I would like to extend a warm welcome to all students and families to a year of learning at Mary MacKillop Catholic College. I would especially like to welcome our new families and students to the MMCC community.

Welcome to our New Year 7 Students

A big Mary MacKillop Catholic College Welcome to our new Year 7 students who had the special opportunity to spend their first day on their own before the rest of the school came back to start the year. Our College community is very happy to welcome you and we hope the next six years are full of life long learning.

On the first day our new Year 7 students had an opportunity to meet with Ms Pussich and I who went through an induction session that covered topics such as:

• Catholic Life
• Respect
• Learning Culture
• Bullying
• Kindness
• College Diary
• Classroom behaviour
• Acceptable use of ICT Devices
• Attendance
• Uniform and Grooming
• Being Inclusive

Important Reminders to Begin the Year

Our College community began the year on 31 January with the afternoon in lessons and the morning on administration, ensuring students were presented with very important aspects of MMCC expectations before they started their classes for 2023. The presentations were centred around:

• Learning Culture: All students were reminded of their rights and responsibilities of being a member of the Mary MacKillop Catholic College Learning Community.
• Attendance: Ensuring all students are clear on the expectations of attendance for academic success.
• Diary: Clear understanding of the importance of the diary being the central form of communication and organisation between school and home.
• Uniform: Clear guidelines regarding grooming, jewellery and expectations for their school and sports uniform.

A huge thank you to the Homeroom Teachers who have worked very closely with your daughters in ensuring they began the year well informed and ready for learning.

Compass App

Compass is our Student Information System where parents can communicate and receive communication from the College. Compass can be accessed on your mobile phone or computer. It is essential that every parent has access and keeps their password private. Please do not give your daughter your password.

Please access Compass regularly to update absences for your daughter, access reports and receive messages from the school. Here are some helpful links below:

1. The app store: gl/9FHGg6
2. Google play: gl/iSmC64
3. Browser: https://mmcwakeley-nsw.compass.education/

Mobile Phone Policy Reminder

The purpose of the Mobile Phone Policy is to ensure the safety of students, promote appropriate and safe use of mobile phones within College grounds, and encourage interaction and communication without distractions.

Below are the key elements of the policy:

• All mobile phones are to be out of sight, switched off or on silent as soon as the student enters the College front doors of a morning.
• Mobile phones are to remain out of sight until your daughter departs the front doors of the College.
• If a mobile phone is sighted on school grounds from the moment the student walks into the College front doors, for any reason, they will have it confiscated immediately by staff.
• Refusal to give a confiscated phone to a teacher will automatically result in a Thursday Afternoon RAP detention.
• Continued abuse of this policy may result in further consequences.
• The school accepts no responsibility for replacing mobile phones that are lost, stolen or damaged whilst on school premises.
• If students need to contact their parents/carers they can go to Student Services and request to use a phone.
• If parents/carers need to contact their daughters they can call the College reception on 9725-4322 and a message will be passed on to their daughter.

We appreciate the support of parents in having their daughter’s adhere to this policy and ask that you please do not text or call your daughter throughout the day.

Lockers

Be Sun Safe

College Dress Code

The students began the year in a tremendous way when it comes to their uniform. We thank parents for their support in ensuring that your daughters started the year excellently dressed and groomed, respecting the College’s high expectations. To continue our commitment to high standards in presentation, a reminder of the dress code related to jumpers:

I thank you for your continued support of our College uniform and grooming policies.

College Photo Day – Monday 20th February

The College Photo Day is coming up on the 20th February and I take this opportunity to remind parents to ensure that your daughters adhere to our daily uniform and grooming expectations. We ask that you take note of the following specific reminders:

• Makeup of any kind is not allowed (including eyeliner, eye-shadow, mascara, foundation)
• Necklaces – only Christian cross, inside their blouse may be worn
• A watch may be worn, however, students are reminded that wearing a digital watch is not permitted during exams
• Other than a simple pair of studs or sleepers (Gold or Silver), one per ear in the lower lobe. There is to be no other jewellery present
• Hair tied back for all hair below shoulder length (i.e. a ponytail or similar. NOT to the side, no bows/flowers or clips). No incorrect hair styles, including balayage, ombre or other banned hairstyles or cuts.
• No eyelash extensions
• No tattoos including henna
• Simple elastics in College colours
• Blouse pockets must be empty
• Year 12 students must bring their blazers with them for the Year 12 group photo.
• Year 11 and 12 leaders and Year 10 Homeroom leaders must bring their blazers with them for the leadership photos.

If your daughter is not following the above regulations (which are the daily expectations of any student), then we will not allow her photo to be taken.