marian newsthe parable of the lost sheep then jesus told them this parable: “suppose one of you...

Marian News A Community growing in Faith & Love • Serving Others • Striving to Achieve • Thinking for the Future

Many of us get caught up in the many things that we need to do each day and miss out on the opportunity to stop and reflect on those factors that keep us maintain an appropriate balance in our lives. For our students their commitment to remain on top of study, research, assessment tasks and examinations can be all encompassing and, for some, quite daunting. Consequently, the need for schools to provide students times for reflection and contemplation is necessary in order to model what may be required throughout their lives.

With this need in mind the Year 12 students travelled to Camp Wilken in Anglesea on Thursday for a 2-day retreat for some time out from their normal routine, a time to reflect on themselves as individuals, on their lives and futures. From the outset the retreat was viewed as a special and sacred time and an opportunity for all to reflect on who we are and how we are called to life at a time of transition in our lives. We were called to be open to the experience, listen to others and our own hearts, and be prepared to participate in a way that was true to who we are. With time to move beyond friendship groups the retreat promised to be challenging, inspiring, eye-opening and enjoyable. Most importantly, the retreat was an invitation to share our lives in a spirit of respect of each other’s rights to enter the process as fully as they feel able, with the expectations for trusting and sharing explained and understood by all.

The activities and sessions were focussed on the development of the whole person especially with respect to their spiritual dimension, personal experiences and their dreams for the future. The theme for the two days was based on the words of Pope Francis:

“We must restore hope to young people, help the old, be open to the future, spread love. Be poor among the poor. We need to include the excluded and preach peace.”

As the days progressed we moved through a process of discernment of each person’s growth and development over the years. We reflected, listened and discussed the pathways of our lives and the companions that we have had that have meant most to us over the journey. The students drew a dinner table including the special people that they would invite to be with them. They created a road map of life highlighting people, significant events, milestones including times of hardship and sadness and continued the road into the future with an examination of future goals and ambitions. They designed a cross with their best memories of the past six years and their hopes for the rest of 2017. We prayed at Anglesea beach for our earth and for each other using the encyclical by Pope Francis Laudato Si’: On care for Our Common Home and we finished the first day with a spiritual liturgy, led by the students, which focussed on the themes of the day. The retreat also considered our connection to the community of the Year 12 level through an examination of the “Lessons we can learn from Geese?” This session outlined lessons of teamwork, leadership, co-operation and encouragement.

All group leaders spoke glowingly of our students’ respectful participation in all sessions. They allowed each individual to tell their story without fear of judgement and an acceptance of the worthiness of their experience. The retreat ended with an affirmation of each individual, the growth that had been witnessed in the share groups and the positive input we have had in each other’s life. Students were very positive in their expression of the value of this retreat.

We thank all the staff who travelled the retreat journey with the students. Their openness and honesty was especially respected by the students. We especially thank Mr McInerney and Mr Bratovic for their facilitation and organisation of the 2017 Year 12 Retreat.

Rita Grima and Raymond Pisani - Co-Principals

From the Co-Principals

Marian College196 Glengala Rd

West Sunshine 3020Phone 9363 1711Fax 9363 2386www.mariansw.catholic.edu.au

ISSUE 919TH JUNE 2017

A Community growing in Faith & Love • Serving Others • Striving to Achieve • Thinking for the Future

» Marian News, PG. 2

Marian NewsEVENTS:JUNE20th• Refugee Week• World Refugee Day• Semester 2 Begins

21st• SCSA Cross Country• Performing Arts Co-

Curricular Showcase 7pm. All welcome.

22nd• Bishops Visit

23rd• Yr 9 Unplugged Day

30th• Last Day of Term for

Staff and Students finish at 3pm

• Marian News Published

JULY17th• Staff Professional

Development Day. No students. School Office Open.

18th• Students Begin

Term 3• Open Morning

21st• Yr 9 Unplugged Day

24th• Maths Week• Year 10 Work

Experience week

28th• Marian News

Published• SCSA AFL

31st• Pathways Expo

Evening

AUGUST1st• Open Morning

3rd• Staff Professional

Development Day. No students. School Office Closed.

God of Joy and grace, as Jesus reminds us to use our gifts and talents to build up the Church, may our prayers this today remind us that it does not matter whether we win or lose, succeed or fail. What does matter is that we face our challenges and do our best using the talents you have given us, and appreciate the gifts of others, for they all come from you, our loving God. And there are truly amazing people that we are in contact with, whom life will provide opportunities that are beyond imagination. As Daniel Delany says, “from every seed sown and cultivated by love we shall be sure to reap a harvest’. We ask this through Christ our Lord.Amen.

PRAYER :


Faith and MissionAs Semester One draws to a close it is amazing how everything appears to get busier at the College. With Year 10 and 11 students sitting their subject exams, the Year 12 students have completed the majority of their Unit 3 Outcomes as well as sitting the GAT. They will be on retreat by the end of this week at Camp Wilkins in Anglesea for Thursday and Friday. It is a time for a rest to recharge the batteries before commencing Semester Two. It is more importantly a time to reflect on what has been and what is to come, for the future beckons.

With all this activity to get work in, studying for exams and the realization that there is only one semester left for our Year 12 girls in there secondary education I encourage all parents to continue to care for their daughters and if you need to go the extra mile for them. Be reminded of what Jesus shared with his followers regarding “the Lost Sheep” or in your current day situation, the young lady who may stray from her main priorities.

The Parable of the Lost SheepThen Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

As Daniel Delaney said “from every seed sown and cultivated by love we shall be sure to reap a harvest”. These students are a gift; it is a privilege to be a part of their lives and I so very much look forward to working with them on Retreat. Like the seeds placed into the fertile soil, these students have the opportunity to learn, develop and grow, becoming more than they were on arrival at Marian College.

Leo Mc Inerney - Assistant to the Co-Principals - Faith and Mission

Learning and TeachingSEMESTER 1 EXAMINATIONSThank you to our all Year 9, 10 and 11 students for the way in which they completed their Semester 1 Examinations. Most students had a focused approach and many excellent results have been achieved. Students will receive their results and feedback over the coming days.We will follow up upon students who have recorded unsatisfactory examination results. Students with multiple unsatisfactory results will be required to meet with the Senior Certificates Panel (Year 11) or a Year Level Academic Panel (Years 9 and 10). We will work with those students on establishing future goals, formulating a plan for improvement, and planning appropriate future pathways. Please note that this information, as well as other results in the Semester 1 Reports, will be used when considering students for acceleration studies, as well as suitability for pathways or subjects in the 2018 subject selection process.

SEMESTER REPORTS Your daughter’s Semester 1 Report will available on Friday 30 June after 3.00 pm on the Engage Parent Portal. If you have not set up your SEQTA Engage account, it is essential that you do so as this is where you can access the Semester Report, as well as a wide range of other important information. The Semester 1 Report provides a summary of progress and achievement over the first semester; however, it does not provide detailed teacher comments. This is because we have moved to a continuous reporting model, allowing students and parents to access assessment task results throughout the semester, as they are released. More importantly, feedback is provided in relation to tasks which should enable students to identify where they are presently in their learning, where they want to get to next, and how they will be able to get there. Please take the time to go through the Semester Report and the detailed feedback on SEQTA, with your daughter, identifying strengths and achievements, areas for improvement, and strategies to progress towards goals. Based on the Semester Reports, high academic achievers will be recognised through Academic Excellence Certificates, to be awarded in Term 3. Academic Excellence Awards, for students in Years 7 – 10, are calculated based on achievement across all assessment tasks in all subjects studied and reported upon. Students who are in Year 11 are eligible for an Academic Excellence Certificate if they achieved an “A” average in four or more subjects. Accelerated Unit 3/4 Studies are also considered in the calculation of these awards.Our teachers also use assessment data to inform their planning for Semester 2 and to personalise the learning for our students. The next Parent – Teacher – Student Conferences are scheduled for Thursday, 10 August. These conferences will provide an opportunity to discuss your daughter’s learning and to focus on her progress in Semester 2. In the meantime, if you would like to discuss your student’s progress and achievement, please contact the relevant subject teacher/s at the College.

SUBJECT SELECTIONFor students going into Years 10, 11 and 12 next year, it is now time to consider subject selection for 2018. The 2018 Senior Certificates and Year 10 Subject Handbooks will soon be available on the SEQTA Engage and Learn Portals. Students moving into Years 10, 11 and 12 will also receive a letter at the beginning of next term regarding the subject selection process and the Marian College Pathways Expo and Parent Information Evening. We are pleased that, in addition to tertiary providers, we will also have representatives from the Police and Defence Forces at this Expo. The date for this event is Monday 31 July so please mark this in your diaries now. Jane Goddard - Assistant to the Co-Principals - Learning and Teaching


Student WellbeingUNIFORM REMINDERSAs we approach the end of Term 2 and our now truly in the middle of winter we remind all students about the expectations in relation to uniform.

These include the fact that the Physical Education uniform should only be worn on the days that students have Health and Physical Education and that it cannot be the chosen uniform just because it is more comfortable and easier to wear.

Secondly, the school tie is a compulsory part of the winter uniform and must be worn at all times.

Unfortunately some students were unable to sit exams last week due to them coming to school in the wrong uniform. This which was made clear to all students in the letter sent out prior to the Year 10 and 11 examination period.The uniform shop is open on both Wednesday and Friday from 10.30 to 1.30pm and if families need to access our second hand uniform shop please contact the office on 9363-1711.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS TO PARENTSOver the course of this term we have needed to distribute a letter to families of students at certain Year Levels regarding the presence of Head Lice. We remind parents of the importance of these letters being taken seriously and responded to appropriately. Head Lice will continue to remain an issue if appropriate treatment is not undertaken as students become reinfested.It would appear that this is currently a common issue across a number of schools and it is important that parents respond to the letters when they are sent out.

END OF TERM ASSEMBLYOn Thursday 29 June we will be having an end of term assembly to celebrate the completion of Semester 1. It will acknowledge many of the students and their achievements over the course of the first part of the year.We would like to invite our parents to this celebration. If you would like to attend please contact the office and we will reserve you a seat.

WELLBEING ADVICEThe end of semester is upon us. Students from Years 9 to 12 have just completed exams and end of semester reports will soon become available to parents.

This period of time adds a level of stress and anxiety to many of our students as they worry about exams and how they have performed and then are concerned about their report and how it will look when it is released to parents.

It is important if your daughter feels stressed or overwhelmed by the process of exams and/or the reports at the end of term that we talk to them about trying their best. The challenges of exams and submission of work at this time of the year (or at any time) can be managed and that together we can work cooperatively through this period.

If you are concerned about your daughter in relation to either her exams or the end of term report please know that you can contact your daughter’s homeroom teacher or Year Level Leader. We can work together to help your daughter manage this very challenging time in her learning.

Kerrie Williams - Assistant to the Co-Principals – Student Wellbeing

Performing Arts A big congratulations to all the Performing Arts staff and students as they presented three concerts last week.

The Junior Performing Arts Showcase was presented to a full house on Wednesday 7 June, and then Music students repeated their performances to the primary school audience the following day (along with one of our senior dancers).

The Year 10-12 Music students then presented their work the following evening to a smaller but very appreciative audience.

We would also like to give special thanks to our MCs - Natasha Phan (Year 7), Sarah Jane Maloney and Courteney Gatt (Year 12).

Many of the students who took part in the above concerts are also involved in the Co-curricular program, taking instrumental or singing lessons, or playing in a band, an ensemble, or singing in a choir. They are preparing their pieces for the final concert this semester - the Performing Arts Co-Curricular Showcase, set for Wednesday 21 June between 7 & 8pm in our O’Neill Auditorium. We look forward to seeing out the semester in style and celebrating the work of these girls. We hope to see you there!

Mari Eleanor - Music and Drama Programs Co-ordinator


Y7-12 Catholic Girls College I www.mariansw.catholic.edu.au

Marian College

Celebrating 60 years of Catholic Girls’ Education

ENROLMENTS FOR YEAR 7 2019

CLOSE 25TH AUGUST 2017

ENROLMENT INFORMATION

EVENING Wednesday 28th June 2017

7:00-8:30pmOpen morning tours:

2nd May, 6th June, 18th July, 1st August,

5th September, 10th October, 14th November

and 5th December

For bookings call 9363 1711

marian newsthe parable of the lost sheep then jesus told them this parable: “suppose one of you...

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