Father’s Day Breakfast

We look forward to our Father’s Day Breakfast next Thursday morning followed by Assembly in the Allen Hall. If you are fit and healthy and can help us move the BBQ trailer from the shed to the BBQ area next Wednesday afternoon please let us know at the Office - many hands make light work and we need your help to make these events successful.

If you are able to assist with the cooking on Thursday morning it’s not too late to let us know. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful Office staff, particularly Marita Glass who spend many hours behind the scenes ensuring these events run smoothly. Thanks Marita!

Girls Soccer Team

On Monday our Senior Girls Soccer Team competed against other schools at the Regional playoffs at Casey Fields. They made it all the way to the semi finals. We are so proud of their commitment to the team and the way they conducted themselves. Congratulations to all players. Thanks to staff, including Mr. Kippen, Madame Camilleri and Mr Timothy who have supported the girls and to our parents for your ongoing support.

Raising Kids in a Digital World 

At the moment we have 23 families registered for this evening on Thursday 11 September: @ 6.30 - 8pm in MMPS Allen Hall. In order to enable more families to attend we will offer a movie in a classroom if you are unable to find babysitters/carers. We do ask, that if you do access to a baby sitters/carers that you use them but if you are not attending because of this barrier, then please bring your children with you and they can watch a movie in a classroom and be supervised by staff. There are 210 families in our school - it would be wonderful if at least 50% attended this evening.

For more information please go to: https://www.informandempower.com.au/program/parent-seminars

Please register by using the link below:

Father Michael

Father Michael has been celebrating weekend Masses at Our Lady Help of Christians Parish which is wonderful! Thank you to all for the ongoing prayers for Father Michael - please continue to pray for him as he makes improvement in his health.

Planning for 2026 School Year

2026 Student Class Placements 

Teachers will begin planning for our 2026 classes in the coming weeks.  We respect and value parent input and ask that you email me – gverstraete@marymacnarre.catholic.edu.au, or put in writing and leave at the Administration Office, if you have information about your child that could impact on their placement for 2026.  

Please ensure your request is received by TOMORROW -Friday 29 August, 2025.  Requests received after the cut off date of Friday 29 August are very difficult to take into consideration. 

We ask parents to be mindful of our teachers’ preparation and time that goes into student/class placements, which is not an easy task, taking into account all the areas mentioned below:

• Staff use their professional judgement and a range of information when placing students into classes.  This information includes student learning progress, learning strengths, learning needs, NCCD Data, gender balance within classes and across the level to provide an optimal learning environment for ALL students. 
• Parent requests are forwarded onto staff when placing students into their 2026 classes. Please note, the 2025 class teacher places students from their 2025 grade into the 2026 class groupings.
• Please be aware that your letters of request are not a guarantee of your child’s placement. 
• Please note that requests made in previous years are not necessarily considered in the process.  Historical information provided by parents regarding their child’s placement will need to be re-submitted if the concerns expressed in previous years are still relevant for consideration in 2026.

Footy Day & Sausage Sizzle

Thursday 18 September (last day of term)

Last Friday we sent out information to all families via PAM regarding this event.  Please see below a copy of the flyer.  NB  Orders MUST be received via CDFpay by 9 September - no late orders can be accepted.

Father’s Day Breakfast and Assembly

The Father’s Day Breakfast on Thursday 4th September 2025 will be followed by a special Assembly at 9.00am in Allen Hall. Families are welcome to remain for a Father’s Day Liturgy, which will include a photo slideshow celebrating dads and father figures. Contributions for the slideshow can be emailed to lprivitera@marymacnarre.catholic.edu.au  All photos are due by COB on Monday 1st September. There will be no Assembly on Friday 5th September.

Supporting Trinity Families – Bishop’s Charity Fund

At the Father’s Day Breakfast, cash donations will be collected for Trinity Families, the Bishop’s Charity Fund in the Diocese of Sale.  Trinity Families supports local organisations that care for families in need across the Diocese. The fund assists with services such as counselling, family support, mental health care, and programs that strengthen family life.  Through donations to Trinity Families, families in the community are able to access the care and support needed. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference.  Thank you for supporting this special appeal.

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

Sunday, August 31, 2025

Luke 14:1,7-14
When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.

This Sunday’s Gospel shares the message of doing good deeds, like helping and giving to others, without looking for a reward. Giving to people in need with a kind heart helps to grow God’s Kingdom.

History & Como House

For Inquiry, students in Year 2 have been completing a History Unit learning about what life was like in the past and how things have changed over time. In class, students were invited to bring in a historical item to display and share with their peers. We had a vast array of items including old telephones, type writers, record players, pocket watches, coffee machines and older style gaming machines, to name a few. It was terrific to see and learn about each of the items and see how things have changed over time. 

To complement this learning, last Wednesday, on the 20th of August, the Year 2 students went to Como House to learn about what life was like back in the olden days. Students learnt about the Armytage family who lived in the Como House for almost a century. The house gave students an insight into the lives of the Armytage family, who were quite wealthy and used servants to help run the house. 

Students participated in four different activities which consisted of, a tour of the Como House, a detective expedition around the gardens to solve the mystery of the broken toy doll, played a variety of olden day games such as sack races, drop the hanky and croquet, and experienced what life was like as a servant by having a go at washing clothes without the use of a washing machine. 

We were blessed with beautiful weather and the students enjoyed engaging in the activities and furthering their learning. 

Here are some things the students had to say about the excursion:

Estelle - “I learnt that the servants had to remember 14 bells and they all had different sounds.”

Finn - “I learnt what servants do. Servants cleaned up for the Armytage family.”

Isabella - “I like how we washed clothes. You had to scrub them on a board 15 times.”  

Matteo - “We had to squeeze the water out of clothes using a machine.”

Isabelle - “I learnt that they were very strict back then.”

Nicolae - “They had 15 maids and they all had really hard jobs.”

Maria - “I learnt that kids weren’t that important in the olden days.”

Jonah - “There was a disguised toilet in the bedrooms that looked like drawers.”

What fun we had last Friday for our Book Week dress up day!  Here are some photos for your enjoyment.....

Scholastic Book Club

A reminder that orders are due by Wednesday 3 September - online orders only via LOOP

Child Safe Standards

Our school is safe, student centred and animated by our school values.  

We aim to Inspire Hearts and Minds.

"Children are the future of the human family: all of us are expected to promote their growth, health and tranquillity." Pope Francis 2021

At Mary MacKillop Primary School, we believe that ensuring the safety of the students in our care is an integral part of who we are as a Catholic faith community. We adhere to Victorian Child Safe Standards and Ministerial Order No. 1359.  We embed a culture of child safety and the matter is taken very seriously.

MMPS Child Safe Standards

Catholic Education Commission of Victoria (CECV)

The updated CECV Statement of Commitment to Child Safety - A safe, nurturing and empowering culture for all children and young people in Catholic schools, is attached to this newsletter.  This statement has been updated in light of the revised Child Safe Standards coming into effect from 1 July 2022 and the supporting Ministerial Order No. 1359

We are a Happy Families School

Our school is subscribed to the Happy Families School Membership! Owned and run by Dr Justin Coulson, one of Australia’s leading parenting experts, the membership offers a wealth of parenting education and resources.  We will regularly share resources available through our membership with you, including Insight Articles and Live Webinars.  

Insights Articles

A new Insights article is released weekly during the term and we will include these with the school newsletter. Insights articles are written by Dr Justin Coulson and provide parenting education and support for a wide variety of traditional and contemporary parenting challenges.  Unfortunaely there is no Insite Article available this week.

Positive Partnerships National online sessions Positive Partnerships is once again providing on-line information webinars regarding autism. There are also sessions for Parents/Guardians/Carers.

Parent Carer (PC) online sessions- registration through links below:

• Tuesday 2 September 12:00-1:30pm (AEST)- Session 3 – Understanding Behaviour
• Tuesday 9 September 12:00-1:30pm (AEST)- Session 4 – Working Together

1. Separate registrations for each session

School TV

Here is the link to your Edition https://marymacnarre.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/sibling-relationships-au

• SchoolTV, we would like to invite parents, carers, and grandparents, to attend an exclusive webinar supporting primary and secondary students.  This exclusive, one-off event is fast approaching and we’d love to see  families benefit from the insights of two of Australia’s leading experts, Susan McLean and Dr Michael Carr-Gregg.
• They will share invaluable insights on how to empower young people to navigate the online world safely and responsibly.

WEBINAR: Digital Media Literacy & Safety (Part III)
DATE: Wednesday, 3 September 2025
TIME: 7:30 pm

Topics in this webinar include:

• New Social Media Regulations
• Digital Footprint and Reputation
• Screen Time and Brain Development
• Parental Controls
• Participants MUST REGISTER PRIOR to the commencement of the webinar to gain access OR click  the  link to access registration -
• http://marymacnarre.catholic.schooltv.me/webinar/east-coast-digital-media-literacy-safety-part-III

Anxiety & Young People

Anxiety is a natural and expected part of growing up. In fact, it plays an important role in helping young people prepare for challenges, stay alert to potential dangers and adapt to new situations. It can motivate them to study for a test, practise before a performance, or tread carefully in unfamiliar settings. However, for many children and adolescents today, anxiety can shift from being a helpful response to becoming intense, persistent and disruptive.

The world young people are growing up in is fast-paced and often demanding. Academic pressures, social expectations, family changes and the constant presence of digital media, can all contribute to heightened stress and worry.

When anxiety is left unrecognised or unsupported, it can begin to affect a young person's wellbeing, learning, friendships and self-confidence. That's why it's so important for adult carers to understand how anxiety may present in children. Everyone experiences anxiety differently, and there's no one-size-fits-all solution.

This edition of SchoolTV raises awareness and provides families with practical strategies to help young people manage anxiety in healthy, constructive ways.

Here is the link to your Edition https://marymacnarre.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/anxiety-young-people-au