Term 2 - Week 1 - 3 May 2024
- From the Principal
- Learning & Teaching (AP)
- Mission and Wellbeing (AP)
- From the Classroom, Camps & Excursions
- Father's Day Breakfast
- VET News
- Sports News
- Year 7 & 10 Vaccinations Reminder
- ANZAC Day
- European Tour 2024 - Part 1: Germany
- 150th Annual Grafton Show
- Dates to Note for May
- EOI Presiding Officer
- National Road Safety Week: National Walk Safely to School Day
- Parent Support & Education
- Flexischools App - Online Canteen Orders - Reminder
- Parish News
- Advertisements
Dear Parents and Carers, Staff and Students,
Welcome to Term 2! I hope the holiday break was a time when you could stop, relax and enjoy some time with family and friends. I spent time visiting friends on the Mornington Peninsular and catching up with my daughters in Melbourne. On return to Grafton, I joined students and staff at the Grafton ANZAC Day March and Service. I sincerely thank all staff and students who attended Marches across the Valley during the holiday break, representing our College and paying their respects to all those who have served this country, who continue to serve and to those who have given their lives in service.
Wreaths were laid at services in Yamba, Maclean, Grafton, and South Grafton. Madeleine Schroder gave an address at the South Grafton Service on the Battle of the Coral Sea, and Amelia Cox gave one of the 4 addresses at the Grafton ANZAC Day service. The theme of Amelia’s speech was the Battle of Kokoda. Madeleine presented her speech at our own ANZAC Assembly last Thursday. Each student who participated in the marches and ceremonies will be recognised with a merit certificate at a Year Assembly in the near future.
Our week 1 Assembly and Pastoral Care lesson focused on ANZAC Day. Mr Lobsey’s Year 11 Modern History students led the Assembly prayer, which highlighted the importance of service, gratitude, and resilience. In addition to Madeleine's address, students laid poppies at the Cross. The ceremony included the Ode, the Last Post, and the Rouse. Thank you to Mr Lobsey for organising our school ANZAC Assembly.
Welcome back to our staff and students who have been on the MCC European Tour for 24 days. What a fantastic trip they had, travelling through Germany, Austria and Italy. Many have followed their adventure on Instagram, and the student community was given an overview of the tour at our weekly Assembly. There is also a report in this Newsletter.
Punctuality & Attendance
Punctuality will be a focus for our community from the start of week 2 this term. Students are losing learning time due to lateness. We are removing the warning bells, so students will now move on one bell. Students who are continually late to class will be required to pay this time back during their break time. I ask that parents note that the school day starts at 8.45 with Homeroom.
All students' attendance should be 95%. Families whose child’s attendance is under 90% have been receiving letters of concern. If you need assistance with your child’s attendance, please contact the Wellbeing Team.
Staff Changes
- This term in weeks 1 to 4, Kathy Warby will be on leave. Kathy will be replaced by Margaret Bertalli as the Assistant Principal - Mission and Wellbeing. Anthea Kinny will replace Margaret as the Leader of Pedagogy.
- Megan Barton has been appointed as School Counsellor 2 days a week, replacing Kiya Saffigna.
- Kathryn Arnold has been employed in the Front Office as an Administration Officer, replacing Bernice Pitt.
- Destinee Walker has resigned from her position as an Aboriginal Education Worker. We wish Destinee all the best for the future.
- We will be advertising and appointing a Student Wellbeing Officer, Aboriginal Education Worker and an Ag Assistant in the near future.
Tell Them From Me Annual Survey - School Improvement
The annual survey is open from Week 2 and closes on 24th May. I encourage all families to complete the survey to provide us with feedback to help us improve and grow. This is part of our continuous commitment to school improvement. Each family will receive a link to the survey via email.
Events this fortnight
- Yr 12 Parent Teacher Student Interviews - Tuesday 7th May
- Close the Gap - Wednesday 8th May
- Mother’s Day Breakfast - Thursday 9th May
- Senior Charity Ball - 11th May
Other dates to note
- Year 12 Retreat - 27 - 29th May
- Staff Development Day - 30th May
- End of term for students - 4th July
- Staff Development Day - 5th July
Mother’s Day
Sunday, May 12th, is Mother’s Day, and I wish all our mothers (and grandmothers) a Happy Mother’s Day. I hope you are able to stop and feel special and have an opportunity to connect with family. Connection and relationships are so very important, which is a message we continue to promote in our school community. We are hosting a Mother’s Day Breakfast on Thursday, May 9th, at 7.45 a.m. Please come along for some breakfast and a chat with staff and parents.
Kind regards,
Kate
Kate Thomson
Principal
“We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us.”
Catherine McAuley
Empowering Parents to Support Their Child's Assessment Journey
Assessment is vital to your child's educational journey, providing insights into their progress and guiding their growth. Parents play a crucial role in fostering an environment that nurtures and supports your child's assessment experiences. Here are some practical ways you can lend a helping hand:
Be aware of the school Assessment Policy: Each year, students are enrolled in the assessment processes facilitated by the curriculum coordinator. Parents who wish to know more about our policy should access the appropriate policy from the school website.
Stay Connected with Teachers: Keep the lines of communication open with your child's teachers. Attend Parent-Student-Teacher conferences to gain insight into assessment expectations, formats, and timelines. These interactions provide valuable opportunities to collaborate with educators and support your child effectively.
Promote Reflection: Encourage your child to reflect on their learning journey and assessment outcomes. Help them recognise their strengths and areas for improvement, and assist them in setting attainable goals for progress. By fostering a habit of reflection, you empower your child to take ownership of their learning.
Create a Nurturing Environment: Cultivate a supportive atmosphere at home that fosters learning and academic growth. Establish consistent routines, designate a quiet study area, and ensure access to essential resources like books, technology, and study materials. Providing a conducive environment lays the foundation for your child's success.
Celebrate Achievements: Celebrate your child's successes, big or small. Acknowledge their efforts, resilience, and perseverance in tackling assessments. Celebrating progress instils confidence and motivation in your child, fostering a positive attitude towards learning.
Consider leveraging resources like ATOMI, our school's platform that enhances subject content knowledge and study skills. ATOMI provides valuable tools and resources to support your child's learning journey, offering interactive study materials and strategies for effective study habits.
Mothers Day
As we approach Mother's Day, let's remember that it's not just a day to express our gratitude to our own mothers. It's a day to acknowledge and appreciate the immense influence of all those who take on the role of motherhood. It's a time for us, as a community, to reflect on how we can support and uplift mothers everywhere.
Whilst we gear up for Mother's Day on Sunday, 12 May, we remind parents with their children that we would love to have you pop into school this Thursday, 9 May, between 7.45 and 8.45 to celebrate a Mother's Day Breakfast.
For catering purposes, the Google form sent to parents via the Compass portal last Thursday must be completed by 1 p.m. today.
We look forward to seeing you then.
School Excursions / Incursions
Schools are very busy, and there are always many extracurricular events. Recently, some excursions have been delayed or cancelled due to a lack of parental permission being returned by the due date.
To streamline this process and ensure all our students can enjoy these events, we want to remind you of the procedures we have in place through our student management platform, Compass.
Here's how it works:
- Stay Informed: Monitor your Compass account and email inbox. You'll receive a notification requesting action when a new event is published.
- Mark Your Calendar: About a week before the deadline, we'll send you a friendly reminder email. This is your cue to double-check if you've given consent (and made any necessary payments).
- Urgent Alerts: As the deadline approaches, we'll send text messages to families without consent or payment. This is a heads-up to take swift action if your child plans to attend.
Here's how you can help:
- Stay Connected: Make sure you can access Compass and receive emails. If you encounter any issues, don't hesitate to contact the administration office for assistance.
- Give Consent Online: Whenever possible, please provide consent through Compass. It's the quickest and easiest way to ensure your child gets all the benefits. However, if digital consent isn't feasible for you, we can accommodate a paper consent form sent via email or sent home with your child.
- Be Prompt: When an event opens for registration, the sooner you consent, the smoother the planning process becomes, especially for arranging resources like buses.
NOTE: Some excursions are a mandatory curriculum component and may contribute to assessment tasks. If a student cannot attend curriculum excursions, the assessment policy needs to be followed.
Your cooperation in following these steps is invaluable in facilitating these events and ensuring every student has the opportunity to participate fully.
Dianne McGowan
Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching
Tell Them From Me Survey - Your Voice Matters!
In the coming weeks, we will be inviting students, teachers and parents to provide feedback on their experience of our school using an online survey. The surveys are an important part of our whole school evaluation and planning process.
The results of surveys, such as these, help provide direction for future planning and open up areas for fruitful discussion between home and school.
A great example of this is our engagement with the Berry Street Education Model and the 2023 renovations of the junior toilets. We also use this data to inform our school improvement plans.
We would like to extend an invitation to all parents/carers to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) survey this year. We value the role of parents and carers within our school community and would greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and wellbeing at McAuley Catholic College.
The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
WHEN? Term 2 Week 2 (the survey will remain open for 2 weeks)
HOW? You will be provided with a URL via Compass communication to access the parent survey and complete online.
Uniform
The start of 2024 saw a delay in the supply of uniforms due to port strikes. The supply issue is no longer an issue, and the Uniform Shop is well-stocked
Students in years 8, 9, 10 & 12 may wear the old uniform. Students in years 7 and 11 are to be wearing the new uniform. All students are welcome to purchase the new uniform items.
By now, students should have received uniform items that have been ordered. It is our expectation that all students are wearing the appropriate uniform. In cases where an order has still not been processed and you are waiting on an item, please email the invoice to your child Homeroom Teacher and Year Co-ordinator so a temporary uniform pass is issued.
Please note, the shoes McAuley Catholic College students are required to wear need to be ‘school style’, that is, black leather polishable, low-cut, lace-up shoes with a distinguishable heel on the shoe (not too big). The diagram outlines acceptable and unacceptable footwear.
Punctuality
From week 2, we will be trialling one bell for HR, the start of Period 3, and Period 5. The purpose of this is to improve punctuality and reduce the amount of learning time that is lost.
The door will be closed three minutes after the lesson starts and there will be consequences for students who arrive late.
- For the first two days, please send students to the canteen area (CLT will make a chronicle entry and follow up with discipline).
- After this, the class teacher will be responsible for creating a chronicle entry and then managing lateness with the following options:
Thanks for your support in this new process
Margaret Bertalli
Acting Assistant Principal - Mission and Wellbeing
Year 9 Food Tech
Last week our Year 9 students were tasked with finding suitable toppings from different cultures to accompany a variety of different breads.
Some combinations included croissants with whipped cream, fresh strawberries and nutella, garlic butter naan bread, bruscetta topped sourdough and rosemary and pink himalayan salt foccacia (made from scratch)!
Year 7 Girls Sport
Some of our Year 7 girls tried their hand at golf skills in last week's school sports program. They were tasked with putting a ball in the hole from a range of distances, requiring precision, accuracy, and balanced striking.
Year 11 Chemistry
On Friday, 3rd May, Year 11 Chemistry students conducted a practical lesson to determine whether mass is conserved during a chemical reaction. Students were required to weigh the reactants of the investigation and observe the chemical reaction taking place before weighing the mass of the products. Students were then required to justify if the mass was conserved during the experiment using their theoretical knowledge of the Law of Conservation of Mass.
Shopping World - Comparison Shopping
At the end of last term, Year 9 and 10 Commerce students headed to Grafton Shopping World to investigate the price variations between Woolworths and Coles through comparison shopping. They collected data on numerous products and then used this data to determine the value of the dollar at each of the SuperPowers.
Students developed their critical thinking skills by comparing prices, working out products with the greatest price variation, finding alternative generic products, comparing product packaging, and identifying a variety of marketing strategies used to entice customer choices.
Students enjoyed working independently and collaboratively at Shoppingworld to complete their fieldwork within a specified time. Current issues, such as the increasing cost of living, price fixing, and price gouging, were clearly evident to students.
Leanne McLennan
Commerce Teacher
McAuley Fathers, Grandfathers, and Carers are invited to a Father's Day Breakfast on Thursday, 29th August, from 7.45 to 8.40 a.m. at Catherine's Cafe (near the College Hall). Please come along (with your child/children) and enjoy a light snack of bacon & egg rolls and various fruits with tea or coffee.
Please RSVP via the Google Form before 1pm, Tuesday 20th August.
We hope to see you all there!
NRCC Rugby Carnival
On Thursday, 2nd May, our U14s and U16s Boys Rugby Teams travelled to Casino to participate in the Northern Rivers Catholic Colleges Rugby League Carnival.
Well done to both teams who exemplified MCC values and represented our College with pride and respect.
Dates
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)
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:
McAuley College ANZAC Day Participation Continues to Shine
In keeping with our proud tradition, McAuley College once again participated in the ANZAC Day commemorations across the Clarence Valley, with students representing our college alongside local service and community organisations. It's a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women, and we couldn't be prouder of the respect and pride our students exhibited. We thank all the students who marched to represent the school for their service.
Our student leaders, as always, represented McAuley Catholic College admirably at various events. Here are the students who took part in laying wreaths at different services:
- Grafton: Laura and Eva Patricks
- South Grafton: Jack Fels and Max Forwell
- Yamba: Lucy Day and Sienna Clifton
- Maclean: Charlie Imeson and Eva MacNamara
- Iluka: Molly Shaw
- Ulmara: Mitch Dick
Two McAuley Catholic College Students were also asked to present a speech for the Grafton and South Grafton RSL commemorations. Madeleine Schroder wrote and spoke about the battle of the Coral Sea at South Grafton, whilst Amelia Cox wrote and spoke about Kokoda for the Grafton Commemoration. Both young ladies did a marvellous job representing the school, and their speeches served as a powerful reminder of the bravery and sacrifices made by the ANZACs and their families during wartime.
In addition to our active participation in the ANZAC Day marches, we held a solemn commemorative assembly to pay our respects to the ANZACs. We congratulate Mr. Lobsey's Year 11 Modern History class, who orchestrated a moving ceremony that resonated with our entire student body. Madeleine Schroder repeated her speech on the Battle of the Coral Sea during the assembly. Thank you, Mr. Lobsey and Year 11 Modern History.
We are immensely proud of our student's commitment to honouring the ANZACs and are confident that this tradition will endure for generations to come.
Grafton
Germany Report: 2024 European Study Tour
During the recent school holidays, 31 Year 11 and 12 students, and 5 staff, toured Europe on an educational study tour. Over the next four newsletters, we will be exploring the three stages of the tour: Germany, Austria and Italy.
Part One: Germany
We spent most of our time in Europe exploring the layers of history in Germany. From the Holy Roman Empire to the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall there was so much to learn.
Hamburg, the port city of work and trade, taught us about the establishment and unification of the German Empire, led by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck in 1871. We visited St Pauli Football Club where we did a tour that showed us the stadium and the morality politics of the club.
Documentation Centres in Munich and Obersalzburg taught us about Nazi Germany, the period from 1933 to 1945 when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party had control over Germany. The research centre and museum in Munich provided us with insight into the rise and fall of the Nazi Party and its impact on all of Germany. As for Obsersalzberg, Adolf Hitler's mountain residence and retreat was turned into a Documentation Centre, teaching us about the Nazi regime, Hitler's life and the historical context behind the Obersalzberg. Many found Hitler's underground bunker most interesting, with the tunnels spread 3 km within the mountain and a bomb site within the bunker where a grenade had chipped the concrete and gone through the concrete floor.
Along with learning about Nazi Germany, we visited the Nazi Rally Grounds in Nuremberg, which was the site of many significant rallies led by Hitler. Speeches and military parades were aimed to show Nazi power and ideology to the world with up to 200,000 people filling the grounds. It was a surreal experience being there where the grounds were repurposed as concert stands, a motorbike ground and a historical site used to educate people. I found it inspiring how they have come to terms with the past and strive to spread awareness about the tragedies that happened so that it doesn’t happen in the future.
We followed the footsteps of Martin Luther in Wittenberg, exploring the Luther 360° panorama and reliving through the events that led to Martin Luther publishing his 95 Theses. We also saw Johann Sebastian Bach’s church and instruments in Leipzig, where Germany’s oldest and most famous church choir was founded in 1212. All the churches we visited were stunning with different features that had meaning and stories behind them. A really special moment on the tour was the Sunday mass that we attended in Michaelskirche in Munich. The service was spoken in German so we couldn’t understand what was said however the layout was very similar to the masses at home and they had hymns that the choir performed. The organ sounded amazing in the church.
In Berlin, we learnt a lot about the Cold War and the division into East and West Germany. Berlin, the capital, was also divided into East and West Berlin. The DDR museum gave us an idea of what life was like in East Germany during the time of the German Democratic Republic, such as living conditions, culture and politics. We visited the Berlin Wall, which was a symbol of the Cold War as well as Checkpoint Charlie and the Brandenburg Gate. It was incredible visiting places of such significance and with so much history, and also seeing the art on the Berlin Wall.
Something good can always come from something bad. We saw some amazing places including the Alexanderplatz TV tower with an unbelievable view, the Berlin Olympic Stadium and the Teufelsberg spy station. I loved the graffiti at the spy station and could have explored it for days. I just love how the ruins became the perfect place for artists to share their styles and perspectives and gave them a place for free speech, plus the graffiti is just next level, it was unreal.
We also learned a lot about German culture and food. We ate bratwursts, travelled on trains, and went to see a Bundesliga II football match between Gruether Furth and FC Kaiserslautern. Germany was awesome!
Eliza Hughes
On Behalf of the Student Attendees
During the school holidays, the Clarence Pastoral and Agricultural Society hosted the 150th Grafton Show. Our College collected produce and projects to enter in the Agricultural exhibit and competition. This exhibit featured a variety of carefully grown crops from the Stage 5 agriculture program. Pumpkins, tomatoes, chokos, herbs, eggs, squash, beetroot and citrus were among the items displayed.
The school display also included timber, metal and textiles projects from our TAS department and a range of pottery and lino prints from our Art classes. The College received second prize in the school exhibit section.
The students who entered produce in the Agricultural competition also won first prize in the following categories: 6 brown eggs, 2 green chokos, and 2 beetroot. Congratulations to all the students and staff involved in the show this year; it was an excellent effort from all.
May
5th - 12th: National Road Safety Week
6th - 7th: NSWCCC AFL, Wagga Wagga
7th: Yr 12 Parent Student Teacher Conferences
8th: Close the Gap Excursion
Yr 11 IT Timber Excursion, South Grafton Sawmill
9th: Mother's Day Breakfast, MCC, 7.45am
Souths Cares Rabbitohs Visit
10th: National Walk Safely to School Day
11th: MCC Senior Charity Ball
14th: U16s NRCC Boys & Girls Hockey (TBC)
15th: Yr 12 Hospitality Excursion, Botero Roastery Maclean
16th: Bill Turner Soccer - U15s Boys & Girls, MCC
17th: Dio Cross Country, McAuley College Grafton
20th: U15s & Opens NSWCCC Hockey Selections
21st: Yr 7 Vaccinations
Diocesan Primary Schools Cross Country
21st - 22nd: U16s & U18s Girls NSWCCC Rugby League
23rd: FNC All Schools Touch Football - Yr 9 & 10 Boys
Year 10 Future Pathways Planning Day held at MCC
27th - 29th: Yr 12 Retreat
27th - 31st: National Reconciliation Week
30th: Staff Development Day (School Closed)
Your child is never too old to be reminded about the importance of road safety. The 10th of May is National Walk Safely to School Day and we ask that you remind your child of the importance of not walking distracted.
As pedestrians, we become more vulnerable when stepping out from the kerb if our headspace is occupied with music and mobile phones. These devices limit hearing and reduce concentration and reaction times.
Safety tips for your child when they are a pedestrian include:
- Head up and phone down and take out your earphones
- Never cross the street while using an electronic device
- Never assume a vehicle will stop for you. Wait until it completely stops
- Where possible, cross at marked crossings or traffic lights
- Before you cross a road, think about whether a driver can see you; promote Stop, Look, Listen and Think message
- Never sacrificing safety for convenience
- Always waiting until the school bus has left before seeing if it is safe to cross the road
- Always walk on the sidewalk if one is available; if you must walk on the street, safely face oncoming traffic
Help your child to identify the safest places to cross the road when travelling to and from school. Teach your child to avoid any distractions that could compromise their safety as a pedestrian by modelling these behaviours. For more information go to Transport NSW On The Move.
Clear Minds, Healthy Lives: Choose Vape Free
Parent Information: How You Can Help
If you are concerned about your child’s vaping and suspect they may have a nicotine addiction, it’s important to have a conversation with your teen about their vaping – and it should be a conversation, not a lecture. Here are some questions you might want to ask your teen about their vaping:
- Do you continue to vape even though you want to stop or think it’s hurting you in some way?
- Do you feel anxious or irritable when you want to use your vape but can’t?
- Do thoughts about vaping interrupt you when you are focused on other activities?
- Do you vape at school? How often?
- Have you ever tried to stop vaping but couldn’t?
- Do you feel like you have lost control over your vaping?
- Would you like my help to quit vaping?
The truth is, you can’t force your teen to quit vaping, but your influence can make a difference. The Support to Quit Vaping Guide below provides some tips that you and your teen may find helpful.
And when your teen does decide to quit, you’ll need to provide support as they may deal with nicotine withdrawal symptoms, including: Irritability, restlessness, headaches, sweating, sadness, anxiety, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, hunger, and cravings. You can help your teen manage these symptoms by encouraging him or her to drink plenty of water, get enough sleep, and eat healthy snacks. You can also discuss having a plan for managing cravings and dealing with situations that might trigger a desire to vape. Withdrawal symptoms can make it difficult to quit, but as your teen stays off nicotine, the symptoms will fade but they will need your support and health to do it.
What advice? Try your GP, headspace (1800 650 890), NSW Parent Line 1300 1300 52 or NSW Quitline 13 7848.
As mentioned in our previous newsletters over the last few weeks, the College offers lunch orders online through the Flexischools app. Please see the attached flyer to get started.
Please find attached the latest Parish Bulletins from Clarence Valley Parish
