Dear Families and Friends of Mary MacKillop Memorial School,
Sports Day
Last Friday we were blessed with an amazing day, enjoyed by all, Sports Day. The weather was perfect (just!) and fantastic encouragement of others was on display as well as healthy competition.
Congratulations to McCormack who won the Sports Day Sheild. Well done to Isla and Vinnie who were the Junior Sports Champions on the day and to Charlie, Harry and Camilla, who took out the Senior Sports Champions. (please see our photo gallery) An enormous thank you to all of the parent helpers.
A day like Sports Day is not possible without volunteers to give of their time, whether it was during the Junior Tabloid events, field and track events or at the BBQ – you are absolute superstars. It was wonderful to see the family attendance and support from parents and extended family members.
The constant cheering and encouragement was certainly appreciated by all participants. Finally, I would like to express deep gratitude and thanks to Rachel Manninen and her committee and the staff who did hours of work behind the scenes organising the events, preparing the students, setting up and completing all relevant paperwork for the events and races.
And a big thank you to Justin McDonald who had our grounds looking amazing for the day! What a fabulous team effort!
Holy Week
Caritas K Walk Day
Communication is Key
At Mary MacKillop Memorial School we are always looking at different ways to improve to provide the best outcomes for our students and communication is one of them. As part of our Loop of Assessment teachers are committed to co-constructing learning goals with students, communicating the learning goals with parents through learning conversations and uploading evidence of assessment and feedback to Seesaw. Seesaw is also a key communication tool allowing parents and caregivers to stay connected with their child’s teacher and view daily updates on the activities their child is involved in. If you are not linked into Seesaw, please see your child’s classroom teacher.
The Mary MacKillop Memorial School newsletter is published fortnightly on Fridays of even weeks. It provides an overview of the upcoming events and learning happening at school. We are excited to announce that as a school we are moving towards a ‘live’ calendar on our website.
Keep a look out for the launch of these new forms of communication – we are anticipating this to be in the first half of Term 2. We encourage all families to engage with these communication platforms to stay informed and involved in their child's education.
Setting students up for success
The beginning of the school day is very important. As part of setting students up for success, they should be at school before the first bell which rings at 8:45am. However, not before 8.25am. School supervision begins at 8.25am and not before.
If a student happens to be at school before this time, they must wait in the front office.
As we conclude this term….
Life is busy, we always seem to have problems or things that need to be fixed. As we head towards the end of a busy and hectic term, there seems to be things coming at us from all angles. Too often in our days we tend to look for complex solutions to life’s problems. The following thoughts are constant reminders that might help us keep things in perspective and bring a sense of peace to our busy lives.
We find what we look for in people. If we look for God, we find God. If we look for bad qualities, we find them. We, in a sense, select what we expect and we receive it. A life without challenges would be like going to school without lessons to learn. Challenges come not to depress or get us down, but to master and to help us to grow. In God’s wise and loving plan for us, no burden can fall upon us, no emergency can arise, no grief can overtake us, before we are given the grace and strength to meet them. We are happy or unhappy because of what we think and feel.
During our last week of Term 1, let’s be about living and responding to the moment. We are who we are, and we are defined by the way we respond to those around us, especially those closest to us.
As this is the last newsletter for the term, I take this opportunity to thank all of our community, students, parents and staff for a wonderful start to the 2025 school year. Thank you for your ongoing commitment and support throughout Term 1. Term 2 will begin on Monday 28th April. The Term 2 Updated Parent Calendar will be available at the end of the term and distributed to families. Wishing you all a restful and relaxing holiday break.
God Bless,
Nicole Coote
Principle
A reminder that there will be an early holiday dismissal. Dismissal will be at 2.15pm.
EASTER EGGS
The Easter egg is a popular and much-loved symbol of Easter, the celebration of the resurrected Christ. So what is the connection? The Easter egg, being a hollow egg is reminiscent of the tomb that Jesus was placed in after His death on the Cross. This tomb was found empty by His disciples on the Sunday morning. The opening of the empty egg and the cracking of the outer ‘shell’ is much like the opening of the empty tomb, revealing the resurrection of Jesus on the morning of Easter Sunday. Due to this connection, we ask that before Easter Sunday, no easter eggs are sent in or brought to school.
Leading into Holy Week
If you enter a Catholic church after this weekend, you may notice that the images, crosses and crucifixes are covered or veiled in the Church. This is a tradition that is observed by many Catholics throughout the time of Passiontide, the last 2 weeks of Lent. This act of veiling is 2 fold: It heightens our awareness that we are close to the passion (the events from Jesus’ agony in the garden through to His death on the cross) and that we should be looking closer at our Lenten journey and, for lack of a better term, ramp up our efforts in fasting, prayer and alms giving. When the veils are lifted on Good Friday (crucifix) and the Easter Vigil (images) it makes us notice these more closely.
Project Compassion
During Lent, we are invited to reflect on the impact of our support for Project Compassion. We are able to do this while viewing and reflecting on the inspiring stories on the Caritas website.
Fifth Sunday of Lent
Gospel – John 8:1-11: At the temple, Jesus encountered a woman accused of adultery, brought by scribes and Pharisees seeking to trap him. He responded wisely, suggesting only a sinless person should cast the first stone. This led her accusers to depart, and Jesus, left alone with the woman, chose not to condemn her, advising her to abandon her sinful life.
Birthdays
Congratulations
We congratulate Robert who won the South West Zone Chess Tournament on Thursday, at Bayview College in Portland. He represented Mary MacKillop Memorial School as the youngest player in the competition. Robert played 8 games, won 7 and drew one, against 36 mostly senior students in years 7-12 from six schools in SW Victoria.
He will now be invited to attend the Victorian junior chess championships later this year in Melbourne!
Penola-Coonawarra Arts Festival
We are looking forward to the Penola-Coonawarra Arts Festival, which will be taking place from Thursday May 15 – Sunday May 18. The Kids Program will be down Petticoat Lane. On the Sunday our school will be hosting a BBQ, selling steaks, sausages and drinks. We will also run a free activity, which will be magnet making.
The MacKillop Market will be selling homemade wares and produce, including an op shop style clothing stall, organised by the Yr 6 group. Early next term we will be on the lookout for helpers to assist in different ways, whether it is donating some produce to sell at the MacKillop Market stall or helping with the BBQ. Many hands make light work. requirements before the school holidays.
Easter Egg Foil Challenge
At MMMS we aim to reduce, reuse and recycle. This Easter we are asking everyone to be a part of the Easter Egg Foil Challenge. At the beginning of next term each class will make as many golf ball size balls, which will be weighed to award to the winning class the Sustainability Challenge. The golf ball size aluminium balls will then be able to be put into the recycling bins. Don’t forget to keep those wrappers.
School Uniform Term 2
The ‘Uniform Shop’ at school is open every day except Wednesdays. A reminder that with the holidays approaching and moving into Term 2 all students need to change over to their winter uniform – this may not require anything to change!
I strongly suggest a winter uniform try on, particularly if your child needs a new girls skirt or pinafore as these are becoming increasingly difficult to source. Please let Janice know your requirements before the school holidays
2025 Mid - Year Reception
Mid-year enrolments are now open for all children who turn 5 on or before the 31st October.
The fees for midyear Reception enrolments will be free for the two terms of schooling. If you have a child who is able to begin Reception in in Term 3 2025, please complete an enrolment form and return it to the front office as soon as possible.
If you know of any families who are thinking about enrolling their child at Mary MacKillop Memorial School for Term 3 2025, or in the future, please let them know about our mid-year fee free enrolment intake or alternatively, they can contact the school on 87372902 at any time.
We welcome all new families!
Professional Learning/Student Free Days 2025
Term 2: Thursday 5th June, Friday 6th June
Term 3: Friday 5th September
Term 4: Friday 24th October, Thursday 11th December, Friday 12th December
Important Dates
SAPSASA State Swimming (Adel)
Occasional Care
Occasional Care
The Last Supper
The Passion
Playgroup
Term 1 Ends 2:15pm
First Day Term 2
Occasional Care
Occasional Care
St Joseph the Worker
Playgroup
Resilience Project
House Points
Text Absentee Number
A reminder that if your child is absent from school, for any reason, it is important that this is communicated with the school. The Catholic Education system has advised all schools to follow up on unresolved absences with families. Your support and communication in this matter is greatly appreciated.
📱0488 280 771
When texting the Absentee Line to explain your child's absence from school please make sure you put both their name and reason so it can be recorded properly.
MMMS Playgroup Flyer
South West Zone Chess Tournament
Scouts SA - Penola Open Day
Open Day: Saturday 5 th April 2025 11:00am - 2pm
Join us for an open day to discover how you can get involved, meet our volunteer leaders and learn how your child can be part of the adventure.
Click here to contact Scouts SA for more info!
NetSetGo!
Register now for NetSetGo!
3.45-4.30pm Thursdays during Term 2 at the Mac Park netball courts.
Click here to use Sports Vouchers when registering!
Call Meg Redman for more info 0407740034
Social