Newsletter - T4, W2 - 25/10/24
From the Principal
Congratulations to all our senior students who are currently sitting their HSC examinations, they have been working very well, and I look forward to seeing the fruits of their labour.
World Teachers’ Day
Today Friday, 25 October is World Teachers Day, a special day in the calendar to show gratitude to the dedicated staff we have at the College. St Mary’s Staff play an important role in shaping the future of students, looking after their academic, wellbeing and spiritual needs.
I encourage you to send a message to a staff member who has made a difference in your child's life. St Mary’s staff often go above and beyond to ensure your child's school journey is smooth, this is a great opportunity to express your gratitude. Your words of thanks are very much appreciated.
The following are the words of Pope Francis.
“Teaching is a beautiful job, as it allows you to see growth, day by day, of people entrusted to your care. It is a little like being a parent, at least spiritually. It is a great responsibility.”
Transition Week
Please refer to the correspondence that was sent out on Thursday, 24 October.
The following blurb was prepared by Mr Chris Robinson our Leader of Curriculum that briefly explains the unique Compressed Curriculum St Mary’s offers. No other high school in the Diocese offers this pattern of study.
Compressed Curriculum Overview
St Mary’s Catholic College operates under a Compressed Curriculum model. The new academic year for the whole school (except the incoming Year 7 class) begins in Week 6 of Term 4. This timing allows students to begin new courses before the end of the calendar year.
A Compressed Curriculum allows Stage 6 (Year 11 & 12) students to complete their Preliminary and HSC pattern of study over the two years, but at a more rapid pace. Students will choose 12 units to study (generally 6 subjects) over the course of Stage 6, but will study 3 subjects in one year, followed by 3 the next year. The compressed curriculum allows the College to offer a broad range of senior subjects.
It is for this reason that the College begins its new academic year in Week 6 of Term 4 each year, and why it is necessary to have a transition week during Week 5, to allow adequate staff preparation for this to take place.
Have a great weekend
Michael Campbell
Principal
From the College Business Manager
School Fees - Term 4 2024
Term 4 Tuition Fees have been processed, payments can be made via the compass portal and app or via Bpay. Bpay is the preferred method of payment. The due date for Term 4 fees is 12 December, 2024 unless a payment plan is in place.
Senior Retreat - Camp Drewe is now due.
Leanne Cummins
College Business Manager
Upcoming Dates
Week 3
Monday 28/10/24 - HSC Exams Continuing
Week 4
Monday 4/11/24 to Friday 8/11/24 - Year 7-10 Exams
Week 5 (Transition Week)
Monday 11/11/24 - Student Free Day
Tuesday 11/11/24 - Student Free Day
Wednesday 13/11/24 to Friday 15/11/24 - GOAT Retreat - Bonville
Wednesday 13/11/24 - 2024 Senior Retreat Day- Windara
Wednesday 13/11/24 to Friday 15/11/24 -Learning and Teaching Discussions (Bookings are essential)
Thursday 14/11/24 - Year 10 NESA requirements (Compulsory Attendance)
Thursday 14/11/24 to Friday 15/11/24 - Year 12 Retreat - Camp Drewe
Saturday 16/11/24 - Year 12 Formal
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
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 27/10/24 - 10.30am Mallanganee
Mission Team
What a wonderful start to the term we have had! Last week we joined with SMP for a decade of the Rosary in solidarity with Catholics all around the world. We also had students representing the College at the North Coast National Show!
October is Catholic Mission Month. Catholic Mission is the Pope’s international Mission agency in Australia. They partner with communities, providing healthcare, education, and spiritual care. Catholic Mission operate in Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, the Americas. This years focus for Catholic Mission is the House of Mercy in Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia that provides a safe haven for people struggling in life.
This week our students participated in Catholic Mission Month activities. Each homeroom collected recycled materials and created a SockBall. These were then put to the test in a penalty shoot out with our Year 10 Ministry students taking the lead. Congratulations to Champagnat for producing the winning sock ball! Our students are given so many opportunities to Reach Out in our community!
Clare Axman
Assistant Principal - Mission
Senior Retreats
Stage 6 Combined Retreat
The Stage 6 Retreat will be for the incoming Year 11 and 12 students, taking place at Windara on Wednesday, 13 November. This is a compulsory school day to enable the two year groups to come together before beginning classes together the following week. External presenters will run the retreat, with students provided with morning tea and lunch.
The Stage 6 Retreat is available to consent and pay through Compass.
Year 12 Retreat
The incoming Year 12 Retreat will take place on Thursday, 14 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.
Consent and payment for this retreat closes at midnight on Friday, 25 October.
GOAT
During transition week four Year 10 boys will travel to Coffs Coast Adventure Centre to participate in the G.O.A.T. Retreat. We look forward to hearing about their experience when we return to school in Week 6.
Kairos
The College has been given the opportunity to join with a number of other diocese schools to participate in a Kairos Retreat to be held in Week 9 this term. Three students from the incoming Year 10 cohort will travel to Camp Drewe at Lennox Head for a four day retreat. We look forward to hearing about their retreat upon their return.
Kate Rowlands
Leader of School Evangelisation
Learning & Teaching Team
Year 7-10 Exams
The Year 7-10 Exam week is coming up in Week 4 (Monday, 4 November to Friday, 8 November). All parents and students have received an email from Mr Robinson with their exam timetable.
Year 10 students have the ability to sign out after their exams in this exam period. A note has been given to students and emailed home. It must be returned by Wednesday, 30 October.
Due to our compressed curriculum, we have a tight turnaround with marking and reporting, which means no catch up exams will be possible.
Transition Week
Week 5 is Transition Week for the College. Monday, 11 November and Tuesday, 12 November are student free days as teachers begin marking exams, writing reports, and preparing for the new academic year. Wednesday to Friday, various activities are organised depending on the year group.
Years 7-9
Year 7-9 Learning and Teaching discussions will take place. We are focusing this year on student accountability, learning reflections, and personal goal setting for 2025. All parents and students have received a reflection sheet that needs to be filled in and returned to the school this week. Appointments for these discussions are made on Compass. If the appointments available do not suit your schedule, please let me know and I will arrange a time that works for you.
Year 10
Year 10 students have a Senior retreat on Wednesday, 13 November, and are required to attend school for the entire day on Thursday, 14 November to complete NESA requirements for senior studies. Students who do not attend these sessions on Thursday will not be able to start senior study until their NESA units are complete.
Year 11
Year 11 students have a 1 day combined senior retreat on Wednesday, 13 November. On Thursday, 14 November, and Friday, 15 November Year 11 students are attending an overnight retreat at Camp Drewe, Lennox Head with their year group only.
New Academic Year
Our new academic year begins in Week 6 (Monday, 18 November 2024).
Timetables and classes will be released on the Monday of that week.
Nadine Connolly
Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching
North Coast National - Lismore Show
Last week, 18 students represented SMCC in the North Coast National - Lismore Show.
It was a long day, beginning at 5:30am at our Earth centre where the kids washed and prepared our steers, before travelling to Lismore to lead and parade them. The day concluded around 8pm when our cattle were sold at the auction. Though it was a long day for all, the students displayed professionalism, integrity, and respect for themselves, our animals, and other competitors making our College proud.
A thank you must also go out to the parents and caregivers who got the students to the Earth centre for an early start and collected them at the end of the day.
Brett Anderson
Teacher
Girls on Fire
On Wednesday, 23 October 12 female students in Years 9 & 10 participated in an amazing day based around resilience, leadership and emergency preparedness. “Girls on Fire” is a government funded program that offers young women the opportunity to work alongside a range of local emergency services and explore potential career or volunteer opportunities.
The St Mary’s girls worked together with the SES, Rural Fire, Forestry NSW and the VRA (Volunteer Rescue Association) to put out fires, understand & use comms and handle the jaws of life, all while meeting new friends and learning teamwork and leadership skills.
The day was also attended by female students from Kyogle High School and the Living School in Lismore. All students on the day, regardless of school, worked seamlessly together, cheering each other on and encouraging everyone to get involved and step out of their comfort zones.
We are especially proud of Bri in Year 10, who took out the “Best Group Leader of the Day” award for the Purple Platoon (also known as Grimace!). We look forward to participating in this program again in the future.
Michelle Went
Leader of Careers
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.