marist catholic college...simple strategies. these are self-belief, control and failure avoidance....

MARIST CATHOLIC COLLEGE PENSHURST

Friday 6 March 2020 - Number 3

one school • one family • one communityTelephone: 9579 6188 Fax: 9579 6668 www.maristpenshurst.catholic.edu.au

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

COLLEGE FEES2020 school fees have now been sent out to families. Please ensure Term 1 fees are finalised in accordance with your payment plan. Payments can be made by Cheque, Cash, Eftpos or BPay. Any queries please contact the College Office. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Mrs Joy O’Sullivan - College Bursar

Open Day is a great opportunity for the College community to come together and celebrate all the wonderful learning opportunities provided for our students. This year was another tremendous example of the family spirit in evidence at the College with students and staff working together to showcase all that is on offer for a student of Marist Catholic College Penshurst. Our visitors commented on the professionalism of staff, the friendliness and talents of our students and the excellence of the facilities provided. This day reinforced for all in the local community that Marist Catholic College Penshurst is a wonderful place to inspire student learning guided by a caring, highly qualified and committed staff. Thank you to all members of our College community for your great work in preparation and support with Open Day 2020.

Mr Ray Martin – Principal

2one school • one family • one community

Agnoscere Et Diligere - To Know and To Love

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DATES TO REMEMBERMon 9 Mar Year 8 Reflection Day

Wed 11 Mar Year 7 Vaccinations - Visit 1

Year 7 Parent Study Skills Evening

Fri 13 Mar St Patrick’s Day Project Compassion Mufti-Day

Tues 17 Mar ‘Succeeding in the Senior School’ Mark O’Connor Presentation

Thurs 26 Mar Harmony Day

Thurs 2 Apr - Year 7 Naplan TrialsFri 3 Apr

Mon 6 Apr - Year 7 CampWed 8 Apr

Wed 8 Apr - Year 9 Naplan TrialsThurs 9 Apr

Thurs 9 Apr Easter Liturgy Last Day - Term 1

FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALThis week is the halfway mark of the term and our students are now working on assessments. Excellence in one of the foundational values of our College and we expect our students to work hard to reach their full potential. The most committed students make great things happen through sheer willpower and determination. They are motivated and engaged. Motivation is a student’s energy and drive to learn, work effectively, and achieve at school. Motivation plays a large part in a student’s interest in, and enjoyment of, school and underpins a student’s achievement.

Dr Andrew Martin (2003) developed a ‘Motivation Wheel’ that reflected the thoughts, feelings and behaviours underpinning academic engagement at school and separated motivation into factors that reflect enhanced motivation, those that reflect constrained motivation, and those that reflect reduced motivation. These he called boostes, mufflers and guzzlers respectively. Boosters include self-belief, learning focus, value of schooling, persistence, study management and planning. Mufflers include anxiety and fear of failure and guzzlers include low control and self-sabotage.

He found students improved their motivation by increasing the boosters in their academic lives while also reducing mufflers and guzzlers. As both educators and parents, we can support students to develop their motivation by using three simple strategies. These are self-belief, control and failure avoidance. Most of the focus on enhancing student self-belief is usually on how to challenge their negative thinking and how to promote more positive self-talk. Two strategies to build more success into students’ lives are ‘chunking’ and expanding their views of success.

Chunking involves:• Breaking tasks into more

manageable bite-sized pieces• Seeing the completion of each

piece as a success

For example, in an essay a student can succeed in many ways: a) fully understanding the question, b) breaking the question into parts, c) doing an initial search for information, d) summarising the information they have read, e) organising the information under subheadings, and so on. Not only does this strategy provide multiple success experiences, it is also a very effective way of building intrinsic motivation. The student is being rewarded with success throughout the essay and this sustains interest and persistence. As we move into the final half of Term 1, with exams and assignments, it is important, as parents, that you support your sons/daughters grow in confidence and resilience. Through developing a culture of positive motivation, it will improve their engagement and impact their enjoyment and achievement at school.

Wednesday 4 March was our College Open Day. Our Open Day was a wonderful showcase of our College community, our facilities, and of the programs we offer to support our students on their educational journey. I take this opportunity to thank all staff and students for their contribution to the afternoon. Both staff and students were wonderful ambassadors for the College.

Mrs Connie Frino - Assistant Principal



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RELIGION EDUCATION NEWSAsh WednesdayLast week we gathered together as a College community for our Ash Wednesday liturgies to mark the beginning of our lenten season. The cross of Ashes that was placed on our foreheads on this special day is an outward sign that we are prepared to make an inner journey. Pope Francis said that Lent is a moment to open up to others. And to do so, he added, there are three key aspects of lent: prayer, fasting, and charity. He reminds us that “If we follow this journey it is possible to rediscover the joy of God’s plan for creation and for each of us, which is to love him, our brothers and sisters, and the entire world, and to find in this love our true happiness. The path to Easter, therefore, demands that we renew our faces and hearts as Christians through repentance, conversion and forgiveness”.

Project CompassionEach year during our lenten season the College supports the work of Caritas Australia by donating to Project Compassion. The theme for Project Compassion 2020 is ‘Go Further Together’. This encourages us to come together as a school community to help transform the lives of those in need. Each year group has been challenged to work together and come up with a fundraising idea to support this great cause. In addition each Wednesday and Friday the students have the opportunity to donate to their Homeroom class box and at the end of the lenten season. On Friday 13 March we will have a whole school mufti day fundraiser to celebrate St Patrick’s Day where all students are asked to wear green. Thank you to Ms Khouri, Social Justice Committee and Leaders of Wellbeing for their hard work on the upcoming fundraising events.

Year 7 Marist CharismOn Tuesday 2 March I had the privilege of visiting the South Hurstville Campus with Brother Tony to speak to the Year 7 students about the Marist Charism and, in particular, the longstanding Family Spirit at Penshurst. Addressing the pioneers of a new generation at Marist, Brother and myself recollected our memorable encounters with the unique Family Spirit at Marist throughout our time at the College:

“Family spirit refers to the life and relationships you will develop at this College over the next 6 years. It is about making everyone feel welcome into your family, and sometimes making sacrifices. It is about putting yourself second and caring for your peers at the school. It is about uniting as a family to support causes like Project Compassion or coming together for events like we did at the Swimming Carnival.”

As we progress into the year, Brother and I look forward to extending the enduring Charism at Penshurst to the new students in Year 7.

Damian Scalone - Year 12

Mrs Melissa Vassallo - Religious Education Coordinator

CARITAS PROJECT COMPASSION LAUNCH 2020On Tuesday 25 March, 5 students from Year 10 were invited to take part in and celebrate the launch of Caritas’ Project Compassion for 2020. It was truly an exciting and interesting experience, to be able to learn and understand the reasons for the fundraising project as well as how our generosity and contributions positively impact someone’s livelihood, futures and their communities. We started the day interacting with various schools that attended the event as well, working on some activities and listening to the backstories of some of the faces of the project. We then went on to celebrate Shrove Tuesday, with some delicious pancakes for morning tea, before listening to some songs sung by Gary Pinto, an Australian singer-songwriter and musician. After attending mass at St Mary’s Cathedral and being commissioned as Caritas Ambassadors, we received some information packs and headed out to take some photos with the other schools. Overall, the day was a great learning experience for us all, allowing us to officially become 2020 Project Compassion ambassadors as well as letting us truly understand the benefits of raising awareness and donations for those in need.

Camryn Barrins, Brooke Ward, Christine Romanous, Aidan Snook and WIlliam Liberos



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COMMUNITY AND FAMILY STUDIESAs part of the Community and Family Studies program, students are currently studying the unit ‘Parenting and Caring’. To allow for a practical experience and to assist with understanding some of the challenges around preparations with having a baby, students have been caring for a ‘virtual’ baby over a period of 2 days and 2 nights. Our ‘Virtual Mummies’ have experienced all the joys of a new-born, including feeding, rocking, changing nappies and burping. As a result, all the girls are feeling a little overwhelmed and sleep deprived but have definitely gained a good insight into the demands of new-born life and the pressures parents face. Although the class enjoyed the experience, most were happy to return their crying babies and go back to enjoying an uninterrupted night’s sleep!

Mrs Nicole Katrib - CAFS Teacher

Year 8 will be leading the MCCP community with Harmony Day celebrations throughout Week 8 (SHU) and Week 9 (MORT). We will recognise this important day at our school assembly. We will acknowledge Australian multiculturalism, inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background.

Students will have an opportunity to purchase orange ‘Harmony’ cookies which will be sold for $2 as well as get involved in the ‘orange Jelly Bean’ guessing competition, all proceeds will go to Caritas.

Mr Steven Skoflic and Mrs Nicole Katrib

YEAR 7 MARIST’S GOT TALENTDo not bury your talents, the gifts that God has given you. Do not be afraid to dream of great things - Pope Francis.

Wednesday 26 February, Marist Catholic College Penshurst, saw the first edition of Year 7 Marist’s Got Talent, and talent they have! Students and teachers were treated to an entertaining lunchtime concert by five skilled Year 7 musicians who performed to a full hall at lunch time. It was wonderful to see these students display their talents but equally pleasing to witness their peers show their support to the performers. It’s never easy playing an instrument or singing in front of an audience and some of the students, who originally had some trepidation, performed wonderfully on the day.

Congratulations to Averyll Tirtadidjaja, Brendan Yung and Justin Marks on their piano solos, Nicholas Vittorio on his saxophone solo and Nicholas Kolmac on his rock guitar performance. The College eagerly awaits the second instalment of Marist’s Got Talent later in the term.

Ms Melissa Muscat - Music Teacher



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‘COPING & SUCCEEDING WITH THE SENIOR SCHOOL & HSC’

TUESDAY, 17 MARCH 7PMSouth Hurstville Campus Library

ATTENTION: YEARS 10, 11 & 12 PARENTS AND STUDENTS

Parents and their sons/daughters are warmly invited to the presentation ‘Coping & Succeeding with Senior School and the HSC’. Mr Mark O’Connor (highly regarded and awarded educator) will present practical tips on how families can support each other through the senior school experience. The presentation will explore the critical aspects of motivating your children to achieve their academic potential and be at their best during this time.

Tips for the HSCAbout Mark…

Mark O’Connor is a respected educator of more than 20 years across a range of Sydney schools. In 2012 at Mary MacKillop College, English of which Mark was the coordinator had the highest learning gain of any school in Sydney Catholic Diocese. In the same year Mark was awarded ‘Australia’s Favourite Teacher’ by then Prime Minister, Julia Gillard. As Curriculum Coordinator at Gilroy Catholic College Mark was a vital part of the school’s improvement in the Sydney Morning Herald school rankings. In 2018 as Year 12 Coordinator at Emmaus Catholic College he was integral in the school improving more than 150 places. He has been involved in all aspects of HSC marking and is passionate about sharing strategies that will allow young people to access their very best in the HSC.

As the College continues to build a culture of academic achievement it would be great to see many parents with their sons and daughters attend this very worthwhile presentation.

Please RSVP with the number attending to [email protected] or phone 9579 6188,

by Friday 13 March.



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SCC

VOLLEYBALL RND OPPOSITION WIN / LOSS SCORE COACH

Junior 4 Bye - - Ms Danielle Polson5 Cancelled - Wet Weather - -

Intermediate 4 De La Salle Bankstown Win 2 - 0 Ms Analise Emmerick5 Cancelled - Wet Weather - -

TOUCH RND OPPOSITION WIN/LOSS SCORE COACH

Senior 4 De La Salle Bankstown Win 10 - 0 Mr Michael Falzon5 Cancelled - Wet Weather - -

AFL RND OPPOSITION WIN/LOSS SCORE COACH

4 Bethany Win 28 - 7 Mr George Karpouzos5 Cancelled - Wet Weather - -

CBSA

BASKETBALL RND OPPOSITION WIN/LOSS SCORE COACH

Junior 4 Bye - - Mr Andy Kissane5 De La Salle Revesby Loss 29 - 58

Intermediate 4 Bye - - Ms Chloe Nasr5 De La Salle Revesby Loss 39 - 43

Senior 4 Bye - - Ms Rachel Thompson5 De La Salle Revesby Loss 48 - 71

CRICKET RND OPPOSITION WIN/LOSS SCORE COACH

Junior 4 De La Salle Revesby Loss Revesby 2/206 defMCCP 6/65 Mr Jason Stevens

5 Cancelled - Wet Weather - -

Intermediate 4 De La Salle Revesby Win MCCP 5/79 defRevesby 7/78 Mr Jordan Russo


Senior 4 De La Salle Revesby Win MCCP 9/116 defRevesby 3/115 Mr Michael Young


SPORT RESULTS

STUDENT LEADERSHIP TEAMOn 14 February, our local MP and former Marist Penshurst student, Mark Coure, met with the 2020 Leadership Team. He congratulated us on our positions as leaders and spoke about the HSC, our future goals and reminisced about his memories of Penshurst. Mr Coure also presented us with certificates to commemorate our appointment as leaders of the College and wished us the best for leading in 2020.

Mr Rob ReillyYear 12 Leader of Wellbeing



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COUNSELLOR’S CORNER3 QUICK STEPS TO ANGER MANAGEMENT

Step 1: Prevent

• Understand that anger helps you know what you like and don’t like• Know your triggers• Learn to negotiate • Own how you feeL

Step 2: Prepare

• Plenty of positive self-talk• I am calm right now• I can stay calm• I can manage my angry feelings• I am going to be ok• It’s ok, and I need to take it slow

Step 3: Practise

• Count backwards from 20• Imagine somewhere nice and picture yourself being there• Find a quiet place to jog or jump on the spot• Slow breaths in, hold breath, and exhale out slowly (do this 10 times)• Either solve it or leave it• Learn to let go• Leave the room and get fresh air, and or get a drink of water

Mr Rodriigo A. Valentino - College Counsellor



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marist catholic college...simple strategies. these are self-belief, control and failure avoidance....

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