Newsletter | Hear the Call of Jerusalem: widen your horizons

Monday 9 September
VCE Unit 4 Music Recital, 7.00 pm, Miriam Theatre
Staff versus students Theatresports (lunchtime, Miriam Theatre)

Tuesday 10 September
Day of Dialogue

Wednesday 11 September
Whitefriars versus Our Lady of Sion College Netball Game (lunchtime)
Tuning into Teens Parent Forum, 7.00 pm–8.30 pm

Thursday 12 September
RUOK? Day
Herald Sun Shield – Senior Girls Grand Final

Monday 16 September
Sports Awards Evening, 7.00 pm, LHC

Tuesday 17 September
2025 Leaders Camp (returning Wednesday 18 September)

Thursday 19 September
Unit 4 Drama Solo Performance Evening, Miriam Theatre

Friday 20 September
Last day of Term 3 – students finish at 1.25 pm

Monday 30 September – Thursday 3 October
VCE Unit 3 / 4 Trial Exams

Monday 7 October
Start of Term 4
VCE Unit 2 Music Recital, 5.00 pm

Thank you

Thank you once again to the many fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers and family friends who joined us for last week’s Significant Men’s Breakfast. We appreciated the time and effort you took to share some food and conversation with us, and to spend some time with our students who invited you. Your presence signalled that our students think very highly of you and what you offer them matters a great deal.

We would all agree that young people need strong role models in their lives to support them to grow and positively develop into adulthood. We hope that our students learn from the significant people in their lives in the following ways:

• How to love and care for others because of the way they have been loved and cared for
• Develop self-respect and respect for others because of the respect they have been shown and the values that we have instilled in them
  
• Enhanced confidence and self-esteem by the way they have been encouraged and supported especially during challenging times
• Honesty and trust by the way we have spoken the truth in love in a world where there are often so many mixed messages
• Hope for the future by the way we have expanded their horizons, shared our experiences and maintained good communication
• To be faith filled young women who are prepared to work for justice and peace in our world because these things matter to us as adults.

RUOK? Day

Next week we will mark RUOK? Day with a number of activities designed to support student and staff wellbeing. Fundamentally our wellbeing is enhanced by the sense of connection we have to others within our communities and families. When we feel included and valued, we are able to face the ups and downs of life because we have people within our lives who we can reach out to knowing they will assist.

The RUOK? website contains many resources to help us build and maintain these connections.

By having regular, meaningful conversations, you build trust and normalise talking about what’s really going on, so when the people in your world find themselves struggling, they know you’re someone they can talk to. https://www.ruok.org.au/

The College is another important source of support through our pastoral structures which include Homeroom teachers and Wellbeing and Growth Leaders, a Director of Pastoral Care and Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing, our Counselling team of educational psychologists and counsellors, and our Years 7 – 12 Pastoral Care program and themed days across the year. Parents/carers are also offered programs such as Tuning into Teens and more recently the Championing Neurodiversity – Happy Families webinar facilitated by Justin Coulson.

Through these opportunities we hope that students and families know that we are committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our students.

Next stage of construction

By now families may have noticed that the landscaping works at the front of the College have commenced. When completed, this next stage will encompass new passive recreation areas for students, separate car parking facilities and new entrances to the College.

I am very excited to share that while there are still a number of construction elements occurring within our new building, we are approaching the final stages of its completion. We are pleased to announce that from now on the building will be referred to as the Ratisbonne Discovery Centre. Fr Theodore Ratisbonne, the founder of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion was a person not dissimilar to our students. In his adolescence he began to ponder the purpose of his life and he tried several career pathways in an attempt to discover who he was. In many ways, we hope this new facility will also help our students discern their passions and interests through the opportunities we envisage for them.

The last fortnight

While we only have two weeks to go before the end of term, things are not slowing down. Recently we celebrated a very successful Year 11 Market Day, Year 11 Retreat, Year 10 Ballroom Dancing finale, GSV Track and Field Finals, Year 8 Friendship Day, Year 9 Day for Girls, ACER Advance Awards Competition, Significant Men’s Breakfast, Indigenous Literacy Day, Loreto House Feast Day, St Vincent de Paul Conference, Victorian Schools Music Festival events, Year 10 L’Chaim Tertiary excursion, VCE COASIT Italian excursion, Junior play rehearsals and participation in the Herald Sun Shield.

At Our Lady of Sion College, we offer a rich array of our co-curricular opportunities because we know how important they are to student learning and wellbeing. We hope our students continue to embrace these valuable opportunities for connection and personal growth.

With every blessing for the fortnight ahead.

Tina Apostolopoulos

This week the Year 11 Students gathered in the beautiful and peaceful surroundings of the Don Bosco Retreat Centre in Lysterfield for their retreat day. After such a busy few weeks, it was wonderful for them to be able to spend time outside of the school environment to reflect, contemplate and to celebrate the Eucharist together.

The focus for the retreat- ‘How can I widen my horizons for justice, peace and love?’, challenged the students to continue to reflect on our 2024 College theme- Hear the Call of Jerusalem: widen your horizons. The workshops throughout the day allowed the students to slow down and take time to pray and meditate with scripture and dialogue with each other about the realities of life for the other and the marginalised in our world. They also explored the dynamics and the relationships in their immediate families and the influences that other significant people have on their lives.

Student reflection:

We really enjoyed our Year 11 Retreat Day. It was a great opportunity to connect with our inner selves and also foster connections with those in our year level. Having the opportunity to reflect on our individual journeys and how scripture and God can guide us to make informed decisions was a special focus for the day as was being able to reflect on what is important in our personal lives and those who are special to us. We very much appreciated being able to step away from the busyness of the school day. Lia C (11 Gold), Zoe F (11 Blue), Hannah G (11 Blue) and Tash N (11 Blue).

Wishing all members of the College community many blessings.

Vocational Major

Last week we were able to announce to our students and staff some changes that will be implemented into the Vocational Major program for 2025. Based on staff and student feedback the main changes include:

• Work experience will be conducted in blocks during the mid year exams for the Year 12 students and both exam blocks for the Year 11 students
• The timetable will apply across five days which will allow students to access one subject from the VCE program. Students will study this subject for S results. The subject will be allocated for them dependent on their interests, learning requirements and the constraints of the timetable
• The students will access different rooms, rather than being in the one classroom for all classes.

These changes will further enhance the breadth of the program that our students will be able to access as well as provide more opportunities for them to mix with their cohort. It will also mean that students will be able to fully engage with the activities of the whole College. As is our normal practice, the VM students themselves, will continue to direct the personalised learning experiences. We think that these changes will be very positive for all students.

The Real State of Beauty

I encourage you to take a moment to read the recently published 2024 Dove The Real State of Beauty report.

While I understand that there is a cosmetic brand linked to the report, it is still an insightful document as it delves into the evolving beauty standards that our children are exposed to, particularly in the digital era. As parents/carers, it is crucial for us to understand the pressures our daughters face so we can better support them in developing a healthy self-image.

One of the report’s most striking findings is that eight out of ten women feel more pressure to meet beauty standards today than they did just eight years ago. This increased pressure is largely fuelled by the overwhelming presence of idealised beauty content online. Alarmingly, nearly 90% of women and girls report exposure to unrealistic beauty standards on social media and other digital platforms.

The impact of these beauty ideals is especially concerning for young girls. The report states that 70% of girls feel they need to change their appearance to conform to these standards, which are often unattainable and artificially enhanced through AI-generated and heavily edited images. This growing trend has led to a significant decline in body confidence and self-esteem among young women, with 60% of girls feeling that these standards negatively affect their mental health.

Dove’s report also points out that while efforts to challenge narrow beauty ideals have made some progress, there is still much work to be done. For instance, 75% of women believe that beauty companies should be more transparent about their use of AI and digital enhancements. In response, Dove has committed to never using AI-generated images in their advertising and has introduced the Real Beauty Prompt Guidelines to promote more authentic and inclusive beauty representations. I will watch with interest to see how they adhere to these self-imposed expectations.

As parents/carers, it is essential that we stay informed about the influences shaping our children’s self-perception. By reading the 2024 Dove report, you should gain insights into the current state of beauty standards and learn how to better support your daughters in navigating these challenges.

Let’s work together to foster an environment where our girls can feel confident and proud of their true selves.

Our particular thoughts and prayers go to Amelia Sloan (Class of 2019), for the recent passing of her father, Peter. Amelia's mother, Jackie, was an active member of our Parents Association holding the position of Treasurer for a number of years. Also, to Jeanelle M (8 Purple) for the passing of her grandmother, Tiana C (9 Gold) for the passing of her grandmother, Carla V (11 Purple) for the passing of her great-grandmother, and Maria H (7 Gold) for the passing of her grandfather.

We remember Amelia, Jackie, Jeanelle, Tiana, Carla, Maria and their families in a special way at this sad time.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and may your perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace, Amen.

I think it is safe to say that our Year 12 students are starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel. It has been another busy week with students completing SACs but it has been wonderful to hear the elation when the girls walk out of the SAC with the realisation that it is the last one for that subject. The final weeks of this term will see the girls finish their Unit 4 assessments and start revision in preparation for the end of year exams.

Amidst the hard work, Loreto Feast Day was celebrated yesterday and again the leadership roles held by our Year 12 students in 2024 will soon be handed over to our current Year 11 students taking up senior leadership roles in 2025. Our 2024 leaders will be acknowledged and thanked in a more formal way, but I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge their efforts and hard work throughout the year.

There is great excitement building for the big netball challenge between some of our Year 12 Sion students and some of the Year 12 students from Whitefriars College. This will take place during lunchtime on Wednesday 11 September. If it is anything like last year the whole school will be gathered in the LHC to cheer our girls on. Let’s hope Sion come out the champions!

As you are aware the girls are also trying to finalise their VTAC applications. If any of the girls require assistance or you as parents/carers have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Wishing our Year 12 students our ongoing encouragement and support as they continue along the journey of completing their secondary schooling.

Last week the Year 11 students completed Lesson 1 for their Respectful Relationships unit, during Pastoral. Throughout this lesson, students had the opportunity to reflect on their lived experiences when it comes to gender, society and culture. We looked at Disney as a case study - reflecting on the stories they consumed as children. We also considered the media they consume, reflecting on the relationships presented in these stories.

We enjoyed talking about and learning how to understand better and manage relationships with others. It was a great opportunity to work with different Homerooms, different people and to engage in discussion in a judgement-free environment. Reema H (11 Red)

Students have been eager to contribute and talk about their lived experiences, views and ideas about the world! Looking ahead we have one more Pastoral lesson for the term, focussing on consent education and where to get help. Parents/carers please refer to the Ed Smart Broadcast on Tuesday 30 July, should you have any questions about the Pastoral program.

This week we participated in the Year 11 Retreat on Tuesday 3 September at the Don Bosco Retreat Centre in Lysterfield. Students worked in small groups to take part in four workshop rotations that call students to consider their faith, and Catholic social teachings and connect with their peers. Meditation focused on connecting with nature and the beauty of silence, an ‘on the couch’ connection activity, exploring the faces of the marginalised, and walking with scripture. We finished the day with mass, led by Father Mark. The students enjoyed the space, the time they had together, and the change of scenery. Thank you to the RE team and Mrs Gionfriddo for such a great day!

This fortnight has been a very busy one for Year 8 students, with Friendship Day taking place on Monday. It was a wonderful celebration of friendship that began with three insightful workshops that focussed on being a good friend to yourself, understanding that friendships can change over time and the importance of setting boundaries in respectful relationships. Please continue these discussions at home and ask about what they took from the day to apply to their friendships moving forward.

The day finished with the much-anticipated year level Cheer and Dance competition. It was wonderful to see what each Homeroom was able to achieve! Whilst the preparation stages can be challenging, all students should be proud of their efforts and the roles they played in their performances...the commitment to practise was exceptional. A big congratulations to 8 Red for their winning Michael Jackson inspired performance!

VCE French Students Shine in the Alliance Française “Berthe Mouchette Competition”

Our VCE French students recently showcased their language skills by participating in the prestigious Alliance Française “Berthe Mouchette Competition.” During the competition, they engaged in a nine minute conversation in French, demonstrating their proficiency in discussing both general topics and a specific subject of their choice. This challenging assessment tested their ability to maintain fluent and coherent dialogue in French.

We are proud to announce that several of our students excelled in this competition, achieving High Distinction and Distinction for their outstanding performances. Congratulations to the following students for their remarkable achievement:

High Distinction

Year 11 – Hannah T (11 Purple)

Year 12 - Caitlin C (12 White)

Distinction

Year 11 - Evangelia C (11 Gold), Pamelia F (11 Silver), Eloise T (11 Silver) and Carla V (11 Purple)

Year 12 – Hayley B (12 Silver) and Emma G (12 Blue)

We congratulate all the students who participated. We are very proud of all their achievements. Thank you to Mr Wilkes and Miss Teicher who assisted the girls in their preparation.

One of our students wishes to share her reflection with us:

Recently, the VCE French students participated in the Berthe Mouchette Competition to improve our conversational skills with an external examiner. It was an incredible opportunity to refine our linguistic skills, and although it was challenging, we were successful, and all spoke for 9 minutes. Although it was a push outside our comfort zone, the chance to converse has given us confidence for the Year 12 oral. The students would like to thank our teachers for their support, as well as the Berthe Mouchette examiner. Pamelia F (11 Silver)

Last Wednesday 4 September was Indigenous Literacy Day. This is a national day that celebrates Indigenous Literacy and the work of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

Indigenous literacy is deeply intertwined with culture, land, and community. Literacy plays a crucial role in helping individuals understand and communicate effectively about the world. However, in remote communities across Australia, the absence of infrastructure such as libraries and bookstores severely limits access to reading materials, adversely affecting the educational achievements of Indigenous children. The Indigenous Literacy Foundation addresses this issue through three key book programs: Book Supply, Book Buzz, and Community Publishing. These programs are designed to improve access to quality resources, including books in First Languages, facilitate the publication of community stories, and support communities and families in leading these initiatives. By doing so, the Foundation ensures that leadership, ownership, and authenticity remain firmly in the hands of community elders and residents.

To promote awareness of Indigenous Literacy Day, each Homeroom received information about the national event, including a fact sheet with key terms and references to First Nations people, as well as the chance to listen to, watch, or read an excerpt from an Indigenous story. During lunchtime, a Book Swap took place in the Piazza, providing students with a wonderful opportunity to exchange books with their peers and engage in discussions about Indigenous literacy and the essential role that literacy plays in effective communication.

Model United Nations Assembly

Recently four of our Year 10 students participated in the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA). This is what they had to say about their experience:

The focus of MUNA was to experience what the United Nations Assembly is like and how the opposing views of different countries negotiate to ensure order remains among nations. MUNA gave us the opportunity to understand the views of different countries and their relations with other countries as well as to explore a range of world issues. Bani K (10 Purple)

MUNA was an opportunity which allowed the delegates (Sion represented France and Indonesia), to develop an understanding of what it is like for the countries in the United Nations, as well as an idea of how politics works first hand. This is not an everyday opportunity, and it was a privilege to be able to experience how the United Nations works. All delegates were educated simply from the experience of being a participant. We learnt life skills, such as organisation and the importance of compromising. Beth N (10 Red)

MUNA provided incredible opportunities to grow in understanding of the world around us and the process of how nation wide decisions are made. The Delegates in the assembly had put in immense thought and time to their research and responses to the prompts and to see them express the thoughts of a nation as well as doing it ourselves meant that we understood what was entirely unique to this experience. There were many surprises along the way. I think for me, it was surprising how real the experience felt and also seeing the other delegates get passionate about their nations. Lizzy W (10 Red)

MUNA has helped my knowledge expand in the area of politics and alliances. The new information I gained will not only help me understand our global political views but what I can do as an individual to understand complex global issues and democracy. I can now educate those around me with this knowledge, as well as for me, I will now be more aware of what is happening in our world and the global actions that the U.N. takes to resolve world issues. Elana V (10 Red)

Sovereign Hill Excursion

Recently the Year 9 History class visited Ballarat. Here are some reflections from the day.

My experience in Sovereign Hill was enlightening. We got to explore some depictions of the historic structures that were used during the gold rush such as the mine, shops, restaurants and houses. Our guides gave us insight into the everyday life of different people such as the miners, shopkeepers and women. The raspberry drops were probably the highlight of the day, they were really good. Overall an enjoyable excursion and worth the early morning drive up. Bridget McP (9 Silver)

The Sovereign Hill excursion was a great opportunity for learning and fun, it helped us to see some great insights and views of how people lived in the Gold fields/Industrial revolution. Some highlights of the trip were the gold pour, lolly shops, mine shaft and the old school. The mine shaft gave us a great understanding of how people were making a living and how desperate they were for money. It also showed us how life was like on the gold fields for women and how poorly they were treated. Overall the excursion was a great learning experience and a lot of fun. Charlotte S (9 Silver)

During our excursion to Sovereign Hill, we visited the gold pour, the gold mines, and many cafés and shops. We took a tour around Sovereign Hill, led by a man dressed as they would dress in the 1850’s. We learnt that the Industrial Revolution moved to Australia and affected the lives of those already there. The machinery put people out of their jobs, and more people came to Ballarat to mine gold. Overall, our experience in Sovereign Hill was great and it allowed us to collect more information to bring back to history class. Amelie P (9 Silver)

The overall experience of Sovereign Hill was very fun. We learnt that the Aboriginal people were treated poorly by the early settlers and were present on the gold fields. I enjoyed learning about the way that people would live on the gold fields and what life was like for women. Niamh R (9 Silver)

Our History excursion to Sovereign Hill was an educational and enjoyable experience for everyone. We learnt a lot about the miners' conditions when digging for gold in the Gold Rush. It was interesting to go into a mine shaft that resembled one the diggers would have worked in when trying to find gold. We also were able to see the process where gold is purified and changed from a liquid to a solid and learn more about gold itself as well. Our time at Sovereign Hill was such an amazing day. We learned so much that will help us in class and we are so grateful for this experience. Maddison R (9 Silver)

Year 9 Drama – 'Beauty and the Beast' Excursion

On Wednesday 14 August the Year 9 Drama class attended a performance of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ at Her Majesty’s Theatre.

We have been discussing this amazing performance in class in reference to expressive skills, dramatic elements and performance skills and of course the incredible use of production areas such as lighting, costumes and set design. We will do an analysis assessment next week.

This was the first time some of our students had an opportunity to view a large scale professional theatre performance, and it was fantastic. Thanks to Ms Bleazby for attending with us.

Years 10 and 11 students recently spent a day at Melbourne University learning about Biomedical Sciences.

Our students had a fantastic learning opportunity to further their Science/Biology study at the University of Melbourne and Gene Technology Access Centre (GTAC) as part of Biomedical Sciences Day in National Science Week. They met with enthusiastic scientists, learning about current research and looking at real life samples under fluorescence light and scanning electron microscopes. Across the day our students learned about arthritis, cancer, MND, the brain, neural responses in zebrafish, the skin, malaria, and stress responses in mice.

They also accessed the Harry Brookes Allen Museum of Anatomy and Pathology undertaking a ‘treasure hunt’ uncovering real tissue specimens and historical anatomical models. This included looking at human bones dating back to the 1800’s!

Time spent in the AdaptLab allowed students to experience how innovative digital technology is used to study the human body utilising 3D VR heart models giving the opportunity to ‘hold’ the heart in the hand and examine the various structures that make a human heart.

Students also had the opportunity to ask questions from current Biomedical Science Students about university life, joining social clubs, how they manage workload and stress and how they are enjoying their experiences so far.

All our students had a wonderful day. It provided insights into what biomedicine is today and the diverse range of careers and impact studying biomedicine offers, and importantly what a life studying at University could look like for our students.

Senior Concert Band at the Victorian School Music Festival

Congratulations to Our Lady of Sion Senior Concert Band (Mr Parks) who performed at the Victorian School Music Festival held at the Hawthorn Town Hall last week. The group received a Bronze award and benefitted from the on stage tutorial given by the guest adjudicator Dr Albert Nguyen, who conducts the Wind Ensemble, directs the graduate level instrumental conducting program, and oversees the Athletic, Symphonic and University Bands at the University of Memphis.

Term 3 Music Soiree – Monday 9 September

We look forward to the Term 3 Music Soiree, which will be held next Monday 9 September. There will be concurrent concerts in both the Miriam Theatre (students who need piano accompaniment) and Music Room OG6 (students who have backing tracks, no accompaniment, or chamber groups). Students and families who have signed up have been forwarded permission notification through EdSmart.

Senior Jazz Ensemble perform at Significant Men’s Breakfast

Congratulations to the Senior Jazz Ensemble who performed at the Significant Men’s Breakfast last week. After their success at the VSMF, this ensemble continues to extend their technique and play some challenging pieces.

Year 7 Spring Concert Tuesday 12 November – Save the Date!

All Year 7 ensembles, small groups, and those Year 7s in Intermediate level ensembles will be performing at the annual Year 7 Spring Music Concert, to be held on Tuesday 12 November.

Upcoming Music Department dates:

• Friday 6 September Intermediate Concert Band VSMF, Hawthorn Arts Centre, 8.45 am – 12.00 pm
• Monday 9 September Term 3 Soiree 5.00 pm, Miriam Theatre
• Monday 9 September VCE Unit 4/Year 12 Recitals 7.00 pm, Miriam Theatre

GSV Track and Field Championship
Our Lady of Sion had a successful day at Lakeside stadium on Tuesday 27 August. The girls achieved great results all around with our Juniors finishing third, our Intermediates finishing fifth and our Seniors finishing third. Overall Sion achieved fifth place on the day. A big thank you to Mr Rieusset and Ms Rebecca who have been training the girls down at Box Hill Athletics Track every Monday and Wednesday morning since Week 11 last term. Several students ran PB’s at Champs including Emma R (7 Silver), Scarlett P (7 White), Hannah G (11 Blue), Natasha N (11 Blue), Zara H (8 Blue), Sophie F (9 White), Claire R (9 Gold), Maddison R (9 Silver) and Pippa L (12 Red). These students were consistently at morning trainings and it is a great example that the best way to increase performance is to get the sessions in each week!

GSV Track and Field Finals Evening

We are proud to announce that the students below have been invited to participate in the GSV Track and Field Finals Evening on Tuesday 10 September. The best athletes from 24 GSV schools will compete at this event. This is a significant achievement for all invitees, as being an emergency places Sion in the top #15 athletes overall in GSV for your event. Well done again on being selected!

Senior Football Herald Sun Shield

We are off to the Herald Sun Shield Grand Final! We will be playing Ivanhoe Grammar School on Thursday 12 September after an extremely successful tournament on Wednesday. Our Senior team was able to hold all opponents scoreless in windy conditions at Casey Fields. We will have a final squad training on Tuesday night, 10 September in preparation for a tough battle on Thursday 12 September, 10.00 am at Skinner Reserve, Braybrook. Below are scores for the matches and an article from the Herald Sun.

From the Herald Sun, Wednesday 4 September:

Our Lady of Sion College are off to the grand final of the Herald Sun Shield Division 2 Senior Girls tournament to face off against Ivanhoe Grammar School.

The pre-tournament favourites, Our Lady of Sion lived up to the billing in Wednesday’s Pool B finals round robin, not conceding a single point across three matches.

The Box Hill behemoths cruised past Highview College 2.12 (24) to 0 in the Pool B grand final, but it could have been much worse considering the earlier meeting between the sides in the pool games.

In that match Niamh R booted five majors, while Teagan M added a hat trick of goals, as the Our Lady of Sion side stormed home to a 11.7 (73) to 0 win.

The school will now take on Pool A winners Ivanhoe Grammar on September 12 in the final of the Herald Sun Shield.

AFLW Debut

Former student Lara Hausegger (Class of 2023) is set to debut for Sydney Swans in the AFLW this weekend. The game is in Melbourne at RSEA Park (Moorabbin) at 3.00 pm on Sunday 8 September. Lara was a terrific leader during her time at Sion, we cannot wait for her to shine in the AFLW! You can see a video of Lara on the Swans Instagram here.

R U OK? Day – Whitefriars Netball Match

Twelve Year 12 Students are preparing to take on Whitefriars in Netball on Wednesday 11 September. With Ms Southey leading the team and a lot of hype around the event we are anticipating a strong performance! Although it would be nice to win, it is an opportunity to increase awareness of mental health and start conversations with each other. We encourage everyone to check in with your family, friends and peers in the lead up to the event.

We are super excited to be hosting a netball match between Whitefriars and Sion next week! The game will be hosted at lunchtime on Wednesday 11 September, with both schools entering their best Year 12 squads. The game is designed to bring awareness to RUOK? Day, with each team wearing a touch of yellow to support the cause. We invite everyone to come and support the match and enjoy some friendly competition. Let's go team Sion! Pippa L (12 R) and Ava K (12 P)

Sports Week – Week 10

Sports Week isn’t too far away! Our Sport Leaders have been working together to organise the event scheduled for Monday 16 September. This is always a highlight of the Sports Calendar and a chance to reflect on a tremendous year of sporting success. Kate McCarthy (AFLW Player and Media Presenter) will be our special guest on the night.

Staff v Students Basketball, Volleyball and Dodgeball will be a main attraction taking place in the LHC on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at lunchtime. Keep an eye out for the announcement of squads early next week.

2024 Australian Cross Country Championships

Erin M (10 Purple) competed at the Australian Cross Country Championship over the weekend and finished seventh place overall which is an amazing result. She ran representing Victoria, her squad finished second overall.

The best revenge is massive success Frank Sinatra

Students and families can find the fortnightly Careers newsletter here.

In this fortnightly Newsletter there is information relating to:

• Upcoming Events: 2024 Youth Aviation Careers day – Moorabbin Air Museum, Swinburne “A day in the life”, RMIT Student for a day
• Careers Industry in the Spotlight – An Arts Degree
• Things to consider: Department of Home Affairs – Gap Year Program, Westpac Young Technologist Scholarships, 2024/2025 University of Melbourne Fine Arts and Music additional Information, Deakin University campus September holidays.
• Researching options: RMIT – Bachelor of Laws, Deakin University – On demand webinars.

Last week, the Director of Pastoral Care, Paul Kerr and I, attended the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools(MACS) Wellbeing Conference. It was a great opportunity to connect with other schools, hear about their best practice frameworks and connect with services that support schools and communities in the wellbeing space. It was great to chat with representatives from the eSafety Commissioner’s Department and discuss online safety and supporting parents/carers in this space.

As parents/carers, you know your child better than anyone and you have the best opportunity to support and guide them to have safer online experiences. With the increasing number of apps, social media forums and gaming available to young people, it is often impossible to avoid interactions with the online world. Your support and guidance is essential to giving them the knowledge and confidence to make good choices when online and to notice and speak up when something does not feel right.

As parents/carers, the online world can be a challenging space, so here are three key strategies to online safety basics.

1. Be open, engaged and supportive

Be involved with your child’s online activities and discuss the applications, games and social media they are using. This includes being aware who they are talking to and observing their behaviours and moods before, during and after interacting online.

2. Set some rules

Establish rules and boundaries with input from your child to help them understand potential risks and the consequences of breaking these rules. As your child matures, ensure these guidelines are appropriate for their age and stage of development, and review them regularly. Lead by example, demonstrating the behaviour you want to see. Consider creating a Family Online Safety Contract, which is an agreement on how devices should be used and what constitutes acceptable online behaviour. You can find examples of these contracts at Thinkuknow.

3. Use devices, games and apps carefully.

Become familiar with the devices your children are using and check the settings for privacy and security. Where possible, take advantage of parental controls and monitor and control screen time and access to content. A great resource for parents is the eSafety Guide which provides current information on latest games, apps and social media and tips on how to protect your personal information and report harmful content.

The eSafety Parents guide is a great resource for parents to support children to understand online safety and have positive online experiences. Reviewing these as a family may support you to begin an open conversation with your child about using the online space in a healthy and positive way.

If you have any concerns about your child and their online activity, please contact their Homeroom Teacher, Wellbeing and. Growth Leader or the Counselling Team (counselling@sion.catholic.edu.au).