Dear Parents

After the tragic events of September 11, 2001, a short note appeared in a U.S. newspaper. It was simple. Quiet. Powerful.

“You may have heard about the CEO of a major company who survived the attacks simply because it was his turn to take his child to school.
Another man lived because it was his day to take donuts.
One woman was late because her alarm clock didn’t go off.
Someone got stuck in traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike.
Another missed the bus.
One spilled coffee on her blouse and had to change.
One person's car wouldn't start.
Someone returned to answer a phone call.
Another’s child took too long getting ready.
One simply couldn’t catch a cab.
But what struck me most — was a man who survived because that morning, he wore new shoes.
They gave him a blister, so he stopped at a pharmacy to buy a bandage.
That’s why he lived.”
And now, when I find myself stuck in traffic, missing an elevator, going back home for keys, or answering a phone call at the last second…
I pause and think:
Maybe I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. Maybe this delay is protection I’ll never understand.
So next time your morning doesn’t go as planned —
The kids are slow to get ready.
You can’t find your keys.
You hit every red light…
Don’t get angry. Don’t panic.
God might be at work. Protecting you in ways you’ll never see.

Dear Lord
Watch over me in the smallest of tasks 
And in the largest of moments.
Help me to be patient with your plan for me.
Be my keeper, be my guide, be my light.
Amen

Term 3

Week 6

Monday, August 18

• 11:30 MoGC Has Talent
• Doors open at 11:15

Tuesday, August 19

• Gala Day training for Year 5 & 6 nominated players - Netball & Soccer
• 8:30 Parent Engagement - Coffee on the Deck
• 5:30 MoGC Has Talent
• Doors open at 5:15

Wednesday, August 20

• ACEC Mass
• 7:30 MoGC Choir Group & Mrs Simpson depart for the ACEC Mass
• 9:20 MoGC Student Representatives and Ms Boot & Mr Grubb depart for the ACEC Mass 

Thursday, August 21

• Gala Day training for Year 5 & 6 nominated players - Netball & Soccer
• NO  Loughton 40 Hoops Session for registered participants - rescheduled

Friday, August 22

• Student Wellbeing Survey closes - conducted at school
• 8:30 Assembly - 5B leading prayer
• 9:00 Science Week Display in the Library for parents
• Year 3-6 Swimming Lesson #4 (final session) + heating in preparation for the swimming carnival

Saturday, August 23

• 5:30 Parish Mass

Sunday, August 24

• Peninsula Track & Field @ Barlow Park

Week 7

Monday, August 25

• Peninsula Track & Field @ Barlow Park

Tuesday, August 26

• 8:30 Parent Engagement - Coffee on the Deck
• 5:15 Uniform Parent Voice Forum in the Multi-purpose Room
  Feedback from parents will be requested through an online forum.

Thursday, August 28

• Loughton 40 Hoops Session #3 for registered participants 

Friday, August 29

• 2026 OSHC Re-enrolments close
• 8:30 Assembly 

Saturday, August 30

• 5:30 Parish Mass 

Week 8

Monday, September 1

• Year 2 excursion

Tuesday, September 2

• 8:30 Parent Engagement - Coffee on the Deck
• Bishop Joe Caddy visiting MoGC
  
  

Wednesday, September 3

• Year 6 Camp 

Thursday, September 4

• Year 6 Camp
• Loughton 40 Hoops Session #4 for registered participants 
• MoGC Year 5 Soccer Teams participating in JGFA Competition
• Student swimming cap orders close - $3 to classroom teachers

Friday, September 5

• Year 6 Camp
• Father’s Day
• 8:00 Father’s Day Breakfast 
• 8:30 Father’s Day Prayer Assembly lead by 4B

Saturday, September 6

• 5:30 Parish Mass

Week 9

Book Week 

Tuesday, September 9

• 8:30 Parent Engagement - Coffee on the Deck

Wednesday, September 10

• Year 3 excursion

Thursday, September 11

• Loughton 40 Hoops Session #5 for registered participants
  
  

Friday, September 12

• 8:30 Book Week Parade NO Assembly
  
  

Saturday, September 13

• 5:30 Parish Mass 

Week 10

Tuesday, September 16

• 8:30 Parent Engagement - Coffee on the Deck

Thursday, September 18

• Loughton 40 Hoops Session #6 for registered participants (final session)
• MoGC Year 3-6 Swimming Carnival 
• Normal school day for Prep - Year 2 students

Friday, September 19

• MoGC Netball Teams at Mary Mills Cup
• 8:30 Assembly 

Saturday, September 20

• 5:30 Parish Mass 

On Friday, August 15 we gathered as a school to celebrate The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The feast of the Assumption is a celebration of Mary’s faithful relationship with God and her assumption into heaven. When we pray to Mary, we say’ “Mary, full of Grace.” Mary truly is a woman of Grace. She made room for God in her life and showed us how to live a life of Trust and Faith in God; to become more deeply the person God has called us to be. The assumption also celebrates the fact that Mary’s life does not end, it continues in heaven. It also points to our destiny, like Mary, to share in Jesus’ resurrection.

Today, Wednesday, August 20, the MoGC Liturgy Group and 25 lucky Year 5s were invited to the Cairns Convention Centre along with the National Catholic Education Commission & Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns staff for the 2025 Australian Catholic Education Conference Eucharistic Celebration.

The main celebrant was our Most Reverend Bishop Joseph Caddy AM. He was joined by the Archbishops of Sydney and Brisbane, Bishops from Wagga Wagga, Townville, Toowoomba and Rockhampton, Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney, the Vicar for Education, and local priests Fr Dariusz Osinski and Fr Kerry Crowley, as well as priests from the Dioceses of Cairns and around Australia.

The choir had an exclusive hymn practice prior to mass with leading Australian Liturgical Musicians Gen Bryant, Montel Thomas, Ashen Warnakulasooriya, Thomas Byrne, Andrew Chinn, Jonny Grant and Drew Lane.

What a great experience!

Last term, parents, students and staff were asked to provide feedback on various aspects of education and culture of Mother of Good Counsel school. This feedback is invaluable in understanding the experiences, needs, and expectations of our community, and allows us to make informed decisions and improvements. Thank you to the 52% of parents and carers who responded to the survey, this is an excellent response rate, and your time and feedback are greatly appreciated.

Data from these surveys contributes to our decision-making and planning for 2026.

On Friday, September 5, Fathers, Grandfathers and special role models are invited to celebrate Father’s Day at school. The day starts at 8:00 with a sausage sizzle, play with the kids and at 8:30 we finish with a slideshow of photos and prayer led by 4B. Send photos of your child and the special man in their life to gsimpson@cns.catholic.edu.au by 5:00pm on Wednesday, September 3. 

Students are invited to bring $5, to purchase a gift from the Father’s Day Stall. More than one gift per student is permitted.

This stall is organised and run by MoGC Connect volunteers, with special thanks to Joelene Bettini for leading the team.

If you can assist, please let the office know.

Swimming lessons finish up for our Year 3-6 students on Friday and students born in 2013, 2014 and 2015 will participate in a heating session to assist with preparations for our Swimming Carnival on Thursday, September 18. 

This week, students nominated for their competitive 25m and 50m swimming events. During swimming events, students are required to wear a team-coloured swimming cap, to assist staff at the finish line. There will be a number of caps provided at the starting line, however if students would like to purchase a cap, they are required to give $3.00 to their classroom teacher prior to Thursday, September 4. 

While students receive 1st, 2nd and 3rd place ribbons at the completion of each race, only students born in years 2013, 2014 and 2015 qualify for age champion events.

Woree Pool did not have a suitable date available for this year, so 2025 sees us return to Tobruk Pool for our carnival. Students are expected to arrive at school before 8:20am. Once classes have assembled on the basketball court, groups will begin their walk across to Tobruk Pool with their teachers. Races will commence at approximately 9:00. Parents attending the carnival are welcome to walk with us, or can meet us at the pool. 

At the completion of the carnival, classes will walk back to school ready for normal pick up processes. Students leaving prior to the end of the carnival must have their name marked off the roll at the pool exit.

What to wear: house sports uniform (with swimmers underneath), hat and shoes / thongs

What to bring: towel, sun shirt, sunblock, lunch, water bottle, team coloured swim cap (for those students who purchased one).

Please name all items. 

Prep, Year 1 and 2 students will remain at school on Thursday, September 18 and their acquired water safety skills will be on display at Sugarworld in Term 4.

The process for sharing student progress is outlined below:

• Term 1 - all families are encouraged to book a time with classroom teacher
• Term 2 - Semester 1 reporting
• Term 3 - Parent/Teacher interview at parent request
• Term 4 - Semester 2 reporting

If you would like to meet with your child’s teacher before the end of term, contact them directly for a mutually convenient time.

A number of School and House Team uniform designs are being refined to present to our community. The changes include consistent fabrics and a more contemporary style.

Keep an eye on SeeSaw for a survey link and space to ask questions that will be answered via the Newsletter.

Last Friday, submissions closed for our Year 5 students who are designing their Senior Shirts for next year. Year 5 & 6 teachers and the Leadership Team will short-list the submissions and then Year 5 students will vote on their preferred design from the short-listed selection.

MOGC Has Talent was amazing! Once again our community showed their support and appreciation of our students across TWO great shows filled with music, dancing and singing, artwork, tricks and everything unique in between. It takes enormous courage to perform in front of such a large group. 

The evening show was sold out, and the matinee eased the pressure of overcrowding, thank you to families who assisted by taking this option.

The biggest thank you to our performers, Mrs B and her team who pulled together a great showcase of live and videoed performances, along with a virtual art display!

Congratulations to all! 

On Friday, August 8, students, staff and parents masked up for our annual disco! While Crazy Bron kept everyone moving with her music and games, our team of helpers ensured everyone was fed, hydrated, tattooed and glowed up! 

A huge thank you to our MoGC Connect team and parent supporters who set up, packed up, took photos and did everything in between! The MoGC Village is essential for these events to go ahead and be successful.

This week, students and staff are celebrating Science Week with a range of exciting activities. At lunchtime, students have been creating sundials and exploring coding challenges. In class, they are enjoying daily science quizes, nature art, annotated plant drawings, an animal footprint scavenger hunt and detective walks through the school grounds. Students are also dissecting flowers to identify their parts, experimenting with shadows and creating light codes to communicate using torches.

To finish the week, parents are invited to a Science Week Showcase in the library after assembly. It has been a fun and hands-on week of scientific discovery!

There has been an important update to the Blue Card requirements that affects parent volunteers who participate in overnight excursions and camps from Saturday, 20 September 2025.

As of recent amendments to the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000, the previous exemption allowing parents to volunteer on overnight excursions or camps without a Working with Children Check (Blue Card) no longer applies

While this doesn’t impact our supervising camp parents in 2025, it is important that families are aware that for our 2026 camps:

• Parent volunteers attending overnight excursions or camps must now hold a valid Blue Card.
• Volunteer parents need to apply for and receive their positive Blue Card notice and have this linked to the school prior to the overnight activity OR
• Volunteer parents existing Volunteer or Paid Blue Card is linked to the school prior to the overnight activity

MoGC will celebrate Book Week on Friday, September 12 with our much anticipated parade at 8:30. There is no assembly on this day.

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected to represent TCC at the upcoming Peninsula Athletics Carnival on Sunday August 24 and Monday, August 25. We wish them all the best in their events.

Supporting your child’s mental health and emotional growth isn’t just about helping them through the tough times — it’s about giving them the tools to understand themselves, connect with others, and handle life’s challenges.

Talk about feelings everyday

Help your child learn to recognise, name, and manage their emotions. These skills will serve them for life, building stronger relationships and greater resilience.
​​​​
Try this:
The next time your child shows a big emotion, whether joy, frustration, or sadness - name it out loud.

For example: “It looks like you’re feeling frustrated — do you want to talk about it?” This simple habit validates their feelings and opens the door for healthy conversations.

Every moment you spend helping your child understand their emotions is an investment in their future happiness and wellbeing.

Happy Families 

Body image is a growing concern for many children—girls and boys alike—and it’s showing up earlier than ever. Research shows that a third of five-year-old girls already express concerns about their weight. Even before they can confidently cut their food with a knife and fork, many are worrying about keeping food out of their mouths.

And the pressure is growing. The pull of the perfect body starts young and builds thanks to social media (the super-peer). And fewer of our children – both boys and girls – grow up feeling comfortable in their own skin. 

Here’s what you need to know:

Why Body Image Matters

Body image isn’t just about looks. It can affect kids’ confidence, relationships, and even mental health. Girls especially are taught from a young age—often unintentionally—that how they look is tied to their worth. By adolescence, many girls link their self-esteem and social success to how attractive they are.

Boys aren’t immune. Increasingly, boys feel pressure to be lean, muscular, and “manly” in appearance. These pressures—reinforced by media, social media, advertising, and even well-meaning comments at home—can lead to body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, disordered eating, and anxiety.

What Can Parents Do?

Here are some practical strategies, grounded in psychology and parenting research, that you can start using today:

1. Make Your Home an Appearance-Commentary-Free Zone

Avoid commenting on weight, shape, or appearance—your own, your child’s, or others’. This includes compliments like “You look so skinny” or criticisms like “I look terrible in this.” Kids are listening, even when we’re not talking to them.

Instead, shift focus to what bodies can do and build capacity as much as you can. The more their body can do, the more delight they’ll find in life (and in their body). And if their body doesn’t work “normally”, it still hears or sees, laughs, or hugs. Find what they can do, celebrate it, and enlarge it.

2. Dress for Doing

If we want kids—especially girls—to feel powerful and free in their bodies, we need to make sure they can move, play, and explore without restriction. That might mean prioritising comfy shorts over frilly skirts, or letting go of clothing that’s more about appearances than activity.

3. Change the Conversation

Talk about books, ideas, creativity, friends, science, sport, kindness—anything other than how someone looks. Help your child discover passions and interests that have nothing to do with appearance. This is especially vital in the tween and teen years when social media ramps up the pressure to look a certain way. Usually how a person looks is the least interesting and important thing about them.

4. Talk About the World—Not Just Their World

For older kids, especially teens, don’t be afraid to introduce a little righteous anger. Ask them:

• “Who benefits when you hate your body?”
• “Why do so many companies make money from making people feel like they’re not enough?”

This awareness can help teens push back against unrealistic standards and take pride in who they are—not just how they look.

5. Do Your Own Work

If you’ve spent years struggling with your own body image, it’s never too late to change. Talk to your children about what you’re learning, and commit to modelling a healthier approach moving forward. That honesty and vulnerability will be far more powerful than pretending everything’s fine.

Our kids deserve better than a life spent fretting in front of the mirror. As parents, we have the power to change the conversation in our homes and help our children grow up feeling strong, capable, and enough—just as they are.

I want kids who use their bodies with confidence instead of constantly monitoring them. These ideas should help.

MoGC Connect Meeting

The next MoGC Connect meeting
is scheduled for 5:30 on Wednesday, October 15, in the Multipurpose Room, above the library. You are warmly invited. 

Agenda items can be emailed to mogc.connect@cnsstu.catholic.edu.au 

Save the date: Wednesday, November 19 MoGC Connect AGM

2025 Parent Contacts 

If you have a question about your child’s year level, are looking for information or need some guidance on where to direct an enquiry, these parents contacts are happy for you to reach out to them:

Prep: Stacey Watt staceylwatt@outlook.com	Year 1: Louise Bernstein: louise.bernstein@blueoceanic.com
Yr 1: Emma Smith: emmajb21@hotmail.com Yr 3: Paula Kelly: paulajkelly81@gmail.com	Yr 2: James Rickman jamesrickman@yahoo.com.au
Yr 4: Jenny Gangell jenny.gangell@gmail.com	Yr 5: Joeleen Bettini joeleenb1@bigpond.com  Bindi Cooper coopernb@outlook.com
Yr 6: Kate & Carl Vogler: katevogler@hotmail.com