Our Explicit Improvement Agenda

Student Voice and Agency

Planning for improved student learning

Parish Schools Cup - Inaugural Event - tomorrow at MMPS

We are very excited to share with you the news of our Parish Schools Cup Inaugural Event happening tomorrow - 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 welcoming Fr. Brendan to present the winning trophy and awards to best sports persons on the day.  

NB:  Due to the Parish Schools Cup there will be

NO assembly on Friday 17th November

2024 Foundation Students - Orientation Session 2

We are very much looking forward to 2024 Foundation Students 2nd Orientation Session on-site at school next week on Wednesday 22 November 9.00 - 10.30 am.  Parents and 2024 Foundation Students will meet in the Allen Hall and then 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 especially to our Year 5 students who assisted in the first Orientation session and we look forward to their help again next Wednesday. 

2024 Student Leader Positions - Year 5 students

Year 5 students who nominated for school leadership positions are very busy preparing their speeches in preparation for their presentation 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 and 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.

COVID-19 Increased Cases

In line with recent media reporting, there is an increase in COVID-19 cases within our community.  Please follow the recommendations below if your child tests positive to COVID-19, either through a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) or PCR test.

It is strongly recommended that students who test positive: 

• Stay at home and isolate for five (5) days
• Should not attend school after five (5) days if still symptomatic.

Students who are symptomatic but have not tested positive should not attend school until their symptoms resolve.  We ask parents to advise the school of the COVID-19 positive test result. For more information, please see the follow the Checklist for COVID cases in the link below:

https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/checklist-cases

Subway Orders - due by 9am tomorrow morning!

If your child would like to order s Subway Lunch for Friday 24th Noember, order envelopes and correct money must be received at the office by 9am tomorrow.  Unforunately we cannot accpet any late orders.

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.  

Sunday, November 19, 2023

Matthew 25:14-30
Jesus tells the parable of the talents, in which he teaches about the importance of using the gifts that God has given to us in service to the Kingdom of Heaven.

In next Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells a parable, or story. In the parable, Jesus mentions a different type of talent, a type of coin. You might like to read the passage which tells what each of the three servants does with his talents. We all have particular skills and abilities, and each person’s combination of skills and abilities is unique. Our skills and abilities are among God’s many gifts to us. Today we use the word talents to describe a person’s special abilities. Jesus does not want us to bury our talents. Jesus wants us to develop and use the gifts and talents that we have been given.

Parish Schools Parent Prayer Group

Parents and families are invited to attend our next Parent Prayer Group. This week Mary MacKillop hosts the prayer group and we invite all families from across the three Parish schools to join us. Many thanks to those parents who attended at the previous gathering. The time shared was a faithful opportunity to share our trust in God. If you have 15 minutes after class morning prayer please join us in the Chapel.

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.

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.

This year's Annual Christmas Gift Appeal in support of St. Vincent de Paul is organised by the Mary MacKillop Kids group. This is a wonderful chance for the school community to help those in our neighbourhood who need assistance over the Christmas season. The MacKillop Kids group gathers to uphold the values of Catholic Social Teaching and are committed to support this social justice initiative.  Your donations are greatly appreciated.

Please note that the canteen will be closed on the following dates:

• 15 November 
• 20 November 
• 24 November

(Foundation to Year 5 only) Last day for lunch orders will be Friday 15 December 

NB:  Year 6 students will have their own special 'Fun Day' lunch on 15th December, as detailed in the recent eform sent home via PAM

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