Term 1, Week 3, 12th February

Upcoming Events

Principal's Update

INAUGURAL MASS

On Wednesday, we celebrated our Beginning of Year Mass. The Mass is a significant event on our College calendar and one which has a sacred place in our schools traditions and rituals. Mass is, in our Catholic faith and in the true meaning of Church, about community. We pride ourselves here at MacKillop College for the caring, nurturing and embracing community to which we belong and value the opportunity to come together to celebrate the Eucharist. As I said to our Year 7 parents and carers as they commenced with us on January 31st, we are unapologetically Catholic, and place great importance on the celebration of the Mass and prayer services such as Ash Wednesday, as well as daily prayer in our classrooms. It is these celebrations which truly demonstrate our sense of community and remind us of the great role-models we had in the person of Jesus and our College patron Saint Mary MacKillop of the Cross.  

As always Father Paul did a remarkable job of making our faith real to the students and staff. He spoke about our theme of commitment and encouraged students and staff to consider how we can allow Jesus to journey with us as we strive to commit to what we value in 2021. Father Paul asked, how can we ask Jesus for support and guidance throughout the year? 

INDUCTION OF 2021 COLLEGE LEADERS

It is also the tradition that at our Beginning of Year Mass we induct our College Leaders for the year. Congratulations to the students who have been elected by their peers and teachers to be the student voice in important matters and decisions throughout 2021. I am confident they will be ably led by our College Captains Kashia and Jack and our SRC Coordinator Mrs Nicole O’Connell.

2021 THEME - COMMITMENT 

Each year the secondary colleges in our parish share a common theme to unite us in our work to help the young people in our care to thrive and become the best version of themselves. In 2021 the theme is Commitment. As mentioned in last week’s newsletter students have been encouraged to consider commitment in the following three areas and we invite parents to enter into discussions with their sons and daughters as to what it is they would like to commit to in 2021 and what that might look like in their daily behaviours and actions to ensure success. 

• To doing my best and allowing others to learn and do their best
• To show care and kindness to myself and others
• To try new things, new ways of doing and new challenges

SWIMMING CARNIVAL

I am looking forward to our College Swimming Carnivals on Wednesday and Thursday next week. These days are favourites in my calendar as they really demonstrate the wonderful school spirit of our students and staff, and the sense of fun that is innate in all of us. I remind parents and students that the day is compulsory and the expectation is all students attend. Any student who is unable to swim will be able to assist with the running of the carnival. Unfortunately due to COVID restrictions we are unable to have parent helpers or spectators this year. More information on the swimming carnival can be found in the Sports section of the newsletter. 

PARENT PARTNERSHIP

As we work in partnership with parents to assist our young men and women to become the best people they can be, our pastoral and wellbeing team, as well as our Diocese parent body and Catholic Schools NSW, often have wonderful opportunities for parents to access free and current research based support, through guest speakers and webinars. I encourage you to check each week what opportunities exist which will support you in your parenting journey. You will find these under Parent News. 

Cath Eichmann

Principal

Evangelisation

INAUGURAL MASS 2021

On Wednesday, 10^th of February, MacKillop College celebrated the beginning of the school year with our Inaugural Mass. Mrs Cath Eichmann, our Principal, who commentated the Mass, shared a short reflection on the importance of our school theme for this year which is COMMITMENT, reminding us that Jesus and our school patron, St Mary MacKillop and St Paul, through his letters are wonderful role models in showing the importance of COMMITMENT and how we approach our school days.

We began with the lighting of our school candle, followed by students from each year group, who carried in their year candle and Mrs Andrea Huxley, Year 11 Leader of Pastoral Care, who carried in the staff candle. The lighting of the candles reminded us that the light of Christ will guide us through this new school year.

The musicians and singers, led by Mr Rob Denham and our Music Assistant Alycia Lipovac, added a wonderful depth to the celebration and remind us of the incredible musical talent that we have within our school.

I was very thankful for all the wonderful volunteers who participated in the Mass, by carrying out the readings, participating in the processions and altar serving. We were very blessed to have Fr Paul celebrate the Mass with us, to create a very special occasion that students, staff and parents who attended were able to participate in.

Following the Mass, the student leadership team of 2021 received their badges and formally accepted the responsibility and challenges that leadership brings. We are thankful that they have taken on these responsibilities and pray that each one of them will follow in the footsteps of Jesus to be a servant leader within our school.

Marg Gobius 

Leader of Evangelisation 

Parish News

PAT Testing

On Wednesday, 24^th and Thursday, 25^th of February, all Year 7 students will be completing Progressive Achievement Testing (PAT) in both reading and numeracy.  Annual PAT testing allows us as a school to determine where student strengths and areas for growth exist. This year’s tests will take place in English and Maths classes.

We encourage students not to guess answers, but rather leave questions unanswered and go back to them if they have time. Students will be completing the Year 6 level tests and to gain the clearest picture of a student’s ability, we are attempting to complete these tasks without any additional teacher assistance.

All students are asked to make a serious attempt at these tests as we measure learning growth and determine the most appropriate areas of support and extension into the academic year. Those choosing not to take these tests seriously detrimentally impact their own learning progression and will be asked to re-sit the tests in the College Library after school.

As always if you have any questions regarding these tests feel free to contact the College Office and speak with any of our Learning Support Coordinators or myself.

Adam Kelly

Assistant Principal Curriculum 

2021 Webinars for Parents from Parenting Ideas

As part of our school's membership with Parenting Ideas, all parents and carers in our school community can access Parenting Ideas webinars for no cost. This year, they have been able to connect our school community with some of Australia's most popular parenting educators.

We will put reminders in our newsletters about the Webinars when their viewing time approaches and details on how to access them at no cost.

Year 7

BEACH FUN

Some students from Year 7 really enjoyed their visit to the beach last week. Looks like they had lots of fun with smiles all around!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Next week, the MacKillop community will join together to mark Ash Wednesday which is the beginning of the liturgical journey to Easter. Students and staff will join together for a liturgy and receive ashes to commemorate the start of this journey.

Our MacKillop Swimming Carnival will be held at Port Macquarie pool next Thursday. Students are encouraged to attend school as usual in the morning dressed in their house colours. Please note that students must wear a rash shirt and swimming shorts (board shorts or bike shorts are acceptable); covered footwear, a hat, and sunscreen are also requirements. Swimwear designed for competitive activity is permitted at the College swimming carnival. Whilst the canteen will be available for snacks, it is recommended that all students bring their lunch and a drink with them as there are limited opportunities to purchase at the canteen.

SOCIAL MEDIA – WHAT IS YOUR CHILD DOING ONLINE?

Kirra Pendergast from Safe on Social spoke to Year 7 this week about the ‘fine print’ on social media platforms. She had lots of valuable information, and the students were very engaged and ended up very well informed about many of the implications of accepting the terms and conditions to access these often free apps. The main messages were about safety, protecting your privacy, cyber bullying, and the legal implications of doing the wrong thing online.

A parent evening with Kirra is currently being organised and will be advertised through the newsletter when finalised. I would encourage every Year 7 parent to attend this evening, regardless of whether your child currently accesses social media or not. There are valuable insights into what students are accessing and how to help protect them, but also advice about how you may be inadvertently exposing your family to undue risk. I cannot recommend your attendance highly enough. All parents and caregivers will be welcome to attend.

Ellen McKell

Year 7 Leader of Pastoral Care 

Year 8

SAFE ON SOCIAL - GUEST SPEAKER KIRRA PENDERGAST

On Monday, Year 8 were privy to a very informative session regarding use of social media. An expert in her field, Ms Kirra Pendergast is passionate about educating students, teachers and caregivers about the risks of social media. A few salient points were imparted: 

• When agreeing to the sign up terms and conditions of many online apps, students are to be wary that privacy can be compromised. All personal information, pictures, posts, even private messages and sneaky bathroom pics, become the property of the online company, sometimes being distributed to third parties; 
• Students were reminded that they are 100% responsible for their online presence and that ignorance is no defence when it comes to the use of media technology and the law; 
• There are security and privacy settings that help users to stay safe online, and various “Safe on Social” resources have been made available to our school community via our Moodle page; 
• Year 8 students were discouraged to sleep with their phones in their room and many students put their hands up, admitting to checking their phones very late at night. The impact on physical and mental wellbeing was stressed; 
• It was noted how important it is that students realise they can leave group chats as well as the need to be a lot kinder to one another. If they are part of a group where another is acting inappropriately, leave the group rather than risk being held responsible as a bystander; 
• It was concerning that the majority of the year group put up their hand when asked if they had ever received a message from someone they didn't know. The dangers of online grooming and the need to both block and report inappropriate behaviour online was reiterated; 
• Students are encouraged not to be afraid to speak up, but to ask for help, and that often adults are able to help; 
• Image based abuse was noted as a major concern amongst this age group, noting the legal ramifications of sending and receiving inappropriate images, including technologies that morph faces and bodies then used to bully others; 
• It was also clarified to students that they do not have permission to take photos at school, unless explicitly told to by a teacher, and they do not have permission to put photos of other students taken at school on social media sites; and 
• Online bullying can take many shapes, including but not exclusively: sharing photos without consent, excluding from group chats creating social isolation, calling people names, sending neutral messages to the point of harassment and sending mean texts or messages.

Overall the message was clear “Follow your heart, not the herd” and be kind to each other, showing respect for each other and self at all times. On a positive note, students were encouraged to care for their digital footprint with their online presence proving to be more important than a resume in today’s digital world. 

We thank caregivers for their support of this event and look forward to working with students as they navigate the teenage years. Our lessons from Monday fit nicely with our 2021 Year 8 theme: 

#weConnect - Find happiness in making others happy

TRIVIA AFTERNOON CANCELLED

After deliberation we have decided to cancel the Trivia afternoon for Years 7 and 8 (Week 6). Year 7 participated in a Trivia session on their first day and both year groups will enjoy the community building day at Stoney Park in Week 5. As a PC team we are currently discussing other ways to keep students active during the school day, developing new friendships, and solidifying old ones. Watch this space for fun activities to come. 

UNIFORM CONCERNS

This week we have sent home notes with students whose skirt length does not comply with our uniform code. Sometimes the issue could be fixed on the spot, as many girls unrolled the tops of their skirts, providing the necessary length. Your support in impressing the need to stop this habit of rolling the skirts is appreciated, as is the task of dropping hems or purchasing new uniforms as your student grows.  

As our Code of Presentation now allows for two piercings in each ear and one ring, plus a watch - some students are now pushing the boundaries wearing multiple rings, necklaces, additional earrings and/or dangling or large earrings. Again, your support to keep students complying with the Code of Presentation is much appreciated. We will continue to apply consequences to deter, and speaking with students who continue to push these boundaries. 

REMINDER FOR STUDENTS 

• Have you had your dairy signed for the week? 
• Have you and your parents/caregivers signed page 19, acknowledging support of school policies?

Bronwyn Avery

Year 8 Leader of Pastoral Care 

Year 9

On Monday this week, Year 9 participated in a Safe on Social presentation. The approach was to direct and change behaviour through education, rather than try to operate from external control.

A summary of the presentation appears below. This was compiled by Mr Daniel O’Dell, a member of the Year 9 Pastoral Team.

CHANGES IN LAW

• Ignorance is not a defence or excuse.
• Students are encouraged to check their ages on social media accounts. If they have lied, then the internet can find a pattern of deceit.
• Read all Terms and Conditions. Companies deliberately make them long. If you were to sit and read all of the popular social media terms and conditions, it would take 76 days.
• An information sheet is coming soon about the changes in the law.
• Government is getting serious about bullying online with big fines.
• Government has the power to shut down socials and force them to remove offensive videos.
• People will not be able to be anonymous online anymore. VPNs or fake names will not protect you if you are bullying or harassing someone online.

GROUP CHATS

• Parents should look at their child's group chats and social accounts.
• Group chats can be screen shot or recorded – be aware of what you say.
• Keep conversations positive.
• Call out bad behaviour.
• State on the chat that you are leaving because you could be held as a bystander if bullying occurs.

BED TIME

• Shut down your device an hour before you go to bed. The blue screen wakes up your brain when you look at the screen.
• You are more vulnerable at night because you are tired and often not thinking straight.

R RATED GAMES

• Law changes to make teachers etc mandatory reporters if they hear that you are playing these games.
• These games incite violence and the kids playing them cannot distinguish the difference between real life and the games.
• They are places where online grooming occurs.
• Speak out if you know your siblings or friends are playing these games.

DIGITAL FOOTPRINT

• There is a record or trail left by the things you do online.
• There are people out there whose job it is to search you online. eg potential employers.
• Google yourself to see what is out there. Set a Google alert to alert you of images of you online.
• Reverse image search to see where an image came from. If you find an image of yourself, you can find where it came from.
• Create a positive online footprint.
• Create a linked in account with professional contacts.
• Record all accounts that you have created with email addresses

CYBER BULLYING

• A lot is considered as Cyber Bullying.
• Think for yourself and do not follow the ‘herd’.
• Should be reported immediately.
• Leave the group.
• Document that you have left a group chat by taking a screenshot or copy the URL.

IBA - Image based abuse - Sexting

• All should be reported on eSafety website.
• If you are under the age of 16 and have sent or taken an image, then you have produced and exploited child pornography and could be charged.

Peter Murphy

Year 9 Leader of Pastoral Care 

Year 10

YEAR 10 INFORMATION EVENING

I am delighted to continue to work with Year 10 as they enter the most significant years of their schooling. In order to support and guide our young people further this year, I would like to invite you to attend the Year 10 Information Night.  Details are as follows:

When:        Tuesday, 16th February

Time:         6.00pm - 7.00pm

Where:       College Hall

This evening is designed for parents, carers and PC teachers, and as such students are not required to attend. All information available from the evening will be presented to students at a Year Meeting or in Pastoral Care classes.

JAKE SPURDLE was featured in Friday, 5th February’s Port News. It was an amazing article about the wonderful fundraiser and him meeting Adam Reynolds from the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

SAFE ON SOCIAL

On Monday Year 10 were lucky enough to have Kirra Pendergast from Safe on Social speak about young adult rights, responsibilities and the law, as well as their digital profile and the impact this may have on future careers. She was able to give the students real life stories that hit home for many. She also gave great advice about privacy settings on social media as well as creating a positive profile of yourself.

Some important information from last week's newsletter.

The process for students each morning is to bring the following into PC each morning:

• Diary;
• Hat;
• Pencil case; and
• iPad - fully charged.

Please assist us by ensuring your child has this each morning. It sets students up for the day and if they forget these things we can assist them in getting more organised so that they are prepared.

There is a list of whole school events in the upcoming events section of this newsletter but below are some key dates for year 10 this term.

Tuesday, 16^th February – Year 10 information night.

Thursday, 18^th February – Swimming Carnival.

Friday, 26^th February –  Stoney Aqua Park day.

Monday, 22^nd - Friday, 26^th March - Retreat and activities.

We have a wonderful Pastoral Care team who will continue to guide your child through their high school journey. If you have any questions or concerns/queries, please do not hesitate to email or phone them so that we can all work together to make school a positive environment for everyone:

10F1          Tracey Bewicke              tracey.bewicke@lism.catholic.edu.au

10F2          Michelle Marino               michelle.marino@lism.catholic.edu.au

                    Bruce Smith                    bruce.smith@lism.catholic.edu.au

10I1             Joanne Pilgrim                jo.pilgrim@lism.catholic.edu.au

                     Stephanie Wong             stephanie.wong@lism.catholic.edu.au

10I2            Tahnee Johnston            tahnee.johnston@lism.catholic.edu.au

                     Courtney Charge             courtney.charge@lism.catholic.edu.au

10I3             Elizabeth Robertson        elizabeth.robertson@lism.catholic.edu.au

10M1            Adam O’Brien                  adam.obrien@lism.catholic.edu.au

10M2           Brent Lowrey                   brent.lowrey@lism.catholic.edu.au

10O1             Megan Verdon                megan.verdon@lism.catholic.edu.au

10O2            Dave Sinclair                   david.sinclair@lism.catholic.edu.au

                      Susan Eichorn                susan.eichorn@lism.catholic.edu.au

I am also available if you need assistance - glen.littler@lism.catholic.edu.au

Glen Littler 

Year 1o Leader of Pastoral Care 

Year 11

A huge thank you to all the parents and students who came along to the information night this Monday night. It was a great turn up and encouraging to see so many parents supporting the connections between the families and the College. 

As the students work their way through Stage 6 curriculum toward the HSC, it is essential that parents are aware of the demands placed on the students as well as the processes, procedures around assessment and support available for their child. The Stage 6 curriculum is fast paced and rigorous and the volume of work required is far greater than Stage 5.

It is essential that parents read through the assessment handbook with their child and make a note of the key points which will affect you. Like if and when you should book appointments for your child, or what to do if your child is sick around assessment times. How to access special provisions and much much more.

A summary of the major points from the Information night is as follows:

CURRICULUM - Adam Kelly and Sarah Warby

• Year 11 is a transition year - a critical year to establish good habits, try different ways of learning and studying. The choices we make will impact the next few years.
• It requires sustained effort and application - Do YOUR best.
• Attendance is crucial. Poor attendance will lead to gaps in your learning and may lead to you not meeting course outcomes as dictated by NESA.
• Use the resources and people we have here at the College. Ask for help from your teachers, “How can I improve?”,  “How could I have done better?”. Take on the feedback and use it to improve.
• Put devices away - they are a distraction, they lead to procrastination and in the end result in you feeling overwhelmed.
• Find a balance, do the things you love so that you don’t burn out.
• Staying on track – planning, being organised.
• Remember that the curriculum is content heavy but Year 11 is about learning the skills we need to succeed. These skills are transferable to many situations such as tertiary study and the workforce.

PASTORAL CARE - Jennifer Campbell

• We want all students to THRIVE at MacKillop; to us this means to be feeling good and doing good as a person and as a learner.
• Stress can be a major issue for students in Stage 6. Too much stress and too little stress is very negative, we need to manage our stress so that it is just the right amount to promote organised, motivated healthy students.
• Stress can be managed through Prevention, Perspective and Breathing: 

Prevention: Make time for the things you are passionate about, get plenty of sleep (8 - 10 hours per night) be physically active (a gentle walk or a high intensity team sport, whichever suits you best), use your character strengths to help you deal with every situation.

Perspective: Keep things in perspective. Can we learn from this situation? Try to look at things differently. Look at it from another person's angle.

Breathing: Use breathing strategies to help manage your stress. Deep breathing can calm your nerves and make you think more clearly.

CAREERS - Adam Kelly on behalf of Michael Kelly

How can Mr Kelly help you?

• subject selection – advice/changes;
• access to careers testing;
• assistance with resumes/cover letters;
• post Year 12 options available;
• University requirements and deadlines;
• school newsletter articles;
• career newsletters – specific to Year 11 or 12 (these are emailed to students - MUST read); and
• Year 12 Parent Evening – Pathways to University coming up later in the year.

Both students and parents can feel free to contact Mr Kelly for support. He has a wealth of knowledge and is always willing help.

STUDY CENTRE SUPPORT - Karen Faichney

The John Mullin Centre (Learning Hub) is run by Mrs Karen Faichney and supported by Mrs Kim Porter. This is a comfortable place where students come to work independently during their study lessons. The JMC also has collaborative learning areas where students can work together and rooms that students can book for study groups or project work. Mrs Faichney and Mrs Porter can provide study support and guidance, proof reading, help with organisation, and study strategies. They ensure that the time is used wisely and also keep a pastoral eye over the students, helping them to access further support where it is needed.

Despite the rigorous nature of the Stage 6 curriculum students in Years 11 and 12 at MacKillop College have a multitude of support systems to access. The key take home message from the information night was that yes, expectations of students will be high, but we have a strong team of people to support the students as they reach for their goals.

Years 11 and 12 is a time to make great memories, make new friendships and strengthen old ones. We hope that students will leave our school with a sense of achievement, fulfilment and many great memories to look back on as they venture off into the big wide world feeling well equipped and prepared for whatever challenges life may throw at them.

COMING UP

• Senior Swimming Carnival in Week 4 which is an extremely fun event. As well as our normal competitive races and the opportunity to go on and represent the College at a Diocesan event, there are loads of fun events. The aim of the day is involvement and history tells us that there won't be anyone left in the stands. Students will need to raid the cupboards and create themselves a fantastic outfit in their team colours. There is even room for a floatation device or two!

• Respectful Relationships Retreat. Coming up in Week 6. Details to come.

Andrea Huxley 

Year 11 Leader of Pastoral Care 

Year 12

This week it was all back to normal with the holidays becoming a distant memory as our first assessment (Biology) forced the students into the reality that we are straight into a very busy and important year. 

Assessment calendars have been emailed out to all students and it is always a great idea to print this out, highlight what they will have to do and pop it on the fridge or a place where it will be seen pretty regularly.  If you do this though, remember it is a live document and things can sometimes change so it should be checked when assessment notifications are received.  

Often I am asked by parents and carers what they can do to help their children, and putting the assessment calendar on the fridge is a small thing that assists your child in getting organised. Other ideas you may wish to try:

• Test their syllabus or content while making dinner;
• Allow them to put up things that need to be memorised, eg drama speech, in places of prominence where time is spent like the back of the toilet door for instance!
• At least two weeks prior to an assessment ask what they are doing to prepare or how they are 'chunking' up what is due;
• Set a timer when they sit down to work for 25 minutes and force them to get up, do a lap of the house, eat a sandwich or something for 5 minutes to have a little brain break;
• Ask them to tell you all about one thing they are studying;
• Ask them to teach you about a concept (the best way to learn is to teach);
• If you work in an area that they study give them real life examples that they could use as proof in their writing; and
• Making sure they get outside, catch up with mates, live outside of the demands of Year 12.

As discussed many times with the cohort, the HSC is not an individual activity. Success comes from working as a team and you, the parents and carers, are integral members of this team. Anything you can do will assist your child's results and wellbeing.

Next week on Wednesday, 17th February is our senior swimming carnival. This is a compulsory school day, and for me one of my favourite days of the school calendar because it is fun! I look forward to seeing every young man and woman of Year 12 attend in their house colours pumped and ready to enjoy their very last school swimming carnival. Students will start at school at the normal time and we will proceed to the pool period 2 after our Ash Wednesday liturgy.

It is fantastic to see some of our sports returning to normal and I am happy to report that one of our resident mountain bikers, Samuel Poulton, has tasted success in the first round of the NSW/ACT Rockytrail Superflow Gravity Enduro Mountain Bike Race. Competing over three tough stages testing both endurance and skill. All riders were able to do five runs of each stage, with their fastest times counting. Sam came second in the Under 19’s and was the 4th fastest rider of the weekend with over 400 riders competing. Awesome work Sam, well done!!

Have a great weekend.

Lisa Kable
Year 12 Leader of Pastoral Care 

Co-Curricular Dance

MacKillop College has a strong culture of Co-curricular Dance which encourages students to be creative  and experience new things while developing a wide range of dance skills and techniques.  

Students interested in dance, gymnastics, physical culture, or cheerleading are invited to be a part of the 2021 Co-Curricular Dance Ensemble. The ensembles are open to students from Year 7-12 and cater for beginners through to advanced dancers. All ensembles require full commitment to rehearsals and performances and include a yearly fee. This is an excellent opportunity to make new friends and be part of  a team! 

Performance opportunities for all 2021 ensembles may include; 

• Coffs Harbour and District Eisteddfod 
• Port Macquarie and District Eisteddfod 
• Music & Dance Co-Curricular Showcase (matinee & evening) 

TERM 1 Timetable 

Year 7 Friday in the JMPC @ 7:45am

Year 8 & 9 Thursday in S10 @ 7:45am

Year 10 -12 Tuesday in  S10 @ 7:45am 

Students will have an opportunity to audition/apply for the combined dance company ensemble.

Jamanda Eggert

Creative Arts Teacher

Wellbeing

On Safer Internet Day this week, the world comes together with a shared vision of making online experiences better for everyone.

Looking after your brand 

In PC, students were prompted to see their digital reputation as their personal ‘brand’. The wider community, such as future employers and universities, judges everyone’s online reputation; we encourage students to build and maintain a positive brand. Students were alerted to strategies they can use to control their images and information and protect their brand.

An updated snapshot of the experiences of digital teens

eSafety is the official Safety Internet Day committee in Australia and a leader in the global effort to protect the digital lives of teens. Their research is based on a survey of 627 teens aged 12-17 in September 2020. See key findings of time online and activities and their responses to teen negative online experiences and response to them online.

The internet is an integral part of the digital lives of Aussie teens. While their high use of technology offers many benefits, there is a downside – negative online experiences. The MacKillop College community then must work in partnership to help our young people maintain a digital footprint of which they can be proud and safe.

PARENTING IDEAS

Michael Grose is a leading parenting educator in Australia. Parents/carers can subscribe to his website: Parenting Ideas for thought provoking and interesting articles. Below is a precis of his tips about Helping your child become the best student they can be.

The new school year is full of excitement and possibility for students and parents. Regardless of how a child or young person has previously performed, this year offers a chance to set a new course.

While it’s tempting as a parent to make the attainment of good academic results the main priority, it’s wiser to focus on helping your young person become the best student they can be. His tips:

Encourage learning

Help your child see themselves as successful learners who achieve results through hard work and application, and that nothing is beyond them if they apply themselves.

Promote leadership

Help your child see themselves as a leader by focusing on personal leadership capacities such as planning ahead, communicating clearly, being accountable for their behaviour, developing emotional awareness and fostering good relationships with siblings and peers. 

Applaud independence

The school years are critical for the development of independence; independence is promoted when we show patience, provide opportunity, display confidence and teach students how.

Embed wellbeing

Parents can support their child’s long term wellbeing by embedding wellbeing habits including healthy eating, exercise, sleep, relaxation techniques, regular time in nature, gratitude and mindfulness.

Nicole O'Connell

Leader of Wellbeing

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

MUSIC ENSEMBLE PROGRAM

All music ensembles are up and running and it is great to see and hear so many students keen to make music together here at the college.

It is never too late to join an ensemble. Even if the sign up and information meeting has passed, students are still invited to email Mr Denham with any requests to join an ensemble.

Ensembles Rehearsing in 2021 are as follows…

College Band is open to all students in Years 7 to 12 who play a concert band instrument. This ensemble is the core instrumental ensemble at the college responsible for performances at assemblies, special school events and other community concerts. Rehearsals take place weekly before school in Terms 2 and 3 only. The Concert Band rehearse beginner to intermediate concert band charts aimed at improving skill and confidence in the concert band style. In addition, this ensemble rehearses common repertoire with the SAPSS Marching Band.

Junior Band is a beginner ensemble open to all students in Years 7 to 9 who play a band instrument. This ensemble rehearses in Terms 1 and 2 only to prepare repertoire and skills to enable students to participate in the larger College Band for major performances at the college later in the year.

Street Band contains a number of experienced senior musicians with the skill to perform intermediate to advanced charts with a focus on improvisation. Entry is open to any student who plays a band instrument. This ensemble meets weekly in Term 1 and 4 only to prepare pop, rock, soul, R&B, funk and jazz charts for college and community events.

Saxophone Ensemble this is an intermediate to advanced ensemble made up of students by invitation from the College Band. This group will rehearse a range of repertoire for school and public performances.

Percussion Ensembles derived from the Concert Band, the Percussion Ensembles rehearse weekly as a junior and senior ensemble to prepare for a range of performance opportunities throughout the year. The skills developed in these ensembles lead directly to those required in the SAPSS Drumline.

Brass Ensemble derived from the Concert Band, the Brass Ensemble rehearse weekly in Terms 1 and 4 only to prepare repertoire for ANZAC Day and Christmas Mass.

String Ensemble is open to all students who play violin, viola, cello or double bass. This ensemble meets weekly to rehearse a range of repertoire from classical, pop and musical theatre styles.

‘The Collective’ Pop & Praise Band this ensemble is open to all singers and instrumentalists from Years 7 to 12 to provide music for major College Masses and Youth Mass services at St Agnes’ Parish Church every month.

Choir - the role of the Vocal Program is to develop a singing culture and to provide a service to the community and the college by performing at major events and at Mass. The Choir is open to all students from Years 7 to 12. This ensemble rehearses weekly.

Junior Vocal Ensemble is derived from the choir and open to any singer from Year 7 to 10. Senior Vocal Ensemble is open to more advanced singers. Entry is by invitation or audition and is restricted to a set number of vocalists. Both ensembles are derived from the Choir and rehearse weekly.

In 2021 the St Agnes’ Parish Secondary Schools (SAPSS) will rehearse two combined musical ensembles which cater for students from MacKillop College, St Joseph’s Regional College and Newman Senior Technical College. Details are as follows:

The SAPSS Drumline is by invite only as places become available. This ensemble participates in eisteddfods and performs as part of the annual Anzac Day Parade and at various Parish and community events.

The SAPSS Marching Band is open to all students who play a Concert Band instrument in our colleges. This ensemble aims to further develop the skills of these students in a more concentrated environment, working on Marching Band repertoire. This ensemble performs as part of the annual Anzac Day Parade and at various Parish and community events alongside the Drumline. The college concert band will rehearse ‘pep’ repertoire throughout the year. This will allow all students in the concert band the opportunity to perform with the Marching Band during ‘pep’ shows - this is when the Marching Band performs without marching.

The ensemble timetable for Term 1 2021 is included below to assist with organisation. Please read over this information and take note of times and venues.

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 email providing the following information:
 - Parent and student contact details;
 - The instrument that you would like to learn;
 - The preferred lesson time e.g before school, during class time or after school.

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 a 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 Subject & Elective Statements 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 and use the code provided to sign up.

Google Classroom Link

Google Classroom Code: q6wj4dy

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.

Robert Denham
Leader of Co-Curricular Music

Sport News

SWIMMING CARNIVALS

The annual MacKillop College Swimming Carnivals are on in Week 4. The senior carnival is on Wednesday 17^th February, and the junior carnival is on Thursday, 18^th February. Students and families are reminded that the carnival is a compulsory school day and if your child is unable to swim due to injury or illness they are to see Mrs Denham with a note explaining why they cannot participate. Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions we are not allowed to have parents attend and spectate at our Swimming carnivals this year. While it is not the same as being poolside all the results will be published in our school newsletter and on the Schools Facebook page. 
Thank you for your understanding. 

• Students are allowed to wear their House colours to and from school and are reminded to wear closed in footwear, to bring their swimmers, rash shirt, hat, towel and sunscreen.
  
  
• The 100m events are swam during the senior carnival, however for the junior carnival the 100m events will start prior to the Carnival. Students need to be at the pool at 7.45am ready for an 8.00am start. If your child wishes to participate in this event they need to register on line through the school Moodle site, Student Links, Representative Sport Registrations.

• Appropriate swim wear – the school has a policy on appropriate swimwear for any water activity. All students are requested to wear a rash shirt to protect them from the sun. Girls are ONLY permitted to wear full piece swimmers or two piece sports swimmers. Triangle bikinis are NOT permitted – if these are the only swimmers that your child has they will be required to wear a rash shirt or t-shirt over their swimmers on the day.

Finally, the swimming carnivals are a highlight on our school sport calendar. This is a day where students can embrace our house spirit and get involved. All that we ask is that students get involved in either the competitive or novelty events and support the House Leaders to make our carnivals fun and enjoyable.

This year due to COVID regulations we are not allowed to sing any chants so…we have some other competitions up our sleeve to generate house spirit such as Dress up your House Teacher, Best Sign/Poster, House with the most colour and the House with the best Viking clap. Watch this space as our House Captains and SRC drum up some house spirit.

REPRESENTATIVE SPORT

HOW TO REGISTER FOR A MACKILLOP COLEGE SPORT TEAM

In the past students have signed up to trial for a sport by writing their name on a paper list at the sports notice board. As of now 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.

Sports currently open for registration are:

• Netball
• Tennis
• Opens Basketball

Click on this link to register  http://moodle.pmaclism.catholic.edu.au/course/view.php?id=650

LISMORE DIOCESAN REGISTRATIONS

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.

• Diocesan Individual Touch Selection Trials – Coffs Harbour 2^nd March
• 400m freestyle event to be swam at Diocesan Swimming – 24^th March
• Diocesan Open’s and Under 15s Rugby League Trials – Lismore 8^th and 9^th March
• Diocesan Open’s Football (Soccer) Girls and Boys – Lismore 8^th and 9^th March

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

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

NSWCCC Sport Registrations 2021 for pathway sports open on 1 February.

Registrations are via the CSNSW.sport portal. For instructions on how to register go to –

Guide For Parents – Sport Registrations >>

Term One Individual Nominations Sport Registrations

• Cricket – 19s Boys -  9 & 10 February – Close 3 February
• Cricket -  15 Years Girls - 15 February – Close 10 February
• Softball – Boys & Girls - 22 February – Close 12 February
• Tennis -  Boys & Girls - 1 March – Close 22 February
• Cricket – U16 Boys – 1 March – Close 18 February
• Baseball – Boys – 3 March – Close 26 February
• Golf – Boys & Girls – 8 March – Close 25 February
• Volleyball – Boys & Girls – 10 March - Close 5 March
• Water Polo – Boys & Girls – 15 March – Close 11 March
• Hockey – Open Boys & Girls, 16s Girls – 22 March – Close 15 March
• Diving – Boys & Girls – 29 March – Close 19 March

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/

COMMUNITY SPORT

On the weekend of 23/24 January Riley Judd in 8O2 competed at the BSW Country Diving Championships held at Wauchope Pool by Diving NSW. It has been a long time since this regional event was hosted in our local area. 

Congratulations Riley on taking out the Gold Medal for your age group. We look forward to hearing how you go at the NSWCCC Diving Championships coming up.

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

Welcome back to 2021 Canteen!

Monday 15th February
Tash Day,  Melissa Broderick

Tuesday 16th February
Vanessa Wilson, Sandy Green, Anthea Romer

Wednesday 17th February
Heather Sheers, Stuart Ward

This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, no meat items will be available for sale.

QKR will not be available on Ash Wednesday.

Thursday 18th February
Swimming Carnival 

Friday 19th February
Justyna Hollis, Susan Judd,  HELP PLEASE

The canteen is desperately seeking volunteers. Please ensure if you are volunteering you have supplied your volunteer Working With Children Check to the front office. 

If you would like to help please follow the link below or ring Maxine on  0432 179 365.  Help is needed from 11am to 2pm or for service from 11am till 11.30am or 1.35pm till 2pm.

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 put in at the canteen.

3. Download the QKR app and order on line. 

ALL ORDERS TO BE IN BY 9AM

Homework Hub - Junior Campus

Homework Hub - Senior Campus

JMC Learning Hub

Monday-Thursday 3.10pm-5.00pm