Term 3 - Week 7 - 1st September 2023

Dear Parents and Carers,

In week 8 we are hosting two major events  - McAuley Fest and McAuley Day! 

McAuley Fest is this Thursday 7th September, and I sincerely hope you are coming to this great night of music, entertainment, art, food, and community!  The evening starts at 5pm in the College Hall, with tickets on sale via Compass or at the door. All performers and artists are from the College community (staff and students). Money raised will be donated to Mercy Works.

McAuley Day is this Friday 8th September, when we will celebrate our Feast Day - a very special day in our school calendar where we acknowledge our Mercy history and traditions and raise money for those less fortunate than ourselves. All students are expected to attend and are encouraged to bring along some extra money to participate in fundraising activities organised by each homeroom. All money raised will go to Mercy Works who continue to help those in need.

Year 12 

Year 12 students are in their final weeks of school and we encourage them to “finish well”. This is an important time to consolidate their work to 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 20th September at 9.30am in the College Hall. Congratulations to all our students who have recently completed their major works (IT- Timber & Multi-Media, Visual Arts, Drama) and those preparing for their music performance.

Year 11

Year 11 is finalising its leadership team for 2023 - 24. 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 all the best as they start their preparation for Preliminary course assessments which will be held in Week 9. You will find more information about this in Mrs McGowan’s article. 

Book Week 

A week of activities culminated in a book week dress-up on Friday 25th August. A number of students and many staff dressed as their inspirational characters. Lots of fun was had by those who participated. Thank you to Mrs Gleeson and the library staff and helpers for their organisation of Book Week.

Congratulations - Through Our Eyes

The production of Through Our Eyes was performed in week 6 and what an amazing production it was!!!! A contemporary look at how our year 7 & 8 students see the world and the future, devised and performed by the group. Congratulations to all the students and staff involved, especially Mr Mark Conaghan. I was amazed and so proud of this group of students and I congratulate them on their courage, creativity and maturity.

Diocesan Athletics Carnival  

Our school was well represented at Diocesan Athletics in week 6 and achieved outstanding results across many areas. As a school, we achieved second place which is a huge feat as we are one of the smaller schools in the diocese. Mr Hand summarised the results of the day at Assembly recently. Congratulations to all who attended and contributed to the best of their ability. 

Parent Forum - Parent Assembly: David Kobler Brave Parenting Conversations

In week 7 a group of parents came together to participate in a Webinar presented by David Kobler from Your Choicez titled Brave Parenting Conversations. David made the evening interactive, posing questions to the audience and providing strategies and clear messaging to assist parents of teenagers. There was a focus on social media and technology, creating boundaries, modelling behaviour and having clear messaging. Thank you to Christine Morrison, our Parent Assembly Cluster Coordinator for organising the evening.

Uniform 

Boys' Ties - Junior and senior boys are no longer required to wear their ties 

When to wear the Sports Uniform?

It is time to clarify when students can wear their sports uniform. This information has been provided to students at Assembly and in homeroom. It will be reviewed at the beginning of term 4. Please see the information regarding this in the relevant section of this newsletter.

Allowing students to wear their sports uniform on certain days, other than sports day has reduced many issues that occurred when all students had to change at the school. However, it has resulted in safety issues in our practical subjects such as TAS, VET and science, in particular unsafe footwear. Therefore, to ensure we are compliant with safety regulations, students must have the correct footwear for their practical subjects - enclosed leather footwear (or other material confirmed by the manufacturer to be suitable - standard 2210). Students presenting for a class or activity with inappropriate footwear will not be able to participate in the practical activity until they are wearing appropriate footwear.  

Therefore on days they have TAS/VET/SCIENCE practical subjects and PDHPE/PASS practical students can wear their sports uniform and bring appropriate footwear or wear their formal uniform and change into their sports uniform. 

All the best for the fortnight ahead

Sincerely

Kate

Kate Thomson

Principal

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

Catherine McAuley

Year 12

Congratulations to the many year 12 students who have had to submit or complete their major work over the last three weeks. There is some fantastic talent amongst this year's group.

The school will implement Extended Library Hours to support year 12s, providing a space to collaborate and work together to get the best academic results. These hours apply on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for week 8-9. Some teachers may also offer holiday study/revision sessions, which will be advertised to students in week 9. Information about the end-of-term celebrations has also been shared with families from Mrs Rouse via Compass.

Year 11

Year 11 exams start week nine on Monday, 11th September. Mrs Lee will meet with all year 11 and outline expectations. All students must familiarise themselves with the exam timetable and assessment policy.

The exam timetable has been shared with students via email.

Expectations for the exams are listed below:

• Students may stay home when they have no exams, but study spaces will be provided at school (this might be a better option for many students).
• Students must be at school at least 20 minutes before the start of an exam.
• Students may go home after morning exams if they only have one exam, but they must sign out through the office. NB: Late arrival is okay if they have an afternoon exam.
• Students who have two exams on one day are not permitted to leave the school premises between exams.
• The illness/ misadventure (IM) process in your assessment handbook must be followed in case of I/M.
• Students are expected to be in full school uniform at any time they are at school.

Year 10

Nearly all Year 10 students have had a future pathway interview for 2024. This counselling session aimed to ensure a smooth transition into the senior school. For some students, the interview has led to changes in subject choice; if this is the case, students will be notified of their final classes by the end of the term.

Upcoming Webinar for Parents - 'How You Can Support Your Child During Exams'

Elevate is an organisation that has been working with the College to help our students become effective learners. This term's free parent webinar is available to parents and carers. It is regarding 'How You Can Support Your Child During Exams' and will occur on  Wednesday, 13th September.

In 'How You Can Support Your Child During Exams', Elevate will cover:

• What to do in the final days before any test or assessment
• How to establish a good routine for the night before
• How to optimise exam-room performance

​​​​​​The webinar is run live online from 6.30 pm (AEDT)

Should you have questions or would like to contact Elevate directly, their details are listed below:

Ph: 1300 667 945

Web: https://get.elevatecoaching.info/au/schoolwebinar

Dianne McGowan

Year 7 Visual Art

This term in Year 7 Visual Art, students have been learning about reduction Lino Printing, focusing on Architecture around town. Quite a few Yamba Lighthouses and other local structures were represented. 

Later in the term, students also created still-life drawings and then turned these into colourful cubist oil pastel drawings.

Year 7 & 8 Food Technology

Year 7 & 8 Food Technology classes enjoyed creating, preparing and eating their burgers as part of their assessment task. 

Year 8 Medieval HSIE Presentation

On Monday 21st August, Year 8 History students experienced Medieval Day presented by Celtic Thunder. Renowned for their interactive presentation, Ray and Colin engaged students with demonstrations of weaponry, lively and hands-on activities on Crime and Punishment, the Plague and the Crusades, and modelling living experiences during the time!

A huge thanks to Ray and Colin for bringing the Medieval world to life at McAuley again and bringing students’ studies on the topic to life!

Year 10 RYDA

Year 10 History

Year 10 History students applied their historical source analysis skills with the Australian War Memorial Box. The Australia in Wartime and Peacekeeping Operations Memorial Box, supported student studies in the unit Rights and Freedoms 1945- present. The items in the box represented more than 70 years of the Australian Defence Force’s contribution to peace and security across the globe including Australia’s involvement in Japan, Korea, Vietnam, East Timor, Bougainville, Pakistan, Iraq and Afghanistan.

A big thanks to Linda Gleeson (librarian) Tim Kelly (CSO) and the Australian War Memorial for their organisation and for allowing this experience to happen.

World Skills Construction Competition

Well done boys, a proud achievement for yourselves and our College, and a massive thank you to teachers Mr Isaac Day and Mr Dean Coggan for organising and supporting our students leading up to, and during the event.

Year 12 Legal Studies

On Friday the 18th of August, Year 12 Legal Studies students participated in the Regional Zoom Lectures for HSC revision provided by the Legal Studies Association of NSW (LSA). Students were provided extensive study notes on course content and exam tips and traps through four Zoom sessions provided by members of the LSA. The day provided a consolidation of learning and strategies for the Legal Studies HSC exam. We would like to thank the LSA for providing regional students the opportunity to engage with the revision day, the success evident in the 280 students that were registered on the day.

Year 12 Hospitality

On Thursday 31st August, Year 12 Hospitality students attended their final excursion, a trip to Opal Cove Resort, Coffs Harbour. It was a great day as they toured around each department. There was a lot of information given by our fantastic tour guide 'Jon' which cemented a lot of the knowledge obtained over the last 18 months regarding customer service, menu and function types, hygiene and safety, receiving and ordering of stock, fire and evacuation, and food & non-alcoholic beverages.

The students' customer service skills were tested during the practical component of the excursion by taking orders using the POS (Point of Sale) system, making espresso coffees and non-alcoholic beverages, and plate carrying.  There were many wow factors during the course of the day, with many students now contemplating hospitality employment not only in the food & beverage department and front office, but also in maintenance and finance.

Ms Nicole Blacktop
Year 12 Hospitality Teacher

Year 12 Business Studies

On Wednesday 30th August, Year 12 HSC Business Studies students were given the opportunity to participate in an HSC examination revision day. This day, although long, was well worth the travel as students engaged in tactics to finetune their writing techniques in readiness for their HSC examinations. Presenters from the Resource Factory, Omar Jamal and Adam Stanshall, delivered engaging and useful HSC advice along with many complementary resources.

Some helpful points included:

• Section 2 Business Report - Executive summary structure is simple when you use a pre-prepared template.
• Section 4 Extended Response - is also simple, as long as you know NESA’s directive, Know Your Syllabus and have a Case Study to use throughout your answer.

Thank you to all HSC Business Studies students who represented McAuley Catholic College so well and to our very competent bus driver for the day Mr Brett Bowling.

Mrs Leanne McLennan and Mr Alan Doyle

HSIE & Business Studies Teachers

Year 12 Industrial Technology & Multimedia

The Year 12 Industrial Technology Timber and Multimedia students have had a very busy few weeks finalising details and putting in some hard labour to complete their HSC Final Major Work Projects.

Year 10 Work Experience and Structured Workplace Learning

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 November 27 until December 1 in Term 4, 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 at www.mcauleycatholiccollegecareers.com

Reminders for Students

Student_Careers_Resources_September_December.pdf

Student_Careers_Resources_September_December _pdf 168.16 KB

Rod Paton
Careers Adviser

1. PE & PASS students can wear their sports uniform when they have a practical lesson - as indicated on their timetable as HALL. 

2. Wednesday is a formal uniform day for all students.

3. Drama students are to change into their PE uniform (or shorts etc). This will be in the P1 Toilets and change room. 

4. SLR students are to change into their PE uniform. This will be in the Hall toilets & change room.

5. GEM students are to change into their PE uniform. (Some of these students may require a uniform pass as discussed with Leader of Inclusion & Diversity). Change will be in the Hall toilets & change room

6. Students training on a day that they don't have PE or PASS practical, change into their sports uniform

7. Senior students are to wear their formal uniform every day except Thursday.

8. Year 10 and seniors who have a Year 10 shirt can wear it on sports day only.

    9. Practical subjects - Tech, Science, VET: When PE/PASS prac falls on the same day as Tech, Science, VET Prac:  Students are to bring their appropriate footwear and clothing (eg boots) OR they can wear their formal uniform for practical work and change into sport uniform

A MASSIVE thank you to all of our wonderful staff and students who participated in this year's book week activities and dress up day!

Linda Gleeson

Librarian

DIO Netball

Congratulations to all students who represented MCC at the Lismore Diocese Netball Gala Day in Port Macquarie. Both our girls yr 7/8 and yr 9/10 teams were narrowly defeated in some tough games to come in 5th place overall, against some very strong teams. Thank you to our Netball coaching staff Mrs Corcoran and Mr Humphries for taking our enthusiastic teams to Port Macquarie.

DIO Athletics

• Kayla Hancock - 12 years 800m and 1500m
• Sabrina Golding - 12 years 100m and the High Jump
• Ruby Egen - 13 years Javelin
• Xavier Cassidy-Thomason - 14 years Discus and Shot Put
• Duke Orr - 14 years 400m
• Jade Simon - 14 years High Jump
• Tim Van Der Vlist - 15 years High Jump
• Jasmin Chellew - 16 years 200m
• James Zimmerman - 18 years High Jump and Javelin
• Charlie Imeson - 18 Years 800m and 1500m
• Sahara Powell - 18 years Javelin
• Hazel Golding - 15 years 100m, 200m and Long Jump
  Hazel was also runner up Age Champion
• Will Hutchinson -13 years 100m, 200m and the Long Jump
  Will was also tied for the 13 Years Age Champion
• Will Tait - 16 years 400m, High Jump and Long Jump
  Will was also the 16 year boys Age Champion

McAuley was announced as the second best school in the Diocese based on all of these results. It is the best result our school has achieved so far. Good Luck to Willow, Duke Will Hutchinson, Jasmine, Kayla, Sabrina, Hazel, Jade, Xavier, Abigail Woods, Tim, James and Will Tait who will all travel to Sydney for the NSWCCC Athletics Carnival.

Thank you also to Mrs Eliza Corcoran, Ms Murphy Thompson and Mr Stu Tait for taking time to manage the students at the Diocesan Athletics carnival.

Dates to note:

September:

5th:  NRCC AFL Under 14s

7th:  NRCC AFL Under 16s

        McAuley Fest

8th:  McAuley Day

11th - 18th:  Yr 11 Exams

13th - 15th: Yr 12 Students VS Staff Games

15th:  Yr 12 Last day of lessons

18th:  Yr 12 Community Service Day

          Yr 12 Grad Rehearsal - Period 1

19th:  Yr 12 Parent Breakfast

         Yr 12 Mystery Day     

20th:  Yr 12 Graduation Ceremony 9.30am

21st:   IGNITE 2023 - Brisbane

22nd:  Last day of term

October:

9th: Staff Development Day

10th: First day of term

11th - 2nd November: HSC Exams

13th: Dio Volleyball Championships

16th: Sam Dougherty Award Open

16 - 17th: PAT Testing Yr 9 & 10

19th: Yr 10 & Yr 11 2024 Leadership Applications Open

19th - 20th: PAT Testing Yr 9 & 10

23rd - 24th: PAT Testing Yr 9 & 10

26th: Yr 7 Immunisation Catch Ups

26th - 27th: PAT Testing Yr 9 & 10

27th: Yr 10 & Yr 11 Leadership Applications Close

30th: Yr 10 & Yr 11 Leadership Interviews

31st: Yr 11 Parent Information Evening

         Yr 11 Parent, Teacher, Student Conferences 

On Tuesday 29th August, Parents and Carers were invited to the College to partake in a Brave Parenting Conversations Forum lead by the CSO and forum presenter, David Kobler.

The presentation covered the topics of positive masculinity, healthy and safe relationships, and body image.

For any parents who were unable to join our recent event, here is the recording of the webinar if you would like to listen:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/PBmey5RhNeXZoXdXy_j-CIbKIMX-y4Kjk6XBCcdgowEbnCDMYRwHrj97G74xd367.4spALI4C_DHYSo5z?startTime=1693299618000

Passcode for login: 15@z7ea@

Thank you for taking the time to engage in these important conversations!
We are so passionate about creating a space for parents and teenagers to have discussions around the topics of sexuality and relationships.

As mentioned in our previous Newsletters over the last few weeks - the College now offers lunch orders online through the Flexischools app. Please see the attached flyer to get started.

Please note COVID-19 is still present in our community. 

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.