Filter Content
Dear Parents & Friends,
Thank You for your Enormous Support of Giselle!
Last weekend, I had the privilege to visit Giselle Collins (Year 7 student) in the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. Giselle has a heart condition and was airlifted to Royal Melbourne Children's Hospital to the Cardiac Ward for heart surgery. Melbourne have the best team and facilities in the country. She has had a ventricular assist device (VAD) device installed. The VAD helps pump blood from the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles) to the rest of her body. The VAD will improve Giselle’s blood flow
whilst she waits for a heart transplant.
It is likely that Giselle will be hospitalised for a significant period of time and Giselle’s mother and grandmother, have had to relocate to Melbourne, where they live inpartially subsidised accommodation near the hospital.
Mr Watson organised a fund raiser for Giselle and we were overwhelmed with the support from the community. You donated at total of $8697.70 for the Collins family. This included significant donations from the Family College Partnership Care Committee and several SFCC families as well as the generous response from staff, students and families.
I sincerely thank everyone for their generosity and support. Giselle and her family were overwhelmed. They did not ask for help and were so grateful simply for thoughts and prayers. Jessica, Giselle’s mum extends her thanks on behalf of the family for your contribution. Giselle feels blessed to be part of such a supportive community.
Another way adults in our community can support Giselle is to get the message out about the importance of being an organ donor. Registration takes about 2 minutes by visiting the following website: https://www.donatelife.gov.au/register-donor-today
It is difficult for everyone to accept that in order for Giselle to receive a heart another family must experience loss; but even more tragic to consider that organs that can no longer be used by those who have passed, are not used to give life to many others. I urge you to register as a donor today.
May God continue to bless you.
Mr Simon Abernethy
College Principal
An Advent Prayer
Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparation for Christmas. We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day. We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us. We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom. We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence. We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light. To you we say, “Come, Lord Jesus!”
Amen.
© Henri J.M. Nouwen
Earlier this week, Bishop Brian invited all diocese school captains and vice captains to the inaugural Year 12 Student Leaders’ annual retreat. The focus of the retreat was Bearing Christ’s Love through Leadership as the Year 12 student leaders were brought together from across the systemic schools of our diocese to consider their unique and collective role in and contribution to this. The overnight retreat took place at the La Rosey student centre, The Hermitage, Mittagong and we thank Liam, Courtney, Shandesh, and Oscar for their speech about our college. Many thanks to Mrs. Opalniuk for attending and supporting these students.
On November 30th and December 1st we, the SFCC Captaincy Team, were invited to attend a leadership retreat organised by Bishop Brian Mascord, and deliver a presentation about our College. We were one of nine Catholic schools from the Wollongong Diocese who attended this inaugural leadership retreat and we are proud of the community we established there on behalf of St Francis Catholic College.
The first day involved a range of icebreaker activities as well as several talks and discussions surrounding ‘Catholic Leadership’. We all had opportunities to express our opinions and perspectives regarding the nature of leadership in our lives and within a religious environment. During our breaks we developed friendships with the leaders of other schools and got to learn more about who they were as a person, rather than a school leader. We woke up early on the second day to watch the Australian soccer team vs Denmark in the world cup. Despite being tired, this experience brought us closer together. The remainder of that day involved the school presentations and a concluding Mass, which allowed us to reflect on our experiences as leaders.
Overall, we are honoured to have represented our school at this retreat. As the youngest College there, we were able to learn about a range of different initiatives, events, and qualities that other schools have incorporated into their community, which have inspired us with ideas for the community at SFCC. We hope that this opportunity is available for future leaders at our College as it has great potential to establish a greater community beyond our College.
Liam, Courtney, Shandesh and Oscar
The countdown is on to our first Christmas Concert! Mark it in your calendars, Thursday December 15th 2022 starting at 6:15pm. Be sure to arrive by 6pm.
Only 13 days to go!
Bronze Awards
Congratulations to the following students who received their Bronze Award recently:
Year 7
Pritish A
Jayda O
Prarthana T
Angela G
Gemma B
Accalia A
Jessica C
Irene J
Devika A
Amalia I
Ekisha p
Alexia G
Mya T
Claire P
Caitlin S
Freya J
Hansini P
Jaiden H
Shaili C
Michelle P
Ada M
Jeswin J
Emily V
Jack F
Elina P
Jonathan T
Asher A
Evan X
Zoya H
Krispy Q
Rithvi M
Year 8
Jorjen K
Chiara B
Harkirat V
Ashton S
Divya P
Elyna H
Ethan T
Tanisha S
Rachita G
Nicholas T
Yuxuan D
Gabriella S
Caitlinh N
Varad D
Alansa S
Aparna B
Robert C
Lyla D
Ojas B
Natana P
Maria J
Ramaa B
Aanaya N
Karina R
Miles W
Mary F
Sarah C
Hargune S
Samragyi R
Rashi P
Sukhmanjeet K
Chloe S
Thea S
Nirvaan S
Jett S
Kenzo S
Kriana P
Ashorina D
Year 9
Josiah M
Na'eem M
Andrea M
Misti S
Keanu S
Charisma B
Amon K
Aram B
Piyush M
Year 10
Patrick G
Saurav B
Ashvanth S
Liam E
Year 11
Benjamin C
Amida K
Rusha K
Silver Awards
Congratulations to the following students who received their Silver Award recently:
Year 8
Bea D
Vevina K
Angelina T
Mischa R
Ellie M
Arielle Z
Caitlinh N
Elizabeth L
Year 9
Olivia S
Seth B
Adele R
Giselle A
Year 10
Jenny N
Rithik K
Shyla P
Felissety T
Ryan W
Year 11
Jonah F
Yafet T
Gold Awards
Congratulations to the following students who received their Gold Award recently:
Phoebe and Sian who competed in the 100m State Relay for Prestons Robins Athletics on Saturday the 12th of November Sydney Olympic Park
On Tuesday the 22nd of November all of Year 2 went on an excursion to the Science Centre in Wollongong.
The bus ride took us an hour but it was fun as we got to sit next to our friends.
Once, we arrived we all had a snack at the back of the building to give us energy to continue our fun day of learning.
After that, we visited the Planetarium room where we explored the planets of our solar system and got to look at the planets close up.
Not long after that, we were allowed to explore the science equipment on the lower level of the Science Centre.
Soon after, we went upstairs to the STEM room where we participated in a competition to build the tallest tower using only the equipment provided. Madison P, Juna Y and Viraaj G made the tallest tower and won!
Then, we were allowed to explore the science equipment on the upper level of the Science Centre. Some of this equipment included:
- A robotic dinosaur
- A hydraulic see-saw
- Throwing a ball into the net to see how fast you could throw it
- A strength tester
There were so many things to explore that it would impossible to list them all!
Straight after this we saw a science show in the amphitheater and learned about ‘liquid nitrogen’. One of the experiments with liquid nitrogen popped a balloon and it scared the teachers.
Finally, we went outside again and had some lunch. We then boarded the bus and made our way back to school.
Again, the bus ride took an hour and some people even fell asleep!
We had such a great time that we would love to go there again! We rate it 10/10!
Written By 2 Red
Yukata and Kimono (Japanese Traditional Dress)
What do you normally wear when you dress up for a special occasion? A suit, a fancy dress? Have you ever considered… a kimono or a yukata?
The word kimono comes from two characters in Japanese: 着 (ki) to wear, and 物 (mono) meaning thing. If we were to translate it literally into English, a kimono is basically a “wearing thing”! The kimono in its most essential form is four separate pieces of fabric sewn into a T-shape, held together with intricate folds, all secured with a belt known as an 帯 (obi).
The first ancestor of the kimono was created in the Heian period, which spanned from 794-1192. People sewed straight cuts of fabric together to create an adjustable garment that fit every sort of body shape. It was from the Meiji period of 1868-1912 onwards that this type of garment began to be called kimono. Japan looked to China for inspiration for centuries, including their fashion. The kimono was inspired by the traditional Chinese garment known as hanfu. The Chinese hanfu also inspired the Korean hanbok and the Vietnamese áo giao lĩnh.
A 浴衣 (yukata) is a casual style of kimono for summer. The name yukata literally translates to “bathrobe” and developed to become what it is today from a single-layered silk kimono worn in the bathhouse by the upper class. It is much simpler than the multilayered formal kimono and consists of a single, lightweight garment, secured by tying the left side over the right.
Yukata are nowadays worn in traditional Japanese settings such as at a 旅館 ryokan (Traditional Japanese inn), at the 温泉 onsen (Japanese hot spring), or at a 祭 matsuri (Japanese festival). Kimono are seen as the more formal of the two and are often seen in events such as weddings, funerals, and university graduation ceremonies.
The Japanese Club members tried learning the traditional art of wearing a kimono or yukata and practiced dressing each other during our club session in Week 6. During our hot Australian summer break, I’m sure you will all be wishing you had a Japanese yukata to wear and cool you down.
Kind regards,
Ms. Tooby
Classroom Teacher