Learning and Teaching

What's Happening in Year 6?

Term 3 has been an action-packed term for our Year 6s, with both Year 6 Camp and Confirmation happening within weeks of each other.

On the 16th of August, some of the Year 6 students received their Confirmation, overseen by Bishop Rene Ramirez and Father Anh in front of both families and members of the St Peter’s Parish community. It was a beautiful celebration of faith shared among the students and their families, with the students’ Confirmation artwork and Saints posters on display in Penola for this special occasion.

On the 25th of August, the Year 6 students departed on buses for our three-day Year 6 camp at PGL Campaspe Downs, a brand-new camp location to explore! The students engaged in a variety of activities, such as aeroball, canoeing, abseiling, the giant swing, and a disco, mixing with different class groups and providing excellent opportunities to demonstrate confident learner dispositions and the FARM code. They also showed excellent flexibility and resilience in dealing with the wet weather during the final days of camp.

What's Happening in Japanese?

Year 6 students experienced Kendo, a Japanese martial art, last week as part of their normal Japanese session.

Kendo is practised with bamboo sticks and protective armour, focusing not on fighting but on discipline, concentration, and respect. Students learned movements, timing, and self-control, engaging both the body and the mind.

What's Happening in Sport?

Volleyball

Last week our Year 5-6 volleyball teams represented SMCM at the District Gala Day. Throughout the day all teams showed fantastic improvement in their skills and teamwork. It was wonderful to see their passing, serving and communication develop with each match. Most importantly, the teams had lots of fun and walked away with new skills. Well done to all our volleyball stars!

District Athletics

Well done to Santiago C, Noah W, Kai P, Angel K, Anabel M, Olivia P, Odyssey L, Alyssa C and Amelia G who represented SMCM at the Division Athletics Carnival on Tuesday. Making it through to this level is an outstanding accomplishment and we are very proud of their efforts. Congratulations to the following students who came first or second in their events and now move on to the Northern Metro Region Championships on October 15th.

Celebration of Learning

Last Wednesday after school, we came together as a school community to celebrate our students’ learning. It was wonderful to see the pride on students’ faces as they shared their work with their families, filling the school with energy and excitement. The atmosphere was buzzing as parents, carers and staff joined in recognising the effort and growth our students have achieved throughout the year.

It was also fantastic to see students engaging with our specialist staff at their learning stations, highlighting the diverse opportunities available across our programs. With three terms of rich learning behind us, we are now looking ahead with enthusiasm to Term 4 as we work together to finish the year on a strong and positive note.

Rafael

Learning and Teaching & Digital Technologies Leader

Rafael.Fernandez@smcmeppingnth.catholic.edu.au 

Golden Children

Congratulations Zara and Mason, both from Year 6, who earned their Golden Child Award last term.

I apologise to both students and their families for not having shared this wonderful achievement earlier.

It is Zara's first time being a Golden Child. She was the first of the Year 6's to earn Golden Child this year and she really worked hard and showed perseverance and determination to share her knowledge in all Stem Masters. 

Mason, once again shared great knowledge of his Masters and he had earned his Golden Child last year in 2024 and now again in 2025. Great effort.

Well done to both Year 6's on such a wonderful achievement!

Congratulations Inaya (Yr 3 Peace) and Skye (Yr 2 Creeds), who earned their Golden Child Award this week.

It is both Inaya's and Skye's first time becoming a Golden Child. 

Earlier this term, both girls had earned 25 of the elements of the Periodic Table and both girls really worked hard to plough through to earn 50, then 75, then all 118 of the Periodic Table. They demonstrated perseverance and determination to share their knowledge in these and all Stem Masters. 

Well done to both Inaya and Skye on such a wonderful achievement!

(To earn the title of Golden Child, students must earn masters in and be able to name facts about: The planets, rainbows, bones, the solar system, clouds, the mouth, birds, towers, lightning and thunder and all 118 elements

of the Periodic Table)

'Diamond Award'

Last term, I was approached by Johnny from Year 3 in Courage who suggested a Diamond Award. We discussed it and I encouraged him to go away and write some of his ideas down to share with me. He did this and soon after, I had a meeting with all the Golden Children to discuss his ideas and together we further developed the idea and now we have a new incentive for all Golden Children.

Golden Children now have the opportunity to earn a 'Diamond Award' by earning and collecting 4 Diamonds.

Thank you Johnny for this wonderful idea!

Mike

STEM Teacher

Michael.Caruana@smcmeppingnth.catholic.edu.au