Newsletter - T1 W10 - 10/04/25
From the Principal
As the term comes to a close, I would like to congratulate our students for their work ethic, energy and positive contribution to the culture of the College. It has been a busy term, and I am proud of the way our community absorbed the challenges we faced, in particular, the weather event a few weeks ago. Our students settled back into the school routine quickly on their return, showing great resilience.
I would like to thank all of the parents and grandparents who attended our College Open morning last Friday. It was fantastic to have the opportunity to invite families into our community to get a feel for the great community that is St Mary’s. There will be another opportunity to attend this well-received event in Term 3.
As we move into the Easter holiday period, it is important to reflect on the Easter message. Easter is not about chocolate or the Easter Bunny; at the heart of Easter lies a story of unwavering love, sacrifice, and ultimately, triumphant hope. We have moved through Lent, a time of reflection and spiritual preparation for Good Friday. During Easter, we remember the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus and his unshakable love for humanity that ultimately led to his execution in the most extreme of circumstances.
This narrative doesn't end in darkness, it ends in triumph with the Resurrection of Jesus. The tomb where Jesus' body was laid to rest was empty. This is more than just a historical fact; it forms the foundation of our Christian faith, the victory of life over death, of hope over despair.
“dying he destroyed our death, rising he restored our life” (1067; cf. 654)
For our students, the Easter message is one of hope. Unfortunately, we all face challenges and difficult times in our lives. The Resurrection reminds us that even in the face of difficulties, there is always the possibility of renewal, overcoming these challenges, and finding new beginnings.
The Easter period reminds us of the power of hope, all challenges can be worked through and dark periods in our lives do pass by with the love and support of friends and family. Easter calls us to let go of past wrongs and grow from the experience.
ANZAC Day
Anzac Day falls on the second Friday of the school holidays this year. It would be fantastic to see as many students as possible represent the St Mary’s community as a collective on our national day of remembrance, honouring those who have served in Australia's Armed Forces. Details are below:
Date: Friday, April 25
Uniform: Formal Uniform - Including College hat
Dawn Service: 5.30am - Mafeking Lamp
Assemble for March: 9.50am - Graham Place (next to the Council Chambers)
March Commences: 10.15am
School Community Forum
In 2024, St Mary's Primary and St Mary's Catholic College, in collaboration with the Parents and Friends Association and the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools, decided to move to a School Community Group.
I invite all interested parents to attend a joint meeting with St Mary's Primary on Wednesday, 7 May, from 5.30 pm to 6.30 pm at the St Mary's Primary School site (Meeting room of Yr 4 North).
Have a fantastic Easter.
Michael Campbell
Principal
Upcoming Dates
Term 2, Week 1
Monday 28/04/25 - First day of Term 2
Monday 28/04/25 - Year 7, 2026 Applications Due
Monday 28/04/25 - ANZAC Day Service - SMCC
Tuesday 29/04/25 - Friday 02/05/25 - Stage 6 Examinations
Term 2, Week 2
Friday 09/05/25 - Geography Excursion - Byron Bay
Parish Mass Times
Chrism Mass
Monday, 7.00pm - Lismore
Holy Thursday
Mass of the Lords Supper
7:00pm - Casino
Good Friday
Stations of The Cross
10.00am - Casino
Followed by Reconciliation
Commemoration of the Passion
3.00pm - Casino
Holy Saturday - Easter Vigil
7.00pm - Casino
Easter Sunday
8.00am - Casino
9.00am - Mallanganee
Palm Sunday - April 13
Festival Mass 9.00am
Followed by Morning Tea
In the Parish Hall
Please bring a plate to share
There will be no Vigil on
Saturday, April 12.
Mission Team
Easter is a time of hope and new beginnings, reminding us that no matter how tough things get, there’s always a fresh start. We can rise above challenges and grow from our struggles. As the busy term comes to an end, take a moment to reflect on the hard work and lessons learned. It’s okay if things weren’t perfect—Easter teaches us that growth is a process.
Let this Easter season inspire us to keep moving forward with hope and kindness, knowing that with God’s love, there’s always a chance for a new beginning. We’ve made it this far, and we can keep going!
I wish you a safe and enjoyable holiday period. We look forward to seeing all our young people back for term two!
Online Hate
In today’s digital age, parents play a vital role in guiding their young people through the challenges of the online world. It is essential to help young people critically assess the content they encounter online and reflect on how their interactions may affect others. Encouraging them to approach the digital space with integrity and respect reflects our Catholic values and commitment to treating every person with dignity.
Understanding Online Hate:
Online hate refers to any harmful or derogatory content directed at individuals or groups based on race, religion, ethnicity, disability, gender, or other characteristics. It is a growing concern that can cause profound harm to those targeted and contribute to a culture of division and disrespect.
Fostering Respectful Online Behaviour:
Start conversations with your young person about online hate before an incident occurs. Regularly discuss the importance of respectful behaviour online and use real-life examples, including news stories or events, to illustrate the impact of harmful words or actions. Ground these discussions in Gospel values, such as compassion, understanding, and love for our neighbour.
Tips for Parents
Lead by Example: Model and encourage your young person to treat others as they would like to be treated, both online and offline.
Promote Positive Actions: Teach your young person to avoid sharing or engaging with hateful or threatening content and to report it when they see it.
Encourage Openness: Foster an attitude of empathy and curiosity about others. Remind your young person that some harmful speech stems from ignorance or misinformation, and encourage them to seek understanding.
Vocabulary: Be mindful of new terms or phrases your young person uses. Some harmful language may be adopted unknowingly, and gentle correction can help them understand its impact.
Think Before Posting: Expect your young person to think carefully before commenting, sharing an image, or sending a message online. Reinforce that their words and actions should always reflect the values of respect and kindness.
As parents and educators, we share a responsibility to guide young people in navigating the complexities of the online world with respect and compassion. By fostering open dialogue, modeling positive behaviours, and grounding our approach in Gospel values, we empower young people to make thoughtful, ethical choices online. Together, we can create a culture of kindness and understanding, ensuring that the digital space reflects the dignity and worth of every individual.
Launch of new website - www.CathEvents.org.au
This new website has more than one hundred opportunities to participate in prayer gatherings, formation days, parish renewal training, caminos, professional development and more.
Now available on Australia’s Catholic events hub, CathEvents. Find online and in-person events to help connect with God and your fellow Catholics!
Clare Axman
Assistant Principal - Mission
Evangelisation
Social Justice Stall
The Social Justice stall raised more than $700 which will be provided to the Student Wellbeing fund.
Thank you to all staff and students who donated goods to be sold at the stall and to those who gave up their time to help on Saturday evening and Sunday morning.
Caritas Easter Raffle
There has been an overwhelming response to our Caritas Easter Raffle. Thank you to the students and staff who have donated prizes.
Congratulations to all those who won prizes in the final draw!
Kate Rowlands
Leader of School Evangelisation
Learning & Teaching Team
Parent Open Day
On Friday April 4, we opened the College to parents who were interested in spending time with us and seeing how the College operates.
We began the day with Mass and then moved to the Parish Hall to share morning tea which was supplied by our Year 11 and 12 non ATAR students.
Families that had come in for the morning were then taken on a tour of the College classrooms to see our students and teachers in action.
It was a terrific morning and one we will repeat again in term 3.
It is our absolute pleasure to show parents and grandparents through the College and let them witness the wonderful work we are doing with their children.
Look out for the next invitation in Term 3.
Nadine Connolly
Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching
Message from the Numeracy Coordinator
As the Numeracy Coordinator, I have been actively engaged in a collaborative review of student numeracy data with staff. This analysis aims to inform targeted strategies that will enhance student numeracy skills across all learning domains.
I’ve also been working in conjunction with other Key Learning Areas (KLAs) to ensure we are using consistent teaching strategies across the curriculum. The goal is for students to understand that numeracy is not just confined to mathematics lessons, but is important in every subject. This helps students see how numeracy skills are used in real-life situations, showing them that “maths is everywhere.”
Recently, I spent time with some of our Food Technology students, helping them to scale recipes for different serving sizes and calculate the costs. It’s been a great way to show students how numeracy is used in practical situations like food preparation, where accurate measurements and budgeting are key.
It’s always fun to hear students say, "We're in Food Tech, not Maths!" This is a great example of how numeracy is important in all parts of life. From adjusting ingredients in recipes to working out costs, numeracy is everywhere.
As we continue to focus on numeracy, I encourage everyone to look for simple ways to bring numeracy into your everyday conversations at home. Whether it’s talking about measurements while cooking, managing a budget, or discussing time, these everyday moments are great opportunities for students to see the practical value of numeracy in their lives.
Together, we can help our students become confident in their numeracy skills and apply them in many different areas. I look forward to sharing more updates with you as we keep working to strengthen numeracy across the curriculum.
Kylie Parker
Numeracy Coordinator
Leader of Learning - Mathematics
Hands-on Maths learning
This term, we have been diving into the fascinating world of fractions, decimals, and percentages! These important maths concepts are not only essential for academic success but also have many real-world applications.
Our year 7 Mathematics classes have been exploring this topic in an engaging and interactive way. One of the highlights of their learning has been the use of playdough to represent different fractions and decimal numbers. Students have moulded the playdough into various sizes to visually explore fractions such as tenths, hundredths, and even thousandths, gaining a deeper understanding of how these values relate to one another.
In addition to identifying fractions, students used the playdough to practise adding and subtracting both fractions and decimal numbers. This hands-on approach made these operations much more tangible and easier to understand, as students could physically manipulate the playdough to visualise the process of combining and simplifying fractions and decimals.
An important part of this learning was discovering the link between fractions, decimals, and percentages. By using playdough to represent these values, students were able to see firsthand how they are interconnected, helping them make sense of how to convert between the three forms and solve problems in real-life situations.
It’s been wonderful to watch the Year 7s work through these concepts in such a creative and hands-on way. We look forward to continuing our exploration of fractions, decimals, and percentages in the coming weeks!
Judy Byrnes
Leader of Mathematics
Message from the Industrial Technology Timber Excursion
The senior Industrial Technology Timber class attended their industry study excursion on Tuesday, March 25. The students were required to study all aspects of the timber industry with a focus on forestry and timber processing. Mr Carter’s class visited Hurfords Spotted Gum plantation at Ellangowan, the Casino wet mill, and Hurfords dry mill at Tuncester. The Students developed a holistic view of the entire timber production process, from growth to the finished product that they use here at the College. All students asked many questions, engaged with activities, and overall enjoyed the opportunity.
We thank Mia Cassidy from Hurfords for taking the time to run the excursion and create an engaging experience.
Matthew Carter
Class Teacher
Sports News
NSWCCC Swimming, Wednesday April 2-3
Three talented swimmers from the College made a splash at the NSWCCC Swimming Championships last week at Sydney Olympic Park. Jed Handford, Harper Myers and Emma Green represented the College as part of the Diocesan Swimming team with outstanding performances, demonstrating dedication and sportsmanship.
Jed competed in 5 impressive events, achieving personal best times in all of them. His standout moment was breaking his own 50m Butterfly record, showcasing his hard work and determination.
Harper took on 4 events, displaying great skill and perseverance in each race.
Emma represented the Diocese in the 50m Breastroke, putting in a fantastic effort and demonstrating a beautiful technique.
Congratulations to all 3 swimmers for their outstanding achievements and for proudly representing the College.
Open Boys and Girls Diocesan Basketball
On Thursday March 27, the College sent three teams to Coffs Harbour for the Lismore Diocesan Senior Basketball Championships. Our two girls teams fought hard and ended the day in 7th and 8th place, battling each other in the final match. The boys team went 2-2 for the day, coming in 5th place overall. The Boys team won their final game by one point, providing an exciting finish for the day. All of our teams represented the College well throughout the day, by showing outstanding sportsmanship and work ethic.
Thank you to our Coaches; Mr Lang, Mr Parker & Mr Sekulic.
NSWCCC Open Boys Football
Congratulations to Year 12 student Brody Hoare, who has made the NSWCCC Open Football Trials in Sydney on May 27 & 28 for the 2nd consecutive year. Best of luck, Brody!
Sports Calendars for 2025
Information about all upcoming sports in the College, Diocese 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 - 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 (during the school term)
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.
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.