Term 3, Week 1 Friday 29th July 2022

Mrs Campbell is currently on leave and has climbed Mount Sonder for sunrise - a 9 hour hike!  We are pleased that she is keeping warm in her SMMS beanie.

Rwetypeme (Rutjipma) or Mount Sonder is on Western Arrernte Country, Northern Territory. It's 1380m above sea level and the highest vantage point in the Larapinta Trail. 

Welcome back to everyone! We hope that you had a restful break.

It has been a busy start to the new term as we have welcomed our new Foundation class to the ‘big’ school.  There are also many new students joining our community in Preschool. We have also had a number of students join in different classes. We welcome them all and look forward to learning together.

Ms Campbell is currently on long service leave and will return on August 8^th. Until then, I will acting as principal in her place

New Staff
We have a number of new staff starting this term. We welcome the following teachers.

Miss Kylie Rivera in Foundation.

Miss Lisa Edwards will be in Foundation on Tuesday afternoons, providing Miss Rivera with release and support.

Mrs Nadia Chitti will be in 1/2FL (1/2CF) on Thursdays and Fridays.

Miss Michelle Leonardi will now be teaching full-time as the classroom teacher in 1/2VE (1/2ML) while Mrs Verbi is on leave.

Miss Kimberly Truong will be in 4/5KD (4/5KT) while Mrs Day is on leave.

Ms Selina Roper will be teaching Performing Arts on Wednesday and Thursdays.

NO HATS NO PLAY!
As winter ends, we return to hats during outside play times from NEXT MONDAY AUGUST 1^ST. Children will still be able to wear the school beanie only when they come to school if they are feeling cold. WIDE BRIM SCHOOL HATS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL OUTSIDE PLAY AND FOR PE LESSONS. Please help your child to remember to bring their hat each day. Please clearly label the hat with your child’s name.

UNIFORM
New stock has arrived in the uniform shop. If you still need school uniform, please come in and see Rosie. Correct school uniform is required for all students, from Foundation to Year 6. School hats and school beanies are available from the Uniform Shop.

WATER ONLY
Just a reminder that children should only be bringing water to school. No soft drink, juice or flavoured milks; these are high in sugar and do not help the children to concentrate during the day. We have asked the Lunch Order People to remove these from the lunch order app.

We strongly encourage all children to be eating healthy food each day and limiting the amount of unhealthy chips, biscuits and snack foods in their lunch boxes. We appreciate your help with this.

LLL SURVEY
This Week you would have received information about the online 2022 LLL Survey.  We use your responses to help us develop the Annual Improvement Plan and make improvements to different aspects of the school.

The LLL Survey will take about 5 minutes to complete. Instructions on how to complete the LLL Survey are on the letter you received this week and will be posted on SeeSaw as well.

Once you have completed the LLL Survey, please return the slip to your child’s class teacher. The class with the most responses will get a Pizza Party!!

MASKS IN SCHOOLS
Due to the high level of influenza and COVID-19 in the community, we are asking that parents and carers limit their access to the school buildings. If you do need to come inside, we would appreciate the wearing of masks. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Thank you for taking the time to read the newsletter.

Have a great week!

Alicia Boylan
Assistant Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome back to Term 3! This week we have welcomed many new students in our school and preschool.

Reception Liturgy of the Word

Next week, on Thursday 4 August (Week 2), we will officially welcome Ms Rivera’s class with a Liturgy of the Word and certificate presentation in St Margaret Mary’s Church at 11:45am.  Following the Liturgy, our Term 3 Receptions will receive welcome certificates from Ms Rivera and Boylan (Acting Principal). Families are welcome to join us and share in this celebration. Whilst in Church, adults are encouraged to wear masks and please note there will be an opportunity for photos following the presentation.

Whole School Liturgy of the Word

On Monday 8 August (Week 3), we are excited to share in our first whole school Liturgy of the Word for 2022. The Liturgy will celebrate the feast day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop and will be held in St Margaret Mary’s Church from 9:00am. As Australia’s first saint, Mary MacKillop is known for establishing the religious order of the Sisters of St Joseph, who today continue to actively address the needs of communities across the world. The sisters opened many schools, including our own St Margaret Mary’s School in 1928. Families are welcome to join us for this celebration and whilst in Church, adults are encouraged to wear masks.

Term 3 Liturgy Dates (St Margaret Mary’s Church):

Week 5: 1/2 Liturgy of the Word on Thursday 18 August at 11:45am

Week 6: Year 3 Mass on Thursday 1 September at 9:15am

Week 7: Year 4/5 Mass on Thursday 8 September at 9:15am

Week 8: Year 6 Mass on Thursday 15 September at 9:15am

Term 3 Sacramental Dates

Confirmation Celebration:

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.

First Communion Celebration:

• Saturday 20 August at Mater Dei Church from 6:00pm
• Sunday 21 August at St Margaret Mary’s Church from 10:30am
• Saturday 20 August at Mater Dei Church from 6:00pm
• Sunday 28 August at St Margaret Mary’s Church from 10:30am

Have a wonderful weekend everyone

God bless,

Matthew Harrison
Assistant Principal Religious Identity and Mission

Andiamo in Italia! Let’s Go to Italy!

This term our learning will focus on exploring Italy some of its regions and famous landmarks.

Junior primary students will use a story called ‘La Macchinetta Rossa”  ( The Little Red Car) to help with this topic.

Year 6 students will explore  4 specific regions of Italy  and also expand  their oral language and prepare a dialogue with a partner using simple greetings and conversation.

Middle and upper primary students will also have an oral language focus as they continue to  use and to respond to greetings, general commands and instructions.

Looking forward to a wonderful term of Italian learning.

Gina Armiento
Italian Teacher

It started with an invite….

Like with any special occasion or party you need to send invitations! And so, our Preschool children wrote and decorated special invitations for their family members, inviting them to our Preschool Celebration of Learning. We didn’t forget the VIPs – Ms Campbell, Mrs Boylan, Mr Harrison and of course, our wonderful co educators – Ms Rosie, Mrs Manalo and Ms Daniela who give so generously in our preschool.

Finally we had our RSVPs and the big days arrived…….

On Tuesday 5^th July and Thursday 7^th July we were delighted to welcome many parents, siblings, extended family and staff to celebrate our preschool journey and wish our twenty-two graduates all the best for Mid-Year Foundation.

Mr Harrison shared a blessing with the children…..

Jesus said to his friends the disciples;
“Let your light shine for others,
so that everyone sees your good things you do
and be grateful to God.” 

Thank you, God, for this special day
to be at preschool and celebrate today.
Please be with us all day long
for every story, game and song.
May all the happy things we do
be with us in big school too. 

It was all smiles on Monday as the children began their next chapter of learning with Ms Rivera over at Big School.

We are pleased to inform our school families that there will be no increase in school fees for the 2023 school year. 
As South Australians continue to feel the impact of COVID-19, Catholic Education SA has announced it will freeze fees at its 86 Diocesan schools for the 2023 school year. 
“These decisions are part of our continued COVID 19 response as we seek to support families at a time when they are being impacted by rising costs and inflation,” says Dr Neil McGoran, Director, Catholic Education SA. 
Since 2019, Catholic Education SA has been implementing the Making Catholic Education More Affordable Initiative to ensure our schools are accessible to any family who wants their child to have a Catholic education. 
Dr Neil McGoran said the fee-freeze would not impact the quality of education. 
“We’re committed to keeping school fees as low as possible and ensuring a Catholic education is affordable and accessible to all.” 
In addition to the fee-freeze, further fee remissions are available to any family who is struggling to pay school fees due to financial pressures. Families should contact Jane Victory for more information. 

Please note that hats are compulsory for outside play from Monday 1st August

Rosie would like to advise that although we have received some uniform items, the following are still unavailable:

size 6 and size 10 track pants;

size 6 short sleeve polos; 

size 4, 6, and 8 jackets; and

beanies.

We will keep you updated when we recieve further stock.