NEW UNIFORM

At Tuesday’s P & F Meeting photographs of various items of the College’s New Uniform were shared.

Some of these items still need slight modifications, crests added or the like, but on the whole, it is coming along very well. Everyone I have spoken to – parents, students and staff who have seen the new uniform have been very impressed.

As I have shared in previous Newsletters the new uniform will be coming in from next year for Year 7 2021, Year 10 2021 (our current Year 9s), Year 11 2021 (our current Year 10s). Students in other Year groups will still wear the current uniform but will have the option of purchasing the new uniform if they so wish. Our current Year 8s will move over to a new uniform in 2022 and our current Year 7s will move over to a new uniform in 2023.

The only caveat (apart from the new College cap) is that there will be no mixing of old and new uniform items.

Highlights of the new uniform include:

• Optional shorts for boys or girls in Years 7-9
• Optional pants for girls in Years 7-12
• Improved, breathable fabrics
• A new logo for our College Cap and various Sports items
• A new summer dress (effectively Terms 1 and 4) for the girls
• A new Junior boys tie (Years 7-9) and a new Senior (Years 10-12) boys tie
• New blazers for both boys and girls (a girls’ cut and a boys’ cut)
• Clear acknowledgement of the College’s colours: navy blue, red and gold

In the coming weeks, especially when items have been modified and finalised, the new uniform will go on display to the whole College and shared through various forms of communication.

NEW HALL

It was exciting to have core holes drilled this week in preparation for the building of our new Hall.

More details will follow but here is an artist’s sketch of the new structure:

MUFTI-DAY FUNDRAISER

The College has raised well over $100,000 dollars in the past decade to support the children at Westmead Hospital. Unfortunately, the nature of our COVID-19 restricted year has meant that our main fundraiser for this worthy cause, the College Trivia Night, has been cancelled.

On Wednesday, however, please encourage your children to be generous with a gold coin donation (hopefully the $2 variety) to raise money for Bandaged Bear House, as well as our Year 12s for their end of year events, when the College celebrates a mufti-day (Theme: favourite sports team or favourite super hero).

PRAYER

I share here a prayer from the Catholic Weekly which is very relevant to the times in which we live:

In this challenging time

Lord Jesus Christ, our true physician and healer, be merciful to us and bring us Your aid in these troubled times. Heal all our sickness and every affliction of Your people.

Drive out our infirmities of soul and body; free us from all disease and especially from this pestilence.

We place in Your gentle Heart the elderly, the frail, people with disability, children, young people and families, our indigenous peoples, those who are poor, lonely and isolated. As You walk with us, free them from fear, and give them patience and hope together with our loving care.

In Your mercy deal also with the causes of our pitiful condition, that in curing our lack of faith and spiritual weakness, You may also remedy our bodily ills.

We place our trust in You, the risen Lord, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Amen.

Due to the requirements to ensure that safe distancing practices are in place, students will only have individual photos taken this year. A composite Class Photo will be created from the individual photos for each Pastoral Care Class to purchase. Sibling photos will be permitted as a group photo for any families requiring these. Students must be in their College Winter uniform with blazers and ensure that they meet all expectations regarding uniform, hair and jewellery as per the College Uniform Policy.

Photos will occur over 2 days as follows:
Friday 14 August - Year 12, Year 11 and Year 10 and sibling photos 
Monday 31 August - Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9  

Currently the College is negotiating an additional day for any absent students and this will be communicated as soon as the Photography Company have notified us of the date.
Students should have received an envelope and flyer in PC this week with ordering information. Photos can also be ordered and paid for online through advancedlife photography, as per the attached information.

Speaking on behalf of the Year 12 2020 Leadership Team, we are very thankful for this unique experience of meeting Bishop Brian Mascord and the Director of Schools, Peter Hill, and we are especially thankful for the guidance and reassurance provided regarding the HSC and our religious faith going forward in our lives.

Written by Claudia Henderson and Liam Yabsley (Year 12 2020 Vice Captains)

As part of the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) Principal Professional Development Planning and Review Process, an Appraisal occurs for each Principal every three or four years of his or her contract. Mr McMahon’s Appraisal will occur this term and parents and carers are invited to participate via a short survey to provide valuable feedback on Mr McMahon’s leadership achievements and strengths, as well as identify areas for growth and development and future directions.
 
The Principal Appraisal Survey can be accessed via the following link and needs to be completed by Friday 14 August 2020

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Appraisal2020McMahon-Parent

The information provided in the survey will be kept confidential to the Appraisal Panel. If you are unable to access the electronic survey, printed copies of the survey are available from the College Office.
 
Another important part of the Appraisal process is a Panel Review, which will be occurring on Wednesday, 2 September 2020. The Panel is comprised of an external Educational Consultant, a peer Principal and a CEDoW Leadership member. On this day the Parish Priest, members of Staff, Students and a Parent representative group (approx. 12 parents) will meet with the panel.
If you would like to be included in the parent group interview which will be scheduled for approximately 40 minutes, please contact Mr McMahon. 
 
Below is a copy of a letter from Mrs Carolyn Hadley, Head of Human Resource Services (CEDoW), should you have any further questions regarding the Principal Appraisal Process.
 
On behalf of Mr McMahon, I thank you in advance for your participation in his upcoming Appraisal.

Ms Jenny Foldes

Assistant Pricipal

Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews: Feedback Request  

The recent Zoom PTS Interviews at the conclusion of Term 2 were very successful and we thank parents/carers who were able to be involved.

A survey has been sent to parents/carers seeking feedback on the use of Zoom for interviews at the College. This survey will take approximately five minutes to complete. 

HSC 2020 - Key Dates 

2020 Trial HSC: 17 August - 31 August

2020 HSC: 20 October - Wednesday 11 November

Students and parents are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the HSC 2020 timetable. (link below)

2020 HSC Examination Timetable

HSC Minimum Standard Testing

All Year 10 students will be completing their Minimum Standards testing in Term 3. Numeracy tests will be completed in Mathematics classes and Reading and Writing tests will be completed in English classes. These tests focus on basic numeracy and literacy skills and are completed online. 

To prepare now, all students are required to ensure their device is updated and that all updates in her Managed Software Centre have been installed.

Year 10 Maths and English staff are currently reviewing key skills in preparation for the completion of Minimum Standard Tests. 

An information letter  has been sent to parents/carers via Compass earlier this week.

NESA Students Online (Years 10-12)

Students are encouraged to regularly check their NESA Students Online account for updates on exams, course enrolment information and NMS results. . For information on how to access this, please view the flyer attached. 

Year 11 2021 Subject Selections

Year 10 students have begun the exciting process of selecting their subjects and study pattern for Year 11 and 12. They have had a Year meeting this week in which important information was relayed to them.

Parents can access all this information on the Yr 11 2021 Subject Selections Website 

The site contains details about all the courses Magdalene are offering as well as a recorded presentation outlining important NESA requirements that need to be adhered to.

There is also a feature that allows parents of Year 10 to log any questions they may have about the process. These questions will form the basis of a possible Zoom session next week - time To Be Advised.

Students will be given access to a portal on Friday 19th June that will allow them to make their subject choices. 

Families are urged to sit down together and examine the information on this website and to log any questions they may have through the Questions you may have tab.

Our students have an opportunity to participate in a longitudinal research study facilitated by a PHD Candidate, Shauna Byrne,  at the University of Technology Sydney.

The UTS Adolescent Eating Behaviour and Mental Health Survey focuses on the factors that influence the development of disordered eating in adolescents and current trends that may affect eating disorders and mental health for adolescents.

The Survey takes about 40 minutes to complete.  The questions will cover eating and exercise habits, family and peer eating habits, peer support, family relationships, substance abuse, social media use, body image and emotional and psychological wellbeing.

The survey is targeted at adolescents in Years 7-11 in 2020 and is to be completed online.  Students who elect to complete the survey will need to read the documentation on the link below and will also require parent/guardian consent.

The link will put students in direct contact with Shauna Byrne and the Research Team at UTS.

In the last Newsletter Mrs Forner, our Pastoral Care Coordinator, provided key information regarding a growing and troubling trend in society, namely, vaping or electronic / e-cigarettes.

I have included her information here again in case you did not read this the first time around.

The link to a report that was on the television programme A Current Affair last week about disposable e-cigarettes can also be found here:

https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/disposable-ecigarette-pods-cause-outcry-as-craze-takes-off-among-teenagers-in-australian-schools/7b537973-c3a5-4962-ae67-89acf8069699

Recently there has been an increasing concern about the growing number of teenagers using e-cigarettes, or what is more commonly known amongst teenagers as “vaping”.

E-cigarettes are devices that deliver an aerosol by heating a solution that users breath in.  They are battery-operated and may look like cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or memory sticks.  Teenagers are often of the belief that ‘vaping’ is not harmful, and they are influenced by big tobacco companies who are marketing fruit flavoured e-cigarettes with popular social media images.  The truth of the matter is that vaping hasn’t been around long enough for us to know how it affects the body over time.  Scientists are still learning about e-cigarettes and they cannot be considered safe.  

Hazardous substances have been found in e-cigarette liquids and in the aerosol produced by e-cigarettes, including formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein, which are known to cause cancer.

There are complex regulations regarding the purchasing of e-cigarettes in Australia In NSW, it is illegal for e-cigarettes or any accessories to be sold to people under that age of 18.  However, teenagers are still able to find ways of purchasing e-cigarettes, whether it be over the internet or from a third party.

What are the warning signs of teenagers vaping?

1. Sweet smells – e-cigarettes often have sweet smells of fruit, lollies or bubble gum
2. Bloodshot eyes - When it comes to vaping, there aren’t very many physical signs to look out for. However, bloodshot eyes can be an indication that your child has been vaping.
3. Irritability - Irritable or anxious behaviours can be a sign your child is experiencing withdrawals from nicotine. 
4. Excessive thirst – dehydration is often a sign of excessive vaping.
5. Unfamiliar devices batteries and chargers – if you find that your child has interesting shaped batteries or chargers it is important to investigate it further.

What should you do if you catch your child vaping?

It is important to remain calm and have an open conversation about the impact of vaping on their health.  Ask your child questions, for example where did they purchase the e-cigarette, and listen to their answers. 

While there should be consequences for vaping, the delivery of these consequences need to come from a calm rational place. Work with your child to assess whether or not they have an addiction and how to access help.

The College's approach to students bringing in e-cigarettes and/or vaping is in line with our approach to students bringing cigarettes and/or alcohol to the College. Obviously, if such cases occurred, we would be in contact with parents/carers and take the matter seriously.

More information can be found on the following websites:

https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/smoking-and-tobacco/about-smoking-and-tobacco/about-e-cigarettes

https://www.school-news.com.au/news/staving-off-the-teen-vaping-epidemic/

https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/concerns-about-rising-popularity-of-e-cigarettes-a

In Year 7 English this semester a number of classes have begun to undertake the Spell-It program. The aim of this is to further develop and improve the standard of spelling for our students. We are hoping that the explicit teaching of this will be beneficial. Below is information on the program:

Outline of the Spell-It program

Spell-It is a flexible program* that assists teachers to plan and implement spelling instruction based on assessment of students’ current knowledge. Spell-It teaches the rules, conventions, structure and logic of the English language, to enable teachers to plan effective spelling lessons based on the needs of their students. Originally written by Joy Allcock from New Zealand, Spell-It has been adapted for use in Australian schools.

Who is it for?

• Students from upper primary (Year 4 onwards) through to secondary and tertiary levels
• Students who have average reading skills but poor spelling, rely on visual images of words but do not understand the system behind the patterns, or who over-rely on known sound-spelling relationships to write words because they do not know about alternate spelling conventions, may particularly benefit 

Key benefits

• Provides an explicit and structured approach to teaching spelling within a whole-class or small group framework
• Students benefit from improved writing quality and fluency, expanded vocabulary and confidence with spelling as they learn to apply strategies to unknown words and work out relationships between words
• Assists teachers to increase their own knowledge regarding the spelling system that underpins written English

Program content

Spell-It provides an explicit and structured approach to teaching spelling within a whole-class or small group framework. The program provides assessment tools for teachers to identify the spelling skills that are needed most, and to develop a teaching program to target these areas. Specific teaching strategies are included for each teaching topic, with alternative ‘routes’ for differentiated instruction, extensive examples and word lists for use within lessons.

Christopher Power

Leader of Learning English

What's happening in Art this term?

Year 9 Visual Art students have just started their Modernist Landscape paintings. 

These paintings reflect the techniques and characteristics of their chosen modernist art movement. Students are using impasto and paint to create surface texture and depth in their landscape paintings.  

School Sport has continued in the first weeks of Term Three, with students participating in a range of skill activities from various sports. The information below outlines the current information for MISA Sport, Diocesan and NSW Sport.

MISA Sport

As outlined in the MISA Sport update sent out at the end of Week 2, the MISA Association has decided to delay the start of this competition until at least Tuesday 18th August (Term 3 Week 5). Students will still continue to train on Tuesday afternoon in their MISA teams, whilst following the guidelines below:

• Advice from Catholic Education Wollongong leadership has directed that sports involving contact such as Netball, Basketball, Rugby League, AFL and Soccer are to remain suspended.
• Schools will adapt the above sports in a school sport setting using skill-based drills and skills, modified activities and mini-games.

Due to the current situation, the availability of any additional uniform requirements to purchase such as shorts and socks will be delayed until a decision has been made about the Term 3 MISA season.

Diocesan and Catholic Schools NSW Sport

Further information for Diocesan and NSW Sport can be found using the links below. This includes the cancelled events for Term 3 and Term 4.

Events - Secondary

CSNSW Sport Events Cancelled

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

SCHOOL FEES

School Fee Statements were emailed out on Monday, if you have not received your Fee Statement, please email:   finance@mchsdow.catholic.edu.au to request a copy.

All Credits for cancelled events and excursions have now been finalised and these are reflected on your Fee Statement

If you have any questions regarding Fees please contact the Finance Office via the finance email.

CAMPS/RETREATS

Due to COVID-19 the following camps/retreats have been rescheduled to take place in 2021.

The camp/retreat charge will remain on the 2020 school fee statement and no charge will appear on the 2021 fee statement. Please be advised that some locations may change.

• Year 7 - 2020 - Teen Ranch
• Year 9 - 2020 - Nepean River Camp
• Year 11 - 2020 - Retreat (Bluegum Lodge & Lutanda)

COVID-19 FEE CONCESSION

WHAT DO I DO IF MY INCOME HAS BEEN SEVERELY AFFECTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC?

If you are experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19 because of loss of employment or other reasons, you may apply for COVID19 Fee Concession for 2020 school fees. 

To access this application:

• Download the application from the CEO Website 

   www.dow.catholic.edu.au/for-parents/school-fees 

• OR request a copy from your school’s administration office.     

PLEASE NOTE: 

Families that have requested deferment of payments, will receive an email with the application and further information.

Families that have already applied for Fee Concession due to hardship related to COVID-19, will not be required to apply again.

YEAR 12 SCHOOL FEES – 2020

Families of Year 12 students are required to have all of the Year 12 School Fees or the Year 12 portion of the School Fee Account (if you have siblings attending the College) finalised by Friday, 25th September 2020 - (end of Term 3).

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

Student Uniform

Current tracksuit pants are now available at the College Office. Limited quanities are available in sizing XS/S/M/L/XL - $40.

The current school cap is on sale at the College Office for the reduced price of $10. 

CEO Consent Form for Use of Student Image and/or Work

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Would you like some support to acheive change in your life right now?

You may find what you're looking for in our new series of face-to-face group sessions. Group sessions are available to adults who would like to strengthen relationships, support children's development and build resilience within a supportive environment, alongside others who share similar life experiences.

All of our 2020 courses are listed on our website. Click the link below to view the 2020 group work schedule.

http://www.catholiccare.dow.org.au/index.php/search-by-location/campbelltown

LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE

For more information or to make a booking please contact our Intake Service on 4254 9395 or email IntakeService@catholiccare.dow.org.au