Dear McAuley Families

As we come to the end of the most tumultuous semester in education and society, my overwhelming wish is that everyone is able to take some time to have a break.  It is vital that we all make some time for ourselves to detach and let go and just “be” for a while. 

So much has been achieved through a great deal of hard work, hasty decision-making and appropriate action. I can only again re-iterate my gratitude to our staff who have not only survived but also thrived through this most remarkable time. Thank you to our families for your gratitude and support and to our students for their love of learning and amazing resilience.

You may know the writings of Franciscan Priest Richard Rohr.  He writes that even while we can physically distance from other humans we can and should spend time in nature.  He encourages us to be in the garden, plant a tree and enjoy the shade and peace that we ourselves create. 

“The Journal of Health Psychology confirms what Franciscans and mystics have long known: interacting with nature is a great stress reliever. Just thirty minutes of gardening lowers the cortisol released during stress-induced fight-or-flight responses”.

School resumes on Tuesday 21 July.  The staff will be undertaking Professional Learning on Monday 20 July in preparation for the new Religious Education Curriculum.

Uniform Sub-Committee:  You will see elsewhere in this newsletter, the decision of the uniform Sub-Committee following the recent survey. The numbers were too close to call a change of uniform. We recognise the need to refine some items of the current uniform and intend to survey in more detail as the next step in this complex process. For those anxious about variation, please don’t worry as supply and stock will be rolled out gradually for those items that might be altered.

Enrol Now:  We continue our 2021 Enrolment campaign in the local press and radio. Afternoon Open Tours are available this week for families to tour the Secondary School and find out more about what McAuley can offer. Please encourage those family and friends you know with children starting Kindergarten or Year 7 next year to book a tour and complete an application online.

Our “Try McAuley for a Day” for potential Year 7 students was held yesterday on the Secondary Campus. The day went well and was an easy and fun orientation into High School life. Thank you to the students in Year 8 and 9 for their assistance with this day. 

The school website has more details and online applications are encouraged.  Information and Application Packs are available at the School office/s.

Catholic Education have released a “Road Map” for next term advising the things that may begin to return to normal.  Easing of Restrictions include:

• Groups up to 100 or 1 person per 4 square meters allowed hiring school facilities.
• Community sport based activity may resume.
• Parent – teacher interviews face to face with physical distancing and hygiene measures in place.
• Parents and volunteers may attend school spaces (see above for distancing and hygiene measures).
• Excursions, inter-school sports (Regional) may be held.
• Overnight, interstate excursions and camps adhering to each state’s restrictions are allowed.
• Larger assemblies, gatherings and performances with limitation on parent/carer numbers are permissible.
• Fundraising events in line with broader restrictions may be planned.

These changes do not change each person’s responsibility to practice physical distancing and improved personal hygiene.  These things are fast becoming the new normal and as health authorities are warning we are “a long way from over.”

Thank you again for your support and care of each other in our community.  Please take care and enjoy the break.

Mary our Mother… Look After Us.

Eamonn Moore

Principal

We thank you Lord, for this term. 

For the challenges, the successes, and the mistakes from which we have learnt. 

Be with us as we spend our time with family and friends.

Give us strength and courage to do what is right: to be witnesses of our faith. 

Help us to be a practical Christian these holidays, to appreciate what others do for us, to give time and effort to help others. To be peacemakers in our family. 

Keep us safe in our activities; give us good rest and good fun. 

Bring us back refreshed and ready for a new term. 

We thank you for our classmates, teachers, parents and a community that cares for us. 

May we always be conscious of you in our lives. 

Amen ....

Anita Mason - Religious Education Coordinator 

Our history starts with the sisters of Mercy.

In 1882 Mother Mary Bernard Grennan, Sister Augustine Mullally, Sister Stanistaus O’Neill and  Clare O’Donnell, arrived in Tumut from Yass and took up residence in a cottage at the corner of Simpson and Carey Streets. They conducted their school in the old church building and moved into the convent when it was completed in 1886.

School was conducted in St Mary’s Hall, built in 1858. It was continued as a school building until 1968. Our school has seen many changes. A new high school was built in 1968 and a new infant’s school in 1978.

The secondary school and the primary school were merged in 1991 and renamed to reflect the foundress of the sisters of Mercy. Catherine McAuley. There were changes in uniform and logo and motto. The tartan that was chosen for the uniform is a McAuley tartan. 

‘Mercy is the principal path marked out by Jesus for those who desire to follow him.’ CATHERINE McAULEY

McAuley remains committed to our Mercy Values and endeavour to translate these into our daily behaviours.

MERCY, we reach out to others in need, treat all with respect and reverence and act with compassion in all that we do.

JUSTICE, we commit to living justly by engaging in action for social justice and by celebrating our diversity and inclusiveness.

EXCELLENCE, we strive for our personal best in all we do.

INTEGRITY, we lead lives which integrate our personal beliefs and values with those of the school.

COURAGE, we stand up for our beliefs by putting our values into practice.

HOSPITALITY, we create a community where all feel welcome, through openness to people, ideas and challenges.

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord, we thank you for the call to be messengers of your mercy.  Expand our hearts with your joy as we grow in knowledge and understanding. Let us remember to always be a messenger of God’s Mercy and fill us with your confidence and courage, that we might learn to live and work as messengers of your mercy in all things.

As we speak….

May we speak of love and acceptance. 

As we listen….

May we hear the call to be Christ in the world.

As we walk….

May we walk with those in need.

As we live….

May we live the thoughts and actions of Jesus. Amen.

We make this prayer to you in the name of Jesus, your Son.

ALL: Amen.

Anita Mason

REC

Uniform Survey

Thank you to everyone that completed the short survey about the future direction of the McAuley Uniform. The response rate was very high – thank you. The results for either option were very close.

There was not a clear direction in the results of the survey to move away from a traditional uniform and as such the school will maintain a traditional uniform. However, the uniform will need to be modified to provide more comfortable, functional and equitable items. The intention is that we will have a uniform that provides options for all different body shapes and sizes, will be more appropriate for the Tumut climate and also provide a more cohesive appearance for the school’s brand as a K-10 Central School. 

The focus is on sorting out the summer uniform asap. The sports uniform will remain unchanged. But changes are being investigated to: 

• The summer dress; sourcing a lighter fabric and style that can be worn from K-10. 
• Navy skorts or shorts; as an alternative option to the dress. 

We will also be sending out a survey asking about the boys’ grey shorts. It has been suggested that to provide a more cohesive look to the school uniform, switching the boys from grey shorts/pants to navy shorts/pants.

The advantage of this is to streamline the uniform, on any given day at school, all students will either be in the McAuley tartan, a white shirt and navy bottoms or a red sports shirt and navy shorts/track pants. It is recognised that this is big change and would need a change over period and a further survey will be sent out shortly with this question in mind. 

More information will be available next term.

-Eamonn Moore, Principal

Term 2 fees are now due. It is very important to try and stay on top of the fees as they are vital for the financial management and operation of our school. If you are experiencing difficulty in making fee payments please make an appointment to meet with me at your convenience and we can discuss options.

Eamonn Moore, Principal. 

The Community Council AGM was held on the 22 June 2020, after an extended delay due to COVID19. The following committee were elected:

President – Natalie Bartlett

Vice President – Lucinda Clay

Treasurer – Melanie Pearce

Secretary – Karen Clarke

Parent Representatives – Lyndal McKay and Alyson Forsyth

Teacher Representatives – Jo Barton and Lyn Bathgate

Fundraising – Anna Stubbs

Uniform Committee – Lauren Roche

"Thank you very much to all parents and teachers who took on a role, it is greatly appreciated. A special thank you to Lyndal for your role over the past 4 years as treasurer. Following the AGM, was our meeting and we covered items such as school fence completion, new primary entrance garden, thanking Mitre 10 and the Williams family, fundraising and working bees. We also discussed fees, reports, financials and canteen.

We community council would like to pass on massive congratulations and thanks to the McAuley staff in their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reports from the community were very positive. Everyone was thrown in the deep end but Mr Moore and staff handled the situation with a great deal of efficiency and professionalism, you should all be very proud of your efforts".

Our next meeting will be held on the 6^th August at 5pm.

- Natalie Bartlett, President, McAuley Community Council. 

A friendly, easy and fun first day at McAuley for our graduating Year 10 class of 2024!

Thanks everyone for such a great start to High School. Next Orientation will be held on Friday 6th November. 

Last week Stage 3 participated in the Australia's Biggest Child Safety Lesson 2020, thanks to the Daniel Morcombe Foundation. Students were presented with an empowering lesson about online safety with a few thrills, spills and laughs thrown in.

It had a terrific cast including Australia’s eSafey Commissioner, Olympic Gold Medalist Steven Bradbury and fantastic young reporters. Here are some comments from our students:

"I learnt never to give my password or username to anyone" - Hannah

"You shouldn't friend people who you don't know" - Franz

"You should have your social media accounts set to private" - Reuben

"I learnt how to be safe online" - Deacon

"Get an adult from your safety network if something pops up online or you feel unsafe" - Sam

Our Year 1 and 2 classes have been busy with hands-on Maths and Science activities during the week. 

From rain gauges and rockets in Year 2 and jelly snakes in Year 1!

......Ask your children to tell you about it!

3/4C have been studying procedure texts and have followed recipes to make coconut ice, hedgehog slice and chocolate crackles!

Thanks McAuley dad, David Spicer, for coming to school to give a short talk about farming, weather and healthy soils = healthy plants and animals.

The students were all happy to hear about the cycle and the many interesting facts Mr Spicer had to share. Thanks again. 

Our McAuley Library is a place for students to enhance their classroom experience. Ms Roche and her inviting Library space, help to develop a love of reading and of books. The Library is also a great place to explore and create with Lego!

Our youngest students have been learning about money this week during Mathematics! They have enjoyed shopping using toy-catalogues. They all wished they were rich!!

As always keep an eye on our facebook page for more great photos!

We have received advice from the Commonwealth Bank that School Banking will resume from the start of Term 3.

Please contact the Primary Office if you would like to join this optional program. Student banking at McAuley is on FRIDAYS!

We continue to enforce higher-level hygiene and cleaning standards at McAuley. Please remember:

• If your child displays any signs of illness, cold or flu like symptoms they should stay at home.
• If they are referred to the school office/s their temperature will be checked and you will be asked to collect them.
• Physical distancing measures are not necessary amongst pupils but will be maintained in staffrooms and common areas for school staff and other adults.
• Hard copy assignments and teacher feedback processes are modified.
• Students are to bring their own drink bottle and fill it from the cold tap – no access to bubblers.
• Parents are discouraged from attending the school office/s and school common areas if at all possible.
• Parents are discouraged from congregating outside the school (Primary Pick Up Area) etc.
• There will be no school assemblies/masses or excursions this term.
• We are working on minimal movement for high school and primary school classes between rooms and areas.
• Increased hygiene and hand washing will be encouraged – each classroom with anti-bacterial hand wash.
• Cleaning of environmental spaces (Primary Equipment) and shared materials will be increased.
• Increased cleaning of school bathrooms and shared areas will take place.