Magdalene Catholic College is proud to boast a multicultural student population, and we welcome families from many different backgrounds. The Diocese of Wollongong introduced a Language Background Survey as part of the Literacy Policy in 2019. This survey aims to understand how many students are lucky enough to speak, or understand, another language. 

Bilingualism has long been recognised as having many benefits for students, such as increased cognitive reflexes, greater global understanding of the world, and improved employment prospects. With this in mind, Magdalene will be rolling out the Language Background Survey to our Year 7 students as well as other students who have enrolled at the College this year. For Year 7, this survey will be completed as part of their laptop training programme. 

Any student with a language background other than English who requires additional literacy support will be identified through the process of phasing, involving samples of their writing being read against a set criteria to identify any specific areas needing improvement. 

If you have any questions about this process, please contact Miss Stephanie Phillips at phillipss01@dow.catholic.edu.au.

Stephanie Phillips

Leader of Teaching and Learning

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This term, learning and teaching at Magdalene is in full effect, featuring a diverse array of educational activities and assessment experiences for our students. Term 3 is important, particularly, in the areas of examination and subject selection. We have the following curriculum-related events this term:

HSC Trial Examinations

The HSC Trial Examinations have begun, and the manner in which our Year 12 students have approached these trials is commendable. Please keep updated with the Year 12 Overview concerning the Trial Examination timetable and the Illness/Misadventure procedure.

We wish all Year 12 students the best in their upcoming examinations.

Preliminary HSC Examinations (Year 11) - 9 - 20 September

The timetable for the preliminary examinations will be released to Year 11 students during Week 4, Term 3. Please note that students are only required to be onsite at the college during their examination times. If a student chooses to stay at the college outside of their exam times, a designated study space will be available for their use.

Year 9 2025 Subject Selection Information Evening

The Year 9 Subject Selection Information Evening for parents and students will be held on Monday 19th August from 6pm to 7pm in the College Hall. This is a compulsory event. Curriculum and wellbeing topics will be covered on the night. Please respond to the Compass event to accept the invitation, or contact Mrs Carolyn Said, Curriculum Coordinator, saidc01@dow.catholic.edu.au to discuss if you are unable to attend.

We eagerly anticipate the continued growth and achievements of our Magdalene students throughout this dynamic term.

Mrs Carolyn Said

Curriculum Coordinator

NEW UNIFORM

Today a group of students from various years had the opportunity to try on garments for the new College Uniform which commences in 2021.

As indicated in Newsletters dating back to last year, the compulsory wearing of this new uniform will be for Year 7 2021 as well as Year 10 2021 and Year 11 2021. The wearing of this uniform in other years is possible but totally optional. The only caveat for students choosing to wear the new uniform in Years 8, 9 and 12 is that students wear it in its entirety.

Students, parents and staff who viewed the uniform were incredibly impressed and gave their opinion towards further tweaks to enhance the final uniform design. The uniform itself is version four or five and we have been listening to various parental and student feedback from surveys which went out last year as well as various feedback  from those involved.

More details of the final uniform will be supplied in Term Three, but a few highlights include:

• Improved quality, cut and use of more breathable fabrics
• Clear differentiation between junior and senior uniform
• Contemporary design
• Optional shorts for boys and/or girls in Years 7 to 9
• Optional pants for girls Years 7-12
• New sports logo to be included on various sports garments and the new College cap
• A broader range of options for students to wear

It was really great to hear the student and group excitement for this updating of the uniform and I particularly thank the students and parents who were in today’s meeting and who have formed a part of the new Uniform Committee over recent months.

PARENT / CARER / TEACHER / STUDENT ZOOM INTERVIEWS

On Wednesday night the first round of Zoom interviews occurred for Years 7 and 9 parents/carers/students and, with only very minimal technical issues experienced, we have heard very good feedback about how these interviews went. 

The next evening is on Wednesday 1st July for Years 8, 10 and 11 between 3.30 - 8pm – information about bookings is on Compass.

The final opportunity this semester for these interviews (7-12 will be on Friday 3 July, please note that there will be no lessons nor student supervision provided on this day. Furthermore, the College Office will be closed from 1pm on that day.

COVID-19

We must continue to remain vigilant and practice and promote good hygiene principles. With news that a nearby Public School was closed today (26th June) with a case of COVID-19 it is a timely reminder that students need to be ensuring they are correctly using cough etiquette, using hand sanitiser regularly throughout the day, maintaining distance as much as possible from others and ensuring that any student who is ill or has flu-like symptoms does not come to school.

While the College is hoping we return to greater normality in Term Three (lockers being accessible, the Library being reopened and hopefully bubblers open – once we have the ok from NSW Health) it is critical we are responsible and supportive of one another. Various staff and students are either directly affected or have family members who are immunocompromised and therefore it is critical that we are all respectful of health and safety parameters.

COLLEGE DROP OFF AND PICK UP ARRANGEMENTS

The plan is to end the interim arrangements for Term 3 and return to the ‘normal’ arrangements for this.

As such, students need to be here for Period One (giving themselves enough time to ensure they are in class by 8.15am).

The school day will conclude at 2.35 for all.

MAGDALENE FEAST DAY 2020

Our Magdalene Feast Day for 2020 has had to be postponed. Details about an alternate date will be supplied in due course and our hope is it will occur in Term Three so that our Year 12s get to experience the day.

The actual Feast Day of Saint Mary Magdalene occurs on July 22nd and the College will recognise this by way of prayer and a small liturgy in the first week of Term Three.

FINANCES AND CREDITS

I would like to thank our Finance Team for their excellent work this year. Numerous credits have already had to be sent to families in lieu of cancelled excursions, and other credits are continuing to be finalised.

I am pleased to announce that a small credit for Term 2 sport for Years 7-11 will be taken off Fees for 2021. I also want families to be aware that Camps and Retreats planned for 2020 will now occur in 2021 so payments for these remain on 2020 School Fees (no charge will appear on 2021 Fee Statements).

PRAYER

As we continue to ask for support and guidance from the Lord during these incredibly trying times in which we live, may we gain comfort from the following:

Psalm 127 : 1–2
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain.
Unless the Lord guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for He gives sleep to His beloved.

It is in the Lord that we do find solace and our prayers may be heard. May we all take a moment and consider those in need of the Lord’s guiding light.

Thank you to the Magdalene community for the ongoing support shown to Ashton Marsh (Year10) during his health battle.

Ashton and his family are an exceptional example of strength, determination and resilience. The link to a video below explores an inspiring story of Ashton's road to recovery. 

Below are images from the Year 11 Photography 'Selfies' Unit of Work that students completed during social isolation resulting from Covid 19 pandemic.

Monica Ware

Monique Downes

Braiden Dibella

Congratulations to Layla Elphinstone (Yr9 Visual Arts) who is our Artist of the Week.  

Year 9 Visual Arts have been experimenting with a range of materials to create landscapes in different styles. Layla Elphinstone has used oil pastels to recreate a sky and landscape of her first hand experience of the aurora borealis.

Expressionist Landscapes

In her second work, Layla has used impasto and acrylic paint to produce thick brush strokes in Impressionist style of a landscape scene at dusk.

Year 9 Modelling Evolution 

In Year 9, students are engaged in a module that examines Scientific theories. The students have examined the evidence for the Atomic Theory and Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection. 

Using the scientific method, a theory is an evidence based explanation for the observations of our world. They are not “just a guess” as they are sometimes portrayed. 

In Year 9 with Mr Ferry, students have studied the mechanism of Natural Selection, which explains the diversity of life on Earth. To understand the mechanism, students used a model in the form of a probability game. Students used a die and probability ratios to examine how the percentage of two traits in a population of frogs changed over several generations. They then used their digital learning management system STILE, to create digital graphs, from which they could draw conclusions from. This meant students used numeracy and modelling skills to further explain Natural selection.

Term 2 Week 9

MISA trials were held this week for Term 3 sports and will continue in Week 10. Well done to all students on their conduct and efforts this week at the trials and other organised school sport.

MISA Sports - Term 3

A letter was sent home on Friday 19 June with information about MISA trials. Please see below for some of these details including the sport and the venues for these trials.

For many of the MISA sports, trials will be held on Council grounds. Students will travel to and from the venue by bus and this will be held during sport time (12.30pm - 2.35pm) on Tuesday afternoons in Weeks 9 and 10. Students will return to the College by 2.30pm in time for afternoon buses and cannot be collected from the venue.

* As outlined in the current guidelines for Sport and Physical Activity, no spectators are allowed at the trials.

* The first game of the MISA competition commences Term 3 Week 2.

MISA Golf Tournament

The MISA Golf Tournament will be held next term on Wednesday 2nd September at Camden Lakeside Golf Club. Some details of the event are listed below and please see Mrs Andruschko for further information.

This year, there will be two competitions:

• The M.I.S.A. Cup Event: for those students who have a Golf Link handicap. This event will be played off Scratch and Nett scores, with winners in age groups and gender.
• The M.I.S.A. Plate Event: for those students who do not have a handicap. This event will be played off scratch score only, with winners in age groups and gender.  Students MUST have golf experience to participate.

School Sport - Term 3

Students not competing in the MISA competition will participate in a range of sporting options in Term 3. Further information will be sent out in Week 10 about these arrangements.

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.

Diocesan and NSW Sport

Information for Term 3 Diocesan and NSW Sport can be found using the links below:

https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/sport/events-secondary/

https://csnsw.sport/

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

Parents, carers and friends of our Magdalene community are warmly invited to consider volunteering a few hours throughout the 2020, HSC Trial Examinations. 

Your role would be to assist in the supervision and administration of this important schedule of exams and provide a warm and welcoming environment to our students during these important days.

No experience is necessary, just a genuine desire to assist our students and ensure the smooth delivery of this important exam itinerary. All training will be provided and exam supervision is a role readily suited to a vast range of Magdalene family and friends.

There will be two exam sessions run each day over an 11 day period.

Morning Session : 8.30am - 11.30 am

Afternoon Session : 1.00pm- 4.00 pm.

If this is a volunteer role that sounds interesting to you, please don't hesitate to make contact. You will find it an incredibly rewarding experience, meet new people and make a real difference in the final journey of our Magdalene Year 12, 2020 cohort.

Please direct all initial enquiries to  Michelle Cornett Email: cornettm02@dow.catholic.edu.au Presiding Officer HSC, Magdalene Catholic College.

Pupil Free Day - Friday 3 July

Please note that the College Office will be closed from 1:00pm onwards.

Term 3 

Students return Monday 20 July.

Administration Reminders - Picking up students early

If you need to pick up a student early for an appointment:

• students are to bring a note from home or a note in the student diary explaining why and when they will need to leave.
• student will then show the note to their class teacher when they need to leave.
• student will then meet parent/carer in the College Office for sign out.

The above procedure is best practice to avoid delays for your appointments.