Newsletter | Hear the Call of Jerusalem: widen your horizons

Last week at our Term 3 assembly, we recognised students who had achieved very high academic results across each of their Semester 1 subjects. To these students, I once again extend my congratulations. Before presenting them with their certificates I shared the following reflections with all students about the notion of success and how it might be defined.

Some may consider success to be power, fame or personal wealth. While these measures may suggest that you have succeeded, we know that not all of us will become famous or super rich. But that doesn’t mean we are unsuccessful. All of us will experience success if we define it as something more personal and relevant to who we are.

For me, it’s about commitment towards achieving your personal best. It can also be about learning from your mistakes so that next time you grow stronger in your understanding. And ultimately, it’s the satisfaction you gain from knowing that you persevered, especially in times of challenge. This Sunday marks the conclusion of the 2024 Paris Olympics, an event where success will undoubtedly be measured by the number of medals each country has won. But not every athlete will have won a medal.

I also wonder if we looked at the Olympics as a metaphor for life, what might it highlight? To explore this question, I shared with students an interview with Gabriela Andersen-Schiess who finished 37th in the inaugural women's Olympic marathon at the 1984 Los Angeles games. During the video. we see her finish the race under extraordinary circumstances. Her struggle as she entered the stadium for the final lap was considered life threatening. But she was determined to finish, to complete the race and to achieve her goal. Her personal best did not result in a medal but in the knowledge and self-respect that she tried her hardest.

I also shared a few words from the creative director who designed the opening ceremony for this year’s Olympics. He said he was trying to emphasise "peace, respect and diversity". He wanted to capture a world "at the crossroads of history — a world where living together is emerging: the possibility of an ‘us' “. He said, “athletes and spectators come divided by national colours and competition but upon arrival, immediately blend into one”.

As a metaphor for life, the example of an athlete who tries exceptionally hard to finish what they started, that’s success.

As an example of how those around Andersen-Schiess encouraged her to finish and supported her when she was at her very lowest point, that is an example of success.

As an event that strives to overcome differences that exist in our world and celebrates diversity, inclusion and personal bests, I believe that is a model for life.

I also invited students to reflect on what they might try to do for the remainder of this year to achieve their personal best and encourage those around them to do the same.

To not give up, especially when it becomes hard.

To reach out for help when they need it or reach out to family members, friends, peers when they need support.

To look beyond their own life and as our 2024 College theme invites; to expand their horizons and live in a manner that seeks peace and justice and is always underpinned by the care they show to those around them.

I think we are all capable of success when we define it in these terms.

I hope all members of our school community enjoy this fortnight’s newsletter which once again celebrates how our students learn and embrace life at Sion. In particular we continue to encourage our Year 12 students to strive to achieve their best as they begin the last stages of their time at Sion.

With every blessing for the fortnight ahead.

Tina Apostolopoulos

It has been a very busy past two weeks in the faith life of the College. As mentioned in our last newsletter, the Liturgy Team were planning a lunchtime scripture-based dialogue session called the Mustard Seeds, which took place on Tuesday 30 July.

Emma G our Liturgy Captain reflects:

Our first Mustard Seeds Dialogue Session on Tuesday was an insightful, enriching and fun experience for all who attended! We started off the session playing some youth-group style games and sharing some snacks before commencing our faith dialogue. Students shared their personal faith experiences, reflecting on questions such as, 'What does being a Christian mean to you personally?' and 'If you could ask God one question, what would it be?'. It was so interesting to hear about the unique faith experience of each student.

As a group, we then read the scripture passage titled 'The Parable of the Mustard Seed' (Matthew 13:31-32), and chatted about the message it provides. My biggest takeaway from this activity was that each individual has the ability to grow in their faith, no matter where they are in life. I absolutely loved getting to know this group of students more, and discussing our faith together. Emma G (12 Blue)

Last Friday 2 August, our Year 7 students gathered at St Paul's Retreat Centre in Wantirna South for their very first retreat day. The theme of the retreat was Making Our Mark at Sion Through Positive Action and throughout the course of the day the students reflected on ways that they can embrace the opportunities that are given to them at the College to support others and ways they can be agents for change through their words and actions. The celebration of the Mass was a lovely way to end the day.

Also, as a part of the retreat, Sr Mary Reaburn nds, spent time with the students talking to them about the charism of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, the significance of the Bible and ways it can enrich our lives, interfaith dialogue and her work. Sr May also spoke about the positive impact that the College community will make through our fundraising efforts for the students we will be supporting and how the opportunity for education can have a significant impact not only on their lives but that of their families and their communities as well. Our students were certainly able to gain a much better understanding of the challenges that these students and their families face and how our support through our fundraising on Sion Day will make a real difference.

Speaking of which, Madeline S (12 Blue), our Social Justice Captain, officially launched our Sion Day fundraising for the two Scholarship programs which we are supporting, at our College Assembly last week. Sion Day tickets are available to purchase through Trybooking until Wednesday 14 August. They are $12 and allows students to wear casual clothes on the day and provides them with a BBQ sausage (dietary requirements will be catered for) and a drink.

New to 2024 are Carnival Tokens which will be used instead of cash at each of the stalls. Each token is valued at $1 and will need to be purchased using credit/ debit card or cash, prior to Sion Day at recess and lunchtime in Student Reception on the following dates:

Years 7 and 8: Monday 12 August
Years 9 and 10: Tuesday 13 August
Years 11 and 12: Wednesday 14 August
All Year levels: Thursday 15 August

Tokens will also be able to be purchased on Sion Day.

We are looking forward to celebrating this very special day.

Wishing all members of the College community many blessings.

During Pastoral, last week, the Year 10s commenced our Semester 2 series of seminars that focus on: Study habits, Respectful relationships, Problem solving, Facing challenges, Seeking and utilising feedback, Gratitude and developing our intrinsic self. Each seminar aims to challenge the way our Year 10 students think, to disrupt what they know and challenge them to think differently moving forward. Semester 1 has seen many positives from our Year 10 cohort and Semester 2 aims to see continued improvement in all areas of development.

Ballroom Dancing

The students participating in our Ballroom program (both Sion and Whitefriars) are doing amazingly well. So far we have had five sessions and the students have learned the Tango, Salsa and the Rumba just to name three. What is also exceptionally pleasing to see is how the students are developing a good rapport with each other. Conversations are starting to flow with a little more ease and more of the dancing is occurring by looking at each other, rather than looking at our feet and counting.

In the next few weeks we are heading off to Whitefriars College (Monday 12 August). Students are to ensure they arrive at Whitefriars by 4.00 pm. Then on Thursday 15 August we head off to St John’s in Mitcham for a 4.00 pm start.

While there is some work still to be done, however, our presentation evening (Thursday 5 September at Box Hill Town Hall) is shaping up to be a fantastic example of what our Year 10s can achieve.

Duke of Edinburgh Awards Evening

This coming Wednesday evening (Wednesday 14 August in the Miriam Theatre, commencing at 7.00 pm) we are very much looking forward to celebrating with the 81 students and families who have successfully obtained the Duke of Edinburgh - Bronze award. This is an achievement well worth celebrating. If parents/carers have not done so already, I ask you to ensure that you have replied to our EdSmart broadcast in relation to your ability to attend. I ask that our students are in full winter academic uniform for this occasion.

What I’d like you to know…

This week's section focuses on feedback we received from our Year 10 students on the importance that you play (the amazing parents and carers that you all are) in their educational journey. Both the emotional and academic journey:

Students see and feel the support that their parents and carers are giving them:

91.3% of our Year 10 students see that their parents will discuss what acceptable behaviour looks like
90.4% of our Year 10 students feel accepted for who they are at home
90.4% of our Year 10 students reported that their parents/carers show an interest in what they are studying at school
79.8% of our Year 10 students have a parent/ carer they can talk to about their feelings and how to cope with challenges.

Parents/carers play such a pivotal role in the educational and developmental pathway (and I know you are all aware of this) and the data above demonstrates the overwhelming support your daughter is seeing and feeling from you. I hope this data encourages you to continue all that you are doing.

I’d like to share some additional thoughts from clinical psychologist Andrew Fuller who talks about the opportunity of supporting our young people by overcoming the fear of failure, by viewing all learning opportunities to discover what we are good at and then applying this to other areas of our lives. He also talks about the importance of parents showing passion about their child’s learning. The last item I’d like to share from Andrew is around student progress meetings (which are not far away) where parents/carers, teachers and students can build upon the strengths developed in previous learnings and then look forward to what future learnings and success might look like.

STEAM Spotlight

Year 12 Making and Exhibiting

Year 12 Making and Exhibiting students have been busy working on their final projects. Mary S (12 Gold) reflects.

During the process of working on my final project in Making and Exhibiting, I have used problem-solving skills to expand my use of materials and techniques to develop my best work. My aim for my final piece is to create a French-inspired Toile De Jouy print, and throughout the year, I have trialled and refined my techniques to create a stencil for screen printing onto fabric.

Initially, I experimented with gel plate printing, which involved manually cutting out each design and hand-printing each symbol onto the fabric. However, this resulted in large, imperfect motifs. Expanding on this for my final project, I incorporated different technologies to assist me, particularly using Adobe Illustrator by scanning and transferring my sketches, which I can then clean up the edges and create a seamless pattern. I then exported this pattern to a Brother Scan & Cut machine, which has a fine blade capable of cutting out small, detailed silhouettes. Using trial and error, I altered the scale and silhouettes of my design to create the most precise stencil, where I can now manually screen print onto my fabric, resulting in a fine, detailed Toile de Jouy inspired print. Mary S (12 Gold)

Media - Excursion to ACMI
The VCE Media Students visited ACMI on a recent excursion and explored two exhibitions The Story of The Moving Image and Beings.

The Story of the Moving Image features five distinct sections from the major moments in moving image history, including the origins and future of cinema, production design and the creative process, Australian culture and stories, the rise of video games, and how screens inform, influence and empower us.

The Beings installation is projected larger than life, Universal Everything’s parade of fantastical creatures morph in real-time, responding in unique ways with each interaction.

Between the two exhibitions we experienced the one that left an impact on me the most was Beings by Universal Everything. As you walked through this exhibition it was both interactive whilst being immersive. The interactive art pieces use body tracking technology to mirror your movements. These figures were made of varying textures, which affected the type of movement it made and colours. The piece from this exhibition that I liked the most was Tribes. It displays people from a birdseye view and demonstrates a study on how humans act in mass groups. From afar individuals can be seen walking in mass groups, making patterns and connections but when close up you can see the intricate movement of each person in the shared environment. As well as imagery, sound was very prominent throughout all pieces. In Tribes, Tribal chanting was used to connect us back to our past and demonstrate that our behaviours are deeply rooted. Bianca Z (11 Blue)

Last Friday, our VCE French students had the exciting opportunity to participate in a conversation as part of the prestigious Alliance Française “Berthe Mouchette Competition”. This competition required students to demonstrate their proficiency in French by maintaining a 10-minute conversation on both general topics and a specific topic of their choice.

The assessment focused on their ability to engage in dialogue, showcasing not only their linguistic skills but also their ability to express themselves confidently in French. Our students rose to the challenge, and we are proud of all our students who participated and look forward to seeing their continued growth in the French language.

We eagerly await the results of the competition, which will be announced later this term.

One of our Year 12 students, who took part in the competition, wishes to share her experiences with us:

Participating in the Alliance Française French competition on Friday was a valuable experience for us all, and a fantastic way to prepare ourselves for the end of year oral examination. Alongside gaining an insight into the structure of the oral exam, we were also lucky enough to talk with a native French speaker, enabling us to further develop our language skills. Emma G (12 Blue)

USA Partnership Program

We are pleased to announce that our recent student exchange program with our sister school in Kansas, USA was a great success. The visiting students and their host sisters thoroughly enjoyed their time together, creating lasting memories and friendships. The program concluded last week, and it was a touching moment as our visitors departed. Both the visiting students and their host families were quite sad to say goodbye, highlighting the strong bonds that were formed during their stay.

We are now eagerly looking forward to the next stage of the program, when our students will have the opportunity to visit their new friends in USA from December 2024 – January 2025. This upcoming visit promises to further strengthen our connection with our sister school and provide our students with invaluable cultural experiences.

Prior to their departure, some of our new friends wrote a few reflections on their time with us, of which I would like to share.

The Sion exchange program has truly been a once-in-a lifetime experience. The memories I have made and the opportunities on this trip will be ones that I will remember my whole life. All the Australians were so welcoming, and my family treated me as I was their own. I have grown even closer to my fellow Americans, and we have all shared one amazing, unique, program together and I am very thankful for that. I loved learning about the similarities and differences between Aussies and Americans by fully immersing myself in the Australian culture. I am forever grateful for the bonds, memories, opportunities, friendships that the exchange gave me, and I can’t wait to show Bella around Kansas City and hopefully provide her with an amazing experience as well. Charlotte Z

Thank you so much for having us, it’s been an amazing home away from home experience. I didn’t know what to expect before coming but it exceeded my expectations in every way possible. A huge thank you to my host family and sister, Mrs Apostolopoulos and all the teachers who allowed us to join in their lives for this short snippet of time. Georgia G

I absolutely love my host sister and family and had an amazing time with them. I can’t wait until she comes to Kansas. The school experience was wonderful, all the excursions were amazing, fun and educational and it was so exciting to attend the Formal with Tarlissa. Everything was perfect and so fun to experience with my fellow classmates. Molly B

ACC Inaugural Netball Tournament

Whitefriars and Our Lady of Sion College teamed up to compete in the Associated Catholic College (ACC) Inaugural Netball Tournament. ACC schools invited their sister schools to participate in mixed netball. In the first half only a maximum of three boys were allowed on the court, second half it flipped and only a maximum of three girls were allowed on the court. Our students were great in upskilling the Whitefriars students that had limited experience in Netball, improving significantly in each match. Following undefeated runs by both our A and B teams, we qualified for the Grand Final in each division. The A team were rewarded premiers defeating Salesian/Sacred Heart Oakleigh in the Grand Final. The B team went down to St Joseph's FTG/Mater Christi in a high standard match. Charlotte M (10 Blue) our Netball Captain provides an insight to the day.

Reflection from Netball Captains Charlotte M (10 Blue) and Meg L (9 Silver)

Last Wednesday, our school participated in an exciting mixed netball tournament hosted by our brother school, Whitefriars College, as part of the ACC to strengthen the connection between ACC member schools and their partner girls schools. Both our A and B teams showcased outstanding performances throughout the day.

The A team played exceptionally well, winning the grand final convincingly and demonstrating excellent teamwork and skill. The B team also performed exceptionally well, remaining undefeated all day until the grand final. Despite their best efforts, they narrowly lost to Matar Christi and St. Joseph's. Their journey to the grand final was impressive and highlighted their determination.

Overall, it was a day filled with teamwork, and memorable moments. Congratulations to both our A and B teams for their exceptional performances and thank you to Whitefriars College for hosting this fantastic event. We look forward to more competitions in the future. Charlotte M (10 Blue) and Meg L (9 Silver)

Individual Student Achievement

Congratulations to Zara T (10 Blue) on recently becoming the National Champion in Junior Teams Kata at the 50th Australian Karate National Championships. She also won silver for the female Junior Division and bronze in the female Senior Division which is open age. Well done Zara on this outstanding achievement!

St Francis Xavier Hooptime Coaching

Ten aspiring coaches led Year 3 and 4 St Francis Xavier (SFX) teams at the Hooptime. A big thank you to Stacey McCabe (SFX PE & Sport Coordinator) and her team to get this initiative up and running. This is a pathway to coach Junior GSV teams and prepare students to begin their coaching journey at club level. Christina A (10 Gold) recounts the experience below as one of the ten intermediate students selected.

On Thursday 1 of August, myself and 9 other Sion students were given the opportunity to coach some primary school students from St Francis Xavier for their Hooptime Tournament. Sion students were paired up together and allocated a team to coach throughout the day. I was able to engage with young learners and assist in their development. This experience taught me the importance of patience, clear communication, and adaptability. One highlight was coaching my team through a series of team building exercises. Initially, they were hesitant and unsure, but with encouragement and guidance, they gradually built confidence and worked together effectively. Seeing their progress and enthusiasm was incredibly fulfilling. It was amazing to witness the students' growth not only in their skills but also in their social interactions and teamwork. Overall, coaching SFX students has been an enlightening and inspiring experience, and we hope to do it again in the future! Christina A (10 Gold)

GSV Representative Matches Recap

Congratulations to Ava M (10 Blue) and Olivia M (10 Blue) for representing the GSV in Netball and Katie D (10 Purple) in Soccer. Both GSV teams took home the win against AGSV in competitive matches. Final scores and GSV match reports are below:

GSV Rep Netball

The GSV team looked strong from the start, quickly establishing a 4-goal lead at quarter time. Led by captains Leila (Mentone) and Camille (St Catherine’s), GSV displayed impressive skill and teamwork, gelling seamlessly as a team throughout the match, building on their lead in each quarter to finish with a final score of:

GSV 62 def AGSV 49

GSV Rep Soccer

AGSV took an early lead, scoring two quick goals in the opening minutes. The GSV team regrouped, leading to a fantastic goal from Elena (Fintona), assisted by Alessia (MLC) to bring the halftime score to 1-2. In the second half, Gracie (Mentone) scored her first of two goals, set up brilliantly by a corner from Erika (OLMC). Then with ten minutes left, Gracie scored the match winning goal, assisted by Anna (Sacré Cœur). Final score:

GSV 3 def AGSV 2

Natayla B (12 Purple) has been selected to represent the GSV in Water Polo on Friday 11 October at Caulfield Grammar School (Caulfield).

Aerobics

Our Lady of Sion College Aerobics teams flew to Adelaide this morning and are currently preparing for the Schoolaerobics National Championships tomorrow (Saturday 10 August) at Adelaide Entertainment Centre. The squad proudly celebrated the achievement wearing squad hoodies this week in the lead up to what will be a memorable experience for students and coaches. Let’s go Sion!

GSV Track and Field Prelims – Thursday 15 August

Very excited to watch our students compete at Lakeside Stadium on Thursday 15 August! Strong numbers at the training meets on the past three Tuesday afternoons have provided a good base to work from. As the host school a number of students will be allocated student roles to ensure the event runs smoothly. Our Track and Field Captains (Erin M 10 Blue, Maisy B 11 Gold and Abbey H 12 White) will provide a recap in the next newsletter edition.

Promoting Positive Body Image

As we all know, teenagers face immense pressure from media, peers, and even themselves to meet certain beauty standards. As parents, it’s our role to support our teens in developing a positive body image and healthy self-esteem. Here are some tips families may find helpful:

Be mindful of the language you use at home: Avoid making negative comments about your own or others' bodies. Model positive behaviour by speaking kindly about yourself and others, promoting a culture of self-acceptance.
Encourage your teen to engage in physical activities they enjoy: Whether it's dancing, swimming, or playing a sport, physical activity can boost their mood, confidence, and body appreciation. Emphasise having fun, feeling good and showing gratitude for their body, rather than achieving a certain look.
Critically discuss social media: Help your teen understand that images on social media are often edited and don’t represent reality. Encourage them to follow body-positive influencers who promote diverse and realistic body types.
Be attentive and validate their concerns: Create an environment where your teen feels comfortable discussing their feelings and concerns. Listen without judgment, be patient, and offer reassurance and support. Acknowledge that puberty brings rapid and difficult changes, which can feel overwhelming.
Focus on body functionality over appearance: Emphasise what their bodies can do and how food nourishes them. Praise your teen for their personal qualities, skills, talents, and efforts, rather than their appearance. This helps them value themselves beyond physical looks.
Avoid labelling foods as 'good' or 'bad': Practice food neutrality, focussing on nourishment, fuel, and paying attention to our bodily cues.
Take a body positive or body neutral stance: Body positivity emphasises loving one’s body regardless of its appearance, while body neutrality focuses on body function over appearance, which can be helpful for teens struggling with body image issues. Choose the approach that best suits you and your teen’s needs. You can learn more about body positivity and body neutrality here.

Newsletter | Hear the Call of Jerusalem: widen your horizons

Important Dates

What's On

From the Principal

Principal's Message

From the Deputy Principals

Deputy Principal Faith and Mission – Anna Gionfriddo

Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching – Allison Stott

Beyond the Horizons

Subject Selection

7-10 Student Progress Meetings

Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing – Christine Kralj

Join Us for a Special Webinar: "Championing Neurodiversity" with Dr Justin Coulson

In Remembrance

Year Level News

Year 12 – Leanne Anderson, Wellbeing and Growth Leader

Year 11 – Beth Amos, Wellbeing and Growth Leader

Year 10 – Adam Rieusset, Wellbeing and Growth Leader

Ballroom Dancing

Duke of Edinburgh Awards Evening

What I’d like you to know…

Year 9 – Jennifer Tilley, Wellbeing and Growth Leader

Year 8 – Chris Wilkes, Wellbeing and Growth Leader

Year 7 – Stephanie Jones, Wellbeing and Growth Leader

Learning Area News

Arts – Natasha Borg, Learning Leader

STEAM Spotlight

Science and Engineering Challenge – Chrizelle Cortina, Mathematics and Science Teacher

Science and Engineering Challenge

Student Reflection

Ayin – Rebecca Bennett, 7 – 10 Discovery Learning Leader

Year 8 Beyond the Horizon Program

Languages – Gail Amato, Learning Leader

USA Partnership Program

Co-curricular News

Music – Martin Macaulay, Head of Music

Sion Jazz groups grab GOLD at VSMF!

Women In Jazz Concert

Sion First – Year 6 Music Program Concert

Careers and Pathways – Brooke O'Hara, Coordinator

Sport – Liam Cox, Head of Sport

ACC Inaugural Netball Tournament

Individual Student Achievement

St Francis Xavier Hooptime Coaching

GSV Representative Matches Recap

Aerobics

GSV Track and Field Prelims – Thursday 15 August

Social Justice – Lucy Miotello, Coordinator

St Vincent De Paul Schools Conference

Environment Team - Rebecca Bennett, Coordinator

Container Deposit Collection Drop Off

Parent News

College Psychologist – Claire Jenkins

Promoting Positive Body Image

St Francis Xavier - Encounter

Important Dates

From the Principal

From the Deputy Principals

Year Level News

Learning Area News

Co-curricular News

Parent News

Important Dates

From the Principal

From the Deputy Principals

Year Level News

Learning Area News

Co-curricular News

Parent News

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