Our Explicit Improvement Agenda

Student Voice and Agency

Planning for improved student learning

Celebrating Student Learning

Feast Day Celebrations - Kaboom Sports

We had a fantastic whole school celebration on our Feast Day this Tuesday 8 August with Kaboom Sports and a Subway lunch. Students were amazing in the way they participated in all the fun activities on offer with Luke, Gary and Barry.  We were very lucky the cold, frosty morning gave way for the sun to shine on us during our Kaboom event.  Thank you to all the families who joined us in this celebration.  Happy Feast Day . . .

Family Mass

Thank you to the families who participated in our Family Mass at Our Lady Help of Christians Parish last Saturday evening.  It was great seeing so many Mary MacKillop families at Mass to launch our week of Feast Day celebrations.  Today we celebrate our Feast Day Mass in the Allen Hall and welcome all families to join us for this very special occasion.  A very big thank you to Lize Privitera for the planning and organisation of this very special week in our school calendar.  

Students’ learning

Yesterday our Year 2 students went back in time at Como House, Kew as part of their History Inquiry unit.  Today we are dressing up in olden day clothes during the time of Mary Mackillop when she was doing her important work throughout Victoria and South Australia.  Throughout Term 3 students are engaged in a wide variety of learning activities / events including Feast Day celebrations on offer this week, AMC and Write a Book in a Day Competition, Book Week, Child Safety Week, Sacrament of Confirmation and Footy Day at the end of Term. 

Brunswick Courtyard

We are very pleased to share the news of the delivery of our tables and chairs in the Brunswick Courtyard and Welcome Garden area.  The photos speak for themselves in this newly created ‘outdoor’ learning space.  We were fortunate to receive Government grants towards the cost of the Shade Sails and furniture to create this space.  Recent monies raised from fundraising events such as the Subway Lunches and Easter Raffle have also gone towards the cost.  Students have been enjoying the area, gathering for learning, eating times and during recess and lunch play times.  

Planning for 2024 School Year

2024 Class Placements

Teachers will begin planning for our 2024 classes shortly.  We respect and value parent input and ask that you email me – ejones@marymacnarre.catholic.edu.au, or put in writing and leave at the Administration Office, if you have information about your child that could impact on their placement for 2024.  Please ensure your request is received by Friday 25 August, 2023.  

Parents please be mindful of the following:

• Staff use their professional judgement and a range of information when placing students into classes.  This information includes student learning progress, learning strengths, learning needs, NCCD Data, gender balance within classes and across the level to provide an optimal learning environment for ALL students. 
• Parent requests are forwarded onto staff when placing students into their 2024 classes. Please note, the 2023 class teacher places students from their 2023 grade into the 2024 class groupings.
• Please be aware that your letters of request are not a guarantee of your child’s placement. 
• Please note that requests made in previous years are not necessarily considered in the process.  Historical information provided by parents regarding their child’s placement will need to be re-submitted if the concerns expressed in previous years are still relevant for consideration in 2024.

Requests received after the cut off date of Friday 25 August are very difficult to take into consideration.  We ask parents to be mindful of our teachers’ preparation and time that goes into student/class placements which is not an easy task taking into account all the areas mentioned above.

Also, a reminder that the 'Intention to Return in 2024' eform sent out via PAM to all Foundation to Year 5 families recently, must be completed by Thursday 17 August 2023.

2024 Foundation students

We are in the process of planning for our 2024 Foundation students transition to Primary School.  2024 Foundation families have been sent information regarding their welcome interviews which will be scheduled in the coming weeks.  At the welcome interview, 2024 Foundation Students and their family are provided with a Welcome Pack which includes information on our transition process, google meets, transition days, activities, and the Parent Information night (scheduled in November).  

Father’s Day Celebrations

Father’s Day Stall - Tuesday 29 August / Father’s Day Breakfast - Wednesday 30 August

Our school community will celebrate our Father’s Day Breakfast on Wednesday 30 August.  Information regarding the breakfast was sent to families via PAM.  We ask all families attending the breakfast to RSVP via CDFpay by Monday 21 August, if they have not already done so, to ensure we can adequately cater for everyone attending.  See CDFpay link below:

https://marymacnarre.cdfpay.org.au/monitoronline/Account/AddToMyCart/11?itemType=3

The timetable for the morning of the breakfast is as follows on Wednesday 30 August:

• Father’s Day Breakfast - serving bacon and egg rolls from 8.00 am - 8.45 am (please note new starting time)
• Time in classrooms with your child - prayer, Father’s Day activity from 8.45 am - 9.15 am
• Father’s Day Special Assembly - in the Allen Hall from (including Father’s Day School Community Raffle) 9.15 am - 10.00 am approximately 
• Year 6 students will leave for camp - The Ranch, Cape Schanck at approximately 10.30 am on the morning of Wednesday 30 August.

We look forward to celebrating this very special time with our dads.

The Annual General Meeting of the SAC will be held on Tuesday 17 October - 7.00 pm in the Staffroom.  Nomination forms for parent representative positions on the School Advisory Committee 2023-2024 are available from the Administration Office.  Alternatively you can request a nomination from via email frontdesk@marymacnarre.catholic.edu.au.

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

Our current 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
• Staff Representative - Helen Fourna
• Staff/Parish Representative - Lize Privitera

Please don’t hesitate to email or make contact with the office OR a member of the School Advisory Committee if you have any questions.

Confirmation - Parent & Child Workshops - final sessions tonight

Parent/s and their child must attend a workshop. If you were unable to attend last night, the final sessions will be held this evening Thursday 10th August 2023 5.00pm or 7.00pm.  Attendance at a workshop is required as part of the preparation for receiving the Sacrament. Please bring your pencil case and the Confirmation booklet to the workshop.

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Sunday, August 13, 2023

Matthew 14:22-33
Jesus walks on water, and the disciples acknowledge him as the Son of God.

In next Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus performs another extraordinary act; he walks on water. Peter then asks Jesus if he too can walk on water.

Jesus invited his disciples to participate in the work that he was doing. He invites us to do the same. He wants us to do extraordinary things for others. In order for us to be able to do this, we must have faith and trust that Jesus will do his work through us. Even if we become fearful and doubtful like Peter, Jesus will still save us.

It’s Mary MacKillop School Pajama Day on Thursday 31st August 2023. We are ending the winter months with a PJ Day at MMPS. Students are welcome to wear their pjs to school! Please consider suitable/appropriate sleepwear and footwear for the day.

Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop This week has been a week of celebration as we honour Australia’s and our school’s patron saint Mary MacKillop.

Sr Monica Cavanagh, Congregational Leader, Sisters of Saint Joseph, writes “Let us rejoice in the gift of Mary MacKillop to our Church and our world as we celebrate her feast day. Mary MacKillop was described by her early Sisters as a big-hearted woman whose life and mission was centred in the heart of God. She drew from this source to show love and compassion to all she met. Mary listened attentively to the heartbeat of God in her life and in this way became a heartbeat of God in the world. She understood what it meant to be on mission with a humble heart.”

Pope Francis on June 28th this year dedicated his general audience talk to St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, from St Peter’s Square focusing on Mary MacKillop’s dedication to the poor, to formation and education. During the Parish School Family Mass held last Saturday evening a 2-minute summary of the Pope’s talk from the general audience event at St Peter’s Square was shared. Sr Monica also was inspired by Pope Francis’ address as He spoke of Mary MacKillop in these words: One essential characteristic of her zeal for the gospel was her desire to care for the poor and marginalised. This pushed her to go where others refused or were unable to go. (Pope Francis June 2023)

We are grateful that Mary's passion and service have touched so many people. Here at Mary MacKillop School we continue to live out her charism and values through our daily lives. Many thanks to all members of our school community who supported in special ways our school celebrations remembering and honouring St Mary of the Cross MacKillop.  

Children will be bringing home a small treat today in celebration.

We have a number of items in the lost property.  If you think any of the items in the photos below may belong to you, please contact the office.

Last week the Foundation year level celebrated their 100 days of school! There was a lot of excitement on the day with decorated classrooms and students all dressed up as 100 year olds. As the theme of the day was ‘100’, the Foundation students took part in a range of activities such as collecting 100 items, completing the 100 counting chart, making 100 glasses and a crown with their buddies.

Here are some achievements the Foundation students shared from their 100 days of school:

• Dustin: A time I felt proud was when I got my learning award. 
• Darcy: In the last 100 days I have enjoyed learning about numbers. 
• TJ: In the last 100 days I have enjoyed learning about sport.
• Talia: Something I can do now that I couldn’t before is read books.
• Alessia: Something I can do now that I couldn’t before is write numbers to 100.
• Andre: In the last 100 days I have enjoyed learning about spelling.
• Estelle: My favourite memory of the last 100 days is being with my buddy.
• Jordan: In the last 100 days I have enjoyed learning about Maths addition.
• Mila: My favourite memory from the last 100 days is meeting new people.
• Bella: A time I felt proud is when I wrote my name and sounded out to spell words.  

This week the Foundation learning has continued as they discovered all about Mary MacKillop for her feast day and her kind traits. Here are some facts students now know about Mary MacKillop:

• Zac: She worked in a barn on a farm.
• Eliana: She was a really kind and caring person. 
• Lucas: She gave away treats to kids. 
• Sophie: She helped the poor people. 
• Akur: She loved to read books to her students. 
• Hazel: Mary invited the poor children to come to her school.
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Every morning the Year 1’s sit together for prayer. At the start of the year we all voted on a Mary MacKillop quote for our prayer cloth. Our quote is “Bear with one another, help one another” (1873).

We chose to use puzzle pieces on our prayer cloth because they represent us working together as a team. Puzzle pieces can be connected just like the connections we try to make with each other in Year 1. 

Inside our puzzle pieces we all drew pictures that represent the ways that we can help each other while we are at school. 

Some examples are helping someone if they fall over, cheering our friends up if they are upset and helping them sound out words.

Every morning when we look at our prayer cloth it reminds us about the things we can do throughout our day to bear with one another and help one another.

REMINDER!!

Just a reminder that if you want to participate in the Write a Book in a Day fundraiser and design a badge, please remember to bring in your $3.00 as next week, Monday 14th, Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th August are the last days to bring in your money and design your badge!

We would love your support and remember all the money is going towards the Kids’ Cancer Project! 

Thank you

The Write a Book in a Day Team

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

Parent Education - Rescources to support parents and carers

• eSafety Commissioner https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents.
• For Families https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/parent-resources/online-safety-for-every-family
  • Online safety for every family 
    • Express learning for busy families 
      • eSafety's express learning series provides parents and carers with practical tips and advice on common online safety concerns. The videos are 5 to 10 minutes long and cover four important topics, including
        •  Setting up parental controls
        •  Digital technologies and mental health
        • Cyberbullying and online drama
        • Online sexual harassment and image-based abuse
• 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

National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence

On Friday 18 August 2023, Mary MacKillop School is participating in the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA).  The 2023 NDA theme, Growing connections, promotes the importance of school, family and community connections in building safe and supportive learning environments where all students can belong, feel accepted and respected.

Research has shown that strong school connections and positive relationships can help to prevent bullying. When students feel a sense of belonging and connectedness at school, they are more likely to enjoy school, to trust and respect their teachers, and be concerned about and help others (Australian Education Research Organisation 2023).

Students in Years 3-6 will participate in a live virtual classroom webinar Be an eSafe Kid: take action from,the eSafety Commissioner. The virtual classroom helps students identify cyberbullying and know what to do if they are bullied online. Foundation to Year 2, will engage in learning experiences which highlight the importance of a sense of belonging and connectedness to support student social and emotional wellbeing and the prevention of bullying.

Parents and carers have a key role in preventing and responding to bullying. Learn what bullying is and what it is not. Understanding the definition of bullying is the first step in talking about how to prevent and respond to bullying with your child. The Bullying NO Way website provide resources and support for families.   https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/