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Child Safety - Day for Daniel
Tomorrow we will be focused on Child Safety with students and staff being encouraged to wear RED for Day for Daniel (Daniel Morcombe Foundation). This year’s theme for Day for Daniel is all about having BRAVE CONVERSATIONS. More information on Day for Daniel is in the Child Safety Section of the newsletter.
The Victorian Curriculum - Water Safety Certificate - Intensive Swimming Program
The Junior Level have been participating in swimming lessons this week, learning important water safety skills in and around water. The intensive swimming program meets learning outcomes in the Victorian Curriculum Water Safety Certificate. The plan is by the time students finish primary school they will have achieved the specific competencies such as water safety knowledge, rescue skills, a survival sequence and the ability to swim a continuous distance of 50 metres. Rescue skills include the following:
- Rescue a person using non-swimming rescue techniques
- Reach rescue using a non-rigid aid
- Throw rescue using a weighted rope
- Throw rescue using a buoyant object and unweighted rope
Survival sequences include:
- Perform a survival sequence wearing light clothing
- Enter the water safely
- Scull, float and tread water for 2 minutes; signalling for help intermittently
- Swim survival strokes slowly for 3 minutes
- Exit the water safety.
More information on the the Victorian Curriculum Water Safety Certificate can be found at https://lsv.com.au/toolkit/victorian_water_safety_certificate_more.php#tab-1
2023 Foundation Students Transition to School Program
Our 2023 Foundation Students Transition to School Program is well underway with the next Google Meet session scheduled for Monday 7 November. It is an exciting time for our 2023 Foundation Students as they become familiar with school life, get to meet their new friends and transition to school.
Year 6 Excursion - Old Melbourne Gaol
Year 6 students will be attending Old Melbourne Gaol excursion tomorrow. The purpose of this excursion is for students to learn about key moments in Melbourne's cultural and social history, including the history of the Melbourne Gaol. The students will be participating in a courtroom drama, which links to our Term 4 Drama unit. Students will participate in an Old Melbourne Gaol guided tour as well. We look forward to hearing all about their learning experiences and going back in time to this historical place.
Please note, buses leave at 8.50am SHARP and we are unable to wait for latecomers
Year 4 Camp
Our Year 4 camp is fast approaching. Students will be attending Oasis Camp in Mt. Evelyn on Thursday 3 November and Friday 4 November (Melbourne Cup week). Our students are very excited about their upcoming camp experience and we look forward to hearing all about it.
Lamont - Book Fair is coming
The Book Fair is coming to school - more information will be advertised in the newsletter in the next few weeks. The timing of the Book Fair will support families with their Christmas Shopping list and what could be a better gift than being caught up in the imaginary world and/or exciting information that books hold within their cover.
Whole School Athletics Day - Wednesday 9 November
Our whole school Athletics Day will be held on Wednesday 9 November at Casey Fields Athletics Track, Cranbourne East. Mr Tim is planning and preparing for a very exciting day and we are very much looking forward to this whole school event.
Upcoming Dates
Monday 31 October - Student Free Day
Tuesday 1 November - Melbourne Cup Public Holiday
Change of Date - end of 2022 school year for students
End of Term 4 for students will now conclude on
THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER, 2022 at 3.15 pm
Our last day of school for students will include:
End of School Year Mass
Student Christmas Concert (Footsteps Dance)
Community farewell to our Year 6 students
Term 4 Mass and Reconciliation celebrations
All parents, families and friends are invited to celebrate Mass and Reconciliation during the term. The attachment outlines class and school celebrations for the term. When attending a celebration please sign in at the School Office.
We do ask that all parents and visitors in our school that your mobile phones are either switched off, on silent and put away during prayer and liturgical celebrations. Thank you.
October is Mission Month – Socktober Fundraiser
As part of last Sunday’s Liturgy, World Mission Sunday was celebrated. Pope Francis, in his 2022 World Mission Sunday message, invited everyone to answer the call to be missionary, sharing that "Mission is carried out together, not individually...".
Through our fundraising efforts we have supported a range of mission development programs in Ethiopia addressing malnutrition, the lack of access to education for young children, and the vulnerable position of women in society. Across the Socktober event, students have been learning about, praying, advocating for, and financially supporting the children and communities in Ethiopia.
Your generous contributions to the Socktober class fundraising events has been greatly appreciated. A final total of funds raised will be published in the coming weeks. Many thanks for your prayers and donations supporting our students as they kicked for goals! Thank you.
All Saints' Day- November 1 and the Feast of All Souls – November 2
During the month of November, we remember all of the people we have loved who have died and give thanks for the special place they have in our hearts. To remember those who we have loved and who are no longer with us, families may wish to write the names of their loves ones on a card which will be attached to the special knitted poppies displayed in the front Welcome during the second week of November leading up to Remembrance Day. Cards are available from the School Office.
Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C
Sunday, October 30, 2022
Luke 19:1-10
Jesus stays at the house of Zacchaeus, the tax collector.
In next Sunday’s Gospel, we hear the story of a tax collector who changed his ways after his encounter with Jesus. In Jesus' time, tax collectors often cheated people by collecting more money from people than was required to pay the tax. Zacchaeus is described as a chief tax collector and a wealthy man, probably because he cheated many people. This story about Zacchaeus reminds us of a sacrament we celebrate in our Church. Which one? The Sacrament of Penance. What do you celebrate in the Sacrament of Penance?
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 Click on the link below to download the weekly 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
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.
- For Families https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/parent-resources/online-safety-for-every-family
- 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/
- Bravehearts https://bravehearts.org.au/
- Parenting Ideas
- Attend a webinar for parents at no charge
- Our school has a membership with Parenting Ideas, one of Australia’s most trusted sources of parenting education and support. As part of this membership, all the parents in our school community can attend some fantastic webinars at no cost. We’re pleased to let you know about an upcoming webinar.
- Attend a webinar for parents at no charge
- Handling tricky friendship days
- Friendships can be complex, intense and filled with unpredictable ups and downs. Even though we might wish that our kids could “just get on with it”, most need our active guidance to problem solve daily challenges.
- In this webinar, Michelle Mitchell offers a set of practical guiding principles to help empower children to handle tricky friendship days.
- Key learning and discussion points include:
- A trusted adult’s role in social-emotional education
- The importance of the tiny voice
- Six guiding principles to help tweens navigate tricky friendship days
- How parents can help children with the gaps in their development
- Tips for supporting extra sensitive kids
- Presented by Michelle Mitchell - Best selling author and professional speakeR
- Video overview- Click this link to view the video overview: https://vimeo.com/672520857
- When: Wednesday 2 November 2022 at 8:00pm - 9:00pm AEDT
- You can redeem your webinar now – please refer to the attached flyer
- Disarming anxiety before it becomes a disorder
- Parents are in a perfect position to equip children and teenagers with the tools to manage anxiety and minimise its impact on learning, wellbeing, and happiness. Article attached:
Get RED, ready for Day for Daniel 2022! TOMORROW Friday 28 October 2022
Wear something Red • Educate • Donate!
Gold coin donation is requested on the day. Thank you for your support.
Now in its 18th year, Day for Daniel is Australia’s largest child safety education and awareness day. Held on the last Friday of October, this year it will take place on Friday 28 October. In recent years, more than 1.5 million Australians have united with the Daniel Morcombe Foundation (DMF) to raise child safety awareness and remember Daniel. Day for Daniel urges Australians to wear red, educate and donate. Child safety activities will be conducted and focus on keeping kids safe, and raising funds for the Daniel Morcombe Foundation.
In 2022, Day for Daniel’s theme is brave conversations. As a School in the Diocese of Sale, we believe Day for Daniel is the perfect opportunity to have brave conversations with children around personal safety in the real and online world. All DOSCEL school are supporters of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, who help keep children safe and promote the annual Day for Daniel event. Don’t forget to wear something Red tomorrow and donate.
Children's Week 2022
The Children’s Week National Theme for 2022 is based on UNCRC Article 27. All Children have the right to a standard of living that supports their wellbeing and healthy development. Children’s Week 2022 is held between 22 October – 30 October 2022. Children's Week is a national celebration that recognises the talents, skills, achievements and rights of children. Each year, thousands of Victorian children take part in Children's Week festivities. This week each class participated in raising funds through Socktober to support those in Ethiopia.
Refer to the flyers for events held in Victoria. All Children's Week events are free to families with children aged from birth to 12 years. It's a great opportunity for families to enjoy fun, engaging and educational experiences.
Congratulations to the following students on their learning awards:
| Name | Class | Award |
| Layla | 3-RJ | Learning Awards - Be Problem Solvers |
| Harvey | 5-AB | Learning Awards - Be Responsible |
| Karim | 5-SD | Learning Awards - Be Problem Solvers |
| Claudia | 6-MV | Learning Awards - Be Responsible |