Term 4, Week 3 Friday 4th November 2022

Thank you for your continued support,

Kelly Campbell

Term 4 is progressing quickly as always. The children have been very patient with the weather, but we are all looking forward to more sunny days. Please remember that it is ‘NO HAT, NO PLAY’, regardless of the weather.

What’s news in Physical Education
During term 4 our students participate in a tennis program. Our Year 3 and 4 students have already been to a tennis carnival this term, practising their skills playing real tennis games! This week all classes started a 4-week tennis program with coaches from Flinders Park Tennis Club.  The children always enjoy the opportunity to learn new skills and to learn from different coaches.

End of Year Community Event – SAVE THE DATE!
We are currently planning our end of year event. It will be held on the evening of Thursday December 1^st. We are finalising the schedule for the evening, but it will be a showcase of learning from the Semester 2 Performing Arts curriculum, with guest appearances by the school choir! As we finalise the details we will let you know more, but please save the date! We are very excited to be able to share this with our school community again!

Traffic
A number of people have been parking on yellow lines close to the school to drop their children at school or preschool. It is illegal to park on yellow lines. If the police or council parking inspectors witness this, you will be fined! Please park further down the street, or use the large gravel carpark (empty block) nearby.

We ask that drivers do not use driveways near the school to turn around. This is dangerous and holds up the traffic. It is also not respectful of our neighbours.

Thank you for your help and understanding with this.

We have limited places left in Preschool and Reception for 2023, so please make sure you talk to your friends and family about the where their children will be attending school next year.

We would love to see them here at St Margaret Mary’s Preschool and School!

Alicia Boylan

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

On Tuesday 1 November we celebrated the Feast of All Saints followed by the Feast of All Souls on Wednesday 2 November.  These feasts are significant days in the Liturgical Calendar of the Church. 

Journey to Emmaus
On Monday 31 October we concluded the 2022 Year 6 servant leadership program, ‘Journey to Emmaus.’ Our Year 6 students engaged in their third experience of collaborative groupings with Whitefriars students. Activities throughout the day included prayer and reflection, designing creative ‘messages of hope,’ organising donation packs for Hutt Street and celebrating a liturgy of the Word. Special thanks to Josh Page and Whitefriars Catholic School for hosting our young leaders.

Hutt Street
On Tuesday 1 November, through the combined efforts of St Margaret Mary’s and Whitefriars we filled twelve baskets of toiletries and stationery donations together and delivered these to Hutt Street to distribute to the broader community. Hutt Street were overwhelmed by the volume of our Term 3 appeal donations. Hutt Street staff expressed sincere gratitude for the enormous generosity and contribution of both our Croydon Park Parish schools.

Sacramental Program
Next week, we will be sending out a link to the 2023 Parish Sacramental Program. If you are considering participating in the program with your child / children, we invite you to express your interest for 2023 by completing the attached electronic form. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me via email at matthew.harrison@smms.catholic.edu.au

Masses and Liturgies
In recent weeks we have celebrated parish Masses with our Year 5 classes and Year 3 classes. The remaining celebrations will be Liturgies of the Word (LOW). These liturgies will be held in St Margaret Mary’s Church. If you are able, you are most welcome to join us. You can enter the Church via the Torrens Road main doors.

Friday 11 November               Year 1/2 LOW (Remembrance Day)               10:20am
Monday 14 November            Foundation and Reception LOW (Advent)      9:15am

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and enjoy the sunshine.

Matthew Harrison
Assistant Principal Religious Identity and Mission

Hi Families… 

 My name is Nadia Siv, and my daughter Lila attends St Margaret Mary’s School in foundation class.

 For the last few years, Lila and I have collected books and toys for the Salvation Army as part of their Christmas Appeal. Last year we managed to donate an amazing 722 gifts!!  I was blown away by everyone’s generosity! 

 This year I am upping the ante and hoping to get to 800 presents! So I am reaching out to everyone I can to achieve this goal. The impacts of the bushfires, floods and COVID have increased the number of families suffering financially this year, so let’s get some seriously good toys and books to some incredible, deserving children. 

 Collection starts now and will run until the 30th November 2022.   I will be unable to accept gifts after this date. 

 HOW TO DONATE

 Purchase your gift (ensuring you follow the gift guide below), and drop it off to the front office at St Margaret Mary’s for me to collect

Your generosity is highly valued, and we appreciate the time and effort it takes to get a special gift for a child in need. It’s important to us that your intention is honoured, so please read through the below gift giving guide before choosing your gift. 

Gift requirements: 

• Toys and books must be new and good quality.
•  
• Your gift should be ready to read or play with as soon as it’s opened on Christmas morning (i.e. include batteries, or colouring pencils for colouring books, etc)
•  
• No gift wrapping, please. While it may seem helpful to wrap your gift, this creates problems in the sorting and packing process and also means that parents don’t get to see or wrap the gift for their child.
•  

Gifts most needed 
This year we have a shortage of gifts for children between 6 and 12 years of age. By donating a gift suitable for a child in this age group, you will help us meet the needs of many more families. Gifts such as board games, STEM and activity-based toys are always well-received. 

Items we can’t accept 

Unfortunately, there are some items that are difficult to sort and pack. Others may not be appropriate for a wide range of children. Repurposing these items costs money that we’d prefer to spend on getting more toys and books to more children. You can help us reach more children by avoiding the sorts of items listed below. 

• Breakable items such as glass or porcelain 
• Calendars and diaries 
• Candles and lamps 
• CDs and video games 
• Clothing including shoes, costumes and pyjamas 
• Food or drinks 
• Games suitable for adults (16+ years) 
• Toys that look like weapons such as guns and swords
• Items that contain liquid 
• Promotional Marketing or branded items (items with company logos) 
• Second-hand or handmade items 
• Sheets and towels 
• Toiletries, perfume and makeup 
• Large items such as bikes, hula hoops, ride-ons etc. Try to keep your gift smaller than a school backpack. 

Any questions please ask! Thank you again!

Nadia Siv