From the Principal's Desk 

Our Commitment to Anti-racism Education

During Reconciliation week we have been planning our NAIDOC week and finalising our Personalised Learning Pathways with our Aboriginal Engagement Officer, families, and teachers. Our students have also created some beautiful artworks during the week some of which I have included in this report. 

Thank you to our P&C who were successful in applying for a grant from Aboriginal Affairs which will be used to support our school's NAIDOC Celebrations later next term. This year's NAIDOC Week theme is “Get Up! Stand Up! Show UP”, and when we have the final details we will invite our community to celebrate the week with our school. 

With your support, we do the very best we can to ensure culturally inclusive, cohesive, safe, and engaging learning experiences for all our students. If at any time you find that you have a concern about racism in our school, you are encouraged to come to the school and talk with the school Anti-Racism Contact Officer (ARCO) Mr Keen on 63668224.

Year 7 explored the work of Aboriginal Artist Naomi Hobson. They emulated the aerial perspective of country and applied their own culture to their composition. The students learned about the elements of design and used line, shape, and colour to enhance their personal paintings. 

MCS Providing Opportunities

Our sporting and cultural calendar is looking very full, with students not only representing the school but also representing the Western Region. Currently, we have 5 students from MCS who are members of the Western Region Hockey Team. Pictured are Ella Vandervelde, Pheobe Lyons, Millie Olsson, Indy Vandervelde and Layne Mills.

Next week our 7-12 students verse Canowindra in the Rural Cup. Our students are keen to build on the success experienced against Oberon and are hoping to bring home the trophy for a second year. 

MCS has also been successful in reaching the next round of the Tom Kemp shield by defeating Kandos and the Open girls Touch team has made it through to the Central Schools State Final.

We have senior students entering a sustainable cooking competition organised by Orange Rotary and the Bell Shakespeare Company will be performing for our Years 5-12 students. This is such a welcome change from the last two years when we could not perform or attend events. Our students thrive when the opportunity to represent the school or be presented with a performance arises and I would like to say thank you to our teachers for organising these opportunities and to our parents who support our students with lifts to and from venues.

Parent Teacher Nights

We welcome back face to face parent teacher interviews this term. These interviews are the first face to face interviews for over two years and we are very much looking forward to discussing the progress of students with our parents. The pandemic has impacted our students and families and the opportunity to discuss how students are to move forward with their learning and wellbeing is something our teachers are looking forward to. We understand that not every parent will be available at the designated times and encourage parents who can not make the meetings to contact the class teacher or Year Advisor for an update on how their child may be performing at school.

Covid Safe Operations at MCS

We continue to experience teacher and student absences due to COVID and Influenza and would like to highlight the importance of staying away from the school environment if experiencing symptoms. I thank all parents and carers for adhering to these expectations it is helping in our efforts to maintain effective operations. If you require RAT’s, please contact the school and we will arrange an appropriate way for you to pick them up.