Term 3, Week 7 Friday 6th September 2024

At St Margaret Mary’s School we understand that parent/ caregiver engagement goes hand in hand with student wellbeing and success and productive communication with parents/ caregivers is an essential feature of a positive school culture.

Digital technologies have greatly assisted in this regard and the use of parent/ caregiver information apps (See Saw), social media (for general school information), school website and the use of email communication directly with staff is now routine.

We appreciate that parent/ caregiver expectations as to staff accessibility have evolved in the context of enhanced digital communication practices. While representing efficient modes of communication, the breadth of digital communication options can create ‘availability creep’ where school employees become more accessible in locations and at times of the day, weekends and during periods of leave when they should be able to disconnect from work. Indeed, recent laws have taken effect which provide school employees a right to disconnect.

In the interests of respecting the rights of our staff and recognising the importance of facilitating and promoting healthy communication, we are introducing the following as standard protocol during term time:

- Noting our staff spend a significant amount of their workday focussing on teaching or other activities applicable to their roles, staff will endeavour to respond to parent/ caregiver communications requesting a response within 48 hours, noting staff will discern whether an urgent matter requires a shorter response timeframe; and

- Parents/ caregivers are encouraged to contact the school front office in the first instance for general information.

We ask that parents and caregivers be mindful and supportive of the above. Thank you for your understanding.

Thank you for your continued support,

Kelly Campbell

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Last week, on Thursday 29 August, our two St Vincent de Paul clothing bins were collected from the entry and ground level.  On behalf of Vinnies, I would like to thank all our families for your generous donations of clothing, shoes, blankets and sleeping bags. If families would like to continue to donate items to Vinnies, you can do so by placing the items in the big Vinnies blue bin behind St Margaret Mary’s Church.

Primary Years Mass
On Thursday 12 September, our Year 3, Year 4/5 and Year 6 classes will gather in St Margaret Mary’s Church for a 9:15am parish Mass. Families are most welcome to join us via the front doors of the Church on Torrens Road or through the doors to the side of the courts.

Confirmation Ceremony
Congratulations to all our students who have celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation on Friday the 23 August, Thursday the 5 September or Friday 6 September.  We also extend our prayers and congratulations to all the young people in the Croydon Park Parish who have been preparing with their families to receive this sacrament.

First Holy Communion
All families are also warmly welcome to join us for the following Masses where Patrick, Alessandra, Tarja, Aryan, Phi Khoa, Thomas, Raymond, Lani, Hannah, Kalista, Ngan and Tammy will receive the Sacrament of their First Holy Communion.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Matthew Harrison

This semester we have been practicing some basic yoga poses and introducing custom flows. We continue to focus on our breathing techniques with each pose.

Our sessions conclude with a beautiful mantra each week -

May I always think kind thoughts.

May I always speak kind words.

May I always shine my inner light.

Namaste 

Gina Armiento
Teacher 

Our school choir will perform on Wednesday September 25th at Festival Theatre! 

Tickets are now available on the Ticketek website.

Book online at TICKETEK

All tickets purchased via the Ticketek network are subject to Terms and Conditions. 

• Children under 3 are free on the knee and do not need to purchase a ticket.    
• The Music Festival is a Companion Card affiliate.
• For enquiries / groups over 20 / special needs bookings - please call 131 246
• Service & Handling Fees and Delivery Fees apply ($9.55 fee per transaction, not per ticket)
• No exchanges or refunds on purchased tickets

MSP photography will be here on Wednesday 11th September and Wednesday 18th September.

Please remember:

- white or black shoes;

- no non-uniform items (incl. visible underclothes);

- no visible jewellery;

- school colour hair accessories;

- big smiles! :-)