Our Explicit Improvement Agenda

Student Voice and Agency

Planning for improved student learning

CELEBRATIONS OF LEARNING

Junior Swimming Program

Our Junior students have loved attending their intensive Swimming program this week at Paul Sadler Swim School.  The intensive swimming lessons form part of our Foundation to Year 6 progression of learning in swimming towards the Victorian Water Safety Certificate (VWSC).  The VWSC is a Victorian Government initiative, which describes specific competencies that should be achieved by the time students reach the end of primary school.  The competencies include:

• Water Safety knowledge
• Swim (continuously for 50 metres)
• Under Water (surface dive, swim underwater and search to recover an object)
• Lifesaving (respond to an emergency by demonstrating DRSAB and the recovery position)
• Rescue Skills (rescue a person using non-swimming rescue techniques)
• Survival Sequence (perform a survival sequence wearing light clothing)

Middle and Senior students will be attending Paul Sadler Swim School later on this Term.  Dates are includes in the Term 4 School Events and Dates section of the newsletter.    

Grandparents Mass and Morning Tea 

Thank you to all Grandparents, Special people, students and staff for a beautiful Grandparents Mass and Morning Tea last Friday.  It was a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the very important role grandparents play in our lives and to celebrate the special kind of love only a grandparent can give.  The photos below capture the essence of the a very memorable morning . . .

What’s on in this week’s newsletter 

In this week’s newsletter you will read about our Foundation students’ swimming experiences, Parish Prayer group information, Remembrance Day service on Friday 10 November and World Teacher’s Day this Friday 27 October.

Important Dates and School Events for the remainder of the 2023 School year

& the start of 2024

Thank you to all grandparents and special friends for your attendance at the day’s activities and mass celebration held last Friday. We appreciate all of the parents and friends that shared pictures and/or videos.Your response was amazing! Bookmark the same time in 2024!

Catholic Mission Fundraisers

Each grade organised a fundraising effort supporting Catholic Mission through Socktober activities. Thank you for supporting the activities. The total amount raised for Catholic Mission $324.60

Parish Schools Parent Prayer Group                                                                                                          

We warmly invite parents and families to attend our Parent Prayer Group. In the busyness of our lives it can be a real challenge to take time to be present, to take time for prayer, faith and meditation. Let us take an opportunity to make a small change, a step towards prayerfulness, making space for God in our lives. The first session was held at Trinity Catholic P.S. and yesterday's session was held at Don Bosco School. We encourage parents to visit the different schools to get to know our wider Parish school community and engage in moments of prayer together. The next Parent Prayer Group will be held at Trinity School. We look forward to seeing you all!

Below is the planned roster of dates and locations for Term 4. The facilitation of the sessions will be shared among the clergy from the Parish, Fr Brendan, Fr Ajin, and the Schools RELs - Emily, Tahlia & Lize. 

Parish Schools Parent Prayer Group

We warmly invite parents and parishioners to gather in the school chapel at 9am Wednesday each week for prayer. 

Class and Whole School Mass schedule – please note the upcoming buddy mass and whole school mass schedule during the remaining weeks of Term 4. Parents and friends are welcome to attend.  See table below:

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Sunday, October 29, 2023

 In next Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus is asked which of the commandments was the greatest. His answer teaches us about how we are to love. Jesus said the greatest commandments are to love God and love your neighbor. Our neighbor isn’t just the person who lives next door. Who is our neighbor? 

Everyone who is affected by our actions is our neighbor; all people are our neighbors. Showing love for our neighbor is a way that we show our love for God.

During the next week choose two actions that you will do to show your love for God and for your neighbour.

Remembrance Day

The Berwick RSL have once again provided Remembrance Day poppies and associated stock to be offered for sale on their behalf. The Remembrance Appeal raises funds to support former and serving members of the Australian Defence Forces and dependents when in need. Most of the funds are raised through the sale of Poppies. Leading up to Remembrance Day our student leaders will be selling merchandise during recess on 2nd and 3rd November.  Items range from $1 to $5.

Our Welcome Garden will transform into a field of knitted poppies during this time. We also honour the memory of our friends and family members who have passed away. Families are invited to put a loved one's name on a card (provided at the school office) and attach it to a poppy as a gesture of remembrance. 

On Friday 10th November students will lead a Remembrance Day Service during Assembly. All parents and friends are welcome to attend at 2.30pm in Allen Hall.

World Teacher’s Day 

Australia will celebrate the teaching profession on World Teachers’ Day on Friday 27 October 2023.  

Let’s celebrate Australia’s teachers for their skilled work in educating, inspiring and supporting our students.Hats off to teachers this World Teachers’ Day!  A special thanks to all of our teachers and staff at Mary MacKillop school. We are so very blessed to have such inspiring teachers and staff.

View the video message from Mr Paul Velten, Director of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Sale.  Link: https://bit.ly/46MH0ej

The Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 students are enjoying swimming lessons at Paul Sadler Swimland this week. Here is what the Foundation students think of their first school swimming experience: 

Mila - I was a little bit nervous at the start but I gave it a go and had fun. I liked practicing blowing bubbles and going to the deep end.

Bella - I liked when we had to swim to find and grab a duck and I liked wearing  floaties on.

Isabelle - I liked floating on my back and I did it without wearing floaties. 

Luca M - I liked jumping in the deep end and paddling back. 

Rani - I swam to swim under water, I had to blow bubbles and kick my legs. 

Luca W - I learnt something new today, we practiced freestyle with the board and I haven’t done that before. 

Dustin - We had to curl up like a mushroom and lift our backs up to the top of the water.

Emma D -  I liked jumping into the water.

Patrick - I liked holding onto the board and kicking my legs.

Catherine - I had to wear some floaties on my arms.

James - I liked blowing bubbles and getting the toys from the bottom of the pool.

Alessia - I really liked jumping in the water.

Quite a few Foundation students were out of their comfort zone, however knew about the MMPS value of showing courage, and did so once they entered the water. Well done Foundies!

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

Parent Education - Rescources to support parents and carers

• eSafety Commissioner https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents.
• For Families https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/parent-resources/online-safety-for-every-family
  • Online safety for every family 
    • Express learning for busy families 
      • eSafety's express learning series provides parents and carers with practical tips and advice on common online safety concerns. The videos are 5 to 10 minutes long and cover four important topics, including
        •  Setting up parental controls
        •  Digital technologies and mental health
        • Cyberbullying and online drama
        • Online sexual harassment and image-based abuse
• CCYP - Commission for Children and Young People https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/child-safe-standards/
• School TV https://marymacnarre.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news
• Bravehearts https://bravehearts.org.au/
• Happy Families https://schools.happyfamilies.com.au/login/mmnwn
  • Password: happymmnwn
• World Teacher's Day - How to have a great relationship with your Teacher
  • Your latest weekly insight for Term 4 is attached:
  • Teacher Relationship

    Teacher Relationship 122.26 KB

Daniel Morcombe Foundation - Day For Daniel - Friday 27th October

Australia’s largest child safety education and awareness day, held annually on the last Friday of October, 'Day for Daniel' honours the memory of Daniel Morcombe. All members of the community are asked on this very special day to Wear Red, Educate and Donate.

Parents, carers, and educators are encouraged to start a conversation with children and young people about personal safety.

As part of a comprehensive whole school approach to personal safety education, teachers utilise the broad resources provided by the Daniel Morcombe Foundation to encourage positive discussions and in turn, promote better decision making and safer outcomes.

On Friday 27th October all staff, students and families are invited to wear RED supporting the 'Day for Daniel' campaign.