principal`s reflection - Mount St Joseph Milperra

10 May 2013
Issue No. 06
Mary MacKillop Speaks
“We feel our crosses hard at times, but our
courage should rise with them.” (1882)
Archdiocesan Theme: Lead Others Home to Christ
WELCOME BACK TO TERM TWO
Monday 13 May-Friday 17 May
 Year 10 and Year 11 Exams
Tuesday 14 May-Thursday 16
May
 NAPLAN—Years 7 and 9
Wednesday 15 May
 Year 12 Advanced English
Excursion
Wednesday 15 May-Saturday 18
May
 Year 12 EES Field Trip
Friday 17 May
 Year 12 Food Tec Excursion
 WYD Commissioning Mass
Sunday 19 May
 Musical Rehearsal 10.00am
to 4.00pm
Monday 20 May-Friday 24 May
 McCormack Week
Monday 20 May-Friday 24 May
 Year 7, 8 and 9 Exams
Monday 20 May
 Year 10 Visual Arts Exc.
UNIFORM SHOP HOURS
Tuesdays 12 noon to 4.00pm
Fridays 8.30am to 12.30pm
PRINCIPAL’S REFLECTION
The Season of Easter, The Ascension and Pentecost
The Easter season begins on the evening of Easter Sunday and continues for fifty days, ending
on the evening of Pentecost Sunday. The fifty days between Easter and Pentecost are a time of
joy and thanksgiving for what Christ has done for humanity. The paschal candle is placed in a
prominent position in the sanctuary of the church and is lit for all liturgical celebrations. Not
many years ago the church celebrated the Ascension on the Thursday which fell 40 days after
Easter Sunday, thereby taking literally Luke’s account of events in Acts Chapter One. In
Australia and elsewhere the feast has been moved to the seventh Sunday of Easter. The feast of
the Ascension commemorates the ascension of Jesus into heaven after his resurrection. One
week after the Ascension, on the 50th day after Easter, the feast of Pentecost is celebrated.
Pentecost commemorates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, which empowered
them to go out and begin spreading the Gospel. On Pentecost Sunday we celebrate the
founding of the Church and the beginning of its mission to all peoples.
The Easter season is a time we
Name our deaths (small and big)
Claim our births or new beginnings
Grieve what we have lost and adjust to the new
Let go of clinging to the old and let it ascend and give us its blessing
Accept the spirit of the life that we are in fact living!
Yes! It’s all about our Good Fridays, our Easter Sundays,
our Forty days, our Ascensions and our Pentecost
lived in, through and with Christ.
ANZAC Day
In commemorating Anzac Day we recall matters of life and death, tragic
events and I thank Ms Barham and all those involved in our
commemoration on Monday 29 April. I particularly thank Mr Garry
Murray who spoke about his own experiences of service in times of
conflict. The Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Bob
Carr as part of his address at Villers-Bretonneux, France on Anzac Day
said this; “Above everything, they were all volunteers. The more than
400,000 Australians who enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, the
Australian Army Nursing Service and the Royal Australian Navy, from a population of less than
5 million. All our First World War dead, of some 60,000, more than 46,000 of them here in
France and Belgium. They all volunteered to serve. It was by their decision, and indeed, by the
decision of the Australian people, confirmed twice at the ballot box. Why did they volunteer?
The inscriptions on the countless war memorials around Australia give the official answer. “For
King and Country. For the Empire. For Freedom.” These, unquestionably, were deeply felt
motives. "Lest we forget".
Tenison House Coordinator
Ms Foxe will be acting Tenison House Coordinator until December 2013 while Ms Chapman is
on maternity leave.
Mother’s Day and the Month of May
It is appropriate that we celebrate Mother’s Day in the month
of May as this is the month the Church sets aside for
reflection on, and devotion to, Mary the model of motherhood
for all Catholics.
In my readings about the Month of Mary I came across some
interesting things to note about the history of the Marian
month from the Liturgical Commission (2009) and I thought I
would share them with you. Until the twelfth century, the
Byzantine rite observed August as a Marian month centred on
the solemnity of the Dormition (Assumption in the Roman
Catholic Church) of Our Lady (15 August). In the Coptic rite
the Marian month is kiahk, corresponding approximately to
January-February and focusing on Christmas. The first
indications of a Marian month in the West date from the
sixteenth century. The tradition may have come from a fusion
between popular devotion and the folk festivals of early
summer. It was not until the nineteenth century that petalstrewing processions and crowning Mary with flowers
became common in English and Irish parishes in May. The
Filipino community celebrates Flores de Mayo, a flower
festival in honour of the Virgin Mary, in May.
Australia’s patronal feast honouring Mary Help of Christians
on 24 May usually occurs in the Easter season. In the image
of Mary Help of Christians, both Mary and the child Jesus
wear crowns, a sign that they share the glory of the kingdom
of God. This day should be the high point of St Mary’s month
in Australia. The only other feast of Mary in May is the
Visitation on 31st. The Visitation calls us to ponder Mary as
the woman who believed and obediently accepted the will of
God, enabling her to play a most significant role in the saving
work of Christ.
During the month of May I encourage you and your families
to pray the Rosary. St Francis de Sales said the greatest method
of praying is to pray the Rosary. A helpful website which
explains the Rosary is http://www.catholic.org/prayers/
prayer.php?p=1669. I thank Dr Mark Turkington, Director
of the Southern Region for identifying this useful link.
PRAYER FOR MOTHERS
Gracious God,
you chose Mary to be the mother of your Son, Jesus
Christ.
As you blessed her through her Son, bless all mothers.
Grant them patience, wisdom, strength and joy,
so that they may care for and love
the children you have given to them
and placed in their care.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Jessica Houston of Year Seven has been
selected to be a member of the ‘The Panel’ for
the new online Catholic Education Office
Southern Region publication written by
students for students. She was selected for this
new initiative at the primary writing day last
year where she represented St Christopher’s Panania. We
congratulate Jessica on this achievement and wish her well.
Enrolment
The School’s enrolment period for Year Seven, 2014 closes on
May 31. Please note that the closing date will be strictly
applied. Late applications (after 31 May 2013) will only be
considered after all applications received by the closing date
have been fully processed. Any enquiries re enrolments can be
directed to Ms Bourke through the School Office.
Music Night
What a wonderful display of MSJ talent! My
congratulations to all students who performed on
the night, the CAPA Department and Entertainment
students who made sure that the evening ran
smoothly. Thanks to Ms Bain, Mr Harris, Ms Dein, Ms Innes,
Ms Gascoigne, Mr Ghanem, Ms Lamour, Ms Kermode and Mr
Price for their assistance and efforts on the evening.
Athletics Carnival
Congratulations to everyone for your participation in the
Athletics Carnival held on 1 May. It was a
wonderful day and it was so good to see all
students and staff involved in the day’s activities.
Congratulations to the McCormack House and
the Age Champions. Sincerest thanks to Ms Craft
and the PDHPE Department for their
organisation of the day.
Year 12
Year 12 are currently receiving their Half Yearly examination
results and in a few weeks I will be reviewing their reports. All
of the research about academic performance indicates that a
teenager who feels connected to home and/or school has the
best chance of achieving academically. Parents can play a
crucial role in the academic achievement of their children by
taking the opportunity to discuss their child’s performance
before and after exam/assessment periods. For Year 12
parents this means engaging in a conversation about how the
recent exams were and evaluating what might be done to
improve.
The Year 12 Parent/Teacher/Student interviews will be held
on the afternoon/evening of Wednesday 12 June from 3.30pm
– 7.30pm. I urge all parents of Year 12 students to make an
appointment to see your daughter’s teachers and receive
valuable feedback about their performance. Parents will be
notified soon by SMS or email when the on-line booking
systems can be accessed. Parents are welcome to contact the
school office for any assistance if sufficient information is not
forthcoming from the students.
In Sympathy
Our prayers and thoughts go out to Ms Innes
and her family on the recent loss of her father
and to Bridget Weeks on the recent loss of her
grandmother. Please keep these families in
your prayers during this difficult time of loss.
Happy Birthday to:
Rita Khalil, Emma Lovatt, Jessica Tjhin,
Georgia Wade, Darcy Waters, Rachel Ely,
Emma Lawrance, Kirralee Melham, Vanessa
Antoun, Loulou Beydoun, Belinda Jones,
Olivia Przybylo, Adeline Cabral, Camille
Dionisio, Odette Kannan, Elena Karas, Josephine Daoud,
Maria Mai, Danielle Rowan, Isabella Spagnolo, Jessie
Wilkinson, Koreen Cueto, Natalie Dodds, Annalise Khouri,
Phuong Thao Nguyen, Leah Spaine, Claudia Tarabay, Moni
Kass Hanna, Lylie Le, Isabella Whitcher, Rosa Di Giglio, Robyn
Dionisio, Mikayla Gioulis, Danica Seran, Kym Duong,
Stephanie Lloyd, Jasmine Chaar, Sarah Formica, Bella Forti,
Isabelle Ly, Mary Agzarian, Caitlin Grove, Amanda Jovevski,
Vivian Tran, Denise Youssef, Elise Dean, Bianca Zepina, Emma
Bailey, Elizabeth Grant, Kimberley Grant, Ashley McAlister,
Vivien Nguyen, Claudia Collins, Alexandra Dahdah, Kaitlyn
Riddell, Tiffany Tran, Shannon Burchell, Sharon Nellukottil,
Sharon Nyamadzavo, Madeline Spinelli, Lavinia Tupola, Renee
Waltho, Cynthia Calaitzopoulos, Sonia Guo, Natahsa Quintal,
Jessica Hanna, Elizabeth Quin, Madeleine Thoms, Claudia
Venuto, Nicola Briody, Madelyn Cini, Alyne Gollon, MelodyRose Jasmin, Madeleine Silva, Renee Nohra, Melissa Paskoski,
Jacqueline Tran-Pham, Lauren Mellor, Cleopatra Kendirjian,
Catherine Nguyen, Rachel Parnell, Saada Issa, An Pham, Kiara
Asuzu, Stephanie Fagan, Monika Keoasa, Victoria Luong,
Abbey Smith, Sonya Crismale, Jamal Moussa, Alycia Patterson,
Theresa Uyen Vu, Monika Kuzmanovska, Eleeza Pozza,
Kimberly Tran, Julia Vlahogiannis, Grace Earls, Felicity Lee,
Teresa Nguyen, Cathy Quach, Charlotte Simpson, Tayla
Stralow, Kristen Thomson, Chantal Dalger, Lily-Rose
Nyamadzavo and Sarah Vaughan.
Ms Janine Kenney
PRINCIPAL
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
Could I please encourage parents/carers to carefully read the
information below regarding the use of electronic devices at
Mount St Joseph as provided by the Catholic Education Office,
Sydney.
STUDENT ACCEPTABLE USE AGREEMENT – Information for
Parents/Carers
RE: electronic devices (e.g. laptops, mobile phones etc. ) and
services – including cybersafety expectations
POLICY STATEMENT
The use of electronic devices and access to e-mail and internet
services (school devices and services) in Catholic Education
Office (CEO) Sydney schools are provided to students in order
to support their educational and administrative needs. These
school devices and services are necessary educational tools
and must be used in a responsible manner. This policy can
never anticipate all possible advances and uses of technology
and therefore students who are unsure about their usage
should seek clarification from a teacher as soon as possible.
However, acceptable use is guided by the following principles;

Students must behave in an ethical manner when using
electronic devices to access resources, communicate
and interact with others.

Online behaviour should at all times demonstrate a
Christ‐centred respect for the dignity of each person.

It is never acceptable to use electronic devices to
harass, bully or humiliate others.
This Policy is intended to inform parents and students of our
school’s expectations when students are using the devices and
services provided by the school and when using their personal
equipment to communicate to or about members of the school
community. If a student acts in a way that is against the
contents of the policy, he or she will be subject to
consequences according to the school’s Pastoral Care Policy,
this may include the withdrawal of access to services, and if
necessary offending material may be supplied to the police.
The school reserves the right to capture, store and review all
internet browsing and emails across our school network.
Devices may be taken or accessed if it is believed that:

There has been or may be a breach of the school rules
or policy

There may be a threat of harm to a student or others or
system security.
Interaction with school staff on social media sites is only to
occur in the context of a formal learning exercise which
parents will have been formally alerted to in advance.
CYBERSAFETY REQUIREMENTS
This policy addresses the particular use of these technologies
that has come to be referred to as ‘Cyberbullying’ (See No 3
below). The school will investigate and take action where this
kind of bullying occurs in school and outside of school when
it causes significant harm to the relationships between
students and or teachers, or is criminal in nature.
1. When using school devices and services students will:

ensure that communication through internet and email
services is related to learning.

keep passwords confidential, current and private.

log off at the end of each session to ensure that nobody
else can use their account.

promptly tell their teacher if they suspect they have
received a computer virus or spam (i.e. unsolicited
email) or if they receive a message that is inappropriate
or makes them feel uncomfortable.

seek advice if another user seeks excessive personal
information, asks to be telephoned, offers gifts by email
or wants to meet a student.

keep personal information including names, addresses,
photographs, credit card details and telephone
numbers, of themselves or others, private.

use appropriate privacy controls on social networking
sites.

ensure that school services are not used for
unauthorised commercial activities, political lobbying,
online gambling or any unlawful purpose.
2. When using the school services or personal mobile phones
(or similar personal equipment) students will not:

disable settings for virus protection, spam and filtering
that have been applied by the school and not attempt to
evade them through use of proxy sites.

allow others to use their personal accounts.

deliberately use the electronic identity of another
person to send messages to others or for any other
purposes.

enter ‘chat’ or ‘social networking’ internet sites without
the permission of a teacher.

intentionally download unauthorised software,
graphics or music that are not associated with the
learning activity as directed by a staff member.

damage or disable computers, computer systems or
networks or distribute damaging files or viruses.



disclose personal information about another person
(including name, address, photos, phone numbers)
distribute or use information which is copyrighted
without proper permission.
take photos or video of members of the school
community without their consent.
3. When using ICT to communicate or publish text or images
students will never include;

unacceptable or unlawful material or remarks,
including offensive, abusive or discriminatory
comments.

threatening, bullying or harassing material or make
unreasonable demands.

sexually explicit or sexually suggestive material or
correspondence.

false or defamatory information about a person or
organisation.

the school name or crest without the written
permission of the Principal.
Further information regarding ‘Computer use – student
responsibilities’ can be found on page 16 of the MSJ School
Diary.
Uniform
Many thanks to parents in the transition to winter uniform for
this term. Could I remind parents when buying new school
shoes to please adhere closely to the guidance given on page
13 of the school’s diary. ‘Shoes: Black leather lace-up school
shoes (platform soled, fashion shoes, mary-jane style or high
heeled shoes are not permitted’.)
Wearing the correct footwear ensures our students are able to
participate in many of practical subjects offered at MSJ
without the risk of injury.
ANZAC DAY – Dawn Service
Many thanks to Josephine
Canceri, Sophie McGing and
Ashleigh Daus for representing
Mount Saint Joseph at the
Panania Dawn service on
ANZAC Day at 4.30am during
the school holidays, it was a
most moving ceremony. This
was followed up by our MSJ
ANZAC Day Service held on the
first day of this term in the main quad. Many thanks to Mr
Garry Murray (President Panania RSL Sub Branch) for
attending our MSJ service and sharing his thoughts on what
ANZAC Day means with our school community.
Mr Stephen Mahoney
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COORDINATOR’S
REPORT
Year 9 Excursion
On Friday, 3 May, Year 9 students travelled to the city. We
started off the day with half the grade at St Patrick’s Church
Hill and the other half at Mary MacKillop Place in North
Sydney. We first had recess then proceeded to St Patrick’s to
have Mass. The Church had numerous statues of saints as well
as ornate Stations of the Cross and beautiful stained glass
windows. MSJ even got a special mention in Mass.
The groups then swapped over and we went and had lunch at
Mary MacKillop Place. We had a tour through different
exhibitions which showed us all about the life of Mary
MacKillop. We even saw a number of items that belonged to
her and we walked through the house she lived in. We would
like to thank all the teachers that helped make this day
possible. Overall it was a reflective and spiritual day.
Samantha Harris and Samantha Smiley
Walk With Christ
On Sunday, 2 June, hundreds of school, parish and family
groups together with priests and religious, will take part in
the annual Walk With Christ event – a procession of the
Blessed Sacrament from St Patrick’s Church Hill to St Mary’s
Cathedral.
It is hoped that MSJ will be represented at this event this year.
All students and their families are invited to attend. Girls in
their Religious Education classes will be given the opportunity
to write prayers that will be included in the Book of Life
which is carried as part of the procession and presented when
the group arrives at the Cathedral. For more information,
please visit sydneycatholic.org/walkwithchrist.
Upcoming Church Celebrations
12 May – The Ascension of the Lord
13 May – Our Lady of Fatima
14 May – St Matthias, apostle
19 May – Pentecost Sunday
Mr Chris Nolan
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COORDINATOR
CLASS OF 1973
40 YEAR REUNION
The class of 1973 will be holding a 40 year reunion on
Saturday 19 October 2013.
Further details will follow in the next few weeks. The
reunion is being organised by Kerry Newdick (Lee).
PASTORAL CARE COORDINATOR’S REPORT
Crossroads
A number of Year 11 and 12 students have participated in
Crossroads this year and the last two Hall Nights have been
hosted by the MSJ students.
Crossroads is an organisation working in fellowship with
disabled adults. They meet at the Padstow Uniting Church on
the first Saturday of each month for a social gathering where
they join in games and activities. There are between 20-30
disabled adults who attend the monthly Hall Nights and to see
the students engage with the group is absolutely delightful.
The Crossroads and MSJ communities have been connected
now for over 7 years.
This program is critical to the school’s Positive
Relationships/Bullying Policy. At Mount St Joseph we
recognise that behaviours which erode respect in our
community must not go unchallenged. Any behaviours
which stem from intolerance and discrimination are
harmful and erode the culture of respect in our school
community. The potential harmful effects of bullying, in
particular, are acknowledged by staff and students and this
program is one proactive way of equipping students with
the skills to identify and challenge bullying behaviour in
themselves and others.
We are very fortunate to have a student body where
Respect for Self and Respect for Others is valued in student
interactions with each other, however, we are mindful that
these values are not always upheld by every individual in
every circumstance. The Program aims to give students the
skills and confidence necessary to help them respond to
situations of conflict which can occur in relationships
between girls.
Ms Barham
PASTORAL CARE COORDINATOR
FEES OFFICE
Last Saturday the students helped the Crossroaders to make
Mother’s Day Cards, write messages to the special women who
care for them and decorate a small gift box. The month before
the students led a game quest with 50 ping pong balls. Both
the students and the Crossroaders enjoy being together for the
hour and a half each month. There is a genuine warmth,
kindness and enthusiasm exchanged between the students and
disabled adults.
The Term Two school fees invoices have been mailed out
and all families should have a copy. If you have not
received your copy, please contact the Fees Office on
8724 6228. When sending cheques to the school, please
make the payee: Mount St Joseph Milperra.
Thank you to our senior students for continuing to bring joy,
laughter and energy to these Hall Nights. It is wonderful that
the MSJ community can continue to make a difference to the
lives of others in the Crossroads community. I know the
organisers of Crossroads are forever grateful to the MSJ
community.
ESSA RESULTS
Year 12: Alexa Callaghan, Madeleine Costello, Monica
Crismale, Koreen Cueto, Brittney Finch, Dale Gardiner,
Dominica Lovisa, Elise Mulvihill, Melissa Paskoski, Victoria
Radosevic, Laura Reyes, Danielle Rowan.
Year 11: Katie Aherne, Abby Andrews, Georgia Ayoub, Tayla
Campedelli, Cassandra Castro, Tegan Henderson, Caitlin
Murphy, Katherine Nguyen, Vivian Tran, Raquelle Wehbe.
Thank you also to the staff for their continued support of the
students and the Crossroaders: Mrs Jenny Edwards,
Mrs Angela James, Mrs Kathy Wilson, Ms Jade Munro and
Mrs Hayley Freedman.
Mrs Connie O’Connor
The MSJ staff would like to congratulate the Year 9
students on their outstanding performance in the 2012
Essential Secondary Science Assessment. Six of our students
Hannah Kellert, Lauren Lowe, Courtney New, Emilie
Anderson, Alyne Gollon, Claire Lee and Liselle Primrose
achieved a Band 6, the highest grade awarded in this
Assessment and special congratulations go out to these
students for their exceptional results. Our school achieved
better than state average in each of the three highest bands.
Overall 80% of our students achieved a Band 4, 5 or 6.
Well done Year 9. I would also like to acknowledge our
Science Teachers, whose work and effort have contributed
toward our student’s understanding of scientific concepts
and methods.
Mrs D Entwistle
ASSISTANT SCIENCE COORDINATOR
MPower
On Tuesday this week all Year 8 participated in the MPower
Program.
The MPower Program was born out of a need to address issues
of bullying, self-esteem and relationships between girls, and to
assist the girls to develop skills to cope with and respond to
issues such as: teasing, gossip, exclusion and other situations
common among young women particularly cyberbullying.
The students worked in small groups with a teacher and
participated in activities which highlighted the importance of
a positive self-image and the part that they play in building
the impression that others have of themselves.
Year 7 2014 Applications
close on Friday 31 May
YEAR 9 CAMP
Wednesday 10 April was the day Year 9 had been waiting for.
It was the day to leave for camp. When we finally got on the
bus, the bus was filled with excitement. The bus ride was the
fastest thing because next thing we knew we had finally
arrived at Camp Yarramundi!
We were greeted with warm welcomes from the YMCA staff
and the camp leaders assigned us to our groups. We played
different games in the hall and also went outside to play a
game of tug-of-war. Then after we separated into our groups
and got to know our leaders better we discussed what was
going to happen over the course of the next three days. We
then regrouped to be assigned our cabins. Everyone rushed to
their cabins picking out which bed they wanted and made
themselves at home. After everyone unpacked it was time for
lunch.
Lunch was over and it was time for the first activity. The first
activity for the group I was in was rock climbing. We had to
work in a team for rock climbing. After that we had afternoon
tea. Then we headed to the multi group challenge which was a
series of challenges where you work in groups to overcome
multiple obstacles – you can see where they got the name
from.
It started to get dark and it was time for dinner. Half of Year 9
had dinner while the other half were in their cabins taking
showers. The dining halls were filled with everyone talking
about what they did during the day. After everyone had
finished eating dinner we swapped. Then we all met up again
to go to the disco. At the disco, we all sang and danced
together. Occasionally the teachers or the YMCA leaders
would come in and dance too. The night came to an end and
the teachers gave us a bed time: 11:30! All of Year 9 went
back and “went to sleep”.
Day Two. It was the same procedure as dinner for breakfast.
Then everyone went to their meeting spot to do their first
activity. The next two activities I had were abseiling and then
the scary maze. In the scary maze you had to navigate from
start to finish through a pitch black maze comprising of
tunnels, obstacles and multiple levels. It was awesome. After
the first two activities it was time for lunch. After lunch we
got ready for the next two activities which were giant swing
and archery.
It was the same procedure for dinner as day one. However on
day two we had a game of trivia where all Year 9 gathered in
teams. The teams had to answer a variety of musical questions
asked by the YMCA leaders. The night ended and we all went
back to our cabin. There was a difference between day one
and day two; on day two nearly everyone went to sleep
straight away.
Day three everyone was ordered to wake up early to clean up
the room and pack their bags to get ready to go home. We all
had two more activities to do. High ropes and kayaking. After
the two activities we all had lunch. Next, everyone gathered in
the hall, teachers, student and YMCA leaders. It ended with
many thankyous and goodbyes. Finally after the hard farewell,
everyone headed to the bus excited to go home. Personally
speaking, camp was an unforgettable experience where I
faced many fears and got closer to many of my peers. I wish I
could relive those three incredible days at camp Yarramundi.
Joanne Nguyen
YEAR 9
YOUNG SCIENTIST AWARD WINNERS
As part of the Science course students are required to plan a
scientific investigation and conduct it at home. They present
their findings in a written report.
Every year at MSJ the Science Department nominate several
students and enter them in the Young Scientist Award. Their
projects are then judged by Science teachers from other
schools.
The Young Scientist Award acknowledges the best student
research projects from around NSW.
These students received a Certificate of Commendation for
their projects last year: Cathy Do, Joanna Lagos and Monique
Scott.
These students received a Certificate of High Achievement:
Emma Andrew, Felicity Lee, Katie Aherne, Rebecca Woods,
Savanna Rehayem, Tegan Henderson and Raquelle Wehbe.
The following students received a Certificate of Excellence:
Lauren Andrade, Antonia Tahhan, Rebecca Volk and Tayla
Campadelli.
Tayla Campedelli was a finalist in the Young Scientist Award
and was commended at an awards ceremony at UWS
Milperra hosted by the Science Teacher’s Association of NSW
as her project was especially outstanding. She researched the
effectiveness of Electrolytes in Sports Drinks.
Congratulations to all of our award winners and we hope this
year’s Year 10 cohort can produce some equally astounding
Science Research projects.
Mr Frank Milic
SCIENCE COORDINATOR
MODERN HISTORY
EXCURSION
On Monday 6 May, a group of 30
students and staff gathered
together at Panania Station
around 7.45am. With many a
caffeine “hit” secured via the take
-away coffee shop nearby (thanks
Gloria Jeans) we boarded the train and headed for the CBD,
or more specifically, The Australian Museum, which is
directly opposite St Mary’s Cathedral. Alighting the train at
(surprise, surprise) Museum Station, this was followed by a
pleasant walk through Hyde Park, towards the museum.
Upon entering this infamous building, we filed into a lecture
hall, and our students were fortunate to listen to some
lectures delivered by renowned historian and author
Christopher Condon. His lectures were solely focused on
Albert Speer, Hitler’s architect. This is the personality being
studied for the HSC. As a result of these lectures, which also
featured valuable visual support material, students were
delivered a comprehensive understanding of the nature of
this highly controversial member of Hitler’s inner circle. The
lecture day will prove highly useful for students who are
preparing for their next assessment task, and ultimately, their
HSC Examination in late October.
Mr Mogan
HUMANITIES COORDINATOR
YEAR 10 VIETNAM VETERANS DAY
Vietnam Veterans Day is an
annual event here at MSJ, and
Year 10 2013 were not
disappointed. This incursion is
organised for students to get a
better understanding of the
Vietnam War and the
outcomes for the Australian
Vietnam Veterans both
physically and mentally. As a
grade we divided into classes and split to do the following
sessions: to watch a documentary 'In Their Footsteps', receive
personal stories of the experiences of individual Australian
Vietnam Veterans, see the memorabilia, go on the “Nambus”
and witness a touching personal performance by Brett Hunt.
For our class the first session was watching the documentary
'In Their Footsteps' which is a detailed account of the journey
of an Australian Vietnam Veteran father and his son. This
story follows the efforts of one son to gain an understanding
of his father’s wartime service. He visits the Jungle training
centre in North Queensland and travels to Vietnam to meet
with Vietnamese veterans of this conflict. This moving
personal story enabled us to get a better idea of the impact of
the war on both individuals and their families.
Later in the day, we had the great privilege of being addressed
by brave Australian Vietnam Veterans like Leo, Lindsey, Chris
and Gordon. The veterans were either conscripted soldiers or
regular troops. They shared with us their personal stories and
many of us were much moved. For me, their recounting of the
lack of acknowledgment they received when they came home
to Australia after the sacrifices they made was very emotional.
Continuing on with the sessions we went back into our
divided classes into the GLS. There was display set up for us
by Paul Martin. The display included some weaponry,
uniforms, heavy helmets, ration packages, and many other
items that would have been used by Australian troops.
Interestingly, there was even a North Vietnam soldier’s outfit,
and maps of the area which were also informative. At lunch
we were encouraged to visit the “Nambus” which was filled
with historical items from the Vietnam War such as the shells,
ammunition, used grenades, newsletters, model of the Viet
Cong tunnel, radio, uniforms, reward medals and other items
that would have been used by Australian soldiers. For the
soldiers this was equipment, for us as historians, they are
sources!
Lastly, as a grade we watched Brett Hunt’s amazing
performance based on his father’s personal experience of
Vietnam. His father’s unit was involved in the events of the
Redgum song “I Was Only Nineteen” and the performance
included songs and drama, as well as an insight into the
suffering of the families of veterans, such as Brett’s mum and
his siblings. Brett effectively gave his audience an idea of
what it would have been like for a troop to go out in the
jungle with guerrilla enemies and how aware and alert the
troops had to be and what sort of psychological impact this
may have had.
In conclusion I would like to thank Mr Mogan on behalf of
Year 10 for preparing the Vietnam Day and allowing us to
have such a great experience.
No history. No future.
Jade Ghabach
YEAR 10
FORTHCOMING EXCURSIONS
Parents and Caregivers are asked to ensure that permission
envelopes are signed and returned to Student Services by the
due date. Failure to return notes by the due date may mean
that students will not be permitted to attend the excursion.
DETAILS OF EXCURSION
Year 7 Medieval Day
$15.00
Year 7 PDHPE Incursion
$5.50
Year 10 CAREERSEARCH
$5.00
Year 11 UWS Day (Free)
DATE OF
EXCURSION
PAYMENT &
PERMSSION
DUE BY
12-6-2013
31-5-2013
5-6-2013
17-5-2013
17-7-2013
7-6-2013
5-6-2013
17-5-2013
22-5-2013
16-5-2013
13-6-2013
30-5-2013
29th to 31st
May
15th to 18th
May
Overdue
Year 12 Advanced English
“HAMLET” Excursion
$25.00
15-5-2013
Overdue
Year 12 Food Technology
Excursion $43.00
17-5-2013
Due now
Year 11 EES Excursion
$20.00
29-5-2013
20-5-2013
Year 11 Legal Studies
Excursion $5.00
Year 11 Ancient History
Excursion $15.00
Year 12 Retreat $250.00
Year 12 Earth &
Environment Mid West
Excursion $335.00
Overdue
THE SPORT REPORT
MSJ Annual Athletics Carnival
On Wednesday 1 May MSJ held its annual Athletics Carnival
at the Crest Athletics Track. We were fortunate the day
provided warm and sunny conditions. Competition was tight
and several long standing records were broken.
We
congratulate all students for their enthusiastic participation,
in particular we congratulate the McCormack House students
who took out first place.
SCC Cross Country
On Wednesday 8 May 2013, MSJ competed in the SCC Cross
Country at Queens Park. All team members trained hard all
year, getting up early for training sessions The hard work and
dedication paid off with MSJ achieving excellent results. MSJ
won both the Junior and Intermediate overall trophy.
Place
Age
Stefanie Aquilina
4th
12yrs
Age Champions 2013
Isabelle Campisi
6th
12yrs
12 Years
Rylee Towell
1st
13yrs
Alana Green
3rd
13yrs
Elise Dean
6th
13yrs
Taylah Brito
2nd
14yrs
Sharneece Antoun
3rd
14yrs
Jorji Simpson
5th
14yrs
Madeleine Dellosa
2nd
15yrs
1st
2nd
–
–
Kimberley Todorovski
Alexandra Stoddart/Anika Cavar
13 Years
1st
2nd
3rd
–
–
–
Rylee Towell
Jessica Houston
Isabelle Ly
14 Years
1st
2nd
3rd
–
–
–
Denise Youssef
Shannon Burchell
Taylah Brito
Congratulations to the above girls have made it to the next
level to compete at the CCC Carnival at Eastern Creek in June.
15 Years
1st
2nd
3rd
–
–
–
Laura Towell
Ashleigh Talevski
Annelise Colosimo
Leah Spaine
YEAR 8
16 Years
1st
2nd
3rd
–
–
–
Open Cricket Grand Final
Samantha Honeysett
Ashleigh Daus
Akala Newman
MSJ vs Bethany
Congratulations to the MSJ open team who took out the 2013
premiership. MSJ lost the toss and were sent into bat. Emily
Selwood opened the batting for MSJ and teamed up with
Rebecca Ranawaka to take the first wicket. The wickets
continued to fall quickly for MSJ despite the team dropping a
few catches. Bethany finished the innings on 7/35.
17+ Years
1st
2nd
3rd
–
–
–
Cassandra Gray
Alana Dean
Elise Mulvihill
Chloe Devlin and Prudence Roebuck opened the batting for
MSJ and made a few quick runs before both being caught out.
Maddison Bradford and Rebecca Ranawaka replaced the
batters and took the team to a quick victory.
House Placings
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
–
–
–
–
–
–
Name
McCormack
MacKillop
Penola
Tenison
Fitzroy
Landers
I would like to congratulate the team for a great season.
Despite the team winning convincingly every week, they
managed to remain grounded and continued to proudly
represent the school.
Records Broken
Annelise Colosimo
–
15 years 100m
Denise Youssef
–
14 years 100m
Shannon Burchell
–
14 years Discuss and Shot Put
Cassandra Gray
–
18 years 100m and 200m
Charbella Nandan
–
16 years High Jump
Ms Craft
PDHPE COORDINATOR
Back row left to right: Prudence Roebuck, Rebecca Ranawaka,
Emily Roebuck, Emily Selwood, Maddison Bradford.
Front row left to right: Chloe Devlin, Louise Aggar, Lauren
Towell.
Ms Craft