OLSH Newsletter

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College We Believe! We Achieve!

111 Jasper Road, BENTLEIGH 3204 Ph (03) 8520 9200 Fax (03) 8520 9299 Absence Line (03) 8520 9250 Email: office@olsh.vic.edu.au website: www.olsh.vic.edu.au

Education in the OLSH Tradition At OLSH College we reverence relationships

Dear Family and Friends of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College,

Education at OLSH College Bentleigh is about being inspired by each other. As students and staff it is at the very heart of the matter to push ourselves to go beyond what we might think we can do into the realm of the unthinkable! This is the story of the Hartzer Campus and this is our story. At Hartzer Campus it is about a readiness of the students, staff, OLSH sisters and parents to ‘push the boundaries’, to never ever give up and, most importantly, to believe that all things are possible. Such an opportunity and such a blessing for us all. Anne O’Loughlin Principal

HEART MATTERS

Dearest Lord,

Teach me to give and not count the cost… Ignatius of Loyola

NEWSLETTER

Volume 43, Number 9 Friday June 13 2014

OLSH Newsletter

Page | 2

Next week we celebrate Refugee Week. As part of this week a number of Year 12 RE students will be going on a ‘Justice Walk’ in the city which will incorporate a visit to a Refugee Centre. Our prayers and thoughts for the week will be focused on our brothers and sisters who find themselves in the situation of needing to flee their homeland.

We celebrated the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on May 30. Part of that mass included the offering of all the blankets bought and collected for St. Vincent De Paul to distribute to those in need during these winter months. There were a great number of blankets given by students, parents and staff – thank you to everyone for your generous support.

Finally, we celebrated the great Feast of Pentecost last weekend. It is always timely to remind ourselves of the wonderful gifts of the Holy Spirit – and to remind ourselves of the hallmarks of the Spirit at work in our lives.

.

Sr Megan Donohue fdnsc

Assistant Principal Faith and Mission

Faith and Mission

OLSH Newsletter

Page | 3

During the past few weeks, students have been very busy. Our VCE girls have been selecting subjects, whilst Year 10 and 11 students have been completing their mid-year examinations. Issoudun students have been engaged in either the Hartzer Program or the B@B Program. Our Year 7 and 8 students have been completing tests and assessment tasks. No doubt some of the students stress has been felt by parents.

Reports are currently being prepared and will be sent at the end of the term. You might find the following article on ‘Praise’ helpful when speaking to your daughter about her results. It is an interesting read. For parents who would like to learn more about educational pathways, there is a free workshop run by Youth Connect in Moorabbin. Please see page 6 for further details.

For most modern parents, praise is an important component in the toolkit for raising confident, successful kids. But are you using it well? I don’t ask this question to trip you up or make you feel guilty. Rather, I want you to think about whether you are using praise as effectively as possible. Here are a few common ‘praise mistakes’ made by adults in their dealings with children, along with some alternative approaches:

http://parentingideas.com.au/Blog/April-2014-(1)/Do-you-make-these-5-mistakes-praising-children-

Ms Amanda Malone Acting Assistant Principal Student Wellbeing

Student Wellbeing News

The PACTS (Parents As Career Transition Support) workshop has being specifically designed to help provide parents, guardians, grandparents and carers with up-to-date information about educational pathways, that enables them to support their children effectively when they’re making career transition decisions within the secondary school system and beyond.

Wednesday 18 June 2014

Time: 6.30 to 8.30pm

Registration is essential

Where: Youth Connect – Level 3, 1001 Nepean Hwy, Moorabbin 3189

RSVP: Mary Licciardo – 8306 6300 or m.licciardo@youthconnect.com.au

OLSH Newsletter

Page | 4

A significant component of the Issoudun Residential program is the completion of an individual research assignment in which the girls must respond to the ‘big question’: How does our nation’s capital tell the stories of Australians?

The girls set out to formulate further questions based on their particular areas of interest or new sources of inspiration in Canberra. Visits to the Australian Institute of Sport, the Royal Australian Mint, the National Gallery, Regatta Point on Lake Burley Griffin, the Sculpture Garden of the National Gallery, Parliament House, The Australian War Memorial and the Museum of Democracy provided many ideas for their Canberra story.

The girls furthered their understanding of the parliamentary system; the importance of democracy; and remembering those who have served Australia in wars. A particular highlight of the trip was ‘Question Time’ in the House of Representatives. There was some robust debate and discussion, led by the Treasurer Joe Hockey and the Minister for Agriculture, Barnaby Joyce. The girls took part in a mock debate in Old Parliament House (Museum of Democracy). This was conducted in the Senate and under discussion was the 1960s bill to introduce conscription. The President of the Senate (Ms Dilettoso), kept the parliamentarians in line, ably assisted by the clerk (Nicova Mendonca). Interjections of “Hear! Hear!”, “Balderdash!” and “Shame!” brought the debate to life. Another highlight was the laying of a wreath by Sophie Stuart and Anya Serpanchy at the closing ceremony at the Australian War Memorial.

Ms Pauline Canty Transition and Innovation Coordinator

College News

The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit their National Capital as part of their civics and citizenship education. To assist parents in meeting the cost of the excursion, the Australian Government is contributing funding of $30 per eligible student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program toward the travel expenses incurred. This contribution will be paid directly to the school upon completion of the Hartzer experience. We would like to thank the Australian Government for their support of this program.

OLSH Newsletter

Page | 5

On Friday May 23 the two Unit 1 and 2 Health and Human Development classes, accompanied by Mrs Singh and Miss Lewis, hopped on the train to visit the DAX Centre at Melbourne University. The purpose of our visit was for us, the students, to enrich our understanding of mental health in VCE Health and Human Development. This is part of Unit 1, Area of Study 3, which is predominantly about health issues for Australian youth. The program examines mental health for youth in relation to lifespan issues and related biological, social, emotional, physical and intellectual factors. The artworks were a part of the ‘Mindfields’ program. We had an extensive guided tour of the gallery which made it most beneficial for us all. Alongside this exhibition was one of how the Indigenous population perceive and handle mental health. This too was most educational and a real eye-opener. The second part of our visit was where an advocate from the Mental Illness Fellowship discussed her personal experience with illness and recovery. She was quite young and

her journey made us realise how fortunate some of us are. We finished our day with a lovely lunch at Melbourne Central Station and then headed off back to school. Overall the day was one of great experience and left us feeling quite humbled.

Chrisoula Alisandratos Year 11 Blue

College News

OLSH Uniform Shop

Opening hours

Wednesdays

12.30pm to 3.30pm

Please note, we will be open Term time only

No appointment necessary

OLSH Newsletter

Page | 6

‘The OLSH basketball teams had a great day at MSAC on Wednesday May 28. They played in a very competitive SCSA Tournament against other Catholic girls’ schools with great results. We had two nail biting grand final losses in the intermediate and senior age groups, both narrowly losing to Sacred Heart, Oakleigh on both occasions. Thank you to the coaches Ms Schocker, Mr Liston and Mrs Bradley, who gave up many lunchtimes and mornings to train and prepare the team for the day.

Mr Nick Wanless Sports Coordinator

1st Academy 1st SHGC 1st SHGC 2nd SHGC 2nd OLSH 2nd OLSH 3rd OLSH 3rd Academy 3rd St Aloysius 4th Marian College 4th Mercy College 4th Marian College 5th St Aloysius 5th Marian College 5th Mercy College 6th Mercy College 6th St Aloysius 6th Academy

College News

Melissa Peet

Ruby Harkness

Chloe Carter

Ebony Highfield

Emma Vakis

Julia Daye

The Senior Team

The Junior Team

OLSH Newsletter

Page | 7

The eagerly anticipated Performing Arts Spectacular (PAS) was held on Sacred Heart Day, Friday May 30. Each house had to present an item involving singing, acting and dancing on the theme of: A MUSICAL IN SIX MINUTES!

The following musicals provided the inspiration for the house presentations: The Sound of Music (Chevalier); Mama Mia (Hartzer); West Side Story (Sweeney); Hairspray (Xavier). All students were required to sing, with small group and/or soloists encouraged. The instrumental accompaniment could be played live. The item had to include a dance component, with a backing track allowed.

The item also had to include a drama/acting component and simple costume and hand props were allowed. All Houses entered into the spirit of the day and performed with energy and enthusiasm.

The PAS Bandstand trophy was won by Xavier this year. Congratulations girls!

Following the house competition, the audience was treated to OLSH You’ve Got Talent. First place was awarded to Rachel Pinto (vocal/guitar); second place – Nicole Rogalsky (vocal/piano – own composition); third place – Paige Marken (piano). The encouragement award went to Amorise Byers (vocal).

The adjudicators – Elise Huck, Stephanie Lillis (past students of the College) and Melanie Adams (Voice teacher at OLSH) - thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful performances and congratulated all participants. Congratulations to all – PAS 2014 was a great success!

Rehearsals are in full swing for this year’s production, My Fair Lady. Once described as the perfect musical, the cast is enjoying bringing the story of Eliza Doolittle to life on stage.

Four performances will be held in the College Theatrette on Thursday 21, Friday 22 and Saturday August 23 at 7.30pm. There will also be a matinee at 2.00pm on Saturday August 23.

Tickets go on sale next term – an event not to be missed!

Thanks and congratulations to Ms Melanie Adams and some of her Voice students who held another informal lunchtime concert on Monday June 2 in the Drama room.

Such events give our Performing Arts students the opportunity to gain valuable performance experience and to showcase what they have learnt in their classes.

We look forward to more lunchtime concerts.

Mrs Michelle Fenton Performing Arts Coordinator

College News

OLSH Newsletter

Page | 8

College News

Women’s Self Defence Seminar 1.00pm – 4.00pm