Celebrations of Learning

Swimming Trials 

Yesterday 30 students from years 4-6 showed great courage in participating in our school swimming trials at Paul Sadler Swimworld. The following 22 children qualified for the team and will compete in the Berwick District Swimming Carnival on Monday:

Joel K, Jake , Rahul, Josh S, Jayden C, Isaac, Kairos, Jovan, Kade, Dinesh, Noah C, David P, Madeline H, Addison B, Adiel, Dior, Imogen, Clara, Chloe F, Fleur, Coral and Layla. 

Congratulations to all students on their efforts and achievements and for representing our school with pride.

Home Study

Attached to the newsletter is our 'Home Study - Quick reference guide' for parents and students which outlines our progression of learning in Home Study from Foundation to Year 6.  We value our home school partnership and believe Home Study offers students the opportunity to consolidate essential foundational skills in reading and numeracy.  Letters from the Senior, Middle and Junior levels will be sent to parents over the coming days explaining Home Study arrangements for your child’s level.  If you have any questions, please contact your child’s class teacher.

NAPLAN 2023

A NAPLAN information letter was emailed earlier this week to parents of students in Year 3 and Year 5 levels. The letter includes relevant information relating to the NAPLAN online testing as well as the NAPLAN 2023 timetable.  If, for any reason, you wish for your child to not participate in the NAPLAN online testing, please contact your child’s class teacher and/or Lize Privitera (8794 5777).

Student Mobile Phone, Smartwatch and/or other Electronic Communication Devices Policy, Procedures and Agreement

Information was sent to parents yesterday outlining our updated Student Mobile Phone, Smartwatch and/or other Electronic Communication Devices Policy, Procedures and Agreement.  We ask parents of students bringing any personal devices of this nature to read the policy with their child and sign the Agreement on expected use and storage of their device when at school.  Paper copies of the Policy and Agreement can be collected from your child’s class teacher and/or the Administration office.  All students bringing a personal device of this nature to school must have a signed Agreement.  Thank you for your understanding in this matter and for working in partnership with us.

Student Learning Conversations (Parent Teacher Interviews)

The beginning of the year Student Learning Conversations will be held on:

• Tuesday 7 March, 2023 from 3.40 pm - 6.20 pm
• Wednesday 8 March, 2023 from 3.40 pm - 6.20 pm

The purpose of this time is to acquaint yourself with your child’s teacher and for your child to share their learning data, goals and strategies for the Term.  As a school we value the opportunity for students to be active in their learning, to meet with parents and to establish a positive working partnership for the 2023 school year.  More information will be sent home to parents regarding the booking process for the Student Learning Conversations in the coming weeks.

BOOKINGS (VIA PAM) WILL OPEN ON TUESDAY 21 FEBRUARY AT 3.30PM

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Shrove Tuesday (21st February) is the day before Lent starts on Ash Wednesday. This year the students will be offered pre-prepared pikelets in their classrooms. Please remember to complete the eForm by TODAY. Children must have PAM permission to participate. We look forward to celebrating Shrove Tuesday together.

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday (22nd February), a day on which Catholics traditionally resist eating between meals (fasting) and avoid eating meat (abstaining). Many Catholics also attend Mass or have special prayer liturgies.

Lent is a forty-day period preparation for Easter. It reminds us of the forty-days that Jesus spent in the wilderness before he took up his ministry. During this time, he fasted and prayed. Lent is a time of self-denial and prayer for us as well. During this period, we are called to focus on becoming closer to Jesus by praying a little more, doing good deeds for others, going without something we like and giving generously to others in need. Ash Wednesday is a good time for us to think about what we can do to grow closer to Jesus over the next weeks.

Whole School Mass Ash Wednesday 22nd February 2023, 9.00am Allen Hall - Parents and friends are most welcome to attend our whole school mass celebration to begin the season of Lent and launch the Project Compassion Campaign. There will be an opportunity for the blessing and distribution of Ashes to those attending the mass.

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Sunday, February 19, 2023

Matthew 5:38–48

My command to you is: love your enemies, pray for your persecutors.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells his listeners that he wants us to show by our loving actions that the Kingdom of God is already here. We don’t have to be perfect in everything, but we have to love others the way Jesus did.

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 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 SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM 2023 - Click on the link to access a copy of the 2023 Sacrament Program Booklet

https://www.olhc.org.au/parish-sacrament-program/

PARISH BULLETIN - Click on the link below to download the weekly newsletter.

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

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

MMPS Child Safe Standards - CODE OF CONDUCT

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/
• School TV https://marymacnarre.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news
• Bravehearts https://bravehearts.org.au/
• Happy Families https://schools.happyfamilies.com.au/login/mmnwn
• PASSWORD: happymmnwn

Child Safety and Wellbeing

At Mary MacKillop Primary School, we believe that ensuring the safety of the students in our care is an integral part of who we are as a Catholic faith community. We adhere to Victorian Child Safe Standards and Ministerial Order No. 1359.  We embed a culture of child safety and the matter is taken very seriously.

“Children are the future of the human family: all of us are expected to promote their growth, health and tranquillity,” Pope Francis 2021

Resources to support parents and carers

PARENT EDUCATION We are a Happy Families School!  As you know, our school is subscribed to Parenting Ideas, which is now owned and run by one of Australia’s leading parenting experts, Dr Justin Coulson.  As such, the membership is now called Happy Families School Membership and there have been some exciting changes to the platform. Please take the time to read the information below so you can keep enjoying these helpful parenting resources. 

INSIGHTS ARTICLES  We’ll keep sending out the Insight articles with our school newsletter and you’ll now also have access to the Insights library of 300+ past articles via our school’s unique URL and password (more about that below).

PARENT WEBINARS Each term, you’ll have access to a LIVE parent webinar.  With webinars now being run live, this means participants can ask Dr Justin (or the guest speaker) questions in real time. Just like for Insights, you’ll be able to access the webinars via our school’s unique URL and password (no more coupons!).  The recording will be available for 12 months. 

Please find updated login details to access the Happy Families Website:

URL:  https://schools.happyfamilies.com.au/login/mmnwn

PASSWORD: happymmnwn

We recommend bookmarking this link. You should only need to put the password in once and the site will remember you.  

Here is the latest weekly insight - School belonging starts at home

View the attached article:

Dr Justin Coulson is a dad to 6 daughters. He is the parenting expert and co-host of Channel 9’s Parental Guidance, and he and his wife host Australia’s #1 podcast for parents and family: The Happy Families podcast. He has written 6 books about families and parenting. For further details visit www.happyfamilies.com.au.

Join a webinar - Monday 27 February - How To Help When School Sucks

8PM AEDT | Check my time zone

This webinar is included in the Happy Families Membership

Sometimes school sucks... or should I say sux? Anyone who's been there knows how awful it is to be sent to what feels like prison. Every day. Friendships fail. The work is hard, or boring, or irrelevant, or all of the above. Sometimes teachers don't understand. Anxiety, ADHD, autism, or jiggly wiggly legs make school feel like torture. And it seems like it will never, ever, ever end.

Parents struggle for solutions when school is a trial for their children. How do we help our children feel positive about learning, experience a sense of belonging, and do the work that can set them up for future success?

Join us for a webinar about how to make school suck a little less. In this webinar, you'll receive:

• 5 BIG IDEAS to change the way your kids see school
• Tools to help you work with your child, teachers, and the school community 
• Strategies you need to set your child up for a better school experience

Year 7 2025 Online Parent Q & A Information Evening. Thursday 16 March 2023 7.00pm – 8.00pm

Open Day (Berwick and Officer Campuses) Saturday 1^st April 10.00am – 2.00pm 

Registrations can be made on our website at https://sfx.vic.edu.au/