It was fantastic to be at the Highfields Redbacks Oval on Wednesday night to see year 7/8 Mary Mack students win the inaugural Grand Final in the Darling Downs Super Rugby Cup. They were part of a combined team alongside Toowoomba Anglican School, and the style of rugby was incredibly entertaining. On a neighboring pitch at the same time, some girls from the Senior College were supporting a TAS side in a 7s game against Scots PGC. Again, our girls modelled really great teamwork and commitment.  On Sunday, we also had girls make the semi final of the Vicki Wilson Netball competition which is wonderful.  

We are so lucky at Mary MacKillop to have a real wealth of opportunities for our young people to play sport. There is nothing like it for teaching what I consider to be the two hallmarks of a wonderful character - will and humility.  

We ask a tremendous amount of children today. Childhood is filled now with all the temptations that we faced; but with so many additional traps and snares via a toxic level of social media, a greater quantity of opportunities for at-risk behaviours.  Such an environment, particularly the 'selfie' culture, creates a huge focus on the individual above the collective; upon the rights of one person being considered more important than a responsibility towards a community.  

What I saw on Wednesday night - but also on other occasions when I have had the chance to watch our students play in varied sports - was the brilliant mix of collective will and individual humility. It is mirrored in so many of our College activities; in the strings group who have performed so beautifully, in the choir who made our Father's Day liturgy last week so memorable; and in the numerous charitable and service activities our students engage in. Thank you all very much for the way that you encourage participation in these events and support them so willingly.  

I hope you will have seen the letter regarding the Christine Bethel Academic Bursary.  We have introduced this to enable greater inclusion at the College, so if it is something that would support your family please do look on the website and consider applying.

We are hosting another Open Classrooms this coming Friday.  I have asked a number of teachers to model our developing digitial pedagogy in the classrooms to give parents a greater idea of our potential in this area.  As I said to the Parent Forum in early August, my vision is to ensure that learning is really maximised in every classroom but also that the students feel that they receive a really first class experience.  

Thank you so much for your ongoing support.  I hope to see you at the Open Classrooms next week.  

Mary MacKillop Catholic College is pleased to unveil it's inaugural Academic Bursary.  Full tuition fee relief has been offered for a 3 year period for the following entry points:

Year 4 for years 4-6
Year 7 for years 7-9
Year 10 for years 10-12

Open to new and existing students to the College applications close 21 September, with panel consideration on 15 October, and successful applicants notified on 22 October.

One Bursary only is offered per year group.

Bursary are awarded on a points basis:

Genuine financial need
Proven academic track record
Teacher reference
Character reference

We look forward to receiving many applicants for this generous bursary program.

It was wonderful to see so many of our Dads and the special men in our lives join in our College celebration of Father's day.

The day began with an early breakfast and time to mingle around the barbecue prior to the whole College Liturgy in the MacKillop Centre.

The Liturgy led by our Year 10 students and involving students from Prep to Year 11 allowed us to reflect upon and highlight the special part that our Dad's play in the lives of all our Mary MacKillop community.

Each of our Dads present on the day were gifted with a cookie as a gesture of thanks and love for all they do to make our lives all the brighter, happier and worthwhile.

Mary MacKillop Catholic College is proud to partner with Platinum Plus Sponsor, Toowoomba Plastics for our 2019 Race Day.

Saturday, 14 September | 4:30pm till late

Tickets are ON SALE NOW! Get your friends together and book your tickets at Trybooking.com

What's included:

• Entry to the exclusive event in the Clive Berghofer Grande Atrium
• Welcome Drink
• 4 Hours of Canapes & Charcuterie boards (which is just a fancy way of saying, delicious bite sized gourmet finger food and a long cheese and meat platter that will be topped up for 4 hours!)
• Live Band - Preserve the Moose
• Private track-side courtyard to all 7 races
• Great raffles and prizes to be won on the night! 

Follow our event page on Facebook or use the link on our website to stay up-to-date with all the details!

Ticket sales close 9 September.

All profits will go towards technology upgrades across the College! Please join us as we build community together!

Raffle Donations:

We are now calling for donations for our Multi-Draw Raffle! Please contact us on 07 4698 7777 for further details.

Proudly Sponsored by:

Toowoomba Plastics, BBC Queensland, Channel 9 Darling Downs, Scrivens Haulage, Quadtech, Fred Voll Plumbing & Gas, Southern Energy Services, Toowoomba Cruise & Travel, and Impact Lighting.

Please contact event coordinators, Leander Kennedy, Carolyn Spina or Kirsty Gillett for further details, by emailing highfields@twb.catholic.edu.au or message us on Facebook.

When your child faces exams (often scheduled close together), they are under incredible pressure. They’ll need your understanding and support.

When dealing with exam stress, consider:

• The words 'pressure' and 'stress' are used interchangeably, but are actually quite different
• Pressure can be challenging, but positive and motivating overall
• Stress feels negative and can get in the way of performing well
• Each child responds differently to exam stress and pressure

What is exam stress? What causes it?

Stress is a negative reaction to excessive pressure or other demands. Exam stress can be caused by:

• Fear of ‘failure’
• Pessimism and thinking the worst
• Unrealistic expectations
• Feeling unprepared
• Ending or starting a new school year or term
• Performance anxiety

What to expect when exam stress hits

Your child may openly express how stressed they’re feeling. Or they may hold it in and try to cope on their own. These are some signs they may be under stress:

• Skin breakouts
• Losing touch with friends
• Racing heart and sweating
• Difficulty making decisions
• Mild chest tightness or pain
• Nausea or minor stomach upsets
• Blaming others, anger or frustration
• Problems going to sleep or waking up
• Teeth grinding, nail biting and fidgeting
• Feeling or thinking negatively about the future
• Feeling cranky and irritable (increased yelling, crying, swearing, lashing out)

How can kids manage their exam stress?

One of the challenges as a parent is that exams are something your child has to do on their own. But you can support them by trying the following:

• Have realistic expectations and don't push them too hard
• Be constructive and positive
• Encourage good sleep patterns and eating habits
• Provide a quiet space for them to study and prepare
• Teach them the importance of study breaks
• Encourage them to ask the teacher questions if they’re unsure
• Help them know what to expect on the day of the exam
• Help them be on time for the exam or arrive early
• After the exam, listen to their concerns and avoid criticising them

(Source: Parentline.com)

Last Tuesday, nine students represented Mary MacKillop Catholic College at the annual Primary Teams Chess Competition at Toowoomba Christian College. Our students combined with 500+ competitors to make the chess competition a roaring success. These students played 7 competitive rounds of entertaining chess against strong opposition to record very pleasing results. Congratulations to the boys and girls who represented our school with pride. You did yourselves and our school proud.

The Year 5 HaSS unit this term, deepened students’ understandings of 1800s settlement; people and events that impacted on and shaped colonial Australia. On Monday, 2 September, the students had a history dress up day. Students had to come dressed as a person from the 1800’s. Some students came as Ned Kelly, gold miners, bushrangers and diggers wives.

Students participated in the following activities:

• Damper making
• Panning for gold
• Learning how life was like in the classroom in the 1800’s
• Green screen
• Games from the past
• Learning about object/tools from the past

Students had a very informative and eventful day.

Comments from the day:

• It was fun making damper and then getting to eat it.
• I had fun learning about how school life was in the 1800’s.
• It was interesting playing Bat Ball.
• I enjoyed panning for gold and finding a small amount of gold which I then traded it in.
• I really enjoyed skipping.

Thank you to Elivia's mum who came in this week to talk to the Year 2 children about oral health. Sam works as a dental assistant and brought along her friend Mr Crocodile to demonstrate the correct way to brush and floss their teeth. 

The Australian Reading Hour is an important annual campaign encouraging Australians of all ages to read for one hour. While Thursday 19th September is the designated date for the Australian Reading Hour, reading at any time is beneficial. The following list includes just some of the advantages to be gained from reading:

• Increasing literacy and numeracy skills has a positive and significant effect on jobs
• Reading reduces stress by 68%, relieving stress more quickly than listening to music, going for a walk or having a cup of tea
• Children who know adults who read for pleasure take it for granted that reading is valuable
• The more leisure books people read, the more literate they become and the more prosperous and equitable the society they inhabit
• Reading a gripping novel causes positive biological changes in the brain that can last for days
• When tested for empathy, readers of narrative fiction achieved significantly higher than other groups
• Reading is closely linked to increasing our understanding of our own identities
• It was found by the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research that reading to children six to seven days a week puts them almost a year ahead of those who are not being read to.

Participate in the Reading Hour by picking up a book, reading to the children in your life or reading on your own. Enjoy a book today.

Our second installment on The Joys of Reading come from Kate Carroll, Year 6 teacher and Middle Leader Wellbeing. The author of the novel Kate is currently reading, was a guest speaker earlier this year to our Year 7 students. 

1. Why do you read? 

I read because it allows me to relax. I love reading and discovering new things. I love reading autobiography’s and chic literature.

2. What are you currently reading?

At the moment I’m currently reading Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton.

3. What key message do you take from this book? What stands out?

I have only just started reading it, but I heard an interview with Trent on the radio. I’m expecting that this book will teach me about life and how people can change their lives when they are focussed.

4. Your favourite all time book? Why?

I don’t have a favourite book, but I do love Marian Keyes books. I love that she sets the books in Ireland. Her books are always easy to read and often humorous.

Instrumental Lessons and Assessment

As we arrive at the assessment time it is important to remember that students must check their assessment calendar and notify their instrumental teacher if they require a lesson swap due to exams or assessment. 

It is also important that students remember to contact their classroom teacher regarding any work missed during class time. Many classes utilise Canvas and One Note for resources, this is a great place to refer to when catching up from any missed content.

Although this applies more to Secondary College students, sometimes our older Junior College students may know when assessment is due and should be able to check with their classroom teacher if arrangements need to be made. Parents and teachers are more than welcome to contact myself or tutors at any time to discuss arrangements.

Instrumental Music 2020

Now is an excellent time to begin to consider if your child would like to take part in the College Instrumental Program. There is a vast range of instruments on offer and it would be fantastic to see more Woodwind, Brass, Percussion and String students in the College to help develop our Concert Band and String Ensembles.

The Concert Band is in urgent need of Trumpet, Trombone, and Clarinet students. We would happily welcome Flute, Saxophone and Percussion students as well. The more the merrier! Instruments are available for hire from the College for eventual purchase.

The String Ensemble is urgently seeking for Cellists. Although a little larger that its Violin and Viola cousins, the Cello is a beautiful instrument that would help to provide the important bass line our String Ensembles need. Again instruments are available for hire.

Please contact me directly on my email Jennifer.morgan@twb.catholic.edu.au or call the College if you would like further information.

Choir

Thank you to Ms Fredline and Miss McVeigh for teaching our College Choirs a new piece for the College Father’s Day Liturgy. With Ms Fredline’s help many members of our College were able to use Auslan signs to accompany our opening hymn. Thank you also to the members of all College Choirs for their dedication to helping with the Liturgy.

Sacrament of Penance

Year 3 students from Mary MacKillop are currently preparing for the sacrament of Penance in our local Mary of the Southern Cross parish, Highfields. The program for this year has had a great response from families across the parish supporting students in the preparation to receive this sacrament for the first time.

At each of the Sunday Masses over the past couple of weeks students have made a commitment pledge towards their sacramental journey.

Pictured below are students making their pledges at our College supported Mass on August 25th. Please pray for these children as they will make their first Penance on Thursday 19th September.

Father's Day Liturgy

Last Friday students from our Year 10 cohort lead the prayers for our whole College Father's day Liturgy.

It was wonderful to see the confidence of our emerging College leaders as they step up to lead the junior school students in the prayer and liturgical life of the College.

Below is a poem read by Jack Haddow from last Friday and a link to our reflection clip about Our Dads.

Reflection : “Someone Special”

How good of God that he should give you to me as my Dad. That out of all the people in the world, he should have caused our paths to cross, our circumstances to intertwine, our minds to spark against each other- so that when we talk, there are so often fresh ways of thinking, new insights into love, and life, and faith.

Thank you for simply being there, on the dark days – and in the sunshine: available, ready to listen, to laugh, to weep with me, to pray.

Thank you for an arm flung round my shoulder. Knowing when to sympathise and when to help me back on my feet, and give me a push in the right direction.

Thank you for letting me know that I am important to you, that my contributions count. You are someone special.

Thank you for being my Dad.

Diocesan Feast Day Mass

Last Sunday Mary MacKillop College was well represented by students attending the 9am Mass at the Cathedral on Sunday, the Solemnity of Mary of the Southern Cross, the Diocesan Patronal Feast.

Student leaders, Connor McKerrow, Caitlin Lang, Holly Hutchison, Annabelle Fox and George Worner from Mary MacKillop Catholic College represented with distinction and pride especially being invited to be part of the lighting of candles, symbolically representing the six Deaneries of the Toowoomba diocese. An added celebration was of course Father’s Day and the welcoming of Fr Tom Duncan to the Cathedral Parish and the farewelling of Fr Nandana who is taking up a position at St Anthony’s Parish.

(Pictured are Students with Fr Tom Duncan following the Mass)

Bottle Tops

In our quest to source plastic bottle top lids for our NAIDOC Art piece we came across a charity organization based in Melbourne which melts plastic lids down to make prosthetic limbs for children in 3rd world countries.

Check out this incredible project at the envision hands website.

We still need bottle tops to complete our art piece (especially yellow and orange) but we would also like to support this wonderful charity project.

Families, if you could continue to send in bottle tops to your child’s class, they will be gratefully accepted and passed on to the Envision Hands charity.

 Please also note that Envision Hands can only use bottle caps with a grade 2 or 4 plastic. So, any with a ‘2’ or ‘4’ on the actual cap (not the bottle) will be fine! The number must be stand alone, not within a code. This will generally include soft drink, water and milk bottle caps. To see if the cap is usable, you can look at the numbers located on the underside of the cap. Any caps without numbers will be unusable as we have no way of knowing what grade plastic they are. We also ask that the caps are please rinsed before they are donated and that no extra plastic, metal or other material is attached. We also cannot accept any larger lids, such as those found on Vegemite or peanut butter jars as they are too difficult to process.

If you post anything on Facebook I just ask that you please tag us @EnvisionESI so we can see it, give it a like and comment and also that people can find our page easily.

Last Wednesday, students from Years 9-11 participated in our after school student cook-up for Healing Hands held each term in the food tech rooms. We had 16 students in total and the assistance of Mrs Holman, Mrs Richardson, Mrs Langerak, Mrs Wolff, Ms Harrison and Bev and Bob Kelso from the Parish. A fun afternoon produced many goodies to stock the Healing Hands freezer which included:  Moroccan Soup, Chille con Carne, some Chicken, Lime and Coriander hot pots, Weetbix Slice, Apple Crumble, Dutch Apple Cakes and Cornflake Biscuits. A huge thank you is extended to the parishioners from Mary of the Southern Cross Parish and parents of the College for again supporting us with donations and ingredients. Your support is greatly appreciated. Thank you also to our Year 11 Religion and Ethics students who created Mary MacKillop bookmarks to accompany meals. 

Thursday 12 September is R U OK? Day – a day when we’re reminded to ask, “Are you OK?” and to remember every day of the year to support people who may be struggling with life’s ups and downs.

At Mary MacKillop Catholic College, we know that regular meaningful conversations can make a difference. And you don’t have to be an expert to ask how someone’s going. Just a great mate and a good listener.

This year in the build-up to R U OK? Day we’re shining a light on the times we should be asking our friends and loved ones this important question. We want everyone in our college community to know that if something’s up with someone you know – there’s something going on in their life or you notice a change in what they’re doing or saying – it’s time to trust that gut instinct and ask them “Are you OK?”

To spread this message across the college, we will be running a number of fun lunch time activities in addition to delivering targeted classroom activities to develop awareness and skills to support others.

Parents/guardians are also invited to join the College Wellbeing Team for a cuppa, cupcake, and conversation where you can gather information and resources to support you in having these important discussions. Thursday September 12, 2019; Uluru (Junior School);  8:15 am – 9:00 am. We look forward to seeing you there.

R U OK? is a national charity dedicated to inspiring all of us to have regular, meaningful conversations to support anyone struggling with life. You can learn more about the signs and how to ask R U OK? at www.ruok.org.au

The 40th Annual 13-19 years Schools Track and Field Championships for the Darling Downs Region were held from 28-30 August at O’Quinn Park and The Glennie School. These Championships were the culmination of the efforts of the best athletes competing from the three Darling Downs Districts (Toowoomba, Inner Downs and Border). More than 1200 entries were received from 40 schools with over 400 students competing in 176 individual events. Eighteen students from our College competed over the two days of intense competition, with seven of our athletes gaining selection in the Darling Downs Regional Track & Field Team.  The following students will compete at the QSS 13-19 years State Athletic Championships from 19-22 October at Barlow Park in Cairns:

Bella Stenzel - U13 Girls 100m sprints

Gretel Worner - U16 Girls 100 & 200m sprints

Elijah Logan - U16 Boys 100 and 200m sprints, and 16-19 yrs 4 x 100m Relay

Lucas Paynter - U13 Boys Long Jump and Triple Jump, 200 and 400m sprints

Nick Roach - U14 Boys 200m Hurdles

Brendan Williams - U14 Boys 400m sprints

Isaac Williams - U16 Boys 100 & 200m sprints

Congratulations and good luck!

Mary MacKillop students are enjoying their weekly sporting fixtures in a variety of sports. Many thanks to the parents who are supporting the students and College staff for providing the students with these opportunities. Results from Years 5 & 6 Friday afternoon sports on 30 August 2019 were as follows:

Hockey versus Concordia Snr B team - Win 2-1

Netball Junior A versus St Thomas Mores 2 - Lost 7-4

Netball Snr A versus OLOL Snr A - Won 17-9

Netball Snr B versus Fairholme 3 Snr B - Lost 5-4

Rugby League versus St Thomas Mores Snr Boys - Win 22-12

Soccer Snr A Boys versus Darling Heights - Win 7-0

Soccer Snr B Boys versus Darling Heights - Win 3-2

2020 Triathlon Team

For the last two years the DD region has been using the Queensland Triathlon All Schools races held in late October at Kawana, to select our triathlon team (13-19 years) to compete at the following year’s state championship. This year the Toowoomba Tri Club will be hosting the DD selection races in the junior, intermediate & senior age groups as part of their club meet on Sunday 10 November at Oakey. Using this event will be cheaper for our athletes & families, and will help promote the local triathlon club & their events. We will send out more information about the races, entry process & DD selection process in mid -September as it will be open to students born 2001–2007.

The DD Aquathlon race for students born 2008 -2009 will be held at the Dalby Aquatic centre on Friday 25 October. Information will be forwarded to all primary students in mid –September.

Upcoming Sporting Events

19 September 2019

IDZ 14 Years and Under Cricket Trials: players born in 2006, 2005 or after 1 September 2004. Venue: Highfields Sports and Recreation Park Cricket Nets, 220 Barracks Rd, Highfields from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm.

The Lockyer 9’s Challenge: 9-a-side boys competition for U13, U15 & Opens. Venue: Cahill Park, Gatton.

18 October 2019

DD regional cricket trials: 13-14 years Boys. Venue: Toowoomba Grammar School.

Good luck to Lucy Williams who has been selected to participate in the QSS 10-12 yrs Girls State Cricket Championships in Toowoomba from Sunday 6 to Wednesday 9 October 2019.

Congratulations also to Josh Cranston who was selected to represent the Darling Downs Country Cricket Zone at the regional cricket trials in Highfields on Sunday 1 and Monday 2 September.  Liam Hackwood and George Worner also attended the trial but were not selected, however, they displayed great sportsmanship. Well done to all our cricket players.