26 October 2018

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

Welcome back to Term 4! Spring brings with it new beginnings. I trust students were able to spend some down time with families and friends, to recharge the batteries and prepare for a usually busy term.

This newsletter we begin with the new College Prayer and I thank Mrs Burnett for her leadership in collaboratively creating this prayer for the College.

To put the prayer into context, I have included the citation that was read to students at the first assembly for the term, when the prayer was launched.

“The College has long recognised the importance of celebrating the charisms of the Marist Fathers, and the Sisters of St Joseph. Jean Claude Colin the founder of the Marist Fathers believed it crucial that the Fathers were a living representation of Mary. Her gentle love is therefore mirrored by all those aligned with the Marist charism.

The Josephite charism places emphasis on Catholic schooling, specifically education for the poor and underprivileged. Her teaching ‘to never see a need without doing something about it’ is reflected in working for social justice. Holy Spirit College continues to emphasise social justice by putting faith into action; ensuring all students are valued and their dignity made evident in what is said and done within the school; and having a community which is committed to a visible faith.

More recently we have acknowledged the need to emphasise our third charism, namely the Holy Spirit. Whilst Holy Spirit College continues the legacy of the Josephites and Marists its own charism centres on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit instils in all of us gifts and talents that are to be used not just for oneself, but for the service of others. The introduction of a College prayer inspired by the three charisms will unite the College with its past and future directions.”

National Apology

I have attached a statement from Bishop Brian Mascord in response to the Prime Minister’s National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse.

Year 9 Camp

Our Year 9 students have returned from a very successful camp. Reports from the teachers have indicated that student behaviour and participation throughout the camp was outstanding. Congratulation Year 9! I know that you will have gained many skills during the three days, as well as developing your own resilience, and making friends outside of your usual friendship group. Well done.

SEE Activity Night

Students from Year 7 presented their SEE projects to staff, parents and visitors. The quality of work and the creativity of the projects was outstanding. It was terrific to see our Year 7’s so enthusiastic about their learning. Photos from the evening are featured in this newsletter.

Sarawak Immersion

Our students have returned safely from their Immersion experience to Sarawak. I am sure this has been a most rewarding experience for them. May I thank Ms Fletcher, Mr Cleal, Ms Diaz and Mr Woodley who gave up most of their holidays to journey and support the students. This is a big commitment from staff to be away from family for such a long time. Without the goodwill of staff to support these opportunities, they simply would not be able to occur. Photos and more details are also included in this newsletter.

Deadly Encouragement Awards

I had the privilege of attending the Deadly Encouragement Awards, along with Ms Grose and Ms Lotter. These awards are held annually and are presented to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who have shown diligence in their school life. The following students were selected from all the schools in the Northern Illawarra. Congratulations to Joshua Scott, Sarah Hanlon and Jenna Rose (Year 12), and Aston Smith and Deacon Scott (Year 7).

Mr Christopher Agnew
Principal

Administration

Administration of Medication at School

Holy Spirit College has a duty to take reasonable care for the safety and welfare of our students. This care extends to assisting students manage their medical condition that requires medication, where medication cannot be administered outside of school hours.

If your child requires staff to administer prescription or over-the-counter medication at school, you will need to complete a Request to Administer Medication Form. This is available on the College website under the Parent Information tab / Frequently Used Forms, or click on the link below.

School staff will only administer prescription medication that:

• Has been prescribed by a qualified medical practitioner (e.g. doctor, dentist)
• Is in its original container
• Has an attached pharmacy label to the container
• Has been delivered to the school by the parent/carer and is accompanied by a completed Request to Administer Medication Form

School staff will only administer Over-The-Counter medication that:

• Is in its original container
• Has been delivered to the school by the parent/carer and is accompanied by a completed Request to Administer Medication Form including the signature and stamp from a qualified medical practitioner.

If your child requires more than one medication, you will need to complete a form for each medication.

ASCIA ANAPHYLAXIS ACTION PLANS / ASTHMA MANAGEMENT ACTION PLANS

If your child is at risk of anaphylaxis, asthma or an allergic reaction, it is important that the school is provided with a current ASCIA Anaphylaxis Action Plan / Asthma Management Plan completed by a doctor. This plan provides up-to-date information for the school regarding the medical management of your child’s condition.

If there are any changes in your child’s health care needs, please inform the school as soon as possible.

IT

Apple will be releasing new devices on October 30 2018 so if you are looking to purchase for your child it may be wise to wait until this date. EduCom is one of the College’s preferred suppliers however parents may purchase their devices from any supplier.

Please click on the links below for information about EduCom prices.

Extended Leave from School

Any parent requesting leave for their child for 5 or more consecutive days is required to complete an Application for Extended Leave Form. These are available at the College website (see Frequently Used Forms in the Parent Information tab), or from Student Services. To ensure approval before the Leave takes place, we require the completed form lodged at Student Services a minimum of 2 weeks before the Leave commences.

Permission Notes

Please ensure any permission notes for excursions/events/sport are returned to the College by the DUE DATE to ensure correct medical and WHS regulations are met. Students who have NOT RETURNED their notes and/or payment by the nominated due date WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO ATTEND/PARTICIPATE.

All permission notes will include payment options which include cash, EFTPOS and online via TryBooking.

Uniform Items

Please ensure all uniform items, particularly blazers and sports jackets, are clearly labelled with your child’s name. Labelled items handed in to Student Services will be returned to their owner.

Visitors to the College

Any person entering the College grounds (including volunteers supervising exams, assisting in the Canteen and/or Uniform Shop) must report to Reception in the Administration Block. Please speak with our Reception staff to electronically sign in and out of the College – this is a CEO requirement. This includes anyone going to the Uniform Shop.

Parents and Friends

Canteen Roster

Uniform Shop

Year 9

Current Year 9 students are required to buy or order their Senior uniform now – all orders must be in before Tuesday 27 November to ensure the supply of uniforms.

Uniform Shop hours:

Resource Centre

The Resource Centre is in desperate need of volunteers to cover books. If you are able to assist you are welcome to come in at your own convenience but it must be during school hours.

For further details please email Gabrielle McNair mcnair01@dow.catholic.edu.au

For the Calendar

Digital Citizen Week

The photo of Amy ‘Dolly’ Everett is etched in the memory as a reminder of horrifying, yet preventable nature of online bullying that took her life.

This week, October 15 - 19 is International Digital Citizen Week when we focus on discussing, understanding and implementing strategies in becoming positive, productive and competent users of digital technology.

Our lives are filled with stories about the misuse of technology and its negative effects on individuals and society. The young people, in our care, need to carefully consider what will make them safe and smart users of technology. We want students to:

• think critically about the truth of what they read and see online
• understand the benefits and risks in sharing digital content
• maintain a balanced lifestyle

The College has tackled the pitfalls of ill-informed online use on a number of fronts, however we need to ongoing support of parents and care givers. Hopefully by keeping digital citizenship on the radar our young people will be more likely to make the right online choices

Spirit News

Sarawak Immersion

Our journey began towards the end of Term 3 and throughout the September holidays when 10 students, Mr Fletcher and Mr Cleal of Group 1 and the 11 students, Ms Diaz and Mr Woodley of Group 2 embarked on an adventure to Sarawak, Malaysia alongside Catholic Mission facilitators Daniel and Patrick. An exciting and long-awaited trip which would be filled with laughter, fatigue and importantly, personal and spiritual growth. Despite months of organisation and meetings, nothing could prepare us all for the fulfilling adventure which would await us and which would open our eyes to a new, unseen part of the world.

The arrival at the international airport saw a flurry of emotions particularly excitement and nervousness which circulated amongst the groups. With adrenaline pumping and too many movies to choose from on the plane, not many of us could sleep. However, landing at Kuala Lumpur and throughout the flight to Kuching - the capital of Sarawak - sleep was the last thing on all of our minds.

The first day in Kuching was a once in a lifetime experience as we roamed the streets, visited the orchid sanctuary, ate the Malay cuisine and were able to see the critically endangered orangutans. Expertly led by Catholic Mission facilitators, we made our way to Miri for an overnight stay and the next morning nervously jumped on a 20 seater twin-otter plane to make our way to the Bario Highlands, a region consisting of 14 small villages. One of these, known as Pa’ Umor, was where we stayed with the kind-hearted and generous community. Rian, our guide throughout the trip, was extremely welcoming and a person who we grew extremely close to, with all of us feeling honoured to call him our friend.

For the next six days in Bario, both groups participated in a variety of incredible and life-changing activities. Some of these activities included participating in a Malaysian Sunday mass, learning about the history and culture of Bario whilst climbing Prayer Mountain, the difficult but rewarding experience of being taught the art of weaving, playing with the children at the local primary school, picking and relocating orchid and pitcher plants and last but not least, bush-bashing through the Malaysian rainforest (for group 1- this meant trekking in the middle of a thunderstorm!). Amongst this, both groups also visited the Bario salt spring project and travelled up-river to the River Snail Camp, being taught by Rian how to construct a snare and build a fire. On our last night, the Pa’ Umor community came together, with both groups presenting Australian songs and the community teaching us their traditional dances, games, riddles and even some magic tricks. Having to leave Bario on the Friday morning was definitely a sad and emotional experience, saying goodbye to all the pets we named and adopted as our own, to our fun rides in the back of the utes and especially the ever-welcoming community and kind-hearted individuals we grew close to.

The trip entailed more than just the activities, it brought each member of the group closer and encouraged all to venture outside their comfort zones. Meeting the compassionate people of Pa’ Umor and immersing in their culture was an experience which will never be forgotten. Speaking on behalf of the 21 students and four teachers, the 2018 Catholic Mission Immersion to Sarawak, Borneo was more than just a trip, it was an experience of a lifetime.

We all highly recommend this opportunity to all other students, as it allows young individuals to immerse themselves in a remote, foreign culture in the safest manner possible, thanks to the work of Catholic Mission Australia. To the teachers who gave up their holidays, the Catholic Mission facilitators Patrick and Daniel and especially Rian our guide, we sincerely thank you for making this experience possible.

Carissa Fera and Nacquel Knowles (Year 11)

2018 Sarawak Immersion:

Group 1: Murray Cleal, Robyn Fletcher, Jasmyne Bellamy, Madeline Collimore, Jade Douglas, Carissa Fera, Nacquel Knowles, Courtney Lendvay, Lennox McKay, Tomas Mott, Amy Simpson, Lily Simpson - Catholic Mission Facilitators - Patrick Fox and Daniel Kuzeff
Group 2: Stephen Woodley, Sonia Diaz, Grace Bagaric, Ella Cowle, Lucy Davis, Patrick Davis, Piper Dobner, Annabel Hatton, Kayde Jansen, Kyara Lane, Jordan Miller, Brooke Newell and Natasha Rickard -- Catholic Mission Facilitator Patrick Fox

Sarawak Immersion Group 1

Sarawak Immersion Group 2

SEE (STEM Extension Experience)

Wednesday of Term 4, Week 1 was a great day for all things STEM at Holy Spirit College. Our Year 7 SEE (STEM Extension Experience) classes showcased their problem solving and entrepreneurial skills at the annual SEE Expo held for the first time in the Grant Centre. Parents and friends were treated to an evening of invention and innovation where our resourceful and creative students presented their solutions to real world problems.

Ranging from life-saving devices to kitchen utensils, healthcare products to transport options, not to mention ideas and products aimed at improving personal security, there was something for everyone. Based on the projects presented, our students showed innovative and realistic solutions that could someday be found in homes and workplaces. One day we may witness a former SEE student or project playing a part in improving the lives of millions around the world.

Many thanks to all the students for their hard work and creativity in helping to make their world a better place. Also not to be forgotten, parents and caregivers who supported the students in their journey of discovery and teachers for providing an opportunity for students to display their talents.

Mr Matthew Pope, Mrs Gabrielle McNair, Mr Mark Hamlet
SEE Coordinators

English News

Year 11 English Studies – Building The Spirit

In 2018, our Year 11 English Studies have been learning about community. They have visited many local organisations such as Olive’s Cafe, Bellambi Surf Life Saving Club and Bellambi Neighbourhood Centre, as part of their exploration of the characteristics of a vibrant community.

We also explored our school as an example of a community. The students were asked to research and write a report about an ex student from our school community, and a selected group of students from 7.9 English generously acted as editors for this writing task. I sincerely thank them for their time and effort. Over the coming weeks, we will publish these reports in the newsletter and we hope that you find them an interesting reflection on the history of our school community.

Whilst most of our Year 11 students chose to write about athletes, as per their interest, we acknowledge that Holy Spirit College has a rich tradition of producing ex students who excel and succeed in a variety of ways. In the final week of publishing the reports, Oliver Hamill from Year 7 will provide a conclusion to our collection that will offer a glimpse into the lifetime achievements and profiles of a wider variety of ex students. Each of these individuals has made an invaluable contribution not only to building the spirit of our school, but they have made significant contributions to their community.

Year 11 and I hope that you enjoy reading about the lives of the many wonderful ex students of the Holy Spirit College community and that our current students are just as proud and inspired by these men and women, to continue to Live By The Truth.

Ms Andrea Mollica
English Studies Teacher

Greg McCann

Written by Noah Salas-Sydenham and Rohnin Henry-Micale
Edited by Zane Risorto and Max Dignam

Greg McCann was born in 1967. He was a student at St Paul’s College Bellambi. As a student he was well known as a surfer and was a member of Sandon Point Boardriders. Greg has represented Australia twice in surfing as an amateur - in 1983 as a Junior and 1988 as an Open. His biggest win was the Australian Junior titles in 1983 held around Margaret River. As well as representing NSW and himself he also represented St Paul’s College now known as Holy Spirit College.

For this report, Greg recalled his many surfing injuries, testament of both his toughness and passion for his sport. A couple of his worst injuries were in 2016 when he got head slammed onto the sandbank and fractured C7 vertebra, 6 months off work and no surfing and another was when he got smashed in the face with his board while trying to pull into a close out barrel at Woonona, his fin sliced his cheek open and had to get ten stitches. Later on he had surgery to re-route the scar but the force also damaged nerves on the left side of his face, and so to this day he acknowledges that he still has a crooked smile!

He has had some amazing achievements and when staff were asked about him they spoke of a happy, friendly bloke who was very well liked. His first wife, Kerryn McCann (Olympic athlete and Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist), tragically died of breast cancer a number of years ago now. Their son Benton, proudly graduated from Holy Spirit in 2014 and still lives locally. Greg and his second wife have recently moved to Hawaii but he will always be an important member of the Illawarra and Holy Spirit community.

HSIE News

The College will be conducting a special commemoration ceremony to mark the centenary of Armistice Day on Tuesday 13 November 2018 commencing at 8.40 am.

As part of the commemoration, all relatives of staff and students who have served their country in World War I (not necessarily for Australia) will have their names acknowledged. If you would like a relative’s name to be included in the acknowledgement and have as yet not forwarded this information for our ANZAC Names Register, please complete the details on the link below and forward them to me by email at stanizzof01@dow.catholic.edu.au by Monday 5 November 2018. Alternatively, you may contact me by telephone at the College.

As part of this special commemoration I am also hoping to complete a picture collage of as many of our relatives as possible who may have served their countries in war. The picture collage will be published in our newsletter and our Yearbook as well as being made available to parents in digital form on request. If you would be interested in having a photo of your relative published in the picture collage please send a digital image of your relative in uniform to my email address above by Monday 5 November 2018.

Mr Fiore Stanizzo
HSIE Coordinator

Science News

Are you a young woman currently in Year 10 or 11 and want a career where you can be at the forefront of positive change for society? Do you enjoy using lateral thinking, creativity and design? Or do you love problem solving, working in teams or have an aptitude for maths and science?

The University of NSW is holding a 3 day ‘Women in Engineering Camp’ – applications close October 31. Click on the link below for further information.

Sport at the Spirit

Diocesan AFL

Our Junior Boys and Girls AFL teams had a great day at the Diocesan AFL Carnival on Thursday.

The boys fought well in every match with each player contributing well to the team and making a big impact on the outcome of the day. After missing out on the grand final by 2 points, the boys finished off the day in 3rd place. Was a great day out for everyone involved!

The girls had an early start in the morning to travel to Macquarie Fields and with St Mary’s in our pool (our arch rivals) the girls were keen for a win! After a win over St Joseph’s and Corpus Christi it was time to play St Mary’s. After a close game it ended up in a draw but Holy Spirit topped their pool with more for and against points.

We then came up against Mt Carmel in the semi final which was another close encounter, but the girls fought hard to take the win. Unfortunately in the final, Holy Spirit went down to Magdalene 16-12. All the girls represented the College with pride and showed great sportsmanship. They should be proud of their efforts! Congratulations.

Mr Conor Cleary and Miss Natalie Popovska
Coaches

Community News

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