Dear McAuley Families

The term is certainly moving along at pace.  The next couple of short weeks will only add to that feeling.  Please be sure that your children are well organized with assessments, assignments, and study routines. This lowers anxiety and helps home life be smooth for us all.

Please remember Ms. Jo Dougherty and her family in your prayers as they mourn the loss of Jo’s mum, Mary Henrick.  Mary’s funeral was a true celebration of a rich and faith filled life of devotion to her family. I know Jo has been so well supported by her colleagues and our community and offers her thanks.

My thanks to those families who made the time to come along and view our Secondary Campus on our Open Night this week.  This was an informal chance for our students to show their family members our learning and play spaces and some of the improvements we have made across the campus over the last couple of years.  The feedback we received was excellent.  It is good to know that we are the school of choice for many good students and families who recognize and celebrate our excellent academic and pastoral programs. We are proud of the progress we have achieved in improving our facilities and offerings and are grateful for the financial support of Catholic Education.

We continue to work and plan for our future facilities and offerings knowing that we are at capacity across most year levels.  Many schools are beginning their enrolment campaigns and I encourage those seeking the College as a place for their children to make an application and join our wait lists in the hope that places may become available soon as we continue to grow and expand.

Our Community Council are working hard to prepare for the Trivia Night on Saturday evening.  This will no doubt be a fun and informal night to gather our community together and celebrate.

There has been a large amount of press and discussion around social media and phone use of late. NSW Government banned the use of phones in all Government schools last year.  Our college has guidelines in place for the acceptable use of phones whilst at school, namely:

1. Phones/devices are not to be used during class or break times.
2. Phones/devices are to be kept in bags or handed in to classroom pockets whilst in class.
3. Teachers will give reminders and should a student need more than one reminder phones/devices are to be handed in to office.

We expect that at home you support our policies and procedures.  Should a student need to contact home they are welcome to do so and use their phone at the office. 

This generation have a reliance on phones that we may find hard to understand but it is timely to remind you all that they have grown up with digital technology surrounding them.  Melbourne Child Psychology give good advice about how we can help at home…

1. Limit phone use wherever possible (in the car, at mealtimes etc.)
2. Focus on family time (eat together, walk and play)
3. Model effective use (put your phone down when your kids are talking to you)
4. Encourage part-time work (gives responsibility and independence)
5. Have them pay their own phone bills (see above)
6. Develop family routines (assign jobs, family dinners, celebrations)
7. Let them make mistakes (forgot your lunch? Go hungry…forgot your jumper? Go cold)
8. Teach social media smarts (teach the difference between reality and fiction online, talk about things they see that are uncomfortable)

Again, please support us at school where we want your boys and girls to listen, learn, run and play, rather than have their head in a device.

Mary our mother look after us.

Eamonn Moore

Principal