Principal's Update

Oh What a Week!

I can’t tell you how excited I was to send three year groups and half the College staff off to camps and retreats this week. 

After three years of fires, floods and COVID-19 meant the cancellation of so many activities, the joy on the faces of all as they headed off was a delight to see. We will share highlights for each year group over the next few weeks.

Student Success

Congratulations to Year 11 student Will Pamplin, who was the recipient of the Surf Life Saving Rescue Award last weekend for his actions on 18 February, at Cronulla Beach.

Will and another young man were competing in a Surf Boat Competition when they identified a member of the public face down in the surf. They immediately entered the water and recovered the patient who had experienced a coronary incident and returned him to shore, allowing him to receive life saving treatment. Will was presented the award by the gentleman that the boys recovered from the water.

Will and many of our young people make a very valuable contribution to the community through their involvement in Surf Lifesaving. Congratulations Will.

NSW Combined Catholic Colleges State Champions

Congratulations to the Year 9 & 10 Boys Basketball team on winning the NSWCCC State Championship. The boys won all seven games, defeating St Dominic's College Kingswood 36-29 in the final in extra time. The boys now look forward to the Australian Schools Championships on the Gold Coast later in the month. Congratulations to the team and coaches, Ryan Adams and Adam O’Brien.

Year 11 Academic Awards

Congratulations to the following students who received awards in Week 4 at our Year 11 Academic Awards assembly. Major awards will be presented at the Final School Major Awards Ceremony on 15 December.

First Place in Subject

Outstanding Achievement Awards (Gold): Olivia McElroy, Tia McGrath & Lottie Wilson.

Community Service Awards: Bronte McAllister, Wilson Minogue & Georgia Ryan.

Outstanding Attendance Awards: Mosese Fineanganofo, Cordy Gamblin, Tia McGrath, Benjamin McIntyre, Piper McLean, Kirra Porter, Ashlee Rickard, Jack Speers, Joseph Stokes, Zachary Tay, Lara Thiele & Macklin Wilmot. 

Lunch with Alumni Launch: 14 November 2022

In 2023, the College will be introducing a new program, inviting former students back to the College to share with current students their post-school work and travel journeys. 

The program will be launched, with the support of a state government grant, on Monday 14 November here at the College. We would love to have any former students come and share in the launch and a small luncheon with the College Leaders and 2022 - 2023 student leaders. 

If you are an ex-student and can come along please RSVP here.

Cath Eichmann
Principal

St Agnes' Parish Invitation

Year 7

“Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves. 

You can gain more control over your life by paying closer attention to the little things.” 

Emily Dickinson’s quote and it's iterations throughout the years are familiar to all of us. Little things are a better test of character than great things and come every day. Little things deal with reality, without any show; and what we call “little things” are often much greater than what we call the great ones, and therefore have much larger consequences. Attend to the little things, and we need not be anxious about the greater ones.

I am a big believer in doing the little things well. For students, this relates to meeting College expectations and completing the tasks that they might regard as pointless or unimportant.

Ask your child this weekend, “Are you doing the little things well?":

• Wear the uniform correctly – including hat, shoes and socks; no excess jewellery - Show pride in belonging to our school.
• Use the school diary – signed by parents/carers; subjects written out for the week ahead - Keep on track.
• Pack bag with required equipment – with pens, pencils, books, diary and charged device - Be ready to learn.
• Arrive to class on time - Be ready to learn.
• Strive for personal excellence and contribute to a positive learning environment - Be a Learner.
• Speak and act courteously to staff and students; follow all staff instructions - Be respectful.
• Care for property and the environment - do not chew gum or throw food or touch other people’s belongings - Be respectful.

Completing these tasks, as simple as they are, sets students up for success for the rest of the day.

Remember Year 7 ‘we Belong - Be kind, be very kind’

Congratulations

Congratulations to the following students who have received a Silver Principal’s Award: Patrick Green, Jessica Moore and Isabelle Reed.

Congratulations to the following students who have received a Leader of Pastoral Care Award: Tameah Baird-Moran, Luke Everson (x2), Patrick Green, Declan McWhirter, Jessica Moore, Isabelle Reed and Jack Robb (x2).

Nicole O’Connell
Year 7 Leader of Pastoral Care

Year 10

Upcoming Events

I would like to advise a change of date for Year 10 students Endless Summer that was mentioned in the previous newsletter. It will now be held on Thursday, 15 December which is also the last day of school for Year 10 students for 2022. The final week of school now looks like this:

Monday: Normal classes

Tuesday: Normal classes

Wednesday:             

• Christmas Mass:  9:15am - 10:15am
• Years 7-11 Major Awards: 11:30am -1:00pm 
• Year 10 Awards: 2:15pm - 3:13pm               

Thursday: Endless Summer at Pilot Beach 

Have a great week.

David Kennedy
Year 10 Leader of Pastoral Care

Year 11

Melbourne Cup

Melbourne Cup was celebrated in style this week with the Year 11 students dressing up to impress! There were plenty of complaints as the day wore on about sore feet from the high heels but they all looked fabulous, and there was endless laughter to be heard. Sweeps in PC, Fashions on the Field Fashion Parade, we all joined together to watch the race in the PAC at 3:00pm and amongst all the fashion and fun they actually went to class and learnt something.

Well done Year 11, you looked great!

Tracey Bewicke
Year 11 Leader of Pastoral Care 

Wellbeing

Leadership, our signature character strength this term, is defined as “the process of motivating, directing, and coordinating members of a group to achieve a common goal”. When we think of leadership we often only consider those with a position but leadership is more than that. It often feels like to be a leader you have to be elected to a role or hold a title but leadership is for anyone who wants to step up. 

I love this quote from Pope Francis:

“Be leaders wherever it behooves you to be. 
Leaders of thought, leaders of action, leaders of joy, leaders of hope,
leaders of the construction of a better world.”

I love it because it makes leadership an accessible attribute for all.  

I was recently enthralled by the 23 year old electrician from Forbes NSW, Ned Brockmann. He is a young man trying to change the world for Australians who are homeless and living on the street. In 2020 he ran 50 marathons in 50 days to raise money and recently he raised over $1.47million running from Cottesloe Beach (WA) to Bondi Beach.  3,952km, that’s the equivalent to doing the running leg of the Port Iron Man 94 times - in 46 and a half days! He has no elected position, no democratically appointed title but he is a leader, a leader through his service and commitment to making a difference.

This term is all about encouraging the students to try to do just that, trying to be a leader. We can’t all be Ned Brockmann but we can certainly lead the way in some aspect of our lives; maybe it’s standing up for someone who gets picked on, maybe it’s through classroom behaviour, maybe it’s inspiring teammates whilst playing sport or maybe it’s showing gratitude and encouraging others to do the same. 

Have a conversation about leadership in your house over the weekend, encourage your child/children to not sit back and wait, but to step up and give leadership a go.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Lisa Kable
Leader of Wellbeing - Social and Emotional Support

Lost Property

We have a number of items in lost property including jewellery and shoes which are pictured below. If you recognise anything, please collect it from the front office.

We also have school hats, jumpers, jackets, girls’ white formal shirts and skirts. If your child has lost an item that didn't have their name on it, please ask them to see staff in the front office.

All remaining items at the end of term will be donated to charity.

Aladdin Tickets On Sale Now!

Music Update

“Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.”- Martin Luther

The Voice MacKillop: A Musical Theatre Song Contest

The Voice MacKillop 2022 will take place on Thursday, 17 November in the College theatre. In this concert the College Musical Theatre Company and Pit Band will perform musical theatre repertoire from stage musicals such as Grease, Matilda, Queen, Hamilton and Six. 

The performance is open to all members of the public. We would love to see students, staff and families from the MacKillop College community present in the audience in support of our singers and the Mary MacKillop Fund.

In addition, four competition finalists will sing their winning entries to a backing track in front of a live audience who will vote for a winner on the night! (A gold coin donation will be required for audience members to vote).

Students interested in taking part in the competition are to complete the linked entry form, submit their video performance and provide a $10.00 entry fee. All details are provided on the linked entry form. 

Video entries and entry fees must be received by Friday, 4 November.

All proceeds raised from entries and from the concert will be contributed to the College Mary MacKillop Fund.

If you have any further questions or concerns please contact Rob Denham.

Links & Forms

Music Ensemble Sign Up Form

Music Tuition Request Form

Co curricular Music Google Classroom

Senior Band Stile Page

Junior Band Stile Page 

The Collective Pop & Rock Praise Band Stile Page

Saxophone Ensemble Google Classroom

Musical Theatre Company Google Classroom

Upcoming Events

Assembly Performance

• Week 5: Wednesday, November 9, Period 1 (sound check 8:15am), College Hall. Musical Theatre Company & Pit Band.

Year 7 Orientation Assembly

• Week 5: Friday, November 11, Period 1 (sound check 8:15am), College Hall. Musical Theatre Company & Pit Band.

The Voice MacKillop: A musical theatre song contest

• Week 6: Thursday November 17, 6:00pm - 8:00pm (sound check 5:00pm),  Theatre. Musical Theatre Company & Pit Band.

Youth Mass

• Week 6: Sunday November 20, meet 4:15pm at St Agnes Church for a 5:00pm start. Mass concludes at 6:00pm. Collective Praise Band & Singers.

Aladdin Performances

• Week 7: Wednesday, November 23 - Saturday November 26, St Joseph’s Regional College. NEST performers.

Christmas Parade

• Week 7: Thursday,  November 24 - Horton Street Port Macquarie. Drumline. Details to be confirmed - please contact Mrs Adams.

Summer Sessions Lunch Concerts

• Week 8: Friday, December 2 - Lunch 1 Junior COLA, Lunch 2 Senior Courtyard. Selected sololists & ensembles. Details to be confirmed - please contact Rob Denham.

Co-Curricular Music Awards Assembly

• Week 9: Wednesday, December 7 - Period 1, College Hall. Ensembles to be confirmed.

College Chirstmas Mass

• Week 10: Wednesday, December 14 - Period 1, College Hall. Collective Praise Band & Singers.

Major Awards Assembly

• Week 10: Wednesday, December 14 - Period 3 & 4, College Hall. Choir & Percussion Ensemble.

St Agnes' Parish Christmas Eve Family Mass

• Saturday, December 24 - College Hall, 6.00pm - 7.00pm. Student and Staff volunteers.

Please contact Rob Denham with any questions relating to the co-curricular music program at MacKillop College.

Robert Denham
Leader of Co-Curricular Music

Sport Update

Term 4 Sport 2022

Representative Sport

Athletics

Congratulations to Flynn Daly and Ryan Binskin who have been selected to represent NSW at the Australian Track and Field Athletics Championships to be held in Adelaide in December.

Ryan was first in the state for the 5000m and Flynn was third in the state for Long Jump.

Well done boys what outstanding results – best wishes as you compete at Nationals!

Berg Shield Cricket

Congratulations to our Berg Shield Cricket team that opened their campaign with a convincing win against St Paul’s Kempsey at Stuart Park last Friday. Kempsey were all out for 40 with our team easily getting the target within five overs.

Congratulations to Dave McMahon and the team (a full coach report will be in the next newsletter).

MacKillop College Representative Sport & Upcoming Events

All registrations for MacKillop College sport teams will be completed by students via logging into the school Moodle page. Go to the Student Links tab on the left hand side and click on the Representative Sports Registrations link. Click on the relevant sport and fill out the google form.

Students will be notified through the morning notices of when to sign up and when trials will occur.

Click on this link to register.

Lismore Diocesan Events & Registration

Please note that the following sports are currently open for students to be able to sign up to or register their interest to trial. These sports have been advertised to students through morning notices over the past week.

Please click on this link below to register for the sports.

NSWCCC Events & Registration

Students MUST be registered for the event with parent and Principal approval (or Principal delegate).

Registration is through the CSNSW Sport portal. Details on how to register.

Registrations are via the CSNSW.sport portal. For instructions on how to register go to:  Guide For Parents – Sport Registrations >>

NSWCCC Events

NSW All Schools – Events

The selection for these events are a result of the NSWCCC events.

Community Sport

If your child has achieved outstanding sporting results in their community sport, we would love to hear about it. Please email myself, or your child’s respective Leader of Pastoral Care, so we can acknowledge these achievements. 

If you have any questions regarding sport at MacKillop College, please do not hesitate to contact me either by email or phone at the College.

Erin Denham
Leader of Sport

Canteen Update

Monday 7 November 
Nicole Galea & HELP PLEASE

Tuesday 8 November
Chris Pees & Emily Duffy

Wednesday 9 November
Danielle San Gupta, Hahn Lee & Roz Brockhurst

Thursday 10 November
Heathe Sheers & Chris Jourdant

Friday 11 November
Allie Tamanti & Caroline Horan

Monday 14 November 
Chris Pees & Amanda Lorger

Tuesday 15 November 
Vanessa Wilson, Sandy Green & Louise Moore

Wednesday 16 November
Judy Ryan & Bec Eakin

Thursday 17 November
Kaylene Monckton & Hannah Temple

Friday 18 November
Jane Keegan & Sam Harrison

Due to significant price increases from suppliers over the last six months, we have had to increase our prices on some items. Please see the price list attached below for current pricing.

To order from the canteen:

1. Orders can be written out at the canteen (bags supplied free of charge).

2. Orders can be written out at home and handed in at the canteen.

3. Download the Qkr! app and order online.

All orders to be in by 8:00am please.

Please remind your child/children if you have ordered for them, and what their order is. 

If your child is sick and you have ordered, please phone the canteen (6583 2632) to arrange a credit. 

Please note to change your child's year group when using the QKR! app to order lunch for 2022.

Now available: Gluten free pies $5.00 and gluten free sausage rolls $4.00; these items must be ordered.

Canteen Help Needed

We are in need of some parent assistance for canteen. For more information and requirements on volunteering in the Canteen, or if you are able to volunteer, please follow this link. 

Homework Hubs

Maths Tutorials

Tuesday 7:45am-8:30am and  Friday 7:45am-8:30am

Room 12 Main College with Elizabeth Robertson