| SMS Absence Alerts System | | http://www.sansisto.qld.edu.au/latest-news/Pages/SMS-Absence-Alerts-System.aspx | SMS Absence Alerts System | <p class="ms-rteElement-P" style="font-size:14px;">The College implemented a SMS Absentee Alert system to notify you in the event of an unexplained absence. If your daughter is absent from school and you have not rung the absentee line (3900 9888) before 9.00 a.m. or if you have not sent in written advice prior to the absence, a text message will be sent to your mobile phone advising you of the need to contact the college.</p>
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</span><p class="ms-rteElement-P" style="font-size:14px;">All absences from school must be explained by either a telephone call to the college from a parent or carer or a message left on the absentee line. For extended periods, please provide a note. Late arrivals and early departures must be accompanied by a note.</p>
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</span><p class="ms-rteElement-P"><span style="font-size:14px;">As the system relies on searching the student’s family contacts for the first mobile phone number, it is important to have student details correct. Family details for enrolled students can be updated on the Parent Portal via the Community Access tab. For family update details on future enrolments, please contact our reception on 3900 9800.</span> </p>
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| Register For Our Next College Tour | | http://www.sansisto.qld.edu.au/latest-news/Pages/Open-Day.aspx | Register For Our Next College Tour | <div>The college hosts a number of events throughout the year enabling families the opportunity to explore what San Sisto College has to offer. </div>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P"><span>Experience
first-hand our holistic learning environment that drives academic achievement and
a rich co-curricular program which ensures an engaging and balanced education.</span></p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">Nothing replaces a visit to our College to appreciate how much we love our school for experiencing our passion for learning.</p>
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<h1 class="ms-rteElement-H1"><span>College <span>Tours</span></span></h1>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">College tours are conducted during a normal college day to provide you and your family with a true sense of our San Sisto community. All members of the family are welcome to attend. </p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">Term 4: Wednesday 25 October 2017 at 9 am</p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P"><span>To reserve your spot, register today. </span><span></span><span>Be a part of our thriving community.</span><span><br></span></p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P"><span><a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/78XNTFR">Click here to register.</a></span></p></div>
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<h1 class="ms-rteElement-H1"><span>Open Da</span><span>y 2018</span></h1>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">We invite you to meet our students and teachers while exploring our stunning campus and state-of-the-art facilities.</p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">Our Open Day tours are conducted by our student ambassadors with our leadership team and teaching staff available to take your questions.</p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">Our next Open Day will be held on Sunday 20 May 2018. If you missed our 2017 Open Day, feel free to contact the College and request an enrolment pack or join one of our College Tours in 2017.</p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P"><span>Register for Open Day 2018. Discover the San Sisto difference.</span></p>
<p class="ms-rteElement-P"><span><a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OpenDay2018">Click here to register.</a></span></p></div>
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<h1 class="ms-rteElement-H1"><span><span></span></span><span>Buddy Day</span></h1>
<p>Once you have toured our college facilities, to help you and your daughter with the final decision to choose our college, we offer students the opportunity to spend a day with us through our San Sisto College Buddy Day Program.</p>
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<p>This program offers prospective students the perfect opportunity to share in the excitement of the college day, have fun meeting new friends and teachers, and experience our programs and our beautiful college.</p>
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<p>To register, please email <a href="mailto:scarina@bne.catholic.edu.au">scarina@bne.catholic.edu.au</a><span></span></p>
<p><br></p> | | | | | | | | | |
| Teenage Drinking | | http://www.sansisto.qld.edu.au/latest-news/Pages/Teenage-Drinking.aspx | Teenage Drinking | <div> </div>
<div><p class="ms-rteElement-P"><img src="/PublishingImages/Teenage_drinking.png" alt="" /> </p>
<p class="ms-rteElement-P">Binge drinking is, without question, the biggest societal
challenge young people face today. As we approach the end of the school year
with all of its holiday celebrations, it is a timely reminder that as parents
we need to be on top of this. We must do the research and some deeper thinking
about the issues before our children become teenagers. We need to formulate a
plan and execute it with steely determination if we are to guide our young
people away from what is undoubtedly the biggest danger to their health and
wellbeing … alcohol.</p></div>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">Let’s not put this in the “too hard“ basket or take the
pressure off ourselves by believing that times have changed and all the kids do
it now or possibly “we all drank as teenagers and we survived”. The first step
is accepting we have a problem. With 1 in 4 hospitalisations of 15 — 25 year
olds happening because of alcohol, yes, we have a problem. Unfortunately, young
people don’t need to sneak into clubs because they are drinking at home where
liquor licensing laws do not apply.</p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">I know for sure and certain that I will never go into a
bottle shop on my underage child’s behalf. I have spoken with many parents over
the years who have reneged on their original position regarding alcohol for a
number of reasons — nagging teenagers, a belief that their child will miss out
on essential experiences or so they could learn to drink responsibly “under
their roof“. Although parents believe they are doing the right thing, research
shows kids whose parents refuse to let them drink at home underage are less
likely to drink elsewhere. Having small amounts of alcohol as teenagers under
age is now known to change the brain significantly and can make young people
more prone to alcoholism. In fact, the AMA is currently working with the
government to move the drinking age up to 21 in accordance with findings that
the brain is not yet able to manage alcohol under that age without sustaining
damage. It makes a huge difference: every year that young people go without
drinking significantly improved their chances of avoiding an alcohol problem in
adult life.</p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">Parents have vital roles in educating their teenagers about
alcohol and helping them to develop responsible attitudes towards drinking.
Modelling appropriate behaviour at home is paramount. Letting your teenager see
you say “no” to a drink occasionally, not always using alcohol to celebrate an
occasion, not declaring “I need a drink“ during stressful times, letting them
see that 1 or 2 drinks in a social setting is perfectly acceptable but does not
need to lead to intoxication are important strategies for parents. </p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">As parents we need to be teaching our children about alcohol
from a young age, including tactics such as how to say “no”, pacing yourself,
alternating with non-alcoholic drinks, not drinking on an empty stomach and
explaining the dangers (fatal road accidents, health problems, weight gain,
impact on brain development, increased risk of fights and accidents, criminal
charges for drink-driving …the list is endless). We need to educate our
teenagers about how binge drinking is even more dangerous for girls as they
have an average water/body mass ratio less than boys. Girls also have less of
an enzyme, dehydrogenase, which breaks down alcohol. These are the facts. </p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">Parents should develop their plan regarding parties and
schoolies EARLY because the time arrives so quickly. Call other parents to find
out who is invited to parties, whether there will be supervision and security
and whether alcohol will be permitted. If you decide to let your teenagers go,
make your expectations clear … crystal clear ... put plans into place to
collect your daughter at a set time YOU choose. This eliminates the temptation
to drink if they are staying over a friend’s house or catching a cab home to a
sleeping house. It might be inconvenient and tiring but that’s what being a
parent is about sometimes. When your teenager does the right thing, acknowledge
it and reward it. </p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">I have often said that Steve Biddulph’s book “Raising Girls”
is one of the best I have read. I would like to share with you the following
from his book.</p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">“If you are a parent, love your daughter - have caring
conversations and firm rules around where she is and with whom. Keep
communicating with her from the early teenage years. If she starts drinking
anyway, get help. Don’t let her out to cruise clubs until she is old enough to
take care of herself (at the very least, age 18 Yrs). Have a definite deal about her getting home
and a rescue arrangement that you will go and get her anywhere, anytime. The
aim is for your daughter to be able to go out, have a good time and not be
harmed. You are on the same side as her, just more aware of the big picture.
When she is under age, there isn’t a question; she should not drink”.</p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P"><span><span>Megan Vardanega,</span></span><span><br>
<span><span>Social Worker</span></span><span><span></span></span></span></p> | | | | | | | | | |
| Lent | | http://www.sansisto.qld.edu.au/latest-news/Pages/Lent.aspx | Lent | <span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-3 ms-rteThemeFontFace-1">On Wednesday this week, we marked the
beginning of the season of Lent. We began the Ash Wednesday ritual by
presenting the symbols of Lent which included a Purple Cloth, the ashes, an
empty bowl and the Project Compassion boxes. Each of these symbols has a
significance, especially in the season of Lent. We also brought forward the
Book of the Gospels and the rosary beads which are symbols of prayer and
reflection.</span><div class="ms-rteThemeFontFace-1"><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63);"><br></span></div>
<span class="ms-rteThemeFontFace-1">
</span><div class="ms-rteThemeFontFace-1"><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63);">In the reflection, after the Gospel
reading, we were reminded that we are to give without the expectation of
receiving anything in return. We were prompted to see “what’s in it for us?”
when we give is that when we give to others, we give ourselves another
opportunity to become whole and develop our integrity. When we acknowledge that we are intrinsically
connected to all people throughout the world and we have a have a
responsibility to care for all people, we grow in relationship with God and
each other. Jesus tells us not to worry
about motive for giving, but rather to focus on doing the right thing as we all
ultimately grow to wholeness when this happens. </span></div>
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</span><div class="ms-rteThemeFontFace-1"><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63);"><br></span></div>
<span class="ms-rteThemeFontFace-1">
</span><div class="ms-rteThemeFontFace-1"><span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-3"></span><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63);">The ashes were then placed on the foreheads
</span><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63);">of each and every student while the following words were stated: “Repent and
believe the Good News”. Since Lent is a
time of sacrifice and giving, it only seemed appropriate for Project Compassion
2017 to be formally launched during the ritual. This Year’s theme is ‘Loving
Your Neighbour”. Education is a basic human right and we must do all that we
can to help as many people as possible to have access to education.</span></div> | | | | | | | | | |
| Year 10 Retreat | | http://www.sansisto.qld.edu.au/latest-news/Pages/Year-10-Retreat.aspx | Year 10 Retreat | <div style="text-align:justify;"><span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-3 ms-rteThemeFontFace-1">Our Year 10s recently took part in their Retreat Day at the college. The theme of the retreat
was, </span><i class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-3 ms-rteThemeFontFace-1">Stepping Confidently into Womanhood</i><span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-3 ms-rteThemeFontFace-1"><span>, quite apt as we celebrated
International Women’s Day on the previous day! </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:justify;"><span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-3 ms-rteThemeFontFace-1"><span><br></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:justify;"><div><span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-3 ms-rteThemeFontFace-1"><span>Their day was facilitated by Donna
Power who has been providing retreat experiences for our girls for the past few
years now. Our girls engaged fully with the information provided in each
of the sessions, exploring ways that they can be women of integrity – women of
wholeness, balance and completeness. They were encouraged to think about
the things that might hold them back from achieving this and strengths that
they might need to draw on to move them forward to becoming the woman that they
want to be. Of course, there was many opportunities for prayer and
reflection as they thought about how they might build on their relationships –
with each other and with the sacred – so that they might be nourished in their
journeys.</span></span></div>
<div><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63);font-family:verdana;"><br></span></div>
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<span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-3"></span><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63);font-family:verdana;">We a</span><span style="color:rgb(63, 63, 63);font-family:verdana;">re very
proud of this group and feel blessed for their presence at the college. </span></div></div>
| | | | | | | | | |
| Principal's Update | | http://www.sansisto.qld.edu.au/latest-news/Pages/Principal-Update.aspx | Principal's Update | <h1 class="ms-rteElement-H1">Thinking</h1>
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<div><p class="ms-rteElement-P">The year is certainly moving ahead very quickly. So far students have been actively engaged in the learning process in each of their subjects. Now is the time when you can demonstrate
positive outcomes from this learning in the assignments that you are writing
and the exams that you will sit. </p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">Which leads me into our Habit of Mind which is 'Thinking about thinking'. I was a little
puzzled when I first read this — what could this habit possibly be about? Further investigation revealed that it was
reflecting and acting upon personal learning styles — working out how you best
remember things. Are you a learner who
has a preference for seeing information or by listening or do you learn most
effectively through experience? Whilst
all of us have a dominant way of learning, we use a mix of learning styles in
different situations. This is a great
skill which you can develop in your classrooms during this year. </p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">A quote attributed to St Dominic is, “A man who governs his
passions is master of his world. We must either command them or be enslaved by
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<h1 class="ms-rteElement-H1">Respecting Self</h1>
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<div><p class="ms-rteElement-P">The world is filled with people who, no matter what you do,
no matter what you try, will simply not like you. But the world is also filled with those who
will love you fiercely. The ones who
love you: they are your people. Don’t waste your finite time and heart trying
to convince the people who aren’t your people to walk your path. You are not for them and they are not for
you. Your are not their cup of tea and
they are not yours. Seek to share your
path with those who recognise and appreciate your gifts … who you are. </p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">Be who you are ... You are not everyone’s cup of tea and that
is okay.</p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">Remember also, that your relationship with yourself sets the
tone for every other relationship that you have. Make it a positive one.</p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">The great philosopher Aristotle once said, “We are what we
repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Congratulations to all of our young women who
make learning into a habit. </p></div>
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<h1 class="ms-rteElement-H1">C<span>larity and Precision</span></h1>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">Our habit of mind this week is 'Thinking and communicating
with clarity and precision.' Communication involves the sharing and receiving
of ideas: listening, reading and watching. We want our thoughts to be heard and
understood by our audience — there is little point in having great ideas if we
cannot then share them with others. This habit encourages the sharing of ideas
in ways that ensure full understanding. It also fosters the use of
communication methods that are clear, avoiding distortions, generalizations or
omissions.</p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">It is important that when we think about and communicate
ideas and events, that we do so accurately and without error. Strategies that
you may use to ensure clarity and precision in communication are:</p>
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<ol><li>Communicate often, practice is essential, pay attention
to what works, and observe the habits of those who communicate effectively.<br></li>
<li>Plan out what you need to communicate in advance, create
an outline for written works.<br></li>
<li>Edit your written works for meaning and accuracy. Ask
yourself; 'Does this mean what I think it means?'<br></li>
<li>Avoid over generalizations, distortions and deletions.
Check for these in your thinking and writing.<br></li>
<li>Think about your audience. What do they need to know?
Will they understand you? What questions might they have that you should answer
in your communication?<br></li></ol>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">To give an example, in the often confusing words of Dr
Suess,</p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">“It has often been said there’s so much to be read, you
never can cram all those words in your head.</p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">So the writer who breeds more words than he needs is making
a chore for the reader who reads.</p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">That is why my belief is the briefer the brief is, the
greater the sigh of the reader’s relief is.”</p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">Clear and precise — maybe not.</p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">The key to strengthening our communication skills is to
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turbocharge our brainpower. Every time we challenge ourselves, our brain is
forced to rewire itself in order to understand the new information.</p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">Our Habit of Spirit for this week is “Living Hopefully.” Easter is a time for hope. It is a time to let go and to see beyond what is
going wrong with our lives. It is a time to look for the happiness in our
hearts and to look towards the future with positivity. It is a time to care for
one another and to remember that when all hope appears lost, sometimes the
unexpected happens. Easter is also a time for chocolate and bunnies, bilbies
and holidays. It is a time to spend with family and friends. It is a time for
sleep-ins, egg hunts and hot cross buns. It is a time to take a break — to reflect
and rejuvenate.</p>
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<h1 class="ms-rteElement-H1"><span></span><span>The Concept of Time</span></h1>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P"><span>I recently read an article about time.</span><span> </span><span>When we reflect on time we often talk of minutes, of which we know there are 60 per hour.</span><span> </span><span>However, the journalist in this magazine wrote about nanoseconds, when atomic clocks measure time in even tinier increments, pretty much as short as eternity is long.</span><span> </span><span>This concept being beyond comprehension, I amused myself by contemplating how many minutes there are in a year. To begin with I did a quick mental calculation.</span><span> </span><span>Do that yourself now – how many minutes do you think there are in a year?</span><span> </span><span>(Wait 5 seconds.) </span><span>You may have thought, as I did that the number would be in the millions.</span><span> </span><span>To my considerable astonishment the calculator determined that 2017 will be made up of just 525,600 minutes.</span><span> </span><span>Surprised?</span></p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P">The government has recently released a report informing us that people in Australia are living longer - particularly women surviving to almost 85 and men wearing out a little faster at 81. If I live to the average, I will have experienced 44,465,760 minutes. Members of our families and community may be fortunate to have been alive for longer than that already. If you are in Year 7 you have lived for around 6,570,000 minutes. For those of you in Year 12, you have used 8,935,200 minutes.</p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P"><span>Are these numbers a lot or not? Were they dollars in the federal government budget, which is expressed in billions, these few million would be regarded as petty cash. However, think of the minutes you squander scrolling through clips on youtube, travelling on public transport, waiting in checkout queues, the list goes on. Do we always use our time wisely?</span></p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P"><span></span>Importantly though, are we wasting minutes of our lives in conflict with others? Thomas Aquinas, a doctor of the Church and well respected Dominican preacher, questions us, “How is it they live in such harmony, the billions of stars, when most people can barely go a minute without declaring war in their minds about someone they know." </p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P"><span>Each year we are challenged to live out the mission of our College. </span><span>Our theme for 2017, is unity. We know that as a community we must continue to work to ensure that we are together as a team. </span><span>But do we squander time in conflict with others around us? </span><span>How many minutes of our day, week, year are taken up with mindless tension and quarrels that oppose our goal being of unified? As a group we regularly look to our Habits of Mind and Spirit for direction, and so we understand that it is vital that we follow our conscience, be kind, respectful and generous and show mercy to others. </span><span>We need to give over each nanosecond to create meaningful relationship with ourselves and others. St Mary of the Cross MacKillop wrote, “so great is the strength we possess in our unity.” </span><span>This is a powerful message for us to take into the new year.</span></p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P"><span></span><span>We also recognize that as a school in the Dominican tradition we share a commitment to learning as we seek to nurture, challenge and shape our heart, mind and spirit. We are dedicated to using class time wisely and with purpose. In 2017, students, you will experience an initiative known as Excellent Learning and Teaching </span><span>… </span><span>or ELT for short. </span><span>Student learning growth is the goal and during the year there will be an explicit and targeted focus on literacy learning and teaching. </span><span>This will build upon the great learning culture we have always experienced at the College, and be achieved through consistent practices in our classrooms and collaborative cultures amongst staff. </span></p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P"><span></span><span>This term we have already used 30,240 minutes with just 70,560 to go. </span><span>The message here is obvious. </span><span>With just 500,000 odd minutes for 2017, we have to make every one count. </span><span>It is time to crank up our efforts here at school. To work hard towards our common learning goal, to complete our assignments on time, to do our homework well and to study for our exams. </span><span>But just as much, we need to be unified as one harmonious community. </span><span>We need to stop wasting our precious minutes. </span></p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P"><span></span><span>Tick, tick, tock. The clock is ticking … there really isn’t a moment to lose.</span><span></span><span> </span></p>
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<h1 class="ms-rteElement-H1"><span>Year of Unity</span></h1>
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<div><p class="ms-rteElement-P"><span>As a Dominican school we are guided by the values of
truth, joy, faith and prayer, justice and compassion, community and service,
and a love of learning. As a community
we strive towards a ensuring a sense of unity, connectedness and belonging for
all. In reality though, as individuals we are all different. We have different aspirations, different
ideas, different interests and come from a range of different backgrounds.</span></p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P"><span><span>This year we have determined unity as the theme for our
community.</span><span> </span><span>The following words
attributed to St Dominic inspire us ... “We are companions and must walk
together.</span><span> </span><span>For if we hold together no earthly
power can withstand us.”</span> </span></p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P"><span>To achieve this do we need to follow the mantra of less me
and more we? Do we need to remember that
everyone is special in their own way and that we need to work together to make
each other strong? And do we need to be
more tolerant and respectful of ourselves and of our peers, to seek
connectedness with God and others through inclusive, welcoming and right
relationships, to build community and to act compassionately. In a sense — we have the answer to these
questions already. We have 16 Habits of Spirit to guide us as we build the team
that is San Sisto College. </span></p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P"><span>How then in 2017 will we each foster this notion of
thinking and working towards our common goal of unity? It is up to each of us, individually and
together to enact the values that we as a community hold dear to our
hearts. </span></p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P"><span>J K Rowling writes in Harry Potter and the Goblet of
Fire … ”We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." A motto for us to live by this year. Please keep in mind that as a team we can
work together to enhance the outcomes for our whole community. Ask yourself how much more could be achieved
if we were there for each other, hand in hand, standing shoulder to shoulder,
speaking in one voice, every time. </span></p>
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<p class="ms-rteElement-P"><span><span>We are all members of the San Sisto family in 2017 — we’re
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Mrs Shelley Hamilton<span></span></p> | | | | | | | | | |
