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Dear Parents, Guardians and Community,
A very busy week at school.
Firstly, Go Matildas!!1 We are celebrating the Matildas win, lose or draw. Casual Clothes Day. Students are encouraged to wear Green and Gold this Friday
Open Morning 30th August 8:30 to 9:15 ish.. Come along and visit your child's classrooms they can show you all their wonderful work. Mark it in your diaries!!
Feast of the Assumption. Yesterday we came together to celebrate Mass for the Feast of the Assumption. Mary holds a special significance for us here at St Mary's and our Year 5 students led us well. Thanks to Father Greg, students and staff for their leadership for the school.
Science Week Activities. A very big thank you to those parents who are taking part in our Science Week activities. Thank you for sharing your skills and passions and giving our students a love of Science. The activities are taking place over the next few weeks as we work in when our parents are available.
Gifted and Talented: Today we had some of our Year 5 and 6 students visiting St Columba's Essendon to take part in a day for some of our Gifted and Talented students. The day was part of Melbourne Archdiocesan Catholic Schools program to challenge talented students. The day had a wide range of activities to challenge their brains!!
Indigenous Culture Talk. Today we have our Indigenous Cultural talks for both parents and staff. Helen Christensen from Melbourne Archdiocesan Catholic Schools. They are taking place after the publication of this newsletter.
Thursday Night sleepover night. As part of our Camp's program our Year 3 students are having a sleepover at the school. The students are very excited about this. (so are the teachers... who will need a very good coffee Friday morning!!)
Did you know Channel Nine were filing at our school on Tuesday? it was a bit of a secret because we wanted to surprise the students. "A Current Affair," was filming for a story for Book Week. Andy Griffith is promoting book week which is coming up next week. They filmed in our Year 6 class and some of our students as part of the panel.. we will let you know when it will be on TV.
Wakakirri: Just to add on to Channel Nine being here, we were also filming for the Wakakirri Dance Competition. There were cameras everywhere!!! It felt like a film set at times.
School Disco: Get your glam gear out, the school disco is this Friday. For some students this will be their highlight for the year!! A huge thank you to Erin and Ebony who have been the main organisers!! It is going to be a great night.
Love Maths 5/6: This Friday we have 'Love Maths working with our Year 5 and 6 teachers, meaning they have now worked with all year levels. We can already see the impact. Love Maths will be back with us for more days this year and we have now booked them for more days in 2024. Maths is going places at St Mary's.
MACLEAN Reserve: We are still needing some more volunteers for MacLean Reserve. So if you have spare time, we would appreciate if you could add your name to the volunteer list.
What is happening in our garden? If you have visited the school you may have noticed the cooking gardens have been cleared and is looking good. We have a parent group (and grandparent) who are helping us out and things have moved quickly. We have a small crop of broad beans and snow peas growing now with more planting once spring arrives. We still have to remove some of the weeds and pruning and council have offered us a load of mulch that should arrive soon. We found a small pop up green house today that we have now erected over our the plants that are starting to grow so they do not get too cold on these frosty mornings. We have about 10 students who are in the garden before school most mornings.
Parent Learning Walk: Mark this in your calendar.. we are holding our first Parent Learning Walk Friday September 1st at 11:40. Very simply, one of school leaders will walk around with a group of parents so they can watch the teachers teach and see what happens. At the end of the tour we will go back to the staffroom to discuss what they saw, observed. Parents can then ask why teachers were doing particular things, or any other question they have . That times matches up when most of the school is teaching Maths We hope you can make it.
Go Matildas
Anthony
The school year is moving quickly and as we review the progress of 2023, we are also well underway with our planning for 2024. Therefore, I wanted to share some thoughts and observations on multi-age classes.
This year our year ones/twos formed three multi-age classes. The combined classes were necessary because of student numbers, however as expected, the classes have delivered many social and academic benefits for the children.
In terms of our plans for 2024, we will have a multi age year level. We have not yet established which year levels will combine to be multi-age. Over the coming weeks we will look at class numbers and the mix of students, academic needs, gender balances and many other factors to determine which two year levels will benefit most from a multi-age class.
Multi-age classes provide more scope for friendships and encourage teachers to construct lessons that benefit a range of abilities, that support revision and repetition (a critical element of learning) and develop individuals depending on where they are on their learning journey.
St Mary’s has a long history of straight year level classes. However, multi-age classrooms are normal in every suburb across Australia and have always been part of the education system. It is not just rural areas or small schools; schools also choose to have multi age classes. We plan for just one multi-age year in 2024 (e.g. two year levels combined to produce three classes, as we have this year) but it is a model we should implement wherever it is in the best interest of our students.
Year level plans will be finalised in mid-term four, which is the normal time for all schools to be planning classes for the year ahead.
My focus, and the focus of every St Mary’s staff member is to educate the whole child; socially, academically and emotionally. We want your child to leave St Mary’s well prepared for the next chapter of their learning. I thank you for your continued support in this focus.
St Mary’s Faith News
School and Parish Connections
Gospel – Matthew 14:22-33
After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.
After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone.
Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”
Way of the West Program
This is the third week of the “way of the West’ Program.
Thank you for all your generous donations last week.
There is a box in each classroom for families to drop off their donations.
Every Friday the Charism team will collect the donations and deliver them to Fr Greg.
Thank you in advance for your support!
Week 3: 14th - 19th August
This week we will be collecting toiletries
- Shampoo
- Soap
- Toothpaste and toothbrushes
- Sanitary products
- Shaving items
Some important dates to Remember for Term 3
Event |
Date |
Time |
Where |
Confirmation - 6D |
Tuesday 22nd Augusst |
6:00 pm |
Church |
Confirmation - 6B |
Wednesday 23rd August |
6:00 pm |
Church |
Children’s Liturgy |
Sunday 27th August |
10:30 am |
Church |
Father’s Day Mass |
Friday 1st Spetember |
9:15 am |
Church |
Seniors Mass |
Friday 1st September |
11:30 am |
Church |
Sacramental Program 2023 - Confirmation
All dates and times for the Sacrament Masses are outlined in the table below. Year 6 students will be making their Eucharist and Confirmation as a class this year
Sacrament |
Term |
Date |
Where |
Notes |
Confirmation - 6D |
3 |
Tuesday 22nd August - 6:00pm |
Church |
No booking required |
Confirmation - 6B |
3 |
Wednesday 23rd August - 6:00pm |
Church |
No booking required |
It’s almost School Disco time!
The School Disco is this Friday - we know how excited the students are for this event!
Ticket purchases through CDF have now closed.
Just a reminder that there are 2 separate sessions:
- Session one is for the Preps, Grade 1 & 2’s and will run from 6.00pm to 7.15pm.
- Session two is for Grade 3, 4, 5 & 6’s and will run from 7.30pm to 9.00pm.
Please drop your child off at the School Hall so they can be checked in. You will be able to collect your child at the end of their session
Students may come dressed in their best! There will be snacks, a DJ, quiet zones and of course, lots of dancing! We ask that students do not bring mobile phones.
This event is one of our favourites and is a great opportunity for the kids to come together, have some fun and dance the night away. We look forward to seeing everyone there!
2023 Father’s Day Stall
The Father’s Day Stall will be held on Friday 25 th August. If you have not yet had a chance to purchase a voucher, your last chance to do so is
until the end of this week through CDF Pay. Voucher sales will close Sunday 20th August.
All items on the stall are valued at $5 and you can purchase multiple vouchers for the special men in your child’s life.
If you can spare 10 minutes once or twice a term, between 8am and 10.45am - please nominate your dates using the Signup Genius form as soon as possible please to ensure safe play for the children.
The link is below, but note that you may need to click on the "next" button at the bottom to see more dates.
For Maclean Reserve -
1. Rubbish should be picked up before first play at 11.00am
2. Collect bucket and tongs from the front office.
3. Carefully pick up any rubbish on the Maclean Reserve ESPECIALLY CHECKING FOR ANY BROKEN GLASS AND NEEDLES ON THE GROUND AND IN GRASSED AREAS
4. Please carefully check the ENCLOSED PLAY AREAS
5. If any SHARPS are found, using tongs place in yellow sharps container also located at the office. Return the yellow container and contents (if any) to the school office.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4BABA729A2F5CF8-maclean
Cultural Week at Emmanuel is a time to celebrate the diversity and cultural backgrounds of our College community. Students and staff travelled to Pichi Pichi in the Flinders Ranges of South Australia, where they participated in indigenous immersion experiences. It has been fascinating to hear them share stories and their experiences and the wisdom gained whilst interacting with the Dusty Feet Mob.
This week sees several students and staff excitedly heading off to Music Camp. This is a wonderful opportunity for students studying music, to enjoy each other’s company in a beautiful setting at Fern Gully Lodge in Healesville.
We welcome back another group of students and staff who were fortunate to attend world Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal last week. Activities including meeting the Pope, going to Assisi and other amazing opportunities made this a one in a life-time experience for all who went. Not only did they meet great people and see wonderful things, but it was a meaningful connection to their personal faith.
As a community we congratulate the Matilda’s on their journey so far in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. We are hoping to encourage the next generation of superstars through involvement in the Liverpool International Academy held at the College, commencing this Saturday 19 August with the ‘Come and Try’ session at Notre Dame Campus. Registration is required for this free 30-minute session, via the link on the flyer attached.
Year 7 2025 Applications close this Friday 18 August 2023
If you have a child in Grade 5, applications for Year 7 2025 close this Friday 18 August 2023. Even if your older child is already at the College or joining us in Year 7 2024, it is a requirement for an application to be submitted for students entering Year 7 in 2025. A Prospectus Pack containing an application form can be obtained by:
- Following this link to the College website: Request a Prospectus here
- Sending an email to enrolments@ecmelb.catholic.edu.au
- Calling our College Registrar, Ms Donna Grech on 8325 5119
- Coming into either Campus Office between 8am and 4:15pm on weekdays.
If you have any application enquiries, please contact Ms Donna Grech, College Registrar on 8325 5119.
Yours sincerely
Jenny Hendricks