Dear McAuley Families

A promise of spring has really lifted everyone’s spirits in the last day or so after the icy blast of snow last weekend.  I saw an amazing photo on Facebook showing a paddock in smoke, drought and now lush green which reminded me powerfully of the incredible year we are enduring each in our own way.

This year with bushfire, COVID, remote learning and restrictions in place has certainly tested our resilience.  It’s been a rapid entry to the Principalship here for me!  People ask what resilience is, and after eleven years in a boy’s school and 35 years in education I would assert it is the one of the most important qualities we need to build in our children.  The ability to “bounce back” or “get back to normal” is something our children learn from us and something which we need to teach them to do.

“Bounty Parents” online propose 3 Simple Ways to Build Resilience in children. They suggest:

1. Make sure kids have enough sleep. 6 – 9 year olds need 10 – 11 hours of sleep a night and 12 – 15 year olds need 10 hours.  Build routines that ‘wind down’ body and mind before bed.  Read and relax – put away devices as they stimulate the mind rather than relax it.
2. Get kids being active. Physical activity has positive effects on self-esteem.  Walk, ride, do chores, garden… all are simple (and free) ways to be active.  This enhances ‘feel good’ brain chemicals (and helps you feel tired to sleep). Already I see a more peaceful playground in the Secondary as we embrace movement and the refurbished blacktop area.
3. Problem solve together. Helping our kids solve their problems is vital.  Encourage them to talk about their worries.  Look at ways to solve problems… write, draw and look at consequences.  Help them to understand that things don’t always work out the way we want or expect but to be confident in having a go.

It’s easy to try and solve problems for our children.  It upsets us to see their pain and confusion but by jumping in too early we create more problems than we solve.  Let’s not be “lawnmower” parents who smooth the way for our young ones so they have no obstacles!

We continue with Kinder and Year 7, 2020 interviews at the moment and offer phone options now with the increased restrictions on schools.  Again, please encourage those with an interest in McAuley to contact me for a chat or a tour. Education writer Linda Stade writes beautifully about the benefits that come from choosing a small school and highlights the “measuring stick” of a school’s quality is it's past students… give that some thought when you read about our current student leaders and past students highlighted in our #mcauleymademe campaign on Facebook. They are all successful people who praise our wonderful school for the fine job our staff and parents did in their early education.

Week 7 (next week) is “Well-being Week”. The school aims, that this week each term, is set aside as a time where we can be free from distractions, assessments, meetings and so on. Staff will try to avoid this week as much as possible for due dates or testing. I hope that in your family, you can make use of some time to do something special for your family’s health and well-being.

Mary our Mother… Look After Us.

Eamonn Moore

Principal

A reminder to families that Term 3 School Fees are due this Friday, 28^th August. Prompt payment of fees would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your support. 

On Tuesday 1st September -  we celebrate THERRY HOUSE.

The Therry House Vice Captains decided a Therry Teams Day. Students are invited to come to school dressed in their team colours eg. Rabbitohs/ Therry/Wanderers, Sydney Swans or in green.

There is no gold coin donation to wear mufti clothes.

We have 'hot-dog & fruit box' meal deals on offer (PRE-ORDERED ONLY) for K-10 students. Primary will enjoy a meal deal lunch, while Secondary will enjoy morning tea!

Please send in your Meal Deal order on a paper bag with name and class and $5.00 enclosed.

Our Secondary students were given a great opportunity to compete in an 'Education Perfect Science Competition', which was held in conjunction with National Science Week. The competition consisted of two levels, one within our Archdiocese and the other was a worldwide competition. 

This competition was not compulsory so what a really great effort from our students who had a go!

Notable results as follows: Russell Guppy - 1st in Canberra Goulburn, Emily Kelly - 3rd in Canberra Goulburn, Jessica Kelly - 4th in Canberra Goulburn, Jude Moreno and Nace Caffery - 5th and 6th in Canberra Goulburn.

These great individual results placed McAuley FIRST in the Archdiocese. WOW well done!

Our McAuley Fire Cadet team consisting of Jake Crane, Lottie McMahon, Corrine Jackson, Kurt Torio and Jacob Spicer have made it to the State Grand Final, which is being held in Wollongong in September, restrictions permitting.

The team had to complete several tasks within a short time frame, which was filmed, uploaded and marked on their skills. The six teams with the highest score in the State made it to the Finals. A great effort to our team, their supporters and particularly to Peter and Tracey Jones, for all their hard work.

-Kerry Croft. 

The return of the popular 'spotlight' on our SRC members continues this week - we look forward to hearing from all our SRC members over the coming weeks.

McAuley Inspires Me....!

Our Student leaders were treated to a special luncheon recently to celebrate their leadership roles. Unfortunately, a lot of our school and community based activities have been cancelled this year due to COVID restrictions - but we still value our student leaders.

Our Principal Mr Moore and Executive Staff hosted the happy event which was enjoyed by all.

Our McAuley School News was delivered by CHISHOLM VICE CAPTAINS Natalie Mather and Jack O'Brien yesterday morning on Radio Sounds of the Mountains. Tune in on Wednesdays around 9:30am for this great segment.

We are fortunate to have Practicum Teacher, Mrs Ros Piper on our Year 5H class. Ros has been studying Primary Teaching with UNE Armidale via distance education for the past five and a half years and is hoping to finish at the end of 2020. Ros is a local, married to Ray, two children Henry (Year 1 at McAuley) and Maggie 2 years old, plus a step-daughter Karla (23 years).

Ros is really enjoying working in such a welcoming environment with the lovely 5H class and teacher.

Ros is pictured teaching a great, hands-on, Science lesson. 

Indigenous Literacy Week Library Activity!

All students are asked to donate and bring into school one book (in good condition) which we will set up in the library like a book-shop.

During library lessons and lunchtimes, students can buy one of the donated books for $2.

This money will be donated to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation to purchase resources for children in remote communities. The students will be learning about the cause in Library.

Students have been entering their writing of humorous narratives for the Coles Little Tree House Competition. Parents, please encourage your child to return their signed entry form to their class teacher. Great prizes, including gift-vouchers and books for our school for the winners!

All entry forms, SIGNED BY PARENTS are due back to school by this Friday. 

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the highly awaited, combined K-6 Father's & Mother's Day Stall has been postponed.

We hope to be able to provide a HUGE Christmas Stall where children will be able to purchase gifts. Your beautiful donations will be stored until then. 

Thank you again for your generosity and support. 

Dear God, Thank you for all the fathers and father-figures in this world and for the many ways you use them to lovingly guide others to Your heart. Bless them and give them great joy and peace. Show them how much you love them and care about them. Amen.

Thank you everyone for your support with our recent Ag Plot fundraiser raffle of six draws of a side of dressed lamb. The final amount raised, after expenses was $696.00. A great effort. 

Special thanks to Belinda Schirmer for her support. 

All women are invited to participate in an Archdiocesan Women’s Reflection Afternoon which will be livestreamed to all corners of the Canberra Goulburn Archdiocese this Saturday 29^th August from 2.00pm to 4:30pm.

Speakers: Clara Geoghegan is the Executive Secretary to the Bishops’ Commission for Evangelization, Laity & Ministry.  Clara has lectured in Church History and Spirituality at Catholic Theological College (Melbourne). Clara is also the Co-Director of the Catherine of Siena Institute, Australia.

Clara hopes to inspire the women of the Archdiocese to respond to their baptismal calling to intimacy with Christ and to co-responsibility for the mission of the Church.

Brigid Cooney: Official Delegate from the Archdiocese of Canberra Goulburn to the Plenary Council of Australia Brigid is a 21-year-old native Canberran. Since working on the Youth Mission Team in 2017 and 2018, Brigid has been studying a double degree in History (ANU) & Teaching (ACU) and hopes to make a difference to young people by teaching history and religious education.

Brigid will share her personal journey of discovering her own baptismal calling to intimacy with Christ and co-responsibility for the Mission of the Church. She will also explain why she put her hand up as a delegate for the Plenary Council and what she hopes will be achieved.

Guided Prayer:

As well as these inspiring talks, the Women’s Reflection Afternoon will be punctuated by short guided prayer experiences lead by the following groups: Winniefred Rebello, Women Alive (Indian, Pakistani & Sri Lankan Catholic women’s prayer group), Anne Hartwell, Mothers Prayers, Bronnie Schlager, Call to Connect, Karen Doyle, Sisterhood National Catholic Women’s Movement and Vikki McDonough, Christian Meditation.

Register for free at www.bit.ly/WomensReflectionAfternoon

Enquiries text Lara 0429 192 869 or email catholic.women@cg.org.au

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