On Country with Linton Burgess

The following report was written by Imasha Nawaratne, a Year 12 student (First Nations Studies 3)

The trip to Lunawanna-allonah/Bruny Island was a powerful and enlightening experience. We were warmly welcomed to Murrayfield by Linton Burgess, a Palawa man who is a descendant of Manelagannah. He talked us through a welcome to country, followed by a smoking ceremony, which made me feel a sense of comfort and ease.

The wisdom Linton shared with us really showcased the strength within the Tasmanian Aboriginal community; the importance of truth telling, knowing and recognising the nation's history and moving forward to reach reconciliation.

Linton said something that really stuck with me: “If you want to care for the land, you have to feel connected to it, and a part of it first.” This was a perspective I have never thought of; for someone to truly love and care for the land they must feel a sense of connection.

The trip was a beautiful experience, and I am truly grateful that I was able to be a part of it and learn alongside my First Nations class.

Check out the below video to see all the highlights from the experience.

Push-Up Challenge

The results are in, and we've finished strong!

Senior School students and staff at SMC have completed a whopping 15,000 push-ups in just 23 days to raise awareness for mental health.

A mighty well done to all participants and thank you to everyone who supported and joined us along the way, in particular, our Year 12 Prefects and St Mary's College Wellbeing Team.

It's been a fantastic way to connect, spark meaningful conversations about mental health, boost our fitness and strength, and rack up those valuable House points. Shout out to College for pushing the limits to claim first prize in the House push-up tally.

To celebrate the end of the challenge, students enjoyed a sausage sizzle on the College Green at lunchtime last Thursday, with all proceeds going to Headspace.

History buffs explore John Elliott Classics Museum

The following report was written by Anja Smith and Matilda Greenhill (Year 10)

On Tuesday 17 June, the Year 9/10 Ancient World class went to the John Elliott Classic Museum to learn about Ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt as well as the 2,000-year-old coins that people used.

Neil Apted, the keeper for the classic's museum, showed us many of the coins used in ancient Rome and Egypt. He taught us how they would use the coins beyond trade and their propaganda value. He also told us how they would create the coin and allowed us to view other ancient artifacts in the museum which was very interesting.

Year 10 Pillars: A week of adventure, creativity and self-discovery

In Week 9, our Year 10 students stepped away from their regular timetables and into an exciting world of hands-on learning, creativity and personal growth through the Pillars experiences. Designed to inspire, challenge and ignite passions, each student selected one of five immersive experiences…and what a week it was!

Sips, Bites and Sights – Hospitality

Students swapped school desks for café counters as they completed a certified barista course at Drysdale. They mastered the art of coffee making, from grinding beans and frothing milk to creating the perfect latte.

To top off their hospitality experience, they also enjoyed a delicious day out exploring the historic village of Richmond, including visits to Wicked Cheese and Federation Chocolate...a sweet reward after a week of skill-building.

Creative Chaos – Art

For the creatively inclined, the art experience was a feast of colour and form. Students got hands-on with polymer clay and ceramic techniques to design their own earrings and pottery pieces. With guidance from practising artists, they explored both traditional and contemporary methods and walked away with stunning, personalised works of art to treasure (or gift!).

Rock and Rope – Climbing

Adrenaline and adventure took centre stage in the climbing experience. Students tested their courage and teamwork on high ropes courses and abseiling challenges. A standout moment? Visiting kunanyi/Mount Wellington where a surprise snowfall made the visit even more magical. It was a week of pushing boundaries, building resilience and finding strength in the face of gravity (and chilly winds!).

Balance and Breathe – Wellbeing

The Wellbeing experience was all about nurturing mind, body and soul. Students got their zen on with yoga and mindfulness activities, fuelled their bodies with homemade smoothie bowls and flexed their creative muscles by designing their own unique journals. It was the perfect blend of calm and creativity, encouraging students to slow down, reflect and reconnect with themselves and each other.

Glow Up! – Beauty

Those with an eye for aesthetics dived into the colourful world of makeup. Students explored everything from natural beauty looks to bold transformations. They learned lash application, colour theory, skin care basics and the importance of hygiene, especially when it comes to those all-important brushes!

Whether students found themselves climbing snowy mountains, perfecting their latte art, or mixing a dreamy smoothie bowl, the Pillars Experiences provided a meaningful and memorable end to the term. More than just fun, these programs offered real-world skills, self-discovery and a chance to connect with new friends and passions.

A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful Experience Leaders, Mrs Baker (Hospitality), Ms Havard (Art), Mrs Matsouris (Climbing), Mrs Marr (Wellbeing), and Ms Stevenson (Make Up) for guiding, supporting and inspiring our students throughout the week.

Mia Blignaut

Pillars Program Coordinator

Year 7 Art students celebrate heritage through public art

During Term 1, Ms Anna Berger's Year 7 Art classes spent time sketching the historic St Mary's College convent and St Mary's Cathedral buildings, capturing the architectural beauty of these landmarks. These sketches formed the foundation for a collaborative Public Art project designed to enhance the school grounds.

Back in the art room, students learnt how to reinterpret their drawings in clay. They experimented with viewpoints, cropping their imagery and selecting specific details. Using slab-building techniques, texture scratching and indenting methods, each student crafted a relief sculpture based on their design. Once glazed, the clay tiles were arranged and affixed to two prepared plywood panels.

The final artwork is now on display on an exterior wall near the Reflection Garden for students and staff to enjoy. They are well worth a look next time you're passing by!

Op Shop success!

As a follow-on from the Year 10 Political Theatre project on Fast Fashion, developed in collaboration with the Sustainability Learning Centre, students hosted a clothing swap in the milangkani room on Tuesday.

During lunchtime, students and staff browsed through a curated selection of pre-loved clothing, taking home stylish finds at no cost, with just a gold coin donation at the door.

Those who donated clothes received free entry tokens to exchange for another item at the swap.

A huge thank you to everyone who came along and supported this sustainability initiative. Thanks to you, fashion got a second life, and the planet got a little breather!

Year 10/11 Health Taster Day at UTAS

Students in Years 10 and 11 recently attended a Health Taster Day at UTAS, where they engaged with professionals, explored a range of health-related disciplines, including pharmacy, psychology and exercise and sport science, and gained hands-on insights into future study and career pathways.

'Work It' experience

This term, our Year 10 students have been out on work placements across a range of industries. These snapshots highlight just a few of the diverse settings where they’ve been gaining hands-on experience.

Cara Watt (Year 10) pictured here on excursion with Year 2 students, during her work placement in the SMC Junior School.

Addison Ford and Alice Hyland (Year 10), enjoyed work experience at St John's Catholic School in Richmond.

Amy Thurling (Year 10), flexing her green thumb at Harmony Garden Centre.

Ayzia McCarthy (Year 10), who is keen to pursue a career working with children, completed her work experience at Little Bee Early Years Learning and Childhood Centre.

VET Certificate I in Defence Skills

Pictured: Well done to Isabel Mayne (Year 11), who recently participated in a three-day Australian Defence Force (ADF familiarisation experience.

The experience was designed to give attending students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with equipment and job requirements specific to various areas.

Isabel enjoyed exploring the training conducted within the ADF and getting a practical understanding of what it takes to excel in different roles, which strongly complements her current VET studies.

From the Principal

Mr Damian Messer