Dear families,

What a wonderful night we had at last night’s disco! The children (and adults) had a ball. I cannot thank the P&F team enough for their organisation and running of the night. I have already had numerous students asking if this will be a yearly event.

 

Next week will be another busy and exciting week as we have our Juniors commencing their Swimming program and our Walkathon on Thursday.

As mentioned in the previous eNews, next year we will be embarking on establishing our own school list of learner dispositions or characteristics. This list will be devised through consulting with staff, students and parents so it reflects our unique community of learners.

Once established, we will begin teaching about these dispositions and exploring how we can use them to become better learners.

It’s now your turn to share with us, the important characteristics/traits that you feel are important to teach our students throughout their time at St Mary’s.

For those interested in some reading that may spark you to think more deeply about your responses to this request, you may like to access further reading on the subject here.

Once you’re ready, please use this form to submit your list of dispositions.

I’m looking forward to sharing our final list early next year.

Wishing you a restful weekend,

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

 

---

As mentioned in Sonia’s eNews article last week, Carol Hicks will be retiring at the end of the year.  Parents, friends, ex students will have the opportunity to celebrate with Carol at the ‘Thank You’ afternoon tea for parents/carers on Monday 12th December. 

Afternoon tea will be held in the hall and will be preceded by the final assembly for 2022 hosted by the School Captains. 

If you are unable to attend that event, you’d be welcome to catch up with Carol on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays between now and the end of the year. 

If you know of ex students taught by Carol who might like to see her, please pass this information on to them.

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---

We are set to go for our Walkathon on Thursday 24th Nov.  Sponsor booklets were sent home earlier in the week and there are spare booklets at the office for those who don't have one or require another. We will set up for the walkathon between 11.30 - 12 noon, students will walk the course from 12 - 1pm and pack up will happen from 1pm. If you are able to assist or provide an esky for us to use on the day can you please complete the Operoo note.

A letter noting the number of laps walked will be sent home on Thursday.  This will be accompanied by a sheet of 'raffle tickets'. 

For every $20 raised, children have a chance to win a prize by submitting a ticket. Be in it to win it! You will need to write your child's name on the tickets provided and return them with your money. 

Money should be returned to school by Friday 2nd December.
The raffle will be drawn on Wednesday 7th December from 8.45am on the synthetic grass outside the hall. 

Thanks for your support of our exciting fundraiser. If you have any questions or queries please contact the office or email the Parents and Friends Committee - parentsfriends@smaltona.catholic.edu.au

Regards
Marg Masseni

Deputy Principal

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---

Congratulations to the P & F for organising a most successful disco for our students.  Over 200 children enjoyed the music, dancing and games. We hope you enjoy checking out the photos.

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---

Our Environmental Leaders have organised a Nude Food day for TUesday 22nd November and our House Captains have organised our next Walk/Ride to School Day which will be held next Wed 23rd Nov.  Please read more from Ania and Oscar below and remember to come to school in an active way on Wednesday!

Our Environmental Leaders also wrote to the HB Council and have been successful in getting them to provide us with compost caddies.

From Ania and Oscar to the students and families
On Nude Food day we ask that you do not bring any food in disposable wrappers, papers, glad wrap or cartons in your lunch box. We ask that you use plastic containers instead.

During Brain Food or snack eating time, we will be asking your classroom teacher to inspect your lunch box. 

If there are no wrappers in your lunch box you will get 10 house points, if you have one small wrapper you will get 5 house points.

Your teachers will get a ‘simple to fill in’ chart to log your points.

Also a couple of weeks ago we wrote a letter to the council about the compost bins in our classrooms. We told them that they are too small, the lids don't fit and we get ants and flies. We asked them if they could supply us with proper tubs for our compost. 

We are excited to announce that the council has replied and have given us enough bins for each classroom and the staffroom. We will hand out one to each class at the end of assembly.  They have also given us a 240 litre green waste bin to use when our compost bins get too full.

Well done to our dedicated student leaders.

Regards
Marg Masseni
Deputy Principal and Wellbeing Leader

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---

This week we were notified that we have received a $1000 grant from Toyota, through their Good2Give grants prgramm.  We will put the money towards our Sensory Garden project.  Thanks to Rocky D'Alessandri (Allegra Year 1/2) for letting us know about this grant and assisting us in our application.

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---

For this weeks Community News we have the Big Summer Read program at Hobsons Bay Library, the Church Bulletin, Emmanuel College news, Mount St. Joseph News, Williamstown Community News, and Music Lessons here on campus.
BIG SUMMER READ LAUNCH PARTY

Celebrate the first day of summer and the start of the BIG Summer Read!

Hobsons Bay Libraries is hosting a picnic with games, stories and hands-on craft activities. Grab a free book, join an egg and spoon race, make your own tote bag, listen to a story, learn about how the library can encourage you to read over summer... and don’t forget to sign up for the BIG Summer Read to win big prizes!

Family friendly. Bookings close at 2pm on the day of event.

Emmanuel College News

Mount St. Joseph News

Church Bulletin 

Pastoral Letter from the Archbishop of Melbourne 

Williamstown Community News

Music Lessons

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


             

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---

After a productive parish meeting this week, we have set the dates and times for Sacraments in 2023. Like this year, a form will come out early in 2023 for parents to nominate their children for Sacraments and booking forms for exact dates and times will go out via Operoo closer to each Sacrament.
Reconciliation
This is an individual Sacrament and will be celebrated as it was this year, with sessions offered at 11:30am and 3:30pm over four cosecutive Wednesdays (17/5, 24/5, 31/5 and 7/6). This Sacrament will be offered to all baptised Year 3 students and any new elible students to St Mary's since we did the Sacrament in 2022.

Eucharist
This Sacrament will be offered to all elible Year 4 students and those in Years Five and Six who may have missed out this year. This Sacrament will be offered over two consecutive Saturdays (22/7 & 29/7) at the regular parish mass time of 9:15am.

Confirmation
This Sacrament is exclusively for our Year 6 students who have already celebrated their first Eucharist and Reconciliation. There will be two sessions (11:00am and 2pm) on the same day (19/8) for children to celebrate this Sacrament.

If you have any questions or concerns now or next year, please email, phone or ask to speak with me.

Yours in Faith
Matthew Taylor
Religious Education Leader
mtaylor@smaltona.catholic.edu.au

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---