MacKillop Chronicles Term 2, Week 3
- Thursday 16 May, 2024
- MCC presents Frozen Jr
- Primary Matters
- Primary Events
- Secondary News
- Australia's Biggest Morning Tea
- Qkr! Update your class
- NCCD - Fact Sheet
- Family Reading and Pizza Night
- Holiday Leave Process K - 12
- 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 16 May, 2024
MCC presents Frozen Jr
The first Show is TONIGHT, and there are tickets still available.
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
There is Haze used in this production.
Canteen available, cash prefer.
Support our musical theatre stars of the future!
Primary Matters
Pentecost Sunday
Gospel Acclamation:
“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.”
Dear Parents and Carers,
Message from the Principal
The Feast of Pentecost is described as the ‘Birthday of the Church’. At Pentecost, the Apostles received the Gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Jesuits have a lovely way of describing this, God who is above us, Jesus who walks beside us and the Holy Spirit who is within and amongst us. The Holy Spirit enabled disciples to become Apostles, the Spirit gave them courage to build the Early Church and spread the Good News as Jesus taught them. Symbols of the Holy Spirit are a dove but also fire, as the Scripture describes a tongue of fire appearing above the Apostles and enabling them to speak in the language of those to whom they preached. In this way, the Apostles were able to reach people in many different lands. The life of the Early Church was not without struggle and persecution but the beginnings of our belief has its foundation in the action of the Holy Spirit. The seven particular Gifts of the Spirit are wisdom for good judgement, courage with unwavering commitment, piety as personal holiness, knowledge as the ability to study and learn, understanding is intelligence and enlightenment, counsel is the ability to give good advice and fear or awe of the Lord is about reverence and respect. Children participating in the Sacrament of Confirmation learn about the particular Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Angelus
Beginning on Monday the 20th of May the College will begin to recite the Catholic Prayer called the Angelus. The name of the prayer comes from the Latin version of the first word…”The angel…” (in Latin, “angelus”). The ringing of “The Angelus” is an invitation to briefly stop what we are doing and pause to pray, recalling the mystery of the Incarnation. This ancient prayer dates back to the 12th Century, when monks used bells in the morning, at midday, and at night to signal the stopping of activity to pray the ‘Hail Mary’. At 12.05 pm (to fit the structure of the timetable), the College will stop whatever they are doing to pray. This communal prayer is said together to signify the unity of our faith within the College, the Diocese and the world. Teachers have been preparing their students in the hope they will lead the prayer in their classroom from Term 3. Please refer to the following link if you would like to pray with us at home or work.
Uniform Policy
Our revised Uniform Policy is now available on the MCC site. Please take the next two weeks to familiarise yourself with it and discuss it with your children. From May 27th, students will receive a warning regarding the item of uniform in question. If they continue to challenge the uniform requirements, they will receive an infringement notice. Please contact me or Mrs. Kenney if you have questions regarding the Uniform Policy. Thank you for your support in these regulations.
Policies – MacKillop Catholic College (mccwdbb.catholic.edu.au)
SRC
The SRC (Student Representative Council) has met and is planning many exciting initiatives for the student body. The structure of the meetings has allowed all grades to contribute ideas to the collective about genuine adjustment and change they would like to see. I look forward to bringing you some of their ideas in the coming weeks. I thank Miss Horden, Mrs Gainsford, and Mrs Passafaro for supporting this council in its decision-making.
Volunteers
Thank you to those wonderful volunteers who donated their time to assist with the Athletics Carnival on Wednesday. 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.
Blessings for a wonderful week.
Kerry Power
Acting Primary Principal
Primary Events
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 | Yr. 5/6 Paul Kelly Cup AFL K-12 Biggest Morning Tea |
Fri 24th May | |
Week 5 Wellbeing Week | |
Sun 26th May | Holy Trinity Sunday Confirmation Session 1 |
Mon 27th May | Yr. 7 Taster Day for MCC Yr. 6 |
Tue 28th May | BB Rugby Union Rock & water Yr. 3 & Yr. 5 |
Wed 29th May | |
Thu 30th May | |
Fri 31st May | Primary Assembly 1.20 pm |
Week 6 | |
Sun June 2 | Corpus Christi Confirmation Session 2 |
Mon June 3 | |
Tue Jun 4 | |
Wed June 5 | NSW CPS Cross-Country |
Thu June 6 | |
Fri June 7 | |
Week 7 | |
Sun 9th Jun | 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time |
Mon 10th Jun | King’s Birthday Long Weekend |
Tues 11th Jun | |
Wed 12th Jun | |
Thu 13th Jun | Rescheduled Isabelle Kelly Cup Yr. 5/6 |
Fri 14th Jun | Polding Touch Footy Primary Assembly 1.20 pm Winter Sleepout |
Secondary News
Dear Community,
Parent Engagement
I have spoken previously in the newsletter about parent engagement in their child’s education and the strong links this has to positive learning outcomes. At MacKillop, we want to be open and available to our parents so that we can work together in supporting your children and our students to achieve their full potential.
I want us to be a school that doesn’t shy away from constructive criticism but instead embraces it and uses it to grow and improve. I particularly want to acknowledge the parents who joined us this week online or in-person to ask questions and hear about the College's strategic direction. Your input is valued and very welcome. We understand that as a new leadership team in the College, it is important to reach out to our community and learn about the history and be transparent about the future.
I am such a strong believer in the concept that it takes a village to raise a child. When the College and all its staff work hand in hand with families and the child, we can achieve amazing results. I encourage all of you to take an active interest in your child’s education. That doesn’t mean you need to attend every parent meeting or be at every gathering; we know that our parents lead very busy lives. I urge you to simply ask questions about their learning, ask them what subjects they enjoy, what happened during break today, and what is your assessment about? These simple questions signify to your child that you care for and value their education, and you’d be shocked at how motivating that can be for them.
Thank you again for being so supportive of your children and the College.
God bless,
Paul Lynch
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.
The following letter was sent to the community via Compass.
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 was held on Monday, 13 May.
Thank you to those who were able to join. I hope you found the session informative and are now even more excited about the experience!!
For those who were not able to attend, that is ok. I have attached a recording of last nights ZOOM. This details the itinerary, flights and payment schedule.
Red Earth ZOOM Recording 👇
Red Earth & Mackillop Central Australia information Recording_1760x900 (1)
As mentioned, there are only 20 spots available, with applications CLOSING this Friday, 17 May. To secure your spot on this immersion, please complete the following form: Application Form
Successful applicants will be contacted via email early next week. Please note there is quite a tight turnaround with the initial deposit of $750, which will be due on Monday, 27 May.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to Mrs Baxter.
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.
Metro Rugby League Trials
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the following students: Katie A, Tyra F, and Lacey R, representing the U16 girls, and Will S, Alex T, and Joey T, who recently showcased their skills for CSBB at the Metro Rugby League trials.
Their performance has earned them well-deserved recognition, as Katie A, Tyra F, Alex T, and Joey T have been selected to participate in the Metro Rugby League teams for the upcoming NSW CCC Rugby League selections.
We commend these individuals for their exceptional dedication, commitment, and sportsmanship. Their achievements reflect not only their personal excellence but also the values of teamwork and perseverance instilled within our community. Congratulations on this accomplishment!
National Indigenous Tennis Day
Last Thursday, MacKillop secondary Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students participated in National Indigenous Tennis Day. Tennis NSW facilitated this event in partnership with The Wollotuka Institute, University of Newcastle.
At the beginning of the day, the students had the opportunity to listen to Ian Goolagong's stories and connect with professionals and community members to explore further post-school options.
It was a wonderful day full of enriching activities. The girls were able to engage in Women's business, such as dance and art, while the boys engaged in Men's business, learning the breathing techniques of Yidaki. The students were also able to explore different formats of Tennis, such as pickleball and pop Tennis.
It was a privilege to be a part of this event.
God Bless,
Paul Lynch
Acting Principal Secondary
Australia's Biggest Morning Tea
Qkr! Update your class
Thank you to all parents and carers who have updated their children’s details on Qkr! However, quite a few families have not updated their children's classes from 2023 to 2024. This presents problems for staff and children when orders are placed through Qkr!
It would be greatly appreciated if you could please check all your child’s details are correct and up to date.
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.
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