Newsletter | With a Grateful Heart

Monday 13 November

• Years 10 and 11 exams (until Wednesday 15 November)
  
• Victorian School Music Festival (VSMF) - Year 7 bands
• Year 9 Drama - Shakespeare Performance Night

Tuesday 14 November

• Year 7 Spring Concert, 7.00 pm, LHC

Wednesday 15 November

• Sion First Music Program final concert, 5.00 pm, Miriam Theatre followed by 2024 launch evening, 7.00 pm

Thursday 16 November

• Correction Day (no classes)

Friday 17 November

• VCE Smart Start (until Thursday 23 November)
• Year 12 Graduation Mass and Valedictory, Marvel Stadium, 6.00 pm

Monday 20 November

• Senior Play auditions, 3.30 pm, Miriam Drama Room
• Year 7 2024 Parent Information Evening

Tuesday 21 November

• USA Exchange Trip Information Session

Wednesday 22 November

• Senior Play auditions, 3.30 pm, Miriam Drama Room
  

Thursday 23 November

• CASE Film & Arts School International Study Program – Information Evening, 6.00 pm, via Zoom.

Friday 24 November

• Years 7 – 11 final Eucharist, 9.00 am
  
• Years 10 – 11 final day of classes (1.00 pm dismissal)

Monday 27 November

• Year 12 2024 Retreat (current Year 11 students)

Tuesday 28 November

• Year 12 2024 Retreat returns. Year 11 students finish

Wednesday 6 December

• Years 7 – 9 final day of classes (1.00 pm dismissal)

Wednesday 20 December

• College closes

Prayer for Peace

As the war in the Palestinian territories continues to unfold, it is with disbelief and great sadness that I think about the people I met and the places I visited on my recent pilgrimage. Life as I witnessed during my time in Israel and the West Bank has been changed in a moment and while peace seems far beyond the current situation, I encourage parents/carers and students to continue to speak about what is happening and for our students to feel free to ask questions. While answers may be complex and elusive, I believe it is important to recognise that as in any war, there are victims on all sides.

When students join our school, they learn about the significance of our school’s name, in particular the word Sion. Sion is the French word for Zion. In scripture, the word Zion reflects the ideal, a place where justice, peace and love prevail. In fact, Sion is another name for Jerusalem and means City of Peace. While this title is ironic in the current context, I would encourage all within our school to pray that conflict and suffering will cease, and that peace will triumph.

Please join me in continuing to pray for peace at this tragic time.

Lord, we pray to you for the Holy Land, for the people of Israel and Palestine who are under the grip of unprecedented violence, for the victims, especially the children, for the wounded, for those held hostage, for the missing and their families.

In these hours of anguish and suspension, we join our voices to that of the Pope and to the choral prayer of those around the world who implore peace.

Help us, Lord, to commit ourselves to building a fraternal world so that these peoples and those in the same conditions of conflict, of instability and violence may find the path of respect for human rights where justice, dialogue and reconciliation are the indispensable tools for building peace. President of the Focolare Movement, Margaret Karram, a Palestinian Catholic

Year 8 Camp

Recently I had the pleasure of visiting our Year 8 students as they undertook their Year 8 camp at Lake Dewar Discovery Camp in Myrniong. This experience concludes our camp program for the year. What I observed included students extending themselves as well as many who supported and encouraged each other to reach new limits.

At Our Lady of Sion, camps are important learning opportunities which offer a wide range of benefits for our students. They are designed to support personal growth and build self-esteem as students develop problem solving, team work and communication skills and become more independent and resilient. Camps also support and broaden relationships amongst the students, an aspect that is essential for strengthening an overall sense of wellbeing amongst our students. In many ways camps also have the potential to strengthen academic outcomes as students can apply these skills to their studies. And finally, camps can also often provide students with opportunities to take on leadership roles which can be valuable for personal growth.

Once again, I would like to congratulate all Year 8 students for embracing the challenges presented to them and thank Mr Chris Wilkes and all staff who worked towards making this such a successful experience.

Examinations

This week our Years 10 and 11 students have commenced their final examinations for the year. While this is only one form of assessment, it is an important precursor to the final Year 12 exams they will complete in the next year or two. As such, they provide students with an opportunity to develop sound revision skills, respond to examinations style questions and write to time. Exam performance improves with practice so I hope that students can use the feedback they will receive in the coming week to identify the strategies they will focus on for 2024. For now, I wish them all the very best.

Parents’ Association

Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our 2023 Parents’ Association. Their commitment is reflected in the many events they have supported and the feedback they have provided this year. A particular thank you to the Office Bearers for 2023 for their dedication to our College: Cassandra Hill (President); Gina Giusti (Vice President); Jakki Poustie (Secretary) and Belinda van der Lit (Treasurer).

At the recent Parents’ Association AGM, the following parents were elected for 2024:

President: Jakki Poustie

Vice President: Gina Giusti

Treasurer: Belinda van der Lit

At this stage, the position of Secretary for 2024 is vacant. Parents/carers are invited to nominate for this role by contacting Fiona Maddern. The Parents Association meets once per term and is a great chance to get to know other families and ultimately to support your daughter. We hope you will consider this important opportunity.

With every blessing for the fortnight ahead.

Tina Apostolopoulos

Being the Deputy Principal of Faith and Mission in a Catholic school is such a privileged role to have. It offers so many opportunities to support and nourish others in their faith – along with times when you are nourished yourself.

This past week has seen a number of opportunities for me to experience this.

As you would know, our Senior students have been completing their VCAA exams. I was present in the Notre Dame Centre last Friday just before the Accounting exam. Prior to the girls entering into the exam, I looked across and saw a small group of students, all sitting in a circle. As they were about to move into their exam, they all held hands in the circle and one of them led them in prayer. It was so powerful.

Then, on Wednesday afternoon, Ms Gionfriddo and I attended a meeting at Mazenod College for fellow Deputies of Faith and Mission in the eastern suburbs. Again we prayed and then these wonderful people who are so committed and passionate leaders within their particular faith communities shared their knowledge and expertise – all with the intent of how we can support and nourish others in their faith.

On Thursday morning, at our Leadership Team meeting, we began with prayer. We reflected on how we can be ‘Spirit-led’ in our ministry as we prayed, “We want our ministries to be inclusive, honouring the dignity of each person and to have a special regard for those who are poor, to be eucharistic and to nurture community and relationships. These are the tasks of a truly Catholic community within authentically Catholic ministries.”

To end my week, I was fortunate to be invited to share lunch with the Archbishop of Melbourne as he welcomed two fellow Archbishops, His Excellency Most Rev Paul Gallagher (Secretary for the Relations with States and International Organisations, Secretariat of State, Holy See) and His Excellency Most Rev Charles Balvo (Apostolic Nuncio to Australia). Again we began with prayer and then explored our Mission within the Catholic church and the hope it provides.

I have prayed a lot and felt supported and nourished. I think that’s what prayer can do!

Congratulations to all of our Unit 3 and 4 students as they complete their VCAA exams. It is so exciting to watch them walk out of their final exam with a sense of accomplishment; they know they have worked hard, asked lots of questions and taken on board the feedback. Nothing more can be expected and we are so proud of them.

Our Years 10 and 11 students are now in the thick of their exams. Examinations are about longer term learning, and the exams prepare them for this. At home, ask about how they are passively studying (posters/diagrams/podcasts) and what they are doing to actively study (transferring knowledge from one form to another, practising recall and applying skills). Metacognition (actively thinking and talking about thinking) is a lifelong learning skill, and dinner table conversations are key to this.

Once the exams are completed, these students will commence Smart Start. More information, including the program, will be available to the students next week, however Smart Start is about learning readiness, goal setting and knowing where we need to be, and how we need to get there. As well as commencing their 2024 classes, students will also experience a range of sessions focussed on key skills for a successful VCE.

Our Year 7s will soon experience their first ‘Horizon’s Project’, which will this year take the form of a Challenge Day. On this day, students will be asked to apply the Design Thinking Model to a series of STEAM tasks. Students will be able to recognise the transference of skills across the curriculum areas in a hands-on and engaging way. Keep an eye out for the Design Thinking Model in 2024 and beyond.

High attendance an important key to being connected academically and socially

In recent times, Victorian schools have observed an increase in lateness and absences among students and unfortunately, we are seeing some similar patterns at the College. While occasional absences due to illness are expected, what we are currently witnessing goes beyond these typical occurrences.

I want to emphasise the crucial role of consistent school attendance, not only in shaping academic outcomes but also in fostering important social connections. It is important that parents/carers look for the early signs of school refusal and work with us to address this before it becomes a significant hurdle for the family to overcome.

Regular school attendance plays a pivotal role in academic success. Students who attend school consistently have the opportunity to engage with their teachers, access educational resources, and stay on track with their coursework. Conversely, chronic absenteeism can lead to students falling behind, causing stress, anxiety, and diminished confidence in their abilities.

In addition to academic benefits, attending school regularly provides students with the opportunity to build and strengthen important social relationships and take part in co-curricular activities. Friendships formed in school contribute significantly to a young person’s emotional wellbeing. These connections can be a source of support, enhancing self-esteem and overall happiness. Students with low attendance are likely to experience changes in friendship structures once they return after being away, leaving them feeling less connected with peers.

If your child consistently shows resistance to attending school, it may be an early sign of school refusal. This can be triggered by various factors, including academic difficulties, a friendship change or breakdown, or anxiety about social interactions. Identifying these signs early is crucial for intervention.

The first signs of school refusal will play out in the home, and it is important that parents/carers maintain open and supportive communication with your child. Students may display nausea like symptoms associated with anxiety but explain it as ‘feeling sick’. Parents/carers can learn much by observing their child after they have been allowed to stay home.

• Do the symptoms resolve quickly only to reappear the next morning?

• Are they on social media and streaming services all day but too ill to do schoolwork?

• When feeling better, do they do the work that is set on Google classrooms or that they need to catch up on?

• Do they ask to go to work or sporting commitments even though they are having multiple days off from school?

Try a problem solving or coaching approach. Explain the problems of staying home if they are not sick, e.g. staying home to catch up on an assignment will follow on to being behind in other subjects and therefore the cycle will continue.

If you are finding that your child is asking to stay home due to her desire to avoid school work, social interactions or perhaps she feels anxious but cannot name the trigger please contact her Homeroom Teacher or Wellbeing and Growth Leader sooner rather than later. The longer school refusal goes on, the harder it can be to address, and intervention may become more complex.

We are committed to addressing and supporting families who are challenged by high absence or school refusal. In 2024, we will place a particular emphasis on strengthening the school connection through high attendance. We will share more about our plans and strategies during the Parent Information evenings early in 2024.

It is our shared responsibility to ensure that our students thrive academically and socially. Let's work together to provide them with the best possible learning environment and opportunities.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership in your child's education.

Well done to those Year 11 students who are well into their Semester 2 Exams this week. In preparation for the final assessments for Unit 2, I have really seen a difference in how students have been able to work through a busy period of the school year. They have been working hard to manage their studies and explore study techniques. The Homeroom team, subject teachers and I have emphasised the importance of this process, as it is an opportunity to practise this Assessment Task format, before the commencement of the Unit 3/4 exams.

We hope that students see this as a challenge and that they are capable of success. Every student will have their own standard of what ‘success’ looks like to them. We have encouraged the students to consider:

• Their strengths and areas for improvement
• Whether their goals are realistic and achievable
• Whether they would be proud of their efforts, to do their very best

As students finish up with subjects they have not chosen for Year 12, I would encourage them to consider:

• What they learnt throughout this year
• What skills they refined
• How are these skills are transferable to other contexts

Good luck to the Year 11 VM students, who are completing their work placements during the dedicated exam week.

Coming up towards the end of Term is Smart Start and Year 12 Retreat (for 2024)!

Wave of emotions concept

At the beginning of the year, at the Year 9 Information Night, we unpacked the idea of the ‘wave’ of emotions.

This has been evident over recent weeks, and I thought it was worth re-visiting.

The ‘wave’ of emotions symbolises when an incident or event has occurred such as; a difficult lesson at school, receiving a result they’re unhappy with, having a disagreement with a friend or even a small misunderstanding.

When the student or guardian is first experiencing this incident or event they are at the top of the wave. Emotions are heightened, the emotions they are feeling are large and can often lead to thoughts or reactions that would exceed the ‘norm’.

This is when we encourage students and guardians to wait until they are no longer at the height of this wave to react.

It is more often than not, that we realise the ‘extreme’ of those emotions are short lived, and that every wave makes its way back down again and the emotions associated settle in time.

The key take away is to wait a day or two, sleep on it and consider the reactions and consequences of those reactions before acting.

This can be very useful for resolving many of the scenarios mentioned above and is something we encourage in the students as the assessment period increases and as they potentially get tired and emotional as the year concludes.

Last week, our Year 8s had an amazing experience on camp! Every single student should be extremely proud of the resilience they showed and how they experienced things for the first time. The weather was lovely for the most part, with a slight hurdle with a downpour of rain on the Monday, but they all soldiered on, and I am so proud of each and every camper! A final thank you to all staff who were involved with our camp; without them, these opportunities wouldn’t be possible.

Please see below some student reflections of their experience:

Camp was so much fun. I got to participate in so many activities with all my friends, we all had such a great time together and our relationships really grew. Josie A (8 Purple)

While on camp I enjoyed the experience of camping in a tent and staying in a cabin. The food on both nights were delicious. The activities we participated in were engaging and fun to do with classmates and friends. Some of the activities I enjoyed were the stand-up paddle boarding, the flying fox and the amazing race. Molly P (8 Red)

Camp was a great opportunity to push myself beyond my limits, create new connections and strengthen pre-existing friendships. Jade S (8 Purple)

As we start to move into the final weeks of Year 7, students are understandably thinking about what 2024 will bring. Whilst we encourage students to enjoy the present, it is also important to acknowledge these upcoming changes and support them with healthy dialogue.

Talking about emotional reactions to different scenarios may help students to process and accept upcoming changes. Feeling anger, sadness and stress around changes is normal, and whilst it can be uncomfortable, it is also a crucial skill to learn how to manage these emotions. Teenagers need to be reminded that change is a normal part of life, and that it can help us to develop strengths such as courage, flexibility and resilience. Validating their feelings and starting open discussions can help your child to feel as though they express themselves.

Try one of these conversation starters:

• You’ve had a rough time recently. How are you feeling?

• The end of the year can be busy for everyone. How are you feeling?

• I’ve found what’s happened recently difficult and have been feeling off. What about you?

Adults can sometimes be dismissive of young people’s reactions to problems, because their problems don’t seem like such a big deal to us in the context of our lives. Try not to ignore or brush off your child’s moods, as mood changes when things aren’t going right in their lives are a sign of healthy brain activity. Encourage them to talk about what’s going on and, where possible, model healthy discussion of negative emotions rather than simply encouraging them to ‘get over it’.

The Year 7 and 9 Geography classes have been out in the field recently, learning first-hand about the world that we live in. This is what they had to say about their experiences:

Year 7 Geography Edendale Farm Fieldtrip

Recently the Year 7s went on an excursion to Edendale farm to learn about water and the importance of it. We tested the water quality of a dam, creek and tap water to see which are safe to drink and which are safe for animals to live in. We completed three activity rotations to discover different elements of water and their importance to the land. Sienna P and Amy N (7 Purple)

Our excursion to Edendale farm focused on our topic - Geography. We learned about how the farm used water and how they used sustainable methods of farming. We learned just how important water is in all environments, especially farms. The farmers taught us how to test some water for levels of PH and turbidity and how to know if it is drinkable or not- relating to how we have been learning about the amount of drinkable water on our planet and where it is stored. Zara H (7 Purple)

On our Geography excursion to Edendale farm we were taken around the farm where they showed us many interesting animals that we got to pat as well as educating us on the impact of our actions to the environment. We got to participate in many hands-on activities such as inspecting water quality and evaluating whether it was safe or not. I found myself being extremely intrigued in how little things we do without knowing can completely change whether we are being sustainable with our limited drinking water or not. Alice D (7 Purple)

Last week we went on an excursion to the farm to enhance our water knowledge. We learnt many things that day and some things we learnt are how certain water bugs can survive in freshwater that is cleaner than our drinking water. We also learnt how to calculate pH, EC and turbidity levels of three different types of water: dam, creek and tap water. We can use this knowledge in a situation where we need to work out the levels of water and if they are suitable to drink or not. Tracey D and Charli P (7 Purple)

Year 9 Geography Phillip Island Field Trip

Our main focus of the excursion was to learn about Tourism, Ecotourism, the environment and the economy around Phillip Island. We visited San Remo and Cowes while pretending to be a tourist and conducting surveys with the locals on how they think tourism helps the area. We were told that when tourists visit Phillip Island it boosts up the region's economy and helps out many businesses. We learnt that by being an eco-tourist, we can help Phillip Island by not littering and not ruining the cleanliness of the island. Phillip Island is a popular tourist destination for its stunning scenery and abundant wildlife. One of the island's most famous attractions is the Penguin Parade, a nightly event where little penguins waddle up the beach to their burrows after a long day of fishing. Overall this excursion was one that taught all of us many things about being a tourist and the impact on a regional economy like Phillip Island. Sarita T (9 Blue)

I learnt about the eco-tourism, the environment and the economy of Phillip Island. We learnt how Phillip Island is really tourist based and how when tourists come to Phillip Island they pay money for tourist attractions such as the penguin parade, small local shops and businesses which go into the economy. This then goes to pay for having a better experience for tourists at Phillip Island, and for the environment and looking after their penguins. We learnt after interviewing shop owners how the tourists are great as they give to local businesses but also how we can be eco-tourists which means to take care of the environment and the animals by giving to the local attractions and business and also not littering or damaging anything to protect Phillip Island. Ella S (9 Purple)

In the future I will be able to apply the knowledge I learnt and gained today when I go on holidays by caring more about the environment when going to tourist attractions. We learnt first hand from the local people what they do to help their environment. By learning about the negative impacts tourists make on their community it made me think about how I have treated other people's environments on holidays in the past and how we should be advocating for more people to care more about our environment and the people that live in those communities. Erika P (9 Purple)

We have had a stellar few weeks in the world of the performing arts. Our brand new Drama Captain for 2024 Clea M (11 Purple) and I have been interviewing Drama Rep roles across Years 9 and 10. We have been so impressed with the enthusiasm and dedication shown by these candidates. Clea has run a very successful ‘Thank God You’re Here’ workshop for her first Drama Club. The session was so much fun and it is certainly one we would like to see again.

The Year 11s performed their ensemble pieces based around the stimulus material of ‘The Arrival’ by Shaun Tan, a picture storybook about migration stories. They performed with wonderful character and energy, posing some thought provoking questions for audience members.

For our Juniors, the Year 7s are working on their Murder Mystery Dramas. The Year 8s have completed some hilarious Commedia Dell’ Arte performances and are now moving on to design work for their Production Area folios. We look forward to celebrating their achievements for the Semester in Drama with some Theatre Sports Competitions at the end of the Semester.

We also launched our Senior Production for 2024 which will be 'The 39 Steps' adapted by Patrick Barlow, from the novel by John Buchan. The play is a fast paced spy thriller, with intrigue, hi-jinx and plenty of hilarious capers. We will take crew applications and audition for cast in Smart Start this year. Students can pick up forms and scripts and sign up for a time-slot outside the Drama room as soon as possible. Please direct any questions to Ms Alex Bleazby.

St Francis Xavier fete performance

Congratulations to members of the Intermediate Concert Band who performed at the St. Francis Xavier school fete recently. The girls were led by Mr Dullard and Mr McCluskey and played their repertoire to a very appreciative audience. A large number of students in this group were former students of SFX.

Victorian Schools Music Festival – Year 7 Bands representing Our Lady of Sion College

Both our Year 7 Concert bands (the Monday morning group and the Tuesday afternoon group) will be presenting their pieces at the Victorian Schools Music Festival, held at the Hawthorn Arts Centre (Hawthorn Town Hall), on Monday 13 November.

Instrumental Music Private Tuition 2024

Enrolments are now open and available on-line for Instrumental Music lessons in 2024. All the details including fees, instrument hire charges and conditions are available here. Confirmation of enrolment needs to be completed here. Please note that charges will be applied to your College fees statement in early 2024. Address any enquiries to the Head of Music, Mr Macaulay.

Instrumental Music Lesson Scholarship Applications

A limited number of music lesson scholarships, lasting two years, will be made available to students currently in Years 7 and 8 for the following instruments:

• Viola
• Cello
• Double bass
• French horn
• Euphonium
• Trombone
• Percussion
• Guitar

Interested students/families should email Mr Macaulay for an application form.

Year 7 Spring Concert – Next week!

All Year 7 ensembles, small groups, and those Year 7s in Intermediate level ensembles will be performing at the annual Year 7 Spring Music Concert, that will be held on Tuesday 14 November 7.00 pm in the LHC. Bookings are now open via the TryBooking link here.

Upcoming Music Department Dates

• Year 7 Concert Bands (x2) and Sion First Year 6 Band to VSMF Monday 13 November, Hawthorn Arts Centre
• Year 7 Music Spring Concert Tuesday 14 November 7.00 pm, LHC. TryBooking link here.
• Sion First 2023 Final Concert Wednesday 15 November 5.00 pm, Miriam Theatre

• Sion First 2024 Launch Wednesday 15 November 7.00 pm, Miriam Theatre
• Year 12 Valedictory Mass and Dinner Year 7 Choir, CVE and Senior Strings 6.00 pm, Marvel Stadium
• Night of Excellence Tuesday 5 December 7.00 pm, LHC.

Dream big and dare to fail. Norman Vaughan (Comedian)

Students and families can find the fortnightly Careers newsletter here.

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

• Upcoming Events: Study and gap years in Canada
• Career in the Spotlight: Youth Work and Social Work
• Things to consider: Australian National University (ANU) Tuckwell Scholarship 2025, University of Melbourne – New Narrm Scholarship Program, Studying Biomedicine vs Science.

Annual Christmas Appeal – Toiletry Bags

Over the past weeks, Social Justice representatives have launched our annual Christmas Appeal to their year levels. Students from Years 7 – 11 will be assembling Christmas toiletry bags, which St Vincent de Paul, on our behalf, will give during the Christmas period to those in need living in the Box Hill and Fitzroy area. In keeping with tradition and the charism of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, we have invited all students to contribute to this project.

Each Homeroom has been provided with two Christmas bags along with a checklist of toiletry items. Students have been encouraged to purchase these items and we hope to donate 60 bags which will assist members within our community who are experiencing financial difficulties and to stand in solidarity with people who are living in poverty and disadvantage. The bags will be presented at the End of Year Eucharist on November 24.

Christmas Wishing Tree Appeal

The St Vincent de Paul Christmas Wishing Tree Appeal is all about bringing joy and festivity to families who may be in need of some extra support. Our Lady of Sion College St Vincent de Paul College Conference would like to put out a call for families who wish to purchase and donate new toys or books for children from the ages of 12 months to 16 years of age. Store gift vouchers are always appreciated as well.

These donations will be given directly to the St Vincent de Paul Society and distributed to families in and around the area. All families wishing to donate items are kindly asked not to wrap them, but to place them under the Wishing tree located in Student reception. Gift Cards can be handed to Reception staff for safe keeping. This Christmas initiative will be running between Wednesday 8 November - Tuesday 5 December 2023.

St Vincent De Paul School Conference Networking Event

Three members from our St Vincent de Paul Schools College conference attended a network event held at Holy Family Primary School that was facilitated by the St Vincent de Paul Society Youth Engagement team.

Student reflection

The St Vincent de Paul Society School Conference Networking Event took place on Thursday 2 November. Miranda K (7 Blue), Niamh B (7 Blue) and I (7 Blue) are part of Sion’s St Vinnies Conference and were lucky enough to attend this conference at Holy Family. Also in attendance were students from Christ Our Holy Redeemer, St. Bedes Primary School, Avila College, Holy Family Primary School and St Scholastica Primary School.

We took part in this event in the hope to share our initiatives, hear about initiatives from other schools, connect with other students from various schools and learn more about St Vinnies. When arriving at Holy Family we were welcomed by the Youth Engagement Team and got to hear from Ms. Margaret Gearon, President of the Eastern Central Council before engaging in an icebreaker activity. After this, a series of student presentations and Q and As took place. We were very proud to receive positive feedback from our cupcake bake earlier this term. We then split into groups to think about the price of living and the sacrifices people need to make.

At the conclusion of lunch, a group discussion about social justice took place. Following this, we split into groups again to take part in an activity where we focused on coming up with ideas to help families in need, specifically during Christmas time. At the end of the day, we shared our ideas.

The St Vincent de Paul Society School Conference Networking Event was such a positive experience with us taking back new ideas, feedback, and skills that we can share with other members of our school’s St Vinnies group. Thank you so much to Mrs Miotello for this opportunity and all your guidance this year. Clare N (7 Blue)

Individual Sporting Achievements

We would like to recognise the following students for their outstanding achievements in sport:

Erin M ( 9 Purple), Sophie F (8 Blue) and Gabby H (9 Blue) ventured down to Albert Park over the last fortnight to represent the Cherry and Black at the 2023 Victorian All Schools Track & Field Championships.

Erin finished 2^nd in the U/16 1500m and 5^th in the U/16 3000m.

Sophie finished 10^th in the U/15 1500m and 9^th in the U/16 3000m.

Gabby finished 13^th in the U/16 3000m.

Well done to Erin, Sophie and Gabby on such an amazing effort!

As reported in our last newsletter, Our Lady of Sion College is excited to announce our participation in CASE Film & Arts School International Study Program in December 2024. All Our Lady of Sion College students currently in Years 8, 9, 10, and 11 are invited to join CASE Film & Arts School to visit two of the world’s most iconic locations, New York City and Los Angeles.

This 14-day immersive international study program in the USA explores the arts, offering a unique experience. It emphasises the creative process, finding your voice, and development—bringing together top STEAM organisations, creative industry leaders, and esteemed arts institutions for a unique learning adventure.

CASE Film & Arts School cultivates young leaders, nurturing creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills for any study path.

This program is a creative adventure, empowering young leaders with the skills for tomorrow's innovation.

Click here to join Our Lady of Sion College expedition.

Information Session 6 pm Thursday 23 November 2023, via Zoom.

Gratitude: A Key to Managing Stress

With the challenges and pressures that teenagers face in today’s world, it is important to support them to develop tools that will help them navigate stressful periods. One powerful tool that can make a significant difference in their wellbeing is gratitude.

Gratitude is the practice of recognising and appreciating the positive aspects of life. Encouraging your teenager to cultivate a mindset of gratitude can have numerous benefits during times of stress:

• Gratitude shifts focus: during stressful periods, our minds can easily get consumed by negative thoughts and worries. Gratitude helps to shift their focus from what's going wrong to what's going right, fostering a more optimistic outlook.
• Gratitude boosts resilience: it develops greater ability to adapt and bounce back from challenging situations and to overcome obstacles.
• Gratitude promotes mental wellbeing: research has shown that gratitude is strongly linked to improved mental health and enhanced overall wellbeing.
• Gratitude strengthens relationships: expressing gratitude towards others can strengthen relationships and foster a sense of connection, allowing us to build stronger support networks too.

Parents/carers can support their young person to develop gratitude as a regular practice. Some small steps they can take every day include:

• Keeping a gratitude journal where they write down things they are thankful for each day
• Expressing appreciation towards others, even through small gestures like a hug or saying ‘thank you’
• Taking time to notice and savour small things they enjoy
• Reframing stressful events to focus on the opportunities for growth
• Reminders to practise a little bit of gratitude every day.

If you have any concerns about your child’s wellbeing, please reach out to their Homeroom Teacher, Wellbeing and Growth Leader, or email the Counselling Team.