Today marks the end of a most amazing year.  Many times we’ve heard it was unprecedented, unusual, unbelievable, unimaginable…. So much has happened. We began the year with fires and loss and smoke and soon had a worldwide pandemic change everything about school and our lives.

For many of us it has been a year of disappointments and missing out… on trips, camps and excursions… assemblies and the chance to gather. It has been disappointing for me to not get to know our students and families as well as I would like and not to be able to gather together as a K-10 school.

But we should look back with pride.  In spite of all that has happened… we have achieved great things.  Each student report last week showed amazing progress. Every student has made steps forward, some have made small steps, others big ones but all have made progress.

Next year we look forward to continued chances to gather together and work to continue to build a partnership between our families, school and parish.  We look forward to enhanced learning spaces in the Primary School as our 2021 Building Project takes off, to improved facilities and maintenance and to the continuation of the wonderful things this school continues to achieve.

Grateful thanks to our amazing staff.  Our teaching and non-teaching staff have worked under the most trying of conditions and in spite of that have achieved great things.  The teamwork and genuine care for one another we have witnessed this year is amazing.  Thank you all.

Best wishes to our departing members of staff: Michael Hughes, Kerrin Henderson, Jennifer Cutcliffe and Melissa Hotham (who has been seconded as REC to St Mary’s Batlow for 2021).

Welcome (and welcome back) to our new members of staff for 2021:  Veronica Thake, Brie Groves, Janeanne Moss, Joanne Dougherty, Heidi Stubbs, Belinda Schirmer and Julie Piper in various roles both Primary and Secondary.

Primary Classes for 2021:

Secondary Timetable:  Our Secondary timetable remains to be finalised.  Please note there will be no lockers available for students next year. The BYOD program continues in Years 7-10.  Please note the minimum specs which are advertised in this newsletter for appropriate devices.

I also take this chance to congratulate the students who received awards at the various 'covid friendly' ceremonies during the week. Well done!

I also congratulate the School Leaders elect for 2021. We look forward to our Opening School Mass where we will officially present them with the badges. We hope Covid restrictions will allow us to enjoy a lovely family/school occasion. 

I take this chance to wish every family a restful, peaceful and joyful Christmas and New Year and look forward very much to the opportunities that 2021 will offer us all.

Mary our mother… look after us.

Eamonn Moore.

Please click on the link below, for the full list of 2020 Student Award Recopients and Leaders Elect for 2021.

List of Student Award Recipients 2020

Please click on the link below for a useful resource for discussion of mental health and wellbeing support for the holidays if required.

Support during the school holidays

The flyer seeks to normalise some of the feelings your child may experience as they approach the summer and the holiday period. The information offers advice and a simple strategy ‘AIM’ to help manage feelings and emotions should young people (and adults) become triggered. 

The second page of the flyer offers some targeted online and phone contacts for further support.

K-10 Classroom requirements for 2021

Please click on the attached link for all student classroom requirements for next year.

Parents and students are reminded to ensure all exercise books are suitably covered, ready for use on the first day. 

Please note there will be no lockers available for students next year. 

Bring Your Own Device (Year 7 to 10) Harvey Norman has provided us with a flyer as a guide to some of the selected models which would be suitable for McAuley secondary students next year.

Please click on the link below to view:

Thank you to all generous families who donated the beautiful items to sell at our recent Christmas Stall. We hope all K-6 children enjoyed the opportunity to purchase something special for a loved one.

Thank you to Narissa Watts and her merry band of helpers for coordinating and running the Stall. The stall raised $1283.00 which is AMAZING!

The School Community would like to thank the following parents for their fantastic efforts in the Canteen last Saturday at theTumut Campdraft.  

Awesome teamwork everyone, it went really well.

Natalie Bartlett, Wendy Webb, Susan Reddy, Sarah Roche, Liz Austen, Melanie Pearce, Amanda Carter, Wayne Skein, Jodie Vickery, Emma Evans, Belinda Schirmer, Kelly Deudney and Mendie Bruijns.

Please click on the attached links:

• McAuley Schedule of Fees for 2021
• McAuley School Fee Calculator
• Direct Debit Form
• Change Direct Debit Form
• Qkr! How to Guide for Parents

School fees in 2021 will rise by 3% in line from advice from Catholic Education and has been approved by the McAuley Community Council. Please utilise our School Fee Calculator on our website to check the appropriate payment amount applicable to your family.

School fees are emailed out to families in Week 3 of each Term.

Payment Options:

Direct Debit:

If you choose to pay your school fees via direct debit, please complete the Direct Debit Form and return it to the school office as soon as possible. We strongly encourage families to pay via Direct Debit.  It is an easier way to budget and spreads costs across the school year. You have the option to pay weekly, fortnightly, monthly or quarterly.

If you currently pay your school fees via direct debit, your fee payments need to be updated and increased annually – please calculate your payments using the school fee calculator.

BPAY:

If you choose to pay your school fees via BPAY, your reference details will be at the bottom of your fee statement.

Qkr! app:

The Qkr! app (pronounced ‘quicker’) by MasterCard is a secure, convenient and easy way to make school payments. Receipts are automatically generated on your phone or sent to your email.

Qkr! is also very convenient for canteen ordering and school excursion payments.

If you have any queries about your fee payments, please do not hesitate to contact Tricia Taylor at the school office.