Our Explicit Improvement Agenda

Student Voice and Agency

Planning for improved student learning

Celebrating end of Term - Footy Day & Footy Day lunch

We are very much looking forward to celebrating Footy Day tomorrow with Assembly in the morning at 9.00 am, Footy Day activities throughout the day and our Footy Day lunch.  Many thanks to Mr Tim for his organisation of this special day, to all staff for assisting in the preparation of the Allen Hall and to staff and parents for the planning, organising and cooking the Footy Day lunch.  It is a wonderful way to celebrate the end of another successful Term!

Term 3 Student Learning Portfolios

Term 3 Student Learning Portfolios will be sent home on Monday 3 October (first day of Term 4).  The Term 3 Student Learning Portfolios includes the Parent Feedback sheet.  We respectfully ask parents to take the time to complete the Feedback sheet with their child after going through the portfolio samples of student learning. We are very proud of our students efforts to document their learning journey and hope families take up this opportunity to acknowledge their child’s efforts.  Term 3 Student Learning Portfolios are due back in the 2nd week of Term 4 - week beginning Monday 10 October, 2022. 

Athletics

Our warmest congratulations to students who participated in the Athletics yesterday.  A great result to Sienna M on winning the 800 m event and Nidal R on his 2nd place in shot put.  Sienna and Nidal will progres to Regional Athletics next term - congratulations and well done!  Many other students who participated received 3 place settings - we are so proud of all our students’ efforts and achievements.

Camps - Year 5, Year 6

Planning is well underway for our upcoming Year 5 Adventure and Leadership Camp to Toolangi and our Year 6 Camp to The Ranch, Cape Schanck.  Year 5 students will attend camp Wednesday 5 October to Friday 7 October (Week 1, Term 4) and Year 6 students will attend camp Monday 10 October to Wednesday 12 October (Week 2, Term 4).  A very big thank you to our Senior Teachers on their planning, preparation and organisation of these camps.  After two years of COVID-19, it is exciting to be able to offer our students the camp experience.  Parents, please note, COVID-19 Safety measures continue to be in place while students are on camp and we ask that you do not send your child on camp if they are in any way unwell or displaying symptoms of COVID-19.  We also ask students to undertake a RAT test on the morning of camp before leaving home to ensure they are clear to attend.  Thank you for working in partnership with us to ensure enriching camp experiences for our Year 5 and Year 6 students.

Student Safety - EMP Drill

As part of our VRQA compliance and ensuring students are safe during an Emergency, our whole school participated in an Emergency Management Plan - Evacuation Drill last Tuesday afternoon.  Congratulations to our students on the way they moved to our ‘safe’ assembly area on the small oval.  Teachers shared our EMP - Evacuation Social Story with students prior to the Evacuation Drill and all members of our school community were safety gathered and accounted for in 7 minutes.  Congratulations and well done to everyone for their efforts!

Student Safety - Morning Supervision

A reminder to families that our school gates - Lowry Court and front of the school open at 8.20 am.  Students arriving to school before 8.20 am are to go to Youth Leadership Victoria - Before and After School Care, located in the Lomas Gym.  Thank you to parents for working in partnership with us to ensure our students’ safety in the morning.

Student Safety - Chromebooks

Student Chromebook accounts are suspended over the holiday period to ensure online student safety during this time.  We ask Year 3 to Year 6 students to ensure their Chromebook is fully charged on their return to Term 4.

Student Safety - 40 kms per hour speed limit outside school

We ask parents to be mindful of the 40 km speed limit in Ernst Wanke Road outside the front of the school.  Ernst Wanke Road has Council manned school crossing section that is safe for students to cross.  However, reports from our Crossing Supervisor have indicated school parents and community members are travelling a speeds well in excess of 40 km.  The 40 km speed limit is to ensure our school and community safety - please ensure you abide by these road rules.

ASSEMBLY - Friday 16 September  at 9.00 am 

Term 3 will finish on Friday 16 September at 3.15pm

Term 4 will begin on Monday 3 October at 8.45 am

Happy Holidays - stay safe

Student Learning Portfolios distributed Monday 3 October

School Advisory Committee

Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 18 October, 7.00 pm in the Staffroom.

The Annual General Meeting of the SAC is fast approaching.  Nomination forms for parent representative positions on the School Advisory Committee 2022-2023 are available from the Administration Office.  Alternatively you can request a nomination from via email frontdesk@marymacnarre.catholic.edu.au.

The responsibilities of the SAC 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

Our current 2021-2022 School Advisory Committee comprises of the following members:

• Chairperson - Liz Jones
• Parish Priest - Fr. Brendan Hogan
• Parent Representative - Danielle Davis (Secretary)
• Parent Representative - Julie Gubbels
• Parent Representative - Stephanie Miller
• Parent Representative - Marina Valladares
• Staff Representative - Helen Fourna
• Staff/Parish Representative - Lize Privitera

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

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.

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 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 https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents.
  • NEW online safety for every family -  The ‘Online safety for every family’ resources will give parents and carers the confidence to talk with their children about online safety. The resources also have important links and information to help if something bad does happen online. 
  • The videos and advice sheets cover:
  • Helping your family stay safe online
  • Getting started with social media 
  • Safer online gaming 
  • Getting help when your child is being bullied online
  • Downloadable resources to help you start the chat about online safety issues and strategies with your child.
• 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
• Bravehearts https://bravehearts.org.au/
• Parenting Ideas 

Upcoming Term 4 event: Get RED, ready for Day for Daniel 2022! Friday 28 October 2022

 Wear Red • Educate • Donate!

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 

Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

Sunday, September 18, 2022

Luke 16:1-13 

In next Sunday’s Gospel Jesus talks about people who are dishonest, or do not tell the truth. When we make a habit of telling the truth, people know that they can trust us. As Christians, we tell the truth. This helps us be closer to God and to have good relationships with others. Let’s pray to the Holy Spirit for the strength and courage to tell the truth.

Pope Francis’ prayer for Queen Elizabeth 11, RIP

Service, devotion, witness

Telegram sent by Pope Francis to offer his condolences to King Charles on the death of his mother.

“Deeply saddened to learn of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, I offer heartfelt condolences to Your Majesty, the Members of the Royal Family, the People of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.”

The Pope said he joins everyone who mourns her loss “in praying for the late Queen’s eternal rest, and in paying tribute to her life of unstinting service to the good of the Nation and the Commonwealth, her example of devotion to duty, her steadfast witness of faith in Jesus Christ and her firm hope in his promises.

Father's Day Breakfast

Thank you for those who contributed to the Father’s Day donation box at the Father’s Day breakfast. A total of $93.25 was raised. These funds will be forwarded to Catholic Care.

OLHC Parish

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

Click on the link below to download the weekly newsletter.

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

FOOTY DAY 

Tomorrow is footy day at MMPS and it will be the first time we have celebrated it since 2019 due to the covid restrictions. Children can come dressed in their footy colours . The day will begin with assembly at 9am where learning awards will be handed out, followed by a fun footy themed assembly. Parents are welcome to come and join us for the assembly.

ATHLETICS 

This term children from years 4-6 have been competing in our Athletics team. On September 1, the following students competed at District level in various track and field events : Cruz B, Sienna B, Bridie B, Lily C , Cruz C, Alyra, Jaden C, Amelia C,Phoebe D, Taysha F, Hanisi F, Xavier G, Annabelle Iacoban, Dior I, Marielle J, Ishaan L, Jazz L, Ayda L, Jovan L, Mason L, Jasmine M, Summer M, Katelyn M, Valentina M, Angelina M, Leonardo M, Zach P, Adrian P, Natalie P, Valentino P, Archer P, Tyler S, Telina T, Steven V, Ethan H, Bill N, Rafaella M, Jeda W, Sharbel H, Aiden A, Sienna M, Nidal R, Jayden M, James B, Douie W

Of these students, 22 finished first or second in their event and qualified for the division aths carnival which was held at Casey Fields yesterday. Those students also did a wonderful job with special congratulations going to Sienna M (1st in 800m) and Nidal Raydan (2nd shotput) Sienna and Nidal have now qualified for the regional carnival next term.

SENIOR LIGHTNING PREMIERSHIP 

On September 9, all senior students competed in the Catholic Schools lightning premiership day , run by students from St. Francis Xavier College. The sports played were footy, netball and newcombe . A great day was had by all.