The Primary campus participated in Rice Day on the first Friday of Lent, in consideration of the many people around the world who have so little to eat on a daily basis. Students were encouraged to donate $2 to participate in Rice Day, experiencing what it feels like to have only one bowl of rice to eat.
Recently our Head Boy and Head Girl travelled to Sydney to attend the annual JJAMM Student Leadership Conference for the first time. This is a national event for Sisters of St Joseph schools, and focuses on the leadership qualities of St Joseph, Julian Tennyson Woods and Mary MacKillop.
Well that’s a wrap for our 2019 Swim Carnivals and what amazing days they were in their own way. Students in the Year 5-8 Carnival produced an atmosphere of fun and participation, while the Senior Carnival was a day of enthusiasm and celebration. The involvement of staff, parents and students of all ages made both carnivals memorable.
This long weekend, our Music students in Years 9-12 are stepping onto the stage at local festivals in Busselton and Dunsborough, gaining performance experience and sharing their talents with the wider community.
The Family Fun Day at this year’s Busselton Fringe Festival is on Saturday 2 March, and students from the College will be performing in the ArtGeo Courtyard all day between 11am and 5pm.
Year 7 and 8 students participated in a Middle School Retreat in the College Gymnasium on Friday 22 February. The theme for Retreat was: ‘The Hero Within’.
Year 8 students are embarking on their Christian Service challenge for the year to be Service Heroes in their homes – taking on the challenge of Mary MacKillop to “never see a need without doing something about it.
We welcome several new staff across the College this year.
Jo Hart, who has been working with our Learning Support Team in K-4 since last year, joins our Leadership team this year as Early Years Coordinator. Together with her extensive experience in Learning Support, Jo has an extensive specialist background in Early Childhood Education, and is currently the Principal Consultant in Early Years Education for the Schools Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCASA). She is passionate about driving student improvement through the professional development of teachers, particularly in Early Years Mathematics.
The first Friday of 2019 kicked off with a whole school assembly in the gymnasium, where the new Year 6 Primary Leaders were introduced and presented with their badges.
Led by Audrey McSevich and Noah Blackford, the Primary House Leaders recited their pledge as role models to offer their talents and time to the life and vitality of the College community and commit to building relationships that reflect the values of the College.
College congratulates 2018 graduates on their results
2018 graduates from St Mary MacKillop College once again produced some excellent results, with a 98% VET Achievement and eight students obtaining an ATAR over 92. Of our ATAR students, 92% received an offer from a public university, with a further nine students also receiving early offers from the University of Notre Dame.
The College community has once again generously supported St Vincent de Paul and the combined churches of Busselton by bringing in plenty of non-perishable items for their annual Christmas Hamper Appeal.
Students across Primary and Secondary classrooms have donated tinned goods, dry foods and Christmas treats for local families in need around Busselton.
St Mary MacKillop College has once again brought home the trophy for Champion School at the Busselton IronKids event this year, with more than 35 students from the College participating in the annual triathlon festival for ages 7-13.
College staff member, Mrs Vanessa Philp, who was also volunteering at the event, accepted the trophy and cheque for $1,000 on behalf of the College.