Newsletter - T1 W8 - 28/03/25
From the Principal
As we approach the end of Term 1, I would like to acknowledge the hard work our students have invested in both their academic studies and the College's culture. Students have been engaged in productive lessons where quality learning and teaching are evident.
Lent/Jubilee Year-Pilgrims of Hope
As we move through Lent, a deeply significant season of spiritual preparation and renewal leading up to Easter, the celebration of Jesus Christ's resurrection, it is important to reflect on our lives and strengthen our relationship with God. Lent is a time to prepare our hearts and minds for the joy of Easter.
The Jubilee Year of 2025 focuses on Hope. In a world often marked by uncertainty and challenges, hope provides strength during difficult times. Hope is essential for any community, in particular a school community to support each other, especially when times are tough.
Assembly
During this week's assembly, I spoke to students about the importance of two keywords: Responsibility and Accountability. In the modern world, there appears to be a decline in individuals taking ownership of their behavior, people are quick to blame others for their own actions. During Wednesday's assembly, I reminded students that we are all responsible for our own actions and behaviors, and that we must take ownership and be held accountable if we are to grow and mature.
Responsibility is about owning our actions and choices. It means being mindful of our words and actions, understanding that they have an impact on others. It means recognising that we are part of something larger than ourselves, we are a community that is nurtured by respect and support.
Accountability means owning up to our actions or inaction, acknowledging our mistakes, and learning from them. It means taking ownership of our successes and failures, understanding that we are ultimately responsible for the paths we choose.
A quote from Father Richard Rohr a Franciscan Priest and Theologian summarises this notion beautifully:
"Free will has been under increasing attack in the last 30 years. People don't believe they have personal responsibility. Thus we play the victim or look for who to blame, anything so I don't have to own my freedom. Even on the cross Jesus neither plays victim or creates victims. That's free will!"
Richard Rohr- Everything Belongs
Open Night
Please join the St Mary's community for our annual Open Evening, starting at 4:30 pm. Enjoy a barbecue sausage, meet our dedicated staff and wonderful students, and gain insight into St Mary's strong culture while exploring our learning spaces, particularly the newly opened Mercy Centre, a building project our community is very proud of.
Congratulations to Harper Myers and Jed Hanford for winning the Age Championship at the recent Diocesan Swimming Carnival. Harper and Jed qualified for the Lismore Diocesan team that will compete at the NSW Combined Catholic Colleges' Swimming titles in Sydney, more details are in the Sport section of this newsletter.
Michael Campbell
Principal
From the College Business Manager
School Fees
This is a reminder that Installment One for school fees is past due. If your installment option is incorrect, unmanageable or requires amendment please do not hesitate to contact the College Office. 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.
Leanne Cummins
College Business Manager
Upcoming Dates
Week 9
Monday 31/03/25 - Year 7, 2026 Open Night - SMCC
Tuesday 01/04/25 - Year 7 Vaccinations
Thursday 03/04/25 - College Cross Country - Queen Elizabeth Park
Friday 04/04/25 - Parent Open Day - SMCC
Week 10
Thursday 10/04/25 - Last day of Term 1 for Students
Parish Mass Times
Weekend Mass
Saturday 6.00pm
Sunday 8.00am
Weekdays
Monday 9.00am
Tuesday 8.00am
Wednesday 8.00am
Thursday 9.00am
Friday 9.00am
Saturday 9.00am
Adoration
Wednesday 5.00pm
Following 9.00am Mass Saturday
Reconciliation
Saturday 8.30am - 9.00am
Anointing of the sick
First Saturday of each month
Country Mass
Easter Sunday, 20 April
Mallanganee 9.00am
Mission Team
In the Gospel for this week, we hear about the parable of the prodigal son, a story about forgiveness and love. The son makes mistakes — he leaves his family, wastes his money, and hurts those who care about him. But when he returns home, his father forgives him completely, welcoming him back with open arms. This reminds us that no matter how far we may feel we’ve strayed or how many mistakes we’ve made, God is always ready to forgive us and offer us a fresh start.
For us, this week is about understanding that we, too, need to ask for forgiveness when we make mistakes. It’s also about forgiving others. Sometimes, holding onto grudges can hurt us more than anyone else. This week, perhaps we could focus on letting go of anger and offering forgiveness where it’s needed.
Phone Usage at the College Canteen
It has come to our attention that some students have been using their mobile phones to purchase food at the canteen. To comply with our College Mobile Phone Policy, mobile phone payments are not accepted at the Canteen.
We accept cash, card, or online Flexischool orders.
Service will be refused for any attempt to pay with a mobile phone.
A copy of our Mobile Phone Policy can be found below and is always available on the Compass Portal in School Documentation under the Community tab.
Navigating Digital Dangers
As digital technology continues to advance, it brings new opportunities and significant challenges for young people. One growing concern is the sharing of inappropriate images, which can have far-reaching and serious consequences—both legally and emotionally. This behaviour not only breaches personal privacy but can also lead to cyberbullying, harassment, and even criminal charges.
We encourage you to engage in open, supportive discussions with your young person about respecting themselves and others online. Help them understand the potential outcomes of their digital actions and reassure them that it’s okay to ask for help if they ever feel pressured or uneasy.
One particularly troubling issue is sexual extortion, or "sextortion," a form of online blackmail. This can occur across various platforms, including social media, messaging apps, and live-streaming services. Offenders may exploit these platforms to manipulate young people into sharing intimate images or videos, which are then used to demand more content, money, or other favours.
These questions can help create an open dialogue, encourage critical thinking, and reassure young people that they can turn to their parents for support.
‘Have you ever heard of the term sextortion? What do you think it means?’
‘If someone online ever made you feel uncomfortable or pressured you to share something, how do you think you’d respond? Do you know who you could talk to for help?’
‘Why do you think some people use the internet to exploit others? What can we do to protect ourselves from that?’
‘What would you do if a friend told you they were being blackmailed online?’
‘Let’s talk about why it’s important to never give in to pressure to share private content, even if someone threatens or promises something in return.’
‘How can we make sure the people we interact with online are trustworthy?’
‘If someone you don’t know tried to contact you online, what steps would you take to stay safe?’
Helpful Advice for Parents from Think U Know:
If your young person experiences sextortion:
- Document Evidence: Take screenshots to preserve a record of any communications.
- Cut Off Contact: Cease all communication with the perpetrator and block them.
- Report the Incident: If you’re under 18, the best way to get help is to report it to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE).
- Over 18s - You can report to Report Cyber. If you've reported to the platform/app/site and the platform doesn't help, you can also report to eSafety.
- Or visit your local Police Station with the information, and they can support you.
- For urgent situations, call Triple Zero (000).
Communicate with the school about what has occurred so they can support your young person with any challenges at school.
Clare Axman
Assistant Principal - Mission
Evangelisation
Transitus
Eight Year 7 students and two Year 10 students spent time at Tyalgum this week to participate in Transitus. The overnight retreat was an enjoyable experience for all students involved allowing them to participate in small and large group activities, as well as mass.
We look forward to hearing more about their time at their first secondary discipleship event.
LEAD
28 Year 11 and Year 12 students made their way to McAuley College in Grafton for the annual Diocesan-wide LEAD Conference in Week 7. Students participated in games, workshops, listened to music, chatted, danced, and heard from some other young people about how they have got to where they are now.
LEAD taught students to reach out, whether that be making new friends, strengthening one's relationship with God or leading our community. In their return to the College they hope to bring back a safe environment for everyone to explore and express their own sense of self and join together as a value based community.
Social Justice Stall
We will be running the Social Justice Stall before and after masses on the weekend of April 5-6 .
We are asking students and staff to bring in donations of baked goods and home produce to sell at the stall. All proceeds go towards the Student Wellbeing Fund.
Kate Rowlands
Leader of School Evangelisation
Learning & Teaching Team
Year 7-10 Assessment
At SMCC, we run Year 7-10 assessment as a mixture of formative and summative assessment.
This means that students are given multiple opportunities to show they can achieve outcomes and master content before a report is generated at the end of the semester.
Summative assessment is the type of assessment that most people would be aware of. It is an assessment that is done at the end of a unit or term of work. It is normally a large task - like a take home research assessment or an exam - that is marked and a final mark or grade is given. Students have no chances to re-sit this task, and if they are away on the day, they must apply for a date change or an extension or risk getting zero.
A formative task is normally a smaller series of tasks that students do in class or over shorter periods of time. These types of tasks could include class work that is marked quite quickly and then students have a chance to improve on their skills and knowledge throughout the next few lessons. These tasks do not normally have a due date as they are ‘on the go’ tasks used to gather student information over a larger period of time.
Is it beneficial to use both types of tasks?
Yes - it has been shown to be better for students to master skills and knowledge and to learn from their mistakes if a school uses both types of assessment. Giving students multiple opportunities to improve their knowledge before a final test helps them learn faster and pinpoint where the gaps in their knowledge are.
What does this mean for my child?
It means that everything they do in the classroom is important.
Your child’s semester grade is taken from teacher observation, formative tasks and summative tasks, so the more they listen and practise their skills, the better their grades are going to be.
It also means that every student can show their knowledge and understanding in different ways.
Ultimately, the College has been working hard on giving all students a number of opportunities to show their skills. We have seen an increase in classroom attendance and attentiveness, and we have seen an increase in results because of the way we are now operating.
Stage 5 Feedback Form
The College has created the attached Google form to gather your thoughts and ideas on how our Stage 5 program operates here at the College. Your input is invaluable, and we greatly appreciate any insights you can share regarding your students’ educational journey so far.
We would be grateful for you to complete the Google form ASAP.
Nadine Connolly
Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching
Talented Young Writers Shine in Kyogle’s Writing Program
Some of our Year 8 and 9 students have had the opportunity to attend the Ignite Young Minds Writing Program, a 5-week workshop designed to inspire creativity and enhance writing skills, led by acclaimed author and educator Melaina Faranda. With her extensive experience in writing and teaching, Melaina has already helped our students explore new techniques in storytelling, self-editing, and crafting their own original works. As they continue with the program, they are building valuable skills and discovering the joy of writing in a fun, supportive environment.
The program’s weekly workshops are designed to spark students' imaginations, develop their storytelling abilities, and refine their writing techniques. After attending the first two sessions, students are already excited to dive deeper into the world of creative writing. The workshops provide opportunities for students to engage in collaborative projects, explore different writing genres, and receive expert guidance from Melaina.
This program offers a valuable opportunity for students who show passion and talent for writing. It is a chance for young writers to connect with like-minded peers, develop their craft, and receive mentorship from an established author. We look forward to seeing their stories come to life in the weeks ahead.
Joanne Colvile
Leader of English
Sports News
The Diocesan Swimming Carnival was held on Wednesday at the Alstonville Swimming Pool, after being delayed due to Cyclone Alfred.
Congratulations to two of our swimmers Harper Myers and Jed Hanford; who were not only age champions but also qualified for the Lismore Diocesan team. The Lismore Diocesan Team will compete at the NSWCCC Swimming titles in Sydney on April 2-3.
Notable overall results on the day:
Harper Myers (15 yrs)
1st 50m Breaststroke, Backstroke, 100m Breaststroke, 100m Backstroke
2nd 200m Individual Medley
3rd 50m Butterfly and 100m Freestyle
Jed Handford (14 yrs)
1st 50m Freestyle, Breaststroke, Butterfly, 100 Freestyle, 200 Individual Medley
3rd 50m Backstroke
Emma Green (14 yrs)
2nd 50m and 100m Breaststroke
3rd 100m Butterfly.
A massive thank you and congratulations to all the SMCC Swimming team for the way you conducted yourselves, it was a pleasure to accompany you to the carnival. Thank you also to our school counsellor Fiona MacFarlane for attending on the day and all the parents who helped get their children safely to and from the event.
A selection of results will be included in the next newsletter.
U15 & Open Girls Diocesan Netball Trials
Congratulations to the following girls who were selected to trial for the Lismore Diocesan Netball Team in Coffs Harbour on Friday, April 4. Good luck to the following students.
Under 15 Girls- Makenzie Pearce and Eydie Martin
Open Girls- Hanna and Sofie Formaggin.
SPORTS CALENDARS FOR 2025
Information about all upcoming sports in the College, Diocese and Catholic Schools NSW sport calendar. Please note some of these dates may change from time to time.
Click on each one for the link:
St Mary’s Catholic College
Dio Sports Calendar
Catholic Schools NSW Sports Calendar
To check upcoming CCC events and registrations Catholic Sport NSW
Sport Search (½ way down page) → Step 1 (click on CCC) → Step 2 (select sport). Registration & Calendar is also there. CCC is a pathway and option for students to make a direct application to trial for a particular sport. The standard is usually high, depending on the Sport, therefore representative level is usually but not always the minimum requirement.
Below are some Sports (check website for all) and the date of the event. Check the website for when dates when applications close.
- CCC Rugby Union - 8 & 9 April
- CCC Basketball 16's Boys & Girls - Sutherland - Tuesday 13 May
- CCC Basketball 18's Boys & Girls - Sutherland - Wednesday 14 May
- CCC Netball 15's - Penrith - Thursday 29 May
- CCC Netball 18's - Penrith - Thursday 30 May
- CCC Basketball Opens Championship - Tuesday 17 & Wednesday 18 June
- CCC 16 & Opens Basketball Trials - Thursday 19 June
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 3.15pm to 4.15pm
Thursdays 3.15pm 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 - 4.00pm
Thursday Orders
- Cut off time is 12 noon on Wednesday
- Pick up available from the College office on Thursday afternoon from 3.30pm - 4.00pm.
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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