School Newsletter
Save the Date
Thursday 9th May - Mother's Day Breakfast
Come to Catherine's Cafe from 7.45 to 8.45.
Coffee, Tea, Muffins and Goodies will be available
More information will be available
in Week 1 Term 2
The Mercy Library has begun celebrating the 20 year anniversary of the opening of the McAuley Catholic College campus in Clarenza. To celebrate the occasion, I have created a pictorial display in the library and a video for the library homepage. All the library staff have been thrilled to dig through the archives to discover or rediscover past school events and see pictures of the staff and students as they have grown and changed. We have especially loved seeing some of the former students who have become staff members and the pictorial comparison of their life’s journey over the last 20 years.
As always, we got to showcase our archives at the Open Night, and many of the parents of Year 6 students were excited to find themselves or other family members in the Yearbook pictures, creating a lovely generational link between the students and their parents at McAuley.
Please enjoy the video presentation as you look back over the last 20 years. As you can see from the pictures the students at McAuley value that personal link to the past and also love using the library facilities.
As we all enjoy the breathing space that the school holidays offer, keep encouraging your child opportunities to read for pleasure, as reading is the biggest indicator of success in school and in your child’s life beyond the classroom.
This is what Education Canada has to say about reading:
"The act of reading, particularly engaged reading, is a powerful predictor of life success by any measure. It is the best predictor of who goes to university regardless of socio-economic background. It is the best predictor of life income, career options, even life partner choices. And neuroscience is proving that reading fiction is one of the most powerful means of developing sympathetic individuals, with better social skills and higher levels of self-esteem, resulting in increasing self-improvement and pro-social behaviours."
In 2023, our Aboriginal dance group was invited to perform at Grafton Aged Care for Reconciliation Week.
It was wonderful to have our students, the future generation of leaders, performing and celebrating Culture with the Elders and all others at the aged care facility.
Mr Clive Bryant (Uncle Rob) who was Director of the Board of the Bangara Dance School at Redfern, was one of the Elders involved in the Reconciliation Week celebrations. Uncle Rob has generously gifted us two beautiful framed Bangara posters.
We sincerely thank Uncle Rob for his gift and display of deep kindness. We also thank the team at Grafton Aged Care for reaching out and organising the event.
Wil Bancroft
Aboriginal Education Worker
What a fantastic start to the year for McAuley! The Student Leadership Team has been hard at work, creating, organising and running events for the college community this term. The first major event was the Valentine’s Day celebrations that we hosted at school. Dedicated students sold and delivered chocolates and messages from secret admirers, and the senior boys performed stunning renditions of famous love songs to many baffled and embarrassed students at lunch and recess. Overall, the event was a major success and raised $220 dollars for Caritas.
Next up on the agenda was the Swimming Carnival. While this was not an SLT run event, the Year 12 students certainly made a splash at the Maclean Pool with the dress-up theme of “Pirates and Mermaids”. This was an incredibly fun way to bring the cohort together for our final carnival and proved highly entertaining for the rest of the College. The dedicated House Leaders were instrumental in bringing school spirit and friendly competition to the day. Their enthusiasm and encouragement led to high levels of participation and student engagement, with a number of school records broken throughout the day. Some further highlights included the amazing Tracey house song, composed by Lucas Becker as well as Jaz and Lucy Smith’s inflatable costumes in support of their ‘Champagnat Sharks’. The day concluded with several exhilarating relay races that the whole school lined the pool's edges to watch, before Champagnat house was announced victorious!
Harmony Day was held on March 21st and the SLT decided to create a fantastic video that showcased the diversity of our community, hearing directly from a number of our students. Students were encouraged to wear an orange accessory to celebrate our diversity and unity as a student body at McAuley. March was also an exciting month for MCC as we were the host school for LEAD, a student leaders conference run by Proclaim Lismore that is run annually and aims to prepare Year 11 and 12 students for active ministry in their schools by nurturing their own faith and developing them into supportive members of their community. We had plenty of senior students from across the diocese travel to McAuley to participate in this event and stay overnight at the school. Dynamic keynote speakers gave students insights into youth ministry, and the band Wildfire gave awesome performances at the rallies, bringing the whole event to life.
The Project Compassion campaign at our school was incredibly successful. Over the six-week period of Lent, students and staff raised a grand total of $3756! This money will be sent to Caritas Australia and used to keep welfare programs running in local and international communities that are struggling financially. Along with the homeroom donation boxes, the Thursday Morning Breakfasts, which are run by dedicated volunteers and SLT members, the Easter Raffle, the Lenten Fish Fry, Year 8 RE stalls and the Return and Earn initiative were all amazing fundraisers and initiatives that raised substantial amounts of money and helped spread awareness of Project Compassion and their mission.
Looking forward to term 2, the SLT is eager to provide the school with further exciting initiatives. The Senior Charity Ball is set to take place on Saturday, the 11th of May, and our enthusiastic committee has been hard at work planning and preparing for this event. Dance practices are well underway, and fundraising and decorating committees have been busy behind the scenes to make the night a success!
The MCC Olympics is a further endeavour which will begin in week 2. This event has been held previously in accordance with the 2021 Olympic games, and our house captains have taken on the challenge to bring it back. Within each house, students have nominated to participate and been divided into ‘countries’. Each country will compete in a number of events including European Handball, Campbell Soup, Ultimate Frisbee and more, with house points up for grabs!
In addition, the Leadership team will be taking over Ms Deborah Parkin’s ‘Return and Earn’ initiative, encouraging students to recycle their bottles in our hessian bags. All money raised will go back into our school, used to fund school beautification projects and address requests put forward by the students via our ‘Student Suggestion Box’. More information on these events will be provided in the coming term.
Eva Patricks & Laura Hoade
Student Leadership Team
Schedules for Grafton and South Grafton
- Students participating in the march must assemble from 9 am at Market Square, ready to march at 9.30am.
- Student speakers, please proceed to the stage for further instructions before 10am.
-
3 x wreath layers to approach the area when announced (during the 10am service).
- Students participating in the march must assemble ready to march at 10.45am per organiser (the website states 10.50am - please ignore).
- Student Speaker will proceed to stage/speakers area at 11am for further instructions.
- 3 x wreath layers to approach the area when announced during the 11am service (during 11am service).
- Times are subject to change if the Grafton Service runs over time
NSWCCC Tennis
On Monday 25 March, Mahala Hitchings competed at the NSW All Schools 18 Years & Under Tennis Championships held in Bathurst. Mahala played against NSWCIS, NSWCHS1 and NSWCHS2. Mahala played excellent tennis against all three teams.
Unfortunately, she was not selected into the NSW all-schools team but gained plenty of experience and had a wonderful time at these championships.
Diocesan Open Girls Football (Soccer)
Our Opens Soccer Girls recently showcased their sportsmanship at the Lismore Diocesan Gala Day. Throughout the day, the team played three games. The results were: Game 1 was against Woodlawn College, which was a 1-1 draw. In game 2, they defeated Trinity College, winning 2-0, and then lost their last game against Xavier.
Beyond the scoreboard, our girls' performance exemplified the true spirit of the game. They represented our College with pride and respect and their commitment to supporting one another on and off the field was terrific to see. Standout performances from Navah Crofton, Jasmine Chellew, Hazel Golding, Emily Dick, Lucy Warwrick, Alice Hughes and Meliah McCann must be acknowledged, but a big congratulations to all of the girls involved in the day.
Diocesan Netball 15s & U18s Trials
Congratulations to Ava Whiley, who trialled at the Lismore Diocesan Netball selections last Friday, April 5th, and was selected to compete in August for the NSWCCC Open Girls Lismore Diocesan Team.
NSWCCC Swimming
On Thursday, April 4, Sophie Sutherland, Stella Skeels, Archie Pope, and Hudson Batinovic competed at the NSWCCC Swimming Championships at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. Congratulations to all students on the following results.
| Sophie Sutherland |
15th - 13yrs 50m Freestyle 13th - 13yrs 50m Butterfly |
| Stella Skeels |
9th - 13yrs 50m Backstroke 8th - 13yrs 100m Backstroke |
| Archie Pope | 5th - 14yrs 50m Freestyle (Only a photo separated 3rd to 5th place) |
| Hudson Batinovic |
10th - 16yrs 50m Freestyle 6th - 16yrs 100m Freestyle 10th - 16yrs 200m Freestyle 5th - 16yrs 50m Backstroke |
What a wonderful achievement to qualify for NSWCCC Swimming and all 4 students had a great time competing with the states best.
NSWCCC Touch
On Tuesday 9th and Wednesday 10 April, Zeplen Davies, Jack Fels, Mitch Dick and Cruz Sewell competed at the NSWCCC Touch Championships at the Central Coast Regional Sporting & Recreation Complex. They competed for the Lismore Diocese against all other Diocese across the State. The boys all played very well and displayed excellent sportsmanship.
Well done to Zeplen, who achieved Man of the Match awards for two of the games he played in. This was awarded by the opposition team. Unfortunately, the boys were not selected for the NSWCCC team, but they gained valuable experience at these championships.
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Once you have placed your Individual Photo order you can place your Sibling photo order, these MUST be ordered before midnight prior to photo day.
Please remind your child that they are having their photos taken. If they are having a sibling photo, all siblings will need to be ready for their photo at the allocated time set by the school.
Please note that after 9/05/2024 an archive fee of $15.00 will apply.
If you have any questions regarding the photography service or packages available for purchase, please contact our friendly team on 02 6583 1968 or by email northcoast@msp.com.au
Get your smiles ready!
Kind Regards,
On Thursday, April 11th, forty-three Year 10 students from MCC attended The Future Fest Clarence Valley, an exciting Grafton-focused event that showcased opportunities in the Valley.
Students broke into groups and participated in hands-on activities at Industry Skills Stations (Health, Construction, Media and Creative Industries, Engineering, etc.). They also listened to preselected Career Spotlight Talks and looked around the TAFE space to explore a range of careers and industries.
We thank Regional Industry Education Partners and Jill McCall for this great opportunity.
Rod Paton
Careers Adviser
April
15th - 26th: School Holidays
25th: ANZAC Day
29th: First Day of Term 2
30th: School Photos Yr 11-12, Staff and Catch-ups
May
2nd: U14s & U16s NRCC Boys Rugby League
6th - 7th: NSWCCC AFL, Wagga Wagga
7th: Yr 12 Parent Student Teacher Conferences
Yr 11 IT Timber Excursion, South Grafton Sawmill
7th - 8th: Yr 8 Love Bites
11th: MCC Senior Charity Ball
14th: U16s NRCC Boys & Girls Hockey
15th: Yr 12 Hospitality Excursion, Botero Roastery Maclean
15th - 16th: Yr 7 Love Bites
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
27th - 29th: Yr 12 Retreat
27th - 31st: National Reconcilliation Week
30th: Staff Development Day (School Closed)
Transitus
On Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th March, 10 students from McAuley Catholic College, along with students from four other high-schools, headed to Yarrahapinni Youth Centre to take part in Transitus.
Transitus is a two-day 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. Students engaged in small group workshops focussing on topics such as walking in Jesus’ footsteps, teamwork and overcoming fears. Students were able to build relationships with students from other schools as well as talking and sharing about their faith journey. Despite the wet weather the students had a fantastic time and are keen for further opportunities next year.
Art Enrichment
Term 1 in the Art Enrichment program has involved an investigation into the elements of Art. We have explored colour, line, shape, form, space, value and texture. This entailed students making artworks inspired by the Artist Vassily Kandinski and his use of colours, shapes and line.
We created foil heart sculptures, made our own textured artworks and had a lot of fun investigating colour, in particular a fun experiment with water, oil and food colouring. This had some of our students mesmerised, curious and they started hypothesising and investigating things they could change or create.
We have used our time in lessons to explore resilience and gratitude, thinking about our emotions and feelings and being able to recognise them and how they feel in our bodies. We have made artworks based on some of these feelings and discussed and researched how some artworks can evoke particular feelings and emotions due to the colours, patterns and lines used.
We have ended the term with a display of some of our Enrichment students' beautiful artworks in our student services room for our recent Open Night event.
Attendance - Every Moment Matters
This week, emails were sent to parents and carers whose children have an attendance rate below 90%. Please note that full-day absences, frequent late arrivals, and/or early departures all contribute to a student’s overall attendance profile. Catholic Schools Guidelines state that a student’s attendance should be above 90%.
There can be a variety of reasons why children’s attendance can be a concern, and we recognise their attendance profile may have been influenced by leave taken due to medical reasons, travel or family commitments; however, we feel it is important to keep you informed.
Please don’t hesitate to contact the school and speak with your child’s Year Coordinator if we can support you and/or your child with any matters.
Positive Awards Scheme
The Positive Awards Scheme is designed to reward consistent positive student behaviour in and out of the classroom, participation in and contributions to College programs and involvement in community service programs.
Congratulations to the following students who were awarded Silver or Bronze Awards at the assembly this week:
|
Bronze |
|
Timothy Van Der Vlist Aidan Knox Maya Masters Sebastian Willis Scott Warwick Madora Barton |
|
Silver |
|
Lilly Sullivan |
Many students have enough Merit certificates to apply for a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award. Please encourage your child to follow the process to be rewarded for their efforts.
School Photos
Catch-up and Year Group Photos will be held on Tuesday, 30th April (Week 1, Term 2). All students who were absent last week will have the opportunity to have their individual photos taken and be part of their Year group photo.
A reminder that all students must be in Full School uniform, either the new uniform or the old as per guidelines sent home earlier this year.
- Years 7 and new students to the College are required to wear the new uniform.
- For students in years 8, 9, 10 & 12 may wear the old uniform.
- Students in year 11 are to wear the new shirts.
As this is a transition year, we know students will be in a mix of uniforms. No student is to wear their sports uniform for College photos.
Please ensure that students are wearing appropriate uniform items. We ask for your support to ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the College photos. Other reminders include:
- Polished black leather lace-up shoes
- Hair must be neat and tidy. Hair below the collar must be tied up
- Boys to be clean-shaven
- Jewellery must be limited as per uniform guidelines set out in the student diary.
Winter Uniforms
A reminder that as the weather cools next term, students may choose to wear the following winter uniform items:
- College Long Charcoal Grey Pants with College crest
- Maroon jumper with College crest and/or
- Softshell maroon jacket with College crest
- Maroon trackpants with MCC logo
The uniform trading hours for the school holidays are as follows:
- April 23rd - 8.15am - 9.30am
- April 27th - 9am - 11am
- Extra opening time next term, Saturday 4th May - 9am - 11am.
Online ordering information is on the infographic below:
Catholic Education Week
This week, the College celebrated Catholic Education Week with a range of activities. The theme this year was ‘Innovation and Faith’. Catholic Education Week is an important time of the year when we celebrate the role played by Catholic Schools, especially our college in enabling students to shine their light of faith and innovation in both word and actions. It is a time when we acknowledge and give thanks for the exceptional teaching and learning that takes place in our school each day, and all of those people who make Catholic Education possible.
The theme was very fitting as our Year 8 students have been innovative in developing ideas to raise money for Project Compassion this term. Through their efforts, they have contributed to raising money for vulnerable people and highlighting the importance of ensuring human dignity for all, especially the poor.
The total figure raised for Project Compassion this year was $3756, with Year 8 RE initiatives contributing $1285. Ongoing fundraising, including the Thursday Breakfast, Fish Fry and Raffles, raised $857, and homerooms collectively contributed $1214.85. This was a great effort from the whole school.
Other activities for Catholic Education Week included a mass celebrated by Fr Emmanuel with Year 7.4, 7.5, 9.1 and 10.1 Religious Education classes. One of the readings used from St Paul to the Romans states, “For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another”. This highlights the importance of community being one with God, and the Church is like a body, Christ’s body. As a Catholic School community, each of us has a part to play using the specific gifts God has given us. Fr Emmanuel talked to the students about the greatest gift being given, is the gift of love, the gift to care and look after one another. Each of us is being called to live out the mission of Jesus Christ by bringing Jesus’ message to the world through our own creativity and Innovation.
Kathy Warby
Assistant Principal - Mission and Wellbeing
Clear Minds, Healthy Lives: Choose Vape Free
Parent Information: How to Spot A Vaping Problem
Many young people who are unaware of the high nicotine content of many vapes (even those labelled nicotine free) have become unintentionally addicted to nicotine. As a parent if you have concerns about your child or others vape use. The following information will be very helpful.
Nicotine can trigger brain changes that make people, particularly young people, crave more nicotine. Until about age 25, the brain is still developing and each time a new behaviour or skill is learned it builds a stronger connection. Addiction is a learned behaviour, which means young people are more vulnerable to it. The nicotine consumed while vaping can also condition the brain to become more easily addicted to other drugs. The first step is recognizing your teen might have a vaping habit. Here are a few things to look for:
- Unusual pens, USB drives and other devices: Some e-cigarettes and vaping devices resemble pens and USB drives, but with a hole on the end. This makes them difficult to spot at home and in the classroom. Heating coils, atomizers, and refill pods are some of the other common vaping accessories.
- An unexplained sweet scent: Many teens are attracted to vaping because they are fruit-flavoured. The fruity smell won’t linger as long as tobacco smoke, but it can be a sign your teen is vaping.
- Increased thirst: Vaping dries out the throat.
- Nosebleeds: Vaping can dry out the nostrils and lead to nosebleeds.
- Reduced caffeine cravings: Some vapers report having a sensitivity to caffeine, so if they’re skipping the energy drinks and coffees you might inquire why.
Read more HERE.
Livable: How to Talk so Kids Listen
Dear Parents and Carers, Staff and Students,
As we finish term 1, which has been longer than usual (11 weeks), I thank you for the great start to the year and for the support, feedback, communication, and encouragement we have received this term.
Thank you to the parents who responded to our Parent Voice Survey, which was available at the Parent Interviews and in our week nine newsletter. We have included the survey again in the newsletter and ask you to take a few minutes to give us some feedback on how we can improve our engagement with parents.
Staff Changes
Two staff members have left us this term: Bernice Pitt and Kiya Saffigna. I wish them both the best in their new ventures and thank them for their contributions to the College.
In Term 2, Weeks 1 to 4, Kathy Warby will be on leave. Margaret Bertalli will replace Kathy as the Assistant Principal—Mission and Wellbeing, and Anthea Kinny will replace Margaret as the Leader of Pedagogy.
Student Leadership Team
Congratulations to the SLT for their fantastic job as College leaders! They are a very proactive and reflective group of students who have displayed exemplary initiative this term, organising many events and opportunities for the students to engage in the College. A significant Term 2 event for our senior students and their families is the College Charity Ball in May. Our charity is St Jospeh’s Primary School, Woodburn, as many families continue to be affected by the 2022 flood. Our donation assists students in attending their annual school camp. Tickets are now on sale.
Open Night and Catholic Education Week
This year, the theme of Catholic Education Week was ‘Innovation and Faith’. It is a time when we acknowledge and give thanks for the exceptional teaching and learning that takes place in our school each day and for all of those who make Catholic Education possible.
The main event of our Catholic Education Week was our annual Open Night, which we held on Tuesday. This is an opportunity to showcase the College to prospective and current families. Over 50 students volunteered to assist on the night, either working in various subject areas, cooking and serving at the BBQ, serving coffee and cakes or conducting tours around the College. Around 280 people visited us, with many new families taking an interest in the school. Often, the students are the best advocates and promotors of the College! Loving Life 103.1 did a live broadcast from the College grounds, interviewing a range of students and staff, including a live cross to Matthew Lobsey in Germany as he is leading the McAuley European Culture Tour group through parts of Germany, Austria and Italy.
Enrolments for 2024 and 2025.
We will have some vacancies in Years 8, 9 and 10 for Semester 2, 2024. Interested families can submit an application during term 2 for enrolment from the start of term 3.
Enrolments for Year 7 2025 are open and can be made online using the link on the College Website. Applications for round 1 close on Friday, 24th of May. Applications will be assessed, and interviews will be offered. Interviews will occur between 29 May and 21 June. Round 1 offers will be made on July 4th, 2024. Offers made after this will be dependent on our numbers offered in round 1. Please let interested families, friends and acquaintances know about our enrolment dates and process.
Newsletter information
In this newsletter, you will find information on ANZAC Day March times, Uniform Shop changes to opening times and holiday availability, Open Night celebrations, acknowledgement of staff leaving, dates for term 2, and news and updates from students, staff, and parent bodies.
It has been an exciting term, and as we head into a two-week break, I wish you all a safe and relaxing time. All staff and students return to school on Monday, 29th April.
Kind regards,
Kate
Kate Thomson
Principal
“We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us.”
Catherine McAuley
As we approach the end of another term at McAuley Catholic College, we have some important updates and reminders to share with you.
Year 12 Reports and Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences:
Today, Year 12 Reports will be emailed home via Compass. These reports provide valuable insights into their academic progress and achievements. Alongside these reports, you will find information on how to book an interview time slot for the upcoming Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences, scheduled for Tuesday, May 7th, from 3:40 to 6:00 p.m. Meeting with your child's teachers regarding their progress in the final year of their schooling is crucial. Please book your interview slot promptly to secure your preferred time.
Importance of Following Assessment Procedures:
In recent weeks, we've observed instances where some senior students have not adhered to our school's assessment procedures, causing undue stress for both families and the school. In response, some students have received N-warning letters or lost marks. We want to remind students and families of the importance of following the Assessment Policy. All school policies and processes are in place to ensure fair and equitable student assessments.
Information regarding assessments had been outlined in the Learning and Teaching section of the Term 1 Week 5 newsletter, dated March 1st. This section of the newsletter provides information on the expectations of students and where parents and students can find more information about assessment submission procedures, including where to find the assessment handbooks, which indicate what to do in case of missed tasks and where to seek support.
Parent Feedback and Engagement:
We appreciate the valuable feedback provided by parents through the Parent Voice 2024 survey. Your input helps us understand how we can better engage our school community. According to the survey data, our current school-family engagement opportunities range from average to excellent (see graph below).
Another aspect of the survey was events that parents may like to attend. Mother's and Father's Day events were popular options amongst respondents. Mother's Day is early in May, and in response to your feedback, we invite mums to pop into the school on the Thursday prior to Mother's Day (9th May) for a breaky catch-up with staff from 7.45 a.m. to 8.45 a.m. More information will be in the next newsletter and on our social media.
We are committed to continuously improving and meeting the needs of our families. If you did not get to fill in the survey at parent-teacher night but can spare 5 minutes, we have left the responses open and invite you to do so. A QR code and link to the form are included later in this newsletter. This feedback mechanism is another avenue for you to voice your opinions and suggestions on how we can enhance our school's partnership with families.
School Representation:
It brings us immense joy to commend many of our students from Years 7 to 12 for their outstanding representation of McAuley Catholic College during our recent Open Night. Whether they were hosting tours of the college, supporting teachers in classrooms or specialist areas, showcasing culinary skills, performing musical pieces, or delivering speeches, their dedication and professionalism were truly commendable. Each student's contribution played a vital role in making the evening a success and reflecting the excellence of our school community.
There is another opportunity for our students to serve by representing the school on ANZAC Day, which falls on Thursday in the last week of the school holidays. Students interested in representing the school during ANZAC Day commemorations must wear formal school uniforms. Further details about ANZAC Day events in the Clarence Valley for 2024 can be found HERE. Commemorating the ANZAC spirit is a meaningful occasion for our students to honour and pay tribute to the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women. We encourage all interested students to participate.
Again, thank you for your continued support and partnership in your child's education journey at McAuley Catholic College. We hope you all have a wonderful break.
Di McGowan
Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching
Please find attached the latest Parish Bulletins from Clarence Valley Parish