MacKillop Chronicles Term 1 - Welcome Edition

Monday 5 February, 2024

A Message from our College Principal

Principal’s Welcome

A warm welcome to new and returning students and all respective families. I hope that you and your families have had a well-deserved rest over the Christmas holidays. Like the many students and staff who are starting in 2024, I am new at MacKillop Catholic College and also new to the Central Coast.

I am very excited to be at MacKillop and look forward to leading the school as the College Principal. My role is one that enables oversight over all areas of the College, and this includes the operational smooth running of this school, the learning that takes place, and the strategic direction. I am passionate about the learning of students and am committed to serving this community by upholding the tradition of high standards established at our early inception 21 years ago.

I am pleased to announce that we have commenced engagement with architects as we put plans in place to further extend our school campus. In the first instance, this will include 28 new classrooms to support our immediate growth in the Primary sector of our school. One of the objectives of my job will be to develop other structures for our students that will also support additional growth in the Secondary school. I am casting a long vision and have commenced thinking about what learning will look like for 2036. The year 2036, will be the year that our current Kindergarten students will graduate from Year 12, and it is vital that they are well-prepared and suitably skilled.

A Little About Me

As a Person

I am a mother to Georgia and Olivia, and wife to Ian. Ian and I have lived in several places while he served in the Royal Australian Navy, the Correctional Services and in the Rural Fire Service. This has offered me excellent opportunities over my career as a teacher and leader to learn about different schools in new contexts. Most recently we lived in Queensland for 5 years, where I was a Principal of a Catholic Day and Boarding school. We are delighted to be back in NSW and are closer to our small family who mostly live in Sydney.

As an Educational Leader

We have been enjoying the local fishing and can often be seen walking our two dogs, Lola Chipolata and Stella Nigella. We are loving the diversity of lakes and other waterways in the area.       

I am an experienced and highly educated Principal and have been an educator for 35 years. During this time, I have had many opportunities afforded to me, and I have learnt much about effective teaching and learning in a contemporary context. I am a committed woman of faith and am blessed to serve in a profession that enables me to support the formation of the next generation of courageous leaders and young people who are future-ready for the world.

I look forward to meeting families and learning more about your children. Please feel free to introduce yourself and your family to me when you see me around the place.

Wishing everybody a terrific start to 2024!

Tanya Appleby

College Principal

Primary Matters

SUNDAY 5^th SUNDAY ORDINARY TIME

Gospel Acclamation:  John 8:12

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; the person who follows me will have the light of life.

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome

A very warm welcome back to MCC for 2024!  I hope that you have had a relaxing break with your family over the summer. In my first Newsletter as Primary Principal I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself and thank the community of MCC for the very warm welcome I have received.  I feel very humbled and grateful to be joining the College Leadership Team in 2024.

My family moved to the Central Coast in 2014, and I have lived in Wyongah for 9 years. I have two adult daughters, who graduated from MacKillop and now lead ‘grown up’ lives.

I am certain we will have many opportunities to gather and meet at a range of events and experiences over the coming weeks, and I look forward to meeting you all.

Kindergarten

Our Kindergarten children started with us and have settled in so well already.  I don’t think I even saw one tear (at least from the children)!  They will have time with their beautiful buddies in Year 5 this week.  The Buddy relationship is so important for transition, and these students have taken on the mantle of care and guidance with eagerness and capability.  Their first day was designed to ease them into their classroom with their teachers, and after the weekend, they will really be thrown right into the dynamic energy of school life!  It was lovely to meet so many parents at our Meet & Greet and join in this special occasion.  Thank you for entrusting your precious children with us.

A big welcome too, to our new Kindy families who have commenced with us this year.  It is a big wrench to send your very first child off to big school, so I hope that you are taking care of your feelings as you navigate this next stage of your child’s life journey. 

To those Kindy families who are continuing their journey with MacKillop, I also welcome you back.  We each respond in different ways to these big life events, so whether you are rejoicing at your newfound freedom or feeling at a loose end, I pray that, after a period of adjustment, you and your child’s experience at MacKillop is a positive and joyful one! 

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 37

Next

COMPASS for Communication

In 2024 COMPASS will become the primary source of communication for the K-12 Community. MCC Primary previously used the SeeSaw Application as a learning and communication portal.  The communication element of this application has now been switched off.  COMPASS provides an efficient and highly secure method of communication between parents/carers and teachers.  We ask that you now use COMPASS to connect with your child’s teacher. We will prepare a ‘how-to guide’ if you encounter difficulties.

Kiss and Drop

For the first two weeks of Term 1, Kindergarten students will be dismissed earlier. 

Kindergarten students who are leaving via Kiss and Drop will be dismissed from class at 2.45pm.

Siblings of Kindergarten students will also be dismissed earlier to meet at KnD.

Teachers and Support Staff will accompany their students to the Kiss and Drop area.  Kindergarten families will be given priority during this early dismissal period. We ask Kindergarten families to display your YELLOW name plaque to allow duty teachers to prioritise your car.

We ask all other parents to leave their pickup until after 3.00 pm to allow for our youngest members to exit with ease and safety.  Thank you in advance.

We ask parents who are picking up their children to wait in the grassed area at the top of the Primary Area.  Please do not wait on the bridge and verandah areas, as these are high-traffic areas for students exiting the school.

Kindergarten teachers will bring the pickup and bus children to the grassed verge near the COLA area.  The teacher will ask the students to raise their hands if they see their designated pickup person.

They will be arranged in their class lines and when you arrive let the teacher know you are there for collection.

Student Free Days Term 1

In order to assist you with your family’s planning, the following days have been gazetted as Student Free (Staff Development) Days: 

Tuesday, 2 April

Monday, 29 April

OOSH is available for a full-day program for the pupil-free days. CatholicCare OSHC

Primary Assembly

Our first Primary Assembly will be on Friday, 9 February. This assembly is led by our Primary Student Leaders and takes place in the Steven Aitken Hall located at the lower end of the College.

Flexischools

Please remember to update your Flexischools account to ensure that your child’s order is delivered to the correct classroom.

New Students Photos for COMPASS

Friday, 9 February, Kinder and new students will have their photograph taken for COMPASS.

NAPLAN

NAPLAN is being held for our Year 3 and 5 students earlier than in previous years. Commencing in Week 5 on Thursday, 13 March and will conclude in Week 6, 22 March. 

College Prayer

We continue to adopt and pray our school prayer daily; I encourage you to continue praying this prayer at home with your children. 

Enjoy your week,

Kerry Power

Acting Primary Principal

Primary Events

Little Lighthouse Playgroup - See you next year

Secondary News

Dear Community,

Friday was my first opportunity to address the whole Secondary School.  I took this opportunity to share with our students the things I care deeply about and the expectations I have of them.  I think it's important that they understand where we are coming from to ensure that there are no mixed messages.

I also highlighted the importance of us working as a team which includes parents/carers, staff at MacKillop and the student.  When all three engage positively with the student’s education, amazing outcomes can be achieved.  I look forward to meeting many of you in the coming weeks and months and building strong relationships between home and the College.

As a starting point, I encourage you to ask your sons and daughters about their start to a new academic year.  You don’t need to ask technical questions about Year 10 Algebra; rather, just demonstrate an active interest.  Simply asking about their day, what they enjoyed, what topic they are studying in Science, etc., makes a world of difference and says to your child that you care about their education and believe that it's important.

As a prompt, you might want to ask them about the points I raised in my first address.  They included –

What Do I Care About?

• Each of you as individuals
• ​​Your Teachers​​
• Support Staff
• The College community​​
• The College's reputation​

What Do I Expect?

• That each of you will demonstrate respect​:
           - Respect for yourself​
           - Respect for others​
           - Respect for the College​​
• I will have high expectations of you, and so will your teachers.​​
• That you will represent the College with pride.​ 
• That you will demonstrate a strong work ethic.​​ 
• That you will do the basics well.​​ Strong House Spirit.​​ 
• That you will leave this College with choices for your future.​

Look, I’m a realist.  Not many of your children will be champing at the bit to converse with you about my first speech.  Having said that, I’m determined to embed these key messages, and I have the utmost confidence that it will help your children thrive at MacKillop.

Finally, thank you to everyone who has provided me with such a warm welcome to the MacKillop community; it is clear to me already that this is a beautiful community and one I am excited to immerse myself in.

God bless,

Paul Lynch 

Acting Secondary Principal

Open Day 6 March 2024

Mary's Faithful Wardrobe and Mary's Formal Closet

Positive Partnerships

Term 1 Dates

COMPASS Sign-in Update

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