Term 1, Week 9 Friday 1st April 2022

Student Free Days – Thursday 14th April and Monday 2nd May

We have been notified that all diocesan schools will have student free days on Holy Thursday and the first day of Term 2.  A note outlining this has been sent via SeeSaw and your child’s class.  If you do not have appropriate care for your child on either of these days, please contact Angela in the office by Monday 11th April so we can arrange for supervision at school.  Before and after school care will still be available, bookings via Camp Australia (ph: 1300 105 343).

Parent/Teacher Learning Conversations

The partnership between school and home is very important for your child’s learning and wellbeing and our learning conversations are a great chance to talk to your child/ren’s teacher. 

Due to COVID restrictions, we are offering these conversation over the phone. You will have received a note about this yesterday. Please reply to this note as soon as possible so we can make arrangements.

Swimming Achievements

A huge ‘congratulations’ to our students who attended the SACPSSA Swimming Carnival last week.  St Margaret Mary’s won the shield on the day – a great achievement considering it is only the 5th time we have entered the competition.  Mr Harrison has more information about the carnival later in the newsletter.  Thanks to Ms Brown and Mr Harrison for organising the team.

Staffing

Like many other schools and businesses, we have experienced some challenges with staffing recently due to COVID isolation requirements.  We always endeavour to minimise disruption to your child’s learning program and source consistent teachers and ESOs.  Thank you for your understanding.  If you have any queries, please contact the office.

School Board

I’d like to thank Helen Psaila and Emilia Iacobini for their time of service on our School Board.  We have benefitted from their wisdom, forward thinking and ideas.  Thank you to Nick McCormack who is retiring as Board Chair and Scott Nguyen who is taking a break from our Finance Committee.

This year our school board consists of:

• Fr Charles Lukati – President
• Kelly Campbell – Principal
• Rebecca Braidwood – Staff Representative
• Anita Herzig – Chairperson
• Anh Nguyen – Deputy Chairperson
• Sharyn Gromitsaris and Truc Tran - Finance Committee
• Renee Romeo, Scott Nguyen, Nick McCormack - Committee Members

Thank you again to our school board for making the commitment to continual improvement at St Margaret Mary’s School and Preschool.

Kelly Campbell
Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

In recent weeks, we have proudly announced the Semester 1 ‘Student Leadership Team’ class representatives. We distributed badges as a symbol of the call to service that these leaders have willingly embraced. In support of the parish, we also assisted families in helping to prepare our own students for their First Reconciliation by offering a couple of mini-workshops.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Congratulations to Han, Hieu, Kenzo, Nira, Alina, Thomas, Kenzi and Kevin who were in our prayers on Saturday 26 March as they received their First Reconciliation at St Margaret Mary’s Church along with other students from schools within our parish.

This weekend, on Saturday 2 April, our prayers are also extended to Evanna, Cooper, Hoang-Nam, Dominic, Axel, Thomas and Aldeyna who are also preparing to turn to God and open their hearts to receive His love and forgiveness.

Every 2022 sacramental candidate, is called to make a commitment to the formational journey they will share with their family this year. Each has their own commitment card and prayer sheet displayed at the back of St Margaret Mary’s Church which family and parishioners are invited to collectively add their names to.

Gold Coin Fundraiser

Next Friday 8 April, the children are encouraged to wear casual clothing with active footwear for a gold coin donation. 

In connection with our focus on ‘giving’ through Project Compassion during Lent, students may like to consider wearing a purple accessory, a purple clothing item, or a clothing item with a bit of purple in it. The gold coin donations will be collected by the classroom teachers once the students are in class. If your child does not already own any purple items, they are welcome to wear any other colours for this fundraiser. Please do not purchase any purple accessories or clothing solely for this occasion.

Our hope as a community, is that such acts of solidarity, help us to raise awareness and contribute to the funds needed to support our sisters and brothers and the mission of Caritas Australia throughout the world.

Holy Week Community Prayer

In Week 11, we will offer 8:50am Holy Week community prayers, each day on the courts, from Monday 11 April to Wednesday 13 April. We invite all who are able, to join us for these communal reflections.

Fr Charles Lukati

Father Charles Lukati is using his God-given passion to join with Project compassion to participate in ‘The Salisbury Run’ on Sunday 15 May. This event is a half marathon, where participants complete a 21km course.

You are invited to support Fr Charles who is running to help remote and vulnerable communities across, Asia, Africa, the Pacific, the Middle East and in Australia. If you are able to donate please contact the parish office on 8346 0944. All donations towards the run, will go towards helping communities to access clean water, food, skills training, health, sanitation and disaster risk reduction training.

Together we can support and create lasting change For All Future Generations.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

God bless,

As the term has gone on, we have had increasing numbers of staff and students on leave as close contacts, or have been sick themselves. We understand that it can be disruptive to children and their families, however we continue to follow the recommendations from SA Health and Catholic Education. It is a great lesson in resilience and flexibility! Thank you for your ongoing support.

Lunch Orders

Our lunch supply company has recently changed hands and we are all getting used to each other!

The lunch supply company have asked that families only order the foods on the menu (click to view the menu). They would also like all families to check their class settings on the QKR! App to ensure that the order goes to the correct classroom.

Following our healthy eating approach at SMMS, we ask that you only order water for your child. We are continuing to work with the lunch supply company to fine-tune the menu on the QKR! app to reflect our healthy eating choices.

Easter Raffle

A huge thank you to all those parents who helped staple together the Easter Raffle Ticket Books! A wonderful example of ‘many hands making light work!’

We are desperately in need of more donations for the Raffle. It does not need to be Easter eggs; you may find something with an Easter theme, something for parents to enjoy! All donations will be gratefully accepted!

If you require more Raffle Ticket Books to sell, please let Angela know. We have plenty more Ticket Books ready to sell!

Footy Fun Friday!

Friday April 1^st is the Showdown between Port Power and the Adelaide Crows. To celebrate and to have a bit of fun, we will be having Footy Fun Friday.

All children, families and staff are invited to wear a scarf or beanie in your football team’s colours. All children will receive an iceblock to help bring some smiles to our Friday!

We hope your footy team is a winner on the day!

Students have had lots of fun making their maschere in preparation for our Carnevale assembly on Monday.  They are very excited to showcase during the parade.

As the assembly will be held outside, parents are welcome to attend.  Please sign in at the front office from about 11.35am if you are able to come along.

Thank you.

On Thursday 24 March, Kayleen, Dan, Winny, Joshua, Hannah, Dillen, Mai-Ly, Steven, Gia, Alexis, Julie, Natalie, Saranyaa and Kenzo represented our school at the South Australian Catholic Primary School Sports Association (SACPSSA), Section 6, Swimming Carnival. The carnival was held at the Marion Swimming Centre and our swimmers participated in events including representatives from up to seven other Catholic schools.

We can proudly announce that all our swimmers participated in their nominated events, gave their all and were wonderful representatives of our community.  What was also pleasing is that every child came away from the carnival with an individual or team place ribbon as a momento. Our placing results included fourteen firsts, seven seconds, six thirds, three fourths, three fifths, one sixth, one seventh and one eighth result. What an amazing effort by all!

At the end of the carnival our Year 4 swimmers won the Year 4 banner. Steven also won the Year 5 Age Champion Medal and our team of fourteen won the SACPSSA Section 6 Pennant and SACPSSA Section 6 Shield.  Both of which are now displayed in our new trophy cabinet.

Congratulations to all our swimmers and Ms Celeste Brown for her coordination. What an exciting day!

Matthew Harrison

On Wednesday 30^th March, five amazing students from our community competed at the Western District, South Australia Primary Schools Amateur Sports Association (SAPSASA) swimming trials at the Immanuel College swimming pool.

Mai-Ly, Steven, Winny, Dillen and Saranyaa competed against students from other schools in our SAPSASA district. We will know in the coming weeks whether they have made the representative team that will compete at the SAPSASA Swimming Championships held next term. We will keep you posted!

Wynter has been selected for the SA team to compete in the Australian National Dragon Boat Championships in both the Junior State Team and the ACDC Dragonfire Junior Team.  The championships will be held at West Lakes on 6^th until 10^th April.

Well done to all of those students and special thanks to their parents for taking them to the trials. Good luck! 

Celeste Brown