Back to face-to-face lessons

It was great to see students returning en masse this week to the College to resume to face-to-face learning. While there is greater ‘normality’ in the classroom, protecting the health of our community members remains paramount.

Social/physical distancing measures continue to be encouraged amongst students, hygiene, sanitisation and cleaning practices and protocols have been ‘ramped up’ and the distance between staff & students and staff & staff remains at the 1.5m distance. This return to face-to-face teaching has necessitated some changes in terms of the use of the College Diary, the submission of student work and the like, so we continue to appreciate your understanding and support.

END OF DAY STAGGERED PARENT/CARER PICKUP 

The arrangements which have been in place for Week 5 will remain for Week 6. At the end of Week 6 the College will review these pick-up arrangements.

Thank you to parents/carers for your cooperation. While afternoons have been busier than normal, it has been relatively seamless. It was also great to see some Year 12 student drivers willing to show their maturity and support of the situation, and not create extra traffic of an afternoon by staying back an extra 15 or 20 minutes. I thank those students who willingly assisted us.

Year 11 2021 (Year 10 2020) Subject Selections

Due to COVID-19 the College will be changing its typical process in relation to subject selections for Year 11 2021. Rest assured, this will still be a rigorous programme, but the initial information night for parents/carers and students will need to utilise online means.

More details about this will follow in the next fortnight. Expect a number of videos regarding various subjects to be available and Year 10 will be spoken to within the next two weeks about the upcoming steps and stages.

Parent/Teacher/Student Zoom Interviews

Please note that due to COVID-19, the College will need to move to online Zoom Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews towards the end of this Semester. Given the success of Year 7 2021 Enrolment Interviews by Zoom, we are confident that this medium will afford a meaningful opportunity to provide meaningful feedback about learning and ways to enhance students’ knowledge and skills.

PRAYER

Joanne McMahon, former Magdalene staff member, has created the following prayerful reflection for this newsletter.

Pope Francis’ Daily Reflection for May 27 seemed a poignant message not just for the day but for our living. Entitled: ‘Living as a Gift’ it first cites John’s Gospel (15:13) before delivering a powerful message:

“Jesus says something remarkable to us: ‘Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends’. Love always takes this path: to give one’s life. To live life as a gift, a gift to be given – not a treasure to be stored away. And Jesus lived in this manner, as a gift. And if we live life as a gift, we do what Jesus wanted: “I appointed you that you should go and bear fruit.” [Homily, Domus Sanctae, May 14 2013]

We are thus invited to reflect on this question: How is God asking you to lay down your life for others today?

In so many ways, I am sure our responses involve family, community, work and broader environments such as our national and international connections. Amongst the very dynamics in which we daily engage, how often do we stop to ponder the gift of life? How often do we see gift only as a beautifully wrapped parcel, with a brilliant bow and thoughtfully sentimental card, instead of that very ugly, recycled parcel wrapped in a hurry?

The duality of life is both the beautiful and the ugly, both are synonymous with love. And regardless of the conditions, Jesus placed none of these upon His life-giving and life-fulfilling support for us. I wonder whether the next time we face an aggressive moment on the road, a barb or profanity directed our way, or even a judgmental reaction to a misunderstanding; how can we share the notion that living is a gift?

The return of students to school this week has seen an increase in traffic in and around the College of a morning and afternoon.  I thank all drivers for their patience in entering and exiting the College and for the courtesy shown to other drivers and for following the directions of Magdalene staff. Many families are taking advantage of the later drop off and early pick up arrangements that we have commenced, and I have listed these below as a reminder. Any students who are leaving at the earlier time must be collected from the turning circle. 

Morning Drop Off

• Any working parents/carers who drop off a child to school on their way to work will continue to do so via the turning circle at the front of the Administration Building between 7.45am and 8.10am.
• Parents/Carers who can delay their drop off between 8.20am and 8.35am are asked to do so. These students require a note in their diary and will go straight to Period 1. They will not be marked as a late arrival. Students arriving after 8.35 are required to sign in via the Front Office on arrival to school. 

Afternoon Pick Up

• Where possible, children in Year 7, 8 & 9 and their siblings may be picked up from the turning circle between 2.00pm and 2.20pm. They are required to have a note in their diary to show their period 4 teacher. Students are not permitted to leave the College grounds during this time to meet parents/carers outside the College gates.
• All other children can be collected from the turning circle at the end of the school day from 2.35pm. 

In addition to these arrangements, I would like to point out a few other reminders that will assist with the increased traffic on College grounds and continue to ensure the safety of everyone in our community:

• follow the directions to move as far forward as possible towards the red sign at the end of the turning circle before students exit/enter the car
• maintain the 10km/h speed limit on College grounds and the 40km/h school zone limit on Smeaton Grange Road (during the regulated times)

• no parking in the staff carpark or student carpark 

• cars stopped in the turning circle prior to 2.30pm may be asked to move as this restricts access to the College buildings
• parents/carers are to remain in their car

Parents/Carers are asked not to stop in the turning circle to remove/place ‘Learner Driver Plates’ on the car and change drivers. Please make arrangements for this prior to drop off or after pick up.  

Finally, with the increased traffic on and around Smeaton Grange Road, please do not ask your child to cross the road to a parked car during these peak times as a matter of safety.  

We will continue to monitor these arrangements and communicate any changes to families via Compass notifications. Again, thank you to everyone who enters our College grounds for keeping the safety of all in our community paramount.

We are pleased to inform you that we have recently partnered with Atomi to provide our students with a range of resources that are specifically tailored to the HSC curriculum and the development of study skills.

Atomi is a teaching and learning platform used by hundreds of schools across Australia to complement what students are learning in the classroom. Through Atomi, students can review content, practice exam-style questions and revise everything they need to know for their HSC exams. Atomi will allow us to offer increased support to students both within and outside of the classroom. 

Upon accepting Atomi’s email invitation to access the online material, your child will automatically be placed into the classes that they are studying for the HSC or in Year 11. Your child will then be able to access all the content for their courses to support their study. 

If you would like to find out more about Atomi, you can visit their website at https://getatomi.com/au. They also have a live chat function in the bottom right corner of the screen if your child needs assistance whilst on the site. Alternatively, you/your child can email me should there be any further questions. 

I hope that you find this new partnership extremely beneficial to your child as they complete their Year 11 and HSC studies. 

Stephanie Phillips                                                      

Leader of Teaching and Learning

Year 10 Design and Technology have completed their Architecture and Interior Design Assessment Task. In this task students were given the brief to design an innovative housing solution by recycling old shipping containers. Well done Year 10 on your wonderful projects.

We have two artists of the week this week!

Year 7 Visual Arts are studying Pop Art, and the following "Sketches of Food Object" are inspired by the Pop Artist Claes Oldenburg.

Congratulations Jade Truong and Ella Dunford!

Jade Truong

Online learning was a unique situation for all but it also allowed students to become innovative and resourceful. PDHPE lessons became a great excuse to get out of the house and get active. Many students went above and beyond and I would like to take the time to congratulate Kyle Ritchie of Year 10 who excelled in the practical and theory elements of PDHPE. From creating unique drills and performing a variety of daily works from circuit training or ‘minute to win it’ challenges.  Isolation was not stopping him from getting active, that is for sure!

Keep up the great work Kyle!

With the return of all students this week, Tuesday Afternoon Sport re-commenced for Years 7 to 10. Students in Years 11 will remain in their PC Classes completing study for the remaining weeks of this term.  We are receiving updates on sport and physical activity from the Wollongong Catholic Education Office and will be using this, with approval from our College Principal, as we proceed back into sporting activities. It is important to get students active and back into sport and physical activity, however, the safety of our students is a priority. The information below outlines the arrangements for Tuesday Afternoon Sport at the College.

Years 7 and 8

Students will participate in a House Challenge Event on alternate weeks commencing in Week 5 in their Pastoral Care Classes. Year 7 will participate in sport during Weeks 5, 7 and 9 and Year 8 in Weeks 6, 8 and 10. Activities include fitness obstacle course, orienteering, soccer skills and rounders (or ‘run the bases’). A study activity will be organised for the weeks when the year group is not scheduled to participate in sport.

Years 9 and 10

Students will participate in College based electives on alternate weeks commencing in Week 5. Year 9 will participate in sport during Weeks 5, 7 and 9 and Year 10 in Weeks 6, 8 and 10. Electives have been selected by students via a google form in Pastoral Care Classes on Monday 25th May and activities include basketball skills and challenges, zone soccer, zone AFL, modified volleyball/newcombe ball, fitness circuits, yoga and power walking. A study activity will be organised for the weeks when the year group is not scheduled to participate in sport.

For all scheduled sport and physical activity, the following guidelines will be adhered to by the College, as set in the CEDoW Practical Guide for Return to school sport and physical activity document.

Activities

• All sport and physical activities will be conducted using the College facilities such as ovals, basketball courts and volleyball courts.
• No external providers will be used to support the activities and will be conducted by Magdalene Catholic College Staff.
• No contact or semi-contact sports such as rugby league, football/soccer, basketball and netball are not allowed in their standard format.
• Skill-based drills and challenges, fitness activities and modified small sided activities can be used as an option.

Student and teacher participation

• Hand sanitiser will be provided for students and teachers to use before and after sport and physical activity.
• Students need to fill, clearly label and use their own water bottle and towel for all activities.
• Shared equipment will be wiped down and cleaned where appropriate.
• Physical distancing and use of equipment will be taken into account where possible. This includes attempting to keep a physical distance of 1.5m between students where possible.

Reminders

Students are reminded to ensure they are prepared for participation in sport by having appropriate footwear, college hat, water bottle and other equipment such as asthma medication and epipen as required. If a student is unable to participate in Tuesday Sport, a note needs to be handed to Mrs Andruschko on Tuesday morning.

Term 3

Organisation relating to Tuesday Sport, including MISA sport, will be made in the coming weeks. All information for Diocesan and NSW Sport can be found using the links below:

https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/sport/diocesan-sport-news/

https://csnsw.sport/

If there are any questions about Tuesday Sport, please contact Mrs Andruschko via the College Office.