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Senior Students Interschool Sport
Congratulations to our Senior Students (Years 5 & 6 students) on their exemplary behaviour, sportsmanship and camaraderie which was on display at their first round of Interschool Sports yesterday (Wednesday 17 March). Students were given the opportunity to play in a range of sporting events and different venues and from all accounts had an awesome day. We are extremely proud of our students and the way they represented our school. A big thank you to our Year 6 teachers, support staff, Mr Tim and Mr Fearnley for organising the event and a very big congratulations to our students for their efforts and achievements throughout the day.
Narre Warren North Road upgrade – input invited from the community
Casey Council has advised our school of the Narre Warren North Road upgrade due to begin in the next few months. The aim of the upgrade is to:
- add a lane in each direction between Fox Road and Belgrave-Hallam Road
- upgrade the road at the Ernst Wanke intersection, adding an extra through lane and extending the right and left turn lanes
- upgrade the Heatherton Road intersection, providing a dedicated right turn lane from Heatherton Road to Narre Warren North Road northbound
- upgrade the intersection at Memorial Drive, installing traffic lights and adding dedicated turning lanes
- simplify the Crawley Road intersection to be left-in and left-out only
- simplify the Brundrett Road intersection to left in and out and right in only
- improve walking and cycling connectivity by upgrading existing and building new footpaths and shared walking and cycling paths.
If you would like contribute your thoughts/opinion to be considered before final stages of planning for the upgrade, please visit the following website to have your say. https://engage.vic.gov.au/narre-warren-north-road-upgrade
Year 4 Camp – Waratah Bay
As mentioned in previous newsletters, our Year 4 students will be attending Waratah Bay Beach camp on Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 March, 2021 (last week of Term 1). The parent briefing was sent home to parents on Tuesday, via Operoo email and contains a run down of the camp information for easy access. If you have any questions, please contact Helen Fourna or Chris McAleer our Year 4 teachers. We are very much looking forward to our first school camp since the COVID pandemic began.
FOMM - EASTER Chocolate Raffle – Guess how many Easter eggs are in the bucket?
It is exciting to have our first FOMM fundraiser for the 2021 school year. For $1 you have the chance to guess how many Easter eggs are in the bucket? See below for a sneak peek – happy guessing . . .
A very big THANK YOU to our hardworking and dedicated FOMM Team who creatively think of fun ways to fundraise and bring our school community together.
ONLINE NAPLAN – National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy
The online National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) 2021 for Year 3 and Year 5 students will be held on the following days:
Our online practice NAPLAN session is scheduled for Thursday 25 March. This online practice session will provide students with an opportunity to log in and experience NAPLAN style tests as well as to ensure that our infrastructure is set up to host the NAPLAN online assessment and the lockdown browser is enabled and functioning.
NAPLAN assesses student knowledge and skills in Writing, Reading, Language Conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and Numeracy. The results of NAPLAN provide information on student learning for students, parents, teachers and principals.
All students are expected to participate in the online NAPLAN tests. During test week, catch-up tests will be available for individual students who are absent on test days. These students may undertake catch-up tests on the days in the test week after the scheduled test, up to and including Friday 14 May, 2021 for Year 3 Writing and Friday 21 May for all other online NAPLAN areas. Please note the Year 3 Writing test is a paper based test and the Year 5 Writing test is completed online.
A more detailed letter regarding NAPLAN will been sent home to parents of our Year 3 and 5 students at the beginning of Term 2. For more information about NAPLAN, please visit the VCAA website https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/assessment/f-10assessment/naplan/Pages/Index.aspx or the National Assessment Program - NAP website https://www.nap.edu.au/ If you have any questions, or concerns, regarding NAPLAN, please contact your child’s class teacher.
Dates for Term 1 and beginning of Term 2
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
First Reconciliation Workshops for parent and child
Parent/s and their child must attend one of these workshops. Attendance at one of these workshops is a mandatory requirement as part of the preparation to
receive the Sacrament:
- Monday, 22nd March 2021 5.00pm or 7.00pm
- Tuesday, 23rd March 2021 5.00pm or 7.00pm
- Wednesday, 24th March 2021 5.00pm or 7.00pm
- Thursday, 25th March 2021 5.00pm or 7.00pm
We keep in our prayers our 2020 Year 6 exit students receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation during masses this weekend.
Caritas Project Compassion
Arsad, an Indonesian farmer, had no toilet in his house, so always had to walk into the forest to the open defecation area. His family was often sick and open defecation caused many neighbourhood disputes. With the support of Caritas Australia and its partner agency, Laz Harfa, Arsad took part in hygiene, sanitation and financial management training. He then funded the building of a toilet in his house and helped other community members to save money to construct their own toilet.
Now, Arsad’s family is healthier, their community no longer practices open defecation and is more harmonious. Arsad inspired his community to ‘Be More.’
Around 17 percent of Indonesia’s rural population, or 45 million people, practice open defecation – going to the toilet outdoors in fields, forests and other open spaces
Each class has a Project Compassion Box. Your donations are greatly appreciated.
Fifth Sunday of Lent, Cycle B
Sunday, March 21, 2021
Next Sunday’s Gospel reading is taken from the Gospel of John. We are reading much further into John's Gospel than we have for the past two weeks. Chapter 12 of John's Gospel is a preparation for the beginning of the passion narrative to follow.
Gospel, John 12:20-33.
In the reading, Jesus teaches his disciples about the way in which he will be glorified by God, and a voice from heaven is heard to affirm this teaching.
As you gather as a family, talk about how important it is to your family life to gladly serve one another. How do you think Jesus would want you to respond when someone in your family asks for help?
WELLBEING
Harmony and National Day of Action tomorrow - Wear a splash of orange on Friday 19th March 2021!
As mentioned in last week’s newsletter, as a school we will be participating in various activities that promote the message of respect, belonging and the dignity of the human person. Our day’s celebration lays a strong foundation that these messages can be lived by each of us, every day.
By participating in these national events we help create a positive change for our students, staff and the school climate. Let's come together with our friends across our School, to celebrate our diversity. We are proud of our strong and successful multicultural society. Sharing our cultural heritage is part of celebrating what it means to be Australian and keeping everyone safe.
On Friday 19th March. Students will gather together during a shared morning recess eating time, enjoying a supplied donut from Krispy Kreme. (Please refer to notice sent to families via Operoo). A buddy activity across the levels is planned before gathering in the Hall and the day will end with a Prayer ritual held during Assembly in the afternoon.
Last chance to register for parent webinar
Popular webinar for parents and carers: Cyberbullying and online drama will be available throughout March. This webinar looks at how to support young people to have safe and respectful online relationships and what to do if things go wrong. The webinars begin on Tuesday 16 March through to Monday 22 March.
Enrol today at https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=PARENT_NEWSLETTER_MARCH2021&utm_content=PARENT_NEWSLETTER_MARCH2021+CID_5ad68221e059c354c6ec3aec2f28c51c&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=Enrol%20today
Parenting Ideas
Our latest Insights is available
Establishing digital boundaries for the screen generation
Setting firm digital boundaries helps the screen generation to cultivate healthy behaviours and flourish in the digital world. Looking beyond 'screen time' will help students develop savvy, safe digital behaviours.
Please read the attached article for further support and insight.
PARISH NEWS
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. Fr Brendan Hogan is our Parish Priest and Fr Isuru Weliwatte is our Assistant Priest. We are grateful for their ongoing prayers, involvement and support of the students, families and staff of Mary MacKillop School.
Click on the link for Mass times and to download the weekly newsletter.
Japanese phrase of the term challenge!
こんいちは、
This term, we have been challenging ourselves as a school to use Japanese greetings throughout the school day. It has been fantastic to see students, staff, parents and other members of our school community challenge themselves to use Japanese greetings.
Students have also been practicing Japanese non-verbal gestures as bowing. It was great to see students practicing their bows outside in the playground.
Next Wednesday, 24th March, the Year 6 students will be participating in the CSIRO’s annual Bebras Challenge. This is the first year our school will be participating. It is an online event that students can participate in individually or in small teams.
In 2019, 57 countries globally participated in this event. It involves Digital Technology and Computational Thinking. Some of the key skills students will demonstrate through the challenge include recognising patterns, interpreting data and creating an ordered algorithm. Each participant will receive a certificate.
Good luck Year 6’s! I’m sure you will be amazing!
6-RJ PRAYER MAT
The class quote that we chose in 6-RJ is ‘True happiness depends on ourselves not on those around us’.
We felt that this quote had a very strong message. For us the message is to not worry about the things that are happening around us or to rely on our friends and family and what they believe to make us happy. Even though our friends and family play a big role in our happiness, it is important that we are finding happiness within ourselves and our own beliefs.
On our prayer mat you will see a dove as well as crosses.
The dove symbolises peace as well as the Holy Spirit. This year quite a few of us will be making our Confirmation, so we wanted to have a symbol of the Holy Spirit on our prayer mat. The Holy Spirit is looking over us and guiding us this year.
The cross is a Christian symbol that represents Jesus. We have written our names and designed each cross, this symbolises how different and unique we each are.
Mater Christi College – Belgrave
Mater Christi College is a vibrant, inclusive and warm community where girls feel safe and build supportive lifelong friendships. After another year of leading academic and vocational outcomes, we are experiencing a surge in demand for places.
Parents of Grade 5 students are strongly encouraged to secure a place for Year 7 2023. Visit the College website to apply or arrange a tour.
Families seeking enrolment for 2022 should contact the College Registrar 9754 6611 asap.
Tim Crowe | Director of Development
Mater Christi College
28 Bayview Road, Belgrave Victoria Australia 3160
+61 3 9757 0812 | 0417 399 117