19 May 2025

News from the College Principal, Mrs Janelle Newman

Newsletter – 2025 Term 2 Week 5

Term 2 has begun with gusto! Our students have participated in our ANZAC Day liturgies and marches – all of which were well attended by our families and staff. Our current generations are lucky enough not to have experienced serious conflict; however, ANZAC Day is always a celebration that resonates with our student body. We recognise those who gave their ultimate sacrifice, to ensure we are the wonderful free nation we are today.

Our Year 7 and Year 9 students had attended their respective camps, and although both were accompanied by some rain, spirits and enthusiasm could not be dampened. Our annual Mother’s Day stall, breakfast and prayer assembly were a wonderful celebration, honouring the significant women in our lives. A huge thank you to our P&F team of volunteers who made the hearts of our students glow as they made tough decisions about what to buy their mums and other special women in their lives.

Next year at MacKillop, we begin our 3^rd five-year cycle as a College. This signals a review and goal-setting process to construct our Strategic Directions document for 2026 – 2030. Over the last year, we have reviewed our vision and purpose, and have made some small adjustments that incorporates the most recent educational research and expresses the original intent in a more succinct way.

To help us begin this review process, I recently invited parents to provide their Top 3 values/ skills / dispositions they would like their child to have by the time they graduate as young adults from our College. It was exciting to see that parental and College goals remain very much aligned. In the next few weeks, I will be inviting parents to express their interest in joining our Strategic Directions working party.

This term, we have been actively sharing our College fortnightly focus with our community. During each fortnight, teachers embed the specific value / skill / disposition into all learning and community interactions. These focusses encompass key ideas or dispositions (natural habits or ways of being) that not only represent our MacKillop Way, but the way of our world. Helping our children to understand these values, and practice these in their thinking and actions, will serve them well in their friendships and relationships as young adults, and as successful citizens in the world and workplace.

It is important that we model these values ourselves in all our words and actions – with each other, in our homes, in the way we communicate, and on our grounds. I must remind parents that modelling respect and kindness extends into our carpark and beyond. Whilst the wait times through the College at drop-off and pick-up times have been dramatically reduced by the recent traffic management works completed by the Cairns Regional Council, it is essential that we are patient and co-operative with each other.

Code of Conduct for Parents, Volunteers and Visitors

It is also necessary to remember that our children are still developing their understanding and ability to demonstrate these concepts skilfully – they need practice, reminders, the space to make mistakes along the way – this is an important part of their growth journey into adulthood.

Thank you for always supporting our children as we work together to ensure each child feels valued, supported and confident in themselves and their learning.

Kind Regards,
Janelle Newman
College Principal

News from the Deputy Principal – Primary, Ms Caitlin O’Meara

Dear MacKillop families

Welcome to Term 2!  We have had a lot happening within the College over the past four weeks.

Mother’s Day Celebration

Last week, we celebrated all the special women in our students’ lives. We had a fantastic turn out at our Mother’s Day breakfast and prayer assembly lead by our Year 1M students. Our Year 1 students did a fantastic job of giving thanks to the women who love and support them. A special thank you to our MCC P & F who led the Mother’s Day stall and to the parent helpers who volunteered their time.

Book Fair

During Week 5, we will have our first Book Fair for the school year. Students have visited the Book Fair during the week to record their wish lists.  The Bookfair coincides with National Simultaneous Storytime next Wednesday – where we will read ‘The Truck Cat’. Book Fair will be set up in Penola Learning Common. Parents are invited to visit the Book Fair with their child/ren any morning from 8:00am-8:30am and afternoons from 2:50pm-3:30pm. 

Cohort Games

This term, our students from Years 1- 6 have been participating in Cohort Games each fortnight. The purpose of Cohort Games is about teaching, modelling and practising how to build positive and inclusive cohorts by explicitly teaching students the skills needed to foster teamwork, show empathy, and problem-solve during social interactions.

Uniform Expectations

The College uniform is a core part of our physical identity as a school, and students wear it with pride. Adhering to the expectations of the Uniform Policy is one of our ''Givens'' and reflects the MacKillop Way pillar of Respect.

Please be mindful of the following:

• students are expected to wear the College formal uniform at all times and their correct sport uniform only on their designated PE day;
• hair that reaches the collar needs to be tied up;
• students should have only one set of studs or sleepers in their lower lobe;
• shoes should be black (except on PE days);
• students are to wear their College hat before school, during play times and after school;
• jewellery, acrylic nails, nail polish, eyelash extensions, and makeup are not permitted;
• multi-coloured/dyed hair, or hairstyles with fashion cuts/tracks/mullets are not permitted.

We understand that at times, there may be a need for a student to wear an item of clothing that is not part of the prescribed uniform. When this is the case, we ask that you notify your child’s class teacher.

You can refer to the Uniform Guidelines here, which states the requirements of the uniform and the roles and responsibilities of parents, students and staff.

Should you have any concerns, please contact your child's classroom teacher in the first instance.

I will be taking long service leave in Weeks 8, 9 and 10 of this term. Information will be shared with you soon regarding who will taking on the acting role in my absence. Wishing you and your families a fabulous end to Term 2 and I look forward to hearing about our student’s success upon my return in Term 3.

Yours Sincerely,
Caitlin O’Meara
Deputy Principal - Primary

News from the Deputy Principal – Secondary, Ms Melissa Headridge

Although we are only halfway through the term, it has already been a busy and exciting time in Secondary. Students in Year 7 and Year 9 recently returned from their camps, which were rich in opportunities for personal growth, teamwork, and building lasting friendships. We have also seen the creative talents of our students on display through the collaborative painting of a new mural, which now brings colour and life to our shared spaces—an inspiring reminder of student voice and community spirit in action. In addition, a number of excursions have provided valuable opportunities for extra-curricular learning, connecting classroom knowledge to real-world experiences and deepening student engagement.

A Culture of Kindness and Empathy

Across the college, our focus has been on kindness and empathy—values deeply embedded in the life and mission of Mary MacKillop. She did not just speak about kindness; she lived it. Even in the face of adversity, she chose compassion. She worked quietly and faithfully to help others, even when no one was watching. Her example remains at the heart of who we are as a college community.

We have been reinforcing this message with students and building a culture of reflection and positive action. We have invited them to consider:

• How do you feel when someone is genuinely kind to you?
• How do you feel when someone shows empathy instead of judgment?
• You have the power to make someone’s day better—or worse—by the way you speak and act.

By working together—home and school—we can build a consistent message that how we treat one another matters. Mary MacKillop’s example reminds us that compassion is a powerful force for good.

Staying Organised and Preparing for Success

At this stage of the term, our focus shifts to assessment preparation. Assessment timetables have been distributed to all students and have also been sent by Broadcast to all parents and caregivers. We encourage you to sit down with your child to review the timetable, highlight all upcoming exams and assessment due dates, and help them develop a study timetable that supports steady preparation.

Parents can support their child by:

• Encouraging them to plan ahead and avoid last-minute cramming.
• Providing a quiet, distraction-free environment for study.
• Ensuring a healthy balance of study, rest, nutrition, and sleep.
• Encouraging regular check-ins with teachers for clarification or guidance.
• Promoting positive wellbeing and stress management strategies.

Your support at home is vital in helping students feel prepared and confident.

Senior Assessment: AARA Procedures for Year 11 and 12

For students in Years 11 and 12, all assessment is governed by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA), and there are strict procedures in place for managing missed assessments.

If a student is absent on the day of an exam or is unable to submit an assignment due to illness or other valid reasons, they must apply for Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments (AARA).

AARAs fall into broad categories:

• Long-term and chronic conditions
• Mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression
• Short-term conditions and temporary injuries
• Illness and misadventure.

Acceptable reasons for AARA include:

• Illness or injury (medical certificate required)
• Bereavement or funeral of an immediate family member
• Significant personal or family issues
• Cultural or representative sporting commitments

Students are not eligible for AARA on the following grounds:

• unfamiliarity with the English language
• teacher absence or other teacher-related difficulties
• matters that the student could have avoided (e.g. misreading an examination timetable, misreading instructions in examinations)
• timetable clashes
• matters of the student’s or parent’s/carer’s own choosing (e.g. family holidays or sporting events)
• matters that the school could have avoided (e.g. incorrect enrolment in a subject).

Documentation is essential. For illness, a medical certificate must state that the student was unfit to attend on the specific day of the assessment. Students should speak to their Head of Year or Deputy Principal Secondary as soon as possible so that the application can be processed promptly. Late submissions without an approved AARA cannot be marked, as per QCAA guidelines. Relevant paperwork and extension application forms can be obtained from reception.

Junior Assessment: Expectations for Years 7–10

Students in Years 7 to 10 are also expected to meet assessment deadlines and attend scheduled exams. If a student is absent due to illness, a medical certificate must be submitted to the school office. For other reasons such as bereavement, cultural or representative sporting commitments notification from parent/caregiver is required. Exams and assessment items are to be completed upon the student’s return or by the relevant Head of Department.

Thank you for your continued support during this important part of the school year. With a balance of organisation, effort, and encouragement—and a shared commitment to kindness and empathy—we are helping our students not only succeed academically but also grow as compassionate, thoughtful young people.

If you have any questions or concerns about upcoming assessments, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher, Year Coordinator, or the relevant curriculum leader.

God Bless,
Melissa Headridge
Deputy Principal – Secondary

News from the Deputy Principal – Identity and Outreach, Miss Anna Harris

Religious Life of the College
Holy Week – Way of the Cross Walk

During Week 10 of Term 1, staff and students were invited to participate in our inaugural Way of the Cross Walk. This was an interactive, self-led walk through the challenging moments that Jesus’ endured on his journey to his crucifixion. We erected imagery along the main path, representing the 14 Stations of the Cross. These images were accompanied by scripted reflections – both Primary and Secondary specific.

Across Week 10, the staff experienced this formative journey together, before leading their classes through.

Participating in the Way of the Cross Walk helped to broaden our knowledge and understanding of Jesus’s death, resurrection and ultimate salvation - and inspire the hearts of our college community!

Charity focuses – Project Compassion & Rosie’s – Friends on the Street

Our charity focus for Term 1 was Caritas – Project Compassion. We raised both funds and awareness through a variety of events, including our student-led Valentine’s Day Card Making, Shrove Tuesday Pancakes, The Long Walk for Water and The Great Coin Line Challenge.

As a result of our community’s efforts, we proudly donated just over $2000 to Project Compassion to assist with their mission of ending poverty across the globe.

In Term 2, we shift our focus to Rosie’s - Friends on the Street. We have an ongoing affiliation with Rosie’s - and both staff and students give their time fortnightly to assist helping those who are less fortunate in our local community to be fed and cared for.

This term will see not only time given – but the provision of meals through our hospitality students, and the creation of care packages to be distributed during out fortnightly outreach sessions.

Edmonton Parish Sacramental Program

The Edmonton Parish Sacramental Program commenced this term. Families who registered for their child to undertake the sacraments of Reconciliation, Communion and Confirmation attend weekly sessions at St Therese’s Church in preparation for receiving their sacraments.

ANZAC Day services

We proudly commemorated ANZAC Day through both College services and our presence at both the City, Edmonton and Gordonvale community services. We were fortunate to be visited by veterans, Mr John McDonough and Mr Paul Walker form the Cairns RSL Sub Branch who shared their wisdom gained form their experiences and understanding of the ANZAC’s selfless contribution to our great nation. It was truly a special occasion!

Student Formation – Year 11 Retreat

In Week 7, our Year 11 Cohort will embark on their Kairos Retreat at Genazzano Retreat and Conference Centre.. This is a wonderful opportunity for our young people to disconnect from the busyness of their studies, learn about and grow as a leader, in preparation for their Year 12 journey. The students will participate in a range of reflective, spiritual. Liturgical and team-building activities. We anticipate that this will be a rewarding and memorable experience for all.

Liturgy – Pentecost

One of the key events in our liturgical calendar for Term 2 is Pentecost. This Holy Day of Obligation occurs 50 days after Easter and commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. As a College, we will celebrate Pentecost through Year Level Liturgies in the Secondary Campus – and at our Primary Assembly. We look forward to learning more about and acknowledging this important event in our liturgical calendar.

God bless,
Anna Harris
Deputy Principal – Identity and Outreach

News from the Acting Assistant Principal – Students, Mr David Christopher

Dear Parents and Carers,

Busy, Busy, Busy, is the best way to describe the first four weeks of Term 2. With the numerous public holidays and interruption to school, I am sure families have enjoyed the time together, just as much as we have loved having students return to the College. We have fit much into this time with ANZAC Day services, Year 9 Camp at Tinaroo, Year 7 Camp at Mungalli Falls and the painting of a beautiful mural on the wall of Corpus Christi, (J Block).

Across Secondary we have introduced our Fortnightly Focuses, beginning with Weeks 1 and 2 - Respect and Dignity, and Weeks 3 and 4 – Kindness and Empathy.  We look forward to our focus for Weeks 5 and 6 being Engagement and GRIT. With these values, we ask our students to be mindful of how they are interacting with each other and look to help students build healthy and respectful relationships. During Pastoral lessons, students have started their RITE Journey, Anchored and Influence journals.

For parents, we show our gratitude to the MacKillop Catholic College P&F for sponsoring our SchoolTV subscription for 2025. A fabulous resource for every family that covers everything from ‘Managing Screen Time’, ‘School Refusal’, ‘Sleep’, Grief and Loss’, ‘Raising Boys and Girls’ and so much more. You can find it on the college website or click on the link.  

Finally, we thank families for their support and patience as we are look forward to an exciting, positive remainder of Term 2.

Kind Regards,
David Christopher
Acting Assistant Principal - Students

News from the Acting Assistant Principal – Administration, Mr Wayne Duda

Dear MacKillop Families,

As we move further into a busy and exciting term, I would like to take a moment to share a few important reminders to help keep things running smoothly for everyone in our College community.

Excursion Permission Forms

We are thrilled to be offering a number of learning opportunities beyond the classroom this term. Please keep an eye out for excursion permission forms (Edsmart Parentslips) being sent home via email. These slips must be completed and returned by the due date for your child to attend the event. We appreciate your support in helping us to keep all students safe and accounted for during these activities.

Car Park Courtesy

A friendly reminder to please be kind and respectful in our College car park. We understand that mornings and afternoons can be a busy time, but patience and consideration go a long way in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all members of our community. Please also be mindful that we have learner drivers in the area so remaining calm and cautious  is necessary to set a great example for everyone.

Wishing you and your children a wonderful and productive remainder of the term.

Kind Regards,
Wayne Duda
Acting Assistant Principal - Administration

Primary News

Prep

Prep Term 2 Issue 1

Year 1

Year 1 Term 2 Issue 1

Year 2

Year 2 Term 2 Issue 1

Year 3

Year 3 Term 2 Issue 1

Year 4

Year 4 Term 2 Issue 1

Year 5

Year 5 Term 2 Issue 1

Year 6

Year 6 News

Recently, Year 6 students have been exploring the Corporal Works of Mercy, reflecting on acts of kindness like feeding the hungry and visiting the sick. Through journaling, they’ve had the chance to connect these teachings to their own lives, considering how they can make a difference in their community.

In mathematics, they’ve wrapped up their unit on transformations, engaging in hands-on activities to understand translations, rotations, and reflections. These interactive lessons have helped deepen their understanding of geometry in fun and creative ways.

Additionally, Year 6 attended the Life Education program, learning valuable lessons about health, decision-making, and well-being. This experience perfectly complemented their work on mercy and service, reinforcing important life skills.

Primary Specialists

Primary Specialists Term 2 Issue 1

Secondary News

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Hello MacKillop families,

I stepped into the role of Leader – Head of Religious Education – at the start of this term, and at the time of writing I am blessed to be attending the Josephite Colloquium in Sydney, at Mary MacKillop Place. The Colloquium is a three-day residential experience for people who work in the tradition of Mary MacKillop and Julian Tenison Woods. It provides us with an opportunity to explore and share the stirrings and challenges in our hearts and lives, share our experiences of ministry and inspire and challenge each other to new purpose and new commitment.

The concept of new purpose and new commitment is currently in full swing at school, where we are halfway through the term. Our students in Years 7 to 9 are in the midst of their first assessment for the term, and our students in Years 10, 11 and 12 are about to embark on their final assessment piece for Semester One. During this time of the term, our students often feel disheartened as assessment deadlines loom and school holidays still seem so far away. I urge our students to remember Mary MacKillop’s wisdom that “we must often feel weary and tired, yet God brings us though all these things” and encourage them to “work on with constancy and courage.”

Yours in Faith,
Juliana Oswell
Leader – Head of Religious Education

SCIENCE

Greetings Science families of MacKillop,

At school, we talk a lot about being “prepared for learning.” But we must recognise as a school community that being prepared means more than packing our diaries and charging devices — it is about preparing the whole child to engage, think, and thrive.

Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs reminds us that students can only reach their full learning potential when their foundational needs are met first. As partners in your child’s education, families and schools each play a significant role. Parents and carers are the driving force that establishes primary behaviours, while teachers build on this by cultivating secondary behaviours like study habits, focus, and resilience in learning. Let us investigate what this shared responsibility looks like.

Parent priority – Physiological needs.

These are some physiological primary behaviours — the absolute basics that support your child’s brain and body.

• Sleep: Research consistently shows that children and adolescents in Queensland are not getting enough sleep. Sleep deprivation affects attention, memory, and behaviour. They should aim for up to 8 hours a night.
• Nutrition: According to the Queensland Department of Education, up to 20% of students come to school without breakfast — a major barrier to concentration and learning.
• Hydration: Even mild dehydration can reduce focus and energy.

What parents can do:

• Set consistent sleep routines and limit screens before bed. Notice I did not say NO mobile phones? That is a parents’ prerogative however I am yet to hear a good argument for teenagers to “need” to be on a phone after 8:00pm.
• Provide a healthy breakfast and lunch. Making it available does not always mean our kids will consume it. It is not uncommon at school for the tuckshop to call up to five students every lunch because they forgot to collect their food.
• Send a full water bottle each day, the easiest and cheapest nutritional requirement and the most likely to affect mood and focus.

These are physiological things schools cannot provide from the classroom — but they are essential to everything we do within it. Parents develop a students’ character and faith but that is a conversation for another time.

Shared Responsibility – Emotional development

Once primary needs are met, students require emotional security and connection.

At school, we foster a safe, respectful learning environment in the Josephite charism with the teachings of our patron Saint Mary MacKillop. But the groundwork for emotional regulation and self-worth begins at home. Talk with your child about how they are feeling. Encourage friendships and model empathy at home. Praise effort, not just results. Promote social basics, manners and identify appropriate boundaries. Together, these habits build students’ confidence, develop their sense of place and their sense of belonging. This sets teachers up to build on your strong foundations. 

When the basics are secure can we effectively teach secondary behaviours — things like:
Cognitive (learning) skills, learning dispositions and positive academic behaviours.

At school, our teachers are trained to develop these habits using evidence-based strategies and engaging curriculum while fostering supportive relationships. Without the foundations you create at home and a common language that is consistent in all of your student’s spaces, these strategies can fall short and together we may not be able to create moments where students achieve their full potential.

The School Day Starts Before the Bell. The most effective learning does not begin at 8:30am — it begins the night before, at the dinner table, in morning routines, and with the mindset students bring through the school gate. By prioritising your child’s physiological and emotional needs, you create the conditions that allow us to do our best work — and students to do theirs. Let us continue working together to support our kids — not just with equipment in their backpacks, but with readiness in their hearts and minds.

Yours in Science,
Andrew Hislop
Leader – Head of Science

MATHS

Ian Coleman

ENGLISH AND LANGUAGE ARTS

English classes are in full swing, analysing texts and learning how to write engaging short stories.

Year 7s returned from camp having watched Shrek II for their upcoming assessment. If they fell asleep or missed parts, they can rewatch on ClickView.

Year 8s are exploring Remember the Titans, focusing on fills gaps and silences in the story using their block planners.

Year 9 classes continue their studies of protest poetry and are beginning to rework ideas in creative and powerful new ways.

Year 10s are wrapping up their novels or unpacking social issues through class discussions and analysis.

Senior General students are putting the final touches on their feature articles, linking big social ideas to their chosen texts.

Year 12 Literature students are collaborating as they prepare for their IA1 exam, focusing on different perspectives of Mad Max: Fury Road. Due to QCAA regulations, Mrs Coleman is now bound to silence, but students are working together brilliantly.

The What Matters? Competition is free, open to all students, and closes this Friday—write up to 600 words in any form on an issue that matters to you: https://www.whitlam.org/enter-what-matters-2025.

The Dymocks Beyond Words Competition is open to all students, free to enter, and offers $20,000 in prizes for creative stories (500–1500 words) on any topic: https://beyondwords.dymockstutoring.edu.au.

As always, we encourage daily reading at home—it is one of the simplest ways to support your child’s learning and is linked with long term advantages in emotional and intellectual development.

Japanese:

Our Japanese students have been engaging with exciting new topics across all year levels. Year 7 students are learning to talk about hobbies and schedules, including the kanji 金, which means "gold" and is used to represent Friday (金曜日). In Year 8, students are exploring their favourite school subjects and have learned the kanji 好, meaning "like" or "fond of." Year 9 students are describing their dream homes and using the kanji 家, which means "house" or "home." Meanwhile, Year 10 students are discussing families, future plans and occupations, and have been introduced to the kanji 宿題, meaning "homework." Students are enjoying making connections between language, writing and real-life contexts.

Kind Regards,

Lincoln Lally
Leader – Head of English and Language Arts

HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

We have a chock-a-block Term happening in the Humanities, and our students are all focussed and engaged in their learning across the disciplines of Business and Economics, Civics and Citizenship, Geography and History.

This term we also have the Senior Ethics Olympiad, which took place last week, where our students received both Highly Commended and Most Improved – a stellar effort 😊

We also had last week the Australian Geography Competition, where students completed a range of stimulus-based questions, across Years 7 – 9. 

In Week 6, we have Queensland History Week, which will have a range of History themed activities, including the National History competition, which involves students from Years 7-10. 

We also have launched, and have significant interest in the National History Challenge, the Simpson Prize and the Queensland Premier’s ANZAC Prize – all of which involve travel and prize money for the winners.

Business and Economics

Across Years 7 – 12, students are very busy exploring a range of Business and Economics principles, including Shark Tank pitches in Year 7, social enterprise in Year 8, personal finance and investing, and superannuation in Year 10.  In Senior Business, students are working on their second major assessment, a business feasibility report.

Civics and Citizenship

Civics and citizenship students had some excellent real world examples of democracy in action at the latest election.  They continue to build their knowledge on the operation of government and the law, examining how they are able to be active contributors to democracy.

Geography

This term sees all Geography classes pivot from physical Geography to Human Geography, focussing on Liveable communities, and designing their own liveable Minecraft city in Year 7, exploring patterns of human movement, and the ways settlements change as a consequence in Year 8, and the impact of over tourism in places like Venice, Machu Picchu, and the Great Barrier Reef in Year 9.

History

History is an exciting place to be this term with a range of topics being covered from Years 7-12.  Our Year 7s are learning what it was like to be a soldier in the Persian Wars, whilst in Grade 8, they are exploring the gruesome world of the Black Death. 

Year 9s are examining key developments in Australian history, from colonisation to the end of World War 1, whilst the Grade 10 classes are researching key moments that shaped modern Australia, including the formation of the NRL, the Australian music and film industries, environmentalism and civil rights movements.  Year 10 History Extension students are loving the exploits of the pathologically self-confident son of Phillip II of Macedon: Alexander the Great. 

Senior Ancient and Modern History are immersed in their Independent Source Investigations, focussing on the French Revolution and Arab Israeli conflict in 11 and 12 Modern History, and 5^th century Greece in Year 11 and 12 Ancient History.  Our Grade 12s only have 166 days until their externals commence, so it is nose to the grindstone to do our absolute best.

Thank you for your ongoing support of the Humanities and Social Sciences at MacKillop, and should you have any questions, queries or concerns, please contact either myself, or your child’s teacher.

Kind Regards,

Sarah Coleman
Leader – Head of Humanities and Social Sciences

PERFORMING ARTS

The Performing Arts Department started the term with The ANZAC Day Liturgy on Thursday 24^th April. ‘The Last Post’ was performed on Trumpet by Ashton F and Joel S with our Brass tutor and new Performing Arts Administrator, Ben Stein. Kensington Choir and a few Penola Singers led the singing of the Australian and New Zealand Anthems.

It has been a busy term so far with preparations and rehearsals in full swing for the upcoming Cairns Eisteddfod being held in Week 10. We will be taking The Concert Band, Penola Singers, Kensington Choir and Mini Mac Choir, the Drama Group and Dance Troupe. In the lead up to the competition we will be holding a Rehearsal Day on Saturday 31^st May 2025 from 9:00am till 245pm. Concert Band, Mini Mac Choir and Kensington Choir will be required in the morning till 12:20pm. Penola Singers, Drama Group and Dance Troupe will be working in the afternoon till 2:45pm. We will give a short performance of items each group has been rehearsing towards the end of each session.

Weekly Rehearsals for each Extra Curricular Group are as follows:
Concert band – Monday 3:15pm- 4:15pm
Cheer Extreme – Monday 3:00pm-4:00pm
Primary Band – Wednesday 7:45am-8:30am
Mini Mac Choir – Wednesday Second Lunch
Drama Group – Wednesday 3:00pm-4:30pm
Kensington Choir – Thursday 8:00am-8:45am
Penola Singers – Monday Second Lunch, Thursday 3:05pm-4:15pm
Dance Troupe – Friday 3:00pm-4:00pm.

Please be on time and remember to bring your instrument to band rehearsals.

Kind Regards,
Sarah-Jane Rennie
Leader – Head of Performing Arts

THE ARTS

Postcards of Honour in Visual Art

In the lead up to ANZAC DAY, our Visual Art students participated in the RSL initiative "Postcards of Honour." They enjoyed learning about and commemorating ANZAC Day through creative postcard designs. On the back of the postcards, they reflected on questions like, "What would you say to someone who served?" and "Why is ANZAC Day important?"

Check out the video of the beautiful heartfelt postcards made for veterans and those serving in the armed forces.

Receive Respond Art Exhibition

MacKillop’s very own Ciana W has been selected for an amazing opportunity! Students in Years 10 to 12 and Young Creatives (aged 17-25) in the Cairns region will showcase their art in the Receive/Respond exhibition at the Tank Arts Centre, Cairns.

Event Details:

Exhibition Opening: Thursday, 30 May 2025 at 5:30 pm

Public Viewing: Thursday, 29 May - Thursday, 26 June 2025

Come along and support Ciana and the young talented artists from our community by visiting the exhibition. 🎨✨

Artist statement - Ciana W - Year 10

‘I am Beauty’

In my final artwork “I am Beauty”. I focused on discovering identity, embracing inner beauty, acceptance and culture. A personal topic which I felt I related to. My art investigates the unseen. Seeing the beauty that is within everyone, not about the outside appearance but what is on the inside. I hoped to convey the message of accepting who you truly are without putting a mask on to fit into society's standards. I also incorporated an indigenous Australian design in the background to symbolise the importance of community, family and culture, and how it plays a big role in my life.

Celebrating Our Senior Art Students' Achievement

Our Senior Art Students have completed an inspiring project exploring public and community street art. Guided by contemporary artist Daniel Wallwork from Cairns, they developed and evaluated design proposals in response to a College Client Brief from Mrs Newman and Leadership. The students created a collaborative mural and documented their journey in a final video. This project showcased their creativity and teamwork.

Congratulations to all the Senior Art Students and a big thank you to Daniel Wallwork for his invaluable guidance! Well done, everyone!

Kind Regards,

Traylea Sexton
Leader – Head of Creative Industries

TECHNOLOGIES

Year 12 Bringing Bush Barbecues to Life: Senior Industrial Technology in Action

Our Senior Industrial Technology students have been working hard this term, transforming raw materials and bold ideas into fully functional bush barbecues. From the initial planning stages through to the final build, these students have demonstrated remarkable teamwork, creativity, and precision.

Each project began with a detailed design and materials plan, requiring students to problem-solve and collaborate to ensure their concepts were both practical and visually striking. With safety at the forefront, they applied a range of construction techniques and refined their skills in welding, metal fabrication, and finishing.

The end results are impressive—robust, thoughtfully designed bush barbecues that are as functional as they are innovative. These projects are a testament to the students’ dedication and their ability to bring a vision to life through hands-on learning.

Well done to all involved for showcasing what can be achieved through hard work and collaboration!

Hospitality in Action: Honouring ANZAC Day with Skill and Service

In Week 1 of this term, our Senior Certificate II in Hospitality students had the opportunity to showcase their talents and training by preparing and serving an incredible spread for our ANZAC Day ceremony.

From planning and preparation to cooking, plating, and front-of-house service, these students demonstrated professionalism, teamwork, and attention to detail. Their efforts provided a warm and welcoming experience for our guests, including community service personnel both from within and beyond our school community.

The quality of the food and service was outstanding and a testament to the hard work and pride our students bring to their studies. It was a meaningful way to contribute to such an important occasion, and we commend them for their dedication and excellence.

Well done to all involved—you did our school proud.

Designing on the Move: Year 8 Travel Games in the Making

Our Year 8 Design Technology students have been putting their creativity and problem-solving skills to the test as they design and develop their own handheld travel games.

Throughout the term, students have been exploring existing games, brainstorming ideas, and sketching out innovative concepts tailored for on-the-go entertainment. With user needs and functionality in mind, they have worked through the design process to produce their first prototypes—each one unique and full of potential.

Now entering the testing phase, students will evaluate how their games perform in real-world scenarios. From there, they all make improvements, refining their designs for greater usability and engagement.

This project is a fantastic example of how design thinking and iterative development help bring ideas to life. We look forward to seeing the final versions and the creative solutions students apply along the way!

Year 8 Food Specialisations: Designing the Perfect Sandwich

In Year 8 Food Specialisations, students are exploring what it takes to create a sandwich that is not only tasty but also balanced and sustainable. This unit goes beyond just layering ingredients — students consider flavour, texture, nutrition, and environmental impact.

They begin by researching how different ingredients contribute to a healthy meal and how their choices affect sustainability. A key part of the process is developing a mood board to visually map out their sandwich concept, using images, colours, textures, and keywords.

Students will then select their ingredients, write a recipe and workflow plan, and decide how to present their final product. This thorough planning process ensures they are ready to bring their sandwich designs to life in a practical assessment.

Kind Regards,

Lorena Goodall
Leader – Head of Technologies

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

In the Senior years, students require an AARA (Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments) to receive different conditions and/or extensions in assessments. AARAs are provided to minimise, as much as possible, barriers for a student whose disability, impairment, medical condition or other circumstances may affect their ability to read, respond to or participate in assessment. Students wishing to apply for an AARA must complete the application form which is available from student reception. This form is to be returned to student reception as soon as possible with all relevant medical documentation.

Schools make decisions about AARAs for Units 1 and 2 (Year 11). They ensure that for Applied (Essential), General and short course syllabuses, the AARA implemented for an eligible student for assessment in Units 1 and 2 is aligned to those that are available for summative assessment in Units 3 and 4 (Year 12). The provision for AARA for assessment in Units 1 and 2 by a school does not guarantee that students will be provided the same adjustments for assessment in Units 3 and 4.

Early applications for all AARAs are recommended to ensure timely decisions for students.

Eligibility for AARA

AARA are provided to minimise, as much as possible, barriers for a student whose disability, impairment, medical condition or other circumstances may affect their ability to read, respond to or participate in assessment. 

These barriers fall into three broad categories:

• permanent
• temporary
• Intermittent

Ineligibility for AARA 

Students are not eligible for AARA on the following grounds: 

• unfamiliarity with the English language
• teacher absence or other teacher‐related difficulties
• matters that the student could have avoided (e.g. misreading an examination timetable, misreading instructions in examinations)
• matters of the student’s or parent’s/carer’s own choosing (e.g. family holidays)

Kind Regards,
Sara van Fleet
Leader – Head of Diversity and Inclusion

SPORT

Cross Country

Well done to the MacKillop Cross-Country runners who travelled to St Mary’s last Thursday to compete in the TCS team trials! Every athlete gave their best effort, making MacKillop incredibly proud. The top eight finishers have qualified for the Peninsula Trials in Yungaburra on 13 May.

Best of luck to all competitors!

Secondary Athletics Carnival

The Athletics Carnival is just around the corner, taking place on Friday of Week 7. Students had the opportunity to sign up for events during assembly on Thursday of Week 4. All students are encouraged to get involved, earn valuable house points, and contribute to our strong sense of school spirit.

Kind Regards,

Kristy Peel
Leader – Head of Sport

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Dear Parents and Carers,

Time flies when you are having fun and that is certainly the case in the HPE space! We are in the midst of another jam-packed term with several excursions and curriculum tasks keeping our students occupied and engaged. 

From an expectations perspective, some non-negotiables that need to be revisited - Students must wear their sports uniforms on dedicated practical days assigned by their teachers. Students are also expected to participate to the best of their ability regardless of context (practical or theory). Failure to follow these basic expectations will result in detentions (lunch times and potentially after-school for repeats).

Students are attending multiple excursions throughout this term for curriculum purposes. Some of these include our Senior Sport and Recreation students attending the TAS Aquatic Centre to train for their Recreational Bronze Medallions. This will provide students an opportunity to potentially gain employment with this qualification. Our Year 12 Fitness students have attended Air Locker Training and will attend Genesis Gym and KOR Fitness to continue gaining industry training for their certificate.

Our Junior Secondary topics for this term include nutritional education, fitness training principles and methods, movement concepts, basic biomechanics, community health, promoting positive relationships, tactical awareness and skill acquisition. We will also be doing some athletics training in the lead up to our College Carnival in Week 7.

Our Year 11 Sport and Recreation students have been studying Aquatic Recreation which includes attaining their Recreational Bronze Medallion. Year 12 Sport and Recreation students have been studying Emerging Trends in Sport and Fitness and how these have impacted modern society. Year 11 Physical Education students have been studying Motor Learning, Functional Anatomy and Biomechanics while preparing for an upcoming exam. Year 12 Physical Education students have been studying Ethics and Integrity while completing an investigation report.

Our curriculum this semester has equipped our students with success in empowerment and personal growth.  

Please feel free to reach out to myself or any of our wonderful staff if you have any questions regarding Health and Physical Education at MacKillop Catholic College. 

Kind Regards,

Mitch Gardner
Leader – Head of HPE

PATHWAYS

Exploring Pathways: Navigating Your Future in High School and Beyond

As high school students, you are at an exciting and pivotal point in your life. The choices you make today can shape your future in ways you may not even realise. One of the most important decisions you all face is choosing your educational and career pathway. But what exactly is a pathway, and how can it help guide you through the journey of high school and beyond?

What Is a Pathway?

A "pathway" refers to a clear, structured route that you can follow to reach your goals. These pathways are designed to help you explore different careers, industries, and academic opportunities. In high school, pathways typically focus on different fields of study and career tracks, allowing you to gain specialised knowledge and skills that can set you up for success after graduation.

Why Are Pathways Important?

1. Focused Learning
   By choosing a pathway, you can dive deeper into the subjects you are passionate about. It allows you to focus your energy on what interests you most while still covering the basics required to graduate.
2. Hands-On Experience
   Many pathways, especially STEM, offer opportunities for hands-on learning, internships, and real-world applications. This is invaluable when it comes to gaining practical experience that will set you apart in the job market.
3. Clear Goals
   Pathways help you set clear goals and milestones for your academic and career development. Whether it is aiming for a university degree, preparing for a specific career, or pursuing a certification, having a plan in place can help you stay focused.
4. Better Preparation for Post-High School
   Regardless of whether you pursue university, trade school, or jump straight into the workforce, pathways provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed. You all have a better understanding of the opportunities available to you and how to take advantage of them.

JCU Webinars: Stay Ahead of Your Future!

Are you thinking about your future education and career? James Cook University (JCU) is offering a series of informative and engaging webinars to help you explore various academic programs, career pathways, and university life!

Work Experience:

If you are in Year 11 and 12 and are looking forward to a vocational pathway you can do work experience. Please contact Pathways to see your options.

Heroes in Health JCU

Congratulations to Aaron G, Katelyn H and Sira S who have all been successful in gaining a placement in the Heroes in Health Program run by JCU at Cairns Hospital.

How to Stay Updated

Be sure to keep an eye out for notifications on upcoming Pathways and transitions information. You don’t want to miss out on the chance to connect with opportunities, experts, current students, and admissions staff who can answer all your questions.

Kind Regards,
Rebecca Flockhart
Leader – Head Pathways

HEAD OF YEAR

Year 7: Lee Staddon – lstaddon@cns.catholic.edu.au

YEAR 7 TERM 2 UPDATE

Dear Year 7 Families,

With Term 1 behind us and our feet firmly planted in Term 2, Year 7 continues to buzz with energy, growth, and the occasional “accidental” backwards hat in uniform check. It has been a fantastic start to the term — full of adventure, reflection, and plenty of proud moments. Here is a look at what has been happening in the wonderful world of Year 7:

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Update

Our SEL journey this term has been split into two key pathways.

In the lead-up to camp, students participated in Reboot-informed sessions around self-regulation, respectful relationships, and stepping outside their comfort zones. They explored the 3 Brains (Wild, Emotional, and Smart) to better understand their responses under pressure — perfect preparation for ziplines, dorm life, and working as a team.

Post-camp, we launched our "My Tile, Our Community" project. Each student is designing a symbolic square to represent who they are and how they contribute to our diverse Year 7 tapestry. Rooted in values of empathy and belonging, this art-meets-identity initiative has sparked powerful conversations, beautiful creativity, and some very enthusiastic marker usage. It is all part of helping students feel seen, heard, and valued — while also learning that calming strategies do not include tossing your friend’s pencil case during group work.

I look forward to sharing some pictures in the next edition.

Year 7 Camp: Memories That will Stick (like mud to a sock)

Camp was a roaring success! Students tackled the obstacle course, mastered raft building worked together in problem-solving initiatives, and showed serious grit on the low ropes. Whether it was abseiling, or getting through dorm duty without arguing over bunk beds, we saw incredible personal growth across the board.

Honourable Mentions go to:

• Aleia – for the best backflip off the zip line (I am still not sure if it was gymnastics or wizardry in motion!)
• 7.1 Boys and 7.2 Girls – winners of Cleanest Dorm (proving once and for all that Year 7 students can clean…)
• Mrs. Lally – undisputed champion of the dance floor during our glow stick disco!

A gallery of camp highlights is coming in the end-of-term newsletter. Prepare for muddy socks, massive smiles, and some accidental photo-bombers.

Home Form Cup update

Term 1 saw a fierce but friendly competition between PC classes as students earned points through trivia showdowns, teamwork challenges, and community spirit activities. The final event came down to a nail-biting finish, with students showing heart, hustle, and plenty of class pride.

As we roll into Term 2, we are thrilled to continue building on that momentum. New challenges are being locked in, rivalries are respectfully brewing, and the trophy is gleaming in anticipation. Let the games begin — again.

Thank you again for your ongoing support. Whether it is reminding your child to pack deodorant for camp or cheering them on from the sidelines of College events, we are grateful for the partnership we share with you. Here’s to a brilliant second half of the term!

Warmest Regards,

Lee Staddon
Head of Year 7

Year 8: Michael Johnstone – mjohnstone@cns.catholic.edu.au

Dear Year 8 Families,

Our Year 8 students have been training hard and are full of excitement as they prepare for this week’s athletics events. With impressive energy and enthusiasm, they have been honing their skills across a range of disciplines, from sprints and long-distance running to jumps and throws. The dedication they have shown during training sessions reflects their strong team spirit and commitment to personal improvement. We are looking forward to seeing their efforts shine on the track and field – best of luck to all our Year 8 athletes!

We have been looking into kindness and how contagious this can be. Please discuss with your students what they are actively doing to train our brains to be kind every day.

Kind Regards,

Mike Johnstone
Head of Year 8

Year 9: Anita Harrold – aharrold@cns.catholic.edu.au

Dear Year 9 Families,

Welcome to Term 2

Congratulations to Mr. Adam Vander Zant who has welcomed his first child into the world over the Easter break. Congratulations, Adam! I am filling in for him while he takes some time with his new family.

Term 2 has already kicked off with a burst of energy, thanks to the Year 9 Camp—a three-day adventure full of challenges, teamwork, and personal growth. Students pushed their limits and developed resilience, determination, and grit. The progress made at camp goes beyond what can be measured in a test—these are essential life skills that shape confident, capable individuals.

As we settle back into school routines, a reminder that students must come prepared for all classes with the correct equipment and dressed in full College uniform each day. If this is not possible, a note via the student diary or email should be sent to their Pastoral Advisor (PA) teacher. Otherwise, an immediate S3 detention will be issued. While it may feel like tough love at times, these expectations help build responsibility and accountability—key traits that support long-term success and independence.

As a member of the wellbeing team, I encourage you to reach out if you have any concerns about your child’s academic, social, or emotional wellbeing. Our team is here to provide the support they need to feel confident, secure, and ready to thrive.

I look forward to a productive and rewarding term. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with any questions or concerns.

Kind Regards,

Anita Harrold
Acting Head of Year 9

Year 9: Graham Sunners – gsunners@cns.catholic.edu.au

Dear Year 10 Families,

Year 10 Term 2 Update

A new term and a new Head of Year for our Year 10’s to get to know. I have recently arrived from Newman Catholic College, Smithfield and prior to that St Andrew’s Catholic College, Redlynch. I have had a diverse wealth of careers prior to teaching, ranging from professional sport, military and an electrical project engineer. The students and staff have made me feel very welcome and a part of the family here at MacKillop Catholic College. I am eager to get to know the students, families and carers better over the coming months and offer you an extended invitation to chat to myself on an informal basis. 

Career’s Program

Our Year 10 Careers program is ramping up also with their Work Experience Placements at the end of this term. The students have a visit from VPG soon to announce their placements which will be an excellent opportunity to experience the workplace.

Kind Regards,

Graham Sunners
Head of Year 10

Year 11: Shynade Hohenhaus– shohenhaus@cns.catholic.edu.au

Dear Year 11 Families,

Welcome back to Term 2! It has been a busy start to the term, and we are already seeing some fantastic progress from our Year 11 students.

QCE Mentor Conversations

Students should have now met with their QCE mentor to reflect on their Term 1 results and to discuss how they are tracking towards their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE). These mentoring sessions are an important opportunity to celebrate areas of success and identify strategies for improvement moving forward.

Senior Jersey

The design for the 2026 senior jersey is currently in its final stages of approval. Thank you to all students who provided input into the design process — your preferences have helped shape a product that truly reflects the cohort. Once the final design is approved, I will share details with students and families about the ordering process, including how to try on sizes, the timeline for ordering, and guidelines for jersey personalisation.

Year 11 Retreat

A reminder that our Year 11 Retreat is coming up in Week 7. The retreat will be located at Genazzano Retreat and Conference Centre at Lake Tinaroo. Year 11 students are required to arrive at the College by 8:15am, in anticipation for roll call and departure at 8:30am on Monday, 02 June 2025 before returning at approximately 2:30pm on Wednesday, 04 June 2025. Students will be participating in both indoor and outdoor activities, including prayer, liturgy, reflection, visual art-based workshops, and stand-up paddle boarding. The students will be accommodated in dormitories and have provided feedback regarding their preferences of room allocations. These allocations will be shared with students once they have been completed.

Please be aware that the Tablelands can be cold at this time of year, so students should pack warm clothing.

Wellbeing

I want to reinforce that in order to do well, we must first be well. Year 11 can be a challenging time as students work on their routines for balancing workload with outside pressures. As Head of Year, my priority is to support your child’s wellbeing, so they are in the best position to achieve to their best. If something is worrying you or your child, please reach out.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership, and I look forward to seeing our students enjoy a meaningful and engaging term!

Kind Regards,

Shynade Hohenhaus
Head of Year 11

Year 12: Alice Reilly– areilly2@cns.catholic.edu.au

Term 2 – Making my “Legacy” possible

Welcome back to Term 2! I hope you had time to recharge with our loved ones and fill up your cup over the holidays. We eased back into this term with a few public holidays, but now we are full steam ahead for 5-day weeks for the rest of the term!

Social and Emotional Learning Term 2

Last term, I asked the Year 12s to reflect on their journey so far and encouraged them to consider the legacy they are leaving behind them. Through our Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) classes, they positively contributed to their community through mentoring or creating media content on the MacKillop Way.

This term, we turn our attention to our legacy beyond MacKillop (and secondary schooling) and what help is still needed to help it to come into creation or even to make it possible. For this reason, Term 2 SEL focuses on “Life Skills” sessions.

Life skills sessions aim to empower students with practical tools and strategies to navigate real-world challenges, fostering independence, confidence, and resilience. These lessons focus on building critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving abilities while equipping learners with essential knowledge for personal, professional, and social success. Some sessions will be delivered to all students; however, to further tailor the delivery of these sessions and more adequately support individual student needs, each student was asked to identify topics that they would find valuable to learn and, as such, will be placed in those specific sessions.

As shared through a Broadcast with families, the following sessions will be running over this term for all students:

• Costs of living (Unpacking the costs of leaving home, comparing accommodation options, rental information etc.)
• Utilities & Bills (Unpacking various information about water, electricity, internet bills etc. and who is responsible for setting up accounts & paying for etc.)
• Insurance (What is it, what types of insurance are there, pros & cons)
• Centrelink (Understanding what the purpose of Centrelink is, how to determine your eligibility for Youth Allowance & the process for applying for Youth Allowance)
• Travelling overseas (Requirements, working/living/studying abroad, travel tips & hacks)
• Voting (Understanding the democratic voting process, & the process for how someone can enrol to vote) - please be advised that as a school we must remain neutral and take no political stances; this course will simply be educating students on the democratic process.

We will also have external providers from the community coming at various points this term to speak to students, regarding more specific topics (including emergency first aid, car maintenance & safety, financial literacy & budgeting etc.). Please look out for Broadcasts with further information regarding these sessions.

Fortnightly Focus – Strengthening our Culture & Community

Part of what makes MacKillop Catholic College a great school is our culture and our community. As the Year 12s could attest to, I always bring everything we do back to the “why” it is important to strengthen our positive culture and further strengthen our community.

Across the College, you would be aware that we are actively working to further improve our culture, but having a “Fortnightly Focus” that helps students to think deeply about the “why” behind our rules and expectations at MacKillop and make connections to the benefits that these habits can bring. Below is a recap of the Fortnightly Focuses from the first few weeks (and the upcoming focus), as well as what my conversations with students in year 12 centred around.

Weeks 1 – 2:       Respect and Dignity

• I gave students a quick multiple-choice “Respect” quiz at assembly in Week 1. Most students breezed through the questions, except for the last one, “What is the name of the cleaner who works in Ngabi Gabay?”. Some thought it was a joke, some were confused. I purposefully chose this question to challenge them to think about it as a lesson in respect & dignity. Throughout their lives and careers, many people will come and go, but each one deserves your respect – whether that be just a smile and a polite nod, a helping hand or in the case of those who we don’t agree with, a choice not to be unkind in the moment. Imagine the world if in every instance we reached for respect first…

Weeks 3 – 4:       Kindness and Empathy

• I have been talking about kindness & empathy, near on 6 years with this group now, so I again thought a different approach to thinking about this focus. There is a great book called “Reality is Broken” by Jane McGonigal which talks to the idea that this generation will be known as the “gaming generation” and we either resent them for it through “back in my day” speeches, or we can leverage the power of games to fix larger societal problems. Using this idea, I have started a game with the Year 12s, called “Kindness Assassins”, where I gave each student a target and a secret mission to take out their target through constant acts of kindness. If your target correctly guesses you as their assassin, you get 3 points. Then, shouldn’t they just tell them, “I’m your assassin”. If you do, you won’t get any other points, though, because for every person who thinks you are their assassin, you get an additional point. So, the more people think you are their assassin, the more points you get. In other words, making a game out of being kind to everyone. Out of my kindness, I offered to pay 50% of the winning student’s formal ticket!

Weeks 5 – 6:       Learning and Grit

• Next fortnight we move into the focus of “Learning & Grit”. I will be talking to the students about what this means, particularly as they move beyond compulsory schooling. I will be pulling from another great book for this focus, “Why Don't Students Like School?” by Daniel Willingham, which reveals the importance of story, emotion, memory, context, and routine in building knowledge and creating lasting learning experiences.

The last focus will be a particularly important one with just 165 days until external examinations. You can see the external examination timetable for 2025 here: https://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/downloads/senior/snr_ext_assess_timetable_2025.pdf 

Those external exams (and this final year) will roll around very quickly, so if you need help supporting your child, please feel free to reach out. You may also want to access any of the resources on our new MacKillop SchoolTv website. I have included a link below that navigates through resources with “Surviving Final Year”: https://mackillopcatholiccollege.qld.schooltv.me/newsletter/surviving-year-12 

Thank you for your continued support of our students. I am incredibly proud of the people our Year 12 students are becoming, and I know this would not have been possible without working in partnership. Thank you for your continued respect of our beliefs and expectations at MacKillop Catholic College, as well as the kindness you model for your children: “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted” – Mary MacKillop.

Warm Regards,

Alice Reilly
Head of Year 12

STUDENT COUNSELLORS

ReachOut Parents is an online and phone service providing free support to parents of teens. They provide free expert advice, coaching and support for parents and carers of teens aged 12-18 in Australia.

Some of the issues you might be supporting your teen with include:

• School refusal
• Anxiety and depression
• Alcohol and drugs
• Gender and identity
• Communication problems
• Self-harm
• Bullying
• Aggressive behaviour

When you book a free initial 90-minute session, your One-on-One Support coach works with you to develop a personalised plan to support your teen, designed around your family's specific challenges and strengths. The programme includes 1-4 sessions with your coach over several weeks. You’ll have access to tools and resources to help your family build skills and focus.

For more information and to access this service, please visit https://parents.au.reachout.com/

Kind Regards,
Ashlee Meerten
Secondary School Counsellor

News from the Business Manager, Ms Joanne O’Brien – Finance News

TERM 1 School Fees and Levies

Fees were issued Friday 02^nd May with a due date Monday 19^th May.

Reminder: Collection letters will be sent out to families on Friday, 23^rd May to families with outstanding fees and who do not have a payment plan in place.  We strongly encourage families to commit to a direct debit payment arrangement to reduce the burden of getting behind in paying school fees.

2025 TUITION FEES

Tuition fees have been set by Cairns Catholic Diocesan with a 3% increase.  This has been communicated to all parents by previous Executive Director, Bill Dixon. School levies for 2025 have been set by the College, with no increase in school levies from the previous year.

For Catholic schools, the need to charge tuition fees and levies arise from lower funding provided by the Government for non-government schools.  The most recent figures show that combined State and Federal Government funding for students at Government schools is $22,511 (per student on average) compared to only $14,032 (per student) for non-government schools like MacKillop Catholic College.

We are a not-for-profit organisation and all funds are used to provide a high standard of education and facilities for our students. This difference needs to be sourced from our families by way of tuition fees and levies to pay for; purchases of curriculum resources and online texts, purchase of stationery supplies for students, pay for camps/excursions/incursions, staff salaries, maintenance of grounds and buildings, purchase and maintenance of IT devices and equipment, construction and design of new buildings, and shade for the students.

It is imperative that our College collect this additional 20% of income otherwise we could not maintain the standard of education and wellbeing, or maintain the buildings and grounds for a safe environment for our students. Payment of fees is one of the conditions of enrolment, and committed to, at the time of enrolment.

REMINDER – Expired Health Care Cards

Reminder to all families with expiring Health Care Cards.  New cards and the HCC application form must be submitted to the finance department.

FAMILY CONCESSIONS:

1. Application for Fee support - The College wants to help families who are struggling personally or financially, and we can offer a special concession to those in need. Please contact Business Manager, Joanne O’Brien jobrien3@cns.catholic.edu.au for a confidential interview and complete the Application for Fee Support.

2. HCC Tuition Fee Discount Scheme – for eligible Centrelink Health Care Card or Pension Card holders. This is a great saving of 70% discount off Tuition fees.

Please remember to contact the Finance department accounts.mountpeter@cns.catholic.edu.au if you need to discuss payment extension or a new payment calculation.

School Transport Assistance Scheme (STAS) BUS PROGRAM

We encourage all families to apply for STAS card to use the Kinetic bus services to and from school.  If you hold a current Health Care Card you are automatically eligible for the STAS regardless of how close you reside to a state school, however applications are still required. Please use the link below to complete your application to ensure our school is entitled to receive Translink School buses.

For those families who live too close to a state school, and ineligible for the STAS program, your next step is to apply for the new Kinetic Smartcard system (tap/go operation).

Kinetic Smartcard System

Most families have applied for the new Smartcard.  The Smartcards will be mailed out to families’ residential address.  The application form is attached with Passenger Application ‘load and go’ instructions provided. There is no need to reapply for this card, it will simply roll into the following years.

Kind Regards,

Joanne O’Brien
Business Manager

College News

MCC is Nut AWARE!

Please remember that due to sever allergy and health reasons MacKillop is a NUT AWARE College. Please be mindful of this when packing your child/ren’s lunches.

Your co-operation and support in this matter is appreciated.

Student Absence – Late Arrival – Early Departure

Student Absence/Student Absence Process

Any absence from school should be for one of the following reasons (as outlined by the Education Act 2006 and Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) Assessment Guidelines):

• Illness
• Medical related procedures
• Misadventure (accidents)
• Family tragedy (including Sorry Business)

Parents/carers whose children are absent from school are asked to contact the College Office by Telephone 4081 7600, Email studentabsent.mcc@cns.catholic.edu.au or Parent Portal/MyCE App before 8:30am if possible. If a student has not arrived for class and the College Office is not aware of the student’s whereabouts, parents will be sent a SMS text message to their mobile phone (to the Main Contact as nominated on the Enrolment Form). It is the responsibility of the parent/carer to then inform the office immediately of the reason for the student’s absence.

A Notification for Student Absence form should be completed for an absence that is greater than five consecutive school days. Please email this form to the College office studentabsent.mcc@cns.catholic.edu.au

Parents/carers are asked to advise the College Office and Classroom Teacher via Email in the event of a multiple day absence, so it can be recorded prior to the date of absence.

If the absence is for a medical reason for three or more days, a medical certificate is also requested.

If the absence is for representative sport or cultural events, please send an email to the office and attach a copy of the relevant TCS/competition forms.

If a student is unable to then attend sport trials/cultural events, please email the College office so attendance records can be updated.

PLEASE NOTE:

If an absence from school is approved for students in Secondary, the following documents will be attached to the College approval email, and will need to be completed and returned asap.

Late Arrivals

If a student arrives at school after 8:30am and before 9:00am, they are to enter via the Main Gate and register their late arrival at the Secondary Library and receive their late slip to hand to their classroom/homeroom teacher.

Early Departure

Students are not permitted to leave the College grounds during school hours unless accompanied by a parent/carer. Prior notification must be given if a student needs to leave the College during the school hours. This can be communicated via email studentabsent.mcc@cns.catholic.edu.au and copied to the College Office. Parents/carers must report to the College Office to collect and sign out their child. If leaving for an appointment and returning, students must be signed back in through the College Office.

Student Protection Contact Officers

Our College has transitioned to a new student academic reporting solution, The Learning Dashboard (TLD), the new system will bring some small changes from look and feel of the current Parent Portal.  It will also include the addition of a Student Portal, which will provide our students with access to their own academic reports at the same time they are made available to Parents and Carers.  This is an important step in ensuring our students are at the centre of their own academic journeys. (Please note: this is only available currently in Secondary Colleges)

Some of the benefits of the new solution include:

1. Students will have increased visibility over their academic outcomes, supporting increased engagement and planning. (Please note: this is only available currently in Secondary Colleges)
2. TLD will follow your student across CEDC schools (Primary and Secondary), enabling you to maintain visibility of academic reports throughout their school years.
3. TLD is designed as a web interface rather than a PDF document. This enables an improved viewing experience on all platforms and devices (smart phone, IPad, Laptop). 
4. The solution also supports the ability to create a PDF copy of the report for your records.

Tuckshop and Uniform Shop

FLORA’s CAFÉ AND UNIFORM SHOP

Exciting News:   Introducing My School Connect for Tuckshop and Uniform Ordering!

Commencing Term 2, 2025 we will be transitioning to a new online provider for Flora’s Cafe and Uniform ordering, and we are pleased to introduce My School Connect as our chosen platform. This user-friendly and efficient system is designed to simplify the process of ordering meals and uniforms for your child, providing a seamless experience for both parents and students.

Key features of My School Connect include:

Online Ordering and Cashless Payments – easily place orders by accessing My School Connect direct from our Parent Portal. Secondary students will still be able to use cash or their own debit cards to directly purchase items from the Cafe. 

Menu Accessibility - Access the tuckshop menu online, allowing you to review options and make informed choices for your child's meals.

Order History - Keep track of your child's tuckshop and uniform orders and expenditures through the comprehensive order history feature.

We believe that this transition to My School Connect will enhance the overall online ordering experience for both parents and students.  Should you encounter any issues or have questions about the new system, please do not hesitate to reach out to the My School Connect support team directly at: https://myschoolconnect.com.au/contact

You will soon receive further emails from My School Connect with instructions about how to activate your account - so please keep an eye on your inbox.  You simply cannot create your own account within My School Connect, they are generated internally by them.

Flexischool online ordering will remain open for the last week of Term1.  Please try and use up your funds in Week 10.   When you close your Flexischool account, your wallet will be returned to the funding source it came from eg. Paypal/Credit card. For parents who still use Flexischools for a child at another school, you can simply close the profile of the student at MacKillop.  How to close your Flexischools account – click here for instructions

We appreciate your support in making this transition a smooth and positive experience for everyone. Thank you for entrusting MacKillop Catholic College with your child's education, and we look forward to continuing to provide exceptional services.

Safety at MacKillop

Safety remains our key consideration during student drop-off and collection. Please note the following:

• Students are to be dropped only via the door near the kerbside. Dropping via the roadside is dangerous.
• Students in lower Primary levels will not be permitted to walk unsupervised into/through to the carpark to parents/cars.
• Students riding a bike or scooter should follow road safety rules and wear a helmet.
• Student devices such as phones can be especially distracting. Please reinforce with your child/ren, the need to be alert when crossing roads.
• Drive carefully as you enter/exit the College, and follow the correct flow of traffic at all times.
• Be mindful of residents that live around the College.
• Do not use the NO STANDING zone outside the eastern-side of the College entrance – this is an exit pathway for students walking home and driving/parking here puts lives in danger.

Changes have been made in response to safety concerns and to allow for the smooth exit of those families using the College carpark. It could also attract a fine issued by the Cairns Regional Council.

Unfortunately, there continues to be vehicles using this area for dropping off/picking up students. The College will continue to work with Cairns Regional Council and the Queensland Police Service to enforce parking restrictions in this area. The College requests that all families dropping off or picking up children use the carpark and associated load and go areas. By working together patiently we can ensure all students can arrive and depart safely. 

Marketing and Communications

P & F News

News from your MacKillop Catholic College Parents and Friends Association

Welcome back for Term 2!  Mind you, we’re already nearly half way through the Term …

We sincerely hope you all had a wonderful and safe time over the Easter School Holidays.

Term 2 is already shaping up to be a massively hectic time for our entire MCC Community with so much going on in the calendar.

Wishing all our MCC kids all the success with everything they put their minds to!

Your MCC P&F’s Meetings for 2025 are scheduled to be held at 6.00pm on Wednesdays in the Secondary Library (Admin Building) on the following dates.  We’d love to see you there.

*  16 July 2025 – General Meeting;
*  13 August 2025 – General Meeting;
*  17 September 2025 – General Meeting; and
*  15 October 2025 – Annual General Meeting and General Meeting.

Upcoming MCC P&F Initiatives for Terms 2 & 3:

*  Prep to Year 3 MacKillop Games, Years 4 to 6 and Years 7 to 12 Athletics Carnivals (Term 2) - Icy Poles will be provided for all students.
*  Set-up Father’s Day Stall – Tuesday, 2 September 2025 (Term 3, Week 8)
*  Father’s Day Stall – Wednesday and Thursday, 3 and 4 September 2025 (Term 3, Week83) – Mother’s Day gifts for sale to students to purchase for loved ones.
*  Father’s Day Stall Primary Class Gotcha Awards (ie. Classes displaying brilliant MacKillop Way dispositions whilst attending Stall) – All awarded classes will receive a Class Award Certificate and Icy Poles.  #respect  #engagement  #personalbest
*  Primary Colour Run – Thursday, 18 September 2025 (Term 3, Week 10)

Mother’s Day Stall and Mother’s Day

Thank you to all our wonderful Volunteers to assisted with our bumper MCC P&F Mother’s Day Stall!  Without you, we could not provide this initiative to our MCC Community.

We hope all our MCC Kids, Parents and Staff who attended loved what was on offer and that all our MCC Mother figures enjoyed the carefully chosen gifts.

Your MCC P&F also hope that all of our MCC Mums, Step-Mums, Grandmothers and Carers had a wonderful Mother’s Day!

Volunteers - We would love to see you!

Our events/initiatives would not be able to proceed without the help of our valued MCC parent/carer volunteers.  It is a great way to connect with our College, other parents/carers and being part of your child’s learning journey.

In order to volunteer within our College, you are required to participate in a short online induction (link to quiz below) along with the provision of a few completed and signed forms to the College (which can be emailed to you or collected from the College Office) which will cover you for 12 months.

Please email the College Office (office.mountpeter@cns.catholic.edu.au) or your MCC P&F (pandf.mountpeter@cnsstu.catholic.edu.au) if you are interested in volunteering with one of our initiatives and/or at one of our events throughout the year OR to assist our College in any way.  As the saying goes, many hands make light work.

Any grandparents/carers/non-parents wishing to assist are required to have a valid Blue Card which will need to be linked to the College.  Please contact the College Office for assistance in this regard.  #everythingwedoisforourMCCkids

Online Volunteer Quiz:  https://www.cns.catholic.edu.au/volunteer-training-quiz/

**All volunteers MUST have successfully completed the 2025 Volunteer Quiz and provided all required documentation to the College Office.**

The Entertainment Book is NOW The Entertainment App – Another way to support your MCC P&F

We have again proudly partnered with The Entertainment App to raise funds in 2025.

Please consider buying an Entertainment Membership today as 20% of the proceeds go directly to our Fundraiser.

Your Entertainment Membership not only unlocks exclusive access to unbeatable discounts at the best fine dining and family restaurants plus attractions and more, but also supports our community’s fundraising goals.

Support Us Now:  https://subscribe.entertainment.com.au/fundraiser/957j343

Locals Supporting Locals – IGA Edmonton’s Community Benefit Fund

Don’t forget to support IGA Edmonton and whilst you’re there, please consider allocating your Community Benefit points to MacKillop Catholic College.  #localssupportinglocals

Through the generosity of IGA, your MCC P&F benefit financially through the points collected in their Community Benefit Fund.  During 2023-2024, your MCC P&F received the sum of approximately $7,100.00 from this Fund.

THANK YOU IGA Edmonton for your ongoing commitment and support of our MCC P&F Association, which in turn ultimately supports our MCC children!

MacKillop Catholic College – Code 5154.

This is the epitome of locals supporting locals.

Kind Regards,
Your MacKillop Catholic College P&F Association
Email: pandf.mountpeter@cnsstu.catholic.edu.au

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