From the Principal – Ms Pussich

Feast of St Joseph – 19th March

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
To you God entrusted his only Son;
in you Mary placed her trust;
with you Christ became man.
Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage, and defend us from every evil.
Amen.

Prayer to Saint Joseph by Pope Francis

On Thursday 23rd March, MMCC will gather to celebrate the Feast of St Joseph (19th March). Mass will take place in the Hall from 9am with Fr Roberto from Sacred Heart Cabramatta will be presiding. Parents are most welcome to join us.

To mark the Feast of St Joseph you may wish to engage in Seven Days of Prayer (provide by the Sisters of St Joseph)

• Day 1 – St Joseph, Deeply Loved
• Day 2 – St Joseph, Tender and Loving
• Day 3 – St Joseph, the Obedient One
• Day 4 – St Joseph, the Accepting One
• Day 5 – St Joseph, the Creative and Courageous Believer and Guide
• Day 6 – St Joseph, the Worker, Providing for All
• Day 7 – St Joseph, in the Shadows

This feast invites each one of us, like Joseph, to find trust in God’s promise that life comes through death and difficult realities. God chose Joseph in his simplicity and humility to participate in God’s mission as the humble worker from Nazareth to safeguard the gift of the Child Jesus entrusted to him. May St Joseph strengthen us in our mission today to protect and safeguard the children and vulnerable persons of our communities who are entrusted to our care. May this feast day provide each one with the opportunity to live in the humble spirit of Joseph as people called to make a difference in our world.

Swimming Carnival

The MMCC Swimming Carnival, held on 10 March, was a wonderful community day.  The students engaged in swimming events, water activities and for the first time, Aquatopia. Use of Aquatopia allowed the students not be stuck overheating in the stands. Rather they were able to cool off and have fun with their friends.

Congratulations to our students for the marked improvement in spirit, attendance and behaviour at the carnival.

• Well done to Year 8!
• Big improvement from Year 10 and especially Year 12!
• Hope to see an improvement from Year 7 and Year 11!

A big thank you to Mr Shelton, the House Coordinators, the PDHPE staff and College Leadership Team for their organisation and all staff for their engagement in the day and supervision of the students.

SCS Conference 4 Swimming Carnival

On Wednesday, 15 March evening our strongest swimmers represented the College at the annual SCS Conference 4 Swimming Carnival held at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. Well done to our students:

• Charlotte David
• Ashley Duong
• Katherine Fasavalu
• Kazarra Haddad
• Rose Lebolo-Carey
• Almudena Ruiz-Davila

Congratulations to Charlotte and Katherine who will be representing Conference 4 at the SCS Swimming Championships.

Thank you to Mr Shelston and Mr Horvath for accompanying the students.

Parent Advisory Group

Thank you to our parents who joined us on Wednesday, 13 March for our Parent Advisory Group Meeting:

• Sanaa Hirmiz (mother of  Christina Qassab, Year 7)
• Meagan O’Grady (mother of Hanna, Year 10)
• Stefa Shaga (mother of Lana Kala, Year 7)
• Magy Silva-Giuliano (mother of Sara Giuliano, Year 12)
• Catherine Weeding (mother of  Gabrielle Weeding, Year 8)
• Sana Yonan (mother of Isabella Omar, Year 11)

International Women’s Day

On Wednesday 8 March, MMCC staff and students celebrated International Women’s Day. Our students, showing their aspirations, dressed up in their future career. In addition, Mary Anoya and Kardina Batti, accompanied by Miss Krasic, attended the CSNSW International Women’s Day Breakfast at the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel. Students from a number of SCS girl’s schools were invited. Guests at the event included NSW Education Minister, Sarah Mitchell and NSW Shadow Education Minister, Prue Car.

Class Chefs

On 22 May, our Hospitality students are taking over Cucina 105. This has been organised by MMCC staff in partnership with South West Connect. Register through Eventbrite to enjoy an evening of good food prepared and served by MMCC Hospitality students. Details are contained in this newsletter.

Thank you for your ongoing support of the College,

Gilda Pussich
Principal

I acknowledge the Cabrogal of the Darug Nation as the original inhabitants of Fairfield City, who are the Traditional Custodians of this Land in which the College stands. I also pay respect to the Elders both past and present and future of the Darug Nation. I acknowledge their rich culture and unique role here in the Fairfield region. Their heritage and traditions are important to us all, and part and parcel of the great history of Australia.

From the Assistant Principal – Mrs Harding

Dear Parents and Carers,

Students have settled well into the 2023 academic year and the term has been extremely busy with a variety of learning opportunities given to our girls on a regular basis. With the school holidays approaching and the possible increased use of social media platforms it is important that parents and carers are aware of organisations that give safe and authorised information to parents in ensuring the online safety of children.

eSafety

eSafety is an independent statutory office supported by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). The website provides a wide range of online safety programs and resources for students and parents. eSafety has a range of regulatory functions and powers, which aim to safeguard Australians at risk of online harms and promote safer, more positive online experiences.

How much screen time is too much?

Further information can be found on the e-safety Commissioner website.

A couple of reminders for Term 1 and the commencement of Term 2:

Student Diary

The school diary provides an opportunity for teachers and parents to communicate. Parents are encouraged to make regular checks of the diary and to use the diary as a means of communicating with teachers. Take some time to look at the back section too – the movement log.

Student Absence

To comply with the Education Act, an attendance note must be put on your daughter’s Compass within 7 days of a her absence, after which time the absence will be recorded as unexplained. Days absent without explanation will be recorded on student reports.

Term 1 concludes on Wednesday 5 April

Our last day of Term 1 classes will be Wednesday 5 April. The day will be a normal school day with all classes going ahead.  All students are expected to attend the day.

Staff Professional Learning Day – Thursday 6 April

Thursday 6 April will be a Staff Professional Learning Day. As a result there will be NO formal classes on this day and students will NOT be required to attend school. Please contact the College if you require supervision for your daughter.

Staff Professional Learning Day – Monday 24 April

Monday 24 April will be a Staff Professional Learning Day. As a result there will be NO formal classes on this day and students will NOT be required to attend school. Tuesday 25 April is the ANZAC Day public holiday. Students will return to classes on Wednesday 26 April, Day 3 of their timetable. Any families who anticipate difficulties with arranging appropriate supervision for their daughter on Monday 24 April are asked to notify the College.

Term 2 Winter Uniform Transition

To accommodate for the weather fluctuations at the start of Term 2, from Wednesday 26 April until Friday 12 May, students will be given a daily choice of uniform to wear based on the weather and personal preference as long as it is one of the two below:

1. Students can continue to wear the full Summer Uniform that includes the Blazer as an optional item and Socks, no stockings. (The jumper cannot be worn with this uniform, including at school).
2. Students can choose to wear the full Winter Uniform that includes the Blazer and Stockings as compulsory items (The jumper can be worn with this uniform as long as the Blazer is the outer garment when coming to school and leaving school).

It is important to note that students cannot combine aspects of the Summer and Winter uniform. As of Monday 15 May all students must wear the full Winter Uniform on a daily basis. We thank all parents for your support of our College uniform regulations and welcome you to call us if you are having any difficulties with ensuring your daughter is in the correct uniform.

Mrs Christine Harding

MMCC Open Day – 21 March 4-7pm

Coming Events

HSC Tips #3

Stress is inevitable, to be frank it is out of your control, but what you can control is what you do, what you say, how you feel, how you act and how you react. I found that the expectations for myself far exceeded the expectations others had for me. The stress you put on yourself is the worst form of stress, so how did I cope with this? I have four points of advice for future HSC students.

1 – Mindset 

Rediscover yourself, your perception is your reality. If you want a better reality, change your perception. I had a simple mantra that I kept to for the whole of my Year 12 exams. I told myself “the exam is going to be over in a few hours, soon I will go home, have food on my plate, a roof over my head, my family and friends will still be there to support me and I will go back to school the next day like nothing ever happened”. Once you grasp onto that, everything in retrospect, will be fine.

2 – Goals

Situate yourself to be open to change, the amount of challenges you will confront is perpetual. You can go from wanting to aim for an above 90 ATAR to then thinking maybe 80 is enough.  Whatever it is, have clarity in your goals. Passion undermines all my actions, and because I wanted to pursue design I thought to myself “How happy would it make me to walk out of high school with a Shape nomination?” And instead of wasting time discouraging myself when moments were hard, I didn’t settle for less, I spent time making the goal seem achievable. I willingly lost myself in the journey of hardwork and perseverance, and in the end, I did get the nomination and it was extremely rewarding.

3 – Preparation

Do what works for you. Don’t overwhelm yourself with a variety of resources, everything I needed for a subject was condensed into one piece of A4 paper. I made do with what I had, simplified it and brainstormed from my points rather than restricting the depth of my exam responses with memorised essays.

4 – Selfcare

The best decisions come from stillness, I amplified this stillness by taking time out of my week to dedicate it to a day called Self-care Saturday. On Saturdays I took the time to nurture stability to maintain my wellbeing. I partook in activities like bike riding. These efforts to take care of myself were tending to an abundant garden, a garden where I myself could reflect on how I managed in the face of adversity. I also journaled to internalise my thoughts and feelings rather than just intellectualising them. This was a crucial point of introspecting that entailed me to feel equipped for the new week. 

Janeleena Intahvong Former Mary Mackillop Catholic College Student

Swimming Carnival 2023

SCS Conference 4 Swimming Carnival Report

On Wednesday 15th March, six Mary MacKillop Catholic College students represented the College at the Sydney Catholic Schools Conference 4 Swimming Carnival.

Against tough competition, the girls as expected gave their all. In exciting news, the following students have made it through to the next level and will represent Conference 4 at the Sydney Catholic Schools Championships.

• Charlotte David – 2nd in the 12 years 50m Freestyle
• Katherine Fasavalu – 3rd in the 12 years 50m Freestyle

We wish them all the best when they compete on Monday 27th March. We also want to thank the parents who attended and supported MMCC from start to finish.

Mr Shelston
Sports Coordinator

SCS Conference 4 Representative Sport Report Weeks 6 and 7

Week 6:

Touch Football:

Week 6, saw Mary MacKillop Catholic College go up against Freeman Catholic College. Our Juniors who continue to grow from strength to strength achieved a 3-3 draw in tough conditions. Unfortunately, our Intermediates who continue to try their hardest did not get the result that they were looking for but need to be applauded on showing up each week undeterred by previous results. Our Seniors under the watchful eyes of Mr Scott “Seibold” O’Brien have won two weeks in a row, beating Freeman 3 tries to 2 … Rumour has it that Manly is looking for a new coach, are you available Mr O’Brien?

Players’ Player of the match

Juniors – Rose Lebolo-Carey

Inters – Jizelle Nanai

Seniors – Veronica Sako

Basketball:

Basketball this week saw Mary MacKillop Catholic College get 2 wins out of a possible 3 against Freeman Catholic College. Our Juniors who achieved their first win of the year getting up 28-12. Our Intermediates achieved their second win in two weeks, winning 23-10 under the watchful eyes of Mrs Flanagan. Our Seniors lost by 3 points this week but continue to try their hardest. It is great to see all the hard work by both coaches and students, which is leading to great results.

Players’ Player of the match

Juniors – Ferael Osa

Inters – Teresa Nguyen

Seniors – Alexia Fragiadakis

All Abilities:

Sydney Catholic Schools has implemented a new co-ed competition where students are involved in a 7 a side Football Program. Each week, Mary MacKillop Catholic College partners with Patrician Brothers College Fairfield. This week saw our combined team beat both Clancy Catholic College and All Saints Catholic College in the one day. This was a fantastic achievement and both Mr Shewan and Mrs Andrews commented on how much fun and enjoyment the students are getting out of this competition.

Players’ Player of the match

Mallak Adil

Week 7:

Touch Football:

Week 7, looked to be the toughest yet. In extremely hot conditions with temperatures hitting 40 degrees and not being guided by our Senior girls, Mary MacKillop Catholic College went up against St Anthony of Padua Catholic College. Our Juniors went one better than last week winning two tries to one whilst our Intermediates got their best results of the season drawing 2-2. Big thanks must go to all our coaches who help week in and week out.

Players’ Player of the match

Juniors – Rose Lebolo-Carey

Inters – Marie Faleafa

Basketball

This week saw only our Juniors play with both the Intermediates and Seniors having the bye. Our Juniors for the second week in a row won their game, beating St Anthony of Padua Catholic College 19-12. Mrs Wastie said it was a pleasing result and the girls played like a team and the score reflected this. Special mention to Danila Youssef who played extremely well.

Players’ Player of the match

Juniors – Ferael Osa

All Abilities:

In very hot conditions today, our girls went up against LaSalle Catholic College Bankstown and Good Samaritan Catholic College. Unfortunately, the girls lost both games but that did not stop them from celebrating and showcasing sportsmanship and enthusiasm by never giving up and playing the game above and beyond their abilities. Special mention to Mallak Adil who played the whole game and grows from strength to strength.

Players’ Player of the match

Miranda Tran

Samantha Chan

Mr Shelston
Sports Coordinator

Library Update

New Furniture

In addition to the new tables and chairs we recently took delivery of for the Investigation Zone, we have also spruced up our Makerspace section by adding four new whiteboard tables. These tables have proven to be an absolute hit with the students. Many students are excited to be using them for collaborative learning as well as for creativity. We look forward to seeing the many different ways the students are able to utilise this practical furniture to enhance their learning.

What Matters? Writing Competition

Inspired by Gough Whitlam’s commitment to involving young people in shaping Australia’s future, the What Matters? writing competition is currently open to school students in Years 5 to 12 from Australia. Responding to the simple question ‘What matters?’, entrants are free to express their views on any matter they care about. Part writing exercise, part civics and citizenship activity, What Matters? is the perfect opportunity to empower students to raise their voices on issues that are important to them and know that their perspectives are valuable, no matter their age, background or viewpoint.  Entries can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry or prose of up to 600 words, and submitted online at What Matters? Writing Competition. Entries close on Friday, 5 May 2023.

New Books

Every month we receive a range of new books for the students to enjoy. Here are just a few of the titles on offer this month …

	Indigo in the Storm by Kate Gordon Beautifully written, with themes of family in all forms, belonging, the importance of friendship, art, environmental sustainability and hope. This is a terrific, easy-to-read novel.
Sinister Booksellers of Bath by Garth Nix This is a thrilling and action-packed fantasy novel as Susan and the Booksellers race against time to stop the evil spell from succeeding. With themes of friendship, learning who to trust, believing in yourself and being who you truly are, with an enthralling side of ancient mysteries, this is a fabulous book that will be particularly enjoyed by those who love fantasy.
	28 Days by David Safier This novel demonstrates the immense courage and the capacity of the human spirit to hope and fight for survival, even in the worst of circumstances. It is a real page turner that will be both enjoyed and educational to those 15 and older.

Overdue Reminders

A big THANK YOU to all students who have returned overdue books this term. Overdue letters will be sent out before the end of term. Any queries regarding overdue notices/texts should be directed to Mrs Devine.

On Stage Year 11 and 12 Music Excursion

On 27th February, Year 11 and 12 Music students ventured into the city to The Opera House to view the Encore Music Performances which showcases top performances that HSC students created in 2022.

This excursion exposes students to the expectations required to achieve strong results in the practical component of this subject. Students were able to not only observe different ensembles but also a variety of genres from HSC Groups and Individual Performance.

On the way back to school, students demonstrated enthusiasm and motivation towards the creation of their HSC Major Works.

Harmony Day – O’Shane House Fundraiser

In light of Harmony Day, O’Shane House will be running their annual fundraiser. A mufti day with a gold coin donation to support Catholic Mission will be held on Friday 24 March. Students are encouraged to wear cultural dress on this day. During Week 8 we will celebrate unity and respect amongst all cultures.

Public Speaking

Our college competed in the Catholic Schools’ Debating Association (CSDA) Public Speaking competition on Friday evening of 3rd March. The event took place at St John Paul II Catholic College, Schofields. Our students competed against schools including; St Andrews, St Agnes, St John Paul II, Patrician Brothers Blacktown, Nagle College, Clancy College, Emmaus College and Redfield. Congratulations to our students for their efforts on this night.

Miss Kathy Phetrasi

Public Speaking & Debating Coordinator

International Women’s Day Breakfast

International Women’s Day Celebrations

MMCC Restaurant Take Over

Praise and Worship Night

10:10 Project Youth Night

Study Skills #3

CORE Youth Services School Holiday Program