8 August 2025

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

It was a pleasure to welcome Lorraine Kirkaldy and Beth Schmahl, representatives of the Sawtell Josephite Companions, who joined us today to help celebrate the Feast of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Australia’s first recognised saint.

We were also honoured to welcome Jane Woolford, CEO of Mary MacKillop Today, as our special guest. Jane shared inspiring insights into how Mary’s legacy continues today through education and community development programs supporting those most in need.

Mary MacKillop was an extraordinary woman, deeply committed to serving the poor and standing up for those without a voice. She founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, commonly known as the Josephite Sisters; a community of women devoted to education, social justice, and compassion.

Her legacy continues to guide and inspire us, encouraging all of us to stand up to injustice and to live with courage, kindness and faith.

There was a buzz of excitement in the playground today as the installation of our brand new Ninja Warrior course was opened. 

A huge thank you goes to all of our families for their ongoing support, and a very special shout out to our incredible Bingo Team, whose dedication and fundraising efforts helped bring this fantastic addition to life.

Congratulations to Tia Malec, the recipient of today’s Walk Worth of God Leadership Star Award. Tia’s teachers say that she is kind,  inclusive and a wonderful role model to her peers. Well done, Tia!

Warm regards,

Margaret

UPCOMING EVENTS

Term 3

• Wednesday 13th August - Spelling Bee Finals
• Friday 22nd August - Book Week Parade
• Sunday 24th August - School-led Parish Mass
• Tuesday 26th August - Netball Schools Cup Regional Final
• Tuesday 26th August - Diocesan Athletics
• Tuesday 26th August - Kinder, Year 1 & 2 Disco
• Wednesday 27th August - Year 3 & 4 Disco
• Wednesday 27th August - Parenting in the age of Distraction Parent Night
• Thursday 28th August - Year 5 & 6 Disco
• Friday 29th August - K-2 Science Fair
• Thursday 4th September - Fathers’ Day Stall
• Friday 5th September - Fathers’ Day Breakfast
• Friday 12th September - Polding Athletics 
• Monday 22nd - 23rd September - Year 4 Camp
• Monday 22nd - Wednesday 24th September - Year 5 Camp
  
• Monday 22nd September - Clarence Public Speaking Competition
  
• Friday 26th September - last day of Term 3

Term 4

• Monday 13th October - Staff Development Day (pupil-free day)
• Tuesday 14th October - First day of Term 4 for students

WHAT'S THE BUZZ?

Chess News

A huge congratulations to our chess teams, who competed in the Inter-schools Chess Tournament held at Bishop Druitt College this week. Their hard work, strategic thinking and dedication paid off in a big way, as they showcased their skills against some of the best young players from surrounding schools. In exciting news, our senior team took out the competition with our younger students placing 10th out of 60+ teams.

This event was a fantastic opportunity for our students to not only compete but to also build friendships and a shared passion for the game. Their ability to think several moves ahead and maintain focus under pressure was truly impressive. This win is a testament to the talent and commitment of every member of the team.

We extend a very special thank you to Mr. Madden, who has coached these students throughout the year. His guidance, time and expertise were instrumental in preparing them for this competition.

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NSW Police Awards Ceremony

We were honoured to be invited to sing the National Anthem at the NSW Police Awards Ceremony held at The Link on Thursday.

Congratulations to all the students involved; you made us all very proud!

Book Week Parade 

Get ready to celebrate the magic of reading! Our Book Week Parade will be held on Friday 22nd August. Students are invited to come dressed as their favourite book character. We’re excited to see everyone bring their favourite stories to life!

Appointments During School Hours

Attendance at school is vitally important and we encourage families, whenever possible, to organise medical appointments for their children outside school hours.

We understand that this is not always possible and ask that, if you need to collect your child from school for an appointment, please avoid arriving during recess and lunch breaks, as it is difficult to locate the children on the playground.

Thank you for your understanding.

LOVING LEARNING

Spelling Bee Finals Next Week 

Get ready for some word-wizardry! Our highly anticipated School Spelling Bee Finals are just around the corner, set to take place next Wednesday, August 13th.

A huge congratulations to all the students who participated in the in-class competitions – your dedication and spelling prowess were truly impressive! And to those who have progressed to the finals, we wish you the very best of luck.

Further information regarding the finals will be provided to the parents of participating students early next week.

K-2 Science Fair 2025

It will soon be National Science Week and we’re excited to be marking this special occasion with a Science Fair for children in Years K-2. The theme for National Science Week this year is, ‘Decoding the Universe – Exploring the unknown with nature’s hidden language.’  This is an optional event for all students in Years K-2.

The Science Fair will take place on Friday 29th of August. Children are invited to select from one of the investigations sent out on COMPASS earlier this week to create at home and then bring their project in to share with us all at school by Thursday, 28th of August. The Science Fair will take place in the school hall straight after assembly. Parents will be invited to view the exhibits from 9:30am - 10:30am.

If you have any questions, please email: Nicole Hudson  - nicole.hudson@lism.catholic.edu.au

Exploring Character Perspective in Year Two

This term, Year Two students have been developing their understanding of character perspective. Through a close study of well-known fables and traditional tales such as The Three Little Pigs and Jack and the Beanstalk, students have been encouraged to consider the story from alternative viewpoints. By exploring the thoughts, feelings, and motivations of less prominent characters—such as the wolf or the giant—students are learning to think critically and creatively about storytelling.

FROM THE MISSION DESK

Mary MacKillop Feast Day Liturgy

This morning, our school gathered for a beautiful liturgy to celebrate the Feast Day of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Australia’s first saint. Mary dedicated her life to helping others, especially through education and care for the poor. Her famous words, “Never see a need without doing something about it,” still guide us today. 

Our Junior Josephites group, led by Mrs Beth Schmal, took part in the celebration, showing how students in our school live out Mary’s values through service and kindness.

We were honoured to welcome Jane Woolford, CEO of Mary MacKillop Today, as our special guest. She spoke about how Mary’s work continues today, helping people in Australia and around the world.

Jammies for Joeys

Today, our school celebrated Jammies for Joeys' Day, a fundraiser supporting charities run by the Josephite Sisters, the religious order founded by Saint Mary MacKillop.

Students and staff came to school dressed in their pjs and brought along a gold coin donation to help support those in need. Our school generously raised $500! This will be donated to charities in Timor Leste run by the Josephite sisters.

Thank you to everyone who supported Jammies for Joeys Day; a great reminder that even small acts of kindness can have a big impact.

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What's been happening in Religious Education in Year 2?

Year 2 have been exploring the commandment of ‘loving one’s neighbour as oneself’. We listened to scripture stories and students identified how Jesus embodied this commandment. Children then expressed ways they can also show love to others.

Mini Vinnies Commissioning Mass

Our Mini Vinnies group were officially commissioned at Mass this week, celebrating their commitment to making a difference in our community.

As part of their mission to live out the values of compassion and service, they proudly donated $429 to St Vincent de Paul. These funds were raised during last term’s successful bake sale. We are so proud of these students for leading by example!

Term 3 Class Mass Roster

All parents and carers are warmly invited to join us for our weekly class Masses at Sawtell Catholic Church at 9:30am. We’d love for you to stay afterwards for a cuppa and some morning tea. It's a great chance to catch up and connect with others in our school community.

Tuesday 12th August - Year 6

Tuesday 19th August - Year 5

Tuesday 26th August - Year 1

Tuesday 2nd September - Year 2

Tuesday 9th September - Year 4

Tuesday 16th September - Year 3

Tuesday 23rd September - Kinder & Year 6

Change of Date

Our parish school led Mass will now be held on Sunday, 21st September at 9:00am at Sawtell Catholic Church. We hope you can join us for this special celebration with our parish community.

SPORT NEWS

Barney Barselaar Cup

The much anticipated soccer gala day has been postponed due to the weather. There was disappointment all around, not just from the team members themselves, but the staff who trained with them yesterday to get them ready for the big day. 

Will there be another 'friendly' game prior to the rescheduled BB Cup date of 1st September to give the staff a chance to win? We hope so!

LIBRARY WHISPERS

The Book Week parade is on Friday 22nd August. This years’ theme is Book An Adventure and children are encouraged to either come as their favourite book character or just a character they like. Please don’t go to a lot of trouble or expense with the costumes. I’ve attached a website with some easy book character costumes to inspire you.

https://madisonslibrary.com/2021/08/01/book-week-easy-costume-ideas-from-things-in-your-wardrobe/

After a chat with Dean during library time last week, I suggested he start reading the 13 Story Treehouse books - he loved the first one, and came back asking for more this week!

OSHC

This week at MHOC OSHC, we’ve enjoyed plenty of fun and laughter! Outdoors, the children embraced Nature Play and joined in exciting group games, making the most of the fresh air and sunshine. Indoors, we kept our fan favourites going with melty beads, Mobilo, and a variety of creative crafts. It’s been another wonderful week of play, creativity, and connection!  

CANTEEN NEWS

NEWS FROM OUR PARISH

Baptism

The Sacrament of Baptism is available to those requesting it. Please ring Jennifer at the Parish Office (66583544) or talk to Amber Biddle or Margaret Ryan at school if you have any questions.  Alternatively, if you wish to register for Baptism, there is now the option of an  online request form .

Parish Website , E-bulletin & Facebook Page

For all the latest news from our parish, check out the Parish website or subscribe to our  new e-bulletin which can be sent directly to your inbox each week. Why not sign up today by entering your details in the sign up box on the Homepage or Contact page of the website!

And don’t forget to check out our FaceBook page

MHOC SCHOOL COMMUNITY FORUM

Fathers' Day Stall

Order now on Flexischools!

Sleep Smart Webinar

This session is especially designed for parents and carers with tips and strategies to ensure children are getting enough sleep - leading to better focus, mental health and academic success.

It's suitable for parents and carers with children in both primary and secondary schools, and will include:

•                     Why we sleep
•                     What happens to our brain and body when we sleep
•                     The impact of sleep on our children’s academic performance, behaviour and mental health
•                     How much sleep we need to function optimally
•                     Sleep thieves
•                     Effects of technology on sleep
•                     Signs of sleep deprivation
•                     Smart sleep tips for the whole family
  

Parenting in the Age of Distraction

We have a wonderful opportunity to take part in a live webinar presented by Angela Lockwood. There are two ways you can take part:

1.  Join with other MHOC parents to take part in the webinar here at school. You can drop your Year 3 or 4 child at the school disco first and yummy nibbles will be provided or;
2. Register and Zoom in from home.

See the flyer below for more details or click here to register.

You may also be interested in registering for these webinars:

COMMUNITY NEWS