Term 1, Week 8, 22 March
What's On @ MacKillop
Week 9 Term 1 | |
Monday 25 March | Year 10 Retreat, Day 1 |
Tuesday 26 March | Year 10 Retreat, Day 2 |
Wednesday 27 March | Year 10 Retreat, Day 3 |
Thursday 28 March | Year 10 Retreat, Day 4 |
Friday 29 March | Good Friday - Public Holiday |
Week 10 Term 1 | |
Monday 1 April | Easter Monday, Public Holiday |
Tuesday 2 April | |
Wednesday 3 April | Year 10 Mass & #wethrive Day, North Brother & Lake Cathie |
Thursday 4 April | Transitus, Selected Year 7 Students, Yarrahapinni, Day 1 |
Friday 5 April | Colours For Caritas Out Of Uniform Day, $2 Donation |
Principal's Report
This upcoming Sunday marks Palm Sunday, heralding the commencement of Holy Week, a significant period in the Catholic Church dedicated to honouring the death and resurrection of Christ. Throughout this week, various traditional rites are observed, and at MacKillop, we will come together on Holy Thursday for an Easter Prayer Service. I extend my gratitude to Mr. Brad Vergano and all the students involved for their contributions in helping us recognise and contemplate the importance of Easter.
As outlined in our first newsletter, we have identified four priority areas for 2024, with substantial progress already made across all domains. In our efforts to review our Pastoral Care structure, I express my appreciation to our Pastoral team for diligently collecting data and refining proposals in preparation for our upcoming Staff Development Day next term. I also extend my thanks to the parents and students who participated in our survey on this matter, as your input is invaluable to this process.
Furthermore, I'm pleased to introduce a new method for students to log their community service hours. With the removal of the diary, students can now conveniently record their hours via the "Community Service Log" link located in the Favourites tab on Compass. This streamlined process will enable us to track their contributions and recognise their service at future award ceremonies.
Additionally, we are in the midst of updating certain procedures, such as our Return-from-Suspension protocols, which were revised late last year to align with our goal of fostering respectful relationships. These procedures have been disseminated to all students via year meetings, and I encourage parents to familiarise themselves with them through the following document.
Throughout the last fortnight, we have conducted Learning Conversations spanning Years 7 to 12. It has been a wonderful chance to extend a warm welcome to new families, engage with teachers, and strengthen the connection between school, students, and parents. At the term, all students from Years 7 to 11 will receive a progress report outlining their commitment to learning. This report will offer insights into their classroom readiness, homework completion, attitude, and participation in lessons. Both the “Commitment to Learning” report and the Learning Conversations serve as invaluable tools for students to set and pursue goals for their education.
I would also like to commend the exceptional achievement of one of our 2023 alumni, Noah Thick, and his teacher, Mr. Daniel O’Dell. Noah’s HSC major work in Timber was chosen to be exhibited in Shape, a remarkable accomplishment deserving of celebration. Noah and his family had the opportunity to commemorate this achievement with Mr. O’Dell in Sydney on Monday during the official ceremony. Congratulations, Noah!
Lastly, I extend warm wishes for a safe and joyous Easter to all families and staff. May you travel safely and enjoy the long weekend.
Christine Harmer
Acting Principal
Year 7 2025 Information Night
Assistant Principal Mission
Colours for Caritas
On Friday, April 5, we will celebrate Colours for Caritas as an out-of-uniform day. The event will be promoted at our Week 9 assembly. Students will be asked for a minimum $2 donation.
Symbols relating to the theme of Project Compassion, ‘For All Future Generations’, will be given to students in their pastoral class. After an activity using these themes, students will post the themes on the windows of every pastoral class across the college. This will serve as a visual prompt to act with motivation and generosity far beyond one’s own self-interest.
Holy Week
Isaiah 50:4–7 I Philippians 2:6–11 I Mark 14:1–15:47 or Mark 15:1–39
We see images of the cross everywhere, from school uniforms to hospital buildings. Perhaps it is so commonplace that it doesn’t stop us in our tracks the way it should. The cross of Jesus is the best key we have for understanding the mystery of God’s love. God’s compassion for the human family took Jesus to a lonely and brutal execution. Jesus was the victim of appalling injustice and degradation. His experience asks us to try to make the world more just and to revere the dignity of every person. ‘Whatsoever you do to the least of my sisters and brothers, you do to me.’ This is part of the reason why Project Compassion has, for 60 years, been part of our Lenten observance.
This year, Holy Week begins with the reading of the passion story from Mark’s Gospel. Even in busy lives, we should try to set time aside to spend with this extraordinary story, not to rush it. Gently take a little at a time and ask for the grace to be close to Jesus. In the Spiritual Exercises, St Ignatius asks us ‘to consider how the divinity hides itself.’
One way to spend time with the passion story is to take a different character each week and quietly ponder what it looked like to them and what they may have felt. Here is a suggestion:
- Sunday –Judas Iscariot
- Monday –Simon Peter
- Tuesday –The high priest
- Wednesday –Pontius Pilate
- Thursday – Simon of Cyrene
- Friday – The centurion
- Saturday – Mary of Magdala
Let us remember a beautiful prayer of just seven words that was taught to Pope Francis by his grandmother: Jesus, make my heart more like yours. We pray that the mystery of the death of Jesus will deepen within our hearts. May we be ready to take up the cross in our time, especially as we support those who experience injustice throughout the world. Amen
Pope Francis has issued the Lenten statement for 2024, entitled “Through the desert, God leads us to freedom”.
Dear brothers and sisters!
When our God reveals himself, his message is always one of freedom: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Ex 20:2). These are the first words of the Decalogue given to Moses on Mount Sinai.
Those who heard them were quite familiar with the exodus of which God spoke: the experience of their bondage still weighed heavily upon them. In the desert, they received the “Ten Words” as a thoroughfare to freedom. We call them “commandments”, in order to emphasize the strength of the love by which God shapes his people.
The call to freedom is a demanding one. It is not answered straightaway; it has to mature as part of a journey. Just as Israel in the desert still clung to Egypt – often longing for the past and grumbling against the Lord and Moses – today too, God’s people can cling to an oppressive bondage that it is called to leave behind.
We realize how true this is at those moments when we feel hopeless, wandering through life like a desert and lacking a promised land as our destination. Lent is the season of grace in which the desert can become once more – in the words of the prophet Hosea – the place of our first love (cf. Hos 2:16-17). God shapes his people, he enables us to leave our slavery behind and experience a Passover from death to life. Like a bridegroom, the Lord draws us once more to himself, whispering words of love to our hearts.
The exodus from slavery to freedom is no abstract journey. If our celebration of Lent is to be concrete, the first step is to desire to open our eyes to reality. When the Lord calls out to Moses from the burning bush, he immediately shows that he is a God who sees and, above all, hears: “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey” (Ex 3:7-8).
Today too, the cry of so many of our oppressed brothers and sisters rises to heaven. Let us ask ourselves: Do we hear that cry? Does it trouble us? Does it move us? All too many things keep us apart from each other, denying the fraternity that, from the beginning, binds us to one another.
During my visit to Lampedusa, as a way of countering the globalization of indifference, I asked two questions, which have become more and more pressing: “Where are you?” (Gen 3:9) and “Where is your brother?” (Gen 4:9).
Our Lenten journey will be concrete if, by listening once more to those two questions, we realize that even today we remain under the rule of Pharaoh. A rule that makes us weary and indifferent. A model of growth that divides and robs us of a future. Earth, air and water are polluted, but so are our souls. True, Baptism has begun our process of liberation, yet there remains in us an inexplicable longing for slavery. A kind of attraction to the security of familiar things, to the detriment of our freedom.
In the Exodus account, there is a significant detail: it is God who sees, is moved and brings freedom; Israel does not ask for this. Pharaoh stifles dreams, blocks the view of heaven, makes it appear that this world, in which human dignity is trampled upon and authentic bonds are denied, can never change. He put everything in bondage to himself.
Let us ask: Do I want a new world? Am I ready to leave behind my compromises with the old? The witness of many of my brother bishops and a great number of those who work for peace and justice has increasingly convinced me that we need to combat a deficit of hope that stifles dreams and the silent cry that reaches to heaven and moves the heart of God.
This “deficit of hope” is not unlike the nostalgia for slavery that paralyzed Israel in the desert and prevented it from moving forward. An exodus can be interrupted: how else can we explain the fact that humanity has arrived at the threshold of universal fraternity and at levels of scientific, technical, cultural, and juridical development capable of guaranteeing dignity to all, yet gropes about in the darkness of inequality and conflict.
God has not grown weary of us. Let us welcome Lent as the great season in which he reminds us: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Ex 20:2).
Lent is a season of conversion, a time of freedom. Jesus himself, as we recall each year on the first Sunday of Lent, was driven into the desert by the Spirit in order to be tempted in freedom. For forty days, he will stand before us and with us: the incarnate Son.
Unlike Pharaoh, God does not want subjects, but sons and daughters. The desert is the place where our freedom can mature in a personal decision not to fall back into slavery. In Lent, we find new criteria of justice and a community with which we can press forward on a road not yet taken.
This, however, entails a struggle, as the book of Exodus and the temptations of Jesus in the desert make clear to us. The voice of God, who says, “You are my Son, the Beloved” (Mk 1:11), and “You shall have no other gods before me” (Ex 20:3) is opposed by the enemy and his lies.
Even more to be feared than Pharaoh are the idols that we set up for ourselves; we can consider them as his voice speaking within us. To be all-powerful, to be looked up to by all, to domineer over others: every human being is aware of how deeply seductive that lie can be. It is a road well-travelled.
We can become attached to money, to certain projects, ideas or goals, to our position, to a tradition, even to certain individuals. Instead of making us move forward, they paralyze us. Instead of encounter, they create conflict. Yet there is also a new humanity, a people of the little ones and of the humble who have not yielded to the allure of the lie. Whereas those who serve idols become like them, mute, blind, deaf and immobile (cf. Ps 114:4), the poor of spirit are open and ready: a silent force of good that heals and sustains the world.
It is time to act, and in Lent, to act also means to pause. To pause in prayer, in order to receive the word of God, to pause like the Samaritan in the presence of a wounded brother or sister. Love of God and love of neighbour are one love. Not to have other gods is to pause in the presence of God beside the flesh of our neighbour.
For this reason, prayer, almsgiving and fasting are not three unrelated acts, but a single movement of openness and self-emptying, in which we cast out the idols that weigh us down, the attachments that imprison us. Then the atrophied and isolated heart will revive. Slow down, then, and pause!
The contemplative dimension of life that Lent helps us to rediscover will release new energies. In the presence of God, we become brothers and sisters, more sensitive to one another: in place of threats and enemies, we discover companions and fellow travelers. This is God’s dream, the promised land to which we journey once we have left our slavery behind.
The Church’s synodal form, which in these years we are rediscovering and cultivating, suggests that Lent is also a time of communitarian decisions, of decisions, small and large, that are countercurrent. Decisions capable of altering the daily lives of individuals and entire neighbourhoods, such as the ways we acquire goods, care for creation, and strive to include those who go unseen or are looked down upon.
I invite every Christian community to do just this: to offer its members moments set aside to rethink their lifestyles, times to examine their presence in society and the contribution they make to its betterment. Woe to us if our Christian penance were to resemble the kind of penance that so dismayed Jesus. To us too, he says: “Whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting” (Mt 6:16).
Instead, let others see joyful faces, catch the scent of freedom and experience the love that makes all things new, beginning with the smallest and those nearest to us. This can happen in every one of our Christian communities.
To the extent that this Lent becomes a time of conversion, an anxious humanity will notice a burst of creativity, a flash of new hope. Allow me to repeat what I told the young people whom I met in Lisbon last summer: “Keep seeking and be ready to take risks. At this moment in time, we face enormous risks; we hear the painful plea of so many people.
Indeed, we are experiencing a third world war fought piecemeal. Yet let us find the courage to see our world, not as being in its death throes but in a process of giving birth, not at the end but at the beginning of a great new chapter of history. We need courage to think like this” ( Address to University Students, 3 August 2023). Such is the courage of conversion, born of coming up from slavery. For faith and charity take hope, this small child, by the hand. They teach her to walk, and at the same time, she leads them forward. [1]
I bless all of you and your Lenten journey.
God Bless.
Peter Murphy
Assistant Principal - Mission
Year 7
Easter Egg Raffle
It is a MacKillop tradition that Year 7 engage in a special act of kindness for the whole school community by donating Easter eggs over the remaining weeks of this term. Their donations are packaged into hampers for our school Easter Egg Raffle held next week, on Thursday, 28 March (Week 9). The success of the Easter Egg Raffle depends on Year 7’s generosity; if every student donated, that would be 215 chocolate goodies! Thank you to those who have already donated.
They can also buy the raffle tickets and increase their chances of bringing home a chocolate treat for the Easter weekend.
All proceeds from the raffle are given to Project Compassion.
Volleyball Competition
This week, Year 7 started their PC volleyball competition. House spirit and rivalries have come to the fore, and lots of great skills have been on show. This competition will take place on Tuesdays at Lunch 2 in the College Hall from Week 8 through Week 11 of Term 1. Year 7 students are able to wear their sports uniform on Tuesdays until the end of term.
Thank you to Ms. Bewicke and the SRC for running this great competition.
Year 7 Science Fun
7 Science 1 students have recently practiced writing an experimental method where they followed specific instructions to make fairy bread. Students then had to write out a method that detailed every step that they had followed. Students were so enthusiastic and have had a terrific start to Year 7.
Congratulations
Congratulations to the following students who have received a Silver Principal’s Award.
Silver Principals Award: William Ebbs & Akshara Sanaw.
Congratulations to the following students who have received a Leader of Pastoral Care Award.
LoPC Awards: Mahalia Anderson, Millie Andrew, Geordie Baird, Esther Ballard, Stephanie Banham, Kade Bartlett, Riley Batman, Breanna Butt, Mason Caltabiano, Judd Charet, Oscar Collins, Ruby Davies, Sophie Donohoe, Indigo Duncan, William Ebbs, Drew Evans, Lainey Fenton, Madison Flowers, Lilly Fraser, Sienna Furney, Grace Gallery, Anna Gardiner, Demi Gluyas, Xander Godfrey, Stephanie Gould, Amira Grech, Maya Griffiths, Zarley Groth, Mitchell Hagenbach, Sophie Hanson, Francesca Healey, Cooper Hollis, Lila Karam, Brady Keane, Nathan Keane, Samuel King, Jacob Lane-Rowsthorne, Sebastien Ledbrook, Asha Maher, Noah Marchant, Riley Martino, Torie Matheson, Antonia McEntyre, Archie McKeough, Sofia McNeil, Charlotte Miles, Mikaela Moffatt, Karsanth Mohanaranjan, Xavier Morrison, Annaliese Murphy, Dominic O'Brien, Alina O'Brien, Charlotte Pascua, Hudson Peir, Natasha Pirnie, Jaxon Radford, Ranuki Ranasinghe, Chloe Robertson, James Rohr, Benjamin Ryan, Akshara Sanaw, Akshara Sanaw, Isla Scaysbrook, Chance Schmatloch, Joshua Spicer, Hudson Sprague, Nathaniel Sun Zhong, Braxton Sutherland, Jack Swift, Olive Tait, Samuel Tarbox, Zachary Thomas, Ethan Thompson, Olivia Tian Lan Chung, Madilyn Tinley, Levi Toomalatai, Piper Trindall, Charles Trotter, Kyan Vonbun, Ari Waite, Amalee Welch, Lincoln Wells, Ella Welsh, Amelia Williams, Violet Wilton, Luca Young & Brooke Young.
Ryan Adams
Year 7 Leader of Pastoral Care
Year 8
During extended PC Last week, Year 8 gathered as a cohort to raise money for Project Compassion, Caritas Australia’s main annual fundraising campaign. Project Compassion is an extraordinary demonstration of the faith, empathy, and generosity of its supporters. A big congratulations to Mr. Coelho and PC 8O2 for taking out the coin line challenge, raising a whopping $126.25 with a line of coins over 38.8m. Year 8 raised $361 collectively for Project Compassion, embodying the core of Mary MacKillop’s charism, “Never see a need without doing something about it.".
Congratulations to the following student who has received a Silver Principal’s Award.
Silver Principals Award: Evie Thomson.
Congratulations to the following students who have received a Leader of Pastoral Care Award.
LoPC Awards: Baxter Allison, Grace Ashton, Jacob Bell, Darcy Bird, Knox Blake, Piper Brennan-Riley, Angus Browning, Isaac Buttsworth, Millie Byrne, Patrick Byrne, Javier Carle, Lola Caruso, Ryder Colthorpe, Emily Cook, Harry Creighton, Kaylie Dawson, Olivia Edmund, Shuo Fang, Thomas Fiene, Amy Fitzgerald, Bethany Folkes (x2), Lucy Ford, Jake Gainsford, Indie Gardoll-Marjoribanks, Lucas Garnett, Joshua Goldie, Joshua Gray, Isaac Green, Evie Hall, Bianca Harrison, Isabella Hawkins, Matisse Hazelton-Kelly, Harrison Healey, Evelyn Hope, James Hunt, Lucia Hurdle, Nate James, Jayden Jamnadas, Max Jordan, Talia Kapila, Siena King, Elijah Kyan, Patrick Leman, Indy Lorger, Tasman Maggs, Tallin Morris, Georgie Mulder, Amelie Obeid, Livia Pelley, Jakob Pol, Maya Pryce-Boylan, Finn Punton, Chloe Ribot de Bressac, Addison Rolfe, Benjamin Romer, Jaye Rutishauser, Jakob Schmidt, Lalita Sen Gupta, Sophia Sivell, Tora Smith, Annalise Southwell, Tahlia Sutherland, Kalani Taylor, Tahlia Thompson, Evie Thomson (x2), Eli Tink, Zoe Townsend, Aleisha Van Lint, Ella Walker, Lachlan Walters, Ruby Williams, Cody Williams, Sophia Wilmot & Ruby Winters.
Adam O’Brien
Year 8 Leader of Pastoral Care
Year 9
“We have much for which to be thankful.”.
School life, schoolwork satisfaction, and wellbeing are inextricably linked.
This year, I have introduced the PC Cup Challenge, a friendly competition between Year 9 PCs to promote connectedness between students and staff through fun challenges.
Last week in extended PC, all students were invited to participate in the challenge:
- Make a paper aeroplane out of recycled paper.
- To qualify, you must record your name with a message of gratitude.
Criteria: The longest flight wins
It was great to see students curious and investigating aerodynamics, but more importantly, articulate who or what they are thankful for in their lives. When we focus on the things we regret, such as failed relationships, family disputes, and setbacks, we tend to become more regretful. Conversely, when we focus on things we are grateful for, a greater sense of happiness tends to pervade our lives. While no one would argue for cultivating a false sense of blessedness, there is mounting evidence that counting our blessings is one of the best habits we can develop to promote mental and physical health.
The students’ anticipation and excitement were palpable, drawing our Acting Principal, Christine Harmer, Assistant Principal of Pastoral Care, Jennifer Campbell, and Leader of Wellbeing—Social and Emotional support, Lisa Kable—to attend the event with interest. Leader of Pastoral Care Stage 5, Glen Littler, ensured take-off was smoothly executed, and Leader of Wellbeing and Behaviour Support, Warren Lorger, generated enthusiasm and fairness in his final judgement of the winner.
Congratulations to Elijah Schmidt, who pipped Billy Brockhouse by 9mm, bringing home the Cup for two weeks to 9 Oxley 1. Yet all participants benefited, as evident by their responses in my debrief:
Q: What do you think was the purpose of this challenge?
A: To learn the art of making a paper plane; to have fun’ to remind us we all have something to be grateful for.
Upcoming Year 9 Assessments
Details of assessments are located on the College Moodle site.
Week 9
- Religious Education IC EOL Scheduled lessons during the week
- Child Studies HI Tuesday, 26 March
- Commerce HI Wednesday, 27 March
- Easter Service P1 Thursday, 28 March
- Good Friday, 29 March
Week 10
- Easter Monday, 1 April
- PDHPE IC: Scheduled lesson during the week
- Science IC Thursday, 4 April
- Mathematics IC Fri, 5 April
Congratulations
Congratulations to the following students who have received a Leader of Pastoral Care Award:
LoPC Awards: Khye Bibby (x2), Oliver Bishell, Charlie Cameron, Ethan Carey, Samantha Carr, James Cockshutt, Rhyder Collins, Riley Dailey, Hunter Davis, Peter Field, Archie Hawken, Julia Helena Streegan, Macey Hender, Jackson Hollis (x2), Caitlyn Hucker, Dylan Keane, Rhys Kendal, Annabelle Kerr, Sophie Kirkpatrick, Layley Lewis, Poppy Mason, Patrick McDonald, Alyssa McNamara, Tahlia-Lucy Merrett-Sivell, Angelina Mifsud-Scriven, Zoe Mizzi, Claire Morris, Ally Newton, Caitlin Nottle, Vilius Philp, Valentina Piccolruaz, Charlie Power, Isabelle Reed, Hayley Rickard, Alex Saunders, Nate Sheldon, Lara Smith, Jude Vasilescu, Jude Vasilescu, Nyah Villagran-Eichmann, Aidan Wadwell, Lani Warren Jaxon Waser, Luke Westman, Stirling Wickham, Addison Williams, Isaac Woolfe & Mia Zvirzdinas.
Nicole O'Connell
Year 9 Leader of Pastoral Care
Year 10
Retreat
We're thrilled to announce the completion of preparations for the Year 10 Retreat. This event is not just about taking a break; it's an essential opportunity for students to deepen their faith and forge stronger bonds with their peers.
In our fast-paced lives, it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters. The Retreat offers a chance to pause, reflect, and connect with our spiritual selves and each other. Through activities and discussions, we aim to nurture not only academic growth but also emotional and social well-being.
We encourage students to approach the Retreat with an open mind and engage fully. Embrace the chance to learn, ask questions, and grow together. We're grateful to all who have made this retreat possible, and we look forward to the transformative experiences it will bring.
Workload and assessment tasks
I would like to acknowledge that this is a busy period for Year 10 students. Therefore, it is important to highlight the importance of effective study habits and time management. With plenty of assessments ahead, it's crucial to study smart and make the most of your time.
Establishing a regular study routine and managing time wisely are keys to success. Find what works best for you—whether it's setting aside specific study times or breaking tasks into manageable chunks. Use tools like planners or apps to stay organised and prioritise tasks.
Remember, it's okay to ask for help when needed. Reach out to teachers, collaborate with classmates, and utilise the resources available to you. Approach each assessment task with diligence and a positive attitude, knowing that growth comes from challenges.
Awards
Congratulations to our most recent Leader of Pastoral Care award recipients.
Silver Principals Award: Zayne Cloake & Jasper Hall
LoPC Awards: Daniel Allen, Luke Arnold, Mia Bailey, Tane Bartlett, Abbie Brennan, Ella Bucci, Cameron Bullock, Flynn Burrage, Makya Carney, Lachlan Cheney-Hoy, Alexander Clapoudis, Zayne Cloake (x2), Harley Cottom, Lilly Cox, Caitlin Davis, Amelia Dowd, Daisy Duncan, Isabella Dunn, Jaesan Edmund, Cooper Evans, Roxy-Skye Eyles, Megan Goldie, Harrison Gray, Kale Haese, Jasper Hall, Mikayla Haste, Ashleigh Heal, Jeremy Hopfe, Gabriella Horan Juzenas, Samuel Howard, Willis Jensen, Ethan Kelly, Charlee Lawlor, Blake Liddle, Jackson Mayne, Margaret McKenzie, Amy McWilliams, Matthew Mizzi, Max Moseley, Tom Newman, Levi Noonan, Daisy Pees, Rhianna Petrou, Jesper Robinson, Angus Saidey, Trinity Schein, Marcellus Skea, Alex Slavin, Sienna Spicer, Lucy Strahorn, George Swanson, Hannah Taylor, Chase Thompson, Darwin Tink, Imogen Turnbull, Hugo Van Den Nieuwenhof, Aaron Walsh, Lara Woolfe & Audrey Woolnough.
Tom Salter
Year 10 Leader of Pastoral Care
Year 12
You Choose
Last week, Years 11 and 12 were very lucky to be able to listen to a talk from Melissa McGuiness, the founder of the YOU CHOOSE program. Melissa told the story of her son Jordan, who caused the deaths of four innocent young people in a car crash in which he also died. He was speeding and under the influence of alcohol and marijuana.
Since her son’s death, Melissa has made it her mission to change the culture of recklessness among Australia’s young people. YOU CHOOSE has developed from this mission as an educational programme that is engaged by schools, councils, police, and community organisations around Australia to uplift young people as social advocates of good choices.
YOU CHOOSE activates students’ hearts for social mission, challenging them to protect their loved ones and their community by rejecting the misguided myth that reckless choices are ‘a part of growing up’. Our students were invited to embrace the opportunity to be the first generation to permanently change this mindset.
It was a powerful and uplifting presentation that certainly challenged us all to be more proactive and to be better friends and people.
Bruce Smith
Year 12 Leader of Pastoral Care
NSW School Vaccination Program 2024
UPCOMING VACCINATIONS
Term 1—Thursday, April 4
- Year 10 Nimenrix (meningococcal ACWY)
- Year 11 Nimenrix (Meningococcal ACWY) (catch up)
- Year 8 HPV and Boostrx (catch up)
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.health.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
Careers
Wondering whether a job in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) is the right fit for you?
Come along to an upcoming info session in Port Macquarie on March 26 at 6:00 pm at Panthers. You'll have the opportunity to ask questions and learn everything you want to know regarding job roles in the Navy, Army, and Air Force. You'll also have the chance to speak with current serving members to see if an ADF career is the one for you. It is highly recommended that you book as soon as possible to avoid missing out, as places are strictly limited!
The link below to register;
https://www.adfcareers.gov.au/
Jo Pilgrim
Leader of Career Transitions and Pathways
Wellbeing
CHARACTER STRENGTHS
This term’s character strength is judgement. Judgement is often a term that has negative connotations, as we tell our young people that “they shouldn’t judge.” However, judgement is really about making rational and logical choices using all the information that we have. It is a critical thinking skill that calls for you to consider all the evidence, think things through, and prevent you from jumping to conclusions.
Our character strength hype person, Lara Inman (Year 12), is currently running a fun activity where students need to exercise their judgement to find the location of their teacher’s hidden picture with prizes to be won. It’s an introduction to judgement, but hopefully the beginning of our young men and women developing and strengthening an important life skill.
VAPING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION PROGRAMME
Vaping has become a significant health concern for our young people, with the numbers of people who vape rising and the harmful effects of e-cigarettes beginning to be understood. MacKillop College has developed an evidence-based vaping awareness and prevention programme to be delivered to all students. To date, approximately 90% of students (years 8–12) have successfully completed the one-hour programme, with the aim of having the remainder finish the mandatory one-hour learning by the end of this term. The programme will be delivered to Year 7 within Term 2.
The programme aims to enable each student to be:
- aware of the health consequences of vaping;
- knowledgeable in order to make healthy choices;
- competent in their understanding of the consequences of poor health and behaviour choices in regards to vaping; and
- able to seek help at MacKillop or in the wider community.
It is an important initiative that we are very pleased to be able to deliver as we work to enable all students to reach the fullness of life.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Lisa Kable
Leader of Wellbeing: Social and Emotional Support
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 9
Please ensure your child has a towel, hat, rash shirt, 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 explaining why your child cannot participate. Parents received a permission note for students to participate in the course. This should have been returned.
Cross Country Carnival
It was great to see so many competitive runners race in our recent cross-country carnival. We certainly have some exciting talent coming through, and we cannot wait to see how these students (top 6) progress when they represent the school at the Diocesan Cross Country Championships on May 17. Permission to attend Diocesan Cross Country will go out through Compass.
Congratulations to Innes, who have taken out the honours of Champion House again. It was great to see House Captain Grace Davies come in first, truly leading her house to victory. Flynn Burrage (Year 10 Innes House Captain) could not be there as he was playing tennis in Tweed Heads.
Flinders | Innes | Macquarie | Oxley |
85 | 116 | 61 | 69 |
My sincere thanks to our maintenance team who prepared the track, to Amber Mann, Renae Bignell, Lucy Sales, and Anna Gleeson for their assistance at the start and finish lines, to Mrs. Denham’s Year 9PASS class for assisting with the races, and finally to our house captains, who were a great help on the day.
A special mention goes to our bike riders, Jeremy Hopfe, Harrison Grey, Daniel Allen, and Tully Patterson, who rode tirelessly, guiding students around the track.
Congratulations to the following students who were crowned Age Champions or Runners Up for their respective age divisions.
Age Group | Age Champion | Runner Up |
12 Girls | Bronte Cross | Madilyn Tinley |
12 Boys | - | - |
13 Girls | Indigo Duncan | Brianna Butt |
13 Boys | Johnny Davidson | William Coombes |
14 Girls | Zoe Townsend | Gia Hudson |
14 Boys | Oto Ryan | Locke Williamson |
15 Girls | Ziva Balkin | Milla Pieren |
15 Boys | Declean McWhirter | Jack McGrath |
16 Girls | Lane Jordan | - |
16 Boys | Freycin Hostettler | Ashley Bell |
17 Girls | Maeve Kinchington | Claire Pieren |
17 Boys | Edward Coombes | Tobias Toohey |
18 Girls | Grace Davies | Chelsea Gallagher |
18 Boys | Cody Mills | Joshua Bell |
Congratulations and good luck to the following students who will be attending Diocesan Cross Country;
12 GIRLS | 13 GIRLS | 13 BOYS | 14 GIRLS |
Bronte Cross | Indigo Duncan | Johnny Davidson | Zoe Townsend |
Madilyn Tinley | Brianna Butt | William Coombes | Gia Hudson |
Lila Karam | Ingrid Maher | Harrison Blackman | Charlotte Taylor |
Summer Baker | Mackenzie Trimmer | Brady Keane | Indie Gardoll-Majoribanks |
Tahney Cross | Amalee Welch | Patrick Blackman | Grace Ashton |
Lily Fraser | Josh Ball | Nyah Villagran-Eichmann |
14 BOYS | 15 GIRLS | 15 BOYS | 16 GIRLS |
Oto Ryan | Ziva Balkin | Declan McWhirter | Lane Jordan |
Locke Williamson | Milla Pieren | Jack McGrath | |
Manni McGrath | Amarlie Gregory | Preston Davis | |
Peter Field | Annabelle Broderick | Joey Thompson | |
Luke Everson | Freya Briggs | James Cockshutt | |
Aiden Miles | Charlotte McEntyre | Ethan Carey |
16 BOYS | 17 GIRLS | 17 BOYS | 18 GIRLS |
Freycin Hostettler | Maeve Kinchington | Edward Coombes | Grace Davies |
Ashley Bell | Claire Pieren | Tobias Toohey | Chelsea Gallagher |
Jack Healey | Tara Mitchell | Patrick Field | |
Jarvis Lineham | Ruby O’Bryan | Max Brockhouse | 18 BOYS |
Matthew Mizzi | Sally Temple | Ethan Hatch | Cody Mills |
Hudson McNeil | Riley Judd | Joshua Bell |
2024 Cross Country
REPRESENTATIVE SPORT REPORTS
NSWCCC TENNIS SELECTION TRIALS
Congratulations to Flynn and Noah Pociask, who recently travelled to Sydney to play in the NSWCCC Tennis Selection Trials. This selection trial sees the top 32-seeded players in the Catholic system competing for a position on the coveted NSWCC tennis teams.
After narrowly missing out last year, Noah played 6 matches and won 6 matches, convincingly winning 36 games and only dropping 8 games.
Flynn also did really well playing several boys up to 6 years older than him, an admirable effort given Flynn is only in Year 7. He didn’t make it through but gained valuable experience to try again next year.
NSWCCC GOLF
Congratulations to Edward Coombes who recently played at the NSWCCC Golf Championships at Marks Point in Belmont. He was happy with his performance, and held his own in a very competitive field.
Eddie was one shot off making the NSWCCC Team to compete at the NSW All Schools Golf Championships to be held in Sydney.
DIOCESAN WINTER SPORT TRIALS REPORT
Two weeks ago Mr Lorger, Mr Littler and myself travelled to Lismore with 30 students to the Diocesan Football and Rugby League Trials. This was a larger contingent than usual with many of our students making the Lismore/Armidale teams to play at either the Northern Country Rugby League Trials or the NSWCCC Football Championships.
We were impressed with our student's behaviour and the skill that was demonstrated on the day. Congratulations to the following students who were successfully selected;
U18 Boys Rugby League | Cooper Lorger | ||||
U16 Girls Rugby League | Arliah Morris | Autumn Curtis | Darcie Gleeson | London Curtis | Milla Swain |
U15 Boys Rugby League | Jack Franklin | Rocky Mann | Mason White | ||
Open’s Boys Football (Soccer) | Liam Mercer | Cooper West | |||
Open’s Girls Football (Soccer) | Sophie Gallagher | Abby Buttsworth | Grace Davies | Chelsea Gallagher |
SURFEST
We arrived at the beach around 6.45am to excellent offshore conditions in the morning, but unfortunately, as the end of the boys Round One finished, the wind turned onshore and the conditions deteriorated.
There was strong competition in the boys' field, with approximately 60 teams competing. Team 1 finished third in their first heat, hampered by a lull in the swell. They were unfortunate not to get a scoring ride for their third surfer, Harry Hudson. Team 2 fared far better, taking out their heat on the back of solid surfing from Oscar Conway. Team 3 came away with a second in their heat on the back of good rides from Angus Oakshott and Hudson McNeil.
Day 2 was marred by terrible conditions after the contest site was moved to Nobby's Beach. The boys all did well in getting some scoring opportunities, but unfortunately, they did not get enough scores to make the shortened finals competition.
The girls' first heat was around lunchtime, and the team consisted of Annabelle Broderick, Gia Hudson, and Lily Dunshea. Fortunately, all the girls got to surf in the first round of the competition thanks to Izzy Campbell and Summer Waite, who kindly volunteered to help out by joining one of the local teams so they could compete. It was a tough competition but all the girls worked hard as a team, encouraged each other, and had a fun day of surfing.
The girls second day of surfing was in very poor conditions. The girls did their best and showed great sportsmanship and camaraderie. The first surfer on the team was Gia Hudson, followed by Izzy Campbell and Summer Waite, who got a quick two waves and scored bonus points for coming in early.
Thank you to Matt King for driving the bus. MVP Oscar Conway.
Adam O'Brien & Megan Verdon
Coaches
Diocesan Open’s Basketball Championships
The girls started their competition against the very strong St. John Paul College. Due to timing, the game was only played in the second half, and the girls went down. Game 2 against Woodlawn was tightly contested throughout the whole game, but the girls went down again by 1 on the buzzer.
Xavier College came into our next game as favourites, but the girls showed an intense heart and narrowly went down by 5 points.
The girls finished on a high against Casino College winning 42-4.
The improvement the girls showed throughout the competition was outstanding. All games were played with intensity and great sportsmanship. Team: Mikayla Adams, Evie Bullen, Grace Byrne, Grace Collins, Grace Davies, Amber McIlroy, Cara McIlroy, Maya Perry, and Kyla Roach. MVP Cara Mcilroy.
Anna Gleeson
Coach
Open Boys Basketball
The Open Boys Basketball team had a winning day at the recent Diocesan Championship.
The boys went through the day undefeated on the court, defeating Trinity Lismore, St. John Paul College Coffs Harbour, Xavier Ballina, and Woodlawn College. Unfortunately, The boys were awarded a forfeit (20-0 loss) to start the day against Newman College. The boys played the second half of the game and overcame the 20-0 deficit in the 15 minutes played.
The boys officially finished the day in 3rd place.
The boys now look forward to the NSWCCC Championship in June. Congratulations to the team on a successful day on the court and the sportsmanship displayed.
The team included Sam Blain, Toby Harper, Riley Harmer, Lucas Scott, Blake Collins, Kaden Lawler, Blake Romer, Felix Hurdle, Kaeleb Morris, and Zake Morris. MVP Sam Blain.
Ryan Adams
Coach
Dioccesan Tennis Championships
On Monday and Tuesday of Week 7, 22 students from MacKillop and Regional College, trekked North to compete in the Lismore Diocese Tennis Championships. The bus was at maximum capacity, without even a single spare seat, and our representatives enthusiasm was equally brimming. Stops at Coffs Harbour and the Ballina Service Centre ensured everyone remained well-fed and stretched as we approached our destination.
After checking out the Coolangatta Beach precinct, having dinner at Seagulls, and taking on more supplies, we made camp at St. Joseph's Banora Point. Indoor tennis games were played, and some sleep was had.
Tuesday was Competition Day. Students across the Diocese descended on Arkinstall Park, determined to leave nothing on the court while representing their respective colleges. Junior teams played four games, while Open teams played five. With each game being 35 minutes in length, competitors were in for a big day.
At the end of the day, the results were:
- Junior boys runners-up
- Junior girls 4th
- Open boys 4th
- Open Girls 7th
All our students tried their very best, and some excellent tennis was played throughout the day. Our Best and Fairest, Flynn Burrage and Tori McGrath, were especially notable.
Well done, team!
Tracey Bewicke and Brent Lowrey
Coaches
Rugby Union 10’s
U14 Boys
It was a great day for rugby at Ian Walton Rugby Park last Thursday. The U14 boys were primed and ready for a big day of physical rugby. Over the course of the day, some great rugby was played, and the team was lucky enough to win all five of their games and were crowned overall winners in the U14’s division. There were standout performances across the park. The backs were organised very well by Jack Franklin and Baxter Allison, and the forwards dominated every other pack that they came across. The standout forwards for the day were Rocky Mann, Ashton Gillespie, Riley Garel, and Eamon O'Sullivan, and the standout backs were Oto Ryan, Sunny Chippendale, and Liam Holding.
- Game 1: MacKillop 35, St. Paul’s 0
- Game 2: MacKillop 20-BDC 10
- Game 3: MacKillop 30–Kempsey High 0
- Semi-Final: MacKillop 19, St. Paul’s 2
- Final: MacKillop 31-00
- Thank you to the boys for a great day.
MVP Jack Franklin
David Kennedy
Coach
U14 Boys (Green Team)
The MacKillop College U14's (Green Team) embarked on a courageous journey this season, fearlessly facing opponents from higher age divisions in the Rugby Union 10's Competition. Comprising Year 7 students, these mighty boys displayed unwavering determination and skill on the field.
Faced with formidable adversaries such as St. Paul's College Kempsey, the towering giants from Dorrigo High School, and the indomitable St. John Paul College Coffs Harbour, our team rose to the challenge with valour and sportsmanship.
For many of our students, this season marked their inaugural experience with Rugby Union, and they seized the opportunity to showcase their passion for the game while building a foundation for future success.
Key players emerged as pillars of strength for the team. Kade, Harvey, and Joshua demonstrated exceptional prowess in piercing through the opposition's defence, while Declan and Sam Clifton tirelessly engaged as workhorses, ensuring the protection and continuity of our ball possession.
Elijah, Kyan, and consistently turned the tide of play with their hard-hitting tackles, while Hudson and Tyler showcased exemplary teamwork through their strategic passing, unlocking various attacking options for our team.
Defensively, Xavier and Sam Tarbox stood as steadfast guardians, thwarting countless attempts from the opposition. Sonny and Tauka unleashed ferocious attacks, keeping our adversaries on their toes throughout the matches.
The season culminated in a day of thrilling competition and camaraderie, underscoring the invaluable lessons learned and memories forged on the field of play.
Here's to the unforgettable moments shared and the victories yet to come.
Rhys Jones
Coach
U14 Girls
The Girls U14 Rugby Union team travelled to Crescent Head for the 10’s tournament on Thursday and showcased their talent, determination, and sportsmanship. In their first game against St. Paul’s, they displayed resilience and skill, resulting in a draw. The team's performance improved in the second game against BDC despite a loss, showing promising development and a competitive spirit.
However, it was in their third game against SJPC that the girls truly shone, securing a convincing victory. Their hard work, teamwork, and dedication paid off as they dominated the match with exceptional rugby and some hard-hitting defence. This win not only highlights their progress but also sets a strong foundation for future success.
The Girls U14 Rugby Union team's journey so far demonstrates their potential and commitment to the sport. With each game, they are growing stronger and more cohesive as a team, promising an exciting season ahead. Well done, girls! MVP London Curtis, Ayla Vonbun, and Frankie Healey
Mr McRae
Coach
U16 Boys
On Thursday, 14 March, thirteen U16 boys represented MacKillop at the Mid-North Coast Rugby 10’s. We had a good win in our first game against Macleay Valley Vocational. In our next game against BDC, we could only field 8 players in order to match theirs. They proved too tough, and we gave away far too many penalties. Against JPC, the boys tired hard, but they proved too strong. In our final game against St. Paul’s, the boys played the best they had all day; there were some good plays in the backs that were converted into tries, and the forwards defended well and ensured we had good possession. There were many highlights, but the greatest was seeing the team's commitment to turning up to trials, training, and giving their all on game day. A special mention goes to first-time rugby players Paxton B, Lachlan B, Max C, and Max M, who all contributed greatly throughout the day. MVP Sam Ayton.
James Way
Coach
U18 boys
Congratulations to the U18 boys for showing a lot of heart with only 1 sub on a very hot day. The boys still managed to qualify for the next level after a convincing win against Dorrigo. MVP Jacob Power.
Macca Murray
Coach
Diocesan Swimming Championships
A team of forty-five students competed in the Diocesan Swimming Championships held locally in Port Macquarie last Thursday. All the students were a delight to take away for the day and approached their competition in a highly organised, disciplined, and positive manner. Congratulations to:
Madilyn Tinley, who achieved the Diocesan 12 Year Girls Runner Up: 3rd 50m F/S, 3rd 200m Freestyle, 4th 100m Backstroke, 1st 400m F/S, 2nd 50 Breaststroke, 3rd 100m Freestyle, 4th 50m Backstroke, 11th 200m IM, 5th 100m Breaststroke
Bianca Harrison, who achieved the Diocesan 13-Year Girls Age Champion: 1st 100m Brst, 1st 50m F/S, 4th 50m Fly, 1st 200m F/S, 3rd 100m Bk, 1st 50m Brst, 1st 100m F/S, 4th 50m Bk, 5th 200m IM
Owen Hilkemeijer achieved a new Diocesan record in the Boys 16 Year 100 Fly with a time of 1:07.51. Owen also won the point score to achieve the title of Diocesan 16-Year-Old Boys Age Champion. 6th 50m F/S, 3rd 50m Fly, 1st 100m Bk, 2nd 400m F/S, 5th 50m Brst, 4th 100m F/S, 4th 50m Bk, 1st 200m IM, 1st, 100m Fly, 2nd 100m Brst
Other significant placements:
- Mark Temple (14 years) 2nd 200m F/S, 3rd 100m Bk, 3rd 100m F/S, 2nd 200m IM
- Neave O’Brien (15 years) 3rd 100m Bk
- Max Schneider (13 years) 3rd 50m Brst
- Gia Hudson (14 years): 3rd 50m Brst, 2nd 100m Fly
- Locke Williamson (14 years) 2nd 50m Brst
- Flynn Daly (15 years) 3rd 50m Brst
- Maeve Kinchington (17 years) 2nd 50m Brst
- Xavier Dunn (15 years) 3rd 100m F/S
- Girls 12-14 years 4 x 50m F/S relay 3rd (Bianca Harrison, Chloe Chilko, Charlotte Fitzpatrick, Gia
- Hudson)
- Girls 15-16 years 4 x 50m F/S relay 3rd (Neave O’Brien, Megan Goldie, Lacey Urqhart, Matilda Medlin)
- Boys 15-16 years 4 x 50m F/S relay 2nd (Ashton Fraser, Owen Hilkemeijer, Lewis Tebbutt, Xavier)
- Dunn)
- Girls Open 4 x 50m F/S relay 2nd (Grace Davis, Ava Kyan, Sally Temple, Maeve Kinchington)
- Boys Open 4 x 50m F/S relay 1st (Charlie Ford, Harry Hudson, Ethan Hatch, Edward Coombes)
Thank you to Erin Denham, Zac Nancarrow, Tracy Knight, Peter Murphy, and Anna Gleeson for managing and supporting our swimmers on the day.
REPRESENTATIVE SPORT AND UPCOMING EVENTS
All registrations for MacKillop College sports teams are 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.
The following sports are open to all boys and girls in each sport to register for trials:
- 11/12 Mixed Touch Football: Boys and Girls
- Hockey: Boys and Girls
- Year 7-9 Soccer (Bill Turner)—Boys and Girls
- Year 11 and 12 Netball: Boys and Girls
- Year 10–12 AFL—Boys and Girls
- Netball Umpires
- Under-15s AFL (boys and girls)
- Touch Football: Boys and Girls
- Rugby League: Boys and Girls
If you have any questions, please see Mrs. Denham.
Click on this link to register: MacKillop College Representative Sport Registration Link.
Sport | Event | Date |
Futsal | U14 Boys & Girls Futsal | 25 March |
U15 Boys & Girls Futsal | 26 March | |
U16 Boys & Girls Futsal | 27 March | |
U17 Boys & Girls Futsal | 28 March | |
U12/13 Boys & Girls Futsal | 3 April | |
Surfing | Ride the Wave High School Comp | 2 & 3 April |
AFL | Open Boys & Girls AFL | 4 April |
LISMORE DIOCESAN EVENTS AND REGISTRATION
Sports that are currently open for students to be able to sign up to or register their interest to trial, have been advertised to students through morning notices.
Please click on the link below to register for the sports.
http://sport.lism.catholic.edu.au/registration
Sport | Event | Date of event | Registration Closing date |
Rugby League | Northern selection training and Trials – South West Rocks | 2 and 3 April March | Closed |
Football (soccer) | Diocesan Open Football – Kempsey | 2 April | Students trialling |
NSWCCC & NSW All Schools Events and Registration
All individual sports registrations are completed on the CSNSW.SPORT website. The parent must have an account and add their child to have access. (Sport Registration HELP available on sport info page) SEE BELOW sports open for registration.
For further information, go to the CSNSW Sport website Sport pages. https://csnsw.sport
Students MUST be registered for the event with parent and Principal or Leader of Sport approval.
Registration is through the CSNSW.sport portal. Details on how to register – Guide For Parents – Sport Registrations >>.
Please note all close dates are firm dates. No registrations will be permitted after the close dates.
Sport | Event | Date |
AFL | Northern NSW AFL Selection Trials - Warners Bay | 2 & 3 April |
Swimming & Diving | NSWCCC Swimming & Diving Championships | 4 April |
Touch Football | NSWCCC Touch Football Championships & selection trials | 9 & 10 April |
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.
Sport | Event & /Location | Date of event |
Baseball | Boys | 28 March |
Volleyball | Boys & Girls | 6 April |
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
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
Ensemble Rehearsal Timetable: Term 1
Time | Venue | Director | |
Concert Band | Monday Day 1, 7.45am - 8.40am | J16 Music Room | Cara Stewart |
Pop Choir | Tuesday, Day 2, 7.45am - 8.40am | Theatre | Sam Adams |
SAPSS Junior Drumline | Tuesday, Day 2, 3.30pm - 5.30pm | College Hall | Mark Spence |
Junior Percussion | Wednesday, Day 3, 7.45am - 8.40am | J16 Music Room | Mark Spence |
Collective | Wednesday, Day 3, 7.45am - 8.40am | Chapel | Rob Denham |
SAPSS Senior Drumline | Wednesday, Day 3, 3.30pm - 5.30pm | College Hall | Mark Spence |
Senior Percussion | Thursday, Day 4, 7.45am - 8.40am | J16 Music Room | Mark Spence |
String Ensemble | Friday, Day 5, 7.45am - 8.40am | J14 Music Room | Michaeli Witney |
LINKS & FORMS
Music Ensemble Sign Up Form 2024
Music Tuition Request Form 2024
Instrument Rental Agreement 2024
Please contact Mr Denham with any questions relating to the co-curricular music program at MacKillop College.
UPCOMING EVENTS
ASSEMBLY PERFORMANCE
(COLLEGE HALL) Week 9 - Wednesday, 27 March, Period 1, Concert Band
SENIOR CAMPUS CARITAS LUNCH CONCERT
(COLA) Week 9 - Thursday, 28 March, lunch 2, selected students and ensembles
RIDE THE SOUND WAVE (Kids Concert)
(Town Beach Port Macquarie) Week 10 - Saturday, 7 April, 10.00am - 12.00pm, SAPSS DRUMLINE
ASSEMBLY PERFORMANCE
(COLLEGE HALL) Week 11 - Wednesday, 10 April, Period 1, Concert Band
ASSEMBLY PERFORMANCE
(COLLEGE HALL) Week 1 - Wednesday, 1 May, Period 1, Pop Choir and Collective Singers
YEAR 7 INFORMATION NIGHT
(COLLEGE HALL) Week 2 - Monday, 6 May, 5.30pm - 6.15pm, Concert Band
YOUTH & FAMILY MASS
(St Agnes Church) Week 2 - Sunday, 12 March, 5.00pm, Collective Praise Band & Singers
YEAR 11 MASS
(Chapel) Week 3 - Wednesday, 15 May, Period 1, Collective Praise Band & Singers
Please contact Mr Denham with any questions relating to the co-curricular music program at MacKillop College.
Robert Denham
Leader of Co-Curricular Music
Canteen Update
Monday 25 March
Renae Bullock & Jo McLaren-King
Tuesday 26 March
Anthea Romer & Katrina Bates
Wednesday 27 March
Jaci Zimmerman & Bec Eakin
Thursday 28 March
Tracey Reddie
Tuesday 2 April
Judy Ryan & Michael Richards
Wednesday 3 April
Peta Clancy
Thursday 4 April
Renae Maher & Laura Mayes
Friday 5 April
Kelly Dingle, Rowena Beukers, Vicki Hamlyn & Ronnel Skea
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