Edition 6,
7 July 2023

Mary MacKillop College acknowledges the Kaurna people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live, work and study. We pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Prayer for Naidoc Week

God of all creation, as we journey together in this Great Southern Land,
We pray for healing, forgiveness, and unity,
Creating a path of good will, with justice and compassion.
Jesus, through the power of your love,
You have given us the courage, wisdom, and strength
To share our gifts and talents in humility.
In peace and understanding we reconcile with each other.
Creator Spirit, we come together in prayer and thanksgiving
For the many blessings we have received.
Allow your Spirit to wash over us and give us strength to walk together as one.
Amen.

It has been another fantastic term at Mary MacKillop College! The year has seemed to fly by, and we are now already halfway through 2023. You will see from the many news stories included in this edition, that much has been happening in our College, and we acknowledge and celebrate the diverse activities, successes and achievements of our girls over recent months.

I am sure that in addition to these ‘big’ listed events, there have been many individual moments of accomplishment, learning, fun and joy. Likely too, there have also been some challenges. In fact, sometimes more is learnt from the challenges than the successes! These are the times where we recall our theme for the year “Having Courage To…” and find ways to step up bravely, be resilient, and give things our absolute best shot.

This was evident recently during our Vinnies Winter Sleepout last week, where a number of Year 12 students and staff raised money and awareness of the plight of those who find themselves homeless or in need. Although the night was cold and a bit uncomfortable, it was an experience that deepened the students’ gratitude for their own lifestyles, and strengthened their solidarity and compassion for those who sleep ‘rough’ every night. Over $10,600 was raised by students and staff from this event – what an amazing achievement!

I sincerely thank everyone in our community for their contributions this term. Mary MacKillop College remains a place of warmth, welcome and success because of the collective efforts of each person here.

Good wishes and blessings for a well-deserved holiday break.

Sonia Nelson
Principal

Celebrating our Faith

A significant part of celebrating our faith at Mary MacKillop College is to find time for prayer, reflection and personal development.

Corpus Christi Mass

On Thursday 8 June, the school community gathered for the Corpus Christi Mass to honour and contemplate the profound significance of the Corpus Christi Feast, which was so important to our Patron, St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. On this day we focussed on the Eucharist being the spiritual food provided to the faithful. The Eucharist commemorates God’s new and definite covenant with the people through Jesus. During the mass, Fr Gaeton Pereira’s inspiring message reminded us of the importance of faith and the transformative power of the Eucharist in our lives, reflecting on Christ’s sacrifice and love for humanity.

The singers’ voices enriched the celebration, the heartfelt prayers and readings from scripture reminded us of the teachings of Christ. Beyond the symbolic elements of the ceremony, the Corpus Christi Mass is always a reminder of the values of love, compassion and service that we try to uphold as a College community.

May the blessings of Corpus Christi continue to fill our hearts and inspire us to be beacons of light in the world.

Curriculum - Year 12 Spiritualities, Religion and Meaning Course (SRM)

As part of the Year 12 Spiritualities, Religion and Meaning Course (SRM), students explore a concept or issue from a spiritual or religious perspective related to a big idea. They may develop a new or enriched understanding by connecting with others, e.g. peers, community members, elders, or online communities. They may also engage in other forms of research. Applying these insights, students undertake a task or activity in collaboration with others. They engage in reflective practice to evaluate the impact of their shared action and their learning about spiritual and/or religious concepts, ideas and beliefs.

The Year 12 SRM students engaged in the big idea of community, justice and diversity. They were able to effectively apply the Catholic social teachings to social justice issues, by dialoguing and collaborating with each other and organisations that share a commitment to social justice.

The students were given a project supported by the Catholic organisation Mary MacKillop Today, from Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Australia, Peru, or Timor-Leste, advocating for a social justice principle. They researched the project, planned and created a fundraiser, or an awareness-raising event, to build dignity and support for the members of the community.

The students worked together in their group with enthusiasm and willingness to make a difference for the various communities. Some of the fundraisers included a bake sale with information to raise awareness of the issue and the project. Other students created displays, presented to classes and made posters to further raise awareness of the issues. Through their efforts, the students were not only able to donate money to the charities, but they also contributed to fostering a more inclusive, empathetic and understanding society.

With blessings

Mrs Adriana Sotira
Religious Education Coordinator

In the week commencing Monday 19 June, the Year 10 students participated in a four-day event known as Futures Week.

The week comprised of various excursions, activities and workshops, along with tours and hands-on experiences, immersing the students in new and exciting environments, with an emphasis on future careers and pathways to success.

On Monday 19 June, our Year 10 students travelled to PEER, a trade training and apprenticeship facility in the west. Students had the opportunity to explore the plumbing, electrical and construction trades. The girls embraced each of the hands-on activities, learning to change tapware, connect wiring and how to use power tools in the workshop.

On Tuesday 20 June, our Year 10 students welcomed SAPOL and the Australian Defence Force to the College and learnt about the various career options of the future. Following this, the students met with educators from the Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE) and created their own video game characters. To finish the day, our Year 10s analysed their personality traits using UniSA’s My Career Match and learnt how to write a professional resume thanks to Flinders University.

On Wednesday 21 June, our Year 10s spent the day exploring Flinders University, with half of our cohort starting at Bedford Park, whilst the other half started at Tonsley. At Bedford Park, students took an extensive tour of the campus before participating in psychology and criminology workshops. These focused on stereotypical criminal behaviour and the study of criminology, as well as looking at attention to detail, memory and mental health.

At the Tonsley campus, students participated in activities around cybercrime and cybersecurity, as well as explored programs offered in Allied Health including Speech Pathology, Nutrition and Dietetics.

To finish the week, on Thursday morning our students welcomed Lauren Spear, founder of The Orange Butterfly to the College. Lauren shared her story of sustaining a traumatic brain injury whilst working as a teacher. She spoke openly about how her injury had dramatically altered the course of her life, shifting her focus away from a job that she loved, due to unforeseen circumstances. The students were captivated by Lauren’s story, including her strength and determination and they left the session feeling grateful.

Our Year 10 students then participated in an activity titled ‘Letter to My Future Self’, where they reflected on the person they would like to be in the future. Students wrote some uniquely beautiful letters to themselves, which I hope will be used as a tool in future, to remind them of just how far they have come and how truly resilient and courageous they are.

Following our morning at school, our Year 10 students visited the Australian Space Agency, before moving to the University of Adelaide, where they learnt about trending careers and jobs of the future, focusing on growing areas of employment such as AI, sustainability, energy, mining and resources, space and health technology. This session prompted everyone to think about careers that currently do not exist but may be a possibility in the near future.

Futures Week was a truly eye-opening and enlightening experience for all. A big thank you to our staff who volunteered to attend the various excursions and activities, and to the students for keeping an open mind and actively participating in the week's activities.

Angelika Portolesi
Future Pathways Coordinator

On Thursday 6 July, we celebrated our Term Two Good News Assembly. There was much to be grateful for.

The Sports Captains presented an overview of all things sport and announced the pink round best dressed winners. Ally (Year 10) shared her time at the Santos Science Experience and those who participated in the Generations in Jazz were presented with their certificates.

We were fortunate to see the Year 7 Performance Team present Welcome to Wonderland as a sneak peek of the ‘Alice’ production happening in Week Seven of Term Three.

The Year 10 Italian students shared their experience of the Collage of Migration and the language connection event called Lasciatemi Collegare. These events are held annually with Rostrevor College.

We celebrated our team of five students who competed in the 2023 Senior School Ethics Olympiad. The team placed second and were awarded silver medals at the assembly. This placing sees the MMC team invited to compete in the International Final of the Senior School Ethics Olympiad in Week One of Term Three. Along with other Australian schools, they will be competing against schools from Canada, New Zealand, India and Hong Kong.

Our Social Justice Captains told us all about National Reconciliation Week and the Vinnies Winter Sleepout.

We wrapped up the assembly with a NAIDOC Week quiz.

Term Two was one to be remembered for so many reasons. We look forward with excitement for all that Term Three will bring.

Liz Stewart
Director of Students

On Sunday 18 June we finally arrived at the airport with our yellow ribbons, St Christopher badges and suitcases (some larger than others). A group of enthusiastic Year 10 students, along with Mrs Eckert, Mrs Attwood and Mr Iannace, embarked on the MacKillop Discovers Canberra trip of 2023. The Canberra experience was hugely successful and broadened the students’ understanding of our Nation’s Capital.

The Canberra 2023 trip has been a long time in the making, having our first student/parent meeting back in 2022. The students met weekly leading up to the trip to undertake lessons in Civics and Citizenship. The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the National Capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion, the Australian Government is contributing funding of $90 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards these costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion.

As well as experiencing Canberra as our National Capital, the students completed various assignments so they could gain 10 SACE Credits in Integrated Learning. The students’ commitment to the Integrated Learning subject was evident in their attendance at lunchtime lessons, even long after the camp was over.

The students found it hard to select which Canberra highlights to focus on as they were all wonderful for varying reasons. The Australian War Memorial provided us with the most moving part of our visit, attending a Last Post Ceremony and learning about Flying Officer David Arnold Barlow’s story, which was a little close to home as he was from Adelaide, growing up in North Adelaide and attended St Peters College. He was not much older than the students. His story of bravery and comradery was inspiring, he was a patriot through and through. Attending the Last Post Ceremony helped us to engage with one of the many war hero narratives. Two of our students, Alicia and Erin, were honored to represent the College and their own family’s history, in the laying of the wreaths. The Last Post Ceremony is something that will stay with us forever.

Arriving at Parliament House, dressed in the College’s formal uniform, the importance of Parliament House became very evident. Prior to the visit students knew it was special, however, it was not until they were walking the halls that they realised this is where the magic happens! This is where our Democracy plays out. The students were quick to embrace Parliament House. They sat in a replica House of Representatives where they debated a Bill ‘Should universities be free of charge?’. Each student was given a role, Kelsey was the Prime Minister, Asha the Opposition Leader, Allegra Sergeant In Arms and Gemma a Clerk, just to name a few. This was a fun and fair debate where it was decided that the Bill would not be passed. Students experienced a tour of Parliament House where they learnt about past Prime Ministers and various aspects of how the Parliamentary system works. We had the privilege of meeting Mr James Stevens MP, Member for Sturt, as we had been discussing Mr Stevens and the work he does in the lead up to our trip, so meeting him was a highlight, we felt very special that he took the time out of his very busy schedule to meet with us. We are hoping this visit prompts the future MP in some of our students.

We visited eighteen wonderful and inspiring places, we could reflect for hours as each one taught us something new, provided us with activities that stretched our imaginations, made us wonder, taught us facts and history and in some instances made us want to explore various aspects in the future. Our other visits included; The AIS (Australian Institute of Sport), CSIRO, Questacon, The National Art Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Museum of Australian Democracy, National Capital Exhibition, National Museum, National Film and Sound Archive, The High Court of Australia, Old Parliament House, The Royal Australian Mint, The Botanical Gardens Night Walk, The National Library, Embassy Tour and Mt Ainslie Lookout.

We were immensely proud of our MacKillop students, they represented the College with integrity, intelligence and displayed the Josephite ethos on many occasions. Many people and places commented on our MacKillop young people and how wonderful they are.

The Canberra group are grateful to their parents for supporting them to take part in this journey, they are thankful to the MacKillop staff; Mrs Eckert, Ms Cirocco, Mrs Attwood, Mr Iannace, Mr Panozzo, and Mrs Nelson (for the media updates that kept everyone informed).

MacKillop Discovers Canberra 2023 Group

On Thursday 25 May, a group of Year 9 students attended Flinders University for the STEM Enrichment Academy for Girls. This program aims to help women engage in a wide range of activities in the areas of physics, biology, chemistry, technology and engineering. The program highlights the benefits of studying in the area of STEM and the career opportunities available.

Throughout the day, students participated in several activities from green chemistry workshops (chemistry), fun with light (physics) and a role model panel where students listened to and asked questions of those who have a career in STEM.

The first activity involved physics, where we took part in a puzzling and problem-solving experiment. Lily Taylor, an optics specialist, explained her involvement in STEM at University and through her work. Lily brought us two boxes consisting of a light laser, six mirrors and a buzzer. The aim of the experiment was to reflect the laser off the mirrors to reach the buzzer. The laser would shine and hit a mirror, then we had to turn certain mirrors for the laser to reflect in various directions. Some mirrors were in a fixed position whilst others were rotatable. Working collaboratively with our peers, we had to find six possible explications that resulted with the laser reaching the buzzer. Each solution had to utilise a different number of mirrors, starting with one mirror and finishing with six. Many of us were able to solve all six situations. The experiment was an enjoyable and fascinating start to our day, allowing us to challenge ourselves. We thank Lily and the mentors for their time and sharing their insightful knowledge with us.

The second activity we participated in was green chemistry. We were introduced to chemistry and told we would be making bottles from reusable and compostable material using seaweed but on a smaller scale. At the beginning of the experiment, there were three mixtures including milk, orange juice and water mixed with food dye. We had to take these mixtures and combine them with seaweed alginate. Using a pipette, we transferred the mixture that was combined with seaweed alginate and put it into calcium chloride which then formed reusable water bottles.

Throughout the day we were engaged in insightful and fun filled activities, learning about the different STEM programs and how we have opportunities to pursue STEM studies in the future.

Year 9 Science students

This year, The Collage of Migration was held on Friday 16 June and was attended by many families from our College and Rostrevor College. The event began with Acknowledgement of Country which was read in both Italian and English, and presented by the Year 7 Dance group.

Our Year 10 Italian students chose a migrant to interview and created a poster and digital presentation detailing the migrant’s experience. The students interviewed their migrant based on four different sections: Origin, Journey to the Unknown, First Impressions and Settling in a New Country. The students acknowledged the opportunities they have been given because of the courage, determination, and obstacles their migrants have overcome, which has meant they can have an education, acceptance amongst society and lives of prosperity and opportunity.

On the day we welcomed guest speaker Associate Professor Marinella Marmo from Flinders University. Marinella spoke of the importance of knowing our migrant story as well as of the benefits of learning another language. She also told us her own migrant story and how this has allowed her to have a greater understanding of the refugee situation.

Entertainment was provided by old scholar Renae Albuino who sang songs in Italian and worked leading up to the day with our Performance Choir to sing Tintarella di Luna. The Rostrevor Jazz Band also performed a musical item.

Both students and their migrants enjoyed this experience of sharing special memories and sacred stories, it is a definite highlight of the Year 10 course of Italian.

After the Collage of Migration, senior students of both Mary MacKillop and Rostrevor Colleges spent the rest of the day together celebrating Lasciatemi Collegare. This event includes a range of activities all aimed at promoting a connection with the Italian language and culture.

This entire day is very special and a unique aspect to not only our study of Italian, but also to our College, and one that is looked forward to by our students. A very sincere thank you to everyone involved in making this event possible as well as memorable.

Below are some comments from our students:

“My highlight of the Collage of Migration was being able to see my Nonna happy and proud of where her life’s journey has taken her.” - Clarissa

“The Collage of Migration was a successful day that gave us an opportunity to tell our migrants’ stories. Our favourite part of the Collage of Migration was presenting our posters to family members and participating in the ‘Lasciatemi Collegare’ activities during the day with Rostrevor College.” - Olivia S and Ava

“My highlight of the Collage of Migration was being able to connect with my Zio on a different level and tell his story to the school.” - Lotus

“The Collage of Migration was an opportunity to honour and commemorate the sacrifices our migrants made and their contributions to our lives today. It enabled us to learn and dive deeper into our family history and to understand the impact it has had on us.” - Tiana, Francesca, Stefania, Sophia, Jess

“A highlight of the Collage of Migration was being able to share a special memory with our migrant. Being able to share this memory with our loved ones is one that will stay with us, and them, forever.” - Ella and Alessia

“Though the Collage of Migration was very sentimental and beautiful to be part of, the day did not end there. It was so much fun to take part in Lasciatemi Collegare. Some of the highlights of the day included singing in Italian, playing an Italian version of ‘Family Feud’, playing an intense round of penalty shoot-outs and bocce. The day was filled with many activities relating to Italy, and it was a chance to embrace the Italian culture with one another and connect over our love for the Italian language.” - Alessia, Olivia and Laila

Mary Lepore
Languages Learning Area Leader

On Wednesday 14 June a group of Year 10 students participated in the Young Women in STEM program at the University of Adelaide.

The first activity of the day focussed on water filtration, which is linked to the chemical engineering degrees available at the University of Adelaide. We learnt about the importance of fresh water in our lives. Statistical data gathered from around the world was used to inform us about why and how people are impacted by the lack of fresh water. Following this, we were given the task of filtering dirty, muddy water using gravel, sand, bluestone, carbon pellets and cotton wool. In groups of 2 and 3, we conducted 3 trials using syringes and cylinders filled with different materials to find which were best at filtering water. At the end of this activity, each group had a different result, but all groups managed to get the water clearer than it was at the start.

We also participated in a mathematical activity. Upon entering the classroom, we were greeted by three mathematics graduates, each specialising in different fields. We began with a short game which informed us about the role maths plays in different occupations. Next, we were put into small groups where we were challenged to untangle a twisted rope using only two functions. Whilst doing so, we noticed a pattern, which we substituted with mathematical terms to predict the functions necessary for a more twisted rope. We greatly enjoyed this activity, as we were given the opportunity to collaborate with students from other schools and apply mathematics to real life situations, a skill that will be extremely beneficial to us in the future.

The next activity was an Artificial Intelligence (AI) workshop. We split into four groups and were given a random prompt to then come up with a question to ask ChatGPT. The three prompts were transportation, art and cooking. The group which managed to extract the weirdest answer from the AI were the winners. The winning group asked ChatGPT to create a romantic tragedy in which Shrek was the main character. Some of the other questions asked were ‘How to travel to the sun in Santa's sleigh?’ and ‘Why are mangoes the best pizza topping?’. We learnt that ChatGPT comes up with three different answers to questions, ranks the these and then gives you what it thinks is the best answer. We also learnt that ChatGPT filters the smallest amounts of information from millions of different websites to produce an answer. This means that you can never get accurate references from the program. This workshop was our group’s favourite.

Overall, we enjoyed the day as we were able to work in teams to apply our thinking skills to solve different problems. We also learnt about the different STEM courses offered by the university and a range of future career pathways which lead to STEM.

We were grateful for the opportunity to take part in the program.

Year 10 Science students

As we farewell another bustling term of sport at the College, we celebrate the remarkable achievements showcased by our talented athletes. With the winter season in full swing, our Saturday morning winter sport and knockout sport teams have been battling it out on the court and fields. Let's take a moment to recap the highlights and extend our well wishes to the teams moving forward.

Following some fierce round one matches, our Year 9/10 Netball, and Year 9/10 Soccer teams have been eliminated from the knockout competition. However, we congratulate our Year 7/8 Netball team for their outstanding performance, securing a spot in round two. We send them our best wishes as they gear up to face Sacred Heart early next term.

In addition to their busy sport schedules, our MacKillop girls have been making significant contributions by hosting a series of netball clinics at local primary schools. Leading the charge, the Year 9 Specialist Netball class visited numerous schools, imparting their expertise to the next generation of netball enthusiasts. The Queensland Netball team and Year 10 MMC 1 team have also lent a helping hand, with all students being excellent ambassadors for the College. Furthermore, students from Years 8 to 11 have also volunteered as umpires at the Catholic Schools Netball Carnival throughout Week 10 and a group of Year 10 students assisted in running the St Joseph’s Memorial School Sports Day. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all students who have generously dedicated their time this term to these community initiatives.

Looking ahead to next term, we have some exciting lunchtime activities lined up in the gymnasium, aimed at keeping us active during the chilly winter days. Starting from Week Four, the Sport Captains will be hosting a table tennis competition every Wednesday. We can't wait to see students there, enjoying some friendly competition and camaraderie.

On 24 June we celebrated the pink round for Saturday Sport. We thank teams for their enthusiastic participation. It was heartening to witness everyone donning pink attire, raising awareness about breast cancer, promoting breast screening and showing support for those diagnosed with breast cancer in our community. Our staff had the challenging task of selecting the most creatively dressed team and we are thrilled to congratulate our Year 7 MMC 2 team on their exceptional efforts. Well done!

We look forward to an equally inspiring and successful Term Three, filled with new opportunities and memorable experiences. Wishing you all a restful and rejuvenating holiday break.

Congratulations Lucymarie on following your dreams and completing your medical degree.

Lucymarie had this to say about her time at Mary MacKillop College Kensington:
"The incredibly supportive and encouraging nature at MMC helped develop my confidence with trying new things. I'm so thankful for the friendships and foundations I developed during my time at the College, and attribute many of my successes since graduating to the amazing opportunities I had as a student!" - Lucymarie Silvestri

Click here to read more about Lucymarie and her journey to completing her medical degree.

Mary MacKillop College warmly invites girls in Years 4, 5 and 6 to spend a day with us as a MacKillop girl.

Come 'n' Try MacKillop Days are a wonderful opportunity for your daughter to meet our staff and students while being involved in a range of interactive lessons and meeting new friends.

Click here to book a Come 'n' Try MacKillop Day.

Join our Principal, Sonia Nelson, for a tour of the College.

Principal’s Tours are a great opportunity for prospective MacKillop girls and families to visit the College and to meet our Principal. You will meet senior staff and students on an intimate tour of the school and experience our warm hospitality.

Term 3 Dates
Tuesday 22 August, 9.30am
Wednesday 13 September, 5.00pm

Term 4 Dates
Saturday 21 October, 10.00am
Wednesday 8 November, 9.30am

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