Senior School News

2020 Vaccination Program

Each year NSW Health via the South West Area Health Service works in partnership with the College to offer the vaccines recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for adolescents as part of the school vaccination program.

In 2020 the following vaccines will be offered to students in Year 7:

Human Papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) – in a two-dose schedule.
Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (whooping cough) (dTpa) – a single dose.

Students were issued with a Parent Information Kit from NSW Health via Homeroom teachers this week. The kit contains an information sheet, consent form for ALL vaccinations and a privacy statement. The kits will be mailed home to all full-time Year 7 boarding families. The College recommends you carefully read this information and seek advice with your family doctor (if required) before giving consent. Please note that these vaccinations are provided free of charge. If you choose to vaccinate your son at a later date, it may have to be carried out privately through your GP and may incur a cost. Parents are asked to ensure that students eat breakfast on the day of the school vaccination clinic.

Parents who wish to withdraw their consent for any reason may do so by writing to the College Principal. The Procedure for Withdrawal of Consent is available on the NSW Health Service website at www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/withdrawconsent .aspx.

The vaccination dates for 2020 are:

4 May 2020 – HPV Dose 1; dTpa
9 November 2020 – HPV Dose 2.

Only parents consenting need to complete the consent form, in blue or black ink. The consent forms must be completed correctly and signed or NSW Health staff are not permitted to act on incomplete forms. No photocopies, scanned or faxed copies of the forms can be accepted. All hard copies of the forms must be returned to Mrs Stewart via Homeroom teachers by Wednesday 1 April 2020. Please DO NOT fold the forms. Each student will receive a ‘Record of Vaccination’ card to provide to their GP to update their records after the vaccination. Details of the vaccinations given at the College will also be updated to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) to support complete vaccination histories.

For further information regarding the immunisation program, please contact the College nurse on (02)4629 4223 or South Western Sydney Local Health District Immunisation Team on 1300066055. Alternatively, visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunistation for further information and translated copies of the Vaccination Information Kits. Please contact me if you have any questions about the administration of the program.

The College received advice from the Immunisation Coordinator at NSW Health to continue with the preparations for the program. If the COVID-19 issue impacts on the schedule or the program further updates will be communicated.

Mr Barry Graham

Director of Administration

Pastoral Care - Senior School

With so much happening at the moment regarding cancellations of events like camps, sporting events, excursions and many other pastoral incentives, I have taken the opportunity to have our College Counsellor give students and parents additional advice. In the current climate, our students should not be feeling the additional anxiety of uncertain times and challenging outcomes.

Below Ms Renee Orecchio [College Counsellor] has presented some information that parents and students will find extremely useful:

I write to you to address the anxiety surrounding COVID-19 in many of our students and parents. Recently I discussed the concern around the frequency of students attending counselling and expressing their angst regarding COVID-19. This might also be occurring in classrooms as students are discussing their concerns amongst one another, thus causing false information to circulate and many heightened emotions.

With this in mind, I share with you a PDF containing a list of different resources and support specific to assisting those with concerns around COVID-19. In collaboration with Catholic Care counsellors, the PDF includes tips on how to have ‘tricky’ conversations with students and parents and other mental health organisations offering support at this time.

I have also attached a separate word document, which includes a list of organisations supporting different areas of Mental Health, not specific to COVID-19, which focus on generalised anxiety (GSD) and other concerns.

Kind Regards,

Renee

Mr Baldino Vetrano

Director of Students

Year 10 Community Service Project

On the 4th March, Miss Kent presented The Community Service Project to Year 10. This project is an opportunity for students to give back and contribute to their home, school and local community. This year, it is guided under the Year 10 theme of ‘Respect Myself,’ as it is really important for individuals to respect oneself as a human being to be able to restore dignity to others. Also, we are called to make Jesus known and loved through his greatest commandment and the mission of Saint Marcellin Champagnat.

At the College, each student receives a log card used to record community service activities. It is hoped that all students meet the minimum requirements by the end of Term 3. All those who meet the minimum requirements will receive a Community Service Certificate.

The minimum requirements include at least 3 family activities, 2 school activities and 1 local community activity. Some family activities include washing the dog, unpacking the dishwasher or cooking dinner. Some school activities include the Red Shield Appeal, Claymore Homework Club and Debating. Some local community activities include coaching a junior sports team, helping with cooking at your local sports club or visiting a nursing home. For those students looking to extend their efforts and receive a Community Service Medallion they will need to complete above and beyond the minimum threshold. They will also need to keep a detailed journal including photos, journal entries and comments from supervisors or parents related to their service activities.

One popular school-based activity is attending Reiby Juvenile Justice Centre. Reiby Juvenile Justice Centre is located in Airds, Campbelltown and accommodates around 55 young people. This gives students the opportunity to visit, talk and play a friendly game of sport with the residents. The residents in the Centre appreciate visits from other students and it is an eye-opener for our students to recognise how lucky we are.

By John McDonald (Year 10)

Year 8 PC Program

"Brainstorm Productions" will be presenting a Bullying and Cyber Bullying Program called The Flipside for all students in Years, 8 and on Friday 27th March 2020. The production is Educational theatre that addresses cyber safety and cyber bullying in schools and helps improve student wellbeing and mental health.

The Flipside aims to change student's perspectives on what's humorous, toxic, private, humiliating, informative, safe or appropriate. The performance provides strategies for positive, ethical communication online.

The Flipside Cyber Safety Program Covers:

Cyber Bullying
Digital Citizenship
Social Media
Internet Safety
Ethical Online Behaviour
Communication
Empathy
Responsible Use of Technology
Online Gaming
Impulse Control
Digital Footprint
Cyber Safety

If you would like to read more information about the production please go to: https://www.brainstormproductions.edu.au/high-school-shows/the-flipside or email Mr O’Brien at school: mobrien@stgregs.nsw.edu.au

Mr Mitchell O'Brien

Year 8 Coordinator

Royal Canberra Sheep and Cattle Show

On February 26th, 18 students, 12 head of sheep and 7 cattle made the trip to the first event on the Show Sheep and Cattle season calendar – the Royal Canberra Show.

Show Sheep Results

In the Corriedale Judging competition, where our sheep were judged against Corriedales bred by professional stud owners, we achieved Champion Corriedale Group, Champion Corriedale Ewe and most notable, the Supreme Corriedale. These sheep then competed in the Interbreed Judging competition, a class of the best of the best of all sheep breeds at the show. Incredibly, our Champion Ewe went on to achieve Supreme Long Wool Champion Dam (female) of the show. Unfortunately, she narrowly missed out on being awarded the Supreme Long Wool Exhibit of the show, beaten by an exceptional Border Leicester ram.

In the Schools Judging Competition, where our sheep are judged against sheep exhibited by other schools, we achieved first place in every class entered, and Champion Long Wool Ram and Champion Long Wool Ewe.

The College was very successful in the Junior Sheep Judging competition. Elliot Power achieved 2nd place, Jayden Susnjara 5th, Vincent Piscuineri 6th and William Hackett was a finalist. These were significant results considering that this was each of these students’ first ever sheep show!

Show Cattle Results

The College’s great results didn’t end in the sheep ring, with the cattle and cattle handlers collecting a swag of achievements.

In the stud cattle classes, our home bred Limousin heifers ‘St Gregory’s Qtee’ and ‘St Gregory’s Quintessa’ both won their age classes. The College once again teamed up with Yallambee Red Angus Stud to exhibit five Red Angus heifers. ‘Yallambee Lynne’ and ‘Yallambee Falda’ placed second and third respectively in their age class, while ‘Yallambee Pru’, ‘Yallambee Pet’ and ‘Yallambee Knighting Gale’ placed first, second and third respectively in their younger age class. ‘Yallambee Lynne’ then went on to secure Reserve Champion Junior Female. In the Red Angus Pair of Heifers class, the St Greg’s Show Team was successful in placing both first and second. As always, it was a pleasure to prepare these five Red Angus heifers for showing, and we thank Yallambee Red Angus for the opportunity.

The students were also very successful in the Cattle Parading competitions. In the 14-year age class, William Hackett achieved 3rd place and Vincent Piscuineri was a finalist. These were great results considering this was the first time both Vincent and William had paraded cattle. We were proud to have five boys in the final of the 15-year age group; Mark Johnson, Adam Fordham, Macs Rubain, Patrick Bird and Thomas Andersen. Thomas Andersen achieved 2nd place and Patrick Bird was rewarded for his effort with the Encouragement Award. In the 16-year age group, Nicholas Cozma achieved a place in the final. In the 17-year age group, Show Cattle Team Captain Beau Gilbert achieved 2nd place! Such consistent results across the age groups has highlighted the students’ hard work and dedication to perfecting their skills. Well done gentlemen!

A huge thank you must go to Mr Rick Nieuwenhuis for all his hard at the show. Many thanks must also go to Mr Lee MacMaster and his wife Sue, and Mr Paul Brooks who also spent the weekend away with us. The students were so appreciative of your support.

Edward Stefanski (Science & Agriculture teacher) and Emily James (Agriculture Teacher)