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This year our School Improvement Agenda for 2025 is
- Student Voice and Agency
- Planning for Improved Student Learning - key focus on Mathematics and Reading
Student Learning Portfolios
We hope you enjoyed going through the Portfolios over the holidays with your children. Work samples were carefully considered by the students in consultation with their teachers. We encourage you to write feedback, for your child’s learning in Term 3, on the feedback sheet provided in your child’s student learning portfolio. Please return the Student Learning Portfolio this week so your child can continue documenting their learning journey.
Car Park Safety - Thank you
Thank you to the many families who have accepted the slight change to our front car park (Ernst Wanke Road) arrangements at the end of each day. By parking and waiting until 3.10pm to move out of car park spaces, many more cars are able to access the car park and less queuing on Ernst Wanke Road occurs. Please continue to follow this for everyone’s safety. Please do not leave your vehicle (to go and collect a child from a classroom) if it is parked in this area.
Whole School Athletics
A reminder that we have our whole school Athletics day next wednesday at Casey Fields. Students are departing from school so please ensure they are not late on this day. The first buses (3-6) depart at 9am. We still have more than 45 outstanding permission forms to be completed. If you have not done this please go to PAM today and complete the consent form.
Father Michael - An Update
Bishop Greg provided a letter to OLHC parishioners on 4 Oct 2025 with an update on Father Michael. Below is part of the letter:
Father Michael remains in ICU and continues to receive wonderful clinical care. His family are close by his side ensuring he has the presence of familiar faces and voices. Those who have experienced ICU will understand the level of care, attention and precision of those specialised doctors and nurses attending to patients. Father Michael is in the best hands. Please continue to pray for Father Michael’s full recovery.
We thank Father Ajin and Father Siju for their ongoing support for Mary MacKillop school at this time.
Important Dates for Term 4
Level Newsletters will be sent out this Friday 10 Oct but you may like to diarise these dates now.
- Wednesday 15 October Whole School Athletics Day (Casey Fields)
- Tuesday 21 October Storytime for Foundation 2026 students with Year 5 students
- Wednesday 22 October Regional Athletics (for students who succeeded in getting through Division)
- Thursday 30 October Grandparents Afternoon from 1.15pm (please note this is an afternoon time slot this year)
- Monday 3 November School Closure Day
- Tuesday 9 December Year 6 Graduation from 5pm
- Thursday 11 December End of Year Mass 9am
- Friday 12 December Christmas Concert (during school time)
- Monday 15 December Meet and Greet 2026 (students)
- Tuesday 16 December Last Student day
2026
- The first student day for 2026 will be Thursday 29 January 2026
Staffing Updates for 2026
- I am pleased to announce that Gabby Nicoll and Breanna Cahill will be our Foundation teachers in 2026.
- Claire Stapledon (Marshall) will take another year of leave.
- Jasmine Hay has accepted a full time ongoing position at our school and we are very excited to have her as a permanent member of staff.
- Chris McAleer has resigned in order to take a break from full time teaching.
- Aymie Brent has accepted a position at another DOSCEL school and so, will transfer to that school.
- Claire Knight will be returning from parental leave to a full time teaching position.
- Katie Best will be commencing parental leave at the end of this year as she is expecting a baby in February 2026.
Over the holidays Liz Privitera and myself continued to interview candidates and staffing for 2026 is currently being finalised.
SLIP, SLOP, SLAP…….HAT! HAT! HAT!
It’s that time of year when students must have their hats on every day for recess and lunch regardless of the temperature. Please ensure your child has a hat.
POSITIVE PARTNERSHIPS
Parent and Carer Workshops Free online sessions
These online workshops support understanding of autism and strengthen relations between home and school.
Join an online workshop where you will have the opportunity to listen, share and learn with parents and carers who support young autistic people from across all states. Families and carers are invited to the Positive Partnerships Term 4 online workshops, offering insights into understanding autism and supporting students.
Workshops are held online. Parents and Carers need to register separately for each session via the links below:
Parent Carer (PC) National online workshops:
- Tuesday 21 October 12:00-1:30pm – Session 1 – Diversity of Autism
- Tuesday 28 October 12:00-1:30pm – Session 2 – Understanding Sensory Processing
(one week break due to Victorian public holiday)
- Tuesday 11 November 12:00-1:30pm – Session 3 – Understanding Behaviour
- Tuesday 18 November 12:00-1:30pm – Session 4 – Working in Partnership
Day for Daniel & ABCSL 2025 Launch – Creating Safer Spaces for All Children
On Friday 31 October, our school community will come together to recognise Day for Daniel, a national day dedicated to promoting child safety and raising awareness about the importance of protecting all children.
This year, ABCSL 2025 will also be launched on the same day, focusing on “Contextual Prevention” — encouraging schools and families to work in partnership to create safe spaces and safer environments for children in both online and offline settings.
As a community guided by Gospel values, we are called to ensure every child feels safe, valued, and supported.
Students and families are encouraged to wear red on the day as a sign of solidarity and commitment to child safety. A gold coin donation can be made to support the Day for Daniel Foundation, whose work helps protect and educate children across Australia.
Together, let us continue to build a culture of care and safety where every child can flourish.
Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C
Sunday, October 12, 2025
Luke 17:11-19
Jesus heals 10 lepers, and one, the Samaritan, returns to give thanks.
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus heals ten lepers, but only one comes back to say thank you. This story reminds us how important it is to be grateful. God has given us the special gift of life, and Jesus shows us love and forgiveness every day. Like the thankful man in the story, we are called to say “thank you” to God through our words, prayers, and the way we care for others. Identify as many different ways as you know for saying thank you to God (for example, Mass, prayers, community/family involvement, acts of kindness/respect, …).
October – Month of the Holy Rosary and Mission Month
October is a very special month in our Church calendar as we celebrate both the Month of the Holy Rosary and Mission Month. During this time, we are reminded of the power of prayer and our call to care for others in need.
The Rosary is a beautiful prayer that helps us reflect on the life of Jesus and Mary. As we pray each decade, we remember important moments of faith, love, and hope.
October is also Mission Month, a time when we focus on helping those less fortunate. This year, our fundraising efforts will support Catholic Mission, particularly their work in Zambia, providing hope and practical support to children and families.
Keep an eye out for upcoming opportunities for families to take part in a school Rosary celebration and a class/level fundraiser. Families are invited to join in this special time of prayer and mission.
Grandparents and Special Friends Celebration
We warmly invite all families to join us for a special Afternoon Tea to celebrate our wonderful grandparents and special carers who play such an important role in our lives.
Following afternoon tea, we will gather for a Prayer Service to thank God for the gift of grandparents and all those who share their love, wisdom, and care with our children.
It will be a beautiful opportunity for our school community to come together in gratitude and celebration. We look forward to seeing many of our grandparents and special friends on the day!
Look out for your special invitation!
Term 4 Masses and Reconciliation Schedule - Term 4 Buddy Masses and Whole School Celebrations
As we enter our final term of the year, we warmly invite parents and families to join us for our Buddy Masses and Whole School Celebrations throughout Term 4. These special gatherings are a wonderful opportunity to come together as a faith-filled community to celebrate our students, their learning, and our shared school spirit.
Each year level will participate in a Buddy Mass, fostering connection between our older and younger students as they pray and reflect together. We also look forward to celebrating as a whole school during key liturgical and community events.
A full schedule of dates and times for Term 4 Buddy Masses and Whole School Celebrations is attached to this newsletter.
We look forward to sharing these meaningful occasions with you and your family.
This event will take place on Wednesday October 15th at Casey Fields Athletics Track in Cranbourne.
All students from years F-6 will attend.
Year 3-6 students will depart school by bus at 9am and return at 3pm
Year F-2 students will depart school at 10:10 am and return to school at 1:45pm
If you have not completed the consent form sent out via PAM last term, can you please do so, so your child can attend.
Thank you to the many parents who have volunteered to assist. Your child's class teacher should have contacted you this week.
All students should wear their sports uniform on this day with a t-shirt the same as their house colour
- FITZROY - RED
- PORTLAND - BLUE
- EDEN- YELLOW
- PENOLA - GREEN
Students should also bring their school hat and wear sunscreen. Children will bring their food with them in their lunchbox and a drink bottle.
If you are unsure of your child’s house colour , please ask your child’s class teacher.
Students will participate in various track and field and novelty events.
Spectators are most welcome on the day but are reminded to stay in designated areas behind the fence and only to take photographs of their own child away from other children due to child safety regulations we must adhere to as a school.
Looking forward to a great day.
We have begun another exciting term in Japanese. The Foundies and Year 1s have begun learning how to say ‘I like…’. The Year 2s are learning about the Japanese script, Hiragana. The Year 3 and 4s are consolidating their learning from the year, and the Year 5 and 6 students have been writing about their day using verbs they have learnt.
All levels this term will soon begin learning about cultural aspects of Japan. We are very excited that as part of this learning, all students will participate in a Japanese Taiko Drumming and Flute Incursion on Monday 24th November. This is sure to be an exciting and engaging session for all!
Submitted by: Sarah Fisher
Call out for any old Newspapers families have, and don't need anymore, for our Visual Arts team. Please drop them to the front office in week 2.
A big thank you to all students for playing in the adjusted play areas this week and for sharing spaces so willingly.
Fantastic work to 4-AB students who have shown such great enthusiasm and interest towards our novel study this term.
Wonderful to see so many happy faces coming back from the holidays and hearing so many students asking both their peers and their teachers how their holidays - what a kind and joyful way to start the term!
School TV
SPECIAL REPORT: World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day is marked every year on 10 October as a reminder of the importance of mental health to our overall wellbeing. It is a day that encourages families, schools, workplaces and communities across the globe to start conversations, reduce stigma and highlight the support available for those who may be struggling.
Mental health challenges can affect anyone: children, teens, and adults alike. Recognising this helps us create more compassionate and supportive environments.
Parents and caregivers play a central role in shaping the mental health of their children. World Mental Health Day is an opportunity to pause and reflect on the pressures young people face in today's world and how we can best support them. Whether it's helping children find balance between school, technology, and rest; encouraging open conversations about feelings; or modelling healthy coping strategies ourselves - small steps at home can make a big difference.
By engaging with resources and discussions on this day, families can strengthen their understanding of mental health and contribute to a culture where seeking help is seen as a sign of strength, not weakness.
This Special Report highlights the importance of World Mental Health Day and offers practical suggestions for how your family can acknowledge and support it together.
Here is the link to your Special Report https://marymacnarre.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-world-mental-health-day-au
We are a Happy Families School!
Our school is subscribed to the Happy Families School Membership! Owned and run by Dr Justin Coulson, one of Australia’s leading parenting experts, the membership offers a wealth of parenting education and resources.
We will regularly share resources available through our membership with you, including Insight Articles and Live Webinars.
Parent Session - Entitled: Raising Responsible, Respectful Kids
Wednesday 5 November, 7pm AEST / 8pm AEDT
On-demand gratification has become the modern-day norm, and our children have never known anything different. As a result, parents are noticing a clear pattern of declining levels of resilience and frustration tolerance. We naturally want them to be happy and successful, but we also recognise that a sense of entitlement can hinder their journey. While our hearts yearn to give them the world, we know it’s equally important to nurture gratitude, responsibility, and respect within their hearts.
Our children are growing up in a world defined by instant gratification. They’ve never known a time when things weren’t immediately accessible, which has contributed to declining resilience and frustration tolerance. As parents, we yearn to give them the world and shield them from disappointment, but we also know that fostering gratitude, responsibility, and respect is essential for their true happiness and success.
Entitled with Dr Justin Coulson will dive deep into the issue of entitlement. We’ll explore its root causes, its impact on our children’s development, and most importantly, we’ll equip you with practical strategies to turn things around. You’ll learn how to shift your child’s mindset from “gimme” to “thank you”, and how to foster a sense of appreciation even in an age of abundance.
In this presentation, we will navigate the challenges of parenting in today’s world and discover how to raise children who are not just responsible and respectful, but empowered, resilient, and ready to make a positive contribution to the world.
Submitted by Lize/Caitlin
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
Victorian Catholic School Statement of Commitment to Child Safety (VCEA)
The updated VCEA 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 April 2025)
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.
- Webinars for parents and carers
- Join one of the free webinars for parents and carers.
These live webinars give parents and carers the knowledge, skills and tools to support their children to have safe online experiences.
https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars
Distressing content - Online spaces should be safe for everyone, but you may sometimes come across content that is distressing – especially if it shows extreme violence or acts of terrorism.
The e-Safety Commissioner has key topics about what to do and how to get support and Resources for parents and carers.
- Parental controls
- The hard to have conversations
- Online safety basics
- 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/
- School TV https://marymacnarre.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news
Multilingual videos now available on SchoolTV!
- Because wellbeing shouldn’t get lost in translation, SchoolTV has introduced a powerful new feature — multilingual videos.
- Until now, families could access written content in more than 60 languages. Now, expert-led videos are also available in Chinese, Hindi and Arabic, with more languages to be added next year.
- This new feature ensures every family can access trusted, practical guidance in a way that feels familiar, inclusive, and easy to understand.
- Explore this feature for yourself by clicking the link below to view SchoolTV content in your preferred language.
- http://marymacnarre.catholic.schooltv.me/stv-multilingual-feature