Latest news

Student artists shine at 2024 Art and Design Exhibition 

On Friday 15 November, the College proudly hosted the launch of the 2024 Art and Design Exhibition. This vibrant event celebrated the collective artistic achievements of our students from Years 7-12. 

The exhibition featured a gallery-style display, live music performances, refreshments and a fashion parade highlighting sustainable fashion and textile art from the Certificate II in Visual Art course.

Held across three levels of the Mary Morgan Wing, guests were treated to a stunning array of visual art in all its forms. The showcase included photography, graphics, audiovisual installations and traditional pieces such as drawing, painting, woodwork, textiles, ceramics, and sculpture.

Each piece served as a unique expression of the students' ideas, perspectives, technical skills and deep engagement with their surroundings, covering a broad range of themes and social issues. 

A major highlight on the College calendar, the Art and Design exhibition is a testament to the passion, dedication and hard work our students have poured into their artistic pursuits this year.

As noted by Emma Havard, our Learning Leader for Visual Arts: 

"The works you see in this year's show reflect the challenges embraced by our students, showcasing the power of creative exploration. Their achievements remind us that art is not just a cocurricular option, it is central to shaping well-rounded individuals." 

The evening also included the presentation of the Visual Arts Awards. Congratulations to the following students who were recognised for demonstrating outstanding commitment to the visual arts. 

• Year 7 Art Award – Sofia Palermo
• Year 8 Art Award – Millie Beach
• Year 9/10 Visual Art Award – Isabella Harman
• Year 9/10 New Media Art – Lilyana Gillespie
• Year 9/10 Ceramics – Billie Salter
• Year 11/12 Art Award – Lillian Scott

Congratulations are also in order for Ella Edwards (Year 12), who was named as the recipient of the 2024 Acquisition. 

A very big thank you to the SMC community for your support and attendance on the night. It was incredibly rewarding for our students to see their work come together and receive positive feedback from staff, families and friends.

For the first time, we were thrilled to showcase our students' '90s rap compositions. A special shoutout to our 'Mix Masters' (Year 8 DJs) for bringing the beats to the fashion runway, and to Beatrix Clarke (Year 9) for her outstanding performances on the keyboard and guitar.

We also wish to thank local artist Rhi Bloom for her live mural work on the wall outside Murphy's Café. We are excited to see it completed over the coming weeks.

Find more photos from the Art and Design Exhibition launch event on the College website here.

Just Leadership Day

Four Senior School students from SMC recently attended the Just Leadership Day at St Aloysius Catholic College. They collaborated with students from other Catholic schools around southern Tasmania to plan opportunities for fundraising, raising awareness, outreach and service, while also developing their leadership skills. 

One of our student representatives, Hal Cormack (Year 10), has provided the following report: 

Two weeks ago, we had the privilege of attending the Just Leadership Day at St Aloysius, an event that provided us with an invaluable opportunity to reflect on our role in promoting justice, compassion and service to others. Throughout the day, we delved deeper into our charities, St Vincent de Paul, Catholic Mission and Caritas. 

One of the highlights of our day was learning about the values of servant leadership, a concept that encourages leaders to put the needs of others first, much like St Vincent de Paul did in his time. 

We also had the opportunity to learn about fundraising initiatives at other schools, seeing firsthand how small acts of kindness and community involvement can create a ripple effect of positive change. It was inspiring to see the many ways our peers are working to raise funds for important causes, and it motivated us to think about how we can contribute to similar efforts in the future.

The day was filled with learning, growth and a renewed sense of purpose. It reminded us of the importance of service to others, the power of community and how, as we continue to grow, we can all become leaders who make a positive difference in the world.

Year 8 Retreat | People of Character

The Year 8 Retreat, titled 'People of Character,' took place on the Thursday 14 and Friday 15 November. 

During the retreat, students explored their character strengths, celebrated their uniqueness and were challenged to make a difference in the world by becoming People of Character. They drew inspiration from various sources, including Scripture and the life of Nano Nagle. 

The Year 8 students are to be commended for their participation and engagement throughout the retreat.

Sharon Lawler

Director of Identity and Mission 

Music Assembly hits the right note

The Nagle Centre was alive with sweet melodies, harmonies and beats on Tuesday 12 November as our Junior School hosted a lively Music Assembly, showcasing the marvellous music-making talents of our Years 3–6 students.

Organised by our dedicated Music department, the one-hour concert was a delightful treat for students, staff and families who enjoyed the live performances. From our Junior School rock band and percussion ensembles to our Years 3–5 choirs, every set hit the right note!

A big thank you to everyone who took time out of their day to join us. We are very proud of all the students who performed with such confidence and joy. You've all grown so much as musicians this year. Well done and bravo! 

Excellent news alert! 

Halina Dadswell-Booth (Year 11) has been selected for a student exchange program in Italy. Halina, who is studying Italian 3 at St Mary's College, will be jetting off on her overseas adventure this Friday 22 November.

During her exchange, Halina will join her host sister, Cristina (who visited St Mary's College on exchange earlier this year), in the beautiful town of Riva del Garda, and attend Liceo Maffei, SMC's sister school.

Halina is thrilled to experience her first white Christmas, and we look forward to hearing more about her adventures when she returns to school next year for her final year at St Mary’s.

To share her excitement with her peers, Halina has shared a short message in Italian:

Ciao, sono Halina, una studentessa in scambio dall'Australia. Sono così entusiasta di andare in Italia e di vivere una nuova cultura. Non vedo l'ora di provare il cibo e di incontrare nuove persone.

(Hello, I'm Halina, an exchange student from Australia. I'm so excited to go to Italy and experience a new culture. I can't wait to try the food and meet new people.)

We wish Halina an incredible time on exchange and can't wait to hear all about it!