St Mary's Cathedral College Newsletter: Term 1, Week 6

From the College Principal

Open Day 2023

This week we had the pleasure of welcoming prospective students and their families to our St Mary’s community during our Open Day. St Mary’s is certainly a very special place and our students made us proud as they led tours and showcased the amazing learning that is happening at the College. The new afternoon format was very well received and we had over a thousand people walk through the College. Our College Captain Tahi Sue made a Captain’s Address and we heard from some of our newest members of the community Harley Connell in Year 7 and Lucas Pantasez in Year 4, as they provided a student’s perspective of life at the College. I want to also acknowledge the amazing contribution of our parent community who answered questions and manned the BBQ. 

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International Women's Day 2023

On Wednesday, 8 March we came together as a community to celebrate International Women’s day. One of our amazing young teachers, Monica Zanuttini spoke to the students about the significance of the day and the importance of embracing equity. 

Below is an extract from my IWD speech:

New Building

We are very excited to announce that Sydney Catholic Schools has acquired 52-58 William Street in the Sydney CBD in anticipation of making it an additional campus for St Mary’s Cathedral College. Whilst this new building is subject to planning approvals, we look forward to the possibilities that this will represent for learning at the College as we embark on our exciting new learning journey.

Kerrie McDiarmid, College Principal

From the Dean of Senior Years

Term 1 has certainly steamed ahead in such a positive fashion and I have been pleased with the way the boys have settled into their academic work thus far. St Mary’s Cathedral College has high expectations for all our students. These high expectations enable the students to reach their full potential. I have been encouraged by the enthusiasm in which so many students volunteered at our most successful Open Day earlier this week. I am pleased with the way which Year 11 and 12 students have taken the opportunity to utilise the extended opening hours to study in the library. The library is now open until 6pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for all students in Year 11 and 12.

The NSW Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation has synthesised:

Students who experience high expectations have improved learning outcomes and are also more likely to have:

• increased interest and motivation in lessons
• greater attendance
• more positive school behaviours
• a higher likelihood of completing school.

Moreover, when students have high expectations of themselves and their teachers they will achieve. These high expectations can manifest in a number of ways. These include uniform and grooming, attendance and punctuality, effective use of technology, differentiated instruction within the classroom, the continual cycle of feedback as well as positive student-teacher relationships. 

It is also the combination of high academic expectations and a focus on student wellbeing that ultimately leads to improved educational outcomes. St Mary’s has an ongoing focus on improvement and seeking to instill all these high expectations. Our Leaders of Wellbeing  and College counselors are available to support the students in maintaining a balance between their academic and emotional wellbeing.

Chris Maoudis, Dean of Senior Years

From the Dean of Middle Years

Middle school means more classes to juggle—and more homework assignments to manage. Help your son learn more and be successful in school by getting into a good homework routine.

1. Make homework a habit
2. Get focused
3. Keep supplies nearby
4. Stay organised
5. Manage assignments
6. Plan ahead for projects
   

HOLIDAY SPORT OPPORTUNITIES

Fencing Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) has provided an opportunity for students to participate in a two-day fencing camp during the upcoming April holiday period. The experience will kickstart students’ love of fencing and is aimed at school-aged beginners in the sport. 

Over the course of the camp, participants will learn to fence with three pieces of equipment - Epee, Foil, and Sabre.

• Age group: 8 - 16 years old
• Dates:Wednesday, 12 April and Thursday, 13 April 2023
• Cost: $200 for the 2 day camp (The fee is inclusive of an Annual Membership to the NSW Fencing Association as well as junior registration).
• Venue: NSW Fencing Centre -

  Building 2, Sydney Corporate Park, 190 Bourke Road Alexandria 2015

• Timings: 9:30am - 3:30pm
• Expressions of interest close on Friday 31 March, and there are limited spots available for the camp

For further information click here for flyer and submit your expression of interest here.

Contact will be made with parents that have submitted an expression of interest. 

Table Tennis Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) has partnered with Table Tennis NSW to provide an opportunity for students to participate in a one-day Table Tennis camp during the upcoming April holiday period.

Why Table Tennis? Table Tennis gives a full-body workout and helps improve your hand-eye coordination and reflexes. This means that playing table tennis can help improve your strength, stamina, agility and speed - essential skills for any athlete. One of the best things about table tennis is that it's fun.

Olympic Sport - As an Olympic sport, SCS wants to support its student athletes in achieving their potential. By providing this opportunity, students may grow a love for the game and pursue further representation.

• Date: Monday, 17 April 2023
• Venue: Macquarie University at the Recreation Hall
• Timings - 9am to 3pm
• Cost - $70
• Age groups - students from year 3 to year 12 are invited. Students will play in age divisions and similar ability levels.
• Registrations close on Friday 31 March and there are limited spots.

For further information click here for flyer and click here on how to register.

Be Faithful. Be Kind. Be Engaged.

David Timillero, Dean of Middle Years

From the Dean of Mission

As a College we came together to launch our annual Caritas Australia, Project Compassion Appeal. Every Lent we join thousands of schools across Australia to participate in this appeal. This initiative by Caritas Australia, involves fundraisers and projects to increase awareness at schools and parishes on how we can contribute towards a more just and compassionate world. 

Each year Caritas chooses a theme to inspire us as we participate in Project Compassion. The theme for 2023 is ‘For All Future Generations’, which is a quote from Luke 1:46-55 that depicts Mary’s great example of faith and how this can bring authentic joy. Like many other great women in our lives, who we are called to remember in a special way on International Womens’ Day, Mary’s example reminds us that to have faith is to have courage. The courage to stand up for what is right, to trust in family and friends, to trust ourselves and to trust in the right path as the best path even if it seems the most difficult at times. In having such faith we are both blessed and a blessing for current and future generations.

“all generations will call me blessed.” – Luke 1:48

Our start to the Season of Lent brought the College together for a special Ash Wednesday Mass led by Fr Lewi Barakat. He reminded us how the traditional Christian spiritual exercises of prayer, fasting and charity, can help us grow in our faith during the time of Lent (and hopefully beyond). This message was taken up again by our Youth Ministry Coordinator, Mr Thomas Rodriguez, and our Ministry Prefect, Liam Chang, at our Project Compassion launch assembly. 

Our Shrove/Pancake Tuesday fundraiser for victims of the earthquake in Syria and Turkey was a great demonstration of how we can come together as a College community of faith. With short notice and only as a before school event, we were able to raise $805.00! I’m particularly grateful to the staff, students and families who made this possible, either by helping in the preparation and service or by participating in buying some pancakes. 

For most mornings until the end of term, members of our student leadership team will be visiting homerooms to collect donations for Project Compassion. Already our students have yet again demonstrated their generosity, and we are off to a great start. On 24 March we will be having a mufti day fundraiser and further awareness activities to continue our support of Project Compassion – more details to follow.

Thomas Hunter, Dean of Mission

Year 12 Investigating ANSTO excursion

On Tuesday 21^st of February, Year 12 Investigating Science students, along with Miss Donnelly visited ANSTO (Australia’s Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation) in Lucas Heights. As a part of the Investigating Science course, we get to extend students in various parts of the syllabus, and this formed some of our depth study hours.

It was an eventful day with an early start in the morning and the maxi-taxis to and from the College. Students enjoyed seeing all the facilities, including the OPAL reactor and its Australian named experiment sites, a guest talk from Yoko Nara (A researcher from JAEA- Japan’s equivalent of ANSTO) and even where nuclear waste is stored.

Students learned about the applications of nuclear medicine and the in-demand facilities that ANSTO has.  Highlights included detecting radiation on our lecture facilitators (pictured) and learning about the views of Japan in relation to nuclear energy, compared to Australia. It was definitely a fun time for all!

Below are some photos from our time at ANSTO (the parts that you can see that weren't protected by the AFP).

Kaylee Donnelly, Year 12 Investigating Science Teacher

Year 7 History

Year 7 visits Hyde Park Barracks

During Weeks 5 and 6, Year 7 History students have visited Hyde Park Barracks as part of their Investigating the Ancient Past unit. It includes activities that demonstrate archaeology, allow students to draw conclusions from artefacts and source materials and learn a bit about Sydney's colonial past. The excursion also functions as a site study, which is a compulsory part of the Junior History Syllabus.
Here's what two of our students had to say about their visit.

On Monday, February 27, three Year 7 History classes went on a five-minute walk up to the Hyde Park Barracks to partake in a History excursion. When we arrived, we were greeted by our museum guides and broke into small groups. Our first task at the Barracks was to find objects/artifacts that matched the sentence our guide had given us. Some of the objects and artifacts we discovered included broken plates, pottery shards, cutlery, bits of clothing and cloth, bones, dead and dried rats along with their nests. Some other activities we enjoyed included laying down in hammocks. We finished by investigating "fake" rubbish and then created a theory about who the person was, what their name was, and what they were doing based on what we found in the bin.

Our final activity (which in my opinion was the best activity by far) was to do a mini excavation/archaeological dig in small groups and find a hidden artefact in the sand. We were also given a sheet to fill out about our artefact. We were given different bits of equipment which included: a sifter to sift out sand, a brush to carefully brush away sand, and the last bit of equipment which is something that we all have… our hands! After a while, my group found our artifact which ended up being a clay/ceramic marble. After all of that, it was time to return to school for recess.

Benjamin Alorati 

Monday, Week Five was a lucky day for Year 7 because of the excursion that took place at Hyde Park Barracks. After entering the large sandstone walls surrounding the Barracks we were introduced to our guides and split into groups to complete activities.

The first activity our group participated in tested our garbology skills. We had to investigate the contents of a bin and determine who could have owned it. Our bin contained cough drops, masks and a covid test. From this information we concluded that the owner was sick. The second activity immersed us in the world of archaeology. In groups of three, we dug up historical artefacts in a sandbox. After uncovering our object we measured and weighed it. Our final activity took us on a mini tour of some parts of the museum. We began with the walls of the Barracks where we learnt about the conditions that its inhabitants lived in. We then learnt about the many items that were found in the Barracks before going upstairs to lay in replicas of the hammocks that the convicts slept in.

Overall, Year 7's trip to the Hyde Park Barracks was fun and educational for the whole class and we thank everybody who helped organise it.

Zavier Elek

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Ashley Pereira, Leader of Learning - HSIE

Year 8 Science Incursion - A Case of Identity

On Wednesday, 22 February 2023, Year 8 participated in a forensic science incursion hosted by Education Interactive in the College Hall. Students were able to explore the different areas involved in forensic science such as DNA testing, drug testing and hair and fibre analysis. Year 8 students were able to investigate a scenario surrounding the mysterious death of a girl called Sally Kerr. Assisted by an Education Interactive team member, Gabrielle Tiernan, students travelled from station to station looking at different pieces of evidence to help solve the crime. Everyone particularly enjoyed the interactive activities which allowed students to truly experience what it's like to solve crimes as a forensic scientist. 

We would really like to thank Gabrielle Tiernan from the Education Interactive team and the SMCC Science staff for making this incursion possible for the students. 

Christian Koh and Phillip Boustany, Year 8 Science

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The Addams Family Musical Camp

This year, students from St Clare’s College Waverley and St Mary’s Cathedral College are teaming up to develop a combined musical production of The Addams Family. To begin this process, 70 students involved in the cast and chorus attended a 3 day camp in week 6 at Kiah Ridge. This was a positive experience for all students involved as they took part in singing, dancing and acting workshops tailored to the musical. The team of teachers from both schools and students listened to the esteemed Australian actor and singer Rachael Beck discuss the intentions of the show and vision for the production. We are very excited to have her on board to direct the production. I would also like to thank Mr Callum McKenzie and Dr Evan Hopkins for their assistance at the camp.

Students will rehearse throughout the year before performing on 17 and 18 October at the Seymour Centre. 

Students were inspired by the range of works displayed and engaged in fruitful discussions in critiquing the works they saw. The range of projects and performance on display included:

• Monologue and Group Performances
• Moved Script Reading
• Video Drama Films 
• Costume Designs
• Set Designs
• Poster and Program Designs
• Lighting Designs
• Portfolio of Theatre Criticism
• Director’s Folio
• Applied Research Project

The showcase emphasised the range of choices available to senior Drama students and demonstrated flair and integrity in the theatrical world. 

HSC Drama Performance Masterclass

On Tuesday, 28 February, St Mary’s Cathedral College hosted the Sydney Catholic Schools HSC Drama Masterclass for Performance: Monologue. Our HSC students attended along with a number of other year 12 students from across Sydney Catholic Schools. The focus of the evening was to check in with students on their progress, watch their performances in development and provide feedback on how they could make progress. We were joined by Drama educators from the Arts Team as well as two artists in residence. 

We look forward to hosting our HSC Drama Showcase at the end of Term 2 this year which all are invited to attend. 

Georgia Andreacchio, Teacher of Drama

Creative Arts Corner

The Visual Arts Department were privileged to be invited to the new Sydney Modern building at the AGNSW on the 1st of March to be the first school to use the new Lewin Digital Lab. Year 10 Visual Arts were the fortunate class who utilised this opportunity to create their own version of an Aboriginal “ku” dog. 

Firstly, we were  presented with a brief talk on the “ ku“ dogs which are part of the Aboriginal collection in the Gallery. Made by the Wik-Nstudentsgathan language group of the West Cape region of Australia, these dogs are based on the characters of the camp dogs; each with their own personality and demonstrating their relationship with their owners; the makers of these unique and joyous canines.

Next, the students were given a demonstration and the opportunity to see some of the original makers designing their “ku” dog sculptures. These were then converted into a virtual object which the students then transformed into a narrative artwork using iPads and the program Procreate. The boys were transfixed! Some truly wonderful designs were conceived onto these virtual objects. Our workshop leaders then showed the students how to transform these images into 3D virtual objects which could be placed within the Sydney Modern gallery as a virtual space.

This glimpse of the possibilities of digital technologies within the Visual Arts learning space inspired not only the students but also our Visual Art staff.  Hopefully this will pave the way for the future production of new media works for our students with a class set of iPad Airs.

We thank the Art Gallery for acknowledging our proximity to them and extending this wonderful opportunity to us 

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Louisa Cunningham and Michele Marshall, Visual Arts Teachers

SPORT

SCS Touch & Basketball

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

NSW All Schools Triathlon

The NSW All Schools Triathlon was held at Sydney International Regatta Centre on Friday, 24 February. This was a tough race, including students from government and independent schools. SMCC had two representatives in the senior category. Congratulations to Finnbar McElligott and Tadhg Donnellan who performed well in a group of almost 100 athletes.

SMCC Swimming Championships

The SMCC Swimming Championships were held on Monday, 20 February, at Auburn Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre. We were blessed with fantastic weather for what is always one of the most enjoyable days on the College calendar. The students participated with enthusiasm and pride, both in the pool and in the stands. A total of nine records were also broken on the day!

Congratulations to Kelly House for winning the 2023 Swimming Championships. The final results were:

• • Kelly          439
  • Vaughan     382
  • Moran        380
  • Polding      336

The 2023 Swimming Age Champions

• • Pri Alex Pantazes         
  • U12 Tom Nicoletti
  • U13 Ryker Widjaja
  • U14 Oliver Low
  • U15 Stuart MacDonald
  • U16 Charles Barbour
  • 17+ Mark Gifford

Combined Christian Brothers Swimming Championships

The invitational CCB Swimming Championships were held at Ryde Aquatic Centre on Saturday, 25 February. This carnival is a great opportunity for our swimmers to test themselves against some strong competition from other Independent schools. Our boys performed exceptionally well, coming fourth overall as well as first in the Junior category!  

Conference 1 Swimming Championships

The second annual SCS Conference 1 Swimming Championships were held on Monday evening at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. This carnival has the most comprehensive event schedule of any carnival that Cathedral competes in, and we were up against some tough competition.

 We experienced some fantastic individual and team success. Below are some highlights:

• Tom Nicoletti, U12:1st place 50m Freestyle, 50m Breaststroke, 100m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke
• Ryker Widjaja, U13: 1st place 50m Backstroke
• Oliver Low, U14: 1st place 50m Breaststroke, 100m Butterfly
• 1st Place: 12-19 Boys 6 X 50m Freestyle Relay
  
• Under 12 Age Champion: Tom Nicoletti
• Under 13 Age Champion: Ryker Widjaja

 Cathedral also retained the Junior Age Division shield, the Ratio shield and placed second overall.

 Congratulations to all of the members of our swim team and thank you to the coaches.

 We have several members of our team who have progressed to the Sydney Swimming Championships, where they will compete against the other three Sydney conferences. We wish those students the best of luck.

Simon Shaw, Sport Coordinator

Junior School News

Dr Karl Visit

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki came into the primary rooms on Monday, 27 February. He talked about a variety of things including how planes fly, lightning and why bodily gasses smell (which we found very funny). He also shared a lot of other fun facts. It was fun having him in as he was very enthusiastic about his job and Science, which made all his facts sound even more real. Despite knowing he was an expert, some facts were just crazy to think about. Did you know that cats are more likely to survive a fall from a 32-storey building than a 7-story building!

Tom Lord Year 6

Survive and Thrive: The Royal Botanic Garden Excursion

Stage 3 went to the Royal Botanic Gardens on the 1st of March. This place has many unique plants, flowers and many more things! We walked there because it was a pretty quick walk.

The Botanic Garden had a booklet to fill out new things like Environment Eye Spy where we had to tick the box if we saw that leaf, plant, tree or roots. We could find those things in a specific place like in the rainforest and the arid environments. Next we had to have some tools to see like: Soil Moisture, Air Temperature, Humidity and Wind Speed (Max). Then we filled out what it said and lastly we sketched and drew leaves.

We saw many, many plants, trees and leaves and we heard our instructor teach us unique things and words. Our instructor showed us a leaf that smelled like lemonade. It smelled really good and lastly we touched leaves, flowers, trees and plants. They felt normal to touch but I wouldn’t touch the cactus! 

In conclusion, The Royal Botanical Garden was interesting and really cool. They also even have an app. 

Sijun Kim - Year 5

Stage 2 Botanical Garden Excursion

On Tuesday, 7 March we had our first excursion of the year. We walked to the Botanical Gardens and learnt about animals and plants. It was a lot of fun!

First, we took a walk through the beautiful garden. The Botanical Garden educator gave us special goggles to wear during our walk. The goggles enabled us to see the plants like bees see them. And we learnt that bees are colourblind! It was interesting to see how bees find the nectar. We even tried some of it. It was very sweet and tasted like honey and a bit like cucumber! We also learnt about different types of seeds and how they disperse. Seeds can’t walk like us and we explored how they spread using the wind, water, animals or even fire.

Our favourite part of the excursion was conducting an experiment using rare Flannel Flower seeds and placing them into plain agar and smokey agar. The smokey agar smelled like a barbeque! 

We were allowed to take our experiment back to our classroom and hopefully get to watch the Flannel Flower grow over the next couple of weeks. It was a fun day out learning about Science and we love to go back soon!

Stage 2 Class

Magdalene Mattson, Primary Coordinator

Term 1 Upcoming Events