MacKillop Chronicles Term 4, Week 3

Thursday 31 October 2024

A Message From Our College Principal

Dear Families,

Happy International Teacher's Day

I would like to acknowledge the work of teachers during International Teacher's Day and sincerely thank the families who contributed to the delicious morning tea provided this week. Teaching is a unique profession that has the capacity to change children and young people in so many significant ways. I applaud the work of our teachers who continually give of themselves for the improvement of the students that they teach. Teachers give our students purpose, they create a sense of belonging, and have the capacity to influence, inspire and drive students to be the best versions of themselves. I am so very thankful for the work of teachers and for those who have entered into our profession to make a difference.

Why Catholic Education Matters

Catholic education matters because it offers every child a meaningful opportunity to encounter Christ and experience a faith-centred approach to learning. Beyond the attainment of knowledge, it emphasises the flourishing of the whole human experience and fosters values that promote connection and compassion. Learning in this context deepens understanding and communion with others, guiding each student in their unique journey of faith. At our College, students are encouraged to embrace their call to serve God, follow His commandments, and uphold the precepts of the Church.

As part of our strategic direction, we are exploring ways to enrich the Catholic experience for our students further. We are excited to introduce open discussion forums that will allow young people to engage with some of their big questions about the Church. I look forward to keeping you updated on this initiative as it unfolds.

Ahead of the Year of Jubilee in 2025 is the arrival of Luce

The Vatican has launched a Jubilee cartoon mascot as the cheerful face of the Catholic Church’s upcoming holy year. The mascot, Luce — which means “light” in Italian — is intended to engage a younger audience and guide visitors through the holy year. Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the Vatican’s chief organiser for the jubilee, described the mascot as part of the Vatican’s goal to engage with “the pop culture so beloved by our young people.” Clad in a yellow raincoat, mud-stained boots, and a pilgrim’s cross, Luce’s mission is to guide young pilgrims toward hope and faith with her trusty dog, Santino, at her side. Shells glimmer in her eyes, recalling the scallop shell of the Camino de Santiago, an emblem of the pilgrimage journey.

Let me introduce Luce...

Prayers for Teachers

Loving God, all wisdom and knowledge comes from you.
Bless all teachers so that as we guide our students, they, too, will be guided by your grace. 
Let us always see your face, Jesus, in the faces of those we teach. 
Help us understand that we instruct others much more by who we are than by what we say.
 Strengthen us with enthusiasm for our ministry and hold us up on the days we need encouragement and sustenance. 
Give us patience when managing classrooms and perseverance when grading. 
May we have the support of administrators and parents as we collaborate in the formation of young people. 
We also pray for adequate resources that allow us to do our jobs well.
Most importantly, let your love be the guiding principle that informs and upholds our ministry. 
Amen 

God Bless,

Tanya Appleby | College Principal

MCC wins at JTF Australia

Primary Matters

31st 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 :23

Dear Parents and Carers,  

Message from the Head of Primary

As Bishop of our diocese of Broken Bay, Bishop Anthony Randazzo has a profound responsibility to several works of Catholic Mission. Just as Catholic Schools Broken Bay is the education agency of the Catholic Church in our diocese, CatholicCare is the social care and support agency.  CatholicCare provides support to people in need, from The Central Coast to the North Shore and Northern Beaches. Some of the important supports they provide are for families experiencing housing challenges and homelessness, domestic and family violence, financial planning and parenting education.  Children’s services such as Early Learning Centres, Out of Hours School Care and Vacation Care assist families to thrive when parents are working Services for seniors and people living with a disability are other support areas.  One of the most active areas is Foster Care.  There are many children and young people in our community who are unable to live with their families through no fault of their own.  CatholicCare seeks families to provide essential support, care and stability for children and young people affected by family breakdown, enabling them to recover and flourish. Please access CatholicCare’s Services Guide to explore their support services further. CatholicCare services guide

‘Psychologists tell us that to be truly alive, someone else’s’ loving gaze is needed; otherwise, we can never blossom to our full potential. Lord, I know you do your best to promote everyone with good parents; they’re a great blessing to a child, but of course, this doesn’t always happen.  You also send us grandparents, relatives, and friends who help us believe we are worthwhile.  They are escorts of your loving care.  You want us to receive your great gift, the conviction that we are OK, that we are loved and that we matter. May your word each day convince me that I am good, worthwhile, lovable and wonderful; that I am beloved, your unique creation, the apple of your eye.  May I believe that no matter what, you love me infinitely, that you embrace me tenderly and live within me and that you have dreams for me that go way beyond my own.  For you, I will always be important! My core identity is that I am your beloved! Not only am I important to you I am important to the world!’ Brian Grogan SJ from his book I Am Infinitely Loved

Bus Behaviour

Using the bus system is a privilege, not a right, and bus drivers shoulder an enormously heavy and responsible task, that is, to deliver students home safely to their families.  I implore you to reinforce with your children appropriate behaviour on our school buses, including respectful and responsible behaviour, polite and kind words to other students and the bus driver and entering and exiting the bus safely and at recognised bus stops. A reminder that public buses are able to capture incidents of misuse, aggression and vandalism.  Thank you for your consideration. You can see our Bus Behaviour code of conduct on our website: Policies – MacKillop Catholic College

Road Safety around MacKillop

Last Friday, MCC welcomed Member for Wyong David Harris, Central Coast Council Representatives Boris Bolgoff, Scott Stapleton and Scott Jarvis, parent representatives Rebecca, Julie, and Suzie, and our College Captain Josh T and Vice-Captain Jack M, who were challenged to write a response for The Honourable David Harris to read in State Parliament!

The focus of the meeting was to address the safety of pedestrians and the movement of traffic around the College.  We all agreed that the lack of regulations surrounding Mataram and adjoining roads constricts the movement of vehicles and compromises the foot safety of children and families as they enter and exit the College. Ultimately, we are seeking a safety-first approach and have lobbied our local member and Central Coast Council representatives to support our efforts, by increasing signage relating to speed, safe crossing and parking.  We will continue to seek regulation and educational materials to support the growing and changing needs of the community. We ask you to please be mindful of your own activity and be aware that infringement officers may be present at times and could enforce fines if necessary.  
 
Body Bright 

On Monday, our Stage 3 students participated in a presentation by the Butterfly Group called ‘Let’s Talk Being Body Bright. ' The session was all about creating body positivity by using the word' Bright' to remember strategies of being Brave, Resilient, Inclusive, Grateful, Happy, and Thoughtful.

On Monday evening, our dietician presenter, Kate, also delivered a presentation to parents, highlighting the importance of creating and sustaining messages of body positivity in our homes. Kate delivered some statistics regarding the impact of personal and cultural body identity.  As parents and educators, it is vital to be aware of the messages our children and young people receive daily and identify the ways we can encourage them to love who they are and the body they live in.

Students will participate in age-appropriate activities in Week 5, which we identify as ‘Wellbeing Week’. We are grateful to the College Wellbeing Team for bringing us this important presentation. We have captured it for a short time and encourage you to raise your awareness of this information. 

For anyone who missed the session, a recording is available via this Link

Passcode: rUQ0mf#w

Expires midnight, Sunday 10/10/24

Families can also access information from the Butterfly Body Bright website butterflybodybright.org.au/resources

Compass and Events Calendar

The weekly schedule of events will no longer be displayed in this space as we continue to encourage our community to use Compass as the source of calendar information. Please contact us if you have trouble accessing the Compass Portal. Thank you for understanding.

Athletics Fun Day Thursday 21 November Kindergarten and Year 1

We invite parents & friends of our Kindergarten & Year 1 Students to join us here at MacKillop for our Athletics Fun Day on Thursday, 21 November.  The children are completing a Mini Athletics Unit in Physical Education this term & get a chance to showcase their skills in a Mini Athletics Carnival on this day.  See attached for a Run Sheet of Events & timings for the day.  The children will participate in heats and finals in an effort to win Ribbons in the Rotation of events before Recess (Running & Throwing).  The activities after recess will be fun team-based activities without Ribbons.  We would love for you to come and share all the fun on this day.  Weather-permitting activities will be held on the school oval.

Public Speaking Finals

Earlier this term, we held our MCC Public Speaking Stage Finals. 

At MacKillop, we believe speaking confidently and clearly to an audience is a life skill. To support this, all our Kindergarten to Year 6 students learn speech writing and presentation skills as part of their English learning.

This year, we had some very strong finalists, and the standard of both content and presentation was excellent; no doubt the judges had a challenging time determining placegetters. Thank you to all our judges, the parents and carers who came along to support the students, and the teachers for preparing the students for the competition. 

Congratulations to all the students who participated in the finals.

Our 2024 winners of the Public Speaking Competition are:

Early Stage One: 1st: Quinn D, 2nd: Esther P, 3rd: Jade J

Stage 1 1st: Harvey B, 2nd: Iylah-Rae M, 3rd Saxon D

Stage 2: 1st: Kudzi M, Samara C, Sari K

Stage 3: 1st: Isabella L, 2nd: Hannah F, 3rd: Amelia S

Chris Shilling | Early Stage 1 and Stage 1 and Leader of Literacy

Blessings for a wonderful week 

Kerry Power | Head of Primary

Little Lighthouse Playgroup

World Teacher Appreciation Morning Tea

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Secondary News

Dear Community,

Mobile Phones

Having attended a number of camps and retreats this year, it has reinforced to me how much a number of our students rely on their mobile phones. In some cases, it could be considered a genuine addiction. I don’t write this as a lecture. I appreciate how difficult it can be as a parent to monitor your child’s mobile phone use, but it is becoming increasingly clear to me what potential damage these devices are doing.

Disconnecting from mobile phones is increasingly recognised as essential for students' academic performance and overall well-being.

Research indicates that the presence of mobile phones, even when not in use, can significantly impair cognitive performance. Studies have shown that students perform better when phones are kept out of sight, as the mere presence of a device can distract attention and reduce focus during learning activities. Schools that have implemented phone bans observed notable improvements in student learning growth.

Disconnecting from mobile devices encourages face-to-face interactions, which are crucial for developing social skills and emotional intelligence. Studies show that students who spend time away from screens are better at recognising non-verbal cues and exhibit increased empathy towards peers. For example, students reported deeper conversations and improved relationships after participating in media fasts, where they intentionally reduced their phone usage.

Limiting mobile phone use in schools and at home can also mitigate issues related to cyberbullying and peer pressure, creating a safer social environment for students. This reduction in digital interactions allows for more genuine connections among peers, fostering a supportive community.

Constant connectivity through mobile devices can lead to increased anxiety and stress among students. Many express concerns about digital pressures such as social media comparisons and the fear of missing out (FOMO). By disconnecting from these devices, students can experience lower stress levels and improved mental health.

Limiting phone use emphasises the importance of downtime for mental rejuvenation. This break from screens allows teenagers to engage in other activities that promote relaxation and creativity, contributing to overall well-being.

Students who participate in structured media fasts often report lasting changes in their media consumption habits, such as reduced screen time before bed and a greater awareness of their digital habits. These changes not only enhance academic performance but also contribute to healthier lifestyle choices.

By encouraging your child to disconnect from their phones, parents help them develop self-regulation skills that are beneficial both academically and personally. This includes learning to manage distractions, prioritise tasks, and engage more fully with their surroundings.

In conclusion, disconnecting from mobile phones is crucial for enhancing students' academic performance, improving social interactions, promoting mental health, and fostering long-term positive behavioural changes. We need to work together to ensure our children are given every opportunity to experience these benefits.

SHAPE Showcase Nominations

I am pleased to announce that several of our Industrial Technology HSC students have been nominated for SHAPE, recognising their outstanding major works and exemplary folios. Please join me in congratulating:

• Matthew A
• Delano G
• Jake P-E
• Sebastian V
• Meg W

SHAPE showcases exceptional projects from HSC Design and Technology, Industrial Technology, and Textiles and Design students. The exhibition will take place at the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct in March 2025.

Dennis Gasparotto | TAS Department

Formal Season 

If you are a Year 12 student in need of a formal dress, please contact our PEC, Lucy Marien. She may be able to assist you with a beautiful gown available for borrowing from Mary’s Formal Closet.

Lucy Marien | PEC 

Generation Next POD Cast

Internet Safety for young people, Generation Next podcast. In this two-part series, Clinical Psychologist Andrew Fuller chats with Internet Safe Education founder and former child exploitation detective Brett Lee about upskilling to be safe online, what young people should avoid doing online, how and where young people are targeted by predators, and teaching young people the dangers and practices to avoid predators.

Youth Group and Mass September

Last Sunday, we had a fantastic group of MCC students, and the Parish community come for the monthly YMCC Youth Group and Mass. Thank you to Mrs Tenev, Mrs Marion, and the YMCC and Mission Leaders for making this event possible and so engaging.

God Bless,

Paul Lynch

Acting Head of Secondary

Parish Community Dinner and News

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.

The Young Carer Bursary Program

Lifeline Skills-for-Life Training

Registrations Open for Go4Fun Term 4

2025 CAMP DATES

YMCC Update

headspace

Mary's Faithful Wardrobe and Formal Closet

Term 4 Dates