It is hard to believe that we are well and truly over the mid-point of Term 1 and that there are only three weeks before the term break. The weeks are certainly going by very quickly now. Over the last fortnight much has been achieved by our students including the first round of assessments, various excursions and incursions, GSV competitions such as the Triathlon and Swim/Dive Championship events, Social Justice and House activities, final briefing with students who will embark on their Language and Cultural tour of France soon, City Experience week for our Year 9 students, applications opening for our 2024 Indigenous Immersion, planning for our end of term Lenten Liturgy and ongoing rehearsals for our Senior play to name a few.
Year 7 Mass
This week we also welcomed our Year 7 families and students for our traditional Year 7 Mass and yesterday evening all parents were invited to attend a forum on elements of SEQTA that are available for them to access feedback in support of their daughter’s learning growth.
Catholic Primary School visits
At this time of the year, it is also a privilege for me to visit our Catholic Primary Schools with Year 8 students who share their first year as Sion students with their former school and to promote what they have achieved over this time. The primary school students always ask them a variety of questions including what subjects they are doing, is there a lot of homework at high school, will I get lost when I come to your school, what languages do they study, are there leadership opportunities, what’s the new building that is going up at the front of the College and so on. I would like to thank the Year 8 students who have accompanied me on these visits. They are a credit to themselves, their families and our school and it is wonderful to see the growth they have made since they started in Year 7 last year. A highlight for me is when they spontaneously share their appreciation for all the opportunities they experience at our school and the sense of community and of belonging they feel.
Amidst all the activities students experience in the busyness of each week and each term, it is heartening to know that their main takeaways are the feelings of being known and valued by our school community, and the reassurance this provides them that they belong.
As parents and carers have been informed through our Information Evenings and newsletters this year, we are working to assist all students to experience this sense of belonging and support. This aim is only possible through a home-school partnership where open communication is at the centre of our work. As we approach the end of term, families are encouraged to contact their daughter’s Homeroom teacher or subject teacher if there are particular needs that are emerging for their child.
International Women’s Day
Today our staff and students celebrated International Women’s Day. This year’s theme for the day is “Let’s Inspire Inclusion”. The use of the word ‘let’s’ is inclusive in itself and points to the fact that all people are called to work together to ensure women have equal access and opportunities in all areas of life. The IWD website included the following calls to action:
When women aren't present, we must ask: "If not, why not?"
When women are discriminated against, we must call out poor practice.
When the treatment of women is not equitable, we must take action.
And we must do this each time, every time.
In my previous newsletter I highlighted the achievement of Deborah Lawrie (Class of 1970). At our recent Top Achievers Assembly, Deborah shared her story of overcoming discrimination because of her gender and how she subsequently achieved what was once impossible: a successful career as a commercial pilot, the first woman to achieve this in Australia. At Sion we celebrate the achievements of our students, past and present and hope our stories inspire all who join our community.
I thank Christine Kralj the staff and students who developed the IWD activities we hosted today. I am also grateful to the Whitefriars students and staff who once again accepted our invitation to partner with us for the conversation café where they shared thoughts about gender issues and opportunities.
This is another reason why an all-girls education can empower and support our students. We are proud of the opportunities we create to facilitate this dialogue and awareness raising.
Open Day
Planning is well and truly underway for our annual Open Day (19 March 2024) which is always a highlight for our school community. While the day offers a great chance for prospective families to visit us, I would like to also invite our current families to attend. Current parents and carers visit the College for particular events, but they do not often have the chance to see the College ‘in action’. This is your chance! Come and see what your daughter experiences in her learning, leadership or co-curricular program. We would love to have you join us. If you would like to attend, please register via the link on our website so that we can appropriately prepare for all visitors.
If you are aware of any families with primary school age daughters who also might be interested in Our Lady of Sion College for their children, please pass on this invitation to them also.
Congratulations
Each year the Whitehorse City Council recognises various organisations within the council area for their efforts in achieving and maintaining excellent standards. I would like to congratulate Julie McMillan and her daughter Amber from Hungry Hampers for winning the Whitehorse City Council’s 5 Star “Food Premises of the Year” for 2023. This award recognises excellence in food safety under the category of Community Group. Julie is the manager of our school café. Well done to Julie and her team - this is a wonderful acknowledgment of Julie’s attention to quality standards, and the care and outstanding service she provides our students and staff.
From the Deputy Principals
Deputy Principal Faith and Mission – Anna Gionfriddo
I have been thinking about the importance of community and feeling connected with others and how strong positive relationships can make such a difference. So it is delightful to see how well our Year 7 students are settling into secondary school life and that they already have so much to be proud of.
This was truly reflected in our beautiful Year 7 Family Eucharist which took place this week. The theme of the Eucharist was Celebrating the family and our Sion family. It was such a joyful time with many families gathering for this special Mass along with the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion. It was celebrated by our College Chaplain Fr. Mark Reynolds and our Year 12 College Leaders also joined to help make everyone feel welcome.
Over the past few weeks, the students have worked hard with their teachers in their RE classes to create the different parts of the Mass and it was wonderful to see so many of the Year 7s involved from writing prayers and reflections about the readings from scripture, to telling Our Sion Story and bringing forward the Gifts during the offertory. With the beautiful singing and music it was a true celebration.
During the Communion Reflection, the students spoke about their time at Our Lady of Sion College so far where they have been made to feel welcome. They reflected on their first day where they were greeted at the front of the school and invited to have a photo with their families. They also spoke about how all of their teachers and support staff had really helped them to settle in and expressed thanks and gratitude to their families who had loved and supported them during their transition from primary school to Our Lady of Sion College.
Another important symbol of being a part of our College community is the wearing of the House badges. These were presented on the night to our Year 7s by our Year 12 House Captains.
The evening concluded with a lovely supper which the Parents Association provided and it was a great way for families to get to know one another and to feel a connection with our school.
Wishing all members of our College community many blessings.
Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching – Allison Stott
The Role of Standardised Testing in Naming and Knowing our students
From Wednesday 13 March, our Year 7 and 9 students will commence their 2024 NAPLAN assessments. The NAPLAN results are combined with our PAT testing to contribute to a ‘picture’ of each learner. Added to this, teachers consider their own assessments; both formative and summative, so that informed decisions are made when setting learning goals for students, determining delivery of learning and in designing appropriate assessment tools.
As families are aware, the NAPLAN assessments are now fully online and are ‘adaptive’. This means that each student has an entry and exit point, allowing them to demonstrate what they can do, have a sense of achievement, and then indicate where the skills become difficult for them. The testlet pathways, as well as the skills being focused upon, are part of the rich information that the NAPLAN data platform provides to schools. Staff have already been upskilled in exploring the NAPLAN data service and the learning support that it provides.
For this reason, it is really important that students approach the NAPLAN assessments with the right mindset. That it is not a pass/fail situation, that everyone will find things that they can do, and things that they cannot. This is normal and part of the functioning of the tests. Have conversations at home that explain this. Not knowing what the test format will look like can cause anxiety. Exploring the public demonstration website together can address this. Another way of supporting the student is to ensure that they have fully charged iPads and they have everything that they need for the day. This can be as simple as ensuring that students have a good night sleep, and a hearty lunch!
If you or your child have any questions or concerns about the NAPLAN assessments, please make contact with the Wellbeing and Growth Leader and they will be able to support you.
Student Submission of Learning Tasks Process
After staff and student consultation, the Submission of Learning Tasks policy and procedure document is now ready to be communicated to the community. It is important to understand that this document is reflective of our existing practices, reflects the changed context of technology, and is intended to add clarity and surety for students, families and staff. Families will be able to identify the connection to the reports and our feedback processes.
Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing – Christine Kralj
Child Safety - always a consideration in everything we do
While the Child Safe Standards have been in place in Victoria since 2016, they remain an important set of guidelines. We continue to ensure that eleven standards are integrated into everything we do at Our Lady of Sion College.
As a quick reminder the eleven Child Safe Standards are:
Establish a culturally safe environment that respects and values the diverse identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people
Embed child safety and wellbeing in organisational leadership, governance, and culture
Empower children and young people about their rights, involve them in decisions affecting them, and take their views seriously
Inform and involve families and communities in promoting child safety and wellbeing
Uphold equity and respect diverse needs in policy and practice
Ensure people working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice
Provide child-focused processes for complaints and concerns
Equip staff and volunteers with the knowledge, skills, and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training
Promote safety and wellbeing in physical and online environments while minimising opportunities for harm
Regularly review and improve the implementation of the Child Safe Standards
Document policies and procedures to demonstrate how the organisation is safe for children and young people
For more information about the Child Safe Standards, I encourage parents and carers to visit the Commission for Children and Young People website here.
Some child safe actions you will see in the College this year:
A Child friendly Code of Conduct on SEQTA accessible to all students
All parent volunteers needing a volunteer Working with Children Check
Review and update of a number of Child Safety and Wellbeing policies
Student focus groups providing feedback to staff
Tuning in to Teens program to support parents
Sion Connect - focus on increasing attendance and engagement of students
Year Level News
Year 12 – Leanne Anderson, Wellbeing and Growth Leader
After a busy fortnight of assessments our Year 12 students are entering into a well-deserved long weekend. It is difficult to believe that they have already completed six weeks of their final year at Our Lady of Sion College.
I have been so impressed with the way the students have settled and although they have just completed a busy fortnight of assessments their willingness to put in the effort and do the hard yards has been evident.
In addition to managing a heavy workload many of our Year 12 students participated in the Responsible Serving of Alcohol course that was on offer a fortnight ago and are to be commended for taking up this opportunity. The students have also been given the opportunity to complete a First Aid and/or a Food Handling course. Details regarding these opportunities were sent out via EdSmart. If any students are keen to participate in either of these courses it is important they have signed up via the Google form that was sent to the students by Mrs Brooke O’Hara.
A reminder that Open Day is scheduled for Tuesday 19 March and students will have an altered timetable for this day with a later start and finish. It is important for students to look ahead in case alternative plans need to be made for part time work or sporting commitments.
As we continue on the Year 12 journey, a reminder that we are here to support your daughter in any way we can so please don’t hesitate to reach out if there is a need.
Year 11 – Beth Amos, Wellbeing and Growth Leader
Last Week we had the opportunity to gather as a year level to recognise and celebrate the Year 11 leaders for 2024. This involved acknowledging the SRC leaders Sara K (11 White) and Katia T (11 Purple), portfolio representations and class leaders. As the voice of Year 11, I will be working with these young people throughout the year to seek their feedback, ideas, wants and needs as a Year 11 student. We thank them in anticipation for their leadership throughout the school year.
This week, we had the opportunity as a school community and year level to celebrate International Women’s Day! The senior students were able to discuss topics and prompts such as:
‘Have you seen women being degraded online? Has this happened to you or to someone you know?’
‘Do you believe that society defines 'success' differently for men and women?’
In your opinion, what was the impact of the Barbie movie on the perception of women in society?
What role do men have in advocating for women's rights and gender equality? Is this what you are looking for?
The Year 11s were also invited to write an application to attend the International Women’s Day Breakfast hosted by the Rotary Club, Box Hill. A small number of students were selected to attend the event at Box Hill Town Hall. The morning consists of gathering for an early breakfast and listening to three keynote speakers. Dr Niki Vincent is Victoria’s first Public Sector Gender Equality Commissioner. Leonie Valentine is a strategic advisor to CommandHub and Melbourne University's MATCH Project, a director of Save the Children Australia, and Board Chair of AOMedia (Tech) Pty Ltd. Janenie Mohgan has significant experience specialising in human-centred design, innovation, change leadership and customer experience whilst working in male-dominated industries. We look forward to taking part in this event next Wednesday 13 March.
Engaging with students on the topic of gender has been exciting and inspiring. We have been able to hold the space, listen and engage in dialogue with our young people, allowing them to freely talk about their experiences and observations. Moreover, there was a sense of hope and frustration, regarding the barriers these young women have noticed about their world. These opportunities have provided a collective validation of their experiences, which highlights the importance of having conversations with young people, to empower their voices and perspective.
Year 10 – Adam Rieusset, Wellbeing and Growth Leader
Duke of Edinburgh's International Award - Adventurous Journey
Next week our Year 10 students will engage in our adventurous journey to be held at Lake Eildon.
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award (the Award) is a global Non-Formal Education and Learning framework which operates in more than 120 countries and territories. It aims to help young people find their purpose, passion and place in their world. The Award equips young people with the skills and confidence to discover their potential. This makes a difference not only to them, but to the communities they live in.
All is in readiness for our students to engage with their purpose and passion and to discover their #innerexcellence. Our adventurous journey will challenge all students in a variety of ways. Working within teams, setting up tents, cooking on a trangia, walking with a backpack on and mountain bike riding. With each new challenge, new skills will develop, new opportunities will present themselves and a greater appreciation for what can be achieved will come to the fore.
Some students and families may feel nervous about what is ahead of them. I want you to know that you will be ok, you will be looked after and most importantly you will have heaps of fun along the way.
Opportunities such as this do not come around often, so when they do I encourage all students and family members to #embrace it with both hands and do so with an open, and courageous heart. By completing our adventurous journey (and the Duke of Edinburgh award) our Year 10 students will display resilience, self confidence and a sense of achievement. It will take each student to show leadership, problem solving and a willingness to push beyond what they might normally do. By doing this each student will enhance these transferable skills that will support them in all elements of their life. Our experience next week is far more than ticking a box to get a badge. It is about self development, growth and hopefully an understanding that we are all capable of anything that we set our minds to.
Year 9 – Jordyn Frood, Wellbeing and Growth Leader
It has been another busy fortnight in Year Nine with City Experience and Class Leader Applications opening, and over the next fortnight we have Open Day, a Study Habits Pastoral Session and the Ayin Presentation night, just to name a few. It’s nice to see the students back enjoying the start to the year and getting involved.
During our recent Pastoral Session, we asked the Year Nine’s to create two ‘SMART’ goals, one ‘Personal’ goal and the other an ‘Academic’ goal. This is to prepare them for the Duke of Edinburgh goals that they are required to submit when signing up for each of the components.
Each student then had the opportunity to share one of their goals to increase their accountability as other students have heard what they would like to achieve.
This was a lovely Pastoral session, providing an opportunity for the students to not only share their goals but also support and encourage one another in what they would like to achieve over the 2024 year.
I encourage all parents and guardians to ask about these goals to assist in helping them work towards them. This is also a great skill to have when creating the SMART goals for their Duke of Edinburgh, where forms are due back on Thursday 21 March.
Year 8 – Chris Wilkes, Wellbeing and Growth Leader
As mentioned in my previous newsletter article, Toolbox Education conducted workshops with the Year 8 students on Tuesday 27 February. It was great to see their engagement with the presenters and the content being shared. The large majority of the cohort said that they found the session useful and were able to relate well to their presenters.
The workshop was called ‘Thinking Traps’ and is based on identifying and managing unhelpful thinking styles, through a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) basis. This concept was presented to the year level through the analogy that their minds are like their phones and the various thoughts that go through their heads on a daily basis are like apps that send them notifications. On average, the human brain processes around 70 000 thoughts, which can be overwhelming when negative thoughts aren’t challenged. The apps that were covered in this session were:
Mind reading - predicting what others are thinking
Fortune Telling – predicting what will happen
Setting the bar too high – creating goals that are very difficult to achieve
Ignoring the good – not taking positives into consideration and only thinking about the negatives
Blowing things up – developing scenarios that are catastrophic or ‘worst case’
Whilst these thoughts are normal, it is important to be aware of them and challenge them in order to develop a new and more balanced thought. The steps outlined were:
Step 1: Identify the app
Step 2: Read the notification
Step 3: Find evidence that it’s true
Step 4: Find evidence that it’s not true
Step 5: Find evidence that we’re ignoring
Step 6: Come up with a new and balanced thought
In Homeroom and Pastoral sessions, we will continue to work on this important skill. I would like to ask for your support in continuing this conversation with your children at home. When a challenging situation arises for them, ask them to take a moment to reflect on what app/s are sending them these notifications and work through the above steps to develop a more balanced perspective.
Learning Area News
Humanities – Sarah Chalmers, Learning Leader
Last week the Year 8 Humanities students spent the day in the Dandenong Ranges National Park completing Geography fieldwork. This is what they had to say about their experience:
We had lots of fun going on our excursion! We learnt all about how forests/rainforests work, the different levels of the forest and what lives on them and how we can protect them. We went to the Dandenong Ranges and Burke's Lookout. We saw the world's tallest moss, the Tall Dawsonia and learnt so much about how the rangers take care of the parks. We also learnt about the logging that happened there when Melbourne was first inhabited and after the Great Depression started. Liv A (8 Purple)
Last week the Year 8s had a wonderful opportunity to visit the Dandenong Ranges for a Geography excursion. On this excursion we had lots of fun doing research and learning new things about the environment. We got the chance to do some bush walks and learn how to identify different plant species and about how the trees grow, their leaf size and also about the different animals that live there. Overall it was a very fun experience and I'm very grateful that we got to go. Jessica P (8 Purple)
Science – Cassie Marsden, Learning Leader
The Unit 3 Biology students have been busy decoding DNA, building protein and preparing for their first assessments. They have enjoyed making their DNA code bracelets and keychains.
The Year 9s have been busy surveying their environment doing soil testing and discovering the types of soil where they live. They have tested the components and the pH of their soil samples.
Year 10 Chemistry have been testing metal and ionic compounds, discovering how reactive sodium is!
The Year 7s have been getting lab coats and safety glasses and are preparing to gain their bunsen burner licence. If your Year 7 daughter still needs a lab coat then you can purchase one here. If your daughter is new to the College or needs a new coat please use the link here.
Literacy – Pamela Ioannidis, Coordinator
NAPLAN
All Year 7 and 9 students will complete online NAPLAN assessments this term.
NAPLAN Timetable
Wednesday 13 March - Writing
Thursday 14 March - Reading
Monday 18 March - Conventions of Language
Wednesday 20 March - Numeracy
Makeup Sessions for Absent Students
Friday 15 March
Thursday 21 March
These national assessments will measure students’ skills in literacy and numeracy. Parents and carers will be able to see how their child is progressing against national proficiency standards. In the last fortnight, students in Years 7 and 9 English and Maths classes have been introduced to the NAPLAN public demonstration site. This has provided an opportunity for students to become familiar with the online format, functionality and types of questions they may encounter. Please feel free to visit the demonstration site with your child here.
As NAPLAN assessments will take place online, students will need to remember to have their iPad fully charged and bring along a pen and wired headphones in order to complete the tests.
Further information for parents and carers from ACARA (Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority) is available here.
Co-curricular News
Music – Martin Macaulay, Head of Music
Music Representatives 2024
Congratulations to the following girls who were appointed as Music Representatives for 2024. This group meets each fortnight and offers initiative and support to the range of musical events throughout the school, such as Open Mics, Liturgies, Soirées and Concerts.
2024 OLSC Music Captain: Hayley B (Year 12 Silver)
Year 11 Music Representative: Jasmine C (11 Blue)
Year 10 Music Representatives: Amy F (10 White) and Angelica N (10 Gold)
Year 9 Music Representatives: Elouise P (9 Gold) and Eunice C (9 Silver)
Year 8 Music Representatives: Ava R (8 Blue) and Alice D (8 Blue)
Year 7 Music Representative portfolios will be finalised in the coming weeks.
Year 7 Junior Choir
Congratulations to members of the Year 7 Junior Choir who performed so wonderfully at the Year 7 Family Mass earlier this week. They have only been rehearsing for a couple of weeks and despite the limited time to prepare their parts, sang so beautifully at the Mass. Student members of CVE commented on how wonderful they were.
Sion First Year 6 Music Program
Earlier this week, 44 Year 6 students from 24 of Our Lady of Sion’s feeder schools, started the Sion First music program. It was great to see so many students in their primary school uniform arrive to embark on their musical journey at Sion. Each Wednesday afternoon, this group receive a small group instrumental lesson with a specialist teacher and have a large ensemble experience, all while making new friends who will be classmates in 2025.
Term 1 Music Soiree – Monday 18 March 5.00 pm
The first opportunity to perform in concert is Term 1 Music Soiree, which will be held on Monday 18 March at 5.00 pm in the Miriam Theatre. Girls involved in the Instrumental Music program will feature at this first public concert for 2024. Interested students gain Arts Colour Points and can sign up via their instrumental teacher.
Year 7 Music Program – Junior Strings starts next week!
Our Year 7 Junior Choir, the Year 7 Monday morning and Tuesday afternoon Concert Bands have all started their rehearsal programs. The final Year 7 ensemble, the Year 7 Junior Strings, start their weekly rehearsals next week:
Junior Strings (Wednesday afternoons 3.25 pm – 4.25 pm). The first rehearsal is Wednesday 13 March in the Miriam Theatre.
Big Sound Sisters
If any Year 8, 9 or 10 students want to be a ‘Big Sound Sister’ and mentor in one of the Year 7 ensembles, please see Mr Macaulay for details. This counts towards your Arts Colour and can help with hours needed to complete the Duke of Edinburgh program.
Social Justice – Lucy Miotello, Coordinator
Ozanam House
Our Lady of Sion College has had a long tradition of supporting Ozanam House with the evening meal service. On Wednesday March 6 we made our first visit for the year. During the upcoming year, on a monthly basis, two Year 11 students and staff will volunteer their time to support the work of Ozanam house which provides support and services to both men and women who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness. Daily they provide breakfast, lunch, dinner and other services to approximately 100 residents. Grace N (11 Red), Aleisha DM (11 Gold) and Ms Lynne Shaw visited Ozanam House where they supported the meals program, including serving the evening meal, working in the kitchen and assisting with cleaning.
Just Dance for Project Compassion
The Year 7s were invited to participate in Just Dance for Project Compassion. The year level demonstrated their dancing prowess as well as taking action for social and environmental justice. They were reminded of the impact their contributions will have on the communities supported by Caritas Australia. Their efforts will support local health workers in running a small pharmacy that administers essential medicine to the community in the Philippines helping to build a more just, compassionate and equitable society.
Finally, we have a number of fundraising initiatives coming up to support Project Compassion. We look forward to your continued support ‘For All Future Generations’.
Sport – Liam Cox, Head of Sport
It has been an action-packed fortnight for the Cherry and Black!
On Sunday 25 February, 54 Sionians headed over to the sunny shores of Altona to compete in the GSV Triathlon. We would like to congratulate all our students who participated on the day and put in a sensational effort, especially Erin M (10 Blue), Olivia M (10 Blue) and Zara O (10 Silver) of SION12 who came second across all GSV schools for the intermediate team event. A big thank you to Mr Rieusset, Mr Armstrong and Mrs Macdonald for their support throughout the event. Please enjoy a recap of the event by our students Asha Q (9 Gold) and Maddy R (9 Silver):
On Sunday 25 February the GSV triathlon squad competed in the annual GSV triathlon at Altona beach. We had four individuals and 20 teams compete and they all did exceptionally well. It was good to see everyone trying their best and cheering on their fellow competitors. What we really enjoyed was getting to spend quality time with our friends and seeing everyone getting into the triathlon spirit. We would like to thank the staff for organising everything and supporting us in and out of the race. A huge thanks to all the parents for their support and commitment throughout the day. We would also like to thank GSV for giving this amazing opportunity to race and for organising the event. We hope everyone had a good time and you all did really well Maddy R (9 Silver) and Asha Q (9 Gold)
Continuing with the aquatic theme, on Monday 3 March our students competed in GSV Division 3 Swimming and Diving Championships at MSAC. It was a successful day over at Albert Park with our Seniors coming equal second in swimming, while Sion came second in diving overall with our Junior and Intermediate divers both finishing second. Well done to all our students who gave an incredible effort on the day and throughout the season. A big thank you to Mr Rieusset, Mr Armstrong and Ms Gurciullo for overseeing the squad.
Over in the weekly GSV team sports, we are halfway through the season with some promising results for Sion! Special mentions to Junior A Indoor Cricket, Junior A and B Softball, and Junior A Tennis for their sensational performances last week.
We are also pleased to announce that our strength and conditioning program has been going gangbusters with the level of participation this term with more than 8% of the College attending a session each week.
Carn Sion!
Learning Resource Centre – Margaret Lawson, Head of Library and Information Services
We have hit the ground running in the LRC this year with our popular 'Sion Summer Reading Challenge' starting during the holidays to help keep the students engaged with reading. We had twice the number of students engaging with the Challenge in 2024, compared with the year before and it has been wonderful to see the wide range of reading that the students were interested in.
Our next reading competition is the popular 'Sion LRC Bingo' card that students will be able to collect in March. Reading Bingo cards that are submitted before August will go into the draw for prizes during our book week celebrations.
Welcome to our New Team!
Introducing our new Library team! We are blessed to have Mrs Serena Bellotti and Ms Letitia Mandile joining us in 2024 as our College Librarian and Library Technician, respectfully. Both have come from school environments and bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience in working with young adults to encourage reading and information literacy skills.
Overdues
Another reminder that students will be issued with an 'overdue payment slip' for books that are past their due date. The LRC staff are flexible in accommodating students who need extra time to read and we encourage them to talk with us if their needs are not being met. Students are asked respectfully to return their resources on time, or to either pay for the missing resource or provide a new replacement book or resource.
Sion Writer's Club - Ms Lawson, Head of Library and Information Services and Mrs Deanne Benke, English Teacher
Ms Margaret LawsonMrs Deanne Benke
Ready, Set, Go … write!
Under the leadership of Isabella H (11 White), our first writing competition is happening over the long weekend.
Our fast fiction Short Story competition is a 500-word writing challenge with three keywords that need to be included in the story: 'strength', 'right', and 'empower'. Students can either write in paragraphs or prose. Students are encouraged to check the Student Bulletin for the Google Classroom code for the Sion Writer’s Club, as finished pieces need to be uploaded into this space by Wednesday 13 March 2024.
Our Sion Writer’s Club meets every fortnight in either the LRC or in ND 1.6. Keep an eye on the bulletin for meeting days. Students are to bring their pencil case, something to write on and any ideas that they might have for a piece they are working on. Often we have activities where we drop everything and write.
Drama – Alex Bleazby, Drama Teacher
Our Drama Club has kicked off with such a brilliant turn out. Drama Captain, Clea M (12 Gold) hosted a special Thank God You're Here Workshop in the Miriam Theatre. All are now welcome to the next workshop on Thursday 14 March at lunchtime on Improvisation skills.
The Senior Play The 39 Steps is off and running! Our cast are in full flight with rehearsals, and we are seeing so much energy and characterisation from our cast. We have a wonderful bunch of crew members that will begin working with us very soon to start bringing some of the technical and design aspects of the production to life. Two crew members who we are particularly proud to have on board are Emily OR (12 W) ,who is our Stage Manager, and Amy G (12 W), who is heading up the Set design team. These two Year 12s have worked on many productions behind the scenes at Sion and we are proud to have both of these Year 12s in leadership roles this year for their last production at the College.
Our Year 7s have begun the year with such gusto and passion for their performance work! They are currently working towards their voice performances in Drama and it's wonderful to witness some brilliant experimentation with these students, what a bunch of characters Sion has adopted!
All of our Year 8 students were treated with a Commedia Dell' Arte styled performance of 'Venice in Love' last week to complement their studies in Italian and Drama this year. The students were enthralled with the brilliantly interactive Drama and multiple zany characters which the skilful performers transformed into effortlessly. Two features of the performance were the shared actor-audience space and the direct address between characters and the audience members. Our Year 8s delighted in the opportunity to get involved in the Drama and this was wonderful to see! Our joint initiative between the Drama and LOTE teams was well received! We look forward to seeing some of the students' own interpretations of the style later on in the Semester.
Jennifer Tilley, House & Student Leadership Coordinator
Welcome back to House for 2024! We have started the year with a bang, with a number of House events already running for students to get involved in.
We celebrated the Lourdes House Feast Day and had students from Years 9–12 come together for a House Spirit Day.
In the coming weeks Years 8 and 11, and Years 7 and 10 will also be welcomed to participate in their House Spirit Days which are aimed at promoting House connections across the year levels. Students have also been welcomed to sign up for their House Footy Tipping Competition.
All of these opportunities allow students to engage with each other in friendly competitions, while creating bonds with other students within their Houses. This leads to the creation of a sense of belonging and camaraderie that past students still remember whenever they return through the cherry red gates.
The House Representative Teams for 2024 are really excited to continue to provide opportunities for students and staff to bond over their love of House through leading favourite events and introducing new ideas as the year unfolds. I would like to congratulate this team for their work and enthusiasm already this year.
Careers and Pathways – Brooke O'Hara, Coordinator
Nothing is impossible, the word itself says “I’m possible.”Audrey Hepburn (Actress)
Students and families can find the fortnightly Careers newsletter here.
In this fortnightly Newsletter there is information relating to:
Upcoming Events: Discover Monash Events, Monash Year 10 Discovery day, Monash School holiday tours, Box Hill Institute Talk and Tours, Deakin Campus Tours – April school holidays, Mysci with Monash, Monash Engineering Girls (MEG), Collarts Creative Arts and Careers Expo, RMIT School Holiday tours
Career Industry in the Spotlight – Actuary studies
Things to consider: Free University Degrees for Victorians studying High School Teaching, Studying in the USA Virtual Q and A
Researching options: Studying Urban Planning at Melbourne
Parent News
College Psychologist – Vanessa Cheng
Encouraging Healthy Habits in Teenagers
Habits are part of our daily lives. These automatic behaviours, which happen with little to no thought, can be good or bad for us. Positive habits can be hard to start, but have numerous benefits:
They make us more efficient – the brain requires less thinking and effort to a task, so there is more energy for other tasks
They promote regularity and stability, leading to a more predictable and stable routine which in turn can reduce uncertainty and stress
They help us achieve long-term goals by breaking them down into smaller, manageable habits, which are more achievable and sustainable over time.
Below are some tips to help nurture good habits in young people so it sets them up for success in their studies and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Establishing Effective Homework Routines
Create a designated study area at home, free from distractions
Plan specific times for homework while including regular breaks to avoid burnout
Ensure they are equipped with all the necessary resources, from textbooks and stationery to a suitable desk and chair
Regular check-ins can help to keep them accountable and provide opportunities for parents and carers to offer assistance and encouragement.
Promoting Regular Physical Activity
Encourage physical activity by leading by example, whether that’s going for family walks, bike rides, or playing sports together
Support them to find a physical activity they enjoy and which fits in with their current schedule, as this will make it more likely they’ll want to continue participating.
Cultivating Healthy Eating Habits
Provide balanced meals at home
Discuss with them the importance of nutrition and its links to physical and mental health
Involve them in meal preparation to help them understand and make healthier food choices.
If you have any concerns about your child’s wellbeing that you would like to discuss, you can speak to their Homeroom teacher, Wellbeing and Growth Leader, or email the Counselling Team at counselling@sion.catholic.edu.au
Parents' Association – Open Day Sausage Sizzle volunteers needed
Year 7 Parents and Carers Social Event - Meet, Eat & Mingle
Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) Application Form
The CSEF (Camps, Sports and Excursion Fund) is provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.
If you hold a valid means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. The allowance is paid directly to the school to use only towards expenses relating to camps, excursions or sporting activities for the benefit of your child.
The annual CSEF amount per student is:
$225 for secondary school students
You will only need to submit an application form in 2024 if any of the following changes have occurred:
new student enrolments: your child has started or changed schools or you did not apply at the same school in a previous year
changed family circumstances: such as a change of custody, change of name, concession card number, or new siblings commencing at the school in 2024
If a form was not lodged in 2023, parents or legal guardians are required to complete a CSEF application form and lodge it with the College for processing.
Application forms should be completed and lodged with the College as soon as possible in Term 1, as payments are made from March onwards.
CSEF payments are for the current application year and cannot be claimed retrospectively for prior years.
Please clickhere to download the 2024 application form.
If you have any questions, please contact College Accounts here.
