Term 3 - Week 7 - 6th September 2024
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From the Principal
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Learning & Teaching (AP)
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Mission and Wellbeing (AP)
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From the Library
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Careers News
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VET News
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From the Classroom, Camps & Excursions
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Sports News
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Tell Them From Me Teaching and Learning Data 2024 - Student Data
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Free Parent Workshop - Approaching Teenage Years
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Parent Support & Education
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Dates to Note for September
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Flexischools App - Online Canteen Orders - Reminder
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Parish News
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Advertisements
Dear Parents and Carers, Staff and Students,
The last two weeks have been particularly important in our College calendar, with Bookweek celebrations, Father’s Day Breakfast, HSC Showcase, and McAuley Day. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend many of these events due to attending a Principal conference and illness. I thank the many staff, students, and parents who have contributed to the success of these wonderful events.
Parent Assembly: Free Workshop about Parenting Teens
I encourage parents of Year 7 and 8 students not to miss this great opportunity being sponsored by the Parent Assembly to learn more about parenting teens in the complex world they are growing up in. Chris Hudson, a highly regarded teen parenting coach will present "Approaching the Teenage Years" at The Grafton District Service Club on Monday 16th September at 6pm. We hope that all parents of tweens and teens in our Catholic schools in the local area make time to come along to this informative and engaging session. You'll leave with great information and practical tips and strategies to help you help your young person thrive. To read more and register, please see the flyer in the newsletter.
McAuley Day
Last Friday, September 6th, we celebrated McAuley Day, our annual Feast Day—a very special day in our school calendar. As we mentioned in previous newsletters, on this day, we acknowledge our Mercy history and traditions and raise money for Mercy Works to assist those less fortunate than ourselves. We look forward to announcing the amount raised for Mercy Works in the near future.
Year 12 and HSC Showcase
Year 12 students are in their final weeks, and we encourage them to “finish well.” This is an important time to consolidate their work and ensure they are ready for their HSC exams next term. In addition, a number of activities have been organised for Year 12, which will culminate in their Graduation and Prizegiving liturgy on Wednesday, September 25th, at 9.30am in the College Hall.
Congratulations to all our students who have recently completed their HC major works and exhibited and performed in our HSC Showcase across the subjects of IT- Timber, Multi- media, Visual Arts, Drama, Textiles and Design, and Dance. Thank you to Dianne McGowan for coordinating and her team for their contributions, ensuring the success of this event.
Year 11
We are finalising our senior leadership team for 2024 - 25. Congratulations to all students who have nominated for positions and maturely engaged with the leadership process. School Captains will be announced this week, and House Captains next week. I wish all Year 11 students all the best as they start preparing for Preliminary course assessments, which will be held in Week 9.
Bookweek
A week of activities culminated in a book week dress-up on Friday, August 30th. Several students and many staff dressed as their inspirational characters in the theme Reading is Magic. Those who participated had lots of fun. Thank you to Mrs. Gleeson and library staff and helpers for organising book week.
RU OK? Day
This Thursday, 12 September, the College will acknowledge RU OK Day. Remember, Ask R U, OK? Any Day because a conversation could change a life.
Please read through the many articles in the newsletter that describe and celebrate the many achievements of our students across so many areas of the 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
Incursions
Last week, our Year 8 and Year 10 students enjoyed a fantastic performance by the Grin and Tonic Theatre Troupe, who brought Romeo & Juliet and Macbeth to life. These engaging performances gave our students a deeper understanding of these classic plays, enhancing their appreciation for Shakespeare's work. Our Year 8 students also participated in the Year 8 HSIE Medieval Day, where they immersed themselves in history, making valuable connections with their studies.
Subject Selection Year 8 & 10
Year 10 students have documentation with the school, and we are working through any requested changes that will set them up for success when they start year 11 in 2025. Our current year eight students will be sent information from Our Leader of Curriculum, Mrs Lee, and they need to have their choices by the end of Term 3 to support the creation of classes.
Year 11 Work Placement
Over the past two weeks, many of our Year 11 students have had the opportunity to represent our school within the community as they complete their VET work placements. These placements are essential to the VET courses, allowing students to deepen their technical knowledge, develop practical skills, and gain valuable insight into potential career paths. Whether in Harwood, Yamba, Townsend, Minnie Water, Wooli, or Grafton, our students embraced the chance to experience the world of work firsthand. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the staff involved for their dedication in organising these placements and to the many employers for supporting this essential component of our VET student's learning journey.
Year 12
Year 12 students are in their final weeks, and we encourage them to “finish well”. These last weeks are an essential time for the students to consolidate their work and ensure they are ready for their HSC exams next term. The school has been implementing Extended Library Hours to support year 12s, providing a space to collaborate and achieve the best academic results. We have two more opportunities for the extended hours - Wednesdays, weeks 8 and 9, from 3.10 to 6 p.m. Some teachers may also offer holiday study/revision sessions, which will be advertised to students in Week 9.
VET Hospitality
Our VET Hospitality students from the graduating class of 2024 truly impressed us with their skills last week. The 'High Tea' was the final step in signing off the student's competencies, and they delighted the staff by serving up an array of delectable sweets and savoury delights as delicious as they looked. Their culinary creations not only demonstrated their exceptional skills in the kitchen but also their dedication to mastering the art of hospitality. The student's attention to detail and commitment to excellence was evident in every dish, making the High Tea memorable. Please see the photos in the "From the Classroom, Camps and Excursion" article later in this newsletter.
HSC Showcase
Last week, our school proudly hosted the HSC Showcase, highlighting our senior students' exceptional talents across various creative disciplines. The evening was a vibrant celebration of the hard work, dedication, and creativity our students have poured into their major projects for HSC Visual Arts, Music, Textiles and Design, Drama, and Industrial Technology Timber. The turnout was fantastic, with family and friends coming together to support and admire our students' remarkable achievements.
In the HSC Drama course, students explored Australian Drama and Theatre through both theoretical study and practical exploration. Over the HSC course, our students created group and individual performances showcasing their unique performance skills. These were marked at the school on Tuesday of last week, and it was wonderful to see Sophie express her talents in her performance on the showcase night.
Our HSC Music students presented a captivating performance (their upcoming HSC Music Performance exams will be on Wednesday, 18th September). Their technical proficiency, passion, and dedication to their craft left the audience in awe of their talent, inspiring all who witnessed their performance.
The Textiles and Design students impressed everyone with their beautifully crafted Major Projects. They have demonstrated remarkable creativity throughout the year, drawing inspiration from various media sources to produce unique and innovative items. Their work is currently being assessed in Sydney; however, we were lucky to have some fantastic photographs that captured some of the students' artistic vision and the skills they have honed throughout their studies.
In Industrial Technology Timber, our students displayed exceptional craftsmanship in their meticulously designed and constructed Major Projects. Each piece of furniture was a masterpiece, representing countless hours of research, design, and assembly. Their dedication to excellence was evident, and their work was nothing short of outstanding, earning the admiration of all those present.
Finally, our Visual Arts students showcased their 'Body of Work,' culminating their creative journey in the HSC course. Through the critical and historical study of the art world, these students explored various cultural, political, historical, and social perspectives, which they then used to inform their art-making practices. The result was a diverse and thought-provoking collection of artworks that captivated and inspired all who attended.
We are incredibly proud of all our HSC students for their hard work and dedication. The Showcase was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate their achievements and to share their extraordinary talents with the school community.
Congratulations to everyone involved!
HSC Resources: Webinars for students
The State Library of NSW is hosting free webinars to support HSC students preparing for exams in English and History (Modern and Ancient). The webinars will run from Monday, September 30th, to Tuesday, September 1st. Students can enrol here.
Dianne McGowan
Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching
Each week in the Pastoral Care lesson, the students undertake activities around the key principles of Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness (GEM) and Emotional Literacy to build resilience. Below is an activity that considers empathy as a family.
Empathy
Working on empathy helps us to identify, understand and feel what another person is feeling. When we show empathy or we do something kind for someone else our brain releases oxytocin. This leads to increasing our self-esteem/confidence, energy levels, positivity and overall happiness.
Whole Family Activity: Neighbourhood Kindness Challenge
As a family, choose an act of kindness from the list below that you would like to do for a neighbour or family friend. Each family member can select one to commit to, or you can choose to do one together.
- Cook them something delicious like a cake, hotbread, or cookies.
Write a note to put in their letter box thanking them for being a great neighbour or friend.
- Design them a Thank You card
- Pick or buy some flowers to deliver to them
- Choose a little plant from your garden to give them
- Make them a gift from things around your house
- Offer to do a job for them, like wash their car or water their garden
- Offer to take their pets for a walk
- Invite them over for afternoon tea
- Invite them on a walk
- Recommend one of your favourite books to borrow and read
- Ask them if they need anything from the shops next time you buy groceries
- Say hello next time you see them, and ask them how their day is going
- Feel free to do more than one and spread the kindness even further
- Report back to each other in one week and share how your acts of kindness were received, and how doing them made you feel
Family Habit Builder:
Every night at dinner, have each person thank another family member for something they’ve done or said today, or give another family member a compliment.
Delivered by experts at Butterfly Foundation, this free 75-minute webinar aimed at parents of teens will teach you practical strategies for reducing the focus on appearance and body comparisons, increasing self-compassion and body appreciation, supporting healthy attitudes towards eating and movement in teens, responding to negative self-talk and appearance-related teasing, and what to do if you are concerned.
Date: 17th September 2024
Time: 7pm – 8.15pm (AEDT), plus questions
Register: Via Zoom (time-limited recording available) HERE
eSafety - Parent and Carer support
eSafety has a dedicated Parents section with resources and advice to help parents and carers with online safety issues and strategies to support their child. Some resources include:
Cyberbullying guide: This page helps parents and carers understand how they can help their child if they are being bullied. You can also download and print our cyberbullying quick guide, which has key information and advice, as well as help in Easy Read formats for people with low literacy or intellectual or cognitive disability.
Online Safety for Every Family: These resources include short videos and easy-to-read advice sheets to encourage parents and carers to start and continue conversations with their children about online safety. They include tips about how to stay safe online and important information about what to do if something bad happens online. The resources are available in more than ten languages.
Webinars: These live webinars give parents and carers the knowledge, skills, and tools to support their children to have safe online experiences.
Lovebites
This week students in Year 9 have been engaged in the Love Bites program. The program, developed by NAPCAN (National Association for Prevention of Child abuse and Neglect) is a Respectful Relationships Education Program for young people, aims to provide young people with a safe environment to examine, discuss and explore respectful relationships. All Love Bites programming takes a strength-based approach and views young people as active participants who are able to make choices for themselves and their relationships when supported with information and opportunity for skill development.
The overall aims of the programming are to equip young people with the knowledge needed to have respectful relationships, encourage and develop their critical thinking skills, and assist them in problem-solving and communicating effectively.
The students were engaged in age-specific workshops, where students explored themes such as gender expectations and relationships, responding to jealous feelings, love and control, warning signs of a controlling/abusive relationship, supporting friends, seeking help and breaking up with respect.
With each of these themes, students were able to communicate about behaviour that was acceptable and what behaviour ‘crosses the line’. These conversations gave students an understanding of how we respect each other's boundaries.
RUOK Day
Ask R U OK? Any Day because life happens every day.
A lot can happen in a year, a month, a week. Whether it’s your friend, family member, colleague, partner, or teammate, the people you care about go through life’s ups and downs every day
Regular, meaningful conversations with the people close to you can help prevent small things from becoming big things. By checking in regularly, you build trust and normalise talking about what’s really going on, so when the people in your world find themselves struggling, they know you’re someone they can talk to.
R U OK? Day will be acknowledged at the College on September 12. Students can wear a yellow accessory on this day as part of their College uniform to highlight and celebrate the day. Ask R U OK? any day of the year, because a conversation can change your life. Register to download the free resources.
Kathy Warby
Assistant Principal - Mission and Wellbeing
Book Week Dress Up Day
This is a story about a witch, a fairy and a dragon.
The 2024 Book Week Theme ‘Reading is Magic’ inspired staff and students at McAuley to explore their fantasy and fantastic side during the dress up day on Friday, 30th August.
The dress ups were amazing, there were many people inspired by Shakespeare’s fantastic side. The witches from Macbeth, the fairies from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Caliban and Prospero from The Tempest gave an impromptu performance.
They were certainly not the only performances and a special mention goes to Mrs Hill for her singing rendition from Mary Poppins, Mrs Parkin for her Professor Sprout’s Science experiment and Anthony Young’s Red Dragon from Dungeons and Dragons telling his story.
The day was a lot of fun with so many people dressing up and getting into the spirit of the day. The students were inspired by a range of things from Teletubbies, Harry Potter, Dora the Explorer, Toy Story, Percy Jackson, How to Train your Dragon, Care Bears, Inside Out and Lord of the Rings.
While there were magical creatures in the quadrangle and dragons throughout the library. The ‘Magical theme’ was narrowed down to mean magical creatures, and in particular; Dragons! Dragons are currently a big fad in fantasy publishing and the stories are very popular with the students - some very stories at the moment are Eragon, The Hobbit and The Belgariad series as well as How to Train your Dragon. Have a look through the photos to experience some of the fun.
I would like to send a special thank you to all the staff and students who dressed up on the day.
I would also like to thank the people who helped on the day and decorate the library. Special thanks to Isaac Day, Pat Glesson, Mark Aspinall, Shar Papadakis, Lew Molloy, Jim Adams as well as the library staff Ann Fallon-watkins and Alex Eggins.
Linda Gleeson
Librarian
Domestic students living in regional or interstate areas are invited to our online Open Night. Find out about our Regional and Remote Entry Scheme, our single scholarship application process as well as other University of Sydney highlights.
You’ll then have the chance to join dedicated breakout rooms and chat with staff from our faculties, admissions, scholarships, and accommodation, and have all your questions answered about life in Sydney. Register here
UAC Application Deadlines
September is a crucial month for UAC applications.
Schools Recommendation Scheme closing – 16 September
Applications for the Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS) close at 11.59pm on Monday 16 September. Students can access the SRS application once they have submitted their UAC application for admission.
Early bird applications closing – 30 September
Early bird applications close at 11.59pm on Monday 30 September, after which UAC’s processing charge increases from $80 to $215. This deadline is not related to early offers.
Year 12 applicants can also 'commit to pay' using BPAY. Payment must be made, however, in order to have their application assessed and receive an offer.
Pathways to degrees
When students feel that the degree they are keen on is out of reach, it's a good opportunity to remind them that institutions offer a variety of pathways – such as diplomas, foundation studies and certificates – to help them transition to uni and reach their goals. Here's an explanation of pathway courses and tips for selecting UAC preferences.
Virtual Open Day
We are excited to announce we will be holding a virtual Open Day this year for those students who missed out on coming to one of our Open Days! Students can discover what life at Charles Sturt University is all about – all from the comfort of their home.
Those who attend will find everything they need to know about studying with us – from study areas and courses, to support services and student life. There will be course-specific information sessions and opportunities to connect with academics and current students.
When:
- Monday 21 October (11:00am–2:00pm)
- Tuesday 22 October (5:00pm–8:00pm)
Where: Online
Register here
Join us for Southern Cross University's Parents Information Evening
We are inviting Years 11 & 12 high school students and their parents/guardians to an informative evening that will help prepare them for their journey to university.
This event will be held at each campus and online for those who cannot attend in person.
Why Attend:
Attending this information evening provides you with the chance to improve your students' ability to make more informed decisions when it comes to going to university.
Engage with parents to build their understanding of the Southern Cross University experience. Attendees will be able to ask questions and get personalised advice.
What to Expect:
- Hear from our panel speakers, who will provide insight into the application process, what uni life looks like and the possible expenses associated with university
- Learn about the support services available for your students once they get to university
- Canapés and refreshments will be served during the event, allowing networking opportunities for you, your students and their families
Gold Coast campus: Tuesday, 10 September 2024, 5pm – 7pm
Coffs Harbour campus: Wednesday, 11 September 2024, 5pm – 7pm
Northern Rivers campus: Tuesday, 17 September 2024, 5pm – 7pm
Online webinar: Wednesday, 18 September 2024, 6pm – 7pm
Rod Paton
Careers Advisor
Year 11 Work Placement
Many of our Year 11 VET students have been out in the community in the past two weeks gaining valuable industry experience in their chosen frameworks. The College sends many thanks to the businesses that have hosted our students:
Harwood Marine Swadling Engineering Vereyken Engineering Grafton Sheet Metal Wooli Hotel Wicks & Parker Caperberry Cafe Yamba Shores Tavern G & K Cabinets |
Grafton Hire Troy Iredale Constructions Ledonne Constructions Nat Sewell Concreting Yamba Glass & Aluminium Coastal Concreting & Excavation Toast Espresso Good Days Restaurant 24sixty |
The Crown Hotel Clarence Kitchen Collective Espresso Botero Vines at 139 Minnie Water General Store and Cellars Harwood Hotel Heart & Soul Wholefood Cafe Pinewood Corner |
Isaac Day
Leader of Vocational Education & Training
Year 12 Geography Wetlands and Tourism Excursion
On Tuesday, 27th August, our amazing Year 12 Geography students completed their last Geography excursion on a trip to Coffs Creek.
With Stephan Soule from Southern Cross University as our tour guide, we investigated the intriguing wetlands ecosystem nestled amongst the build-up area in Coffs Harbour. We then trekked up the road to have lunch and learn the inner workings of a local tourism operator in the Reflections Holiday Park at Moonee Beach.
It was a beautiful day and an amazing 'classroom' to work in for the final part of the HSC course.
Special thanks to Southern Cross University and Moonee Beach Reflections Park for their assistance and knowledge on the day.
Stuart Tait
Geography Teacher
Year 9 Food Technology
Year 12 Hospitality High Tea
NRCC Boys & Girls AFL
On Tuesday, August 20th, our boys and girls teams travelled to Byron Bay to play in the Northern Rivers Catholic Colleges AFL competition.
Our under-16 girls had an amazing day! Their first game against St John's College Woodlawn started with a bang. Marlee, as ruck, jumped and contested the ball well, linking with the midfield of Jade and Jaz. Bridgette and Taya kicked great goals, and we came away with the win 35 - 2.
The girls then faced off with a very tough Mount St Patrick College side, but with some great defence from Abby S, Isabelle, and our midfield, Zahlee and Abby G, we managed some great marks and narrowly held onto the win 15-13.
Going into the third game against a young Trinity Catholic College Team, the girls really got into the spirit of the game, achieving some excellent marks from Millie and Isabelle and linking with the forwards Meliah and Charlie. We won convincingly 49 - 10, and the girls made it into the grand final round against our fiercest rivals, the Mount St Patrick's team.
It was hard to decide who would be on the bench for this game as all the girls played exceptional football; however, Dusk and Taya kindly volunteered. McAuley girls dominated possession in the first half with some great contests for the ball from Addison and Keeley. The midfield combination of Eve and Taylah worked hard to keep the ball, and Ruby worked hard as a fullback, preventing at least two goals. Our kicking for goals was put under immense pressure, and unfortunately, we couldn't convert goals. We were defeated 19-9 but walked away with our heads held high for the overall effort and achievements throughout the day.
Congratulations to the girls who proudly represented McAuley and for all their hard work on the day. Thank you to all involved in the event; it was well-run, and everyone had a very fun day.
Year 9 PASS Touch Football Gala Day - Wednesday 21st August
NRCC Volleyball
- U16 boys were undefeated for the entire day
- U16 girls came second to St. Mary's after a count back on points (however, we did defeat them during the round-robin)
- U14 girls and boys did very well overall for the day, given it was their debut at volleyball
Despite the sweltering weather, all teams displayed impressive athleticism and determination throughout the event.
The under 14s boys displayed a lot of promise and excellent teamwork, even as a few new players got used to the fast-paced rugby 7 format. The team managed to finish third in their pool after a win and two losses and then rallied to claim 5th place overall in the comp, winning the 5th vs 6th match in a closely contested finish. Throughout the competition, Eamon Mawn and Jesse Daley-Malone demonstrated exceptional leadership by utilising their knowledge to mentor and encourage their teammates.
The under 16s boys showcased their strength and skill with a series of outstanding performances through the pool matches and continued into the semi-final. Each match highlighted their resilience, as they overcame both the heat and strong opposition to secure a spot in the championship game. The team put up a valiant effort in a closely contested final but were narrowly defeated. Although they fell just short of victory, their performance throughout the tournament was commendable and they displayed great teamwork. Their ability to compete at such a high level in tough conditions is a testament to their hard work and commitment.
The under 16s girls had a stellar day as well, showcasing their talents and tenacity in three pool games. Their first victory came against Woolgoolga High School with a score of 12-7, thanks to tries from Abbey Spears and Zahlee Kilduff. The second game saw a commanding win over John Paul College, ending 22-5, with Millie Day, Raimi Mortimer, and repeat try-scorers Zahlee and Abbey leading the charge.
In a nail-biting final pool game against our arch-rivals, BDC, the girls demonstrated exceptional defence and edged out a win, 12-10. Marlie Hughes, Oliver Fuller, and Taylah Berry were outstanding in defence, contributing significantly to the victory.
This win secured the team a spot in the grand final, where they faced BDC once again. The girls played their hearts out, but despite their best efforts, they fell 24-7. Zahlee Kilduff scored the final try of the day, sprinting the entire length of the field.
Congratulations to the entire team for their incredible effort and impressive improvement throughout the day. They all played with passion and pride — well done!
On Tuesday, August 27th, Ava Whiley travelled to Sydney to represent the Lismore Diocese at the NSW Catholic Combined Colleges Carnival Trials. She was selected from over 150 girls to join the Lismore U18s Team. Mrs. Corcoran also attended as the Lismore Diocesan Manager and Assistant Coach.
Ava and her team performed exceptionally well at the carnival, playing five games. They came very close to defeating the Sydney Diocese, losing by only four points, and managed to secure victories against the Illawarra and Bathurst Dioceses. Throughout the carnival, Ava was observed by selectors for the "Possibles and Probables" team for the final selection of the top 10 players. Ava did incredibly well to make it into the "Possibles and Probables" group. Remarkably, six out of the nine players on her team were selected for this group, the highest number from any diocesan team—a fantastic achievement for a regional area.
Although Ava narrowly missed being selected for the NSWCCC team, she demonstrated a high level of skill as a defender. We wish her the best in her future state trials. Well done, Ava!
Netball Cup Finals
On Thursday, 5th September, 4 boys and girls teams travelled to Lismore to compete in the Netball NSW Far North Coast Cup Finals. All teams played extremely well and showed great sportsmanship and teamwork against some tough competition. Here are the results:
The Year 7 and 8 boys did extremely well, winning 3 out of 5 of their games to come in third place overall in the competition.
Year 9 and 10 boys had a hard day playing against teams with renowned state players. Regardless, they gave it their all and ended up in 6th place in their age group.
Year 7 and 8 girls had some really tough matches but played valiantly throughout the day, finishing in 7th.
Year 9 and 10 girls played extraordinary and were undefeated in their pool competition. They entered the Semi-Final round against St Joseph's and were up by 2 goals at the end of the first half. In a nail-biting second half, they were unlucky and defeated by 2 goals. Our girls then faced off with Emmanuel College in the third-place decider and worked extremely hard to walk away with a win by 7 goals.
Congratulations to all teams on a very fun and successful day! Despite the hot conditions they all represented McAuley proudly with immense enthusiasm and determination.
Celebrations:
This year, we gathered valuable insights from the "Tell Them From Me" survey, which focuses on key factors that significantly impact student success. These factors include a sense of belonging, personal relationships, effective learning time, student effort, the relevance of coursework, and academic rigour. Previously, Mrs Thomson looked at parent data. This newsletter reports four critical areas of student perception related to teaching and learning that align with our Learning and Teaching section of the 3-Year School Improvement Plan (2022-2025).
What Did the Survey Tell Us?
The data highlights the importance of understanding these drivers to provide differentiated support for our students. By ensuring that students are known, valued, and cared for, we can help them work towards their full potential. When examining the tables, anything greater than a .05 difference is significant; we can also use the information to look at trends. A ‘replica school’ is a school norm compiled based on the results of schools with the same socioeconomic profile as McAuley. Below are 3-year snapshots of the areas of focus from the survey that was analysed by staff in a recent meeting:
- Effective Learning Time: This area examines how well teachers use classroom time, ensuring classes are well-organised and that key concepts are effectively taught. Teachers who deliver quality instruction set clear goals directly or indirectly aimed at enhancing student learning.
- Student Effort: Student effort is crucial, reflecting how hard students strive to succeed in school. It is closely tied to their interest and motivation in school subjects, serving as a core attribute of self-efficacy—students' belief in their ability to achieve specific goals.
- Intellectual Engagement: Students' emotional and cognitive investment in their learning. Intellectually engaged students are motivated, interested in what is being taught, and exert significant effort in their studies.
- Instructional Relevance: Relevance in the classroom involves ensuring that instruction is purposeful and meaningful to students' everyday lives. When students see value and meaning in their coursework, their motivation and achievement are significantly enhanced.
We continuously strive to improve our practices, particularly in these areas, to ensure that every student is supported in reaching their academic goals. Some of the findings determined by our staff are that the "Tell Them From Me" survey reveals several trends regarding boys' perceptions of teaching and learning, though it is important to note that the data range is small. Regarding effective learning time, boys consistently scored below girls when looking at years 7 to 10 and lagged behind those in similar (replica) schools. A concerning trend is evident among Year 9 boys, whose scores declined from when they were in Year 7 (2022) to now (2024). Intellectual engagement data shows a significant positive trend among Year 11 boys, yet the same can't be said for Years 8, 9, and 10, where a downward trend is observed.
Interestingly, the younger students in Year 7 and those in senior years have shown an upward trend. However, in terms of relevance, boys again scored below their peers in comparable schools, with the current Year 9 boys dipping from their Year 7 scores. Effort is another concern, as boys in Years 8, 9, and 10 show a significant gap compared to 'like schools.' These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address the ongoing concerns with boys' engagement and achievement. The survey results will guide our efforts to enhance the quality of teaching and learning, ensuring that our students are engaged, motivated, and achieving to the best of their abilities.
Free Workshop about Parenting Teens
Don't miss this amazing opportunity to learn more about parenting teens in the complex world they are growing up in. Chris Hudson, a highly regarded teen parenting coach will present "Approaching the Teenage Years" at The Grafton District Service Club on Monday, 16th September at 6pm. We hope that all parents of tweens and teens in our Catholic schools in the local area make time to come along to this informative and engaging session. You'll leave with great information and practical tips and strategies to help you help your young person thrive.
Online Safety - Essential Conversations
The Catholic Schools Office of the Lismore Diocese has provided essential information regarding childrens' safety online and resources for parents and guardians in a recent communication article sent to schools across the Diocese. We will be including a topic item from this article in each Newsletter from Term 3, Week 3 - Term 4, Week 9
If someone distributes a nude image or video of your young person online, it constitutes image-based abuse, and it is against the law. When teenagers under 18 take nude photographs or videos of themselves, this material is classified as child pornography. Under federal law, it’s an offence for anyone to access, transmit, possess, publish, control, supply or obtain child pornography.
When young people talk about ‘sending nudes’, it usually means sharing intimate photos or videos of themselves with someone else using an online message or chat function, or a phone text service. ‘Sexting’ means sending a sexual message or text, with or without a photo or video.
‘Intimate images’ include nudes, partial nudes, fake nudes, naked selfies and upskirting, as well as screenshots or screen recordings of private activity like having sex or going to the toilet.
- Where to start the conversation? Starting the conversation about these topics must be grounded in your family's beliefs and values. Make sure you have early, regular and protective conversations with your young person about the values you have as a family regarding respect and care for others and the dignity of each human person.
- Open the conversation with a real-life story from the media. Ask questions like ‘Do you think it was right for them to share that photo after they broke up?’ Follow up by asking ‘Why?’, ‘Why not?’ or ‘Tell me more’ to help you understand more about what they’re thinking.
- Explore what their friends think about sharing nudes. Ask your young person what they think might happen if one of their friend’s nudes went viral and how they would get help.
- Discuss with them how to say ‘no’ when someone asks for an intimate image or video. You can encourage them to be firm by suggesting a response such as: "Sorry, but that's not my vibe. I'm all about respecting myself. Let's stick to chatting about things that actually matter."
- What if you discover your young person is asking a peer for images? There are a number of reasons why a young person might request images but the overwhelming reason they do it is peer pressure. It is important that you have conversations with your young person about what is a healthy relationship, how to show respect and affection for others appropriately and seek external support if required.
- Tell them they can always talk with you, no matter how worried or embarrassed they feel. Let them know that you will help them work things out if they feel pressured to share an intimate image or video of themselves or if they have shared an intimate image or video of someone else.
Read more at eSafety The hard-to-have conversations. If you have any concerns about your young person please contact the school. It is important for the school to know any wellbeing issues that may impact on learning and behaviour at school
September
11th: Yr 7 & 10 Catch Up Vaccinations Clinic
16th-20th: Yr 11 Exams
19th: NRCC - Boys & Girls Rugby Union
20th: Aboriginal Culture & Careers Dayat South Grafton High School
19th-22nd: IGNITE
25th: Yr 12 Graduation Ceremony
26th: Last Day of Term 3
27th: Staff Development Day - Pupil Free Day
October
14th: Staff Development Day - Pupil Free Day
15th: First Day of Term 4 - All students return
15th Oct - 8th Nov: Yr 12 HSC Exams
As mentioned in our previous newsletters over the last few weeks, the College offers lunch orders online through the Flexischools app. Please see the attached flyer to get started.
Please find attached the latest Parish Bulletins from Clarence Valley Parish