Newsletter - T4, W10 - 15/12/23
From the Principal
On Tuesday night we celebrated the successes of our students at the annual Celebration Evening. It was great to see so many families join us to acclaim our students. During my address I mentioned students who have left us this year who attained fulltime employment or secured apprenticeships. I would like to take this opportunity to recognise their efforts and success.
Our HSC results were released yesterday, the results were pleasing, and they are a testament to the hard work of both students and staff. Congratulations to all students who completed their HSC examinations in 2023.
Wednesday morning, I had the privilege of being invited to the Year 6 St Mary’s Primary School Graduation ceremony. I was very impressed with the students and look forward to welcoming most of them into the College in 2024.
During our Celebration evening we farewelled 4 long term and well-respected staff members, Mr Scott Taylor, Ms Mahaila Day, Mr Stephen Humphries and Mr Peter Bonomini. The contribution these staff members have had on the St Mary’s community over the years cannot be overstated. I wish Peter and Stephen well in retirement, Scott and Mahaila are moving to other schools in 2024 and I know they will continue to positively affect the lives of young people.
Mr Chris Robinson moves into the Leader of Curriculum role in 2024 and Ms Kelly Scurr has moved from Leader of Diversity and Inclusion to Leader of Pedagogy. The College welcomes Ms Alicia Nowlan to the role of Leader of Diversity and Inclusion, Alicia comes to us with a wealth of experience in the role and is a very passionate educator. Given the quality of the staff we have been able to secure I am very excited for 2024 and beyond.
Have a fantastic Christmas!
Michael Campbell
Principal
Upcoming Dates
Week 1
Thursday 1/2/23 - Year 7, 11 & 12 First Day Term 1 (Day 9)
Friday 2/2/23 - Years 8, 9 & 10 First Day Term 1 (Day 10)
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
Christmas Is Coming
Reconciliation
Community Rite
Thursday 21/12/23 - 6.00pm
Friday 22/12/23 - 4.00pm - 5.00pm
Saturday 23/12/23 - 10.00am - 11.00am
Christmas Masses
Christmas Eve
Sunday 24/12/23 - Mallanganee 5.00pm
Sunday 24/12/23 - Casino 6.00pm
Christmas Day
Monday 25/12/23 - Casino 8.00am
Mission Team
As we conclude the 2023 calendar year, I would like to express my gratitude to all members of our community. We have journeyed together and grown in peace, hope and love. Our small community here at St Mary’s is one we are justifiably proud of. We see amazing acts of kindness and joy in our interactions with each other.
I wish all families a safe and happy holiday season. I am looking forward to seeing you all when we return in January.
Clare Axman
Assistant Principal - Mission
Sports News
Sport Report
Ben George, Year 11 Tennis
Earlier this year Connor Turner, Jayden De La Cruz, Miller Scully and Ben George were part of a St Mary’s Catholic College team that competed at the Diocesan Tennis Tournament in Tweed Heads. Since then Ben has continued competing throughout the year in the Junior Development Series (JDS), where he finished the year as the 16 Boys North East Champion of Champions winner and North East Upper RMS overall point score winner.
Additionally, Ben was the North East match play series winner at many of these JDS tournaments held throughout the year. After coming Runner Up at the Northern Foundation Champion of Champions in Inverell, Ben was selected to represent North East NSW at Sydney competing against some of the top junior tennis players in the State. Ben is currently competing at the Queensland Junior Teams Carnival & Roy Emerson Junior Championships on the Gold Coast. He is a Representative of the North East NSW Team competing in both singles and doubles events. Up to this point, Ben has won all his singles as part of the team's events and will today play the Semi-Final of the Junior Championships. Ben was Runner Up in this event last year. We wish him well for the rest of the tournament.
2024 External Sport Information
Next year we aim to maintain and improve our participation in Northern Rivers Catholic Competitions (NRCC), Diocesan and other local sporting events such as Beef Week Cup, etc.
Below is all the Sports that we will enter into team competitions when they are scheduled. I would encourage you and your child to look through these and identify which one/s your child would be interested in competing in for the College. Please note, it is not about the best players, it’s about participation, teamwork, social interaction, etc.
On top of this, there are many opportunities in other sports to attend individual trials. For example, Touch Football, Basketball, Rugby League and Soccer will be advertised and student nominations will be available as I receive and advertise them within school and via the newsletter. See below for AFL, Touch and NSWCCC and All Schools opportunities coming up early next year.
Please click here to view all sports that require teams from St Mary's Catholic College in 2024.
Calling all U15 AFL Players and 400m Freestyle Swimmers
Students who are competitive AFL players to register EOI on the Lismore Dio website Registration page - https://sport.lism.catholic.edu.au/registration
There will be no Diocesan trial for AFL, if students are competitive players and wish to attend, information on how to register on the CSNSW platform will be provided after they complete the Expression of Interest.
Please use the same link for any Junior, Intermediate and Senior 400M swimmers wishing to compete in that event at the Diocesan Swimming Titles in March 2024 at Port Macquarie.
2024 Diocesan Individual Touch Football Selection Trials
The Lismore Diocese will be holding trials for 15 Boys, 15 Girls, Open Boys & Open Girls Touch Teams on Tuesday,27 February 2024 in Sawtell. The start time of these trials is 9am. To nominate for these teams, please see or email Mr Beare, who will forward information and a nomination form to complete online. Students will then be selected to trial for each squad and a team will be chosen at the trials.
Diocesan Teams will compete at the NSWCCC Touch Football Selection Trials at Tuggerah, Central Coast, on the Tuesday, 9 April 2024 and Wednesday, 10 April 2024 (the tournament also doubles as the NSWCCC Diocesan Championships).
Closing date for nominations is Friday, 9 February 2024. Students selected to trial will be published on the Lismore Diocesan Sport Website.
The cost of the trial will be $12 plus any applicable travel costs to be paid to your school's coordinator upon selection to trial. Your school's sports coordinator will provide information to you regarding the total cost of the excursion if you are selected to trial.
**PLEASE NOTE: IN NOMINATING FOR THESE TRIALS, YOU ARE COMMITTING TO TRAVEL TO TUGGERAH, CENTRAL COAST, IF SELECTED. THIS WILL REQUIRE PRIVATE TRANSPORT TO THE VENUE AT THE ATHLETES EXPENSE.**
NSW Combined Catholic Schools Sports Pathways
As we prepare for 2024, we have a NSWCCC representative pathway sports selections for individual entry sport early in Term 1. The closing dates for registrations are very soon after returning to school. Please note all close dates are firm dates. No registrations will be permitted after the close dates.
All individual sports registrations are completed on the CSNSW.SPORT website. The parent must have an account and add their child to have access. (Sport Registration HELP available on sport info page)
More details are available on the csnsw.sport website (see link at end of this article)
NSWCCC Softball Selections - close date Wednesday, 7 February 2024 - Selection date - Tuesday, 13 February at Stanhope Gardens - More information https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/softball
NSW All Schools Triathlon - close date Wednesday, 7 February 2024 - Championship date - Wednesday, 21 February at Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith - More information https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/triathlon
NSWCCC Baseball Selections - close date Thursday, 22 February 2024 - Selection date - Tuesday, 5 March at Castle Glen 1 & 2, Castle Hill - More information https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/baseball
NSWCCC Tennis Selections - close date Thursday, 22 February 2024 - Selection date - Monday, 4 March at North Parramatta Tennis Courts - More information https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/tennis
NSWCCC Golf Selections - close date Thursday, 29 February 2024 - Selection date Monday, 11 March at Belmont Golf Club - More information https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/golf
In 2024, 3 new pathways will be introduced. NSWCCC will be opening an Expression of Interest registration for these next week to assist in conducting selections to finalise NSWCCC teams -
- 15 Years & Under Cricket - boys & girls
- 15 Years & Under Volleyball - boys & girls https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/volleyball
- 18 Years & Under Bowls - boys & girls
Watch this space for diving and Open volleyball registrations!!!
School Teams - NSW All Schools Triathlon Schools Relays - to be registered by the school sports coordinator or Principal only.
Close date - Wednesday, 7 February 2024 - Championship date - Thursday, 22 February 2024 at Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith - More information https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/triathlon - use Schools Based Competition tab. https://csnsw.sport/triathlon-form
Link to Catholic Sport NSW
Sport Search (½ way down page) → Step 1 (click on CCC) → Step 2 (select sport). Registration & Calendar is also there.
Dates to Remember in Term 1, 2024
- SMCC Swimming Carnival- Week 3, Thursday, 15 Febraury 2024 (Casino Pool)
(More information regarding the swimming carnival will be released in the Term 1 Week 2 newsletter in 2024) - SMCC Cross Country- Week 10, Thursday, 4 April 2024(Course TBC)
- Internal sporting information to follow in the Term 1 Week 2 Newsletter
Have a great Xmas and a safe New Year!
Craig Beare
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 - Mercy Centre Building
Tuesdays 3.00pm to 4.15pm
Thursdays 1.30pm to 4.15pm
Christmas Holiday Opening Times - Mercy Centre Building
Monday, 22 January 2023 7.30am - 1.30pm
Tuesday, 23 January 2023 9.30am - 1.30pm
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.