Filter Content
NAPLAN 2021 - Thank you
Yesterday the Premier of Victoria announced the continuation of Lockdown and Remote Schooling for the remainder of Term 3, with the road map for schools possibly opening up in Term 4 to be outlined next week.
We wait in hope for our return to school, but in the mean time we would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge and thank everyone’s efforts in our school community. This Lockdown has been particularly hard to endure with increased restrictions, fortnightly reviews with COVID-19 cases rising, no end date in sight and the race to get vaccinated. We certainly did not intend for Term 3 to unfold like this.
In the midst of this all, we received our 2021 NAPLAN results yesterday. Our warmest congratulations to our Year 3 and Year 5 students, parents and staff on our NAPLAN results. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns and remote schooling, our students maintained their growth from 2019 NAPLAN in most of the areas assessed. Thank you for all your efforts, dedication and persistence in ensuring our students continued to receive the very best over the past 18 months of their schooling and for working in partnership with us.
Father’s Day
Unfortunately with the tighter Lockdown restrictions in place, we were unable to hold our annual FOMM Father’s Day Stall and Father’s Day Breakfast or to do a drive through to distribute any Father’s Day gifts. To all our dad’s, grandad’s and uncles in our school community, we wish you all a very happy Father’s Day on Sunday. We hope you get to enjoy your immediate family in person and your extended family online. We look forward to 2022 to be able to celebrate this very special occasion in our school community.
Next week is National Child Protection Week from 5 to 11 September. Teachers will be offering a range of webinars and learning experiences to promote child safety and awareness in our school community. More information on NAPCAN and Child Safety is outlined in the Deputy Principal section of the newsletter.
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
RECENT LEARNING AWARDS ...
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Due to the extension of restrictions announced yesterday, the Parish wishes to inform families of those preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, that the upcoming Confirmation Masses for the dates of the 8th, 9th,10th and 11th of September have now been cancelled.
OLHC Parish office will continue to keep you informed of any new developments in rescheduling these Confirmation masses. Thank You for your understanding and patience.
Fan the Flame
Towards Plenary Assembly One October 2021
‘He makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.’ Mark 7:31-37
The Church hears the cries of the poor and the groans of the earth. It seeks to stand in solidarity with the poor and the marginalised, and to exercise good stewardship of the fragile ecosystems that support life on earth.
(Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, “A New Earth: The Environmental Challenge. Social Justice Statement 2002”, accessed 23 April 2021, https://socialjustice.catholic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Social-Justice-Statement-2002.pdf, 10.)
www.plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au/fantheflame/
Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B
Sunday, September 5, 2021
Jesus restores a man’s hearing and speech. Mark 7:31-37
In next Sunday’s Gospel, we hear about one of Jesus’ healing miracles. The people bring a man who needs healing to Jesus. Jesus later asks the people not to tell anyone what happened. We celebrate Jesus’ healing presence in our lives today. We pray for those who are ill. We ask Jesus to heal them. We share the Good News that Jesus loves us and offers us life with God forever.
Child Safety is a significant focus ……
National Child Protection Week (5-11 September 2021) This annual event aims to spread the message 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.
This year's theme is "Every child, in every community, needs a fair go"
The week is about how we can work together to create great lives for Australia’s children. We can all look out for children, believe them, speak up if something is unsafe, know the signs and risks for abuse, educate ourselves and our staff about how to create child safe organisations, have conversations with children and families about safety.
The following events will take place next week as part of the learning experiences provided on Child Safety during National Child Protection Week during the remote setting. Parental/carer supervision while students participate in the presentations is recommended. For those students onsite, teachers and support staff will be supervising groups during the presentations.
o eSafety Commissioner:
- Students will participate in a live virtual 45-minute classroom webinar-Be an eSafe kid: Online boundaries – It’s OK to say ‘no’. During the presentation students will learn about online consent or permission, and how to define online boundaries. The webinar will take place on -
- Thursday 9th September at 9.30 am - Middle Level and
- Monday 6th September at 2 pm - Senior Level
o Daniel Morcombe Foundation:
- Australia’s Biggest Child Safety Lesson will be viewed by students:
- 4 to 7-year old on Tuesday 7 September at 9 am and
- 8 to 12-year old on Tuesday 7 September at 10 am
- A Parent and Carer Guide is attached. Parents and Carers are asked to take the time to become familiar with the focus of the presentations.
o RUOK Day Thursday 9th September:
RUOK Day helps everyone in our school, workplace and community to think about who in their world might need to be asked how they’re really going and how to make a moment meaningful by asking “are you OK?”
To promote and raise awareness, everyone is invited to wear a splash of yellow either added to your school uniform or everyday clothes.
R U OK? inspires and empowers everyone to meaningfully connect with the people around them and start a conversation with those in their world who may be struggling with life.
You don't need to be an expert to reach out - just a good friend and a great listener.
Use these four steps and have a conversation that could change a life:
- Ask R U OK?
- Listen
- Encourage action
- Check in
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING NATIONAL CHILD PROTECTION WEEK!
WELLBEING
Webinar for Parents:
COVID-19 has impacted our children and young people's mental health - what can we do to help?
Fri, Sep 10, 2021 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM AEST
Speakers:
- Tracy Adams, your town (Kids Helpline)
- Ali Fogarty, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
- Elizabeth Seeley-Wait, Clinical Psychologist and Director Children’s Psychology Clinic
For more information, visit the https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4952166703574891534
In praise of fathers: the place of the modern dad
We may acknowledge the importance of dads, but there’s a growing need to be supported and to widen our view of what it is to be a dad. Please view the article below:
Wishing all dads, grandfathers and all who take on a special role in children’s lives- Wishing you God’s blessing for this Sunday – Father’s Day 2021
OLHC 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:
こんにちは、
This week in Japanese, students celebrated 父の日 (Father's Day). In Japan, 父の日 is a day that celebrates all close male relatives. Students made special origami and wrote the kanji characters for Father’s day in Japanese.
Last week, Senior students designed posters for our upcoming Japanese day to be held on the last day of Term 3. More information about this virtual event will be released next week!
