Term 4, Week 7 - 27 November - 2020

Dear Parents and Carers

As we head into the last few weeks of the 2020 school year, it is important that we finish well. All students are to be attending school each day and engaging in learning activities and experiences. School rules and expectations are to be followed by all students. Many activities and events have been happening in the last fortnight and will continue until the end of the year and these are highlighted in this newsletter. 

It is exciting to have some more activities for the students to participate in, as the COVID 19 regulations and restrictions ease and change. I will briefly make mention of some of these events and leave you to read the more detailed articles. I would like to thank the staff who have organised the recent events, the staff who have attended and the students for their excellent behaviour and engagement. Such events include our Reflection days for years 7 - 10, the year 8 beach day, and the year 6 orientation day. 

Congratulations

I wish to congratulate Year 12 student Abigail Lydon on being selected to exhibit her HSC artwork in the annual ART EXPRESS exhibition. This is a remarkable achievement by Abigail, considering the number of entries nominated. You can read more about this achievement in this newsletter.  Congratulations also to our Year 9 students - Paige, Brigette and Chelsea on the 2nd place award they achieved at the Green Innovation Awards. The girls should be very proud of their innovation and the work they have done to promote it. This week I was privileged to attend the final day of the TAFE YES program, along with Mr Day and Mrs Bindon. We were able to view first hand the facilities offered at TAFE and see some of our Year 9 & 10  students at work, as they finished their 6-week courses. The students have enjoyed their experience and have represented the school well. 

Yr 6 Orientation and Parent Information Evening

This week we held our Annual Year 6 Parent Information Night. As COVID restrictions have eased, we were able to host parents on-site (after hours) for the first time since March! A number of families took the opportunity to look around the school for the first time. We also invited parents to join the meeting via Zoom and 17 parents joined us from their home. Our experience from COVID19 has allowed us to be a little more innovative in the way we can include and communicate with parents, which we will continue into 2021.   Mrs Nikita Robinson, 2021 Year 7 Coordinator, introduced herself and recapped the great day the students had at McAuley, some for the first time.  Our Captains - Jacqui, Ryan, Hanna and Corey - assisted on the night and spoke to the parents about their experience at McAuley Catholic College.

Yr 12 Graduation Formal

Our annual Year 12 Formal, which was held on Saturday 14th November at The Grafton Racecourse, was a wonderful night. After a year like no other, it was exciting (and a relief) that we could celebrate together - students, parents and staff. In a year where we have all learnt to cope with change, to be flexible and innovative, we were able to try something new for our graduation formal, some of which we would like to take forward and adopt into future years. Special thanks to our organising committee of Nikita Robinson, Brayden Jamieson, Kathy Warby and Tiffany Lee and the staff at the CRJC for making the night such a success.

Heat 

The weather is now very warm and therefore I ask students, via their parents, to consider the following; 

• Students should bring their own water bottle to school. These can be refilled at water stations around the school.  Water bottles can be taken to class.
• Stay out of the sun. There are many shade areas in the College. Air Conditioned classrooms will be opened for the students to use on days of extreme heat.
• Jumpers are discouraged in this hot weather. 
• Hats are to be worn when students are in the sun.

Advent 

This Sunday we begin the Advent journey of waiting for the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Our Parish bulletin this week has an explanation and reflection on Advent and I share with you the following points:

“We await the coming of the Lord. But no one knows when it is going to happen. This should not frighten or confuse us. Our faith tells us that the Lord will come and he will come unexpectedly. During his earthly life, Jesus showed us that God is all loving and merciful, faithful to His people and to His promises. So, we wait in readiness and with a sure hope and joyful expectation for the Lord’s coming.

We are called to live “the time of waiting” by loving and placing our trust in God, and by caring for one another - especially the poor, needy and vulnerable in our world - and for the whole of God’s creation.”

David J Hore CSsR @ Redemptorists 2020

Start Dates for 2021. 

Wednesday 27th January: Staff Administration Day (no students, Office open)

Thursday 28 January: Staff Development Day 1

Friday 29 January: Students in Year 7, 11 & 12 return

Monday 1st February: All students return

The College Office will be open for enquiries and assistance on Wednesday 20 - Friday 22 January between 9am &  1pm

The Fortnight Ahead

In the next fortnight Year 11 will be introduced to the Country University Centre in their Careers lesson; Year 10 will be participating in Teen Mental Health First Aid; Mercy House will have their House Reward Day on the 4th of December and we will hold our Year 7 - 11 Liturgy and Prizegiving on the 11th December. 

Kind  regards,

Kate

Kate Thomson

Principal 

“We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us.” Catherine McAuley

Congratulations to Abigail Lydon for her acceptance into the prestigious annual ARTEXPRESS Exhibition. This is an exhibition featuring a selection of outstanding student artworks developed for the artmaking component of the HSC examination in visual arts in NSW. Approximately 285 students are selected from 10, 000 art students. The markers are looking for resolved pieces which display great aesthetic qualities and conceptual depth. Abigail's artwork “Oceans Apart” is a highly accomplished work that explores the complexities of a teenage life and the migrant experience in Australia.

During our Year 7 Geography course, students were asked to extend themselves by creating a three dimensional model of the most Liveable City. Sheridan Sutherland and Matilda McEntee of 7HSIE4 created this model using recycled products. The township included access to medical and education facilities as well as a Netball court and recreational pond. They should be congratulated for their efforts outside of the classroom. Well done girls!!

Construction

Year 11 Construction students have completed their 3 individual projects for the year including a concrete float, a tool box and a step ladder. As you can see from the images Darnell took a different approach and created a timber wall hanging using pyrographic drawing and staining. In term 4 we undertake community projects around the College. We have had two going simultaneously this term. The first of these is a stainless steel cable barricade at the front of the school to protect gardens. This consisted of 4 runs of tensioned cable over 30 metres and was completed this week.

The second project is a set of outdoor tables for the playground. These are being built from Spotted Gum that were felled and milled in 2018 to make way for our new Primary Industries and Metal & Engineering facilities. The timber is now dry enough to repurpose as playground furniture.

Hospitality

In Year 11 Hospitality, students have been focussing on preparing and serving simple dishes. Every week students cater for the staff and students, serving a range of simple and delicious meals including fried rice, tacos, sushi, mini tarts, gourmet sandwiches, cakes and slices. Students have also been working hard on developing their skills on the coffee machine and gaining competency in the preparation of a variety of espresso coffees. This is available to staff and senior students every recess at Catherine’s Cafe and has been a great success.

Manufacturing and Engineering

The Year 11 Metal & Engineering class have been honing a range of skills this year using hand and power tools, welding machines and metal lathes. They showcase what they have learnt by making a metal vice from scratch. They are now up to the final stage of this project where they have to turn a number of parts on the lathe and assemble the vice. Pictured below are the Year 11 class turning components for their vice.

YES Program

Students between the ages of 15 and 17 were given the opportunity this term to participate in TAFE’s six week 'YES Program'. YES stands for Youth Engagement Strategy and its purpose is to increase engagement in education and training as well as to give students a taste of what TAFE has to offer. MCC had students participating in a range of programs including Automotive, Carpentry, Nursing, Barista, Early Childhood, Music, and Animal Studies. Follow the facebook links below to see what our students have been up to.

Music - https://fb.watch/1ZOclQqOTh/

Carpentry - https://www.facebook.com/TAFENSWGrafton/posts/3772284432833625

https://www.facebook.com/TAFENSWGrafton/posts/3749199361808799

Automotive - https://www.facebook.com/TAFENSWGrafton/posts/3760346610694074

Animal Studies - https://fb.watch/1ZOoa14N6F/

https://www.facebook.com/TAFENSWGrafton/posts/3729399910455411

Nursing - https://fb.watch/1ZOtGrCDL0/

Early Childhood - https://fb.watch/1ZOvezRHd8/

An Update on the University Sector

On Tuesday 24th November Year 8 students took part in a Beach Safety and Awareness Day. They participated in a range of activities with some sessions led by volunteers from Yamba Surf Lifesaving Club. Activities included: surf awareness, the role of beach patrols, and basic resuscitation and First Aid. Students also learned and practised basic rescue techniques and swimming survival strokes. For lunch, students got to enjoy a sausage sizzle and hanging out at the beach with friends. 

We would like to thank the Yamba Surf Club and volunteers for hosting us for the day and spending time working with our students.

On Friday 20th November, Year 7 gathered in the hall for their Reflection Day. The theme of the day was Positive Relationships and included workshops with speakers, whole group discussion, small group games and activities, a group art creation and meditation. There was even a live performance of an original song by Mr Rob Imeson.  

It was lovely to see the energetic participation of the students and meeting students they didn’t know well in our year group and forming new friendships. There was a great deal of thoughtful reflection and discussion about positive relationships. The artworks were a creative way for each group to express what they learned and experienced throughout the day. 

Thank you to Mrs Nikita Robinson, Chelsea and Mr Alex Montford for their organisation and preparation for the day. Thank you to Mr Alex Montford, Mr Rob Imeson and Josh Lill for their presentations to the group and to the other teachers present for leading small group discussions. Thank you to the amazing Year 9 students who led the games and activities. 

Sarah Nicholls
Year 7 Coordinator

As the term draws to a close, the leadership team is working to ensure an enjoyable finish for the year. The Rachel Johnson Touch Memorial Carnival took place two weeks ago during every lunch and recess. The event showed great enthusiasm and community involvement as students from all homerooms came together to commemorate the life of Rachel Johnson in a touch carnival. The student leadership team plans to expand on the event each year and create a long-lasting tradition started this year with the creation of a banner, guard of honour, memorial service and tree planting.

Music students got a chance to showcase their talents last Thursday as another concert was performed at lunch. A final music concert is planned for Week 9, giving a last performance before the holidays. 

Lunchtime sport has been continuing this term, with a few weeks changing for the Rachel Johnson Memorial Touch carnival and a music concert. This week students had the opportunity to escape the hotter weather with volleyball in the hall. 

Students are reminded to please bring in their items for the Vinnies hamper. Each year at McAuley we work together as homerooms to create hampers which are donated to families in need. Students each bring in one or two items, that have been allocated in homeroom.

ADVENT

As we begin the Advent season, we have before us an opportunity for a spiritual reset of sorts. As we anticipate His birth, we have the period of Advent to invest in our relationship with the Lord. This won’t be easy. The lure of the world, especially at this time of the year, will be great. The culture tells us that the season is about decorations, shopping, receiving and giving presents and often Christmas is over as soon as the clock ticks into Boxing Day.

The Church, of course, knows better. The season of Advent exists to slow us down, to give us the opportunity to prepare to receive Christ on Christmas Day and to celebrate his coming well into January. 

Our preparation for Christmas begins with the first Sunday of Advent this weekend. The Soul will explore the themes of Advent; Hope, Peace, Love and Joy, in the coming weeks.

HOPE

The theme for the first week of Advent is Hope. Christians can often confuse the word hope for wishful thinking. If we hope something will happen, we have no control over whether or not it will take place. 

But the biblical sense of hope is very different. Hope, in the Bible, exists as a secure assurance, a trust placed in a trustworthy God. God has not failed us in the past, and therefore, if he claims he will do something in the future, we can have a hope that he will fulfill that claim. 

Hope waits and endures. It isn’t flimsy or merely wishful thinking. It can withstand fire, trials, and despair.

Hope is an important thing. It helps us during significant trials or times of distress. It offers us security that God will arrive and though we cannot see him now, we will see him face to face one day.

PRAYING WITH MUSIC - HOPE FOR EVERYONE Matt Maher

GOSPEL REFLECTION - BISHOP GREG HOMEMING

An Advent Prayer for Courage

30th Anniversary of (Catherine) McAuley Catholic College.

(We are missing year groups for 1991 and 1992. If you have a copy please contact the College office)

1993

1990