Our Explicit Improvement Agenda

Student Voice and Agency

Planning for improved student learning

Parish News - Congratulations to Fr. Brendan

We warmly congratulate Fr. Brendan on his appointment to Parish Priest in Warragul and Drouin Parishes.  Fr. Brendan has been the Parish Priest of Our Lady Help of Christians Parish for the past 12 years.  In that time we have been very blessed to have his guidance, friendship, support and spiritual direction.  It is with very mixed emotions that we farewell Fr. Brendan to his new appointment - he will be sadly missed but we know he will bring the same gifts we have been blessed with to his new Parish in January 2024.  Fr. Michael Willemsen will begin in our Parish in January 2024 and we look forward to welcoming him in the new Year.

Remembrance Day

Our field of knitted poppies continues to grow with the support of Avril - Grandmother of Harvey (6PF), Fletcher (2SE) and Darcy (FSL).  We are so blessed to have such dedicated parents and grandparents in our school community who contribute is so many ways.  Our Poppy display will be set up next week in preparation for Remembrance Day on 11 November.  If you have a prayer or special message of remembrance for a loved, please collect your ‘message card’ from the office and place on the poppy of your choice. 

Parish Schools Cup - Inaugural Event

We are very excited to share with you the news of our Parish Schools Cup Inaugural Event happening on Friday 17 November (9.00 to approximately 12.30 pm) between our three Parish schools - Mary MacKillop, Don Bosco and Trinity.  A big THANK YOU to Mr Tim for initiating this very special event for our Year 5 and Year 6s as well as the Physical Education Teachers at Don Bosco - Richard and Trinity - Nicole for their efforts, teamwork and planning in getting the event up and running, with what we hope to be a yearly calendar event for our senior students.  We also acknowledge our Parish support in their sponsorship of the event and look forward to presenting the winning trophy and awards to best sports persons on the day.  More information on this very special event is in Mr Tim’s section of the newsletter. 

Canteen Closures

Please note there is NO canteen on the following dates:

• Monday 6th November
• Monday 20th November
• Friday 24th November
• Friday 15th December

Subway Lunch - Friday 24th November

Envelopes went home with each child today.  If you wish to place an order please ensure the envelope is returned no later than 9am on Friday 17 November

What’s in this week’s newsletter 

In this week’s newsletter you will read about our Parish Schools Cup upcoming event, Parish Prayer group information, Remembrance Day service on Friday 10 November, PE, Fee information and Visual Arts News.

Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Sunday, November 5, 2023 

Matthew 23:1-12
The greatest among the disciples must live in service of others.

In next Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus teaches us how to be a good leader. Jesus teaches us what it means to be a good leader. He says that good leaders are humble. That means they put the needs of others before their own. They don’t do good things just so that people will see them. In prayer, ask God for the wisdom to grow to be people who humbly serve others as Jesus taught.

Parish Schools Parent Prayer Group

Parents and families are invited to attend our Parent Prayer Group. In the busyness of our lives it can be a real challenge to take time to be present, to take time for prayer, faith and meditation. Let us take an opportunity to make a small change, a step towards prayerfulness, making space for God in our lives.  We will be alternating venues for the Parent Prayer Group between Trinity Catholic Primary School chapel, Mary MacKillop Primary School chapel and Don Bosco Primary School Library. We encourage parents to visit the different schools to get to know our wider Parish school community and engage in moments of prayer together.

Below is the planned roster of dates and locations for Term 4. The facilitation of the sessions will be shared among the clergy from the Parish, Fr Brendan, Fr Ajin, and the Schools RELs - Emily, Tahlia & Lize. 

The next meeting will take place in the Chapel here at Mary MacKillop School, starting at 9:00 a.m. If you can, please make you way to the Chapel so that we can share prayer at 9:00 a.m.

The chapel will be open from 9am for all those interested in attending with sign in sheets available. Don Bosco Library will be open from 8:50am. We are looking forward to seeing you at the prayer groups! 

We warmly invite parents and parishioners to gather in the school chapel at 9am Wednesday each week for prayer. 

Class and Whole School Mass schedule – please note the upcoming buddy mass and whole school mass schedule during the remaining weeks of Term 4. Parents and friends are welcome to attend.

Remembrance Day

The Berwick RSL have once again provided Remembrance Day poppies and associated stock to be offered for sale on their behalf. The Remembrance Appeal raises funds to support former and serving members of the Australian Defence Forces and dependents when in need. Most of the funds are raised through the sale of Poppies. Leading up to Remembrance Day our student leaders will be selling merchandise during recess tomorrow and next Wednesday. Items range from $1 to $5.

Our Welcome Garden will transform into a field of knitted poppies during this time. We also honour the memory of our friends and family members who have passed away. Families are invited to put a loved one's name on a card (provided at the school office) and attach it to a poppy as a gesture of remembrance. 

On Friday 10th November the senior students will lead a Remembrance Day Service during in Allen Hall, commencing at 2.30pm.

SCHOOL FEES

2024 Fee Information

2024 Fee information went home with each eldest child in the family today. Please ensure you read and complete the required documents and return to the office by Monday 4th December.

Families with current ongoing direct debit arrangements do not need to complete a new direct debit form unless they wish to make changes to their payment frequency or details.

Families who hold a current eligible Centrelink Health Card Card are strongly encouraged to completed the CSEF & School fees Concession Program Application Form to access fee support and the concessional fee rate of $520.00 per family.

Fee information and forms can also be located on our website or via the PAM Knowledge Bank.  If you have any queries in regards to completing any of the fee related forms, please contact the office and one of our friendly team will guide you through the process.

2023 Fees

Thank you to all the families who continue to meet their fee commitment to the school. We appreciate your continued support.

All families who have not entered into a direct debit arrangement with the school should now have finalised their fees for 2023 unless other arrangements have been made. We ask that you make final fee payments by the end of November. 

Families who have received a fee reminder letter and have not finalised their fee accounts or made contact with the school to make alternative arrangements are asked to do so as a matter of importance. There are a number of options available to families who are experiencing genuine financial or personal hardship that can be discussed confidentially with either Liz Jones (Principal) or Jacqui Meunier (Admin-Finance).

Any arrears that are extensively overdue and without a fee arrangement in place will be referred to DOSCEL School Fee Department for further support.

INAUGURAL OLHC PARISH SCHOOLS CUP

On November 17, all year 5 and 6 students will be competing in our Inaugural OLHC Parish Schools Cup. On this day, year 5 and 6 students from our two other parish schools, Trinity and Don Bosco will come to Mary MacKillop as we host this event . The students will play one of the following sports: Basketball, Tennis, 5 a side soccer, Teeball or Volleystars (modified Volleyball) The event will run from 9:00am- 12:30pm. There is no cost for this event, nor permission needed as the event takes place at our school.

If any parents would like to assist with a team or umpiring on the day, and have a current working with children check with Mary Mackillop as the nominated school, please contact Clint Timothy ctimothy@marymacnarre.catholic.edu.au

We look forward to a great day.

In Art students have begun the Term with a focus on printmaking and painting. All levels using different painting skills to apply different techniques to add detail and texture to their artworks. Students have been looking at different artists such as Claude Monet, Sandra Silberzweig and Anna Blatman and creating their own artwork inspired by these talented artists. It has been exciting to watch students skills develop and their excitement each week when they are painting! Students will continue with painting over the next two weeks and move into textiles for the remainder of the Term. 

CALL OUT: If any parents have any unwanted balls of wool lying around at home that they would be able to donate to the Art Room that would be greatly appreciated! 

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
• Your latest weekly insight for Term 4 is attached below:

TeachingKidsToBeKind.pdf

TeachingKidsToBeKind _pdf 141.50 KB

Daniel Morcombe Foundation - Day For Daniel - $86.95 was raised.  Thank you