Week 9, Term 3, 18th September
| Week 10 | ||
| Sunday 20th September | 25th Sunday of the Year | |
| Monday 21st September | Day 6 |
Year 11 Assessment Period Year 10 Pastoral Team Building Day at Stoney Aqua Park |
| Tuesday 22nd September | Day 7 |
Final Day of Year 11 Assessment Period Year 12 Pastoral Team Building afternoon at Stoney Aqua Park |
| Wednesday 23rd September | Day 8 |
Year 12 Graduation Mass 9.30am (live stream from College Hall) Year 12 Celebration of Excellence 11.30am (live stream from College Hall) Year 7 Pastoral Team Building Day at Stoney Aqua Park |
| Thursday 24th September | Day 9 | Year 11 Pastoral Team Building Day at Stoney Aqua Park |
| Friday 25th September | Day 10 |
Year 11 Feedback Day Year 8 Pastoral Team Building Day at Stoney Aqua Park Last day of Term 3 |
| Week 1 Term 4 | ||
| Sunday 11th October | 28th Sunday of the Year | |
| Monday 12th October | Day 1 | Staff Development Day |
| Tuesday 13th October | Day 2 | Students return for Term 4 |
| Wednesday 14th October | Day 3 | Year 10 National Minimum Standards Test: Reading Period 1 |
| Thursday 15th October | Day 4 | |
| Friday 16th October | Day 5 | |
Year 12 Graduation Events
Next Wednesday, 23rd September, Year 12 Class of 2020 will attend their final day of school.
Mass will be held in the College Hall at 9.30am, and the Celebration of Excellence at 11.30am.
Sadly, parents, families and friends will not be able to attend due to COVID-19 regulations however we will be live-streaming both events.
Further details on how to access the live stream will be sent to Year 12 families on Monday.
A final farewell and photos of the Year 12 final day will be in next week’s Newsletter.
R U OK?
I’d like to thank all staff and students for their participation last week in R U OK Day. Mental Health is a really important health issue in our community and our College. Through our #weTHRIVE@MacKillop pastoral and wellbeing initiative and our curriculum programs, we are working hard to ensure every student is able to develop a positive self-esteem, feel cared for and be able to identify a network of support.
I encourage parents to discuss with their sons and daughters, who their five ‘go to’ people are when things are tough. We do encourage students to have five adults in addition to their friends.
So often we can focus on the negativity, however I saw so much genuine care and support on R U OK Day, and every day as I interact with staff and students at the College. I am particularly proud of those students who actively support their fellow students, who they know are doing it a little tough.
If you are concerned about your child please do not hesitate to speak with your family GP or contact your child’s PC Teacher, Leader of Pastoral Care or one of our College Counsellors.
The Impact of Social Media
Whilst I recognise social media is a part of our new world, or for our young people the only world they have known, and I do acknowledge many benefits of some social media platforms, everyday I witness the potential negative impact it can have on our young people’s mental health.
I encourage parents to have open, calm conversations with your sons and daughters about what I see as the four concerns:
- The world others portray (what they look like, what they wear, what great activities they are doing) on social media is often their ideal not their reality and therefore we must be very careful not to compare ourselves.
- Teenagers risk constantly wanting to ‘know who is hanging out with who’ and have the real or imagined fear of missing out (FOMO in their language), or feel deflated if they see others are doing something and not them. As parents it is important we make our young people comfortable in their own and their families company. Have fun with your sons and daughters. (Be sure it’s fun to them!)
- Social media provides an easy platform for name-calling, harassment and potential bullying. Speak to your children about this. Have them be selective with whom they interact on social media. Have them block offenders immediately. Limit their time on social media and do not allow them to use it after bedtime.
- Have real and open conversations about the images they post and the potential of what can happen with these photos. I find “would you send that to your Mum, Dad, brother, sister etc?” can often be a good question to encourage young people to ask themselves BEFORE they send. I also tell them if you are hitting send, even just to one person, ask yourself are you happy for the whole school to see it?
HSC Major Works
Here we are again, a further congratulations to our HSC Art students who will have submitted their final major works for marking.
Meet the Experts
This week's Meet the Expert is our Leader of Wellbeing Nicole O'Connell.
Name: Nicole O'Connell
What subject(s) do you teach?
English.
I am also trained (and have taught) Religious Education and History (eons ago).
What high school did you attend?
Leeton High School.
What university did you attend and what course(s) did you do after finishing school?
Australian Catholic University, Strathfield in Sydney.
What or who inspired you to become a teacher?
There was no specific defining moment for me; I have known since I was 16 that I wanted to teach and felt that it was what I was 'called to do' with my life.What would be your proudest teaching moment in your career to date?
It is difficult to choose just one proud moment. I am always heartened and pleased whenever a student recognises their progress and feels a sense of achievement in English and attribute their accomplishment was with my help. I do really cherish those moments a student thanks me for my contribution in their personal success, even when they have moved on from my class.What are you reading at the moment?
Cultivating Character Strengths for professional development and Heartbreak in the Himalyas by Dr Ray Hodgson for pleasure.
What quote best describes your approach to teaching?
Success never comes before work - except in the dictionary.
Favourite non-work related hobbie?
Travel.
What do you love most about your work?
Working with young people - they are inspiring and a privilege to know!
Principal
The MacKillop College community banded together on R U OK? DAY in support of each other.
Here are some of our favourite moments of the day.
Mary MacKillop Liturgy
On Wednesday, 2nd September, we celebrated our Mary MacKillop Feast Day Liturgy, where we were able to join together as a whole College community, through a ZOOM link into each classroom.
The liturgy explored some of the wise words of Mary MacKillop about Christian living, which each Year group focused upon, and gave the students an opportunity to reflect on how they can imitate the actions of Jesus in their own lives.
Mary MacKillop Quotes for 2020.
Year 7: “Be kind; be very kind”
Year 8: “Find happiness in making others happy”
Year 9: “We have much to be thankful for”
Year 10: “How truly wonderful are God’s ways”
Year 11: “Never see a need without doing something about it”
Year 12: “Be calm and full of hope”
Over the next few weeks, we will share some of the reflections of our students in relation to their quote.
In each clip below, we see our students reflecting on what their quote means to them. After watching each clip, the students responded by speaking on how they could demonstrate these in their lives at school, at home and in the wider community.
Year 8 “Find happiness in making others happy”
Year 10 “How truly wonderful are God’s ways”
Year 11 “Never see a need without doing something about it”
Year 8 Catch The Wave
The catch the Wave program is an Evangelisation activity run by the Youth Ministry Officers in our parish for the Year 8 students.
We held our program on Friday, 11th September, with each group of 75 students spending two lessons experiencing a fun way of exploring the scriptures and hearing testimonies of faith from our Parish YMO’s. The students were given the chance to hear and reflect on how our Youth Ministry classes work and in the next few weeks they will be offered the opportunity to join the Youth Ministry class in 2021, if this is something they would find enriching and fulfilling.
A reflection on the reading from Mass this Sunday;
Click on the below link to view the St Agnes' Parish Mass Times
R U OK? Day
R U OK is an important day where we are reminded to be ever aware of the mental health of those around us. Last Thursday, 10th September, as a school, we focused our Morning Prayer on this year’s theme of “There’s more to say after RUOK?” Students were invited to participate in a short meditation on this and then as a PC prayed for those who are struggling with mental health issues within our school community.
HSC Prayer Sponsors
In his letter to the Philippians, Paul reminded us to “not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Phil 4:6), and from experience many of us know the power of prayer in our lives. Knowing that someone is praying for you is a source of great strength and consolation, especially during a particularly challenging time that we have experienced this year.
We appeal to parents, family and friends of our Year 12 HSC cohort to make themselves available as a prayer sponsor. If you are interested in being a Prayer Sponsor for a Year 12 student from any of the St Agnes’ Parish Secondary Schools, please phone during office hours in the next few weeks and leave your name and details.
MacKillop College 02 6583 2632
St Joseph’s Regional College 02 5525 4100
Newman Senior Technical College 02 6580 3800
We have invited Year 12 students who wish to be sponsored in prayer to submit their names and their HSC subjects to us. We invite parents to encourage their child to take up this beautiful opportunity through the google form we have provided them with.
We will allocate their name to a sponsor who has volunteered to pray for a student at this time. Each sponsor will receive information before the exams begin on 20th October:
- the name and photo of the student;
- the prayer offered;
- the times of the student’s HSC exams.
Thanks in anticipation of your help.
Marg Gobius
Leader of Evangelisation
Co-Curricular Dance
Some of our Year 7 students have had the opportunity to be part of the Co-Curricular Dance ensembles this year. The students rehearse once a week before school to participate in local competitions. Each year the styles and genres of dance vary. The Dancers have been very committed during a difficult year, and have recently submitted two online submissions to Education Eisteddfods; Everybody Sing, Dance Now, and Dance Schools Eisteddfod. We look forward to hearing about their results soon.
Ensemble 1 - Year 7
Aidan Archer, Macey Arkinstall, Charly Buntschu, Emily Butt, Charlotte Carr, Makennah Collins, Hailee Frost, Emma Galvin, Georgie Healey, Kimberley Manns, Imogen McNeil, Milly McGrath, Abigael Murfitt, Ruby O’Bryan, Claire Pieren, Sophia Speers, Sarah Wilmot, Bindi Zimmermann
Ensemble 2 - Year 7-9
Isabella Campbell, Grace Hartley, Ava Hughes, Gabbi MacCullagh, Erin Rapley
Congratulations
Congratulations to the following students who have received a Silver Principal’s Award: Aidan Archer, Jazz Jakeman, Emily Kirkpatrick, Memphis-Rayne McCarthy, Cara McIlroy, Imogen McNeil, Tom Rosenbaum and Sophia Speers.
Congratulations to the following students who have received a Pastoral Coordinator’s Award: Aidan Archer, Matilda Creighton, Miliana Grieve, Jazz Jakeman, Emily Kirkpatrick, Memphis-Rayne McCarthy (x2), Olivia McGahon, Cara McIlroy (x3), Imogen McNeil, Tom Rosenbaum and Sophia Speers.
Year 7 Leader of Pastoral Care
Catch the Wave
Last Friday all Year 8 students experienced a modified ‘Catch the Wave’ retreat. Essentially, this operated as an introduction and invitation to the work of student discipleship. Six young adults, working in our secondary colleges as Youth Ministry Officers, facilitated the sessions. They played games, gave personal testimony of their faith journey and spoke of the opportunities and commitments involved in joining a Ministry focused Religious Education class. The metaphor of catching a wave was used for students to consider where they were currently in terms of their own faith and where they might wish to be.
In Term 4, students will be given the choice to nominate to the Ministry Religion class. This is not for everybody. The most obvious groups to opt for the Ministry Religion class are students who know that they have faith and wish to nurture and develop this faith through lived experiences of service. Another group who could consider the Ministry Religion class are those who are not necessarily faith filled, but are attracted to learn about faith and ministry.
The following words might give some insight about ministry and discipleship…
Questions God won't ask;
God won’t ask what kind of car you drove, but will ask how many people you drove who didn’t have transportation.
God won’t ask the square footage of your house, but will ask how many people you welcomed into your home.
God won’t ask about the fancy clothes you had in your closet, but will ask how many of the clothes helped the needy.
God won’t ask how many material possessions you had, but will ask if they dictated your life.
God won’t ask what your highest salary was, but will ask if you compromised your character to obtain that salary.
God won’t ask how much overtime you worked, but will ask if you worked overtime for your family and loved ones.
God won’t ask how many promotions you received, but will ask how you promoted others.
God won’t ask what your job title was, but will ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.
God won’t ask what you did to help yourself, but will ask what you did to help others.
God won’t ask how many friends you had, but will ask how many people to whom you were a true friend.
God won’t ask in what neighbourhood you lived, but will ask how you treated your neighbours.
Christ Church Binghampton, New York
Congratulations
Congratulations to Jessica Harrison-Park who have received a Pastoral Coordinator’s Award.
God bless.
Year 8 Leader of Pastoral Care
Message from the Year 9 SRC Members
Over the last few weeks in extended PC, Years 9 and 10 SRC students have run activities to build teamwork and relationships between PC members. Each SRC member has a different activity that the PC's rotate through, gaining up to five points for each, depending on what they accomplish or how well they achieve. It was good to see all PC members participating in the different activities, using their strengths to help PC members get as many points they could as a class. PC classes will compete against each other to get as many points as possible over a few weeks, with the winners receiving a prize at the end. This is a great way to help people come together as a PC and Year group, with each PC doing their best while working as a team.
The Only Olympic Games in 2020
Our Year 9 PASS students have been delving into the history of sport this term. Students have been exploring Australia’s Sporting Identity and learning about our proud culture of sport. As 2020 was supposed to be an Olympic year, it was decided to hold a PASS Olympics. Complete with an Opening Ceremony, 10 competing countries, five individual and two team events, and our own International Athlete, Sports Trainee Mr Isaac Post, running through Port Macquarie on the last leg of the torch relay and lighting our ‘Olympic Cauldron’.
Events included the Scootle-board Speed Skating, Basketball Free Throw, Balance Beam Walk, Bean Bag Target Shots, Dizzy Stick Run, Standing Triple Jump and of course, the highlight of the track events, the Olympic Ring Relay Race.
Congratulations to all countries on such a high level of competition in the 2020 Olympics.
Final results
10th: France (18 medals)
9th: Kyrgyzstan (19 Medals)
8th: Djibouti (28 Medals)
7th: Japan (31 Medals)
6th: Greece (32 Medals)
Equal 4th: Australia (35 Medals)
Equal 4th: New Zealand (35 Medals)
3rd: Canada (who also learned what flying their flag upside down means) (39 Medals)
2nd: Independent Olympic Athletes (41 Medals)
1st: Moldova (53 Medals)
Year 9 Leader of Pastoral Care
Assessment Period
Please check in on your son or daughter - it's been a long, tough week and they have done amazing but a hug from Mum, Dad, Nan Pop or someone special would probably be well received after an epic five days!
What's coming up in Week 10
Monday, 21st September: Exams.
Tuesday, 22nd September: Exams.
Wednesday, 23rd September: PC Day - students to wear sport uniforms.
Students bring their own food, pencil case and a positive attitude.
Thursday, 24th September: Stoney Aqua Park.
Friday, 25th September: Year 11 Feedback Day.
Have a great weekend.
Year 11 Leader of Pastoral Care
Last Days as Year 12
Our wonderful HSC students have been enjoying their last few days of Year 12 with plenty of fun, with a blast from the past theme.
An outdoor game of “The Hunger Games”, a junior PE favourite, entertained the troops last Friday morning and a trip down memory lane with a Year 7 orienteering activity on Tuesday.
On Wednesday we enjoyed an official farewell, via zoom from Mrs Eichmann and the College community and helped to farewell a much loved member of staff, Miss Brittany Skea. We then headed out to enjoy one last round of PC sports. On Friday we wore out of uniform and totally enjoyed our last themed Mufti Day.
The vibe has been upbeat, the students are certainly living every moment and treasuring the small things in life. For them 2020 will go down as a strange, challenging but fun year!
The students are looking forward to next week when they will graduate from an amazing 13 years of schooling!
Year 12 Leader of Pastoral Care
Student Representative Council
SRC in all Years have tried to concentrate on what they can do, rather than what COVID-19 demands they cannot do. These leaders recognised for students to move towards flourishing, they need to move from: social isolation, to socialisation; social distancing to social connectedness; text messaging and online interaction to real world, face to face relationships; division and difference, to interconnectedness and equality and from putting others down, to rising by lifting others.
Thus, all SRC Representatives collaborated with their Leader of Pastoral Care to design, plan and orchestrate a positive impact project which involved team building.
Year 9 and Year 10 SRC, enlisted the support of other teachers and are running a team challenge until the end of Term in which each PC of these cohorts and their teacher participate during extended PC. Whether the challenge is physical, cognitive or a mixture of both, the team building activities are time spent together working towards common goals and encouraging trust, communication and collaboration - all good for positive relationships.
Thank you Ruby Berryman, Billie Brennan, Liam Jones, Dominica Toohey, Hudson Harmer, Isabella Ryan, Katie Duffy, Hugh Turnbull, Mosese Fineanganofo, Lennox Jensen, Evan Langstaff and Tia McGrath for the ideas, time and energy they invested in implementing these new experiences for their peers to offer something unique and slightly outside of people’s comfort zones and encourage PC's to come together in new ways. Laughter, anticipation, a sense of accomplishment continue to make these opportunities enjoyable and worthwhile!
Leader of Pastoral Care: Wellbeing
“Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul;
it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.”
- Martin Luther
Term Four Ensembles
Please note that planning is currently underway to restructure the ensemble program in Term 4 pending COVID-19 relating restrictions remaining in place. Students will be informed of changes through the co-curricular music google classroom forum and through this newsletter.
Rehearsal Schedule Week 10
Upcoming Events
All upcoming events have been placed on hold and are to be confirmed.
Please contact Mr Denham with any questions relating to the co-curricular music program at MacKillop College or visit the college website and click on the Creative Arts tab.
Leader of Co-Curricular Music
Rehearsal Schedule Term 3
Please contact Miss Skea with any questions relating to the Co-Curricular Dance Program via email or phone at the College.
Leader of Creative Arts
Sport Term 3
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Year 10
Representative Sport
To stay up to date with the latest changes in the school representative sport pathway click on the following links.
Diocese of Lismore Sport https://sport.lism.catholic.edu.au/
Catholic Schools NSW Sport https://csnsw.sport/
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.
Port Saints U13 Leopards Fortunes Turn Around in COVID-19 Season
Several MacKillop College students from Years 7 and 8 played in the Port Saints FC Under 13 Leopards soccer team this season. In March, it looked like a 2020 Junior Football Season would not start at all with NSW Public Health COVID-19 restrictions on all Community Sport. However, in July, a delayed and modified season commenced under changed COVID-19 restrictions. It was a little shaky at the start as the 2020 Leopards comprised members of two 2019 teams plus several new players to soccer and the club. The team played two games before training could commence. It was understandable that the first few games were losses. With positive encouragement by Coach and MacKillop parent, Peter Gleeson and hard work by the players, their fortunes turned around. Leopards had a draw but then narrow losses and another draw. Then the final score gap for games expanded with wins of 11:2 and 9:1.
The game last Saturday, 12th September, was another win 6:0 against Camden Haven Redbacks at Laurieton with excellent defence and strong attack. The team is congratulated for their improvement during the season. They are now fifth on the competition ladder of 13 teams with one round to go. “They are a great bunch of kids to coach”, reports Coach Peter. A parent of a new player shared, “Coach Peter has made my son feel so included, and the whole team has been super welcoming and made him feel part of it.” Players and families would like to acknowledge and thank the efforts of Coach Peter Gleeson, the Port Saints Football Club and Committee, NSW Active Kids Program, and specifically Major Sponsor, St Agnes Parish Education, all the other family and small businesses and volunteers who support Junior Football at Port Saints during an unprecedented 2020 winter competition. The team includes: Nic, Brianna, Savannah, Layla, Max R, Hunter, Adam, Billy, Cooper, Oliver, Max B., Ryan, Christopher, MC, Alanah, Xavier and Jackson. Go Leopards!
If you have any questions regarding sport at MacKillop College, please do not hesitate to contact me by email at the College.
Remember to stay active and healthy.
Leader of Sport
Our College offers two homework clubs for any extra time our students may need during the week.
Years 7 - 10 Homework Club is located in the Main College Library on Monday - Thursday: 3.15pm - 4.30pm
Years 11 - 12 Homework Club is located in the John Mullin Centre on Monday - Thursday: 3.15pm - 5.00pm
Maths Tutorials with Mrs Robertson
Tuesday - Friday
7.45am - 8.30am
Room 12 Main College
Canteen Helpers
In the current climate, Canteen volunteers will not be required until further notice.
Thank you for your understanding and take care.
Uniform Pool
Keeping with Covid regulations, if you wish to access the Uniform Pool, please phone the college canteen (via the college office) to check on the availability of the items you may require.
School ties
School ties are available for purchase at the Canteen for $20.00 each.