MacKillop Chronicles 2023 Term 4, Week 2

Thursday 19 October, 2023

Broken Bay Mission Mass and Socktober

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Primary Matters

Dear Community,

Sunday Gospel Account

"Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God." Matthew 22: 15-21. This week’s Gospel account is about flattery and trickery. Sometimes people say one thing and mean something completely different. Often it is done out of spite or jealousy. Jesus was being set up and he called the Pharisees on this and labelled them hypocrites. Don’t be a hypocrite. Mean what you say and follow it with rightful actions.

Surf Education

This Friday, all of the students will receive vital information about surf education. Tragically each year, many lose their lives to drowning in surf, quite often at our own local beaches. The aim is for the students to become surf-aware, so they can look out for rips and tides and know what to do in the event of being caught in a terrible situation.

MacKillop Youth Mass this Sunday @ 5pm

In the past, the Youth Mass has been targeted to our High school students, but we really are encouraging all families, especially our Stage 3 students, to come along and enjoy time in communion and community. These Masses are different and bring a lovely vibe to celebrating Jesus and being part of our community. Prior to the Mass, our students are invited to participate in the Youth Group, which starts at 4 pm.

Year 5 Leadership Camp

The school no longer attends the Bathurst camp, and we have deliberately changed to focus on developing the leadership credentials of our current Year 5 students, who will be the primary leaders next year. Wednesday, 25 – Friday, 27 October, the students and teachers will attend a special leadership camp at Point Wolstoncroft on Lake Macquarie to learn how to be a leader and to search out what makes a leader and develop sound qualities.

HALT Accreditation

Highly Accomplished Lead Teacher accreditation is a hard level to achieve for a current operating teacher. It means performing lessons in front of inspectors and putting together a portfolio of work to prove you meet the high-level accreditation to be titled a lead teacher. On Friday, 27 October, two of our current teachers will receive their medals and special accreditation in a ceremony at NSW Parliament House; we all should congratulate Mrs Catherine Whitmore and Mrs Chris Shilling on attaining such a high level of accreditation. It is why both teachers serve as our master teachers and coaches who model and lead our current staff in making teaching decisions for our students. This is a wonderful achievement for our school community – well-done on a fine effort!

Top Gate Walkers

If your child walks home, there are now two options - 'Top Gate Walkers' or 'Bottom Gate Walkers'.  Top Gate Walkers meet the teacher at the Stump near Primary Kiss and Drop and leave the school via the gate near the Church and are chaperoned over Mataram Road. Bottom Gate walkers leave the school via the gates at the south of the oval and are chaperoned over Sparks Road, Mary Mackillop Drive and Minnesota Road.

Bus Zone

When dropping off or picking up your child, please refrain from parking in the Bus Zones in the main College Carpark. Children can be safely dropped off and picked up via the Primary Kiss and Drop area.

The Rosary

October is dedicated to praying the Holy Rosary. In classes, children are learning about the prayers said in the Rosary, the parts of the prayer and how to use Rosary beads. At home, you can support your child by talking about the Holy Rosary or showing your child your own set of Rosary beads. You can use the attached photo to assist you in saying The Rosary.

POLDING PRIMARY ATHLETICS

Congratulations to Ethan A, Aiden L, Cameron F & Ellis D, who represented our school & the Diocese of Broken Bay at Polding Athletics at SOPAC on Friday. We are extremely proud of your achievements.

Both Ethan & Ellis made the finals of their 100m events, and Aiden finished 10th in the Shot Put. Congratulations to Cameron, who won Gold in the 200m and silver in the 100m - he now progresses to represent Polding at NSWPSSA Athletics next week.

20th Anniversary Social Event

On Saturday, 18 November, MCC will celebrate our 20th Anniversary with an over 18 social event for members of our community, past and present. Tickets are $45 each and available through Eventbrite: MCC 20th Anniversary Cocktail Party. Our very own Scott Wallis and his band Steamboat Hollow will be keeping the dance floor full all night, so bring your dancing shoes and buy a ticket today. 

There are only 2 more weeks of sales, so buy your Tickets NOW. 

Parenting Course

This term at school, our school counsellor, Jade Kremer, will be co-facilitating Tuning in to Kids, which is an evidence-based parenting program that has been delivered worldwide. Read more at the official site here: https://tuningintokids.org.au/parents/.  The purpose of the program is to help us learn strategies for supporting (coaching) our children in managing their emotions. It is not too late to register. The program will run on Tuesdays from 1-3 pm for 5 weeks starting on Tuesday, 31 October. Please register with Karen Fox on 02 4305 6200 or kfox@uniting.org

College Photos

College photos will be distributed to students this week. If your child/ren were involved in a special group photo such as SRC, you can order these images online using the following code: 70752CH.

https://orders.newcastleschoolportraits.com/clients.html

MacKillop Portrait Prize

The portrait prize artwork is now open. This year the portrait theme is Mrs Debra Ferguson- Secondary Principal. Mrs Ferguson is retiring this year, and we would like to celebrate her contributions to our MacKillop Community.

Materials you can use are (but not exclusive to) - paint, watercolour, pencil, charcoal, pastel, crayons, and textas.

The portrait needs to be given to Mrs Whitmore by Monday, 6 November - Week 5. These will then be looked at by a panel, and the chosen finalists will be notified.

The students need to keep them unframed, please, and they need to see Mrs Whitmore to get an entry slip to paste on the back with a reflection/statement about their artwork. Please get these from Mrs Whitmore.

If you have any questions, please email Mrs Whitmore at catherine.whitmore@dbb.catholic.edu.au

COMPASS

Please ensure that you familiarise yourself with the permission and payment side of COMPASS as this is the only way that permission and payments will now be accepted.

God Bless

Frank Cohen
Primary Principal

Little Lighthouse Playgroup - See you Friday!

Secondary News

Prayer: HSC

Please continue to keep our Year 12 in your prayers.

Dear Lord,

We ask for your blessing on our students undertaking HSC Examinations over the coming weeks.

Grant them the confidence they deserve from their years of diligent study.

Grant them the ability to comprehend questions and effectively plan and articulate their responses.

May they be enriched by gifts of the Holy Spirit - Wisdom, Understanding, Fortitude and Knowledge.

May their faith and piety give them the strength to face these examinations and the satisfaction of achieving their personal best.

We ask these things through Christ Our Lord,

Amen

Learning:      

HSC Commences:

Our Year 12 continue their HSC exams this week. We are so impressed with them each day as they arrive nervous but confident.

High Commendation Assembly:

Last Tuesday, we held our High Commendation Assembly for Term 3. A student was acknowledged in every class in every year for hard work, dedication and improved results. These awards did not look at where a student was placed in their assessments but their improvement and effort.

We congratulate every award winner!

Year 12, 2024 Information Night:

On Monday, 23 October, at 6.30 pm in the College Hall will be the Year 12, 2024 Information Night. It is imperative that every parent and student in this cohort attends this meeting.

NESA has very specific rules and policies for HSC students that all parents need to understand and all students abide by.

This time next year, all these students will be sitting their HSC, and we wish to form a strong partnership between parents, students and the school to ensure all our present Year 12 students will be well prepared and well informed.

The Bluebard Magazine

This magazine is entirely organised by a student committee of dedicated students who have a love for literature. Mrs Mulder created this idea of a College Magazine for our gifted writers and artists, and it enables students to not only submit pieces of literature and artwork but for an editing group to form and be responsible for all aspects of its publication.

Here is a link to this impressive MacKillop Magazine, The Bluebard.

https://sway.office.com/QmIrd3tACqriXb2N?ref=email

Extra-Curricula

Rotary Charity Golf Day:

On Monday this week, Dylan W (Year 10) and Cameron B (Year 9) attended the Northlakes Toukley Charity Golf Day. This event helps to support local organisations, with all proceeds assisting the Bikers Hand - Charity Hub. The Charity Hub services the Central Coast, connecting with organisations such as Goodwill 360, Second Bite, as well as Food Bank to provide food, clothes, sanitary items and furniture to those in need.

Dylan is part of the Rotary Youth Exchange Program and will be travelling to Finland in early January for 12 months. Cameron participated in the Ambrose Golf Day with his team finishing up 2nd overall. Well done!

Rotary will also be holding their Christmas Hamper Fundraiser on December 1 - The Charity Sportsman's Lunch from 11.30 am - 3.30 pm. Tickets are $120 each or a table for $900 for a table of 8. There will be raffles and auctions on the day. All proceeds will help to purchase hampers and support families on the Coast in need over this Christmas Season.

To find out more about Northlakes Toukley Rotary or to purchase tickets, please contact Mitch Cowan - NLT President: rotarynlt@gmail.com

Other Items:

Vaping:

Fortunately, the majority of our students are intelligent enough to realise the dangers of vaping. However, we still have some students who are caught up in using vapes and, if caught at school vaping or in possession of a vape, face suspensions and will be asked to leave the College if caught selling vapes at school.

Many parents have asked for information. Here are some resources you could use:

Watch Big Vape: The Rise and Fall of Juul | Netflix Official Site

https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/E-cigarettes_and_teens/#:~:text=Recommendations%20for%20parents&text=The%20best%20way%20to%20protect,for%20children%20and%20young%20people.

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSNY6Sj7H/

Attendance:

It is so important that all students attend school every day to enhance their learning. Please strive for the 92% attendance that NESA suggests at least and please encourage and assist your children to be resilient. Of course, they should stay home if they are ill, but they need to be in a good routine to be able to be successful and committed to their education.

It is also important that they are at school every day, including the very last day on December 12.

COMPASS Notification:

From the beginning of this term, parents will not be able to download and print a hardcopy consent form from COMPASS.  Instead, all parents will have to use COMPASS to both give digital permission and make any payment(s). Please refer to the Notice on COMPASS that has this information as an attachment which instructs you on how to complete these forms digitally.

Important Dates for T4 Week3:

• Mon – Fri – Year 12 HSC /National Children’s Week
• Mon – Year 12, 2024 Information Night 6.30 pm in the school hall.
• Wed – Year 8 VALD Tests in Science
• Thurs – Year 11 Reports released.
• Fri & Sat – Junior Theatre Festival

A Heads Up:

MacKillop 20^th Anniversary Cocktail Party:

To celebrate our 20^th Year Anniversary and to allow our community to come together as a K-12 school, a group of our parents have organised a 20^th Anniversary Cocktail Party Celebration.

This is a social event and is for all members of our community, 18 years and over, past and present.

Come along and meet with friends and make new ones. Get ready to dance along to a great local band, Steamboat Hollow.

Where: Wyong Leagues Club
When: Saturday 18 November
Time: 7 pm - 11 pm
Dress: Black and White Cocktail

Entertainment and nibbles provided; over 18 event

Tickets are $45 each and on sale now: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/700047720577?aff=oddtdtcreator

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

Getting to know: Jillian Young

Monthly Youth Mass and Group

20th Anniversary Celebration - Tickets selling fast

Council of Catholic School Parents - eSafety Webinar

Free Parenting Program - New Date

Mary's Faithful Wardrobe and Mary's Formal Closet

Our amazing PEC (Parent Engagement Coordinator), Lucy Marien, in collaboration with our Parish, have developed a community wardrobe for families to borrow special outfits for their child's sacrament celebrations.

Mrs Marien is also starting a Formal version for our Secondary students looking for a special graduation dress or suit.

We are currently looking for donations to get the clothing library started. We are asking the community to go through their wardrobes and consider giving your forgotten good-quality items a new purpose.

For full details, please see the flyers below.

Supporting young people with the transition to Secondary school

Central Coast Family Support Services

NSW and ACT Pathways to Post School Life

CatholicCare Community events

Term 4 Dates

COMPASS Sign-in Update

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