Dear parents, carers and students, 

As many of you would be aware by now, the fourth Bishop of Wollongong, Bishop Peter Ingham, died peacefully on the evening of Friday April 26 at the age of 83 years, having served as a priest and Bishop for almost 60 years. In paying tribute to the impact that Bishop Peter had on the Diocese of Wollongong, our current bishop, Bishop Brian Mascord said: Bishop Peter was a spiritual father of the Illawarra, Macarthur, Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands. We offer him a heartfelt ‘well done, good and faithful servant’ (Matthew 25:23), and we take comfort in the sure hope that we now have another advocate in the presence of our Lord praying for the needs and salvation of the people of God in the Diocese of Wollongong. Bishop Peter was a good friend of Magdalene and a great supporter of Catholic Education more broadly. I ask that you keep Bishop Peter, his family and many friends throughout the diocese and beyond in your prayers. 

Late last week, I had the privilege of joining a large contingent of Magdalene staff and students to participate in the 2024 ANZAC Day commemorations in Camden, including the ANZAC Day March where once again, the College was well represented. Earlier this week, we once again gathered as a College community to commemorate those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country, as well as for those who continue this legacy today, and for their loved ones whose sacrifices so often go unacknowledged. 

Gracious and loving God,

the cross of Christ is the sign

of your desire for justice and peace for all.

Open our minds to your vision

as we remember all who suffered

through Australia and New Zealand’s involvement

in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

Grant all servicepersons

who sacrificed health and life for the good of all,

the gift of your deep peace.

May we who inherit the freedom for which they fought

become instruments of your peace

in our homes, schools, workplaces and world.

We ask this prayer through Christ our Lord, Amen.

This week we commenced the interview process for the Year 7 cohort of 2025. We received a record number of applications this year which once again, far surpassed the number of positions that we have available. I thank the many families (new and current) who have joined us for these interviews and look forward to those that are taking place in the days ahead. All offers of enrolment will be sent out at the beginning of Week 9 this term. 

As I mentioned on a number of occasions throughout Term One, one of the priorities of the College in 2024 is to increase opportunities for parent/carer voice and agency in the events and activities of the College. One of the strategies that all schools use in order to gather such information is the annual Tell Them From Me Survey which will commence this week. I would invite all parents to spend a few moments to complete the survey linked here, which will allow us to identify areas for further development, while affirming some of the work that we are already doing. Any contributions that you are able to make towards this process will be gratefully received. 

Finally this week, I take the opportunity to extend a warm invitation to all the mothers, grandmothers and mother figures in the lives of our students, to join us this coming Wednesday 8th May for our Mother’s Day Breakfast which will be held in the College Hall from 7:30am. It would be wonderful to see as many of you there as possible. Further information is available via the Compass newsfeed. 

Wishing you all the best for the week, and term, ahead. 

David Cloran

Principal

Our next Staff Development Day (Pupil Free Day) will be in Week 3, Friday 17th May. Please note: The College Office will be closed.

We always encourage parents to make appointments outside of school hours. Where this is unavoidable, a reminder to all parents that need to collect their children early for an appointment of our Administration Procedures (these can be found in the student diary).

A reminder that some cohorts travel offsite on Tuesday's for sport, which may make collecting your child early difficult. 

We have just recently experienced Easter at Church, where we expressed our devotion to Christ and our gratitude for his saving death and resurrection, and the impact that has on our lives both now and in the next life. 

On a daily basis, how grateful are we for our lives?

No doubt some people are doing it really tough and they may be enduring all kinds of suffering but in general, it is helpful to keep an attitude of gratitude. Sometimes we take the most important people and the most important aspects of our life for granted as we push forward in our lives. It would be a mistake to be ungrateful for our health, our family or our friends. 

I remember when my eldest daughter was very young and we went to Liverpool Hospital at 2 AM and waited 3 hours in the Emergency Department for help. It was frustrating. Looking back, however, I am grateful for the help we received, that my daughter recovered and that we even have a world class health system with skilled medical staff - because this is not the case in all parts of Australia or in some parts of the world.

Can we aim to focus on gratitude in our relationship with God and with others?

As St Paul wrote: "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Mr Steve O’Neill

Religious Education Coordinator

Assessment Schedules

The Mathematics Resource Centre (available through Compass, on the star dropdown menu) provides Assessment Schedules for all Mathematics courses. While students will receive Assessment Notifications for formal Assessment Tasks via Google Classroom, reviewing the Assessment Schedule in advance can help students to begin preparing for their tasks earlier and allow them to have more time to identify areas where they may need additional study or practice.

Additionally, students are encouraged to utilise the range of resources available in the Mathematics Resource Centre to supplement their learning in the classroom and further enhance their understanding of mathematical concepts.

Over the next fortnight in Mathematics, our students will be studying:

Year 7 - Algebraic Techniques

Year 8 - Equations

Year 9 -  Numbers of any Magnitude and Equations

Year 10 (5.1) - Indices

Year 10 (5.2) - Single variable data analysis, Equations and inequalities

Year 10 (5.3) - Single variable data analysis, Equations and inequalities

Year 11 Numeracy - Data in the World 

Year 11 Standard - Perimeter, area and volume

Year 11 Advanced - Trigonometric functions and identities
Year 11 Extension 1 - Further Functions

Year 12 Numeracy - Is it worth it? - A focus on rates, ratios, statistics and probability

Year 12 Standard 2 - Critical Path Analysis

Year 12 Advanced - Financial Mathematics

Year 12 Extension 1 - Further Applications of Calculus

Year 12 Extension 2 - Further Integration

MATHS MARVEL:

Did you know that while we commonly call sector graphs "pie charts", these circular graphs are known by various names around the world? In French, they're often referred to as "diagrammes en Camembert" because of their resemblance to a sliced wheel of Camembert cheese. Similarly, in Spanish, they're called "gráficos de torta" or "tarta," reflecting their resemblance to a sliced dessert pie.

MATHS MYSTERY - Course: Year 9 Mathematics

Families are encouraged to tackle this problem together. 

If I double Tiana’s age in years and add 20, I get the same result as when I triple her age in years and subtract 12. How old is Tiana?

Stay tuned for the next edition to reveal the answer to this Maths Mystery. 

Answer from the previous MATHS MYSTERY - 47 points

Mrs Broady

Leader of Learning - Mathematics

During the recent school holidays, our Year 12 Drama students attended workshops aimed at enhancing their skills and preparations for their upcoming assessments.

The workshops focused on revising their content, extending their Individual Project and refine their devising techniques for their Term 2 study of the Group Performance. 

We commend our Year 12 Drama students for their dedication and commitment to their studies during this holiday period. The time invested in these workshops will undoubtedly contribute to their success in the upcoming trial Higher School Certificate examinations.

Mrs Ashlee Marino

Creative Arts Leader of Learning

The Disadvantaged Children of India Fund is a charity that aims to educate children and give them and their families a better life in India. On Holy Thursday, the founders Ann and Richard Stomber visited Year 7.2. Religion to talk about their mission sent from God. During this visit they talked about their work for the children in India, everything they have done for the community and answered some questions from the students. This visit was very inspiring and informative and we learned a lot about the issues in India as well as what we can do to help. Thank you to Ann and Richard for coming in!

Victoria Hillis 7S

The Tops Camp Experience

Year 9 were fortunate enough to visit The Tops and immerse ourselves in everything it had to offer. On Monday, April 8th, the Year 9 cohort arrived at Magdalene Catholic College, lugging suitcases filled with supplies that would sustain us for the next three days. Despite the long bus ride (made even longer by the last coach's reluctance to engage fourth gear), excitement was palpable as we boarded the buses and arrived safely.

Our time at The Tops provided numerous opportunities to push our boundaries and strengthen our bonds with our peers and teachers. One such activity was abseiling, where students could conquer their fears in a safe environment by descending cliffs or towers. Some groups even had to withstand terrible conditions with freezing temperatures, wind and rain.

Another memorable activity was archery. Whilst hitting the target proved challenging, we eventually got the hang of it (discounting the occasional arrow that may have gone a bit astray). Nevertheless, it was a rewarding and enjoyable experience.

The Goliath swing was a crowd favourite offering a thrilling experience which provided many screams and laughs along the way. Shoutout to the teachers who led the way and joined in on the activities and especially Miss Wang who offered us all the reassurance we needed by volunteering to go first in Group 2.

Cart racing was another highlight, bringing out our competitive sides and ensuring a fun-filled experience for everyone involved. Although there were many near-misses and crashes into the tyre track, we all enjoyed the opportunity to work with each other as a team to ultimately win the title of cart champions.

However, one aspect that varied were the food options provided. While some dishes exceeded expectations and satisfied our taste buds, others fell short, leaving us less than satisfied. We can tell you we definitely enjoyed the post camp maccas run on the way home and the home cooked meals our parents provided us with when we returned.

At the end of the first night, we were treated to a silent disco. Among the three channels available, the blue channel seemed to be the crowd favourite, featuring the best selection of songs. Singing, dancing, and laughter filled the air as we wrapped up the first day at camp.

As the sun briefly appeared on day two and some very tired individuals awoke, we were provided the opportunity to complete more of the activities. We must acknowledge the enormous effort of majority of groups who completed activities in less than desirable weather conditions. Students abseiled down cliffs, lept through the air to grab hold of a ring, hit targets in archery and swang through rain and wind on both the Goliath and giant swing, meanwhile three very lucky groups were indoors running the inflatable obstacle course. 

As the sun set and we were able to get warm and comfortable, we were taken through a fun filled trivia night with questions surrounding various topics of disney, superheroes, where in the world and the crowd favourite ‘the next three lines’ where students were singing at the top of their lungs to various upbeat and popular songs. Whilst the students tried their best, the teachers were victorious and now have bragging rights.

A big thank you goes to the team of teachers who supported and guided us throughout our time at camp. Mrs Hayden, Miss Wang, Miss Slender, Mr Perini, Mr Gorrie, Mrs Cimino, Miss Labour, Mr Sligar, Miss Marcus, Mrs Peters, Mrs Noy, Mr Bubb and especially our Year Coordinator Miss Cupillari who organised the camp experience and ensured we all were able to have a memorable time.

By Isaac Healy, Indianna Keegan, Tomas Slater and Giuseppina Vecchio 

Year 9 Pastoral Lesson, 16th May

Wired

On Thursday 16th May Brainstorm Productions will be presenting their student wellbeing performance ‘Wired' for the Year 9 cohort during our pastoral lesson. The show follows the journey of two students who are struggling to manage their mental health, relationships and online experiences. When their worlds collide, the audience must help them find a different path.

Wired is an interactive theatre experience that tackles some of the big issues affecting Australian students, including social isolation, anxiety, stress, depression, (cyber)bullying, online safety, school stress and pressure from social media. It addresses barriers to help-seeking and provides strategies for resilience, problem-solving, goal-setting and positive mental health.

‘Wired' has been developed by education and mental health professionals. This engaging live show uses humour, audience participation, relatable characters and real student experiences to spark conversations and facilitate further learning in the classroom. 

Brainstorm Productions is one of Australia’s most experienced and respected theatre in education companies, performing to over 260,000 students every year. They are endorsed by the eSafety Commissioner as a Trusted eSafety Provider. 

Learn more about Brainstorm Productions by visiting their website (brainstormproductions.edu.au)

Year 9 Mental Health Program

In weeks 4-6, Year 9 will attend a program called Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM). YAM is a program aimed at addressing the mental health needs of young people. The Wollongong Catholic Education Office is committed to delivering the Yam program to all year 9 students across the diocese. Please find the flyer attached which details what the program entails and how it will run at Magdalene this term. If you have any questions please contact Miss Cupillari via email or the College office.

Thank you,

Miss Tahlia Cupillari 

This fortnight, 33 people attended KM Club here at Magdalene, and added another 33km to our cumulative total - this means that we've travelled from Norah Head to Fassifern (as the crow flies), and have achieved a cumulative total of 149km so far.

As we enter into the cooler months, it may be a good idea to have a spare pair of dry socks with you as well.

Join us every Tuesday morning at 7:55am for an 8:00am start at the bottom of the Back Oval steps for a 1km walk (two laps of the Oval). This is a great chance to get outside, get moving, chat with your friends, and add some kilometres to a cumulative total which will take us as far as we can go! Don't forget a hat, and a water bottle. See Mr Cimino for more details.

The next P&F meeting will be held on Tuesday 21 May at 7pm in the College Library.

All parents are welcome to attend!