Saint Augustine and his mother, Saint Monica · Saint Monica Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat Sister...

Saint Augustine

and his mother, Saint Monica

by Ary Scheffer

ST MONICA’S COLLEGE,

EPPING

VOLUME 30 NUMBER 4 August 2020

3 Principal’s Report

4 Dalton Road Campus Director’s Report

4 Davisson Street Campus Director’s Report

5 Deputy Principal’s Report (Operations)

5 Deputy Principal’s Report (Identity, Mission & Community)

6 Assistant Principal Development, Training & Compliance

7 Liturgy

7 Youth Ministry

8 Social Justice

8-9 Careers

10 2020 House Chess Competition

10 Performing Arts

11-14 Monican Women

15 Values Education

15 Mask Competition

16-17 St Monica’s Day from the Past

18 The Governor in Schools Program

19 Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning

19 COVID-19 and Masks

20 Dedication to Studies – Revised and renewed!

21 Sport

22-23 Alumni

24 Enrolments for Year 7, 2022

MISSIONSt Monica’s College is a regional Catholic coeducational faith community. The school values the sacredness and wellbeing of all students, staff and parents and is committed to serving the young people of the northern suburbs of Melbourne.

We promote the truths and values of Jesus Christ and fidelity to the message of the Gospels. Through prayer and perseverance, we nurture genuine and harmonious relationships based on restorative principles.

Our teaching and learning approach is contemporary, global in perspective and aims to inspire life-long learning. We seek to stimulate and develop academic learning and students’ personal world view through critical thought, whilst always being respectful of students’ abilities and learning styles. We encourage and assist each Monican to reach full potential.

Student-centred educational programs and extra-curricular offerings foster respect of self, others and the environment. The College provides extensive well maintained facilities, resources and technologies which reflect an ongoing commitment to excellence and innovation.

St Monica’s College celebrates its cultural diversity and draws strong identity from its past. We endeavour to empower Monicans to flourish and contribute positively to Australia and the world, now and in the future.

OUR STRATEGIC INTENT St Monica’s College is a School of Educational Enterprise. The College is committed to adopting international perspectives focussing on global citizenship and social justice for all. There is an ongoing commitment to the development of programs and facilities including a Trade Skills Centre. The College aims to be a leader in innovation, the use of Information and Communication Technology, with state of the art resources and encouraging digital leadership. The College will continue to expand the repertoire of effective teaching practices and use of data, in order to strengthen curriculum pathways and achievement. Contemporary learning opportunities will be provided for all community members, including students, staff and parents.


EPPING

EDITORIAL TEAMPrincipal Mr Brian Hanley

Ms Pamela Griffin

COVER‘Saint Augustine and his mother, Saint Monica.’

School of Educational Enterprise

Contents

Gifts on the Table

3

Principal’s Report

Mr Brian Hanley

Let us celebrate the good things in life – our life itself, our family and our friends, our faith, our school and work, our favorite pastimes and hobbies like music, sports, art, crafts and watching favorite movies.

Let us also mourn in sincerity with those in the midst of their grief. We mourn for all Monicans who have been affected directly or through family or friends as a result of the Coronavirus. We pray for the repose of the soul of grandparents who have died, for neighbours or fellow workers we know, for those we do not know but who have been taken by the virus. We pray for those who live but have been tested positive, for those who have agonised whilst awaiting results, for those who live in a constant state of anxiety.

August is the month of Saint Monica so let us smile and hand over our torment and grief for a short time into her heavenly arms. She is our loving patron, our spiritual and human role model, our College saint and our school’s inspiration. Her feast day is 27 August annually.

When Saint Monica was selected in the 1960’s to have this school named in her honor, some people were disappointed or at least a little surprised, even miffed. Why Monica when it could have been Scholastica or some other name more associated with the Benedictine Sisters of the Good Samaritan? But Monica it was, and Monica it will remain.

From our dear saint comes our revered motto of ‘Pray and Persevere’. Who prayed more, with such fervour and with such perseverance, than this woman of the fourth century? Monica pursued her son, Augustine, across seas and continents, she pleaded on his behalf to Bishop Ambrose in Milan, she rejoiced when Augustine converted to the Christian faith and reconciled with God.

We are enthralled and captivated by the portrait of Monica and Augustine by Ary Scheffer (1795 – 1858) entitled St Augustine and His Mother St Monica. This work catches the devoted concentration in the beautiful faces of mother and son, its yellow hue suggests a new dawn emerging, the holding of hands entwined captures the love of a parent and child looking in awe at the revelation of the Kingdom of God.

Our College experiences will be so different in 2020. No actual commissioning of new College Captains: no party pies, sausage rolls or fairy floss for lunch: no sweet treat at the end of the day. The Oration is gone in 2020 along with the Sports Breakfast. No amusements lifting us up, spinning us around, rocking and rolling us in a frenzy of speed.

Yet, we will deliver our College Pledges to each other one day in 2020, and we shall see our 2021 College Captains commissioned into their future roles. Somehow and on some occasion, we shall find time to celebrate what it means to

be a Monican, the privilege, the honor and the delight. We shall never let this virus and this hardship destroy the Monican spirit.

This edition of The Monican includes a very special and once-in-a-lifetime feature. Monican Women honors a collection of female Monicans who have distinguished themselves in service to this College since 1964. Identify as many as you recognise. The honor roll features our Saints, Principals, Good Samaritan Sisters of note, Board and Governance Monicans, long-serving and special teachers and non-teachers, alumni, and special current Monicans. It truly is a treasure trove of loved and revered Monicans, past and present. Each is a gift to St Monica’s College, Epping.

I invite all people as you read to know that this College recognises the cruelty of the virus, we shall persevere as best and as often as we must. We love our patron, Saint Monica, the remarkable woman of prayer and perseverance. We honor the memory, contributions, service and commitment of very special Monican women.

Our loyalty and affection for all things Monican are the gifts we lay on the table of life in 2020.

Brian E. HanleyCollege Principal

4

August is the month of Monica and in this extraordinary year that is 2020, it has never been more important than it is right now, to draw inspiration from a woman who is as relevant and influential today, as she was as a woman of the fourth-century.

Our patroness St Monica, is an example of someone who worked assiduously behind the scenes, demonstrating great effort and determination with faith as her source of strength, to allow others to reach their full potential. We are all familiar with her story which centres on her dogged resolve to lead her unruly son Augustine, towards what was to be his conversion to Christianity. It is widely understood that Monica’s ceaseless prayer and perseverance, saw no bounds or limitations, such was the tremendous love she felt for God, and her own will to have her son experience that great love too. If the recounts of Monica’s life stand true, her invisible ministries to the abused women of her time and her prayers for her son and husband, remain true examples of the selflessness of a woman who sacrificed everything for those she championed. The ripple effects of her legacy can be felt to this present day, as we draw inspiration from a woman whose actions and unwavering devotion remind us that we move in much greater circles than ourselves, in the work we do with and for others in service.

The challenges that our global community continues to face in 2020, are not unique. History has taught us that prior pandemics have had devastating effects in various corners of the world, and many of these have been referenced in comparisons made with the current crisis. The great lessons of the past inform us that individuals and groups alike, have, and can work tirelessly and completely focused and determined towards a desired outcome. At present, the world draws comfort in the hope that a vaccine will be discovered to assist in eradicating a silent adversary that has infiltrated the previously most secure of settings. Our homes, schools, churches, aged care residencies and hospitals have been subjected to the effects of this unwelcomed intruder that has in many ways altered these places from sanctuaries to hotspots. Many sacrifices and concessions continue to be made to ensure the protection and wellbeing of both the most endeared and vulnerable members of our families and communities. Such sacrifices have been challenging and continue to bring out a mixture of the best examples and in some instances, the worst of humankind. We are all stakeholders in this present situation, and it is important that we are respectfully heated in our determination to support our loved ones, our students, our neighbours, colleagues, our elderly and our health care providers. St Monica was unwavering in her pursuit where her son was concerned, so too must we be relentless in our effort to seek support and assistance for those that need our help and cooperation to restore the safety and comfort of home, of school, of church, of residential aged care and of our health care system.

In this month we celebrate the strength, legacy and faithful commitment a woman of the fourth century, who used prayer and perseverance as her vehicle to achieve a goal that was selfless and that would ultimately assist to nurture the heart and mind of one of the greatest Doctors of the Catholic Church. Her relevance in today’s world is abundant. Each one of us could possibly be thinking that we cannot make a difference in changing the trajectory of this present world crisis that is impacting the way we live, teach, learn and play. St Monica’s example however, tells us otherwise. It reminds us that one individual can make a significant impact on another person’s life because they love and believe in them fully. Her altruistic life journey continues to teach us that we can achieve our greatest of objectives, if we are prepared to make sacrifices for those we love and those that we need to advocate for. This grand figure of courage, faith and determination, in the humblest of ways, is worthy of our respect and awe because she was not prepared to give up despite the odds. She had hope and love until her dying days and as we remember and honour her, particularly during the month of August, let us pay homage to a woman who continues to inspire us, so many centuries later.

Saint Monica, Pray For Us

Paula Di MariaDeputy Principal, Director of Davisson Street Campus

Davisson Street Campus Director’s Report

Miss Paula Di Maria

The lead up to St Monica’s Week on the Dalton Road Campus is an absolute time of joy and excitement for students and staff. The countdown commences in the early days of August and we can hear a slow tick, tick, tick approaching the “big day”. Year 8 and Year 9 students know exactly what to expect, and Year 7 students having only heard what the day brings, are literally jumping out of their skin to enjoy the celebrations and excitement.

Alas, COVID-19 has completely derailed the day of days at SMC! Students have asked if the day can be postponed, they have enquired regarding an alternative celebration, they are asking to complete virtual Homeroom decorations, they wonder what a year at SMC looks like without a St Monica’s Day celebration and to be honest, so do I?

My own Year 7 Religious Education classes have read about Saint Monica and studied one of the many beautiful prayers dedicated to her. They have written their own prayer to a friend or family member and have completely immersed themselves into our motto, Pray and Persevere. They understand what a courageous, fearless, tolerant, patient and loving mother she was. They are proud that our great school is named after her and for her. They know a bit more about her son, Augustine and understand that her love and devotion to him, reflects the truly dedicated mother she was. My students know that she travelled half way across the world in difficult and harsh times to find him and bring him home in the hope he would convert to Christianity.

My students are aware of the fact that Monica had a tough life with an uncaring husband and a hostile mother in law. They were fascinated by her North African heritage. They were extremely pleased to learn that not only was her son, Augustine, converted to Christianity, but that he also became a priest, bishop, writer and a saint. My class was fascinated and amazed that this great woman, our College Patron, died peacefully, at the age of fifty-four at Ostia, as a great role model for mothers world-wide.

My students enjoyed learning about all this wonderful woman and demonstrated great pride in the fact that they are in her care as MONICANS.

What I have not shared with you is that all of this information about Saint Monica was shared remotely and yet, my students remain in awe of her.

Saint Monica, Pray For Us

Amorina ChiricoDeputy Principal, Director of Dalton Road Campus

Dalton Road Campus Director’s Report

Ms Amorina Chirico

Gifts on the Table

5

Heart to Heart

Crux Benedictus

Mater Fidelis

Stations of the Cross

In my article in June I highlighted that, it was indeed a team effort in order to respond to the changes in our world. A team effort from all the different groups we have assembled at the College working many hours in management, facility services, finance services, teachers and many other areas. What I did not focus on was the teamwork between teachers and students and also students and families.

There are many references in the Bible to teamwork and collaboration and many stories highlighting this work. However, what sticks out for me is:

“ Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.”

– Ecclesiastes 4.9

This quote is never truer than today. For it is the union between the school, the students, their families and God that will see the benefits post this COVID crisis. When we, as individuals all work together, we can double our strength, lean on each other and create a certain majestic harmony within our day to day routines.

As teachers continue to work hard creating content, dialling in via Google Meet, MS Teams or Zoom, grading work through the screen, it is the students who will also be setting up their work station, remembering to charge laptops and meeting the reduced deadlines that have been set. This teamwork together will reap rewards in the long term for the enormous effort they are giving.

During the day, it is the Property team going about their daily maintenance routines, the Finance Department continuing to pay accounts and assist with fees, Administration Office answering phone calls and the IT Department meeting the requests of both staff and students. All these teams work as individuals within the bigger team that is the Monican family.

Who knows which way we will go with the COVID crisis, only time will tell and many prayers made for a return to normality. Currently, though, I see all the Monican community working as a team to overcome these huge life obstacles. Strength in numbers to do our part to maintain a normal schooling (as much as possible) so that no child is left behind.

As Stage 4 restrictions have commenced our strength will be further tested. We must each do our part for Victoria and Australia and our families at home. Our individual mentality must be always thinking of how we fit into the team and what role we must play, and if we do, our rewards will be plentiful in the future.

Cameron WhitfordDeputy Principal (Operations)

OperationsDeputy Principal’s Report Deputy Principal’s Report

Mr Cameron Whitford

Identity, Mission & CommunityDeputy Principal’s Report

Miss Bernadette Harris

The College’s Leopoldine Mimovich collection was started in the 1970’s with the purchase of a few bronze statues. In the 1990’s Mr Hanley gathered all of our artworks together and started to expand and feature our holdings. Understanding the important role religious art plays in our faith tradition, he was inspired to develop an extensive Mimovich collection. We currently have an impressive display in both our Augustine House Administration Building and newly constructed three storey Teaching and Learning Building.

Leopoldine Mimovich was a globally recognised Austrian artist and sculptor who immigrated to Australia after the end of World War II. Specialising in wooden and bronze sculptures, as well as paintings and carvings, her creations are widely acclaimed and many feature her loving connection to God and Our Lady. In 1985 she received the Order of Australia Medal in recognition of her services to sculpture and religious art.

We are fortunate to have paintings, icons, statues in various mediums and a large crucifix (Crux Benedictus) from the former Good Samaritan Convent Chapel.

A much loved feature are a carved wooden set of Stations of the Cross that adorn Our Lady’s Chapel. The intricately carved set was donated by the Gleeson family. Sister Janice Gleeson served on our staff from 1973 until 1978. She remained in touch with the College and later accepted an invitation to be a member of our College Ethos Focus Group.

Upon entry to our campuses, visitors are fortunate to be able to view our impressive Mimovich collection, the centre piece of which is ‘Heart to Heart.’ A seven-foot (2.134 metres) wooden sculpture, it features a mother and a child, the child resting on the heart of the mother and the mother holding her child close to her heart. The sculpture has an interesting history and suffered fire damage prior to its acquisition by the College in late 2017. It is a golden honey coloured timber, a most imposing yet gentle experience for the visitor to the College Reception.

Equally cherished is the bronze statue entitled ‘Mater Fidelis.’ Purchased to commemorate the Fortieth Anniversary of the College in 2004, this beautiful bronze sculpture features Our Lady and the infant Jesus and is aptly named ‘Mother of Faith’ for it depicts a mother’s devotion to her beloved infant.

The St Monica’s College community was saddened to hear of the passing of Leopoldine Mimovich on Christmas Day 2019 and as a mark of respect we were represented at her funeral service. Her deep and abiding faith, artistic talent and wondrous use of religious art and motifs to inspire religious devotion, will remain an inspiration to all Monicans now and into the future.

Bernadette HarrisDeputy Principal (Identity, Mission & Community)

Kirsten Hodgson

6

Our teaching and learning approach is contemporary, global in perspective and aims to inspire life-long learning.

– Mission Statement, St Monica’s College

One of the many ways that we inspire life-long learning at St Monica’s College is by modelling to our students a culture of continuous professional learning. In 2020, it has been most pleasing to acknowledge that a changed educational landscape has only increased the level of professional learning that teachers and support staff are engaging in. We offer many opportunities for our staff to enhance their professional practices and in this edition of The Monican, I take the opportunity to share some of these with our community.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS AND COURSESSt Monica’s College is committed to the provision of resources to support staff to increase their skills and knowledge of educational practices. Each year, staff attend an array of professional learning events in a number of contexts and 2020 has been no different. Conference providers have moved to online webinars as a way to continue to meet the professional learning needs of educators and our staff have embraced this opportunity and regardless of their work location, have attended these sessions in large numbers. With the rather sudden and unexpected move to remote teaching and learning this year, many staff have taken the opportunity to upskill and develop their ability to teach in an online world. We also have many staff that are engaging in online qualifications, such as Certificates in Educational Support and Certificates in Training and Assessment (to become nationally recognised VET trainers). SMC’s commitment to the faith development of its community can be seen in its support of teachers to engage in studies that enable them to achieve and maintain Accreditation to Teach in a Catholic School. We provide many in-house opportunities for this professional reflection and development. The College is generous in its sponsorship of staff to pursue academic goals in their specialised areas.

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIESEach year at St Monica’s College, teachers collaborate in small groups to develop a common objective which must look toward improving student outcomes. In 2020, we shifted the emphasis of these groups from meetings to practical application which saw teachers focused more on changing practices in the classroom. Without the need for continual face to face meetings, these groups have still been able to operate and be productive in a virtual world. Many groups took the opportunity of shifting their focus to enhancing the remote learning experience for students in Terms 2 and 3.

Linda Kopec, Educational Leader in the United States, stresses that “Education is a field that is dedicated to continuous learning. Professional learning communities are the ‘training ground’ for this to occur.” At St Monica’s College, a significant focus on ongoing professional development aimed at improving teaching practices and in turn student outcomes is always at the forefront and has once again thrived in a year that has seen educational goal posts constantly shifted. There are some wonderfully valuable PLCs occurring this year, including groups with a focus on: Using new technologies for a STEAM classroom, Enhancing Science in today’s world, Exploring interdisciplinary questions and Implementing flipped learning.

COACHING AND MENTORINGSt Monica’s College Mentoring and Coaching program is aimed at further developing our culture of ongoing professional learning and reflective practice. Our Teaching and Learning Charter states that the teachers at SMC nurture lifelong learning. Staff taking part in the program will experience collegial discussions, classroom observation, peer feedback and self-reflection. The College has been committed to the growth of coaching and mentoring for many years and in 2020 it increased the role of the senior staff mentor, responsible for the provision of mentoring and mentor training across the College. The philosophy behind the program is to continually train colleagues to be effective mentors so a culture of peer coaching develops throughout the College. The focus is not merely on inexperienced teachers but rather the notion that even the most experienced senior staff members have something to learn from peer observations.

GRADUATE TEACHER PROGRAMThe College sees the value in employing graduate teachers each year, all of whom have experienced recent exposure to contemporary educational theory and practices. As mandated by the Victorian Institute of Teaching, graduate teacher must submit a portfolio of evidence that demonstrates a solid foundation of understanding of the standards of teaching. St Monica’s College supports its graduate teachers with professional learning opportunities, and each is allocated an experienced mentor to guide them through their first year of teaching. Mentors are also provided with training in areas such as providing actionable feedback and effectively observing classroom lessons. At the end of the process, graduate teachers provide their evidence with a devised inquiry question in mind. We have many engaging portfolios in the process in 2020, with some inquiries including: How can technology be used to differentiate in the classroom? and How can a focus on self-reflection improve student outcomes? We wish all of our graduate teachers the best as they present their portfolios and move toward full teaching registration.

ANNUAL REVIEW PROCESSAll staff at the College are regularly encouraged and supported to embrace professional learning opportunities. Each year, we conclude with a thorough review process for all teachers and educational support staff that enables reflection on practices and the professional learning that has occurred throughout the year. The process also provides an opportunity to set goals for the year ahead. We are most proud of the manner in which our staff model a commitment to life-long learning at St Monica’s College.

Kirsten HodgsonAssistant Principal (Development, Training & Compliance)

Development, Training & ComplianceAssistant Principal

Gifts on the Table

7

Throughout His life, Jesus affirmed that His highest priority would always be spending time strengthening and celebrating His relationship with His Heavenly Father through prayer and leading others to do the same. This is why Jesus devoted countless hours to personal and shared prayer, even as many people sought Him out for healing and wisdom. Jesus never allowed Himself to become ‘too busy’ with the many good works that were in His power to perform. Instead, Jesus made a point of building a community around Him that was dedicated to the ‘work’ of prayer; the original meaning of the word liturgy.

Our Monican community imitates Christ in our time by taking up every opportunity to pray, no matter where we are. Throughout the last few weeks, Monican staff and students have prayed from home and at school. We have prayed privately and in small groups, in person and gathered virtually online. Our prayers have been varied in style and length but they have always been centred on the gifts we have to offer to those in need of healing, support or encouragement.

It was truly wonderful, then, for us to have discovered a gift from past Monicans in recent days; prayers that Monican students had written almost fifty years ago were identified in our College archives. Gayle, a Form 5 student in 1972, expressed the following sentiments in her prayer: “Help our world in its efforts to make peace, for you have overcome even death itself in the Resurrection of Christ. Give peace to those who live in fear, courage to those who have lost hope and faith to those who live in doubt.” These gifts continue to be needed in our time and it the rediscovery of this prayer is a timely reminder that our College has always been a community of faith concerned for the needs and wellbeing of all.

Rather than praying less when we are busy or overwhelmed by the circumstances of our lives, we pray more. We ensure that we remain centred on the core of who we are: members of a Catholic Community dedicated to helping young people identify, cultivate and celebrate their God-given gifts. Yes, this is for the good of those young people, since it helps Monicans to thrive and find their place in the world. Yet, by encouraging students to place their gifts on the table, our College also makes great contribution to the common good of all. Inspired by St Monica, our patron, we nurture these gifts with regular prayer, affirming that, ultimately, it is the voice of God that quietly urges us to use our gifts in the service of others.

Frank Cumbo Liturgy, Faith & Mission Coordinator

‘The System of the Parish Cells of Evangelization’ (SPCE) sprung to life in 1987, when Rev Don Piergiorgio Perini established a group of parishioners to revitalise his parish in Milan. SPCE, or ‘Cells’ as it is often called, is a means of evangelising through weekly gatherings of small groups, traditionally in homes or parishes. Cells meet regularly to cultivate the five dynamics of growth in the Christian life: fellowship, praise/worship, formation, witness, and service.

I first encountered Cells as a teenager at my local parish, St Francis of Assisi, Mill Park. As a young person, I eagerly awaited the ‘youth’ cell meeting every Thursday evening as an opportunity to catch-up with friends and grow in my faith. We began each gathering by recollecting ‘God-like moments’ or opportunities for gratitude throughout our week, sharing prayers of thanks and praise to God for these gifts. The focus of our discussions was Sunday’s Gospel reading. We pondered the perfect example of Christ and the imperfect example of His followers, which in turn influenced how we would go about our week. We always concluded the formal part of the session with intercessory prayers for the world, our community and our loved ones. Then there was time for socialising and pizza. Usually we would remain behind well after the official meeting ended.

It has been a blessing to see our recently launched Monican Cell group bear similar fruit. The gatherings, which are held mid-week, give students a chance to catch their breath, draw inspiration from the Gospel and each other, and go forward ready to spread the Good News by their lives. In each meeting, relationships are nurtured and Monicans accompany one another in developing as servant leaders and Disciples of Christ. Cells draws on the ‘oikos’ method of evangelisation. Your oikos is that group of people with whom you are in regular contact. Our relationships are God’s natural channels of accomplishing evangelisation. Therefore, Cell attendees are encouraged to reach out to others in their oikos – family members, neighbours, peers, co-workers, and teammates.

Every ‘Cell’ group is a small yet important part of the Church’s evangelising mission and work. In a parish context, the Cell of evangelisation is in a vital relationship with the parish community, much like a biological cell relies on its connection to the body for life. At St Monica’s College, ‘Cell’ attendees similarly realise connections between the Gospel and their experience of College and Parish life, including the many ways they have responded to the call of Christ: participating in the Mass and Sacraments, prayer, youth ministry, social justice and community involvement.

Monicans interested in participating in a ‘Cell’ meeting are welcome to speak to Mrs McLaurin for more information.

Theresa McLaurin Coordinator of Youth Ministry

LiturgyFrank Cumbo

Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

– Joshua 1:9

Theresa McLaurin

Youth Ministry

“ The lunchtime ‘Cell’ meetings have always been a nice break from the stresses of school. Without fail, I have always left the meetings enlightened and educated. Our weekly discussions and readings enable us to open up dialogue about relevant issues as well as share our own perspectives. This initiative has played a significant role in refining my faith and more importantly, instilled in me the ability to acknowledge different opinions and empathise with the experiences of others. I strongly encourage my fellow Monicans to come along to one of the 'Cell' meetings, and see how we create change spiritually and mentally, through the power of the Word.”

Leanne Sebastian

“ Cell meeting are fantastic to get our minds away from the stresses of our studies and life and provide us with the chance to reflect on the Gospel by discussing aspects of it with like-minded students.”

Lynton Martin

Damian Fleishmann

Social Justice

8

RERUM NOVARUM AWARD PROJECTRerum Novarum was an encyclical letter written by Pope Leo XIII in 1891 to address important social issues of that time. It was the seminal document in the development of the Church’s social teaching in the modern era.

The Office for Justice and Peace and Catholic Education Melbourne have introduced a Rerum Novarum Award in 2020. The award is for groups of students in Years 10-12 in Catholic schools across Victoria. It required the students to develop Social Justice projects on an issue, using the See, Judge, Act method to apply the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.

Senior Be More students (Angelique Incorvaja, Zoe Pappas, Briana Papathanasiou and Savannah Tamilselvan) decided to enter and submit their application based on racial prejudice, equality and indigenous perspectives within Australia.

Application:

“ In this year of health pandemics, protests about race and inequality and treatment of the marginalised, we are reminded of our call to be like the Good Samaritan and to genuinely encounter those most in need. As Australians, and as Monicans, we need to look inward and reflect on the unjust treatment of Indigenous people and observe the current social climate from their perspective. We, the students of St Monica’s College Epping, urge all to stand in solidarity and celebrate Indigenous people and culture and advocate for just treatment and an end to marginalisation”.

It is with great enthusiasm that the application was accepted and the group now progresses onto the next stage of the Award process.

Why did they chose this issue? (extract from application)

“ Our parents decided to enrol us as Monicans, which means we all have to some degree, privilege, and with that privilege comes a responsibility. A responsibility to not turn a blind eye for those suffering in not only our own community but the world, and recognise the advantage we have been given, especially regarding being born or to live in the country we are in.

When I watched a documentary by Stan Grant on the ABC, this line really stood out to me, ‘We cannot close the gap and our people too often remain out of sight and out of mind to most Australians.’

So, to be a Monican is not only to be aware of our privilege, but to use it for the better of others and help give a voice to those who struggle to get it heard!”

– Angelique Incorvaja.

Be More students will now move onto larger projects of collaboration, including a research paper, video presentation, project impact report, and a funding proposal in order to win the $10,000. We congratulate them on their efforts.

Damian FleishmannCoordinator of Social Justice

UNIVERSITY VIRTUAL OPEN DAYS

It is the time of the year when senior students are attending University Open Days. This year all of the Open Days will be conducted virtually, and most will be held in August.

Students are encouraged to register for as many Open Day events as possible and register soon!

Anyone who is considering studying at a tertiary level in the next few years should attend.

Apart from the opportunity to obtain course information, there are many other reasons for participating:

• You are going to feel more comfortable arriving at a university or TAFE institute on the first day of classes if you have done your research and found out more about the institution

• What is really involved in the course or courses you are interested in

• Will you be happier studying in a large metropolitan institution or a smaller, perhaps rural institution?

• What does the place ‘feel’ like? Watch or participate in Virtual Tours, and try gaining an insight into whether or not it is a bustling environment with lots of activity, or a quieter, more relaxed campus set in landscaped grounds

• How are you going to get there? Is it close to public transport or should you start saving now for a car?

To make your Virtual Open Day activity fun and informative, here are some pointers:

• Write down a list of questions you would like to ask about particular courses – if they are not addressed during the virtual event, you can always follow up with the institutions later

• If the event allows Q & A, make sure you ask lots of questions

• Enjoy the activity!

Paul WhiteManager of Careers Department

Careers

Gifts on the Table

9

INSTITUTION DATE TIME CONTACT DETAILSAustralian Catholic University Melbourne Campus Virtual Tour: www.acu.edu.au/locations/melbourne/melbourne-virtual-tour Ballarat Campus Virtual Tour: www.acu.edu.au/locations/ballarat/ballarat-virtual-tour

Sat 29 August Sat 5 September Sat 12 September

9am - 3pm 9am - 3pm 9am - 3pm

1300 275 228 Email: [email protected] Register for any of the three Open Days at https://openday.acu.edu.au/ AskACU – students can call, submit an online question, or start a chat

Australian National University Virtual Tour: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrByokzunww

Sat 22 - 28 August Various times https://www.anu.edu.au/events/anu-open-day

Bond University Virtual Tour: www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7Cvh1SFhkY

Sat 25 July 1pm - 5pm 1800 074 074 https://bond.edu.au/open-day

Box Hill Institute 1300 059 104 www.boxhill.edu.au/events/

Collarts (Australian College of the Arts) Sat 29 August www.collarts.edu.au/open-dayCQUniversity Sat 1 August Sat

15 August10am - 1pm 13 27 86

www.cqu.edu.au/courses/future-students/future-study-options/open-days

Charles Sturt University 6 - 17 Sept (select days) Various times https://study.csu.edu.au/life/events/open-dayDeakin University & Deakin College All Campuses Virtual Tour: www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0ImJgEya4U&feature=youtu.be

Sun 16 August 9am - 4pm 1800 334 733 www.deakin.edu.au/openday (03) 9244 5197

Federation University Virtual Tour: https://federation.edu.au/future-students/study-at-federation/virtual-tours?utm_source=redirect&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=virtualtour

Sun 16 August 1800 333 864 https://federation.edu.au/openday

Griffiths University Nathan Campus Virtual Tour: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DnEHq8_wk Gold Coast Campus Virtual Tour: www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8lXH_W8VOU

Open until 1 October Various times 1800 677 728 www.griffith.edu.au/open-day

Holmesglen Institute All Campuses Virtual Campus and Study Tours: https://holmesglen.edu.au/Students/ Secondary-School-Students/Resources-for-Career-Practitioners/Campus-tours/

6 August Various times 1300 639 888 Online bookings are essential www.holmesglen.edu.au/opendays

JMC Academy Melbourne Campus Virtual Tour: https://vimeo.com/408262168

Sat 15 August (03) 9624 2917 www.jmcacademy.edu.au/events/open-days

Kangan Institute Wed 26 August 13 82 33 https://study.kangan.edu.au/open-day-2020/

La Trobe University & La Trobe College Melbourne Campus Virtual Tour: www.latrobe.edu.au/melbourne/virtual-tour Shepparton / Mildura / Albury-Wodonga Bendigo Campus Virtual Tour: www.latrobe.edu.au/bendigo/about

Sun 2 August Sun 23 August Sun 23 August

10am - 4pm 10am - 3pm 10am - 3pm

1300 135 045 Register to participate at www.latrobe.edu.au/openday (03) 9479 2417 La Trobe College: https://vimeo.com/281917262

Melbourne Polytechnic (03) 9269 1200 www.melbournepolytechnic.edu.au/about-us/news-and-events/events/?

Monash University & Monash College Sat 29 August Sun 30 August Mon 31 August

10am - 2pm 10am - 2pm 4pm - 7pm

1800 666 274 www.monash.edu/news/events/open-day-2020 (03) 9903 4788 Monash College: www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvC-DDcxSlE&feature=youtu.be

Photographic Studies College Sun 2 August (03) 9682 3191 or 1300 818 777 www.psc.edu.au/study-with-us/psc-virtual-open-day.html

RMIT Bundoora, City & Brunswick Campuses

Sat 8 and Sun 9 August

10am - 3pm 9925 2260 www.rmit.edu.au/openday

SAE Qantm South Melbourne Campus

Sun 30 August 11am - 2pm 1800 723 338 https://sae.edu.au/news-and-events/events/melbourne-campus-open-day-16-august-2020/?date=2020-08-16&id=558

Swinburne University Hawthorn Campus Virtual Tour: www.swinburne.edu.au/virtual-tour/360/photos/

From Wed 12 August Various times 1300 SWINBURNE www.swinburne.edu.au/openday/

Torrens University On demand On demand 1300 575 803 www.torrens.edu.au/about/virtual-open-day

University of Melbourne Parkville & Southbank Virtual Tour: www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_cgsdW2vVw

Sat 5 and Sun 6 Sept

1800 801 662 https://study.unimelb.edu.au/openday

University New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra Campus (ADFA) Virtual Tour: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWI74RY9IlA Sydney Campus Virtual Tour: http://360tour.unsw.edu.au/

Sat 22 August Sat 5 September

9am - 4pm 9am - 4pm

1300 864 679 www.events.unsw.edu.au/event/adfa-open-day www.events.unsw.edu.au/event/unsw-open-day-0

University of Sydney Virtual Tour: https://tour.sydney.edu.au/

1800 793 864 http://openday.sydney.edu.au/

University of Tasmania Virtual Presentation: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbOKANdSuTg&feature=youtu.be

28 - 30 August 10am - 5pm www.utas.edu.au/open-day

Victoria University Footscray Park Campus Virtual Tour: www.youtube.com/watch?v=al61hNvyKd8&list=PL3y_wByS2sRPafspC45HiKnnLqzejFYqs City Flinders Campus Virtual Tour: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdGYdwxnBng&list=PL3y_wByS2sRPafspC45HiKnnLqzejFYqs&index=2 City Queen Campus Virtual Tour: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSRlhPVYxCs&list=PL3y_wByS2sRPafspC45HiKnnLqzejFYqs&index=4

Sat 29 August 12pm - 6pm 1300 842 864 www.vu.edu.au/open-day-2020

William Angliss Institute of TAFE Sat 1 and Sun 2 August

1300 264 5477 www.angliss.edu.au/study-with-us/meet-us/OpenDay/

This information was correct at the time of publication. Students are encouraged to register soon for these events so they can receive important updates. Addresses of tertiary institutions are available via VTAC on www.vtac.edu.au or by ringing the institution directly or visiting their website. Students in Years 10, 11 and 12 are encouraged to participate in a few Virtual Open Days.

10

The 2020 SMC DRC House Chess Competition commenced on Wednesday 17 June in the Reading Room of the Pamela Coyne Library and DSC House Chess Competition commenced on Thursday 18 June in Room Q77. All students played competitively with great enthusiasm and enjoyed the competitions. House lunchtime chess competitions are a great extension to the SMC Chess Club run by Mr Strantzen. Both competitions will continue when school resumes. The following students participated in the first round of the competition:

YEAR 7 Manan Ahuja, Aidian Ebenezer, Angella Dcunha, Cruze De Giorgio, Ekin Dang, Jackson Sloan, Vu Tran, Eric Tun, Max Mircevski, Dessie Fitzgerald, Isaac Botuyan, Tan Nguyen, Dean Wu, Maksim Saletic

YEAR 8 Pranav Jaswal, Vansh Kumar, Lachlan Brundell, Justin Taduran, Trajco Nikolov, Matthew James – (BYE)

YEAR 9 Stanley Lee Tui, Yuvraj Sharma, Jordan Papadopoulos, Jared Fu, Jeremiah Susi

YEAR 10 Edwin Joby, Jim Xue, Aryan Bhalla, Anuraj Verma, Hitesh Suneja, Matthew Kristanto, Julian Tsobanopoulos

YEAR 11 David Tran, Rohan Raju, Ericson Abraham Morkattil, Joseph Susi, Ben Chen, Vivek Gilbert Antony, Jake Vasilevski, Connor Uniacke, Angad Sidhu

YEAR 12 Nathan Chow, Shreshth Saharan, Pino Mascetti

Mrs C. PolidanoHouse Program Administrator

The show must go on and a lot is going on in the Performing Arts at St Monica’s College

2020 has definitely been a unique year in our history. The first semester proved challenging, especially for our budding Monican Performing Artists. However, all staff and students have persevered – creating, sharing and performing consistently during the lockdown period. With the re-introduction of Remote Learning for Years 7-10 in July, many Arts events have been postponed. The annual College Production of the Wizard of Oz is currently on hiatus and is scheduled for a bigger and better 2021 performance season. The Production Team have worked very hard to ensure students will have the opportunity to perform this musical classic next year at the Plenty Ranges Arts and Convention Centre.

The Principal’s Cup for Song auditions are well underway and this year, the prestigious Principal’s Award will be held virtually for the first time in the College’s history! Students are currently in the process of submitting audition performance recordings and finalist videos will be released from the 31 August. Adjudicator, Belinda Parsons, a professional vocalist and experienced educator, is set to announce the winner on the evening of the 7 September online. We wish all our Monican vocalists the best of luck!

Benjamin Hodges Faculty Leader of Performing Arts

2020 House Chess Competition Performing Arts

St Monica’s College, Epping has been a thriving and respected secondary College in the Archdiocese of Melbourne since its foundation in 1964. Today, it proudly and rightfully bears the title of a ‘School of Educational Enterprise’.

From its earliest time, the College has had imprinted upon its soul the influence of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Order of Saint Benedict. The Sisters of the Good Samaritan are the first female religious order established in Australia, and today they continue their mission in education, hospitality and prayer across a range of ministries in most States of Australia and in Kiribati, Japan and the Philippines.

What follows is a dedication to Monican women of the past and the present, and hopefully an inspiration to all female students and staff members who will be Monicans in the wonderful future that awaits our College.

Females have been at the heart of Monican identity and life and accomplishments since 1964 and it is apt that several, representative of so many others, are highlighted in this honour roll. From 1964 until 1977, our College was a Catholic College for female students. It became coeducational when male students were enrolled in 1978.

St Monica’s College, Epping has been a thriving and respected secondary College in the Archdiocese of Melbourne since its foundation in 1964. Today, it proudly and rightfully bears the title of a ‘School of Educational Enterprise’.

From its earliest time, the College has had imprinted upon its soul the influence of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Order of Saint Benedict. The Sisters of the Good Samaritan are the first female religious order established in Australia, and today they continue their mission in education, hospitality and prayer across a range of ministries in most States of Australia and in Kiribati, Japan and the Philippines.

What follows is a dedication to Monican women of the past and the present, and hopefully an inspiration to all female students and staff members who will be Monicans in the wonderful future that awaits our College.

Females have been at the heart of Monican identity and life and accomplishments since 1964 and it is apt that several, representative of so many others, are highlighted in this honour roll. From 1964 until 1977, our College was a Catholic College for female students. It became coeducational when male students were enrolled in 1978.

Kerry Cercone

Amorina Chirico

Maureen Barnsley

Vera Teuma

Judith Clarke

Michelle Keele

Leonie Johnson

Silvana Pavia

Janet Donahoo

Olivia Chamoun

Rita Lekkas

Paula Di Maria

Joanne Depetro

Lorraine Pratt

Concetta Cartelli

Claire Polidano

Helen Doherty

Margaret Santilli

Sara Terpos

Keziah Iozzo

Elizabeth Dempsey

Bernadette Harris

Patricia Toomey

Pamela Coyne

Catherine O’Brien

Angelina Di Donato

Madeleine Campbell

Kaye Dixon

Gabrielle Godinho

Saint Monica

Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat

Sister Mary Duffy

Sister Helen Lombard

Sister Harriet Gleeson

Sister Julian Quaine

Mother Mary

Sister Patricia Thame

Sister Laserian Crowe

Sister Therese Quinn

Sister Dorothea Tallon

Sister Margaret Keane

Our SaintsSaint Monica (332 - 387 A.D.) is the patron of our College and her life and her devotion to God has inspired generations of Monicans and will do so into the future. Indeed, we name ourselves ‘Monican’ proudly and the name ‘St Monica’s College, Epping’ is renowned and respected worldwide. It is from this saintly woman, that the College motto ‘Pray and Persevere’ derives, a woman of enormous prayer and extraordinary and brave perseverance.

Our Blessed Mother, Mary has always been a significant figure in Monican life from earliest days. Mary, Queen of Heaven, has played a large role in the prayer life of the school and it is Mary who leads us so faithfully into the arms of the Saviour. Our Lady’s Chapel on Dalton Road Campus is named in honour of the Blessed Virgin.

Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat rscj (1779 - 1865) has emerged as a woman of significance for Monicans in recent years. Saint Madeleine Sophie founded the Society of the Sacred Heart at the time of the French Revolution and her writings inspire staff and students now and will do so into the future. Her most loving and beautiful words, ‘For the sake of one child’ greet all those who enter the Learning and Teaching Building on Davisson Street Campus.

The PrincipalsSisters of the Good Samaritan served in leadership from the foundational year until the end of 1990. We honour Sister Patricia Thame sgs (Sister Louis) as the first Principal and her period of service over the initial two years were memorable and essential to what has become a highly successful College. Sister Mary Duffy sgs followed and won secondary registration for this new College and, as Sister Kieran, she was highly regarded and admired. Sister Laserian Crowe sgs served as Principal in 1971 until Sister Helen Lombard sgs, one of the most highly regarded members of the congregation, took the College into new territories in curriculum from 1972 until 1976.

Her Deputy, Sister Therese Quinn sgs advanced the College in all ways including the purchase of land on Dalton Road and the transformation of a girls’ College into a coeducational institution. In 1985, Sister Harriet Gleeson sgs was appointed Principal and was the last serving sgs Principal. She concluded her term in 1990.

GovernanceSt Monica’s College has been well served by hardworking and talented women in governance and leadership. Two College Board Chairpersons stand out for special mention, Kerry Cercone and Elizabeth Dempsey. Their determination to make our school better and distinguished in all shapes and forms will be recalled with gratitude by generations into the future. The service of Rita Lekkas, currently serving on the Board, has been incredibly valued over many years.

Current Deputy Principals, Amorina Chirico, Bernadette Harris and Paula Di Maria are acknowledged as Monicans of distinction. The latter two are alumni of SMC. Their longevity of service, their high levels of competence and their embrace of prayer and perseverance as critical life and spiritual values is recognised and appreciated by the community.

Principals over the generations have been extraordinarily well served by administrative staff who are committed to the gift of service. Maureen Barnsley, Patricia Toomey and Joanne Depetro have won the admiration and trust of thousands of Monicans and many grateful Principals since the College was established.

Staff MembersA cavalcade of distinguished women have served the College since its foundation and truly the College has been blest as a result of their talent and commitment. Foundation staff member, Vera Teuma (nee Brophy) continues to take an active interest in the Dance students and her encouragement prize is a valued trophy for them.

Other retired staff members whose influence has been outstanding are Pamela Coyne after whom the junior library is named and Lorraine Pratt after whom the sports fields are named. The names of Coyne and Pratt are synonymous with the title ‘Monican’.

In addition, Judith Clarke for her many achievements and Catherine O’Brien who established the counselling service at SMC belong to the ranks of distinguished members of staff. A band of staff members in 2020 have given thirty years of service to the College, what an intrepid group they are. These women are Concetta Cartelli, Michelle Keele, Angelina Di Donato, Claire Polidano, Leonie Johnson, Bernadette Harris, Amorina Chirico, Helen Doherty and Silvana Pavia.

Other Good Samaritan SistersThirty-four Sisters of the Good Samaritan served at St Monica’s College, Epping in various capacities, mainly in the classrooms. Each Sister is remembered with love through a rose planted in her honour in the Bede Polding Rose Garden. A brass plaque names and commemorates the Sister and her time at SMC.

Other ways through which the Sisters’ contributions are recognised are the Our Lady of the Cherry Blossom Peace Garden, the Good Samaritan Prayer Centre on DSC, Helen Lombard Archives Centre and Samaritan Square on the senior campus.

Several Sisters are remembered with great affection. Sister Dorothea Tallon sgs was unofficially and affectionately known as ‘St Monica’s Good Sam’ due to the considerable time she spent at Epping including being Year 12 Coordinator, Science Coordinator and eventually she moved to the greatly valued role of Pastoral Visitor. The Sister Dorothea Tallon Avenue runs past the HORIZONS Centre, Music rooms and Educational Support rooms on DRC.

Sister Julian Quaine sgs worked faithfully in the senior Library for a long period of time and became a respected and very identifiable figure on campus. She was the epitome of perseverance and thus the decision to name the senior library the Sister Julian Quaine Library was met with great acclaim and approval.

The third distinguished sgs was Sister Margaret Keane sgs. Sister Margaret performed the role of Head of the then South Campus (now Dalton Road Campus) for many years before moving onto Principalship elsewhere. Her fame centred on her astuteness, kindness and sense of energy and adventure.

AlumniThe list of distinguished female alumni is long and impressive. Three individuals stand out for special mention in this tribute to Monican women. Madeleine Campbell was the first College Captain and she remains a devoted Monican whose affection for her alma mater is great. Madeline opened our Year 10 wing in 2004.

Margaret Santilli (nee Malone) has been involved intimately and devotedly with the College community since the day she first walked through Monican doors as a pioneer student in 1965. She continues to work in classrooms, she has served on the College Board, and she is a recipient of a Samaritan Medal. Janet Donahoo (nee Robb) described her experience on the first days of the College as like being in a ‘close, little community’, and she has maintained an enormous affection for this now large community since the pioneering days of the 1960’s.

Other distinguished female alumni include Kaye Dixon (nee Lowe), Sara Terpos (nee Stefani), Olivia Chamoun and so many staff who have returned to their College as members of staff.

Current StudentsFifty percent of the 2,000 students currently enrolled at the College are female. Publicly and privately, these female students display attributes of compassion, leadership, resilience and integrity on a daily basis. College Captain Gabrielle Godinho and Vice-Captain Keziah Iozzo demonstrate servant leadership that inspires and empowers the community in its mission. They develop and nurture support from their Student Council colleagues and potential future student leaders.

Other very impressive female Monicans are found in social justice, values and youth ministry activities, sport, performing arts, and class leadership roles.

“An explicit way of speaking about the mystery of God in female symbol is the biblical figure of Wisdom. This is the most developed personification of God’s presence and activity in the Hebrew Scriptures much more acutely limned than Spirit, torah, or word. The term itself is of feminine grammatical gender: bokmah in Hebrew, sophia in Greek, sapientia in Latin. While this of itself does not determine anything, the biblical depiction of Wisdom is itself consistently female, casting her as sister, mother, female beloved, chef and hostess, preacher, judge, liberator, establisher of justice, and a myriad of other female roles wherein she symbolises transcendent power ordering and delighting in the world. She pervades the world, both nature and human beings, interacting with them all to lure them along the right path to life.”

Johnson E.A., ‘She Who Is’, Crossroad Publishing Co. New York, 2008

B.E. Hanley College Principal

Stanley Lee Tui

Anisija Dimoski

Anthony Raddino

Gia Thakur

Chelsea Fernado

Isabella Hazelwood-Smith

Alyssa Golob

Simon Tawfiq

Lauren Musig

Alana Karalis

Natalie El Markaz

Martin Lynton

Simon Tawfiq

Sara Oghanna

Emily Mifsud

Jordan Quiambao

Joshua Licastro

James Matthew

Abbygail Madio

Annamaria Iozzo

Kiara Petrovski

Aris Iannella

Laura Yildrim

Luis Colosimo

Vincent Barillaro

Angelina Pino

Sanjita Choudary

Vy (Lam) Dao

Isabella Calthorpe

Jessica Korlevski

James Pougioukas

Tamara Petkovska

Shakti Gunasegaran

Manan Ahuja

Emily Jovanoski

Kate Pavic

Alyssa Golob

Anisija Dimoski

Gifts on the Table

15

“An explicit way of speaking about the mystery of God in female symbol is the biblical figure of Wisdom. This is the most developed personification of God’s presence and activity in the Hebrew Scriptures much more acutely limned than Spirit, torah, or word. The term itself is of feminine grammatical gender: bokmah in Hebrew, sophia in Greek, sapientia in Latin. While this of itself does not determine anything, the biblical depiction of Wisdom is itself consistently female, casting her as sister, mother, female beloved, chef and hostess, preacher, judge, liberator, establisher of justice, and a myriad of other female roles wherein she symbolises transcendent power ordering and delighting in the world. She pervades the world, both nature and human beings, interacting with them all to lure them along the right path to life.”

Johnson E.A., ‘She Who Is’, Crossroad Publishing Co. New York, 2008

B.E. Hanley College Principal

Values Education is centred on the importance of embodying virtues core to our Catholic identity. As Christians we are called to serve others. As a coeducational faith community, we aim to live by our mission, to promote the truths and values of Jesus Christ. Our call to serve during this time is a responsibility held by all.

At St Monica’s College, we aim to promote the value of kindness, compassion and companionship. An important way to do this was through the City of Whittlesea program to support the elderly in our local area. Our Junior Council, Values Education students and Year 8 and Year 9 Class Captains generously took this opportunity to support members of our aged care community.

The students wrote kind and supportive letters to encourage those who are in strict isolation from their loved ones due to COVID-19. These actions display the love we should all aim to show towards everyone. As a community, we attempted to use our gifts to make a tangible difference in the life of others. In this challenging and uncertain time of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for a response has become apparent. By placing our ‘Gifts on the Table’, Monicans are spreading hope, goodness and love.

Jessie CheriyanValues Education DRC Mentor

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS IMPORTANT INITIATIVE:

Values Education Mask Competition

16

St Monica’s Day from the Past

2016 2017

Gifts on the Table

17

St Monica’s Day from the Past

2018 2019

18

The Governor in Schools Program

On Wednesday, 17 June, a group of Year 11 and Year 12 VCE Politics students and College Captains joined by Mr Hanley, Miss Di Maria and staff, had the opportunity to meet the Governor of Victoria Linda Dessau alongside her husband, Mr Tony Howard, via the Virtual Governor in the Classroom Program. St Monica’s College was the first school to accept this invite from the Governor’s Office. The program allows students across Victoria the chance to have a Q&A session with the Governor regarding her role and responsibilities that her position entails.

Eager to have our questions answered, we all sat in the room awaiting the Governor to join in on the call. We asked questions ranging from ‘if it was her intention to become the Governor of Victoria’ to’ if she had met Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’ (and she had!). She told us about her day-to-day activities, her role and what she did for the community. The following are the most influential questions asked by the student body.

As the first female Governor of Victoria, who has been your biggest female influence in your professional career and what sort of inspiration do you hope to provide to females young and old across our state?

Her Excellency stated that she is very proud and honoured to be the first female Governor of Victoria; and that she seeks to inspire not only young females, but young males as well. She stated that she could not name one person who inspired her the most, as there were many people who helped her reach her goal and provide her with the confidence and knowledge that she has today. Her Excellency discussed how she is eager for the day to come where there is no comment on whether a man or a woman is undertaking a certain role, where it is just the societal norm. Her last comment on the question explained how she feels that gender equality diminishes men and women equally, like a competition.

What has the Governor’s office undertaken to promote Indigenous Reconciliation and what does it plan on doing in the future to facilitate it?

Her Excellency stated that as the Governor of Victoria, her main role is not to set a policy, but to create harmony in the community and society as well as advocating for fairness in the community. She stated that as soon as her position was effective, she erected flagpoles showcasing the Indigenous flag in front of the Government House. Her Excellency and her husband had also been collaborating with the Melbourne Indigenous Australian School and hope to maintain this important relationship.

Students who attended the virtual meeting all agreed that Her Excellency was very inspirational and someone to look up to as a strong role model and powerful woman. Everyone agreed that she is busier than people might think, and as Her Majesty’s representative, she strives to do what is best for the community as a whole.

Emily Marasco (Year 11 Orange) and Dylan Bombardieri (Year 11 Indigo)

POSSIBILITY OFTRANSMISSION 70%

POSSIBILITY OFTRANSMISSION 5%

POSSIBILITY OFTRANSMISSION 1.5%

COVID-19 Carrier

(without mask)

HealthyPerson

(with mask)

COVID-19 Carrier

(with mask)

HealthyPerson

(without mask)

COVID-19 Carrier

(with mask)

HealthyPerson

(with mask)

Gifts on the Table

19

Teaching VCAL requires a large degree of planning and organising. The aim is to give students a more practical and applied learning approach, and therefore when we can learn outside the classroom or off campus, we will.

The events of 2020 have, so far, put a hold on excursions and community projects. Furthermore, we have found ourselves as VCAL teachers and students, teaching and learning from home. When the circumstances change, we have to change and so teachers have been adapting course content to suit our new-found challenges.

Like for most classes, content has been driven through online platforms and video conferencing. VCAL students have on the whole enjoyed this method of working, and it reflects what they might expect when embarking on further study or employment. Furthermore, students settled down well to a routine; class video conference on a Tuesday and Thursday and work due in on Friday. Many flourished under a schedule which ultimately relied on independence and self-motivation.

In terms of projects, we looked towards the home as the classroom. The Year 12 students embarked on a Numeracy project which encompassed the essential math components of geometry, measurement, ratio and scale. They drew and costed up a property refurbishment, and whilst I cannot share the usual lively and engaging student photographs, I can offer (below) just a small glimpse of their hard work and professionalism.

VCAL students are asked to show initiative in their studies, they are required to be independent and demonstrate key employability skills. Throughout 2020, although it has not been the year that we had planned, they have certainly done that!

A special mention also goes to those students, who have, with the support of Mr White and the Careers Department, secured structured workplace learning during this time.

Helen RabendaCoordinator of Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning

Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning COVID-19 and Masks

20

The following students have been successful in being the recipients of this award. Congratulations on a wonderful achievement in Semester One. Certificates will be mailed out in the coming days.

YEAR 7

Slavica Altandzieva, Nithyasri Annamalai, Oriana Apolito, Isaac Botuyan, Christian Chiechi, Kavya Choudhary, Ava Cleary, Angella Dcunha, Anastasia Dimopoulos, Samantha Divers, Katelyn Gruevski, Lynelle Jayagan, Natasha Kristanto, Seechu Maharjan, Gabrielle Malaga, Shagun Saharan, Mukades Serifoska, Janina Taduran, Justin Thelly, Tiffany Todorovski, Miranda Vo, Samantha Yaranon

YEAR 8

Juliette Arthur, Enana Attie, Adrian Beavis, Vy Dao, Shakti Gunasegaran, Matthew James, Andrea Jijo, Emily Jovanoski, Summer Keovong, Christian Kitanovski, Katia Lucchese, Anna Ma, Brandon Mason, Dylan Matlioski, Alexandra Matula, Maddi Mcgrott Y, Sienna Nicolazzo, Sara Oghanna, Kimberly Pereira, Jordan Quiambao, Charlize Ristevski, Khushi Saini, Angelica Santos, Gurbani Sidhu, Aditya Talukder, Cyrus Tulio, Jodi Wong, Vanessa Wu, Austin Zacharia

YEAR 9

Mia Abdelahad, Vincent Barillaro, Prisha Bhanot, Daniella Biviano, Isabella Ciano, Giuliana Demarte, Anisija Dimoski, Khiana Giuliano, Alyssa Golob, Nicole Hanna, Cindy Le, Olivia Lucic, Matthew Monteneri, Gabrielle Morales, Alannah Nedanovski, Angelina Pino, Kiara Ramagnano, Simon Tawfiq, Julia Valeri

YEAR 10

Ebony Baraku, Jason Cho, Lorraine Chow, Alessia Di Gregorio, Logan Divers, Aviva D'souza, Emile Gill-Haimowich, Lauren Gladman, James Gregory, Edwin Joby, Jordan Kunda, Jasmine Lam, Nathania Lay-Sung, Jaimee Lymbouris, Hiranya Modi, Christina Nguyen, Andy Oda, Julie Pole, Nell Rejith, Christian Secchi, Isabelle Veljanovska, Lucinda Vo, Isaac Wessley

YEAR 11

Aliya Awad, Danielle Barilla, Maddison Cali , Andrew Chan, Nahin Chowdhury, Lauren Critelli, Adam De Vincenti, Mankirat Dhillon, Michael Elice, Alanna Etienne, Adam Galletti, Erica Gurung, Julia Huynh, Sarah Ilias, Rhea John, Helena Kambitis, Isabella Kolev, Jacinta La Rocca, Theodora Mandaza, Yarrah Muneer, Kate Nieves, Keerthana Peeris, Alyssa Sabatino, Nichelle Silva, Kiara Sirilas, Joseph Susi, Daniella Syawish, Samantha Torcasio, Stephen Triantafillopoulos, Leela Tsilomanis, Connor Uniacke

Dedication to Studies – Revised and renewed!

The Award of Dedication to Studies was introduced in 2006 under the Academic Honours program. For the first time this year, this award is based on Simon Academic Data from Semester One Reports. This data extracted from the Semester Reports is a major component of our Awards in Dedication to Studies. All Year 7-11 students are eligible for this award.

To be nominated for this award, a student must have shown significant commitment towards their studies with the aim of improvement.

One of the major components of this award are the Work Habits found on Semester Reports.

The criteria for these Work Habits are as follows:

Those students who ALWAYS do the following:

• bring required materials to class

• work independently

• work cooperatively with others

• complete required homework

• complete required classwork

Sport

Gifts on the Table

21

Alumni

Michael and Valeria

Xavier Lewis Turco Renae, David and Isabella

Michael, Aisling and Patrick

Andrew, Mason, Natasha and Hazel

Nathan and Brooke

Anthony and Rebecca Luca Bottiglieri

Luca Daoud

Valencia Puccio

Frankie and Jana

Congratulations to...

• Anthony Gandolfo (Class of 2008) and Rebecca Minchillo on their engagement.

• Shauna Bottiglieri nee Misevski (Class of 2009) and Daniel Bottiglieri (Class of 2004) on the birth of their son, Luca.

• Christina Puccio nee Cisternino (Class of 2000) and Martin Puccio (Class of 2000) on the birth of their daughter, Valencia, who joins big brother, Marcelo.

• Aisling Sinni nee McKenna (Class of 2005) and husband Michael Sinni on the birth of their son, Patrick.

• Kristen Daoud nee Marini (Class of 2007) and husband, Joseph Daoud, on the birth of their son, Luca.

• Frankie Anania (Class of 2011) and Jana Bakas on their marriage.

• Michael Di Battista (Class of 2011) and Valeria La Valle (Class of 2011) on their engagement.

• Natasha Epifano nee Cannizarro (Class of 2005) and Andrew Epifano on the birth of their daughter, Hazel, who joins big brother, Mason.

• Nathan Kotlarewski (Class of 2008) and Brooke Woolley on their marriage.

• Jake Turco (Class of 2010) and Natasha Turco on the birth of their son, Xavier Lewis.

• Renae Rossiani nee Colosimo (Class of 2007) and David Rossiani on the birth of their daughter, Isabella.

22

Where are they now?

Salem Abdallah

Class of 2009

I had just begun Year 9 when I experienced a life-threatening brain haemorrhage. I spent roughly half a year in hospital and the remaining half of the year I spent at home recovering.

SMC did not leave my side during the whole ordeal. Teachers frequently visited me while I was in a coma and after I had woken up, they were extremely supportive of me and to my family. Once I came home from hospital, multiple teachers visited me at home to check up on my recovery and SMC organised school trips for my classmates to visit me at home. It was immensely encouraging to see all my classmates again.

The following year I attended Year 10 part-time as I had not yet recovered enough to manage with full-time education. I had a teacher’s aide constantly by my side helping me at achool. The teacher’s aide went everywhere with me helping me navigate my way around the school and helping me catch up on the year that I had missed. When I returned to school, I had trouble with my handwriting movements and the teacher’s aide took down the class notes for me. The teachers instructing the class were also supportive, they frequently made time to help me and made sure I understood the content. SMC also were extremely understanding during my

therapy, they kept in constant communication with the Royal Children Hospital with regards to my progress.

Whenever I pass SMC, I still thank God because I went to such an amazing high school.

In 2019, I completed my Masters of Information Technology, receiving an average of 79.31% and gaining great work experience during my studies. Despite this, I found it difficult to find work in the IT industry after graduation. As a result of my injuries, I have a speech impairment, which acts as a barrier when applying for positions.

My Career Advisor at university informed me about GradWISE (a program which assists people living with a disability to enter the workforce), who assisted me in securing a role as a Graduate Network Software Specialist at Telstra beginning in February 2021.

The truth is, I would not have reached where I am today if SMC had not been so supportive and understanding. Thank you, SMC for nourishing me in my time of need and helping me grow to overcome the dire situation that I faced.

Gifts on the Table

23

St Monica’s College, EppingEVERY STUDENT MATTERS

Enrolments for Year 7, 2022close

Friday, 9 October 2020

Apply Online at www.stmonicas-epping.com/apply


EPPING 400 Dalton Road, Epping VIC 3076

P 9409 8800

E [email protected]

W www.stmonicas-epping.com

OUR COLLEGE THEME

2020

Gifts on the

Table

For further information about enrolment please contact the College Registrar on 9409 8444

Saint Augustine and his mother, Saint Monica · Saint Monica Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat Sister...

Documents

Transcript of Saint Augustine and his mother, Saint Monica · Saint Monica Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat Sister...