Newsletter — Term 2, Week 10

This is our final newsletter for Term 2. Semester 1 reports are published on the Parent Portal this Friday afternoon, Term 2 finishes on Friday 26 June at the normal dismissal times, and students return for Term 3 on Tuesday 14 July. Below you will find a recap of a full and rewarding term, the holiday arrangements for OSHC, the Uniform Shop and Oliver! rehearsals, and the first key dates for Term 3.

From the Principal

Term 2 has been one of the busiest I can remember, and one of the most rewarding. In ten weeks we have celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation with Year 3, sent Year 9 to Solidarity Camp, welcomed more than 400 families to Prep–Year 4 conferences, and watched Romero House claim the Cross Country shield in the mud on Friday 8 May. Thank you to our staff, who have written 1,480 reports on top of all of this.

Reports. Semester 1 reports for both the Junior and Senior Schools will be published on the Parent Portal on Friday 26 June 2026 at 4:00pm. Log in, select your child, and choose "Reports". Junior reports are issued at the end of Term 2 and Term 4; Senior students receive continuous feedback through the Learning Hub plus a semester report. Please read the report with your child and celebrate the growth, not just the grades. If something is unclear, contact the teacher by email in the first week of Term 3. See Reports & Assessment (Junior) and Assessment & Reporting (Senior).

End and start of term. Term 2 finishes on Friday 26 June at the normal times — 3:20pm Junior and 3:25pm Senior. Monday 13 July 2026 is a student-free day for staff professional development; students return on Tuesday 14 July. All term dates are at Term Dates.

CSEF. If you hold a valid Health Care Card, the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund ($154 primary, $256 secondary) applications close this Friday 26 June. Forms are available from the office — see Fees & Payments.

I wish every family a safe and restful break.

Dr Helen Carmody, Principal

Junior School

Prep–Year 4 conferences. Thank you to the families who attended parent-teacher-student conferences on Wednesday 17 June. Attendance was over 90 per cent, and teachers valued hearing from students about their own learning goals. Year 5 and 6 conferences are held in Term 3 on Thursday 27 August 2026; bookings will open on the Portal on Monday 17 August. See Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences.

Year 3 Reconciliation. Congratulations to our Year 3 students who celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesday 3 June at 7:00pm with Fr Michael Dwyer. Thank you to the parish catechists and to Sr Bernadette for preparing the children so thoughtfully.

Year 6 Canberra Camp. The Year 6 camp to Canberra runs from Monday 16 to Friday 20 November 2026, with a parent information night on Wednesday 21 October at 6:30pm. The camp is included in fees, but we do need the expression of interest form returned via the Portal by Friday 26 June so that flights and accommodation can be confirmed. See Year 6 Camp — Canberra.

Lost property clear-out. The lost property box outside the Junior office is overflowing with jumpers, drink bottles and lunch boxes. Please check it before Friday. Unnamed items are donated at the end of term — see Lost Property.

Term 3 winter uniform. Winter uniform continues for all of Term 3: navy jumper with long grey trousers or the tartan tunic, black leather lace-up shoes, and no hoodies. Sport uniform is worn on Fridays only.

Ms Priya Natarajan, Head of Junior School

Senior School

Semester 1 exams. Year 10 and 11 exams ran from Monday 1 to Thursday 4 June. Students handled them with maturity and results are now on the Learning Hub, with semester reports to follow on Friday. Teachers will use the first weeks of Term 3 to go through exam feedback in class.

Year 10 Work Experience. Thirty employers across Wattle Creek, Riverbend and the CBD hosted our Year 10 students from Monday 15 to Friday 19 June. Reports back from hosts have been overwhelmingly positive, and several students have already been offered casual work. Thank you to Mrs Jenny Marsh for coordinating 148 placements.

Year 9 Solidarity Camp. From Tuesday 19 to Thursday 21 May, Year 9 spent three days working alongside community organisations in Melbourne's north — food relief, community gardens and an aged care visit. Students' reflections have been moving, and many spoke of seeing "need" for the first time. See Retreats.

Year 12 — Term 3 ahead. Practice exams run from Tuesday 25 to Friday 28 August 2026; the timetable will be released on Friday 31 July. Year 12 students should use the holidays to complete at least one timed practice paper per subject. See Practice Exams — Year 12.

Year 7 2027. Enrolment offers for Year 7 2027 have now been sent to families. The Year 7 2027 Information Evening is on Wednesday 26 August 2026 at 7:00pm in Mary MacKillop Hall. See Year 7 2027.

Mr Tom Brennan, Head of Senior School

Sport

Cross Country recap. Romero House won the whole-school Cross Country on Friday 8 May, with MacKillop second, Chisholm third and Polding fourth. Twenty-two students went on to represent the College at CSSA and NDPSA cross country, with three qualifying for the state event. See Cross Country Carnival.

House Cup standings (end of Term 2): MacKillop 1,120; Chisholm 1,105; Romero 1,040; Polding 985. Term 3 brings athletics and House Spirit Day, so nothing is decided.

CSSA winter season. Senior Wednesday sport resumes in Term 3 with Round 1 on Wednesday 22 July 2026. Teams and draws will be posted on the CSSA Wednesday Sport page in the first week back. Training resumes from Tuesday 14 July. Swimming squad continues over the holidays at the Wattle Creek Aquatic Centre on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings 6:45–7:45am — parents drop off as usual.

Junior winter sport. Years 3–6 finished the Term 2 rounds with wins in netball and soccer against Kingsley Park Primary on Friday 19 June. Round 6 resumes on Friday 17 July, and the Winter Lightning Premiership is on Friday 21 August at Kingsley Park Reserve. See Friday Interschool Sport.

Term 3 carnivals: Junior Athletics Friday 4 September; Senior Athletics Tuesday 8 September. See Athletics Carnivals.

Mr Luke Ferraro, Director of Sport

Music & Arts

Oliver! holiday rehearsals. All cast, crew and pit orchestra members are expected on Monday 6, Tuesday 7 and Wednesday 8 July 2026 from 9:00am to 3:00pm in Mary MacKillop Hall. Bring lunch, a drink bottle and your script. The season runs from Wednesday 19 to Saturday 22 August; tickets go on sale on Monday 3 August via the Portal. See College Musical.

Spring Concert — save the date. Wednesday 16 September 2026 at 7:00pm in the Hall. All ensembles will perform. See Spring Concert 2026.

Instrumental lessons. Term 3 lessons begin from Tuesday 14 July. Term 3 invoices will be issued in Week 2. Anyone wishing to discontinue must notify the Music Office in writing before the end of Term 2.

Ms Grace Whitlam, Director of Music

Faith & Mission

MacKillop Day — Friday 7 August 2026. The Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop (8 August) will be celebrated with whole-school Mass at 9:15am in St Mary of the Cross Church and a festival on the Main Oval from 11:30am to 2:30pm. Students should bring gold coins for the stalls run by Year 12 and Year 6; proceeds go to Mary MacKillop Today. Families are warmly invited to Mass. See Masses & Liturgies.

Vinnies Winter Appeal. Thank you for the 640 items of warm clothing and non-perishable food donated this term. The Social Justice Group delivered them to Vinnies Riverbend on Thursday 18 June.

First Eucharist. Year 4 parish preparation sessions begin in Term 3; the First Eucharist Mass is on Sunday 6 September 2026 at 10:30am. See Sacramental Program.

Mrs Siobhan Reilly, Deputy Principal – Wellbeing & Mission

P&F

Thank you to the twenty-two parents who came to our meeting on Wednesday 10 June. We confirmed the shade-sail project for the Junior playground as our major 2026 fundraiser, with a target of $45,000. The Trivia Night in May and the Mother's Day stall contributed $9,800 between them — thank you.

Our next meeting is Wednesday 5 August 2026 at 7:00pm in the Staff Room and online. We will also be calling for Father's Day volunteers early in Term 3. See Parents & Friends.

Mrs Rachel Ibrahim, P&F President

Dates to Remember

Community Notices

OSHC winter holiday program. Wattle Creek OSHC runs in the Hall Annexe from Monday 29 June to Friday 10 July 2026, 7:00am–6:00pm, at $78 per day (Child Care Subsidy applies). Book via the OSHC app or Parent Portal; 48 hours' notice for cancellations. See Holiday Program.

Uniform Shop. Closed during the holidays. Reopens Tuesday 14 July 2026 at 8:00am, then normal hours — Tuesday 8:00–11:00am and Thursday 1:00–4:30pm. Online orders via the Portal are processed from Tuesday 14 July. See Uniform Shop.

Canteen. The Harbour Café is open as normal on Friday 26 June. Lunch orders by 8:30am.

Absences. Please report Term 3 absences before 9:00am via the Portal, the absentee line (03) 9555 0111 or SMS 0428 555 011.