Newsletter - T1 W9 - 28/3/24
From the Principal
Easter for Catholics signifies the pinnacle of the Christian faith, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It symbolises hope, renewal, and the victory of light over darkness, love over sin, and life over death. It's a time of spiritual reflection and gratitude.
Lent is the 40-day period from Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday excluding Sundays. Some think of lent as a time to go without something, ie: meat on Fridays, chocolate, etc. Lent goes further and deeper than this, Pope Francis has the following message:
Mercy Centre Official Opening
On Tuesday, 2 April 2024 the College will welcome the following dignitaries and esteemed guests to officially open the Mercy Centre;
Bishop Gregory Homeming OCD
Senator the Hon Jenny McAllister, Assistant Minister for Climate Change & Energy, Senator for NSW
Honorary Kevin Hogan MP, Federal Member for Page
Richard Williamson MP, State Member for Clarence
Robert Mustow, Richmond Valley Council Mayor
Adam Spencer, CEO of Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Limited
Hon John Hannaford AM, Chair Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Limited
The Mercy Centre is the hub of the College that has allowed learning to be more inclusive and accessible with breakout areas for collaborative inquiry learning, the Science facility is state of the art. The funding and building of the Mercy Centre represents the prioritising of regional schools and we are looking forward to this significant ceremony.
Open Evening
A reminder that the College Open Evening is Monday, 8 April 2024 from 4.30pm
Have a fantastic Easter break
Michael Campbell
Principal
Upcoming Dates
Week 10
Monday 1/4/24 - Easter Monday (Public Holiday)
Tuesday 2/4/24 - Mercy Centre Official Opening
Tuesday 2/4/24 - Schoolgirl Rugby League Challege - Queen Elizabeth Park
Tuesday 2/4/24 - Nth Country Rugby League Trials - South West Rocks
Wednesday 3/4/24 - Legal Studies Excursion - Lismore
Thursday 4/4/24 - 2024 CCC Swimming Selections - Homebush
Thursday 4/4/24 - SMCC Cross Country
Friday 5/4/24 - DIO Netball 15s & U18s Trials - Sports Central Coffs Harbour
Saturday 6/4/24 - MUNA - Tweed Heads Civic Centre
Week 11
Monday 8/4/24 - 2024 Transitus Retreat - Lennox Head
Monday 8/4/24 - Open Night Year 7, 2025
Friday 12/4/24 - Last Day of Term 1
School Holidays
Thursday 25/4/24 - ANZAC Day
Term 2, Week 1
Monday 29/4/24 - First Day of Term 2 (Day 1)
Monday 29/4/24 - ANZAC Remembrance
Tuesday 30/4/24 - Stage 6 Exams Commence
Wednesday 1/5/24 - Year 7, 2025 Enrolment Applications Due
Parish Mass Times
Easter Sacred Triduum
(Fr Joe Holloway)
Holy Thursday
7.00pm Mass of the Lord's Supper, Casino
Good Friday
10.00am Stations of the Cross with Reconciliation to follow
3.00pm Commemoration of the Passion with Reconciliation to follow
Holy Saturday
9.00am Morning Prayer
7.00pm Easter Vigil
Easter Sunday
8.00am Casino
9.00am Mallanganee
Mission Team
Holy Week is a significant period in the Christian liturgical calendar that commemorates the events leading up to Jesus Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. Easter is a profound journey for Christians worldwide. This Easter, we encourage our students to take some time to reflect on the things that are important to them and how they demonstrate their gratitude for them.
We wish our families a lovely Easter, and look forward to seeing our students return for the final two (busy) weeks of term.
Welcome to Fr Alejo!
As many in the community would be aware, our Fr Peter will be taking some time away from the Parish as he receives medical attention. During this time we are privileged to have Fr Alejo join our community and lead our Parish. If you see Fr Alejo around, please introduce yourself and help him to feel welcome.
We wish Fr Peter well in his surgery and recovery.
Clare Axman
Assistant Principal - Mission
LEAD Conference
Last week 20 senior students from the College went to the LEAD Conference in Grafton. This event was a great opportunity for our students to grow into the leaders they strive to be. There were a number of keynote speakers who provided personal insights on their faith journey as well small and large group activities across the two days. We look forward to seeing how they implement their learnings into the College over the year.
Kate Rowlands
Leader of School Evangelisation
Attendance Matters
Attending special school events fosters a sense of belonging to the College community. Expect your child to attend and participate in events.
Setting the expectation for children to attend and actively participate in special school events is a positive step toward creating a supportive and vibrant school community. It contributes to a well-rounded educational experience that extends beyond the academic curriculum.
Expecting children to attend and participate in school events instils a sense of responsibility. It teaches them that being part of a community involves active involvement and a commitment to shared experiences.
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.
Nadine Connolly
Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching
Disability Provisions - HSC Examinations
Attention: HSC 2024 parents and students
This information is for students in Year 11 and 12 who will be sitting HSC exams in 2024.
Disability provisions in the HSC are practical arrangements designed to help students who couldn't otherwise make a fair attempt to show what they know in an exam room.
The provisions granted are solely determined by how the student’s exam performance is affected by their diagnosed disability. Provisions may include braille papers, large-print papers, use of a reader and/or writer, or rest breaks.
The College would like to lodge student applications with the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA) by the end of this Term. To start this process, please obtain a ‘Disability Provisions - HSC Examinations 2024 form’ from the College Office and return by Week 9 Term 1.
When this information is provided the next step is to determine what evidence will be required for the application. This could involve a reading and spelling assessment, a letter from a doctor and/or sample essays. It is the parent’s responsibility to provide medical reports for disabilities such as Anxiety and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Further information can be found at http://educationstandards.nsw.
Once NESA has made a decision about which provisions are approved or declined, a decision letter is provided to the College. The College will provide the family with a copy of the letter. Many families request extra time for their child. Please note that for disabilities such as Anxiety and Autism Spectrum Disorder the students may receive separate supervision and time to rest, not extra time to complete the exam. During this rest time the student must turn over or close their examination questions and answers booklet, must not read, write or make notes, however may stretch, move, rest or refocus in their seat. During the rest break, the timing of the examination stops and then restarts when they continue with the exam. Further information about rest breaks can be found at http://educationstandards.nsw.
If your child is approved to access a reader or writer for their examination please note that it is a student in Year 10, trained in these conditions, who will be their support person.
For further information please contact Alicia Nowlan, Leader of Learning Inclusion and Diversity.
Alicia Nowlan
Leader of Learning - Inclusion and Diversity
Sports News
Open Basketball 2024
On Thursday, 14 March, twenty SMCC students travelled down to Coffs Harbour to participate in the Lismore Diocesan Senior Basketball Championships. Our College entered three teams into this event; one boys open team and two girls open teams. This level of participation and dedication was noticed and praised by the organisers of the day.
Overall, there were some close and exciting games with plenty of laughs. Regardless of the results, our students continued to play with great enthusiasm. A huge thank you to our students for representing the school in such a positive way.
With several team football games coming up in Term 2 for the boys and girls, school footy shorts and socks are available to purchase from the College uniform shop or the front office using cash or card if ordered beforehand. It is encouraged, but not compulsory, that students wear these as part of their playing kit and the College will provide a playing shirt/jersey.
Socks $12.00
Rugby Shorts $25.00
Upcoming Sporting events:
- U14, 16 & Open Rugby League Schoolgirl Challenge- Tuesday 2/4/2024 - Casino
- SMCC Cross Country- Wk 10, Thursday 4/4/24 - Queen Elizabeth Park
- Nth Rivers Catholic Colleges U14 & U16 Boys & Girls- Thursday 2/5/24 - Casino
Upcoming CCC Events and Registrations
Please note NO LATE ENTRIES will be accepted. All students must be registered by close date to be considered for selection. The following sports are individual nominations only - this is the responsibility of the parents.
Registrations are completed on the CSNSW.SPORT portal. Parents must create an account and add child. Click here for Assistance.
- NSWCCC Selections - Wednesday, 29 May 2024 - Club Sapphire Merimbula $45
NSW All Schools - Friday, 9 August 2024 - NSWCCC Girls 15yrs and under AFL - Closes Friday, 12 April 2024
NSWCCC Selections - Monday, 6 May & Tuesday, 7 May 2024 - Wagga Wagga $90 - NSWCCC BOYS 16s Football - EOI Closes Tuesday, 30 April 2024
Successful notification by Tuesday, 7 May 2024
NSWCCC Selections - Friday, 17 May 2024 - Kareela $45 - NSWCCC 16 YEARS & 18yrs Basketball - Closes Friday, 3 May 2024
NSWCCC Selections - 18yrs Monday, 13 May 2024, 16yrs Tuesday, 14 May 2024 - Sutherland $45 - NSWCCC 15yrs & Opens Hockey Selections - Closes Friday, 3 MAY 2024
NSWCCC Selections - Monday, 20 May 2024 - Bathurst $45 - NSWCCC 17yrs & Under Water Polo Selections- Closes Friday, 17 May 2024
NSWCCC Selections Monday, 27 May 2024 - Ryde 8:30am - 12pm Boys & 12pm - 3:30pm Girls $35
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.
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.