Monday 21 August Book Week commences Ballroom Dancing Program, 4.00 pm – 5.15 pm
Tuesday 22 August Tuning into Teens Parent Forum 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm
Wednesday 23 August GSV Track and Field Championships
Friday 25 August Year 11 Business Management Market Day Victorian School Music Festival Intermediate Concert Band performance 8.45 am - 12.30 pm
Monday 28 August Humanities Week commences Parliamentary Convention MACSSIS survey opens for parents Term 3 Music Soiree 5.00 pm
Tuesday 29 August Day of Dialogue Victorian School Music Festival Senior Concert Band performance 12.45 pm - 5.15 pm Year 7 2025 Interviews 3.45 pm - 6.30 pm VM 2024 Parent Information Evening 7.00 pm Tuning into Teens Parent Forum 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm
Wednesday 30 August Year 9 Days for Girls
Thursday 31 August Year 11 Retreat (Charism Day)
Friday 1 September Significant Men’s Breakfast 7.30 am – 8.30 am
From the Principal
Principal's Message
We have much to celebrate in this newsletter.
First, a huge congratulations to all staff and students for bringing Shrek, the Musical to our school. Each of the evening performances were sold out and the matinée was very close to being so. Audiences were treated to a very professional production that will go down in history as one of our most successful musicals. Thank you to our dedicated staff and in particular Ms Alex Bleazby, Mrs Catherine Bennett, Mrs Laura Geilings, Mr Martin Macaulay, Mr Ben Kelly and all staff and students involved in set design and construction, costumes, orchestra, choreography, publications and ticket sales, backstage and front of house. Without their commitment, the production would not have been possible.
Year 8 students are also to be congratulated for the amazing work they completed in their Beyond Horizons STEM Program which asked them to work collaboratively to design a solution to an existing real-world problem relating to one of the Sustainable Development Goals. Issues they responded to included Zero Hunger, Clean Water and Sanitation, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Life Below Water. The solutions presented were innovative and creative. Thank you to Mrs Bec Bennett, Mrs Anna Crow, Ms Libby Kempton, Ms Cassie Marsden and all staff who supported the students over the three days of researching, planning, designing and presentations.
In recent weeks we have celebrated Maths Week and STEM Week, again great opportunities for all students to engage in developing important thinking and problem-solving skills for the future. This week is Science Week and we look forward to rounding off the term with Book Week, Humanities Week and Health & PE Week.
I think the highlight for all students was undoubtedly our Sion day celebrations last Friday. The day began with a beautiful Eucharist celebrated by Fr Mark Reynolds, our College Chaplain who encouraged students to recognise that we should not only be grateful for all that we have been given but also grateful for the capacity that we have to make a difference in our world.
I think this message and the anticipation for the rest of the day which included our fundraising and carnival activities, and our House Spirit Competition, witnessed an amazing and strong rendition of our College song by all our students. It was a truly memorable moment and I thank all students for the way in which they entered into the spirit of the day. We look forward to announcing in the coming weeks, how much we have raised for the San Luis Lumad Community school in the Philippines. I take this opportunity to also thank the many families and organisations with which we have a relationship who offered items for our staff silent auction or who made financial donations to our major social justice fundraising effort this year. We support this indigenous school community because we recognise their need and understand the obligation we have to support those who do not enjoy the same educational opportunities that we have.
Finally, congratulations to the following:
Those who participated in the AFL Herald Shield Competition. We are in the finals!
Our CVE who competed at this year’s Monash Youth Music Festival.
Our Jazz Club and Jazz Ensemble who were awarded Silver and Gold standard awards respectively at the Victorian School Music Festival.
Our three teams who travelled to Adelaide for the School Aerobics National Competition; our Senior A team and Junior team were both awarded a silver medal and our Senior B team was placed 6th.
Students who have participated in and enjoyed our recent Maths Week and STEM Week competitions and activities, those who this week celebrated Science Week and all students who are entering our Scarecrow Competition which concludes this week.
Bettina Z (12 Silver) who has just returned from the UK where she participated in the 64th London International Youth Science Forum, a 15-day STEM learning experience. While in London, Bettina also visited the Our Lady of Sion Sisters and was fortunate to catch up with the Sisters who visited our College last year.
We offer a myriad of ways for students to participate and grow not only in their learning but also in their personal and interpersonal development. I invite parents and carers to encourage the participation of their child as a way for them to form and strengthen their sense of wellbeing which in turn opens doors to academic achievement.
I would like to inform our community that I will be taking a period of enrichment leave from 31 August until the end of Term 3. I will be attending the Principals’ Association of Victoria Catholic Secondary Schools pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan. While in Jerusalem, I hope to visit Ecce Homo and the Sion sisters who live and work in the Old City. In my absence, Mrs Christine Kralj will take on the role of Acting Principal.
With every blessing for the fortnight ahead.
Tina Apostolopoulos
From the Deputy Principals
Faith and Mission – John McInerney, Deputy Principal
Many would be aware that I have been on leave for the first four weeks of this Term. It has been lovely to return – particularly in such a special week as we celebrated Sion Day.
This week, I have been involved in another special opportunity. Ms Gionfriddo and myself have had the privilege of conducting interviews of the Yr 11 students who have applied to be the 2024 Liturgy Captain. It has been lovely to hear their responses as to why they have applied and to listen to their suggestions as to what they think they may be able to bring to the role.
As part of the interview, each applicant has been asked to respond to the following question: 'Do you think there is any need for us to have a Liturgy Captain at Our Lady of Sion College?'
It has been so rich and rewarding to listen to the responses that we have been given.
Each has spoken about the rich Catholic Tradition that the school has. They have spoken about how religion and the celebration of our faith, and the manner in which we do it, brings our community together. They reminded us that Liturgy is part of our identity here at Our Lady of Sion College. It was so lovely to hear from a student perspective that faith and Sion sit side by side and is the foundation of all we do here at the College. One student also stated the importance of having a student as a role model in this space, to allow other students ways to connect with their faith.
Finally, to have applicants build their responses in the school’s Vision and Mission Statements, grounded in Scripture, led us to have no doubt of the ongoing need for the Liturgy Captain here at Our Lady of Sion College. We give thanks to those who applied and look forward to supporting whoever is chosen.
Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching – Allison Stott
The Importance of Curriculum Weeks
In each Newsletter families will notice the photos and reflections on the various ‘Curriculum Weeks’ that the Learning Areas, or different departments within the College, have put together. Sometimes we can take these for granted but they are a really important way for the College to connect the learning of classrooms to the broader life of students.
In STEM Week, students thought about the aspects involved in STEM applications and designed a logo, during Maths Week, students applied Mathematical concepts to a range of problem solving scenarios. During Drama Week the students applied their creative and public speaking skills and during Languages Week, the students dabbled in intercultural games and activities. These are just a sample. Not only are these activities a great way to build community and social connection (and can earn the students House or Community points), they are an application of their learning from within the classroom and reinforce the skills and knowledge across the spectrum of learning areas.
Complementing the cross curricular learning of the Horizons and Beyond the Horizons projects, these activities extend the student experience and reinforce their learning, without them even being aware.
Activities and events are announced to students within their classes and on the Student Memo. From Library to Book Week, Science Week to CAT week, there is always something to celebrate and get involved in.
Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing – Christine Kralj
Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools - School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS)
We are excited to announce that our school will be participating in the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools - School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS) in 2023. This annual initiative is a vital part of our commitment to continuous improvement, as we actively seek to understand the thoughts and feelings of our students, families, and staff on how we can enhance the educational experience at our school. MACSSIS allows us to gain valuable insights from the community, empowering us to make informed decisions that will benefit everyone within our school.
The primary objective of the family survey is to identify both the strengths and areas for improvement in our educational environment. By engaging with the MACSSIS survey, our school community plays a central role in shaping the future of our College. The feedback we receive from parents and carers is invaluable as we endeavour to create an exceptional learning environment for our students.
What is MACSSIS, and why is it important? MACSSIS is an integral part of the Archdiocese of Melbourne's commitment to enhancing the quality of education in all Catholic schools. This comprehensive survey enables schools to listen and respond to the needs and aspirations of students, families, and staff. It provides us with a platform to understand how we are currently performing and what improvements we can make to achieve excellence together.
The online survey is designed to be accessible and user-friendly. Starting from Monday 28 August 2023, parents and carers can access the MACSSIS survey through a secure link provided by the school on the day. Students will undertake the survey on 30 August during Homeroom.
We encourage each family to take the time to complete the survey by Friday 15 September 2023. Your participation is important as it ensures that the survey results truly represent our school community's collective voice.
By participating in the MACSSIS survey, parents and carers have a direct hand in influencing the direction of our school's development. The feedback will not only help us identify areas that require attention but also recognise and celebrate the aspects of our school that make it special and effective.
Remember, the survey can be completed only once per family, so make sure to share your thoughts and insights in this unique opportunity to shape the ongoing improvement of our school. We value your contribution and are eager to hear from as many families as possible.
We look forward to embarking on this journey of growth and progress together.
In Remembrance
Vale to Mr Greg O’Callaghan
As announced in our previous newsletter, we mourn the loss of our former principal, Mr Greg O'Callaghan.
Mr O’Callaghan accepted the role of College Principal in 1977. It was a role he held for the next five years during which time he made a significant contribution to our school. He sought to encourage students to embrace their learning opportunities and to study with commitment. He recognised that learning was for life and not just to pass exams. Mr O’Callaghan was also responsible the significant upgrade to College facilities and supporting the financial security of the school.
Mr O’Callaghan’s contribution was captured in the Yearbooks with the following comments:
‘Mr O’Callaghan the new Principal did a wonderful job...fitting in well with the school and pupils in his first year.’ He was ‘An understanding principal.’ (1977)
‘He introduced changes to the curriculum and broadened the number of choices for students in Years 9 and 10’ (1978)
‘He oversaw the construction of a new library and learning areas building to meet the growing demands of the school’ (1979)
Greg said 'we do not come to school just to pass examinations. We come to learn the truth of a whole range of things.' (1980)
Year 12 students farewelled him as follows:
'Mr O’Callaghan’s departure from our school, after five years, will be felt by the staff and students alike. We would like to take this opportunity to wish Mr O’Callaghan well in the future and to thank him for his tireless efforts over the past five years.' (1981)
We extend our condolences to Mr O’Callaghan's family including Ava S (12 Silver) and Cilla S (9 White), his grandnieces who are current students at Our Lady of Sion.
Pastoral Care
Director of Pastoral Care – Paul Kerr
Unless you have been on safari, you will have been either totally transfixed or at the very least, mildly interested in one of the biggest ever events for female athletics in Australian history. Approximately six million of us watched the magic unfold on Saturday night. Their sacrifices, determination have allowed them to play at the highest level and inspire millions of young people along the way.
Post Covid, in a world connected to technology, sport plays a significant role in conditioning both the body and mind to function at its best, particularly during the teenage years. Sport is something we want all young people, especially young women, to be involved in both as a child and particularly during the teenage years.
As parents, we spend or have spent many hours standing on the sidelines supporting our children involved in sport. We need to encourage their continued participation in secondary school, whether it is in a team sport or individually.
Research suggests that young women can stop playing sport due to several factors:
The lack of confidence due to being self-conscious about their bodies
The time commitment required for sport, especially if they play in a higher ranked side or competition
Their friends may not play sport and there is pressure to reduce involvement
Work and academic commitments, especially balancing these commitments from Year 10 and above.
There are many benefits to maintaining a commitment to sport:
Regular exercise boosts muscular strength, endurance and supports overall health
Exercise stimulates brain activity and concentration and impacts academic performance
Sport teaches teenagers to handle stress and pressure, set goals and reflect on ways to improve and this can be linked to academic success
Sport brings together young people from diverse backgrounds and can widen social interaction, integration and a sense of belonging
Sporting groups provide a sense of value in developing a positive self image and boosting self esteem
Physical activity provides an outlet for managing stress and anxiety and promotes emotional health
Sport has been linked to life skills such as planning, respect for rules, fairness and safety
During the last Pastoral session, the Year 7 Netball Round Robin competed their final games including the Grand Final. Based around Homerooms, with as many students as possible involved in each half, the competitive spirit came out on and off the field. 7 White were victorious and await the arrival of their engraved trophy to display in their Homeroom. This activity emphasised the importance and positive impacts playing sports has on numerous aspects of your body. What will we play next? Whatever the girls suggest.
Year Level News
Year 12 – Leanne Anderson, Wellbeing and Growth Leader
It was so lovely to see the Year 12s enjoy their last Sion Day here at the College last Friday. A big congratulations to our leaders and all of the students who contributed to the spirit of the day through their participation and leadership in Liturgy, Social Justice and House competitions.
Our last Sion Day as Year 12s was truly a memorable one. Spending time with the entire school participating in House Spirit during the House games and dancing at the Sion disco in Room 14 were experiences that I will never forget. It was so heartwarming and wholesome to see the entire school come together to raise money for such an important cause and celebrate our school and community as we did so. Taline G (12 Purple)
Sion Day is an event that is looked forward to each year, it was great to celebrate our last one with each other. It was a wonderful day encompassing a range of activities, allowing for everyone to join in and have fun. Anabelle T (12 Gold)
Sion Day is a day that all the people in the school look forward to every year. It is an amazing day where everyone can let go of their studies and enjoy the day connecting with friends. This year it was exciting to hear we were bringing back the senior disco after a couple of long years in lockdown. We all had a blast dancing and singing with one another. The day was filled with delicious food, House Spirit activities with all donations on the day going towards the San Luis Lumad Community High School in the Philippines. Tyler R (12 Purple)
This week in our Pastoral lesson our School Captains Ava S (12 Silver) and Bettina Z (12 Silver), with the support of our Year 12 leaders, organised some games and activities with all the Year 7 students. It was a beautiful sunny morning and it was so lovely to see the two year levels come together for some fun. Following the activities the students enjoyed a shared morning tea together.
Amidst the hard work it is great to see our Year 12 students embracing the many different aspects of their school life here at Our Lady of Sion College.
Year 11 – Beth Amos, Wellbeing and Growth Leader
As we continue through Term 3, students are working towards another assessment period for their Unit 2 and Unit 4 subjects.
Accelerating students will be working towards final outcomes and thinking ahead to their final VCAA exams. Unit 2 students are likely to have recently finished Outcome 1, and are starting the next Area of Study.
Right now the Year 11s have made significant progress in their VCE journey. Settling into the pace of VCE and VM classes, finding their own way to study, get organised and prioritise their work. Students have regular study sessions provided during the Shatal program and opportunities for master classes to workshop key skills for their subjects.
From an academic perspective, these movements are happening. However, at home your child may present differently?
Are they using their time to the best of their abilities?
Are they using their time at home for homework and/or study? Maybe they might be spending time at the library or another setting to assist their focus?
Are they using their time to reconnect, rest, reset?
Are they fuelling their body and brain, stopping to eat, hydrate and move?
Are they intentional and effective in their time dedicated to study?
Are they committing large amounts of time to study in their room? Or are they out of sight?
Do they know their upcoming assessments and deadlines? Have they shared this with you, to assist with their time management?
As parents and carers, you may want to monitor and assist where you can. Sometimes these young people will want to figure this out for themselves. Continue to be curious and ask your child about their progress, their successes and pursuits.
Should you need some support and clarity regarding supporting your child through VCE, please contact myself or the Homeroom team.
Year 9 – Jordyn Frood, Wellbeing and Growth Leader
This week in Pastoral, the Year 9s worked alongside some Year 11 volunteers to discuss study skills and strategies as mentioned in my previous newsletter.
The feedback from the Year 9s was fantastic and they gained so much from these conversations with our senior students.
Some main points that were covered were:
Strategies on how to stay organised
Tips on how to study
To-do lists
Work/life balance
Dealing with stressful assessment periods
Prioritisation
The Year 9s also had the opportunity to ask questions directed to what they wanted to know.
I have also included some documents below that the Year 11s created for the Year 9s to use to assist in their studies.
It would be great to see some conversations about this advice happening at home around the dinner table.
We look forward to seeing these strategies and tips implemented by the Year 9s in the final part of the year, and we thank the Year 11s for their time and wish them the best with their upcoming exams.
Year 8 – Chris Wilkes, Wellbeing and Growth Leader
It has been a busy couple of weeks in Year 8 with Medieval Day, the Principal’s Awards assembly and subject selections being due. In addition to this, we had our fortnightly Pastoral session. This lesson was built on recognising personal strengths in others and ourselves and developing these.
Part of this lesson involved taking the VIA Character Strengths survey, an online test developed by Professor Martin Seligman, Director of the Positive Psychology Centre at the University of Pennsylvania.
This test shows your top five of 24 strengths. It does not mean you are low in other strengths, rather it shows where you are highest.
After completing the survey, each student can download their individual report explaining their strengths. I would encourage you to ask them about their results and discuss their strengths with them, along with brainstorming ways they can apply these throughout their day-to-day lives. You might also like to undertake the survey yourselves if you’re curious, I know I was definitely intrigued by my own results!
Learning Area News
Drama – Alex Bleazby, Drama Teacher
With the success of our 2023 musical behind us, we can officially say a huge congratulations and thank you to all involved. We were thrilled with the packed houses and enthusiastic audience members who attended over the four shows. Our students rose to the occasion performing with passion and gusto!
Thank you to the many parents, friends and staff members who attended. Apart from the opportunity for our students to show off their talents, our productions always foster amazing community spirit. It was wonderful to see so many past students in particular coming back to the College to support students and staff.
There is something special about our productions. Our students take on all the roles from Shrek to Donkey to Princess Fiona, all of those characters are played by Sionians and didn’t they just show they can do it all! We are so impressed with how the show came together, the brilliant bonds that were formed through the rehearsals process and the rich learning experience on so many levels for all of the student cast, band and crew involved.
We are so grateful to the many staff members who made the show possible and in particular Mr Ben Kelly, Ms Natasha Borg, Mrs Jenny Schwab and Mr Paul Kerr for taking on larger production roles alongside our production core four of myself, Mr Martin Macaulay, Mrs Laura Geilings and Mrs Catherine Bennett. As well as these key people, we had many staff members generously give their time to support staffing on the evenings, transportation of sets and costumes, mending of costumes and much, much more.
Plans are already underway for our Junior and Senior productions next year. We are tight lipped until our much-anticipated launches, but we already can’t wait for what's in store for Drama in 2024!
VCE Chemistry Titration Competition – Francis Nguyen, Teacher
The Unit 3 and 4 Chemistry students recently concluded their Unit 4 Area of Study 1 studies by putting their knowledge and understanding of instrumental analysis to a practical challenge.
Each pair of students completed an acid-base titration to determine the unknown concentration of hydrochloric acid against a standard solution of 0.05 M sodium carbonate.
Well done to all students for their participation and for demonstrating accurate practical investigation techniques and calculations.
Congratulations to both Elina S (12 Gold) and Mariam G(12 Purple) for being the closest to the true value of 0.0225 M, with a calculated value of 0.0294 M, and therefore being crowned the Titration Champions of 2023.
Co-curricular News
Music – Martin Macaulay, Head of Music
CVE compete at Monash Youth Music Festival
Congratulations to members of the College Vocal Ensemble who competed at this year’s Monash Youth Music Festival on Monday this week. In an extremely competitive section, our CVE didn’t place, but performed their repertoire of ‘Bird’s Lullaby’ and ‘Sea Fever’ really well. It was a testament to those in Year 12 who have been strong leaders pushing the standards of this group over the last few months.
College Vocal Ensemble (CVE) Auditions
Please note auditions are now open for all to try-out to be a part of the College Vocal Ensemble. We are looking for the next generation of awesome singers. Please refer to the poster below – auditions will be held on Tuesday at lunchtime, please email Ms Murone for further details. Rehearsals for this groups are each Tuesday after school.
Jazz groups claim awards at the Victorian School Music Festival
Congratulations to Our Lady of Sion jazz musicians who performed this week at the Victorian School Music Festival held at the Hawthorn Town Hall. On Tuesday, the training group, Jazz Club, under the direction of Mr Parks received a Silver award for their performance, and later that day, the Senior Jazz Ensemble received a Gold standard award.
It was a super-positive experience, not only to play our pieces, but to hear other schools do some of the same stuff we were doing. The adjudicator came on stage and helped us look at our repertoire and improve how we play and think about what we are doing. Jasmine C (10 Blue)
Music: An amazing part of Sion Day
Congratulations to the CVE, the Year 7 Choir, senior musicians and Open Mic participants who really captured the essence of Sion Day last Friday. These performers made meaningful and skilled musical contributions to the Sion Day Eucharist and other events throughout the day.
Term 3 Music Soiree – Monday 28 August
The Music Department is looking forward to the Term 3 Music Soiree, which will be held on Monday 28 August at 5.00 pm in the Miriam Theatre. All are welcome. Any student who wishes to present an item to be included in the Soiree is encouraged to get in touch with Mr Macaulay for more details.
Upcoming Dates
Intermediate Concert Band at Victorian School Music Festival: Friday 25 August, 8.45 am – 12.30 pm, Hawthorn Town Hall
Term 3 Music Soiree: Monday 28 August, 5.00 pm, Miriam Theatre
Senior Concert Band at Victorian School Music Festival: Tuesday 29 August 12.45 pm – 5.15 pm, Hawthorn Town Hall
VCE Music Performance Unit 4 Recitals: Monday 11 September, 5.00 pm, Miriam Theatre
Sport – Naomi Linossier, Head of Sport
It has been another cracking fortnight for Sion.
Aerobics
Our Aerobics team jetted off to the city of churches over the weekend to compete at the 2023 Schoolaerobics Australian National Championships. Months of preparation paid off as our students swooped up in Adelaide. The Senior A and Junior A teams took out silver, while our Senior B team finished in 6th place. A big thank you to Ms Frood and Ms Gurciullo for leading the teams.
Herald Sun Shield Division 2 Intermediate AFL Competition
On Wednesday our Year 9 and 10 footballers headed down to the windy ovals of Casey Fields to compete in the Herald Sun Shield Division 2 Intermediate AFL Competition. Sion went from strength to strength defeating Bachus Marsh Grammar (25-6), Aquinas College (19-1), Salesian College (20-7), and Padua College (13-7) in the lightning round tournament. A great roar erupted from the staff room as they watched Maeve G (9 White) deliver that crucial last goal over Padua, who were also undefeated throughout the day. Sion will replay Padua in the Grand Final at Trevor Barker Oval on September 6. You can watch the replays on the Herald Sun Shield article. A big thank you to Mr Steward for taking the team on the day.
GSV
In GSV rep news, we would like to congratulate Erin M (9 Purple) who competed in the GSV Cross Country Team on the weekend. Erin was the youngest member to be selected among all GSV schools. We would also like to give a big shout out to Keets B (12 Silver) and Natalya B (11 Gold) who have both qualified for the GSV Water Polo Premier Match against APS on October 6 at Caulfield Grammar.
Last week our students travelled to Sandringham Athletics track to compete in GSV Track and Field Preliminary B. Sion gave an incredible effort on the day and have qualified for the Division 3 GSV Championships next week. A big thank you to Mr Rieusset for leading the Track and Field Program.
Finally in our GSV weekly sports, special mentions go to Junior A and B Badminton (both currently 3rd), Senior A Volleyball (currently 1st), Intermediate A, B and C Volleyball (currently 4th,4th and 2nd), Junior A,B and C Volleyball (currently 2nd, 2nd and 1st) and Intermediate A Soccer (currently 3rd).
House & Student Leadership Coordinator – Jennifer Tilley
It was one of House’s favourite days of the year – Sion Day 2023! The House Captains began their House Spirit through leading a live College wide kahoot challenge. Congratulations to the students who won – you must have had very quick responses to beat the entire school. Congratulations to the Loreto student team from 10 Red who won this part of the day.
In the afternoon the House Representative Teams led the House Spirit Competition which was MC’d by our College Captains. This saw each House take part in a number of rounds that enabled them to show their enthusiasm, participation and spirit. Students were also very excited for our surprise round – a Staff Masked Singer Competition. Congratulations to Fatima for winning this competition.
Thank you to all of the staff for their support of the range of House aspects on this day and well done to the students for participating with such enthusiasm. House Spirit is strong at Sion!
Social Justice – Lucy Miotello, Coordinator
FIRE Carrier
Our FIRE Carrier in Term 2 attended a presentation by Sherry Balcombe from Aboriginal Catholic Ministry on the upcoming referendum on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Below is a reflection from Maddie S (11W):
On Sunday the 18th of June at St Francis Xavier Box Hill's morning mass, Sherry Balcombe shared her wisdom and experience on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Welcomed by Father Tony Kerin, Sherry explained how precious this opportunity for recognition and respect was to Indigenous Australians. Sherry discussed the Voice to Parliament in both a general and religious context. One thing she said that really stood out to me was that Jesus gave a voice to those in need and God is asking us to give a voice to the Indigenous communities around Australia. We were joined by Sister Angela and shared morning tea with the Parish.
St Vinnies Secondary School Conference
On the last day of Term 2 we held a Causal Day for a Cause in support of St Vincent De Paul Society. We raised $1,680 and were able to donate 84 $20 Woolworths vouchers to the Fitzroy and Sacred Heart Kew conferences. Representatives from these conferences, Des Papworth and Kevin Crosato, spoke to our conference members of the important role Catholic schools have in ensuring conferences continue their work in supporting community members and without this support they would struggle to keep their doors open. Kevin also highlighted how these vouchers will bring dignity to the people who will receive them.
Ozanam House
We continued our support of Ozanam House with our monthly visit of two Year 11 students, Paige H (11P) and Michelle Y (11P) and a staff member. Ozanam House provides men and women experiencing homelessness the opportunity to access housing, health and social support services.
Sion Day
For Sion Day, the Social Justice team ran the Sion Flurries stand which did not disappoint and continues to be a favourite amongst the Sion community. Staff and student helpers worked tirelessly scooping ice cream and sprinkling toppings to help raise funds to support the staff and students at San Luis Lumad Community High School in the Philippines.
Careers and Pathways – Brooke O'Hara, Coordinator
The only one who can tell you ‘you can’t win’ is you and you don’t have to listen. Jessica Ennis- Hill (Track and Field Athlete)
Students and families can find the Fortnightly Careers newsletter here.
Dates to diarise:
Upcoming Events – Carers and Employment Expo, Eastland Jobs Fair, 2023 Tertiary Open Days update, Box Hill Winter Discover Nights event
Career Industry in the Spotlight – Media, Communications and Journalism
Things to Consider – Year 10 2024 work experience with Melbourne Zoo and Parliament of Victoria opportunity.
Year 12 VTAC information.
Research Ideas – Bachelor of Health Science at La Trobe, Carlton College, Careers in Pharmacy.
Parent News
College Psychologist – Claire Jenkins
Self-Compassion
This week I wanted to discuss self-compassion. This is something that the counselling team works with in a lot of students. It is also something that affects all of us – adults and teenagers alike.
What is Self-Compassion?
Self-compassion involves being warm and understanding to ourselves in difficult times, rather than trying to push away our pain or beat ourselves up with self-criticism. You might ask/say to yourself 'this is really difficult right now', 'how can I comfort and care for myself in this moment?'. With self-compassion, we give ourselves the same kindness and care that we would give to a good friend.
Why is Self-Compassion Important?
A wealth of recent research has explored the benefits of self-compassion. Self-compassion is associated with greater wellbeing, life satisfaction, social connectedness, intrinsic motivation and persistence, growth mindset and emotional intelligence. It has also been linked to lower levels of anxiety, depression, self-criticism, rumination, and perfectionism.
What Does it Mean to be Self-Compassionate?
Being kind:Acting and speaking kindly to ourselves, particularly when we are going though difficult times. It can be helpful to think 'what would I say to/do for a friend in this situation?' and try to treat ourselves with this same kindness.
Having a sense of common humanity: Having compassion for ourselves means that we honour and accept our humanness. Unfortunately, things will not always go the way we want them to. We will all encounter frustrations, losses, and mistakes at different times. This is the human condition - a reality shared by all of us. The more we open our hearts to this reality instead of constantly fighting against it, the more compassion we will have for ourselves and others.
Being mindful: Noticing when we are struggling and experiencing negative self-talk. Mindfulness is awareness of the present moment experience without judgement, observing one’s own thoughts.
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 or visit this link for more information.