Filter Content
200 days of Lockdown - Stay home . . . stay safe . . .
Today marks the unenviable milestone of 200 days of Lockdown in Victoria. When the news was shared this week of increasing COVID cases in our school community and the extension of the lockdown to ensure our community safety, it was difficult to hear and to comprehend Lockdown and Remote Schooling for another few weeks. Thursday 2 September feels a long way off. In the midst of rescheduling school events and looking for opportunities to re-book such events as the Kaboom Olympics and students’ excursions/incursions, our school community is again reminded of the dedication, commitment and support to each other that our school community has displayed during these enduring times. Our staffs ability to continually adapt in the Remote Schooling space, and to be focused on continuing to engage our students is commendable. Our parents are continuing to strive to manage the challenge of working from home and balance Remote Schooling and we are most appreciative of their efforts and commitment - thank you. While we continue to review upcoming events that will/may be impacted by the Lockdown restrictions, unfortunately one such event is our upcoming Father’s Day breakfast. Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Grandparent’s Day are significant events in our school calendar, when we come together to celebrate and honour the mums, dads, grandparents and special people in our school community. While we will be unable to hold our Father’s Day Breakfast this year, we hope to be able to have our Father’s Day Stall and will keep the community informed as we get closer to the date.
Student Learning Conversations (Parent Teacher Interviews)
Student Learning Conversations where held this week on Tuesday 17 August and Wednesday 18 August. While we were unable to do face-to-face interviews, we are most appreciative of having the opportunity to catch up by phone or Google Meet to share your child’s learning progress, achievements and learning goals. Thank you for making the time to meet with us this week.
Celebration of Learning
Book Week Celebrations – Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds
We will be holding our Book Week Celebrations – dress up as your favourite book character, next week on Thursday 26 August. We look forward to this very special day of bringing our favourite book characters alive in our school community. This year’s Book Week theme aligns beautifully with our History and Geography Inquiry units this term – Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds.
Planning for 2022 School Year
2022 Class Placements
Teachers will begin planning for our 2022 classes at the end of Term 3. We respect and value parent input and ask that you email me – ejones@marymacnarre.catholic.edu.au, or put in writing, if you have information about your child that could impact on their placement for 2022. Please ensure your request is sent by Friday 27 August. Parents please be mindful of the following:
- Requests should be based on individual student needs.
- Requests are forwarded onto staff when placing students into their 2022 classes.
- Staff use a range of information to ensure an effective balance within classes across the level and to provide an optimal learning environment for all students.
- Please be aware that your letters of request are not a guarantee, they provide an opportunity for your input and assist us in the process of class placements.
- Please note that requests made in previous years are not necessarily considered in the process, so previous information provided by parents regarding their child’s placement will need to be re-submitted if the concerns expressed in previous years are still relevant for consideration in 2022.
School Advisory Committee [SAC] AGM - rescheduled to Tuesday 19 October
We will be holding our SAC Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 19 October at 7.00 pm. The date has been changed in the hope we are out of Lockdown and are able to meet in person for our AGM.
Nomination forms for positions on the School Advisory Committee 2021 – 2022 are available from the Administration Office or you can request a nomination form via email frontdesk@marymacnarre.catholic.edu.au
The responsibilities of the School Advisory Committee are to:
- promote the Catholic ethos of the school
- provide feedback on and review of school policies
- plan for the future of the school and its ability to accommodate future enrolments
- provide advice on budget planning and finance-related matters
- contribute to the selection process for the school principal (when the position is advertised)
- provide advice on the appropriate provision of faith development and Religious Education programs
- promote child safety in the school
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL
Child Safety
National Child Protection Week (5-11 September 2021) is an annual event starting on the first Sunday of September. This year's theme "Every child, in every community, needs a fair go" aims to spread the message that to treat all of Australia’s children fairly, we need to make sure every family and community has what kids need to thrive and be healthy.
Visit https://www.napcan.org.au/get-involved-2021/ to find out more about the campaign, including activities for families.
In particular, check out the Children’s Art Activity which asks children what they think is most important in a child-friendly community https://www.napcan.org.au/art-activity/.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Sacraments
Please note important emails sent to families whose child/children have been preparing to received First Eucharist and/or the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Parish Office has sent updated information to those families concerned.
First Eucharist Masses scheduled in the Parish dated 14th/15th and 21st/22nd of August 2021 have been cancelled. Celebrations have been postponed to the month of November 2021.
Fan the Flame
Towards Plenary Assembly One October 2021
‘The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.’ John 6:60-69
Through appropriate faith formation, God can shape us into deepening our spirituality within the life of the Church, engaging with scripture, encountering God in worship and prayerfully developing our living relationship with Jesus Christ. (Prayerful and Eucharistic – Discernment Paper p. 5)
www.plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au/fantheflame/
Twenty-First Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle B
Sunday, August 22, 2021
John 6:60-69 Simon Peter confesses his faith that Jesus alone has the words of the eternal life.
In next Sunday’s Gospel we hear how those closest to Jesus responded to Jesus’ words and teaching that he is the Bread of Life. Simon Peter and the Twelve disciples accept Jesus’ teaching. They had come to believe that Jesus came from God; that Jesus could lead them to eternal life.
As we grow in our faith, we will make our own choices about living our faith. But we can’t do this without God’s help and the help of the community of faith, the Church. We pray that God will help us be like Simon Peter and the disciples who chose to follow Jesus.
WELLBEING
Prioritising mental health in the digital world
Technology is now a part of all our lives. Blanket statements that suggest screens and social media are to blame for kid’s poor mental health aren’t helpful.
OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS PARISH
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.
Parish Bulletin
Click on the link below to download the weekly newsletter.
This week in Discovery Centre, the Foundation and Junior students created pixel art images. To do this they had to code the image by typing in different numbers. It is great to see Mary Mackillop Primary School students being creative with coding!
こんにちは、
This week in Japanese, Middle students went on a rainbow scavenger hunt. They had to find, sort and label colours using Japanese words. Junior students created origami ducks as part of their ‘On the Farm’ unit.
From the Senior Level this week....
In the Senior Level, we have been focusing on our health and wellbeing during lockdown. Here are some of the things that we have been up to…
Mikala and Levi set up movie theatre experiences for their families with tickets, snacks and comfy seats all considered.
Georgia dressed up using items at home, creating the ultimate super hero persona and costume.
On the weekend I made homemade chicken schnitzels for my family and served it for dinner. I had so much fun during the process of making them and everyone enjoyed it.
Mum showed me how to make chicken schnitzels by demonstrating dipping them in flour, then egg, and then bread crumbs.
Joseph 6-RJ
I really enjoyed doing this good vibes challenge with my family. I highly encourage you to do this during lockdown and give any of the idea’s our teachers have given us to have a go! The reason why I chose the movie theatre was because it was me and my dad's birthday, and we have a mini movie room. It was lots of fun and it made lockdown more enjoyable! I found the QR code and the tickets on google, we bought all my favourite snacks and watched a great movie (D.C). You don't need a movie theatre to do this challenge at home. You can simply do this in your lounge room, and you can still have as much as I did!! If you are ever bored, try these challenges!!!! :)
Briley 5-AB
It's hard during lockdown because you miss all your school friends, but the Good Vibes Challenge helped me feel grateful for what I have and other ways to enjoy remote learning and lockdown.It was so much fun!!! It was fun to share all the cooking that I had done with my family and the amazing fort I built with my siblings.I always enjoy helping prepare food and love to cook with my family and I like it when Miss. Brent shares my photos to the class because I get good compliments with my cooking. You should give the challenge a go, you will love it!
Taysha 5-AB
Today we got to dress up in our PJs for the whole day and it helped me feel warm and have a nice cozy day, which helped me feel like it was a nice cozy day at the beach. Nearly everyone had on their PJs and so did the people not at school and so did the teacher and it felt like we were all together on a normal day!
Charli 5-SD
