Newsletter - T1 W5 - 1/3/24
From the Principal
Year 7, 2025 Enrolments
We are now taking enrolment applications for Year 7, 2025. Applications can be submitted via the College Website: https://www.cashlism.
Parents & Friends Committee
In 2023 our P&F Committee engaged in a thorough process to determine which of the two new models of parent representation available to schools in the Diocese of Lismore was appropriate for St Mary’s. During this process we provided parents with the opportunity to voice their preference through a survey, and we thank the many parents who completed it. The current P&F used the results to help discern our School's choice and this year we will be moving forward as the St Mary's School Community Group. This model seeks to engage parents in meaningful discussions about school improvement and the best outcomes for our students. It does not have an elected executive committee of parents, the right to fundraise or hold a bank account. At our meeting Wednesday, we formally dissolved the St Mary's P&F and adopted the School Community model. We warmly invite parents to attend our future meetings.
Formal Assembly
We held our fortnightly formal assembly on Wednesday where the following messages were delivered to students.
Scripture: Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. (Matt 25:40)
This scripture reading serves as a reminder for all of us about the interconnectedness of human relationship and rights and responsibilities.
In the context of rights, we often advocate for our own freedoms and privileges. However, Matthew 25:40 challenges us to recognise that true fulfilment of our rights goes hand in hand with responsibilities towards others. The verse shows that our actions toward those in need reflect our commitment to a shared responsibility for the well-being of the community.
This means understanding that while we have rights, we also bear the responsibility to treat others with kindness and compassion. The passage encourages us to be mindful of the impact our actions can have on the lives of others. We need to act justly to all and acknowledge the dignity of the human person.
The relationships we build with each other and the wider community will be what inspires us, treating all with dignity, respect and compassion.
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” (Maya Angelou)
The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the 'Peanuts' comic strip. You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them. Just read it straight through, and you'll get the point.
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last 10 years of State of Origin winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Australian of the Year.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of NRL Premiership winners.
How did you do? The point is, none of us remember the headlines of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
Easier?
The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They simply are the ones who care the most.
Dates to Remember
- Monday, 4 March 2024 - Student Free Day / Staff Development Day
- Friday, 15 March 2024 - College Photographs - Full, formal uniform must be worn on this day, which includes long trousers and ties for our Years 11 & 12 boys. Several students will also require haircuts before this time.
- Monday, 8 April 2024 - SMCC Open Evening from 4.30pm-6.30pm
Michael Campbell
Principal
From the College Business Manager
College School Fees
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. Term 1 billing for tuition fees, electives and levies is now complete and all fees can now be viewed in the Compass portal and will appear on your family fee statement for February.
Timing of School Fees
- Tuition fees are billed over four Terms for students in Year 7-11 and students in Year 12 are billed over three Terms.
- Levies and Electives are all billed in Term 1
- At the end of each month the Catholic Schools Office will email a School Fee Statement to fee payers. The February statement will be emailed to families early next week .
- Camps will be billed in advance and will have separate due dates to fees.
Please click here for a full Schedule of School Fees for 2024 which includes due dates and methods of payment. The schedule outlines the cost of tuition fees for 2024 and will assist families with budgeting for the remainder of the year or if they wish to calculate the annualised cost of tuition fees for the whole year. We are unable to generate a statement for the whole year but payments in advance may be made via the usual methods of payment. Bpay is our preferred method of payment as it is the most cost effective for the College. The Bpay biller code and your unique reference number is on the bottom of the School Fee Statement.
If you do not receive your School Fee Statement for February via email or need to update your email address please contact the College Office. If you are experiencing difficulties accessing or paying school fees please contact me at the College Office.
Leanne Cummins
College Business Manager
Upcoming Dates
Week 6
Monday 4/3/24 - Student Fee Day / Staff Development Day
Tuesday 5/3/24 - Diocesan Rugby League Trials - Woodlawn
Tuesday 5/3/24 - Diocesan Open Soccer Trials - Lismore Thistles
Tuesday 5/3/24 - Youth Mental Health - Nic Newling Visit
Thursday 7/3/24 - Diocesan Swimming Carnival 2024 - Port Macquarie
Friday 8/3/24 - Year 10 Vaccinations
Week 7
Wednesday 13/3/24 - NAPLAN Commences for Year 7 and Year 9
Friday 15/3/24 - College Photo Day
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
Sunday 10/3/24 - 10.30am Bonalbo
Mission Team
Lent
Certainly, reflecting on the second week of Lent involves considering the themes of repentance, sacrifice, and personal growth. Lent is a time of self-examination, prayer, and fasting, leading up to the celebration of Easter. It's an opportunity to assess the challenges faced and the lessons learned. Have I been successful in resisting temptations or breaking unhealthy habits? Have I sincerely engaged in self-reflection?
Catholic Social Teachings
This year we are looking at the Catholic Social Teachings and how these impact us in a Catholic school. We are starting with the teachings on Rights and Responsibilities. While as individuals we have rights, we also have a responsibility to respect and protect the rights of others. It is important that while each of us has the right to an education, we are also charged with the responsibility to ensure others are able to learn as well. This means it is our responsibility to foster a learning environment that is conducive to allowing others to learn too. As a community we need to make sure we are each responsible for each other. We look out for one another, we Reach Out and offer assistance to ensure all people are granted their due respect with compassion and care.
Clare Axman
Assistant Principal - Mission
Project Compassion
Once again this year, as we move through Lent we are embarking on our Project Compassion campaign. This year we are asking students to offer $1 a week until Easter to contribute to the needs of our global Catholic community. Collection boxes will be in homerooms on Tuesday through to Friday right up to Easter.
LEAD Conference
Later in March, senior leaders will be heading to McAuley Catholic College in Grafton to attend the LEAD Conference. LEAD is an overnight Student Leaders Conference that enhances Senior Ministry Teams of Year 11 and 12 students to be equipped for ministry in their schools by nurturing their own faith and developing them into supportive communities.
Transitus
In the coming weeks, a number of Year 7 students will be invited to attend Transitus. Transitus is a retreat for Year 7 students in the Lismore Diocese to create a smoother transition to secondary schools, celebrate and be nurtured in their faith at a diocesan level. The retreat at Camp Drewe in Lennox Head, will be a chance to bring students together to meet like-minded peers and to celebrate with other young people who want to grow and be supported in their Christian faith. The retreat will be an overnight experience that will allow students to build relationships with other students from throughout the Diocese as well as a chance for students to talk and share about their faith journey.
Kate Rowlands
Leader of School Evangelisation
Attendance Matters
If you’re having difficulty getting your child to school on time every day, contact the College so we can work together to find a solution.
Reaching out to the College is a proactive and constructive step if you're experiencing difficulties in getting your child to school on time.
Contact your child's Pastoral Care Leader to discuss any specific challenges your child may be facing. Subject teachers can provide insights into the classroom dynamics and academic progress, helping to identify potential areas of concern.
Collaborate with the College to identify any underlying issues contributing to the difficulty in getting your child to school on time. This could involve academic challenges, social issues, or other factors impacting your child's motivation or wellbeing.
Read about School Avoidance here.
Year 10 Vaccinations reminder
Kirra Pendergast, an expert on Cyber Safety, will be presenting to our Year 7 to 10 students on Friday, 8 March 2024.
Kirra is passionate about ensuring children are educated about the use of online platforms, cyberbullying, and the responsible, safe and ethical management of AI use in education.
Kirra Pendergast and the Safe on Social team also have some advice for parents on keeping kids safe online and she is offering a webinar on Safeguarding Kids on Roblox.
Safe on Social: Online Safety
Safe Guarding Kids on Roblox
Michele McCaffery
Leader of Pastoral Care
Learning & Teaching Team
Parent Open Day
Have you ever wanted to see how a high school classroom functions?
Are you interested to look at how we teach students and implement learning goals?
Come in for the SMCC Parent Open Day - Friday, 12 April 9:00am-11:30am
You will get a chance to celebrate mass with members of the school community, tour junior classrooms and look at how we do things at SMCC and even ask learning questions of students so they can showcase to you what they are doing.
We will finish the morning with morning tea - join us for free tea and coffee, or purchase morning tea from the College Cafe - L’Avenir Cafe - this is a student owned, student run and student staffed cafe offering cappuccinos, lattes, hot chocolates, milkshakes, iced coffee and iced chocolates. They sell food products as well, depending on the weather. A full menu with prices will be sent to all who are attending.
To register your attendance on this day, follow THIS link.
Learning Goals
This week, staff began a series of meetings in base class learning teams to look at individual student learning plans and create base class learning goals.
These goals will run for all base classes in years 8-10 on a 2 week inquiry cycle.
All classrooms have explicit learning goal scaffolds that will be in use as we work together to improve student learning across all subjects.
For more information on your child’s learning plan, ask your child - their plan is in their planner and they should be able to tell you their base class goal for the fortnight.
Nadine Connolly
Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching
NAPLAN 2024 Parent and Carer Information
Each year the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is undertaken by students in Years 7 and 9. Students will participate in tests for writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.
NAPLAN 2024 will take place from Wednesday, 13 March 2024 to Monday, 25 March 2024.
NAPLAN is just one part of our school learning assessment program. The tests assess literacy and numeracy skills your child is already learning at school.
In preparation for NAPLAN, our school will undertake activities to help students become familiar with the format and functionality of the online tests. Excessive preparation for NAPLAN is not required nor recommended.
The public demonstration site is available to see the types of questions, tools and functions used in the NAPLAN tests.
Further information about NAPLAN is available on the NESA website.
If you have any questions about NAPLAN, please contact the College.
Kelly Winters
Literacy Coach
Homework Centre
St Mary's Catholic College runs a FREE Homework Centre four afternoons a week (Monday-Thursday). The Homework Centre runs from 3.10pm - 4.30pm. There is a Maths teacher available for support on a Monday afternoon. There is Teacher Aide support available for assessment tasks, study or general support with unfinished class work. Please encourage your child to access this opportunity to support their learning. If you need any more information please phone the College.
Alicia Nowlan
Leader of Learning - Inclusion and Diversity
SBATs
We are so proud of our 13 students who have secured school based apprenticeships/traineeships in their field of interest. This is a great way to combine school based education with paid employment and training. From Year 10 students can start this pathway. If you have any questions or would like to discuss this option for your child, please don’t hesitate to contact either myself or Mr David Lynch.
We would also like to thank our community for supporting these students and we recognise the following employers for their willingness to partner with us in SBATs:
- Kookaburras Early Learning, Casino
- Goonellabah Public School
- Casino Roadhouse
- St Joseph’s Primary School, Coraki
- Tom Bottfield Electrical
- Kyogle Smash Repairs
- St Mary’s Preschool, Casino
- St Mary’s Primary School, Casino
- Brown & Hurley, Kyogle
- Indigenous Allied Health Australia
- QUBE
- Casino Food Co-op
University Roadshow
On Thursday, 22 February 2024 students in Stage 6 participated in the University Roadshow. Representatives from a number of prestigious institutions such as Southern Cross, Griffith and Bond Universities, along with UNE, USQ, the University of Tasmania and TAFE, spoke to the cohort about the benefits of tertiary education, plus provided them with some basic information around how to apply for university and ways to financially support themselves in that next phase of life. Students were then able to speak to the representatives in a small exhibition session. This was an excellent stepping stone for students, especially those who perhaps thought that tertiary education wasn’t in their future!
Michelle Went
Careers Advisor
HP Update
HP have recently updated the school's device ordering portal to allow ordering of both models of Chromebook for use at the college.
It is a requirement of enrollment that all students have a device and we recommend that students in Year 7 and 8 use one of these two devices. The more affordable model has been out of stock since late January, but is now available for pre-order. To order, just follow this link and use the code “StMarysCC”.
Parents and students of all year levels are reminded that the devices held in the library are for students who have been approved to borrow a device as a temporary solution. For example, if a student's device is damaged, borrowing a library device each day while it is being repaired is an acceptable use. Due to the large cost of maintaining the library devices, the college will no longer provide device loans to students who have not made such arrangements. It should be noted that if a student or their family have made a decision not to repair or replace their device, that does not entitle that student to use of the library devices.
Students are also reminded that it is their responsibility to ensure that their device arrives at school each day fully charged.
Mark Chivers
Leader of Learing - Technology
Sports News
Last week I attended the Diocesan Sports Coordinator meeting in Coffs Harbour and among several items to discuss, the very important topic of ‘Concussion in Sport’ was featured with members of the NRL and ARU in attendance to discuss their processes around club sport.
Unfortunately, it is not a perfect system in that the clubs may not always convey the message to the school when a concussion may happen to a student during a weekend game of football, for example.
Two things to take note of:
- Students who get a concussion should not play any sport, including school matches for at least 19 days after concussion symptoms have passed.
- The importance of letting the school know, if there has been a concussion, so we can make adjustments as the student may not be ready to ‘Return to Learn’ if they still have concussion symptoms.
* The most important message here is, parents and the school communicating with each other when these incidents occur.
SMCC Swimming Carnival - Casino Memorial Pool - Thursday, 15 February 2024
The school swimming carnival has been run and won by Champagnat again! Well done to them. It was an excellent day, with good weather, facilities and excited swimmers ready to give their all for their house. Final scores and age champions are below.
- Champagnat 1212 points
- MacKillop 743 points
- DePaul 716 points
- McAuley 589 points
Age Champions
- 12 yrs Claire Freeburn / Marlon Greene
- 13 yrs Emma Green / Jed Handford
- 14 yrs Ella Rose / Connor Winters
- 15 yrs Macie Armfield / Eric Dyason
- 16 yrs Belle Wall / Tyler Winters
- 17+ yrs Elle Hannigan / Clayton Wilkinson
Good luck to the following swimmers who will represent St Mary's Catholic College next week (Thursday, 7 March 2024) in Port Macquarie at the Diocesan Swimming Championships.
Belle Wall (Y10), Clayton Wilkinson (Y12), Harper Myers (Y8), Ella Rose (Y9), Emma Green (Y8), Kayla Patch (Y8) & Jed Handford (Y8).
U15 Boys and Girls Diocesan Touch Trials @ Sawtell, Tuesday 27/02/24
Congratulations to Finbar (Y10) and Lila (Y8) Standfield who travelled to Sawtell on Tuesday for the Diocesan Touch Football trials. Both students were selected in their respective U15 Diocesan Team that will compete at the NSWCCC Touch Football Selection Trials at Tuggerah, Central Coast, on the Tuesday, 9 April and Wednesday, 10 April (tournament also doubles as the NSWCCC Diocesan Championships).
Winter Trials
The following students have been accepted for winter trials in Rugby League at Woodlawn and Soccer at Lismore Thistles FC on Tuesday, 5 March 2024. Good luck to them all!
U15 Boys Rugby League- Hayden Griffin (Y9), Corey Love (Y8) & Finbar Standfield (Y10).
U16 Girls Rugby League- Brianna George (Y10)
Open Boys Rugby League- Rory McInnes (Y10)
Open Girls Rugby League- Elle Hannigan (Y11) & Grace Rapmund (Y11)
Open Boys Soccer- Broady Hoare (Y11)
Open Girls Soccer- Rosalie Abnett (Y11)
Upcoming SMCC Sporting events for term 1 include:
- Opens Boys and Girls Basketball- Wk 7, (Thursday, 14 March 2024 - Coffs Harbour)
- Opens Boys and Girls Soccer- Wk 9, (Wednesday 27/3/24 - Woodlawn)
- SMCC Cross Country- Wk 10, (Thursday 4/4/24, Course TBC)
- U14, 16 & 18 Rugby League Schoolgirl Challenge- Wk 11 (Thursday 11/4/24 - Casino)
Messages in the daily bulletin and emails will be sent out in the lead up to these and future events inviting interested students to attend meetings and then scheduled lunchtime training sessions where applicable.
To check upcoming CCC events and registrations
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.
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
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.
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