Bright minds rise to the Science and Engineering Challenge

Over the past two weeks, a team of 22 enthusiastic Year 9 and 10 students attended the Science and Engineering Challenge at the University of Tasmania.

The Science and Engineering Challenge is an exhilarating day where schools compete against each other in a variety of fun and engaging hands-on activities.

Students put their problem-solving and engineering skills to the test as they built earthquake-proof towers, Mars rovers and bridges, designed communications using light, and brainstormed ways to effectively power cities.

The St Mary's College team did exceptionally well, taking out their Hobart heat to progress to the state finals.

Although the team did not come home with the win, students approached each task with focus and determination, demonstrating exceptional teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills. We were extremely proud of their efforts.

Dr Diana Nahodil

Learning Leader of Science

Legal Studies students get a taste of the law

There's never a dull moment in Legal Studies! Our Year 11/12 students have enjoyed taking a break from the books to venture out into the community and satiate their passion for justice and the law.

This week, the Legal Studies class visited the Tasmanian Parliament where they were fortunate to meet with the Premier of Tasmania, Jeremy Rockliff.

Students also rubbed shoulders with the Legislative Council Clerk, Catherine Vickers, who explained her important role in managing the process and procedures of the upper house.

The group then observed Ministers being asked questions during Question Time in the House of Assembly, which was a great insight into how responsible government works. A huge thank you to the amazing Parliament Education Officer, Kimbra McCormack for the worthwhile experience.

Earlier this term, the Legal Studies class had the opportunity to connect with Leanne McLean, the Commissioner for Children and Young People, pictured with students below.

Leanne was so welcoming and informative about her role in protecting and promoting the welfare and rights of children and young people in Tasmania.

Youth justice reform is just one of the many topical legal issues we are able to investigate in Legal Studies. We are so grateful to Leanne for the information, support and amazing resources that she shared with us.

Two things that we took away from the visit:

1. Youth detention must be reformed to help youth crime, and to prevent, as well as better rehabilitate, young offenders.

2. We need to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility in Tasmania.

Angela Deconinck

Secondary Teacher

Careers showcase brings industry professionals under the one roof

St Mary's College Senior School students had the chance to connect and network with industry experts from around Tasmania during the Southern Catholic College Careers Showcase, held recently at MAC 02 on Hobart's waterfront.

The inaugural event, which attracted more than 2,000 students from 10 southern Catholic Colleges, highlighted the wide range of rewarding career opportunities that are available in a variety of industries.

Exhibitors included Microsoft, Defence, Tasmanian Health Services, Sustainable Timber, VOS, University of Tasmania, Keystone Tasmania and Hazell Bros, with employers and professionals on hand to speak with the students and share insights into future pathways.

At the event, students explored emerging and interactive virtual technologies; they jumped behind the wheel of a fire truck from Tasmania Fire Service, cared for patients in the back of an ambulance (courtesy of Ambulance Tasmania), and tried their hand at building a box as part of Build Up Tassie's exhibit, which gives students first-hand experience (on a much smaller scale) of what it would be like when using tools that will help build houses in Tasmania.

Well done, Vara (Year 12), pictured, for acing your interview for 7News Tasmania!

Celebrating Mary in May

In the Catholic tradition, the month of May is dedicated to Mary, and for our youngest students in Kinder, this means finding simple and beautiful ways to honour the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, in everyday life.

In recent weeks, the Kinders have embarked on a 'Mary hunt', where they searched, high and low, for statues, pictures and icons of Mary throughout the College. They delighted in watching our Year 6 students ring the Angelus bell (during the month of May, we pause for a minute of prayer at 12.00pm every day), and they admired the colourful stained-glass windows in our Adrian Doyle Chapel.

Following the Chapel visit, students were given the opportunity to draw their own representations of the window—a selection of which are pictured here below.

SMC gets hooked on reading

Students in Year 3 raced to the State Library of Tasmania on Wednesday 24 May to take part in a National Simultaneous Storytime session with Leanne McLean, Commissioner for Children and Young People.

The annual campaign, which is hosted by the Australian Library and Information Association, sees an Australian picture book read simultaneously across the country to promote the value of reading and literacy.

This year's chosen book was 'The Speedy Sloth' by Rebecca Young and Heath McKenzie: an 'inspiring story celebrating all winners ... especially those who don't come first'.

In our Junior School, classes joined in the fun with a story time event live streamed from Sydney Zoo—featuring surprise appearances from some of its furry residents, with students getting into the action by sporting their own athletic headbands and participating in fun 'sloth' activities.

Community news

AFL School Umpiring Course

Nature. Be in it | Winter holiday program

Supporting children with anxiety | Workshops

Arabic calligraphy | Workshop series