Welcome back

It was fantastic to have our students back today after the 5 day Circuit Breaker Lockdown.  We are most appreciative of everyone’s support and understanding with little time to prepare.  We look forward to settling students back into their school routines and to continue to focus on their learning.

Student Learning Conversations (Parent Teacher Interviews)

The beginning of the year Student Learning Conversations will be held on:

• Monday 22 February from 3.40 pm – 6.30 pm
• Tuesday 23 February from 3.40 pm - 6.30 pm

At this stage, the Student Learning Conversations will still take place in the Allen Hall, however this may change subject to current COVID-19 Guidelines/restrictions.  The purpose of this time is to acquaint yourself with your child’s teacher and for your child to share their data, learning goals and strategies for the Term.  As a school we value the opportunity for students to be active in their learning, to meet with parents and to establish a positive working partnership for the 2021 school year.  PTO login information was sent home to parents on Tuesday 9 February, 2021.  Please contact the office if you require any assistance in making your booking.

School Advisory Committee Meeting

The School Advisory Committee Meeting was held on Tuesday evening via Google Meet.  The following information was shared during the meeting:

2021 Review

We are part of a group of DOSCEL schools undertaking a revised version of School Review.  The plan for DOSCEL, at this stage, is for the Review to go ahead in March and will focus on establishing our point in time, what we are doing well and what we need to continue to focus on for improved performance and student learning experiences.

Rationale of School Review

The School Self Reflection Tool provides a vital link between Strategic Planning and the IMPACT of School Improvement Strategies/Practices on the achievement of the school’s goals. 

The Strategic Improvement Plan and Annual Implementation Plans drive the work of school improvement – a planned, deliberate and targeted process of improvement. 

The aim of the School Self Reflection Tool is to assist the school to understand the IMPACT of its school improvement strategies/practices on the achievement of its Strategic Intent – the identified outcome of the Strategic Improvement Plan. 

Purpose

The School Self Reflection Tool assists schools to identify where they are at in their improvement journey and why with a focus on “so what?”

As a consequence, the School Self Reflection Tool is a critical instrument in assisting schools to construct a Strategic Improvement Plan as an outcome of School Review that:

• leverages the current strengths of the school context – its achievements as an outcome of the Strategic Improvement Plan.
• addresses the challenges that the current school context provides – the challenges experienced over the improvement period and what needs to be addressed in the next Strategic Improvement Plan.

School Review Components

• CONTEXT - Where is the school at, why and what does the school need to consider to ensure it moves forward? What are the implications for this in the next improvement period? 
• SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PRIORITIES – Where is the school going and how will it get there? 

Dates for Review

Wednesday 3 March to Friday 5 March, at this stage.  The timetable is set over the 3 days and DOSCEL staff will spend time interviewing students, teachers, Fr. Brendan, ESO & Admin staff, parents – SAC & FOMM. 

School Advisory Committee Meeting 2021 Dates

• Tuesday 16 February, 2021 at 7.00 pm via Google Meet
• Tuesday 27 April, 2021 at 7.00 pm
• Tuesday 27 July, 2021 at 7.00 pm
• Tuesday 31 August, 2021 at 7.00 pm ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
• Tuesday 23 November, 2021 at 7.00 pm

SIMON Learning Management System

The benefits of SIMON for our school

o   Student Management Module

• Maintain Student profiles, monitor behaviour and attendance

o   Learning Management

• Learning and Assessment, learning resources, timetabling

o   School Administration

• School Communication, Resources, Document and Data Management

o   Parent Communication [PAM]

We are most appreciative to our Admin staff – Jacqui Meunier and Julie Huntington who worked tirelessly over the Summer holidays to ensure the back end set up of SIMON went smoothly.  Our Attendance Module is working very well and we are now planning our next steps moving forward to consider Assessments and Reports, uploading student profile data and Educational Assessment Reports into the SIMON Learning Management System.

Relocation of the Parent Room

As mentioned at the end of last year, the Art Portable was removed and Art classes for 2021 will be held in the Parent Room.  The Parent Room was relocated to the room next door (just behind the canteen) – where we have set up the 2nd hand uniform shop for parents.  Thank you to our generous parents who donated uniforms over the Summer holiday break and helped us to re-stock uniform supplies for our new families.  During COVID-19 restrictions, if you need to access the parent room, please contact the school office.  

WELLBEING

Effective parents influence rather than control their children and young people. These seven strategies will help parents be influential in children’s lives at every stage of development. Read the full article as attached below:

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Sacrament of Reconciliation 

As the snap lockdown has been eased, the parish would like to invite all families enrolling for the sacrament of Reconciliation, to attend one of the masses on the below dates to make the commitment and submit the enrolment form if you have not already done so.

Saturday 20th Feb 2021 at 9:15am, 6pm

Sunday   21st Feb 2021 at 7:30am 9am, 11am and 6pm

Tuesday  23rd Feb 2021 at 7:00pm

Sacrament of Confirmation Celebrations 

Children who were unable to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation on 13th and 14th of February, the parish has decided to celebrate Confirmation on 20th and 21st of March 2021 at 3pm. You are not required to book these sessions. Children booked for Saturday 13th Feb will now celebrate on 20th March at 3pm and those booked on Sunday 14th Feb will now celebrate on 21st March at 3pm. For any queries, please contact the sacrament coordinator on 9704 7935.

Sunday, February 21, 2021

First Sunday of Lent, Cycle B

Jesus said to believe in the Gospel. The word gospel means “good news.”

Do you believe the good news that Jesus will help you to do what’s right when you are tempted— just like the angels helped Jesus?

At our Baptism we received the gift of the Holy Spirit, which strengthens us and helps us to resist temptations. During Lent, we remember our Baptism and ask God to help us because without his help, we are not strong enough to resist temptation.

Caritas Project Compassion

This week the season of Lent began with Ash Wednesday, which also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allows Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to alleviate poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice.

We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through your prayer, fasting and almsgiving by supporting Project Compassion. Each classroom has a Project Compassion box for donations or you can donate online via the Caritas Australia website at: lent.caritas.org.au

Saint Oscar Romero is our inspiration for Project Compassion 2021, so in his words let’s “Aspire not to have more, but to be more.”

PARISH NEWS

Mary MacKillop Primary School is one of the three Parish Primary Schools belonging to the Parish of Our Lady Help of Christians, Narre Warren within the Diocese of Sale. Fr Brendan Hogan is our Parish Priest and Fr Isuru Weliwatte is our Assistant Priest. We are grateful for their ongoing prayers, involvement and support of the students, families and staff of Mary MacKillop School.

Click on the link for Mass times and to download the weekly newsletter Parish-Bulletin

Foundation STEAM photos for you!