ISSUE 9 | Week 9, Term 2 - Friday 30 June 2023

PRINCIPAL'S WELCOME

Dear Families,

Exclamations of “there’s a rainbow!” followed by cries of delight were the first voices I heard at school last Monday. And sure enough, at about 8.15am the sun and rain collided in that scientific way that produces a rainbow directly over the primary students. Their sense of joy at this beauty in the sky was intoxicating – sharing this news with me as if it were indeed the most marvellous thing they had ever seen. It was a perfect start to the week. Since our last Newsletter, the College has ignored the change in temperature, the sudden bursts of howling icy winds and the consistent rainfall – choosing instead to find rainbows (arches of colour) in our learning, celebrating and showcasing of life at St Dominic’s Priory College.

In Week 7 we held a morning tour of prospective parents. I was pleased to be joined by key staff and a number of student leaders in hosting over 100 families. It was with gratitude that we walked through the College, sharing the learning environments, answering questions and talking about what it means to be a student and a staff member at St Dom’s. The College is currently interviewing for 2026 and 2027 enrolments.

In this past week I was pleased to meet parents with their daughters at the Year 9 Breakfast. Great conversations were overheard along with laughter as daughters discovered more about their parents when they were in Year 9. It was a lovely way to welcome parents to the College, share our new facilities and provide an opportunity for some Parent - Daughter bonding! Thank you to Josie Revesz and Muriel Noujaim for their leadership in this activity. The Primary students enjoyed a trip to Japan (Reception), and India (Year 1), a whole day in Pyjamas (Year 3), and the traditional walk back in time to medieval Europe/England (Year 4). Activities, dress-ups, projects, cooking and designing were all part of their work and there was much enjoyment by all – including teachers and their supporters, Lisa Baumber and Del Heggs. Thank you to all.

In this Newsletter I wanted to take the opportunity to offer gratitude to Mrs Chris Purgacz. Chris has recently retired from serving on the College Board, having been a Director for 7 years. Chris is an exceptional member of our St Dom’s community. She worked here for many years as both an educator and leader. She continues to be present in the school volunteering in the primary school and as a regular relief teacher. We know Chris as an educator with a strong faith and commitment to our Church. She is a generous worker who understands the important world of junior primary children and how they learn. She has watched girls grow in confidence through their primary years and has delighted when they graduate. We are very grateful to Chris, her work, her commitment, her wisdom, friendship and generous spirit enjoyed by us all. Thank you Chris.

Whilst this is our last week with the girls as they head into their three week holiday, the staff will be at school next week engaged in a variety of Professional Learning opportunities including; Child Safeguarding, Work Health and Safety, digital learning platforms, staff wellbeing, Staff Formation Day along with assessing, marking, and planning for second semester. We hope that all families enjoy the three week break and I look forward to hearing of your thoughts on this longer break in the middle of the year.

In the meantime, Year 12 students are exam ready while Year 10 and 11 students are celebrating the end of their exams. Middle school students have finalised assignments and are now thinking about Gala Day, while the primary school is reflecting on their successful Arts Showcase on Wednesday.  Congratulations to all.

Keep in mind that Term 3 will be our opportunity to host the Parents & Friends Quiz Night, on Saturday 26 August. This year we will be on campus and hope to gather for friendship and fun. Additionally, Term 3 is all things Fete – you will see a notice from the Auction Committee in this Newsletter and many more to come over the next three months.

Please note students will be dismissed on Friday at 2.30pm and all girls will return to the College on Monday 24 July.  During the three week break, the College Office will be open as follows:

Monday 3 and Tuesday 4 July: 1pm - 4pm
Wednesday 5 July: CLOSED
Thursday 6 to  Friday 21 July: weekdays 9am - 3pm

Wishing you a holiday break that finds you welcoming rainbows – the real ones and the metaphoric ones.

Dr Helen Steele
COLLEGE PRINCIPAL

CONDOLENCES

Our sympathy and prayers are extended to the family of Dr Lan Anh (Maria) Do (Class of 2000), who recently lost her brave battle with Cancer. We wish to assure her parents Tuan Ngoc Do and Lan Thi Nguyen, and family, of our continued support. Lan Anh leaves behind three young children. May she rest in peace.

PARENTS & FRIENDS FUNDRAISER

SCHOOL UMBRELLAS - $25ea

Now available to purchase direct from the College Office!!  Payment can be made in person via cash or EFTPOS, or else ordered over the phone from the Finance Office (08) 8331 5100 and collected during school hours*.

*Please note School Holiday Office Hours above.

FETE +AUCTION NEWS

DIRECTOR OF FAITH & MISSION

‘To contemplate and share the fruits of one’s contemplation’.

No doubt you have heard people say and perhaps even experienced yourself, life passing by rather quickly.  We all, I’m sure, have been engaged in conversations where comments have been made about how fast the day unfolded or how busy it was, wishing there were more hours in the day, or having little time to stop and think.  Life can certainly be busy.

Today we hear of the many benefits to mental health and overall wellbeing when practices such as mindfulness, meditation, attentive breathing, and gratefulness are exercised.  They invite us to pause, be still, silent, reflective, and be present to the here and now.

The Dominican motto ‘Contemplata aliis tradere’ which is to contemplate and share with others (or hand down to others) the fruits of contemplation’ also invites an attentiveness to life that likewise provides benefits for oneself and others.  Occasions such as the Year 12 Retreat experience and year level reflection days are aimed at teaching our students the importance of putting in place the pause in everyday life, that is, making time to step out of the usual daily routines and becoming familiar with practices such as those aforementioned.  Doing so, can also lead a person to become attuned to the Unifying Spirit that provides clarity, inner peace, harmony, joy, connection, wisdom, and many other fruits, that not only serve the individual well, but others also. 

As we look to develop our students’ knowledge, understanding, and capacity to be contemplative, the objective is that when they re-engage with the routines of everyday life, they are likewise more attentive to see, hear, and experience those same fruits in their daily lived reality, even when all it all seems busy.

Mr  Joseph Catania
DIRECTOR OF FAITH & MISSION

YEAR 12 RETREAT

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STUDENT COUNSELLOR

Giving Consent or Learning to say “No”

There has been a lot of debate over the past few years about the importance of sending out clear messages. We need to communicate clearly to one another what our wishes are. We need to give clear “consent” or we need to clearly say “No, thank you”.

This can be specifically important as our older students navigate their way in relationships.

This however can be extrapolated into every part of our lives.

• Whether it’s parents dealing with children.
• Friends dealing with friends.
• Girls managing partnership relationships.
• Work in teams.
• Children who may be placed in coercive situations (Child Safeguarding Strategies).

These signals or messages need to be clear and unambiguous, and the recipient needs to respect the wishes of the other person.

In teaching the Child Protection Curriculum the students are clearly taught that:

• Sexual abuse
• Physical abuse
• Neglect
• Emotional abuse

is never ok, and children need to seek the assistance of a trusted adult and learn the strategies of how to respond to this sort of behaviour.

The difficulty with women and young girls is that by our very nature, there may be a perception that we tend to be agreeable. We want to please people, we don’t want to upset others. So there are times when we are coerced into activities we may not otherwise choose to do. This is where we need to teach our girls to be very clear in their wishes and how to be assertive.

I use the “Goldie Locks” principle:

• Not too hot (aggressive)
• Not too cold (passive)
• Just right (assertive)

We must make sure we are clear in our messaging/signals through:

• Body language
• Tone of voice
• The words we choose.

From another perspective, it will help if parents are to role model assertive behaviour so that their children learn from them the importance of putting boundaries in place and not enable coercive, emotional blackmailing, tantrum throwing, guilt tripping being reinforced patterns of behaviour that children might take with them through life.

We need to teach our students what behaviour from others is unacceptable, about setting their own personal boundaries and teach strategies of how to respond when the intention of others is to take advantage and force us to do something for which we don’t give consent.  

Mrs Georgia Meyer
STUDENT COUNSELLOR

TUCKSHOP NOTICES

The Term 3 Tuckshop menu, inclusive of Wednesday Specials, will be updated on the Parent Hub of the College Website and My School Account online ordering portal, before the commencement of classes in July.  Please keep the following links handy for your reference:  Parent Hub | My School Account 

YEAR 9 REPORT

The Year 9 students have been involved in many activities both on and off campus, far too many in fact to discuss in this article. Within this Newsletter spot you will read about Chloe Addison’s amazing achievements. On Monday 19 June we have had our inaugural Year 9 Parent Breakfast, where parents or another nominated family member were invited to attend. The main focus for this event was to enhance and develop further the wellbeing of our students, through teen connecting with family. We constantly hear in the media that good parent-school partnerships are one of the best ways to support children’s learning, development and wellbeing. Students were given a series of questions to interview their parent and perhaps uncover information that they may not have known before. Breakfast boxes were provided to share during this activity. As a follow up students will share in class the presentation put together to summarise this task. Thank you to all who took part.

Josie Revesz
YEAR 9 COORDINATOR

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yLEAD ALTITUDE DAY

On Wednesday 31 May, the Year 9 SRCs participated in an educational leadership program held at the Adelaide Convention Centre called ‘yLead Altitude Day’. Altitude Day was an enjoyable and inspiring event that encouraged the development of leadership in today's youth, where we as a collective were empowered to unlock our hidden potential as leaders and grow as individuals. Year 9 student leaders from different schools gathered to learn from motivational speakers who have struggled with social problems such as racism and poverty and have fought against adversity with a strong sense of change and justice, to bring upon our new generation. Some key messages that were emphasised by the presenters and which we found very helpful included:

1. Be your first and only supporter.
2. Embrace your diversity; it’s okay to be different from others!
3. Redefine failure; failure is success in progress.

Furthermore, we engaged in exciting "get to know you" activities with students from different schools, which was an unforgettable experience that created many new friendships. We give thanks to yLead for planning such a wonderful event, as well as Mrs Revesz, who spent the day taking care of us!

Tran Lam, Kelly Dang, Ngoc (Celina) Nguyen, Selena Le, Olivia Morgante & Maiya Krenc
YEAR 9 SRCs

SCIENCE FACULTY REPORT

Science encourages students to ask questions, test, and try new things. Science also helps students see how experiments can fail or succeed—leading to learning about trial and error. Here at St Dominic’s students from Year 7 to 12 are studying the latest ACARA 9.0 Curriculum. The faculty have been busy planning the changes to the curriculum this year.

In the Senior Years the introduction of Year 10 Health Science has proven a popular and valued elective as it gives students a taste of the sciences the Australian ACARA Curriculum overlooks, such as Psychology and Nutrition. To further cater for student interests, the school will now offer a continuance of Health Sciences into Year 11 with Stage 2 Nutrition. Stage 2 Nutrition covers areas highly applicable in life such as meal planning for pregnancy, nutrient balances behind diseases such as cardiovascular disease, iron-deficiency and osteoporosis. It further explores a range of macro and micronutrients, factors affecting food choices, food sustainability issues, and more!

To encourage the curiosity and interest of science at St Dominic’s students have been engaged in various excursions and activities. The Year 12 Chemistry classes started the year with attending the IUPAC Global Women in Chemistry breakfast held at University of South Australia. They have also attended an Analytical Chemistry Workshop at Finders and will participate in the National Titration Competition this term. The Year 10 students have been visited by SAPOL to talk about car safety and physics as well as a Forensic Workshop. The Year 11 Biology students had an excursion to Aldinga reef to observe the ecology of the reef. The Year 8 students have been to the museum to look at the mineral, rock and fossil collections. The Science Faculty will continue to organise new experiences for the students.

Ms Mia Li has joined the Science Faculty as our new Laboratory Assistant after 3.5 years working at SA Water. Mia worked in inorganic laboratory testing pH, conductivity, alkalinity colour and turbidity of water. Her expertise and friendly nature is helping the faculty to be fully prepared for practical work and activities. We welcome Mia to St Dominic’s.

As students prepare to make their subject choices in the Senior Years in Term 3 the Science Faculty encourage students to look at STEM careers and the benefits of critical and creative thinking to solve the issues of our times.

Ms Denise Kennedy
LEARNING AREA LEADER - SCIENCE

RECEPTION CLASS NEWS

We have had a very exciting term of learning in our Reception Class this term. We have fully immersed ourselves in our theme of Japan. We have learnt about the geographical features of Japan, the many festivals that are held there and the types of food they enjoy eating there.

As part of our learning, we used Virtual Reality (VR) to experience several Japanese simulations. We saw a Japanese rose garden, lanterns, Mamemaki Ceremony and Tokyo skyscrapers. It was amazing to feel like we were really there!

We created our own passports and have been having fun all term in our airport play-based learning environment. On Friday 23 June we celebrated Japan Day in our classroom. We dressed up, ate sushi and participated in many Japanese inspired activities.  It was a fabulous day! We are also looking forward to showcasing our beautiful Japanese artwork at this week’s Arts Showcase evening, along with performing a traditional blossom fan dance for our families.

Mrs Francine Saint
RECEPTION CLASS TEACHER

GROWTH MINDSET

Help your child to develop a growth mindset by challenging them to ‘Grow their Brain.’ New experiences, challenges, and learning new concepts can all cause new connections in the brain to form or strengthen, making the brain smarter by literally rewiring it.

Recent advances in neuroscience have shown us that the brain is far more malleable than we ever knew. Research on brain plasticity has shown how connectivity between neurons can change with experience. With practice, neural networks grow new connections, strengthen existing ones, and build insulation that speeds the transmission of impulses. These neuroscientific discoveries have shown us that we can increase our neural growth through our actions, such as using good strategies, asking questions, practising, and following good nutrition and sleep habits. (https://www.mindsetworks.com/science/

Learn more about the neuroplasticity of  your brain: CLICK HERE

DIRECTOR OF THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

Another term is coming to an end and the first semester has quickly disappeared. We know the students and staff are looking forward to the holidays so they can recharge their batteries and come back refreshed for the final semester for 2023. The second semester brings so many interesting and educational activities for the parents, staff, and students.

ARTS SHOWCASE

It was lights, camera, and action on Wednesday night when the Primary Classes R-6 showcased their dramatic, musical and dance skills in the College Hall, followed by a display of their artwork in the Adams Mayo Building and St Mary's Cloister. The evening was extremely well attended, and our parents were supportive and a positive audience. we enjoyed the varied performances. The enthusiasm and commitment from our students was very obvious and the energy high.

END OF SEMESTER AWARDS

St Dominic Service and Community Award in recognition of being a peacemaker, problem solving for positive relationships, being inclusive and showing care and concern for members of our community. Congratulations to: Emily, Aria H, Chelsea, Madison L, Lily E, Emilia RP, Adele, Savreet.

Mother Rose Columba Adams Visual Arts Award in recognition of showing excellence in skill development in visual arts. Congratulations to: Tammy, Nevena, Grace, Kiera, Anna, Isabelle, Amanda, Ayami, Manhaz.

Sister Rose Mayo Performing Arts Award in recognition of excellence in music, dance, drama. Congratulations to: Evangeline, Ananya, Khushi, Annabelle, Harper, Muskaan, Sophie, Lola, Catherine.

St Catherine of Siena Study Award in recognition of showing application to study and persistence to learning across a range of curriculum areas. Congratulations to: Margaret, Celine, Isabelle S, Olivia K, Ava, Sherry, Isla, Lucy, Leah.

ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

There have been many events and student/parent engagement beyond the classroom curriculum experiences. Across all year levels engagement from: Year 1 Mother’s Day Chapel Mass, Reception Mother’s Day morning liturgy and pamper session. Year 2 100 weeks at school incursion activity day. Year 3 Pyjamas Day, Pyjamas Stay, Year 4 Medieval Day feast and festival, Year 5/6 STEM Make a Difference Week, Lacrosse, Junior Choir performances, Thunder cup Netball, Year 3-6 Netball Carnival, Year 3-6 Running Club, Year 4-6 Childrens’ University activities, Year 6 Da Vinci, Year 5/6 maths Olympiad, R-12 Sports Day, and Field Day, R-6 Brainstorm cybersaftey incursion, fortnightly assemblies as well as multiple excursions. And the list goes on. We are fortunate to have teachers who value providing rich opportunities that inspire confidence inside and outside the classroom context. It is wonderful to hear the conversations the girls have after these experiences, and we thank you for your continued support.

Ms Cate O’Leary
DIRECTOR OF THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

STEM ENRICHMENT

On Friday 16 June I was honoured to represent St Dominic’s Priory College at the National Education Summit in Melbourne. Principals, school leaders and educators from K-12 attended the summit where they experienced innovative Conferences, Workshops and interactive Seminars delivered by experts and thought leaders from the education sector. On Day 1, I delivered a session on STEM across the curriculum for K-12 where I highlighted the design thinking process and showcased the work of our St Dominic’s girls.

Upon my appointment at St Dominic’s, one of the principle priorities I was delegated was 3.3; Invest in significant experiences for girls in the areas of science, engineering, design and mathematics. I began by collating and documenting the current STEM initiatives and created a document to celebrate the wealth of STEM programs, driven by the commitment of Ms Anam Dhanji, Ms Denise Kennedy, and Ms Deb Osborne. Then I initiated and facilitated additional initiatives to complement this great work, already unfolding at the College.

One of our most recent additional initiatives has been STEM Mad (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Making a Difference). We held a lunch time expo where students and teachers could come and view the many and varied projects. The Year 5 and 6 parent community were also welcomed during an evening and a morning prior to view and celebrate the girls’ projects.

Another recent initiative has been Young Women in STEM, an event hosted by the University of Adelaide of which 20 of our Year 9 and 10 students attended. The University of Adelaide has been welcoming girls onto campus for this event since 2005, providing them with the opportunity to meet current women studying SEM while undertaking a range of engaging hands-on activities, taught by technologists, engineers and mathematicians. This event was so popular with our girls, we had to use a selection process as interest was so high and tickets were limited! Thank you to Ms Dominique Limgenco and Mr Mark Mau for attending. Without the enthusiasm and commitment of our teachers, these opportunities wouldn’t be possible.

Ms Joanne Villis
DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY ENRICHMENT

YEAR 8 REPORT

The Year 8s have well and truly settled into the Adams Mayo Building. They have spent the past 8 weeks in their new classrooms and have enjoyed using a space that is peaceful and fosters their focus for learning. 

This term in Pastoral Care, our focus is “Inspiring Confidence Online”. The term began with a presentation by The Carly Ryan Foundation, providing insight and knowledge for how to keep safe online. The CRF also provides excellent parent resources to help you and your child navigate the ever-changing online world. These can be found at: https://www.carlyryanfoundation.com/resources/fact-sheets

This presentation was followed by weekly workshops in Pastoral Care that explored themes such as:

• Beware What you Share
• The Internet and the Law
• Time Management Online

In this, the girls were provided opportunity to reflect on their own screen time in a Year Level survey.

Although not all students have completed the survey, it is an interesting insight into how most Year 8 students spend their time online. TikTok took the lead as the most used app, followed closely by Instagram and Snapchat. Below is a graph that has culminated the daily average screentime as summarised by your daughter’s screen time settings.

Interestingly only 10 out of 46 students surveyed have their screentime monitored by their parents and 31 out of 46 students said that they have witnessed unkind online behaviour.

This will provide a segway into our theme for PC next term, “Inspiring Confidence in my Relationships” where the Year 8s will learn hands-on skills to help navigate friendships, maintain respectful relationships and practice how to have difficult conversations.

Ms Jessica Spagnuolo
YEAR 8 COORDINATOR

ANCIENT STUDIES

Have you ever wondered where the design ideas for Parliament House, the Art Gallery or many of the banks on King William Street originated from? Well, the Year 12 Ancient Studies students will be able to tell you! Our study unit of ‘Investigation’ is seeking to make connections between the architecture of Ancient Greece and the built environment of Adelaide constructed during the late 19^th century and early 20th century.

In their words...

This was a great opportunity to apply our learning to the real world - it was especially interesting to see the influences from Classical Greek architecture on buildings we see every day in the city. Isabella Jovel 12G

I was surprised by the sheer number of buildings that had elements of Greek influence within them, even if it was the smallest addition like a few columns at the top of the building. Isabella Cornish 12B

I was able to use the architectural language I have learnt in class to identify the different features of Greek architecture. Seeing this in person was surprising as the Greek architecture was located on many buildings that I pass by regularly but have never noticed. Bella Rivas 12G

This excursion enlightened me as to how influential the aesthetics from the ancient Greeks were. I noticed all the buildings inspired by the Acropolis. It was really interesting to be taught about Edmund Wright’s architecture all throughout Adelaide’s CBD.  Zoe Tripodi 12G

I learnt that there were different materials that were used to build these columns, such as limestone and marble, that helped add the look of wealth and power in comparison to other buildings around the city. Elise Rauda 12W

I would recommend this excursion to anyone interested in ancient history and/or architecture! Esther Scharfbillig 12B

Ms Aurora Reid and Ms Sara Nigro
ANCIENT STUDIES TEACHERS

SPORT NEWS

SATURDAY MORNING SPORT

REMINDER: The final round of games for Term 2 will be on Saturday 1 July. We are hoping not to forfeit any games due to the early start to our school holidays.  Please let Mrs Pratt know if you are unavailable for this game.

NATIONAL YOUTH CLIMBING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Between 18-21 May, Chloe Addison (9G) attended the 2023 Youth National Climbing Championships in Sydney, where over 400 athletes from across Australia and New Zealand gathered to represent their state. We congratulate her for coming away from the competition as the highest ranking South Australian athlete in her division - an impressive National Ranking of 15^th.

On 3 June, Chloe also competed in Round 2 of the Aus Cup, an Adult Bouldering Series.  We commend her on finishing the round in 3^rd Place against some very strong competitors, such as SA Olympian and multiple Ninja Warrior competitor Celeste Dixon.  

APMG BADMINTON COMPETITION

Earlier in June, Ezah Atif (7W) was awarded a first place trophy for her participation in the Adelaide Pakistanis Multicultural Group (APMG) Badminton competition. Ezah's achievement was presented by the Honorable Jing Lee MLC.

In sharing news of her achievement with the College, Ezah wished to express her and her family's heartfelt gratitude towards the coaches of her St Dominic's Badminton team.  Their efforts have not only helped her secure this significant accomplishment outside of school, but have also inspired her to pursue excellence in her chosen sport. Well done, Ezah!

AUSTRALIAN CALISTHENICS FEDERATION FINALS

The College is proud to share the news that Celina Gregory (10G) and Aria Sordillo (7W) are representing South Australia in the Australian Calisthenics Federation Finals, which will be held in Brisbane from 2 - 9 July. Calisthenics is a sport that incorporates dance and gymnastics. The girls were selected for the South Australian team back in December, and have dedicated themselves to an incredible amount of training and preparation to compete at this level. As well as representing South Australia as a member of the Junior Team next month, Aria will also compete in the ACF National Duo Finals.

STATEWIDE SCHOOLS YEAR 5/6 NETBALL

On Thursday 15 June, 11 Year 5 and 6 students competed in the first round of the Statewide Schools Netball competition at the Gardens Recreation Centre.  There were four teams in our pool: St Aloysius College, Nailsworth Primary School and Mawson Lakes Primary School.  In the first game, St Dominic's played Mawson Lakes, with the scores being very close all game. Game Two saw the girls work well as a team against Nailsworth; creating some excellent passages of play down the court. The final game was against the very skilled St Aloysius College team. The girls should be very proud of their effort, school spirit and resilience; as although we did not progress to the second round of the competition, the girls gained valuable knowledge and experience. 

SAPSASA CROSS COUNTRY 

Congratulations to Catherine MacKay (6G) who competed in the State Cross Country Championships at Oakbank on Thursday 8 June. Catherine competed well in very wet and muddy conditions in a tough field of runners from across the state. Well done, Catherine.

COMMUNITY NOTICES