FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear members of the Mary MacKillop Catholic College community,

In this first week of Lent we also celebrate Catholic Schools’ Week. During this time I was blessed to be invited to visit our six feeder schools and several of our feeder parishes to speak of Mary MacKillop Catholic College. For a principal, this is a privileged experience, as I was able to see at first hand the wonderful cultures of our local primary schools. At each visit I was accompanied by ex students from the schools who shared their experiences of growing into their adolescent years in a community of challenge, safety and support at MMCC.

I was moved to hear our girls talking of confidence, friendship, faith and the dedication of the staff as they answered questions from the years 5 and 6 girls at each school. To hear these unrehearsed responses affirms the work we have been doing in building the confidence of our students as learners and the welcoming richness of the MMCC community.

We are blessed as a school to be supported by our pastors on a daily basis. As I attended the masses over our associated parishes over the last two weekends, I became even more aware of the blessing of working in such a rich cultural part of Sydney. To be present at two baptisms at St Benedict’s at Smithfield and to hear the wonderful Vietnamese choir at Sacred Heart Cabramatta, or to chat with long standing parishioners at Our Lady of the Rosary at Fairfield who shared with me their long history with the schools were magical experiences.

We are so blessed with our church and school communities. This partnership serves to grow our young people in faith, a sense of justice through the Christ message and a certainty of belonging as they continue their education in our local Fairfield schools.

During this time of Lent I invite you to renew your experience of your parish and during this time of Catholic Schools week, I invite you to visit our school communities and explore the excellence of our partner schools.

My experiences over the past two weeks have certainly reaffirmed the importance of my role as Principal in a Catholic School in one of the most culturally rich areas of our beautiful city.

God Bless

Narelle Archer

Principal

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Year 7 Excursion – Mary MacKillop Place

Year 7 students visited Mary MacKillop Place to visit the museum and the resting place of Mary MacKillop. Students had a chance to learn about the College patron and her call to serve God by educating the poor and starting the Sisters of St Joseph. As part of the day students also took part in a workshop focusing on the qualities of Mary MacKillop, and in particular, how she is an example for Catholics living and explored her inspirational quotes.

Lent

During Lent – Catholics are called to repentance, reconciliation, fasting, prayer and almsgiving through the Gospel of Matthew. This call takes us to the heart of the penitential season of Lent: a conversion of heart that comes from a renewed and revitalised relationship with our God who is gracious and merciful and bestows abundant life on all.

As Catholics we know that we are called to live life to the full. During Lent, this ‘joyful season’, we are called to give expression to the ‘greatest commandment of the law’, the love of God and the love of one’s neighbour which is at the heart of Project Compassion.

This Lent, after the ash is washed away and we move through this journey to Easter, let us hold in our prayers the oppressed, the hungry, the broken-hearted, the captive, the prisoner. Can we fast so that others may have more of the world’s resources? In a time ‘when the divide between the mega-rich and the forgotten poor is ever widening’, may we bring the good news to those most deeply affected by the inequities in our world — let us take home a Project Compassion box or envelope set and give generously to some of our neighbours who are amongst the poorest and most vulnerable people in our world.

Project Compassion 2017 – “Love your Neighbour”

During Lent the College community will be supporting the works of Caritas through making donations to Project Compassion, during CLC, in order to show love to one’s neighbour, both near and far. Throughout Lent Catholics are challenged to give up a luxury item and donate the money usually spent in buying this item to the poor. Students are encouraged to not buy drinks, chocolates, chips or cakes once a week and donate this money to Project Compassion. Working together as a community, a donation of as little as $1 per week can collectively make a big difference in the lives of those less fortunate.

Lenten Reflection

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT – Face to face with temptation

Pope Francis tells us that a selfish and boundless thirst for power and material prosperity – as offered to Jesus in the Gospel – leads to both the misuse of available resources and the exclusion of the vulnerable and disadvantaged.

In the Gospel, the same Spirit who baptised Jesus in the Jordan led him out into the wilderness, where he encountered self-doubt and was tempted to accept power over ‘all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour’. Through prayer, Jesus was strengthened for ministry and service to go and ‘be’ the good news of God’s mercy and love.

During Lent, the Church, through today’s Gospel and the words of Pope Francis, invites us to take up the call to fast, pray and give alms. Project Compassion enables us to pray so that we will be strengthened to fast and give (alms). In this way we can help neighbours like Dinia in the Philippines to find healing and peace, and to know herself as a valued member of her community with a role in creating a brighter future for her children.

A retreat into our own ‘wilderness’ leads us to a place deep within ourselves where we encounter this servant, Jesus, inviting us to take seriously this Lenten call.

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT – Promise & transfiguration

During these early weeks of Lent we hear of Spirit, wilderness, temptation, wild beasts, angels. The gospel of the second week of lent we hear of the loving promise made between God and Abraham. On Mount Tabor, God speaks of Jesus as ‘beloved’ son and urges Peter, James and John to “Listen to him”. He urges them to listen to what Jesus has been saying about the direction his ministry will now take — Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem and his death and eventual resurrection, a journey on which we, as people of a loving Covenant, are invited.

This journey is intended to help us discern what really matters, and to recognise that our responsibility for others goes beyond our immediate community. Project Compassion urges us to recognise Martina from Timor-Leste as a neighbour, full of dignity and grace. She has taken the long journey to transform her life, make important links with a supportive community and create a better future for herself and her children.

Our God on Mount Tabor who sends the Son ‘not to be served but to serve’ invites us on this journey to transform the world through the sacrifices of our daily life.

Mrs Flanagan, Leader of Learning – Religious Education

LENTEN PENANCE

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Our first four weeks of Term 1 have flown. It seems that the Christmas holidays were months away and we are settling now into a routine with our new timetable changes and bell times.

The Year 7 students have been introduced to the Peacemakers program presented by our Psychlinx counsellors with the support of our Year 10 CLC leaders who are known as the “Big Sisters” to the junior students. The feedback of the program we received has been very positive.

Our Year 10 students have begun their 3week Social Connectedness and Self Awareness workshops on Thursday during Sport. The program looks at issues such as emotional and social development, positive connections and strategies to boost self-awareness and resilience. It will be interesting to get their opinions about the program after they complete it. CORE Community Services are facilitating the workshops and I would to thank Matthew Russell for offering us this opportunity.

Fourteen parents have signed up to do the Tuning into Teens six- week practical course which has been offered to us by Strong Minds and Catholic Care. The first session began on Thursday. We hope the parents learn some valuable tips about raising teenagers that will assist them through what can be interesting times.

Claudia Encina from Community First Step has been generous with sponsoring more students to attend the Jamie’s Ministry of Food cooking classes again this year. The students always enjoy the experience and surprise their families with offering to cook delicious, healthy meals which they have learned to cook at Jamie’s. Soon most of our students will be helping their parents prepare the family meals at home!

The Helping Hand – Homework support is picking up momentum with more students staying back after school to receive assistance with their homework or to practice their reading and speaking skills in English.

Below is a photos of our students celebrating their cooking achievements at Jamie’s Ministry of Food, Wetherill Park. Congratulations girls. Well done!

Guitar Anyone?

Free guitar lessons will be offered at Cabramatta Whitlam Library. Fairfield City Council has also extended an invitation to our students to volunteer at the Bring it On! festival in April. Interested students aged 14-24 can apply on the council’s website: http://www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/info/20001/events_festivals_and_things_to_do/168/bring_it_on_festival

Mrs Gesson, Leader of Learning, Community Engagement

NEWMAN SELECTIVE Gifted Education Program

PUBLIC LECTURES FOR PARENTS OF GIFTED CHILDREN

SLEEK GEEKS SCIENCE EUREKA PRIZE – SECONDARY  YEAR 7 – 10

FUTURE LEADER PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION – Only for Year 12 students

FUTURE LEADERS WRITING COMPETITION – Only for Year 11 & 12 students

Ms Mathieu, Newman (Gifted & Talented) Coordinator

YEAR 7 ENROLMENTS IN SYDNEY CATHOLIC SYSTEMIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS

From 2017, all Sydney Catholic Systemic Secondary schools will be enrolling students for Year 7 two years before their intended start date.

This means that, for students in year 5 in 2017, enrolment applications, interviews and offers of places will be conducted at Sydney Catholic Systemic Secondary colleges throughout the course of 2017.

Children and young people who follow a continuous Catholic education pathway from Kindergarten to Year 12 are immersed in the Catholic faith tradition, benefit from consistent approaches to teaching and learning and experience a sense of ‘belonging’ to a community.

For more information, please contact the Principal at your child’s Sydney Catholic Systemic school or visit our website https://sydcatholicschools.nsw.edu.au/

STUDY SKILLS HANDBOOK

BUILDING CONCENTRATION SKILLS

Many students find it difficult to concentrate and stay focused when they are doing their schoolwork at home. So what can we do to improve concentration levels?

Try these top tips:

• WORK OUT PEAK TIMES

  Start to pay attention to what time of the day you are most focused. That’s when you need to do the harder work or the work that requires greatest concentration. If you know you get tired after dinner don’t leave the difficult work until then.

• ANCHOR TO THE PRESENT

  Create a focus word that brings you back on task. We all daydream. The key is to start to pay more attention to when you are doing it and then immediately take action. If your key word for example was ‘orange’ when you notice you are day-dreaming say ‘orange orange orange’ to refocus your attention to your work.

• IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT

  Have a good hard look at the environment you are trying to concentrate in. Is it noisy? Are there more exciting things happening around you? Is it too hot? Too cold? Are you uncomfortable? Too comfortable? What can you do to make the space more conducive to concentration?

• BLOCKS OF TIME

  If you are someone who finds it difficult to concentrate at home don’t try and study for too long at a time. Instead tell yourself you will work for 20-30 minutes then you can have a break. If you know it is only 20-30 minutes it is much easier to concentrate than if it was for an indefinite period of time.

• RESET THE BRAIN

  Sometimes you just need a time-out from what you are doing in order to be able to concentrate again. If your attention is constantly wandering, then get up and have a drink, walk outside, kick a ball – just take 5 to 10 minutes to clear your head so you can come back fresh to your work.

• CARROT AND STICK

  Some people are motivated by working towards rewards, others by avoiding punishments. Give yourself a target time to focus with a little reward at the end if you achieve it – or maybe a little punishment if you don’t!

You can learn more about how to be a more effective student at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au by logging in with the details below and working through some of the units. There are also lots of useful grids and planners at the bottom of the Things to Print page.

Username: mmcwakeley

Password: 16success

HSC IN THE HOLIDAYS

COMING EVENTS

MASS TIMES

Smithfield:

Saturday Vigil 6.00pm;

8.00 am (Italian); 10.30 am; 6.00pm

Fairfield West:

Saturday Vigil 5pm (Vietnamese); 7 pm (Spanish); 7.30am & 9.00am; 11am (Spanish); 6pm (Arabic)

Smithfield 9.15 am. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday;  6pm Wednesday 

Fairfield West Monday – Friday 7am Saturday 8am

Fr Jarek Zan

Vigil: 6:00pm Sat   

Sunday 7.30am (Polish) 9.00am 10.30am 4.30pm (Vietnamese) 6pm

Fr Michael de Stoop, Fr Francisco Regala

Saturday Vigil English: 6pm Vietnamese: 7.30pm

Sunday English 8.30am, 10am & 6pm Vietnamese 6.30am, 4pm, 7.15pm Polish11.30am

Monday – Friday 7.00am, Wednesday 7.30pm Saturday 9.00am Vietnamese – Tuesday & Thursday 7pm

Fr Liem Duong, Fr Nen Dang

Monday 7.00am  Tuesday 8.00am Thursday & Friday 8.00am Wednesday 7.00pm Saturday 8.00am

Saturday Vigil 6.00pm Sunday 9:00am

Fr Jerry Prindiville

Monday-Friday:  8.30am Saturday Vigil: 5.30pm Sunday: First Mass 8.30am  

Solemn Mass 10.30am English Mass: 5.30pm

Monday-Friday: 5.30pm Saturday Vigil: 5.30pm Sunday: Solemn Mass 9.00am Arabic Mass: 5.30pm

Saturday English Mass: 5.30pm Sunday Mass: 9.00am