Term 1, Week 9 Thursday 28th March 2024

Year 6 Leadership Jackets
Congratulations to our Year 6s on their leadership so far this year. They have done a terrific job of preparing our House Teams for Sports Day as one of their leadership roles. Today, Mr Harrison, Mrs Braidwood and I had the pleasure of presenting the Year 6s with their 2024 Leadership Jackets. We spoke about the importance of these jackets as a symbol of their leadership and when they wear them, they should remember what they symbolise. They are a symbol of leadership, role modelling, their primary school journey, and a call to live out our school values of responsibility, integrity, compassion, justice, and perseverance. They are so much more than just a jacket! We wish them well on their leadership journey this year.

Sports Day
We are all very excited about Sports Day next week (Thursday 4 April). House teams have been meeting to practice their Team Chants and the Health Hustle. Year 6 leaders also presented information to all classes about the House Walk for Caritas Australia's Project Compassion. This House Walk will take place on Sports Day.

All students from Reception to Year 6 will be travelling by bus to and from Bridgestone Stadium with their teachers and school staff. Preschool children will be attending with their parents. If you are picking your child up from Bridgestone Stadium then you have communicated this on the letter you returned to the teacher.

Students will not be able to leave at the end of Sports Day without a parent first seeing the child’s teacher and having them ‘signed-out’. This is for the safety of all children.

Please remember all students wear a house coloured t-shirt with their school uniform shorts, sneakers and their school hat. Sports sneakers are essential, as so are their SMMS hat and sunscreen. There are no lunch orders, please pack your child enough fruit, lunch and snacks and plenty of water for a busy and active day.

Thank you to the parents who have volunteered to assist us on Sports Day. If you are available to help and have all of the Catholic clearances, please contact Angela in the front office.

Child Safety
Child safety is everyone’s responsibility.  Drop off (8:30-8:45am) and pick up time (3.00-3.20pm) are very busy around our school.  PLEASE obey all laws, traffic directions and parking restrictions.  They are there to keep you and your child safe. 

1. Always use the pedestrian crossings on Eldon St or Tungara Ave (adults included!)
2. Do NOT queue around the roundabout.
3. Do NOT drive over the solid white lines (on the wrong side of the road!!) or stop on the solid yellow lines especially near the crossings just to save a couple of minutes – this is illegal and extremely unsafe.
4. The ‘Kiss and Drop’ is NOT a parking area during drop off or pick up time, and drivers should remain in their cars at all times. If you need to help your child, then you should be parking in a designated parking area.

We appreciate your support in keeping everyone safe.

Easter Raffle
Thank you for your generous support of the Easter Raffle. There were many donations and raffle tickets sold. We will excitedly announce the winners this afternoon and the lucky winners will bring the prizes home with them for the Easter weekend. Thanks also to Anh and Elise for wrapping and putting together the Easter Raffle prizes.

Happy Easter 🐰 We wish you a safe, restful and enjoyable Easter long weekend. We will see you back at school on Tuesday.

Belinda

Dear Parents and Caregivers, 

This week we reflected on the Holy Week story, by gathering for Community Prayer each day. Our amazing Year 6 leaders (the entire cohort) visited each classroom to raise awareness regarding our upcoming ‘House Walk’ for Project Compassion. The ‘House Walk’ is our major gold coin fundraiser for Project Compassion. The ‘House Walk’ will be programmed as a Sports Day event, led by our Year 6 leaders. The ‘House Walk,’ together with our generous donations at Sports Day is a way we can showcase our St Margaret Mary’s spirit of ‘solidarity’ and ‘compassion’ for all our sisters and brothers throughout the world.

Community Prayer
Each morning our Year 6 Community Prayer leaders have shared a part of the Holy Week story, accompanied by reenactments involving our Student Leadership Team representatives. On Monday our Year 2 and Year 3 representatives reenacted the ‘Palm Sunday’ story. On Tuesday, our Year 4/5 representatives reenacted the ‘Washing of the feet.’ On Wednesday, Reception representatives reenacted ‘Peter’s denial of Jesus’ and on Thursday, Year 1 and Year 6 representatives reenacted ‘Jesus’ arrest and trial.’

Next week, our focus will shift to celebrating the joy of the Resurrection.

Stations of the Cross
On Good Friday 26 March, the Sacramental and Family Mass students will reenact the fourteen Stations of the Cross at 9:00am on our school oval. Over the past week and with the support of Ms Vicky Manalo, the students have been practicing the reenactment of each Station.

All families are welcome to attend the Stations of the Cross along with the parishioners of Croydon Park Parish. This is usually well attended, so it is a good idea to arrive by 8:45am.

Easter Masses

St Margaret Mary’s Easter Mass times

Wishing everyone a happy Easter!

Matthew Harrison

Students in Year4/5 are exploring the history of La Commedia Dell'Arte and the origins of the famous Carnevale characters. 

Gina Armiento
Italian Teacher 

Hallmark Music Studio is delighted to be commencing singing lessons for students in term 2 with tutor, Sienna McClean.  Lessons can be provided on a private lesson basis, or team up with your friends to form a small group for lessons together (where students are musically and age compatible).  Sienna is a well known Australian artist, having appeared on the TV Show The Voice in duo with her sister, Ella (with stage name Ella and Sienna) in 2022 having received 3 chair turns in the blind audition and finishing in the top 6 on Rita Ora’s team.  Sienna has also released a 7 track EP/album on Spotify including songs that she has written since she was 13 years old.  Another winning competition provided an opportunity to go to Nashville, Tennessee in 2023 where Ella and Sienna recorded their latest 2 singles.  She has studied singing for many years and is hoping to inspire many students at St Margaret Mary’s to dream big and perfect talents and increase confidence, like her singing teacher did for her. 
Lessons are $32.00 per 30minute private lessons, and $22.00 per 30 minute shared / group lesson payable per term via invoice (please see policy for further detailed information).

For enrolments, please collect a brochure from the front office at St Margaret Mary’s, or complete this online link: https://forms.gle/GSP8GkJTDGsa9APp8