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Our Explicit Improvement Agenda
Student Voice and Agency
Planning for improved student learning
Visit from the Director of Catholic Education - Diocese of Sale (DOSCEL)
We were very pleased to welcome Mr. Paul Velten - Director of Catholic Education, Diocese of Sale to our school this afternoon. It was great to be able to give him a tour of our school and facilities.
Excellence Awards
Congratulations to our students who received Academic and Most Improved Excellence Awards at last week’s assembly. We are very proud of our students and their efforts and look forward to the Awards being part of our yearly calendar of events each year in Term 4 to celebrate and highlight our student’s growth, talents and achievements in their learning. Further information is contained later in the newsletter.
2024 Important information and School Dates Letter
The 2024 Important Information and School Dates letter was sent to parents today via PAM email. The letter outlines important information, planning and updates for the 2024 school year. Please take the time to read through the letter and to take note of the Staff Professional Learning / Student Free Days allocated throughout the school year.
2023 End of Year Planning - Reminders
Student Chromebooks Years 4 to 6 - Please return all student chromebooks and chargers are to be returned by Monday 11 December for stocktake over the Summer holiday period. For student safety, students do not have access to their student email accounts during holiday breaks.
Library books - Please return all student library books by Friday 1 December.
Specialist Classes - Specialist classes will conclude on Friday 1 December. There are no specialist lessons in the last two weeks of Term 4.
Wednesday 13 December - Year 6 Graduation
- 5.00 pm - Year 6 student only dinner
- 5.45 pm - Year 6 Graduation Mass and Presentation
Thursday 14 December - Mass & Christmas Concert
- 9.00am - Whole School End of Year Mass (including leadership handover)
- 10.00am to 10.30am - Recess
- 10.30am to 12.30pm - Rehearsal
- 12.30pm to 1.00pm - Lunch
- 1.00pm to 2.45pm (approx) - Christmas Concert with special guests from Bupa Aged Care (parents to sign in via the welcome gate - parents please join in the fun and wear something Christmassy!)
Friday 15 December
- 1.45pm - Advent Liturgy, Foundation and Year 6 powerpoint
- 2.50pm - Year 6 Community Farewell on the Small Oval
- 3.05pm - 2024 Student leaders blessing to Year 6s and Countdown to the end of the school year
2024 Student Leader Positions - Year 5 students
Year 5 students who nominated for school leadership positions have been presenting their speeches this week. It is great to hear of our students pride in our school, their dedication to live out our MMPS school values and to be positive role models in our school community. Congratulations on all the students who have presented their speeches and challenged themselves to overcome the anxiety that public speaking can bring.
COVID-19 Increased Cases
In line with recent media reporting, there is an increase in COVID-19 cases within our community. Please follow the recommendations below if your child tests positive to COVID-19, either through a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) or PCR test.
It is strongly recommended that students who test positive:
- Stay at home and isolate for five (5) days
- Should not attend school after five (5) days if still symptomatic.
Students who are symptomatic but have not tested positive should not attend school until their symptoms resolve. We ask parents to advise the school of the COVID-19 positive test result. For more information, please see the follow the Checklist for COVID cases in the link here:
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/checklist-cases
2023 School Dates and events to the end of the 2023 school year
The 2023 school year is fast winding to a close with so many activities and events on for our students. It is going to be a jam packed last few weeks of term. Please ensure you take the time to look through the dates, times etc so you are able to join in the events going on.
2024 Explicit Improvement Agenda
Our Explicit Improvement Agenda for 2024 will continue to focus on building Student Voice and Agency & Planning for Improved Student Learning - key focus in Mathematics. The Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority - VCAA has released updates the Mathematics Curriculum and therefore our improvement agenda includes a specific focus in this area. Full implementation of the new Mathematics Curriculum V2 is expected by 2025.
Today Footsteps Dance Company led the first of three dance sessions for our students in Foundation to Year 6 levels. New dance routines to Christmas-themed music are being taught to the students. At our annual school concert on Thursday, December 14, starting at 1:00pm, the students will showcase the dances they have learned. All parents, families, and friends are welcome to attend and watch the performances. The afternoon's presentations will begin with two songs performed by residents from the Bupa Aged Care Berwick Centre. Remember to wear something festive!
First Sunday of Advent, Cycle B
Sunday, December 3, 2023
Mark 13:33-37
Jesus warns his disciples to be watchful so that they will be ready when the Son of Man comes.
Today we begin the season of Advent, which marks the start of a new liturgical year for the Church. The readings for Sunday Mass are arranged on a three-year cycle. Each year features a different Gospel -- Matthew, Mark, or Luke. Readings from the Gospel of John are interspersed throughout all three years. With this year's first Sunday of Advent, we begin Cycle B of the Lectionary, which focuses our attention on the Gospel of Mark. This week and next week, our readings from Mark's Gospel present two important Advent themes: the Lord's return at the end of time and John the Baptist's preparation for Jesus. This Sunday’s reading reminds us that Advent is not only about preparing for the celebration of Christmas but also about keeping ourselves ready to receive Christ when he comes to us in glory at the end of time. Like the disciples, we do not know when this will be. We, too, are called to be watchful and always ready. Pray together that through this Advent season your family will be more prepared to receive Jesus.
Parish Schools Parent Prayer Group
Parents and families are invited to attend our next Parent Prayer Group. Next week Mary MacKillop hosts the prayer group and we invite all families from across the three Parish schools to join us. Many thanks to those parents who have attended the previous gatherings. If you have 15 minutes after class morning prayer please join us in the Chapel.
There is just one final session remaining for Term 4. Fr Ajin, is scheduled to facilitate the session. The chapel will be open from 9am for all those interested in attending with sign in sheets available. We are looking forward to seeing you at the prayer group.
We warmly invite parents and parishioners to gather in our school chapel at 9am on Wednesday 6th December for prayer - Focus: Advent with Fr Ajin
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.
Annual Christmas Gift Appeal
This year's Annual Christmas Gift Appeal in support of St. Vincent de Paul is organised by the Mary MacKillop Kids group. This is a wonderful chance for the school community to help those in our neighbourhood who need assistance over the Christmas season. The MacKillop Kids group gathers to uphold the values of Catholic Social Teaching and are committed to support this social justice initiative. Your donations are greatly appreciated. Please place donations in the classroom collection boxes by Friday 8th December. The collection has been extended for another week! Thank you!
Congratulations to the following students who recently received the following Excellence Awards:
| Name | Class | Excellence Award |
| Taylor | 6PF | Top Mathematics Scores in each year level |
| Albert | 5JB | Top Mathematics Scores in each year level |
| John | 4CM | Top Mathematics Scores in each year level |
| Remy | 3RJ | Top Mathematics Scores in each year level |
| Charles | 2EM | Top Mathematics Scores in each year level |
| Nathaniel | 1ER | Top Mathematics Scores in each year level |
| Skylar | 1BC | Top Mathematics Scores in each year level |
| Thomas | FSL | Top Mathematics Scores in each year level |
| Chelsea | 6PF | Top English Scores in each level |
| Eliza | 5SD | Top English Scores in each level |
| Aaliyah | 4HF | Top English Scores in each level |
| Madeline | 3RJ | Top English Scores in each level |
| Aurora | 2SE | Top English Scores in each level |
| Emma | 1BC | Top English Scores in each level |
| Maya | 1BC | Top English Scores in each level |
| Skylar | 1BC | Top English Scores in each level |
| Rita | 6MV | Most Improved score in Mathematics |
| Karim | 6PF | Most Improved score in Mathematics |
| Albert | 5JB | Most Improved score in Mathematics |
| Adam | 5SD | Most Improved score in Mathematics |
| Gabriel | 4CM | Most Improved score in Mathematics |
| Tyler | 4HF | Most Improved score in Mathematics |
| Brighty | 3RJ | Most Improved score in Mathematics |
| Milania | 3AB | Most Improved score in Mathematics |
| Aslan | 2SE | Most Improved score in Mathematics |
| Ethan | 2SE | Most Improved score in Mathematics |
| Florence | 2EM | Most improved score in English |
| Alex | 2SE | Most improved score in English |
| Madeline | 3RJ | Most improved score in English |
| Caleb | 3AB | Most improved score in English |
| Barsam | 4HF | Most improved score in English |
| Jye | 4HF | Most improved score in English |
| Giuseppe | 5SD | Most improved score in English |
| Dylan | 5JB | Most improved score in English |
| Aiesha | 6PF | Most improved score in English |
| Chelsea | 6PF | Most improved score in English |
Daria - On Thursday the 16th of November we went to the old Melbourne Gaol, we learned how people have tried to escape and reasons why people were brought to the jail. We learned how people were executed ( How they died ), and we learned about how some people were punished not by death but by mentally challenging consequences. When we arrived, the jail was high walled, and dark coloured obviously because it is quite old and supposed to be a punishment on its own. We had a tour guide that talked to us a bit about Ned Kelly because later that day we were going to do a theatre based play of Ned Kelly’s last trial, we then walked into the actual jail with the jail cells, each cell was quite dark and creepy, because of the thought that people used to live in them and died at the jail. We learned about what the prisoners ate, how they were hanged, that some of the prisoners could have said their last words and that some of the cells were apparently haunted. We learned a lot about the past and how a jail would have been run. Overall it was a fun and educational experience.
Abigail - The Old Melbourne Gaol was an interesting learning about Ned Kelly and the executions from the 1800s. I liked going into Ned Kelly’s cell and looking at his death mask. I loved acting out Ned Kelly’s trial and standing next to ‘Ned Kelly’ the whole act, it was funny when the judge (Aria) banged the gavel on the block.
Taylor - The Old Melbourne Gaol was a fun experience. My favourite part was the courtroom drama, when we roleplayed the Ned Kelly trial. I also enjoyed looking at the cells from the late 1800s. We also learnt about the cells on each floor and where they stay depending on their crimes.
Katelyn - Our excursion to the Old Melbourne Gaol was very interesting and informative, giving us insight into one of Australia’s most influential events; the trial of Ned Kelly and how prisoners were treated in the 1800s-1900s. The jail had a somewhat intimidating appearance, although the courtyard looked different. The cells were considered creepy, and some specific cells were even recognised as “haunted”. I enjoyed the courtroom drama, as it explained what happened during the trial of Ned Kelly in an enjoyable way. It was a great experience, and memorable for our last year of primary school.
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
Child Safe Policy
Child friendly version of Child Safe Policy (updated June 2022) Congratulations to our Year 6 Student Leaders on their creation of the student friendly version of the Child Safe Policy. This policy has been uploaded to our website. Child Safe page and can be found in the following link https://www.marymacnarre.catholic.edu.au/child-safety-standards
Parental Use of Mobile Phones (Privacy Laws)
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
- 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
- Express learning for busy families
- Online safety for every family
- Looking for safe tech gifts? Explore the eSafety Gift Guide
- How do you choose tech gifts that are both fun and safe for your kids? The eSafety Gift Guide is here to help. It goes through the latest tech trends to bring you straightforward advice to help make smart and safe tech gift choices for children and young people.
- This year, the digital playground has evolved, especially in the world of online gaming. Read the guide for the latest updates and find practical tips on a range of tech gifts - from gaming memberships and virtual currencies, drones, smartphones, wearable tech and more.
- Remember, the gadgets chosen do more than entertain; they can influence personal safety and the wellbeing of our families. That's why healthy online habits are important right from the start.
- Choose tech gifts wisely this holiday season, ensuring they're fun, safe, and age-appropriate for your child. Gift smart, gift safe, and be online safety conscious when giving gifts this holiday season.
- 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
Your latest weekly insight for Term 4 'Digital Nutrician'