Our Explicit Improvement Agenda

Student Voice and Agency

Planning for Improved Student Learning

Celebrations of Learning

A very warm welcome back to Term 3

Over the Term holidays, 'Edu Mark' continued installing the painted learning activities on the concrete in the Brunswick Courtyard.  These activities  form part of our outdoor learning space under the recently installed Shade sail.  We are waiting on the delivery of tables and chairs to add to our outdoor learning space and look forward to their arrival in the next few weeks.  Thank you to Jacqui M for organising 'Edu Mark, the purchase of the tables/chairs and posting this space as a ‘sneak peak’ on our Mary MacKillop Facebook page.

Term 3 provides learning opportunities in Religious Education, English, Maths, History, Geography, the Capabilities and our Specialist Subject Learning Areas – Languages, PE, Digital Technologies and Art.  This term we will celebrate our Foundation students’ 100 days of learning, our Family Mass at the Parish, Sacrament of Confirmation, Feast Day with Mass and Kaboom Sports, Book Week, Father’s Day Breakfast, Year 6 Camp at the Ranch, Cape Schanck and Footy Day.  We will also offer learning opportunities in the Australian Mathematics Competition, Write a Book in a Day Competition, Athletics, Interschool Sports and Child Safety Week (4 to 8 September).  Please note, teachers plan in an ongoing manner to meet the needs of their class and students and the list of events for Term 3 includes excursions and incursions that are currently planned in levels.  This list may be updated as the Term unfolds.  

Student Intervention Groups / Tutor Learning Program

Permission letters were sent home this week for parent consent for their child to participate in one or more of the following intervention groups:

• BASLLI - Reading Intervention Support Program
• GRIN - Getting Reading In Numeracy Support Program
• Lego Club - Social/Emotional Support Program
• Toe by Toe - Synthetic Phonics Program
• Speech Therapy - Speech Therapy sessions with a Speech Pathologist from Versa Learn
• Tutor - Tutor Learning Program (COVID-19)

Students are nominated by their class teachers to be considered for one or more of the above programs.  As there is a high demand for student places in these intervention groups, we ask parents who received invitation letters for their child to participate in a group to please return their permission slip as indicated on the letter - thank you.

Term 2 Student Learning Portfolios

A reminder to include parent feedback in your child’s Term 2 Student Learning Portfolio before returning it to school so your child can continue their learning journey.  Please ensure your child has their Term 2 Portfolio to share at the Student Learning Conversations next week.

Semester One - Student Learning Conversations

Student Learning Conversations for Semester One Reports and Student Learning Portfolios will be held on Tuesday 18 July and Wednesday 19 July from 3.40 pm to 6.20 pm (Term 3 - Week 2).  Information was sent home to parents via PAM.  We strongly encourage students to attend the Student Learning Conversations as part of student voice and agency in their learning, to share their learning from Semester One with you and their learning goals for Term 3. Bookings are made via your child's PAM profile.

Celebrations of Community

Staffing updates

Staffing updates for Term 3 were listed in the Term 3 letter to parents sent via PAM last week.  Thank you for your understanding and patience as we seek to appoint a Languages teacher to replace Sensei and for the changes in the Specialist Timetable as we accommodate the staff updates.

Subway Lunch Fundraiser/Kaboom Sports/Feast Day Celebrations

Information will be sent home tomorrow, via the class tubs, regarding the above events.  We will also publish the information via your child's PAM profile

Canteen Closure Dates

Please note, the canteen will be closed on Friday 25 August & Monday 28 August

School Dates and Events

First Communion celebrations continue this weekend at Our Lady Help of Christians Parish. We keep in our prayers the following students who will be receiving Jesus in the most holy Eucharist for the first time.  Congratulations to –  Kade, Aria and Milania

Sacrament of Confirmation -  PARENT ONLY ENROLMENT WORKSHOP

OLHC CDF Payment opened on Monday, 19th June for parents wishing to organise a prepayment for their child to enrol in the Sacrament of Confirmation this year. There will be two workshops and parents/guardian will need to attend only one of these enrolment nights: Thursday, 20th July and Wednesday, 26th July 2023 starting at 7.00pm (please arrive by 6.45pm to sign-in). Attendance is compulsory if your child is preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this year. Children should have been baptised in the Catholic Church and received the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist prior to 2023.  A prepayment of $50.00 must be made via olhc.cdfpay.org.au. This will open on Monday, 19th June and closes Friday 28th July at 3.30pm.  If you have any questions please contact Vea our Sacrament Coordinator at sacraments@olhc.org.au

Please note that the 2023 Sacrament of Confirmation Masses will be celebrated on the following dates (at the conclusion of Term 3)  at OLHC Parish Church-

•       Friday 15th September 2023 at 7.00 pm
•       Saturday 16th September 2023 at 3.00 pm
•       Saturday 16th September 2023 at 6.00 pm

St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal will be conducted in the coming weeks. Our MacKillop Kids club members from Years 3-6 help run the appeal by encouraging the school community to donate specific food items. This year the MacKillop Kids Group have organised the collection of warm winter drinks. Your support of tea varieties, coffee, hot chocolate, milo that would warm up those less fortunate is greatly appreciated. Collected boxes are located in each classroom.

Class/Whole School Masses and Class Reconciliation celebrations are now scheduled for Term 3. Please refer to the attached timetable

MMPS_Masses_And_Reconciliation_Celebration_Term_Three_2023.pdf

MMPS_Masses_And_Reconciliation_Celebration_Term_Three_2023 _pdf 34.66 KB

Save the Date - The Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop: On Saturday, August 5, 2023, at 6.30 p.m., a School Family Mass will be held at Our Lady Help of Christians Church. This Parish Mass invites students and families to take on important roles.  During this mass, students are invited to read and participate in particular roles. Choir members are asked to perform a reflective hymn. Please consider encouraging your child/children to participate actively in this Mass celebration. A separate letter will be sent to families with further information.

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Sunday, July 16, 2023

Matthew 13:1-23 (shorter form: Matthew 13:1-9)
Jesus teaches that the kingdom of heaven is like seed that has been sown on good soil. Next Sunday’s Gospel reminds us that in order for God’s Word to take root in us and produce abundant fruit, we must endeavour to be like good soil. Families, in particular, hold the responsibility for “preparing the soil” so that the seeds of God’s Word can grow strong. There are many ways in which families do this—family traditions in which faith is celebrated, prayer and reading of Scripture, and instruction on the faith. In these ways, as parents you fulfil the promises made at your child’s Baptism.

We are fast approaching The Australian Maths Competition date of Thursday 3rd August 2023. Students will be completing this in year groups with teacher supervision only  - no help will be given by the teacher who is with their year group. Each group will have one hour to complete their questions. Students are encouraged to show their working out on paper as it will help them check their work as they go. 

Each week we will show examples of the question types students will be faced with. If you have any questions please contact your child’s teacher or email me on hfourna@marymacnarre.catholic.edu.au

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

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.

MMPS Child Safe Standards

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