In this week’s Gospel, we hear of the moment when Jesus addressed his disciples and their fellow fishermen whilst they were washing their empty nets after a long, unfruitful night. Jesus tells Simon to go into deeper water and cast his nets again. Though doubtful, Simon obeys—and miraculously, the nets overflow with fish. Overwhelmed, Simon falls at Jesus’ feet, acknowledging his unworthiness. Jesus reassures him, saying, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be fishers of men.” Simon, along with James and John, left everything to follow Christ. This passage reminds us of the power of faith and obedience. Even when we doubt or feel unworthy, Jesus calls us to trust Him. Like the disciples, we are invited to step beyond our comfort zones, have faith in God’s will, and become instruments of His love whilst sharing His message with the world.

I take the opportunity this week to welcome all members of the community back to a new year here at Magdalene Catholic College. It has been wonderful to see our students return so positively over the past week and I thank our parent community for your support in ensuring that this has been the case. I particularly congratulate our newest community members to Magdalene, our new Year 7 cohort. With a week now completed in their secondary school journey, our Year 7 students have made a fantastic start to the year and I have no doubt that this approach will continue. 

Over the course of the year, we will continue to seek opportunities for parents and carers to be involved in events here at the College. The first of such events takes place this coming Monday evening at 6pm when we host the Year 7 2025 Meet and Greet evening for parents of all students in Year 7. Significantly, on the morning of Thursday 20th February, we will also be holding our combined Opening School Mass and 2024 HSC High Achievers Assembly from 9am in the College hall. All parents and carers are welcome to this significant event and further details will be circulated in the coming weeks. 

Earlier this week, the new Canteen at Magdalene opened and, as I mentioned in my letter to the community last week, we will commence the online ordering system this week. Students and families who would like to pre order their lunch on any day may do so by downloading the Flexischools App and placing their order before the start of school each day. Regular purchases will still be available each day from the counter, however, pre ordering gives the best chance that a particular item will be available. 

As you may be aware, the Magdalene P&F meets four times a year here at the College on a Tuesday evening in Week 4 each term. I would like to extend an invitation to our Term 1 meeting which will be held at 7pm on Tuesday 25th February in the College library. Being our first meeting, this will also double as the AGM for 2025 where we will elect a new president and executive. 

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

David Cloran

Principal

At Magdalene we pride ourselves on excellent Pastoral Care in which the wellbeing of our students is central to all that we do. We strive to ensure the learning environment is a safe and positive experience for all students and that the focus for all students is the emphasis on the development of faith, learning and wellbeing.

We have a dedicated Pastoral Care Team here at Magdalene. I encourage you to become aware of the key team members for your child/ren. The list of Pastoral Care Team members is below:

We encourage parents/carers to contact the College to discuss any concern they may have regarding their child/ren.

The College also offers CatholicCare Counsellors. If this is a service you may be interested in for your child/ren. I would ask you to contact the College directly or for your child/ren to discuss this further with their relevant Year Coordinator.

Kind regards,

Mr Matthew Bubb

Leader of Wellbeing

Recently there have been a spate of attacks against the Jewish Community in Sydney, including graffiti and arson, perpetrated on houses, Synagogues and educational facilities. January 27th is set aside as the annual Holocaust Memorial Day so that we may never forget the horror perpetrated upon the Jewish people by the nazi Regime when they deliberately killed 6 million Jewish men, women and children in death camps during World War II. 

Does it occur to people who are engaging in anti-Semitic activity that Jesus was a Jew for his entire earthly life. As were all of the Apostles. Also, Mary the mother of Jesus and Joseph. Mary Magdalene was a Jew. The Jews are our spiritual ancestors.

Jesus lived in a world of stark contrasts and racial unrest, just as we do. Jesus nevertheless reached out to others. He spoke to a Samaritan woman at the well in the middle of the day. She was an outcast from her own community and the Jews also did not associate with Samaritans. But the conversation that Jesus had with that Samaritan woman brought about her conversion and also the intense interest of the people in her town. Jesus did not simply tolerate other races or religious ideas, he accepted those people as worthy of his love and attention.

Prayer:

May we be a light of compassion for all people in our lives and the world around us, and may the peace of God reign in our hearts. Through Christ, our Lord, 

Amen

Mary Magdalene

Pray for us.

On Monday the 3rd of February, Year 7RE 2 and RE 5 were in for revelations that would add to their knowledge as to the historical religious journey of the Magdalene site. We met in the Brother’s House and asked “Why is it called the Brothers’ House”? This question led to the classroom walls being exchanged for a tour of the school. Student’s visited the chapel and found a plaque telling them it was Blessed in 1969. Why was this significant?

Well, Sedgwick Dairy Farm had become the novitiate for the Patrician Brothers. They trained in their vocation on this site and the young men lived in the Brothers’ House. They prayed, meditated and celebrated Mass in this very same chapel. When looking around the Chapel we found gifts from past  year 12 students. Images of the Patron Saints of each homeroom was one gift as well as the Indigenous artwork set in the ceiling over the altar. The Altar Cloth designed with each cross stitch of the crosses around its rim lovingly stitched by the late Mrs Anna Muscatello

Our search continued to the library to view the painted image of Br Joseph Crowley (another gift), who liaised with children, staff and the families of our community. Our school motto is 

“For I Have Seen the Lord” What does this quote from St Mary Magdalene challenge us to do? Examples of responses by the school community were found on the mural painted on the Home Science Block. Celebrating Mass, being good stewards of the Earth; extending time, friendship and connection through the Carrington Project and supporting St Vincent de Paul initiatives are a few ways we respond to the call.

The challenge for our year 7 cohort is to be curious and step forward in opportunities to express in action, how they too, grow in the challenge of how they have seen the Lord and what will be their personal response.

Welcome to the study of “ Being Catholic”.

Mrs Russo

Welcome to the first edition of Maths Matters for 2025. Each edition of this article aims to offer Magdalene families insights into student learning in Mathematics.

Full implementation of the new syllabus for Years 7-10

This year marks an exciting transition in the Mathematics curriculum for our Year 7-10 students as we continue to implement the new syllabus. A key change you may notice is that the 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 streams are no longer a feature in the new Stage 5 (Years 9 & 10) Mathematics Syllabus. Instead, topics in Stage 5 are categorised as ‘Core’ and ‘Path’. The Core–Paths structure is designed to encourage aspiration in students and provide the flexibility needed to enable teachers to create pathways for students working towards Stage 6. The structure is intended to extend students as far along the continuum of learning as possible and provide solid foundations for the highest levels of student achievement.

The structure allows for a diverse range of endpoints up to the end of Stage 5. The aim for most students is to demonstrate achievement of the Core and as many Path outcomes as possible by the end of Stage 5. Teachers also have the option of engaging with specific elements of Paths rather than the entire outcome to meet the needs of their students. Students who demonstrate a strong understanding of Core topics are encouraged to complete extension activities to extend their knowledge, and are asked to check in with their teacher regarding this opportunity for guidance.

Access to course Scope and Sequence

All students at Magdalene can access the Mathematics Scope and Sequence for their course of study via the Mathematics Resource Centre (available through Compass). This document provides students with a clear roadmap of what they will learn throughout their Mathematics course and help them to understand the progression of concepts and skills, allowing for better preparation and organisation. Assessment Schedules can be found on the MCC Curriculum website, with links also available on the Mathematics Resource Centre.

What topics are students currently studying in Mathematics?

Year 7 - Computation with Integers

Year 8 - Simple Quadratic Equations

Year 9 - Indices

Year 10 - Path to Standard - Trigonometry

Year 10 - Path to Advanced - Quadratic Equations

Year 11 Standard - Earning and Managing Money

Year 11 Advanced - Functions

Year 11 Extension 1 - Combinatorics

Year 12 Numeracy - Life After School (current focus - Budgeting and Household Expenses)

Year 12 Standard 1 - Rates

Year 12 Standard 2 - Rates and Ratios

Year 12 Advanced - Differential Calculus

Year 12 Extension 1 - Trigonometric Equations

Year 12 Extension 2 - The Nature of Proof

Mrs Broady

Leader of Learning - Mathematics