MacKillop Chronicles Term 4, Week 2

Thursday 24 October 2024

A Message From Our College Principal

Dear Families,

Shared Mission and the Role of the College

The joint mission of the Parish and College is an expression of solidarity. As we work together, we continually seek the good of the other. This is achieved through sharing a common purpose, spirit with a deep awareness for the needs of the other. More widely the College and the Parish seek the good of the children and their families as we reach, serve, and include them as an act of co-responsibility. The ultimate purpose in our shared mission is that people come to know God in their daily lives. Our prayer is that students will know that they belong to God and that they chose to be a member of the Body of Christ regardless of their church or faith background. It is our strategic intent to continually work in solidarity and continue to build strong engagement with our Parish and Parish Priest Fr. Philip.

Special Visit from Fr Abraham Vettuvelil

This week we were honoured by a visit from Fr Abraham Vettuvelil, Superior General of Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales. This is the congregation to which our Parish Priest, Fr Philip, belongs. Fr Abraham had a tour of the College and spent some time with Year 10. 

Traffic Awareness

We have invited Scott Stapleton from Central Coast Council along with David Harris, MP to attend the College to address our shared concerns about traffic management around the College site. We have parents as well as student representatives at this meeting and I hope that we will be able raise our concerns and also engage local council in mitigating risks to pedestrians and drivers. I look forward in updating you on the results of this meeting.

Staffing update

At the conclusion of 2024, we will bid farewell to Mrs Corrine Patil as she pivots her professional life to work in a university context. Corrine has served the College with a passionate commitment to the pastoral and wellbeing needs of students and while she has thoroughly loved the work, she is yearning for additional academic rigour. Mrs Patil is described by her colleagues as calm, insightful and highly organised as a leader. We all wish her well as she transitions from the secondary education into tertiary.

We also farewell Ms Kerrie Pearce who after 20 years of service at MacKillop is looking for new challenges in her career. Kerrie has been involved at the College from the early years and has supported countless students in careers and VET. She is highly organised, knowledgeable and supportive of those looking for pathways beyond school. Ms Pearce has been instrumental in establishing a strong foundation of vocational education and training at the College.

We would like to congratulate the following staff for their recent promotions:

• Michelle Baxter will be the Leader of Learning & Teaching (RE)
• Nicole Abel will be the Leader of Learning & Teaching (PDHPE)
• Michellie Beeson will be a Year Coordinator
• Candice Gorman will be a Year Coordinator

Please be sure you congratulate these staff for this achievement.

God Bless,

Tanya Appleby | College Principal

Primary Matters

30^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Acclamation: 

“All who love me will keep my words, and my father will love them and we will come to them." Jn 14:23

Dear Parents and Carers,  

Message from the Head of Primary

This week our Year 3-6 students will participate in beach safety workshops.  Living on the coast, surf awareness is an essential lifesaving skill. Too often our summer months recount tragic and preventable accidents involving water. Last term’s ‘Learn to Swim’ and this term’s ‘Surf Awareness’ theory and ‘Beach Safety’ practical workshops provide our students with important skills that could potentially save their own life or that of another. 

Various illnesses occur in our community over the year that impact both the student and staff community. Transfer of illness is unavoidable, but we can reduce the impact of major illness through action. Please remind your children to use good hand hygiene before eating and leaving and entering your home. I also ask that if major illnesses such as Influenza, Gastroenteritis or vaccine related disease are present that you isolate your child and notify us so we can best inform all members, especially those who are immuno-compromised, non-vaccinated or pregnant. Severe illness can impact attendance so please consider the wellbeing of all. 

Lost Property

The LOST PROPERTY container is overflowing with items that have been found in the playground. All these items are unlabelled! Most are uniforms, but there are also lunchboxes, drink bottles and swimming items from last term. Please encourage your children to be responsibly and respectful managers of their belongings by putting them in their bag or on their class seat during play time. Please remember to label your child’s belongings so, if lost they can find their way back to your family. If you purchase or are given pre-loved uniform items, please relabel them with your own family name.  

Body Bright  

Body Bright is a wonderful program designed to increase awareness of a healthy body image.  At a time when social and other forms of media have a growing impact on identity and body image it is helpful to support children to use positive messaging and language when talking about health and appearance to increase body confidence.  All teachers have access to the program’s resources for age-appropriate discussions and activities. Students in Stage 3 will participate in two sessions and all parents are invited to participate in a workshop Zoom on Monday (26/10) evening (please refer to Compass Event for the link). I look forward to seeing you on the Zoom. 

 Parent letter

 Body Bright Zoom 

Halloween & All Saints and All Souls 

Halloween (October 31) can be linked culturally to the Catholic Feast Days of All Saints (November 1) and All Souls Day (November 2).  Saints are considered holy people who lived a life of virtue and faith. Those we love who have died are also considered holy. The word ‘Hallow’ means ‘holy’, and ‘een’ means ‘eve of’ or ‘night before’, therefore Halloween literally means, ‘the eve of holy days’. At this time, you could celebrate the life of a holy person, or saint, or a loved one. As a family you could immemoriam (in memory of) a family member by dedicating a special Mass, sharing a special dinner to honour them or remember them through photographs and stories. Throughout the entire month of November, we pray for the souls of our dearly departed. 

Student Wellbeing and Learning Survey 

CSPA (Catholic Schools Parents Australia) is looking forward to hearing from parents with children at Catholic Schools: pre-primary, primary and secondary schools. 

This CSPA national survey aims to collect evidence from a broad sample of parents/carers of children attending Catholic schools in Australia about existing and emerging affirmations and/or challenges they may have in relation to their child/children’s wellbeing and learning. 

To have your say click: https://unesurveys.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d5a7NXLpTKbNAtE 

Community Mass – Sunday, October 26 
This Sunday (October 27) we send a special invitation to all families but particularly Year 5 to attend our Parish/College Community Mass. All students are welcome to participate in a pre-Mass faith-based activity run by Mrs. Tenev and the YMCC Youth Team from 4pm.  Following 5pm Mass all families are invited to join in a Community BBQ before retiring for the evening. 

I look forward to seeing you there. 

CSBB supports Day for Daniel Foundation – October 25 

The Daniel Morcombe Foundation would like to see a future where all children and young people are provided with education, protection and support to be safe from abuse and risk of harm. 

The Daniel Morcombe Foundation provides personal child safety education to children and young people to prevent abuse and promote lifelong health and wellbeing. The Foundation supports educators, parents and carers through the provision of resources and education and also directly support young victims of crime. Teachers may discuss some age-appropriate content with their class about personal safety, people of trust and online safety.  Discussing this information in a safe environment with trusted adults encourages children and young people to consider their own safety in an effort to be ‘alert but not alarmed’. Teachers will wear a piece of RED clothing in memory of Daniel and to represent the Foundation. 

Blessings for a wonderful week 

Kerry Power | Head of Primary

Primary Events

Secondary News

Dear Community,

Year 9 Camp

There are a variety of opinions about camps in schools and as time progresses, I fear that some schools will water down their outdoor education experiences so much to cater for those who would rather avoid those situations that take them well outside their comfort zone. Thankfully, MacKillop is not one of those schools.  This week our Year 9’s have engaged with an urban challenge style camp, providing a unique and engaging experience that promotes personal growth and skill development.

This camp immerses our students in an authentic city environment, allowing them to navigate real-world situations. Students are tasked with planning their own travel, managing budgets, and making decisions in a dynamic urban setting. This hands-on experience helps bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical application of skills.

Students take on specific job roles within their teams, ranging from Team Leader to Navigator and Treasurer. This structure encourages collaboration and allows each participant to contribute meaningfully to their team's success. By working together to overcome challenges, students develop crucial teamwork and leadership skills.

Managing a cash budget for meals and activities teaches students valuable lessons in financial planning and decision-making. They learn to balance wants and needs while accommodating dietary requirements and preferences within their team.

Using public transportation and navigating through the city enhances students' spatial awareness and planning abilities. They must efficiently plan routes and make quick decisions to reach destinations on time.

Stepping out of their comfort zones and successfully completing challenges in an unfamiliar environment boosts students' self-confidence. Overcoming obstacles and achieving goals as a team reinforces their belief in their own abilities.

The program structure encourages students to take responsibility for their actions and decisions. From managing their own schedules to preparing meals, students develop a sense of independence and accountability.

Urban challenge camps provide opportunities for students to interact with diverse groups of people and experience various aspects of city life. This exposure enhances their social skills and cultural awareness, preparing them for future interactions in diverse environments.

Parts of this week’s challenge incorporate technology, such as mobile phones and interactive websites, for completing tasks and documenting experiences. This integration helps students develop digital literacy skills in a practical context.

By combining elements of adventure, problem-solving, and teamwork in an urban setting, this camp offers a comprehensive and engaging learning experience that prepares our kids for future challenges in both academic and professional settings. I trust that our current Year 9’s loved the opportunity to explore the city and the harbour this week and I urge our younger students to grasp these same opportunities when they come their way.

Student Wellbeing and Learning Survey 

CSPA (Catholic Schools Parents Australia) is looking forward to hearing from parents with children at Catholic Schools: pre-primary, primary and secondary schools. 

This CSPA national survey aims to collect evidence from a broad sample of parents/carers of children attending Catholic schools in Australia about existing and emerging affirmations and/or challenges they may have in relation to their child/children’s wellbeing and learning. 

To have your say click: https://unesurveys.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d5a7NXLpTKbNAtE 

God Bless,

Paul Lynch

Acting Head of Secondary

NESA News: New 7-10 Syllabuses and Parent Guides

The final suite of reformed mandatory syllabuses for Years 7 to 10 are now available on the NSW Curriculum website.

Parents and carers can easily access content on the website and can access a number of parent guides so they can support their child’s learning: Teaching resources | Syllabus support | NSW Curriculum | NSW Education Standards Authority

Each syllabus across History, Geography and Visual Arts clearly articulates the knowledge and skills students need to acquire at each level of learning, to best support teachers and students. Teaching resources have been released alongside the new syllabuses, with additional support materials to follow.

The new syllabuses will be implemented by 2027.

Lifeline Skills-for-Life Training

Screen time with Dr Justin Coulson

Screens are impacting children's lives beyond just the blue light or addictive apps—they’re displacing essential activities. Known as the Displacement Hypothesis, this concept highlights how time spent on screens replaces opportunities for physical activity, social connection, and mental health. With research linking heavy screen use to issues like obesity, anxiety, and loneliness, it’s crucial to strike a balance. Join Dr. Justin next Tuesday to learn how to help your kids navigate the digital age effectively.

Think of it like this: Your kid's day is a pie chart. Every slice is time spent on something. The more screen time grows, the smaller the slices for other vital stuff become.

The Displacement Hypothesis

It's like this:

🎮 3 hours of gaming = ❌ 3 hours less for physical activity, being outdoors, making friends, reading, or just daydreaming.

📱 Endless scrolling = ❌ less time for family dinners, deep conversations, or even a good night's sleep.

The Toll It Takes:

This displacement has real consequences. The very activities being pushed aside by screens—playing outdoors, creative hobbies, face-to-face connection—are the ones that nurture healthy minds and bodies.

Research is increasingly linking heavy screen use to a range of serious issues:

• Physical: obesity, sleep problems, even changes in brain structure!
• Social: struggles making friends, understanding emotions, feeling lonely.
• Mental: anxiety, depression, low self-esteem... the list goes on.

So, it's NOT about banning screens completely. It's about understanding the trade-offs and helping our kids find a balance.

Registrations Open for Go4Fun Term 4

2025 CAMP DATES

YMCC Update

headspace

Mary's Faithful Wardrobe and Formal Closet

Term 4 Dates