Christmas blessing. And a joyful new year. ABSENCE HOTLINE PH:

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1 Friday, 16 th December, 2011 Christmas blessing ABSENCE HOTLINE PH: February 2012 And a joyful new year. If we cannot speak well then let us be silent (St Mary of the Cross MacKillop). Fri 3 rd First Day for Year 7 & Year 12 students Mon 6 th School Commences for all students Dear Parents and Friends of St Mary MacKillop College, Fr Peter Hudson Last week we were greeted with the disappointing news that Fr Peter Hudson, our Parish Priest and Canonical Administrator, has been moved to Horsham. We are deeply indebted to Fr Peter for his wonderful support of the College over a nine year period. We wish him well as he moves to Horsham. Presentation Night What a wonderful night we experienced with over 500 people in attendance thanks to the many parents and friends who attended to witness more than 180 students receiving various awards in academic and other curricula activities. I thank Mr Gerrard Doyle for his excellent organization of the night. We are proud of the many talented students we have at St Mary MacKillop College. Those who were not able to be present really missed an excellent showcasing of what the College provides and the many talented students we have in attendance.

2 St Mary MacKillop Award At Presentation Night the Mary MacKillop Award was presented to Mr Geoff Hickmott for the outstanding service he has given to the College since I congratulate Geoff and thank him for the wonderful work he does on behalf of the students and the College. Departure of Staff I farewell and thank the following Staff members who are leaving at the end of this year: Gerrard Doyle, Adam Jacobs, Michael Dear, Hector Miller, Lewis McCavour, Libby Hocking, Yolande Logan, Lyn Porter, Isaac Blencowe, Luke Rundell-Gordon. New Staff 2012 I welcome to St Mary MacKillop College the following who have been appointed to the Staff for next year: Gemma Headon, Jeremy Wirges, Laurel Harrison, Laura Crowe, Columba Ficarra, Lyndal Vallak, Jonathon Roberts, Damian Hirst, Roslyn McKenzie and Christina Leahy. VCE Results The VCE results were published today we congratulate the Dux of the College for 2011, Thomas Anderson who achieved an ATAR of 94.25, closely followed by Giorgia Sala with a score of Both these students have done remarkably well. Seven other students scored eighty or more. We are proud of the achievements of our students and wish them well as they await their Study Placements for Please see the attached media release for further details. Orientation Day It has been heartening to see the more than 100 smiling faces who attended Orientation Day on Friday December 14 th. There is much excitement in the air as the students learn so much about the College and what they will be doing in We thank all those families who have chosen St Mary MacKillop College to have their child educated. Thank you to Mrs Mandy McCallum and all our staff who have played a role in the organization of the day. Gratitude I thank all our parents, our staff and the students for what has been a great year for our College. I also gratefully acknowledge the work of the College Board, chaired by Mr Geoff Morris. We are indeed very fortunate to have such wise members of our Board. Christmas Blessings on you all and may 2012 be a year of peace, joy and happiness for all. Yours Sincerely, Rob Aron Principal MEDIA RELEASE YEAR 12 RESULTS 2011 St Mary MacKillop College congratulates all of its 2011 Year 12 students on their final results that have been released by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA). The Dux of the College is Thomas Anderson with an ATAR score of Close behind Thomas are the following students:

3 Giorgia Sala with an ATAR of Morgan Bellinger with an ATAR of Jason Schulz with an ATAR of Jacinta Mangiameli with an ATAR of Bradley Anderson with an ATAR of Ruby Cleeland with an ATAR of Cassandra Smith with an ATAR of Dylan Fox with an ATAR of We congratulate these students on their well-earned results. A cross-section of students achieved 40+ in a number of subjects, as indicated below: Morgan Bellinger: 43 English Jacinta Mangiameli: 40 English Giorgia Sala: 41 English Katelyn Power: 42 Health & Human Development Mollie Quin: 43 Health & Human Development Rachel Rosaia: 43 Health & Human Development Jason Schulz: 43 Further Maths Bradley Anderson: 41 Physical Education Thomas Anderson: 48 Physical Education Cassandra Smith: 41 Physical Education Thomas Anderson: 42 Psychology James Hinton: 46 Religious Education Stevie-Jo Maher: 48 Sport & Recreation Luke Phelan: 40 Sport & Recreation Mollie Quin: 43 Sport & Recreation Dane Rendell: 41 Sport & Recreation Jordyn Robinson: 40 Sport & Recreation As the Principal, I sincerely thank our Year 12 teachers for this year, and I thank and congratulate the parents and guardians of our Year 12 students for their support and good work in nurturing these young adults to this important stage of their lives. I also thank all of those teachers who have taught these students from Year 7 onwards. Rob Aron Principal SCHOOL FEE ACCOUNTS ARE NOW OVERDUE! Payment of School Fee accounts is now overdue unless other arrangements exist. Prompt payment would be appreciated.

4 CHRISTMAS GOD S ANSWER TO HUMAN LONGING Very soon we will be celebrating Christmas and all the joys and excitement this brings. I remember as a young child sitting on my pillow in my pyjamas in a darkened passageway waiting excitedly for my parents to open the lounge room door to see if Santa had come. There is indeed something magic about this holiday. For most of us Christmas is about spending time with friends and family, a time to catch up with people we have not seen for awhile, a time to eat together; it is about celebrating and the giving and receiving of gifts. Christmas is all these things, yet it is profoundly more. In the most basic sense, Christmas never changes. Over the centuries, despite the many traditions we have added to this day, the different ways of celebrating, our own family traditions and social customs, the central fact remains: Christmas is about the Incarnation - God becomes human. We celebrate the birth of the Christ child and the hope that this brings. God became man so that we would have new life. Fr Ronald Rolheiser, OMI writes that Christmas is God's answer to human longing. What a wonderful way to understand the meaning of Christmas. God s answer to human longing is his Son and we celebrate God s love for us at Christmas. I have had a great Year 10 RE class this year. Recently we were studying the Sacraments Strand and were looking at Eucharist. I had shown the class the film Pay it Forward where a young boy has a Social Studies project and decides that to change the world, his world, he should pay it forward. By this he means if he does something to change the life of three other people for the better, then each of those pays it forward for three others then gradually things will start to change. I asked my class what Pay it Forward had to do with Eucharist and one student got it in one. He said that Jesus was born and died for us, he paid it forward. When we live eucharistically we acknowledge this and pay it forward, then others do the same. Perhaps then that is the true gift of Christmas; that God s love, born in the Christ child, allows us to pay it forward. I hope that my students are able to remember this at Christmas time, for what better opportunity is there than in a season where we are already in the mindset of giving, to pay it forward. May the blessings of the Christ child be with you and all those you love this Christmas and may we find peace and gratitude in our world. Catherine Howison Director of Mission St Mary MacKillop College School Holidays Office Hours: Office closes: Tuesday 20 th December, 2011 at 1.00pm Office opens: Monday 23 rd January, 2012 Office hours: Mon 23 rd 27 th January, am 3.00pm Mon 30 th January, 2012 onwards 8.15am 4.30pm

5 PREMIER S SPIRIT OF ANZAC PRIZE The Premier of Victoria, Ted Baillieu, and the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Hugh Delahunty, invited Year 9 and Year 10 students in all Victorian secondary schools (Government, Catholic and Independent) to enter the Premier s Spirit of ANZAC Prize One student from each Victorian education region will be chosen to go on study tour of important sites where Australians have served in war, centred on Gallipoli or the Western Front. The study tour will take place during the Term 1 school holidays in St Mary MacKillop this year entered six students into this competition, and we were fortunate to get one student, Christopher Barkman to the state final. We congratulate Christopher for making it this far. He will receive a study trip to Canberra, which will no doubt be a valuable and rewarding experience for him. RSL AWARDS We would like to congratulate Ms Leanne Cook and Mr Damien Howison on their RSL awards for They were received for their participation for the Remembrance Day Service. School commences: Year 7 & Year 12 students - Friday, 3 rd February, 2012 All students return Monday 6 th February, 2012 Tuesday 6th December - Music Swan Hill Art Gallery. The "Rock Music" class presented their final performance pieces to family and friends at the Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery. Students performed at least two pieces each or in small groups. A great night was had by all. Many thanks to the students for working so well throughout the semester. Instruments missing!!! Students who were involved in the school instrumental program may still have their instrument at home somewhere! Can families please have a good look at home and deliver any instruments back to the school. Many thanks and happy holidays.

6 Swan Hill Gymnastics Club Season s Greetings to all We are excited to announce we are moving to a New location in We will commence the year at St Mary s Primary School Stadium, 2 Murlong Street, Swan Hill Our first night will be enrolment night Tues 7 th 4pm. Come, look at the facility & enrol your children. We look forward to seeing you there! Gymnastics is one of the best foundations for future sporting activity, preparing participants in total body movement, control and coordination. - offers a safe, supervised after school activity for children ages 5 - teens. - enhances health & well-being through active participation. - offers an atmosphere to create new relationships or enhance existing relationships: interconnecting schools and crossing cultural & socio-economic groups & are open to children with disabilities. - offers young teens an opportunity to participate in coaching, under a qualified registered senior coach. They are supervised and encouraged to build their leadership skills, confidence and self-esteem enhancing overall well-being. For further Information please call Raelene King- Club President or Nerida Hoare Head Coach Join Up With The St Mary MacKillop College Vietnam Battlefield Tour 12 day tour from 31 st March to April 13th, 2013 Tour Highlights. Saigon; Vung Tau; Baria; Dat Do; Long Hais; Long Phuoc; Nui Dat; Hoa Long; Long Tan; Binh Ba; Chu Chi Tunnels; Mekong Delta; and much more. Fully escorted tour with Guide, Operated by Belmore Travel, Lic (Official travel agents to the RSL Victorian Branch). For further details please contact the following staff members: Contact number: St. Mary MacKillop College, Ms Leanne Cook or Miss Lori Wilkins An Information Evening will be held early February, 2012 Bookings close mid-september 2012 Long Tan Memorial