Mary MacKillop Newsletter

Principal

Dear Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College Community,

 

Welcome back to Term 3.

 

Staff Professional Development Day

Thank you to Chris Spencer and John Ryan for their leadership and input for the Professional Learning Day we had on Monday, 15 July 2024. This was a valuable day that provided information and insight into the well-being of students and our programs, including The Resilience Project. Thanks to Cade Maskell, Kate Dwyer, David Robinson, and Stephen Ross-Bryant for their workshops.

 

Thank you as well to Nicole Dudman for the prayer that started the day and our term, which included a marvelous montage of staff and families enjoying their break.

 

Additionally, I express my appreciation to our colleagues who ran Staff Wellbeing sessions in the afternoon: Ben Abbott, Claire Cassidy, Beth Winterhalter and David Robinson, Colleen Herbert, Peter Preston, and Ben Stein

 

Finally, thank you to Kara Schwennesen, Amanda Campbell, and Melita Berzins for the preparation of lunch.

 

Year 10 Camp

Thank you to David Robinson for his leadership and organisation of the Year 10 Camp last week. This was once again a great experience for our students,

 

Thank you to the following staff who supported David and the students in this experience - Daniel Sheahan, Melinda Stephan, Rahne Widarsito, Peter Preston, Nicole Dudman, Nicole Buccilli, Edson Letendrie Robin Scouller and Julia Leslie

 

Also thank you to John Ryan who visited the camp on Wednesday evening.

 

More details are available in the Around the College section of the Newsletter.

 

Walkathon Launch 

On Monday, 22 July, we held a Whole College Assembly to launch our annual Walkathon which is our annual fundraiser that contributes to worthy charities. Two of the Charities, Trinity Families and Mary MacKillop Today receive annual support. The other charities are selected by our student leaders, supported by Nicole Dudman and Scott Blencowe in their respective roles and this year are: 

  • Fusion
  • St Vincent de Paul Society of Victoria
  • Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
  • St Joseph’s, in Canto Grande, Peru

As part of the launch we either heard directly from a representative of the charity or a video message.

 

There has already been a tremendous amount of work done last term in regard to determining the charities we will be supporting this year and there is still much to do. Accordingly, I thank Nicole Dudman, Scott Blencowe, and all the members of the committee for the work done so far as well as our student leaders.

 

Please see the Catholic Identity and Mission section of this Newsletter for more details.

 

Year 11 Careers Expo

Thank you to Kate Dwyer, supported by Cassie Raschle and Melissa Fuller for the planning and leadership of taking our Year 11 students to the Baw Baw Job Skills Expo on Tuesday this week.

 

This was a valuable experience that will assist them in the pursuit of their vocational goals. 

 

SSV Sport

Thank you to Travis Newton and Aliesha Wrigley for their support of our students who competed in the SSV Cross Country State Championship competition last week. Well done to all the students who competed.

 

We have also commenced third-term competitions including Badminton and Basketball. Good luck to all the teams and their coaches.   

 

Year 7 2025 Interviews

Next week we will commence enrolment interviews with 112 students and their families for 2025, The first interviews will be on Tuesday 30 July and the second opportunity will be on Tuesday 6 August.

 

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.

 

Winter Clothes Donation 

Thank you to our Year 12 Youth Ministry Class and Sarah Roscoe-Smith for all their efforts t raise funds and collect clothing for St Vincent De Paul.

 

Details are available in the Around the College section of the Newsletter.

 

 Increasing Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Cases

The Department of Health, Victoria has issued a health alert, Increasing pertussis (whooping cough) cases in Victoria. The key messages are: 

  • cases of pertussis are increasing in Victoria, mostly affecting children aged 10-12 years 
  • pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory illness known for causing a cough and can lead to life-threatening infections in babies 
  • symptoms of pertussis may be very similar to other respiratory infections, especially in the early stages, meaning diagnosis by a doctor as soon as possible is important. 

Therefore, I ask all in the school community that it is important you see your General Practitioner if your children exhibit any of the symptoms listed.

 

Staffing News 

At the start of this term, we welcomed the following new staff:

  • Dean Besko who is teaching Mathematics and Science.
  • Melissa Preston who has joined the Administration Team

We also welcomed back from leave:

  • Jenny Shea
  • Kate Dwyer
  • Jack Pearce

This week we farewelled Donna Wylie. Donna commenced in 2009 and made many contributions to the College, particularly with Daily Organisation, Buses, SSV, and House Sport as well as documentation for camps and excursions. Donna has supported many staff and members of the Leadership Team over her time with us and this is greatly appreciated.

 

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 is 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.

 

Letter to Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College Community.pdf

 

Condolences

Finally, please keep in your prayers the family and friends of:

  • Joan White who passed away recently. Joan is the mother-in-law of Melinda Stephan, mother of Herb, and grandmother of Victoria (2022) and Elizabeth (2023).
  • Paul Nielsen who passed away last week. Paul is the father-in-law of Zac Cox, the father of Bec, and the grandfather of Hudson.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, 

and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May the souls of all the faithful departed, 

through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Amen

 

Sapientia Domini Docet Nos

 

John M Freeman