Newsletter - T3, W6 - 30/8/24

From the Principal

The following is a gospel reading from Matthew with a reflection that is well worth engaging with. In the business of life it is important to take stock and think about what is really important.

Matthew 19:16-22.

Then someone came to him and said, ‘Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?’ And he said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ He said to him, ‘Which ones?’ And Jesus said, ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honour your father and mother; also, you shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ The young man said to him, ‘I have kept all these; what do I still lack?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

We are invited to grow in relationship with God

Being a disciple of Jesus is not necessarily easy. In some final sense, for the believer, it is all there is. But that doesn’t make it easy. To be a disciple is graced. There are moments, long periods even, of consolation; of the experience of faith, hope and love – of an inner peace. But these things require freedom. Not a freedom to do whatever we like but a freedom to have space for the relationship with God. This is what Jesus asks of the man who comes to him in today’s Gospel. What Jesus asks is really an invitation – for the man to set himself free. It is not about the application of rules, as such, or an abstract perfection. It is about the opportunity for a growing in relationship with Jesus. Today you might consider what burdens keep you from growing in relationship with the God revealed in Jesus?

Trial HSC Examinations
Our senior students have been busy completing their Trial HSC Examinations this week. All students approached these examinations calmly and were very diligent throughout. This can be a stressful time of year for some students, it is important that they take in the feedback given by their teachers and look for opportunities to make improvements. Regardless of any student's result, it must be remembered using a sporting metaphor ‘Grand Finals are not won in August’. 

Year 9 Camp (Kokoda)
Welcome back to Year 9 and all the staff who accompanied them to Kokoda. The initial feedback from students and staff has been very positive. This camp is a unique one where students are taken outside their comfort zone allowing them to form a tight bond with their group members and interact with students they may not know well in a positive environment. I look forward to hearing some of the stories from the camp.

Have a great weekend

Michael Campbell
Principal

Upcoming Dates

Week 7
Monday 2/9/24 - 2024 Dio Athletics, Coffs Harbour
Tuesday 3/9/24 - Construction - Concrete Practical Earth Centre
Friday 6/9/24 - Zohab Zee Khan - Spoken Word Poet

Week 8
Monday 9/9/24 - Student Free Day (Staff Development Day)
Tuesday 10/9/24 - Year 8 Catch the Wave Day
Tuesday 10/9/24 - 2024 NRCC & Nth Dio Touch Football, Grafton
Friday 13/9/24 - Stage 5 Fuse Cup, Lindisfarne Anglican College Terranora

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 8/9/24 - 10.30am  Mallanganee

Mission Team

What a wonderful fortnight! Our young people have had the opportunity to show us how much they contribute to our community. We have had students attending Camp Kokoda, students attending Shine Conference, our senior students completing the Trial HSC exams, our junior students engaged in their learning in the classroom and all students engaging positively with their peers in the yard. St Mary’s really is a community that builds each other up!

Online Safety Essential Conversations: Trolling
Trolling involves deliberately posting or commenting online to provoke arguments or emotional reactions. This may include saying things solely to cause drama or discredit others. Individuals or groups can be targeted based on their race, culture, religion, gender, or disability, sometimes encouraging others to join in.

People who exhibit trolling behaviour commonly use fake names or anonymity to avoid accountability,
making it challenging to identify them. Additionally, they may downplay the impact of their behaviour by
dismissing others' reactions as overreactions or suggesting it was just a joke, which can exacerbate the
emotional distress of those targeted.

What should I encourage my young person to do if they are being trolled?
1. Don’t feed the trolls. Resist the urge to respond. As tempting as it may be, getting involved in an online argument just gives them the reaction they want, so they are likely to step up the behaviour.
2. Collect evidence, report and block. Online services and platforms have a responsibility to ensure people can use them safely. If the trolling is starting to feel harmful, collect evidence so you have proof – this can include screenshots or recordings of the abusive comments. Then you can report and block the troll in-app – you can find how to do this on common platforms in The eSafety Guide.
3. If this does not help, report to eSafety . If someone is threatening or harassing you online, contact the Police.
4. If your child is feeling bad about what’s been happening while online, make sure they talk about it with someone they trust. They may want to discuss this with a school counsellor, a school leadership member or an online counselling service.

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.
Read more at eSafety Trolling.

Clare Axman
Assistant Principal - Mission

Apostoli Retreat
The Year 9 and 10 ministry students attended a half day retreat which was run by Hogan Rogers from the Catholic Schools Office. The students had the opportunity to participate in team building activities and prayer to prepare them to attend Shine in Week 5.

Shine
Thirty one students from the Year 9 and 10 ministry classes, together with 5 senior students attended the two day Shine event last week in Coffs Harbour with six hundred students from across the Lismore Diocese. Students were given the opportunity to attend a number of workshops including Faith and Sport, Paint and Pray, Making a Holding Cross, Being Culturally Aware as well as boys and girls sessions.

In addition to the workshops there were keynotes speakers, small group sessions, prayer, mass and music from Proclaim Lismore Wildfire. We look forward to hearing more from these students about their experiences in the coming weeks. 

Catch the Wave
Catch the Wave is a one day retreat for Year 8 students designed to provide students with an opportunity to deepen their understanding and experience of the foundations of the Christian Faith. The retreat is run by local Youth Ministers and the Proclaim Lismore Wildfire Worship team who will perform their original new worship music.

This year, Catch the Wave will take place on Tuesday, 10 September at the Relihan Centre, with all Year 8 students attending.

Senior Retreats - Term 4
During transition week (Week 6) in Term 4 the Stage 6 Retreat and Year 12 Retreat will be held.

The Stage 6 Retreat will be for the incoming Year 11 and 12 students, taking place at Windara on Wednesday, 13 November. Further details and cost for the retreat will be sent out through Compass in the coming weeks. This is a compulsory school day to enable the two year groups to come together before beginning classes together the following week.

The incoming Year 12 Retreat will take place on Thursday, 14 November and Friday, 15 November at Camp Drewe. The purpose of the Retreat is to enhance the spirituality of students. This is a valuable time for our students to deepen their friendships with each other and to set personal goals as they embark on their final year of school.

Further details and costs for the retreat will be provided via Compass in the coming weeks.

Kate Rowlands
Leader of School Evangelisation

Learning & Teaching Team

Book Week
For Book Week this year, students participated in writing a book review of a book they had read recently. We have several entries that are currently on display in the library. It is wonderful to hear students' thoughts on these books.

While there were many entries the top four highly commended were written by; Jay Taylor, Callum Harden, Brienna Leadbeater and Alexah Adam.

Congratulations to these students.

We also went to the primary school with students reading to some kindergarten students. An overview of this has been written by Xavier Opryszko below.

Bev Champion
Leader of Resources 

Reading to the Primary School for Book Week
On Wednesday, 21 August, College students from the LLE classes went to St Mary's Primary to read to one of the Kindergarten classes for Book Week. 

Some books that were read, included Piranhas Don’t Eat Bananas by Aaron Blabey, The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith, The Wide-Mouthed Frog by Keith Faulkner and The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt. The Kindergarten students loved these books and they enjoyed us reading to them. The College students involved; Bethany Dyason, Luke Smith, Charlotte Singleton-Kinsella, Cameron Evans, Eric Dyason and myself enjoyed reading these picture books to these students who sat quietly enjoying each book. We would love to do this again soon.

Xavier Opryszko
Student - Year 8

Showcase

This year Showcase will be held on Tuesday, 17 September  2024 - Term 3, Week 9 . Tickets cost $6.00 per person and will be on sale Monday 2/9/24 through Compass Tix. Doors open at 6pm.

Sports News

Schools Cup Netball - 7/8 Yr Girls - Lismore - Thursday, 15 August 2024
Our Year 7 & 8 girls competed strongly throughout the day to finish with 4 wins and 2 very close losses. The team was able to develop some great combinations as the day progressed with the wet weather holding off most of the day. All the girls displayed great sportsmanship and represented their school with pride. 

Player’s player results: Josie Ryan, Elly Graham and Ella Davis.

Michele McCaffery 
Coach

Schools Cup Netball - 7/8 Yr Boys - Lismore - Thursday, 15 August 2024
The Year 7 & 8 boys team played a fast and furious brand of Netball using energy and enthusiasm to overcome their small amount of prior experience of the game.   

In the end, the team's inexperience proved to be a decisive factor, especially in regard to avoiding sliding on a wet, bird poo covered court.  Due to the speed with which the team played, this seemed to be an issue for SMCC.

The team ended the day with two heavy losses against Trinity and Emanuel, close games that didn’t quite go our way against Woodlawn and Richmond Christian College, and a trailblazing win against Lismore High.

Highlights include some very unorthodox but successful shooting from Kaeden Dowd, the defensive pressure of Lachlan Rippon, and the skills growth of George Stephenson and Corey Love.

Mark Chivers
Coach

Schools Cup Netball - 9/10 Yr Girls - Lismore - Thursday, 15 August 2024
Our Year 9 & 10 girls' teams shone with impressive performances in their recent tournament, showcasing both skill and teamwork throughout. Here is a recap of the thrilling matches and standout moments from the day:

Game 1: Victory Against Xavier
In the opening match, our team demonstrated their prowess with a hard-fought 9-7 win over Xavier. The game set a positive tone for the tournament and highlighted our girls' determination and strategic play.

Game 2: Dominating Richmond Christian College
Next up, our team delivered a remarkable performance, defeating Richmond Christian College with a dominant score of 15-1. This game was a clear testament to their skill and coordination on the field.

Game 3: Challenging Loss to Woodlawn
The third game proved to be a tougher challenge as we faced Woodlawn. Despite a valiant effort, we lost 7-14. The game was notably impacted by rain, which led to cautious play to avoid injuries. Despite the setback, our team's spirit remained high.

Game 4: Strong Win Against Buruubii, Lismore High
In our final group stage match, we bounced back strongly with a 15-5 victory over Buruubii, Lismore High. This win secured our position among the top teams, showcasing our resilience and teamwork.

Tournament Outcome and Final Match
As the tournament progressed, it was clear that the top three teams had each won three out of their four games. With points determined by 'for and against,' we secured 3rd place overall. Our final was against the second Woodlawn team, and our girls excelled, securing a decisive 11-2 victory to claim the championship.

MVP of the Tournament
A special congratulations goes to Hanna Formaggin, awarded the Most Valuable Player for her outstanding contributions and exceptional play throughout the tournament.

Team Spirit and Appreciation
The entire team played exceptionally well together, demonstrating great sportsmanship and unity. A big thank you is also due to the girls who stepped up to assist with umpiring other games on the day. Your support was invaluable and much appreciated.

Congratulations to all the players for their hard work and dedication. Let’s continue to build on this success and aim for even greater achievements in our upcoming matches!

Kylie Parker
Coach

Schools Cup Netball - 9/10 Yr Boys - Lismore - Thursday, 15 August 2024
The SMCC Year 9 & 10 boys showcased their skills and teamwork in a highly competitive environment. The boys played with determination against the other teams in their pool: Emmanuel Anglican College, Trinity Catholic College and Richmond Christian College. They unfortunately lost their pool games but came away with a win in the final crossover game with Pool B against Emmanuel Anglican College (Year 9). The boys demonstrated sportsmanship and enthusiasm throughout the day and represented SMCC with pride which contributed to a memorable day. 

Emma Northam
Coach

Boys AFL - Byron Bay - Thursday, 22 August 2024
In an impressive display of determination and raw talent, the Under 14's Boys AFL team, despite having no prior experience in the sport, managed to secure 3 out of 5 victories against teams with far more experience and knowledge of the game. Beating Woodlawn, Trinity and Grafton, their tenacity on the field was unmatched, overcoming their lack of familiarity with the rules through sheer grit and teamwork. 

The team came heartbreakingly close to a fourth win, only to be thwarted by one point in an unfortunate slip in front of the goal that cost them the winning kick. Credit goes to these young players who gave it everything on the field.

Shannon Beaumont 
Coach

Boys AFL - Byron Bay - Tuesday, 20 August 2024
The U16 Boys travelled to Byron Bay on Tuesday, 20 August 2024 to play AFL on a very wet and muddy track. Unfortunately SMCC did not adapt to the conditions very well but still had an enjoyable day. A special mention to Riley Grant in Year 10 who played consistently well throughout the day with excellent defence and a positive attitude towards a sport that many of the boys are inexperienced with.

Upcoming Term 3 SMCC Sporting events:

• Dio Athletics, Coffs Harbour - Monday, 2/9/24 (Week 7)
• U15 & Opens Boys & Girls NRCC & Nth Dio Touch Football, Grafton - Tuesday 10/9/24 (Week 8)
• Len Diett Rugby Union - Venue TBC - Wednesday, 11/9/24 (Week 8)
  

To check upcoming Combined Catholic Colleges (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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