Dear Marian Catholic College Community,

Welcome to Term 2 of 2024

It has been a positive start to the term, after what we hope was an enjoyable break for our students. However, we are always mindful that this recent holiday featured challenging and distressing events within the state, widely broadcast on our media. For any who might be impacted, distressed or challenged by these events, we at the school, keep you in our thoughts and prayers and remind all in the community of the many sources of assistance, which have been listed below this article.

Safe and Supportive Schools

As an important part of school operations, Marian Catholic College follows safeguarding practices, implemented by the diocese and also by state legislation. These guidelines include the need for the College to follow a range of procedures and practices, including drills, policies around student safety and behaviour. In these last two weeks, we have practiced safety drills and fire evacuations. We also brought in our community police liaison officer Alex Davies to address our Year 7, 8 and 9 students on being safe online and in person. Students have been reminded of their role and responsibilities through safe and respectful behaviour at school and in the wider community .

Positive Behaviour for Learning

Shortly, as part of our Positive Behaviour for Learning focus for 2024 we will survey parents and students to see which values from the school’s mission and vision values they believe need further emphasis for the next two to three years. Please keep an eye out for this survey later this term. We will keep it as short and user friendly as possible and will greatly value the input from parents and students. This will assist the newly formed team over the next few months.

School Advisory Council

We are still keen to hear from parents who would like to volunteer to attend the School Advisory Council. This is an important advisory service, which requires attendance at 4 meetings a year (one per term) held on Mondays from 6-7 in Week 6.

Don’t hesitate to contact myself or Mrs Julie O’Keeffe if you would like to discuss nominating for a position or complete the nomination form below and submit to the College office by close of business - Monday 27 May 2024.

Commendations and Acknowledgements

I would like to commend Narin Ciyan who won the 9/10 Section of the MLHD Competition to create a Vape Education Poster. Narin won gift cards and vouchers of $300.00, one for herself and one for the school. Congratulations Narin!

https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/mlhd/our-services/healthy-living/health-promotions-competitions

Also deserving commendations are the Marian students and staff, led by College captains and Year 12 prefects, who supported the community Anzac Day services at the Cenotaph and for residents at Scalabrini Aged Care on the 25/4. This also included senior HSIE students involved in placing crosses on war graves in the cemetery last Friday 3/5. Thank you also to Mrs Sparkes and our captains who provided a short broadcasted Anzac Memorial service to all students on Wednesday 1 May 2024. This was supported by Cadet Under Officer, Flight Sergeant Aida Wiseman (Yr 11), who performed the raising of the flag in front of our beautiful commemorative space, recently upgraded by groundsmen Mr Simon Aventi and Mr Kieron Edwards. Thank you to all involved in these special and important acts of community service and leadership.

Special thanks and commendations to all of our talented athletes and sportspersons for both Cross Country and Athletics Carnivals, and performances at the Bill Turner Cup. Also a huge shout out to our equally talented Creative and Performing Arts crews and Hospitality and Tas teams, students and staff. An outstanding effort has been made by so many towards these events and to what will be a brilliant performance next week of Cabaret! Salute!

Teaching and Learning

Finally, on Monday 29th teachers and support staff engaged in an important day of Professional Learning, planned by Leader of Learning and Teaching, Mr Damien Herb with individual sessions presented by teachers and leaders from all key learning areas (KLAs). The focus for the day included sessions on Quality and Rich Assessment, Understanding by Design and Using Key Verbs for Learning. Afternoon sessions saw all teaching staff involved in Assessment Moderation in their KLAs. This day allowed teachers to also attain 5.5 hours of professional learning towards mandatory NESA accreditation for teachers. Thank you to Damien and all KLA leaders and teachers for this excellent work.

I would like to finish with this beautiful quote sourced from the Marist Association that has been very helpful to me in recent weeks…

Through our hopeful and caring presence, even at personal cost, and through our voice in the Church and in society, we bring the world closer to the reign of God, where all its people have the chance of living decent human lives.

In the Footsteps of Marcellin Champagnat #209

Yours sincerely

Dr Penny Ludicke

Principal

Support Information

If you need immediate support, the Beyond Blue Support Service is available 24/7 on 1300 22 4636, via webchat or email.

There is also Lifeline@ 131144

If you are concerned about someone at risk of immediate harm, call 000 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.

For a snapshot of national support services, visit Mental health services and support helplines.

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