16 Sep 2021

From the Principal – Ms Pussich

Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Mary MacKillop as an example of holiness.
Help us to imitate the love of You she showed in her faithfulness
throughout the sufferings of poverty she endured during her youth.

St. Mary MacKillop, your family was very poor during your childhood and adolescence.
Despite the sufferings of poverty, you did all you could to faithfully serve God.

Please bring my petitions before God with such faithfulness!

During your adolescence, you began to feel drawn to serving the poor.
You then went on to devote your life to serving God through service to those who suffered from poverty.

Pray for me, that I may never allow any sufferings to deter me from serving God.
Pray that I may be as eager to devote my life to God as you were.
Please also pray for my personal intentions.

Amen

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop – Pray for us
St Joseph – Pray for us

 

Thank you to our parents/carers and staff for the partnerships formed throughout this period of remote learning to support the wellbeing and ensure the learning for your daughters. We are proud of the extraordinary work of our students as they work with their teachers and with each other in the remote learning environment. Our students are resilient and hard working and their tenacity throughout Term 3 has been nothing short of outstanding. 

As we prepare to head to the holidays I would like to take a moment to not only thank you for an extraordinary Term 3 but provide an insight into the plan to transition back to face to face learning in Term 4.

 

Return to School Plan Term 4

The NSW Premier has proposed a return to school plan for Term 4:

  • 25 October – Year 12
  • 1 November – Year 11
  • 8 November – Year 7-10

We are currently planning for a return on these dates, however, we know that this will be contingent on the health advice and rates of infection in the community. Specific dates of each year group’s return to MMCC will be published early in Term 4

We do know that when our students are ready to return, very strict COVID guidelines will be in place. Although these guidelines will mean activities we enjoy at school like assemblies, excursions, carnivals and performances cannot go ahead, our priority, as always, is to provide a safe environment for all our students and to ensure we are able to effectively manage any exposure efficiently and with as few staff and students impacted as possible. We understand the restrictions of the pandemic will continue to present a challenge but we are confident that the work of our teachers and students in remote learning will prepare us for a successful return to school. 

At MMCC, our focus is to support our Year 12 students with sitting their HSC examinations and to bring back staff and students when it is safest to do so while still meeting NSW Government and Health, NESA and SCS guidelines. Our staff have shown their dedication by ensuring that they are vaccinated by 8 November. We encourage family members including our students aged 12 years and over to look after their health and the health of others by getting vaccinated.

 

Student Leadership Team 2021-2022

Congratulations to our student leadership team for 2021-2022. These students along with our Homeroom Leaders will formally be commissioned later in the year.

College Executive
 COLLEGE:      Captain – Niza De Araujo    Vice Captain – Josette Grima
 PORTFOLIO:      Captain – Lynn Awad    Vice Captain – Mary Anoya
 HOUSE:      Captain – Chantelle Alam    Vice Captain – Natalia Sheebo
Portfolio Student Leaders
 CULTURE:       Captain – Faalua Emile       Vice Captain – Chantelle Potros
 FAITH:       Captain – Helen Sutto       Vice Captain – Rita Alsamani
 JUSTICE:       Captain – Bushra Alsamani       Vice Captain – Daniella Louis
 LEARNING:       Captain – Ella Velickovic       Vice Captain – Emily Dinevska
 WELLBEING:
      Captain – Tina Nguyen       Vice Captain – Kardina Batti
House Student Leaders
 ARENA HOUSE:       Captain – Santa Batti       Vice Captain – Daniella Franso
 CROSIO HOUSE:       Captain – Agol Aguok       Vice Captain – Emily Bathis
GOOLAGONG HOUSE:       Captain – Suzie Coates       Vice Captain – Tina Nguyen
 HENDERSON HOUSE:       Captain – Marla Gilyana       Vice Captain – Lisipeti Elika
 McCORMACK HOUSE:       Captain – Emma Younan       Vice Captain – Mitchell Mele
 O’SHANE HOUSE:       Captain – Caitlyn Chung       Vice Captain – Gladys Dos Santos

 

Staff Changes

Miss Michelle Israel is taking leave for Term 4 and so we have made a few significant and temporary changes to our Leadership Team. For Term 4:

College Leadership Team: Leader of Curriculum – Mrs Jennifer Lowe

College Leadership Team: Leader of Wellbeing – Mr Matthew Andrejev

Coordinator of Learning: Year 10 – Miss Leah Brown

Coordinator of Learning: Diverse Learning Needs – Ms Lidija Veselcic and Miss Leah Brown

We wish Mrs Demetra Tripodi well as she begins her maternity leave next term. We also farewell Miss Cathy Cerovac who takes on additional hours at her other school of employment.

 

Enrolments

We have begun enrolling for 2023 and also have limited spaces for 2022. If your daughter has not yet enrolled, please contact the College for an enrolment package. Please let your family and friends who are interested in having their daughters attend MMCC to contact the College.

 

Holiday Contact

In the school holiday period, if you need assistance you can contact the school on info@mmcwakeley.catholic.edu.au. Please do not hesitate to contact us for any support you might need. 

I wish our community all the best for a relaxing and safe two week break.

Enrolling Now Year 7 2022 & 2023

From the Assistant Principal – Mrs Harding

Dear Parents and Carers,

Thank you for working with the College throughout Term 3. We appreciate the challenging nature of the term for families and would like to congratulate our students on being flexible and adaptable in their learning.

Return to school Term 4 for Years 7 – 11

Please have a look at the Learn and Thrive flyer in this newsletter. The flyer outlines the expectations of the College during remote learning.

  • We begin Term 4 on Tuesday 5th October with the continuation of remote learning
  • We will have a College Zoom Assembly period 1 on Tuesday 5th October and parents are welcome to join their daughters for this assembly
  • Remote learning will continue for all students during Weeks 1-3

Year 11 2022 HSC Information Assembly

Year 11 will attend a Zoom assembly on Wednesday 6 October, period 4. In this assembly the students will receive their HSC Assessment Handbooks and important information for the 2022 HSC. Parents are welcome to watch the Zoom with their daughters.

Year 12 Return Term 4

Year 12 students will undertake tutorial classes from Weeks 1-3 of Term 4. These will be held each day during Periods 1-4 for all students sitting an HSC exam. Students are required to attend these tutorial classes and each subject has been assigned four tutorials. HSC Plus students are required to speak with their teacher in regards to their classes. There will be no classes scheduled for Periods 5 and 6, providing students with time to do private study.

The tutorial classes are not normal classes. These are blocks of time whereby teachers will provide:

  • Time to complete parts of Trial papers
  • HSC masterclasses with guest speakers
  • Targeted topic areas e.g English “Craft of Writing”

This model provides individual study and revision over the 2 weeks school holidays as well as every afternoon from lunch time. The model is subject to change as per NSW Health, NESA guidelines and SCS requirements.

I wish all families a relaxing break and hope that this provides a time where our girls can take time to get off their screens and rejuvenate.

Stay safe,

Year 12 Class of 2021

Learn & Thrive @ MMCC

From the Leader Religious Education – Mrs Flanagan

Catholic Life @ MMCC

 

Young Josephite’s Retreat

During the holidays students from MMCC will be taking part in the virtual “Young Josephite’s Retreat” run by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart.  Congratulations to Bushra Alsamani, Kardina Batti,  Imeelya Kina, Oryana Koreah, Asteer Saleem, Diana Tawa and Ranya Tawa who will be taking part in this event. 

 

Environmental Support

In conjunction with the Josephite Environment Group, staff at MMCC showed their love of God’s wonderful earth and care for the environment by sharing photos of their favourite places in nature.

 

Rosary & Divine Mercy Chaplet

Thank you to all students and teachers who have attended Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet throughout the term via Zoom. Prayer as a community, led by Mr Samuel, has been an important part of staying connected as a community and to our faith during this time of remote learning and staying at home. We look forward to more students and staff joining us in prayer in Term 4.

 

 

OLR Virtual Trivia Night

OLR parish is holding a virtual Trivia Games Night on 24th September, Friday 7-8 pm, via Zoom. This is open for all students, parents, or teachers who would like to spend their Friday night as a Parish Community and have a good time.  The theme for the night is Movies and special prizes will be awarded to the winners. Please contact events@olrfairfield.org.au for the Zoom link.

 

Catholic Faith Community Resources

Stay connect with the universal Catholic Church through the links and resources below

 

Revive @ 5pm

Take some time to Rest, Reflect & Renew with the SCS Mission & Identity team, listening to Session 1 to 4 from the Revive @ 5, that took place during Term 3. Revive @ 5 – Session 1, 2, 3 & 4 Link to the videos

 

Spiritual Marathon

Key steps to running a Spiritual Marathon (albeit within 5kms of your residence)

Click here to read this article and then watch the Youtube Video

 

Faith Everyday

10 Ways To Integrate Faith Into Your Everyday Life

Click on each link below to take you to a resource that will help you live these things out in your daily life!

 

Catholic Prayer

Catholic Prayer Hacks Even “Experts” Use by Becky Roach – Click here to view the article

Living a Catholic Life

How To Be A Better Person In 2021 (even if it still looks like 2020) by Genevieve Perkins – Click here to view this article

The Catholic Weekly

https://www.catholicweekly.com.au/

 Catholic News

https://cathnews.com/cathnews

 

Word On Fire

Bishop Robert Barron’s Word on Fire

Online videos, homilies, articles, lectures, blogs, podcasts, bible study programs and more for theological and faith.

Link – https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/video/

 

 

Sunday Mass Live Streams

 During this time of retreat let us take time each Sunday to meditate upon Holy Communion and gather as a family for Mass. Please utilise the links below to access live streamed Masses from our local parishes and parishes within the Archdiocese of Sydney

 St Gertrude’s, Smithfield – Sunday Mass and Weekday Masses, live streamed

https://www.stgertrude.org.au/

Sacred Heart, Cabramatta – Sunday Mass and Weekday Masses, live streamed

http://www.sacredheartcabramatta.org.au/

Our Lady of the Rosary, Fairfield – Parish Information

https://www.olrfairfield.org.au/

Syriac Catholic ChurchParish Live Stream service

https://www.syriac-catholic-church.org.au/

St Thomas the Apostle, Bossley Park – Parish Live Stream service

https://www.stthomaschaldean.org.au/

Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney – Sunday Mass and Daily Masses, live streamed https://www.sydneycatholic.org/live-masses/
The Catholic TV Network Sunday Mass and Daily Masses, live streamed  The Catholic TV Network

 

Vigil for Refugees & Asylum Seekers

 

Messages for Year 12 from the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart

 

 

 

From the Leader of Teaching and Learning – Ms Genovese

Term 3 has come to an end and what a term it has been! This term has presented both students and staff with a valuable opportunity to grow and strengthen their skill of resilience, as they overcame obstacles and challenges that were synonymous with remote learning and teaching. Students at Mary MacKillop Catholic College are to be applauded for how well they have approached their learning in an online remote learning environment.

Recently students have engaged with the launch of our College Learning Motto ‘Everything Counts.’ The essence of this motto is to promote the mindset that all aspects of learning should be seen by students as an opportunity to grow in their potential. This ranges from learning experiences from within the classroom, to formal assessment, examinations, cross curricular tasks, sporting ventures, debating and the list goes on.

In Term 4, the in-class tasks that students complete for each subject will contribute to their Semester 2 grade of their academic report. Years 7, 8 and 9 will not engage in formal assessment tasks and homework will be minimal. At the recent year assemblies I asked students in these year groups to reflect on how well they fully engaged in remote learning this term and what strategies they can implement to take more ownership of their learning in Term 4.

I wish students all the best as they head into their school holiday period. Stay safe, stay well and use the time to recharge and rejuvenate to prepare yourself for a big term of learning in Term 4. Remember in learning ‘Everything Counts.’

 

Lockdown Friendly Activities for the Holidays

Whilst students permit themselves a well earned break from the classroom over the holidays, there are some fun ways that you can keep the brain engaged. I would like to share with you some activities you can do over the holiday period with your families.

 

Get Creative

Laugh

 

Learn something new

 

Attempt this Tongue Twister with your family and friends


Year 12 Visual Arts

Join us in congratulating the Year 12 Visual Arts students who, on Monday 6th September submitted their final HSC Body’s of Work. 

We are so proud of our students here at the college and we wanted to share their works with the community. Each submission is unique and ranges in media, from drawing and painting to sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, photography and digital media. The HSC works explore themes of cultural identity and traditions, escapism, greek mythology, journey and hardship through personal experiences, celebration of beauty and self worth as well as many other diverse concepts.

Our students worked diligently on these artworks for one long and difficult year, however, they showed their resilience and strength by pushing through remote learning, applying feedback and producing artworks that showcase their refined skills.

We are so proud of our Year 12 Visual Arts Students, Here are some of their artworks below:

Miss Krasic & Miss O’Regan, Visual Arts Teachers

 

Damyana Moma

 

Olivia Furlan

 

Rejena Dankha

 

Sarah Al-Faro

 

Cilina Alhanoon

 

Fiona Nguyen

 

Ruahine Apaola

 

Natalie Hong

Happy Knitting

Knitting is fun and useful

Year 7 Technology (7 TEC 3 and 7 TEC 5) are currently learning about how knitted fabrics are made from yarn. These are some of the results from the mini knitting project that the students have recently completed.

Mrs Donnelly, TAS Teacher

Melad knitted a bunny

Evelyn finger knitted and turned it into a knitted coaster

Patricia finger knitted and turned it into a butterfly and bracelet

Nour finger knitted and made a butterfly and bracelet

Sandra knitted a scarf and beanie

Amanda finger knitted and turned it into a butterfly

Ghazal knitted a scarf and made a knitted bunny

Kristy knitted a scarf and made a minion pompom

Alyssia finger knitted a bracelet

Jenny knitted with show laces

Jean tried finger knitting and crocheting

Alanah finger knitted and turned it into a butterfly

Marleen knitted a scarf and finger knitted a butterfly

Rand finger knitted and made a dog