Dear McAuley Families

Welcome back to Term 3. I know there were a number of families who had travel plans interrupted by the COVID situation yet again (ourselves included). Many have not seen interstate family members for quite some time and some have family internationally that they must feel desperate to be able to see again. It is a strong reminder to us all to enjoy every moment and hold our family members close to us.

Sadly, we are seeing a rise in anxiety amongst our young people who no doubt are reflecting the hesitation and fear that is portrayed in the press and society generally.  With that comes change in mood, clinging to home and family with some negative behaviours. Michael Carr-Gregg has excellent advice on his website (www.michaelcarrgregg.com) which recommends eight steps, websites and apps that may support our young people (and us!) during these times.

The 8 secrets of wellbeing and websites/apps that can help:

1. If you can’t change it, change the way you think about it (ecouch/this way up/Moodgym)
2. See life as it is, but focus on the good bits (Three Good Things)
3. If you want to feel good, do good (The Kindness App)
4. When we are together, everything is better (Happify)
5. Be active, rest, relax (Couch to 5K)
6. There is more to life when you stop and notice (Headspace/Smiling Mind)
7. Find time to lose yourself in what you love (Blinklist)
8. It helps to know what you are looking for (Bucketlistly/Soon)

The situation is fast moving, with regional areas in lockdown as I write. Rest assured, McAuley remains prepared for any eventuality and our staff are working hard to be prepared for any situation. I remain in awe of their energy and flexibility as well as their commitment to keeping our days as busy and normal as possible in these uncertain times.

Our communication is aimed at being timely and as simple as possible. At all times we rely on guidance from Catholic Education and NSW Health. (Please refer to: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/what-you-can-do-nsw)

Thank you for your support in remaining away from school grounds and in only visiting the school if essential. The wearing of face masks is recommended for all essential visitors and students in Year 7 and above and I thank you again for your support in this area.

Please keep an eye on social media and know that any important announcements will be communicated via email to ensure all families receive the information.

Rebecca Van Herk Workshop:  Many parents enjoyed meeting with Rebecca and working through understanding their children’s “big emotions”. We had Rebecca booked to return in mid-August but due to being in lockdown in Sydney she has had to cancel. I know many will be disappointed to read this (as I was). We look forward to working with Rebecca later in the year if at all possible.

Uniform:  Our last Community Council meeting spent some time refining the uniform options that have been suggested. At this week’s meeting the Community Council hope to make more progress on finally making a clear way forward with uniform. It’s great to see a number of students already wearing the warmer jackets and sloppy joes on these cold days.

Community Council Meeting:  Reminder about our meeting this week. The meeting will be held in the Hall Classroom TONIGHT, Thursday 22 July at 5.00pm. Masks, physical distancing and QR code check in required.  For those wishing to join the meeting on MS Teams please register with the school office by 2pm today.

Western Region Athletics Carnival: The carnival is “on hold” at the present time as restrictions make it impossible for competitors to travel outside of their local areas. 

Seasons for Growth:  A reminder to register your interest if you believe your sons or daughters might benefit from the “Seasons for Growth” program.  This program assists young people who have had “big life changes” – loss, separation or similar.  Please contact Shannon McCabe for more details (Shannon.McCabe@vinnies.org).

Mary our Mother… Look after us.

Eamonn Moore

Principal

WOW, how time flies when you are having fun! Our youngest students will celebrate 100 days of school next Tuesday 27th July and to celebrate the Kindergarten children (only Kinder) are invited to wear non-uniform. 

Congratulations Kindergarten, Mrs Crane is so proud of you all! 

As expected, we have little to report this newsletter from the sporting arena, however please note the following. 

1. The Primary Western Region Athletics Carnival has been postponed to a date to be confirmed. This of course has a flow-on effect which changes the date of the Archdiocese Athletics Carnival. We will advise dates as we know them.
2. The Netball Schools Cup in Wagga has also been postponed.
3. Trent Barrett Shield has been cancelled.

BE YOUR OWN HERO - League Stars Program appeals to the true nature of kids, in all their messy, high energy, love of fun and play. Each week, your child will participate in specially designed games that get the smiling and sweating. This Program will commence on 26th July from 4pm to 5pm and will continue for 8 weeks. The age group is for 5-12 years and will cost $99-00. This program is a NSW Government, approved for 'Active Kids'. Please contact Courtney Barratt on 0407 426 105 for full details. The program will take place at Franklin Public School. 

- Lyn Bathgate, Primary Sports Coordinator. 

STAFF SPIRITUALITY DAY!

'Silence Stillness Service'. On the first day back this term the staff gathered for their annual Spirituality Day. The theme for this year was Silence Stillness and Service. 

The day was filled with opportunities for silence and stillness but also for listening, questioning and reflection.

The staff engaged in several reflective opportunities and formation techniques such as visio-divina, Emmaus walks, writing journals, small group sharing and Christian Meditation.  

This spiritual formation opportunity was a lovely opportunity for staff to look deeper at themselves and develop an understanding that silence and stillness, like all the tools of the spiritual life, is not an end in itself.  It is a means — a method for coming to know God and Jesus Christ.

WORLD DAY FOR GRANDPARENTS & THE ELDERLY

Pope Francis has instituted a Church-wide celebration of a World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Starting this year, it will be held on the fourth Sunday of July, close to the liturgical memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of the Virgin Mary and the grandparents of Jesus. Pope Francis has given it the theme “I am with you always” from the Gospel of Matthew (Mt 28: 30).

The Holy Father said he instituted the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly because “grandparents are often forgotten, and we forget this wealth of preserving roots and passing on” what the elderly have received.

He emphasised the importance of grandparents and grandchildren getting to know one another, because “as the prophet Joel says, grandparents seeing their grandchildren dream,” while “young people, drawing strength from their grandparents, will go forward and prophesy.”

This day has a beautiful message for our students; that older people’s greater perspective, depth of experience, and appreciation of life’s profound rhythms are all part of a wisdom not to be taken lightly or ignored.

A prayer for grandparent's that was written by Pope Benedict.

Lord Jesus, you were born of the Virgin Mary, the daughter of Saints Joachim and Anne.
Look with love on all grandparents. Protect them! They are a source of enrichment
for families.

Support them! May they continue to be living treasuries of wisdom and courage and may they pass on the fruits of their human and spiritual experience.

Lord Jesus, may we always value our grandparents and show them 
respect and love. Keep all grandparents constantly in your care,
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

TERM 3'S INTEGRATING FOCUS

Our role model this term is Eileen Rosaline O'Connor (19 February 1892 – 10 January 1921). She was an Australian Catholic and the co-founder of the Society of Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor (1913) – also known as the Brown Nurses – committed to providing free nursing services to the poor-visiting the sick in their homes and nursing the frail and the elderly.

'The cause of a person’s poverty is not yours to question. The fact a person is poor is the reason you help.’

Eileen became a Servant of God in August 2018, which is the first of four steps towards sainthood. The Most Rev. Anthony Fisher OP, Archbishop of Sydney, approved two prayers for the beatification of Eileen O’Connor:

“Great and Merciful God, through the maternal love of the Blessed Virgin Mary, you inspired your servant Eileen O’Connor, to care for the sick and dying poor and to serve your Church through spiritual and corporal works of mercy. Listen graciously to our prayers, and grant that Eileen may be raised to the glory of your altar. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.”

“Holy and loving God, we give you thanks for your faithful servant Eileen O’Connor. By your grace she united her sufferings to Christ and her prayers to Mary. With great patience she inspired and called other women to be devoted to the care of the sick and dying poor, both in body and in spirit. We humbly ask that the Little Mother, Eileen, who by her ceaseless prayer and suffering inspired others to live the Gospel, may be lifted up and counted among your saints in heaven. Graciously hear our prayers through Christ Our Lord. Amen.”

Swans have informed the school that due to the latest COVID strain, international freight has been further impacted. So unfortunately the new red sports shirt will not be in stock until the end of August.

Optional ON-LINE ONLY book-club orders must be finalised by this Friday 23rd July please.

Thank you. 

At the end of last term our students completed a four week 'YES' program with the TAFE. It was a great opportunity for students to have hands on experience of  possible future careers. The feedback from the students were very positive and all agreed it was a worth while opportunity!

Kerry Croft, Careers Teacher. 

Congratulations to the following students who received Certificates of Achievement at the Term 2 Assemby.

Kindergarten

Gracie Carney, Angus Corbett, Gershom Oddleiv Lucando, Karl Moreno, Payton Nolte and Elise O'Brien.

Year 1

Charli Laney, Liam McGuffie, Oliver Haverfield, Jasmine Perry, Chasiel Tuburan, Ruby Perry, Abigail Forsyth and Archer Tobin.

Year 2

Henry Piper, Primrose Corbett, Amelia Smart, Lucas Webb, Corbin Jorgensen, Ayla Spicer, Hugo Adams and William Roche.

Year 3

Parker cini, Aylah Clout, Isabella Crowe, Isabelle Fardell, Lara Farquharson, Fletcher McKay, Lachlan O'Brien, Isabella Oliver, Nevaeh Riethmuller and Max Webb.

Year 4

Ethan Buckley, Stephen Olsen, Lacey Garner, Myah Clarke, Layla Evans, Brad Beavan, Kobi Noble, Hixsen Duck and Elle Lyons.

Year 5/6 G

Angus Adams, Lyron Brooks, Lincoln Hartshorn, Ava Lindley, Seth McMahon, James Halloran, Aidan Turnbull and Hunter Watts.

Year 5/6 VT

Lydia Salmon, Bhargavi Kanagaraj, Sidney Roche, Cooper Ambrose, Wil Vickery, Hannah Hood, Jessica Evans and Noah Donghi.

5/6 MT

Tyler Annetts, Will Crampton, Jack Corbett, Marolena Hanna, Wyatt Hursey, Reuben Phillips, Una Skein-Bruijns, Angus Watts and Macy White.

Year 7

Aliviah Donghi, Catriona Jackson, Jack O'Brien, Georgie Austen, Susie Bartlett, Reese Boyd and Stephanie Reddy.

Year 8

Nace Caffery, Zahli Dean, Dustin Hood, Jude Moreno, Jie Min Shang, Nemika De Zoysa, Eadie McKay, Missy Ryan and Daniel Stiles.

Year 9

Olivia Dean, Lucinda Roche, Chloe Turnbull, Lily Webb, Matilda Cathcart, Russell Guppy, Emily Kelly and Daniel Smith.

Year 10

Jacob Ambrose, Ruby Carr, Anne Margareth Dalisay, Risandi De Zoysa and Joshua Smith.

BRONZE CERTIFICATE AWARDS for receiving 10 Mercy Awards for their actions within the McAuley community

Isabella Oliver, Isaac Clay, Billy Cribb Kelly, Jake Bower, Matilda Carmody, Mason Blundell, Nace Caffery, Tahlia Bocking and Daniel Stiles.

PRINCIPAL'S AWARD

Eva Proos, Nash Fife, Pia Zovaro and Joshua Smith.

The winner of the 'Winter Bites Festival tickets was Corinna Dodd and the winner of the load of wood was Janet Jensen.

A total of $715 was raised.

Thank you all families for supporting this raffle and the school's on-going ground and gardening projects.

A huge thank you to Rachel Brown and family for donating both prizes. Thank you for your support and enthusiasm of our school.