MacKillop Bulletin - Term 4, Week 8, 2022

From the Principal

The year in review
As we enter that time in the school year when we celebrate and acknowledge all that has been, it is appropriate to remind ourselves how much has been achieved in 2022. Many of our successes and triumphs will have been personal, some will have been shared by specific groups or teams, whilst
others have been achieved through the combined efforts of many. Consider the following:

• We started 2022 with the largest enrolment in the College’s history – 641 students
•  The College’s new Positions of Leadership structure was launched
• Vertical Pastoral Care the reworked timetable commenced
• Teaching staff began their professional journey through the College’s new teaching and
  learning framework – The Art and Science of Teaching
• The 2022-2024 Strategic Directions were completed and launched
  
• Whilst COVID-19 again restricted College operations, the delivery of our teaching and
  learning programs continued with great success.
• From the beginning of Term Three, staff and students were able to access the teaching
  spaces of the Tenison project including the new build Commercial Kitchen, Domestic
  Kitchen, Materials Design Technology (MDT) room, MDT Machine Room, Computing/Digital
  Media room, Junior Art Room, Senior Art Room, a new lift, new toilets, and Staff Offices
• The Office of the Education Registrar (OER) approved the extension of the College’s
  registration to a Years 7-12 College.
• Work on the College’s updated Building Master Plan commenced.
• Our first cohort of Year 11 students has been enrolled and their classes are timetabled and ready
  for 2023.

Much has been achieved in 2022 and much will continue to be done in 2023 to ensure that we do
everything possible to meet our vision of being a Christ-centred learning community that fosters
excellence, compassion, and service. Bring on 2023!

A prayer for Hamish Paynter
As classes conclude for 2022, I ask that you keep Year 10 student Hamish Paynter and his family in your
thoughts as together we pray for his full recovery:

Creator God,
We turn to you in prayer for Hamish.
As he shares the cross with your Son Jesus, grant him courage and peace through your
Holy Spirit.
May your gentle presence surround Hamish, his family and his friends.
In the midst of questions and sorrow strengthen their trust in the power of your love to
heal and bring hope.
May we grow in faith, hope and love in your eternal kingdom of peace. 
We make the prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

The Season of Advent

As we prepare to enter the last weeks of the season of Advent, we are reminded of the importance
of this time in the Church’s liturgical year - the coming of our Lord. It is a time for us to look back to
Christ’s birth and to look forward in celebration of the hope and joy of His second coming. Living in
the period between these two important events, we are all called to discover and fulfill our God-
given purpose.
Season’s greetings to all members of the MacKillop Catholic College community and may you all
have a very happy, healthy, and safe Christmas and New Year.

Regards, Stephen

Stephen Hill
Principal

From the Deputy Principal

Final Year Celebrations

It is Advent…the time of waiting, of anticipation of new life…the birth of Jesus. We have much to celebrate and much for which to be grateful.

A few weeks ago we had the Celebration of Excellence Awards.  This was a time to showcase the many accomplishments of our young people.  Further in our bulletin, you can see who the award winners were.

This Friday we continue to celebrate and give thanks.  We will be having the Thanksgiving Assembly, our final assembly for the year.  At this assembly, we will give thanks for the year in liturgy and also award our Personal Management Skills Awards.

Student Free Week - Week 9

Our final day for students is tomorrow, 9th December.  Next week is a student free week.  This is unusual in our College Calendar but we have been granted this time as a staff to finalise our preparations for the introduction of Year 11 and to also commence our movement into our new buildings and ensure they are ready for 2023.

Student Reports

All Year 7 to 10 Final Reports will be available on Friday 16th December. Parents will receive an email when the reports are available and they can be accessed online via SEQTA. We do recommend that you download the report and save it locally, so you have a digital copy of the report for future reference.  This is especially important for all our students who are departing the College as access to SEQTA will cease at the end of December.

If you have any issues or questions in relation to accessing the reports on SEQTA please contact our IT department.  IT@mackillop.tas.edu.au

Student Subjects 2023

Last week all current Year 8, 9 and 10 students received their subject offerings.  Ms Stevens and Ms Crowden have worked with students who wished to change their subjects for 2023.  We would like this finalised by Monday.  It is important that we do commence the year with subject choices in place.   We look forward to working with our young people in their newly chosen subject areas.  Information for booklists will be available on the College website shortly.

Christmas Blessings

I would like to express my gratitude to the entire staff, students and families. Everyone has gone above and beyond to ensure that our students are collectively supported and encouraged to have the opportunity to reach their potential this year.

My hope is that all in our community will find time to rest and spend quality time with loved ones over the coming festive season. I wish all our families a happy and holy Christmas.

Yours in Christ

Lorraine Wolffe
Deputy Principal - Learning and Teaching; Staff Development

From the Deputy Principal

The end of every school year is a time of beginnings and endings. This has also been the case this year. The past two weeks have been a time of beginnings and endings for a number of our students. Our 2022 Year 10 cohort had their last day of classes for the year on the 25^th of November, before embarking on their final Year 10 exams. For a number of our students not returning in 2023, this was the end of their journey with us at MacKillop Catholic College as they move on to different opportunities. To these students and their families, we wish them all the best in their future endeavours and remind them that they are always welcome back at MacKillop Catholic College.

This has been an unusually challenging time for our Year 10 cohort and our whole school community, as one of their peers Hamish Paynter was involved in a critical incident on the last day of Year 10 classes. All of our love and prayers from the entire MacKillop Catholic College community go to Hamish and his family as they navigate this challenging time in their lives.

On Monday 28^th November, we were joined by our 2023 Year 7 students for their Orientation Day. We welcomed these new students and their families to the College, as they undertook a number of exercises designed to get to know each other, make friendships, and build connections with their Year 9 buddies and House Leaders. Thank you to our Director of Junior School Alison Stevens for her organisation of the day.

I wish all members of our College community a safe holiday break with their loved ones.

Andrew Pritchard 
Deputy Principal - Wellbeing

From the Director of Junior School

Orientation Day

It was our absolute delight to have our year 7s of 2023 on campus with us on Monday the 28th.  It is fair to say that they all very successfully completed their first day at Mackillop, in a blur of nerves, chatter, excitement and sausage grease.  Our current year 9s did an amazing job of getting to know all our new students and building connection with them across the day with games and activities.  With so much to take in, the youngest members of our school, worked hard to concentrate and to communicate with everyone they met. Students were in their Houses and Pastoral Care Groups (PCG) for this day and worked in these teams to complete a photo challenge, visit the chapel to learn about our sacred space, participate in music workshops and engage in a number of 'ice breaking' games.  While most of the new students had familiar faces around them in peers from the same Primary school, a number of year 6 students did not as they were the only one coming to MacKillop from their school.  I was particularly impressed with the way they managed to communicate their needs, get to know other students and staff and have fun.  Well done.Next year, when school begins, students will be in their PCGs at the start of each day for around 20 minutes.  The rest of the day they will spend with other year 7s, in their Learning Groups.  To already feel part of their PCG and at ease with the 2023 year 10s will make their transition into term I that much smoother.I extend my personal thanks to the year 9s, the House Leaders, Administration, Maintenance and Grounds and ICT Staff, Music Teachers, Ministry Team, Learning Enhancement Personnel, Leadership and Executive teams for making this day a success.  Most of all though, thanks to the year 6 students that showed up ready to give the day their best on Monday.  I know they were assisted in this by their parents and carers, thanks to you all very much too.   We are all excited and ready for the years to come. 

Alison Stevens
Director of Junior School

From the Director of Pastoral Care

Technology and the Holidays 

As our students head into the holidays it can be hard to unwind from the business of the term. Young people may find they have more spare time on their hands and this may result in a feeling of boredom. This can increase their need for stimuli which can be very easy to find online and through technology. While this is not bad, as with all things moderation is the key.

One of the great items we have seen recently to help families (young people and grown-ups) manage their phone time and allow more opportunities for connections is called an inchargebox. There are several of these types of products on the market now. 

https://www.inchargebox.com.au/?fbclid=IwAR1x6XEOha9Qgyob-t5z1k1Nm8REtdkHg-zdsh1FRUHPu6QMLlYD1fdCpA8

Another cheap and easy strategy is to put all phones in a cupboard. You will no doubt find yourself still reaching for it, probably without even realizing it. Or even try a day out without phones. 

As some of our young people may want to spend more time online over the holiday break, another program we would suggest for parents is Todd Sampson's Mirror, Mirror which screened earlier in the year. 
With the average Aussie spending 17 years of their life staring at their phone, Todd Sampson investigates how the internet is affecting our relationships and what impact this is having on our lives. Channel 10

Due to some content, we suggest watching this first to decide if you think it is suitable to watch with your young person. There are many good talking points that may help guide your conversations around the healthy use of technology and keeping ourselves safe online. Also some realities for adults too. 
While we are talking about being online, have you ever asked who you follow? And why do you follow them? Young people are exposed to more information than any other generation before. They take in this information quickly and often then move on to the next thing with little critical thought. Many of our young people have very good reasons for why they follow particular people or like particular things online. It is important that we as the adults guiding them through adolescence have an open dialogue with them about why something is popular and how it fits in with their values. Throughout the year this is something we have touched on in all Year levels in Personal Development and will continue to in 2023. 
Finally, we are excited to join as a community for the following events aimed to provide opportunities for many positive interactions and increase student and staff connections within the College. 

Tuesday 6th December and Wednesday 7th December - Year 9 Abyss Camp Thursday - Whole College Eddie Rice Cup and Extended

Pastoral Care  Friday 9th December - Thanksgiving Assembly and Picnic at Wentworth Park 
We wish all of our students a safe and happy Christmas and look forward to welcoming you all back in 2023. 

Phillipa Coward 
Director of Pastoral Care  

Director of Catholic Identity and Ministry

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal 

Over the past few weeks, the MacKillop Vinnies Conference has asked students to bring in gifts to donate to the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. These donations of books, accessories, toys, vouchers, and many other things will be given to those in our local community who are most in need this Christmas. We would like to thank all the students and families who made a donation. Your kindness and generosity during the holiday season will touch the hearts of those in need. 

St Joseph's Award 

Congratulations to students who received a St Joseph’s Certificate at the Celebration of Excellence Assemblies earlier this term. These certificates acknowledge students who have given their time and skill to Ministry, Outreach, and Liturgy in 2022. Keep up the good work!

Year 6 Orientation Activities in the St Joseph’s Chapel

Last week, we welcomed Year 6 students who will be attending MacKillop in 2023. As part of the day,  students visited St Joseph’s Chapel. Mr. Marsh talked to the new students about the history of the Chapel and the school, and discussed with them some of the things they might use the Chapel for such as small liturgies, assignments in their Theology and Spirituality classes, or just as a place for some peace, quiet and prayer. We then played a game of bingo to find the important features of the chapel. Thanks also go to the Year 9 students for being responsible role models and tour guides for their new younger peers. 

As the year comes to a close we would like to thank our community at MacKillop Catholic College for the productive year in Ministry. Without the interest of students and support from their families, the staff that volunteer, and the specific people who put a lot of effort into our area within the school, we couldn’t have had such a successful year. We certainly feel like we are finding our feet again after all the major prohibitions with Covid-19. Next year we are proud to acknowledge the restart of our Timor Leste Immersion, with 16 students and 4 staff preparing to travel. We’ll also be starting a Year 11 Retreat experience which will be an overnight spiritual camp based around sustainability and stewardship of our earth. We are grateful to be leaving such an event-filled year behind and to extend our programs in 2023. 

With Christmas coming up I’d like to draw attention to the decoration of the wreath that most decorate their homes with during Advent. The wreath represents eternal life and the love of our God, the circular shape with no beginning or end signifies continuous life, otherwise known as the immortality of the soul. This wreath also represents the importance of our connections and the everlasting bond we have with family and friends. We hope our community enjoys the summer holiday break and spending time with those we love during Christmas.

Thank you. 

Charlotte Davies - Trainee Youth Minister

Lachlan Marsh
Director of Catholic Identity and Ministry

Career News

In a recent bulletin, I referenced the careers clusters below and promised to expand upon this information in future articles.

However, with the end of the year upon us, I think it best to save this information for 2023.

An unexpected visit from an ADFA representative last week reinforced for me the wisdom of the words of Denzel Washington who believes that “…luck is when an opportunity comes along, and you're prepared for it.”

At an ADFA expo earlier this year I took the opportunity to enter a competition on behalf of the school and was overjoyed to later learn that we won a unique Royal Australian Navy career experience and a Makebot STEM resources pack.

Jen Crowden and Liam Cook willingly gave up some of their holidays in July to escort Alycia Skinner, Rueben Lang, and Claudia Struthers to Victoria so they could take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. Last week, Phil Duggan from ADFA came to the school to present the Makebot STEM resource pack to the school, so I took the opportunity to get a photo of Mr. Hill accepting this prize.

And so, as another year draws to a close, I encourage students to be prepared to take every opportunity that comes their way. Like me, they may not be aware of where it will lead, but the benefits can be great!

Humanities and Social Sciences

This term, all Year 7 students have enjoyed an excursion to the Sustainability Learning Centre in Mt Nelson. Students had the opportunity to have some hands-on learning in connection to their Geography unit on Water in the World. Activities included water tasting, creating their own filtering
systems, and creating their own water cycle system. Students also had the chance to reflect on water usage around the world, and locally, with particular consideration for the state of the Derwent River. Thank you to all the teachers for facilitating this opportunity for real-world learning.

Sarah Sturt 
Learning Leader: Humanities and Social Sciences, Teacher

Mathematics

Maths Superstars

The red carpet was out, and the crowd gathered to celebrate the Mathematical Superstars in Tasmania recently. MacKillop Catholic College had the privilege of having five students invited to attend the Australian Mathematics Trust, Australian Mathematics Competition Awards Ceremony. The students earnt a high distinction in the Maths Competition, held earlier in the year. This result places them in the top 3% in their age category, a significant achievement for all. Congratulations must be given to Roly Dalton (Best in School), Elliott Stee, Harry Nguyen, Dylan MacGill, and Maya Perring.

Sandra Doyle
Learning Leader: Mathematics, Teacher

Student Leaders for 2023

Congratulations to the following students who have been appointed as student leaders for 2023.

MacKillop Stars

Celebration of Excellence

St Joesph's Certificate

This Certificate recognises and encourages students who have not only met the basic expectations of MacKillop Catholic College but who have participated in a variety of extracurricular activities and volunteer work, particularly in the area of Ministry, Outreach, and the liturgical life of the College. The Certificate is named in honor of St Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose humble yet courageous life inspired Mary MacKillop and Julian Tenison-Woods to work for the good of the poor in Australia.

YEAR 8 EXCELLENCE AWARDS

YEAR 9 EXCELLENCE AWARDS

YEAR 10 EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Year 7 Endeavour

Year 8 Endeavour

Uniform Shop

Back to School Hours 2023 

Updated 

Mackillop College uniform shop, Perm-a-pleat last day of trade for 2022 will be Thursday 15th December, from 9 am to 6 pm. 

They will re-open on Monday 23rd January 2023.

Opening Hours for "Back To School 2023"

• Monday 23rd Jan 2023
  9 am to 4 pm (closed for lunch from 12:30 to 1 pm)
• Tuesday 24th Jan 2023
  9 am to 5:30 pm (closed for lunch 12:30 to 1 pm)
• Wednesday 25th Jan 10 am to 6 pm (closed for lunch 12:30 to 1 pm (Extra Day))
• Saturday 28th Jan 2023
  9 am to 12 midday
• Monday 30th Jan 2023
  9 am to 4 pm (closed for lunch 12:30 to 1 pm)
• Tuesday 31st Jan 2023
  9 am to 5:30 pm (closed for lunch 12:30 to 1 pm)
• Thursday 2nd Feb 2023
  10 am to 6 pm (closed for lunch 12:30 to 1 pm)
• Saturday 4th Feb 2023
  9 am to 12 midday

For further enquires please phone: 6240 4420