Term 3, Week 5 Friday 25th August 2023

Learning Conversations
Our Parent/Teacher Learning conversations will be held Monday 11^th September – Friday 15^th September.  You will have received information about how to book a time (contact the office if you are unsure).  Please ensure you have made a booking to meet with your child’s teacher.  A strong partnership between school and home is very important for your child’s wellbeing and learning.  These conversations give parents/carers a chance to discuss learning progress and for teachers to share celebrations of learning and areas for future focus or intervention. 

2024 Class Planning
Our staff are commencing the process of class placements for 2024.  Later in the term, students will also have a chance to provide input into this process. Each year teachers spend a great deal of time looking at class placements for the following year.  This process takes many things into account.  First and foremost, we take into consideration the learning needs of all students.   We aim to ensure classes are ‘balanced’, by also taking into consideration a balance of gender, progress and levels of children’s learning, children with specific needs (social/emotional, learning and physical), relationships and family considerations.

At this time of the year, we have not finalised staffing and class structures, and we have teachers who will be changing year levels, as well as new teachers to our community.  Requests for specific teachers are not a part of our process, as classes are determined before teachers are allocated to that class or year level.

If there is a consideration that you feel we need to be made aware of, please email me before Friday 29^th September (kelly.campbell@smms.catholic.edu.au).

Once the process is finished, it is extremely difficult to consider further input from parents because the movement of one child will affect other children in the class and the balance that we work hard to achieve. In previous years, if you have put something in writing, please email me again, if you would still like this to be considered.

Your child’s best support may be someone they have not yet met!

Child Safety
Throughout the school, students are engaging in the Child Protection Curriculum.  As a community, it is timely to also remind parents/carers of some safety tips to discuss with children in an age-appropriate way.

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 and Caregivers,

Thank you for your generosity in response to the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. In our last newsletter, we invited donations of packet items such as cereal, pasta or long-life milk. Within a fortnight, we have been able to provide Croydon Park Vinnies volunteers with 6 packets of cereal, 11 packets of pasta, 4 long life milks and an additional 12 cans of soup. A new white donation basket will be placed in the Front Office entrance foyer from Monday 28 August (Week 6) to Friday 7 September (Week 7). All donations will continue to be distributed to families in need.

Adelaide Green Verge Project
On Monday 14 August, our Semester 1 Student Leadership Team representatives were very happy to contribute to planting as part of the Green Adelaide project on the corner of Tungara Avenue and Torrens Road. Special thanks to Odysseas Gromitsaris for educating our leaders on the preparation, planting and protection process involved in establishing our native plants.

Community Garden Beds
On Thursday 24 August, our newly elected Semester 2 Student Leadership Team representatives continued our gardening focus. Our Year 2 and Year 3/4 leaders were supported by Helen Psaila who educated our leaders on preparing the soil, compost, fertiliser and mulch for carrots, lettuce, spinach and marigolds. Our Reception, Year 1 and Year 5/6 leaders will complete the planting of all three garden beds next week. Our leaders are very excited to care for our plants and to observe the vegetables and flowers as they grow.

Liturgies and Masses
On Monday 28 August, our Year 2 students will celebrate their Term 3 Liturgy of the Word from 11:40am in St Margaret Mary’s Church. Families are warmly welcomed to join us on this occasion and entry to the church will be available from 11:30 via the front office or the Torrens Road church entrance. The details for our upcoming Year 3/4 and Year 5/6 parish Masses have been listed below:

Sacramental Rehearsal and Ceremony Dates:
On Thursday 24 August, the sacramental candidates and their sponsors attended a Croydon Park Parish rehearsal for our upcoming Confirmation ceremonies with Archbishop Patrick O’Reagan and Masses for First Holy Communion. Fr Charles spoke to the children about the important of these occasions along their faith journey. The dates of these upcoming ceremonies and Masses are as follows:

If you have any questions please send an email to matthew.harrison@smms.catholic.edu.au or contact the parish office directly on 8346 0944.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Matthew Harrison

Dear Parents/Caregivers

I am thrilled to be continuing in the role of Assistant Principal in 2024 and beyond. I am thankful to have the opportunity to further develop working relationships with staff, students and the wider SMMS community. I look forward to meeting more of you and working alongside you in your child’s educational journey. Thank you for your support and kind welcome over the past term. I feel very lucky to be a part of the St Margaret Mary’s School and Preschool community.

Father’s Day Gift Stall

On Thursday 31 August we will be holding a Father’s Day Stall. Students are invited to bring $3 - $5 (cash only) to purchase a gift for their dad or special male in their lives. Each class will be allocated a time to visit the stall with their teacher. Students can give the money to their classroom teacher for safe keeping.

Some gifts are handmade, and we really appreciate the help and kindness of parents and students who have assisted us with donating gifts. Special thanks especially to Grace Fratamico.

Lunch Orders

Please remember that lunch orders close at 8.45am on the Qkr! app. Lunch orders are delivered to school at 11.20am.

Please check your Qkr! app to ensure that your child is registered under their correct year level i.e. Year 2 (not Preschool) and please double check the day/date that you are requesting the order to arrive.  If you have any issues, please call us at school. Do not contact the lunch order shop (Westside Lunch & Coffee Bar).

Please also remind your child that if they have any missing items, they should let their teacher know straight away.

I’m looking forward to seeing the students in their Book Week costumes and their dance moves at the Disco.

Thank you for your on-going support.

Belinda Elliott