Click on the link below to access this weeks Church Bulletin and much more information. Creative Music - Term 1  Newsletter

Williamstown Magic Basketball - Exciting opportunities

Werribee Softball - Starting in May 2025

Emmanuel College 

Church Bulletin 

Mount Saint Joseph Girls' College - Upcoming Open Day and Open Mornings



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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The Sacraments dates for 2025 have been set.
Confirmation is on Saturday 2nd August at 11am.
Reconciliations on October, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th, at 11:30 am and 3:30pm. This year, Confirmation will be confired by Bishop Martin Ash, the Auxillary Bishop for the Western Region, on Saturday 2nd August at 11am.

Reconciliations have been booked with Fr Michael for Wednesdays in October, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th, at 11:30am and 3:30pm.

Booking forms will be sent out via Operoo to the students registered as baptised Catholic.

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Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

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Ensuring students have fun while staying safe is a key part of enjoying school life. To help achieve this, we kindly ask that prep to year 2 students only use the junior playground in the mornings if actively supervised by a parent or guardian. 

If students are dropped off, walk, or ride to school, they should make their way to the netball court, where a teacher will be supervising the area. For students who attend before care, they should also head to the netball court upon arriving at school. This area will be monitored, and students can participate in quiet activities, such as down ball, to help maintain a calm and safe environment. 

Please also remind your child/ren that the basketball court, senior playground and sensory garden are not to be used before school to ensure adequate supervision can be provided.

We encourage all students to engage in friendly games and activities that promote cooperation and enjoyment while also ensuring their safety. We appreciate your support in following these guidelines for a positive and safe start to the school day.

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Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

 

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On Monday, March 17, St Mary's Primary School had the exciting privilege of hosting four players from the Western Bulldogs Football Club. The players generously took the time to answer a variety of football related questions from the students. 

They were impressed by the students' respect, manners, and enthusiasm throughout the visit. We are incredibly grateful to the players for giving up their time and making the experience so memorable. 

It was a wonderful opportunity for the students to learn from them, and we truly appreciate the players' involvement. The visit has left lasting memories, and we are thankful for the chance to engage with the players. Not only did the students enjoy the experience, but the devoted Bulldogs supporters on staff also had a fantastic time, making the day even more special for everyone involved.

 

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Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

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Our Junior School Council students are excited to announce that Thursday, March 27 will be our Casual Dress Day! To help support our upcoming Easter Raffle, we kindly ask that students bring along a donation of an Easter egg. 

These donations will go towards the raffle prizes, which will be drawn on the last day of term.

If you have already generously donated an Easter egg to the school, there is no need to bring another one on March 27 – your contribution is greatly appreciated!

We would like to extend a big thank you to our Parents and Friends group for their hard work in organising the Easter Raffle, which promises to be a fun event for everyone. Your support is what makes these events possible, and we appreciate your involvement in making them a success.

Thank you, and we look forward to seeing everyone in their casual dress on March 27!

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This approach is particularly beneficial for meeting the diverse needs of students, ensuring that each learner can engage with the material at their level of ability.

A key aspect of the training was the emphasis on building a daily literacy review. The teachers discussed how to design an effective literacy block, which is essential for promoting consistent student engagement and growth in writing skills. Through these sessions, staff members explored various delivery techniques that can be integrated into everyday teaching practices to maximise the impact of their instruction.

By focusing on complex sentences and daily literacy practices, the sessions aimed to help teachers build a stronger foundation for student writing development. These insights will not only support teachers in differentiating instruction but also enhance their ability to guide students in mastering writing skills that are vital for academic success. The strategies learned during this professional learning will be implemented across year levels, providing teachers with practical tools to improve writing outcomes and foster student growth in the classroom. 

Overall, this professional learning experience was a valuable opportunity for the staff to refine their teaching practices and further their commitment to supporting student literacy development.

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Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

 

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Today our School Captains represented the school at the Mass for St Patrick at St Patrick's Cathedral Melbourne, as part of Catholic Education Week.
They also got to visit the Catholic Schools Art Exhibition at the Catholic Leadership Centre. Being a leader at St Mary's includes representing the school at formal occassions. Today our School Captains represented us with reverence during a ceremonial mass at St Patrick's Cathedral, celebrated by Archbishop Peter Comensoli.
At this mass a new Icon of St Patrick was blessed and commissioned to display next to the altar, recognsing St Patrick as the Patron Saint of Melbourne Archdiocese.

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Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

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St Mary’s Primary School is excited to unveil its new interschool sports uniforms, made possible by the dedicated efforts of our Parents and Friends Association. 

The students are thrilled with the fresh, vibrant look and feel proud to wear them during competitions. The new attire not only enhances their performance on the field but also boosts their confidence and team spirit. We extend our sincere gratitude to the Parents and Friends Association for their commitment and hard work in making this possible. 
   

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Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

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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!

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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

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Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

 

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