MacKillop Chronicles Term 3, Week 5

Thursday 22 August, 2024

Primary Matters

20^th Sunday on Ordinary Time

Gospel Acclamation: 

"Your words, Lord, are spirit and life: You have the words of everlasting life. Jn 6:63,68

Dear Parents and Carers,

Message from the Principal

This week, we recognise that we are halfway through Term 3. Week 5 is Wellbeing Week! This week, students and teachers are encouraged to pursue activities supporting their wellbeing.  Teachers may lead their students in a mindfulness exercise, meditation movie, or movement. They may take brain breaks that encourage contemplation or nature activities. Formal meetings are reduced for teachers and staff, who are also encouraged to consider their mental health and self-care.  The Social Team prepared a magnificent soup lunch, and we ordered special shakes and teas. The first four weeks of this term have been frenetic, with many exciting experiences that have taken students outside the ‘normal’ classroom environment. We are encouraging each other to rest, reflect and reboot, ready for the next five weeks, which includes Book Week, Father’s Day, Kinder Yana, Public Speaking, Learn to Swim and Healthy Harold!

I was introduced to a concept called ‘Glimmers’ this week. Glimmers are small moments of joy or peace that arise from appreciating simple things like the colours of a rainbow, the scent of a flower, or the sound of the rain. Glimmers are shown to reduce mental stress and encourage positive thoughts. I have experienced several amazing glimmers this week, including the dynamic ‘blue/super moon’ as it rose over the lake. Our lives are often so hectic, may we take some time to teach our children to notice the glimmers of their every day and, in doing so, recognise them ourselves.

Winter Illness Takes its Toll

I want to take this opportunity to recognise the toll that illness takes on our entire community.  It is hard to believe that only a few short years ago, we battled a pandemic that shut down the world and allowed us all to recognise the importance of ‘essential workers’. The winter months have been harsh, and many illnesses have increased, such as influenza A, RSV, bronchitis, and whooping cough. Schools are notorious for spreading germs no matter how diligent we are in hygiene and cleaning measures.  Teachers are the ‘front line’ in dealing with daily learning when there is reduced class numbers due to illness, as well as coping with their own health and that of their families. Please be mindful that teachers prepare learning, even when they are absent, and the care of their class is on their minds even when they are unable to be present.  If you have a concern about your child’s learning, please contact your child’s teacher or the Stage Coordinator connected to the class.  We want to walk with you on the journey of growth and learning for your child.  Thank you for your support.

MCC Represent

MCC students Will (primary) and Ruby (secondary) represented MacKillop on Saturday at the Arndell Anglican School Equestrian Carnival held at Hawkesbury Showground. It was a beautiful day, and both riders were well presented and represented MacKillop so well.

The results are as follows:

Ruby M - Senior Open Sporting Champion
- with 3 x 1st places
1st place Pleasure Class
5th place Handler Class
5th place Rider Class

Will P  - K-2 Intermediate Sporting Champion
- with 3 x 1st places
1st place in Handler and Pleasure Classes
2nd place Rider Class
3rd place in Presentation and Show Hunter in 12.2h classes

Stage 3 Soccer Gala Day

On Tuesday, Year 5 and 6 students attended the annual Soccer Gala Day at Central Coast Sporting Complex Tuggerah. MCC had 180 students at the event, which is an amazing 16 full teams of players. Being a K—12 College gave us the added opportunity for some of our Secondary students to umpire the games. Thank you to the parent team managers who came on the day to help make this event possible.

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Book Week 26 - 30 August

Special Guest Readers in Primary Classes—Throughout the week, our K-12 staff have chosen a favourite book to read to one of our K-6 classes.

Tuesday 27 August  - K – 6 Book Week Performance  ‘Books Are Magic’ in the Hall

Wednesday, 28 August, 10.30 – 11.40 - K – 12 Book Parade in the Hall Parents are welcome.

Wednesday, 28 August,   1 pm   K-12 D.E.A.R. Time (Drop Everything And Read). All K -12 staff and students will participate in 20 minutes of quiet reading.                                                     
Book Week Kahoots Friday, August 30^th (Library) 

COMPETITION – all entries get a house point, and the winning entry wins a prize.

1. Which Witch is Which? – Guess which teachers are behind the books on display in the library.

2. Name the book titles in our Library displays.

Healthy Lunch Box

Students must have the nutrition they need each day to fuel their growing minds and bodies. At MCC, we have three meal breaks to ensure all students are ready for a full day of learning.

Fruit Break - Pack easy-to-peel fruits and/or cut veggies.
Recess -By this break, they will be hungry! Try wholegrain crackers, hommus, fruit, and yogurt.
Lunch - At lunchtime, our hungry students need a little more to get them through to the end of the day: wraps, sandwiches, and leftovers. Avoid too many pre-packaged sugary foods whenever possible because these will be eaten first and provide little sustained energy, causing afternoon lows. 

Water is extremely important. Ensure their drink bottles hold enough to sip throughout the day, or they can easily be topped up with the bubblers! Dehydration can cause fatigue, brain fog, and lack of concentration, so encourage your children to drink more water even when at home.

For some more great resources, head to Central Coast Health Promotion Service

Calling us to Action

I am always inspired by young people who want to make a difference in the world. Students have approached me wanting to raise money for causes they are passionate about, such as mental health, cancer or hospitalisation. As a Catholic Community, we are called to support key Catholic charities such as Caritas’ Project Compassion, St. Vincent De Paul, Catholic Mission, as well as Mary Macs, a centre for the homeless on the Central Coast based at Woy Woy.  I can appreciate the difficulty surrounding the financial support of a charity when the challenge of the household budget is paramount. I encourage students to see that money is one way they can assist a cause close to their heart, and the other is through ‘advocacy’. Advocacy is representing or speaking out in favour of an issue and persuading others to support your cause. It is about increasing awareness and, by doing so, inspiring action and increased understanding of an individual’s or group's experience of that issue.

This Friday, many MCC students will ‘sleep rough’ to support the challenge of homelessness in our region.  We will listen to testimonies from individuals who struggle, share a simple meal and then use a cardboard box to shelter from the cold. As Catholics, the extension of advocacy is our calling as disciples of Jesus, who calls us to seek mercy for those who suffer.  The Corporal Works of Mercy call us to: To feed the hungry, provide drink for the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, care for the sick and bury the dead.

As Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”

Blessings for a wonderful weekend,

Kerry Power

Acting Primary Principal

Primary Events

Secondary News

Dear Community,

Trial HSC

Congratulations to all Year 12 students who have successfully completed their Trial HSC examinations!  This significant milestone reflects your hard work, dedication, and resilience throughout your studies so far.

As you prepare for the final stretch leading up to the HSC exams, it's essential to recognise the effort you've put in during this challenging period.  The Trial HSC serves not only as a practice for the final exams but also as a testament to your commitment to achieving your academic goals.

Your perseverance and determination have been commendable, and you should be proud of your accomplishments thus far.  Remember to continue supporting each other, utilising your teachers for guidance, and maintaining a balanced routine as you approach the HSC.

Once again, congratulations on reaching this important stage in your educational journey!  Best of luck in your remaining weeks; your continued hard work will absolutely pay off.

Professional Learning for Staff

Catholic Schools Broken Bay provided structured professional learning opportunities on Monday for our Secondary teachers that focused on improving HSC learning outcomes.  This professional learning is designed to enhance teaching strategies, understand student responses, and evidence-based pedagogical decisions.  Teachers participating were able to collaborate with peers across all of our Secondary schools and access high-quality professional learning co-designed by experienced HSC markers.

There are a range of benefits for our staff who engaged in this learning opportunity on Monday, which are listed below.

Professional Growth: Engaging in HSC marking is considered one of the best ways for teachers to develop professionally.  It allows them to gain a deeper understanding of the curriculum, marking rubrics, and examination standards, which in turn informs their teaching practices and helps them guide students more effectively.

Understanding Standards: Teachers who participate in the HSC marking were able to gain insights into the state standards and can compare their students' performance with other schools in the Diocese as well as the statewide cohort.  This understanding helps teachers set clear expectations and develop concise marking rubrics.

Pedagogical Improvement: The experience of marking a wide range of student responses helps teachers identify common errors and misconceptions, allowing them to tailor their teaching strategies to address these issues.  It also enhances their ability to create learning activities that target examination skills.

Networking and Collaboration: The HSC marking that occurred on Monday provided opportunities for teachers to engage with colleagues across the Diocese, fostering professional dialogue and collaboration.  This interaction can lead to the sharing of resources and strategies that improve teaching and student outcomes.

Overall, HSC marking is a valuable professional development opportunity that not only enhances teachers' understanding of the examination process but also improves their teaching practices and student outcomes.  We are grateful for this professional learning opportunity and look forward to seeing its impact in our classrooms here at MacKillop.

Winter Sleepout 2024

WS2024 is on Friday, 23 August 23!
 
Years 7-9, 5:30-9 pm to participate in guest speakers and games.

Years 10-12, 5:30 pm - 6 am (Saturday, 24 August) to participate in the sleepout

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs Beeson: michellie.willner1@dbb.catholic.edu.au

HSC Drama Showcase

The Higher School Certificate in Drama entails two major works which, combined make up 60% of the total mark for the HSC Drama course and will be formally assessed by N.E.S.A on 4th September. On Monday, Year 12 Drama students presented their Group Performance and Individual Performances to an audience of parents and friends. The students were well prepared and presented entertaining and diverse performances. They have worked hard preparing these works and we wish them well for their upcoming HSC Practical examination.

HSC Japanese Continuers

Our  Year 12  Japanese Continuers students will sit their HSC Oral examination at Gosford High School on Saturday, 24 August. Good luck!

Share the Dignity

Last week at assembly, Mrs. Martland spoke to all students about the Share the Dignity project. MCC has registered to be a collection point for this initiative, which supports those in need by providing access to new period products, such as tampons, pads, period underwear, etc.

Students have been asked to bring these items to their Pastoral meetings over the next two weeks for collection. Additionally, a box will be available in the library and the East Wing if students would like to drop off their donations before school or during breaks.

Thank you for your support Dignity Drive (sharethedignity.org.au)

God Bless,

Paul Lynch

Acting Principal Secondary

MCC Presents: Starlight Cinema

Little Lighthouse Playgroup

Father's Day Breakfast and Liturgy

We warmly invite all dads, granddads, and significant male figures to join us for a special Father’s Day liturgy. This is a wonderful opportunity to honour and celebrate the important role you play in the lives of our students.

When: Friday 30 August

What: Breakfast and liturgy in the Church, Primary open classrooms

The liturgy will take place at 7:30 am in the morning. 

Join us for Breakfast before or after the liturgy starting at 7 am.

Primary Open Classrooms 9am - 9:45am

An invitation with RSVP details for catering purposes will be sent via Compass in the next few days. You can also start sending your special photos for the liturgy slideshow to Mrs Farrell by email  zoe.farrell@dbb.catholic.edu.au. Max 3 pictures per student, jpg or png only.

SchoolTV - Healthy Study Habits

HSC Art Exhibition 2024

Broken Bay NSWCS Road Safety Newsletter

Free Webinar for Parents and Carers

Religious Creative Arts Competition 2024

Mary's Faithful Wardrobe and Mary's Formal Closet

Term 3 Dates