Term 1, Week 4, 25 February
PRINCIPAL'S UPDATE
Bishop’s Ordination
On Tuesday, Bishop Greg and the Diocese celebrated five years since his ordination as the 6th Bishop of the Lismore Diocese. Bishop Greg is a wonderful man who has been a wonderful leader and guide for Catholic Education in the Diocese since joining us in 2017. Below is a prayer for Bishop Greg as he continues to guide us all in our work and our daily lives.
Ash Wednesday
Next Wednesday the College community will gather in Year groups for our Ash Wednesday Prayer Services. Below is a beautiful piece by Fr Andrew Hamilton explaining how Ash Wednesday marks a day for us to reflect and consider how we can live as better people, in relationship with others and in the image of Christ. Fr Andrew also shares the significance of the Ashes placed on our forehead during our prayer service.
As a Christian celebration Ash Wednesday (6 March 2019) is about conversion – coming to see life differently and acting accordingly.
It introduces Lent, a period of introspection and review of one’s personal life. But personal lives can never be separated from relationships, not only with family and friends but with workmates, fellow citizens, fellow human beings and with the world of which we are part. For people who want a better world, conversion is always on the agenda.
Ashes are places where possibility can arise. From the ash of bushfires grass and plants spring green. On a bomb-levelled city a better place for its citizens can be built. Out of a scorched relationship wisdom and compassion can grow. When we attend to the ashes of our lives and our world, we can recognise their causes and change our way of life.
Through faithful relationships wounded people can grow in confidence and self-respect and can make connections with society. We are all deeply affected by the quality of relationships built into society and its institutions.
Conversion involves looking coolly at our society and the way in which relationships within it, including our own, are distorted by inequality, intolerance and greed. It also alerts us to the ways in which we benefit from injustice and inequality. That recognition builds empathy with people who are marginalised.
Study Tips From 2021 HSC Students
As mentioned in our last newsletter, our 2021 HSC students shared some great tips with our current Year 11 and 12 students at the start of the year. I thought it worth sharing just some of these with parents to help with conversations with younger students as to how they might set themselves up for success with their studies for 2022.
- Take every opportunity that is given to you by your teachers to improve your work and use their knowledge whether that be through attending morning study sessions or lunchtime revision sessions.
- Create a routine/study plan that works for you (only you will know what works best for you). This could range from hand-written study notes for some people or online documents structured by dot points.
- To maintain your drive and motivation throughout the year, I found it easier to set myself both short term and long term goals. This could involve getting a reward after doing your daily study or setting a range of where you want to achieve in a specific subject.
- Create your own questions and exam papers. Some courses are relatively new and don't have too many papers. Creating your own questions (even if you don't get around to answering them) can be highly beneficial in that your brain is still filtering the content and thus you are learning it.
- Keep a log of past results - this spots areas of weakness.
Do study before homework each night, by doing this you force yourself to do a portion of study. If homework is due the following day, you know it is going to get done.
Parent Webinar
This free webinar is designed for parents and carers of young people aged
10–18 and will cover:
- What do to about accidental exposure to content about suicide, self-harm or eating disorders.
- Using games, apps and social media to support mental wellbeing.
- The pros and cons of digital mental health platforms.
- strategies for young people to support friends online.
Tuesday 8 March 7:30pm – 8:30pm
Register via the following link.
Change of details
If you or any of your family have moved, or have any differing contact information to what the school currently has you can now change details via the following form.
This is also located on our College website and at the top of each Newsletter.
Parent Partnerships
One of the real challenges of the last two years has been the loss of opportunities for face-to-face contact with parents. It is very much my hope that this will change in the near future and we can return to having our Learning Conversations or student planning meetings in person. In the meantime I encourage parents to continue to phone or email your children’s teachers if you have any concerns or if you just feel you need a check-in to see how they are going.
We will be trialing our first return to Face-to-Face Learning Conversations in Week 6 for our Year 12 HSC students and parents. Please see our Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching: Christine Harmer’s section in today’s newsletter for more details.
Student Free Day - Staff Professional Learning Friday 4 March
Friday 4 March will be a student free day where students can work from home to catch-up on Term 1 work and also work towards upcoming assessments.
Staff on this day will have a full day working with our partner from Real Schools Australia, Adam Voigt. Adam is an expert on restorative practices in schools to enhance positive relationships, student learning and school culture.
CATH EICHMANN
PRINCIPAL
VALENTINE'S DAY
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL - MISSION
Lent
In the coming week we enter the Church season of Lent. This is a period of personal preparation for celebrating the Risen Christ at Easter. All students will gather for a prayer service on Ash Wednesday to receive blessed ashes from the burnt palms of Palm Sunday, and to formally commence their Lenten disciplines.
Lent for the year 2022 starts on Wednesday, 2 March and ends on Thursday, 14 April with evening mass on Holy Thursday. Lent is a Christian annual period that starts on Ash Wednesday lasting for forty days (not including Sundays) representing the forty days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness in preparation for his mission.
The observance of Lent as a forty-day time period began after the Council of Nicea in 325 AD, but periods of fasting before Easter date back even earlier. Lent has traditionally been associated with the Catholic Church, but some Protestants, Orthodox Christians, and others also observe some form of Lent.
There are three traditional practices taken up with renewed vigour during Lent; these are known as the three pillars of Lent: prayer (justice towards God), fasting (justice towards self), and almsgiving (justice towards neighbours).
It is through prayer that we develop a closer relationship with God. This relationship helps us to be grateful for the blessings we receive and prompts us to give to those less fortunate than us.
Fasting is one of the most ancient actions linked to Lent. Fasting can involve giving up something we hold dear for the period of Lent, and it reminds us that Jesus Christ gave up his life for us.
However, it can also be taking up something, such as volunteering at a soup kitchen or simply choosing to say positive things when we are tempted to say something mean. Reminding ourselves of all Jesus did for others, especially those less fortunate.
Lastly, almsgiving is the response to prayer and fasting. Through prayer and fasting we come to a deeper understanding that the needs of all are the responsibility of all. Works of charity and the promotion of justice are integral elements of the Christian way of life.
A real way in which everyone in our school community can participate in almsgiving during Lent is through Project Compassion. We have chosen to make this one of our major fundraisers for the year.
God bless
PETER MURPHY
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL MISSION
EVANGELISATION
This year we have two wonderful youth people working with us as our Youth Ministry Officers (YMO’s). Ella Ippaviz who was with us last year, and Gianluca Polacci Byrnes who finished Year 12 at St Joseph’s Regional College last year.
The YMO’s have a really important role within the school in walking alongside our students in their faith journey this year. Their aim is to help to create a large student community filled with student discipleship, to help them engage in programs and activities we offer such as Lead, Kairos, Festa Christi, Shine, Ignite and so many more, which are designed to strengthen their faith through discipleship and social justice!
2022 KAIROS Retreat
Tuesday (after school) 5 April – Friday 8 April at Francis Retreat, Bonny Hills.
St Agnes' Parish Secondary Schools have embarked on an exciting initiative in the delivery of senior student retreats by offering Kairos Retreats in our area.
A Kairos Retreat is a faith based retreat which invites the participants to explore their own spirituality, and is significantly different from other school retreat experiences. It is smaller, consisting of 15 participants, 4 student leaders, 3 staff leaders and a priest. It is unique in that the retreat is led by students themselves. These student leaders have participated in a Kairos Retreat themselves last year, and then take on the challenge and privilege of leading a retreat for their peers.
This year’s Kairos Retreat will be led by student leaders who completed their first Kairos Retreat in 2021. Student leaders invest a great deal of time in preparing to lead the retreat, and are supported and accompanied by staff for the entire process.
Any student who has an interest in being part of these experience should contact Marg Gobius ASAP.
LEAD Conference 2022
Our senior students, along with our two YMO’s, are invited to attend the CSO funded LEAD conference in Grafton on Thursday and Friday of Week 6, with many other young christian leaders from throughout the diocese.
These students are offered a wonderful opportunity to further develop their leadership skills within our school in relation to Mission and Evangelisation.
The Youth Ministry Officers of the diocese support these students from Year 11 and 12, offering insight and inspiration with their personal reflections and testimonials.
Following this event we welcome our LEAD students back to MacKillop College with the anticipation of the wonderful ministries they will be able to share with their peers over the next 12 months. Please contact our YMO’s Ella and Gian, or Marg Gobius, to find out more details of this great event.
MARG GOBIUS
LEADER OF EVANGELISATION
NSW SCHOOL VACCINATION PROGRAM
Each year NSW Health works in partnership with schools to offer the vaccines recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for adolescents as part of the school vaccination program.
In 2022 the following vaccines will be offered:
YEARS | VACCINE | NUMBER OF DOSES |
Year 7 28 February & 1March | Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine | 2-doses at least 6 months apart with second dose Term 4 |
Boostrix - Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine | Single dose | |
Year 8 28 February & 1March | Catch up HPV dose 2 for students who did not receive their second dose in 2021 (Area Health must already have consent form) | |
Year 11 28 February & 1March | Meningococcal ACWY – catch up for students who did not receive this in 2021 (Area Health must already have consent form) | |
Year 10 9 May | Meningococcal ACWY vaccine | Single dose |
Year 7 Parent Information Kits that include an information sheet, consent form and privacy statement have been sent home with Year 7 students this week. Year 10 Parent Information Kits will be sent home closer to the Year 10 Vaccination Day. To consent to the vaccination of their child, parents and carers are advised to:
- Read all the information provided;
- Complete the consent form, including signing their name next to the vaccine/s they would like their child to receive;
- Return the completed consent form to the clinic nurse on vaccination day;
- Ensure that their child eats breakfast on the day of the school vaccination clinic;
- Students are asked to wear their sport uniform on vaccination day for ease of access for vaccination.
Please note that, to improve vaccination completion, students will be opportunistically offered any missed doses during Year 7 or 8 (for HPV and dTpa vaccination) and during Year 10 or 11 (for Meningococcal ACWY vaccination).
A Record of Vaccination will be provided to each student vaccinated at each clinic either as a physical card or a text message sent to the mobile number recorded on the consent form. Details about vaccinations given at school will also be uploaded to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) to support complete vaccination histories. Please note that MacKillop College does not keep any vaccination records.
SCHOOL ACCOUNTS
School Account / Subject Fees
All parents should have received their Term 1 subject fee statement via email last Friday, 18 February. If you did not receive yours, please ring the College on 6583 2632 and select option 4 or email
pmac-finance@lism.catholic.edu.au.
Year 9 and 10 students are required to have all previous sport fees paid prior to selecting a fee-paying sport for the following term. These sport selections take place in the last few weeks of each term, so your assistance here will avoid disappointment to students who will not qualify for their desired sport.
Parents are asked to make regular weekly or fortnightly payments towards their child’s subject and excursion fees to ensure the account is paid in full as soon as possible, and before the end of the school year. Billing takes place each term, and items billed will depend on upcoming events. These payments can be made by setting up a weekly BPay transfer using the details on your statement, by contacting the College to either request bank details, or to give “authority to debit” authorisation.
If at any time you have any concerns regarding items billed to your account, or you would like to discuss payment options, please contact me at the College.
JENNY HUNT
FINANCE AND FACILITIES MANAGER
YEAR 7
Swimming Carnival Success
Year 7 students' first high school swimming carnival was a great release from the classroom.
Our PC Team was so proud of those students who were able to have a fantastic day in the pool and at the poolside. Great House spirit and engagement were shown by all, and what impressed me greatly was the willingness to participate and try (despite a lack of confidence sometimes), their encouragement of each other and show of support for their friends and peers.
Congratulations Innes who achieved victory in House points at the junior carnival on the day, but I would like to congratulate all who joined in with a positive, ‘will give it my best go’ attitude.
7 Innes 2 at the end of the day
In Extended PC
Learning starts with a mindset.
When students have been tracked over challenging school transitions, such as moving to high school, researchers have found that those with the growth mindset out-achieve those with the fixed mindset (Blackwell, Trzesniewski & Dweck, 2007).
Bruce Smith, Leader of Pedagogy, addressed our Year 7 assembly about the power of adopting a growth mindset in their approach to learning. He defined a fixed mindset as when students believe their basic abilities, intelligence, their talents, are just fixed traits. They have a certain amount and that’s that, and then their goal becomes to look smart all the time and never look dumb. Whereas a growth mindset is when students understand that their talents and abilities can be developed through effort, good teaching and persistence. They don’t necessarily think everyone’s the same or anyone can be Einstein, but they believe everyone can get smarter if they work at it.
And what more could we want for our young people in their approach to learning but a self-belief, active acceptance of new challenges and embracing new opportunities to grow as a learner and as a person?
I explained at our assembly that each of us can use our character strengths to ‘be like Mike’. Our top five character strengths are the positive qualities that come naturally to us and when we tap into these strengths they can help us 'do good, be good thus feel good'.
In their PC groups, students then practised a growth mindset to attempt four different challenges, including tabling how each person’s strengths can help them at school. The following photos depict the students’ successes.
(Note: the final challenge required one student to avoid touching the ground)
NICOLE O'CONNELL
YEAR 7 LEADER OF PASTORAL CARE
YEAR 8
As students and staff alike settle into our new normal back at school, it is a good time to remind ourselves of all the little things in life that we are thankful for and our friends, family and teachers should all be on the list!
Student Success
“Never see a need without doing something about it”.
Year 8 students Megan Goldie and Jarrod Manning have demonstrated a wonderful sense of community and responsibility as young Australians. As a MacKillop community we are constantly reminding students of our patron Saint's famous words of ‘never seeing a need without doing something about it”.
Megan and Jarrod were chosen by a judging panel to represent Tacking Point SLSC as Junior Lifesavers of the Year at the Mid North Coast Branch Surf Lifesaving Awards.
The Junior Lifesaver of the Year Award is a way for Clubs and Branches to recognise their U14 members’ achievements in Surf Life Saving; the contributions they have made to all levels of Surf Life Saving as well as within the community.
The program for this age group focuses on self-leadership, socialisation, teamwork, surf lifesaving and self-awareness.
The criteria for selection will be based on the nominee’s achievements in the following areas:
- contribution to Surf Life Saving;
- promotion of Surf Life Saving to the community;
- peer leadership; and
- surf lifesaving knowledge and skills.
Congratulations Megan and Jarrod
Community Service
At the start of the year students were encouraged to record any community service they complete in 2022. Page 20 of the College Diary notes a range of home, school, neighbourhood, community and wider community-based activities that many students will engage in. Your child may record their community service activities on page 21 of the diary.
PC Fun
8F2 with Megan Verdon and Michelle Marino have been doing their part to help maintain the MacKillop food garden by weeding, watering and planting veggies for all the community to benefit. Well done 8F2.
GREG FINNEY
YEAR 8 LEADER OF PASTORAL CARE
YEAR 10
Congratulations to the swimming carnival age champions and runners up from Year 10 – Tyse Thrower, Andie McGrath, Maeve Kinchington, Sally Temple, Chloe Caldwell, Tom Ryan and Jack O’Connell. I’d also very much like to acknowledge the leadership shown by our House Captains Jack O’Connell, Lauren Nichols, Sally Temple and Tom Ryan who led house chants, organised relay teams and encouraged participation from students all day. As a whole, Year 10 showed great school spirit and set an excellent example for the younger year groups. Well done!
This week the students have also completed the Wellbeing Survey which will provide the school with invaluable information used to plan Pastoral activities for Year 10. Much of this information will be shared with parents soon in the form of a virtual presentation which will be in-lieu of a parent information evening.
Parents and carers will soon receive information and the permission note for Year 10 Retreat being held during Week 8. Students will attend either Francis Retreat in Bonny Hills or Stuarts Point Convention Centre for two days and one night. As part of the Retreat we also celebrate Mass on Middle Brother mountain. Staff and students are very much looking forward to the Retreat.
Homework Hub is available in the junior library from 3:15pm to 4:30pm, Monday to Thursday. Homework Hub
As always, if you have any questions please feel free to contact me here at the school.
Best wishes.
DAVID KENNEDY
YEAR 10 LEADER OF PASTORAL CARE
YEAR 11
Year 11 have definitely hit the ground running with new subjects, extra workload and their first ever Senior Swimming Carnival.
Last week we had the MacKillop Senior Swimming Carnival on Wednesday. The stadium was engulfed in endless red, green, blue and yellow. Eager swimmers ready to skim through the water at record speeds, or float on a colourful floaty or blow up boat depending on your preference and talents. I was very happy to see the wonderful talent on show in the pool and the number of Year 11 students involved on the day.
Congratulations to all our students who swam fast, got a ribbon (or a red frog) and got involved on the day in any shape or form.
Congratulations to Innes who were the winning house on the day (lucky me, I changed to Innes this year- sorry Flinders). Well done Innes!!!!
Elevate Education and Your Choicez Day- Monday, 28 February
Next Monday (Week 5) all of Year 11 will be involved in Elevate Education and Your Choicez Day at the College. This is a compulsory school day for all students and will involve outside presenters working with our students.
Elevate Education will be running a one-hour seminar for the students on Time Management which will involve tips on:
- Study Routine: How to develop a study routine that allows for socialising, sport, and extra-curricular activities, but still ensures academic productivity.
- Working Smart: How to identify the work that is going to get students the most marks across their final years and how to ensure that it gets done.
- Study Groups: Students are shown how to leverage their time across the year by using study groups.
- Procrastination: Students are introduced to the most common reasons for procrastination and how to address them.
The Your Choicez Seminar will be presented by David and Katie Kobler from Your Choicez. David and Katie are two highly qualified experts with an extensive background in youth work, youth communication and leadership. As a husband and wife team they are passionate about the wellbeing of young people and deliver many seminars across the country addressing the concept of respectful relationships.
“Every young person should know what makes a happy, healthy, respectful relationship. Every young person should have the opportunity to consider their choices around relationships, dating, sexting, pornography and sex. Our hope is that we can provide an opportunity for every young person to do this.”
David and Katie Kobler, Your Choicez
This will be a very worthwhile day for all our Year 11 students.
TRACEY BEWICKE
YEAR 11 LEADER OF PASTORAL CARE
YEAR 12 LEARNING CONVERSATIONS
Learning Conversations will be held from 4:00pm to 7:00pm on Monday, 7 March for families with children in Year 12 in the Lochinvar Centre and the JMC. Please be aware that due to Covid restrictions this may change to an online forum/Zoom based on current advice at the time.
If this date does not suit, I encourage you to make contact (phone or email) with your child’s teachers.
As per all conversations in relation to our students’ learning, we encourage your child to also attend the evening. These interviews are one part of the very important process of our students gaining the most from their schooling and provide an opportunity for parents and teachers to meet to ensure open and collaborative communication which assists students not only in their learning, but in their growth as young men and women.
In addition to classroom teachers, Jo Pilgrim Leader of Career Transitions and Pathways will be available for advice from 4:00pm – 6:30pm. Appointments are not required and parents are invited to see Jo on the night at their convenience.
You can now book interviews at times that suit at www.schoolinterviews.com.au and follow these simple instructions.
Please ensure you provide your full name, and your child’s full name, when entering your details.
When you click finish, your interview timetable will be emailed to you automatically - check your junk mail folder if you do not receive your email immediately.
Interviews are strictly 5 minutes and spaces are limited. If you require more time, please contact teachers directly to make alternative arrangements.
Parents can change their interview bookings, any time prior to the closing date, by re-visiting the www.schoolinterviews.com.au website, and using the event code. Remember to use the same name and email address you used when you made your original booking.
Please note BOOKINGS CLOSE on the evening of Thursday, 3 March.
CHRISTINE HARMER
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL LEARNING AND TEACHING
YEAR 12
It’s been an exciting few weeks!
The Swimming Carnival was a fantastic event. Year 12 did a wonderful job creating College spirit and getting involved. The smiles on the faces told the story of a group of young people having a blast and making the most of their time at school. Encouraging each other, cheering for each other and sometimes literally carrying each other, for their very last swimming carnival.
We enjoyed our first team challenge with a little inspiration from Olivia Nichols who stumbled upon the fact that Tuesday was February 22, of the year 2022 and Liv figured that this was worth celebrating. Obviously a suitable outfit for such a celebration was a tutu! So celebrate 22/2/2022 we did! We challenged the PC teams to see which PC could wear the MOST tutus. The competition was fierce between the two competitive PC’s PC11 and PC1, however PC11 were the proud winners of our first challenge, albeit due to a technicality.
This hilarious challenge set the scene for a great few days away as we headed off to Retreat. Tales of which will have to come in the next instalment. Although I am sure evidence of the wonderful experience will be seen by the families of very tired Year 12 students this weekend. A HUGE thank you to Marg Gobius who puts such an enormous amount of work into these retreats, and to all the teachers who supported the students, taking time away from their own families to be with Year 12 at this special event. We are just so thankful that we were able to have the retreat.
ANDREA HUXLEY
YEAR 12 LEADER OF PASTORAL CARE
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
Ensemble Rehearsals
All ensemble rehearsals are up and running as of Week 5 (we hope to have the string ensemble operating soon - watch this space). Please check in with your ensemble director for details.
Musical Theatre Company (vocal solos and choruses) - samantha.adams@lism.catholic.edu.au
Percussion Ensembles, Drumline and Colour Guard - mark.specnce@lism.catholic.edu.au
Saxophone Ensemble - cara.stewart@lism.catholic.edu.au
Junior Band, Senior Band, Collective - robert.denham@lism.catholic.edu.au
Music Tuition
Students who have indicated interest in receiving instrument tuition (with the exception of strings) should have been contacted by a tutor to organise availability. Timetables will be finalised over the coming week. When lessons are scheduled during class time, tutors will create a rotating schedule to ensure that students are not missing the same classes each week. Fees are set by each individual tutor and may vary.
Please contact the leader of co-curricular music with any questions or concerns with regard to tuition.
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 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 absences 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. This shirt will 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 size. Sample shirts will be available. 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 2022 is included below to assist with organisation. Please read over this information and take note of times and venues.
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
Co curricular Music Google Classroom
Senior Band STILE PAGE CLASS CODE X3JF9Y
Junior Band STILE PAGE CLASS CODE JSV9C8
The Collective Pop & Rock Praise Band STILE PAGE CLASS CODE G8V8S6
Saxophone Ensemble Google Classroom
Musical Theatre Company Google Classroom
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 NEWS
Last week we hosted our annual swimming carnivals. The carnivals are always a great way to start the year allowing us to come together as a school, foster house spirit, embrace a healthy camaraderie between houses and showcase the extraordinary ability of our many talented swimmers.
We kicked off with the Junior Carnival on Tuesday, where students turned up ready to have loads of fun. The Senior carnival was a great balance between competition and fun with the grandstand resembling a sea of colour. The Belly Flop competition was once again a highlight with some spectacular moves and an abundance of flotation devices.
MacKillop College Events and Registration
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.
Sport | Event | Date |
Netball | Schools Cup Netball | 8 March |
Cross Country | MacKillop College Cross Country | 15 March |
Netball | Fast 5 Netball Years 11 & 12 | 1 April |
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.
Sport | Event | Date of event | Registration Closing date |
Touch Football | Diocesan Individual Touch Football Selection Trials – Coffs Harbour | 3 March | 24 February |
Rugby League | Diocesan Opens & U15 Rugby League Selections – Lismore - rescheduled | 8 March | 23 February |
Tennis | Diocesan Tennis – Tweed Heads - rescheduled | 8 March | 23 February |
Football (Soccer) | Diocesan Open Football – Boys and Girls Trials – Lismore - rescheduled | 8 March | 23 February |
Swimming | Diocesan Swimming Carnival – Lismore | 10 March | 4 March |
Basketball | Diocesan Open Basketball – Coffs Harbour | 24 March | 10 March |
Football (Soccer) | North/ South Opens Football – Kempsey and Lismore at NRFA | 22 March 27 April for finals | 11 March |
Rugby League | Rugby League northern selection Opens/U15s Boys and U16 Girls Trials – South West Rocks | 16 March |
NSWCCC Events and Registration
NSWCCC 2022 Sport Registrations for pathway sports open on 1 February.
* Schools will be asked to nominate teams for the Triathlon Teams event – further communication to come.
Students MUST be registered for the event with parent and Principal approval (or Principal delegate).
Registration is through the CSNSW.sport portal.
Details on how to register – Guide For Parents – Sport Registrations >>
Please note that the NSWCCC Sport registrations for individual nominations for 2022 selections are open for the following trials:
Sport | Gender/Location | Date of event | Registration Closing date |
Cricket | Open Girls - Riverwood | 14 & 15 March | 1 March |
Golf | Boys & Girls – Macquarie Links | 21 March | 11 March |
Water Polo | Boys & Girls - Ryde | 21 March | 11 March |
Diving | Boys & Girls - SOPAC | 6 April | 21 March |
Touch Football | Boys & Girls – Nelson Bay | 29 March | See below |
Swimming | Boys & Girls - SOPAC | 6 April | See below |
-Rugby Union | Opens – Eastwood | 26 April | 8 April |
Rugby Union | 16 Years – Eastwood | 26 & 27April | 8 April |
Rugby 7s | Girls – Eastwood | 27 April | 8 April |
Basketball | Boys & Girls – Terrigal | 2 May | 22 April |
Australian Football | Boys & Girls – Wagga Wagga | 2 & 3 May | 20 April |
Football | 16 Years - Kareela | 4 May | 26 April |
Swimming and Touch Football registrations are through the Diocesan/Association pathways.
For further information, go to the CSNSW Sport website Sport pages https://csnsw.sport/.
NSW All Schools – Events
The selection for these events are a result of the NSWCCC events.
Sport | Gender/Location | Date of event |
Triathlon | Individual Event – Penrith | 15 March |
Triathlon | Team Event – Penrith | 16 March |
Tennis | Boys & Girls – Bathurst | 21 & 22 March |
Cricket | Boys & Girls - Raby | 22, 23 & 24 March |
Sailing | Boys & Girls – Belmont | 11 – 14 April |
Community Sport
If your child has achieved outstanding sporting results in their community sport, we would love to hear about it. Please email myself, or your child’s respective Leader of Pastoral Care, so we can acknowledge these achievements.
National Oz Tag Championships
Congratulations to Charlee Bailey, Jenna Bryan and Penny Sprague (Year 9) who competed in the 14 girls Northern Rangers side on the weekend at the National Oz Tag Championships. The team progressed to the quarter finals where they were defeated by West Tigers who went on to win the championship. Sehtaya Gordon (Year 9) also competed on the weekend in the 13s side who made the quarter finals.
It is so great to see the girls enjoying playing Oz Tag at this level and gaining valuable experience. Well Done.
Hockey
Congratulations to Tobias Toohey and James Ferguson who were recently named in the NSW Under 15 Hockey team to compete in Newcastle against other states next month. Good luck boys, we look forward to hearing how you go.
Surf Lifesaving
Jarvis Lineham and Milly McGrath were recently named Junior Lifesaver of the Year for their respective surf lifesaving clubs. Following this, they completed a formal interview with a judging panel from the branch level of surf lifesaving. Milly and Jarvis were chosen as the female and male winners of this round of Junior Lifesaver of the Year and now go on to compete in Sydney in April and attend a leadership camp.
What a fantastic achievement for both Jarvis and Milly. We wish you all the best when you compete in Sydney and know that we are very proud of your 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
CAREERS CORNER
Wednesday 9 March | 4:00pm (AEDT)
In this Insights webinar, Associate Professor Marina Ciccarelli from Curtin University, and Cheryl Mangan from Autism CRC will provide information about the myWAY Employability evidence-based resources available to assist young people on the autism spectrum in transition planning, to build their employability, and maximise their potential.
Join us as the team from myWAY Employability discuss such topics as:
- Starting challenging conversations about the future
- Identifying personal strengths, interests, and sensory preferences to guide career exploration and work experiences
- Providing a just right challenge
- Building self-determination.
Register now for this free event!
JO PILGRIM
LEADER OF CAREER TRANSITIONS AND PATHWAYS
CANTEEN UPDATE
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 on line.
All orders to be in by 8:30am please.
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.
Monday 28 February
Paul Atkins and Patrick Corr
Tuesday 1 March
Maggie Nash and Hahn Le
Wednesday 2 March
Kate Perkins and Peta Clancy
Thursday 3 March
Rowena Beukers, Renee Bullock and Kelly Dingle
Friday 4 March
Pupil Free Day (No helpers required)
Monday 7 March
Sue Moore-Jones, Mayo Brumby and Jodie Burge
Tuesday 8 March
Deborah Hallen and Chris Pees
Wednesday 9 March
Danielle Sen Gupta and Rox Brockhurst
Thursday 10 March
Heather Sheers and Help required
Friday 11 March
Kim Medland, Allie Tamanti and Carolyn Horan
CANTEEN HELP NEEDED
We are in need of some parent assistance for canteen. For more information and requirements on volunteering in the Canteen, or if you are able to volunteer, please follow this link.
Maths Tutorials
Tuesday 7.45am-8.30am and Friday 7.45am-8.30am
Room 12 Main College with Elizabeth Robertson
Homework Hubs
