Term 4 - Week 2 - 25th October 2024
Dear Parents and Carers, Staff and Students,
Welcome to Term 4! I hope our students and families were able to take some time to wind down after a busy and, at times, intense term. It has been a positive return to school for students and staff, and it has been great to see the school full of students ready to engage in their learning and, of course, meet up with their friends! Thank you to Kathy Warby for taking on the position of Acting Principal for the last few weeks of term 3 while I was unwell and to Margaret Bertalli for stepping into the Assistant Principal Mission and Wellbeing role at short notice. We hear a lot about the importance of wellbeing, and it is an area of priority in our College for both the students and staff. Pastoral care and the well-being of our students are areas of focus because of their vital link to learning. It is challenging to learn and work if our health and well-being are compromised.
We have recently held two staff Development days (end of term 3 and start of term 4), which focussed on wellbeing and curriculum development. All our Staff Development Days have a central focus on the students of our college, improving their learning and developing their growth. Thank you to our families for accommodating the changes to routine that these days can create.
Year 12
At the end of last term, we celebrated the graduation of our Year 12 students. I congratulate all our students for “finishing well” and graduating with pride. HSC examinations started last Tuesday and continue for the next few weeks. We wish our students all the very best in their exams, and we ask that our community keep Year 12 in their thoughts and prayers at this time. The Year 12 Formal will be held on Saturday 9th November. We look forward to celebrating the milestone of finishing school at this special event.
Staff Changes for Term 4
The following changes to staff have been made this term:
Brendan Smith is replacing Jessica Stainlay while she is on leave; Chelsea Brown has moved from College Youth Minister to a teaching role, replacing Tom Howard, who is on leave; Katrina Don is the Acting Leader of School Evangelisation; and we welcome back to the College Ellee Munro, who will be working as a Teacher Assistant. Angus Field will continue on as an Aboriginal Education Worker (AEW) three days a week this term.
Uniform
This is a reminder that we are in a transition phase as we move the whole school to wearing the new uniform. The transition period is a 2-year process, which started this year, with all students to be in the new uniform by 2026. All our current Year 7 students are to wear the new uniform, as are any new students enrolled into the school. Uniforms are purchased from the Uniform Shop, which is located onsite, or they can be ordered online. You may like to know that 10% of all sales are returned to the College by P& C Uniforms. This year, we are using these proceeds to purchase new football (soccer) uniforms for all our school teams. We will promote these to you once they arrive.
Congratulations
Many of our students are doing amazing things within our school community and beyond. I want to congratulate Jasmine Chellew for her selection as a finalist in the University of Newcastle Year 11 Business Plan Challenge and Izayah Walker and Peter Hammond, who have been elected as the President and Vice President of the newly formed Junior AECG. This is the Grafton Community of Schools Aboriginal Education Consultative Group. You can read about these students in the later articles of this newsletter.
I also congratulate 2 of our Industrial Technology students, Mitchell Dick and Layla Bender, on their nomination for possible inclusion in SHAPE. SHAPE is an exhibition of selected outstanding works from HSC Design and Technology, Industrial Technology and Textiles and Design students and will be held at the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct from March 2025.
Reminders:
- Thursday, 31st October, is a holiday for the local Jacaranda Festival
- Tuesday, 12th November, is the Year 6 Orientation Day for all students who have accepted enrolment at MCC for 2025
- Our Annual Christmas Liturgy and Prizegiving is Tuesday, 17th December
- The final day of term 4 for students is Wednesday, 18th December
All the best for the fortnight ahead
Kind regards,
Kate
Kate Thomson
Principal
“We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us.”
Catherine McAuley
HSC Examinations
Week 1 marked the commencement of the HSC Examinations, and we extend our best wishes to all Year 12 students undertaking the exams. Students have access to Stay Healthy HSC resources, which may be helpful for the duration of their exams.
The Importance of Reading and Goal Setting
In week one at Assembly, we discussed two essential student success skills: reading and goal setting. Both contribute to academic achievement and personal development, supporting students in all areas of study.
Reading is a powerful tool that enhances understanding of all subjects. It's not just about novels and stories but also about accessing the curriculum across all Key Learning Areas.
We value reading so much at McAuley that we allocate time to Drop Everything and Read (DEAR), providing students with dedicated time each day to cultivate strong reading habits.
Goal setting was another key focus this week during PC and Assembly. We encouraged the students to set specific, measurable, and achievable goals for Term 4. Clear goals provide direction and motivation, helping students track their progress and focus on their objectives.
Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT)
Students in Years 7 to 10 will participate in PAT testing in weeks 2 and 3 this term. The PAT tests are assessments of Maths, Reading, and Science. They provide a measure of a student’s knowledge, skills, and understanding and help pinpoint where they are in their learning journey and what they need to progress.
Year 11 Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences – Tuesday, 5th November
The Year 11 Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences will be held on Tuesday, 5th November. As Year 11 students have commenced their HSC courses in all subjects, this conference provides an excellent opportunity to receive valuable teacher feedback.
During these conferences, students will gain insights into the areas where they are performing well and identify aspects that may still require improvement. This feedback is crucial as it helps students refine their understanding and skills as they work towards their HSC goals.
Students' feedback can be directly linked to the goal-setting strategies discussed in PC sessions. By setting specific, measurable, and achievable goals based on the advice provided by teachers, students can focus on improving key areas and track their progress throughout the HSC journey.
We encourage all Year 11 students and their parents to take full advantage of this opportunity to support ongoing academic success.
Year 11 HSC Information Session – Tuesday, 5th November at 6 pm
Following the Parent-Teacher-Student conferences, we invite year 11 parents and students to attend an HSC Information Session on Tuesday, November 5th, at 6 p.m. in the Performing Arts Room (P1). This session will provide essential information for students and their parents/carers, and we strongly encourage all students to attend.
The session will cover the following key topics:
- HSC requirements and assessment processes
- Career opportunities, higher education, and post-school pathways
- Wellbeing strategies for managing the challenges and stress of the HSC year
Dianne McGowan
Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching
eSafety Webinars for Parents and Carers
These live webinars give parents and carers the knowledge, skills, and tools to support their children in having safe online experiences.
Supporting healthy tech use as your child transitions into high school. This webinar explores the social pressures, peer influences, and technological challenges young people face as they transition into high school. It also offers practical strategies for navigating online friendships and connections to help minimise negative experiences.
It is suitable for parents and carers of children in upper primary school (ages 11 to 12) and Year 7.
Tuesday, 29 October, 12.30 pm
Thursday, 28 November, 12.30 pm
Register Here
eSafety 101: how eSafety can help you. An overview of The eSafety Commissioner and supporting programs and resources for parents and carers, children, and young people.
It is suitable for parents and carers of children and young people in primary and secondary school.
Thursday, 24 October, 12.30pm
Wednesday, 4 December, 12.30pm
Register Here
Kathy Warby
Assistant Principal - Mission and Wellbeing
The University of Newcastle Future Entrepreneur Challenge Competition 2024
In its 21st year, the University of Newcastle Year 11 Business Plan Challenge has again been a great success, with over 256 student entries from across the state. This competition has great merit in making the connection between theory and practice.
The competition continues to attract an exceptionally high standard of entries. Initial judging identified the top 20 entries, and from these, five entries were selected for an invitation to present their Business Plans on Friday, November 15th, 2024, in Newcastle.
Congratulations to Jasmine Chellew for her Business Plan - “KelpCup”. Jasmine has made it to the finals. Her product concept has captured the attention of the judges as an innovative product. A panel of judges will decide the eventual challenge winner of the Newcastle Business School Year 11 Future Entrepreneur Challenge.
Jasmine’s brilliant concept and attention to detail in her Business Plan have contributed to her becoming a 2024 finalist. As a finalist, Jasmine will receive $1000. If she wins, she will receive another $1000. In addition to this prize money, Jasmine may also be the recipient of a $2000 scholarship. McAuley Catholic College has also benefited from her entry and will receive $500.
Congratulations, Jasmine, and good luck for the finals next month.
On Tuesday 15th October, our Junior AECG members from McAuley, along with students from Grafton High School and South Grafton High School, participated in an On Country tour of significant and sacred sites around the Grafton area.
Special guest speakers Brett Tibbett and Uncle Kerry Skinner shared their insights and the rich history of the sites we visited.
In addition to deepening their connection to community and culture, the students also held elections for the Junior AECG leadership. We are proud to announce that two of our students were elected: Izayah Walker as President and Peter Hammond as Vice President. Congratulations to both students for this incredible achievement!
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| Izayah Walker | Peter Hammond |
The day was an invaluable experience for all students and staff, who thoroughly enjoyed being part of this wonderful initiative. We look forward to seeing the fantastic work and ideas the Jr AECG members will bring to Aboriginal Education.
A special thank you to the tour guides for sharing their knowledge, and to the staff from all schools involved for organising this meaningful event.
Wil Bancroft
Aboriginal Education Worker
Year 10 Work Experience
All Year 10 students are reminded that compulsory Work Experience is fast approaching. Students should be making enquiries now to attend workplaces during the week of December 2 until December 6, especially if they are considering travelling interstate.
Work Experience is a valuable opportunity to assist students with the planning of their career path. It is also a chance for students who intend to leave school to showcase their abilities to prospective employers. All the necessary guidelines and permission forms can be assessed on our Career website.
Hot Tips: the ultimate guide to a successful QTAC Application
One of the most common questions QTAC get is how to make a successful QTAC application. To help you make the most of your application, their experts have compiled a list of their hot tips and really encourage you to read them.
To help you get to where you want to go, read these tips today!
Year 12 Applications
Students have until December 8th to submit their documentation to be considered for December offer rounds.
Reminder: QTAC will not contact students from 21st October until 15th November, as they sit their final exams.
GO Hotline
QTAC's GO Hotline has recently changed. You can now reach them on (07) 3703 1048
Best of luck for final exams!
As year 12 students head into their final exams and close an important chapter in their lives, SAE wish them all the best. Hopefully they receive the results they need to follow their desired pathways, be that university, TAFE, entering the workforce or taking a gap year!
For students who are still uncertain about their study path or didn’t quite achieve the ATAR they were aiming for, SAE are hosting a More than a Score virtual event in December. This event will introduce them to the range of creative Bachelor courses, which are available with no ATAR requirement, as well as support services, workplace program and career outcomes.
Registrations for More than a Score open soon!
SAE Launches New Technology Courses
SAE’s courses in Computer Science and VFX & Virtual Production have been specially designed to nurture your creative talents and enhance your technical skills, combining the best of both worlds to help you unlock your full potential.
SAE University College is excited to announce the expansion of its offerings with new innovative courses merging technology and creativity, including the Bachelor of Computer Science and the Bachelor of VFX and Virtual Production.
These future-focused technology courses, available from Trimester 1, 2025 (February) at SAE Sydney, Melbourne and online, coincide with SAE’s recent elevation to University College status, and reinforce its commitment to driving cutting-edge technological education that meets current and future industry demands.
Find out more here
Join us at our Technology INFO NIGHT!
Want to embrace the latest technologies and engineer the impossible?
Join us for this exclusive event to discover SAE’s new technology courses in VFX & Virtual Production and Computer Science!
Specifically designed in consultation with industry experts from Technicolor and Ubisoft, our VFX courses will nurture your creativity and empower you to experiment, while our Computer Science programs have been developed to prepare you for the collaborative and geographically diverse world of technology and creative media.
INFO NIGHT | TECHNOLOGY COURSE SHOWCASE
SYDNEY CAMPUS
WEDNESDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2024
5.30PM – 7.30PM (AEDT)
MELBOURNE CAMPUS
THURSDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2024
5.30PM – 7.30PM (AEDT)
University Admissions Centre
As Term 4 begins, we're cheering on another group of students starting their final exams. It won’t be long before they receive their HSC results, and many will find out if they've made it into the university degree of their dreams.
Before that, UAC will be making Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS) offers on 8 November, so please remind students to lock in their SRS course preferences before the 1 November deadline.
Applications
Applications are still open; however, the standard application fee of $215 now applies as the early bird fee period has closed.
Many students who submitted their applications before 30 September and chose the BPAY payment option have been asking whether they will have to pay the higher standard fee. The answer is no. Their fee will remain at $80. However, students still need to make their BPAY payment before 10 October for SRS offer consideration and before 7 November for December Round 2 consideration. For all relevant offer round deadlines, please refer to the key dates on the UAC website.
Rod Paton
Careers Advisor
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
Online Safety Essential Conversations: Sextortion
As technology continues to evolve, so do the challenges our children and young people face. The sharing of inappropriate images can have serious and lasting consequences, both legally and emotionally. Not only is it a violation of privacy, but it can also lead to cyberbullying, harassment, and even legal repercussions.
We urge you to have open and honest conversations with your young person about the importance of respecting themselves and others in the digital realm. Encourage them to think critically about the consequences of their actions online and to seek help if they ever feel pressured or uncomfortable.
Sexual extortion or ‘sextortion’ is a serious form of online blackmail. The process of sexual extortion can happen on any interactive service, including image and video sharing, instant messaging or social media apps. Offenders may even attempt to capture nude or sexual images of a young person while they’re on live stream or video, which is often then used as part of extortion.
Tips for parents from Think U Know
If your young person is being sextorted:
1. Take screenshots (keep the evidence).
2. Cut off all contact and block the offender.
3. Report it to any platforms or services where the blackmailer contacted you. You can also report here: Report Cyber. For more information, visit eSafety Sextortion. The Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre has a 24/7 Hotline: 1300 CYBER1 (1300 292 371). Immediate support ring Triple Zero (000).
Read more at Kids Helpline Sextortion
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.
Free Parent Webinar - "Breaking Point - Unpacking the Crisis in Youth Mental Health"
The NSW Council of Catholic School Parents is again providing an opportunity for all Catholic School parents to register to attend this FREE webinar. If you missed out last term, please register to learn more about how you as a parent can understand what is happening in regard to youth mental health issues and how to support your young person to thrive.
Please see the flyer below for more information and register here.
October
15th Oct - 8th Nov: Year 12 HSC Exams
25th: Dio Volleyball, Coffs Harbour
Yr 7 PAT Testing
25th, 28th & 29th: Yr 10 PAT Testing
28th: Yr 8 PAT Testing
29th: Yr 9 PAT Testing
31st: Jacaranda Thursday - Pupil Free Day
November
1st: All Saints Day
Jacaranda Cup
5th: Yr 11 HSC Information Session & Parent Teacher Student Conference Evening
9th: Yr 12 Formal Dinner
11th: Remembrance Day
Dio Golf Championships, South West Rocks
11th - 13th: Yr10 Camp GABC - Tea Gardens
12th: Year 6 Orientation Day + Parent Information Evening
13th - 15th: G.O.A.T Retreat
18th - 20th: Year 9 Camp - Tyalgum Ridge Retreat
STEM MAD National Showcase for qualifying students
19th: Dio Netball Gala Day, Grafton
25th: NRCC U16s Boys Cricket
26th: NRCC U16s Girls Cricket
As mentioned in our previous newsletters, 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