St Saviour's College Newsletter 2023 - Term 4 Week 2

Acting Principal

The Vineyard of our Lives

The last three Sundays’ gospel readings have focused on the creation of the Kingdom of Heaven. These three gospel readings have employed symbolism of the vineyard to help us understand what it means to bring to life the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. All three of these Gospels have focussed on the vineyard, but within that have challenged us to consider what makes a productive vineyard. In this same way, we need to consider not only what makes a school community, but the habits, actions and dispositions that create a thriving, supportive and Catholic learning community. Last term, many parents, students and staff participated in the Shaping our Futures survey. It is feedback such as this that helps us to clarify what is important in our community and the sort of community we want to be.

The first parable on the vineyard from a few Sundays ago makes clear the generosity of God’s love. In this teaching, Jesus makes clear to us that ‘the last will be first and the first the last.’ In this way we are challenged to respond to the needs of our community and the needs of others in ways that bring the most marginalised to the front. It challenges us to be generous and not tight-fisted in our willingness to serve others and be one for others. For our Year 11 students embarking on their first weeks as quasi-year 12 students, this challenge can never be clearer. The question of how they will make their younger students in their houses and home classes feel valued, important and placed first, is one that is pertinent as they begin their year as leaders within the school.

The second parable is that of the two sons, where a father asks his two sons to go and work in the vineyard, the first one first says no, but then goes away, thinks about it, and decides to go. The second says yes straight away, but then did not go. Like the parable, if we want a community that is based on our Mercy values of compassion, hospitality, justice and excellence, we cannot be like the first son and just pay lip-service to these – we must actually ‘go to the vineyard’ and enact these values on a daily basis in our interactions with others. In the Gospel story, the pharisees get a pretty bad rap – and rightly so – their hypocrisy was the target of many of Jesus’ sermons. It remains a clear reminder to us that if want a community that is compassionate, just and hospitable then in our actions to each other we must be compassionate, just and hospitable.  

Finally, last weekend, the third image of the vineyard was brought to the forefront in the delivery of the parable of the wicked tenants – tenants that wanted the takings of the vineyard without doing the hard yards or having the right to it. A productive community is based on a community who works together and supports each member. In this way, when we are in a community, we need to ensure that we support each other to make that community as good as it can be: a fruitful, productive vineyard. As a Catholic, Mercy learning community, here at St Saviour’s, we are called to make our community great by helping our friends, being kind, having a go, supporting each other, welcoming others and by trying our best in our learning – this is how we create our own vision of a flourishing vineyard.

Year 12 Final Day and Exams

By the time the next newsletter goes to print, our beautiful class of 2023 will have had their final day of classes. I would like to take this opportunity to recognise this cohort as a wonderful and diverse group of empowered women – each with their own dreams, aspirations and God-given gifts. I wish them every success in their exams, I know that they have been well prepared by their talented senior teachers and have great agency and ownership of their success in these final hurdles.  

All Schools Touch

A number of students travelled to the Gold Coast last weekend to participate in the All-Schools Touch competition. Congratulations to these students who competed whole-heartedly. As a College, we have a comparatively young team, and so whilst there were some games where the students ‘learned a lot’ (according to Mrs Schulze) I also know they competed with absolute heart, with an incredible sense of team and a commitment to giving their all. Congratulations girls on your class, your heart and your Mercy tenacity.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate the support team of staff: Mr Hickey, Mrs Doherty, Mrs Schulze and Mrs Banks for their support of Touch Football at SSC and our College participation at All-Schools Touch.

Netball Success

At the end of Term 3, our College Saturday netball team played their grand final and managed to come away from the season undefeated. What an outcome! Congratulations to the girls for their tenacity, sportsmanship and commitment across the season. They are commended for the incredible outcome!

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate the support team of parent volunteers: Jayde Cavendish and Kym Norman for their support of the team across the season and to Mr Leathart for his support of the College’s participation in the competition – roll on 2024!

Individual Student Successes – Bowls of all Kinds

I would like to take this opportunity to commend two of our Mercy Girls for their involvement in sports outside of the College.

Firstly, to Holly Anderson in Year 12. Holly travelled to Perth last week to compete in the National U18 Bowls competition and came away with both a bronze and silver medal. What an exceptional achievement! Holly, we are so proud of you!

To Charlotte Fennel in Year 10. Charlotte participated in the national Tenpin bowling competition. She won a gold medal in the independent competition and a silver medal in the team competition. A great achievement for you Charlotte, we are so proud of your achievements.

Congratulations to Novena Va’a who competed with her team the Logan Thunder at the Under 14 National championship in basketball. The girls placed 3rd in the national competition and are the number one team in Queensland. Congratulations Novena, how wonderful it is to see all your hard work reaping such great rewards. 

Parent Teacher Interviews

We held our parent teacher interviews on Monday of Week 1. I would like to extend my absolute thanks and appreciation to all the parents and students who attended these meetings. It is wonderful to see such incredible support and partnership in your daughter’s education.

Jess Wade
Acting Principal

Announcement of 2024 College Leadership Team

It brings me great pleasure to announce the appointment of the full leadership team for 2024 and beyond. From September this year, the College, in collaboration with the Toowoomba Catholic School Office, has undertaken an internal and external recruitment campaign. Due to enrolment growth, we are extending our leadership team to encompass another member, providing further support to each student’s achievement of her potential. We have now appointed three outstanding, passionate and innovative educators to leadership roles to begin in the 2024 school year. The leadership structure for 2024 and beyond is as follows:

Principal - Jessica Wade
Deputy Principal: Teaching and Learning - Eleighta Hannam
Assistant Principal: Mission and Identity - Leah Dempster
Assistant Principal: Wellbeing and Engagement - Megan Schulze
Head of Boarding- Nicole Booth

Ms Collins has given me much sage advice in the last three years, but when I was appointed to the principalship, she gave me this gem:

Rule number one of leadership: surround yourself with good people.

In the appointment of this exceptional team of passionate educators, empowered women and empathetic humans, I am confident that together we will provide exceptional levels of care and support for your daughters in their learning and being here at school.

Deputy Principal: Teaching and Learning – Eleighta Hannam

Eleighta is currently the Deputy Head of Secondary School at Toowoomba Anglican School and is well known to many families having worked across a number of TCS schools.  Eleighta is an experienced educator who demonstrates innovation, a strong understanding of contemporary pedagogy, and a deep passion for teaching and learning. A passionate science (Chemistry and Biology) teacher, Eleighta was awarded Lead Teacher status by AITSL in 2020. Eleighta was the recipient of the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Excellence Awards 2020 Emerging Leader Award. I look forward to welcoming Eleighta to the College and all she will bring to the role, through her innovation, expertise and energy.

Assistant Principal: Mission and Identity – Leah Dempster

Leah Dempster is well-known to many in the community following her leadership both in Acting Deputy Principal this year and in the 7-9 Learning Leader role. Leah’s appointment to this role means that Leah will be responsible for both the continued thriving faith, identity and mission life of the College, as well as assuming responsibility for the operations of the College. Leah brings to this community wonderful gifts as a passionate educator, a faith-filled leader and an innovative thinker. She brings a wealth of experience in the leadership and creation of beautiful liturgies that provide space for both celebration and contemplation and reflection and a quiet, inclusive faith perspective. In addition, her attention to detail is second to none. Her commitment to the College’s mercy values is evidenced in the impact she has had as both Learning Leader and Acting Deputy Principal this year. I know Leah will continue to be an expectional faith leader and role model for girls at St Saviour's. 

Assistant Principal: Wellbeing and Engagement – Megan Schulze

Megan is well-known to many of you in this community having served students in the pastoral space as both Pastoral Leader and acting in the Assistant Principal Faith, Mission and Student Wellbeing role this year. Megan’s new role for 2024 assumes responsibility for the holistic care of student well-being in the College and programs that foster both engagement in learning and a commitment to the building of a community founded on our Mercy values. Megan brings to this community wonderful gifts as a passionate educator, a faith filled leader and an unwavering commitment to bringing to life the god-given gifts of each member of our community. Her capacity to excel in this role has been evidenced in the vision, tenacity and empathy she brings to all she does. I know Megan will continue to be an exceptional leader and role model for girls at St Saviour's. 

Acting Deputy Principal - Curriculum

Year 10 and 11 Senior Subject Changeover

The start of this term marked a pivotal moment for our Year 10 and 11 students with the Senior Subject Changeover. This is a prime opportunity to ensure your child is on the best academic and vocational path. To discuss subjects or academic progress for your child, please contact me at leah.dempster@twb.catholic.edu.au. For more information about TAFE, SBA, traineeships, or other vocational paths, please contact Mrs. Benvenuti, our Career Development Practitioner.

Academic Leave Policy

Absences extending beyond two days require an official Academic Leave application. The process is straightforward:

• First, inform the school about the upcoming absence.
• Then, students collect a yellow Academic Leave form from my office.
• Students then have a discussion with each teacher to determine what work needs to be completed either during the absence or beforehand.

Year 7-11 Awards Ceremony

Save the date! Our annual Year 7-11 Awards Ceremony is slated for 17 November, starting at 8:30am. It is a morning event designed to celebrate and acknowledge the hard work and accomplishments of our students. Award recipients will be notified in the coming weeks. We strongly encourage parents and guardians to attend this joyous occasion.

Term 4, 2023 Assessment Dates

Given that Term 4 is shorter than usual, time management is crucial. We urge parents to check the assessment dates listed on the Parent Portal. Any modifications to the schedule will be updated there promptly.

Leah Dempster
Acting Deputy Principal - Curriculum

Assistant Principal - Mission and Student Wellbeing

This past weekend I was able to do one of the things I love the most with being a teacher. I had the opportunity to take the most beautiful group of girls to a touch carnival where they challenged themselves against some of the top touch football schools across the nation. Not one of them stepped back from the challenge, even with us fielding a team of girls ranging from Years 7 - 11 in the U18 competition. Each game they worked together, never dropping their heads when things got tough and showed real tenacity when faced with adversity. I could not be prouder of their effort. I know that their time at St Saviour’s had prepared them for this challenge, to respond the way they did. This opportunity will last with them for a lifetime.  As part of the experience, we got to show our hospitality to a fellow Sydney Mercy School and build connections with others who share the same values as us. 

Thanks to Ms Tammy Banks for helping in the preparation, Ms Juanita Doherty for her comprehensive organisation and supervision and who could forget Mr Rod Hickey and his great bus driving, photography and supervising skills! I look forward to working with this team and Mr Greg Leathart to continue to build touch football at the College. 

Wellbeing Week

This week we have been celebrating Wellbeing Week. All Year 7 - 10s continued our Wellbeing Wednesday program with a presentation from LIVIN where their mantra is “It ain’t weak to speak”. The outcomes the presentation had hoped to achieve are:

• Conversational strategies to drive stigma reduction.
• The knowledge to identify warning signs and symptoms of mental health challenges.
• Practical strategies to help those around them who might be struggling.
• Effective strategies to help themselves including coping, resilience and stress management.
• Information on when and where to get professional help.

For our Year 9 students last term, the Wellbeing Program engaged students with the Blurred Minds Drug and Alcohol Online Education to help equip students with information to help them make better choices as they move forward in life. For parents: Blurred Minds have a wonderful parent information page: https://www.blurredminds.com.au/community/.

This term the Year 9s will be working on achieving their Digital Licence through the eSmart program from the Madeline and Alannah Foundation. They will also have a presentation later in the term from the ThinkUKnow program which is designed by the Federal Police to help educate students on staying safe online. 

This week is also “Stay Smart Online Week”, and the Optus Digital Thumbprint resource has guides for families to stay safe online. Digital Thumbprint has a range of handy guides on digital health and wellbeing topics that support healthy family conversations, such as:

• Safeguarding your child’s privacy on popular apps and games.
• Blocking unwanted contact for your child.
• Balancing time online.
• Cyberbullying: What to say when things go wrong online.
• Recognising hackers, scammers and fake friends.
• Stay ahead of scams through family discussions.
  

These can all be accessed via https://www.digitalthumbprint.com.au/parent-resources/  This again is another great resource as I have recently read an article in Education Today, that highlighted research conducted, that boarding students often have better sleep quantity and quality due to strict tech rules and bans. It is an interesting read (Education Today) and highlights one of the many reasons why we need our adolescents to use their tech devices in healthy ways. 

Day for Daniel

In Week 4, the Goretti House will be running their House initiative and raising awareness around staying safe whilst raising funds for the Daniel Morcombe Foundation. Students will be allowed to wear red clothing on Friday 27 October (school appropriate including closed in shoes) for a gold coin donation. Baked items and a sausage sizzle will also be available. 

Megan Schulze
Assistant Principal - Mission and Student Wellbeing

Subject Support

Students needing support in Maths are welcome to come along to the following sessions:

New Uniform Supplier

Sports Snapshots Term 4

• Monday Futsal has three teams engaged in some highly competitive yet social games of futsal. The students playing in these teams are using the time to continue improving their skills in the game. Games are played across the afternoon starting at 4.00pm and finishing at 7.00pm based on age groups. Over the term we will share some success stories including the superb antics of our senior goalkeeper Alison Douglas who put on a masterclass in shot stopping last Monday night.

• Rugby 7s is also happening this term under lights at the Highfields Sporting precinct. Students in Under 13 and Under 15 are playing either Monday or Thursday depending on their age group. We look forward to sharing some results and Players' Player soon.

• Year 8 HPE Water Safety Unit. All year 8 students will visit the Milne Bay Pool over the term to practice some of the skills they have been learning in class. The students will need to make sure they have appropriate swimwear for these lessons. Students will be walking to the venue which also includes identification of warning signs and the following of road policies and procedures as part of the unit on safety. Students will be conducting various tests and strategies for staying safe in the water. 8A will attend Thursdays and 8B, 8C will attend Tuesdays. All students are encouraged to bring the equipment to conduct the activities as part of their curriculum studies for Term 4 Health and Physical Education.

• The 2024 Darling Downs School Sport Calendar is now available (please see below). Please take note that this is a working document and that dates do change from time to time. Updated versions will continue to appear on the Darling Downs School Sport in the coming weeks and into next year. Don’t forget that some sports have local TSSS trials before the regional trails that students must attend before the DD trails.

Australian Futsal Team Selections

Recently St Saviour’s College took part in a school futsal competition run by SWQ Futsal which ran in April 2023. From this competition players were selected to represent at the 2023 National School Championships in September 2023.

Emily Kuhn (St Saviour’s College), Daeja Pene (St Saviour’s College) and Mia Aylward (St Saviour’s Primary School) all took up the offer of their selection to compete at Nissan Arena.

The futsal comp was competitive and in each game players had to put in their best effort. Daeja played in the U13 team and Emily and Mia were in the same U12 team.

Emily and Mia played their way into the grand final and came away with a rewarding 2^nd place. It was so wonderful for them to step on that stage and receive their silver medallions. This is such a great achievement for them both and their teammates.

To top off the National School Championships, all three girls were offered positions on Australian tours in 2024 - Emily Kuhn U12/U13 Australia squad in Barcelona, Daeja Pene U14 Australian squad in UK and Mia Alyward U11 Australian squad in Fiji.

Such a fantastic achievement for them all and their teammates.

McAuley House Boarding News

We have had a great start to Term 4 in Boarding. We love our girls’ dedication and willingness to travel long distances to come back and rejoin their boarding family. We are looking forward to another great term. We have some great activities planned including a trip to the beach, a stargazing evening, a Halloween themed dinner along with our regular shopping trips, sports events and markets.

We bid farewell to Miss Pru at the end of last term and welcomed Miss Natasha who some of the girls know from football. 

McAuley Boarding has opened a small shop for the girls to access which is proving very popular and will help subsidise some activities.

Last term we had our dinner for our Boarding seniors. It is always a special night and it was great to celebrate with our seniors and their families. Congratulations Lily, Amelia, Holly and Madisyn.

This term we will say farewell to our Year 12s. They have been wonderful and supportive role models for our Boarding family.  We know they will leave McAuley House will great memories and lifelong friends. 

Nicole Booth
Boarding Manager

Libary News

Welcome

All resources are to be returned before the end of term.

The one time of year everything must be back. There is no borrowing over the Christmas break as we would like all resources returned to their home in the library so they can be checked over and audited for the year.

Overdue and recall notices are being sent out this week and continuing through the term to remind students to return all their resources. Students can access what they have out through our Library Web App –  please encourage your child/ren to check what they have out that must be returned. Go to the link, sign in using the Single Sign on blue button.

Stay tuned in upcoming newsletters for activities to keep yourselves reading over the Christmas break.

New Resources

New resources are still available at the moment – come in and check out what is on display. Check the images below to see what is new in our library.

Don’t forget: write your suggestions and put them in the box on the front counter so we know here in the library what resources you would like to see available for borrowing.

What's Happening in the Library ?

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL LIBRARIES MONTH – The School Library: My Happy Place where Creativity and Imagination flourish.

We are currently celebrating International School Libraries month and tying it into Halloween with the theme of Creativity and Imagination Flourish! A great time to celebrate with being creative and imagining all the spooky goodness of Halloween.

History of International School Libraries Month

Before the emergence of online search engines, people with queries used to go to their local libraries, the most reputable sources they knew. Simply ask, and a reference librarian will answer your question or direct you to a book with the necessary information. The concept of a library can be traced back thousands of years. In the seventh century B.C., Assyrian ruler Ashurbanipal founded the first systematically organised library in Nineveh, Iraq, of the ancient Middle East. Similarly, the Great Library of Alexandria in Egypt is thought to have housed up to 700,000 documents from various regions. Other great libraries include Baghdad’s ‘Bayt alikmah’ (‘House of Wisdom’), founded in 830 A.D., and the library of Caliph Al-Hakam in Spain, which housed around 400,000 books in the 10th century

The objective of ancient libraries was straightforward - gather information, extract knowledge and improve life. People increasingly began to see the value of having publicly available information centres and libraries became ubiquitous in cities and towns worldwide.

Many people predicted that libraries would become obsolete as the Internet’s impact grew in the 1990s and 2000s because all the knowledge in the world was suddenly at your fingertips. Despite this, community libraries have continued to thrive, becoming more popular than ever because the Internet does have some weaknesses.

Taken directly from: https://nationaltoday.com/international-school-libraries-month/

Stay safe and keep reading.

Andrea King
Teacher Librarian

From the Careers Centre

Vocational Awards

Congratulations to Madisyn Green who won the Downs Industry Schools Co-operative Vocational Encouragement Award at the recent Year 12 Awards Assembly. Madisyn completed her School Based Traineeship this year with a Certificate III in Individual Support through Southern Cross Care. She showed commitment and determination in completing her training to further her skills as she pursues a career in the healthcare industry after school. Madisyn is to be commended for her attitude towards her training and for the caring way she engaged with the residents.

Congratulations to Holly Anderson who won the School Based Apprentice / Traineeship of the Year. Holly exemplifies what it means to be the SBA Student of the Year. She is committed to her studies and maintains excellent grades in her subjects. She contributes to the life of the school by volunteering at many hospitality functions and events. Holly has worked hard to keep up with her traineeship study commitments. Feedback from her employer indicates she loves her work and is committed to giving her best when dealing with clients. She has aspirations to continue to study within the health industry when she graduates, and this has been influenced by her SBA.

Congratulations to Sophia Yamasita who won the TAFE South-West Qld Outstanding Vocational Education Student award.

She has given a consistent and determined effort to her studies as she completed her school-based traineeship in Floristry over the past three years. Sophia’s commitment saw her making regular trips to the Southbank TAFE to complete block training, which she excelled in. Her traineeship has inspired her to study event management when she leaves school.

First Aid Training

On Friday 6 October several Year 9 and 10 students successfully completed the First Aid and CPR component of their Certificate II in Sports Coaching. This is a valuable skill that will enhance their employability and confidence in the sports industry. During the training, the students learned how to apply bandages, treat snake bites and perform CPR in emergency situations. We would like to thank Rob and Jim from the Academy of Fitness and High Performance for facilitating the training and sharing their expertise with our students. Well done to all the participants for their hard work and enthusiasm.

AusAPP Pathways: Free app for apprenticeships and traineeships

This is a free app that helps students and jobseekers explore Australian Apprenticeship career pathway ideas on their smartphone or tablet. Users can access:

• General industry options as well as specific apprenticeships and traineeships
• Links to job hunting and career research sites
• Contacts for local Apprenticeship Network providers and Group Training Organisations.

AusAppPathways is available for both Apple and Android devices. A ‘Guide to Using AusAppPathways’ can be found on the Australian Apprenticeships Pathways website.

Somerset National Poetry Prize

As a part of the 2024 Somerset Storyfest, school-aged students are invited to participate in the Somerset National Poetry Prize sponsored by Dr Annette Allen of Tweed Banora Dental. The purpose of the Somerset National Poetry Prize is to encourage a love of writing poetry amongst secondary school students, to affirm it as a worthwhile literary pursuit, and to stimulate excellence in writing. It also aims to inspire and enrich youth literature. There are two categories to enter: a Junior Category for Years 7-9, and a Senior Category to 10-12.

Each category winner will be awarded:

• Cash prizes
• Flights and accommodation to the Gold Coast
• Tickets to attend Somerset Storyfest (25 to 27 March 2024)
• Exclusive access to meet with Australia’s elite authors and publicists

Entries are open until Friday 1 December. Find out more and enter here

Under the Radar Short Film Competition

Proudly presented and produced by the City of Port Phillip, the St Kilda Film Festival supports the Australian film industry by showcasing the best short films. A special category of St Kilda Film Festival is the Youth Short Film Category – Under the Radar. This category provides an opportunity for young filmmakers (under the age of 21) to show their work in an internationally recognised film festival. St Kilda Film Festival provides the most comprehensive overview of the national short film industry, screening the top short film entries alongside a rich program of special events, international screenings and a free filmmaker development program. Winner of the Under the Radar Short Film Competition will be awarded a prize of $1000. Submissions are open now and close 31 January 2024. Find out more and enter here.

Kim Benvenuti
Acting Career Development Practitioner

Student Travel Rebates

QCWA EXPO & Workshops

Blood Drive 2023

Every drop counts. Can we count on you?

From 1 August to 31 October, St Saviour's College will be supporting Australian Red Cross Lifeblood’s annual QLD & NSW Schools Blood Drive and we’re encouraging all eligible members of our school community aged 18+ to roll up their sleeves and donate.   

Can we count you in?

Every week across our nation, Lifeblood needs to collect 33,000 donations to support patient healthcare needs.  Australia’s donors are lifesavers, they’re indispensable and inspirational. However, with winter colds and flu having an impact, many regular donors are feeling unwell and are unable to donate. That’s where people from St Saviour's College come in!  If you haven’t donated for a while or if you’ve never donated and are keen to give it a try – Lifeblood is counting on you to help fill the gaps.

By giving together, our College can make a difference.

Schools are at the heart of our communities, they bring people together, foster connection and support others when they need it most.  And this Blood Drive is the perfect opportunity for our school to do just that! 

To be eligible to donate you need to be aged 18+ and feeling healthy and well on the day of your donation.  You can check if you’re able to donate by taking the online Lifeblood Blood Eligibility Quiz.  Blood can be given every 12 weeks, while plasma can be given more often – helping even more people. 

And because this is a Blood Drive, hundreds of schools across Queensland and New South Wales will join together as we aim to give 1,000 donations, which have the potential to save up to 3,000 lives.

You can see our school’s donation tally at any time on the Blood Drive landing page.

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3 to count yourself in.

So, whether you’ve been giving blood for decades or you’ve just started thinking about it, now is the perfect time to start, and it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3.

1. Join St Saviour’s College's Lifeblood Team
2. Register as a donor.
3. Book your life-giving donation.

You can learn more by visiting the Lifeblood website or if you need help please get in touch with Kerri Prentice: kerri.prentice@twb.catholic.edu.au or phone 4637 1600.

Remember, every drop counts - and we’d love to count you in!