MacKillop Chronicles Term 3, Week 7

Thursday 5 September, 2024

A Message From Our College Principal

Dear Families

Announcement to Community

Phase 1

Phase 1 of the Reimagining of MacKillop has now been announced to staff, and I invite you to read the following letter from Mr Casey, Director of Catholic Schools Broken Bay to help you understand the context of these decisions.

Phase 2

Phase 2 of the Plan is the engagement of 4 new roles that will be added to the existing roles at the College. These new roles become effective in 2025 and recruitment for the 4 roles will commence as soon as possible.

• The position titles of Principal of Primary and Secondary will change to Head of K-6 Primary and Head of 7-12 Secondary. I will maintain the title of College Principal and the role descriptions will remain the same.
• The new role of Assistant Principal, Student Achievement. This will be a new Year 7-12 role that is specifically tasked with focusing on the learning, teaching, and pedagogical practices across the Secondary school. The person in this role will work closely with Leaders of Learning & Teaching and support the realisation of the newly developed MacKillop Educational Model and CSBB Pedagogical Framework. This role will report to the Head of Secondary.
• The new role of Assistant Principal, Evangelisation and Catechesis. This position will provide oversight of the delivery of our shared purpose that every child knows Christ in their lives. This person will have an active role in the Parish and work towards to stronger engagement of Mission across the Secondary school. This role will also include the embedding of the Aspire MacKillop Student Leadership Formation Program in collaboration with the Primary school REC.
• The new role of Director of Wellbeing K-12 will oversee and lead wellbeing across the College. This person will be required to embed the Australian Student Wellbeing Framework and continue our engagement with the Resilience Project. The role will also involve the consolidation of processes and guidelines to support positive mental health, inclusion and student agency and support a whole school perspective on student wellbeing and appropriate early intervention.
• The new role of the Director of Organisation and Data K-12 will include College timetabling, delivery of a comprehensive K-12 calendar, operational organisation of shared events in the Primary and Secondary, communication of organisation along with data analysis to support learning outcomes in multiple areas across the College.

Phase 3

Mr Casey announced that we have now settled on a preliminary draft of a new footprint for the Secondary school. This new footprint will include many new possibilities including the potential new land acquisition and the reconstruction of a more compact layout for the secondary school. This diagram will be shared with parents at one of the face-to-face meetings and evening zoom meetings.

I look forward to sharing more news with you in the coming weeks. Finally, I would like to thank Mr Paul Lynch for all of his hard work and excellent leadership. Paul will remain with us until the end of 2024. I also wish to congratulate Kerry Power on her appointment as Head of Primary and am delighted that she will continue to serve our community with her passionate commitment to continuous improvement. Congratulations Kerry!

God Bless,

Tanya Appleby,

College Principal

Primary Matters

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Acclamation: 

“Alleluia. God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ and entrusting to us the message of reconciliations.” 2 Corinthians 5:19

Dear Parents and Carers,

September 1 signals the beginning of ‘The Season of Creation’ and is a call to Christians to ‘care for our common home’.  Pope Francis’ encyclical (letter) Laudato Si implores Catholics around the world to make better decisions about the health of the planet, which is our common home. St. Francis of Assisi describes the elements of the Earth as our siblings, Brother Sun and Sister Moon. He goes on to describe animals as kin and with whom we share a bond and home. The theme for 2024 is ‘To Hope and Act with Creation’. Pope Francis encourages believers to hope in expectation for a better future, one in which we consider all living things as worthy of protection and flourishing, particularly those living beings whose lives and homes are threatened by climate change and disaster. Hoping is not a passive exercise in which we stand still in quiet but rather we actively strive for new life amidst struggles. Freedom and responsibility enable us to make the world a better place for future generations. Explore the link for more information on The Laudato Si Movement

Visit from 104.5 together with Socktober Fundraiser

MCC was announced as the winner of a live broadcast event of the ‘Matty & Gina Show’ on 104.5. This event will take place on Friday, 6 September in the Creative Arts Area (CA). The show begins its broadcast at 6 am but students and parents are invited to attend the live broadcast from 7.30 am. Students may wear their Sports Uniform and are invited to participate in  ‘Silly Socks and Crazy Hair’ in the spirit of fun on the day. This can mean accessories, braids and fun hair designs. In response, students are asked to donate a Gold Coin in their classrooms -collected by the Mini Macks- that will contribute to the work of Catholic Mission. Catholic Mission is Pope Francis’ International Mission agency in Australia.  An international organisation that partners with communities, helping them to flourish by supporting grassroots projects, including healthcare, education and spiritual care. Catholic Mission is a network of religious and lay missionaries who operate in Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas.

The Student Leadership Group have organised a Sausage Sizzle breakfast ($2.50), and a Crazy Hair Station ($5). Payment by both cash or card is available.

Primary students are encouraged to attend this event accompanied by a parent.  Students will return to the Primary Area for 8.45 am Assembly and normal classes.  Year 6 students will remain in the CA Area until 9 am and the conclusion of the broadcast (Mrs. Passafaro will be in attendance).

Star 104.5 have organised the following for the students:

• Gina & Matty will broadcast their #1 radio show LIVE
• Waves Basketball offering drill workshops for kids (In the Hall)
• Visits from furry and/or scaly friends (Amazement Animal Park)
• Juice and prize giveaways with the street team
• A colouring-in competition run by Coasties Magazine (where someone will have their art as the December issue cover!!)

We look forward to your participation in this joyful community event.

Summer Uniform

The unseasonally warm weather has meant that the student body has moved into the MCC Summer Uniform sooner than expected. Week 8 signals the beginning of the period of Summer Uniform. I understand that some summer uniforms have been hidden away during the cold winter months and are hard to locate. I am also aware that many students may find their uniform from March no longer fits. 

Please remember that Sister Marea’s Uniform Shop provides good quality second-hand uniforms at affordable prices – the next opening days will be in Week 8 -  Wednesday, 11 September, and Week 9 - Wednesday, 18 September, between 8.30 and 9.30 am.

The Opening Hours for the Uniform Shop (not during school holidays) are:

Tuesday 8 am-11 am
Wednesday 1 pm-4 pm
Thursday 8 am-11 am

You do not need an appointment for normal-term trading.

Phone or online orders can be distributed to your child’s classroom. College Uniform – MacKillop Catholic College (mccwdbb.catholic.edu.au)

Can I please remind parents that single piercings ONLY are allowed with simple non-descript studs or sleepers.

Representative Jumpers and Hoodies (for Polding, MacKillop or State) are not part of the College Uniform and students will be asked to remove them.

Please wear white socks with white sneakers and dark socks with black shoes. Navy socks are part of the Secondary uniform and will be worn throughout K-12.

Stationery Lists for 2025

In the coming weeks, families will be presented with a Class Stationery List for 2025. This Stationery List will be comprised of requisitions students will need for their learning. Examples are pencil cases, coloured pencils, glue sticks etc. Each grade has slightly differing requirements depending on the needs of their learners. This action will bring MCC into consistency with other local schools. Providing the list at this time will allow an opportunity for ‘gifting’ to contribute to some or all of the requirements.

A list of the Stationery Lists will soon be available on the MCC Website on the Booklist Page.

Donate used books for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation

Please consider donating books your family no longer needs to The Indigenous Literacy Foundation.  The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) is a national charity working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander remote Communities across Australia. They are Community-led, responding to requests from remote Communities for culturally relevant books, including early learning board books, resources, and programs to support Communities to create and publish their stories in languages of their choice.

Please bring your books to school in Week 8 and they will be sold in Weeks 9 and 10 with proceeds going towards ILF. Mini Macks will leave tubs in classrooms for this book collection.  This is a wonderful and sustainable way to support educational outcomes and rehome pre-loved books.

MCC Represent

Paul Kelly Cup State Finals

We were so very excited to have our Boys AFL Team qualify for the Paul Kelly Cup State Finals at Engie Stadium. The team travelled to the home of the GWS Giants to take on the state's best last Thursday 29 August. What a wonderful experience they had with lots of our parents and family members cheering the Boys on. We look forward to backing up again in 2025. Thank you all at school who watched the live stream and cheered us on, to Mr Snelling for his exuberant and inspiring coaching and to Mr Field for his support. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4e776Mx

Broken Bay Athletics Carnival

Congratulations to the 18 students who represented the College so proudly last Thursday at Mingara for the Broken Bay Athletics Carnival. We had 11 students qualify to represent MCC at Polding in Newcastle in Week 8 in the following individual events:
Cameron - 12 Boys 100 and 200m 1st
Lia - 12 Girls 100m 1st and 200m 2nd
Ellis - Jnr Girls High Jump 2nd (as a 9-year-old)
Taleah - 11 Girls High Jump 1st
Evelyn - 11 Girls Discus 2nd
Aoibhinn - 12 Girls Shot Put 3rd.

Both our Senior Relay Teams qualified which was very exciting with our Junior Girls team missing out by a mere part of a second. Special thanks to Jack and William from Year 5 who stepped in and ran like the wind to replace Eli and Lochie in the Senior Boys Relay Team. Both boys were representing the college at the Paul Kelly Cup AFL State Finals and couldn’t be in two places at once. 

Congratulations to the other relay members who round out our team heading to Newcastle, Brodie, Charlotte and Ava. Thank you also to our Secondary PASS students who also assisted during the day, making the event possible.

Kellie Dennerman | Primary Representative Sport

Healthy Harold

Life Education offers a range of age-appropriate modules aligned to the Personal Development and Health curriculum. The program is designed to inspire and empower students, providing knowledge, skills and strategies through interactive learning experiences. During Weeks 9 and 10, all Primary classes will visit the van located in the Secondary Creative Arts driveway. Below is an overview of the modules for each grade. The children are very excited to be visiting Healthy Harold soon.

Blessings for a wonderful weekend,

Kerry Power

Acting Primary Principal

Primary Events

Secondary News

Dear Community,

Police Liaison Officer Talk

Next Wednesday we have invited our Police Liaison Officer, Troy Lucca to come into the College to address Years 9 and 10.  Engaging our Police Liaison Officer to speak with students at school offers several key benefits that enhance the educational environment and community relationships.

Building Positive Relationships

One of the primary objectives of Troy in his role is to foster positive relationships between law enforcement and students.  This interaction helps to break down barriers and change perceptions about police, portraying them as approachable figures rather than enforcers of law alone.  By establishing a rapport, Troy can help students feel safer and more comfortable in their school environment, which is crucial for effective learning and personal development.

Education and Awareness

Troy can provide valuable education on various topics, including legal rights, responsibilities, and safety.  Programs such as drug abuse resistance education and discussions about the law can empower students with knowledge that helps them make informed decisions.  This educational role can significantly influence students' understanding of social issues, potentially reducing risky behaviours and promoting a culture of safety and respect within the school.

Crime Prevention and Safety

The presence of police officers in schools can lead to proactive crime prevention strategies.  Troy can address issues such as bullying, drug use, and other forms of anti-social behaviour through workshops and direct engagement with students.  This proactive approach not only helps in mitigating potential incidents but also educates students on how to report unsafe situations or seek help when needed.

Support for At-risk Students

Troy can serve as a mentor and support figure for at-risk students.  He can provide guidance and a listening ear, which is particularly important for students who may lack positive role models in their lives.  This mentorship can help students navigate challenges and encourage them to stay on a positive path.

Enhanced Communication

Regular interaction between police officers and school staff fosters better communication regarding safety concerns.  This collaboration allows for quick responses to incidents and facilitates the sharing of important information that can enhance overall school safety.  When students see police officers working closely with their school, it reinforces the idea that safety is a shared responsibility between the community and law enforcement.

In summary, a talk from our Police Liaison Officer can significantly benefit students by promoting positive relationships, providing essential education, enhancing safety measures, supporting at-risk individuals, and improving communication within the school community.  I look forward to Troy’s visit next week and I trust it might provide an opportunity for further discussion at home where parents can engage with their children on these important topics.

In and Out of Bounds areas

At MCC, we have supervised or ‘in-bounds’ areas where students can enjoy their breaks and time before school while under the safe supervision of staff. Students are expected to stay in supervised areas before school and during breaks. The college map is coloured purple to indicate the supervised ‘in bounds’ areas. Secondary students at break times must ensure they:

• Stay in bounds at all times
• Are only on the ground level
• Are not anywhere near the driveway or carpark
• Are not near the church or front office area
• Are not behind buildings or out of sight of supervising staff on duty
• Are only located at ‘in bounds’ areas

Rewind /// Year 10 Retreat 2024 

On Thursday 13 June, Year 10 attended our annual Retreat at The Collaroy Centre. It was an early start, leaving the College at 6:45 am, to head down to Collaroy for two days of connection, reflection and relationship building.

The theme for the retreat was ‘positive relationships’ and staff and students connected over what this means to them and how they as Christians can ‘love all’ in their lives.

There were fun activities like bubble soccer, high ropes, archery and laser tag, where students were able to enjoy team and relationship building while having lots of fun!

We also made many feathered friends during the retreat, with the students loving the birdlife that shared breakfast with them while looking over the ocean.

On Thursday evening, students celebrated the Eucharist and engaged in mindful and thoughtful activities that had them reflect on ‘being a light to the world’, ‘loving all’ and building positive relationships. It was beautiful to see how the students respected each other, the staff and the intention of the evening.

We then moved into a games/trivia night, and staff and students battled it out to see who could win various games and challenges!

It was an early morning for Year 10 as we packed up, enjoyed another activity and then had a session about how we could take home what we have learnt and discovered into our lives.

We are so thankful to Year 10 for being respectful, engaged and considerate during the retreat. They were a credit to themselves, the college and their families and we could not be prouder of them. Such a beautiful way to wrap up their junior years as they move into Stage 6 or beyond next year.

Corrine Patil | Leader of Pastoral Care Year 10 | Leader of Wellbeing – Friday | HSIE and VET teacher

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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

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