ST. MARY MACKILLOP PRIMARY SCHOOL
Transcript of ST. MARY MACKILLOP PRIMARY SCHOOL
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No. 10. 28 June 2019
ST. MARY MACKILLOP
PRIMARY SCHOOL152 Odessa Avenue. Keilor Downs, Vic 3038
www.mmkeilordowns.catholic.edu.au
Phone: 03 9367 6199
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Principals Message
Dear Community,
As we come to the end of Term 2 and the half way mark of this school year, we have much to
celebrate.
Last Saturday 74 children in Year 3 and 3 children in Year 4, received their First Holy Communion.
This is a special day for our children and their families and I consider this day as one of the most
significant celebrations in the life of our school.
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We are a Catholic school community, ‘living and celebrating our Catholic faith’. (SMMPS Vision
Statement) There is no greater way to live and celebrate our Catholic faith than through sharing in
the Eucharist. The Eucharist brings us, in a very real way, into communion with Jesus and each
other as the people of God.
I remember my First Holy Communion, and that was nearly 53 years ago! I still look forward to
receiving the Eucharist as often as possible. It really is the ‘bread of life’, that leads me to connect
with Jesus and each other.
On Tuesday, all the First Communicants attended Mass in our church, celebrated by Monsignor
Portelli. We then presented each child with a certificate as remembrance of this special occasion.
It was another joyous celebration. It was great to have some parents present also.
I hope and pray, our children develop a love for the Eucharist as they mature. Congratulations to
the children who made their First Holy Communion.
On Sunday, the Church worldwide, celebrated the Feast of Corpus Christi (meaning the Body of
Christ), Pope Francis said during his Angelus address in St Peter’s Square. “Every year the feast of
Corpus Christi invites us to renew the wonder and joy for this wonderful gift of the Lord, which is the
Eucharist,”
This feast, provides an opportunity for us to focus on Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist, which
Pope Francis stressed should be welcomed “with gratitude, not in a passive, habitual way.
Whenever we approach the altar to receive the Eucharist, we must truly renew our ‘Amen’ to the
Body of Christ,” the Pontiff said, urging that this ‘Amen’ should come from the heart.
Once again, the words of Pope Francis, inspire us and leads us to reflection.
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FOOTSTEPS
All children in Years Prep-Years 6 have spent the past term engaging in an intensive drama
program run by Footsteps, a highly regarded drama agency that works in schools Australia wide.
The teachers and I have been delighted watching the children grow in confidence. We are
committed to providing more programs that give each and every child the opportunity to shine.
TERM 2 into TERM 3
School finishes for Term 2 today at 1:00pm
and resumes for all children on Monday 15 July at 9:00am.
Have a happy and safe holiday period everyone.
“We have all very much for which to thank and love God.” St. Mary MacKillop 27.06.1873
Anthony McCluskey
Principal
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Dear Parents,
All schools are required to contact parents if their child is absent from school and the school
has not been notified about their absence.
At the beginning of Term 3 we will be changing the time we mark the roll. The Roll will be
marked daily at 9am. If your child arrives at school any time after 9am they will be required
to come to the front office, so that the roll can be updated.
If your child will be absent from school, we ask that you fill out the absent form under EFORMS
on Skool Bag. This message will be sent directly to the school office and we will then be able
to update the roll.
Kind Regards
Anthony D’Amico
Deputy Principal
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SCHOOL REPORTS
Formal student reports for Semester 1 (Terms 1 and 2) will be available via a link on email,
on Friday June 28th. These reports will provide you with further information regarding your
child’s achievements and progress. Throughout the semester you have received photos or
videos via the Seesaw App also documenting your child’s learning in real time (as it
happens). Also, midway through this term Learning Conversations occurred where your
child shared samples of work that they were proud of. All of these opportunities help to
strengthen family partnerships in learning as well as celebrate your child’s growth overtime.
PRINCIPAL’S AWARD
Congratulations to ISABEL GEORGE (6 Green) who will be receiving a Principal’s Award
In the spirit of St. Mary MacKillop. Isabel ‘saw a need and did something about it.’
A child had fallen over and grazed their leg. Isabel alerted a teacher straight away and
comforted the child until they were taken to sick bay.
As reported by Jessica Camilleri, School Captain.
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PREP PMP NEWS
We have come to the end of our first Semester of Prep PMP. It has been exciting to see the children
developing confidence, group and problem solving skills, literacy and numeracy concepts and
perceptual skills.
What is the Perceptual Motor Program (PMP) ?
A Perceptual Motor Program aims to develop children's perceptions and understanding of
themselves and their world through movement and motor experiences. In everything we do, we
look, we listen and touch. We then process the information and make a perceptual judgement
about the things we have seen, heard and felt.
A Perceptual Motor Program (PMP) aims to give children experiences in seeing, hearing, touching,
processing, making perceptual judgements and reacting through carefully sequenced activities
which children enjoy doing, like, jumping, hopping, crawling, throwing, balancing, skipping
catching, bowling etc, using a variety of common and specially designed equipment.
Thank you to all who have committed their time and have become involved in the PMP Program.
This involvement gives you the opportunity to understand the learning process and how important
the motor program is. We know, from research, that through parent involvement children's view of
themselves as positive and successful learners is enhanced.
It was wonderful to have more prep parents join us this term as helpers.
Thanks to: Chelsea Barr and Vivian Borg from Prep Yellow, Louise Perkins and Sandra De Luca from
Prep Red, for taking up the challenge.
And to all our helpers:
Prep Green - Loretta Pizzicarola, Vicky Parisella (who helps in other classes as well), Vesna
Stojecevski and Jenny Pisani. Prep Blue - Samantha White, Lisa Todorovski, Anita Eres, Melissa
Romano, Isabelle Jones, Lisa-Marie Malic, Sera Tobolov, Katia Morello, Joe Morello, Karen
Camilleri-Le, Richelle Zealley, Joanne Georgiou, Nancy Arena and Janelle Langley-Dunn .Prep
Yellow - Christina Milicevic, Amanda Pinteric, Tanya Spera, Faye Laskaris, Jwan Habeeb, Marija
Bourke and Maria Arganaraz (who helps in other classes as well ). Prep Red - Tina Pettinau, Saidy
Taleb, Shelley Clements, Rebecca Buhagiar, Liz Pausic, Jinelle Borg, Mai Gilhooly, Christine
Paladino, Marj Garcia.
Your involvement is valued by the children, teachers and myself.
If you want to find out more about the program or wish to be involved in Term 3, please come and
see me in the MPR on a Thursday afternoon between 2.30 -3.00pm. I am happy to answer any
questions you may have.
Have a great break everyone. Connie Simiele
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Woolworths Earn & Learn-All stickers must be handed in by TODAY
SMMPS is collecting the earn & learn stickers. Please send them to the office.
We have spare sheets if you need them.
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SMMPS Upcoming Events
Term 2
Friday 28 June
End of Term 2-School finishes at 1pm
Term 3
Monday 15 July
School resumes for Term 3 at 9am
Monday 29 July-Friday 2 August
Book Fair
Thursday 8 August
Whole School Mass at 12.00pm-St Mary MacKillop Feast Day
Friday 9 August
School Closure Day-More details soon
Thursday 15 August
Whole School Mass at 12.00pm-Feast of the Assumption
Friday 20 September
End of Term 3-School finishes at 1.00pm