Term 2, Week 9 Friday 1st July 2022

Next week all students will bring home their Semester 1 Reports.  These reports outline your child’s current achievement assessed with the Australian Curriculum Achievement Standards for their year level.  All students develop and grow at different rates, and we strongly encourage you to look not only at the grades, but the comments that accompany them.  These comments can explain the supports put into place to assist your child’s learning development.  Please make a time to meet with your child’s teacher if you have any questions or concerns.  I thank the teachers for the time and effort they have put into preparing the Semester 1 reports.

Anna Verbi (1/2VE) and Kathy Day (4/5KD) will be taking leave for terms 3 and 4.  Michelle Leonardi (currently teaching Thursday and Friday in 1/2FL) will be teaching full-time in 1/2VE for the remainder of the year.  Nadia Chitti will teach on Thursday and Friday in 1/2FL. Nadia came to visit the class this week and is working with Louise Ferris to ensure a smooth transition.  Kimberly Truong will be teaching 4/5KD for the remainder of the year.  Kimberly will be in on Monday to meet 4/5KD and work with Kathy in planning for continuation of the curriculum and learning.  I am sure they will feel very welcome at St Margaret Mary’s School.

We are in the final stages of planning for our new playground and play area.  Our new plans include upgrading the courts area, as well as ‘tweaking’ the undercover area to make it more useable.  All surfaces will be redeveloped to fix drainage issues and pathways levelled.  We will have a whole new playground and garden space! The timeline for completing the works has not been finalised, but there will be some disruption to access.  I’m sure you’ll agree that it will be worth it.

I hope everyone can have some relaxing time over the school break as the pace is not so hectic.  I will be taking leave in Weeks 1 and 2 in term 3, and Alicia Boylan will be Acting Principal during that time.

Term 2 concludes 3pm on Friday 8^th July and Term 3 commences on Monday 25^th July.

Thank you for your continued support,

Kelly Campbell

Term 2 has been an exciting term with many things happening in our school community. Despite it being a wet day, the children really enjoyed Sports Day; they were excited to leave the school grounds, be together and to be doing something a bit different in their school day. We have had children participating in the Lacrosse and Netball carnivals, and older students continuing to prepare for the Catholic Schools Music Festival next term. We were so excited to open up the school and invite families and the community to see our new learning spaces and children’s learning as part of our Arts Night. We even invited members of our Church parish to come and have a look at our fabulous school on Sunday morning!

We are looking forward to Term 3, the days get a bit warmer and there are more celebrations and learning to look forward to. Our big event in Term 3 is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Please keep looking for more information regarding the Mid-Autumn Festival, including a confirmation of the date.

Our Preschool students are very busy preparing for the end of the term, with 20 children beginning Foundation in Term 3. Next week these children will have a Celebration of Learning in the Preschool, inviting their families to share in this exciting time of change and transition. Miss Rivera is very much looking forward to these children being in her class next term. We have also been welcoming many new children to our Preschool as they become part of our preschool and school community in Term 3.

Unfortunately, there have been delays in the production of the fabric for our school uniforms. Despite the fact that new stock was ordered months ago, it has still not been delivered. Once we receive new stock in the Uniform Shop we will let you know. We are sorry for the inconvenience.

Term 3 will begin on Monday July 25^th. We look forward to seeing everyone rested and ready to go for another wonderful term of learning!

Alicia Boylan
Assistant Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

This week is the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time and we celebrate the combined Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Saints Peter and Paul were largely responsible for the foundation and early growth of the Church. Peter, a humble fisherman, was called by Jesus to be the “rock” on which the Church would be built (Matthew 16:13-19) becoming the first Pope. Paul on the other hand probably never met Jesus but travelled far and wide, established many new Christian communities and his writings make up much of the New Testament. Both saints encourage us to ‘serve each other with whatever gifts we have received.’ (1 Peter 4:10)

St Vincent de Paul (Vinnies) Winter Appeal

Thank you for the enormous generosity of donations that are already filling our Vinnies Winter Appeal baskets. Many families have already contributed ‘a can or cans of food’ from their family to another family in need. It has been great to witness our young advocates excited about seeing the donations grow with each week. Many have come up to show me their donation during morning duty or pointed out their donations when I visit the classrooms.

As mentioned in the previous newsletter, the baskets will remain in the classrooms until Monday 4 July (Week 10). For those who are able, we will still be inviting final donations until Wednesday. On Wednesday 6 July our Student Leadership Representatives will create class inspired sculptures on the courts as a way to acknowledge everyone’s ongoing generosity and support.

Sacramental Workshop

On Monday 20 June (Week 8), twelve candidates attended a Sacramental Workshop at Whitefriars Catholic School. Throughout the day the Children explored all three sacraments. The forgiveness offered in the Sacrament of First Reconciliation, the gifts of the Holy Spirit offered in the Sacrament of Confirmation and the body and blood of Jesus offered in the Sacrament of First Holy Communion. Over the next week, I will continue to meet with the candidates to assist with their ongoing sacramental activities.

First Holy Communion Parent Information Meeting

Next Tuesday 5 July (Week 10), Croydon Park Parish will hold an Information Evening for the ‘Sacrament of First Holy Communion’ at Whitefriars Catholic School, in the Mary MacKillop Centre at 7.00pm.  It is important that all candidates attend so that they receive their First Communion home booklet and key information regarding this Sacrament.

Confirmation Ceremonies

The first Confirmation Ceremony will be on Friday 12 August, in St Margaret Mary’s Church at 7:00pm. The children attending this ceremony will need to attend the practice session one week earlier on Thursday 4 August in St Margaret Mary’s Church at 6:30pm.

The second Confirmation Ceremony will be on Friday 19 August, in St Margaret Mary’s Church at 7:00pm. The children attending this ceremony will need to attend the practice session two weeks earlier on Thursday 4 August in St Margaret Mary’s Church at 7:30pm.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone,

Matt Harrison
Assistant Principal Religious Identity and Mission

The year 5/6s are all looking forward to their impending camp at She-Oak Run Camping Centre at Finnis. It will be the year 5s first opportunity to go to camp and learn how to take care of themselves away from their parents. Camp is great fun for children and it gives them an opportunity to get away from technology at home and spend more time discovering the outside world. Hopefully everyone will have a great time and come back to school with some great memories. For the year 6s, it will be their second opportunity to go on camp.  The activities that we will be doing at She –Oak Run are

• Group Development
• Orienteering
• Initiatives Course
• Water Testing
• Raft Building
• Camp Oven Cooking
• Paracord Bracelets
• Tribal Challenge

Sports Day

Besides the rainy weather, Sports Day went ahead and it was great to see so many parents coming along to see their child have fun and do field activities. Well done to the Sports Captains for helping their team colour and spreading fun all around. This year, we went to BridgeStone Athletics Centre and there were some differences with the Santos Stadium but overall everyone looked like they had a great time.

Congratulations to Yellow who won the Athletics Cup and Blue who won the Spirit Cup for cheering the most for their team.

In 4/5 KD and GG we have been designing paper planes after viewing the movie Paper Planes.  We had to make three different designs and then had a competition to see whose plane flew the furthest. The winners were Sachin 1st, Amay 2nd and Rafael 3rd.  Congratulations! 

Bruce Hutchings our IT Support Officer has recently been awarded the National Emergency Medal for his volunteer work for the CFA during the bushfires at Cuddlee Creek and Kangaroo Island.  Thank you and congratulations, Bruce!