Term 4 - Weeks 7 & 8 - 6th December 2024

Dear Parents and Carers, Staff and Students,

As we approach the final weeks of the 2024 school year, it's an opportune time to reflect on our shared achievements and ensure we finish the year with energy and purpose. Attendance remains vital, and we encourage all students to participate fully in the learning experiences, and excursions planned for this period. Every school day, including Tuesday, 17th December, is essential and compulsory.

Our Advent Liturgy and Years 7–11 Prizegiving Ceremonies are significant calendar highlights. 

These events offer us the chance to celebrate as a Catholic school community and recognise the dedication and accomplishments of our students. We ask parents to support our expectations and ensure their children attend these important occasions, resisting the temptation to believe the misconception that "no one goes to school on those days."

We have had some exciting changes to our school setting this week. The addition of two demountable classrooms marks an exciting step forward, providing flexible learning spaces to support our future growth and meet the evolving needs of our school community.

This newsletter showcases the diverse range of activities and events happening in our community. I sincerely thank our staff for their dedication and generosity in facilitating these rich extracurricular experiences that enhance our students' educational journey.

Parent Forum

Last Tuesday, we hosted our final Parent Forum for 2024. These forums are a valuable opportunity to strengthen collaboration between families and the school, enhancing our collective support for students. If you would like to attend one of our meetings, please join us in 2025 as one way to support the school and have a voice in our direction.

A special thank you to Kathy Warby for her insightful presentation on our new Whole School Approach to Pastoral Care Guidelines and Student Management. More information regarding the Whole School Approach to Student Management Guidelines is within the newsletter's Assistant Principal Mission and Wellbeing section. 

Parent Feedback

An adjusted timetable has been trialled to support the implementation of our Whole School Approach to Student Management Guidelines. This has been an incentive and outcome of staff voice throughout the year to improve punctuality, attendance, and students' attendance within homeroom to receive important messages and pastoral support. 

As we have been undertaking this trial, we sought feedback from staff and students and would like to hear from our parent body. To support the evaluation process, please complete the short survey below, which has also been emailed to all parents this week. 

Student Leadership 2025.

We are proud to announce the final members of our student leadership team for 2025. Over the past fortnight, Year 9 and 10 students participated in the voting process to select their representatives. Seeing so many students willing to step forward to lead, represent our school, and advocate for their peers is inspiring.

Congratulations to Hudson Batinovic, Xavier Cassidy-Thomason, Raimi Mortimer, and Annabelle Hourigan, our Year 11 Leaders for 2025, and William Hartley, Cruz Sewell, Paisley Padayachee, and Jasmine Iredale, our Year 10 Leaders for 2025. We look forward to presenting their leadership badges in a special ceremony later this term.

Advent Reflections

Last Sunday marked the beginning of Advent, a time of preparation as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. During this season, we give thanks for the gifts of hope, love, joy, and peace. In the first week of Advent, we focus on hope—trusting in God's promises and looking forward with faith.

I invite you to reflect on the hopes you carry in your heart this Advent: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him." (Romans 15:13).

May the joy and peace of Christ be with you throughout this Advent season.

Kind Regards,

Dianne McGowan
Acting Principal

Our students continue to shine brightly in various spheres, showcasing their talent, dedication, and commitment to learning.

Enriching the Learning

Students at McAuley Catholic College have been engaging in a variety of opportunities to enrich their learning experience.

Year 9 Camp, STEM MAD National Showcase, HEAL Dancers, Netball Gala Day, Year 10 Music Excursion, Commerce Market Days, Inter-school Wheelchair Basketball, Business Studies Excursion, YES Program, QLD University Tour and the HEAL Men’s Cultural Walk.

Thank you to all the staff who make these opportunities possible for our students.

HSC Results

Year 12 2024 students will be welcomed to the College on the day of the HSC result release. Please pass on to any of our year 12s that the school will host a morning tea with students starting at 11 am on Thursday, 18th December.

Year 10: Exploring Job Options 

For our Year 10 cohort, Week 8 work experience is pivotal in exploring potential career paths. We emphasise the importance of promptly returning to school after work experience, as these concluding weeks are vital in shaping their future endeavours. Students who are continuing with us at McAuley will complete NESA-mandated requirements to prepare for Stage 6, while those venturing into apprenticeships will benefit from structured support for their TAFE commitments.

Navigating Academic Challenges

Year 11 students face mounting academic pressures and assessment deadlines as the term progresses. Striking a balance between studies and personal life can be challenging during this phase. At McAuley, we prioritise academic success and the development of resilient, goal-oriented individuals. 

As our seniors commence their HSC assessment tasks, we emphasise the importance of familiarising themselves with assessment policies and maintaining open communication between home and school.

Margaret Bertalli
Acting Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching

A Cultural Exchange at St Joseph’s South Grafton

Last week, on November 19th and 22nd, our Indigenous dance group had the honor of being invited to St Joseph's Primary School in South Grafton. During our visit, we performed traditional dances and facilitated cultural activities with the primary school students.

We were also fortunate enough to witness the St Joeys Aboriginal Dance Group, led by Mick Woods, share their incredible talent and traditions with us. It was a beautiful opportunity to connect with other dancers and deepen our understanding of Aboriginal culture through shared performance and storytelling.

A special thank you to Liz Hegedus for inviting us to be a part of such a wonderful event. We look forward to returning to St Joseph’s South Grafton in the future, as we continue to celebrate and share the richness of our culture with the next generation.

Wheelchair Basketball and Goalball Success

On Tuesday, December 3rd, a group of our students proudly represented McAuley in wheelchair basketball and goalball competitions. For many of these students, it was their first opportunity to represent the school in a sporting event, and they embraced the challenge with enthusiasm.

The event, organized by Social Futures and the Clarence Valley Council, celebrated the International Day of People with Disabilities. While we may not have brought home any wins, the day was an incredible success.

A big thank you to all who participated and supported this wonderful initiative!

Year 9 Food Technology & Year 11 Hospitality Catering Event

Year 8 Food Tech - Burgers

Year 9 Braves Tyalgum Ridge Retreat

Last week, Year 9 students from our school embarked on an unforgettable adventure to Tyalgum Ridge Retreat, west of Murwillumbah. From Monday to Wednesday, they faced relentless rain, mud, leeches, and the kind of challenges that only a true outdoor adventure can bring. Yet, through it all, they discovered resilience, teamwork, and a whole lot of laughter.

Their journey began with a three-hour hike through rugged bushland and steep mountains. While it was no easy task, the reward was a stunning waterfall where they cooled off and recharged. The hike was grueling, but moments like that made every step worthwhile.

When they finally reached their campsite, it became clear that the real challenge was only just beginning. Cooking their own dinner and building fires tested their patience and skills. Then the rain set in, flooding their tents and turning their bags into makeshift pillows. By 9 PM, some tents were collapsing, and buckets were being used to catch rainwater in a desperate attempt to stay dry. The students found themselves sleeping on soggy gym mats, with leeches adding to their discomfort, while their teachers managed to stay dry under proper shelter.

Despite the tough start, things improved over the next two days. Rain didn’t stop them from diving into high ropes, flying fox, low ropes, group games, and kayaking. Though they were soaked from start to finish, the students embraced the challenges and made the most of every activity. Amazingly, there was only one hospital trip—a true testament to their perseverance! In the evenings, movies, games, and laughter brought them together. By bedtime, exhaustion ensured even wet clothes couldn’t keep them awake.

By the third day, they were ready to return home to dry beds and warm clothes, but not without a sense of accomplishment. After packing up and finishing the last of their activities, they left the retreat with stories they’ll be laughing about for years to come. The rain, leeches, and challenges didn’t break them; instead, they strengthened their bond and created memories to last a lifetime.

A huge thank you goes to the teachers—Mrs. Hill, Mr. Ellis, Mrs. Doyle, Mr. Humphries, and Mr. Smith—who joined the adventure. Their support and patience, even through tough conditions, ensured the trip was a success.

Year 9 braved Tyalgum Ridge Retreat and came out stronger, with unforgettable experiences and plenty of soggy shoes to prove it!

Year 10 Camp - Student Leader Article

Liam  - In week 6, from the 11th to the 13th Year 10 had a great opportunity to travel down south to the Great Aussie Bush camp and experience an action packed adventure! 

Hazel - During the three days the year was split into two and were led by great instructors who entertained us and kept us excited and keen. Throughout the three days, activities were spaced all around the camp, situated in Tea Gardens near Port Stephens. There were 8 activities in total, all involving leadership, communication, bravery and great teamwork. I know for a fact that each and every student had the best time, and tried their very best no matter the outcome. Many activities tested people’s fears of heights, as well as pushing people out of their comfort zones, but each student paced themselves to their ability and made massive progress. 

Eve- Day 1 consisted of arriving at the camp, and settling in. Being able to stretch our legs was definitely a highlight for the first day. After being welcomed and shown around, we got set into our groups and started the activities. One group, led by Mr Tait and Miss Brown, got straight into heights…venturing to the treetops, where students would scream and almost cry, but come back with smiles. The treetops were a heart racing activity which got everyone warm and excited for the rest of the trip. The second activity shared the other side of the camp, with water… or should I say mud. In a pit, the group split into teams and competed against each other to reach the middle platform without falling into the mud. There were tires stacked on top of each other, filled with concrete, and three wooden planks were allowed to be used to get to the middle. There were certain strategies the team needed to use to get to the middle… and each team was incredibly competitive. 

Raimi- Day 2 was a massive day filled with 4 activities including, The Giant Swing, Abseiling, Raft Building and Initiatives. The Giant swing was a thrilling experience that increased heart rates. The activity involved everyone, from pulling your peers up 13m high to encouraging one another. It was impressive to see everyone either create unique poses to do when launched into the air or scream as loud as they could. Another frightening activity was abseiling, 13m to get back to ground going down backwards was not everyone’s comfort. However, many pushed through and challenged themselves to even just climbing up to the top of the tower which was definitely an accomplishment, and those who managed to get past the shaky ladders and lean back over the edge saw themselves climbing down such heights. Raft building was a team based activity where communication and collaboration was necessary. It was interesting to see the different designs everyone had come up with together. This was a great activity that everyone got to enjoy, there was even time for a swim after. Initiatives was another activity filled with group work. There were multiple stages to this activity including fitting nearly 20 people onto one crate, a balancing task, stacking tires, and 

Azari - The whole year demonstrated great qualities of leadership and friendship through these activities. 

Although the year had its highs and lows, I know that everyone can see it as an amazing experience and we were all so lucky to have experienced it, so thank you….

Premier’s Reading Challenge

The library celebrated the prodigious reading commitment of our students at the annual Premier’s Reading Challenge. The annual challenge encourages students to read 20 titles with at least 10 from the Premier's Reading Challenge list and 10 of their own choosing. It is a significant achievement and we at the library were happy to celebrate with a pizza party when the students were awarded their certificates. 

A special congratulations to four students for their commitment to the Challenge over many years. Sophie Van Der Vlist and Nathaniel Frame have reached their seventh years, and William Hartley and Ruby Egen who have reached their tenth year of reading and will receive a Premier’s Reading Challenge medal.

Millionaire’s Club

A second set of reading superstars were celebrated at a morning tea held in the library for the inaugural Renaissance Readers’ Millionaires’ Club. Congratulations to the three readers who used the Renaissance program to demonstrate that they had read at least one million words. The students were Liegh Xander Belmonte and Max Lobsey from Year 8 and Sienna Patricks from Year 7 who read 2,836,569, 1,177,771 and 2,511,932 words respectively.

In 2025 we are hoping to increase our usage of the Renaissance program and have more members accepted into the exclusive millionaire’s club

Christmas 

The library staff love to get into the spirit of Christmas, and with the help of Eliza Corcoran and her ME4 homeroom we have created a delightful display. Watch the following video to enjoy our beautiful and welcoming library space. The library has also increased the amount of activities open for students to participate in during this time of the year, so far they are invited to take a photo with their friends at the photo booth, make a friendship bracelet, colour in or get involved in the Mario Switch competition.

Christmas Borrowing

Reading is the biggest indicator of success in school and life, so make sure you encourage your child to complete some Christmas reading. Library holiday borrowing is now open and students who are returning in 2025 are welcome to borrow up to five books. 

 We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a fantastic January holiday period.

From the whole library team,

Linda, Ann and Alex.

An absolute joy found in PEER reading.

The McAuley Peer Reading Program aims to improve reading fluency, comprehension and accuracy of junior students with the encouragement of older peers.This program has been running for many years at McAuley Catholic College with great success at improving reading fluency and developing competent readers.

Peer Reading occurs during the first 15 minutes of period 3 for Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Year 7 students come to a quiet learning space and read aloud to a Year 10 student. During this time the whole junior school has sustained silent reading known as Drop Everything and Read, ensuring lesson content for this is not missed by those participating.

This year Peer Reading was running in Term 2, 3 and 4 with a dozen Year 7 students participating.  A mighty thank you to all those involved from our library staff, Miss Bec Cole and our very enthusiastic and competent Year 10 Peer Reading Mentors. A special thanks to Ailiyah-Scarlett Roach and her able assistant Jack Wiles, for their role as Student Coordinators. All participants were an absolute joy to have in this valuable intervention program in 2024. 

Reading is a valuable skill and enables students to access all KLA curriculum. Literacy skills are key to learning in and outside of school. Encourage your student to read aloud to you or someone else everyday for at least fifteen minutes and you will notice the difference in their skills very quickly. Pause, prompt and praise are the essentials for encouraging better reading.

Mrs Leanne McLennan
Peer Reading Promoter

Getting To School By Bus in 2025

Bus Passes

• All students catching the bus in 2025 will need a school travel pass.
• Under the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS), eligible students can apply for free or subsided travel between home and school.
• For more information about the School Student Transport Scheme and how to apply for a school travel pass, visit https://apps.transport.nsw.gov.au/ssts/#/ from a desktop computer.

Bus Timetables

1. Go to busways.com.au/nsw 
2. Click on ‘school services’ in the navigation bar and then proceed to ‘school timetables’
3. Enter the school’s name in the field that says ‘enter a school name’
4. Select the school’s name and the timetable should open on your device. If you are unable to find or search for the school’s name, use the drop-down menus on the same web page to find the school.
5. Once the timetable is opened, you will be able to identify which school bus services are available in your area for your child to use.

December:

9th: Yr 11 CFIA Active Volunteering at The Hub Grafton

10th: Yr 11 Business Studies Excursion

12th: Student Leadership Day at the Mercy Centre

16th: Advent Liturgy & Prizegiving Practice

17th: Advent Liturgy & Prizegiving Assembly

         EOY Activites Commence (after Prizegiving)

18th: EOY Activities

          Graduated Yr 12 Morning Tea (11am)

          HSC Results Released

          Last Day for Students

2025

January 31st: Staff Return for 2025

February 3rd: Term 1 Staff Development Day (Pupil Free Day)

                4th: First Day Term 1 for Yr 7, 11, 12

                5th: Whole School Returns

As mentioned in our previous newsletters, the College offers lunch orders online through the Flexischools app. Please see the attached flyer to get started.