Dear McAuley Families

Watching the Paralympic Games is certainly providing many of us with inspiration at what some would deem as “impossible” to become an award-winning feat of endurance and performance.

An article in “The Guardian” recently lists 5 traits that young people can learn from Paralympians and translate to their own lives:

1. Self-regulation: our own self talk makes a big difference in our performance. Some stress and anxiety is helpful to learning but our positive mindset makes a big difference.
2. Mental toughness: Being highly motivated and coping with setbacks are vital. We call this “grit” – passion and perseverance.
3. Vigour: High levels of energy, effort and drive are vital. It is impossible to teach this – it must be innate. Work and learn with a sense of purpose.
4. Optimism: Athletes at this level have been found to be more optimistic than the common person. We can measure a person’s levels of optimism through their outlook… “today was the worst day…” or “I’m no good at anything…” are pessimistic statements.
5. Control: Our brains struggle with uncertainty. Not knowing what could happen causes us stress.  Students can work on “controlling the controllables” by developing exam and study routines and creating strategies that reduce confusion and doubt.

As a “village” (an expression used a lot in the Paralympics broadcasts) we all have a duty to build our student’s and family’s confidence and reduce fear of failure. We know that an optimistic outlook brightens all aspects of our lives and should be celebrated. Winston Churchill reminded us “…Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference…”

Our college motto “Believe, Strive, Achieve” gives us the verbs to do these things in our homes, our sporting and cultural endeavours and our personal lives.

Mary our mother look after us.

Eamonn Moore

Principal

• Russell Guppy
• Eadie McKay 
• Jude Moreno 
• Phoebe Oag
• Sydney Radford

As Year 12 students enter their final four weeks of formal schooling, they are receiving their Trial HSC papers and marks, offering valuable insights for their final preparations. Students are now focused on final revision, and should be diligently completing past HSC papers and questions to fine-tune their exam skills and knowledge. This week, they benefited from a visit and talk by their HSC presiding officer, providing essential HSC exam rules and procedural information. With graduation and the Year 12 formal on the horizon, students are also contributing to the creation of their Year 12 video, a meaningful playlist for their graduation assembly, and their formal invitations. To ensure success, students are encouraged to maintain a consistent study schedule and take full advantage of the Thursday afternoon study sessions offered after school in the library.

Congratulations to all our Year 12 students who have received early entry offers for University! We're so proud of each of you for being offered this exciting step towards your future. Keep striving for greatness - this is just the beginning!

Congratulations to Oscar, Ruan and Angela who made these incredible pieces of furniture for their final Industrial Technology-Timber project. You should be very proud of your creations!

Starting this coming Monday, and continuing for all of Week 8, Year 11 students will be undertaking their End of Preliminary Course examinations. We wish them all the very best, and encourage them to stay focused, confident, and prepared. You've got this! ⭐

Year 10 students have now finished their subject counselling, an important step in preparing for their senior schooling and future pathways. The interviews have helped students make informed choices, aligning their interests with post-school opportunities, whether for university, TAFE, or entering the workforce. A reminder that subject selections are due Friday, Week 8.

The McAuley Year 7/8 and Year 9/10 teams competed at the NSWCCC Netball Championships held in Penrith last Wednesday. Both teams played some great netball in hot and windy conditions. The Year 7/8 team came runners up in their pool! Great effort by all the girls and thank you to the parents for their support.

We had 2 teams travel to Wagga this Wednesday to compete in the Netball NSW Schools Cup Regional Finals. The Year 7/8 team won their first three games and had a close loss to Kildare in their final. The Year 9/10 team finished the day with a great win against Hennessey. Well done to both teams on a fabulous day! 

All girls played well and thoroughly enjoyed the tough competition. Thanks to Anna Stubbs and Ella Bradshaw for umpiring. 

Students from both campuses travelled to Canberra last week to compete at the Archdiocesan Athletics Carnival.  It was a very successful day with some outstanding results. 

Primary Campus: 

• Freya Masters - 4th in 100m 
• Mila Webb - 7th in 100m 
• Glenn Doneley - 3rd in 100m 
• Elliot - 5th in 200m, 5th in long jump and 2nd in 800m
• Cody Johnson - 3rd in 800m
• Jimmy O'Connell - 6th in long jump and 5th in shot put
• Logan - 6th in discus 
• Junior girls relay - 6th
• Senior boys relay - 4th 

Elliot will progress  to the Mackillip Athletics Carnival to be held on 25 September where he will compete in the 800m. 

Secondary Campus: 

8 students from the Secondary Campus have also progressed to the next stage: 

• Brad Beavan - shot put 
• Ella Bott-Sherman - 100m & 200m 
• Jake Bower - javelin 
• Alexandra Crowe- high jump, javelin & discus 
• Daniel Peacock - 800m & shot put 
• Chloe Pearce - 400m and 800m 
• Alliena Roddy - 800m and 1500m 
• Macy White - 800m 

Additional congratulations to Alexandra Crowe and Chloe Pearce who were also both Runner up Age Champions. 

Congratulations to all who competed and good luck to those moving ahead to the Mackillop and CCC Carnivals later this month. 

Last Thursday night we held a very successful Performing Arts Concert & Fundraiser. Students from both campuses showed their impressive talents including playing instruments, singing, dancing and gymnastics. We had a rock band from Year 7 treat us to the hit song Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes, Gracie entertaining us with her impressive guitar playing and singing, Tigerlily showing her dance moves while lip syncing to Firework by Katy Perry and the 2 Zoes danced whilst wearing inflatable pig and alligator costumes!!  

We had a great turnout of supportive community members who thoroughly enjoyed the show. Congratulations to all who performed and a big thanks to Mrs Campbell for organising as well as all the staff and students that helped on the night.

Kindergarten presented a wonderful mass to our parish friends and family last week. They were so beautifully behaved, read their prayers with gusto and enjoyed singing and speaking with Father Joe. The mass focused on 'God Loves me'. Thanks to Father Joe who is a wonderful guide to the students, and to all the families and parishioners who joined our mass.

Earlier this week, Year 4 were learning about how much space one square metre looks like. In groups, they constructed square metres from A3 paper and measured the area of chosen spaces.

We had some lovely sunshine on the campus yesterday so the Year 5/6 Red class made the most of it and enjoyed a Science lesson outside. They are investigating forces using balloon rockets in Science. 

The office block is no more!

WEEK 6 

WEEK 7

From 1 August all students are required to wear a McAuley hat when they are outside.  Please ensure hats are clearly labelled before your child brings them to school. Wendellie's is able to embroider the name on at the time of purchasing if needed.

Please note we are unable to give students a hat to "borrow" from lost property when they can't find their own.