around your house for any items that might become someone else’s treasure. Clothes and shoes are particularly popular. Donations can be handed in at Student Reception prior to Friday 11 August.
Thank you in anticipation from the Op Shop team.
Save the Date Significant Men's Breakfast
Talk and Tour mornings
Berry Street Saver Plus Financial Education Program
Saver Plus is a Berry Street initiative that helps families pay for education related items. For further details and to download an application form please click here.
College Psychologist – Sofia Stagnitta
Self Talk
This week I wanted to discuss Self Talk. This is something that we work with in the counselling service as it can effect an individual’s mood, self esteem and confidence. Self-talk is basically your inner voice, the voice in your mind which says things that you don’t necessarily say out loud. It is our inner stream of thoughts that is going anytime we are conscious. Self Talk can be positive (supportive, encouraging and complimentary - the thoughts that makes you feel good about yourself) or negative (critical, harsh, discouraging and derogatory - the thoughts that makes you feel pretty bad about yourself). Self talk can affect not only the way we feel about ourselves, but the way we think we are perceived in the world. Of course it is normal to have self-doubt, and our thoughts about ourselves aren’t always positive, but our self talk needs to be balanced.
There are a number of ways that we can improve our self talk if we find that it is particularly negative: listen to what you’re saying to yourself, monitor your self talk, talk to someone about it and change your self talk. Step 4 might be a little more difficult, and some people need the assistance of a professional in learning how to do this.
I would encourage you to have a talk in your family about the ways in which we ‘talk to ourselves’ as a way of highlighting that our Self Talk can have a big impact on us. What does that voice sound like to your teenager? Is that voice like a supportive friend or a cheerleader? Or perhaps it sounds more like a critic or an enemy? Exploring this with your young person is another way of checking if they are being kind and supportive to themselves as well as highlighting ways to increase their wellbeing.
If you would like to discuss this further or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of the Counselling Service.