Principal's Report

Easter Message

As this newsletter forms the final commentary before Holy Week, I take this opportunity to wish all members of the McCarthy faith community a safe, happy and holy Easter. As we have journeyed together in the season of Lent, I trust that the varied personal acts and deeds of sacrifice, almsgiving and prayerful reflections have brought us all into a deeper and closer relationship with our Lord. If you are travelling please be safe and trust that your time together as a family is a treasured and faith filled experience.

Audit

Enormous congratulations and thanks to the teaching and support staff for the significant preparations required for the cyclical audit of the College against the NESA registration guidelines. While we await the final written reports, the verbal feedback from the audit team would indicate adequate compliance and positive recommendation on the presented learning and teaching resources. As a 5-year cyclical event the overwhelming amount of resources collated for audit and level of detail required is quite demanding and our staff delivered reliably in all of the designated areas. Well done to all involved!

ANZAC Day

I extend an open invitation to all students and staff to participate in the local ANZAC services that commemorate 104 years of the ANZAC tradition on Thursday April 25 2019 (nb. last week of the holidays). McCarthy students and staff can attend marches at Tamworth, Manilla, Quirindi and Kootingal. Please check your local guides for updated information.

Kootingal -  7:45am for 8.00am start

Quirindi  - 10:45am for 11:00am start

Manilla -  10:30am for 11:00am start.

In Tamworth we will be ‘stepping off’ at 10:00am from the eastern side of Bourke Street. Please arrive before 9:45am to form up.

All students are to wear Winter Academic Uniform with a McCarthy hat. As the weather can be unpredictable at this time of year it is not compulsory to wear the College jumper with the winter uniform. Let the weather determine that decision. Students can be collected from No 1 Oval at the conclusion of the march. Thank you to everyone who intends to support such an important and memorable day in our nation’s story.

As I am sure your son and daughters have informed you, House Points are on offer for every student who attends any of the four venues as an incentive to encourage even greater attendance than that of previous years.

A special ANZAC Day Mass will also be celebrated at St Nicholas' Church beginning at 8:00am. Please feel welcome to attend.

The Tamworth Dawn Service being held at ANZAC Gates begins at 5:30am.

Staffing

After much deliberation, and after a significant period of illness, it is with sadness that Mrs Suzanne Perfrement has tended her resignation from her teaching role at the College. As a long-term Creative Arts and Languages teacher, Suzanne brought a high level of cultural spirit and musical performance to both Our Lady of the Rosary College and McCarthy Catholic College that will be sorely missed. We wish her good health and happy times with grandchildren in her retirement.

Congratulations to Mrs Jolene Faint who takes on additional duties as the new ATSI Focus Officer working a focussed day per week to specifically support growth in educational outcomes for ATSI students. Joelene brings great expertise to this important role as she is also in the final months of the completion of a teaching degree. Her main role will be to support the transition of ATSI students from Year 6 into Year 7 as well as the development of Personal Learning Plans for our ATSI students.

In the absence of Mrs Julie Kellahan, who has been on leave for Term 1, I offer great thanks to Mrs Wendy Bowden who taught Julie’s classes on a contract. Wendy’s experience was highly valued by the TAS and RE faculties and by the students in those classes.

Enormous thanks also to Mrs Jenny Ayres, Mrs Pat Macpherson, and Mrs Angela Berton for their generosity and incredible work ethic in keeping the canteen humming along for Term 1 in the absence of Mrs Beano Radebe. Our students really appreciate the special effort every day to prepare such delicious and wholesome food!

Congratulations to teaching staff member Miss Lauren Ryan who married Mr Phillip Windle recently and Mr Shaun Nichols and Miss Wendy Hardes who also celebrate the special sacrament of marriage over the upcoming break. May God bless their respective faith unions and give them long support into the future.

School Social

The first student social for 2019 will be held Wednesday 10 April from 6:30pm - 9:00pm. Compulsory tickets are $5 and will be available next Monday and Tuesday from Year 12 students on the Terrace at Recess and Lunch.

Term 2

Please be notified that Term 1 concludes on Friday 12 April. Term 2 commences on Monday 29 April.

Leadership Team changes Term 2 Weeks 1 to 4

I also write to notify all families of some temporary changes to the College Leadership Team for the first four weeks of Term 2. As myself and Mrs Cate Allen are both taking long service leave, we have some very experienced and generous staff stepping into key leadership positions for, mostly, four weeks. I thank them on your behalf, for their service to the College.

Acting Principal - Mrs Sally Sparke

Acting Assistant Principal - Mrs Raelene Maxworthy

Acting Mission Spiritual Formation and RE - Mrs Kerry Ackhurst (3 weeks)

Acting Leader of Teaching and Learning - Mrs Heather Burke

New Uniform Consultation

We are in the final stages of community consultation regarding potential changes to the McCarthy Catholic College Uniform. Included in this newsletter is a link to the summary sheet displaying all of the potential uniform items. There are also life-size mannequins in the foyer of the Rosary Centre for families to examine the samples provided by our uniform supplier - Lowes. Note especially that we are providing contemporary uniform options for girls that include shorts, slacks and tights to complement a knee length skirt and blouse combination.

This is the final notification seeking written feedback from families by the end of the term please.

Once this final feedback is received we will begin a phase in period of 2 years from 2020. That is, the existing uniform options can be worn throughout 2020 and 2021 prior to the new version being fully implemented in 2022.

Enrolments for Year 7 in 2020 close Monday April 8 2019

McCarthy Catholic College extends an invitation for students seeking enrolment into Year 7 in 2020. The only round of Year 7 applications for this year will close on Monday 8 April. Fully completed application forms and the $100 application fee need to be lodged at the College on or before Monday 8 April. Open Day will be held on Saturday 9 March from 10:00am until 1:00pm.

Please contact the Enrolment Officer, Mrs Jo O'Brien, on 6761 0802 or jobrien1@arm.catholic.edu.au for an application pack and/or more information.

Armidale Diocese System Well-Being Conference

The Catholic Schools' Office will be hosting a whole diocesan System Well-Being Conference for all staff on Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 June 2019, following the June Long Weekend on Monday 10 June. Please note the College will be closed on these days.

School Zone Road Safety

Please find attached a brochure from Tamworth Regional Council regarding School Zone Road Safety.

Welcome

We welcome Lachlan Miller (Year 8) and his family to the McCarthy community.

Mr Geoff McManus - Principal