August 2013 Issue #12 Dear Parents,

COMING EVENTS MONDAY 26 AUGUST 2013 Year 11 Non Excursion Week TUESDAY 27 AUGUST 2013 Annual Sports Awards from 11.30am-12.45pm TUESDAY 27 AUGUST 2013 Annual Visual Art Exhibition Opening from 7-8.30pm WEDNESDAY 28 AUGUST 2013 Regional Parent Forum

It is always at this time that I feel the years slipping away. The smell of Spring happiness is in the school; the first wisteria flowerets are blooming. We are again trying to strengthen our HSC students as they face up to the remaining weeks of their studies. A girl must be virtuous for this. To be successful, she must have the courage to keep moving forward and have the scrupulous honesty about what she truly desires so as not to give into many voices which will tell her that nothing really matters. Parents need to know that the teaching staff has prepared every lesson to be targeted at improvement. Many teachers are still teaching necessary content and those who have finished the course are now coaching the girls for success on the exams. The teachers get very discouraged when the girls "kid themselves" that they can stay home and study. The very best place for the girls is in class, focused on the learning experiences planned by the teachers. Parents can assist their daughter by:

BRIGIDINE BASICS - The hem of a student’s -

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uniform touches the floor when kneeling. Every girl is to be at school by 8.30am at least. Teaching commences at 8.40am Supervision of girls begins at 8.20am. Girls should be in either the Main Quad or the Canteen Quad. Parents should not drop and pick up daughters in Aeolia Street. This causes dangerous traffic for the students.

1. Insisting that she goes to school each day 2. Setting up an expectation at home that she has a routine of study 3. Setting up an expectation at home that there is a body of facts which have to be known by heart and offering to assist her in this learning. i.e. "hearing" her give back the facts to you and giving little quizzes 4. Strengthening her with your own wisdom about how a happy, meaningful life is attained 5. Saying "no" firmly when she is too much on her phone and social media 6. Observing how the attitudes of others may be affecting her adversely and intervening 7. Telling her how proud you are of her attempt to do her best 8. Keeping her positive when she feels that it is all too hard and she is complaining more than working.

The biggest danger is that the students look back and become discouraged about the time in the year when they haven't done their best. The HSC exams are 50% of the final mark so great improvements can still be made. They only have to believe and to do some active learning. This is a lovely prayer from Macrina Wiederkehr which speaks about the personal growth that comes with engaging with difficulties. Jesus, vine of God, just as you have proclaimed to be the vine, I proclaim that I am one of your branches. To abide in you, to remain rooted and connected to you, is my soul's dream. My heart desires you. O vine of God, protect and cherish all your branches. Prune me carefully so that you may never cut away more than I can bear. May your pruning be only to awaken the sleeping life in me! May all that is weary and bored be snipped away so that my very best self can arise. Prune away the dead wood in my life. Awaken me to my full potential. Amen Next week I will be away, the Regional Director of the Catholic Education Office having granted me Long Service Leave. My daughter is to be married in Hawaii in September of next year and she and I are going over now to have a look at venues and start putting plans in place. A daughter married; it is ten years since she did the HSC. The years are indeed slipping away. May Brigid bless the house wherein you dwell. IN ADDITION Good resource for parents re: bullying http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/bullystoppers/Pages/parents.aspx ABBA CONCERT This time a fortnight ago we were excited about the ABBA concert. This was another highly successful concert and I was again impressed with the teachers" work with the girls. All the girls are very well prepared for their performance and no girl ever has the terrifying experience of not really knowing what to do. The concert was very special as it was Mr McFadden's last concert with us before his retirement. I am sure that his heart was touched by the very sincere speech of thanks that the girls made to him. My thanks go to all the staff who contributed to the production and to the girls who entertained us and seemed so happy with themselves. Many ex students came to enjoy another Brigidine concert and to wish Mr McFadden well. CGSSSA ATHLETICS CARNIVAL Later in the newsletter Ms Cook writes about the CGSSSA Athletics carnival. Coming third in this Sydney based competition is a great result for us and the long list of high achievements by individuals and teams can be seen. Jessica Thornton and Molly Blakey were outstanding and it was thrilling for everyone to see them first and second in the 100 metres for the fastest runners on the day. My thanks and congratulations to the girls for their prowess and their self discipline and to the teachers who helped prepare and train the team.

Ms Kate Edmondson Principal

FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Upcoming Events (weeks six & seven) 20 August Years 9 & 10 “Meet Wendy Sharpe” Cake Stall for Dance Troupe 22 August Year 11 RYDA Day 9 (Driver Safety Education) 23 August HSC Drama Marking at Brigidine (Synan Hall) 27 August Annual Visual Arts Exhibition Opening 28 August Visual Arts Exhibition (Until 29 August) Regional Parent Forum Indigenous Careers and Community Open Day (Little Bay) And Further Ahead 2 September 3 September 4 September

Year 11 Final Exams Begin HSC Music Marking at Brigidine (Synan Hall) HSC Design & Tech. Marking at Brigidine (Tullow)

Our Year 12 students finished their Trial HSC exams last Monday and are now back at school with only four more weeks of school left before they graduate. Now is the time for concerted study. Very often students dip in their attention to their studies between the Trial and the HSC, however this time can be extremely valuable. Some courses will still have content to finish while others will be revising and preparing. Most subjects will have 50% of a student’s marks resting on their performance in the HSC Exams so there is still time left to make a big difference. Practical and language courses will have part of their HSC in the next couple of weeks. Year 11 final exams begin in two weeks and our students should be preparing for those exams now. When they return for Term 4 they will be our school leaders and beginning assessment for their HSC. I had the pleasure of attending the Year 10 Canberra Field Trip a fortnight ago and was very impressed with all of our Year 10 students. Their behaviour, respect and demeanour throughout were commendable. I think that all the girls enjoyed the trip and I hope that they learned a thing or two along the way. Last Thursday evening our staff gathered together to spend some time looking at issues around the new National Curriculum which begins in Years 7 & 9 for English, Maths, Science and History which begin in 2014. Each department has been writing programs and assessment tasks in readiness. Mr Anthony Morgan Acting Assistant Principal

SPORTS NEWS SPORTS AWARDS 2013 I would like to invite all parents and relatives to attend the Annual Sport Awards. At this ceremony we recognise the achievements of outstanding sports women and teams within the school over the past year. It will be held in the Cullen Centre on Tuesday 27th August from 11.30am-12.45pm. Sport Photos and Extra Curricular Photos will be taken on the 29th August. All girls in sport photos must wear the correct sport uniform which includes shorts or track pants and everyone must have tracksuit jacket. Girls in Extra Curricular photos must be in correct school uniform including blazer. Please mark this date in your year planner. Girls should ensure that their uniform is immaculate for the day. CAKE STALL will be held on Tuesday 6th August to help our CGSSSA Dance teams raise money for their costumes, girls please bring along some extra coins on Tuesday so you can help support your Dance Teams

Mrs Kate Elder Sports Coordinator

CGSSA ATHLETICS 2013 On Friday 9th August, 35 Brigidine students participated in the CGSSSA Athletics Carnival held at Sydney International Athletics Centre Homebush. We entered in both Track and Field events, achieving many fantastic individual performances, and our combined efforts resulted in 3rd Overall Place in Division 1! The standard at the Carnival was very high. On the day, the girls were energetic and showed great sportsmanship and encouragement to all competitors. Despite the tough competition, the following girls managed to place in various events and came home with ribbons and medals: Jessica Thornton 15yrs: 1st - 100m, 200m (Record 25:27) & 100m Open Invitation; 3rd - 400m Molly Blakey 16yrs: 1st - 400m & 200m; 2nd - 100m Open Invitation Ruby Breen 15yrs: 1st - High Jump & Long Jump; 2nd - 90m Hurdles Bridget O’Connell 16yrs: 1st - High Jump Ruby Vaingalo 15yrs: 1st - Shot Put Monique Taukamo 15yrs: 1st - Discus Throw Annalise Sutherland 15yrs: 1st - High Jump Stephanie Grujoski 15-19yrs: 1st - 1500m Race Walk Hannah Denney 15-19yrs: 2nd - 1500m Race Walk Lainey Crowe 17yrs: 1st - Javelin Beth Meldrum 18-19yrs: 2nd - Shot Put; 3rd - Discus Throw Emily Casson 12yrs: 1st - 1500m Run Kobi Mohi 12yrs: 1st - 400m & Long Jump; 2nd - 200m Charlotte Wilson 13yrs: 1st - Long Jump; 2nd - 400m Georgie Penry 12yrs: 1st - 800m

Daniella Merenda 12-14yrs: 3rd - 1500m Race Walk

Big congratulations to all our relay runners: 1st - Intermediate Relay: Tully Voltano Ruby Breen Monique Taukamo

2nd – Junior Relay: Emily Atkins Emily Casson Micaela Oliveira

2nd – Senior Relay Lindsay Bennett Henrietta Burns Bridget O’Connell

Jessica Thornton

Isabella Slattery

Molly Blakey

Special mention goes to Jessica Thornton who broke the 200m record (one of only 3 records broken on the day) and to Ruby Breen for competing remarkably in 7 events. Thank you to Mrs. Elder who coordinated the Athletics Squad, Ms Michaels and students who helped out on the day and the athletes who filled in for the sick or injured. Thank you, also, to the parents who came to watch and support the team. Most of all, well done to our CGSSSA Athletics representatives! Good luck to our athletes who will compete in the CCC Carnival. We are proud of all your efforts and look forward to doing even better in Division 1 next year. Let’s field an even bigger team and enter every event!

Mrs Cook

SCIENCE WEEK BRIGIDINE Science week will be held at Brigidine College in the week beginning August 19th. As in the past, we will have the “Science Show” on the main quad at lunchtime. All students are welcome to attend. Special events have been arranged for each year group to fall in and around this week. Year 7 will be going to the Zoo to marvel at the wonders of the living world. Year 8 will see the performance “Rock Galileo”. This is a thought provoking show that showcases the dynamic nature of science. Our understanding of the world around us changes as evidence is collected. Science knowledge is not static. Galileo’s life demonstrates this particularly well. Year 9 will be entering numerous competitions run by the universities during the week. One competition asks for a 60 second film that explains a science phenomenon and another is entering a a photo that shows science in action. Both attract substantial monetary rewards and we wish the girls luck. Year 10 are participating in the STARS (Science Thinking and Research Skills) Challenge 2013. This program has been designed to foster within Year 10 students a genuine interest in Science and develop their problem solving skills. Science Results are now in for the Science Competition. The girls performed well again this year. Worth noting are the following 11 students who gained Distinctions. Year 7 Mina Brcic Anjali Satheesh Lisa Ashby Year 8 Rhianna Frahill Rhiannon Soliman-Marron Holly Lockart Year 9 Yvonne Bahn Aoife Daly Monique di Giovanni Caitlin Goutama Year 10 Teebana Balakumar

These girls will receive their certificates at the next full school assembly. The science department congratulates them. Year 12 students should be actively applying for the many scholarships and cadetships offered through both universities and businesses. These are advertised frequently in the Career’s Bulletin that Mrs. Wallace emails to the year 12 cohort. In previous years our students have benefitted greatly from these opportunities. A new platform for Science education has been launched by the ABC. It has many engaging learning tools available for free for our secondary science students. It is worth a look and adding to your favourites. The link is http://splash.abc.net.au/secondary/science Competitions for science students have links listed below. Financial rewards are significant. Good Luck. http://www.science.unsw.edu.au/photocomp A photo competition http://www.scienceweek.net.au/60second-science-video-competition/ competition.

This is a 60 second video

Miss Tapp Science Department

YEAR 8 ITALIAN AND FRENCH STUDENTS LANGUAGE PERFECT COMPETITION Brigidine Year 8 ITALIAN and FRENCH students will participate to the LANGUAGE PERFECT NSW State COMPETITION. There will be a great prize for the winner!! Watch out NSW!

Language Perfect NSW Showdown! Start date: 8am, Monday 9th September End date: 8pm, Monday 16th September

Mrs Johnson Language Department

YEAR 11 HOSPITALITY

Congratulations to all of the year 11 Hospitality students that completed their first 35 hours of work placement for the course. The girls returned to school with valuable and positive experiences of life in the vibrant Hospitality industry. Venues that the girls attended included The Rock Pool, Sheraton on the Park, The Westin Hotel, City Extra, Hard Rock Café and the Cargo bar to name a few. It is always a pleasure to visit the students and hear the very positive feedback that each workplace gives of our students. Many students were offered part time work and all received outstanding references for their portfolios. Donna Ginzburg TAS Coordinator

BRIGIDINE COLLEGE, ANNUAL VISUAL ARTS EXHIBITION 2013 OPENING NIGHT TUESDAY 27 AUGUST 6PM AND CONTINUING TO THURSDAY 29 AUGUST 9AM-5PM The final date is approaching for our Year 12 students to complete their Body of Work for Visual Arts. Their artworks will be exhibited at the Brigidine College, Randwick, Annual Visual Arts Exhibition. The exhibition will have also have artworks from Years 7-12. The winning works from The Clancy Prize, The International Bishop Delany Competition and The Randwick City Council’s International Women’s Day Visual Arts Competition will also be displayed. We encourage all parents and friends to attend this evening to support and celebrate our students’ achievements in the Visual Arts. Parents of Year 8 2012 and 2013 will have heard about the girls making dogs and they will all be on display in the courtyard. They come in all shapes and sizes and are lots of fun. Wendy Sharpe, is a renowned Australian artist and winner of the Archibald and Sulman Prize. She will be opening the exhibition on the Tuesday evening. The exhibition will continue on the Wednesday and Thursday 9-5pm for classes to view the exhibition and visitors who are unable to attend on the Tuesday evening. The Lateens will be playing at the opening and the P&F will be generously supporting the exhibition with drinks and nibbles. There will be free car parking in the Wilson’s car park at The Spot. After parking your car you will need to exit the car park and walk around The Spot and enter Synan Hall from the front of the school. The door from the car park into the school grounds will not be open. The P&F will distribute tickets to use when you exit Wilson’s car park. We look forward to seeing you at the Annual Visual Arts Exhibition. Ms Deirdre Brennan Visual Arts Coordinator

New Programs at the Museum of Contemporary Art The Museum of Contemporary Art is offering After School Art School for students in Year 10-12. The program is run over five Thursday evening sessions, and encourages the students to examine contemporary art- making techniques while mentored by an artist and MCA artist educator. They also have a free evening for students aged 12-18, on the 18 August and 10 November. For more information go to www.mca.com.au/youngcreatives It enriches your Visual Arts education to reach and meet students from other schools who have an interest in the Visual Arts at a leading arts centre such as the MCA.

THE THIRD ANNUAL SECONDARY SCHOOL’S ART PRIZE AT THE SYDNEY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL Parents are welcome to view this exhibition at the Sydney Children's Hospital. Sabrina Chan, Teresa Downey, Nina Gordon, Billie Hooper and Mollie Steggle from Year 9 Visual Arts were selected to exhibit their Chinese Landscapes. They have been completed with sumi ink on rice paper. They are based on their study of landscape and their excursion to the Chinese Gardens.

Ms Deirdre Brennan Visual Arts Coordinator

YEAR 9 RE EXCURSION TO ST PATRICK’S CHURCH HILL AND MARY MacKILLOP PLACE MUSEUM

On Wednesday Year 9 went on a R.E. in the city. We visited two places while we were there: St Patrick’s Church and the Mary MacKillop Museum to help us learn more about our current religion topic ‘The Catholic Church in Australia’. We arrived at St Patrick’s first and had recess before entering a room to listen to a talk about the history of St Patrick’s and how it came to be. In 1840, a former convict William Davis, donated the land on which St Patrick’s is built. It was completed in 1844 and is one of the most popular churches with twelve masses being held on Sundays; it is also extremely popular for Baptisms and Weddings. After the presentation, we went on a tour of the Church, visited the coffee shop, which was once a chapel for the Sisters of Mercy, and then on to review Archdeacon John McEnroe’s cottage. Next we had lunch and hopped on the bus to our next destination: the Mary MacKillop Museum. Once we arrived, we were split into group and given a tour of the three galleries as well as the Tomb of Mary MacKillop which is in the beautiful Chapel. We learned about her life and how she cofounded the first school for underprivileged children. There were many of Mary’s possessions that we were able to see and interactive videos and games that made the tour more exciting. Overall, we had a great excursion. We learned many new things and it was very interesting. It was a great experience and I would definitely do it again in the future.

Caroline Falato

LIBRARY NEWS Thank You, Mrs Jarman We are extremely grateful to Mrs Jarman, our volunteer worker in the library, who has helped us out in innumerable ways. Her good humour, great company and meticulous approach to her work is something we value very highly. If Anne thought she could hide the date of her birthday from us, she was very mistaken… Anne is the mother of Monica Jarman, a long-standing member of the English department who is currently on leave from Brigidine.

History in the Library We are supporting many historians through our book displays and information skilling at the moment. While some of our junior girls are expanding their understanding of Aboriginal contact history, our senior Modern Historians are exploring the world at the beginning of the 20 th century and our students of Ancient History are getting to know those movers, shakers and image makers of the ancient world a whole lot better. Featured below are the dedicated, yet fun-loving members of Ms Chaloner’s history class.

Capturing Brigidine College through Words and Images

As a component of a film that our students will be making about the school that we love, Mrs Parsons and myself held a Limerick Workshop in the library very recently. The participants are featured below, along with a sample of their creativity.

There once was a Brigidine girl, Who painted spectacular swirls, She liked to create Designs with her mates In time she will colour the world! At that school on the top of the hill, If you’re ever unhappy or ill, There are teachers who care, Who know what is fair, And friends that you’ll all thank a mill. There once was a Brigidine lass Who loved Science and skipped off to Maths, She juggled prime numbers With science did wonders Saw test tubes and cried – I must dash! Trish Kennedy Teacher Librarian

YEAR 10 CANBERRA EXCURSION The Year 10 of 2013 Canberra trip was an exciting discovery of new places. Splitting into 3 groups we headed off to different places around Canberra. We visited so many places including Parliament House, the National Portrait Gallery, the Mint and the Australian Institute of Sport. We enjoyed interacting with new things at Questacon, giving us a visual insight on what things are and how they work. We watched a fun and interesting presentation at Questacon about how the planet will soon be taken over by aliens who plan to freeze Earth with liquid nitrogen to create a snow resort!!! We looked at the amazing views from Telstra tower while being blown around by the wind. We had the chance to learn new skills at ice-skating and, while there were many falls and tumbles, many of us were able to finally learn a new skill and skate on ice - an experience that will never be forgotten. We were taken on a trip back in time when we entered the Australian War Memorial seeing all the things that were used and all that happened in the wars giving us a whole new view on what past Australians did for our country. The Canberra trip of 2013 was a memorable time with friends and teachers. Olivia Van Cuylenburg

CLARINET LESSONS Clarinet lessons are available at school this term with our new teacher Daniel Watterson. Any student interested in lessons should collect a form from the music department. Lessons are $30 for a half hour lesson. We also have Clarinets for hire at $150 per year.

Ms Ainsworth Music Department

SONGS FOR SUDAN-FUNDRAISING FOR SISTER PHILLIPA MURPHY As part of our continuing support of Sr Philippa’s school in South Sudan, a concert has been organised to raise money to send to her. The concert will feature the Sydney Male Choir, of which Mr Burg is a member. The Sydney Male Choir is widely recognised as Australia’s premier male choir. In 2013 the choir is celebrating its Centenary, and has recently returned from a highly successful tour of the UK and France, where it had the great honour of being the official choir at the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Villers Bretonneux. The concert will take place on Sunday 25th August, at 2.00pm, at St. Joseph’s Church, Walz St, Rockdale. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for school age children, and will be available from Mr Burg at school, or at the door on the day. It would be wonderful to have a big audience, so get your tickets and come and enjoy a great afternoon of song!

SONGS FOR SUDAN Featuring

The Sydney Male Choir

In aid of Comboni High School in Mapuordit, South Sudan

St Joseph’s Church Walz St., Rockdale

2.00 p.m., Sunday 25th August Tickets $20.00/ $10.00(child) Phone 9567 8655