What a fun week it’s been!

We’ve had a great week celebrating Book Week, culminating in our Book Week Parade this morning. Be sure to check out the many photos the captured this experience on our Facebook page.  Thanks to Ms Lycke for arranging such a wide range of activities this week. 

Last Saturday we celebrated Confirmation across 2 ceremonies. Thanks to Fr Michael for providing a personal service for our candidates as they take on the role of fully-initiated people in our faith. May they always feel the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives

Next Wednesday evening we will be hosting our P&F Annual General Meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend. We especially look forward to welcoming the new members who signed up after our information session last month.

We’re looking forward to celebrating Spring Into Kindness and Happiness Day next Thursday.   See this newsletter for more details.

This week we received the lovely news that the Sirotic family welcomed baby Joseph ‘Joey’ into their family. Thomas in 1/2LS was very excited to share photos with his class. Congratulations on your new addition. May he continue to be blessed.

Have wonderful weekend,

Sonia

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

 

---

On Friday 2nd September we will celebrate the dads and other significant male role models in the lives of our children.  We hope that you are able to come along and join us for one or all of our planned events listed below.
9 - 11am: Father's Day Stall - All children will be given the opportunity to visit the stall.  Gift will cost between $1 and $5.  Children should bring along a carry bag for their gifts.  More information will be sent this week via Operoo as we will need helpers to set up the stall and also to run it on the day.

All families are welcome to join us in the following events.

2 - 2.30pm: Paraliturgy in the Church - Note the earlier time.  The reflection slide show that families have been contributing to over recent weeks. 
2.30 - 3pm: Classroom visits 
3 - 3.30pm: Afternoon tea in the hall 

If you have any questions about any of our plans please don't hesitate to contact the office.

Regards
Marg Masseni

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---

Here's a snapshot of what's in the diary for Week 8 so you don't miss out.
Monday 29th August: Assembly hosted by Prep B and Prep S
Tuesday & Thursday: St. Mary's Got Talent ~ House Team event 
Wednesday 31st August: Year 1/2 Excursion ~ MSO Jam for Kids
Thursday 1st Sept: Spring Into Happiness and Kindness Day (aka Yellow Day)
Friday 2nd Sept: Father's Day stall, paraliturgy, classroom visits & afternoon tea.

We hope you get involved.

Regards
Marg Masseni
Deputy Principal & Wellbeing Leader

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---

We would like to give you a reminder about some general school practices and procedures that we have in place in the name of Child Safety. 

All parents/guardians are required to speak with the office staff and sign in on the iPad if needing to enter the school during school hours. The exception to this is on Monday prior to assembly.  People attending assembly/prayer assembly must wait in the office foyer until directed by the office staff that they can proceed to the hall/church. This direction will be given after the second bell.

Unless you have made an arrangement with Sonia or myself, students should not be arriving at school to sit in the office prior to 8.30am.  While staff are in and around the school at that time, there is no direct supervision.

The school gates are open in the morning from 8.30 to approximately 8.55am.  Students should enter via the gates, and not come through the office.  

We appreciate your help in keeping the students of St. Mary's safe by adhering to these procedures. 

Regards
Marg Masseni
Child Safety Officer

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---

We had a fantastic finale to this year’s book week this morning celebrating our favourite book characters with a dress up day parade!A huge congratulations to everyone who put in the effort to dress up. We were pleased to see so many homemade costumes!

Well done to our costume and class door display winners! The energy that went in to the door displays was wonderful!

During the week we also had other book related activities happening around the school.

•  Teachers completed special activities related to the shortlisted books from this year’s CBCA Book Week awards with students in their buildings.

• Year 5/6s had a visit from a local author - Nean McKenzie who shared her novels Crytopsight and Xenoflight. She also led a writer’s workshop with the students where they could write about their own cryptid.

• Lauren from the Altona Library came at lunchtime on Thursday for an interactive session where students listened to the book The River, and created their own St Mary’s River mural.
• we completed a whole school progressive story which we will now edit, publish and illustrate over the next few weeks. 

Check out the photo gallery here 

Don’t forget that the Reading Eggs/Reading Eggspress challenge is still on until September 15th - happy reading everyone!

Brenda Lycke

Literacy Leader

blycke@smaltona.catholic.edu.au

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---

Footy Fun Day will be held on Monday 12th September this year.  Our JSC team, Mrs Ryan and I have been busy organising lots of activities for the day inclduing Face Painting before school, Club song singing and trivia (we have a couple of special guest judges!) and activities in the yard. We will have a visit from the Western Bulldogs promotions team who will bring along some inflatables and we will have an appearance by Woofer.

Students are asked to wear their footy colours and bring a gold coin donation.  Money raised will be used to buy sports equipment for recess and lunchtime play and to enhance the Friendly Meeting place.

Face painting will be offered before school at a cost of 50 cents per child. 

Students will be able to order a hot lunch supplied by Salt n Pepa cafe. Families will need to place an order in a similar way to a regular lunch order.   Check the Operoo note which explains what is on offer, the prices and the ordering system.

Join in the fun!!!
from
Marg Masseni, Maree Ryan and the JSC organising committee

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---

In the words of St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Find happiness in making others happy!  What a wonderful mantra to live by.   Especially in this week coming leading up to our SPRING INTO HAPPINESS AND KINDNESS day, what will you do to make someone smile?
Wellbeing leaders Andy and Judah have been preparing for the day and have organised some great activities.  

We ask that students wear a splash of Yellow with their uniform on Thursday 1st September to show everyone that they care about happiness and kindness.  It does have a ripple effect!

There will be a scavenger hunt at recess and a short assembly for students and staff during lunch eating time. 

It's timely to also remind students and parents that HATS must be worn from Thursday 1st September and through to the end of April 2023 as we launch into Spring.  

Regards
Marg Masseni
Wellbeing Leader

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---

For this weeks Community News we have the Church Bulletin, news from Emmanuel College and activity programs with the Hobsons Bay Libraries.
Church Bulletin

Emmanuel College News

Creative Music

Hobsons Bay Libraries Activities 

Hobsons Bay Library Activities



                                                                                         

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


             

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---

Our whole school narrative Cold Write session held on August 15th was a great success! As mentioned last week, students wrote about ‘a science experiment gone wrong'. They incorporated elements learned from the VCOP and Big Write program. 

 

V - Vocabulary (WOW words)

C - Connectors

O - Openers (sentence openers) 

P - Powerful punctuation

To see some examples of student writing from each level click here   

Brenda Lycke

Literacy Leader

blycke@smaltona.catholic.edu.au

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

 

---

As you may have heard, Year 5 student Thomas Y has been competing at the School Sport Hockey Championships in Canberra.  Here's a snapshot of the week as of Wednesday.  Hopefully they won those other games.

---

We are proud to say that we have been a SUNSMART SCHOOL for 27 years now and as such as all students will be required to wear sunsmart school hats when outdoors, at play and while learning. Regardless of whether the sun is out, students are still required to wear hats from September 1st to the end of April.   Check out the widget at the bottom of our website which will guide you in the hours to especially check UV. 

Thanks for your support in ensuring your child has a hat ready to go each day.


Regards
Marg Masseni
Deputy Principal

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---

Dear Families,

My name is Lubna Ibrahim (Mrs Ibrahim) and I have recently began working at St Mary’s. I have enjoyed working with the 1/2 team in Term 2 and I am currently working with the 3/4 team (alongside my younger sister Miss Assaad, Mrs Barnes and Ms Said).

I have completed a bachelor degree in teaching and early childhood. I have enjoyed teaching over the past 13 years in different educational settings and I look forward to continue working with the St Mary’s community.

I was born in Australia but I spent most of my early childhood living overseas. I like to spend time with my family and in particular with my five year old son and four year old daughter. I absolutely LOVE to shop and dine out with friends and family 😊

I look forward to seeing and meeting you.

Lubna Ibrahim
Intervention Support

---

 

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---