Wednesday, 12 October 2016 Volume 21 Edition 8 Term A warm welcome back to everyone, with an extra special Upcoming Dates

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1 Wednesday, 12 October 2016 Volume 21 Edition 8 Term A warm welcome back to everyone, with an extra special Upcoming Dates welcome to all our new students and families joining Saint Mark s College this term. TERM 4 OCTOBER 10 Mon Lessons commence for ALL classes 10 Mon Yr 10 Work Experience week 13 Thu HSC Exams commence 14 Fri K-6 Swimming Program commences 19 Wed P & F Meeting, 7 8 pm 25 Tue SMC Sports Awards Evening, 6 9 NOVEMBER 1 Tue 2017 Kinder Orientation Morning 4 Fri Sem 2 Exams for Yrs 7 10 commence 10 Thu P & F Annual Dinner, Roma Function Centre, Liverpool, 6 pm 11 Fri Yrs 7 11 Pupil Free Day 16 Wed P & F Annual General Meeting, 7 8 pm 17 Thu Yr 12 Formal, Grand Roxy, 6 pm 24 Thu Yr 6 Graduation Dinner, SkyView Reception Hall 28 Railway St, Liverpool 25 Fri Fast begins for the Holy Nativity DECEMBER 1 Thu Yrs Kinder 4 Presentation Day 2 Fri CHRISTMAS CAROLS 6:30 8 PM 7 Wed Yrs 5 12 Annual Speech Night, Liverpool Catholic Club, 6 9 pm 8 Thu Thanksgiving Liturgy, 8:30 10:30 am. All students dismissed following Liturgy for their Summer Break. 9 Fri All Staff commence their Professional Dvt program for the remainder of Thursday and Friday. School Office Hours During Summer Break 12 December Tuesday 20 Dec & Mon 23 January Friday 27 Jan 9 am 3 pm CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF COPTIC EDUCATION IN NSW I trust and hope that everyone enjoyed some quiet time, with some relaxation and plenty of special family time during the past two week break, now ready to take on the demands and challenges of a very busy and exciting Term 4. Of particular importance is the commencement tomorrow with the 2016 Higher School Certificate Examinations. All HSC exams will be held in the Exam rooms on Level 1 in our New Building. Students are to attend at LEAST 20 minutes prior to the commencement of any scheduled exam and be in school uniform. During this period, the BOSTES approved Presiding Officer, Mrs Mary Chow will be in control and responsible for all HSC student requirements. Our boys and girls have worked hard, very hard in their preparation for these exams. On behalf of everyone within our College and wider community we wish our students every success in their effort towards their respective HSC exams. May God guide you and watch over you with every question that you read and with every answer and response that you write. The extent of your preparations and effort will determine your results, so whilst you have faced sleepless nights, sore eyes, bouts of anxiety, and a strict routine it s all temporary! so go that extra effort now as 1 extra mark can make ALL the difference between what you want, and what you could have had May our Lord Jesus Christ, our Holy Theotokos and all our Saints and Martyrs be with you - as we will be through our prayers for each of you to achieve your own personal best, whatever that may be. 52 Australis Av, Wattle Grove, NSW. (PO Box 747, Moorebank, NSW, 1875) T F E office@stmarks.nsw.edu.au W Coptic Orthodox Diocese & Affiliated Regions ABN:

2 BOSTES Registration It is with great pride that our College received our Certificates of Registration and Accreditation until 2021.

3 From Our College Chaplain: Fr George Nakhil Tamav Erene (Irini, Erinie) 31 October Tamav Irini was born on 9 February 1936 in Girga, a small town in Upper Egypt in Sohag Governorate. She was the eldest of seven children born to Coptic Orthodox Christian parents. She was baptised in the Monastery of Saint Shenoudah the Archimandrite. On 6 October 1954, Mother Irini became a nun in the Monastery of Abu-Sefain at the age of 18, the youngest nun in the monastery. On 15 October 1962 at the young age of 26 mother Irini, or as she would later be called Tamav Irini [Tamav; Coptic name for mother] was ordained the abbess of the Monastery of Abu-Sefain. Like St Syncletica (d. 400 AD) Mother Ireni came from a wealthy family, though she renounced worldly treasures, opting for a life of voluntary poverty following her consecration as a nun on 26 October St Syncletica and other [Desert Mothers] contributed to the extraordinary development of monasticism during the fourth and fifth centuries. They established a tradition equal to that of the desert fathers and attracted many disciples and listeners, male and female. The teachings of these mothers focus on the life of vigil, prayer, fasting and struggle, purity of heart, poverty, solitude and stillness. Tamav Irini's words tackle many of the same issues; like the ascetic literature left by these mothers and fathers, her sayings represent the fruit of her personal labour and struggle. At the outset of her upholding the monastery's responsibility, Tamav Irini, after much prayer, had a vision of Christ and of St Pachomios ( AD), one of founders of the communal life of monks and nuns, who told her to set in the convent the rules of the Pachomian Koinonia. She restructured the nuns' life accordingly, banning all forms of personal property or segregation. Group prayers and meals were introduced. Before Tamav Irini's assumption of the monastery's responsibility, the nuns used to attend mass and communion in an adjacent church, also dedicated to St. Mercurius. Tamav Irini founded St. Mercurius' Church and subsequently founded a second church inside the convent in honor of St. Mary, on the site where the Virgin is said to have sat with her Son during the Holy Family's flight to Egypt. Mother Ireni popularised St Philopater among Copts. In this sense she is often compared with Pope Kyrillos VI whose name became associated with the Egyptian martyr, St Mena. On Abi Seifein's feasts celebrating his martyrdom, the coming of his relics to Egypt, and the consecration of the first Coptic church in his name she would speak to the thousands who gathered about the miracles performed through the intercession of the saint. In her weekly meetings, which took place on Fridays until just a few years before her death, Tamav Erene would speak of heaven in a way that brought hope and consolation to her listeners. Her message and vocation attracted many, and the number of nuns increased under her guidance there are now more than 100 and some of her daughters are now mothers superior of other Cairo convents. Under her guidance the convent published a well-researched and documented book highlighting the contribution of women to monastic and ascetic life. The Angelic Life: The Virgin Mary and Other Virgins in Different Ages (Cairo: Harmony Printing House, 2002), can be regarded as a feminist and a new historicist reading of the monastic movement, from which perspective it sets the record straight regarding the role played by women in this movement. For more than 25 years Tamav Irini suffered from ill health. In their memorial the nuns at the convent described her as their "enlightened mother, mentor, teacher, guide and the lamp whose light would remain forever". They also expressed their gratitude "for being the daughters of the mother of monasticism in this generation, for having been watered by the fountain of her sacred life and enlightened by the torch of her monastic and spiritual teachings which will remain to guide us until we meet her in heaven".

4 The reading of the Gospel on the day before her death was from the Gospel of Matthew 25:21 "His master replied, 'well done, good and faithful servant! you have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness". On 31 October 2006 Mother Irini died. At her funeral Bishop Raphaeil (General Bishop) spoke on behalf of Pope Shenouda III. Thousands of mourners queued to pay their last respects on the day following her death. Some of them had never seen her before, but had heard of her love, simplicity and humility. She departed the world, but will continue to live in the hearts of her children. References: Memorial article for Tamav Ireni, Al-Ahram Weekly online, Issue no. 820, November Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in P & F News Dear Parents, Annual Dinner St Mark s College Parents & Friends Association is proud to invite you all to attend the 2016 Annual P & F Dinner which will be held at the Roma Function Centre, 167 Northumberland St, Liverpool on THURSDAY, 10 November 2016, commencing at 6 pm. This event is our MAJOR event of the year and we would welcome all our parents to attend, support the efforts of the College and share in the wonderful spirit of family within our diverse community. Prices have been purposefully left low with a family deal also available for families. Tickets and table reservations are available from the College office on (Mervat Sidhom). Next P & F Meeting: Tuesday, 19 Oct between 7 8 pm. All parents welcome! Notice for Annual General Meeting: Please be advised that the 2016 Annual General Meeting of the SMC P & F Association will be held on WEDNESDAY, 16 November between 7 8 pm. All welcome to attend. God bless. Kind Regards, Joseph Massih President/Chairperson, P&F Committee

5 Historic Visit of The Hon Nabila Makram Saint Mark s College was indeed honoured today with the visit by the Minister for Immigration and Expatriates, the Honourable Mrs Nabila Makram, the Ambassador to Australia His Excellency Mr Mohamed Khyrat, the Consul- General in NSW His Excellency Mr Youssef Shawky, His Grace Bishop Daniel with His Eminence Bishop Tadros Metropolitan of Port Said, Reverend Clergy, Consuls and Ministerial Delegates from Egypt along with numerous distinguished guests. This was an historic visit was a First for our College and students: first time a sitting Egyptian Minister, current Ambassador from Canberra and current Consul General from NSW to have all visited our College at any one time. We would like to thank our blessed Bishop Daniel for organizing this event with the assistance of Mr John Nour, our Deputy Head of College Mr Francois David, the attendance and support always from Dr Effat Shehata from Aghapy TV, Mrs Hala Ibrahim for arranging all musical pieces played, Mrs Amal Morgan, our IT Manager Mr Remon Metira, Mrs Mervat Sidhom, all our wonderful staff and students for every individual s effort towards today s memorable event.

6 Mrs Shehata, Head of Primary

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9 The included advertisements are paid advertisements. The College does not endorse any individual or organization and asks all families to undertake their own due diligence prior to acquiring any services.