Dear McAuley Families

The autumn weather is beautiful and the place looks a picture. Thanks for your efforts to have your sons and daughters in correct winter uniform. As stated previously, the Uniform Committee are meeting to be sure of supply and clarify directions as we prepare for Term 4 and Summer Uniform. Please continue to purchase the stock Swans have available for now.

I was very proud to represent our School over the weekend at various ANZAC Ceremonies. Last Friday we welcomed Commodore Rachel Durbin to speak at our McAuley Service. She gave a great example to our students of how successful a person with vision and who works hard can become in their chosen career. She was most impressed with the reverence and conduct of all our students at the ceremony and offered many compliments. Our student leaders proudly participated in the Dawn Service, Town March and 10.30 Services also. Thanks to Callum Dean, Ruby Carr, Taian Dutton, Hannah Hood and Franz Moreno who were outstanding representatives of our community. Thanks too for the support by a great number of students in the March in Tumut. I know others represented various community groups they are attached to, including Josh Smith in Talbingo. Thank you all. A photo gallery is included further in the Newsletter and on Facebook. 

Building Program: Works continue to be smooth on the Primary Campus for our Building Program. We held a very successful site meeting with the Architectural, Building Teams and CE Representatives last week. All is on track, barring supply issues which many trades are having currently. The plan remains that once the works on the Primary Campus are complete more will continue in the Secondary School with a number of classrooms being renovated. Exciting times!

Community Council Meeting: Our next community Council Meeting will be held in the Secondary Staffroom Thursday 6 May at 5.00pm for all interested parties. Please let us know in advance any Agenda items you might wish raised. Grateful thanks to those who were able to assist at the recent Rodeo Canteen which was an excellent fundraising opportunity for Community Council.

Australian Early Development Census: Kindergarten parents will receive a letter informing them of their child’s participation in the AEDC. This census occurs every three years and collects data on early literacy and numeracy progress at school. Please contact Mrs Crane or myself if you have any questions.

NAPLAN: National testing in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 takes place in May. Last year’s NAPLAN testing did not go ahead due to COVID 19. Parents should have received (via email) information on the tests and how and when they will be administered at McAuley. Please make sure your sons and daughters are well fed and well rested as the testing takes place so they can do their best. This testing provides us with important “point in time” data on a number of areas. Teachers are working to prepare students with a range of activities that rehearse the types of questions and answers required in the online tests.

Wellbeing Week: We continue to promote one week a term for Staff and Student Wellbeing. This term Wellbeing Week is in Week 7. Please keep an eye out for an excellent mental health parent workshop we are currently arranging to support the great work of our families.

I refer you to Linda Stade’s blog (lindastade.com) where she recently wrote about working with our kids and friendship issues. She writes really well about the power of stepping away from the “friendship fire”. That means encouraging our sons and daughters to avoid the mean text or social media comment, not choose sides and work to diffuse “moments of meanness”. Our Student Welfare Policy rewards those students who work to support and enhance our Mercy Values and continue to build a positive school culture. As parents too we can work on these same principles and focus on positive friendships and daily events rather than adding “fuel to the fire”.

Mary our Mother… Look after us.

Term 2 school fees were emailed out to families on Tuesday, 27th April. Fees can be paid via BPAY, Direct Debit, Qkr! app, EFTPOS, Cash or Cheque. If paying by the Term, fees are due to be paid by 01/06/2021.

If you need to update your direct debit payment amounts or commence direct debit payments, Direct Debit Request forms can be found via the following link:

https://mcauleytumut.nsw.edu.au/_file/media/135/directdebitrequest.pdf

Please complete and return the form to the school office as soon as possible.

To assist you with working out required payments, see the McAuley School Fee Calculator on our website:

https://www.mcauleytumut.nsw.edu.au/note-to-parents/school-fees

WORKING FOR THE COMMON GOOD!

To be 'holy' does not require being a bishop, a priest or a religious. We are frequently tempted to think that holiness is only for those who can withdraw from ordinary affairs to spend much time in prayer. That is not the case. We are all called to be holy by living our lives with love and by bearing witness in everything we do, wherever we find ourselves. Are you called to the consecrated life? Be holy by living out your commitment with joy. Are you married? Be holy by loving and caring for your husband or wife, as Christ does for the Church. Do you work for a living? Be holy by labouring with integrity and skill in the service of your brothers and sisters. Are you a parent or grandparent? Be holy by patiently teaching the little ones how to follow Jesus. Are you in a position of authority? Be holy by working for the common good and renouncing personal gain. 

Pope Francis, Apostolic Exhortation, Gaudete et exsultate #14

ANZAC DAY COMMEMORATIONS:

Last Friday the McAuley students and staff gathered together to commemorate Anzac Day; a day when Australians and New Zealanders give thanks for their free and peaceful country.

The Anzac legend was born on 25 April 1915, when some 20,000 soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landed under fire on the shores of Gallipoli, Turkey. The Anzacs on Gallipoli helped shape the Australian story. The term ‘Anzac’ expresses the characteristics that are seen as important to Australians and those serving in the Australian Defence Forces, including courage, equality, endurance and mate-ship.

Each year we commemorate ANZAC Day to remember those who fell during conflict in all wars Australians been involved in.  We also remember those who suffered as prisoners of war, and those who were killed in action. Our service men and women have left us a splendid heritage. May we and our successors prove worthy of their sacrifice.

This year we celebrate the centenary of the Royal Australian Air Force. Australian military aviation began in 1914 as the Australian Flying Corps. In 1921 the RAAF was established.

On Friday we are honoured to have Commodore Rachel Durbin join us for this ceremony. Commodore Durbin is the Royal Australian Navy’s Director General of Engineering. Her role of Director General Engineering is vital to ensuring Navy is capable of fighting and winning at sea. Put simply, Commodore Durbin is in charge or ensuring Navy ships are capable and safe to do whatever they need to do.

But her journey to becoming one of Navy’s highest-ranking officers, began right here in her hometown of Tumut – where much of her family still reside. Commodore Durbin attended Tumut High School where she took a keen interest in STEM subjects. With the support of her teaches, she went on to study Engineering at the University of Wollongong, before joining the Australian Defence Force Academy as a Marine Engineer.

Upon graduating, Commodore Durbin spent her sea-time on-board H-M-A Ships Westralia, Anzac, Canberra and Perth. Since then, she has become one of the Navy’s most respected and regarded engineers.

Throughout her distinguished career, Commodore Durbin has been deployed to operations in the Persian Gulf, conducting exercises in North and South East Asia, fisheries operations in the Southern Ocean and border protection off Northern Australia. She was also awarded the Conscious Service Cross in 2013 for devotion to duty. We also remember all who have served our nation in times of conflict. This year we celebrate the contribution of woman serving in the armed forces especially those who served in World Wars.

It is important day for us to stop and pray for peace – peace in our world, peace among people in our own country, peace in our families, and peace in our own hearts. We know that war brings sadness, grief and death. We also pray for those in our world who are affected by war.

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, we remember with thanksgiving those who made the supreme sacrifice for us in time of war. We pray that the offering of their lives may not have been in vain.

May your grace enable us this day to dedicate ourselves to the cause of justice, freedom and peace; and give us the wisdom and strength to build a better world, for the honour and glory of your name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

In our Principal's address he spoke of the wonderful support our students gave at the various Anzac Ceremonies. Thank you to everyone for representing our school. 

STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL NEWS - EASTER EGG RAFFLE: Our very active SRC students held an Easter egg raffle as a fundraising activity leading up to Easter. The SRC raised $500 which was spent on sports equipment for the students to use at recess and lunch. Thank you to everyone who bought tickets - and congratulations to Rori Caffery was the lucky first prize winner!

WARM WOOLLY WINTER WEDNESDAY: This term McAuley will hold its annual Warm Woolly winter day on Wednesday 16th June. On this day we ask the students to come dressed to school is their warm woolly clothes and bring in items of clothing, or blankets etc to donate to St Vincent de Paul. So, now is the time to start looking through your wardrobes, so that we can make this McAuley's biggest show of support St Vinnies and the excellent work they do within our community. 

WESTERN REGION RETREATS FOR YEARS 8, 9 & 10: This year St Anne's in Temora hosted the ‘Western Region Retreats’ for Year 8 and 9 students last term. The retreats were facilitated by the 'Catholic Schools Youth Ministry Australia' team from the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn. The cost of the CSYMA team and all travel costs were funded by our Catholic Education Office. Students were involved in activities which developed team building, cooperation skills and their spiritual growth. Both retreats were fun-filled days with students enjoying an opportunity to mingle with students from our Western Region schools. In 2022, McAuley will host the Year 8 and 9 retreats for Temora and Cootamundra students. 

Our Year 10 Western Region Retreat for this year, will be held at Village Conference Centre – Warrambui. More information will follow as details are confirmed. 

SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION: Our Year 6 students will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation this term, on Thursday 17th June at 6pm. Our Sacraments are Parish led, so more information will be given to the students from the Parish Sacramental Coordinator later this term. 

BRONWYN BANCROFT was chosen as a role model for the Mercy value of Justice in this term's Integrating Focus.

“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you” - Matthew 7:12 

Bronwyn Bancroft is an Australian artist who is amongst the first Australian fashion designers invited to show her work in Paris. Trained in Canberra and Sydney, Bancroft worked as a fashion designer, and is an artist, illustrator, and arts administrator. 

In 1985, Bancroft established a shop called Designer Aboriginals, selling fabrics made by Aboriginal artists including herself. She is also a founding member of Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative. 

Artwork by Bancroft is held by the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Art Gallery of Western Australia. She has provided artwork for more than 20 children's books, including Stradbroke Dreaming by writer and Aboriginal activist Oodgeroo Noonuccal, and books by artist and writer Sally Morgan. 

Bancroft has a long history of involvement in community activism and arts administration and has served as a board member for the National Gallery of Australia. Her painting Prevention of AIDS (1992) was used in a campaign to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in Australia. 

A fashion designer, artist, writer, scholar and activist, she is a proud Bundjalung woman from Tenterfield, NSW. In 1985, she started her own company Designer Aboriginals to bring the work of Indigenous fabric artists to the world, going on to show her own fashion designs in Paris. She then turned mainly to painting and illustration. Her use of colour is vibrant and her designs are gorgeously dynamic.  

Bronwyn Bancroft's quote: "We need to know each other's stories, know our stuff, diminish ignorance and get on with life and make sure we do a damn good job of it" 

Mobile phones and access to the Internet are an integral part of the digital lives of Australian teens. Owning a mobile phone and having access to the Internet carry an immense responsibility, both for children and parents. A survey conducted by the eSafety commissioner in 2020 came up with the following key findings:

Online lives

• Teens spent an average of 14.4 hours a week online.
• 9 in 10 teens used the internet to research topics of interest, watch videos, chat with friends and listen to music.
• 8 in 10 teens played games online with others.

Social media

• Teens used an average of four different social media services – YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat remain the most popular app/platforms.
• TikTok (formerly Musical.ly) – has shown the greatest growth, from 12% of teens in 2017, up to 38% in 2020.

Parents should be conscious of what their children are up to with their digital lives. Keeping a close eye on the digital profile of your child is paramount. Children should also be aware that any images or videos that are used as part of their digital lives whilst in school uniform allows them to be easily recognisable. It can also impact negatively on the school environment. 

Section 7 of Computer Facilities and External Networks – Acceptable Use by Students Policy highlights a number of areas that cover the correct use of Social Media for students. This Policy is signed by parents and students at the start of every year. A copy is available from the school office upon request.

The eSafety Commissioner has a lot of useful information for parents and students about safe use of the Internet and Mobile Phones. It can be found by accessing the link below: 

https://www.esafety.gov.au/

 We will aim to run a parent information session later in the year around Internet & Mobile Phone usage. We have been in contact with some organisations and are waiting for them to confirm their availability. If at any time you would like to discuss this further, please contact us at school.

SECONDARY RUGBY LEAGUE TRIALS: On the 20th April, Cal Rossiter, Josh Smith and Will Smith travelled to Forbes to trial for the CCC Western Rugby League Teams.  All 3 boys competed very well and enjoyed the experience.

Congratulations to Cal Rossiter on being selected in the Under 15s side. Cal will now compete in Wagga for the opportunity to be selected in the Southern Country Side which will compete in the NSW CCC Selections.

A big thank you to parents for transporting the students to Forbes for the trials.

In other League news, next Tuesday 4th May, our boys will be competing in the Small Schools Rugby League at Twickenham Oval. All of the small schools from our region will be competing for the opportunity to move on to the next round. Good luck McAuley boys. 

SECONDARY CROSS COUNTRY: It was a perfect day for the run last Friday around the Tumut Racecourse road. There were some very good times - Liam Buckley was placed first overall. Sydney Radford was placed first in his age group and was the second runner home on the day. Seamus McMahon placed 3rd overall. Reese Keenan was the first girl home and Ellisha Olsen was the second girl home on the day. Congratulations to all the runners on the day. Many of these students will now be going on to Canberra to compete in the Archdiocese Cross Country.

In other sporting news on our Secondary Campus, today 8 McAuley netball teams will be competing in the Netball schools cup at the Tumut Netball Courts. There are 4 girls teams and 4 boys teams participating in what sounds like a fun day!

PRIMARY RUGBY UNION 10'S CHAMPIONSHIP - WAGGA. After a great performance at the recent Gala Day held in Tumut, three Primary teams have progressed to Round 2 of the competition. This will be held tomorrow, Friday 30th. Thank you parents for transporting the teams. Good luck kids, play your best .... and have fun!

PRIMARY MACKILLOP WINTER TRIALS - CANBERRA. Best wishes to our Primary students, Sophie Webb, Sid Roche, Joe Pearce, Ryan Beavan, Hunter Watts, Jasper Plum and Aidan Turnbull who are representing the Archdiocese in Netball and Rugby League this Friday 30th. Congratulations on your selection - it's a wonderful effort and honour for you to trial at this level of competition. Good luck.

ATHLETICS CARNIVAL - HIGH JUMP RECORD SMASHED: All primary classes completed their final field event for our Athletics Carnival this week, with the high jump being the last. We had one exceptional performance in the senior girls, with Alexandra Crowe smashing the existing record of 1.21m - setting a new height to beat of 1.32m. This height also exceeds the current senior boy's record. Well done Alex, what a great achievement!

All ribbons and age champions will be finalised during Week 5. 

PASS elective students were given an assessment task to highlight and present a career in sport. I think you will enjoy our photo gallery! Well done everyone. 

During Science, 5/6 students were tasked with developing a sustainable product, using repurposed materials that would normally be discarded or end up in landfill.

These are some of their very imaginative prototypes, which they enjoyed making and showing to their classmates.

K-6 families are invited to donate a non-perishable gift suitable for a child to purchase for at our Mother's Day Stall on Friday 7th May.

If you can help on the day, or can assist with the wrapping of gifts, please ring Narissa on 0407 931 610. Thank you for your generosity. 

It was wonderful to see our community FESTIVAL OF THE FALLING LEAF once again on the local calendar this year.

A special section with the theme of 'CHANGE & INNOVATION' was the 'School Banner Display'. Our McAuley mural/banner was a combined artwork from our Kinder to Year 10 students. Embellished in the seasons and with our school building works and redevelopments intertwined, the banner was certainly a magnificent creation. 

Thanks go to Miss Mason, Mrs Crane, Miss Hill and Mrs Boxall for assembling and displaying the banner.