Filter Content
- Principal's Report
- Back to School
- Moving Magdalene!
- Carrington Project
- From the Religion Department
- Australian Space Design Competition
- Textiles Major Projects
- Preliminary Design & Technology Child’s Toy Project
- What's happening (remotely) in Art - Term 4!
- From the Sport Department
- School Fee Information
- Updated Canteen Price List
RETURN TO SCHOOL
The College is very much looking forward to students returning next week.
TRANSITION BACK TO SCHOOL
Please ensure you have read the latest College letter (posted on Compass today 22/10/21)
This communication covers numerous items including changes to bell times; student drop off and pick up, mask wearing, our COVID-safe practices, the need for College uniform and appropriate grooming requirements to be met.
Given the challenges we face we want to minimise any further disruptions and get students back into their learning.
Two requirements in particular, as listed in today’s letter, include:
- students must wear a mask indoors unless they have an approved exemption (the College should know about this by now)
- students need to ensure they are wearing the correct uniform and are abiding by hair and grooming expectations of the College.
It would be a great shame if parents/carers had to be contacted next week to collect their children – if these expectations are not abided by.
YEAR 12 CELEBRATION
I congratulate year 12 as they have returned to their studies on-site (and/or remotely) this week and as they return more fully over the next couple of weeks.
Today I commended them and spoke about how liminal spaces can provide rich opportunities moving forward.
The idea of a liminal space come from the Latin (limen), meaning threshold. It is seen as an in-between time, a time of waiting.
The American Franciscan Priest Richard Rohr writes about Liminal Spaces in detail: “[it] is a unique spiritual position where human beings hate to be but where the biblical God is always leading them. It is when you have left the "tried and true" but have not yet been able to replace it with anything else. … It is when you are in between your old comfort zone and any possible new answer. It is no fun. Think of Israel in the desert, Joseph in the pit, Jonah in the belly, the three Marys tending the tomb.” https://sojo.net/magazine/january-february-2002/grieving-sacred-space
This is very fitting given the COVID-19 circumstances they (and we all) have experienced this year. Waiting for remote learning to wrap up, waiting for restrictions to ease up, waiting for vaccinations rates to increase, waiting for certainty about HSC requirements etc..
The liminal space can be painstaking, but it can also allow us to reflect on who we are and what we can achieve moving forward.
To Year 12 we have asked that, having taken stock, they return with renewed enthusiasm and confidence that what lays ahead will indeed be a successful time.
Life is all about pivoting from one moment to the next – so we encourage students to draw on the love of their families, the comradery of peers, the guidance of staff, their inner strength – confident in the knowledge that their God walks with them.
PRAYER
This fortnight’s prayer is simply an extract from scripture. But what a fantastic extract.
When feeling upended or topsy-turvy as normality slowly returns may you feel uplifted and return to this reference often as needed:
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:4–7
The Wedding Feast at Cana
Gospel of John
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
I’m sure we all know the story from here - the water that Jesus turned into wine was so beautiful that the head chef asked why the best wine had been saved till last. There is so much meaning in this passage from John’s Gospel. It links to celebration, marriage, the eucharist, and the death and resurrection of Jesus.
But what of Mary’s role? She asks Jesus to look after a situation and he says that his time has not come - to perform miracles, presumably. Undeterred, Mary says to the servants: “Do whatever he tells you.”
As a Christian, it is not strictly necessary to have a devotion to Mary. But if we do take notice of Mary in the scriptures I think she spells out her role right here: “Do whatever he tells you”. She is reminding us to follow the words and actions of Jesus. This reminder is one good reason to have a devotion to Mary.
October is the month of the Rosary, the traditional prayer that Catholics pray while they are meditating on aspects of the life of Christ. Pope John Paul II added the Luminous Mysteries to the Rosary - and one of those is the Wedding at Cana. As we pray for the many needs of our family, our College and our world, as well as the Year 12 Cohort of 2021, let us recall the words of Mary: “Do whatever he tells you.”
Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
- Mr Steve O’Neill
The Australian Space Design Competition (ASDC) is designed for secondary school students with a passion for space, or are considering a future in STEM fields.
Magdalene Catholic College entered a team under the moniker of ‘Starr-Rice Exploration’ in the 2021 competition. We are excited to announce we have made the top 10 nationally and will compete in the National competition in January. The team has also been selected to be one of three Wollongong Diocese representatives in the STEMmad National competition.
Congratulations to all team members: Diana Adamovic, Marcus Attard, Logan Clare, Alexander Cooper, Cameron Corr, Jimmy Macri, Charlie Roberts, Zacchary Saprun, Tara Small, Grant Spinks, Ethan Williams, Kate Williams.
Announcement courtesy of the SDCA Facebook page:
"We’re pleased to announce qualifying teams for the Australian Space Design Competition Finals to be held 14-16 January 2022!
Congratulations to all teams who participated in the qualifying competition this year. Students worked in teams to submit a proposal for the design and build of a space settlement in orbit around the planet Venus.
We were very excited to see the interesting and innovative proposals put forward. Each team submitted a report of up to 40 pages documenting their settlement design. The top 10 submissions from across Australia have been selected based on thoroughness, credibility, balance of the overall proposal, and innovation.”
Year 12 have worked industriously to manage the completion of their unique Textiles Major Projects. Students sourced inspiration and developed their design ideas, which they have brought to life through the use of suitable materials and construction techniques. Each student engaged in experimenting with various fabrics, tools, and techniques suitable to their design. The use of specialised equipment and hand sewing techniques were incorporated into the construction of their projects. We are very pleased to share their quality creations with you, which are a reflection of their persistence and skill development over the last year!
Well Done Year 12 and best wishes for your upcoming HSC Examinations!
- Mrs Violi and Mrs Rixon
Year 11 have successfully completed a child’s toy project. The aim of the task was to investigate, design and construct an educational toy for 4-6 year old children, utilising a range a technologies such as laser cutting, engraving and 3D printing. The students studied the developmental needs and milestones of this age group to ensure they met the functional, aesthetic and safety requirements. Well done Year 11 on the completion of such wonderful projects.
Mrs Rixon and Mrs Violi
Tuesday Afternoon Sport
Term 4 activities and resources have been added to the Physical Activity and Sport at Magdalene Catholic College website for students to access during this period of online learning. These are only suggestions and some students may already have activities they are using.
One of these activities is a physical activity challenge “Have you moved enough today?” where students are encouraged to record their steps or distance they have covered. As school returns in week 4, students will be able to submit their steps or distance covered for the challenge. This information can be found on the website:
Update on Term 4 Sporting Events
- Diocesan Events
Further information can be found at:
https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/sport/events-secondary/
- CCC Events
Further information can be found at https://csnsw.sport/. Term 4 sporting cancellations can be found at https://csnsw.sport/covid-19/term-4-event-cancellations
- Other Information - 2021 NSW All School Championships (Athletics NSW)
Please find below details about the 2021 NSW ALL SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIPS to be held Thursday 9th - Sunday 12th December, 2021.
All information and questions about this event can be directed to Athletics New South Wales.
Please contact Mrs Andruschko if there are any questions or information about Sport at the College. The sport email is mcc-sport-list@dow.catholic.edu.au
2021 SCHOOL FEES
2021 SCHOOL FEES FINAL PAYMENT DATE
- 2021 School Fees for Years 7 – 11 need to be finalised by Friday 3rd December 2021. If your fees are paid in full you can continue to make payments into your School Fee Account and these credits will be processed against your 2022 School Fee Invoice.
2021 EVENT/EXCURSION CANCELLATIONS
- A COMPASS notification was sent to each family per year group that explained all of the Events, Excursions and Levy’s that were to be credited due to COVID. These credits are now all complete and you can access a list of these on your Transaction PDF or your Fees through the COMPASS portal.
2022 SCHOOL FEES
OPTION OF PAYING SCHOOL FEES BY INSTALMENT
During this year the College migrated to a new accounting program. This system provides the opportunity to generate regular instalments with due dates, rather than having an annual bill which is due for payment, in full, 30 days after invoicing. If you would like to pay school fees by instalments in 2022, please complete a Request to Pay by Instalment Form which is available on the College website or from the College Administration Office.
On completion of the request please email the form to: instalments@dow.catholic.edu.au
or submit at the College Office. Following receipt of the request, instalments will be generated on your school fee account during the process of invoicing 2022 school fees.
Your School Fee Statement will provide a list of scheduled payments and their due date depending on the frequency you have chosen eg Fortnightly, Monthly, etc.
IMPORTANT: Please note that if you currently have a child or children at another school in the Diocese and you are paying by instalments at this location, you will not need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment. The instalment request carries over from school to school with the same frequency of payment eg Weekly, fortnightly, etc.
PLEASE NOTE: If you do not complete and submit the Instalment Form you will be required to pay your School Fees by 30 days after Invoicing. Forms are due to be submitted no later than Friday 3rd December 2021.