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No. 10. 28 June 2019

ST. MARY MACKILLOP

PRIMARY SCHOOL152 Odessa Avenue. Keilor Downs, Vic 3038

www.mmkeilordowns.catholic.edu.au

Phone: 03 9367 6199

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Principals Message

Dear Community,

As we come to the end of Term 2 and the half way mark of this school year, we have much to

celebrate.

Last Saturday 74 children in Year 3 and 3 children in Year 4, received their First Holy Communion.

This is a special day for our children and their families and I consider this day as one of the most

significant celebrations in the life of our school.

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We are a Catholic school community, ‘living and celebrating our Catholic faith’. (SMMPS Vision

Statement) There is no greater way to live and celebrate our Catholic faith than through sharing in

the Eucharist. The Eucharist brings us, in a very real way, into communion with Jesus and each

other as the people of God.

I remember my First Holy Communion, and that was nearly 53 years ago! I still look forward to

receiving the Eucharist as often as possible. It really is the ‘bread of life’, that leads me to connect

with Jesus and each other.

On Tuesday, all the First Communicants attended Mass in our church, celebrated by Monsignor

Portelli. We then presented each child with a certificate as remembrance of this special occasion.

It was another joyous celebration. It was great to have some parents present also.

I hope and pray, our children develop a love for the Eucharist as they mature. Congratulations to

the children who made their First Holy Communion.

On Sunday, the Church worldwide, celebrated the Feast of Corpus Christi (meaning the Body of

Christ), Pope Francis said during his Angelus address in St Peter’s Square. “Every year the feast of

Corpus Christi invites us to renew the wonder and joy for this wonderful gift of the Lord, which is the

Eucharist,”

This feast, provides an opportunity for us to focus on Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist, which

Pope Francis stressed should be welcomed “with gratitude, not in a passive, habitual way.

Whenever we approach the altar to receive the Eucharist, we must truly renew our ‘Amen’ to the

Body of Christ,” the Pontiff said, urging that this ‘Amen’ should come from the heart.

Once again, the words of Pope Francis, inspire us and leads us to reflection.

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FOOTSTEPS

All children in Years Prep-Years 6 have spent the past term engaging in an intensive drama

program run by Footsteps, a highly regarded drama agency that works in schools Australia wide.

The teachers and I have been delighted watching the children grow in confidence. We are

committed to providing more programs that give each and every child the opportunity to shine.

TERM 2 into TERM 3

School finishes for Term 2 today at 1:00pm

and resumes for all children on Monday 15 July at 9:00am.

Have a happy and safe holiday period everyone.

“We have all very much for which to thank and love God.” St. Mary MacKillop 27.06.1873

Anthony McCluskey

Principal

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

Dear Parents,

All schools are required to contact parents if their child is absent from school and the school

has not been notified about their absence.

At the beginning of Term 3 we will be changing the time we mark the roll. The Roll will be

marked daily at 9am. If your child arrives at school any time after 9am they will be required

to come to the front office, so that the roll can be updated.

If your child will be absent from school, we ask that you fill out the absent form under EFORMS

on Skool Bag. This message will be sent directly to the school office and we will then be able

to update the roll.

Kind Regards

Anthony D’Amico

Deputy Principal

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SCHOOL REPORTS

Formal student reports for Semester 1 (Terms 1 and 2) will be available via a link on email,

on Friday June 28th. These reports will provide you with further information regarding your

child’s achievements and progress. Throughout the semester you have received photos or

videos via the Seesaw App also documenting your child’s learning in real time (as it

happens). Also, midway through this term Learning Conversations occurred where your

child shared samples of work that they were proud of. All of these opportunities help to

strengthen family partnerships in learning as well as celebrate your child’s growth overtime.

PRINCIPAL’S AWARD

Congratulations to ISABEL GEORGE (6 Green) who will be receiving a Principal’s Award

In the spirit of St. Mary MacKillop. Isabel ‘saw a need and did something about it.’

A child had fallen over and grazed their leg. Isabel alerted a teacher straight away and

comforted the child until they were taken to sick bay.

As reported by Jessica Camilleri, School Captain.

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PREP PMP NEWS

We have come to the end of our first Semester of Prep PMP. It has been exciting to see the children

developing confidence, group and problem solving skills, literacy and numeracy concepts and

perceptual skills.

What is the Perceptual Motor Program (PMP) ?

A Perceptual Motor Program aims to develop children's perceptions and understanding of

themselves and their world through movement and motor experiences. In everything we do, we

look, we listen and touch. We then process the information and make a perceptual judgement

about the things we have seen, heard and felt.

A Perceptual Motor Program (PMP) aims to give children experiences in seeing, hearing, touching,

processing, making perceptual judgements and reacting through carefully sequenced activities

which children enjoy doing, like, jumping, hopping, crawling, throwing, balancing, skipping

catching, bowling etc, using a variety of common and specially designed equipment.

Thank you to all who have committed their time and have become involved in the PMP Program.

This involvement gives you the opportunity to understand the learning process and how important

the motor program is. We know, from research, that through parent involvement children's view of

themselves as positive and successful learners is enhanced.

It was wonderful to have more prep parents join us this term as helpers.

Thanks to: Chelsea Barr and Vivian Borg from Prep Yellow, Louise Perkins and Sandra De Luca from

Prep Red, for taking up the challenge.

And to all our helpers:

Prep Green - Loretta Pizzicarola, Vicky Parisella (who helps in other classes as well), Vesna

Stojecevski and Jenny Pisani. Prep Blue - Samantha White, Lisa Todorovski, Anita Eres, Melissa

Romano, Isabelle Jones, Lisa-Marie Malic, Sera Tobolov, Katia Morello, Joe Morello, Karen

Camilleri-Le, Richelle Zealley, Joanne Georgiou, Nancy Arena and Janelle Langley-Dunn .Prep

Yellow - Christina Milicevic, Amanda Pinteric, Tanya Spera, Faye Laskaris, Jwan Habeeb, Marija

Bourke and Maria Arganaraz (who helps in other classes as well ). Prep Red - Tina Pettinau, Saidy

Taleb, Shelley Clements, Rebecca Buhagiar, Liz Pausic, Jinelle Borg, Mai Gilhooly, Christine

Paladino, Marj Garcia.

Your involvement is valued by the children, teachers and myself.

If you want to find out more about the program or wish to be involved in Term 3, please come and

see me in the MPR on a Thursday afternoon between 2.30 -3.00pm. I am happy to answer any

questions you may have.

Have a great break everyone. Connie Simiele

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Woolworths Earn & Learn-All stickers must be handed in by TODAY

SMMPS is collecting the earn & learn stickers. Please send them to the office.

We have spare sheets if you need them.

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SMMPS Upcoming Events

Term 2

Friday 28 June

End of Term 2-School finishes at 1pm

Term 3

Monday 15 July

School resumes for Term 3 at 9am

Monday 29 July-Friday 2 August

Book Fair

Thursday 8 August

Whole School Mass at 12.00pm-St Mary MacKillop Feast Day

Friday 9 August

School Closure Day-More details soon

Thursday 15 August

Whole School Mass at 12.00pm-Feast of the Assumption

Friday 20 September

End of Term 3-School finishes at 1.00pm