Newsletter - Term 4,Week 2 October 2014 · Newsletter - Term 4, Week 2 October 2014 MacKillop Catholic College 285 Farrar Boulevard, Palmerston 0831 PO Box 2608 Johnston ... 28th

“May your journey always be filled with blessings, and may the life of Saint Mary MacKillop ignite in you the flames of faith and service”

Dear Members of MacKillop Catholic College Community. Courage is a much admired characteristic and it is the central value here at MacKillop. Throughout her life, Mary MacKillop showed much courage and for this reason our Motto is clearly: “Lead with Courage”. Nations reward courage with medals both in times of war and peace. It is often seen in the situation of a person doing something under difficult circumstances such as the student in Tiananmen Square in 1989. This single unarmed man faced-off with tanks of the People’s Liberation Army sent in to quell student protests. He frustrated their attempts to manoeuvre around him by stepping in their way. Eventually, onlookers pulled him back into the crowd. He became world famous because of his breathtaking courage and his image is on millions of posters and T-shirts throughout the world.

Then, there is the story of a Zen priest who confronted his local warlord. When the villagers heard that the warlord was heading their way, they fled to the hills – except for one priest. When the warlord saw the priest standing there when all others had fled, he drew his sword and said, “Do you know who I am? I am he who can run you through and never bat an eye!” The Zen priest replied, “Do you know who I am? I am he who can be run through with your sword and never bat an eye!” No doubt, we all wish we had that kind of courageous assurance to face up to the threats and fears in our own lives.

The famous Greek writer of tragic plays, Euripides, who was born in about 480 B.C., made this statement about courage, “This is courage in a man: to bear unflinchingly what heaven sends.” That seems to be less challenging than the Zen priest’s words for it allows us to ponder our own life without the immediate threat of losing it. So when might we need to display courage in our lives or encourage our children to do so in theirs?

Perhaps, when we are challenged: to truly take ownership of our life and live it fully; to push ourselves beyond the limits of what is comfortable and familiar; to keep connected to what inspires us in life; to pursue our dreams; to avoid social conformity; to be who we truly are, a fully authentic me; to deal positively with setbacks and failures; to persevere with determination; to be able to say “no” when we need to, even at the cost of personal discomfort.

We have Jesus as our model of courage for he did all of the above and more. Jesus had the courage to be himself and to trust God in every circumstance of his life, even when he was rejected by the religious leaders who claimed to have the greater understanding of God. He stepped outside the bounds of his society’s expectation and went to help lepers, demon-possessed people, the lame and the blind. He called a tax collector to be an Apostle, he freely associated with women some of whom were prostitutes and social outcasts. Jesus had the courage to suffer for God’s values, the courage to die for God’s will, the courage to trust God to raise him from the dead.

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Newsletter - Term 4,Week 2 October 2014

MacKillop Catholic College

285 Farrar Boulevard,

Palmerston 0831

PO Box 2608 Johnston

Palmerston 0831

Telephone: 08 89305757 Mobile: 0408 194775

Fax: 08 89305700 Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.mackillopnt.catholic.edu.au

The Newsletters will be uploaded to our website this year. Use the link above.

“Never see a need without trying

to do something about it”

Principal’s Message P1&2

Deputy Principal P3

Presentation Night Invite Calendar

P2 P3

Rugby League P5

Lauretta Graham Principal

http://www.mackillopnt.catholic.edu.au


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MACKILLOP CATHOLIC COLLEGE

Across the Principals Desk Continued..

As Christians, we are called to give courageous witness to Christian values in the way we live our personal lives, how we interact with other people, how we can move out of the “comfortable and familiar” and do some “Jesus things” in our own community. This term we call on our students to be courageous and move from: the comfortable place of little effort to a place where more effort with work and homework is the norm, the onlooker who watches and says nothing when someone is being bullied or harassed to someone who actively stands against such behaviour; the place where participation is for a few to an understanding that it is everyone’s responsibility to fully participate and be the best they can be.

These few goals centred on courage will make all the difference. Parents, please encour-age your son/daughter to show courage and enjoy all this term has to offer.

With blessings of joy, hope and peace for the term ahead.

Sincerely, Lauretta Graham

MacKillop Catholic CollegeMacKillop Catholic CollegeMacKillop Catholic College

MacKillop Catholic CollegeMacKillop Catholic College

Presentation NightPresentation Night

Invitation

On 20th November 2014 On 20th November 2014

Commencing 6.30pm to be held at Palmerston Commencing 6.30pm to be held at Palmerston Recreation Centre, Recreation Centre,

11 the Blvd, Palmerston11 the Blvd, Palmerston

R.S.V.P [email protected] [email protected]

Please join with us in celebrating our 2014 Academic Year!

Staff Retreat Day Friday 24th October 2014 Student Free Day


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13-17th October Year 10 Work Experience and VET

18th October Confirmation Ceremonies at Our Lady Help of Christians Church, Palmerston 6pm

20th October Year 11 Biology Excursion—Fogg Dam

24th October Student Free Day - Staff Retreat - Lake Bennett

30th October Subject Selection Night: Year 9 into 10; Year 10 into 11; Year 11 into 12

7th November Free Dress Day - St Vincent de Paul Fundraising Year 10

PARCS Swimming Carnival 5-8pm

11th November Remembrance Day & Service 10.15am

14th November Mack Night

18th November Year 6 into 7 Orientation Day & Information for Parents

Year 8 at Home Study Day

20th November Presentation Night 6.30pm at Palmerston Recreation Centtre

26th November Year 11 Last Day of School for 2014

Young Musician of the Year (all day) & End of Day Band Performance 2.30pm

28th November Defence Force Students Christmas Breakup

1st December All Library books returned and Library closed

3rd December Dance & Drama Night 7pm

5th December 6pm Carols & Christmas Fair

11th December Last Day of School for all students for 2014 - students finish at 12 noon

Calendar of Events

Deputy Principal, Academic Studies

Chris Trevillion, Deputy Principal, Academic Studies

All middle school students have settled into the term well and there is a lot of excitement around the commencement of new electives.

Term 4 is always a busy term and often flies by, so there are a few dates that you need to mark in your calendar. One of the most important dates is Thursday 30th of October. This will be dedicated to subject selection for years 10, 11 and 12. All staff will be on hand to help answer any questions about their subject area and help you and your child map out their pathway at MacKillop Catholic College, it runs from 5 – 6pm.

The College assessment calendar will be uploaded onto the College website at the end of week 3. This document will help students plan their time to ensure they are submitting all assessments and achieving to the best of their ability.

On Tuesday 18th November we will be holding our Year 6 into Year 7 Orientation for new students. A program will be sent out shortly for both the days’ activities and the evening Information Night for parents.


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UPCOMING EVENTS:

Presentation Night Performances: Thursday 20th November 2014

Young Musician of the Year: Wednesday 26th November MacKillop Catholic College Christmas Fair: FRIDAY 5th DECEMBER

David Graham

Instrumental & Liturgical Music Coordinator

Music Department News

Religious Education Department

Welcome back to a very busy Term 4!

Two reminders:

Saturday 18th October: Confirmation Ceremony to be held at Our Lady of Sacred Heart Church, Palmerston 6pm

Friday 24th October: Staff Retreat at Lake Bennett - Student Free Day

Marie Butt Assistant Principal, Religious Education

Dance Department

In Week 10 of Term 3 10 Dance students travelled to Brisbane to take part in a week long Dance Intensive. The week started with a tour and Workshop at the Queensland University Technology with Evan Jones, that evening students went to see The Lion King musical which the students loved. Wednesday saw students involved in a workshop with Jack Ziesing from Expressions Dance Company and then a Circa workshop at the Judith Wright Centre in the city. Thursday students were treated to a full day of workshops in various styles at the Australian Dance Performance Institute in Albion and then we had a workhop with Jasmine Meakin from Mega Jam. On Friday students

looked at the Cinderella repertoire with the Queensland Ballet and spent the afternoon looking at the Gallery of Modern Art and in Southbank. As you can see the students had a full on and amazing week in Brisbane. All the people we encountered spoke of how well behaved and interested the Dance students were. I am extremely proud of the students who attended and feel fortunate to have such dedicated and enthusiastic students in the Dance Department.

April Yeo

Dance & Drama Coordinator


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UPCOMING EVENTS:

NTRL TOP END SHIELD & CATHOLIC CUP

30th- 31st OCTOBER 2014

MACKILLOP RUGBY LEAGUE GALA FUNDRAISER/ PRESENTATION NIGHT

The 2nd annual fundraiser/Presentation night is scheduled for the 31st OCTOBER. This event is a large contributor for funds for our program and promises to be more exciting than last year! From trivia to games, raffles, auctions and awards the Rugby League Fundraiser promises to be an exciting night out for the family! Tickets available from the front office $10 Single $30 Family (2 Adults, 3(MAX) Children).

Rugby League News

Mr David Graham

Rugby League Coordinator

Mack Nights are happening in Term 4!

Mack Night is back this Friday night! 17th October 2014!

It will be an outdoor movie night from 5:30-9pm, watching "Soul Surfer" (PG) undercover on the big screen. *Check out a preview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWeOjBCi3c4

Free popcorn and cordial. BYO camp chairs/cushion/other snacks!

Games Championships/pizza Night on 14th November ! Come along and join in the fun!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWeOjBCi3c4


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MACKILLOP CATHOLIC COLLEGE Whole School Assembly

2014 Anzac Day Schools’ Awards

This week we welcomed Natasha Griggs MP, Federal Member for Solomon, who came to present MacKillop Catholic College with an award, a cheque and certificates for:

“Outstanding achievement in commemorating the service and sacrifice of Australia’s servicemen and women”

Northern Territory Winner; Secondary School Category

Congratulations to our wonderful Mrs Arakkal for all her hard work!


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MACKILLOP CATHOLIC COLLEGE Around the Campus

Prices are going up in 2015! Limited stock available in 2014 prices! Come along and get your uniforms ready for 2015 while stocks last!

McDonald’s restaurants invite you to join in the fun in the biggest annual fundraising event for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) – McHappy Day.

This year McHappy Day is taking place on Saturday, 18th October, 2014. The event raises valuable funds to support seriously ill children and their families at a time when they need it most through programs including Ronald McDonald House, the Ronald McDonald Learning Program, Ronald McDonald Family Rooms and Ronald McDonald Family Retreats.

Come in and buy a Big Mac from any McDonalds on the day, $2 from every Big Mac goes to RMHC.

To Jack Cox for his hockey achievements this year! The Bob Robinson Memorial Trophy Most Improved Player 2014 Most Improved Male and C Grade Men

To Dennis Wins-ley, our Canteen & Cleaning Assistant for his participa-tion in Dancing with the Stars re-cently!

Documents

Newsletter - Term 4,Week 2 October 2014 · Newsletter - Term 4, Week 2 October 2014 MacKillop Catholic College 285 Farrar Boulevard, Palmerston 0831 PO Box 2608 Johnston ... 28th