Dear McAuley Families

I was reminding our students about our “way” as I know staff are across our classrooms.  At this time in the semester, it is important to focus on “engage”. That is to “engage with each other and with your educators… Focus on your work and get involved in College activities…” This kind of positive mindset will assist our students to be organised, motivated and hard working.  Studies are clear that when we are engaged (in “flow”) we learn and achieve at a much higher level. Parents can assist by helping with planning, study routines and due dates clearly recorded and published at home.

In another couple of staffing announcements, I am happy to let you know Mr Tim Ryan, Ms Cat Dawson and Mr Michael Shanahann will be teaching various subjects on the secondary campus as we look to replace some staff leave and resignations. The college has a fine reputation which is attracting high level and expert staff to us. This is great news in a time of well documented teaching shortages and difficulty in recruitment.

Again, I remind you that it's enrolment time! We are offering enrolments in Kindergarten and Year 7 2026 for the month of May. Please be advised that there are very limited places available in other year levels. Most year levels are at capacity (some with wait lists). Please encourage family and friends to get their applications sorted in good time prior to the close of enrolments at the end of May.

Places are not necessarily guaranteed as we encounter high levels of interest.   

See below the priority of offer which complies with Catholic Education Policy:

Primary: Children who are turning five (5) before 30 April (ACT) or before 31 July NSW) and:

1. Are baptised Catholic who are members of the designated local parish communities and designated priority enrolment area or, where there is more than one primary school within a parish, the designated priority enrolment area within the parish as agreed from time to time.
2. Are siblings of children already attending the selected primary school.
3. Are children of staff in the selected primary school.
4. Are baptised Catholic from other parishes or outside of the priority enrolment area who cannot obtain places in their local parish/in-area primary school.
5. Are non-Catholic whose parents/guardians desire and are committed to a Catholic Education.

Secondary:

1. Baptised Catholic children who currently attend a Catholic school; or are members of the local parish community in rural areas where a Catholic school is not available.
2. Siblings of children already attending the selected secondary school.
3. Are children of staff in the selected secondary school.
4. Other children who have been enrolled in a Catholic school for a period of at least 3 consecutive years prior to commencing at the secondary school.
5. Baptised Catholic children from schools other than Catholic schools. The family of these children MUST provide an up-to-date reference from their parish priest indicating that they are practising Catholics in the parish.
6. Baptised Catholic children from schools other than Catholic schools who cannot provide a reference from a parish priest.
7. Other children whose parents/guardians desire and are committed to Catholic education.

Our Primary Building Project continues to race towards its completion.  We hope to have moved into classrooms by mid-June for the exterior works to commence.  I know our staff are looking forward to working in these bright new spaces and showing them off to you all.

I remain very grateful to our primary students and staff for their resilience and patience as we work towards moving into our new facility.  Restricted play areas and temporary classrooms have been a challenge. We are getting closer every day!

As always, we have had students at various sporting, educational and cultural activities over the last few weeks.  I am always thrilled to receive an email or call to complement good manners and behaviour. The Year 7 group that visited The Pompeii Exhibition in Canberra recently earned a lovely message back to me from a lady who admired the very respectful way the students addressed each other and their teachers.  Well done.

Our culture of good manners, respect and positivity are behaviours that become habits and then our way of being. As Catherine McAuleyy said “…if the love of God reigns in your heart, it will show itself on the exterior…”

Mary our mother, look after us.

Eamonnn Moore

Principal