Term 2, Week 5 - 25 May - 2020
- From the Principal
- Assistant Principal
- Message from Bishop Greg and Quotes from Pope Francis
- Return to School Plan - Phase 2
- Curriculum
- PDHPE
- Careers
- Wellbeing information - Supporting Families
- NCCD Information (National Consistent Collection of Data for students with a disability)
- Keeping up to date with Technology
- Parent Assembly Webinar
- Year 10 Immunisations
- Meet our Student Leaders
- Celebrating 30 Years
- Enrolments for 2021
- Parish News
- Student Leadership Team
- Uniform Shop
- Recipes by Cheryl
- Food for Thought / Stories as Told by Mr Ogg
- Birthdays
- Photo Gallery
Dear Parents and Carers
It is very exciting to have all our students back at school from today. As you know, our return to school plan changed for week 4 which we made a “transition week”. We had between 80 - 85% of our students attending last week and this gave students and staff the opportunity to reconnect, catch-up and prepare for our full return. I have outlined briefly below what we currently can and can’t do, which continue to change as the Government eases restrictions.
Feast of the Ascension - We need to be witnesses.
Last week was the Feast of the Ascension and Jesus’ message to his disciples was clear - with the power of the Holy Spirit, be witnesses to the ends of the earth. In our world today we need to continue to be witnesses, making Jesus’ words and actions part of who we are and what we do. In this current climate it is vitally important we care for others, especially those less fortunate and struggling in these difficult times. Our College Mercy values clearly instruct us to show compassion, respect, justice, and hospitality. As a College we have been providing some families with care packages which come in the form of meals prepared by our students. The act of giving has not only helped families but it has also given our students and staff a sense of achievement and pride. We were also contacted recently by the local police to ask if we could assist a family in the community who had fallen on hard times. They had heard about our care packages from an earlier visit to the school. It was so easy to say yes and it was with pleasure we were able to help people in our wider community. If you require some extra assistance (care packages, uniforms, fee relief, school resources) due to hardship please contact the College.
Returning to School for Term 2
Please note the following as we return to full time schooling:
- Students are to wear full school uniform each day;
- We will be doing sport at school - no offsite sport until further restrictions are eased; no participation in interschool sport
- No excursions or camps for this term
- Students are encouraged to bring their own water bottles and fill them at the water fountains;
- Students are encouraged to order their recess / lunch if they require hot food or food needing preparation. This means they will get their food much faster and reduces the wait time at the canteen.
- Sanitiser is available in 7 places in the playground and in each classroom. Students are encouraged to use this regularly as well as washing hands.
- Students in year 10 will not be able to participate in work experience at this time.
- We won’t be holding full school assemblies until further notice
- Parents are asked not to gather at the College when picking up students
- Parents visiting the College are asked to follow social distancing requirements
If we continue to abide by the regulations in place we will continue to keep safe.
Enrolments for 2021
We have restarted our enrolment campaign for 2021. Interviews began last week and will continue in weeks 6 and 8. Families have an option of a Zoom interview or an in person interview at the College. We are also offering interviews in Yamba (week 8) and Maclean (week 9). Please encourage all prospective families to submit their application as soon as possible.
Newsletter Additions
In this newsletter we are introducing some of our College Student Leaders and we have started our Celebration of 30 Years feature with photos from our Year 12 classes. Both of these will be regular items in future newsletters. There is also a plethora of information in this newsletter and I encourage you to read on.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding. I am looking forward to life becoming a little more normal - whatever that means! There are positives we can take from this experience and I hope to foster and develop these in the following weeks and months.
Yours sincerely
Kate
Kate Thomson
Principal
“We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us.” Catherine McAuley
Attendance from Week 5 - Information regarding Students who are unwell or prevented from coming to school due to health concerns.
Students who are unwell are requested to stay at home. If your child becomes unwell at school they are to come to the office and parents will be contacted. At this time we need to be very vigilant in terms of illness. Families are asked to ensure all emergency contacts are up to date. If students are away from school on a short-term basis because they are unwell, there is no expectation that they complete schoolwork.
In cases of long-term illness, where the student is prevented from returning to school, parents or carers should provide a medical certificate. Schools also remain responsible for providing work for these students as per current practice. The same approach should be followed for students who have a condition which means it is not safe for them to return to school, for example they have a suppressed immune system or they are undergoing treatment like chemotherapy. Students who are residing with a family member in one of the categories identified as being at increased risk should attend school unless a medical practitioner advises otherwise. The parent or carer should provide written confirmation from the treating health professional that the student is unable to attend school.
National Reconciliation Week 27 May - 3 June 2020
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.
The dates for NRW remain the same each year; 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey - the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.
Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Pray the Aboriginal Creed
We believe in God, creator and sustainer of life,
creator of the black woman and the white woman
of the black man and the white man
of the woman who is not quite black and not quite white
of the man who is not quite white and not quite black.
We believe in God, the Creator
Who gave us the desert pea and the flowering gum,
The Murray cod and the platypus,
The Southern Cross and the Milky Way.
We believe in God,
who gave us a land to keep, to reverence and to cultivate.
We believe in Jesus, born of a woman
Who was not quite black and not quite white,
A woman who was not quite sure of who she was or who she was to be,
A woman who faithfully struggled to believe.
We believe in Jesus – risen,
Liberator of all humanity, Emmanuel, God-with-us, God-for-us.
We, women and men of the Great South Land of the Holy Spirit.
The Feast of the #Ascension tells us that Jesus ascended to Heaven to dwell gloriously at the right hand of the Father and remains always among us. This is the source of our strength, perseverance and joy. Twitter 24 May 20
Let us entrust to Mary Help of Christians all in this difficult time who work for peace, for dialogue between nations, for service to the poor, for the care of creation, and for the victory of humanity over every disease of body, heart and soul. Twitter 24 May 20
I urgently appeal for renewed dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. We need a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all. #LaudatoSi5 Twitter 17 May 20
OPALs
We will be sending out OPALs this week which will reflect participation and effort in the Blended Learning Environment. As this has been a different and at times difficult time of learning, the matrix for deciding OPAL scores was modified. We have also decided to only send out OPALs to students who achieved above 5. We believe it is important to acknowledge students who have embraced learning at home and worked hard to complete the work. OPALs will be released at the end of the week.
HSC Update
The HSC timetable was published last Friday. This timetable starts five days later, on October 20, giving students some extra time at school after the Autumn holiday period while keeping to the original timeframe for releasing results. All 2020 HSC students can access their personalised exam timetables via their students online account.
Smart Research for HSC Students Online Sessions
The Clarence Valley Library shared with us the following HSC resources being offered by NSW State Library. Specialist librarians have put together a series of online workshops that will help students find the right tools, manage citations, recognise the best quality information sources and most importantly save valuable time. These optional sessions will be offered via Zoom and the dates and topics have been shared with our Year 12 students.
PDHPE REQUIREMENTS WEEKS 6-10
From week 6 to the end of term 2, students in Year 7-10 will be involved in practical lessons for ALL of their timetable PDHPE lessons (PASS is different). Therefore this means that students will have between 4-5 practical lessons each fortnight with Thursday Sport on top of that. We understand that providing a clean sports uniform for every PDHPE lesson is going to be very difficult for many families. The College diary clearly outlines on page 11 "If students do not have their correct Sports uniform....bring a note of explanation from Parents/Guardians and change into their own sport (comfortable) clothing" for the lesson. Failure to provide a note from home will result in a uniform infringement of the PDHPE policy.
Students are still expected to wear their school formal uniform to school (unless they have a practical lesson period 1 or 2) and wear their school formal uniform home (unless they have a practical lesson period 5 or 6). Students are reminded also to use the College change-rooms during recess and/or lunch to be prepared for PDHPE lessons when the period begins.
Craig Nipperess
- Year 12 VET students may commence from 1 June 2020 (Term 2 Week 6)
- Year 11 VET students may commence from Term 3 2020.
Year 11 students requiring a VET Work Placement, must make an application to the school and be authorised by the VET Consultant, Sue Watts.
SBATS will continue to attend work and those with contracts on hold, may commence once the employer is able.
Workplace Service Providers will be in contact with the schools to plan possible upcoming placements in the next few weeks.
Consideration for the economic status of employers and their ability to take on a WP student may impact on the availability.
Health and Safety in the workplace will be the focus for all students attending a workplace.
This is the duty and care of the school.
Please note that Work Experience has been postponed until further notice and is not included in this directive.
The Coronavirus pandemic has caused economic, wellbeing and health challenges to many in our school community. We know that as a result, some families are facing a wide range of difficulties they may not have experienced in the past.
The attached infographic outlines some of the support available to families in our community.
Here is the lastest information explaining NCCD
Online Safety Education eBook
As we know, children and young people are spending an increasing amount of time online for learning, entertainment and social connections. To help parents navigate online safety education, a new eBook written by the Catholic Schools Office has been produced to support parents in ensuring their children’s safety and wellbeing when online.
The new date for Year 10 vaccinations is Friday 5th June. Immunisation consent forms have been handed to Year 10 Students last week during a year meeting, if your child has not collected one of these, they can pick one up from the front office.
These forms must be handed back to the front office as soon as possible, if you are choosing for your child to have this vaccine somewhere else or not having it at all, please return the form blank.
30th Anniversary of (Catherine) McAuley Catholic College.
It is 30 years since the amalgamation of St Mary’s College, St Aloysius College and Holy Spirit College to form Catherine McAuley College. We have been developing plans to acknowledge this throughout the year, particularly in the newsletter. Here is the start of our photo journey of students who have graduated from the College.....
Class of 2019
Please find attached the latest Parish Bulletin from Clarence Valley Parish
Olympics
The greatly anticipated MCC Olympics are making a comeback this Term. Twelve teams of students from all year groups will compete for glory in three sports: Soccer, Touch Football and Dodgeball with the best teams competing in an amazing race to decide the winning country. Teams are being organised this week within house groups and the competition is set to start in Week 6.
With winter around the corner it is time to check if last season's jumper still fits! Students are required to wear a maroon jumper as part of the MCC uniform.
Monday - 10am to 2pm
Thursday - 3:30pm to 7pm
Saturday - 9am to 1pm
The uniform shop is located Gate 3, 170 North St, Grafton (Old Brewery site). Ph: 66432989
One Pot Roast Chicken Dinner - Very budget friendly - Easy on the cleanup.
Serves 4
Ingredients
6 Chicken Drumsticks
3 med Potatoes, cut into wedges
1 med Sweet Potato
1 wedge Pumpkin
Broccoli
Cauliflower, cut into flowerettes
1 leg Onion, cut into wedges
Fresh Herbs, Thyme, Rosemary, Origami OR 1T Italian Mixed Herbs
1T Olive Oil
S & P
Method
FOOD FOR THOUGHT 4
Matthews’ Gospel. Chapter 27
20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
“Barabbas,” they answered.
22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” …………………………
26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
Its interesting that the meaning of the name Barabbas comes from “bar” which means “son of” and “abba(s)” meaning “father”.
The crowd was crying for the “son of the father” to be released.
Imagine if they had cried, “Release to us the Son of the Father”!
So close yet an eternity away. (David Ogg)
Harry Bingham, Angus Cassidy-Thomason, William Tait, Joshua Paterson, Rhys, Kira Masson, EmilyMasson, Lachlan Chard, Jacinta Pearce, Nicholas Shorrock, Charlee Connell, Amelie Collard, Emily Paterson, Sienna Molloy, Kane Pereira.
