Term 2 - Week 3 - 12 May 2023

Dear Parents and Carers,

Happy Mother’s Day to all our mothers! I hope you were all able to be acknowledged in some special way during the day or over the weekend. Last week we held our annual Year 12 retreat and from all reports, it went exceptionally well. Retreats are an important part of our Mission and Wellbeing program, where students can explore their faith or spiritual life, the grounding their schooling has provided them as they explore their future options, relationships, appreciation of others in their life, decision making and support available to them as they come to the end of the schooling in a few months time. I usually take time to visit the students at the retreat; however, I was unable to do so as I was on a school review panel. Last year I was trained in the school review process using the ACER National School Improvement Tool. This has been most beneficial for my own professional development as well as for our school, as I have the opportunity to visit other secondary schools in the diocese which is a privilege and a learning experience.

School Improvement

In terms of our school improvement agenda, thank you to the parents, students and staff who have responded to the recent Tell Them From Me Survey. This provides us with data that helps us determine how we are tracking in terms of our goals and strategies, celebrate (hopefully) any areas of growth, and review areas of need. In our last newsletter, I provided our 3-year School Improvement Directions statement. This week  I have included our College Mission and Vision statements:

Learning Collaborative - International researcher & author - Dr Lyn Sharratt at McAuley 

We are excited and privileged to welcome Dr Lyn Sharratt to our College on Thursday for a Professional Learning and feedback session. Lyn is a highly accomplished practitioner, researcher, author and presenter based in Canada, but works with schools around the world.  We have been working with Lyn Sharratt since 2021 through an initiative from the Catholic Schools Office, Lismore, to improve literacy in schools. We have called this journey with Lyn The Learning Collaborative and her work has been the focus of many of our Staff Development Days over the last 2 + years. Lyn’s book Clarity - What matters most in Learning, Teaching and Leading has provided us with direction and strategies to improve learning (and literacy) across the College through a learning framework based around 14 Parameters. Two vitally important parameters which bookend the framework are: 1. Shared beliefs and understandings and 14. Shared responsibility and accountability. We look forward to having Lyn at our school to assist us on our learning journey. You can discover more about Lyn on her website lynsharratt.com, and various social media platforms:

Parent Forum 

Our next parent forum meeting will be in week 6 - Tuesday 30th May in the library from 5.30 for a 6pm start. This is an opportunity to find out more about the College and the many activities that your child can be involved in. 

OPALS - week 5

Our Ongoing Participation and Application Log (OPAL) report will be released at the end of Week 5. This should be seen as a progress indicator as we head towards the end-of-semester reports.  Students with scores that are below expectation or are of concern are to have conversations with their teachers to discuss ways to improve. Parents are welcome to contact staff to discuss their child's progress and strategies for improvement.

Catholic Schools Week 

Each year Catholic Schools Week is an opportunity for Catholic schools to celebrate what they do best - high-quality teaching and learning within a caring and supportive Catholic community. This year we joined with our four Primary schools for a lovely Mass at St Mary’s Church, Grafton, which was attended by year 10 and year 6 students.  

I welcome back Di McGowan after a few weeks of leave and thank Marg Bertalli for standing in as the Assistant Principal Learning & Teaching.

Enjoy the fortnight ahead,

Sincerely

Kate

Kate Thomson

Principal

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

Catherine McAuley

Drop Everything and Read (DEAR).

Students from Years 7 to 10 drop everything for the first 15 minutes of Period 3 each school day (excluding Thursday) and read.  Mrs McLennan has been training some year 10 Peer Mentors to support year 7 during the Peer Reading time. It is a wonderful act of service to support other students in their learning and we thank the Year 10 volunteers for their commitment to helping others.

It is important that students have a novel each day for DEAR and if possible it would be wonderful if parents can support the initiative by asking their children what they are reading and even listening to them read aloud.

Learning Walks and Talks

Leaders at McAuley Catholic College conduct daily Learning Walks and Talks. This provides us with a picture of how our learning from professional days held over the year, has transferred to the classroom and impacted student learning. Learning Walks and talks are expected to:

Promote growth in:

• • teacher capacity
  • student learning outcomes

Provide feedback to the leadership team about the following:

• • students’ understanding of what they are learning, and
  • how they can be successful in their learning

It would be wonderful if our parents could support this process by checking in with their children regarding what is happening in their lessons. Five  questions parents can ask their children include:

1. What did you learn today?
2. How did you do? 
3. What did you do if you didn’t understand?
4. How can you improve on your learning?
5. What are you most proud of?

Elevate Education works with our students, delivering high-impact workshops on study skills, motivation, wellbeing, and exam preparation. Earlier in May, Elevate Education hosted its first free webinar for parents - How to Help Get (& Keep!) Your Child Motivated. It has been noted that time is left at the end of these webinars to answer any questions, there are often too many to get through in the time allocated. Consequently, Elevate will be hosting the first ‘Ask Me Anything’ webinar of the year on May 24th – a webinar guided entirely by your parents’ questions. 

This free webinar will be taking place on Wednesday 24th May. ‘Ask Elevate Anything’ is a great opportunity to ask any questions you feel have been unanswered by Elevate in their webinars so far, whether that relates to your child’s study space, their motivation levels, the way they study – sign up to their webinar for an opportunity to have your question answered! 

By tuning into their webinar series you will learn how you can help better support your children at home by reinforcing the skills they learn at school:   

Wednesday 24th May @ 6:30pm (AEST) 

Ask Elevate Anything

Click here to register for free https://get.elevatecoaching.info/au/schoolwebinar

Festa Christi is a gathering for selected Year 8 students from parish secondary schools in the Diocese to celebrate their faith at a Diocesan level.

The two-day retreat experience involves activities that focus on ‘walking in another person’s shoes’, having the students overcome their fears and gaining a greater awareness of social justice. Festa Christi allows time for prayer and reflection and concludes with the celebration of the Eucharist. The program has been geared to meet the needs of Year 8 students.

The gathering will be an overnight experience which will allow relationships to be built with other

students from throughout the Diocese, as well as a chance for students to talk and share about their faith journey.

What: Festa Christi – a youth gathering for students from every parish school in the northern

region of the Diocese.

When:

Boy’s Retreat: Tuesday 1st – Wednesday 2nd August, 2023

Girl’s Retreat: Wednesday 3rd – Friday 4th August, 2023

Where: Coffs Coast Adventure Centre, Bonville

Cost: Nil. All transport, food and accommodation expenses will be met by the Catholic Schools

Office.

In discerning which students might participate in this retreat experience, the CSO has recommended the following guidelines:

• Faith-filled and eager to share the love of Jesus
• Regularly attend their parish Mass
• Are involved in some other form of church participation either at school or in the parish (for example Vinnies conference, altar serving)
• Students who are interested and willing to learn more about the Christian faith and grow in this area.

A large number of McAuley students have already expressed an interest in this event. We can,

however, only offer a limited number of places. Any student who would like to be considered is asked to write a brief statement supporting their nomination on the information sheets provided by Mr Alex Montford, and available at the front office. Attention should be given to the stated selection criteria.

Nominations should be handed to the front office no later than Friday 9th June, 2023.

This exciting conference is back again in September. The CSO will be organising a trip which is open to students from Years 7-12. The trip will be subsidised by the CSO to make it more affordable and accessible. Student participants will be asked to make a co-contribution of $250.00. This contribution will go towards the registration cost. Transport and accommodation are fully subsidized.

To secure your registration for Ignite, students will need to collect a form from the front office and return it by Wednesday 24th May. Please include $250.00 (non-refundable) payment with a permission note and return it to the school office. Registration online using the coupon code provided on the permission note is required as part of the application.

Further details on the conference are below:

Our school as part of the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Limited (DLCSL), like all child-safe organisations, is implementing the Child Safe Standards. As a part of this work, we share our Child Safeguarding Commitment Statement which reinforces our dedication to the safety and wellbeing of all children. Please take the time to read the commitment statement and if you have any questions please discuss with the school leadership team. We will continue to engage with you on this important matter.

The eSafety Commissioner has a number of free webinars available for all parents throughout Term 2 on many topics to support parents as they raise children in the digital world. Your Parent Assembly Regional Coordinator can also facilitate a group viewing of these webinars and lead discussions with your parents about supporting healthy online behaviours. Contact your region's coordinator for more information:

Clarence: christine.morrison@lism.catholic.edu.au 

The webinar provides families with strategies for supporting children and young people to have safe, positive experiences when playing games online. It is designed for parents and carers of children aged 7 to 14.

It will cover the following:

• when gaming can be beneficial;
• strategies to promote better in-game experiences;
• how to keep children safe online – using safety and privacy settings in games and platforms;
• strategies to promote more balanced gaming and how to create smoother transitions from game-play to other activities; and
• the key online risks and where to find help for things like bullying and harassment in games

Course Changes & New Courses for Year 12

Australian Pacific College | Diploma of User Experience Design In APC’s new Diploma of User Experience Design, students will learn how to create digital experiences that enable customers to seamlessly complete tasks and achieve their goals online. This diploma is designed to help students develop their creative thinking, digital knowledge, and human-centred design skills. Find out more: https://www.apc.edu.au/course/diploma-of-user-experience-design/

New to ACU in 2024 | Diploma of Criminology Students who undertake this diploma will be able to gain credit for up to the first year of study and articulate into the second year of the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at ACU. Find out more: https://www.acu.edu.au/study-at-acu/find-a-course/new-courses/diploma-in-criminology 

Courses & Workshops for Students

Sydney College of the Arts (SCA) Portfolio Day: online and in person | The University of Sydney The SCA invites high school students to attend one of our online or in-person 1:1 portfolio feedback sessions on Tues 30 May 2023. Our academics will provide personalised feedback to assist students with the preparation of their portfolios and application to study one of our visual arts courses. Find out more and register - Online event: bit.ly/SCAOnline  In-person event: bit.ly/SCAF2F

ACTA College | Funded Trade Courses ACTA College, RTO: 40954, located in Ingleburn NSW 2565, is a Smart & Skilled provider offering funded courses in Building & Construction and in Carpentry. The courses we deliver at ACTA College are Fee Free* for eligible candidates, our courses are face-to-face and teach practical experience. Contact ACTA College P: 1300730830 or E: mayssa@actacollege.edu.au for more information

Bedford College  Bedford educates and equips people from all walks of life towards personal and professional advancement. With pathways into employment, uni and entrepreneurship, Bedford’s smaller classroom setting ensures each student’s unique gift and purpose is nurtured as they prepare for a fulfilling career. Visit www.bedford.edu.au

UCAT Support from MedEntry UCAT Support for aspiring doctors from MedEntry: Workshops by Dr Ray, Weekly classes, Intensive classes, one on one Tutoring (in person or virtual). www.MedEntry.edu.au

Information Sessions for Students & Parents

ARTiculate Talks | support/resources for high school students and teachers | The University of Sydney Designed and delivered by academic experts in the field, each online ARTiculate talk complements the knowledge HSC students gain in the classroom. Upcoming sessions: 15 June, English: Critical And Creative Responses Under Pressure.
Register & browse more sessions: https://bit.ly/USYDATS

OPEN DAY | JMC ACADEMY  Saturday 20 May 2023, 10am - 561 Harris Street, Ultimo. Explore your creative future: Tour world-class facilities and tech, participate in workshops, meet students and industry experts, check out live performances, build networks and see creativity come to life with course demonstrations. We look forward to welcoming you to campus. https://pages.jmcacademy.edu.au/May2023_OpenDay_Syd.html

The University of Sydney Year 12 Information Evening Find out how the University of Sydney can get you started on the road to your dream career. Join us at the Year 12 Information Evening on Wednesday 24 May, 4pm -7pm for a fun and informative night to learn what Sydney has to offer and what student life is all about. Register: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-university-of-sydney-year-12-information-evening-tickets-570138628987

UOW College & Pathways Online Information Session Are you in Year 12 and are worried about getting a low ATAR, not going for an ATAR or think you may need some extra preparation before diving into university studies? Please join staff & students from UOW College on Tuesday 30 May, 6pm - 7pm for our online pathways webinar. Register:
https://www.swoogo.com/loggedin/website/index?id=87051&uid=64488f300c8c7&pageId=2708207&lang=en

Study Medicine The latest information “May marks the beginning of the 2024 medicine application cycle” has been added to Study Medicine https://www.studymedicine.com.au/deadline-listing This includes a fully detailed list of May 2023 university deadlines, interviews, significant events and medicine offers for all Australian medicine degrees and degrees leading to medicine (entry in 2024).

Western Sydney University The Academy at Western is a place for students to learn, grow and transform as leaders and change-makers. The program is designed to build students’ awareness, knowledge, and critical skills to lead with confidence and purpose. Through engagement with mentorships, internships, and conferences, students gain the skills to spark change: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/future/study/courses/the-academy

The Hotel School Australia The Hotel School Australia is holding an Open Campus on Saturday 17 June, 10am - 1pm. Learn about The Hotel’s School courses and flexible study options, meet academic staff and current students and have all your questions answered. Limited spots are available, parents and friends are welcome. Register: https://bit.ly/41Xq56R  For more information contact anne.mccrory@scu.edu.au

Projects Abroad | Overseas Medical Placements for High School Students Projects Abroad has 2023 dates for overseas medical programs. They are for Year 10-12 students whose ambition is a career in healthcare. Students can join as individuals or with friends and have 24/7 support from Projects Abroad's local team. The most popular program is Nepal - https://www.projects-abroad.com.au/projects/medical-internship-for-teenagers-nepal/

Year 10 Textiles

This semester the Year 10 Textiles class has been undertaking a unit called Journey. Students have followed the design process to design, manufacture and evaluate non-apparel products which included a small toiletry bag and a bigger bag to store items in 

They were given the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge associated with workshop safety, textiles tools and equipment and the management of design projects. The girls in the class have produced some outstanding work and should be congratulated on their efforts. They are currently creating a duffel bag which will complete the unit. 

Year 8 Food Technology - Burgers

Year 12 went to Yarra Adventure Centre last week for their Retreat. The theme of their retreat was “Finding Hope for the Future”. The students were able to spend some quality time reflecting on their own qualities and characteristics and planning for the future. Throughout the retreat, they worked in small groups and as a year group to reflect on themselves and their relationship with others and God. 

It was an excellent retreat, where the students enjoyed each other’s company and shared many highlights of their final time together in an overnight experience. The students were open and positive and the staff were very proud of the way this year's group conducted themselves. It was a pleasure to be on retreat and I would like to thank the staff who dedicated their time to ensure the students had a positive experience.

Bill Turner Soccer Cup

After wins in both round 1 and 2 our Bill Turner soccer sides will progress through to round 3 of the statewide knockout tournament.

The girls have had strong victories against Maclean High School (1-0) and South Grafton High School (2-0). 

The boys snuck through round 1 with a close victory over Maclean High School (1-0) and dominated in their match against Grafton High (4-0).

We wish both teams the best of luck in round 3.

Transport NSW has asked schools to remind students to wear a seat belt while travelling on the bus to and from school. While travelling on the bus, students are to follow the Transport NSW Code of Conduct for School Students. It is every student's responsibility to behave in a manner that ensures the safety and comfort of passengers and drivers. This includes wearing the seat belt properly adjusted and fastened, if one is available while travelling on the bus. Please remind students to treat the bus driver with respect and follow any requests to wear a seat belt to ensure their safety, their peers and the driver.

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.