Newsletter Term 2, Week 9 2024
Keyboard Assembly Cancelled
Tuesday 25th and Thursday 27th June- Parent Teacher Interviews- 2.15 pm -6.00 pm
Friday 28th June- Term 3 Ends- 1 pm Finish
Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope this message finds you well. As we approach the end of this term, I have some important updates to share with you regarding Fr. Binh, staffing changes, our parish-school mission, our building project, and end-of-term events. Please take a moment to read through these significant updates.
Sadly, I begin this newsletter with the news of the passing of Simon Vassallo, a father of three and a former student of SMM. Simon was a much-loved member of the Vassallo family, who have contributed significantly to our SMM church and parish. Please join me and our school community in praying for Simon and his sons Jake, Josh, and Jye. The eldest sons are past students, and at SMM, we are supporting Jye, who is in Year 6. May Simon rest in the eternal peace of God's loving embrace.
On Thursday, June 6, 2024, Archbishop Peter A. Comensoli appointed Fr. Binh as the new Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Parish in Laverton, Altona Meadows, and Point Cook, effective July 10, 2024. While we will miss him dearly, we are incredibly grateful for the time he has spent with us, sharing his authentic, spiritual, practical, and insightful leadership. Personally, I am so thankful for his support during my first year and a half as principal at SMM. Fr. Binh’s kind humor, unwavering support, and wise counsel will be greatly missed. We are excited to welcome Reverend Dr. Samuel Kapani as our new Parish Administrator. Fr. Sam, who arrived in Melbourne from Manipur, India, two years ago, has been serving as an Assistant Priest in Bacchus Marsh and Laverton.
In staffing news, our dedicated Year 5/6 teacher, Rebecca Palliser, and our wonderful Year 3/4 teacher, Stacey Morris, will be leaving SMM at the end of this term due to unforeseen circumstances requiring their return to England. While we are sad to see them go, we fully support their need to return home and wish them all the best. We are thrilled to introduce Sophie Tucker, who will teach Year 5/6A, and Jenna Falcone, our new Year 3/4 educator. Their profiles are attached for your reference, and we are confident they will be a fantastic fit for our community. Please join me in giving Jenna and Sophie a warm welcome to our SMM family.
We also have exciting news for Miss Graham, who will be taking leave at the end of next week to fly to Ireland and marry her wonderful fiancée. We wish them every blessing for a long, happy, and healthy life together and can't wait to hear all about the wedding celebrations when Chelsea and Christian return early next term.
Starting this Tuesday, June 18, there will be some changes as the building company takes over the administration building on the corner of Hudson’s Road and Arras Street. During this period, the office staff will be in the hall foyer. You can support our staff please through the minimization of late arrivals and early exits, and another reminder to use office@smmspotswood.catholic.edu.au for communications.
For safety reasons, students and adults will enter and exit SMM through one of two ways:
1) The gate near the church on Arras St.
2) The new entry/exit gate for Hudsons road where there is a new path between the hall and Room 7.
The footpath around the admin building will be closed, so all pedestrians are not permitted to walk on the nature strip around the construction zone. Please remind your children daily of this change. The car pick-up and drop-off line in Arras Street will remain the same.
Last week, our St. Joseph Belief team hosted a wonderful gathering of parish groups to "dream big" about how we can connect with more members of our parish and how the parish can connect with and support our schools. It was a fabulous event, and we encourage all SMM families to engage in our vibrant parish life. Please read on, tonight there is a perfect opportunity!
Tonight, we are looking forward to our SMM parish Family Mass—a combined school and parish mass for the Feast of the Sacred Heart. Due to parent feedback, we are holding this at 5:30 PM at Sacred Heart Church, Newport, to accommodate weekend sports schedules.
While you have your family event calendar open, please remember to sign up your child(ren) for the major social event of the year – the end of term SMM student disco. See details below and many thanks to Jodie Millar and the FSG for organising this fun event. What a great way to celebrate the end of term!
Finally, as we approach the end of the term, we look forward to celebrating the academic and social-emotional growth of all our students through written reports and parent-student-teacher conferences. See you there, and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or queries.
Take care,
Colleen McCambridge
Principal
Colleen McCambridge
Principal
Welcome Jenna and Sophie
We are pleased to announce that Sophie Tucker and Jenna Falcone will be joining our school next term. Sophie will be replacing Rebecca Palliser in Year 5/6A, and Jenna will replace Stacey Morris in Year 3/4A.
We extend a warm welcome to Sophie and Jenna and look forward to the positive contributions they will make to our school. At the same time, we wish Rebecca and Stacey all the best in their future endeavours and thank them for their dedication and hard work.
Cash For Cans
St Margaret Mary’s is now registered in the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS). When you donate to Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme, consider nominating SMM as the recipient for the funds from cans collected. Money raised will go towards FSG initiatives, including some new iPad for our preps!
Follow our socials for the latest learning posts from the classroom
St Margaret Mary’s students are independent life-long learners inspired by Gospel values and empowered with a sense of purpose and responsibility. They confidently engage with others and are equipped with skills to adapt to an ever changing world.
Each week, students who embody our values, apply the school mindsets to learning, work hard to improve or persevere to deliver on learning objectives are awarded a class award. The students who earned an award in the past weeks are:
Week 8
Week 9
Sports Report
Netball
On the 4th June the year 5 and 6s participated in the SMM sports gala day. Half of us played netball and the other half played soccer. At netball we made 2 teams of mixed boys and girls. The games were 12 minutes halves so a full game went for 24 minutes. Everyone had 5 - 10 minutes for a snack or to rest between games. Everyone played 7 games. For some students it was their first time they ever played netball. Team A, won 1 game and drew another. Team B won 4 games out of 7.
By Eva
Soccer
Picture the scene. Twelve excited and ambitious players laced up their boots (some for the final time) and sported their lightning bolt jerseys with pride ready to take on the games of the day. Luckily, the only the lightning experienced during the day was the flashing sparks off the goal net as the team scored thirty goals in total. The team displayed integrity, respect and passion for the game from the first whistle to the very last. The undefeated SMM team were complimented by their fans, opposition and coaches for their support- not only for each other- but also for the opposition. Special shout-outs must go to Cruz for being the top-goal scorer of the team (14 goals in total!) and Pia Tull for captaining our team through the tournament. The bar has been set for the Grade Fives next year- who wore their heart on their sleeves the entire day and history has been made for our departing Sixes. Some have dreamed of returning the flag to SMM since Prep. Who says dreams cannot come true? I am sure this is just the start of many successes for the team that ‘stole the show’ on Tuesday 4th June 2024. A date for the history books.
Team: Pia (C), Cruz, Abdallah, Callum, Oliver N, Oliver M, Finn, Leo, Xavier S, Xavier F, Noah and Sam.
Goal-scorers: Pia, Leo, Sam, Cruz, Xavier F, Finn, Oliver N and Xavier S.
Special thanks to Mr Owens for amazing refereeing!
By Ms Palliser
PREPS TAKE ACTION!!
As inquirers, students have been learning about their community. Children have learnt about people and places, and those people in our community who can help us and keep us safe. As people of faith, students have also been learning about the fruits of the Holy Spirit, what these mean, and how they can show these fruits in their daily actions amongst people in their own communities.
After tuning in and finding out about our communities places and spaces the students develop ideas about how we can take action? How can Prep students give back to their own community and help others in the way that Jesus does?
Students documented the people and professions within the community who help the sick and injured, such as police, doctors, paramedics and nurses, the Prep class have decided to TAKE ACTION by promoting a blood drive!
The children have created flyers to share with people in the community and hopefully get people to donate blood. Please consider scanning the link and booking in for a blood donation. Send some pics into SMM if you do decide to donate.
Thanks so much from our PREPS TAKING ACTION!
Student Wellbeing & Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) at SMM
Helping Children Build Relationship/Friendship Skills
A child’s friendship issues can cause angst for parents. Friendship issues are learning opportunities and often point to a personal or social capability skill a child needs to learn or develop. This empowers your child to meet their own needs, better navigate future relationships/friendships and is protective of mental health and well-being.
Children are keen observers of the relationships closest to them. When problems occur, blaming or insisting others change is not effective. Disagreements can occur as children attempt to get their needs met, sometimes in dysfunctional ways. Developing the skills equips them to meet personal needs in relationships and builds their confidence. If problems recur, it often indicates the skill has not been developed.
Any learning requires a knowledge of the components, a breakdown of the steps involved, explicit teaching, guidance, modelling and multiple chances to practice and reflect on what is or isn’t working. Children need to learn how to develop relationship/friendship skills in the same way they develop skills such as reading, sport, maths, art, music, etc. Proactively supporting children is better than leaving the development of these skills to chance, hoping that proficiency will miraculously occur. At SMM the explicit teaching of relationship skills is core to social emotional learning lessons.
In learning, children develop proficiency in personal and social capabilities over time. We can’t assume our children or other children have skills in place. Some influences include their:
current developmental level
ability to emotionally regulate
temperament
level of confidence
modelling and guidance from family or media (internet, movies etc),
underlying issues such as anxiety, autism, ADHD, trauma, developmental delay
prior socialising experiences, e.g. attending playgroup, kinder, organised activities, etc
Practical Tips to Support Your Child’s Relationship/Friendship Skills
Demonstrate/discuss your own friendship skills, e.g. active listening, showing empathy, offering help. Your behavior is hugely influential in how to interact positively with others.
Teach how to find common ground to connect with others, e.g. asking questions
Teach what is within their control in relationships and what is not, e.g. demonstrating respect through confident tone of voice, body language, ability to compromise etc
Teach the difference between assertive, aggressive or passive responses.
Ensure regular attendance at school: Studies show poor attenders made and received fewer friendship choices than those with frequent attendance. Students with closer friendships were less likely to drop out of school. Students thrive on consistency and reliability, so when your child is often away, this can disrupt friendships. SMM students can socialise with peers/buddies in the morning each day before formal learning begins.
Discuss stories and movies about friendships/characters’ relationships and what made their friendships strong or weak. Talk about the qualities/behaviours/actions of a good friend. Make a list of qualities they would like/qualities they can offer, e.g. honest, kind
Discuss the value of being inclusive and open to accepting/making friends who are different to them. This broadens their understanding of the world. Encourage your child to include others who are new to the school, lonely or still developing their relationship skills, e.g. asking others to play/join games
Model respect and empathy and role-play scenarios to teach children how to respond to others’ feelings and perspectives. Respectful, inclusive, empathic children attract others
Support your child to learn from social situations, e.g. what worked well/even better if
Create opportunities for social interaction, e.g. playdates with peers. Observe how your child interacts/resolves conflicts and provide active support to their build skills
Support their interests via participation in activities/hobbies. Shared interests are a way to connect and build friendships.
Teach your child how to cope with rejection and resolve conflicts in a healthy way. Reassure them that disagreements are normal. Guide them to reflect on their role in escalating or de-escalating conflict.
Talk about their interactions with friends and listen actively and without judgment to create a safe space for them to express their feelings.
Support problem solving skills by identifying the problem, brainstorming practical solutions and role-playing scenarios to prepare them for the real-life situation.
Monitor social interactions both in person and online and be aware of signs of bullying or exclusion and address them promptly.
Help your child build self worth by recognising their strengths, interests and efforts. Strong self-worth helps them confidently navigate friendships and social challenges
Encourage your child to express gratitude to their peers. This reinforces positive connections and appreciation.
Teach your child how to give and receive compliments
Seek professional help if needed: If your child is struggling significantly with friendships and it’s affecting their mental health, consider seeking help from a GP or a psychologist.
By working in partnership with us and actively supporting your child you can help them build a foundation for healthy relationships and friendships now and in the future.
Helpful Online Resources
This Kids Helpline article provides excellent practical guidance to help you support your child.
Raising Children’s Network (Australian parenting website) School aged friendships 5-8 years:How to support them and Friends and Friendships for 5-8 years:10 frequently asked questions and Pre-teens communicating and relationships
Kids Helpline: A free, confidential counseling service for young people aged 5 to 25.
Kids Hepline: Making Friends (Making new friends is exciting but sometimes it’s hard to do! Check out our tips on how to start new friendships.)
Should parents get involved in their kids friendships? https://melbournechildpsychology.com.au/blog/should-parents-get-involved-in-their-kids-friendships/
How parents can help kids make good friends https://theparentswebsite.com.au/how-parents-can-help-kids-make-good-friends/
Bullying No Way! Parents and carers have a key role in preventing and responding to bullying. https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/support-and-advice/for-families
Headspace: Mental health support for young people aged 12-25, including information on friendships and social skills.
ReachOut Parents: Resources to help parents support their children's mental health and well-being (Preteens/Teenagers)
Kath (Student Wellbeing Leader)
Family Mass- TONIGHT!
Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Mass
Farewell Father Binh Le
Father Binh, who has been with us at St. Margaret Mary’s and the Parish of St. Joseph for the past seven years, will be moving on to a new assignment. On June 6, 2024, Archbishop Peter A. Comensoli appointed Fr Binh as the new Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Parish in Laverton, Altona Meadows, and Point Cook, starting July 10, 2024.
While we are excited for Fr Binh's new opportunity, it means we must say goodbye to a priest and friend who has given so much to our community. Fr Binh's generosity, faith, and pastoral care have been greatly appreciated, and he will be missed by many.
As we bid farewell to Fr Binh, we also welcome Reverend Dr Samuel Kapani as our new Parish Administrator. Fr Sam has previously served as an Assistant Priest in Bacchus Marsh and Laverton. We look forward to supporting him as he transitions into his new role with us.
Thank you, Fr Binh, for your dedicated service over the years. We wish you all the best in your new ministry at Holy Trinity Parish.
Vinnies Winter Appeal is Here!
This weekend, our Newport Vinnies Conference will make our annual Winter Appeal for prayers, material, assistance and members! To learn more (and donate online should you wish to), head to the following link: https://my.fundraiseforvinniesvic.org.au/vinnies-winter-appeal-2024/newport-conference?tab=donations or please use the attached barcode In particular, this year we're looking for a few people who might be able to help out in our conference admin support roles. Think that might be you? Or want to learn more about Vinnies in our area? Head to the link above, chat with one of our members after Mass or contact Conference President Clare at newportvinnies@gmail.com
School Disco- 28 June
Get ready to boogie at St Margaret Mary’s Spotswood School Disco Party - it's going to be a night full of music, dancing, and fun!
The details of the school disco have been finalised and tickets are now available now via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/st-margaret-marys-spotswood-school-disco-party-tickets-893577613697?aff=oddtdtcreator
Book now to avoid disappointment!
Footy Tipping
After a tough round last week (mainly for myself), we've seen some changes in the leaderboard. Team Huds remains in a strong position at the top, but Reed St has rocketed up from 6th to 2nd place! If you thought that was impressive, Don’t Think Do jumped from 8th to 3rd!
It really is anyone's game, and it looks like making a risky move might just pay off.
We were very lucky to have connected with Bunnings Altona and Bunnings West Footscray who have generously donated some vouchers for us. The prizes have now been finalised for the competition and we know what we are playing for.
1st Prize: $200 Bunnings Voucher
2nd Prize: $100 Bunnings Voucher
3rd Prize: $50 Bunnings Voucher
We have 35 members this year and only 11 whom have paid😟. Please be sure to show your support by paying your $25 entry fee.
Payments made via school FSG bank account, are asked to use your footy tipping alias as a reference. Account SMM FSG BSB: 083 347 Acc: 365426557 You can also send in $25 in an envelope to the office, labelled with your alias and titled "2024 footy tipping"
Click the link below:
https://www.footytips.com.au/comps/2024_SMM_Footy_Tipping?p=stmm3015
Parent, Teacher and Student Interviews
Our Learning Conversations are taking place in the final week of term. These are a chance to celebrate the achievements of our students with their teachers and families. Appointments are 15 minutes and will take place on Tuesday the 25th and Thursday the 27th of June from 2.15-6pm.
Please note, school will finish at the normal time of 3.15pm, with school leaders supervising students for the afternoon.
To book, click the link: https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/nyb6p
Student Reports
We are pleased to announce that, once again, you will be receiving your child’s semester report online via the nForma Parent Portal.
Instructions on how to access the nForma Parent Portal will be sent to the email addresses previously supplied to the school. These emails will be sent out on Friday 21st of June. It is very important that your email addresses are up to date, as an automated email containing instructions and login details will come from no-reply@nforma.com.au, not the school. Please ensure that you check your junk/spam folder for an email from that address.
We highly recommend using a computer to access your child’s reports initially. Subsequent logins can be made on a mobile device if preferred. Once you have followed the instructions, you will be able to view your child’s report online. If you have more than one child at our school, you will need to select your child and then choose the reporting component in the portal.
For forgotten passwords, please follow the 'forgotten password' link. Note that your new password needs to be at least 7 characters long and must include at least one non-alphanumeric character (e.g., *, -, / or similar). If you have requested a password reset and the email does not appear, please check your junk/spam folder for an email from no-reply@nforma.com.au.
If you have any questions or issues, please contact Simon Devlin at sdevlin@smmspotswood.catholic.edu.au
School Holiday Programs
New Entry and Exits
Due to the upcoming works in the Administration area, students will now enter through different points. Please discuss this with your child and decide the best exit for them.
Guidelines for Keeping Your Child Home When They're Sick
We understand that deciding when to keep your child home from school can be challenging. Here are some guidelines to help ensure your child recovers fully and doesn't spread illness to others:
Fever
If your child has a fever, it's best to keep them at home. Ensure they are fever-free for at least 24 hours without the help of medication before returning to school. At home, you can keep them hydrated and comfortable, which is crucial for their recovery.
Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea can indicate a viral infection. It's important to keep your child at home and provide them with oral rehydrating solutions to prevent dehydration.
Vomiting
If your child has vomited, it's best to keep them at home until they have been vomit-free for 24 hours. This way, they can rest and recover without discomfort, and you can avoid the inconvenience of having to pick them up from school if they are still unwell.
Cough
A serious cough can spread infections and affect your child's sleep and energy levels. If your child has a wet cough, especially with breathing difficulties, please seek medical advice, possibly get a COVID-19 test, and keep them home until they are better.
Rashes
Some skin rashes can be contagious. Have any rash evaluated by a doctor before your child returns to school to ensure it is safe.
Conjunctivitis
This eye infection spreads easily among children. Keep your child home until a doctor confirms they are no longer contagious.
Stomach Ache
Stomach aches can be tricky. If there are no other symptoms like diarrhoea or constipation, and your child is otherwise active, they might be okay to attend school. However, if the pain persists, consider keeping them home and discussing any potential emotional stressors with them.
Ear Infection
Evaluate the severity of your child's symptoms. Mild ear pain might be manageable, but if they are uncomfortable or have a fever, it’s best to keep them at home. Monitor their overall behavior and energy levels to guide your decision.
By following these guidelines, we can ensure our children remain healthy and ready to learn. Thank you for your cooperation and support in keeping our school community well.
Emmanuel College News
There is something for everyone at Emmanuel College and we celebrate students achieving their personal best in the arts, sports, debating, faith and social justice activities. Year 12s attended a retreat at Anglesea, VCE-Vocational Major students cooked up a storm in the My Kitchen Rules event and our Senior Girls AFL, basketball, soccer, and badminton teams enjoyed competing in the Associated Catholic Colleges (ACC) and the Sports Association of Catholic Coeducational Secondary Schools (SACCSS) divisions.
Debating Club is a great way for students to build on their public speaking skills and enjoy working as a team. Johnny Nguyen is a member of the St Paul’s Year 9 St Paul’s Debating Club and shares his recent experience with us here: ‘Our debating team was prepared and confident and it was a very tight and close debate as we won by just 1 point against Islamic College Of Melbourne! It was primarily around the topic of "Federal elections should be done online", as the affirmative team, researching and thoroughly discussing our points and arguments with the adjudicator was quite stressful and intense when against such tough competition. However, we managed to keep our calm which led us to victory on a winning 4-round streak of DAV (Debaters Association of Victoria) which is a testament to our dedication, passion and pride for the College's debating club’.
Year 7 2026
Is your child, or someone that you know, in Year 5 this year and would like to apply to Emmanuel College for Year 7 2026? A friendly reminder that the closing date is Friday 16 August.
Applications are now to be submitted online via the College website: Submit your application here.
Information Morning – Saturday 10 August 2024
Join us at the Information Morning - hear from College Principal, Dr Janine Biggin and be taken on a campus tour by student leaders to see the excellent facilities that we have for our students.
Details for each campus are below, and registration is available by following this link:
Information Morning and College Event Registration here
Notre Dame Campus Principal’s Address at 9:00 am
9am to 10:30am Tours to follow with the event finishing at 10:30 am
St Paul’s Campus Principal’s Address at 10:30 am
10:30 am to 12 noon Tours to follow with the event finishing at 12noon
If you have any questions, please contact our College Registrar on 8325 5100 or: enrolments@ecmelb.catholic.edu.au
Yours sincerely
Jenny Hendricks
Community Engagement Officer
APPLY NOW
Students wishing to attend Mount St. Joseph Girls’ College for Year 7 in 2026 should apply in Grade 5 of their primary school education.
Applications for Year 7 in 2026 are now open. Apply online via the College website. The closing date for applications is Friday 16 August 2024.
There is no application closing date for years 8-12. Vacancies are based on availability and waiting lists may apply.
For all enquiries, please contact:
Sherri Collins: registrar@msj.vic.edu.au
133 Maidstone Street, Altona
(03)8398 2000