Edition 8,
1 September 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.

Living God,
Bless us with eyes that see goodness,
mouths that speak love,
ears that are discerning,
hearts that tough in kindness,
feet that go the extra mile and
smiles that show acceptance.
Amen

It is always with such enormous joy and pride that I reflect on the events and activities that have taken place over the past weeks each time I prepare for my newsletter article. They not only show the diversity and richness of opportunities but, more importantly, the enthusiasm and sense of unity within our students, staff and families.

This was particularly evident in our inaugural Intercollegiate netball challenge last week with Loreto College, where our three netball teams played with determination, courage and good sportsmanship against some worthy opponents. It was wonderful to see so many of our families at the event, with a highlight being the tangible Mary MacKillop College spirit as the girls cheered, sang and rallied to support the players on court.

We are in the midst of the Student Leader selection process for 2024 and a large number of our Year 11 students have displayed COURAGE TO LEAD by nominating for the various positions. The high-quality applications, speeches and interviews demonstrated how the values and mission of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop deeply influence the thoughts, actions and outlooks of our girls. It is with great purpose that we continue to walk in Mary’s footsteps to ensure that all of our young people become confident, capable and courageous leaders that are ready to make a difference in the world!

It has also been delightful to welcome our new and prospective Year 7 students to our campus recently during our 2024 Transition and Come ‘N’ Try Days. We saw many happy faces leave in the afternoons, having enjoyed a multitude of activities and connections with our current students, and better knowing what it means to ‘Be a MacKillop Girl’.

I could wax lyrical about so many other wonderful experiences, events and celebrations that have taken place over the last few weeks, but instead I will leave you to enjoy the many articles and photographs that better capture these moments.

Every blessing to all grandfathers, fathers and father figures in our Mary MacKillop College community for Father's Day this Sunday.

As we move from the chills of the winter season into the verdant spring, I hope that we can all seek opportunities for new growth and renewal. My best wishes to our wonderful, live-giving and affirming Mary MacKillop College community. Go well and God bless.

Sonia Nelson
Principal

A conversation with Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson, and the Honourable Julia Gillard AC, former Prime Minister of Australia

Over winter, Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson, Governor of South Australia, opened the doors of Government House for a series of thought-provoking conversations with inspirational South Australians. On Friday, 25 August, four of our student leaders witnessed Her Excellency in conversation with the Honourable Julia Gillard AC, former Prime Minister of Australia, on the topic of Women's Advancement.

Her Excellency's commitment to facilitating transformative dialogues brought to the fore the charismatic presence of the Honourable Julia Gillard AC. As the first woman to hold the office of Prime Minister in Australia, Ms Gillard's journey has been one of resilience, leadership and advocacy for gender equality. Together, Her Excellency and Julia Gillard steered the conversation towards the many facets of women's advancement, delving into the barriers that still hinder progress and the strategies that can amplify the voices of women across all sectors of society.

Ms Gillard's rich experiences in the political realm and her continued involvement in various global initiatives provided insight into how empowering women is not solely a moral imperative, but an economic and social necessity. Ms Gillard's emphasis on education, mentorship and dismantling systemic biases sowed the seeds of inspiration. Her Excellency's vision for Government House as a hub of transformative conversations inspired our students who left the event armed with fresh perspectives and a renewed commitment to championing the cause of women's advancement.

The doors of Government House may have physically opened that day, but it is the doors of opportunity, understanding and change that have swung wide for the wider community.

Celebrating a Successful Year 7 Winter Transition Day!

We are excited to share the highlights of our recent Year 7 Winter Transition Day held on Thursday August 24, 2023. This day marked an important milestone in the journey of our newest students as they took their next steps into the wonderful world of high school. It was heartwarming to witness the enthusiasm and energy of our new students as they embraced this new chapter of their education at Mary MacKillop College.

The day began with a warm welcome from our principal, teachers and senior students. Our vibrant and supportive community atmosphere instantly made everyone feel like they were a part of the Mary MacKillop College family.

To help break the ice and foster new friendships, students participated in a series of team-building activities. From scavenger hunts to problem-solving challenges, these activities encouraged teamwork, communication and collaboration. It was truly heartening to see our Year 7s forming connections that will undoubtedly last throughout their time at Mary MacKillop College.

Navigating a new campus can be intimidating, luckily our Year 11 buddies led many of the activities throughout the day, sharing their own experiences and offering tips for a successful transition. By the end of the day, the new students were confidently making their way around the school, equipped with a newfound sense of familiarity.

Of course, the heart of any school day lies in the classroom, and our new students had the opportunity to experience high school academics. They engaged in mini-lessons across various subjects, giving them a glimpse into the exciting educational journey that awaits them. The curiosity and eagerness displayed by our new students were truly inspiring.

I extend a heartfelt gratitude to Ms Lepore, all the teachers, staff members and senior students who contributed their time and effort to make the Transition Day a resounding success. Your dedication to our students' well-being and success shines brightly.

As we reflect on this wonderful day, we are reminded of the welcoming and inclusive spirit that defines Mary MacKillop College. We look forward to seeing our new students at their final Transition Day in Term Four and witnessing them thrive and make their mark on our community in the years to come.

Jasmin Eckert
Deputy Principal

As part of STEAM Club, students were able to take part in the Catholic Education South Australia STEM Make a Difference competition, which is a STEM-learning initiative designed to address real-world problems and demonstrate how students in Catholic schools take action that matters. CESA STEM MAD was run from Term 1 to Term 2 during our weekly lunchtime STEAM Club meetings. We had many great inventions that would have benefitted various communities being developed, with the following key milestones achieved:

1. Four project teams created prototypes.
2. Three project teams submitted entries to CESA.
3. Two out of three entries were invited to the state showcase.

The students worked in their teams to develop their solutions, following the design process. First, they empathised with community problems identified through the 17 UN Sustainable Goals for a better, fairer, cleaner world, and Catholic social teachings. Next, they defined their problem, casting themselves in a professional role such as environmental biologists, council planners, or mechanical engineers. They then brainstormed ideas and considered their feasibility before producing and testing their prototypes.

This year two of our projects were selected to be presented at the state showcase. Here Catholic schools from all around South Australia compete with their designs for innovative STEM solutions to both local and global issues.

The STEAM Club and the wider school community congratulate the following students:

Year 7s Caitlin and Lally for their project ‘Clean Drinking Water’, a portable, solar-powered UV-C filter for a water tank to support rural and impoverished African communities who walk long distances for water.

Year 11’s Isabella and Giacinta for their project ‘Producing Driving Solutions for People with Disabilities’, redesigning street signs to be easier to read for people with visual impairments.

Both projects considered global concepts and created impactful solutions for them at local levels, keeping specific communities in mind as they developed and tested their prototypes. They were well-received at the showcase, with positive feedback shared from the judges and the CESA STEM community on the day.

This program will run again next year. If you are interested in creating a STEM solution to one of the world’s problems, this is a great opportunity to create something that can truly Make A Difference.

See you at STEAM Club Thursdays at lunch time for the remainder of this Term.

Lisa Turley
Science Teacher

Wakakirri, derived from an Indigenous Australian word meaning "to dance a story", is an annual, nationwide event that brings together schools, students and the arts community. Mary MacKillop College students unleashed their artistic potential on Wednesday 16 August 2023, showcasing their creative expression in their performance of Wonderland.

The story-dance presented this year was inspired by our school motto 'Courage to lead' and the Wakakirri motif 'Change'. Our community will be treated to the full length performance of this story on Wednesday 6 September in our Arts Production 'Alice', incorporating dance, drama, music and visual art.

“It all starts as Alice falls through the rabbit hole. She arrives in a chaotic and mysterious world, a world that causes Alice to experience feelings of confusion. Through her confusion Alice finds the courage to be brave and explore Wonderland, getting to know the busy white rabbit, the mysterious caterpillar, the Cheshire cats, the Mad Hatter, the domineering Queen of Hearts and the joyful Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee siblings. Alice moves past the strict rules enforced by the Queen and has the courage to bring about change in Wonderland, turning it into a place where people are free to express their own ideas.”
Chiara, Year 8

The performance has been in development since the beginning of the year with weekly lunchtime rehearsals, set construction as part of our Drama classes and props such as the mad hatter hats and oversized tea cups designed by Art classes.

We are delighted to announce that Mary MacKillop College has received a State Award for their performance Wonderland and has been invited to perform at the upcoming Wakakirri Awards Showcase Night on Friday 8 September 2023.

Congratulations!

Wakakirri tickets are on sale now

Rachel Scott
The Arts Leader of Learning

Our Year 7 students celebrated Science Week by engaging in some cool experiments to explore the properties of frozen Carbon Dioxide (Dry Ice). From fog filled bubbles to making a bang with miniature bottle rockets, students were able to observe the transition of particles from a densely packed solid to an expanding cloud of icy fog.

The experiments were a success and provided many laughs as the students discovered how Dry Ice reacts under different conditions. Please see the photos below from the experiments.

Monty Mott
Science Teacher

On Thursday 24 August, the Front Office Courtyard was transformed into a Street Food Market, with the delicious aromas of Greek, Italian and Indian food filling the air.

Our Stage Two Food and Hospitality students created a street food extravaganza, working in small groups to produce and sell cultural cuisine in a simulated market setting.

Faye-Fayi produced a Greek box, offering a choice of lamb skewers, chicken skewers or falafel, served with Greek salad, pita bread, chips and tzatziki (with a vegan option available).

Mamma Mia's produced a little taste of Italy, offering potato gnocchi with napoletana sauce alongside a bocconcini, tomato and spinach salad. For dessert the students included a tiramisu cup (vegetarian).

Namaste offered a comforting butter chicken or butter eggplant curry (vegetarian), served with rice, raita, naan, lime pickle and a refreshing glass of mango lassi.

A fun and immersive day, which is fast becoming a favourite amongst staff and students alike!

Miescha Archibald
Stage Two Food and Hospitality Teacher
 

Each year in August, The Children's Book Council of Australia celebrates Book Week, and this year Mary MacKillop College excitedly participated in the annual event by embracing the joys of reading with a week-long program of activities. The fruition of weeks of planning, discussion and collaboration by The Read and Roam Book Club ensured Book Week 2023 was a great success.  

To stimulate interest and enthusiasm in the week, students were welcomed by an impressive mural encapsulating the theme 'Read, Grow, Inspire'. Highlighting the transformative power of books, the mural encouraged students to broaden their horizons through reading widely and diversely. Complemented by Ms Papp’s 'Guess Whose Bookshelf?' challenge in the library, students were encouraged to use their detective skills to identify which bookshelf belonged to which MacKillop staff member and gain an insight into their reading preferences.

Monday’s celebration began with a book sale which not only offered students and staff an opportunity to expand their personal libraries and discover new genres and authors, but it also provided the opportunity to raise funds for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. With their gold coin donations in exchange for books, the MacKillop community demonstrated its commitment to helping improve literacy rates among Indigenous children in Australia. 

On Tuesday students were challenged by a Guess the Emoji book title contest. Employing their creative and critical thinking skills to decipher well-known book titles from The Maze Runner by James Dashner to The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Year 11 students Scarlett and Alexandra successfully guessed twelve of the fifteen eclectic book titles. Great work!

Wednesday saw the fruition of Year 11 students, Jaymie and Scarlett’s collaborative energy manifest itself in a thrilling Kahoot. Students had to correctly guess various books, authors, and literary ideas, and while fierce rivalries ensued, the spirited atmosphere fostered great community spirit amongst participants.  

Thursday was Mindful Bookmark Making. Students chose a bookmark to colour for their Independent Reading Study and by simply chilling with friends, and getting in touch with their creativity, they had something beautiful to show for their efforts.  

Friday was a Book Scavenger Hunt. Students were tasked with the challenge of roaming the library to identify a book cover by either its author or title. Inspiring humour, competition, and ingenuity, we extend our congratulations to Year 7 students, Maria and Taizya on their astute searches.  

Overall, Mary MacKillop College’s Book Week festivities were not only a celebration of the joys of reading, but they also encouraged and fostered great community spirit. We sincerely thank The Read and Roam Book Club, especially Scarlett, Jaymie and Anna, for their 'Courage to lead' the event and promote all things book-related.  

Ms Del Corso and Mrs Lepore
The Read and Roam Book Club Facilitators

Intercol 2023

The halls of Mary MacKillop College are still buzzing with excitement as we recount the success of the first-ever Intercollegiate Championship! Our netballers showcased their skill, determination and sportsmanship in a series of electrifying matches that left everyone on the edge of their seats. The event not only fostered healthy competition with Loreto College but also promoted camaraderie within the MMC community, with staff, students, old scholars and families in attendance to cheer on our teams. Our Year 7/8 Team won their game with the final score 31-11. We congratulate the team for their efforts and Ela for being awarded Most Valuable Player (MVP). The Year 9/10 team were defeated 17-36 but showcased MacKillop spirit and fought to the very end. Our Open Netball team finished the evening with a nail biting 42-41 loss. The team were outstanding throughout the match and should be extremely proud of their efforts. Keeleigh was awarded MVP after some very impressive shooting that kept MacKillop in the game. Well done to all students involved. The resounding success of the Intercollegiate Championship is a testament to the passion and dedication of our netball teams. We look forward to this event becoming a regular occurrence on the calendar.

Term 2/3 Sport

Term 2/3 Sport has concluded for 2023. We acknowledge all teams for their passion and dedication throughout the season. Congratulations to our premiership winning team, Year 9 MMC 2, who will be presented with their premiership medals at Sports Night. Thank you to all the coaches, players and supporters who made this season an unforgettable one!

Knockout Basketball

The sound of dribbling basketballs echoed far and wide as our Open Knockout Basketball team took on the best of the best at the State Championships. The competition was fierce, but our team's dedication and hard work paid off as finished in 5th place! Well done, girls.

As we reflect on these achievements, let us not forget the values that underpin our sports culture - respect, perseverance and commitment. Every match, every practice and every victory is a testament to the spirit that defines Mary MacKillop College. We look forward to sharing all the successes within sport at Sports Night on Tuesday 17 October. More details on the evening will be available shortly.

Zoe Duffy
Sports Coordinator

Congratulations to Daniella (Year 10) who was awarded the following for her crochet submission to the Royal Adelaide Show:

• The Sue Dinning Prize - most outstanding knitting, crochet or woven exhibit overall.
• First place - any crocheted article - 14 to 15 year of age.
• First place - The Handspinners and Weavers Guild of SA Prize most outstanding knitted, crocheted or woven exhibit - 14 to 15 years of age.
• Most outstanding knitted, crocheted or woven exhibit - 14 to 15 years of age.

Congratulations to Sophia (Year 10) who was awarded a highly sought after Certificate of Merit for her artwork in the Royal Adelaide Show competition category "Drawing, Featuring an Australian Native Bird or Reptile, using any drawing media".

Enrolments closing soon for Year 7 2024.

Enrolling now for 2025 and beyond.

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
Wednesday 13 September, 5.00pm

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

Book Now

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.