Term 1 - Week 5 - 1 March 2024
- From the Principal
- Learning & Teaching (AP)
- Mission and Wellbeing (AP)
- LA RE Congress 2024
- From the Classroom, Camps & Excursions
- From the Library
- Sports News
- Career News
- From the Literacy Coach
- NAPLAN 2024
- Canteen News
- Dates to Note for March
- Student Collection for Exit Passes/ Early Departures
- Year 7 & 10 Vaccinations
- Parent Support & Education
- Parish News
- Advertisements
Dear Parents and Carers, Staff and Students,
I have recently returned from 10 days in Los Angeles, where I attended the 2024 LA Religious Education Congress, along with 13 colleagues from the Lismore Diocese. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to represent the Diocese at this event, to nourish my faith and to be reawakened by the stories of love, compassion, and justice that were shared throughout the experience. I have included an article in this newsletter, highlighting some of the experiences I had in LA. These experiences have provided me with stories and messages to share with the students in Assembly. I look forward to also sharing these with the wider community through the newsletter in the weeks to come.
It was great to see the arrival of the new uniform on my return to the College. The students look fantastic! We will provide families with an update on the supply situation of the uniform and requirements for all students in the coming weeks.
At this stage of the term, all students should be settled into their school routine and have a clear focus on their learning progress. OPAL scores (Ongoing Participation and Application Log) should be published in week 8 to give parents (and students) an indication of areas of learning that are going well and areas that need improvement. Parent - Teacher - Student conferences, in week 10 (2nd April), will be an opportunity to discuss progress and concerns.
Swimming Carnival
What an exciting Carnival we had this year! A great day was had by all and I thank the students for their behaviour and participation, and the staff for the organisation and management of the day, particularly Mr Hand as the coordinator of the day. We greatly appreciated being able to again use the Maclean Pool and facilities. A huge cheer greeted the announcement at our Assembly that mighty Champagnat had won the carnival! This win has been a long time coming for Champagnat! Congratulations to the Age Champions who performed at a high level across a range of events on the day.
Events:
LEAD
LEAD is a Diocesan Retreat for senior students and McAuley will be the host site of LEAD on the 21st & 22nd March. We are expecting over 200 students to attend from across the secondary schools. The Year 11 and 12 students will be equipped for ministry in their schools by nurturing their faith through music, prayer, liturgy and other faith-formation experiences. The TAS and VET staff of our College cater for the 2-day event, with the help of many of the staff from across the school and I sincerely thank them for their time and dedication.
Parent Forum - Parent Gathering
I would like to invite parents and carers to our Term 1 gathering on Tuesday 26th March from 5.30 for a 6.00 pm start, finishing by 7.30 pm. We will also offer parents & carers the opportunity to join the gathering via Zoom. The Parent Forum is one way you can be involved in your child’s education and find out what is happening in the College.
Open Night - 9th April
Prospective and current families are invited to attend our Open night on Tuesday the 9th of April from 4pm. This is one of the highlights of the year and an opportunity to showcase our facilities, students, and staff.
Remembering those affected by the 2022 Floods
It is important that we remember that two years ago the communities of the North Coast were hit by devastating floods. The impact of the floods on our schools, the staff, students and their families was traumatic and that trauma is still evident in many communities and will remain so for some time. I therefore ask that we continue to keep those affected in our thoughts and prayers. It is often the way that when issues are no longer front and centre of the daily news they can disappear from our attention or we think those affected are ok, which so often is not the case. This is why we are continuing to support our “sister school” - St Joseph’s Primary School, Woodburn with the proceeds of our Senior School Charity Ball, which will be held on Saturday 11th May.
Lent - Project Compassion
In the season of Lent I ask that all in our school community take time to reflect and pray, fast, and give to others (almsgiving) through our Project Compassion campaign. Thank you to the students and staff who have been enthusiastically rallying others to help this worthy cause.
Enjoy the fortnight ahead
Kind regards,
Kate
Kate Thomson
Principal
“We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us.”
Catherine McAuley
Assessment Information
Students in Years 7 to 11 have recently been provided with information relating to assessment. Assessment is a process of gathering information about student achievement at various stages in a course. Assessment can be formative (ongoing) and summative (at the end of a topic or unit).
During the presentation, aspects of the Assessment Policy were highlighted to the students, including the task submission procedures (what to do if they missed a task and where they could seek support).
Students in each year group have been emailed their Assessment Handbook, which is also on the College Website under Learning and Teaching. The Assessment Handbooks contain assessment schedules for each subject studied, guiding students to the timing of formative tasks throughout the year. Students have been asked to read the handbook to ensure they are familiar with assessment requirements and processes. Thanks to Mrs Lee, our Curriculum Coordinator, for ensuring that our assessment handbooks are current and the information was disseminated to the students.
Interventions
We have completed the PAT R testing for our year seven students. Thank you to Mrs Leanne McLennan for her work in the external test organisation. The results of this test give some direction to support learning and are compared with a similar PAT test at the end of the year to determine individual student growth. In the meantime, if we see any areas of concern, there is further testing that the school has put into place.
The further testing method used to measure how identified students perform on essential reading skills in years 7 and 8 is DIBELS or Probe. These quick tests are “indicators” of the student’s progress and are not intended to be in-depth or comprehensive measures. However, the testing allows teachers to get valuable information about students’ skills without using much instructional time. Thanks to the inclusion and diversity team, particularly Miss Tahnee Joe and Mrs Bianca Crocket, for supporting the testing process.
If the extra test results indicate that students need small group support, letters will go home to indicate the intervention the school will offer. Selected year 8 students started their intervention program this week, and selected year 7 students will start week 6 or 7. Whilst the school is putting measures in place to ensure that all students are on track, encouraging regular and varied reading at home is a valuable way all families can continue to support their child’s reading development.
The EMU maths program for select year 7 students will take place after the first Mathematics Assessment for year 7 has been completed. Parents of year 7 students selected for the program will be informed via a letter home over the next few weeks.
Use of Electronics - Tips for Week 5
As we navigate through the academic year, it's crucial to prioritise our studies and well-being. One often overlooked aspect of maintaining a healthy lifestyle is our sleep routine, particularly in this age of technology. In my last newsletter, I covered some tips about using Chrome Books at home. In today’s newsletter, I want to stress why turning off electronic devices at least half an hour before bedtime is essential.
Students may not realise that the artificial light emitted by electronic devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers, primarily consists of blue light. Despite its name, this light might not appear blue to the naked eye, but its effects are significant. Blue light, a non-visible light with a short wavelength, possesses considerable energy.
Research suggests that excessive exposure to blue light can disrupt our sleep cycle by confusing our body clocks and hindering melatonin production. During sleep, our bodies undergo essential physical processes, and our brains consolidate the day's learning into memory. Therefore, ensuring adequate quality sleep is vital for academic success.
Individuals with existing sleep disorders and adolescents, who often experience delayed sleep patterns due to biological changes, are particularly vulnerable.
Here are some suggestions to minimise our exposure to blue light at night:
- Spend time outdoors during the day to help regulate your body clock effectively.
- Turn off all electronic devices at least an hour before bedtime.
- Invert the colours on your smartphone, iPad, or Kindle, or switch to nighttime settings.
- Dim the brightness of your devices in the hours leading up to bedtime, as it's better than nothing.
By implementing these practices, we can support our bodies' natural rhythms and ensure our students are in the best possible state to learn and thrive academically.
Wishing you all restful nights and productive days ahead!
Di McGowan
Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching
Attendance Matters
The Year Coordinators are currently reviewing attendance for students in the year group and many have made contact via phone or email. Letters will be sent to families of students whose attendance is below %90 over the next few weeks. We recognise a student’s attendance profile may have been influenced by leave taken due to medical reasons, travel or family commitments but we feel it is important to keep you informed. It is essential that families work with the school to discuss attendance concerns and leave requests.
Just a reminder if your child has to be absent from school, you must provide a reason for your child’s absence. To explain an absence parents and carers are asked to:
- Send a note in with your child to hand to the office
- Contact the school via phone or email
- Respond to SMS messages sent in the morning with an explanatory note
eSafety
Over the last week we have had concerns with students using their phones inappropriately and we have spoken with all Year 7 students regarding social media sites and the responsibility involved with developing group chats. It is essential that students realise they cannot create or participate in any social media that may bring the College into disrepute. As responsible users of technology they were reminded of their responsibilities in the IT (Information Technology) Student User and Parental Consent Agreement 2024.
Technology and online trends move at a rapid pace and it can be hard for busy parents to keep up. The eSafety website provides tips and advice on online safety for parents and carers that are designed so they can learn about the digital environment and how to help their children navigate the online world confidently and safely.
eSafety tips are evidence-based and focus on current and emerging online safety issues, including:
- Cyberbullying
- Online pornography
- Sending nudes and sexting
- Time online
- Gaming
- Unwanted contact and grooming
- eSafety Guide to games, apps and social media.
The eSafety Commissioner also provide live webinars to give parents and carers the knowledge, skills and tools to support their children to have safe online experiences. Attached are the Term 1 parent/carer webinars that are available.
Sacramental Program
A reminder that the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Communion will be celebrated later this year in the Clarence Valley Parish. If your child would like to undertake the Sacramental program, could you please phone the College and discuss this with Mrs Kathy Warby or our Leader of School Evangelisation Mr Thomas Howard. We will aim to support your child in undertaking the program to prepare them to receive the Sacraments.
Transitus
This week, we introduced Transitus to your child. Transitus is a retreat for Year 7 students to grow in their discipleship of Jesus Christ, membership of His Church, and strengthen their transition into Catholic Secondary School. The word ‘transitus’ was chosen because it is the Latin word for passage, crossing, movement over, transition, or transit.
The retreat will be held over two days on Thursday, April 4 and Friday, April 5 (just after the Easter weekend). The students will be staying overnight at Yarrahapinni Adventist Youth Centre, Grassy Head, and the retreat is run by the Catholic Schools Office. A teacher from McAuley Catholic College will accompany the 11 students.
We encourage you to have a discussion with your child about attending Transitus. If they wish to attend, please ensure that your child returns the Expression of Interest form that was handed out in the RE lesson. Please have your child return the form to the school office.
Our school has been allocated eleven (11) places to join seventy-five other Year Seven students from across the Diocese. Unfortunately, it is not possible for all applicants to attend.
Applications close on Wednesday, 13th March, and shortly after, the selected students will receive all of the retreat details through the events module in your Compass portal, where you can consent your child to attend.
Project Compassion - Third Week of Lent (W.C. Monday 4th March)
Samoa may be a country surrounded by water, but access to clean drinking water is scarce in some areas, with many families facing extreme hardship as a result.
Leaia lives with her five children, husband, brother and sister-in-law on the island of Upolu in Samoa. Not having access to a reliable source of clean water caused Leaia a lot of worry.
Their home is not connected to a piped water system, so they had to rely solely on rainwater collected in old fridges. When their water ran out, Leaia had to walk with her young children to collect water in buckets and containers from a neighbour down the street.
With the support of Caritas Australia's local partner, Caritas Samoa, a water tank was installed at Leaia's home. She and her family now have a steady supply of clean drinking water at home. Next year, they will also have a toilet built, with the support of Caritas Samoa, which will further improve their health and living conditions.
“We are very thankful and grateful for the water tank. It has helped us so much and made our daily life easier,” Leaia said.
Watch Leaia’s Story
Please donate to Project Compassion.
Together, we can help vulnerable communities face their challenges today and build a better tomorrow for all future generations.
You can donate through Project Compassion donation boxes, online by visiting caritas.org.au/project-compassion or by calling 1800 024 413.
Photo: Laura Womersley/Caritas Australia
Kathy Warby
Assistant Principal - Mission and Wellbeing
My recent 10-day journey to Los Angeles alongside 13 colleagues from the LismoreDiocese was a spiritually enriching and transformative experience. The focal point of our trip was the four-day LA Religious Education Congress, a gathering of over 10 thousand faith-filled individuals that left a lasting impact on my perspective. The collective energy and commitment of the participants instilled in me a renewed hope for the Church, fostering a sense of community and belonging that can sometimes be elusive.
Travelling and bonding with the diverse group of teachers and leaders from Lismore proved to be a highlight in itself. The camaraderie among us not only provided a platform for networking and mentorship but also deepened our individual faith experiences. The connections forged during the trip, through shared stories, experiences, and discussions, created a supportive environment that transcended geographical boundaries.
The LA experience unfolded with numerous highlights, each contributing to the overall richness of the journey. The visit to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels was particularly poignant, with its beautiful tapestries depicting saints and Gospel figures, subtly yet powerfully drawing us into a spiritual contemplation.
Exploring Homeboy Industries and Homegirl Cafe, and hearing stories of resilience, hope, and determination, left an indelible impression on me. Homeboy Industries is the largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world. It provides hope, training and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated men and women, allowing them to redirect their lives and become contributing members of the community.
At the 4 day Congress, the Masses and liturgies, keynote addresses and workshops featuring inspiring speakers like Fr Greg Boyle (founder of Homeboy Industries),
Fr Richard Leonard, Fr Tony Riccard, Sarah Hart, and Sr Sharlot Wagner, gave both inspiration and depth to the overall experience.
Throughout the Congress, with the theme of Be Loved, a common thread emerged—the power of storytelling. Much like the captivating tapestries in the Cathedral, the stories shared were compelling, and memorable, and fostered a sense of connection. These moments, woven with the fabric of faith, were some of the most cherished aspects of the entire experience.
Attending the LA RECongress offered me a beacon of hope for the Catholic community, a renewed sense of belonging and a rejuvenation of faith. The collective commitment witnessed at the event has provided me with valuable insights and experiences to share with my school community. As I reflect on the trip, it is evident that the power of story, shared faith experiences, and a sense of unity have left an enduring mark, shaping my perspective and renewing my commitment to both my personal and communal faith journey.
Kate Thomson
Principal
Students were guided across the dam wall and bridge then down to the pump station and natural creek beds. Practising and enhancing skills in field sketching and recording observations was also a focus for the fieldwork. Our sincerest thanks to Chris and the team from Clarence Valley Council for their support and for sharing their time, expertise and knowledge in the field.
Year 10 Geography Excursion
On Tuesday 27th & Wednesday 28th of February, our Year 10 Geographers completed their Fieldwork studies at the Environmental Learning Facility in South Grafton. The annual “Trip to the Tip” once again proved to be a conversation starter and eye-opener to a number of students as they discovered the waste management processes in the Clarence Valley.
Students further developed their geographical skills in observation, data collection and communication on the day. As part of the Year 10 course, students will complete further research to complete a Fieldwork Report to complement their studies in Environmental Change and Management. Our sincerest thanks to Suzanne Lynch and Clarence Valley Council for their expertise and guided walk, educating not only our students but the wider community in the sustainable management of our waste!
HeadSpace School Visit
On Wednesday 28th February, our Year 11 and 9 students attended a visit from the HeadSpace Grafton Team.
On Wednesday 28th February, a group of staff from our local HeadSpace visited the College. They spoke with Year 11 and Year 9 students, informing them about the services provided locally and suggestions for self-care specially designed around the needs and challenges of young people.
The students are to be congratulated on their excellent behaviour and participation. They gave answers to questions that showed insight and empathy. Thank you to Year 11 student Alicia Boehme, who capably thanked the presenters, one of whom had travelled from Adelaide to speak with our students.
Some ideas for self-care that people of any age can use include:
- Taking time out from busy work/study schedules to do the things we love (eg. walk the dog, phone a friend, send a funny meme, exercise, stroll under a tree, by the river or along the beach, take a bath)
- Being kind to ourselves in our self-talk (you’ve got this, things will get better, try again)
- Connect to others
Headspace Grafton is located at 59 Duke St Grafton (near Shoppingworld) and is a free service for 12-25 year olds. You can drop in and get support for study and work or just someone to talk to if you are struggling. Headspace also runs groups and holds events locally. It was good to see the faces of Claudia, Alison and Krista who provide support to young people right here in Grafton.
Year 9 students participated in a variety of activities throughout the day that targeted how the brain deals with stress along with how to deal with bullying. Students learnt about the limbic brain, cortex and brainstem relationship. Liam Adkin engaged with the presenter Paul and was happy to demonstrate one of the activities to his classmates. This helped the rest of the group get up and participate in some games that encourage standing up to bullying, reporting bullying and how to help out a friend who is in need.
Some ideas for bullying include:
- Check-in with a friend
- Let an adult know that bullying is occurring
- Use the MCC bullying confidential reporting survey on the student intranet
Some online national resources include:
- eSafety Commissioner
- Reachout Australia
- 13yarn
- 1800respect
- Kids Helpline
- QLife - LGBTIQ
- BeyondBlue
- Butterfly
Year 8 RE
The liturgical season of Lent is upon us once again, a 6-week period of time where we are able to focus on giving our faith life a spiritual 'spring-clean'.
Catholics take a three-pronged approach to this using the tools of prayer, fasting and almsgiving (works of charity) to help us realign ourselves to the example set by Christ in his own lifetime.
This year as in previous ones, Caritas, a Catholic aid agency, is running its Project Compassion initiative. At McAuley over the last couple of weeks, Year 8 students have risen splendidly to push the practice of prayer and almsgiving across our community. Each week throughout Lent, the Year 8 RE classes will take turns to draw our collective attention to the needs of others by developing prayers to be shared across the school in homeroom and classes. Additionally, they are working in small groups to run fundraising initiatives over lunchtime to encourage and enable everyone to engage in living out the Greatest Commandment of showing love for God and love for our neighbour.
Last week 8RE1 set through their various ideas of running cake stalls and selling small lolly bags. The community responded generously to these efforts enabling the class to collectively raise over $200.
8RE2 has now taken up the mantle and we look forward to sharing their and the other classes' results over the course of this term.
Project Compassion
We have created a school profile on the Caritas website, as an alternative way for both students and parents to donate towards our Project Compassion initiative. There are posters around the school with the QR code as well as on each homeroom's Project Compassion box. Here is the link as well: https://schools.
Last week we explored another great Project Compassion fundraising activity by selling tickets for our Easter Egg raffle. The winner will be drawn at the Easter Liturgy during week 9.
The Mercy Library staff have all enjoyed meeting our new Year 7 students who have settled into life at McAuley and have become regular users of the library.
We encourage students to become independent readers and lifelong learners and offer several programs to encourage reading. They are:
- Premier’s Reading Challenge which opened this week. Students have the opportunity to read 20 books over the course of the year and earn certificates.
- Renaissance Reading is a program for all Year 7 and 8 students where students have to read books within their reading capabilities. The advantage of the program is that it creates high growth and reading engagement.
- The library also hosts various events over the year to promote student reading. We began the year with a Library Lover’s Day and students had to write a menu for their favourite character or genre. Our winning homeroom was CH2 who had a menu for those who travel “Beyond the Realm” and our winning individual team of Gabby, Dayla and Ari wrote a menu based on the Diary of a Wimpy Kid. All the entries were a lot of fun and showed a great love of books. Please see the attached photo of our Year 7 students who “Love the Library” and all the fun activities we offer.
Students are welcome in the library before school, the second half of lunch and recess. They are welcome to be on their computers on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and the other days are device-free days.
Junior students are welcome to borrow up to five books at any one time and they are encouraged to return them within three weeks. Emails will be sent to your child if the book is overdue and a further email will be sent home if students do not return their books after several prompts.
Senior students are reminded that there is a dedicated HSC section with subject-specific textbooks and previous HSC exam papers with sample responses.
| Boys | Girls | |
| 12 Years | Henry Miller | Olivia Fahey/Libby Wrigley |
| 13 Years | Kydan Jones | Sophie Sutherland |
| 14 Years | Archie Pope | Georgia Skeels |
| 15 Years | Dexta Jones | Sieanna Sutherland |
| 16 Years | Hudson Batinovic | Eve Van Leest |
| Opens | James Zimmerman | Sheridan Sutherland |
| Student | Record | |
| 13 Years |
Stella Skeels Sophie Sutherland Girls Relay Team |
50m Backstroke 50m Freestyle and 50m Butterfly 4x50m Relay in 2m22.18sec (Prev. Rec. 1998) |
| 14 Years | Archie Pope | 50m Freestyle |
| 16 Years | Hudson Batinovic | 50m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke and 50m Butterfly |
| Champagnat | 696 Points |
| McCarthy | 692 Points |
| Tracey | 591 Points |
| Mercy | 584 Points |
On Tuesday 27th February the following students travelled to Sawtell to trial for the Diocesan Touch junior and senior teams: Zaden Nipperess, Cruz Sewell, Charlie Imeson, Imogen Lee, Mitchell Dick, Zeplan Davies and Jack Fels. The trials were very competitive and congratulations to Cruz Sewell who was selected into the Lismore 15 years boys Diocesan Touch team. Also congratulations to Mitchell Dick and Zeplan Davies who were selected into the Lismore Open years boys Diocesan Touch Team. A special mention to Jack Fels and Charlie Imeson who were named as shadow players for the Open Boys and Girls teams. We wish Mitch, Zeplan and Cruz well at the NSWCCC Touch Championships in April.
Jim Hand
Sports Coordinator
CSU Online Medicine Information Night – 20th March 2024
Charles Sturt University is running an online Medicine Information Night at 6:00pm on Wednesday 20th March 2024.
CSU will start with an overview of the course, our facilities, entry requirements, and how to apply. Those who attend will get information on clinical placements, career opportunities, support services, scholarships and more.
We will also cover information about the University Clinical Aptitude Test for Australia and New Zealand (UCAT ANZ) and hear about the experiences of rural and regional doctors.
Charles Sturt University offers the Joint Program in Medicine in partnership with Western Sydney University. The two-year program runs on our Orange campus in regional New South Wales and is followed by three years of regional placements.
Those who wish to attend can book here.
Rod Paton
Careers Adviser
Lena Jansons
Literacy Coach
We are proud of our canteen menu and work hard to offer nutritious meals; many being made fresh in-house daily. We also cater for special dietary requirements (please ask).
We work with our suppliers to purchase goods at the best possible prices, but unfortunately, prices on certain lines have increased and we have had to pass on some of these increases.
On offer daily are a variety of freshly made sandwiches, rolls, wraps and salad bowls along with our regular pie warmer staples.
- On Mondays, we offer Lasagna, hotdogs and pizza;
- Tuesday - beef burgers and crispy chicken wraps;
- Wednesday - sushi and other Asian delights, and meatball subs
- Thursday - chicken burgers and nachos;
- Friday - butter chicken, fisherman’s basket, nuggets & chips, oven-fried chicken & chips, chicken schnitzel on Turkish
Breakfast is available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 am and features bacon and egg muffins, pancakes, croissants, toast, hot chocolate and hash browns when available.
The fridge is full of canteen-approved drinks including no-sugar mineral water, kombucha, milk, and juice to name a few. We also have frozen icy poles and ice creams.
EFTPOS facilities are available (except for American Express) and lunch orders can be placed before 9 am. Our menu is available on the school website and on the canteen window. The College also offers lunch orders online through the Flexischools app. Please see the attached flyer to get started.
Canteen Menu 2024
Wishing everyone a healthy 2024,
Tracey, Cheryl and Kim
March
4th - 8th: Yr 12 Work Placement - Week 2
5th: Dio Winter Sports Trials - Open Boys & Girls Rugby League & Soccer
Yr 7 Iluka Rainforest Excursion 7.1 & 7.5
Open Boys & Girls Dio Winter Sports Trials - Rugby League & Soccer
7th: Dio Swiming Carnival - Port Macquarie
8th: Lenten Fish Fry
12th: Dio Tennis Trials
North Coast Secondary Schools Rugby
13th - 18th: NAPLAN - Yr 7 & 9 Students
14th: Opens Basketball Dio Championships - Coffs Harbour
21st - 22nd: LEAD
21st: Yr11 SLR - Lawn Bowls GDSC
Harmony Day
22nd: Yr9 Geography - Tea Tree Farm Visit
25th: Staff Development Day - Pupil Free Day (School Closed)
26th: Yr 10 School Vaccinations
Northern NSW AFL Trials Feighan Oval Warners Bay
27th: Opens Football Gala Day - North
28th: Easter Liturgy Assembly
April
1st: Easter Monday Public Holiday (School Closed)
Dates
Term 1: Tuesday 26th March 2024
Year 10 Students ONLY:
- Nimenrix (Meningococcal ACWY) 1 dose only
Term 2: Tuesday 21st May 2024
All Year 7 Students:
- Gardasil (HPV) 1 Dose Only
- Boostrix (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis-whooping cough) 1 dose only
Term 3: Wednesday 11th September 2024
Catchups for Year 7 & 10 (late form submission/ absentees)
About the NSW School Vaccination Program
NSW Health works in partnership with schools to offer the vaccines recommended and funded for adolescents by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in a school-based vaccination program, including:
- diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTpa)
- human papillomavirus (HPV)
- meningococcal ACWY.
COVID-19 vaccination is not part of the NSW School Vaccination Program. For information about COVID-19 vaccination visit COVID-19 vaccination booking.
Consent for School Vaccinations
Consent for each vaccine must be provided by parents/guardians for students to receive free vaccinations at school.
From 2024 parents/guardians can provide consent online for their child’s routine school vaccinations on the online consent portal. Select login with Service NSW Account.
To provide online consent you will need:
- your Service NSW log-in details
- Medicare card details for you and your child.
Read a step-by-step guide on how to provide consent online.
If you or your child do not have a Medicare card, consent can still be provided by requesting a paper-based consent form – available on request from the College.
Parents can withdraw consent at any time before vaccination takes place:
- where consent has been given online, please log-in to the secure NSW Health portal and follow the prompts to withdraw consent, or
- where consent has been given on the physical consent form, please write to the College to advise the student's name, school grade and those vaccines the withdrawn consent applies to.
The procedure for Withdrawal of consent is available on the NSW Health website at www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation and it is also outlined in the user guide.
Changes to Vaccinations for 2024
Ø Gardasil (HPV) is now a 1 x dose schedule and will only be available as a school-based program to Year 7 students. Year 8 students who consented for their vaccination in Year 7 at school, and did not receive the vaccine, will be offered a catch up during 2024– names will be supplied from Health NSW to the College before each clinic.
Ø Boostrix is only available to Year 7 students. It is a single dose. Year 8 students who consented for their vaccination in Year 7 at school, and did not receive the vaccine, will be offered a catch up during 2024– names will be supplied from Health NSW to the College before each clinic.
Ø Nimenrix (Meningococcal ACWY) – only to Year 10 students. It is a single dose. Year 11 students who consented for their vaccination in Year 10 at school, and did not receive the vaccine, will be offered a catch up during 2024– names will be supplied from Health NSW to the College before each clinic.
Ø To improve vaccination completion, students will be opportunistically offered any missed doses throughout the year where possible.
Education Material For Students - THE HPV PROGRAM:
- https://beta.health.gov.au/news-and-events/news/preventing-human-papillomavirus-hpv-cancers-and-diseases-by-vaccination
- https://vimeo.com/877304083/da667f7044?share=copy
Please find attached the latest Parish Bulletins from Clarence Valley Parish
