WELCOME BACK TO TERM 3

We trust all students had an enjoyable and safe break. We look forward to an exciting and active term ahead.

UPCOMING PUPIL FREE DAY:

Please note our College Spirituality Day is on Friday 9 August. Apart from Year 12 Trial HSC Examinations occurring on this day, this is a pupil free day and the Office will be closed.

MAGDALENE FEAST DAY:

While the College celebrated the Feast of Mary Magdalene today, the actual Feast Day, in terms of the Church’s Calendar, occurred on Monday this week (22^nd July). Pope Francis was instrumental back in 2016 in helping decree that this date should become a Feast Day. Previously it had been regarded as a ‘Solemnity’, so such an elevation highlighted the Vatican’s increased recognition of who Mary Magdalene was and her pivotal role during Jesus’ Ministry and then, of course, his Resurrection and the days that followed.

When this change was declared back in 2016, Archbishop Roche from the Vatican outlined Mary Magdalene’s key roles as: “…an eyewitness to the Risen Christ… [and]… the first to testify before the apostles.” As Roche wrote, Mary Magdalene: “fulfilled the mandate the Risen Christ gave her … and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’... In this way she becomes, as is already known, an evangelist, or rather a messenger who announces the good news of the resurrection of the Lord.”

It’s not surprising then that St. Thomas Aquinas once called Mary Magdalene 'apostolorum apostola' (the apostle of the apostles) as she announced to the disciples, what they in turn, would announce to all the world.

Thus, as our mind turns to Mary Magdalene on her Feast Day we continue to recognise the exceptionally important role that she played in evangelising and giving strength to the apostles and we look to her as a source of strength in reminding us about the importance of “Discipleship and Service” – one of our College’s Core Values.

Today’s Feast Day Mass was a beautiful one and celebrated by Bishop Brian Mascord. Photographs of the Mass and today’s Feast Day events will be included in the next Newsletter.

CEO SCHOOL REVIEW AND SURVEY

As is CEO Wollongong practice, a review is undertaken of each Diocesan school every five years.

Magdalene’s review will take part in mid-August this year. This review will consider educational, spiritual, financial and various management issues of the College. Students, Parents, our Parish and staff will all be consulted to aid the CEO team in determining the current state of the College, areas worthy of praise and areas for future focus.

A survey was sent out in recent weeks with a series of questions which the Diocese would like answered.  We would appreciate the completion of this survey.

REPEAT: PARENT/CARER UNIFORM COMMITTEE: CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST:

A small working party of parents/carers (approximately 6-8) will be established to consult with and assist with our movement towards a new uniform.

If you have had previous professional experience in such areas as fashion, running a uniform store, and/or even designing uniforms and you would like to be considered to be a part of this committee please email an Expression of Interest of no more than two paragraphs to info@mccdow.catholic.edu.au. Please outline in this email why you would like to be involved and what your experience includes.

Final applications to be submitted by 2 August.

O God, whose Only Begotten Son entrusted Mary Magdalene before all others with

announcing the great joy of the Resurrection, grant, we pray, that through her intercession and example we may proclaim the living Christ and come to see Him reigning in Your glory.

Let us pray the College Prayer:

Jesus, You chose Mary Magdalene to be the first witness to Your resurrection. Help us to be filled with the power of Your Spirit.

May we become witnesses to Your love and healing, both within and beyond this community.

Saint Mary Magdalene Pray for us

To assist with the fair and equitable distribution of funding for students with particular needs, all schools in Australia are required to collect information about students with disability. A fact sheet is included here to provide more details about this process.

Downing Centre

On Wednesday 26th June the Year 12 Legal class, Miss Manzin and Mrs Walker had the opportunity to go to the Downing Centre Local and District Court to observe the law in action. We arrived quite early at Macarthur Square Train Station where our day began. We were able to sit in on numerous local court matters and 2 District Court Cases. It was a fun and informative day as we watched the reality of criminal cases unfold right in front of our eyes, providing us with a new perspective of the court system. As a class we found it quite intriguing and invigorating to be apart of a process that could potentially influence someone's life, this was a surreal experience. The overall experience was made better because of the individuals that involved themselves and the overall support from Mrs Walker and Miss Manzin throughout the day. I recommend anyone who has the opportunity and is quite interested in the Legal Court Processes to get involved and view court cases as it is open to the public and provides further insight into our legal system.

- Gemma Nelson Year 12

Legal Studies Association: Student Lectures

On Saturday 20th July, our legal class attended the Legal Studies association lecture that covered the HSC content we were studying. The day began at 8:00 am sharp at the lecture rooms within Westmead Hospital. Mrs Walker and Miss Manzin guided us into our first lecture that covered our core subjects Human Rights and Crimes. The lecture entailed professionals who spoke about the structure of the exam and how to best approach it. Personally, I found it quite helpful as taking a legal studies exam is a significant component of the HSC, and must be taken seriously and understood well. After, this talk the content of Human Rights and Crime was discussed in which we could follow on with the study note booklets they gave us, which we were quite helpful in identifying the exact content that we would require for exam type preparation. Furthermore, there were lectures we attended that were more specific to the option topics we were studying in the HSC. Both of which include Family Law and Shelter. This excursion was an excellent refresher of the content we had already learned, as well as preparation for what we are about to learn. I recommend, this lecture to others who were studying the course.

- Madyson Kenny - Year 12

Year 12 students begin their HSC Trial Examinations on Monday of Week 3 (5th August). Please see the included copy of the HSC Trial Examination timetable. It is suggested that the exam timetable is placed on the fridge or another easily-accessible area of the home to ensure parents/carers are aware of the dates and times of exams. This is a significant period of time and can be both challenging and rewarding for students as they move towards the culmination of their secondary learning.

It is critical that students focus on both study and self-care during this period. Parents and carers can support students completing exams by encouraging the following positive behaviours:

• Healthy eating and sleep habits through the exam period (including breakfast prior to exams).
• Seeking help from peers and College staff.
• Having a focused approach to their study and using a study timetable.
• Engaging in open communication about their revision and exams.

There are a variety of apps students can utilise in the lead-up and during the examination period. Calm and Headspace: Meditation and Sleep and both free examples (available on Apple and Android devices) which have been recommended to students. Reachout.com has a useful section for parents/carers and is a resource for practical support, with information on coping with exam stress. 

The College has every confidence in this cohort and we wish them well through their examination period. 

Miss Stephanie Phillips - Leader of Teaching & Learning

Mrs Blair Colella - Year 12 Coordinator, Wellbeing Coordinator

TRIAL HSC EXAMINATION TIMETABLE for STUDENTS 

MAGDALENE CATHOLIC COLLEGE 2019

On Tuesday 6 August, Year 8 students will participate in the Elevate Study Skills Kick-Start workshop. This will take place during scheduled pastoral time in pastoral groups.  The workshop introduces and explores fundamental skills for learning and study required in secondary schooling. 

Specific topics include: 

• Dynamic Reading (note-taking and summarising)
• Self-Directed Learning (how to increase independent learning) and
• Conceptual Learning Skills (moving to critical thinking)

Students will be given access to online resources at the conclusion of this session to further these skills.

I look forward to this upcoming experience as the College supports students in the development of their learning skills.

Miss Stephanie Phillips

Leader of Teaching and Learning

Updated School Fee Statements were sent to families at the end of Term 2.

In accordance with the Diocesan School Fee Management Policy, College fee accounts are now issued as an annual invoice which is due 30 days from the invoice date. If you do not have a School Fee Agreement in place with Magdalene Catholic College your fees are now Overdue.

To access payment flexibility, that is, to pay your School Fees in instalments, families must complete a School Fee Agreement Form and return it to the College Office. School Fee Agreements need to be renewed yearly and they show the College a frequency of payment plan for your School Fees. You may pay by Bpay, Credit Card, Cash and/or Direct Debit. 

School Fees with a School Fee Agreement in place must be finalised by Friday, 6 December 2019.

Please note the School Fee Agreement Form is not a Direct Debit Form.

The Diocesan School Fee Management Policy and all Finance Forms in relation to Fees are available on the College Website, under the Enrolment Tab.  The School Fee Calculator on the website can also assist with the calculation of the payment required to meet your commitment by the due date.

YEAR 12 SCHOOL FEES

Families of Year 12 students are required to have all the Year 12 Fees finalised by Friday, 27 September 2019.

If you are experiencing financial hardship and are having difficulty paying your school fees, we ask that you do not ignore your fee statement and please contact the Finance Office to discuss options that are available to you.

FINANCE OFFICE HOURS: Monday to Friday 7.30am to 2.45pm

Tax deductibility of the Building Fund comes down to the ATO guidelines governing Deductible Gift Recipient Funds.

As the CEO School Building Fund Fees are a compulsory component of our School fees overall, (as opposed to a voluntary contribution of an amount of your choice) therein lies the difference, as far as the ATO is concerned.

Unfortunately, parents cannot claim the Building Fund fees on their School Fee Statement, however, if they choose to make a voluntary contribution over and above this levied amount, then that component may be claimed in accordance with ATO guidelines.