Term 1, Week 4, 23 February

What's On @ MacKillop

Principal's Update

The past fortnight has once again been incredibly busy across the College with Ash Wednesday, Library Lovers Day, Year 7 PAT testing, National Apology Day breakfast and flag raising ceremony, Year 11 and Year 10 Information evenings, the Stage 6 Dance and Drama excursion, and two swimming carnivals! These opportunities highlight the strength of our parent and community partnerships.

ASH WEDNESDAY

A special mention goes to the students who lead our Ash Wednesday prayer services. Under the guidance of Naomi White and Christa Morrow, students from the youth ministry classes and groups led us in prayer and distributed the ashes. This marks the beginning of Lent and our fundraising for Project Compassion, where all funds are donated to those less fortunate than ourselves.

UNIFORM

Over the past two weeks, it has been disappointing to see some students present at school with the incorrect uniform or wearing it in the way it was not intended to be worn. All students have been reminded about what it means to be part of our community and, as such, the importance of abiding by the MacKillop Code of Presentation. At MacKillop, we take pride in our presentation, and as such, I thank all parents for their continued efforts and support in ensuring our young people leave home in the correct uniform. Any student who continues to make the incorrect choice regarding the dress code will be managed in line with our Standard Operating Procedure.

ENROLMENT

Our school is moving from the current enrolment portal of Digistorm to online enrolments using Compass. As an existing user of Compass, you will find a new tile in the Compass app called Family and Enrolments, found under the “More” icon in the Compass app or under the Cog icon in your preferred browser. When the family and enrolments module goes live on Monday, February 26, 2024, as a parent, you can update your contact details anytime. We strongly encourage you to log in to confirm your details. If you update your details, they will update across all schools where you have a child enrolled.

Applications for Year 7 2025 can now be completed. Unfortunately, if you have already applied via our old system, you must resubmit your application through Compass to be considered. 

See our website for more details on how to enrol and where to get assistance if you need it.

LINES OF COMMUNICATION

With a large community of over 1100 students and 161 staff, it can be confusing for parents to know who to contact in a particular situation. As such, I think it is important to outline our lines of communication. This table is provided to facilitate communication between home and the College. Most issues at a large college like MacKillop can be resolved quickly if directed to the correct staff member.

The table below details the lines for effective communication within the college to assist you. Please note that our office hours are 8.15am–3.45pm Monday–Friday.

Christine Harmer 
Acting Principal

Years 7-12 Learning Conversations

On Monday, March 11 (Week 7) and Wednesday, March 20 (Week 8), we will hold Learning Conversations in the College Hall on the junior site from 3.30pm–7.00pm for families with children in Years 7-12. 

This is an opportunity for parents and carers to put a face to the name of their child’s teachers and share any knowledge they feel would strengthen our partnership. 

As per all conversations about our students’ learning, we encourage your child to attend the evening. These interviews are part of the critical process of our students gaining the most from their schooling and provide an opportunity for parents and teachers to meet to ensure open and collaborative communication, which assists students in their learning and growth as young men and women. 

Daniel Blackman, Leader of Inclusion and Diversity, will be available for families with students in Years 7–10 if you wish to book an appointment (20-minute timeslots). He can discuss any diagnosis your child may have and the options for in-class adjustments, intervention programmes, or co-curricular activities. Chantelle Seears, Inclusion and Diversity Team will also be available for families with students in Years 10–12 (10-minute timeslots from 6.00pm-7.00pm). 

In addition to class teachers, Jo Pilgrim, our Leader of Careers and Pathways, will be available for career discussions with students in Years 9–12 only (10-minute timeslots). 

Please note that we will use COMPASS again this year as our platform to make bookings. 

Once bookings open in Compass on the afternoon of Friday, March 1, please use the following instructions on how to use the Conference Booking section on either a desktop or phone:

Conferences - Making a Booking

Conferences - Making a Booking on the Mobile App

Bookings will close on Friday, March 8, for Monday, March 11, and Monday, March 18, for Wednesday, March 20.

Interviews are strictly 5 minutes, and spaces are limited. If you require more time, don't hesitate to contact teachers directly to make alternative arrangements.

If these dates do not suit you or your child’s teacher is unavailable, I encourage you to contact your child's teacher (by phone or email).

Adam Kelly
Assistant Principal, Learning and Teaching

NSW School Vaccination Program 2024

If your child is in Year 7 or Year 10 this year, you can now provide online consent for their routine school vaccinations. 

In Year 7, students are offered free vaccines for diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTpa) and human papillomavirus (HPV). In Year 10, students are offered the meningococcal ACWY vaccine. 

Vaccination will only be provided at school if consent has been received. 

HOW TO PROVIDE CONSENT

1.    Visit: https:// engage.heal th .nsw.gov.au/ engage
2.    Follow the steps to log in to your existing ServiceNSW account. This is the same account you may already use to renew your driver's licence. If you don't have a ServiceNSW account, refer to ServiceNSW to create one.
3.    Update or confirm your personal details in ServiceNSW as required.
4.    Complete the School Vaccination Consent Form for your child/ren. You will need to:

a)    Enter your child's personal details
b)    Provide the Medicare card details for you and your child
c)    Read the linked Parent Information Sheet and privacy statement. Translations are available in 27 languages
d)    Provide consent

If you or your child do not have a Medicare card, consent can still be provided by requesting a paper­based consent form directly from your child's school. 

For more information on routine school vaccinations, please visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/schoolvaccination. 

If you require information in your language, please visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/imrnunisation/Pages/school vaccination language.aspx

Assistant Principal - Mission

ASH WEDNESDAY

The season of Lent began on Wednesday, 14 February. The school community marked this solemn occasion with a prayer service, where the ashes burned from the palm leaves from Palm Sunday last year were placed on the foreheads of each student and staff member. The ashes are a reminder that we are indeed humans, and we need to think about acceptance and forgiveness in many situations within our own lives. The service was led by the Year 9 and 10 Youth Ministry classes. 

WELCOME

Welcome to our community! We're excited to introduce our 2024 CSO Regional Ministry Assistants, Jacob and Jaz, along with our Parish Youth Coordinator, Zac Parnell. Keep an eye out for these familiar faces around the college as they join us for lunchtime groups, retreat days, and the 5.00pm Mass and Youth Group at our local St Agnes Parish every Sunday. I am eager to collaborate with this team throughout the year, and I am confident that our school will warmly embrace them and their talents in our faith community.

LENT

Lent comes from the Old English word ‘lencten’, meaning spring—the time of new life in the northern hemisphere. To move towards a ‘new life,' fasting and prayer are practised in Lent as remembrance and reflection of our Lord’s fasting in the wilderness.

During this time, we often talk about what we will refrain from. We also discern what we are going to give. Pope Francis has previously told us almsgiving—donating money, goods, or time to the poor—'sets us free from greed and helps us to regard our neighbour as a brother or sister. What I possess is never mine alone.' Pope Francis not only underlines giving in Lent but also warns against our culture that takes, uses, or discards. 

So this Lent, in fasting and giving, let us also think about what it is to take, what it is to discard others, and what it is to deny the ‘least of our brothers and sisters.' In this, please think about the likes of Catholic Mission and Caritas as charity channels.

The theme for this year’s Caritas Project Compassion is ‘For all future generations’, and their website includes prayers and reflection and ideas for what and how we can give to others this Lent. Each week during Lent, students will have the opportunity to pray and follow the journey of three resilient women from three different corners of the world. They face vastly different challenges, but they are all united by one dream: to create a better tomorrow for all future generations. As we head into the second week of Lent, we can watch Ronita’s story of courage and persistence. 

Ronita is 22. She lives with her husband and two children in a barangay (local district) in Quezon City, which is situated in Metro Manila in the Philippines. 

Ronita left school when she became pregnant as a teenager. This could have had a life-long impact on her ability to find work and provide for her family, but, thankfully, she heard about the Alternative Learning System (ALS) programme run by the Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ), Caritas Australia’s local partner in the Philippines. 

Through the FCJ, Ronita was able to re-enrol in her studies and continue learning in a safe and flexible environment, even with the arrival of her second child. 

After completing her ALS classes, Ronita went on to earn her Grade 12 Senior High School Diploma. With her new diploma, Ronita has now secured a job at a call centre and is looking forward to a brighter future for her whole family. 

“I have now graduated senior high school, and I am so proud of myself,” she said. “I feel hopeful for the future... Now it’s not impossible for me to achieve my dream... Thank you.” 

Watch Ronita’s Story

PROJECT COMPASSION

Together, we can help vulnerable communities face their challenges today and build a better tomorrow for all future generations. 

You can donate through Project Compassion donation boxes online by visiting caritas.org.au/project-compassion or by calling 1800 024 413. Photo: Richard Wainwright/Caritas Australia

Jodie Rich
Acting Assistant Principal - Mission

Naplan

In Weeks 7 and 8 of this term, all Year 7 and Year 9 students will sit NAPLAN. These tests assess the literacy and numeracy skills your child is already learning at school. Teachers will ensure students are familiar with the format of the tests before the NAPLAN test window. It is important to remember that NAPLAN is not about passing or failing but about assessing learning progress. The best approach to preparing your child for NAPLAN is encouraging them to do their best on the day.

For your planning and to ensure all students attend school and arrive on time, please see the times below for our tests.

If you have any questions about NAPLAN, please contact Michael Peck (Acting Leader of Curriculum and NAPLAN Coordinator) via email michael.peck@lism.catholic.edu.au or by phone via the College Office 6583 2632.

Michael Peck
Leader of Curriculum

Events and Excursions - Important Information

It has been six months since the Compass platform processed our excursions and events.
To assist parents and carers with implementing the new system, we completed follow-up emails, SMS, and phone calls to ensure your child did not miss out.

However, now that everyone is familiar with the system, we will no longer be completing the length of follow-up that currently happens. There will be no follow-up phone calls; only a reminder email and text will be sent before the event's due date.

If consent and payment are not made before the consent due date, your child cannot attend.

Year 7

SWIMMING CARNIVAL SUCCESS

Year 7 students' first high school swimming carnival was a great release from the classroom.

Our PC Team was so proud of those students who could have a fantastic day in the pool and at the poolside. The carnival was an excellent opportunity for students to show off their swimming skills and compete against their peers while having fun and making new friends. All showed Great House spirit and engagement, and what impressed me greatly was the willingness to participate and try (despite a lack of confidence sometimes). We want to thank all the students and teachers who helped make the day successful.

We look forward to seeing even more impressive performances at next year's swimming carnival!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Year 7 Family Sausage Sizzle

In the spirit of continuing to build a sense of belonging and community, I invite you and your family to attend a Year 7 Family Sausage Sizzle. This will allow you to meet other children and families from your child’s PC class or friends from new friendships they have formed. It will also provide another opportunity to chat with your child’s PC teacher following the first few weeks of term.

Time: 5.00pm 

Date: Friday, 1 March 2024 

Venue: MacKillop College Junior Campus

MacKillop will provide the sausage sizzle; you are welcome to bring your own nibbles, soft drinks, juice, or similar beverages. You may also like to bring a picnic rug or fold-up chair to ensure your family is comfortable. 

Please RSVP here.

Year 7 Mass and Belonging Day

The Year 7 Mass and Belonging Day is a time for the Year 7 students and staff to come together and focus on the importance of ensuring that everyone in our cohort recognises and values every person's need to belong. 

Date: Tuesday, March 5, 2024

We hold the Mass at the St Agnes' Parish Church to better understand the church and the importance of being part of the St Agnes' Parish community.

During the day, we remind students that Mary MacKillop, our patron saint, said, “Be Kind; Be Very Kind," and we ask them to think of ways to show kindness to each other so that everyone feels included and important.

The students will engage in various team-building activities to experience belonging and encourage the care and inclusion of others.

NAPLAN

In Weeks 7 and 8 of this term, all Year 7 and Year 9 students will sit NAPLAN. These tests assess the literacy and numeracy skills your child is already learning at school. It is important to remember that NAPLAN is not about passing or failing, but about assessing learning progress. The best approach to preparing your child for NAPLAN is to encourage them to do the best they can on the day.

In the lead-up to the tests, we would just appreciate your support in ensuring that Year 7: 

• completely shut down and restart their device the night before, to allow for any updates to take place on their device;
• make sure that they have installed the lockdown browser (these details were sent via Compass to students);
• bring their earphones to listen to the audio aspects of the tests (preferably corded, not wireless); and
• fully charge their device and potentially bring a charger to top up power if needed.

TIPS FOR PARENTS OF YEAR 7

Here are a series of Year 7 parent information documents to help ensure your child's successful transition into secondary school.

Starting Secondary School: The Big 3 for Wellbeing

Starting Secondary School: Our Catholic Community

Starting Secondary School: Coping with Change

Compass: Year 7 students are asked to put their homework on their Compass dashboard under ‘My Tasks’. They can place a reminder here and add a due date. This might be an excellent place to check in about homework tasks.

My Edval: Year 7 students were emailed on February 6, giving access to My Edval. Using MyEdval, students can access a printer-friendly version of their timetable (if they have lost their original one).

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to the following students who have received a Leader of Pastoral Care Award:

Victoria Awad, Breanna Butt, Layla Buxton, Chloe Chilko, Indi Easton, William Ebbs, Madison Flowers, Lilly Fraser, Liam Friend, Angus Hawken, Liam Holding, Lila Karam, Jemma Kowalewski, Chloe Lentz, Riley Martino, Sofia McNeil, Taj Patterson, Felix Plowright, Riley Richards, Adler Robinson, Sonny Shipway, Macey Singh, Tuaka Smith, Olivia Tian lan Chung, Lincoln Wells, Edith White & Violet Wilton.

Ryan Adams
Year 7 Leader of Pastoral Care

Year 8

Over the last few weeks in PC, Year 8 students have been involved in the challenge of taking on a sense of ownership over their PC rooms. It is essential for all students to feel a sense of belonging and community in the places they work and play. Research suggests that students with a positive sense of belonging are more likely to stay in school longer, have less absenteeism, and have higher academic outcomes. Students with a high sense of belonging in school generally put in more effort and are more motivated. Have a look at some of the great work in the pictures below.

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Congratulations

Congratulations to the following students who have received a Leader of Pastoral Care Award:

Samrina Adhikari, Annabelle Ashton, Milana Baker, Jonah Barnes, Harry Creighton, Isaac Green, Tahlia Hall, Samuel Hancock, Bianca Harrison, Nathaniel Pohlmann, Mark Temple, Tianah Wehlow & Jaysen Wei.

Adam O’Brien
Year 8 Leader of Pastoral Care

Year 9

SWIMMING CARNIVAL SUCCESS

Despite the downpour earlier this week, the swimming carnival was a great school community event and a release from the classroom! Our PC Team was proud of our Year 9 students, who had a fantastic day in and at the poolside. All showed Great House spirit and engagement, and what impressed me incredibly was their willingness to participate and try, their encouragement of each other, and their show of support for their friends and peers. 

Congratulations to all who joined in with a positive, ‘will give it my best go’ attitude.

“We have much for which to be thankful.”

Lisa Kable, the Leader of Wellbeing, reminded Year 9 of the significance of students completing PULSE every Monday for 2 minutes at our year meeting. PULSE is an application that helps the college monitor the current level of wellbeing for individuals and year groups. 

Teachers can better support individual students by quickly learning how they are feeling, being alert to students who need help, and planning early interventions to mitigate factors affecting adolescent psychological and emotional health.

A great feature of PULSE is the opportunity for students to express and receive messages of gratitude. It is a wonderful way of expressing thanks and bringing warmth and a smile to another in real-time, and Year 9 was encouraged to continue this practice.

At our Year 9 meeting, I centred my address on the evidence that being thankful helps build better relationships. I explained that when we are listened to by others, we should express heartfelt gratitude and respect to the people in our lives because it will build stronger bonds and trust. 

I concluded by encouraging Year 9 students to say ‘thank you’ as a habit, especially to those who support them. I hope you will hear an unprompted ‘thank you’ for all your support and love for them this week. 

ROTARY EXCHANGE

Year 9 students can apply to be Rotary Youth Exchange students. Please see the attachment for votes of interest.

HOMEWORK SUPPORT

Homework Club is open from 3.15 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. for students in Years 7–12 each Monday–Thursday in the Senior College Library at the senior site. 

Some students prefer to keep the day's momentum to complete homework, prepare for assessments, and then go home to relax. Students are supervised by a teacher or teacher’s assistant, ready and willing to help with a specific subject and/or organisation and/or tips and/or ‘chunking down’ tasks. 

Students may attend for part of this time and sign out when ready to be picked up.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to the following students who have received a Leader of Pastoral Care Award:

Charlie Cameron, Lionel Carney, Ivy Collins, Ayla Cross, Toby Fraser, Darcie Gleeson, Paige Goldie, Amarlie Gregory, Leah Hanson, Anna Harmer, Jack Hartley, Archie Hawken, Lucas Manning, Sviatoslav Mashliatin, Tori McGrath, Charley McGuigan, Lily Moseley, Isabelle Reed & Ava Ribot De Bressac.

Nicole O’Connell
Year 9 Leader of Pastoral Care

Year 10

THANK YOU

We extend a heartfelt thank you to all the parents who joined us for the parent information session on Tuesday, February 20. Your presence and engagement underscore our commitment to fostering a strong partnership between the College and families.

The session provided a valuable platform for us to address pertinent issues directly relevant to Year 10 students, especially in this crucial stage of their academic journey. We sincerely appreciate the opportunity to discuss and share insights on various aspects that can significantly impact our students' educational experience and growth.

For those unable to attend, we understand and wish to ensure you can access the information shared during the session. Therefore, we have made the slideshow, presented during the evening, available for your convenience.

You can access the slideshow by clicking on the following link:

Again, Thank you for your participation and commitment to our shared goal of nurturing and guiding our students towards excellence.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to the following students who received a Leader of Pastoral Care award:

Cameron Bullock, Zayne Cloake, Isabella Dunn, Jasper Hall, Isabella Menjivar & Daisy Pees.

Tom Salter
Year 10 Leader of Pastoral Care

Year 11

INFORMATION EVENING 2024

Thank you to all those parents, carers, students, and staff who attended the Year 11 Information Evening last Monday. It was again great to welcome you to Year 11 at MacKillop College, and I hope you found the evening informative.

Here are some key points from the night:

Mission: “To enable every student to achieve the fullness of life” (John 10:10)

Success is part of why we are here. But we all know that education, attending school, attending MacKillop, and being a 16- or 17-year-old are much more than that. It is also about being happy, having fun but succeeding, being safe, enjoying their time here, doing well in all subjects, putting in as much effort as possible, and achieving in life. That is the fullness of life.

How do we do that? By following our vision “to nurture authentic, courageous, faith-filled people with a passion for learning,

respect for relationships and an ability to contribute to a global community.”

What does a thriving senior student do?

• They are organised and stay up to date with notes and homework.
• They see themselves as part of a broad community.
• They use their teachers well.
• They are healthy. Eat well. Sleep well. They are active!
• Support each other and encourage their friends to do well.
• Understand that school can be tough, but it can be managed.
• Their families work in partnership with the college.
• Have balance (school, work, family, sports, or social) and have social relationships.
• They use study periods productively and go to the study centre some mornings and afternoons, and
• They take responsibility for themselves.

Look after your future self; they will thank you for it!

UPCOMING SEMINARS: ELEVATE AND YOUR CHOICEZ

To further support the wellbeing of our students, Year 11 will participate in two seminars on Monday, February 26. The day will include a study skills seminar, Elevate Education, and a Respectful Relationships Seminar, Your Choicez. There will be a sausage sizzle at lunchtime after the final seminar.

Elevate

Elevate Education will be running a time management seminar addressing the second most common question: “Once I know what to do, how do I find the time to do it?” Students have busy lives, and for most, the challenge is simply finding time to get the work done.

Skills Covered: 

• STUDY ROUTINE: How to develop a study routine that allows for socialising, sports, and extracurricular activities but still ensures academic productivity;

• WORKING SMART: How to identify the work that is going to get students the most marks across their final years and how to ensure that it gets done;

• STUDY GROUPS: Students are shown how to leverage their time across the year by using study groups and

• PROCRASTINATION: Students are introduced to the most common reasons for procrastination and how to address them.

Your Choicez – Respectful Relationships

Today, our young people seem more connected than ever, yet so many are struggling with real and meaningful connections. Our Seminar Day aims to assist all students in Year 11 to find a balance in their busy lives while building and navigating healthy, happy, and safe relationships.

David and Katie Kobler will run the seminar from Your Choicez. They are two highly qualified experts with an extensive background in youth work, youth communication, and leadership. As a husband and wife team, they are passionate about the wellbeing of young people and deliver many seminars across the country addressing the concept of respectful relationships.

“Every young person should know what makes a happy, healthy, respectful relationship. Every young person should have the opportunity to consider their choices around relationships, dating, sexting, pornography, and sex. Our hope is that we can provide an opportunity for every young person to do this.” 
David and Katie Kobler, Your Choicez

For more information on this seminar, click the link: https://vimeo.com/739982724/ac3f6f21b4?share=copy 

Dan O’Dell
Year 11 Leader of Pastoral Care

Careers Corner

Jo Pilgrim is the Careers Advisor here at MacKillop College and is available Monday to Thursday to meet with students and parents/carers about any questions they may have regarding current subject choices, resumes, work experience for Year 10, university, or anything regarding career pathways for life after Year 10 and/or 12.

Please book an appointment for your study lesson, lunch, or after school. 

To book an appointment, use the link below.

https://www.mackillopcollegecareers.com/for-parents/appointment-booking

YEAR 10 OPPORTUNITY

Interested in engineering? UNSW Sydney Civil and Environmental Engineering: Work Experience Programme, 20–24 May 2024

Applications are now open for the annual work experience program. This year, it is running from May 20–24. If you are interested, contact Jo Pilgrim about it and fill out the application link below. This is an awesome opportunity not to be missed. To complete the application, click here.

Sport News

YEAR 7

Year 7 students will participate in their sport double once a fortnight. Students need to come to school in their sport uniform when their timetable indicates a double sport lesson. 

Students will need to bring to school their swimmers, towel, rash shirt, and shorts (bike pants are acceptable) to participate in the Swim & Survive course at either the Wauchope or Port Macquarie pools.

Parents have received a permission note for students to participate in the course. This should have been returned.

YEAR 8

YEAR 9

Please ensure your child has a towel, hat, rash shirt, or singlet, swimmers, and shorts (bike pants are acceptable) for their swimming lessons. If your child has a wetsuit, it is recommended that the students bring it each week. 

If your child cannot participate in sports, please provide a note to your child’s sports teacher providing a reason why your child cannot participate. Parents received a permission note for students to participate in the course. This should have been returned.

YEAR 10

REPRESENTATIVE SPORT AND UPCOMING EVENTS

MACKILLOP COLLEGE EVENTS AND REGISTRATION

All registrations for MacKillop College sports teams will be completed by students by 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: http://moodle.pmaclism.catholic.edu.au/course/view.php?id=650

LISMORE DIOCESAN EVENTS AND REGISTRATION

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

Please click on the link below to register for the sport.

http://sport.lism.catholic.edu.au/registration

CSNSW SPORT REGISTRATION 

Registration is through the CSNSW.sport portal. Details on how to register – Guide For Parents – Sport Registrations >>

Please note that the NSWCCC Sport registrations for individual nominations for 2024 selections are open for the following trials:

Swimming and Touch Football registrations are through the Diocesan/Association pathways.

For further information, go to the CSNSW Sport website Sport pages. https://csnsw.sport/

NSW ALL SCHOOLS – EVENTS 

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

COMMUNITY SPORT 

Recently, some students from MacKillop represented NSW at the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup in Albury over the January holidays. It was a week-long tournament with teams from Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand competing. 

Tallin Morris and his team were undefeated winners of the U14 boys title, winning the nail-biting final against Tasmania by 2 points. The other students who attended were Sam Blain, Blake Collins, and Mikayla Adams.

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

Music News

“Music, great music, relaxes the mind, awakens profound sentiments, and is, as it were, a natural invitation to raise one’s mind and heart to God in every situation of human existence, both joyful and sad. Music can become prayer.” Pope Benedict XVI

The role of the co-curricular music programme at MacKillop College is to provide musical enrichment to students and service to the parish and the community. Ensembles participate in local festivals and events, provide music for mass, attend workshops, perform at college assemblies, and participate in band tours and competitions nationally and internationally. Through these experiences, we hope to nurture a sense of camaraderie, teamwork, community, cultural and spiritual service, and a pure love of making and sharing music with others. 

The music staff at MacKillop are excited to offer an extensive ensemble program. There are many proven benefits to learning a musical instrument relating to brain development. Playing music in an ensemble setting builds upon such benefits and reinforces social interaction, teamwork, discipline, and goal-setting. Furthermore, students must understand the importance of their ensemble membership. Ensemble members are expected to regularly and punctually attend rehearsals, participate positively and respectfully, understand their role as part of a team, and participate in performances to the best of their ability. To maintain the positive growth of the music ensemble programme at MacKillop College, students are asked to adhere to the expectations provided below.

SIGN UP!

Students interested in participating in the co-curricular music ensemble programme in 2024 are to ensure that they have completed the Google Form linked here. All students from years 7–12 must complete the form, regardless of their previous involvement in the programme. 

ATTENDANCE

Ensemble members must attend all rehearsals, performances, workshops, and special events annually. As a courtesy, students must inform their ensemble director of any planned absences before a rehearsal or event. Rolls are taken at all rehearsals, performances, and workshops. Students with unexplained absences will be required to provide written explanations signed by a parent to the leader of co-curricular music. It is essential that students arrive at rehearsal five minutes before the scheduled start time to ensure that time is not lost on setting up instruments. Students are to move as quickly as possible to lunch rehearsals from class. 

Understandably, there will be times when students are late to rehearsals or performances for a wide range of reasons. Ensemble directors and the leader of co-curricular music will always keep this in mind when discussing absences with students and parents.

REHEARSALS

Rehearsal times for all ensembles are set out in the MacKillop College Rehearsal Schedule, made available to students through the co-curricular music Google Classroom page and printed in the newsletter. Rehearsal schedules and other information are also posted on the music notice boards outside music classrooms and rehearsal spaces.

As a courtesy, students must inform their ensemble director and the leader of co-curricular music in writing if they can no longer commit to membership in an ensemble. This information will assist with future planning.

The ensemble timetable for term 1, 2024, is included below to assist with organisation. Please read over this information and take note of times and venues.

TUITION

Many aspiring music students today often find “DIY” musical instrument teaching resources through online courses, apps, and YouTube courses. While such technology is a good aid for learning, research states that the best way to learn a musical instrument is through individual tuition from an expert teacher. Furthermore, the stage 6 music curriculum requires students to perform for assessment on an instrument of their choice. It is, therefore, necessary for schools with an interest in music excellence to provide opportunities for students to learn an instrument. As part of the MacKillop College Co-curricular Music Programme, students can arrange private instrumental tuition directly with tutors at their homes or studios, at school during breaks, or during class time.

Students and parents wishing to join the music tuition programme are invited to complete the form linked here. The co-curricular music coordinator will provide you with the contact details for a suitable tutor. Families then must arrange an appropriate lesson time with that tutor, either at school or in their own private studio. If opting for lessons during school hours, tutors will set an alternating timetable to ensure that students are not missing the same lessons each week (lessons cannot be organised during timetabled sports).

Currently, drum kit, percussion, woodwind, brass, piano, strings (violin and cello), and guitar tuition are on campus at the college. Other instrumental tutors will be invited to operate from the college when demand arises.

Generally, the best time to contact tutors to arrange lesson times is during Term 4 (as HSC students move on) and Term 1. It is more likely that tutors will have available time slots during these terms.

INAUGURAL MASS & ASH WEDNESDAY

Thank you to all the student musicians who provided music for the inaugural mass and Ash Wednesday. Your commitment to music ministry at the beginning of the year is particularly appreciated, given the short preparation time. Well done!

CONCERT BAND & CHOIR PARENT HELPERS

We are looking for parent/grandparent volunteers to support the ensemble program. It might be that you currently play or sing in a local ensemble or have had previous experience at any level. Help is needed within the ensemble rehearsal to play or sing alongside other students and assist with note reading.

If interested and available, don't hesitate to get in touch with Robert Denham (Leader of co-curricular Music) for more information.

LINKS & FORMS

Music Ensemble Sign Up Form 2024
Music Tuition Request Form 2024
Instrument Rental Agreement 2024

UPCOMING EVENTS

• YOUTH & FAMILY MASS

(St Agnes Church) Week 4  - Sunday February 25, 5.00pm, Collective Praise Band & Singers

• MACKILLOP COLLEGE ASSEMBLY PERFORMANCE

(College Hall) Week 5 - Wednesday February 28, period 1, Collective Praise Band & Singers

• YEAR 7 MASS

(St Agnes Church) Week 6  - Tuesday March 5, Period 1, Collective Praise Band & Singers

• CARITAS (HARMONY DAY) LUNCH CONCERT

(COLA) Week 8  - Thursday March 21, lunch 2, selected students and ensembles

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

Robert Denham
Leader of Co-Curricular Music

Creative Arts Nest

A4 Art Launch

The Creative Arts Nest, along with St Agnes’ Education, is thrilled to announce the return of A4Art for its third year! The 2024 A4Art Prize aims to ignite creativity among young artists and staff across our six St Agnes’ Parish Schools.

Finalists' artworks will be featured in a travelling exhibition, allowing emerging artists to showcase their work. You all will again have the opportunity to vote for your favourite artworks when the exhibition comes to our school.

With a prize pool of over $5000, including support from new sponsors such as Port Macquarie Surf School, Twotriplefour, and Antonjia Gross Studios, along with returning sponsors such as Seed Creative, Drawn to Art, The Wauchope Creative Hub, Innervision Surf and Skate, Sunset Gallery, Alice in Paperland, Belle Property (Luminosity), Wildnets, and Stoney Aqua Park, artists have the chance to win some fantastic prizes.

Open to all students from kindergarten to year 12, along with staff, A4Art challenges participants to unleash their creativity on a single A4 piece of paper. Judges will strictly adhere to the listed conditions on the website, emphasising no cardboard backing, framing, or additional materials like clay—just pure creativity with that one piece of paper.

The A4ART Prize is officially open. Find more details on categories, prizes, and terms and conditions at artsnest.com.au. The countdown to creativity begins now!

Busways Notices

School Bus and Route Service Changes

Due to the upcoming closure of Emerald Dr at Ocean Dr, Port Macquarie; multiple School Bus and Route Service changes will be commencing Monday, March 4 2024. Detailed information regarding how these changes will impact students travel to and from your School are noted in the letters below.

The attached letters will be distributed to students on the affected Busways service.

PLEASE NOTE: the completion of these works is weather dependent however, when completed a traffic switch will occur resulting in the closure of Matthew Flinders Dr at Ocean Dr, therefore additional changes to services may be required of which Busways will provide further notification for students, parents, and School administrators.

For additional information, please refer to your schools timetabled services at: https://www.busways.com.au/nsw/school-services/school-timetables and select the link adjacent to your schools’ name; “New timetable | 04 March 2024”, we have also attached a copy for your convenience. 

Alternatively, you can contact Busways Customer Service on 1300 692 929 or infoline@busways.com.au.

BE BUS AWARE

Our school bus operator, Busways, is reminding all road users, parents, and students to ‘be bus aware’ as part of Transport for NSW’s Bus Safety Week campaign, running February 19–25.

Bus Safety Week, part of the ‘Be Bus Aware’ campaign, sees governments, bus operators, and emergency services raise awareness about the importance of being safe in and around buses and spread the message to ‘Be Bus Aware’.

The initiative provides a timely reminder to parents to have a talk with their children about bus safety; to motorists when giving way to buses; to pedestrians to make sure they are aware of their surroundings; and to cyclists to ensure they can see where buses are. We all have a part to play in bus safety.

The ‘Be Bus Aware’ campaign has been developed with input from Bus NSW, NSW Police, and Transport for NSW. 

For more information on bus safety or to learn about Transport for NSW’s ‘Be Bus Aware’ campaign, visit https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/campaigns/be-bus-aware/ or visit the Busways website at https://www.busways.com.au/. 

Canteen Update

Monday 11 March
Vanessa Aird & Michael Richards

Tuesday 12 March
Jenny Murray, Julie Tipper & Chris Pees

Wednesday 13 March
Danielle Sen Gupta, Roz Brockhurst

Thursday 14 March
Jo Sexton

Friday 15 March
Christine Brumby, Jane Keegan & Sam Harrison

Monday 18 March
Mayo Brumby
Amada lorger (Lunch 2) 

Tuesday 19 March
Vanessa Wilson & Louise Moore

Wednesday 20 March
Elizabeth Wotton  (Lunch 1)
Sarah Dahalenberg  (Lunch 2)

Thursday 21 March
Noeline Rooney
Help Please

Friday 22 March
Priscilla Turnbull, Mel Collins
Help Please

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 are to be in by 8:00am, please.

Please ensure when ordering online that your child year group is correct.

There is hot food available over the counter to purchase, however, to avoid disappointment it is best to order.

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 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

The canteen is desperately seeking volunteers for one hour per month. No cooking, cleaning or stocking is needed, just serving our lovely students. Even if you can only do one half-hour shift it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you to all of our current volunteers, we appreciate your help.

Sign up and receive a Welcome Pack (coffee voucher, chocolates, voucher for your child to use at the canteen).
Please contact Maxine at the College 6583 2632 or via email at maxine.stone@lism.catholic.edu.au 

Homework Hub

Maths Tutorials

Friday 7.45am-8.30am

Room 12 Main College with Elizabeth Robertson

Community Events