Principal
Dear Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College Community,
Catholic Education Week
Tomorrow, May 17, marks the start of Catholic Education Week and the theme for 2024 is ‘See, I am making all things new’.
We will celebrate the week with a Mass on Wednesday 22nd May in Period 3. (11.10 am). Parents and families are welcome to attend. Please ensure to sign in via the main reception.
The theme is taken from the Book of Revelation, and it points to a new way of looking at the world; a new way of responding in order to bring about a better world. The theme celebrates that we all have the power to make choices. Choices to act that are informed by love, compassion, peace, goodness, and justice.
We strive in Catholic schools through dialogue with the Christian story, to invite young people to consider Jesus’ message, his life, death, and resurrection. Hope is an integral tenet of the Catholic faith, as well as a sense of joy that openness to dialogue brings.
True dialogue is a respectful engagement with others that is open to learn new things, builds understanding, and enables the pursuit of a more just and humane world. This is fundamental to “making all things new”. In a world of tension, division and conflict coupled with a lack of responsibility toward the common good, there is a need for all people, to reach out in a dialogue of love which seeks understanding.
This theme challenges us to live out an optimistic and hope-filled perspective on the world and to seek new an approach which fosters positive change.
The theme for 2024 exhorts that transformation and renewal are achieved by our hope-filled choices. These choices are guided through following the life and teachings of Jesus, and embracing the Gospel values of compassion, peace, goodness, forgiveness and justice. The theme encourages us to understand that the choices each of us make, each in our own small way, lay the foundations to build a better world and plant seeds that will nourish a hope-filled future.
We love our Catholic Schools because... VIDEO
Mother's Day
Happy Mother's Day to all mothers in our community. Thank you for all that you do for your families. It is a day for us to express our gratitude and love to the women in our lives who have been essential in forming who we are today.
So for all mothers, I offer this prayer:
God our Creator
You know intimately all those who ‘mother’ and bring new life.
We take time to acknowledge and give thanks to those who teach, guide, encourage, and heal.
We pray:
for new mothers, coming to terms with new responsibilities;
for expectant mothers, wondering and waiting;
for those who are tired, stressed, or depressed;
for those who struggle to balance the tasks of work and family;
for those who are unable to feed their children due to poverty;
for those whose children have physical, mental, or emotional disabilities;
for those who raise children on their own;
for those who have lost a child;
for those who care for the children of others;
for those whose children have left home;
and for those whose desire to be a mother has not been fulfilled.
Bless all mothers, that their love may be deep and tender,
and that they may lead their children to know and do what is good, living not for themselves alone, but for God and for others.
Amen.
Vaping
Last week I read the following information in the Newsletter from St Peter’s College and thank, Chris Black, the College Principal, for allowing me to repeat it here.
“I continue to be disturbed by the research reports emerging on the health and social impacts of e-cigarettes on young Australians. I cannot help but wonder what the long-term effects will be and thus the narrative when we look back in twenty years or more. The Australian Government is taking decisive action to reduce the devastating harm that e-cigarettes are having on our communities, especially on children and young people. Legislation to bring in these reforms was introduced into Federal Parliament in March; however, its passage isn’t assured. We need our nation’s decision makers to hear the concerns of their constituents of schools, parents, teachers, and communities to secure their vote and stop the next generation of Australians becoming addicted to nicotine.
Vaping poses a serious risk to the health and well-being of children and young people. The latest data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows us that vaping has increased significantly, with 18% of 15-24-year-olds vaping. Overall nicotine product use (smoking and vaping) has more than doubled in those aged 14-17 to 10.4%. I encourage all families to spend a moment and write to your Federal member in support of the current reforms. If interested please click here to access an online template to assist you in structuring your letter of concern and support.”
Murder Among the Manuscripts
Congratulations to Laura Muranty and the VCE Theatre Studies class - Seth Wood, Jack Parker, Jenna Lawrie, Tayla Ateo-Peters, Coby Fowles, Josh Leversha, and Lachlan Denbrock - on their performance of Murder Among the Manuscripts on the afternoon and evening of Tuesday, 24 May 2024.
I attended the sold-out performance at 6.30 pm and it was great to see the hard work and preparation result in such a wonderfully entertaining performance. Well done everyone.
Staff Professional Learning Day
Next Friday, 24 May 2024, will be a student-free day with all teaching staff engaged in a professional learning day.
Year 6 Days
Last week we hosted the last of our three Grade 6 days with students from St John the Baptist, Koo Wee Rup, and those from various other Primary Schools from around the region. There were almost 50 students who attended. Once again thank you to Claire Cassidy and Jodie Connell for their organisation. Thank you as well to Nicole Dudman and our students for the liturgy to start the days and also my appreciation to all staff who spent team with the students.
Year 7 2025 Enrolments
I would like to remind all current families that enrolment applications are due on 31 May 2024. Formal applications must be made for students for enrolment into Year 7 next year. We will accept applications after that date, but as a matter of justice, priority will be given to those who have submitted their applications on time.
Staffing News
Congratulations to Laura Higgins and Jackson on the safe arrival of their daughter Murphy Rose.
Congratulations to Georgia Townley and Anthony on the safe arrival of Rosie Ellen.
Congratulations to Sienna Falkingham and Nathan on the recent announcement of their engagement.
We farewell Ruby Adkins tomorrow after completion of her contract providing administration and support of our SSV program. We wish Ruby well on her travels in Europe.
This we welcomed back Milly Ellen (Class of 2019 and former staff member. Milly will be providing administrative support primarily in our Careers program.
Sapientia Domini Docet Nos
John M Freeman