Term 2 - Week 3 - 17 May 2024

Dear Parents and Carers, Staff and Students,

In week 3, I had the privilege of spending four days at St Joseph's Regional College, Port Macquarie, as a member of the School Review Team. As hard as it is to be away from my own school, it is a wonderful opportunity and excellent professional development to observe the operation of another school. School Reviews are part of the diocese's continuous improvement agenda, using the ACER School Improvement Tool.

Continuous Improvement through the "Tell Them From Me" Survey

As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we encourage all parents to complete the annual "Tell Them From Me" survey. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us understand your experiences and identify areas where we can enhance our programs and services. Together, we can work towards creating an even better learning environment for everyone. Please complete by Friday 24th May. More details can be found in the Mission and Wellbeing section.

Celebrating Achievements and Community Spirit

Congratulations are in order for our Assistant Principal Di McGowan, who recently presented at the NSW HALT (Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher) Conference. Dianne's presentation highlighted the innovative programs we've introduced to enhance student well-being and learning outcomes, providing our staff with valuable strategies for success.

On a lighter note, we extend heartfelt congratulations to all mothers, grandmothers, and caregivers celebrated during our Mother's Day festivities. The Year 11 SOR1 class led a touching assembly prayer dedicated to all mothers, while our Mother's Day breakfast was made special by the presence of many mothers and grandmothers. Your love and support are truly appreciated.

In the spirit of community and compassion, McAuley recently hosted an unforgettable Senior Charity Ball, attended by over 300 people. Dressed in elegant black and white attire, our students showcased both style and generosity as they came together to raise funds for the families of St. Joseph's Primary School Woodburn. Principal Janette Wilkins provided insight into the challenges faced by these families since the 2022 floods, reminding us of the power of solidarity and support in times of adversity.

Celebrating Sporting Achievements

A round of applause to all the students who have been actively participating in various sports events and proudly representing McAuley. Your dedication, sportsmanship, and commitment to excellence are commendable, and we are proud to have you as ambassadors of our college. Keep up the fantastic work, and may your passion for sports continue to inspire others.

Inspiring Talks and Future Goals

Our students had the privilege of engaging with players from the Rabbitohs Rugby League team, both current and retired. They shared inspiring stories about setting goals, overcoming obstacles, and prioritising mental health. Their visit left a lasting impression on our students, motivating them to pursue their dreams with determination and resilience.

As we reflect on these recent events, we are reminded of the strength and unity within our College community. Together, we continue to strive for excellence, support one another, and make a positive impact both within our school walls and beyond.

Punctuality Pays Off: A Reminder 

At McAuley College, we believe punctuality is not just a virtue; it's a habit leading to success. As we continue to instil the values of discipline and responsibility in our students, we kindly remind everyone of the importance of being on time. Whether it's arriving promptly to school or class or meeting assignment deadlines, being punctual sets the tone for a productive and successful academic journey.

School Fees Reminder

A gentle reminder to all parents and guardians: school fees play a crucial role in sustaining the quality of education and resources we provide at McAuley. If you haven't already done so, please ensure that fees are paid promptly or reach out to the college to discuss suitable payment options. It's essential to keep your account up to date, as overdue fees may result in students being unable to participate in extra-curricular excursions.

Important Reminders 

As we move forward into the heart of the academic year, here are some key updates and reminders to keep in mind:

Staff Development Day - School Closure Notice

Please be advised that on the 30th of May, McAuley College will be closed to all students. This closure is due to our dedicated staff attending the Proclaim Staff Day in Coffs Harbour. This day is an invaluable opportunity for professional development, collaboration, faith formation and growth, ensuring that our staff remains equipped to provide our students with the best possible education and support. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter.

Best Wishes to Year 12 Students

We extend our warmest wishes to our Year 12 students as they embark on their retreat in week 5. This retreat offers a valuable opportunity for reflection, bonding, and personal growth as they prepare for the culmination of their high school journey. We encourage them to fully embrace this experience and cherish the memories made during this special time.

Parent Forum 

Our next parent forum meeting will be in week 9 - Tuesday 25th June in the library from 5.30 for a 6 pm start. This is an opportunity to find out more about the College and the many activities that your child can be involved in. 

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in the McAuley College community. Together, we strive to nurture an environment of learning, growth, and excellence for all.

Kind regards,

Kate

Kate Thomson
Principal

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

Catherine McAuley

Our Parish is celebrating the Holy Sacrament of Confirmation on June 18. If your child is a baptised Catholic and has yet to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, they may be able to celebrate this wonderful sacrament.

We have also received a few enquiries from our students about receiving sacraments, namely First Holy Communion, Reconciliation, Confirmation and Baptism.

We are very interested in hearing from MCC families who are genuinely considering their children to receive these sacraments.

We would like to support any of our students who wish to receive these sacraments. To assist in planning and supporting you and your child on this special journey, please email thomas.howard@lism.catholic.edu.au or the College office. We will endeavour to support the children through their sacramental journey.

Celebrating Baptism

Congratulations to Lily Milne in Year 7 (on the left), who celebrated her baptism on the weekend. What a wonderful occasion for Lily and her family. I am sure that our school community will journey with her in life as a Catholic in the coming years. Lily will also celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation in June with other children from our Parish.

Well done and congratulations, Lily.

Tom Howard
Leader of Evangilisation

South Cares Rabitohs Visit McAuley

On Thursday 9th May, our school assembly was privileged to host the Souths Cares team. The gathering featured insightful talks delivered by South Sydney Rabbitohs players including: Shaq Mitchell, Ben Lovett, Yileen Gordon, Tyrone Roberts, and Rhys Wesser, who shared anecdotes about their careers and the obstacles they've overcome. They also shed light on potential career pathways for all students, culminating in an engaging Q&A session with the players.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Alisha, Kalinda, and the entire Souths Cares team for orchestrating this enriching program and for their visit to our school.

Wil Bancroft

Aboriginal Education Worker

Bill Turner Soccer

Last Thursday, May 16th, our Under 15s Boys' and Girls' soccer teams competed in the annual Bill Turner Cup, with the boys competing against Grafton High and the girls playing Maclean High. Both games were home games played on our MCC field.

In an evenly contested affair, the boys' team started their game well with an array of chances, but none found the back of the net. Grafton struck first on the counter to make the score 1-0, and MCC went into the half trailing. We began the second half on the front foot, trying to find an equaliser. Manu received the ball with some space and took advantage, dribbling past two players and striking a vicious shot from the edge of the box that went past the keeper.

The game ended 1-1 and extra time followed, with each team having to drop off a player at 5-minute increments. As legs began to tire, the game was end-to-end, with both teams searching for that decisive goal. Thanks to the MCC spirit and cheering of the home crowd, the team found that extra effort. Dexta dribbled his way into the box and put away a shot too powerful for the keeper to handle ending the game on a 2-1 win. 

Special mentions to Callum T, who showed maturity beyond his years playing in the backline, and Kane P, who ran all day to control the midfield.

In a nail-biting Round 2 match, our girls team showcased their skill and determination against Maclean High. The game was tightly contested from start to finish, with both teams locked in a 2-2 draw at the end of full time.

The match progressed to extra time under the knockout competition format, where the golden goal rule was applied to determine the winner. Bridgette T emerged as the hero of the day, scoring the decisive goal that secured a 3-2 victory for MCC. This marked Bridgette's hat-trick, as she impressively netted all three goals for our team.

While Bridgette’s performance was outstanding, special recognition is also due to Sabrina G, Mahala H and Jasmine I, who dominated the midfield, controlling the pace of the game and creating numerous opportunities. On the defensive end, Meliah M and Lucy W were formidable, ensuring that our backline remained rock solid throughout the match.

Both teams now advance to Round 3 in the coming weeks. The boys will travels to St John Paul College and the girls take on Bellingen High School at their home field. We extend our best wishes to both teams and know their teamwork, resilience, and passion on the field will continue to make our College proud. Good luck!

Adam Bancroft & Nelson Burgess
Team Coaches

Cross Country

Earlier in the year, the Annual McAuley Cross Country was held at the College on Thursday 11th April. It was a great day for students who competed with a large participation turn out. Congratulations to our age champions:

The House results were:

On Friday 17th May, the College hosted the annual Diocesan Cross Country. The weather initially appeared frightful and glum for the event but the rain held off to make it another great day. Competition is always tough at these championships so commendation is extended to all of the runners who represented the College on the day. A big congratulations to our students who finished in the top 10 of their age group:

A special mention and massive congratulations is extended to Charlie Imeson, who achieved first place in the 18 years girls race and beat the second place competitor by nearly 3 minutes! A fantastic achievement and well deserved age champion title, well done Charlie!

Thank you to all staff and students who organised and and help assist with the event on the day. On behalf of the College, I'd also like to extend a massive thank you to Mr Tony Dougherty for the use of his property to run both of our carnivals.

James Hand
MCC Sports Co-ordinator

Year 12 Hospitality Excursion to Botero Roastery

On Wednesday, May 15th, the Year 12 Hospitality students ventured to Botero Roastery in Maclean for an enriching experience. Students had the opportunity to witness first-hand the meticulous processes behind crafting the perfect cup of coffee, from selecting premium beans to the precise roasting techniques.

During their visit, students had the privilege of conversing with the manager, delving into the establishment's service style and its proactive approach to surpassing industry benchmarks. Furthermore, students had the opportunity to select dishes from the à la carte menu, allowing them to analyse the intricate mise en place activities integral to preparing both food and beverages.

Thank you to Botero Roastery, Maclean for the wonderful experience and their hospitality, and also to Brett Bowling (MCC Staff), our excellent bus driver who accompanied us on the excursion.

PRIMEX

On Thursday 17th May, our 9-12 Agriculture and Primary Industries students travelled to Casino for PRIMEX Field Days - Australia's Sustainable Farming and Primary Industries Expo. The students had a fantastic day learning about the latest industry technology and products availabe on the market and gaining knowledge from event stall holders.

Year 9 Food Technology

Year 9 students had the task of researching, planning, and preparing three identical cupcakes for a child's birthday party aged between 5 and 13 as part of their recent assessment task.

MCC Olympics Update

On the 8th of May we began our 2024 McAuley Olympics. With combined efforts from the Student Leadership Team (SLT), we decided to bring a fun, entertaining sport scheme that allows the students to be part of a team. This will run over a 4 week period and will no doubt provide copiois determination and competitive natures oozing from the participating students.

We are holding 1 sport per week with a final round held on the Friday of every week. Sports being played are European handball, touch football, soccer, and volleyball. So far we have completed European handball with Canada (Tracey House) taking out the competition. This was a week full of fun, excitement and inclusion that saw students came together with exuberant enthusiasm and wore their house spirit on their sleeve.

The 13th of May commenced round 2 of the Olympics, which hosted touch football on the bottom oval. The loud music brought the students together to surround the field, cheering their house on with encouragement and eagerness.

We thank the SLT for their astounding commitment and organisation of this event and their efforts to bring enjoyment to the College.       

Mitchell Dick
On Behalf of the Student Leadership Team

On Saturday 11th May, McAuley held our second bi-annnual Senior Charity Ball at the South Grafton Ex-Servicemens Club. The night was a huge success and great fun for all, thanks to the efforts and dedication of the Student Leadership Team alongside the College Leadership Team. The night kicked off at 5:30pm, with students, teachers and their families arriving dressed according to our theme, ‘Black and White’. We had a total of 307 in attendance, including Principal Jeanette Wilkins, of St Joseph’s Primary School Woodburn.

The night began with speeches from our Principal Kate Thomson and Principal Jeanette, both sharing some insight into the ball's cause and providing the attendees with the story of St Joseph’s tragic experience with the floods. The purpose of the ball was to raise funds and support the Year 5 and 6 students, who are still learning offsite, to attend a school excursion to Canberra.  While we await confirmation of the total amount raised, we know that our raffle draws and 100’s club alone raised $1,300 for this cause - an amazing effort by all!

Following the speeches, our two school captains extended thank yous to everyone who contributed to making the night a success. Then, students showcased their two dances, ‘The Pride of Erin’ and the Barn Dance to ‘Love Shack’, which they had been learning and perfecting since March. Similarly, individuals were then invited to dance with a guest of their own, bringing family, friends, and teachers onto the dance floor to participate.

The overall experience of the night was incredible, and on behalf of the whole senior community, we would like to say a big thank you to Mrs Thomson for allowing us to experience this Charity Ball, as well as all of the staff who worked tirelessly in order to make this night a possibility, including Mrs Rouse, Mrs Nicolls and Mr Montford. Similarly, a massive thank you to the band, our decorator Carol Davis, who made the venue visually stunning and photographer Adam Hourigan, who was able to capture this beautiful night's memories.

We express our deepest gratitude to all local businesses who donated prizes for our raffles or offered sponsorship for this event including: The Surf Yamba, Bunnings Warehouse, Big River Pizza, Maclean Landscaping Supplies, Country Nails, Candell Signs, Country Nails, McLennan Deece Optometrist, Grafton Shoppingworld, Salt Financial Planning, Harveys Jewellers, Yamba’s Fishos, Red Hot Hair, Beauty Lane, Cutting Edge and Red Bull Butchery. Without your generosity this event could not have taken place. 

Molly Shaw & Eva Patricks
On Behalf of the Student Leadership Team

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. In our last newsletter, we explored the first stage of the tour, Germany. We will continue exploring the remaining stages of the tour and give an overall reflection in the coming weeks.

Moving forward to stage two of the tour, we will now take you through our journey in Austria

Part Two: Austria:

Our journey to Austria was a bus ride from Munich to Salzburg via Obersalzberg. To reach our destination of Obersalzberg, we had to climb the steep alps, very slowly I might add. It was worth the wait though. The views of the snowy mountains were spectacular, and when we arrived, we found snow lying on the ground all around us. We were ecstatic. Everyone started running around, picking it up and throwing it at each other. We had a blast. 

After a wonderful day in the Alps, we reached Salzberg, our first stop in Austria. That night, the group split into two: half went for a late-night walk over the lock bridge to see the city under the night lights, and the other half went to the concert of the amazing Clara Louise. 

The next morning, some of us chose to start early with a 6 a.m. walk. We found many film locations from the Sound of Music. About halfway through the walk, in a small courtyard, it started snowing. It was a beautiful sight, and we started running around trying to catch the flakes in our mouths. As we continued on, the snow started falling harder, completely covering us from head to toe in white. 

Our next stop was the Ebensee concentration camp. It was a sad experience but a necessary one. We were led by our wonderful guide, Wolfgang, who told us all about the camp and the backstory of the town that now stands where the camp originally was. He then took us to the tunnels that prisoners painstakingly built for the Nazis to test rockets in. Although it was a confronting experience, it was important to see how the victims of WWll are being remembered. 

Our last stop before Klagenfurt was Empress Sissi’s summer palace, which has beautiful architecture and scenery surrounding it. Our guide told us all about the history of the building and Empress Sissi herself. He showed us the rooms of her palace and told us very interesting facts about the original items displayed in each room. There was even the desk where Franz Josef I signed the Austrian Declaration of War against Serbia in 1914! 

From there, we travelled to the Pyramidenkogel, the highest wooden viewing tower in the world. When we arrived, there was even more snow. After a bit of fun, we went inside to go to the top of the tower, only to be met with the news that the lift was broken, so we had to climb a good 400 stairs up and down. The view was worth it though, and the wooden structure was interesting. 

On our last day in Austria, we discovered a place called Minimundus, a museum-like centre that has a courtyard full of miniature world landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal, and even the sinking Titanic. We spent our time on a treasure hunt finding the important buildings of the world. We even got to participate in a 4D experience with us being on the back of a virtual bike travelling out of control over the Great Wall of China, which was a bit wild. 

Finally, we made our way to the train station to head to our final country: Italy. We waited at the station for about an hour before we finally boarded and went on our way to Venice.

Savannah Cheney
On Behalf of the Tour Students

Write a Book in a Day

The Write a Book in a Day competition gives participants the chance to collaborate and flex their creativity, as well as compete for tons of prizes, and help make a difference to the lives of kids with cancer.

Teams of between 5 and 10 participants will meet for one day between 1 May and 30 September to write and illustrate an entire book. Each team will be given unique parameters for their story for their chosen writing day, ensuring that no one gets a head start!

Teams are encouraged to fundraise during the competition and all money raised going directly to The Kids’ Cancer Project to support vital childhood cancer research. Every book submitted will also be made available for free to kids in hospitals around Australia.

Of course, it’s a competition first and foremost for all those teams that have fundraised. All books submitted will be judged against other teams and there are prizes on offer throughout the competition. Winners of the ‘Best Overall Book’ and ‘Best Illustrations’ prizes will be chosen from each state as well as nationally at the end of the competition.

See Mrs Jansons or Mrs Gleeson for more information. 

Lena Jansons
MCC Literacy Coach

May

21st - 22nd: U16s & U18s Girls NSWCCC Rugby League 

23rd: FNC All Schools Touch Football - Yr 9 & 10 Boys

24th: 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)

June

3rd - 4th: U16s Boys NSWCCC Rugby, Daceyville

10th: King's Birthday Public Holiday (School Closed)

13th: McAuley Fest

13th - 14th: All School's U15s Hockey

18th: Parent Forum Meeting

20th: MCC Athletics Carnival - Long Distance Events

21st: MCC Athletics Carnival

24th: Brainstorm Production Yr 7 & 8

26th: Netball NSW Cup Grafton

27th - 30th: Street Retreat

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.