Dear families,

It’s been another big week at St Mary’s with our inaugural St Mary’s Got Talent show, Spring into Kindness and Happiness Day and culminating with our Father’s Day afternoon activities today.

 

Today was a wonderful celebration with our dads and father figures attending in great numbers. We started with a prayer service in the church, followed by classroom visits and afternoon tea in the hall.

Thanks to the parents who volunteered their time towards the Father’s Day Stall.

Earlier this week I met with Karen, Noone’s representative to finalise our uniform pieces. We are so close! After a few final tweaks, we are set to be ready for ordering at the start of December. Given that Noone’s operates 6 days per week and are open over the Christmas holidays, there will be plenty of time for families to arrange fittings in time for the 2023 school year.

Our current pieces are being sold at half price and children will have 2 years to wear them before we move into our new uniform for all students at the beginning of 2025.

Due to low numbers attending, our current uniform shop will no longer be open every Tuesday and Friday. Instead, we will move to opening by appointment only on these days. If you need to attend the uniform shop for the rest of this year, please contact the office to arrange a time to meet the parents who run the shop. You may also continue to place orders via email or phone.  Please note that limited items and sizes are available as we are no longer ordering new stock.

Last Wednesday we held our Parents and Friends Annual General Meeting.

I’d like to thank Stacey Rocco for her presidency in the last 12 months, Andrea Herd who has held the role of Secretary for many years and Aggie Brazenor who will continue in the role of Treasurer. Stacey will continue on as a general committee member.

I thank and welcome our new committee members and especially acknowledge those who will take on a leadership role for the next 12 months:

President: Jen Natale (Gianluca, Year 5)

Vice President: Vee Grech (Isaac, Year 2 and Levi Prep)

Secretary: Elaine O’Connor (Ronan, Prep)

Vice Secretary: Adele Callegari (Iris, Year 2 and Estelle, Prep)

Treasurer: Aggie Brazenor (Emily, Year 3 and Olivia, Prep)

Assistant: Treasurer Amber Collinson (Owen, Year 3 and Miley, Prep)

This week, families would have received an email (one parent only) to access the MACSSIS (School Improvement Survey). These surveys provide valuable information about how we are doing as a school in various areas and we use the information gathered in this survey to help inform decisions in school operations. The more responses we get, the more accurate the data, so I encourage you to spend some time filling out these surveys.

If you did not receive an email and would like to complete the survey, please contact me (sriccardi@smaltona.catholic edu au) for access.

I wish all the fathers and father figures in our community a wonderful Father’s Day.

Blessings for happiness and good health,

Sonia 

 

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

 

---

We would like to take this opportunity with wish all of our dads and step dads, grandads and great grandads and all other significant role models in the lives our our students a very happy Father's Day.  We hope you are spoilt by your loved ones and that you find time to relax and enjoy the day.
Check out Seesaw to view our Father's Day reflection slide show created by the community to honour you all and click here to see photos from today's celebrations.
Watch out dads....it will be your turn next year to contribute to the slide presentation we make for our wonderful mums.

Have a great weekend

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---

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

---

Footy Fun Day is fast approaching.  Monday 12th September will be here before we know it. Here are a few reminders you may find helpful.
The last day for Footy Fun Day lunch orders is Monday 5th September.  Please complete your order as per the instructions below. 

Face painting will be held on the netball court from 8.15am. Cost 50 cents per cihld or $1 per family. A list of Face Paint ingredients will be sent via Seesaw next week.  All the Face Paint we use meets Australian standards and is child friendly but best to check if your child is prone to allergies.

Wearing 'Footy Colours' does not mean that students must wear AFL approved gear.  eg. Bulldogs supported could come along in red, white and blue clothes.  

Assembly will be held as usual on that day at 2.20pm.  The assembly will be hosted by 5/6L and 5/6C.

LUNCH ORDERS

- Complete your order using a paper bag (as for regular lunch orders)

- You will need to write the following on the bag. NB: One bag per child.

NAME:    CLASS:    FOOD REQUIRED:   TOTAL $ ENCLOSED: Please enclose exact amount - no change will be given

- Return your order to school. There is a basket in each classroom for orders.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact me via email.

Regards
Marg Masseni
mmasseni@smaltona.catholic.edu.au

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---

Congratulations to Neave, Hayden and Ava, our August Aussie of the Month award winners.  Click here to see their smiling faces and to find out why they are so wonderful.

 

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---

Caring for yourself isn't selfish. When we're kind to ourselves it also helps us respond more positively to what happens and treat others more kindly too. The Action for Happiness Self-Care September calendar is full of actions to help you be kinder to yourself. Please share it with your loved ones too.

You can also download their app to get daily inspiration and be part of a friendly community putting these ideas into action.

Look after yourself.

Regards
Marg Masseni
Wellbeing Leader

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---

Thanks to everyone who participated in our Spring into Happiness and Kindness day activities.  The school was awash with splashes of yellow and took on a very sunny feel despite the cloudy day that it was. A special thank you to Andy and Judah, our Wellbeing leaders, for organising our recess scavenger hunt and whole school assembly. 

Click here to see photos of the day.

Remember to keep Mary MacKillop's words in mind "Find happiness in making other's happy." 

Regards
Marg Masseni 
Wellbeing Leader

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---

A reminder that school will finish at 1.30 pm on Friday 16th September for the Term 3 holidays.  

 Families of Year 5/6 students who will be on camp should check communications from the 5/6 team regarding what time they will return.

  School will resume for Term 4 on Monday 3rd October.

 

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---

Premier's Reading Challenge: Ends today!

---

For this weeks Community News we have news from Emmanuel College, the Church Bulletin, activity programs with the Hobsons Bay Libraries, as well as Little Athletics information, the Williamstown Community Newsletter, and Westgate has some fun activities planned for over the school holidays.
Emmanuel College News

Church Bulletin 

Little Athletics

Creative Music

Westgate School Holiday Programs

Williamstown September Community Newsletter

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

---