Term 2 - Weeks 9 & 10 - 5 July 2024
- From the Principal
- Learning & Teaching (AP)
- Mission and Wellbeing (AP)
- Attendance - Exit Passes
- Evangelisation News
- Careers News
- From the Library
- From the Classroom, Camps & Excursions
- NAIDOC Day
- Sports News
- Dates to Note for July & August
- Uniform Shop - Winter Uniform and Holiday Trading Hours
- Parent Support & Education
- Buckle Up On the Bus - Busways Campaign
- Flexischools App - Online Canteen Orders - Reminder
- Parish News
- Advertisements
Dear Parents and Carers, Staff and Students,
As we reach the end of Term 2, I extend my heartfelt thanks to all our students, staff, and parents for your unwavering support of our College. This newsletter is packed with news, and I encourage you to read through all the various items contributed by our students and staff.
NAIDOC Celebration and Rachel Johnson Touch Football Competition
We delayed the release of this newsletter to include updates on our recent NAIDOC Celebration and the annual Rachel Johnson Touch Football Competition. Yesterday, we held a special NAIDOC assembly attended by the whole school and special guests, including members of Rachel Johnson’s family. NAIDOC is a time for us to acknowledge and celebrate our Aboriginal and Torres Islander students and local community, as well as celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the country. Thank you to our AEW’s Wil Bancroft and Angus Field for co-ordinating the day.
The assembly, led by our students, featured a contemporary dance and highlighted this year's theme: "Keep the Fire Burning: Blak, Loud and Proud." Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students displayed tremendous pride and growing confidence as they shared their culture and heritage. This celebration reaffirmed our commitment to justice, equality, and the recognition of Indigenous wisdom and contributions, as stated in the address given by the students “This theme calls for a reclamation of narratives, an amplification of voices, and an unwavering commitment to justice and equality. It invites all Australians to listen, learn, and engage in meaningful dialogue, fostering a society where the wisdom and contributions of Indigenous peoples are fully valued and respected. Through our collective efforts, we can forge a future where the stories, traditions, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are cherished and celebrated, enriching the fabric of the nation with the oldest living culture in the world.” https://www.naidoc.org.au/about/naidoc-theme
The Rachel Johnson Memorial Touch Football competition, now in its fifth year, remains a highly anticipated event. Each homeroom fielded a team, many featuring the homeroom teacher, which provided some great entertainment. Congratulations to Tracey 1, led by Mr. Flanagan, for their victory. Thank you to all participants and supporters, and special thanks to the staff who organized another successful competition.
Academic Updates and Parent Engagement
Our staff have been diligently completing their reports for Semester 1, which are now available through the Compass portal. Parent-Teacher-Student interviews are scheduled for Week 2 of Term 3 (Tuesday, 30th July), and I encourage you to book appointments promptly as slots may fill up quickly.
In Week 8, we held several well-attended events, including the Year 8 & 10 Subject Selection Evenings and our annual Athletics Carnival. I appreciate the many parents who participated in the subject selection sessions, and we look forward to receiving your child’s selections early in Term 3. Additional information has been sent to Year 10 students and parents to ensure informed subject choices.
Our Athletics Carnival was a resounding success, with Mercy House taking home the trophy. We witnessed record-breaking performances and tightly contested events, especially the exciting relay races. Congratulations to our Year 12 House Captains for their leadership and to the Age Champions who received their medals at our Week 9 Assembly.
Charity and Community Involvement
This term, our fundraising efforts contributed significantly to those in need. We raised $6000 at our Senior Charity Ball, benefiting St Joseph’s Primary School in Woodburn, and $2000 from McAuley Fest for St Vincent de Paul. Supporting those less fortunate is a core value of our College, and I am proud of our community's generosity.
Upcoming Events and Reminders
Staff will conclude this term with our Mercy Spirituality Day, a chance to deepen our commitment to the Mercy tradition. Dr Caroline Thompson from Mercy Partners will lead the day, and Sisters of Mercy - Sr Jenny Hartley and Sr Clare Murphy - will be in attendance.
Term 3 will commence on Monday, 22nd July, with a Staff Development Day focused on Curriculum. Students will return on Tuesday, 23rd July. Please note that winter uniform items, including long pants, jumpers, jackets, and tracksuit pants, are available from the Uniform Shop and can be ordered online.
In the term 3 newsletters, we will share the Tell Them From Me survey results in a series of articles.
I wish all our students, staff, and families a safe and relaxing holiday break.
Kind regards,
Kate
Kate Thomson
Principal
“We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us.”
Catherine McAuley
Release of Years 7-11 Reports
The upcoming release of the Years 7-11 reports is a valuable opportunity for parents and students to engage in their academic progress. We encourage you to review the teacher's feedback carefully, discuss strengths, identify areas for improvement, and set goals for the upcoming term.
Trial HSC Exams
The Trial HSC exams are approaching quickly, beginning in Week 3 of Term 3. These exams are a crucial part of your child's HSC preparation as they provide a simulated HSC experience and a chance to identify areas for improvement.
Year 12 students should be well into their preparation by now. This preparation includes organising study notes for each subject and reviewing past assessments to understand where marks were lost. Students may also consider re-doing previous assessments after acting on feedback, completing past papers, and submitting these for teacher feedback. The importance of adequate preparation for both the Trial HSC and the HSC exams and the efficient use of study time must also be stressed.
While we encourage students to dedicate time to their studies, we also stress the importance of balance. Taking quality time away from the books to relax, spend time with family, and have fun is crucial for maintaining a healthy and productive study routine.
Stage 6 HSIE KLA Excursion - Modern and Ancient History
On Thursday and Friday of Week 8, our Modern and Ancient History students had the unique opportunity to visit Sydney. They explored museums directly related to their studies and attended HSC-focused lectures by the History Teachers Association. This excursion gave them a deeper understanding of their subjects and a glimpse into university life after the HSC.
The series of lectures at Sydney University gave our students an understanding and insight into ways to approach the HSC examinations and ways to revise before the Trial and HSC exams for their subjects.
While in Sydney, the Ancient History students also completed a tour of the Chau Chak Wing Museum. The Chau Chak Wing Museum is a museum of art, science, history, and ancient cultures at the University of Sydney. Our Ancient students visited here because the museum specialises in ancient artefacts. While at the museum, students were given a tour led by an archaeologist as they examined tombstones and busts of Ancient Romans and Greeks and explored aspects of life in Ancient Egypt, including mummification.
The Modern History class visited the Sydney Jewish Museum. Where they were privileged to listen to Holocaust survivor Egon Sonnenschein share his heroic and tragic story of surviving Nazi Germany's occupation of his country when he was a young Jewish boy. Egon was born in 1930 in Ptuj, Slovenia, former Yugoslavia. He was ten and a half years old when WW2 started. He began his journey from Slovenia to Bosnia/Croatia, escaping the fascist Independent State of Croatia run by the Ustashe in 1942 and making his way to Italian-occupied Slovenia with false identity documents. Here, Egon was interned as a civilian refugee of the war in Italy before finally finding refuge with a foster family in Switzerland in 1943. He was only reunited with his family in 1945. Egon spoke to the students about striving to achieve goals, tolerance, compassion, courage, and forgiveness.
Students also explored the museum, learning about Jewish history through artefacts and exhibits. They also handled replicas of Nazi propaganda and Jewish identity documents, deepening their understanding of this historical period.
Write a Book in a Day
Congratulations to the Year 7 and 8 students who are involved as illustrators and authors in the Write a Book in a Day competition. When I checked their progress late Wednesday, week 9, the library was abuzz. More information about the event is in the 'From the Library' article in this Newsletter. Thanks to Mrs Gleeson and Ms Jansons for their support—I can't wait to read the final products!
Dianne McGowan
Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching
This exciting conference will be held again in September. The CSO will be organising a trip that is open to students from Years 7-12. The CSO will subsidise the trip to make it more affordable and accessible. Student participants will be asked to make a co-contribution of $300.00. This contribution will go towards the registration cost. Transport and accommodation are fully subsidised.
To secure their registration for Ignite, students must collect a form from the front office and return it by Friday, July 26th. Please include a $300.00 (non-refundable) payment with the permission note and return it to the school office. Registration online using the coupon code provided on the permission note is required as part of the application.
Further details on the conference are below:
St Vincent de Paul College Sleepout
To reinforce our understanding of all people in society, including the homeless and those suffering from mental health issues, the College will hold a Sleep-Out on the grounds on Friday, 26th July, for students in Years 10-12 only. The idea is that students will spend the night at school experiencing homelessness and developing empathy for those suffering in our society.
The Sleep-Out will begin at 4.30pm on Friday and end at 7am on Saturday. Supervision will be provided until 8am for students waiting to be collected.
Those involved will have a simple meal and entertainment before sleeping under the fixed covered area near the canteen. Normal supervision, school rules and boundaries will be followed on the night.
The Sleep Out Appeal includes a collection of clothing, blankets, and non-perishable food for St Vincent de Paul. A gold coin donation will cover the cost of the meal.
Students are to bring their own sleeping bags or blankets, a thin mattress, pillows and adequate clothing for a night outside. Extra food and drink is not to be brought to the College as this is against the purpose and atmosphere of the evening. Students are encouraged to not use electronic devices (including mobile phones) during the Sleep-Out.
Year 11 Retreat
The Year 11 Retreat will be held in Week 2, Term 3 from Wednesday 31st July 2024 to Friday, 2nd August at Camp Drew, Lennox Head. Retreats are an opportunity for students to explore relationships with friends, family and God in a reflective and non-threatening environment. Through prayer, reflection, discussion, and sharing, students are guided to a deeper understanding of themselves, each other, and their values, which will help them over the coming year and into the future.
This retreat is a very important link in the retreat program of the College. It is an experience that students remember well for many reasons. The emphasis is on the group working together, leadership and making a difference. Therefore, all students must attend.
Year 8 Catch the Wave Program
Catch the Wave is a dynamic, interactive and joyful Yr 8 retreat designed to provide an opportunity for students to deepen their understanding and experience of the foundations of the Christian faith. The Catch the Wave experience includes talks on key topics, student sharing from young people who have been involved in the program and several corresponding student activities. Students can expect games, singing, activities, prayer, talks and small group discussions.
At the heart of the Catch the Wave experience is the proclamation of the Gospel through contemporary Christian music played by the Proclaim Lismore Wildfire Worship Team. The session theme of ‘Catching the Wave’ is brought to life by the Regional Ministry Assistants and College Youth Ministers from local primary and secondary schools.
Enjoy: students are encouraged to have fun and be themselves.
Respect: students are asked to be respectful of the guest presenters and their peers when they are talking.
Invest: students will get something out of the experience if they are open and ready to contribute.
From this day students will then be able to apply for the Ministry class for 2025.
Uniform
In preparation for Term 3, families are encouraged to order uniform items and be prepared for the start of the term. The new uniform provides winter options; seeing the students wearing long dress pants is great and provides a warm option. Please use the code below to order items.
Kathy Warby
Assistant Principal - Mission and Wellbeing
Absent From School
If a student is to be absent from school for sickness or other reasons, parents/carers are asked to inform the College Office before 9.15am on the day of the absence. Parents/Carers will be notified via SMS of unexplained absences. Please note that all absences are to be explained by parents/carers via note, email, phone, or return SMS. Such a note must be handed to the Homeroom Teacher at homeroom time on the day of return or to the Front Office. Next term, we will begin sending emails to parents at the end of each week to explain absences if they have not already done so.
When parents/carers know of upcoming absences, they are asked to inform the College Office in advance or speak with the child’s Year Coordinator to discuss reasons why your child will be away and what relevant forms or documentation are needed to support this absence.
Reminder Exit Pass: Early Departures / Appointments Through the School Day
Regular attendance is not just a requirement but a critical factor in your child's academic success. It ensures continuous learning and minimises disruptions. We understand that appointments are sometimes necessary, but we kindly ask families to schedule these outside school hours whenever possible. If you must collect your child during school, please do so during our allocated break times as listed below:
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Lunch |
Recess |
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Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri |
11.00am |
1.45pm |
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Thu |
10.55am |
1.05pm |
This adjustment to departures through the school day is to minimise disruptions to class time. Phone calls to classrooms during lessons can significantly impact all students' focus and learning environment.
Our top priority is the safety and well-being of all our students. Therefore, we kindly ask families to follow the early departure procedure. This not only ensures the safety of the departing student but also prevents undue pressure on our Administration Staff. Your cooperation in maintaining a focused and productive learning environment is greatly appreciated.
Project Compassion
McAuley received a letter of thanks from Leanne Langdon, Caritas’ Community Fundraising manager, personally thanking us for our wonderful fundraising efforts this year.
She wrote, “Because of your support during Project Compassion, countless lives have been transformed: your support has helped provide clean water to those in desperate need, improved healthcare access, supported young mothers in obtaining the skills to build a better future for their families and contributed to educational initiatives that create brighter futures for generations to come."
Ms Langdon continued to say that the impact of our generosity is felt deeply and widely, creating ripples of positive change that extend far beyond what we can see.
Well done McAuley!
Confirmation
Congratulations to Lily Milne, who celebrated her Confirmation on Tuesday, June 18, with over 20 other candidates in our parish, including her sister Ava. It was a beautiful ceremony, and Bishop Greg Homeming spoke to the candidates beforehand.
McAuley Catholic College was also privileged to have four staff members join as sponsors to candidates and a student who Graced the occasion as a sponsor. McAuley families were present as parents, siblings, and friends of many of the candidates. It was a wonderful experience for all who attended.
Tom Howard
Leader of School Evangelisation
University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
With the UCAT fast approaching, The National Institute of Education is running two final workshops to get candidates ready for their upcoming UCAT. This same workshop makes a good starting point for Year 10 and 11 students who are considering a career in medicine or dentistry and will need to sit UCAT in the future.
Year 10, 11 and 12 Students - Intensive UCAT Preparation Workshop
Live Online Interactive: 23 June 2024 | 13 July 2024
This workshop aims to assist students who wish to start or continue with their UCAT preparation and readiness.
Part 1 is a full-day training covering the essential UCAT skills and strategies.
A full practice test will be mailed to your home address for you to practice, consolidate and extend the exam-taking skills learned during Part 1 of the workshop.
Part 2 a '3-hour Follow-up Session' for students and parents will take place on a separate day. During this session, we will discuss UCAT scores, applications to Medical Schools, and Medical Schools Interviews.
If you are sitting UCAT in 2024
The NIE Intensive UCAT workshop can really help fast-track your UCAT preparation, especially if you have not done much work yet. Even if you have been preparing already, the workshop is a great opportunity to attain some additional strategies and to also assess your readiness by attempting an actual UCAT difficulty level trial test, which you will receive as part of this program.
If you are in Years 10 or 11
The NIE UCAT intensive training workshop is also beneficial for Year 10 and 11 students who are considering sitting UCAT in the future.
The ideal approach to preparing for the UCAT is to start low-frequency and high-consistency preparation in the early stages of senior high school years. While you can and will have to still spend some time preparing during Year 12, it would be much better if the bulk of your preparation has been completed prior to the start of the busy Year 12 schedule. This way, you would only need to spend 1-2 hours per week practising to maintain your UCAT pace, rather than spending more time on the UCAT preparation and stressing about the Year 12 work. Therefore, we recommend that you officially start your UCAT training by participating in our full-day intensive UCAT preparation workshop.
Don't forget about the medical school interview readiness!
Details of the full range of NIE's medical interview support and preparation services can be found here: Medical Interview Training with NIE
Medical Interview Workshop
10 - 11 August 2024 (limited spots left)
Live Online Interactive
The University of Newcastle has held a series of webinars and info sessions during the previous weeks.
To access recordings of these sessions please click on the links below.
- Newcastle Parents and Carers Info Session (recording available at bottom of webpage)
- 2025 Joint Medical Program Info Session
- TAFE 2 Uni Webinar
- Y10 Subject Selection Webinar
University of Newcastle - FREE School Holiday NUPrep Courses
The University of Newcastle has on offer a new study experience for Year 11 and 12 students, available in the July school holidays.
Students aged 16+ are invited to participate in short academic courses, run through the University’s Pathways and Academic Learning Support Centre, NUPrep program. There are nine free courses on offer to senior students.
These NUPrep courses will contribute towards students’ preparedness for exams, starting tertiary education and their success in future workplaces.
Courses run at different times over the holidays, either online or on campus. The face-to-face commitment for students is approximately 15 hours.
Support is available to assist students with the process of applying, setting up a student account and enrolling in the NUPrep course. Students will attend classes as a University student and participate in the course work and assignments set by the University teaching staff.
Please see their website for further information and select “I am a school student” to browse available courses. The Information Guide and Course Description is attached. https://www.newcastle.edu.au/study/pathways/nuprep
Further information is available by contacting the Widening Participation Pathways team via email: seniorstudentpathways@newcastle.edu.au
Rod Paton
Careers Advisor
Holiday Reading
School is nearly finished for the semester and many of you are probably wondering how you can encourage a healthy activity for your child to do.
Here’s a tip - encourage your child to read during the holidays because it has many associated health benefits. See the infographic below and you will be surprised to find the Top 5 Health reasons to read.
The best way to get your child to read is to model reading yourself (the photo below shows demonstrates Year 11 students modeling good reading habits for all our junior students). You should also be interested in their stories, ask them open-ended questions or, better still, read it as well.
To help encourage your child to read The Mercy Library is organising several programs to encourage your children to read consistently and to take advantage of the school holidays to up their reading quota.
The first is the Renaissance Reading program for all Year 7 and 8 students. Students can read a book on the Renaissance list and take a short quiz on completion. The students should be aiming to read 1 million words by the end of the year, so far we have two champion readers, one in Year 7 and 8 who have managed to exceed the word count.
The second is Premier’s Reading Challenge where junior students are encouraged to read 20 books to earn a certificate and take part in a pizza party.
The third is extended borrowing. Holiday reading is now open and students can borrow up to five books from the library as well as an additional five books, magazines or audio books on Sora.
In addition, the Mercy Library is hosting a guessing competition at the moment to encourage students to talk to their teachers about the books they liked to read. Watch the video for more details.
Write a Book in a Day
Year 7 and 8 students show they have what it takes to be the authors, editors and illustrators of the future during McAuley College’s first submission to the Write a Book in a Day competition.
The annual Write a Book in a Day is a national competition that gives participants the chance to collaborate and flex their creativity. Last Wednesday 23 students from Year 7 and 8 took up the challenge and wrote and illustrated a book to raise funds for kids’ cancer research and create a book for children to read while they are in hospital.
Under the guidance of Mrs Janson the 23 students formed four teams and wrote the book according the prompts they received in the morning. With an additional inspiration from Year 10 students, the participants were on their way.
According to the competition rules, the students had to brainstorm a story based on random prompts - and I mean random - there was anything from submarines to falling turtles. The students put on their creative hats and created four very different stories with amazing artwork.
The Write a Book in a Day competition stretches over a 12 hour period and the students were starting to feel the length of that time period by 6pm. But after a quick stop for pizza they were back at it and with rejuvenated spirits they handed in a final version of their book with accompanying artwork.
While the competition extended their creativity, the students also learnt a great deal about teamwork, tenacity, stamina, time management and problem solving while ultimately doing something good for another child in need.
Congratulations to the following students for their hard work and dedication:
Dayla Chapman, Josie Chapman, Kavanna Corcoran, Kayla Ellis, Autumn Enns, Tilly Flindall, Nathaniel Frame, Joseph Hartley, Charlotte Hughes, Heath Jordan, Xavier King, Aidan Knox, Olivia Lewis, Tinotenda Makava, Maya Masters, Olivia McIntyre, Sierra Menzies, Lily Milne, Olivia Peppernell, Gabriella Quarello, Thomas Robb, Darcy Smith, Alys Trevillian and Emily Upston.
Linda Gleeson
Librarian
Food Technology and Hospitality
Our Senior Hospitality students were very busy preparing for our McAuley Fest evening recently held at the College on Thursday, 13th June.
In more recent times, our Students in 9.2 Food Technology explored global cuisine by sourcing recipes from diverse cultures and presenting them with advanced plating and garnishing techniques. The task aimed to broaden culinary horizons and foster an appreciation for cultural heritage through beautifully crafted dishes like French Soufflé, Crêpes, Chocolate Moelleux Cake and Vietnamese Black Pepper Beef (Bo Sot Tieu Den), promoting cross-cultural understanding through food.
Rachel Johnson Memorial Touch Football
Congratulations to the winning Team - Home Room Tracey 1 (TR1)
Coach
Diocesan Junior Soccer Gala Day
Team Coordinators
Athletics Carnival
On Friday, 29th June, the school held the Annual Athletics Carnival at Junction Hill. There was a great atmosphere on the day and all students and teachers need to be congratulated for their enthusiasm. Well done to our Age Champions:
| U12 | Olivia Fahey | Xavier King |
| U13 | Kayla Hancock | Joseph Menzies |
| U14 | Lacey Faher | Zaden Nipperess |
| U15 | Jasmine Iredale & Stephany Nudo | Mason Cone |
| U16 | Hazel Golding | Liam Salvestro |
| Opens | Jasmine Chellew | William Tait |
In the House Championship Points results were:
| 1st | Mercy | 1425 Points |
| 2nd | McCarthy | 1217 Points |
| 3rd | Champagnat | 1191 Points |
| 4th | Tracey | 906 Points |
A special mention goes to the following students who broke records on the day:
|
Kayla Hancock |
Broke the 1996 13 Girls 400m record with a time of 1 minute 10.35 seconds |
|
Broke the 1996 13 Girls 800m record with a time of 2 minute 42.50 seconds |
|
|
Broke the 2009 13 Girls 1500m record with a time of 5 minute 32.52 seconds |
|
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Mason Cone |
Broke the 2022 15 Boys 400m record with a time of 55.75 seconds |
|
William Tait |
Broke the 2023 Open Boys High Jump record with a Height of 1.83m |
|
Broke the 1993 Open Boys 400m record with a time of 56.31 seconds |
I strongly encourage any student(s) who came first or second to sign up for the Diocesan Athletics Carnival by attending meetings held at school during lunchtime. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Nipperess, Mr Humphries, Mr Tait, Mrs Lee and Mrs Robinson for their help and expertise in organising such a huge event, and all staff and students who helped out on the day to make it a great experience.
Jim Hand
Sports Coordinator
Netball NSW School Cup
Last Wednesday 27th June, four McAuley teams travelled to the Grafton Netball Courts to compete in the Far North Coast Netball NSW School Cup.
The Year 7 & 8 girls' team played excellently all day and had a nail-biter final round, winning against Grafton High School by just 1 point!
The Year 9 & 10 girls' team dominated the whole way down the court and in every game, working tirelessly to win each round.
Both boys division teams showed great composure, skill and improved massively as the day progressed.
All 4 teams performed exceedingly well and after tireless efforts all day each McAuley team was crowned the Champions of their division for the day, and our school the overall competition winner!
Congratulations to all the students who represented McAuley proudly and with great respect, and a massive thank you to the staff involved in supporting teams on the day. Each team now moves on to the Far North Coast finals in September this year!
Eliza Corcoran
Head Coach
July
5th: Staff Development Day - School Closed
8th-19th: School Holidays
20th: MCC Uniform Shop Open 9am-11am (single day trading during holidays)
22nd: Staff Development Day - School Closed
24th: U14s & U16s Boys Rugby 7's, Coffs Harbour
23rd: All Students Yr 7-12 Return
29th: Yr 8 Catch the Wave Program
30th: Yr 7-11 Parent Student Teacher conferences
31st - 1st August: Dio Junior Basketball, Port Macquarie
31st - 2nd August: Yr 11 Retreat
August
1st: Semester 1 Academic Awards Assembly
5th-19th: HSC Trial Exams
Wearing a seatbelt doubles your chance of survival in a crash - it's a simple act that is not only a legal requirement, but one that could save lives.
It is the student’s responsibility to use the seatbelt and buckle up if their seat is equipped with a seatbelt.
Transport for NSW has released a new video campaign for social, TV and radio to highlight the importance of wearing a seatbelt on the bus, if one is available. Please click the Youtube video below to view the campaign.
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
