Term 1, Week 3, Friday 16th February 2024

Ash Wednesday
This week we gathered as a community to begin the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday Mass and Liturgy, after some pancakes on Shrove Tuesday.  As we move into the season of Lent, we focus on helping others (almsgiving), fasting and prayer.  During our Ash Wednesday liturgies, we received a cross of ashes on our foreheads as a sign of repentance and commitment to forgiveness. All our students attended these liturgies with great reverence and respect.  We were very proud of the way they contributed and took part.

Over the next few weeks, during Lent, we will be learning about Caritas Project Compassion, a special way we can help others in our world.

Each year, we remind families that they can access many important documents through our website or online.

Positive Resolution Procedure: https://www.smms.catholic.edu.au/news-events/parent-communication

Archdiocese of Adelaide, Safeguarding Children and Young People: https://www.smms.catholic.edu.au/__files/f/15191/Safeguarding_Children_and_Young_People_Policy.pdf

Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum: https://kscpc.sa.edu.au/

Reporting Harm of Children and Young People Procedure 2020: https://www.cesa.catholic.edu.au/__files/d/75018/Reporting_Harm_of_Children_and_Young_People_Procedure_2020.pdf

Online Activity
Children’s online activity can have a big impact on their wellbeing and learning at school.  We often deal with online issues that have occurred on the weekends or afterschool.  These usually include name calling, exclusion from chats and general ‘meanness’ to others in group chats/apps/games.  Most of the time this occurs when using a platform or app that is not designed for primary school children, that is with an age limit of 13+.

PLEASE monitor your child’s online activity at home, we cannot do so, but we do deal with consequences of inappropriate use.  Working through these issues takes a lot of time and can affect children’s wellbeing. We encourage all children/families to screenshot inappropriate online behaviour and/or report it to the app/website.

This is a great website for further information: www.esafety.gov.au/parents

Safety Reminder
Students and families are reminded to be wary of approaches from strangers, especially when they are unaccompanied or travelling to and from school. If they are approached students should not respond and should not accept offers of rides or gifts.

Students should seek the assistance of other nearby adults if they feel unsafe and should report the event to a trusted adult (parent or school staff member) as soon as possible.

SAPOL advises that taking out a mobile phone and calling police can deter the offender and they recommend the student making a formal report to their closest police station.

Thank you for your continued support,

Kelly Campbell

Dear Parents/Caregivers

It’s been a positive start to the year. Thank you to the families who were able to come along to our Welcome Night, it was great to see so many families meeting the teachers, visiting classrooms and spending time with other families in our community. It was lovely to see so many of you at the BBQ.

In the first few weeks we have had a focus on ‘Setting Up For Success’ where teachers and students enjoyed the chance to get to know each other, set up class expectations and their ‘Code of Cooperation’. This was an important opportunity for students and teachers to develop positive relationships and settle in with new environments, classmates, and teachers. You could consider asking your child/children about how they are setting themselves up for success, and how you can support them in having a successful year.

School Values – Responsibility, Integrity, Compassion, Justice, Perseverance
As a part of the ‘Setting Up for Success’ week students have been connecting their learning with our school values, understanding their meaning and brainstorming how they can demonstrate these values in their everyday interactions with others. We have a particular focus on the value of Responsibility this year and students have established ‘success criteria’ for how they can successfully demonstrate this value:

• I can take care of my belongings and keep them organised
• I can make responsible choices that follow school rules and guidelines
• I can admit when I am wrong and take responsibility for my actions
• I can take initiative to help others and contribute to a positive classroom environment
• I take responsibility for my learning and seek help when needed

Your support of our school values is always appreciated. Perhaps you and your child/children could establish your own ‘success criteria’ at home about how your child/children can demonstrate responsibility at home.

School Drop Off
Please remember that supervision starts at 8:30am. We are not opening the front gates on Eldon Street until 8:20am to let students into the yard. If you are at school before 8:20am you can either stay with your child/children until the gate opens or take your children to Before School Care. Thank you for your support, it is important that our children are safe and supervised.

Save the Date – Sports Day
Our annual Sports Day will take place on Thursday 4 April at Bridgestone Athletics Centre, Frost Road, Salisbury. All students will be transported by bus to and from the event. More details will be shared with families in coming weeks.

Best wishes for the week ahead.

Belinda

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

On Friday 9 February, we gathered for our Beginning of Year Liturgy of the Word. As part of the liturgy, we presented Welcome Certificates to the students in our two Reception classes and new students across the school.

On Tuesday 13 February, we celebrated Shrove Tuesday with a pikelet (small pancake) in preparation for the Season of Lent. On Ash Wednesday 14 February, our students, staff and families were invited to receive ashes to help us to reflect on praying for others, armsgiving through Project Compassion and taking up acts of  ‘Responsibility.’‘

Sacramental Program
This Sunday 18 February, the sacramental candidates will be presented to the parish at either St Patrick’s 8:30am Mass or St Margaret Mary’s 10:30am Mass. If you would like to enrol your Baptised child in the program, there is still time. Forms can be collected from the school front office.

House Captains
In 2023, as a whole staff we focused on the historical story of St Margaret Mary’s School and our connection to the Catholic tradition. In 2024, we are proud to announce that we are connecting our House colours with a significant saint or individual in connection to our story.

Introducing the following Sports Houses and their inaugural captains:

Margaret (Blue)          Named after Saint Margaret Mary of Alacoque. Saint Margaret Mary focused on Jesus’ love for us and is the patron of our school and church. The Margaret House captains for 2024 are Janice and Patrick.
 

MacKillop (Green)       Named after Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Saint Mary MacKillop was the founder of the Sisters of St Joseph and Australia’s first saint. The MacKillop House captains for 2024 are Mai Ly and Joshua.

Grady (Red)            Named after Sister Jude Grady. Sister Grady was the first Headmistress (Principal) of St Margaret Mary’s School and a Sister of Saint Joseph. The Grady House captains for 2024 are Kira and John.

Daly (Yellow).                  Named after Father Thomas Daly. Father Daly was the first parish priest of St Margaret Mary’s School and Church. The Daly House captains for 2024 are Apuk and Dillen.

Student Leadership Team
This week we announced our 2024 Semester 1 Student Leadership Team (SLT).

The Early Years SLT representatives are Giulietta, Harry, Thiante, Samarveer, Ivy, Ocean, Saba, Furmann, Ayet, Pierce, Madison and Tony.

The Primary Years will be represented by Katia, Taye, Nhi, Oscar, Zian, Thomas, Nira, George, Jenni, Nathan, Winny, Joshua, Mai Ly and Christian.

Congratulations to all our representatives in the Year of focus on ‘Responsibility’ we look forward to the many ways our leaders will help to serve the school and community.

Week 4 Assembly (SLT/ Houses)
On Monday 20 February, we will have a Year 6GG 2:20pm assembly. As part of the assembly, we will officially acknowledge our new Semester 1 House Captains and Student Representatives.

We ask that our captains and leaders proudly wear their badges to the assembly on Monday. All families are welcome to join us in the Parish Hall via the front office from 2:10pm.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Matthew Harrison

Senior students are reviewing Carnevale, the annual traditional Italian celebration which occurs on Shrove Tuesday in preparation for Lent. 

Our next learning focus will be Marco Polo & his journey. This year marks 700 years since his death. 

Gina Armiento
Italian Teacher 

2024 Childrens University memberships are now available from Pennie in the office.

Click here for information https://www.adelaide.edu.au/childrensuniversity/

The annual fee for 2024 remains the same and is $38.50 (inc GST) per member.  A Passport is included in a member’s first year only with any replacement Passport incurring a fee of $7.70 (inc GST).  Please note that membership fees for School Card Holders will remain at $16.50 (inc GST) per member also.

This year Pennie will send out a CU Membership QR code for participants. 

Membershp registrations close on 1st March.

Book Club Issue 1, 2024 is out now.

Due date for orders is 18^th February.

ALL orders done online via Book Club LOOP.

Find out how on Page 31 of your magazine (payments will not be accepted at school).

In Art/Craft Lunch Club the first week we followed instructions to make a pop-up card. A variety of bees, ladybirds and flowers were created.

In Week 2, we were inspired by the book “The Monster Game” by Philip Bunting and drew our own Monsters on black paper. This week we tried some Kandinsky inspired Art using crayons.

Everyone is welcome and each week there will be a new and fun art/craft activity to try.