College news

It is with very heavy hearts that we farewelled the following staff members who finished working at our school at the end of 2021.

We thank each of them for their hard work and commitment to the learning and wellbeing of our students, and their contribution to the tapestry that makes St Mary’s College so wonderful. Helen Spencer, Principal Jacqueline Conboy, Deputy Principal Gai Bath, Counsellor Debbie Claridge, Senior teacher John Russell, Property Services Manager Phil Boulter, Utility Officer, Groundskeeper Gillian Goldsworthy, Learning Area Coordinator, HaSS and Senior teacher Estelle Levey, Music teacher Brendon Gourlay, Joint Learning Area Coordinator, Science and Senior teacher Sarah Adams, Learning Area Coordinator, Art and Languages and Senior teacher Jo Burgess, Enrolment Officer Shelley Medhurst, Acting Community Relations Manager Shona Charleston, Administration Officer Rose Andrewartha, Teacher Assistant, Learning Support

WELCOME TO NEW STAFF

We welcome the following new staff to our St Mary's College community and look forward to working with them: Damian Messer, Principal Fiona Chambers, Learning Leader, Religion Diana Nahodil, Learning Leader, Science Sonia O'Leary, Learning Leader, HaSS Julia McCullough, Lantern Coordinator, Junior School Oliva Stephen, Transition Coordinator Bradley Parkin, Secondary teacher (Maths and Science) Maggie Bowman, Secondary teacher (Music) Madeleine Botte, Year 3 Bottlebrush class teacher Alana Bickmore, Year 1 Echidnas class teacher Vanessa Kertesz, Administration Assistant (Student Services) Lily Czeszek, Secondary teacher (HPE, Outdoor Education) Kate Conway, Teacher Assistant, Learning Support Neve Macdonald, Teacher Assistant, Learning Support Erin Ramjan, Teacher Assistant, Learning Support Danika Haeusler, Prep Possums class teacher

LAPTOP CHARGING STATIONS

Senior School students can now charge their devices ‘on the go’ thanks to a new laptop charging station, which has been installed outside the Student Resource Centre. The idea for project came out of student feedback and was made possible with funding from the previous SMC Parents and Friends’ Association. It’s currently running as a trial with plans for it to be reviewed this year.

Meet SMC’s newest staff member, Miss Millie. She’s no ordinary teacher though—she’s of the furry four-legged kind and she has a very ‘im-paw-tant’ job. A six-month-old Old English Sheepdog, Millie is currently in training as a therapy dog in our Junior School, where she will provide a morale boost (and plenty of hugs and licks) when students need it most.

Therapy dogs are proven to reduce anxiety and stress in students and provide a sense of connection during difficult times in a child’s development. Research also shows they can help boost school attendance. Millie is learning under the expert guidance of Heather Collet, our Junior School Administration Assistant.

BUSH TUCKER GARDEN

Our edible garden is starting to evolve with the addition of Tasmanian native bush food plants. During the Christmas school holidays our ‘chef of all trades’, Murphy’s Café Manager and Sustainability Officer, Phil Shanny, along with our College Receptionist, Traci-Jean Berresford went along to kipli takara for a bush food walk and history tour at piyura kitina (Risdon Cove). While walking this special piece of palawa land they heard about the history of the area and the native bush foods currently in season at piyura kitina, and sampled those native foods. After experiencing a morning tea of native flavours, fully catered by palawa kipli, Phil and Traci-Jean were inspired to bring some of those beautiful gifts from the land to our gardens here at St Mary’s. As we look after the land we gather on and eat sustainably, we can celebrate the traditions of the original owners of this land and learn the meaning behind these offerings and how people live off the land. As an interactive and productive space, the edible bush garden will be managed by Phil and our students, with the bush plants to eventually feature in the delicious meals served at Murphy’s. Some of the plants include native mint, native raspberry, native cherry, salt bush and pigface.

SCHOOL TV

The College has welcomed the launch of SchoolTV—a streamlined, aggregated online wellbeing resource for schools and parents. SchoolTV addresses the modern-day realities of raising safe, happy and resilient young people using credible and sound information from a range of experts. The platform shares realistic and practical strategies through the use of videos, fact sheets, suggested books, apps and a website to help support our students’ wellbeing. Find out more via the SchoolTV link on the College website.

Opposite page, top to bottom: Phil Boulter and John Russell, Debbie Claridge, Jacqueline Conboy and the new laptop charging station.This page, top to bottom: Millie the therapy dog, the bush tucker garden and SchoolTV.

Junior School students are excited to have even more options for creative, outdoor play with the introduction of a wonderful water play structure, sensory wall and sandpit in front of the Convent which complements the new raised garden feature outside Kinder. The fun doesn’t stop there, with a permanent four square in the Junior School outdoor area, which means students can get straight into games during breaks.

YEAR 2 BOYS FAREWELLED

It was a bittersweet day on 26 November 2021 as we farewelled our Year 2 boys with a Liturgy and graduation ceremony in St Mary’s Cathedral. After having the pleasure of knowing the boys for some four years, the College will miss their smiling faces and vibrant personalities. We wish them all the best in their future education and thank them for being such a treasured part of our SMC community.

GUILFORD YOUNG MEDAL

Our very own Sister Majella Kelly was among 12 Tasmanian Catholics honoured in the inaugural year of the Guilford Young Medal. The award, announced on 10 November 2021, acknowledged those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the life and evangelising mission of the Church in Tasmania, whether it be through their leadership, meritorious service, notable deeds of merit or professional responsibilities. Sister Majella is a member of the Presentation Sisters in Tasmania, whose work is dedicated to improving the lives of people in the broader community. We thank her for valuable service to our College.

HERE COME THE BELLS

From trapeze artists and clowns to ringmasters and trained animals, our troupe of Year 12 graduates embraced October’s cold, rainy conditions for a grand exit like no other at their Belling Out. In traditional Belling Out style (albeit with a wetweather twist), our whole school gathered to form a guard of honour, leading the Year 12s through the College corridors and parapet until their last dash across the front lawns.

YEAR 12'S NIGHT OF NIGHTS

The class of 2021 turned out in style at Glen Albyn Estate on 19 November 2021 for their leavers’ dinner. A special rite of passage for our Year 12s, the leavers’ dinner marks the end of the cohort’s tenure at the College. Spirits were high as the students, resplendent in floor-length gowns in shimmering satin, sequins and lace, posed for photos with family, friends and loved ones, and enjoyed a two-course meal and night of dancing and laughter. Congratulations to each of these girls for finishing their pretertiary education and for celebrating their graduation with their usual poise, elegance and sense of fun. We hope they will remain in touch with the College and keep us updated on how their futures progress.

Murphy's Café received an award for sustainability for its practices in Term 4, 2021. The Café was named the winner of Environmentally Friendly School Food Service Award, an initiative of School Food Matters (formerly the Tasmanian School Canteen Association). Murphy’s high-quality service is complemented by the many environmental and sustainable practices that Murphy's Café Manager, Phil Shanny and his team are committed to delivering on a daily basis, including the tireless work that goes into our school gardens from which we harvest the fresh produce they use. In more exciting news, the Café is working with an architect on a redesign and rebrand that will create an authentic outdoor dining experience for our students.

SUSTAINABILITY FAIR

We hosted our first-ever Sustainability Fair in 2021, with hundreds of guests flocking to the College Green to learn about how we can reduce our ecological footprint and make a positive impact on the environment. There was something to appeal to every age group: sweet, vegan and umu ground-oven roasted treats, unique plants and succents, beeswax wraps, baby chicks, garden tours, live musical entertainment, outdoor games and an on-site Tesla. From our many stall holders, volunteers and supporters to the dedicated students and staff driving our Footprint and Green Teams and Murphy’s Café—you’re all helping to shape our sustainability story.

SHAPING DIGITAL FUTURES

In July 2021, the College partnered with CS in Schools to deliver a new Computer Science coding program to our Year 7 classes. The engaging, mentor-based program is designed to equip students with fundamental coding skills, as well as pathways for forging strong industry connections in preparation for the rapidly growing digital job sphere. It was wonderful to see Ella Striker then in Year 7, receive the award for Student of the Year out of 10,000 students nationwide.

BREATHTAKING NIGHT OF MUSIC

During September, Music students and teachers combined talents for a breathtaking and inspiring Music Gala Night in the Nagle Centre. The evening’s performances were exceptional and left the audience in awe of our talented students. We’re so proud of the students who performed, as well as the staff and family who supported them throughout the year.

HERE COMES THE SUN

Friday 12 November marked the launch of our 2021 senior art exhibition, titled ‘Here Comes the Sun’. The event showcased an amazing array of selected art and design work from 2021 created by our talented Year 7-12 students, including their final submissions for the TASC external assessments. Congratulations to all students who exhibited their work and thank you to all families who supported their creative endeavours. Thank you also to our fabulous Visual Arts department staff who have guided and encouraged our students through the creation of their projects. Opposite page, top to bottom: Enhancements to the grounds, Belling Out 2021, Year 2 boys' graduation, class of 2021 leavers' dinner. This page, top to bottom: Green Café gardening, Sustainability Fair, Music Gala Night and Here Comes the Sun senior art exhibition.