Celebration of Learning

Book Week Celebrations – Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds

Students dressed up today in their favourite Book Week character to celebrate our love of books and reading.  The Book Week theme aligns beautifully with our History and Geography Inquiry units this term – Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds.  While we would love to all be back at school, it was great celebrate online our students’ learning, creativity and passion for reading.  We look forward to our Book Week in 2022 and hope to celebrate this special occasion at school.

Year 5 and Year 6 Camp

Planning for our Year 5 and Year 6 Camps are well underway with Camp Risk Assessments and Activity Planning documentation being forwarded to DOSCEL for approval.  Our Senior Level camps are scheduled to take place on:

Year 5 Camp – Leadership Adventure Camp, Toolangi

Wednesday 6 October to Friday 8 October

Year 6 Camp – Ace Hi Ranch, Camp Schanck

Monday 11 October to Wednesday 13 October

Our thanks to Peter Fearnley for completing the camp preparation and risk assessment documentation.  While Camps are not currently permitted activities with the current COVID-19 and lockdown restrictions, we hope that in 6 week’s time, our students will be able to participate in these fun, engaging adventure camps.

Planning for 2022 School Year

2022 Class Placements

Teachers will begin planning for our 2022 classes at the end of Term 3.  We respect and value parent input and ask that you email me – ejones@marymacnarre.catholic.edu.au, or put in writing, if you have information about your child that could impact on their placement for 2022.  Please ensure your request is sent by TOMORROW - Friday 27 August.  Parents please be mindful of the following:

• Requests should be based on individual student needs. 
• Requests are forwarded onto staff when placing students into their 2022 classes. 
• Staff use a range of information to ensure an effective balance within classes across the level and to provide an optimal learning environment for all students. 
• Please be aware that your letters of request are not a guarantee, they provide an opportunity for your input and assist us in the process of class placements. 
• Please note that requests made in previous years are not necessarily considered in the process, so previous 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 2022.

School Advisory Committee [SAC] AGM - rescheduled to Tuesday 19 October

We will be holding our SAC Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 19 October at 7.00 pm.  The date has been changed in the hope we are out of Lockdown and are able to meet in person for our AGM.

Nomination forms for positions on the School Advisory Committee 2021 – 2022 are available from the Administration Office or you can request a nomination form via email frontdesk@marymacnarre.catholic.edu.au

The responsibilities of the School Advisory Committee are to:

• promote the Catholic ethos of the school
• provide feedback on and review of school policies
• plan for the future of the school and its ability to accommodate future enrolments
• provide advice on budget planning and finance-related matters
• contribute to the selection process for the school principal (when the position is advertised)
• provide advice on the appropriate provision of faith development and Religious Education programs
• promote child safety in the school

Child Safety

National Child Protection Week (5-11 September 2021)  is an annual event starting on the first Sunday of September. This year's theme "Every child, in every community, needs a fair go" aims to spread the message that to treat all of Australia’s children fairly, we need to make sure every family and community has what kids need to thrive and be healthy.

Visit https://www.napcan.org.au/get-involved-2021/ to find out more about the campaign, including activities for families.

In particular, check out the Children’s Art Activity which asks children what they think is most important in a child-friendly community https://www.napcan.org.au/art-activity/

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Sacraments

Sacrament of Confirmation Workshops were held during this week, with sessions concluding this evening. The Parish will send families updates and further information about the Sacramental celebrations once the Victorian Government outlines further changes to current restrictions.

Fan the Flame

Towards Plenary Assembly One October 2021 

‘This people honours me only with lip-service, while their hearts are far from me.’  Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23 

Unless we train ministers capable of warming people’s hearts, of walking with them in the night, of dialoguing with their hopes and disappointments, of mending their brokenness, what hope can we have for our present and future journey?  (Pope Francis, Meeting with the Bishops of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, 28 July 2013)

www.plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au/fantheflame/

Twenty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Sunday, August 29, 2021

Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23

Jesus teaches that it is that which comes from our hearts that defiles us.

In next Sunday’s Gospel, we hear the Pharisees challenge the practice of Jesus’ disciples that went against a rule that the Pharisees taught about washing hands and food utensils. This was a practice of the Pharisees and of some Jewish people. They washed their hands and purified food utensils to make them clean. They thought that by doing this they were making themselves holy. Jesus taught that the Pharisees had forgotten the meaning behind their rules. They thought that they were making themselves holy by following the rules about making things clean. But Jesus taught that there was something more important than these actions. Jesus taught that our words and deeds toward others are what show us to be holy people. God wants us to do good things with our lives, such as share our possessions, think kind thoughts even about those who hurt us, and be truthful.

WELLBEING

Supporting children during the COVID-19 pandemic

View the article below from the National Workforce Centre for Child Mental Health to find resources that will assist parents and caregivers in supporting  children’s mental health through the current COVID -19 pandemic.

OLHC Parish

Our Lady Help of Christians Parish Information

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. 

PARISH BULLETIN

Click on the link below to download the weekly newsletter.

Parish-Bulletin

Foundation Book Week Activities

The foundy students have had a great week focusing on books! They have had a Reading Choice Board to select activities of their choice, and of course dressed up as their favourite character. We loved seeing siblings and one dad joining in the fun! An added bonus has been listening to parents read picture story books, and we explored some of this year's short-listed books from Children’s Book Council of Australia. 

More Book Week Photos

Here is a selection of other students dressing up for book week.  We've also included a few book reviews from 2JB.

こんにちは、

This week in Japanese, Junior students made animal puppets and practiced introducing them. It was great to see so many students sharing their Japanese learning at home.