Term 4, Week 1 Friday 20th October 2023

We started our Term 4 with a joyous celebration for St Margaret Mary’s Feast Day.  We celebrated with a whole school liturgy, class activities and special zooper dooper treat for everyone!

We also welcomed our 2024 Reception and Preschool new students for their first transition visit on Wednesday.  We are really excited to begin our journey with them and their families.  We look forward to meeting all our new friends over the term.

Over the term break , our courts have been resurfaced and painted.  We are just waiting for the new basketball rings to be installed.  Thank you to the wider parish community for being flexible, as we had to close the carpark during these improvements. We are also installing a large net at the end of the oval near the playground, this is to stop the soccer balls from constantly going into the sandpit and playground.

Our teachers have also been busy in the first week as we have continued professional learning in mathematics.  A couple of years ago we began our whole school approach to mathematics by focussing on the Base-10 number system.  We are now moving our focus to the calculating aspect of the Australian Curriculum.  We are really impressed with our powerful mathematicians in our classrooms!

A few safety reminders as we move into Term 4:

1. Please do not drop your children off before 8.20am.  Pick up time is by 3.20pm.  There is no direct supervision outside these times and your child will be taken to OSHC.Please register with OSHC at www.campaustralia.com.au

2. ALWAYS use the school crossing and safety crossing points.  They are there to protect your child’s safety.
3. The playground is not supervised afterschool and is a part of Camp Australia’s OSHC space after 3.20pm.  Please do not allow your child to play on the playground after this time, even with your supervision.

Thank you for your continued support,

Kelly Campbell

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome back to Term 4! On our very first day we celebrated the Feast Day of our school and church patron saint, Saint Margaret Mary of Alacoque.  It was wonderful to see our classes gathered together in the church to start off what is sure to be a very full term ahead. I would like to thank each of our classes for their joyful singing and enthusiastic participation. We are very proud of our readers and screen operators who represented each class from Foundation through to Year 6, bravely carrying out their responsibilities in front of the entire school.

Following the outside lunch plays, each class received ice-blocks as a special treat to celebrate our Feast Day, for which the children were very appreciative.

Community Garden Beds
We were quite overwhelmed by how quickly the tomato, carrots, lettuce and spinach have grown over the holiday break. As a result, we are now in contact with Vinnies representatives from Croydon Park Parish to discuss ways in which we can share our produce with families within the local community.  

Liturgies and Masses
In Term 4, we will gather for the following celebrations and as always families are most welcome to join us:

There will also be a Foundation and Reception Liturgy of the Word, however we are still confirming dates with the parish.

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

Welcome back to Term 4! I hope that you were able to have some time off during the holiday break.

Term 4 events

Term 4 will be a busy term with many different events happening in the school community. We have already had school photos this week, and our new Preschoolers and Receptions came to visit us for the first time. A copy of the school calendar for Term 4 can be found here https://www.smms.catholic.edu.au/__files/f/18116/Parent_Calendar_2023_Term_4.pdf

Please remember to check SeeSaw and our fortnightly newsletters.

Diwali Celebrations
This week some students have been working with Yashoda (mum of Tungavidya) and Veena (mum of Jaikrish and Yukti) to learn about the celebration of Diwali in the Indian community and be involved in learning a special dance. The children will be participating in craft activities as well.  We will be acknowledging and celebrating Diwali in a school assembly on Friday 3 November at 11:45am – you are welcome to join us if you are able to. Thank you to Yashoda and Veena for their help.

Community Event – Save the Date
Our end of year Community Event will take place in the evening of Wednesday 6 December. Please put this date in your calendar. All students will be involved in a performance that they are currently learning and rehearsing in their weekly Arts lessons with Mrs Selina Roper. More information will be sent home to all families very soon.

Volunteers
In the next few weeks, we have many events and excursions taking place. If you would like to attend with your child and to help out on the day you will need to have completed the school volunteer process.  This is not difficult, and Angela can help you to do this. Please contact Angela at the Front Office for more information.

Attendance
Just a reminder that school and preschool starts at 8.45 each morning. It is important that your child is here before 8:45am. Please ensure your child is attending school and preschool every day, unless they are sick. If your child is sick and will be absent for the day please call the absentee line on 82455855, SMS 0407 682 137 or email absent@smms.catholic.edu.au.

I’m looking forward to a great Term 4.

Belinda Elliott

If you have any ice cream containers that you don't need, please send them to school for Mrs Victory.

Thank you!

Congratulations to the students that completed the Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) for 2023. Students who complete the Challenge receive awards from the Premier for their achievements. These will be handed out towards the end of Term 4. To celebrate 20 years of the PRC students could further challenge themselves to read 20 books. There will be a bonus certificate for the students who read 20 books!

Book Club has arrived! Look out for your copy of Book Club coming home in your child's schoolbag! It's packed with hundreds of books from just $3 to help you on your child's reading journey.

Due date for orders is 31st October.

ALL orders done online via Book Club LOOP.

Find out how on Page 31 of your magazine (payments will not be accepted at school).

It's great to see our ex-students growing up and achieving after they leave St Margaret Mary's School.  Most recently we have seen news from Jeffery Leung (Year 6, 2019) and Kaiden Van (Year 6, 2021).