Dear Parents and Carers,

I would like to take a moment to update you on Sonia Riccardi’s family situation. 

 

Unfortunately, Sonia’s father Aldo has been struggling with ongoing health issues this year, and his condition has worsened over the past week. Sadly, in the early hours of this morning Aldo passed away with his family by his side. 

During this challenging time, we ask that you please keep Sonia, her father, and their family in your thoughts and prayers.

If you need to contact school leadership in the coming week, please feel free to reach out to me at jhein@smaltona.catholic.edu.au.

We sincerely appreciate your understanding, kindness, and support during this difficult time for Sonia and her family.

Thank you for your compassion.

Kind regards,

John Hein
 

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

 

                     

---

This week we have in our community news  we have The  Church Bulletin, Scouts and Emmanuel College.
Scouts School Holiday Program -  Meet so many local young people, passionate about getting out into nature and trying some new skills! 

Emmanuel College - March update.

Church Bulletin









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


                              

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---

Are you feeling like you are juggling lots of balls at the moment and maybe dropping a few?
Do you want more moments of calm and clarity? 

Remembering to pause and live mindfully helps us get more out of life and cope better in difficult times.
By practicing mindfulness, we can reduce stress, improve mental and physical health, and enhance our satisfaction with close relationships.  

While we can't control external circumstances, mindfulness enables us to respond to them in a more thoughtful and composed way. 

These techniques are also beneficial for children, helping them cope with anxiety and emotions in a healthy way. By incorporating mindfulness into our lives, we can achieve a greater sense of balance and resilience.

In this short clip, join Abi for a moment of mindful awareness and discover how even just a short exercise in being present can shift your mood and boost your wellbeing.

The Action for Happiness Mindful March calendar also offers various activities to help reduce distractions and prevent feeling overwhelmed.  Click here to check it out.  For more tips and tricks go to the Action for Happiness website.

I hope your weekend is calm and peaceful amongst the excitment of life.

Regards
Marg Masseni
Mental Health & Wellbeing Leader

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---

As we embark on the academic challenges of the upcoming year, our year 3 and 5 students are preparing for the National Assessment Program – (NAPLAN), scheduled for March 12 to March 24. NAPLAN serves as a valuable tool, offering a snapshot of our students' proficiency in literacy and numeracy.

At St. Mary’s, we view NAPLAN not just as a test but as a catalyst for growth and improvement. It serves as a guide to tailor our teaching strategies, ensuring a dynamic and effective learning environment that caters to the unique needs of every student.

During this assessment period, our Year 3 and 5 students will engage in assessments covering Reading, Writing, Language Conventions, and Mathematics. This comprehensive approach aims to provide a holistic understanding of their academic progress.

We look forward to celebrating the upcoming growth and development of our students, in particular the improvements made between 2023 - 2025 by our year 5 students.

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

 

---

Congratulations to our Aussie of the Month winners for February; Isabel, Angus and Joshua.  Click here to see their smiling faces and to find out why they are so wonderful.

---

School Closure on Monday 10th March & Tuesday 11th March 2025.  Monday is a public holiday and staff will be attending Professional Development on Tuesday.

If you need your child booked into Camp Australia for the day, please contact them to make a booking.

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---

GRIP Student Leadership Conference: A Day of Inspiration and Growth

Our students recently had the incredible opportunity to attend the GRIP Student Leadership Conference, where they had a fantastic day filled with valuable lessons and exciting activities. 

The conference emphasised the importance of being a leader who not only has a clear vision but also recognises the potential in others.

Throughout the day, students were introduced to a variety of interactive games and videos that supported their learning and helped them connect with the core principles of leadership. These engaging activities allowed them to practice teamwork, problem-solving, and communication, all while having fun and building new friendships.

The conference also focused on the idea that leadership is not about being in the spotlight, but about inspiring others and helping them reach their full potential. Students learned how to encourage and uplift those around them, creating a positive and inclusive school environment.

By the end of the day, our students walked away with a deeper understanding of leadership and the tools they need to become more effective and compassionate leaders in our school and community. It was an unforgettable experience that left them feeling motivated and ready to take on new challenges!

---

 

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

 

---

The Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge is now open and St Mary’s is excited to be taking part!

 

The Challenge is open to all Victorian children from birth to Year 10 and aims to help young readers develop a lifelong love of reading.

It is not a competition; it is a personal challenge for children to read a set number of books by 5 September 2025.

Children from Prep to Year 2 are encouraged to read or ‘experience’ 30 books with their parents and teachers. Children from Year 3 to Year 10 are challenged to read 15 books.

All children who meet the Challenge will receive a certificate of achievement signed by the Victorian Premier and former Premiers.

This year, the Challenge is celebrating its 20th anniversary with the theme ‘20 years of words and wonder’ and a year of special activities. For details, follow the Victorian Premiers' Reading Challenge Facebook

Since it began in 2005, more than 4.5 million young readers have taken part and together read more than 63 million books!

To read the Premier’s letter to parents, view the booklist and for more information about the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge, visit www.vic.gov.au/premiers-reading-challenge

To register your child, or for more info, please email me at blycke@smaltona.catholic.edu.au

Happy reading! 

Thanks 

Brenda lycke

Literacy Leader

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

 

---

We had an exciting start to our week on Monday with our special VCOP Cold Write using a visual stimulus …’Aliens Have Landed’.

We were pleased to see how engaged students were, producing creative narrative stories using the VCOP elements. 

Ask your child about thier writing piece.

Brenda Lycke

Literacy Leader

blycke@smaltona.catholic.edu.au

---

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

---

Support the Good Friday Appeal this Easter with Delicious Hot Cross Buns!

The Parents and Friends, in association with our lovely Bakers Delight in Altona, have teamed up to fundraise for this worthy cause. 
While raising funds, let’s also support our fantastic local bakers!

---