Dear Parents,

Term 1 is certainly in the throws of business. Classrooms are buzzing, teachers are busy and students are learning. Households have hopefully settled back into the 'school routine.'  Last Friday McAuley successfully hosted the Western Region Swimming Carnival, where the 11 other schools in our western area joined us for a day of competitive swimming.  The day ran smoothly largely due to a wonderful band of organisers and helpers. Lyn Bathgate and Maree Stewart organised the carnival in conjunction with the Tumut Pool Manager, N​arelle Buckingham.  A huge thank you for the many hours they spent in the carnival organisation.

Congratulations to our Year 10 students who worked tirelessly all day, helping with timekeeping, recording results, ensuring staff and parents were fed  and watered and marshalling the swimmers. Each and every one of these students were a credit to our school. 

Thank you also to our McAuley Community Council who ran  a BBQ breakfast and lunch. It was greatly appreciated by parents and teachers who had travelled long distances. Thank you to Tumut Swimming Club for allowing the school to use their BBQ. 

On Friday evening a group of very tired Year 7 students returned to Tumut after participating in a 2 day Orientation Camp at Borambola. This was a wonderful opportunity for these students to bond as a cohort and to make new friends in an environment away from school. Thank you to Miss Mason for her organisation and to Mrs Dumbrell, Mr Hughes and Mrs Piper for supervising the students. 

Mr Little is currently taking some unexpected personal leave and will be away from McAuley for the next fortnight. I will be Acting Principal during this time. Mr David Turnbull will be Acting Assistant Principal and Mrs Jeanette Dumbrell Acting Secondary Coordinator.  We thank you for your anticipated support.

The first Community Council meeting for 2019 will be TODAY Thursday 21st February at 5.00pm in the secondary staffroom. We welcome any parents to come along and be part of the council. There are a variety of ways, big and small, that you can be involved in your child's/children's education.   

Wishing everyone a happy week. I hope to see many of you at our first school-based Parish Mass this Saturday at 6pm which will be presented by our Student Leaders.     

Kerrin Henderson, Assistant Principal
McAuley Catholic Central School Tumut

Elections were held this week for the Year 7 SRC. The successful students were

7.1 Liam Buckley and Molly Webb

7.2 Scott Ferguson and Sophie Dean

The Parish Mass this Saturday evening (6pm in the Church) will be presented by our SRC & House Leaders.

Please come along and support your child with their responsibility as an elected leader of our school. 

Year 3/4 and Mrs Vanags thoroughly enjoyed catching up with their senior friends from Blakeney Lodge this week. The children enjoyed reading to, and chatting with the residents. Thank you Blakeney Lodge for opening your doors to McAuley each week - we love visiting you all!

Our Wednesday Radio sessions at the local Radio Station are in full swing, with Primary Campus Leaders Reese and Dusty taking their turn on the microphone this week. We take this opportunity to thank Radio 93.1 for their support with this segment, giving local students the opportunity to spread school news to the district and beyond!

Getting active outdoors at Borambola Sport and Recreation Centre

Our Year 7 students swapped desks and computers for fresh air and fun last week when they visited Borambola Sport and Recreation Centre.The group of students attended as part of their orientation to secondary school. The day active outdoor learning program included kayaking, archery, swimming, rock climbing, as well as evening activities that aimed at developing teamwork and communication.

The adventurous activities were certainly a lot of fun, but they also provided a significant educational advantage. The program was a great opportunity for the kids to get to know each other outside the formal classroom, as well as to challenge their abilities and practice initiative, teamwork and communication.

After two days of getting to know each other the Year 7 students have elected their SRC representatives for 2018 - Congratulations Scott Ferguson, Sophie Dean, Liam Buckley and Molly Webb. 

Click here for our Facebook page to see more photos.

McAuley hosted the 2019 Western Region Swimming Carnival last Friday the 15th of February. With over 230 competitors coming from the 12 Western Region Schools it was a huge task coordinating the day but everything ran very smoothly. This was thanks to the fantastic McAuley staff, parents and students who all helped out on the day.

Teachers Mrs Stewart, Mrs Turnbull, Miss Mason, Mrs Black, Mrs Vanags and Mrs Henderson, gave their time freely to assist in numerous jobs at the carnival. Many parents, and grandparents, also gave their time to assist as time-keepers or helping to 'man' the Community Council BBQ which was superbly organised by Anna Stubbs and her mum Kate. Our Year 10 students were a credit to themselves and our school helping out with time keeping, marshalling, acting as runners and administrators. We had lots of positive comments from teachers and parents about how fantastic they were.

A big thank you also goes out to the Tumut Swimming Club, Max Hargraves, and Narelle Buckingham and her team at the Tumut Pool. We could not have had such a successful carnival without such a supportive community.

Our swim team was comprised of 30 athletes and 19 of these improved their times from the school carnival in at least one event. Six swimmers have made the Western Region team and will swim at the Archdiocesan Carnival in Narooma on March 4th. Congratulations to: Daniel Stiles (50m Breast), Macy White (50m Back, 200m IM), Georgie Austin (50m Breast), Eric Bartlett (50m Free) Zahli Dean (50m Back), and Sidney Roche (50m Free).

Well done to all our swimmers who represented our school and showed great spirit and sportsmanship all day.

McAuley’s Western Region Team consisted of: 

Ashton Ambrose, Cooper Ambrose*, Georgie Austin*, Eric Bartlett*, Susie Bartlett*, Brad Beavan*, Ryan Beavan, Ethan Buckley*, Zoe Carter*, Zahli Dean*, Oliver Henderson*, Riley Hotham*, Reese Keenan*, Paige Kelly*, Taylor Kelly, Lilly Mott, Robert Niikkula*, Chloe Pearce, Sidney Roche*, Misha Skein-Bruijns, Una Skein-Bruijns*, Jaida Smith, Daniel Stiles*, Aidan Turnbull*, Liam Watkins, Ethan Watts, Sophie Webb, Macy White*, Ruben White*, Jeremy Williams*. (*improved time from school carnival)

 Once again thanks for all the wonderful help, support and swimming.

Lyn Bathgate, K-6 Sports Coordinator and Western Region Sports Coordinator

Nominations close for the Year 5/6 team trials for Touch Football this Friday. Touch Trials will take place on 8th March in Cootamundra. 

Information will go home this week regarding Trials for for the Archdiocese Teams in Netball, Soccer, Hockey and Rugby League. More information by clicking on the link below.

There is always something exciting happening in our Library. This week we welcome the latest edition to McAuley, two fish with the very-human names of "Eli" and "Callum".

Kindergarten's Blaze is enjoying the beautiful books on offer - this week Blaze thinks he'll become a Chef!!

Healthy Canteen Network Meeting - Tuesday 5th March – School Hall Classroom 10am to 1pm. 
Are you a foodie and have a passion for igniting interest in healthy eating (especially to school aged children?) Are you interested in learning about healthy food and ways in which local schools are introducing healthy food options for their students? A meeting of local school canteen managers and interested canteen volunteers is to be held here at McAuley. The meeting will be facilitated by NSW Health Murrumbidgee Local Health district, Dieticians Alex Walker and Jessica McLennan.
A healthy, delicious lunch will be provided. Please contact Liz Boxall 69472000 if you would be interested to attend. Please RSVP this Friday please. 

Hi everyone! Thank you to Marion Ross who has volunteered to help out with lunch preparation on a Friday in our secondary canteen. Friday's are extremely busy, with lunch orders, so we cannot thank Maz enough for her support. 

PRIMARY CANTEEN ROSTER NEXT WEEK:

Monday 25th: Jessie Riethmuller, Wednesday 27th: Sam Phillips, Friday 1st: Mel Pearce and Anna Mather. Thanks ladies. 

Click below for our latest canteen menu. Don't forget our Qkr! app for lunch orders. 

Tumut Day View Club

A big thanks to the ladies from the Tumut Day View Club, Mrs Trish Rochester and Mrs Lorraine Symons who came to McAuley on Tuesday morning to present a generous donation of stationery items to our school. Primary SRC & House leaders from 5/6T, Tahlia, Eadie, Reese, Zahli and Daniel were on hand to accept the donation. We are very fortunate that the local community are such wonderful supporters of our school. 

Tumut SHOW - Saturday 2nd March at the Show Ground. Lots of great things to see and do. Come along and support your local Show. McAuley students will have a school display in the Pavillion. 

Tumut Day VIEW Club (a valued part of 'The Smith Family') offering support and friendship, skills development, enriching experiences, and give the satisfaction of making a difference in your community. If you would like to join this great club or maybe find out more, call 1800805366 or visit www.thesmithfamily.com.au/view 

TUMUT EASTER MARKETS. Good Friday and Easter Saturday. Boys Club Hall - 9am to 4pm both days. Free entry. Great bargains. BBQ, tea and coffee. Bookings and more info from 02 42322337.

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.