Newsletter - T2, W4 - 24/5/24

From the Principal

Student Free Day
A reminder to families that Wednesday, 29 May 2024 is a student-free day. St Mary’s is a Systemic Catholic School within the Diocese of Lismore and as such all Catholic School staff from the Richmond area will be gathering at Xavier Catholic College for a faith formation day led by the Bishop and the Diocesan Mission Services team.

Tell Them From Me Surveys
A special thank you to all the families who spent time completing the ‘Tell Them From Me’ survey. These parent/carer/student/staff surveys allow the College to gain valuable feedback that shapes the strategic direction moving forward.

Beef Day
The College celebrated the annual ‘Beef Day’ today which is a highlight of the school calendar. The College Beef Day is a fantastic community-building exercise and I thank all students for their participation. School is much more than classrooms and examinations; St Mary’s is a wonderful community and events like Beef Day allows students the opportunity to build that community spirit. 

Sorry Day
Sunday, 26 May 2024 is ‘Sorry Day’. The Sisters of Mercy have prepared the following reflection and prayer. This day is an opportunity to become more conscious of past harm done and the healing needed in relationships between Aboriginal and white Australians. In 1998, Australia stopped to recognise for the first time a National Sorry Day on 26 May, the eve of the commencement of National Reconciliation Week. Genuine reconciliation requires acknowledgment of the harm done by the perpetrators and beneficiaries of past policies so that healing can reach the whole community. This prayer invites us to pray together for such healing.

Michael Campbell
Principal

Upcoming Dates

Week 5
Wednesday 29/5/24 - Student Free Day - Diocesan Proclaim Staff Faith Formation Day
Friday 31/5/24 - 3:16 Youth Group - SMP
Friday 31/5/24 - Yr 7, 2025 Offers Released

Week 6
Monday 3/6/24 - Year 7-10 Exams ongoing 
Tuesday 4/6/24 - Year 7 Vaccinations
Tuesday 4/6/24 - U13, 15 and Open Boys Country Cup Rugby League - Queen Elizabeth Park
Tuesday 4/6/24 - Year 7 History Incursion 

Parish Mass Times

Weekend Mass
Saturday 5.00pm 
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
Wednesday 5.00pm
Following 9.00 am Mass Saturday

Reconciliation
Saturday 8.30am - 9.00am
Anointing of the sick
First Saturday of each month 

Country Mass
Sunday 26/5/24 - 10.30am  Bonalbo

Mission Team

Catholic Social Teachings
As we continue to explore our Catholic Social Teachings, this fortnight, we are focusing on Participation. This is a great opportunity for us to explore all the ways our students can be involved at the College, and in our wider community. We challenge our students to try to say ‘yes’ to a new activity this week, this means stepping out of their comfort zone and being willing to give something new a try!

Beef Week
As always, this weeks Beef Week celebrations were an incredible testament to our wonderful Casino community. We love hearing all about the different ways our students and families are involved in the week. We will be posting photos from today’s ‘Beef Day’ on the College facebook account for all members of our community to see. 

Tell Them From Me
I would like to thank all the families who completed the Tell Them From Me survey over the past fortnight. We look forward to reading the valuable feedback you have provided and we will share this information with you in due course as we formulate goals in response to the suggestions. 

Clare Axman
Assistant Principal - Mission

Online Safety Essential Conversations: Pressures from Social Media
While social media offers a convenient way to stay connected with friends, it can also foster feelings of
comparison and the need for constant connection. Curating online personas, whether it's through
filtered selfies, staged 'candid' photos, or embellished descriptions of experiences is widespread and
can cause young people to fall into the trap of believing that the posts they see reflect reality, when in
fact, they often present an idealised version of life akin to a movie set.

The widespread use of filters and editing tools on social media platforms can also distort perceptions of
beauty and contribute to unrealistic beauty standards. Teens may feel pressure to use these tools to
alter their appearance in photos.

Understanding and recognising the link between body image and social media among young people is
crucial for parents in supporting their young person’s wellbeing in the digital age. Negative comments
or messages about appearance on social media can have a significant impact on teens' self-esteem
and body image.

On the flip side, social media also provides a platform for body-positive movements and diverse
representations of beauty. Young people who follow accounts promoting body acceptance and self-love
may experience positive effects on their body image.

Foster a supportive and open relationship with your young person where they feel comfortable
discussing their experiences on social media. Encourage them to share any concerns or challenges
they may be facing.

Conversations with your young person regarding social media pressures could include:

1. Teaching your teen about the potential pitfalls of social media, such as unrealistic beauty standards
   and the impact of constant comparison. Help them develop critical thinking skills to evaluate the
   content they encounter online.
2. Model healthy social media behaviour by being mindful of your own usage and interactions online.
   Avoid engaging in negative or judgmental comments about appearance and demonstrate positive
   self-image.
3. Encourage your teen to cultivate a strong sense of self-worth and self-esteem that isn't reliant on external validation from social media. Focus on their strengths and achievements outside of their online presence.

If you are concerned about your young person’s sense of self-image, talk to NSW Parentline for free
counselling and a referral service.

Read more at eSafety Pressures from social media
If you have any concerns about your young person please contact the school. It is important for the
school to know any wellbeing issues that may impact on learning and behaviour at school.

Street Retreat
The annual Street Retreat for Year 11 students will be taking place from Thursday, 27 June 2024 through to Sunday, 30 June 2024. All the students who applied to attend Street Retreat this year were very impressive, however we are only able to take four students. We would like to congratulate Ashton Marquez, Charles George, Lascelle Hayward and Zubaida Soliman who have been chosen to represent the College. We look forward to hearing about their experience later this term.

Festa Christi
The Festa Christi Retreat for a number of Year 8 students will be taking place in Week 3 next Term. Festa Christi is a two-day overnight retreat that will involve activities that focus on ‘walking in another person's shoes,’ having the students overcome their fears, and gaining a greater awareness of social justice. This gathering is broken into two separate retreats, one male and one female. Four boys and four girls from the College will be given the opportunity to attend.

We ask that any student interested in attending Festa Christ complete the Google form which will be shared with Year 8 students in the next week.

Kate Rowlands
Leader of School Evangelisation

Safe on Social
Kirra Pendergast, an expert on Cyber Safety, presented to our Year 7 to 10 students on Friday, 17 May.

Kirra is passionate about ensuring children are educated about the use of online platforms, cyberbullying, and the responsible, safe and ethical management of AI.

I asked the students to share with you the content of this presentation and Kirra also recommended the students to be more proactive in having conversations about their online use. She touched on Sextortion, AI and the use of Roblox.

Please take the time to read this article shared by Kirra.

Year 7 Vaccinations
In Year 7, students are offered free vaccines for diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTpa) and human papillomavirus (HPV). 

A reminder that our Year 7 vaccinations are on Tuesday, 4 June 2024.

Vaccinations will only be provided at school if consent has been received.

How to provide consent:

1. To complete online consent for your child's school vaccinations, visit: https://engage.health.nsw.gov.au/engage
2. Follow the steps to log in to your existing ServiceNSW account. This is the same account you may already use to renew your driver's licence. if you don't have a ServiceNSW account, refer to ServiceNSW to create one.
3. Update or confirm your personal details in ServiceNSW as required.

To Complete the School Vaccination Consent Form for your child/ren. You will need to:

• Enter your child's personal details
• Provide the Medicare card details for you and your child
• Read the linked Parent Information Sheet and privacy statement. Translations available in 27 languages

Provide consent: If you or your child do not have a Medicare card, consent can still be provided by requesting a paper- based consent form directly from your child's school.

The benefits of providing consent online:

• Easily update your child's details
• Receive SMS and/or email notifications when vaccinations are given
• Faster upload of vaccination records to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

For more information on routine school vaccinations, please visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/schoolvaccination.

If you require information in your language, please visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/school_vaccination_language.aspx

Attendance Matters
Is your child struggling to attend school? 
If your child is avoiding school, it's crucial to proactively address the issue by contacting the Pastoral Care Leader. Subject teachers play a key role in observing and understanding students' behaviours and can collaborate with you to identify and address any challenges your child may be facing.

Share your observations about your child's behaviour and express any concerns you may have. Be open and honest about the challenges your child is facing in attending school regularly.

Collaboratively work with the school and your child to explore possible causes for your child's avoidance of school. This could include academic challenges or social issues. Work together to develop and monitor strategies to address the identified issues.

You can seek advice free from NSW ParentLine 1300 1300 52.

Book an appointment via the phoning or emailing your nearest headspace centre. 

Book a session with the free  ReachOut Coaching Service for parents and carers.

Michele McCaffery 
Leader of Pastoral Care 

Learning & Teaching Team

Stage 6 Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences
The Stage 6 parent/teacher/student conferences will be held on Tuesday, 28 May 2024 in the Mercy Centre. These conferences will run from 3:30-6:00pm.

Bookings are now open on Compass. They can be found under the Conferences tab on the app or website.

Entry to the College grounds on this night will be via Canterbury Street - the gate near the Parish Hall or the gate at the College front entrance. Signs and a staff member will direct any parents to the Mercy Centre. 

Year 12 Parent Night - University Applications and Post School Options
The College is organising a night for students and parents in Year 12 to get information and ask questions about university admissions, UAC, QTAC and other post school options. 

This night will be coordinated by Mrs Michelle Went (Leader of Careers) and will include information on early entry, non ATAR university entry, School Recommendation Schemes and gap year options.

This information session will be held on Monday, 3 June 2024 at 6:00pm in the Mercy Centre. Entry to the College grounds for this meeting is via the front office gates or the Parish Hall gates on Canterbury Street.

More information will be released to parents and students closer to the date.

Year 7-10 Exams
The exam week for students in Years 7-10 is coming up from Monday, 3 June - Friday, 7 June (Week 6 of this term).

Exam timetables and expectations will be sent home by the end of this week and Mr Robinson will be meeting with all students to go over exam procedures and protocols.

Homework Centre Closure 
Due to a staff twilight professional learning evening being held on Monday, 3 June 2024 the homework centre will be closed.

Nadine Connolly
Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching

Sports News

U14 Boys Rugby League - Wednesday, 22 May 2024 - Woodlawn
The boy's rugby league team showed immense determination and grit as they triumphed in both of their games in the Cochrane Cup to defeat Woodlawn and then Xavier. Their relentless effort on the field paid off, demonstrating their skill, teamwork, and resilience. It's clear they put in the hard work and dedication needed to achieve success. Their victories are a testament to their talent and commitment to the sport. The boys now travel to Coffs Harbour to play the winner of that division.

Shannon Beaumont
Teacher

Northern Rivers Catholic Colleges (NRCC) Open Boys Hockey
On Tuesday, 14 May 2024 14 students travelled to Goonellabah to participate in the NRCC Hockey competition. With the College only having two students who play hockey on a regular basis the day was a big learning curve for most of the team.

The first game was against Xavier. We only arrived with 5 minutes to spare due to traffic delays on our trip to Goonellabah. It took a bit of time for everyone to get into the game and learn some of the finer points of Hockey, but we came away with a respectable 2 nil loss.

As the day went on, it was clear that the team was becoming more confident with their skills and understanding of the game despite losses to Trinity, Lismore, and Mount St. Pat's, Murwillumbah. The closest game of the day was against Woodlawn with St. Mary's only going down 1-0, the winning goal scored in the dying minutes of the game.

Even though the other side was much bigger than us, with many experienced hockey players, we gave it our best and enjoyed the day. Hopefully, we will be able to take both a boys and girls team next year.

Matthew Carter / Kate Rowlands
Teacher / Leader of School Evangelisation

Dio Cross Country - Friday, 23 May 2024 - Grafton
Leaving Casino Friday morning with rain pouring down, most of the 23 students were thinking it was going to be a wet and muddy course for the Dio Cross Country in Grafton. An hour into the trip though, the weather cleared and we were greeted by a dry course except for one or two muddy sections. 

The competition was of a very high standard with Lachlan Rippon giving SMCC their best result finishing in the top 10 for the 14 yrs boys with Ella Rose (14 yrs girls) and Marlon Green (12 yrs Boys) just outside the top 10 in their respective events. All students had an enjoyable day and were exceptionally well behaved and respectful towards all other competitors. Thank you to Mrs Axman for traveling and managing the team.

Thursday Sport for Y7-8 and Y9-10
Sport Reform at SMCC and surrounds. This group will be made up of members who for whatever reason cannot participate in Sport. They will be doing activities based in and around the College with an emphasis on keeping our environment sustainable. We recognise that not all students can partake in sport each week and by doing activities such as this, it helps with our ideals of reaching out into the community.

* Parents/Guardians, can you please consent ASAP so your child can participate in Thursday Sport if you have not already done so. If Compass is a problem, please write a note or email the front office to give consent.

Upcoming SMCC Sporting events:

• U13, U15 & Open Boys Country Cup Rugby League - Casino, Tuesday 04 June 24.
• Yr 7-10 Boys and Yr 7-9 Girls Soccer Gala Day - Coffs Harbour, Wednesday, 19 June 24.
• SMCC Athletics Carnival - QEP, Thursday, 20 June 24.
• U13 & U15 Boys Len Diett Rugby Union - Woodlawn, Wednesday, 26 June 24.
• NRCC Girls and Boys Netball, Yr 7-8, Yr 9-10, Yr 11-12 - Tweed Heads, Wednesday, 03 July 24

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.

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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Stars 
STARS is a community-driven, dance gala event. Every year, local business owners and personalities light up the dance floor to raise vital funds for the Cancer Council’s world-class research, prevention, advocacy, and information and support.

This year, Cohen Parrish (SMPS) and Keely Maguire (SMCC), have teamed up to participate in this event. They will give a spectacular performance, along with 8 other participants, and they are required to raise funds for the Cancer Council. You can help by donating using the QR code, following the link on Facebook  https://stars.cancercouncil.com.au/.../stars-of-casino . They would be very grateful for your support for such a worthy cause.