Dear Parents and Carers, Staff and Students,

Welcome to the 2021 school year! It is with great pleasure that I welcome all our students, staff and families to McAuley Catholic College, especially our 90 year 7’s, our new students in years 8, 9, 10 & 11 and our new staff whom I will introduce further on in the newsletter. 

Today we had Year 7, 11 & 12 at school and it has been an exciting start with Yr 7 parents and students gathering for breakfast and a meet and greet opportunity with staff. In our brief welcome Assembly, we presented each year 7 student with a College badge, and we ask them to wear this with pride. Our Year 11 students joined us, looking very presentable in their new senior uniforms! We also welcomed back our Year 12 students who should be ready to start straight back into work. We have included some photos from Day 1 in this newsletter.

The staff have been busy preparing for the start of 2021. At the end of 2020, we undertook 2 days of training in the Berry Street Education Model. We are now in the process of implementing this Model into the College which will assist us in taking a Positive Education approach in our wellbeing, teaching and learning. The model provides us with opportunities, resources and strategies in our learning journey about students which we then implement into our teaching and day to day interactions with students and families. The goal of studying and implementing the Berry Street Education Model is to build strong relationships, improve student engagement and achieve student academic and personal growth. We will include more information on the implementation of this model in future newsletters. 

WELCOME TO NEW STAFF

We welcome the following staff to McAuley in 2020:

Dianne McGowan- Assistant Principal, Learning & Teaching

Margaret Bertalli - Leader of Catechesis (RE)

Peter Fox - Science

Molly Paton - TAS

Megan Feeney - PDHPE

Kim Green-Evenson - Teacher Assistant

Brooke Joe - Teacher Assistant

Jack Bellamy - Teacher Assistant

Wil Bancroft - Trainee Education Services

Eve Dougherty - Youth Ministry Officer

Quinnlan Boyce - Youth Ministry Officer

On behalf of all members of our College community, I warmly welcome each of these staff members to McAuley in their respective roles and know that they will each make a valued contribution to our College during their time with us. 

Important Information

The majority of this Newsletter is providing parents & carers with introductory information on staff (Leaders of Learning, Year Coordinators and Homeroom teachers), communication, requirements and procedures. Hopefully, this helps you navigate the start of the year smoothly. I have highlighted here some areas that are of high importance.

Changes to period structure and bell times

We have changed the structure of our day from 6 periods to 5 periods. This gives 1 hour periods (except Thursday). We have made this decision based on 2 years of feedback from staff and students. We believe this extended time will provide students and staff with more productive learning and teaching time. This change has meant that our break times have been changed - making our longer lunch break between period 2 & 3. I have included the new bell times in this newsletter.

COVID-19 requirements and regulations

We continue to receive information from the Catholic Schools Office (DLCSL) regarding COVID 19. I have summarised this in the relevant section of the newsletter.

Year 12 2020 HSC results

Congratulations to our Year 12 students who achieved pleasing results with some outstanding performances. Annabel Bindon achieved our highest ATAR of 95.5, and 3 other students achieved an ATAR above 90 - Joshua Sommer, Alannah Boon & Abigail Lydon. We are very proud of all our students who completed their HSC after a difficult and unpredictable year. See the summary HSC results further on in this newsletter. 

Principal Vision

In my Principal address to my staff this week I reiterated the vision I have for the school, which I presented to the College community last year, and which I include again here:

My vision for the College: 

That McAuley Catholic College will journey strongly and confidently into the future as a distinctive Catholic Community centred on Christ and formed by the Mercy and Marist charisms. With Christ and our traditions as our basis, my vision is that MCC is authentic, inclusive, student-focused, Christ centred and full of learning experiences that prepare our students for the future and enable them to grow as a person and to reach the fullness of life.

There are a number of new and interesting projects being developed in the College for 2021 to improve student learning and outcomes. These will be introduced to parents in the newsletter and letters over the term. I encourage you to be involved and ask questions about your child’s learning and development as we journey together. 

We pride ourselves at McAuley on building relationships and productive partnerships between home and the College. As in all things, from time to time issues will arise. Mrs Warby, Mrs McGowan and I are available to speak with parents on any matters, provided that these have been initially addressed with the staff member concerned. To contact any member of staff, please phone the College Office on 66431434 or come to the Office to make an appointment.

I look forward to working with all parents and guardians of the McAuley community throughout 2021 and beyond and I ask for your ongoing support as we work in partnership to make a difference in the lives of our children so they can be the best they can be. 

Yours sincerely

Kate

Kate Thomson

Principal

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

Welcome back to all our returning students and welcome to our Year 7 and new students and their families. 

People to Contact - Our Pastoral Structure

Each year at this time we outline the communication process that needs to be followed when making contact with the College.

Wellbeing Information

Role of Homeroom Teacher, Year Coordinator and House Leader

• Homeroom teachers are a very important part of the pastoral structure. The Homeroom Teacher is the teacher primarily responsible for the welfare of each student in his/her Homeroom.
• The Year Coordinator will be responsible for the welfare for the students in their year group. The six Year Coordinators form a pastoral team and will liaise with parents, Homeroom teachers, House Leaders, Leaders of Learning, Classroom teachers and the College Leadership Team.
• The House Leader is the Coordinator of the entire House. They are responsible for building the House Spirit and House system. They work with their House Team which is comprised of the seven Homeroom teachers and other teachers allocated to the House.
  
  

Brief overview of The House System:

The House System was introduced at McAuley Catholic College in 2004. The aim then and now is to promote a strong sense of community as well as opportunities for connectedness which will, in turn, promote resilience and a sense of achievement for all our students.

We continue to promote the House System at McAuley Catholic College as the “umbrella” under which all activities - religious, academic, pastoral, cultural, community, social, sporting - take place.

Homeroom Teachers, Year Coordinators & House Leaders 2021

Counsellor & Student Support Worker

Counsellor - Siobhan McNamara 

Student Support Worker - Mrs Megan Barton 

Student Planner

All students are issued with a Planner at the start of each year. The Planner is an important learning item that is to be taken to every class every day. It will be a valuable tool in the Pastoral Care lesson and will support the positive education program being delivered. Students are to record all homework, assessments, reminders etc in their diary. It is also used to collect and record Merit Stamps and exits from class (eg toilet, library, office, sick bay).

Students who become ill at school

Students do get sick while at school. We have a sick bay where students can be attended to and monitored. The Office staff regularly contact parents when a child is sick. Any student who is feeling unwell must report to sick bay. 

As per our Mobile Phone Policy, students should not use their phone to contact parents during school hours.  The students must go to the office where the office staff can contact home. It is difficult when parents arrive at the College Office to collect their child and the Office staff are unaware the student is ill and then have to find the student somewhere in the school. This can be very disruptive for the Office staff. It is appreciated if our policy is followed. 

College Expectations

Students and staff expect to work in a safe, secure and supportive environment. The expectations, shown below, ensure all learning spaces are settled and productive. These expectations work in-conjunction with our Mercy values of Respect, Compassion, Justice, Excellence and Hospitality. The expectations are displayed in all classrooms and are clearly stated in the Student Diary.

Youth Ministry Officers for 2021

This year we welcome Quinnlan Boyce and Eve Dougherty, graduates from our Yr 12 2020 class, as our 2021 Youth Ministry Officers. Both Quinnlan and Eve are excited to be returning to the College in this role. They will attend the YMO Equipping School in Lismore next week learning valuable tools to equip them in leading students in youth ministry and discipleship activities. We look forward to their support in the range of mission activities we offer and being a valuable member of Religious Education classes.

Kathy Warby
Assistant Principal Mission and Wellbeing

COLLEGE LEADERSHIP TEAM 2021:

Ms Kate Thomson - Principal 

Mrs Kathy Warby - Assistant Principal Mission & Wellbeing

Mrs Dianne McGowan - Assistant Principal Learning & Teaching

Mrs Tiffany Lee - Leader of Curriculum

Mrs Natasha Green - Leader of Pedagogy 

Mrs Margaret Bertalli - Leader of Catechesis

Mr Rob Imeson - Pastoral Care Coordinator 

Mr Stephen Hartmann - Business Manager 

LEADERS OF LEARNING

HOUSE LEADERS

Dianne McGowan

As we begin the academic year, I would like to take the opportunity to welcome our new and returning students and families to McAuley Catholic College for 2021.

I would also like to take the opportunity to explain the College's new role of Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching for our families. The Lismore Diocese has made the decision to have two  Assistant Principals from 2021 - one focusing on Mission and Wellbeing and the other on Learning and Teaching.

My role as Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching works closely with the current Leader of Curriculum and Leader of Pedagogy, that is, to deliver consistent learning outcomes for all students across the College. Specifically, I see my main focus as one of continuing student engagement and developing further use of data to effectively enhance learning outcomes. This will cover a variety of aspects that I will update parents and families on throughout the year and around key assessment periods. 

I look forward to seeing our parents and families at our various events over the coming months and I wish you all the very best for the academic start of 2021.

Margaret Bertalli

I am delighted to be returning to McAuley Catholic College after three years away at St Mary's Catholic College Casino. I was seconded to St Mary's in 2018 as a Leader of Student Welfare and then spent two more years as Acting Assistant Principal-Mission. I return to McAuley as Leader of Catechesis. 

Information from the Catholic Schools Office (DLCSL)

As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, the NSW Government is taking some 
precautionary measures to ensure that our schools remain safe places for everyone at the commencement of the 2021 school year.

Parents and carers can enter the school to:
● Purchase or pick up requirements.
● Meet with school staff with a pre-arranged appointment.
● Drop off students for Preschool, Kindergarten and Years 1, 2 and 7.
● Attend parent orientation meetings for Preschool, Kindergarten or Year 7 and ‘meet the teacher’ meetings with school staff for all year/stage groups. Meetings should be limited to 1 hour where possible.

School operations
It is essential that schools:
● Continue to exclude students and staff with even mild symptoms of COVID-19 and
encourage them to seek testing immediately.

• Parents of symptomatic children should provide evidence of a negative result prior to returning to school.
• In circumstances where children have other medical reasons for recurrent symptoms, a letter from the GP is sufficient to negate the requirement for a negative test.

Field trips, excursions and camps - can go ahead with COVID safe plans. Schools should consider that border closures and/or areas within NSW being declared red or hot zones can occur at very short notice.

School performances and assemblies
● Gala days, school performances and other major school events can be planned for 2021 with a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place.
● School assemblies, whole of school assemblies can continue. 

Sporting activities
● All interschool sport and physical activities, zone carnivals and gala days can continue. This means that schools and students can travel outside of their local community.
● Sporting events and activities held outside of the school site during school hours will need to follow the COVID-19 Safety Plan of the venue or organiser.

• Swimming and other sporting carnivals can proceed with a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place

We proudly congratulate our Year 12 students of 2020 on their performance and commitment in the HSC. Once again, our students achieved pleasing results across a wide range of subjects. The College celebrates the achievements of the class of 2020 and wishes them well as they pursue their individual pathways following the HSC. 

Notable Achievements

Highest ATAR - Annabel Bindon 95.5

Other students with 90+ ATAR: Joshua Sommer, Alanah Boon, Abigail Lydon 

Results

13 Band 6 results (scored 90 and above in individual subjects)

6 students named on Distinguished Achievers list 

10 courses with results above the state average.

21.6% of students achieved Band 5 and 6 results across the subjects offered.

Distinguished Achievers List

6 students achieved a Band 6 (90+ in individual subjects) and were named on the Distinguished Achievers list.

Annabel Bindon, Alanah Boon, James Hylton-Cummins, Georgia Kroehnert,

Abigail Lydon, Joshua Sommer

Top Achievers

Abigail Lydon came in the top 5 of the State in French Beginners 

1st in Lismore Diocese

Annabel Bindon: Business Studies 

Alanah Boon: Community and Family Studies

Abigail Lydon: French Beginners

Georgia Kroehnert: Primary Industries

ARTEXPRESS

Abigail Lydon HSC Artwork was accepted into the 2020 ARTEXPRESS exhibition, which tours the state  for the next 12 months

Student Leadership 2021

Our student leadership team for 2020 is now complete with the announcement of our Year 10 and 11 Leaders and the presentation of their badges at the Awards Presentation at the end of 2020. The Student Leadership Team is:

College Captains: Ryan Dick and Jacqueline Samms

College Vice-Captains: Corey Newbold and Hanna Tait

Champagnat House Captains: Alana Madden

McCarthy House Captains: Tom Mullins and Charleze Girdler

Mercy House Captains: Georgia Salvestro and Koran McPherson

Tracey House Captains: Hollie Redman

Mission Leader: April Irwin

Year 11 Leaders: Matilda Sheehan, Jonathan Leung, Ewan Whitty and Layla Cramb

Year 10 Leaders: Jude Kreis, Alex Salvestro, Paige Thompson and Stella Van Leest  

The Team is full of ideas and keen to be involved in the school to build a positive culture and improve participation.