St Saviour's College Newsletter 2025 - Term 1 Week 2

Principal

Hope Does Not Disappoint

Welcome to 2025

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all families to the College community – a community founded on the unwavering belief in the power of empowering women for a changing world.

Last week, we gathered as a College community for the first time to celebrate the beginning of our new school year and all that brings. At this liturgy we inducted our seniors of 2025, ‘badged’ our new student elected leadership group and congratulated our award recipients including our 2024 McAuley Medallist, Eliza Morcom and our Gloria Dawe recipient, Mairead Obst.

It was a wonderful celebration where we were called to reflect on how each of us will engage personally with this year’s jubilee theme, Pilgrims of Hope. In his address to the global Catholic community, Pope Francis reminds us that Christian hope does not disappoint. He emphasises that hope dwells in us all as the expectation of good things to come, even though we do not know what the future holds. As we move forward in our mission to be Catholic people who care for others, we must consider how we will fan the flame of hope for others.

In my opening address, I shared with the community the story of Br Olly, the recipient of the Senior Australian of the Year award for 2025. Br Olly, a Christian brother from Perth was celebrated for his tireless work with the charity wheelchairs for kids. Wheelchairs for kids activates an army of 240 volunteers, retirees who work tirelessly making 30 wheelchairs per day, sending these wheelchairs all over the world to, in his words, get children up of the ground and give them some dignity. These wheelchairs are built for off-road third world conditions and built to be adjustable and grow with the child. They are accompanied by a care package, including a hand knitted blanket and soft toy, and a team of occupational therapists who ensure the wheelchair is fit appropriately to the child. It is a truly remarkable story. Yet in his acceptance speech, Br Olly, in his said this:

‘This award is a testament to the power of kindness and the spirit of giving. It’s a reminder that we all have the ability to make a difference.”

As we begin 2025 together, my prayer for our community is that we embrace this same shared truth as hope-filled people – that we all have the ability to make a difference and kindness really is our superpower.

If you would like to know more about Br Olly and his incredible work, check out this video: 

Date claimers

Year 7 and New Parent Welcome Liturgy and barbeque: Tuesday 18^th February at 5.15pm

College Swimming Carnival: Wednesday 19^th February (Students dropped and picked up from Milne Bay)

Open Day (optional early finish 12pm): 28^th February

Parent Engagement Network: 5^th March at 6pm

International Women’s Day Breakfast: 7^th March at 6:45am. All welcome.

Formal pants now available

Earlier this week, I wrote to inform you of an optional update to our College uniform. Formal pants have now arrived at the uniform shop and are available for students to wear if they choose.

These pants are to be worn with the College formal shirt, College formal hat, black formal shoes and black or navy socks. They can be worn with both the summer and winter uniform.

These are an optional uniform item and have been included in our uniform following multiple requests from both parents and students over a number of years. I specifically congratulate the College Student Representative Council for their active involvement in pursuing this addition to the College uniform.

School locker has now returned to their normal term time operating hours of 7.30am-10am Mondays, and 2.30pm-4.30pm Thursday afternoons.

Parent Engagement Charter and Parent Code of Conduct

I would like to share with you two documents that guide our partnership in supporting your daughters throughout their learning with us at St Saviour’s College. The first is the Parent Engagement Charter, a document that serves as a reference point for all parents and school staff around what works best in supporting our young people to engage in an empowering education.

As the first educators of children, parents have a great influence on their children’s learning and development during their school years and long afterwards.

The Parent Code of Conduct, new this year, is a document that outlines the specifics of interactions between parents and the College in the support of your daughters. From 2025, it forms part of the Enrolment agreement.

Parent Code of Conduct

Parent Engagement Charter

I would like to add that much of what is contained in these documents is expressed in the respectful culture and caring interactions of our College community on a daily basis. Thankyou for the way in which you form a partnership with the incredible teachers of this school to support your daughter to bring to life her God-given gifts.

2025 fees

School fees will be issued in Week 3. I thank all those parents who have already contacted the Accounts team to set up payment plans and direct debits – this is much appreciated. Should you have any questions about your account, or the payment of fees, please contact our friendly accounts team, Accounts@ssctwb.catholic.edu.au to discuss.

Term 1 school fees are due on February 28th. 

Their prompt payment is appreciated.

Jessica Wade
Principal

Deputy Principal - Teaching and Learning

Welcome back to a new academic year! I have enjoyed the buzz of energy at our College these last two weeks as students, revitalised by their summer break, reunite joyfully with their Mercy Sisters, meet their new teachers, and settle back into the study routine. For our new Year 7s, it was particularly heartening to see some of them reunite with friends that they had made during their Mercy Girl for a Morning visits in previous years.

Learner dispositions at SSC

At our first assembly, I challenged our students to consider their education as an adventure – something made exciting by a good dose of challenge and the courage to try new and unfamiliar paths. While we know that some students are characteristically more adventurous in their learning than others, the staff at St Saviour’s College have been collaborating to focus on nurturing positive learner dispositions in all of our students. It is our dream that students who graduate from SSC are empowered women, confident in their ability to solve problems, face challenges, show grit and determination, and exercise curiosity and critical thinking when presented with new information. We define the learner dispositions we seek for our students in our Mercy Approach to Learning Framework.

Rich in symbolism, the Mercy Approach to Learning model above, found within the framework, represents our commitment to bringing to life our Mercy Charism and the values of our College within and beyond each classroom. The hands represent our community of learners, and the lotus flower, a symbol of liberation (through education) and femininity. The petals and seeds represent the language and learner dispositions we seek to nurture within our community.

Parents are encouraged to talk with their daughters about the learner characteristics represented in the model and to reflect together and celebrate positive learning habits, while also identifying potential goals to work towards to enhance learning in this new year.

Year 12 Academic Interviews

All Year 12’s have engaged in academic interviews this week with different members of the leadership team. While six months have passed since our last academic interviews, the visible growth in maturity towards studies and determination to improve academic performance has been remarkable. Our Year 12 students are pursuing a diverse range of post-schooling pathways, each as valuable and meaningful as the next. During the interviews, I was truly impressed by how many students could clearly articulate their goals for graduation and confidently discuss their plans to achieve them. Parents of Year 12’s, please keep the conversation happening at home, maintaining sight of goals and celebrating the successes, achievements and learnings along the way.

Stop, Drop and Write

Every year in Term 1, St Saviour's College teachers and students from Years 7-10 dedicate the last 15 minutes of Period 2 to writing in response to a given prompt. This annual activity aims to build student confidence and fluency in writing. Our goal is to eliminate the fear of writing and encourage students to start writing without waiting for the perfect idea. From the funky Stop Drop and Write bell to the brightly coloured reward stamps, this daily activity builds a sense of fun and light-heartedness in the classroom as students are encouraged to try new writing styles, share their writing with others, and acknowledge the great work of their peers.

The 2024 Academic Awards Ceremony

It was an honour to announce our academic awardees following the Opening Liturgy and the Senior Induction last Thursday. It was great to see many returning awardees taking the stage to receive their awards and badges. This shows a continued consistent effort and determination for achievement. It was also inspiring to see some first-time award recipients take to the stage proudly, each with their own story of improved commitment towards their study.

The criteria for awards and badges are:

Special congratulations go to our 2024 gold badge recipients, maintaining 80 per cent A’s across the entire year. These students are:

Year 8 2024: Abigail Allan and Neda Mahdy

Year 9 2024: Alina Bijoy, Gianna Bijoy, Clovelly Leonard, Leen Zahlouk

Year 10 2024: Sarah Abawi, Ayen Deng, Aleisha Webb

Eleighta Hannam
Deputy Principal

Assistant Principal - Wellbeing and Engagement

The phrase “the grass isn’t always greener on the other side” is often thrown around, especially in a digital age where we encourage adolescents to consider that they only see the highlight reels on social media. Instead, this year, I challenged the students to consider the phrase “the grass is greener where you water it”, encouraging them to self-reflect and put time and energy into their passions and relationships. The Wellbeing Team will continue to support this theme as we launch into our SSC sisterhood and focus on positive female relationships.

Our Wellbeing Team this year consists of myself year co-ordinating for year 11 and 12, Mrs Kim Benvenuti for year 9 and 10 and Mrs Michelle Reid for year 7 and 8.  I encourage reaching out to your daughters homeclass teachers if you have minor concerns and they can work with her teachers and year co-ordinator to ensure positive outcomes at school.  We are also supported by our Guidance Counsellor Renee Hunter.

Our Merit trips were well received in their augural year and will continue into 2025. Their purpose is to acknowledge students who are consistently meeting standards that develop healthy learning habits as well as those that prepare students for when they leave school. It also students to goal set each term, reflect and plan more according for the following term. They are not academically based instead acknowledge those doing the ordinary extraordinarily well. Some minor changes have been made to criteria which have been highlighted to your daughters in year level meetings, and I ask that you engage in discussion with your daughter concerning these.   

Other changes in 2025 are the inclusion of our formal pants, as per Mrs Wade’s earlier communication, as well as jewellery restrictions. Working with the Student Representative Council last year, students advocated that jewellery rules were one that they had concerns about. We have changed earring requirements for 2025. Students are allowed to have a small (less than 5mm), non-decorative stud or sleepers in the lower lobe of their ear and now can wear small, discrete clear earrings in other ear piercings. We continue to have no piercings (including clear) in the nose, lip, eyebrow, tongue etc. These should not be covered with a band aid/tape as this only draws more attention. We thank you in advance for your support with our uniform expectations. 

I look forward to meeting our new families at our New Parent Gathering on the 18^th  of February and the opportunity for our girls to be able to engage you in their past few weeks as they settle into our Mercy community. 

Megan Schulze
Assistant Principal - Wellbeing and Engagement

Assistant Principal - Mission and Identity

Pilgrims of Hope: A Journey of Faith and Light

Welcome to this Jubilee Year of Hope, a sacred time of renewal, reflection, and pilgrimage.

In declaring 2025 as a Jubilee Year, Pope Francis calls us to embrace the theme “Pilgrims of Hope” and reflect on the importance of hope in our faith journey. As pilgrims, we walk forward with faith, knowing that God is with us, opening doors to new beginnings and guiding us to be bearers of light in our world.

At our Opening Liturgy, we were reminded of Jesus’ call to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world:

"You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." — Matthew 5:13-16

This passage challenges us to enrich the lives of others through hope, faith, and service. Just as salt enhances and preserves, we are called to uplift, strengthen, and encourage one another. As light, we are reminded that even the smallest act of kindness can illuminate darkness and inspire change.

Pope Francis, in his reflection on this Jubilee Year, reminds us:

"We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us, and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart, and a far-sighted vision."

With these words, we are encouraged to carry hope not only in our hearts but also in our actions, becoming a source of light for those around us. This Jubilee Year invites us to look beyond the present moment, to build a future rooted in faith, and to embrace the journey ahead with trust, courage, and a commitment to creating a more just and compassionate world.

Opening Staff Mass

We began our year with the Opening Staff Mass, gathering as a faith-filled community to pray for the journey ahead. This was a moment to reflect on our roles as educators, mentors, and leaders, ensuring that we walk alongside our students with compassion and purpose.

The Prayers of the Faithful, written by staff, reflected our shared hopes for the year:

Loving God,
We pray that the leaders of the Church would lead with wisdom as they inspire hope within the global Church. May they be a beacon of hope, guiding people through the doors of salvation and into community.
Lord, hear us.

Loving God,
For our world leaders and the continual journey towards peace throughout the world. In particular, we pray for peaceful resolutions to war-torn countries, including Palestine and Ukraine. We pray that the divine continues to shine amid the darkness of our world, opening our hearts to the acceptance of our differences, promoting justice, peace, and cooperation as our leaders strive towards restoring peace and harmony for all.
Lord, hear us.

Loving God,
In a world often filled with darkness and grief, we pray that you bless those who suffer with your divine light. We hope, through your wisdom, we are blessed with the glory of heaven on earth. We offer our support to those who have felt this ultimate loss.
Lord, hear us.

Loving God,
We pray for the hopes and needs of everyone in our school community, that they may feel welcomed, included, and valued so that they may be called to be tangible signs of home for those experiencing hardship. May we gain new strength, looking into the future with a trusting and far-sighted vision. May the door always be open, as with Him, hope does not disappoint.
Lord, hear us.

Loving God,
We pray for all staff and educators, that they inspire hope, kindness, passion for learning, and patience as we journey with them in our Mercy community. Help us to embrace the gifts that we all bring to St Saviour’s College.
Lord, hear us.

Loving God,
We give thanks for all that creation brings to us at St Saviour’s College, in our grounds, classrooms, boarding, and the wider Toowoomba community. May we preserve the environment that surrounds us, and may we be agents of positivity through active stewardship of our land.
Lord, hear us.

Loving God,
We pray for our families and communities, that they may grow in wisdom, strength, and hope. Guide them to be places of acceptance and love where relationships thrive in safety and compassion.
Lord, hear us.

Loving God,
We pray for our students, that they may be strengthened in faith and inspired by hope throughout this school year. May they grow in wisdom, embrace new opportunities, and feel supported in their learning and friendships, knowing that they are deeply valued members of our Mercy community.
Lord, hear us.

Opening Liturgy and Senior Induction: A Call to Lead with Hope

Our Opening Liturgy was a powerful reminder of our call to walk forward as Pilgrims of Hope, embracing the future with trust and faith. Through prayer, scripture, and song, we were reminded that hope is not only something we receive but something we must actively share with others.

A significant moment of this celebration was the Senior Induction Ceremony, where our Year 12 students stepped into their role as College leaders. As they received their senior badges and lit their candles, they made a commitment to lead with humility, inspire with hope, and serve with courage. Their presence and dedication remind us that leadership is not about authority but about making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

As we journey through this Jubilee Year together, may we be the salt that brings out the best in each other and the light that shines in our community. May we walk forward as Pilgrims of Hope, knowing that through Christ, we are always guided toward a future filled with promise and grace.

Rosies Outreach

As part of our commitment to walking in faith and service, our Rosies Outreach Program began on Tuesday. This initiative provides students with the opportunity to reach out to those in need, offering companionship, support, and a listening ear to the vulnerable members of our community.

Rosies is a tangible way for us to live out our theme "Pilgrims of Hope," extending kindness and dignity to those experiencing hardship. By being present for others, we shine the light of Christ and demonstrate the Mercy values of compassion, hospitality, and service.

All students 16 years and older are welcome to volunteer for the outreach. If you are interested in joining this meaningful initiative, please see Ms Dempster for more details.

Leah Dempster
Assistant Principal - Mission and Identity

Math news

Unlocking your child's potential in maths 

We have some exciting news about how your child's brain can grow and change, especially when it comes to learning maths. Here are some key points: 

1. Brains can change: It used to be thought that our brains couldn't change, but that's not true. Studies show that our brains can grow and adapt quickly. When we learn something new, our brains make new connections.
2. The Hippocampus: This part of the brain helps us learn and remember things. It can grow and change too, especially when we practice something regularly.
3. Positive messages matter: Imagine what your child can achieve in a year of maths classes with the right materials and positive encouragement. Research shows that everyone can be good at maths with the right support.
4. Believing in themselves: Every child can learn maths. The best results come when students believe in themselves. There’s no such thing as a 'maths brain'—everyone can learn maths well.
5. Growth mindset: A growth mindset means believing that abilities can improve with effort. Students with this mindset do better in school. They see mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow.
6. The right kind of praise: How we praise our children matters. Instead of saying, "You're so smart," it's better to say, "You worked really hard on that." This helps them understand that effort leads to success.
7. Learning at their own pace: There’s no set speed for learning maths. Every child can learn at their own pace and make new connections when they’re ready.

By supporting your child with positive messages and encouragement, you can help them succeed in maths and beyond. 

To support our students, we have introduced some mathematics norms. 

Sports news

St Saviours College is a member of the Toowoomba Secondary Schools Sports Association (TSSS) which may lead students to representing the Darling Downs region in representative school sport.

We conduct swimming, cross country and athletics and provide a sporting program on Wednesday afternoon for students in Years 7 to 10 that caters for both competitive and social based opportunities. 

Please contact the sports office if your student is interested in participating or you have questions about the process for trialling in 2025. The attached calendars provided information on what is happening in Term 1 2025.

Greg Leathart
Curriculum Leader Sport and HPE

Arts and Performance news

Welcome back to an exciting year in the arts at St Saviour’s College! 

Welcome back to another vibrant year at St Saviour’s College! We are thrilled to embark on a fun and busy 2025 filled with creativity, talent, and artistic expression. 

Last week, we kicked off the year with an arts showcase information afternoon, where students learned about the incredible arts opportunities awaiting them this year. We are excited to announce that in Term 3, we will host our arts showcase evening, a special event where students can display their talents across all our creative subjects. 

We are delighted to welcome new students to join the Saviour’s Sisters performance choir. Rehearsals are held every Thursday from 3:15pm to 4:15pm. Additionally, we are introducing a performance team for those interested in solos, duets, and small group performances. 

Our Drama Club is back and will meet during sport on Wednesdays. This club offers students the chance to work towards performances in projects such as the Scene Project, Showcase, and possibly a black-box style play later this year. Auditions were held on Monday, and we eagerly await the announcement of the successful students. 

This year, we are also excited to introduce an official Dance Troupe. This auditioned team will perform at various events and competitions throughout the year, with rehearsals on Wednesday afternoons during sport. Auditions will be held this Wednesday. 

For our musically inclined students, those who play an instrument are encouraged to contact Mr Nilon to apply for the Rock Band. Students interested in private vocal or instrumental lessons can pick up an information letter regarding cost and availability from Student Services or contact Mrs Potter for more details. 

Last Thursday, we were treated to a beautiful performance by the Saviour’s Sisters at our Opening Mass and 2024 Academic Awards Ceremony. Their voices truly set the tone for an inspiring year ahead. 

It is going to be a huge year in the Arts here at SSC, and we invite anyone looking for an opportunity to shine to contact Mrs Potter for more information. 

Here’s to a fantastic year of creativity and performance! 

Jennifer Potter
Program Leader Arts and Performance

McAuley House Newsletter Term 1 Week 2

Welcome back to all our girls and families for 2025. While this year marks our final year as a Boarding House we are determined to make some great memories. The girls have started the year very well and are settling back into their routines of school and boarding.  

We will have a number of new staff starting at McAuley House in the coming weeks. Over the holidays Ms Kym Stewart resigned and we wish her all the very best as she takes up other employment and thank her for her commitment and dedication to the girls over several years. Miss Charlotte Croker has now started teaching at the college, so we have also farewelled her. Miss Charlotte Morcom started as a Casual Boarding Supervisor this week.

As usual if you have any requests, please contact us and we will assist in any way we can. ABSTUDY travel bookings will be made next week for the return trips at the end of Term One so please advise if there are any changes to normal requirements. 

We are all looking forward to a great year in McAuley House and want the girls to feel supported and encouraged every step of the way. The theme for this year is HOPE, and looking towards our horizons, so as we approach the end of an amazing legacy of boarding for girls in McAuley House, my greatest wish is that the girls all look back with fond memories but also look forward with HOPE to what exciting adventures lie ahead of all of them.  

Di May
Head of Boarding

Library News

Welcome 

Holiday reading 

Welcome to a new year at St Saviour’s College. It’s been a fantastic start to 2025. Last week, our Year 7 students were part of the orientation week, which included a look at our library, and health and safety of laptop use. 

The library is a community orientated space that welcomes all students and parents into its space. It acts as a link between curricula, social and personal aspects of our students’ lives. Students are already enjoying their time in the library: 

We often have the news playing before school and suitable music playlists at break times. Coming up we will be organising activities in the library for the term. The timetable should be in the next newsletter. 

Free reading has been identified as having a positive impact on literacy levels and we try to keep our resources up to date and relevant, both to our students’ interests and to classroom learning. 

Reminder: laptop use – try not to use on laps, consider seating, lighting and screen placement to be conscious of the best way to use our devices. 

Library hours: 

Monday – Thursday 8.00am – 4.00pm 

Friday 8.00am – 3.00pm  

Please note, on occasion there may be unforeseen circumstances, therefore the library may be closed. 

Please keep looking at the library section of the newsletter for further updates. 

What’s happening in the Library? 

Library Lover’s Day is coming up soon (February 14th)

Library Lover’s day  

The theme for Library Lovers' Day 2025 in our library is: Inspire, Love, Explore: Your future in books  

Queensland School libraries Week

(information retrieved from: http://www.qsla.org.au/qslw) 

Queensland school libraries positively influence the learning outcomes of students through teaching multiple literacies and encouraging a lifelong love of learning and reading. In 2018, QSLA introduced the inaugural Queensland School Library Week (QSLW) to highlight the important work of school libraries. QSLW is celebrated in February each year. It provides us with an opportunity to showcase the excellent work of all qualified Teacher Librarians and library staff around Queensland. (retrieved from QSLA website). 

This year, the Queensland School Library Week is running from: 

Monday 10th of February to Friday 14th of February 2025. 

Secondary Competition 

Secondary students (Year 7 - Year 12): Window to the World. 

Produce an artwork or take a photograph to reflect the theme Window to the World. 

General reminders 

Students must remember to look after their resources, it can be very easy for an item to be damaged: 

• because a water bottle has leaked or even just having water condensing on the outside of the bottle 
• left out on lockers overnight
• thrown into bag on top of fruit or food. 

Books need to be returned or charges will apply for replacement and time in following up. Damaged books will be charged for either replacement or repairing fee. 

Please help us keep our resources in an appropriate state so all students can borrow them for a long time. 

The library will be open at lunch times from Monday – Friday where possible. There will be times where the library will need to be closed but we try to keep it open as often as possible. 

Manners in the library: 

Please remember to say good morning or good afternoon as you come into the library, we love seeing the students using our library, especially when they are polite and respectful to both the staff in the library and the users of the area. Please and thank you are expected in asking and receiving help at any time in the library. Also remembering it is a shared space and to keep our voices at a respectful level.

Scholastic book club 

We do run book club through Parent Loop – our Year 7 students will receive the booklets, other year levels may access online. Issue 1 has been given out to Year 7 students – there are spare copies in the library or check online for the issue. 

Remember to register through Scholastic and assign St Saviour’s College as your school. Payments are all online and orders will be delivered to the school unless you have requested home delivery. 

Orders will be given to the student to take home when they arrive at school. 

What do Teacher Librarian’s do? 

Quite often our job is misunderstood as to what we actually do besides purchase books. 

Our job is to ensure that learners (this can be students, staff and/or parents) are effective users and producers of ideas and information. This is across grade levels and learning areas.  

We teach and model:  

• Inquiry/research 
• evaluating resources
• digital citizenship  
• creating and sharing 

My job is to liaise with teachers and work with classes around ICT capabilities specifically in relation to research skills, as well as managing and resourcing the library with relevant resources for both curriculum and pleasure reading.  

Why are Teacher Librarian’s important? 

Reason 1: Global citizens have well developed general capabilities  

In the Australian Curriculum, we have 7 General Capabilities, which are described as knowledge, skills, behaviours and dispositions needed to equip students to live and work successfully in the 21st century (Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority [ACARA], n.d.). When we compare the General Capabilities Framework with the construct of Global Competence (OECD & PISA, 2018) it is easy to see an overlap. Both are future focused, and aim to build students’ skills, behaviours and attitudes in areas that include intercultural and ethical understanding, critical and creative thinking and personal and social capability. 

(Retrieved from https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/) 

New books in the library!

Come and check out our new books. Some are on display and others on the shelf. If there is one you would like to read and you are not sure where it is, just ask at the front desk. We love helping someone make a connection with one of the books waiting to be read. You can also check out our library online through our student intranet.  

General collections: 

Non-fiction

Adventure

Family and relationship

Fantasy

Love

Mystery

Realistic

Sport

War

Graphic

Manga

Senior Collection (for Years 10-12)

Date Claimers: 

February 10th – 14th: Queensland School Libraries Week 

February 14th: Library Lovers Day 

March 8th: International Women’s Day  

Andrea King
Teacher Librarian