Music Excellence

The Iona Concert Band has won the University of Notre Dame Award for Excellence in the Concert Band division at this year’s Performing Arts Festival for Catholic Schools and Colleges (PAFCSC).

Over twenty-five bands from different schools performed in the division. Iona performed on Thursday 13 August at Lumen Christi College where they played “Into the Storm” by Robert W. Smith and “Enchanted” by Ryan Nowlin.

Miss Penelope Kimble, Director of Music and Concert Band Conductor, is delighted with the award. “The girls performed so well at the Festival. They were professional musicians from the moment they walked onto the stage,” she said.

“They really deserve this acknowledgment not only for their wonderful performance, but also for their enthusiasm and dedication to rehearse every Monday morning at 7.30 am! The girls in Concert Band are a real pleasure to work with.”

In addition to the award for excellence, the Iona Concert Band has been invited to perform at the PAFCSC Concert, which showcases the outstanding performances from this year’s Festival.

Please click here to see photos from the Concert Band's performance at Lumen Christi College.

Interhouse Athletics Carnival

The annual Interhouse Athletics Carnival was held on Friday 31 July at the new WA Athletics Stadium. The students were very excited to use such professional facilities and it was a pleasure to see them compete with determination, House spirit and exuberance, no matter if they were in a 100m sprint or a game of tug-of-war.

Congratulations to those Year 7 students who created inaugural records for their Year group (Elizabeth Anderson, Hannah Brien, Olivia Cookson and Amy Reid) and to Bridget Emery (Year 8) who broke the Year 8 80m Hurdles record.

O’Dowling House was triumphant on the day with 2279.8 points, followed by Treacey House (1935.1), Moynihan House (1854.7) and O’Halloran House (1755.2).

Please click here to see photos from the day.

Dancing the night away

The evening was full of talent, innovation, exhilaration and plenty of hair spray and glitter! Iona’s 2009 Interhouse Dance Competition left the audience enthralled.

The build-up at the College was unprecedented. Rehearsals took place during lunchtimes and after school, tickets quickly sold out, and the atmosphere was alive with House spirit.

Congratulations to O’Halloran House for taking out first place with their piece called Proud Mary.

Please click here to see photos from the event.

LifeLink Day

With the aid of technology, the 8D Religious Education class was able to welcome His Grace, Most Rev Barry Hickey, Archbishop of Perth, and Bishop Donald Sproxton into their classroom on Wednesday 3 June.

The LifeLink Day webcast is an annual event that gives Catholic school students across the state the opportunity to communicate directly and immediately with the Archbishop and Bishop.

The students in 8D submitted questions through email and were thrilled when two of their questions were answered. The girls even discovered that the Archbishop supported the West Coast Eagles. This caused a bit of discussion in the class!

Afterwards, the girls said the webcast helped them to better understand the role of the Archbishop and appreciate the work of the LifeLink organization.

One student said: “We are very grateful to have experienced the webcast. We hope it has helped students appreciate the efforts made by the Catholic community.”

LifeLink is the fundraising organization established by Archbishop Hickey to provide support for social services agencies that are established or supported by the Archdiocese of Perth.

Emailing His Grace, Archbishop Hickey (left) and watching the webcast (right).

Lauren's life in perfect balance

Lauren Mitchell (Year 12) has enjoyed success away from the Balance Beam this year, being announced the Womensport West Junior Sportswoman of the Year and recipient of the Western Australian Institute of Sport Athlete Career and Education Award.

Lauren said she was thankful that Iona had supported in completing her TEE studies over two years, as this has allowed her continue her gymnastics at an elite level.

Link to article on the Community News website.
Link to article on the WAIS website.

Young words of wisdom

Meredith Cully (Year 12) has also done exceptionally well in public speaking, traveling to Melbourne recently to compete in the National Final of the Lions Youth of the Year Quest as Western Australia’s sole representative.

Meredith argued in her speech that the youth of today are contributing members of society and are quite able to help lead Australia out of recession.

“My speech was inspired by an article I read that claimed baby boomers would survive the economic crisis, but Generation Y would have to rely on them to lead the way because our world would be thrown into chaos,” said Meredith.

“I challenged this idea. I spoke about the youth of today being more resilient and resourceful than people think. We have hope for the future, and I believe this will help us.”

Link to article on Community News website.

Anzac Day

Iona Presentation College acknowledged Anzac Day on Wednesday 29 April; the first day of Term 2.

With the Australian and Indigenous flags at half mast, guest speaker Flight Lieutenant Glenda Preston spoke to staff and students about “one of Australia’s most important days of the year”.

“The landing at Gallipoli will forever be an unbreakable and permanent part of Australia’s identity,” said Lieutenant Preston. “The ANZACs showed qualities of courage, self-reliance and mateship; qualities that made up the Spirit of the Anzac. It is now up to you [in the audience] to continue this story and to pass it on to the generations after you.”

Rose Brashaw, Head Girl, and Sally-Anne Malone, Deputy Head Girl, laid a wreath and the Last Post sounded out over the College courtyard, commemorating those who have fallen in war, and bringing to close a moving ceremony.

To see photos from this event, click here.

Sweet Charity

Click here to view photos of Iona's 2009 drama production Sweet Charity.

Set in the swinging sixties, Sweet Charity chronicled the romantic misadventures of unlucky-in-love dance hall hostess, Charity Hope Valentine. The production was as memorable as it was charming!

IGSSA Champions

Iona's Swimming Team became back-to-back champions on Friday 13 March, winning the IGSSA Swimming Carnival for the second year in a row.

Highlights from the night included two record times set by the Year 11 and Year 12 medley relays. The Year 11 team swam the 4x50m relay in 2.09:43, beating a 1995 record and the Year 12 team broke the 2006 record with a time of 2.08:80.

Mrs Sue Weiner, Director of Sport, said she was “very proud of the girls’ commitment to their training” and commended the girls on the focus they showed on the evening.

Congratulations to all the swimmers, coaches, staff and parents involved.

To see photos from this event click here