From the Principal – Ms Gilda Pussich

Sr Irene McCormack – 21st May

Sr Irene, as a sister of St Joseph worked with the poor in Peru. She took up the challenge of ministering to the impoverished, “I have come to understand that effective action is a way of loving”.

Missionaries were not welcomed by the Communist rebels and as a result, on 21st May 1991, she and four others were dragged to the village square, told to lie face down and executed.

God of hope, God of peace,

we pray for those who work for you,

who have devoted their lives, like Sr Irene to ‘work on the ground’,

hand in hand with people facing displacement, poverty and human trafficking.

We also pray for those working to bring change as peacemakers and stewards of the earth.

Gift them with deep peace and strengthen their resolve

so they may bring God’s love to those in need and provide witness

to a future filled with hope, courage and peace.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Sydney Catholic Schools’ Eisteddfod – 2nd Place

Congratulations to our Year 11 students: Isabella Hong, Margaret Kanoon, Pauline Madoro, Katrina Samia and Lucinda Samia who achieved second place in the Rock Band Stage 6 Open section of the Sydney Catholic Schools’ Eisteddfod on Friday 20 May. Thank you to their teachers, Mr Reutens and Mrs Kechagias.

CSDA Debating Update

We have had three rounds of debating competing against Holy Spirit College Lakemba (at MMCC), Trinity Catholic College Auburn (at MMCC) and Patrician Brothers College Fairfield (at PBCF). Our results so far:

• ​Year 7 – Win, Win, Loss
• Year 8 – Loss, Win, Win
• Year 9 – Win, Loss, Win
• Year 10 – Loss, Loss, Loss
• Year 11 – Win, Win, Loss
• Year 12 – Win, Win, Win

There are two more rounds left. The debates are against De La Salle Ashfield (at MMCC) on 3 June and Mount Saint Joseph Milperra (at MSJ) on 10 June.

In recognition of the MMCC debating team’s efforts, the students received MMCC ‘Debating Representative’ Badges on Friday 20 May as they boarded the bus to PBCF, which they proudly wore for their debate. A list of our Debating Representatives is included in this newsletter.

Thank to Ms Valdiivia (MMCC Debating Coordinator), their coaches, Ms Arairo, Miss Vo, Ms Coluccio, Ms Ayoub, the adjudicators, Miss Phetrasi, Miss Summer Rosewell (ex-student), staff helpers, Mrs Harding, Mr Carosi, Ms Fernandes, Mrs Floyd, Mr Kumar, Mrs Ryan, Mr Olegasegarem, Mrs Mikhael, Mrs Mudalair and Mr Patterson and and student helpers whose names appear in this newsletter.

Walk With Christ

“The Walk with Christ annual Eucharistic Procession through the streets of Sydney exists to make a joyful public proclamation and act of worship towards the person of Jesus Christ (as King), and to invoke His blessing upon the city”.

This year the Eucharistic Procession will be held on Sunday 19th June 2022.  The procession begins at 2.30pm sharp from the corner of Martin Place and Pitt Street. There will be entertainment from at 1.30pm in Martin Place. More details can be found at the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney website: https://www.sydneycatholic.org/about-us/archdiocesan-events/walk-with-christ/

World Youth Day

World Youth Day will be held in 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal. SCS has three itineraries:

• World Youth Day Portugal via Italy, Venice to Rome
• World Youth Day Footsteps of Jesus with Holy Land and Portugal
• World Youth Day Portugal Direct with Avila, Lisbon and Fatimas

SCS will support with a small subsidy those students in thee Archdiocese who sign up first. Please see Mrs Flanagan if you are interested. The itineraries are included in this newsletter.

Parent Advisory Group Meeting

Our Term 2 Parent Advisory Group Meeting will be held on Wednesday, Ist June commencing at 6pm. We welcome our regular committee members and invite new members to join. This meeting will be held at MMCC giving you the opportunity to see our new bathrooms. Please send an email to info@mmcwakeley.catholic.edu.au to register your attendance.

Mother’s Day Mass and Breakfast

It was wonderful to celebrate Mother’s Day on Monday, 9th June with so many of our students’ mothers and grandmothers. We began early with Mass, celebrated by Fr Andrew, in our beautiful St Joseph’s Chapel. Mass was followed with breakfast in the Tenison Hospitality room, catered by Mrs Mikhael, Mr Patterson, Ms Yonan, Ms Kako and Ms Al-Safar. Thank you for taking the time to join us.

2023 World Youth Day Itineraries

Please click on link to view full itinerary:   WYD Footsteps of Jesus

Please click on link to view full itinerary: WYD Portugal via Italy

Please click on link to view full itinerary: WYD Portugal Direct

Walk With Christ – Sunday 19 June 2022

Enrolling Now

YEAR 7 2023 – LIMITED SPACES

YEAR 7 2024

From the Assistant Principal – Mrs Christine Harding

It has been a very busy start to Term 2 with many learning opportunities being given to our girls either in class or extra curricular. It is lovely walking through the playgrounds and into classrooms witnessing the learning and collaboration occurring, however, teenage years can be difficult with many changes taking place.

Please find below an article by Michael Grose from Parenting Ideas with some tips on parenting teenagers.

Helping teenagers manage Friendship issues

Having a supportive group of friends plays an important role in the life of young people. They can help your young person negotiate the journey from childhood, where they are reliant on parents, to adulthood, where they need to stand on their own two feet.

The importance of peers

To a parent a teenager’s friendships may seem all-consuming, taking precedence over family, school and even healthy leisure time. While peers may now begin to take a more prominent place in your daughter’s life, family is still an important source of belonging and safety for them. It helps if you get to know their friends and discuss any concerns you have about their choice of friends.

Managing peer pressure

We all experience some degree of pressure to conform to the behaviours and norms of our social groups, yet this pressure is heightened in adolescence, when the need to fit in with peers becomes paramount. Ostracism is unthinkable, which makes some teenagers susceptible to negative influence of some peers. You can help by talking to your daughter about peer pressure; helping her resist peer pressure while maintaining status and encouraging her to speak out rather than be reliant on the approval of others.

Encouraging more than one set of friends

It’s helpful to think of friendships as a series of concentric circles. Most young people will have a few close friends in their inner circle but are surrounded by many friends in the outer circles. Encourage your daughter to maintain friendship groups outside and inside of school to help insulate against any teasing or unfriendly behaviour that may occur at or outside school.

When you disapprove

Sometimes parents disapprove of their daughter’s choice of friends, because of behaviour, poor reputation or the adverse influence they may have on a young person. Young people take criticism of their friends personally so be careful how you handle these issues. If you have worries about your daughter’s choice of friends:

• Check that your concerns are real.
• Encourage diversity of friendships.
• Be available to take your daughter and her friends to outings, sports practice, parties and school formals, to familiarise yourself with her social groups.

Many parents have found that, when they get to know their children’s friends, many of their concerns were unfounded.

Differentiate between online and offline friends

In all likelihood, your daughter will communicate with her friends in real time or through digital technology. Help your daughter to understand the difference between the two, discussing how behaviours and norms vary between the real world and online. Discuss the ethics and behaviours appropriate to each format so they can enjoy healthy friendships in both the online and offline worlds.

Friendships can be a source of angst and also a source of joy for your daughter. Your role as a parent is to promote healthy friendships and encourage your young person to empathise with others, show they are worthy of trust and treat others with respect – all foundations of mature adult relationships.

Compass Student Attendance

To ensure that the College has correct attendance records for your daughter and that you are aware of your daughter’s absence, a text message (SMS) with a link will be sent to parents/carers in the primary household. Please click on the link to explain your daughter’s absence. Only one household parent needs to reply.

Using the link will alleviate the need to send a written note explaining the absence. Please respond the same day the text (SMS) has been sent as the link will automatically disappear resulting in the need for you to provide a hand written note for the absence.

Please contact Grace Labbozzetta, by email grace.labbozzetta@syd.catholic.edu.au or phone 9725 4322, if you require any assistance in the use of Compass. In addition to attendance information, Compass allows you to access your daughter’s School Reports and view what she is learning.

NSW School Vaccination Program – Year 10 (Catch up Year 11)

Each year NSW Health works in partnership with schools to offer the vaccines recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for adolescents as part of the school vaccination program. Details are as follows:

• Students: Year 10 and catch up Year 11 students who did not receive this dose in 2021
• Date:        9 June
• Vaccine:   Meningococcal ACWY vaccine
• Dose:       Single dose

Year 10 students received the Meningococcal ACWY vaccine forms on Monday 30 May. Parents are required to please complete and sign the forms. Students are requested to return the forms to Student Services by Monday 6 June.

Parents/guardians who wish to withdraw their consent can download the Procedure for Withdrawal of Consent form on the NSW Health website at www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation.

Lost Property

Please ensure student names are labelled on all articles of clothes. There have been some lost items that have not been labelled and are in Lost Property.

Thank you for your continued support of the College.

Mrs Christine Harding

Catholic Life @ MMCC – Mrs Flanagan

Mary Help of Christians – 24th May 2022

Mary Help of Christians is the official patroness of Australia since 1844. 

Her feast day is celebrated on May 24.

Almighty God, deepen in our hearts  our love of Mary Help of Christians. 

Through her prayers and under her protection, 

may the light of Christ shine over our land. 

May Australia be granted harmony, justice and peace.  

Grant wisdom to our leaders and integrity to our citizens. 

We ask this through Christ Our Lord. 

Amen

Mary Help of Christians, pray for us. 

National Sorry Day – 26th May 2022

Every year on 26 May, National Sorry Day remembers and acknowledges the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities, which we now know as ‘The Stolen Generations’.

National Sorry Day is a day to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generations Survivors and reflect on how we can all play a part in the healing process for our people and nation. While this date carries great significance for the Stolen Generations and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, it is also commemorated by Australians right around the country.

The first National Sorry Day was held on 26 May 1998, one year after the Bringing Them Home report was tabled in Parliament. The Bringing Them Home report is a result of a Government Inquiry into the past policies which caused children to be removed from their families and communities in the 20th century.

https://www.reconciliation.org.au/national-sorry-day-2020/

Reconciliation Week 2022 – 27th May to 3rd June

The National Reconciliation Week 2022 theme, “Be Brave. Make Change.” is a challenge to all Australians – individuals, families, communities, organisations and government – to Be Brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can Make Change for the benefit of all Australians.

Last year Reconciliation Australia encouraged all Australians to take action; not just in National  Reconciliation Week but every week of the year.

We saw unprecedented response to our suggested actions for everyday and for braver action.

This year we are asking everyone to make change beginning with brave actions in their daily lives – where they live, work, play and socialise.

National Reconciliation Week 27 May to 3 June is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

27 May 1967 – On this day, Australia’s most successful referendum saw more than 90 per cent of Australians vote to give the Australian Government power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and recognise them in the Census.

3 June 1992 – On this day, the Australian High Court delivered the Mabo decision, the culmination of Eddie Koiki Mabo’s challenge to the legal fiction of ‘terra nullius’ (land belonging to no one) and leading to the legal recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of lands. This decision paved the way for Native Title.

Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Find out more about National Reconciliation Week 

World Youth Day 2023

World Youth Day (WYD) is the gathering of young people from all over the world with the Pope. It is also a pilgrimage, a celebration of youth, an expression of the universal Church and an intense moment of evangelisation for the youth world. 

Although its Catholic identity is clearly evident, WYD opens its doors to everyone, no matter how close to or distant from the Church they are. Every two, three or four years as an international gathering in a city chosen by the Pope, with the presence of the Holy Father. It brings together millions of young people to celebrate their faith and sense of belonging to the Church.   

«Mary arose and went with haste» (Lk 1:39) is the bible quote chosen by Pope Francis as the motto of the World Youth Day that will be held for the first time in the capital city of Lisbon, Portugal. 

Over the course of one week, young people from all over the world are welcomed, mainly in public and parish facilities or family homes. In addition to the moments of prayer, sharing and leisure, the young people enrolled in this celebration participate in various initiatives organised by the WYD team, in different locations across the host city. The highlights are the celebrations (central features) for which the Pope is present, such as the welcoming and opening ceremony, the Way of the Cross, the vigil and, on the last day, the closing mass. https://www.lisboa2023.org/en/

Further details will be shared with students soon, especially Year 9 and 10 regarding joining Sydney Catholic School on a pilgrimage journey to WYD 2023, Lisbon. 

Mary MacKillop Quote

Julian Tenison Wood Quote

Students Power Up At The Powerhouse – Mrs Ryan

The Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences truly encompassed the essence of Design and Technology. A new experience for some and a return to a world of inspiration for others was the outcome of the Stage 6 Design and Technology learning adventure to the Powerhouse Museum.

Year 11 and 12 students enjoyed a trip to the city and a day of mixing it with the ‘suits’ of the business world as they perused the Major Design Projects of the 2021 HSC cohort. Projects ranging from bicycle safety vests, terrazzo inspired sustainable tiles, odour free worm wee fertiliser and puzzles to break screen addiction were among the array of projects that the students had access to. Prospects for the designs and fabrics in future sustainable fashion and sharing lunch with the seagulls proved to be a few highlights of the day.

The invaluable experience of touching projects, witnessing the degree of skill and proficiency required in projects, the development of concepts and design solutions presented in professionally presented design folio and the exposure to the exhibits in the museum has certainly inspired our students. The promise of designing and producing projects that are worthy of display was foremost in the minds of our aspiring students.

STEM Has Flourished – Mrs Ryan

STEM has certainly taken off with a flourish in 2022. Students from Mary MacKillop Catholic College have been assisting the students of the local primary catholic schools with their applications in coding and robotics. The visits on Thursday afternoon are proving very rewarding for students from all schools and students are always left wanting more.

The College has been fortunate enough to acquire a wonderful grant from the Australian Government Business sector to promote the involvement of girls in coding and robotic activities. We have acquired kits from EduTech, with this we have committed our students to competing in an international robotics competition working with students from the primary schools and those at MMCC to showcase their coding skills.

The STEM team are once again beginning to take on the Solar Car Challenge of 2022, as we aim to match our achievements of last year. A bright future in STEM is surely ahead at MMCC.

Year 10 My Strengths Program

Year 7 My Resilience Program

McCormack House Fundraiser

Mr Hennessy and the McCormack Team

MMCC Debating Squad

IMC Library – Mrs Devine

As  many students are now embarking on the preparation, planning and completion of their Term 2 assessment tasks, it is a good time to refresh our knowledge and understanding  of effective research skills.

Effective Research Tips

Children’s Book Council Awards

Each year, across Australia, the CBCA brings children and books together celebrating CBCA Book Week.

The Notables List for 2022 has been published and we have created a beautiful display in the Reading Room to promote these titles.

New Books

We have had lots of new titles delivered to the IMC this term and they are simply flying off the shelves! Here are two of our latest additions to the collection:

The Cult of Romance by Sarah Ayoub

Author Sarah Ayoub has given Australian YA literature a fresh and uniquely cross-generational and cross-border perspective on  themes of identity, family, friendship, loyalty and love. A young Australian Lebanese woman grappling with these questions as she navigates her parent’s homeland, Lebanon.

The Greatest Thing by Sarah Winifred Searle

This YA graphic novel will be a hit for fans of Raina Telgemeier. It’s the first day of sophomore year, and now that Winifred’s two best (and only) friends have transferred to a private school, she must navigate high school on her own. But she isn’t alone for long. In art class, she meets two offbeat students, Oscar and April. With breathtaking art and honest storytelling, rising star Sarah Winifred Searle delivers a heartfelt story about love, friendship, and self-acceptance.

Study Skills Handbook – Writing Assignments

MMCC Breakfast Club – Student Wellbeing Initiative

We are excited to announce that MMCC has started its very own Breakfast Club that runs every Thursday morning at 8.00am in the Tenison Building.

The Breakfast Club is available for all students who wish to have a healthy boost to start their day. We aim to offer a healthy, nutritional menu. Our menu consists of cereals, milk, juice, fruit, toast and a variety of spreads.

It is a great opportunity to socialise with your friends and classmates!

Please join us!

From Ms Pussich – Thank you to:

• Ms Veselcic, Mrs Andrews and Mrs Maryann Nesnas who regularly prepare and serve at the Breakfast Club
• Our staff who have volunteered to help or have donated the food, drinks and serving items (serviettes, plates, etc).

World Support Staff Day Morning Tea

On Monday 16th May, we celebrated World Support Staff Day with a Thank You Morning Tea. We recognised our support staff who work in the Office, School Site, Library, Science, TAS, Diverse Learning and Intensive Learning Program.

Thank you to our Year 12 Hospitality class and their teachers, Mrs Davis, Mrs Donnelly and Mrs Andrews for preparing the scrumptious morning tea.