End-of-Year Sports, Academic and Achievement Awards

We are certainly looking forward over the next week to celebrating various student achievements across 2022.

Despite ongoing challenges with attendance and the spectre of COVID hanging large over our heads - it has been a highly successful year.

I continue to thank our parent and carer body for the broad support which they have provided the College.

As I mentioned in the last Newsletter, my leaving at year's end brings with it mixed emotions. I have a very strong connection with Magdalene and there will always be a part of Magdalene in my heart in the years to follow.

The quality of the Magdalene ‘family’ is very impressive and should never be taken for granted. Indeed, the perception of Magdalene in the local community has not only been sustained but has grown in recent years. One only needs to look at College Waiting Lists to recognise that what we are achieving and offering as a College is being noticed and many outside of our community want to be a part of it.

I feel very confident that when Mr David Cloran arrives at the beginning of next year as Acting Principal that he will not only be impressed but that our College will be in safe hands.

2023 staff changes

Each year one can expect that the staffing in a school will be flexible and changeable. While some of the significant changes and appointments for next year have already been communicated, the remainder of these will be advised to the community next week.

In the meanwhile, I would like to thank the staff who will be leaving us at the end of 2022.

• Of course, the College will greatly miss Ms Jennifer Foldes, Assistant Principal. Jennifer has been in the role for seven years and has been a wealth of knowledge and experience and a calming voice for the College. I believe Mater Dei is very fortunate to have appointed Jennifer as she will bring her grace, poise and care to that community. I thank her for her support, professionalism and friendship since I have been at the College.
• I also thank Mr Kieran Wakeling, current PDHPE Leader of Learning, for his time at Magdalene. Not only has he led the PDHPE faculty but in recent times he has helped the order, set up and installation of the College Gym. We wish him every success at St. Gregory’s College.
• I thank Ms Leonie Ryan for her work this year around numeracy and her classroom teaching in recent years. Her personalised support of senior students in Mathematics has been impressive. We wish her well at Macarthur Anglican next year.
• I thank Mrs Catherine McLaren for her work with our Drama students. We thank her for her work this year at Magdalene. We wish her every success in the CAPA Coordinating role at St. Patrick’s next year.

I would also like to thank various staff who have been at Magdalene for varying durations in recent years and/or terms in temporary roles: Mr Nelson Ha in Mathematics over the past few years, Mrs Samantha Grey – as casual teacher and Covid Intensive Learning Tutor, Mrs Natalie Wagstaff – casual across 2022 and Mr Brent Rushworth in PDHPE and Learning Support over recent semesters. Their efforts and contributions are appreciated, and we wish them the very best in their various appointments next year.

SECONDMENT – MS STEPHANIE PHILLIPS

The College would like to congratulate Ms Stephanie Phillips, current Leader of Teaching and Learning at Magdalene, who has been appointed as Acting Assistant Principal at John Therry Catholic College for 2023.

This appointment is a recognition of her fine work at Magdalene and testament to her leadership capacity. We look forward to her return in 2024.

PRAYER TO CONCLUDE THE SCHOOL YEAR:

At the end of this school year, we give thanks to the Lord.

For all the teaching and learning that has occurred in the College, we thank you Lord.

For the talents and gifts that have been shared, we thank you Lord.

For the burdens that have been lifted and the hurts that have been healed, we give You thanks.

We give thanks for the friendships that have just begun and for those that have grown.

For the faith that has been lived out in our daily struggles, we thank you Lord.

For the hope that has lifted our hearts on dark days and the challenges that have been faced and overcome, we thank you Lord.

We give thanks for the community that we are.

As the holidays approach, we ask you Lord to bless our students, parents/carers and families.

May our time together across 2022 leave us with very fond memories to cherish.

– Amen.

Last week Year 10 got a taste of science in action with a CSI Forensic Science incursion. Students looked at footprints, forensic dental patterns, fingerprinting and blood analysis, soil sample matching, electrophoresis and DNA matching, and chromatography to help solve a crime. Students were shown the importance of precise and accurate techniques of observation and inference. 

Mr Chris Ferry

Science Leader of Learning

Our College canteen cannot function without the valuable help of parent/carer volunteers daily.
It would be greatly appreciated if you could assist in any way - once a week, once a month, once a term or any other time that you specify.
Each day, volunteers are required at the following times, you can do one session or two totally your
choice:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
9.30am to 10.30am
12.30pm to 1.30pm
Tuesday
10.30am to 11.30am
12 noon to 1.00pm
If you are able to assist, please contact the College office on (02) 4631 3300 or email us at
info@mccdow.catholic.edu.au and our Canteen Coordinators will be in touch.