I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs Sally Lane to the Acting Deputy Principal role effective 18th November 2024 to 27th January 2025. Mrs Kimberley Lardner will continue to work in F-LL on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays during the remainder of the term.  Mrs Lane will continue in F-LL on Wednesdays. We thank Kimberly for being so accommodating and making herself available to teach the students in F-LL.  Please join me in congratulating Sally on this well-deserved appointment.

Our major fundraiser for the year is tomorrow!

COLOUR FUN RUN - 22 NOVEMBER 2024 (11am to 12.30pm)

As advised via the SZapp push notification this morning, due to the forecast tomorrow, the activity will now begin at 11.00am with play time breaks and eating time altered as listed below:

FUN RUN TABLE

• 10.05am - 10.15am - Eating time
• 10.15am - 10.45am - Recess playtime
• 10.45am - 10.55am - Preparation for the event (Children will put on their white t-shirts, hat and be given their complimentary headband and sunglasses)
• 10.55am -  Classes gather on the small oval
• 11.00am - approx 12.30pm - COLOUR FUN RUN!!! One year level at a time (non-powder students to run first block)

Students will be provided with a plain lemonade icypole (Peter’s) at the completion of their laps. If you do not wish your child to have the icypole please inform their class teacher.

Each child will also receive a complimentary rainbow headband and sunglasses as part of the fund-raising event. While they are not required, wearing sunglasses is encouraged as eye protection. Each child is permitted to wear casual attire, sneakers and must bring a hat. They should also have brought their own white t-shirt from home to school to change into.  Families and parents are welcome to attend the enjoyable event tomorrow. Please remember to pack your own drink, hat, rug, folding chair, etc.

Entrance via the main Office and Lowry Court will also be open.  There are no canteen orders on Friday 22/11.

Student feedback

An integral part of our cycle of teaching and learning is student feedback.  Every week, staff record and acknowledge feedback to students and this is shared with them in class and  via the school newsletter, at Assembly and in MMPS News on Wednesday mornings. Read on for this week’s feedback to students:

Fantastic work Year 3’s with your Haiku Poems. We have really enjoyed your engagement and enthusiasm creating them. 

Wonderful to see the Year 2’s using their imagination and creativity to create props for their Drama performances. We love the way you have been working collaboratively. 

Congratulations Year 6 students on your wonderful participation during our Old Melbourne Gaol excursion. You were engaged all day in all the activities, listened to the tour guides and asked some great question. Excellent job!

A big thank you to the Year 5 students who helped out at Orientation Day. You all were very attentive, patient and respectful to the new Foundies. I know they are looking forward to having you as their buddies next year. 

Well done to 1BC and 5JB for the respectful manner in which you participated in your Buddy Mass! You were all amazing!

2025 Foundation Students - Orientation Session 2

Our 2025 Foundation Students had their 2nd Orientation Session on-site at school yesterday.  It is a great time of year to welcome our newest students to our school.  We especially thank the Year 5 students who assisted the Foundation teachers and ESO support staff. The Year 5 students showed great leadership and created a welcoming environment for our 2025 Foundation students.

2025 Student Leader Positions - Year 5 students

Year 5 students have now completed the nomination process for school leadership positions are very in the coming busy preparing their speeches in preparation for their presentation next week.  In our school community, our student leaders are important. They serve as representatives and role models for our school and engage in a wide range of activities, such as weekly assemblies, guided school tours, Mass ministries, athletic events, gardening and selling vegetables, leading services, fundraising and much more. We are extremely proud of our children' growth and leadership potential, as well as the school values they exhibit in their interactions and leadership responsibilities. Our current Year 6 school leaders serve as excellent role models for all of the students.

End of Term 4 dates and beginning of Term 1, 2025

Families are reminded that Term 4 2024 concludes for students on Tuesday 17th December with the Year 6 farewell at the end of the day on the small oval. The new school year for all students starts on Thursday 30th January 2025 (8.45am for Year 1-6 children) and the Foundation students begin the first day at 9am.

Library books 

Please return all student library books by Friday 29th November.

Specialist Classes

Specialist classes will conclude on Friday 29th November.  There are no specialist lessons in Weeks 9 & 10 and the last two days of the term.

Advent Liturgies

Advent Liturgies continue over the three weeks. As a school we will begin the day with a prayer celebrations tomorrow Friday 22nd November lead by the Foundation level and followed by the outlined times in the table below:

Christmas 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. Christmas gift toy donations (new only) for children aged between 5-12 years would be appreciated. Gift donations must be placed in classroom collection boxes by December 10, 2024.

Recent donations raised for Day for Daniel $252.80 and Catholic Missions $595.50. Thankyou for supporting these organisations.

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King (Thirty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time), Cycle B

Sunday, November 24, 2024

John 18:33b-37
Jesus is questioned by Pilate about the charge brought against him that he is “King of the Jews.”

This Sunday is the last Sunday of the Church’s liturgical year. On this Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. Each year we set aside this Sunday to reflect upon this title that we have given to Jesus. In Lectionary Cycle C, we read a portion of the passion from the Gospel of John, which is also part of the Gospel reading proclaimed each year on Good Friday.

Physical Education

Women’s Melbourne Stars Incursion

On Monday 11th November we had two players from Women’s Melbourne Stars visit. 

Teamwork - I enjoyed playing a teamwork game. We started passing around one ball and then more and more balls were added in. We had to keep passing the ball without dropping them. (Rachel)

We played a game with a partner where we had to throw and catch the ball. Each time we caught the ball we took a step back. We progressively got further away from each other. (Emily)

One of the girls taught me how to throw the cricket ball by placing two fingers around the ball. She told me to take a couple of steps and then throw it. (Tilly)

Regional Cricket

I enjoyed being able to play a match of cricket with my friends and cheer for each other as well as being happy with what we got. (Katya)

I enjoyed batting with my partner because we were hitting the ball really far which got us a lot of runs. I also was really happy when we got some people out from the other team by catching the ball when they hit it or hitting the wickets with the ball when they were out of the crease. (Alex)

Writing - Debating (The Five Critical Questions)

What are we learning?

We are learning how to develop a persuasive argument about an issue. This will help us learn to speak in front of lots of people.  we are learning about debating. We got into groups and then we started researching about topics that we got given in our groups.

How are you doing?

I project and use my voice to show expression. (David)

I make eye contact when speaking. (Rachel)

I can research to find facts to back up my argument. (Jasmine)

I think we are going well because everyone has shown great research and being able to speak fluently. (Noah .C)

How do you know?

I look at the debating rubric. 

How can you improve?

I can learn to respond to the other side's arguments. These are called rebuttals.

I can practice looking up and not always look at my cue cards. (Rachel)

I can help my team with coming up with good reasons and using strong words.(Casiana)

Where can you go for help?

I can go to people in my team. (Kyden)

I can look at the debating rubric.

Orientation Day - 2025 Foundies 

We welcomed them with a smile. That would have made them comfortable being around us.(Bailey)

We helped the children with their activities like drawing what would be in their school bag next year. (Fleur)

We helped them be brave and have a go. We encouraged them and used a nice gentle voice (Eleanor)

One child was crying but we helped them so they wanted to stay. (David)

We made sure each child was having fun on the playground. (Casiana)

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

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.  The latest weekly Insight Article: HOW TO REALLY PLAY WITH YOUR KIDS

See below:

https://marymacnarre.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news

Confidence & Motivation

Building confidence and motivation in young people is essential for their overall wellbeing and is a key aspect of their development. These qualities can have a lasting impact on their success and happiness. Confidence helps children believe in their abilities and face challenges with a positive attitude, while motivation drives their desire to learn, explore, and achieve their goals.

Fostering these traits involves creating an environment that encourages children to take risks, learn from their mistakes, and celebrate their achievements. Confidence is built when children feel capable and valued, while motivation is fuelled by the belief that their efforts will lead to growth and success. By actively supporting both, we can help young people thrive in the academic, social, and personal areas of their life.

By offering positive reinforcement, setting realistic expectations, and celebrating their efforts, we can model a positive mindset that can go a long way in helping young people develop both confidence and motivation. Nurturing these qualities, will help them grow into self-assured individuals who believe in their ability to succeed, setting the foundation for a fulfilling future.

In this edition of SchoolTV, discover how to provide opportunities for autonomy and support your child in persevering through challenges.

Here is the link to your Edition https://marymacnarre.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/confidence-motivation-au