Mary Queen of Heaven Newsletter – Term 1 – Week 8

Term 1 will conclude on Wednesday the 27/03/24 at 1:00pm and Term 2 will commence on Monday the 15/04/2024.

Last week our students from P-6 engaged in an incursion by Life Saving Victoria on water safety and water awareness.  This crucial learning experience 

meets the Victorian curriculum requirements for swimming and water safety, teaching lifesaving and emergency response skills and empowers students to make safe aquatic related decisions.

This week we are sending home a survey to establish how many of our families engage in swimming lessons for their children.  Learning to swim is a gift that you can offer your children. It can be life saving.  We strongly recommend that all families engage in swimming lessons with their children until they can swim strongly enough to save themselves if they were ever to get into trouble in the water.  

At Mary Queen of Heaven we offer children in all year levels water safety education and a water experience in both year 5 & 6.  We STRONGLY ENCOURAGE families undertaking private swimming lessons with your children.

Next week families have been invited to meet with their child(ren)’s Educator for a Parent-Educator chat.  This opportunity aligns with our Family Engagement approach to enable and create space for us to engage in open dialogue as we work in partnership to support your child to thrive at Mary Queen of Heaven.  

Educators will discuss how they feel your child has settled into school, and invite you to share your experience of this, too.  They will also briefly share their goals and strengths academically and dispositionally.  

We remind you to respectfully attend the interview at your designated time, so that this does not impact the scheduling of our interviews.  We have allocated sufficient time, however, you are always invited to schedule a time outside of this if you have more pressing concerns / queries.

Whilst you are waiting for your child’s Parent-Educator chat, you are invited to wander through our school to visit our Stations of the Cross set up throughout the school.  These have been set up by children, Educators and Leaders as an opportunity for you to reflect about the meaning of each Station of the Cross and its significance to us as Catholics during Holy Week.

As we approach the upcoming school holidays, we wanted to take a moment to remind you about our school’s commitment to fostering holistic learning experiences for our students. At Mary Queen of Heaven, we believe in nurturing not just academic excellence but also personal growth and development. With this ethos in mind, we uphold our no homework policy during breaks, allowing students to recharge, explore their interests, and spend quality time with family and friends.

However, we also recognise the importance of maintaining a conducive environment for continuous learning. Therefore, while homework may not be assigned during this time, we encourage you to provide opportunities for your children to engage in authentic learning experiences. One of the most effective ways to do so is by incorporating reading, writing, and speaking and listening activities into their daily routines.

Reading:

Encourage your child to delve into books that capture their imagination and curiosity. Whether it’s fiction, non-fiction, or poetry, reading opens doors to new worlds, broadens perspectives, and enhances vocabulary and comprehension skills. Consider visiting the local library together or setting aside dedicated time for reading each day.  Your child will continue to bring books home as part of our Home Reading program.  A reminder that these are an opportunity for children to practice fluency.

Writing:

Writing is a powerful tool for self-expression and communication. Encourage your child to keep a journal, write stories, poems, or even letters to family members or friends. These activities not only reinforce literacy skills but also foster creativity, critical thinking, and emotional expression.

Speaking and Listening:

Engage your child in meaningful conversations that stimulate their curiosity and encourage them to articulate their thoughts and opinions. Whether discussing current events, sharing stories from their day, or simply reflecting on their experiences, these interactions promote language development, active listening, and effective communication skills.

Everyday Math:

Encourage your child to notice and explore the mathematics inherent in their everyday lives. Whether it’s counting objects, measuring ingredients while baking, calculating change during shopping trips, or estimating distances during outdoor activities, there are countless opportunities to apply mathematical concepts in real-world contexts.

Games and Puzzles:

Engage your child in math-based games and puzzles that promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Board games, card games, and puzzles such as Sudoku or logic puzzles can be both entertaining and intellectually stimulating, offering a fun way to reinforce mathematical concepts and strategies.

By integrating these activities into your child’s holiday routine, you not only support their academic growth but also cultivate a lifelong love for learning. Remember, learning extends far beyond the confines of the classroom, and the holiday break provides a perfect opportunity to explore, discover, and grow together as a family.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We wish you and your family a joyous and enriching break filled with laughter, love, and learning.

Dani De Luca

Literacy Leader

NAPLAN

Last week our year 3 and 5 students undertook NAPLAN testing.  We were so very proud of the way our learners approached the experiences.  They were encouraged to give their very best but also reminded that this testing does not measure all that we know and love about them.  All of our learners showed courage, resilience and a ‘can do’ attitude.

To the Mary Queen of Heaven community,

My name is Jessica Maitland-Smith and I am a proud Yamatji/Noongar woman and Mary Queen of Heaven’s Grade 3 / 4 educator. I wanted to formally introduce myself to you as our school’s Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander leader. ATSI educational perspectives is something that I am incredibly passionate about, and I currently hold a degree in Indigenous education from the Australian Catholic University. 

First Nation perspectives are an integral part of the Mary Queen of Heaven educational landscape. Each day we Acknowledge Country, we also celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culture during Reconciliation and Naidoc weeks, as well as use literature texts that tell, teach and acknowledge the story and rich history of this culture.

In my role as ATSI leader, I will work as part of a broader team to continue to embed these viewpoints into the classroom curriculum, develop positive relationships and partnerships between the Aboriginal community and the Mary Queen of Heaven community and facilitate Mary Queen of Heaven’s Reconciliation Action Plan.  

Jess Maitland-Smith

ATSI Leader

Hume Youth Services is hosting a range of FREE activities to enjoy during the Summer School Holidays from the 2^nd of April 2024! 

Activities Include: SHP Schedule Autumn 2024 (9) (3)

·         Street Art Murals 

·         Movie Night 

·         Movie and Cooking Day 

·         Open Youth Centres 

·         Purple Reign 

·         AMWU Manufacturing Industry Visit 

·         FIFA 24’ Tournament 

·         Touch Rugby League 

·         Melbourne Airport Industry Visit 

·         Movie Night 

·         Hip-Hop Dance Workshop 

·         Journal decorating, Art creation and Games 

Bookings are essential for some activities, refer attached flyer or click here for more information.  

All programs have limited spaces, and some require online registrations.  

If you require further information or support with an activity registration, contact Hume Youth Services via phone: 9205 2556 or email: youth@hume.vic.gov.au