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Happy World Teacher’s Day
Our community will celebrate World Teacher’s Day next Friday 5 November, when we have all our students and staff back on-site together. Lockdown and Remote Schooling has highlighted the dedication and commitment of our staff towards our students and their learning. It has also highlighted and strengthened our partnership of working with our parents for the best possible outcomes for our students. We are blessed to have such an amazing school community!
Welcome back to our students – Wednesday 3 November
We warmly welcome back ALL classes to school on Wednesday 3 November. To ensure student, staff and community safety, we will follow our COVID-19 Safety Management Plan. Therefore, windows and doors will be open in classrooms to ensure adequate ventilation.
As students settle into the next few weeks, they will continue to keep their Chromebook with them. This is to ensure continuous learning in the event of possible further lockdowns and/or any quarantine orders if we endure a COVID-19+ case on our return to school. Please ensure your child’s Chromebook comes to school fully charged as we have limited charging facilities in the classrooms.
Community Safety
For our community safety, we are unable to have parents and visitors on-site at school until further notice. We also are required to minimise groups of people gathering and therefore, during school drop off and pick up times, we ask parents to remain in their car and to utilise the drop off / pick up facility at the front of the school OR Lowry Court.
Student Drop Off – Mornings
Classes will open at 8.35 am and the school day will begin as usual at 8.45 am with Morning Meditation and Prayer. A teacher will be rostered on duty at the main entrance gate in the morning.
Staggered Student Pick Up – Afternoons (A-K 3.05 pm and L-Z 3.10 pm)
Sanitising Stations / Classroom Ventilation
Hand sanitising stations are set up at the entry of all learning areas within the school for students to sanitise their hands throughout the school day. Classrooms will be adequately ventilated according to our COVID-19 Safety Management Plan.
Canteen
Note - As per the SZapp notification sent home yesterday, the Canteen will be closed tomorrow, Friday 29th October. Any orders already placed, will be credited to your CDFpay account.
From Friday 5th November, the canteen is OPEN, as normal, for student orders via CDF pay on Mondays and Fridays. Orders cut off by 9am on the day of ordering.
Wearing of School Hats – Sun Protection Policy
Just a reminder that students are required to wear their school hats in Term 4 as part of our Sun Protection Policy.
School Fee Relief for families
Many in our school community continue to face financial impacts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are committed to supporting families experiencing financial challenges through our School Fee Concession programs, and encourage any parent/carer/guardian experiencing difficulties to contact us regarding fee assistance. Please contact Jacqui Meunier – 8794 5777 jmeunier@marymacnarre.catholic.edu.au to explore confidential financial support arrangements or to obtain further information.
VRQA (Victorian Registration & Qualifications Authority)
As part of our year in Review, we will be undertaking VRQA on Friday 29 October. In Victoria, all schools must meet the minimum standards for school registration.
The minimum standards provide a foundation for quality schools through the following areas:
- Good governance
- Strong financial management
- Effective curriculum
- Sound teaching practices and
- Safe environments for our students
Our school website has been continually updated to reflect VRQA guidelines, including policies and updated Child Safety information.
School Advisory Committee Annual General Meeting (SAC AGM) – Tuesday 23 November
The SAC AGM will be held on Tuesday 23 November at 7.00 pm. If you would like to nominate to be a parent representative on the School Advisory Committee, please leave your name at the administration office or email frontdesk@marymacnarre.catholic.edu.au
If you have any questions regarding the role of SAC, please do not hesitate to contact us.
RECENT LEARNING AWARDS
A reminder for parents and carers to complete the Operoo permission eform for students to enjoy the special treats by today 28 October, celebrating National Children’s Week. We will be placing cookie orders tomorrow. Students will also have the opportunity to take part in Socktober, an initiative of global mission, raising awareness and funds for critical projects supporting vulnerable children in developing countries, in particular a Kindergarten in Bangkok that provides a safe learning environment for children and life-changing empowerment for their mothers. A $2 donation per student would be greatly appreciated for Catholic Mission.
Parent of those students who have been preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this year should have received a letter form the Parish regarding the upcoming celebrations.
The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated at the following masses:
10th and 11th of November at 7.30pm
13th and 14th of November at 3pm
Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B
Sunday, October 31, 2021
Mark 12:28b-34 Jesus is questioned by a scribe about the greatest commandment.
In next Sunday’s Gospel we learn about Jesus’ commandment to love. This is Jesus’ Great Commandment, his teaching that we are to both love God and love our neighbour as ourselves. Our neighbours aren’t just the people who live close to us. Everyone is our neighbour. When we do loving things for others, we aren’t just showing love for our neighbours. We are also showing our love for God and shining the light of God’s love on others.
Next Tuesday 2nd November, celebrates the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls' Day). It is a significant day in our liturgical calendar because it gives us an opportunity to remember and pray for all those who have died over the past year. All families are invited to contribute to the Remembrance Knitted Poppy display in the Welcome Garden. Please place your requests with our School Office staff via email or a phone call. We gather as one in holding these people in our hearts and prayers.
“We have loved them in life. Let us not forget them in death.”
Child Safety and Wellbeing
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. 870. We embed a culture of child safety and the matter is taken very seriously.
“Children are the future of the human family: all of us are expected to promote their growth, health and tranquillity,” Pope Francis 2021
Day For Daniel
Day for Daniel is Australia’s largest child safety education and awareness day. Usually held annually on the last Friday of October, Day for Daniel honours the memory of Daniel Morcombe. Due to the staggered return to school, as a school community we will hold our own Day for Daniel event on Tuesday 9th November 2021. Students are invited to wear red casual clothing and contribute a gold coin donation to the Daniel Morcombe Foundation.
Resources to support parents and carers
How birth order knowledge helps parents
Birth order knowledge provides a rich view of information to help parents better motivate, manage and communicate each child or young person in their family.
The full article is attached below:
Community
Remembrance Day 11 November is universally associated with the remembrance of those who had died in the First World War. Most of the funds raised through RSL Appeals with the sale of Poppy merchandise support various Welfare Projects. Students and their families can purchase items ranging from $1 - $5 items. Our school Leaders will assist with the sale of merchandise supplied by Berwick RSL by visiting each classroom and helping students purchase a remembrance item.
“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”
LEST WE FORGET
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 Parish newsletter.
https://olhc.org.au/parish-bulletin/
This Term in Religious Education the Foundation students have been learning about Jesus’ Mission. We have been talking about the different ways we can show Jesus’ Mission. The student work samples indicate ways we can donate to help others in need.
This week in Discovery Center, Junior students made posters about the importance of having device free time.
こんにちは、
This week in Japanese, students investigated Otsukimi - the moon viewing festival. They created origami and wrote the kanji characters for moon and viewing.
