Dear McAuley Families

Welcome back to 2023.  I trust that all enjoyed a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable holiday break.  For my family we experienced the loss of my sister just after Christmas.  She had endured a long illness so her quite sudden passing was in some ways a relief and in many others terribly sad for us.  Of course, our staff and community provided us with great support and many prayers.  Thank you all.

On Wednesday we made history as we opened as a K – 12 school (“College”).  Our first cohort of Year 11 began eagerly, receiving their laptops and timetables.  They headed to Canberra yesterday for a 3-day camp with students from St Anne’s, Temora to learn about HSC, Virtual Learning and to get to know one another a little better. Our Year 1 – 10 classes returned very excitedly as did a number of new staff and enrolments.

We are at record numbers, and yesterday after our Kindergarten class began, we have around 387 students in K – 11.  We began with 23 Kindergarten students, 57 Year 7, 23 Year 11 and somewhere close to 60 new enrolments across all other year levels.

This is a direct result of two things… one being the outstanding reputation our school has in terms of academic and pastoral care and, secondly, the opportunity and choice we now offer families for their children to remain with us for Senior Secondary Schooling.  These are indeed historic and exciting times!

I know already our new students and families are feeling welcome and experiencing the care and authentic support our school is so well known for. Thank you all for being such positive ambassadors of our school and promoting its many positives to people in our local area.

Elsewhere in this Newsletter you will get to know some of our new staff and their areas of teaching and subjects.  With the relaxation of many COVID restrictions we look forward to throwing the doors open to our families and making you feel welcome in our classrooms and at our events as we work together to create fine young people of the future.

As you will be aware there have been changes to many of our administration and finance systems.  Please bear with us as we work to set up and communicate these changes to you.  Catholic Education are working hard to support us in the many modifications that have taken place in timetabling, fees, communications and so on.

I ask that you keep Maree Stewart’s mum in your prayers as she encounters a significant health crisis.  Maree is so well loved by all in our community and, I know, is grateful for the care and support she receives.

Please ensure at home that you are supporting your sons and daughter’s learning by establishing routines of revision, study, rest, relaxation, and screen free time.  Routine helps provide comfort and assurance to our young people.  Get to know their timetables so they can feel organized and prepared for the day and focus on positive events as you debrief in the evening. Relationships are at the core of all we do so please take the time to get to know your children’s teachers.  Seek from your children what it is they like about that person and admire and work with that as the year progresses.

“Raising Children” encourage the importance of strong families.  They promote these key characteristics of a “strong” family:

• Warmth, care, and positive attention
• Good communication
• A predictable family environment
• Connections to people outside the family (Ref: raisingchildren.net.au)

I look forward to re-connecting with our McAuley families as the 2023 school year gets quickly underway.

Mary our Mother, look after us.

Eamonn Moore

Principal

McAuley's Scripture Quote for 2023

Our Scripture quote for 2023 is ‘Let your light shine!’ Jesus encourages us to let our light shine before others, calling us to live an active life of faith, not a passive one. We are called to be a light for others. As a school family, we seek to follow the example of Jesus in all that we do.  

At McAuley, we believe that everyone can shine the light of the Lord on those around us by the words we speak and the actions we take. This is one of the great gospel images of discipleship: the light of discipleship in Jesus Christ shining for all the world to see.  

We want our community to be beacons that shine far and wide, lighting up our region with the light of Jesus in all that we do. Let’s choose to allow our light to shine in the world as Blessed Catherine McAuley did. By following this example, we say to every member of our community: Let your light shine! 

Shining with Mercy Spirit

Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Mercy sisters said “We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us.” This quote references our Catholic faith, the tradition of the Mercy Sisters, and their charism. If we are shining with Mercy Spirit, we give service to others, we are a positive example; just as the Mercy Sisters were. The Spirit of Mercy is the name of McAuley's awards and allows connection between our award and the school values of resilience, respect, relationships, kindness and integrity. 

The Mercy Cross

Catherine McAuley designed the original Mercy Cross herself -a dark background with a white cross in the middle. The Mercy Cross we see today and that is central to our logo still has a white cross in the middle of a dark coloured cross. Catherine chose the cross to be the symbol of the Sisters of Mercy because of her deep love for the crucified Jesus. The Mercy Cross does not have the figure of Jesus on it. This is because Catherine believed that each Sister of Mercy places herself on the cross to be like Jesus.

Let us pray… Gracious God of hope, 

During the coming year may we strive together to give of our best and be our best, 

so that the love with which you surround us may be a living reality in our community. 

We make this prayer in the name of Jesus. 

 Amen.  

Anita Mason

Religious Education Coordinator

David Edwards.

I have enjoyed teaching 7-12 Technology in NSW private and public schools for the past 20 years. I am excited about bringing my skillset to McAuley particularly as we launch into Stage 6 this year. Having grown up in this beautiful area, it's great to be back and I look forward to continuing my love of the outdoors.

Graham Brown.

I have been teaching in a mix of private and public schools for approximately 20 years. I have a background in Outdoor Education and camping and am passionate about this and integrating my faith in my teaching life.  I am married with two adult married children who are also employed in the Education Sector. I look forward to working together with you as partners in your child’s growth and development.

Julie Cross.

Hello Everyone,

Having taught in a number of schools throughout the state and spent time as a Consultant for the Department of Education, I am looking forward to teaching Science and Chemistry at McAuley and assisting with the growth of the School into Stage 6. 

Sabina McIntyre.

During my years of teaching, I have taught students from K- 12 in public and independent education system. Throughout my teaching career I have taught an array of subjects, but I trained to teach Technology specialising in Food Technology and Textiles and I am also Hospitality trained. I am passionate about my areas of specialisation and enjoy passing my knowledge and experience onto my students. My hobbies include gardening, sewing, knitting, cooking, and completing a variety of craft activities . I also enjoy spending quality time with my family and friends. 

Mercedes Brown.

I have been teaching for approximately 8 years, during which I have taught in the upper primary levels at St Mary's Primary School, Batlow. I have been fortunate to call the beautiful town of Tumut home for many years and I look forward to getting to know the students and families of the McAuley community.

Sarah Collins.

I have been teaching for 10 years. I grew up in the Southern Highlands and began my teaching career in the Wollongong Diocese before moving to St Mary’s in Batlow. I have taught in all Years across K – 6.

I am looking forward to working with the students and getting to know the McAuley community.