Dear Parents and Caregivers,
On Tuesday night I attended the Carly Ryan Foundation Cyber Safety session that we advertised recently. In this session they outlined a whole range of things that we can do as parents to protect our children from various online dangers and predators. As we get older and the technology gets smarter, our children suddenly become much more tech savvy than what we are. It is so important that you keep up to date with new trends and develop a positive relationship with your children around e-safety where they feel comfortable to come and talk with you about their online experiences. At all times, especially if you are providing your children with devices and internet access, you should have access to their devices and their passwords. You need to be the adult in the relationship and be vigilant in ensuring you know what they are doing online. Please check out the various ‘Parent Information Sheets’ about the myriad of apps that your children might be exposed to. It is important that you are aware of the dangers of each of them and not just allow them free reign on their device and on the internet.
This week we welcomed some new students to our school: Xavier (Reception), Mary (Year 3) and Diana (Year 5). We have also appointed some new staff: Natasha Pengilly and Kathy Keough (permanent Co-Educators - curriculum), Sally Winter (permanent OSHC Educator) and Eli Iliev (Acting OSHC Director). We are also utilising Sarah Hardy from St Thomas More in our OSHC service on some afternoons. I would like to welcome each one of you to our school community, both students and staff and hope that your time with us is full of learning, friendships and fun! We are conducting more interviews over the next few days for some vacant teaching positions for 2024.
I wish to thank all those parents who speak highly of our school. When I have an enrolment interview the first question I usually ask prospective parents is “Why have you come to St Mary Magdalene’s School?”. Nearly all of them respond with “I have heard good things about your school”. That is heart warming indeed. When I began last year we had about 112 students and now we are sitting at 145. I think this is largely due to the positive things that people say about our beautiful school and community. So a big thanks to each one of you.
One of my greatest concerns though, and a concern of the School Board, is the safety of our children as they arrive at or when they leave the school grounds. I am alarmed at the number of cars that exceed the speed limit of 25kph (legal limit past a school when children are present). Mrs Menadue and I see so many cars speed through the crossing, but also along Harvey Road. Sadly, many of these cars are our only parents. We have also noticed the number of cars who speed through the church car park across Fairfield Road. Please be safe in and around the school when you are driving and abide by the local council by-laws in relation to parking. I want all of our children, staff and parents to be safe - whether they are in their cars, walking through a car park or crossing the road.
On Monday we celebrate ‘Mercy Day’. This is a day when we honour and remember that our school is a ‘Mercy School’, started by the Sisters of Mercy in 1957. The Sisters and Catherine McAuley, their founder, have gifted us the Mercy Values of Compassion, Courage, Hospitality, Justice, Respect and Service. My hope is that we help our children to experience and develop these values within themselves and share them with all those people they meet throughout their lives. To begin this day our Year 5/6 children will lead us with a short prayer service and then run some activities and stalls in the Yarning Place. To conclude the day they will contribute to the Hutt Street fundraiser “Walk a mile in my shoes”. See the flier included with this newsletter for more information.
On Wednesday we are walking to Fremont Park for some fun activities, given we missed out on the recent ‘Seussical the Musical’ excursion at the Shedley Theatre. Parents are more than welcome to come down and join us at Fremont Park for a short picnic, around the time we will be having lunch (approximately 12 to 12:30pm).
I wish our choir children well who are performing at the Festival Theatre on Tuesday night of next week. This is a great opportunity to showcase your talents to your family on the big stage. Hopefully, it is something that you and your family will cherish and remember forever!
Good luck also to our Year 3, 4 and 5 students competing in the T-Ball Carnival next Thursday at Argana Park.
Please keep our Finance Officer, John Mathew, in your prayers. He flew back to India on Wednesday of this week to be with his brother who is gravely ill and currently in intensive care. We pray for you and your family John at this very difficult time.
As this is the last newsletter of the term, I would like to thank you for the contribution that you and your family have made to our school community throughout the term. It is greatly appreciated. Please remember that school resumes on Tuesday 17 October (Monday 16 is a Pupil Free Day). Remember daylight saving begins on Sunday 1 October.
Kind regards
Peter Mercer
Head of School
‘Shaping our future together’
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