Edition 7,
13 August 2021

Well we have certainly had an interesting start to the term and not one we were expecting. It was lovely to see everyone back at school. We had a number of students and staff who had to isolate, however everyone is all back on deck. Our JJAMM week and Feast Day festivities moved a week. With the new restrictions, we had to modify some of our events. We were able to have jewellery making on Monday, our annual jam donut eating competition on Tuesday, jumping castle activities on Wednesday, Bingo and BBQ on Thursday and staff vs students’ volleyball on Friday. This week has truly been full of fun and memorable activities. The Year 12s received their commemorative jumpers and it is slowly dawning on them that their academic year is swiftly ending.

Matt Gilliland is recovering well from his surgery and will soon be back at the College. Patrick Dolan has been taking Matt's classes while he is on leave.

Zoe Duffy, our Sports Coordinator will take maternity leave. Huw Channing will replace Zoe as Sports Coordinator for this time. I hope you enjoyed the “Lockdown Olympics” on our Facebook page. We have a very creative and inspiring PE staff. We wish to inform Year 10 families that Dimitra Thomas will now replace Zoe as Year 10 Pastoral Care Coordinator.

Our Year 12 students recently received their Stage 2 Research Project results and I was delighted by their achievements. We are particularly proud of the five students who achieved A+ Grades and the 57% of the cohort who received a grade in the A band. I thank the Research Project teachers, Martina O’ Connell, Josie Spizzo, Claire MacLennan and Claude Iannace for their commitment to the students and this subject.

We are all getting used to wearing masks while at school and I thank parents and students for supporting this directive by SA Health. I hope that it will only be for a few weeks and then masks will not be a requirement at schools.

Sport is now back and it has been great to see the girls back at training preparing for Saturday mornings and Knockout Sport.

Our start to the term was unexpected, flipping our mode of learning from face-to-face to remote is not an easy switch at short notice. This time we had a day to prepare for remote learning. Considering this, staff, students, and parents have done a great job in ensuring that learning continued successfully for the week we were in lockdown. We were able to use our plans from last year (MMC@Home) to help keep students learning and connected. If there is one thing we can learn from this experience, partnership matters. Thank you!

Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop

Sunday 8 August was the Feast Day of our patron, Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop. This day marks the anniversary of her death in 1909. In the book, Patrick Ambrose Treacy: Christian Brother, Enterprising Immigrant by Br. Regis Hickey, we are reminded of the influence that Mary MacKillop and the Josephites had on establishing schools in regional centres. He also knew of the great contribution Mary MacKillop had made to the education of the children in the bush, sending her Sisters to the remotest parts where, living in difficult conditions, they brought education and faith to the children. Let us give thanks to the vision, spirit, and legacy of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop.

Come 'n' Try Day

Prospective MacKillop girls visited the College on Thursday 12 August for our Come 'n' Try Day. The Year 5 and 6s enjoyed meeting staff and students, making new friends and participating in Science, Digital Technologies, Food, Dance, Mathematics and Italian lessons. We look forward to seeing you in the future as MacKillop girls.

Subject Counselling for Stage 1 & 2 (2022)
Tuesday 17 August, 3.30-7.30pm

For students currently in Year 10 and 11, please book your meeting with one of our Staff. Bookings will be taken between 3.30 and 7.30pm. Bookings may be made via Edval (the same system used for our Parent Teacher Nights). The counselling sessions will be held in the College Gymnasium. For subjects changes or appointment adjustments, please contact the Curriculum Assistant, Jo Cirroco at the College or via email jcirocco@marymackillop.sa.edu.au.

As the next stage in your daughter’s journey draws closer, there may be some apprehension in the choices she will make for her future pathway beyond school. It is extremely important for all students to remember that success will only come with hard work. This applies to all facets of a student’s life, and the study habits they develop at school are those they will use in their studies beyond Mary MacKillop College. Regardless of the career path your daughter chooses there will always be opportunities and expectations of further learning throughout her working life, the skills she develops at school will always be of use to her.

Louis de Jager
Deputy Principal

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of coaching my MacKillop Netball team. It was the first game back after a long break and the Year 12 MMC 1 team were one win away from a Grand Final spot. Before I continue with the outcome, a quick history of the team. All members have played netball for the College in each of their five years; the team has made four Grand Finals and has won three of those - an outstanding effort.

The game was drawn in the final seconds and went into extra time, eventually we would lose by just two goals. To say the girls and I were devastated is an understatement. I spent the rest of Saturday reflecting, the what ifs ran through my head but I also reflected on what the girls had achieved and demonstrated not just in the game but across their five years playing netball. Upon further reflection, it became clear that the girls had demonstrated our wellbeing values of Compassion, Connected, Resilience, Optimism, Persistence and being Self-Assured every time they hit the court.

There were games when our girls were the stronger team, coming up against an opponent out of their depth. They would gently guide and assist. Encouraging and supporting when a goal was scored or an action was performed well. These have been acts of compassion.

The team came together in 2017, brand new teammates in a brand new school. While friendship groups may be different, this group has remained connected, driven by their shared goal of winning and achieving success.

Most weeks we knew we wouldn’t be the tallest team on the court, it didn’t bother the girls. Instead, they remained resilient discovering ways to overcome this – specifically, utilising their other talents in order to be successful. These have been acts of resilience.

Regardless of the performance the week before, the team always took to the court with the belief that they and their teammates could win. This season they were the only team to defeat the top ranked side. On Saturday, they came within two goals of repeating this. These have been acts of optimism.

When the whistle went Saturday morning and the scores were even it would have been easy to fall down. Or as they continued through their schooling and the workloads increased, not playing netball would have been easy. However never have they stopped working. These have been acts of persistence.

Finally, each member of the team has at one time or another been placed in a position they weren’t familiar with, have been asked to run out one last quarter on tired legs. The girls have belief in their own ability and that of their teammates to see them through. These have been acts of being self-assured.

So while the result on Saturday didn’t go our way, I hope the team knows just how much they have achieved, how proud of them we are and what wonderful role models they are for all MacKillop Girls. Sport and wellbeing go together like a great goal shooter and goal attack!

Lauren Sutton
Director of Students

Australian Defence Force Recruiting Leadership Day

Abigail (Year 11) and Sascia (Year 9) took part in the Australian Defence Force Recruiting Leadership Day. The Leadership day took place on Wednesday 30 June during the last week of Term 2. The format included presentations, workshops and group activities on values, communication, positive thinking, planning and resilience. There was also Q&A at the end of the session with several current serving members of the Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force and Australian Army. Both Abigail and Sascia found it to be a wonderful experience.

On 30 June 2021, I was given the opportunity to attend the Australian Defence Force Recruiting Leadership Day. The goal of the day was to provide young women with an understanding of what it takes to become a leader in the armed services, as well as to foster resilience and connection among young females considering joining the Defence Force. The day provided chances to hone our leadership abilities, speak with women in leadership roles in the Defence Force, and meet other young women considering joining the Australian Defence Force. I found the day to be interesting and full of insights that would hopefully assist me in the future. I learned many communication skills, such as leader communication, team organisation, and discovering our own resilience. I feel that having this chance has provided me with the information and awareness of what I need to finish and enforce if I want to join the armed forces.

- Abigail, Year 11 Student

I learnt a lot at the Australian Defence Force Recruiting Leadership Day about how important it is to stand up for what you believe in even if it takes going through difficult moments to get there. Going to the Defence Leadership Day strengthened my choice of a future career in the Army. The Day highlighted to me how amazing people can be when it comes to standing up for their country in times of need.

- Sascia, Year 9 Student

Year 12 Course Counselling with the Universities

This week University of South Australia and The University of Adelaide has met one-on-one with the Year 12 students who requested Course Counselling on degrees offered by both Universities. The counselling has assisted our Year 12 students to learn more about their degrees of interest as well as about the different entry pathways into the degrees. Flinders University will also be meeting with Year 12 students who requested Course Counselling on their degrees virtually next week.

Melissa Couzner
Future Pathways Coordinator

Despite a small break in competition, our Mary MacKillop College winter sport teams were straight back into action last weekend with Blue Round. This round was held to help raise awareness and encourage discussions surrounding Mental Health. Well done to all of our teams for supporting the cause. A canteen voucher was available for the most creatively dressed team and awarded according to the most number of likes received on the College Facebook page. Congratulations to Year 11/12 MMC 3 for their very creative efforts!

Winter sport is finishing this weekend. Good luck to all of our teams for their final round of playoffs tomorrow morning.

Term 4 Sport nominations are now open via Edval Choice. Students are able to login using their 2021 codes and select the sport they wish to play in Term 4. Basketball, tennis, touch football or volleyball are available for students in Years 7-12 to play on Saturday mornings, while after school Lacrosse will be available for Year 7 and 8 students. We look forward to many of the students and coaches continuing their involvement in Sport at the College throughout Term 4.

Mr Huw Channing will be taking over Sport Coordination whilst I am on leave. All enquiries regarding Sport at the College can be directed to Huw via hchanning@marymackillop.sa.edu.au, 0413 821 699 or via the College. We would like to welcome him to the Sport Department and extend a warm welcome on behalf of the Mary MacKillop College community.

Reminders for Sport at MMC

• Term 4 Sport nominations close on Friday 20 August. Please ensure selections are made prior to this date

Zoe Duffy
Sports Coordinator

An Introduction to STEM Careers at DSTG work experience placement with Defence Science and Technology Group

Located at Edinburgh from 16-20 August 2021, Ref no: WEP/03582/21.

Students can apply for this via the Defence Work Experience Program website.

Student activities will include:

• Tracking simulations for aircraft surveillance
• Digital identity using facial recognition
• Machine Learning model training
• ‘Learn to Hack’ activity
• Mathematics and statistics for operation analysis
• Exposure to wider Defence industry
• Opportunities to speak to staff about their careers and how they got where they are today

There are 10 spots for students available in this program. For further information, please contact Melissa Couzner via email mcouzner@marymackillop.sa.edu.au.

University Open Days 2021

University open days are valuable for students to visit, interact and learn what pathways and opportunities are available to them.

Flinders University

Open Days will be held on campus on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 August 2021.

Keep up to date with all the events and activities around Flinders Open Days 2021.

Register Your Interest

The University of Adelaide

In 2021, you’ll have the opportunity to experience our university online and on-campus. Register for tours and talk to career advisors

On-campus Tours Sunday 15 August 9.30am-3.00pm (ACDT)

Register Your Interest

University of South Australia

At UniSA we know that one size doesn’t fit all. That’s why our Open Days are online and on campus this year, so your students can explore their future study and career options the way they want to.

If you are wanting to register to attend an event/workshop at UniSA please register via the following link 

https://events.unisa.edu.au/open-day/on-campus-tours-experiences/

Open Days will vary depending on the campus but start on Sunday 15 August.

Adelaide Health Simulation (AHS): Guided Tour

If you are considering a career within an Allied Health Profession at The University of Adelaide, please watch this fantastic video on the College's careers webpage.

Summer Employment Opportunity

Campion Education employ students from Mary MacKillop College to help with the preparation of book order requirements for the new school year.

If any Year 12 students are interested in applying for the summer break employment and are available to work the whole of January and into February if required – please apply!

Please send your resume with tax file number to:

Luisa Sangermano
Campion Education
lsangermano@campion.com.au

Applications close on Saturday 25 September.

If you need help with a cover letter/resume, please see Melissa Couzner.

SATAC Applications

SATAC guides have arrived and have been distributed to all our Year 12 students. Year 11 students will receive their copies over the coming week.

Melissa Couzner will support the Year 12 students on Thursday 26th August to complete their SATAC applications for their University and/or TAFE study options for 2022. Students will be informed closer to the date with regards to process via SEQTA.

Academy of Interactive Entertainment Open Day/Information Evenings.

AIE Open Days are valuable for students to visit, interact and learn what pathways and opportunities are available to them. Discover the courses designed that get Students started in game development, 3D animation and visual effects at the AIE Open Day commencing on Sunday 15 August 2021.

To register for the Open Day, or find out more information on AIE’s free events, please their website.