BULLYING NO WAY

Today (15 March) is the: “National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence.”

At Magdalene we take these issues very seriously and, as you will read and view later in this newsletter, recently we took time out of learning to make a stance and share our strong view by physically forming the words “No Way” as a whole student and staff body on our College Oval. I encourage you to view the video.

As KidsHelpline.com.au makes explicitly clear, bullying is: “never ok. It’s hurtful and can impact someone for a long time. Remember, you’re not alone. There are people you can talk to and things you can do to stop the bullying.”

As you should know, Magdalene’s approach to bullying is zero tolerance. When we are aware of an issue, we will follow through with our processes to ensure this behaviour is stopped and both education and consequences are used to ensure this behaviour is remedied, punished and a clear way forward for the victim and perpetrator is provided (including support).

Occasionally, one-off cruel and/or inappropriate actions are regarded as bullying – but bullying is an ongoing behaviour. Either way, students need to know that we are a safe place and if issues or problems exist, they need to speak out – whether that be to their Pastoral care Teacher, Year Coordinator, Pastoral Care Coordinator or other trusted staff member. All issues will be taken seriously and dealt with as is necessary.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY AT THE COLLEGE

Students and parents/carers are reminded that we would prefer mobile devices are not brought on College grounds. If they are, then students need to take full responsibility for these devices. Similarly, unless requested by a staff member, devices are not to be used during College hours (i.e. between 8.15 and 2.35). Students who use these devices inappropriately will have the device temporarily confiscated and, depending on their action/s, may face further consequences.

Unless directed by a classroom teacher, as part of a learning activity, it is never appropriate to take video of other students or happenings around the College. Furthermore, as has been clearly raised at Year Meetings and College Assemblies in the past, students uploading, sharing or posting such videos will face serious consequences at a College and possibly higher level (depending on the subject matter of the material). I would encourage the support of parents/carers in sharing these messages in the home.

GROWTH MINDSET

This week’s book recommendation is Carol Dweck’s Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.

Dweck is a world-renowned psychologist from Stanford University and her exploration of the idea of growth mindset is very powerful. In this book, she writes about her 30 years of research regarding the incredible power of being positive and forward thinking. With this knowledge, she then writes at length about two different types of people – those with a fixed and those with a growth mindset.

People with a fixed mindset believe that their intelligence is set. They care about how they are perceived and avoid challenges because these might lead to failure or impact on their self-image.

Those with a growth mindset, on the other hand, see their intelligence as something that can be shaped or moulded. They also have an intense desire to learn.

The book looks at ways in which individuals can practice and exercise a growth mindset in day-to-day situations. Additionally, it also shows how to change our talk and the comments we say to others, comments which, while we may intend for them to give confidence to others may actually give the wrong messages. Thus, with the right mindset, we can motivate others we love and care for and transform them for the better.

For this reason, this book is very powerful and thoroughly recommended.

CONVICTION AND SENTENCING OF CARDINAL GEORGE PELL

Given the events of earlier this week, I would like to reiterate our own Bishop’s stance on this matter: “This is a difficult time for everyone as the pain of today is being felt by so many—it is a shared pain. Let us reaffirm our desire, broken as we are, to become the Church that Jesus calls us to be.” A full copy of this statement can be located at:

http://dow.org.au/news/news-and-media/item/pastoral-letter-from-bishop-brian-mascord-on-the-sentencing-of-cardinal-pell

Mr Matthew McMahon
Principal

The word ‘beannacht’ is old Irish for blessing or benediction. John Donohue was an Irish speaking philosopher and poet who wrote the following for his mother.

As you pray this today, think about an important person in your life and offer him/her to God, dedicating this prayer to him/her as you say this prayer aloud.

Beannacht by John O’Donohue

On the day when
the weight deadens
on your shoulders
and you stumble,
may the clay dance
to balance you.
And when your eyes
freeze behind
the grey window
and the ghost of loss
gets in to you,
may a flock of colours,
indigo, red, green,
and azure blue
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight.

When the canvas frays
in the currach of thought
and a stain of ocean
blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters
a path of yellow moonlight
to bring you safely home.

May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.

- Amen.

Thank you for joining our Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) schools across the Illawarra, Macarthur, Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands, and Catholic school communities across NSW, in celebrating Catholic Schools Week for 2019. It's been a wonderful week of open days, activities, masses, liturgies and other special events - including the Diocesan Education Mass, which was a significant highlight of CSW. Read more about the Mass and listen to Director of Schools, Peter Turner's speech here.

Catholic Schools Week has showcased some of the fantastic things happening in our schools every day, and has very much highlighted our local Catholic schools - including yours! - as vibrant places of learning, faith, hope and opportunity. Thank you for your involvement.

We'd like to share with you our small Catholic Schools Week video that has been promoted throughout last week. Can you spot the students from your school in this video?

Project Compassion 2019

Staff v Students, Pancake Sale and Project Compassion Pastoral Activities and Collections

Project Compassion is Caritas Australia's annual Lenten fundraising and awareness-raising appeal. It is here where the solidarity of Australians harmonise in an attempted to conquer poverty, uphold dignity and promote justice.  

The Caritas Project Compassion Appeal for 2019 has just commenced on Shrove Tuesday with the heavily anticipated pancake sale. All the profits from this fundraiser assist with the core focus of the work of Caritas which is to provide access to safe water for schools and communities on the Solomon Islands.

During Pastoral time over the next few weeks, time will be dedicated to exploring the work of Caritas and outlining the facilities implemented from donations such as taps or bubblers that can be installed in regional schools in the Solomon Islands. Coin donations from students are also encouraged to help support communities on the Solomon Islands which can be placed in a small box that is available in each homeroom.

Together the Magdalene community has great potential in contributing to Caritas’ Appeal in assisting to achieve the Caritas’ mission of conquering poverty, upholding dignity and promoting justice. We thank you for your contributions to Project Compassion through our successful fundraisers and initiatives.

Diocesan Launch of Project Compassion

Our four Year 10 SRC leaders - Ella, Kaitlyn, Jacob and Beau, along with Mr Collins represented the College at the Diocesan Launch of Project Compassion at St Brigid's Parish and Primary School, Gwynneville. They were joined by representatives of all Catholic Primary and Secondary schools in the Diocese in a colourful liturgy and reflection on Lent and the Work of Caritas Australia. The Liturgy was led by Bishop Brian who encouraged us to not only be generous in our giving for Project Compassion but to consider how we can bring positive change to the world around us this Lent. How can we be a better person as a result of our penance or good deeds this lent and how can this lead us to positively impact the lives of others?  

Youth Ministry Update

Live #1 (Twilight Retreat and Lunchtime Concert)

Our first LIVE Event including Lunchtime Concert and Twilight retreat was held on Friday 1st March. The lively lunchtime concert was the perfect precursor to the Twilight Retreat which saw a vibrant exploration of the theme Who am I? Through music, games, guest speaker Justin Gimondo (from LIVE Local @ St John’s Parish, Campbelltown on Friday Nights) and small group discussions, ably led by our Youth Ministry Student Leaders, the large number of students in attendance explored the theme and had a great time! Students learnt about themselves, each other and their place in the world with one attendee making the following comment when reflecting on their experience at the retreat: “I have thought about my purpose in this world, the topic had me thinking for days. This has motivated me to try new things and have a better spiritual relationship with God to find my sense of purpose in this world”.  

Thank you to the CYMW (Catholic Youth Ministry Team - Wollongong), NET Wollongong, our wonderful YML students and the staff that worked together to ensure Friday evening was a great and worthwhile event!

LIVE Events are open to all students from Year 7 to Year 12 and are FREE events!

Our next LIVE event is Friday 3rd May 2019 (Week 1, Term 2) with the Twilight Retreat running 2:45pm - 6pm as usual. There will be an extended Verve Seniors Session from 6:00pm - 8:30pm for Senior Students only. We look forward to a great event!

Mr Collins
Mission Coordinator

General Science Faculty News

Monday the 4^th of March saw the Science Faculty participate in the Magdalene Catholic College Annual Open Night. This night was aimed at advertising the fantastic opportunities that are available to students of the college to potential future students. Student-led tours were treated to an amazing array of Science demonstrations conducted by the Science teachers. Needless to say, there were many amazed and disgusted expressions on faces. Some photographs are included.

Class News

Year 7 students learned about safety and functioning of the Bunsen Burner in their Science classes and have since been awarded their Bunsen Burner Licences. Year 7 students will be able to put this learning into practice over the next few weeks as they carry out experiments that require the use of a Bunsen Burner.

Year 7 students have been undertaking their IDEAL saturation week during Week 7. Across this week Year 7 students were practising paragraph writing skills by applying the IDEAL paragraph structure to activities in all their subjects.

Year 8 students continue learning about plant and animal cells, with the focus this fortnight on how cells replicate through cell division. Students in Year 8 will then be applying their knowledge of cells to understanding how different systems in plants and animals function.

Year 9 have been investigating the phenomenon of global warming, linking cause and effect as well as looking toward the future and researching possible implications and solutions. Year 9 will be transitioning concepts to ecosystem dynamics this fortnight where they will begin to look at the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) features of an ecosystem and the interactions between them.

Year 10 continue their focus on Chemistry, finishing up their learning about patterns and trends of the periodic table and starting to apply this learned knowledge to understanding the types of chemical reactions.

Year 11:

Biology students are learning about the differences between active and passive transport and have been conducting experiments in class to model these.

Chemistry students have been busy finalising and submitting their Depth Study Assessment Tasks and are concluding their learning about chemical bonding. Over the next fortnight, they will begin a study on investigating intermolecular and intramolecular forces.

Physics students have been working on their understanding and ability to analyse vectors in two dimensions.

Year 12:

Biology students are currently learning about non-infectious disease epidemiology and disease prevention.

Chemistry students are building upon their understanding of acids and bases and applying this to the skill of performing titrations. These students will also investigate the utilitarian value of common natural indicators.

Physics students will begin exploring concepts of gravitational forces.

Next week the Year 11 Drama production is on. Make sure you get your tickets at lunchtimes outside the LRC or by emailing stevensl02@dow.catholic.edu.au

Year 11 Drama Production:

In Week 10 of this term, the Year 11 Drama class will be presenting the American theatre Pulitzer award-winning play OUR TOWN by Thornton Wilder. The play’s success lies in its simplicity, as it focuses on the universality of Daily Life. Although the play was written in 1938, it transcends time and reminds us to value each day and our relationships as life is fleeting and fragile.

Performances will take place in the Magdalene Drama Room on:

Wednesday 3^rd and Thursday 4^th April at 7.00pm

Tickets are $5.00 and will be available during lunchtimes outside the CAPA block or by emailing:  stevensl02@dow.catholic.edu.au

Poster by Carla Fitzsummons - 11P

Mrs Lisa Stevens – Drama Teacher

Friday March 15 is National Day Against Bullying, and this year the Magdalene Catholic College stood together to take a stance against bullying.  On Tuesday the whole school community took part in a photo saying NO WAY to bullying.  The photo sends a strong message that the College does not tolerate bullying of any form, rather we encourage the students to celebrate community and treat each other with dignity, kindness and respect.

https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/NationalDay

The way in which our students wear their uniform is an outward sign of their pride in being a member of Magdalene Catholic College, which is then reflected by our good reputation in the wider community.  It is for this reason that we work towards maintaining high expectations and insist that our students adhere to the uniform policy.

We often speak to the students about the importance of meeting the expectations of the College Uniform Policy and the procedures that have been implemented to action the policy.  Students who do not meet the expectations of the College Uniform Policy are placed on a 20-minute uniform detention during lunch. 

The College appreciates the cooperation of families to ensure that the students meet the College Uniform Policy and we thank you for your support.

Our Children – Engaging and Growing in God’s Love

Our children are precious to us and to God – made in his image.  As parents, grandparents, catechists and sacramental program leaders, how do we encourage and nurture our children as they grow in this awareness?  These sessions will reflect on the process of growth in faith, how children are actively involved in their own social and spiritual development – sometimes for the good and sometimes through suffering and hardship.

When and where:

Tuesday 26  March 2019, 7:30pm-9:00pm
Ingham Room, Xavier Conference Centre, 38 Harbour St Wollongong

Wednesday 27  March 2019, 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Phillip Room, Campbelltown Catholic Club, 20 Camden Rd Campbelltown

RSVP: To Helen Bennett by Friday 22 March on 4222 2403 or helen.bennett@dow.org.au  

COLLEGE FEES

2019 School Fee Accounts have now been emailed or posted to families. The annual invoice is a 30-day account and payment is required by Friday 22 March. However, families may continue to, or commence paying periodically, this can be done by completing the School Fee Agreement form and returning it to the College Office prior to Friday 22 March. All School Fee Agreements need to be updated on a yearly basis.

The Diocesan School Fee Management Policy and School Fee Agreements are available to download from the College Website:

http://www.mccdow.catholic.edu.au Ctrl + Click to follow the link

then go to the Enrolment Tab then click into Fees.

YEAR 12:  Please note that families of a Year 12 student who has their last child attending the College are required to have their fees finalised by Friday, 28 September.

Families who are experiencing financial hardship may apply for a Fee Concession by telephoning the College Finance Office to obtain an application.

Please return School Fee Agreement forms to finance@mchsdow.catholic.edu.au

Please be aware that supervision of students commences at 7.50am in the Top Quad. After school - students should be collected no later than 3.30pm from the student pick up area (with the exception of extra-curricular activities the student may be attending). Students should not be on the College grounds outside of these times.