Mission and Wellbeing (AP)

Tell Them From Me Survey - Your Voice Matters! 

In the coming weeks, we will be inviting students, teachers and parents to provide feedback on their experience of our school using an online survey. The surveys are an important part of our whole school evaluation and planning process.

The results of surveys, such as these, help provide direction for future planning and open up areas for fruitful discussion between home and school, and we also use this data to inform our school improvement plans.

This year, we invite all parents/carers to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) survey. We value the role of parents and carers within our school community and would greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and wellbeing at McAuley Catholic College.

The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.

• WHEN? Term 2 Week 3 (the survey will remain open for 2 weeks)
  
  
• HOW? You will be provided with a URL via Compass communication to access the parent survey and complete it online.

Prohibited Weapons in School

As part of our commitment to maintaining a safe environment for all students, staff, and visitors within all our schools, we want to remind families of the importance of following our school policies and procedures regarding prohibited weapons.

Prohibited weapons include all knives and blades, (with the exception of those required for school lessons), firearms, gel blasters/gel guns, 3D printed guns, slingshot, darts, batons, machetes, laser pointers, or similar articles and anything else that can be used as a weapon to intimidate or cause serious injury or harm, e.g., a screwdriver, chisel or hammer.

Possessing any weapon, whether real or imitation, is unlawful in any school setting and can result in both criminal charges and disciplinary action under our Student Suspension, Expulsion, and Exclusion Policy.

We ask all parents and caregivers to speak openly with your child about safety, responsibility, and respect for others. In Catholic education, we are guided by the belief that every person is made in the image of God, and we are called to safeguard their dignity. Your cooperation in upholding these expectations helps create a community of care, justice, and compassion.

Thank you for your support and commitment to a safe and faith-filled learning environment.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Can I possess or use a Gel Blaster in NSW? No. Gel Blasters are illegal in NSW and are classified as firearms under state law. Possession or use of a gel blaster is a criminal offence.
• Can a student bring a knife to school? No. It is against the law to carry a prohibited knife in a public place or at school. Penalties include fines of up to $11,000, imprisonment of up to 4 years, or both.
• Are toy guns allowed? No. While toy guns may seem harmless, they are not permitted at school due to the potential to cause panic or confusion.
• What about imitation firearms? An imitation firearm is any object that closely resembles a real firearm. These are also prohibited at school, regardless of material or colour, and may be treated as real threats.
• Can a student bring a slingshot to school? Slingshots are considered prohibited weapons in NSW and cannot be brought to school under any circumstances or possessed by minors by law.

Statement on Pope Francis - Bishop Gregory Homeming 

With the passing of Pope Francis, our hearts are marked by sorrow and quiet gratitude.

He was a man of profound humility - a shepherd who walked with the poor, listened with his heart, and saw Christ in every face. In his final suffering, he remained faithful, prayerful, and full of love.

Bishop Greg shares his appreciation for a pope who transformed the Church not with power, but kindness.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

Proclaim Lismore Students aims to provide a comprehensive continuum of Intentional Student Discipleship Programs across the Diocese for students from Year 4 to Year 12. These gatherings aim to bring Catholic secondary students together to meet like-minded peers and to celebrate and meet with other young people who practice their faith.

In 2025, Year 11 students from our school will join students from other parish secondary schools in attending the Street Retreat experience in Brisbane. This experience will form, equip and empower students to return to their parish communities with a passion for social justice and a greater sense of the call of Jesus Christ to serve the poor.

Participants in the Street Retreat will spend from Thursday, 26th June to Sunday, 29th June, working on a range of social justice initiatives in Brisbane. Their participation may make a small contribution to those being served, but the event is first and foremost an exercise in discipleship formation.

There will be some cost to students attending the Street Retreat. The Diocese will meet the majority of transport, accommodation and some food expenses. However, students will be required to purchase some meals when they are out and about, and will be asked to make a co-contribution of $75.00 towards the overall cost of the program.

A large number of our students have already expressed an interest in this event. We can, however, only offer four allocation places. Any students who want to be considered are asked to collect a Nomination Form from Mr Howard or Jacob Somers (CYM).  Attention should be given to the stated selection criteria, and they are due by Wednesday, 22nd May.