From the Principal
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