Our Explicit Improvement Agenda

Student Voice and Agency

Planning for improved student learning

Celebrating Student Learning

Athletics Day

Yesterday we had an amazing whole school Athletics Day at Casey Fields.  Students were so excited to participate in this very special event.  With COVID-19 restrictions for the past two years, our last Athletics Day was in 2019.  Thank you to Mr Tim for his organisation and planning of the event, to our admin team for the bus logistics, our staff for their participation, parent helpers and parent spectators.  It was a great day to celebrate in our school community and an opportunity for our students to showcase their talents in sport.  Mr Tim has a full report in the newsletter including the winning house.

2023 Foundation Students Transition to School Program - Parent Information Session and Orientation Session

Our 2023 Foundation Students Parent Information Session will be held tonight in the Chapel at 7.00 pm.  We look forward to welcoming our 2023 Foundation parents to go through important features of our Foundation program and how to prepare their child for transition to school.  We look forward to welcoming you tonight.

Our first Orientation session for 2023 Foundation students will be held tomorrow - Friday 11 November from 9.00 - 10.30 am.  We are very much looking forward to having our newest students and warmly welcome them to school.  The morning promises to be one filled with excitement as our 2023 Foundies experience their classroom environment and get a taste of what’s installed next year.

Remembrance Day Service - 11.00 am

Our school community will participate in a Remembrance Day Service tomorrow - Friday 11 November at 11.00 am.  Our Senior Students will lead us in a meaningful and respectful prayer service before honouring the sacrifice of others in a minute silence.  

This year, we have been blessed to build on our knitted poppy display in the welcome garden to include a knitted poppy wreath.  The knitted poppy wreath was made by, and gifted to our school, by Avril - grandmother of Harvey, Fletcher and Darcy.  The wreath is a symbol of love and the strong connections we have in our school community to family.  Each strand of wool is beautifully crafted into the poppies that make up the wreath - we are so fortunate to have such a beautifully crafted wreath for our Remembrance Day service now and into the future - our deepest gratitude to Avril.  Thank you also to Lize Privitera and our Senior Students for their organisation and planning of a beautiful, poignant and reflective service.  

NAPLAN data - comparison with State CONGRATULATIONS

NAPLAN data released in August this year only included our local school data so it was difficult to measure our students’ improvements.  On Monday, the NAPLAN data was released including State data.  Comparing our student performance data against the State data has given us an indication of areas of strength and areas of continued improvement.  Our explicit improvement agenda this year is:

• Student Voice and Agency
• Planning for Improved Student Learning

We have been working very hard to incorporate our improvement agenda it is very pleasing to report to our school community of the excellent student NAPLAN results this year.  Our students’ performed extremely well in all NAPLAN areas assessed.  Their performance is testament to our explicit improvement agenda in action and our collective efforts to continually improve our students’ learning outcomes and to build student voice and agency in their learning.  Congratulations to our staff for their continued and consistent efforts and to our students on their achievements - the results are very well deserved by all.

Lamont - Book Fair

Stay tuned - Book Fair is coming . . . 

Students are timetabled to have the opportunity to view books on display and create their wish list from Tuesday 22 November through to Friday 25 November.  Online orders can be placed between Tuesday 22 November and Wednesday 30 November.  Click and collect is available from Monday 28 November at selected times and dates.  Onsite purchases are available from Wednesday 30 November and Thursday 1 December at selected times and dates based on staffing availability.

Change of Date - end of 2022 school year for students 

End of Term 4 for 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

2023 BACK TO SCHOOL DATES

Staff return on Friday 27 January 2023 (planning day)

Students commence school on Monday 30th January 2023 at 8.45 am (Years 1 - 6)

(Foundation students start at 9.15am)

Many thanks to all who contributed to the recent appeals. Donations to the Daniel Morcombe Foundation Day for Daniel raised $245.70 and the Catholic Mission Socktober fundraiser raised $458.35 Your support and generosity is greatly appreciated.

Term 4 Mass and Reconciliation celebrations

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.

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, members of the school community may wish to write the names of their loved ones on a card attached to the special knitted poppies displayed in the front Welcome during month of November. Cards are available from the School Office.

Remembrance Day - 11th November - a brief service will be led by our Year 6 students in each classroom. Parents and families are invited to join a class. The Service will begin at 10.45am and conclude with a minute’s silence at 11.00am followed by the playing of the Reveille. Family members may wish to place flowers at the foot of the flagpole. Recess times have been changed to begin at 11.05am – 11.35am to accommodate the Remembrance Day Service.

Children's Mission Society Drawing competition - Sale Diocese

On 19th May 2023, the Pontifical Children’s Mission Society will celebrate 180 years. Catholic Mission Australia is holding a drawing competition - with one  winner from every Australian Diocese -  looking for the best picture illustrating how Pope Francis inspires children to help other children.  The entry form is attached or may be downloaded from: Global drawing competition Entry is free. Entries close 30 November 2022.  Entrants are to send their entry to:

• Catholic Mission National Office
• PO Box 1668
• North Sydney NSW 2059
• Attention: Drawing Competition

Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

Sunday, November 13, 2022

Luke 21:5-19

Jesus predicts the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and warns his followers that persecution will come before the end time.

In next Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus describes some terrible events and God’s care for his people. Luke reminds us that Jesus told his followers that many bad things would happen, but that they were to trust that God would be with them, even through these difficulties. Jesus reminds us of the bigger picture—that God is always watching over us, in good times and in hard times. We can trust that God cares for us always.

OLHC Parish

Our Lady Help of Christians Parish Information

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 Ajin Albarnas 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:

https://www.olhc.org.au/parish-bulletin/

Fee Accounts and 2023 Fee Information

2022 Fee Accounts have been emailed to all families this week.  All 2022 fees and prior arrears were due and payable on 17 October 2022. Families on direct debit arrangements will continue their payments as per their schedule until 31 December 2022 unless their account is finalised prior.

If you fee account is outstanding for this year, we ask that you make payment any outstanding amounts by 30th November 2022. Accounts not paid by this date may be referred to DOSCEL for collection. If you are experiencing financial hardship, we request you contact  Liz Jones or Jacqui Meunier for a confidential discussion on how we can support you to meet your fee commitment to the school.

2023 Fee Account Information

Fee Account information for 2023 went home today with the eldest student in the family. Please check your child’s bag for this information booklet.  The booklet contains all the information you need regarding the setting of fees for 2023, payment of fees and concessions the school can provide families with Centrelink Concession Cards,  with along with the required forms.  If you are applying for CSEF or a direct debit arrangement for 2023, please complete the required forms and return to the school office by Monday 5th December. School fee information is also available on our website.

 If you have any questions regarding fees, concessions or payments, please contact the office.

SCHOOL ATHLETICS DAY

Yesterday we had our whole school Athletics Day for the first time since 2019. It was a fantastic day. I would like to commend all the students for their wonderful efforts in warm conditions, and thank the staff and parent volunteers for all their hard work. Children competed in sprint races, relays, hurdles, long jump, shotput and high jump activities .

The final scores were as follows :

• 1st   -  FITZROY     - 2292 points
• 2nd  -  PORTLAND  - 2153 points
• 3rd  -  EDEN          - 1984 points
• 4th  -  PENOLA       - 1804 points

SWIMMING

The Year 2 students had a wonderful time in Week 4 during our intensive one week swimming program. Students participated in a variety of activities whilst at the pool, moving between the shallow and deep ends. 

It was fantastic to see many students channel our Mary MacKillop school value, ‘Be Courageous’ and have a go at the activities their swimming instructors were providing. The sense of achievement students felt after simply having a go, especially if they were less confident, was clearly evident on their faces.

READER’S THEATRE

As part of our Literacy focus on building fluency and expression whilst reading, students have been engaged in daily reader’s theatre sessions. Through this, students have been able to focus on the pace at which they read, ensuring they are taking note of the author’s punctuation, as well as putting stress on certain words to change the meaning of a sentence. Last week, students were asked to choose their favourite play, which they will focus on and develop their chosen character through our Inquiry focus on Drama.

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.
  • 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.
• FOR FAMILIES https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/parent-resources/online-safety-for-every-family
• CCYP - Commission for Children and Young People https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/child-safe-standards/
• Bravehearts https://bravehearts.org.au/ 
• Parenting Ideas

Helping your young perfectionist  Perfectionism means having unreasonably high expectations. How can you help your children break this potentially harmful habit?  View the attached article below:

Daniel Morcombe Foundation

Many thanks for the $245-70 raised on Day for Daniel