T3, Week 7, 2022

Dear Families,

We are very excited that Helen Connolly, the Commissioner for Children and Young People in South Australia, will be visiting our school on Monday to meet with our Student Leaders group. Each year Helen invites all students from Year 2 up to send her a post card to outline what is important to them, what aspirations they have, what worries them and any suggestions they may have for change. Last year Helen received over 13,000 post cards from South Australian students! It is a great privilege to have her come to St Mary Magdalene’s School and personally speak with and listen to our children.

On Wednesday evening of this week the Elizabeth Catholic Parish celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation in St Ann’s Church. The Vicar General, Fr Dean Marin confirmed each of the candidates and spoke about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, while beautifully engaging them through sharing the story of The Lion King. We congratulate Eugenio Bria and Stella Chambers on receiving this Sacrament. They will receive the Sacrament of Eucharist at a Parish Mass this coming weekend.

Mr Maglai has organised a series of Dance / Aerobics sessions for our students called ‘Master Movers’. The children have enjoyed the two sessions so far, displaying some interesting moves and developing some fitness along the way. From what I have seen, some of us really are born to dance and others probably not so much!

This week we celebrate RUOK Day. This is an important reminder for each one of us about the importance of Mental Health in our community. I encourage you to check in on your family, friends and colleagues, not just at the moment but on a regular basis. Be sure to care for yourself also and reach out to others if you need someone to chat with or to ‘lean on’.

On Monday 26 September some of our senior students will sing at the Festival Theatre as a part of the annual Catholic Schools Music Festival. This is a showcase of the various music programs that take place in our South Australian Catholic Schools. Besides the 400 students on stage as a part of the Festival Choir, there are many other students doing solos or playing various musical instruments. It is always an excellent show and we wish Chelsey, Deakin, Lisa, Maddie, Ruby, Teresa and Taeylor all the very best for this exciting and special occasion. It is an event they will remember for the rest of their lives, 'singing at the Festival Theatre'!

I would like to wish Lisa Daniele all the best as she takes some well earned leave to travel. We will welcome Charli back on to the front desk. Lisa will be away from school for the last week of this term and the first three weeks of next term.

Working in Partnership 

Peter Mercer 

Head of Campus 

‘The tender Mercy of God has given us one another.’ ~ Catherine McAuley

Liturgical Events and Celebrations

Over the next few weeks we celebrate, International Peace Day and Mercy Day.

September 21 is International Day for World Peace. This was established by the United Nations in 1982. It is a day when individuals, communities, nations, and governments highlight efforts to end conflict and promote peace.

We will celebrate Mercy Day in Week 10. This is an important day for all of us who belong to schools founded by the Sisters of Mercy. It is also a day to remember and give thanks for the life of Catherine McAuley. On this day in 1827 Catherine’s House of Mercy in Baggot Street in Dublin was opened.

In our celebrations this year we think about how we live our call to be merciful people. Through our fundraising, we will support the works of Catherine House, who like Catherine McAuley, work to support women and children in need.

Mercy Day Celebrations 2022

This year we will celebrate Mercy Day with a whole school liturgy on Wednesday September 28 at 9.30am in the Yarning Space. Our Year 5/6 students along with students from R-6 will help to prepare and lead the liturgy.

Throughout the day students will be involved in learning about Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy and the work that Catherine House do to support women and children in need. Students will have the opportunity to engage with activity stalls and we will end the day with a colour run.

A flyer with more information will be sent via SeeSaw next week

Religious Literacy Assessment Tool (ReLAT)

Our Year 4 students will complete the Religious Education Literacy Assessment (ReLAT) this week. The assessment focuses on students’ knowledge and understanding of key concepts that are addressed in the Crossways Religious Education Curriculum, the achievement of the outcomes set out in the curriculum, and the ability of students to communicate this knowledge and understanding about the Catholic tradition. Questions are based on general religious knowledge gained from participation in RE lessons and the religious dimension of the Catholic school. The data produced from the assessment is designed to give teachers’ meaningful feedback about the students’ learning and to assist in developing the classroom teaching of Religion.

Sacramental Program 2022

This week Stella in 3/4SS and Eugenio in 5/6AT celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation. On the weekend they will celebrate First Eucharist. As a school community we wish them continued prayers as they continue their faith journey.

If your child would like to be involved in the Sacramental Program for 2023 or you would like to find out more about the program, please see Melissa Musolino.

Catholic Charities

This week your child will bring home a brochure containing information about Catholic Charities. The brochure contains stories from the agencies supported by Catholic Charities.

The Mustard Seed Service

Students in the Year 5/6 class have been learning about acts of service within Religious Education.  We have recently explored the Parable about the Mustard Seed and how from little things big things can grow. As a class we discussed what are the little things that we can do for each other that help our school to be a better place.

This term the students have been working with many of our junior classes with sound practice. This is a task that takes a small part of our day where the 5/6 students take on a mentoring role and listen to our younger students say their sounds daily. Already I am hearing that this small act is having a significant difference in our junior students sound knowledge.

Thanks to Mrs Menadue for training and guiding our 5/6 mentors and helping our journey of Service this term.