Mission and Wellbeing (AP)

Attendance - Building a Partnership Between School and Family for Your Child’s Success

The impact of school absences, even seemingly small ones, can accumulate and affect a teen's learning significantly. Attendance letters will be sent out this week advising if your child’s attendance is at or below 90%.

If your child is consistently expressing reluctance to attend school regularly, it's essential to address the issue promptly. 

Secondary school students who refuse to go to school may show some of the following behaviours:

• frequent unexplained/unjustified absences
• avoiding school events
• frequent lateness and/or partial attendance
• absences on significant days e.g. PDHPE, exams
• frequent requests to go to the sick bay

What is your teen’s pattern of absenteeism? 

Regular attendance helps maintain academic momentum. Missing the last days of a term can disrupt this flow, making it harder for students to re-establish their learning routine after a break. Communicating high expectations for school attendance right up to the end of each term shows that you value the importance of regular school attendance.

Each day your teen attends school, they’re shaping their future success.

Prohibited Weapons - Lasers 

We have recently been made aware that lasers may have been brought to school. As part of our commitment to maintaining a safe environment for all students, staff, and visitors within our college, we would like to remind families of the importance of adhering to our school policies and procedures regarding prohibited weapons.

Prohibited weapons include all knives and blades, (except for those required for school lessons), firearms, gel blasters/gel guns, 3D printed guns, slingshot, darts, batons, machetes, laser pointers, or similar articles and anything else that can be used as a weapon to intimidate or cause serious injury or harm, e.g., a screwdriver, chisel or hammer.

Possessing any weapon, whether real or imitation, is unlawful in any school setting and can result in both criminal charges and disciplinary action under our Student Suspension, Expulsion, and Exclusion Policy.

We ask all parents and caregivers to speak openly with their child about safety, responsibility, and respect for others. In Catholic education, we are guided by the belief that every person is made in the image of God, and we are called to safeguard their dignity. Your cooperation in upholding these expectations helps create a community of care, justice, and compassion.

Some information regarding lasers can be found at the following websites:

https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/online_services/firearms/laser_pointers/laser_pointers_-_questions_and_answers

https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/online_services/firearms/laser_pointers

Please note: 

Laser pointers with a power output of more than one milliwatt are now prohibited weapons. You must obtain a permit to possess or use a laser pointer that is in this category, unless you use the pointer for activities associated with astronomy and are a member of an approved astronomical association.

Thank you for your support and commitment to a safe and faith-filled learning environment.

One Stop Shop  - Year 9 

Last Wednesday, Year 9 attended The One Stop Shop event, hosted by Clarence Valley Council in collaboration with various Clarence organisations. 

These sessions were designed to offer students the opportunity to interact with the local health and wellbeing services that are available in the Clarence Valley. Information on each service was presented in a fun and interactive way, with service providers running activities for the young people to learn more about what they have to offer.

The Local Drug Action Team is a collection of local services that work together around alcohol and drug education, which also presents information to students about how to keep themselves and their friends safe.

Headspace Grafton also delivered a presentation on the topics of general mental health and wellbeing, as well as work and study options. This session delved into the fundamentals of mental health literacy, offering insights into recognising, managing, and promoting positive mental states. The Headspace Work and Study team also presented information on the vocational support services that Headspace Grafton can offer young people.

We would like to thank event contributors – Headspace Grafton, Clarence Valley Council, Bulgarr Ngaru, SERCO, Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation, The New School of Arts Neighbourhood House, Carers NSW, Momentum Collective, Verto Employment and Mission Australia. The age-appropriate information was well received by our Year 9 cohort.

Mobile Phones 

Mobile phone use is becoming an increasing concern within the College. Our current policy is outlined below: 

Students who choose to bring their mobile phones, smart devices, and other related technology devices to school must adhere to the following procedures. These procedures include all times students are under the supervision of MCC staff (e.g., excursions, camps, travelling to and from school events). The principal's decision on all phones, smart devices, and related technology will be final. The Principal reserves the right to allow an individual student to use their device for medical monitoring or other such purposes. 

Mobile phones are valuable items, and their owners are responsible for them. The College will not accept responsibility for the loss, theft, or damage of a phone. 

Procedure 

• Phones must be turned off upon arrival at school in the morning and may be switched on again after classes at 3:10 pm. 
• Students are welcome to leave their phones in the office each day
• If phones are taken to class, they must be placed in the phone tub in the room each lesson 
• If parents or carers must make contact with their child during school hours, this must be done through the School Office. 
• Students are not allowed to lend their phones to other students during school hours. 
• After 3:10 p.m., while being supervised on school grounds, students may use their phones to listen to music, check messages, and make calls.
• Students must adhere to our Social Media policy. Accessing social media (such as but not limited to Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc) text messaging, phone calls, Facetime or similar, accessing apps, streaming movies, listening to music etc and are not allowed. 
• Students are not to take photos or videos at any time at the college or at any time in school uniform. 
• Students found using phones or other related technology devices during school time without permission will incur the following consequences: 

1st Offence: 

• The teacher will confiscate the phone and place it in the office. 
• The teacher is to record the incident on Compass.
• Students may collect the phone at the end of the day. 

2nd Offence: 

• The teacher will confiscate the phone and place it in the office. 
• The teacher is to record the incident on Compass.
• The Year Coordinator or Pastoral Care Coordinator will contact the parents. 
• Students may collect the phone at the end of the day. 
• The student is placed on Stage 1.

3rd Offence: 

• The teacher will confiscate the phone and place it in the office. 
• The teacher is to record the incident on Compass.
• The Year Coordinator or Pastoral Care Coordinator will contact parents. 
• The phone is to be collected by the parent or carer, not the student. 
• The student is placed on Stage 2.
• The student is to hand their phone in to the front office for a week.

Ongoing and repeated behaviours will be addressed by the Year Coordinator or the Leader of Pastoral Care as per our Whole School Student Management Guidelines. 

Please note: 

The following is an extract from the Terms and Conditions section of the College Enrolment form signed by parents/guardians: 

1.3 The Parent/Guardian agrees not to engage in social media or allow children to engage in social media that disparages of brings the school or its employees into disrepute. Further, the Parent/Guardian acknowledges the right of the school to suspend or terminate an enrolment if social media statements are made that defame or disparage the school, employees or the Roman Church. 

For Term 4 2025:

• Due to the increased misuse of phones, it has been decided that students are no longer able to use their phones to purchase items at the Canteen. Parents are encouraged to order food online via Flexischools, send cash with their child, or students are to use a card e.g. Visa Debit Card. We are currently exploring other options for families. 
• Parents must contact the College to communicate with their child during the day. Please discourage communication with your child via their mobile phone during school hours. If your child becomes ill during the day, they are to come to the front office to contact their parents. 
• We will ensure that there are tubs in each classroom for your child to store their phone during class time.
• Earpods are not to be used unless directed by the teacher. 
• As outlined above, after the third time of phone misuse, parents will need to come to the office to collect their child’s phone, as per the policy. 
• Please note: Phones are already banned in all NSW government schools. 

As a community, we need to help students prepare for the new legislation taking effect. The release of the regulatory framework of the Social Media Minimum Age (SMMA) legislation, which was passed in 2024, is now visible and unambiguous.

Here’s what it means in practice for all Australian children from 10th December:

• If a child under 16 is using an “age-restricted” social media platform, that platform must remove their account.
• If a child attempts to create an account, the platform must prevent them from completing the sign-up process.
• If a removed user attempts to create a new account, the platform must detect and block this attempt as well.

Attached is a fact sheet from CTRL SHFT - The Australian 16+ Age Delay to support families in preparing for this legislative change.

Assistant Principal - Mission and Wellbeing