Term 4 - Week 3 - 28 October 2022

Dear Parents and Carers,

Jacaranda Festival

We have entered into Jacaranda season in Grafton, a wonderful community festival for the town and the Clarence Valley. There is an amazing sea of purple throughout the town and many activities to participate in. Congratulations to Molly Cosgrove (year 7) who was crowned Junior Jacaranda Queen for 2022 and to the TAS faculty for the many pieces of woodwork entered into the Woodwork display. Many students received a prize, with the College receiving an overall award for Champion school. Congratulations to all involved. This week our Library has combined Jacaranda and Holloween into Jacaween and is decorated accordingly. Each homeroom is competing in a Jacaween Quiz each morning this week with House points awarded to the winning homeroom. Well done to Mr Bellamy for his creativity!

The College will be closed on Jacaranda Thursday - 3rd November, except for HSC examinations.

Year 12 Graduation Formal

The Year 12 Formal is the final event for our Year 12 students where they will celebrate the completion of 13 years of schooling. Information has been sent to all families outlining the details of the event, including the purchasing of tickets. The evening will be held at the Clarence River Jockey Club and will begin with a presentation of the Graduates at 6pm. We look forward to celebrating with parents and students and I sincerely congratulate all our students for achieving this milestone. The HSC exams will finish on Friday 4th November and I thank our students for the way they have conducted themselves during this time. 

Student and Staff activities

In the last fortnight, two new initiatives to promote student involvement have started, these being Open Mic at lunchtime in the library on Day 3 and the in-house World Cup soccer tournament. Open Mic is an opportunity for students and staff to perform in front of a small audience. A range of performers entertained the crowd last week, with joke telling, singing, guitar playing and piano recitals. The World Cup tournament is a House based competition that starts on Tuesday and will be played each lunchtime over the next few weeks! Congratulations to the Student Leadership Team for their organisation of this event

Camps

After 2 years of COVID restrictions and regulations, our years 9 and 10 camps have resumed! Thank you to the parents, students and staff who have supported these important activities, which we see as an integral part of our Pastoral Care program. The camps promote well-being, teamwork and leadership as well as bonding within the year group. Unfortunately, a number of students in both years 9 and 10 have elected to not attend the camp. This has had a financial impact on the College and we will need to evaluate the continuation of such activities in the future. It would be terribly disappointing to see these important events removed permanently from the College calendar; however, we can't operate the camps with only half the year group in attendance. Non-attendance, without a valid reason (eg medical or work experience), may jeopardise students’ participation in other school events and privileges such as leadership positions.

Fees

This is a reminder to all families that College fees are to be paid in a timely manner. We currently have a substantial amount of fees outstanding that need to be paid as soon as possible. Fee payment is part of enrolment in the College, not an optional extra, and I thank the families who honour their obligations.  If you find yourself in a position of hardship, or you are behind in your payments please contact the College and book a time to speak to Stephen Hartmann regarding a payment plan.  Parents and carers with outstanding fees, who ignore our requests for payment are jeopardising their child's enrolment at the College.

Parent Forum Term 4

The scheduled date for the term 4 meeting on Tuesday 15th November has been changed to Tuesday 29th November as I will be away at a Principal’s meeting. More information will be sent out soon.

World Teachers’ Day

We observed ‘World Teachers’ Day’ on Friday 28th October – which is an international celebration of the contribution that teachers make to the world around them. We can indeed be very proud of the work our teachers do here at McAuley and on behalf of Frs Joe and Emmanuel and all members of our community, I thank them most sincerely.

Preparing for 2023

We are currently preparing for 2023 in terms of staffing, student enrolments, allocations to classes and the creation of a timetable. If you are considering moving your child from the College I would greatly appreciate communication of this intention, especially as we have waiting lists in Years 7 & 8 for 2023. I also invite you to discuss your concerns with us before making the decision to leave the College community.

Dates for your Diary

Yr 11 Parent Teacher Student Interviews:  Tuesday 1st November 3.40 - 6pm, followed by Parent (and student) Information Night (6pm)

Jacaranda Thursday: 3rd November (School closed)

OPALS: available Monday 7th November

Year 6 Orientation Day 2: Tuesday 8th November 

Year 6 into 7 Parent Information Night: Tuesday 8th November at 6pm

Year 9 Camp:  9 - 11 November

Year 12 Graduation Formal - Saturday 12th November

Year 10 Camp: 14 - 16 November

• Change of date - Parent Forum from Tuesday 15th November to Tuesday 29th November

All Saints (1 November) and All Souls (2nd November) Feast Days

The Parish Bulletin this week explains that November is the month of Remembrance - “November is traditionally the month in which the Church remembers those who have died. The Month of Remembrance commences Tuesday 1st November with All Saints’ Day, a feast celebrated by Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran & Anglican Churches. This is then followed on Wednesday 2nd November by All Souls’ Day, where we remember and pray for the dead." Please keep in your prayers all those who have gone before us in this month of Remembrance.

Happy Jacaranda and all the best for the fortnight ahead

Kate

Kate Thomson

Principal

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

Catherine McAuley

Learning and Teaching 

Year 11 News

Mrs Lee has met with year 11 outlining assessment procedures and provided the students with their HSC Assessment Handbook. 

The school is also hosting a Year 11 Parent / Student Evening - Tuesday 1st November. The expectation is that all students with parents will attend this information session that will be held at 6 pm (straight after the Parent Teacher Student Conferences). The booking for the Parent-Teacher-Student conference was re-shared with parents last Friday and closes at 4.15 pm Monday 31/10.

Elevate will provide another free parent zoom next week. This webinar held on Wednesday 9th November  @ 6:30 pm (AEDT), and will be covering how to help your child manage stress and well-being, focusing on the following areas:

• How to spot your child's stress symptoms early
• How to start a conversation about emotional well-being
• Techniques your child can use to self-manage stress 

 Register for free here

 Should you have questions or would like to contact Elevate directly, their details are listed below.

1300 667 945

auaucoaching@elevateeducation.com

Indigenous Education

This term Wil and Ellee have organised some wonderful opportunities for our Indigenous students both within school time and during the HEAL lesson.  In week 3 during the HEAL lesson Uncle Kerry Skinner visited the school to teach the indigenous students the Gumbaynggirr language.  There will be basket weaving and a hospital tour during the next few weeks. On Wednesday this week, the Mcauley Indigenous dancers will be performing at the Gumbaynggirr Art and Culture day. We hope to see you at Gumbaynggirr Arts and Culture Day which will be held at Lane Boulevard, South Grafton at 4 pm. 

Religious Education Update

On Friday 28th October McAuley College Year 9 Mission class (CSYMA) helped with the Year 5 Exuro Retreats. The theme for the day ‘being a disciple of Jesus’, was adapted from the message of the scripture passage, 1 Timothy 4:12: “Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for the believers in your speech, your conduct, your love, faith and purity.”

Our McAuley College CSYMA leaders were able to guide the year five students regarding ‘being a disciple in our world today during small group and whole group activities. 

In particular, it was heartwarming to hear the testimonials of three McAuley students, who openly discussed their faith journey. Sheridan Sutherland, Savannah Cheeney and Grace Stackman spoke about the importance of ministry events in deepening their faith.

Some key points from the testimonials were:

• When you understand that God is in everything and is always there it changes one's perspective on life. Knowing that the experiences that bring you joy are because of him is important.  
• By being the best person you can be and treating others how you want to be treated, you are being a disciple. 
• It is important to always try to find at least one good positive part of the day where one experiences God’s love. Whether it be spending time with family or friends, being at the beach or participating in afternoon sporting activities with mates. These daily activities help you to see God in your life.

We are blessed to have these opportunities and the wonderful young people of the year 9 CSYMA class who were really involved in the peer-to-peer ministry. The student's openness and involvement have a positive impact on opportunities such as Exuro Retreats. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the students and Ms Nikita Robinson (the Year 9 CSYMA Religious Education Teacher).

Di McGowan
Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching

During the Year 12 Graduation Ceremony in week 10 last term, leadership roles were handed over from the Year 12 School and Vice Captains, House Leaders and Ministry leaders to the new Year 11 team heading into 2023. We welcome the new School Captains, Kaydence Kilduff and Nash Crofton as well as our Vice Captains, Jorja White and Sean Sowell. Our Mercy Leaders, Alex Salvestro and Mischa McGrath; Tracey leaders, Yazmin Shepherd and Kyan Ellis; McCarthy leaders, Stella Van Leest and Levi Vereyken; and Champagnat Leaders, Sahara Powell and Sam Platt; and finally our Ministry Leaders, Holly Morrison and Paige Thompson.

Our team feels very fortunate to be entrusted with these positions and we promise to work hard to uphold the legacy of the past student leadership group. We are looking forward to 2023 and the new opportunities it will bring. The year 10 and year 11 leadership election process is also underway this term. This is to select the four students from both years who will represent their year group in the Student Leadership Team (SLT) for 2023. 

So far this term, the SLT has also organised and held a crazy sock day. This occurred on the 27th of October and was raising money to support families in Ethiopia facing malnutrition and food insecurity through Catholic Mission. Thank you to all the students and staff that got involved and made a donation. 

Eva Patricks

Yr 10 Leader

Clarence Valley Schools Touch Football Shield 

On the 18th of October, four teams travelled to Yamba to compete in the Clarence Valley Schools Touch Football Shield (formally known as Daily Examiner Challenge). Our students represented our College with exemplary sportsmanship and should be congratulated on their performance on the evening. 

Junior Girls 

The junior girls began their tournament with a game against Grafton High with a 2-2 draw. Following this game, the girls regrouped and won their game against South Grafton Highschool 3-1. Our final round was against Maclean High, where the girls continued to refine their game and won against Maclean High 4-1. With these results, we qualified to play in the Grand Final against Maclean High where the girls were able to continue to work together as a team, communicate well and played exceptionally well, winning 6-0 and with Zahlee Kilduff named player of the final. The girls improved every game throughout the series and did the College proud. Well done girls. 

Junior boys 

The junior boys played Grafton High School first and secured a convincing win of 6-2. Their next game was against South Grafton High School which we won 4-1. At this stage, the boys were playing very well with everyone playing in their correct position. They were trying new moves and defending and communicating with each other. Their final round match was against Maclean High and this was won 5-1. These great results put the boys in the Grand final against South Grafton High. This time South High put on their strongest side. It was a tough match. South scored first, then the boys scored next. This continued until the final siren, with the score at 4-4. This meant a drop-off of 2 players had to happen. Now the boys were down to 4. South scored on the first set, which meant the boys had to do the same which they did. By this stage, the crowd had gathered and the atmosphere was electric. The extra time siren sounded, and a further player had to leave. Down to 3 players, the boys defended well for a long period. But now tired, unfortunately, South High scored in the latter stages of extra time running out winners 6-5. The boys played exceptionally well. They learnt more as the day progressed. Stand-out players were Taj Hextal, Cruz Sewell and Frazer Stokes.

Senior Boys 

Senior boys had a bye in the first round so they took the opportunity to watch their opposition play. We were very confident going into our first game against Maclean High, however, complacency was the enemy. We went down 3-0 in a game riddled with errors and missed opportunities. McAuley then clicked into gear against Pacific Valley winning convincingly 10-0 in a 20-minute game. Scores were closer against Grafton High with another victory to us, 5-1. Our final game against South High was yet another win 5-3 but unfortunately, our boys were starting to become tired and many players suffered from cramps. Our results indicate a successful carnival, however, it was also a championship we let get away.