HALL

Great news!

The College Hall is almost complete. We have been provided with a temporary Occupation Certificate and so this will allow us to conduct College events next week including our HSC High Achievers Ceremony and the Opening College Mass.

I have attached a few photographs here (thank you Mr Avalos), but to be honest, they do not do justice to the impressive nature of this space.

YEAR 12 RETREAT

I would like to commend our Year 12 students on their approach and openness to embrace and accept last week’s Year 12 Retreat. Students at both Kiah Ridge and Yarramundi were well behaved, respectful, and very supportive of one another.

I thank the numerous staff who attended the retreat, taking time out of their family life to be with our students across the 3 day and 2-night experience. I also thank Mr Bubb, Mr O’Neill, Mr Sligar and Mr Collins for their coordination and organisation of the Retreat experience.

PARENTS’ AND FRIENDS’ (P & F) ASSOCIATION

I thank all parents/carers who were able to attend Tuesday night’s first P & F Meeting for the year. Various subject matter was covered on the Zoom - the details of which will be uploaded soon to our College Website. 

I take this opportunity to thank the outgoing Treasurer, Mr Pablo Medina and the outgoing Secretary Mrs Angela Young for their sterling efforts over recent years.

I also congratulate Mr David Cornett who was unanimously elected as the 2022 President (once again) and I also congratulate Mr Craig Harley who was appointed the Treasurer for 2022.

At the next meeting we will be taking nominations and electing a new Secretary. If you have any interest in this role or would like more information, have a look at the College Website and the link to our P & F.

I encourage broad involvement in this important body, and I thank all parents/carers who continue to be involved and assist at various College events.

OPEN DAY

Look out for details about our upcoming Open Afternoon and Evening. The date is Monday March 7 – and the event is especially aimed at Year 6 students and families for Year 7 2023.

PRAYER

God our Father, 

Help us to rise to the high standard we are called to, 

to do to others as we would have them do to us. 

Unite us in faith, hope and love as we collectively work together 

to build young people in our Catholic College community.

Fill our lives with the strength and patience to love our enemies and to persist in times of challenge.

Send Your Holy Spirit to inspire and sustain us in our mission.

We ask this in Jesus’ name, through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Adapted from © Catholic Leaders Formation Network 2022

Open Afternoon and Evening

Given our aim for this year's Open Night to be COVID-19 safe and friendly, we have changed the format of this event.

We ask that one parent/carer attend with their child and pre-register one session. Attendees must be fully vaccinated, and masks must be worn indoors. We recommend comfortable footwear, with no stiletto heels permitted into the College Hall.

There are four sessions from which to choose

3:45pm - 5:30pm

Information session in the College Hall 4:00pm - 4:30pm followed by College Tour

4:00pm - 5:00pm

College Tour only

5:45pm - 7:30pm

Information session in the College Hall 6:00pm - 6:30pm followed by College Tour

6:00pm - 7:00pm

College Tour only

Enrolment

We look forward to welcoming prospective and returning families into our community.

Year 7 2023 Enrolment packs will be available, and guided tours will be offered around the College grounds. Please note, we accept enrolment applications from current Year 6 students only.

We look forward to seeing you on the night!

Bookings can be made via our College Website

As of Monday 21 February, the later arrival time of a morning and the staggered early pick up times of an afternoon will cease.

Any student arriving after 8:15am is required to sign in via the Front Office as a late arrival. Students also have the option of using the Compass Kiosk using their student Compass card as a late arrival.

Having students in class for the duration of every lesson is optimal for their learning. It also lessens disruption to the classroom with students arriving and leaving throughout. Teachers are appreciative of this time with their classes. Listed below are a few reminders to assist with the smooth running of our school day:

- Students must have a note in their Student Diary if they are required to leave school before 2:35pm.

- Please make appointments outside of school hours where possible.

- Please avoid arriving or calling the College Office before 2:35pm to collect your child from school where possible.

Ultimately, we want students to be in the learning environment for the duration of every lesson. Thank you for your support.

• Parents/carers can explain the absence through the Parent Portal on Compass.
• You will receive a COMPASS notification that you can respond to.  
• Students to see their subject teachers about any work they may have missed.

There are several 'new' uniform items that are in our Lost Property.  Students may collect them from our Administration Office.

From the 2020 HSC forward, all NSW students have been required to attain the National Minimum Standard in Numeracy, Reading and Writing to attain the HSC credential (National Minimum Standard testing does not impact a student's ability to attain an ATAR). 

In 2022, National Minimum Standard tests will be completed in English and Mathematics classes for students in Years 10 and 11.  Students not studying Mathematics courses in Year 11 will be offered an alternative time to complete the Numeracy test. 

NMS tests are completed online and are each forty minutes in duration. All students will complete Reading, Writing and Numeracy tests across classes in Week 11 of Term 1. Individual student results will be available to students through their NESA Students Online accounts.

Students who attain the NMS in each domain have the skills to perform tasks such as:

• Follow safety instructions in equipment manuals
• Understand a mobile phone plan
• Complete a job application and
• Create a personal weekly budget.

Through the completion of Stage 5 Mathematics and English Courses, students develop the skills necessary for the successful completion of NMS tests.  Students who do not attain a Level 3 or 4 result can attempt the tests again and may work with teachers on learning interventions if necessary. Students are able to attempt tests up to 6 times across each year. 

For sample tests and information, please visit the NESA website:

Miss Stephanie Phillips

Leader of Teaching and Learning

Last week we held our annual Year 12 College Retreat at Kiah Ridge and Yarramundi. The following passages were written by some of our College Leaders when they were asked to reflect on how the Retreat went for them. The theme of the retreat was “Life to the Full” - taken from John’s Gospel where Jesus says: “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10)

Mr Steve O’Neill

Retreat was really eye opening to myself and made me feel a sense of comfort whilst inspiring me to create connections with people that I don't normally speak to. Retreat also helped me to build further connections with my current friends. Overall, retreat was a memorable and enjoyable experience that I’ll remember for the rest of my life - Jye Versteeg

The retreat gave me insight into the life that other people live. During affirmations it gave us the opportunity to express our gratitude towards others. We became stronger as a year group - Stephanie Cesarin

The retreat enabled me to become more comfortable within the year group.

It helped me to build more connections and spoke to people I normally wouldn’t have spoken to. I felt a sense of inclusion post-retreat and became closer as a year group. I enjoyed the time away from year 12 stress and other responsibilities. - Seanna Arruzza

The retreat was a great way to expand cohort relationships. I was able to share core memories with peers I normally wouldn't talk with. It allowed me to strengthen pre-existing friendships but also foster newfound relationships with peers that I don't normally socialise with at school. I was able to gain insight into the importance of reflection and looking back on previous experiences, both positive and negative, and how to grow from that - Frank Stillitano

The retreat was an insightful experience into understanding where people have come from and how strong everyone is for being where they are today. It provided an opportunity to build upon relationships with people that I hadn't spoken to before- many of which I now appreciate so much. Making memories with others was so rewarding. I think our bond as a year group is so much stronger because of retreat and I appreciate that as we head into our final stages of schooling - Brianna Said 

My experience at retreat was full of insight and growth which enabled me to not only strengthen the bonds of my pre-existing relationships in the cohort, but also create new friendships built upon understanding and kindness. We were all in a comfortable state of mind with each other and it enabled all of us to truly open up about our stories and personal experiences, leading to many tears, laughs and smiles throughout the entire retreat. The activities and reflection periods on the retreat emphasised the importance of self-reflection, more specifically addressing past events, both positive and negative, and how those have both influenced us and shaped our perspectives on life. Overall, a fantastic experience that we all won’t ever forget! - Sara Papandrea

The retreat brought the year group closer together and helped me to create stronger bonds with the rest of the cohort. The food was great! I was able to learn about people who I had never previously spoken to. It helped me to clear my mind about my future and my place in the world. This was a highlight of the year and something for younger year groups to look forward to - Ryan Gill

I am thankful for what a great experience this was bonding with not only my friends, but also other people in the year group. It allowed me to understand the people around me more and provided a way for us all to escape for a few days from our usual everyday lives and relax - Brianna Whiting

I was able to learn new things about people in our grade and build and strengthen new and old friendships. The grade bonded greatly, and we created memories that we can cherish. I enjoyed the time away from the year 12 stress - Sofia Commisso

Welcome back to another exciting and very creative year. The Visual Arts team would like to take this opportunity to draw your attention back to our 2021 Virtual Gallery. This is our online exhibition space, used to display the magnitude of talent and sheer effort of the student cohort of 2021. These works were created both within the classroom and during our remote learning period. 

Our 2022 Virtual Gallery Space will go live in the coming weeks and we encourage you to pop in and have a look at the amazing talents of our creative students once it has been activated. Please note that our 2022 Gallery will be an evolving space, with exciting work from each of our creative classes added on a continuous basis. 

We also urge you to keep an eye out on this space in the Newsletter, with our ‘What’s happening in Visual Arts & Photography?’ and ‘Artist  of the Week’ columns regularly appearing to showcase the talents of our students.

By now each art and photography student would have received their supplies pack, distributed by their teacher in their timetabled lesson. This bag contains an assortment of art materials that parallel the practical art making activities completed in class. We ask that each student respects these materials, taking care of the valuable resources that have been selected by their class teacher to ensure their success and enjoyment in the subject. Blue Aprons are required to participate in practical lessons and these can be purchased from the uniform shop for $8. It is the same blue apron that they will use in their Design and Technology classes. These aprons must be worn to every class, as to ensure the protection and care of their school uniform. Your classroom teachers will go through this process in class. We also request that each student clearly writes their full name on the apron and all equipment to alleviate any misplaced, lost or accidentally swapped materials.

Kind Regards, 

Mrs Eggleton

The Brother Clarence Foundation for Education was established in the Campbelltown/Macarthur region in September of 1990 as an honour and memory of the work of Brother Clarence Cunningham who, at that stage, had spent eighteen of his forty eight years of teaching in this region. The purpose of the Trust is to assist needy students in the region to meet their educational expenses.

Since November 1991 the Foundation has distributed $120,320 to 316 families in need. An invitation is open to anyone interested in making a donation to the Foundation, to contact me at gcharlton@optusnet.com.au or the Secretary, Therese Barrington at brotherclarencefoundation@gmail.com . 

Mr Gary Charlton

Hon. Treasurer

Uniform Shop Trading Hours School Terms

Monday 7:30am - 12:30pm

Thursday 10:30am - 3:30pm

Year 9 Students only - the 2nd hand uniform shop will be open

Mondays 7:45 - 8:15am (school terms)

We look forward to assisting you with your uniform.

The Noone Team at Magdalene Catholic College

Email: mcc@noone.com.au  Telephone: (02) 7209 3736

Please find below the date for 2022 Parents & Friends Meetings.

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