MacKillop Chronicles 2023 Term 1, Week 6
Thursday, March 9 2023
Our Students have been very busy not only in the classrooms this week but many have been trying out for the various Representative Sports on offer. Netball, Soccer, Touch, AFL, and League and Baseball, for various age groups, were all trialling this week. Good luck to all those who tried out.
Many of our students represented MCC in another way this week in showcasing our College to new families at our Open Day on Wednesday afternoon. Some were tour guides and showed their amazing talents while others demonstrated their skills. All did our community very proud and we offer them all along with our teachers and families a massive thank you for making the evening such a success.
For students in Year 4 and above taking part in their Sacrament of Reconciliation Session 2 is this Sunday, 12 March, at 10:00 AM.
Harmony Day Sausage Sizzle - There has been a change date for the sizzle to the following Tuesday 28 March in Week 9. Preorder on Qkr by March 15. You have until tomorrow to preorder your Tote Bages on Qkr as well, $20 and there are 4 designs to choose from.
NAPLAN starts next week for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will be taking part in NAPLAN assessments next week. Please ensure students taking part are well rested and well prepared. This will help ease any anxiety they may have surrounding this style of testing.
Remember to check Compass for up-to-date news and information on events
and contact us on 4392 9399 for enquiries.
Primary Matters
Dear Community,
Sunday Gospel Account for the Third Sunday of Lent
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:5-42. Jesus appeared to the Samaritan woman and uttered the words above. What is astonishing is that at that time in history Jews and Samaritans never mingled or mixed. She accepted he was the Messiah after he recounted to her what had happened in her life as well as his prophetic messages. Basically, the meaning of this text in today’s context is that once you have been given the word and know about Jesus then you have one of two choices. Believe or not believe. I am a believer, are you?
Primary Cross Country Carnival
Under humid conditions, it was wonderful to witness the children doing their best running around the Hamlyn Terrace Oval complex. Some of the children are now able to move on to the next level and represent our school at the Central Coast Catholic school’s carnival that will be held soon. Once again, we are fortunate to have Mrs Denneman organise and run another successful event. A big thank you to the parents who were able to help or be present on the day.
Open Afternoon and Kindergarten enrolment for 2024
It was wonderful to meet so many new faces and families as they came along for our Open Afternoon last night. The volume of people who have expressed interest in enrolling their children into the school for next year was heartening. Packages are now available for families new and old to enrol their child into kindergarten for 2024. Families who already have children in the school should not delay in enrolling straight away. It is our priority to give preference to siblings in the school, but sometimes demand outstrips supply. We do not have any spots left in our current primary school this year. Based on the number of expressions of interest from last night we are anticipating the trend will continue. Spread the word that if you want to enrol at MacKillop then do so without delay.
Under 6 Fun Morning – Kinder Connect
This morning a great number of pre-schoolers, who will begin kinder in 2024 came along for a fun morning of craft and physical activities. It is a great way to introduce them to our school environment and for potential parents to meet each other and make bonds. Please alert friends and neighbours that if they have a child beginning in kindergarten next year and their desire is for MacKillop to get the enrolment forms completed and submitted ASAP!
NAPLAN 2023
Beginning March 15 through March 23 the students in Years 3 and 5 will sit their NAPLAN assessments. In the past, these have been held in May but for the first time have been brought forward to March. If you have a child in either of these grades, please ensure that they undertake some revision work prescribed for them by their teachers, provide good nutrition and that he/she is well rested for them when the assessment days are on.
Expressions of Interest – Playgroup
We would like to establish a school-based parish playgroup in the school. The plan is to get it started in Term 2 this year. The morning would be each Friday in a dedicated room within the school. We will ensure a good coffee machine is installed and that there will be plenty of equipment and play material for the kids to use. We just need you and a band of volunteers to share the running of the group. It would be a great way to meet new people and for toddlers and pre-schoolers who will be coming to MacKillop to get to know each other. Please send an email to the school office if you are interested in joining a playgroup and if you would also be keen on volunteering with others to run it.
Secondstep SEL Program
We are approaching our third whole school lesson on the Second Step Social and emotional learning program. I would encourage parents to chat with their children about resilience and what it means. Children have been learning about what to do when anxious or when not getting along with others. We are also mindful that many children, particularly since covid, are experiencing anxiety levels beyond what would be considered normal. If parents feel that children need some extra support, we are fortunate to have Angela and Jade as our two school counsellors. They are qualified psychologists who have wonderful programs and therapy to help those who need it.
Catholic Schools Broken Bay Parent Council Representative
The school is fortunate to currently have Kirsty Liston as our CSBB parent representative. She has done an excellent job for many years. Her youngest child is now in Year 7, so it would be great to also have a parent representative for K-6. If you think you can contribute let me know and I will fill you in on the role.
Traffic Thankyou
Thank you to the majority of parents who are doing their bit to ease afternoon congestion. We still have parents driving through the Kiss n Drop zone without signs in windows and we still have some getting out of cars to load children. All this does is slow the traffic down for others. We can all do our bit!
A thought for the Week…
“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mystery.” Einstein
God Bless,
Frank Cohen
Primary Principal
Year 7 taster Day
Registration is now Open for Year 6 Students to attend our Year 7 Taster Day, Scan the code below or jump onto our for more information https://www.mccwdbb.catholic.edu.au/year-7-taster-day-2023/
From the Secondary Principal
Prayer:
Creator God, You are our constant hope in the season of Lent. You call us to prayer, fasting and love of those most in need. As a community of faith and courage, let our gifts to Project Compassion be symbols of hope and compassion for we are one human family. AMEN
Project Compassion:
For over half a century, Project Compassion, an initiative of Caritas Australia, has raised funds to support people living in poverty around the world. Since its inception in 1965, generations of compassionate Australians have participated in Project Compassion, making it one of the nation’s longest-running charity campaigns.
On average, nearly 900 parishes and 1300 schools across Australia are now involved in fundraising for Project Compassion. In the past year alone (2019-20), Project Compassion’s supporters have helped us to reach over 3 million people worldwide, including many affected by disaster or conflict.
Our students will raise money for Caritas this term, as they do every year, and we thank them all for their generosity.
Learning:
Why is Learning Preparation (Homework) Important? It can be a divisive topic. The following is from an article by Nord Anglia Education.
There is a strong connection between regularly completing homework and higher accomplishments in subjects such as English, Maths and Science. The Department of Education in the United Kingdom advises that spending time doing homework brings several benefits, more so for the students who put in two to three hours a night. Understanding the value of homework can help increase motivation and productivity.
Benefits of Homework:
Homework is important because it develops core skills in young children that will serve them throughout school and working life. Improved grades, discipline, time management, using resources and improving communication are all vital life skills that will open the door to unique opportunities and help children find success in their careers. Doing regular homework should be considered as an investment in your child’s future.
Through encouraging regular homework and supporting your child with their assignments, you can expect to see the following advantages:
1. Discipline of Practice
Repeating a task multiple times can feel arduous, but it’s necessary to help increase your child’s skill and understanding of a subject. Regular homework will make certain concepts easier to understand and put them in an advantageous position should they seek a vocational career.
2. Time Management Skills
Homework goes beyond just the task itself; it helps children take control of their workload and increase their time management skills. Homework is set with a deadline and taking ownership of this deadline helps them think independently and develop problem-solving skills. This is a prime example of why homework is important because time management is a vital life skill that helps children throughout higher education and their careers.
3. Communication Network
Homework acts as a bridge and can help teachers and parents learn more about how students like to learn, providing a deeper understanding of how to approach their learning and development. Many parents also want their child(ren) to receive homework so they can understand what they’re learning at school.
4. Comfortable Work Environment
Some children struggle to learn outside of their comfort zone, and while classrooms are designed to be warm and welcoming, there is often no place like home. Homework is an opportunity to learn and retain information in an environment where they feel most comfortable, which can help accelerate their development.
5. Using Learning Materials
Throughout a child’s education, understanding how to use resources such as libraries and the internet is important. Homework teaches children to actively search for information using these resources to complete tasks, and this is a skill that will be fundamental throughout their lives.
6. Revision Discipline
Regular homework helps children discover a pattern that will help them when they’re required to study for important tests and exams. Children who are familiar with a routine of completing homework will find it easy to adapt to a schedule of doing regular revision at home. Skills such as accessing learning materials, time management, and discipline will help improve how children revise, and ultimately, improve their grades.
7. Additional Time to Learn
Children learn at different paces, and the time spent in the classroom might not be enough for some students to fully grasp the key concepts of a subject. Having additional time for learning at home can help children gain a deeper understanding than they would if they were solely reliant on their time in school. Homework is important because it gives parents and children the freedom and the time to focus on subjects that they may be struggling with. This extra time can make a big difference when it comes to exams and grades.
Year 7 Spirituality Days:
On Tuesday 28, February and Wednesday 1 March Year 7 participated in an immersion experience at the St Joseph’s Spirituality Centre Kincumber, as well as, their Spirituality Day at North Entrance Surf Club.
The Year 7 immersion experience at St Joseph’s Spirituality Centre Kincumber, was co-facilitated by the Religious Education faculty and the College Youth Minister to assist with fostering the faith formation of the Year 7 Students at an important historical site. The students participated in various activities throughout the day that explore the charism of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop and the history of her work on the Central Coast. Students will also participate in a guided tour of the museum, including a walk-through of the site itself. Here students learnt about the life of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop and the work of the Sisters of St Joseph as well as deepening their knowledge of our House System and Values.
Year 7 also participated in their Spirituality Day at the North Entrance Surf Club. This day is co-facilitated by the Religious Education Coordinator and other Year 7 staff who developed a program centred on the spiritual formation of our students.
Year 7 Amazing Race:
The Catholic Schools Broken Bay Evangelisation and Catechesis team also ran an Amazing Race- Belong event at the Light of Christ Centre at Waitara. Here the students participated in a keynote presentation given by Bishop Anthony Randazzo and small group workshops centred around the themes of Truth, Beauty and Goodness. The students were also involved in various liturgical practices and linked well to their current unit on ‘Belonging to our Catholic Community’ which Year 7 are studying in Religious Education.
We thank all the staff who were involved in the running and organisation of these three days and we appreciated the enthusiasm and participation of our Year 7 students.
Swimming Carnival Report:
On Friday 3, March for the first time in 3 years the whole Secondary College community came together to participate in the swimming carnival.
House spirit was on show, with teachers' and students’ areas awash with colour. There were outstanding performances in the water and of course on the pool deck. Age Champions and House Champions will be revealed in the coming weeks. Congratulations to all the students and teachers on the amazing display of school spirit. It was great to hear from the staff at Wyong pool who said that they had never seen a school with such a sense of community. She said that she obviously sees so many come through, but she was absolutely amazed at our house and school spirit, and the way the students supported each other.
Venio Youth Ministry Retreat:
After the Swimming Carnival, 8 students travelled to the St Joseph’s Spirituality Centre, Kincumber with Mrs Tenev and Sr Jiji for the annual Venio Youth Ministry Retreat for 2 nights and 3 days. This is hosted and run by Mr Michael Tobin from St Peter’s Catholic College, Tuggerah with guest speakers from Vocations, Broken Bay and student leaders. Participants engaged in a variety of workshops from walking a labyrinth, guided meditation, liturgical movements and small group discussions on leadership. Prayer groups, Reconciliation and Adoration were powerful experiences and Bishop Anthony Randazzo concluded the retreat on Sunday with Mass and a blessing to commission the students. We are so proud of how the students represented MacKillop and supported each other.
Year 10 Love Bites:
On Tuesday 7, March Year 10 participated in the Love Bites Program. Love Bites is a Respectful Relationships Education Program facilitated locally by Coast Shelter for young people aged 15-17 years. Mackillop was lucky enough to welcome ten locally trained volunteers to work with our students by providing a safe environment to examine, discuss and explore respectful relationships. Students worked with their pastoral classes and the PDHPE staff in a variety of workshops throughout the day. Love Bites takes a strength-based approach and views young people as active participants who can make choices for themselves and their relationships when supported with information and opportunity for skill development. The overall aim of the program is to equip young people with the knowledge needed to have respectful relationships, encourage and develop their skills in critical thinking and assist them in being able to problem-solve and communicate effectively. When equipped in these areas, Love Bites believes that young people can make the right choices for themselves and their relationships that are free from violence and abuse.
Coast Shelter:
On Monday night some of our students gave of themselves to cook a meal for those in need, at Coast shelter. It was a hot night to be in the kitchen and this team excelled at being of service to others.
Important Dates for Week 7:
Tues – Evacuation Drill from the classrooms.
Wed – Yr 12 Art to Art Express
Wed – Fri – NAPLAN for Yr 7 and Yr 9
Fri– St Patrick’s Day / Secondary Assembly
Sun – 4th Sunday of Lent / St Joseph’s Day
Final Word
If you have any questions or concerns always, please contact the College.
Remember to check COMPASS, our website and, our Facebook pages for information.
God bless.
Debra Ferguson
Secondary Principal