CAROLINE CHISHOLM TERM 1 WEEK 4 COLLEGE ISSUE 2 NEWSLETTER 21 February 2007

FROM THE PRINCIPAL Caroline Chisholm College Dear Parents, Friends, Staff and Students of Caroline Chisholm College, 90 - 98 The Lakes Drive Glenmore Park During the past weeks there have been many NSW 2745 significant events for our College. Caroline Chisholm Day was a wonderful celebration which College was coordinated by our college Religious Phone Numbers:

Education Coordinator, Mr Zac Culican. Our General Information Opening Mass over which Fr Paul Marshall presided was an opportunity for us to ask God’s blessing on all our endeavours this Ph: 4737 5500 year. The participation of everyone in the liturgy was impressive – Student Absences thank you to all who contributed in so many ways and a particular Ph: 4737 5555 acknowledgement to our choir, musicians, dramatists, altar servers School Fees and readers for their magnificent efforts. Ph: 4737 5520 Enrolment Enquiries Ph: 4737 5506 Uniform Shop Ph: 4737 5522

Fax: (02) 4733 1054 Email: carolinechisholm@ parra.catholic.edu.au

For the remainder of the day there was the chance to socialise and have fun while supporting the fund-raising efforts for Project Compassion. The highlights of the afternoon included the very scary “Haunted House”, the Big Slide, the face painting, hair colouring and braiding, disco and the wonderful assortment of food, ice creams and drinks. Congratulations and thank you to all the students and staff who were involved in providing these opportunities for our community. INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

FROM THE 1/3 PRINCIPAL

FROM THE 4 ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

POWERHOUSE 4 MUSEUM

YEAR 7 WELCOMING 5 BBQ

SWIMMING 5 CARNIVAL

NOTICES 6 DIARY DATES

FROM THE PRINCIPAL CAROLINE CHISHOLM COLLEGE Ash Wednesday All year groups have had the opportunity to participate in a liturgy to mark the beginning of Lent. Thank you to Ms Bradbury for planning these liturgies and to all the students and staff for their prayerful participation. Let us continue throughout Lent to set aside each day some time for prayer and reflection.

Project Compassion Each year our college community supports Caritas by: • educating all members of our community about the work done by Caritas Australia as they help people in need throughout the world • raising money for Project Compassion through a variety of homeroom projects and personal donations.

Last year the Caroline Chisholm College community gave more than $13,000 to Caritas Australia and this year we hope, with your support, to at least equal this amount.

Fairness and justice are values that we prize in our own lives, and so I am confident that we can all relate to the theme chosen for Project Compassion this year which is “Fair Play Today”. This theme emphasises the urgency for us to help – today - those in need break free from poverty and “be architects of their own progress” as Paul VI said in his encyclical Populorum Progressio.

The focus our college has taken this year is to help people in Vietnam generate their own income through raising pigs. For every $210 we raise, we will help a family raise four pigs. This will help them become self-sufficient and break out of poverty.

The profit from Caroline Chisholm Day will help buy 104 pigs and support 26 families in Vietnam. This is an excellent beginning to our work for Project Compassion.

How many families will we be able to support? This year we are encouraging every student to be generous and donate $1.50 each week during Lent through their homeroom collection. This is less than the cost of most items in the canteen. Parents are invited to discuss with their daughters whether they could afford to make such a contribution and the important effect that will come from such generosity.

Distinguished Achievers’ Assembly We were delighted to welcome back many students from the Class of 2006 for this special assembly. Elizabeth Duncan, the College Dux, addressed the college community and offered some thoughtful reflections based on her own experiences as a student at Caroline Chisholm College for the previous six years. While students and teachers have had the opportunity to hear Elizabeth’s speech some excerpts are reproduced below for your further consideration:

‘For me, high school was about earning the keys that opened the door to the future. I have learnt that the first and foremost key to success lies within. One must possess the right mindset and attitude to want to succeed. However, ‘success’ is a word that possesses a variety of meanings. For many of us, success was achieving a high UAI and gaining a place at uni. For others it was achieving their TAFE certificate, and a place at TAFE. For others, ‘success’ might mean scoring an apprenticeship as a florist or a hairdresser. And for some it may mean achieving a Higher School Certificate just for the personal satisfaction of saying ‘I did it – I passed Year 12.’ Unlike how it’s so often stereotyped, you don’t need to be Albert Einstein to achieve. Whilst the right attitude is essential, it must be supported with a great deal of hard work. Resting on your laurels or the thought that you simply can’t do it means that you never will reach your full potential. In order to achieve one must understand the delicate nature of balance – of time management. It simply means that you prioritise appropriately. Before exams I devoted the majority of my time to study, but throughout the year I ensured my mental stability by balancing productive study with social activities, and family commitments.

CAROLINE CHISHOLM FROM THE PRINCIPAL COLLEGE I prioritised between what was important, and what could wait. I can’t stress enough the fundamental role my teachers played throughout senior schooling. Teachers are the most invaluable resource, the most user friendly textbook. Ask them a million questions. They’ll find you the answer. And of course, parents. “Behind every success lies a great team.” Make sure you thank them at the end. They will be more proud than you will ever know. And so, finally, I would like to finish with a quote from Katherine Hepburn: “Life is to be lived. If you have to support yourself, you had better find some way that’s going to be interesting. And you don’t do that by sitting around wondering about yourself.”’

Elizabeth received her Premier’s Award for All-round Excellence at a ceremony in this week and is shown here with the President of the Board of Studies, Professor Gordon Stanley.

U.W.S. Scholarships Congratulations to Simone Wacher who was awarded an Academic Scholarship and to Gayathri Ediriweera who was awarded an Emerging Careers Scholarship by the University of Western Sydney. Each of these scholarships are worth $20,000 for each of the recipients. U.W.S. awarded only 19 scholarships and Caroline Chisholm College students received two of these – what a fantastic result! A special luncheon to acknowledge the award recipients was hosted on Monday, 19th February by the U.W.S. Vice-Chancellor Janice Reid. Gayathri is pictured with Vice Chancellor Janice Reid, Ms Howe and Mr Petit. Unfortunately Simone could not attend this function.

ACU Scholarships Congratulations to Catherine Rondeau and Nicole Cremona who have received scholarships for their degree in Teaching at A.C.U. due to their H.S.C. results and their success in the Step-Up-Into-Teaching program which provides Year 11 students at Caroline Chisholm College with the chance to complete a university course.

Email Addresses for Newsletter Thank you to all who sent an email to [email protected] . If you have not yet done this your cooperation in sending this email with “Newsletter – Year ?” in the subject line would be most appreciated. Including the details of the year group(s) of your daughter(s) will allow us to contact you with information relating to a particular year.

The next newsletter will be principally an on-line edition.

Working Bee – Saturday, 10th March (8:00am – 12:00 noon) Please keep this date free so that you can come along and help for an hour or two or for the whole morning. Work to be completed includes general tidying of gardens and mulching. Your support will really be appreciated. Any students who attend will be recognized with Merit Awards for Service and 100 points for their house.

Open Night This will be held on Monday, 12th March between 6:00pm and 8:30pm. If you have a daughter in Year 6 you are warmly invited to attend. Please pass the invitation on to any friends who may be interested.

Yours sincerely

Ms Christine Howe PRINCIPAL

FROM THE ASSISTANT CAROLINE CHISHOLM PRINCIPAL POWERHOUSE MUSEUM COLLEGE FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL have claimed to produce Caroline Chisholm skirts at a Restorative Practices cheaper price. They are cheaper because they are made from I have spoken before of our goal for the year of training staff, inferior material, are cut on the wrong check and save money students and parents in Restorative Practices, and having this on having less material, not always coming down to the knee. as a foundation in our establishment of healthy, effective and Vaccinations just relationships between staff and students and between the All students in Year 7 have the opportunity to be vaccinated students themselves. We have got off to a great start with Vic against varicella (chickenpox) and hepatitis B. The varicella O’Callaghan in servicing the staff over two staff meeting injection and first dose of the hepatitis vaccine will be given afternoons on the principles of restorative practices and how to students on Tuesday 1st May, in week 2 of next term. This they can be used to shape our relationships with students in a is a while off, but information sheets and permission forms positive way. Vic then spent time with each year group last will be sent home to Year 7 students shortly and need to be week, from Year 7 to 11, over three days. With energy and returned within the next fortnight. (The second and final dose insight he introduced the students to the benefits of restorative of the hepatitis B vaccine will be given to students on practices and the ways in which they would shape the types of Monday 22nd October.) conversations them students would have with each other and with teachers (and parents). Vic also talked to a group of Do the Right Thing Awards parents on Monday night, going through similar material from Congratulations to Kaitlin Green (8 Gilmore), Paige Palmer a parent’s perspective. (8 Gilmore), Melissa Sims (9 Kenny) and Erin Murphy (12 Macarthur). They will receive canteen vouchers for being From now on, our task as a college community (students, chosen from students who were given “Do the Right Thing” parents and carers, teachers) is to implement these principles awards over the past few weeks for care of the environment. in our day to day interactions. From time to time I will They and all other students who received awards will also publish focus reminders on different lessons from restorative have points count for their house. practices. Restorative practices provide many effective Mr Greg King - Assistant Principal strategies for a whole range of situations where relationships Powerhouse Museum have broken down. Sometimes there may be serious th misbehaviour which warrants serious consequences, but this On Thursday 15 February Year 7 is still done with a focus on restoring the relationships. Students travelled to the Powerhouse However, generally, we would see that most of our use of Museum to view the Technology and restorative practices would be in a lower key, in the form of Science exhibitions. Some of the restorative conversations and interventions, which as their exhibitions viewed were, ‘Ecologic: name implies, is about being proactive and acting to head off Creating a sustainable future’, Cyber serious issues through conversation worlds, Inspired (Arts & Design), and discussion. These practices are Space, Experimentations and Success & Innovation. most appropriate at a college like ours where serious misbehaviour is Thank you to Year 7 for their good not a common occurrence and the behaviour on the day and the following girls are almost always co-operative teachers for their assistance and and well-behaved. contribution, Mrs Shelley Baldwin, Mrs

Uniform Mary DeLahunty, Mrs Karen McDaid, I have been very pleased with the parent support for correct Mr Damien Mills, Miss Melanie uniform and the ways in which you support us in these areas. Krawec, Mrs Bozena Kozlowski and It is made absolutely clear at the time of enrolment that Mr Martin Edwards. correct wearing of uniform is a non-negotiable condition of Mrs Vanessa Brown being part of the Caroline Chisholm community. In particular, I would like to thank parents for their support in Inspiration at the Powerhouse ensuring that their daughters have correct, safe footwear. I A unique experience for Year 7 realise this presented some cost issues, but parents used the students where diverse hands-on early advice, given through the second half of last year, to experiences and uniquely designed make sure the girls had the correct footwear by the start of products provide the spark for future this year. The next area of uniform I would ask parent support creative thinking. After a relaxing with is in regards to the length of skirts. The uniform journey on comfortable buses requirements are that the skirts are knee-length and that is the watching “A night in the museum” the Year 7 form were middle of the knee-cap, not leaving any doubt as to eager to flow into the Powerhouse Museum. A plethora of compliance with uniform requirements and leaving room for displays ranging from space exploration to Grandma’s old ‘growth spurts’. Anything shorter than the absolute top of the stove brought a touch of nostalgia to the staff and amazement knee, requires attention, either through letting the hem down from the girls who asked “Did you really wear clothes like or purchasing a new skirt. The skirts are designed to be worn that?.” Highlights included the chocolate making machine and to the knee and when worn shorter they look inappropriate, the interactive Science experiments. Many thanks to the whether through hems being too short or, worse, rolling the Technology and Science staff for their efforts in organising waist band under the skirt. I also need to remind parents that and caring for the students on the day. skirts need to be purchased from the school. Other suppliers Mr Geoff Clerke-TAS Coordinator

YEAR 7 WELCOMING BBQ CAROLINE CHISHOLM SWIMMING CARNIVAL COLLEGE Year 7 Welcoming BBQ by two points in the end, so to Rachel, Annie and Erin well The Year Seven Welcome BBQ done on such great school spirit. was held on Friday 9th Our day was entertained not only by records in the pool but February under a cloudy but with the help of Mr Mac’s music, our very well dressed Year rain free sky. It was a fantastic 12 students, who may been have mistaken for professional opportunity for families to meet divers were for many the highlight of the event. Not even the the teachers of their daughters arrival of our Principal Ms Howe could stop the girls from and for the teachers to meet the parents and their families of posing for the waiting paparazzi. A special mention to Sarah the Year 7 students. There was a wonderful turnout of people Jane Horne not only for her success in the pool of which and we managed to fill the assembly area with a tremendous there was plenty, but the example she sets for us all in sense of the Caroline Chisholm Community. Thank you to showing what courage and determination can achieve. the Year 7 homeroom teachers for their assistance and time and a special thank you to Miss Penny Prosser and the I would like to thank and congratulate the Year 9 Physical School Leaders for serving the food and drinks throughout Activity and Sport Studies class who helped in running the the evening. carnival, but a very special thank you also to the parents and past students, who assisted, timed, and encouraged I hope that this is the beginning of a very special relationship competitors all day long. So thank you Mrs Graham, Mrs between Caroline Chisholm College and the families of our O’Neill, Mrs Keenawinna, Mrs Boswell, Andrea Keenawina students. and Jessica Heaslip. Finally to the wonderful, talented and Mrs Karen McDaid - Year 7 Coordinator patient PDHPE KLA a well done.

On Friday 19th February 2007 the student, sports and peer Final house points: support leaders held the annual welcoming barbeque for the 1st: Jackson (319) Year 7 students of our College. The leaders and many staff 2nd: MacKillop (210) members welcomed the Year 7 students and their families, 3rd: Wright (203) getting to know them and enjoying a meal together. 4th: Gilmore (199)

5th Kenny (128) Prior to the barbeque the student leadership team participated th in their development afternoon identifying goals that will 6 Macarthur (29) hopefully make a difference within our school community. Age Champions were as follows: The team discussed a wide range of issues from sustaining 12 Years the environment to increasing school spirit with the aim of 1st: Lucy Palu (61 points) establishing a greater sense of school morale. 2nd: Maddison Blake (37 points) rd The development afternoon and the Year 7 welcoming 3 : Alanna Stephens (16 points) barbeque were a great success. Thank you to all student, 13 Years sport and peer support leaders who gave up their Friday 1st: Amy Schemori (36 points) evening to attend these events. On behalf of all the leaders 2nd: Alexandria Borg (35 points) we would like to thank the staff for helping make such 3rd: Lauren Boswell (16 points) events possible. Justine Fonmanu - College Leader 14 Years 1st: Jessie O’Connor (55 points) nd Swimming Carnival 2 : Angela Genovese (44 points) rd On Friday 2nd February 2007 our annual Swimming Carnival 3 : Tamara Warwick (12 points) was held at Mount Druitt Pool. This year’s carnival was once 15 Years again a competitor’s only event with the main focus on 1st: Paige Blake (61 points) participation and community spirit, and this was certainly the 2nd: Kara Leo (30 points) outcome that was achieved. Firstly our congratulations to all 3rd: Jessica Etcell (29 points) the students who competed on what started out like a very “soft Irish” day. The very keen number of Year 7 students 16 Years who only had a couple of days notice of the event were the 1st: Rachel Heaslip (44 points) first into the pool warming up and keen to gain some success 1st: Annie Fava (44 points) as well as gain some house points, and that is exactly what 3rd: Erin Ardell (42 points) Lucy Palu did. This young student athlete won her first six 17+ Years events and gained a total point tally of 61. The rivalry st between Simone Bennett and Larissa Blake was so fierce 1 : Simone Bennett (66 points) 2nd: Sarah-Jane Horne (28 points) and yet so friendly it enticed the crowd into cheers every rd time they entered the pool. A special note also must be made 3 : Larissa Blake (26 points) to Paige Blake and Kara Leo in the under 15 category, Paige Ms Connolly - Sport Coordinator another competitor winning her first six events and Kara on her shoulder every time. The under 16 category was fought out amongst three close friends and they were only divided NOTICES CAROLINE CHISHOLM DIARY DATES COLLEGE

In our college calendar for 2007 the phone number on the back page is incorrect. The college phone number is 4737 5500, refer to the front of this newsletter to get alternative numbers for the different areas. Congratulations to Taylah Tsitsikronis and Caitlin Bailey (Year 7) on making the PDSSSC Softball Retrouvaille ….. Rediscovery team for 2007. Is your marriage on the right road? Are you thinking about separation or divorce? Parents please note that school Are you frustrated, hurt, angry with each other? Are you constantly arguing or fighting? supervision commences from Have you given up talking it out? 8:00am and concludes at 3:00pm. Do you feel cold, alone or distant? And you don’t know how to change or where to turn? RETROUVAILLE CAN HELP. For information on programmes call (Sydney) 02 9520 1496, Catholic Schools Week () 02 6291 6260, (Wollongong) 02 4295 6860 LEARNING IN ACTION 11 - 17 March 2007 All enquiries are strictly confidential. The Catholic Superannuation and Retirement Fund (CSRF) are proud to sponsor Catholic Schools Week in 2007. We are delighted to be associated with an SOUTHERN CROSS CULTURAL EXCHANGE initiative that celebrates both the strength and Southern Cross Cultural Exchange is an Australian based non-profit organisation, with over 20 years of experience and local support in all excellence of Catholic education and nurtures broader areas. community interest in our schools.

Cultural Exchange and how it expands your world At CSRF, we only partner with organisations that 1. You learn about the world and another culture 2. You learn another language reflect our beliefs and dedication to values, as we are 3. You have a great experience and an adventure committed to strengthening the message of faith 4. You make new friends and memories for life. throughout the wider community.

If you are interested in going on exchange or hosting, you can chose from Our focus is also on education - the building of 15 different countries. Call now for a brochure, phone: NSW Manager Mandy (02) 4757 4822 or National Office for the cost of a local call on knowledge about superannuation and understanding 1800 500 501. how to manage your financial affairs both now and in retirement. As such, we are committed to improving the quality of life in retirement for all employees within Special Note: the Catholic Education Sector as well as the broader Photos of students are used for various community, as our retirement fund is now open to communication mediums including school and anyone in Australia. Catholic Education Office websites, school and system publications, newsletters and enrolment We look forward to joining with you, your family and friends and members of your parish in celebrating posters. If any parent or guardian does not want Catholic Schools Week. their child’s photo used in any of the above situations please inform the Principal of the school in writing. DIARY DATES

St Patrick’s Parish Blacktown 26 Feb Year 12 Parent/Teacher/Student Night 4pm-8pm ORIGINAL ART SALE FROM Blood bank visit for Senior Students Year 11 Excursion to Long Reef CENTRAL AUSTRALIA 28 Feb Disco - Years 9 to 12 2 March Clean up Australia Schools’ Day Friday 9th March 2007 7pm - 10pm Year 8 Music Excursion (To be opened by Bishop K Manning - 5 March College Assembly ELLA Test Year 7 & 8 Bishop of Parramatta) Year 12 Agriculture Excursion Farm Gate Trial Light refreshments will be served 7 March Year 12 2006 BBQ 5:30pm Saturday 10th March 10am - 3pm Disco Years 7 & 8 8 March International Women’s Day To be held in the St Patrick’s Church Hall 9 March CGSSSA Volleyball 51-59 Allawah Street CSDA Public Speaking Blacktown 10 March Working Bee 8am - 12 noon PROCEEDS TO AID CLERGY RETIREMENT 12 March Open Night for 2008 - 6pm