Dear Mary MacKillop Community 

I hope that you are all very well. 

If you spend any time watching noir films that depict a Catholic church – you will always see – as a sign that it is Catholic – a symbol of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  This is such a popular piece and so common in our iconography that we seldom stop to consider what it actually means. 

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus dates to the very early fathers of the church.  Really, it is a meditation on God’s love for us.  It was made a more formal thing in the eleventh century and further consolidated by several Popes in the seventeenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries.  The devotions were manifested in the building of churches, schools, and the establishment of Holy Orders.  Pope Leo XIII, in 1899, at the insistence of Sister Mary of the Divine Heart Droste zu Vischering, consecrated the world to the Sacred Heart.   

My Spiritual Director when I was a Principal in the UK had a beautiful way of explaining the Sacred Heart.  He said it is aching, bloody, and aflame, because it loves SO much – but is loved so little in return.  It is a really poignant thought, and one that makes me think of not just my attitude to my faith but also how I treat others.   

June is the month that the Catholic Church dedicates to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.   In this month of the Sacred Heart, let’s think about those around us who need us to show more compassion, love and mercy.  It is freely given and brings such strength.   

Parent Engagement Charter 

A Parent Engagement Charter has been released by the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office.  You will be sent a copy of it with a read receipt and it will be included in Welcome Packs for all community members.  Please do give it a good read as it is a valuable statement for supporting positive interactions between parents and the College.   

Of real importance is the final page on Agreed Expectations.  In particular, the statement on derogatory or offensive comments about the College or individuals within it.  When I spoke to you on 19 February, I asked for open dialogue about any concerns and this has occurred consistently.  I genuinely thank those parents who have used either direct meetings with staff or other formal channels to raise any concerns, no matter what the level of seriousness.  Dialogue like this improves the learning experience for all children here.    

Sadly though, there are informal forums where individual people (teachers and other parents) have been derided on social media. This conduct is not in line with the standards we set the students at the College and runs counter to the expectations of the Parent Charter.   It is important that I make clear that I will support the right of the College staff to work free of any derogatory or offensive comments in any forum.   

Traffic Management  

As we increase in population, we are getting significant pressure on traffic flow/management at both Junior and Senior sides.  I would like please to hear from a parent interested in joining a Consultation Committee to make recommendations re Traffic Management at the College.   

Master Planning 

The College is currently involved in a renewed Master Plan Development to consider how we accommodate future growth.  We have developed a Vision Statement to guide this.  I welcome any feedback on it: 

The College’s design should create one P-12 College site to enhance teaching and learning and accommodate the needs of all learners, with an explicit focus on our Catholic Charism, zones of learning, a strong, diverse curriculum offer and spaces that promote wellbeing.    

The College’s design should make effective use of available resources.  We must have a deliberate strategy of stewardship, with effective collection and use of rainwater, solar power and wind to promote better use of our environment.    

The College’s design should provide for the health, safety, and security of everyone who enters the site.  

The College’s design should result from planning and processes that involve all community interests – and promote the College as a centre of the Parish community  

The College’s design should be flexible and adaptable, identifying that we are a growing organisation with a focus on supporting Highfields as it grows into the future.    

P-2 Playground & 77 Highfields Road  

The building at 77 Highfields Road will be levelled over the June/July holidays, and we can prepare it as a play space in the first instance. 

I am seeking a parent to join a Consultation Committee on the use of that space as well as the development of the current P-2 playground.   

Tuckshop is looking at introducing weekly specials during Term 3!

Please let us know what you might be interested in, by completing this survey.

Did you know students from Years 3-11 can pay cash at the Tuckshop?  Not only do we have the Flexischool cashless system in place, but students in these year levels can also order hot food at first break for second break and pay with cash.

As the Tuckshop services both students and staff, this survey can be completed by either.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Parish and Parent Community who made donations of ingredients or money to support last Thursday’s student cook-up for Healing Hands. The following students are to be congratulated on giving of their time; Anabel Austin, Holly Hutchison, Emma Brittain, Lucy Hutchison, Lane Richardson, Darby Richardson Elouise Chapman, Breanna Langley, Isaac Williams, Isabelle Preston, Mikayla Rieck, Jorja Warry, Elliott Worner, Dusty Dukes and Elizabeth Booth.

We had a very successful cook-up with fun, frivolity and we were finished on time.
The final inventory was:

7 medium lasagnes
2 packets of apple logs
17 packets of sausage rolls
15 take away containers of Thai chicken curry
22 take away containers of meatballs

Thank you to Mrs Jen Langerak, Mrs Christie Richardson, Mrs Lisa Minz and Mrs Annette Hutchison for your invaluable assistance. It was greatly appreciated.

Mrs Holman and Mrs Worner

P&F Structure for 2019 and beyond...

On top of our committee positions, we also form sub-committees to participate in the day to day life of the College.  As a group we have decided to change from the current structure, to one that is more in line with the College structure.  The new Sub-committees will now consist of the following:

• Teaching and Learning
• Mission and Identity
• Continual Renewal
• Sustainable Resourcing and Stewardship

The attached document describes each Sub-Committee:

Pand F Structure For 2019 And Beyond

Parent Survey 2019

The P&F invites parents to participate in the following survey to better understand what is important to you as we work in partnership with Mary MacKillop Catholic College when it comes to engaging in your child’s education. The results of this survey will be anonymous but will assist in formulating a framework for P&F participation in College life over the coming years. 

Please note, some of the survey questions will ask you to consider changes to current protocol/events. Any ideas presented in this survey are of a preliminary nature only and will be subject to further discussions by P&F Executive and College Leadership before any changes are implemented. This survey is simply an early opportunity for you to have some input into the direction of these conversations. 

Please note that this survey has been written by the P&F Executive.

Click on the link below to go to the survey:
https://form.jotform.co/914883...
The survey closes on Sunday, 23 June at midnight.

UPDATE!!
There has been over 100 responses already with some great feedback from parents. We value your time and input to this survey.

P&F Meetings

Meeting on Tuesday, 11 June had a great attendance of 19 people with parents, teachers and representatives from the College Leadership Team.

ALL WELCOME!  
Next Meeting Tuesday, 13 August at 7:00pm in the Junior School Staff Room (no July meeting due to school holidays)
Any items for the agenda please forward to HIGPandF@twb.catholic.edu.au

This meeting is open to all members of the College community. 

• Please put your ELDEST child’s name & class as the Collector’s name on the form
• If you would like to donate any items to Healing Hands, please indicate which items you are wishing to purchase in a separate column labelled ‘Healing Hands’ and these will be automatically donated on delivery
• Forms to be returned by Monday, 18 June
• Orders to be collected from the Junior Tuckshop Tuesday 25 June from 2:30pm

Please have correct cash or cheque included with order form.  It has been advised that EFTPOS is available through the MMCC offices.

So please, tell all the grandparents, relatives, neighbours & work mates about our fantastic bake drive.

Taste Sensations Homestyle Customer Order Form 2019 

 
Kind Regards

The P&F Committee

Don’t just send the kids to the movies these holidays…have them make their own movies and see them on the Big Screen!

Following our very successful School Holiday programs in April, it is with great excitement that I share with you the news regarding our upcoming ‘BIG SCREEN Holiday Program'! The action-packed, fun-filled holiday program will run in Toowoomba from 1-5 July and will include a great number of activities that cater to the active as well as the contemplative students. Again, utilising the USQ facilities, this term’s break features stop-frame animation, sports and arts, catering for all levels and skills for students in Years 1-12. We will also be running the ‘BIG SCREEN Holiday Program’ in Warwick (8-9 July) and Highfields (10-12 July). 

The BIG SCREEN Holiday Program is designed to offer fun, engaging and skill-building activities that keep the participants smiling, active and learning through the school holidays. The program provides a safe space to enjoy the school holidays and meet new friends, whilst giving parents peace of mind that their child is being looked after in a supported environment. The BIG SCREEN Holiday Program features:

• Stop-frame animation workshops where students make their own movies to be viewed on the Big Screen
• Fun tennis skills and drills with Mr B (Clint Beutel, a qualified tennis coach with 20+ years of tennis coaching experience)
• Mega-multi-sport activities (t-ball, soccer, touch football, round-robin activities for athletic skills development) 
• Art projects, including leatherwork, to enhance creative thinking
• Robotics with Bee-Bot challenges, Sphero programming and LEGO EV3, to enhance technical thinking Boardgames to enhance strategic thinking
• Crazy Science experiments to enhance inquisitive thinking
• LEGO construction challenges to enhance collaborative thinking

For more details and easy online registration, go to https://edwooducation.com.au/holiday-programs/end-termtwo/. 

REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW OPEN! 

Assessment and Reporting

Very shortly you will be receiving your child’s Semester 1 Academic Report. The report is a culmination of assessment completed during term 1 and term 2. It is important to know that assessment is an ongoing process of gathering, analysing and reflecting on evidence by teachers and students in order to make informed judgements or inferences about what students know, understand and can do.

Teachers use assessment to establish and understand where learners are in an aspect of their learning at the time of assessment. It is a dynamic process that involves teachers making ongoing judgements about student progress. Assessment also provides a mechanism to map student progress over time.

The purpose of reporting student achievement and progress is to improve student learning. It allows teachers an opportunity to report on the education of the whole child.

Please take the time to sit with your child and discuss their report. Perhaps make goals moving forward to foster the continued progress of learning and celebrate success.

Open Classrooms

Positive parent-school experiences benefit parents.

Friday 21 June we once again invite parents and caregivers into their child’s classroom. At MMCC we place great importance and value on the relationship between parents and the College. Providing Open Classrooms is one way we can foster the relationship.

By attending the Open Classroom, parents gain a greater insight into their child’s learning and the teaching and learning experiences they are involved with.
If you haven’t had an opportunity to meet your child’s teacher, it is a great opportunity to do so. It also, shows that you are invested in your child’s education.

There are times when parents who have several children don't feel like they need to attend because they have "been there, done that" in the past. I encourage you come along and make new memories with your child.

The morning will commence at 8:45am with a combined Junior and Senior assembly. The presentation of Making Jesus Real awards will occur at this time.

At the conclusion of assembly (approximately 9:15am), parents are invited to visit their child's classroom until 10.15am.

To conclude the morning, College Principal, Mr Chris Gabbett, would like to invite all parents to join him for a sausage sizzle, provided by the P&F in the Senior Tuckshop area.

The morning will conclude at 10:50am.
 
We look forward to seeing you.

Natalie Adler
Assistant Principal Teaching and Learning: Junior

Parish Priest, Father Brian Noonan, paid a special visit to the year 1 classes last week to preside over a very special ceremony...the Baptism of baby Peaches. 

In religion this term, year 1 students have been exploring the signs, symbols, words and actions associated with the sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist.  Father Brian came prepared and showed the students how he uses water and oil during Baptism and the words he says. He spoke about the role of the parents, Godparents and the Church community in caring for the child. Father Brian then showed us his special book, a register of all the children he has Baptised in our Parish Community. There were many familiar names in the register which was very exciting. 

Thank you Father Brain for spending time with our year 1 students.

Last Friday the Year 4 students participated in Friendship day.  Mrs Worner also organised for some of the year 9 students to join us for a day, where all students participated in activities, games and prayer. All students thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each other as well as improving their skills in team building, resolving conflict, relationships and making Jesus real.  

Some of the highlights were playing noodle soccer, prayer using the labyrinth,  meditation, cooperative and active games as well as friendship bingo.  It was great to see all the students applying their positive attitudes and cooperative skills.  Many thanks to Mrs Worner who generously organised the day and to the Year 9 students who led the year 4’s throughout the day.  A great day of friendship, fun and gratitude for all.

Deb Mengel
Year 4 Teacher

Our Year 11 students doing Senior Building and Construction Skills, this week completed their Practical Demonstration of Concreting Skills.   The concreting is an elective within the Building and Construction course available to year 11 and 12 students at the College.  Other trade skills the students learn are Carpentry, Plastering, Tiling and Painting.  The concreting job involved some manual excavation, installing steel reinforcement and mixing, screeding and finishing the concrete.  The task was undertaking within the school grounds and included learning about the safety aspects on construction sites.

Well done to students Jack Boston and Ben Ziviani for doing a great job.

String Out

Playing with 300 other string students on the Empire Theatre stage might sound daunting to some, but not the members of our Junior String Ensemble who took it in their stride on Wednesday, 5 June. Taking time during the day to prepare for this concert, the students worked with students and Instrumental tutors from across the region to prepare a number of works under the direction of Ms Andrea Messenger OA.
A huge congratulations to the following students for their professionalism and commitment to the event.
Jorja Bubb
David Dreyer
Ava Hohn
Phoebe Hohn
Lexi McCotter
Mikayla Petrie
Bianca Philp
Louisa Philp
Alexis Ware

A thank you must also go to Ms Teresa Brix for preparing the students for this experience along with Ms Susie Fredline for assisting with supervision on the day.

Winter Showcase

A reminder that the Winter Showcase will be held on Wednesday, 26 June. This event has been called the Winter Concert but due to the large amounts of other Arts subjects being involved it has been rebranded to reflect its participants.
From a music perspective please note that all students in ensembles are expected to attend as all ensembles are performing on the evening.

Solo Concert

Last newsletter discussed the achievements of the Soloist Concert held in Week 6. Please enjoy a selection of images from the evening.

First Eucharist for our Mary MacKillop Students

With Confirmation complete for 2019, our Year 4 students are now in preparation for the receiving of first Eucharist. For many of us as parents, we may know this sacrament as First Communion.

Eucharist is the sacrament that completes the process of initiation and is when one can fully participate in the Eucharist by receiving Holy Communion.

Eucharist is unique among the sacraments as it is at the heart of our faith. For Catholics, the Eucharist, or Mass, is the most powerful way we encounter the real presence of Jesus Christ. Sunday after Sunday (some, of course, gather everyday), Catholics gather to celebrate the Eucharist, the ritual in which, by the power of the Holy Spirit, bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. We who celebrate are also transformed, becoming Christ’s presence to others, and recognising the presence of Christ in others.

We pray for these students as they continue their sacramental journey within the Parish of Mary of the Southern Cross, Highfields. The sacrament of First Eucharist will be held in the MacKillop Centre on Sunday, 29 July at 9am.

Inner Downs Athletics Trials 

Well done to our students who attended the Inner Downs Athletics’ Trials on Thursday 6 June. We had several athletes who were successful in gaining selection to compete at the Darling Downs trials on Tuesday 18 June at Harristown State High School, Toowoomba. Congratulations and good luck to Hayley Cuthbert, Isabelle Staley, Emily Stanton, Alara Williams, Pierce O'Brien,  Jake Sorensen, Ryley Schmaling, Jonas Vanderzee, Caelan Williams and Riley Zanette. 

DD State Touch Carnival in Brisbane  

Congratulations to Josh Dalziell who was selected in the 13-15 years Darling Downs touch team that competed in the State Touch carnival held at Whites Hill Reserve, Brisbane.  Josh’s team played well over the four carnival days and won the Plate final against Sunshine Coast 5-1.  Capricornia and South Coast played the Trophy final with South Coast winning 11-10.  The DD team had played South Coast on Day 2 and only lost to them 7-5.  

Super 4s Rugby League Day 

After a successful Gala Day two weeks ago, our College team has been invited to compete at the Super 4s Rugby League Day on Wednesday, 19 June at St Mary’s College in Toowoomba.  

MMCC Athletics Carnival 

The results of our recent Athletics Carnival will be announced at our College Assembly in early Term 3. An invitation will be issued to the parents of award winners. We will finalise events during the final two weeks of term. Senior School students will have the opportunity to compete in High Jump on Monday, June 17 at 3:15 on the Junior School Oval. Junior School students will compete the following Monday (the 24th) at the same time and place. That will then complete the carnival for this year and we will go about calculating results. Thank you to those parents that have supplied feedback. We will continue towards programming carnivals that balance the needs of our accomplished athletes and those wishing to compete for their houses and improve their skills. 

Future Events

Student Achievements

Good luck to Angus McKenzie who will be competing at the Hockey Championships. 

Congratulations to Riley Zanette! Riley has been selected in the Under 12 Darling Downs Rugby League team to compete at the State championships which will be held from the 27 June to the 2 July at Carina.  It is his second year in a row representing not only himself, but his school.