Mary Queen of Heaven Newsletter Term 1 – Week 9

Building Strong Numeracy Foundations at School

At school, we are continuing to strengthen students’ numeracy skills by focusing on deep understanding—not just getting the right answer, but understanding why.

Research and classroom experience highlight that strong foundations in number are essential for future success in mathematics. In particular, developing a solid understanding of place value (how numbers are made up of tens, ones, and beyond) plays a critical role in helping students make sense of more complex concepts later on.

What does this look like in the classroom?

You might hear your child talking about:

• Breaking numbers into parts (e.g. 45 = 4 tens and 5 ones)
• Comparing numbers and explaining their thinking
• Noticing patterns when counting (e.g. what happens after 109?)
• Practising skills regularly to help them remember and apply their learning

We also support students to make connections across maths learning, helping them see how ideas link together rather than learning skills in isolation

Why do we revisit concepts?

You may notice that your child revisits similar maths concepts throughout the year. This is intentional.

Regular practice (often called retrieval practice) helps move learning into long-term memory, ensuring students can confidently recall and apply their knowledge over time. 

How can you support at home?

You can support your child’s numeracy development in simple, everyday ways:

• Talk about numbers in real life (shopping, cooking, time)
• Practise counting forwards and backwards
• Play games involving dice, cards, or number patterns
• Ask questions like “How do you know?” to encourage thinking

Even small, regular conversations about numbers can make a big difference!

Sacrament of Reconciliation 

“While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion… and welcomed him home.” — Luke 15:20

This week our Grade 3 students celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation, marking a special and meaningful moment in their faith journey. Throughout the liturgy, students demonstrated a deep sense of reverence, reflection and understanding as they encountered God’s mercy and love.

In the lead up to this sacrament, students engaged in rich learning experiences, exploring the importance of forgiveness, making good choices and the opportunity to begin again. It was beautiful to witness the way they approached this time with openness and sincerity.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our educators for their care and dedication in preparing the students so thoughtfully. Their commitment to nurturing each child’s faith journey was evident in the calm and reflective nature of the celebration.

As a community, we continue to walk alongside our students, supporting them to grow in faith, love and understanding, and to live out the message of forgiveness in their everyday lives.

Stations of the Cross – Week 10 Monday 30th March – Thursday 2nd April 

We warmly invite our families to journey with us through the Stations of the Cross, thoughtfully created by our students. Through their words, symbols and reflections, students share their growing understanding of Jesus’ journey during Holy Week—revealing messages of love, courage, and humility.

The Stations of the Cross remain deeply relevant in today’s world, reminding us to stand with those who are suffering, to show compassion, and to respond with kindness and hope in the face of challenges. They invite us to reflect on how we can walk alongside others and make a difference through our actions.

As a community, we invite you to walk, pause, and reflect on Christ’s message and what it calls us to in our world today.

Families are invited to walk through the stations Monday 30th March – Thursday 2nd April after school pick up or before or after ‘Learning Conversations’ with educators on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning. 

On Tuesday 31st March children are invited to come to school in sports uniform or in the colour of their sports house. We invite children to bring in as many coins as possible to raise money for Project Compassion. Students will complete a lap of the school grounds in their house teams led by student leaders with buckets of water, walking in the shoes of students from third world countries that have to walk to collect water for their families instead of attending school. 

This event hopes to raise awareness of those less fortunate and what action we can take during Lent to help those in need. The winning house will enjoy hot chips for their efforts!  Classroom educators will advise students of their house colour.

Dawn Service 2026

We warmly invite our Mary Queen of Heaven community  to join staff at the Glenroy RSL for this year’s ANZAC Day Dawn Service on Saturday 25th April, as we continue to honour and strengthen our valued partnership with the RSL community.

This is a meaningful opportunity for us to come together in remembrance, gratitude, and respect for those who have served and continue to serve our country.

Pins and poppies in support of ex-service men and women will be available for purchase in Week 1 of Term 2 from the front office. 

We hope you are able to join us for this special occasion.

Year Level Mass Dates for Term 2

Friday 1st  May Grade 5/6

Friday 15th May Prep

Friday 29th May Grade 1

Friday 12th June Grade 2

Friday 19th June  Grade ¾

Sacraments 

Term 2: Confirmation: Sunday 3rd May at St Patrick’s Cathedral

Term 3: First Communion (Grade 4 students) :  Sunday 3rd August 

              Church of the Good Shepherd

Harmony Day – Stronger Together

With the motto ‘Harmony – Stronger Together’,  Harmony Week is a special time for our school community to celebrate what makes each of us unique, while recognising the many ways we are connected. It encourages us to appreciate both our differences and similarities, promote inclusiveness, and show respect for everyone—regardless of race, culture, religion, or background.

As part of our celebrations, all students designed their own Harmony Day rock for our Community Garden. Each rock will represent messages of kindness, belonging, and unity, coming together as a beautiful symbol of our shared commitment to living out our values.

Together, we continue to ‘Let the Light Shine’ by creating a community where everyone feels seen, valued, and included.

Building Strong Partnerships: Trusting Teacher Judgement

At our school, we believe that the most successful students are supported by strong, respectful partnerships between families and educators. When schools and families work together with trust and open communication, children are better able to thrive both academically and emotionally.

Teachers bring professional knowledge, experience, and care to every decision they make. Their professional judgement plays a critical role in the ongoing monitoring of each student’s academic progress and overall wellbeing. Through daily interactions, assessment, and observation, teachers develop a deep understanding of how students learn, what supports them best, and when additional guidance may be needed.

From time to time, families may be invited to have conversations about their child’s progress, learning behaviours, or wellbeing. These conversations are always approached with care, respect, and the best interests of the student at heart. They are not just about addressing concerns—they are about building shared understanding and working together to support each child’s growth. At times this will include a celebration of the child’s progress and a focus on the child’s relative strengths.

We encourage families to trust that when teachers reach out, it is because they genuinely care. Every conversation reflects a commitment to helping students feel happy, confident, and successful at school. We also encourage families to trust that when an educator does not reach out, that their child is managing school well and is performing in the expected range both academically and socially/emotionally. Through partnership, we can create the strongest possible support system for every child.

Together, through trust, communication, and partnership, we can ensure that all students are supported to reach their full potential.