Newsletter - T3, W2 - 28/7/23

From the Acting Principal

Welcome back to Term 3, this is an important Term for Year 12 as it is their last school Term, soon they will be leaving St Mary’s to prepare for the HSC examinations and their life beyond school. I wish them all the best over the next few weeks.

Facebook
St Mary’s Catholic College launched their Facebook page on Monday, 24 July 2023. This page will keep families in the loop with current events and give parents a real time view into the amazing work that students and staff do at the College. There are a couple of unofficial Facebook sites for St Mary’s Catholic College, the official site has a photo of students and the College crest.

Staffing
On Tuesday, 25 July 2023 Ms Amy Houlden finished her tenure at St Mary’s Catholic College due to relocation. We thank her for her service and wish Amy all the best in the future.

We welcome Mr Daniel Sekulic who will be teaching PDHPE and Mr Lachlan Dwyer who will be teaching HSIE to the College community. Both gentlemen come to us with fantastic recommendations.

Casual Positions Available
There are currently positions vacant for the casual staff pool at the College. We are currently seeking applications in the areas of Teaching, Learning Support, Maintenance and Administration.  If you have the relevant qualification and or experience in any of these areas and are happy to work on a casual basis, we welcome your application.  If you wish to make an application or refer a friend please click here

Michael Campbell
Acting Principal

From the College Business Manager

School Fees
Term 3 Tuition fees have been processed and are available in the Compass portal.  Term 3 fees are due and payable by Tuesday, 22 August 2023 unless paying by regular instalments or an arrangement has been made.

Leanne Cummins
College Business Manager

Upcoming Dates

Week 3
Monday 1/8/23 - Festa Christi Boys 1 – 2 August 2023
Wednesday 3/8/23 - Festa Christi Girls 3 – 4 August 2023
Friday 4/8/23 - Last Day for Year 9, 2023 Subject Selections Google Form Closes

Week 4
Monday 7/8/23 - Stage 6 Subject Selections SETP Interviews
Monday 7/8/23 - Diocesan Basketball
Tuesday 8/8/23 - CSDA Debate
Wednesday 9/8/23 - MacKillop House Assembly 11.25am
Friday 11/8/23 - Netball NSW Cup

Parish Mass Times

Weekend Mass
5.00pm (Sat) & 8.00am (Sun)

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

Adoration
Follows 9.00am Saturday Mass

Reconciliation
Saturday 8.30am - 9.00am

Country Mass
13/8/23 Bonalbo 10.30am

Mission Team

Mission
This Sunday’s Gospel is about hidden treasures. In this parable, Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a hidden treasure found in a field. Jesus proposes the kingdom of heaven is like an item of great worth for which one will sell everything else to possess. Throughout this term I hope students are able to uncover their own hidden treasures but I challenge them to think critically and creatively. 

Education is like a hidden treasure waiting to be unearthed. As students engage in learning, they discover new knowledge, ideas, and skills that enrich their lives. The pursuit of education allows them to uncover their passions and talents, guiding them towards their unique calling and purpose, to approach their education as a precious treasure waiting to be discovered. It calls for a willingness to sacrifice, an eagerness to learn, and a wholehearted commitment to the pursuit of knowledge. Let us all be ready to uncover the hidden treasures of education this term. 

Clare Axman
Assistant Principal - Mission

Evangelisation
Festa Christi - Good Luck to the following students who will be attending the Year 8 Discipleship Retreat, Festa Christi, at Coffs Harbour during week 3:

• Thomas Bratti
• Bailey Freeburn
• James Rowlands
• Luke Smith
• Gus Summers
• Hanna Formaggin
• Sofie Formaggin
• Ruby Garred
• Anna O’Neill
• Alex Whiston 

Mackillop House Mass
This term we will be celebrating our Mackillop House and their families by joining with the Parish community for Mass and supper. We would love to see our Mackillop families and staff come along. Students from other house groups are welcome to attend. Mass is at 5pm with supper served in the Church grounds directly after Mass.

Mahaila Day
Leader of School Evangelisation

Meet Our New Family Connect Worker
Jessie has recently joined the team as the Family Connect Program worker.
Jessie is from The New England region of NSW and moved to the Northern rivers in 2016.
Jessie has studied Theology and Social Work and has worked in the community services sector for 14 years in rural and remote NSW communities.
In her spare time Jessie enjoys weekend adventures with her family.

Jessie Moulynox
Program Worker - Family Connect in Schools

Learning & Teaching Team

Trial Examinations
The Stage 6 Trial Examinations are being held in Week 6 of this term (Monday, 21 -Friday, 25 August 2023). The exam timetable will be released to parents and students on Friday of this week. These exams are compulsory for all students.
As per the College assessment guidelines: Attendance the day before the assessment period, for the entire day, is mandatory. That date is Friday, 18 August 2023. Students who are away for an exam need to provide documentation for their absence. If a student knows they are going to be away before the day, they need to arrange an alternative exam time with Mrs Connolly. Catch up exams will be held on Monday and Tuesday of Week 7 in consultation with individual students.

Nadine Connolly
Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching

Reminder
We would like to remind everyone that St Mary's Catholic College has a Staff Development Day/ Student Free Day on Friday, 1 September 2023, Week 7.

Kelly Winters
Leader of Pedagogy

Naidoc Celebrations
In Week 10 of Term 2 on Wednesday, 28 June 2023, the school held our Naidoc celebration. We started the day with an activity for our Aboriginal students called ‘Taste of the bush’ held by Jill Richardson, who showed the students some recipes using traditional Aboriginal foods. Our students also decorated a wooden cross with Aboriginal dot painting. A whole school assembly also took place on the day, with the focus on the Naidoc theme ‘For Our Elders’. Parents of our Aboriginal students attended the assembly and a lunch gathering afterwards. It was a great opportunity to meet some families and create meaningful connections. To finish off the day different activities were set up around the College, including art activities, such as face painting and a large hand-print flag that had a massive contribution. There were other activities focusing on Indigenous sports as well as Yarning circles, Reconciliation, trivia, and an Indigenous wall of fame challenge. It was a great day and it was amazing to see all students engaging in the activities. We can’t wait for Naidoc to be bigger and better next year. 

Brice McCartney
Aboriginal Education Worker

Sports News

Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League National Championships
The St Mary’s community would like to congratulate Kali Ainsworthas. Kali represented our College as part of the NSWCCC under 18s girls rugby league team, during the recent holidays at Redcliffe, for the Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League 18 Years National Championships.

Kali Played admirably throughout each of her games. Just missing out on the final being beaten by QLD in the semi final 12-10 with a team member missing a conversion after the whistle to take it to golden point.

Unfortunately Kali was not selected for the Australian team but nonetheless the College and the entire community are extremely proud of Kali’s achievements.

Rugby 7’s
On Tuesday, 25 July 2023, St Mary’s had the Under 16s boys and Open girls scheduled to play the first round of the Secondary School’s 7’s rugby union here in Casino. Unfortunately no other Open girls team registered for the event, meaning our girls moved to the next round which will be held in Wollongbar in week 5.

Our under 16’s boys still played on the day. The boys started strong and finished strong defeating Alstonville and Emmanual respectively. Unfortunately for the boys, they lost the two games in between to Woodlawn and Trinity. The scores and try scorers are below

• SMCC defeated Alstonville 19-0
  Tries from Angus Lawler x 2 and Hayden Sivewright x 1
• Woodlawn defeated SMCC 33-7
  Try from Angus Lawler
• Trinity defeated SMCC 24-21 (thrilling close encounter)
  Tries from Hayden Sivewright x 2, Angus Lawler x 1 and Riley Grant x 1
• SMCC defeated Emmanual 19-12
  Tries from Angus Lawler x 1, Brodie Formaggin x 1 and Hayden Sivewright x 1
  

The boys did a 3, 2, 1 vote for the player of the day where Hayden Sivewright was voted best on ground by his teammates.

Upcoming Sport
Term 3 SMCC has:

• Basketball - year 9/10 - Monday-Wednesday Week 4 - Port Macquarrie 
• Netball - 7/8 and 9/10 boys and girls - 11th August Friday Week 4 - Ballina
• Touch Football - 15s and Opens boys and girls - 18th August Friday Week 5 - Ballina
• Diocesan Athletics - 23rd August Wednesday Week 6 - Coffs Harbour

SMCC Representative sport
Students and families are reminded that when representing the College at any sporting event, that students must wear the full College sport uniform. This means that students are not permitted to wear casual jumpers, hats, track pants or shoes or socks. Students that fail to adhere to the College uniform policy whilst representing SMCC in sport will be asked not to attend. The purpose of this policy is to present as a team and show pride in our school. Any questions please direct them to the College Sport Coordinator Andy Fitness.

Weekly School Sport
A reminder to students and families that students are to wear the correct sport uniform on Thursday’s for weekly sport. Students are not permitted to wear black socks or canvas shoes and must adhere to the College’s uniform policy.

The College wishes to promote sport in a safe and positive manner and this begins with the correct uniform. 

Andrew Fitness
Sports Coordinator

2023 Lunchtime Volleyball Competition
For the first time in three years (floods, COVID!) the lunchtime Volleyball competition was able to run. When nominations closed there were 96 students competing in this competition. Over 5 weeks of competition the finals were finally played last Wednesday. Congratulations to all players involved in the competition and the winners - some very close matches!

• In the Yrs 7/8 Girls competition Sofie Formaggin, Hanna Formaggin and Ruby Garred defeated Josie Ryan, Makenzie Pearce and Ellie-Jayne Johns 31 - 24
• In the Yrs 7/8 Boys competition Flynn Formaggin, Riley Constable and Levi Richardson defeated Miller Scully, Bailey Freeburn and Jonny Birney in a very close match 39 - 38
• In the Yrs 9/10 Girls competition Elle Hannigan and Belle Wall defeated Zubaida Soliman and Izzy Baker 33 - 28
• In the Yrs 9/10 Boys competition Angus Lawler and Ashton Marquez defeated Jayden De La Cruz and Cadell Holzhauser 37 to 32
• In the Yrs 11/12 Girls competition Samara Leven and Meeka Olive defeated Charlie Llewellyn and Carlee Thomas 39 - 35
• In the Yrs 11/12 Boys competition Jack Hannigan and Nick Carey defeated Brad Griffin and Ollie Shields 33 to 32

The next step regarding representative Volleyball is the selection of the 15yrs and open girls and boys teams for the Lismore Diocese Volleyball competition to be held in Coffs Harbour on Friday, 13 October 2023 (Week 1 of Term 4). These teams will be very difficult to select with the number and quality of players available. 

Andrew Bartlett
Sports Coordinator

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

Uniform Shop Opening Hours
Tuesdays         3.00pm to 4.15pm
Thursdays        1.30pm to 4.15pm

The Uniform Shop service is a cashless service. Methods of payment are by EFTPOS or online ordering via Flexischools. No fees are charged to families for using the Flexischools service.

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

Tuesday Orders
- Cut off time is 12 noon on Monday
- Pick up available from the College office on Tuesday afternoon from 3.30pm - 4.15.00pm

Thursday Orders
- Cut off time is 12 noon on Wednesday 
- Pick up available from the College office on Thursday afternoon from 3.30pm - 4.15pm.

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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Casino Fun Run
The Casino Fun Run is back again this year on Sunday, 17 September. This year we have a new challenge for our schools and students which we hope will make entering easier for all.

First of all, there will be a trophy for the Primary school with the most participants in the 2km, and a trophy for both Primary and Secondary schools in the 5km. Students just need to  enter their school when prompted in the registration portal. Earlybird price for the 2km is $12 per student, and $16 per student in the 5km.

We will also be awarding Gold, Silver and Bronze medals to the 3 fastest students (male and female) in both events. As usual we will also be awarding a trophy to the fastest teacher across the line in the 5km.

Peta Moloney
Event Coordinator