Term 2, Week 5, 2023

We have hit the halfway point of this term. It's been a busy time so far with many things happening around the school. We've had a Sorry Day liturgy led by our First Nations students, our first school board meeting of the term, and some pizza cooking (I was lucky enough to have one delivered to me).

Reception Transition

Our mid-year reception class will be joining us for transition visits this term. Every Wednesday during weeks 7, 8 and 9 we will have eight new students joining our, school. If you see our new families around during these visits, please welcome them warmly into our community. 

Playgroup

Due to our reception class moving into the current playgroup room, playgroup has moved to a new spot. Please join us in MM2, next to the Community Hub. Kerryn and Chantelle have done an amazing job of setting up the new room and I'm sure our young ones will enjoy their new space.

Pupil Free Day

A reminder that our next pupil free day will occur on Friday 9 June. All Catholic Education South Australian schools will have a new student reporting format this year. As a system we are using SEQTA, a student learning management system to produce these reports. On this day staff from both St Thomas More and St Mary Magdalene schools will continue to participate in their training to generate student reports using this system.

Liturgical Calendar Information 

Special celebrations that we focus on during classroom and whole school prayer throughout term 2 and those that come up in our liturgical calendar include: 

May 28 Feast of Pentecost 

May 27 – June 3 Reconciliation Week 

June 4 – Feast of the Trinity 

June 5 – World Environment Day 

June 20 – World Refugee Day 

June 20 – Feast of St. Thomas More 

July 2 – 9 – NAIDOC Week  

Feast of Pentecost 

With the celebration of Pentecost, we come to the end of the Easter season and continue with Ordinary time in the liturgical calendar. Pentecost literally means 50th. It is a feast on the 50th day after the feast of the Resurrection of Jesus. On the feast of Pentecost, we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem. This event also marks the beginning of the Church. This week students will reflect on the effects of the Holy Spirit at work in their daily lives. 

Reconciliation Week 

This week we also celebrate Reconciliation week with the theme, ‘Be a Voice for Generations’. The theme encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives – where we live, work, and socialise. For the work of generations past, and the benefit of generations future, act today for a more just, equitable and reconciled country for all. It is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.  

Visit from Fr. Santosh 

Last week, Fr. Santosh visited our school to meet students and staff. Our recently appointed ambassadors assisted with the tour by introducing Fr. Santosh to students and staff as we moved through the school. Fr. Santosh and Mr. Ferguson shared their basketball skills with Kaeleb from Miss Sekhon’s class as we walked through the yard. Fr. Santosh will join us on Tuesday July 4, Week 10 at 12pm to lead us in our whole school community Mass. You might like to join us too.  

Project Compassion 

We would like to say a big thank you to all our families for the donations you made to CARITAS Australia’s Project Compassion Appeal in Term 1. A total of $155.00 was raised by our community. 

Classroom Learning 

Mrs Drewett’s Reception students have been learning about the Feast of the Ascension. Their images show Jesus ascending into heaven. Images are below.

Elizabeth Catholic Parish Sacramental Program 

On Friday May 26, Jasmine, Cassie, and Jia completed their First Reconciliation at the Elizabeth Catholic Parish. They will continue their learning in term two and three ready to complete the Sacraments of Confirmation and Frist Eucharist in September. Please keep these students in your prayers. 

For those families whose child/ren are involved in the 2023 Sacramental Program, please be aware of the following dates for Term 2. 

Eucharist Session for Parents and Candidates 

Term 2 Week 9 Saturday July 1 9.00am – 11.00am St. Thomas More Church 

My students call me Mrs. Drewett (although I have accidently been called Mummy or Nanna quite a few times!). I am the Reception classroom teacher here at St Mary Magdalene’s School.

This is my 15th year at the school. In that time, I have taught all year levels across the school as well as being the PE teacher for a term while Mr Magali was on long service leave.

St Mary Magdalene’s really is a community – the way that everyone helps each other out in any way that they can is honestly what I love most about this school.

When I think about what my biggest motivation is for coming into work each day, it has to be the look of excitement on the children’s faces, whether it be when I am greeting them each morning at the door, or when they learn to understand something new that has challenging for them.

I remember holding the newborn baby sibling of one of my students many years ago. All of a sudden that newborn was starting school in my Reception class. Fast forward a few more years, and that newborn was graduating primary school and about to start their journey into high school. I feel so privileged to have been able to share so many special moments with not only that student and family, but so many families over my time at St Mary Magdalene’s.

The year 4/5 students have had a very exciting start to Term 2. In week 3, the students visited the Festival Theatre along with the Year 2s in Miss Petersen’s class to view pieces of artwork which they created in Term 1 for the DreamBig Festival. Additionally, the students were also invited to participate in two workshops. The Year 4/5 students were selected to participate in the’ Sea of Light’ and ‘Our World on Screen’ workshops. Please enjoy the pictures below from their day taken by Michelle who kindly stepped in to take the students on the excursion in my place. The students had a great time and really enjoyed themselves.

The first workshop, Sea of Light, was an interactive and immersive installation where students painted with a magical UV torch and were able to see their art light up with every brushstroke.

Later, they took a gallery walk to see their artwork framed and displayed in the Festival Theatre Gallery.

This workshop focused on creating storyboards and narrative structure.

"Dear families, I would just like to say a big thank you for supporting our annual Book Fair.  The total amount spent was $2,865, which means the school will receive $650 dollars to spend on books for the library!"

I can’t believe it’s already week 5!

The last few weeks in OSHC have been busy, we finished up our sewing creations and moved into exploring our creativity, design and construction skills in other new ways using Lego and Polymer Clay.

Some children have been exploring Lego with complete autonomy and creativity, building from their imagination structures and buildings of all different types. Others have enjoyed taking a more traditional approach to Lego creation by building different sets by reading and following different instructions to meet their goals. It’s been great to see the children engaging in meaningful building and construction.

We also acquired a new resource over the last few weeks that was much anticipated by the children – Polymer Clay. The children have been making some wonderful creations including beads, earrings, mini figures and keychains. I can’t wait to see what else they come up with.

Finally, just a quick notice regarding the PUPIL FREE DAY on the 9th of June.

It is extremely important that you book in for the Pupil Free Day and tell us your expected drop off time and pick up times.  Due to staffing, we have limited spaces available in the morning session period between 6:45 – 8:30.

If you do not tell us you need your child in during this time you will be asked to wait until 8:30am. This ensures we remain within our ratios and can provide quality care and supervision to all.

To book in please call or text Jenn on 0437 609 630 or see Lisa in the office.