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Our Explicit Improvement Agenda
Student Voice and Agency
Planning for Improved Student Learning - key focus in Mathematics
Celebrations of Learning
This week our students had the opportunity to participate in our school Cross Country event for students in Years 3 to 6. A big thank you to Mr Tim, our Year 3 to 6 Teachers and ESO staff for their efforts to ensure this event is scheduled into our busy week. Information from Mr. Tim on the Cross Country event will be included in next week’s newsletter. Congratulations to all our students for their participation and for having a go.
Students have also been very busy in Discovery coding Robots - Cubettos, MBots and Sphero Bolts. To read all about the fun of coding in DC with Mrs Adcock, as well as information on what’s happening in Art this term, please go to the section in the Bulletin. We are very fortunate at Mary MacKillop to have such a talented and dedicated specialist team who strive to ensure our students’ are offered a diverse range of learning experiences in their specialist subjects - a big thank you to Mr. Tim, Mrs Adcock, Mrs Giles and Mrs Hill.
Celebrations of Community
Mother’s Day Stall will be held on Wednesday 8 May. Our Year 6 student leaders will run the Mother’s Day Stall and students can purchase their Mother’s Day gift for $5.
Our annual Mother’s Day Breakfast will be held on Friday 10th May beginning at 8.00 am - 8.40 am, followed by time in the classrooms and then assembly at 9.00 am. We look forward to celebrating this very special event in appreciation of all our mums, grandmothers and very special people in our school community.
Student feedback
Each week as a school community, we stop to reflect on the amazing things our students are collectively doing in their classroom and on the playground. Here is this week’s feedback . . .
It is a credit to all students who play soccer on the senior oval for the way they are following game rules, encouraging each other and showing empathy when needed. Thanks for the way you are participating and enjoying play time.
It is wonderful to hear students confidently announcing morning prayer most days of the week. Thank you to the senior students for the responsible and respectful way they share prayer to the entire school - this is an enriching and lovely way to start each day
Well done to the students who all participated in our ANZAC prayer service with respect. Students sat and listened with care and thoughtfully responded.
Well done Year 3 students on your ANZAC Day response and the efforts on your art work. The office welcome area looks incredible!
Thank you to the students in 4FW for demonstrating amazing learning behaviours during learning time…your completed work shows you understand what you are doing - It is fantastic to be part of your learning journey!
Amazing job to the Year 6 boys playing soccer on the oval. You are continuing your positive behaviour from Term 1 into Term 2 by stopping your game and picking up the ball when you hear the music at Recess and Lunch! Well done boys!
Great work to the Year 6 girls playing netball during Recess and Lunch! Well done in your efforts to be inclusive and allowing everyone to participate and have a go! Keep up the great attitude!
It has been wonderful seeing junior students showing acts of kindness on the small oval and play equipment areas. For example, when playing basketball, one student tripped up and fell heavy on the ground. His friends offered him five free shots to help make him feel better - a lovely act of kindness. Another example is when someone was upset because they didn’t get a turn of acting out a character in a game. Her friends suggested she could have a turn of acting any character, and they had so much fun - another wonderful act of kindness. Keep it up juniors!
Catholic Education Week
Catholic Education Week 2024 will be celebrated in the Diocese of Sale from Friday May 17 - May 24. This year's theme is 'I am making all things new' Revelations 21:5
An eform will be sent home via PAM tomorrow asking permission for your child to have a special cookie sent home on Friday 17th May, plus outlining interesting events that are scheduled during Catholic Education Week such as the following - we look forward to celebrating this very special week with you:
- Student Lead Fundraisers
- Open classroom afternoon
- Whole School Mass celebration
Walk to School Day - Active Kids are Healthy Kids
Now in its 25th year, National Walk Safely to School Day (WSTSD) is an annual campaign and event which encourages all primary school children, their parents and carers, to walk safely and regularly to school. WSTSD will be held on Friday 10 May 2024. Until they’re ten, children must always hold an adult’s hand when crossing the road. Get together - ride, walk, scooter or if you must use the car, try leaving it a good distance from the school and walk the rest of the way.
2025 Foundation Enrolments - very limited places left!
If any of our school families have friends or family thinking of enrolling their child in Foundation next year, please let them know we only have a few positions left. Applications are available on our website or hard copies from the office.
School Dates and Events
Please note there will be no Assembly tomorrow - Friday 3 May
- FIRST RECONCILIATION CELEBRATIONS 17 APRIL 2024 Noah B, Mila B, Violet C, Naya H, Kayla L, Emilia M, Isabel M, Charles O, Aria P, Allyson-May R, Roko V. Congratulations!
- FIRST RECONCILIATION CELEBRATIONS 20 APRIL 2024 Ethan E, Zayden, Florence L & Zeplin R. Congratulations!
- FIRST RECONCILIATION CELEBRATIONS 27 APRIL 2024 Esther G, Aurora, Charlotte M, Ethan N, Ava V, Dharren F. Congratulations!
Sacrament of First Eucharist
Children should be baptised in the Catholic Church and should have received the Sacrament of Reconciliation last year or prior, before enrolling for the Sacrament of First Eucharist. A copy of your child’s Baptism and Reconciliation certificate needs to be attached to the enrolment forms if baptised/received Reconciliation outside of Our Lady Help of Christians Parish.
PARENT FORMATION NIGHT - TONIGHT!!
- Date: Thursday 2nd May 2024 (final session tonight)
- Time: 6.45pm arrival for a 7pm start
- Venue: Our Lady Help of Christians Parish
- Levy: A levy of $50 is payable via CDF online.
- Making a payment via CDF confirms your enrolment in the Parent Formation Night. - https://olhc.cdfpay.org.au
- CDF Payment opens on Monday 1st April at 10am and closes on Tuesday 30th April at 10am
Sign up to receive the OLHC Parish Newsletter, every week. Click here for this week’s Parish Bulletin https://olhc.org.au/parish-bulletin/
Mother’s Day home activity
As Mother’s Day approaches all mothers, carers, special friends and grandmothers are most welcome to participate in the take home activity. Each student has been provided with a template to complete at home and during the Mother’s Day Assembly families will be asked to place the completed task on the designated display area or if you are unable to attend, your child/children can add the completed template to the display area. The templates are attached for you to access.
ANZAC Merchandise On behalf of Berwick RSL a huge thank you to all who supported the merchandise stall. A total of $340 was raised. Well done to the student leaders Jayden, Dior, Hanisi & Tiffany who volunteered to sell the items! Great job!
Walk to School Day - Active Kids are Healthy Kids
Now in its 25th year, National Walk Safely to School Day (WSTSD) is an annual campaign and event which encourages all primary school children, their parents and carers, to walk safely and regularly to school. WSTSD will be held on Friday 10 May 2024. Until they’re ten, children must always hold an adult’s hand when crossing the road. Get together - ride, walk, scooter, walk all they or if you must use the car, try leaving it a good distance from the school and walk the rest of the way. Join in the fun and walk to school together!
Sixth Sunday of Easter, Cycle B
Sunday, May 5, 2024
John 15:9-17
Jesus commands his disciples to love one another.
Next Sunday’s Gospel follows immediately after the Gospel proclaimed last Sunday, in which Jesus taught that he was the vine and that his disciples were the branches. In the example of the vine and the branches, we learned that our union with Jesus will lead to fruitful service. Next Sunday’s reading extends this teaching to describe the kind of service that Christians are called upon to offer to others. Jesus commands his disciples to love one another as he has loved them. Make choices this week that will demonstrate love for others in action. In family life, we have many opportunities to show love in action.
HOCKEY CLINICS
On Monday April 22, Year 3, 5 and 6 students participated in a 45 minute clinic run by Hockey Victoria at our school. All students did a wonderful job learning the skills and playing the games offered. Some photos are included. Other year levels will have the opportunity to participate in soccer or netball clinics later this term.
SENIOR WINTER LIGHTNING PREMIERSHIP DAY
This event for all our Year 5 and 6 students will take place on May 15. Soccer will be played at Sweeney Reserve and Netball and Kickball will be played at Timbarra Primary . Please complete your child’s permission eform if you have not already done so.
YEAR 3- 6 CROSS COUNTRY
This event was held at school yesterday. Details in next week’s newsletter. Children who qqualified for Divisional Cross Country will receive an eform via PAM tomorrow.
Thank you to all families who eagerly made their way through the Art Gallery at the end of last Term. It was so exciting to be able to share all of the students' hard work from the Term and receive such wonderful feedback from all.
We are very excited to continue to update and share the Art Gallery space with you this Term. Students from Foundation to Year 6 have begun the Term focusing on painting. Students have looked at colour mixing and how from just 3 primary colours (red, blue and yellow), such a huge variety of colours can be made. Students will continue to create artworks using a variety of painting techniques over the next few weeks that we will display in the art gallery for all to see. Thank you for being patient with us while we create our masterpieces!
Robots Robots Robots!!!! All students from Foundation through to Year 6 have been busy creating algorithms to control many different robots.
Our Foundation students have been working in groups to use the Cubetto robot. They have used the forward, left and right coding blocks to navigate the robot around Cubetto’s map. Amazing work Foundation!
Year 1 & 2 Students have also been using Cubetto. They have learnt how to use the function block and function line so they can move Cubetto more effectively around the map. Year 2 students have also been experimenting with loops, making Cubetto move around in a continuous loop. Students have also been using the iPads and connecting via bluetooth to the Bluebot robots.
Dash and Dot and the MBot robots have been popular for the Year 3 & 4 students. They have been using block coding to create visual programs and using repetition, branching and events in their codes. One example is the Dash robot will only complete the code if you clap your hands first.
Our newest robot, the Sphero Bolts, have kept our Senior students on the ball! They have had to use their knowledge of angles and block coding to move these sphere shaped robots. They created several games such as Sphero Ping Pong - using their hands as the paddle and creating an intense game of Hot Potato, gently throwing the Sphero to members in their group.
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
Child Safe Policy
Child friendly version of Child Safe Policy (updated June 2022) Congratulations to our Year 6 Student Leaders on their creation of the student friendly version of the Child Safe Policy. This policy has been uploaded to our website. Child Safe page and can be found in the following link https://www.marymacnarre.catholic.edu.au/child-safety-standards
Parental Use of Mobile Phones (Privacy Laws)
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
Child Safe Resources to support Students, Parents/Carers
eSAFETY COMMISSIONER - https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents.
FOR FAMILIES - https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/parent-resources/online-safety-for-every-family
CCYP - Commission for Children and Young People https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/child-safe-standards/
SCHOOL TV - https://marymacnarre.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news
Trauma Recovery
Trauma in children significantly disturbs their sense of safety and normalcy, leading to substantial emotional and behavioural changes. Such disturbances often result from exposure to traumatic events, which may be exacerbated by continuous media coverage. This exposure can trigger stress, anxiety, and trauma, with varying recovery timelines due to the unpredictable nature of trauma's impact. Observing young people grappling with these effects can be highly distressing for parents and caregivers.
It's important to establish a nurturing environment to help restore a child's sense of security to help promote resilience. Active involvement in their recovery is essential, as is recognising the unique, personalised needs of each child in responding to trauma. Depending on their age, children may present with different symptoms, such as regressive behaviours in younger ones or withdrawal and agitation in older children and teens. It is important to monitor and manage the type of information children may access to reduce their emotional distress.
The brain stores traumatic events as powerful emotional memories, influencing behaviour through mechanisms beyond a child's conscious awareness. By providing young people with support and equipping them with coping mechanisms to handle uncertainty, parents and carers can greatly enhance a child's capacity to recover and build long-term emotional resilience.
This Special Report will help you identify a child experiencing trauma and how you can support them to overcome it. Here is the link to your Special Report:
https://marymacnarre.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-trauma-recovery
BRAVEHEARTS - https://bravehearts.org.au/
WE ARE A HAPPY FAMILIES SCHOOL
Our school is subscribed to the Happy Families School Membership! Owned and run by Dr Justin Coulson, one of Australia’s leading parenting experts, the membership offers a wealth of parenting education and resources. We will regularly share resources available through our membership with you, including Insight Articles and Webinars. You can also access your resources at any time using the below URL (unique to our school) and password.
Unique URL - https://schools.happyfamilies.com.au/login/mmnwn Password - happymmnwn
We recommend bookmarking this link. You should only need to put the password in once and the site will remember you.
Insights Articles - A new Insights article is released weekly during the term, and we will include these with the school newsletter. Insights articles are written by Dr Justin Coulson and other leading experts and provide parenting education and support for a wide variety of traditional and contemporary parenting challenges. You can also access 300+ previous Insights articles on our school’s URL.
Parent Webinars
You have access to 4 live webinars a year (one per term). We will announce upcoming webinar details in the Insights articles. You’ll have access to the recording via our school’s URL but as the webinars are live, we recommend you watch them in real time so that you can ask Dr Justin and / or the guest presenter any questions you may have.
We hope you enjoy the Insights and webinars!