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Mary Queen of Heaven Newsletter – Term 4 – Week 11

14th December 2023

One of the hallmarks of the Christmas story is when the angels appear to the shepherds and proclaim, “Peace on earth,” in Luke 2:14. In week 2 of Advent as we light the second Advent candle we pray for Peace.

God of all,

We pray for Peace in our homes, peace in our churches, and peace in our hearts, when the world all around us spins out-of-control. Help us to stay focused on You, this Advent season and always. Thank You for loving the whole world enough to send the greatest gift, Your Son, so that we might truly have a very merry Christmas.

Dear Families,

As we approach the end of our first year together, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every member of our incredible school community. The journey we have embarked upon has been filled with learning, growth, and the building of lasting connections.

First and foremost, I extend my deepest thanks to our students for their enthusiasm, curiosity, and dedication to their education. Your commitment to learning and embracing new challenges has truly set a positive tone for our entire community. You are all amazing little people who will go on and make a difference in our world!

To our parents community, thank you for entrusting us with the education and well-being of your children. Your support, involvement, and collaboration have been invaluable, and we appreciate the partnership we have formed to nurture the growth and development of our students. In our first year you have been patient and kind as we navigate our new spaces, systems and processes.

A special appreciation goes out to our talented and devoted staff. Your hard work, creativity, and passion for education have laid the foundation for a positive and inspiring learning environment. Your dedication has not gone unnoticed, and it is the driving force behind the success of our school community.

To our volunteers and community partners, thank you for your generosity and commitment to enhancing the educational experience for our students. Your contributions have played a crucial role in creating a vibrant and supportive community.

In reflecting on this past year, I am truly touched by the patience, trust, and kindness that permeate every interaction within our school community. These qualities have formed the foundation of our shared journey, and I am excited about the potential for even greater accomplishments in the years to come.

As we wrap up this academic year, let us celebrate our achievements, both big and small, and look forward to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead. Together, we have established a positive culture and a community that is not only ready to grow but eager to flourish.

Thank you all for your unwavering commitment, and I am excited to continue our journey together.

Helping Hands Mission

Last week we had the privilege of taking our school leaders to Helping Hands Mission to deliver the goods donated by our school community. The amazing abundance of Christmas treats was delivered by Grace, Charlene and Livi. They spoke of our schools desire to bring peace and joy to the needy in our community and our schools desire to give during the Christmas season. We are so proud of our school leaders and the effort our community went to in donating items. From the bottom of our hearts we thank you. Please know that your donations will certainly make a difference this Christmas.

Christmas Carols

Last Tuesday we celebrated the end of our school year with our Christmas Carols. It was so delightful to see so many of our families attend the carols. It was also beautiful to see many of our Prep 2024 families joining in the festivities. Thank you to our children and staff who prepared so beautifully and presented in a wonderfully festive manner.

School Captains

Last week our senior students presented speeches to their teachers and peers to apply for School Captaincy for 2024. All of our students presented with confidence and clarity, all showing a true reflection of what it means to be a leader. Our two School Captains for 2024 were elected:

Ameila

Amelia was elected by her peers for her gentle nature, her love of sports and the outdoors and her commitment to being a fair and just leader.

Neladi

Neladi was elected by her peers for her quiet confidence, her commitment to social justice, sustainability and her love and empathy.

We look forward to Amelia and Neladi bringing their leadership skills to our school community in 2024.

Classes for 2024

Yesterday your children got the opportunity to meet their new teachers and classmates for 2024. We want to reiterate that the teachers spend many, many hours going over the class groupings. Teachers consider the children’s social and emotional needs, learning needs, and relationships with other children and staff.

At these times we must trust that each teacher and the leadership team, know and care for your child. They have worked tirelessly on these class groupings to ensure each child will flourish in 2024.

As parents, you play a very important role in how your child views the changes in 2024.

A positive parent will reassure that any new change will be a blessing – an opportunity to foster new relationships and learn from a teacher who will support and care for them. These parents will find that their child develops resilience – an essential life skill for adult life.

As a parent, you have a choice – do I speak glowingly of the changes that my child faces, or will I model disappointment and anguish with my child?

We are excited about what 2024 will bring for our school, community, and especially the children in our care.

Farewell and Good Luck

This year we are farewelling three staff members.

Josh our amazing ½ Co educator and intervention teacher. Josh has been a calm and gentle influence on our little learners. He is born to teach! We wish Josh every success next year as he pursues his studies and his love for travel.

Bianca our Italian and Music teacher. Bianca is moving on to further her career at another school. Bianca has filled our corridors and the children’s hearts with her passion for music and her mother tongue- Italian. We wish Bianca all the best in her career in education.

Lucy our kind and welcoming receptionist, will be moving on in a completely new role that suits her family’s needs. Lucy has been a delightful addition to our admin team, and a beautiful ‘face’ to MQH.

We wish them every success in their future endeavors and know they will always carry a little piece of MQH in their hearts.

Testing Interviews 2024

Later today you will receive an invitation to book your child in for their testing time at the beginning of next year. Prep children will be required to book in for 2 interview times – these will come as two separate bookings. Year 1-6 will be required to book in for a time on Thursday 1st February only.

Learning Diversity

Mary Queen of Heaven prides itself in embracing all learners. In recent weeks, we have held our final Program Support Group Meetings for 2023 with families of students with diverse learning needs. It has been a joy to shine the light on progress towards personalised goals and celebrate individual success. We are grateful for the cooperative relationship between staff and families in ensuring student wellbeing is at the forefront of learning. We look forward to continued partnerships with families.

Wishing you all a happy, safe and holy Christmas break. May you take time to find peace and joy in the festive season, spending quality time with family and friends.

We look forward to working with you and learning with you all again in 2024 and beyond.

Learning and Teaching

As the academic year draws to a close, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the transformative journey we’ve embarked upon at Mary Queen of Heaven, in our formative year. This year, we embraced innovation in learning and teaching, focusing on effective pedagogies, a new inquiry model, data-driven practices, and child-centered learning spaces.

🚀 Innovative Pedagogy: A Catalyst for Growth

Our commitment to innovative pedagogy has been a driving force behind the educational experiences we’ve crafted for our students. Through dynamic teaching methods, we’ve sought to ignite a passion for learning, encouraging students to explore beyond traditional boundaries and develop skills that extend far beyond the classroom. We have prioritised teaching through small group focused teaching designed by educators using evidence.

🔍 New Inquiry Model: Empowering Curiosity through Discovery

The introduction of a new inquiry model, P-2 play-based and 3-6 project-based learning, has been incredibly successful. We’ve witnessed children become active participants in their education, asking questions, seeking answers, and developing a love for discovery. Our Educators will continue to work with Traces of Learning Consultants next year to deepen their understanding of this approach, ensuring that children have the opportunity to nurture critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential for success in the real world.

📊 Data-Driven Practice: Shaping Tailored Experiences

Our journey this year was guided by the invaluable insights derived from data-driven practices. By analysing student data, we’ve been able to adapt our teaching strategies to meet individual needs, ensuring that every student receives the support and challenges necessary for their personal growth.

🌈 Child-Centered Learning Spaces: A Haven for Exploration

Our commitment to creating child-centered learning spaces has transformed our school environment into a haven for exploration and creativity. These spaces have not only provided physical comfort but have also been instrumental in fostering a sense of ownership and engagement among our students.

🌟 Celebrating Achievements and Looking Ahead

As we celebrate the achievements of the past academic year, we express our gratitude to our dedicated educators, involved families, and, most importantly, our eager children. Together, we’ve laid the foundation for a future where innovation and child-centered learning will continue to be at the heart of our educational journey.

Thank you for being an integral part of the Mary Queen of Heaven learning community. Here’s to another year of growth, discovery, and limitless possibilities!

Please click on the link to view 2024 School fees for 2024.

Fees Mary Queen of Heaven 2024 (1)

If you hold a current Health Care card please read below.

2024 CSEF & MACS School Fees Concession

PACKS AVAILABLE FROM THE SCHOOL OFFICE.

2024 Camps, Sports and Excursions fund eligibility

Below are the criteria used to determine a student’s eligibility for the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF).

Criteria 1 – Eligibility

To be eligible* for the fund, a mature minor of sixteen years of age or over, a parent or legal guardian of a student attending a registered Government or non-government Victorian primary or secondary school must:

on the first day of Term one, or;
on the first day of Term two.

a)Be an eligible beneficiary within the meaning of the State Concessions Act 2004, that is, be a holder of Veterans Affairs Gold Card or be an eligible Centrelink Health Care Card (HCC) or Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) holder, OR
b)Be a temporary foster parent, and;
c)Submit an application to the school by the due date.

* A special consideration eligibility category also exists. For more information, see: Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF): Eligibility | education.vic.gov.au

Mature minors or parents who receive a Carer Allowance on behalf of a child, or any other benefit or allowance not income tested by Centrelink, are not eligible for the CSEF unless they also comply with one of (a) or (b) above.

Criteria 2 – Be of school age and attend school in Victoria

School is compulsory for all Victorian children aged between six and seventeen years of age inclusive.

For the purposes of CSEF, students may be eligible for assistance if they attend a Victorian registered primary or secondary school. Typically, these students are aged between five and eighteen years inclusive.

CSEF is not payable to students attending pre-school, kindergarten, home schooling, or TAFE.

Eligibility Date

For concession card holders, CSEF eligibility will be subject to the parent/legal guardian’s concession card being successfully validated with Centrelink on 29 January 2024 and/or 15 April 2024.