St Mary's Cathedral College Newsletter: Term 4, Week 3

From the College Principal

HOLY CHILD PROGRAM
In April this year, I was honoured to be part of a group of Principal pilgrims who visited a very special school in Bethlehem. The Holy Child Program provides an alternative school setting for children who suffer from untreated complex mental health issues,  behaviour problems and trauma.  We were privileged to witness the impact the teaching staff have on these children in this unique setting. However, these teachers now need our help.  The current crisis means many families cannot afford fees and many of the revenue streams that have kept the school open have been cut off placing the school at risk. 

The beliefs and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church provide the framework within which the services of the Holy Child Program are offered. As Principals, we are looking to make a difference in their lives and extend our support to these children and help the staff keep the doors of the school open. Information about a fundraising initiative  to support the school will follow.

WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY - THANK YOU
I extend a thank you to all our staff for shaping minds and futures - Happy World Teachers' Day!

Your role as educators extends far beyond the transfer of facts and figures. You are mentors, role models, and inspirations. Your influence has a lasting impact on the minds and hearts of the young individuals you nurture, helping them become knowledgeable, but also to be responsible, compassionate, and informed citizens of the world.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP INVESTITURE MASS
It was another wonderful occasion for us to all come together and celebrate our new student leaders with their families. The context of the Mass was important and emphasised that College leadership is Christian leadership. The Gospel of the day (Luke 11:37-41), along with our new Captain Dusan Cavric and Fr Lewi Barakat, reminded us of a crucial aspect of Christian leadership, namely that we are called to live a life of integrity and generosity. 

We are all called to exercise leadership, but acknowledge the special responsibility that our new college leaders have taken up. Under the guidance of Captain Dusan Cavric, and Vice-Captain Tyler Mrmacovski, may they follow in the footsteps of Jesus and continue to be people for others. 

From the Dean of Senior School

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

The HSC has been underway since the beginning of the term and the Year 12 Class of 2023 have been most impressive in their diligence and maturity during this stressful exam time. We wish them every success.

Year 11 have been engaged in conversations about their HSC patterns of study. They have been using their preliminary course examination results and other assessment data to ensure they adjust their pattern of study to ensure success next year. These will all be finalised this week. We wish Year 11 an enjoyable and memorable retreat experience next week. 

Year 10 has returned from camp and all reports suggest it was a memorable and enjoyable experience. They engaged in challenging activities that will no doubt support further collaboration amongst their year group. We thank Mr Ibrahim for leading the group and the teachers who accompanied the boys on this worthwhile experience. Year 10 will be notified of their patterns of study for next year in the coming weeks as they also lead up to their final exams in Week 6. The students should be engaged in a appropriate study routine as they revise for these examinations.

Year 9 have been engaged in a process to appoint peer support leaders for next year. We have been overwhelmed by the number of students who have nominated themselves for this leadership opportunity. The students appointed to these roles will have a training day next week in preparation for their leadership of our incoming Year 7 in 2024. 

It has been a busy first three weeks of term and as we move towards the end of the year there are many things to look forward to. 

Chris Maoudis, Dean of Senior Years

From the Dean of Middle School

Welcome back to Term 4. 

The boys have begun their lessons with a renewed enthusiasm and engagement levels in lessons are high. There is a real sense of energy as the sun shines and learning continues with great curiosity.

Years 3-6 continue to be involved in completion of integrated Learning Projects as we move towards the end of the academic year. It is great to see the passion the boys are bringing to their learning through their prior knowledge and experiences to support new knowledge and experiences. Year 6 are involved in a transition to High School program and will also begin preparing for their Graduation Mass and Dinner, on Friday, 1st December.

Years 7 and 8 are gearing up towards their final assessments in most of their subjects. It has been so good to see the boys making great progress in Semester 2.

We will welcome to the College our Year 7 Class of 2024 in a couple of weeks time. 

Be Faithful. Be Kind. Be Engaged.

David Timillero, Dean of Middle Years

From the Dean of Mission

STUDENT FAITH IN ACTION
It has been great seeing some of our students helping out at their local parish community and other charitable organisations during their holiday breaks and weekends. Ethan Corsten, Henry South and Jayden Tipler have been supporting their parish, St. Mary Magdalene's Rose Bay, with reading at Mass and gardening. They also volunteered at Our Big Kitchen during the holiday break, making meals for a women's refuge. Well done Ethan, Henry and Jayden!

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SENIOR RETREAT
In their first Term of Year 12, students are given the opportunity to spend time away on retreat for two nights and three days. The intention of this experience is to reflect on our values, and identify those things and people who will be a source of strength in this final year of study. This will be covered in our next edition of the newsletter, but I ask that all community members please pray for our new Year 12 students as they start their HSC journey with this retreat experience taking place during week 4. 

ALL SAINTS AND ALL SOULS DAY
Every year the Halloween merchandise seems to grow. It’s a reminder that the solemnity of All Hallows Eve/All Saints Day on 1 November (the origin of the term Halloween) is approaching, followed by All Souls Day on 2 November. Both these days remind us how we are called to recognise those people who have had a special significance for us and our community. For St Mary’s Cathedral College, we look to those great men and women who followed the example of Saint Benedict, Venerable Mary Aikenhead, Saint Marcellin Champagnat and Blessed Edmund Rice by teaching and caring for the thousands of students educated at St Mary’s Cathedral College.  

MATTHEW TALBOT CHRISTMAS APPEAL
I would like to thank teacher Mr Edward Hawkins who has organised again this year the Matthew Talbot Christmas Appeal. Please check the details and help out in any way you can. Christmas will be a lot brighter for those who experience your generosity. 

ST MARY'S CATHEDRAL COLLEGE AND VINCENTIAN AGED CARE SERVICE
It was a privilege to accompany Year 5 on the first of many visits by our students to Vincentian Aged Care Service (Catholic Healthcare). The residents, staff and students get a lot out of these visits, and we hope that this becomes a regular part of our learning and faith in action.

JOHN BURLAND
It was a real joy to welcome John Burland (Education Officer – Archdiocesan Liturgical Music) and Cheryl Fernandez (Education Officer for Church Engagement) from Sydney Catholic Schools to present their internationally acclaimed Faith, Fun and Celebration catechetical video series live in our College. Our faith can be learnt and expressed in many different ways: song; good works; prayer and liturgy to name a few. Seeing our students engage their faith in this way was another one of many opportunities a Cathedral student enjoys both in and outside the classroom. 

CHOIR BBQ TO WELCOME MR DANIEL JUSTIN - MUSIC DIRECTOR
Our Cathedral College and Choir came together to welcome the new Director of Music, Mr Daniel Justin, on 15 October at a BBQ following the 10.30am Cathedral sung Mass. It was a lovely opportunity for our choir families to come together with the Cathedral Song School and College staff to express our appreciation for Mr Simon Nieminski taking on the role of acting Director of Music and to welcome Mr Daniel Justin not only to his new role, but to becoming part of our College Community. A big thank you to all those who made this day possible! We wish Mr Justin all the best in his new role, and look forward to working closely with him.  

SHORT COURSE. THE SCRIPTURES: A Conversation With God Every Day
On behalf of the Sydney Archdiocese Parish Renewal Team, the University of Notre Dame Australia presents a series of three short courses. For those parents/carers who would like to undertake this short course you can register here. The Gospel forms the basis of our values, and we encourage our families to engage in conversations about the faith with your children. 

Presented by Dr Peter Holmes
Dates: Thursdays 2, 9 and 16 November 2023
Time:    7:30pm – 8:45pm
Mode:  Online via Zoom
Cost: $35 per person (+booking fees)

“Description: Pope Benedict wrote “Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person” (Deus Caritas Est, 1). To have a relationship with Our Lord, Catholics speak and listen to Him daily in reading and praying the Scriptures. This is why Pope Francis urges Christians to open the Scriptures every day, “for we urgently need to grow in our knowledge and love of the Scriptures and of the risen Lord, who continues to speak his word” (Aperuit Illus, 8). This series will give some background and practical tips on how to hear God’s voice in Scripture, and to be led by Scripture to prayer, opening daily communication, and deepening our personal relationship with our loving God.”

2024 ALICE SPRINGS AND ULURU IMMERSION FOR CURRENT YEAR 9, 10 AND 11 STUDENTS
Next year during the July school holidays (2–11 July, 2024), St Mary's Cathedral College together with Catholic Mission has planned an immersion educational program for Year 10, 11 and 12 students. This is designed to provide students with the experience of immersing themselves for 10 days in a local community and culture, to gain an understanding and appreciation of cultures different from their own, viewed from a faith perspective.

If you would like any further information on this, please contact myself via the College.

Thomas Hunter, Dean of Mision

From the Dean of Liberal Arts

EXHIBITION DEVELOPMENT AT THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM
Term 4 has seen a group of our  students commence work on our very own  Bicentenary Museum Project.  In partnership with the Australian Museum, students have visited the museum and learned from museum staff about the art of curating exhibitions. In Week 1, students met with Tim Chaun, the Education Project Officer, to introduce our students to the museum and encouraged them to view Garrigarrang and 200 Treasures exhibitions to begin the process of critically viewing exhibitions to obtain ideas for their production. 

In Week 3, the students met with Fran Dorey, Head of Exhibitions, to learn how an exhibition comes to life. From the initial exhibition proposal, to the planning phase and through to the production phase. The students were able to ask questions around the design behind the 200 Treasures exhibit and gain an insight into some parameters they will need to consider in the production of our Bicentenary Museum.

Our Bicentenary Museum project is a celebration of our rich history and the incredible journey St. Mary's Cathedral College has undertaken over the last two centuries. It's not just a museum; it's a time machine that will transport us back in time and offer a glimpse of the people, events, and milestones that have shaped our school's legacy.

As we move forward with this exciting project, our students will continue to collaborate with museum staff and educators to refine their ideas and put their vision into action. 

Belinda VanderGert, Dean of Liberal Arts

From the Leader of Curriculum

YEAR 11 UPDATE
As we venture into the third week of Term 4, it's an exciting time for our Year 11 students. They've embarked on their HSC course, a significant step in their academic journey. To ensure they achieve their best results in this crucial year, it's vital for every student to make the most of their time.

Here are some key steps to success for Year 11:

Regular Attendance: Attending school regularly is the foundation of academic progress. Encourage your son to be punctual and present in all classes.

Active Participation: Active engagement in classes, asking questions, and participating in discussions fosters deeper learning and understanding.

Homework Commitment: Consistently completing homework assignments is a valuable practice that reinforces classroom learning.

Thorough Assessment Preparation: Success in the HSC begins with a strong foundation. Ensure your son completes all assessment tasks with diligence.

We have provided students with the HSC Assessment Handbook, a comprehensive guide that includes the College's HSC Assessment Policy and assessment schedules for each subject. You can find this document under the "Favourites" tab in the Compass Portal. 

We strongly encourage all students and parents to become familiar with the information in this handbook. It will help your son plan and prepare for the challenges and demands of the HSC year ahead.

THE RECORD OF SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENThievement (RoSA) Credentials
For students in Years 10 and 11 who will be leaving the College at the end of the year to enter full-time employment or pursue non-secondary school educational/training paths, they are eligible for a RoSA from the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). You can find more information about the RoSA on the Authority's website, accessible through the following links:

Record of School Achievement

Students who continue their education and complete the HSC will have their Year 10 and Year 11 grades included in their HSC Record of Achievement, and they will not receive a RoSA.

For further details about HSC credentials, please refer to this link.

HSC Credential

YEAR 12 GRADUATING CLASS UPDATE:
The HSC exams for our graduating class are underway. Let's keep them in our thoughts and prayers as they continue their dedicated efforts over the next two weeks. We wish them the very best and hope that their hard work and study pay off, opening doors to exciting career paths in the future.

Thank you for your continued support in our students' educational journey.

Karen Fahey, Acting Leader of Learning-Curriculum

Performing Arts News

THE ADDAMS FAMILY MUSICAL

Students have been working hard all year to produce the Addams Family musical with St Clare's Waverley. Taking place on 17 and 18 October, the musical was an absolute success enriching many students in the process. Thank you to the teachers who assisted during show week and a special thank you to the following teachers who significantly contributed to the show including Ms Georgia Andreacchio (Assistant Director) Dr Stefan Roberts (Band) Ms Stephanie Marsden (Rehearsals) and Ms Belinda Vandergert. 

We would also like to acknowledge the following students for their commitment and effort to the production:

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TAS News

SHAPE 2023 NOMINIATIONS
We are very proud to recognise the FIFTEEN Year 12 students that have had their projects nominated for the SHAPE exhibition, which held at the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct in March 2024

SHAPE is an annual exhibition of exemplary Major Projects developed by HSC Design and Technology, Industrial Technology and Textiles and Design students. 

For Industrial Technology our nominated students are Yacoub Amed, Dylan Bitar, Jamie Bong, Donovan Brooks, Dylan Brooks, Evan Costa, Liam Dalamangas, Liam Fahey, Jack Greene, Christian Grodzicky, Kaihui Huang, William Nethery, Byron Jeffrey Pacia, Erik Qi, and Jeremy Wang.

This recognition is a testament to the hard work and collaborative effort of all those involved, and it's a moment to be proud of the achievements and the bright future that awaits these students.

Congratulations are not only in order for the students but also for the teachers, staff and parents/carers who have been instrumental in bolstering the endeavours of all our HSC design students throughout the year.

Brenden Davidson, Leader of Learning-TAS

Music News

We invite our student musicians, parents, carers and the wider College community to attend our SMCC Studio Concert#2  which will be held next week.

STUDIO CONCERT #2  Week 4, Tuesday 31 October 2023, will commence at 5:30pm in the Chapter Hall. 
Choristers and Cathedral Scholars will be scheduled later in the program to ensure they may participate in performing with our fine student musicians in a showcase of talent. These performance opportunities are held in collaboration with our Instrumental teachers, in a casual and welcoming manner. All SMCC Instrumental teachers were invited to encourage their studio (students learning with them) to participate in this fantastic performance opportunity. 

Please contact smccsydney-music@syd.catholic.edu.au should you wish to be included in a particular studio segment of the evening. Places are limited, but we do have a few available. We will do our very best to accommodate any last minute requests.

Our Studio Concerts showcase the repertoire studied by our SMCC musicians and develop their solo experience as they work closely with a professional accompanist, Mr Miroslaw Galczynski. 

Miro Galczynski holds a Masters in Classical piano performance and teaching from the University of Poznan, Poland.
He has worked extensively throughout Europe as a session musician and soloist. He is the professional accompanist for the Australian International Ballet Academy, and is an accomplished professional AMEB, Trinity and HSC accompanist.

We invite you to attend and support the musical development of our solo instrumentalists and vocalists for this Concert. This is a free event and booking a seat assists us with our planning.

To book your tickets via TryBooking, please click on the link below:

SMCC Semester 2 Studio Concert

Student musicians performing at the Studio Concert will rehearse from 3:15pm - 4:30pm in the Chapter Hall and enjoy a pizza dinner courtesy of the College prior to the doors opening via St Mary’s Road at 5:15pm for our audience. SMCC Music staff will supervise the performers during this preparation and meal time. Students performing wear their College uniform. 

2023 SMCC AMADEUS SHOWCASE CONCERTS
We invite our Year 7 parents and carers to attend our SMCC Amadeus Showcase Band or String Ensemble Concerts, which will be held in Week 5 during our regular Amadeus music classroom ensemble sessions.

The SMCC Amadeus Bands Showcase will be held in Chapter Hall,  Week 5,  Tuesday 7 November, 2023 from 9:30am - 10:10am. Classes for this showcase include 7 music 1, 7 music 2 and 7 music 3.

Doors will open for parents and carers via St Mary’s Road.

Our Amadeus Band ensembles will present a selection of pieces that they have learnt in Semester 2 with their Amadeus tutors for family and friends on this occasion.  

The SMCC Amadeus Strings Showcase will be held in the Chapter Hall, Week 5 Wednesday 8 November, 2023 from 2:30pm - 3:10pm. Classes for this showcase include 7 music 5, 7 music 6 and 7 music 7.

Doors will open for parents and carers via St Mary’s Road.

Our Amadeus String ensembles will present a selection of pieces that they have learnt in Semester 2 with their Amadeus tutors for family and friends at this time.  

All Year 7 students will return their Amadeus instrument at the conclusion of their Showcase performance. We encourage all students wishing to continue with their instrumental music studies to hire an instrument through the College and join our Junior Strings or Junior Band on Friday mornings. Many Year 7 student musicians are already members of various ensembles and we would love for you to join us.

College musical instrument hire is available. We have most instruments available for hire, alternatively you may choose to hire or rent to buy from a music store of your own choice.

2023 Musical Instrument Loan Agreement

Music lockers are available to securely store your instrument for a nominal one off fee. Please complete the following form to be allocated a locker for your instrument. 

2023 Music Locker Hire Agreement.

To join an ensemble, please complete the following form.

2023 MUSIC ENSEMBLE APPLICATION

SSO YOUNG MUSICIANS WORKSHOP -  An Opportunity to Shine
Congratulations to our brilliant musicians who engaged in the SSO Young Musicians Workshop, Oisin Cantwell (double bass) and Rocky-Dimitri Holt (trumpet). The concluding Family and Friends showcase was well attended and the highlights included sophisticated repertoire such as Carmen Suite by George Bizet, La Gazza Ladra by Gioachino Rossini and the grand finale, Jurassic Park Suite: Theme by John Williams. 

This extension opportunity was student driven, with the selected musicians auditioning and preparing recordings as part of the audition process. Our warmest congratulations to those SMCC student musicians rising to the challenge.

CADET MUSICIANS SHOWTIME - A Musical Journey through Cinema 
Oscar Fahey (Year 9) and Rhys Welsh (Year 8) attended a 344 Musicians flight camp at Richmond Air Force base in the first week of the school holidays. This was an intensive music training camp for over 50 cadets from the air force, army and navy. 

Oscar played the snare drum in the marching drills and the electric bass and double base in the orchestra. Rhys played the saxophone in both bands. The orchestra performed for family and friends at the Windsor Function Centre on the last night of the camp. They performed Hollywood film themed songs for over two hours. 

Our warmest congratulations are extended to Oscar and Rhys, as they now share their learning and musical leadership with our younger musicians at the College. 

Oscar is a multi- instrumentalist, engaged in our instrumental tuition and ensemble programmes at SMCC. His dedication to his music studies and friendly nature has inspired others to enrol and be part of something special at SMCC. His student leadership within our programmes is to be commended. We are delighted that Oscar highly recommends the AAFC Music Camp and enjoyed his time playing music and making new friends.

REACHING BEYOND THE MUSIC CURRICULUM IN PERFORMANCE
Matthew Chen, a fine cellist, french horn and Cathedral chorister is to be warmly congratulated on his outstanding musical achievements in Term 3. In addition to his dedicated chorister commitments, Matthew has prepared and competed in multiple eisteddfods and had much success.

Please join us in congratulating Matthew on his recent musical achievements:

• City of Wollongong Eisteddfod: 1st place in the Strings Solo section
• Hawkesbury City Eisteddfod: 1st place in the String Instrumentals Solo section
• Sydney Eisteddfod: 2nd place in the Classical Solo section

THE SMCC LUNCHTIME CONCERT SERIES -A performance opportunity open to all student musicians across the College - 
On Wednesday, 18 October, staff and students of the College were delighted to hear Jeremy Leal and Ryker Widjaja perform on the piano. Jeremy performed a Baroque Sonata by J.S. Bach to warm applause from the audience.

Ryker performed two works from his upcoming AMEB piano exam from memory, demonstrating a sense of musicality far beyond his years. His performance of Domenico Scarlatti’s Sonata K.239 was highly virtuosic and demonstrated his sensitive musical touch. 

Public recitals in the lead up to performance exams are vital in developing performance stamina, stage presence, and confidence. We encourage all students to utilise the Lunchtime Concert Series in this manner as it plays an important role in supporting their musical studies at the College. It was a pleasure to hear these students perform and we wish Ryker all the best in his upcoming AMEB exam. 

Ryker will be performing more repertoire from his AMEB exam at the Lunchtime Concert Series in the coming weeks. Staff and students are warmly invited to hear Ryker and other members of our talented musical community perform every Wednesday in the Chapter Hall. 

Evan Hopkins, Music Teacher

Musicians at SMCC are invited to sign up to perform at the Lunchtime Concert Series, an opportunity to play repertoire of their own choice for family, friends and staff each Wednesday lunchtime in our stunning Chapter Hall.  For further information and to enrol, please refer to the Lunchtime Concert Signup Form

THE ADDAMS FAMILY MUSICAL - A collaborative production highlighting our fabulous SMCC student musicians and Instrumental staff

Hearty congratulations to the young men who contributed to The Addams Family musical orchestra for highly successful performances in this joint initiative between St Mary’s Cathedral and St Clare’s Colleges last week at the Seymour Centre. After a term of rehearsals during sport time on a Thursday and production rehearsals during weekends and evenings, the boys rose to the occasion and confidently supported the
on-stage cast and production. The orchestra sounded fantastic! 

As an novel and integrative initiative for Music curriculum at SMCC, Year 9 Music concurrently studied Theatre Music with a focus on The Addams Family as a unit of work in class music last term. This provided an authentic and exciting experience beyond the classroom for those boys choosing to be part of the cast or orchestra. Orchestra boys were privileged to work alongside a mentor in their instrument during the production rehearsals and performances, which made for a fantastic real-world performance learning opportunity and gave valuable insights into performance opportunities in the musical theatre industry for those involved. Mentors were experienced professional theatre musicians and our young men certainly benefited from their vast musical expertise and industry experience. 

The orchestra gentlemen are to be highly commended for their dedication and commitment to their own practice, as well as the rehearsals and outstanding performances. Great work gentlemen!

Flute: Adrian Roper-Tyler
Guitars: Cameron Roper-Tyler (electric & ukulele), Harry Abbey & Oisin Cantwell (bass) 
Keyboard: James Hou
Trumpet: Oscar Carralero
Percussion: Michael Gionis & Samuel Nixon
Tenor Sax/Clarinet: Zachary Sastradjaja

Stefan Roberts, Music Teacher

SXSW SYDNEY - South by Southwest Sydney
The groundbreaking US festival and conference descended on Sydney in October with a bumper program. The week-long event centred on creativity and innovation, bringing together some of the world’s most visionary thinkers. With venues throughout the city, the festival conference consisted of music events, a futuristic think tank, world premieres of highly anticipated games, films, a next-gen technology expo, and panel chats with groundbreaking speakers.

What does this have to do with SMCC? The offerings of the event resonated with the Music team at SMCC, aligning with our passion for education and real world connections. I was in attendance at one of the many performances held as part of the event and to my delight, I saw and heard one of our very own SMCC Instrumental tutors, Mr Miles Rooney (trumpet).  Mr Rooney was privileged to be be performing with the Andrew Gurruwiwi Band. 

The band is led by the one and only Andrew Gurruwiwi - a shy-but-extravagant, blind, keytar-wielding Yolngu elder with a passion to make people dance while sharing his culture.

A high-energy, 8-piece funk band who have honed their chops on the beach at Birrtjimi and in the dirt of Yirrkala, the Andrew Gurruwiwi Band compose real funk jams in their native tongue, Yolngu Matha. 

Mr Rooney played a very impressive solo, much to the delight of the audience and band members. We are blessed to have such talented working musicians sharing their wealth of knowledge and expertise with our SMCC student musicians.
It was a real experience seeing him perform with such passion and energy.

The venue was Phoenix Central Park. This is a unique venue, both architecturally and musically. The intimate performance space is close to Central Station and I encourage you to see what it’s all about if you enjoy the Arts.

Tickets to a wide range of music and artistic performances are by ballot and are FREE. The visiting information section includes their children policy and some performances may be to your liking. We are not endorsing the venue, only encouraging our student musicians, SMCC staff, and extended College community to get out and experience some of the wonderful offerings available in our city. Inspire your creativity and go to something new!

Alison Hunter, Leader of Learning-Music

INDIVIDUAL MUSIC TUITION AT SMCC

Consider enrolling now to secure your lesson in 2024.

We have opportunities for students to undertake private instrumental lessons with some of Sydney’s finest active professional musicians here at the College. We facilitate face-to-face learning experiences to maximise your progress, understanding and musicianship.  If you are an Elective Music student or have only just started learning an instrument this year, we invite you to enrol in an Instrumental Tuition lesson to support and fast track your musical success.
For further information and to enrol, please refer to the 2023 INSTRUMENT TUITION APPLICATION FORM. 

A friendly reminder to all students engaging in the Instrumental Tuition program that Instrumental Teachers must be notified directly a minimum of 24 hours in advance of absences or lesson fees will be charged. It is the student's responsibility to inform his Instrumental Teacher, as soon as possible, if there is a scheduled Assessment or other pre-notified school activity that will prevent his attendance on his particular lesson day. This includes illness or misadventure. Please note that every effort is made by the Music department to support the rescheduling of lessons due to College disruptions, to ensure a continuity of learning and engagement.

SMCC CONCERT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY - An invitation to attend

• SMCC Keyboard Festival Concert
  Week 7, Tuesday 21 November, 2023
  Chapter Hall 5:30pm - 6:30pm
  Featuring: Keyboard Capers and pianists studying at the College
  

• SMCC Contemporary Music Concert
  Week 8, Tuesday 28 November, 2023
  Chapter Hall 5:30pm - 7:00pm
  Featuring: Rock Band 1, Rock Band 2, Rock Band 3, Funk Band & Contemporary Guitar Ensemble
  

• SMCC Bands Concert
  Week 8, Wednesday 29 November, 2023
  College Hall 5:30pm - 7:00pm
  Featuring: Tango Media Luna, Saxophone Quartet, Primary Band, Junior Band, Intermediate band and Senior Band
  

• SMCC Strings & things Concert
  Week 8, Friday 1 December, 2023
  College Hall 5:30pm - 7:00pm
  Featuring: Poco Strings, Junior Strings, Intermediate Strings, Cathedral Strings, Spanish Classical Guitar Ensemble & Big Band.
  

These End of Year Concerts are a celebration of the musical talents at the College and admission is free. TryBooking links to indicate your attendance will be in the next Newsletter and assist us with our organisation.

Year 10 Camp

Year 10 attended a 3-day camp from Wednesday, 18 October to Friday, 20 October. The Year 10 student camp was a transformative experience for our group of young men. Set in the beautiful Killalea National Park, the camp brought many of them out of their comfort zones and into a world of self-discovery and camaraderie. The boys engaged in various activities that included setting up their own tents. They learned to cook their own meals, fostering independence and teamwork. Snorkeling and kayaking adventures immersed them above and below the gorgeous blue waters of Shellharbour, while surfing pushed them to conquer their fears and the waves. Bushwalking allowed the students to appreciate the natural beauty of the National Park and its surroundings, fostering a deeper connection to the environment. Archery, with its precision and focus, taught them patience and concentration. Amidst these challenges, the students exhibited a remarkable sense of positivity, resilience, and adaptability. Their camaraderie and support for one another were commendable, and the camp not only expanded their horizons but also instilled a sense of confidence and self-reliance, setting the stage for further personal growth and future team-building and leadership activities.

Fady Ibrahim, Year 10 Acting Leader of Wellbeing

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Primary News

SWIMMING
Term 4 swimming has begun and the boys are enjoying practising their skills to ensure they are always safe when by the beach or in pools and prepared for next year's swimming carnival. 

Yours in Faith and learning

Maggie Mattson, Leader of Learning-Primary

Sport

NSW ALL SCHOOLS ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

During Term 3 holidays a number of our athletics team decided to test themselves against the best that the State of New South Wales could offer in the NSW All Schools Championships held at Sydney Olympic Park. As the name suggests, this competition encompasses athletes from both the government and non-government school systems. 

The students who took up this challenge and represented our College at this event were: Ethan McKenzie, Harry Reed, Fletcher Netting, Michael Yfantis, Nicholas Yfantis, Jeremy Leal and Ben Alorati.

All of these students performed well against the toughest competition possible. Special congratulations must go to Ethan McKenzie who won a Silver medal in the 19 years 5000m event. Well done Ethan!

Peter Bottrill, Athletics Team Manager

SCS CRICKET, OZTAG & VOLLEYBALL

 October 12

October 19

From the Community

20% DISCOUNT ON SPORTS & CO-CURRICULAR GROUP PHOTOS AVAILABLE UNTIL 13/11/2023

Dear Parents,

These school sports and co-curricular groups were photographed on 22/08/2023 and 24/08/2023. 

Important

• Sports and co-curricular group photos can only be purchased online, PLEASE DO NOT return payment to the school
• If your child's group or team is scheduled to be photographed at a later date, you will receive an additional email notification when the images are ready to be ordered
• Photos will be returned to the school for distribution approximately six weeks after the discounted early order period has closed
• Past years' photographs including sports, co-curricular and representative groups are also available at the school's advancedorder and your child's advancedyou photo sites

Term 4 Upcoming Events