Term 4, Week 2, 24 October

Upcoming Events

Principal's Update

Welcome Back

Students should be congratulated on the way in which they have returned to term four. I have been delighted that our attendance has been relatively high and that student attitude and application towards their studies have been very positive. At this time of the year, taking shortcuts and letting standards drop is quite easy; however, our students should be commended on their start. I challenge all students to maintain this as we push deeper into the term and the fatigue of a hectic school year starts to set in.

SRC Formation Retreat

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending our 2026 Student Representative Council formation retreat. We have a fantastic group of young people leading our college into the next 12 months. This team of young people brings a unique skill set across quite a diverse range.

I look forward to seeing their many ideas come to life throughout the next 12 months.

Student Success

Congratulations to our U16s Girls' Rugby League team, who won the New South Wales Rugby League State title this week. In a close encounter with the school from Camden, our girls came away victors 20 points to 16, with a try in the dying minutes to Lily Moseley. I congratulate the girls on their hard work and commitment, as this programme has been in place since the middle of the year. The time they have dedicated to their training and their commitment to one another are a true testament to their success. This is a remarkable achievement in the long and successful history of sport at our college, and all involved should be congratulated. We are very proud of them all.

Parent Webinars

Logged Off – Navigating the Social Media Ban with Your Child:

This free webinar by Jocelyn Brewer, psychologist and cyber educator, will help families:

• Understand why the ban has been introduced and what platforms are included/exempt.

• Explore privacy issues and age verification technology.

• Plan with their teens how to back up digital memories, audit current use, and manage alternatives.

• Anticipate unintended consequences, such as circumvention, isolation, or reliance on riskier platforms.

• Build family technology agreements and digital resilience that extend beyond social media.

Date: Thursday, 6 November, 7.30pm.

Please follow this link to book your space.

Empowering Your Child’s Career Journey (presented by Beyond):

This webinar will demonstrate how Senior School lays the foundation for your child’s future. You’ll learn how to guide subject choices, foster transferrable skills, and explore career pathways using the latest tools.

You'll learn practical tips on resumes, workplace exposure, and preparing for the final years of school, while keeping balance and wellbeing at the centre of career planning.

Date: Wednesday 29 October, 7.00pm – 7.45pm

Please follow this link to book your space.

Social media age restrictions explained – a guide for educators and youth-serving professionals:

From 10 December 2025, certain online platforms will be required under new government legislation to prevent under-16s from creating or maintaining accounts. Join the below 30-minute webinar for an overview of the upcoming social media age restrictions in Australia. Each of the information sessions will cover:

• What the new legislation means for educators and youth-serving professionals.

• Insights into how platform design features can impact young people’s wellbeing.

• Strategies and resources to support young people through the transition.

Please follow this link to see the upcoming webinar dates.

Spark

Excitement is building for the St Agnes’ Education SPARK Arts Festival on Thursday, 20 November. SPARK is a wonderful showcase of creative arts subjects across our parish secondary schools, and I highly encourage our community to attend this fun and impressive event. For more information on how to buy tickets, please refer to our Music Section. 

Congratulations to the following students who have received a Gold Award for receiving 70 Merits:

Stage 4:

Jessie Winter

Congratulations to the following students who have received a Silver Award for receiving 50 Merits:

Stage 4:

Hannah Bijoy, Mitchell Bransdon, Scarlett Brook, Amaya Davis, Mason Embling, Elliot Gardoll-Marjoribanks, Boadicea Hoffman, Solana Materyn Bonney, Amelie Oliver, Annabelle Siviour and James Wehlow.

Stage 5:

Grace Ashton, Jonah Barnes and Digby Pearce.

Congratulations to the following students who have received a Bronze Award for receiving 30 Merits:

Stage 4:

Henry Ayres, Esther Ballard, Alexander Boath, Henry Burt, Audrina Buttigieg, Lorcan Byrne, Grace Campbell, Sienna Close, Coco Cox, Rose Eccles, Ethan Ehinger, Ava English, Henry Ferguson, Lilly Fraser, Hamish Guihot, Charlie Haddon, Grace Halverson, Olive Henderson, Addison Hucker, Alina O'Brien, Oliver Parrish, Taj Patterson, Charlie Peach, Blair Sibarani, Jameson Smith, Shylah Tattersall, Alyssa Thompson, Dhiya Varsani and Flynn White.

Stage 5:

Kaylie Dawson, Jayden Jamnadas, Siena King, Evie Kuchling, Willow Lewis and Tora Smith.

Adam Kelly
Principal

St. Agnes' Eagles: Head of House Report

House Cup Update: Eagles, It’s Time to Soar!

St Paul’s Stingrays claimed the Fr Donnelly House Cup at the end of Term 3—congratulations to them! But with Term 4 underway, a new cycle begins, and the St Agnes Eagles have every chance to rise together and take flight. The race for house points is on, and it’s anyone’s game.

Students can earn house points by accruing merits, participating in sporting carnivals, volunteering, representing the school in sport, and engaging in religious and cultural events. There’s something for everyone — sporty, service-minded, creative, or community-focused.

Indy Lorger, Siosifa Fono, Ashton Grace, and Digby Pearce are already off to a flying start for the mighty Eagles. Let’s keep the momentum going!

My encouragement to all students: try hard, get involved, and let’s make 2025/2026 our strongest yet. Go Eagles!

St Agnes' House BBQ

St Agnes is holding a House Day on Thursday, October 30, to celebrate being the most awesome house in the school. We would love to call it St Agnes's feast day, but that is in January, and we would rather not wait until then. The day starts at 8.20am with a prayer service in the School Chapel. A celebratory BBQ lunch will be served during Lunch 2. Students are encouraged to show house spirit by wearing a 'pop of yellow'. The accessory could be yellow socks, a scarf, or a shirt."

Ignite Conference 2025

Fourteen students attended the Ignite Conference, held in Brisbane from September 26 to 28. Ignite is a dynamic and contemporary Catholic gathering for adults, teenagers, and children. Students shared a common experience of encountering Jesus Christ and the Church in prayer, worship, and listening to inspiring speakers who live the Christian life. Thank you, Mrs Marg Gobius and Ms Ashlinn de Dassel, for accompanying students on this uplifting journey. 

SRC Retreat 

The newly elected Student Representative Council (SRC) participated in a valuable planning and formation retreat on October 13 and 14 at the Francis Retreat Centre in Bonny Hills.

This retreat was a key opportunity for students to bond, learn about servant leadership, and define student leadership at MacKillop College. Ben Cudmore, co-founder of Self Seen, spoke to students about his life journey and the importance of mental health and seeking support.

Through various collaborative and problem-solving activities, the group established strong relationships and gained a clear understanding of each other's strengths. We look forward to supporting the direction the new SRC takes as they embark on their leadership journey. Thank you to Mrs Roxanne Dietrich for facilitating a wonderful experience and to Ms Ashlinn de Dassel for running meaningful prayer opportunities and formation support.

Community Connect

The Community Connect Programme for Year 10 is now underway. 10 Agnes 1, led by Phil Magick and Warren Lorger, had a great day assisting residents at Emmaus House, attending Mass at St Agnes Church, serving tea and coffee to parishioners and finishing the day with lunch in the park and a competitive game of ten-pin bowling. The programme aims to give students an insight into what it means to serve others, belong to a broader community, and deepen their relationships with PC members. Each Year 10 PC will have the opportunity to be involved in Term 4.

Jubilee Celebrations - Walk of Faith Pilgrimage 

On Sunday, June 8, St Agnes parishioners had an opportunity to take part in a walk of faith to mark the Jubilee Year.  A Jubilee Year is a special time of grace, mercy, and reconciliation in the Catholic Church, traditionally celebrated every 25 years. It involves prayer, pilgrimage, and spiritual renewal, deepening faith and addressing social inequalities. The pilgrimage began at St Francis Retreat Centre in Bonny Hills and concluded with Mass at St Agnes Church. It was a powerful expression of unity, reflection, and hope. A documentary capturing the spirit of the pilgrimage is now available to watch.

St Agnes' Parish Community Day 

St Agnes' Parish will host its annual Community Day on Sunday, 23 November, at St Joseph’s Regional College. Everyone is invited to join us for this day of fun, friendship and community spirit. A community Mass will begin the day of festivities at 10.00 am, followed by live music, face painting, food stalls and kids' activities. All are welcome to attend!

Jodie Rich
Acting Assistant Principal - Mission
Head of House - St Agnes Eagles

St. Paul's Stingrays: Head of House Report

We are now at the end of Week 2 for Term 4, and it is fantastic to see the students return to the final term in such a positive way. The students have engaged in learning from day one, and we've seen a fantastic display of commitment to learning across all year levels. This dedication is also clearly reflected in the outstanding attendance rate the college has maintained. This proactive approach to Term 4 shows that our students understand the importance of making every day count.

As we approach the final stretch of the academic year, we must maintain these high standards right to the very end. Your effort and focus over these last weeks will consolidate your learning and set you up for success next year.

The term is also packed with fantastic opportunities for growth, connection and fun! These events are designed to enrich the school experience and allow students to develop skills outside of the regular classroom environment.

A couple of highlights coming up in Week 4 include the much-anticipated Year 8 Camp to South West Rocks and the Year 11 Retreats at Bonny Hills and Yarra Adventure Park. These experiences are invaluable for building community, developing leadership skills, and providing a chance for reflection and personal growth. We encourage all students to make the most of these and the other exciting activities coming their way this term.

Finally, we ask all students to continue to be shining examples of our college values: faith, community, compassion, excellence, integrity and respect. These values are the bedrock of our college culture, and upholding them in every facet of the college ensures a positive and supportive environment for everyone.

Stephen Roberts
Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care
Head of House - St Paul's Stingrays

Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching

HSC Exams 

We will be nearly halfway through the HSC Exams when you read this newsletter. This is a significant occasion for our senior students as our Year 12 cohort officially commenced their Higher School Certificate (HSC) examinations. Each time students gather for their exam, teachers lead them through prayer. It's an important reminder that there is more ahead for our students once they move past our school life. This year, we started with a special prayer from Father Paul, who also passed on the hopes, prayers and best wishes from the wider St Agnes Parish.

Congratulations to Year 12 on a strong start to the HSC examinations. We wish them success in the final stretch of exams and recognise the invaluable support, encouragement, and understanding provided by their families and loved ones during this demanding time. We look forward to the December results, which we expect will be a fitting reward for the considerable dedication invested over the last two years and indeed in a culmination of 13 years of schooling.

Finishing Strong: The Habit That Guarantees Success

For our Year 7-11 students, we head to the final stretch of 2025, Term 4, the toughest part of any year. The temptation to mentally check out and coast to the summer holidays is real. But if you want to make Term 1 in 2026 your best one yet, the most critical work you can do starts now, in the final weeks of Term 4.

The truth is, having a brilliant idea or starting a project with enthusiasm is easy. The true measure of a student (or teacher) is their ability to see the work through, especially the difficult, tedious final steps, and finish what they started. This focus on completion is what separates those who succeed from those who merely have potential.

The challenge of these final weeks isn't just about completing tasks; it's about building the internal drive—the persistence—that you'll need for bigger achievements next year. This concept of using pressure to fuel success is beautifully expressed by one of Australia’s greatest Olympians: swimming legend Kieren Perkins.

"Being your best is not so much about overcoming the barriers other people place in front of you as it is about overcoming the barriers we place in front of ourselves... But it does have everything to do with having the vision to dream, the courage to recover from adversity, and the determination never to be shifted from your goal."

Why Finishing Term 4 Strong Is Your Best Preparation for Success

Think of Term 4 not as the end of the year, but as the final lap of a race, the final quarter of a football game. Here is why your persistence and determination are now the foundation for your success in determining what comes next.

Adversity as a Catalyst for Growth

Term 4 often throws up the most difficult assessments and the most intense revision periods. For Year 11, the end of Term 4 will see the completion of their first HSC Assessments.  When you choose to lean into this difficulty, you turn that "adversity" into a "catalyst". Every time you push through a tough study session or refine a complex project, you are creating the resilience that will make new subjects and challenges feel manageable. You are training your mind to seek out and thrive under pressure, not run from it. The quote calls for persistence because it can overcome a lack of talent, genius, or education. By forcing yourself to complete assignments, revise fully, and tie up loose ends in these final weeks, you train your brain to follow through, turning a difficult task into a non-negotiable habit.

Getting the Job Done

The ethic behind this quote—facing tough challenges head-on and converting them into strength—is core to high achievement. Don't waste the short time left in Term 4. Practise the persistence and determination that will define your success. By pushing through the last quarter of 2025, you are practising the standard of excellence that you should expect of yourself. This is where you learn to polish, proofread, and deliver your best work, not just average effort.

The temptation to coast is high, but the reward for persistence is higher. Your performance in Term 4 isn't just about this year's grades—it's about building the character and habits that guarantee you'll be a leader in Term 1 and beyond. 

Finish strong!

Andrew Evans
Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching
Head of House - St Joseph's Kangaroos

Curriculum Corner

As a child of the 80s, I often reflect on my experiences in comparison to our wonderful young people today, and I just can't help but think, in an extremely clichéd way, that I was lucky to grow up in the 'good old days' where all my imperfections, stuff-ups and awkwardness weren't recorded in perpetuity for the world (or at least my peers) to see. While our digital native students are afforded the great gifts of the online learning resources that I could have never imagined as a child, the commodification of their attention through various social media and entertainment platforms can be a major hindrance to their ability to complete schoolwork and prepare for assessments online. 

As parents and educators, we've always had an important role in modelling self-regulation skills to children. How this is done in an online setting can be really challenging, given our own lack of personal experience with the internet as kids ourselves for the most part. I catch myself regularly going into autopilot on my phone, doom scrolling absentmindedly, and then becoming frustrated with myself about the valuable time I've lost that I could have been spending with my family or finishing my work so I could get a longer night's sleep. 

Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist Viktor Frankl said, "Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom." His words really got me thinking about how to create space before I go into autopilot mode and how we can help students to do the same when they are using their devices as tools for learning. 

This led me to discover, one sec, a phone app and desktop browser extension that gives the user a chance to stop for a few seconds and think about whether they actually want to use the site/app they are about to access. I've found that it's helped me to break my own unconscious patterns of behaviour (my personal screen time is down by 42% since downloading, which is in line with research into once sec) and has me thinking more deliberately about how I use my phone. I'm even getting to bed earlier.

While by no means a silver bullet to helping our students be more mindful about their tech use, I thought 'one sec' was worthwhile highlighting as a conversation starter with your child about their screen time. We know that sleep is hugely important for the development of the teenage brain and has a profound impact on their learning, so this might be a tool to consider in consultation with your child if they need some additional support.

Michael Peck
Leader of Curriculum

School Vaccination Program 2025

Catch Up Day

We are pleased to inform you that the catch-up day for student vaccinations is scheduled for Term 4, Thursday, October 30. This session is specifically for any students who have missed previous screenings.

To ensure your child’s participation, if you have not done so already, please complete the consent form by scanning the QR code below. 

If you have any questions or require further information, feel free to contact NSW Health or the college office on 6583 2632. Thank you for your cooperation.  

VET Qualification Download Window Closing for 2025 Students

For all Students who completed a Vocational Education and Training (VET) course in 2025 (including Year 12), the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) facilitates the generation and downloading of VET qualifications (Certificates or Statements of Attainment) directly by students.

How to Access and Download the Document:

• Portal: NESA Students Online (https://studentsonline.nesa.nsw.edu.au/go/login/)
• Login: Student Number and PIN (the same used for checking HSC results).
• Location: Navigate to the Certificates/eRecord section.
• Requirement: A Unique Student Identifier (USI) must be entered for access.

Important Deadline: Students have access to download their VET documents until 30 June 2026. After this date, access will be lost, including for 2025 Year 12 graduates and any students not continuing at school. Please download and permanently save your PDF certificate/statement as soon as possible.

Music News

“Music is a universal and immediate language that requires no translation or elaborate explanation. Music creates harmony, thereby reaching everyone, consoling those who suffer, rekindling enthusiasm in the downhearted, and bringing forth wonderful values such as beauty and poetry, which reflect God’s harmonious light.” Pope Francis

SPARK Arts Festival – Tickets Now On Sale!

Join us for the 2025 SPARK Arts Festival on Thursday, November 20, at the Glasshouse, Port Macquarie, a vibrant celebration of creativity, community, and the arts across St. Agnes’ Education.

Students from MacKillop College, St Joseph’s Regional College, and Newman Senior Technical College will showcase their incredible work in music, dance, drama, and visual arts through performances, exhibitions, and twilight events.

With live performances, art installations, courtyard jazz, shared dining, and large-scale projections under the stars, SPARK is more than a show; it’s a full festival experience!

Tickets are on sale now – don’t miss out!

www.artsnest.com.au

PC CLASS COMPETITION ENTRIES - Close Monday 10 November!

This year the theme is Masked Singer, with proceeds contributing to the college's Mary MacKillop Fund.

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected to perform on stage as finalists at the performance night.

Finalists are to perform on stage in the theatre on November 12 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Audience members are to vote on the night by way of donation to award the winners! 

The event will also feature performances from the MacKillop College Choir accompanied by the Stage Band and our college Vocal Ensemble. There will also be a special performance by HSC music student Amarni Francis and the 2026 SRC. See you there!

Vocal Ensemble

Congratulations to the following students who successfully auditioned for the 2025/26 Vocal Ensemble. This ensemble auditions in term four every year as HSC students vacate. The ensemble is designed to strengthen part singing and harmonising in an a capella style. Mr Josh Salter directs this group, which rehearses every Monday afternoon.

• Samrina Adhikari
• Dasha Bayot
• Grace Gallery
• Annabelle Kerr
• Ella King
• Ranuki Ranasinghe
• Aria Varghese

The Junior Music Recital takes place every year in the college hall and provides students who receive private music tuition at the college an opportunity to perform repertoire they have been learning with their tutor to a supportive audience composed of family, friends and fellow musicians. For some, this is the first time they have performed solo on stage.

Congratulations to all students listed below who performed on the night. Thank you to the amazing music tutors at our college for all they do for these students and to families for continuing to support their musical development.

Student Performers: Annabelle Ashton, Grace Ashton, Michael Baker, Ava Baldock, Harry Blake, Scarlet Brooke, Ruby Cramp, Pip Eakin, Harry Eichorn, Siosifa Fono, Maddie Goldie, Leah Hayward, Rhys Kendal, Mathew Lloyd, Eliana Martino, Joseph O'Brien, Addison Rolfe, Ben Ryan, Julia Streegan, Mark Temple, and Lani Warren.

MacKillop College Music Tutors: Zach Horne, Frank Rugers, Josh Salter, Mark Spence, Cara Stewart, and Lydia Wills.

Ensemble Rehearsals

• Concert Band (directed by Ms Stewart) Monday - 7.45am - 8.30am, J16 Music Room 
• Pop Choir (directed by Mrs Adams) Tuesday - 7.45am - 8.30am, Theatre 
• Senior Vocal Ensemble (directed by Mr Josh Salter) Monday - 3.15pm - 4.00pm, Theatre
  
• SAPSS Jazz Workshop (directed by Mr Horne) Tuesday - 3.30pm - 4.30pm (alternate weeks), J16 Music Room
  
• SAPSS Junior Drumline (directed by Mark Spence) Tuesday 3.30pm - 5.30pm, College Hall 
• Collective Praise Band & Singers (directed by Mr Denham) Wednesday - 7.45am - 8.30am, Chapel 
• Junior Percussion Ensemble (directed by Mark Spence) Wednesday - 7.45am - 8.30am, J16 Music Room 
• SAPSS Senior Drumline (directed by Mark Spence) Wednesday 3.30pm - 5.30pm, College Hall 
• Senior Percussion Ensemble (directed by Mark Spence) Thursday - 7.45am - 8.30am, J16 Music Room 
• String Ensemble (directed by Michaeli Witney) Friday - 7.45am - 8.30am, J16 Music Room 
• Stage Band (directed by Mr Denham and Mr Horne) Friday - 7.45am - 8.30am, Theatre 
  

Links & Forms

Music Ensemble Sign Up Form 2025

Music Tuition Request Form 2025

Instrument Rental Agreement 2025

Upcoming Events

• The Voice Song Contest Technical Rehearsal - (Theatre) Week 5, Term 4 - Wednesday November 12, lunch 2 - period 5, Pop Choir, Stage Band, Year 9 Elective Music and karaoke finalists.
• The Voice Song Contest - (Theatre) Week 5, Term 4 - Wednesday November 12, 6.00pm - 7.30pm, Pop Choir, Stage Band, Year 9 Elective Music and karaoke finalists.Please contact Mr Denham with any questions relating to the cocurricular music program at MacKillop College.

SPARK! (St Agnes Parish Combined Schools Showcase Performance)

1. Technical Rehearsal - Wednesday November 19, 9.00am - 3.00pm, Concert Band, Pop Choir, Praise Band & Singers, Drumline
2. Matinee - Thursday November 20, 12.00pm - 1.30pm, Concert Band, Pop Choir, Praise Band & Singers, Drumline
3. Glasshouse Stage Performance #1 - Thursday November 20, 4.00pm - 5.30pm, Concert Band, Pop Choir, Praise Band & Singers, Drumline
4. Podium Stage Performance#1 - Thursday November 20, 5.45pm - 6.45pm, Bleu Wave, Stage Band
5. Glasshouse Stage Performance #2 - Thursday November 20, 4.00pm - 5.30pm, Concert Band, Pop Choir, Praise Band & Singers, Drumline
6. Podium Stage Performance#1 - Thursday November 20, 8.45pm - 9.15pm, selected students TBC

• Christ The King Parish Celebration - (St Joseph’s Regional College) Week 6, Term 4 - Sunday November 23, 9.30am - 1.30pm, Praise Band & Singers, Stage Band and Drumline. 
• Co-Curricular Awards Assembly - (College Hall) Week 7, Term 4 - Wednesday, November 26, Period 1, Stage Band, Pop Choir.
• St Peter's Performance - (St Peter's Primary School) Week 7, Term 4 - Thursday, November 27, 5.30pm - 7.30pm, Concert Band.
• Summer Session Lunch Concert - (Senior Campus - Lochinvar Courtyard) Week 8, Term 4 - Thursday December 4, Lunch 2, Year 11 Music.
• Wauchope Rotary Christmas Carols - (Bain Park, Wauchope) Week 9, Term 4 - Friday December 12, 5.30pm - 6.30pm, Junior & Senior Drumline.
• Youth and Family Mass - (St Agnes Parish Church) Week 9, Term 4 - Sunday December 14, 4.30pm - 6.00pm, Praise Band and Singers.
• Academics Awards Assembly - (College Hall) Week 10, Term 4 - Monday December 15, Period 1 & 2, Concert Band
• MacKillop College Christmas Mass - (College Hall) Week 10, Term 4 - Tuesday December 16, Period 1 & 2, Praise Band and Singers.

Robert Denham
Leader of Co-Curricular Music

School Sport

Term 3 Sport Programs

Andrea Huxley
Leader of School Sport

Representative Sport

Representative Sport Reports

NSWCCC Basketball - Junior Boys 

The MacKillop 7-8 Boys' Basketball Team recently played at the NSW CCC Basketball tournament, coming up against stiff competition across the state. The boys played a fantastic tournament, and coming into the second day, they were in a three-way tie for second in their pool. Unfortunately, the early morning games were not the boys' strong suit, and they went down by 2 points in a close match with McCarthy College Tamworth. This meant the boys, looking strong all tournament, came up against St Dominic’s College, Kingswood, in the quarter-finals. The Boys played well in the first quarter, keeping the game tight; however, St Dom’s, who had yet to lose a game, showed their class and eliminated the boys. St Dom’s went on to win the tournament. 

It was a great experience for the team, who learnt a lot. They are looking forward to being back in the mix next year. Their dedication to training and commitment to the team showed throughout the competition. The top 8 in NSW Catholic schools is nothing to sneeze at.

MVP: Felix Plowright for his never-give-up approach!

COACH: Adam O’Brien

Intermediate Boys 

The Year 9/10 Boys Basketball team recently played at the NSWCCC Championship Finals in Penrith. The team had qualified as Lismore Diocesan Champions in Term 3. The team had a good start to the Championships, defeating McAuley Catholic Central. Tumut (51-37) before first-day losses to John Therry Catholic College, Campbelltown (57-51), Xavier Catholic College, Albury (62-26), and St Paul's, Manly (64-63). The second day started with a tough loss to St John's College, Dubbo. This placed the MacKillop team in the 9/10th play-off against St John Paul College, Coffs Harbour. The team went down in the game to finish the tournament in 10th position.

Congratulations to all the players for their effort and achievements this year. Thank you to Mr Buchtmann for his coaching throughout the year. The team included Tallin Morris, Ben Romer, Manni McGrath, Maddyx Grey, Vilius Philp, Nate Sheldon, Elijah Kyan, and Oliver Bryant.

MVP: Ben Romer

COACH: Ryan Adams

Representative Sport, Upcoming Events and Registration 2025

All registrations for MacKillop College Representative Sport teams are completed by;

1. Logging into COMPASS (Chrome browser).
2. Click on the Star button 
3. Click on the Sport - Representative link
4. Click on the relevant sport and fill out the google form.

 Students will be notified through the morning notices of when to sign up and when trials will occur.

Sports currently open for registration are;

• Rugby League - Boys U14 & 16s Boys Harry Wells
  

** NOTE: To register for the Diocesan Trials, students need to complete the forms that can be found on the Lismore Diocesan Sport page. Click on the REGISTRATION tab.

 Upcoming MacKillop College Events 2025

NSWCCC & NSW All Schools Sporting Representation

Families with students who wish to nominate for trialling in a sport at the NSW Combined Catholic Colleges (NSWCCC) level should make themselves familiar with the Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW) Sport website https://csnsw.sport/.  Parents/carers will need to create an account to be able to register their child.  Once a parent registers their child to attend an event on the CSNSW Sport portal it will send the registration to me for College approval to attend the event. 

Some sports allow students to register directly through the CSNSW Sport portal without having to go through the Diocesan Pathway. E.g. Individual Triathlon. In other instances, students will be required to travel to a Diocesan trial and if selected continue to the NSWCCC selection trials and communications for these teams will be sent through our Sports Desk.  

Please be prepared to travel if your child is accepted.  Parents have the responsibility to register their child on the NSWCCC portal, please make note of the registration closing dates based on the calendar on the CSNSW Sport website.

NSWCCC CALENDAR 2025

All individual sports registrations are completed on the CSNSW.SPORT website. The parent must have an account and add their child to have access. (Sport Registration HELP available on sport info page) SEE BELOW sports open for registration.

For further information, go to the CSNSW Sport website Sport pages. https://csnsw.sport

Students MUST be registered for the event with parent and Principal or Leader of Sport approval.

Registration is through the CSNSW.sport portal.

Details on how to register – Guide For Parents – Sport Registrations >>. 

Please note all close dates are firm dates. No registrations will be permitted after the close dates.

Community Sport

BASKETBALL D-League 

Congratulations to Ben Romer, who recently made the D-League and SPP Basketball Team again; this is an outstanding achievement given Ben is young for the Under 18’s division. Ben was also named Most Outstanding Athlete in Basketball at the NCAS Academy Awards and MVP for his local rep team. To say Ben is in fine form and has had a stellar year is an understatement. He has worked so incredibly hard this year and is currently trialling with the Sydney Comets. 

Congratulations to Tallin Morris and Mikalya Adams, who made the U16’s D-League. 

NSW Country Indoor Cricket

Congratulations to Joshua Harris and Tom Spencer, who have recently been selected to play for the NSW Country at the Junior National Indoor Cricket Championships, which will be held at the Casey Stadium in Victoria from 4 to 11 July 2026. This is an outstanding achievement, and we look forward to hearing how the boys go at the Championships next year.

If your child has achieved outstanding sporting results in their community sport, we would love to hear about it. Please email myself, or your child’s respective Leader of Pastoral Care, so we can acknowledge these achievements.  

If you have any questions regarding sport at MacKillop College, please do not hesitate to contact me either by email or phone at the College.

Erin Denham (Leader of Representative Sport)

Canteen

ATTENTION ALL QKR USERS

The cut-off time is 8.00am SHARP. Any orders placed after 8.00am will default to the next day.

If you miss the cut-off or make a mistake with your order, you MUST call the school immediately or have your child go directly to see the canteen managers.

To order from the canteen:

1. Orders can be written out at the canteen (bags supplied free of charge).

2. Orders can be written out at home and handed in at the canteen.

3. Download the Qkr! app and order online.

Attention all QKR users!

Cut-off time is 8.00 am.

Any orders placed after 8.00 am default to the following day. It is very time-consuming for canteen staff to have to check all late orders every day and then contact parents about their order. 

If you make a mistake, please call the office or send your child to the canteen.

There have also been new gluten-free items added to the menu.

Need Some Study Help?

Community News

Information Links for School Bus Services 2025

1. Timetable information - busways.com.au or transportnsw.info
2. School bus travel pass - School Student Travel Scheme