School Improvement Agenda for 2025

• Student Voice and Agency
• Planning for Improved Student Learning - key focus on Mathematics and Reading

Tomorrow our staff have a Professional Learning Day on site. During this time we will be reviewing our goals for Close Reading and learn more about the explicit teaching of vocabulary within a text and beyond the text. In addition, teams will be planning for term 4 including reviewing the Victorian Curriculum Version 2 and our reporting outcomes. Finally, our staff will spend some time undertaking a guided meditation with a  focus on creation. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our dedicated staff including our Leaders, for their hard work and commitment to further student outcomes and achieve maximum growth for every student.

Student Learning Portfolios

Today students will bring home their Student Learning Portfolios. Work samples have been carefully considered by the students in consultation with their teachers. We encourage you to write feedback for your child’s learning in Term 3 on the feedback sheet provided in your child’s Student Learning portfolio. Please return the Student Learning Portfolio at the beginning of Term 4 so your child can continue documenting their learning journey. 

Car Park Safety - Thank you 

Thank you to the many families who have accepted the slight change to our front car park (Ernst Wanke Road) arrangements at the end of each day. By parking and waiting until 3.10pm to move out of car park spaces, many more cars are able to access the car park and less queuing on Ernst Wanke Road occurs. Please continue to follow this for everyone’s safety.

Mary MacKillop Gallery

Today the gallery will be open before and after school for families to view this term’s beautiful artwork pieces. Please take the time to wander through the gallery with your child/children if you can. The students (and teachers!) are so proud of their work.

Division Athletics

Thank you to all students and staff who attended the Division Athletics this week. Your participation and enthusiasm was shining through!

Important Dates for Term 4

Level Newsletters will be sent out on Friday 10 Oct but you may like to diarise these dates now:

• Wednesday 15 October Whole School Athletics Day on site
• Tuesday 21 October Storytime for Foundation 2026 students with Year 5 students
• Wednesday 22 October Regional Athletics (for students who succeeded in getting through Division)
• Thursday 30 October Grandparents Afternoon from 1.15pm (please note this is an afternoon time slot this year)
• Monday 3 November School Closure Day 
• Tuesday 9 December Year 6 Graduation from 5pm
• Thursday 11 December End of Year Mass 9am
• Friday 12 December Christmas Concert (during school time)
• Monday 15 December Meet and Greet 2026 (students)
• Tuesday 16 December Last Student day

2026

Thursday 29 January First Student Day 2026

Finally, thank you to all families for your support for your children and our school this term. If you are able to rest over the holidays or even go at a slower pace take the time to do this. As we enter the Season of Creation in the Catholic church, take some time to visit a park or a playground and absorb the sights and the sounds around you.

Congratulations – First Communion

We warmly congratulate the students who recently received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion. This is a very special milestone in their faith journey, as they are welcomed to the table of the Lord and share more deeply in the life of the Church.

We thank families, teachers, and parish staff who supported the children in their preparation and joined them in celebrating this sacred occasion. May this be a time of joy, blessing, and growth in faith for each child and their family.

Congratulations to - Esther (5LT),    Ezekiel (3CM),     Zeplin (4AB)  Charlotte (4FW)  Ava (4FW)    Mila (4FW)  Violet (4AB)   Kayla (4AB)   Aria (4FW)   Allyson-May (4FW)  

Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

Sunday, September 21, 2025

Luke 16:1-13 (shorter form, Luke 16:10-13)
Jesus tells a parable about a dishonest steward who is commended for his prudence; one cannot serve both God and money.

In next Sunday’s Gospel, Luke 16:10–13, Jesus speaks about honesty and the importance of telling the truth. The Gospel reminds us that those who are dishonest in small matters are also dishonest in greater matters. Developing a habit of truthfulness builds trust and strengthens relationships with others. As Christians, living with honesty draws us closer to God and helps create a community of respect and care.

Student Challenge 

This week, make a special effort to tell the truth in both small and big things. If it feels tricky, pause, take a deep breath, and ask the Holy Spirit to give you courage. Notice how honesty helps you feel peaceful and builds stronger friendships.

Save the Date
Grandparents and Special Carers Liturgy

Our annual celebration to honour Grandparents and all those who care for children in this special role will be held on: Thursday 30th October 1:15pm – 3:00pm. Further details will be shared in early Term 4 – keep an eye out for your invitation!

Term 4 Mass and Liturgy Schedule

Families are warmly invited to join us in celebrating Mass and liturgies throughout Term 4. Attending these occasions is a wonderful way to pray together as a community and to share in your child’s faith journey. Each class will gather for either a Buddy Mass and Class/School Liturgies, and parents and carers are encouraged to attend these special celebrations. The Term 4 Mass and Liturgy Schedule is attached to this newsletter.  Please check the schedule for your child’s Buddy Mass and class/school liturgy dates.

We look forward to welcoming families to these joyful celebrations.

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.

Parent Session - Entitled: Raising Responsible, Respectful Kids

Wednesday 5 November, 7pm AEST / 8pm AEDT

On-demand gratification has become the modern-day norm, and our children have never known anything different. As a result, parents are noticing a clear pattern of declining levels of resilience and frustration tolerance. We naturally want them to be happy and successful, but we also recognise that a sense of entitlement can hinder their journey. While our hearts yearn to give them the world, we know it’s equally important to nurture gratitude, responsibility, and respect within their hearts.

Our children are growing up in a world defined by instant gratification. They’ve never known a time when things weren’t immediately accessible, which has contributed to declining resilience and frustration tolerance. As parents, we yearn to give them the world and shield them from disappointment, but we also know that fostering gratitude, responsibility, and respect is essential for their true happiness and success.

Entitled with Dr Justin Coulson will dive deep into the issue of entitlement. We’ll explore its root causes, its impact on our children’s development, and most importantly, we’ll equip you with practical strategies to turn things around. You’ll learn how to shift your child’s mindset from “gimme” to “thank you”, and how to foster a sense of appreciation even in an age of abundance.

In this presentation, we will navigate the challenges of parenting in today’s world and discover how to raise children who are not just responsible and respectful, but empowered, resilient, and ready to make a positive contribution to the world. 

Supporting Children to Enjoy Holiday Fun (and Rest!)

Holidays provide a valuable opportunity for children to rest, recharge, and strengthen family connections. Research shows that regular periods of downtime and unstructured play support children’s emotional wellbeing, cognitive development, creativity, and resilience. Time away from structured routines also allows children to practise independence, explore personal interests, and develop problem-solving and social skills.

Parents and carers can help children make the most of holidays by providing a balance of activities, rest, and opportunities for engagement.

• Build a mix of activities: Include indoor and outdoor play, creative projects, and quiet time. A variety of experiences stimulates different areas of development and keeps children engaged.
• Encourage independent play and screen-free time: Allowing children to entertain themselves fosters imagination, resilience, and self-confidence. Limiting screen time also supports healthy sleep patterns and reduces overstimulation.
• Involve children in planning activities: Simple, low-pressure family activities—such as nature walks, cooking together, or crafting—give children a sense of agency, strengthen family bonds, and promote teamwork.
• Allow time for rest and relaxation: Sleep-ins, quiet reading, or simply relaxing together are important. Children need downtime to recover from school routines and maintain emotional and physical wellbeing.

Support for working families

For families balancing work commitments, coordinating safe routines and structured activities can ensure children are engaged, stimulated, and cared for. Planning in advance and using local holiday programs can reduce stress and provide enriching experiences.

Access community and local resources

Many councils, shopping centres, and community groups run school holiday programs, workshops, and activities. These programs offer safe, engaging, and social experiences for children, and are particularly useful for working families. Parents can check local websites, community noticeboards, or social media pages for schedules, registration details, and costs.

By balancing rest, play, family time, and community engagement, holidays can be both rejuvenating and enriching experiences for children, helping them return to school refreshed, confident, and socially connected.

A Note for Families

These tips are just some ideas to support children during holidays. We understand that holidays can be busy and challenging for every family, and that each family’s circumstances are different. Please know that we appreciate the effort and care you put into helping your children rest, play, and stay engaged during this time. Every small moment of connection, support, or fun makes a difference, and we recognise that families are doing their best.

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