From the Principal

MacKillop girls have had a number of opportunities over the past few weeks to engage in College life. The Senior Formal for Year 11 and 12 girls was a delightful celebration with lots of dancing and fun.

Liturgical Celebrations - Shrove Tuesday

On the Tuesday 5 March, the College distributed pancakes to feast on before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday.

Studying a Language

Some students at Mary MacKillop College choose to study another language as part of their studies.

The Christchurch massacre is one of the most extreme acts of terrorism the world has seen in recent times. For New Zealand, it was a loss of innocence. SchoolTV was actually filming in Auckland when news broke of the harrowing events unfolding in Christchurch.

Unfortunately, this will impact on many kids throughout Australia and New Zealand. Some parents and care givers may struggle to explain this tragedy to their young people, many of whom are already struggling with high levels of anxiety about the state of their world.

It is important to put this event into context for children of all ages. Although we cannot control what happens in our world, we can choose the way we respond. The distressing nature of this event will never be forgotten, but at the same time we should not allow it to permanently disturb or destroy our future generations.

In this Special Report, parents and care givers will be provided with practical strategies on how to talk to their children in a reassuring manner. It will also highlight the necessity to be aware of the signs of trauma, should a child be adversely affected. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the College Counsellors, Jessica Johnson and Mary Superina for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Parents and friends are invited to volunteer in the canteen which is a great opportunity to broaden friendships and enhance the environment for our MacKillop girls. If you are able to join our happy crew of volunteers, by helping for a few hours, from as little as once a month, our Canteen Manager Narelle Matthews would love to hear from you!

You can phone her at the College on 8333 6300 until 2.30pm or on 8263 2423 after 5pm

A special Prayer for the people of Christchurch, New Zealand

We pray for our Muslim sisters and brothers,
for those injured
and those who have lost loved ones,
for the police, ambulance
and other emergency services,
and for all in the City of Christchurch
who are feeling distress
and fear due to this hate-filled terror attack
targeting two mosques last Friday.

“The freedom of worship and religious life is an absolute right to all in our land.“

Lord,
we for pray for healing of people,
interfaith relations and New Zealand itself.
As Jesus calls us to welcome strangers
and love our neighbour however different.
We stand in solidarity
and we pray for peace
and unity in our world.

Amen

This Careers and Pathways bulletin will be sent to students fortnightly via email, in the school newsletter and will also be available on the Career’s Portal Page on SEQTA

Students can obtain further information about careers and pathways from the careers noticeboard or from the brochures available in the upstairs corridor.

Please don’t hesitate to contact Mrs Swain at any time to discuss careers or pathways or any information in this bulletin. You can make an appointment via Mrs Cirocco at jcirocco@marymackillop.sa.edu.au

Grief is a natural response to loss. It might be the loss of a loved one, relationship or even a pet. The more significant the loss, the more intense the grief is likely to be. Children and adults grieve differently due to their developmental stage, and this can prove difficult for parents to understand.

Young children fluctuate in and out of the stages of grief rapidly, as they may not comprehend the permanency of death. They express their grief more physically. Teens on the other hand may not know how to express their grief and will need some space to process their loss. Some may choose to grieve alone, not wanting to stand out or be seen as not coping. Whilst others, who may have a greater understanding, can start to question their own mortality.

In this edition of SchoolTV, parents can learn how to acknowledge their child’s feelings and the best way to support them through the grief. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this month’s edition and we always welcome your feedback.

If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the College Counsellors, Jessica Johnson and Mary Superina for further information.

21 March 2019 St Joseph's Day Mass & Leadership Induction
23 March 2019 Sisters Jubilee
26 March 2019 RAP Program (Year 12) and Year 11 & 12 Parent Teacher Night
2 April 2019 RAA Street Smart (Year 11)
3 April 2019 St Capitanio Students Integration Concludes and Principal's Tour