Dear families,

It’s been a great week for our community with our first Walkathon held since 2019.  The children powered through their laps and it was so great to see the children looking out for one another.

Some slowing down to help others and others choosing to walk with younger siblings or supporting buddies. While this event has always been a great on for fundraising, it is also one that brings our community together.

Last week I shared a link, encouraging parents to submit their suggestions for our learner dispositions. In case you missed it, here is the post again:

I’d like to remind parents that smart watches are not allowed to be worn unless they are in ‘school mode’ during school hours. If your child has one and you do not know how to place it into this mode, I ask that you find out how this can be done for your child’s particular watch. Just as mobile phones are kept in the office during the school day, children with a smart watch that beeps, vibrates or is a distraction to them and their peers during class will be asked to leave it at the front office.

Planning for 2023 in now in its final stages. If your family is not returning to St Mary’s in 2023, please let us know as we would like to be able to acknowledge you before the school year ends.

It’s shaping up to be a wonderfully busy remainder of the term for veryone, but I’m looking forward to celebrating the many planned events with our community.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

Sonia

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Today we celebrated our liturgy for the first week of Advent focussing on hope and our Prep and Year Six students did a wonderful job of hosting. “Advent” means “arrival,” and each week this month celebrates something unique that Jesus brought to earth when he was born: hope, peace, joy, love.

What is something you are hoping for right now?

So what is it? Maybe you’re hoping for healing or a cure, the reopening of your business, getting to see people you love, or for a job that feels out of reach right now. It’s natural for our hopes to turn to the things we want to take place in our real life, right now. At this time last year, in particular, there were all kinds of things I’d hoped would be different by now—like even just knowing with certainty my kids could safely and permanently return to their school classrooms for the whole of the next year. It’s not hard to think of ways we hope for life to improve: this past few years have been rough.

The idea of hope in the Bible, though, is a little bit different than where our mind tends to drift at the word “hope.” Biblical hope isn’t hoping for better circumstances: it’s waiting for God Himself to show up—right in the middle of all that stuff. It’s the tension of living through the hard stuff while holding onto the expectation that God can somehow come into it.

The hope that Jesus brings doesn’t require you to see any light at the end of the tunnel. It doesn’t require you to imagine a real situation where things could possibly improve. The kind of hope we celebrate in Advent is about the arrival of Jesus into the world and how he can arrive into anything in our life as well. It’s waiting for the plans of GOD to go down through Him.

We will hold our liturgy for the second week of Advent next Friday at 2:30pm in the church where our 1/2 students will be our hosts. Hope to see you there.

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

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Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

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We would like to invite all parents and carers to a special ‘Thank You’ afternoon tea hosted by the staff.  It will be held in the hall following our final assembly which will be held in the church.  All parents/carers are welcome to join us for both or either of the events. The assembly will begin at 2.20pm and the afternoon tea will go from approximately 3 - 4pm. 

Students will be will be given an icypole and supervised by staff on the basketball court during the afternoon tea.

It will also be an opportunity to farewell those staff who will be leaving us at the end of the year. 

We hope you are able to come along.

Regards
Marg Masseni

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Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

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Thank you to everyone who helped out to make yesterday's walkathon such a great success.  The children were exceptional as they completed the course, as were the parents and staff in their organisational and supervision roles. A letter noting the number of laps walked was sent home.  This was 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 next Friday 2nd December.
The raffle will be drawn on Wednesday 7th December from 8.45am on the synthetic grass outside the hall. Family members are welcome to stay for the raffle draw.

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

Check out some photos from the day here.

Regards
Marg Masseni

Deputy Principal

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The Parents and Friends Committee would like to introduce Adele Callegari who has taken on the role of Assistant Secretary.

Adele has two children at St Mary’s

Iris in 1/2RT and Estelle in Prep B.

We had some get to know you questions for Adele and this was what she shared with us.

What keeps you busy?

My family keeps me very busy. For the last eight years I have been a stay at home mum with my three amazing kids.  Between picks ups and drop offs, I spend my days with my dinosaur obsessed son Alfie. Come and say hello to us and you’re sure to find out some very interesting dino facts! I’m very close with my extended family and my friends and dedicate a lot of my time to connecting with these important people in my life. 

What are the things you love to do?

Besides spending quality time with my husband and children, I love baking, reading, writing, organising weekend outings and catch ups with family and friends. Pre children I used to love travelling all over the world, but long flights with three young kids scare me now, so I enjoy planning holidays a little closer to home. I’ve recently been researching my family history on my father’s side and am enjoying all the treasures I’ve been able to uncover.

What is your connection to Altona?

My mum migrated to Altona from Malta when she was two years old, and my grandparents lived here for the rest of their lives. I spent most of my early childhood here being looked after by them whilst my parents worked. Before I had Iris, I was a teacher at Emmanuel College’s St Paul’s campus for ten years, so when my husband and I started looking for our first home, Altona was high on the list as a place that ticked all the boxes for us. We love living here and raising our children in this wonderful community.

Why did you join the P&F?

I joined the P&F after hearing about the amazing initiatives a very small group of parents were taking responsibility for, that were ultimately benefiting the students’ sense of belonging, pride and community within the school. I enjoyed volunteering for events and seeing the level of enjoyment it brought to my girls so I wanted to contribute where I could to that.

What have you enjoyed about being on the P&F?

I joined the P&F group a few months ago and I have loved getting to know the women in the group. They are all passionate about giving meaningful, fun and diverse experiences for the kids that will enhance their experience at school. There are a lot of laughs too and I enjoy being in a group of parents who are so supportive to one another.

Why did you choose St Mary’s as your children’s school?

With my husband and I both growing up with a Catholic education and with myself teaching within the sector, we wanted our children to have the same morals and values that the Catholic ethos instilled in us. We loved the smaller size of the school in that we believed our children would be known and catered for and felt the sense of community. It was also a nostalgic choice for me, given that my mum and her siblings attended St Mary’s and my parents were married at the church.

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Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

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The P & F Committee would like to introduce Elaine O'Connor who has taken on the role of Secretary.

Elaine has two children, one at St Mary’s and one future attendee
Ronan (Prep S) 

Conor (Future attendee)

We had some get to know you questions for Elaine and this was what she shared with us.

What keeps you busy (work, stay at home parent etc)?

 I’m currently on leave from work as an Occupational Therapist and currently juggling some study while caring for my 4-month-old Conor. Usually, I would be busy playing with Lego, playdough, boardgames and crawling through tunnels or measuring up for some home modifications/ adaptations with my trusty tape measure. Whilst, on leave, I’m keeping my skills up to date playing Beyblades with Ronan and going to playgroups/ library time with Conor and using my tape measure for some home renos. Like many parents at the weekend Mum’s Uber keeps me busy going to and from footy, little athletics and nippers. 

What are the things you love to do?

I love to travel; I love the excitement of being on an adventure. Since coming to Australia, I’ve really enjoyed exploring the vast Australian landscape including the many wine regions on offer. I’ve also had the pleasure of introducing my children to the joys of travel and fortunately they enjoy a good road trip or the thrill of flight too. We are a footy mad house, keeping up to date with Gaelic football and following the AFL and barracking for the Doggies. 

What’s your connection to Altona?

While working in London, we had friends who were from here and when we had the opportunity to move, we couldn’t go past Altona. It has the best of both worlds, close to the city and beside the beach. Back in Ireland I grew up in a small beachside community and I wanted my children to experience what it is like growing up and being part of a community.

Why did you join the P&F?

I grew up with my parents being involved in the local school/ community, as did my husband’s parents and we would join in too. I was keen to be part of my children’s school too. Being new to the area and an expat, I also saw it as a good opportunity to get to know more people. 

What have you enjoyed about being on the P&F?

I love the passion of the parents and the backing of the school when brainstorming and planning events. The focus is always on the students, involving them where possible, instilling a sense of ownership and a buy in with the events. 

Everyone has been welcoming and the banter is always good too. 

Why did you choose St Mary’s as your children’s school?
My husband and I are both from small communities back in Ireland, where the school and church are the heart of the community. 

When we toured the school, instantly we were made to feel part of a community; it was the small things such as all the staff recalling all the children’s and guardian’s names and the focus being on each individual child’s social and well-being. Being from Irish Catholic families and being so far away from home and family, we were keen for our children to have a catholic education that encourages a sense of belonging within their local community.

 

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Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

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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.

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Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

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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

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Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

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There are a few interesting things to check out in this week's community news, one of which is about the launch by the Hobsons Bay Library of the Big Summer Read, a great initiative for the kids to check out. 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

Parish Bulletin

Williamstown Community News

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


                                

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Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

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