03 Jul 2020

From the Principal – Ms Gilda Pussich

Prayer to End the School Semester

God of wisdom,
We thank you for all the gifts you have given us throughout this school semester.
We praise you for giving us life, for saving us in Christ, and for choosing us to be your people.
As we come to the end of this semester,
we voice our gratitude for the good things you have done in us,
and we praise you for all who have shared in the work of this school.
We ask you to bless them in your love and give them refreshment and peace.
We praise you, God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns forever and ever.
Amen.

Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers/Revised Edition. USCCB

 

Year 12 Hospitality 

I had the privilege of being invited to the Year 12 Hospitality lunch. The exceptional quality of food, service and restaurant design is a credit to their teacher, Mrs Narelle Webster and teacher assistants, Mrs Patricia Falzon and Mrs Suzanne Andrews. This task forms part of their HSC assessment and there is no doubt in my mind that they scored highly. All staff who attended spoke about the perfectly cooked food, which rivalled the best restaurants. I enjoyed my tasty arancini balls, my tender lamb shanks and my delicious tiramisu. Thank you girls!

 

Enrolling Now

We have had a significant increase in demand for places in Year 7 for 2021, so we are considering adding another stream to meet this demand. If your daughter or you know of a family who is yet to enrol their daughter for Year 7 2021, please ask them to contact us immediately.

There are limited places left for Year 11 in 2021. We are also enrolling for 2022. If you know of a family who want to enrol their daughter into Mary MacKillop Catholic College, please contact the College on 9725 4322.

 

Year 7-11 Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews

Reports for Years 7-11 have been released today to parents/carers via their Compass portal. Year 7-11 Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews can be arranged until 5pm on 12 July.

We begin Term 3 with the Year 7-11 Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews. A crucial component of learning is reflection. After each unit of work, students and teachers pause to evaluate. Following a semester of learning, it is essential that both students and teachers reflect. This year, as part of the Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews, students have been asked to complete a reflection task for all subjects. Please ask your daughter to share her reflections with you. It is hoped that these reflections form part of the learning conversation in the interviews.

 

July Holidays

The holidays are a time for our students to relax, re-energise and be with family. For Year 12 students, this is also a time to prepare for their upcoming HSC Trial Examinations and to engage in holiday classes run by our generous teachers.

A special “thank you” to our staff and parents for their support of our students and the College. The stronger are our connections, the more meaningful are our relationships and the more authentic are our conversations, then the better for our girls.

I hope all our students and staff have a wonderful break and I look forward to their return for Term 3.

From the Assistant Principal – Mr Pablo Grana

Years 7 – 11 Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews via Zoom

Monday 20 July and Tuesday 21 July

A reminder that the Years 7 to 11 Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews will be held on Monday, 20 July between 9.00am and 8.30pm and Tuesday 21 July between 8.50am to 3.10pm. The actual meetings will be held via Zoom. There will be no classes held on these days, however, supervision is available.

Interviews can be made on the following days and at the following times:

  • Monday, 20 July
    • 9.00am – 10.30am
    • 11.00am – 1.00pm
    • 1.30pm – 3.30pm
    • 4.00pm – 6.00pm
    • 6.30pm – 8.30pm
  • Tuesday 21 July
    • 8.50am – 10.30am
    • 11.00am – 1.00pm
    • 1.30pm – 3.10pm

To make an appointment, parents will need to use our Compass Parent Portal (called Conferences on Compass).

The following documents have been shared on Compass with all parents/carers of students in Years 7 to 11 :

 

First Day Back of Term 3 – Wednesday 22 July 2020

We begin Semester 2 on Wednesday 22 July 2020 with normal classes for Day 3 and a continuation of our Winter Uniform expectations. 

Below are reminders regarding our College Winter Uniform and grooming regulations.  These are highlighted to ensure that our high expectations continue to be made very clear to all members of our great College community.

The winter uniform continues to have the following expectations:

  • All students must own a College blazer and MUST wear it to and from the College
  • Regulation grey stockings are to be worn at all times.
  • Any clothing worn under the College shirt must not be visible. All undergarments should be neutral in colour.
  • High-collared skivvies, hoodies, beanies and other non-school attire must NOT be worn.
  • The College Jumper is not part of the Sports Uniform and can only be worn in Winter under the College Blazer when travelling to or from school each day.
  • Scarves must be the College scarf or a plain maroon/grey scarf. Scarves with extra fringing or of another colour are not permitted.
  • College Skirts must cover the bottom of the knee-cap (ie covering the whole knee).  

We ask parents to ensure that over the holidays you check your daughter’s uniform and rectify any problems before coming back on the first day of Term 3. If any student is NOT in the correct winter uniform on the first day of Term 3, she will be sent home to have the problem rectified. Please ensure you refer to the College Dress Code in the College Diary.

 

Internet Safety over the School Holidays

It is important to maintain a healthy balance between online time and other more physical social activities for your daughters. To support parents/carers over the upcoming school holidays, the following link from the eSafety Commissioner (esafety.gov.au), provides advice for the “big issues” and in particular how to avoid these or handle them appropriately if they arise. eSafety – The Big Issues

 

Important Dates for Term 3

Monday 20 July and Tuesday 21 July – Years 7 to 11 Parent Teacher Student Interviews

Wednesday 22 July – First Day of Classes for Years 7 to 12

Monday 3 August – Friday 7 August – JJAMM Week

Friday 7 August – Mary MacKillop Day

Monday 10 August – Thursday 13 August – Year 12 Study Sessions – IMC – (3.30pm – 6.30pm)

Monday 17 August – Trial HSC Examinations Begins 

Wednesday 26 August – Parent Advisory Group Meeting – 6.00pm (possibly still via Zoom)

Monday 31 August – Trial HSC Examinations Ends

Monday 31 August – Thursday 3 September – Year 11 Study Sessions – IMC – (3.30pm – 6.30pm)

Wednesday 2 September – Father’s Day Mass and Breakfast (To Be Confirmed)

Monday 7 September – Final Year 11 Examinations Begin

Friday 18 September – Final Year 11 Examinations End

Tuesday 22 September – Last Day of Classes Year 12 

Wednesday 23 September  – Year 12 Final Assembly (Day – To Be Confirmed) 

Thursday 24September – Year 12 Graduation Mass (Evening – To Be Confirmed)

Friday 25 September – Last Day of Classes Years 7-11

Please note all events are subject to COVID-19 restrictions.

 

An Inspirational Quote from Pope Francis

As we go into this holiday period during this time of uncertainty and doubt, let us be reminded of the importance of spreading love and hope in all of our interactions both physical and virtual.

 

Literacy Planet Program

Earlier this term, staff undertook training in a digital program titled Literacy Planet. This program has been purchased by the College and will be harnessed by all Year 7 – 10 students in Semester 2 and future years to come. Literacy Planet empowers teachers with creative and engaging curriculum aligned literacy strategies to enhance student specific reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, amongst other literacy conventions. We at the College are all excited by the possibilities this digital literacy program provides for both teachers and students. Its versatility means it is suitable for secondary students of all ability levels. It is easily incorporated in class or at home, and accessible for desktop, laptop, tablet and mobile devices. Ask your daughter, in the coming weeks, if she has engaged with this interactive literacy platform and has been increasingly motivated to challenge her literacy skills.
Mr Anthony Moore, Acting Leader of Teaching and Learning

What is the Winter Reading Challenge 2020?

It is a MMCC Literacy initiative focusing on improving reading and developing a regular reading habit for all students.

Students are asked to reflect on their current reading practice and, in consultation with their English teacher, set an improved reading target, which will be their Personal Best.

Students are asked to also consider what they are reading and other genres and texts they can explore.

When is it happening? Winter Reading Challenge 2020 begins in Week 8, Term 2 and ends in Week 10, Term 3.

 

What do I have to do?
  • You will be required to borrow books from the IMC and your local library, or bring books that you own from home.
  • You need to develop a good reading habit. This requires you to read regularly, each day.
  • In Wide Reading lessons each fortnight you will record what you are reading in the Winter Reading Challenge Journal/Log
  • You will also create a journal entry about the current book you are reading in your Winter Reading Challenge Journal/Log.
  • Teachers will distribute and recollect these Reading Journals each Wide Reading Lesson.
  • They will be evidence of your effort towards achieving your Personal Best. They will also be shown to parents at Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews to discuss your efforts and achievement in improving your reading skills.

 

 

Rewards & Prizes

  • Academic Merit Awards will be given to students who are making a solid effort to achieve their Personal Best in Term 3.
  • Certificates of Achievement and Merit Awards will be given to students who achieve their Personal Best.
  • ONE student from each English class in Years 7 to 10, nominated by their teacher, will receive an award for Class Best Achievement, and attend a special Pizza Lunch as a reward for their outstanding effort at the beginning of Term 4.

 

Why is Reading Important?

 Benefits of reading for pleasure

Studies show that promoting reading can have a major impact on children and adults and their future. Several main areas of the benefits to reading for pleasure include:

  • Reading attainment and writing ability;
  • Text comprehension and grammar;
  • Breadth of vocabulary;
  • Positive reading attitudes;
  • Greater self-confidence as a reader;
  • Pleasure in reading in later life;
  • General knowledge;
  • A better understanding of other cultures;
  • Community participation; and
  • A greater insight into human nature and decision-making.

Evidence suggests that reading for pleasure leads to increased attainment. Pupils who read more are also better readers. A large scale survey of over 18 000 young people found that those who reported enjoying reading very much were six times more likely than those who did not enjoy reading to read above the expected level for their age. Evidence from OECD (2002) found that reading enjoyment is more important for children’s educational success than their family’s socio-economic status. Clark and Rumbold (2006) argue that reading for pleasure could be one important way to help combat social exclusion and raise educational standards.

(Department for Education, United Kingdom,. Research Evidence On Reading For Pleasure. 1st ed. 2012. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.)

Damyana Moma 1st Prize Core Community Services Talent Show

Damyana Moma in Year 11 is a student who has a passion for Visual Arts. Recently, she entered a Talent Show exhibition run by Fairfield City Council where she submitted six artworks demonstrating her skills across a variety of art materials including, acrylic and oil paint and mixed media works exploring pastel with pencil.

Damyana is an active member of the Youth Service Team at Core Community Services in Cabramatta. She spends many afternoons and nights running an art program for members of her community focusing on drawing and painting. She hopes to inspire and encourage her students to participate in activities run by the community. Damyana is a thoughtful and kind student who hopes to give her students an opportunity to showcase their talents, building their confidence, abilities and courage.

Rewind back to 2017, Damyana says she “started creating art when I was in Jordan at the end of 2017, I chose arts because I could not go to school there, so I decided to devote my time to develop a talent for art. A significant moment was when I went to Sunday school as a helper in Visual Arts classes and I was surprised when I saw students did use these classes as an opportunity to learn new skills. I promised myself to dedicate my time to teach myself art in order to be able to teach others”.

Many of Damyana artworks are large scale and very detailed, she stated “it depends on the artwork, I spent around 2 hours drawing the portrait and 4 full day painting Van Gogh’s Self portrait, I like to challenge myself especially when I feel that I am not improving my skills. I pick a subject that is difficult to challenge myself, so I decided to painting a complicated self portrait of Vincent Van Gogh as I was intrigued by the colours, texture and structure. This particular painting took me 4 days to complete”.

Tiana Krasic, Visual Arts Teacher

 

Damyana’s award winning portraits

Congratulations Damyana! Ms Pussich

Community Linkers