No.30. 9th October 2017

____________________________________________________________________________________ Dear Parents,

Welcome back! We hope that you have enjoyed the break from the school routine and are feeling refreshed. Our School Production “Quest for Colour” was a wonderful way to end last term and I am sure all families were as proud of their children as the staff were. It was a great display of learning and growth for so many of our students. What talent! Our children were just wonderful: they delivered every aspect of the production, from the writing of the script, to the construction of props, special effects, multimedia and scenery, backstage work, music and acting, and it was amazing. It was also a wonderful celebration of our great community of St Mary’s and of the positive contributions that so many make. Congratulations also to the children for being such great audience members! Thank you very much to our children, our Year 3/4 and 5/6 teachers, our education support and office staff, and the very talented Mr Glennie and Mrs Primavera for all their wonderful work. Thank you also to the rest of our staff who have been a great support and also to our parents who assisted in so many ways and Sindy V for tie dying all of the t shirts. The last week of term also saw our Grade 1/2 students involved in daily Hockey clinics for a week. Thanks to Mrs McCormick for organising this. With Term 4 now beginning, Summer uniform and no hat, no play policy is now in place. With the cool weather still around, for the first two weeks of this term, the wearing of Summer uniform will be optional. However, it is important to note that either full, correct Summer uniform or full, correct Winter uniform is to be worn; not a mixture of both: for example, winter tights with the Summer dress or “skins” with shorts. It is obvious that many children have had a growth spurt since they last wore their Summer uniforms, so could everyone please check uniforms to ensure that they still fit and let down hems if necessary. We remind everyone that the uniform length for dresses is not above the knee. Please also check that all items are clearly labelled with full name.

Finally, we are all thrilled that Mrs Angela Glennie has officially been appointed as Principal of St Mary’s and we look forward to a bright and positive future under her leadership.

Congratulations to our Students of the Term: Prep B: Jasmine S Prep R: Reina N

1/2F: Katie C 1/2H: Bridie McC 1/2P: Lily S 1/2R: Julian F

3/4R: Beau W 3/4F: Paige P 3/4G: Chloe McC 3/4C: Tahlia G/Madison K

5/6B: Jessica C 5/6F: James McL 5/6P: Alice McC 5/6C: Yasmin R

Congratulations to our Students of the Week for last week: Prep B: Grace V Prep R: Emilio N

1/2F: Rocco C 1/2H: Evie L 1/2P: Sam S 1/2R: Caterina O

3/4R: Levi S/Jarrah W 3/4F: Aaylah C 3/4G: Asha R 3/4C: Riley McC

5/6B: Izabella B 5/6F: Raphael G 5/6P: Brooke L 5/6C: Rainer L

My prayers and best wishes for a lovely week.

Veronica Fraraccio,

Acting Principal

What a massive

effort! Well done!

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

Grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand,

to be loved as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal

life.

Upcoming Information

School Assembly every Friday at 8.45am - ALL WELCOME

Summer UNIFORM required to be worn TERM 4 & 1

NO HAT NO PLAY term 4 & 1 Change of date: Confirmation will now take place on Friday November 10th at 6:00pm.

MASS TIMES - St Mary’s Mt Evelyn Saturdays - 6:30 pm & Sundays 10.30 am & 5.00

We

ek

On

e

Monday 9th October Thursday 12th Oct Friday 13th October

8.45pm 3.30pm

8.45am

Term 4 Begins Staff Meeting Division Athletics – Burwood School Assembly 5/6 Excursion Melbourne Museum

We

ek

Tw

o Monday 16th October

Friday, 20th October 3.30pm 8.45am

Staff Meeting School Assembly Grade 3/4 Excursion Melbourne Zoo

Week Day & Date Time Event

Uniforms All St. Mary’s students are required to wear the full correct school uniform. We believe that the wearing of

uniforms promotes the children’s pride in their school and self-discipline. Uniform items can be purchased or

made at little cost. The uniform shop at St. Mary’s carries all uniform items, including school and library bags.

There is a small amount of second hand uniforms available in the shop.

Children are expected to have a school bag with the St Mary’s School logo.

Please ensure that your children bring their correct school bag.

Girls’ Summer Uniform Boys’ Summer Uniform

St Mary’s uniform school dress Navy Shorts Length of dresses and tunics should (no jeans, jean style or cargo pants) not be above the knee St Mary’s polo shirt St Mary’s windcheater St Mary’s windcheater Navy socks Navy socks Black polished shoes Black polished shoes (no sneakers/runners) (no sneakers/runners) School hat School hat

Girls’ Summer Sports Uniform Boys’ Summer Sports Uniform

Navy track suit pants Navy track suit pants St Mary’s windcheater St Mary’s windcheater Navy unisex sports shorts Navy unisex sports shorts St Mary’s sports polo shirt St Mary’s sports polo top White St. Mary’s sports socks or plain White St. Mary’s sports socks or plain white socks and runners white socks and runners School hat School hat

Woolworths Earn and Learn 2017 Dear Parents, This year we will be participating in the Woolworths Earn and Learn program. Through this program we will be able to get new educational resources for our school and all we need you to do is, when you can, shop for your groceries at Woolworths. From Wednesday 26th July to Tuesday 19th September or while stocks last, we are collecting Woolworths Earn and Learn Stickers. You will get one Woolworths Earn and Learn Sticker for every $10 spent (excluding liquor, tobacco and gift cards). Place the Woolworths Earn and Learn Sticker onto a Woolworths Earn and Learn Sticker sheet and when it’s complete, the Sticker sheet can be dropped into the collection box in the school office. At the end of the promotion, we’ll be able to get some great new equipment. The range is extensive and offers lots of items ideal for our students. If you’d like to know more visit woolworths.com.au/earn and learn In the past we have been able to secure some terrific resources for the classrooms through this scheme. Thanks for your support. Melissa Roberts St. Mary’s Earn and Learn Co-ordinator 2017

SCHOOL FEES Fee statements will be sent out this week. Please check them carefully and contact the office

immediately if you have any queries. Internet Banking: St Marys Primary School BSB 083-347 Account Number 676054930

(reference eldest child’s name). Payment options available at the office – EFTPOS/Cheque/Cash

NO NUTS

We have children attending our school with severe (life threatening) peanut allergies. As always, we are concerned for the safety of our children, and ask everyone to avoid bringing any items that may

contain peanuts to school, as the smallest amount of peanut or proteins of peanuts on benches, etc., can affect an

allergic child. Whilst I can appreciate that there may be children who just love to have their peanut butter sandwiches or bars, I am sure that if it was your child with the allergy, you would also appreciate people helping out in

this way!

Please ensure that all items of uniform are well maintained, including sports

uniform and hats.

Child Safety Code of Conduct

St Mary’s endeavours to create and maintain an environment where child safety is paramount and there is zero tolerance of any form of child abuse.

What is the purpose of a child safety code of conduct? A child safety code of conduct is intended to promote child safety in the school environment. A child safety code of conduct spells out professional boundaries and acceptable and unacceptable adult/child relationships and behaviour.

It should be unambiguous, widely disseminated and supported by supervision, professional development and training. A child safety code of conduct helps schools, staff and volunteers to raise behavioural issues. It provides a reference point for discussion when there may otherwise be confusion, uncertainty, or a lack of confidence about boundaries for appropriate behaviour with children. The code specifies behaviour unacceptable for a professional relationship between a teacher and a student. All parents, relatives and caregivers attending St Mary’s Primary School to

help within the classroom must hold a current Working with Children Check and must have read and signed the Code of Conduct. Please go to our website for more information.

CHILD SAFETY CODE OF CONDUCTS CAN BE COMPLETED AT THE OFFICE

WORKING WITH CHILDREN CHECK

All Parents and Friends visiting St Marys must have a ‘Working With Children Check’. These are available FREE to volunteers on line…….

BEFORE SCHOOL TENNIS LESSONS AT ST MARY’S Platinum Tennis Coaching strives to provide a fun, positive and challenging

environment for your child to learn and enjoy tennis. Lessons are now being

offered at St Mary’s at a convenient time before school, which means a positive

start to the day for your child by engaging them in physical activity before they head into class. Also every

student who signs up for a Term of Coaching receives a free racquet!! Tennis is a fantastic sporting activity

and our coaching reflects the passion we have for everyone to learn and participate in it.

We feel very privileged to be able to conduct these lessons on the outdoor courts at St Mary’s Catholic Primary

School. I look forward to seeing you out on the court! Matt O’Toole – Head Coach

www.platinumtenniscoaching.com.au E: matt@platinumtenniscoaching.com.au Ph: 0425 711 879

Before School Tennis Lessons at St Mary’s Contact Matt O’Toole on 0425 711 879 for further information

Community News!

Cire Children’s Outside School Hours Care Mt Evelyn Our Relocation to St Mary’s

We are very pleased to announce our

move to St Mary’s, which will

commence on Monday 9th October, the

start of Term 4. Our program will be in

the school hall. Feel free to drop in and

have a look at our program.

All Bookings and Enquiries: Ph: 0407 695 528 or Email: oshc-mtevelyn@cire.org.au

School Vegetable Garden News It is time to prepare our veggie beds and plant seedlings for our summer veggies.

Donations needed: kids sized shovels, rakes and gardening gloves; veggie seedlings and herbs. Thank-you. This week there will be garden club on Wednesday 11th October from 10.45 till 11.30am. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. This week please bring shovels to move the soil into the beds. All helpers are required to have a working with children’s check. Also, if you would like to assist, please complete the form below. Or email rpritchard@smmountevelyn.catholic.edu.au. Thank-you - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - VEGETABLE GARDEN VOLUNTEER AVAILABILITY

Name:_______________________________________Mobile:______________________________ Availability: Helping in the garden ⟥ Wednesday 10.45am. Thank-you

PARENTS AND FRIENDS COMMITTEE

NO TUCKSHOP THIS WEEK NO TUCKSHOP THIS WEEK

FOOD BANK – DONATIONS REQUIRED

Donations required of, lasagne sheets, pasta sauce, tomato paste,

cheese, stock and anything else we can use to make up trays of

yummy lasagne and Bolognese sauce. We would also appreciate

monetary donations so we can purchase food stuffs to try some new

recipes.

If you know of anyone from St Mary’s Primary school that may

need some help with a meal for their family, please contact the

office.

NEXT COOK-UP this Friday - HELPERS REQUIRED

JUST A REMINDER Working Bee Rebate: Your working bee levy will be rebated when:

You have attended a scheduled Working Bee or if you commit to a role as a P&F committee member or elect to four tuckshop duties.

(Tuckshop rebates will be processed in October).

If you have paid your fees in full and you are entitle to the

rebate, we will credit your 2018 school fees

Religious Education news:

October is World Mission month. Catholic Mission are

raising funds for urgent and lifesaving medical supplies for

people in Uganda, Africa. Mini Vinnies will be prompting the

Catholic Mission event of SOCKTOBER on Friday 27th

October. Please wear brightly coloured socks with your

school uniform. Gold coin donation please.

Confirmation Friday 10 November, 6pm. Candidates please continue to

attend weekend Mass in preparation for this Sacrament and please keep these

children in your prayers.

Failure! What a genius idea!

EDUCATION/LEARNING

by Michael Grose A leading Victorian independent school is actively encouraging its students to fail, which is an absoutely genius idea.

As reported in The Age (28th August 2017), Ivanhoe Girls Grammar School is holding Failure Week to teach students that making mistakes is a crucial part of learning. Teachers are sharing their personal stories of failure and students from prep to Year 12 are learning challenging activities such as abstract painting, juggling, reciting poetry and dancing. At the end of the week they’ll be displaying their new skills in front of each other with the emphasis being on stuff ups rather than perfection.

I suspect for many students making errors, stuffing up and struggling to get things right will feel uncomfortable. But that’s the whole point. Kids need to fail more if they are to succeed Traditionally, schools and, in recent years, parents have excelled at celebrating student success. “Top marks”, “Dux of the school” and “Perfect score!” are the types of aspirations that teachers and parents have for kids. But to many students academic success means “Don’t stuff it up!”, “No mistakes please!” and “You’ve got to get it right!” It’s been widely reported that Australian kids are anxious, perfectionistic and risk averse.

They just don’t feel comfortable with failure. And who could blame them? We’ve hidden failure and disappointment from them for far too long. In recent years there’s been a common perception that failure damages people. Unfortunately, this is to the detriment of young people’s future success. Failure is an integral part of learning anything significant, challenging or worthwhile. Resilient learners realise that they don’t always get things right the first or even second time but with effort and practice they will master skills, find solutions and gain the knowledge they need to succeed. As reported in The Age, failure, if handled properly, provides kids with the feedback they need to help them achieve excellence. Yes, kids need positive feedback too … but only when it’s deserved. When we tell a child everything is wonderful when, in fact, his work is mediocre at best, we give him a false sense of achievement. Failure takes bravery I’ve long been a fan of encouragement. What I mean by that is parents and teachers focusing their comments on the processes (effort, contribution, improvement) of what kids do rather than the outcomes. Encouragement places the locus of control onto the child, which is essential for resilience. That doesn’t mean that we avoid giving a child feedback if their work or behaviour isn’t up to scratch. By all means, we should inform kids when they need to lift their game, but this feedback needs to be provided respectfully and with sensitivity if we want it to be taken on board. The real strength of encouragement is hidden in its French derivative, the verb coure: ‘to give heart’. Encouraging teachers and parents to somehow find a way to give their kids the courage to be imperfect. It takes a brave soul to make a mistake sometimes, particularly when others may be watching. Failure needs a supportive environment It’s all very well to encourage kids to have a go but they won’t stretch themselves unless mistakes are truly accepted by the people that matter to them. A child won’t speak up in class when he’s unsure of the answer if he knows his classmates will laugh at his errors. Similarly, if kids are to take more learning and social risks they need to know that mistakes and stuff ups won’t be thrown back in their faces at home by parents or siblings. Five simple ways to encourage kids to fail and celebrate errors 1. Model failure: Next time you break a plate when emptying the dishwasher, avoid negative language (“What a klutz!”) or catastrophising (“This is the worst thing ever!). It’s a plate. Stuff happens.

2. Tell stories of failure: We tend to be nostalgic of the past and tell kids of the good stuff when we talk about our childhoods. But kids love to hear the warts’n’all stories of the difficulties you faced and stuff-ups you made as a kid. It makes you more human and also gives them permission to do the same. 3. Encourage them: Develop a vocabulary around effort, improvement, contribution and enjoyment. Be your child’s cheerleader but don’t avoid giving feedback when necessary. 4. Tell and show kids how to improve: Feedback is always best when it has a teaching focus. So next time you pick up a child on their poor schoolwork or untidy bedroom, make sure you remind them how to do it right. 5. Provide the time to fail and get it right: Modern teachers and parents are time poor. Crowded curricula and busy lifestyles make us less tolerant of failure. But as anyone who has taught a young child to do up his or her shoelaces will know, some things can’t be rushed. Time and patience can be your best assets when helping kids to handle learning challenges. Failure doesn’t sit comfortably with many of us, but it’s an essential element to success. The idea of a school setting aside a week to encourage their students to fail more may challenge our perceptions of the education process. But it’s a very timely, very smart idea that should be adopted and adapted by schools and families everywhere.