DEPUTY PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Student Leadership

The Student Forum has held its first meeting of the year and has elected students into the office of Chair and Secretary. The Student Forum Chair for 2022 is Tully Sheldrick and the Secretary is Dakota Jager, both of Year 12. In the next few days Student Leadership Committees will be inviting students to join as members. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to get involved in our school community in a very real and tangible way. There are six committees at St Mary MacKillop College that cover different aspects of school and community life:

• Activities
• Academic
• Arts
• Environment
• Faith and Mission
• Learning Resource Centre
• Wellbeing 

Any student is able to join the committee of their preference and interest area so keep an eye out for the Membership Drive. The committees work closely with a mentor who is a member of staff and develop projects and ways to engage the student community in particular areas and initiatives. Both the Student Leadership Committees and the Student Forum, while certainly supported by staff, are run primarily by students which is wonderful. 

Phones at school 

Whilst we have not seen a large number of phones confiscated during the day it is apparent that students are not locking them in their lockers and are using them during the day. We would greatly appreciate support from families in regards to encouraging students not to have their phones with them. Some students have expressed that they need their phone to contact parents. Can I assure you that as a school we would always ask that parents contact the school first rather than the student and also that students report to Pastoral Care before contacting their parents by themselves and arranging to be picked up. 

Jewellery

Last week I spoke at assembly and reminded our students about the importance of upholding high standards and of following the rules in regards to jewellery. It has been very reassuring to see our students respond so well to this reminder. 

Lent

As we move into the season of Lent we have the opportunity to reflect on our school value of Forgiveness. During Ash Wednesday liturgies, we hear the words “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” when ashes are placed on our foreheads. Pope Francis explains that these instructions should remind us that we are limited, imperfect human beings and that we are called to repentance and conversion. We need to be sorry about what we get wrong and be willing to make a change in our lives. (Pope Francis, 18/2/2015) Sometimes we get things wrong at school, we make poor choices or we speak before we think. This doesn’t mean we are bad people but it does give us the opportunity to change. Everyone deserves the chance to begin again. 

Spirit of God, who led Jesus into the desert to fast and pray, lead us as we enter this time of Lent. 

Give us courage to examine our hearts with honesty; 

Give us strength to deal with what we find; 

Give us love to forgive ourselves and each other, so that, in peace and joy, 

we may celebrate at Easter the death and resurrection of Jesus and all that it 

means for each of us. 

Amen