Delany College - Granville

It is my pleasure to write this report as Acting Principal in Paul Easton’s absence. Mr Easton has been on medical leave for the past four weeks - he is happy, healthy and ready to return in Term 3.

This week is Australia Refugee Week, which encompasses World Refugee Day on 20 June.  It is worth stopping to reflect on this theme because it is relevant to our faith, relevant to our country and relevant to our school community. Joseph and Mary fled persecution with their child Jesus and had to ‘start again’ with a new life in a foreign town.

Australia is a land of refugees and new starts. With the exception of our Indigenous people - the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people - we are all ‘new arrivals’. The first fleet brought refugees from Ireland and England - convicts who were forcibly removed from their countries and homes and who were victims of the practices of their time. I wonder how many of the men and women who travelled on those first ships actually had a choice. Did they volunteer or was this destination their duty?

The word ‘refugee’, right to this day, draws mixed responses. Ironically (and thankfully) Australia’s distinctive multiculturalism was built on the back of refugees resettling in Australia after the World Wars, particularly during the 1950s. During the past 20 years the term has become politically charged and, in some parts, a deeply divisive topic. Even in our current COVID-19 environment it has, this past two weeks, again appeared in the news with the plight of the Murugappan family.

Delany College is a classic small example of Australian society and was proudly on show last Friday at our annual Multicultural Day. We had two guest speakers. Anne Nesbitt is the Schools Engagement Coordinator from the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) who spoke about the services JRS provide to refugee families in Australia. She also encouraged our community to advocate for refugee families. The second speaker was Sabine, who is a refugee from Pakistan and who has been supported by JRS. Sabine’s story was a simple but powerful one - she was targeted and threatened because she would not falsify medical documents (Sabine is a qualified obstetrician).

The very best of multicultural Australia and multicultural Delany College was on display during the celebrations. I want to acknowledge the following people:

• the many students who performed dances from their countries of origin. It takes great courage to perform in front of your peers and family! I also acknowledge the hours of preparation that occurred during the weeks leading up to Friday. 

• the five students and one teacher who shared their migrant stories with us

• all the students who joined in the international fashion parade, giving us all a blast of colour and pride

• the student leadership team who had also worked behind the scenes for the past many weeks, and then led the celebrations on Friday

• all the students who respectfully listened to our JRS guests and student speakers, and then remained to join in the celebrations

• the staff who assisted (and gently pushed) the students in preparations, and then volunteered on the day to remain at work and assist with supervision

• the parents, families and friends of Delany College. Your generosity in providing foods from your homes is an essential experience on the day by providing us with the ‘flavours of the world’. After a year of COVID lockdown and lockouts, it was wonderful to have you join us for the afternoon.

The countdown now begins to MCD 2022 - only 360 more sleeps to go!

Last week was a super busy one with two other significant events. We hosted the annual Delany Day, which is a day all our Patrician schools send Year 10 representatives to meet and network with each other, and to learn more about the story of Daniel Delany. With almost 100 students participating in the day it was a lively event.

The second event was the College music soiree - an evening of student musical performances. I can’t thank Mr Michael Jiear enough. Our school band performed to begin and end the evening, and in between were vibrant and impressive instrumental and vocal performances. This type of event provides students both an opportunity to perform, but just as importantly builds a culture where students are encouraged to, and are ‘safe’ to, perform in front of their peers, families and friends.

On a final note, I would like to extend my thanks to the very dedicated teaching and administration team at the College. There are a great many hours beyond the daily bells invested by our staff in your children’s wellbeing and learning. The first two terms of the year are always the busiest, so we will all retreat to a well-earned break.

Can you believe that we are halfway through the year? I wish your families a safe, restful and recharging break, returning on Monday 12 July for the second half of 2021.

St Patrick, pray for us.

Mr Anthony Blomfield

Acting Principal

We would like to invite you to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) survey. We value the role of parents and carers within our school community and greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide will be used to continue and strengthen the school/family partnership that further improves student learning and wellbeing at Delany College.

The survey is anonymous and will take a maximum of 20 minutes to complete. You will be able to access the parent survey on your computer or mobile device. Here is the address:

http://tellthemfromme.com/delany2021

The Compass parent portal is now available. We strongly recommend you use this app to access your child’s learning records. A full description of Compass and its features is available with this link to a previous newsletter.

How do I activate the Parent Portal?

GET AN ACTIVATION CODE! Here’s what to do:

I urge all parents to access the Compass Parent Portal. This will become the key way in which we communicate with you about your child’s learning and pastoral journey through Delany College.

In week 8, students from year 7 and 9 went to St. Joseph’s centre in Baulkham Hills for a day of prayer, fellowship and reflection.

Some highlights from Year 7 (John Hana) included:

• Performing role plays on the life of St. Patrick & Bishop Daniel Delany

• Playing the Breastplate Scavenger hunt and; 

• Getting a chance to have lunch with our friends and explore the grounds

• Watching funny videos and learning about prayer 

• Working in our small group, getting to know our teachers & peers and; 

• Then coming together as a stage 4 core for our closing liturgy

  
  

The year 11 reflection was held on Friday of week 9. We went to a beautiful venue which was surrounded by nature. The day gave us the opportunity to get to know our peers a little better. For me, the highlight was hearing from my teachers, their stories and the moments that impacted them & shaped who they are today. We had a shared pizza lunch and a chance to explore the grounds. Overall, everyone had a memorable day and are looking forward to our year 12 senior retreat.

Christina Awad Year 11

For several years now, our Catholic community has been working together to update the way we share our faith with children and young people. This draft new curriculum for Religious Education will be known as Living Life to the Full and is now available on the Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta website together with a guide to help community members learn more. 

Faithful to Sacred Scripture and Tradition, Catholic Teaching and Values, Living Life to the Full is designed to be age-appropriate for children and young people. When it is launched in late 2021 the Draft New Curriculum will replace ‘Sharing Our Story’, the current curriculum that has been in place for more than 20 years. 

Delany day was an enriching experience, one of my favourite incursions I've had at Delany yet. Throughout the day, our school hosted the annual patrician event, which we sadly missed out on last year due to the COVID.

Throughout the day, we had presentations and workshops which we socialised at, with students that had come to visit from other schools and making teams to complete challenges.

One of my favourite activities was by far the jukebox challenge. We were given a category, and as a school group we competed against each other to see which teams could come up with the most related songs. 

In summary, the Day was exceptionally fun, enriching and was a great experience. I am very glad I was able to participate, and thank you to Mrs Stow, Mrs Casey, and Ms Mutabdzija for providing this opportunity. I highly recommend that anyone who is offered this opportunity, to take it, as it would be in your best interest.

Thomas Rose Year 10

The very best of multicultural Australia and multicultural Delany College was on display during the celebrations. 

We ask all parents/carers to be mindful and considerate of our neighbours when dropping off and/or picking up students. Please DO NOT park across anyone's driveway. Fines can apply.

Thank you 

Delany College

Thank you to all families that have made arrangements for school fees. Just a friendly reminder that if you are unable to keep your arrangement please contact us on 8633 8107 and we will update the system accordingly.

Term two fees were due 26 May 2021. Please ensure you have finalised your payments or contact us on 8633 8107 to make a new arrangement for your school fee payments 

Notice of Discontinued enrolment Please note that a term’s notice in writing must be given to the principal before the removal of a student or a full term’s fees will be payable. Library items must be returned during this period.   

 Bishop Manning Scholarships   If you have a child that will be attending Delany College next year please review the link to check the criteria for the Bishop Manning Scholarships.

Our Catholic education scholarships are intended to assist families in genuine need who desire a Catholic school education for their children, but for whom the cost is out of reach.  

Christine Marji

As we near the end of Semester One and recognise that half the year has flown by, it is important for teachers and parents to reflect with their students/children on the learning that has taken place and will occur in Semester Two of the school year. 

It is highly recommended that all parents read their child’s report with them as this is a fantastic opportunity to commend them on areas they have achieved their personal best. It is also a time for setting new goals around learning, as recommended by teachers. 

The following are some conversation starters you may use when unpacking your child’s report and setting goals with them for Semester Two: 

* Do you believe this report reflects your personal best? 

* How active a participant have you been in your learning? 

* What subjects have you found challenging and how can we go about helping you to achieve your personal best? 

* What learning goals do you need to set for Semester Two and how will you achieve them? 

Of course, the conversation is only the start but it is a good place to open the lines of communication and have your child accept responsibility for their role within the learning process. 

The important process of choosing a pattern of study has commenced for our Year 10 students. Subject booklets have been distributed and last Thursday we had our Parent Information Evening. Leaders of Learning have been discussing courses being offered with the year group and this list is more comprehensive than ever before.

For some students, it is clear which subjects they will be selecting, while others will be more uncertain in their approach. Consultation and talking through these decisions are critical components of this decision-making and I thank each of our Leaders of Learning for taking part in this process. 

Year 10 Subject Selection Interviews will be held on Wednesday 14th July from 3.30 - 5pm. Our shared goal is to support every student with selecting a suitable pathway to success and we look forward to discussing these with your son or daughter during our upcoming interviews.

Minimum Standard Testing

Students in NSW must demonstrate a minimum standard of literacy and numeracy to be awarded a HSC. To show they meet the HSC minimum standard, students need to achieve Level 3 or 4 in short online reading, writing and numeracy tests of skills for everyday life.

The HSC minimum standard online tests include a:  

• Reading test – 45 multiple choice questions (maximum of 45 minutes)  

• Numeracy test – 45 multiple choice questions (maximum of 45 minutes)  

• Writing test – a written response based on a choice of two prompts. Students will be required to write a maximum of 500 words (maximum of 45 minutes).

Over the past few weeks Year 10 students have been sitting these tests with great results. I would like to congratulate the students on this achievement. For students who are yet to pass these tests, workshops will be held to develop the necessary skills and students will be given another opportunity to attempt the test later in the year.

Stage 5 Students sharing WW1 & WW2 artefacts with their class.

Thank you to the Johnson & Harris Families for sharing.

The year 9 Fast Forward cohort attended their first on-campus Uni Day experience earlier this month. It was a great day where students were able to explore their personal strengths through a study of the 8 multiple intelligences.

They then used their skills of communication and team work to go on a mystery quest around the WSU campus, looking for clues, solving problems and then finally cracking the case in a very innovative story telling experience. Students were able to experience uni life and now have many opportunities to seek out their future aspirations. It was a very successful day of learning beyond the classroom.

Thank you to all the students for representing our school with pride and passion and for making it a great day. 

Mrs Akkouche

Transition Coordinator 

On the Thursday 27 May the English Advanced class, with our teacher Ms Tully, travelled to Seymour Theatre in Redfern to participate in a symposium produced to assist HSC students in analysing and interpreting Shakespeare’s Richard III. We had studied Richard III and Looking for Richard in Module B, ‘Textual Conversations’.

The symposium was insightful in providing unique perspectives of the Module B texts through reenacting selected scenes, and in discussions of the context, purpose and effect of those scenes in the play. Attending this symposium will prove invaluable for our examinations, especially as we near trials. 

Naomi Habib Year 12

Last Wednesday 16 June, A number of students performed at the annual Delany CAPA night, whether they were in the band, singing, or playing a musical instrument. The night showcased the many different musical talents that the students of Delany College have.

Friends, family and teachers were all there to support students as they performed on stage. We would like to say a huge thank you to Mr Jiear as he took the time to make this happen as it was a huge success. We thank the hospitality teachers for providing delicious catering for the night, and we hope to see even more talented students participating in the event next time! 

By Ayla Fahed and Thuraya Dandash - Year 10

A huge thankyou to the Year 11 Hospitality class for their assistance in the catering for the Musical Soiree. Your participation and support certainly do not go unnoticed. I am extremely grateful for your help and bringing people together through food. 

Miss R Katrib

Hospitality Teacher

What’s happening in Maths!

Many exciting things have been happening in Maths as the students are going through all of their different assessment tasks for this term! We have a few different programs running if you are interested in any additional support.

Algebros

Every Thursday afternoon after school till 4:15 we run Algebros.

It is a great opportunity to get help with any classwork, homework, assessment tasks or even if you’re looking for some more challenging problems!. There are many different maths teachers down there each week and we look forward to hopefully seeing you there. 

Textbook Drive

If you are looking at any further maths resources that could support your child then we have a bunch of different maths textbooks that we would love to give away. We have many different books from all year levels that are free to a good home. If you would like to enquire or have any interest in this, please don't hesitate to reach out.

You’re welcome to email me at mjones31@parra.catholic.edu.au or just ring the office and ask for Matt Jones, it would be a great way to support any extra learning.

Its been a great start to the term and I am excited for what's in store.

Mr Matt Jones

Mathematics Leader

Write NOW!  our Delany College writing hub begins on Monday, 24 May 2021.

The place to get help if you are unsure of what you must write or need guidance in refining your writing.

Monday afternoons from 3:15pm- 4:20pm in the Chisholm Space.

English teachers will be available to assist with drafting, paragraph writing, extended response writing, imaginative writing and editing your writing.  

Ms Marita Tully

Communications Leader

Science club is happening again this year-

Thursday afternoons from 3:15- 4:20pm.

If you would like to attend please talk to your Science Teachers. 

Come along if you would like to participate in Science competitions, perform some different experiments or get some help with Science. 

Going to Vinnies Van at the start I was really nervous as I did not know what to expect. However once we arrived at Mt Druitt around 8:30pm I got to meet some amazing people who had an emotional story. We offered individuals at both Mt Druitt and Parramatta warm drinks and snacks. This allowed us to have great conversations helping to break the barriers of loneliness, we were able to show those in need that we are here and they are not alone. 

Bianca Wehbe, MacKillop Formation Leader

My experience volunteering with the Vinnies Van was something that I was not worried or nervous about, but the experience of it was familiar as we were working with the community. We went to Mt Druitt and Parramatta, and the individuals there were friendly and approachable, conversing with each other from our time there. We provided them with snacks and warm drinks to last through the cold. This experience was great personally as we were granted the opportunity to reach out and serve the local community. 

Aljim Penoso, Year 12 student

Please see below a link to Cumberland City Councils FREE school holiday clinics which will be held over the two weeks. Can you please share this with your parents and add to your social media platforms. This is a great opportunity for students to be active and social during the holidays.

Registrations open on Monday 21st June at 7.00pm at the link below.

https://www.trybooking.com/eventlist/healthandwellbeing

YEAR 7 - Friday 28 May

YEAR 10 - Thursday 19 August

YEAR 7 - 2nd Dose - Tuesday 7 December 

Please make sure all consent forms have been signed and return to the front office.

If you require a consent from please ask our front office administration ladies.

Thank you

Delany College

If something happens to your child,

we need to be able to contact you.

Please make sure all your details are updated, if you're

not sure please do not hesitate to contact our Administration

Office on 8633 8100.

The College winter uniform is to be worn during Term 2 and 3 of the school year.

The College blazer is compulsory for students in Years 10-12 and optional for students in Years 7-9. Junior students have the option of wearing the College soft shell jacket or the blazer. The College jumper may be worn under the blazer or soft shell jacket in winter, however it does not replace the blazer or soft shell jacket.

Girls Winter Uniform:

Skirt                      College skirt with green check

Trousers              College issued grey trousers only

Junior blouse      College white blouse

Senior blouse     College blue blouse

College blazer     Y10-12 - compulsory

                               Y7-9 - optional

Soft shell jacket   Y7-9 students only

Jumper or cardigan   College blue wool blend V neck jumper or cardigan, both are optional. If worn, it must be under the blazer

or soft shell jacket.

Scarf            College scarf or plain navy blue scarf - optional

Socks           Navy opaque stockings with skirt 

                      Dark grey or black socks with trousers

Shoes          Standard black leather lace-up school shoes. No 

platform heel or coloured thread is permitted. 

Bag             College bag for Years 7-12

Cap             College cap - optional

Boys Winter Uniform:

Trousers            College issued grey trousers

Belt                     Black belt with an appropriate buckle

Junior shirt        College short or long sleeve white shirt

Senior shirt       College short or long sleeve blue shirt

Junior tie            College green tie with crest

Senior tie           College blue tie with crest

College blazer       Y10-12 - compulsory

                                Y7-9 - optional

Soft shell jacket    Y7-9 students only

Jumper                  College blue wool blend V neck jumper, optional. If

worn, it must be under the blazer or soft shell jacket.

Scarf                      College scarf or plain navy blue scarf - optional

Socks                     Dark grey or black socks

Shoes                    Standard black leather lace-up school shoes. No 

boots or coloured thread is permitted. 

Bag                        College bag for Years 7-12

Cap                        College cap - optional

SPORTS UNIFORM / PE

The sports uniform is not to be worn to school other than Thursday as it is sport day. At times, there may be exceptions for carnivals or gala days however it will be communicated to students and parents/caregivers prior to the event.

The Uniform Shop is open every Tuesday from 8am to 2pm.

For your convenience, uniforms can be ordered online via

www.noone.com.au/school/delany-college/shop

Thank you 

Uniform Shop