Mary MacKillop Newsletter

Principal

Principal’s Enrichment Leave

As I advised in my last Newsletter article I will be on enrichment leave from Monday, 4 September until Friday 15 September. During this time, I will be participating in the CatholicSchool Identity 2023 Study Program at the Catholic University Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium. 

 

In my absence, John Ryan and Jodie Connell will be Acting Co-Principals, commencing Monday 4 September until the end of Term 3. I will return to Australia on 18 September. Accordingly, I am very thankful to John and Jodie for taking on this additional responsibility and I appreciate all in our community their support.

 

Expressions of Interest for Membership in the College Advisory Committee

We are in the process of reviewing our College Advisory Committee Charter and the membership of the group.

 

Accordingly, I am requesting expressions of interest from parents of children who attend the school. We have two positions available to join our three current parent members – Kate Lindsay (Chairperson), Matthew Hams, and Ruth Rogan. Should we have more than two nominees we will look to have an election by parents of the school. 

 

To assist in your discernment, I offer the following information:

  • The responsibilities of the School Advisory Committee are to:
    • Promote the Catholic ethos of the school
    • Provide feedback on and review of school policies
    • Plan for the future of the school and its ability to accommodate future enrolments
    • Provide advice on budget planning and finance-related matters
    • Contribute to the selection process for the school principal
    • Provide advice on the appropriate provision of faith development and Religious Education programs
    • Promote child safety in the school
  • All members of the School Advisory Committee must hold a current Working with Children Check or current Victorian Institute of Teaching registration.
  • The parents of children at the school will be elected for up to three years and may be re-elected.

If you are interested in nominating please write to principal@mmcrc.catholic.edu.au and Carly Kitchingman, my Personal Assistant, will contact you to make a  time to meet with me to discuss your interest, clarify the purpose and requirements of the position as well as ascertain if you wish to formally nominate.

 

VCE Music Performance

On Wednesday evening our VET Music students performed music that they are preparing for their upcoming assessment next term. It was a fantastic evening of high-quality music which everyone in attendance thoroughly enjoyed, Well done to Sage Anderson, Liam Egan, Sofia Jones, Aimee Le Page, and Cooper Simcock. 

 

Thank you to Beth Winterhalter, their teacher, as well as David Robinson and Daniel Isgro for their support of these talented students.

 

Child Safety Week 2023: Case Studies and Resources  

Next week is Child Safety Week for the Diocese of Sale and the theme this year is “Every child, in every community, needs a fair go and a chance to grow up safe and supported”. The dates coincide with National Child Protection Week and Safeguarding Sunday.

 

One of the actions in the Diocese of Sale undertook in support of this important time saw schools and parishes invited to present case studies of achievements undertaken to promote, inform and action child safety to be shared with other schools and parishes. Fourteen schools provided resources, including Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College. 

 

Our contribution was our Child Safety Newsletter which is released once per term. As you are aware the focus of the newsletter is to portray the child safety and wellbeing initiatives that have been delivered throughout the term. 

 

It is developed as part work of the work of our Child Safety Committee which usually meets twice per term and is made up of staff and students. 

 

Thank you to all on the Child Safety Team, which is led by John Ryan, and particular thanks to Laura Muranty, Rhiannon Le Busque, and Jenny Damon for their work producing the Newsletter.

 

Tournament of the Minds

Well done to our students who participated in the Tournament of the Minds Teams on Saturday 19th August, in Churchill. Our Arts Team received an honourable mention and both teams received the Spirit of TOM award. My thanks to Hamish Duckmanton, Mary Tye, and Richard Muranty for their support of the students on the day. 

 

SSV Sport and Sporting Achievements

Well done to our Intermediate Girls’ Soccer team on Tuesday 29th August, which competed at the SSV State Soccer Championships. Although they did not proceed to the finals, they played well and showed great endeavour. Making this level of competition is an outstanding effort and everyone should be proud of their achievement. Thank you to Michelle Hackett and Rachel Rosse for their support.

 

Also, well done to the Intermediate Boys’ Soccer team which headed to Thornbury for the SSV State Soccer competition on Thursday 31st August. Whilst they won their first game they were not successful in the next two, AS with the Netball team reaching this level of the competition is a tremendous effort. Thank you to their coach Edson Letendrie who was supported by Peter Preston.

 

Good luck on Monday to our Intermediate Girls’ Netball team as they compete in the SSV State Championships. Thanks in advance to Kate Dwyer and Ruby Adkins for coaching the team with the support of Lisa Hogan.

 

Congratulations to Ada Hill (Year 12) who competed in the Australian Cross-Country Championships in Canberra recently.

 

Art Exhibition and Music Soiree 

Please consider attending our upcoming Art Exhibition and Music Soiree evening on Wednesday 13 September 2023. It will commence at 6.00 pm with the exhibition in the Chapel and the Soiree will follow in the Drama and Dance Complex immediately behind.

 

Thank you to all the staff involved in the preparation of this event in particular Claire Mangs and Beth Winterhalter.

 

Sapientia Domini Docet Nos

John M Freeman