MacKillop Chronicles Term 2, Week 2
- Thursday 9 May, 2024
- MCC presents Frozen Jr
- A Message From Our College Principal
- Coffee & Chat with the Principals
- Primary Matters
- Primary Events
- Secondary News
- NCCD - Fact Sheet
- Family Reading and Pizza Night
- Holiday Leave Process K - 12
- College Photo Days 2024
- Enrol Now - Don't Miss Out
- Religious Creative Arts Competition 2024
- Free Parenting Training and Support
- Mary's Faithful Wardrobe and Mary's Formal Closet
- Term 2 Dates
Thursday 9 May, 2024
MCC presents Frozen Jr
Do you want to build a snowman?
MacKillop Catholic College proudly presents Frozen Jr., a story of true love and acceptance between sisters. With a cast of beloved characters and loads of magic, adventure and humour, Frozen Jr. is sure to thaw even the coldest heart! Limited season May 16, 17 & 18.
3 days 4 show Book Now!
Purchase your Frozen Jr. tickets through Trybooking: MCC Presents Frozen Jr tickets
There are 3 days of heartwarming performances:
Thursday, 16 May, 6 pm
Friday 17 May, 6 pm
Saturday 18 May, 2 shows at 11 am and 6 pm
Support our musical theatre stars of the future!
A Message From Our College Principal
Dear Families
To the Women in Our Lives
This week, we celebrated our Mothers, Grandmothers, aunts, and Elders who guide and nurture our children in a breakfast and beautiful mass. Women are often described as the glue that holds families together, and I thank them for the endless love that they provide their families. The love of a mother is unconditional and limitless; it establishes emotional intimacy and stability. Thank you to all the grand women in our lives.
Frozen
I am really looking forward to our production of Frozen and seeing our many talented students in action. I thank the dedicated staff and families who have supported students — I know the countless hours that go into such a production. I hope that you have got your tickets!
Purchase your Frozen Jr. tickets through Trybooking: MCC Presents Frozen Jr tickets
New College Uniform and Grooming Policy
Please look for the new Uniform and Grooming Policy on the College website, available to download on Monday, 13 May. This policy will come into effect on 27 May 2024, giving families ample time to address hair, nails, jewellery matters, and other challenges that do not support the current uniform expectations. I thank the many parents who have communicated their support; it has been much appreciated.
God Bless,
Tanya Appleby,
College Principal
Coffee & Chat with the Principals
Primary Matters
The Ascension of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation:
Mt 28:19,20: “Go and teach all the people my gospel. I am with you always to the end of the earth.”
Dear Parents and Carers,
Message from the Principal
The Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord signals the conclusion of the Easter Season. In the forty days since the Resurrection on Easter Sunday, Jesus has appeared to the disciples in a variety of ways. He accompanies two disciples on the road, he appears to the doubting apostle Thomas, who is unsure of his belief, and finally, he appears whilst they are fishing to remind them of how they first met. On each occasion, he tells the disciples that the time has come for him to leave them and return to God. In fact, he says it is necessary for him to leave so that they can fulfil their mission as his apostles. He promises they will not be alone, and the advocate of the Holy Spirit will be with them on the next phase of their missionary journey.
Next week is the Feast of Pentecost, when the apostles are filled with the firey action of the Holy Spirit, which ignites their passion for spreading the Good News Jesus taught them in his relatively short ministry on earth. As we recount these key events of the Liturgical Year, we are reminded of our shared mission as disciples of Jesus, using our gifts and talents to be messengers of the Good News in our world.
Sacrament of Confirmation
Pentecost is a wonderful time to launch the Sacrament of Confirmation. An Information Evening for parents on Tuesday, 14 May, will provide a timeline of engagement for the next two years.
Your registration continues your child’s sacramental journey, which began at Baptism. Children in Year 3 and above will participate in a preparation program over four Sundays at 10 am, beginning on 26 May. The final Sunday, 23 June, will be at 4 pm and include a ceremony rehearsal. The Confirmation Ceremony will take place on Saturday, 29 June, at 11 am, when Bishop Anthony Randazzo will celebrate with our MacKillop community and confirm our young people.
Next year, in Year 4, these students will complete the Sacraments of Initiation with the Reconciliation and Holy Communion.
Australian Early Development Census
From Week 4 until the end of the term, our Kindergarten teachers and students will participate in the AEDC. In the coming weeks, Kindergarten teachers will participate in training to enable them to collect the data and complete the census forms. From Week 4, students will undertake a brief interview that will provide a picture of our children’s first year of school. This data is then collated to prepare an Australian report for 2024. Kindergarten parents will receive more information via Compass. For general information, visit www.aedc.gov.au.
Volunteers
Thank you to those wonderful volunteers who donated their time to assist with the Mother’s Day Stall this week. The children were provided with a wonderful opportunity to select a gift of their own. I loved watching the care and discernment in their choosing and the negotiation between siblings to avoid a ‘double up’. On behalf of the community I would like to thank our PEC, Lucy Marien and our parent helpers. If you are able to assist in volunteering your time for MCC events please contact Lucy to register your interest.
We urgently need volunteers for the Primary Athletics Carnival on Wednesday, May 15.
Blessings for a wonderful week.
Kerry Power
Acting Primary Principal
Primary Events
Week 2 | |
Sun 5th May | 6th Sunday of Easter |
Mon 6th May | |
Tues 7th May | Year 6 Debating vs St. Brendan’s |
Wed 8th May | Mother’s Day Stall |
Thu 9th May | |
Fri 10th May | Mother’s Day Morning Mass 7.30 am & Breakfast from 7 am CCC Cross Country Tuggerah |
Week 3 | |
Sun 12th May | Mother’s Day Feast of Ascension |
Mon 13th May | High Jump 9.30 Junior, 11.30 Junior, 1 pm 12yrs |
Tues 14th May | Lockdown Drill K-12 Confirmation Parent Information Evening 7 pm |
Wed 15th May | Primary Athletics Carnival Mingara |
Thu 16th May | Opening Night MCC Frozen the Musical |
Fri 17th May | Primary Assembly 1.20 pm Frozen the Musical |
Sat 18th May | Frozen the Musical Matinee and Evening Performance |
Week 4 | |
Sun 19th May | Pentecost Sunday Confirmation Session 1 |
Mon 20th May | PSSA AFL Girls |
Tue 21st May | BB Cross Country PSSA Girls |
Wed 22nd May | |
Thu 23rd May | Years 5 & 6 Paul Kelly Cup AFL K-12 Biggest Morning Tea |
Fri 24th May | |
Week 5 | |
Sun 26th May | Holy Trinity Sunday |
Mon 27th May | Year 7 Taster Day for MCC Year 6 |
Tue 28th May | BB Rugby Union Rock & water Years 3 & 5 |
Wed 29th May | |
Thu 30th May | |
Fri 31st May | Primary Assembly 1.20 pm |
Secondary News
Dear Community,
New Uniform Policy
The new College Uniform Policy will come into effect on Monday, 27 May, and will be available to our community via our website on Monday, 13 May. It is important that all students have a clear understanding of these uniform expectations. We will walk them through it during Pastoral Classes, but it would be ideal if you had a conversation about this at home as a family as well to demonstrate your engagement with and support for the new policy.
We appreciate that this policy has some changes, which hopefully provide increased clarity around our uniform expectations. Once the policy is published, we will provide a two-week period for students to buy any required uniform items, organise haircuts, etc. After this two-week grace period, there will be consequences for those students failing to meet the uniform expectations.
Thank you in advance for your support of the College in maintaining high standards for uniforms and behaviour.
Jason Evert Presentation
A reminder that we have Jason Evert attending the College on Wednesday, 22 May, from 9.10 am to 10.40 am to speak with students from Years 7 to 12.
Over the past 25 years, Jason Evert has travelled to six continents to bring his message to more than one million people, including World Youth Days in Australia, Spain, and Poland. Jason earned a master’s degree in Theology and undergraduate degrees in Counselling and Theology, with a minor in Philosophy, at the Franciscan University of Steubenville.
He is a best-selling author of 15 books, including Saint John Paul the Great, How to Find Your Soulmate without Losing Your Soul, and the curriculum YOU: Life, Love, and the Theology of the Body. He and his wife, Crystalina, are frequent guests on radio programs throughout the United States. Together, they run the website www.chastity.com as well as the Chastity Project ministry and lead an international alliance of young people who promote chastity in more than 40 countries.
In this seminar, which has been delivered to more than two million teens on six continents, Jason Evert reveals the compelling vision of God’s plan for human sexuality and presents an uplifting case for practicing the virtue of chastity by addressing the issues that teens struggle with most, such as sexual pressure, pornography, modesty, and starting over. Jason offers encouragement for teens to maintain their chastity or begin again if they’ve made mistakes in the past.
Jason has a rare skill of breaking down these difficult subjects into language that is native and accessible to our young people, as is evidenced by his substantial success across the world, not just in Catholic schools but in secular contexts as well.
Jason’s seminar content is completely aligned with Catholic Church teaching on sexuality and clearly with our CSBB Catholic Charter, which outlines the “school’s mission to form students according to the Catholic worldview.”
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me.
Some Important Dates for Term 2
29 April CSBB Professional Learning Day- STUDENT FREE DAY
30 April – 7 May Year 12 Exam block / First Day of Term 2
3 May Secondary Photos
16 May Secondary Athletics Carnival
29-31 May Year 7 Camp
17-18 June Secondary Leadership Retreat
27-28 June Parent Teacher interviews
5 July CSBB Professional Learning Day - STUDENT FREE DAY
Red Earth Immersion 2025
The information Session for families has been changed to
If your child is interested in participating in next year's Immersion, the Parent Information Evening on Monday, 13 May, at 6:15 pm via Zoom and will provide further information about flights, costs, insurance, activities etc.
Please register via Humanitix to receive the pin: https://events.humanitix.com/mackillop-catholic-college
This opportunity is open to MCC Year 9-12 students 2025 (current Year 8-11 students) to journey to Central Australia for a once-in-a-lifetime Immersion Experience.
Free CCGT Apprenticeship and Traineeship Information session
We are pleased to invite you to attend a FREE information session on post school options, presented by Central Coast Group Training (CCGT) brought to you by CSBB Pathways and Partnerships.
Date: Wednesday, 15 May
Time: 6 pm - 7 pm
Where: Mackillop Catholic College
Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/future-fit-session-mackillop-catholic-college-tickets-873154226797
The session will focus on apprenticeship and traineeship pathways and aims to improve parents' knowledge and capacity to help student's navigate the school to work transition. 98% of parents that have attended one of these sessions in the past have felt more informed about employment opportunities in the area and would recommend that you attend.
Specifically the session will cover:
The future of work and the changes in career culture
- VET vs Uni – the statistics and $ around dropout rates and costs
- Potential earnings and career progression for apprentices and trainees
- How VET can lead to university and the bouses of a decreased cost and time for a degree
- What is an apprenticeship and traineeship?
- What students and caregivers can do now to help their child
- Where to access information
- The up-and-coming industries in the region
Further information can be found in the attached flyer. Please don't hesitate to contact Mrs Shana Kuziow at shana.kuziow@dbb.catholic.edu.au with any queries. Oraganised by Mrs Kerrie Pearce (MCCW Careers Advisor and VET Co-ordinator) and Mrs Shana Kuziow (CSBB Pathways and Partnerships Leader).
Webinar Recording | What Parents Need to Know about Vaping in 2024
This webinar recording presents parents and carers with expert speakers discussing vaping.
The panel will include Dr Kerry Chant, NSW Health's Chief Health Officer, and Dr Bronwyn Milne, a medical specialist from the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, and representatives from NSW Health and NSW Department of Education will be available to respond to parent questions in a Q&A session.
Opens Football Gala Day
On Tuesday, our open boys' and girls' teams travelled to Manly to participate in the Broken Bay Football championships. The weather meant our teams played on synthetic grass, making the matches quick and very entertaining.
Both sides came up against some tough competition, however they played exceptionally well as a side and played some remarkable football.
Thank you to Sarah Johnson, one of the girl's team parents, for sharing these fantastic action shots for the Open Girls team. If any parents attended the Boys' game and can share some pictures, I will happily run them in the following newsletter and on social media. Send to zoe.farrell@dbb.catholic.edu.au
God Bless,
Paul Lynch
Acting Principal Secondary
NCCD - Fact Sheet
Family Reading and Pizza Night
Holiday Leave Process K - 12
At MacKillop Catholic College, we strongly discourage student holiday leave during term time as it can significantly impact on your child’s education. We appreciate that there are exceptional circumstances where leave is required but it will not be approved for reasons of convenience or cost.
If the request is for 9 days or less, please enter an absence note in Compass and select the reason as Travel. Please also notify the class teacher for Primary students or year co-ordinator for Secondary students.
When the permission is for 10 or more days, parents/carers must complete the CSBB Application for Extended Leave Travel Form. The office can provide a copy or email one, or it can be found on Compass in Community tab/ School Documentation.
Please give the school office a MINIMUM 2 WEEKS NOTICE.
If leave is approved by the Primary or Secondary Principal, you will be issued with a Certificate of Extended Leave which you carry with you whilst travelling.
For secondary students please note that:
IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE ALL MISSED ASSESSMENT TASKS ARE COMPLETED BEFORE LEAVING OR UPON RETURNING TO THE COLLEGE.
College Photo Days 2024
Our College Photo Days are almost complete. Due to some of the Year 12 Cohort being off campus this week, their portraits and group photos will now be taken on Tuesday, 23 July.
Secondary School photos
- ALL students MUST be correctly groomed and attired, inline with the newly revised Uniform and grooming policy.
- Boys MUST be clean-shaven, and hair must be tied back.
- No student will be allowed to have their photograph taken if they are wearing excessive jewellery or excessive makeup and if they are not clean-shaven. Students will be given the option to shave on site, failing that the photograph will not be taken.
The two images below show you how to navigate the ordering website and how to order your portrait package. You can order any time just use the shoot key 410329.
If you didn't order your portraits previously, then it is not too late. All students had their portraits taken on the day, so you can order at any time.
Enrol Now - Don't Miss Out
We are taking enrolment applications for 2025. Please take the time to get applications in to ensure younger siblings wishing to start at MCC in 2025 have secured their place.
Religious Creative Arts Competition 2024
The Religious Creative Arts Competition is a well-established event at Catholic Schools Broken Bay and has been running for the past 10 years. Many talented artists over the years have been recognised for their skill and creativity.
One of the key elements of the competition is how students demonstrate their understanding of and connection to the religious theme. In 2024 the theme is one of the CSBB core values, JOY. “May the God of hope fill you with joy”. (Romans 15:13)
Students will be required to link their creative piece directly to the religious theme by answering the question; How is this theme lived out or demonstrated today? As well as creating an artwork, short film, dance, drama or music piece, students will need to write a 150-word explanation (maximum 150 word count) to accompany their artwork. Students can use the 150 words to outline how their artwork connects with the theme.
Students will plan, prepare and work on their creative pieces during Term 2 and 3. Submissions will need to be handed in to schools by Aug 16, Week 4 of Term 3.
These finalists be featured at the ‘Showcase Night’ to be held at the Hornsby RSL at 5:30pm on 13 November, 2024.
The 2024 Religious Creative Arts Competition is open to all CSBB school students from Kindergarten to Year 10.
Melissa V won 3rd Prize in 2022
Free Parenting Training and Support
Here is a list of some free training and support options for parents and carers:
Triple P Parenting free online programs:
- Triple P Online for Baby - for parents and carers to be or with a baby under 12 months old
- Triple P Online - for parents and carers of children under 12 years
- Fear-Less Triple P - online program for parents/carers of anxious kids (from age 6+)
- Family Transitions Triple P - online program for parents going through separation or divorce to support children to manage their emotions and develop good coping skills.
ForWhen free national helpline:
- Provides new and expecting parents (mums, dads, and guardians) with a supportive mental health navigation service throughout the perinatal journey, from conception up to 12 months old.
- Co-designed by parents and mental health experts and funded by the Australian Government, this app aims to be a resource for parents and carers to support the social and emotional wellbeing of children aged 0 to 12.
- Free evidence-based digital resources for perinatal depression and anxiety to support the emotional health of new and expecting mums.
- Free online program designed for family and friends (over 18yrs), who support someone over 18yrs who has attempted suicide.
** Also a reminder that the funding for LivingWorks to provide free suicide prevention training concludes at the end of June. This includes:
- Start (90 mins online, learn to connect people to help)
- safeTALK (3-4 hours in person, unpack myths and learn skills to connect someone for support)
- ASIST (2 days in person, learn suicide first aid intervention).
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.
Term 2 Dates
Term 2
Term 2 – Tuesday, 30 April to Thursday, 4 July
Monday 29 April – Staff Development Day/Student Free Day K – 12
Public Holiday – Monarch’s official birthday – Monday, 10 June
Friday 5 July – Staff Development Day/Student Free Day K – 12