Dear families,

I hope all our special mums enjoyed their Mother's Day celebrations. 

 

MACS Digital Ambition Consultation

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) is developing a Digital Ambition and is seeking input into the ambition from school communities across the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

The MACS Digital Ambition is a statement of how we will enable our MACS 2030 Strategy through a contemporary technology experience for all. Importantly, it will set out how we will provide students, staff, and whole school communities with safe, simple, intuitive, and innovative digital experiences.

To ensure our Digital Ambition is aligned with the needs of our school communities, MACS is inviting and encouraging you to participate in this consultation process by:

•         Reviewing the Digital Ambition Draft for Consultation.
•         Providing feedback to the targeted questions via a quick online survey. This link will remain open until Friday 26 May. Survey Link
•         Attend online ‘drop-in’ sessions where the MACS team will be happy to answer any questions directly. There is a dedicated session for parents and families on Monday 22 May 2023 - 7:00 – 8:00pm. Click here to join the meeting

Uniform

Thank you to the parents who completed last week’s survey. It seems that a long-sleeved polo is a popular inclusion request and as such, I have contacted Noone’s requesting the introduction of this item. I will keep families informed. In the meantime, children can wear the white long-sleeved polo until this piece is ready.

I offer some further clarification on uniform pieces:

• Tights can be worn under either the summer dress or winter tunic. Please ensure they are indeed navy tights and not leggings. If you child is too cold for a dress and tights, they are welcome to wear pants and polos with a jacket. 
• Whilst we have a great variety of outerwear to choose from (windcheater, softshell jackets and puffer jackets) and we prefer children wear these, families are free to provide a non-uniform jacket to wear outside or to and from school

If you have any questions, please continue to share these with either your child’s teacher or myself so I can share responses with our community.

Gardening club

This week we had Andrew from Hobson’s Bay Council, come and visit with our Gardening Club. At this group’s inaugural meeting, the team got to plant some indigenous plants and learn about their care. A big thank you to Jen, one of our parents, who not only obtained the plants and arranged for this informative visit but prepared the soil for planting. Our special Art team will be working on decorating some plaques that will display the names and illustrations of the native flora that were planted.

Have a wonderful weekend,

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Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

 

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Thank you for participating in the 24th National Walk Safely to School Day this morning. We hope you had a great time and know your support of this important community initiative is hugely appreciated. We will announce our Most Active Class, Most Improved Class and House Team points on Monday.

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This upcoming week is National eSmart Week 2023, from Monday 22nd May to Sunday 28th May. It is a great opportunity to start some conversations with your children about your expectations around using online devices.
  See below for suggestions.

In an ever changing online environment, staying in tune with your children's activities and platforms of choice is essential. It is almost imposible to stay up to date with everything online so being aware of what your children use is critical.
Here are some links and resources that you can access to get more informed and start the conversation with your children about staying safe online.

https://www.esmart.org.au/events/national-esmart-week/

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents

https://www.safewise.com/au/internet-safety-kids/

https://kidshelpline.com.au/kids/issues/being-safe-internet

https://www.esafety.gov.au/kids

https://digitallicenceplus.org/

Tony Freeman

ICT Leader
tfreeman@smaltona.catholic.edu.au

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Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

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This week, on Thursday, the Year 1/2 students were treated to an exciting incursion. The good people of Greater Western Water ran a water education program where the students (and teachers!) learned all about why drinking water is important for our health and why we need to save water.

The water safety program included a 45-minute incursion which used role play to teach the students about the water cycle, including precipitation, clouds, the sun and rain. Students also heard the story of Donna the Water Droplet as she journeyed through the different stages of rain.

Students were given tips for saving water around the school and home which I am sure many were keen to share with you and they were given a pledge form as a conversation starter about how your family could work together to make every drop count. We are sure there were a couple of 7 or 8 year old detectives looking for leaks when they got home and this could also be a good way of encouraging some of your water babies to get out of the shower a little earlier!

This learning compliments the current inquiry unit under study in class and helps to inform the students also of their role and responsibilities as stewards of Creation.

We hope they had as much fun as we did and that they couldn't wait to come home and tell you all about it. 

Yours in Education
Matthew Taylor
Learning & Teaching Leader
mtaylor@smaltona.catholic.edu.au

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Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

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National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. 

 

The dates for NRW are the same each year; 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey— the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.

The National Reconciliation Week 2023 theme, “Be a voice for generations” calls on all Australians to act today to tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation. Reconciliation is all about building a better nation. A more united Australia that respects and takes pride in 65,000 years of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, stories and achievements. 

To be a voice for reconciliation today means the start of real change tomorrow. Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

At St Mary's, students are invited to participate in two ways to celebrate NRW. There will be a colouring competition for all P-2 students and a writing competition for 3-6 students.

Every entry for these competitions will earn house points and a winning entry from each classroom will receive bonus points for their house. Entries will come home next and are due back to the classroom teacher by Friday 2nd June. Grace and Keira, our Social Justice Leaders will collect these entries on Friday from the classrooms and select the winners, who will be announced at assembly on June 5th.

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

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Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

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Check out this weeks Community News including a message from Father Michael
An Invitation from Father Michael 

Australian Girls' Choir Open Day 

Netball Program

School Holiday Galaxy Program

Tutor Wanted

Parish Bulletin

Music Lessons

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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