milangkani launch a success

It was wonderful to see so many smiling, happy faces at the launch of our Setup for Success milangkani program on Monday 17 August.

Lots of new friends were made as everyone discovered and explored the different play-based activities, with painting, puzzles, drawing, posting boxes, patterns, stories and sensory games.

Thank you to everyone who came along for the first session, it was so nice to have you visit us at St Mary's College.

Bookings are currently required for all future sessions. For more information about the program and to preregister, please visit our website here.

Meet you at Murphy's!

We are excited to announce that the new name of our College canteen is, drum roll please...da, da, da, da...Murphy's!

The name was inspired by Mother Murphy who was the first Principal of St Mary’s College.

In 1866, perceiving a great need in the fledgling colony for spiritual guidance, Bishop Daniel Murphy arranged for the Mother Superior of the Presentation Order (who happened to be his own sister), to travel from Ireland to bring Nano Nagle’s mission to far-off Hobart Town.

On 3 February 1868, the little school of Mount St Mary’s (as we were then known) received its first pupils.

This name was nominated by our Director of Curriculum, Wendy Forsyth. Great idea, Wendy!

Have you heard the other exciting news about our canteen? While celebrating the naming of Murphy’s, we are also very pleased to share the Junior School has been awarded gold level standard for its canteen menu by the Tasmanian School Canteen Association.

The Senior School is currently awarded silver by the Tasmanian School Canteen Association and is working towards gold accreditation.

The new name is now proudly on display at the location of all the yummy things made at St Mary’s…Murphy’s!

See you at Murphy’s! 'Meet you at Murphy’s for a hot choc', that sure has a nice ring to it!

House on Fire receives rave reviews

A big round of applause to our Senior 3 Drama students for their production of House on Fire by prominent Australian playwright, Debra Oswald.

Students Bethany Denholm, Claire Heathorn, Julietta Moutwari, Alice Ryan, Ruby Taylor and Samantha Williams gave a polished performance to family, friends and teachers over two nights (5-6 August) and are to be commended for their hard work and dedication to their craft.

Thank you to director, Leah Smith for supporting and guiding the girls throughout the production period. The impact of COVID-19 presented unique challenges for the students, who began working on the play remotely online - via Microsoft Teams - during learning from home.

Script read-throughs, costume try-ons and early rehearsals all started online, which was difficult, but the students' enthusiasm, dedication and passion made it possible. Congratulations to all involved!

Written for and about teenagers, House on Fire cleverly combines light-hearted comedy and drama as it explores themes of family and growing up.

Convent bathed in light

If you’re in the city of an evening over the next week, drop by the College to check out our latest art installation.

The digital artwork is being projected on the Convent facade every night in August from 5.30pm until midnight.

You might even recognise a few faces amongst the bright lights!

Students brave the cold

Seven Year 9 students braved the winter temperatures to participate in the inaugural Vinnies Tasmania Virtual Sleepout on Friday 7 August.

The girls cooked their own soup for their dinner and settled down for the night on cardboard ‘mattresses’ which provided a small amount of insulation from the cold.

Later that evening, they joined St Vincent de Paul Tasmania Youth Coordinator, Simon Terhell via a live stream for an information session about the harsh realities of sleeping rough.

It was a worthwhile experience, with most students waking in the early hours feeling cold and a little hungry - all part of the reality of homelessness.

Belle Young

Youth Minister

Year 9 Liturgies

Recently the Year 9 Religious Education classes have been studying a unit entitled, 'Healing & Hope: The Sacrament of Reconciliation' in which they have explored concepts of sin, forgiveness, reconciliation, conscience and healing, as well as learning about the Sacrament of Reconciliation itself.

As a way of concluding this unit, our new Youth Minister, Belle Young, with the assistance of Leanne Prichard from Catholic Education Tasmania, prepared and delivered a beautiful Liturgy where students were able to reflect and pray about things they are struggling with. They used symbols of stones wrapped in paper to represent the things that were weighing them down and lavender to represent hope and healing.

The students found this to be a worthwhile experience where they were able to apply their knowledge from the unit to their own lives.

The Envious Curator - Art Club officially opens

Last Friday 14 August was the very exciting launch of the SMC Art Club for Year 7-8 in 2020.

What a fantastic way to end the school week; meeting up with friends, learning how to use acrylic paints and creating on-trend portraits of Frida Kahlo.

I had a wonderful time watching you all take creative risks with your works and simply enjoying painting with no pressure.

I would like to extend a big thank you to the 32 students that joined me in the studio, and I can’t wait to see you all again!

If you are in Year 7 or 8 and would like to join SMC Art Club, you are most welcome to - it is not too late. Simply show up this Friday and I can catch you up on the past week.

We will be working on our Fridas for the next two Fridays before moving on to our next artwork.

Sarah Adams

Learning Area Coordinator – Visual Arts

Lantern extension program

The St Mary’s College extension program, in-line with the CET Gifted Education Guidelines, is designed to cater for the learning needs of gifted and highly able students.

Extension program teachers create individualised learning plans to cater for these needs, and to document adjustments and recommendations for the classroom.

To communicate more effectively about what differentiation options may be available in each department at each year level, we will be launching booklets outlining the 2021 options.

Currently, we have booklets available for HaSS, English, Religious Education and Science. Other department booklets will follow later this year.

If you would like a copy of a booklet from one of the aforementioned departments, please contact the relevant department Learning Area Coordinator. Other department booklets will follow in Term 4. Alternatively, if your daughter has been identified as gifted through formal testing, or you believe she has extension needs, please contact Angela Fraser on afraser@smc.tas.edu.au.

Angela Fraser is on long-service leave in Term 3 but will be conducting new assessments in Term 4.

Ways to limit your water usage

Water scarcity is an issue affecting the whole world, but it is especially prominent here in Australia. With Australian households using 12 per cent of the total water that is available to those who need it, simple changes in our lifestyle can make a big difference.

Year 10 student, Amelie Cox, and member of the College's Footprint Project team, has written an excellent article which suggests ways that you and your family can limit your household's water usage. Read the article online here.

College life in pictures

Year 8s make their mark

Students in Year 8 have been exploring lino block printing and, in particular, how this technique is used in Islamic art to represent God through symbols and patterns.

Planters with personalities

Our clever Year 8s have also recently crafted a wonderful set of colourful and charming ceramic planters, each with its own quirky face and expressive personality.

EALD conversations at lunchtime

A number of Year 11-12s have been giving up their lunchtimes to chat to EALD (English as an Additional Language or Dialect) students to help strengthen their conversation skills. It is wonderful to see this take place. Well done, girls!

Materials and Design

Community news

Hobart Youth Futsal

Girl Guides Tasmania