Newsletter Address ~ Term 3 Week 9 & 10, 14th September 2022

PRAYER FOR THE SEASON OF CREATION

Principal’s Message

Dear Parents and Friends of St Mel’s,

What an amazing term of learning, it has brought great joy to watch our students play, investigate and inquire. The curiosity, wonder and big thinking we witness everyday, where our students relish the opportunity to explore, research and collaborate to answer questions they have & enhance their learning. Seeing our students flourish & happy as they engage in practical learning & growing their learning assets has been the real highlight of our term. ~ ‘Nothing without joy’ ~ Loris Malaguzzi

Our school has been a place where our students are learning and growing each and everyday. We have the privilege of working alongside your children noticing changes in them on how they best self manage themselves in our classrooms and in our yard, through playing soccer or football or working as a team to problem solve as mathematicians. We have also noticed the peer learning that your children have been engaged in through sharing and expos throughout our school. Our children have shown what great learning can happen when collaborating together to solve a problem by creating things like a boat to float in water or making the tallest building. Our children this term have shown when we think big we can achieve great things like caring for our resident chicks, donating to those in need, raising money for others. It makes such a difference when our children say good morning using our names and we hear their beautiful manners. We are extremely grateful to work alongside your children each day and we look forward to creating amazing learning and life experiences together.

It was wonderful to see our Sacramental Candidates on Sunday presented at our Sacramental Commitment Masses. Our children begin their preparations for the Sacrament of Reconciliation next term. Please keep them in your prayers and thoughts as they continue along in their journey of faith.

Our Annual Athletics Carnvial has been a huge success today with the sun shining and excitement buzzing in the air. It has been wonderful to be back at McEwen Reserve, with so many opportunities for our students to demonstrate their athletic ability after many weeks of practice & preparation. The real highlight of our day was our students demonstrating their community spirit, perseverance, encouragement, cooperation and team work. It was lovely to hear their encouraging words to each other & cheering on their House Team. Thank you to Ellie Phillips, our staff and our parent helpers who enabled our day to go ahead.

A Big Congratulations to Mercy House, who took out the annual athletics trophy 2022 see some of the athletics day action shots in the Sports News Section

A reminder for all families our annual Term 3 Footy Colours Day is on this Friday 16th September. Students can come dressed in their favourite sporting team’s colours! Whether it be footy, soccer, netball, gymnastics, whatever they love!

We will have a Coin Line for Catholic Missions - so bring along your loose change. Which AFL footy team will have the longest coin line? Which footy team will raise the most money? Your team might have their club song played over the PA!

Thank you to Maria who is running our one off ‘Footy Lunch Order Day’ this Friday please have your lunch orders in as soon as possible.

Please note an early finish at 2.20pm this Friday!

Thank you to all our school community, staff, families and students who have lent a hand this term to make our school the vibrant, welcoming space we love. We couldn’t do it without you. Please see the thank you flyer in our newsletter for all our major sponsors & volunteers.

Happy holidays! Rest, recharge & fill your cups, spend time with family, in nature and make sure to do something that brings you joy everyday. Looking forward to seeing everyone back at school in Term 4.

Continue to do your best, respect our school, help others succeed,

Danae Napier

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Here are some great readings and resources for you our parents & guardians to investigate and explore during our holidays.

Please feel free to have a look at these.

A great & timely listen for the holidays for the adults - ‘mojoexpresso ~ a more Playful episodes’’

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/a-more-playful-episode/id1638228710?i=1000575069238

** Play is often misunderstood ~ How do we define play? How can we cultivate a more playful spirit in our day-to-day lives?

** A recommended read ~ Lisa Burman Education Consultant - Parent Resources

https://www.dropbox.com/s/owr8lqdv3ugf5ya/Learning%20to%20Read%20family%20brochure%20final%20pdf.pdf?dl=0

Learning To Read - Helping Young Children See Themselves as Readers.

** The Resilence Project - Parents and Caregivers

https://theresilienceproject.com.au/at-home/parents/ Lael Stones ~ Feelings

Lost Property ~ Our Lost Property box is bursting at the seams!!

Please check the tables for lost clothing, lunch boxes & Tupperware containers. What’s not claimed will be circulated as second hand uniforms or donated to St Vincent de Paul.

Sun Smart ~ Term 4

Time to find those hats again!! Please remember all students are required to wear their hats in Term 4.

Students will have until week 3 ~ 17th October to be in correct Summer Uniform.

School Resumes Term 4 ~ Monday 3rd October

Tuesday 4th Oct ~ Yr 6 Interschool Athletics

Wednesday 5th Oct ~ Yr 5 Interschool Athletics

Thursday 6th Oct ~ Yr 4 Interschool Athletics

Friday 7th Oct ~ Yr 3 Interschool Athletics

Fire Carriers Commisioning Ceremony ~ October 24th

A statement on the death of Her Majesty The Queen

Our flags flying at half mast

Statement from Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference

The death of Queen Elizabeth II, after a long reign marked by extraordinary constancy, fidelity, courage and service, will bring great sadness to many people in Australia, including members of the Catholic community.

As the Queen enters into the great mystery of eternal life with the Lord, we will pray for the repose of her soul and for the support and comfort of her family, her nation and the wider community of the Commonwealth.

Queen Elizabeth was never reticent about acknowledging her Christian faith. Her annual Christmas message invariably focused on Jesus Christ as a model of humble and generous service. It was a model she strived to emulate throughout her long life.

May she rest in peace.

September 9, 2022

We pray for families and friends who are currently unwell or have recently lost loved ones.

We especially prayer for Natalie Bibby (Whitchen), Karl & Nate on the loss of Natalies dear Grandma. Our thoughts & prayers are with them at this difficult time.

'We have a Lord who is capable of crying with us, capable of walking with us in the most difficult moments of life" Pope Francis (Philippines, 2015)

September's Birthdays

Happy Birthday to everyone who celebrates his or her birthday this month:

September Babies

Nathaniel Alexander, Tyler Knight, Zeldah Tshaka, Hossain Alramahi, Grace Miller, Aadi Patel, George Dainton, Jap Garcha, Ebony Kealey, Jonathan Damianopoulos, Roshan Madhavla, Shanara Allen-Viagedor, Stejsi Emin, Noahky Bell, Harleen Sidhu, Isabela Stanagoi, Jett Clarke, Hujjat Qasimi, Avneet Randhawa, Katie Ferrari, Carmel Hutchison, Ayva Cirillo, Nathan Secchi

Congratulations to all students who were students of the week. Thank you for doing your best, respecting our school and helping others succeed.

Avi Singh, Isra Khalid, Jonathan Damianopoulos, Zaid Jallo, Charlie Mcmurtrie, Izabela Stanagoi, James Alwer, Wilum Warrior, Lila Emanuelli, Logan Brand, Charlotte Rowe, Jap Garcha, Samarveer Singh, Jamison Garner-Griffiths, Kai Henry, Matthew Japp, Noah Hawker, Lionel Animay, Mitchell O'Shea, Udayveer Rai

School Calendar

Please visit the 'Upcoming Dates & Events' page to keep informed about what's coming up and any date changes to events.

School Fees Update August Statments will be emailed on Weds 31st August

Thank you to the families who have contacted the school office or who have responded positively when our office has called to discuss payment of fees or organise payment plans.

Fee statements will continue to be sent out Monthly by email ensuring that all families are aware of the balances of outstanding school fees. If you have not received any correspondence by email then please contact the school office to confirm we have the correct email address.

Please note new direct debit forms are required to be completed in order for us to use this form of payment for your fees.

Please check your statements. Should you be experiencing financal hardship we strongly urge you to contact the school office to discuss your situation and a possible payment plan.

Attendance Requirements

If your child is sick or absent, you are required to notify the school as soon as possible on the day of absence, by phoning or emailing the school.

Notifying the school of your child’s absence either prior to, or on the day that they will be away, helps ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and will fulfil your legal responsibility.

All Victorian schools are required to contact parents/carers as soon as practicable on the same day of an unexplained student absence. If your child is absent on a particular day and you have not contacted the school to explain why, the absence will be marked as unexplained.

This system also promotes daily school attendance. Going to school every day is the single most important part of your child’s education, they learn new things every day – missing school puts them behind.

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