St Mary's Cathedral College Newsletter: Term 2, Week 6
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From the College Principal
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From the Dean of Senior Years
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From the Dean of Middle Years
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From the Dean of Liberal Arts
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From the Dean of Mission
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From the Leader of Curriculum
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Year 8 Geography Excursion
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Year 11 SOR Excursion
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Year 12 Georgraphy Fieldwork
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Year 12 Drama Showcase
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Model United Nations Assembly
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SCS Drama Eisteddfod
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National Sorry Day
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Primary News
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Sport
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Library News
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SMCC Annual Music Concert Raffle
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Term 2 Upcoming Events
From the College Principal

Lord, open up our hearts so that we may hear the message you teach of a world in which the wrongs of the past are recognised - a world in which a reconciled people walk and talk together sharing stories; a world in which all burn with the desire to have your peace and justice reign. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen

National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.
Staff Professional Development
All staff will take part in a Professional Learning day on Friday, 9 June 2023. A reminder that this is a pupil free day. If your son requires supervision for the day, please contact your Leader of Wellbeing by Wednesday, 7th June and we will arrange supervision for the day.

Tell Them From Me Survey
As part of our focus on school effectiveness, St Mary’s Cathedral College will be participating in an online survey for parents and students – Tell Them From Me (TTFM). The survey will provide us with valuable feedback on what our community thinks about school life, how engaged they are with school, and the different ways that teachers interact with them. Schools in Australia and around the world have used the Tell Them From Me survey to help them improve.
We value the role of parents and carers and your feedback is important to us. The information you provide will ensure we maintain our commitment to working in partnership with you to ensure our continued commitment to a quality educational experience for your son.
This is an anonymous survey, which takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. The survey will be shared during week 7 and will remain open until 16 June. Staff and students will also be completing the survey in the coming weeks.
Parent Meet & Greet
Thank the parents/ carers that joined us for the St Mary's Cathedral College annual Parent Social event. We had a fabulous turn out and we hope you enjoyed the evening. We look forward to next year's event and hope that more of the community can join us!












St Mary's Annual Music Concert: Australian Made
The College Annual Music Concert takes place on Friday, 23 June at Sydney Town Hall. The theme for this year is 'Australian Made'. Be prepared for an unforgettable evening filled with soul-stirring performances that will leave you humming Australian tunes long after the final curtain falls. Our students' musical magic will truly shine!
Doors open at 6.15pm for a 7.00pm start. Tickets are available to purchase via the link below:
https://www.trybooking.com/
I want to thank the music department for all of their hard work and effort in the lead up to this event. I am very much looking forward to seeing all of the musical talent that the College has on offer on this special evening.
Kerrie McDiarmid, College Principal
From the Dean of Senior Years
Dear Parents, Carers, Staff and Students,
Assessment
As we have just passed midway through the term, many students in the senior school have been working hard on a number of different assessment tasks. Our assessment program here at St Mary’s attempts to balance the various needs of demonstrating deep understanding, skill mastery as well as content knowledge. Assessment can take many forms and can be both formative and summative. This gives the students the opportunity to demonstrate achievement of outcomes in a variety of ways. As part of our professional learning program this year, teachers have been reviewing all tasks and embedding formative opportunities into their programs to better support the learning and teaching cycle.
Academic Assembly
Congratulations to the boys in Year 11 who were awarded with certificates of academic assembly at our Senior Academic Assembly. It was most pleasing to see so many students acknowledged for their hard work across the first semester. I encourage the boys to continue to work diligently and look forward to seeing more students recognised for their academic efforts as the year progresses.
Vaping
The use of recreational vapes by Australian school students has been rising in recent years and a few weeks ago, it was announced that the Australian government will ban the importation of non-prescription vaping products – including those that do not contain nicotine. Minimum quality standards for vapes will also be introduced, including restricting flavours, colours and other ingredients. Unfortunately SMCC is not immune to the scourge of vaping. Often parents and carers are unaware of their sons involvement in such activities.
Better regulation of the supply of vapes is part of the solution, however many students may already have developed an addiction to nicotine by using vapes and will need assistance in identifying triggers to vaping and developing strategies to quit. Continual education on this issue for teens is critical, so we ask all parents to have an open conversation with your child today about whether they have used vapes in the past, and why it is important not to, or if they are using vapes at present, that you can get support for them to quit through your GP. Quitline counsellors (link below) are also available to answer any questions about vapes on 13 7848 (13 QUIT) from parents or young people, including how to start that conversation with your child.
Grooming
It has become apparent that some students are still not adhering to the College’s uniform and grooming guidelines around appropriate hair cuts/styles. Parents are asked for their support in ensuring students reflect our high standards. Leaders of Wellbeing have been asked to follow up on concerns with consequences for students who are not adhering to our published guidelines.
Respect
Respect is a key pillar of our values system here at St Mary’s. I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the importance of respect for self, others and the community. It is disappointing at times to see some boys challenge or disrespect their teachers, or behave inappropriately in public. I would encourage parents to support our ongoing focus on this key value.
Reminder
Finally, as we move towards our annual concert, I would like to remind everyone that it is a compulsory school event and that if a student is unable to attend, that a doctor’s certificate is provided.
Kind regards,
Chris Maoudis, Dean of Senior Years
From the Dean of Middle Years
As we work towards the middle of the school year, I am proud to reflect on all the hard work and dedication that our students and staff have put in. May is a busy month, filled with exciting events and opportunities for our students. It's also important to remind students to finish the semester off strongly and stay focused in their activities. Please help encourage them to stay engaged in their classes, complete their assignments, and enjoy the run into the end of term.
A reminder to parents and carers when picking up students on St Mary’s Road to ensure the safety of all students by following traffic laws. Please do not ask students to alight your car whilst you are stationary in the driving lane. There have been a number of close calls in recent weeks and council rangers have been in touch with the College to remind us of our responsibilities in regard to these matters.
Be Faithful. Be Kind. Be Engaged.
David Timillero, Dean of Middle Years
From the Dean of Liberal Arts
Dear Parents, Carers, Staff and Students,
As we approach the assessment busy time of the term, we are reminded of the incredible power and endless possibilities that lie within the realm of teaching and learning. Here at SMCC we believe that education is not simply about acquiring knowledge but about nurturing curious minds and inspiring a lifelong love for learning. It is a journey of discovery, growth, and empowerment for both students and educators alike.
Our dedicated team of teachers brings a wealth of expertise, passion, and commitment to the classroom every day. They are not just instructors but also mentors, facilitators, and guides who foster an engaging and inclusive learning environment. Through their unwavering dedication, they create opportunities for students to unlock their potential, explore new horizons, and develop the skills they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.
We are proud to witness the remarkable achievements of our students, not only in academic pursuits but also in their personal growth and character development. Beyond the classroom, our students have participated in various learning opportunities this term, the Model United Nations Assembly, the Ethics Olympiad, Work Placement, the various excursions that take the learning out of the classroom, all which provide additional avenues for students to explore their passions, cultivate leadership skills, deepen their understanding of the world in which they live and build lasting friendships. These opportunities enhance their holistic education, promoting well-rounded individuals who are equipped to make a positive impact on the world.
Belinda VanderGert, Dean of Liberal Arts
From the Dean of Mission

Pentecost: A Reminder that the Gospel is for Everybody
As the Church celebrates Pentecost, we are reminded how the Gospel message is intended for all people. The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost empowered the disciples to go out to people “from every nation” (Acts 2:5) and share the message of Jesus with all others. Some examples of this shown by our students are their visits to Plunkett Street Public school to teach Scripture every Tuesday, their coming together to acknowledge National Sorry Day, and their volunteering at the St Vincent de Paul Matthew Talbot men’s hostel. Living and sharing the Gospel means being a person who seeks to heal and bring peace to others. May we as a College community, a community of faith, always strive to seek opportunities to help others bring about the common good. I am very impressed by the way some of our students have put their hand up to volunteer to help others, and look forward to many more opportunities for our students to live the Gospel in a variety ways.

Year 7 Reflection day
It was great to see our students participate in their reflection day on Friday, 26 May. The theme for the day was Relationships. Students were given examples of what positive relationships are with each other, themselves and with God. The Youth Mission Team facilitated the day with the use of dramas, testimonies, talks and guided reflections. Students were invited to share their own insights into what they believe makes a positive relationship, and how we can build these within our communities. Students also received their study Bibles on the day, and they are invited to attend Wednesday morning Masses in the Cathedral Crypt at 8.10am to have these blessed.
Student Voice:
“I feel it was a day were we got to work the ideas of relationships and how they are very important in our day to day lives” - Nicholas Kokontis
“It was a fun day to reflect with the use of games and drama on how we relate to each other. I liked how we got spend more time together as a Year group” - Ethan Castro
“It was fun and a great learning experience. We learnt the importance of relationships with people and how to keep these. It was also taught us about the importance of a relationship with God.” - Jacob Sousa





Years 9 & 10 Evangelisation Day
On Wednesday, 17 May, 11 students participated in an Evangelisation Day filled with faith, expressed through song and dance. They had the opportunity to listen to the inspirational stories from motivational individuals and were encouraged to consider the role that faith plays in their lives. Students met new friends from other school communities and celebrated their faith in an enjoyable day filled with activities. Ashleigh Irvine, Teacher
I had the privilege of attending Evangelisation Day at Domremy College with fellow Year 9 and 10 students from various Sydney Catholic Schools, including some familiar faces from my old school. The day was filled with enlightening activities, including learning faith songs, engaging in dance to connect with others. We were inspired by talks and reflected on the Holy Spirit's importance in our faith journey. It was a joyful experience, encouraging communication and celebration of our faith with other school communities, leaving us to remember we will always walk with the Holy Spirit in our hearts. - Tiernan Cargill, Year 10
Evangelisation Day was an enticing experience with exhilarating stories from entertainer and religious leader Chris Padgett, which taught us how to apply our faith in everyday situations as well as in special occasions in our lives; for example, having a family and getting married. We were given an amazing opportunity to experience the serene silence as we adored the Eucharist which gave us time to speak to Jesus through prayer. This was compiled with captivating songs and dances enlightening our souls to the Holy Spirit. Throughout the day we truly walked with the Holy Spirit in our hearts, connecting with a variety of students in our Catholic schools who were in similar situations and ages and living with the same faith as us.- Daniel Russo, Year 9

Studies in Catholic Thought Excursion
On 19 May, Year 11 Studies in Catholic Thought students went on an excursion to various Catholic churches around the city as part of their current unit of study, The Trinitarian God and Humanity. Students were guided to identify and discuss examples of how different Churches have represented the humanity and divinity of Christ, as well as the Trinity.
Student Voice:
“The stunning glass stained windows each told their own story. After visiting our beautiful cathedral, we continued on to St Patrick's Church Hill. After that we travelled to our last church which was St Peter Julian’s. This gave us a modern example of how a church can strongly represent the unity of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Not only were we amazed by these churches, the day was extremely enjoyable and it was a great way to learn.”- Harry Serovich
“This excursion was an excellent opportunity to learn and observe how the Trinity along with Jesus’ Humanity and Divinity are represented. The excursion commenced with a visit to St Candice’s Church Elizabeth Bay, before continuing onto St Benedict’s Broadway. Both these Churches were traditional in their religious representations as was seen through the stained glass windows that were present in both Churches. Also noting that these Churches along with the others communicated a strong spiritual presence for worshippers. The excursion continued to our own Cathedral where we observed through the highly ornate stained glass windows of Jesus’ Humanity and Divinity. The last two Churches visited gave our group a more ‘modern’ outlook of how the Trinity is represented along with Jesus’ Humanity and Divinity. Especially with a changing society and changing values, this can be quite instrumental when focusing on the path of the Catholic Church in the future. Quintessentially, the visits to St Patrick’s Church and St Peter Julian’s proved to be highly engaging and thoughtful experiences that wrapped up the day nicely." - Harry Reed

Picture of SMCC students carrying the canopy in 2022
Upcoming events for the Sydney Archdiocese
Walk with Christ. On the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, the Sydney Archdiocese invites all Catholics to unite and honour the real presence by attending the Walk With Christ Eucharistic Procession through the Sydney CBD.
This joyful public proclamation seeks to manifest the spiritual joy at the presence of the Saviour in the Eucharist. Like, for instance, the crowds who welcomed Christ into Jerusalem singing “Hosanna to the Son of David” and the wise virgins who accompanied the bridegroom at his arrival to the feast, so does the faithful of Sydney in their devotion accompany the Eucharistic Lord through its streets. When: June 11 with a festival beginning at 1:00pm in Martin Place. The procession begins at 2:30pm sharp from the corner of Martin Place and Pitt Street.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE PURPOSE CAMP FOR YEAR 9 - 12 HIGH SCHOOLERS!
The Sydney Archdiocesan Catholic Youth Team are inviting all High Schoolers in Years 9 - 12 to come along for activities, faith formation, community, prayer and sacraments and MORE!
Early Bird booking has been extended until 12 JUNE, and they have launched a discount for siblings. Check out the trybooking for more info and register now before places fill up!
Link here ➡ https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1046426?eid=1046426&


Thomas Hunter, Dean of Mission
From the Leader of Curriculum
Today’s Academic Assembly was dedicated to the achievements of our senior students.
Earlier this term, teachers were asked to nominate three students from each senior class they taught for an Academic Excellence Award. This could result from their academic results or their outstanding effort and application in a course. Students needed to be nominated by two of their teachers to receive an award.
We also had presentations today for the Archdiocesan RE Test, Premiers Reading Challenge, the Education Perfect language competition, the Regional Arts Exchange Program, the Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards, a Certificate of Appreciation from the NSW Police, the Model United Nations Competition, and student leaders received their SRC Medals.
We were also honoured to have George Annas, an old boy from the class of 2021, give an inspiring speech on the importance of fostering personal study habits.
We congratulate the following students for their effort
Senior Academic Awards
Year 11 Students:
Charlie Abbey | Sonny Joseph | Harry Reed |
Harry Abbey | James Keeling | Joel Ruz |
Jack Avis | Will Kelleher | Harry Serovich |
Samuel Bashall | David Kim | Lucas Sidney |
Tom Finn | Tyler Mrmacovski | Nicholas Srbinovski |
Max Fu | Alexander Nguyen | Aaron Valdy |
Seamus Giveen | Alexander Pas |
Year 12 Students:
Dylan Bitar | Aodhfin Grech | William Nethery |
Declan Bolger | Christian Grodzicky | Aden O’Hara |
Donovan Brooks | Kai Huang | Byron Jeffrey Pacia |
Dylan Brooks | Charlie Leas | Marcel Reskakis |
Liam Chang | Kerin William | Matteo Scardilli |
Adam Dixon | Raphael McDonnell | Tahi Sue |
Murphy Fox | Zachary McGuirk | Callum Webster |
Billy Giannoukas | Ethan McKenzie | Rei Wong |
Other Awards
Police certificate of Appreciation:
Aidan Adler
Education Perfect Awards for Italian:
Ryker Widjaja | Amos Bento | Billy Clare |
Marcelino Tjiputra | Sebastian Mok | Gabriele Modica |
Ryan Trinh | Declan Tandean | Jack Charles |
Dylan Ong | John Aditya | Darren Chu |
Nicholas Rossini | Luke Budi | Aidan Greensmith |
Arian Thomas | Adrian Nguyen | Oisin Smyth |
Caleb Robinson | Will Boronski | |
Evan Zafiropoulos | Daniel Andrews |
RE Test Awards (High Distinction):
Harry Abbey | James Athanasou | David Kim |
Charlie Abbey | Ryan Carlisle |
MUNA Awards:
Dylan Bitar | Joel Ruz | Aodhfin Grech |
Ryan Carlisle | Ethan Caruso | Quinlan Phillips |
Regional Arts Exchange Program:
Enzo Calabria | Noah Rucker | Michael Oliveri |
Santiago Zunita Honig | Elias Tordesillas Ringma | Juliano Tomasello |
Premier’s Reading Challenge 2022:
Primary
Joshua Holt | Zhi En Mao |
Sijun Kim | Tanat Vajasuwimol |
Year 7
Maximus Ayoub | Aiden Madianting |
Cooper Bui | Adrian Nguyen |
Jack Charles | Finn O'Flaherty (Platinum Award) |
Harry Dietz | Rorey Power |
Year 8
Oscar Fahey | Riley Power |
Samuel Kim | Alexander Wong |
Year 9
Tiernan Cargill | Aidan Greensmith | Lucas Webster |
Kyle Cheong | Thomas Munoz Rubi | Lars Zelic |
Premier’s Reading Challenge Medal:
Aidan Greensmith
Thomas Munoz Rubi
Lars Zelic
Duke of Edinburgh:
SILVER:
Charlie Abbey | Dante Farrell | Adrian Roper-Tyler |
Harry Abbey | Jacob Francis | Cameron Roper-Tyler |
Samuel Bashall | James Keeling | Joel Ruz |
Ryan Carlisle | James McNamara | Zachary Sastradjaja |
Jasper Connor | Alexander Nguyen | Kenzo Wang |
Tadhg Donnellan | Noah Preobrajensky |
BRONZE
Charles Barbour | Lachlan Francis | Willam Niland |
Joel Bitar | Julian Herbert | Sebastian Ong |
Tiernan Cargill | Giovanni Jensen | Hayden Salameh |
Kyle Cheong | Daniel Lilic | |
Noah Cole | Xavier Mills |

Thomas Finn received an academic award from our guest speaker, Mr Annas.

Dusan Cavric received his class captain medal from Mr Annas.

Acting Commander of Kings Cross Police Area Command, Superintendent Matthew Ciregna, presenting a certificate of appreciation to Aidan Adler. Aidan recently presented the Welcome to Country at the Kings Cross Police Area Command Awards day.

Participants in the Regional Arts Exchange program: Juliano Tomasello, Michael Oliveri, Elias Tordesillas Ringma, Noah Rucker, Santiago Zunita Honig.

Daniel Bortolin receiving an academic award from our College principal, Mrs McDiarmid.

Guest Speaker, Mr Annas

Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award Recipients
Year 10 Subject Selection
Subject Market Day
Year 10 students are in the process of choosing their subject for Years 11 and 12, on Wednesday, 7 June (Day 3). Teachers will run 20-minute information sessions during periods 3-5 on Wednesday, 7 June (Day 3), and students can attend nine separate Subject Information sessions to make more informed decisions around subject selection.
Parent information Evening
On Wednesday, 7 June, a Parent Information Session on Year 11 and 12 Subject Selection for 2024/25 will take place in the school hall between 6 pm and 7 pm.
This is a compulsory event, and every student in Year 10 is expected to attend with at least one parent. Each student will receive a subject selection handbook, and you will have an opportunity to meet with Leaders of Learning at the end of the presentations from the Principal, Dean of Senior Years, Leader of Learning - Curriculum, and the Careers Advisor.
This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about your son's pathways next year and beyond.
Karen Fahey, Acting Leader of Learnig - Curriculum
Year 8 Geography Excursion
On Friday, 12 May, Year 8 got the opportunity to dive deep into the world of water. As part of our Geography unit: ‘Water in the World', we ventured to Sydney Olympic Park where we went on a guided tour to learn about the management of water in an urban setting. The numerous features the area has implemented to catch, clean and reuse all water that falls in the area is then distributed to the various stadiums, arenas and living spaces. As part of the tour, we were able to test the quality of water that was collected in a reservoir. We then moved to the Water Reclamation and Management Scheme (WRAMS) and saw the process which sees the area save up to 1 billion litres of water annually. This treatment plan is able to recycle and filter the water before pumping it around to the surrounding areas. The trip brought awareness and a better understanding to the scarcity of water and how vital it is to life on Earth. It showed us how suburbs of the future need to be built in order to maximise our use of this valuable resource. - Oliver Low, Year 8






Year 11 SOR Excursion

On Friday, 19 May, Year 11 boys were given the opportunity to attend 5 diverse Christian churches across Sydney as part of their Studies of Religion Christian unit. Visiting St Mary's Cathedral, St James Anglican Church, Pitt Street Uniting Church, the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Redfern and the Salvation Army Headquarters provided peers with a unique opportunity to not only reach a more in-depth understanding of the Catholic Church and its practices but also those of other Christian denominations as part of the Christianity unit of study in Studies of Religion.
At St Mary’s Cathedral, Fr. Lewi Barkat (himself an old boy of the College) shared with us his scholarly knowledge of the history of the Catholic Church in Australia and its traditions, allowing many students to better understand their faith.
At the Pitt Street Uniting and Salvation Army Churches, students were provided with a view of what a drastically different interpretation of Christianity looked like. There, students were able to observe the different liturgical stances, architecture and church hierarchy that they may not have been used to.
At the St James Anglican Church, we came to understand the historical reasons for its existence and appreciate the similarities it shares with Catholicism as was also the case in our tour by Fr. Irenaeus (also an old boy) of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral which shares many of the same practices and liturgical interpretations as the Catholic church, but is separated largely by the reverence it places on culture.
Overall, the excursion provided us with a tremendous experience to further appreciate and deepen our understanding of the Christian faith. - Riley Carslaw-Harkins , Year 11






Year 12 Georgraphy Fieldwork
Our Year 12 Geography class went to do some fieldwork at Barangaroo last week to solidify their work on the urban dynamics of change. The fieldwork highlighted the changes caused by urban consolidation, urban decay, urban renewal and spatial exclusion at Barangaroo over time. A great experience had by all.


Year 12 Drama Showcase
The Year 12 Drama showcase will exhibit student individual projects, group and individual performances. Please see below an invitation to the HSC Drama Showcase on Tuesday, 27 June (Week 10). The showcase should run for approximately 1 hour. Please book your tickets using the following link: https://www.trybooking.com/CIUSC

Model United Nations Assembly

On 20 and 21 May, two teams represented The College at the Northern Sydney Model United Nations Assembly at Arden Anglican School in Epping. Representing Australia and France, both teams were required to research the position of their countries on a wide range of issues, ranging from the culinary to space exploration, and everything in between. Each country was then required to advocate for, and defend, their countries position, while attempting to pass amendments and motions in the mock General Assembly that align with each country’s real diplomatic ideals and principles.
Throughout the weekend, each team was required to form alliances with other nations in order to pass motions, and otherwise court votes in favour of each country’s beliefs. Each team relied on their persuasive skills to sway the opinions of other delegations and secure the necessary votes in favour of their position. Members of each team took turns delivering speeches that passionately presented their cases, eloquently articulating their arguments and addressing potential counterarguments. These speeches were a vital platform for showcasing each country's beliefs, values, and policy stances. Throughout the weekend, each team was graded on its performance. Both of our teams made a great effort, valiantly presenting their cases, and convincing other delegations of their cases.
At the end of the second day, and after much anticipation, it was revealed that our team representing France had placed second overall, and had won best dressed. Additionally, our team representing Australia came fourth overall, and placed a close second in the best dressed category. We would like to express our gratitude to Mrs Claxton-Fante and Mr McKenzie for the assistance they provided us in all stages of the competition. Additionally, we would like to thank The College for the opportunity to participate in this event, especially our Principal, Mrs McDiarmid, for her support in this excellent experience that gave us the opportunity to continue the development of our speaking skills.
Ryan Carlisle, Year 11




SCS Drama Eisteddfod
On Friday, 26 May and Saturday, 27 May, students in Years 7-9 participated in the Drama Sydney Catholic Schools Eisteddfod.
Students created a range of exceptional group devised, scripted and monologue performances. Congratulations to Lewis Crispin in Year 9 who came first for his self devised monologue in which he wrote and performed.
I would also like to congratulate the following students for their effort and talent shown in their performances:
Year 7 Group Devised Performance Ensemble: Ruben Brewitt, Alexander Fitzgerald, Felix Fitzpatrick, Gabriel Go, Lucas Jafari, Abie Khalil and Nicholas Kokontis
Year 9 Scripted Performance Ensemble: Oscar Barnett, Shay Donnellan and Oscar Fahey
Year 8 Scripted Monologue Performance: Rorey Power
Georgia Andreacchio, Drama Teacher








National Sorry Day

A Reflection by Leo Nolan, a Mununjali man from the Bundjalung nation, and Year 12 Prefect.
Ngurra. Camp, a place for gathering, and the Darug word used by the Gadigal people, the traditional custodians of this land, to describe it. This morning, we’re gathered in our own little ‘camp,’ to acknowledge a significant event within the Australian calendar, and the day that marks the beginning of reconciliation week. National Sorry day.
National Sorry Day is an annual event that occurs on the 26th of May every year. It is a day to remember and highlight the impact of past government policies of the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, now known as the Stolen Generation.
From Federation to the early 70s, ‘First Nations’ children were removed from their families because of a government policy called Assimilation. This policy was designed to destroy their people and their culture - for ‘First Nations’ people to become extinct.
The view was that by taking children away from their culture, they wouldn’t pass it on to their children, and the culture would end.
Our ‘First Nations’ families and communities continue to suffer the deep trauma from these times – from one generation to the next the pain is passed on.
National Sorry Day is an opportunity for all Australians to acknowledge the suffering and disruption that was caused by the policies and actions of the past, and a day to reflect on the lost culture of the people who’ve walked these lands for generations.
With this being said, I'd like to put ourselves in a place of acknowledgement, as we remember the significance of this day.
Yana Jagun, Nyeumba Jagun, Mummeri Jagun. Yagumbeh, my language, for Walk on country, Learn on country, Live on country. As we’re gathered here today, let these be the principles we abide by as we walk on the land of the Gadigal. The traditional custodians of the Eora nation, the land of which we use to walk, learn, and live on. We pay respects to all Elders past and present, and look into the future for the next generation of knowledge holders. We remember that as we walk together amongst greater Sydney, and as we learn within the institutions and ideals of the Christian Brothers, that this was and always will be Aboriginal land.
Sorry Day
by Aidan Adler, Year 9
Sorry Day is a National Day of Healing that is kind of forgotten until it comes around once a year, but this shouldn’t be happening. Sorry Day means so much to me as an Aboriginal student and kid who lives in a disconnected society. The reason this day exists is because Kevin Rudd who was our Prime Minister in 2008 said sorry, he said sorry to our nation’s people for everything the British did to us, including the Stolen Generation. Unfortunately, many families were affected by this horrific event including my mum’s side of the family.
My nan along with her 6 siblings were taken from their mum and placed in different homes within New South Wales. My mum was put up for adoption during the aftermath of the Stolen Generation because of her mum not having any type of family support to be able to raise her and her two brothers. This led to my mum not knowing her Aboriginal heritage until the age of twelve which left her questioning everything, who was she? Where did she belong? But now we have this support, and we are told to be proud and embrace our heritage as we were the first and traditional people of this land. So today I am not asking for much from the student body or even the kids in my year, all I ask for today is we all reflect on what has happened in our country’s horrific past and use it as inspiration to better our country to get a step closer to reconciliation.
THE FIRST NATIONS’ STUDENTS AT SMCC HAVE FORMED A STUDENT GROUP KNOWN AS ‘YINDYAMARRA’ MEANING ‘RESPECT’.

Primary News
STAGE 2
Excursion
In History, we are learning about the First Fleet and the first contact of Europeans in Australia. For this reason, we took part in an excursion at the Maritime Museum. First, we saw what Sydney looked like before there were buildings and roads. We discovered how Indigenous people used the area of Sydney and its harbour. We also were able to get a tour on the best replica of the HMS Endeavour. We explored where Captain James Cook would spend most of his time with his Botanist Joseph Banks. It was interesting to learn that the crew members slept in hammocks, where and what they were eating and also where they had to do their business. It was a great day out and we look forward to our next excursion.
Ethan Barnes, Year 3 and Luke Pantazes, Year 4
Chickens
In Science, our topic is Living World and we learnt about life cycles of different animals. For this reason we got a special delivery for the classroom. Two weeks ago we got chicken eggs. Two days later, we saw some of them hatch out of their egg shells. They had very little fur and they were weak as a baby. They needed a warm light to give them energy. After a few days, their fur was getting fluffy and we were able to hold them. Unfortunately some eggs didn’t hatch, that's nature. They were fun to watch and they were really playful. We all named them like Chicken and Nugget. They were really adorable. We even put them on the chairs and our couch. One even climbed my shirt. That's my and your secret.
Joshua Holt, Year 4 and Raven Gunardi, Year 3
YEAR 5
Excursion
On Tuesday, 30 May, we had an excursion at the State Library. It was a good experience and we saw paintings and learnt about many significant people. We walked to the State Library and then met the tour guide. We didn’t actually go into the part where most people go the whole time. We spent the time mostly in the learning centre which has a screen, so we didn’t realise it was actually a door at first.
We did this group task where we wrote up names of significant or important people we know. Then we did a task where we tried finding out who the significant person was, by using clues given to us in a box. Following that, we researched that person. We then used an app called Talk which allowed us to find a picture of our particular person and then it manipulated it so that that person spoke using the information we found about them.
It was a fun experience and I learnt a lot. There were many paintings and many books. The State Library was very interesting and fun.
Max Zhang, Year 5
ASSEMBLY
This fortnight’s Primary assembly saw students receiving awards for academic achievement; Regional Cross Country and Soccer.
Academic Award winners for Week 5:
Rocky-Dimitri Holt
Dominic Ryan
Elie Khalil
Zander Agritis
Matthew Xiao
Luke Pantazes
Ethan Barnes
Maggie Mattson, Leader of Learning - Primary




















Sport
SCS Football & Rugby League
Round 3
Junior B Football | MCCNS | Draw 1-1 |
Junior A Football | CBHSL | Draw 1-1 |
Intermediate Football | CBHSL | Draw 1-1 |
Senior Football | CBHSL | Lost 0-7 |
Senior League | MCR | Lost 0-50 |
Round 4
Junior B Football | HCR | Washed out |
Junior A Football | MCNS | Washed out |
Intermediate Football | MCNS | Washed out |
Senior Football | MCNS | Washed out |
Senior League | Bye |
Round 5
Junior B Football | CCCM | Won 4-0 |
Junior A Football | HCR | Won 2-1 |
Intermediate Football | HCR | Won 3-1 |
Senior Football | HCR | Drew 0-0 |
Senior League | CASM | Won 50-8 |

SCS Cross Country
The SCS Cross Country Championships were held at Sydney Motorsport Park on Tuesday, May 23. It was a great day of competition, with our team putting in maximum effort in some grueling races.
Congratulations to the following boys, who finished in the top 12 and progressed to the NSWCCC Championships.
Jacob Sousa 1st Place U12
Leo Simmons 9th Place U13
Raj Naidu 4th Place U15
Charles Woods 6th Place U15
Rory Reed 8th Place U16
Harry Reed 4th Place U17
Harry Abbey 10th Place U17
Ethan McKenzie 1st Place 18+
Individual Success
Congratulations to the following boys:
Sebastian Mok, for being selected into the NSWCCC AFL team.
Finnley Harding, for being selected into the NSWCCC Rugby team.
Lucas George, for representing Sydney Catholic Schools at the NSWCCC Selection Tournament.
Simon Shaw, Sport Coordinator
Library News
Premier's Reading Challenge
Students at the College have participated in the Premier's Reading Challenge for many years, improving their vocabulary, their comprehension, and their general understanding while also satiating their competitive instincts. All students from Years 3-9 have a username and login (unchanged for students who participated in the past); any issues or problems should be referred to Mr Edward Hawkins.

Edward Hawkins, Teacher-Librarian
SMCC Annual Music Concert Raffle
As our students prepare for the Annual College Concert at Townhall the Parents & Friends (P&F) are looking forward to our major fundraising event and raffle. As the P&F's key fund-raiser for the year, it supports the College social events, such as Open Day, P&F Keynote Speaker events and Creative Arts Night. These events continue to contribute to our wonderful community spirit here at St Mary's Cathedral College.
To begin the fund-raising process, we are asking for donations of prizes. To provide a starting point, we are planning for the following prize categories as a guide:
- Sports package - Rebel gift cards, sporting event tickets, sports gear
- Food package - Good Food gift cards
- Health & beauty package - health and beauty packs or products, Priceline/Myer gift cards
- Events package - Red Balloon/Ticketek/movie gift cards
We are extremely grateful to the generosity of so many families in the past. Donated prizes can be sent to the College for the attention of Mrs Fleur Cane. Ideally, we would like to have all donated prizes in by Tuesday, 13 June 2023.
Further detail to follow regarding raffle tickst saless, as well as, a questionnaire which will be sent out shortly asking for helpers to assist on the evening.
Best wishes and we thank you in advance for your support of 2023 Annual College Concert Raffle.
P&F Committee
Term 2 Upcoming Events
DATE | EVENT |
Monday, 5 June | Year 12 Bio - Sydney University |
Wednesday, 7 June | Year 10 Careers Market Day Year 11 2024 Subject Selection Parent Information Evening (6pm) |
Thursday, 8 June` | Sports Photos |
Friday, 9 June | Staff Development Day; Pupil free day |
Monday, 12 June | King’s birthday - College closed on this day |
Friday, 16 June | Year 12 Geo Excursion |
Wednesday, 21 June | Year 9 Drama Excursion |
Friday, 23 June | SMCC Annual Town Hall Concert. Further details will be forthcoming. |
Wednesday, 28 June | Year 10 Vaccinations |
Thursday, 29 June | Year 8 Italian Incursion |
Friday, 30 June | Last Day of Term |