Edition 3,
14 April 2022

It has been a long term with many teachers and admin staff onsite well before students arrived to prepare for the start of 2022 due to the rising number of COVID-19 infections. It is easy to forget that we had some students at home and some face-to-face in Week 1 of the term. We have responded beautifully to the demands and challenges of COVID-19 and I thank everyone for their ongoing support.

We have a number of staff leaving at the end of this term. We thank them for their contribution to the College and wish them well at their next place of employment.

• Melissa Loy will be starting a new position at Cardijn College.
• Matt Gilliland will return to the College next term and Angela Champion will start a new position at Henley High School

We have been blessed with beautiful weather for many of our school events that we have moved outdoors due to restrictions. We have worked hard to keep everyone safe and minimise spreading the virus. Our students and staff have diligently worn their masks.

I thank everyone for the extra hard work that had to be done to ensure that the girls had a great first term experience at the College.

Now is the time for rest and relaxation, I hope to be able to visit family in Sydney, many of whom I have not seen since January 2020 – at that point I was worried about bushfires!

Our building planning for the new Arts and Science building is progressing well. The building will be called the Tenison Building after Julian Tenison Woods, the co-founder of the Sisters of St Joseph. Julian was also a great artist and scientist. He was a member of the British Geological Society and if you ever have the opportunity to visit Penola and visit the Mary MacKillop Interpretive Centre you will see wonderful journals and artefacts outlining his scientific endeavours.

During the term break we will install new screens and update the technology within many of our classrooms. We are committed to a process of ongoing refurbishment of learning spaces and improvement of practice.

It has been a long term.

It is time to reset and recharge.

Easter blessings to you all.

Kath McGuigan
Principal

Good News Assembly

Last week we gathered for our first new look, Good News Assembly outdoors. A wonderful opportunity for our leaders to share initiatives and updates with our community. The Wellbeing Ambassadors launched their ‘building connection through challenge’ project, which will launch in Term 2. The group have spent time researching the role of connection and belonging in wellbeing and have devised a range of activities that will enhance the positive sense of identity and culture within the MacKillop community. This initiative links with the ei pulse data collected through Wellbeing Wednesday’s and will be sure to have an impact. From photography and instagram reel challenges, art competitions, quizzes, tug-o-war and an amazing race, the connection challenges aim to cater for the unique gifts and talents of our diverse community. Our Social Justice Captains also provided an update on Project Compassion fundraiser, launched the MMC Freeze and our new College beanies and scarfs, all which aim to raise $2000 for Caritas Australia and Project Compassion. We also heard from the talented Year 12 Student and Social Justice Captain Alexandra and the Music Tutor band in a wonderful showcase of music. A special guest also arrived, perhaps a little earlier than expected, but definitely sparked joy as she bounded around, sharing an Easter egg or two along the way. The Easter Bunny seemed quite agile this year, showcasing her new talent, the splits! She continues to surprise the MacKillop community with a visit each year and we couldn’t be more delighted.

Come 'n' Try MacKillop Day

Earlier this week, we welcomed 28 Year 5 & 6 students to MacKillop for our Term 1 Come & Try day. An opportunity for prospective students to experience learning and life as a MacKillop girl. It was a day full of promise and new experiences as our visitors explored the many elective subjects and made connections with our teachers, student leaders and community. From home made pizzas to creative succulent pot plants, music, dance, sport & experiments with dry ice, our visiting students enjoyed a jam packed day and the opportunity to connect with one another and our wonderful student leaders. Come & Try days are a feature in the MacKillop calendar and we love welcoming new faces and sharing our love for this beautiful school community. MacKillop is an exciting place, rich with opportunity and I am confident that all girls in attendance had a fabulous time.

Winter Uniform

A reminder to students and families that we transition to the College Winter uniform in Week 1 of Term 2. This includes the wearing of the blazer to and from school. If any families are unsure about the uniform requirements for winter please refer to the uniform policy & guidelines located on the College website.

I also take this opportunity to highlight that families purchasing new items online are likely to experience delays. Unfortunately, like many other Australian businesses, our uniform supplier, Rainier relies on the global supply chain and is currently experiencing production and delivery delays. We do not anticipate many MacKillop families being impacted but should your family experience any challenges in purchasing new uniform items, please contact Vera Iannella at the College on 8333 6300.

St Joseph’s Feast Day Liturgy & Leadership Induction

In Week 8, we were fortunate enough to gather for the first time face-to-face in 2022, surrounded by nature, bound by the spirit of the Sisters of St Joseph and the example of St Mary of the Cross, MacKillop to join in a celebration of St Joseph’s Day. St Joseph was a humble man of deep faith, turning to God for guidance and strength.  A wonderful example of how an ordinary person can have an extraordinary love for others.

Following our Liturgy, we officially presented our 2022 Student Leadership Team to the MacKillop Community.  It was an opportunity for us to affirm and congratulate our Year 7-12 students on their leadership positions and to share our hopes for the journey ahead.  Mary MacKillop College values student voice and seeks to develop leadership skills through service to the school community and wider community outreach. The following Year 7-12 students were commissioned as MacKillop leaders and will serve the wider College community in the spirit of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop.

Student Leadership Team

College Captains

Anida
Alexis

Social Justice Captains

Alexandra
Daniella

Arts Captains

Mia
Analissa

Prefects

Year 7: Lauren
Year 8 Alyssa
Year 9: Alisha
Year 10: Sophia
Year 11: Aditi

House Captains

Tappeiner: Matilda
Tenison: Ella
Flora: Abigail
Alexander: Tara

Peer Support

Jessica
Sienna
Elysse
Emily
Arabella
Emily
Cinzia
Jessica
Tara
Brooke
Monica
Naaz
Samira
Estella
Savannah
Ava
Sofia
London

SRC

Year 7: Daniella and Allegra
Year 8: Zara and Gabriella
Year 9: Angelique and Addison
Year 10: Isabella and Scarlett
Year 11: Liana and Emily

Wellbeing Ambassadors

Kahlea
Reet
Jennifer
Chiara
Kristal
Eliana
Lily
Clarissa
Francesca
Chiara
Benithi
Kelsey
Isabelle
Amelie
Alissa
Evelyn

We wish our 2022 MacKillop Leadership Group every success as they lead our community and grow further in their servant leadership skills.

As the term draws to a close, I take this opportunity to thank all members of our College community for their support throughout the term. Navigating online learning, isolation, postponed events, the virus and the ever changing COVID landscape has not been without challenge, but the resilience and resolve of staff and students along with the support of families is a testament to this incredible community. May the Easter and term break be restful and a time of connection with family and friends. I look forward to the term ahead which commences on Tuesday 3 May.

Kate Kilpatrick
Acting Deputy Principal

"So it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead." (Luke 24:46)

"I am the resurrection and the life.
If anyone believes in me, even though they die they will live,
and whoever lives and believes in me
will never die." (John 11:25)

“God gives me strength for what is necessary...” (St Mary of the Cross MacKillop)

St Joseph’s Feast Day Liturgy

On Thursday 24 March the College community gathered for the first time face-to-face in 2022 to celebrate St Joseph’s Feast Day. This took place on the oval, where students were able to pray and sing together.

Joseph was a carpenter, a just man and despite his humble work and means, Joseph is described as coming from a royal line. He did not leave us a single word but delivered to us his silence and his example - a just man, a hard worker, a father and a teacher. He is the model for us in our own lives. Joseph was a man of deep faith, turning to God for guidance and strength. He is an example to us of how an ordinary person can have an extraordinary love for others. Through Joseph’s example we can learn to trust in God’s way.

Social Outreach: Caritas Australia Project Compassion

Throughout Project Compassion 2022, our students have heard many inspiring stories from Mozambique, India, Australia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Solomon Islands. These stories highlight the importance of working hand in hand with others and empowering people to be agents for change. Caritas Australia promotes the message that your generous support can help to change the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people. Together, we can make a difference now and for all future generations.

MacKillop girls have embraced Caritas Australia Project Compassion and have been able to raise awareness of each of these countries by holding various activities throughout the term. The girls hope to continue their fundraising efforts next term.

Lenten Liturgy

The College was fortunate to be able to gather on the oval once again for the Lenten liturgy, where students led us in prayer and the liturgical movement reflected on the stations of the cross. The stations of the Cross tell us the story of the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus, which helps us think of God’s love for us.

During Holy Week, let us remember that it is one of the most important seasons in the Catholic Calendar, where we gain access to peace that is beyond understanding, and forgiveness that is complete and a hope for the future.

My prayer is that all of our Mary MacKillop College families truly grasp the full meaning of Easter, that between the chocolate and the eggs and the family time, everyone takes time to reflect upon Easter and its meaning to all of us.

Adriana Sotira
Religious Education Coordinator

From Tuesday 7 to Thursday 9 December 2021, we attended the SANTOS Science Experience, a scientific experience for Year 9 and 10 students, at the University of Adelaide. The SANTOS Science experience opened with a presentation from Richard Harvey, a scientist and MP for Newland. He spoke to us about science and politics and how his participation in this experience 22 years ago led him to pursue his current career. Following this, we were taken on a tour of the campus and participated in hands-on tutorials held in some of the university’s science laboratories.

On the second day, we travelled by bus to the University of Adelaide Roseworthy Campus, where most of the veterinary science courses are located. We checked the health of a Jack Russell and of some horses. We tested veterinary heart monitors on each other and learnt how to correctly apply them so that we could measure and graph our heart data on complex simulators. This activity gave us an opportunity to participate in, and complete an actual task carried out by university veterinary students.

On the third day, we remained at the city campus and participated in activities such as playing games which involved the use of mathematics and logical reasoning skills, DNA extraction, and carried out a number of activities which involved the use of sound waves.

The experience was a great opportunity for us to discover and explore different fields of science and to meet other young people with similar interests in science and STEM related careers. Overall, we would definitely recommend this experience to any Year 9 or 10 students who want to learn more about science and the careers that stem from a study of science at university. Finally, we would like to thank the Sunrise Rotary Club of Magill for sponsoring our attendance at this programme.

Samira & Naaz
Year 11 Students

On Thursday 31 March, the Year 9 cohort made their way on an adventure to Woodhouse Activity Centre. We were all spilt up into groups to participate in various fun activities. Some included rock-climbing, mountain bike riding, tree climbing, problem solving and dream catcher making! Throughout these activities everyone faced challenges, some including fear of heights, learning how to ride a bike and learning how to support someone while they’re rock climbing. Billy Carts were so much fun. At the beginning of this activity we were given a number of parts needed to construct the Billy Cart, which required everyone to work as a team. We had to follow a course which involved doing laps and relays. Three people participated in the races, one person driving the cart with two people pushing from the back.

Making dream catchers was so calming, a great activity to either start or end your day with. There were so many colours to choose from and super fun feathers and beads to decorate with.

We also did a problemsolving activity which really challenged our teams. The task involved listening to each other’s ideas, participating fully and cooperating.

Catapults involved creating a protective cover for an egg, then building a catapult out of the equipment we were given. The aim was to try and launch an egg over a branch in the tree, with the hope of it landing without cracking. The suspense built as the unveiling of the protective cover took place.

Mountain biking was the highlight for some people. We enjoyed the challenges of riding up steep heels, changing gears when necessary and learning even more about mountain biking.

We ended the first day of activities by setting up our tents. This was a challenge for many, and they were very small too. The food was amazing. The camp instructors were very nice and taught us lots.  On the first and only night we had a games night to see who would take out the PC Shield. Each group had to work together to win. These activities involved passing down a coin from one person’s hand to the next without letting it drop, building the tallest tower out of blu tack and pop sticks and passing down water from one cup to another, over our heads, trying not to lose any water. At the end of the games night 9 Green ended up taking the PC shield home.

Before bed we went for a night walk. The night sky was beautiful with all the stars shining. We spotted a few possums along the walk, some in trees and some on wires and we even saw an owl.

It was then time for bed, the night was peaceful with a chilly breeze coming in, so we had to rug up quite a bit. The theme for camp was building RESILIENCE; we had to be resilient by facing our fears, trying something new and sleeping in tents. 

This camp was great fun for all, as everybody had the opportunity to try new things, challenge themselves and to develop some new friendships. Besides the fact that all of us nearly froze it was a fun camp.

Here are a few quotes from our peers:

“I really enjoyed camp this year, because I got to try so many new things like sleeping in a tent”

 “It was really fun, we had lots of group activities and I overcame fears”

 “I enjoyed camp because I was pushed out of my comfort zone”

Angelique & Addison
Year 9 Students

Term one has been a busy and exciting term for students studying Arts subjects.

Good News Assembly Music Performances

Thursday 7 April saw the College community gather for the first Good News Assembly of the year. Music staff and tutors formed a band and performed “Who Can It Be Now?” by Men at Work. Year 12 student and Social Justice Captain, Alex sang two songs, “The Greatest Love of All” by Whitney Houston and “When She Loved Me” from Toy Story 2. We look forward to seeing other students put themselves forward for performances and music activities.

Italcanti Open Rehearsal

On Friday of Week 10, Italcanti held an open rehearsal for any and all students and staff. Our Italian Choir Director, Teresa La Rocca lead students in learning “Vai Tu Sei Libero”, a song made popular by singer and actress Lesley Gore.

The event was a success with seven students signing up to join in Term 2.

Italcanti is a unique part of the Mary MacKillop College community and we look forward to seeing the next generation of the choir form.

Dance

Dance and drama students have enjoyed collaborating to develop some entertaining performances for our “Journey to Oz” production later in the year. We have munchkins, scarecrows, lions, robots and even butterflies dancing around the studio in preparation for this exciting event and can’t wait to show how it will all fit together in the performance.

Drama

Drama students in Year 8 had a great time presenting their Game Show performances to an audience. Blending ideas from a range of different game shows, the students built on the characterisation of their role within the performance. Each group presented their ideas with creativity and confidence, providing an entertaining show, with a few surprising twists.

Silent movies were created by the Year 7 drama class, inspired by the theme, “The Robbery”. The students escaped from prison, climbed over laser beams and ran away from police, all in pursuit of the world’s biggest diamond! The facial expressions, movement and mime techniques practiced by the students all came together to build an entertaining and effective performance.

Visual Arts

Year 7s have worked on the elements of Art: line and texture. Students photographed a still life of sunflowers that was set up in the art room. They studied composition and line and focused on line drawings of sunflowers.  Within texture, the Year 7s completed a frottage task and created an animal in its environment. The animal was in silhouette, being surrounded by its colourful environment. The students developed frottage skills by taking rubbings of varied textures around the school.

Rachel Scott
Head of Arts

Year 10 Textiles: Teddy Bears

This year’s teddy bears have all come together and are ready to picnic and take centre stage in their own exhibition currently on in the school library.

Handcrafted for a purpose, designed for a stakeholder and dressed for the occasion, I am certain you will agree these gorgeous teddy bears will be loved for years to come and are a credit to the patience and creativity of the current Year 10 class.

Angela Champion
Food & Fabric Technology Teacher

Are you interested in science? The Santos Science Experience is just the opportunity for you!

At Mary Mackillop College, students are constantly taking part in activities that help broaden their knowledge, skillset and worldview. In December 2021, a group of four Year 9 students, consisting of Kahlea, Jaymie, Scarlett, and Reet, participated in The Santos Science Experience hosted at Flinders University.

The Santos Science experience is a fun filled 3-day annual event designed for students hoping to pursue a career in a scientific field or are simply interested in science. Throughout the programme, participants are under the guidance of an experienced scientist who enjoys their work and is dedicated to inspiring young people to consider pursuing studies in a field of science.

The following is an account of the girls’ experience.

The Santos Science Experience gave us opportunities that challenged us and made us think about and better understand the science that plays a huge role in our everyday lives. We were offered a number of activities in a broad range of areas such as robotics, biomedical science, food science, chemistry and engineering. As much as we wanted to participate in all of the choices offered, we had to choose to focus on four of the areas offered. We were thoroughly intrigued by all the activities we were assigned and loved learning new things about science in our lives.

To make the challenge more interesting, we had quizzes at the end of each day. The Mary MacKillop College team ended up being runners-up in of a group of around 90 people! We were very proud of our efforts.

To provide participants with a feel of university life, different lectures were arranged. During these lectures, researchers presented their findings and helped us understand and learn more about different scientific careers, the physical and psychological importance of indoor plants and urban vegetation and scientific communication.

We were taught about the importance of developing abilities that can help communicate scientific ideas with others. To give us an idea of what this involved, we were divided into groups and asked to explain a modern scientific discovery to an imagined person living in the Renaissance period. Our group won the competition, and we were awarded with a pack of gummies! A bonus was the free lunch we received whilst being on campus.

Overall, the Santos Science Experience is something any scientifically inclined students will thoroughly enjoy. It is an opportunity that any Year 9 or 10 student should take advantage of when given the opportunity later in the year. We definitely plan to participate in the 2022 Santos Science Experience and we hope to see more MacKillop students joining us in early December.

We would like to thank the Sunrise Rotary Club of Magill for sponsoring our attendance and giving us the opportunity to attend the 2021 Santos Science Experience.

Josie Spizzo
Science Learning Area Leader