MacKillop Chronicles 2023 Term 2, Week 8

Thursday 15 June 2023

Winter Appeal

EALD Survey - We need your help

Little Lighthouse Playgroup

Looking for host families

Youth Group and Mass

Primary Matters

Dear Community,

Sunday Gospel Account – 11^th Sunday Ordinary Time

At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the labourers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out labourers for his harvest.” Matthew 9:36 – 10:8.

Jesus saw people who felt lost, lonely and abandoned. We would not be human if, at some point in our lives, we did not feel such emotions. The message was as true then as it is now. Nike has the slogan ‘Just do it.’ In many respects, it is a great way to look at life. Moreover, life is not meant to be a chore and onerous and yet many of us find ourselves in helpless and hapless situations. Some by our own design and some by circumstances. The one constant hope we can turn to is God. You either believe or you don’t. Have faith in the risen Lord and all will be well.

Dance Troupes on Fire

The response from the children to being a part of the different dance troupes created has been amazing. Yesterday the children lined up and began their journey of dance wonderment under the wonderful guidance of Ms Brooke, Mrs Passafaro and Mrs Baird and some wonderful peers in the Secondary school. We are looking forward to what is to come from this talented bunch of children. Bravo!

Student Work from 3G

3G has been learning about the history of our local community. We made connections to this learning, thinking about how Indigenous people show deep respect for the land and how it is sacred. In Art Mr Snelling helped students learn about the sacredness of Uluru.

Semester One Reports and Parent/Teacher Interviews

The Semester One student reports will be sent home via Compass on Friday 16 June. Next week parents are expected to come to a parent-teacher interview from K – 2 and parent/teacher/student interview from Years 3 – 6 to discuss the contents of the report. If you have not booked a time online, you need to do so ASAP. Booking close at 5 pm, Friday 16 June.

www.schoolinterviews.com.au code: 9pfm 

Timely Reminders

Teacher supervision on the main playground begins at 8:20 am and in the Creek area outside Kinder and Year 1, it starts at 8:30 a.m. Children should not arrive before these times and if they do they need to sit quietly in the shade sail area on the wooden stairs.

All children should wear school uniform, jumpers and jackets. If they have represented at Polding and Broken Bay, they may wear these jackets, but the main jacket to be worn is the school jacket. Children are not allowed to wear jackets from local sports clubs or community clubs.

Children should wear black shoes with school uniform and on sports days wear white or predominantly white joggers!

Children should only be allowed to have one pair of earrings that are studs or sleepers. All hair must be tied back neatly with hair-coloured ties or ties that are the school colours. This is the same for boys and girls.

Emergency lunches for those children who leave home without food.

If children come to school minus lunch a vegemite or cheese sandwich will be provided, and parents will receive notification of this for payment.

Please, please, please label all clothing items that can be lost or misplaced!

St Vincent De Paul Winter Appeal

On Friday night some Year 6 students alongside secondary students will be doing the St Vincent De Paul winter sleepout to raise funds for Vinnies. Students and families are asked to support in any way they can to those in need this cold wintertime.

Prayers and Thoughts

In the past week Nazmi Gerges a Secondary teacher’s wife passed away, who is also the grandmother of Julian in kindergarten. Julian’s own father passed away earlier this year. Also during the week the grandfather of  Ashleigh and Annika Gurney and Holly and Charlotte Marien passed away. Our prayers and thoughts are with the families at this sad time. May eternal light shine upon them, and eternal rest be granted unto them. Amen.

Staff Development Pupil Free Day – Friday 30 June.

A Thought for the Week…

“True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future, not to amuse ourselves with either hopes or fears but to rest satisfied with what we have, which is sufficient. The greatest blessings of mankind are within us and within our reach. A wise person is content with his/her lot, whatever it may be, without wishing for what he/she has not.” Seneca.

God Bless,

Frank Cohen

Primary Principal

Secondary News

This week our Year 12 have led us in a Wellbeing Week for students culminating on Friday night with the annual Winter Sleepout.

Our prayer today is for those who are homeless and for the world to be able to look after the poor.

Prayer:

O Lord, to whom no one is a stranger and from whose help no one is ever distant, look with compassion on those without a place to live; restore them, we pray, to a home of their own, and give us a kind heart to help the homeless in their need. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

AMEN

Student Leadership:

We were recently asked by the Daily Telegraph and The Express Advocate for our College Captains to submit an article about themselves that could then be published. We are so proud of what each wrote:

Tessa H:

What is your position and what does it involve?

My position at MacKillop Catholic College is the Female College Captain alongside the Male College Captain, Ryley C. This role allows me to be a student's voice and become involved in some decision-making processes across the school. It involves attending meetings weekly within our Parliament to discuss topics and concerns throughout the school. I assist with organising and leading aspects of our assemblies. Also, I'm involved in organising events throughout the calendar year such as our Swimming and Athletic Carnivals and our Feast Days. I have also attended leadership conferences with other student leaders around Australia and New Zealand. Yet most importantly, it involves being a positive role model for the students.

How/why did you earn this position? Was it elected, if so, what did that involve?

I earnt this position by being elected by my peers, teachers, and the Executive leaders of the school. The process of this involved presenting a short speech in front of Year 7-12 students as well as other faculty members. Once selected, 17 other students and I were fortunate enough to attend a leadership camp where we could develop a deeper understanding of our role as school leaders and what that required. At this camp, all the candidates nominated the positions they aspired to – House Leaders, Cabinet Leaders, or College Captains. This was followed by an interview conducted with six College Executives, where the decision was made. Ultimately, I believed that I possessed the qualities needed to be a good leader and was sincere about sharing that within the school.

 Why did you decide to pursue this position?

I have always been passionate about leading and inspiring others to become the best version of themself. By pursuing this position, I knew I could become a positive role model that students could look up to and be inspired by. This position would also allow me to communicate and implement my goals and visions at MacKillop and build upon the unique school community I have grown to enjoy over the past six years.

What are your passions at school and what are your goals for this year?

My passions at school involve fulfilling my role as College Captain and House Leader and being involved in all aspects of school life in my final year. My goals for this year entail working hard towards my academic achievements and obtaining my HSC whilst savouring the experience of school life with my friends in this final year. I also hope to leave a positive imprint on the school during my time here.

Ryley C

What is your position and what does it involve?

My name is Ryley C, As the Male College Captain at MacKillop Catholic College Warnervale for 2022/23, my role involves being the voice and representative for our students within the school. Alongside my female counterpart, Tessa H, we serve as the faces of the school, connecting with and supporting the student body. We strive to be role models, providing guidance and support to our peers, and ensuring that every student feels heard and included in the MCC community. Additionally, we take the lead in initiating efforts to improve our school environment, working with the school parliament to address any flaws and create a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere. Our ultimate goal is to foster a school community that embodies the values of Mary MacKillop and Jesus, where students can thrive academically, socially, and spiritually.

 How/why did you earn this position? Was it elected, if so, what did that involve?

The process of earning the position of Male College Captain at MacKillop Catholic College Warnervale involved a nomination and election process. I had the opportunity to deliver a speech in front of the entire secondary school, showcasing my qualities and aspirations for the role. Subsequently, students from years 10 to 12, as well as the staff, participated in a voting process to determine the school leaders. The 18 students with the highest number of votes then attended a spiritual leadership camp. During this camp, the student leaders had the chance to vote for the individuals they believed would be the most suitable as school captains. Following the leadership camp, there were interviews conducted at the school in front of the executives, where the final decision was made regarding the roles at the College. I was elected based on my demonstrated passion for the school and my commitment to passing on the values instilled in me to our students. They recognised my potential as a leader who could bring joy, and vibrancy, and serve as a role model for the students at MCC. Furthermore, they saw in me a leader who could embody the Josephite charism, serving as a servant leader for the students.

 Why did you decide to pursue this position?

I decided to pursue the position of Male College Captain because of the strong sense of belonging and the warm welcome I received upon enrolling at Mackillop Catholic College. From the moment I stepped through the front gates, I felt a connection with the school community. This feeling of belonging motivated me to become a leader within the college. In Year 10, I was elected to the student parliament, representing my house colour, and this opportunity allowed me to develop my leadership skills. As I progressed into Year 11, I continued to be involved in leadership roles. When the opportunity arose in Year 12 to run for the position of school captain, I saw it as a chance to give back to the students and staff who had provided me with an inclusive environment and numerous opportunities. I wanted to contribute to fostering a culture of hard work and ensure that every student had access to the same supportive and inclusive experience that I had enjoyed at MacKillop Catholic College.

 What are your passions at school and what are your goals for this year?

One of my passions at school is promoting the well-being and mental health of our students. As a parliament, we have recognised the importance of mental health and its potential impact on our student's lives. Therefore, our goal for this year is to prioritise the well-being of our students and create a supportive environment where they feel a sense of belonging and freedom. We take pride in the fact that bullying is rare at our school, and we aim to build upon that by ensuring the safety and voice of every student.

In Week 8, we have planned a well-being/mental health week where students will have the opportunity to participate in games and trivia activities. Additionally, we have arranged for guest speakers, including David Harris MP and Dr Gordan Reid MP, to address our students at the yearly winter sleepout event. During this event, students will learn about the importance of helping one another and taking action against issues such as homelessness, mental health, and domestic violence. We will also hear from other guest speakers who have personal experiences with mental health.

Despite already having a positive school environment, we believe it is crucial to continue providing opportunities for our students to be heard. It is my motivation and gratitude for being the Male College Captain of Mackillop Catholic College that drives me to travel to school every day and actively work towards creating a supportive and inclusive atmosphere for all our students.

Learning:

Attendance

Every day a child misses a school day they risk falling further behind. Sickness cannot be helped and since COVID we are all much more careful with going out in public if we have cold and flu symptoms. We thank our parents for being cautious here, but we are experiencing far too much absenteeism from students.

We must also stress that for Years 10-12 that to miss an assessment task without a strong reason and medical certificates for Years 11 and 12 that zero marks will apply. A reminder that if a student in Years 10-12 is away for an assessment a phone call must be made that morning to the College.

Most importantly, students need to be at school with their teachers and their friends every day!

Parent-Teacher Meetings:

Semester 1 Reports will be sent home and the Parent Teacher Meetings will be held on Thursday, 22 June from 1.30 pm to 8 pm and all-day Friday, 23 June from 8.45 am to 3.30 pm. COMPASS is now open to make interview times for all students. Directions on how to make the interviews are on COMPASS. It is so important that parents try and find the time to make these appointments as all research shows that student improvement and effort are linked to parent involvement.

On the Thursday, there will be normal lessons for periods 1-4 and then sport is cancelled so that these interviews can commence. Students are to please make arrangements to go home at 1 pm and for those who cannot, there will be supervision in the library.

Students are to attend the P/T interviews with their parents and may wear mufti for these appointments.

Student Leadership:

Last Friday we had the absolute privilege of listening to 25 Year 11 students who were all vying for Student Leadership. This is a highlight each year when we all, students, and staff hear from students who truly wish to give back to their school.

This week the Executive have had the unenviable task of selecting this new leadership team based on meritorious selection which involves reading their nomination forms and examining the data from the voting by Years 10-12 and the Staff.

The final team will be announced this week to those students who will then attend a Leadership Camp next week.

All Years 7-10 are presently nominating to represent their Pastoral Classes and they will make their speeches and vote in Week 10.

House Winners:

Last Friday the House winners for 2022/23 were announced. House points are given throughout the year from Term 3 to the end of Term 2 the following year and are awarded for representing the college in any area, volunteering, winning awards and so on.

Congratulations to the winning House – Kincumber.

The Kincumber students should now all have received notes to go Ten Pin Bowling, have a meal and watch a movie on Wednesday, 28 June.

Wellbeing Week for Students:

The Year 12 Student Leaders have run the student wellbeing week, with events such as:

Tuesday- Friday: Trash and Treasure sale in the CA area.

Tuesday: A poster was available for every Pastoral class on mental health.

Wednesday: Each student received 3 cards to write affirmations for 3 other students in their class or for friends and to hand them out during the day.

Wednesday: Just Dance– led by Charlie and Maddy in Break 1.  A fun dance experience for all interested in our Hall.

Friday: Pyjama and Oodie day. Students and staff wear these for the day and every student donates a gold coin. Also, a futsal game between Years 11 and 12.

Meditation in Pastoral.

Winter Sleepout starting at 5 pm in the CA area. 

So, the entire week is about feeling positive for the students and seeking help if they need it. 

Winter Sleepout:

On Friday night, June 16th, our College Mini Vinnies group are hosting a Winter Sleepout. Homelessness is a growing issue in Australia, and particularly on the Central Coast.  The Sleepout encourages students as well as the teachers, to gain a deeper understanding of homelessness, and the need to raise awareness of the realities faced by people experiencing homelessness, while also allowing opportunities for the collection of funds and other needed items to support Vinnies homelessness services and early intervention in the local community. Following is the procedure for the night and it looks so informative, and fun filled.

Important Dates for Term 2 Week 9:

• Mon- Years 9-12- Girls Body Bloom Talks / Boys - Men of Honour
• Mon & Tues – Year 11 Student Leadership Camp
• Tues- Year 10 vaccinations
• Wed – Camp Breakaway Special Olympics
• Thurs – Normal P1-4 followed by P/T interviews from 1.30pm
• Fri – P/T interviews

Heads Up for Events this term:

• Last Day of Term

The last day for this term is Thursday, 29 June. On Friday 30 June our staff along with every other diocesan school, 44 in total, will be attending a Professional Learning Day.

New Phone System:

 Our new number is 7256 2116. We do expect issues and problems may arise for the next few weeks so please be patient whilst we work through any hiccups with the new system.

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

A Future Career in Digital Enablement

Getting to know Mrs Lucy Marien

Go4Fun - FREE 10 week healthy wellbeing program

SOS - Beyond Censorship

Healthy Eating and Active Living

CatholicCare Vacation Care

Vacation Care program for July is now available

CatholicCare’s Vacation Care service offers a wide range of activities catering to children of differing ages and interests. We also head out and about on various fun local excursions each holiday. We provide a stimulating and enjoyable environment and activities that harness the children’s interests and strengths while respecting their leisure needs. The July programs are available here www.catholiccaredbb.org.au/vacation-care. We hope to see you there!

How to look after your mental well-being on social media

P & F Follow-Up Meeting - June 26

COMPASS Sign-in Update

Down Load the app so you are always up to date with school events.