Volume 15 Issue 12 - Xavier College

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Aug 9, 2013 ... Website: www.xavierllandilo.catholic.edu.au. Volume 15 Issue ... Year 12 students at Xavier College began their Trial Examinations this week.
the ipal m c Fro Prin ng ti Ac Volume 15 15 Issue Issue 12 12 Volume 9thAugust, August,2013 2013 9th

This week we celebrated the feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop with a beautiful mass commemorating Australia’s saint. Father George spoke eloquently about the life of our Australian saint, challenging us to follow Mary’s example by demonstrating courage and conviction when faced with difficulties. This was well expressed through the following prayer of intercession: Lord, please help us to be more like Mary MacKillop, forgiving to all who have hurt us and loyal to friends and family. We pray that we show courage when faced with challenges the way she did. Help us to live out Mary’s words ‘If we have love in our hearts, we shall have God with us.’ We welcome the return of our World Youth Day pilgrims, Mark Gilbert and Travis Bozic. We look forward to learning about their experiences travelling with other pilgrims from the Parramatta Diocese and led by Bishop Anthony Fisher. Year 12 students at Xavier College began their Trial Examinations this week. I would encourage all these students to ensure that they use this opportunity to gain feedback on their current level of performance and use the advice given to ensure they are thoroughly prepared for their Higher School Certificate examinations. For many of our students, these Higher School Certificate exams have already begun, with major works and practical performances examinable during the coming weeks. Please continue to keep these students in your prayers as they finalise and present their pieces. The process of subject selections for 2014 is well underway. Year 10 students have been finalising their choices, while the introduction this year of an online tool has proved effective in aiding Year 8 students’ selections. Thank you very much to Mr Finnerty for his work in ensuring that the students are able to access their preferred courses for the next stage of their education. Letters of confirmation will be sent to students and their parents before the end of term. As a community we welcome Mrs Maidens back from her leave August 19th. This will also bring my appointment at the school to an end. On a personal note, I would like to thank the students, staff and families of Xavier for welcoming me into the community and for the support provided during my time here. It has been an absolute privilege to lead such a vibrant and caring community. Ms Lisa-Maree Browning Acting Principal

Postal Address: PO Box 98 Cranebrook NSW 2749 Phone: 4777 0900 Fax: 4777 0930

Address: Ninth Avenue, Llandilo 2747 Email: [email protected] Website: www.xavierllandilo.catholic.edu.au

From the Assistant Principal, Patrick Finnerty HSC Assessment Block 4 Year 12 students commenced their Final Assessment Block on Thursday 8th August. The final assessments in the block will be held on Friday 16th August. Students are expected to be at school 15 minutes before each assessment, but they will not need to be present at school unless an assessment is scheduled for a subject that they are studying. Study facilities will be available at school if required. We need to stress the importance of using the free time to study. It is not a time to socialise or pick up an extra shift at work! A list of study and exam techniques has been issued previously to help them in this regard.

Year 7, 8, 9 & 10 Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews Thank you to the many families who attended on the evening and gained invaluable insights and feedback. Over 1450 interviews were conducted by 70 staff during the four and a half hours available. If you were unable to attend the scheduled meetings and would like some feedback please make contact with your child’s Homegroup teacher.

Year 9 2014 Elective Selection Congratulations to our Year 8 students who have all entered their selections on-line. We now look at this data and determine which classes will be created. This information will available for students and parents in Week 7.

Year 11 2014 Subject Selection We are currently finalising student choices and a letter will be sent home to each student with their final selection in Week 7. If you have any questions regarding this process, please email [email protected]

Student Artworks in my Office I frequently visit the art rooms as I am always looking for some pictures/sculptures to decorate my office. There is never a shortage of talent and I do regularly take a few items on loan. Thank you to Madelynne Claire Hall (left), Grace McCurley (centre) and Taylah Kariko (right) for their paintings, which have brightened up my office during the past few weeks.

Thought of the Week If you have a question or a concern please let us know. A call or email today to the Homegroup teacher, followed by some discussion, can really assist your child to maximise their learning. Lord of all kindness, we ask your blessing for the children in our care. We ask for their comfort when their living is hard. May they experience joy if they ever feel abandoned. May they be blessed with strength to overcome challenges. May they be blessed with friendship to allow them to grow in love. Lord, we pray for all of our children, that they may realise their dreams and live their lives in the fullness of your love and mercy. May the healing touch of mercy be there for our children. Let our hands be your hands, our words be your words and let your mercy flow through all of us who have your children in our care. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen Thank you for your continued support Patrick Finnerty

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From the Religious Education Coordinator Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Thursday, August 15th is the Feast of the Assumption. This is a holy day of obligation in which Christians celebrate their belief that God assumed the Virgin Mary into heaven after her death. Prayer Let us this day renew our love for the Virgin Mary, who proceeds us in the order of grace, and who has travelled the path of life before her children in the Church. It is through the intercession of Mary that we obtain all that is beautiful and eternal, for it was through her pure and holy womb that the Son of Love and Life entered the world and assumed our human nature in order that men might be deified for eternity. Amen

Italian Update On Thursday, August 1st, Years 8 and 9 students of Italian were immersed in the Italian culture for part of the school day. It began with students being introduced to La Commedia Dell'Arte and learnt about some of the characters and masks well known to this improvised drama. Characters, Pantalone, Brighella and Arlecchino were the main features of the play. An important part of the play were the humorous interruptions called 'lazzi', which often hadn't anything to do with the play itself. For lunch, the students indulged in a delicious pizza and gelato. So delicious that a second serving of gelato was very much needed for some. Thank you to Signora Lonie, Signore Penserini and the year 9 Italian class for your assistance on the day. A presto, Signora Oxford Page 3

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Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop Mass at Xavier College

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HSC Trial Exams currently underway No PA announcements can be made while exams are in progress, so students cannot be paged. If you need to collect your child early, ensure you write them a note to show their homegroup teacher. Students then show this note to their class teacher when it is time for them to meet you at the Office. Your assistance in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

2014 Diocesan School Fees and Catholic Schools Funding Agreement The Catholic Education Office at Parramatta has released the following information for the information of parents of secondary students in the diocese. Please take the time to read this notice carefully.

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English News Overdue Text Books Since becoming Teaching and Learning Coordinator (TLC) of the English faculty at Xavier College, I have stocked the book room to ensure that each student has a copy of the set text for each unit, which they can then borrow and take home to read and use to complete homework. This has come at considerable cost to the school; a cost that is justifiable in terms of the learning gains and practices that can be achieved with a one book-one student system. The system relies on students returning the text they have borrowed at the end of each unit so that future students will have a copy to study. Teachers remind students and collect books during lessons to aid this process. However, it is the responsibility of each student to return their books. When books are not returned new copies need to be purchased. At present there are approximately $5000 worth of books outstanding, calculated on the original purchase cost. Financially, this is a cost the school cannot continue to shoulder. Some students have not returned books they borrowed up to three years ago! I am on a mission to retrieve these books or recoup the cost. This week your child will receive a notice of all overdue English text books. They have one week to return the book(s) or arrange payment. Please assist us by ensuring your child returns all school text books and property. Thank you, Alyssa Roach English TLC

TAS News As part of the Stage 4 Technology mandatory course, students in Year 7 complete a unit called 'CO2 Car'. This unit requires students to design and build a dragster racing car, which they then race against one another at speeds in excess of 70 kilometers an hour. Throughout the unit students learn basic timber skills, workshop practice, aerodynamics, and alternative fuel sources. A great project that all students and, I will add, teachers enjoy greatly. To view a short clip of the students racing their dragsters, follow the link: http://youtu.be/Eo_oMkqSyu4

Geoff Dickson TAS TLC

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Visual Art News On Wednesday, July 24th, the Year 11 visual arts students had the opportunity to attend a workshop on drawing presented by the artist and College alumni Tiara Colusso. Tiara spoke about her artistic practices since graduating from Xavier College and demonstrated different drawing techniques to our students. Maria Lonie, Visual Arts Teacher

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Job Expo The 2013 Western Sydney Apprenticeship & Traineeship Expo is drawing closer! With the support of the principal partner, Apprenticepower, this year's Expo will again be held at Penrith Panthers Exhibition Marquee – Mulgoa Road Penrith on Tuesday, September 3, 2013 with an expected 100 exhibitors on hand to discuss apprenticeship & traineeship opportunities. The expo’s principal partner and partners - Defence Force Recruiting, Nepean Careers Forum, TAFE NSW Western Sydney Institute and MTA Apprenticeships Plus - are working together to create an event that has evolved into one of the largest of its type in NSW. The Western Sydney Apprenticeship & Traineeship is the showcase event of the year with a strong emphasis on raising the profile of apprenticeships & traineeships in Western Sydney. General admittance for students and their families is 5.30pm to 9pm. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Upcoming Events The Australian Government Jobs and Skills Expo 8 August 2013 http://www.schoolsindustry.com.au/news.asp? id=217&pid=29 Western Sydney Apprenticeship & Traineeship Expo 3 September 2013 http://www.schoolsindustry.com.au/ news.asp?id=216&pid=29 Blacktown City Careers and Employment Expo 5 September 2013 http://www.schoolsindustry.com.au/news.asp? id=218&pid=29 Hawkesbury Job Shop 18th September 2013 http://www.schoolsindustry.com.au/news.asp?id=219&pid=29 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

APPRENTICESHIP ASSESSMENTS apprenticepower are looking at conducting bulk apprenticeship assessment sessions at our school over weeks 7, 8, 9 and 10 of Term 3 2013. These assessment sessions are for students looking to gain an apprenticeship within the following trades: Automotive

Business Services Hospitality Commercial Cookery Civil Construction Drafting Electrical Engineering Manufacturing Horticulture If you are interested, please visit Mr Moore in the library to place your name on the registration provided. Further information can be obtained through contacting apprenticepower on their website http:// www.apprenticepower.com.au or by Phone: Sam Kent at apprenticepower 1800 297 762 or 0412 437 255 … continued next page Page 8

University Open Days NIDA UNSW Campus, Kensington. http://www.nida.edu.au Thursday, 22 August, 2013 from 6pm The University of Notre Dame, Broadway – Parent Information Evening Tuesday, 21 August, 2013. RSVP: [email protected] 02 8204 4404 The University of Sydney, Camperdown. Further info at sydney.edu.au/openday Saturday, 31 August, 2013 from 9.00am – 4.00pm University of Western Sydney http://future.uws.edu.au/future_students_home/events_at_uws/uwsday Parramatta Campus – Thursday 7 November 2013 Kingswood Campus – Friday 8 November 2013 University of New South Wales, Kensington Campus Saturday, 7 September, 2013 from 9am – 4pm openday.unsw.edu.au 

HSC Examination Revision Lectures Access Education is bringing their highly regarded Exam Revision Lecture programme to Sydney, covering 12 of the most popular subjects including Ancient and Modern History, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, English Papers One and Two, Legal Studies, Mathematics, PDHPE, Physics and RE.

WHERE WHEN -

ACU North Sydney Campus 1st - 3rd October 2013

COST - $42 per person per lecture or $33 per lecture if more than 5 tickets booked MORE INFORMATION - 1300 338 222 - Email [email protected] 

Careers website For details of all aspects of careers, including:     

the latest jobs and apprenticeships available scholarships TAFE, College and university information Australian Defence Forces Nursing, ambulance and police force

Visit the career website on Moodle at http://learning.xavierllandilo.catholic.edu.au/Xavier/careers/ Peter Moore Careers Advisor

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Medical Alerts There has been a confirmed diagnoses of Hand Foot and Mouth Disease, which is highly contagious. For further information about this disease, how it is spread and how its spread can be prevented, access a fact sheet via http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/handfootmouth.aspx Confirmation has been received that a student in Year 7 has contracted chicken pox, another highly contagious disease. For information in regard to this disease, access a fact sheet via http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/Chickenpox.aspx

Sciberras Family Benefit Night Following the tragic and sudden death of Gregory John Sciberras earlier this year, the much loved husband of Karen and father to Nicholas, Samantha, Matthew (Year 9) and Thomas (Year 9), a fundraising evening has been organized to assist the family. We all share in one another’s grief, just as we share in this common humanity called life, since “The life and death of each of us has its influence on others” (from the Letter to the Romans).

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Important Dates for 2013 Term 3 Monday, 12th August to Friday, 16th August 2013

HSC Trial Exams continue

Friday, 9th August to Friday, 30th August 2013

Years 8 and 10 Religious Education Literacy Trials

Thursday, 15th August Friday, 16th August 2013 Friday, 16th August to Sunday, 18th August 2013 Tuesday, 20th August 2013 Wednesday, 21st August 2013

Feast of the Assumption Year 9 English Incursion

Volunteers participate in 40 Hour Famine HSC Drama assessment PDSSSC Athletics Carnival

Friday, 23rdAugust 2013

Year 10 History excursion to Scheyville

Friday, 23rdAugust to Sunday, 25th August 2013

Cattle Club participate in Penrith Show

Tuesday, 27th August 2013

HSC Music Showcase, 6pm -9pm

Thursday, 29th August 2013

Year Mass, Year 9

Xavier UNIFORM SHOP And second Hand Shop TERM 1 OPENING HOURS THURSDAY 8.00am - 4.00pm Phone 4777 4068

REMINDER TO PARENTS

Parents are asked to notify the College if your child will not be attending school. Phone: 4777 0900

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EXPERIENCE A NEW CULTURE, MAKE NEW FRIENDS AND LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE AT HOME

Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend Relationship enrichment for married couples

6 – 8 September 2013 Mt Carmel Retreat Centre, Varroville, NSW Bookings: Information:

02 4283 3435 or [email protected] www.wwme.org.au

In January 2014 students from over 20 countries around the world, will be arriving in Australia to study at local high schools for 2- 10 months. Opportunities exist for families to act as a host family, in a volunteer capacity. Hosting can be on a temporary, short or long term basis. Host families help provide international students with the chance to study and experience life in Australia. This is a great way to learn about another country and culture, establish a lifelong link to a family in another country and contribute to international goodwill. If your family can offer a friendly, supportive and caring home environment, contact us today. To hear more about this wonderful opportunity or our student exchange programs out of Australia Call Student Exchange Australia New Zealand on 1300 135 331 or visit www.studentexchange.org.au/host-a-student

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