Term 1 - Week 9 - 31 March 2023

Dear Parents and Carers,

As Term One draws to a close, I would like to thank all students and staff for their efforts throughout the term and the parent community for your continued support of the College.  

OPEN night - Tuesday 4th April

We are very excited to be hosting our Open night this week. I invite all interested people to come along and explore the College facilities and speak to staff & students about what we offer at MCC. The evening will start at 4.00 and finish at 6.30pm. We will have a brief welcome at 5.45 in the hall. This opportunity is for both prospective and current families. Throughout the day, Loving Life 103.1 Community Radio will be doing a live broadcast from the College, so tune in between 11 and 3 to listen to what the students and staff have to say about the College.

YEAR 7 Enrolments 2024

We are now accepting enrolment applications for Year 7, 2024. I recently visited our Catholic Primary schools with former students of each school. It is always great to visit our Primary schools to talk to the students about McAuley and answer a range of questions. Enrolment information can be found on the website.

Parent Teacher Students Interviews (Conferences)

Thank you to the many parents & carers who attended the interviews in week 8. It was wonderful to have so many parents and students engaging in conversations about learning with the teaching staff. As noted previously, parents who missed out on attending these interviews have an opportunity to book a time at our next evening - Tuesday 2nd May again from 3.40 - 6.30. Bookings for year 12 students and parents will be open from 3rd April, then bookings will be opened up to the rest of the school from the 24th of April.   If you have any concerns about your child’s learning please contact your child’s teachers or year coordinator. 

ANZAC Day 2023

Attending ANZAC Day Marches throughout the Clarence Valley is an important part of community service for our students. We will have representatives at numerous marches. Students are requested to attend in full school uniform when representing the College.

Uniform

We recently gave students the opportunity to give feedback on the proposed new uniform items. We have now received over 300 responses which we will process and make changes where necessary before going back to the suppliers. The next step is viewing and trying samples. 

Easter

On Sunday 2nd of April the Church celebrated Palm Sunday the start of Holy Week, the most important week of the Church year. At the Palm Sunday Mass at the Vatican, Pope Francis emphasized that whatever situation of abandonment we find ourselves in, Jesus is at our side and that we will find Jesus in those who are abandoned. He said Jesus “wants us to care for our brothers and sisters who resemble him most, those experiencing extreme suffering and solitude. Today, brothers and sisters, there are entire peoples who are exploited and abandoned; the poor live on our streets and we look the other way, we turn around; there are migrants who are no longer faces but numbers; prisoners are disowned; people written off as problems.” Pope Francis said these people are “Christs” for us: “Jesus, in his abandonment, asks us to open our eyes and hearts to all who find themselves abandoned,” he said. (Catholic News Agency)

I wish you all a peaceful and Holy Easter. I encourage you to take time to consider the real meaning of Easter, as the death and resurrection of Christ is at the heart of Christianity.

Return to school Term 2 dates:

Monday 24th April - Staff Development Day - Pupil free

Tuesday 25th April - ANZAC Day Holiday

Wednesday 26th April: All students return

Have a relaxing and safe holiday.  

Yours sincerely

Kate

Kate Thomson

Principal

“We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us.”

Catherine McAuley

Food Technology and Hospitality

Year 9 Geography Fieldwork- Newsletter Article

On Friday of Week 5, students in Year 9 Geography completed their Fieldwork studies at the Tea Tree Farm in Clarenza to develop their geographical skills and enhance their studies of Sustainable Biomes. Students listened to a presentation by Tony Dougherty and recorded data on the change of the natural biome and the establishment, operation and management of the Farm.

Students observed the natural environment and human alterations and were guided through the agriculture, harvest and production of the Tea Tree including sustainable practices implemented. Practising and enhancing skills in field sketching and recording observations was also a focus for the fieldwork. Our sincerest thanks to Tony for his support and for sharing his time, expertise and knowledge in the field, allowing students to bring their studies to life!

Year 11 Geography Fieldwork on the Clarence River

AFL

Chase Corcoran

School Improvement 

Tell Them From Me Survey 

Early next term we will be inviting students, teachers and parents to provide feedback on their experience of our school using an online survey. The surveys are an important part of our whole school evaluation and planning process.

We would like to invite you to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning survey. As we value the role of parents and carers within our school community we would greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and wellbeing at McAuley Catholic College.

The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. More information will be included in our first newsletter in Term 2. 

Administering Non-Prescription Medication (eg. Paracetamol) to Students - Reminder
A reminder to parents that when a student presents to the school office/sick bay and is feeling unwell or experiencing significant or acute pain, a member of staff will contact their parent or guardian seeking permission to administer non-prescription pain relief (eg. paracetamol). If a parent or guardian can not be contacted, the student will stay in the school office/sick bay; however, we will not be able to give them any non-prescription pain relief medication. Any previous permission to give non-prescription pain relief no longer applies. You will receive a phone call each time your child presents to the school office/sick bay seeking consent.

The Cool Kids program

The Cool Kids Program (developed at Macquarie University) is a world-renowned skills-based program offered at McAuley Catholic College. The program teaches children/teenagers and their parent(s) how to better manage anxiety. There are a range of different types of anxiety experienced by children and teenagers including finding it difficult to be away from parents, being extremely shy, worrying about what others think of them, avoiding social and school activities (e.g. speaking to people, class presentations) or worrying a lot about everyday matters, potential dangers and the future. Sleep difficulties, headaches, nausea and difficulty breathing can be part of these feelings. 

The program is designed to help children understand and learn about anxiety, and to provide them with strategies to minimise its impact on themselves and others, including their family. In Term 2, small groups will meet weekly with one or two members of the Pastoral Care Team.

Topics covered in the program include:

• Learning about feelings and anxiety.

• Learning to think realistically.

• Parenting an anxious child.

• Fighting fear by facing fear (stepladders)

• Learning coping skills such as building confidence or problem solving.

If you think your child could benefit from this program in Term 2, or you would like more information, please contact Megan Barton, Student Support Officer, at megan.barton@lism.catholic.edu.au or Rob Imeson, Leader of Pastoral Care, at robert.imeson@lism.catholic.edu.au.

Vaping: Why is it attractive?

Young people can be drawn to vaping for a number of different reasons including peer pressure, accessibility and affordability, the belief that vaping is harmless and curiosity. Sometimes a family member who vapes can also influence children and young people to try vaping.

This short video provides some insights into why vaping is attractive to young people and is important viewing before parents and carers use the conversation starters at home.

Conversation Starters

Be ready to have these conversations with your child with a sense of calmness and interest in what they have to say. Be ready to listen to their responses without jumping in too quickly to correct them. Choose your timing wisely, perhaps during a relaxed moment at home, when driving somewhere together, or when no other stress or distractions are present.

1. Why do you think more children and teens are vaping? Listen to understand. Your child may mention one of the reasons listed above or have another opinion. This conversation starter opens the door to healthy dialogue.
2. Could you confidently say no if you were offered a vape? How could you do this? Help your young person create an ‘exit plan’ if they are offered a vape.
3. How do you think the person offering you the vape would react to you saying no? How might that make you feel about this friendship?

Now might be a good time to talk about what your child values in their friends.

Peer pressure can be powerful, so coming up with realistic action steps and practising them together in a safe environment will prepare and empower your child to make good choices when it matters. Remind them that not everyone is vaping. There are many young people making healthy choices to say no.

Please note the following dates for Term 1

• Open Night: Tuesday 4 April (week 10)
• MCC Cross Country: New date - Thursday 6th April
• Last day of Term 1: Thursday 6th April 

Term 2 dates: Weeks 1 & 2

• Monday 24th April: Staff Development Day - No students attending
• Tuesday 25th April: ANZAC Day Holiday: see details of marches in the Newsletter
• Wednesday 26th April: All students return to College
• Friday 28th April: NRCC Rugby League boys U14 & U16
• Tuesday 2nd May: Parent Teacher Student Interviews (Yr 12 & second night for Yr 7 - 11)
• Friday 5th May: Catholic Schools Week Mass

Youth mental health outreach service, headspace is hosting free webinars for parents and carers who are supporting young people with their mental health during the school holidays. The session aims to:

• Identify challenges and opportunities of the school holiday period
• Offer practical ideas for parents and carers
• Provide information about additional support services
• Highlight the importance of self-care

Click the link below to register for this free webinar.

• No Longer Bound (Forrest Frank feat. Hulvey) - Jesus came to set us free; we are no longer bound. This is the Good News, and this groovy song reminds us of just how powerful God really is.

• Quiet - Stripped Version (Elevation Rhythm) - We live in a world where the loudest voice is often the most heard, but God’s voice is usually heard in moments of silence. The message of “Quiet” is taken from the biblical passage where God promises to fight our battles, all we need to do is be still and trust Him. This song is an honest prayer between us and God, needing to hear His voice.

Wildfire

• All I Am (Lyric Video) - Sometimes when we spend time in prayer, we don’t know what to say to God but we know that He is listening to us anyway. This feeling is described in the lyric video of Proclaim Lismore Wildfire’s honest, heartfelt ballad ‘All I Am.’

Please note COVID-19 is still present in our community. Rapid Antigen Tests are still available at the College. If you require additional tests please contact the College Office.

Please be reminded that students and staff CANNOT attend school if they are showing any symptoms of COVID-19. 

Students who are unwell

If a student is unwell, displaying any COVID-19 or cold and flu-like symptoms at any time, they CANNOT attend school and should undertake a rapid antigen test. 

If the rapid antigen test is positive and the student is unwell and/or experiencing any symptoms, they CANNOT attend school.

If the rapid antigen test is positive and the student is not feeling unwell and not displaying or experiencing any symptoms, they CAN attend school under the following conditions:

• the school office is informed of the positive test result, AND
• the student (over 12 years old) wears a mask for a period of 7 days in all indoor settings.