FROM THE PRINCIPAL - Academy of Mary Immaculate

Issue 3/2012 9 th March 2012Prayer for the Millennium Development GoalsGive thanks to God for your days of learning.Give thanks to God for minds saturated with new facts.Give thanks to God for the excitement of discovery.Give thanks to God for those who have taught you.Give thanks to God.Bring before GodThose who long to learnLong to understandLong to be challengedLong for a futureBring before God those who long to teach but are frustrated by lack of resources and lack of opportunity.Lord you gave us minds for learningGive us the will and the vision to give all children the chance of education.FROM THE PRINCIPALDear Parents, Staff, Students and Friends of the College,One of the joys of the past few weeks has been interviewing potential Year 7 2013 students and their parents.Mr Adrian Fuller, Deputy Principal, Mrs Roula Duggan, Year 7 Coordinator, and myself have met somewonderful families and have been privileged to share a little of their stories.It has also been most gratifying for us to hear why parents are wanting to enrol their daughters at theAcademy. Some of the reasons have been• The values of the College• The great sense of welcome they experienced when they came to the College and the overall verypositive feel about the College.• The behaviour of the Academy girls that has been witnessed outside the College• Friends who have spoken highly about the College• The enthusiasm and the “happy smiling faces” of the current Academy students• The wearing of the uniform with pride• The size of the school• The wide and varied curriculum that is offered• The close proximity to the City and to their place of workOver the years many parents have described the unique feeling they experience walking through the frontgates into the College. They have used words like “an oasis in a busy city”, “an atmosphere of contentment”,“a gentle energy”.Academy of Mary ImmaculateMercy Education Limited. CAN 154 531 87088 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy 3065, Telephone: (03) 9419 3044 Fax: (03) 9419 3885, Email: academy @academy.vic.edu.au

The Academy of Mary Immaculate is a blessed place – we continue the work of education that first began 155years ago on this very site and deeply appreciate the privilege that is ours to walk in the footsteps of MotherUrsula Frayne.The beginning of year Parent Information Evenings have now concluded and I thank the parents whoavailed themselves of these opportunities to learn more about College life and to meet your daughter’steachers.Year 7 families are warmly invited to attend the Year 7 Beginning of Year BBQ which will take place onWednesday, March 14 th from 5.00pm to 7.00pm in our beautiful College Courtyard. Please come along andmeet other parents and College staff.Monday March 26 th is a Professional Learning Day for all staff at the Academy and thus, as indicatedon the College Calendar, is a student free day. On that day we will be joining with staff from 11 other Mercyschools at Our Lady of Mercy College, Heidelberg, for a day entitled “Called to be Mercy”. This is a verysignificant day as it will see over 500 staff coming together to celebrate “Being Mercy”. There will be twoKeynote speakers on the day – Sr Mary Duffy rsm and Sr Marilyn Lacey rsm. Sr Marilyn Lacey has beeninvited to Australia by the staff and students who participated in the Young Mercy Leaders Pilgrimage toDublin last August.Sr Mary Duffy rsm is a Sister of Mercy who has been involved in the ministries of formation, congregationleadership and Catholic education. Sr Mary was appointed the inaugural Principal of both Catholic CollegeWodonga and Catholic College Bendigo. In the latter appointment she was responsible for the amalgamationof three colleges into one co-educational college.Sr Mary will explore the spirit of Catherine’s charism and the legacy she has left us.Sr Marilyn Lacey rsm is the founder and executive director of Mercy Beyond Borders, which partners withdisplaced women and children overseas to alleviate their extreme poverty. Sr. Marilyn was born in California,and has been a Sister of Mercy since 1966. She taught mathematics and RE in secondary schools.For the past 25 years Sr. Marilyn has worked with refugees in the U.S., Africa, and Southeast Asia. She hasdedicated her life to making the world a more welcoming place for persons forced to leave their homelandsbecause of war or persecution.In 2001, Sr Marilyn was personally honored by the Dalai Lama as an "Unsung Hero of Compassion.Sr Marilyn will also meet with students from Mercy Schools on Wednesday, 28 th March and will addressAcademy staff and students at our College Assembly on Tuesday, 27 th March.We look forward to a very enriching week, meeting staff and students from other Mercy schools and sharingthe week with Sr Marilyn Lacey.A reminder that we are in the season of Lent. Lent provides us with an opportunity to reflect on our lives andto re-examine our relationships with others and with God. It encourages us to make a difference and to livemore purposefully and fully.With best wishesSr Mary Moloney rsmPrincipalAcademy of Mary ImmaculateMercy Education Limited. CAN 154 531 87088 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy 3065, Telephone: (03) 9419 3044 Fax: (03) 9419 3885, Email: academy @academy.vic.edu.au

DEPUTY PRINCIPALYear 7 Barbeque – Wednesday, March 14 thAn invitation will be sent to parents and their daughters regarding the Year 7 BBQ that is being hosted by theAcademy of Mary Immaculate Parents’ Association. The BBQ commences at 5.00pm and finishes at 7.00pmwith hot food (sausages, hamburgers – meat and vegetarian) being served from 5.15pm to 6.15pm. Sr. Mary,Mrs Duggan, the Year 7 Co-ordinator, Year 7 Homeroom and Subject Teachers, and I will be present on thenight.Notes Explaining a Students Absence or Late Arrival to SchoolIn the event of absence due to illness, doctor's appointment etc a note is expected to be given to theHomeroom Teacher the day your daughter returns to school. In the event of late arrival, a note of explanationis required on arrival at the College or on the following day.The College asks that the following information is included in the note: Student ID number, Student Name,date of absence/late arrival and the reason for absence.Important Dates (end of Term 1 and start of Term 2)Monday, March 12 th – Labour Day HolidayMonday, March 26 th – Mercy Staff Formation at OLMC Heidelberg – no classesWednesday, March 28 th – Staff PD afternoon – classes finish at 1.10pmFriday, March 30 th (last day of Term 1) - students finish classes at 3.30pm.Monday, April 2 nd to Tuesday, April 13 th – school holidayso Sunday, April 1 st – Palm Sundayo Thursday, April 5 th – Holy Thursdayo Friday, April 6 th – Good Fridayo Saturday, April 7 th – Easter Saturday.o Sunday, April 8 th – Easter Sunday.o Monday, April 9 th – Easter MondayMonday, April 16 th – House Athletics CarnivalFriday, April 20 th – Foundation Day (155 Years at 88 Nicholson Street)Tuesday, April 24 th & Wednesday May 2 nd – Parent/Teacher Interviews (see article below)Wednesday, April 25 th - ANZAC Day Public Holiday.Changeover to the Winter UniformStudents may wear either the Summer or Winter Uniform in the first 2 weeks of Term 2; however, the WinterUniform is compulsory for all students from Monday, April 30 th . The College Uniform requirements arelisted in full on page (xiii) of the Student Planner. The following applies to all students whilst wearing theWinter Uniform:The Dress is to have a hem that is at knee length or longer.The Blazer is a compulsory part of the Uniform and is always worn as the outer garment outside thegrounds of the college.Students are expected to wear the tie correctly i.e. the knot of the tie is worn up to the collar.All students who have hair shoulder length or longer, are asked to have their hair tied back.The only item of jewellery allowed is one sleeper or plain earring in the each ear lobe. No other piercingsare acceptable.Shoes and T Bar Sandals are worn correctly i.e. laces tied and buckles done up.Parent Teacher Interviews – Tuesday, April 24 th (2.00pm to 8.30pm) & Wednesday, May 2 nd (2.00pm to8.30pm)All interviews will be held in the Palmer Street Building and a directory of staff locations will be posted at theentrance to the College and on each level of the Palmer Street Building. Students will finish classes at1.10pm on both days.The College will be using the internet-based booking system called Parent Teacher On-Line (PTO) forour 2012 Parent/Teacher Interviews. Using this system parents will be able to book the interview times thatbest suit them from any internet-connected computer. College computers will be available during schoolhours for families that are unable to access internet based computers.Academy of Mary ImmaculateMercy Education Limited. CAN 154 531 87088 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy 3065, Telephone: (03) 9419 3044 Fax: (03) 9419 3885, Email: academy @academy.vic.edu.au

Access to the Parent Teacher On Line system will be through an icon on the bottom right hand corner of theCollege Web Site (www.academy.vic.edu.au). The envelope containing your daughter’s 2012 Interim Reportwill also contain a system PIN number and a set of clear instructions for the task of booking Parent/Teacherinterviews.Parents may commence booking interviews as soon as their PIN number arrives. When parents have madeall the bookings they require, there is an option to print a report of their Parent/Teacher Interview bookings intime order, staff will also be able to print out their interview times. Parents can also log in and change orcancel bookings any time up to the morning of the interviews.Missed Assessment Task (SAC) forms (Non Submission of Work Policy)Please be aware that students submit the form to the Student Office before obtaining the parent signature,not after. The process is:On the day that your daughter returns to School, she fills in the front page of the ‘Notification OfMissed Assessment Task (2012)’ form (obtained from the Student Office or Homeroom noticeboard)and the student signs this form.The student then submits the form to Missed Sac’s box in the Student Office tray by 3.30 pm. Theparent does not sign the form at this stage.The form will be processed, signed by Mr. Fuller and returned to the student via the Homeroom Roll.The form will indicate the day that the Supplementary SAC is to be completed.Return the form, with a parent signature on the back page, to the Missed Sac’s box on or beforethe day of the Supplementary SAC session.Attend the Supplementary SAC session in E3.7 on the day specified on the form.** Students must complete the SUPP SAC within 10 days of the original date of the Assessment Task.A reminder that any student (Year 10, 11 or 12) undertaking a VCE Subject requires a Medical Certificate ifthey are absent on the day of a SAC due to illness. In the case of absence due to family circumstances sucha funeral or serious illness of a family member, you are asked to contact Mr Fuller at the College on 94193044.Yours sincerely,Deputy PrincipalDIRECTOR OF TEACHING AND LEARNINGProfessional Development ProgramOn February 29, the College held the first of its Professional Development afternoons for 2012. The sessionwas based upon work the Ms Jane Kovacs from Quality Learning Australia had undertaken with the middlemanagers of the College in January. The February session was prepared by the Heads of Department andactivities were presented by a team consisting of Mr McInerney, Mr Constantinou, Ms McPhee and Mr Hyland.The aim of the session was to use learning tools from ‘Quality Learning Australia’ to work towards theestablishment of a shared understanding of what effective high quality teaching and learning should look likeat the Academy. The outcome of the work during the afternoon was positive and the definitions andunderstanding of quality teaching and learning that emerged from the afternoon will provide a wonderful basefor future afternoon sessions.Interim ReportsThe Term 1 interim reports will be prepared by teachers in the last week of Term 1. The reports will be printedover the holidays and will be distributed to the students during afternoon homeroom on Tuesday April 17. Aswell as this, parents will be able to access their daughter’s report on PAM from April 4, the first Wednesday ofthe school holiday. The College will send a letter to all parents reminding of their PAM log of their details.Mr Mark Hyland, Director of Teaching and LearningAcademy of Mary ImmaculateMercy Education Limited. CAN 154 531 87088 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy 3065, Telephone: (03) 9419 3044 Fax: (03) 9419 3885, Email: academy @academy.vic.edu.au

LEVEL COORDINATORSYear 11 and 12 ReportI was so thrilled to meet so many parents at the VCE teacher/ parent night on Thursday evening, March 1,and I sincerely thank you for supporting the night. I admire the fact you all take such an active interest in yourdaughter’s lives and you should all be congratulated for making the effort to meet their teachers. I was so verypleased to see so many parents attend and I think we would all agree thatthere was a most positive atmosphere which I hope will be carriedthroughout the year.I know many of you are also relieved the Year 12 Formal held onFebruary 24, at L‘unica on Parkville is over. Congratulations to all theYear 12 students on their exemplary behaviour on the night and I wouldalso like to pass on congratulations from the venue, L’unica on Parkvillewho wrote to me in glowing appreciation. All the girls looked absolutelybeautiful and enjoyed the night immensely. Thank you to the senior SRCfor their organisation and Marina Zmijarevic for the ticket design. Studentsare reminded to submit their orders for any photo requests.Thank you to Ms. Fogarty (Director of Faith and Mission) for herorganisation of the twoSpiritual Retreat days onThursday March 1 and FridayMarch 2. The spiritualdevelopment of the Academy student is at the core of our missionso we hope the students can develop an appreciation of our corevalues of mercy, justice and compassion. We are all at differentparts of our journey in life, so the opportunity to pause, reflect andlook forward was appreciated. Once again we thank the YouthMission Ministry for their involvement in the program.Congratulations to our senior students who are leading the way withtheir involvement either on stage or behind the scenes in the schoolmusical, Guys and Dolls, to be held in May. We have a number of senior students involved in the currentrehearsals. Congratulations to those students who show that they can maintain a positive balance betweentheir studies and extra curricular activities. I urge all students to get involved in the range of activities theCollege offers.Thank you to Ms. Tzikas for her organisation of the Year 12 careers seminar on Thursday March 8. Year 12students are encouraged to begin the process of looking into courses for 2013 and visiting Universities andTAFES on their open days. Each student is required to make a personal appointment with Ms. Tsikas toestablish a plan for 2013. Knowledge is power, so the more homework you do the better decisions yourdaughter’s can make.Sr Mary, the Year 11 homeroom teachers and I also had the pleasure of announcing the leaders at Year 11.Badges were presented at a special assembly on Thursday March 1.Congratulations to the following students.11 Blue Captain Winky Wong11 Blue Vice Captain Laura Gaglioti11 Green Captain Radhini DeSilva11 Green Vice Captain Mariella Polizzi11 Red Captain Rebecca Costa11 Red Vice Captain Samantha Manglicmot11 Silver Captain Emily Lynch11 Silver Vice Captain Khalia ChikulinThe Year 11 students now look forward to the second part of their study skills seminar to be held on TuesdayMarch 20.Academy of Mary ImmaculateMercy Education Limited. CAN 154 531 87088 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy 3065, Telephone: (03) 9419 3044 Fax: (03) 9419 3885, Email: academy @academy.vic.edu.au

Please do not hesitate to call me should you have any questions or queries regarding your daughter’sprogress.Year 12 Report, Senior SRC 2011Developing our leaders at the Academy from good leaders to great leaders is something we take veryseriously at the Academy.Throughout the year our senior Student Representative Council and Sports Leaders have the opportunity toenhance and develop their leadership skills.Keeping in mind that “to lead is to serve” the privilege of their position offers them a myriad of opportunitiesand skills they will take well into their adult life.On Tuesday March 8, 6 of our 8 senior SRC leaders and six sports leaders attended the Impact StudentLeadership Conference at Moonee Valley racecourse accompanied by Ms Tyrell Harding, Head of Sport andMr. John Andritsos, Year 12 Co coordinator.In what was a most dynamic, energising andinteractive day, over six hundred studentsheard how effective leadership can have amassive impact on the culture of an entireschool. The students were given a numberof practical strategies and techniques thatcould be implemented in a whole schoolenvironment and they learned about the fivelevels of leadership.It was a wonderful opportunity to networkwith leaders from other schools and developvaluable links with their peers.It was clear to me that all of the girlsreflected on their own leadership style andstarted to appreciate the opportunity ofinfinite possibilities leadership offers.To all our leaders and potential leaders atthe Academy, remember from our Christianscripture:“It is more blessed to give than to receive”Living these words is something for which we should all strive.DEBATINGMr John Andritsos, Year 11 &12 CoordinatorDAV DebatingRound 1 of DAV Debating took place on Wednesday 7 th March, and our A Grade debating team took out thehonours! Debating the topic ‘That political party leaders should be directly elected by the Australian public’,our team took on Roxburgh Park Secondary College and won convincingly. Our three speakers wereJosephine Gunning, Claudia Lombard and Amy Cattapan. Claudia Lombard was voted best speaker on thenightMr Kilian McNamaraA Grade CoachCLASSICAL CONCERTAn Invitation is extended to all members of the College Community and Friends of the Academy toattend our annual classical concert.6.30pm for pre-concert drinks to be held in the Library7.00pm Classical Concert – Ursula Frayne Memorial Chapel.Academy of Mary ImmaculateMercy Education Limited. CAN 154 531 87088 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy 3065, Telephone: (03) 9419 3044 Fax: (03) 9419 3885, Email: academy @academy.vic.edu.au

INFORMATION RESOURCE CENTREBook ReviewVeronica Rossi’s debut novel is a compelling read. Under the Never Sky touches on every genre, be itadventure, science fiction, romance, fantasy, even philosophy. This book tells a gripping tale that will leaveyou wondering, what if?Rossi’s novel features Aria, a pretty seventeen year old girl immersed in a virtual world within the Pods. ThesePods provide asylum for families like her own, escaping the wrath of the Aether. Her kind has existed thisway contentedly for over a century now. But in one horrific night, Aria’s predictable world is turned upsidedown when she joins a forbidden excursion to a damaged service dome called Agriculture 6. There shediscovers the outside. But the boys in the group go wild, attempting things they would never have done backon the inside. Burning, ransacking, dominating… Only two survive the fiery blaze out of the five, they are Ariaand Soren.Now obsolete in the eyes of the Consuls, she finds herself exiled from her enclosed home. Left for dead in thebarren wastelands of the outside by her own people. A million ways to die. One way to live. Directionless andtraumatised, an unforgettable chapter unfolds in Aria’s life.What will become of her? She will surely perish. But with the allegiance of Peregrine (a savage) will herchances at survival be in her favour?With Peregrine at her side she sees the world in a way that she could never have imagined possible. ButPeregrine needs something from Aria too. Connections. His nephew Talon has been kidnapped by Dwellerslike Aria. Peregrine must return Talon to his father. But as winter approaches and the Aether threatens todestroy his village, Peregrine’s motivation craves other things. To lead the Tides to greatness. To be BloodLord.Can Aria and Peregrine’s worlds combine or will they collide under the never sky?Written by Heidi Bula.VISUAL ARTS DEPARTMENTCatholic Education Week Visual Arts ExhibitionAcademy will be represented in this year’s Catholic Education Week Visual Arts Exhibition by 4 students.Alana Kurban (lino Print), Stephanie Crowe (painting), Samantha Panettieri (sculpture) and SamanthaManglicmot (painting). We wish our students well and congratulate them for their excellent art works. Theexhibition will be held at the Victorian Artists’ Society, 430 Albert Street East Melbourne. Families areinvited to view the work on Saturday 17 th March from 1.30 – 4pm.Mr Martin McInerney, Head of Visual ArtsAcademy of Mary ImmaculateMercy Education Limited. CAN 154 531 87088 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy 3065, Telephone: (03) 9419 3044 Fax: (03) 9419 3885, Email: academy @academy.vic.edu.au

Study Skills and Homework HelpGo to the Library Web Links on Simon for help with your next assignment:… and don’t forget the online databases:Ms Heather McPhee, Head of Information Resource CentreAcademy of Mary ImmaculateMercy Education Limited. CAN 154 531 87088 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy 3065, Telephone: (03) 9419 3044 Fax: (03) 9419 3885, Email: academy @academy.vic.edu.au

SPORTS NEWSHouse Swimming ReportObservers at the House swimming commented upon theparochial support which was vehemently maintainedthroughout the duration of the whole carnival. Frayne andGoold vied for the lead early on; however, Gooldappeared to have taken a strangle hold on theproceedings. Frayne challenged again, lifting from 3 rd towithin striking distance but Goold regrouped and won theday.. Congratulations to Alexandra Piaia, Mr Molino andall the “Gooldies” for efforts. – Sherlock narrowlydefeated Frayne in the race for the cheer squad trophy.The day was once again a huge success and anexceptional beginning to the sporting year.Emma Sinclair (Sherlock) set a new school record for theYear 7 50m Breaststroke.Year 10 student Molly Elliot from Frayne was again, the mostoutstanding individual performer of the day. Mollie set two new schoolrecords – the Year 10 Backstroke and the Open 50m Butterfly. This isthe fourth year that Molly has won the Opie Shield.Frayne also picked up a new record for the Year 10 Freestyle Relay andGoold for the Year 8 Relay.House Records were also set by the following studentsFrayne: Molly Elliot (Yr 10 Freestyle), Matilda Elliot (Yr 9 Breaststroke)Sherlock: Emma Sinclair - Yr 7 Freestyle, Backstroke & Yr 8 ButterflyIndividual awards for excellence were awarded to:Junior Gold Emma Sinclair (Year 7 Sherlock)Silver Inez Beadell (Year 8 Goold)Bronze Lily Dyson (Year 7 Frayne)Intermediate Gold Matilda Elliot (Year 9 Frayne)Silver Ruby Fleming (Year 9 Frayne)Bronze Kayley Cameron (Year 10 Goold)Senior Gold Rose Baulch (Year 21 Goold)Silver Katie Ryman (Year 12 Sherlock)Bronze Monica Possee (Year 11 Goold)Final results:CheerSquad Trophy:1 st Goold 866 Sherlock2 nd Frayne 7903 rd McAuley 7644 th Sherlock 6622012 School Swimming Captain: Alexandra Piaia, Vice-Captain: Tess DaviesIndividual AchieversCongratulations to Year 8 student Mikeal Selaidinakos. Mikeala ran in the VictorianAthletics Championships on the weekend. She came first in the U15 G 400m and is nowthe Victorian State Champion for this event. She has been asked to represent Victoria inSydney.Academy of Mary ImmaculateMercy Education Limited. CAN 154 531 87088 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy 3065, Telephone: (03) 9419 3044 Fax: (03) 9419 3885, Email: academy @academy.vic.edu.au

Parents Association Fees RaffleFirst Prize: One Year’s School FeesSecond Prize: One Term’s School Fees(includes: 2012 Tuition Fee, Subject Levy and Resource Levy for one student)Approximate value: $4,550 (first prize) $1,130 (second prize)Tickets are $50 each and are limited to 500 tickets only.If you have already paid your 2012 school fees we will refund your fees if you win !Please note this event replaces the chocolate drive as our major annual fundraiser –we would appreciate whatever support you can provide !To order, just complete the details below and return with your payments in anenvelope marked “FEES RAFFLE”. We will then post out your tickets !Yes, please send me ____ raffle tickets @ $50 each. CASH / CHEQUE / CC $ ___________Card No: Expiry: /Name of Student(s)Cardholder NameCardholder SignatureCardholder Phone NoAcademy of Mary ImmaculateMercy Education Limited. CAN 154 531 87088 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy 3065, Telephone: (03) 9419 3044 Fax: (03) 9419 3885, Email: academy @academy.vic.edu.au