Year 9 News
Leah McBryde
Year 9 Pastoral Leader
Welcome back to Term 4! Our final term together in the Junior space of the College. I hope that all families have had a relaxing time over the September holiday break and ready to finish the 2020 school year strong. This term we have many exciting events happening to conclude the year and prepare students for senior.
As stated in an email last week, students currently have the opportunity for their first taste at leadership in applying for Junior Prefect for 2021. This role involves student becoming more involved in aspects of the College that include supporting the Year 7 and 8 students in transitioning to secondary school, Orientation evenings and Parent nights, Open night, St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal, Relay for Life and many other organized school events. The applications for the Junior Prefect 2021 closed today and I look forward to reading each one to discover the wonderful talents and leadership already demonstrated in Year 9. Students will be informed if they have been short listed for an interview by Friday Week 5, with interviews commencing in Week 6.
This term students will be involved in the final Year 9 Pastoral Day for the year held on Wednesday 25th November, Week 8. Students are encouraged to attend the day as a normal compulsory day of school. This day promises to be a day of celebration and recognition of the achievements so far in the junior school. It will also be an opportunity to welcome the students into the Senior school of St Mary’s through a celebration of the Eucharist with Father Martin. The day will then progress down to Trinity Beach for some fun activities, games and lunch provided by the school. I look forward to celebrating this day with the students as my final opportunity to work with the students as a cohort. Please check parent slips or your emails regarding permission forms for the day.
A reminder that this term although a shorter term, each day requires student’s attendance. Every school day is important and if your child is unable to attend for reasons out of your control be sure to contact the College office for this to be recorded. If your child is absent from school, I encourage students to contact their teachers whom they have missed class to make sure they can catch up on the work missed. This can be done through email correspondence of speaking with the teacher during recess breaks.
Finally, I wish all the Year 9 students and their families are wonderful Term 4 and look forward to the exciting events ahead. A reminder should you have any questions or concerns regarding events or your child at St Mary’s please do not hesitate to get in contact with me via email – lmcbryde@cns.catholic.edu.au or phoning the College office.
PASTORAL DAY – AMAZING RACE – TERM 3
Last term we held our Amazing Race Pastoral Day on Tuesday 15th September. This day was an opportunity for students to build relationships in group situations whilst completing a course along Earl Hill finishing at Half Moon Bay. Students had to complete a variety of challenges that included putting giant puzzle pieces together to discover a team work saying, paint and decorate a team flag, wear team bandannas, complete memory challenges, carry an egg in a basket without breaking it among some of the challenges on the day. Upon completing the course students were then bussed to Trinity Beach for lunch and a final fill the bucket challenge in their teams. Students enjoyed a leisurely swim at the beach before returning to St Mary’s. Over the course of the day it was excellent to see that students out of their comfort zone and embracing the environment around them. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many wonderful staff that participated in running the day for the Year 9 students. Thanks, must also go to Mrs Helena Tutoe, Mrs Redgwell and Mr Belton for getting to Trinity Beach early to cook the barbecue lunch for students and staff. Please see below for some of the photos from the day.
