A word from the Principal;

Dear Families, 

Welcome to the 2026 school year. We are so delighted to be back with you and ready for another year of connection, learning, and growth.

Last fortnight, we welcomed many of our Year 1–6 students for their 1:1 testing sessions. It was wonderful to make these early connections and gather key learning data before the formal school year begins.

Our Preps also had a fantastic start last Friday, filled with smiles, laughter, and very few tears. We are so proud of how confidently they began their school journey.

A Special Year of St Francis

Pope Leo XIV has declared 2026 a “Special Year of St Francis”, honouring the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi. In his decree, the Pope asked that every Christian, “following the example of the Saint of Assisi, may himself become a model of holiness of life and a constant witness of peace.” Pope Leo XIV noted that the example of St Francis is needed now more than ever.

St Francis of Assisi was born in 1181 and, after living a life of extravagance as a young man, chose a life of poverty. He founded the Order of Friars Minor, more commonly known as the Franciscans. His spirituality has inspired many religious orders throughout history, and he remains one of the most influential saints in the life of the Church.

St Francis died on 3 October 1226 and was declared a saint just two years later. From 22 February to 26 March, his body will be on display at the Basilica of St Francis for the first time.

Fittingly, this year we have launched our four school house colours. Last year, our student leaders had the opportunity to vote on house names inspired by key Christian influences. We are very proud to announce that St Francis of Assisi features prominently in the students’ choices.

Important Start-of-Year Reminders

To ensure a smooth and successful start to 2026, please note the following:

• School begins at 8:45am. Parents must sign in students who arrive after this time.
• School gates open from 8:30am. Please ensure children arrive on time, as late arrivals can cause anxiety.
• Children are dropped off at the Hillview Road or French Road gates. Staff will be present to welcome students and assist any reluctant children to their class lines.
• School jumpers are not compulsory. In hot weather, it is best to leave them at home.
• School hats are compulsory in Terms 1 and 4. 
• Please label all belongings, including bags, lunch boxes, drink bottles, and jumpers.

Daily Routines & Expectations

• Zooper Doopers are sold on Mondays and Fridays for $1. Please place coins in the zip section of your child’s bag and show them where it is.  This is OPTIONAL.  In terms 2 and 3 we sell warm popcorn.
• We encourage students to develop independence by carrying, unpacking, and packing their own bags and water bottles.
• On your child’s birthday, they may wear casual clothes. Families may also provide goodie bags or muffins/cupcakes. Please avoid large cakes. Store-bought items are preferred to ensure ingredient lists are available.
• Families of children with allergies are asked to provide alternate treats to the classroom teacher to ensure no child misses out.
• In hot or wet weather, we move to an indoor timetable with passive play activities.
• Children are supervised at all times during the school day.

End-of-Day Procedures

• At dismissal, students will be brought to their collection area – except prep who are dismissed from their classrooms. If you are running late, please don’t worry — a staff member will remain with your child.
• Children not collected 15 minutes after the bell will be taken to BIG Childcare at the parents’ expense.
• For safety reasons, no play equipment may be used after school. This includes ovals, balls, the piano, playgrounds, and sandpits.
• Our school is a smoke- and vape-free zone AT ALL TIMES

Communication & Practical Information

• Staff are available for communication at pick-up, via email, or Audiri/nForma for important announcements.
• Seesaw is used for teaching, learning, and ongoing reporting only.
• Parking is available on Hillview Road, French Road, and surrounding side streets. Please note the 5-minute drop-off zone on Hillview Road is council-monitored.
• Lunch orders are available on Mondays Thursdays. Orders must be submitted by 8:00am the day before
• The school community calendar is available on the school website — please scroll to the bottom to view upcoming events.
• Class Mass is held fortnightly in the Sacred Space.  Each class hosts these throughout the school year
• Assemblies are hosted by classes on a roster every third Friday afternoon.

Student Collection Safety

To ensure student safety, please email the office  if your child is being collected by anyone other than parents or guardians. This applies to one-off and ongoing arrangements. We cannot rely on messages passed on by children. These names will be added to our system, if they do not appear on our system, they cannot go home with another family. Thank you for your support in helping us keep all students safe.

Today our Acceptable User Agreement was sent home for families to read over and be familiar with.  Included in this policy is for all  mobile phones and smart watches to be handed into the office in the mornings and collected in the afternoons.  They will be stored safely in the school safe.  There is no need for a child to have a phone or smart watch at school – this includes smart watches with settings turned off.  They are a distraction and communication can still be made with settings disabled.  Please support us with this.

School Fees

Thank you to those families who have begun making arrangements to either pay their school fees or set up a direct debit arrangement.  Your attendance to this is very much appreciated.

Yesterday we shared with you our first fundraiser for the school year. We thank all of the families in advance for getting behind this and showing your support to our school.  

At our school, we are deeply committed to supporting not only your children, but your entire family. Please know that our staff are always here to help in any way we can. We encourage you to reach out whenever needed — no concern is too small.

A strong and positive partnership between home and school is essential, and by working closely together, we can ensure the very best outcomes for every child.

Renae

A word from the Principal

Dear families,

As we reach the close of this school year, we pause in gratitude for all we have shared and all we have learned.
 

Loving God, we ask Your blessing upon our children—may they find rest, joy, and renewal in the weeks ahead. Keep their hearts curious, their spirits peaceful, and their paths safe as they grow in wisdom and love.

We lift up our educators, whose dedication and care have guided our students each day. Grant them the deep rest they deserve, refresh their minds and spirits, and fill them with renewed strength for the year to come.

We pray for our families, who support, nurture, and encourage our children in countless ways. May their homes be places of harmony, laughter, and connection throughout the break.

God, be with us all as we step into a season of rest. Rejuvenate our hearts and prepare us for a wonderful, meaningful, and productive 2026.
May we return renewed, hopeful, and ready for the blessings ahead.

Mary Queen of Heaven, Pray for us.

As our school year draws to a close, we look back with pride and gratitude on the wonderful learning we have shared as a community. What began as something of a construction zone has now come full circle. We are fortunate to stand in a magnificent new building, filled with beautiful spaces that nurture creativity, curiosity, and growth. These learning environments have inspired our students to explore, inquire, and discover in ways that truly reflect the spirit of our school.

Throughout the year, we have welcomed many new families and staff members, embracing the richness that each person brings to our community. Together, we have celebrated the uniqueness, achievements, and ongoing growth of every learner.

It has been a year full of memorable experiences. We celebrated Carnevale with colour, joy, and a strong sense of togetherness. Our amazing Inquiry spaces have been alive with projects, provocations, and encounters that encouraged students to think deeply, ask meaningful questions, and collaborate with enthusiasm. From hands-on investigations to creative explorations, these projects have highlighted the wonder and curiosity that drives our learning.

Beyond the classroom, we have ventured into the world through excursions and camps that provided invaluable opportunities to connect, challenge ourselves, and build confidence. Whether it was experiencing the snow or exploring the beauty of the Surf Coast, our students embraced each adventure with excitement and resilience, creating memories that will stay with them for years to come.

As we close this chapter, we celebrate not only what we have accomplished but also who we have become together. Thank you to our students, families, and staff for your energy, commitment, and partnership. We look forward to another year of learning, laughing, and growing as a strong and vibrant school community.

Personally, I thank you for all of the support offered to me throughout the school year.  I feel truly blessed to work in a community with such positive and supportive families. I wish you every happiness for a blessed and peaceful Christmas and New Year.

Renae

Christmas Carols thanks

Thank you to all of the families who came along last night to celebrate our annual Christmas Carols. The children always do an exceptional job bringing joy to us all in their performance of Christmas carols. To our staff who worked so hard to prepare and support the event, we extend our heartfelt thanks.  What a fabulous night it was.

Classes and staffing for 2026

Sadly each year we need to say goodbye to some of our much loved and dedicated staff.  This year we are saying goodbye to Tameka, Gabbi, Amy and Kate.

Tameka left last week to begin her maternity leave,  Tameka is expecting her third baby due early in January.  We wish Tameka every success with the birth of her little treasure and thank her for the positive impact she had on our school especially the area of STEM.

Gabbi is returning to her family home of Blairgowrie after some years of living away. We wish Gabbi every success for her future and thank her for all that she has brought to MQH 

Amy is stepping away from teaching for the year to explore some travel and settle into her newly built home.  We hope to see Amy around MQH throughout the year as an active CRT.  Amy, a foundation member of MQH, has brought so much to our school, building quality relationships with all she has come across.

Kate is leaving us to return to her family in Western Australia.  Kate brought so much to MQH in her short time with us, of particular note was the exceptional job she did in leading our very first Carnevale.

Kate, Amy, Gabbi and Tameka are much loved and will be missed.

Below is our staff structure for 2026

Helping your child to cope with change in readiness for finding out their new class and teacher for 2026 is crucial.  Disappointment is an emotion we all feel at regular times in our lives, children need to learn to feel the emotion and to learn how to deal with the emotion.  All children have been allocated at least ONE friend from the list they provided us with.  Please begin the conversation at home about the possibilities of teachers the children might have and explore in a really positive way all of the opportunities that a new teacher can offer.  The children will find out their new class and teachers on Monday next week.  Please don’t contact the school about the classlists, they have been completed and will not be changed.

Dear families,

In the Roman Catholic tradition, the feast of All Saints is celebrated on 1st of November followed by the feast of All Souls on 2nd of November. The celebrations of All Saints and All Souls recalls those who now share in the gift of eternal life those who now see God face to face. Saints are those formally recognised by the Catholic Church as living lives faithful to the gospel. 

The Feast of All Souls remembers all the departed recognising their gift of new life. Within the Catholic tradition, life after death is changed but not ended. During the month of November, we recall those who have died. 

“Let us pray for all of those who have gone before us.” 

Welcome Foundation Students and Families-2026

In recent weeks  we welcomed our new Prep students and families for their first transition session to Mary Queen of Heaven. During this month, the new Prep students will come to school for three transition sessions to spend time in the learning spaces  and to experience different aspects of school life.  During these sessions the parents will meet with members of the leadership team to hear about Literacy, Numeracy, Wellbeing and other aspects of life at Mary Queen of Heaven. We warmly welcome all of new preps and our new families to our school community.

Please join us tonight for…

Thursday 20th November

3:15pm-4:00 Stage 2 Open Afternoon

Gold Coin Donation to support Y2 Architectures charity: Lautem Public Secondary School in Timor-Leste.

🎁 Share the Joy This Christmas

As we head into the festive season, we’re asking for your help to make Christmas brighter for others. We’ve set up a donation box in the school office to collect donations of Colour Run prizes for underprivileged children in our wider community.  Please chat with your children about the possibility of them donating ONE of the items they receive as a prize through the Colour Run.

Together we can make a big difference and help every child experience the magic of Christmas.

Late arrival to school 

If your child arrives later than 9am to school please ensure you walk them into the front foyer and sign them in.  We really encourage all families to try and be at school by 8:45am as this reduces your child anxiety and ensures a smoother start to their school day.  Please don’t ride bikes or scooters to school if you are late as this causes more issues with the locking of gates and the bike shed – it can be very disruptive.

Parent Code of Conduct Respect for All at Mary Queen of Heaven

At MQH, we believe that everyone deserves to feel safe, valued, and respected. Our Parent Code of Conduct helps us work together to make our school a welcoming place where everyone can learn and grow.

Showing respect for all is at the heart of everything we do. This means being kind in our words and actions, listening to others, and celebrating our differences. Whether it’s in the classroom, the playground, or during school activities, treating others with respect helps create a positive and caring environment for everyone.

When we follow our Code of Conduct, we help make our school a place where everyone feels comfortable, included, and safe. Simple acts—like sharing, using good manners, waiting our turn, and helping others—make a big difference each day.

We encourage families to talk at home about what respect looks like and how small actions can have a big impact. By working together, we can continue to make Mary Queen of Heaven a community where kindness and respect shine through in all we do.

Let’s keep showing respect for all—because everyone deserves to feel they belong.  I have linked the Code of Conduct for your perusal.

Car and Road Safety

Part of our duty in the mornings and afternoons on French Rd and Hillview Gate is to ensure the safety of all in our community, this includes car and road safety.  In recent weeks we have been horrified to witness children not wearing seatbelts, children not strapped into car seats, children overcrowded in the back seats without enough seatbelts and on one occasion a very young child in the front seat with no seatbelt.  Please be reminded of the importance of car and road safety and always ensure your children are safely strapped into the car seat before it moves off. We will be reporting any unsafe car behaviour to the police in the interest of safety for all.

Social Media and kids don’t mix!

The Australian Government has introduced new regulations regarding social media use by children under the age of 16. Below is a summary of what is changing, what it means for families, and what we as a school will be doing to support you.

What’s changing?

• From 10 December 2025, many social media platforms that are designed primarily for user-to-user interaction (posting, sharing, linking) must take “reasonable steps” to prevent Australians under 16 from creating or keeping accounts. eSafety Commissioner+2Australian Cyber Security Magazine+2 
• These platforms include those like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube (among others) in Australia. eSafety Commissioner 
• Importantly: this is not a direct criminal penalty on children or parents, but rather a regulatory obligation on the platforms to act. eSafety Commissioner+1 
• If platforms don’t comply, they may face civil penalties (corporations could face fines up to ~AUD 49.5 million) under the legislation. eSafety Commissioner+1 

Why has this change been introduced?

The rationale behind this regulation includes:

• Protecting children and young adolescents from online risks associated with social-media style platforms: excessive screen time, exposure to harmful content, cyber-bullying, pressure on mental health and well-being. Beyond Blue 
• Giving parents, schools and communities a clearer “age-threshold” for high-risk social media use, and encouraging safer digital habits during the formative years. 

What does this mean for our students & families?

• If your child is under 16, they will likely no longer be able to create or keep an account on the platforms covered by this law, once the platforms have implemented their changes. eSafety Commissioner 
• Children under 16 will still be able to view public content (for example, videos, posts you can see without logging in) but using an account on these platforms will be restricted. eSafety Commissioner+1 
• For families, this change presents an opportunity to revisit how your child uses digital media: what platforms they use, how much time, what the purposes are (social connection? creative outlet? gaming?), and whether they are aware of online safety and privacy risks. 
• The school recognises that social media (or digital interaction more broadly) is a big part of children’s lives. Rather than simply banning usage, this law gives us a prompt to help our students build digital resilience, safe habits and good decision-making around online activities. 

What the school will do

To support our students and families we will:

• Continue to provide information & resources for parents on digital safety, social media habits and how to talk with children about these changes. 
• Integrate discussion of safe, responsible digital / online behaviour into our curriculum (e.g., cyber‐safety, screen-time balance, social
  • media literacy). 
  • Encourage and support students to use age-appropriate platforms, and to make informed choices about the online environments they engage in. 
  • Keep you updated on any further changes or guidance from the regulatory body eSafety Commissioner, which will publish FAQs and support materials. eSafety Commissioner 

  How you can help at home

  Here are some suggestions for supporting your child at home:

  • Have an open conversation about the upcoming changes: what they already use online, how they feel about it, and what habits they have. 
  • Review together the apps/platforms your child uses: check whether they’re age-appropriate, what kinds of interactions your child engages in, whether privacy settings are enabled. 
  • Set clear boundaries and routines around screen time: e.g., times when screens are off (before bed, during meals), using devices for school/learning vs leisure, and encouraging offline activities. 
  • Encourage your child to let you or another trusted adult know if they see or experience something online that makes them uncomfortable, worried or unsafe. 
  • Use this change as an opportunity: explore alternative digital activities (educational apps, creative outlets, managed gaming, learning about code, design, digital creation) that are age-appropriate and positive.

Dear families,

October is the Month of Mary.  A month where we acknowledge and remember the wonderful model we have.  A woman of courage, respect, humility and love.  A woman who answered God’s call and delivered us our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  We call on Mary’s intercession to protect and guide us always.

New Building

We are thrilled to share that Stage 2 of our school’s building project is now complete and open for learning! These new, purpose-built spaces have already brought fresh energy and opportunities for creativity, collaboration, and connection across our community.

The journey to this moment has been a true team effort. From the initial design concepts to the finishing touches, an incredible amount of care, expertise, and hard work has gone into creating spaces that reflect our school’s values and vision for the future. We extend our sincere thanks to Y2 Architecture, Jardon Group our builders, and everyone who contributed to making this vision a reality.

Our staff and students have embraced the new facilities with enthusiasm and pride. Already, classrooms are buzzing with activity, flexible learning zones are being explored in new ways, and the sense of excitement is unmistakable. It’s inspiring to see how quickly these spaces have become part of our daily rhythm of teaching and learning.

To celebrate this milestone, we will be hosting an Open Afternoon in the coming weeks. Families are warmly invited to tour the new facilities, chat with staff and students, and see firsthand how these spaces are enhancing our learning community.  This opportunity will also serve as a fundraiser for a charity supported by our architects Y2 Architects – raising funds to build three much-needed classrooms at Lautem Public Secondary School in Timor-Leste.

Thursday 20th November

3:15pm-4:00 Stage 2 Open Afternoon

Gold Coin Donation to support Y2 Architectures charity: Lautem Public Secondary School in Timor-Leste.

Colour Fun Run thanks

What an incredible day we had at our recent Colour Run! A huge thank you to all our amazing students, families, and staff who participated, volunteered, and cheered us on. Your enthusiasm, teamwork, and school spirit made the event a huge success.  Felicity’s organisation was simply brilliant.

We’re so proud of the joy and energy shared throughout the day — it truly showed what a wonderful community we have here at Mary Queen of Heaven.

🎁 Share the Joy This Christmas

As we head into the festive season, we’re asking for your help to make Christmas brighter for others. We’ve set up a donation box in the school office to collect donations of prizes for underprivileged children in our wider community.  Please chat with your children about the possibility of them donating ONE of the items they receive as a prize through the Colour Run.

Together we can make a big difference and help every child experience the magic of Christmas.

Late arrival to school 

If your child arrives later than 9am to school please ensure you walk them into the front foyer and sign them in.  We really encourage all families to try and be at school by 8:45am as this reduces your child anxiety and ensures a smoother start to their school day.  Please don’t ride bikes or scooters to school if you are late as this causes more issues with the locking of gates and the bike shed – it can be very disruptive.

ICT use at home

We are seeing an increasing amount of issues coming to school from the inappropriate use of ICT at home.  This seems to be centered around Roblox and children’s messenger.

As we guide our children to grow in wisdom and faith, it’s also important to help them stay safe online. Please take time this week to:

• Remind your child never to share personal information (name, address, school, passwords) online.
• Encourage open conversations about what they see and do on devices.
• Set healthy screen time limits and ensure devices are used in shared family spaces.
• Remind children to treat others with kindness online, just as they would face-to-face.

Did you know that most social media platforms—including Instagram, TikTok, Roblox, Snapchat and Facebook—have a minimum age requirement of 13 years old? This rule is in place to help protect children from risks such as:

• Inappropriate or harmful content
• Online bullying or peer pressure
• Sharing personal information too early
• Contact with strangers

We encourage families to be aware of these age limits and to talk with their children about safe and positive ways to use technology. Children under 13 are best supported by using age-appropriate apps, educational tools, and supervised communication platforms.

Together, as family and school, we can nurture safe and respectful digital citizens.  Please be reminded that upon enrolment all families (children) signed an ‘Acceptable User Agreement.’  Any breaches of this agreement will see your child’s access to IT at school denied for a period of time.

Social media age restrictions hub

The Australian Government is protecting young Australians at a critical stage of their development, through world-first social media age restrictions taking effect on 10 December. Find information in this hub to help you understand and prepare for the change.

Please visit https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age-restrictions-hub for more information.

Inform and Empower

Each term, students engage in online digital learning lessons designed to help them become confident, safe, and responsible digital citizens.

This term’s focus areas are:

• Prep – Digital Agency: Exploring screen time and personal agency, recognising comfortable and uncomfortable feelings, and learning ways to manage online challenges.
• Year 1/2 – Digital Detectives: Building critical thinking and digital literacy skills while learning how to be kind and respectful digital citizens.
• Year 3/4 – Being Safe & Secure: Understanding how to keep information private, recognise unsafe online interactions, and identify digital red flags.
• Year 5/6 – Critical Thinking in the Digital World: Exploring AI, influencers, and personal values while learning how to navigate scams, hackers, media messages, and evaluate online credibility.

These lessons empower students to use technology with curiosity, care, and confidence.

Dear families,

Welcome to term 4!  It has been so lovely to welcome our students back with some sun and warmer days.  Their smiles and giggles as they enter the gates this week have been so delightful to witness.  School is indeed a really happy place for our MQH learners.

I share with you at the beginning of term 4 The Beatitudes.  A lovely prayer to remind us to practice gratitude, to turn to our God for comfort, for protection, for love and for support.  I encourage you to pray this prayer as a family.

Term 4 is an exciting and busy term.  We have so much to work through and celebrate and we of course have 2026 to look towards.   In planning for next year, I share with you today some staffing changes.

Gabbi Stickland will be leaving MQH at the end of the school year.  Gabbi has been an instrumental member of our team, a foundational member.  Gabbi has spent the past three years commuting from her home in Blairgowrie – not a small task!  She has decided to return to be closer to her family and pursue her teaching career on the Peninsula.  Gabbi will certainly be missed.

Tameka Robertson is expecting her third child and will be finishing up at MQH at the end of the school year to begin her maternity leave.  We wish Tameka every success and know that she will return to us in some capacity in the coming years.

We are still working on our staffing for 2026, with many new members joining our growing team.  I hope to be able to share this with you in the coming weeks.  Today we can share with our Prep team for 2026:

New Building

The new school term has seen the completion of our stage 2 building.  We are absolutely delighted with the 2 classrooms, the two shared spaces, and some break out spaces for our children to utilise.  The landscaping works and natural play space is still being worked on, we hope to be able to access some of these spaces in the coming weeks.  

This morning we gathered for a morning tea with members of the Jardon Group team to acknowledge and thank them for their amazing efforts.   From the very beginning, this build has been such a positive experience. Any little bumps along the way were handled with such great communication and professionalism that it always felt seamless. They have gone above and beyond to support the day-to-day running of our school, working alongside us in what is a very busy, live environment.

Jardon Group always showed such respect and understanding that this isn’t just a building site — it’s our workplace and a learning space for our children. Their safety and wellbeing have always been front of mind, and we really appreciate that.

We absolutely love the beautiful spaces they have created for our students and staff. We thank them sincerely for the care, attention, and pride they have brought to every stage of this project.

Colour Fun Run

Next week we will be hosting our Colour Fun Run, such a fun day that our children really enjoy.  So much fundraising has been done by our generous families and community.

The Leaderboard currently shows:

Prep B – $1,960

Grade 1C – $1,045

Prep A – $920

Prep C – $860

Grade 1B – $665

Grade 2A – $610

Grade 1A – $555

Grade 4/5/6 – $400

Grade 2B – $255

Grade 3/4 – $245

Please continue to get as many people behind this initiative as you can for the betterment of our schools outdoor play areas.

School Fees

Tomorrow, we will be sharing with our community the new fee structure for 2026.  There have been some increases to meet the needs of our growing community and the increasing costs of running a school. Please read over the material that will be shared with you tomorrow to fully understand the fee structure for 2026.

Late arrival to school 

If your child arrives later than 9am to school please ensure you walk them into the front foyer and sign them in.  We really encourage all families to try and be at school by 8:45am as this reduces your child anxiety and ensures a smoother start to their school day.  Please don’t ride bikes or scooters to school if you are late as this causes more issues with the locking of gates and the bike shed – it can be very disruptive.

ICT use at home

We are seeing an increasing amount of issues coming to school from the inappropriate use of ICT at home.  This seems to be centered around Roblox and children’s messenger.

As we guide our children to grow in wisdom and faith, it’s also important to help them stay safe online. Please take time this week to:

• Remind your child never to share personal information (name, address, school, passwords) online.
• Encourage open conversations about what they see and do on devices.
• Set healthy screen time limits and ensure devices are used in shared family spaces.
• Remind children to treat others with kindness online, just as they would face-to-face.

Did you know that most social media platforms—including Instagram, TikTok, Roblox, Snapchat and Facebook—have a minimum age requirement of 13 years old? This rule is in place to help protect children from risks such as:

• Inappropriate or harmful content
• Online bullying or peer pressure
• Sharing personal information too early

Contact with strangers

We encourage families to be aware of these age limits and to talk with their children about safe and positive ways to use technology. Children under 13 are best supported by using age-appropriate apps, educational tools, and supervised communication platforms.

Together, as family and school, we can nurture safe and respectful digital citizens.  Please be reminded that upon enrolment all families (children) signed an ‘Acceptable User Agreement.’  Any breaches of this agreement will see your child’s access to IT at school denied for a period of time.

Dear families,

Last week our Parish School Advisory Board met for a rich learning experience with neighbouring Parishes.    The session was titled

The Vibrant Parish

Evangelisation: Bridging the gap between Parish and School

Our learning was centered around enhancing Catholic Identity and building trusting relationships with staff, parents and children.   We were reminded  that faith formation happens through every conversation, every act of kindness – when we encounter Christ in one another.  We need to teach our children to see God in themselves and in one another. The school and the parish must work together in ministry. Church needs to be experienced via school and via the family.  The latter is much more difficult.

“Let us all continue to encounter Christ in one another.”

WOW what a month it has been!  Family engagement is alive and well at Mary Queen of Heaven.

HUGE thanks to all of the dads, grand dads and special male mentors who attended our Father’s Day morning tea and classroom visits.  As expressed on the day, your children are so influenced by your role in their life and the joy on their faces when they saw their dad or special person in classrooms was truly heartwarming.  Thank you to everyone who turned out to support the event.  Special thanks to BIG Childcare who fully sponsored our morning tea.

We recently celebrated CoEducator Appreciation Week. Our CoEductors at Mary Queen of Heaven are quite remarkable.  Individually and as a team they support our learners, support our staff and help build the amazing learning community we enjoy at MQH.  We are blessed with a group of educators who are passionate about student learning, wellbeing and growth.  We thank all of them from the bottom of our hearts.

Last week we celebrated ‘Carenvale’ an expo of the amazing learning your children are engaged in in LOTE – Italian.  It was a remarkable community event.  We are so proud to share that not only was it a hive of energy and community spirit, we also raised $6117.  The whole event was coordinated and lead by our BRILLIANT Kate Abbott our LOTE Educator.  A remarkably passionate and dedicated educator.

 HUGE thanks to our major sponsor of the night, Andrew Khoshbakht from JESSIE’S PIZZA GREENVALE.   Thank you to each and every family who came along to support this event.  Special thanks to Stefan Stella who once again supported our school by offering his services as our Auctioneer.

Thank you to all of the families who have completed the MACSISS Survey.  The survey is still open, we encourage all of our families to log on and share your views, your voice and your ideas on the future direction of our school   YOUR VOICE MATTERS.

We are hoping to secure a brilliant addition to our school play area with this GA GA Pit. A super fun, super interactive game for all age groups.  Please visit the link and vote for our school.  Each vote counts – invite family and friends to support us! Help us win a Ga Ga Pit

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16535pjS1E/

Dear Families,

Last week I spent an amazing week in Cairns immersed in the FNQ commitment to land and country.  The Indigenous perspective and indigenous respect in all aspects of life is authentic and remarkable – it’s effortless.  The Australian Catholic Education Conference was insightful and inspiring.

One of the key takeaways I was reminded about from one of the presenters at the conference was around the benefits of family engagement. It is the number one indicator of student achievement. He aptly explained that this can be invisible engagement (not dependent on families physically being at school – those days have gone with so many of our families working.) I was excited by this prospect and his reassurance that family engagement is not ‘more’ work but ‘different’ work.  Fittingly, our Family Learning walks for Literacy began this week – these are a really great invitation for families to be engaged with learning.  As a leadership team, we are constantly looking at ways we can improve our family engagement so you all feel very much part of your children’s journey at school. I dedicate our prayer this week to family engagement.

Heavenly Father,

We thank you for the gift of this school community and for the unique talents of every child, parent, and staff member.

Unite us in love, truth, and courage, creating a strong bond between home and school, so we may support the children’s learning and well-being together.

Bless families with wisdom to prioritise their children’s education, and help them find joy and fulfilment in participating in school life.

Inspire us all to be a “light” to one another, and guide us to create a welcoming and supportive environment for every family.

May our combined efforts foster a spirit of cooperation, understanding, and mutual respect, ensuring that every child thrives and reaches their full potential.

Lord, empower us all strive for true and authentic family engagement.

Amen. 

We are so excited to be offering many events in the coming weeks to really capitalise on our Family Engagement, while offering the ‘invisible engagement’ through our Seesaw Platform, Social Media platforms and curriculum newsletters.

We are super excited about our upcoming Carnevale.  A great deal of work is happening in the backgrounds from both our staff and children in preparation for this amazing event.  Please add this to your calendar and invite family members and friends to come along.

District Athletics

Last week a group of our senior students represented our school in the District Athletics.   Our team was prepared and supported by Felicity and she accompanied them on the day.  The feedback from our staff and from a neighbouring school staff member was that our students really loved our school values, showing respect to fellow competitors, resilience and real kindness.  Congratulations to Felicity on the team, not only for competing with courage and determination but for being humble in winning and gracious in defeat.  So proud of you all!

Cyber Safety Reminder
As we guide our children to grow in wisdom and faith, it’s also important to help them stay safe online. Please take time this week to:

• Remind your child never to share personal information (name, address, school, passwords) online.
• Encourage open conversations about what they see and do on devices.
• Set healthy screen time limits and ensure devices are used in shared family spaces.
• Remind children to treat others with kindness online, just as they would face-to-face.

Did you know that most social media platforms—including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook—have a minimum age requirement of 13 years old? This rule is in place to help protect children from risks such as:

• Inappropriate or harmful content
• Online bullying or peer pressure
• Sharing personal information too early
• Contact with strangers

We encourage families to be aware of these age limits and to talk with their children about safe and positive ways to use technology. Children under 13 are best supported by using age-appropriate apps, educational tools, and supervised communication platforms.

Together, as family and school, we can nurture safe and respectful digital citizens.  Please be reminded that upon enrolment all families (children) signed an ‘Acceptable User Agreement.’  Any breaches of this agreement will see your child’s access to IT at school denied for a period of time.

Arriving to school on time

Please be reminded that our school day begins at 8:45am.  It is an excellent life skill to teach children to be on time from an early age.  Being on time or arriving before the bell gives the children time to socialise with their friends, time to be calm and ready to learn and time to engage in the morning routine of the day with their peers.  Arriving late can increase anxiety as the children walk into a learning space that has already begun the morning routine of the day. Arriving late is also quite disruptive to the rest of the class, who are settled and engaged in ready to learn practices.  Please make a concerted effort to get the children to school on time.  If this is an ongoing issue for your family, please reach out to Sarah, our Wellbeing Leader, and we can share some strategies with your family.

Homework

At Mary Queen of Heaven we don’t offer traditional homework.  This decision is based on world wide research.  There is no research to indicate that homework for 5-12 year olds has any impact on learning.  What we do encourage is for families to have conversations with their children around what they are learning at school, capitalise on the Curriculum Newsletters we share each term and the Seesaw posts we make regularly reflecting what the children are working on.  We encourage children to read each night and at times to work on number knowledge and word/sound work. Sometimes home practice of a skill will be encouraged, especially for those children attending enhancement programs.  Please don’t ask our staff for worksheets to be sent home as this goes against our school policy.

Traffic Safety 

It has been fantastic to see our families using our newly installed crossing of Hillview Rd.  This is by far the safest way to cross Hillview Rd and you‘ll always be reminded to use this safe route by our staff.

A quick reminder to all parents: please drive slowly and carefully in our school zone during drop-off and pick-up. Taking a little extra time to park and move off safely helps protect all the children in our school community and prevents accidents.

Bringing Personal Items to school

Please be reminded that we discourage bringing personal items such as balls and toys to school.  They often get lost, swapped or stolen and can cause real issues on the playground which then eats into learning time.  We have ample equipment for the children to play with, there is no need for them to bring items from home.

School Bag keyrings are becoming more and more of a collectors item.  This too is causing issues with items going missing, unhealthy competition and a heavy burden for your children when carrying their bags.  If your child has a keyring on their school bag we ask that it is limited to one.  All others need to be removed and left at home please.  We will remind the children of this as they come in and out each school day.

Dear families,

We are now into our third week of term 3.  We hope that the term 2 school holiday break was a restful and relaxing one for you all.  It has been so lovely to see all of the children return to school with such enthusiasm and love for learning.

We are now very much settled into the hum of term 3.  The children are very much enjoying the challenge and diversity of the explicit instruction embedded into our key learning areas of Literacy, Numeracy and Inquiry.   

This week we celebrate and call to mind Australia’s First Saint, Mary of The Cross Mackillop.  

Mary MacKillop was Australia’s first saint and a truly inspiring woman. She was born in 1842 and spent her life helping others, especially poor and disadvantaged children. Mary believed that every child deserved an education, no matter where they lived or how much money their family had.

With her strong faith and determination, she started the Sisters of Saint Joseph and opened many schools across Australia. Mary faced many challenges, but she never gave up. She trusted in God and always worked with kindness, love, and courage.

Mary MacKillop’s famous words, “Never see a need without doing something about it,” remind us to be people of action—helping others and living out our faith every day.

We celebrate Saint Mary MacKillop as a role model of compassion, resilience, and hope.

God of compassion, God of all people, we praise you for your servant, Mary MacKillop, who gave her life to serve you in the poor and oppressed.

As she is honoured in our world, may we continue to learn to share her vision.

Help us to recognise, as she did, that the poor of our time will hear the gospel in the way we serve them. Be with us as we strive to follow her and carry out our mission of service and care. 

Amen

MACSISS

In the coming weeks you will be invited to complete a MACSISS survey.  This survey provides us with important feedback from our families and helps us set goals for future improvement. Our year 4,5 and 6 students will complete the survey as will our staff.  We strongly encourage all families to complete the survey.  Once you have completed the survey, bring evidence into the office and we will enter you into a draw to win a $200 Coles gift voucher.

A morning tea session will be offered to all families where we can support you with a device and how to navigate the survey.

SWIMMING

1. The Big Picture

Australia loves water—with 34,000 km of coastline, swimming is the top physical activity for kids aged 0–14 – but a concerning gap

remains in safety and skills.

• Despite being our most decorated Olympic sport, participation alone doesn’t guarantee safety – proficiency does.

2. Drop-off & Drop-out

• Alarm bells ring when Royal Life Saving reported a drop-off in participation among 8 – 10 year-olds in swim programs.
• Shockingly, up to 40% of students enter secondary schools without meeting basic national swim benchmarks.

3. Schools: Policies vs Practice

• Victoria’s updated Health & PE curriculum sets clear standards – but implementation varies widely.
• Many states require school swim hours, but no national tracking system exists to monitor reach or effectiveness.

4. Real-World Barriers

The Swimming in Schools initiative allocates $92 million over 4 years to government and Catholic primary schools – but geography,

staffing, transport, and teacher replacements can limit uptake.

• “Dry” lessons and beach-based theory are cheaper, but practical water time is essential – both are critical for competency.

5. Equity Matters

While 85% of families enroll when lessons are available, children from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities and

financially constrained household face disproportionate barriers.

• Barriers include cost, pool access, transport, and cultural awareness of swimming’s value.

6. Diverse Delivery Models

Schools implement swimming in different formats: one-day intensive, weekly lessons, beach trips, or two-week daily blocks –

context-driven, but this diversity leads to inconsistent outcomes.

Victoria’s Water Safety Certificate stipulates that students leaving Year 6 should be able to swim 50 m continuously, yet lack of

consistent monitoring obscures real progress.

7. What We Need Moving Forward

• Consistent data collection across all schools to track student progress.
• Standardised implementation of curriculum expectations.
• Continued investment to overcome logistical and staffing barriers.
• Focused intervention for underserved communities.
• Blended models combining practical water time and dry theoretical learning.

At Mary Queen of Heaven we STRONGLY encourage all families to enrol their children in swimming lessons, an absolute gift you can give your children, especially living in a country like Australia.

Each year, to meet our Water Safety obligations and to ensure our learners are educated in the area of water safety,  we offer our children 2-3 sessions (Dry) onsite lessons with Life Saving Victoria.  These sessions are planned in term one and have all been conducted this year.

This year we are also offering water based education for Prep- Year 6.

Prep – Altona Beach excursion run by Life Saving Victoria to build confidence around water, understand beach safety, and learn what to do in an emergency.

Year 1/2 – Water safety activities run by Life Saving Victoria at Altona Beach incorporating safety near water, what to do in an emergency, and enjoy games on the beach. 

Year 3/4 – Splash Water Park to enjoy inflatable aqua park, waterslides, and take part in dedicated water safety activities, including rescue scenarios and discussions about staying safe in different aquatic environments. 

Year 5/6 – Water safety built into Summer Camp Experience (Surfing/Paddle Boarding)

These water components are fully funded with no cost to parents.

Uniform

Last week we shared with families reminders about our school uniform.  Below are some examples of our uniform being worn well.  Please ensure your children are wearing the correct school uniform at all times. Reminder slips will be issued to children who are not in the correct school uniform as a means of communicating to you so that you can have the conversations with your child.

Last Tuesday evening we welcomed our Prep 2026 families for their first Prep information session.  It was so refreshing to see the new, eager and beautiful faces that will soon form part of our vibrant school community.  It was an absolute pleasure to tell the story of MQH so far and speak of our close knit, supportive and kind community.

Thank you for using the two school crossing safely and with care.

With the new crossing now installed along Hillview Rd, it has been so wonderful to see our families using the crossing each morning and night.  PLEASE only cross Hillview Rd at the crossing, it is safer for pedestrians and drivers.  I am still working with HUME council to establish when flags will be installed and when the crossing will be manned.  I will keep you updated with any further developments.

Last term we held ‘Silly Hair Day’ as a fundraiser for ‘Make a Wish Foundation.’  Please see below the letter of appreciation:

On behalf of everyone at the Hungry Jack’s and Make-A-Wish Foundation, I want to extend our heartfelt

gratitude for your generous donation and the incredible support Mary Queen of Heaven School have shown once again this year.

Raising $260 for Make-A-Wish is no small feat—and doing it for the second year in a row speaks volumes about your dedication and compassion. Your ongoing efforts are helping bring hope, joy, and strength to children facing critical illnesses by making their heartfelt wishes come true.

It’s inspiring to see the strong connection you’ve helped build between Mary Queen of Heaven School and Make-A-Wish Foundation. Your commitment is not only making a real difference in the lives of sick kids but also setting an amazing example of community spirit and kindness.

Thank you for being such a valuable part of this mission. We truly appreciate your continued support and look forward to working together again to create even more smiles and unforgettable memories.

Dear families,

This week we dedicate our prayer to Peace.  With so much unrest in the world, we are reminded of the small ways we can all work towards peace.  May we all take a moment this week to consider how we can bring kindness and peace to those around us, we implore our world leaders to do the same.

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.” 

100 Days of Prep

Last week our Preps celebrated 100 Days of Prep.  It was a day filled with fun, laughter, dress ups, reflection and celebration of just how far our little learners have come in their 100 days of Prep!  Thanks to all the parents who went to a significant effort for the dress up, it was great to see everyone get so involved. Huge thanks to our Prep team for organising the day and for your continued dedication to ensuring our preps get the best out of themselves each and every day.  

Winter Camp Experience

Last Friday our year ⅚ students attended their winter camp experience.  Our students and staff took the early morning and chilly bus ride to Lysterfield Park, Lysterfield, where they engaged in fun team based activities that ensured their camp experience was a memorable one.

Winter Uniform

With the cold weather now upon us, it is so delightful to see our children in full Winter uniform.  The mornings are cold, so seeing MQH beanies and scarves is fabulous and the outer spray jackets are a great addition to keeping the children nice and cosy.  Please be reminded that items NOT purchased at the uniform shop cannot be worn.  In recent weeks we have noticed some of the older students deviating from our uniform, we will be attending to this to ensure it is fair for all.

Lost Property

Our lost property box is overflowing with beautiful uniform items that are unmarked.  Please ensure all pieces of your children’s clothing is marked with their first and surnames.  Please come into lost property to collect any lost items.

Traffic

Thank you for the efforts you are all making to ensure that the areas immediately at the French Rd and Hillview Rd gates are now used as drop and go zones.  We want to try and help the flow of traffic by ensuring these areas are quick stop, drop and go zones.  If you use these areas, your children need to be independent in getting in and out of the car.  They are NOT extended parking areas for families.  If your children need support getting in or out of the car, we encourage you to park elsewhere and walk the children in to school.  

Over the coming weeks, staff will be monitoring this and encouraging quick drop offs.  Please don’t be offended if our staff ask you to move along.

Finally, our school is situated in a residential area.  Please be very mindful of private driveways.  At NO TIME should anyone park across a private drive way or in a private driveway.  Our residential neighbours have the right to access their own driveways at anytime.  

Let’s all work together to ensure our streets are safe and traffic movement is a positive experience for all.

New school crossing

You will all have noticed that a new school crossing is being installed at the Hillview entrance of our school.  At its completion this will be a manned crossing.  This addition will add a level of safety to the crossing of Hillview Rd for all in our community. Please start the conversation with your children now about the need to use the school crossing when crossing Hillview Rd.  We will be monitoring this and ensuring that everyone only crosses at the crossing.

Late arrivals

With the traffic along Mickleham Rd still a little unpredictable, we often have children coming into school late.  Can we please ask, if your children are later than 9am, they must be walked into the school office by an adult and signed in.

Junior Rockers Private Music Lessons

Each Friday, private music lessons are offered for children in years 1-6.  If this is of interest to your family, please contact Junior Rockers directly for more information.  

https://juniorrockers.com/

• PH: 1300 467 625
• info@juniorrockers.com

For those families with children in the music program, please be sure to check the parent portal on a regular basis where our music teacher will upload weekly class notes.  At the end of term 2 a more comprehensive report will come home to each family.

A word from the Principal

Dear Families,

It has been a busy couple of weeks at Mary Queen of Heaven.  We have loved having families join us for Family Engagement initiatives such as Learning Walks, Reconciliation Week acknowledgement, Assemblies, First Eucharist etc.  It has been a great couple of weeks on connections and engagement.

We understand that families engage in schools differently these days, with many of our families working for part or all of the week. We are trying as a community to create ways families can engage with us, without necessarily coming on site.  

We have an active presence on social media and we are using Seesaw more consistently to ensure families know, understand and feel connected to the learning that is happening at MQH.  We appreciate your interactions with us on social media and encourage you to get your family and friends to follow us and to like or comment on our online posts.

In recent weeks, the ‘Review’ function on Facebook has been removed for all schools.  This is a shame for us as we had some really lovely reviews, highlighting what we offer here at MQH.  If you feel inclined to do so, we would very much appreciate you writing a review for us on True Local

Last week our year 1 and 2 children were lucky enough to have an excursion through the new build.  In linking to their learning on Design and Construction, they looked at plans, the footprint of the new build, the materials being used and the timeline the builders are working to.  They met the builders, the site managers and the two owners of Jardon Group, who kindly and generously offered their time for our school community.  The children absolutely loved this experience and we are so grateful to Jardon Group for their generosity.  You never know, we may have some budding architects, builders or engineers among our year 1 and 2 year levels.

I recently came across this poem, one that I have reflected upon many times over the years.  I share it with you today as a reminder that the little people in our care are vulnerable and are learning from us adults at every step of their childhood.

Children Learn What They Live

by Dorothy Law Nolte

If children live with criticism,

They learn to condemn.

If children live with hostility,

They learn to fight.

If children live with ridicule,

They learn to be shy.

If children live with shame,

They learn to feel guilty.

If children live with encouragement,

They learn confidence.

If children live with tolerance,

They learn to be patient.

If children live with praise,

They learn to appreciate.

If children live with acceptance,

They learn to love.

If children live with approval,

They learn to like themselves.

If children live with honesty,

They learn truthfulness.

If children live with security,

They learn to have faith in themselves and others.

If children live with friendliness,

They learn the world is a nice place in which to live

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) is once again a major supporter of the Australia’s Best Teachers campaign.

Building on its success in 2023, the campaign invites students, parents and community members to nominate teachers for the special contribution they make to the lives of students in our schools.

To nominate a teacher, visit the Herald Sun website.  We have so many wonderful educators at MQH, we hope to see some be nominated.

Drop off zone along Hillview Rd

As our school continues to grow and in readiness for next year when we welcome another 80 students to MQH, we ask that families try and use the drop off area along Hillview Rd just for children who are capable of getting out of the car on their own.  For any families who need to park and help their children out, please use other parking areas (French Rd, Hillview Rd along the North side or Hillview Rd down past the round about.)  In the coming weeks staff will be out the front in the mornings and afternoon, encouraging this drop and go zone to ensure the safety and smooth traffic movement for all.

Collecting Children after school

Please be reminded that you can only collect your child after school.  If another child has not been collected by their parents, our staff have systems and processes in place to ensure they are well supervised until their parents arrive to collect them.  Please don’t assume supervision of other children as this can cause confusion and worry for us and for families.

Please ensure that your car is parked in the allocated bays before calling your child to get into the car. Please do not call children to enter cars while sitting in traffic in the middle of the road.

Thank you to the families who ride to and from school.  We have seen a great improvement in the safe use of bikes and scooters, with children disembarking when they arrive at school and not riding their bikes at all on school grounds.  Your support with this is much appreciated.

Donations Required!

Each year we hold a Father’s Day Raffle in contrast to the stall we hold for Mothers Day.

If you or a business you know is in a position to donate something for our raffle we would be most grateful.  Items such as:

Vouchers for car services, wheel alignments, tyres

Vouchers for restaurants 

Vouchers for  massages or hair cuts

Or anything else you can think of.

Our school will also make significant contributions to the raffle prizes.

School Lunches

As the Winter months take hold, our little ones can get increasingly hungry.  Please ensure that your child has enough food packed for their lunch, fruit/veg snack and recess snack.

Crazy Hair Day

Every year we work with the Make a Wish foundation, a foundation who brings wishes to life for very sick children. This is supported by our friends at Hungry Jacks, who provide encouragement awards for our children- Felicity hands these out in her PE classes.  This year as a fundraiser for the Make a Wish Foundation we will be holding a CRAZY HAIR DAY.  Friday 27th June, please come to school with your most creative, most crazy hair and donate a gold coin to the Make a Wish.

Book Week

This year’s book week theme is ‘Book an Adventure.’  We will be hosting a Book Week Parade on Friday 29th August.  We are giving you plenty of time to plan your creative outfits for our Book Week dress up and parade!  Costumes can be related to the theme or to any book or character.  

CARNEVALE 

Thursday 11th September we will be hosting a Grand Italian Carnevale.  This extravaganza will showcase all of the learning our students have been doing during their LOTE (Italian)  lessons.  The children are invited to dress inspired by all things ‘ITALY.’ This will be an after school event for the whole family and other members of our community, we hope to see extended family and friends attend.  More information to come