Term 4, Week 11 - 17 December - 2021

Dear Parents and Carers

We have come to the end of the year and what a year it has been! This is the last newsletter for 2021 and as you will see it is full of articles and information, informing you of what has been happening in the last fortnight, and preparing you for holidays and 2022. Great things happen in our College and I encourage you to peruse the articles in this newsletter. 

The highlight of the fortnight was the Advent Liturgy and Prizegiving, an event that showcases and acknowledges the achievement of our students. It was a beautiful ceremony but unfortunately, this was again held without parents, families, friends and special guests due to COVID restrictions. This year we had each year group in separate areas of the College. The Advent Liturgy and Principals Address were zoomed to each year group and following these were separate presentations to each year group. We have some photos in the newsletter and will look at ways to distribute photos and videos to parents. An Awards Booklet was sent home with each student. The Special Award recipients are listed in this newsletter. Congratulations to all our students who achieved an award in 2021. It is important that your efforts and contributions are acknowledged and celebrated. 

We thank and farewell the staff who are leaving us at the end of the year: Rosemary Cureton and Rob Barselaar, both retiring after substantial years of service to Catholic Education as is Rosie Morgan, and Carla Snow who is taking a position at St John Paul College. We also thank Andrew Ottoway and Megan Feeney whose contracts finish this year. We also say farewell to some of our Teacher assistants - Jack Bellamy and Zane Venter and our Youth Ministry Officers Eve Dougherty and Quinnlan Boyce. Finally, two of our long term casual teachers have announced their retirement from the profession - Jon Lavery and David Ogg. We wish all of our departing staff all the very best for the future. 

While we will publish a full list of all new staff and Coordinators in the first newsletter of 2022, at this stage I would like to offer a warm welcome to the following new staff:

Damian Bennie (Science), Caroline Doyle (Leader of Catechesis and RE teacher), Eliza Corcoran (PDHPE), Katrina Don (English & HSIE), Georgia Salvestro (YMO), Taylor Jarrett (Inclusion), Will Bancroft (IEW), Jeannie Miller. Some additional staffing will be confirmed when we return in 2022.

I sincerely thank our parents and carers for the support and understanding you have given throughout 2021, a year that continued to challenge us all. Thank you for entrusting MCC to care for and educate your children and I look forward to having parents on-site regularly in 2022.

Our enrolments are looking very good for 2022 across all the year groups and we have waiting lists in Yr 7, 9 & 10 in 2022. 

To finish, I ask that you keep those who are less fortunate and those that are suffering at this time in your thoughts and prayers. We particularly keep in our prayers the community of the Hillcrest Primary School in Davenport, Tasmania at this tragic and terribly sad time. On behalf of the College staff, I wish you all a Happy and Holy Christmas and a safe and relaxing holiday, spent in the fine company of family and friends. 

Yours sincerely

Kate

Kate Thomson

Principal

“We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us.” Catherine McAuley

As we finish this year and look towards 2022, I feel it is a good time to give a few uniform reminders in preparation for the new year 

All students are expected to:

• Wear the correct school uniform each day with pride.

• Label all uniform items with the student name - there are many items that have been gathered from around the playground. These have been washed and will be available in the office.
• Keep uniform items, including hats, free of graffiti or paint.
• Wear Sports uniform on Thursdays.
• Wear correct uniform when representing the College eg special events, sporting events and excursions

When purchasing items remember to follow our uniform policy. Also, the holidays are a time for new hairstyles, nails, piercings and jewellery. The following are some general reminders are below: 

Shoes 

Please take note of the attached diagram regarding the correct College school shoes. The shoes McAuley Catholic College students are required to wear need to be ‘school style’, that is black leather polishable, low-cut, lace-up shoes with a distinguishable heel on the shoe (not too big). The diagram outlines acceptable and unacceptable footwear.

Kathy Warby
Assistant Principal - Mission and Wellbeing

2022 - START OF YEAR DATES & OFFICE OPENING TIMES

Prior to the start of school in 2022, the College Office will be open to respond to any general enquiries.

Please Note: College Office is not open during school holidays except for the mentioned dates.

• College Office will be open Monday 24th, Tuesday 25th and Thursday 27th January 9.00 am -1.00 pm.

• Wednesday, 26th January – Australia Day Public Holiday

• Friday, 28th January – Staff Development Day (No students) - Office Open 8.30 am – 3.30 pm

• Monday, 31st January - Staff Development Day (No students) - Office Open 8.30 am – 3.30 pm

• Tuesday, 1st February - Year 7, 11 and 12 first day back at school - Normal Office hours

• Wednesday, 2nd February - All Years return to school - Normal Office hours

Well, we made it!!  Like 2020, there have been numerous events this year when we have struggled and our wellbeing has been affected.  The most obvious event that still hasn’t quite left us, has been coping with the effects of COVID-19.  From a teachers’ point of view, I felt like we seamlessly moved through Blended Learning this year largely due to the efforts and organisation of our fantastic staff!  This would not have been possible, however, without the support and communication from our parent body.

Wellbeing / Pastoral Care is everyone’s responsibility at our College.  At the end of 2020 and the start of 2021, all staff were trained in the Berry Street Education Model, a model of education that uses evidence-based psychology to improve and foster positive relationships that exist within the College.  Students have learned all about Character Strengths and how their unique strengths can be harnessed to improve relationships.  Students have also been taught to reflect on the strengths of others, a skill that develops empathy, such an important ingredient in having positive relationships.  Hopefully, the impact of the Berry Street Education Model will be felt in 2022 and beyond.  So, I feel that before I acknowledge people on the Wellbeing team, I’d like to thank all staff (teachers, teachers aides, support staff, front office staff) for their continued commitment to the Wellbeing needs of the students of McAuley Catholic College.  Thank you.

To our Homeroom Teachers and House Leaders - thank you for all you do.  For greeting your students every morning with a smile, checking they are OK, keeping carnivals and school events fun and filled with spirit.  Thank you.

To our Year Coordinators - thank you for all you do. For the watchful eye over your year group, to the hours after school talking to parents on the phone, to the time spent off class talking to students who need some extra support.  Your efforts never go unnoticed.  

To our Support Staff (School Counsellor, Youth Support Worker, Indigenous Education Worker, Teachers Aides, those who run special programs) - thank you for all you do.  For the listening ear, the restorative meetings when friendships go wrong, for the weekly check-ins, for the special programs that make a student feel more connected to our College community.  Thank you. 

To our Parents.  There are times when tensions can arise between parents and schools.  Thanks for approaching these times with respect.  Thanks for communicating when you need advice or support.  Thanks for taking time off work to meet to discuss the needs of your children.  Your support does not go unnoticed.  Enjoy your break.

Finally and most importantly, to our Students.  Thanks for being you.  For making an effort in your studies and in our extra-curricular activities (when you had the opportunity).  For making mistakes. For asking for help when needed.  For taking advice when given.  For being vulnerable and honest when questioned by staff.  For thanking those who go out of their way to help.  For reaching out and getting help for your peers who needed extra support.  You are all important and valued.  Thank you.

Please find below a list of contacts in the community if you are struggling with your mental health during the holiday period.  There is also a list of free holiday activities from the Clarence Valley Council at the bottom of this newsletter.

Body Positivity Workshop

On 30th November, Year 8 were involved in a workshop called, Body Positivity. The workshop was developed by an organisation called INTERRELATE and was delivered by our PDHPE staff, Sarah Nicholls and myself.

This program was designed to assist students in Years 7 to 10 understand what body positivity means and how to achieve it. The program investigated ways of obtaining a healthy body and maintaining a positive body image. Students developed an awareness of the media’s role in stereotypes and body image, gained knowledge of body-positive role models and understood ways to appreciate their bodies and look after them.

Body Positivity also looked at body dissatisfaction, eating disorders and ways to get help including how to help friends. The program used activities, videos, scenarios and group work to engage students and assist them in grasping key messages.

Students were extremely respectful of the presenters and their peers on the day.

If parents have any questions or if this program brought up any issues for your child, please don’t hesitate to contact me at robert.imeson@lism.catholic.edu.au

I wish everyone a safe and restful break.  Take care, God bless,

Rob Imeson
Leader of Pastoral Care

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

• HEADSPACE Grafton 02 66 42 1520
• Clarence Valley Mental Health 02 66 41 8250
• Mental Health Line 1800 011 511
• Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
• Beyond Blue Support Service 1300 224 636
• eheadspace https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace/

YEAR 12 SPECIAL AWARDS

 Year 7 - 11 

CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP AWARDS

Year 8 English have finished the year with a Gothic Horror Unit. Following the assessment task which was a Gothic Horror narrative, students have been completing a number of short literacy tasks. These tasks included writing a series of 50 word short stories, creating posters for their narratives, writing film reviews and using gothic vocabulary to create crosswords and find words.

Mrs Day - Teacher

Series of 50-word Gothic Horror Stories by Alizandra McPherson

The splashing and footsteps stopped and everything was silent. I could see its dark, ghoulish shadow out of the corner of my eye and feel its poisonous breath on the back of my neck. I stood frozen on the damp floor, all hope left my body, I knew I was doomed.

In the dark, eerie night, I saw a shadow and heard a broken scream. I ran through the forest, desperately searching for a way out. As I was running I tripped over a tree root. I felt its eyes on me and heard it moving towards me.

He slowly opened his eyes, waiting for his vision to adjust to the darkness. Sitting up, his head screamed in pain, the wet cement under him slowly seeping into his torn up clothes. He tried to look for a way out of the room but all he saw was darkness.

Film Review by Alizandra McPherson

The Tell-Tale Heart - Edgar Allen Poe

“The Tell-Tale Heart” is a film written by Edgar Allen Poe about an insane man who murders someone. Some features of gothic horror in this film include unreliable narrator and dreams vs reality. It was an unreliable narrator because he was making his actions out to be sane but in fact, he was insane. The element of dreams vs reality comes in when the man thinks he can hear the heartbeat of the guy he murdered. Overall it’s a well constructed and interesting gothic horror film.

Narrative Posters

It is with great excitement that we announce Janet Irwin, a Year 10 student of McAuley Catholic College, Grafton as a winner in the ABC Heywire competition. 

The annual Heywire competition is open to people aged 15-22, living in regional or rural Australia. Heywire encourages young people to tell stories about their life outside the major cities in text, photo, video or audio format. Over the past 23 years, more than 11,500 young Australians have taken part.

Janet worked closely with her English teacher Mrs Rouse to write her story which focuses on how art, and in particular,  painting, has helped her deal with the challenges around her disability. Mrs Bindon and Janet produced an accompanying video for the entry and travelled to the ABC  studios in Coffs Harbour to record her entry.

Congratulations to Janet and her team at McAuley Catholic College. Listen to Janet’s Heywire story on the link below.

Over the past fortnight students in Years 7 - 10 have been engaged in the Love Bites program. The program, developed by NAPCAN (National Association for Prevention of Child abuse and Neglect) is a Respectful Relationships Education Program for young people, and aims to provide them with a safe environment to examine, discuss and explore respectful relationships. All Love Bites programming takes a strength-based approach and views young people as active participants who are able to make choices for themselves and their relationships when supported with information and opportunity for skill development. 

The overall aims of the program are to equip young people with the knowledge needed to have respectful relationships, encourage and develop their skills in critical thinking and assist them in being able to problem solve and communicate effectively. 

The students were engaged in age-specific workshops, where students explored the following themes.

• Year 7 covered themes such as communicating mindfully, warning signs of abusive behaviour, power in relationships, responding to concerns as bystanders, seeking help and rights and responsibilities in relation to sharing sexualised images.
• Year 8 covered themes such as respect in relationships, gender roles and stereotypes, gender and relationships, jealousy, sexual harassment and homophobia, challenging harassment, discrimination and gender stereotypes and seeking help. 
• Year 9 explored themes such as gender expectations and relationships, responding to jealous feelings, love and control, warning signs of a controlling/abusive relationship, supporting friends, seeking help and breaking up with respect. 
• Year 10 worked through the types of abuse in relationships and warning signs of abusive relationships, navigating sexual relationships, and consent.

With each of these themes, students were able to communicate about behaviour that was acceptable and what behaviour ‘crosses the line’. These conversations gave students an understanding of how we respect each other's boundaries. 

The team of facilitators were impressed with students' engagement and mature approach to the Love Bites Program and we look forward to continuing the conversations in 2022.

University of Newcastle

2022 Information Day

An opportunity for students to ask questions and to visit campuses and see where they will study next year.
There will be student ambassadors on campus, keen to show students around. You can even grab a bite to eat and listen to some tunes from student musicians.

Info Day will be held on the day that ATARs are released and prior to the change of preferences for January Round 2, so it's perfect timing to get the advice students need to finalise their UAC application.

This event is perfect for:

• HSC students and their parents/families to get the support and advice if students didn't quite get the results they were hoping for, or are still undecided on what program to choose.
• Anyone who has applied or planning to apply for undergraduate studies in 2022 as it's a great time to chat with the team about options.
• If you've missed out on visiting the campuses and just want to go and see where you'll be studying in 2022 and soak up some uni vibes.
• Join the uni team on campus and talk to them about degrees, changing UAC preferences and your career path.

When: Thursday 20 January
Times & Campuses:
9am - 12pm - Newcastle, Callaghan
4pm - 7pm - Central Coast, Ourimbah

REGISTER HERE

Country Universities Centre (CUC) Clarence Valley 

The Country Universities Centre is a not-for-profit organisation, established with the aim of making higher education more accessible for regional and remote communities in NSW.

 A CUC has been established in Grafton based on a model which delivers supported learning to students, providing them with access to campus-level technology, facilities, tutors and a network of fellow students.

Any student, studying at any Australian University, studying any course can use the facilities free of charge. CUC's vision is to improve equity in higher educational opportunities for rural and remote students.

 The Country Universities Centre Clarence Valley is located at 146 Pound St, Grafton directly beside the Clarence Regional Library. It is accessible from 6am to midnight with the use of secure swipe cards given to students upon free registration.

CUC Clarence Valley Centre Manager Melanie Jay is there to guide and support students with their tertiary decisions and challenges. Melanie has been speaking to our Year 11 students in the past weeks at MCC.

Our wonderful VInnies students came together and cooked up a feast of food for our local community. Between family meals, Mud Cake muffins and chocolate chip biscuits the students worked together to produce over 20 meals and treats for families in need this Christmas.

Year 9 Food Technology

Year 9 Food Technology students finished off the year by creating beautiful biscuits!

Jacaranda Art Competition - Fran Bertalli

Frances Bertalli was awarded the Bendigo Bank Student Art Prize at the 2021 Jacaranda Art Exhibition for her work titled "Panic Attack". Fran also entered two other pieces  - "In a cat's eyes" and "In the wild".

Congratulations Fran and thank you to her teachers Tony Ellis and Julianne Gosper.

Hanna and Will Tait represented McAuley Catholic College at the NSW ALL SCHOOLS Athletics championships over the weekend. Will started the weekend off with 8th place in the High jump and raced well in the 200m and 100m events, finding out that there are some very fast sprinters in NSW. Will finished off with a few strong jumps in the long jump and a PB in the 100m hurdle race.

Hanna was competing in the oldest age group at the event against some strong competition. She started with a quick 200m race that saw her just get pipped at the line to take out 2nd place. Then finished 4th place in Shot put, Javelin and High Jump. However, she saved the best for last by winning the 100m hurdle race and booking a place at the National all schools event.

Clarence Valley Parish Christmas 2021 Mass Timetable

Christmas Eve - (Friday)
6.00pm Mass at St Mary’s Church, Grafton
7.00pm Mass at St Patrick’s Church, South Grafton

Christmas Day - (Saturday)
8.00am Mass at St Mary’s Church, Grafton
8.00am Mass at Mary Immaculate Church, Cowper
9.30am Mass at St Patrick’s Church, South Grafton

(USUAL SUNDAY MORNING MASSES)

Please find attached the latest Parish Bulletins from Clarence Valley Parish.