Newsletter - T4, W2 - 20/10/23
From the Acting Principal
Welcome back to Term 4, the term has started smoothly with students settling very well into their studies as they gear up for final examinations in week 4. Our senior students are currently sitting their HSC examinations, we wish them well.
The new academic year begins Monday, 13 November 2023 at the start of week 6. Transition week will begin in week 5, this year we have designed a program for students and parents to be involved in conversations around their child’s learning. Details about this initiative follow in this newsletter.
An option for the addition of shorts in summer for the girl’s uniform was discussed at the recent P&F meeting. There was overwhelming support for this, and we are currently moving through the necessary steps to make this a reality.
Have a fantastic weekend.
Michael Campbell
Acting Principal
From the College Business Manager
School Fees - Term 4 2023
Term 4 Tuition Fees have been processed, payments can be made via the compass portal and app or via Bpay. Bpay is the preferred method of payment. The due date for Term 4 fees is 12 December, 2023.
Senior Retreat - Camp Drewe is now due.
Leanne Cummins
College Business Manager
Upcoming Dates
Week 3
Monday 23/10/23 - HSC Exams Continued
Monday 23/10/23 - PAT Testing Continued
Week 4
Monday 30/10/23 -HSC Exams Continued
Monday 30/10/23 - Year 7 to Year 10 Exams (All Week)
Parish Mass Times
Weekend Mass
Saturday 6.00pm
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
Mallanganee - 10.30am Sunday 22/10/23
Mission Team
This week in the Gospel of Matthew Jesus tells us to “repay … to God what belongs to God.” Together, our different gifts accomplish God’s will on earth and build up the Body of Christ, and this doesn’t happen by chance. The Holy Spirit guides us and by doing so, the church. It is important to note that we should not spend so much of our lives trying to win the approval of others? Jesus didn’t. He also didn’t care about a person’s status in life, their place in society or how much money they had.
This week, as our HSC exams continue and we build towards our end of year assessments, we are reminding our students that the true test of a person’s worth is not in their marks or grades, but in their ability to demonstrate love and support for one another.
Clare Axman
Assistant Principal - Mission
Child Safeguarding Website Launch
The Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Limited (DLCSL) has launched a Child Safeguarding website as part of our commitment to implementing the Child Safe Standards. It contains information on Child Standards, our Commitment Statement, a contact form for concerns or inquiries, and other useful links and resources.
The website can also be accessed through the “Parent Information” tab on our school website. We encourage you to visit the website to understand our commitment to building a school where every child feels valued, heard, and protected.
Mental Health Month
October is Mental Health Month and our Year 10 students have been completing the Teen Mental Health First Aid Training which gives teenagers the skills they need to recognise and help with mental health problems and crises in their friends, and to get the help of an adult quickly.
Mental health problems are very common in adolescents. Young people will often turn to each other when stressed or upset, and try to help each other, taking too much on. This course teaches them not to try to take on these problems alone but to identify when someone might be struggling and need support and assist them to get that help.
This course is offered to our Year 10 Cohort each year.
Our junior students are working with their RE teachers on some Mental Health Awareness activities.
Our staff are currently completing the Youth Mental Health First Aid course.
Michele McCaffery
Leader of Pastoral Care
Parent Education Webinar
Parent Assembly is hosting a webinar “Nurturing Neurodiversity” on Monday, 30 October. All parents are warmly encouraged to register to understand more about how to support neurodiverse children.
Learning & Teaching Team
Exam Week
Week 4 is our Semester 2 Examination week. This is a great opportunity for students to show themselves and you, all the great learning they have engaged with this semester. The exam timetable will go out this week and we wish the students all the best of luck.
Transition Week
As Ms Connolly has mentioned in previous newsletters, during Week 5 Transition week is held. It has been put into place to allow the College to transition from one academic year to the next 4 weeks before the end of the calendar school year. We have this in place because of our compressed curriculum and the need to begin courses earlier than the start of the next year.
Traditionally transition week has consisted of Monday and Tuesday being student-free days and Reach Out activities being conducted from Wednesday to Friday. Due to the changing nature of society in a post-COVID world, we are no longer able to complete Reach Out activities in large groups the way we have done in the past. The College has decided to focus more predominantly on learning and teaching during this week, and then better incorporate Reach Out activities and opportunities throughout the school year for students.
This year during Week 5, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we ask that all students with their Parents/Carers attend a Parent/Student/Teacher Conference with their homeroom teacher (or other teacher as directed by the College) to discuss achievements and next steps for growth in 2023 into 2024. Please keep your eye on Compass for how to book the conference timeslots with homeroom teachers.
Kelly Winters
Leader of Pedagogy
Semester 2 Exam Information
Term 4 is underway, and the College exam block is scheduled for Week 4. This can be a challenging experience for both students and families.
Teachers will be working with classes involving revision, this may include practice papers. Some considerations around supporting your child to take some time at home to review their notes and classwork, both in their books and on their computers on Google Classroom will assist them in recalling information.
If your child needs further assistance the Homework Centre in the Library is available Monday - Thursday 3:15 - 5:00 pm. This is a space for quiet study with support from our teacher assistants.
For further subject specific information, please encourage your child to have a conversation with their classroom teacher in ways they can best prepare for their upcoming tests. As a starting point your child should have accessed assessment notifications on their Google Classroom already.
Kelly Scurr
Leader of Learning - Inclusion and Diversity
'Grin and Tonic'
Year 10 students were once again entertained by ’Grin and Tonic’, a visiting Shakespearean Company who presented a performance of ‘Romeo and Juliet Reimagined’.
Students watched the performance, immersing themselves in the fastest love story ever told, where the characters don’t even make it to a week.
Two star crossed teenagers defy their families’ hatred and fall in love. Secretly marrying, they set a course for terrible disaster and doom. But by sailing the waves of love and passion they find great hope in small places. The visiting actors performed a ‘best of’ exploration of Shakespeare’s play using a diorama to incorporate the scenery of Italy’s Verona.
Joanne Colville
Leader of Learning English
Sports News
NSWCCC Interdiocesan Athletics Championships
During the holidays we had two students represent the College in athletics at the NSW All Schools Championships. NSW All Schools, is the culmination of the state secondary school pathway. Year 7 student Jay Urquhart-Purdon represented the College in three field events - shot put, discus and javelin, putting in a gallant effort placing 12th, 16th and 13th respectively.
Year 10 student Angus Lawler represented the College in two track events - 100m and 200m placing 9th overall in both events.
I would like to extend a huge congratulations to both these students on behalf of the College.
Northern Lismore Diocese Volleyball Championship
Friday last week saw St Mary’s hold the Northern Lismore Diocese Volleyball Championships at the Casino Indoor Sports Stadium. St Mary’s entered a team in each division, 15s Boys, 15s Girls, Open Boys and Open Girls.
The day was fantastic, music flowing, some great volleyball being played and the staff and students seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. St Mary’s was crowned the champion school receiving gold medals in the Open Boys, Open Girls and 15 Girls.
Thank you to Mr Bartlett and Mr Sekulic for coaching on the day, Miss Maguire for coaching the girls in the lead up to the competition and Mr Fitness for convening the day.
2023 Interschools Horse Extravaganza
St Mary’s had four students represent the College at the 2023 Interschools Horse Extravaganza held at the amazing AELEC Centre in Tamworth. Events held were Show Horse, Working Horse Challenge, Combined Training, Campdraft, Dressage, Sporting and One Day event.
The four students, Brooke Brennan, Stella Dean, Emerald Dean and Rocco Smith had a very successful time representing the College. With over 700 students in attendance it was a very competitive couple of days. Our students have to be very proud of themselves coming home with 1st, 2nd, 3rds, 4ths and 9th overall amongst some very competitive students.
Brooke, Stella, Emerald and Rocco made many new friends from schools far and wide and the comradery amongst the team and other students was outstanding
The College would like to thank the families of these students for their wonderful support liaising with College staff and managing the team during the event.
Year 9 PASS Excursion
On Tuesday, 17 October 2023, as part of the lifestyle, leisure and recreation unite, the Year 9 Physical Activity and Sport Studies (PASS) classes went to Evans Head for a fun day of learning to surf and team bonding with a raft building exercise. Overall the day was a success and the students thoroughly enjoyed themselves, learning new skills and testing their limits as they grew outside of their comfort zones.
A huge thank you to Surf Shack Evans Head for hosting the students and to Miss Hughes and Mr Fitness for their efforts in organising this curriculum excursion.
Farewell from me
With my time coming to an end at the College on Friday of Week 4 this Term, I would like to extend a massive thank you to the St Mary’s Catholic College and the Casino Community for the warm welcome I have received in my past 4 years at the College.
Being able to work alongside some fantastic athletes during my tenure as Sport Coordinator, as well as all the students that just get in and have a crack, makes my job so enjoyable.
The support I have been shown from the families within our College community, helping and guiding me along my journey in this role, in all sports but most notably athletics and swimming, prove that I will wholeheartedly miss this giving community.
As I am off to travel the world with my wife, while we are both still young(ish), there will always be a special place in my heart for how this community has helped me grow in my profession.
Andrew Fitness
Sports Coordinator
Lismore Show
Thankyou to our amazing students who represented our college at the North Coast National. We're very proud of you.
Aaron Kennedy
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
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.
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.