Newsletter Term 2, Week 4 2025
Wednesday 21 May- Junior Family Prayer Evening 6.30 pm in the Hall
Monday 26 May - Pupil Free Day
Dear Parents, Carers and Friends,
It’s been another vibrant and uplifting fortnight here at St Margaret Mary’s, filled with learning, celebration, faith, and a deep sense of connection across our school and parish community.
Welcoming Pope Leo XIV
We begin with important news from our Church — the appointment of Pope Leo XIV as our new pope. Originally from Chicago, USA, Pope Leo spent many years serving as a missionary and bishop in Peru, where he became known for his kindness, humility, and deep care for those in need. His work with communities experiencing poverty has shaped his compassionate leadership. He has chosen the name Leo in honour of Pope Leo XIII, remembered for defending the rights and dignity of workers and families. As a school and parish, we pray for Pope Leo XIV as he begins this special role. We look forward to the way he will guide the Church with faith, kindness, and hope.
Mother’s Day Stall
Our Mother’s Day Stall was once again a highlight for the children. A big thank you to Larissa and her team for their time and care. The children loved choosing from the beautiful handmade gifts – including plants, knitwear, and other thoughtfully created items – many of which were crafted by Janice Cairns, Gilbert’s grandmother, and a group of generous friends who helped make the stall so special. Thank you also to Larissa, Janice, Nicole, Ainsley and Alison, who helped on the day – your support made all the difference.
Mother’s Day Breakfast
Last Friday, our SMM Mother’s Day Breakfast was a truly special morning. French toast, tea, coffee, catch ups with old and new friends and lots of smiles – thank you to Cara and her team for creating such a warm and welcoming celebration of all the women of SMM. It was wonderful to see so many dads, which allowed many of our mums to relax, connect, and enjoy a strong sense of community. A heartfelt thanks also to Mrs Wilson and the school choir. Their performance of two beautiful songs filled the yard with emotion – there truly wasn’t a dry eye to be found. The children had a ball, and the raffle was a great success – thank you to everyone who took part.
Year Six Confirmation
Our Year Six students recently participated in a special Confirmation Preparation Day, filled with reflection, prayer, art activities, and a shared meal. On Friday evening, they gathered with family and friends at St Patrick’s Cathedral for their Confirmation Mass, celebrated by Bishop Ashe and Father Samuel.
A special acknowledgement to Mr Devlin for his leadership in faith education at St Margaret Mary’s, and for his work with the Sacred Heart leadership team in preparing for this important sacrament. The students approached the occasion with reverence and maturity and were a credit to themselves and the school.
Thank you to Ms Prskawetz and Ms Parnell for their thoughtful preparation of the students, and to our families – the first educators in faith – for your guidance and support during this significant moment in your children’s growth as young Catholics. Congratulations to all.
Welcome to Father Samuel
Last Sunday, we celebrated the official installation of Father Samuel as our Parish Priest in a beautiful Mass with Bishop Ashe. It was a joyful and faith-filled celebration, and we’re so pleased to officially welcome Fr Samuel into his new role. We look forward to continuing to grow together in faith and a mutually supportive parish-school community.
Foundation 2026 Enrolments
During this last fortnight, Mr. Smith and I enjoyed meeting new families enrolling for Foundation in 2026, and we’ve begun reconnecting with many of our current families who will have younger siblings starting next year. Our enrolments are looking strong, and we will have one Foundation class in 2026. The consistent message from families is that they’re choosing St Margaret Mary’s for our genuine sense of community, our strong connections, and the high quality of teaching and learning we offer. It’s been such a positive time getting to know these families and hearing how deeply they value what we do and the strong community our families and staff have built together.
Student-Free Day
Thank you for your support of the upcoming student-free day, which allows our teachers valuable time in lieu to work on student reports. While report writing takes more than one day, this time – as part of our Enterprise Agreement – acknowledges the extra commitment of our staff. We appreciate your understanding, and a reminder that Camp Australia will be open for those needing supervision on the day.
Thank you, as always, for your partnership, generosity, and presence in the life of our school. We are truly blessed with such a strong and vibrant community.
Take care,
Colleen McCambridge
Principal
Election Day Sausage Sizzle Success – Thank You!
We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to our Election Day sausage sizzle and cake stall over the weekend. Whether you volunteered your time, baked goods, or donated items—your support made a huge difference!
Thank you to those who provided chopped onions, sauces, napkins, biscuits, cakes, and other treats, and to everyone who helped out volunteering their time on the day. It was a wonderful team effort, and thanks to your generosity, we raised over $2500 in sales! These funds will go straight back into activities and resources for our children, including improvements to our playground.
Junior Family Prayer Evening – Prep, Year 1 & 2 Families
We warmly invite our Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 students and their families to a very special Junior Family Prayer Evening on Wednesday 21st May at 6.00pm in the St Margaret Mary’s School Hall.
This beautiful evening of faith and connection is designed to bring families together through prayer, reflection and hands-on activities that will uplift and inspire. It’s a chance to deepen your family’s spiritual journey and create meaningful memories together.
We look forward to sharing this special time with you.
(See below for more details!)
Welcome James!
SMM welcomes James Mitchell to our school. From next term, James will be supporting our students in a number of ways, including hosting MacLit groups.
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. Awards will be handed out at our next assembly in week 3 of term 2. The students who earned an award in the past week are:
Week 3
Week 4
Mothers Day Stall
Thank you to Janice and Larissa C for organising this year’s Mother’s Day Stall. The students really enjoyed choosing from the wide range of items available – including many handmade and knitted gifts, as well as plants that had been cultivated especially for the occasion.
Thanks also to Nicole, Ainsley and Alison for helping out on the day. We appreciate the time and effort that goes into making events like this run smoothly.
AUSLAN Incursion
Last Friday, students from Prep to Grade 6 took part in an engaging and educational incursion led by Auslan Education Services. The highlight of the sessions was working and learning with Naomie, a passionate and knowledgeable member of the deaf community, who shared her experiences and insights.
Throughout the session, students had the valuable opportunity to apply their Auslan knowledge gained from weekly lessons, enthusiastically demonstrating their signing skills. They interacted with Naomie through Auslan, practicing greetings, fingerspelling, and asking thoughtful questions about her life, culture, and the challenges she faced growing up as a deaf person.
Naomie’s visit provided a powerful, real-world context to their learning, deepening students’ understanding of inclusion, communication, and the rich culture of the deaf community.
Cross Country
Congratulations to all the students who participated today under challenging conditions. Your determination and resilience were commendable. A special well done to Finn, who placed in the top 8 and will go on to represent SMM at the division level.
Mrs Magill
Around the Rooms
Foundation
The past two weeks have been super busy in Prep! We've introduced two new sounds, c and d, and the students have been doing a fantastic job using them in their reading and writing. Our reading groups have been working beautifully, and we are so grateful to the wonderful parent helpers who have been supporting us during these sessions – thank you! In Literacy, we also had our very first library lesson, and the excitement was contagious as the students explored the wonderful world of books. In Maths, we’ve been diving into partitioning numbers using concrete materials, helping us build strong number sense through hands-on learning. In Faith Life, we’ve been learning about our community and exploring the story of the Good Samaritan, reminding us all of the importance of showing kindness and love to our neighbours.
Year 1
There has been lots of learning happening in our 1 Green classroom this fortnight!
In Maths, we’ve been exploring the topic of measurement, and we have had loads of fun measuring and ordering objects around the classroom using strips of paper. In Literacy, we have been introduced to a new long vowel sound; /-y/ and /igh/. In Faith Life, we’ve continued exploring the theme of ‘Community’ by learning about and responding to the scripture ‘Jesus Feeds the 5000’. In SEL, we’ve been focusing on two of our school rules: “We follow directions” and “We treat all property with care,” and now have a great understanding of what they entail. We also had another session with Ollie Online who taught us about ‘Green time’; the importance of time away from screens! We have had a wonderful fortnight filled with exciting new learning experiences!
Year 2
This fortnight has been full of fantastic learning in Grade 2!
In Maths, we completed a short unit on measurement. We explored how to measure different classroom items using informal units like icy pole sticks, glue sticks and blocks. We practised choosing the most suitable unit, measuring carefully from end to end, and making estimates before checking the actual lengths.
In Faith Life, we’ve been learning about the story “Jesus Feeds the 5000” and the miracle that took place. We discussed how Jesus gave to his community and reflected on ways we can give back to ours. Some ideas were sharing, helping others, and showing kindness and love in our daily lives. Students reflected creatively on the Godly play that we shared last week.
In SEL (Social and Emotional Learning), we have continued to learn about the importance of our school rules and how they help create a positive and respectful classroom. Each student has even created their own new school rule to add — a wonderful way to take responsibility and show leadership in our learning space!
Year 3 and 4
This week in Year 3/4, we began our new Maths unit on measurement. Students explored both informal and formal units, and practised reading, taking and recording different types of measurements. In our Civics and Citizenship Faith Life Inquiry, we looked at the purpose of laws and rules in both society and our faith. We also explored the difference between equality and equity through class discussions and scenario based activities. We also had our Inform and Empower Adventures Online session. The focus was on balancing screen time and green time, and understanding how technology can make us feel. It was a great opportunity to reflect on our digital habits and wellbeing.
5/6
Melbourne Writers’ Festival:
Last week, some of our Year 5 and 6 students had the exciting opportunity to attend the Melbourne Writers Festival. Here’s a glimpse of what they experienced:
On the 6th of May, 9 people who were Gilbert, Cecilia, Alex F and Alex S, Emmarose, Finn, Xavier S, Leo, and Noah from 5/6, who were very interested in writing, came to the writers festival in the State Library. We went on the train and stopped at Melbourne Central, then walked up to the outside of the State Library. We then went in to meet our first writer, Nabeel Khan. The book he was showcasing was Magic Counting, a book about everyday things that are all about numbers. The next person who came up was Nat Ammore. She told us about her childhood and showed us some ‘baby photos.’ Nat told us we can find excitement in the most boring things. Next up, we had Jess Sandals. She taught us how to love our bodies with the book, ‘Love Your Body’.
Gilbert Grade 5
We went to the writers festival, it was great, we started with Nepeel Can, who taught us magic counting and the secrets of numbers and geometry. Then we had my favourite author Nat Amoor author of many books but our favourite is when she tells us about her crazy shower experiences and a cow poo fight. Next, we all got our books signed by the previous authors. I got my Nat Amoor book signed. Then we had a very important message by Jess Sanders about loving your body, and you even brainstormed titles for our non-fiction titles. For the final act, we had Reece Carter and made our own story of Sausage the cat girl. Then, sadly, we had to go back, but we had a great time and would love to go again.
Alex Grade 5
Year 6 Confirmation
The Year 6 students have been preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation. They started with a reflection Day run by a past SMM teacher, Sam O’Dwyer. They were immersed in reverent and reflective activities that spoke of the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit and how the Sacrament of Confirmation can enrich their lives. They created their artistic work symbolising the Holy Spirit, made some reflective prayer brands and identified the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit that they see in themselves and others.
On Friday, 9th May, as part of the Jubilee Year, both Sacred Heart and St Margaret Mary students were invited to complete their Confirmation Ceremony at St Patrick's Cathedral. It was a beautiful ceremony led by Bishop Martin and Father Samuel. We congratulated all the Year 6 Candidates on making their Confirmation, and we hope that the Holy Spirit will enrich their lives for years to come.
Confirmation at St Patrick’s Cathedral
Our Year 6 students received the Sacrament of Confirmation last Friday evening at St Patrick’s Cathedral. It was a truly memorable venue to celebrate such an important milestone, making the occasion even more special.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Bishop Martin Ashe and Father Samuel for presiding over the Mass. Thank you also to our dedicated teachers for preparing the students so thoughtfully. To our students—thank you for your commitment to your faith. And to our families and sponsors—your support and encouragement have been invaluable throughout this important journey.
Congratulations Fr Samuel
We congratulate Father Samuel on his official appointment as our new Parish Priest.
We look forward to working together as a strong and supportive school-parish community.
Working together = Great Things
Thank you to all of our families for the work you have done this year in fundraising for our school. Some of the projects that are currently under way and should be completed by the end of the term are:
New Hall projector, screen and blinds.
Redevelopment of the Sandpit and construction of new Gaga pit
New Soft fall mulch installed on the playground.
🏉Footy Tipping🏉
🏉 Footy Tipping Update – Round 9 Wrap-Up!
We’re nine rounds in with plenty of footy still ahead, and the competition is well and truly heating up!
grechster has jumped into top spot on 61 points, after a strong couple of rounds. Former leader Matt Cram is close behind, tied for second with Team Walsh and NicJBell on 59. Just behind them are Hawkspursjnr, Zamo54, and Collingwood Cal – all within a few tips of the lead.
Don’t forget – every tipper has one Joker round (double your score) to use across the season, so choose wisely!
Round 10 features some tough games to call – Collingwood v Adelaide, Port Adelaide v Geelong will all be key matches that could shake up the ladder.
Best of luck with your tips this week – and don’t forget to lock them in!
Please pay now if you haven’t already done so. 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, labeled with your alias and titled "2025 footy tipping".
https://www.footytips.com.au/comps/2025_SMM_Footy_Tipping?p=stmm3015
New Mathematics Curriculum and Reporting
At the close of 2023, the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) unveiled its updated Mathematics curriculum, known as Mathematics Curriculum 2.0. This revision by the Victorian Government aims to elevate Australian educational standards to better align with global benchmarks.
By 2025, all Victorian government schools must adopt Mathematics Curriculum 2.0.
At St Margaret Marys Primary School, we began implementing this updated curriculum for teaching in Semester 1 2024, and will be reporting starting from Semester 1, 2025.
During the transition, we have observed that some students' achievement levels in Numeracy assessments under Victorian Curriculum 2.0 are occasionally lower compared to those under version 1.0. Consequently, your child may achieve a lower level this year in comparison to their previous progression points.
In regards to school reports, previously, teachers reported on three strands of the mathematics achievement standard (Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, and Statistics and Probability), resulting in three progression points.
Under Mathematics Curriculum 2.0, there are now six strands (Number, Pattern and Algebra, Measurement, Space, Statistics and Probability), and teachers will assess against the entire achievement standard, providing a single aggregated progression point.
Due to these changes in reporting standards, the first report you receive under Mathematics 2.0 will only indicate achievement without showing progress. Subsequent reports will display progress against the unified achievement standard.
We want to assure you that any apparent decrease in your child's mathematics attainment level in 2025 is likely due to these revised curriculum targets, not a regression in their learning or capabilities.
These adjustments emphasise the Victorian Government's heightened expectations for mathematics education. The new curriculum is more rigorous across multiple domains. Lower reported levels do not reflect the efforts of our teachers or students but rather highlight the differences between the two curriculum versions.
Rest assured, your child's actual attainment has not diminished; the benchmarks have evolved. At St Margaret Marys, as teachers adapt their instruction and planning to meet these new standards, we anticipate a period of adjustment. During this transitional phase, our focus will always remain on fostering learning growth.
If you have any questions regarding the curriculum changes or your child's report, please feel free to discuss them with your classroom teacher or with me directly.
Anne Ablinger
Mathematics Leader
Free Soccer Session with Coerver Coaching – May 24
Coerver Coaching is offering a free soccer session on May 24 for any students interested in learning new skills and developing their confidence on the field. Open to all abilities and especially suited for ages 4–16, Coerver Coaching is a globally renowned program that focuses on individual skill development, teamwork, and fun!
🚜 Local Event Alert: Tiny Truckers Day! 🛻
Looking for something fun to do with the kids? The Tiny Truckers Day is coming to Yarraville—and it’s perfect for little ones who love big machines!
🗓 When: Saturday, 17 May 2025
🕤 Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
📍 Where: Bradmill Yarraville Display Suite, 355–359 Francis Street, Yarraville
Children will get the chance to explore real construction vehicles, with free coffee and morning tea available for families. It’s a great local outing for curious young minds!
👉 Find out more: frasersproperty.com.au link
Camp Australia
What’s coming up in Term 2!
Free Tickets – Melbourne Victory Women’s Grand Final This Sunday! ⚽🏆
We’re excited to share that the Melbourne Victory Women’s team have made it to the A-League Women’s Grand Final this Sunday afternoon at AAMI Park – and our school community has been invited to attend!
Thanks to the generosity of Melbourne Victory FC, 300 free tickets have been gifted to St Margaret Mary’s families to show support as the team plays for the championship. It’s a great chance to enjoy a family day out and celebrate women’s sport at the highest level.
Event Details:
What: A-League Women’s Grand Final – ⚽ Melbourne Victory vs Central Coast Mariners
When: Sunday May 18th ⏰ Kick-off: 3:15pm
Where: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Cost: FREE – tickets have been provided by the club
How to Redeem Your Free Tickets:
Use the link below and enter the password to claim your tickets.
Password: MVCONE
If you need more than 2 tickets, you can redeem more than once.
Go Victory! 💙⚽
Salvation Army Donation Drive
St Margaret Mary’s is supporting the Salvation Army in Altona and Hobsons Bay by collecting non-perishable food and household items for local families in need.
Suggested items include tinned food, toiletries, baby care products, long life milk, and pantry staples like pasta, rice, and snacks.
All donations can be brought to school. There's also an option to donate money via the QR code on the flyer.
Thank you for your support.
Emmanuel College Latest News – 4 March 2025
Dear Families,
Celebrating Student Achievement
Emmanuel College participated in the recent Rotary Wynspeak Public Speaking Competition, hosted at Good News Lutheran College with Notre Dame Campus students—Kiara, Samuel, Samuel, and Sharon, representing the College proudly. This event provided an excellent platform for secondary students to showcase their communication skills in a supportive and inspiring environment. We congratulate all four for their outstanding efforts and commendable performances on the night.
A special congratulations to Kiara, who impressed the judges with her powerful and engaging address, winning the Junior Prepared Speeches category. Kiara will now advance to the Wynspeak Finals in June, to compete against students from schools across Wyndham and Hobsons Bay.
Excitement Builds for “The Wizard of Oz” Musical at Emmanuel College
There is a palpable buzz across both campuses this week as students and staff put the finishing touches on this year’s musical production, The Wizard of Oz. With dazzling costumes, intricate stage designs, and spirited rehearsals underway, the entire cast and crew are showcasing remarkable teamwork and creativity.
This musical not only highlights the talents of our budding performers, singers, and backstage teams, but also fosters a strong sense of collaboration and community among students from both campuses. We can’t wait to bring this enchanting story to life and look forward to sharing photos and highlights in our upcoming news.
Mother’s Day Mass Celebration
Last Friday saw students and their families join together at each campus, for a beautiful and heartfelt Mother’s Day Mass celebrated by Fr Binh Le at Notre Dame and Fr Michael Kalka at St Paul’s Campus. The morning was filled with warmth as students and their loved ones shared a special breakfast and took time to appreciate one another.
Meet the Principal – A Warm Welcome
Last Thursday, we were delighted to welcome prospective families to our Meet the Principal event at Notre Dame Campus. Families enjoyed an insightful presentation by Mr Mark Sciberras, Acting Executive Deputy Principal, followed by a guided campus tour led by our knowledgeable student ambassadors.
Join us for a Campus Tour
Come and explore Emmanuel College at one of our upcoming campus tours to see the fantastic facilities and hear more about the innovative learning experiences we offer our students.
Registration is essential 👉 Register for a tour or event
Tour Dates:
Notre Dame Campus – Tuesday 17 June | 9:15am – 10:30am
St Paul’s Campus – Monday 23 June | 9:15am – 10:30am
Year 7 2027 applications close on Friday 15 August 2025.
If your child is currently in Year 5, please submit your application before 15 August this year.
🔔 Important: A separate application is required for each child, even if you already have a student enrolled at Notre Dame or St Paul’s Campus. 👉 Submit an application online
Need help with your application?
Please contact:
Ms Donna Grech, College Registrar
📞 8325 5100
📧 enrolments@ecmelb.catholic.edu.au
Mount St. Joseph
You're Invited! Experience Our College at Open Day
We are delighted to invite you and your family to our Open Day at Mount St. Joseph Girls' College – a wonderful opportunity to experience firsthand the vibrant learning environment, strong community spirit, and outstanding opportunities that await your child.
Date: Sunday 18 May
Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm
During your visit, you will have the chance to:
Take a guided tour of our facilities
Meet our dedicated teachers and student leaders
Learn about our academic programs, co-curricular activities, and faith-based values
Discover how we nurture students to become confident, compassionate and capable young people
Please register your intention to attend.
We look forward to welcoming you to Mount St. Joseph Girls' College and sharing what makes our community so special!
Kate Dishon
Principal
Mount St. Joseph Girls' College
133 Maidstone Street Altona
Ph 8398 2000
www.msj.vic.edu.au
