MacKillop Bulletin - Term 3, Week 2, 2023

From the Principal

Welcome to Term 3!
Hopefully, the Term 2 break was a restful one and provided all members of the Mackillop Catholic College community the opportunity to share time with family and friends. While most staff were able to get at least some time away from the College after a busy first semester, for many their great work continued throughout the break (both on-site and off-site). Many thanks to these staff for their efforts over recent weeks!

Term 3 Staffing update

We will start the term with the following staffing changes:

• Mrs Catherine De Leon is the College’s new Senior Finance Officer – Payroll. Mrs De Leon has significant experience in finance having worked with the Federal Group for the past six years as their Payroll Administrator. Mrs De Leon is a CPA, and has a Master's Degree in Accounting and recently completed a Certificate IV in Human Resource Management. Mrs De Leon commences work at the College on Wednesday 2 August.
• Ms Sarah Gurney recently commended work as the College’s new Careers and Pathway Planning Adviser. Ms Gurney is very familiar with Catholic education having worked in marketing and media roles at Dominic College and Guilford Young College and most recently as a member of the Careers and Pathways Planning team at GYC. Ms Gurney has a Bachelor of Business from the University of Tasmania.
• Mrs Catherine Sandric has been appointed to the role of Religious Education teacher and Learning Leader – Religious Education. Mrs Sandric is a very well-known Religious Education teacher and leader, having previously worked at MacKillop Catholic College (Director of Mission and Years 7-10 Teacher from 2004-2011), St James Catholic College (Religious Education Coordinator), Mount Carmel College, St Aloysius Catholic College, Guilford Young College (Acting Director of Ministry), Sacred Heart School (Religious Education Coordinator), St Mary’s College Hobart (Acting Learning Area Religious Education, 2020- 2022) and as Education Officer - Catholic Identity and Religious Education (2017 -2019).
  Mrs Sandric’s extensive qualifications include a Master of Religious Education from Australian Catholic University, Master of Education from University of Tasmania, Diploma of Education from the University of Tasmania and a Bachelor of Arts - Majors: Law, Political Science &; Classics from the University of Tasmania.
  
  On behalf of the entire MacKillop Catholic College community, I would like to welcome our newest members of staff and wish them all the best as they commence their MacKillop journey.

Building Master Plan Update
Meetings have taken place recently with JAWS, K2LD, and Catholic Education Tasmania to establish and commence the scoping process for the first stages of the new build and refurbishment program.  The scoping process is based on key data such as enrolment numbers, learning area requirements,  staff numbers, budgeting, subsequent decanting needs and construction timelines.  The focus of these conversations has been the development of a link between the existing Kirby and  Tenison buildings and the construction of a new multi-court stadium and whole-College gathering space. The community will have the opportunity to contribute to the design elements of these spaces in the coming months.

As previously announced, all members of the MacKillop Catholic College community can access a video summary of the Building Master Plan process and the outcome as presented by staff from JAWS and K2LD and a PDF copy of the Building Master Plan Executive Summary (May 2023) via the following link:

Stephen Hill
Principal

From the Deputy Principal

Planning for 2024

Welcome back to Term 3.  A very special welcome to our new families at the College. Our first bulletin for the term is already filled with the exciting events of Week 1 and also forthcoming events. I encourage you to spend some time reading through the various sections of the bulletin to keep updated and involved in the College. 

We are only halfway through 2023 and Term 3 always marks the preparation for the following year.  Therefore our leadership team is already planning for 2024. Part of this plan is to construct a timetable for over 800 students. The first step is to work with the current Year 9, 10 and 11 students to support them to select their subjects/courses for 2024.  Our Year 10 and 11 students have now entered their course preferences.  Our Year 9 students will enter their courses over the forthcoming weeks.

On Wednesday evening the Year 11 students and their parents and caregivers attended our Year 12 Parent Information Evening.  The evening was an opportunity for advice to be given to the students to support their continued planning towards post-Year 12.   The evening was well attended and was a reflection of the importance of working in partnership.

Naplan 2023 results

The 2023 Year 7 and 9 individual student results have been sent to the College.  The College office is working to get these to parents as soon as possible. From 2023, NAPLAN results are reported against proficiency standards with four levels of achievement to give teachers, parents and caregivers more straightforward information on how students are performing. To find information about NAPLAN results, particularly the new proficiency levels please see the link below.

Yours in Christ
Lorraine Wolffe

From the Deputy Principal

Study Skills Handbook 

How to Bounce Back from a Disappointing Assignment Mark

We've all been there – eagerly awaiting the results of an assignment we thought we had slayed, only to be disheartened by a disappointing mark. It's completely normal to feel down at first but remember, setbacks are opportunities for growth and improvement. Here are some steps you can take to handle a disappointing assignment mark and turn it into a learning experience

1. Analyse and Understand the Feedback:

 When you receive your assignment back, take the time to review the feedback provided by your teacher.

 Ask yourself the following questions:

- Did you meet all the criteria outlined in the assignment?

- What specific feedback did your teacher provide?

- Do you fully comprehend the feedback given?

- Can you identify the reasons behind the mark you received?

 If you're unsure about any aspect of the feedback, don't hesitate to ask your teacher for further clarification. Understanding where you went wrong is crucial to avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future.

2. Choose to Accept or Challenge:

Once you've gained a clear understanding of the feedback, you have two options: accept the grade or challenge it. 

- Accept: If you realize that the mark reflects your performance accurately, don't dwell on it too much. Acknowledge that everyone makes mistakes, and view this experience as an opportunity for growth. Embrace the mindset that successful individuals use failures as stepping stones toward improvement.

- Challenge: If you genuinely believe that the mark awarded does not align with your efforts and adherence to the criteria, approach your teacher respectfully and express your viewpoint. Politely ask if they would reconsider the mark while providing evidence to support your case. Remember, advocating for yourself should always be done with respect.

3. Learn and Adapt:

Improvement comes from learning from your mistakes and taking action to rectify them. Make a conscious effort to identify where you went wrong and devise a plan to correct it. Consider these steps:

- Re-do the Assignment: If you have the dedication and time, consider revisiting parts of the assignment and resubmitting them. Revising your work not only demonstrates your commitment but also helps you apply the feedback effectively.

- Seek Inspiration: Ask your teacher if you can examine assignments from students who received top grades. Analyse their work to understand what elements contributed to their success and identify areas where your assignment fell short.

- Seek Early Feedback: For your next assignment, share your plan or draft with your teacher before the submission deadline. This proactive approach allows you to receive valuable feedback early on, giving you ample time to make improvements.

Remember, your academic journey is about learning and growth. Embrace every assignment, whether successful or disappointing, as a chance to hone your skills and become a better student. Stay persistent, and don't let setbacks define your capabilities. With a positive attitude and willingness to learn, you'll be better prepared to face future challenges and achieve your goals. Keep striving for excellence and improvement.

You might also like to visit the Assignment Skills unit at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au for some more ideas on approaching assignments. 

You can learn more about being more effective at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au by logging in with the username and password located on SEQTA Learn and SEQTA Engage.

Andrew Pritchard
Deputy Principal - Student and Staff Wellbeing

Director of Catholic Identity and Ministry

Welcome back MacKillop Catholic College Community! 

We hope families enjoyed the holiday break and are well-rested to start a new term. Term 3 is a busy time in Ministry, here are some of our upcoming dates. 

Upcoming Ministry Events

JJAMM Week is occurring in Week 3 from the 7th to the 11th of August. During this week our College recognises the important history and connection we have to St Mary MacKillop, Julian Tenison Woods, and St Joseph. We will be celebrating with numerous fun activities run by our College Houses. Fr Mark Freeman, our Parish Priest, will celebrate a Feast Day Liturgy on the 8th of August.

It also happens to be Catholic Education Week from the 7th to the 11th of August. Some of our students will be attending Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral on Thursday the 10th to celebrate this week with other southern Tasmanian Catholic Schools. 

The Vinnies Sleepout will take place on the 24th of August. The Vinnies Sleepout is an overnight stay at school where students experience vulnerability and they gain an understanding of those who live without a home. Anyone interested in participating in the Sleepout should speak to Mr Marsh, Charlotte Davies or a member of the MacKillop Vinnies Conference.

On the 11th, 12th, and 13th of September our Year 8 students will be travelling to Blundstone Arena to participate in their Spirituality Retreat. Below we’ve included which class groups will be attending on which days. Further information will be provided via Consent2Go.

• Monday 11th September: Year 8A & B
• Tuesday 12th September: Year 8C, E & F
• Wednesday 13th September: Year 8D & G

MacKillop College 30th Anniversary Celebrations – Working Group

In 2024, MacKillop Catholic College celebrates two significant events in the life of our community.

Next year will mark the 30 th Anniversary of the founding of the College along with the graduation of our first Year 12 Students.

The College is inviting current students and old scholars, former and current staff, current and former parents, and members of the Bellerive/Lindisfarne Parish to consider joining a working group to plan and implement these celebrations.

It is anticipated that the group will meet monthly in 2023 with more frequent meetings leading up to the celebrations in August 2024. If you would like to join the working group or wish to make further inquiries, please contact Mr Lachlan Marsh, Director of Catholic Identity and Ministry, via email (lmarsh@mackillop.tas.edu.au) or via the College Office on 62450099.

Lachlan Marsh

Director of Catholic Identity and Ministry 

Director of Pastoral Care

During the past term our student leaders have been busy establishing committees for each of their respective areas.  Students from Years 7 to 11 have been invited to join committees in areas they are passionate about. These are a fantastic way for students to have an active voice in the College and develop leadership skills as students work collaboratively to organise and contribute to key events. Some of the successes of these committees so far include art competitions, staff vs student games, the set up of wellbeing centre and ongoing development of toilet spaces, Pi Week activities, clubs, liturgies and fundraising events. 
The various committees have a busy term ahead planning events to raise awareness for particular causes and organise opportunities for the College community.

Wellbeing Week- Week 10 
Eco Week - Week 5

JJAMM Week, Week 3

In week 3, the College will celebrate JJAMM ((St) Joseph, Julian (Tenison-Woods) And Mary MacKillop) week at the College. A major part of this week is providing opportunities for our students to become involved and celebrate who we are as a community. Below is a calendar of events for the week our student leaders have been working hard to develop. We will be sharing this with students over the next week with further details about how to get involved.

Phillipa Coward

Director of Pastoral Care 

Director of Junior School

YEAR 7 ASSEMBLY

At the Year 7 assembly this week, I was quite shocked by the reaction many of the students gave to my reminders about sleep.  The greater context of my presentation was about their growing responsibility for themselves in terms of self-management, and learning to get better at setting routines that are about self-care and supporting their own functioning.  I touched on diet and movement too, but stressed the primary importance of sleep.  When I expressed that they should be allowing themselves 9 hours of sleep a night, there were shocked faces.  Further, when I explained that 'binge-sleeping' on the weekend was not an effective way to get sleep hours up there were scoffs and hands in the air with disbelief.  I spoke too, about the importance of a nighttime routine that helps promote sleep.  A quiet, warm, safe space to sleep where they would not be interrupted and the need to shut off from devices at least an hour before sleep (Ideally, all devices in the house would have a central location overnight, charging and away from human access).  While devices recharge, humans can as well, properly.  (This system has the added benefit of helping ensure that laptops are charged for school!). We all want our young people to be vibrant, energetic, optimistic and responsible contributors to their own lives and the lives of others.  Without a well-rested brain this is not possible.  Alarm clocks background music, audiobooks etc can be provided by other methods but your kids should not have handheld devices with them as they are sleeping.  Television lights should not be on.  Breaking these habits, after a time will have a huge impact on the overall wellbeing of your young people and enable them to thrive, take on new challenges and be the best versions of themselves.  Importantly too, when resting the developing brains require a break from the social-emotional pressures of the online world.  If devices are made available to our children, they will not just feel tempted to be online at all hours, they will in fact feel pressured to.  The fear of missing out and keeping up to date with the 'latest' online, is real.  It is also very detrimental.  Breaking this cycle for our young people even though they will resist, is the only way to relieve this pressure for them in the long term.  Putting in the hard parenting work in on this sooner rather than later will be better for their sleep, brain functioning, and in terms of their approaches to the online world in the future. As always, feel very welcome to contact me at any time: astevens@mackillop.tas.edu.au

Alison Stevens

Teacher, Psychologist and Director of Junior School

Careers and Pathways News

MacKillop’s new Careers and Pathways Adviser 

Hi everyone, 
I’m Sarah Gurney and I have started this term as MacKillop’s new Careers and Pathways Adviser! 

My role at the College is to assist students with their pathway plans and be there to help with all things that relate to careers. 

The Careers Office (located in the Library) has had a revamp over the term break. Students are invited to access this space for the following:

• Careers advice
• Work experience organisation 
• Resume and cover letter writing assistance 
• TASC, ATAR, TCE, etc information
• University pathways information 
• Vocational Education Pathways information
• Apprenticeship/Traineeship pathways information
• Course selection assistance 
• And more ...

Please do not hesitate to contact me or pop into the Careers Office to say hi! 

Appointments can be made in study lines, recess, lunch, before and after school and other times by arrangement. 

Keep an eye out in the MacKillop Bulletin each fortnight for career news and updates, including information on upcoming events, local and national career news, and more. 

I am really looking forward to helping our young people on their pathway journey.

You can contact me on careers@mackillop.tas.edu.au 

Upcoming Careers Events:

The University of Melbourne | Meet Melbourne Hobart – Wednesday 2 August

Find out more – here

Located at The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel 

University of Tasmania | Song Writing Open Day – Friday 4 August 

Find out more – here

Located at The Hedberg 

MEGT | Pop up at MacKillop – Wednesday 16 August

The team from MEGT Apprenticeships, Traineeships, and Recruitment will be beginning regular pop-up information sessions at MacKillop starting Wednesday 16 August.

Come and speak to the team about all things related to getting an apprenticeship or traineeship, vocational pathways, school-based apprenticeships, and more.

Located in the MacKillop Café at lunchtime. 

Festival of Bright Ideas | Open to the public day – Saturday 19 August 

Find out more – here 

Located at Princes Wharf 1

ADFA Virtual Open Day – Saturday 19 August 

The ADFA Open Day can be attended online. 

This virtual event will showcase key content, including live-streaming activities and question and answer sessions, via a dedicated platform and social media channels. 

Register – here 

University of Tasmania | UCAT Student Ambassador visit – Tuesday 29 August 

Interested in a medical pathway? Come and listen to two UCAT student ambassadors from the University of Tasmania to hear about their firsthand experience with the UCAT process. 

Located in the MacKillop Café at lunchtime.

It Takes a Spark! STEM Conference | STEM-based excursion – Friday 1 September 

The College will be taking a group of students to the It Takes a Spark! STEM Conference to participate in a range of activities, listen to guest speakers, and be immersed in the world of STEM.

If you are interested in a STEM pathway and would like to attend events like this, contact the Careers Office at careers@mackillop.tas.edu.au 

School TV

This month on SchoolTV - Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity emphasises the natural variation in how an individual’s brain functions and how they perceive and interact with the world, leading to diverse ways of learning and communicating. While most young people are neurotypical, some exhibit variations in brain development, such as ADHD, autism or dyslexia, making them neurodivergent.
Embracing neurodiversity involves accepting, celebrating, and supporting neurodivergent children and adolescents without attempting to change or treat their differences. Using respectful language, challenging unhelpful attitudes, avoiding assumptions, and actively promoting inclusivity can help embrace neurodiversity effectively.
Acknowledging the unique ways neurodiverse young people do things and then adapting tasks and activities to ensure their full participation will encourage them to develop strategies that feel natural to them. It will help improve their mental health, wellbeing and sense of self. By recognising and nurturing their strengths, parents and caregivers can contribute to building an inclusive and compassionate society where all young people can thrive.
Learning more about neurodiversity, equips caregivers with insights into effective communication techniques, educational strategies, and parenting approaches tailored to the specific needs of their neurodivergent child. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this month’s edition, and we always welcome your feedback.
If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek help from a medical professional.
Here is the link to this month's edition 

The Resilience Project

In the final part of The Resilience Project's parent series, Hugh shares an important message about allowing our children to experience adversity.
The key to building resilience in our children is allowing them to experience failure, hardship, disappointment, etc.
As parents, we can be too quick to resolve our children & # 39;s challenges which can deprive our children of enormous growth opportunities. These typically happen when we experience failure and uncertainty. As parents, we should be there for our children when they fail, but not fight their battles for them. 
View Part 5 of the series here:
Part 5 - Summary:

Thank you for participating in this Parent and Carer Digital Presentation series.
You can re-watch the videos and access activities and resources anytime via the Parent & Carer Hub.
You can also stay up to date with The Resilience Project news and events by signing up for their Newsletter.

Timor Time

The 2023 Timor Immersion has been a wonderful success in many ways. Our students have been great ambassadors for MacKillop Catholic College as well as their country. The 10 day trip to Timor-Leste was mostly spent on the island of Atauro, about 30 km north of the capital Dili. The tour also included a few days experiencing the sites of the capital.

The Immersion managed to pack in many experiences in the 6 days on Atauro Island. Students spent countless hours socialising with local Timorese playing various games like soccer and other games which were made up on the spot. Hair-braiding, singing and dancing was also a popular form of entertainment. Some planned formal teaching took place in a primary and secondary school. Students had spent time preparing lessons before the trip on topics such as colours, animals and sports. We were able to donate some educational resources to the schools. One day we hiked along a goat coastal track for nearly two hours
to visit a remote village. Once there we were given a warm formal and musical welcome and then spent the next hour playing with the local children. MacKillop students fully immersed themselves into making connections with as many locals as possible. We swam at the beach with children, went to the local market to buy food for our meal, performed a group dance in the talent show and a few students even had their hair cut. A highlight was being able to celebrate Sunday Mass with the village with over 500 people in attendance. We did manage some moments to chill and headed up the road to the next village, we managed to fit in a snorkel in at one of the best coral reefs on the planet.

Our trip to Timor was bookended with a few days in Dili. We managed to see a few of the tourist's spots such as Resistance Museum, the Santa Cruz Cemetery and on the final night Christo Rei Statue. It was here that we could appreciate some of the important events in the history of this young nation. The trip also included a visit to Mary MacKillop Today where the group understood the connection between our school and helping people in Timor with literacy and health programs. Undoubtedly, the highlight for this teacher of History was an
audience with the President of Timor, Jose Ramos-Horta at the Presidential Palace. As a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996, the President has been a champion for lasting peace and independence for Timor-Leste. He spent 90 minutes with our group discussing a range of topics like some of problems his nation faces, for example: political corruption and malnutrition of Timorese children. He spoke about some of his own interesting experiences throughout his life, and his hopes for the future of this nation. He was asked what was one of the best things about Timor-Leste and his response was - the people. From our experiences on this trip, we can all agree on the that. We experienced firsthand what wonderful people the Timorese people are, people who are so charming and friendly. We will never forget the hospitality of the Timorese.

Timor Immersion 2023

Learning Extension

Kaleidoscope Blueprint

A team of MacKillop teachers is getting ready for the Semester 2 Kaleidoscope Program. The focus will be on the design process and gaining skills in digital art and photography. The course will suit high-ability students with an interest in the creative process. Students will experiment with various mediums to create an original wearable garment as their culminating task. Details will go on SEQTA and targeted students will receive an invitation to attend. 

One Day School

Four of our Year 7 and 8 high-ability students will be participating in a pilot program called One Day School during Term 3. This program is a CET initiative run by Deputy Principal, Allison Cornish out of Launceston. Throughout the term, the students will look at using language effectively, be challenged to see things in new ways, and will then move beyond using just words to the exciting world of digital storytelling. 

International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS)

In August MacKillop students will once again be sitting the ICAS tests (at no extra cost to families). ICAS recognises academic performance in a way others celebrate achievements in sport or the arts. Students can sit up to six literacy and STEM papers including English, Mathematics, Science, Digital Technologies, Writing and Spelling Bee. The questions are engaging and fun and have been designed by psychometricians, education measurement experts and experienced teachers to push students to their academic limits, as well as test higher-order thinking and problem-solving abilities. ICAS will run during class time during August. Students and parents will be emailed the relevant information about dates and times for the tests. The application period has no closed. 

If your child is registered for ICAS, you can give them the best chance of success by guiding them through some of the preparation tools that can be found here:

JAPANESE NEWS

Hokkaido Visit

A huge arigatou (thank you) to the MacKillop families who are hosting visiting students from Japan this week. The students are from the two towns of Mukawa and Naganuma in Hokkaido, an island roughly the same size as Tasmania. Many Australians visit Hokkaido each year for snowboarding and skiing. The students’ airfares were paid for by local businesses in their hometowns and the scholarships are arranged by the Hokkaido-Australia Friendship Society. The Hokkaido students are here during their summer holiday and will be in classes at MacKillop with their hosts this week. Japanese classes this week will be designed to give the Hokkaido students a chance to teach us about their culture. 

N5 Japanese Extension Program 

N5 will resume next week. Year 7 students are invited to join by RSVPing to their sensei. N5 is run every Monday from 3:10 pm until 4:25 pm. Students learn how to go shopping, order food, visit a doctor and other useful skills while also preparing the for Japanese Language Proficiency Test at Level 5. More information on the test can be found here:-

Jacqueline Hardman
Learning Extension Coordinator, Learning Leader: Japanese, Teacher

Year 10 and Year 11 Visual Arts

Yr 10 & 11 Hadley's Art Prize and UTAS Experience

Students from Mr Beddoe's Yr 10 Visual Art Foundations and Yr 11 Visual Art 3 courses were lucky enough to visit the Hadley's Art prize at Hadley's Orient Hotel in Hobart on Thursday. The Hadley's Art prize, worth $100,000 to the winning artist, is awarded to the painting judged the best portrayal of the Australian Landscape. One of the highlights was bumping into local artist, Joshua Andree who happened to be in the gallery at the time we were there. Joshua's work titled 'Once Still Water (Requiem for a Lake)' was awarded an honorable mention and the Packing Room Prize. We were so fortunate as he gave students an amazingly inspirational and impromptu insight into his practice, his painting, and art in general. Following the educational tour of the 30 finalists, students made their way to the UTAS Centre for the Arts facility on the waterfront. Head of Printmaking and Drawing, Dr Jan Hogan instructed the class in a creative observational drawing activity where students were encouraged to loosen up and look at objects using alternative ways of seeing. It was a super creative and inspirational day, thoroughly enjoyed by all. Thanks to Art Technician Jaclyn Godfrey for her efforts in organising the day and supporting our lucky students. We look forward to seeing how students can make use of their new understanding and knowledge in their upcoming Body of Work projects

Lincoln Beddoe 

Teacher 

MacKillop Stars

Where are our MacKillop Stars?

Is your son or daughter doing something outstanding, amazing, or 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. 

Festival of Bright Ideas

Festival of Bright Ideas: Science for the curious and creative

Saturday 19 August (Public day)  |  Princes Wharf 1, Hobart

Experience the brightest innovation, research, and technology in Tasmania. There's a huge range of mind-blowing science for all ages to explore - brain science, health science, rock science, robot science, animal science, plant science, number science (maths!), and much more.

This year, FOBI also features Questacon’s Science on the Move exhibition – this means an extra 33 hands-on science experiences for you to enjoy!

Check out the FOBI program and book your tickets now to avoid disappointment – some sessions sell out quickly.