Students from Years 4-6 who have participated in Project Based Learning (PBL) with our Curiosity Academy this year have been studying the important role that bees play in the health of our natural environment. On Wednesday 6 November the group met with Tracy Lansdell from Green Tree Naturopathy, who provided a deeper insight into the major role that our native bees play in pollination.
On Thursday the 7 November, the Year 10 Visual Arts students welcomed Perth artist Rachelle Dusting for a full day Artist in Residence workshop.
A portrait and mural painter, Rachelle spoke to the students about her experiences as an artist, beginning in high school through to becoming a full-time professional artist.
On Thursday 24 October, 56 students from Year 4 to Year 6 travelled to Hay Park Bunbury to complete in the SWPSA Interschool Athletics Carnival. MacKillop competed against eight other catholic schools around the region.
Primary Assembly and Awards 1LT: The Gruffalo
Cobie welcomed everyone to Mrs Thomas’ Year 1 class Assembly, which began with their production of ‘The Gruffalo’. Mia Mouse went for a stroll through the deep, dark wood where she met a group of Foxes (Cody, Sophie, Jordan and Oliver), followed by a group of Owls (Grace, Sienna, Milla and Autumn), and finally a group of snakes (Eleanor, Montanna, James and Leon). Jake described how all of these animals seemed intent on inviting her for a meal, with Mia Mouse as the main dish! Mia Mouse tells each of them that she is on her way to a feast with a Gruffalo.
Earlier this year, one of our Year 11 students was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia and was admitted to hospital for treatment, where they have remained as an inpatient since April. When it was determined that a Bone Marrow Transplant was required, they were fortunate to find a donor match in Great Britain and the transplant has since taken place, utilising stem cells from a complete stranger who was willing to be on the donor registry.
On Wednesday 16 October the Curiosity Academy held their first ever Showcase at the College, in the Secondary Library. Up to thirty families attended the evening to explore the range of topics, events and projects their children had been involved in throughout the year.
The St Mary MacKillop College Athletics squad competed in the ACC ‘D’ Division Athletics Carnival held in the State Athletics Centre at Challenge Stadium on Friday 20 September. All the students put up some great performances and had an awesome day, with our Senior Girls even managing to come away with a trophy.
On Friday 20 September eight students in Years 4 to 7 from the Curiosity Academy joined students from eleven other schools from Bunbury to Margaret River and Pemberton for the inaugural South West Junior Philosothon at Geographe Primary School. Students from Scotch College and St Hilda’s also came down from Perth for this opportunity where students can share their thinking in a stimulating and collaborative way.
On Friday 13 September our selected Year 6 girls and boys basketball teams competed in the Slam Series Basketball Carnival, which was held at the Geographe Leisure Centre in Busselton.
A new regional carnival this year, MacKillop played extremely well against Bunbury Baptist College and GMAS. Both boys and girls improved in teamwork throughout the day, playing in the spirit of the game and displaying fantastic sportsmanship.
Mrs Heitman’s class in Room 15 have been learning all about Australia in HASS and English, including its location, states and territories, famous natural or manmade landmarks and animals. The students have been busy researching, writing information reports and creating power point presentations, so their assembly was a great opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.