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NAIDOC Week highlights importance of Country

Students across all year groups were involved in a special week of activities at the end of Term 2 to mark NAIDOC Week 2021 (4-11 July). 

This year's theme, Heal Country, allowed us to celebrate and raise awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and the importance of Country. 

In Abi Ball's Year 1 Penguin class, girls and boys collaborated on a vibrant largescale artwork, pictured below. 

The students talked about earth tones and water tones and used pastels to colour their images, which were created by Zachary Bennett-Brooks, a Torres Strait Islander raised on Dharawal Country. 

It was fantastic to see the Penguins' excitement grow as individual pages were completed and added to the larger work. 

Kinder students acknowledged the sacred ground and palawa land on which St Mary's College stands, creating hand prints in the colours of the Aboriginal flag to symbolise unity and togetherness. 

The last week of Term 2 also saw the College's First Nations students embark on an adventure to tiralina (Eaglehawk Neck), where they gathered bull kelp while on Country. The kelp will be used for an upcoming art workshop with students—watch this space! 

Thank you to parent Sharnie Read from the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre for accompanying students and staff on the excursion. 

The College will gather for a formal celebration of NAIDOC Week at the upcoming whole-school assembly. 

Chinese poetry competition 

On Friday 25 June, 30 Junior School students from Years 2–6 participated in the CLTAT Chinese Poetry Competition. 

Students were required to learn either a Chinese nursery rhyme or traditional Chinese poem from memory, which they then performed in front of two Chinese judges. 

Congratulations and well done to all students who competed on the day, with a special mention to the following place-getters: 

Year 1/2 

First place: Mia Wanandy (Year 2)

Third place: Eloise Riley (Year 2)

Year 3/4

Equal second place: Amy Houareau (Year 3), Issaquah Clayton (Year 4). 

Highly commended: Valentina Grznic (Year 3), Hannah Schofield (Year 3), Mia Styles (Year 4). 

Year 5/6 

Highly commended: Matilda Greenhill (Year 6), Ashlee Bowden (Year 5), Jasmine Williams (Year 6), Millicent Barnard (Year 6). 

Thank you to the College's Junior School Chinese Teacher, Alison Lowe for providing this great opportunity. 

Good 'wool' project warming hearts, transforming lives 

A project run by a group of charitable St Mary's College Senior School students is helping to bring warmth to those doing it tough this winter. 

Earlier this year, Luzie Gillard (Year 12) and a number of her peers teamed up with the St Vincent de Paul Society in Tasmania to create handmade blankets and scarves  as part of their community outreach endeavours.

After many months spent tirelessly knitting and sewing, Luzie, on behalf of the group, was proud to present an impressive stack of 32 blankets (with eight still to come) and 34 scarves to the charity.

The items will be distributed to the Tasmanian community through Loui’s Van and emergency assistance programs.

The knitting project has seen the donation of 160 blankets since its launch five years ago, which is just incredible. Well done, girls!

St Vincent de Paul is always looking for donations of blankets and warm clothing, especially during winter. For more details on how to donate, visit vinnies.org.au.

Time to retreat

The recent Year 12 retreat was the perfect opportunity for students to gather as a cohort to reflect on themselves, their spirituality and their time at St Mary's College. 

Taking place overnight at Woodfield Adventure Park in Dysart, the students participated in a range of activities that connected them to the theme, 'Women of the Lantern'.

The retreat was a welcome break from the busyness of everyday life, allowing students to make the most of their time away from the classroom and sporting and family commitments.