Dear St Mary’s College,
Our third Strategic Intention is to create an inclusive space for all
learners -
We create a community that is safe and
welcoming where all learners can thrive
Given the diversity
of humans, the different ways we learn, the pace we learn at, and the multitude of personalities that
make up the human community, this is one of the most rewarding and challenging things for a school community.
At St Mary’s, our size, our integrated R to 12 campus, and a staff team who know the students in
their care, supporting all learners to thrive is something we do well.
Our intention is that every student, staff and community member feel seen and heard, so that everyone
experiences a sense of belonging. We talk a lot about wrap around support because we know that the best
thing for your child is a strong home and school relationship. This means that family, school, and where
necessary, allied health partners, work together to provide the best learning and wellbeing support for
each child.
Part of being in a community, is the opportunity we
all get to understand and value diversity. All of us need different things to help us thrive. In every
community some people need a bit more support than others. Others need more extension and stretch. It
is good for us to recognise that not all support is visible, and we don’t always have the full picture
of what is happening in any given situation.
What helps you to
thrive in your life and work? What about for your child(ren)?
Maya
Angelou was a civil rights activist in the US, she was a poet and gifted writer and speaker. She said,
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some
compassion, some humour, and some style.” This seems like a great aspiration for all people.
Warm regards, |
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St Mary’s College is excited to
announce the launch of our very first Arts Festival.
This
exciting event will provide a week of amazing creative opportunities for our students, staff, and the
wider community to engage in. Together, we will explore, create, learn and collaborate via a series of
over 100 workshops, performances and forums provided by over 30 arts industry professionals. Running alongside
the workshops, there will be a number of week-long College beautification projects lead by artist in residence,
James Parker and poet, Dr Amelia Walker.
Students and families
will soon receive links to book for the sessions that most interest them along with information about
session content, presenters and so forth. Parents, friends and old scholars will be able to join us for
sessions such as “Paint and Sip,” Pub Choir and Hip Hop for Beginners, just to name a few.
BOOK
NOW - Families and Old Scholars
Please join us for something
completely different!
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Lead Teacher Certification - Tracey Thursby
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Tracey Thursby has recently been awarded
Lead Teacher certification through the Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership. This is
a significant personal and professional achievement. She shares her reflection on the process here:
Over the last year, I have been working towards my Lead Teacher Certification.
This nationally recognised qualification is based on seven standards prescribed by the Australia Institute
for Teaching and School Leadership. The process is rigorous, combining an evidence portfolio, observations,
and interviews.
After teaching for thirty years, I thought
I had participated in every imaginable professional development. However, having successfully worked through
the accreditation process I can confidently say this is the most rewarding and significant professional
learning I have experienced.
The St Mary’s community made
my accreditation possible, where every day it is a privilege to work with our students, families, and
colleagues. This strong learning culture allowed me to take risks with innovative classroom practice,
and design programs and assessments where students demonstrated their growth. Through positive relations,
I was able to rely on my students to give different activities a go.
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Most importantly, I experienced being vulnerable to student and peer feedback
and classroom observations. This was invaluable since I could appreciate the trust and risk in this space
- something we ask our students to do daily.
Achieving
accreditation made me attentive to inclusivity for all students within our community. With current research
and listening to the voice of our students and families, I initiated structures to honour flexible learning
and diverse future pathways. I was continually reminded of our unique environment where learning meets
well-being wrapped in high support and high challenge.
Borrowing
the cliché, it is never too late to learn new things, this experience has pushed me to be a better
practitioner and leader.
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Music @ St Mary's
With opportunities
for music performances few and far between in Term 1 and the mask mandate only lifting after a month
of Term 2, the Music Department has been challenged to find new and different ways of experiencing and
appreciating music. From launching the gig@thegate for entertainment during student pick up, lunchtime
jazz, assembly performances, enjoying live music at the Fringe, hosting the Police Band, experiencing
the ASO education program, and an instrumental and vocal day with over 100 student performers, both staff
and students have managed to keep the music alive!
With the 'Generations
in Jazz’ festival being canceled in person for the third year in a row, Senior students in
the Stage Band and Vocal Jazz ensembles collaborated with PAC and CBC in recording sessions for GIJ 2022
online. Collaborating both at the Capri Theatre and in our own CPA was a way to add valuable live performance
energy to the online recording requirements and was a real achievement by students to prepare repertoire
to performance standard given the interrupted year.
The Concert
Choir recently enjoyed a workshop with Carl Crossin OAM who is well known throughout Australia as a Choral
conductor, composer and clinician.
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Carl was commissioned by the Music Department to compose a piece
for performance in the Adelaide Choral Eisteddfod in June. This piece “Rise” is based on the
poem ‘The Hill We Climb’ by Amanda Gorman and contains themes of peace, harmony and justice
which resonated with the St Mary’s Music students. Congratulations to the Concert Choir directed
by Ali Bollard who were successful in gaining second place in the eisteddfod and also to the Middle School
Choir who took out first place in their section!
Congratulations
also to Joey, Hannah and Ella who were all successful in their audition for the SA Music Camp 2022
that will be held in Adelaide during the July school holidays.
It’s been a busy
and rewarding week in the Music Department with a mammoth Wednesday night in Elder Hall seeing the Middle
School Choir placed first and Senior Concert Choir place second in their respective sessions, followed
by Thursday night's live stream of the Generations in Jazz concert and awards with the Vocal Jazz One
Choir gaining second place in their section. Congratulations to all students and staff involved!
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