Term 2 - Weeks 8 & 9 - 30 June 2025
Dear Parents and Carers, Staff and Students,
As Term 2 draws to a close, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our College community for your ongoing support, commitment, and contributions throughout the term. This newsletter is filled with stories, celebrations, and important updates from both students and staff, and I encourage you to read it in full.
Please note that students will conclude the term on Thursday, 3rd July, as staff will be participating in our annual Staff Spirituality Day on Friday, 4th July. The College office will also be closed on this day as all staff will be involved in a formation experience focused on our Mercy charism and traditions.
Semester Reports & Conferences
Semester 1 academic reports for Years 7 to 11 will be available to parents and carers via Compass at the end of Week 10. Our Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences will be held on Tuesday, 5th August. These meetings are an opportunity to discuss academic progress, celebrate achievements, and set goals for the semester ahead.
Athletics Carnival
In Week 8, we held our annual Athletics Carnival at Barnier Park, Junction Hill. The day had a fantastic atmosphere, with many students competing enthusiastically for their House. Several records were broken, and the relay events were a standout highlight. The final results will be announced once all remaining events have been completed.
Celebrating Student Success
Over recent weeks, a number of students have achieved outstanding results in various sports:
- Congratulations to the Under 15 Rugby League Team, who are the undefeated Mid North Coast Country Cup Champions. They will progress to the regional finals in Term 3.
- Kyle McCann has been selected for the NSW All Schools U15 Boys Netball Team and recently travelled to Sydney for the trials.
- Annalese McKee was selected for the NSW All Schools Golf Team and will represent the state in the School Sport Australia Games on Bribie Island next term. Congratulations to all!
Annual Improvement Plan Update on Attendance Goal
Each year, we work toward targets set in our Annual Improvement Plan. One of our focus areas is the Engaged Communities domain, where our goal is to create a more inclusive and connected school. A key initiative has been to improve student attendance, with targets set to raise our overall rate from 85.5% to 87% and reduce the number of students attending less than 85% of the time from 35.5% to 30%.
We are pleased to report that our current attendance rate is 87.7%, and the number of students attending below 85% has dropped below 30%. Thank you to all staff, students, and families who have worked hard to achieve this. Let’s continue to maintain and build on this success.
Thank You
- Street Retreat – Thank you to our four Year 11 students, Beckett, Mason, Raimi and Felicity, who participated in the Street Retreat in Brisbane last week, accompanied by Mr Tom Howard. Street Retreat is a CSO-sponsored immersion that provides students with an opportunity to experience social injustice and equips, forms, and empowers them to return to their parish communities with a passion for social justice, awakening a greater sense of the call of Jesus Christ to serve the poor. We look forward to hearing about their experiences and ideas for change.
- School Review – I extend my sincere thanks to the parents and community members who participated in our recent School Review. Your feedback and input are deeply appreciated. We will share the full findings from the Review with our community once the final report is received.
End-of-Term Celebrations
We will celebrate NAIDOC Week on Thursday, 3rd July. The theme for 2025 is 'The Next Generation: Strength, Vision, and Legacy,' and this will be the focus of our morning assembly, prepared by our Aboriginal Education Workers (AEWs), Wil and Angus, and our Indigenous students. After lunch, students from each homeroom will take part in the Rachel Johnson Memorial Touch Football Competition. However, due to wet weather and field conditions, this year it will take place as a volleyball competition. The Rachel Johnson Trophy is a cherished prize, and we look forward to a fun and spirited afternoon.
Staff Spirituality Day – Friday, 4th July
Our annual Staff Spirituality Day will be led by Dr Caroline Thompson, focusing on our Mercy charism, traditions, and values. It is a day of reflection and formation that deepens our connection to our Mercy story and how we live this daily in our school.
Term 3 Staff Development Days
Two staff development days have been scheduled for term 3 in weeks 4 and 5. The dates for these are:
- Friday, 15th August – Focus on School Improvement and Strategic Planning
- Monday, 18th August – Cultural Immersion: "Crossing Cultures, Hidden Histories"
This means students in Years 7–11 will have a long weekend. Year 12 students will attend if they have a scheduled Trial HSC exam.
Important Dates for Term 3
- Monday, 21st July – Students and staff return for Term 3
- Thursday, 31st July – Semester 1 Awards Assembly
- 4th–15th August – Year 12 Trial HSC Exams
- 5th August – Year 7–11 Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences & Year 10 Reflection Day
- 6th–8th August – Year 11 Retreat
- 7th & 8th August – Year 8 Camp
- 15th August – Staff Development Day (School Improvement)
- 18th August – Staff Development Day (Cultural Immersion)
- 19th August – Safe on Social: Student Sessions & Parent Evening
- 21st & 22nd August – SHINE Gathering
- 11th September – McAuley Fest
- 12th September – McAuley Day
- Wednesday, 24th September – Year 12 Graduation Ceremony
Holiday Wishes
I wish all families a safe and restful holiday break. To our students and staff heading off on the Senior Snow Trip to New Zealand – we wish you a fantastic and memorable adventure!
Kate
Kate Thomson
Principal
“We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us.”
Catherine McAuley
Attendance
As a College, we have been working to improve attendance since COVID and the graph below highlights the growth since 2023. It is important we work together to improve the attendance of our students and meet the Diocesan target of 95%.
Together, we can identify any underlying academic, social, or emotional factors that may be affecting your child's punctuality or motivation. By working as a team, we can create strategies to address these challenges and support your child's overall wellbeing and success at school. Read about School Refusal and your Teen at REACHOUT.
If your child is avoiding school, it’s essential to take proactive steps by reaching out to the Pastoral Care Leader or your child’s Year Coordinator. Subject teachers can provide valuable insights into your child’s behaviour and collaborate with you to address any challenges they may be experiencing.
For those students with complex attendance concerns, the Year Coordinator will be in contact to arrange a meeting. It is important to share your observations and concerns about your child’s attendance openly. Together with the school and your child, we can explore possible reasons for their avoidance.
You can also seek advice free from NSW Parent Line 1300 1300 52. Book an appointment via the phoning or emailing your nearest headspace centre.
Book a session with the free ReachOut Coaching Service for parents and carers.
Each day your teen attends school, they’re shaping their future success.
Uniform
As you are aware, the College introduced a new uniform in 2024. The transition to the new uniform is 2 years, and all students are to be in the new uniform in 2026. Therefore, as of next year, all students will be required to wear the new uniform. It is essential to prepare for this change, and families are kindly requested to order their uniform items over the next semester.
These holidays, please ensure that students are prepared with the correct uniform by addressing the following points.
- Long-sleeved tops underneath the school shirt or sports shirts are not uniform items and should not be worn. If your child is cold, they can wear a singlet or their College Jumper. We also offer a soft-shell jacket for added warmth.
- Students are reminded that any facial piercings need to have clear spacers.
- Shoes are to be leather, lace-up, with a heel.
- The new sports shorts and skirts are not to be hemmed. These have a logo on them, which is to remain. Many girls are still wearing uniform items, both sports shorts and skirts that are too short and need to be replaced with the new uniform items.
eSafety - Webinars for parents and carers
The eSafety Commissioner provides parents with free webinars to support families in using technology. These live webinars provide parents and caregivers with the knowledge, skills, and tools to support their children in having safe online experiences.
In Term 3, the following webinars are being offered:
- Recognising online coercive control in young people's lives
- Understanding AI companions: What parents and carers need to know
- AI-assisted image-based abuse: Navigating the deepfake threat
- The changing face of cyberbullying: Protecting your child in 2025
- Understanding and using parental controls to help protect your child online
- Sexual extortion: What parents and carers need to know
- Exploring the online experiences of boys and young men
Release of Years 7-11 Reports
The upcoming release of the Years 7-11 reports is a valuable opportunity for parents and students to engage in their academic progress. We encourage you to review the teacher's feedback carefully, discuss strengths, identify areas for improvement, and set goals for the upcoming term.
Teacher, Student and Parent Conferences
Teacher, Student and Parent Conferences (Parent-Teacher Interviews) will be held in Week 3 of Term 3. Information for booking interviews with your child’s teachers will be shared with the release of Semester 1 reports.
Trial HSC Exams
The Trial HSC exams are approaching quickly, beginning in Week 3 of Term 3. These exams are a crucial part of your child's HSC preparation as they provide a simulated HSC experience and a chance to identify areas for improvement.
Year 12 students should be well into their preparation by now. This preparation includes organising study notes for each subject and reviewing past assessments to understand where marks were lost. Students may also consider re-doing previous assessments after acting on feedback, completing past papers, and submitting these for teacher feedback. The importance of adequate preparation for both the Trial HSC and the HSC exams and the efficient use of study time must also be stressed.
While we encourage students to dedicate time to their studies, we also stress the importance of balance. Taking quality time away from the books to relax, spend time with family, and have fun is crucial for maintaining a healthy and productive study routine.
Assessment Procedures - Stage 6
Students in Years 11 and 12 are reminded to follow the assessment procedures set out in their Assessment Handbooks.
Teachers will request a Doctor’s Certificate if illness is used as a reason for lateness or failure to submit a task. For the HSC year, an online Doctor’s Certificate or Chemist Certificate will not be accepted.
A student who is absent from school for a prolonged period of time (i.e. in excess of two weeks) must satisfy the Principal as to the legitimacy of the absence. Tasks missed during this time may be rescheduled at the discretion of the teacher of the course in consultation with the Leader of Learning, the Leader of Curriculum and/or the Principal.
Where a student fails to complete an Assessment Task on time, a zero mark will be awarded. However, students must still attempt to complete the task to meet NESA requirements. When a student fails to submit a task they will be referred to the Learning Hub at lunch time, and students and parents will be informed via a Non Completion Warning Letter in the event of failure to submit an Assessment Task/s, and a valid reason has not been submitted via the Illness/Misadventure form.
Should a student disagree with a mark awarded for a Task, he or she is free to query the mark under the following conditions:
- A formal request must be made in writing to the subject teacher; Cc: the Leader of Learning and Leader of Curriculum.
- It must be made within two days of the return of the task to the student.
- After this time, the marks awarded will not be subject to any type of Review.
The National Youth Science Forum (NYSF)
It's not too late for Year 11 students to apply for the 2026 NYSF Year 12 Program with the application deadline now extended to midnight on Wednesday 9 July.
The process:
- Students submit their application online – written application only; no teacher reference required
- Applications are assessed by an NYSF Selection Panel – no interview required
- Financial support is available via the NYSF Access and Equity Scholarship and support from local Rotary Clubs around Australia.
Parent Webinar - AI & The Digital Generation
Join this webinar for expert advice on what every parent needs to know about deepfakes, AI companions & online truth.
Margaret Bertalli
A/Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching
Year 9 and 10 Commerce Class Political Election
Year 9 and 10 Commerce classes recently held their highly anticipated class elections. This democratic process provided an invaluable hands-on learning experience for all students, bringing the principles of leadership, campaigning, and civic participation to life.
The candidates demonstrated impressive dedication and creativity in their campaigns. From compelling speeches outlining their values and promises to the eye-catching posters and persuasive arguments, each aspiring party showcased their unique strengths and commitment to serving the community. Students had the opportunity to thoughtfully consider each candidate's proposals, emphasising the importance of informed decision-making and selecting leaders who truly reflect the needs and aspirations of the people.
The election culminated in a well-organised voting process, using the preferential voting system, where every student had the chance to cast their vote confidentially, mirroring real-world democratic practices. The atmosphere was one of respectful anticipation as the ballots were cast and counted.
For Year 9, it was very close between EOA, The Employment Party and the Biberals, with the Echoes of our Ancestors (EOA) winning on preferences!
For Year 10 it was Savannah who took out a convincing win as an independent with the Triple S Party - Stand with Savannah.
A big thank you to all the students for participating so enthusiastically and to Mr Howard and the Year 11 Catholic Faith in Action students volunteering to cook the BBQ and serve an obligatory democracy sausage for the Year 9 candidates.
Year 9 Commerce Teacher - Natasha Green
Year 10 Commerce Teacher- Leanne McLennan/Caroline Nicholle
From the Food Tech Kitchens - a visual feast!
Canapes, snowballs and yummy desserts!
Senior Study
Our Year 12 students are feeling the hot breath of the HSC on their necks and are taking the opportunity to complete additional study. The library has recently opened to seniors so they can prepare for their assessments in an after-hours and collaborative environment. The additional study will continue into the Trials, and may be available for longer if Year 11 students are keen to use it to prepare for their Preliminary examinations.
Meanwhile, the library continues to cater for a wide range of students who access the space for a variety of reasons, including reading, friendship, puzzles, games and computer games. The Year 7 Peer Reading students have been regular visitors to help them on the pathway to improve their reading skills with the help of their Year 10 mentors.
Teachers have also been using the space to display their students’ work, which often creates a great deal of buzz among the students. Recently, we showcased some model farms from Stage 5 Agriculture students and magazines from Stage 5 History students.
Congratulations to the students who participated in the “Ask me what I am reading” competition. It was fantastic to see the teachers and students having a chat about the books they are reading.
We hope you have a wonderful holiday and enjoy the break from the school routine. Meanwhile, if your child tells you that he or she is bored, make sure you find a great book to read. As the author of A Dance with Dragons, George R. R. Martin says, ‘A reader leads a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads only lives one’.
Mrs Linda Gleeson
Librarian & History Teacher
As the term draws to a close there are still many opportunities and events happening in the careers space.
Year 10 news
Parents and students of Year 10 you need to organise a work experience placement for Term 4. This may seem early but it takes a while to organise the process and for students to find a business. In class we are also completing a work readiness course so the students are prepared in terms of health and safety and workplace cultures and allowed to undergo the work experience. It is the responsibility of the student to find a workplace which they would like.The students have two letters from me which they need to fill out before the work experience can be secured. Attached are copies of the letters but these have been given to the students in class.
Subject Choices
It is advisable that students tentatively research career paths when selecting their subject choices but they should ensure that they choose courses that they are passionate about because they will achieve more if they love a subject.
I have booklets for students for pathways into university and various courses, which I am disseminating in class.
Year 11 and Year 12
There is a Careers excursion to C.H.E.C. in Coffs Harbour next term in Week 2. The excursion is to a Post Careers exhibition for Years 11 and 12. The excursion will leave early on Wednesday, 30th August and return for Period 4. There will be a host of businesses and further education institutions presenting career options. This is an excellent opportunity to research and network for young people looking to make choices for next year or in two years’ time as they get to speak first hand to tradespeople, managers, lecturers and past students. If your child would like to attend they need to fill out the Expression of Interest form on their year group Google classroom. Please see below for a selection of the presenters.
Year 12
Students who are seeking employment next term will be participating in mock interviews for various jobs with me and another staff member. This will be an invaluable experience to prepare them for real life.
University applications:
Applying for university is a big step for students, and parents can feel anxious too. Below are some facts on the process. Please contact me for more information.
By now, students should have had their PIN emailed to them from the University Admission Centre for New South Wales (UAC). As explained in the last newsletter, the instructions are provided again below:
The process for applying to university
In early April, UAC will issue students with a PIN to apply for courses, and we will have UAC booklets to help them research courses, as well as our Career Tools website, which contains a UAC booklet and information on all courses in Australia. They can then apply online for their desired courses. They make 5 preference choices for courses, and their ideal choice is their first preference. Their last choice is encouraged to be the course with the lower entry score in case you do not secure your ideal spot. Preferences can be changed during the process, so students are not locked in until the course offers are issued. People who may not be able to secure a university spot may also research a bridging course to lead them towards their desired degree. However, they should still apply for their degree course.
Here is a list of the key dates from the University Admissions Centre:
Code explanations and other information:
- The School Recommendations Scheme (SRS) is a scheme where students ask their school to recommend them for courses. It is suggested that all students tick this option.
- Early Bird applications close on 30th September - if the students do not submit their form by this date, they need to pay $215, as opposed to $82 if they pay by the Early Bird date.
- Students are not encouraged to apply for the same course at university as they do on the UAC form.
- COP means change of preferences close. This is because students can change their course choices up until a certain time. The time when they are finally locked in is 6th November. They are opened again for a window of time and then closed again on the 18th of December.
- Rounds being released means once the HSC results arrive on 18th December, universities will send offers of positions in their courses. If a student does not get straight into their chosen course, they may get into that course in the second round of offers. This is a sorting process and means that all places hope to be filled in the universities. More information on this will be released later.
Please see the UAC link to help you navigate the process.
How to apply to university through the UAC system.
1.How to start yor UAC application
2.How to manage your UAC application
3.How to review your UAC application following your ATAR result
Please contact Mrs Rouse if you need more information.
Frequently asked questions regarding apprenticeships
Many students are interested in a trade career and are in Year 11 or 12. There are different pathways to achieving this goal:
- School based apprenticeships - this is a student combining school study in Year 11 and 12 with an apprenticeship in a trade. It also requires a student to complete accredited training related to the apprenticeship/traineeship either at school or with an external provider. This means students have to be very organised.
- Leave school at the close of Year 10 and start a TAFE course in their chosen trade.
- Leave school and find a trade e.g. apprenticeship or traineeship with an employer.
- Study VET courses as part of their suite of subjects in Year 11 and 12. Six VET subjects are offered at McAuley and students can do an additional EVET subject through TAFE or other external provider.
Students should discuss these options with Mr Day who is the VET coordinator at the College and visit their local TAFE to discuss the trades which are available.
Please feel free to contact me for more information on any issues pertaining to careers by email, telephone or by making an appointment for an interview.
Mrs Maria Rouse, Careers
Wow - what a Term it has been for sport! Despite challenges such as ground closures and weather disruptions, our small school has achieved outstanding success across a wide range of sports.
Let’s take a moment to celebrate all the wonderful students who have proudly represented our school this term. From cross country, soccer, surfing, rugby league, netball, athletics, swimming, golf, to volleyball—your dedication, teamwork, and hard work have been truly commendable. Each of you has contributed to our school’s sporting accomplishments, and we are incredibly proud of everything you’ve achieved.
Let’s keep the momentum going and look forward to even more sporting achievements in the terms ahead!
Athletics Carnival Update
What a brilliant day we had for our Athletics Carnival! With just two events remaining – the 1500m and Javelin – we are not quite ready to announce the winning House or Age Champions. The competition between Houses is incredibly close, so participation in these final events could be the decider! These will take place in Week 1 of Term 3 during Thursday sport.
Diocesan Athletics
If students would like to be considered for Diocesan Athletics (to be held on September 7), a nomination form has been sent to their school email and posted on the Sports Google Classroom.
Sport Selections – Years 9 & 10
A quick reminder for students in Years 9 and 10: Sport choices for Terms 3 and 4 will be sent out this week. You will only have one week to make changes, so please check your selections and submit your preferences promptly.
Other sporting results:
Netball - Schools Cup – Far North Coast
Congratulations to our four netball teams who competed in the Far North Coast Schools Cup last week. A huge thank you to our umpires and teachers who supported the teams throughout the day. Your efforts are always appreciated.
- Years 9/10 Girls: Played a strong and competitive tournament, making it to the playoffs. They narrowly lost to Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School in a close match, going down by just four goals.
- Years 9/10 Boys: Showed great skill and determination, finishing as runners-up after an impressive win against Grafton Boys High School.
- Years 7/8 Girls: Also finished runners-up and have successfully progressed to the next round of the competition.
- Years 7/8 Boys: Displayed excellent teamwork and enthusiasm, earning their place in the next round as well.
NSW All Schools Netball
Congratulations to Kyle McCann on his selection in the NSW All Schools 15 Years & Under Boys Netball Team. Kyle was selected from a field of over 70 boys from across NSW during trials at Netball Central, Sydney Olympic Park. He will proudly represent NSW at the School Sport Australia Championships in Queensland from July 26 to August 1. Well done, Kyle! Your commitment and performance are a credit to you and our school.
Golf
Congratulations to Annalese McKee on her selection in the Golf NSW All Schools Golf Team last week. Annalese fired a final round 2 under par 70 at Dubbo Golf course and was named in the 6-girl team that will participate in the School Sport Australia Games on Bribie Island next term. Fantastic achievement, Annalese!
Coffs Coast Classic Surfing Titles
Frosty Balls Volleyball Tournament, Armidale (Girls)
This was the first proper volleyball tournament that the girls' team competed in. We didn’t know what sort of competition we would face and how we would go.
We had three goals:
1. Learn and improve our skills.
2. Keep our team spirit high.
3. Have fun!
I’m so proud to say that the girls ticked off these goals and so much more!
The competition was so perfectly matched to where we were in our development. We won our first game convincingly and from then on had several close games, some wins and some losses. All the while, the girls’ skills and confidence were increasing exponentially! By the end of Saturday, we were sitting 4th out of 9 teams.
On Sunday, the girls' competition was being split into an upper and lower division. Because we were in the middle, we had to play five 1 hour matches, as the draw kept giving us second chances. The girls’ were extremely tired by the end of the day, having played 9.5 hrs of volleyball for the whole weekend. But their spirits were high, and they gave it their all until the end! The girls’ team ended up 5th out of 9 teams, however, the volleyball experience and skills they developed were invaluable.
I’m so proud of the girls and how they performed in this Tournament.
Ms Thea-Anne McInnes
TEAM LIST
Ahlia Hartley - Surprise Award - she can do it all! Serve, bump, set & spike!
Azari Higgins - Captain's Award - great energy, commitment, skills and team spirit!
Alanah Pitt - Guardian of the Net Award - powerful force at the net and great team spirit!
Ellie White - Guardian of the Net Award - powerful force at the net and great setter!
Jemima Adamson - Great All Rounder Award - consistent, strong and reliable with all skills on the court!
Nina Bibby - Determination Award - Great persistence and showed amazing improvement in all areas!
On the first day of the tournament, the boys’ Division 1 juniors team played three matches, winning two and drawing one with a score of 1-1. Each student had the opportunity to shine on the court, especially our libero, Max, who made several impressive saves that significantly contributed to our success in these tough matches. After an intense day of competition, we all had a relaxing night at the Burger Bar for dinner and a nice warm shower at our awesome accommodation.
On the second day, despite having cold and sore muscles, we faced the toughest team in our pool. We fought valiantly and put our bodies on the line, but ultimately, we lost the match. Although disheartened, we persevered in the following games and ultimately placed third in the tournament. This weekend was an incredible experience for both teams, and it was inspiring to see all the effort put into each match. We would like to extend our gratitude to Ms. McInnes and Mr. Tait for their support throughout this event.
Beau Thompson (Yr 12)
TEAM LIST
Izaac Bibby - Mr Volleyball Award (All-Star Outside Hitter)
Will Tait - Big Fella In The Middle Award (All-star Middle)
Tim Van der Vlist - Consistent Server Award
Jarrah Lett - The Digger Award (especially spikes from the big fella)
Owen Howard - Bringing The Energy and Beanie Award
Max Carroll - The Diver Award - always hitting the deck to get a dig.
Beau Thompson - On And Off Court Organiser Award
Northern Junior Football Gala Day
On a chilly early June morning in Lennox Head, both McAuley Catholic College junior football teams braved the conditions and travelled with enthusiasm to take part in the Northern Junior Football Gala Day.
The boys team kicked off their campaign with a solid 1–0 win against St John's College, Woodlawn in a tight and competitive match. Their second game ended in a hard-fought draw against Trinity Catholic College, which saw them finish second in their group and progress to a playoff against the winner of Pool B. In a closely contested match against Xavier Catholic College, the boys showed determination and teamwork but were narrowly defeated 2–0, finishing 4th overall for the day.
The girls team also had a strong showing and displayed excellent team spirit throughout the tournament. After going down 4–2 to Trinity Catholic College in their opening match, the girls bounced back with a dominant 4–0 win against St Mary’s. They then faced two tough opponents, falling 3–0 to St John's College, Woodlawn and 4–0 to Xavier Catholic College. Despite the challenging results, the girls remained positive, encouraging one another in every match.
Both teams played with great sportsmanship, proudly representing McAuley Catholic College. It was a fantastic day of football and friendship, and the students should be proud of their efforts on and off the field.
Well done to all of our students – we’re proud of every single one of you who participated, gave your best, and represented our school with pride this term.
Bring on Term 3!
Mrs Eliza Corcoran
Sports Coordinator
On Friday, 13th June the Year 9 and 10 Ministry classes attended Mass at St Mary’s, celebrating the Jubilee Year - Pilgrims of Hope Jubilee Boat. 
On 24th December 2024, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica, commencing the new Jubilee Year. The theme for this Jubilee Year is Pilgrims of Hope. Our Diocese has been involved in planning for this event, and Newman Senior Technical College has developed a travelling symbol. They constructed a boat that symbolically represents the rivers, waterways and oceans in which many of our parishes exist, aligning with the international symbol.
As we gathered as a community with our parishioners, students from Years 9 and 10 read at Mass, sharing in the Jubilee prayer and placing our school logo on the boat as it continues to travel north through our Docese.
On Tuesday, 17th June, the Year 10 Ministry class travelled over to St Mary’s Primary School to help support the delivery of a student discipleship programme called Accendere.
Accendere means to ‘switch on’, to catch fire, spark the flame. Through the support of the Year 10 ministry class, Year 4 at St Mary’s Primary School learned about celebrating friendship and showing love through how you treat others. This was demonstrated through different activities led by the Year 10 students. There was a clear message on the importance of including and accepting everyone, just like Jesus did. This can be achieved through sharing a toy, ensuring no one is left out, being kind and helpful, even if it’s in small ways. Small acts play a significant role in creating a better world. They learnt that “Kindness is doing what you can, where you are, with what you have”.
Scripture theme of the day: ‘And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples.’ John 13: 34-35
Year 10 did an excellent job of leading and encouraging the younger students. Their efforts are appreciated, and their contributions go a long way.
A big thank you to Mrs Katrina Don and Jacob Somers for taking the Year 10s over and supporting them.
Chelsea Brown
Year 10 Ministry teacher
On Monday 30 June, Year 9 enjoyed a wonderful retreat day with Dave Jorna from Project Hatch, which provided them with the opportunity to step out of the ever-present busyness of day-to-day life, park their usual school-day work and focus on fostering their emotional and psychological well-being.
Students enjoyed an array of games, music, and activities designed to encourage them to step out of their comfort zone and get to know other students within their cohort, outside of their regular friendship group. Dave Jorna, the presenter, kept the students engaged with an array of insightful and well-researched strategies and techniques to bring out the good that God created within themselves and one another.
From charades through to breathing strategies, musical sing-a-longs to affirmative statements, Dave guided and encouraged our students to consider who they are and who they aspire to be through the concepts of role models that exemplify positive “Be, Act, Do” characteristics and how to recognise red flags around judgemental behaviours; he gave them practical skills on how to reduce stress and anxiety through simple breathing techniques and finished off the day by leading students through an affirmation process whereby they were able to share acknowledgements not only of the beautiful characteristics held by their peers, but also to be able to articulate how these personal characteristics make a difference in their lives and the lives of others.
In addition to the wonderful program that was run, students were treated to the delights of the lunchtime sausage sizzle and a delicious afternoon recess of cake and fruit, prepared and served by Tom Howard, Jacob Somers and Scott Smith.
A huge thank you to the Year 9 Wellbeing Team for providing such a fabulous day and the RE teachers who supervised throughout.
Over the past 20 years, I’ve worked with tens of thousands of boys and young men in schools across Australia. I’ve had powerful, honest conversations with students who are trying to figure out who they are, how to be a good man, and where they fit in a world that often gives them mixed messages. This survey is part of a bigger project I’m working on — including a book about raising good men (title yet to come) and school workshops — to explore how we can better support boys in becoming strong, kind, emotionally grounded men of character.
The survey is short, anonymous, and completely confidential. Your input will help shape the tools, resources, and conversations we offer families in the future.
Expressions of interest are being sought for paid casual exam supervisors for the following dates:
Trial HSC Exams: 4 - 15 August 2025
Year 11 Exams: 15 - 19 September 2025
For further details please download the PDF flyer below and click on the provided link, if you wish to apply.
| JULY |
| 3rd - NAIDOC Assembly and Morning Tea (College Hall) and Rachel Johnson Memorial Touch Football (Volleyball) Competition |
| - Last day of Term 2 (Students) |
| 4th - All Staff Development Day - College Office will also be closed. |
| Vacation Dates: Monday 7th July to Friday 18th July |
| 12th to 19th July - New Zealand Ski Trip |
| 21st - All staff and students return for Term 3 |
| 31st - Semester 1 Awards Assembly |
| AUGUST |
| 4th to 15th - Trial HSC Exams |
| 5th - Year 10 Reflection Day |
| 5th - Year 7 -11 Parent Student Teacher Conferences |
| 6th to 8th - Year 11 Retreat |
| 7th & 8th - Year 8 Camp (Coffs Coast Adventure Centre) |
| 15th - Staff Development Day |
| 18th - Staff Development Day |
| 19th - Safe on Social: Student Sessions & Parent Evening |
| 21st & 22nd - SHINE Gathering |
Please find attached the latest Parish Bulletins from Clarence Valley Parish.
UAA Indigenous Talent ID Program:
Clarence Youth School Holiday Program:
