Mission and Wellbeing (AP)
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