Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to Term 3! Our first newsletter for the term is full of information covering excursions and events from last term, and details of upcoming events. I encourage you to spend some time reading through the various sections of the newsletter to keep updated and involved in the College.

Years 7 - 11 Parent Teacher Student Interviews - Tuesday 25th July 

Our Parent Teacher interviews will be held in the College Hall between 3.40 and 6.30pm. Thank you to all parents who have already made interview bookings via the online booking system. If you require assistance, please call the College office. Here are some suggestions for questions you could ask your child’s teacher and these will also be available on the night:

• What is my child learning?
• How is she or he doing?
• How do you know how he or she is doing?
• How can she or he improve?
• What supports can I provide and can you provide if she or he is struggling? When can we check in again?

(Clarity - What Matters Most in Learning, Teaching, and Leading by Lyn Sharratt, 2019)

Uniform changes for 2024

We are almost ready to sign off on the new uniform changes for 2024 so production can begin. We have engaged a company - P&C Uniforms to design, create and supply our uniforms. The uniforms will be on display in or near the Hall at the parent-teacher interviews, along with additional information about the items. They will also be available at our Special Academic Achievement Assembly on Thursday. 

Semester 1 Awards at Week 2 Assembly - Thursday 27th August at 11.45am

At our week 2 Assembly we will be acknowledging students in years 7 - 11 who achieved at an outstanding level across the Expectations of the College and academically. Parents and carers of students receiving a certificate have been invited to attend this event and we looking forward to having you here for the Assembly and special morning tea.

Principal Appraisal

Last week you would have received a letter informing you that this is my 4th year as Principal of McAuley Catholic College, and accordingly am required to participate in an appraisal process to receive feedback on my performance which will help me lead the school into the future. I encourage you to complete the appraisal survey which was sent on Friday 21st July to assist me to improve myself and the College.

Staffing Changes

Thank you to Margaret Bertalli who acted in the Assistant Principal Mission and Wellbeing position for the last 4 weeks of term 2 while Kathy Warby was on leave. Kathy’s leave continues for the first 4 weeks of this term and Mrs Tiffany Lee is acting in the AP Mission and Wellbeing role. I thank and congratulate Tiffany and Margaret for their work in this area and their support. 

I welcome to the College Ms Amanda Kennedy who is replacing Mr Stuart Tait while he is on leave for the first 5 weeks of this term. This week we said farewell to Mrs Skye Pullen our Family Connect Worker. Skye assisted many families in a range of ways through our partnership with Social Futures. We are expecting to have a replacement for Skye in the near future and we wish Skye all the best with her new venture. 

It is with sadness that I inform our community that Mr Rob Imeson has tendered his resignation as Leader of Pastoral Care at McAuley. He will be leaving MCC at the end of week 5 of this term to take up the position of Pastoral Care Officer - Clarence, with the Catholic Schools Office. We wish Rob all the best in his new adventure and thank him sincerely for his work and dedication and the difference he has made to the lives of many students. 

Enrolment offers for Year 7 2024

At the end of last week, we were able to offer 125 students a place in Year 7 at McAuley Catholic College for 2024. We have had an overwhelming amount of applications for 2024 and unfortunately, we are unable to offer everyone a position. I thank everyone for their patience as we worked through the enrolment process. Our usual enrolment is 100 - 104 per year group. We have been given permission to increase our enrolment for year 7 2024 to 5 classes, as we had done in 2023. 

Staff Development Day - Monday 31st July

Our next Staff Development Day is next Monday 31st July, which is a pupil-free day for students in years 7 - 11. Year 12 will attend the College on this day for their first Trial HSC exam. The theme and purpose of the Staff Development Day is Mission and Wellbeing. The staff will be revisiting the Berry St Education Model, which we have been using for the last 3 years, and will finish the day by completing the Bishop’s reflection modules, as required by all staff in the diocese.

Trial HSC Exams - Weeks 3 & 4.

Finally, I wish all our Year 12 students the very best in their Trial HSC exams which will be conducted over the next 2 weeks. It is important that Year 12 students use these to help them prepare for their HSC and complete the school assessment process.

All the best for the fortnight ahead

Sincerely

Kate

Kate Thomson

Principal

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

Catherine McAuley

Year 11 Retreat 

Retreat for our Year 11 students will take place in Week 3 of Term 3. Retreats are a great  opportunity for students to explore relationships with friends, family and God in a reflective and non-threatening environment. Through prayer, reflection, discussion and sharing, students are guided to a deeper understanding of themselves, each other and their values that will help them over the coming year and into the future. 

This retreat is a very important link in the retreat program of the College.  It is an experience that students remember well, for many reasons.  The emphasis is on the group working together, leadership and making a difference. 

Festa Christi

In Week 3, a small group of Year 8 girls will be attending Festa Christi with Mrs Caroline Doyle. Festa Christi is an overnight experience which will allow relationships to be built with other Year 8 students from throughout the Lismore Diocese, as well as providing a chance for students to talk about and share their faith journey. We wish the students and Mrs Doyle well for this experience. 

Tiffany Lee

Acting Assistant Principal - Mission and Wellbeing

Year 12 Trial HSC Exams

The Trial Exams for year 12 will start on Monday, 31st July, and continue until Friday, 11th August. Assessment Procedures and Policy Apply – please consult the HSC Assessment Handbook 2022-2023 for detailed information. 

Year 10 News - Future Pathways

During Week 5, parents can meet with senior staff members to discuss post-school options for their children. It is expected that prospective year 11 students will also be in attendance. Please note in your calendar that Tuesday 15th August will be the date for these meetings. More information will be emailed to parents next week.

Naplan 2023 results

NESA will send the 2023 individual student results to schools early this term, and the school’s office will aim to get these to parents as soon as possible. From 2023, NAPLAN results are reported against proficiency standards with four levels of achievement to give teachers, parents and carers more straightforward information on how students are performing. To find information about NAPLAN results, including how to read student reports, please refer to the brochure at the end of the newsletter. 

Mercy Values

During our staff development day last day of the previous term, we explored how Mercy Charism shapes our lives and connects us to God, ourselves, and others daily. As a staff, we focused on our dedication to compassion, hospitality, justice, compassion and respect to create a nurturing environment where students thrive. 

The word ‘mercy’ comes from the Latin word ‘misericordia’, which we understand as “a heart for the wretchedness of others”. St Thomas Aquinas interpreted it this way, “To say that a person is merciful is like saying that they are sorrowful at heart (miserum cor), that is, they are afflicted with sorrow by the misery of another as if it were their own.” This is the concept of compassion; I not only see you in your pain, I share that pain as if it were my own. 

As staff and students of a school that promotes Mercy values, we are called to ‘be moved by the sorrow’ of those around us and to follow the advice of Saint Teresa of Kolkata, “Do small things with great love”. 

NAIDOC 

During Week 10, Term 2, we held our NAIDOC assembly presented by Mr Imerson (our Pastoral Care Coordinator), Mr Wil Bancroft and Ms Ellee Munro, our school IEWs (Indigenous Education Workers). The assembly involved guest speakers from local Aboriginal Elders and community members, a contemporary dance performance from our Indigenous students, and cultural discussions, and finished with a morning tea with our students, families and guests. It was wonderful to have members of the community and so many parents and family members of our indigenous students present. A special thank you to Aunty Midge Bancroft, Aunty Robyn Bancroft and Larisa, Dora and Dolly Johnson for their involvement at the assembly. 

On this day, we also opened the yarning circle and native garden. The Yarning Circle will significantly benefit McAuley Catholic College. It is a formalised way of meaningfully bringing together the student, teacher, and parent community by fostering open communication, mutual respect, and a deeper understanding of each other's perspectives and experiences. This inclusive space will allow sharing of wisdom, stories, and knowledge, creating a strong sense of belonging and cultural appreciation within the school community.

Below is a before and after shot of the area:

We held our annual Rachel Johnson Touch Football Carnival following our Yarning Circle opening. Rachel Johnson worked at our school for over 20 years, supporting our Indigenous children. This year we returned the touch football games to our newly rejuvenated oval. The closely contested games were fast, and the students (and staff) displayed some sporting prowess.  Once again, many of Rachel's family were in attendance. It was a wonderful afternoon with the whole school's involvement.

Congratulations, Wil, Elle and Indigenous students, for all your hard work. A big thank you also to the TAS department for organising the morning tea and Mr Bancroft, Mr Coggan, Mr Day & students for their contribution to the Yarning circle and garden, and all of the staff who helped with the setup and organisation of the touch football competition especially Mr Hand and Mr Niperess and the student refs.

Tell them from me (TTFM) Parent Survey Results (regarding learning)

Forty parents completed the survey between 27 Apr 2023 and 12 May 2023. These parents took the opportunity to give feedback on their experience as parents of students at our school. We want to express our gratitude to the forty parents who took the time to complete the survey during term two this year. Your input is important to us, and we appreciate your feedback.

The Parent Survey asked questions on the measures below:

While we are pleased with the overall results, we also recognise the importance of continuous improvement. The survey highlighted one area where parents expressed that we could enhance our efforts - considering their child's needs, abilities, and interests. We understand the significance of catering to the unique qualities of each student, and we are committed to addressing this feedback constructively.

Please refer to the tables below that compare the 2023 results to those of 2022.

Table 1: School supports learning 2023 results

Table 2: School supports learning 2022 results

Dianne McGowan

Year 12 Students

Year 8 Geography

Year 7 & 8 Food Technology

Year 9 Food Technology

Students were given the task to design a Loaded Drink for a special occasion that has an obvious inspiration from a chocolate bar/lolly or fruit.

 

Year 10 Food Technology

Year 12 Hospitality

Today the Year 12 Hospitality students served lunch to the teachers and senior students. They did a wonderful job presenting their Chicken and Pesto Turkish and displaying their 'showmanship' bar skills while shaking their muddled limes for the Hudson Lemonade Mocktail.

The feedback received was amazing, 'delicious', 'tasty', 'fresh' and 'filling'.

Well Done Year 12 on another outstanding prac! 

REGIONAL FINALS - COUNTRY CUP RUGBY LEAGUE

On Tuesday 20th June, our U13’s Boys Rugby League team travelled to Port Macquarie for the Country Cup Regional Finals. It was an extremely dark and cold start to the morning with a 5:30am departure time for the team. After a lengthy drive, we arrived at the Port Regional Stadium and fields. There were teams there from the Mid North Coast region in U13’s, U15’s and Opens divisions. 

Our first game was against Great Lakes College, Forster and we seemed to be still half asleep. It took most of the first half for the boys to click into gear. We lost this game but improved in the second half. 

The second game was against Mackillop College from Port Macquarie. We were outplayed in both defence and attack resulting in a crushing defeat. The boys did however learn from this experience.

Our last game of the day was against St Clare’s High School, Taree. The boys improved in all aspects of the game and across the team. We finished the day on a high with a win 12-10. Try scorers were Jason Maitz and Zaden Nipperess, who was successful with one conversion. 

Overall it was a very successful campaign for the boys, as it is the first time in quite a while that McAuley has advanced through to this stage of the competition. Congratulations to all players who displayed teamwork and excellent sportsmanship, and also to Mr Hand who drove the College mini-bus.

Coach

Mr Craig Nipperess

On Saturday the 8th of July, 25 students assembled at school and boarded a very interesting bus for what would soon be a 17-hour trip to Mt. Buller, Victoria. The road trip was going smoothly with most people sleeping and watching movies until things took a turn at 3 o’clock in the morning. The bus started bunny hopping along the highway and then eventually broke down. After being broken down on the side of the road for about half an hour, we set sail again and continued on our journey to Victoria. We finally arrived at Mt Buller where 6 days of snowboarding and skiing would be waiting.

After completing many lessons and trekking up and down many slopes, I think it’s safe to say that we all had a great time! A highlight being when Mr Hand constantly referred to Mr Humphries as “the G.O.A.T” and got excited every time they went down slopes together.

Memories weren’t just created on the snow. After dinner, Dan Gardner tried to demolish half a cheesecake by himself in just 30 seconds but was unsuccessful. 

A massive thank you to Mr Hand, Mr Humphries and Miss Jansons for taking our students to Victoria and ensuring that they all had the time of their lives (even though they weren’t allowed to go to the trampoline park). Everyone made it home in one piece and the bus didn’t break down on the way home, making for a much quicker return.

Dates to note:

July: 

25th: Yr 7 - 11 Parent Teacher Student Interviews

26th: Year 11 & 12 Post-school options day

27th: Presentation of Semester 1 Academic and Effort awards

31st: Yr 12 HSC Trial exams start

31st: Staff Development Day - Pupil-free day for students in Years 7 - 11

August:

1st: U14's & U16's Rugby 7's in Coffs Harbour

2nd - 4th: Year 11 Retreat

9th: Year 10 Reflection Day

10th - 11th: Year 8 Camp

14th - 18th: Yr 11 Work Placement Week 1

15th: Feast of the Assumption

21st - 25th: Yr 11 Work Placement Week 2

21st: Yr 12 2024 Leadership Interviews

         Yr 12 Special Awards Close

         Yr 8 HSIE Medieval Presentation

24th - 25th: Yr 7 & 8 Drama Performances

25th: Year 10 RYDA

29th: Parent Forum

30th: Yr 12 Business Studies HSC Study Day @ SCU Lismore

31st: Yr 12 Leadership Speeches & Voting

The College is pleased to announce that it now offers lunch orders online for students through the Flexischools app. Please see the attached flyer to get started.

“Why should we spend money helping the homeless when they made the choices that got themselves there?” 

The comment above was part of a conversation heard at a BBQ recently, and while many of those gathered disagreed with this sentiment, the opinion also seemed to have support. The divide between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’ seems to be steadily growing in our country and these kinds of conversations may become more frequent. This raises questions about how we see ourselves as people in community, how we live out the call to compassion and most importantly, the value we place on mercy.

At times it can seem that society is becoming harder of heart, and perhaps this makes sense as we face increasing financial, psychological and physical distress. The reality is that it’s far easier to turn your eyes away from the marginalised person on the street corner than it is to see them as beloved sons and daughters who need our care. Jesus’ invitation to us is to respond to the needs of others not with condemnation, but with merciful loving-kindness. But what exactly is mercy?

The word ‘mercy’ comes from the Latin word ‘misericordia’ which we understand as ‘a heart for the wretchedness of others’. St Thomas Aquinas interpreted it this way, “To say that a person is merciful is like saying that they are sorrowful at heart (miserum cor), that is, they are afflicted with sorrow by the misery of another as if it were their own.” This is the concept of compassion; I not only see you in your pain, I share that pain as if it were my own. This feeling naturally finds its expression best in restorative action and this is where mercy lives.

In chapters 9 and 12 of Matthew, we learn that, “Mercy is what pleases me, not sacrifice”. In this teaching, Jesus is not implying that sacrifice is not worthy, but that unless we extend our love of God to all people, then we are not hitting the mark. Pope Francis echoes this when he says, “Mercy towards a human life in a state of need is the true face of love”. Most people acknowledge the fundamental importance of love in their lives, but limit this to an ever-shrinking group; our family, our partner, our ‘tribe’. This is not new though. This view was also common in first-century Palestine but Jesus challenged it head-on, declaring that, “What you do for the least of my brothers (and sisters), you do for me” (Matthew 25:40). This is radical stuff! But who are these ‘least’? They are the ones sleeping rough under a bridge in your town tonight. They are the ones living in fear and oppression. They are the ones who are born into disadvantage so severe that they have worse health, are incarcerated at a greater ratio and die far younger than any other group in this country. When we turn away, we are outwardly reflecting what may be happening inside us. Pope Francis addresses this when he says: “If you cross a homeless person on your path, and you pass by without looking at him, or thinking ‘he’s drunk,’ do not ask yourself whether that man has had too much to drink, but whether your heart has stiffened and turned to ice,”. 

Whilst we cannot change the frozen heart of every person we meet at a BBQ, we can take responsibility in our own lives. These merciful actions may call us to do something on a grand scale, but for most people, this is not their calling. Perhaps all that is required is to be moved by the sorrow of those around us and following the advice of Saint Teresa of Kolkata, “Do small things with great love”. 

May we be guided and nourished by the Holy Spirit as we show even greater mercy in our lives.

Prayer

Praying With Music

Wildfire

• Into Your Arms (feat. Emmanuel Worship) - This beautiful ballad tells the story of the Prodigal Son, how we are always welcome back into the Father’s arms. This collaboration with Emmanuel Worship combined repetitive, chant-like lyricism with powerful instrumentation to tell the story of God’s mercy for us.

Please note COVID-19 is still present in our community. Rapid Antigen Tests are still available at the College. If you require additional tests please contact the College Office.

Please be reminded that students and staff CANNOT attend school if they are showing any symptoms of COVID-19. 

Students who are unwell

If a student is unwell, displaying any COVID-19 or cold and flu-like symptoms at any time, they CANNOT attend school and should undertake a rapid antigen test. 

If the rapid antigen test is positive and the student is unwell and/or experiencing any symptoms, they CANNOT attend school.

If the rapid antigen test is positive and the student is not feeling unwell and not displaying or experiencing any symptoms, they CAN attend school under the following conditions:

• the school office is informed of the positive test result, AND
• the student (over 12 years old) wears a mask for a period of 7 days in all indoor settings.