Newsletter Term 2, Week 10 2025
Thursday 3 July- Parent Teacher Interviews- Beginning at 12.30pm
Friday 4 July- Last Day of Term 2- Students finish at 1pm
Dear Families and Friends,
Dear Families,
At this time in the Church’s year, we find ourselves in Ordinary Time and the month of the Sacred Heart. As part of this, the children attended Mass to celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart—a beautiful reminder of God's love and a chance to come together in prayer as a school community.
In everything we do at St Margaret Mary’s, our dedication to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is inspired by the experiences of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, who, in her visions between 1673 and 1675, felt the gentle warmth of Christ’s heart—her life became a beautiful example of living out compassion, courage and dedication.
The colder mornings haven’t dampened spirits, with students rugging up and continuing to give their best. There’s been a real sense of purpose in classrooms, and we’re seeing academic and social emotional growth across the year levels. Staff have been working hard finalising Semester one reports and look forward to the parent/guardian and teacher meetings this coming Thursday.
Last week’s Multicultural Day was a joyful celebration of our diverse community. Students proudly wore national colours and took part in hands-on activities that explored cultures from around the world. This event capped off our term’s focus on Community and Inclusion, reminding us of the importance of tolerance, compassion and belonging.
As we continue nurturing a culture where every child feels safe and respected—both in person and online—we sent home a short letter with helpful resources to support age-appropriate conversations at home about kindness, respectful language and digital behaviour.
Home - School Community building – FSG
We are incredibly grateful for the community spirit that continues to shine at St Margaret Mary's and the children are directly benefitting from the funds raised so far this year. All families are warmly invited to contribute to our Fundraising and Social Group (FSG)—whether you can attend the termly meetings or not. This group provides a positive and inclusive way to build connections among families while supporting school projects and initiatives. We communicate every fortnight through this newsletter, and we also utilise Year level FB groups and have FSG group email list.
If you’d like to be part of the FSG email group, please email Simon at sdevlin@smmspotswood.catholic.edu.au. We would love to have you involved in whatever way you can.
This collective spirit has been witnessed in many ways this term—from parents volunteering as guest speakers, classroom helpers, helping spread safety mulch on the adventure playground, Mother’s Day stall, serving at Mother’s Day breakfast and so the list goes on. Thanks to FSG’s fundraising, we’ve been able to renovate the sandpit, build the gaga pit, refresh garden beds, add mulch, purchase novel sets for our middle and senior students and enhance our collection of decodable books for our junior students.
Essential improvements underway enhanced student facilities
We recently improved the Year 2 learning space by repairing the interconnecting wall and installing soft grey pinboards. These upgrades reduce visual and acoustic distractions, creating a calmer, more focused environment for students. The improvement was long overdue and is already making a positive impact.
This term, I formally sought MACS support to address the deteriorating junior toilet facilities, spouting, and eaves near “the green.” Through ongoing advocacy, we’ve secured funding for urgent works including toilet floors, doors, suites, and the roof. Quotes are now underway, and we hope to begin these essential upgrades shortly.
Looking Ahead
Term 2 finishes Friday 4th July at 1pm and resumes Wednesday July 23rd. We are using the first two days of Term 3 as Student free days to facilitate our whole school review preparation, and the second day will involve professional development in the teaching of Literacy for our staff.
Out of School Hours (OSH Club) are available for families from 1pm Friday 4th and for full days on Monday 21st July, Tuesday 22nd July.
In the meantime, I hope the holidays bring some slower mornings, a bit of sunshine, and time to simply enjoy being together.
Thank you again for your support and for all the small (and big) ways you contribute to our school. I’m so grateful to be part of this community.
Take Care,
Colleen McCambridge
Principal
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 11 at 2.45 pm. The students who earned an award in the past week are:
Week 10
Week 9
Whole School Athletics Day
What an amazing day we had for our annual Whole School Athletics Day!
The weather was kind to us, and we were able to run all our events as scheduled. A special thanks to all our parent volunteers and the MSJ girls for their support on the day—we couldn’t have done it without you!
Well done to Mrs Magill for all her hard work in coordinating the day. It’s always a fun and memorable experience for the students and one of the highlights of our school year.
SMM Cultural Celebration
Cultural Day at St Margaret Mary’s – A Celebration of Diversity and Learning
On Tuesday 17 June, our entire St Margaret Mary’s school community came together to celebrate Cultural Day—a vibrant, engaging event designed to support our students’ learning around intercultural understanding. This term, students have been exploring key concepts such as recognising cultural diversity in their community, describing their experiences of intercultural encounters, and identifying similarities and differences in the ways people from different cultures live.
To bring these learning goals to life, students participated in a fun-filled day of hands-on activities representing cultures from within our school community. Dressed in traditional clothing or colours representing their heritage (or a country of their choice), students rotated through eight exciting cultural stations, including:
Royal Crowns – learning about the English royal family and creating their own crowns
Vietnamese Lotus Flowers – exploring the significance of the lotus in Vietnamese culture and drawing their own
Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel – discovering the work of the Italian artist and painting like him—lying on their backs!
Japanese Origami – folding beautiful paper cranes while learning about this traditional art form
World Trivia – competing in teams to test their global knowledge across topics like greetings, dress, and geography
Mexican Hat Dance – getting active with a joyful group dance from Mexico
Flag Making – designing and creating their own unique country flags
The day was a huge success! Students demonstrated persistence, resilience, collaboration, and compassion as they worked together in mixed year-level groups. It was a wonderful opportunity for our SMM community to celebrate diversity, share knowledge, and enjoy a fantastic day of learning and fun.
Around the Rooms
Foundation
Over the past two weeks, our Prep students have been busy learning and growing in all areas of the curriculum!
In Literacy, we’ve introduced two new letters: ‘b’ and ‘j’. The students have enjoyed exploring the sounds these letters make and finding words that include them. We’ve also been doing a lot of writing, it's been wonderful to see the children growing in confidence when writing words and beginning to form their own sentences. As part of our writing this term, we’ve had some exciting language experiences, including playing The Floor is Lava and Pac-Man! These activities helped spark ideas and enthusiasm for our writing tasks. Students also watched a short video clip and responded to it through writing, showing great engagement and creativity.
In Mathematics, we’ve wrapped up our unit on shapes and moved into exploring numbers from 11 to 20. We’ve been unpacking the place value of these numbers, helping students develop a deeper understanding of tens and ones. In addition, we’ve been working on high doubles facts, and it’s been fantastic to see students confidently take on new challenges with enthusiasm.
Exciting Learning in Year 1 Green!
Over the past two weeks, our Year 1 classroom has been buzzing with learning and celebration. In Literacy, we have been exploring split digraphs and the "bossy e," learning how this tricky letter can change the sound of vowels in words. We have also been learning about suffixes. In Maths, we have been building our confidence in addition and subtraction. In SEL, we have focused on understanding and following the important school rules of “We listen to the speaker” and “We move safely at all times.” In Faith Life, we have been learning about the rich diversity of cultures in our community, which we celebrated during our Cultural Day last Tuesday. We also took part in the beautiful Feast of the Sacred Heart Mass yesterday, reflecting on the values of compassion and kindness. A huge congratulations to all the students who had speaking and non-speaking roles during the Mass, as well as everyone else in Year 1 who lead by example sitting at the front of the Church!
Year 2
Over the past fortnight, our Grade 2 students have been deepening their understanding of faith and culture. They’ve explored the diverse cultures within our community and reflected on cultural celebrations they’ve experienced. This learning journey culminated in a vibrant and enriching Cultural Day last week. Students participated in a variety of activities across the school including flag making, crown making, origami, dancing and trivia. Students showed wonderful collaboration and cooperation in mixed peer groups. It was a fantastic day of learning, and the students thoroughly enjoyed the experience!
In Mathematics, we've been exploring measurement, with a focus on mass and capacity using informal units. To wrap up our capacity unit in a fun and creative way, the students designed their own magical potions! They then compared the capacities of their jars using language such as "greater than," "less than," and "equal to." It’s been a spellbinding few weeks of hands-on, meaningful learning!
Years 3 and 4
Over the past few weeks, the Year 3/4 students have been busy engaging in a range of exciting events. During our school’s Cultural Day, students participated in a variety of activities such as trivia, flag making, dance, upside down drawing and more, celebrating the diversity in our community. In honour of the Feast of the Sacred Heart, we learned about our patron saint, St Margaret Mary, and her visions of Jesus revealing his Sacred Heart. Students explored the symbolism and meaning behind the Sacred Heart and then created their own vibrant interpretations.
Year 5/6
Last week, we were lucky to welcome Alison, a former SMM student, and Pete from Hobsons Bay Council for a special tree planting incursion. They generously donated over 100 native plants for us to plant at the front of the school. Alison and Pete showed us the correct planting techniques and worked alongside us to bring new life to our school grounds.
The plants may be small now, but we’re excited to watch them grow in the years ahead! This experience tied in beautifully with our Inquiry topic on Civics and Government, as it gave us the opportunity to act as active citizens, caring for and improving our local community.
Citizenship Project
Building on our tree planting incursion, Year 5/6 students are working in teams to tackle real issues within the SMM community. After identifying a concern, they’ve explored its causes, considered different viewpoints, and developed an action plan to drive change.
To tie in with our persuasive writing focus, students will present their proposals to peers and school leaders. Topics include classroom facilities, lunchtime club ideas, and enhancing the variety of activities for outdoor playtime. We’re excited to see their voices in action!
Student Wellbeing/Mental Health in Primary Schools News
Parent Teacher Interviews and the Children’s Wellbeing Continuum
With Parent-teacher interviews next week, keep the Children’s Wellbeing Continuum in mind.
The Children’s Wellbeing Continuum is an evidence-based tool developed to support conversations around children’s wellbeing. The tool provides a snapshot of a child’s social and emotional well-being at a point in time. The Continuum has four anchor points that range from ‘Good’ through to ‘Coping’, ‘Struggling’ and ‘Overwhelmed’. The Continuum can guide discussions in areas (see below) that support a student’s well-being and academic learning.
World Down Syndrome Day 2026 Competition
Lots of Socks design competition 2026 - World Down Syndrome Day
If you are under the age of 18 then your design must be submitted by a parent or guardian. Each entrant can submit more than 1 design. Competition closing date: 11th July 2025
NAIDOC WEEK 6-13 July
Theme: NAIDOC Week 2025 - The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT NAIDOC STANDS FOR?
On 26 January 1938, while many Australians celebrated the 150th anniversary of the landing of the First Fleet, a group of over 1000 Aboriginal people gathered at Australia Hall in Sydney to call for full citizenship status and laws to improve the lives of First Nations people. As one of the first major civil rights gatherings in the world, this day became known as the Day of Mourning. Since then, National NAIDOC Week has grown to become both a commemoration of the first Day of Mourning as well as a celebration of the history, culture and excellence of First Nations people. National NAIDOC Week is observed annually from the first Sunday in July until the following Sunday. (Source: Supporting NAIDOC Week Toolkit 2025)
What you can do to support NAIDOC WEEK
Visit the library to read a book by a First Nations author or purchase one from a bookstore
Explore the AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia. Explore this map and learn about the alternative spellings of names; and also the online interactive map and language databases on the AIATSIS website.
Local NAIDOC Week events This website contains some free events in Victoria during the school holidays.
During their SEL lesson, Year 1 explored the book ‘Silly Birds’. It is a children's book by Indigenous author Gregg Dreise, telling a cautionary tale about a young eagle who learns the importance of listening and wisdom, inspired by traditional Dreaming stories. The image on the right highlights an art display titled ‘Wearable Culture’ and highlights the SMM collection of First Nations books and works by indigenous authors. The students explored some of these books on the recent cultural day.
Resources to Support the Parenting Journey!
Amaze:
Amaze is the peak body for Autistic people and their supporters in Victoria. Offers free support line, workshops, information and resources.
Amaze — Shaping the future for autism
Aspergers Victoria:
Aspergers Victoria is a small not-for-profit organisation supporting Victorians who have Aspergers, who are autistic, or who have another similar neurodivergent profile. Offers support groups and events for our community to help them feel connected, supported, and empowered to live the life they want for themselves.
https://aspergersvic.org.au
Association for Children with a Disability (ACD):
ACD is a not-for-profit organisation led by and for all families of children with disability aged 0 – 18 years old in Victoria. Offers free support line, workshops, information and resources.
www.acd.org.au
Parent Works:
ParentWorks is a free online program for Australian parents and caregivers of children 2 to 16. It provides parenting strategies to improve parenting skills, confidence and child behaviour.
https://parentworks.org.au/#
Raising Children Network:
Articles, videos and interactive resources are tailored to different ages and stages, taking you from nurturing a newborn to raising a confident, resilient teen – and helping you to look after yourself as a parent too. Funded by the Australian Government.
Raising Children Network
Triple P – Positive Parenting Program:
The three Ps in ‘TripleP’ stand for ‘Positive Parenting Program’and is a toolbox of ideas and strategies. Triple P helps you manage behaviour, set rules and routines and raise happy and confident children.
www.triplep-parenting.net.au/vic-uken/triple-p
Parenting and family support - Hobsons Bay
Kids Helpline - Counselling Service for Ages 5 to 25
What it is: Kids Helpline is a national service accessible by phone (1800 55 1800) and online (web chat, email). Free: The service is free to call, even from a mobile phone.
What it offers:
Counselling: Trained counsellors provide support and guidance on various issues.
Confidentiality: All interactions are private and confidential.
Accessibility: Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from anywhere in Australia.
Thanks for working in positive partnership with us to support the children in our care!
Kath Novak
Student Wellbeing / MHiPS
Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Mass
It was a wonderful celebration on Tuesday as we gathered for the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Mass. Led beautifully by our Year Ones, it was a special opportunity to come together as a school community and reflect on the loving and compassionate heart of Jesus.
The Mass reminded us of the importance of showing kindness, generosity, and love to others—especially those in need during these cold winter months.
We need your Help!
Dear Families,
We’re excited to announce that the date for our SMM Trivia Night has been set for 16 August, and preparations for this fantastic community event are already underway!
To make the night truly special, we need your support. We kindly ask for donations of the following:
A bottle of wine, spirits, or sweets
Smaller items suitable for raffle prizes
Larger items perfect for our silent auction, such as vouchers, beauty treatments, collectibles, or unique experiences
Donations can be left at the school office by August 11.
Thank you in advance for helping us make this a memorable evening for everyone!
Warm regards,
FSG
Upcoming Events Next Term
🏉Footy Tipping🏉
With the competition heating up, NicJBell has extended their lead at the top, climbing to 92 points. Team Walsh and grechster are hot on their heels with 91 each—only one tip behind!
Zamo54 made the biggest leap in the rankings, moving up by 10 points over two rounds to now sit on 89. devdoggies and Matt Cram are still very much in the race on 88, tied with Collingwood Cal, Hawkspursjnr, and Disi in what is shaping up to be a tight mid-table battle.
This weekend's fixtures bring plenty of potential upsets, with Sydney taking on the Bulldogs Friday night, and Richmond facing Adelaide in a Sunday showdown. With only 4 points separating the top 8 tippers, and plenty of jokers still in play, the leaderboard could shift dramatically.
Who will tip smart in Round 16? Let’s see who takes their shot and climbs the ladder!
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".
Cash prizes this year!
1st Prize- $200
2nd Prize- $100
3rd Prize- $50
Thank You!
We’re thrilled to welcome Buxton Inner West as our Platinum Sponsor for the SMM Trivia Night!
A special shoutout to Directors Tristan Tomasino and Matthew John - both are proud ex-students of our school who jumped at the opportunity to lead the way with Sponsorship.
With their incredibly generous support we have some very exciting major prizes up from grabs this year. Bigger & better than ever.
Reports Online
Today student reports were released online. You should have received an email from no-reply@nforma.com.au with instructions and your login details. Please ensure that you check your junk/spam folder for an email from that address.
It is highly recommended that you use a computer to access your child’s reports for the first time. 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.
Once in the portal you will need to choose your child (if you have more than one at our school) and then choose the reporting component.
Forgotten passwords:
If you have forgotten your password, please follow the 'forgotten password' link. Please note that your new password needs to be at least 7 characters long and must include at least one non alpha-numeric character, e.g. *, - / or similar.
If you have requested a password reset and the email does not appear, please look in your junk/spam folder for an email from no-reply@nforma.com.au.
If you have any questions or issues, please contact the school office. A paper copy of your child/rens report will be available upon request.
Supporting Your Child’s Maths Learning – Mental Strategies in Number
Dear Families,
As we approach the time for school reports to go home, we wanted to share a helpful overview of how students learn number skills under the new Victorian Mathematics Curriculum.
The Mental Strategies Developmental Continuum outlines how number knowledge progresses from Foundation to Year 6. Mental strategies are the building blocks of more complex maths thinking. These include skills like visualising numbers, breaking problems into smaller parts, and using strategies that don't rely on counting every time.
To support this learning, all students are now taking part in a short, focused 20-minute daily 'Number Blast' session in class. This regular practice is designed to strengthen their understanding of numbers and improve their confidence in maths.
We hope this information helps you support your child’s number learning at home. Earlier in the term, we also shared with you an online resource, Maths Online, which you can use together to reinforce these strategies.
Thank you for working with us to build strong maths foundations!
Anne Ablinger
Mathematics Leader
Holiday Programs
Chess Club Term 3
Parent Teacher Interviews
If you haven’t already signed up for your parent teacher interview, please head to the link below: https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/wx38f
Interviews will take place in the last week of school.
School finishes early at 12.30pm on Thursday the 3rd of July.
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.
Camp Australia
Looking for School Holiday fun?
Keep the kids active these holidays with the AFL Victoria & Western Bulldogs School Holiday Footy Program!
Locations & Dates:
Skinner Reserve – Monday 7 July
Don McLean Reserve, Spotswood – Friday 11 July
Crofts Reserve, Altona North – Friday 18 July
9am–3pm | $105 per child/day
A full day of footy fun, skill-building, giveaways, inflatables & a free Auskick or Superkick footy!
Open to all abilities:
Auskick (Ages 4–7): Register here
Superkick (Ages 8–12): Register here
Pick your day—or come to all three! Spots are limited, so don’t miss out.
#AFLVictoria #WesternBulldogs #SchoolHolidayProgram #FootyFun
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
At this year’s Marianist Day, our amazing Year 12 VCE-VM students took charge and ran their own mini businesses — all to support local charities. In the lead-up, they researched, planned, and budgeted; on the day, the stalls were buzzing with freshly made pizza, milkshakes, popcorn, fairy floss, and a sizzling BBQ. Their energy and teamwork were incredible, and they raised an impressive $3000! Congratulations to our students for their creativity, generosity, and community spirit — what a fantastic achievement.
SACCSS eSports Champions: Emmanuel College has once again proven its dominance in the digital arena, taking out three SACCSS eSports titles. Congratulations to our Intermediate A Team, B Team and Senior A Team — all Champions. The Senior Boys AFL team has finished top of the table after an impressive home-and-away season. They will now face Thomas Carr in the grand final at Avalon Airport Oval on Wednesday 25th June. Best of luck to the team as they look to bring home the title — we're all behind you. Well done to all students who participated and who represent Emmanuel College with enthusiasm.
Information Morning
Come along and learn more about the innovative learning programs and see the fantastic facilities that we have here at Emmanuel, on a tour led by student ambassadors. Registration and more details are available via the College website: https://www.ecmelb.catholic.edu.au/enrolment-information/tours
Information Morning – Saturday 2 August
Notre Dame Campus: 9:00am – 11:00am
St Paul’s Campus: 10:30am – 12 noon
Register here
Applications for Year 7, 2027 – Close Friday 15 August 2025
If you have a child in Year 5 and you would like to apply for Year 7 2027 at the Notre Dame or St Paul’s Campus, applications close on Friday 15 August 2025. Please ensure that you submit your application before the closing date.
Click here to apply online
If you have any questions regarding the online application process, please contact:
Ms Donna Grech, College Registrar – (03) 8325 5100
📧 enrolments@ecmelb.catholic.edu.au
We look forward to welcoming you at a College event soon.
Yours sincerely,
Jenny Hendricks
Community Engagement Officer
