St. Mary's eNews

Week 9. Term 1


Principal's Message: 25th March 2022

Dear families,


This week I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the Victorian Association of Catholic Primary School Principals’ Conference.

The theme for this year’s conference was Hope: For now and whatever lies ahead.

 

The keynote speakers I had the opportunity to listen to were remarkable and many had me in tears. And not just the quiet trickle, but those that can easily turn into big, uncontrollable, ugly tears!

One such story was that of Judy and Tim Sharp, a mother and her autistic son who shared their remarkable story of determination, advocacy and pure joy. You can learn more of their story here. If you do nothing else today but watch this story, it will be worth it.


I feel that the experience of the last few days highlighted for the the absolute privilege of the work I get to do each day and the community I get to share that with.



Values


I am excited to announce that St Mary's new school Values are:

  • Respect
  • Responsibility
  • Resilience and
  • Courage

I am looking forward to our upcoming work around the selection of significant people who epitomise these values.

We will be using these people’s names and stories as inspiration for our house names in the near future. Just as we did with our values nominations, parents and children will also have the opportunity to have their say on these selections.

Our senior students are also currently exploring the lives of influential people. 



COVID Update


Parents and visitors to the school for meetings and events (indoors or outdoors) will need to show proof of double vaccination at the office. This does not include pick up and drop off or entering the front office.

It is expected that this requirement will remain in place next term when we commence face to face assemblies and other events. 



ECSI


There are 2 weeks left to undertake the survey. If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to take up the offer.


I will be re-sharing instructions via Operoo soon.




I hope you have a restful weekend,

Sonia



Parent Webinar: Online Safety

A REMINDER - HAVE YOU BOOKED YOUR PLACE?

CyberSafety Project Live Webinar for Parents!
  Monday 28th March - 7.30 - 8.45pm

As you know, recently our students attended an incursion run by Trent and Kiah from the CyberSafety Project. Now it's your turn to gain some knowledge too. Parents who have attended meetings run by the CS Project team in the past have raved about them (if you're one of those, please spread the word!).

We have the opportunity to tap into a live webinar titled "Learn, Connect and Play Safely Online". We know that children today love to play, connect and learn online. This session aims to provide parents and guardians with insights and important information about popular online experiences children are exposed to today. Building a positive and healthy family environment where digital use is encouraged, but managed effectively, can be a tough balance.

Throughout this webinar the Cyber Safety Project Team highlight important settings and parental controls that allow your child to navigate online tools independently and safely.

You will uncover proactive tools and strategies for developing fundamental digital safety and wellbeing skills in your young people at home, including ways to seek help when things go wrong online.

So click here to open the flyer and then simply click the booking link....you won't regret it.

If you have trouble booking, please don't hesitate to contact me (mmasseni@smaltona.catholic.edu.au)

Regards Marg
Wellbeing Leader

Global Academic Challenge Results

Over 3 days this week, a number of our Year 4 and 6 students were selected by their classroom teachers to participate in ACER's Global Academic Challenge. There were three challenges, Reading, Maths & Science and we entered students into all challenges. We were selective about the students we entered and lucky, for it did prove a challenge for those students who participated. Having said that, we have already seen the individual results reports and there are some outstanding results.

The individual reports showed not only the number of questions the student got correct but also an international percentile rank. The percentile rank shows a student's standing relative to the other students who took the test. For example, a percentile rank of 65.3 means this score is equal to or better than the scores of 65.3% of students who took the test.

In Reading, we had 17 students enter and 8 of these achieved results placing them above the 75th percentile including 7 of the 10 Yr 6 students who took the test with one of our Yr 6's even scoring in the 94th percentile.

In Maths, 2 of our Yr 6 students achieved results placing them above the 75th percentile and in Science we entered only 1 student in each age group and both of them ranked highly with our Yr 4 student achieving a percentile rank of 99.3!

There were a small group of students who were away and are able to sit the test on alternate dates next week so we could have even more outstanding results yet to come. Once all results are in, we will acknowledge these students in an assembly and certificates are due to be ready around the middle of May.

I want to say thank you to our school leaders who supervised these students this week, well done to the classroom teachers who nominated them and a huge congratulations to each and every student who participated. This will definitely be something we look to make part of the way we cater for our high acheiving students each year now.

Yours in Education
Matthew Taylor
Leader of Learning & Teaching

What is the NCCD?

Maybe you have heard of this acronym and wondered what it stands for.

NCCD stands for the National Consistent Collection of Data on School Children with a Disability.

Read the article linked below from the NCCD portal that further explains the purpose of the NCCD and how this information is used.

Each August all schools in Australia are asked to complete a census on the number of students in their schools who may have some form of disability that prevents them from accessing education in a similar way to their peers.


Read the following article from the NCCD portal that further explains the purpose of the NCCD and how this information is used.


If you have any questions about this please feel free to contact me.


Cathy Sims

Learning Diversity Leader

csims@smaltona.catholic.edu.au



Easter Raffle

The Parents & Friends committee are hosting their annual Easter raffle. We are kindly asking for Easter donations such as Easter eggs/chocolate or themed items that can be included in the Easter baskets to raffle.


Each classroom will have an easter tub that your child can leave the items in. Easter donations can be accepted until Monday 4th April.

This year, the items will be combined to make a limited number of hampers as opposed to previous years.

Your child will be sent home with a raffle book of 10 tickets. Each ticket is $1 each. Additional books can be found at reception if needed.

Tickets will need to be returned no later than Monday 4th April

Thank you and good luck!
Regards The Parents & Friends Committee



National Ride to School Day

Thanks to everyone who participated in the first Walk/Ride to School Day for 2022 which coincided with the National Ride to School Day.   It was great to see so many students and their families coming to school in an active way. Each student who particpated earned points for their House Team.
We will announce house team points and most active classes at assembly on Monday.

Thanks for our House Captains for collecting names and tallying points as well as for organising the advertising for the event.

Our next Walk/Ride to School Day will be in Term 2 on Thursday 28th April.

Nude Food

In an effort to reduce rubbish at school and maintain our good hygiene practices, our Nude Food initiative will remain in place. 

Families are encouraged to send food to school in re-useable containers and students are required to take home any wrappings that they bring to school. Fruit peelings may be put into classroom general rubbish bins. 

Students are asked to eat food they purchase from the tuck shop on the grass steps outside the hall.  All children should be seated when eating.  Can you please reinforce this rule with your children.

Although students are given ample time to eat their food in the classroom, and are encouraged to eat what is given to them, there may be times when children are just not hungry and are unable to finish their food.

Please do not put pressure on your child / children to eat everything in their lunchbox every day. What we are finding is that some children are hiding food in corridors and around classrooms so that they don't have to take it home for fear of getting into trouble. As you will appreciate, neither of these scenarios are ideal.

We thank families for their support of this new way of working at St Mary's.

Project Compassion 2022

Each year, our school supports Caritas Australia in raising money throughout Lent via their annual Project Compassion appeal. Each classroom has a Project Compassion giving box on their prayer table and there is a box outside our school office also. Students, parents and families are encouraged to donate what they can to support the work of Caritas in places like India, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo and even Australia and the Soloman Islands.  

On the Project Compassion website they tell us:

Your generous support can help to change the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people. Join us this Lent to raise much-needed funds for people living in poverty.

Together, we can make a difference now, and For All Future Generations.

This year, Caritas is very aware of the war developing in the Ukraine and is determined to assist. Caritas Australia is working directly with Caritas Ukraine at the moment. They are one of the few NGOs in Australia with a direct partner on the ground in Ukraine, and therefore are doing all they can to contribute to the urgent needs of people in Ukraine.

As a school, we are directing half of all funds received during Lent to the regular Project Compassion projects and half directly to their Ukraine Crisis Appeal. You can contribute too as Caritas are accepting funds through their  Ukraine Crisis Appeal, to provide support and learn more, visit https://www.caritas.org.au/donate/emergency-appeals/ukraine/

Later in the term, our Social Justice Leaders along with our JSC are aiming to hold an event to raise extra funds for this appeal so keep an eye out in upcoming newlsetters.

Yours in Faith
Matthew Taylor
Religious Education Leader

Community News

In this weeks Community News we have our Church Bulletin, Emmanuel College news, Water Polo sign up, onsite music lessons,  a reminder for Winter school uniform orders, school holiday care programs, and information if you'd wish to donate to the Caritas Australia Ukraine Crisis Appeal.

Church Bulletin

Emmanuel College News

Music Lessons

Water Polo sign up

Ukraine Appeal



UNIFORM SHOP - WINTER UNIFORM ORDERS
 
Just a friendly reminder with term one almost over it’s time to  get ready for winter uniform in term 2.
 
Orders can be placed via email, left at the office or on person at the uniform shop. (tuesdays and fridays 2:30 - 3:00)

When your order is complete it will be given to your child to be taken home.
Current order forms are below and there is also blank forms at the office. 
 
 
 
 
The uniform shop accepts cash or direct deposit payments. Please note payment must be received before uniforms are sent home. 


 
Quantin Binnah vacation care

Vacation Care Term One School Holiday Program for Quantin Binnah is NOW OPEN. Please visit their website https://www.qbcc.org.au/ to find out more about all of their services.

They run Vacation Care at the following Venues (click for activities guide):

  1. Newport Lakes Primary School  - 40 Elizabeth St, Newport VIC 3015
  2. Corpus Christi Primary School - 29 Russell St, Werribee VIC 3030
  3. Quantin Binnah Community Centre - 61 Thames Blvd, Werribee VIC 3030

 

Please see attached above the activity brochures for all of the vacation care programs.




Get Active Voucher 

The Get Active Kids Voucher Program helps eligible families get their kids involved in organised sport by providing financial support for registration fees. You may be eligible for up to $200.

To find out if you are eligible, how to apply, what costs are covered and more, visit

https://www.getactive.vic.gov.au/vouchers/




Catholic Education

In 2022 many parents will still need to make decisions regarding their child's education for 2023 and beyond.
 
To assist your decision making in relation to your child's education for 2023 and beyond, please click here to access the 2022 edition of the Catholic Education Guide.




We would also like to thank Mancini Real Estate for their continuous support to St Mary's Altona



                                                                              

Class News

Each week we update the CLASSES tab on the home page.  Click on each class level tab to see what's happening around the school.
Prep 

Year 1/2
Year 3/4
Year 5/6



Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage