Dear McAuley Families

Welcome back to Term 3. I trust all families enjoyed a winter break from the routines of school, sport and study and feel energised about the return to normality.

Of course, the big news is our relocation (or decampment as the architects call it!) to our new primary facilities. The move has been very smooth, and I remain so grateful to our teachers, support staff and students for their flexibility and patience. It was great to see so many take on the task of hefting boxes, bits and pieces and making the move into our new spaces.

Over the break we received delivery of many items of new furniture for our administration and classroom spaces which has helped brighten our rooms already.  Please feel free to make a visit and ask your child for a tour. I spoke with the primary students on Monday and shared in their pride and excitement at their “new” school. Next, we will learn about moving in and out of the spaces and new areas.

The next stage of works will involve connections to Capper Street, disability access, fencing, sandpits, covered play areas and fixed equipment spaces. This work should begin towards the middle of the term as contactors become available.  We will also investigate watering systems and soft landscaping around the rest of the site. Our Community Council will no doubt be keen to be involved and we look forward to their fabulous support and efforts as we complete this next stage of major work.

The University Admissions Centre has some excellent advice for our Year 12s at this time in preparation for what is to come (see www.uac.edu.au).

1. Be proactive and consistent – study HSC material asap!
2. Prepare with past exam papers – find the study method that best suits you.
3. Don’t let a bad grade worry you – keep pushing through!
4. Make a timetable for study and play – schedule study, friends, hobbies & exercise equally.
5. Keep it balanced – have some free time too.
6. Prioritise mental health – you can’t give 100% if you are 50%.
7. Seek help – talk to someone you trust.
8. Start planning your path to university now – start looking at options.
9. Keep on top of due dates – keep a 12-month calendar.
10. Apply for early offers – there are countless opportunities.
11. Follow your passions at uni (and work) – use your brain and your heart.
12. Remember you are more than your ATAR!

Mary our mother, look after us.

Eamonn Moore

Principal

Photos of New Primary Campus 

From the Pastoral Coordinators’ Corner

As educators, parents and carers, the happiness of our children often weighs heavily on our minds. At times, it feels like we are desperate to ensure they avoid life’s challenges and disappointments, to prevent the sadness and disappointments we may have experienced. But is this really in their best interest? In a recent article by Linda Stade, What’s More Important Than a Happy Childhood?, we are challenged to question are we, in fact, unwittingly sabotaging our children by prioritising their immediate happiness and comfort over the development of resilience, grit, and meaningful struggle. Interviewing Keil Brown (a provisional psychologist at Wesley College in Perth), Stade discusses whether children can have too much of a good thing and the importance of learning to self-regulate, self-soothe and experience disappointment and autonomy.

Below is an overview of her article, which is a great informative read and available at https://lindastade.com/happy-childhood/ Brown states, “Happiness is an important part of the goal for our kids, but it doesn’t have to be the goal.” What does ‘happy’ really mean? Happiness is more complicated than it seems. When discussing happiness, Brown uses the analogy of an umbrella. It only functions if all of its parts work together. “I think of happiness as like the canopy of an umbrella. It’s a functional covering, and it looks great. However, it only works when all of the other components of the umbrella combine effectively. They need things like social connection, emotional stability, physical health, varied interests and a sense of holistic wellbeing”. Often, we chase happiness for ourselves and our kids. We try to have as many different experiences as possible. We schedule soccer, then scouts, then gymnastics, and as many playdates as possible. And yes, exploration is important. However, Mr Brown warns, “Packing too many things into a week can pass a tipping point. We can end up just making our kids stressed instead of happy.” Kids can have too much of a good thing. Sometimes what we all need for wellbeing is calm experiences that allow us to evoke and feel intense emotions of sadness, fear, disappointment, anxiety, guilt and shame. Without these uncomfortable emotions, happiness, joy, and all the positive feelings are only shallow and often manufactured. For Stade’s 10 Steps to guide children to find their sense of wellbeing, head to https://lindastade.com/happy-childhood/

Bullying - No Way! In a week of promotion, action and support against bullying from August 11-15, K-12 classes will be extending their knowledge regarding anti-bullying through classroom activities and participating in a college-wide competition. Each class will design posters with clear anti-bullying slogans, then take a creative picture advertising these posters. The class deemed to have undertaken this task to the fullest will be awarded a pizza lunch as a prize.

Mrs Ryan & Ms Roche

Trivia Night!

The countdown is on! Our much-anticipated Trivia Night is happening on 9 August at the Tumut Golf Club, and it’s shaping up to be a fantastic evening of fun, laughter, and friendly competition.

Tickets are on sale now - Grab yours from either the McAuley Primary or Secondary Campus Offices during school hours or purchase at the door on the night.

 $15 entry (18+ event)
Tables of up to 8 – get your team together!
Complimentary platter per table
Drinks and food available to purchase at the venue
Delicious Dessert Auction featuring treats from local businesses

including Whisk & Dish, Two Tarts & Riverside Café.

Don’t miss out on a great night supporting our school community—lock it in your calendars and start brushing up on your trivia!

Term 3 Key Dates

• Week 3: 6:00pm 9 August - Trivia Night
• Week 4: 5:00pm 14 August - Community Council Meeting #5
• Week 7: 5 September - Father’s Day Stall
• Week 8: 5:00pm 11 September - Community Council Meeting #6

 Next Community Council Meeting

We’ll be hosting our next community council meeting in the new Primary Campus Library.

We look forward to seeing you there! 

For any questions, feel free to email us at:
mcauleycatholiccollegetumut.scc@gmail.com

We warmly invite you to join us for our NAIDOC Mass as we come together to celebrate the rich culture, history and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples within our community.

Date: Wednesday 30 July 2025

Time: Smoking Ceremony at 9:30 am followed by Mass at 10:15 am

Location: College Hall

This is a special occasion in our College calendar, and we would love to share it with you.

We look forward to welcoming you.

In our final newsletter for Term 2, we celebrated the incredible success of our Girls Rugby 7s team — but we forgot to include an equally important update on our boys teams. Apologies, boys — here’s your well-deserved moment in the spotlight!

McAuley proudly sent both a Year 7/8 team and a Year 9/10 team to compete in the School Boys Brumbies Rugby 7s Gala Day in Wagga. Both teams played exceptionally well throughout the day, showing great teamwork, determination and skill.

We’re thrilled to share that both teams finished 3rd in their respective divisions — a fantastic achievement and a testament to their hard work on and off the field.

Well done to all the players and staff involved!

To celebrate the end of Term 2, we held a K–6 Disco — and what a night it was! Students had an absolute ball dancing, laughing, and enjoying time with their friends.

Thanks to the incredible support of our community, funds raised through entry and food sales will go towards purchasing new balls for our primary students to enjoy during recess and lunch.

A huge thank you to Mrs Bathgate and Miss Mason, and to everyone who helped plan and run the evening. It was a fantastic event, full of smiles, fun, and community spirit!

During the last week of Term 2, Mr Moore fired up the BBQ and treated our students to a sausage sizzle lunch — a big thank you for the positivity, patience and McAuley spirit they showed throughout the big move into our new buildings.

The students embraced all the changes with a fantastic attitude, and the BBQ was a well-deserved celebration! They also had their first taste of the brand new Canteen and COLA… and they were a hit!

Thanks, Mr Moore — what a great way to wrap up Term 2!

During the last week of Term 2, our Year 10, 11, and 12 students took part in a Forestry Industry Careers Session with Adam Farquharson from TAFE. Adam provided valuable insights into the wide range of post-school pathways available within the forestry industry, helping students discover exciting and rewarding career possibilities.

Following this session, students will have the opportunity to take part in an industry tour — with the potential to go on and complete a Statement of Attainment in Plantation Forest Operator.

A sincere thank you to Adam for sharing his expertise, and to Stacey Suidgeest from REIP for her ongoing commitment to providing our students with meaningful career exploration opportunities.

A huge congratulations to Year 12 student Mason, who recently competed in the NSW All Schools Cross Country at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre.

Mason completed the 8km race in just over half an hour, finishing 43rd out of a strong field of 83 runners. This is an outstanding achievement at a highly competitive event.

Well done, Mason — we are incredibly proud of you!

At McAuley, our connection with the residents of Blakeney Lodge is something we treasure deeply. Each Wednesday, a different class visits the Lodge to spend time with the residents — sharing stories, enjoying conversations, and building friendships that span generations.

When illness across the campus meant one class wasn’t able to attend in person, the students of 5/6 Red found a beautiful way to stay connected. They created thoughtful cards and handmade gifts to bring smiles to the residents’ faces. Tayla and Sidonie proudly delivered them on behalf of their class — a heartfelt gesture that was warmly received.

We’re so proud of our students for their compassion and community spirit, and we look forward to continuing our visits in Term 3.

Congratulations to our Primary Campus — winners of the Return & Earn program! Your fantastic efforts in recycling and sustainability have truly paid off.

To celebrate, the winning classes enjoyed an extra 30 minutes of playtime and received brand new handballs to enjoy during recess and lunch. Safe to say, there were some very excited children running around!

Well done, Primary — you’re leading the way in both school spirit and caring for our planet. Keep up the great work!

We’re on the lookout for friendly faces to help out in our Primary Canteen on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 12:50pm for just one hour.

Whether you can help once a week, once a month, or just now and then, we’d love to have you on board! It’s a fun, relaxed way to be involved in school life — and the students love seeing familiar faces behind the counter!

All volunteers will need a valid Working With Children Check, which is free and easy to apply for.

If you're interested or would like more information, please contact the Primary Office — we’d be thrilled to hear from you! 

Tumut Basketball nominations are now open 19 July until 5pm Friday 1 August. All information can be found on Tumut Basketball’s website or at Pie in the Sky and Sports Power or alternatively you can contact our registrar Trish Day on 0427 474 768.

Please find attached flyers for community education programs. 

Albury

Keeping Children Safe

Wednesday 27 August & 3 September from 10.00am to 12.30pm

Helps parents and carers understand child abuse and neglect and how it impacts children. Learn how to protect children, recognise signs of abuse, and give children the skills to protect themselves.

1-2-3 Magic and Emotion Coaching

Tuesday 16 & 23 September from 10.00am to 1.00pm

A simple method to manage challenging behaviour in children aged 2-12 years old using an easy-to-remember technique. Learn how to encourage positive behaviour and reduce arguments. 

1-2-3 Magic and Emotion Coaching

Tuesday 2 & 9 September from 10.00am to 1.00pm

A simple method to manage challenging behaviour in children aged 2-12 years old using an easy-to-remember technique. Learn how to encourage positive behaviour and reduce arguments.

Anxiety Coach

Wednesday 13 & 20 August from 10.00am to 1.00pm
Helps parents and carers understand how anxiety develops in children, as well as practical strategies and supports to help your child effectively manage anxiety.

1-2-3 Magic and Emotion Coaching

Thursday 14 & 21 August from 10.00am to 1.00pm

A simple method to manage challenging behaviour in children aged 2-12 years old using an easy-to-remember technique. Learn how to encourage positive behaviour and reduce arguments.

Engaging Adolescents

Wednesday 10 & 17 September from 6.00pm to 8.00pm
Develop a greater understanding of adolescents development. Learn how to build a relationship with your teenager while still setting firm, consistent boundaries.

To register for these programs, please complete the attached referral form and return it to ParentingRiverina@missionaustralia.com.au.