The plenary was led by facilitator Martin Scroope, who specialises in Ignatian spirituality.

In the Ignatian tradition, the Examen is a simple, daily prayer that helps us notice God’s loving presence in the ordinary moments of life. First practised by St Ignatius of Loyola, it invites us to pause, give thanks, reflect honestly, and entrust ourselves to God’s mercy.

This workshopÌýwas anÌýaccessible way forÌýall toÌýgrow in awareness, gratitude, and relationship with God.

Other workshops included ‘Men in ÃÛ¶¹ÊÓƵ’s Life’ led by Sr Marea Ross, Music Ministry led by Youth minister PJ Almendras and experiencing one’s faith creatively through artistic expression. The day was also chosen as it corresponds with our monthly Youth Mass with the Parish. It was great to see so many young people gather before Mass and join in some games before ministering in Mass andÌýassistingÌýwith the BBQ afterwards.

We thank all the staff,ÌýstudentsÌýand parishioners for their involvement in this wonderful event and hope to have more opportunities like this in the future.

Chrystal Price | Deputy Head: Evangelisation and Catechesis

Date: Thursday, 10 September

Time: 8.30 am – 2.30 pm at ÃÛ¶¹ÊÓƵ

Experience our Year 5 Taster Day and begin your journey to secondary school at MacKillop. This event is designed to make the transition to secondary education for your child easier, as part of our Middle School campus. Secure your enrolment spot for 2028 now.

Thinking about hosting a Japanese exchange student? Take it from our family: it is hands-down one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have! You will talk about it for years to come.

To be completely honest, day one starts out a little quiet with a few shy smiles and language barriers. But watching that initial nervousness melt away is the best part. Seeing our student (Yoshinobu) get comfortable, open up, and truly enjoy himself was incredibly fulfilling.

Before we knew it, our house was a vibrant cultural exchange hub. We bonded over backyard soccer, Japanese baseball, shared local lingo, and provided a supportive home base. In return, it opened our eyes to just how much Japan’s incredible culture shapes our daily lives even in Australia.Ìý

But the absolute best part? The connection doesn’t end when the hosting finishes.

It was such a great experience, and we’ve kept the relationship going across the globe. We’ve packed our bags and gone to visit their family in Japan! Reconnecting on their home turf proved that hosting isn’t just a short-term commitment; it can be the start of a lifelong, global friendship.

If you have ever thought about hosting, we cannot recommend it enough. It’s an amazing opportunity for your kids to grow, brings wonderful energy into your home, and creates memories that will last for years to come.

Jump in and get ready for an unforgettable journey! This will be our third year hosting a student, and we can’t wait to do it all over again!!!!Ìý

Matt and Jess Cottee and family

From 25-29 May, our school community is joining Catholic Schools Broken Bay to support a very special initiative: the fundraising campaign for Eileen O’Connor Catholic School (EOCS).

This campaign is about raising awareness of a transformational new school for students with a disability, being built in our Diocese of Broken Bay, located at Tuggerah on the Central Coast. We are inviting our wider community to be part of something truly meaningful. We need your help to build this much needed school to open in 2028. Read more here

Kind Regards,
Karen Pezzuto
EOCS PRINCIPAL

Students enthusiastically participated in a wide range of activities, including the giant swing, high ropes, initiatives, orienteering, archery, power fan, fencing, rock climbing, flying fox, challenge evenings and the always exciting Commando Spotlight in the Bush.

Throughout the camp, students challenged themselves, stepped outside their comfort zones and developed valuable skills such as resilience, communication and teamwork. It was wonderful to see new friendships formed and existing friendships strengthened across the three days.

A huge thank you goes to the dedicated camp staff for taking such great care of our students and ensuring everyone had an enjoyable and safe experience (Mrs Werchon, Ms McInnes, Ms Willcox, Mrs Davison, Mrs Clarke, Mr Sadler and Mr Toward). I would also like to thank the executive staff who visited during camp and supported the program.

Year 7 returned home with many fantastic memories, new skills and plenty of stories to share from an unforgettable camp experience.

Candice Gorman | Secondary TeacherÌý Year 7 Leader of Wellbeing

We squeezed in even more than we expected, visiting so many different places across the city, and honestly, we had an absolute blast the entire time!

Here’s a snapshot of our capital adventure:

History & Remembrance

We got a front-row seat to the stories that shaped our nation.

Australian War Memorial:

A deeply moving experience. Walking through the commemorative area and seeing the Roll of Honour was a powerful reminder of our history.

Parliament House: Modern, massive, and very impressive.
Old Parliament House: Stepping back in time to see where the big decisions used to happen.
Voting 101: We even learned the “hows and whys” of the ballot box.

National Museum of Australia: Exploring the diverse cultures and heritage of the country.

Science & Discovery

Questacon: Total sensory overload (in the best way possible).

National Dinosaur Museum: Met some very “old” friends.

The Royal Australian Mint: Making money is fascinating! We learned some mind-blowing facts—like how they can produce two million coins a day and that there are 15,000 five-cent coins hidden inside the factory staircase!Ìý

Culture & Great Outdoors

Embassy Drive: A world tour in a single afternoon! Seeing the different architectural styles of the embassies was like a mini global trek.Ìý

National Arboretum: We finished off by going **orienteering** through the forests. It’s easily one of the best views in the city!Ìý

Canberra, you were a 10/10. We came for the history and stayed for the adventure!

Samantha Mohan | Middle School Teacher Year 6