MacKillop Bulletin - Term 1, Week 6, 2023 -

From the Principal

Finishing the term well

One of the hallmarks of this term has been the way students have settled into the daily routine of their classes and have maintained a positive learning environment. The College Leadership Team, the House Leaders, our Learning Leaders, Pastoral Care Teachers, and classroom teachers alike have all commented on the generally positive level of student engagement this term.

The students have mostly met our expectations relating to uniforms, haircuts, homework, and completion of assessment tasks which has had a positive impact on the student’s level of preparation and readiness for learning.  Well done to you all!

With just three weeks remaining until the end of Term One, it is important for all students to finish the term in the same positive way they have demonstrated to date. To do this, all students should be asking themselves the following:

• Have I completed all set homework and home study? Regularly reviewing SEQTA will ensure that all expectations regarding homework and home study have been meet.
• Do I know of any assessment tasks that might be taking place or that I need to catch-up in the final week? SEQTA contains all the relevant information regarding assessment tasks and their due dates.
• Do I know all the class work that has been set for completion before the end of Term One? Students should be speaking with their teachers if they have any further questions or concerns about these tasks and their due dates.

Congratulations to all students on your efforts to-date this term!

2023 Staffing

As announced in this year’s first Bulletin, we started 2023 with 748 students and 120 staff. The end of 2022 saw the College make many new appointments to staff and I would like to introduce these new staff members to you over this and the future editions of the Bulletin.

Ms Chloe Adams - Teacher Assistant (Learning Enhancement)

Ms Adams, who first commenced work at the College late in 2022, has accepted a Teacher Assistant (Learning Enhancement) role for three days per week. Ms Adams will also be continuing her Master of Teaching study at UTAS.

Mrs Marissa Allen - Resource Centre/Library Manager

Mrs Allen has recently commenced her role the College’s Resource Centre/Library Manager having previously worked as a Library Technician at Elizabeth College. Mrs Allen has a Diploma of Library and Information Services, is a professional member of the Australian Library and Information Association as is currently studying a Bachelor of Information Studies at Charles Sturt University. Before working in libraries, Mrs Allen had several managerial and administration roles at St Helens District High School, Avoca Primary School and with Commonwealth Bank.

Mr Peter Arcena - Teacher Assistant (Learning Enhancement)

Mr Arcena, who also first commenced work at the College late in 2022, has also accepted a Teacher Assistant (Learning Enhancement) role at the College and will also be continuing his Master of Teaching study at UTAS.

Mrs Gabrielle Ball - Religious Education Teacher

Mrs Ball comes to MacKillop Catholic College after a long career as a musician in the Australian Army Band Corps and extensive experience as a Religious Education and Music teacher at schools including Bethany College, Hurstville; St John Paul II College, Canberra; Merici College, Canberra; Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar School and Star of the Sea College, Gardenvale. Mrs Ball's tertiary qualifications include a Bachelor of Music (Performance), Graduate Diploma of Education, Graduate Certificate of Religious Education and is currently studying for a Master of Education (Gifted Education).

Mr Lincoln Beddoe – Visual Art and HASS Teacher

Mr Beddoe joins the College after 23 years at MacKillop College, Port Macquarie – also a Catholic co-educational Years 7-12 college. Mr Beddoe has also taught at St Mark’s College, Port Pirie, South Australia. Prior to this, Mr Beddoe was enlisted in the Royal Australian Air force as an Airfield Defence Guard. Mr Beddoe has a Bachelor of Education, Secondary Art and Design Teaching from The University of South Australia.

Ms Madeleine Bowers - Student Counsellor

Ms Bowers continues her employment with MacKillop Catholic College having commenced in a leave replacement position in Term Four 2022. Ms Bowers has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Psychology), a Diploma of Health Science and a Mental Health First Aid Accreditation Certificate

Mr Stephen Bray – Mathematics Teacher

This is somewhat of a homecoming for Mr Bray having previously done some teacher relief work at the College a number of years ago. Since then, Mr Bray has been teaching TASC Maths and Sciences at Guilford Young College and was at Ogilvie High School. Mr Bray has a Bachelor of Science with Honours from University of Sydney and a Graduate Diploma of Learning and Teaching from Central Queensland University.

Dr Nigel Brookes - Mathematics and Science Teacher

Dr Brookes comes to MacKillop Catholic College from Guilford Young College where he held a variety of roles including Director of Curriculum, Head of Science and Digital Technology. Dr Brookes has significant teaching experience across a range of TASC Maths and Science subjects. He has undertaken TASC exam marking in many TASC subjects, completed TASC exam setting in Physical Sciences and Physics and has been the TASC Marking Coordinator for Chemistry.

Dr Brookes has a PhD in Theoretical Chemistry, a Diploma of Education (Mathematics and Science), a First-Class Honours Degree in Chemistry, and Bachelor of Science Degree (Majoring in Chemistry, sub majors in Mathematics and Physics). Dr Brookes also has significant experience in industry as Technical Manager at McCain Foods Australia before commencing his teaching career.

Mrs Anna Cato – English and Drama Teacher

Mrs Cato is also known to the College from her work in 2022 and has accepted an ongoing Drama and English teacher role. Mrs Cato has a Bachelor of Teaching Secondary Charles Sturt University and a Bachelor of Arts Performance Nepean University Western Sydney.

Ms Kylie Jane Chapple – VET Specialist Teacher (Hospitality) and Teacher Assistant

Ms Chapple is very well known to the College through her outstanding work as a Teacher Assistant in the Foods area. In 2022, Ms Chapple completed her Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and will be delivering VET Cert II Hospitality in 2023 as a VET Specialist Teacher.

Mr Jordan Chick - Teacher Assistant (Learning Enhancement)

Mr Chick also commenced his role as Teacher Assistant (Learning Enhancement) in Term 4 2022 having recently moved to Hobart from Darwin where he was the Head Instructor of Junior Combat Sports and All Abilities Programs. Previously, Mr Chick worked as a volunteer, District Leader, Zone Leader and Assistant to the Mission President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Moscow.

Ms Esther Colbourn - Instrumental Music Tutor

Ms Colbourn joined the College’s Music Program late in 2022 as part-time Instrumental Music Tutor specialising in brass instruments. Ms Colbourn has many years of experience working as a brass teacher in school music education program and has a Bachelor of Music degree specialising in euphonium performance and a Graduate Certificate in Education Studies.

Ms Kate Crichton – HaSS Teacher (LAT)

Ms Crichton is currently studying for a Bachelor of Education at UTAS and comes to MacKillop Catholic College with a wide range of employment experiences. Most recently, this has included work as a Teacher Assistant at St Cuthbert’s Catholic School and as a Dance Teacher, Pilates Instructor and Freelance Choreographer.

Mr Craig Fullarton – Materials Design and Technologies Teacher

Mr Fullarton has had a long association with Catholic Education in Tasmania having been the Materials, Design and Technology teacher at Sacred Heart College, Newtown for many years. Mr Fullarton has experience teaching Design Wood, Metal and VET Construction as well as formerly having roles in pastoral care including Year Level Coordinator and House Head roles.  Mr Fullarton has also been involved in Outdoor Education programs including as coordinator.

I know the community of MacKillop Catholic College will want to warmly welcome each of these new and returning staff and wish them well in 2023 and beyond. More staff to introduce in the next edition of the Bulletin!

Stephen Hill
Principal

From the Deputy Principal

International Women's Day

Last week, I was very privileged to accompany our Year 11 young women, the Wellbeing Captains, Miss Pearce and Mrs Doyle to be a part of the incredible celebration of the International Women’s Day breakfast hosted by the Royal Hobart Hospital Foundation at the Grand Chancellor.   During the morning, we have the opportunity to be addressed by Her Excellency, the Honourable Barbara Baker AC, Governor of Tasmania.  Her Excellency shared her life journey with those gathered at the breakfast.  Her Excellency is a Mother, Grandmother, she has achieved great heights in the sporting arena,  has a distinguished career in the legal profession with years in private practice and at the Tasmanian Bar and has been a Federal Magistrate.  Her story of courage and resilience,  in her life, when faced with career challenges and choices were important messages for our young women to hear.    Her messages of setting your own path, celebrating your talents and uniqueness, and knowing you are strong and capable regardless of gender were all reflective of this year's IWD theme of #embraceequity.     

I hope our young students in the audience recognised they are agents of change and voice.   They hold the key to breaking down the bias and barriers many women across the world experience.  Our young people can foster change.

Assessment Reminders:
We are entering the assessment season at the College.  We strive for excellence is all that we do.  Being prepared and organised are essential elements for our students to ensure that they are presenting their best when submitting assessments.    It is incredibly helpful if families are able to support students to meet their due dates for assessment.  The Assessment Calendars are available in SEQTA Engage (parents) and SEQTA Learn (students) is assist in planning and completing assessments.  Assessment Calendars ensure that there are no surprises.  A crucial aspect of being successful in future pathways of work or further study is being able to meet deadlines despite having a range of other pressures upon us like sport, part-time jobs and family commitments. If students are having trouble meeting deadlines, they must discuss this with their teacher and if appropriate apply for an extension via the forms available on SEQTA. 

Have a great two weeks.

IWD Breakfast at Grand Chancellor

Yours in Christ

Lorraine Wolffe
Deputy Principal - Learning and Teaching; Staff Development

From the Deputy Principal

WHY STUDENTS NEED TO TURN OFF DEVICES AT LEAST HALF AN HOUR BEFORE SLEEP!

Artificial light from electronic and other devices generally emits a blue light (it may not look blue, but that is the underlying light).  Blue light is a type of non-visible light at a very short wavelength.

What does blue light do to the human body?
 
Non-visible light has a lot of energy, and studies show that a lot of exposure to this type of light can impair your sleep cycle. During sleep lots of essential physical processes take place and it is also when learning from the day is consolidated in memory. This means that having enough sleep is vital
for students.
 
Blue light is naturally generated only during the day, from sunlight. When it gets dark, naturally occurring blue light ceases, signalling the body to produce melatonin, the hormone associated with sleep. Using artificial lighting and devices which emit blue light at night confuses the body-clock (the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle) by stopping the body from producing melatonin. This can result in disrupted sleep patterns, including difficulty in falling asleep, staying asleep and shortened sleep duration.
 
Those at greatest risk from night-time exposure to blue light are those with existing sleep disorders and adolescents who often experience delayed sleep patterns as a result of biological changes.
 
What can students do to limit their exposure to blue light at night?
 
Some suggestions include: 
+ Be exposed to sunlight during the day to assist in accurately setting your body clock.
+ Stop using all electronic devices, preferably an hour before bed.
+ Get a red or orange reading lamp, which does not emit blue light.
+ Use blue light-blocking glasses at night. 
+ Install a program or app on your computer or device to change the type of light it emits.  A variety of programs are available including F.lux, EasyEyez, Night Filter, Zzz iPhone filter, Bluelight and Twilight.
+ Invert the colours on your smartphone or iPad or Kindle, or change the device to the night-time setting.
+ Turn the brightness down on your device for a few hours before bed (not perfect, but better
than nothing!).
You can learn more about how to optimise your performance as a student at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au
Login details can be found on SEQTA Engage and SEQTA Learn.

Regards
Andrew Pritchard
Deputy Principal - Student and Staff Wellbeing

From the Director of Junior School

How have you been feeling? 

How have the ups and downs of the term been affecting your kids and in turn, affecting you?  It can be very difficult to separate our young person's emotions from our own.  When they are feeling buoyant, happy, and carefree that lifts our mood. Of course, the opposite is also true.  When we see our children having a difficult time, for any reason, it can be difficult for us to tolerate. Sitting with feelings that aren't comfortable is hard.  This is not unusual and it is not terrible but it is important that we identify it, when it occurs so we can make the best possible choice in those moments.

Feeling discomfort can drive us to try and make instant changes, so we return to our zone of 'nice' feelings as soon as possible.  Emotional discomfort can lead us to make hasty decisions, it can lead us to jump in to try and fix issues for our kids so that their problem is solved and in turn, our comfort levels are restored.  We might then feel like we have everything sorted for everyone.  In the short term, this might be true.  However, acting to solve our child's problems takes away important learning opportunities for your young person because they miss out on an opportunity to practice solving their own dilemmas.  It can send the unintended message that they are not able to solve their own problems and that they don't have the required skills.  It also models to them that uncomfortable feelings cannot be tolerated. In fact, experiencing a range of emotions is important. To learn how they feel in our body and mind and how to manage them is central to becoming a thriving person. Ideally, the full range of emotions should be embraced as part of life's complexity, not hidden due to shame or embarrassment. 

Engaging fully in emotional experience helps us to learn that feelings are temporary and that we can survive them, no matter how difficult.  We learn that even the best feelings are fleeting.  Parents are the first and strongest role models to kids about what emotions look, sound, and feel like.  Your children watch and learn from you, how to identify and manage emotions.  We show them how to express and/or contain themselves as situations demand.  It is so important that they get practice working within their feelings to solve problems for themself. Every day at school is not a guaranteed easy day, but you need to send your child the message that they have the capacity to handle their emotions and work with their emotions to meet their responsibilities. They can do hard things.  They have the capacity to cope and work through difficulties. 

Sometimes they do this easily and sometimes they just make it, like us.  But they can.  It is in the modeling provided to them and then in doing that, this becomes known.  Your child will experience important growth in discomfort.  Pushing through, attending class, and managing to regulate their strong emotions through routine and purpose is an essential skill set.  

Please get in touch if this is something you would like more information about or support with.

Alison Stevens
Director of Junior School

From the Director of Pastoral Care

WELLBEING CENTRE

This year we have opened our new Wellbeing Centre in Lower Kirby. This is a safe and supportive space which all students can access. This space will allow us to provide the necessary support to enable students to flourish.

During class time, to ensure we have the support services available students are asked to make an appointment with one of our counsellors by emailing them at mbowers@mackillop.tas.edu.au or dpitman@mackillop.tas.edu.au

If students need to speak to someone urgently they should contact their Pastoral Care Teacher and/or House Leader or Ms Coward who will arrange the necessary follow up. If students just turn up at the wellbeing centre during class time they may be redirected back to class until we can ensure the appropriate supports are available. If students do not return they will be marked absent and their parents will be called.

The wellbeing centre is also open at lunch with a range of board games and activities for students to access. The space also has puzzles and mindfulness activities.

As a college, one of the key support strategies many of our students use is a self regulation card. Students who are on a learning or wellbeing plan are provided with a self-regulation card with identified strategies which help them to calm and focus. Students work through these enabling them to remain in the classroom and return to learning. If after using their SR (self-regulation) card they need further support they can go to the office for a referral to the wellbeing centre where they will receive the necessary support from one of the Pastoral team.

UNIFORM FOCUS WEEK 5

As we are well into Term 1 each week our Pastoral Care teachers will be focusing on a different aspect of the College's Code of Personal Appearance (COPA). All classes were introduced or reminded of this document in week one however some students continue to struggle with meeting these expectations. To help our students manage this we will be shining a spotlight on particular aspects.

Week 5 staff have focused on jewellery with several students logged for incorrect items. It is important to note that subsequent breaches will result in the students being asked to remove the item and it is being placed at the office for collection at the end of the day.

Students may wear one pair of simple earrings (gold or silver studs or sleepers) in the lobe of each ear (therefore helix piercings or tragus piercings are not permitted). Spacers are not permitted.  Drop (dangly or hoops) earrings are no longer permitted. Clear stud earrings are required for excess piercings

Facial piercings of any type (including clear studs and other attempts to disguise) are not permitted

Jewellery**, other than earrings and watches are not permitted.  This includes bracelets and anklets.

**Medical ID bracelets and necklaces with religious significance are permitted. This should be discussed with your Pastoral care teacher.

Code of Personal Appearance 2021

The full Code of Personal Appearance can be found on the College website. 

Phillipa Coward 
Director of Pastoral Care 

Director of Catholic Identity and Ministry

Catholic College Community

Christians who observe Lent usually give up something for 40 days to represent the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). Keeping this in mind I’d like to share a statement from Thomas Merton in The Seven Storey Mountain. I hope this statement will help guide and remind us during Lent that we are on a journey of fulfilment and trust, and that God is on the journey with us.

I was not sure where I was going, and I could not see what I would do when I got there. But you saw further and clearer than I, and you opened the seas before my ship, whose track led me across the waters to a place I had never dreamed of, and which you were even then preparing to be my rescue and my shelter and my home.

Thomas Merton, The Seven Storey Mountain

Upcoming Events in the Ministry

Year 11 Religion in Society classes will soon be visiting the St Vincent de Paul Society to learn more about how this Catholic organisation supports our community. They’ll be working in the kitchen that makes food for Louis Van and seeing behind the scenes of Vinnies Op Shops.

Feast of St Joseph Year 7 Mass

This Friday 17 March, all Year 7 students will celebrate the Feast of St Joseph by attending Mass at Corpus Christi Church.

Year 7 Theology and Spirituality

Beginning next week, students from Year 7 Theology and Spirituality classes will be visiting the Josephite Mission and History Centre to support them in their learning of Mary MacKillop, the Josephites and Julian Tenison Woods.

Lachlan Marsh
Director of Catholic Identity and Ministry

Charlotte Davies
Youth Minister

Director Of Learning Enhancement

Positive Partnerships 

Positive Partnerships will be running a FREE 2-day workshop for parents/carers on the 15^th and 16^th of March at Elwick Functions & Events 6 Goodwood Rd Glenorchy  This workshop is for parents, carers, grandparents, and kinship carers who support a school-aged child on the autism spectrum (or still considering/undergoing assessment).

The workshop is fully funded by the Australian government, and free morning tea and lunch will be provided.

Would you please share this with your families, and any other contacts that may be interested? I have attached the flyer with more information about the workshop, and a jpg that can be added into newsletters or social media posts.

Families can register via their website: https://www.positivepartnerships.com.au/ or using the QR code on the flyer.

Izaac Feery 
Director of Learning Enhancement 

Spotlight on Students involved in Vocational Studies Programs at MacKillop

Saxon Murphy Year 10 - AsBa - Certificate III in Plumbing

Saxon has been following his pathway into the Construction Industry by working part-time for Murtec Services Pty Ltd over recent holiday breaks. He has now taken this one step further and is now working two days each week on a School Based Apprenticeship with Murtec Services Pty Ltd. This means not only has he started and signed up for his apprenticeship as well as committing to completing Yr. 12 and acquiring his TCE. Saxon is busily saving his wages as he tells us he has his mind set on buying his dream car a Subaru as well as using his tool allowance from the Australian government to equip is tradie toolbox. We thank MEGT and Murtec Services Pty Ltd for working in partnership with us at MacKillop to make Saxon’s pathway become a reality.

Ben Hyland Year 11 - Diploma of Aviation with Par Avion
After completing his Year 10 Work Experience at Par Avion, Ben approached us in 2022 and discussed the possibility of doing a Diploma in Aviation as part of his Year 11 study program. Working closely with Par Avion we developed a partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding, whereby Ben now travels to Par Avion in Cambridge twice a week on his Year 11 Line 3 to work through the requirements of completing this Diploma over Years 11 & 12. Ben also has a study line to balance his academic load with his Diploma workload, to ensure by the end of Year 12 he has both a TCE and an ATAR score. Ben recently passed a major assessment milestone in his Diploma coursework by securing his recreational pilot’s licence, an amazing achievement well done Ben.
MacKillop works with several Vocational providers if you have any questions about what this might look
like for your young person, please email Mrs Howard, VET and Vocational Pathways Learning Leader, showard@mackillop.tas.edu.au and we will source the best solution to support your career pathway.

Sue Howard 

Learning Leader - VET and Vocational Learning

Mathematics

Upcoming Mathematics Competitions

There are several national Mathematics Competitions in our calendar for Term 1 and Term 2. These competitions are a great way to expand student experiences in Mathematics and have their efforts acknowledged on a national scale. The competition formats are available in either online or paper experiences and the Mathematics Challenges requires students to submit a portfolio of solutions after a 4-week period.
Last year MacKillop students experienced wide success with many participating students being awarded Certificates of Credit, Distinctions, and High Distinctions. Consider being a part of our continuing success.
Thursday 30th March - Kangourou sans Frontières - https://www.amt.edu.au/ksf - "the largest maths competition in the world"
4 weeks early in Term 2 - Australian Maths Challenge - https://www.amt.edu.au/challenge - Students undertake 6 problem-solving tasks providing robust mathematical solutions. Students must commit to lunch or after-school sessions to complete this work.
2nd-4th May - Computational and Algorithmic Thinking - https://www.amt.edu.au/cat - ideal for students wanting to develop interest and potential in computer programming.
Keep an eye out on Seqta Notices to register for these competitions

Sandra Doyle
Learning Leader - Mathematics; Teacher

Career News

Attending University Open Days

Our students who are considering a career that requires a university degree should consider attending University Open Days from Year 10 onwards.  Choosing the right university and course is an important step in career planning.  University Open Days can provide the necessary information to make informed choices.  They can also be a motivation to engage in studies to ensure successful outcomes while at school.

A University Open Day is a chance to attend a guided tour or a seminar and to meet lecturers and university students to get a feel for university life.  As UTAS says, Open Day is a great way to explore our campuses and get a taste of life at the University of Tasmania. You can hear all about our courses, pathways and scholarships – straight from students and teaching staff.

It's time to make a date claimer, mark it in your diary...

UTAS OPEN DAY
17 September
10am - 2pm

For more information:

Rice Resource Centre

During Term 1, all Grade 7 students participated in a library induction session to learn about the digital resources they can access as a student at MacKillop Catholic College.

As well as educational resources like Britannica Schools and ClickView, students can access a large collection of eBooks and Audiobooks using ePlatform.  

ePlatform contains thousands of fiction and non-fiction titles, curated for secondary school students.  New books are added to the collection every month, so there are plenty of recent releases and popular titles available. 

Instructions on how to access ePlatform:

To use ePlatform on a school laptop:

1. Log in to the Seqta Student Portal &  go to the welcome page
2. Follow the link to the Library Portal
3. Click on the eBooks & eAudiobooks link on the Library homepage

To use ePlatform on a mobile device:

1. Download the ePlatform app
2. Search for MacKillop Catholic College
3. Enter your school email address and password to sign in

Marissa Allen
Resource Centre/Library Manager

SchoolTV

In this edition of SchoolTV - MANAGING SCREEN TIME

As a result of the global pandemic, there has been a noticeable shift in the amount of time people spend on screen-based devices. Families are transitioning back to pre-COVID routines but many are still struggling to re-establish the boundaries and rules around screen use. Some continue to deal with digital conflict and tech-tantrums on a daily basis. The latest research found that 77% of teenagers spend more than five hours on screens per day, but it is important to note that not all screen time is considered equal.

Parents play a crucial role in modelling a positive and healthy approach to using screens and assisting children to navigate the content they watch. It is better to model and mentor screen use, rather than monitor it. Children tend to do more of what they see us do, and less of what we tell them to do. However, it is still important to outline the risks and highlight the benefits of screen use to ensure you keep a balanced attitude. Encourage discussions around the issues that people experience in monitoring their screen time and be honest about your own difficulties.

Parents need to remain firm in their approach to managing screen time. Excessive screen time can be detrimental to a child’s overall wellbeing. Ensuring the correct privacy settings are in place is vital to prevent children from being inadvertently exposed to inappropriate content or online predators. Parents need to also be mindful of the potential impact screen time can have on a child’s social, emotional, educational, behavioural, and even physical domains.

In this edition of SchoolTV, care-givers will be provided with a range of guidelines and strategies to help manage screen time at home.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to the Managing Screen Time edition of SchoolTV.

Resilience Project

The Resilience Project is committed to teaching positive mental health strategies to prevent mental ill-health and build young people’s capacity to deal with adversity.

Teachers and students will engage in weekly lessons and activities around the key principles of Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness (GEM) and Emotional Literacy to build resilience.

Check out their website for more information:

The Resilience Project

And check out TRP@HOME; a place filled with inspiration and activities for the whole family,  to help improve your wellbeing and build resilience.

TRP@HOME

Gratitude

Working on gratitude helps us to be thankful and appreciate what we have in our lives, rather than focusing on what we don’t have or what we want. When we practise being grateful, we start to scan the world to look for positives – this only takes 21 days! Practising gratitude every day increases our levels of energy, helps us to feel happier and more focused, determined and optimistic. It even helps us have a better sleep, lowers levels of anxiety and depression and we are less likely to get sick. So many benefits – let’s all try to be grateful for the things and people in our lives every day!

Whole Family Activity:

Gratitude Scavenger Hunt

• As a family create a scavenger hunt list of things that make you happy or you are grateful for, you can make your own list or use the examples below:
• Something that makes you happy
• Something you love to smell
• Something you enjoy looking at
• Something that is your favourite colour
• Something you like in nature
• Something that is useful for you
• Each member of the family uses the list, and has to find as many things as they can.
• You can hunt for things inside or outside, or both. You can hunt for real things, or you can also do this using magazines or pictures from the internet.
• After a set amount of time hunting, come back together, have a look at what each person collected and let them explain why they are grateful for each item.

Family Habit Builder:

Every night at dinner, have each person talk about their favourite thing about that day.

MacKillop Stars

Is your son or daughter doing something outstanding, amazing, extraordinary that they want to share with us? We would love to hear from you!

Please send your stories and photos to Mrs Hastie, chastie@mackillop.tas.edu.au and we will highlight achievements in our bulletin.