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Volume 20 | Issue 1202 12 February 2014 164 Harrington Street, Hobart, Tasmania 7000 | GPO Box 1476, Hobart, Tasmania 7001 T (03) 6108 2560 F (03) 6234 8073 E [email protected] www.smc.tas.edu.au Dear Parents, Staff, Students and Friends of the College, Welcome to the 2014 academic year! I hope that the December – January school holiday period has afforded families the opportunity for quality time together. While the holidays have been a source of relaxation and fun for most, conversations with quite a number of parents, staff and students have also revealed that for a number of families the weeks since the end of the last school year have been marked by challenges and illnesses. As we look forward with optimism to a new school year full of opportunities for achievements, changes and development, let us also keep those experiencing difficult circumstances in our thoughts and prayers. Tasmanian Qualification Authority Achievements 2013 by SMC Students We are very proud of the Year 12 Class of 2013 and congratulate them on some outstanding results in the external examinations. Details are included in this edition of the Fountain. is week, at the Outstanding Achievement Awards Ceremony at Government House, Ellie Bucher was presented with an award for Outstanding Achievement in a Specialised Area – Humanities. is award is given to a student who performed to a high level across a range of TQA Level 3 courses within a discipline area. ere were three areas in which awards were made – humanities, arts (practical) and math / science. Only one award in the State was made for each discipline area. Congratulations, Ellie and to your very proud parents who also attended the Awards Ceremony. Staff At the end of January, staff new to Catholic education in Tasmania had two Induction Days at the Catholic Education Office designed to provide them with the ‘big picture’ of Catholic education in Tasmania. en, on the last day of the month, new staff commencing at St Mary’s College, had an Induction Day specific to the College. I am indebted to all the current staff who contributed their time and expertise to the Induction Program. On behalf of our community, I would like to extend a very warm welcome our new staff, who bring with them a range of skills, experience and goals: Tameika Grist (Year 5); Georgina Harris (Physical Education); Veronica Harris (K-12 Learning Support); James Heazlewood (Maths / Science); Laura Johnstone (Year 2); Nicole Shanny (Prep) and Mark Stewart (Year 4). Paul Stoessiger will be the Laboratory Assistant while Lisa Norris is on leave in Term 1. Student Leadership During the holidays Shewit Ghebrezgabhier our Head Prefect 2014 and Zara Dixon, one of our Deputy Head Prefects, attended the Alliance of Girls’ Schools Student Leadership Conference at Bond University. In Tasmania at From the Principal present, St Mary’s, Fahan, Ogilvie and Collegiate are members of the Alliance, which is a national (and international) organisation dedicated to the promotion of and research around excellence in education for women and girls. Bond University partners the Alliance in the provision of leadership education. ree other students – Emily Creese (Year 12), Olivia Deconinck and Madeleine Langshaw (Year 11) attended the Campion College Summer School in Sydney. Campion College is the first Liberal Arts College in Australia – a Catholic tertiary institution. During the Summer School the St Mary’s group engaged with theology and leadership sessions and even Latin classes! I want to thank our students for giving up holiday time to attend the Conference and the Summer School. eir experiences will no doubt be of much benefit to both themselves and St Mary’s. CAPTIONS - Ellie Bucher with her parents at the TQA awards. (Next page): New SMC staff members (L-R) Penny Carlyle, Georgina Harris, Mark Stewart, Tameika Grist, Nicole Shanny &Veronica Harris.

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Volume 20 | Issue 120212 February 2014

164 Harrington Street, Hobart, Tasmania 7000 | GPO Box 1476, Hobart, Tasmania 7001T (03) 6108 2560 F (03) 6234 8073 E [email protected]

www.smc.tas.edu.au

Dear Parents, Staff, Students and Friends of the College,

Welcome to the 2014 academic year! I hope that the December – January school holiday period has afforded families the opportunity for quality time together. While the holidays have been a source of relaxation and fun for most, conversations with quite a number of parents, staff and students have also revealed that for a number of families the weeks since the end of the last school year have been marked by challenges and illnesses. As we look forward with optimism to a new school year full of opportunities for achievements, changes and development, let us also keep those experiencing difficult circumstances in our thoughts and prayers.

Tasmanian Qualification Authority Achievements 2013 by SMC Students We are very proud of the Year 12 Class of 2013 and congratulate them on some outstanding results in the external examinations. Details are included in this edition of the Fountain. This week, at the Outstanding Achievement Awards Ceremony at Government House, Ellie Bucher was presented with an award for Outstanding Achievement in a Specialised Area – Humanities. This award is given to a student who performed to a high level across a range of TQA Level 3 courses within a discipline area. There were three areas in which awards were made – humanities, arts (practical) and

math / science. Only one award in the State was made for each discipline area. Congratulations, Ellie and to your very proud parents who also attended the Awards Ceremony.

StaffAt the end of January, staff new to Catholic education in Tasmania had two Induction Days at the Catholic Education Office designed to provide them with the ‘big picture’ of Catholic education in Tasmania. Then, on the last day of the month, new staff commencing at St Mary’s College, had an Induction Day specific to the College. I am indebted to all the current staff who contributed their time and expertise to the Induction Program. On behalf of our community, I would like to extend a very warm welcome our new staff, who bring with them a range of skills, experience and goals: Tameika Grist (Year 5); Georgina Harris (Physical Education); Veronica Harris (K-12 Learning Support); James Heazlewood (Maths / Science); Laura Johnstone (Year 2); Nicole Shanny (Prep) and Mark Stewart (Year 4). Paul Stoessiger will be the Laboratory Assistant while Lisa Norris is on leave in Term 1.

Student Leadership During the holidays Shewit Ghebrezgabhier our Head Prefect 2014 and Zara Dixon, one of our Deputy Head Prefects, attended the Alliance of Girls’ Schools Student Leadership Conference at Bond University. In Tasmania at

From the Principal

present, St Mary’s, Fahan, Ogilvie and Collegiate are members of the Alliance, which is a national (and international) organisation dedicated to the promotion of and research around excellence in education for women and girls. Bond University partners the Alliance in the provision of leadership education. Three other students – Emily Creese (Year 12), Olivia Deconinck and Madeleine Langshaw (Year 11) attended the Campion College Summer School in Sydney. Campion College is the first Liberal Arts College in Australia – a Catholic tertiary institution. During the Summer School the St Mary’s group engaged with theology and leadership sessions and even Latin classes! I want to thank our students for giving up holiday time to attend the Conference and the Summer School.

Their experiences will no doubt be of much benefit to both themselves and St Mary’s.

CAPTIONS - Ellie Bucher with her parents at the TQA awards. (Next page): New SMC staff members (L-R) Penny Carlyle, Georgina Harris, Mark Stewart, Tameika Grist, Nicole Shanny &Veronica Harris.

Canteen There are some important things that parents and students need to know for 2014. The canteen is now being managed by Alliance Catering. A new menu has been distributed and is available on the College website. The canteen will be open from approximately 7.30am until the end of lunch daily for purchases. Some limited breakfast items will be available before school commences. In the next few weeks a coffee machine will be installed for the benefit of our senior secondary students. Please note that parent help is still needed. If you are able to help, please contact the canteen via the College Office. Thank you.

Holiday Projects During the holidays a huge amount of work has been done around the College by our maintenance team and sub-contractors to further improve the facilities available to our students and staff. This includes the bottom court area facing Harrington Street which has been resurfaced and sealed. The College extends its gratitude to the Parents and Friends’ Association for allocating substantial funds towards the completion of work on the bottom court.

The Standing council on School Education & Early Childhood The attention of parents and carers is drawn to the inclusion in the fountain of information from the SCSEEC on the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data for school students with disability. All schools are required to transition to this collection in 2014 for full implementation in 2015. Please read the information from the Council carefully. There will of

course be further information provided as the College moves through the transition steps.

Immunisations Please also note the information page from the Immunisation Co-ordinator at Hobart City Council about school immunisations.

School Attendance & Notifications A reminder to parents and carers that with the four term school year, it is important that our students attend classes for all the term school days. It is important that term dates are noted and that arrangements for holidays do not cut across school attendance days. If by chance an urgent or emergency situation arises to impact on school attendance days at the beginning or end of term, the Principal should be contacted. A reminder too that if a child is ill on any day and cannot attend school, the College must be notified.

Year 7 & Kindergarten Enrolment Applications 2015 Please be advised that enrolment applications for Year 7 2015 at St Mary’s College close on April 17, 2014. Applications are already coming in to the Enrolment Officer and interviews will commence on March 17, 2014. Kindergarten applications for 2015 close on May 9. Please also mention these dates to friends and relatives who may be wishing to enrol their children at St Mary’s for 2015. The Catholic Education Office will place advertisements on behalf of all Catholic schools in the near future.

College Board The St Mary’s College Board seeks expressions of interest for members of the College Board from those who wish to contribute their skill set for the welfare of St Mary’s. Please register EOIs in the first instance to my PA Ms Lisa O’Brien by Wednesday 26 February. With best wishes,

Tom Dorey Principal

From the Principal Continued...

Class of 2013 Congratulations to our Year 12 students of 2013 and to their teachers on the excellent Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) results secured in last year’s examinations. Reporting mere numbers in categories between schools with different candidate numbers does not accurately indicate comparative merit levels. Percentage figures are more accurate. Of the 54 students who gained an ATAR score at SMC, 9.2% scored above 96 / 100; 25.9% scored above 85; 37% scored above 80, and in all 70% of our students were placed in the top 40% of ATAR scores. Particularly pleasing was that over a quarter of our Year 12 ATAR group were placed in the top 15% of results. In Tasmania, two of our students, Ellie Bucher and Isabella Fracalossi were placed in the top 100 students in the State – congratulations to Ellie and Isabella in particular, but to all who achieved so well.

Madeleine SummersCongratulations to Past Scholar of St Mary’s College Madeleine Summers (pictured above right), who was recently awarded the Tim Hawkins Memorial Scholarship for 2014 at the University of Tasmania (UTAS).

This scholarship allows a Law graduate to take up a position of Research Assistant in the Prosecutor’s Office for six months at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, with the support of airfares and a $13,000 allowance.

Past Scholar & Staff Academic Achievements

Madeleine said that she was still unsure of which career path she would take until attending a UTAS career fair with St Mary’s College, where she saw a presentation about the international law of the sea and the conservation of the Patagonian Toothfish.

“The idea of international law was so intriguing to me that I decided then to begin my studies in law,” she said.

“Since that moment I have developed a passion for international law, and the laws of war in particular.”

Madeleine was an excellent student at St Mary’s College, voted in as Deputy Prefect by her peers, and graduated from Year 12 in 2005. With several appearances on the Dean’s Roll of Excellence, she completed a combined Arts/Law degree with Honours from UTAS in 2011 and a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics. She has also interned with the United Nations in Cambodia, at the hybrid tribunal established to try former leaders of the Khmer Rouge.

UTAS Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Rathjen, congratulated Madeleine on receiving the scholarship.

“The recipients of the Tim Hawkins Scholarship are exceptional individuals, who not only excel academically, but extend themselves with extracurricular pursuits focused on humanitarian causes.

“Madeleine’s excellent academic achievements and her volunteer work are testimony to the determination and dedication she has applied to her studies and career,” Prof Rathjen said.

Staff SuccessCongratulations to St Mary’s College Science teacher, Mrs Heather Omant, who was a Tasmanian state finalist in the BHP Billiton Science teachers’ awards in early February. The BHP Billiton Science Teacher Awards recognise outstanding contributions made by classroom teachers to Science education. Each Science Teachers Association is invited to nominate one teacher, chosen for their excellence in teaching, their support of open-ended student investigations and their suitability to represent their state or territory. This isn’t the first time Heather has achieved this success, having been a state finalist in 2009 also.

Dear Parents,We welcome you and your children to the new school year! 2014 is shaping up to be yet another very busy and exciting time for children and staff. The happy (if a little nervous) faces, smart uniforms, shiny shoes, backpacks with new books on the first day marked the beginning of another great year.

Student SafetyStudent safety is our primary concern. For those families who are new to the school, students should not be left unaccompanied on school grounds before 8.20am when playground duty commences.At the end of the day students catching buses will go to the bottom court and all others will remain in the line-up area to be collected by an adult or senior student. After school duty concludes at 3.20pm and any students not collected by that time will be supervised at the main office and a parent will be notified. Please do not ask that your child meet you at the Brisbane St fence or at any other unsupervised area.

Move Well Eat WellRecess is from 10.55 - 11.20am and lunch is from 12.50 - 1.40pm. Classroom teachers supervise students from 12.50 – 1.00pm while lunch is eaten. Each class has a morning fruit/veg break at a time that suits each teacher’s daily program.As an accredited Move Well Eat Well school we encourage as much healthy ‘nude food’ in our students’ lunch boxes as possible. All wrappers will be returned home in lunch boxes so

Junior School Newsthat parents can monitor what their child is eating and recycle packaging. We know that parents will support us in ensuring that children establish healthy eating habits and remind families that nuts, chips and chocolate are not allowed to be consumed at school and that water only should be provided in drink bottles. Please visit the Move Well Eat Well website to find great ideas, recipes and lunchbox solutions www.movewelleatwell.tas.gov.au

HatsAll students are required to wear hats in the playground during the first term.

Parent Education SessionsWe know that children are most successful in a learning environment where teachers and parents work closely and cooperatively together. To this end, we are again offering the following parent education sessions to help families make the most of home learning opportunities.Wednesday 26 February: K-2 Foundation Literacy & Numeracy in the Early YearsWednesday 26 March: Year 3-6 Developing Literacy & Numeracy Skills

Parent Teacher InterviewsIndividual parent/teacher interviews will be conducted in early March. If you have any queries during the year your first point of contact is your child’s classroom teacher.

Excursion Permission SlipFamilies will soon receive a Minor Excursions permission slip. Please sign it and return it to your child’s

classroom teacher as soon as possible. This is designed to avoid the need to continually send home permission forms. Notification of pending excursions will be provided in the newsletter. Our first major school excursion will be held on Friday 21 February when we have our Junior School Swimming Carnival. A program and information booklet about this event will be distributed this week. As always, parents are warmly invited to attend and volunteers are always greatly appreciated.

Kindergarten 2015We have already received many applications for Kindergarten 2015. Parents of siblings already at the College are urged to lodge their application as soon as possible. We do give priority to families with students currently at St Mary’s, however all applications must be received by Friday 9 May.Our teachers have been working very hard to make sure that your child’s school year gets off to a flying start and I am extremely confident that your child will have an excellent school year at St Mary’s Junior School.

Brigid Knight

Head of Junior School

Events to Note this Fortnight

FEBRUARY

Friday 14

Year 7B Retreat

Monday 17 - Tuesday 18

Year 12 Retreat

Tuesday 18

Night Swimming Carnival (Senior School) 7.30 - 9.00pm

Friday 21

Junior School Swimming Carnival

Monday 24

Leaders Commissioning Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, 10.00am

Tuesday 25

Year 7C Retreat

Student AchievementsCongratulations to Sarah Beltz (Year 6) who represented St Marys at the Junior School Interschools event on February 9 and was awarded the Reserve Champion school ribbon across the Senior and Junior School categories. Sarah and her horse Blue’s Point Christmas Mint (Mintie for short) have therefore qualified to represent Tasmania at the Interschools Championships in Victoria in October.

Sarah also won her riding class at Ascot on the same day making her eligible to compete in the Grand Nationals.

Earlier in the year Sarah won the Champion Tasmanian Junior Rider of the Year for 12 years and under at the Equestrian Australia (EA) Tasmanian Horse and Rider of the Year competition on January 25. Sarah has therefore qualified to compete in the Nationals in December.

Sarah also competed in the open age event for Show Horse of the Year for Hunter Pony class and was awarded fourth in the Top 5. An excellent result given she was by far the youngest rider in the event and riding against experienced adult riders.

In October last year, Sarah also won Champion Rider in her class at the Brighton Show.

CAPTIONS - (This page): Sarah Beltz riding ‘Mintie’ during one of her recent equestrian competitions. (Opposite page): Prep students enjoying their first day of school for 2014 in Mrs Shanny’s class.

From the CounsellorsThe Role of the CounsellorFor the first newsletter of the year we thought it would be a good time to talk a little about our role in the school and how we can best be of service to you and your children.

We have two counsellors at St Mary’s; Gai Bath who works primarily in the Junior School and Andrea Maver who works primarily in the Senior School. It is our role to provide emotional and social support to students who are facing challenges or stressors in their daily lives.

We do not have magic wands, but we are trained to listen and provide support for students who are struggling. We do not diagnose or treat illness, but we do work with and advise parents with next steps when a referral to a health professional is appropriate.

We do, however, assist students with coping skills; sometimes providing strategies and education around the issues they are experiencing. For example, we might help a child to know what is normal to feel and to experience, if they are perhaps grieving or feeling anxious, and we help them to understand and process these feelings. We work to help students to build and maintain stronger relationships with their friends and family members. Of course the list of issues that young people face today is endless, and includes everything from study worries and friendship issues to personal and family tragedies, and death.

We see all issues as important to the person experiencing them.

We aim to provide support and strategies but our primary goal is to help and empower students to tap into their own strengths and resources, assisting them to come up with their own realistic and achievable goals and solutions, and to have hope and a positive view of their future.

Under most circumstances the conversations we have with students are held in total confidence. There are exceptions, of course, and when we have serious concerns about a student’s safety or health, parents will always be contacted. Working with children in the Junior School is always done in consultation and with the expressed permission of parents.

In the Senior School, students may approach the counsellor for a confidential appointment without their parents knowing but the same proviso exists; that a parent or guardian is contacted if there are concerns for a student’s safety or health.

Parents regularly call or email us to seek advice and to discuss their concerns about their child. We are very happy to be contacted this way. We are also very happy and willing to meet with parents here at school and to liaise with teachers around best strategies to assist students who are struggling at school.

We can be contacted on the following email addresses or by phoning the school office on the number listed. We wish you all a very happy and rewarding year. If there are topics you would like us to cover in our regular newsletter column your suggestions are most welcome.

Andrea Maver & Gai Bath

School Counsellors

[email protected]

[email protected]

School Office: 61082560

CAPTIONS - (Top right): Mrs Gai Bath. (Bottom right): Mrs Andrea Maver.

Campion College Summer Program

Three senior secondary St Mary’s College students, Emily Creese, Olivia Deconinck and Madeleine Langshaw were privileged to participate in the Campion College summer program from January 12-17. Costs for the girls, were covered by Campion College, for being the first Tasmanian school to have participated in the program. Campion College named in honour of the 16th century Jesuit scholar and martyr, St Edmund Campion is located in Sydney, and is the first Liberal Arts College in Australia. Like its counterparts in Europe and North America, its guiding light is to educate students to be the leaders of their societies.

Hakuna Matata!Like many parents during the school holidays, I was subjected to many children movies. One movie was The Lion King and I only just leant, that the story takes place in a kingdom of lions in Africa and was influenced by the biblical tales of Joseph and Moses. It’s a funny thing, that when you have kids, that you listen more closely to such a movie. Mainly to see if there is any language that the kids might repeat later.

I had seen the movie before, but had never fully listened to the Hakuna matata song. Hakuna matata is a Swahili phrase that can be translated as ‘no worries’. The song has many messages about what we should or shouldn’t worry about. The key point – not to sweat the small stuff. I think we can all take note of that message.

Another powerful term from Southern Africa, is Ubuntu, which means ‘humanness’ or ‘human kindness’. It is a term that is getting much airplay at the moment, with the release of Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom. As it was popular with the late Nelson Mandela. Ubuntu is about how we show humanity towards others and a belief in a universal bond of sharing, which connects all humanity. It fits nicely with the philosophy of Catholic Education and Catholic Social Teachings.

For our students at St Mary’s College, the message of Ubuntu, could be a reminder that their happiness is always going to lie in investing in people rather than material possessions. Let us pray that a lot of the learning at St Mary’s College is about relationships and what makes their lives, the best they can be.

Matthew Williams

Head of Faith & Mission

Faith & Mission News

The summer program taught the St Mary’s College students, the ability to think critically and argue rationally, both in writing and in speech, and the development of creative, analytical and research skills, so important for any career. Emily, Olivia and Madeleine sampled Campion subjects such as Literature, History, Theology, Philosophy, Science, Math and Latin and enjoyed various activities, including a beach trip, sport, bush walking, trivia and ballroom dancing. A great time was had!

CAPTIONS - (Above): The group of students involved in the Campion College Summer Program.

CAPTIONS -

Building Works Update

Business Office NewsNewsletter Completely Electronic in 2014Parents and carers are reminded that hard copies of the St Mary’s College newsletter, the Fountain, will no longer be printed, with the newsletter being completely electronic.

A convenient email with a link to the newsletter will be sent to all families on Wednesday afternoon each fortnight (during term time) to remind you that the newsletter is available, or it can be viewed directly on the College website: www.smc.tas.edu.au. Therefore please ensure that the College has your preferred current email address so that you receive the newsletter reminder.

Absentee ProcessA reminder to all parents/carers to contact the office to advise student absences, prior to 9.00am if possible (this can be done in advance if known).

Please note the SMS number has changed: SMS number is 0435 034 780 or call (03) 6108 2560

Please be aware the SMS provider intermittently changes the SMS number. We will advise when this occurs.

Students Arriving Late or Leaving EarlyAll students arriving late or leaving early (for appointments etc) must sign in/out at the Business Office.

If you are aware of circumstances that require a student to leave early please write a note in their diary or contact the office in advance if possible.

Student Medical InformationPlease advise student medical alerts, medical information/updates or circumstances to the following email address;

[email protected]

Please note: this is a confidential email address and is distributed to required staff only

Office HoursBusiness office hours during term time are 8.00am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.

School holidays the office is open 9.00am – 3.00pm.

A big Thank you to our Maintenance Team for working so hard over the break to have the College looking so good on the first day back for students.

A number of staff study bays have been refurbished.

The old Year 8 rooms (now Year 9 rooms) have been extensively renovated to allow more light in and it now has a very refreshed feel about the area.

The student toilets at the end of the Parapet are being renovated and should be completed ready for use in the next couple of weeks.

Installation of a roof to part of Tweedy Court (off the Year 7 area) has been carried out and this area will be used to place the Year 7 lockers so we can free up the hallways.

We have completed the surfacing of the playground (next to St Peter’s Hall) with a flexi pave product. Thanks to the P&F for their contribution towards the cost of this work.

Some rooms have been swapped around with the new sewing room completed and the new languages room also complete.

Work has been carried out on the grounds with new drains out the front of the convent building, ongoing works in the gardens around the Nagle Centre and a new fence around the Nagle Centre outside Netball Court.

Mr Stuart Calvert Business Manager

Careers

Communiversity Experience

During the holidays I was involved with a program run by the Matt Goggin Foundation in conjunction with UTAS called Communiversity. This camp was aimed at giving young people, such as myself, the experience of being an entrepreneur in a short ten day period. Each participant created their own unique website selling music t-shirts which were available for the length of the camp. The program and it’s structure gave us an insight into the life of an entrepreneur and also opened our mindset making us ‘think outside the box’ involving many issues and ideas. All the profits I received from my webiste was donated to my chosen charity, Edmund Rice Camps Tasmania. Overall, the program was a fantastic experience which taught me many things about myself and how to operate a business along with the opportunity to have fun and meet new people.

Isabella Gilhooly

Work ExperienceGirls in Year 10 will receive information shortly regarding the opportunity to participate in work experience during the school year. A letter will be sent home explaining the program and families should expect to receive this via their daughter’s diary in the next couple of weeks. Students are required to find their own work experience venue, preferably in a career that they are interested in pursuing. The school takes responsibility for organising and monitoring the placement and provides public liability insurance in case of accident. If you do not receive the letter or wish to know more, please contact Mrs Julie Gartrell, the careers teacher at [email protected].

A reminder also that Year 11/12 students are also welcome to participate in work experience especially if they have not done so previously.

Discover Agriculture - Record your Interest by March 14A three day program is being organised by Rural Skills Australia, and sponsored by the Dairy Industry and the Education Department to highlight careers in dairying and agriculture. The date is March 23-26 with applications closing at the end of February. Interviews will be conducted and the heavily subsidized cost is $100 each, which includes meals and accommodation. The program has been running for several years, is

fully supervised and recommended for students in Years 9 - 12.

UMAT

Students considering tertiary study in medicine, dentistry and certain health science courses are required to sit the undergraduate medical admissions test. It is an aptitude test and is compulsory for admission to the above courses at Australian universities. Please visit the website: http://umat.acer.edu.au/ applications are open now. The information booklet is available online and the test will be held on July 30, 2014. Practice tests are available for purchase and tutoring services are also available - visit www.medentry.edu.au. Please contact Mrs Gartrell if you need more information and notify her of your intention to register.

Julie Gartrell

Careers teacher/counsellor

CAPTIONS - (Above): Isabella Gilhooly.

First Day Photos

Italian Trip - September

We are in the final stages of planning the 2014 Trip to Italy. We therefore need to ask for deposits from those intending to participate in the trip. As prices will continue to rise the closer we are to the date of departure, we need to confirm flights and accommodation.

This deposit will be deducted from the final cost of the trip. At this point in time, however, it will be refundable if the trip does not eventuate. As you can appreciate, a firmer commitment is now required in order to establish numbers, which in turn affects the cost. Once we have this commitment we will be able to give you a more definite cost and the decision can be made as to whether it is feasible for the trip to go ahead.

A $500 deposit is required by Friday 21 February. If you are not able to make this payment by the date mentioned, but are certain that you would like your daughter to participate in the trip, please contact me or Mrs Gianna Staples as soon as possible on:

6108 2560

or [email protected] or [email protected] or

The St Mary’s College Parents and Friends Association would like to welcome you back for another great year. I would like to invite you to be part of the P&F, you can do this in a variety of ways:

- By attending meetings (the dates are shown on the school website calendar and are usually the first Monday of each month starting at 6.00pm).

- By providing the P&F with your email address, we can send you monthly meeting minutes.

- By presenting your ideas either at meetings or by using our P&F email address: [email protected].

Your email address will also assist us in contacting you if we need volunteer help with a fundraising activity.

Please help the P&F by providing us with your contact details and we will, in turn, give you the avenue you need to put your ideas forward to better your school.

Thank you

Nicole Williams

President

St Mary’s College Parents and Friends Association

BH: 03 6221 0348

AH: 0410 481 595

Email: [email protected]

Secretary - Kerri Philpott

(m) 0418 329 125

Parents & Friends Association

ST MARY’S COLLEGE Canteen Price List Term 1, 2014

DAILY SPECIALS MONDAY Meal: Tasty pasta bolognaise Salad: Sushi pack TUESDAY Meal: Honey soy beef & vegetable noodle Salad: Caesar salad WEDNESDAY Meal: Cheesy nachos with salsa Salad: Garden salad THURSDAY Meal: Butter chicken & rice Salad: Chicken & noodle salad FRIDAY Homemade chicken & salad burger with mayo & cheese (only large size available - $5.50) Snack: Crispy wedges & sour cream $4.00 Meals: Small $3.50 or large $5.50 Salads: $4.00

EXTRAS Tomato sauce, BBQ sauce, sweet chilli sauce, tartare sauce & mayonnaise .30

EVERYDAY HOT FOOD Homemade pizza $3.50 Chicken cheese & mayo wrap $3.50 Chicken tender in hot cheese roll $3.50 Hot cheese roll $2.00 Cheese & garlic pita $2.50 Good pie (low fat) $3.00 Party pie (low fat) $1.50 Sausage roll (low fat) $2.50 Egg & bacon muffin/wrap $3.50 COLD SELECTION Large salad roll $4.50 Ham/chicken salad roll $5.00 Egg & lettuce sandwich $3.50 Fruit salad pack $4.00 Cakes & slices $3.00 TOASTED SANDWICHES 1 filling $3.00 2 fillings $3.50 3 fillings $4.00 Fillings include: cheese, chicken, ham, tomato & pineapple DRINKS Flavoured milk (small) $2.50 (large) $4.00 Bottled water (small) $2.00 (large) $3.50 Fruit juice (small) $2.50 (large) $4.50 Juice box $2.00

PLEASE NOTE Write order clearly on brown paper bag with name,

grade & correct money enclosed Do not use staples or sticky tape on lunch bags Food from home cannot be heated Discard all previous menus

Medical Notices

Asthma Notice‘Mild’ asthma is very serious. If your child has asthma, please call the College Business Office immediately on 61082560 and you will be sent a student asthma record form. The Asthma Foundation recommends that you fill this form out with your doctor.

This is in light of information we have learned from our training with the Asthma Foundation of Tasmania.

‘The people at the greatest risk of death from asthma are those whose asthma is not considered severe,’ said our trainer from the Foundation.

‘Because they rarely have an attack or only usually have a mild attack there’s a tendency for the person with asthma or their carer not to take precautions - such as having a blue/grey reliever puffer available at all times. They are also less likely to know how to use their medications and devices properly and know what to do in an emergency.

‘So when you have a bad attack - and that can happen even if you’ve never had one before - they tend to panic and have no medication available. That is unfortunately why people who have mild asthma die.’If you’re using your your blue reliever puffer three times or more a week, your asthma is out of control. Most people with out-of-control asthma don’t have to put up with it. Gone are the days when people with asthma had to rely on reliever medication all the time. Now there is medication that will prevent asthma flaring up in the first place.

Contact the Asthma Foundation of Tasmania, have a free chat about controlling your asthma and also receive your FREE brochure ‘Ten things to ask and tell your doctor’ on 1800 278 462. Mention which school you heard this message from when you phone and we will send you out a FREE spacer!

Immunisation in Tasmanian SchoolsDid you Know?

Immunising your child provides effective protection against preventable sickness and disease.

Many childhood vaccines are free of charge to children of eligible ages.

Some vaccinations are provided to your child in school. Others will be given by a doctor or health professional.

School and Immunisation

When you fill out your child’s school enrolment form, you’ll be asked whether your child has received particular vaccinations and to provide evidence.

This is usually in your child’s health record book or you can provide a letter from a doctor or council.

The Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) keeps a record of immunisations given to children under the age of seven years.

Statements of your child’s immunisation history can be requested from ACIR by phoning 1800 653 809 or visiting www.medicareaustralia.gov.au

If proof is not available, a statutory declaration form can be obtained from your school or from the Department of Health and Human Services, Tasmania.

It is in the best interests of your child to complete the recommended National Immunisation Program Schedule - go to www.immunise.health.gov.au

What if there is an Outbreak of Infectious Disease?

If your child is not immunised you may be asked to keep your child at home if there is an outbreak of disease that is infectious, contagious or harmful to others.

If your child is immunised your school will give you advice from the public health authority about whether attending school during an outbreak is safe.

Always follow the advice from your school as it is based on expert medical advice from the Health Department.

Where can I get More Information?

Contact your school or child care facility, your local council, your family doctor or health nurse, the Department of Health and Human Services on 1800 671 738 or visit the Department of Education website: www.education.tas.gov.au

Uniform Reminder

Dear Parents,

We often receive positive comments regarding the look of the St Mary’s College uniform. When worn correctly, it is smart and stylish. Our ‘girls in green’ readily standout from the crowd and we want them to stand out for all the right reasons. Information regarding the uniform is located in the Senior School diary but I have listed a few points below.

• All students are expected to wear hats at lunchtime in Term 1 and from show week in Term 4.

• The blazer must be worn with the formal uniform and track pants must be worn with the PE uniform to the Cathedral, Assemblies and to and from school. (Students are informed when it is too hot to wear track pants and blazers home.)

• SMC leggings may only be worn at training, PE lessons or games and must not be worn around school.

• Acceptable jewellery for school include a simple watch and one pair of small plain sleepers or studs worn parallel in the ear lobe.

• Skirt length should be to the knee or longer.

• When wearing the PE uniform, predominantly white lace up supportive sport shoes should be worn. (Although the market has been flooded with colourful sport shoes, white sports shoes are available and I thank students and parents for making the effort to find them.)

A uniform is a sign of belonging and unity. It promotes equality. St Mary’s College has a wonderful history and we encourage our students to wear the uniform well and with pride.

Jacqueline Conboy

Deputy Principal

For more information on the St Mary’s College uniform, please refer to the College website or student diary.

CAPTIONS - (Top): The various versions of the current Junior and Senior SMC uniform. (Bottom): The SMC uniform from many years ago!

Uniform Shop Opening HoursNormal opening hours:

Tuesday: 8.30am - 1.30pm

Thursday: 12.00pm - 4.00pm

IT Update

Follow SMC on Twitter @SMCTASDid you know that St

Mary’s College is on twitter?

In order to keep parents, staff, students and alumni more informed about upcoming events and important notices, such as changes to event times or cancellations, the College now has a twitter account. So why not follow us on twitter at @SMCTAS.

You can also view the twitter feed on the left hand side of the home page of the College website.

Laptop Computers for Students in the Secondary SchoolJust a few points about what has and will be happening with respect to IT in the College:

• All students in Years 7, 10, 11 and 12 will receive their College issued laptops soon. Issuing of these devices has been held up slightly because of the huge number of software updates that have occurred over the holidays. These need to be installed before students receive their devices.

• Laptops will be provided with the full Office and Adobe suite of programs installed as well as any other software that is required for use by students at SMC.

• A protective cover is provided with the laptop and must be used by students when transporting the devices.

• Laptops, together with the power supply, bag and stylus (for those laptops which come with a stylus) will be returned to the College at the end of the year for maintenance.

• Parents of students in Years 7, 10, 11 and 12 have received a copy of the Student and Parent Digital Device Use Agreement. These should have been signed and returned to the College

• Parents of these students have had a $300 technology levy included with their school fees.

This levy goes towards the cost of the devices and the software and infrastructure necessary for the successful implementation of our laptop program.

• In 2015 this program will be extended to include students in Years 8 and 9 meaning that all students in the secondary school will have a College provided device for their personal use while they are attending SMC.

• During 2014, students in Years 8 and 9 will continue to have access to laptop and netbook computers as required while they are on campus. For students in Years 8 and 9 we have a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) program operating. If a student wishes to bring her own device to school, access to the interned can be provided if the student takes the machine to the IT Department for configuration. Because of the nature of our network it is not possible to use iPads on our network.

• Access to computers in the Junior School will continue to be improved throughout 2014. Decisions are still being made about the best way to provide students in the Junior school with access to digital devices.

Wendy Forsyth

Head of Teaching and Learning

Come to our registration day barbeque on Sunday the 23rd of February from 10:30am until 1pm, at the Tasmanian Hockey Centre in Bell St, New Town to register your interest in playing hockey for Uni in 2014. All new registered players under the age of 14 will receive a:

Free Hockey Stick Free Shin Pads Free Hockey Ball

Uni Hockey Club is a fun, friendly, well-organised Club, which competes in the Junior and Senior Hockey competitions in Hobart. We are seeking new players for the 2014 hockey season to join our existing group of players. We care about fun but we also know it is fun to improve. That’s why all junior teams have experienced coaches, some of them current and former A-grade players. All trainings are on the Astroturf at the Tasmanian Hockey Centre. Trainings will commence in March. For further information contact: Boys – Kath Arneman on ph 0418 768 421 or e-mail: [email protected] Girls – Bec Clifford on ph 0408 316 121 or e-mail: [email protected]

REGISTRATION DAY TASMANIAN UNIVERSITY HOCKEY CLUB INVITES

CHILDREN 6 YEARS TO 18 YEARS TO JOIN OUR CLUB

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data

School Students with a DisabilityAll Australian governments have agreed to work together to implement a new annual national data collection on school students with a disability. This data collection process is being phased in over a three year period in 2013-2015.

The first two years will be a transition period. This means that all schools will begin preparing for participating in the collection from 2013.

In 2015, the first full national collection of data on school students with disability will take place in all Australian schools. From then on, this data collection will occur in every school every year, along with other school data collections.

Why introduce a national collection of data on school students with a disability?

All Australian Governments agree that every child in an Australian school, regardless of his or her circumstances, has the right to a high quality and inclusive education that meets his or her needs.

Better information about school students with a disability will assist teachers, principals and education authorities to support their participation in schooling on the same basis as students without disability.

How will it benefit my child?

There are students with disability in every school in Australia at some point.

This means that every school needs to be ready and able to support students with disability to ensure that any obstacles to participation and achievement in their school education are identified and minimised.

This new national data collection will reinforce the actions required of schools under the national Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005. These laws mean that schools and education systems are required to make, where needed, reasonable adjustments for students with disabilty.

An adjustment is a measure or action taken to assist a student with a disability to participate in education on the same basis as other students. Adjustments can be made across the whole school setting, in the classroom and at the individual level.

Determining the level and type of support needed for an individual student is not a new activity for Australian schools.

Currently there is only limited and inconsistent information available at a national level about school students with disability, their educational needs and the support provided to them.

The information provided by this new national data collection will enable all Australian governments to better target support and resources. That will assist students

with disability in government and non-government schools across Australia to complete school and go on to further education or find employment.

Hobart Schools Team Sailing Series The sailing season begins Tuesday 18 February. Races will be held on Tuesday afternoons commencing at 4.15pm. Girls will need to be at the Sandy Bay Sailing Club no later than 4.00pm. The season finishes on March 25. Any girls who are interested in competing need to contact Mr Baker (Senior School) or Ms Harris (Junior school) by Friday 14 February.

Community NewsSacramental Program

Sandy Bay/TaroonaCatholic children aged eight and upwards who live in the Sandy Bay-Taroona Parish, or who attend Mass there, will be prepared in the parish for First Holy Communion and Confirmation to be conferred by the Archbishop on Sunday 17 August. First Reconciliation will take place on April 13. Preparation will commence in March.

Parental support during the classes and in home exercises will be an important part of the program.

Parents who wish to enrol their child should contact the parish secretary immediately. Phone Claire on: 6224 1423 between 9.30 am and 1.00pm on weekdays or email: [email protected]

Fr Michael Tate

GlenorchyParents/carers who are parishioners of St John’s Glenorchy Catholic parish and who believe that their child is ready to prepare to celebrate these sacraments are invited to one of two parent meetings on Monday 17 February. These will be held in St John’s presbytery, 62, Bowden Street, Glenorchy at 2.00pm and repeated at 7.00pm.

Any queries, please contact parish office on: 6272 6363 between 9.00am – 2.30pm, or call Jo on: 6273 1990.

TYF ‘Y Your Vote Counts’The next TYF ‘Y Your Vote Counts Forum’ is less than four weeks away!The TYF ‘Y Your Vote Counts’ is a forum in the lead up to the Tasmanian election on March 15 to give first time voters the chance to find out why their vote is important and ask our political leaders questions on the issues that matter to them.When: Tuesday 18 February 1-2:45pm (arrive at 12:45pm)Where: City Hall, HobartWho: The forum is aimed at young people who have not voted before or will be voting in the next couple of years, but anyone 12 to 25 is welcome!Why: To help young people engage in the political process.The event is free but you need to register here: https://www.

eventbrite.com.au/e/y-your-vote-counts-tickets-9779933043If you can’t make it to the forum, you can still have your say by completing our online survey: http://fluidsurveys.com/s/yyourvotecounts/

164 Harrington Street, Hobart, Tasmania 7000 | GPO Box 1476, Hobart, Tasmania 7001T (03) 6108 2560 F (03) 6234 8073 E [email protected]

www.smc.tas.edu.au

Measles Warning for Tasmania A traveller with measles who visited Tasmania briefly at the end of January this year may have introduced the highly contagious infection in the state.

Senior Medical Advisor, Population Health and Services, Dr Mark Veitch warned Tasmanians and recent visitors to the south of the state to watch out for measles symptoms during the first three weeks of February and consult a doctor if concerned.

‘Measles usually start with a fever, cough, sore red eyes and a runny nose about 10 days after contact with a person with measles,’ Dr Veitch said. ‘A blotchy rash appears several days after the fever and people with measles are usually quite unwell. People with measles-like symptoms should see a doctor, but it is very important they call ahead so they can be seen without putting other patients and staff at risk of infection.’

Dr Veitch said the infected tourist arrived at Hobart Airport on January 30 between 9.00am and 10.00am and departed Hobart Airport on the morning of February 2.

Community News

The infected person was a guest at the Hobart Tower Hotel and travelled to other areas in southern Tasmania, including Richmond, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery and Mt Wellington (on 30 January); Mt Field and the Botanical Gardens (on January 31); and Port Arthur (on February 1).

‘People without immunity to measles who were at these places at around these times may have been at risk of catching measles. The risk of measles to the wider population is small, but a small number of non-immune people might have caught measles. If so, their symptoms would probably start between February 6 and February 20,” Dr Veitch said.

GPs and Emergency Departments have been asked to be vigilant for people who may have measles.

‘People born before 1966 are probably immune from measles as are people who have had two doses measles vaccine. It’s a very good idea for young and middle-aged adults who are uncertain of their immunity to discuss having a measles vaccine booster with their doctor,’ Dr Veitch said.

People with measles can spread their infection from just before they get symptoms until about four days after their rash starts. Dr Veitch said people with measles should stay away from public places, including school and work, until their doctor advises them they can resume normal activities.

There have been no cases of measles in Tasmania since 2009. There were 200 cases in mainland Australia over the past 12 months, either caught overseas, or caught from someone who was infected overseas.

More information, including a Public Health Alert and a Fact Sheet are available at: www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/peh/alerts/current_health_alerts/measles_alert