MacKillop Chronicles 2023 Term 3, Week 5

Thursday 17 August, 2023

College Photos - Order online now

First Holy Communion

Year 12 Visual Arts Exhibition

Little Lighthouse Playgroup

Primary Matters

Dear Community,

20^th Sunday Ordinary Time Gospel Account

"O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And the woman's daughter was healed from that hour.” Matthew 15: 21-28.

The Canaanites were an Indigenous group that resided in the promised land who were conquered by the tribes of Israel. For the Jewish population at the time of Jesus, they were considered an unworthy group. The Canaanite woman approached and, in many respects, pestered Jesus to help her daughter. The Disciples dismissed her, but Jesus granted her wish by healing the daughter. He did so because the woman had more faith than even some of the Disciples. The Canaanite woman saw in Jesus not only the saviour of Israel but as the saviour of the world. Prayers do come true, and they do get answered. You need to have faith.

Kinder Yana Begins

It was wonderful to greet the new Kinder 2024 children and their parents as they began their investigative play journey at MacKillop. Our biggest cohort of students will start next year. This week was the first of 8 sessions that the children will attend to get them ready for big school in 2024.

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K – 2 Curriculum Information Session for Parents

On Tuesday 22 August at 6:30 pm parents are encouraged to come along and learn about how Maths and English are taught in K – 2. At this session, you will get an idea of what daily learning looks look, assessment for these key subject areas and how you can support your child at home. Please register at https://forms.office.com/r/T0z7Qmx0rL

A similar session will be held the following Tuesday at the same time for the Years 3 – 6 Curriculum.

Awards Assembly this Friday @ 1:20 in the Hall

Please come along and watch the students receive their fortnightly recognition at our awards assembly. We are now starting to see more children receive their principal’s award and morning tea. The first morning tea of the year was held last Friday. Congratulations to Laylah-Rae M, Scarlett P, Bradley C, Kai R and Charlotte D!

Dance Eisteddfod Troupe

Best of luck to our talented dance troupe competing at the upcoming eisteddfod this week. The students have been working hard and my sincere thanks to the parents and staff for giving up so much time to have them ready. Break a leg team!

School Photos Tuesday 22 August

Please watch out for the Compass information on how to order your school photos for this year. K – 6 students will have their photos on Tuesday 22 August and the family shots for those who order them on Wednesday 23 August. Neat hair and uniforms would be highly appreciated!

ICAS Tests, Tennis, Chess, Oz tag, Soccer and Netball

We are right in the thick of competitions and wish all of the students involved in academic and sporting events all the absolute best. I am amazed at how many students are playing chess and very encouraged by the number of students participating in the above level ICAS tests. Good on all children for having a go.

SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) Programs begin this Week.

As stated previously, as a school we take the role of developing the whole child seriously. This means helping children develop their social and emotional skills which are just as important as academic, spiritual and physical development. We are into positive psychology and working with one’s strengths, rather than focusing on the challenges. This week some children from Year 3 are participating in ‘Rock n Water’ with Mrs Heffernan, ‘Girls MPower’ with Mrs Denneman, ‘You Can Do It’ with Mrs Dacey and ‘Revved Up’ with myself and Mr Colton. Each of the programs is designed to teach resilience and to also help children read social cues and norms. Each program is tailored to the specific needs of children as they navigate a world now infiltrated with social media and instant gratification. If your child is in Years 3 – 6 and you really want them to be a part of this program, then let your child’s teacher know. The program will be run over two terms with different cohorts of children selected to participate.

Arndell Interschools Equestrian Carnival

Arndell Interschools Equestrian Carnival was last Saturday 12 August at Haweksbury Showgrounds. All of our riders rode extremely well and were immaculately presented. They represented our school tremendously.

The results are:
Ruby Mc - 3 x 1sts, 1 x 2nd, 2 x 4ths, 1 x 5th
Mia K - 2 x 2nds, 1 x 3rd, 1 x 4th, 1 x 5th, 1 x 6th
Adam P - 2 x 1sts, 2 x 3rds, 1 x 5th,
Braxton H - 2 x 1sts, 2 x 3rds, 1 x 4th
Will P - 4 x 1sts, 1 x 2nd, 1 x 3rd 2 x 4ths, 1 x 5th, Primary Novice Sporting Champion, Judges Choice Garland - Best Manners and Most Polite Rider on Ring.

An amazing result!

Numeracy in 1 Wattle

1 Wattle students have been busy this term learning many concepts and skills. They have used concrete materials and then built on to use abstract thinking when solving problems based on arrays and multiplication. The students have also creatively and critically problem-solved concepts to do with Time, constructing in groups their own clocks. To support children's growing knowledge of Time, you could talk to children about the hour and minute hands, the concepts of quarter past and quarter to, and the placement of the numerals on the clock face.

Public Speaking and Book Week

In Week 7 on August 29^th the children will participate in our school’s public speaking competition. All children are asked to dress up for the annual Book Week parade on Wednesday 30^th August. Children will also have author visits and participate in rich literature activities.

Father’s Day Events

Please alert your children to the Father’s Day stall that will be held at school on Thursday 31 August and for all significant males in our community to come along to a special cooked breakfast, liturgy, open rooms and some Fathers / Carers v Year 6 sporting events on Friday 1 September.

Please email a jpg/digital picture of our special men to Mrs Whitmore to be shown as a slideshow at the liturgy,  catherine.whitmore@dbb.catholic.edu.au

A Thought for the Week …

“Humans are disturbed not by things that happen, but by their opinion of the things that happen.” Epictetus.

God Bless

Frank Cohen
Primary Principal

Read, Grow Inspire - Book Week 2023

Monthly Youth Group and Mass

Tuning Into Kids Parenting Program

Secondary News

From the Secondary Principal

Prayer: The Feast of the Assumption

Tuesday was the Feast of the Assumption. On August 15, the Feast of the Assumption (or simply, “The Assumption)” is widely celebrated all over Christendom. This holy day marks the occasion of the Virgin Mary’s bodily ascent to heaven at the end of her life. 

Father in heaven,

all creation rightly gives you praise, for all life and all holiness come from you.

In the plan of your wisdom she who bore the Christ in her womb was raised body and soul in glory to be with him in heaven.

May we follow her example in reflecting your holiness and join in her hymn of endless love and praise.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Learning:

Step Up Into Teaching Program:

The Australian Catholic University offers a program entitled SUIT (Step up into Teaching Program). For students who apply for this and are accepted, it means that during the next 2 school holidays, they will go down to ACU to complete a unit in a teaching degree.

If successful in completion of this unit, the students may gain entry into their desired teaching degree in 2025 with that unit being Credit Transferred into the course.

We have been notified that 4 of our students have been accepted into this which is a great achievement. Congratulations to Alaina Josy, Olivia Day, Megann Jordan-Miller, and Lucinda Ford

Subject Selections:

We are now finalising the subjects for 2024 for Year 11 and Year 9. It is always so interesting seeing what each year group selects. We will be contacting students where subjects may not be running due to a lack of numbers or where clashes on lines may occur. We should have this all completed shortly for Year 10 and by the end of the term for Year 8.

Catholic Women’s League Scholarship:

Every year we have been extremely blessed by the Catholic Women’s League who fundraise each year to gain sufficient funds to offer an annual scholarship to 1 female student in each Catholic Central Coast School, worth $2000 over two years.

The recipient of this scholarship at the end of last year was Rhiannon McPherson and she had the opportunity to thank the Catholic Women’s League for its generosity last Thursday at a special morning tea that was held at St Mary’s at Toukley. All the recipients from the CC Catholic Schools spoke about why this scholarship was so important for them, as well as outlining what they are studying at school and where they hope to aspire after Year 12.

Science Week:

This week is Science Week with lots of activities planned. National Science Week is Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology. Running each year in August, it features more than 1000 events around Australia, including those delivered by universities, schools, research institutions, libraries, museums, and science centres. These events attract a wide audience from children to adults, and science amateurs to professionals. Over one million people participate in science events across the nation.  Established in 1997, National Science Week provides an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of Australian scientists to the world of knowledge. It also aims to encourage an interest in science pursuits among the general public and to encourage younger people to be fascinated by the world we live in.

HSC Art Exhibition:

Our Year 12 Art students will have their work on display for the entire school, parents, and students, on Monday, 28th August: 5.30 pm - 7 pm.

Book Week: READ, GROW, INSPIRE

Term 3, Week 7 August 28 – Sept 1

Book Week is always a wonderful time in our school calendar to celebrate books and reading.

We love this year's Book Week theme, READ, GROW, INSPIRE, and hope that through opportunities to read our students will expand their minds and find inspiration to explore the world around them!

On Wednesday, 30 August we will have our Annual Book Week Parade. All staff and students from Kinder to Year 12 are asked to dress as a book character. K-6 students will begin the Book Parade at 10.30 and Years 7-12 will join the fun in the hall during Break 1 at 11.20.  There will be prizes for the best costumes in each Year group from Years 7-12.

On Friday 1 September students in Years 7-10 will listen to our guest speaker Paul MacDonald. Paul is an author, owner of The Children’s Bookshop in Sydney and an expert in children’s and teen literature.

Leading up to Book Week we will start advertising various competitions and events so please check Compass for Book Week updates.

Academic Excellence Awards Semester 1:

Last Friday we experienced an enjoyable assembly and we were so grateful and pleased with the large number of parents present. It commenced with the farewell to our Japanese Sister School who also performed for us. We then continued with the academic assembly for Semester 1. Almost 300 awards were presented, illustrating the number of students who excel in various areas. These awards honour those hard-working students and, hopefully, encourage all to aspire to gain awards at the end of the year.

Book Week: READ, GROW, INSPIRE

Term 3, Week 7, 28 August – 1 Sept

Book Week is always a wonderful time in our school calendar to celebrate books and reading.

We love this year's Book Week theme, READ, GROW, INSPIRE, and hope that through opportunities to read our students will expand their minds and find inspiration to explore the world around them!

On Wednesday, 30 August we will have our Annual Book Week Parade. All staff and students from Kinder to Year 12 are asked to dress as a book character. K-6 students will begin the Book Parade at 10.30 and Year 7-12 will join the fun in the hall during Break 1 at 11.20.  There will be prizes for the best costumes in each Year group from Year 7-12.

On Friday, 1 September students in Years 7-10 will listen to our guest speaker Paul MacDonald. Paul is an author, owner of The Children’s Bookshop in Sydney and an expert in children’s and teen literature.

Leading up to Book Week we will start advertising various competitions and events so please check Compass for Book Week updates.

Compliance:

Each year our College has to complete a compulsory Compliance Audit on all programs taught as well as registration and assessments. Our College has always completed these with flying colours and this is also the case for 2023.

20^th Anniversary Celebration:

The Parent Committee has come together this year with our Parent Engagement Coordinator, Lucy Marien, to look at a community building night as well as a celebration for our 20^th anniversary. They are considering a night out at a venue with music and finger food inviting all our parents as well as ex-staff and students (all over 18).

A message has already gone out about this proposal and keep an eye out for further information This will be a great night out to meet new people and to re-unite after the past few years of COVID.

Save the date Saturday 18 November and register your interest here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/700047951267?aff=oddtdtcreator

Important Dates for T3 Week 6:

Mon - Year 7 immunisation / Secondary photos / Mexican thank you dinner with Student Parliaments 5 pm

Tues – Year 10 BStreetsmart / Yr 7 JUMP Info Night

Wed – Year 12 and staff photos and families / Science & Engineering State Final

Thurs – Physics excursion and Science alliance

Thurs - Fri – RAD Conference

Fri – Year 10 PASS assisting at a Primary carnival / Golf

Sun – 5 pm Youth Mass

New Phone System:

 Our new number is 72562116. 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, please contact the College.

Remember to check COMPASS, our website and, our Facebook pages for information.

God bless.

Debra Ferguson
Secondary Principal

Disney Magic Trivia Night

PARENT WEBINARS - ONLINE SAFETY

Getting to know Ms Leanne Schillert -Broadley

Indigenous Literacy Foundation 2nd hand Book Sale

COMPASS Sign-in Update

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