Acting Principal
ANZAC Day
Thank you to all students and staff who supported the ANZAC Day marches in Tamworth, Kootingal, Manilla, Barraba, Nundle and Quirindi at the end of the recent holiday period. There have been numerous positive reports affirming the manner in which McCarthy students supported our national day of remembrance. The large number of students, across so many communities, who made the effort to march proudly in McCarthy uniform, made it a very special day.
Enrolment Information Evenings
We will be conducting two compulsory Year 7 Parent and Student Enrolment evenings. All applicants for Year 7, 2020 from Armidale Diocesan Primary Schools, and/or siblings of currently enrolled McCarthy students, must attend one of the information evenings to ensure a clear and consistent message about values, expectations and opportunities is delivered to families and the Year 6 students. The events will be held in the College Hall and the two options for parents and students to attend are:
Tuesday 21 May from 5:45pm - 6:45pm
Thursday 23 May from 5:45pm - 6:45pm
Applicants from other schools will be contacted for face-to-face interviews in the coming weeks.
Athletics Carnival
As this newsletter goes to print we are participating in the annual Inter House Athletics Carnival at the Tamworth Regional Sporting Complex. On the back of much improved attendance and participation at the Swimming Carnival, the Athletics Carnival has also proven popular. Well done to students, especially Year 12, for their enthusiasm and participation. I thank Mr Brad Mitchell and all of the staff for their prior organisation and coordination of the day. Mr Mitchell will report in more detail in the next newsletter.
Year 12 Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences
Thank you to parents and students who attended last night’s Year 12 Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences. The opportunity to work in partnership with parents to support our HSC students is timely and of great value. In recent newsletters, Mrs Raelene Maxworthy has outlined the significance of parents understanding and supervising the study commitments of successful HSC students.
Year 12 2018 Gift to McCarthy
McCarthy Catholic College has a rich history, informed by the charisms of the Dominican Sisters and the Christian Brothers who founded Catholic education in Tamworth. While St Dominic has long been represented by a statue in the College garden, there was previously no recognition of Edmund Rice, founder of the Christian Brothers. The 2018 Year 12 cohort made a contribution to the purchase of a statue of Blessed Edmund Rice which was blessed and dedicated at the recent whole college mass for his feast day.
Project Compassion
The McCarthy community raised $4,700 for Project Compassion during Lent. The Year 12 Shave for Lent initiative was a standout fundraiser and I particularly acknowledge the efforts of Luca Barden, Calvin Farmilo and Julia Hannaford who raised significantly more than the $100 ‘entry’ fee.
Welcome
We welcome the following students to the McCarthy community: Hamish Dunbier (Year 8), Taya Powell (Year 8), Sharlie Brown (Year 8), Jolie Nguyen (Year 11), Indi Bell (Year 9) and Flo Davidson (Year 11) I would like particularly to acknowledge the current students who volunteer to act as ‘buddies’ to new arrivals to the College. It is their generosity and welcoming nature that makes a real difference to the quality of transition into a new community for students joining McCarthy.
Staffing
I extend a warm welcome to Mrs Sophie Maher (Administration) who commenced this term in Reception. Sophie brings a wealth of experience in her respective field and we are privileged to have her join our community.
Mrs Kayla Crittenden, one of our Aboriginal Education Assistants, has this week resigned from her position at the College to return to work in Early Childhood. We wish her every success.
Leadership Team changes Term 2 Weeks 1 to 4
A reminder that while Mr McManus and Mrs Allen take leave, there has been some temporary changes in leadership roles.
Acting Principal - Mrs Sally Sparke
Acting Assistant Principal - Curriculum - Mrs Raelene Maxworthy
Acting Mission Spiritual Formation and RE - Mrs Kerry Ackhurst (3 weeks)
Acting Leader of Teaching and Learning - Mrs Heather Burke
Armidale Diocese System Well-Being Conference
The Catholic Schools' Office will be hosting a whole Diocesan 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.
Mrs Sally Sparke - Acting Principal