Our Explicit Improvement Agenda

Student Voice and Agency

Planning for Improved Student Learning - key focus in Mathematics

Celebrations of Community

Important dates for Semester One 2024 - SIMON Reports, Term 2 Student Learning Portfolios and Learning Conversations

SIMON/PAM Student Reports

• SIMON Student Reports uploaded to PAM - Tuesday 25 June, 2024

Student Portfolios

• Term 2, 2024 Student Learning Portfolios distributed to parents - Tuesday 25 June, 2024

Student Learning Conversations

• Wednesday 26 June, 2024 3.40 - 6.20 pm
• Thursday 27 June, 2024 3.40 - 6.20 pm

On Tuesday 25 June the Term 2 Student Learning Portfolio will be distributed at the end of the school day in conjunction with the Semester One Report.  We encourage parents to write feedback for your child’s learning in Term 2 on the feedback sheet provided in your child’s Student Learning Portfolio.  Please return the Student Learning Portfolio at the beginning of Term 3 so your child can continue documenting their learning journey.

Student Learning Conversations for Semester One will be held on Wednesday 26 June, 2024 and Thursday 27 June, 2024 from 3.40 pm to 6.20 pm (Term 2 - Week 11).  Information will be sent home to parents next week via PAM. Bookings can be made from the 12 June. We strongly encourage students to attend the Student Learning Conversations as part of their student voice and agency in their learning, to share their learning from Semester One with you and their learning goals for Term 3. 

PSG Meetings

Term 2 & Semester 1 PSG Meetings have been held over the last few weeks and will continue over the next two weeks.  The PSG meeting focus is to review and monitor student plans such as a Personalised Learning Plan [PLP], Student Adjustment and Evaluation Plan [SAEP], Behaviour Support Plan [BSP] and/or Safety Plan.  The PSG also provides an opportunity to work in partnership with parents, the student and other professional agencies for improved student learning outcomes.  We look appreciate parents taking the time to attend and work in partnership with their child’s class teacher and school staff.

School Dates  

A reminder that this term concludes on Thursday 27th June 2024 as the following day is a School Closure Day DOSCEL TIL Day for staff (no students to attend school).

Feedback to Students

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 . . .

Congratulations to those students who show great responsibility when collecting Office tubs or messages to and from their classrooms to the Student Reception area. The students who make an effort to walk through the school and come quietly into the office is noticed. These students show great responsibility and provide a good example to others. Well done to these students.

SAVE THE DATE!  The Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop 

A School Family Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady Help of Christians Church on Saturday 3rd August 2024 at 6.00pm. Students and families are invited to take on special roles for this Parish Mass.  Watch this space for further details.

Winter Appeal

During winter especially, material donations such as food is needed. This year students in the MacKillop Kids Group are organising this year’s Winter Appeal by collecting a variety of soup tins and packets. Take part in ‘Put the Warmth in Winter’ by gathering canned soup donations to help our local Narre Warren Conference to support those experiencing food insecurity this winter.

A few things to keep in mind: 

• To uphold the dignity of those receiving goods, please ensure that all food items are not due to expire for at least the next 6 months. 
• All items must be non-perishable and undamaged. 
• Your donations of tins/packets of soup can be placed in classroom collection boxes. Thank You for your support.

Celebrate the feasts of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary

The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus falls on the 19th day after Pentecost (a Friday), and the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary follows on the next day. If you’ve heard of devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary but aren’t quite sure what they’re all about, read on for a brief introduction and a few ideas for what your family might do.

Both of these feasts use the heart as a symbol of love.

In the case of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the emphasis is on God’s love and mercy. In fact, that love and mercy is so intense that the symbol of the sacred heart is a human heart encircled with a crown of thorns, crowned with a cross, and radiating flames: this is how much Christ loves us. This feast is a celebration of God’s great love for us.

Marian devotions flow from Mary’s privileged status not only as the Mother of God but also as the first fruit of the grace poured out by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. She is the model Christian; devotion to her Immaculate Heart not only calls upon her help, but provides a model for what our own hearts should look like.

Here are some ways to celebrate these feasts:

• Share the symbolism
• Encourage your children to always to turn to Jesus
• Choose a craft or recipe to do together eg: Sacred Heart pancakes
• Read a book or watch a video eg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKVMKfIm7HU or read Psalm 23
• Celebrate liturgically
• Learn a particular Sacred Heart prayer with your family

School Photos - Advancedlife Photography

Unfortunately we still have not received this year's school photos.  As per the letter from Advancedlife Photography, which was published in last week's newsletter, please do not hesitate to give Advancedlife Photography a call directly on 9852 1133 if you wish to express your concerns.

SOCCER CLINICS 

This week , students from Foundation, Year 3 and Year 4 got their opportunity to participate in a soccer clinic run by Soccer Star Academy . I was very impressed with the students skills, effort, and behaviour during these sessions, particularly our foundies . Please see some photos attached!

NETBALL CLINICS 

On Tuesday 11th June , students from years 4,5 and 6 will participate in Netball Clinics . All students from these levels should wear sports uniform on this day. 

DIVISON CROSS COUNTRY 

This event was held at Toomuc Reserve last week. MMPS had 13 students represent the school. All our students gave their very best efforts and achieved fantastic results. The following students finished in the top 10 in their race and qualified for the Regional Carnival on June 12: 

Noah C, Tyler S. and Alyra C.

As part of Design and Technologies, Year 4 students have been investigating the suitability of materials, systems, components, tools and equipment for a range of purposes. In particular, they investigated the properties and construction relationships of an engineered product or system, for example a bridge that will hold a certain weight. 

To put their knowledge to the test, students worked in teams to design and build a model bridge that needed to meet specific criteria, which included a certain height, length and needed to support 2 kilograms of weight. They needed to follow the design process, which included asking, imagining, planning, improving and sharing. All students were successful in meeting the criteria. They also demonstrated effective teamwork by listening to each others ideas and suggestions.

In assembly last week 4FW presented their prayer cloth. The students explained each part of their prayer cloth.

This is 4FWs prayer cloth. The quote we chose is, ‘ In God we trust’. We chose this quote because we believe, as followers of Jesus, we need to trust in God. Some people might let us down, but we know we can always trust in God.This quote was written by Mary MacKillop in 1874.

Our symbol is the cross. This represents how much Jesus loves us. In each cross we added symbols that are special to us. The aboriginal border shows that we are aware of and respect the traditional owners of our land.

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

Congratulations to the following children on their Learning Awards over the past few weeks: