Newsletter - T2,W2 - 5/5/23

From the Acting Principal

Welcome back to Term 2, as detailed in the letter sent out on Friday, 28 April my name is Michael Campbell and I will be Acting in the Principal role while Tracy Robinson is on leave. Students have settled into their studies well and are visibly engaged as I walk around the College getting to know staff, students and the layout of the site.

St Mary’s hosted prospective parents and students at the annual Open Night on Tuesday, 2 May. Numbers were high and there was a lot of energy as people walked around the College grounds. This is a formal opportunity to welcome the community into the College, for the College to showcase the facilities on offer and more importantly it gives the prospective parents and students a snapshot into the culture of the College. As I said in my brief address, it is the people in a community that make a community not the buildings. The students and staff did the community of St Mary’s proud on Tuesday evening. I would like to thank Fr Peter Slack for his attendance and talking proudly of the College by outlining a few of St Mary’s student successes.

Last week our senior students completed their preliminary examinations and have now started the HSC component of their courses for 2023. Well done to all students for completing this phase of their senior high school education. Year 7-10 will sit their end of semester one examinations in week 4. 

I would sincerely like to thank the St Mary’s community for welcoming me last week. Have a great weekend.

Michael Campbell
Acting Principal

Upcoming Dates

Week 3
Tuesday 9/5/23 - NRCC Hockey, Goonellabah
Wednesday 10/5/23 - Catholic Cup (Opens Rugby League), Woodlawn
Wednesday 10/5/23 - Poet's Out Loud Workshop
Thursday 11/5/23 - Year 9 Geography Field Trip, Byron Bay
Thursday 11/5/23 - Primex Agriculture Excursion (Years 10-12 only)
Friday 12/5/23 - Fast 5 Senior Mixed Netball, Ballina
Friday 12/5/23 - Student Free Day (Staff Development Day)

Week 4
Monday 15/5/23 to Friday 19/5/23 - Year 7 to Year 10 Semester One Exams 

Parish Mass Times

Weekend Mass
Saturday 5.00pm 
Sunday 8.00am

Weekdays
Monday 9.00am
Tuesday 8.00am
Wednesday 8.00am
Thursday 9.00 am
Friday 9.00 am
Saturday 9.00am 

Adoration
Following 9.00 am Mass Saturday

Reconciliation
Saturday 8.30am - 9.00am

Country Mass
14 May Bonalbo 10.30am

From the Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching

Stage 4 and 5 Exams
The Stage 4 and 5 exams will take place in Week 4 of this term. All students have been given notification of these exams. An exam timetable will be out to parents and students at the beginning of next week.

Stage 6 Reports and Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences
The Stage 6 reports will be available for viewing on Compass from Wednesday, 17 May. The College is not printing reports from this year and they will only be available on Compass. A reminder message will be sent to parents and students once the reports are available for viewing.

The Stage 6 Parent/Teacher/Student conferences will be held in the Parish Hall on Tuesday, 23 May. This is an excellent opportunity for parents and students to discuss results and future goals with teachers as we lead into the HSC portion of the year.

Year 11 parents and students are also able to book in to meet with members of the College leadership team to discuss study patterns for next year and review options moving into their final year of high school.

ANZAC Day
On Tuesday, 25 April students represented the College at the ANZAC Day Dawn Service. The students participated in the laying of the wreath ceremony and showed their gratitude for those people that have defended our country throughout history.

Professional  Development Day - Student Free Day - Friday 12 May
A reminder that students will not be at school on Friday 12 May as the staff are having a professional learning day. This is an extra day given to CSO staff to plan and write programs for the new syllabuses that begin implementation in the next 18 months.

Nadine Connolly
Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching

From the Assistant Principal - Mission

Last Sunday the Catholic Church celebrated the fourth Sunday of Easter with what is commonly referred to as Good Shepherd Sunday. The imagery of the Good Shepherd comes from the Gospel of John, where Jesus describes himself as the shepherd who knows his sheep and is willing to lay down his life for them. This metaphor has deep roots in the Old Testament, where God is often referred to as a shepherd caring for his people.

On this day, Christians are reminded of the loving care and guidance that Jesus provides for his followers. Just as a shepherd watches over his flock, Jesus watches over us, leading us to safety and providing for our every need. The image of the Good Shepherd provides a powerful framework for building a caring and supportive school community, where leaders, teachers, families and students work together to create a positive learning environment, and serve their community with compassion and care. May we seek to apply this framework this term as we work in partnership to nurture the needs of our flock.

Clare Axman
Assistant Principal - Mission

From the College Business Manager

Term 2 Tuition fees will be included on the School Fee Statement as at the end of April. Sibling discounts will be applied where applicable. Statements will be transmitted to parents within the next couple of days. 

The payment of school fees is essential for the day to day running of the College and we are grateful for the efforts people make in paying these fees.  If you need to discuss your school fee account please contact the College Office.

Leanne Cummins
College Business Manager

From the Leader of Curriculum

Welcome to what is generally regarded as one of the busiest terms in any school as a consequence of the following:

• 7 - 10 Semester 1 Exams (Week 4)
• 11 - 12 Preliminary Student/Parent Teacher Conferences (Week 5)
• Year 10 into Year 11 2024 Subject Selection Information Sessions (Week 8) am & pm
  

11 - 12 HSC Compressed Courses Commence
All Year 11 - 12 students that are not enrolled in Forming Futures (Non-ATAR Pathway), will commence their HSC courses for their 2023 choices on Monday of Week 2 of this term. It is important to consider the following changes from their Preliminary courses:

• Assessment tasks now count towards their HSC mark
• 50% of a student’s HSC mark comes from their school-based assessment
• Each student will have received an email from NESA last Friday, 28 April, informing them about their HSC exam timetable for 2023. The individualised timetable is viewable via their Students Online account and all students with exams are strongly advised to login and check their timetable.
• Trial exams are held during Week 6 of Term 3
• Just like for Year 10 and the Preliminary courses, absences from an assessment task the day before or the day of a task need to be covered by a medical certificate or other official documentation

Subject Selections - Year 10 into Year 11 2024
The St. Mary’s Stage 6 Subjects site will be updated for 2023 & it is imperative that ALL Year 10 students access the site & begin the process of informing themselves what subjects are available & which ones would be of interest to them.

An email will be sent out with the link to the above site to all Year 10 students. Please make sure the student accesses the site (parents/guardians will have access as well) AND bookmark/favourite it as the link will not be provided again.

In Week 8 of this term, I will be giving my Subject Selection talk during which I will explain all the necessary NESA requirements for the HSC as well as the Compressed Curriculum model we use here at St. Mary’s.

This session will be repeated in the evening for parents and guardians but we will be joined by the Leaders of Learning where parents and their students can get some initial advice on what subjects to choose and to what level e.g. Mathematics Advanced or Mathematics Standard 2 or 1.

Please keep in mind that whilst the College is providing all the required information for a student to make an informed decision, it is critical that every student engages with this information and asks the relevant teachers questions about the subject they are thinking of taking in the HSC.

Michael Woerner
Leader of Curriculum

From the Leader of Pedagogy

It is an exciting time in education as new syllabuses are released this year ready for implementation in 2024 aligning learning and teaching better to prepare students for a dynamic world of work.  To allow staff time to design and construct effective, evidence-based programs Friday 12 May will be a Student Free day.  

Teachers will be involved in building stronger progressions of learning across the curriculum, prioritising essential knowledge, understanding and skills and ensuring that students engage with quality, rich resources and high-impact pedagogical strategies to meet the needs of learners. 

We appreciate that student free days are not easy to accommodate from a parent's perspective, but this opportunity to collaborate together is important to student outcomes, so thank you.

Kelly Winters
Leader of Pedagogy

From the Leader of Library and Resources

Get Caught Reading
I have recently been lucky enough to spend time reading to my 3-month-old granddaughter. It is wonderful to watch her eyes light up, the excitement on her face and see her big smiles as she engages with children’s books. It reminded me that we are never too young to hear stories and never too old to start reading them. Reading sparks the imagination, supports literacy, develops vocabulary and sets young people up for life-long learning.

May is Family Reading Month. It is an opportunity to share stories and connect through reading. 

This May, we are having a photo competition titled, “Get Caught Reading” to support student reading. Students and teachers may capture a photo of themselves reading a favourite book in their favourite place. They may include a sentence about what they enjoy about reading or their book or the places they go to read. I am also encouraging students to make this more creative by utilising the Library Green Screen to create a fun/fantasy background to ‘put themselves in’ while they read and explore new stories. Entries will be judged at the end of the month and I am looking forward to seeing more delighted faces in these photos as students immerse themselves in a good book!
Happy Reading.

Bev Champion
Leader of Library and Resources

From the Literacy Coach and The Leader of Learning - Numeracy

St Mary’s Catholic College is running a Beef Week Writing Competition this year. All students are invited to participate in the competition. It is a narrative writing competition with the theme, ‘Stars of the Screen’. The competition is being sponsored by the Beef Week Committee, with cash prizes up for grabs and all entries will be displayed in the Casino Richmond Valley Library after judging. This competition is open to all schools in the Casino and surrounding areas. 

Entry guidelines and forms are attached to this newsletter or you can obtain a hard copy from the front office at the College (9am - 4pm weekdays).

This is a great opportunity for all students to express their ideas and get involved in this wonderful community event. 

If you have any questions, please contact the College on 6662 2255.

Thank you for your support.

Emma Northam and Mark Chivers
Literacy Coach & Leader of Learning - Numeracy

From the Sports Coordinator

Diocesan Soccer
St Mary’s open boys and girls soccer team headed to Lismore to battle against schools from around the diocese for the Northern Diocese championship. Our boys started the day fresh off the bus and rolled starlight into two early large defeats against Trinity and Xavier Catholic College. The ball started to get rolling by the 2nd half of our Woodlawn match with Ben Shields finding the back of the net. This saw a full squad celebration which carried us into our last game against McAuley Catholic College where another two goals were scored by Brody Hoare. Celebrations again poured out all over the field. The highlight of the day was watching Oliver Shields go on a 60-metre goalkeeper run. 

The girls also had a good run of games. The first unfortunately saw a large defeat but the following games saw a massive improvement by the girls with some extremely close results and then scoring in their final game.

The squads would like to thank Mr Anderson,  Ms Maguire, Ms Northam and Ms Macfarlane for coaching as well as Mr Fitness for his efforts in organising the tournament.

NRCC Rugby League

14year Boys
We faced a tough assignment first up against Xavier Catholic College. It was a close game but we came away with the win. Hayden Griffin demonstrated aggressive attacking football throughout the game and was a stand out. In our next game we were up against St Joseph’s Banora Point. Nash copped a knock to the ribs and came off second best so we knew we were up for a challenge. Hayden was consistent again in the game in defence but unfortunately we weren’t able to beat their defensive line and lost. Our third and final game for the day was against Xavier but this time Corey Love stepped up and put more shots on than Latrell Mitchell. Little Flynn Formaggin was the smallest front rower but size wasn’t a factor and no one from Xavier was breaking the line. Not only can the Formaggin’s defend but Dominic Formaggin also showed us such impressive attacking skills with a massive fend opening up opportunities for another St Mary’s try. A big thank you to Mr Ludwig and Brice for coaching and Jack Wornes for his first appearance as tee boy. 

16 year Boys
Our first game of the day was against Xavier, we started off a little slow and ended with a loss. We were disappointed in our defence but we put all our energy into our next game against St Joseph's Banora. One of the most exciting moments of the game was when Brodie Formaggin scooted from dummy half to get a meat pie! With quick thinking and incredible speed, Brodie managed to outmanoeuvre the opposing team and score a truly unforgettable try. Hayden Sivewright was also outstanding, sending players in every direction demonstrating his sheer strength. Ryder Anderson made an unforgettable play, scoring a try after deflection off the uprights. Max Hale showed us how to roll through a defensive line with sheer force. These moments highlighted the incredible power of teamwork and what can be achieved when everyone works together towards a common goal. A big thank you to Mr Ludwig for coaching us and Brice for helping out on the day. 

14 year Girls
Last Friday we had an under 14’s girls side compete in the NRCC competition. We arrived to find out we only had one team to verse however we had a great time playing against St. Joseph's Banora Point. We played them three times throughout the day. Our team was made up of many new players who were excited to improve their skills and make some big tackles. In our first game, we went down 4 tries to 1. But we quickly realised that we needed to step up defensively and not be afraid to make contact. In our second game, we showed lots of improvement but still lost 4 tries to 1. However, we had a great moment when one of our players scored both of our tries. Our final game was a draw, and we were all thrilled with the result. Ms Day joined the field to provide extra direction and coaching during the game and we ended up with tries being scored by Stella, Emerald, and Laquarnah. The team would like to express their gratitude to Ms Day and Elle Hannigan for coaching and to Bailey Campbell for keeping us all hydrated throughout the day. 

NRCC Volleyball
Friday last week the under 14s and under 16s girls volleyball teams played in the NRCC competition held here in Casino. Overall the day was brilliant and there were smiles all round with chants from the schools cheering each other on. Sportsmanship was great from everyone. The 16 years grand final came down to a tie leading into extra time with the SMCC A-Team coming out on top against Xavier with a score of 40 to 33 after being tied at full time and having to go into 5 minutes extra time. We would like to thank Mr Fitness for organising the carnival, Ms Maguire and Mr Kennedy for coaching as well as Libby Walker and Samara Leven for helping out through the day.

SMCC Representative Students

CCC Swimming
Congratulations to all swimmers that represented SMCC in the CCC state swimming carnival in Sydney last term. A very special mention to Emma Green for receiving a bronze medal for placing 3rd in the 50m breaststroke. We now wish you all the best in the next stage.

Northern Selection trials
Congratulations to all players that represented SMCC as part of the Lismore Diocesan Rugby League Team at the Northern Selection trials last term. A very special mention to Elle Hannigan and Kali Ainsworth for being selected in the Northern Country Teams for their age groups. We now wish you all the best in the next stage.

Upcoming events
Term 2 is a busy term for sport so students are encouraged to keep ther eyes on the daily notices and the sports noticeboard for upcoming sporting opportunities.

Week 3 will see the boys and girls NRCC Hockey teams play in Lismore on Tuesday, 9 May the Opens boys rugby league team playing at Woodlawn on Wednesday, 10 May for the Catholics Cup, then the senior mixed Fast 5 Netball team play in Ballina on the Friday, 12 May.

Week 4 will be the Dio Cross Country to be held in Grafton. Students have had the opportunity to nominate for this over the past two weeks. Nominations are now closed.

Later in the term we have the Katrina Fanning cup for Open girls rugby league (tackle), 7-9 girls and 7-10 boys soccer gala day in Coffs Harbour and the Country Cup rugby league for boys divisions 13s, 15s and open.

Beef Week Clash
On Thursday, 25 May (week 5) SMCC will play off against Casino High School for the Annual Beef Week Clash sporting competitions. There are a number of sports that all students are encouraged to participate in including netball, league tag, rugby league, soccer, volleyball and archery. If students are interested, they need to nominate by placing their name on the sport list on the sports noticeboard. As it stands, SMCC has not won the trophy for a few years, so we are putting our pride on the line to regain the Beef Week Clash Trophy.

Andrew Fitness
Sports Coordinator

From the Leader of School Evangelisation

Caritas
Thank you everyone for your generosity for the Caritas Lenten appeal. As a school we were able to raise over $400. This will make a significant difference to the lives of those less fortunate. 

Vinnies Sleepout
This term we will turn our fundraising efforts towards St Vincent de Paul. The annual Vinnies Sleepout will be occurring again this June. For those that have previously participated you will know how challenging yet rewarding the experience is. This is an opportunity for students to have a real impact in their local community. We will be hosting the Vinnies Winter Sleep Out at school on Thursday, 8 June. Friday, 9 June is a student free day so students will have plenty of time to recover from braving the cold. Students are asked to complete an expression of interest and more details will be available on the compass app. 

Transitus
Recently 7 of our in Year 7 attended a student discipleship event ‘Transitus’. This retreat was held late last term and we were accompanied by Ms Lickiss and also Carrie Smith who attended as a ministry leader. The students had an amazing time and the retreat involved students participating in prayer, games and reflection activities. However, the real highlight of the retreat was the opportunity it provided to build lifelong friendships with students from other schools in the diocese. The students from different schools were able to come together, share their experiences, and bond over their faith. They were able to learn from each other, support each other, and most importantly, create a sense of community that will last a lifetime.  Thank you to Mrs Tonya Lickiss for accompanying our students and making this retreat experience possible. 

Street Retreat
Street Retreat is quickly approaching and will be held from Thursday, 22 June to Sunday, 25 June. Street Retreat is open to any student in the Diocese in Year 11, however our school can only take 4 students. Participants will be involved in working with a range of social justice initiatives in Brisbane. Students from our college who have attended in previous years report this retreat as a life changing experience. Students are required to complete an Expression of Interest if they would like to nominate to attend. 

Mahaila Day
Leader of School Evangelisation

MUNA 2023

Saturday, 1 April 2023 witnessed three representatives from St Mary’s Catholic College attend the MUNA (Model United Nations Assembly) in Tweed Heads. Nick Carey, Emily Dolman and Carlee Thomas gave up their Saturday to represent the school. The students were allocated New Zealand and were pitted against schools from Grafton to the Gold Coast. 

MUNA encourages students to think on their feet, be able to form arguments and rebuttals to achieve a consensus in much the same way as would typically occur in the United Nations General Assembly. The students were given four amendments to discuss and debate, at which our students did a fantastic job. They were successful in arguing for their amendment to be passed, which it was unanimously. 

At the end of the day, Nick Carey was awarded the ‘Best Speaker’ prize, and our team came away with a narrow second place, being beaten by China. The students are commended for their teamwork and creativity; they were a true asset to the College.

Christopher Robinson
Leader of Learning - HSIE

10 PASS Coaching Module

On Tuesday, 2 May, Ms Maguire’s Year 10 PASS class invited Year 1 from SMP to the College grounds for a coaching session as part of their Coaching Module. The Year 10 students taught the Year 1 students a variety of skills and techniques involved in Soccer. The College students were well prepared and did a great job communicating with the younger students while improving their own coaching skills. All students enjoyed this experience and it was valuable in building relationships and community between the two schools. The SMP students were enthusiastic, and from the look on their faces and the excited chatter they had a great time. SMCC students displayed excellent participation, enthusiasm and care for the Year 1’s and were a credit to the school community.  

Keely Maguire
Teacher

Canteen

Volunteers
We are looking for volunteers to assist in the Canteen. Please contact the Canteen via the College office if you are available at any time to help.

Flexischools
Flexischools is a well-established organisation allowing you to easily place all your canteen orders online at any time.

Download the Flexischools app from the App store or Google Play. Click here for details on how to set up your account. 

Once registered, you can start placing orders immediately.

Please note that sushi orders will need to be placed before Tuesday afternoon at 1pm as Sushi will only be available for Wednesday orders.

There is a charge of $0.29 per order for using this service.

If you have any questions, please contact the Flexischools Customer Service Team via their website contact page.

The normal process of ordering from the canteen (cash, eftpos, morning lunch orders) is still available.

Uniform Shop

The new Uniform Shop is open and ready for business.

 All parents and visitors will be required to sign in at the front office prior to proceeding to the uniform shop. This is a child protection requirement.
 The Uniform Shop service is now a cashless service. The only method of payment is EFTPOS or online ordering via Flexischools.

Uniform Shop Opening Hours
Tuesdays         3.15pm to 5.00pm
Thursdays        2.00pm to 5.00pm

Orders can also be placed via the Flexischools service. No fees are charged to families for using this service.

Please note the following information for orders made via this service:

Tuesday Orders
- Cut off time is 12noon on Monday
- Pick up available from the College on Tuesday afternoon from 3.30pm - 5.00pm

Thursday Orders
- Cut off time is 12noon on Wednesday 
- Pick up available from the College on Thursday afternoon from 3.30pm - 5.00pm.

Orders not collected will be given to the student to take home.

Whilst all care will be taken to ensure that stock availability is correct at the time of ordering, there may be some items that are not in stock at the time of packing the online orders. In this case, you will be contacted to advise of an estimated time of arrival for new stock of that item or given the option of a refund processed through Flexischools.

All uniform shop order enquiries can be emailed to: cash-uniform@lism.catholic.edu.au

Second Hand Uniforms
Sustainable School Shop is an online shop dedicated to buying and selling of second hand uniforms. For more information ring 1300683337 or visit www.sustainableschoolshop.com.au.

 Please note that this facility is available for use with the new College uniforms only.

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