MAGDALENE SHINES

More will be written about this (and photographs included) in the following newsletter, however, a huge congratulations goes to the staff and students involved in “Magdalene Shines” last night. Not only was there a high degree of talent and skill from our dancers, musicians, singers and performers on the evening, but there was also an enormous sense of goodwill and joy that was observable. A very large vote of thanks goes to our CAPA staff – Mr Mae, Mrs Stevens, Mrs Curtis and also to Miss Cupillari for her work with the MISA Dance Team. Thanks too goes to Mrs Colella for her work with the Year 12 Act and of course our Year 12s. Additionally, thanks goes to our staff involved in the staff act, to those who helped on accompaniment or those who helped backstage.

CREATING A QUALITY STUDY SPACE

At Magdalene, we speak often of the importance of completing homework, assessments and devising and revising study notes.

Yet at times we might neglect the actual study space available to our young people.

The College does not promote one ideal study space – especially when the size of families or the size of the family home/unit will dictate this so much. However, there are some common features which are extremely helpful if they can be accommodated.

A Common Study Area

Firstly, where possible, the College recommends a common study area for families. This allows for parents/carers to visibly notice whether study is occurring and also helps in determining the level of distraction that may or may not exist. This space might be a corner area or part of a family room. If this exists, minimising distractions is also important – and those students in their final year/s of their studies (while they may have headphones on) will appreciate this a great deal.

For students with a desk in their own room, this can be suitable for those students who are self-motivated, organised, need solitude (and no distraction) and/or have a high degree of independence. However, challenges can present if students are easily distracted by technology, social media and/or other possible disturbances; this would obviously need to be monitored carefully. Students can report they were sitting at their desk for hours – but this not necessarily mean that they completed effective study.

Comfortable and functional

The area which is set aside needs to have good light (overhead lighting or a powerful desk lamp) and it should allow students to be alert and focused. Students studying on beds is not ideal as this can advance tiredness -> a functional and/or ergonomic chair is much preferable.

Space to lay out books, folders and study notes can be very helpful, as is enough area for a laptop to sit comfortably along with an area to complete written work.

Limiting other distractions – TVs, noise, common thoroughfares etc… also needs consideration. And once again the College strongly recommends a curfew on technology use – ideally with no use one hour (at a minimum) before bedtime.

Resource-ready

Again, this is not possible in every home/unit, however, access to a printer and a suitable supply of stationery (pens, pencils, highlighters, paper and the like) is very useful.

If a bookcase or storage unit (a box, shelving or containers) can also be included, this will limit the amount of time it can take to move from activity to activity and helps to avoid procrastination.

Final Note – organisation

Our students are strongly encouraged to use their College diaries – to diarise the homework and/or assessment work that they currently have due. Do ask questions of children about their work, do sight their diary (encouraging them to use it more extensively if needed) AND, where possible, do use the Fridge as a place where Assessment Schedules can be displayed and checked off.

Mr Matthew McMahon

Principal

With recent events occurring in Australia and abroad in which the media has been attacked (physically, judicially or verbally), I believe having the Patron Saint of Writers and Journalists (St. Francis de Sales) as a focus for our prayer/s is a valuable thing.

A free press is vital in every nation and our students are encouraged to question (respectfully) existing structures in society with a view to enhancing the world of tomorrow.

The Prayer of St Francis de Sales that follows encourages us to trust our Lord and to have strength as we move forward – often as we face many hardships.

The Prayer of St Francis de Sales

Be at Peace!

Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life;
rather look to them with full hope as they arise.
God, whose very own you are,
will deliver you from out of them.
He has kept you hitherto,
and He will lead you safely through all things;
and when you cannot stand it,
God will bury you in his arms.

Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;
the same everlasting Father who cares for you today
will take care of you then and every day.
He will either shield you from suffering,
or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination.

Year 7 has been full of wonderful learning experiences so far. Magdalene caters for all students within all different learning areas.

At Magdalene, I have already had several meaningful learning opportunities. As the year has gone on, we have developed a deeper knowledge in each subject.

For example, on the 21st of March Year 7 had a great opportunity to go to the Australian Museum and learn more about dinosaurs and fossils. This day was very fun and engaging and helped us improve in the area of history. In my first Art assessment, I had to draw many pages of one food or drink item I liked and then make it out of clay. I’m still working on my clay object, but I put in a lot of effort into my drawings and received an A grade for it. My skills in Art have improved and I’m proud of that.

Year 7 has been amazing for me and I really have been enjoying it so far. Thank you to our awesome teachers who have made it a great experience and have put in a lot of effort to teach us and give us engaging lessons.

- Monique Flanagan

LIVE Twilight & VERVE Senior Retreat

Live is an event that is run by the Catholic Youth Ministry Wollongong, a combined initiative of the Bishop’s Office and the Catholic Education Office, providing opportunities for young people to explore their faith and engage in activities related to the mission of the Church.

The vibe of the evening was one of positivity, with many of the students engaging in ways both socially and spiritually. Some of the students felt that the night was, “An amazing time to connect with peers”, and “It helped me understand life and my faith”. We’d like to encourage everyone and anyone to come to our next Live event to further connect with their faith, and at the very least, celebrate the unity of our College and the friendships made within.

The Senior Verve saw visitors from the Mackillop Parish Youth Group join us to hear great talks from Miss Boughton about her adventure at World Youth Day in Panama, Mr Matt Watson (former student and now a teacher at St Francis Catholic College) and Miss Celene Watson (former student). All of the talks were thought-provoking and encouraged students to live life to the full. Thank you to the YMLs for their outstanding leadership.   

Winter Sleep Out & Winter Appeal

On the Friday of Week 9 (28th of June), Magdalene will be hosting the annual Vinnies Winter Sleepout which involves our students sleeping in rough conditions to simulate the plight homeless people face when they are sleeping on the streets in Winter. To get involved, grab your sleeping bag and a few of your friends, as we try to make this event one of our largest yet! For $20, you receive breakfast, dinner and snacks throughout the evening, as well as make a donation to St Vincent De Paul to improve the lives of those sleeping on the streets. We hope to see you there! Permission notes are out now. We are also putting the call out for donations of canned food, blankets, winter clothing to support the Vinnies Winter Appeal. So start checking pantries and wardrobes for quality items that could help improve the lives of others this winter. More details to come in the next newsletter including when to bring the items into school.

Youth Ministry Leadership

At an Assembly earlier this term the College’s 2019 Youth Ministry Leaders were badged to recognise their good works throughout the school and the wider community. The ceremony involved the Leaders receiving their badges from Mr McMahon and recognition for their community and social justice involvement, particularly at our Verve Twilight retreats, with intentions of inspiring the college community to engage deeper with their faith. Congratulations to our Youth Ministry Team! Applications are now open for our 2020 YML positions from interested Year 10 Students - see emails from Mr Collins for more information.

A Magdalene Mission Media by Liam, Tamsyn, Sean, Hayden and Josh

Year 9 Design and Technology have recently completed their Storage Solutions Project. Students were given a brief to design and produce a functional and innovative storage device based on an identified need. The project required students to follow a design process. This involved examining existing products on the market, establishing success criteria, developing concepts, evaluating ideas and executing their final design into product or prototype. Well done Year 9 on the completion of your quality projects.

Mrs Violi and Miss Di-Filippo

THE MISA COMPETITION EXPLAINED

There have been changes to MISA this year with MISA dividing into 3 Zones.

We are in the East Zone which in itself is a tough competition.

At the end of each terms MISA Competition there is an Inter-zone Finals  Competition (Tri-Series) where the winning teams from each Zone play each other for overall MISA Champion for each sport played during the term.

At the end of Term 1, our Zone (The East Zone), won 8 out of the 9 Inter-zone Finals played.

Our Girls Indoor Cricket Team won their Inter-zone Final at the end of Term 1 with a resounding victory. 

The MISA Zones are as follows:

NORTH ZONE

All Saints Catholic Senior College (ASCSC), Clancy Catholic College (CCC), Freeman Catholic College (FCC), Good Samaritan Catholic College (GSCC), St Francis Catholic College (SFCC), Thomas Hassall Anglican College (THAC), William Carey Christian School (WCCS)

EAST ZONE

John Therry Catholic High School (JT), Magdelene Catholic College (MAG), Mount Carmel Catholic College (MCCC), St Benedict’s Catholic College (SBCC), St Patrick’s College (STP)

WEST ZONE

Broughton Anglican College (BAC), Macarthur Anglican School (MAS), Mount Annan Christian College (MACC), Oran Park Anglican College (OPAC), Wollondilly Anglican College (WAC)

Diocesan Tennis Report

Earlier in the year, our Magdalene Tennis team competed in the Diocesan Tennis Competition. The competition was held at Beaton Park, Wollongong with all of the Diocesan schools involved.

Our boys team gave their best but were unable to gain enough points (games) to get into the major finals. Despite this, our male tennis players showed a degree of grit and determination which will aid our chances in the future, especially as the players gain more tennis experience.

With a greater depth of experience in the team, the girls were able to make it through to the Semi-Finals of the major competition and were unlucky to make it through to the Final after a competitive game against Corpus Christi.

Well done to all of our players on the day, who, despite a general lack of competition experience, gave of their very best.

Coach: Mr Kennedy

Magdalene Tennis Team Members (pictured below): DAGOSTO Ellie, VINCENT Alexander, CARCAMO Ethan, GALLAGHER Olivia, GROOT Mitchell, ISAACS Hannah, POLKINGHORNE Brady, RIVET Alison, STAUNTON Patrick

MISA SPORTS NEWS

MISA RESULTS : Magdalene v Mount Carmel

4 June,  2019

MISA SPORTS NEWS

MISA RESULTS 11 JUNE 2019

Going to University is expensive. When you add up tuition fees, accommodation, books, living expenses etc., it can seem overwhelming.

So let’s talk about money.

Don’t be put off

If you’d really love to go to Uni, or if your dream job requires a certain qualification for entry (make sure you’ve checked out all the possible pathways too), there will most likely be a way to get yourself there.

And, if you have your heart set on one Uni in particular, don’t let the costs of moving interstate or living away from home put you off either. Life’s just too short for regrets.

Once you’ve decided to make the leap, you’ll need to figure out your finances, find the best options for you. Trying to minimise your debt after leaving Uni while still having decent accommodation, eating more than fresh air and having a bit of fun money too.

Some options to consider

There are lots of ways of getting some financial assistance to help you get through University. Here are some of the finances that might be available to help you afford Uni:

Subsidies:

Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) – the government pays for a portion of your university fees. It’s not a loan and you don’t have to pay it back. You must be able to cover the “student contribution amount”.

If you’re an Australian Citizen you are eligible.

• You must make sure that the course you want to study is a CSP, so check with the Uni

• Apply for the course via TAC or direct entry

• Follow the instructions in your acceptance letter (it will advise you if have secured one of the CSP’s or not)

• Complete the required online form before the close date.

HELP Loans:

FEE-HELP – is a loan to help pay for tuition fees (all or part). The maximum amount or limit you could receive is $104,440, ($150,000 if studying medicine, dentistry or veterinary science) (2019 figures).

An additional 25% loan fee applies to some undergraduate units. For example you’re using FEE-HELP to pay for a $1,000 unit, you’ll end up paying back $1,250. The fee loans don’t count towards your FEE-HELP limit though.

Australian citizens enrolled in an eligible course with a provider who offers FEE-HELP (check with the Uni) can apply for the loan.

To apply, you’ll need a tax file number (TFN) and to fill in a Request for FEE-HELP assistance form (from the Uni) and return it before the census date.

HECS-HELP – a loan to help pay for the student contribution amount of tuition fees on commonwealth supported places at Uni.

To be eligible you must be enrolled in a CSP at Uni and be an Australian Citizen.

To apply for HECS-HELP, you’ll need to apply for a TFN and fill in a Request for Commonwealth support and HECS-HELP form (from the Uni) and return it by the census date.

SA-HELP – a loan is to help pay for the SSAF (student services and amenities fee) that Uni’s charge to students.  Not all Uni’s charge this fee, so it’s worth checking when you’re applying, so you know whether you’ll have to cover this cost.

The SSAF covers campus costs including child care, food services, financial advice, sporting and recreational activities or employment and career advice.

To be eligible you must be an Australian citizen enrolled on a course with a provider who offers HELP loans (check with the Uni).

To apply you’ll need to apply for a TFN and fill in a Request for SA-HELP assistance form (from the Uni), and submit it by the census date.

Note: although these loans are interest-free, HELP loans are indexed. This means that on the 1^st of June every year an additional charge will be added to your loan. The charge will vary depending on the overall health of the economy.

You’ll start paying back your interest-free (indexed) loan when you’re earning above the compulsory threshold amount ($51,957 in 2018-19), or you can start making voluntary repayments to the ATO at any time.

These are not loans, so you won’t have to pay them back. You’ll need to apply for these payments through Centrelink, meet the eligibility requirements, and keep your myGov account updated with any changes in your circumstances.

You’ll need to set up a myGov / Centrelink account if you haven’t already got one.

Youth allowance –aged 24 or under & in full-time study.

You’ll need to be an Australian citizen enrolled on a course with a Uni that offers HELP loans to receive this payment. (You don’t have to take out a HELP loan to be eligible though).

The payment rate you could receive is variable and is calculated based on your individual circumstances (assessed when you apply). But for example, if you are over 18, with no children and need to live away from home to study the maximum you could receive would be $455.20 per fortnight.

Follow the instructions on how to apply. You’ll need supporting documentation on hand so read up on what you’ll need before you start.

Austudy – a means-tested payment available to over 25’s in full-time study at an approved institution.

The amount you’ll receive varies depending on how much you earn and if you have any assets. For example, the highest rate you can receive if you’re single with no children would be $455.20 per fortnight.

Follow the instructions on how to apply, you’ll need supporting documentation to hand so read up what you’ll need before you start.

ABSTUDY – payments for Aboriginal / Torres Strait Islander students studying full or part-time.

It covers study and housing costs, living expenses and travel.

The amount you will receive depends on your individual circumstances, but for example, if you are aged 16-21 and living away from home you could receive a maximum of $455.20 per fortnight.

Follow the instructions on how to apply. You may need supporting documentation to hand, so read up or give the Centrelink office a call to find out what you’ll need before you start.

Additional payments include:

Student start-up loan – a loan of $1,077 twice a year. You must be receiving one of the above payments and be studying an accredited course at Uni full-time.

Relocation scholarship – get an annual payment of $4,553 in 1^st year, $2,278 2^nd year & $1,138 every year after that If you receive ABSTUDY / Youth Allowance / Energy Supplement,  need to move to or from a regional or remote area for higher education study.

Fares Allowance – Covers the cost of travel to & from your place of study (limited trips). You must be a tertiary student living away from home, receiving Youth Allowance / Austudy / Pensioner Education Supplement, study online or by distance.

Rent Assistance – variable, but for every $1 above the set minimum rate, you could receive $0.75 back. To be eligible you must be receiving other payments from Centrelink.

Pensioner Education Supplement – must be receiving other payments from Centrelink, studying full-time, or studying part-time as a single parent / have a disability, injury or illness. You can receive $62.40 per fortnight / $31.20 per fortnight depending on your eligibility.

If you’re working part-time while you study, look at jobseeker allowances including:

Newstart Allowance

Youth Allowance as a job seeker

If you’re not eligible for any of the above payments but you’re on a low income you could apply for a low-income health care card. (From 1 Jan 2019 if you’re receiving Youth Allowance, Austudy or ABSTUDY you’ll automatically receive a Health Care Card).

It may entitle you to cheaper prescription medications, energy and electricity, healthcare, and public transport.

Youth Disability Supplement – The maximum amount is $129.80 per fortnight and you’ll be automatically assessed when you apply for Disability Support Pension  / Youth Allowance / ABSTUDY.

Use the Payment and Service Finder to see if you are eligible for any of the above payments and if there’s anything else you might be able to apply for.

TACs are the state/territory organisations who process most of the applications for Universities (some Universities only take direct applications, and some offer the choice of applying directly or through a TAC).

They offer financial assistance to students with low socio-economic backgrounds, to help them get to Uni. Some TACs assess each student on the basis of their original application and the information supplied, while others require you to make a separate application. So read all about the requirements and how to apply, and make sure you get your applications in before the cut-off dates.

UAC (NSW & ACT)

Educational Access Scheme (EAS)

QTAC (QLD)

Educational Access Scheme (EAS)

VTAC (VIC)

You can apply for some scholarships through VTAC. Check this list for a which Universities and which scholarships apply.

Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS)

SATAC (SA & NT)

Undergraduate Institution Equity Scholarships (IES), SATAC processes Equity Scholarships on behalf of the University of South Australia.

TISC (WA)

No specific programs, but each of the 4 Universities (Curtin, Edith Cowan, Murdoch & UWA) have scholarships and programs that you may be eligible to apply for.

UTAS (TAS)

Through UTAS you may be able to access financial counselling or the Safety Net Grant Scheme.

Scholarship

Scholarships are awards that help students achieve further education goals. They’re usually a financial boost, a one-off payment, or an annual payment for the duration of the lucky recipients’ studies. But sometimes they come with other benefits, including mentoring, access to special schemes, networking etc.

Scholarships directly aimed at helping students from low-socioeconomic or rural and remote backgrounds are often called equity scholarships. But even if you’re not classed in one of those categories, there are plenty of scholarships you are still eligible to apply for.

Scholarships are awarded based upon various criteria, decided by the donor or founder of the award. They usually go towards (or cover) tuition fees, living and accommodation costs.

There are over 3,000 scholarships available in Australia. They come from a number of sources including Universities, private donors, private organisations and the government.

Examples of scholarship categories include:

– Merit / achievement / academic

– Gender

– Indigenous

– Sporting excellence / Athletic ability

– Financial support (low income) / equity

– Regional / remote (students from remote areas that may otherwise be disadvantaged)

– Leadership 

Scholarship money is not a loan and not required to be repaid.

However, there are usually conditions attached. For example studying in a particular field, studying at a specific Uni, retaining a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA), you must write to the donor, etc.

Always check the terms and conditions before applying for and accepting any scholarships to make sure that you’re happy to comply.

When you’ve decided what you want to study and where it’s definitely worth spending some time researching your scholarship options and applying. You’ve got nothing to lose.

Grants:

Bursaries:

Check what’s available when you’ve decided on the courses you’d like to apply for.

What other options could you consider:

If you’re still unsure whether you can afford to go to Uni, or you’re just not sure that the loans and payments you’ve applied for will be enough, before you get disheartened you can:

• List all your expenses and incomes

• Work out a budget

• Start working now and begin saving

• Consider getting part-time work (check how much you’re allowed to earn before any payments you are receiving are stopped)

Please be aware that supervision of students commences at 7.50am in the Top Quad. After school - students should be collected no later than 3.30pm from the student pick up area (with the exception of extra-curricular activities the student may be attending). Students should not be on the College grounds outside of these times.