E-News
In this Issue:
Message from the Principal
Important Notices
Events
The Arts News
Library News
Sustainability News
Message from the Principal
Mr. Joe Hoyne
Principal
World Teachers Day - Friday 25 October
Today is World Teachers' Day, this is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the immense effort and dedication that all educators put into their work.
World Teachers’ Day honours the dedication, hard work, and passion of teachers who play a crucial role in shaping the minds and futures of our children.
In schools, every adult a student encounters is a teacher. At Mother Teresa Catholic College, we are blessed to have wonderful teachers.
Our College Receptionist and Student Receptionist teach our students how to be welcoming, the College Maintenance staff teach about care of the environment, our Education Assistants teach inclusivity and respect, and classroom teachers teach curriculum and a love of learning.
A quote from an unknown source is “A good education can change anyone. A good teacher can change anything” and I am confident that every student in our care encounters a “good teacher” during their time at the College.
At MTCC students were invited to write a postcard to their favourite teacher, which was delivered to the teachers with a small treat from the College Leadership Team. We are so grateful to our staff here and we tip our hats off to each and everyone for the care, dedication and time they give to the students and community members.
Let's celebrate our teachers!
Important Notices
Leavers of 2024 - Graduation Day October 18
One of the most significant moments on the calendar of Mother Teresa Catholic College is the Year 12 Graduation Day, an occasion that marks a significant milestone in the lives of our students, families and community at large. On Friday October the 18th, we celebrated a family Mass, followed by the parent morning tea, with the formal Graduation Ceremony in the evening. The Class of 2024 were celebrated for the collective contribution they have made throughout their time at the College, and individuals were recognised for their performance and effort. As well as subject awards, there were a number of special prizes awarded to students whose achievement in various domains was outstanding. These students were acknowledged at the ceremony and are listed below.
Proxime Accessit (Non ATAR): Harry Deacon
Dux (Non ATAR): Madison Stennett
Proxime Accessit (ATAR):Ashlynn Brown
Dux (ATAR): Aiden Thomas
AMPOL All-Rounder: Holly-Anne Buchan
Long Tan Leadership Award: Anddi Boden
Christian Service Award:Benjamin Semler
VET Award: Harry Deacon
Mother Teresa Award: Summer Tyler
One particular highlight of the evening was the presentation of Graduation Certificates to our 2024 Leavers. It is significant that every single student was announced to the College community by their Homeroom teacher. These teachers have been at the students’ side every step of the way, providing the patient support and guidance that allowed students to push through the myriad challenges of their final year of secondary schooling. I know that students and families are extremely thankful for the efforts of Mr Scarterfield, Mr Fassom, Ms Teixera and Ms Zagari, and I also extend my personal and public gratitude to each of them.
The success of the evening was not accidental; the combined energies and abilities of a number of teams were involved in its preparation and execution. Michael Peter, Team Leader of Religious Education and Faith Formation, worked with students and Father Alexis to lead a Mass and evening Liturgy that grounded the occasion in the Catholic tradition integral to our College. A special nod is also due here to the Year 12 parents Caroline Sampson and Jo Dannenberg and teacher Kelly Winfield-Hart for their role in the Liturgy. The Year Eleven Student Leadership Team’s service throughout all aspects of the day made our students and parents feel valued and special at all times. Particular recognition needs to be afforded to Maintenance Coordinator Brian Kenny, Mr Jon Lambert and their collaborators for transforming the College gymnasium into a venue befitting the gravity of the occasion. Community Engagement Manager Catherine Conway and her Executive Assistant Sandra Loveridge were tireless in their attention to the student and family experience, amongst other things coordinating ticketing, prizes and catering; the evening proceeded flawlessly due in no small part to their diligence.
Finally, the evening’s coordinator and Master of Ceremonies, Head of Senior School Dryw Edwards must be lauded for his ability to draw all of these threads together into a grand tapestry that will live long in the memories of the graduating class of 2024 and their families.
These students have left their mark and planted their seeds and Mother Teresa Catholic College will continue to benefit and grow from their efforts for many years to come. Animated by their spirit and passion, future students will undoubtedly take up the baton as our College moves into the future. The template of kindness, service and perseverance prepared by the Leavers of 2024 will form the bedrock of our College henceforth.
Greg Cranwell
Year 12 Coordinator
The Kindness Challenge – Year 7 2024
On Wednesday, October 23, our Year 7 students participated in The Kindness Challenge, an event designed to cultivate compassion and kindness as core values that shape not only their school community but also their personal growth. Led by Catherine Kolomyjec, a trauma-specialist social worker, Stanford Global Ambassador for Applied Compassion, and co-founder of the charity Soul Gestures Inc., the event introduced students to the physical and mental benefits of kindness.
The day was centred around building meaningful connections between students and staff, with activities designed to foster empathy, strengthen relationships, and encourage students to connect on a deeper level. It was a privilege to witness students embracing the challenge, forming genuine connections and contributing to an uplifting atmosphere throughout the day.
The positive effects of The Kindness Challenge have extended beyond the day itself. Many students have carried what they learned into their daily interactions, showing that kindness, when nurtured, has the power to transform lives. As the students discovered, words are incredibly powerful—they can inspire, uplift, and create change. When used thoughtfully, words become tools that can change the world, one small act of kindness at a time.
Through this new initiative, the Year 7 Cohort has taken their first steps towards creating a culture of compassion that will leave a lasting mark not only on their hearts but also on the community around them.
With the continued momentum of these small yet meaningful acts, may kindness be a cornerstone of your high school experience and a legacy you leave behind.
Mrs. Alexia Irons
Year 7 Coordinator
Year 11 Politics and Law Courts Excursion
On Wednesday the 23rd of October, the Year 11 ATAR and General Politics and Law classes embarked on an excursion to the Perth CBD to experience our legal system in action. The day started at the Supreme Court of WA, where we got to sit an empty court room and act out various roles where Alissa was very excited to be a Supreme Court Justice. We then ventured over to the District Court and Magistrates Courts where we sat in live court sessions and got to experience the intricate procedures and harsh realities of the Australian legal system in action. The students gained a great insight into the content we have learnt in P&L and have reflected upon the day as being, “eye-opening, emotional, interesting and a great opportunity to see the real-life application of what we have learnt in class.”
Student & Staff Achievement
We love to celebrate student and staff achievement! If you have a success story and photo you'd like to share, email: marketing@motherteresa.wa.edu.au
The Arts News
We are thrilled to reflect on the success of Arts and Technologies Week, which ran from October 21 to October 25. This week-long celebration combined creativity, collaboration, and innovation, highlighting our students' talents as well as the hard work of our dedicated staff.
Each day featured a unique set of engaging activities that allowed students to develop their artistic and technological abilities. The Homeroom Challenges began on Monday with a lively TikTok Dance Challenge, in which students demonstrated their best moves and energy. Tuesday's Creative Squiggle Art Competition encouraged artistic expression, while Wednesday's Music Quiz tested students' knowledge and awarded prizes. Thursday's Home Economics Quiz sparked friendly competition, and Friday concluded the week with an exciting Design and Technology Challenge that left everyone buzzing with ideas.
Lunchtimes were equally exciting, with hands-on activities like Cupcake Decorating and Wood Keyrings in Design & Technology. The Music Lunchtime Concert on Tuesday was a highlight, with talented students displaying and sharing their musical abilities. Wednesday's Textiles Juggling Chickens and Theatresports provided a fun twist, The week concluded with the Visual Arts Inktober on Friday, which celebrated student creativity in a variety of art forms.
The Arts and Technologies Exhibition Evening on Thursday was a standout event, attracting a large number of caregivers and students. Attendees were treated to a display of outstanding student work, highlighting the innovative projects and artistic expressions developed throughout the year. The excitement in the room was palpable as families and friends celebrated the students' accomplishments, emphasising the value of arts and technology in education.
We are incredibly proud of our students' enthusiasm and participation during Arts and Technologies Week. Thank you to everyone who participated in these activities, from staff to students and caregivers. Your support made this an unforgettable celebration of creativity and collaboration. We look forward to seeing more exciting initiatives in the future that nurture our students' talents in arts and technology!
Library News
High School Book Fair
Our High School Book Fair was a roaring success this week. We sold quite a few books and online orders will be arriving in a few weeks! Thank you to everyone for coming along and supporting it.
Scholastic Book Fair – October 30 – November 4
This spooktacular book fair is the final one for the year and is open to all students (with a big focus on junior school!) Students will be able to purchase all their favourites and it’s a great place to get some Christmas presents!
Shop before and after school.
Lego Club
This week, the Lego club finished building the Eiffel Tower! Standing at an impressive 1.5m tall, this has been a term’s worth of lunchtime work. Amazing achievement!
Last day for PP – Year 6 for borrowing – November 14
Week 6 is our last week of borrowing for junior school students until 2025. This allows library staff to undertake a stocktake and be ready to go next year.
All books due back – November 22
All books are due back at the end of Week 7. Emails will be sent home regarding any books that are outstanding after this date.
Sustainability News
Over the last two weeks the students have participated in the ‘Bird Life Australia Aussie Bird Count’. Using binoculars students had 20 minutes to observe and record the local birds they saw in their chosen area of the school grounds. We then then collated our information and sent it off to the Bird Count. The students enjoyed identifying the birds and looking at their habitats.
The students have been working hard in the vegetable gardens, planting corn seeds, eggplants and lettuce while learning about different environments the vegetables need to grow. They have also been researching ways we can attract beneficial bugs into the garden to help our plants grow while reducing the number of bugs which eat our plants.
The Year 6 students have been discussing ways they can make a difference to our planet and have come up with ways to reuse and repurpose many items. They are collecting new and used stationary to send to Give Write who then send it to children in need. They are also collecting newspaper, egg cartons, and old towels to give to our local vet. Please support the students and place the items in the bins at the entrance of the Junior School.
On November 20th we are having a Book Swap also organised by the Year 6 students. Everyone is encouraged to bring an old book and swap it for a new one. The books can be placed in the purple bin at the entrance of the Junior school.
Thank you to our wonderful families who support ‘Waste Free Wednesday’. A waste free lunch contains no throwaway packaging which helps reduce the amount of waste we send to landfill each day.
Masses
Tuesday - Wednesday: 9.00am
Thursday: 8.00am
Friday: 9.00am
Saturday: 6.00pm
Sunday: 9.30am & 5.00pm
1st Friday of each month: Adoration (following 9am Mass)
Benediction 10.15am
Reconciliation
Saturday: 5.30 - 5.50pm (prior to Mass)
Online Community
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