Our Explicit Improvement Agenda

Student Voice and Agency

Planning for improved student learning

Celebrating Student Learning - Student Learning Conversations

Thank you to our students and parents for attending the Student Learning Conversations, held on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.  As part of our school improvement agenda to continue to develop student voice and agency in their learning, the Student Learning Conversations provided an opportunity for our students to share their learning progress and achievements during Semester One and to outline their learning goals for Term 3.  We are very proud of our students achievements and their ability to articulate the learning growth and directions.  We thank parents for the feedback they provided in the Term 2 Student Learning Portfolio and for working in partnership with us on your child’s learning journey.

COVID-19 updates - Wearing of Face Masks Recommendation

As you may have heard recently on the news, The Victorian Department of Health strongly recommends the wearing of face masks in indoor settings during this next wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Catholic Education Commission of Victoria (CECV) released a letter to parents outlining these recommendations and the letter was shared with the parent community via SZ app on Tuesday.  It is recommended that all students aged 8 and over and staff in schools across Victoria wear masks when in class (except where removing a mask is necessary for clear communication) from now to the end of winter.  Students won’t be required or expected to wear masks when outdoors, and this expectation won’t stop student participation in the full range of school activities, including music, sport and performances. 

An update of the COVID-19 Safe Measures in DOSCEL schools is attached to the newsletter.

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

New Child Safe Standards - Updates

The Child Safe Standards were updated on 1 July and they set out the minimum requirements and outline the actions organisations must take to keep children and young people safe. Although similar to Victoria’s current Child Safe Standards, key changes include new requirements:

• to involve families and communities in organisations’ efforts to keep children and young people safe
• for a greater focus on safety for Aboriginal children and young people
• to manage the risk of child abuse in online environments
• in relation to governance, systems and processes to keep children and young people safe.

More information on the new Child Safe Standards:

• Telephone: 1300 782 978 or (03) 8601 5281
• Email: contact@ccyp.vic.gov.au
• Visit the Commission’s website: www.ccyp.vic.gov.au

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 Policies

Child friendly version of Child Safe Policy (updated June 2022)

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 Resources to support Students, Parents/Carers

• eSafety Commissioner https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents

Learn about TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube to help your children stay safe online. FREE live webinar designed for parents and carers of young people aged 8 to 13. It will include case studies, research and targeted advice so you can support the young people in your life to have safe, enjoyable online experiences. Please refer to attached flyer.

• CCYP - Commission for Children and Young People https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/child-safe-standards/
• School TV https://marymacnarre.catholic.schooltv.me/category-latest-newsletter
• Bravehearts https://bravehearts.org.au/

SAVE THE DATE – Our school family mass celebration at OLHC will be held on Saturday 6th August, 6.00pm Parish Mass. All families are invited to attend Mass and join together celebrating the Feast of Mary MacKillop. Thank you to those who have indicated their interest in taking on the following ministries during the mass.  There are still a few opportunities left:

• one family is invited to be part of the Offertory procession
• students are invited to read the prayers of the faithful
• join a choir and present symbols of our school values during the entrance procession
• student leaders are invited to read & present our School banner

Any family or student interested in taking on a role as listed above are asked to contact Mrs Privitera by email lprivitera@marymacnarre.catholic.edu.au by next Wednesday 27/7/22

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

Sunday, July 24, 2022

In next Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us that God our Father is always accessible and that prayer is one of the most important ways that we can communicate with him. Jesus even gave us the words we can use to talk to God in prayer. Prayer is a way of striving to recognize how God is reaching out to us with love and responding by presenting him with our needs.

Social Justice Outreach Initiative – Winter Appeal

The St Vincent de Paul Society appreciates the great support provided by schools. Participating in the annual Winter Appeal has a lot to offer our students in terms of deepening their understanding of social justice – particularly with seeing the needs of people in our own neighbourhood and beyond.

Student representatives from Years 3-6 have worked together as members of the MacKillop Kids Group to organise this year’s Winter Appeal – this year our Appeal will focus on winter woollies in particular we will be collecting SOCKS of all colours, size and make. Donations must be new, which can be left in the prepared collection boxes in classrooms next week. We thank you in advance. The items can be collected over the next two weeks. Please refer to the attached flyer. 

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 Ajin Albarnas 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 - please click on the link below to download the weekly newsletter.

https://www.olhc.org.au/parish-bulliten/

こんにちは、

It is now the rainy season in Japan. Foundation students celebrated the rainy season by making teru teru bouzo (good luck weather dolls) and origami raindrops. We also enjoyed using the new phrase of the term challenge to describe the weather. 

The Senior students had a presentation from Dave, from Victoria Police, on Wednesday afternoon. Here are some of the key messages the Year 5 students heard: 

• Even though it might sound like a small thing, breaking the law is always a big deal! - Chelsea (5-SD) 
• Saying something that scares others can be a crime. It is verbal assault - Sienna B (5-AB) 
• Owning up to your behaviour will help you get in less trouble - Ruben (5-SD) 
• Even though the police arrest people, they are always there to help you - Joshua S (5-AB)
• The small choices you make can have a big impact on you and other people - Ciara (5-SD) 
• It is never okay to break rules and laws - Mia (5-AB) 
• Even though the police might look scary, they are there to help you - Daria (5-SD) 
• You should not share accounts, passwords, information about yourself with strangers in person or online - Joel (5-AB)