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Our Explicit Improvement Agenda
Student Voice and Agency
Planning for Improved Student Learning - key focus in Mathematics
Celebrations of Learning
As students continue to focus on Learning to Learn and creating the conditions and expectations for optimal learning to occur, we had a very busy week celebrating Shrove Tuesday with pancakes and Ash Wednesday Mass and the beginning of the Lenten Season. Our Year 6 students participated in a leadership incursion in their first week of school with Unleashing Personal Potential - UPP. Student reflections of the UPP experience are included below:
On Friday the 2nd of February, the year six students had a leadership incursion with Jamie from UPP. UPP stands for Unleashing Personal Potential. While we did this we had 3 different sections for the day. One of our activities was The Epic Race. The Epic Race is a series of challenges that you have to work in as a team. You are split up in a group of 6 or 7 people that you don't know very well. There are about 10 challenges that you have to complete while all working together, you would get scored and if you worked as a team you got bonus points 1, 2 or 3 by a teacher based on how well you worked as a team. In the afternoon we had time to reflect on our leader qualities.We did a test to see if we were a Prophet, Planner or People leader. We had a great day and learnt a lot about leadership Hanisi and Dior (6MV)
On Friday 2nd February we got to learn about leadership/UPP. We got to learn about how we should be leaders and what makes us good leaders around the school and outside the school. We played games and did fun activities. One of my favorite things were the activities and games. I loved our instructor named Jamie. He was fun and brilliant. My best thing about the day for me was the ending part where we got to announce the winning teams and I was part of the winning team. We all had fun and would love to do it again some other time. It was brilliant. Ashlee (6JK)
At our Incursion, we got to do leadership/UPP. We got to learn about what we should do to be role models I loved that we got to play games that had to do with teamwork. Our teacher was called Jamie from UPP. I liked playing games like stacking cups with our eyes closed and the other people in our group were guiding you through the activity. Selina (6JK)
Student Feedback
We give thanks for the gift of our students and encourage you to read their feedback for this week included in the Student Feedback Section in the newsletter. Congratulations to all students for their efforts this week.
Storm Damage
Our Melbourne weather created some chaos on Tuesday afternoon and our school experienced water damage to some office areas as well as uprooting trees. A big thanks to Andrew (dad of Fletcher and Darcy) who assisted in using his trusty chainsaw to remove damaged/unsafe tree limbs. We were very fortunate to have continued to have power and internet services when so many families and schools in our area we affected and some continue to be impacted. We hope families who were impacted by the storm or continue to experience no electricity will have their issues resolved soon. If you require any support or assistance, please contact the office.
Staff updates
Our warmest congratulations to Sarah Fisher and her husband Ed on the safe arrival of their beautiful baby boy Noah Anthony Fisher. We wish Sarah and Ed all the very best as they welcome their little bundle of joy into their family. We also congratulate Celeste Spiccia (2SE) and Claire Giles (The Arts - Visual Arts Specialist Teacher) on the announcement of their pregnancies. We wish them both all the very best as they plan to welcome the newest additions to their families in the coming months. Mr Fearnley has resigned from his teaching position at Mary MacKillop. As indicated to parents in 6JK, Mr Joshua Kippen is the teacher in Year 6 and we warmly welcome Joshua to our school and community.
Student Learning Conversations (Parent Teacher Interviews)
The beginning of the year Student Learning Conversations will be held on:
- Wednesday 6 March, 2023 from 3.40 pm - 6.20 pm
- Thursday 7 March, 2023 from 3.40 pm - 6.20 pm
The purpose of this time is to acquaint yourself with your child’s teacher and for your child to share their learning data, goals and strategies for the Term. As a school we value the opportunity for students to be active in their learning, to meet with parents and to establish a positive working partnership for the 2024 school year. More information will be sent home to parents regarding the booking process for the Student Learning Conversations in the coming weeks.
School Dates and Events
2025 Enrolments
2024 Open Days have now been finalised 2025 Enrolment Forms are now available from the office and our Open Day flyer is below for your information.
Parish Sacramental Program 2024
FIRST RECONCILIATION ENROLMENT AND PARENT FORMATION NIGHT The final session is tonight 15th February at 7.00pm in the Church. Parents are invited to attend only one of the two workshops offered. Children are not expected to attend as this is a parent-only formation night. An enrolment fee of $50.00 can be paid online at CDF Pay (https://olhc.cdfpay.org.au). It is now open and closes at 10.00am on Friday, February 16th . For more information, please get in touch with the Sacrament Coordinator at the parish office or consult the 2024 Sacrament Program Booklet on the parish website, www.olhc.org.au.
Click on the link to access a copy of the 2024 Sacrament Program Booklet
https://www.olhc.org.au/parish-sacrament-program/
Ash Wednesday
Matthew 6:1-6. 16-18
Jesus teaches that almsgiving, prayer, and fasting should be done in secret.
Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.
Yesterday, on Ash Wednesday Fr Michael marked our foreheads with a cross made of ashes as a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice for our sins and as a sign that we are truly sorry for the wrong things we have done. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. Each year, the readings for Ash Wednesday are the same. They call us to a change of heart and teach us about the traditional Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Our Lady Help of Christians Parish Information
Mary MacKillop Primary School is one of the three Parish Primary Schools belonging to the Parish of Our Lady Help of Christians, Narre Warren within the Diocese of Sale. We welcome Fr Michael Willensen our new Parish Priest and Fr Ajin Albarnas continues be the Assistant Priest. We are grateful for their ongoing prayers, involvement and support of the students, families and staff of Mary MacKillop School.
Parish Bulletin
Click on the link below to download the weekly newsletter.
Term 1 Week 3
- Well done to our students leaders who led Assembly last week so confidently and also to the student leaders who set up and packed the hall - they knew exactly what to do. Great job to all student leaders
- Well done to the Year 2 students for acknowledging ‘dis’ moments within their day already!
- Wonderful to see and hear so many choir members - great job during Ash Wednesday mass this week.
- Congratulations to our Year 1 student for making suggestions to our play spaces and creative ideas for the sandpit.
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)
We ask all parents to be mindful of their mobile phone usage, child safety and privacy laws when visiting our school. During such times as morning Prayer time, Mass, Assemblies and school events/gatherings, we ask parents to turn off or put away their mobile phones and to respect the privacy of all students. Photographs and video footage cannot be taken of students without parental permission. Reminders of safe mobile phone usage will be shared with the school community at morning prayer times and assemblies. On special occasions such as student awards at assemblies or student graduations, space will be made available for parents to photograph their child in a child safe way. We thank you for working in partnership with us to respect the privacy of all our students.
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
Child Safe Resources to support Students, Parents/Carers
eSafety Commissioner
https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents.
For families:
https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/parent-resources/online-safety-for-every-family
What is Safer Internet Day?
Safer Internet Day is a global event that brings together communities, families, schools and organisations from more than 200 countries to help create safer online spaces. This worldwide initiative is celebrating 20 years in 2023, making it a great time to reflect as well as look forward. Technology has evolved dramatically in the past two decades and the benefits have been huge. These developments have also exposed us to many risks with real-world impacts, making online safety awareness even more important.
That's why we are calling on Australians to Connect. Reflect. Protect.
- Connect safely and with purpose – by keeping apps and devices secure and using social media in positive ways.
- Reflect before we act – by taking a moment to consider how what we do and say online may affect others.
- Protect ourselves and others by taking action – by telling family, friends or colleagues about eSafety and how we can help.
Mary MacKillop School was proud to support Safer Internet Day on 6 February 2024. Together, we can all #ConnectReflectProtect. Our school is committed to raising online safety awareness and helping students build positive online relationships. By using eSafety resources, our school is helping our students have safer, more positive experiences online.
All families at Mary MacKillop School are encouraged to take an active part by doing these simple things - Connect Reflect Protect. We can work towards making every day a Safer Internet Day. Further information can be found in a separate letter sent to families via email earlier in the week.
CCYP - Commission for Children and Young People
https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/child-safe-standards/
School TV
https://marymacnarre.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news
Today parents face a multitude of modern-day challenges in raising happy, well and resilient young people. Whilst there is a great deal of information available, this can often be confusing and overwhelming for parents looking for guidance. SchoolTV addresses this as a new online resource designed to empower you as parents with credible and sound information with realistic, practical ongoing support strategies. All SchoolTV topics are divided into series. The number of topics relating to a series will differ and over time new topics will be added. Every month from February to November, a new topic is published for you to review. Take the time to explore each series and topic and make sure you visit the resources section. Here you will find useful factsheets, apps, books, websites and other additional videos - all on one single topic!
SPECIAL REPORT: The Wellbeing Barometer 2024
The Wellbeing Barometer survey has proven to be an invaluable tool for schools, providing insights into the state of youth mental health and wellbeing. Whilst last year’s results focussed the spotlight on areas of concern, there were also many highlights that demonstrated the resilience and adaptability of students and emphasised the necessity of prevention strategies. Participating in this year's survey, will assist in identifying areas of strength and concern, as well as pinpointing opportunities for early intervention. Previously gathered information has helped support families as they navigate difficult conversations that enable understanding and foster connections to build relationships.
This survey is part of an ongoing, longitudinal study, with the results being instrumental in tailoring support for students and their families. Participation is strongly encouraged, as it provides a comprehensive view of students' experiences, challenges, and achievements over the past year. Its aim is to capture a comprehensive picture of young people's lives, allowing for a tailored approach to enhance mental and emotional wellbeing.
We encourage you to take a few moments to complete a survey for each of your children. This will help us determine the nature and extent of your concerns and how best to support families in the months ahead. Responses remain anonymous and will only be reported on an aggregated basis. You are asked to base your responses on observations made in the last 12 months.
Acquiring the skills for future independence, taking healthy risks, and giving young people the opportunity to emancipate from parents, are key developmental tasks that are essential if we are to stave off the impact of mental illness in the future. Please reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you or your child, please reach out to the school or seek professional medical advice.
Here is the link to your special report: https://marymacnarre.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-wellbeing-barometer-2024-au
Bravehearts https://bravehearts.org.au/
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 Webinars. You can also access your resources at any time using the below URL (unique to our school) and password.
Unique URL - https://schools.happyfamilies.com.au/login/mmnwn
Password - happymmnwn
We recommend bookmarking this link. You should only need to put the password in once and the site will remember you.
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 other leading experts and provide parenting education and support for a wide variety of traditional and contemporary parenting challenges. You can also access 300+ previous Insights articles on our school’s URL.
Here is the latest weekly Insight Article (attached) - Consequences
Parent Webinars
You have access to 4 live webinars a year (one per term). We will announce upcoming webinar details in the Insights articles. You’ll have access to the recording via our school’s URL but as the webinars are live, we recommend you watch them in real time so that you can ask Dr Justin and / or the guest presenter any questions you may have.
We hope you enjoy the Insights and webinars!