Newsletter Address ~ Term 2, Week 3

A Mother’s Day Prayer

I thank you, Creator of us all, for my Mother.

I thank you that she gave me life and nurtured me all my years.

She gave me faith, helping me to know You

and to know Jesus and His ways.

She taught me how to love and how to sacrifice for others.

Bless her with the graces she richly deserves

and keep her in Your care.

Embrace her to let her feel precious in Your eyes today

and to know that I love her.

Give her strength and courage, compassion and peace.

Bless her this day with your Love.

Amen

Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Friends of St Mel’s,

This Sunday we celebrate one of the most important days of the year, Mother’s Day. When we think of our mums, we remember their nurturing and boundless love. Mothers are the precious treasure troves, which remain an important part of our lives forever.

A few years ago, I shared what it was like growing up as the youngest of 5 siblings. With both parents working full time and memories of my mum working as a district nurse in Echuca and how she would take us for drives visiting the elderly if we were ever home sick from school. Memories of Friday nights in the kitchen, playing cards in your pjs and dressing gown or going to the drive-in, again in your pjs and dressing gown, sometimes being snuck in the boot of the car to watch the Disney movie ‘Herbie Goes Bananas’. I’m sure we drove Mum bananas at times, but these are priceless memories. Despite not having much, we never felt as though we never went without. That’s what our parents did for us, especially Mum.

Like all families we weren’t perfect, we had our moments, but the one constant in our life is Mum. Mum is now 89, still living in the family home and still makes us all feel so loved and welcome when we visit. I can’t wait to see her this coming Sunday and feel blessed to have such a caring, supportive, and loving mum.

To all our mums in our community, thank you and Happy Mother’s Day.

Mother’s Day High Tea

Our Mother’s Day High Tea today was a resounding success with many of our mums, grandparents, aunts, Nonna’s and special friends in attendance. Thank you to all those who could attend. We thank our major sponsors and supporters who donated items for our various raffles, games, and prizes throughout the morning. These gifts of generosity were greatly appreciated and helped to make the morning even more enjoyable ~ thank you especially to Archana & Melvin Deo from Amcal Pharmacy for the many gifts and major prizes and to Adrian & Ineka Rowe from the Little Food Company for their lovely food donations. I would also like to especially thank Leah Hawker, Katie Ferrari, Tammy Alexander, Adam & Linda Piastri, Amy Munro, Loretta, Debbie, Danae Napier and anyone else who helped for their time, enthusiasm, and hard work coordinating our High Tea and Mother’s Day stall on Thursday. Thanks also, Fr Peter for saying grace and for his kind words, and to our grade 6 leaders for their service serving tea & coffee & food.

Last week was Catholic Education Week. Catholic Education Week is an opportunity for schools to celebrate our Catholic Faith, our traditions and all that is good belonging to a catholic school community. As principal of St Mel’s, I’m proud of our community and all we get to do and achieve. I’m curious as to what your children would say if you asked them what they like about being at a Catholic School ~ St Mel’s.

Coinciding with Catholic Education Week last Friday was World Labyrinth Day. Classes took turns walking our school labyrinth, and with support from Luisa Cassise, students were able to reflect on what they are grateful for, and to be more mindful of the world around them. Our Labyrinth is used as a form of prayer and meditation, and at times, helps students to regulate and be calmer.

Unfortunately, we are experiencing higher than normal cases of Covid. If your child tests positive, please keep them home for 5 days or until symptoms disappear. If your child has flu like symptoms, please keep them home even if it’s a negative RAT result. For the safety and wellbeing of everyone, students who present with symptoms at school, will be sent home and if someone in your household has Covid, children are encouraged to wear a mask at school.

Have a wonderful fortnight ahead.

Do your best. Respect our school. Help others succeed.

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden (SAKG) Updates:

See SAKG page in this newsletter

Our SAKG program for the junior classes has kicked off this term. Katie Ferrari, our SAKG specialist, is doing an amazing job running classes and small groups throughout the week, ensuring our kids are growing, harvesting, and cooking fresh produce from our garden and are experiencing the full benefits of the SAKG program. We are aiming to hold another information session regarding the program this term and will be looking for volunteers to help. If you have a current WWCC (Working with Children’s Check) and would like to volunteer your time in the garden and being part of the program, please contact the school.

About the SAKG Program

The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation provides the inspiration, information, professional development and support for educators to deliver pleasurable food education to children and young people in Australia.

Pleasurable food education is a fun, hands-on approach to teaching children and young people about fresh, seasonal, delicious food so they form positive food habits for life.

Delivered through a kitchen garden program, pleasurable food education has an array of health, wellbeing, education, and community benefits.

Stephanie Alexander AO, one of Australia’s most recognised cooks, food educators and authors, established the Kitchen Garden Foundation in 2004, following the success of the first kitchen garden program piloted in 2001. The motivation for this work came from Stephanie’s awareness of the growing childhood obesity problem in Australia.

The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation supports early childhood services, primary schools and secondary schools across Australia, and our community is growing.

ICAS ~ Term 3 2023

We’re delighted to inform you that we will be participating in ICAS again this year, to recognise and reward students’ academic achievement. The assessments are now fully online and sitting dates will commence in Term 3. Learn more by visiting icasassessments.com.

School Uniform

It’s time to transition to our Winter Uniform. Correct uniform including footwear, hair ties, no jewellery, hair colour etc continue to be of importance and students will be warned and parents notified if this is not attended to.

GIRLS' WINTER UNIFORM

Winter Tartan Skirt (Grey/Green pin stripe) with bottle green tights.

Tartan slacks (Grey/Green pin stripe) with plain white socks or

Gold skivvy or Green/gold polo shirt, long or short sleeved, with embroidered school logo.

School jumper or bomber jacket

GIRLS' SPORTS UNIFORM

Black sports skirt or black shorts/black tracksuit pants (Winter)

Green and Gold polo top [with the embroidered logo]

Plain white socks (micro socks not permitted)

BOYS' WINTER UNIFORM

Grey trousers or cords

Gold skivvy or green/gold long sleeved polo top [with the embroidered logo]

School jumper or bomber jackets with embroidered school logo.

Plain grey socks (micro short socks are not permitted).

BOYS' SPORTS UNIFORM

Plain black shorts/black tracksuit pants (Winter)

Green and Gold polo top [with the embroidered logo]

Plain white socks (micro socks are not permitted)

SCHOOL SHOES

Both boys and girls to wear plain black shoes only

While plain, black leather runners are acceptable; ALL other sports shoes are acceptable only for sporting activities. Socks must be worn with shoes. "Blundstone" type work boots are not permitted.

WEARING OF HATS

During Terms 1 and 4 all children must wear a school hat. Hats are optional for Terms 2 & 3.

St Mel’s School Open Day ~ Wednesday May 24th

Tour Times: 12:30pm and 4:30pm

Community Group Expressions of Interest to Join

Each year it is expected our school will commit to raising additional funds. All Catholic Schools have an obligation to raise additional funds to meet the capacity to contribute factor.

These funds will be put towards improving the educational needs of our students through hardware or programs and / or improving school grounds or facilities.

Please Note: Our Parents and Friends group are on the recruitment drive. If you know of anyone especially new parents who might want to be involved please encourage them to do so by contacting the school.

As a school we are extremely grateful for the hard work and time our community members put in to making our school the best it can be. We are especially grateful for contributions and donations made when we hold school fundraisers or campaigns to help maintain and beautify St Mel’s.

Committee Recruitment

St Mel's relies on the support of our parents to make sure we can offer the best learning opportunities for our children. We are grateful to the commitment of those who are already on our Parish School Education Council and Social Committee and ask anyone who would like to be involved to please contact the school. All new or existing parents’ welcome!!

School Fees

Thank you to families who have nominated their fee payment option with the office and have commenced paying your 2023 school fees. Fees for 2023 should now have started to come out of your nominated accounts, unless you have elected to pay annually. If you have not yet taken the option to pay with direct debit or your own payment plan can you please contact the office and notify them as to which method you will use to pay the fees.

If for any reason you are finding it difficult to pay school fees on time or your financial circumstances have changed please contact the school. Catholic Schools rely on school fees to help fund the educational needs of our students. A quality education can only be realized when the right resourcing and programs are in place and these come at a cost. Please consider your child’s education as an opportunity for a life of happiness and content.

Signing out students ~ Class Interruptions

We have been noticing there have been more and more parents picking up students early from school. Each time a message is put over the PA system it interrupts classes. Please only pick up your child/ren early if they have an appointment. Please also use the sign out register which is now automated through an iPad in the office. Thank you for your attention to this.

URGENT REMINDER!!! Medical Update ~ Asthma Plans & Anaphylaxis Plans

If your child suffers from Asthma or Anaphylaxis, please remember to send in an updated Asthma Plan or Anaphylaxis Plan. These MUST BE arranged through your family GP. Without an updated plan your children will not be able to participate in school functions

SA Kitchen Garden

We grew, harvested & cooked with the produce from our garden this week. It was so yummy!

Our SA Garden and Gardeners Need Your Help!