0
Absentee Line - Text 0417 596 611 or Phone Primary 8150 2397, Secondary 8150 2323 or Email student.reception@smc.sa.edu.au

News

Term 3 Week 2 2021

From the Principal, From the Deputy Principals

From the Deputy Principals

Dear St Michael’s College Community,

REMOTE LEARNING

We are proud of our students who approached remote learning with confidence, commitment and a willingness to engage.

Thank you to our staff and parents/caregivers for your continued support. We would like to share some positive responses that were received during this period:

“Thank you for your hard work, dedication and continued enthusiasm in teaching remotely. You successfully provided a range of engaging, contemporary and rigorous tasks that captivated my son to continue his learning journey in the home environment.”

 “Just wanted to express our gratitude for all your hard work, patience and support over the past week with home learning. We really appreciate it!”

 “I wanted to thank you for making these two days of home schooling an achievable task for everyone. My child really loved doing the work and was proud of what that they were able to achieve in this situation. Having you there to support, share and connect in the online group most certainly helped.”

 “I would like to express my thanks to all the teachers at St Michael’s who have been managing their own families and personal matters whilst continuing to educate and connect with our children. My daughter, who is committed to her study and anxious about getting the results that she wants has thrived. From my observations the teachers have done well to ensure that the learning has continued at the highest standard they can, and my daughter has had a chance to connect with her teachers in a different way.”

 “Online learning was a very positive experience for my daughter. It was great to see her engage with her teachers and continue working whilst at home. I was impressed with the setup and approach by her teachers.”

 “Home schooling is so much fun, every day is its own adventure!”

 “Thanks for your efforts in switching all your learning online with minimal notice so our boys can keep learning. My son is completely engaged, ready to go in the morning and I even had to remind him to come out for lunch yesterday!! I guess that’s a good sign.”

For more images click here

COVID RESTRICTIONS

Whilst the remote learning model has been well supported by staff, students and families, it cannot compete with being reconnected in person as we experienced at St Michael’s this week.

As we returned to ‘normal’ school routines on Wednesday, we have been impressed by the way in which our community, parents, students and staff, have complied with the SA Government directives in relation to the wearing of masks, distancing and gathering. The College will continue to follow these recommendations and thank you in anticipation of your ongoing support.

Kind regards,

Damian Patton, Deputy Principal Primary
Bron Kemp, Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning
Matthew Williams, Deputy Principal Pastoral
Amanda Price, Deputy Principal Staff and Strategy

Weekly Communication and Important Dates
Weekly Communication and Important Dates

Weekly Communication and Important Dates

RIP

Matt McLaughlin
Much loved Father of Cooper in Year 5.

Matt was a wonderful man who engaged staff from the time he walked through Admin. He is greatly admired for his love and care for his family and his tenacity in fighting his health battle. The detail Matt went to when coaching the Year 5 basketball team to their premiership late in Term 2 was something all the players and parents of St Michael’s will remember forever.

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest In Peace. Amen.

WEEK 3 EVENTS UPDATE


EVENTS CANCELLED
Year 11 (Year 12 2022) SACE Evening (2/8) – video link will be sent
Year 12 SATAC Evening (2/8) – video link will be sent
Careers Night (2/8)
Catholic Cross Country Carnival (5/8)

EVENTS POSTPONED
Holy Communion Preparation (27/7 – 1/8)
Year 7 (2022) Music Information Night (3/8)
Year 11 Lasallian Reflection Day (4/8)
Year 12 Seminar Day 3 (5/8)
Vocal Performance Night (5/8)

The Primary Academic Awards and New Student Welcome Assembly scheduled for 5 August is currently under consideration and will be communicated in due course.

 

ENTERTAINMENT BOOK

Support our fundraising and purchase an Entertainment Book membership. Click here for more information.

Click here for Term Dates.
Click here for Uniform Shop hours and information.
Click here to purchase the Entertainment Book.

For previous editions of The Star Newsletter, if using Desktop, please navigate to the side bar to view previous editions or if viewing on a mobile phone scroll to the bottom of the page.

Primary Campus

Primary Campus

MID-YEAR INTAKE

A big warm welcome to our Mid-Year Reception students who started school on Monday, 19 July. It was an exciting day and all of our Receptions embraced their new schooling experience, classmates and friends. The students learning will be enhanced with the two extra terms in Reception and will provide extended opportunities to set them up for success as they get a ‘head start’ into their schooling. We welcome the students and their families to the St Michael’s community. For more images click here.

For more photos, please click here

NAIDOC WEEK PROJECT AT THE BRICKWORKS

Year 6 students were invited to participate in the Brickworks Marketplace ‘Drawing Us Together’ community book initiative in honour of NAIDOC Week 2021. Motivated by the 2021 NAIDOC message “Heal Country”, shopping centres engaged with author, Maree Yoelu (McCarthy), a Wadjigany woman from the western Wagait region of the Northern Territories to write a children’s short story titled ‘Dancing for Country’. The story is about Nana Ruby and her shadow, her Grandson Claude, and their relationship to the land and their desire to help heal country when they see the land is hurting.

Students designed illustrations for each of the pages within the storybook and these were showcased at Brickworks from 6 to 18 July. Votes were cast by the public for their favourite designs and the top ten illustrations will later be included in the book. 185 votes took place over the two-week period and we are pleased to announce that two St Michael’s students have been chosen. Congratulations to Jake Lalic (6M) and Zac Mullins (6M)!

Ms Kate Tyrwhitt, Art & Design Teacher and Indigenous Focus Teacher – Primary

Secondary Campus

Secondary Campus

REFLECTIVE GARDEN

The Reflective Garden design is currently being finalised and the opportunities presented by this exciting new space are becoming more evident. Positioned between the Chapel and Lawrie Street, the main aim of the garden is to provide a quiet, restful space for prayer and reflection in beautiful surrounds. A stepped seating area will be used to speak to groups of students spread around the space to nurture their spiritual development and on occasions, group activities. A stream through the centre of the space, varied plantings, multiple seating areas and winding paths will create a tranquil journey for people of all backgrounds to nurture their spiritual self. The Eco Squad will be involved with the plantings and ongoing maintenance of the garden. Construction is expected to begin this term and completed in Term 4 this year.

Mr Robert Dempsey, Director of Mission

YEARS 7-9 LEARNING AND WELLBEING CHARACTER STRENGTH FOCUS

Week 2: Leadership

Over the past two years, in COVID times, our vocabulary has expanded. We have heard the words unprecedented, cluster, genomics, circuit breaker and most recently pivot used in this new context.  On this new horizon, we find ourselves having to reinvent a current normal, regularly, regardless of the field in which we work.

This last week, as teachers and support staff, we found ourselves working online for the first time this year and the second time ever, and to be honest, it was wonderful to see how we can ‘pivot’ and make such a drastic change work together, for everyone concerned. It’s a testament to the leadership we have and our ability to adapt and change, and to care for each other; staff, students and families, together.

In times of challenge, like the ones we are living, we instinctively look to leaders to light the path ahead of us towards a resolution. Sometimes we step up and join in the rally in whatever way we can, and it’s true that we can all lead in different ways; a badge or title is not critical.

But it is true that leadership is critical in times of change or challenge. Where would we be without it? Each day as I have watched the Premier’s briefing, I have reflected on the composure of the Premier, the Chief Public Health Officer and the Commissioner of Police. I wondered how they manage to find the presence to most probably sleep so little and still remain calm, collected and clear. I am grateful for their leadership and their decision making that has kept us safe. Despite the fact that I don’t know them personally, I have felt connected to them, as I think most of us have, perhaps in part due to their style of leadership.

While there are many different models of leadership, relationships are a source of strength and connection and also enable visions to become reality. At a recent PESA (Positive Education Schools Association) conference, one of the presenters, Daniela Falecki, discussed the work of Jane Dutton, one of the editors of the book, How to be a positive leader. Small Actions Big Impact (2014), and her chapter on High Quality Connections (HQC).

 “In HQCs, people feel attuned to one another and experience a sense of worth and value. HQCs are critical building blocks for bringing out the best in people and organisations. Leaders can bring out the best in themselves and others by building more high- quality connections.”

Dutton outlines four pathways to achieving High Quality Connections. The ideas that follow are a composite of the discussion presented by Falecki and excerpts from the text itself:

  1. Respectful engagement– an awareness of the needs of others and responding with empathy and appreciation; respectfully engaging another person is accomplished through behaviors that show that the person exists and is important in the eyes of another.   “I see you”
  2. Task enabling: doing things that help others, offering support, facilitating the success of others and sharing resources. The other person can sense our interpersonal investment and desire to help. Accordingly, task enabling is also about seeking feedback about whether the help provided meets the need. “What can I do to help?”
  3. Trust: relying on others to do what they say they will do, being open to vulnerability, ensuring that you do what you say you will, letting go of micromanagement. Trusting means being vulnerable and relying on another person to follow through on their commitments. “I’m here with you.”
  4. Play: encouraging innovation and creativity, engaging in team building activities, celebrating milestones, theme-based meetings. Moments of play are moments of exploration and interaction, often building new knowledge and broadening action possibilities. They frequently evoke positive emotions, which open people up to new and generative ways of interacting. Play at work is often associated with innovation and creativity because it fosters new knowledge and develops cognitive skills. “I enjoy being with you.”

Leaders’ actions towards others during times of challenge leave an indelible impression of appropriate and desired ways of interrelating that last far beyond the immediate circumstances. Bringing out the best in ourselves and in other people, means paying attention to and investing in, the quality of the social fabric in which we live and work. The quality of the social fabric is built one interaction at a time. When we make these interactions high quality, we build personal strength, and we also strengthen and enrich the fabric that sustains, grows, and facilitates others.

Leading with High Quality Connections is an opportunity to build all of our wellbeing, whether we are at home, school or work. The many short, interactions with people during our day can be likened to vitamins that strengthen us!

It’s a little like Maya Angelou said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”

Despite the physical distance that may separate us at times in our current context, our experience shows us that these connections can still be made successfully, even if we don’t know each other well at all. This results in improved physical and mental health, collective efficacy and thinking capacity, amongst other positive ‘knock-on’ effects.

Strong relationships sit at the core of Lasallian tradition, and High Quality Connections facilitated by leaders, both with and without a title or badge, can also help us to work towards the College Vision and Mission of being known, valued and cared for and being the leaders and learners of the world.

Have a safe and healthy Week 2!

Mrs Tonia Carfora, Year 7-9 Learning and Wellbeing Initiatives Leader

Source: Dutton JE and Spreitzer GM (editors) (2014) How to be a positive leader. Small Actions Big Impact.

 

 

Careers and VET Services

Careers and VET

YEAR 10 AND YEAR 11 STUDENTS – TERM 3 SUBJECT SELECTION

At the end of Term 2, Year 10 and 11 students heard about the many subjects available to them in 2022 at St Michael’s College. In Term 3, students will be asked to submit a list of subjects they wish to study next year. In preparation for this, Year 10 students will review their subject choices within the PLP program.

This year, the College has made regular contributions and updates to the Careers and Vet Portal (which is accessible on SEQTA by clicking on the black and green tile). It is the gateway to answering most career questions. Around Week 4, students will receive hardcopies of resources to aid in the process as well as attend extra assemblies outlining the 2022 subject selection process. In terms of the additional support of Career Counselling, we invite students who still require assistance to book in for a 30-minute time slot with one of the Career Counsellors (Ms Coorey or Mr Vizaniaris in the LEC). There is a pre-appointment form to fill in before the first appointment to ensure students are well prepared to make the most of this time (this will be available via the front desk in the LEC when booking an appointment).

Parents/caregivers are also welcome to attend at the scheduled time. The subject selection process culminates in a subject counselling session where students and their parents/caregivers participate in/attend a ten-minute review/discussion of their subject choices to finalise selections (to be confirmed – this session may be online).

At this stage, most students wait to receive their package of materials and attend the subject selection assemblies and respective parent evenings, so they have a more informed understanding of what is required. Career appointments are about drilling down to fine detail, rather than having the process explained in advance. We welcome any questions via email: rose.coorey@smc.sa.edu.au and anthony.vizaniaris@smc.sa.edu.au. For Vocational Education Training (VET) questions, please contact kevin.woolford@smc.sa.edu.au.

THINKING OUTSIDE THE SQUARE

As students identify areas of interest, it is best to then look at what subjects they will study in their courses at TAFESA or University as we want students to be successful in their desired pathway. Students can often research what subjects they will undertake in courses at Uni/TAFE level, making it clear what subjects they need to study in Year 11 and 12 to best prepare, and possibly meet the requirements for entry into these courses.

We always encourage students to consider non-University pathways, given the demands of the future SA job market. The Naval Shipbuilding College has recently released a great video on ‘Trade Careers in Shipbuilding ‘, there is a much more diverse range of jobs than you may think. Click here to view the video.

During the holidays we saw, heard and interacted with exhibits at the new Australian Space Discovery Centre at Lot 14 on North Terrace, Adelaide. We are inspired to see all the opportunities that will be emerging here in SA. Click here for more information.

YEAR 12 UPDATE

CAREERS PRESENTATION
We will be presenting to Year 12 students interested in a University or TAFESA pathway in 2022 on the afternoon of Monday 9 August. For students at VET on that day, please email Ms Coorey or Mr Vizaniaris to arrange a catch-up session.

TAFE APPLICATIONS
The applications for TAFESA open on Monday 2 August. Some courses are very competitive during the application cycle (i.e. more applications than places), and the offers are based on the date of application. Last year, Nursing was full in the first two weeks. Therefore, any student interested in applying for a TAFESA course, can book in with one of the counsellors from 2 August to get an application submitted ASAP.  TAFESA: https://www.tafesa.edu.au/

We again remind students that completing a degree course at University does not necessarily guarantee you success. There are many pathways at TAFESA that lead to great jobs and have a lower HECS debt. Please watch this video for further information.

YEAR 12 PARENT SATAC TERTIARY PATHWAYS EVENING
The College is currently filming the SATAC Tertiary presentation for Monday evening 2 August, and a link will be sent out later next week. This video presentation is only relevant if your son/daughter is interested in TAFESA or a University pathway in 2022. The more detailed PowerPoint that underpins the video presentation will be available on the SEQTA Careers and VET Portal later next week.

YEAR 12 GAP YEAR PROGRAMS 2022
We remind Year 12 students who wish to apply for a 2021 GAP year program, such as Camp America, that early bird application discounts close soon: https://www.campamerica.com.au/ . Families are reminded to ensure that you check if you can get travel insurance that will cover pandemic expenses before paying any deposits for these programs. Families will also want to check refund policies (given the uncertainty around the world at the moment).

TERTIARY INFORMATION RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES;

FLINDERS UNIVERSITY

You can book in a time for a Flinders Careers Advisor to phone you back and discuss options at Flinders University. Please click this link Alternatively, https://www.flinders.edu.au/study/pathways

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Future Student Enquiries
Call: (08) 8302 2376
Make an enquiry: unisa.edu.au/enquire
Book an appointment: Level 1, 101 Currie Street, Adelaide SA 5000

UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE

Go to: https://future.ask.adelaide.edu.au/. You can email, book a one-on-one appointment with an advisor, or chat live.

TAFESA:

TAFE SA free call: 1800 882 661

UNIVERSITY OPEN DAYS

During mid-August there will also be University Open Days where students and families can check in “virtually” and in person (to be confirmed) at South Australian universities. To participate in these events, you need to register in advance.

UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE OPEN DAYS

There will be an online Open Day on 11 August from 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Registration is required ASAP.
There will be an in person (to be confirmed) Open Day on Sunday 15 August. Registration is required ASAP.
There are timetabled talks and other activities. Click here for more information.

UNIVERSITY OF SA OPEN DAYS

Book in ASAP for the online Open Day on 2 August or in person (to be confirmed) Sunday 15 August at the City East/ West Campus. Click here for more information. There are many other events in person and online over the month of August. You will need to register in advance for all. They are covering a variety of courses and all the different UniSA Campuses. Click here

FLINDERS UNIVERSITY OPEN DAYS

Flinders have produced a link as to how to prepare to make the most of Open Days: Click here. Flinders will be stretching out their in-person and virtual online Open Days over Friday and Saturday, 13 to 14 August. There will be over 60 video presentations, virtual and in-person campus tours and prizes to be won. You are encourage to register as soon as possible by clicking here.

TORRENS UNIVERSITY OPEN DAYS

Virtual Open Day
Date: Tuesday 17 August 2021
Time: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm (AEST)
Register: Click here

CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OPEN DAYS

Central Queensland University has a campus here in Adelaide and offers interesting courses like Bachelor of Accident Forensics. Their interactive virtual Open Day us on Saturday 31 July. Click here for more information.

CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY OPEN DAYS

Rolling virtual open events will be held from Monday 6 September. Click here for more information.

TAXATION

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) have just released a new YouTube video explaining why we pay tax and the new MyTax portal accessible through your MyGov Account. It is great viewing for all our students:

A reminder that all Year 12 students will need a Tax File Number (TFN) by the time they are ready to enrol in tertiary courses in 2022, and of course all students who secure a part time job will need a TFN. Given there is a time lag in getting a TFN, we encourage students to begin the application process on the ATO website ASAP. It is free to apply for a TFN. Please click here.

WORK EXPERIENCE TERM 3 HOLIDAY GUIDELINES YEAR 11 AND YEAR 12 STUDENTS
  • The next scheduled week for Work Experience is during the first week of Term 3 holidays, Monday 27 September to Friday 1 October.
  • Students must return the completed Workplace Learning Agreement Form and the Work, Health & Safety Checklist to Ms Tidd tidd@smc.sa.edu.au in the LEC by Week 7 (Thursday 2 September).
  • Students will then be booked in for a risk assessment with Mr Vizaniaris once the completed forms have been returned. This must take place prior to the student undertaking the placement.
  • A work experience placement cannot be authorised or covered by the College’s insurance unless all paperwork and preparation has been completed prior to the placement.
  • Work Experience students who do not meet the week 7 deadline this term may have to rearrange their placement for the allocated weeks in Term 4, weeks 7 and 8.
  • No placements can be authorised after 3 December 2021, so if students need to meet VET requirements, it should be a priority to complete the required hours in the Term 3 holiday period.
  • Please contact Mr Vizaniaris if you have any questions: anthony.vizaniaris@smc.sa.edu.au
WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITY

Introduction to STEM Careers at DSTG work experience placement with Defence Science and Technology Group at Edinburgh on 16-20 August 2021, Ref no: WEP/03582/21.

Students can apply for this via the Defence Work Experience Program website link below. There are 10 spots for students available in this program. Please see – Jobs List – Defence Work Experience (nga.net.au)

WORK EXPERIENCE IN SA GOVERNMENT

Please note that given the current SA Government restrictions, students are not authorised to undertake any work experience placements until further notice. For those students who had organised to go this week, new dates will need to be re-negotiated with your provider if necessary. Any re-negotiated dates must be communicated to Mr Vizaniaris prior to the placement taking place so that the provider can be contacted for confirmation and so all paperwork reflects the new dates, which is a requirement for students to be covered by the College’s insurance during placement.

All students who completed their placements during the school holidays are reminded to return their completed Workplace Induction Sheet and Employer Feedback Form to Ms Tidd (tidd@smc.sa.edu.au)  upon our return to school.

Ms Rose Coorey and Mr Anthony Vizaniaris, Careers Counsellors

Co-curricular

Co-curricular

CO-CURRICULAR SPORT

All co-curricular sport training will recommence from Monday 2 August. Games will be confirmed during Week 3, please keep an eye on your emails and the Daily Notices in SEQTA.

Mr Jordan Young, Secondary Co-curricular Coordinator and Mrs Leanne Burton, Girls Co-curricular Officer

SAPSASA NETBALL

Congratulations to the following Year 7 girls who played in the SAPSASA Airport District team in Term 2. This team played in Division 1 and were undefeated over the three days of the carnival. An amazing effort, well done girls!

Ruby Lynch (7GPC-01)

Ava Mackenzie (7GPC-02)

Jasmine McCaffery (7GPC-03)

Jemma Mutton (7GPC-01)

May Northcott (7GPC-01)

Mrs Leanne Burton, Girls Co-curricular Officer