Term 4 - Week 5 - 10th November 2023
- From the Principal
- Mission & Wellbeing
- Learning & Teaching
- Careers
- From the Classroom, Camps & Excursions
- School Student Travel - Transport NSW
- Dates to note for November & December, 2023
- Year 12 Graduation Dinner
- NEW 2024 Uniform - Ordering & Collecting
- Position Vacant - Uniform Shop Convenor
- NEW - Order a Chromebook Portal
- Combined Parish Celebration
- Flexischools App - Online Canteen Orders - Reminder
- Parish News
- COVID-19 Information
- Advertisements
Dear Parents and Carers,
In the spirit of Catherine McAuley and her unwavering dedication to education, we are proud to continue her legacy here at McAuley Catholic College, Grafton. Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, had a profound vision. She aimed to prepare young people for responsible adult living, foster collaboration and partnership, and, most importantly, bring a better quality of life to those who were poor, disadvantaged, or marginalised. These values lie at the heart of our mission, and seeing them in action within our vibrant community is a privilege.
Year 12 Formal - A Night to Remember
Recently, we had the privilege of hosting our Year 12 students and their families at our College Formal on November 11th. It was a heartwarming moment for us all as we witnessed these young men and women who joined our College in 2018 reaching their 'rite of passage' last Saturday evening. Their successes and growth are a testament to the collective effort of our dedicated staff, the primary teachers in the area, and, of course, their loving and caring families. We are immensely proud of their journey and look forward to seeing the bright futures they will undoubtedly create.
A big thank you to Ms Eryn Hammond and Ms Maria Rouse for all their efforts in making the night so memorable.
Year 12 Leadership Day - Nurturing Servant Leaders
Our Year 12 Leadership Day, held last Friday, which Mr Montford and Mrs Lee implemented, aimed to empower our new Year 12 leaders to be servant leaders inspired by our Mercy Charism and the teachings of Jesus Christ. This day allows our student leaders to explore their unique gifts and qualities. We know they will lead with integrity and moral courage, setting a positive example for the school community. The participation of our 2024 school captains in the remembrance memorial at the South Grafton RSL chapter on November 11th is an example of this servant leadership that underscores our commitment to remembering and respecting the legacy of those who came before us. Thank you, Eva and Brooklyn!
Year 6 into 7 Orientation Day - Welcoming New Beginnings
This week, we also welcomed the Year 7 class of 2024 and their families to orientation day and the parent information evening. Seeing so many familiar faces and new members joining our community was heartening. When I addressed the students, I emphasised that this marked a day of new beginnings - a new school, teachers, friends and opportunities. It was a wonderful day, and I would like to thank Ms Thea-Anne (Tanny) McInnes, the staff involved and the year 7 and 10 student helpers.
At the parent night, I posed a question to the parents of our incoming students: "WHY McAULEY?" Their responses underscored the strengths and values that make our school outstanding. They highlighted our strong sense of community, esteemed reputation, excellent facilities, and the supportive learning environment we provide. The school was also praised for our commitment to educational values and student growth. This feedback reminds us of our privilege as teachers in our vocation to educate your most precious gift, your child. It is a responsibility we accept with pride and excitement as we forge new partnerships together.
Year 9 Adventure Camp - Testing Resilience
Our Year 9 students recently attended a camp at Pindari Adventures, where they learned vital teamwork and mutual support. This hands-on experience equipped them with practical life skills and strengthened their bonds, fostering a spirit of unity and growth within our school community. Thank you to Mrs Robinson and the teachers who gave up their valuable family time to support our students' growth.
Upcoming Events - Strengthening Our Community
The wonderful McAuley community will be fully displayed in Week 8 when our school hosts the Combined Parish Christmas Celebration on Thursday, November 30. We anticipate showcasing our talents and welcoming students, parents and families from our parish primary schools to McAuley. Your expected involvement and support in this event are greatly appreciated as we celebrate the spirit of togetherness during the festive season. Please see the flyer at the end of the newsletter for more information.
In closing, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you, our McAuley Catholic College Grafton families, for your unwavering support and dedication to our shared mission. As the Acting Principal, it has been a privilege to serve in this role for the last five weeks. During this time, we have continued to nurture a strong sense of community and provide an enriching educational experience for our students. From week six, we welcome back Kate, who has returned from her Long Service Leave, and I am sure she will be excited to reflect on her experiences in the following newsletters.
Dianne McGowan
Acting Principal
Prayer Time From The Soul
Accompaniment: Walking Together in Faith
In today's fast-paced world, we find wisdom and solace in Galatians 6:2: "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way, you will fulfil the law of Christ." This timeless truth resonates deeply within our Catholic schools in the Diocese of Lismore - it's the essence of accompaniment.
Accompaniment is a lived experience that unites us in faith, knowledge, and community. It's about walking together, sharing the journey, and nurturing deeper connections. In our Catholic schools, we don't just educate; we accompany. We celebrate joys, stand by during struggles, and actively listen to students, parents, and educators, showing that we deeply care about their concerns.
Just as Jesus is the "true shepherd" in John 10, we are called to "feed my sheep" like Peter, practising authentic Catholic accompaniment. This not only strengthens connections but also enriches our Catholic mission. We weave a tapestry of love and understanding that uplifts our Diocesan community. Let our schools be beacons of faith, knowledge, and compassion, guiding all toward a brighter future.
We often liken education to a journey, and it’s helpful to consider who our fellow travellers are on this journey. We know we are walking alongside our students, but it’s essential to consider how walking with parents and carers makes education much more wholesome. The following ideas might inspire new ways of thinking about how parents and teachers can walk alongside each other for improved student outcomes. To read more, click here.
Every year, the McAuley community assemble Christmas hampers to distribute to needy families throughout the Clarence Valley.
Each homeroom will present these hampers during our Christmas Liturgy in Week 10. Then, in collaboration with St. Vincent de Paul members, students from the Catholic Faith in Action class will deliver these hampers to families that would otherwise struggle during the holiday season.
We request that each student contribute one or two non-perishable items for the hampers. These items should be given to their respective homeroom teachers by December 8th.
We sincerely appreciate the consistent support and generosity demonstrated by our McAuley families in the previous years. We take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to all families for their contributions.
Margaret Bertalli
Assistant Principal Mission & Wellbeing (Acting)
Free Parent Webinar
We’re excited to announce that Elevate Education's next free webinar will be taking place on Wednesday, 22nd November at 6.30pm (AEDT).
Elevate Education works with our students, delivering high-impact workshops on study skills, motivation, wellbeing and exam preparation. By tuning into their webinar series you will learn how you can help better support your children at home through reinforcing the skills they learn at school. The topic of conversation is:
How You Can Build Resilience in Your Child
In this webinar Elevate will be showing parents:
- What resilience means, what it doesn’t mean, and why it’s important;
- How to help build your child’s resilience levels, both in and out of school;
- How to help your child break their ‘fear of failure’.
Tiffany Lee
Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching (Acting)
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 27th until December 1st 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 accessed on our Career website at www.mcauleycatholiccollegecareers.com
Completed documents were due on Friday, November 10th - Thank you to those students who have informed me their papers may be delayed because they were still with the employer.
- Improving understanding of the work environment
- Development of networks
- Obtaining industry feedback and a professional referee
- Enhancing opportunities for an apprenticeship, casual or part-time employment
- Providing an opportunity to try-out career choices before leaving school.
Reminders for Students
Visit the link below for important upcoming student career opportunities and dates.
Rod Paton
Careers Adviser
On Tuesday, 7th November, Year 9 travelled to Pindari Adventures to attend their yearly camp. These students had the opportunity to get away from the business of college life and embark on an adventure in the bush for three consecutive days. Some of the activities they were able to achieve were boating, bush survival skills, driving buggies, rock climbing and other team building activities. These activities allowed students to experience teamwork, resilience building and reminded them of the notion that teamwork and effort give a strong sense of self worth and satisfaction.
Along with these outcomes, students were able to unite as a cohort as they learned a bit more about each other.
I want to thank all the students who attended, they were absolute role models for our college. Their leadership, teamwork and positive attitude made it a pleasure to accompany them on camp.
I would also like to thank the staff who gave up their time to attend - Mr Stuart Tait, Mr Rowan Butcher, Mr Tony Ellis, Mrs Eliza Corcoran, Mrs Sandra Bartholomew,
Ms Murphy Thompson and Mrs Kim Green-Everson.
Mrs Nikita Robinson
Year 9 Co-ordinator
Year 12 Business Studies Excursion
Recently the Year 12 Business Studies visited Sanctus Brewery to learn about many aspects of business including its operations, management and marketing. This was a great opportunity for the students to see what they have been studying in the classroom being put into practice by a successful local business. We were shown around by Kim Geritz who was very generous with her time and answered all the students' questions. Sanctus has recently undergone a major upgrade of its brewing facilities. Kim and the staff explained the challenges of shutting production down for six months and the business decisions that needed to be taken for this to happen.The students were also fortunate to get a sneak peek of two products that had not yet been released to the general public. Many thanks to Sanctus Brewery for hosting this excursion and thank you to Mrs Passmore for organising the transport logistics.
Mr Alan Doyle
Business Studies Teacher
Year 12 Leadership Day
In our recent Year 12 Leadership Day, we embarked on an inspiring journey to uncover the rich traditions and history of McAuley Catholic College. The day was not just about learning facts and figures; it explored authentic leadership. We delved deep into the concept of leadership, understanding its core values and principles.
We want to thank our students for their active participation and enthusiasm throughout the day. Their commitment to learning and personal growth truly shone through. We also want to express our appreciation for the invaluable guidance provided by our dedicated facilitators, Mrs. Lee and Mr. Montford, who played a pivotal role in making this day a resounding success.
Thank you, Year 12 students, for your active involvement and dedication to the leadership path.
Dates to note:
November
13th: Sam Dougherty Award Nominations Close
14th: Parent Forum
Dio Golf Championships, Coffs Harbour
15th-17th: Yr 10 Camp
16th: Debating Championships, Sydney
Dio Water Polo Snr Championships, Alstonville
Yr 10 & 11 Leadership Speeches and Voting
20th: Yr 9 Reflection Day
23rd: 2024 Student Leadership Team announced
27th: Yr 7 Reflection Day
27th-1st Dec: Yr 10 Work Experience Week
December
4th: Yr 7 Love Bites
4th-5th: Yr 10 AMOW
4th-8th: Yr 10 Minimum Standards Testing
6th: Yr 10 Love Bites
7th: Yr 11 QLD University Tour (select students)
8th: House Reward Day - Mercy House
11th: SLT Leadership Day
13th: Christmas Liturgy & Prizegiving
14th-15th: EOY Activities Days
15th: Last Day of School, Term 4
Congratulations to the Year 12 Class of 2023 who concluded their celebrations with family, friends and the College Faculty at the Graduation Dinner on Saturday, 11th November, 2023.
The new McAuley uniform will be available to order via the new online store mccuniformshop.com.au
Customers who order online will save time by collecting from the prepaid line.
Parents and carers of Year 9 and 10 students are now able to purchase a Chromebook for their child online through our new Ordering Portal via the College website.
Click the link below to access the College Computer Information, Policies, and the Order Portal.
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 find below the latest Parish Bulletins from Clarence Valley Parish
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.
