From the Principal
Dear Parents and Carers, Staff and Students,
As we venture further into the semester, it's important to take a moment to reflect on the recent events and upcoming activities that shape our vibrant community. In week 5, Kathy Warby and I attended the Australasian Mercy Secondary Schools Association (AMSSA) Conference. This is a biennial event, and this year it was held in Fremantle, WA. We look forward to creating a summary of the conference for the next newsletter.
Congratulations to Students and Staff: We applaud the dedication and enthusiasm of our students and staff who participated in various activities over the past fortnight, including Bill Turner Soccer (girls and boys), Hospitality excursion to Sea World, Year 9 and 10 formal assessments, NSW Surfing Titles, Reconciliation Week Dance, and excursion to Art Express at Grafton Regional Gallery. In addition to these events, The College Musical - A Midsummer’s Musical was performed in our College hall on Friday and Saturday evening. Congratulations to all the students involved, and thank you to Mr Conaghan, Ms Passmore, Mrs Esad, Ms Nicholls and the many other helpers from across the College who made this event a great success. The spiritual, academic, physical, wellbeing and cultural experiences offered at the College truly embody the spirit of McAuley and provide opportunities for students to grow, develop, and strive for excellence.
Some individual students have achieved outstanding results across a range of areas, which you can read about in this newsletter. Congratulations to Annabelle Hourigan (Year 11) on receiving a scholarship to SCU in 2027, Lilly Fisher on her selection into representative Volleyball teams, Kyron and Zaden Nipperess on their recent rugby league trials in Sydney, and Hudson Batinovic, who achieved brilliant results at the NSW All-Schools Swimming Championships.
Tell Them From Me Survey: We extend our sincere gratitude to all the parents and carers who have already participated in the Tell Them From Me survey. We encourage more parents and carers to complete it, as the closing date has been extended to Friday, 6th June. Your feedback is invaluable as we strive to enhance the educational experience for our students. The data collected will be analysed to identify our strengths and areas for improvement, guiding us in our continuous efforts to provide excellence in education. The survey findings will be shared with the community in the near future.
Year 7 2026 Enrolment Interviews: Our interview process for prospective Year 7 students for 2026 is underway, and we are delighted to see such a high level of interest in joining the McAuley community. Interviews will continue to be held each Wednesday and Thursday afternoon this term, with offers of enrolment being made at the beginning of July.
Reconciliation Week: As we commemorate National Reconciliation Week, we reaffirm our commitment to fostering understanding, respect, and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Through dedicated assemblies and pastoral care lessons, we honour the journey towards healing and unity, acknowledging the past while working towards a better future for all.
Upcoming Events: Mark your calendars for our upcoming Subject Information Night on Tuesday, June 17th for Year 8 and 10 students and parents, providing valuable insights into subject selections for the 2026 academic year; Mission Review of the College on 13th June; and our Annual Athletics Carnival on Friday, 20th June.
Staffing changes: Mr Alex Montford is on leave for weeks 6 to 10 of this term. Mrs Nikita Robinson will be Acting Leader of Pastoral Care, Mr Brendan Smith will take the role of Acting Year 11 Coordinator, and we welcome Mr Sean Gallagher to the teaching team of McAuley.
As we navigate the remainder of the term, let us continue to uphold the values of compassion, excellence, and inclusivity that define McAuley Catholic College.
All the best for the fortnight ahead.
Kate
Kate Thomson
Principal
“We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us.”
Catherine McAuley