High Notes Vol. 53 Issue #13

From the Principal

Growth Mindset

Dear Parents, Students and Friends

Our mantra this year has been that ‘we have a growth mindset'.

Over 30 years ago, Carol Dweck and her colleagues became interested in students' attitudes to failure. They noticed that some students rebounded while other students seemed devastated by even the smallest setbacks. After studying the behaviour of thousands of children, Dr. Dweck coined the terms "fixed mindset" and "growth mindset" to describe the underlying beliefs people have about learning and intelligence. When students believe they can get smarter, they understand that effort makes them stronger. Therefore they put in extra time and effort, and that leads to higher achievement. For further information visit:
https://www.mindsetworks.com

This week I want to highlight the work of the Year 12 Design and Technology students and the Year 12 Industrial Technology students. These young men have created some excellent major works for their HSC. Mr Chandler, Mr Dowe and the TAS Coordinator, Mr Sherringham, have given hours of their time at lunch, before and after school, weekends and holidays to support the students.

Juan Rasines Mazo has modified the wing of an aircraft to reduce the drag. Juan has had to solve an enormous number of problems in order to produce his prototype. Juan will shortly be visiting a lecturer from the University of Sydney’s Aeronautical Engineering Faculty to seek his assistance in testing the wing in a wind tunnel.

Tony Duncan

Headmaster

From the Assistant Principal

Values and Leadership

Our Marist College North Shore community is renowned for living out the gospel values in our continued efforts to help others. While the various fundraising activities are fun and raise funds for ourselves and others, these activities have other benefits. It’s often been said that “it is better to give than to receive”, but you may not realise that this cliché is actually endorsed by research. These activities can improve your quality of life in several ways.

Studies show that giving for the cause of others is good for your emotional wellbeing and can enhance your peace of mind and personal growth immensely. We can also experience improvement in confidence, self-awareness, self-esteem, depression and daily functioning. When you do something nice for someone else, often the positive effects go beyond just you and that other person to influencing your whole community. When you do nice things for others, you often enable them to do nice things for others as well, and the phenomenon grows. Your family and friends may see your good example and behave in a similar way.

Our College Walk-a-thon is one such community event which allows the boys to not only support the fundraising efforts of the school but enjoy a day with peers, friends and staff. This Friday will no doubt prove to be a great day of community spirit along with a hint of giving to others.

Faith Formation

Marist Bicentenary Mass

Marist Bicentenary Mass

On Saturday 12 August, a group of Year 11 students, accompanied by Mr Duncan, Mr Heiss, Miss O’Brien, Mr Grech and myself travelled to St Patrick’s Cathedral in Parramatta to celebrate a Mass commemorating the Bicentenary of the Marist Brothers.

The Mass was celebrated by the Bishop of Parramatta, the Most Rev. Bishop Long and had representatives from Marist Schools throughout Australia. We were very proud to have four of our students sing in the official choir.

We congratulate Br Tony Butler, who has recently joined our College Community, for celebrating his Diamond Jubilee. Br Tony was presented with a certificate and gift during the Mass.

Anthony Munro

Director of Faith Formation

Creative and Performing Arts

Cultural week

Cultural Week

English

Write A Book In A Day

'Write a Book in a Day’ was an awesome experience, testing your creativity and willingness to take on the challenge! When we started the day, we received certain parameters in which we had to work within. There are two human characters, for us they were a lion tamer and a personal trainer, one non human character, for us it was a rat, a setting, for us a mountain, and an issue, for us was a haunting.

You have to put the pieces together to make a book for 10-16 year olds to enjoy. We came up with ‘The Mansion on the Mountain’ and I was one of the illustrators. Overall, I loved this experience and will gladly do it again next year!

Liam Cunneen
Year 7, Montagne 6

Mathematics

Maths Homework Club

Mathematics Homework Club is back for Term 3!

Each Wednesday afternoon during Weeks 5-8 there will be a Mathematics teacher in the Academic Resources Centre to help students in Years 7-10 with homework or assessment preparation. Students are to come prepared with their own work to complete during this time and teachers will be there to assist.

When: Wednesday Week 5 - 8
Where: Academic Resource Centre
Time: 3:25 pm (for approximately an hour)

A reminder that students also have access to past papers through Google Classrooms for the Mathematics level they are studying which will help them with their preparation.

Please encourage your son to attend!

Amanda Conde
Mathematics Leader of Learning

Science

Year 12 Chemistry

The Year 12 Chemistry class attended the Kickstart Chemistry Course at Sydney University last week. It was a one day course giving students the opportunity to see how a real Chemistry lab operates. The day is led my Dr Jeanette Hurst and facilitated by several PHD students. The students are able to use state of the art equipment such as the Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (pictured). The Chemistry Kickstart course was a great day for the students and puts them in good stead for their upcoming HSC exam.

Jamie Collins

Year 12 Chemistry Teacher

Solidarity

Wadeye Clothes Appeal

On Wednesday 28 June a group of nine Year 11 boys from Marist College North Shore along with three teachers got the opportunity to experience the Northern Territory Immersion, where they stayed in a rural Aboriginal community 394km South West of Darwin.

Taken out of our comfort zones the group was confronted with the harsh reality of how people’s lives are affected by where they live. The boys were shocked to find children with barely any clothing wandering the streets day by day in the same pair of shorts held together with a length of shoelace. Having close communication with the teachers at the local school we were soon told that the children are discouraged to go to school because they don't have any clothing to wear, causing a declining rate in attendance. Imagine hearing from your boy that he no longer wishes to go to school because he feels embarrassed of the lack of clothing he owns; now imagine being powerless to fix it, being so impoverished that you cannot afford to purchase new clothes for your child. Being that Australia is a developed nation, it was hard to believe that these were the conditions children in Wadeye experienced everyday!

Having witnessed this first hand the group decided to take action and spark some change through the introduction of a new campaign called the Wadeye Clothes Appeal.

Instead of throwing away used clothes your child may have outgrown, we encourage you to donate the clothes to the appeal by sending clothing to our school at 270 Miller St, North Sydney NSW 2060. The clothes will be transferred directly to the children that need it most in Wadeye and we hope to raise enough donations by the end of this year so that kids in Wadeye can start their new schooling year with new clothes.

The experience the group had to Wadeye was eye opening making them appreciate the comforts of life in Sydney and how lucky we are to have grown up in such an affluent city. Please be generous and give graciously in our efforts to strengthen the community of Wadeye because ultimately, by donating to the Wadeye Clothes Appeal you are giving these kids a future through supporting their education.

If you have any further questions please contact our school on (02) 9957 5000.

Jeanette Durand

Wadeye Immersion

City2Surf

On Sunday 13 August, Marist College North Shore entered a team into the annual City2Surf race. Alongside 80,000 participants we pounded the pavement from Hyde Park to Bondi Beach in glorious weather. We were led by the fastest teacher on staff Mr O’Regan and 11 enthusiastic students. The crowd support and atmosphere throughout the race spurred the boys to the finish line.

MCNS also raised over $800.00 in 5 days for young people facing homelessness in Western Sydney. A massive thank you to the Marist community for their extreme generosity and support!

Gabrielle Nicholson

Solidarity Coordinator

Indian Immersion

Reflecting on the 2017 Indian Immersion “it has been an experience of the senses, the soul and the gift of shared humanity. So far from Marist College North Shore we all found a home at the Marist Tribal Boys’ Hostel with the Marist Brothers and the Santali boys. The genuineness of the Santali girls, boys and villages with their open manner and simple virtues touched my heart and challenges my perspective of life’s values.

The Parish and Marist communities in their mission showed faith in action. I am always humbled by their steadfast faith, generous hospitality and welcoming manner. The Santali children grow in such caring communities where love and joy are always present.”

An Immersion is to stand in solidarity with others and develop an understanding for their plight by being present to their world. The nine students and three teachers lived Champagnat’s charism through hard work, family spirit, simplicity, in the way of Mary and most of all presence. The 2017 Indian Immersion was our seventh immersion to the Marist community at Talit in West Bengal. It was a wonderful experience to see how the boys at the Marist Tribal Boys’ Hostel and the children at St Francis de Sales at Galsi have grown over the years. The two Marist Brothers, Br Malangmei and Br Jose Maria, whose mission is to provide a safe, nurturing and religious community for the Santali children. The Santali are a tribal group in West Bengal who are the poorest of the poor earning $2 a day labouring in rice paddies. The Marist Brothers aim to break the cycle of poverty through providing education for the Santali children. The Marist Brothers, the parish communities and the sisters were outstanding hosts and their support in enabling our immersion experience was truly appreciated.

Kolkata was a challenging experience with many people living in abject poverty living on the streets, coupled with the crowds, noise, heat and smell. The children we worked with in the St Mother Teresa’s hospital and her Mother House was a special experience and one where her legacy of love was truly evident.

We travelled by train to Galsi and worked with the Santali children at St Francis de Sale School. The students helped the children learn English and we visited Santali villages. There were many games of soccer where friendships were forged and there was considerable rivalry. Our main focus was spending time with the boys at the Marist Tribal Boys’ Hostel in Talit and being with the children who have HIV at the Chetana Clinic. Special relationships were formed through the activities and games. It was a heartfelt farewell where the students truly gave their all in being with those in need.

Anthony Munro reflected “The Indian Immersion has been a re-setting of the human compass. It has been a pilgrimage of faith, hope and love. It has developed new, and strengthened existing relationships and if nothing else, it has made some very special people smile.”

On Thursday 3 August, the Indian Immersion students and their families gathered to reflect on their experience. Each student reflected on their journey - physical, emotional and faith filled in our prayer. Their insights and personal growth demonstrated during and after their Immersion experience has forged close and supportive friendships coupled with a rethinking of their life values. They truly are Marist Men.

I was personally humbled by the commitment, camaraderie and goodwill that I experienced from the fellow teachers and students on this year’s Immersion. Their reflections revealed their remarkable journey. I would like to personally thank my Indian Immersion companions; Claudio Canepa, Ethan Cook, Ben Greaves, Roberto Gallardo Galan, Felix Jenney, Angus Levy, Liam O’Gready, Riley Sanders, Josef Slater, Rochelle Eggins and Anthony Munro.

God bless.

Carolyn O’Brien
Indian Immersion Leader

Events

Year 9 Claymation

As a student participating in the Year 9 claymation incursion, I was able to widen my perspectives on both the topic WW1 and WW2 and stop motion animation. The day itself was divided into 3 components, introduction and instruction where the experts in the business showed us how to handle the equipment in order to create our film, this filled the most part of period one and two but most groups had begun shooting by recess. The second component was entirely shooting and definitely the most painstaking as you had to move your clay characters small amounts for each shot.

Some groups took over 300 photos which amounted to 25 seconds of footage. In the final component with the help of editing that was extended to at least 30-40 seconds.

Overall the experience was unique and provided a rare insight into the intricacies behind production such as Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run. As a student it gave me a newfound appreciation for the amount of effort that would have to go into such productions.

Lucas Murphy
Year 9 History 5

School Notices

ANNUAL WALK A THON

The Annual College Walkathon will be held on Friday, 25 August 2017. Boys have been issued with their sponsor cards and should be eagerly seeking out family, friends and neighbours for sponsorship. This year the College aims to raise $35,000 to put towards College improvements. That amount equates to around $55 per student.

As always there will be a variety of incentive prizes for raising significant amounts of money. These will be advertised to the students in the coming weeks. All prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the money collection process. There will be prizes for the top money earners. There will also be draws for boys who raise above $55 and above $100.

To add excitement and energy to this great College community event, this year we have announced a ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’’ theme for the day. Students are encouraged to work together with their tutor group to come up with a theme specific to their group. There will be prizes on the day for those who are best dressed. After the Walkathon, students will be served with a sausage sizzle and a drink.

The day is always a highlight, with all boys encouraged to join in the spirit of the day and take up the challenge to seek out sponsorship.

A letter outlining how the day will run will be emailed home during week 6.

PARENT HELPERS

As part of our celebrations we will be offering each student a free sausage sizzle lunch and a drink. We are asking for helpers to assist with this great community event from 11am with the set up of tables and serving the students in House groups. We will have 6 serving stations set up around the school. If you are able to to assist please contact Sean Mullaly on 9957 5000 by Monday 21 August 2017.

Sean Mullaly
Administration Coordinator

P&C Father's Day Breakfast

Other

Lawn Bowl Donations

If you have lawn bowls at home that are no longer being used and would like to donate them to the MCNS Sports department please drop them off at the office attention to Mr Giles.

TEACHER LEARNING CULTURE AT MCNS

In Week 5 of this term the Marist College North Shore teachers once again spent a day engaged in Professional Learning, this was our second Professional Learning Day for 2017. The day ran from 8.30am until 4pm and was entitled “Teaching is great”, and was specifically dedicated to staff upskilling their knowledge and collaborating on a number of topics.