MacKillop Bulletin - Term 3, Week 8, 2023

From the Principal

The recent Blessing and Opening of the newly built and refurbished Tenison rooms and last week’s Catholic Education Tasmania Validation served as an important confirmation of the very significant work that has been done by so many in recent times. The comments and feedback from those who were invited to or participated in these events reinforced that the combined efforts of the MacKillop Catholic College community, students, staff, and parents alike, are making a real difference to the learning and wellbeing outcomes of our young people.

Both events were marked by their organisation and hospitality. I would like to acknowledge and thank Mrs Tania Burgess whose attention to detail and thorough planning ensured that all involved or participating in these two important events were in the right place at the right time.

My sincere thanks to Mrs Sue Howard, Ms Kylie Chapple, Mrs Anne Morling, and the College’s Certificate II in Hospitality students for their very significant and much appreciated hospitality skills and service. Hospitality has long been considered a hallmark of a faith community. This was clearly on display at both events and was very much appreciated by our guests.

And finally, to the many students who greeted, led, or contributed to the blessing and toured our invited dignitaries and guests. Your warm welcome and genuine embrace of all that is MacKillop Catholic College was acknowledged and very much appreciated by those who got to meet you.

Staffing Update:

Mr Thomas Shepperd is the College’s new Risk and Compliance Officer.  Mr Thomas Shepperd will be drawing on his experiences and knowledge relating to adherence to industry regulations as Practice Coordinator at Total Eyecare Optometrists, Line Supervisor at Tassal Group Limited, retail Shift Supervisor and Store Manager, and his tenure in the Australian Defence Force as a Bombardier and Corporal to ensure that the College meets all aspects of risk, compliance, and OH&S.

Congratulations to Ms Tracey Webster on her appointment to the new position of Student Wellbeing Officer. Ms Webster brings a wide range of well-being and care skills and knowledge to the Wellbeing Team through her time as a Rehabilitation Employment Consultant at Rehab Management; Service Manager at Richmond Futures; Service Manager and Support Coordinator at Anglicare; Senior Case Manager at YourTown and Regional Disability Employment Services Team Leader at Max Employment.  Ms Webster has completed a Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation Counselling from Latrobe University, and Mental Health First Aid.

Ms Patricia Charles recently commended work as the College’s new Resource Centre/Library Assistant.  Ms Charles has many years of experience in school libraries including roles as Library Technician at The Friends’ School, Library Technician at Melbourne Grammar School, and Library Manager and Circular Head Christian School. Ms Charles has several education and disability support qualifications and a Certificate IV Library and Information Services from TAFE NSW.

Congratulations to Mr Shepperd, Ms Webster, and Ms Charles on their appointment, and a very warm welcome to MacKillop Catholic College.

Stephen Hill
Principal

From the Deputy Principal

College Values

As a Catholic College, our values are at the heart of who we are as a community.  Our College values are:

Excellence   Compassion    Service

It is important to realise these values are the values of the College and not only for our students but underpin all our community, staff included.  This week I was privileged to attend the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (Tasmanian Branch) awards.  At these awards, our Learning Extension Coordinator, Jakki Hardman, received a Teacher Leadership Award for her excellence in leading our program for high ability, in particular the work she does for the Kaleidoscope Program.  The award is listed as honouring those educational leaders who in the view of their peers have made a significant contribution to the understanding and practice of educational leadership.

Congratulations Jakki!

TASC Exam Timetable

This week the TASC Exam Timetable was released for our Year 11 students.  Each year, approximately 6,000 students sit written external assessments in November for Level 3 and Level 4 TASC Courses.  

It is important that our Year 11 students studying Level 3 or 4 TASC courses commence their planning to be successful.   To be successful, students need to have a study timetable developed.  Study is the priority throughout this time. All other activities should have been arranged in order to allow for maximum study time. These would include adjusting or changing part- time work and sporting commitments to fit in with study needs.

In addition, being aware of the timelines for the examinations is important.

October 31 - Celebration of Excellence (Year 11 Awards);
November 1 - November 6 - Study/Tutorials Week
November 7 - November 17 - External Exam Week

Notification if Not Returning to MacKillop Catholic College in 2024

The College is currently developing classes for 2024. As part of the planning process, we ask that families notify the College if their child(ren), in Years 7- 9 are not returning. This may be because they are transitioning to another educational institution. This notification is required by Friday 29 September 2023. If notification is not received by this date, the 10-week late notification fee (as noted in the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment) will be imposed unless there are extenuating circumstances. Waiving this late fee will be approved at the discretion of the Principal.  Please email enrolments@mackillop.tas.edu.au for notification.

Yours in Christ

Lorraine Wolffe
Deputy Principal - Learning and Teaching; Staff Development

From the Deputy Principal

Parents and Teachers Community Trivia Night

On behalf of our fantastic student leaders and student wellbeing committee, we are very excited to invite staff, parents, caregivers, and friends of the college community to our upcoming Parents and Teachers Community Trivia Night on Tuesday 26 September.

This initiative has been developed and organised by our student leaders to raise funds for Speak Up Stay ChatTY and the Perry Cross Foundation as part of MacKillop Catholic College Wellbeing Week. 

SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY works to promote positive mental health and prevent suicide by normalising conversations about mental health and encouraging people to seek help when they need it.

Mitch McPherson established the organisation in 2013 after his younger brother Ty died by suicide. Mitch shares his personal story of loss to encourage others to speak up and seek help when they have issues or go through difficult times.

The Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation has one goal, to help find a cure for paralysis for all. There are 20,800 Australians living with this devastating condition and 400 new cases per year. The Perry Cross are currently raising funds to support a world-first cell transplantation and rehabilitation clinical trial for 10 people living with a spinal cord injury.

Our trivia night will feature a number of rounds of challenging questions and participants can book tables up to 10 people.

The event will also include a silent auction for a number of outstanding items that have been kindly donated by the community to raise additional funds for these significant organisations.

Coal River Farm           Chocolate Hamper

Hellfire gin                     Gin

Frogmore Creek            $100 gift card

Penticott Cruises           $310 gift card - wineglass bay cruise

Zoodoo                           $100 gift card 

Overall, this trivia night fundraiser is a great way for all members of our College community to gather together for a fun night and support these worthy causes.

Tickets - are $10 per person or $90 for a table of 10. We encourage you to bring a small platter of food to share with your team.

DATE - Tuesday 26 September 2023 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM (UTC+10)

LOCATION - MacKillop Catholic College - Brother Tony Smith Centre (College Gymnasium)

2 Goondi Street, Mornington Tasmania 7018

Tickets can be bought on the link below:

https://www.trybooking.com/CLHHB

Please come along and support this fantastic initiative by our student leaders and get behind these

two important causes.

Andrew Pritchard
Deputy Principal - Student and Staff Wellbeing

The Resilience Project

Last Minute Study

What do you do if you have left your study until the last minute?

In an ideal world, it would be great if all students paid attention, focused and participated in all classes, completed all homework and assessments thoroughly, asked for help throughout the year on anything they didn’t understand, made regular summaries of the work covered in class (preferably at the end of each topic or section) and did their best to learn as they go throughout the year.

But in reality, this doesn’t always happen for every student and every subject.

So what can you do if you have left your study for tests and exams to the last minute?

5 TIPS FOR LAST MINUTE STUDY

CLARIFY YOUR FOCUS: Before you dive into your study materials, take a moment to identify what topics and concepts will be tested. Reach out to your teachers or classmates if you're unsure about any specifics. Understanding the exam format and question style will guide your study strategy. Create a checklist of subjects and topics you need to cover, ensuring you're not leaving anything out.

GATHER MATERIALS: Do you have notes, materials, and textbooks on everything you need to learn? If not, is there a friend who can forward you the resources you have misplaced? Is there an online portal where material from classes is stored? Can you borrow from the library additional books or textbooks on the topics you need to learn? Are past examination papers available?

DRAFT A STUDY PLAN: You only have limited time left so you need to make the most of it. Draw up a grid that shows how much time you have left before your exams to study. Decide if you will spend equal time on each subject or if certain subjects need more time. Allocate subjects to the timeslots you have then decide exactly what you will do to prepare for each subject. For each subject make a list of what sort of study you should do to prepare for that subject. Brainstorm your ideas on how to prepare, ask your parents and teachers for feedback, and share ideas with your friends.

CREATE STUDY NOTES: Target your notes to what will be tested. It is best for learning and memory to make your study notes yourself, but if you have run out of time there are options. See if any of your class materials or textbooks have summarised the sections you need, see if there are study guides available in the library on the topics to learn, or make targeted notes yourself on the key areas you have to memorise. You could also see if there is a friend where you could split the topics between yourself and share the notes you make. Don’t spend too long on this stage, it needs to be completed as quickly as possible.

STUDY! What does study actually mean? It means memorising the material you need to know so you can recall it in the exams, and practicing the skills of the subject so you know how to do the types of questions you will have in the exam. To memorise your notes you need to test yourself over and over on them. You could read a section, see what you can write down without looking then check. Then review the things you didn’t know again. Or you could do the same approach reading things out loud and then seeing what you can repeat out loud. Doing questions, practise essays, and past exam questions will also help you understand what you know, and what you need to spend more time on.

Remember, the key is to get started. Procrastination won't serve you well at this point. Embrace the challenge, and you'll be surprised at how much you can accomplish when you're focused and determined. Your ability to absorb and apply information quickly is stronger than you think.

You and your parents can learn more about study and examination techniques at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au by logging in with the username and password located on SEQTA Learn and SEQTA Engage and working through some of the units.

SchoolTV

Understanding the growing challenges related to mental health among young people is an important consideration. Anxiety, depression and self-harm –– are all causes for concern. Factors like academic pressure, social media, family dynamics, and societal expectations, are contributing to these issues. It's therefore crucial for parents and caregivers to take action early, remove the stigma around discussing mental health, and offer accessible support to address these issues and the wellbeing of their children.

R U OK? contributes to suicide prevention year round by urging people to invest time in personal relationships and empowering informal support networks to identify signs of distress. We urge all families to take part, emphasising the value of genuine human relationships and reminding everyone to ask the important question, “Are you OK?”

Engaging in R U OK?Day activities goes beyond the classroom; it's a commitment to our students' overall development. By talking openly about mental health, schools create safe spaces where students feel understood, valued, and supported. As parents and caregivers, you can contribute by fostering open conversations, normalising feelings and breaking down mental health stigmas. Participating in R U OK?Day promotes compassion and shows our dedication to the wellbeing of the entire school community, reaffirming that together, we can truly make a difference.

This Special Report provides guidance on how to talk to your child about mental health and engage in meaningful discussions. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please consider seeking medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report

Director of Catholic Identity and Ministry

Year 8 Spirituality Retreats

A reminder that the Year 8 Retreats will be on at Blundstone Arena this week. Please see below when your class is attending.

Monday 11 September: 8A + 8B

Tuesday 12 September: 8C, 8E + 8G

Wednesday 13 September: 8D + 8F

Students should wear PE uniform on their retreat day.

What to bring: Drink bottle, morning tea, packed lunch if the student does not want hot chips for lunch.

The College will be providing rolls and chips again this year for lunch. If students would like a GF roll, please email Mr Marsh, lmarsh@mackillop.tas.edu.au

Lachlan Marsh
Director of Catholic Identity and Ministry 

Director of Pastoral Care

WELLBEING WEEK 2023 
20th - 26th September

Wellbeing is about balance in all aspects of life.  It encompasses the health of the whole person – physical, mental, social, and emotional. A person’s well-being can change from moment to moment, day to day, month to month, and year to year. It can be influenced by what’s happening in a specific moment and the actions that people take.

As with positive mental health, well-being is most likely to flourish in a supportive and inclusive environment – a safe place where diversity is acknowledged, respected, and seen as adding to the vibrancy and strength of the entire community.

Enlighten Education Butterfly Effect 7-8 Girls 

Enlighten Education' The Butterfly Effect equips girls with the skills to connect and build strong relationships, advocate for themselves and their peers, and become a more cohesive year group, reducing behavioural and engagement issues. 

Enlighten Education Goodfellas 7-8 Boys 

Goodfellas program equips boys with the skills to connect and build strong relationships, advocate for themselves and their peers, and become a force for good in a more cohesive year group, reducing behavioural, conflict, and engagement issues. 

Enlighten Education When Love Hurts Year 9-10 Girls and Boys 

• Gendered patterns of violence and the foundations for abuse (gendered beliefs and sexism)
• The types of violence teens and adults experience and how to identify the warning signs
• Understanding enthusiastic consent
• Knowing how to handle disclosures of abuse
• Knowing how to change and be a good ally

PEER SUPPORT TRAINING - YEAR 9 

Peer support focuses on training our future student leaders on what it means to be a leader and how to support the transition of our new students to High School. It begins by focusing on their potential as a leader and helping them to realise that they all have certain attributes that make them a possible leader. It supports them to identify their strengths and consider the challenges that they and students starting High School will experience.

Rite Journey The Abyss - Year 9

The Abyss is a solo camping experience, where students will be required to be self-sufficient to set up camp and practise the concepts of stillness, silence, solitude, and reflection which they have been learning throughout the program. It is an amazing opportunity to be alone and reflect on the challenges and growth they have faced during this year, as well as their expectations and intentions for the future. 

This is a compulsory activity for Year 9 students as it forms a vital part of their Rite Journey program.

Phillipa Coward
Director of Pastoral Care

Director of Junior School

It is an exciting time for me in the Junior School as I begin to meet the young people who will be joining our community next year, in year 7.  This time reminds me of how much our current year 7 students have achieved in such a short time. 

This time last year the rigours of High School were still unknown.  The immensity of their learning and growing and thriving this year is really phenomenal.  As adults we rarely have the opportunity for such immense growth but probably remember how much effort it takes.  This sustained effort and the ability to maintain and sustain ourselves with grace is hugely demanding and hugely important.  Of course, Year 8s and 9s continue to be stretched and challenged too as they grow into impressive young adults practising managing increasing demands.  This is taxing of course and I am seeing fatigue in our Junior School Students at the moment.  Perhaps it is time to have 'low key' weekends with some extra rest and opportunities to identify and re-focus on priorities.  This will support your children through the current assessment period to gather the energy and drive needed to finish the term off as positively as possible.As part of the process of the Year 6s transition to Mackillop Catholic College for 2024, a survey has been developed for our Year 7 parents, to collect feedback on areas of improvement.  This was circulated by email to parents of our current Year 7s.  Thank you to those that have provided feedback.  If you are a parent of a current Year 7 student and did not receive the email but would like an opportunity to comment on your child's transition experience into Year 7, please get in touch.  I'd love to hear from you.  Year 7 students have also had an opportunity to give feedback which is also proving very valuable.All the best for this busy time for you and your children.

Alison Stevens
Director of Junior School

Careers and Pathways News

It Takes a Spark! STEM Conference:  

On Friday 1 September, Mrs Amber Aitken and I took a group of Year 8 students to the It Takes a Spark!  STEM Conference.  

The day was a fantastic mixture of guest speakers, workshops, networking, and more. Students were able to engage and work with a variety of students from Catholic Colleges across the state in a range of  STEM themed activities such as ‘Robot Recovery Mission’, ‘Marshmallows to Mars’, ‘Sustainable  Speeding Solar Cars’, and more!  

A big thank you to the event organisers for the day and to our students who were great representatives for our College.

The Careers Office is excited to offer more incursion and excursion opportunities for our students in the future.  

Congratulations to Will Seabourne

A big congratulations to Year 11 student, Will Seabourne, on gaining a full-time apprenticeship with the  Royal Hobart Golf Club!  

Will completed Year 10 work experience at Blundstone Arena, which built his interest in the area of turf management and maintenance. Through Year 11 this year, he has been working through a School Based Apprenticeship with the Royal Hobart Golf Club to gain his Certificate III in Turf Management and was recently offered the opportunity to make his apprenticeship full time. 

Will is a great example of how successful School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships can be for our students. If you are interested in an apprenticeship or traineeship, have a chat with me in the Careers  Office or with our VET and Vocational Learning Leader, Ms Sue Howard.  

Careers and Pathways Bookings:  

A reminder to all students and families that the Careers Office is open for bookings and they can be  made via the following link:

Upcoming Careers Events:  

UCAT and Pathways into Medicine Webinar – Wednesday 13 September 7.00 pm  

This forum is an excellent opportunity for students and their parents to find out about the UCAT, and pathways into medicine, and have all questions answered by an expert teacher who has been working in the field since 1999. 

Register for the webinar:

QANTAS Group Pilot Virtual Information Session – Wednesday 27 September 5.00pm  

Pilots in the Qantas Group have access to world-class training and opportunities to advance their  careers through a range of pathways across their Group airlines.  

Join the Virtual Qantas Group Pilot Information Session where Captain Jeremy Schmidt will present opportunities available with a number of Group airlines and speak to how you can further your career  with the Qantas Group.

Register for the virtual information session

University of Tasmania Open Day – Sunday 17 September  

Open Day is a great way to get a taste of life at the University of Tasmania and explore the campuses. You can hear  all about our courses, pathways, and scholarships – straight from students and teaching staff. 

Register your interest

National Computer Science School (NCSS) – Saturday 6 – Monday 15 January | UNSW and University of  Melbourne  

Are you passionate about computer science or cyber security? Join the NCSS for 10 days of programming in January 2024! 

The summer school challenges students to think like computer scientists and provides an intensive programming experience in a university setting. The program also includes fun teamwork activities and an opportunity to meet industry professionals.  

Sarah Gurney
Careers and Pathways Advisor

HaSS

Geography's Time to Shine

In May, Geography students from Years 7-10 tested their geographical skills and knowledge against students from all around Australia in the 2023 Australian Geography Competition.

I recently received the results and certificates and was pleased with how our students performed.

We have a number of student geographers at our school who performed very well in the Competition this year with 3 gaining high distinctions, 4 distinctions, and 4 credits.

Nearly 70,000 students from across Australia entered the Australian Geography Competition so the results give us an external benchmark as to how our students are going in certain aspects of geography.

Rachel Honey, the Competition’s national coordinator, said “The Competition aims to encourage student interest in geography and to reward student excellence.”

“Geography is such an important subject because it brings together the physical and human dimensions of our environment, helping students to develop a deeper understanding of our world and the challenges it faces,” said Ms Honey.

Australia’s team to the 2024 International Geography Olympiad in Dublin, Ireland, will be chosen from Year 11 students who have excelled in the 2023 Australian competition.

The Competition is a joint initiative of the Australian Geography Teachers’ Association and the Royal Geographical Society of Queensland. Funding to support the Competition and Australia’s team in the Olympiad is provided by the Australian Department of Education, Skills, and Employment, the University of Melbourne, and the University of New South Wales.

Ms Jacinta Pearce
Learning Leader - Humanities and Social Sciences 

Technologies

Digital technologies

Digital technologies are electronic tools, devices, systems, and resources that generate, store or process data. Digital tools include social media, mobile phones, online games, and multimedia.  Here you can see students in Digital Technology classes participating in a variety of hands-on programming, networking, and computer hardware activities.  Students can be seen using Micro: bits with Grove kits, Raspberry Pi microcomputers, Linux operating systems, and Python code.

 Chris Littlejohn
Teacher

MKC Swimming Carnival

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. 

Community Events

The Tassie Tiger Hockey One season is fast approaching with the first home game of the season on the 6^th of October vs Hockey Club Melbourne. Please could you put the flyer and social graphics attached in your newsletters, on your relevant social pages and pass them on to your students along with the link to buy tickets from our INTIX Portal which is below: 

More information about our Tassie Tigers and the 2023 Hockey One season can be found on our website via this link: 

Rapid Antigen Tests Available

With the COVID-19 risk recently raised to a moderate level, we encourage you to collect RATs from our school office for your family.  These will be available until our stocks run out and we will not be replenishing our supply. 
Please don't hesitate to contact us with any queries: admin@mackillop.tas.edu.au