Newsletter - T2 W2 - 09/05/2025

From the Principal

Welcome to Term 2, students have settled back into their studies well, and there is vibrant, positive energy around the College. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those students who attended the ANZAC Day services. It was great to see so many young people paying their respects to the brave men and women who have served our country. Leadership is not about self, it is about serving others and showing love for their community. This is a value we work hard to instill in our students.

During assembly on Wednesday, students were asked to reflect on a core Catholic Social Teaching that forms the foundation of our community. The dignity of the human person. This isn't just a theological concept, it is a guiding principle that shapes how we interact with one another, how we learn, and how we strive to be the best versions of ourselves.

Each individual is created in the image and likeness of God, and the dignity of the human person affirms the worth and value of every single member of our community.

What does it mean for us in our daily lives?
Look beyond superficial differences and recognise the unique gifts and potential that reside within every individual. Work to create an environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging, where differences are valued, and no one is excluded. Acting with integrity and advocating for what is right. Making sure that communication is timely and respectful, especially when we hold differing views.

By embracing the dignity of each person, we not only strengthen our own community but also contribute to building a more just and compassionate world.

Senior Examinations
It was fantastic to see the commitment our senior students showed to their studies during the recent Preliminary Examinations. Students need to reflect on their performance, especially if they underachieved. With a strong work ethic and the application of teacher feedback, students will be well prepared to embark on the HSC component of each course.

St Mary’s Parent Group
On Wednesday, SMP and the College hosted a combined St Mary’s Community Group. There was a small but very enthusiastic and committed group of parents in attendance who heard from both Principals about how the schools are tracking. It is reassuring to see that both schools are in a very positive position at present and are looking forward to a great 2025.

All parents are invited to attend the next meeting on Wednesday, 30 July (Term 3, Week 2) starting at 5.15pm, concluding at 6.30pm

Have a great weekend

Michael Campbell
Principal

Upcoming Dates

Week 3
Monday 12/05/25 - Year 7 Enrolment Interviews - SMCC
Thursday 15/05/25 - Primex

Week 4
Monday 19 - Friday 23/05/25 - Stage 5 Exams

Parish Mass Times

Weekend Mass
Saturday 5.00pm
Sunday 8.00am

Weekdays
Monday 9.00am 
Tuesday 8. 00am
Wednesday 8.00am
Thursday 9.00am
Friday 9.00am
Saturday 9.00am

Adoration
Wednesday 5.00pm
Following 9.00am Mass Saturday

Reconciliation
Saturday 8.40am - 9.00am
Anointing of the sick
First Saturday of each month

Country Mass
Sunday, 10 May
Tabulam, 10:30am

Mission Team

Conclave
We have been privileged to witness a historic moment in the life of the Catholic Church over the last few weeks. The passing of our beloved Pope Francis, his funeral and the gathering of the Cardinals for the Conclave are significant for our global Church. Our homerooms ‘adopted a Cardinal’ last week to learn about and increase their engagement in this momentous occasion. 

Pope Leo XIV
We now have the joyous opportunity to welcome Pope Leo XIV as our newly selected leader of the global Church. The Holy Father invited the faithful to pray together, emphasising that “God loves us all unconditionally” and highlighting his desire to continue a mission of openness and mercy. We pray the Holy Spirit continue to work through Pope Leo XIV for peace and unity in the Church

Mothers Day
We wish all the Mothers and Mother-figures in our community a wonderful day on Sunday! May your vocation of parenthood always provide you with joy and happiness. 

Clare Axman
Assistant Principal - Mission

Evangelisation

Street Retreat
Street Retreat is an experience that will form, equip and empower students to return to their parish communities with a passion for social justice and greater sense of the call of Jesus Christ to serve the poor.

Year 11 students interested in being considered for Street Retreat completed their expression of interest this week. Four students will be selected from those interested to participate. The decision on those to be involved will be made in the coming weeks.

ACYF
The Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) is a national gathering of Catholic young people
established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC). It exists to provide young people
with opportunities to deepen their relationship with Jesus, be empowered to be disciples in the world
today and encounter and celebrate the vitality of the Church in Australia. In 2025, young people from
across Australia in Year 9 (in 2025) to young adults 25 years of age are invited to attend the event in
Melbourne.

Students in the Year 9 Ministry class have been asked to indicate their interest in attending this event. Further information for those chosen to attend will be provided in the coming weeks.

Ministry Classes
We have one class of RE in both year 9 and year 10 who undertake a slightly different learning program which leans towards a more practical approach to Religious Education. While the assessments and core learning remain the same as the other classes, there is an addition of Ministry units of work. These classes also have the opportunity to attend a two day excursion in August where they meet up with their peers from other schools in the Lismore Diocese who are also in a Ministry Class at their school. Our students are looking forward to this excursion, and information will be going out to parents shortly.

Kate Rowlands
Leader of School Evangelisation

From the Leader of Pastoral Care

As the weather is starting to cool down, I would like to take this opportunitiy to remind parents that all students have the option to wear long pants as part of their formal uniform. These are available at the College Uniform shop, and can be ordered online if required.

Boys and Young Men Online Free Parent Webinar
Free Parent Webinar: Boys and Young Men Online 27 May 12.30 - 1.15 pm

For boys and young men, the internet can be a place where they seek connection, validation and guidance as they explore what it means to be a man today. However, it also exposes them to risks like concerning content, online exploitation and the growing influence of harmful ideologies.

This free webinar will help parents understand:

• Social and cultural influences shaping boys and young men.
• How boys engage online, build relationships and how they may be vulnerable to manipulation or exploitation.
• The impact of social media, gaming, and influencers on their attitudes, behaviours and sense of identity.
• Practical strategies to build critical thinking, challenge harmful narratives, and create open conversations that empower boys and young men to navigate the online world safely and respectfully.

Register for this webinar here.

Aaron Kennedy
Leader of Pastoral Care

Cultural Awareness Program

We're excited to announce the launch of our new Cultural Awareness program, running fortnightly for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

In collaboration with Sarah Caldwell from St Mary's Primary, this program has been created to provide a safe, supportive space where students can deepen their understanding of culture, identity, and community. Each session is designed to foster pride, connection, and knowledge, with a strong focus on cultural education and preparation for NAIDOC Week.

Students will engage in a range of activities including:

• Exploring stories, language, art, and traditions
• Learning cultural identity
• Sharing experiences and building peer support

We believe cultural education is a powerful tool for strengthening identity and building leadership, and we're proud to be creating opportunities for our young people to connect with their heritage in meaningful ways.

We look forward to seeing this program grow and the incredible contributions our students will make as cultural leaders within the school community. 

Brice Macartney 
Aboriginal Education Worker

Learning & Teaching Team

Upcoming Stage 5 Exams
We are very quickly moving into the end of our first semester of teaching at SMCC.
This means, for our junior students, that formative or summative assessments will be held in order to gather more information for our Semester 1 reports.

We have held an exam period for all students in Years 7-10 for the last 3 years. We had decided to do this because there was a collective understanding that our students need:
To understand the exam process
To learn the skills of exam questioning and exam rules
To give our students a chance at extended writing in timed conditions.

The College has decided to move away from Semester 1 exams for students in Years 7 and 8 this year, in order to allow students and teachers to focus more on skill development in class and in informal tasks. However, our students in Years 9 and 10 will still have an exam week in week 4 of this term.

During this week, normal classes will cease for Year 9 and 10 students and an exam timetable has been prepared and sent to all students and parents.

In year 9, most exams will run for 60 minutes. However, in Year 10 some exams will run for 90 minutes as we attempt to prepare our students for study in Year 11 and 12.

If you have any questions about these exams, or would like more information to assist your student in preparing for them, please contact the classroom teacher.

The College views this exam week as an essential learning for all students and we hope that we can work together with you to assist all students to be successful.

Nadine Connolly
Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching

From the Leader of Pedagogy
At the start of the year, our professional learning centred on the five components of effective assessment. Staff deepened their understanding of how using these components—individually or as a cycle—can significantly enhance teaching and learning outcomes in the classroom.

In continuing to support, consolidate, and extend learning in our classrooms, teachers actively use ‘Success Criteria’ to help students understand how to be successful in detail.

Success Criteria are linked to Learning Intentions. They are developed by the teacher and the student and describe what success looks like. 

Having a set of co-created criteria helps the teacher and student to make judgements about the quality of the student’s learning.

Students can become more independent and assessment-capable as they know what success is supposed to look like.

As parents, we can support our children’s learning by engaging in conversations about the new knowledge, skills, and understandings they are developing. Asking questions such as “What are you learning and why?”, “How do you know how you're doing?” and “What can you do now that you couldn’t before?” encourage reflection and growth.

Using these prompts shifts the focus to the learning process and empowers children to develop independence and take greater responsibility for their own learning.

Kelly Scurr
Leader of Pedagogy

From the Leader of Careers
A group of Year 10 students recently attended a University Taster Day at Southern Cross University’s Lismore campus. This exciting opportunity gave them a glimpse into university life and a chance to explore a range of study and career pathways.

Throughout the day, students participated in engaging, hands-on workshops in areas such as Engineering, Environmental and Marine Science, Exercise Science, Nursing and Midwifery and Biomedical Science. These sessions not only showcased what it’s like to study at university but also highlighted the real-world careers connected to each field.

Students had the chance to ask questions and connect with university students and staff to gain valuable insight into potential future studies. It was a fantastic day filled with curiosity, learning, and inspiration.

I'd like to thank Mrs Kylie Parker for taking the students to SCU for the day.

Michelle Went
Leader of Careers

From the Literacy Coach

HSC Minimum Standards Test 
The HSC minimum standards test will occur for Year 10 during the Stage 5 Exam Week in Week 4. In preparation for minimum standards, the College will undertake activities to help students become familiar with the format and functionality of the online tests. Preparation for the minimum standards test is not required nor recommended.

What are HSC Minimum Standards? 
The HSC minimum standard test ensures that students have the appropriate literacy and numeracy skills required for everyday life. 

The HSC minimum standard tests require students to show their skills in three domains: numeracy, reading and writing. Students can sit the numeracy, reading or writing test from Year 10 up until they reach the HSC minimum standard for that domain. To meet the HSC Minimum Standard, students need to achieve Level 3 or 4 in short online numeracy, reading and writing tests. If a student does not achieve at least a Level 3 in any one of these tests, they are ineligible to receive a HSC or an ATAR. Students have the opportunity to achieve the minimum standards over the course of Years 10 - 12 to ensure they meet Level 3 or above. 

Why do students have to do the HSC Minimum Standards test?  
The HSC minimum standard must be passed to receive HSC credential.
If students plan to leave school it may also be requested by their future employer so it is an important requirement.

If you have any questions about the HSC minimum standards, please contact the College.

Kind Regards

Ashleigh Bailey 
Literacy Coach

Vikings Invade Year 8 History!

Year 8 students recently enjoyed an exciting visit from Rognvald’s Lith, a Viking re-enactment group, as part of their History studies. The group gave a fascinating talk on the different roles and activities of Viking society — from farmers and traders to warriors and explorers.

The visit ended with a thrilling live battle re-enactment, complete with authentic costumes and weaponry, giving students a memorable glimpse into Viking life. A big thank you to Rognvald’s Lith for bringing history to life!

Emily Jones
Leader of Learning HSIE

Sports News

Despite two weather-related postponements, the Cross Country for competitive runners finally took place on the last day of Term 1, Thursday, April 10.

We extend our congratulations to the following runners who broke records on the day:
Marley Botfield - 12 Years Girls (3km)
Gus Summers - 16 Years Boys (6km)
Chris Cormanes - 17+ Years Boys (6km)

Age Champions:

House Points:

North Country Rugby League trials - South West Rocks
Eight students from the College represented Lismore Diocese against Maitland-Newcastle at South West Rocks at the end of Term 1 with a chance to be selected for the North Country Rugby League team to attend the NSWCCC trials in Sydney between 18-24 May 2025.

Congratulations to all our students for the way they trained, played and conducted themselves at the trial. An additional congratulations to Max Hale, Elle Hannigan (U18’s), Corey Love (U15) and Sienna Thomas (U16 shadow player) who were selected to represent the North Country Rugby League team.

Nick Meaney Rugby League 9’s
On Tuesday April 8, the College sent 3 teams to the Rugby League 9’s tournament named after a former Woodlawn student and current Melbourne Storm player, Nick Meaney.

Well done to all students. A special congratulations to our Under 14 Girls who won the day ahead of St John’s College, Woodlawn on a count back. See the match reports below:

Under 14s Girls: played well, with many changes to their draw. They played Maclean twice, winning both games with tries scored by Indi B, Amarni, Indy J and Chelsea in the first game with Eva and Kayla scoring in the other game. Games two and four were against St Joseph's, Banora Point, who were a much bigger team. Unfortunately, the girls lost these games.

Under 14s Boys: had a disappointing start against Maclean, losing by 2-0 in the morning. The boys came back strong and beat St Joseph's, Banora Point 3-0. The final game of the day was against Mt St Patrick's College which was a 2-all draw. Well done to the boys on a great day! 

Under 16s Boys: started off against Xavier Catholic College, catching their own kick off, scoring the first try. From a strong start, the boys won 3-1. The boys were pumped and ready to go, playing The Rivers Secondary College next. The boys worked hard but let the first try in, which was a mark of the game, losing 2-3. The third and final game was against Mt St Patrick's College which demonstrated a strong rivalry. The boys were outplayed in this game, losing 3-0. 

Each of our teams played with dignity and showed true sportsmanship. Well done to everyone who participated in this event. 

Dean Coggan, Georgia Callaghan & Emily Webster (Coaches)

Sports Calendars for 2025
Information about all upcoming sports in the College, Dio and Catholic Schools NSW sport calendar. Please note some of these dates may change from time to time. Click on each one for the link.

St Mary’s Catholic College 
Dio Sports Calendar
Catholic Schools NSW Sports Calendar

To check upcoming CCC events and registrations - Link to Catholic Sport NSW
Sport Search (½ way down page) → Step 1 (click on CCC) → Step 2 (select sport). Registration & Calendar is also there. CCC is a pathway and option for students to make a direct application to trial for a particular sport. The standard is usually high, depending on the Sport, therefore representative level is usually but not always the minimum requirement.

Below are some Sports (check website for all) and the date of the event. Check the website for when dates when applications close.

• CCC Basketball 16's Boys & Girls - Sutherland - Tuesday 13th May
• CCC Basketball 18's Boys & Girls - Sutherland - Wednesday 14th May
• CCC Netball 15's - Penrith - Thursday 29th May
• CCC Netball 18's - Penrith - Thursday 30th May 
• CCC Basketball Opens Championship - Tuesday 17th & Wednesday 18th  June
• CCC 16 & Opens Basketball Trials - Thursday 19th June

Craig Beare
Sports Coordinator

Canteen

Volunteers
We are looking for volunteers to assist in the Canteen. Please contact the Canteen via the College office if you are available at any time to help.

Flexischools
Flexischools is a well-established organisation allowing you to easily place all your canteen orders online at any time.

Download the Flexischools app from the App store or Google Play. Click here for details on how to set up your account. 

Once registered, you can start placing orders immediately.

There is a charge of $0.29 per order for using this service.

If you have any questions, please contact the Flexischools Customer Service Team via their website contact page.

The normal process of ordering from the canteen (cash, eftpos, morning lunch orders) is still available.

Uniform Shop

Uniform Shop Opening Hours
Tuesdays         3.15pm to 4.15pm
Thursdays        3.15pm to 4.15pm

The Uniform Shop service is a cashless service. Methods of payment are by EFTPOS or online ordering via Flexischools. No fees are charged to families for using the Flexischools service.

Please note the following information for orders made via this service:

Tuesday Orders
- Cut off time is 12 noon on Monday
- Pick up available from the College office on Tuesday afternoon from 3.30pm - 4.00pm

Thursday Orders
- Cut off time is 12 noon on Wednesday 
- Pick up available from the College office on Thursday afternoon from 3.30pm - 4.00pm.

Orders not collected will be given to the student to take home.

Whilst all care will be taken to ensure that stock availability is correct at the time of ordering, there may be some items that are not in stock at the time of packing the online orders. In this case, you will be contacted to advise of an estimated time of arrival for new stock of that item or given the option of a refund processed through Flexischools.

All uniform shop order enquiries can be emailed to: cash-uniform@lism.catholic.edu.au

Second Hand Uniforms

Sustainable School Shop is an online shop dedicated to buying and selling of second hand uniforms. For more information ring 1300683337 or visit www.sustainableschoolshop.com.au.

 Please note that this facility is available for use with the new College uniforms only.

Advertisements

RYPEN

RYPEN is a residential camp that takes place over 2.5 days.  Designed for school students in Year 8-10 (generally aged between 14-16), the program focuses on the development of self-concept, relationships, and will help you develop skills that will assist  in the transition to adulthood. At RYPEN, you will participate in activities that will challenge you on many different levels in areas such as personal growth, teamwork & self awareness.  You will also develop lifelong friendships and connections that will help you later in life. 

Next Camp:
13-15 June 2025
Bornhoffen PCYC, 3510 Nerang-Murwillumbah Rd, Natural Bridge  QLD  4211
https://rotary9640.org/page/rypen

 Please let me know if you need any further information, and if any students are interested.

Anita Cohen- Casino Rotary
0408 750 647