CELEBRATIONS OF LEARNING

Footy Day

On the last day of Term 3 for students - Thursday 14 September we will celebrate our Footy Day.  Students are encouraged to wear their favourite footy/sport colours - YELLOW and BLACK!  A big thank you to Mr Tim for his organisation of a very special day of activities - kick off will begin in the Allen Hall at 9.00 am for the Footy Day assembly.  Thank you also to the parents who have volunteered to assist with the cooking of sausages for the sausage sizzle lunch - it is going to be a great way to finish off the term - GO TIGERS!.

Year 6 Camp

Congratulations to our Year 6 students on their successful camp at The Ranch last week. Our Year 6s were very excited to share their camp experiences with the giant swing and climbing wall as their favourite activities. A very big thank you to our staff Marg Vlajankov, Sally Lane, Breanna Cahill, Clint Timothy, Kelly Oldfield and Tylah Meunier for their planning, preparation and organisation of a very successful camp.  Student camp experiences are shared below in the newsletter.

Athletics Day

Yesterday selected students in the Middle and Senior level attended Athletics at Casey Fields.  Mr Tim has a report of the day and our congratulations to all our students on a very successful meet.  More information and photos included in the newsletter.

Celebrating Child Safety Week

This week we have been celebrating Child Safety Week where we continue to embrace the message “Every child, in every community, needs a fair go.”  This year the focus is on children feeling safe and supported so they can thrive and grow up being connected to, and supported in, their family, school community and culture.  A special mention and note of thanks to Lize Privitera - our Child Safety Champion for her work and commitment to ensuring our students understand how to identify body clues and to take actions to keep themselves safe.  

Students also participated in Australia’s Biggest Safety Lesson produced by the Daniel Morcombe Foundation.  The message this year focused on consent - “my body, my choice”.  Thank you to parents who joined in with the class viewing of these live streamed events.

Student winners of the Child Safety Bookmark student competition were announced at assembly today - congratulations to these students on their creativity and talent.  Please see further information in the Deputy Principal section of the newsletter.

Term 3 Student Learning Portfolios

Term 3 Student Learning Portfolios will be sent home next week on Wednesday 13 September. The Term 3 Student Learning Portfolios includes the Parent Feedback sheet.  We respectfully ask parents to take the time to complete the Feedback sheet with their child after going through the portfolio samples of student learning. We are very proud of our students efforts to document their learning journey and hope families take up this opportunity to acknowledge their child’s efforts.  Term 3 Student Learning Portfolios are due back at the beginning of Term 4.

Next week, I will be on Long Service Leave.  Mrs Privitera will be Acting Principal in my absence.  A note of gratitude to Mary MacKillop staff for their tireless efforts to ensure our students are offered many and varied engaging learning experiences and opportunities throughout the term.  We hope our students, staff and families have a relaxing holiday break, ready to start another exciting term.  Term 4 begins on Monday 2 October.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

EMP - Drill SIP (Shelter in Place)

Each term we are required to practice EMP Drills to ensure student, staff and community safety.  Today we practiced the SIP Drill.  Our SIP is located in the Allen Hall.  This venue is chosen as a SIP as it has all the amenities (water access, kitchen and toilet facilities) for our school community to shelter inside in the event of an emergency situation.  As per our usual practice, students are prepared for EMP Drills with a Social Story explaining why these drills are necessary as well as what to do during an emergency.  Classes are encouraged to provide information on ‘what worked well’ and ‘even better if’ feedback after the drill so that we are continually revising and refining our processes. 

Public Health and Safety Notice

Unfortunately we have had some cases of foot/mouth, influenza A and gastro at school. In these instances we follow the Department of Health Exclusion Guidelines - https://www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/school-exclusion-table and take every step to notify parents to minimise spread.  We continue to follow COVID-19 Safety measures as well as nightly cleaning in students’ learning spaces.  Unfortunately, in some of the reported cases, students have become infected from their siblings attending childcare.  If your child presents with any of the above infections, please ensure you keep your child home to minimise spread.  The Victorian Govenrment Health Website 'Better Health' has excellent information for families.  See link: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/a-z

School Advisory Committee [SAC] Meeting - Annual General Meeting - Tuesday 17 October, 2023 at 7.00 pm

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.

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.

Dates and School Events

Child Safety Book Mark Competition - The winners of our MMPS Child Safety bookmark competition received a small package during Assembly today.. Additionally, an athletics award was  given out, and the choir sang. We thank those families and friends who attended the final assembly of this term.

Save the Date – Grandparents morning tea and Mass celebration - Friday, 20th October 11.30am. Over the holidays you may wish to gather photos of grandparents and family members and/or grandparents are invited to record a 10 sec video message. These will be shown during the special mass celebration – more information in early Term 4.

Sacrament of Confirmation Masses will be celebrated with Bishop Greg during Parish mass times next week. Please keep in your thoughts and prayers the Confirmation Candidates from our School and Parish who are preparing to receive the Sacrament.

Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Sunday, September 10, 2023

Matthew 18:15-20
Jesus teaches his disciples how to settle disputes in the Church.

In next Sunday’s Gospel we hear Jesus’ plan for how disputes are to be settled within the Christian community. Prayer is also an important part of handling conflict. Jesus promises that he will guide the decisions of those who pray to him. When we have a problem with another person, we pray that God will help to bring peace to the situation and that God will be with us as we work toward this peace.

As a family you may wish to pray together the Peace Prayer of Saint Francis.

St Francis Prayer

Let Us Pray

St Francis Prayer

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.

St Francis of Assisi

On Wednesday 30th of August all the Year 6’s went to camp. There were 7 different activities and they all required some teamwork. Those activities were Rock Climbing, Crate Stacking, Animal Nursery, Initiatives, Camp Scramble, Mountain Boarding and Giant Swing. Thank you to all the teachers that came to support us during camp. We definitely all had fun and made new friends. 

Now let's hear how some of the students felt about the camp. Mia 6MV 

My favorite part was rock climbing. The most challenging part was Mountain Boarding because it was very slippery. Rita 6 MV

I enjoyed camp very much, we had our ups and downs during it with a couple people getting sick and hurt but we all had an excellent time, got out of our comfort zone and had heaps of fun! Ciara 6 MV

My favorite part of camp was being in the same cabin with my friends and trying out new things. But the most challenging part was getting into the harness for the giant swing and going to the top. Logan 6 MV

My favorite part of camp was doing nervous activities that were really fun and getting together to do group activities. Ishaan 6 MV 

On Wednesday 30th of August, we (The year 6s) left for Camp. We all had lots of fun at each activity. There were 6 amazing activities that were all lots of fun. One of my favorite activities was definitely the Giant Swing. One of the most challenging activities was the Rock Climbing. Although camp was lots of fun, it still pushed us all out of our comfort zone. Kiera 6PF

Favorite Part

Something I enjoyed about camp was Mountain Boarding and singing on the last day of camp together.  I also enjoyed the food that was served to us , especially the burgers that we had for lunch on the last day. It was challenging to get out of our comfort zone with some of the activities that we did, like the Giant Swing. Madeleine 6PF

Camp was really good and fun. The one that I really liked was the Mountain Boarding because you get to do the jumps and go really fast.

Challenging Part 

The most challenging part was when I had to pull the string in the Giant Swing because it will just make you fall fast and it will shock you but after that I was good. Lucas 6 PF

Our year 6 camp was a blast!. The place was called The Ranch and if you're wondering no, it doesn’t serve any ranch! There were a variety of activities such as The Giant Swing, The Animal Nursery, The Camp Scramble, Mountain Boarding, Initiatives and my personal fav Rock Climbing! While we were at the ranch, we learnt all about Step, Jump and Leap. This was all to do with stepping Jumping and leaping out of our comfort zones. We also learned about the RedWood forest and how we can be like it. Adiel 6PF

CONGRATULATIONS to the following Year 4-6 students who competed in the Berwick District Athletics Day on Wednesday atCasey Fields Athletics Track:

Dennis, James B, Aiesha, Sienna B, Bridie, Tylane,Cruz, Lily C, Lily H, Jorge, Amelia, Noah C, Abyei , Cassiania, Chloe F, Annabelle, Marielle, Karim, Katya,Joel K, Jovan, Layla M, Leonardo, Angelina M, Thomas P, Raf , Zac P, Adrian P, Tyler Su, Tyler S, Leeya, Telina, Ashton, Toby W, Cecille, Kyden, Taylor, Fluer, Dior, Kate and Abigail.

These students all did a phenomenal job representing our school with 23 of them finishing in first or second place in their event and qualifying for the Divsion Athletics next Wednesday.  Those children who qualified have been sent an email via PAM this afternoon regarding details and payment information.

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_newsBravehearts https://bravehearts.org.au/
• Happy Families https://schools.happyfamilies.com.au/login/mmnwn
  • Password: happymmnwn
• Your Insight article for this week:   R U Ok?
• 080323_RUOK.pdf

  080323_RUOK _pdf 388.09 KB

Child Safety & Wellbeing

National Child Protection Week

Child Safety Week in the Diocese of Sale runs from 3-10 September, and will coincide with National Child Protection Week, and Safeguarding Sunday. The theme for Child Safety Week 2023 is: Every child, in every community, needs a fair go and a chance to grow up safe and supported. Child safety in action in the Diocese of Sale.  In conjunction with the Bishop’s Office, the DOSCEL Secretariat is pleased to promote child safety in all schools and parishes by providing resources to promote the week. We are pleased to have announced the winners and runners up of our MMPS Child Safety Bookmark design competition and today the winners received their prize package.

R U OK? Day 2023 is Thursday 14 September. Wear a splash of yellow

It is a national day of action, when we are all reminded that every day is the day to ask, are you OK?

• R U OK? Day encourages people to stay connected and to let the people in your world know you are really there through meaningful conversations. A simple conversation could change a life.