Our Explicit Improvement Agenda

Student Voice and Agency

Planning for improved student learning

2024 Foundation Students - Parent Information Session 7.00 - 8.00pm tonight

Our Parent Information Session for our 2024 Foundation students will be held tonight at 7.00 pm in the Chapel.  We look forward to meeting new families to our school and introducing them to school life at Mary MacKillop.  

2024 Foundation Students - Orientation Session 1

We are very much looking forward to welcoming our 2024 Foundation Students to their first Orientation Session on-site at school tomorrow (Friday 10 November) from 9.00 - 10.30 am.  Parents and 2024 Foundation Students are to meet in the Allen Hall and then will be escorted down to the Foundation Classrooms.  Students will be brought back to the Allen Hall at the end of the Orientation Session.  Thank you to Sally Lane, Gabby Nicoll, Laura Fonti, Marita Glass and Jacqui Meunier for their tireless work and preparation to warmly welcome our 2024 students. 

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 this 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

A reminder that our Parish Schools Cup Inaugural Event happening on Friday 17 November (9.00am to approximately 12.30 pm) between our three Parish schools - Mary MacKillop, Don Bosco and Trinity.  Further information was given in last week's newsletter (Week 5)

2024 Student Leader Process - Year 5 students

Our warmest congratulations to the Year 5 students who nominated for student leadership positions in 2024.  Students are busy preparing their speeches and we look forward to their speech presentations in the coming weeks.  Our student leaders play a very important role in our school community.  They are ambassadors and role models for our school and participate in many and varied activities from leading assembly each week, guided tours, Mass ministries, sporting events, growing and selling garden produce and the list goes on.  Our current Year 6 school leaders are exemplary role models to all students in our school community.  We are very proud of the leadership potential and development of our students and the school values they display in their interactions and leadership roles.   

2023 School Dates and events to the end of the 2023 School Year

The 2023 school year is fast winding to a close with so many activities and events on for our students.  It is going to be a jam packed last 5 weeks of term.  Please ensure you take the time to look through the dates, times etc so you are able to join in the events going on.  

Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Sunday, November 12, 2023

Matthew 25:1-13

Jesus tells the parable of the Parable of the ten bridesmaids, teaching his disciples the importance of being prepared, ready and alert and to meet him among us.

Next Sunday’s Gospel reading is about being ready for something different. We learn about being ready to receive Jesus. Just like the wise women in this story, we need to be ready to receive Jesus. When we live as Jesus has taught us to live, we are ready to receive him. What are some things Jesus has taught us to do?

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 remaining 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 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, there are only a few weeks left to take up this opportunity. It was wonderful to have the parents attend yesterday in our Chapel. May thanks for taking the time to prayer together.

Parish Schools Parent Prayer Group

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. Our student leaders will be selling merchandise during recess tomorrow. Items range from $2 to $5.

Our Welcome Garden has transformed into a field of knitted poppies. During the month of November, 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. 

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

Annual Christmas Gift Appeal supporting St Vincent de Paul beginning next week. Further details to follow.

SUBWAY LUNCH FUNDRAISER

Friday 24th November 2023

A reminder that if you wish to place an order, envelopes and correct monies must be returned to school no later than 9am on Friday 17 November.

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