Issue 3 2011 - marian college

Marian NewsA Community growing in Faith & Love • Serving Others • Striving to Achieve • Thinking for the FutureFrom the Co-PrincipalsIt has been an incredibly busy two weeks at the College. Activities related tostudent transition and development have been high on the agenda as all studentssettle into the rhythm and routine of the school day and their timetables.Year 7 CampWeary Year 7 students (and their teachers) returned from a fun and adventurefilledcamp at Phillip Island last Wednesday March 2nd. From all accounts,students made the most of the activities on offer and tested their limits andtheir courage by participating in activities such as the Giant Swing and theHigh Ropes Course. Congratulations to all students who used the camp asan opportunity to expand their own horizons by trying new experiences andseeking to make connections with different students. We offer our thanks to MsMandy Borg and the Year 7 year level team for their organisation and support ofthis important experience for our students.Senior Student WorkshopsAt Years 11 and 12 the demands of school work can sometimes test theresolve and skill of many students (and sometimes their parents). The studyskills necessary to ensure that each student makes the most of her learningopportunities can often be elusive, especially when students are under pressure.The Senior Year Level Leaders have organised a series of workshops acrossPRAYER:God of renewal,Be with us as we begin ourLenten journey.Help us to remember thatthis season of reflection andpreparation invites us into aloving partnership with others.Help us to work together to bringabout hope and change.Help us to make a difference.Grant this through Christ ourLord.the course of the year to ensure that sound study skills become second nature. Students should be able to draw onthese skills at key points during the year, such as at exam time, but they also need to recognise that the best wayto a great result is a consistent and steady approach to the finish line. We are confident that constant reinforcementof these messages across the year will support students in their learning.Year 11 and 12 Reflection DayThe Senior Student Reflection Day on March 7th provided a great opportunity for students to reflect on this year’stheme “Called to be Responsible Stewards”. Students were asked to reflect on the various ways the simple actionsin their lives have an impact on our capacity to live in a sustainable way. During the morning session a verymotivational speaker, Mark Dobson, asked the girls to consider the best ways they could make the most out of theopportunities presented to them. We extend our thanks to Ms Dianne Reynolds, Ms Jenny May Wilson, Ms SimoneCymbalak and the Senior Years year level team for their contribution to this day.Investiture AssemblyOn Wednesday March 9th, as we marked the beginning of our Lenten Journey, we recognised the commitment ofthe many students who have accepted Leadership roles at the College. There are so many opportunities for studentsto exercise leadership at the school and we have no shortage of students willing to shoulder the responsibility ofworking on behalf of their fellow students. We were all asked to reflect on our response to the notion of ServantLeadership; the call to leadership by example rather than by command and to take on the leadership wholeheartedly– displaying initiative, energy and enthusiasm. Congratulations to Ms Kerrie Williams for her organisationof this recognition ceremony.Swimming CarnivalThe Swimming Carnival held on March 8th was once again an enormous success. Students participatedenthusiastically, worked in teams to ensure there were entrants in each event and generally made the mostof a great day. We are particularly pleased with the response of our senior students at Years 11 and 12, whodemonstrated leadership and great community spirit through their participation and commitment. Congratulationsto Tara House who came out as winners on the day, securing their first House Swimming Competition. We thankMs Abbey Webster and the Health and Physical Education team for the planning and preparation that is requiredfor the seamless running of such an event. We also acknowledge the contribution of all staff members who workedtirelessly on the day in the supervision and encouragement of all the students.Peer SupportSeveral of our Year 10 students have responded to a call to leadership by volunteering to become Peer SupportLeaders and participated in a training day on Friday March 4th. These Year 10 students will buddy or mentor a smallgroup of Year 7 girls, supporting them as they ease into life as secondary school students. The purpose of the PeerSupport Program is to continue to support the transition of Year 7 students and to build rapport and community spiritacross year levels at the College. We congratulate the Year 10 students who have volunteered their time and talentto this important program at the school.continued.....................................AmenEvents:MarchMarian College196 Glengala RdWest Sunshine 3020Phone 9363 1711Fax 9363 2386www.mariansw.catholic.edu.auEdition 3 -11 th march, 2011Friday 11th March• SCSA Tennis Carnival• Marian News Issue 3Monday 14th March• Labour Day (School Office Closed)Tuesday 15th March• Catholic Education Week BeginsWednesday 16th March• Yr 12 OES Otways Camp Day 1/3Thursday 17th March• Yr 12 OES Otways Camp Day 2/3• St Patrick’s Day - Mass at StPatrick’s CathedralFriday 18th March• Yr 12 OES Otways Camp Day 3/3• Yr 9 Reflection DaySunday 20th March• Garden Party - 2pm - 4pm• Catholic Education Week EndsMonday 21st March• Cultural Diversity Week BeginsWednesday 23rd March• Canberra Trip Day 1/3• Cultural Diversity Evening -7:15pm - 9:30pmThursday 24th March• Canberra Trip Day 2/3Friday 25th March• Canberra Trip Day 3/3• Japanese Students arrive• Marian News Issue 4Sunday 27th March• Cultural Diversity Week EndsThursday 31st March• Yr 11 & 12 Study Sensei WorkshopAprilFriday 1st April• National Youth Week BeginsSaturday 2nd April• Japanese Students departMonday 4th April• SCSA Indoor Cricket CarnivalTuesday 5th April• Student Leaders Formation DayWednesday 6th April• Yr 11 OES Grampians Camp Day 1/3• Interim Reports postedThursday 7th April• Yr 11 OES Grampians Camp Day 2/3• Running Club at Cherry LakeFriday 8th April• Term 1 Ends (All students 3pmdismissal)• Yr 11 OES Grampians Camp Day 3/3• Whole School Assembly (P1)(Amended timetable P1-4)• Marian News Issue 5Marian NewsA Community growing in Faith & Love • Serving Others • Striving to Achieve • Thinking for the Future

House Captains 2011Other Student Leadership PositionsLeo Office Bearers:Co-Presidents: Duyen Nguyen and Aivy OstijicTresurer: Kathy HuynhSecretary: Le NguyenSt. Vincent De Paul Chapter:Co-Presidents: Felicia Folino and Salma ZarookTresurer: Sashini SeenadeeraSecretary: Nikhita StephenJustice and Democracy Forum:Maxine Guiterrez and Olivetti FaLiturgy Group:Duyen NguyenSashini SeenadeeraMaxine GuiterrezLois BagalayNgoc Han LeKira DinhEmily SaundersBus Monitors:Caroline Springs: Stephanie Van RietWerribee: Melissa CavalloLaverton/Point Cook: Amy AlexanderPerforming Arts Leaders:Senior Band Captain:Mele ViIntermediate Band Captain:Taylor Van OrsowJunior Band Captain:Tahlia SmithPercussion Captain:Jasmine Luong-OzmenChoir Captain:Julianne Tran and Mimi HoangMusic and Drama Captains:Monica Caceres and Tegan HaeringEnvironmental Action Club:Robin CarronScience Fiction and FantasyClub Captain :Adella Muorwell MajokBook Club Captains:Lana Frost and Jani SinghLibrary Monitors CaptainsJenny Le and Elizabeth SoulsbyArt Club Captains:Marcela Klocker and Alicia PawiowskiMarian NewsA Community growing in Faith & Love • Serving Others • Striving to Achieve • Thinking for the Future

EnglishD.A.V. DEBATING – ROUND 1 RESULTSOn Wednesday 9th March, 15 courageous and determined Marian students bravedthe wet weather and their nerves to represent the College in Round 1 of the DebatersAssociation of Victoria (DAV) debating. After weeks of solid preparation and lunchtimerehearsals, these students suddenly found themselves at Williamstown High School,along with over 100 other students from other schools in the Williamstown Region.The Year 9 Team, comprising of Jessica Aquilina, Roxy Mezher and Hollie Thomas,were the youngest of our students. They argued against the topic ‘That violent videogames should be banned’. While their competition, three students from WestbourneGrammar School, presented points both valid and well positioned, Marian Collegewas the victorious team demonstrating an excellent capacity to offer arguments andequally rebut effectively . Well done Year 9s!Our more senior students also had an evening of favoured outcomes. Our first Year10 Team, comprising of Trang Nguyen, Mimi Hoang, and Nhu Tran, found themselves presenting their arguments against the topic ‘The governmentshould not fund major sporting events’, to the Adjudicator only, as the affirmative team never turned up. Our second Year 10 Team, comprising of JadeChansawat, Karen Wedi, and Marcela Klocker, also presented some excellent arguments on the same topic; they lost the debate by a mere 2 points.Like the Year 9s and 10s, our VCE students were victors at the end of the evening. The Year 11 Team, comprising of Erin Grant, Jacqueline Di Vincenzoand Rebecca Zahra, argued against the topic ‘That we should prohibit people from building their homes in disaster prone areas’. The students waitedpatiently and nervously and once the points were added up, the adjudicator agreed and Marian College were named winners of the debate. A similaroutcome was also shared by our Year 12 Team, comprising of Nikhita Stephen, Aly Ho, and Branka Potkonjak, who argued against the challenging topic‘That Scientology should be banned’. Their positions were logical, analytical, and diverse, and at the end of the debate, they too were named the winningteam over Heathdale Christian College. Nikhita Stephen and Aly Ho were also named best speakers of the A Grade debate.I offer ongoing thanks to Ms. Kathleen Paris and Mrs. Joanne Scully for all their hard work and dedication in the debating process; without their time andcommitment, our students would not have been able to perform as they did.Marian College’s performance and results at the end of Round 1 of the DAV debates are commendable. It is no easy task to speak in front of an audience,yet our students demonstrated a capacity to do so, and they spoke clearly, argumentatively and analytically. With Round 2 merely weeks away, thestudents are already busily preparing their debates and will again, without doubt, make our College proud.Vito Milana - English CoordinatorMarian NewsA Community growing in Faith & Love • Serving Others • Striving to Achieve • Thinking for the Future

Year 7 Camp – Phillip Island Adventure ResortFinally, the day they all were waiting for had finally arrived. On Monday 28th February, the Year 7 studentswere all packed up and ready to begin their 3 days, 2 nights camp at ‘Phillip Island Adventure Resort’. Ourtrip started on very luxurious coaches that made our journey very comfortable. Our first stop was at SanRemo, which is just a bridge away from Phillip Island. As we approached San Remo the views around uswere breath taking and the expressions on student’s faces were priceless.At San Remo, students had the opportunity to sit and relax as they eat their lunch alongside the beach.They were then joined by other schools for the viewing of the Pelican feeding, as well as watching Sting raysswimming up and down the river. Yet, to our misfortune it was mating season and not many Pelicans camefor lunch.On our arrival at ‘Phillip Island Adventure Resort’ students were briefed on how the camp operates andthe rules they had to adhere to. The students were very eager to start and before we knew it, they were allsettled into their rooms preparing for their first activity. The organised activities included Canoeing, TwinFlying Fox, Initiative Course, High Ropes, Team Rescue, Giant Swing and Swimming. All these activitiesenabled students to challenge themselves, gain new skills, develop confidence and leadership skills, workas a team and take risks.Unfortunately, the weather was not in our favour over the 3 days and some students did not have theopportunity to experience all 7 activities. However, this gave us time to sit back, relax and watch a movie,take a walk to Smiths Beach and elect our SRC and SPG representatives.During the evening we gathered for dinner where many conversations were had and friendships formed. OnDay One, dinner was followed by a trip to ‘A Maze N’ Things’ where students played mini golf, got lost in themaze or were mesmerised by the optical illusions. On Day Two, students were more relaxed as they ruggedup and watched the nightly crossing of the little penguins at Summerland Beach, just as many others havefor the past 80 years.As we all know, all things must come to an end, and on the 2nd March just after lunch, we were making ourtrip back to Marian College. However, the transformation that occurred over the three days was very apparent.Students had formed new friendships, enhanced their relationship with the homeroom teacher and had anexperience that they will continue to talk about for many weeks to come.As the Year 7 Co coordinator, I’m very pleased with or experience at Phillip Island Adventure Resort. Somethings may have not gone the way that we had originally planned for. However, the most important goal wasachieved. That is, the transition process from Grade Six to Year 7 was made a little easier as students gotto know one another and form friendships, they enjoyed themselves and everyone came back home safewith a story to tell. I would like to thank all the students and teachers for their cooperation and hard workover the three days.Here is what some students had to say.Mandy Borg - Year 7 Level LeaderYear 7 camp was a great opportunity for all of us as new students to interact and work together for three days.Many new relationships were made in the cabin groups, at the dining table and during the activities.The activities provided us with a lot of fun, excitement, joy, teamwork, humour and adventure. Many of thestudents enjoyed experiencing new activities that they had never done before. TharushiOn camp the Year 7s participated in a variety of activities such as high ropes, canoeing, flying fox, team rescue,giant swing, initiative course, to name a few.My personal favourite was the high ropes. This activity at first was scary, well at 7 meters above ground it would be! By the end it was the best fun Iexperienced. Isabelle ClarkeIt was a thrilling moment when I released the cord, my heart dropped out, while I was swinging back and forth in the windy, forceful air. Every activitywas one I would cherish for a life time. I made new friends and finally realised there is always a chance on earth to be a good role model, to identifyyour talents, make friends and demonstarte leadership to everyone else. The highlight of the camp was when my name was called out to be an SPGrepresentative. NhuMarian NewsA Community growing in Faith & Love • Serving Others • Striving to Achieve • Thinking for the Future

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

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