Mary MacKillop Warnervale

Welcome

MacKillop Catholic College, Warnervale is the only Kindergarten to Yr 12 Catholic College in the Broken Bay Diocese. MacKillop College is a unique place situated on 8 hectares of the Upper Central Coast of NSW with many outstanding features that offers over 1500 students a quality Catholic School education.

The College’s Story is a special one that dates back to its opening in 2003 and over the past 8 years now going on 9 years since, the College has grown and built up not only outstanding campus facilities, but also a fine reputation for providing spiritual enrichment, quality academic support, leadership programs, sporting and cultural experiences and opportunities that have earned the College the respect of many people.

Among the unique features of this College is the blending of a Catholic School community and a Parish. With such an inspirational patron and role model as Mary MacKillop, to also have a special relationship with a Parish community situated within the same campus, sets a tone and presence that is always mindful and encouraging for our shared daily life.

The College’s motto of ‘Christ Our Light’ encourages us to live out the Gospel message of ‘Love of Neighbour’ in combination with the popular saying of Mary MacKillop to ‘Never see a need without doing something about it’ enabling us all to radiate ‘Christ’s light to the world’. These central messages and mottos underpin all of the College’s policies and with prayerful encouragement we all walk in the light each day respecting the dignity of each person and the privilege of enjoying a Catholic School education.
A major aspect of the leadership role of a Catholic School Principal is to engage with the whole College and Parish community in defining and communicating a vision that unites the students, parents, staff and parish in what it means to belong to this College. In establishing this task, there is a need for clarity of purpose and unity in building up and renewing our College’s culture that is meaningful to one and all. Achieving that purpose is to ensure that a sound foundation is well understood by all key stakeholders. Key areas become the foundation and framework for that sense of belonging:

 Catholic Life and Mission
 Teaching and Learning
 Pastoral Care and Well-being

To that purpose, a Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP) and the framework of goals and strategies become part and parcel of everyday conversation. This can only happen when relational trust is a key component of leadership and the relationship we share with one another. This College has a tremendous team and the term ‘teamness’ is the key aspect of the connection that each person shares with all those entrusted with leading this College community.

The College is a member of AJASS – Association of Josephite Affiliated Secondary Schools and this association connects the College with fellow Josephite Secondary Schools around Australia

and New Zealand in association with the Sisters of St. Joseph. The Josephite charism offers a special flavour to this Catholic College, where the Feasts of St. Joseph (19 March) and St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop (8 August) become special days of prayer and inspiration. It is our hope that all our students, staff, families and Parish feel a special affinity with Mary MacKillop and her Sisters through special places around Australia such as Mary MacKillop Place (North Sydney), Penola and Adelaide (South Australia), Fitzroy (Melbourne), Perthville and Kincumber (NSW), Brisbane and New Zealand. Our College needs to connect well with the story of Mary MacKillop and ensure our students understand and reflect the life of St. Mary MacKillop as is written on her tomb in the Chapel at north Sydney – ‘We are but travellers here’ (Mary MacKillop August 1866)

Mr Steve Todd
College Principal