This Sunday marks the third Sunday of the season of Lent. In the Gospel reading, Jesus shares a parable of the barren fig tree. In the parable, he tells of a man who planted a fig tree in his vineyard yet it bore no fruit for three years. When tempted to cut it down, a gardener pleaded for one more year to cultivate and fertilise it, hoping that it would bear fruit. The fig tree represents individuals and their spiritual fruitfulness, and the gardener's plea symbolises God’s mercy and willingness to give us time to change and grow. In this season of Lent, it acts as a reminder of God’s patience and grace so that we too may bear fruit and live meaningful, faith-filled lives. 

Yesterday we gathered as a College community to acknowledge Harmony Day, a day dedicated to celebrating the cultural diversity that exists among our communities here in Australia. In my address to the students, I spoke about the themes of respect, tolerance and inclusivity that lay at the core of what Harmony Day is all about. Significantly, as a school community, they are also themes that characterise what we are about and what we value as a Magdalene community. It was wonderful to move around the College yesterday and witness these values on display in one of a range of Harmony Day initiatives that we had running. Thanks to Mr Bubb and the wellbeing team for using this as an opportunity to further promote harmony here at Magdalene. 

Earlier this week I met with representatives from Transit Systems with regards to ongoing challenges regarding bus services to and from the College and the overcrowding that is evident on some services. Transit Systems are continuing to explore solutions and, where possible, secure additional services or reroute existing offerings. In the interim, the overcrowding on certain routes can be assisted by ensuring that students board a bus at their nearest bus stop, as opposed to driving part way to school and boarding a service that is designed to cater for students from a different area. 

A reminder that there are now just two weeks to go until the deadline falls for enrolments for Year 7 2026. It is essential that even if you are wanting to enrol a sibling of a current student at Magdalene, an application is complete prior to Friday 4th April. Once the deadline falls, a process will commence to coordinate the interview component of the application, most of which will take place in the last week of this term, or the first two weeks of next term. All enrolment offers will be circulated towards the end of Term 2. Finally this week, I take the opportunity to wish our Year 7 cohort all the very best as they depart on their Year 7 camp next week at Teen Ranch. This will be followed up in the coming weeks with the Year 9 camp which will take place at Stanwell Tops. I thank the staff involved in coordinating these major events and those who are attending in order to ensure that such opportunities can continue to be offered. 

Wishing you all the best for the week ahead. 

David Cloran

College Principal

Useful Resources

With a large number of assessments ahead, students are reminded to use the resources available to them on the Curriculum Website and NESA Website to ensure that they are best prepared for each formal task. Students in Years 10, 11 and 12 should continue to access the online Illness/Misadventure form and procedure in the case of absence from formal tasks, or in any instance where they are unable to submit by the due date and time.  

Upcoming Formal Assessments:

Week 9

• Year 12 Biology Task 2
• Year 12 Business Studies Task 2
• Year 12 Chemistry Task 2
• Year 12 English Advanced Task 2
• Year 12 English Standard Task 2
• Year 12 Food Technology Task 2
• Year 12 Mathematics Advanced Task 2
• Year 12 Mathematics Standard 1 Task 2
• Year 12 Mathematics Standard 2 Task 2
• Year 12 PDHPE Task 2
• Year 12 Physics Task 2
• Year 12 SICT Task 1
• Year 11 Biology Task 1
• Year 11 Chemistry Task 1
• Year 11 English Advanced Task 1
• Year 11 English Standard Task 1
• Year 11 Food Technology Task 1
• Year 11 Mathematics Advanced Task 1
• Year 11 Physics Task 1
• Year 11 SICT Task 1
• Year 11 Society and Culture Task 1
• Year 9 Catholic Studies Task 1
• Year 9 Child Studies Task 1
• Year 9 Geography Task 1
• Year 9 Mathematics Task 1
• Year 8 Catholic Studies Task 1
• Year 8 Mathematics Task 1
• Year 8 Music Task 1

Week 10

• Year 12 CAFS Task 2
• Year 12 English Extension 2 Task 1
• Year 12 IT: Timber Task 2
• Year 12 Mathematics Extension 1 Task 1
• Year 12 Music 1 Task 2
• Year 11 Ancient History Task 1
• Year 11 Design and Technology Task 1
• Year 11 Earth and Environmental Science Task 1 
• Year 11 English Extension Task 1
• Year 11 Investigating Science Task 1
• Year 11 Legal Studies Task 1
• Year 11 Mathematics Extension 1 Task 1
• Year 11 SLR (1 Unit) Task 1
• Year 11 SOR I Task 1
• Year 11 SOR II Task 1
• Year 11 Work Studies Task 1
• Year 10 Mathematics Task 1
• Year 10 Science Task 1
• Year 9 Music Task 1
• Year 9 Visual Arts Task 1
• Year 7 History Task 1
• Year 7 Visual Arts Task 1

On Thursday, 13th March, our Year 11 students participated in an engaging and practical workshop delivered by Elevate Education. The one-hour session focused on equipping students with effective time management strategies, ensuring they can balance their academic workload with personal commitments while maintaining overall well-being.

With Year 11 students currently facing their first round of summative assessment tasks, this seminar was timely. It provided students with tangible strategies to manage their studies effectively under the pressures of their first Stage 6 high-stakes assessments. The workshop explored four key areas essential to successful time management:

• Developing routines to balance study and lifestyle – Encouraging structured planning to ensure students allocate time for both academic and personal pursuits.
• Working smart by completing high-value work – Teaching students how to prioritise tasks that have the most impact on their learning and outcomes.
• Utilising study groups to leverage time – Demonstrating how collaboration can enhance understanding and efficiency.
• Techniques for overcoming procrastination – Providing practical tools to stay focused and disciplined in their studies.

The feedback from students was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing that they left the session feeling better equipped to tackle the challenges of senior school. They gained practical insights into how to structure their study schedules, maximise their productivity, and maintain a balanced approach to school and life.

However, while these skills are invaluable, their effectiveness depends on continued reinforcement beyond the classroom. This is where the role of parents and guardians becomes crucial. We encourage families to keep the conversation going at home by checking in on how their sons and daughters are managing their time, balancing study with part-time work, sport, and social commitments. Open and regular discussions about time management and well-being can make a significant difference in ensuring students do not feel overwhelmed as they progress through Stage 6.

To support these conversations, here are three simple yet powerful questions parents can ask to help their child reflect on their study habits and overall balance:

1. How are you prioritising your tasks this week? – This helps students think critically about their workload and ensure they are focusing on the most important and impactful tasks.
2. What challenges are you facing in managing your time effectively? – This provides an opportunity for students to articulate any struggles and seek guidance or adjustments where necessary.
3. What is one change you could make to improve your study balance? – Encouraging students to self-reflect and make small, manageable improvements can lead to more effective habits over time.

As a school, we are committed to supporting our students in developing strong study and organisational habits that will serve them well, not just in their HSC, but in all aspects of their future lives. If any parents have concerns about their child’s workload, well-being, or ability to manage their time effectively, we encourage them to reach out to the College. Together, through strong communication and ongoing support, we can help our students thrive in Year 11 and beyond.

Mr Shaun Houghton

Leader of Teaching and Learning

This week we celebrated the Feast of St Patrick, who is a very important saint to the Irish, who, in turn, were very important in the early Australian colony, especially in regards to the development of the Catholic Church. Despite being taken from his family and sold into slavery, St Patrick was able to return to Ireland and facilitate the conversion of many Celts to the Catholic faith. His resilience in the face of danger and trauma may be an inspiration to us in living the Christian life. 

Also, this week included a celebration of the Feast of St Joseph, the husband of Mary. St Joseph was a man of faith and action, who was tasked with raising Jesus along with Mary. It was not an easy task. Imagine Joseph’s fear when he realised that they had left the 12 -year old Jesus at the temple by mistake - but he no doubt imparted many life lessons to Jesus along the way which would have helped to prepare him for his earthly ministry. Also, Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt as refugees, according to Matthew’s Gospel, to avoid the murderous plans of King Herod. The theme of welcoming people of all cultures, and a  welcome for those whose ancestors have lived on this land for 65,000 years, matches with the Holy Family, living a harmonious life in another country and respecting all people. 

The lyrics below are from a beautiful song written by Michael Card, which can be found online of you are interested to hear the music:

Joseph’s Song

How could it be this baby in my arms

Sleeping now, so peacefully

The Son of God, the angel said

How could it be

Lord I know He's not my own

Not of my flesh, not of my bone

Still Father let this baby be

The son of my love

Father show me where I fit into this plan of yours

How can a man be father to the Son of God

Lord for all my life I've been a simple carpenter

How can I raise a king, How can I raise a king

He looks so small, His face and hands so fair

And when He cries the sun just seems to disappear

But when He laughs it shines again

How could it be

Prayer:

May we have the resilience and insight of St Patrick and the care and love of Mary and Joseph as we go about our daily lives.  For those of us who are parents, may we raise our children with love and care and teach them about the Catholic faith.

Mary Magdalene

Pray for us.

In recent lessons, students of 9REL6 have worked in small groups to design their own Community Outreach Program within the study of Sacraments of Healing. This activity allowed students to immerse themselves into the theme of bringing healing to others, by standing in solidarity with those on the margins of society, just as Jesus did in his humanity. The students also drew inspiration from existing outreach programs in the thoughtful development of their own initiatives.

Throughout the Gospels, numerous accounts of Jesus’ ministry, such as the account of Jesus Curing a Deaf Man (Mark 7:31-37) offer hope in the promises of Christ, calling us to bear witness to God’s love and healing in our own daily lives. This is further exemplified in Jesus’ teaching of service to one another through the understanding that “Whatever you did for one of the least of my brothers and sisters, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). The students of 9REL6 were both inspired and called to do the same in their own local community of Camden by focusing on areas that ignited their passion, as the Holy Spirit inspired the hearts and minds of the students at every stage of the activity. The Community Outreach Programs designed by the students included a focus on key areas of healing in today’s world, including mental health, homelessness, and poverty. 

Below, Massimo and Cayden from 9REL6 have shared their own recounts of their learning:

During lesson 10 of RE, my class worked in small groups in which we investigated many outreach programs in order to form enough information to develop our own outreach program. My group focused on the issue of homelessness in the Macarthur area and we created an outreach program called a place to call home. In this plan, our idea was to buy a big building nearly empty. We would then go on to fill this building with many simple foldable camp beds, we would then gather long life food to feed the homeless people. 

This activity was a great idea as it was engaging, fun and was a social lesson instead of independent work. We were asked to then create a 30 second speech describing our program and convincing people to help out through volunteering and donating. This activity was good to help us students to build our confidence as we presented in front of the class. This was a very important skill to build on as nearly all jobs require the ability to talk to new people you may not know and it is a very valuable life lesson as well. 

This all links to the Sacrament of Healing as we are trying to come up with ways to heal the community since there are approximately 800 people sleeping on the streets each night. This created awareness in our class, even though it was a small number of us compared to the world, the little things still matter to create a good foundation.

Massimo D’Ambrosio

In our class, we formed small groups to research and develop an outreach program aimed at supporting our community. Our group—Massimo, Beau, Cailin, Jordan, and I—created A Place to Call Home, a program dedicated to helping those experiencing homelessness. Our goal was to raise enough funds to build a community hall where individuals in need could find shelter. We also planned to recruit volunteers to check in on their well-being and distribute free meals to ensure they stay healthy and nourished.

As part of our project, we crafted a compelling 30-second pitch designed to capture attention and encourage people to support or spread awareness about our program. This task not only helped us understand different perspectives on homelessness but also deepened our appreciation of the Sacraments of Healing, which was a key aspect of our assessment.

Cayden O’Connor

Thank you to Massimo and Cayden for sharing your recounts of the learning that has taken place with the Magdalene community.

Miss Sophia Patino Jimenez 

Religious Education Teacher

Scientific Calculators

Students are reminded that a scientific calculator should be brought to class each lesson so that they may become familiar with the variety of features available and be confident in their use as they progress through higher levels of Mathematics. Short-term loan calculators are available from the Learning Resource Centre if students need to borrow one for the day, or until they are able to obtain a replacement calculator. For most students we recommend the Casio fx-82AU plus II 2nd edition. For students studying Year 9 & 10 Path to Advanced or Stage 6 Advanced and Extension courses, we recommend the Casio fx-8200 AU.

Assessment Schedules

The Mathematics Resource Centre (available through Compass) 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.

Edrolo

The online platform Edrolo is available to all students, with links provided through the Mathematics Resource Centre. The platform offers video explanations with immediate opportunities to check understanding via multiple choice problems. This program is a very valuable resource for both filling any gaps in knowledge, and also looking into concepts before they are presented in class. Whilst links may be posted to students, they are also free to explore the platform at their will. 

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

Year 7 - Indices

Year 8 - Perimeter and Area

Year 9 - Algebraic Techniques, Numbers of any Magnitude

Year 10 - Path to Standard - Financial Mathematics

Year 10 - Path to Advanced - Financial Mathematics

Year 11 Standard - Units of Measurement, Relative Frequency and Probability

Year 11 Advanced - Functions, Trigonometric Functions
Year 11 Extension 1 - Polynomials

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

Year 12 Standard 1 - Simultaneous Linear Equations

Year 12 Standard 2 - Simultaneous Linear Equations

Year 12 Advanced - Applications of Calculus

Year 12 Extension 1 - Further Area and Volume of Solids

Year 12 Extension 2 - 3D Vectors

Mrs Broady

Leader of Learning - Mathematics

Entries for the 2025 Macarthur Nature Photography Competition are now open

The Macarthur Nature Photography Competition (MNPC) is a regional environmental education program involving Camden, Campbelltown and Wollondilly Councils. It is an opportunity for people of all ages across the Macarthur region to immerse themselves and capture the beauty of our natural environment.

The MNPC encourages amateur and professional photographers to explore the Macarthur region and enter their most striking, engaging and enticing images of local plants, wildlife, pollinators and the natural environment, showcasing their artistic vision and impressions of the natural environment to the wider community.

Year 8 Music – Mandatory Course

All Year 8 Music students are currently participating in the Music Mandatory Course, designed to provide them with the knowledge, understanding, and skills necessary for active engagement and enjoyment in performing, composing, and listening. This course aims to foster a lifelong appreciation for a diverse range of musical styles (Music Years 7–10 Syllabus).

Essential Equipment for Music Lessons

To maximize engagement and achievement, all Year 8 students are required to bring the following to each lesson:
✅ A Music exercise book – preferably with manuscript pages
✅ Pens and pencils
✅ A fully charged laptop
✅ Headphones that connect to their laptop and school keyboards

What are Year 8 Music students doing?

Currently, students are developing their musical knowledge and skills through:
? Performing – playing keyboards to enhance technical ability
? Composing – using MuseScore to create and arrange music
? Listening – analysing and discussing music from various cultural and historical contexts

As we move into Term 2, students will broaden their performance skills, with opportunities to explore vocal, guitar, and ukulele performance opportunities in addition to keyboards.

Ms Cheryl Curtis

Music Teacher

Magdalene Catholic College Shines at Diocesan Swimming Carnival

Magdalene Catholic College had a spectacular showing at the Diocesan Swimming Carnival on Monday, 10th March, with 32 talented athletes competing across 56 events at Corrimal Pool. It was a highly successful day, showcasing the dedication, skill, and sportsmanship of our swimmers.

A special congratulations goes to the Intermediate Girls Medley and Freestyle Relay team, who secured first place in both events. A fantastic team effort from Roseanna Wiggins, Kara Hocking, Laura Macdonald, and Audrey McDermott ensured their dominance in the pool.

There were also outstanding individual performances throughout the day:
Bryce Parish – 1st in 50m Freestyle, 50m Breaststroke, 2nd in 100m Breaststroke, 200IM, and 3rd in 100m Freestyle
Oliver Moore – 1st in 50m Backstroke, 2nd in 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle, 50m Butterfly
Kara Hocking – 1st in 50m Butterfly, 100m Butterfly, 2nd in 50m Breaststroke, 3rd in 100m Breaststroke
Audrey McDermott – 1st in 100m Backstroke, 2nd in 50m Backstroke, 3rd in 50m Freestyle, 50m Butterfly
Charlie Napier – 2nd in 100m Butterfly
Aidan Garai & Addison Russell – 2nd in 50m Breaststroke

Magdalene Catholic College finished an impressive 3rd place overall in the Diocesan point standings, a testament to the dedication and talent of our swimmers. Oliver Moore was crowned 15 Years boys age champion, while Kara Hocking and Audrey McDermott were runner-up age champions for the 15 and 16-year-old girls, respectively. Bryce Parish also secured 3rd place overall in the 17+ boys age championship.

A huge congratulations to all our athletes for their exceptional performances. We wish the best of luck to those selected to compete at CCC Swimming next month—we know you will continue to make Magdalene proud!

Winter Uniform

Students will begin wearing their winter uniform from Monday 12 May. The winter uniform can be purchased online or in person at the College Uniform Shop.

Upcoming Pupil Free Days

• 15 August
• 26 September
• 14 November

This fortnight, we added another 11km to our cumulative total - this means that we've travelled from Hyland Park to Urunga (as the crow flies), and have achieved a cumulative total of 26km in 2025, and 510km all time.

Join us every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 7:55am for an 8:00am start at the top of the Back Oval steps for a 1km walk (course may change due to weather and other conditions). 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! There won't be any announcements this year - the rule of thumb is: if you see Mr Cimino at the Back Oval steps at 7:55am, then KM Club is ON!

A NSW Parliament select committee has been established to inquire into and report on child development, early childhood intervention services, and other foundational and disability supports available for children and young people with developmental concerns, delays, differences, or disabilities in New South Wales.

Further information about the inquiry, including the terms of reference, can be found on the committee's website here. 

As part of the inquiry, the committee is seeking online submissions from NSW residents through the following questions. Responses are due by Monday 31 March 2025.

Responses may be used in the committee's report. Names and contact details of respondents will not be published. The questionnaire will take approximately 5 minutes to complete.

Individual contributors can complete an online questionnaire. 

Terms of Reference.