Dear families,

Wouldn’t it have been nice to be able to have had a full week back at school? Unfortunately, given NSW’s numbers, this lockdown was probably inevitable.

The teachers will be using today to work on transferring some of their lessons into an online format. They will however, have sent through some work for students to work on today.

As of Monday, we will commence with our former Remote Learning with daily whole class meetings and small groups for literacy and maths. Please note that not all students will be seen for small groups if the lockdown is only until Tuesday. The aim is to see every student at least once in a small group for each of literacy and maths across a full week.

As always, if you have any questions or would like some modified work, please contact your child’s teacher.

Thanks to those who have taken some time to think about our uniforms. If you have not done so, you can find the survey here.

Uniforms are one of those topics where you will never please everyone in the community. By asking for your opinions, we will be able to make considered changes when the time comes. Whatever decisions are made, rest assured there will be a long transition period of up to 2 years, so your current purchases will not be wasted.

We continue to extend our prayers and thoughts to the Hicks family and also to Tony Grima, our maintenance person, whose wife also passed away recently. May the memories of their loved ones continue to be a source of comfort in these sad times.

Hoping to be able to see you all back on site very soon.

Blessings,

Sonia

We are pleased with the number of students who have signed up for the 2021 Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge. Milly has been busy handing out certificates to students who are tracking their reading progress. The challenge runs until the end of Term 3. 

Here are some links to help you on your journey through the challenge:

2021 Book List

Choosing a Book

Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge Facebook page

Happy reading!

Brenda Lycke

Literacy Leader

blycke@smaltona.catholic.edu.au

Over the last two days of Term 2, our whole staff attended a conference at the RACV Club Torquay. The conference was split into two days, Day 1 focussed on the collection, analysis and use of data in improving student outcomes and Day 2 focussed on Sacraments & sacramentality.

Day 1 was facilitated by Dr. Phillip Holmes-Smith and Emma MacNamara from consultancy firm, School Research, Evaluation and Measurements Services (SREAMS). This day provided staff with a deeper understanding of how to use a digital platform called SPA to input, track and analyse the assessment data we collect.

Staff were immersed in exploration of the principles underpinning the administration, collation and assessment of evidence informed practices. They were taken through how assessments such as NAPLAN and PAT-R/M are designed, should be administered (to whom, how often and at what level) and should be assessed (analysed and trends/patterns identified). 

Staff engaged in an exploration of our own school data and the ways in which Spa can be used to view, track and analyse this data. Finally, staff were given time to explore their own class/children's data with planning for greater student engagement in learning activities and targeting of group and individual needs in  mind. 

This day was highly engaging and successful and as a staff, we look forward to deepening our understandings as we work with your children again this term. While this type of learning is deeply important to our ongoing success at St Mary's in providing for your children's needs, we also recognise that finishing the term two days early to allow for the conference may have put some families out and so we thank you sincerely for your ongoing support.

Matthew Taylor

Leader of Learning & Teaching

mtaylor@smaltona.catholic.edu.au

Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre news:

• Mary MacKillop Today - Annual Fundraising Dinner - Friday 27^th August 2021 - Mt St Joseph Girls’ College Altona West. Guest speaker will be Robyn Miller MacKillop Family Services CEO. Join us for our silent auctions and raffles. Your donations will help transform lives by going directly into one of many projects sponsored by Mary MacKillop Today. To purchase a ticket or make up a table, please contact Kate on 9926 9300.
• Open Day (Sat 7 August) and Feast day mass to celebrate Mary MacKillop – The Open Day will include mass in the Chapel celebrated by Fr Peter Malone to recognise the Feast day of Mary MacKillop. For those who cannot attend, the mass will be live streamed and there will be virtual tours of the Heritage Centre. For details, please go to https://www.mmhc.org.au/
• Mary MacKillop Gift shop and Accommodation specials  - If you want to try a short term stay in a very sacred museum please contact Kate on 9926 9300. Or go into the draw for a free one night accommodation for two at the Heritage Centre in East Melbourne with a purchase from the Museum gift shop (communion & confirmation gifts, devotional items, Vatican Library collection, rosary beads, holding crosses, candles, cards, statues, crucifixes, books and Peruvian handmade items) https://www.mmhc.org.au/facilities/gift-shop/
• Volunteers’ program – If you are looking for a way to contribute to the community and can spare 2-3 hours per week, please contact Ted Javernik on 0419513184 or Ted.Javernik@sosj.org.au

PREP HT:
Tilly for all her great efforts in class
Valentina for making good friendship choices.

PREP S:
Thomas for always giving his best in all areas of his learning.
Isabelle for her great writing and spelling skills.

YEAR 1/ 2B:
Allegra for her brilliant enthusiasm for learning
Ethan for including magnificent detail in his writing

YEAR 1/ 2G:
Bridget for working hard on her persuasive writing
William for always having a go with a smile on his face

YEAR 1/ 2N:
Alexis for being such a great helper for Miss N 

YEAR 3/4A:
Minh-Phi for working hard and listening carefully at all times.
Daniel for always striving to complete his best work in class.

YEAR 3/ 4B:
Miller for his ongoing and outstanding effort in the classroom.
Chloe for always completing her work to the best of her ability.

YEAR 3/4 S:
Jakub for focussing on completing tasks
Sienna for her great effort writing an information report

YEAR 4/5 L:
Lochlain for a fantastic effort with his addition post-test.
Jackson for his improvement in reading with fluency with the teacher. 

YEAR 5/6C:
Livinia for your fantastic effort in all of your learning
Jai for your effort in writing your information report

YEAR 5/ 6F:
William for a fantastic improvement in your work ethic. Congratulations on a positive approach to your learning.
Daniel for preparing and presenting your research into environmental issues

YEAR 5/ 6KC:
Mason for his ability to work co-operatively with all members of the  class.
Gisella for her commitment to all areas of her learning. 

To be eligible children must be Victorian residents, aged 4 to 18 and named on a valid Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, as well as Medicare card.

Additionally, special consideration also applies for children named on their own valid Health Care Card or are residing in Care Services as well as temporary or provisional visa holders, undocumented migrants or international students. Please refer to the Program Guidelines for more information.

The Get Active Kids Voucher Program helps eligible families get their kids involved in organised sport and active recreation activities by reimbursing the cost of membership and registration fees, uniforms, and equipment. Eligible children may be able to receive up to $200 each.

Sporting pursuits, swimming lessons and outdoor active recreation programs are examples of eligible activities under the Program.

The Program encourages kids to re-engage or to participate for the first time in new activities by reducing the cost of participation which can be a significant barrier to participation.
The Program is being delivered across four Rounds until 15 April 2022.
Applications for vouchers in Round two of the program open 31 May 2021 and close 30 July 2021.
For Round two of the Program, you can claim eligible expenses which were incurred between 1 January 2021 and 30 July 2021.
You can claim one voucher per eligible child, per round.
To find out if you are eligible, how to apply, what costs are covered and more, visit
www. getactive.vic.gov.au/vouchers

As we find ourselves yet again in the throws of another lockdown, it is timely that we consider the ways in which Maths can be learnt at home. 

There are so many opportunities to explore mathematical concepts within our own home that teaches students the importance of real life maths. 

Things like cooking with a measurement focus or sports where we look at times are just a couple but the ideas are endless.

Click one or all of the links below to find out more.

7 Ways Parents can Help Their Kids with Maths 

Maths Is All Around You 

Maths At Home

Helping your kids learn maths at home doesn't have to be daunting