Term 1, Week 6, 14 March

Upcoming Events

Principal's Update

Ash Wednesday

Last week the College celebrated two deeply meaningful student-led Ash Wednesday Prayer Services to commence the Lenten period. Ash Wednesday takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday and is chiefly observed by Catholics, although many other Christians observe it too. Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head. The ashes symbolise the dust from which God made us. The ashes are made from blessed palm branches, taken from the previous year's Palm Sunday Mass. Lent in three minutes

Our Year 9 and Year 10 Ministry classes led the prayers, shared the importance of our school supporting Project Compassion fundraising initiatives, and highlighted that the three pillars of the Lenten period, FASTING, PRAYER, and GIVING, are all central to our Catholic school and to our core values of Faith and Compassion. Students were encouraged to give generously, perhaps through their fasting, during this Lenten period.

Cyclone Alfred disruptions

I just wanted to say a big thank you to all parents and families for your understanding and support during the uncertainty of Cyclone Alfred. I realise that the sudden changes, school closure, and reopening may have caused some homes some angst. I also appreciate that some people agreed and others disagreed with the decisions.

Please be assured that the decisions were made collectively with the Diocese, emergency services, and consultation with local school principal colleagues in the government and private schools. I am incredibly fortunate to have a great network of Catholic principals in the Hastings and very positive relationships with the principals of Hastings Secondary and Columba Anglican School. We shared many phone calls and Zooms over the week or so.

Most important was always the safety of students and staff, and thankfully, particularly for our friends in the Northern Rivers, we did not see the same devastation that the floods of 2022, which left the Diocese suffering.

Parent Information Evening: Fathering Teens and Pre-teens

On Monday, March 24, 2025, we will have an information evening—Fathering Teens and Pre-teens; an evening to further support fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, uncles, and any man who plays a significant role in the life of teenagers. The evening, presented by two male psychologists from Redstone Psychology, will cover tips for being a better father to pre-teens and teenagers. The guys will share the latest stats and science to help you in the most important role of your life and provide you with opportunities to chat and share experiences and ideas. 

Topics covered on the evening will help answer questions many fathers often ask, including

• How can I connect more with my teenager?
• Getting the balance right: discipline and a loving relationship? 
• What is my parenting style, and how does it differ from other dads? 
• Teens and technology: how can I BEST manage?
• How can I help manage anger and emotions?

The session will take place in the College Theatre, commencing at 6pm. If you would like to join, please RSVP here.

Supporting your child’s learning—Years 7-12

Parents often ask me, “How can I help my high school student with their learning?” Parents regularly express that their young person doesn’t say much about schoolwork, homework, or assessments.

One suggestion is for parents to be aware of students’ assessment schedules so that they can ask questions such as:

• “I noticed you have an English task coming up; would you like me to proofread it for you?”
• “How is your preparation going for your math test next week?” Or maybe;
• “Have you thought about how you might present your elective task that you have coming up?” Or maybe even;
• “I noticed you have three tasks coming up in the next two weeks. Are you worried about any of them?” 

Below are screenshots of where to look on your parent COMPASS portal to know what learning tasks and assessments are coming up.

Cath Eichmann
Principal

Assistant Principal - Mission

Caritas - Project Compassion: Catholic Social Teaching

Catholic Social Teaching is deliberately included in learning units across the whole school curriculum. To bring to life this learning, students have the opportunity to participate in programmes such as Make A Difference Port Macquarie, Community Connect, Vinnies Winter Sleepout, Christmas Hampers, and more. Project Compassion invites our young people to contribute financially to the social justice initiatives of Caritas Australia.

The work of Caritas Australia and Project Compassion is solidly grounded in the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. So, what are these principles?

Human Dignity

We are made in God’s image. This means we each have a God-given dignity.

Preferential Option for the Poor

We live in an amazing world with enough resources for everyone. Yet, many miss out.

Care for our Common Home

We are responsible for looking after the world we live in.

The Common Good 

We can only live life in all its fullness when we are in relationship with others—through community.

Solidarity

We should commit ourselves wholeheartedly to the good of all, to stand in solidarity with our one human family.

Subsidiarity and Participation

The role of people in positions of power is to look after the good of all.

Funds raised through Project Compassion support the work of Caritas Australia in thirty-six countries, including Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific. In essence, their work assists vulnerable people in releasing themselves from the poverty cycle.

Caritas Australia uses the Accompaniment Model, which means working alongside communities to assist partners to create meaningful change. Accompaniment means walking side-by-side with programme partners.

It means supporting them and following their lead. Caritas accompanies programme partners by providing:

• Training and mentoring 
• Technical support 
• Risk management 
• Organisational development
• Funding
• Amplifying their voices

Throughout the period of Lent, students and staff at the college are asked to donate to Project Compassion. If each student and staff member were to commit as little as twenty cents each school day during Lent, the donations would exceed $6000! (That's from just a dollar a week from each person.)

Encounter Youth

Parents Night: March 14

If you have children in high school, we would like to invite you to our Encounter Youth parents’ information night. Whether your child attends Encounter Youth or not, we want to provide you with an opportunity to meet some of the team, hear a little bit about what Encounter is all about, and get to know other parents. Please RSVP by texting your name: 0487 971 744.

Encounter Youth operates at the Parish Youth and Community Hub each Friday from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.

Peter Murphy
Assistant Principal - Mission

Duke of Edinburgh - GOLD

On Monday, 3 March, our MacKillop College Gold Duke of Ed students began their final adventurous journey, marking the end of their 4-year journey completing the Duke of Edinburgh Award. The mission was to complete the Gibraltar-Washpool National Heritage Trail, a 47 km bushwalk over 4 days on the Great Dividing Range, west of Grafton. Students had to carry a pack including everything they would need to thrive throughout the trip.

Upon arriving at Mulligans Campground at midday on Monday, the group set off to walk 17 km to Boundary Falls Campground. This was longer than initially planned; however, we adjusted accordingly with the potential impacts of Tropical Cyclone Alfred arriving on Thursday evening. The first day’s walk saw us trek west on a single trail following the Surveyors Creek Trail. Plenty of pretty sights along the way, including looking at the mountains on either side of us and walking over marshlands. We were relieved to make it to camp with plenty of time before sunset and enjoyed a swim in Boundary Falls before sitting around the campfire, cooking dinner, and sharing our thoughts on the day.

On day 2 we walked from Boundary Falls Camp to Bellbird Camp, a total of 20.5 km. This part of our loop saw us trek north above the range through bushland, then east back to the edge of the range where the vegetation became more tropical again. We stopped for morning tea at Duffer Falls, where the views over the valley were exceptional. When we arrived at camp at 3pm, we were suitably exhausted and keen for a restful afternoon. We saw two lyrebirds walk past at camp, which was a wonderful surprise. The afternoon was spent playing cards, discussing the highlights of our day, and cooking an early dinner before bed. 

On day 3 we completed the loop by walking back to Boundary Camp via the Needles Lookout. This was a shorter 9 km trek and was the most beautiful of the 3 days. This part of the track moves south along the edge of the range through dense and lush rainforest. The side track to the Needles took us to a vantage point facing east over the lowlands where we observed the tall, narrow rock formations of the Needles. By this point the winds of Tropical Cyclone Alfred had increased (although there was still no rain), and we were glad to have adjusted our plans for an early departure back to school.

The students should be proud of their efforts to complete this adventurous journey. It was no easy feat; all students excelled in pushing their limits and exploring new areas. Everyone said on the trip at least once that this is an area they’d like to explore more and that it was a worthwhile experience. Thank you to Ms. Smith and Mr. Pascoe for giving up their time to lead the trip. 

If you’d like more information about the Duke of Edinburgh programme at MacKillop College, please reach out to me at luke.mcdonald@lism.catholic.edu.au I would love to explore how your child may be a part of the programme. We have a new group of students in Year 9 who are just about to begin their Bronze Duke of Ed award.

Luke McDonald
Duke of Ed Coordinator

Leaders of Wellbeing: Stage 4

As we enter Week 6 of the new school year, we extend our warmest wishes to you and your families for a smooth transition into this exciting academic journey. It has been a busy yet fulfilling start to the term, with our students embracing all aspects of school life with enthusiasm and dedication.

We are delighted to see our students responding positively to the introduction of our new 'Ready to Learn Routine' and MacKillop College's Code of Presentation. These initiatives are designed to foster a culture of respect, responsibility, and academic excellence, aligning with our Catholic values of faith, community, compassion, excellence, integrity, and respect.

Organisation Is The Key To Success

As we continue to support our students in achieving their full potential, we must remember that organisation is the key to success. Establishing simple yet effective routines can significantly enhance students' academic performance and overall school experience.

Practical Tips for Success

To help set your child up for success, consider the following organisational strategies:

• Use Planners Effectively: Encourage your child to regularly update their planner with homework, assignments, deadlines, and important events.
• Prepare for Classes: Ensure their school bag has the correct books and equipment for each subject. This helps avoid last-minute stress and ensures they are always prepared.
• Stay Connected: Students should make sure their laptop or tablet is fully charged each day to avoid disruptions during lessons. They should also bring their chargers to school in their bags.
• Dress for Success: Check the timetable daily to ensure they wear the correct uniform—formal or sports attire (hats included).

Family Support

For some students, embedding these routines into daily habits may require additional support and guidance from family members. By working together, you can help your child develop these essential organisational skills that will benefit them throughout their academic journey and beyond.

Let's empower our students to achieve their goals by making organisation a cornerstone of their daily lives.

Easter Egg Raffle

As we approach Easter, we invite you to participate in our Easter Egg Raffle, a fun and meaningful way to support our school fundraiser for Project Compassion. This initiative is part of our broader effort to raise vital funds for Caritas Australia, the Catholic Church's international aid and development agency.

Caritas Australia tirelessly works with the most marginalised communities in Australia and overseas to address the challenges of poverty. By contributing to this cause, you will not only help those in need but also earn house points for your donations.

Here's how you can get involved:

• Donate Easter Eggs: Bring in Easter eggs to contribute to our raffle.
• Support a Great Cause: Your donations will help raise essential funds for Caritas Australia.
• Earn House Points: Each donation will earn you house points, fostering a sense of community and friendly competition.

This is a wonderful opportunity to make a difference while celebrating the spirit of Easter. Let's come together to support this important cause and unite against poverty.

Thank you for your generosity and enthusiasm!

Year 7 Information

There are a number of upcoming events for our Year 7 students and families this term.

• Year 7 Mass and Belonging Day Postponed due to Cyclone Alfred. Tropical Cyclone Alfred has caused widespread school closures in Queensland and New South Wales. This event was scheduled to take place but has been postponed due to severe weather conditions and subsequent disruptions to school operations. 
• PC Volleyball—Starts Monday, Week 6 (this week). This is a fun activity for all Year 7 PC groups. The 4-Way Volleyball Competition will occur every Monday during Lunch 2 in the Junior Hall. All students are encouraged to come along and play with their PC class. Students participating will be able to wear their sports uniform to school every Monday from Weeks 6-10 this term.

Year 8 Information

This term all Year 8 PC classes will be involved in our Community Connect Programme on a Friday. Each PC class will attend a volunteer activity in one of our parish facilities, either Emmaus Aged Care or one of the parish child care centres, followed by Mass at St. Agnes Church, serving morning tea to the parishioners, and finally a fun afternoon of ten-pin bowling. Four of our Year 8 PC classes have already participated in the programme this term.

Please see the schedule below for when your child will be attending the programme on Fridays.

• Week 6: 8J2 Mr. Westman
• Week 7: 8J3 Miss White
• Week 8: 8P1 Mrs. Green
• Week 9: 8P2 Mr. Murphy
• Week 10: Bishop’s Staff Spirituality Day

Term 2

• Week 1: 8P3 Mrs. Lutton

Year 7 and 8 Uniform Reminders

We want to extend our gratitude to all students who consistently wear their uniforms with pride and adhere to the College Code of Presentation. Your commitment to maintaining our high standards is truly appreciated.

As a reminder, please note the following guidelines regarding our uniform policy:

• Skirt length: Must be to the knee.
• Sport shorts: Should reach mid-thigh.
• Earrings: Only two small studs or sleepers per ear are allowed.
• Socks: Black socks must cover the ankle.
• Piercings: No nose piercings are permitted.
• Rings: One ring may be worn on a hand.
• Shoes: Leather shoes are required with the formal uniform, while joggers are to be worn with the sports uniform. Skate or canvas shoes are not allowed.
• Jewellery: Necklaces, bracelets, or anklets are not permitted.
• Haircuts: Must comply with the school's code of presentation. This means no mullets, unnatural hair colours, rat tails, or other extreme hairstyles.

Important Note on Compliance

Students who fail to comply with the College Code of Presentation will receive two warnings, which will appear on their Compass feed. A third infringement will result in a Wednesday Afternoon Detention. We kindly request your support in ensuring your child attends school each day in the correct uniform. Your cooperation is invaluable in maintaining our high standards. Thank you for your continued support.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s Leader of Wellbeing if you have any queries:

Jason McRae, Stage 4 Leader of Wellbeing, St. Agnes’ House: jason.mcrae@lism.catholic.edu.au 

Adam O’Brien, Stage 4 Leader of Wellbeing, St Joseph’s House: adam.obrien@lism.catholic.edu.au

Tracey Bewicke, Stage 4 Leader of Wellbeing, St Paul’s House: tracey.bewicke@lism.catholic.edu.au 

Leaders of Wellbeing: Stage 5

Retreat

The Year 10 Retreats are one of the highlights of the College calendar. Each student gains tremendous personal benefit and recalls this experience with fond memories. The retreats aim to provide space and time for students to reflect on their lives, priorities, relationships, and faith. In short, they encourage students to reflect in a peaceful environment on their lives and their relationships with others and with God.

Because of the large number of students, we will divide the Year 10 cohort into four small groups, as laid out below.

The final day of the retreat, when all students come together, will be held on Friday, 28 March, with a Mass on North Brother and a community day at Lake Cathie (you will be sent a separate note in relation to this).

This is a compulsory event, and as such, students are expected to attend. If your child is unable to attend, please contact the College Principal, Cath Eichmann, at cath.eichmann@lism.catholic.edu.au.

Accommodation: Students will be staying at Francis Retreat, Bonny Hills, Yarra Adventure Park, or Grassy Head.

The students will attend one of the venues on either Monday, 24 March, or Tuesday, 25 March, or Wednesday, 26 March, or Thursday, 27 March. Your child will be informed which venue and dates they will be attending closer to the event.

Students not attending the Monday and Tuesday retreat will be required to be at school on Tuesday to complete National Minimum Standards (NMS) and All My Own Work (AMOW). Please direct any questions regarding this to Michael Peck and Adam Kelly. 

Students not attending the Wednesday and Thursday retreat will be required to be at school on Thursday to complete National Minimum Standards (NMS) and All My Own Work (AMOW). Please direct any questions regarding this to Michael Peck and Adam Kelly.

Departure times: Students will depart from the Junior Campus bus bay on either Monday, 24 March, or Wednesday, 26 March, as per below:

1. Francis Retreat—9.30 am.
2. Yarra Adventure Park, Grassy Head—9.00 am.

Students will still need to be at school for the normal start time of 8.45am.

Return time: Students will return to the Junior Campus bus bay on either Tuesday, 25 March, or Thursday, 27 March.

1. Francis Retreat—leave the venue at 3.30pm to arrive at the college at 4.00pm.
2. Yarra Adventure Park, Grassy Head—leave the venue at 3.30pm to arrive at the college at 4.40pm.

Approximate times above. Students will contact their parents/carers if there are any changes to the schedule.

Items to bring: Students will need to bring the following items to their retreat:

• Pillow, sleeping bag
• Personal toiletries and towel (no aerosols)
• Jeans or long pants/shorts
• Sunscreen and insect repellent
• Two tops or shirts
• Plastic bags for dirty clothes
• Warm clothing (jumper or jacket)
• Pyjamas & underwear
• Hat
• Footwear, including enclosed shoes
• Any relevant medication
• A magazine or images that represent your hobbies or interests in life
• Pencil case including pens, textas, coloured pencils, scissors, and glue
• Meals: All meals will be provided by the venue.

Supervising and Emergency Teachers: 

• Glen Littler (Francis Retreat) | 0427 963 938 | glen.littler@lism.catholic.edu.au
• Marg Gobius (Yarra Adventure Park) | 0408 210 593 | marg.gobius@lism.catholic.edu.au

Requirements for Stage 5

The initial stages of the school year are often referred to as the establishment phase, making it crucial to set up for success. Some new and existing initiatives at the college help ensure this:

• Ready to Learn Routines: Consistent entry and exit procedures for all learning environments.
• Diary: Students must have a hard copy diary, which is a vital organisational tool.
• Charged Device: Students must arrive at each lesson with a fully charged device.

Uniform 

The College Code of Presentation is essential in promoting excellence, belonging, and pride among our student body. There have been some changes to how uniform compliance is managed at the college. When a breach of the Code of Presentation occurs, a notification will be issued via Compass. Upon reaching three breaches, an afternoon detention will be assigned.

NAPLAN

In Week 6, Year 9 will begin their NAPLAN testing for 2025. As the testing occurs online (students using their device), students need to download AND install the NAPLAN Locked Down Browser. Please ask your child to use the links below to complete the process.

NAPLAN Locked Down Browser (file download)

Instructions for installing the NAPLAN Locked Down Browser (after downloading)

A reminder that you should uninstall any previous versions of the browser using the instructions previously provided.

Year 10 information night 

Thank you to the parents and carers who were able to attend the Year 10 information night. It is great to continue the partnership between parents and the school. We understand that some people were unable to attend. Please find the PowerPoint slideshow that was presented on the night. 

PPT LINK

Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s Leader of Wellbeing if you have any queries:

Nicole O’Connell, Stage 5 Leader of Wellbeing, St. Agnes’ House: nicole.oconnell@lism.catholic.edu.au

Glen Littler, Stage 5 Leader of Wellbeing, St Joseph’s House: glen.littler@lism.catholic.edu.au 

Tom Salter, Stage 5 Leader of Wellbeing, St Paul’s House: tom.salter@lism.catholic.edu.au 

Year 11

The courage to study

I spoke with Year 11 this week about the courage required to study. When you first think about it, that seems a little ridiculous. You don’t need courage to read, take notes, summarise, write an essay, or solve a mathematics equation, do you? Or do you?

Try solving this. Prove that: 

Some parents will rush to try and solve this, some will ignore it, and some will quiver with mathematics anxiety. Being brave when you’re good at something is pretty easy; being brave when you’re not good at something is very difficult.

Why do we need courage to study?

Because we are always taking a risk: we might be wrong, we might fail in front of people, we might fail our own expectations of ourselves, and we might fail our family’s expectations. So, it’s much easier and much safer to be lazy, after all; if you don’t achieve a good result, you’ve got something to blame; it’s not you; you just didn’t study.

A recent study by the University of Sydney found that helping students bring courage into their day-to-day school life can improve their learning, performance, and engagement at school.

Our Year 11 students are all learners in a competitive HSC environment. Nothing they do is easy because it’s new and designed to be challenging. And their fear of failure is real. With assessment tasks coming thick and fast, the pastoral team and I are asking them to step up, to take the challenge in their stride, and to find ways to be awesome. But really, for some of our students, this is a frightening time.

Courage is necessary and a great skill to develop. The courage to study, to revise, to make time, to do your very best, especially when you have many pressures on you, is a wonderful character strength that will serve our students for their entire lives. We are just developing these skills now, and we won’t always get it right, but let’s be courageous.

P.S. The mathematics question was taken from this week’s Year 11 Advanced Mathematics assignment.

Bruce Smith
Year 11 Leader of Wellbeing

Year 12

As we reach the halfway point of Term 1, it's incredible to think how quickly the time has passed. For our Year 12 students, this marks an important milestone as we move further into what will be an unforgettable final year at MacKillop. It’s a time to reflect on the progress made so far and to appreciate how far we've come. From the start of the year, there’s been a strong sense of energy (not sure if this is because of the new vending machine!) and enthusiasm, and it's been inspiring to see the dedication and hard work our Year 12 kids have already demonstrated.

There is still so much ahead—so let’s stay focused, keep pushing forward, and make the most of every opportunity that comes our way. The year is moving quickly, and we can’t wait to see what’s next!

Keep up the great work, Year 12!

Extra-Curricular Opportunities Term 1

We recently sent out an extracurricular survey to gather student input on activities they could get involved in for Term 1 of 2025. It's important for Year 12 students to engage in hobbies and interests outside of study, especially in their final year. This balance promotes well-being, enhances personal growth, and creates lasting memories during their high school journey.

Year 12 Learning Conversations

Year 12 Learning Conversations will be held on 17 March, offering an excellent opportunity for parents and carers to engage with their child’s class teachers. These conversations provide valuable feedback on academic progress, strengths, and areas for improvement. They also serve as a chance to discuss strategies and set goals that will help your child succeed in their final year of schooling. We encourage all Year 12 families to take advantage of this opportunity to ensure their child is on track and fully supported as they navigate this important year. Your involvement is key to their success!

Dan O'Dell
Year 12 Leader of Wellbeing

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

Sydney Music Excursion

Thirty-four students and three staff travelled to Sydney on Monday, 24 February, to attend the Elective Music Excursion. This excursion provided students with the opportunity to attend the annual ENCORE performance (selection of high-quality Music 1, Music 2, and Music Extension HSC performances and compositions from 2024) at Sydney Opera House, attend workshops and tours at the Australian Institute of Music, JMC Academy, and SAE University College. In addition, they attended a performance of the musical Hadestown at the Theatre Royal.

This valuable excursion enabled students to gain a real-world insight into the music industry and begin to understand how ‘portfolio’ careers can be put together. In addition, they witnessed high-quality and world-class professional performances.

Thank you to the staff who attended this three-day excursion—Sam Adams, Rob Denham, and Sally Gretch.

Ensemble Rehearsals

• Concert Band (directed by Ms Stewart) Monday - 7:45am - 8:30am, J16 Music Room *First Rehearsal, Monday 17th February (week 3).
• Pop Choir (directed by Mrs Adams) Tuesday - 7:45am - 8:30am, Theatre *First Rehearsal, Tuesday 18th February (week 3).
• SAPSS Junior Drumline (directed by Mark Spence) Tuesday 3:30pm - 5:30pm, College Hall *First Rehearsal, please contact Mark directly for confirmation.
• Praise Band & Singers (directed by Mr Denham) Wednesday - 7:45am - 8:30am, Chapel *First Rehearsal, Wednesday 13th February (week 2).
• Junior Percussion Ensemble (directed by Mark Spence) Wednesday - 7:45am - 8:30am, J16 Music Room *First Rehearsal, please contact Mark directly for confirmation.
• SAPSS Senior Drumline (directed by Mark Spence) Wednesday 3:30pm - 5:30pm, College Hall *First Rehearsal, please contact Mark directly for confirmation.
• Senior Percussion Ensemble (directed by Mark Spence) Thursday - 7:45am - 8:30am, J16 Music Room *First Rehearsal, please contact Mark directly for confirmation.
• String Ensemble (directed by Michaeli Witney) Friday - 7:45am - 8:30am, J16 Music Room *First Rehearsal, Friday 21st February (week 3).
• Stage Band (directed by Mr Denham) Friday - 7:45am - 8:30am, Theatre *First Rehearsal, Friday 21st February (week 3)
  

LINKS & FORMS

Music Ensemble Sign Up Form 2025

Music Tuition Request Form 2025

Instrument Rental Agreement 2025

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Caritas (St Patrick’s Day) Lunch Concert (COLA) Week 8  - Monday March 17, lunch 1, selected students and ensembles.
• MacKillop College Assembly Performance (College Hall) Week 7 - Wednesday March 19, period 1, Concert Band.
• Year 10 Mass (Middle Brother Mountain) Week 7  - Friday March 28, Period 1 + 2, Yr10 Music Class and invited students.
• MacKillop College Easter Service (College Hall) Week 10 - Thursday April 10, 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

Sport News

School Sport

Year 7 Term 1 2025

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. 

From Week 3 onwards, students will need to bring to school with them 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 pool.

Year 8 Term 1 2025

Year 8 students will participate in a wide range of sports throughout the year. During Term 1 students will participate in various sports including AFL, Volleyball, Basketball, Soccer, Netball, Endzone, Cricket, Tennis and Lacrosse.

Year 9 Sport Term 1 2025

Your son/daughter will participate in the Surf Survival Certificate during sport for Term 1, 2025.  This is an extension from the Swim and Survive Certificate students completed in Year 7 Sport. Aquatics is a compulsory component of the PDHPE syllabus for all Year 9 Students. No students can do Contract Sport in Terms 1 and 2.

This course will be run in conjunction with Surf Life Saving NSW and the Australian Lifeguard Service, which will provide specialised instructors to assist our PDHPE/Sport staff. All appropriate water safety measures will be in place to ensure the safety of our students in an open-water environment. This course caters for students of all swimming abilities and aims to improve the safety of individuals in an aquatic environment.

The Surf Survival Certificate is a national swimming and water safety program that aims to provide participants with the skills and knowledge of basic patrolling and surf awareness in order to be able to participate in lifesaving operations.

Students will travel by bus to the beach to complete the modules with their sport teacher.

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 this each week. 

If your child has already completed the Surf Survival Certificate with a Surf Life Saving Club at a community level, please provide Mrs Johnston with a copy of this Certificate. These students will assist with water safety each week.

If a student is unable to participate due to injury, illness or a medical condition, appropriate documentation is to be provided to Mrs Johnston.

Parents should have returned the digital permission form this week via Compass.  This is a legal requirement to take your child off site for Sport

• Week 5 -10: Girls are at Town Beach. Boys are at Flynn’s Beach.

Year 10 Sport Term 1 2025

Year 10 students will participate in seven weeks of sport for Term 1, 2025, beginning Week 2, (11 February) to Week 10 (8 April). Parents and students are reminded that it is a legal requirement that the digital permission form is completed before the student can participate in sport, even if choosing school sport.

Both parents and students are reminded that there will be no changes to any sports for any reason. Businesses rely on the student numbers we provide them, and therefore, we ask that you respect this commitment by not asking for your child to change sports during the term.

Cross Country 

The MacKillop Cross Country Carnival is Tuesday, 1st April, Week 9. This is a competitors-only event. To register for the event, please go to the star menu in Compass, scroll to Sport Representative, and click on Cross Country 2025.

Representative Sport

Cricket Catholic Cup—NSWCCC State Finals

Earlier this term, I had the pleasure of taking our MacKillop girls' cricket team to compete in the state final of the Catholic Cup after winning in rounds 1 and 2 in 2024. In the semi-final, we faced Monte Saint Angelo Mercy College, North Sydney. Unfortunately, we lost by 36 runs, and they later won the day. Lane Jordan showcased her bowling, and the most valuable player went to Airlie McAlary, who scored the most in both of our games. 

A big thank you to Jon Bailey, who drove the bus and scored for us all day. As always, the girls were a pleasure to coach, and the future of cricket is bright at MacKillop.

MVP: Airlie McAlary.

Laura Cudmore (Coach)

Tahnee Johnston (Leader of School Sport)

MacKillop's Triathletes Tackle Tough Conditions

MacKillop's budding triathletes ventured to Sydney Regatta Centre over two days to represent the College at the NSW All Schools' annual triathlon championships. Individual competitors swam, cycled, and ran varying distances in the Western Sydney heat and achieved great results. 

Matilda Medlin crossed the finish line in 21st out of 64 competitors with a time of 59 minutes for the 500-metre swim, 15-kilometre cycle, and 4-kilometre run. This put her in the top 5 of all Combined Catholic College competitors in the state. Additionally, Xavier Mat, Peter Field, Jack McGrath, Mark Temple, and Xavier Dunn represented the college, conquering the course and proudly representing MacKillop. 

Day two of competition saw teams of three from across the state compete in the hotly contested event. Sporting six intermediate teams, MacKillop survived the hectic swim start, navigated the bike course with speed and safety, and ran with haste in the searing heat. With 5 boys teams and one girls team, black, yellow, and white singlets dominated the course. Fierce competition saw frantic finishes, and a special mention goes to Declan McWhirter for giving his absolute all in a tussle all the way to the finish line with a fellow run leg competitor. 

I would like to thank the students for participating in this challenging but fun sport, and a very special mention goes to the numerous students who had their first taste of this sport this year. Special thanks to Mel Cockshutt for supporting all things Triathlon at MacKillop; your passion and expertise are very much appreciated.

So if you're a budding swimmer, cyclist, or runner, find two teammates and join in the fun in 2026. To look back and think about your time representing your college at an all-schools level is something only a small number of students can do. Train, sign up, compete, and that can be you!

Lee Hancock & Peter Murphy (Coaches)

NSWCCC Tennis Championships—Noah strikes gold!

Congratulations to Flynn and Noah Pocisk, who recently trialled for the NSWCCC Tennis team. Flynn notched up a few wins and continues to improve his tennis at every championship he competes in. 

Special congratulations to Noah, who made the NSWCCC Tennis team. Noah played 6 matches and won all 6 convincingly. He played 40 games in total, only conceding 4 games. This has been a long time coming for Noah, who has trialled at the Championships since Year 7 and often only just missed out. He is to be congratulated for his tenacity and skill. The number of hours Noah spends training and playing to perfect his game is admirable. 

We wish Noah all the best as he represents NSWCCC for a spot in the NSW Tennis. Well done, Noah. We are very proud of your achievements.

NSWCCC Golf 

Last Monday, Will and Eddie Coombes travelled to Forster to play at the NSWCCC Golf Championships. The course is by no means easy, with the boys posting solid performances. 

Special congratulations to Eddie, who was one of three Lismore Diocese students to successfully make the NSWCCC Golf Team. Eddie spends enormous amounts of time on the green perfecting his skill and is currently playing off 2. Wow!!! This is an impressive achievement, Eddie, and you are certainly a star of the future. All the best for when you represent NSWCCC at the NSW All Schools Golf Championships.

Diocesan Soccer Trials

On Monday, 24 February, MacKillop students travelled up to Coffs Harbour to trial for the Lismore Diocesan Soccer Trials.

Our students trialled in very hot conditions against an extremely competitive group of players. They are to be commended for the skills and determination they displayed on the day.

Congratulations to all students who trialled, and special congratulations to Freya Briggs, who was selected in the Girls Open side, and to Kyla Roach and Claire Morris, who were selected as shadows. Freya will represent the Lismore Diocese at the NSWCCC Football Championships in May this year.

All students were a pleasure to take away, representing MacKillop with pride and grit in such trying conditions.

Dave Pugh & Lucy Sales (Coaches)

Diocesan Touch Football Trials

On Tuesday, 4 March eighteen MacKillop students travelled north to trial for their respective teams at the Lismore Diocesan Touch Football Trials held at Sawtell. In very wet conditions our students trialled with spirit and enthusiasm demonstrating excellent Touch Football skills. 

We were extremely proud of how our students approached the trial given the conditions representing the school with pride.

Congratulations to all students who trialled and to the students listed below in bold who will represent the Lismore Diocese at the NSWCCC Touch Football Championships in April. 

Thank you to the following staff who also braved the weather to assist and select the teams;

Open Girls – Anna Gleeson, Erin Denham,  Open Boys – Warren Lorger, Lucy Sales

Erin Denham (Coach)

Diocesan Rugby League Trials

On Monday, 24 February MacKillop students travelled north to trial for their respective Lismore Diocesan Rugby League Trials. In hot and trying conditions our students dug deep and put on great performances across all four divisions with several students being selected in the Diocesan teams.

 Congratulations to all students who trialled and to the students listed below who will represent the Lismore Diocese at the Northern Country selection Trials at South West Rocks in week 9. All students were a pleasure to take away representing MacKillop with pride.

 Congratulations to the following students

Thank you to Mr Lorger and Anna Gleeson who assisted Mr Littler and myself at the selections.

Erin Denham (Coach)

Representative Sport, Upcoming Events and Registration 2025

All registrations for MacKillop College Representative Sport teams are completed by;

1. Logging into COMPASS (Chrome browser).
2. Click on the Star button 
3. Click on the Sport - Representative link
4. 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.

Sports currently open for registration are;

• Diocesan Netball Trials U15 & U18 Girls **
• Surfing
• Open Boys & Girls Soccer
• Bill Turner (Soccer) Boys and Girls 15 Years and Under
• Netball Boys & Girls all divisions
• AFL Boys and Girls (Junior and Senior Teams)
• Futsal

** NOTE: To register for the Diocesan Trials students need to complete the forms that can be found on the Lismore Diocesan Sport page. Click on the REGISTRATION tab.

 Upcoming MacKillop College Events 2025

Lismore Diocesan Events and Registration - 2025

NSWCCC & NSW All Schools Events and Registration

NSWCCC CALENDAR 2025

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.

NSWCCC & NSW All Schools Sporting Representation

Families with students who wish to nominate for trialling in a sport at the NSW Combined Catholic Colleges (NSWCCC) level should make themselves familiar with the Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW) Sport website https://csnsw.sport/.  Parents/carers will need to create an account to be able to register their child.  Once a parent registers their child to attend an event on the CSNSW Sport portal it will send the registration to me for College approval to attend the event. 

Some sports allow students to register directly through the CSNSW Sport portal without having to go through the Diocesan Pathway. E.g. Individual Triathlon. In other instances, students will be required to travel to a Diocesan trial and if selected continue to the NSWCCC selection trials and communications for these teams will be sent through our Sports Desk.  

If your child is accepted, please be prepared to travel. Parents are responsible for registering their child on the NSWCCC portal. Please make note of the registration closing dates based on the calendar on the CSNSW Sport website.   

NSWCCC Calendar 2025

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.

NSW All Schools – Events 

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

Erin Denham (Leader of Representative Sport)

Canteen Update

PLEASE NOTE: Ash Wednesday, 5 March, there are no meat products available in the canteen or for lunch orders.

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.

Attention all QKR users!

Cut-off time is 8.00 am.

Any orders placed after 8.00 am default to the following day. It is very time-consuming for canteen staff to have to check all late orders every day and then contact parents about their order. 

If you make a mistake, please call the office or send your child to the canteen.

There have also been new gluten-free items added to the menu.

Community News

Information Links for School Bus Services 2025

1. Timetable information - busways.com.au or transportnsw.info
2. School bus travel pass - School Student Travel Scheme