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Dear parents, friends, staff and students,
In this week’s Gospel (Mark 7: 1-8,14-15,21-23) Jesus chides the pharisees about paying lip service to what is right. He explains that what is in a person’s heart and how that is shown to the world is what is important. As humans living in social communities, we are often expected to temper our words to ensure that we do not embarrass or offend another’s sensibilities. Whilst this is important for social harmony, it is just as important that we are clear and authentic with what we say and how we behave. This does not mean that we say what we want, when we want or about whom we want. Authenticity is about speaking from the heart, but that heart needs to be well-informed and considerate of other’s perspectives. In His comments, Jesus was exposing superficiality and those who do things so that others will see them and be impressed. When we interact with others, our heart should be strong but reflect compassion. St Marcellin used the phrase that he hoped his brothers would have ‘strong minds and gentle hearts’. As Christians, this is what we aim for.
Last Friday we held our Term 3 Staff Development Day where Dr Andrew Fuller presented to the staff, questions and strategies around student and staff wellbeing. On Monday, our staff met at our regular staff meeting to expand on this idea and link wellbeing to our learning and teaching and, in particular, to how we can encourage and promote aspirational goals within the students. As many of you may already be aware, our theme for this year revolves around the notion of ‘getting off the couch and into the game’. Being aspirational and setting goals that push our talents to their limits is necessary for improvement. The staff reflected on what we can do as a college, as faculties and as teachers to support this. It is essential however for students to remember that we are only able to establish frameworks and give opportunities. There is a requirement for them to take up these opportunities and to themselves work to achieve to their potential. There is still time this year for students to make a significant difference to their learning. The first step is to decide to do this.
On Tuesday evening I attended the Campbelltown City Council farewell evening for the students who will be participating in the sister city exchange with Koshigaya in Japan. We had five students selected in this cultural group last year and four this year. Congratulations to Jason Dennis, Sarah Filipo, Eva Grados Isabelle Villena. Our students are fine representatives of our school and I wish them all the best as they embark on this program during the September holidays.
From the start of next term, we are looking to increase our social media presence by starting to post short stories and photos on Facebook. When this commences, we will post our address and encourage parents and friends to follow and like. Our intention is then to make short regular posts and change the newsletter to a fortnightly distribution. I would appreciate any feedback on this. You are welcome to do this by emailing our college account at info_mccc@dow.catholic.edu.au.
This Sunday is Father’s Day. A huge thank you and best wishes to all the dads in our community and we keep you in our thoughts and prayers for this special day.
Ite in Veritate
Mr Steve Lo Cascio
The past week has again been a productive one for our community with respect to opportunities for growth in a range of activities that support Faith, Wellbeing and Learning. Our Year 11 Investigating Science and Biology students participated in excursions to Penrith Lakes on Wednesday and Thursday, to take part in valuable “Ecosystem Dynamics” practical activities that support the everyday learning that takes place in the classroom. Thursday also saw Our Year 9 students participate in the MISA Youth of the Year Public Speaking competition and our Indigenous students participate in the Bangawarra Junior Cultural day, which allowed the opportunity for students to engage in a range of Cultural and educational experiences with their peers from schools across the Diocese. Earlier today our Year 10 students took part in their annual Encounter Day, which had presentations on our Marist and Carmelite traditions, Together for Humanity and Catholic Missions. Thanks to all staff and students for their preparation, supervision and participation in these events.
Next week we again see a range of initiatives aimed at further enhancing the Faith, learning and Wellbeing of our students. These include:
- Father’s Day Breakfast before school on Monday morning
- HSC Major Works Exhibition Tuesday at 6.30pm
- Year 12 Academic Reports due on Tuesday
- 2025 SRC Induction Day - all day Wednesday
- Years 7-10 Semester 1 Academic Assembly Thursday
- Year 7 Encounter Day - Friday
Thanks to all staff and students involved in these upcoming events for their organisation and participation.
Please be reminded that as the weather commences to warm up, so does the impact of UV radiation. Students are reminded that College caps are to be worn at all times in outdoor areas, particularly at Recess, Lunchtime, during Sport and Practical PDHPE lessons conducted outdoors. Thanks for your ongoing support with all matters relating to Learning and Wellbeing. As always, please contact your son or daughter’s respective Year Coordinator or Pastoral Advisor should you have any questions or concerns.
Mr Simon Huntly
First Reading: Deuteronomy 4:1-2. 6-8
By obeying God, Israel shows widsom.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 14:2-5. R. v.1
(R) The just will live in the prescence of the Lord
Second Reading: James 1:147-18. 21-22, 27
All truly valuable gifts come from above.
Gospel Acclamation: James 1:18
Alleluia, alleluia!
The Father gave us birth by his message of truth,
that we might be as the first fruits of his creation.
Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 7:1-8. 14-15. 21-23
Jesus confronts the Pharisees, who pay only lip service to God
Year 12 Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews
Wednesday 11 September
Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews provide an opportunity for parents, students and teachers to meet with their class teachers to review academic progress and discuss areas for growth. This conversation provides parents and students with valuable feedback and enables them to ask questions to support their child as they near the completion of their High School Certificate. Interviews for Year 12 are being held on Wednesday September 11 between 4pm and 8pm at the College. Further to the upcoming interviews, please note that Academic Reports will be distributed at the Graduation Ceremony, and will be made available via Compass in Week 10. Bookings will open on Monday 26 August via the Compass Parent Portal.
Year 11 Preliminary Examinations
The Year 11 Preliminary Examinations will take place between Friday 13 September - Tuesday 24 September. Regular lessons will resume on Wednesday 25 September. Students have received the examination timetable and exams will appear on their Compass schedule. On Monday, students will receive all of the assessment notifications for the exams.
Year 11 students are encouraged to make the most of the learning opportunities that this examination period can provide. This is an important time for them to exercise their focus on their learning goals and execute strategies to study and revise and work out what best works for them in preparing for examinations. Students are encouraged to continue to work with their teachers on revision, practise questions and to seek feedback. The Library is open on Tuesday afternoons between 3:00 -6:00pm, should students wish to utilise this space to study.
Stage 5 2024 Electives Selection
Selections close on 2 September at 9:00am.
TERM 3 |
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| Week 7 |
Year 12 06/09/2024: 12 Numeracy Year 11 04/09/2024: 11 ITT 06/09/2024: 11 Photography, Video & Digital Imaging (1 Unit) Year 10 05/09/2024: 10 ITT (200hr) 06/09//2024: 10 Food Technology (200hr) Year 8 Year 8 History - See assessment notification for specific date |
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| Week 8 |
Year 11 09/09/2024: 11 Visual Design 09/09/2024: 11Ceramics 09/09/2024: 11 English Studies 11/09/2024: 11 Numeracy 13/09/2024: 11 Music 13/09/2024: 11 Construction Year 10 09/09/2024 and 10/9/2024: 10 PDHPE 11/09/2024: 10 History Year 8 Year 8 PDHPE - See assessment notification for specific date |
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Leader of Learning - Curriculum Pedagogy & Leader of Learning - Curriculum Administration
Supporting Our Teens:
Parent Workshops for Child Protection Week
As we approach Child Protection Week, we're excited to announce a series of vital parent workshops in collaboration with Catholic Care. These workshops are designed to equip parents and carers with the tools they need to support their teens in today’s complex world.
Topics include:
- Social Media and Your Teen: Understand the impact of social media on your teen's life and learn strategies to guide them safely. (Magdalene Catholic College)
- Managing Big Emotions for Teens: Gain insights into helping your teen navigate their emotions, fostering resilience and emotional well-being. (St Benedicts Catholic College)
- How to Have Tricky Conversations and Seek Help: Learn effective communication techniques for those difficult but necessary conversations with your teen, and know where to turn for additional support. (Mount Carmel Catholic College)
We look forward to seeing you there! Please register via the links.
Supporting Your Child During HSC Exam Preparation
As the HSC exams approach, your support as a parent can make a significant difference in your child's preparation and overall well-being. Here are some practical ways to help your child navigate this important period:
- Create a Calm Study Environment: Ensure your child has a quiet, well-lit space free from distractions. Encourage regular study routines and provide necessary resources, like study guides or past papers.
- Promote a Balanced Routine: Encourage your child to maintain a balance between study, rest, and relaxation. Adequate sleep, regular exercise, and healthy meals are vital for keeping their energy levels up and their minds focused.
- Be a Positive Presence: Offer emotional support by being understanding and patient. Listen to their concerns and reassure them that stress is a normal part of the process. Remind them of their strengths and past achievements to boost their confidence.
- Encourage Breaks and Relaxation: Help your child to take regular breaks during study sessions to prevent burnout. Short walks, deep breathing exercises, or time spent on a hobby can be beneficial.
Your encouragement and involvement can help ease the pressure, allowing your child to approach the exams with confidence and composure. Together, we can support them in achieving their best.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Mrs Theresa Moore Miss Rebecca Toogood
Acting Pastoral Care & Wellbeing Coordinator
Recently, I revisited the book Empathic Intelligence: Teaching, Learning, Relating by the academic Roslyn Arnold – a lecturer I was privileged to encounter in 1972 when I began my tertiary studies at the University of Sydney. I remember meeting her again some forty years later, and thanking her for her passion, her wisdom, and her kindness. I told her what a profound effect she had had on me all those years ago and how her care of students and her love for the subject English encouraged me to see teaching as a vocation.
After my second reading of Arnold’s book, I would like to share with you some of the ‘magic grabs’ I found to be particularly helpful. Firstly, that ‘caring is the bedrock of all successful education.’ Arnold argues that students feel ‘emotionally met’ and able to perform at their best when teachers care about them and are able to communicate this care during the process of the teaching interaction. As well as this fundamental point of having empathy with the learner, Arnold prizes other important attributes such as humour, effective management skills, and high expectation of students.
Arnold suggests that empathic intelligence is important in teaching because it recognises that the critical lessons of life involve much more than the ability to know and to understand. An empathically intelligent educator seeks to promote curiosity, imagination, and sensitivity towards self, others, and the wider world. They value the processes of learning as much as the products. They start with a focus on what students can do rather than what they cannot do, recognising the importance of mobilising hope, along with accessing students’ tacit, unconscious abilities. And finally, they model perseverance as a necessary and achievable part of human development. All these aspects of quality teaching and learning are particularly timely as our Year 12 students receive their Trial HSC results. In considering the feedback given by their teachers to promote further learning in preparation for the final HSC examinations, hope and perseverance are the two key messages here.
Clare Murphy
English Coordinator and Literacy Instructional Coach
Around the Grounds
A busy week with MISA, the NSWCCC school-based netball competition, and MISA golf all taking place. Firstly, our MISA golf students faced a challenging day in the wind at Camden Links Golf Course, with everyone struggling in the tough conditions. Unfortunately, Eamon, Baxter, and Isaac Robinson, all from Year 10, couldn't keep up with the leading pack and didn't secure a victory. In addition, our Marist netball team competed in the NSWCCC Netball School Competition but struggled, losing the first two games by 2 points, which deflated the girls for the rest of the day. Well done to our boys in golf and girls in netball. Finally, we saw the conclusion of round 5 of MISA, with some teams now advancing to the semi-finals, where they will aim to earn valuable MISA championship points and attempt to win their respective competitions. We wish these teams the best of luck in their finals in week 7.
MISA
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Sport |
Result |
MVP | Short Report |
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Indoor Cricket Years 10-12 Boys OCOB |
vs BAC Loss 36-7 |
Arjun Rapal |
A solid performance from the boys this week with a full strength team now that the HSC trials are finished. Good batting and some excellent fielding were on display but wasn’t enough to beat Broughton who “brought on” a stellar performance. |
|
AFL Years 10-12 Boys MARP |
MAG FORFEIT | ||
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AFL Years 10-12 Girls ABRN |
vs MAG Win 19-8 |
Janita Leota-Brown & Marina Frangieh |
Fantastic game from the girls today. Contested everything, tackled hard, and controlled the field. The girls at the back did not let anything through, pouncing on the ball or making a tackle before Magdalene could get foot to it. The girls in the middle absolutely dominated. Liesl made some great break away runs, palming Magdalene players left and right, and Bella and Gemma controlled the ruck perfectly. The girls at front played amazing, Marina opened the scoring which set us on the right foot. Janita moved up front in the second half and tilted the game in our favour, she was hand passing scoring goals like a seasoned professional. Great job all round girls, thanks. |
|
Rugby League U15's Boys HARK |
vs MAG Loss 14-6 |
Caleg Matamua & Ashton McMillan |
We came into the game needing to win to progress to the final. We got the first try but we were unable to go on with it. We had multiple chances that on our day got converted into points but today was not that day. We worked hard and at times that ‘want’ to win was so great we didn’t make the best play possible. The boys will learn from this as they work towards being better next season. I wish all the boys the best in their grand finals in the coming weeks and I look forward to being able to work with them again in 2025. |
|
Netball Years 7-8 Girls PONT |
vs MAG Loss 29-5 |
Eva Alvarado |
A tough game for the girls today but despite being down on the scoreboard they never dropped their heads or stopped giving 100%. The opposition made it difficult to get the ball down the court. The girls kept fighting and coming forward for the ball. Eva was outstanding in the defensive circle. Every shot that was missed was rebounded. A strong effort. Well done girls. |
|
Netball Years 9-10 Girls BELT |
vs MAG Loss 50-6 |
Kyla Greenwood | An incredibly tough game for the girls today against Magdalene, but despite this they never lost the spirit that caused them to keep fighting for possession. Kyla was incredible, contesting each and every ball and taking a number of our intercepts. The girls have really come together as a team, working together on and off the court to make the game as enjoyable as possible. Well done girls. |
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Softball Years 10-12 Girls HOBR
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vs MAS Draw 10-10 |
Whole Team | The girls had a tough game in the field. They came out strong in both innings and got 5 across the home plate in each innings but unfortunately some poor fielding let them down and MAS managed to tie the game up. Well done on a strong batting performance. |
|
Football Years 7-9 Girls HEAS |
vs JTCC Won 5-0 |
Charlee Yule |
A fantastic display of determination by the girls against John Terry to win 5-0. John Terry came out firing in the first half, having all the ball, they demonstrated great passages of play and the MCCC girls were on the back foot in defence. Going into halftime the score was 0-0. After half time the girls displayed their usual dominant performance with great skill displayed by Selena Misfud, surging runs by Lillian Jackson and Olivia Amador down the wings, but yet again Charlee Yule was the strike force at the top, putting away 4 goals. Congratulations girls, another fantastic effort, keeping the winning streak alive! |
|
Football Years 7-8 Boys KING |
vs JTCC Loss 3-1 |
Sean Phonthaphanh | It's been a challenging season for the boys, with a 3-1 loss to John Therry Catholic College. After conceding 2 early goals, Sean Phonthaphanh narrowed the gap with a stunning strike from outside the box. Despite creating numerous chances, the team struggled to convert in front of goal. Sean came close again with another powerful shot that unfortunately hit the crossbar, however, John Therry was able to capitalise on some loose defending to score a third goal. Lachlan Scrine, Isaiah Nakasenh, and Dylan Jacobs are to be commended for their standout performances. |
|
Football Years 9-10 Boys BERB |
vs JTCC Win 1-0 |
Brodie Cutajar |
The odds were slightly stacked against us to start, with a few boys out of action due to injuries which made selections a little difficult this week. Nonetheless, the boys got the job done with a brace in the second half by Brodie Cutajar and some strong protection in front of our own goal, with Jack Ashton making some crucial saves as well as Tennyson King and Logan Stewart-Hall clearing the lines in dire moments. There were a few other chances that were created, namely Baxter having a few shots that weren’t quite on target, and Jayden with a free-kick that floated above the crossbar. We go into the semi’s with a strong squad and a point to prove with only 1 loss, 1 draw and the remainder being wins. Well done boys on your efforts today. |
As always, students are encouraged to sign up and trial for representative teams. Below you will find registration links for both our DIO and NSWCCC events. If you require any further information please visit the Diocese of Wollongong sports here.
Representative Pathways
| MISA Website | https:/wwwwmisaonlineeorgg.au/ |
| Diocesan Sport News | Updates and news on Wollongong Diocese sport events and trials can be viewed here |
| NSW CCC/CSNSW Sport News | Higher level CCC trials and events status can be monitored here. |
| School Sport Australia Sport News | More School Sport Australia information can be found here |
Transit Systems
Please see letter regarding School Opal Card use and the importance of tapping on and off every time.
Transit Systems school bus route timetable is available via this link. Contact phone number is 8118 7102. This timetable now in includes the Willowdale transit routes.
Enrolments 2024 Onwards
The CEDoW has transitioned to a new online enrolment platform, called Funnel, removing the use of all paper forms. Please take note, particularly for sibling applications. The online application form is accessible from the College website.
Social Media – Facebook & Instagram
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Coming soon! Watch this space!