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This year our School Improvement Agenda for 2025 is:
- Student Voice and Agency
- Planning for Improved Student Learning - key focus on Mathematics and Reading
Update on Father Michael
Bishop Greg published an update on Father Michael’s health on Tuesday - he explained that Father Michael had made some improvements and was proceeding with surgery yesterday. Bishop Greg’s closing words in his letter were, “May our Lady Help of Christians and all the Saints intercede for our brother, friend and priest.” Please continue to pray for Father Michael.
Whole School Athletics
Our Whole School Athletics Day yesterday at Casey Fields was an outstanding success. Students encouraged and cheered each other on and rejoiced in each others success. Team spirit was evident and smiling faces showed how much fun everyone was having throughout the day. The support of parents, both as helpers and as spectators was greatly appreciated by both students and staff.
A big thank you to Mr Timothy for his excellent organisation of the day and for the preparation of the students in the lead up to the day. A big thank you to all staff - we all slept well last night as I’m sure your children did too.
Regional Athletics - Wed 22 October
Good luck to three students who are going through to Regional Athletics next Wednesday - Cecile, Fletcher and Ethan.
Class Lists for 2026
Class lists for 2026 have been drafted by staff. Much thought and consideration goes into this with efforts made to:
- Balance boys and girls
- Consider wellbeing and social emotional needs, including friendships
- Consider a balance of academic needs and students who require additional support
- The next step in this process is to then match the class list with the teachers - again, much thought is put into this too.
- The list of teaching staff for 2026 will be published around Week 8 of this term (week beginning 24 November).
Important Dates for Term 4
- 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
Important Dates for 2026
- The first student day for 2026 will be :Thursday 29 January
SLIP, SLOP, SLAP…….HAT! HAT! HAT!
It’s that time of year when students must have their hats on every day for recess and lunch regardless of the temperature. Please ensure your child has a hat.
Day for Daniel & ABCSL 2025 Launch – Creating Safer Spaces for All Children
On Friday 31 October, our school community will come together to recognise Day for Daniel, a national day dedicated to promoting child safety and raising awareness about the importance of protecting all children.
This year, ABCSL 2025 will also be launched on the same day, focusing on “Contextual Prevention” — encouraging schools and families to work in partnership to create safe spaces and safer environments for children in both online and offline settings.
As a community guided by Gospel values, we are called to ensure every child feels safe, valued, and supported.
Students and families are encouraged to wear red on the day as a sign of solidarity and commitment to child safety. A gold coin donation can be made to support the Day for Daniel Foundation, whose work helps protect and educate children across Australia.
Together, let us continue to build a culture of care and safety where every child can flourish.
October – Month of the Holy Rosary and Mission Month
October is a very special month in our Church calendar as we celebrate both the Month of the Holy Rosary and Mission Month. During this time, we are reminded of the power of prayer and our call to care for others in need.
The Rosary is a beautiful prayer that helps us reflect on the life of Jesus and Mary. As we pray each decade, we remember important moments of faith, love, and hope.
Rosary Prayer Gathering
Families, parents, and friends are warmly invited to join us for a special Rosary prayer led by Fr Ajin or Fr Siju on Wednesday, October 29th at 9.00am in the Allen Hall. All classes will gather to pray the Rosary as a school community. This is a wonderful opportunity to pause in prayer and reflection during the month of the Rosary. An invitation has been sent home with students. We look forward to sharing this special time of faith and community with you. Students and families are welcome to bring their rosary beads to use during the prayer celebration.
Mission Sunday
In a video message, Pope Leo XIV calls on every Catholic to take part in World Mission Sunday, 19 October, recalling how the generosity that day concretely enables and sustains the good work of missionaries worldwide.
October is also Mission Month, a time when we focus on helping those less fortunate. This year, our fundraising efforts will support Catholic Mission, particularly their work in Zambia, providing hope and practical support to children and families.
Keep an eye out for your invitation to take part in the school Rosary celebration and a class/level fundraiser for Catholic Mission. Please refer to the attached schedule outlining fundraiser activities. Families are invited to join in this special time of prayer and mission.
Grandparents and Special Friends Celebration
We warmly invite all families to join us for a special Afternoon Tea to celebrate our wonderful grandparents and special carers who play such an important role in our lives.
Following afternoon tea, we will gather for a Prayer Service to thank God for the gift of grandparents and all those who share their love, wisdom, and care with our children.
It will be a beautiful opportunity for our school community to come together in gratitude and celebration. We look forward to seeing many of our grandparents and special friends on the day!
Look out for your special invitation.
Congratulations – First Eucharist
Congratulations to the following students who received the Sacrament of First Eucharist last weekend. This is a special milestone in their faith journey, marking the first time receiving Jesus in the Eucharist. May this sacred occasion deepen faith and strengthen connection within the parish community.
Congratulations to: Ethan E – 4AB, Florence – 4AB, Noah – 4FW, Ethan C – 4AB & Joel – 4AB
Appreciation is extended to families, teachers, clergy and the parish team for their guidance and support in preparing the students for this important celebration.
Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C - Sunday, October 19, 2025
Luke 18:1-8
Jesus urges his disciples to pray and not lose heart, for God hears and answers prayers.
Next Sunday’s Gospel shares a parable about a woman who shows great persistence. She continues to ask a judge for what she needs, and eventually, the judge grants her request because of her determination. This parable reminds us to be steadfast in prayer, trusting that God invites closeness through regular prayer and always listens and responds. When needs are presented to God in prayer, this is called a prayer of petition. This form of prayer is familiar, as it is offered during Mass in the Prayer of the Faithful.
Year Five
It has been pleasing to see and hear Year 5 students respectfully sorting out minor problems that are encountered during some playtimes. In particular, thank you for not talking over each other, but rather taking turns to talk and listen to each other. It is even better when you take the time to consider each other’s perspective and work out fair solutions. Thank you for the mature way you are going about solving these basic playtime problems. Keep it up!
Year Six
Congratulations to Chloe and Coral from Year 6 whose artwork and reflection have been featured in Andrew Chinn’s latest publication celebrating the Saints. What a wonderful achievement and a proud moment for both girls and our school community!
Year Four
Fantastic work 4FW in putting all the returned library books back on the shelf. Awesome work!
Big shout out to Year 4s for the work they have published in their Narratives - lots of imagination and creativity shown in this task.
All students
Well done to every student who attended our School Athletics Day - you cheered for your friends, you encouraged each other and you had fun! Our Mary MacKillop school spirit was evident throughout the day.
Year four students will attend their first swimming session next week.
22nd October 2025
- Departure - 11.30am
- Swimming Lesson - 12.00pm to 12.45pm
- Depart from Paul Sadler - 1.15pm
- Return to MMPS 1.30pm
What to wear and bring:
Students are required to wear their sports uniform to school on these days. Please ensure they come to school with their bathers underneath their uniform.
Other items to bring in a small bag:
- Towel
- Underwear
- Spare plastic bag for wet clothes/towel
- For the purpose of the lesson, students need to bring a tshirt and shorts to wear over their bathers.
- Swimming cap
- Goggles (optional)
- Drink bottle
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.
Happy Families is excited to share that Insights is now expanding to include articles specifically for Early Years educators and families along with the regular Primary/High School articles.
Here are this week’s Insight Articles
- For Early Learning - Helping Little People Manage Big Feelings
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For Primary & High Schools - Busting the Biggest Myths About Kids & Sleep
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
MMPS Child Safe Standards - CODE OF CONDUCT
Victorian Catholic School Statement of Commitment to Child Safety (VCEA)
The updated VCEA 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 Policies
Child friendly version of Child Safe Policy (updated April 2025)
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
Child Safe Standards and Parent use of Mobile Phones, Privacy Laws
We ask all parents to be mindful of their mobile phone usage, child safety and privacy laws when visiting our school. During such times as morning Prayer time, Mass, Assemblies and school events/gatherings, we ask parents to turn off or put away their mobile phones and to respect the privacy of all students. Photographs and video footage cannot be taken of students without parental permission. Reminders of safe mobile phone usage will be shared with the school community at morning prayer times and assemblies. On special occasions such as student awards at assemblies or student graduations, space will be made available for parents to photograph their child in a child safe way. We thank you for working in partnership with us to respect the privacy of all our students.
Child Safe Resources to support Students, Parents/Carers
- eSafety Commissioner.
- Webinars for parents and carers
- Join one of the free webinars for parents and carers.
These live webinars give parents and carers the knowledge, skills and tools to support their children to have safe online experiences.
https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars
Distressing content - Online spaces should be safe for everyone, but you may sometimes come across content that is distressing – especially if it shows extreme violence or acts of terrorism.
The e-Safety Commissioner has key topics about what to do and how to get support and Resources for parents and carers.
- Parental controls
- The hard to have conversations
- Online safety basics
- 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
- Multilingual videos now available on SchoolTV!
- Because wellbeing shouldn’t get lost in translation, SchoolTV has introduced a powerful new feature — multilingual videos.
- Until now, families could access written content in more than 60 languages. Now, expert-led videos are also available in Chinese, Hindi and Arabic, with more languages to be added next year.
- This new feature ensures every family can access trusted, practical guidance in a way that feels familiar, inclusive, and easy to understand.
- Explore this feature for yourself by clicking the link below to view SchoolTV content in your preferred language.
- http://marymacnarre.catholic.schooltv.me/stv-multilingual-feature
Student Collection and Early Dismissal Reminder
In the interest of student safety and wellbeing, we remind families that if a parent or guardian is collecting a student other than their own, the Office must be informed prior to sign-out.
If you have arranged for someone not listed as an emergency contact on your child’s PAM profile to collect them, please contact the Office in advance to confirm the arrangement.
These procedures are in place to ensure we meet our Child Safety obligations and maintain accurate records of student collection at all times.
Thank you for your understanding and support in keeping all students safe.
OLHC Parish - MANGO FUNDRAISER FRESH JUICY NORTH QUEENSLAND MANGOES DIRECT FROM THE FARM TO YOU!
If you love mangoes, here’s your chance to indulge in fresh juicy Bowen Special Mangoes. These juicy mangoes are picked and packed during the premium harvest. The mangoes are packed in a single layer tray and each tray will have between 12 and 22 mangoes, with a total tray weight of approximately 7kg. Cost per tray is $30.00. Orders are to be collected from the Parish Office in December - date to be confirmed. Online orders will be open on Monday, 22nd September and will close on the 28th of October 2025. Late orders will not be accepted.
ORDER ONLINE via https://ordering.cdfpay.flexischools.com.au/m/our-lady-help-of-christians-catholicparish-fundraisers-mango-fundraiser