Latest news

Students get chatty for charity

The College was fortunate to have the founder of SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY, Mitch McPherson, attend our Senior School assembly on Wednesday 8 June. 

Mitch joined us in the hot seat for a candid Q&A hosted by Amelia Howell and Lily Ransley (Year 12). He spoke about the importance of reaching out for help and keeping an eye on those around us, encouraging students to keep mental health at the forefront of their minds.

Students were also given a glimpse into the work of SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY and how the money raised by Year 12s will be used.

As our Year 12 Prefects' chosen charity for 2022, we can’t wait to see what the rest of the year will bring for this fantastic organisation!

SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY works to promote positive mental health and prevent suicide by reducing stigma and encouraging people to seek help. Find out more here.

Heart warming response to Winter Woollies Week

Celebrations were in full swing at the College last week to acknowledge St Vincent de Paul/Winter Woollies Week. 

Monday 6 June saw the Senior School gather in the Cathedral for the first time as a whole group in 2022, with members of our Vinnies conference sharing the foundation story of the society and leading us in prayer. 

The following night (Tuesday 7 June), students Kasota Clayton, Maddie Young (Year 11) and Meg Pinelli (Year 12) represented St Mary's in a youth Mass held at St Therese Parish, Moonah. 

The Mass is a momentous occasion for college conferences (Catholic secondary school students in southern Tasmania whose members meet regularly under the auspice of the St Vincent de Paul Society). 

At the Mass, students were presented with their conference badges and their candle, which will burn at each meeting as a symbol of the light of Christ and the collective good works of the society. 

The following day (Wednesday 8 June), students from Kinder to Year 12 donned their beanies, gloves, scarves and other warm winter items in recognition of Winter Woollies Day. 

Donations of warm clothing items, blankets and gold coins were collected to pass on to those in need on the streets of Hobart through the Loui's Van service.

On Friday 10 June, the conference members tallied up the donations, and we are pleased to say we ended up with around 450 items which will make a significant difference to those in need. 

Thank you to the SMC community for your support. 

Belle Young 

Youth Minister

Reading mentor reaps rewards

Earlier this year, Ella Edwards (Year 10) took part in a literacy peer support program called student2student, in which she was a mentor for 18 weeks. 

Run by The Smith Family, the program matches students who need to improve their reading with older peer buddies who help and encourage them by reading together online. 

On Friday 3 June, Ella was invited to share her experience with the program at a special event attended by Hobart business and government partners. 

In her address, Ella spoke about the digital and data divide in society and its disadvantages for many students in the community. 

A number of St Mary's College alumni were in attendance and commended Ella on her impressive speech. 

Ella mingled confidently during the morning tea and was a wonderful representative for SMC and adolescents alike. Well done, Ella.

Garden gets a funding boost

St Mary's College has received two grants under the 2022 Keep Australia Beautiful Tasmania Sustainable Schools Grants Program for our Junior School Bush Tucker Garden. 

The funding will be used to establish an edible garden at the College, which our Junior School students will help maintain and care for while learning about sustainability and living off the land. 

Debating kicks off at SMC 

Our Year 7 and 8 students put their best arguments forward last week for the start of the debating season, which runs throughout Terms 2 and 3.

The Year 8 team (Claire Wanandy, Sana Ghiasvand and Hal Cormack) defeated Mackillop College in their first debate, successfully debating that 'Australia should not be a republic'. Well done to the students and their coaches, Molly Topham and Nicola Morgan (Year 12). 

The Year 7 team (Molly O'Reilly, Cassia Mulholland and Lucy Pinelli), pictured below, were narrowly defeated by Taroona High School (losing by one point). 

For Cassia and Molly, this was their very first debate. The team, and their coaches, Hannah Korn and Mikayla Foster (Year 11), should be very proud of their outstanding debut into the challenging world of debating. 

If anyone would like to support the debating teams throughout the season, please visit the Tasmanian Debating Union website, https://tdu.org.au/

Pottery wheels in motion 

Years 9s visited the Glazed and Confused Pottery Studio on Thursday 2 June, where they learnt the challenging art of throwing pots using a pottery wheel. 

All students produced an incredible array of pots, vases, bowls and vessels using white earthenware clay that was thrown on the pottery wheel. 

They also tried their hand at hand-build pieces using a buff raku clay.

Students will continue to extend their skills on our own pottery wheels in the College's art rooms over the next few weeks. 

Students tour art exhibitions

On Tuesday 31 May, the Year 11/12 Senior Art class visited the annual ArtRage Exhibition at Salamanca Arts Centre. 

An annual initiative of the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (QVMAG), ArtRage exhibits the top works from young Tasmanian artists in Year 11 and 12 studying Art Production or Art Studio Practice as part of their Tasmanian Certificate of Education. 

The artworks are selected by QVMAG from works shortlisted by the art teachers of various colleges. 

Following ArtRage, we visited exhibitions at Colville Street, Despard Gallery, Handmark and Plimsoll Galleries, and TMAG. 

It was a great opportunity for our students to get off-site and experience art outside of their screens, speak to gallery staff about the shows on exhibition and inspire their own art practice. 

Emma Havard

Secondary Teacher

Year 9s enjoy enriching experiences 

Last week, Year 9 students enjoyed a series of Enrichment Days for a number of their subjects, including Science, where we visited Bonorong Wildlife Centre and the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. 

For the past few weeks, students have been studying ecology, looking at ecosystems and how plants and animals are adapted to survive and thrive in different environments. 

For their assessment task, students were challenged to unleash their inner David Attenborough and become documentary filmmakers, recording a native Australian animal at Bonorong and explaining how its adaptations allow them to live in their environment. This was followed by some 'budget cut' footage of varying ecosystems including the sub-Antarctic, desert and dry sclerophyll forests at the Botanical Gardens. 

Despite the chilly weather, the students rose to this challenge with gusto. The Year 9 teachers are excited to see the products of the students' hard work. 

Diana Nahodil

Learning Leader – Science

Overland Track, it's a wrap...

The Overland Track was an exhilarating and life-changing experience for our Outdoor Education students. Ella Robinson (Year 11) provides a recap below. Thanks Ella! 

Over six challenging but enjoyable days, we, as a team, completed what was the most rewarding experience—walking 65km of amazing tracks and views, where we met heaps of new people and bonded as a group. 

The first day of walking was mentally the hardest day. With our packs at their heaviest, the walk felt never-ending. As each day passed, the walking became easier, and we got into a good routine. From sun to snow, we were faced with every form of weather possible. 

The Overland Track was the single most physically and mentally demanding thing I have ever done and not having any electronics for a week was a challenge in itself. But the sense of fulfilment and reward made all the hardship and pain go away. 

We eventually reached the finish line where we looked forward to the hot chips on the way home—and a hot shower! 

It's such a delight to letter write

Our Year 3-6 pen pals sure know how to make the pen mighty, and have written very entertaining and engaging letters this past week. 

They are filled with beautiful drawings, fun facts about their lives, plus curious questions for their alumni pen pals they are getting to know this year. 

Letters will be arriving into the mailboxes of our alumni soon!