Mission and Wellbeing (AP)
Welcome back to Term 3, another busy term ahead. The following events concerning Mission and Wellbeing are taking place this term and are scheduled through Compass. Please check these for information regarding the event and give consent for your child if required.
Week 2
Tuesday 29th July - Year 8 Catch The Wave Day. This day introduces youth ministry to students and is facilitated by Wildfire and the Catholic Schools Office Youth Ministers. Students are then invited to apply for the Ministry class in Year 9.
Week 3
Tuesday 5th August: Year 10 Reflection Day, College Hall.
The day is facilitated by Michael Fitzpatrick and supported by the Year 10 RE teachers and their Year Coordinator. Michael is an experienced Retreat facilitator and challenges students to move beyond their present state and consider their relationships and the importance of supporting each other as they prepare for their final years in education.
Wednesday 6th- Friday 8th August: Yr 11 Retreat. These three days are an important part of our retreat program and we are looking forward to working with our senior students and considering the importance of leadership. After the retreat our Year 11 students will begin the process of applying for leadership positions within the College.
Thursday 7th - Friday 8th August: Year 8 Camp, Coffs Coast Adventure Centre
Thank you to all the students attending this camp. The activities provided will help promote a sense of self-worth, teamwork, resilience, cooperation, and leadership. This camp is a wonderful opportunity for our students to come together and bond as a year group.
Week 5
Thursday 21st August - Friday 22nd August: SHINE
Students in our Year 9 and 10 Ministry classes attend this overnight retreat experience with some selected Year 11 Ministry leaders. SHINE offers students an opportunity to encounter Jesus Christ and the Church, experience dynamic faith, be equipped for ministry and living the Christian life, and be empowered to impact the Church and the world. It is an opportunity to gather and share an experience of faith.
Week 8
Thursday 11th September: McAuley Fest
A College community event showcasing the creative talent of our staff and students. All families are invited to attend this event that will involve live music, food and more.
Friday 12th September: McAuley Day
It will be a wonderful day of celebration for the whole college community as we acknowledge the Feast Day of the Sisters of Mercy and the importance of their work in the history and tradition of our College.
Week 10
Wednesday 24th September: Yr 12 Graduation
Week 10 will be the last week of school for our Year 12 students. Many activities are being organized and planned for these final weeks. Detailed information will be forwarded to families and students soon.
Thursday 25th - Sunday 28th September: IGNITE
Ignite is a dynamic and contemporary Catholic conference for adults, teenagers and children. Students in Years 7 - 12 have been encouraged to apply, and this event has been advertised to them. Applications were due last week. If you would like your child to attend, please contact Mr Tom Howard by Wednesday, July 30th.
National Week of Action Against Bullying 
Bullying No Way Week is returning 11–15 August 2025.
Bullying No Way Week is Australia's key bullying prevention initiative for schools. It provides an opportunity for schools to create a shared understanding about bullying behaviours and share their bullying prevention policies and strategies.
The theme for 2025 is 'Be bold. Be kind. Speak up.'
It takes courage to spark change.
Bullying is everyone's responsibility. It takes a community to be brave and address bullying behaviours, within and beyond the school gate.
Students can be bold, kind and take a stand to support others being bullied. While parents and teachers are there to support children and young people learn how to behave in a positive way.
In our community and in our school, we want a place where everyone can belong, a place that celebrates everyone, and where bullying is never accepted.
Throughout this week our students will undertake activities to be bold and say something, be kind and support someone, and be proud to take a stand against bullying.
Driving to School
Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools (DLCS) acknowledges that many senior students may choose to drive to and from school in their vehicles. As young drivers are among the most vulnerable road users, particularly when travelling with passengers, it is essential for schools and parents to prioritise driver safety.
As a system of Catholic schools committed to the wellbeing of all students, we must ensure that our young drivers are aware of their responsibility to make safe and responsible decisions while travelling to and from school.
The Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools in consultation with schools, students, and parents, has a system approach to account for student drivers travelling to and from schools and therefore has implemented a process for McAuley students' applications for permission to drive to school. Parents are asked to digitally complete the form and provide consent via Compass following these instructions:
Compass App Users
- Navigate to the "More" icon at the bottom right of the app
- Click on the School Documentation tile
- Navigate to the 'Parent Resources' folder and select the 'School Forms' folder
- Select Student Rider/Driver Registration Form
Desktop Users
- Navigate to the Community Icon (two people) and Click School Documentation
- Select Parent 'Resources' folder> 'School Forms' folder> 'Student Driver/Rider Registration Form'
- Click 'Open Link'
The form is secure and fillable and must be signed by the parent/guardian in order to be processed and permission to drive granted to your child. This register will remain active until the student signs out of school or there is a change in circumstance.
CTRL SHFT: How To Help Our Children Stay Safe Online: Parent Educational Workshop
Kirra Pendergast from Safe on Social will be presenting to our parent community on 19th August from 5.45pm in P1 (Drama Room). Please see the advertisement in the newsletter to register for this event.
Kirra Pendergast is the Founder, Chief Digital Safety & Governance Strategist of Safe on Social and CTRL+SHFT. Kirra maps the cultural, emotional, and legal fallout of emerging technologies and builds proactive frameworks to prevent it. Where traditional technologists forecast features, she forecasts impact. Where compliance asks, “Is this legal?”, she also asks, “Is this ethical, survivable, and just?”.
With over 30 years of experience, Kirra is a global authority on human-centred digital risk, psychosocial safety, and online governance. She has been at the forefront of building systems that protect people, not platforms. Kirra led whole-of-government cybersecurity and identity governance programs before turning her focus to digital safety reform after surviving a sustained cyber abuse campaign in 2013. That trauma catalysed the founding of Safe on Social, which became largest independent and unbiased digital safety education agency globally.
Her influence spans more than 1,200 organisations across five continents. She has advised national governments, contributed to legislative reform, and designed industry-first frameworks. In 2025, Safe on Social evolved to CTRL+SHFT in partnership with Maggie Dent, Dr. Brad Marshall, and Madeleine West. CTRL+SHFT is a multidisciplinary coalition focused on protecting every school, family, and workplace from emerging digital harms.
Kirra is known for her ability to blend deep technical fluency with trauma-informed system design, regulatory intelligence, and culture-shifting education.
Some topics that will be covered include:
- Terms & Conditions Explained - Deep dive into the small print so you know what you’re signing up for
- Safeguarding Personal Data - Understand the importance of keeping personal information drive in this age of GenAI & other emerging technologies
- Nurturing Respectful Online Relationships - In the age of sexual extortion, sexting & image-based abuse, how do we tackle this
- Scams, Hoaxes, Deepfakes & Misinformation - Understanding how to differentiate between fact & fiction in the era of ‘Fake News’
- Better Group Chat Management - Strategies to keep group chats enjoyable & drama-free
- Say No to Cyberbullying & Yes to Building Online Resilience
- How to Share Photos Online with Respect for our Children's Privacy
- Safe & Respectful Online Gaming
- Creating a Positive Online Presence
All parents are welcome to attend for an informative evening learning how to raise empowered digital citizens! Please Note this parent presentation is for ages 18+.
Kathy Warby
Assistant Principal - Mission and Wellbeing