Newsletter — Term 3, Week 5

Welcome to the Week 5 newsletter, published Monday 10 August 2026. Oliver! opens in Mary MacKillop Hall on Wednesday 19 August 2026, and Book Week, Science Week, Subject Selection Evening and the Year 7 2027 Information Evening all fall within the next fortnight. Bookings for Years 5 and 6 conferences and the spring holiday program open Monday 17 August 2026.

From the Principal

Friday 7 August 2026 was a day to remember. The whole College gathered in St Mary of the Cross Church at 9:15am for the MacKillop Day Mass with Fr Michael Dwyer, who reminded us of Mary MacKillop's words, "Never see a need without doing something about it." The festival followed on the Main Oval from 11:30am to 2:30pm, with stalls run by Year 12 and Year 6, the Stage Band and a House tug-of-war (congratulations, Romero). Together we raised $6,842 for Mary MacKillop Today, supporting Josephite mission work in Timor-Leste. Thank you to Sr Bernadette Long, Mrs Siobhan Reilly and everyone who made the day happen.

Two important evenings are coming up in the Hall: the Year 10 Subject Selection Evening for VCE 2027 on Tuesday 18 August 2026 at 7:00pm, and the Year 7 2027 Information Evening on Wednesday 26 August 2026 at 7:00pm. I encourage you to attend.

Finally, Year 12 practice exams begin on Tuesday 25 August 2026 (timetable published Friday 31 July 2026). This is a time for steady study rather than late nights — please encourage sleep, exercise and a good breakfast.

Dr Helen Carmody, Principal

Junior School

Book Week is coming. This year's theme, "Stories Light the Way", sits comfortably alongside our motto Lumen in Tenebris. The dress-up parade is Tuesday 25 August 2026 at 9:00am on the Main Oval (wet weather: Hall); parents welcome. Students dress as a favourite book character and change into uniform after recess. No toy weapons, face paint or full-face masks. The Book Fair runs in the Library from Monday 24 August to Friday 28 August 2026, 8:15–8:45am and 3:20–4:00pm. Mrs Judy Halloran has more on the Book Week 2026 page.

Years 5 and 6 Parent-Teacher-Student conferences are on Thursday 27 August 2026, 3:45–7:30pm. Bookings open on the Parent Portal at 9:00am on Monday 17 August 2026 and close at 12:00pm on Wednesday 26 August 2026. Slots are 10 minutes and students attend. See conferences.

Science Week runs Monday 17 to Friday 21 August 2026. Years 5 and 6 will join Senior students at the Robotics showcase at lunchtime on Thursday 20 August 2026, and every Junior class has a hands-on investigation planned.

Looking ahead: the Junior Athletics Carnival (Years 3–6) is Friday 4 September 2026 on the Main Oval, with the Prep–2 Mini Olympics the same morning; Year 4 Camp to Camp Sunnystones is Thursday 10 to Friday 11 September 2026 (forms will be released via the Portal next week); and Prep 2027 Transition Session 1 is Tuesday 1 September 2026 at 9:15am.

Ms Priya Natarajan, Head of Junior School

Senior School

Year 10 into 11 Subject Selection Evening — Tuesday 18 August 2026, 7:00pm, Mary MacKillop Hall. Mrs Jenny Marsh and faculty leaders explain VCE, VCE VET and Vocational Major pathways and the selection process. Interviews follow on Wednesday 2 September 2026 (Learning Hub bookings from Monday 24 August 2026); selections due Friday 4 September 2026. See Subject Selection.

Year 9 City Experience — Monday 31 August to Friday 4 September 2026. Consent and medical forms are on the Portal, due Friday 21 August 2026. Students need a full-fare student Myki with at least $20 and wear sport uniform and tracksuit all week. Final details will be published on Tuesday 18 August 2026. See City Experience or contact Mr Will Turner.

Year 12 practice exams run Tuesday 25 to Friday 28 August 2026 in the Hall. Students attend only for their exams and study at home otherwise (Library open 8:30am–3:30pm). Full winter uniform including blazer. See practice exams and exam timetables.

Year 7 2027 Information Evening — Wednesday 26 August 2026, 7:00–8:15pm in the Hall, for families of students enrolled for Year 7 next year. No RSVP required. Details: Year 7 2027.

Debating: our B Grade (Year 10) team won DAV Round 4 on Thursday 30 July 2026 and meets Holy Cross in Round 5 on Thursday 20 August 2026. Homework Club continues Monday to Thursday, 3:30–4:30pm in the Library (free).

Mr Tom Brennan, Head of Senior School

Sport

CSSA Round 3 results (Wednesday 5 August 2026): Senior Girls Netball 1sts defeated Mount Carmel 38–30 and remain undefeated; Boys Soccer 1sts defeated Nazareth 2–0; Mixed Hockey lost to Holy Cross 1–3; Boys Football 1sts defeated St Brigid's 64–52 in a strong bounce-back performance; Intermediate Girls Basketball defeated Corpus Christi 39–31. Round 4 is Wednesday 12 August 2026, Rounds 5 and 6 on Wednesday 19 and 26 August 2026, semi-finals Wednesday 2 September and grand finals Wednesday 9 September 2026. See CSSA Wednesday sport.

Junior Winter Lightning Premiership — Years 3–6 interschool teams travel to Kingsley Park Reserve on Friday 21 August 2026 for the NDPSA Winter Lightning Premiership in netball, football and mixed soccer. Sport uniform, lunch and drink bottle; return by 3:10pm. Parent helpers: Mr Daniel Ruiz, juniorsport@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au.

Athletics season. Training is Wednesdays 3:30–5:00pm on the Main Oval. Junior Athletics Carnival Friday 4 September 2026 (Main Oval, 9:00am–2:45pm); Senior Athletics Carnival Tuesday 8 September 2026 (Ringwood Athletics Track); CSSA Athletics Finals Wednesday 16 September 2026. Details: athletics carnivals.

House Cup standings (Week 5): Chisholm 1,780; MacKillop 1,765; Romero 1,640; Polding 1,590. Chisholm edges ahead after MacKillop Day service points, but only 15 points separate the top two.

Mr Luke Ferraro, Director of Sport

Music & Arts

Oliver! opens next week. After a term and a half of rehearsals, our College Musical takes the stage in Mary MacKillop Hall on Wednesday 19, Thursday 20 and Friday 21 August 2026 at 7:00pm, and on Saturday 22 August 2026 at 1:30pm and 7:00pm. Tickets ($25 adult, $15 student and concession, $70 family) went on sale Monday 3 August 2026 and all four evening performances are sold out; a final release of 40 Saturday matinee seats will be announced this week on the Portal. No door sales. Cast and crew have compulsory technical rehearsals Saturday 15 August 2026 (9:00am–4:00pm) and after school Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 August 2026 until 6:30pm. See College Musical.

The Spring Concert is Wednesday 16 September 2026 at 7:00pm in the Hall; bookings will open on the Portal on Monday 31 August 2026. See Spring Concert 2026. Junior Choir, Junior Band and String Ensemble rehearsals continue at their usual times.

Ms Grace Whitlam, Director of Music

Faith & Mission

Thank you to all who joined us for the MacKillop Day Mass and festival — and especially to our Year 12 and Year 6 stallholders, who worked together beautifully across the two schools. The $6,842 raised will be forwarded to Mary MacKillop Today this week.

Preparation for First Eucharist continues for our Year 4 candidates ahead of the celebration at 10:30am Mass on Sunday 6 September 2026 in St Mary of the Cross Church. Family sessions are held after school on Wednesdays in the church; see the sacramental program.

The Vinnies Group is collecting warm socks, beanies and non-perishable food for the Winter Appeal until Friday 28 August 2026 — collection boxes are in the Junior and Senior offices. House Spirit Day on Friday 11 September 2026 will conclude the appeal with a gold coin donation.

Mrs Siobhan Reilly, Deputy Principal – Wellbeing & Mission, and Sr Bernadette Long rsj, College Chaplain

P&F

Thank you to the 26 parents who came to our meeting on Wednesday 5 August 2026 in the Staff Room and online. Highlights:

• Shade sails: the fund for shade sails over the Junior playground stands at $29,400 towards our $45,000 target. Quotes have been received and Mrs Annette Kowalski (Business Manager) is reviewing them with the P&F executive.
• Father's Day Stall — Friday 28 August 2026 in the Hall foyer. Gifts $5–$15; send cash in a named envelope or pre-load tokens via the Portal. Every class from Prep to Year 6 visits during the day. Volunteers needed 8:30am–1:30pm (WWCC required).
• Father's Day Breakfast — Thursday 3 September 2026, 7:15–8:30am in the Hall: bacon-and-egg rolls, pancakes, fruit and a coffee cart. $5 per adult, children free. RSVP via the Portal will open next week and close Monday 31 August 2026.
• Second-hand uniform sale — Saturday 12 September 2026, 9:00–11:00am, Hall foyer. Clean, named donations to the Junior office please.

The next meeting is Wednesday 9 September 2026 at 7:00pm. See Parents & Friends and Father's Day 2026.

Mrs Rachel Ibrahim, P&F President

Dates to Remember

Full year dates: term dates.

Community Notices

• Canteen — new winter menu from today, Monday 10 August 2026. Hot meal of the day ($7.50): Monday butter chicken and rice (halal), Tuesday beef burrito bowl (Senior), Wednesday pasta bolognese (gluten-free option), Thursday Thai chicken curry (Senior), Friday fish and chips. New pumpkin soup with a roll ($5.50) and halal chicken burger ($6.50). Meat pies are off the menu this term due to a supplier change and return in Term 4. Orders close 8:30am via the Portal. See canteen.
• Spring holiday program (Wattle Creek OSHC): Monday 21 September to Friday 2 October 2026 (closed Friday 25 September 2026), 7:00am–6:00pm, $78 per day plus $15 on excursion days (Melbourne Zoo Wednesday 23 September; Scienceworks Wednesday 30 September). Bookings open Monday 17 August 2026 and close Friday 11 September 2026. See holiday program.
• Uniform Shop and summer changeover. Summer uniform from Monday 5 October 2026; transition fortnight to Friday 16 October 2026 (full winter or full summer, no mixing); hats compulsory from Monday 5 October. Extra Uniform Shop openings: Saturday 12 September 2026 (9:00am–12:00pm), Wednesday 16 September 2026 (3:00–5:00pm), Tuesday 29 September and Thursday 1 October 2026 (9:00am–1:00pm). See Uniform Shop and second-hand uniform.
• Bus Route B: reminder that the Kingsley Park morning pickup is now 7:47am.