Tuesday 23 May Year 10 Shoah/Retreat Year 9 Music Recital, 5.00 pm
Wednesday 24 May VCE Drama Performance Evening 7.00 pm
Thursday 25 May Year 10 Shoah/Retreat
Friday 26 May National Sorry Day Flag Raising Ceremony
Saturday 27 May Past Students Reunion
Monday 29 May Term 2 Assembly (changed bell times)
Tuesday 30 May 2023 Careers Expo 2.10 pm - 5.30 pm Educational Study Tour to France Information Evening, 7.00 pm
Wednesday 31 May Educational Study Tour to USA Information Evening, 7.00 pm
Thursday 1 June Year 10 and 11 Exams begin
From the Principal
Principal's Message
This week all families were emailed a letter from Sr Mary Barbuto nds, Region Leader for the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion in Australia announcing changes to the governance of Our Lady of Sion College. Sr Mary together with consultant Patricia Bergin who has accompanied the Sisters in this process, also addressed the staff at our meeting on Tuesday. Sr Mary informed the school community that the governance of Our Lady of Sion College will be entrusted to Mercy Partners Ltd. As Sr Mary highlighted, in recent years the Sisters have undertaken a thorough process of discernment regarding their future relationship and role within the College. The decision to transition to Mercy Partners took into consideration the number of Sisters in Australia, the needs of the College moving into the future and the ongoing desire to maintain and support our Sionian charism so that it continues to grow and respond to emerging needs.
Our Lady of Sion College has benefitted from the dedication and commitment of the Sisters since June 1928 when the school was first established. Our school started with six Sisters and 15 students just before the Great Depression and it is to their credit that within the context of that time and in the years that followed, the Sisters were able to support the education of children, often during difficult circumstances and rapidly changing social contexts. Through their dedication and astute governance, the Sisters have continued to grow the school into what we enjoy today.
The College today would be almost unrecognisable to the founding Sisters save for the 1930s wing at the front of the school. Having said this, what has not changed are the principles which underpin the learning and teaching experience afforded to students and staff, and the welcome the College extends to families. The strong sense of belonging, the family spirit where students are named and known, the faith life of the College and the excellent education we aspire to provide our students remain the cornerstones of our school.
While it is with some sadness that we now accept the governance changes that will occur in the near future, we also acknowledge and express our deep gratitude to the Sisters for all they have contributed and accomplished for our school over the last 95 years. The Sisters will continue their strong relationship with the College and we will welcome them to school events as we have done in the past. I know they will continue to have a keen interest in our school and we have their ongoing and prayerful support as the College moves into the future.
While a formal ceremony to mark the transition will be held in due course, I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank them for the unwavering support they have provided the staff, students and myself in my time as Principal and ask for God’s blessings on each and every one of the Sisters: Sr Mary Barbuto, Sr Patricia Watson, Sr Patricia Fox, Sr Mary Reaburn, Sr Mary Lotton, Sr Mary Barry, Sr Angela Bayliss, Sr Joan Mack, Sr Marianne Dacy, Sr Denise Cusack. Our commitment to sustaining their legacy of compassion, justice, reconciliation, peace and love in our world, and the education and formation of our students remains steadfast.
Congratulations
I take this opportunity to congratulate Stephanie Jones, our Year 7 Wellbeing and Growth Leader and Science Teacher who was recently named in the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools/ News Corp Australia's Best Teacher Campaign. Stephanie is an an outstanding teacher who cares deeply for the students in her care. We are very proud of Stephanie's achievements and recognise how fortunate her students are in having her as their teacher.
Do you know any families who are currently looking for a secondary school for their daughter?
Last Wednesday evening Our Lady of Sion College hosted a very successful Information Evening for prospective families. If you are aware of other families whose daughters would benefit from an all girls' learning environment where students are named and known, and are offered a broad range of curricular and co-curricular opportunities, please share with them that the next Talk and Tour opportunity will be on 6 June.
With every blessing for the fortnight ahead.
Tina Apostolopoulos
From the Deputy Principals
Deputy Principal Faith and Mission – John McInerney
As you enter the Emmanuel Learning Centre where all of our Year 7 classrooms are, there is a piece of Scripture on the wall. It says, 'When I was a stranger, you welcomed me.'
It was placed there deliberately. Our new Year 7s come from so many different Primary schools and before they arrive, we don’t really know them and they don’t know each other – but once they walk through our gates – we welcome them.
Welcoming others is such an important part of who we are at Our Lady of Sion College. We welcome new students, new staff – last week we welcomed so many amazing women for our Special Women’s Breakfast. We welcome visitors at Front Reception, we welcome you when you come along to Music Ensembles, Drama Productions or Student Progress Meetings.
I truly hope that everyone does feel welcomed when they enter our beautiful College.
(As an aside, in the previous newsletter, I wrote about attending the Student International Conference in Kansas, hosted by Notre Dame de Sion Kansas, and myself and the girls who travelled with me, never felt so welcomed – it was amazing.)
When things like this happen, I often find myself asking the question – where does such an important sense of ‘welcome’ come from at Sion?
For me, something takes me back to that piece of Scripture that we have on our wall – 'I was a stranger and you welcomed me.'
Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching – Allison Stott
Nationally Consistent Collection of Data 2023
While the support of our students is a year round process, we are once again preparing for the funding submission under the NCCD funding arrangements. There are four levels of adjustments that schools are expected to make to accommodate the learning and wellbeing needs of students: Quality Differentiated Teacher Practice, Supplementary, Substantial and Extensive within the categories of Socio-Emotional, Cognitive, Sensory and Physical. Families of students who are included in the count have already been consulted but if you would like to know more about the process please follow the link here.
Semester 1 Exams
While it feels like Term 2 has just commenced, in reality our semester is nearly over and the Year 10 and 11 students are preparing for the Semester 1 examination process. Students will have the exam timetable shared with them shortly and with this will come supporting material in how to approach this style of assessment. While it may feel like the exams are all important and overwhelming, they are in fact a small piece of the learning puzzle and are only one way of demonstrating knowledge and skills in any subject. Exams are never the first time a student is assessed and the internal examination process is not about the result but rather the way that each student prepares for long term assessment, their familiarity with the test format and the way that they respond to the feedback from the exam and how they will adjust what they do moving forward.
Some tips to encourage your children to grow through this process!
Describe the context of the exam - they are low stakes, they have already demonstrated their skills and knowledge, the school is a familiar place etc.
Help them find the positives in the exam - focus on what went well rather than what they may have done wrong
Exams are a shared experience - while students should not compare themselves to others, it is helpful for them to understand that all students feel nervous before assessment. Share your own (positive) learnings from sitting exams
Help them to set goals and timelines to achieve this. Include rest breaks and rewards but get the balance right
Remind them that everyone is here to help. The teachers, WaGLS and the whole community are here to see students succeed, not struggle, and to help them to reach out for the support that they may need.
2024 Subject Selection Process
As we look ahead to Semester 2, students will be asked to begin thinking about their subject selection for 2024. Each year level has a tailored process of support for this. In 2023 we are adding to the program a Careers Expo on Monday 30 May. This event brings together providers from a vast range of industries and will be a fantastic opportunity for students to make connections, ask questions and to think about their future from different perspectives. This process complements the Subject Selection Expo on Friday 19 June, the parent evenings, and the handbook resources.
Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing – Christine Kralj
Child Safe Standards and our College
I am writing to provide you with an update on the Victorian Child Safe Standards and how they are being implemented in our College. These standards are a set of mandatory requirements that were introduced by the Victorian government in 2016 to ensure that all Victorian organisations that provide services to children, including schools, create and maintain a child safe environment.
At our College, we take the safety and wellbeing of our students very seriously, and we are committed to implementing the Child Safe Standards in order to protect all children in our care. To achieve this, we have developed policies and procedures that align with the eleven standards.
Our College has put in place a range of measures to ensure that we meet these standards. We have implemented a comprehensive child safe policy, which outlines our commitment to the safety and wellbeing of our students and provides guidelines for staff and volunteers on how to create a child safe environment. We have also established a code of conduct for all staff and volunteers, which sets out clear expectations for appropriate behaviour with children and outlines the consequences of breaching the code.
To help students better understand what to expect of adults they come in contact with as part of the school environment we have developed:
Formed a Child Safety Team - drawn from members of the Pastoral Care team (available on the College website)
We conduct thorough screening and supervision of all personnel who work with children, including police and working with children checks, and we provide ongoing training to our staff to ensure that they are equipped with the skills and knowledge to identify and respond to suspected case of child abuse.
We have also developed a range of processes for responding to and reporting suspected child abuse, and we work closely with relevant authorities to ensure that any concerns are addressed in a timely and appropriate manner.
In addition, we are committed to promoting the participation and empowerment of children in decision-making processes that affect their lives. We regularly seek feedback from our students and involve them in activities that promote their wellbeing and safety.
If a parent/carer has a Child Safety question or a concern about a student at Our Lady of Sion College, please don’t hesitate to call a member of the team to discuss your concern. Naturally, we also welcome suggestions on how to make the College environment safer.
In Remembrance
Our particular thoughts and prayers go to Jessica P (7 Purple) whose father passed away. Also, to Mrs Robyn McCann (College Registrar) whose father passed away.
We remember Jessica, Mrs McCann and their families 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
It is hard to believe that our Year 12 students are approaching the midway point of Term 2 in their final year of school. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of our Year 12 students who are working consistently and demonstrating a positive attitude to seeking feedback from their teachers to further improve their achievements.
Congratulations to the House leaders and Sport leaders who rallied up the whole year level to participate in last week’s House Athletic’s Carnival. It was fantastic to see everyone going all out with their costumes. Amidst the hard work it is also great to see the Year 12 cohort embracing and getting involved in the extra-curricular life of the College. I would like to acknowledge the students who are working hard in the background on our school musical Shrek and to those who travelled to Mount Gambier for the Generations in Jazz festival.
There has been a lot happening this week with regard to Careers Week including an engaging presentation on Tuesday afternoon by Rob Hulls a former Attorney-General and Deputy Premier of Victoria and currently the Director of the Centre of Innovative Justice at RMIT.
While the presentation was taking place, we had 28 of our Year 12 students participating in a First Aid course. A qualification that will be valuable in all facets of their lives.
To conclude an eventful week, it was pleasing to see so many students attend the Mentor’s Breakfast. A valuable and informative experience for all who attended.
As we move towards the coming weeks please be aware that this is going to be a busy SAC period for our Year 12 students and they are likely to need increased support on both the home and school front. As parents, I encourage you to continue providing a calm, supportive environment for your daughter as their stress levels may increase. It is important we remember to acknowledge effort rather than achievement during these times. Perhaps providing comforts like your daughter’s favourite meal during these times or going for a walk may help send the message that you understand the pressure they are under. As Tina Apostolopoulos mentioned in her address to our students at our last assembly, Year 12 is like a marathon. It needs to be run in a well-paced, consistent manner.
In conclusion can I please remind parents that if your daughter needs to leave school early for an appointment or will be arriving late to school that a letter be given or an email sent to Dale Hunter or myself notifying us of your daughter’s absence. The Gadal sessions are a part of the Year 12 program and students are asked to attend these. I understand that on the odd occasion students may be absent, but we would appreciate being notified of this as we place high priority on attendance across all subjects in Year 12.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Year 11 – Beth Amos, Wellbeing and Growth Leader
We have well and truly settled back into the term, with students working towards their final assessment tasks for Unit 1, TAFE and work placements.
For Lesson 2 of Pastoral we looked at the role of physical health and how it affects our overall health and wellbeing. In particular, we asked students to reflect on their overall habits regarding diet, nutrition, exercise, and sleep. Students were able to share with Homeroom teachers some of their favourite meals and shared some recipes. We encouraged the students to consider trying something new, and cook for the family.
It was apparent many students struggle with their sleep hygiene practices. We also asked them to consider what are some of the factors that get in the way of making healthy decisions. Students spoke to the experience of having a busy mind, not ‘switching off’, staying up late doing homework, or on their devices. As young people navigate the balance between family, school, work, and social commitments, this often comes at the cost of sleep.
We hope that students can recognise their own priorities when it comes to decisions regarding their physical health, in a way that promotes overall wellbeing. Particularly as we lead into the final assessments and Semester 1 Examinations, more information will be coming soon.
Thank you for your support in completing the relevant permission forms and payments for Year 11 Formal. All permission forms and payments are due Wednesday 24 May.
Year 10 – Adam Rieusset, Wellbeing and Growth Leader
The real beauty of being a part of the Year 10 cohort is that everyday is different. New opportunities, new challenges and new discussions are all to be had. Over the past fortnight it has been really encouraging to see that many students are starting to have really calm and considered discussions that have enabled them to make good choices.
It has also been really positive to be able to remind the cohort of the challenge set down to them at the start of this year that all Year 10s have the ability to achieve College community colour, plus one other area of interest awards at the end of the year. All they need to do is be an active member of our community throughout the year.
Pastoral Period
In our last Pastoral care session and with the support of our College counselling team, we recently looked at what it means to be a good friend. We also looked at the complexities that friendships can bring.
25% of teenagers feel worried, stressed or down about their friendships several times a month
Most of the time, we get along well with our friends, but sometimes you might encounter some issues. These might be due to:
Misunderstandings or miscommunications
People's feelings getting hurt
Feeling left our or unliked
Differing opinions
Something that happened online or in a message
Gossip or rumours
What a good friend looks like
Is willing to compromise where appropriate
Makes us feel good
Experiences equal give and take
Respects your ideas, boundaries and choices
Works with you to understand your needs
What a respectful friendship looks like
Communication: talk often, honestly, calmly and openly. If we're not sure how someone feels, we ask rather than assume
Thought: we think about the effects of our actions and choices of the other person
Care: we want to see the other person happy and supported
Listen: we feel safe and heard
Authenticity: we can be ourselves and we feel accepted for who we are
Friendships are a beautiful and wonderful experience that we have at all stages of our lives. Through our teenage years these experiences will certainly have their ups and downs. We hope that the Year 10s, through our Pastoral sessions can see that what they are experiencing is a refining of finding ‘their people’. This refinement and exploration is best achieved in a respectful and caring way that takes into consideration what it looks like to be a good friend.
Key Dates
I would like to draw your attention to the following key dates. Each time period and date will further support our young people in their ability to learn, reflect and consider what the next best step might be.
Exams: June 1 - June 8
Correction Day: June 9
Monarch’s Birthday: June 12
Semester 2 Classes begin: June 13
Subject Selection Evening: June 19
Throughout this time period I encourage all families to be actively involved in many discussions around these events. It is certainly ok for parents / carers to recall for their children what it was like for you and how things have changed over the years. Your wisdom and insight will help further support a successful outcome.
Morrisby Information Evening
I would like to thank the very strong community presence we had earlier this week at the Morrisby Information Evening. It certainly was an insightful and thought provoking evening and I hope you were able to take away the key messages that Tyson gave. To explore, to research, to connect and to be determined with your aspirations for the future.
I’d like to share the Forbes article that Tyson spoke about towards the end of this session. He spoke about the 10 most in demand transferable skills that employers are looking for over the next ten years.
I think it is always important to remember that we are all supporting and educating our young people to meet the demands of what the future will look like and in that future the workplace and job descriptions will look very different to today. By continuing to explore our inner excellence, refining what we are good at, we are acquiring the transferable skills below to support our future.
Until our next newsletter, explore those intrinsic strengths that support you to develop and cherish your #inner excellence.
Year 9 – Jordyn Frood, Wellbeing and Growth Leader
Last Tuesday the Year 9s participated in a Pastoral lesson relating to managing emotions and identifying their support systems.
They had discussions based around who to ask for help when they need it. This can be in relation to personal, social or academic concerns and who are the people we turn to and why.
Interestingly, sometimes the people we think we are the ‘closest’ to at this age aren’t always the people who end up being our biggest support systems so this was interesting to unpack.
The students were prompted to answer questions such as:
Who is at the table?
Why are they there?
Would there be different people for different kinds of decisions? Why?
Who is NOT at the table, and why?
Are any of your responses to this question surprising?
Have you ever thought about who influences you?
Is your table lopsided in some way and why? (Lots of people of the same age/gender/family/non-family etc.)
Did you write your own name down in one of the seats? Why, or why not?
Finally, on Friday we also participated in our House Athletics Carnival with the Year 9s showing great participation. Congratulations to all those who got involved, what a nice way to finish the week.
Year 8 – Chris Wilkes, Wellbeing and Growth Leader
As mentioned in my previous newsletter article, Toolbox Education ran workshops with the Year 8 students on Tuesday 9 May. It was great to see their engagement with the presenters and the content being shared. The large majority of the cohort said that they found the session useful and were able to relate well to their presenters.
The workshop was called ‘Thinking Traps’ and is based on identifying and managing unhelpful thinking styles, through a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) basis. This concept was presented to the year level through the analogy of their minds being like their phones and the various thoughts that go through their heads on a daily basis are like apps that send them notifications. On average, the human brain processes around 70 000 thoughts, which can be overwhelming when negative thoughts aren’t challenged. The apps that were covered in this session were:
Mind reading - predicting what others are thinking
Fortune Telling – predicting what will happen
Setting the bar too high – creating goals that are very difficult to achieve
Ignoring the good – not taking positives into consideration and only thinking about the negatives
Blowing things up – developing scenarios that are catastrophic or ‘worst case’.
Whilst these thoughts are normal, it is important to be aware of them and challenge them in order to develop a new and more balanced thought. The steps outlined were:
Step 1: Identify the app
Step 2: Read the notification
Step 3: Find evidence that it’s true
Step 4: Find evidence that it’s not true
Step 5: Find evidence that we’re ignoring
Step 6: Come up with a new and balanced thought
In Homeroom and Pastoral sessions, we will continue to work on this important skill. I would like to ask for your support in continuing this conversation with your children at home. When a challenging situation arises for them, ask them to take a moment to reflect on what app/s are sending them these notifications and work through the above steps to develop a more balanced perspective.
Year 7 – Stephanie Jones, Wellbeing and Growth Leader
In our last Pastoral session, the Pastoral team and Year 7 students spent time looking at the ideas of rude, mean, bullying and discrimination. Staff have noted that the year level are very engaged students, with cheerful personalities and confidence in themselves. These are all amazing qualities to have, especially given the wide range of gifts and talents our students bring to the College. However, in a large year level, there are times where our words and actions may come across as abrasive or offensive to those around us. It is important to have a clear understanding of respect, what it looks like and what it can mean to each of us.
We will continue to actively and explicitly teach what respect is and how each member of our College community is to be treated. I encourage these conversations to continue outside the College grounds, at home and with family and friends.
What does it mean to show respect for each other? What actions and words show respect for the different people in our lives?
Are there things that have been said or done that may have been rude, mean, bullying or discrimination? How do you plan to handle the situation next time to ensure that everyone is respected?
Remember that tone of voice and body language matters - we show respect for each other by ensuring that we are welcoming instead of judgemental
Be a positive bystander, stand up for those who may be experiencing rude, mean or discriminatory comments.
Learning Area News
Studio Arts Excursion – Jennifer Schwab, Art, Studio Arts and Textiles Teacher
On 27 April, the Unit 1 Art Making and Exhibiting class visited the Whitehorse Art Space gallery.
The current exhibition Twenty Five, features Australian artworks from the Whitehorse Art collection dating back to paintings by Buvelot, Streeton, McCubbin and Roberts in the 1880s to contemporary paintings, prints, photographs and textile artworks.
It was a fabulous opportunity for our students to view a wide variety of media and styles of art. The wide diversity of themes and subject matter was inspiring. We were fortunate to have the senior arts officer and curator Jacquie Nichols-Reeves share the exhibition process with us, explaining how the artworks were selected and displayed.
The Whitehorse Art Space is located just across the road from Our Lady of Sion College, inside the Box Hill Town Hall. Admission is free and opening times are Tuesday – Friday 10.00 am – 4.00 pm and Saturday 12.00 pm - 4.00 pm.
Congratulations to our Year 9 students who partook in mock job interviews as part of their Ayin World of Work unit on Friday 5 May.
These interviews were the culmination of a number of weeks’ worth of working on writing cover letters and resumes, discussing career and job aspirations and workplace skills and safety, and practising interview skills in class. Students came to school dressed in appropriate interview attire and undertook the ten-minute interviews with a great sense of professionalism.
Students should be proud of their efforts and it is hoped that they will take this experience and the feedback they received with them to confidently enter a professional interview in the future.
This wonderful opportunity could not have occurred without the generous donation of time from the following Year 9 parents, to whom we extend our thanks:
Rebecca Payne
Lisa Vaserlli
Lara Tumilovics
Sharlene Pattie
Catherine Stone
Lisa Cotela
Xavier Miller
Tanya Brown
Sally Hughes
Fiona Garrivan
Helen Finlay
Anita Skok
Narelle Vais
Brodie Liddell
Sharon Cheevers
Drama – Catherine Bennett, Teacher
Drama Week May 8 – 12
Thank you to all our wonderful students for their enthusiastic participation in Drama Week activities.
We opened the week with a special Drama breakfast and games session followed by a theatre sports showcase at lunchtime led by Ella C (12 White) our Drama captain. We had amazing participation and attendance from both audience and performers.
Musical theatre themed bells at the end of lunchtimes encouraged some singing and dancing on the way to Period 5.
Drama Week Costume Design Competition
Online competitions allowed for creativity in costume design and story creation and performance.
Our musical theatre themed Open Mic in the sunshine filled Piazza was a huge success for our fantastic Performing Arts student leaders; Megan M and Ella C (both 12 White). It was a great way to finish our Drama Week activities with most of the student community enjoying the show.
Thanks and congratulations to our leaders and to all our talented, dramatic students for your participation in this week which is always a great highlight of the year.
Anna Crow, Technologies Learning Leader
The web is a great place to learn, be creative and stay connected. However, with one in five young Australians found to have been cyber bullied – and the many other challenges young people face online – it’s important we invest in giving our community the skills they need to be responsible digital citizens. That’s why we’re participating in the Alannah & Madeline Foundation’s National eSmart Week along with hundreds of other communities, to show our commitment to building an eSmart Australia.
The theme for 2023 is ‘Be your best self online’ and invites students to explore what it means to be a positive digital citizen.
One of the key features of being part of the eSmart program is its focus on developing digital literacy skills. The program teaches students how to be responsible and ethical digital citizens, as well as how to recognise and respond to online risks such as cyberbullying, identity theft, and phishing scams.
By giving students the tools they need to navigate the online world safely, eSmart is helping to create a generation of young people who are confident and informed internet users.
Across the week students will be encouraged to explore topics such as:
What you can do and say to be positive online
How algorithms, echo chambers and customised messaging impact our view of the world
How to use technology purposefully
How to use your agency to influence change in the online environment.
Tips from The Alannah and Madeline Foundation
Please visit the additional resources for parents and members of the school community to help you have those important conversations with your child. Parents are also invited to attend the free online workshop for ‘Parenting in the digital world’.
Additional resources:
Bullying. No Way!for practical advice and information against bullying.
Alannah and Madeline Foundation workshop. Book here.
Religious Education – Anna Gionfriddo, Learning Leader
It is always wonderful when the students have an opportunity to meet with the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion to learn about their lives and to reflect upon their important messages about what it truly means to be a Daughter of Sion, the significance of our Sionian charism and how scripture and prayer can bring much hope to our lives.
Caitlin F and Keira H from 12 Purple reflect on their time with Sr Patricia Watson nds.
On Monday 15 May, the Year 12 cohort had the opportunity to listen to Sister Patricia Watson nds discuss her unique experiences, not only as a Sister of Our Lady of Sion but her life as a student, and Principal at Our Lady of Sion College, Box Hill. Prior to this discussion, the Year 12 students composed a series of questions which they wrote to enquire about her faith, values, and involvement with Sion over the years. Some of the questions were along the lines of how life at Our Lady of Sion College has changed from when she was a student to the present day, as well as how her faith has enriched her life. The Year 12 students acquired an insight into what life at Our Lady of Sion College was like when Sister Patricia attended. There were clear differences highlighted from Sister Patricia’s time to present day, such as campus dormitories, different school structures and subject opportunities. However, the overarching themes and values of Our Lady of Sion have remained the same over these many years. Being 'named and known' is something that is very important at our College, not only today but from the beginning of its establishment. This value of 'being named and known' is one that Sister Patricia has sought to adopt into her everyday life, whether that be in school life, or through her journey of faith. The experience of meeting with Sr Patricia has further enhanced our understanding of what connects those who are a part of the Our Lady of Sion Community. Caitlin F and Keira H (12 Purple)
We thank Sr Patricia for her generosity in sharing her reflections and words of wisdom with the Year 12 Notre Dame students.
Co-curricular News
Music – Martin Macaulay, Head of Music
Generations in Jazz – Mount Gambier, South Australia
Congratulations to the 21 musicians who represented Our Lady of Sion College at the Generations in Jazz National Jazz Music championships held under the big tent in Mount Gambier, South Australia. CVE performed their repertoire of ‘Blue Skies’ and ‘Autumn Leaves’ in a very competitive vocal section. Renowned choral performers and section adjudicators Ed Fairlie and Naomi Crellin commended their performance.
The Senior Jazz Ensemble performed the required test piece, ballad and own choice very well. Some of the jazz ensemble musicians Ava S (12 Silver), Liv K (12 Red), Abby F (12 Silver), Ella C (12 White), Megan M (12 White ) and Jasmine C (10 Blue) improvised some wonderful solos. Although the group didn’t make the podium, they performed very well, and the younger members of both groups gained some valuable experience. Highlights were the concert performances of guest artists ‘Dirty Loops’ from Sweden, Thndo and Adam Lope and the visit to the beautiful Blue Lake.
Drama Week Open Mic
Last week, the Music Representatives supported Drama Week by presenting a ‘music theatre’ themed Open Mic. We had a full complement of singers who entertained the enthusiastic audience assembled in the Piazza. Many thanks to Music Captain Megan M (12 White) for organising this opportunity.
VCE Music Class Recitals
Congratulations to the VCE Music Performance students who prepared and presented their Outcome 1 & 3 recital programs in the beautiful Notre Dame foyer last Monday. The repertoire demonstrated a variety of styles and the students gained valuable performance experience and feedback in accordance with the VCAA criteria associated with this Outcome.
Information Evening for Prospective Students Years 3, 4, 5
The Intermediate Strings, under the direction of Mrs Jackie Tinsley and Eunice C (8 Purple), performed music to support this important Information Evening for prospective students and parents interested in coming to Our Lady of Sion College.
Term 2 Soiree – More Outstanding Performances
Congratulations to the 19 students who performed at the Term 2 Music Soiree last Monday evening. The Soirees are always an opportunity for Instrumental Music students to present material they have been working on during Term 2. Apart from the Arts colour points those students gained, it was a valuable experience to perform with accompaniment, in front of an audience. Well done!!
2023 Ensembles Concert Thursday 22 June
We are very excited to present the annual Music Department Ensembles Concert this year as part of Music Week. All Our Lady of Sion College ensembles, large and small, will be performing. It will run in two ‘acts’ according to the schedule below. TryBooking links will open soon.
Act 1: 5.00 pm – 6.30 pm Year 7 Junior Concert Band 1 (Monday morning group), Brass Ensemble, Jazz Club, Year 7 Junior Strings, Flute Ensemble, Intermediate Strings, College Choir, Senior Concert Band
Act 2: 7.00 pm – 8.30 pm Combined Choir, Year 7 Junior Concert Band 2 (Tuesday afternoon group), Rock Band, Jazz Club, Year 7 Choir, Senior Strings Octet, Percussion Ensemble, Intermediate Concert Band, College Vocal Ensemble, Senior Jazz Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra & Combined Choirs
Watch this space for booking details.
Sport – Naomi Linossier, Head of Sport
House Athletics Carnival
The sun was out last Friday for the annual House Athletics Carnival. Fatima’s great participation helped them win overall and Loreto's encouragement and positive attitude took out the cheering cup. It was great to see everyone participating in both track and field events, but as always the Year 12 costumes were definitely a highlight for the day. A big thank you to all the staff, especially the sport and house department who made the day run smoothly.Ally L (12 Blue) and Lara H (12 Blue), 2023 Sport Captains
Term 1 GSV Sport Highlights
During Term 1 our Indoor Cricket, Tennis and Softball teams showed great enthusiasm and energy towards representing Sion. We had many successes, both big and small, with a few standout results.
Junior Indoor Cricket – winning zone, runners up on final day
Junior Softball B – winning zone
Intermediate Indoor Cricket – winning zone, runners up on finals day
Intermediate Diving Finals - Jessica P (9 Purple) finishing 9th
The Term 2 GSV Weekly sport
The Term 2 GSV Weekly sports are underway! This term we have teams competing in Netball, Hockey and AFL. We look forward to seeing how our teams progress over the season.
Remember you can follow your teams results through the GSV App!
Team Spotlight – Intermediate A Netball
Opposition: Firbank
Result: WIN 27 – 11
Last week on Wednesday the Inter A team played their very first game of the year at home. The Inter A team played an awesome and competitive game against Firbank and ended up winning by 16 points ! The girls played a difficult game in the wet conditions but all played really well and came together as a team.Teagan M (10 Silver) and Maisy B (10 Gold)
Schoolaerobics Preliminary Competition
On Friday 12 May, our four Sion Aerobics teams competed at the Preliminary Finals at Doncaster Secondary College. After working hard at trainings over the last few terms, each team performed their very best and were successful in qualifying to move onto State Finals! Congratulations to all team members for their efforts, and a special thanks to coaches Ms Frood, Ms Linnossier, Coach Julia and Coach Mia.Scarlett M (12 Red), 2023 Aerobics Captain
Learning Resource Centre – Margaret Lawson, Head of Library and Information Services
One of the exciting things about working in a school library is hearing all about the books and authors that students have discovered. As librarians, we get excited when we see something different being read in our wider reading sessions.
There are many things that parents can do to encourage students to read.
Let your child see you read!
Talk about books that you love
Provide space in the home routine for reading; be that a tech free afternoon on the weekend or switching off the TV to provide quiet for reading
Recommend books to your children that you enjoyed when you were a teenager
Makerspace
After a workshop last week, Year 7 students have discovered that we have four Spheros 'on charge' in the LRC that they can play and experiment with at lunchtimes. As the word spreads throughout the year level, students have found the freedom to play with the apps that the IT department pushed out to the iPads a few weeks ago.
Our exploration of Spheros is student-led at lunchtimes and our next stage is to build a maze and some chariots for the Sphero using recycled cardboard and 3D printed items.
Careers and Pathways – Brooke O'Hara, Coordinator
The only impossible journey is the one you never begin. Tony Robins (Motivational Speaker)
This week has seen the College celebrate Careers Week. It has been a jam-packed week, starting with Year 10 students and their families looking at the Morrisby profiling, students were able to hear from several guest speakers around careers within law, as well as the Emergency services area. Students have had an opportunity to learn about how to gain that first job from prospective employees including Officeworks and Bounce. The week culminated in our Year 12 Mentor’s Breakfast. A fantastic opportunity for students to sit and chat with past students about what post school might look like. As always, there are many experiences promoted in this week’s careers section that allow for further investigation to what life after school might look like:
Students and families can find the Fortnightly Careers newsletter here.
In this fortnight's newsletter there is information relating to:
Upcoming Events – The Sion College Careers Expo, A reminder about the Focus on Melbourne Series, Monash University – Business Explorer program, RMIT University Tech and Trades Experience Day and Discover ACU events
Career Industry in the Spotlight – Paralegal
Things to Consider for current Year 12 students – RMIT early entry scheme and Swinburne University Early Entry Program
Research ideas – New Cybersecurity Double degree at Swinburne, Environmental and Sustainability at Swinburne.
Parent News
College Counsellor – Pamela Ioannidis
With just under a month left of Semester 1, all students will find themselves managing multiple assessments, with year 10 and 11 students preparing for exams and units 3 and 4 students completing the GAT. Whether it is students' first semester at secondary school or first experience of formal examination periods, it is normal for students to feel some anxiety about assessments. Parents may start to notice their child experiencing a degree of stress and worry. Impending assessment tasks and exams may evoke several different responses presenting in various ways. The below diagram outlines the diverse symptoms and presentations of test anxiety.
It is important to understand and validate this behaviour as the body’s normal psychological and biological response to stress.
There are various things that parents can do with their children to assist them in reducing symptoms of test anxiety. Below is a list of strategies to support students in boosting their confidence.
Preparation: Identify and develop good study habits. Organising and keeping good notes permits effective use of study time and efficient learning. Noting assessment and examination dates on calendars creates awareness of available time for study and helps reduce feeling overwhelmed.
Time management and routine: Effectively managing time is key! Create a flexible schedule or timetable for study. Mark in after school commitments, physical activity and study sessions. Blocking sessions into manageable chunks on schedules/timetables assists with avoidance. Being flexible, creating to-do-lists and factoring in rewards with personal or self-care time supports focus and commitment.
Study environments: Having an allocated study space at home that limits distractions and supports concentration will facilitate learning. Avoid studying in bed or with lots of surrounding distractions, including devices.
Engage in active study: Active study is a regular practice that goes beyond reading notes. Summarising information, developing mind maps, using past and practice exam questions to test knowledge, assists in developing confidence, as well as improving knowledge and reducing feelings of anxiety.
Rest and sleep: Getting time to rest and adequately sleep allows the brain to consolidate learning and facilitates concentration and recall of information. Maintaining a regular bedtime and sleep routine assists with emotional regulation and lessens feelings of anxiety.
Nutrition: A healthy diet helps reduce feelings of anxiety and stress. Despite potentially feeling nervous before an exam, eating a nutritious meal assists with concentration and focus.
Embrace behavioural relaxation techniques: Everyone can feel a bit nervous before an assessment or exam. Practising some deep breathing, mindfulness, positive self-talk or getting outside for some physical exercise reduces anxiety and relieves tension.
Whilst these strategies support students’ normal feelings of anxiety towards assessments, it is important to be aware of any persistent symptoms that impacts functioning in everyday life. If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the counselling team at counselling@sion.catholic.edu.au.
Reunion - Calling all 3s Graduates
We are blessed to have many past students in our parent body. If you are one of them and graduated in 1953, 1963, 1973 and so on, then this reunion is for you! We warmly invite you to join us for an afternoon of story telling and reminiscing, great food and much laughter. Details are located below.
