Fitness Zone

Last Tuesday, Julian Hill – Federal Member for Bruce visited our school to see the installation of our Fitness Zone and to participate in a guided tour by our Year 6 leaders.  The Government provided $5,000 towards the installation of the Fitness Zone and it is great to see the students enjoying this facility at recess and lunchtimes and during their Physical Education lessons.   Jessica and Joseph did an outstanding job taking Julian and his camera man Cam on their first tour of the school year.  Julian was most impressed with our students, the pride they showed in their school and the information they shared with him about their learning and opportunities at Mary MacKillop.

Assembly & Newsletter

Last week we held our first assembly for the school year.  This was a very special occasion as it was our first time to gather as a school community since the beginning of the COVID-19 restrictions last year.  While restrictions are still in place, we were most appreciative to be able to gather with students and staff and to celebrate our student’s learning achievements.  We look forward to welcoming parents as soon as the current restrictions have eased and will notify parents when this is the case.  In our Assembly last week our Year 6 leaders were presented with the leadership badges.  It is wonderful to see their leadership on display not only during this time, but throughout the school day.  They are exemplary role models in our school community and a credit to their families.   We look forward to assembly this week where they have the opportunity to lead our school assemblies for the 2021 school year.  Congratulations to our Year 6 school leaders!

Ash Wednesday – Wednesday 17 February

Information on our Ash Wednesday celebration next Wednesday is included in the newsletter.  We look forward to this celebration Mass marking the beginning of Lent.  Safety measures are in place to ensure we are COVID-19 compliant for the Mass and the distribution of ashes. 

Student Learning Conversations (Parent Teacher Interviews)

The beginning of the year Student Learning Conversations will be held on:

• Monday 22February from 3.40 pm – 6.30 pm
• Tuesday 23 February from 3.40 pm - 6.30 pm

The Student Learning Conversations will take place in the Allen Hall and will be subject to current COVID-19 Guidelines.  The purpose of this time is to acquaint yourself with your child’s teacher and for your child to share their data, learning 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 2021 school year.  PTO login information was sent home to parents on Tuesday 9 February, 2021.  Please contact the office if you require any assistance in making your booking.

KIDSROAR – Personal Safety Program

Foundation to Year 6 students have been engaged in the KidsROAR Personal Safety sessions this week.  The aim of the student sessions are to provide our students with the tools and strategies that will empower them to help reduce their vulnerability to abuse, neglect and unsafe situations.  ROAR Australia’s passion is to help prevent abuse, reduce violence in the community and promote positive health and wellbeing.  More information on KidsROAR can be found on their website and in the information letters sent home to parents.  https://www.roaraustralia.edu.au/

Communication - SchoolZine – SZapp https://www.marymacnarre.catholic.edu.au/szapp

Just a reminder to all parents to install the SZApp on their mobile device to ensure you get information on events, alerts and quick access to school forms.

Shrove Tuesday (16th February) is the day before Lent starts on Ash Wednesday. Dating back to 1000 AD, over the years Shrove Tuesday not only became a day for Confession but a time for Catholics to feast on eggs, sugar and dairy which are traditionally restricted during the Lenten fast.

This year the students will be offered pre-prepared pikelets in their classrooms. Please remember to complete the permission letter sent via Operoo earlier in the week. We look forward to celebrating Shrove Tuesday together.

Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent, is on February 17. As reported in Catholic News this week, priests across the world will take special COVID-19 precautions when distributing ashes on Ash Wednesday next week, including sprinkling ashes on top of people’s heads rather than using them to make a cross on their foreheads.  The Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments issued a note on the “distribution of ashes in time of pandemic”, directing priests to say “the prayer for blessing the ashes” and then sprinkle “the ashes with holy water, without saying anything. Then he addresses all those present and only once says the formula as it appears in the Roman Missal, applying it to all in general: ‘Repent and believe in the Gospel’ or ‘Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return’. The priest then cleanses his hands, puts on a face mask and distributes the ashes to those who come to him or, if appropriate, he goes to those who are standing in their places,” it said. “The priest takes the ashes and sprinkles them on the head of each one without saying anything.” 

Schools are required to follow public health directions and apply the health and safety advice to schools during liturgies, including physical distancing and practising hand hygiene. The overall attendee limit must be based on available floor space of the venue, therefore attendance at liturgical and Eucharistic celebrations is currently limited to students and staff.

Sacrament of Confirmation 2020 Candidates Congratulations to those students , especially Riley and Harry from the Senior Level and students from Year 6 in 2020 who will be receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation over the next few days at Our Lady Help of Christians Parish. Due to the interruption of COVID, celebrations were suspended and now in a position for those Candidates to continue their preparations and receive the Sacrament.

Confirmation Ceremonies for 2020 candidates -

Thursday 11th February at 7pm, Friday 12th February at 7pm, Saturday 13th February at 3pm and Sunday 14th February at 2pm

Parenting Ideas - Helping your child become the best student they can be.

The new school year is full of excitement and possibilities for students and parents. Regardless of how a child or young person has previously performed, this year offers a chance to set a new course. Read the full article as attached.

KIDS ROAR Personal Safety Program concluded today. It was pleasing to see that the students responded well to the content presented and fully engaged in the activities. Many thanks to KIDS ROAR team – Annmarie, Chloe, Helen & Laurette. A three-way partnership between school, home and the community is the most effective way to deliver a consistent message about Personal Safety 4 Kids.

Sunday, February 14, 2021
Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Jesus has the power to heal
Mark 1:40-45
Jesus cures a person with leprosy, who reports his cure to everyone.
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In next Sunday’s Gospel, we continue to hear Mark report the miraculous healings that Jesus performed in Galilee. The Gospel tells of a man who had a very bad skin disease and begged Jesus to cure him. The man knew that no one but Jesus could do this; however, he also knew that Jesus could choose whether to do it or not. God wants us to be like Jesus and to choose to act in ways that help others, including helping those who are ill.

OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS PARISH NARRE WARREN

Click on the link to download the weekly newsletter:  Parish-Bulletin

こんいちは、

In Japanese, we have been investigating New Year's traditions in Japan. This includes  Lunar New Year. This year it is the Year of the Ox. 

We learnt how to say and write the word for ox and cow in Japanese (牛 - ushi). We used our new knowledge to create some New Year craft called nengajo. There is a display of our wonderful Japanese work in the office.

It’s been a fun and exciting week in the Discovery Centre. Robotics and Coding have been our focus. Students in Years 3-6 have been using apps to program Dash, Mbot and Sphero Robots. We learnt about how apps connect to robots using Bluetooth and the importance of creating an easy to follow and well sequenced algorithm when coding.

We stay body safe and we say ‘STOP’ if we don’t like it (Aarav F-SL) 

I liked the funny faces (Mila F-CT)

I liked learning about the body (Aria F-SL)

I liked the crocodile. It snapped on my finger (Ethan N. F-CT) 

KidsROAR was about safety and we learnt who to call if we feel unsafe (Rakaan 5-AB) 

KidsROAR makes us feel safe because we can call the Kids Helpline if we are feeling sad (Ruby 5-AB) 

KidsROAR was an incursion about learning how to be safe. We can stay safe by thinking about what we post online (Summer 5-SD) 

KidsROAR was about telling an adult if we have a problem. You should always have a keyword in case anything goes wrong and you need their help (Alanna 5-SD) 

KidsROAR was a good safety program because it helps motivate kids to stay safe and keeping others safe too (Perla 6-RJ) 

I liked that they taught you about how your body reacts when you are feeling safe and unsafe (Georgia 6-MV) 

We learnt what is private and things that only you and your family should know (Mila 3-AS) 

We know what private things are and that you can never show anybody (Selina 3-AS) 

We learnt about our feelings (Leo 3-AS) 

We learnt about if someone asks for something private, we say ‘stop it, I don’t like it’ in a loud voice (Isabel 1-BC) 

I liked learning about staying safe (Coral 2-EM) 

3AS class activity about being aware of their body signs when they feel uncomfortable/scared: