Our Explicit Improvement Agenda

Student Voice and Agency

Planning for improved student learning

Celebrating Grandparents Day

Grandparents Day provides our students with the opportunity to acknowledge and say thank you to the special older people in their lives.  We had a beautiful celebration Mass yesterday followed by morning tea and time in the classrooms.  This year’s event is made even more special because we have not been able to celebrate Grandparents’ day on site for the past two years with COVID-19 restrictions in place. 

Thank you to all the grandparents who attended our Mass and activities today, it was a beautiful, memorable and loving experience having you here to share in the joy of your grandchild’s learning.  Thank you to Mrs Lize Privitera for her organisation of the Grandparents Day Mass, our admin team and staff for their planning and preparation of this very special event in our school year.  The photos of the day capture it all . . . 

Celebrating Student Learning

Child Safety - Day for Daniel

Next Friday 28 October, students and staff are encouraged to wear RED for Day for Daniel (Daniel Morcombe Foundation).  This year’s theme for Day for Daniel is all about having BRAVE CONVERSATIONS.  More information on Day for Daniel is in the Child Safety Section of the newsletter. 

The Victorian Curriculum - Water Safety Certificate - Intensive Swimming Program

Term 4 provides students with the opportunity to engage in Intensive Swimming and Water Safety Program at Paul Sadler.  The Junior Level will begin their swimming lessons next week Monday 24 October to Friday 28 October. The Victorian Curriculum Water Safety Certificate is a Victorian Government initiative.  It describes the specific competencies that should be achieved by the time students reach the end of primary school such as water safety knowledge, rescue skills, a survival sequence and the ability to swim a continuous distance of 50 metres.  Rescue skills include the following:

• Rescue a person using non-swimming rescue techniques
• Reach rescue using a non-rigid aid
• Throw rescue using a weighted rope
• Throw rescue using a buoyant object and unweighted rope

Survival sequences include:

• Perform a survival sequence wearing light clothing
• Enter the water safely
• Scull, float and tread water for 2 minutes; signalling for help intermittently
• Swim survival strokes slowly for 3 minutes
• Exit the water safety.

More information on the the Victorian Curriculum Water Safety Certificate can be found at  https://lsv.com.au/toolkit/victorian_water_safety_certificate_more.php#tab-1

(NB - There are no lunch orders next week for Foundation, Year 1 & 2 during the swimming program) 

2023 Foundation Students Transition to School Program

Our 2023 Foundation Students Transition to School Program is well underway with the next Google Meet session scheduled for Monday 24 October.  It is an exciting time for our 2023 Foundation Students as they become familiar with school life, get to meet their new friends and transition to school.

Year 4 Camp

Our Year 4 camp is fast approaching.  Students will be attending Oasis Camp in Mt. Evelyn on Thursday 3 November and Friday 4 November (Melbourne Cup week).  Our students are very excited about their upcoming camp experience and we look forward to hearing all about it.

Congratulations - Write a Book in a Day Competition

Our warmest congratulations to our Year 6 students who participated in Write a Book in a Day Competition in Term 3  - Emma, Douie, Apaar, Summer, Jasmine, Natalie K, Alanna, Ava, Jazz, Sienna and Ms Vlajankov!.  Ms Vlajankov received news yesterday that our entry - Coco’s Curse has been shortlisted and the announcement of the winners will be in early November.  While we await in anticipation for the announcement, we are so proud of our students with the quality of their work - story and illustrations and the efforts of staff especially Ms Vlajankov in leading this opportunity for our students.  Congratulations to all!!

Announcement of appointment of Mr Paul Velten - Director of Catholic Education / CEO DOSCEL

Our warmest congratulations to Mr Paul Velten on his appointment to the position of Director of Catholic Education/Chief Executive Officer of DOSCEL.  Paul will take up this position on 24 December 2022 on the retirement of Ms Maria Kirkwood.  We wish Paul all the very best in his new role and congratulate him on his achievement.

Lamont - Book Fair is coming

The Book Fair is coming to school - more information will be advertised in the newsletter in the next few weeks.  The timing of the Book Fair will support families with their Christmas Shopping list and what could be a better gift than being caught up in the imaginary world and/or exciting information that books hold within their cover.

Whole School Athletics Day - Wednesday 9 November

Our whole school Athletics Day will be held on Wednesday 9 November at Casey Fields Athletics Track, Cranbourne East.  Mr Tim is planning and preparing for a very exciting day and we are very much looking forward to this whole school event.  Please ensure that you complete your child's permission form on their PAM profile asap.

School Advisory Committee - Annual General Meeting 

The SAC AGM was held last Tuesday 18 October, 2022 in the Staffroom.  Many thanks to our SAC Committee Members for their insights and efforts over the past year.  We warmly welcome Yogeshwar (father of Maya FCG) as a Parent Representative to our 2022-2023 SAC. 

Our 2022-2023 School Advisory Committee comprises of the following members:

• Chairperson - Liz Jones
• Parish Priest - Fr. Brendan Hogan
• Parent Representative - Danielle Davis (Secretary)
• Parent Representative - Julie Gubbels
• Parent Representative - Stephanie Miller
• Parent Representative - Marina Valladares
• Parent Representative - Yogeshwar Makanji
• Staff Representative - Helen Fourna
• Staff/Parish Representative - Lize Privitera

The responsibilities of the SAC 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.

Change of Date - end of 2022 school year for ALL students 

End of Term 4 for ALL students will now conclude on

THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER, 2022 at 3.15 pm

Our last day of school for students will include:

• End of School Year Mass
• Student Christmas Concert (Footsteps Dance)
• Community farewell to our Year 6 students

All parents, families and friends are invited to celebrate Mass and Reconciliation during the term.  The attachment outlines class and school celebrations for the term. When attending a celebration please sign in at the School Office.

We do ask that all parents and visitors in our school that your mobile phones are either switched off, on silent and put away during prayer and liturgical celebrations. Thank you.

Than kyou to all family members who were able to attend our School mass yesterday celebrating Grandparents. It was great to welcome back this annual event held here at Mary MacKillop School after the past two years of COVID restrictions.  This event is one of the highlights of the year and seeing so many faces reminded us of the importance of coming together in faith. The morning event was very well supported and we thank grandparents and friends for joining us for Mass and visiting the classrooms.  Thank you to the Office staff who organised the morning tea, to all those who helped with setting up the areas, to staff and students who welcomed family members to their classrooms.

A great occasion shared today with all members of the school community.

October is Mission Month

This year our school is participating in Socktober for Mission Month. We are partnering with Catholic Mission to invite our students to connect with young people experiencing challenges in the developing world through education and the world game of soccer. 

This year, our collective fundraising efforts will support vulnerable children in Ethiopia who are experiencing food insecurity and malnutrition. One example of what we are supporting is the Deberety Farm project in Emdibir, four hours from the capital, which aims to address these issues, primarily by raising goats that produce life-giving milk for infants who are most at risk. 

As a school, we can contribute in a special way.  The Socktober Shoot out event will be held during class time next week. Family and friends are invited to sponsor the 5 goals your child/ren kick. Please send raised funds to your child’s class. Each class has a special collection sock to hold the donations. Your support is greatly appreciated. Students can wear their favourite socks with their sports uniform on the day.

All Saints' Day- November 1 and the Feast of All Souls – November 2

During the month of November, we remember all of the people we have loved who have died and give thanks for the special place they have in our hearts. To remember those who we have loved and who are no longer with us, families may wish to write the names of their loves ones on a card attached to the special knitted poppies displayed in the front Welcome during the second week of November leading up to Remembrance Day. Cards are available from the School Office.

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

Sunday, October 23, 2022

Luke 18:9-14

Jesus tells the parable of the proud Pharisee who prayed from his self-importance and the tax collector who prayed humbly.

In next Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about how to pray. One person is proud. The other is humble. The Pharisee brags about himself when he prays. Ask: Is he humble or proud? The tax collector is humble. Jesus wants us to be humble like the tax collector. Pray together as a family that God will give you the grace to be humble. When we are humble, we recognize our dependence and need for God. We acknowledge that God is the source of any talents that we have, and we recognize that any good that we are able to do is because of God's grace working in us.

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

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.

Child Safe Policies

Child friendly version of Child Safe Policy (updated June 2022)

Congratulations to our Year 6 Student Leaders on their creation of the student friendly version of the Child Safe Policy.  This policy has been uploaded to our website  Child Safe page and can be found in the following link https://www.marymacnarre.catholic.edu.au/child-safety-standards

Child Safe Standards and Parent use of Mobile Phones, Privacy Laws

We ask all parents to be mindful of their mobile phone usage, child safety and privacy laws when visiting our school.  During such times as morning Prayer time, Mass, Assemblies and school events/gatherings, we ask parents to turn off or put away their mobile phones and to respect the privacy of all students.  Photographs and video footage cannot be taken of students without parental permission.  Reminders of safe mobile phone usage will be shared with the school community at morning prayer times and assemblies.  On special occasions such as student awards at assemblies or student graduations, space will be made available for parents to photograph their child in a child safe way.  We thank you for working in partnership with us to respect the privacy of all our students.

Child Safe Resources to support Students, Parents/Carers

eSafety Commissioner https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents.

For Families https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/parent-resources/online-safety-for-every-family

NEW online safety for every family                                                                                        The ‘Online safety for every family’ resources will give parents and carers the confidence to talk with their children about online safety. The resources also have important links and information to help if something bad does happen online. 

The videos and advice sheets cover:

• Helping your family stay safe online
• Getting started with social media 
• Safer online gaming 
• Getting help when your child is being bullied online

Downloadable resources to help you start the chat about online safety issues and strategies with your child.

• CCYP - Commission for Children and Young People https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/child-safe-standards/
• Bravehearts https://bravehearts.org.au/
• Parenting Ideas
  • Our school has a membership with Parenting Ideas. As part of this membership, you can attend the upcoming webinar ‘Handling tricky friendship days’ at no cost. In this webinar, Michelle Mitchell offers a set of practical guiding principles to help empower children to handle tricky friendship days. Please refer to the attached flyer:
  • Parenting Ideas

    Parenting Ideas 134.82 KB
• School TV
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  Daniel Morcombe Foundation
  • Get RED, ready for Day for Daniel 2022! Friday 28 October 2022
  • Wear something Red • Educate • Donate!
  • Gold coin donation is requested on the day. Thank you for your support.
  • Now in its 18th year, Day for Daniel is Australia’s largest child safety education and awareness day. Held on the last Friday of October, this year it will take place on Friday 28 October. In recent years, more than 1.5million Australians have united with the Daniel Morcombe Foundation (DMF) to raise child safety awarenessand remember Daniel.Day for Daniel urges Australians to wear red, educate and donate. Child safety activities will be conducted  and focus on keeping kids safe, and raising funds for the Daniel Morcombe Foundation.In 2022, Day for Daniel’s theme is brave conversations. As a School in the Diocese of Sale, we believe Day for Daniel is the perfect opportunity to have brave conversations with children around personal safety in the real and online world.All DOSCEL school are  supporters of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, who help keep children safe and promote the annual Day for Daniel event.  

こんにちは、

It was great to see everyone celebrating Japanese Day last week. Students enjoyed speaking Japanese and participating in cultural activities. 

“I loved this day. It was the best and I was confident in using Japanese”  Hus 3BE

“We talked to the Sister School in Japan. It was really fun to talk to them in Japanese and tell them jokes” Dior 4CM

“It was so much fun getting to talk to the Sister School. It was so great!!! I had so much fun!! Valentina 6PF

“We got to play Japanese games. We got to talk to the Sister School in Japan” Mason 4CM

REGIONAL ATHLETICS

Congratulations to year 6 students , Sienna M (800m) and Nidal  (Shotput) who qualified for and competed in the Southern Metropolitan Regional Athletics on Wednesday at Casey Fields Athletics Centre. This is one level below the State competition and both students did extremely well competing at the level. We are very proud of their efforts.

DIVISION TENNIS PLAYOFFS 

Today we had 9 students from year 6 competing in the Hot Shots Tennis Division playoffs (Scarlett, Sharbel, Nidal, Steven, Amir, Jaden C, Miccah, Jonathan, Hayden V) . More details in next week’s newsletter

WHOLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS DAY

A reminder that our Whole School Athletics Day is on Wednesday November 9 at Casey Fields Athletics Track, Cranbourne. This is part of our Physical Education program and a compulsory event for all students . If you have not completed permission for this event, please do so as soon as possible. Year 3-6 will be competing between 10am - 2pm and Year F-2 will be participating between 11am - 1pm. Thankyou to all parents who have volunteered to assist on the day, you will receive an email early next week with details for the day.

Spectators are most welcome.