Term 1, Week 11 Friday 11th April 2025

As we enter Holy Week (first week of the school holidays), we remember the important story of Jesus’ sacrifice for us and our world.  Importantly, we prepare for rejoicing his eternal presence in our world at Easter.

Lord God, as we reflect in Holy Week,
grant us the humility to see our sins,
grant us a grateful heart for the redemption
that your son has gained for us.
Bestow on us the grace to remember
the goodness you have shown by
redeeming us. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen

Thank you to everyone who came out and supported Sports Day on March 28^th.  It was a fantastic day with maximum participation from all students!  Thank you to those adults who were able to volunteer – especially in the egg and spoon race (a new annual event, I think!).
Events like these do not just happen and I would like to acknowledge Celeste Brown and Matthew Harrison for their organisation of the day.  Thank you also to all the teaching, admin and support staff for all the behind-the-scenes work.

We are currently interviewing families for 2026 Preschool and 2027 Reception enrolments.
If you have any children not currently enrolled for these intakes, please contact Angela in the office to arrange enrolment.
We have some limited place available in various year levels (Years 1-6) for 2025 as well.

Fr Charles and Fr Sam will both be leaving after Easter to take up positions as Parish Priest and Assistant Priest in the Salisbury Parish.   We thank both Fr Charles and Fr Sam for the service to our school, as a part of the wider Parish community.  We have always appreciated their kindness and commitment to all the children.

You will have the chance to Farewell Fr Charles and Fr Sam at Palm Sunday Masses which they will celebrate together on:

-Saturday April 12th at Mater Dei 6pm (followed by LIGHT REFRESHMENTS in St Joseph’s Centre)
-Sunday April 13th at St Patrick’s 8.30am (followed by MORNING TEA in the courtyard) and
-Sunday April 13th at St Margaret Mary’s 10.30am (followed by a SHARED LUNCH in the Parish Hall)

Everyone is welcome to join in this Celebration… PLEASE BRING A PLATE OF FOOD TO SHARE

The Vietnamese Mater Dei Community will farewell Fr Charles and Fr Sam on Easter Sunday April 20th at Mater Dei Vietnamese Mass 5pm (followed by REFRESHMENTS in St Joseph’s Centre).

I am looking forward to my time of leave at the start of Term 2.  During Weeks 1-5, Belinda Elliott will be Acting Principal and she will be supported by Maria Iovino, Matthew Harrison and Rebecca Braidwood.  I thank them for their willingness to take on additional leadership roles.

I hope you have a wonderful Easter Break and can have some quiet and relaxing times with you family.  I look forward to seeing you in Week 6.

The Importance of Regular School Attendance

We want to thank parents for recognising the value and importance of regular attendance at school, which allows children to learn more about the world, develop learning, skills and knowledge. It also plays a vital role in fostering and strengthening friendships. At St Margaret Mary’s School, we believe that everyday skills are developed through engaging and challenging experiences, making consistent attendance key to your child’s success.

It’s important to consider the long-term impact of a child’s absence from school. We understand that when a child is unwell, home is the best place for them. However, when not unwell, even a day off here and there can add up. The table below illustrates how these occasional absences can accumulate, resulting in significant weeks of lost learning over time.

Please come and speak with your child’s teacher or a member of the leadership team if you are concerned about your child’s attendance.  Your child’s attendance will be recorded on your child’s semester report.  Regular attendance allows teachers to best support your child’s learning and wellbeing.

1 day absent a fortnight equates to 10.5 days absent in Semester 1. 

1 day absent a week equates to 21 days absent in Semester 1.

Thank you for you continuing support,

Kelly Campbell

Dear Families

It's incredible to think that we have reached the end of Term 1! Over the past 11 weeks, we've had a busy time, with plenty to celebrate as a school community. I'm continually amazed by the learning and progress our students show every day, and we're excited to see their continued growth and persistence in Term 2.

SPORTS DAY
Many thanks to the family members who were able to join us on Sports Day and to the parents who volunteered to assist with events. Special thanks to Tristan Griffin and The Fruit Box for the generous donation of oranges for the children to enjoy. Our thanks also to Alfred Gbala who cut up the oranges too. Special mention also to Helen Psaila who picked up the oranges from school and transported them to Sports Day – thank you.

A huge THANK YOU to Mrs Celeste Brown and Mr Matthew Harrison for their organisation and coordination of the day. We are thankful for their time and efforts, along with all of our staff, in making Sports Day an enjoyable day for all of the children from Preschool to Year 6.

LUNCH CLUBS
This term, we continued Lunch Clubs for children to enjoy during their yard play times. These clubs provide opportunities for students to explore new learning and engage in interest-based activities during their breaks. This term, many children have learnt Chess with Mrs Chitti, created art and craft projects with Mrs McCullough, built Lego with Ms Harms, learnt knitting and crocheting with Mrs Monti and experienced the calming effects of meditation and yoga with Signora Armiento. We are grateful to these staff for offering such engaging activities. The lunch clubs have been very popular, and we look forward to offering them again in Term 2.

Thank you for your continued support across the term. I hope you enjoy the school holidays and have a lovely Easter.

We will see you again on Monday 28 April.

Belinda

Dear Parents and Caregivers,  

This week, our Year 3 classes celebrated their year level Mass with a visiting priest Fr Leon. We also farewelled Fr Charles and Fr Sam with the ‘African Blessing’ song and we thanked them both for the connections they have formed with our community and the experiences they have shared with us over the years.

SMMS Big Water Walk Fundraiser
On Monday 7 April, each class participated in an awareness raising and fundraising activity called the Big Water Walk. The Big Water Walk encouraged our students to walk around our outdoor spaces for approximately 15-20 minutes. Throughout the course, there were posters designed to promote greater awareness and discussion of water scarcity in our world. Many Big Water Walk’s, like ours, have been organised by schools and communities across Australia in support of Project Compassion. 

Thank you so much for your generous donations towards our Big Water Walk event. All money raised through your donations, will go towards the efforts of Caritas Australia to bring hope and change to schools and communities throughout the world. We hope that through our act of solidarity, schools and young people throughout the world will benefit. That our generosity will assist Caritas Australia’s mission to bring about sustainable change, helping communities to ‘Rise Above Poverty.’

Community Prayer
On Thursday 10 April, we gathered for a Community Reflection in the Parish Hall. We invited our community to reflect on our journey through the Season of Lent and to reflect on Jesus’ love for us, through the ‘passion’ of Holy Week.

The Year 1 and Year 2 Student Leadership Team representatives led us beautifully through a welcoming introduction, as well as an opening and closing prayer. We also thank our Year 3 to Year 6 Student Leadership Team representatives, for their gentle and reflective re-enactment of the Stations of the Cross to ‘We Remember’ by Drew Lane.

Thank you to Year 5 students Minh Anh and Jenni for seamlessly coordinating the PowerPoint and to the families who were able to join us in reflection.

Easter
Archbishop O’Regan, reflects that Easter is a time to celebrate Christ’s resurrection as something that happened and still happens to us. Through Jesus’ Resurrection, each one of us is offered the gift of that new life, and the power to accept it, which in turn reflects the way we live and love others.

I wish everyone a joyful Easter with family and friends. Have a wonderful holiday break!

Matthew Harrison

Last last Monday, we had 19 students attend the SACPSSA  swimming carnival at the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre at Marion. All the students did an amazing job and represented our school with respect and sportsmanship. A big thanks to the parents that came along to cheer to our swimmers on, and in particular Prageeth who helped as an official for the carnival. Thank you to Mr Harrison for helping organise the event and I look forward to next year! 

Celeste Brown

We have enjoyed a wonderful term of Yoga & Mindfulness as part of lunch club activities . A highlight this term was seeing so many siblings attend together! 

Yoga lunch club continues in Term 2. 

Namaste
Mrs Armiento 

You may have noticed an increase in Library books coming home with special red, green or yellow square stickers. These books are part of the Premier’s Reading Challenge.

The Challenge requires students to read 12 books (8 with their level of stickers) by early September. 

Benefits of the Premier's Reading Challenge

• ~ Gives students a focus for their reading
• ~ Encourages students to participate by being challenged
• ~ Offers incentives for reluctant readers
• ~ Builds self-esteem, pride, school unity and a sense of achievement among students

Reading Records are being filled in during class Library visits. In Term 4, certificates and medals are given out to students that have completed the challenge. 

Katherine McCullough

Library