Principal
Dear Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College Community,
Feast Day of Mary of the Cross, MacKillop and Walkathon
We celebrated Mary of the Cross on Thursday, 8 August, MacKillop’s Feast Day. All elements worked extremely well, we were once again blessed with fantastic weather and a great sense of community on the day.
We commenced the day with a liturgy celebrated by Fr Darren Howie. I thank Darren for his ongoing support and presence in our community. Following the Mass, we held our Walkathon which is the main driver of our fundraising efforts to support the following charities this year: Fusion, St Vincent de Paul Society of Vic, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, St Joseph’s in Peru, Trinity Families, and Mackillop Today. The charities support local, national, and international works and all contribute to improving the lives of people they assist.
Students returned from the Walkathon after about a two-hour journey from Koonwarra to the centre of Leongatha and then returned to school and were provided lunch and then entertained by the annual staff versus students Netball game. All involved in the competition had fun.
I am very grateful to Nicole Dudman for all her work and leadership in all aspects of the day.
Specifically, for the Mass, thank you to Nicole Dudman who was supported by Scott Blencowe concerning the liturgy and ensuring students were prepared and ready. Also, my great appreciation to Beth Winterhalter and Meg Doherty as well as David Robinson and Daniel Isgro for their work in preparing and playing with our choir. The singing by the choir was appreciated by all in attendance. Thank you again to Scott Blencowe for the sound and the set-up of the Hall into our Sacred Space by Ken Myors and Boyd Robertson. Also thank you again to Fr Darren for his wonderful contribution and meaningful homily.
Thank you to all staff for their participation during the Walkathon section, including those who were at school ensuring food was prepared and ready for all participants.
Organising these days is an enormous task and the work undertaken by the Walkathon Committee consisting of Nicole Dudman, Mary Tye, Jackie Van Dillen, Jess Stein, Jo Callister, Nia Robinson, Scott Blencowe, Melissa Preston, Jenny Damon, and the Student Mission Team was outstanding. I also extend my thanks to Jodie Connell for her assistance with logistics. Additionally, thank you to our administration staff for all their work preparing for the day, specifically: Adrienne Layton, Laura Kew, Emma Blunt, Tenielle Homan, and Tracey Mildenhall.
Thanks to Nia Robinson and Edson Letendrie for the photography.
For the afternoon events, thank you to all the staff and students who participated in the Netball game. Well done to the students on their win.
More details and photographs from the day can be found in the Around the College section of this Newsletter.
Finally thank you to our students for their engagement and participation.
Subject Selection and Career Expos
Thank you to all the staff who have been meeting with students and families in Year 10 recently. Many of these meetings take place after school finishes to allow parents and guardians to fully participate in this important process.
Yarram Eisteddfod
Congratulations to our choir who were awarded second place in their section at the Yarram Eisteddfod. This is an outstanding achievement so my thanks to Meg Doherty Beth Winterhalter and David Robertson for their work with this group of dedicated students.
Year 11 Retreat
Next week our Year 11 Students will participate in their Retreat at the Don Bosco Camp in Safety Beach. This is always an affirming and positive opportunity to connect with God, themselves, each other, and family. Thank you to Nicole Dudman for all her work in preparing the retreat.
Year 7 2025 Interviews
Over the last few weeks, we have undertaken enrolment interviews. This will continue next week as more families have made applications for next year, At this stage we have 114 students looking forward to joining us for 2025.
If you or you know anybody who is yet to complete an application for a place in 2025 for their child I encourage you to do so as soon as possible. We are now in the planning phase for 2025 and will make many decisions about next year over the next five weeks.
Staffing News
Next Monday, we welcome:
Rachel Collins as our Daily Orginiser and assistant Timetabler.
Principal’s Formative Appraisal
This term I will be undertaking a formative appraisal process. Below you will find a link to a letter from Debra Punton, Deputy Director: Catholic Identity, Leadership, Learning and Teaching, Chief Operations Officer - Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited, and Panel Chair of my appraisal which will take place next term.
The purpose and process of the appraisal are explained in the letter and it also includes details of the Panel Members. Additionally, there is a link to a survey that can be completed by community members and it is due by 19 August 2024.
Thanks in advance for your thoughtful and considered responses to the survey.
Sapientia Domini Docet Nos
John M Freeman