Principal's News

Dear Parents and Families,

We have made it to the last week of the term! It has been busy and jam-packed full of events and activities. We try to make the best of the warmer weather and longer days when energy is high. Is it any wonder though, that we are ready for a holiday to recharge our batteries before doing it all over again!

It was fabulous for our student leaders to attend Mass at St Patrick's for Catholic Education Week recently. They have written an entertaining report (see later in Newsletter) about their experience along with hundreds of students from other Catholic primary and secondary schools. Thank you to Jamie Atherton and Gayle for accompanying them.

ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

Congratulations to Peter Koulaxizellis for his organisation of our school based Athletics Carnival at Willinda Park last Tuesday. We had the perfect day - not too hot and the rain held off until the very end. Thank you to the parents who came along to cheer and appreciation to those who volunteered to assist with the set up, running of activities and pack up at the end of the day.  The big announcement of the overall winner is :     

                    First           Xavier - 1,696 points

                    Second    McAuley - 1,610 points

                    Third         Mercy - 1,598 points

                    Fourth       Tours - 1,513 points

This week, 75 students from Years 3-6 trekked back to Willinda Park to challenge themselves and represent St Martin's in the District Athletics Carnival, based on their scores/times last week. Some will continue on to the Divisional Level, which is a fantastic achievement. Thanks to Peter Koulaxizellis and the eight staff who attended to support and assist on the day ~ Brady Mucahy, Neesha Valvo, Holly Mansie, Robyn Vorster, Elaine Mullins, Gayle Carrazza, Stella Crawford and Ida Frucci.

We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday 21 April, as we have a Staff Professional Learning session on Monday 20 April, with the school closed.

Have a wonderful Easter and a restful break, home or away.

IMPORTANT UPDATES 

STAFF PL DAY - MONDAY 20 APRIL

If you need to book your child in for care with MACSEYE on the first day back at school, please do this as soon as possible.  

The staff are participating in a professional learning session with an RE focus, which we are required to do on one of our four closure days.

CLASS MASSES

Thank you to the Year One Families and children for attending the Level Mass recently. 

Please also see at the bottom of this page, the list of dates for Class Masses. Your child's teacher/s will be in touch prior to the Mass, but please also note this date. There can, at times, be changes to these dates, if Fr Michael has a funeral to preside over.

NEW TEACHER FOR 1DC

Miss Emma Castles, who has been studying teaching and working for us as a Learning Support Officer, has been appointed to 1DC from Monday - Wednesday, alongside Mrs Davina Christie. It will be fabulous to have Emma in her first class and a smooth transition as she knows the routines of the school. Emma begins from the start of Term Two.

We farewell Bianca Di Giovanni who has been in 1DC, who now has some time to rest and put her feet up before her baby arrives! 

STAFF ON LEAVE IN TERM TWO

There are a number of staff taking leave at the start of Term Two, including Karen Livingstone in the Office, Alya D'Souza (2AD) and Megan Gravell (4GH).

We welcome back Marita Anderson and Jamie Atherton who took leave towards the end of Term One.

ANZAC BADGES FOR SALE

In the first week back next term, the School and Vice Captains will be selling ANZAC Badges on the Top Yard before and after school, as ANZAC Day falls at the end of the first week back.

We have $2, $3 and $5 options for sale, with the money raised supporting those in or returned from service. Please support this cause if you can.

COLOURING COMPETITION WINNERS

Thank you to the Arts Leaders,  Gianluca, Lukas, Adele and Giorgia, for organising the Easter Colouring Competition for the students, and to Ann-Marie Sabato for organising the prizes for the winners.

Congratulations to the following students won in their Levels:

Prep - Aurora N

Year 1 - Nathaniel DP

Year 2 - Jordan B

Year 3 - Lilly S

Year 4 - Roya D

Year 5 - Hannah D

Year 6 - Orla A

ENROLMENT FOR 2027

Thank you to the following students who attended the weekend school tour on Saturday 14 March:  Ariel A-M, Joshua B, Olivia B, Abigail C, Brooklyn D, Harry D, Lukas I, Noe M, Xavier M, Atish N, Ellie N, Amelia P, Riley T, Siena W, Mila Z, Evie Z.

Weekly Tours will continue in Term 2 and our Year Six students are doing a magnificent job taking visiting parents on a tour of our school. 

Upcoming Tour Dates for next term are as follows:

Friday 1 May, Tuesday 5 May, Monday 11 May, Thursday 21 May, Wednesday 27 May, Monday 1 June, Tuesday 16 June, Thursday 25 June.

Next term, current families will meet with me and new families will meet with Fr Michael and myself. 

LEARNING CONVERSATIONS

Thank you for attending the Learning Conversations on Monday. It's a great chance to share proud moments, but also discuss areas to focus upon (goals) for Term Two. 

Written Reports are issued at the end of Terms Two and Four. 

UNIFORM - JUMPER SALE

Academy Uniforms, our school supplier, has advised that there will be a SALE on our woollen jumpers for the next few weeks, with a discount of 20%! If you need Winter stock, perhaps a visit to the Showroom over the break will benefit you.

Blue Shirts ~ We have clarified the style and colours of our uniform shirts for you, with the school's shirt colours being School Blue (Boys) and Sky Blue (Girls).

Girls winter pants are now available for sale at Academy Uniforms.

ASSEMBLY 

Our first Assembly for Term Two will be held on 27 April (Week Two). Please join us on Top Yard at 8.50am. All students are still to wear their hats for this Assembly. After 1 May, hats are required when there is a high UV index.

PFA FUNDRAISING

The focus of the PFA fundraising this year is the replacement of the Senior Adventure Playground. As you can imagine, this is a costly enterprise, so we are gearing all our fundraisers to this. The students will have input into the components to be included, so we want to be able to get as much for them as we can. 

                                 We are aiming for a $100,000 AMAZING play space! 

Please help us to get there across the year by sharing our fundraising activities at work, with friends and with your extended family. Some of them may also make lovely gifts! 

The Entertainment Book (app) is one of the easiest and most beneficial fundraisers a school can do, with $15 per purchase being paid back to the school. Once you have the app, the savings will more than pay for the outlay, with meals, deals and entertainment options to suit all ages. As well as purchasing your own app, please send the details to family and take it to work to encourage others to support us now. 

PFA EASTER RAFFLE

The Easter Raffle collection was HUGE! The donations were made into 21 hampers, one for each class and three other hampers across the school. Special thanks to the team who created and wrapped the Hampers on Monday - Jonathan, Kristy, Michelle and Melissa.

The winners were:   

Major Prize -  Harvey B

2nd      Ella H   

3rd       Ethan Mc

  PGO  Cillian O'C   PJL  Jonty G   PMA  Xavier V

  1DC  Elsie Q  1GW  Jackson D   1LA  Micah V

  2AD  Charlotte V   2JB  Melia D   2MT  Stella A

  3BC  Sam N   3CJ  Levi C   3CR  Quinn H

  4CJ  Louis R   4GH  Ilias P   4HM  Evie Rose

  5BM  Georgia B   5SM  Ivy B   5VS  Harrison C

  6BM  Isabel D   6EM  Seb J   6RV  Jesse D

CONFIRMATION - SPIRIT DAY 

The next step in the preparation for Confirmation is the selection of a saint by the candidate and the Spirit Day on Thursday 30 April. Bishop Thinh will visit the students on that day prior to the Confirmation Masses on Saturday 16 May.

BALL GAMES AND SAFETY ON TOP YARD

We are working on safety, particularly in the Top Yard space where ball games sometimes begin, and where there are lots of younger siblings moving around who are not used to so many students. We do NOT want ball games happening in this space before or after school please.

SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL 

We are looking for two new parent reps.

So what does the SAC do? 

The SAC is the body which advises on matters concerning the school. It can assist with school promotion, provide information to the school community and skills and perspectives on matters of interest to our parents. You may have a particular skill set which will help on the SAC, or be interested in learning more about our programs and initiatives. Everyone is welcome to apply for a two year term, which will be decided by Fr Michael and myself if we have more applicants than positions. The SAC meets twice a term for approximately 1.5 hours. Please read the Expression of Interest information. 

MACSEYE April School Holiday Program Autumn Adventurers 7–17 April 

MACSEYE’s Autumn Adventurers Holiday Program is now open for bookings, and we can’t wait to welcome children for a season packed with creativity, adventure and fun! 

Children can look forward to plenty of great activities, including exciting science and craft inspired excursions, and the latest movie from Disney and Pixar, Hoppers. We also have circus skills workshops, bike and scooter adventure days, nature scavenger hunts, autumn craft creations and critter-inspired art. 

With a wonderful balance of active play, creative expression and opportunities to connect with friends, there’s something to spark every child’s curiosity and imagination. 

View the program brochure for more details and how to book, or visit www.macseye.vic.edu.au/oshc/holiday-program/ 

MACSEYE look forward to sharing an unforgettable autumn adventure with your child! BOOK EARLY! 

CLASS MASSES