A SAINT MARY MACKILLOP Primary School Keilor Downs

29 November, 2016

No. 37

Email: office@mmkeilordowns.catholic.edu.au Tel: 9367 6199 www.mmkeilordowns.catholic.edu.au123

e-NEWS Dear Community,

We have now entered the first week of Advent. The Readings we will hear at Mass on the Sundays of Advent invite us to think ahead to a time when Christ will be with us and answer all our needs.

During Advent, these Readings focus on the spiritual yearnings of people throughout history fulfilled with the coming of Jesus. The people’s yearnings range from personal happiness to worry about a planet in ecological danger, our common home.

Advent is about Gospel answers and gives solace to our fears. The whole human family carries a spiritual impulse as it searches for a vision for the future. Advent challenges us to be awake to our life choices. It grows hope. Have a great week everybody.

Anthony McCluskey Principal

Individual Highlights

Inside Story 2

Inside Story 3

Inside Story 4

Inside Story 5

Inside Story 6

Inside Story 7

Last Story 8

The wisdom of

St. Mary MacKillop

“God’s work does not

depend on any of us’’

28.11.1870

IMPORTANT DATES

2016-Term 4

Wednesday 30

November

Parent Helpers Afternoon

Tea @ 2.30pm-Library

Wednesday 30

November & Thursday

1 December

Prep Orientation-2nd

Session

Wednesday 7

December

Christmas Carols Evening

@ 7.00pm-see details

below

Thursday 8 December

Year 6 Big Day In

Friday 9 December

Year 6 Finish @ 1pm with

guard of honour

@12.45pm

Year 6 Graduation @

7.00pm

Thursday 15 December

Year Prep-Year 5 Finish @

1pm

Carols Night-Next Wednesday 7th December @ 7.00pm

Just a reminder our annual Christmas Carols Evening is on next Wednesday at 7.00pm. There will be a sausage sizzle from 4.30pm – 6.30pm or you can just BYO food (no alcohol) and have a picnic dinner on the oval. Please note, there will be sections set aside for the classes to sit.

Carols will start at 7.00pm sharp, so all student need to be at school and in their classroom by 6.40pm. Children are asked to come dressed in Christmas colours.

At the conclusion of the Carols, students will be signed out by the teacher in charge. We anticipate the evening will conclude around 8.30pm.

http://www.mmkeilordowns.catholic.edu.au/

ST MARY MACKILLOP PRIMARY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER NO 37 TUESDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2016

Parent Helpers

There are many ways parents and families work in partnership with our school to help educate and support our children. Perhaps you were involved in hearing children read, supported in the classroom in some way, went on a school excursion, supported us on the P.A. or helped our PA with a stall or carnival. Maybe you supported us by helping in the Canteen, PMP, at the Book Fair….

In whatever way you supported your school and actively worked in partnership with us, please consider accepting our invitation to join us for an Afternoon Tea in our School Library on Wednesday 30 November at 2.30pm. Please RSVP to Kellie (at the front desk) by TODAY.

After School Pickup

Over the past year there has been a dramatic increase in the number of students not being collected immediately at the end of the school day. These students are left out on the yard under teacher supervision until 3:30 when they are bought into the office foyer. On an average day there may be up to 25 children in the office.

For the week starting 14th November, we did a headcount each night at 3:40pm. These are how many children were left in the office.

Monday 14/11 Tuesday 15/11 Wednesday

16/11 Thursday 17/11 Friday 18/11

23 27 17 24 24

Obviously this creates an issue in terms of safety, both of your children and visitors to the school. While on school premises, the students need to be supervised, meaning office staff are not able to perform their administrative duties and we are not here to provide free childcare for your children. Having 30 children in such a small space poses a significant risk.

If you are unable to collect your children by 3:30pm, you must notify the office as soon as possible, preferably before 3:15. If your children are registered with after school care, they will be sent to after school care if you are unable to collect them after 3:30pm.

Are You Leaving Us? Now that we are in the final weeks for the year, it is timely that we look forward to 2017 to ascertain our student numbers.

If you have a child/ren in Years Prep – 5 who will not be returning to St Mary MacKillop Primary School for 2017, please forward a letter/note to Mr Anthony McCluskey, Principal, advising us at your earliest convenience.

Alternatively, you can email us on: office@mmkeilordowns.catholic.edu.au

This will assist us with our classrooms, students and staffing requirements for the coming year.

mailto:office@mmkeilordowns.catholic.edu.au

ST MARY MACKILLOP PRIMARY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER NO 37 TUESDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2016

PARENTS & FRIENDS ASSOCIATION

Our next meeting will be this Thursday 8th December at 2:30pm in the staff room. All are welcome to join us to discuss up and coming Christmas Carols Night and Raffle.

NEW EVENT FOR TERM FOUR

Wednesday 7th December – CHRISTMAS CAROLS EVENING – Sausage Sizzle: 4.30pm-6.30pm (We would love it if you would like to help out for a couple of hours please leave your details at the office)

SMMPS ANNUAL CHRISTMAS RAFFLE TICKETS

All families would have been sent a book that contains 10 tickets priced at $1.00 each. The First Prize is an iPad Air2! There are many other great prizes on offer, and will be published in the coming weeks. Please

show your support and purchase tickets. If you would like extra ticket booklets they are available from the office. The raffle will be drawn on Christmas Carols Evening Wednesday 7th December.

REQUEST FOR CHRISTMAS RAFFLE PRIZES

We will once again be holding our annual Christmas Raffle which will be drawn on the Carols Night. To help make the raffle a great success we hope to have many great prizes on offer. If there are any families in the school who have small businesses and are able to donate any of their goods or services as prizes, this would be very much appreciated. In return your business will be promoted in the e-NEWS which is read by our school community. Please leave your details at the office if you are able to assist. Thanking you in advance.

CHRISTMAS RAFFLE PRIZE DONATIONS We would like to thank the following businesses for their donations: THE BEARY PATCH TAYLORS LAKES FOOD MARKET LIPSENSE

ST MARY MACKILLOP PRIMARY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER NO 37 TUESDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2016

Canteen Special-Tuesday 6 December, 2016 Beef Lasagne and juice (apple/orange)

For $6.00

Fundraiser for Katelyn Dullard in 6B

Katelyn is one of Twelve of the club’s Elite Acrobatic Athletes who have an opportunity to compete internationally, representing Australia in 2017 at the 1st‘Acro Vegas Cup’ from 28th March until 2nd April.

ST MARY MACKILLOP PRIMARY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER NO 37 TUESDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2016

Parish News-OHSC

Olive Trees for Sale

St Mary Mackillop Parish church has been kindly donated a number of Olive trees. We would like to thank Tony for his support to the Parish, it is much appreciated. If anyone would like to purchase an Olive tree the Prices are as follows: All $5.00 To Purchase a tree, you are more than welcome to come to the St Mary Mackillop Parish Office between 9.00 to 4.00 Monday to Friday.

Important

OSHC 2017 Enrolments

Please ensure you have completed and returned your 2017 enrolment form

if you wish to use the OSHC program next year. It is a Government

regulation and legal requirement all children attending OSHC programs

must have a current enrolment form. We will not be able to accept

bookings for children who do not have current enrolment forms. 2017

Enrolment forms are due 30th November 2016 as this ensures all details are

uploaded onto our system by the end of the year ready for the

commencement of the 2017 year.

Thank you.