St Mary's eNews
Week 7 Term 4
CyberSafety Project Partnership
Principal's Message: 22nd November 2024
Dear families,
I hope you’re keeping cool on these warm days.
It’s been a great week at St Mary’s, cultimating in Our Senior students’ Social Justice Stalls.
The heat could not keep students away and our seniors did a great job at engaging interest for their stalls, raising around $2000 for St Vincent de Paul. What a great outcome for this worthy cause, especially as we begin to head into the Christmas season.
We will begin 2025 by reviewing our Homework policy in time for its implementation at the start of next year. We are seeking your feedback in regards to Homework, especially since it affect families most.
There is a great deal of research, most of which shows that primary school-based homework has little to no positive effect on student learning, with many schools and families doing away with homework altogether.
We know that the topic of Homework is a most polarising one, so whichever decisions we make around what homework looks like for our students, will not please all stakeholders.
Have your say here before the end of the year.
A great big thank you to you all for your generosity in our first-ever Colour Run fundraiser. Our final amount was $12,421.
Ms Pelar is very excited about the prospect of buying some great STEM equipment for next year’s classes.
The children had a ball on the day of the colour run.
As this was our first time running it in this way, we welcome your feedback so we can improve next year.
Please send your feedback directly to me at sriccardi@smaltona.catholic.edu.au
I can already announce some AMAZING news for next year’s fundraiser. Fr Michael has volunteered to get slimed, but only if we beat this year’s total by at least $1000! Let’s get together to make this happen!
Our P&F are currently running a great raffle where the first prize is our Family Fee. This will be valued at $1990 for 2025. Families with students leaving at the end of this year can still be in the draw. They will receive a refund of their family fee. (Please note, the prize does not cover other levies such as curriculum, camps and Sacraments)
Our Sensory Garden is getting a great workout. A very big thank you to the students at Emmanuel College, led by Matt Farrugia, for supporting our school and donating their time towards the improvement of our gardens and for the donation of our second cubby. The space is looking amazing.
Earlier this week I received notification that our former student, Jesse Longaretti-Schreppel (2019) will be Emmanuel College Captain for 2025. Congratulations to Jesse. Our staff have many fond memories of Jesse’s time with us, including his role as Red House Captain in Year 6.
What a great role model for our existing Year 5s who this week submitted applications for leadership positions in 2025.
Our children have begun preparing for our Carols night on 5th December. Please see a separate article in this week’s eNews for details.
If you are not returning to St Mary’s in 2025, please let our office know as soon as possible. We are currently in the process of arranging classes for 2025 and it is important that we know who won’t be returning, so we can ensure our students’ friendship choices are not affected by any missing information.
Some of our dedicated Learning Support Staff will be moving on in 2025:
- Marg Jones will be retiring at the end of this year
- Peter Fraser will pursue a career in his field of study, Social Work
- Jayden Sammut has accepted a role with Child Protective Services
We wish these dedicated staff all the best for a great future and thank them for their commitment to our students.
Stay safe, stay warm,
Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage
Community News
We would also like to thank Mancini Real Estate for their continuous support to St Mary's Altona.
Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage
End of Term 4
Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage
Carols on the Oval
Our Carols On The Oval is tonight!!
Break out those picnic blankets and get those cameras ready. All the students have been rehearsing with their class teachers and their wonderful voices are beginning to fill the air around the school.
A few important notes;
- The school gates will open at 5.30pm for families to come and have their picnic dinner
- The performances will begin at approximately 6.30pm
- Students will arrive in their costumes. Teachers should have informed you by now as to what they will need to wear.
Looking forward to seeing you all at this wonderful, joyous event,
Angela Hamilton
Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage
Mary Help of Christians Parish Job Opportunity
A knowledge of PACEM would be an advantage. Interested applicants should contact Fr. Michael Kalka on 9398 2964.
Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage
Book Club Issue 8
Sorry for any inconvenience
Regards Beryl
Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage
Christmas Raffle Tickets
Return ticket stubs, money and unsold tickets in an envelope to the school office by Wednesday 4th December. The following prizes will be in the raffle.
1st Prize - Free School Fees for 1 year
2nd Prize -55" UltraHD LED LCD Tv
3rd Prize - $200 Altona sports Club Voucher
Raffle will be drawn on Thursday 5th December at School Carols Evening.
Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage
Movie Night - Moana 2
Have you got your tickets yet?
Arrival at 6.30 pm
Venue Sun Theatre. 8 Ballarat St, Yarraville.
We have the Davis Room booked.
The movie starts at 6.45 sharp.
Tickets $20 Per Person. Tickets are limited.
Children's tickets include a mini combo - drink & popcorn.
Parents must have their own tickets and stay with their child/children
during the movie.
No allocating seating.
This event is coordinated by the P&F Committee.
No School Staff will be attending this event.
Book tickets before they all are sold out.
https://www.trybooking.com/eve