Term 1, Week 1, 3 February

Principal's Update

Welcome to 2023

Following on from my letter on Monday, I warmly welcome all students, staff and families to the College for our 2023 school year.

The staff are excited to be working with you this year. As we celebrated Mass together last Friday with all staff in St Agnes’ Parish schools we renewed our commitment to the faith, learning and wellbeing growth of the young people in our care. Staff take our privilege to work with young people as a great honour as well as a great responsibility. This responsibility, entrusted to us by parents and families, is one we do not take lightly and do all we can, through working together and continually learning and upskilling, to meet the current needs of young people and ensure the highest standard of excellence in education. 

I am delighted to be working with an amazing group of leaders in 2023 to oversee the excellent work that occurs every day. Please do not hesitate at any time to contact the relevant leader to support you in supporting your son or daughter. 

2023 School Review:

Throughout this year the College will be participating in an external review process and parents and families will be invited to participate in a number of feedback and input sessions. I encourage you to make yourself available for these opportunities as your wisdom and experiences will help shape our plans for the future of the College, and ensure we are continually improving and remain as a leader in education, locally and nationally.

New staff 2023:

We are delighted to welcome the following people to the MacKillop College staff team. I know students are looking forward to meeting our new teachers and support staff and I am delighted to have them join our educational endeavour here at the College. We will introduce our new staff over the first two weeks’ newsletters. 

Keeping our young people safe:

As adults working with young people all staff at MacKillop College undergo annual training in child protection. Every staff member is a Mandatory Reporter (see below) and is expected to follow the procedures as outlined in the Diocese of Lismore and MacKillop College - Child Protection Policy 

Mandatory reporting 

Mandatory Reporters NSW Mandatory Reporter Guide – is intended to assist mandatory reporters who have become concerned about possible abuse or neglect of a child/young person and must make a decision whether or not to report their concerns. The Mandatory Reporter Guide can be accessed at the following address:  www.keepthemsafe.nsw.gov.au

Cath Eichmann
Principal

Travel Safety Reminders

As students return to school, it is important to keep travel safety in mind. Take time to talk with your children about travelling to and from school safely.

Here are some safety tips:

Be alert and aware by travelling distraction-free. Ask children to take off their headphones when walking, exiting or entering the bus and crossing the road.

Choose a safe place to cross. The fastest way may not be the safest way. Walk the extra distance to use a pedestrian crossing or traffic island.

Keep safe getting in and out of the car. Always use the door closest to the kerb.

Keep safe getting on and off the bus. Wait at the bus stop and stand at least one step back from the edge of the road. Wait until the bus has gone, before you cross the road.

Bus/Bus Stops/Bus Interchange Areas. Model safe and respectful behaviour while waiting for and travelling on the bus. Remember that younger students look up to you, so please lead by example, so they learn to behave safely and act respectfully while waiting for and travelling on the bus.

Riding to school. Students are asked, once they have arrived on school property, to disembark from their bike and walk it to the storage racks. Students must walk their bike through the tunnel.

Wearing a helmet. Children must wear a helmet when riding a bike in any public place – it’s the law.

Student driver reminder. If your child will be driving to and from school, remind them that they are required to adhere to all road rules and drive in a safe and responsible manner. Inexperienced drivers commonly underestimate the risks associated with particular driving behaviours or situations and overestimate their capacity to deal with them. Have a caring conversation about road speeds on the route that they travel, where they will park and the importance of wearing a seatbelt. According to recent research 1 in 5 teens has been found to consistently not wear a seat belt.

Restricted licence holders including learner, P1 and P2 drivers are not permitted to use their phone at all while driving or riding.  This includes the use of hands-free and bluetooth functions. Ask them to keep their phone in their bag or glovebox.

You may choose to watch with them Understanding Casual Speeding Every K Counts  

Parents and carers, we thank you for being positive role models when you are a pedestrian, passenger and driver. Children learn from what they see, as well as what we say.

Please remember to never sacrifice safety for convenience.

Source: https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/

Tips for the New School Year

Music News

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

The role of the Co-curricular Music Program at MacKillop College is not only to provide musical enrichment to students but to provide a service to the parish and to the community. Ensembles participate in local festivals and events, provide music for Mass, attend workshops, perform at College assemblies and participate in band tours and competitions both nationally and internationally. Through these experiences we hope to nurture a sense of camaraderie, teamwork, community, cultural and spiritual service and a pure love of making and sharing music with others. 

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

Sign Up!

Students interested in participating in the co-curricular music ensemble program in 2023 are to complete the google form linked below. ALL students from Years 7-12 need to complete the form regardless of previous involvement in the program.

https://forms.gle/Zta4UABJiZAhumcB9

Attendance

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

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

Uniform

Details related to uniform at performances, workshops and special events will always be outlined to students in written excursion information notes and provided verbally in rehearsal. All students participating in MacKillop College Ensembles are required to purchase a shirt to wear at performances by completing the form linked below:

https://forms.gle/6La9HWUFw9wxNeSX8

This shirt is to be worn with black trousers, white socks and white shoes at all performance events on request from the ensemble director.

Students are to see the music trainee at rehearsal or in break times in the rehearsal rooms or staff workroom to order a shirt. Sample sizes will be available for students to try on. I encourage students to order a slightly larger shirt if in lower year groups. This performance shirt will be able to be worn across all MacKillop College and SAPSS Ensembles into the foreseeable future.

Rehearsals

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

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

The ensemble timetable for Term 1, 2023 is included below to assist with organisation. Please read over this information and take note of times and venues.

Please note rehearsals will commence Week 3! (unless notified otherwise via email by your Ensemble director)

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

Students wishing to join the music tuition program are invited to contact the Co-curricular Music Coordinator by using the Music Tuition Request Form provided in the links and forms section below.

The Co-curricular Music Coordinator will then contact a suitable tutor on your behalf to check availability. The tutor will then call you directly to confirm and arrange a suitable lesson time.

Instrument Rental

A wide range of band instruments are available for hire including trumpet, trombone, clarinet, flute, saxophone, violin, guitar and bass guitar. The cost for instrument hire is $70 per term. Instruments can be rented to own upon request. This rental period is negotiable and will vary depending on the value of the instrument. These fees are invoiced to your Subject & Activities Statement each Term. As these fees are considered ‘extra-curricular’, this amount must be paid by Week 6 of each Term and must not at any time run into arrears.  Please advise the College if your method of payment is via Bpay so that it can be matched accordingly. The first term of rental is free to allow students time to “settle” with the instrument.

The College will be responsible for minor repairs. Accessories such as reeds, valve oil and strings will be the student’s responsibility.

Co-curricular Music Google Classroom

All members of the co-curricular music ensemble program are required to sign up to the Google Classroom that will provide important information throughout the year. It is also possible for parents to sign up to this classroom providing you have google accounts. If you would like access to this classroom please follow the link below to sign up.

Links & Forms

Music Ensemble Sign Up Form 2023

Music Ensemble Shirt Order Form 2023

Music Tuition Request Form 2023

Co curricular Music Google Classroom

Upcoming Events

Inaugural Mass Rehearsal

• Tuesday 7 February - Chapel, 8:00am. The Collective Praise Band & Singers

Inaugural Mass

• Wednesday 8 February - College Hall, 8:15am (sound check). Period 1. The Collective Praise Band & Singers

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

Robert Denham
Leader of Co-Curricular Music

Sport Update

Welcome back to Sport at Mackillop College for 2023.

Please refer to the newsletter each week for the most up to date information regarding sport. Your child will receive information via the Student Notices regarding how to sign up for representative sports, training schedules and excursion information.

Families are reminded should your child not be able to participate in sport due to injury or illness a note is required. If the condition is ongoing, documentation from a doctor or physiotherapist is required.

Sport Trainee

Welcome to Susie Coster, our sport trainee for 2023. Susie has a love of all things soccer and volleyball and loves getting involved in a variety of sports.  Susie will be assisting staff and students in both school sport and representative sport during 2023 and will be a fantastic asset to our College.

Term 1 Sport

Please refer to the College website for the Sport Programs for Year 7-10 Term 1 2023 Sport.

Year 7 Sport Term 1

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. If your child cannot participate in sport, please provide a note to your child’s sport teacher providing a reason why your child cannot participate.

From Week 2 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, Kendall or Port Macquarie pool.

Parents have received a permission note for students to participate in the course which should have been completed by today.

Year 8 Sport Term 1

Year 8 students will participate in a wide range of sports throughout the year. During Term 1 students will participate in various sports including basketball, netball and soccer.

Year 9 Sport Term 1

Your child will participate in the Surf Survival Certificate during sport for Term 1, 2023.  This is an extension from the Swim and Survive Certificate students completed in Year 7. Aquatics is a compulsory component of the PDHPE syllabus for all Year 9 Students. No students will be permitted to 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 who 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.

LEARNING OUTCOME MODULES

        Surf Awareness and Skills

• Describe surfing and environmental conditions and hazards
• Recognise appropriate beach types, conditions and areas in the surf zone for swimming
• Demonstrate surf skills (board rescue, tube rescue, run swim run)
  
  The Human Body

• Explain the functions of the systems of the body e.g. respiratory and circulatory systems
  
  Resuscitation

• Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) techniques (Chain of Survival)
  
  First Aid

• Identify basic patient management techniques (DRSABCD and emergency care)
  
  Rescue Techniques

• Perform patient approaches, support and escapes aided by equipment on a conscious and an unconscious patient
• Identify people in distress in an aquatic environment
• Perform surf skills
  
  Beach Management

• Set up a patrol and describe your role on patrol
• Demonstrate standard patrol practices
• Work as part of team

Students will travel by bus to either the pool or 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 Denham with a copy of the certificate. These students will assist with water safety each week.

Parents should have returned the digital permission form by Thursday, 2 February. Sport commences Tuesday, 7 February for Year 9.

Year 10 Sport Term 1

Year 10 students will participate in eight weeks of sport for Term 1, 2023 beginning Week 2 Tuesday, 7 February.  Parents and students are reminded that it is a legal requirement that the digital permission slip is completed before the student can participate in sport, even if choosing school sport.

Parents should have returned the digital permission form by today, Friday, 3 February.  Both parents and students are reminded that there will be NO changes to any sports for any reason, so choose your sport carefully. 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 sport during the Term.

MacKillop College Events and Registration

Representative

Touch Football Trials – Registration

Please click on the link below to access the 'How to Register' for students/parents wanting to attend the Diocesan Individual Touch Football Selection in Sawtell on Tuesday, 21 February 2023.

Please note that these nominations will close on Friday, 10 February 2023. 

If you are not prepared to travel to Wagga Wagga for CCC please do not nominate for Diocesan trials. 

Registrations

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

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

Click on this link to register.

Term 1 2023

Lismore Diocesan Events and Registration

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

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

NSWCCC Events and Registration

Students must be registered for the event with parent and Principal or Sport Coordinator approval.  

Registration is through the CSNSW Sport portal

For instructions on how to register go to:  Guide For Parents – Sport Registrations >>

NSWCCC Events

NSW All Schools Events

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

Community Sport

Basketball

Congratulations to Trelise Kirkby, Sam Blain, Grace Collins and Ben Romer who recently were involved with the Australian Junior Country Basketball Cup in Albury.

As a result of this development tour Sam and Trelise made the respective Under 18 Men’s and Women’s NSW Country teams. What a huge achievement and great reward for two athletes that put in an enormous amount of court time. We wish them both all the best when they compete at the National Basketball Championships in Brisbane later in the year.

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

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

Erin Denham
Leader of Sport

Canteen Update

Monday 6 February
Mayo Brumby & Kate Perkins

Tuesday 7 February
Jodie Buttsworth  Emily Duffy  Anne-Marie McWhirter

Wednesday 8 February
Danielle Sen Gupta & Help Please

Thursday 9 February
Heather Sheers & Chris Jourdant

Friday 10 February
Allie Tananti, Caroline Horam, Hana Smith & Leanne Hatherly

To order from the canteen:

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

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

3. Download the Qkr! app and order online.

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

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

Congratulations to Year 7 for breaking the record of the most milkshakes purchased on the first day of school. 

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

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

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

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

Canteen Help Needed

The canteen is desperately seeking Volunteers for one hour a month. No cooking, cleaning or stocking 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 MacKillop 6583 2632, or by email maxine.stone@lism.catholic.edu.au