Our Explicit Improvement Agenda

Student Voice and Agency

Planning for Improved Student Learning - key focus in Mathematics

Celebrations of Learning

Congratulations to our Year 6 students for the way in which they lead our MMPS news segment and to all levels on their contributions to celebrate their learning each Wednesday morning.  Our MMPS news is an active demonstration of our student voice and agency and a way of showcasing the many forms of learning offered to our students.  Thank you to Lize Privitera and Emma Adcock for supporting our students and teachers when preparing our weekly news!!

Celebrations of Inquiry and Specialist learning in The Arts

On Wednesday 26 June we invite students to dress up as their favourite occupation relating to this term’s inquiry foci - Design and Technology, Science and our specialist subject area of The Arts - Visual Arts.  We look forward to seeing construction workers, engineers, scientists and artists at school on Wednesday 26 June in celebration of our students learning for Term 2.  We will also be showcasing student learning for Term 2 in our Student Art Gallery.  The Art Gallery will be open for parents to browse during our student learning conversations on Wednesday 26 June and Thursday 27 June.  

Important dates for Semester One 2024 - SIMON Reports, Term 2 Student Learning Portfolios and Learning Conversations

SIMON Student Reports

• SIMON Student Reports uploaded to PAM - Tuesday 25 June, 2024

Student Portfolios

• Term 2, 2024 Student Learning Portfolios distributed to parents - Tuesday 25 June, 2024

Student Learning Conversations

• Wednesday 26 June, 2024 3.40 - 6.20 pm
• Thursday 27 June, 2024 3.40 - 6.20 pm

On Tuesday 25 June the Term 2 Student Learning Portfolio will be distributed at the end of the school day in conjunction with the Semester One Report.  We encourage parents to write feedback for your child’s learning in Term 2 on the feedback sheet provided in your child’s Student Learning Portfolio.  Please return the Student Learning Portfolio at the beginning of Term 3 so your child can continue documenting their learning journey.

Student Learning Conversations for Semester One will be held on Wednesday 26 June, 2024 and Thursday 27 June, 2024 from 3.40 pm to 6.20 pm (Term 2 - Week 11).  Information was sent home to parents earlier this week via PAM with bookings open from Wednesday 12 June (yesterday). We strongly encourage students to attend the Student Learning Conversations as part of their student voice and agency in their learning, to share their learning from Semester One with you and their learning goals for Term 3. 

Student feedback

Well done to the Senior Student boys who ride their bikes either to and from school. You are showing great responsibility when you walk your bikes while on the school grounds. Great choices!

Staffing

Mrs Claire Giles (The Arts - Visual Arts Specialist Teacher) will begin her maternity leave from the beginning of Term 3.  We wish Claire all the very best as her family prepares to welcome the new addition to their family.  We warmly welcome Mrs Bec Fletcher who will be taking Specialist Art in Semester Two for Students in Foundation to Year 4.   

School Dates and Events

Parents please note the following student free days:

Friday 28 June and Monday 15 July

Term 2 finishes on Thursday 27 June at 3.10 pm and Students begin Term 3 on Tuesday 16 July at 8.45 am

Save the Date!  The Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop 

A School Family Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady Help of Christians Church on Saturday 3rd August 2024 at 6.00pm. Students and families are invited to take on special roles for this Parish Mass.  Students and their families are welcome to take an active role in the mass by being part of the Offertory procession, reading a prayer of the faithful or joining in a school choir. If you are interested please email lprivitera@marymacnarre.catholic.edu.au

Winter Appeal

During winter especially, material donations such as food is needed. This year students in the MacKillop Kids Group are organising this year’s Winter Appeal by collecting a variety of soup tins and packets. Take part in ‘Put the Warmth in Winter’ by gathering canned soup donations to help our local Narre Warren Conference to support those experiencing food insecurity this winter.

A few things to keep in mind: 

• To uphold the dignity of those receiving goods, please ensure that all food items are not due to expire for at least the next 6 months.
• All items must be non-perishable and undamaged.
• Your donations of tins/packets of soup can be placed in classroom collection boxes. Thankyou for your support.

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Sunday, June 16, 2024

After Lent, the Easter season, and three Sundays of feast days—Pentecost, Most Holy Trinity, and Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ—the Church returns to Ordinary Time. This Sunday’s Gospel from Mark carries a significant message regarding faith and the Kingdom of God.

Mark 4:26–34
The reign of God is like a mustard seed

In next Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about mustard seeds to teach us about the Kingdom of God. The small acts of kindness that we do every day help build up God’s kingdom. The things we do to care for and help one another show our love and care. Jesus teaches us that our small acts, like tiny seeds, help God’s kingdom on earth grow.

Sacrament of Confirmation

Before enrolling in the Sacrament of Confirmation, children must have been baptised in the Catholic Church and have received the Sacraments Reconciliation and First Eucharist. 

PARENT FORMATION NIGHT (Parents only) Thursday, July 25th and Wednesday, July 31st, 2024.   Arrive at 6.45pm for a 7pm start Our Lady Help of Christians Parish Centre A $50 levy is payable via CDF online at https:// olhc.cdfpay.org.au. Making a payment through CDF confirms your participation in the Parent Formation Night. CDF Payment is open and will close on Monday, June 17, 2024, at 10:00am, and Friday, July 2, 2024, at 10:00am.  For all enquiries, please contact our Sacrament Coordinator, Vea, by phone (03) 9704 7935 or email sacrament@olhc.org.au

From OLHC Parish...

RITE OF CHRISTIAN  INITIATION OF ADULTS  RCIA Inquiry Night, 30 July 2024

Perhaps you have been thinking about becoming a Catholic for some time but never got around to doing  anything about it… Perhaps you are married to a  Catholic, but have not yet made a  religious commitment of your own… Perhaps you have been involved in a faith community but never took the step to investigate becoming a member in full Communion with the Church… Or perhaps you have been baptised, but have not  received the Sacraments of Holy Communion and  Confirmation…  If you or someone you know says ‘Yes’ to any of the above statements, you are invited to attend the Inquiry Night on the 30th of July 2024 at 7.30pm at Our Lady Help of Christians Church, in the Parish Centre.

This term the Year 6’s have been learning about  Design and Technology and Science in their Inquiry lessons. We were very creative in Design and Technology as we researched, planned  and produced  model houses using electrical circuits to generate light and movement.

In Science, through our Incursion, we investigated the properties of light, including source, colour, reflection, and refraction.

Here are some of our thoughts about Inquiry this term:

In Design and Technology we created  a model of a house. We had to go through the process of research, plan and build.  My favorite part of the project was that the fan we used moved when we plugged everything in and how we cooperated together. Alannah - 6MV 

My favourite part of the Design and Technology activity was building the 2 rooms and adding the materials also making it and getting free choice on where I can put the light bulb, switch and the fan. I loved this activity is because you get to see how to make a light bulb work and a fan and to put it into a little box with a room. - Ashlee - 6JK

In our Science Incursion we all learnt many new and exciting things including how some special beads can change colour using UV light. My favourite activity was when we got a magnifying glass and a wooden board and it reflected the background, All the activities were so much fun.  - Jayden 6JK

We tried many different fun experiments like using a UV light on UV beads, using the sun to reflect onto a board to see the surroundings. We learnt many different facts and learnt more about light! Did you know that light travels 300,000 km per second? Dior - 6MV

We did activities such as you put a torch on beads and they changed colours and if you leave them for a minute they turn clear again Another activity was you had this piece of cardboard and magnifying glass and you went against the window and you could see the things outside. It was really fun!. Imogen - 6 MV 

SOCCER CLINICS 

As many students enjoyed our recent soccer clinics, here is some further information for our juniors who would like some extra activity out of school hours!

......In celebration of this launch, we extend a warm welcome to boys and girls aged 5 to 7 in the community to join us for a delightful session at absolutely no cost!

Here are the session particulars:

• Date: Sunday, June 16th
• Time: 9:00 am - 10:00 am
• Location: Beaconhills College - Berwick Campus

Additionally, when you enroll for Term 3, you'll receive two more sessions absolutely free.  REGISTER NOW using the link below:

https://sportstaracademy.com/football/programs/clinic?id=15300

NETBALL CLINICS 

Year 4, 5 and 6 students  participated in netball clinics run by Casey Netball on Tuesday. All students participated with great skill and enthusiasm. Please see some photos attached. 

REGIONAL CROSS COUNTRY

Congratulations to senior students Tyler , Alyra  and Noah C who competed in the Southern Metro Regional Cross Country on the Hastings foreshore.  This completes our Cross Country program for 2024. Congratulations to all year 3-6 students for being a part of it and especially to those who competed at the district, division and regional carnivals. Your courage and ability to push your self out of your comfort zone is admirable.

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