Secondary Campus
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY
Domestic violence can be defined as ‘violence, abuse and intimidation between people who are currently or have previously been in an intimate relationship.’ The perpetrator uses violence to control and dominate the other person. This causes fear, physical harm and/or psychological harm. Above all, violence is a violation of human rights. Since COVID, emerging data shows that domestic violence has intensified. It is the ‘Shadow Pandemic’ growing amidst the crisis.
On Tuesday, October 26, a dedicated group of Year 11 students and staff facilitated our third Domestic Violence Awareness Day. During the campaign, we acknowledged victims, both past and present of domestic violence related issues. We sold awareness badges and white ribbons (for a gold coin donation) as a symbol of recognition on this matter, with all proceeds donated to Centacare Family Services. There were various other ways in which our Year 11 students raised awareness of this terrible issue; these included a Year 11 Chapel Service, a school-wide multimedia campaign, and an ice-cream stall at lunchtime. We came together to provide a voice to those suffering at the hands of domestic violence in the hope of helping to prevent this issue from causing so much pain. As young men and women in our St Michael’s Community, we take a stand against this type of appalling behaviour.
Act with Kindness, not with Violence.
Ms Anna Porcelli, Year 11 Director
HUMANITIES NEWS: CAMPS AND EXCURSIONS
On Wednesday Week 3, Year 11 Geography students along with their class teachers Ms Bridget Kearins and Mr Lachlan Chatterton ventured off on their Geography camp. Based around Victor Harbor, Granite Island, Waitpinga, Hindmarsh Island and Port Elliot, students are studying coastal processes along higher energy coastlines, sheltered bays and rocky headlands. They are also investigating the impact of tourism on regional towns and learning how to use their fieldwork skills to document environmental change. These are skills students can use in a range of Year 12 classes, as well as TAFE and University studies in the future.
The students face the challenge of working together in small groups to plan, purchase and prepare food for their camp. For many this has already been an exciting part of the trip with decisions to be made about what to have for breakfast and dinner and whether they’ll be able to stop at the bakery in Port Elliot!
Year 9 and 10 students will have their turn to complete their fieldwork in Week 4. The Year 9s have been studying the concept of interconnection and will visit Rundle Mall to collect examples of ways they are connected to other people and places. The Year 10s will be visiting Morialta Conservation Park to investigate environmental change.
Miss Catherine Pearce, Head of Humanities – Secondary
YEARS 7-9 LEARNING AND WELLBEING CHARACTER STRENGTH FOCUS
Week 3: Humour
Did you hear the one about…?
Laughing has a way of making us feel good. When was the last time you had a huge belly laugh? We can all relate to how good that feels – as though we are laughing all the way from our toes. There are some people I know who have the most amazingly contagious laugh – the kind that instantly makes you want to join in when you hear it, even if you are completely unaware of what they are laughing about. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to bottle this laughter – to be uncorked at a later time when you could really use a laugh or two?
Research evidence shows that laughter has a huge impact on our physical and mental health. It strengthens our immune system, reduces the impact of pain through the release of endorphins and helps to alleviate the impact of stress. It can inspire us towards a brighter tomorrow, keep us grounded and balanced and also importantly, it can help us forgive each other when things don’t work as they should and we are hurt. It goes without saying that all of this is beneficial to our relationships and happiness, knowing, valuing and caring for each other, as a Community.
Like all strengths, it’s also true that humour has to be used in the right balance and context, so that it is not a shadow-strength or negative in its purpose. It should never hurt or become ‘weaponized’- created at someone else’s expense. As we indicate to students, the age-old excuse of ‘It was just a joke’ is never acceptable when misused humour results in someone feeling harassed, bullied or excluded. Unfortunately, the world of comedy does not always set the best example. Even if I think back to those great films I watched and loved as a child – Abbott and Costello (Who’s on First?), Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Though I didn’t appreciate it at the time, the humour was often based on the misfortune of one of the characters, and the ability of the stronger character to manipulate the situation, asserting control or superiority in some way.
Sometimes it’s hard to tone down the humour in us when it’s one of our top strengths, especially when we are adolescents. It can become a shadow strength. It’s interesting to note that the strength that can sometimes make a learning environment challenging can also be one of the most important of strengths that enables our young people to navigate Challenge, make connections and fruitful networks, resolve conflict, find hope and support each other towards flourishing. As a result, it is not a strength we want to see disappear, but it is one we need to learn to use more effectively as we journey through adolescence, in the best context, for the learning of every person around us. This helps us develop the Choice to be the best leaders and learners of the world we can be.
This week students have seen that we can boost humour by reading a favourite cartoon or funny novel or by watching a film that makes us laugh. We can also share a funny story and bring smiles to the faces of others and importantly, we can remember to be kind to ourselves: it’s ok to laugh at ourselves with others too!
Have a great weekend, hopefully with some solid belly laughs worth bottling!
Mrs Tonia Carfora, Year 7-9 Learning and Wellbeing Initiatives Leader
Source: https://yellowsmg.tumblr.com/post/82358022703/suefitzmaurice-quote-snoopy-peanuts-humor
SMC’S GOT TALENT 2021 – THURSDAY 2 DECEMBER
It’s that time of year again when the Music Department is asking for participants in this year’s ‘SMC’S GOT TALENT’ extravaganza.
Our annual talent show will take place in the last week of school (Thursday 2 December after lunch) and is a wonderful way for all members of the SMC community to wind down after a hectic school year.
All students and staff are eligible to participate, all you need to do is come up with any type of performance that shows off a talent or skill that you believe needs to be shared with the world!
Entry is free and participants simply need to email Mr Musci james.musci@smc.sa.edu.au to nominate themselves ASAP.
Successful contestants will be contacted closer to the event. Don’t be shy, start rehearsing now and contact Mr Musci so you can be part of this great event.
Mr James Musci, Head of Music – Secondary
LASALLIAN CAMPUS MINISTER
St Michael’s College wishes to welcome newly appointed Lasallian Campus Minister, Sharina Rabusic to our community. Sharina will work primarily with the Lasallian Youth Leaders (LYL’s), but will participate in many other activities around the College.
Mr Robert Dempsey, Director of Mission
