Feast of the Assumption of Mary

Friday 15 August

This Friday is the Feast of the Assumption of Mary - a holy day of obligation for Catholics. Catholics believe that Mary was physically taken up (assumption) to heaven with her body and soul remaining united. On this day we remember and give thanks for Mary who said “yes” to God. May we continue to say “yes” as Mary did - yes, to loving each other, yes to saying sorry, yes to living in peace, yes to a close relationship with our God through prayer and our actions and words.

Father Michael

Father Michael loved our video of the students and staff wishing him a speedy recovery. He is now in rehabilitation so please continue to pray for him.

Parent Evening - Raising Kids in a Digital World Thursday 11 September

Just a reminder to please keep this evening set aside - we have a link to enable you to register for this event. As it is quite costly, it will not proceed unless we have enough parents registering to make it worthwhile. Please see the poster further in the newsletter to register.

Father's Day

Please see the attached flyer in today's newsletter regarding this year's Father's Day  celebrations - please note the change of DAY for the Breakfast to a Thursday morning.

Excursions

This week we have had three excursions - Year 5 went to Coal Creek (Wednesday), Year 4 went to Polly Woodside yesterday and Year 3 are going to the Melbourne Museum today . Thank you to parents who are able to attend these days - your help is greatly appreciated. Next Wednesday the Year 2 students are off to Como House. All of these excursions are carefully planned and link to current Inquiry units and provide our students with opportunities to extend their thinking.  Keep a lookout in coming newsletters for photos!

Car Park/Traffic Management

At our school entrance and inside our school gate there are signs which state that cars cannot begin to queue for after school pick up until 3.15pm. This allows cars to get into the school and park - these parents usually get out of their car and collect their child/children/grandchild from a set spot or from the classroom. When cars queue before 3.15pm it stops the flow of traffic and causes Ernst Wanke Drive to become congested and dangerous. In addition, when we have excursions we need the buses to be able to get into the school. If cars have queued early,  this stops the buses from entering and our students are put at risk. PLEASE do not queue until 3.15pm - if you arrive early, please park and then form a queue after 3.15pm.

Staff feedback to Students

Well done Year 6 students on leading each activity with Kaboom last Friday and for setting and packing up all the activities - you helped everyone have a wonderful Mary MacKillop Feast Day.

Thank you Year 2 students for lining up so well after each break and being ready for learning.

Planning for 2026 School Year

2026 Student Class Placements

Teachers will begin planning for our 2026 classes in the coming weeks.  We respect and value parent input and ask that you email me – gverstraete@marymacnarre.catholic.edu.au, or put in writing and leave at the Administration Office, if you have information about your child that could impact on their placement for 2026.  

Please ensure your request is received by Friday 29 August, 2025.  Requests received after the cut off date of Friday 29 August are very difficult to take into consideration. 

We ask parents to be mindful of our teachers’ preparation and time that goes into student/class placements, which is not an easy task, taking into account all the areas mentioned below:

• Staff use their professional judgement and a range of information when placing students into classes.  This information includes student learning progress, learning strengths, learning needs, NCCD Data, gender balance within classes and across the level to provide an optimal learning environment for ALL students. 
• Parent requests are forwarded onto staff when placing students into their 2026 classes. Please note, the 2025 class teacher places students from their 2025 grade into the 2026 class groupings.
• Please be aware that your letters of request are not a guarantee of your child’s placement. 
• Please note that requests made in previous years are not necessarily considered in the process.  Historical information provided by parents regarding their child’s placement will need to be re-submitted if the concerns expressed in previous years are still relevant for consideration in 2026.

Last week we send out an eform via PAM to all Foundation to Year 5 students regarding their intention to return in 2026.  If you haven't dopne so already, please ensure that you complete this eform by Friday 29 August 2025.

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

Sunday, August 17, 2025

Luke 12:49-53

Jesus has come not only to bring peace but also division.

In next Sunday’s reading from Luke’s Gospel, Jesus reminds followers that doing what is right isn’t always easy. Jesus calls for living in peace, while also making good choices, even when it is hard. Sometimes this means saying “no” to something wrong, even if it would make someone else happy. It can mean including others, even if a friend asks not to. Choosing what is right brings people closer to God and creates peace in hearts and minds—even when it is not the easiest path to take.

Congratulations to Confirmation Candidates – 8 & 9 August 2025

Warm congratulations to the students who recently received the Sacrament of Confirmation. May the gifts of the Holy Spirit guide and strengthen each one of you in continuing your faith journey.

Aaliyah, Bailey, Aaria, Toby, Gabriel M, Chloe F, Coral, Awur, Noah C, Fleur, Layla M, Nathaniel, Thomas P, Jasmine and David

Altar Servers Workshop

Children who have received the Sacrament of First Eucharist  are invited to join the Altar Servers Ministry. A workshop will be held on Saturday, 23rd August 2025, 2.30pm start at OLHC Church. Please  arrive by 2.15pm for registration. All current altar servers are also encouraged to attend the workshop. Only those children who attend the workshop will be rostered. The Parish is also seeking parents who are able to assist as volunteers to also register their interest on the day. If you are unable to attend this workshop please email altarservers@olhc.org.au

Subway Fundraiser Success -THANK YOU!

Last Friday’s Subway Fundraiser raised $1,100 for the Mary MacKillop Today organisation, which supports life-changing education, health, and livelihood projects in Australia and overseas. Thank you to everyone who supported this initiative and helped make a difference.

Book Week

2025 Book Week Celebration – Dress Up Day!

Get ready to celebrate Book Week 2025 with a fun-filled Dress Up Day!  This year’s theme is Book an Adventure! All students are invited to come dressed as a favourite book character on Friday 22nd August 2025.  Choose a character from a classic story, fairy tale, or a new favourite read. Costumes can be simple – creativity and a love of books are at the heart of the day.  Families are welcome to attend the Book Week Parade at 9.00am in Allen Hall on 22nd August, 2025.

Celebrate the joy of reading by bringing books to life through costume and imagination!

Bullying No Way Week

Bullying No Way Week is a commitment being made by thousands of schools and supporters across the country. It provides an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to bullying prevention. It gives us an opportunity to connect with students, staff and school communities to implement workable solutions to prevent bullying.  The theme for this year's campaign is Be Bold. Be Kind. Speak Up.

During the week we will be engaging students in meaningful discussions and activities aimed at promoting empathy, understanding and respect for diversity. We encourage families to take this opportunity to have open and honest conversations with your child about the impact of bullying and what they can do if they need support.

By working collaboratively within our community, we can collectively help reduce bullying.  Families play an important role in helping children understand bullying and know how to respond to it.  If your child tells you about things at school, or you observe something in public that involves conflict or bullying, take the opportunity to talk about what bullying is. You can learn more about what defines bullying at bullyingnoway.gov.au.

Questions you could ask:

• What do you think bullying is?
• Have you seen it? How did you feel?
• Have you ever felt scared at school because of bullying?
• As well as me, who are the other adults you would talk to when it comes to things like bullying?
• Have you or your friends left other kids out on purpose? Do you think that was bullying? Why or why not?
• Have you ever tried to help someone who is being bullied? What happened? What would you do if it happens again?
• Remind your child that bullying is never okay and discuss how they can respond safely if they experience or witness it.
• Encourage them to seek help from a trusted adult and keep seeking support if needed.

By promoting open communication, we empower children to stand up against bullying and create a safer environment where everyone can feel that they belong.  You can visit the Bullying No Way website for tips around how to have this discussion.

For more information visit:   bullyingnoway.gov.au.

Health, Wellbeing and Personal Safety Programs

Wellbeing & Safety Programs – Semester Two 2025
This semester, students across all year levels will take part in a range of wellbeing and safety programs designed to build confidence, awareness, and respectful relationships.

Foundation & Junior Levels (F–2):
Life Ed Program – Monday 25 & Tuesday 26 August
Students will engage in age-appropriate sessions exploring healthy choices, safety, and emotional wellbeing through the Life Education program.

Middle Level (Years 3–4):
KIDS ROAR – Thursday 11 September
This program empowers students with personal safety skills, focusing on body safety, assertiveness, and recognising unsafe situations.

Senior Level (Years 5–6):
Victoria Police Visit – Wednesday 10 September
Senior students will hear from local police officers on topics including personal safety, making positive choices, and being responsible citizens.

Years 4–6: Inform & Empower Cyber Safety Workshops
Across workshops, students will explore digital safety, respectful online behaviour, and strategies for navigating the online world confidently and safely.

Parent Workshop 

To support parents/carers a Parent Seminar called Raising Kids in a Digital World  on Thursday 11 September: @ 6.30 - 8pm will be held at  MMPS in Allen Hall, presented by Marty McGauran, founder and an expert educator, and Carley McGauran, an experienced psychologist.

https://www.informandempower.com.au/program/parent-seminars

What a busy time it has been at Mary Mac!  Here are a few photos from last week's Feast Day celebrations with our Pilgrimage Walk and Kaboom Sports:

‘Write a Book in a Day’ is a fun, creative and collaborative competition for students in years 5 to 12 and adult writing groups. Teams of up to ten have just twelve hours to write and illustrate a book from start to finish. To make it even more fun, unique parameters must be included in the story. Digital editions of the completed stories are made available on the Online Library and shared with hospitals across Australia. Funds raised through sponsorship go to The Kids’ Cancer Project, a national charity supporting childhood cancer research.

This initiative reflects our school’s strong commitment to social justice, encouraging our students to use their talents in literacy and art not only for creative expression, but to make a positive impact in the lives of others..

2024 was the biggest ever year for Write a Book in a Day, where the organisation managed to collectively fundraise over $920,000 for vital kids’ cancer research. That sum of money was accrued by some 1937 teams from 523 schools.

This year Mary MacKillop Primary School and the Year 6’s have again taken on the challenge to write a book in a day - from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. This will occur on Wednesday 20th August 2025. Our wonderful team of writers and illustrators are:   

Chloe, Kyden, Awur, Coral, Noah A, Lattika, Toby, Rachel, Ashton and Jasmine

We need help in raising money for this event so we will hold a Lucky Dip throughout the school where we ask students to bring $2.00 to have a turn at the Lucky Dip competition.

The Lucky Dip will take place in 

• Week 5 (Monday 18th August, Tuesday 19th August and Thursday 21st August) 
• Week 6 (Monday 25th August, Tuesday 26th August and Wednesday 27th August)  

Students are invited to bring along a $2.00 coin on these days if they would like to participate.

Please Note: Students participating can have more than one turn but every turn requires the $2.00 donation - the number of turns may need to be limited based on the amount of prizes.

We invite our school community to get behind this exciting event — celebrating creativity, championing social justice, and raising funds for a cause that truly changes lives. 

Thank you from

THE MARVELOUS MARY MAC WRITERS!

Yesterday the Year 4s travelled into the city to visit the Polly Woodside at South Wharf. Before they went we asked what they were looking forward too and hoped to see. Here are some of their responses below:

• What I hope to see is how the bedrooms look look like - Ram
• I hope to see where they made the food - Mila
• I hope to see what they had in the olden days back then if there were any tools to use - Philip
• I hope to see the ropes on the ship - Eve
• I hope to see the beds that convicts slept on - George
• I hope to see what the ship looks like - Aarav
• I hope to see old objects that were on the ship - Ava
• I hope to to see what people would sleep on in the olden days - Jenson
• I hope to see the rooms - Ethan
• What i hope to see is how to control the ship - Noah
• I hope to see the thing that controls the turning of the ship - Aurora
• I hope to see the ship has an engine - Kristian
• I hope to see most of the rooms in the ship - Zayden
• I am hope to see lots of ropes - Charlotte
• I hope to see the hull of the ship - Harrison
• I hope to see how they sailed the ship - Charles
• My question is when was the boat made - Christian
• My question is how old is the ship - Ram
• My question is how big the ship is - Mila 
• My question is when did they make the ship - Naya
• My question is how old is the boat and how many rooms where there? - Philip
• My question is how old is the boat - George     
• My question is when was the ship built - Aarav
• How many crew did it have - Harrison
• How did they make food - Ava 
• My question is how long has the ship been at the dock for- Jenson
• My question is where did the ship travel - Ethan
• My question is when was the ship made - Noah
• My question is what type of ship is it - Zayden
• My question is what it made of -  Charlotte
• My question is to ask if they have beds - Eve
• My question is what was the ship used for - Charles

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 Live Webinars.

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 provide parenting education and support for a wide variety of traditional and contemporary parenting challenges.

Here is your weekly Insights Article Bullying: A Calm & Practical Guide for Parents Written by Dr Justin Coulson

In this guide, Dr Justin Coulson wants to help you understand what bullying really is, how we can approach it with wisdom and compassion, and—most importantly—how we can be the steady, safe place our children need when everything else feels uncertain.

ANSWERS with Dr JUSTIN COULSON is a live webinar series for all schools across Australia. Each term, Dr Justin will tackle a hot-button parenting issue, providing your parent and teacher community with timely and relevant support.

Upcoming live webinar - Anxious: Helping Your Child Navigate a World of Worry

Wednesday 20 August, 2025 @ 7pm AEST   

It’s heartbreaking to see our kids struggling with anxiety. The statistics paint a stark picture: anxiety disorders are on the rise, affecting approximately one in seven primary school children and one in four adolescents. We see our kids burdened by fears and worries, their confidence fading, and sometimes even experiencing panic attacks. As parents, we desperately want to help but often feel lost or unsure of what to do.

Anxious: Helping Your Child Navigate a World of Worry offers a lifeline. In this presentation, Dr Justin Coulson will unpack what anxiety looks like in children and provide you with simple, practical strategies that are both clinically proven and easy to implement at home.

Empower yourself with the knowledge and tools to support your child’s emotional wellbeing and help them build resilience in the face of anxiety.

PERSONAL ACCESS Individual Sessions $49 each

Positive Partnerships National online sessions Positive Partnerships is once again providing on-line information webinars regarding autism. There are also sessions for Parents/Guardians/Carers. 

Parent Carer (PC) online sessions- registration through links below:

• Tuesday 19 August 12:00-1:30pm(AEST)- Session 1 – Diversity of Autism
• Tuesday 26 August 12:00-1:30pm (AEST)- Session 2 – Sensory Processing
• Tuesday 2 September 12:00-1:30pm (AEST)- Session 3 – Understanding Behaviour
• Tuesday 9 September 12:00-1:30pm (AEST)- Session 4 – Working Together

1. Separate registrations for each session

School TV

Here is the link to your Edition https://marymacnarre.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/sibling-relationships-au

• SchoolTV, we would like to invite parents, carers, and grandparents, to attend an exclusive webinar supporting primary and secondary students.  This exclusive, one-off event is fast approaching and we’d love to see  families benefit from the insights of two of Australia’s leading experts, Susan McLean and Dr Michael Carr-Gregg.
• They will share invaluable insights on how to empower young people to navigate the online world safely and responsibly.

WEBINAR: Digital Media Literacy & Safety (Part III)
DATE: Wednesday, 3 September 2025
TIME: 7:30 pm

Topics in this webinar include:

• New Social Media Regulations
• Digital Footprint and Reputation
• Screen Time and Brain Development
• Parental Controls

• Participants MUST REGISTER PRIOR to the commencement of the webinar to gain access.
• OR click  the  link to access registration: http://marymacnarre.catholic.schooltv.me/webinar/east-coast-digital-media-literacy-safety-part-III

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