Term 2 - Week 9 - 23 June 2023

Dear Parents and Carers,

The last 4 weeks have been very difficult for the students, staff and extended community of McAuley Catholic College. Last week many students and staff attended the funeral of Year 10 student Noah Smith and his father Wayne in Lawrence on the beautiful Clarence River. It was a service that celebrated the lives of Noah and Wayne and focussed on their achievements rather than the tragedy that ended their lives. I wish to commend the students from McAuley and other Clarence Valley schools who attended and participated in the funeral with such respect, composure and mateship in honour of their friend Noah. The College was invited to contribute a prayer for Noah, which was read by Sarah Nicholls, which is included in this newsletter. We continue to keep Noah and his family and friends in our thoughts and prayers. 

As I stated in our previous newsletter please reach out and seek help for your child and yourself. We have been supported by a number of organisations, including headspace Schools and Communities and Be You and I have included again some of their resources in this newsletter.

We also keep in our thoughts and prayers the family and friends of former student Lynan Muldoon and her husband Andrew Scott, who lost their lives in the tragic bus accident that occurred in the Hunter Valley on the 11th of June. Lynan graduated from McAuley in 2008 and was an allrounder as a student.  She could brighten anyone’s day with her beautiful smile and genuine care of others. 

Staff

We farewell this term Mr Brayden Jamieson who is taking leave for the next 2 terms. We wish Brayden all the best as he explores new places and experiences. We welcome to the College Admin Team Ms Eryn Hammond who is replacing Brayden for the rest of the year. Mr Stuart Tait is taking leave for the first 5 weeks of term 3. Stuart is being replaced by Ms Amanda Kennedy and we will welcome her to the College at the start of the term. Mrs Warby will continue her leave next term as I stated in our last newsletter. Thank you to Marg Bertalli who has been replacing Kathy this term. Mrs Tiffany Lee will take on the role of AP Mission & Wellbeing next term.

Celebrations

Congratulations to the three students who attended the NSWCCC Cross Country Championships. Amazing results were achieved by the girls in their respective age groups with Kayla Hancock 2nd place, Willow Towney and Charlie Imeson 9th. All three are eligible for the next level of competition which is All Schools. Congratulations also to all the students who competed for their House in the Annual Athletics Carnival and huge congratulations to the winning house Champagnat! Many records were broken on the day, some standing for over 30 years. 

This week we saw the “2023 MCC (Women’s) World Cup Soccer” competition come to a close with an exciting grand final between Champagnat and Tracey, with Tracey being awarded the win. Well done to the Student Leadership Team for their hard work coordinating this competition!

McAuley Fest 

Unfortunately, due to various circumstances, we have had to postpone McAuley Fest again. The new date will be confirmed at the beginning of Term 3. Families who have bought tickets will be able to transfer them to the new date or will be offered a refund.

NAIDOC & Rachel Johnson Memorial Touch Football

We finished the term with a special NAIDOC celebration which includes the opening of the Yarning Circle and our annual Rachel Johnson Touch Football Competition. Thank you to our IEWs Wil Bancroft and Elle Bancroft and their team who have co-ordinated the day acknowledging the 2023 theme, For Our Elders. Elders present for our celebrations today were Aunty Midge Bancroft, Aunty Robyne Bancroft, Aunty Pam Donnelly. Also present were Doreen Flanders from the CSO;  Larisa Johnson and family - Guest speakers for the Rachel Johnson Memorial; Candace Anglo - from Sydney University who has assisted with funding; as well as family members and friends. NAIDOC is a time for us to acknowledge and celebrate our Aboriginal and Torres Islander students and local community as well as celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the country. In terms of the 2023 NAIDOC theme, For Our Elders, the words of Rhoda Roberts AO, Widjabul Wia-bal woman from the Bundjalung Nation describes it perfectly:  Elders are beloved in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Guides, carers, knowledge-holders, nurturers, Elders also work closely with Cultural custodians, holders of knowledge, ceremony and story. Declaring this year’s National NAIDOC Week theme For Our Elders is itself an act of love. This theme gives First Nations communities another platform to be vocal in our adoration for our Elders and their unique role in carrying forward the oldest living culture on the planet. For Our Elders is also a call to all Australians to deepen their understanding of what it means to be a First Nations Elder. This is an opportunity to respectfully connect with Elders, learn treasured stories and appreciate legacies of activism and advocacy. (From SBS NAIDOC week Teacher resource, 2023)

The Rachel Johnson Memorial Touch Football was held as part of the NAIDOC celebrations and it has become an important annual event of the school. The students played in homeroom groups and I congratulate ME3 on their grand final win against CH2. More will be reported on this in the next newsletter!

Friday 30th June - Staff Spirituality Day

Friday is our Staff Spirituality Day. This is an important day for staff and this year we are exploring our Mercy charism and values, to deepen our awareness and understanding of our Mercy story to ensure we live this in our school each day. 

I wish all in our community a safe and relaxing holiday. All students and staff return to school on Monday 17th July. There will be a Staff Development Day on Monday 31st July. This will be a pupil free day for students in Years 7 - 11. Year 12 begin their Trial HSC Exams on this day.

Take care in the fortnight ahead,

Sincerely

Kate

Kate Thomson

Principal

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

Catherine McAuley

Staff Reflection Day - Catherine McAuley and Mercy Values

Formation is critical for us as staff in a Catholic school. Thus, all staff at McAuley Catholic College will engage in formation through our Staff Spirituality Day at the end of the Term. These days combine elements of education, professional development, dialogue and spiritual reflection, allowing us to foster a sense of community and discern our place in the call to live Gospel values in the service of others.

One of the goals from the School Annual Improvement Plan is to …

Renew the focus on Mercy Values within our College community to continue to promote the mission of Jesus Christ.

Consequently, the focus of our day is Catherine McAuley and the Mercy Values. The spirituality day aims to empower staff with a deep understanding and integration of the Mercy values while embracing the revolutionary spirit of Catherine McAuley as a boundary breaker. Through interactive modules, participants will explore the essence of the Mercy values, cultivating compassion, justice, and service within themselves and their work environments. By examining Catherine McAuley's trailblazing role in challenging societal norms and dismantling barriers, staff will be inspired to break free from limitations, think innovatively, and create positive change in their lives and the McAuley community.

Our learning goals are to:

• Examine Catherine McAuley's story and her goals for teachers in Mercy schools
• Recognise the gifts and talents of others and ways to promote the Mercy Charism
• Understand the role of a community of mercy focusing on the importance of our Mercy Values

If the Mercy spirit is to be genuine and integrated in our college community it calls on the gifts and talents of everyone in working towards our vision … 

To inspire our students to be confident, curious and compassionate lifelong learners who will bring about a better tomorrow through the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom, and the embodiment of the Mercy values.

Margaret Bertalli
Acting Assistant Principal - Mission and Wellbeing

Learning and Teaching

There have been many exciting developments and opportunities in Learning and Teaching within our school community over the last few weeks. One notable event that took place recently was the Year 8 and 10 Curriculum Information Evening focused on subject selection for Stages 5 and 6. We were thrilled to see a strong turnout from our parent community, as it provided an excellent platform for us to collaborate and guide our students in making informed decisions about their future pathways. Thank you to the staff and Mrs Lee, our Curriculum Coordinator, for making the successful evening possible. By working together, we can support our students as they explore their purpose, passions, and potential career opportunities.

Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards

At Thursday’s Assembly, we congratulated the students who had received either bronze, silver or gold awards.  The Positive Awards Scheme (PAS) at MCC is designed to reward consistent positive student behaviour both in and out of the classroom and participation in and contributions to College programs, and involvement in community service programs. Congratulations to the following students:

• Bronze Award: Bennett and Jeremy Stainlay 
• Silver Award: Beau Thompson 
• Gold Award: Jeremy Stainlay 

A reminder to parents and students that awards are recognised in weeks 5 and 9 of each term. There a quite a lot of students who have the information on Compass to receive an award. However, they need to complete the final step in the process, which is to obtain an Application for Awards form from the front office, attach the appropriate documentation and hand it to their respective House Leader for processing.

Tell them from me (TTFM) Student Survey Results 

At Assembly this week, I spoke to the students about the student results from one aspect of the TTFM survey completed by the students in week 3. This section of the survey aimed to gauge their level of intellectual engagement and their perception of the value of schooling. We greatly appreciate the participation of our students in providing their feedback, as their voices play a vital role in shaping our school community. Below is the number of responses by students in 2023 broken down by year group.

Regarding intellectual engagement, the survey assessed the percentage of students who scored above six on a 10-point scale. Those who achieved this score were considered to be intellectually engaged. We are pleased to report that our school's average (6.7) aligns with the average of all students who completed the Tell Them From Me survey. This indicates that our students' intellectual engagement is on par with their peers from across the survey population.

However, it is essential to note that another section of the survey asked students to what degree they value schooling. Here, the results show that the average of the respondents at McAuley who highly value schooling is lower than that of other schools in Australia and Southeast Asia amongst those who participated in the survey this year.

As staff, we are actively reflecting on this feedback and asking ourselves what we can do as teachers to support our student's interests and motivation better.

One significant avenue for addressing this is through our subject selection process. We are delighted to inform you that we have introduced a range of new subjects, providing our students with even more opportunities to explore their interests and passions. By offering a diverse curriculum, we can better cater to the needs and aspirations of our students, fostering their engagement and motivation.

We understand the significance of collaboration between home and school in supporting our student's educational journey. Your continued involvement and partnership are invaluable to us. Together, we can create an environment that inspires intellectual curiosity and motivates our students to achieve their full potential.

Dianne McGowan

Holiday Reading

The winter holidays are almost here and it is a great opportunity to soak up the winter sunshine with a great book.

Reading is incredibly important for growing minds, and according to the Kids and Family Reading Report, 2019 there are some pretty simple tricks to get students to read.

“It is not a mystery that the more children read, the better readers they become, and the better readers they become, the more they enjoy reading. It’s a tried-and-true premise. To that end, we asked: what makes children frequent readers? Independent reading at school, parental involvement at home, and the power of book choice are vital in this regard.”

The Mercy Library can help our students and your children become great readers by giving them more opportunities to read their favourite books.

Every student can borrow FIVE books over the holiday periods from our library resources, and they can also borrow SIX books at a time from the digital collection of Sora. Holiday reading can also go towards the students’ Premier’s Reading Challenge tally which is open until August 18.

A great way to share reading time with teenagers is to download the Sora App onto your phone and borrow an audiobook to share with your whole family while you are travelling. When you do this you will automatically fulfil all the requirements of modelling good reading habits for young adults because you will naturally talk about the characters, the ideas and the plot twists of a story that you love. There are more than 2500 audio books on Sora, so you are bound to find one that you can all share.

The MCC staff are also modelling great reading habits by sharing their favourite books in a reading competition hosted through the Mercy Library. Students have to match teachers to their favourite book in order to enter the “Staff Fave” competition. Why don’t you discuss your favourite books with your child to encourage their reading habits?

Transport NSW and Essential Energy Excursion

Transport for NSW and Essential Energy recently hosted a tour of their depots in Grafton to showcase careers recently. They were particularly interested in talking to young students about the apprenticeships and traineeships they will recruit for over the coming months with a 2024 commencement.

These roles were showcased at an Industry Day for Year 10, 11 and 12 visiting both depots. Practical hands-on activities occurred during a tour of both depots where students learnt about apprenticeships in Civil Construction, Bridge Construction, Mechanical Services, Power Supply, and Electrical Technology and about traineeships in Business, Project Management and Surveying. Students also engaged with staff who provided tips about how to apply for the upcoming roles.

MCC would like to thank the Regional Industry Educational Partnerships for providing this great opportunity to our students.

Close the Gap

We will give you more news from our NAIDOC celebrations in the next newsletter.

Wil and Ellee
Indigenous Education Workers

Year 10 Food Technology

Our year 10 Food Technology class had a heap of fun making some delicious sushi and rice paper rolls

Netball NSW Schools Cup 2023

On Thursday 25th May, a whopping 107 students attended the 2023 Netball NSW Schools Cup. Lani and Tayah Cole commenced the day by reading an acknowledgement to the original custodians of the land. Players of the tournament were then invited to participate in a commemorative Nutbush to honour the life of Tina Turner.

Teams commenced playing from 8.30am. Unfortunately, one community team had to withdraw due to Covid protocols and so the year 7 and 8 boys were thrown right in the deep end last minute, to play in the female division.

Overall, it was a fantastic day! McAuley teams played 45 round games with a total of 325 goals scored throughout the day, resulting in four teams progressing to the Regional Finals held in Lismore in September this year.

A massive round of applause to all players on the day and special thanks to all staff, students, peers, and family members involved in organising, assisting, and supporting this year’s event.  We can’t wait to do it all again in 2024 so keep your eyes on daily notices for further announcements and information!

Diocesan Junior Soccer Gala Day

During week 7 our girls and boys junior soccer sides travelled to Coffs Harbour to compete in the Diocesan carnival. Schools from as far north as Banora through to Port Macquarie in the south were involved in the day. Both teams played with enthusiasm and spirit and represented our college with pride and great sportsmanship. The boys ended the day with 2 draws and 2 losses. The girls impressed coming away with 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss, missing out on the final by just one point.

Congratulations to all players.

Jeopardy Challenge

During Week 7, our College held an exhilarating school-wide Jeopardy trivia challenge. Six student teams ranging from Year 7 to Year 12, along with one fearless teacher team named "The Lab Rats," showcased their intellectual prowess in a high-energy competition.

A passionate Year 7 boys' team emerged as the champions, taking home the prize of a delicious pizza lunch. They faced tough competition from formidable opponents such as the Year 7 "Surf Rats," Year 9 "Mathletes," Year 11 "Beta Squad," and the two Year 12 teams, "TBD" and "The Twelvers."

Covering topics ranging from MCC history to technology, film, Australia, and general knowledge, the game tested the participants' quick thinking. The Mathletes held the lead for most of the game. However, in the end, the Spectroms took the lead in the final few rounds. Well done to everyone involved; it is evident that healthy competition thrives in our school community!

Stay tuned for our next Jeopardy challenge in Term 3. Sign-up sheets will be emailed out during Week 1. Who will rise to claim the title and another delicious pizza prize?

NSWCCC Cross Country

On 13 June, Kayla Hancock, Willow Rowney and Charlie Imeson competed in the NSWCCC Cross Country championships at the Sydney Equestrian Centre. Congratulations to Kayla who came 2nd and Willow who placed 4th in the 12-year girls, and Charlie who came 9th in the 17-year girls. All three girls now go on to compete at the NSW All School championships in Sydney on 21 July. I wish them all the best.

Athletics Carnival 2023

Friday, 16 June the school held the Annual Athletics Carnival at Junction Hill. There was a great atmosphere on the day and all students and teachers need to be congratulated for their enthusiasm. In particular a big congratulations to the following students who were Age Champions: 

U12  Kayla Hancock and Oliver Inskip, 

U13  Taya Murphy and a tie between Will Hutchinson and Wroxton Fahey,

U14  Steffany Nudo and a tie between Kane Patricks and Duke Orr,

U15  Hazel Golding and Timothy Van Der Vlist,

U16  Jasmine Chellew and William Tait,  

Opens  Sahara Powell and Mitchell Dick. 

The school will acknowledge all the champions in the first assembly of term 3. There was a processing error in tabulating some results which led to the wrong acknowledgement of some age champions at assembly week 9. It deeply saddens us that this incident may have caused confusion and disappointment.

For the first time in a number of years, we congratulate Champagnat House who won the overall Carnival with 1285 points.

A big thanks to everyone who helped out on the day to make it a great experience. A special mention goes to the following students who broke records on the day:

• Xavier Cassidy-Thomasonbroke the 2021 14 Boys Shot Put record with a distance of 10.58
  
  
• Will Tait broke the 2002 16 Boys 400m record with a time of 56.05s
  
  
• Jade Simon broke the 2010 14 Girls High Jump record with a jump of 1.60m
  
  
• James Zimmerman broke the 1999 Opens High Jump record with a jump of 1.82m
  
  
• Navah Crofton broke the 2000 16 Girls 1500m record with a time of 5 minutes 43.89 seconds
  
  
• Jasmine Chellew broke the 2000 16 Girls 200m record with a time of 27.24 seconds
  
  
• Kayla Hancock broke two records: the 1993 12-year Girls 400m record with a time of 1 minute 10.67s AND the 1997 1500m record with a time of 5 minutes 40.06 seconds
  
  
• Hazel Golding also broke two records: the 1992 15 Year Girls record with a time of 13.46 AND the 2018 400m with a time of 1 minute and 7.19seconds

Any student who came first or second is encouraged to sign up for the Diocesan Athletics Carnival by attending meetings held at school during lunchtime. Special thanks to Mr Nipperess, Mr Humphries, Mr Tait, Mrs Lee and Mrs Robinson for their help and expertise in organising such a huge event.

Congratulations to former McAuley Student Isabella (Bella) Samuel on completing her Traineeship in Organisational Development at Clarence Valley Council.

Bella commenced at the Council in January 2021 and completed her Cert IV in Business Administration within 8 months.  She completed her traineeship officially in January 2023 and continues to work at the Council in a People and Culture Administration position.

Pictured with Alex Moar, Director Corporate and Community, who told us that Bella has excelled at Council and has become a valued People and Culture Team member.  She is managing training and development and engages well with all staff.

Bella is also doing a Bachelor of Policing and Public Safety online and a Cert IV in Human Resources in her spare time, as well as coaching, playing and umpiring Saturday netball.

Bella was voted for by her colleagues and won the STRIVE Trainee/Apprenticeship Achievement Champion Award in December 2022 for her outstanding work and commitment to her traineeship.

Loving Father,

We come before you today with heavy hearts as we gather to mourn the loss of Noah, a beloved friend, and member of our community. We seek solace and comfort in your presence during this time of grief and sorrow.

Noah's life, though too short, was filled with moments of joy, laughter, and love. We remember his youthful spirit, cheeky smile, passion for fishing and boating, and the strong bonds he shared with his mates and family. These memories bring both smiles and tears as we reflect on the impact he had on our lives.

Lord, we pray for Noah's friends and his year group at McAuley, who now face the difficult task of navigating their grief. Surround them with your wisdom, compassion, and grace. May they find solace in the memories they shared with Noah and draw strength from their community as they support one another in their sorrow.

We humbly ask for your divine presence to guide us through this time of mourning. Grant us the courage to face our pain and the strength to carry on, knowing that you are with us every step of the way. Comfort those who loved Noah deeply, as they grapple with the immense void left by his passing. May your healing touch bring them peace, hope, and the assurance of your eternal love.

Help us, Lord, to navigate this journey of grief with grace and to honour Noah's memory by living our lives to the fullest, spreading love, kindness, and compassion in this world.

In your holy name, we offer this prayer, seeking your abundant grace and blessings.

Amen.

The College is pleased to announce that it now offers lunch orders online for students through the Flexischools app. Please see the attached flyer to get started.

Please find here some resources from headspace and Be You to be used in times of grief 

• Stress response in adolescents and adults

• Be You Support Services

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.

Dates to note:

June:

29th: Last day of Term 2 (students) 

30th: Staff Spirituality Day

July: 

8th - 15th Yr 11 Ski Trip

17th: All students and staff return for term 3

19th: Parent meeting European Tour 2024

20th: McAuley Fest

25th: Yr 7 - 11 Parent Teacher Student Interviews

26th: Year 11 & 12 Post-school options day

27th: Presentation of Semester 1 Academic and Effort awards

31st: Yr 12 HSC Trial exams start

31st: Staff Development Day - Pupil-free day for students in Years 7 - 11