St. Mary's eNews

Week 6 Term 2


Principal's Message: 3 June 2022

Dear families,


Winter well and truly arrived in Altona this week. While it appears that COVID-related absences have slowed, there does appear to be an increase in general illness within and amongst the community.


We are doing our best as a school and staff to accommodate staff absences with the least interruption possible, but as you can acknowledge, this is often a very difficult, if not impossible task. I thank each of you for your support and understanding as we navigate these challenges.


We were hoping to have uniform samples ready for viewing this week, but it seems that no industry is immune to illness and we will need to wait a little longer.

We will let you know via Operoo when the pieces have arrived and how you can have your say about our next uniform.

A reminder that our mid year Student/Parent/Teacher conferences will be held on Monday 20th June (1.30 - 8pm) and Tuesday (3.45 - 5pm).  School will finish at 1pm on Monday 20th June. 


Next Wednesday 8th June at 7:30pm, we will host the P&F AGM. We encourage you to come along and see what it’s all about. Please read last week’s P&F Myths busted article to learn more about what we do. We’d love to get more members and our goal is to have at least one parent per class represented.


Parking around the school continues to be a serious issue. Not only are parents/carers parking in driveways, but we have also begun seeing people double park, park in disabled parking spots with no permit and drive the wrong way down Railway Street North. I again implore you to do the right thing for every member of our community and abide by the road laws surrounding our school. The last thing I want to spend my time doing is pulling parents up publicly for doing the wrong thing. I’d much rather spend time catching up with you all and having a great conversation. That said, if our students’ safety is at risk, I will be left with no choice.  May I encourage you each to hold yourselves and your friends accountable, keeping our children’s wellbeing foremost in our minds. 


This week we celebrated National Reconciliation Week. Students participated in a range of classroom activities that celebrated the rich culture and history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We also acknowledge the work we are doing and need to do towards achieving reconciliation.


I leave you this week with a link to the Aboriginal Our Father (sung). While very similar to the Our Father we have come to know, there is a beautifully simple line, “We talk to You”, which is not present in the version we know so well. What a comforting thought to know that He is always listening.



Have a wonderfully restful weekend,

Sonia




Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

 


Buddy Day ~ Purple Day

Congratulations to Andy and Judah who organised an exceptional Buddy Day today.  So many students came to school with a splash of purple.  Students from different classes met together before our assembly. Some interviewed each other about being good buddies while others drew and coloured and just had fun. 

At our assembly, classes showed their posters and spoke about what it means to be a good buddy.  You can see these posters on the outdoor noticeboards and also outside the staff room.  

Our photo booth at recess was a huge hit...check out the photos on Facebook and on the noticeboards too. 

Remember buddy day is not just for today.  Please speak with your children often about what it takes to be a good friend.

      



Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage



Resuscitate a Mate

On Tuesday 31/5, Michael from Life Saving Victoria came out to run the Resuscitate A Mate Program with our Year 5/6 students. The program is designed to introduce participants just like our students to emergency response management. Our students were introduced to the basic steps to follow in an emergency situation and the skills to potentially save a life. They learnt all about DRS ABCD, the chain of survival and many a rendition of "Stayin Alive" was heard as students practiced their timing of CPR, 30 chest compressions to 2 breaths 5 times every minute.

Photo gallery

We want to thank Michael and Life Saving Victoria for providing our students the opportunity to learn a skill that one day may save a life. We pray they will never need to use it, but just in case, here is the DRS ABCD action plan for anyone playing along at home.



Your 5/6 team
Brenda, Tim, Tony, Ala, Jane, Corina & Carol

 


Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage




Year 5/6 CERES Excursion

On Monday the 30th of May our 5/6 students and teachers braved the wet and wintery conditions to head out to CERES. CERES is an environmental education centre, community garden, urban farm and social enterprise hub by the Merri Creek on Wurundjeri Country, near Melbourne. Our students attended the "Towards Zero Waste" excursion. They joined CERES' expert educators on a journey towards zero waste where our students explored the impacts of waste, discovered solutions to reduce waste and were shown ways to turn waste into a valuable resource. The educators there guided our students through problem solving and action planning to create change within their school community and explored solutions to move towards zero waste at school or home. 

The sessions that students participated in related directly to our integrated studies unit on sustainability. Students explored the difference between a ‘Take, Make, Dispose’ (linear economy) and circular economies where items are reused or repurposed. They also had the opportunity to learn how to start and maintain a composting system in which they hope to begin at St. Mary's soon. 

Photos of our fabulous day at CERES

Your 5/6 team
Brenda, Tim, Tony, Ala, Jane, Corina & Carol

 


Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage



Joyful June: Action for Happiness

When facing big challenges we can still notice the little good things. Even in difficult times, there is still a lot to be grateful for. And we can actively cultivate positive feelings by looking for what's good. The Joyful June calendar, from Action for Happiness, is full of actions to help create more positive emotions. Please share it with others and inspire them too!

You can also download their app to receive daily nudges and be part of a supportive community putting these ideas into action.



Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage



Community News

For this weeks Community News we have our Church Bulletin, news from Emmanuel College, a Winter Holiday Basketball Camp, Williamstown Community Events, Junior Water Polo information, and an Open Day for De La Salle College.

Church Bulletin

Emmanuel College News

Willamstown Community Newsletter

Basketball Winter Holiday Camp

Open Day for De La Salle College

Junior Water Polo 

Creative Music

Foster Caring

Soccer Academy

 



FOSTER CARERS NEEDED

If you have thought about foster care, please get in touch and

ask the questions you have always wanted to.

Ring: Key Assets 1800 932 237 or 1800 WE CARE

Email: info@keyassets.com.au

Web: canifoster.com.au or keyassets.org.au





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


                                         




Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage



Introducing ~ Rhona Cloud

I’m an enthusiastic early childhood and primary teacher with a passion for children’s mental health, dance, music, nutrition and travel. I’m an avid cat enthusiast and live with my two mischievous kittens, Britney and Tifa, and my musician husband, Nia.

I enjoy rollerblading, Japanese fashion, cross-stitching and trying out new places to eat around Melbourne. 

I was born in the USA to British parents and spent most of my life growing up in country Qld and country NSW. I knew I wanted to be a teacher from the moment I started school and have been either teaching, working with and studying young children since I was 16, for the last 18 years. 

I have a Bachelor of Education specialising in Early Childhood (0-8yrs) as well as a children’s yoga teaching qualification, children’s trauma and mental health, and am also a children’s dance instructor when I have time.

I’ve been teaching in primary schools for 10 years in Brisbane and Melbourne and cannot imagine doing anything else, ever!


 

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage