College Newsletter - 25 March - Term 1, Week 8 2022

From the Acting College Principal

Mr Matthew Brennan - College Principal (K-12)

Dear Parents and Carers of the St Gregory’s College Community,

 

The first term of the year has moved very quickly and there are just two weeks of Term 1 remaining. There have been so many events across the first part of the year, too many to list here. However, it would be remiss not to acknowledge and thank the countless students, staff and parents and carers who have been involved in any of these activities. 

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The Term Wrap Up

Mr Joel Weekes - Assistant Principal

Dear Members of the St Gregory’s College Community

Schools are extremely busy places and with the added burden of COVID, we all know the ‘stretch’ that schools are feeling in 2022. In saying that, there is much to give thanks for over the past weeks in amongst the challenges that we are facing. The past weeks have been busy in both the Junior and Seniors schools with the Opening College Opening Mass, farm agricultural shows, sporting carnivals, parent evenings, sport, special assemblies, public speaking and debating, assessments, College Open Day and general classroom learning taking place.

One of my favourite parts of my day is to join the students at break time to see the energy, life and vibrancy that is clearly evident within the College. The boys and girls in the Junior School have so much enjoyment on their faces as they play, and the Senior boys love to laugh and you can clearly witness the mateship that is evident in their communication. In my first term in as the Acting Deputy role, I must say I have been really impressed with the community of learners that have started the year. 

 

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Junior School Wrap Up

Mrs Diana Ivancic - Head of Junior School

Dear Parents/Carers,

 

At the last Junior School assembly, I shared with the school community one word that came to my mind as I stood before them.  PRIDE. I was extremely proud of the boys and girls who stood before me.

We have not had a face-to-face assembly for over a year; for our Kindergarten and Year 1 students, they have not experienced a live assembly. The students stood proudly and stated the Acknowledgment of Country, sang the National Anthem without music and prayed together with strong voices. They participated and stood respectfully. I was so proud.

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Known and Loved

So much has been happening in our College under the banner of Mission!

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A Full Few Weeks of Teaching and Learning

Whilst we returned to the classroom at the start of the year mask free and full of excitement, the term has certainly had its challenges. The last few weeks have seen many students, staff and their families impacted by both flooding and COVID. In spite of the challenges, there have been many opportunities to highlight and celebrate student success. 

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Pastoral Care and Events in the Senior School

Dear College community, there have been numerous events around the College over the last 3 weeks that have seen many students be involved. Students have been busy completing assessment tasks while trying to battle a spike in COVID cases, not to mention the flooding in the local areas that has created great stress to an already difficult situation. 

 

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Term 1 - It's a Wrap!

Dear Parents and Friends,

 

It is astonishing to think that Term 1 is almost over. The last few weeks have been very hectic with numerous events providing opportunities for your sons to engage in; Year 7 and Year 8 Study Skills sessions, NAPLAN, ‘The Rite Journey’ launch for Year 9, the College Opening Mass, Ash Wednesday liturgies, PDS Cricket and Basketball finals, ISA Sport, College Open Day and the commencement of Show Season for our Show Team, has ensured numerous opportunities for your sons to engage in this wonderful community. Additionally, your sons have successfully managed to live with COVID, increasing assessment tasks, and have stayed patient with the weather as it has closed playing fields, cancelled sport, delayed continued construction works and generally impacted on the boys’ daily lives.

 

As the term comes to its conclusion, I would like to thank all students, parents, carers and boarding staff, for the tremendous amount of work that has been done this term, as we have collectively managed the ever-changing COVID environment. I would particularly like to acknowledge Mrs Jaime Underwood, who has done an exceptional job guiding the entire community, and particularly boarding, through this challenging pandemic. The College could not have done this without you, Jaime.

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Sport Report - Term 1, Week 8

To point out the obvious, the recent wet weather has put a small dent in the monster that is St Gregory’s sport. The boys have demonstrated great resilience with their limited ‘field time’ over the last few weeks.

 

Numerous Parramatta trials/selections dates along with NSWCCC events have been postponed due to flooding and ground closures. If these events have not been completed already, they should be held in the next few weeks. There are a lot of moving pieces in school sport, and the overall sport calendar has to be re-shaped to allow all events to be completed.

 

On the bright side, several students have gained selection into the Parramatta Representative teams over the past few weeks.

 

Congratulations to our seven Open Boys Rugby League representatives for 2022.

Cody Parry, Charlie Guymer, Tom Fisher, Tom Fletcher, Heath Mason, Jack Burrows were all selected into the Parramatta team and Lachlan Bush was selected into the Sydney Metropolitan team.

These students will now compete at the NSWCCC Rugby League Championships on 20/21 May. Good luck to all the boys.

 

Well done to Hayden Ciguenza of Year 10, who was selected into the Open Boys NSWCCC Tennis team that will compete at the NSW All Schools carnival on the 28 and 29 of  April in Term 2.

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Chess Club in 2022!

Chess Club is back in 2022 and it has a new home! Over the last few weeks, students have been meeting each Wednesday morning in the Marian Centre to battle it out on the chessboard. It has been wonderful to see so many new faces as well as seasoned Chess Club members delving into complex and interesting games, challenging each other as well as staff for some of our more advanced players.

 

If students are interested in joining Chess Club, they are welcome to come along on Wednesday mornings 7.45am-8.20am in the Marian Centre.

 

Mrs Terezija Quinn

Marist Youth Ministry's Super Connect

On Friday 11 March, 5 boys and I attended Marist College Eastwood for Marist Youth Ministry’s Super Connect. The experience was tantalising; seeing other young men and ladies follow the Marist path for the betterment of all was established through the endless smiles on the day. This occasion of Marist Super Connect was focused on the concept of “Modern Slavery”. This connect really opened not only my eyes, but my mind for the privileged situation I find myself, not only because I attend such a prestigious and well decorated school; but the fact, I have food and water in excess. The epitome of this presentation highlighted, “Fair Trade chocolate” which is made under suitable standards for production, not in an exploitative manner. Yet, I found out that countless brands of chocolates are not Fair Trade certified, leading me to question the conditions of the workers for the brands of chocolate. Ultimately, Marist Super Connect was a fantastic experience, to which I can’t thank Ms Kent enough for her fabulous organisation of the event.

 

 

By Liam Jobburn (Year 12)

Year 2 - Postcards and Personal Stories

Year Two has made an amazing start to the school year. Their first unit of inquiry saw them setting learning goals and exploring which habits and strategies they need in order to be lifelong learners across all areas of learning.

 

Their current unit of inquiry has brought about a real ‘learning buzz’ as we are exploring how people are connected to different places in Australia and around the world. They are receiving postcards from friends and family who live in a multitude of cities and countries.

 

It has been very exciting to have some of our parents and family members come into class and share stories and experiences from their home countries and cultures. So far we have learnt a lot about the magical and amazing stories of rich Irish history. We have heard about the foods and the very interesting history and culture of the pharaohs and pyramids of Ancient Egypt and a very moving story about life as a refugee leaving Vietnam and staying in a refugee camp in Thailand as part of the journey to setting up a new life in Australia. We still have more parents to share with us stories and facts about India, Scotland, South Africa and the Philippines. A huge thank you to all of the family members who have so generously shared their time, stories and knowledge with us.

 

Mr Kearns, Mrs Fuller and the Year 2 students

2022 Junior School Show Team Success

The 2022 Junior School Show Team attended their first Show on Saturday 19 March at Moss Vale.

The Junior Show Team was such a success last year, that the tradition has continued this year with a new team of five students (two girls and three boys) representing the College at Agricultural Shows.

Under very muddy conditions and constant rain, they managed their cattle with such confidence and pride. Under the watchful eye of Miss Hayley Mahoney, the students were the only Primary School to parade under the Pee Wee category, which was such a wonderful way to showcase St Gregory’s College amongst all the other Colleges on the day.

The students are scheduled to travel to various shows throughout the year, including the Camden and Hawkesbury Shows. Jake Gotts displayed such great skills that he has been asked to compete in the Junior Handler and the Simmental Youth Handler competition at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

Congratulations to our five boys and girls who placed as follows:

  • 1st Place – Jake Gotts
  • 2nd Place – Thomas Stephens
  • 3rd Place – Ivy Quig
  • Annie Jacob
  • Kingston Nifo

 

 

Mrs Diana Ivancic

How The World Works – Expert Workshop

On Friday 11 March Ms Maz Busmante (Volcanologist, Secondary Science Teacher) joined Year 6 via Zoom to share her expert knowledge on volcanoes and volcanic eruptions. The students listened to an expert explanation about how volcanic eruptions occur, viewed a range of diagrams and data displays accompanied by detailed, informative, and sometimes shocking facts. 

 

I was surprised to learn about how big the Yellowstone volcano is. If it erupts again the northern hemisphere will be completely covered in ash. (Baxter)

 

I was mazed to find out how volcanoes are made and how much an eruption can effect the atmosphere. Watch out for volcanoes with steep sides, their eruptions are the most violent! (Mateo)

 

Dome-shaped volcanoes have smaller volcanic eruptions as their shape allows for a smaller amount of steam to build up in it. The Kauai volcano in Hawaii is a dome-shaped volcano. (Joseph)

 

I am both amazed and scared about the fact that Yellowstone is five years overdue for an eruption. Its last eruption caused a mass extinction! (Charlize)

 

The eruption of Mount St Helen’s in 1980 was so catastrophic that it blew off the top of the volcano. (Luca)

 

Sport in the Junior School

Read all about what has been happening in the Junior School sporting world!

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