Mr Peter McLellan | Head of Secondary

We are again focused on the way in which we treat those around us.  We want our students to be learning to see the value of others no matter who they are or in whose friendship group they belong.  God sees each of us as of highest value which resulted in the ultimate sacrifice.  How can any of us lessen the value of another by demeaning or insulting them. Rather we want our students to enjoy anyone whom they interact with in any situation.

Secondary Athletics Carnival

Date: Friday 6 November 2020.

Venue: Mingara Athletics Track, Mingara Drive, Tumbi Umbi.

Time: Commencing at 8:45am and concluding at 2:00pm.

What to bring: House colours, recess, lunch, sports uniform, sunscreen and water. A canteen will be available for students.

Transport: All students are required to make their own way to and from the carnival, however if students do require transport, there will be a bus departing the College at 8:30am and returning by 3:30pm.  If your child requires bus transport you will need to log into your Parent Lounge and in “Tours and Excursions” tick the bus transport options.

This is a compulsory Secondary School event, so all students are required to be in attendance. If your child is unable to attend, please contact the College office on the Absentee Line (4367 9950).  

Parents will not be permitted to attend this event due to restrictions on numbers at Mingara.

“It’s in the Bag”

During November the College will be participating in “It’s in the Bag”, an initiative from Share the Dignity organisation. This initiative aims to provide hygiene and toiletry essentials for women in need in our community. 

Throughout the month we will be collecting toiletry essentials for teens, mums and bubs and women in need (see flyer for suggestions). If you would like to participate, you may choose to provide individual items from the list, or place items in a new or pre-loved handbag or backpack. You may want to donate as an individual, as a family, as a church, as a class or Year group. Collection boxes are located in the Administration Office.

For more information: www.sharethedignity.org.au

Bless you for blessing others in this practical way.

Jane McLarty and Michelle Molkentin

Spotlight on Year 7

In the first week of this term, Lochlan R (Year 7) starred in a short film, “December 1940” which was shot in Sydney. I believe it even “snowed” in Surry Hills.

This film will be entered in some of the coming year’s global film festivals. Congratulations Lochlan – we look forward to seeing where this might take you in the future.

Year 7 Geography

Year 9 Food Technology

Year 9 Food Technology are currently studying Food Equity and learning about the range of causes of food inequity. This week they made Inequitable Pancakes. They had to pick their allowable toppings from a hat and then evaluate their emotions when they read the toppings they were or were not allowed to use. Some were so sad that others had missed out on the decadent toppings, they wanted to share their wealth with them.

Year 10 Science

Mr Drennan’s Year 10 Science class had a Zoom conference with past student Shannon Bowler who is an undergraduate at Macquarie University studying Ecology. Shannon presented a lecture on her current study of the effects of artificial light on animal behaviour.

Student Opal Cards

From January 2021 onwards, there will be a number of School Opal cards expiring, as the physical card has reached its lifespan.

These are cards for students who will be in Years 8 to 12 in 2021, and only those Opal cards which have not been replaced in the last five years.

Impacted students and/or their parent/carer will be contacted directly by Transport for NSW via email or post.  They will be asked to confirm their details online in order for a new School Opal card to be sent to the correct postal address in time for the new school year.

If contacted by Transport for NSW, details should be submitted online by 1 December 2020 at the latest.  Affected students who do not confirm their details in time will have a new School Opal card posted to the address Transport NSW has on file.

HSC Students to Have COVID-19 Test Results Faster

Students taking the 2020 HSC exams will now have their COVID-19 test results fast tracked through pathology.  They simply need to advise the nurse or doctor doing the test that they are HSC students.  Find your nearest testing clinics:

www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/how-to-protect-yourself-and-others/clinics