Week 6, Term 1 2025

Dear Families and Friends of Mary MacKillop Memorial School,

Lent 2025

On Wednesday, we celebrated the start of Lent. Over the next forty days, we are invited to embark on a journey of spiritual transformation, encouraging us to reflect thoughtfully and joyfully on our conversion of heart. "Lent is a reflective season, a key moment that can inspire growth and renewal in each of us. We all have room for improvement, for positive change. Lent guides us in this process."

Jesus showed compassion, love, healing, peace, and joy. During Lent, we are called to express these virtues by showing faith, love, and generosity, especially to those in need. Lent is not just a time of reflection but of giving, and in our school, we live this out through Project Compassion.

Project Compassion is Caritas Australia’s annual Lenten appeal, uniting Australians to fight poverty, promote justice, and uphold dignity. This year’s theme, “Unite Against Poverty,” invites us to deepen our compassion and support those in greater need. We encourage families to contribute to this cause through the Project Compassion boxes, answering the Christian call to "act justly, love mercifully, and walk humbly with our God."

Ash Wednesday Whole School Mass

On Wednesday, 5 March, Mary MacKillop Memorial School and the St Joseph Parish celebrated Ash Wednesday Mass.

Thank you to Father Peter for celebrating leading us and sharing with us his thoughtful message on the importance of reflecting on our actions, repenting, and making space for God in our hearts. It was a beautiful celebration for the School and Parish community.

Learning Conversations

Thank you to all of the families that attended the Learning Conversations this past week.

These conversations are a crucial part of the learning process here at Mary MacKillop Memorial School as they help to foster the relationships between teacher, parent and student.

The Learning Conversations are a wonderful opportunity for students to share their co-constructed learning goals for the semester with their parents and to discuss their child’s progress thus far. I would like to thank our teaching staff for their preparations for these important conversations.

Student Led Goal Setting

As mentioned, Mary MacKillop Memorial School has a focus on student led goal setting. Over the past several weeks teachers have been working with students to help them plan and set individual learning goals for the semester ahead.

Each child was given time to work with their teacher, look at their current learning, and from this, set a goal that they would like to see themselves achieve. I encourage you to talk with your child about their goals and ask them how you can help them be successful.

NAPLAN 2025

Our Year 3 and 5 students have will tackle the NAPLAN tests predominantly online (with the exception of Year 3 writing), in Weeks 7 and 8 this term. NAPLAN is a window into how our students are achieving and even more of a window into how the school is succeeding in their implementation of the Australian Curriculum.

As a school we rely on the data from other assessments that are conducted throughout the year, as well as NAPLAN, to guide our next steps in the teaching and learning for each individual child. I would like to congratulate all who contribute to the ongoing achievements of our students and our school, but particularly I would like to congratulate our students, who yearn for knowledge and learning. They rock positivity towards gaining greater knowledge about the world in which they live. The two pillars of a catholic school are faith and learning. 

Staff Professional Learning Day

We would like to remind families that Tuesday, 14 March 2025, will be a Staff Professional Learning Day, which means it will be a student-free day. Our staff will take part in a range of learning; namely further work in the space of Positive Behaviour Intervention and Support, Mary MacKillop Memorial School Reading Agreement and Disability Standards for Education for Education Assistants.

The learning will support our focus on student wellbeing and consistency in our approach. We look forward to sharing our learning with the wider community and appreciate your continued support and understanding as we invest in our staff’s professional growth to benefit our students.

As we move into the long weekend, with the extra pupil free/staff professional learning day on Tuesday, I wish all a safe and restful family time together.

God Bless

Nicole

Principal

Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day, is a beloved and delicious tradition observed in many countries around the world. It is a Christian tradition that marks the day before the start of Lent. It’s a day of preparation and feasting before the 40-day period of fasting and reflection leading up to Easter.

On this day, many people indulge in pancakes as a way to use up rich and indulgent ingredients like eggs, milk, and sugar before the fasting period begins. The name “Shrove Tuesday” comes from the word “shrive,” which means to confess one’s sins and receive absolution from a priest. It’s a day for Christians to prepare their hearts and souls for the penitential season of Lent. 

This year we enjoyed yummy pancakes capably made by our parent helpers and delivered to classrooms by our Yr 6 group. Thank you to all for your donations to Project Compassion on this day.

Ash Wednesday and Lent

Our students gathered at St. Joseph Church to begin Lent with a meaningful Ash Wednesday Mass led by Fr. Peter. With quiet reflection, they received ashes, reminded to grow, change, and draw closer to God. Through prayer and song, the Mass set a hopeful tone for the season—a time to be kind, give, and renew our faith. 

Lent is an important time in the Church year when Christians prepare for Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. It starts on Ash Wednesday and lasts for 40 days (excluding Sundays). During Lent, Christians prepare through fasting, almsgiving, and prayer. Fasting recalls Jesus' time in the desert and His sacrifices. Almsgiving reminds us to help those in need, and prayer strengthens our relationship with God. 

Project Compassion

Feeling anxious before school can be tough, but there are ways to make it easier. Here are simple ways to help with morning school anxiety:

• Keep a Routine

Follow the same morning steps daily (wake up, eat, get dressed, leave). Use a checklist to help them stay on track if needed. Acknowledge Feelings Say: “I see you’re nervous. That’s okay. You can do this.” Help them think of one good thing about the day ahead.

• Use Calming Techniques

Take deep breaths together (smell the flower, blow out the candle). Try stretching or a short dance to shake off nerves. Give a Comfort Item A small note, bracelet, or keychain can help them feel connected to you.

• Keep Goodbyes Short & Cheerful

A quick hug and a confident “You’ve got this! See you later!” Try a fun goodbye ritual (handshake, fist bump, or a silly word).

• Praise Small Wins Notice their bravery

“I saw you take a deep breath before going in. Great job!”

If anxiety is severe or persistent, our staff are here to offer extra support.

Regards,

Bec Baker

School Counsellor

Children's University Program

We are thrilled to offer the Children's University program once again in 2025!

This engaging program encourages students to explore sports, the arts, and a variety of places of interest beyond the classroom. Students track their participation through their Passport to Learning, and once they reach the required number of hours, they will be celebrated at a special Graduation Ceremony.

Cost: $5 per student (will be added to the school account)

For more information, click here to contact Rachel Manninen 

2025 Mid-Year Enrolments

It is now the time for 2025 mid-year enrolments!

If you have a child who is to begin reception in Term 3 2025, please complete an enrolment form and return it to the front office.

If you know of any families thinking about enrolling their child at Mary MacKillop Memorial School for Term 3, 2025, please let them know about our mid-year enrolment intake, or they can contact the school at: 87 372902 at any time.

We welcome all new families!

Joey’s Jumpstart Program 

We are incredibly proud of our Joey’s Jumpstart Program that assists students to move seamlessly into the school environment, while still respecting the importance of completing their Kindy journey.

The Joey’s Jumpstart Program will begin at the beginning of Term 2.

If you would like more information about our Joey’s Jumpstart Program, please contact the school.

If you require further information, click here to send us an email 

Clean Up Australia Day

Last Friday our school participated in Clean Up Australia Day. Our students cleaned up rubbish from our school yard (not much at all – hooray!) and the surrounding streets. We were able to make our neighbourhood squeaky clean! Initiatives like this are a fantastic opportunity to share the importance of correct waste management and landcare with our children. 

Wellbeing as an Imperative 

Recently all students undertook Catholic Education South Australia Classroom Pulse Check In. Every term every child undertakes this survey. It asks students questions about wellbeing, feeling supported, feeling like they belong and having agency of their learning. This data is then compared to the previous terms data and analysed by staff. 

It is important that as a school we continue to grow and develop and be accountable for providing a learning environment that makes all children feel safe, supported and feel like they are thriving. If not, why not? From the data we are able to highlight those students that require intentional growth action plan to improve outcomes for them. It is an important part of our accountability as educators. 

School Safety 

Our school is a safe place for all. At Mary MacKillop Memorial School we believe that every child has the right to be safe.

Our staff are committed and trained to protect the children and young people under our care. All staff and regular volunteers have current police checks. We teach children age-appropriate strategies to keep themselves safe through South Australia’s Keeping Safe Child Protection Curriculum. Staff complete certification and undertake regularly updated training in Responding to Abuse and Neglect in Education and Care Settings.

We also promote strategies to minimise bullying and help students stay safe online. Additional information about Catholic Education SA's broader protection policies can be found on its website.

The website also includes links to online resources for parents and students on a range of topics, including anxiety, depression, and how to support your child. If you have any questions or concerns about child safety, please contact Nicole at anytime. 

Safety Around the School

Please keep in mind drop off and pick up safety.

When pulling into the kerb, do so in a safe and slow manner, with an awareness of the movement of all children and families. No child should be dropped off or picked up away from the kerb, while a car is still running. All children who need to cross at the road crossing do so in a safe manner, with direction from the road crossing monitor. Cars should take direction from the road crossing monitor of when it is safe to drive past. All families parked on the opposite side of the road to the school MUST use the road crossing.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Penola’s SAPSASA District Swimming event was held this morning, March 7th at the Penola Swimming Pool. This year there were up to 80 nominations, and it was a great morning for trials. 

Mary MacKillop Memorial School would like to congratulate the following students for their efforts in this event:

Sophie Flint, Oscar Rowland, Robert Rymill and Freya Giles.

Their participation is a testament to the strong sense of community and the hard work that defines the school’s spirit! We wish them all the best and look forward to hearing all about the day and celebrating their achievements!