X

Dear Parents and Friends,

We are proud to inform you that we will be producing a new eNewsletter format with Schoolzine.  The purpose of moving to this new format is to engage the school community more effectively and provide parents, students and the community with a more effective and content rich newsletter format. This new format will include videos, image galleries, online bookings, feedback forms, calendars, an app and much much more. It is a work in progress!

Welcome back to another exciting, challenging and rewarding year in your children’s development, a special welcome to all our new families. 

As usual in schools, things happen quickly, this Friday 8th being the School Swimming Carnival at the Tumut Pool, followed next Friday 15th by the Western Region Primary Carnival hosted by McAuley at the Tumut Pool.

The Secondary Campus has two new teachers this Term Ms Lucy West (English) and Ms Julie Piper (Mathematics). We wish them a long and happy association with our school. Welcome aboard.

• Next week 14^th and 15^th Year 7 are off to Borambola Sport and Recreation Centre for their Orientation Camp.
• Monday 18^th is School Photo Day. Full school summer uniform.
• Thursday 21^st at 5.00pm is the first Community Council meeting (New parents welcome)

As everyone is well aware the heat recently has been very intense, please ensure that your children wear a hat to school.

God bless everyone.

Rodney Little - Principal 

It is not our job to toughen our children up to face a cruel and heartless world.

It is our job to raise children who will make the world a little less cruel and heartless.

WELCOME BACK!

The McAuley staff commenced the new school year by celebrating Mass together with Fr George and Fr Namora.

The theme for the staff Mass was based on 'The Apostles Creed' which is a clear statement of our most important Catholic beliefs. The creed begins with the words... 'I believe". In saying the Creed, we profess Jesus Christ is central to our Christian identity, to who we are and who we want to become, as individuals and staff working within a Catholic school.  Of course we must also remember that our faith is more than just talking. When we say that we believe in God then that faith and commitment must evidence itself in action.

Profession of Faith

I believe in God,
the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
He descended into hell;
on the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from there He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Holy Catholic Church,
the communion of Saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.

Amen.

BEGINNING OF NEW SCHOOL YEAR

As we celebrate the beginning of our new school year, we give thanks to God for the life we share together. We ask God’s blessing upon us all, so we will grow, not just through the learning and wisdom we receive, but especially through the love, care and support we give to one another in our community here at McAuley

Prayer:

Good and loving God, bless us in your love,

as we begin our journey together this year, at McAuley.

Open our hearts to receive

the message of Christ in all its richness,

so that it may find its home in us.

Empower us to truly live in the Spirit of his love,

so that we may truly celebrate Your Spirit here with us.

Amen.

MAKING JESUS REAL

Throughout this year the teachers and students will be continuing to  incorporate ‘Making Jesus Real’ (MJR) into their school day. MJR is a way of life that allows students to see Jesus working in their lives through people and creation. These are the 'God Moments' and they happen in our schools, on our playgrounds and in our home 100’s of times a day. We just need to “Get Switched On” to recognise them.   It is about being a witness and sharing Jesus’ love with others.

Students learn about having a positive attitude and that their actions, attitudes and behaviours have an impact on their relationships. MJR provides students with a language that allows them to evaluate their thought and behaviours and provides strategies for alternative actions.

They learn about the two ways of live. In you are living out the WEST you are welcoming, encouraging, you can say sorry and thank you. WEST teaches students about including people, about body language, eye contact and the importance of forgiveness and gratitude.

If you are living out the EAST, you exclude others, you argue, sulk and talk back. We are all born ‘takers’ MJR encourages students to become ‘givers’ in their relationships.

We all move between WEST and EAST, it is our ability to transport our attitudes and move on from disappointments that keeps us positive and resilient. MJR teaches students the skills to achieve this. Students are taught about the importance of daily reflection, to suck the goodness out of every day.

They are called to ask the BIG question … WHERE WAS JESUS IN MY LIFE TODAY?

YEAR 7 ORIENTATION CAMP

This year our Year 7 students have the opportunity to be involved in an Orientation Camp at Borambola to assist in the settling in process. The theme of our camp is “Belonging”. The students will be involved in activities which promote healthy relationships, team building, orientation to Secondary School and just getting to know each other and enjoying each other’s company away from the formal school setting.

The camp is in the third week of the first term, Thursday 14^th and Friday the 15^th of February. This will allow the year 7’s to start their secondary schooling by building relationships with each other as well as their Pastoral Teachers, Miss Piper and Mrs Dumbrell who will accompany them on this camp. Mr Hughes will also attend the camp to assist with the supervision of our students.

The election of the Year 7 class representatives to the McAuley Student Council will take place after the camp so that all of the students would have had an opportunity to decide who they would like to represent them throughout 2019. They will have a special liturgy later in the term to commission these students as leaders and to present the Year 7 students with their badges. 

SECONDARY PEER SUPPORT

This term our Year 7 group will also be involved in a peer support program with our senior Year 10 students. Peer Support is dedicated to providing dynamic, peer led programs which foster the mental, social and physical wellbeing of young people and their community. Moving into Secondary school represents a significant change for students, as they adjust to a new situation which is quite different from their primary school. Research has shown that when students form close connections with their peers, they are more likely to have a satisfying and successful school experience. The Year 10 students will lead the students through an orientation program that will focus on assisting the Year 7’s to feel familiar, confident and happy in their new environment.

SRC

The 2019 SRC Co-Ordinator for both primary and secondary is Miss Mason. The SRC students will attend SRC meetings each fortnight planning ways to build our school and house spirit with fun and entertaining activities. The SRC will also raise any concerns or ideas from the classes that they represent.

HOUSE MEETINGS

Our House leaders on both the primary and secondary campus led their students in their first House meeting for 2019. The House Captains and Vice Captains’ role was to give the students some instructions for the upcoming McAuley Swimming Carnival. Each House spent time organising cheerleading and relays and building enthusiasm with their students. It will be the first Carnival that the new shades and House banners will be used since that were purchased by the 2018 SRC after lots of fun fundraising.

Anita Mason - Religious Education Coordinator

We pray that each of us will have real belief in ourselves, our gifts and our abilities. Set alight within us, as you did for our founder Catherine McAuley, so that we may all make a difference to our world. 

Thank you to the many parents, grandparents and friends who came along to our Mass to celebrate our leaders induction. 

Congratulations to our newly elected school leaders for 2019

MacKILLOP, CHISHOLM, THERRY IN THE SWIM

You will be aware our Swimming Carnival will be held this Friday at the Tumut Pool from 9am to 3:15pm. This is a K-10 event - however our Kinders, Year 1 and Year 2 students have additional information regarding specific times and details - which has gone home separately to parents.

All Yr 3-10 students (and nominated Yr 2 students) are asked to make their own way to and from the Pool in time for roll-call at 9am sharp. Buses are aware of our carnival and will drop students off at the front of the pool and will pick students up at the same location at the end of the day. 

The pool canteen will be open all day. We thank the parents who have indicated they can assist with time-keeping. We look forward to a really great day! 

All Students Year 3 -10

Have you returned your permission note for 2019? A hard-copy was sent home to all students last week. Please click on the link below. Parents and students to sign and return pages 7 to 10. 

The McAuley Library is off to a cracking start this year with Kindergarten spending part of their second day of school reading the wonderful Macca the Alpaca by Matt Cosgrove whilst creating their own bright alpaca masks. With lots of new books arriving in the first few weeks and plenty of series requests coming in from the children, Ms Roche has been busily processing the books to get them out to students as soon as possible. One new and very popular book, The Odd 1s Out by popular YouTube star and artist James Rallison.

It is full of hilarious stories and advice about the ups and downs of growing up,

"Like any shy teen turned young adult, James Rallison is used to being on the outside looking in. He wasn’t partying in high school or winning football games like his older brother. Instead, he posted comics on the Internet. Now, he’s ready to share his hard-earned advice from his 21 years of life in the funny, relatable voice his fans love."

Due to the popularity of this book several other copies are now on their way. Please if you have any Library suggestions or must have book ideas, email Ms Roche. Happy reading.

Please click on the link below to down-load our QKR! app

2019 Kids Art Classes. Tumut Art Society Inc. 5 Ways. 8 week classes 12^th Feb to 2^nd April. 3:30pm to 5pm Tuesdays. $200 per term. 7-12 years. More info from Melissamartin.art@gmail.com or admin@tumutart.com.au

Children’s Mosaic Classes. Monday and Wednesday afternoons at 3:30pm to 5:00pm. Cost involved. More info from kerriebellette@live.com.au or 0407265828

Pilates Mat Class with Jaime. Do you need to increase your core stability? Correct muscle imbalances? Improve your posture. 45 minute classes on Saturday 8am @ The Gym. Tuesday 5:15pm @ St Mary's Hall. $15-00. Bookings essential via Facebook. Or call 0420309301

Piano/Keyboard Lessons: Individual lessons available,during school hours at McAuley. Ages 6 years and up. Ring Vanessa Hall for more details on 0448609479