4 November 2008

ISSUE 17

TERM 4 WEEK 4 CAROLINE CHISHOLM COLLEGE

Caroline Chisholm College 90 - 98 The Lakes Drive

Glenmore Park , NSW 2745

NEWSLETTER

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

1/2

AWARDS 4

YEAR 12 GRADUATION

5/6

ALL SAINTS DAY 7

PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK

8

CAREERS 8

AQUATHON 8

PARENT LINE TIPS 9

NOTICES 10

DIARY DATES 10

FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

3

FROM THE LEADER OF LEARNING & TEACHING

3

MT TOMAH EXCURSION

3

College Phone Numbers: Student Absences

Ph: 4737 5555 School Fees

Ph: 4737 5520 Enrolment Enquiries

Ph: 4737 5506 Uniform Shop Ph: 4737 5522

General Information Ph: 4737 5500

Fax: (02) 4733 1054 Email:

carolinechisholm@ parra.catholic.edu.au

LOG ON TO OUR WEBSITE www.carolinechisholm.nsw.edu.au TO VIEW THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES:

FROM THE PRINCIPAL Dear Parents, Friends, Staff and Students of Caroline Chisholm College,

Last Friday our college community commemorated the Feasts of All Saints and All Souls with a reflective liturgy prepared by Mrs Cocks, Ms O’Brien, Ms Morley and the Students’ Liturgy Committee. A focus for our liturgy was the banner that contained the names of the deceased loved ones of our community members. This banner and our Book of Remembrance will be features of our Sacred Space area throughout November.

These symbols help us not only to publicly acknowledge those who have died but also fill us with great hope. Our Christian faith offers us comfort from the knowledge that the spirits of those who die continue to live forever. While faith does not diminish the feelings of genuine pain and loss that we feel when someone close to us dies, it does offer us a real way forward as we try to deal with our sorrow. Last week many members of our community were saddened by the death of loved ones. Last Thursday the funeral mass of Fr Kevin Hannan who was the foundation priest of Our Lady of the Way Parish, Emu Plains was celebrated. Fr Hannan was ordained a priest in 1954 and from that time exercised a wonderful ministry to all whom he met. Last Friday we learnt of the death of Mr David Dawson in a car accident. Our sincere sympathy is extended to his family at this time.

May eternal rest be granted unto them, O Lord May unending light shine upon them

May they rest in peace. Amen

Valerie (Year 11) and her mother, Caroline Dawson were injured in the accident. Please remember all the family and their friends in your prayers. Learning and Resource Centre - our former library! Excellent progress has been made over the past four weeks on this project which will provide improved learning spaces for our students. Our next newsletter will have some photos of the new areas. Picnic at Hanging Rock Congratulations to all our talented drama students for their strong performances in this production. Thank you to Ms Felton who directed this production and Mrs Tuting, Mrs Rowe and Mrs Key for their contributions. Thank you to Gemma Hughes (Year 9) who provides ongoing technical support for our productions. Dance Showcase The impressive dance and composition talents of our students were clearly on display last Friday night. Congratulations to all the students and thank you to Ms Latty who prepared the showcase. Thank you also to Mrs King, Mrs Hughes, Ms Felton, Ms O’Brien, Ms Cusack and Ms Eyles for their involvement.

FROM THE PRINCIPAL CAROLINE CHISHOLM COLLEGE

Date Claimer! Please remember to keep 2nd to 5th December free if your daughter studies Visual Arts or Photography or 3rd December if your daughter studies Music. These are the showcase nights for these subjects! H.S.C. Update These are progressing and the students generally appear to be happy with the papers and their performance. Please continue to remember them in your prayers. School Certificate Tests These take place next week and I hope that Year 10 students are working very hard to prepare for these tests in English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography - Civics and Citizenship and Computing. Practice questions, as all students are aware, are available on the Board of Studies Website www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au. To help them prepare for these tests, Year 10 have a study day on Friday. If any parents wish their daughter to spend this day studying at school rather than at home, please contact Mrs Harris and this will be arranged. Year 7 2009 Orientation On Friday our newest members of our community will join us for the day. I know that all our current students will make them feel very welcome. Pacific School Games Congratulations to the three students from Caroline Chisholm College who have been selected as members of the NSW Pacific School Games Track and Field Team: Lauren Clark Shannon Jennings Tavleen Singh Congratulations and best wishes to Lauren, Tavleen and Shannon for this competition. Yours sincerely Ms Christine Howe Principal

FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

LEADER OF LEARNING & TEACHING MT TOMAH SCIENCE EXCURSION

CAROLINE CHISHOLM COLLEGE

FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

Parking around the college This is a message for parents and students. Parking in the streets around the college can be difficult at times but it is sometimes necessary as there is limited parking in the grounds. However, parents and, particularly, students need to be aware of some key road rules for parking. You may have read in the local papers of incidents were fines were issued outside McCarthy College and St Dominic’s College for people parking incorrectly. I would hate for this to happen here. We have heard that council rangers have been looking at the parking of cars in the area surrounding the college. The main rules to draw to your attention are • not parking within 10m of an intersecting road (i.e. a

corner) • not parking across driveways and footpaths • not parking on footpaths and nature strips • not parking within 1m of a vehicle parked in front or

behind In addition, I would ask that general courtesy be displayed towards our neighbours, for example, don’t park across bins on bin collection day as the truck needs to be able to access the bin with its mechanical arm. I would also ask that, if there is room in front, parents move to the front of the drop-off zone before letting their daughters out. You daughters may have to walk an extra 30 metres to the entrance but it is much more considerate for cars behind you and for cars attempting to enter the college. I would also remind parents that no cars should be entering the college grounds to pick up or drop off students in the morning between 7.45am and 8.30am and in the afternoon between 2.30 and 3.00 pm. Buses need to enter the grounds and teachers’ cars are also entering and leaving and large numbers of students are crossing the entrance roads. “Doing the Right Thing Awards” Students who help with clean up and litter are eligible for a “Doing the Right Thing Award”. Congratulations to Maddie Clark (7 Wright), Rachel Curmi (7 Wright) and Molly Deal (7 Wright) who receive vouchers for the canteen for being the students whose names were drawn from the box. All students who put in award slips will have points credited to their house. Mr Greg King Assistant Principal

FROM THE LEADER OF LEARNING & TEACHING Year 11 students are now entering into their HSC studies. Assessment schedules will be distributed this week and most subjects will have their first assessment task this term. The procedures related to Illness/Misadventure are outlined in the front of the book and I encourage parents to read through this with their daughter. Year 10 sit for the School Certificate examinations next week (10-12 November). Students have received information about these tests and should now be finalising their revision and have all necessary equipment ready for the days of the tests. Year 9 also begin their yearly examinations next week, beginning on Thursday. Timetables for these have been issued and students should be preparing for these exams. If your daughter is unwell on the day of an exam, please inform the Year Coordinator, Miss Prosser, who will make alternative arrangements for the completion of the exam. In many cases, these exams are the final assessment for the year and in all subjects they contribute towards the final grade. Thus, it should only be in the case of serious illness or misadventure that a student is absent. As always, a written explanation of absence is required on the day of return to school, and should be submitted to the Year Coordinator. If the absence is due to illness, a Doctors Certificate is requested. Ms Lisa-Maree Browning Leader of Learning & Teaching Mt Tomah Science Excursion On Tuesday 18th October Year 8 went on a science excursion to Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens. Once we got to the gardens we headed into the class room where we were handed an activity sheet and met our tour guides. There were two sections of the gardens that we walked through - the Rock Gardens and the Rain Forest. At the Rock Garden we sketched the different types of plants, recorded the temperature of rocks, air, wind density and amount of UV rays. In the Rain Forest we took a look at different animals and creatures that live there like spiders, leg-less lizards, baby gliders and animal bones. Our tour guide helped us fill out the food chain and food web, then showed us places that animals live and nest in. After the Rain Forest we went back to the class room to have lunch. The excursion was exciting and exhausting and we had a great time learning about animals, food chains and food webs in different eco-systems. Simone Varlow and Brianna Seabrook - Year 8

AWARDS CAROLINE CHISHOLM COLLEGE

Dawne Amaya Jaclyn Baiada Natalie Biasi Lisa Blattman Stephanie Borg Jessica Brooks Amanda Burton Francine Buttigieg Jessica Camilleri Christina Challita Julia Chan Jessica Currie Jessica Draganov Madelaine Earle Rachel Ellis Samantha Evans Antoinette Fava

Cassandra Fenton Brenda Fernando Vanessa Gale Kylie Garousse Jennifer Glynn Samantha Goddard Rachel Heaslip Lauren Heynis Caitlin Holmes Katherine Hyland Kristen Inskip Teagan Jennings Sarah Jones Laura Kelly Hannah Khalifeh Jamie King Rebecca Lesch

Christine Little Sherilyn Locmayon Christine Looyschelder Kristy Lyons Monique McCall Renee McElduff Sarah McRae Brooke Mackay Sarah Majdoub Blaire Marchand Jemma Mifsud Leanne Miller-Bassett Sophie Mitchell Amy Morgan Lisa Morgan Stephanie Ornelas Monica Owen

Michelle Piccirilli Natalie Pitkin Caitlin Quirk Marissa Rodwell Tara Ryan Cory Sciberras Carlie Smith Deanne Stindl Madelaine Tahija-Quinn Stephanie Valle Natalie Vella Catherine Warren Gabrielle Whitney Bernadette Whitty Renee Willemse

Year 11 Principal’s Awards

Bronze Award Year 7 Anne Prcevich Crysta Nicole Booth Emma Maree Felsch Jessica Kathleen O'Sullivan Kahla Ashley Cini Lauren Ashley Austin Rachel Lauren Curmi Rebecca Vella Stephanie Louise McDonald Tanisha Kris Tavae Year 8 Amy Lee Cardwell Ashleigh Jane Martin Brittany Jayde Velcich Brooke Sharon Raynel Chane Chalice Cheri Ann Watts-Sands Dana Elyse Bourke Ellen Irene Toan Emma Louise Jones Erinn Richelle Graha Amir Gabrielle Kovacek Jacinda Ellen Lumtin Jessica Jean McBroom Julia Berry Karla Lyn Taylor Karlee Eleanor Rance Katelyn Marie Sultana Krista Shannon Hackenberg Laura Signorelli Laura Therese Patterson Lauren Therese Burke Lucy Elise Gillett Madeleine Peta Hutchins Marie Gretel De Jesus Melissa Ann Borg Mia McPhillips

Rachel Anne Sims Rebecca Anne Sidhom Rebecca Buenaventura Cardwell Rebecca Jade Collins Rebekkah Georgia Humphrey Rhiannan Cukas Sarah Jessica Stansbie Taryn {Lee} Blackhurst Therese Mary Saab Vanessa Irena Rodger Year 9 Lauren Ashley Holmes Maria Gabrielle De Jesus Maxilene Joanna Moutzouras Navjeet Kaur Simone Cheree Mihelic Year 10 Kristie-Ann Rossiter Shelly Radakovic Stephanie Louise Cachia Zenia Sukhmani Year 11 Kylie Michele Garousse Silver Award Year 7 Alanah Marie Ellul Anne Marie Alimangohan Kanchan Preet Nagra Lorrina Al-Khouri Mary-Anne Leonardo Samantha Ha Year 8 Brooke Sharon Raynel Carol Youssef Cheri Ann Watts-Sands Erin Mifsud Gabrielle Kovacek Jessica Therese Hocking

Madeleine Peta Hutchins Madeline Arnold Rachel Anne Sims Rebekkah Georgia Humphrey Year 9 Brittany Sarah Kenny Natasha Louise Fordham Year 10 Charlene Rahme Emily Bernadette Clifton Renee Ashleigh Dimech Gold Award Year 7 Alyssa Jane Strong Anne Marie Alimangohan Lysandra Dale Bonarius Madeline Louise Smith Natasha Vinita Chandra Sarah Marie Alimangohan Year 8 Rebekkah Georgia Humphrey Year 10 Bianca Christine Azzopardi

CAROLINE CHISHOLM COLLEGE

CAROLINE CHISHOLM COLLEGE

ALL SAINTS DAY

CAROLINE CHISHOLM COLLEGE

PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK CAREERS

AQUATHON

CAROLINE CHISHOLM COLLEGE

Picnic at Hanging Rock On Friday 24th and Saturday 25th October girls from Years 7-10 performed in the co-curricular production of Picnic at Hanging Rock. Picnic at Hanging Rock is about a trip by a party of girls, who travel to Hanging Rock in Victoria for a picnic on Valentine’s Day 1900. The excursion ends in tragedy when three girls and a teacher mysteriously vanish after climbing the rock. Only one girl is ever seen again; no reason for their disappearance is ever given, and the one girl who returned had apparently fallen and hit her head, according to a doctor who examined her, and has no memory of what had happened to the others. Where are the girls? And who is responsible…..? A special thank you to Ms Rowe for organising and assisting with the costumes. And a big thank you to Mr Corrigan for the innovative and beautiful set construction. And finally- a great big warm thank you to the parents of the students who have supported and transported the girls to and from all of those after school rehearsals. Ms Felton and Mrs Tuting

Careers In week 8 students in Years 9, 10 and 11 have the opportunity to complete their tax file application at school. Year 9 students will complete the form in year assembly while other students may obtain a form from Mr Petit. Students will need to obtain various details to help them complete the form and these are described in the parent note coming home week 4. All school records must be accurate before the forms are checked and processed at school! If your daughter has changed address please make sure that the school has accurate details or the tax form will not be processed. St Patricks Business College (Catholic College) has an open day on Sunday 16th November 11 am to 1 pm. It has courses in Business Marketing, Business Administration (secretarial services), Hospitality and Event management. Phone 0283062311.

HSC and preliminary lectures for students over the January holidays can be found on www.edassist.com.au. Mr Marc Petit Careers Officer Aquathon On Friday 24th October, 17 students participated in the CGSSSA Aquathon held at Merrylands Swimming Centre. The day started off great with the weather being on our side and our girls excited and ready to compete. Our girls competed in all three divisions including individual and team events. The senior teams started the morning and the intermediate and junior sections followed. The course was a 5km run for the seniors, 4km run for the intermediates and a 3km run for the juniors which was completed by a 400m swim. The day ran extremely well with thanks going to our wonderful PE teachers Ms Field, Ms Connolly and Mrs Muscat. Without the teachers’ great organisation skills and immense enthusiasm from both students and teachers the Aquathon would not have been such a huge success. Congratulations to all girls who participated on the day who included the following: Yr 7: Ciara Fletcher, Alison Ruse, Brooke Armstrong and Lauren Austin Yr 8: Lucy Palu, Alanna Stephens, Lauren Maddock and Erin Hawkins. Yr 9: Alix Roberts, Bianca Peacock and Jessie O’Connor. Yr 10: Paige Blake Yr 11: Annie Fava, Annie Collins, Jessie Currie, Sarah Jones and Rachel Heaslip Some of the stand out results on the day were as follows: 2nd Senior Individual – Yr 10 Paige Blake 3rd intermediate Team – Yr 9 Bianca Peacock & Jessie O’Connor Rachel Heaslip - Year 11

PARENT LINE TIPS CAROLINE CHISHOLM COLLEGE

Building Resilience - Communication in Families Over the last two months we have been looking at how to build resilience in families. Last month we explored the usefulness of family meetings in assisting parents and children to be able to discuss issues and problem solve. Family meetings or family communication is a way for parents to models good communication skills. It isn’t just at family meetings that some of these skills are useful. They are a useful tool for parents to use when talking through problems and negotiating issues within the family at any time. HOW ARE DECISIONS REACHED AT A FAMILY MEETING? The family meeting is not like a court. It isn’t to find who is responsible for a problem. The focus has to be on finding answers or solutions instead. The first step after an issue is discussed is to allow everyone to brainstorm possible solutions. Brainstorming involves anyone and everyone being allowed to suggest ideas of all kinds even if they sound unrealistic. These are then discussed in more detail to sort out which options are practical and likely to be successful. When it is time to make a decision about the best option there are two ways this can be done. One is by a democratic vote where the decision that gets the most votes is selected. This is the simplest and quickest way of making a decision. The disadvantage of this approach is that those who lose the vote may be unhappy with the decision and not cooperate in carrying it out. Also it can be difficult if there are more children than adults! A vote for a new PS2 might be on the cards very quickly. A better approach may be to try and reach agreement by consensus. This often takes more time but it can be a way of satisfying everyone. WHAT IS CONSENSUS? Consensus requires the agreement of everyone and takes time. The solution has to be discussed and changed until everyone is happy with it. Once agreement is reached the solution can be trialled out for a week until the next meeting and be discussed again if needed. If no consensus is reached at a meeting it may mean that things stay as they are until the issue is discussed further. Or perhaps the parents make a decision until a consensus is reached at another time. The strength of consensus is that it means there are no winners and losers on decisions. It also teaches young people to think about the needs of others and to develop the important skill of compromising. Some parents feel more comfortable presenting a list of options to their children that they have agreed on before the meeting and allowing the family to decide which of these options is best. Know that it is OK if no agreement is reached straight away. This is a sign that people are really thinking and caring about what is happening in the family. The more discussion and time involved in reaching a decision, the more your children will have time to think and to consider the views of others. WHY NOT GIVE IT A TRY Done in the right spirit, family meetings will be a cherished memory of good times in the family and will enable your children to grow into more responsible and sensitive adults. Rituals such as family meetings give everyone an opportunity to feel a strong sense of belonging and love. Now is the time to start planning your first meeting! Talk to one of the counsellors at Parent Line for the cost of a local call about any parenting issue that is concerning you on 1300 1300 52. Parent Line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is run by a team of experienced, professional counsellors. Parent Line is funded by NSW Department of Community Services and Managed by Centacare (Sydney).

NOTICES

DIARY DATES CAROLINE CHISHOLM

COLLEGE

DIARY DATES 7 Nov Year 7 (2009) Orientation Day Year 10 Study Day 10-13 Nov School Certificate Examinations 11 Nov Armistice Day 13-19 Nov Year 9 Examinations 14 Nov College Assembly 16 Nov Christmas Hamper Appeal Commences 21 Nov Year 12 Formal 24 Nov Blood Bank visit for Senior Students 25 Nov ESSA Test 26 Nov Year 12 Ancient History Excursion - University of Sydney 27 Nov Year 10 Study Skills Day 28 Nov College Assembly 2 Dec Visual Arts Exhibition Opening 2-5 Dec Visual Exhibition 3 Dec Music Showcase Evening 10-11Dec Peer Support Training 10 Dec Year 10 Formal 12 Dec Presentation Day 17 Dec End of Year Mass Assemblies 18 Dec College Pastoral Day 19 Dec Student / Parent / Teacher Meetings

Come and join us for St Columba’s High School’s first annual Film Festival! 7.30pm Wednesday October 29th. The festival begins at 7.30pm in the Brauer Hall. Join us from 7.00pm for refreshments. There are trophies and awards to be won – just like the Logies!

If you have any questions please phone Julia Brest, Film Festival Co-ordinator, at school on 47541022 or email Julia at jbrest@parra.catholic.edu.au

Grab a group of St Columba’s friends and come along.

To all ex students and staff, you are invited to come back and join together for an evening of reminiscing, Saturday 15th November, from 4pm 8pm in the St Columba’s Quadrangle. Free sausage sizzle available, BYO drinks, nibbles, picnic. If you are able to come, please contact the school office 4754 1022.

St Columba’s Alumni School Reunion

First Annual Film Festival at St Columb’s