Farewell to our Year 12s

We celebrated the end of schooling for our Year 12s with an eventful week that included Graduation Mass, Leavers' Assembly and the Belling Out. There were many embraces and teary eyes as they walked through the student guard of honour in the tradition of Belling Out. Congratulations to all Year 12s on a wonderful St Mary's College journey. Farewell and best wishes for the future. See Graduation Mass and other photos here: www.smc.tas.edu.au/photos/.

CSIRO Gold CREST success

Congratulations to three Year 10 students who have been awarded prestigious CSIRO Gold CREST awards for 2019: Luzie Gillard, Jade Hay, and Shreya Karunakara.

To be eligible for this award, students must complete a project that makes an original contribution to a STEM field of study. Gold CREST Awards deepen the students' experience of open inquiry, through the undertaking of an investigation or project taking a minimum of 100 hours. Under the supervision of their teacher and a mentor, students define and direct the terms of their inquiry. Gold CREST Awards must be innovative in both: the scope, aim, or design of the inquiry, and in the application of the findings to the real-world. The awards are nationally recognised and only an average of 30 are awarded Australia-wide each year. Thirteen St Mary’s College students have been awarded Gold CREST awards over the past six years.

Well done Luzie, Jade and Shreya for your outstanding achievements!

Youth Leadership Challenge fundraiser

Well done to Joly Karabite (Year 11) who recently baked and sold 120 cupcakes to staff and students to raise funds for the Youth Leadership Challenge. The Youth Leadership Challenge will send Joly on a 10-day sail around the waters of Tasmania on the tall ship, Windeward Bound this December. Joly will be on board with nine other participants from refugee backgrounds and ten mentors who have a desire to lead. This is an amazing opportunity for Joly to make friends and develop leadership and life skills. Any additional funds will go towards the Christmas Hampers to assist members of our community.

Prep to Year 2 Athletics

Prep to Year 2 students had a wonderful time participating in various events including sprints, and sack races at their Athletics Carnival. There were lots of smiles, personal bests and many cheers from the delighted spectators who came along on the day.

Share the Dignity

A wonderful effort was made by the Senior School students who created 25 bags for Share the Dignity's 'It's In The Bag' fundraiser. Lucy Ryan, Prefect for Social Justice as part of the Justice Action Group is pictured with the bags ready for collection.

These students are helping to make life better for a woman or girl experiencing homelessness or poverty this Christmas. Learn more at

https://sharethedignity.com.au/

Forensic Science investigation

The Forensic Science class had a visit from Ann Harvey from Blood Bank who talked to the class about the importance of blood and blood donations. Students were surprised to learn that only one in 30 donates but one in three needs blood at some stage in their lifetime. In Forensic Science, students have been studying blood types and the importance of blood in analysing a forensic case.

Stef Flonta from the New Town Forensic Labs also visited the class to give an overview of his career as a Forensic Scientist. He explained the types of testing the lab are responsible for and the daily activities a forensic scientist would undertake, from analysing a crime scene to DNA extraction to providing evidence in court.

Community news

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