If you have seen the magnificent film 1917, then you will have dipped your toe into the fantastic work of British director Sam Mendes. Mendes's films have a very interesting characteristics which you may not have noticed. It is about the presence of water. Every time there is about to be a death in the film - there will be water in a previous scene. If you have seen The Road to Perdition or American Beauty, you will probably remember that there is a lake, or heavy rainfall, or at times a bath or basin full of water, before there is a really dramatic scene where someone loses life.

This is not an accident. Mendes has reflected on the theme, "The linking of water with death ... speaks of the mutability of water and links it to the uncontrollability of fate. These are things that humans can't control".

It is a contrast to our base perception of water as life-giving. Water is mentioned a total of 722 times in the Bible, more often than faith, hope, prayer, and worship. It is the source of Jesus's first miracle, it is present in so many actions in the Gospels and provides a stirring symbolism for the Holy Spirit. In John, we hear that it is essentially life-giving; '"... the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up unto eternal life".

How does this speak to us today? Yes, as Sam Mendes rightly says, water can be uncontrollable. It certainly feels that way at the minute. But it was a powerful metaphor in the Gospels, whose writers were on the fringes of deserts and used water to sustain life, religious ritual and cleanliness. Whether we find our water in community, family, activity or faith, we must work hard to do the things necessary to make it life-giving, purposeful and self-sustaining.

For our young people, I think it is important to remind them that, despite times of negativity, or despair, or worry, we can find paths that are hopeful, exciting and life-giving. As their guides it is our role to show them that path.

Please take care in this difficult weather and have a lovely weekend.

Chris Gabbett
College Principal

This week we have Jayne Tyrrell our College WHS Coordinator.

Primary School attended: St Mary's School, Charleville

Secondary School attended: Lourdes Hill College, Brisbane

What do you like about working at Mary MacKillop? I love watching the students grow and develop from Preppies to young adults. I really enjoy the interactions I have with students along with the opportunity I get to build relationships with their families. I also have amazing work colleagues whose support and friendship I truly value.

What are your hobbies/Interests? I love to travel, COVID has forced me to have land legs but I can't wait to fly away again soon! I enjoy a good book and can't wait to see the Top Gun sequel.

Other interesting facts about yourself or anything else you would like to share with the MM community: I am born on the 29th of February so every 4 years is extra special for me!

Mary Mac Meals are freshly prepared meals from our College Chef, perfect to take home and feed the family after a long day at work!

Please click on the below link to see our menu, and place your order!

Our Scholarship Program is back and we are now accepting applications for 2023. We are excited to also extend an invitation to all eligible current families of the College to apply for the new MacKillop Scholarship.  The MacKillop Scholarship aims to encourage applicants from Year 4-12 who go the extra mile for others in their community. This scholarship offers a discount on the total school fees for a set scholarship term. 

We are interested in hearing from students who would like to apply for a scholarship to attend Mary MacKillop Catholic College. We are particularly interested in recruiting young men and women with strength of character and a positive outlook.

Have you ever thought about the way you see Australia and its people?

Taking a life-changing experience that will give you the chance to immerse yourself in the wonders of the native Australian bushland and uncover your typical true-blue Aussie outback towns along the way, then the Spirit of Country Pilgrimage will give you this chance.

This journey will broaden your horizon, build your capacity for understanding differences, help you to think critically about the world, and grow within you a sense of gratitude for your own life in Australia. The Expedition/Pilgrimage Journey has been created and designed to develop students through personal challenge, cultural immersion, experience of rich aboriginal culture, discovery of ancient geology, partnership with adult mentors, leadership experience, and reflective practice. By giving students the opportunity to broaden their horizons through reinforcing positive values such making healthy choices that contribute to the physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing of themselves and others, and through helping them to foster their inherent connection with country, our hope is they will return home able to lead other young people in building healthy lives and communities in our own locality.

During the September holidays this year, one staff member and four senior students will be travelling out west with Clairaux MacKillop College. It will be an amazing ten days with the following itinerary: Columboola (near Miles), Miles, Aboriginal Native Wells, Surat, Roma, Mitchell, Yumba Interpretative trail, artesian spa, Charleville, Augathella, Tambo, Blackall, Barcaldine, Dunblane Station, Alpha, Clermont, Emerald, Rolleston, Carnarvon Gorge before returning home.

These are just the highlights of the trip whereby students will be experiencing;

• Learning about the pioneering Australian spirit and our proud heritage.
• Following the indigenous cultural trail.
• Walking in the Josephite’s footsteps who set up ‘Bushie’ schools.
• Exploring where the bushrangers roamed.
• Stargazing at the Cosmos Centre and Carnarvon Gorge.
• Visiting the endangered bilby.
• Experiencing life on a sheep station with a shearing demonstration.
• Joining traditional aboriginal workshops.
• Hiking in the most picturesque area of Australia.
• Sleeping under the stars.
• Enjoying campfires.
• Having great fun with friends.

If this sounds like something you would like to be a part of, there are still some spots left on the bus. Please contact Mrs O'Rourke - Paula.Orourke@twb.catholic.edu.a

YOUTH GATHERING

Our next Youth Gathering will be Saturday, 11 June, in the MacKillop Centre at 6:00pm. Everyone is welcome!

Paula O'Rourke 
Assistant Principal: Religious Education 

This term in the Senior school, Penola House's Service Initiative is the World's Greatest Shave. Last year, the staff and students who participated in the World's Greatest Shave collected over $7000 for the Leukemia Foundation. This year, the MMCC team is aiming for at least $5000, and over $1100 has already been raised!

So, here's this year's team–comprised of staff and students who are either having their heads shaved, legs waxed or hair cut:

Mr Brad Griffiths, Mr Sean Albion, Levi Logan, Reagan Pugsley, Sarah Carr, Caleb Mifsud, Kurtis Smith, Maclean Everist, Jackson Stansell, Isaac Logan, Oscar Spies, Ryley Schmaling, Oakley Stansell, Katelyn Carr, Jake Butler, Brayden Hangan, Braeden Clark, Ned Butler, Brodie Forte, Isabelle Pannach, Bethany Birt and Adele Adams.

Well done to all members of the MMCC team and to Penola House for leading this initiative! We can't wait to see the culmination of your fundraising efforts.

If you would like to donate, you can either:

• ask a member of the team for their individual link; or
• donate to the whole team by following this link.

Leisa Radley (On behalf of Penola House)
Director of Formation and College Culture

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Thursday, 9 June, at 7:00pm in the MacKillop Centre with Bishop Robert McGuckin.

Paula O'Rourke
Assistant Principal: Religious Education

Every Sunday morning, the members of our community gather to celebrate Eucharist at 8:00am with Fr Brian Noonan in the MacKillop Centre.

EVERYONE is welcome to come along.

With over 280 days of work experience completed last term in 57 placements, work experience has again been one of the most engaging programs for our year 10 students. And with the most popular fields being Mechanics, Engineering, Education, Childcare, Construction and Veterinary our year 10 students are exploring pathways of high demand.

For a lot of students work experience is the first opportunity they have had to explore a work place and understand what a full week of work feels like. We have heard from parents that their children were exhausted after a few full days of work experience and didn't even have the energy to disagree with them. School isn't that bad after all.

We have had an outstanding response to how Mary MacKillop students presented, conducted and engaged in work experience, a couple of students were even offered School Based Traineeships as a result of their attitude and aptitude to their task.

We are eternal grateful to all of our hosts who are always so accommodating when it comes to taking our students for work experience.

Please enjoy some of the snaps of our students hard at work.

Pathways Team
Jennifer Stevenson & Christie Richardson

Adobe, Microsoft, Technology One, BHP, Woolworths and many more presented at the BiG Day In at the University of Queensland. We took 20 lucky students to the conference which is aimed at students interested in careers in ICT and technology. The BiG Day In helps students obtain more information about ICT and technology careers, and hopefully helped them make a better informed decision about their future.

Students listened to presentations throughout the day from organisations/speakers discussing subjects including career paths, career opportunities, the latest developments, the future of technology and much more.

Students were able to visit the exhibitor stands to speak to exhibiting organisations, to learn about tertiary courses and degrees, work experience, internships, apprenticeships and to see demonstrations of some awesome technology.

Your Pathway Team 
Jennifer Stevenson & Christie Richardson

As a College we have been partnered with familyzone for nearly two years and we now have a new resource that all families are able to access. This online resource gives information to families about the latest trends in online behaviours, social media and games. The resource includes parent advice about the different platforms and app/game reviews with details about the safety concerns of each one.

Please access the resource and reach out to me at the College if you require any further information.

Home - Mary MacKillop Catholic College (Highfields) - Hub (onlinesafetyhub.com.au)

You can also access the Hub under the Student Life & Wellbeing tab on our College Website.

Sean Albion
Assistant Principal: Wellbeing Senior

We are currently in the middle of the Toowoomba Eisteddfod and have some excellent results coming in!

21 entries in total from our Dance and Music students who have really made audiences aware of what we do at 'Mary MacKillop Catholic College' and how we present. So far we have achieved 12 placings (6 firsts!) with more to come.

We have had first time dancers win sections, primary school students competing alongside secondary students to be awarded and students competing against their best friends!

Congratulations to all students who won awards but also to all students who competed - well done!

Jessica Burke
Middle Leader The Arts And Student Engagement 

The last few weeks have seen over 70 students engage in the South West Qld Futsal Titles at USQ. There were many memorable moments across the different age groups and the standard of play from all teams meant that each match was played in a competitive manner with victory always in sight! Congratulations to both the Boys Under 10 (Blue) and Girls Under 10 teams for being crowned Regional Champions. Both teams will now travel to Brisbane later in the year to contest the Champions of Champions tournament. Our Boys Under 10 (Purple) team will also attend as runners-up in their division. Similarly, the 13 Boys team played with grit and determination and finished as runners-up. Thank you to the many staff, parents, and students for their support and involvement. There were a large number of Mary Mac students invited to be part of the State Titles which will be held in September. Congratulations!

Our Cross Country Carnivals have been run and won. Despite having to split the carnivals into Junior and Senior College events this year, both events still managed to generate a strong level of student engagement and house spirit. Final results will be released to students at a forthcoming assembly.

After a long wait, we finally got to celebrate the achievements of our Senior College Swimming Champions at assembly last week. Congratulations to the following students:

Brad Griffiths
Middle Leader Sports And Student Engagement 

I am not sure if you were aware - but we have many talented students at the College who have been working hard outside of school hours to pursue their dreams.

Both Samara and Adele performed sets at the Toowoomba Busking Festival on Saturday. The Busking Festival runs in the streets and lanes of Toowoomba. For buskers such as Samara and Adele, its not only a chance to share their talents, but could be the big break for their musical futures.

Jessica Burke 
Middle Leader The Arts And Student Engagement 

Hello to all Mary Mac families, students, Parish and Community members.

We hope this newsletter edition finds you all well.

What a wet week it has been!

The PPF had our first meeting of the year on Tuesday 10th May and it was a successful AGM and General Business Meeting. Thank you to all who were able to attend the night. There were many great conversations and actions were put in place to start events happening at the College to help benefit our children.

At the AGM, it was agreed upon that Executive Members of the PPF would remain in place to maintain continuity and keep working with projects already in place. Mr. Gabbett delivered his Principal’s Report with an update on 2021 Annual Action Plan and upcoming educational goals for this year. We were updated on progress against the Strategic Plan and the Annual Action Plan. We viewed tracking data and results for all cohorts of students’ achievements and improvements across all areas of the College. We heard from College staff in regards to wellbeing, operational matters and also finance matters at the College.

The PPF also wish to express our desire to improve Parent engagement across all of the College P - 12. The past year has prevented us from connecting and talking more about our children and becoming more involved in our Children’s education.

A special event is coming up on the 18 June 2022 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at St Mary's College Toowoomba - 129 West Street Toowoomba. Catholic School Parents Queensland - Diocese of Toowoomba invites all Parents, Principals and School Staff of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Toowoomba to a Parent Engagement Day. The day aims to inform and inspire and to strengthen parent engagement practice. Some great speakers will be in attendance. This is a free event and meals will be provided for all attendees. Refer link below for more details and to register. https://www.eventcreate.com/e/toowoomba-parent-engage

We are very excited to learn that construction works for the new College Oval will commence in late May. Watch this space!!! We are looking forward to seeing this completed and to see the students play sports on the fresh new grounds.

The College has many upcoming events this term, Term 3 and Term 4. We are always looking for volunteers to help with events such as BBQ’s, discos, youth gatherings etc. If you are someone who would like to help, we invite you to please keep an eye out for the Volunteers Register Form which will be sent out via an Edsmart email. Information gathered via the Edsmart form will help us identify those who are able to help at different times throughout the year. Many hands make light work.

Huge congratulations to all the students who have competed in sporting events or at the Toowoomba Eisteddfod over the past fortnight. Mary Mac has been representing tremendously well and all the students should be extremely proud of their efforts!

Congratulations to the Media, Marketing and Communications Team at the College for the beautiful 2021 College Yearbook! The College Yearbook is a beautiful collation of all the events and achievements we have celebrated as a community in 2021. Well done everyone. You can view the Yearbook online at this link: Yearbooks & Publications | Mary MacKillop Catholic College (mmcc.catholic.edu.au)

Please keep the 11th June at 6pm free for this terms Youth Gathering to be held in the MacKillop Centre. Like the inaugural event held late last year, this gathering will see us celebrate ‘God In All Things’ with a new look Mass celebration with contemporary music and fun, games and pizza after the Mass.

Lastly to Mr. Chris Gabbett, the leadership team, our amazing teachers and staff at Mary Mac. Thank you for a great start for Term 2. It’s great to see everyone back again. Let’s all do our very best for this term!

If you have a topic or matters for discussions, please send through to the PPF email higppf@twb.catholic.edu.au and we can add it to our next Meeting Agenda.

Take care.

Shayne Cleary & Rowena Voll
Co-Chairs PPF

Postponed date is now 26 June 2022…. Come and enjoy the Hampton Festival with a culmination of the regions food, wine and creative arts showcase at the Hampton Festival - a vibrant celebration of local food production, regional artisans and live music.

This food, art and cultural extravaganza has an extensive events and entertainment program giving you a unique, authentic High Country experience highlighting the natural beauty of the Hampton region.

Matt has a HUGE amount of MMCC artwork heading off to be displayed and we also have students representing the Music dept with ambient music to accompany the Saturday evening activities and opening event.

For more info: https://www.hamptonfestival.com/

Hope to see you there!