Dear families,

I’m certain I’m not alone in feeling like we’ve been clawing our way towards today!

It’s been a tough term for many. Our students have shown themselves to be incredibly adaptable, as have our staff who have had to bear minute-by-minute changes to timetabling.

Everyone has stepped up to help each other navigate this tricky situation. I thank you for your patience and kindness these last few months. Let’s hope for a smoother second semester.

COVID update

You will have received the news via Operoo that we are no longer required to view vaccination certificates for visitors/helpers from the beginning of Term 3. At this time, we are not sure if any COVID isolation or testing requirements will change. Until then, please continue to let us know if your child tests positive.

Fee payments

Thank you to families who have made payments and/or signed up for a payment plan. If you need help with meeting payments, please make a time early next term to see me so we can help in any way.

Uniform changes

Thanks to those who have already submitted their preferences. Please see below for some answers to questions that have been posed.
We will keep the voting form open until the end of the first week of Term 3 (15th July). You are welcome to come and see the sample items at any time. They will remain on display until voting ceases.
We are still on track to be able to have our new uniform available towards the end of Term 4.

Things to note:

• Our ultimate selections will be used as a capsule wardrobe. Students can choose to mix and match from various pieces based on their preferences and/or the weather
• Girls will have the option to wear navy pants or shorts as part of their uniforms. We have not included these as we already know they will be navy
• Beanies and scarves seem a popular inclusion. We will share options next term
• As mentioned previously, families will have 2 years to transition to the new uniform. This means that the items you have purchased recently can be used for the next 2 years, so the purchase has not been in vain
• There are many students who experience allergic/sensory reactions to woollen products, hence we will not be looking at offering a woollen jumper. Some of the options presented have the appearance of that style of jumper.
• Some of the samples have other colours besides our own blue, white and gold. We will be staying with our own colour palette. These samples are used for 'style' options only.
• Our Year 6 jumpers will remain as they are

Parents & Friends

We are looking at recruiting new members and would love to have you come along to learn what we’re all about.

We will be hosting an information session on Wednesday 27th July at 7pm. Bring your children along. We will be providing a pizza dinner and child minding.

Our Parents and Friends have been responsible for funding so many resources over many years. Some of these were chromebooks, library resources, literacy assessment resources and interactive whiteboards, to name just a few. Without the support of this group, funding newer technologies and other student amenities will be all the more difficult.

I wish our students a wonderfully restful break and parents, hopefully, an enjoyable break from the hectic nature of school life for the next fortnight.

Next term is proving to be jam-packed.
I’m looking forward to some great learning.

Best wishes,

Sonia

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On Wednesday the Prep students and teachers celebrated a surprise birthday party for Milo the Monkey. All of his friends were invited and it was fantastic to see so many people make the effort to come in costume. We had Daisy the dogs, Ally the alligator, lots of Roxy the rabbits and of course Milo! The day started with a parade of characters and the children must have felt like the papparazzi had come to St Mary's as they strutted the catwalk of our Hall for their adoring parents.

Soon there were games to play, literacy activities and of course a super abundant buffet lunch. Staff and students were very appreciative of all the families who brought in food to share matching the letters of the alphabet the children represented. We had sausage rolls for S, nuggets for N, vegetable sticks for V and some super jiggly jelly for J!

There were of course many photos taken and we have made a gallery of them here. 

We are so proud of all our little "monkeys" and how far they have come in Semester One with their sound and letter knowledge, we can't wait to see what they can do in Semester Two!

 

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This term our 5/6 students have done some great work in learning about the environment and how we can take care of it.  One of their learnings was about the 5 Rs, including four actions that should be taken if possible before Recycling.
This week the 5/6s focussed on ...

Repurpose: For every item that can't be refused, reduced, or reused, try repurposing it. Many people in the green community refer to this method as upcycling. Sometimes it requires using some creativity, but the possibilities are endless. 

Our very creative Year 5/6s decided to try a repurpose activity.  The turned an old t-shirt into a very stylish bag.  It's easy to do.  If you'd like to have a go yourself , follow these simple instructions. 

Click here to see some photos of their creations.

Next term we will be appointing two Environmental Leaders. These leaders will look for opportunities to help our school community become even more environmentally conscious.  Our 5s and our Year 6s who don't currently hold a leadership position are able to apply for this role.


If you'd like some more tips on the 5s for home and your workplace take a look at these articles. 

Plastic Free July - Will you take the challenge?

The 5 Rs for the Workplace

A slightly different spin on the 5Rs but great information in this article.

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This year, we will be celebrating Grandparent's Day on Wednesday the 27th of July. We will begin with mass in the church at 9:15am followed by classroom visits and a special morning tea at 10:50am in the Hall. We would love to see as many of our super special seniors as possible.

 

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We have many exciting activites planned for Book Week coming up in Term 3 from August 22nd to August 26th. One activity will be a dress up day on Firday August 26th. Students are encouraged to come to school dressed as their favourite book character. Home made costumes are cheaper, more sustainable and encouraged! 
Take a look at some examples for inspiration.

 

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This term is a busy one for all things Religious here at St Mary's. We will be celebrating the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation and there will be feast day masses and prayer assemblies to attend also. In terms of our Sacraments, Eucharist (First Communions) will be held over three Saturdays (July 23, 30 and August 6) at the 9:15am service. Most people have already booked in but for those who haven't, please check Operoo for the booking form.

Confirmation will be celebrated this year for our Year 6 students on Saturday August 20th here at St Mary's church. There will be two services, one at 11am and one at 2pm and a booking form went home today on Operoo for families to select their preferred time.

Masses that you may want to mark on your calendar include

• Grandparents day mass on Wednesday 27/7 at 9:15am
• The Feast of Mary of the Cross MacKillop on Monday 8/8 at 9:30am
• The Feast of the Assumption on Monday 15/8 at 9:15am
• We will hold a celebration in honour of Father's Day on Friday 2/9. Details closer to the date

There are also two prayer assemblies you may wish to attend:

• The Year 1/2 classes are hosting with a focus on the Eucharist on Monday 01/08 at 2:30pm
• The Year 5/6 classes are hosting with a focus on Confirmation on Monday 22/08 at 2:30pm

Yours in Faith
Matthew Taylor
Religious Education Leader

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We need YOU!
 Please respond to the Operoo note sent home earlier this week.

 

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The P&F Committee supports St Mary's through a variety of activities.  Some of these activities contribute towards fundraising for the school, while others provide opportunities for families to get to know each other and socialise outside of school hours.

There are often many myths that surround P&F meetings. Here are a few we’ve heard through the years.

We hope that in answering some of these questions, you may come to realise we aren’t so scary!

Myth 1: “I can’t attend every meeting so I can’t join”

Fact:   You only need to attend the meetings that fit in with your family and other commitments.   We’ve had members who attended one or two meetings throughout the year – they were still very involved in the P&F.  The P&F does stay in contact with members via email and SMS as well as through the minutes of the meetings.  We are also currently in the process of setting up a Facebook Group. Of course, attendance at meetings is great – the more people, the more ideas, the more possibilities, but if you’re keen to join when you can, attendance at all meetings is not required.

Myth 2: “All committees are cliques - I won’t fit in with them”

Fact:  The P&F is not a clique and will never become a clique – there is no gossip or sniping at the P&F - we adhere to the same Catholic values as the school.   In fact, some parents have found that joining the P&F is a great way to meet other parents and to support the motto of St Mary’s as being a caring, Catholic community.  This can be especially true if you are new to the school.

Myth 2: “I don’t have any experience organising things”

Fact:  Neither do most of us!  But if you can organise your children to be at school, with their lunch and in uniform (remembering their homework is in another league altogether!), then you already have all the organisational skills we’re looking for.  The P&F does not reinvent the wheel – any event that has been held will have notes, explanations and guidelines to help you along.  We always have more than one person organising an event so you will not have to do anything without support.

Myth 4: “I work, I have children, I’m busy, I don’t have enough time”

Fact:  We’re all stretched for time, more some days than others – everyone with children is busy - add on a job, looking after a relative or younger children, caring for pets, doing the washing – we are all busy, all the time. There are ways to be involved, even if you are very busy, ask us how you can join in.

Myth 5: “I’ll have to be involved in every event going and we’ve got enough things on already”

Fact:  Some P&F members can choose one event to organise or help out with each year and that’s all.  It’s not necessary or possible to commit to helping at every event.  All we ask is that you help where you can – that’s all the current P&F members do.  Some members can help with organisation or making calls but not help during work hours. That’s great!

Myth 6: “I pay my fees, why should I help with fundraising”

Fact:  Yep, we all pay fees but unfortunately the fees don’t cover everything.  Over the years the P&F fundraising has contributed to, amongst other things, the interactive whiteboards and the furniture in the TRI  Centre.  We are currently fundraising Without the work of the P&F these things would not be part of your child’s education.  

Myth 7: “The meetings go for too long”

Fact:  You may be surprised to learn that at their very longest, the meetings go for an hour and a half.  While we are a very friendly and sociable group, we also know how precious time is – meetings are for P&F business and a quick catch up.

Myth 8: “I’m a man, these meetings are only for women”

Fact:   We have had many dads join the P&F over the years. Dads play a vital role in our community and are especially useful when trying to arrange dads’ social nights, which have been a highlight for many in their time at St Mary’s. We had a new dad join us just this week. We’re sure he’d like to have a larger representation join him!

The P&F AGM is on Wednesday 8th June at 7.30pm.  

Why not come along, enjoy some refreshments, meet some other parents and see what you think?

For more information feel free to contact us or some of our current position holders:

Stacey (President): 0403 692 589

Andrea (Secretary): 0427 709 133

Aggie (Treasurer): 0434 930 518

 

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This is a timely reminder now that school holidays are here knowing you might be in the market for some new school shoes.  

Shoes worn to school may be lace up black leather or runner style.  If you are choosing the runner style they need to be all black, upper and sole with no other colour logos. Here are some great examples.  We ask that you take this into account when you are making you next school shoe purchases.  Students are welcome to wear any colour runner on their sports day. 

        

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For this our last Community News of Term 2, we have our Church Bulletin, Holiday Programs, a message from Laverton Community Hub, and Foster Caring information.
Church Bulletin

Newport Lakes Holiday Program

Quantin Binnah Holiday Program

Creative Music

Foster Caring

Laverton Community Hub Cafe

For those who may or may not be aware, LCIS provides the community of Hobsons Bay with a Community Cafe’ every Wednesday during the school term.  
We know this time of year can be tricky for families, with some struggling to afford food on the table and activities for their family, therefore LCIS is extending our community café to run during the school holidays to allow families and their children to attend.

The community café serves a delicious 3 course meal at reduced costs.
$10 for full price and $6 concession price per person.
For the School Holidays, KIDS EAT FREE! (inc prep – year 12)

Details:
Wednesday 29^th June & 6 July
12pm sharp
Laverton Community Hub.  (95-105 Railway Avenue, Laverton 3030)

If families are struggling and unable to pay the price of a ticket, please feel free to contact our Emergency Relief service on 8368 0177 and we can provide the family with a voucher to attend.

Bookings are essential, if you do not book there will not be a spot.
If anyone is interested in attending, please call LCIS on 8368 0177 to book and inform them of any dietary requirements.





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


                                         

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