ISSUE 10 | Week 2, Term 3 - Friday 4 August 2023

PRINCIPAL'S WELCOME

Welcome to Term 3. The three-week break provided us with a chance to enjoy slower days and the good company of our families. In Week 10 the College Staff engaged with Brendan Spillane, who led us in a day of reflection. In this time, we considered our own story in relation to our work at St Dominic’s. Brendan gave us much to reflect on with some great one phrases to live by including; Thank you for what you do! If you are able to be here now … it is perfect. To be an adult should look interesting to young people. Are you on purpose. I invite parents to ask staff about the day as I am sure they will have much to share.  It was indeed most rewarding and I thank Director of Faith and Mission, Joseph Catania, for his role in organising the day.

This week we celebrate our Patron Saint, Dominic de Guzman. Our Feast Day on Thursday 3 August gives us the opportunity to reflect on the inspiration Dominic has been for so many as we understand the message of the Gospel. It appears that Dominic was a man of humility who walked with the poor, speaking out against injustice. He was an educated man who could well convince others of God’s presence. As a man of deep conviction, we have much to learn from Dominic’s life of prayer, study and service. The College celebrations included Mass with Fr Philip Marshall and our traditional Gala Day. The College will also celebrate with our normal school closure day on Friday 25 August. Let us use this day to provide service to others within our community and family.

As communicated to families on Thursday 27 July, we are pleased to welcome Genesia McQuarrie to St Dominic's Priory College.  She will be overseeing the 2023 Fete. Genesia is the owner of Adelaide Event Solutions with over 18 years’ experience, delivering high level events for a range of sectors, organisations, locally, nationally, and internationally for private companies and the Government of South Australia. By now, Fete Stall Convenors will have received an email from Genesia, in the hope of confirming their stalls for 2023.  It would be appreciated if Convenors could please respond to this correspondence by Monday 7 August.  For anyone in the wider College Community who may be interested in getting involved 'behind the scenes' at this year's Fete, Genesia can be reached directly at fete@stdominics.sa.edu.au.  A full copy of the letter emailed to families last week, in both English and Vietnamese, can be accessed here.  

I bring to your attention the Parents and Friends Quiz Night to be held on Saturday 26 August. The theme is 'All things SDPC!' The questions will relate to St Dominic’s Priory College, you can dress up in this theme, bring food, buy some drinks, gather with friends and family and enjoy a night out with other parents from St Dominic’s. The full details and ticket purchasing can be found here. As alcohol will be available, it is preferred that children do not attend. Many thanks to the Quiz Night Committee and the Carpenters from Prohibition Liqour Co. for their work and support. I look forward to seeing parents on the night.

Both the College Fete and upcoming Quiz Night will be hot topics at next week's Parents & Friends Meeting; to be held in the Adams Mayo Library from 7:30pm on Thursday 10 August.  Entry is via the new College Reception (sliding doors) at 139 Molesworth Street.  All welcome.   

Brendan Spillane described joy as being transcendent and kindness as being transformational.   This term we saw the arrival of our Little Dom’s who have been learning their way around the College and bringing joy to everyone they meet. I hope too we can find that joy in each other and in our work whilst offering kindness to those around us.

I trust you will enjoy reading this week’s Newsletter.

Dr Helen Steele
COLLEGE PRINCIPAL

ST DOMINIC'S FEAST DAY

BLESSED & CHOSEN

This years St Dominic Feast Day Mass theme was ‘Blessed & Chosen’.

Students learned about the origins of the words and were provided with the opportunity to reflect on who ‘speaks well of them’, and in turn, how they ‘speak well of others. Likewise, they considered how, just to be born is to be chosen. St Dominic was a person blessed and chosen to live out his life being true to who he was, tasked with a mission to remind others of their own blessedness and chosenness, doing so in his particular way. Our feast day theme reminds us of our unique and individual call to bring to life our gifts and talents, not only so that we come alive to who we are, but also play our part in doing so for the good of all people, so that all may live life to the fullest. This is, after all, an essential element of Jesus’ mission which is grounded in a vision of the world God desires.

Mr Joseph Catania
DIRECTOR OF FAITH & MISSION

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FROM THE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

Welcome to Term 3.

In particular, a warm welcome to our youngest 6 Little Doms students; Scarlett A, Kaja, Jenny, Scarlett G, Martine, Alina and Hayley.  Term 3 marks the very first day of school for these girls and their families.  We also welcome Ella M and her family to the Year 5 community.  We have been overjoyed to have these girls on campus, where they are able to learn and grow in confidence.

We have begun the term with many celebrations, namely our St Dominic’s Feast Day yesterday on Thursday 3 August.  During the day, we connected in a moving Whole School Mass, attended by representatives from other Dominican Schools in Adelaide.  There is lots to be thankful for; including the sweet black and white treats that filled our students’ bellies.  It is not over yet.  Students and staff will enjoy a School Closure Day on Friday 25 August (Week 5) to celebrate our Patron.  Please do note this date in your diary. 

Today our girls have enjoyed, what is fondly remembered as a school highlight in the life of a St Doms girl – Gala Day!

Looking back through the archives, the very first Gala Day was thought up in 1978.  As seen in the snippet of the 1978 School Magazine, this started as a small-scale idea to raise money for ‘…sports equipment and the missions…’ Sr Shirley Macklin OP oversaw this event in its infancy.  All these years later, the tradition of Gala Day continues and 45 years on, the day is somewhat larger, the dress ups even more impressive, the creativity, talent and food on offer, inclusive, multicultural and diverse.  The sentiments of the day have not changed though.  Our girls have spent their day raising money for charities dear to their hearts.  This year the chosen charities include;

• Ronald McDonald House Charities
  
• The Mary Potter Foundation
  
• Backpacks 4 SA Kids
  
• Hutt Street Centre
  
• The Village Co
  
• Treasure Boxes
  

Congratulations to our Student Leaders, under the direction of Ms Claire Ward (Student Leadership Coordinator).  As now a neighbour and valued contributor to the College, I can’t help but feel that as Sr Shirley pops over to the school from next door and hears the music and squeals, and sees the laughter and enjoyment on the girls faces, she must feel quite proud of that little idea that was born in 1978, which has become a most valued tradition at St Dominic’s Priory College.

Money raised will be announced in the coming weeks.

Ms Muriel Noujaim
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

FETE & AUCTION APPEAL

FETE & AUCTION

Each year level has now been provided with a tub, for collection of their Auction Hamper donations. See below for each year level's theme, or reread the letter distributed last term, here. 

YEAR 12 NEWS

Term 3 for our Year 12 students is very much the ‘beginning of the end’. Already the cohort have undertaken trial exams last week, are in the process of completing major assessment tasks that are due throughout the term and tackling a never-ending mountain of course work; and that is before we even get to final exams and assessments. No wonder they may feel a little overwhelmed!  It is natural for students to experience varying forms of stress at this stage of their schooling. They might be stressed about what is happening next week as well as the more distant future including the end of the year and beyond. They may be uncertain about what will happen after their final exams, or not know what they want to do after school ends.

As a parent, it can be hard not to be able to provide answers for your teen if they are stressing about the future. The clip provided below is of one parent’s perspective as they supported their daughter through her final term in Year 12.

I highly recommend the parent resource Reachout, which offers a range of interesting articles that you may find useful.

During Pastoral Care this term, our focus is very much on Future Pathways. With leadership and guidance from our Career Counsellor (Ms Louise Eustace), your daughter will set up their SATAC account and begin to make preliminary course selections. There will be an opportunity to speak one on one with representatives from Uni SA about career pathways, they will have a guest speaker on financial literacy as well as a panel of past students with the focus being on; ‘What I wish I knew this time last year’. Towards the end of the term, the students will enjoy their final Mindful Movement session with Emily Cate whose visits have been a highlight for our cohort.

Term 3 will not be without its challenges for you and your Year 12. We highly encourage you to maintain the lines of communication between home and school. Your daughter’s subject teachers, and the Year 12 Home Class team are available via email or phone if you have questions or concerns. Despite the temptation, we ask that you avoid letting your daughter have days at home to ‘catch up’. Quite often this means that important content is missed, leaving them even further behind, ultimately creating a vicious circle.

I hope you and your daughter enjoys what is their final full term of school… ever!

Ms Victoria Sayner
YEAR 12 COORDINATOR

YEAR 1 CLASS REPORT

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Term 2 has proven to be a very fruitful one for the Year 1 Class. We studied INDIA in an integrated unit through English, Science, Geography, Religion and The Arts.

We read non-fiction texts to learn about their features. We then researched animals native to India and chose an animal that we wanted to learn more about. We researched our animal in detail, taking notes, so that we could draft our own Information Text. We wrote some very interesting and informative books to learn more about animals from India.

We truly immersed ourselves with our ‘Travel to India Day'. Ms O’Leary was our Flight Captain on our trip to India, as we checked in through security and boarded the plane with our suitcases. We were served popcorn on our flight, followed our journey on the map and landed safely in India. We made and ate butter chicken, samosas and naan bread, some of us trying these foods for the first time. We used traditional Indian patterned material to design and make clothes for dolls and practiced meditation and yoga in the afternoon. We are very thankful to Ms O’Leary, Mrs Heggs and Mrs Baumber for their help on the day.

Our learning culminated in an excursion to a Hindu Temple, and also sharing a traditional Bhangra Dance at the Primary Arts Showcase. We also created our own Rangoli Design Plates and mandalas for the visual arts component of the showcase and painted pictures of both peacocks and elephants, animals native to India.

We look forward to an equally exciting time of learning this term.

Ms Melissa Lehmann & Mrs Tes Rodrigues
YEAR 1 CLASS TEACHERS

GROWTH MINDSET
From Negativity to Determination: Changing Your Mindset

Research suggests that determination is as important as intelligence in achieving goals and accomplishing success.

Your natural talents may give you a head start, but your determination will take you over the finish line. Use your determination to transform what you have into success.

Learning new skills are challenging, determination is about remaining focused on the goal. It is important not to let setbacks stop you from reaching your goals.

Determination helps you keep going regardless of obstacles you face. With determination, failure is just a diversion. It’s not an end!

NEWS FROM THE LIBRARY

The New Library…Vibrant, Engaging and Popular!

As part of the new Adams Mayo build, the College Library has been transformed into the most amazing, vibrant and incredibly popular space. In Term 2 the library relocated into the Adams Mayo Building with students enjoying the space from day 1. 

In Term 2 we also welcomed our new Library Assistant, Ms Angela Vaughan, and she hit the ground running creating brilliant displays and getting to know the staff and students at record speed.

The new library allows us the flexibility to create and display books in multiple places and over two levels, which keeps the library fresh and visible to students. Study nooks upstairs and downstairs, along with a wonderful outlook and beautiful new furniture have ensured the popularity and relevance of the library well into the future.

Moving into Term 3 we have the excitement of Book Week in Week 6 with this year’s theme, ‘Read, Grow, Inspire’ epitomising the new library and everything we aim to achieve. The Year 6 Reader’s Cup begins this week, with the competition comprising of questions from four novels, one poem, one short story and an author’s website... may the best team win!

So, with such beautiful and visible space we can only but hope that young readers are inspired to read more and engage with our wonderful space to enable positive learning outcomes.  Happy reading!

Ms Sandra Mason
LIBRARY COORDINATOR

TEACHING & LEARNING REPORT

Students in Year 10 and 11 participated in the pilot subjects Exploring Identities and Futures (EIF) and Activating Identities and Futures (AIF) this semester. These subjects will replace Personal Learning Plan (PLP) and Research Project (RP) respectively.

STAGE 1 EXPLORING IDENTITIES AND FUTURES (EIF) 

EIF is a Stage 1 subject that supports students to learn more about themselves and explore their aspirations and future. Whereas the PLP focus was on students developing their personal and learning goals and capabilities for their future based on their career pathway choices. The course did not enable the student to explore who they are and who they want to be in the future.

EIF prepares students for a different way of thinking and learning as they begin their SACE journey. Tasks helped students to build their knowledge, skills, and capabilities required to be thriving learners. The intention is to empower students to take ownership of where their pathway leads, exploring interests, work, travel and/or further learning.

All students enrolled in the subject were successful. 72% achieved an A, 21% achieved a B and 0.7% achieved a C. No D’s or E’s. There were no shifts in grades in moderation.

Some of the student comments at the end of the semester were “I loved this task (AT1 – Exploring current and Future Self) as I got to learn more about myself” “I enjoyed diving deeper into myself and working out who I was below the surface level” “I liked being able to have our own ideas and being able to have free range in choosing my subject” and “I really enjoyed showing my class my project and gaining feedback from them, it was a comfortable environment …”

Thank you to Louise Eustace for her help and support to make the EIF implementation a success. In 2024 EIF will be implemented as a Stage 1 Subject - no longer a pilot subject.

STAGE 2 ACTIVATING IDENTITIES AND FUTURES (AIF)

The RP subject focused on the students developing their research skills and applying knowledge, and ideas specific to their research question, hence RESEARCH was pinnacle to this subject. Whereas AIF encourages students to explore ideas related to an area of personal interest through a process of self-directed inquiry. AIF challenges students take greater ownership and agency of their learning. The forefront of this subject is for students to draw on relevant knowledge, skills and capabilities applying these in new contexts and selecting relevant strategies to progress the learning to a resolution. 

The majority of the students embraced this new approach from the start and were able to explore ideas and develop and appraise their own effective strategies to progress their learning.

It was pleasing to see that the students’ and teachers’ hard work was rewarded with solid results. All results were held when sent to Moderation with 42% of all grades represented at the College in the A band, 40% in B band, 18% in C band.

There were 5 A+ grades – Kha-Doanh (Vanessa) Phung (11W), Sylvie Pritchard (11G), Grace Bui (11W), Mehansa Fernando (11G) and Zashka Gunson (11N). Congratulations to these girls, and to all the Year 11s on their commendable results.

Thank you to Mrs Sandra Mason, Mrs Vicki Dent and Ms Tina Caruso for all their efforts to ensure the success of this new subject.

Ms Jo Riccio
EIF & AIF TEACHER

FAMILY REMINDERS

CONSENT2GO

Keep track of what excursions, incursions and special class or cocurricular events your daughter/s has coming up by signing in to your Consent2Go account, either via your browser of choice click here, or by downloading the Consent2Go App on your mobile device (Apple only) click here.

SPORT NEWS

REMINDER

Sport has been very difficult to organise with illness of coaches, staff and students.  If your daughter is unable to play, please ask her to let me know via email lpratt@stdominics.sa.edu.au and then she can do her very best to find a replacement.  Only as a last resort should a  team forfeit a game.  

Mrs Lyndall Pratt
SPORTS COORDINATOR

CENSUS COLLECTION NOTICE

COMMUNITY NOTICES