School Fees

School fees will be issued by email soon.
For families with a carry over balance from 2020, this has been included in the payment amounts.

Payment option information is on the second page of your statement. Please return your completed payment option form by Friday 5th March.

If you choose to pay or continue paying by Direct Debit or Credit Card periodic payments (10 months or 20 fortnights), payments will commence Friday 12th March. You need to complete the bank authority for new or continuing payments (each year). Alternatively, you have the option to commence payments on a date that suits you. Please make sure you indicate the date you prefer.

All payment options are contactless. The school office has debit and credit card EFTPOS facility. HCC Discounts – If you have an eligible Centreklink Health Care Card, please complete an application form and present your card for copying by the school office. Families who have expired cards have been contacted to provide their current details.

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact Sue Haynes Finance Manager on email finance@mmccps.wa.edu.au or Ph:92417506

Sue Haynes
Finance Officer

Ngarla Room

The meeting room in the school hall is now known as the Ngarla Room which is the Whadjuk word for our meeting place CEWA Consultants are no longer using the facility.

Pupil Free Days 2021

Please note the following days are Pupil Free Days for staff professional learning:
Monday 19th April 2021
Tuesday 20th April 2021
Monday 19th July 2021
Friday 24th September 2021
Monday 11th October 2021

The School Advisory Council for 2021

Albert Ferralloro (Chairman) 
Colin Schotte (Treasurer)
Bryce Parry
Pierre DeLongis 
Melissa Carlson 
Amy Lam
David Phan
Laurie Bechelli (Ex Officio)
Fr John Jegorow (Ex Officio
Wayne Ehlers (Parish Rep)

P&F Executive and Members for 2021

Candice Ladd & Raelene Kerin Joint Presidents
Dee Wright Treasurer
Angela Cotellessa Secretary
Anita Andrews Second Hand Uniform Shop

School Social Worker

It’s been fantastic to see everyone back at school this week! It wasn’t quite the positive start to 2021 that we have all been hoping for with the combination of the COVID lockdown and bushfires! So how can we turn this rough start around and find some much needed positivity for us and our children?

Stay calm Your children will be looking to you to guide them in how they should respond to these events in their community, so be aware of your own emotional response and take measures that you know help you to remain calm, or at least find some calm when life feels chaotic! This could be doing some mindful meditation, reading a book, spending time in nature, talking on the phone with a friend, going for a walk, or just having an early night!

Provide reassurance Reassure your children that there are things that they can do to stay safe at the moment such as washing their hands, social distancing, and wearing masks. Remind them of the success we are having in WA in keeping our COVID numbers so low.

Encourage empathy and compassion The recent bushfires were devastating. Whilst we want to raise compassionate children, we don’t want to overwhelm them with unnecessarily distressing news. Children can cope with hearing some news about tragic events, but it’s important to consider their age, their personalities and their sensitivities when deciding whether to allow them to see media coverage or images and deciding how much to talk about the events at home, either with them or even just around them. Too much information, or too vivid or detailed information can be distressing. It can be helpful to focus on what you can do to help those affected by the bushfires instead of focussing on the trauma or distress that people have endured. Look for the good news stories such as the contribution of volunteers and firefighters, or the ways that communities have generously supported each other and share these with your children. There are many other opportunities you can take to build your child’s empathy such as donating to a relief fund, or contributing some supplies to a wildlife rescue organisation. I heard about two boys who chose to deliver buckets of carrots to horses that had been evacuated. What a kind gesture!

Stay positive Sometimes this is easier said than done! Focus on what is going well for you in your life at the moment and help your children to do this too. Many things have remained the same for us despite COVID-19 and there are always small positives we can find in each day. Try to reflect on these regularly and note them down somewhere that you and your children can see them. It can be helpful to have something to plan for or look forward to when life has become uncertain or stressful. This could be as simple as an overdue catch up with friends on the weekend, a trip to the beach, a long weekend away camping, or a parent only night out! Use your calendar and book these moments in so you can look forward to them!

Keep talking Honest and open communication always helps us to manage the most trying of situations so keep talking with your children. If they can come to you and ask questions when they feel worried, and they can receive your reassurance that things will be okay even though sometimes things might look a little different or not as we wanted, you will strengthen their resilience muscles every time!

Lisa Mueller
School Social Worker

Parish Blessing

To all our parents, students and staff we are hoping that 2021 is blessed with many of God’s gifts for all and we look forward to once again sharing and preparing in the wonderful sacramental programmes in the year to follow.

With God’s blessings,
Father John Jegerow

New Students and Their Families

As we enter into the new school year, I wish you all many wonderful experiences with your children. Take care this week and enjoy establishing positive relationships with others in our community. If you see our new families around the school, I know you will make them feel very welcome. We have many new families joining us in 2021, and as we have all been there as parents, it can be daunting in the early days.

Food Allergies

As parents will be aware, some children in our school are allergic to some foods. This is an extremely stressful time for parents as they do entrust the school with taking care of their most precious gifts.
It would be appreciated if parents could reinforce with their children that there is no sharing of morning tea or lunches or buying of food from the canteen for others at school. Your understanding and support is much appreciated.

Our students who have allergies are encouraged to wear the red cross on their collars to highlight to staff and students that they have an allergy. The fabric red cross transfers are available from the school office.
As you may be aware, most schools are nut aware rather than nut free as it is impossible to be completely nut free. In order to protect our students, and due to the rise of anaphylaxis cases within our schools, parents are asked not to send any food items to school which contain nuts or traces of nuts. There are numerous other allergies related to food that can cause severe reactions for some students. We see the health and wellbeing of our students as a priority whilst in our care and see this as our responsibility to the students, who may suffer an anaphylactic reaction.

We know you will have great understanding of how concerning it is for a child and their parents when such a risk of certain foods could put their young lives in danger.

Your support is greatly appreciated by all.

Sick/unwell Children at School

If your child is unwell/sick, please refrain from sending them to school. An unwell child in a classroom will spread their illness quickly as the children are in close contact with each other. Parent support is needed to ensure our children stay as well as they possibly can during the school year. When an unwell child is in a classroom environment, bugs can travel quickly. We rely on our parents to support this policy as we have children in our school who can become very ill, very quickly. Your efforts and concern for other students are highly valued.

Medical Information and Asthma Plan Forms

To maintain your child’s/children’s safety at school, it is vital that we are kept up to date with any medical concerns that the students at the school may have. In the coming weeks, Family Information Forms will be sent home for updating. Please do this carefully, especially with regard to medical information. These must be returned as soon as possible. If these have not been received by the school, please be aware it then becomes a parent responsibility.

Not Fit for Pe & Sport or Dance?

It is expected that students who cannot participate for a legitimate reason are provided with a note/email by their parent explaining the nature of the injury or illness. Mr Power & Miss Hince request that rather than provide a total exemption from the lesson for your child, it is often more appropriate that a request that my child “be allowed to participate where able to” in the lesson be the norm.

Many parents assume the PE or Dance & Drama lesson will be more robust than is planned for that day. Not all lessons are ‘rough and tumble’ where re-injuring may occur. Often lessons involve co-operative activities at controlled speed of movement or even in stationary positions. It is even possible for students to work away from the class group independently where practice and learning can still occur.

There are obvious cases where a student will not be allowed by Mr Power to be involved even if the child believes it is ok. These instances are judged individually in line with duty of care considerations and as a parent which Mr Power is. Keeping our children active and fit are goals not just for now but for them as adults too.

School Times

Year 1 to Year 6
8.00 am Before school duty commences
8.20 am Class doors open
8.30 am Classes commence – morning sessions
10.35 am MORNING TEA
10.55 am Classes resume-midday sessions
12.40 pm LUNCHTIME
1.20 pm Lessons commence – afternoon sessions
2.50 pm Pack-up bell: collect message boxes
3.00 pm SCHOOL CONCLUDES
3.20 pm After school duty ends

Pre-Primary
8.20 am Class doors open
2.50 pm School Concludes

Kindergarten
8.30 am Class doors open
8.45 am Lessons commence
2.50 pm School Conclude

If children are not in their classroom by 8.30am, they must sign in at the front office before going to class otherwise they will be presumed absent.

Absentees

The school Conected App is now available for parents to inform the school of your child’s absence. If you prefer to email your child’s classroom teacher on the morning your child is absent could you please cc the school administration into your email – admin@mmccps.wa.edu.au. Alternatively, you may call the school office on 9241 7500 before 9am, but an email or App notification will still be required.
Parents will be contacted via SMS if your child is away when the school has not been notified.

School Uniform Guidelines 2021

Thank you to our families who continue to set high standards in the appearance of our school uniform. In 2021, there will be reminder notices sent home to parents when students are consistently in the in-correct uniform or if the uniform does not meet standards. Please understand, this is about being consistent and ensuring all our students meet the requirements. Without parent support with the uniform we can achieve very little with maintaining these high standards.

Transport Permission Note

To avoid having to obtain signatures from parents repeatedly, as a consent for all occasions throughout the year for your child to travel by bus, we will be sending home a Transport Permission Form. Please ensure you return this signed form to your classroom teacher. If you did not receive one, you can collect a form from the office

Children Leaving the School During the School Day

Parents/Guardians collecting children during school hours will need to sign in at the office. We will then call the students to the office. If your child is returning to school later that day, come directly to the office to sign back in. This applies for Pre Primary to Year 6 students. If someone other than the parent or guardian is picking a child up during school hours, the school must be notified.

Access to School Grounds

The gates have been fitted with a remote control device. This will mean there will be no access to the school grounds between 8.45 am and 2.30 pm each day. If you require access into the school grounds you will need to enter via the school office which has been modified.

Parents/visitors on School Grounds During School Hours

All parents and visitors on school grounds during the hours from 8.45 am and 2.30 pm, must report to the school office and sign in. It is expected all visitors adhere to this procedure. This is part of our Safe Schools Policy.

Car Park Pick-Up and After School Supervision

Due to COVID 19 restrictions

Kindergarten
Eldest Kindy students are walked down to the junior drop off pick up area at the front car park at 2.30pm. The remaining students are walked down at 2.50pm.

Pre-Primary
All Pre-Primary students are walked down to the junior drop off pick up area at the front car park at 2.50pm. Older children from Years 3 to 6 are to be picked up from here if they have younger siblings in Pre-Primary.

Year 1 – 2
Eldest Years 1 and 2 students are dismissed to the junior drop off pick up area at the front car park at 2.50pm. The remaining students are dismissed at 3pm.
Please note: A Year 3-6 child that has younger siblings in PP-Year 2 must come to the front car park pick-up area.

Year 3 to Year 6
After school pick up will be from the Church end pickup area. All Years 3 to 6 students are collected from here until 3.20 pm.

At 3.20 pm, if the students have not been collected, they will be taken to the front car park near the school office.
Students may play on the school oval after school, but they must be supervised by their parents. This means supervised. No children should be on the oval after school unless a parent is present.

Students not collected by 3.30 pm will come into the office. Parents will be required to see the Principal or Assistant Principal if children are collected after this time. We acknowledge there will be occasions where parents run late. If you are running later than 3.30 pm, please contact the office on 9241 7500.

Use of Student Images on Social Media

Please note the only images you may place on social media are images of your own children. All video footage of assemblies, concerts, Masses and other school events is for private use only. We have many students in our school who are not permitted to have their images on the internet or social media, therefore placing other students’ images on the internet without written parental consent is not permitted. We appreciate your pride in showing how talented our students are, however, we know you will all understand and respect this request.

Newsletter and Website & App

Please remember the Penola is available on-line and the link is sent by sms to parents every fortnight on a Wednesday. The Penola will also be available on the school website. The instructions below are how you can download the Connected APP. We are continuing to look at ways of improving the communication with our parents.

Kindergarten 2022 Enrolment Applications

If you have a child born between 1st July 2017 – 30th June 2018, they are due to attend Kindergarten in 2022. Application forms are available at the office or online at our website, www.mmccps.wa.edu.au

Please return application forms to the school office ASAP.

All sibling applications need to be lodged as the enrolment process is now beginning.

We don’t want you to miss out.

Canteen News

The new Semester 1 CANTEEN MENU for 2021 is available on the MMCCPS website or alternatively if you require a hard copy, at the office or canteen. Please refer to this new menu ONLY, as many changes have taken place, with freshly made products.

The canteen operates on Monday, Wednesday & Friday. To alleviate using money, Mary MacKillop Catholic Community Primary School has an online ordering system for canteen orders. This enables a more efficient and effective service available to you and your family.

You can visit quickcliq.com.au to register.

Canteen tokens are available to purchase from the office or canteen at a cost of $32 per sheet. Lunch/recess order bags are available from the canteen, 20 bags for $1. Please ensure your child’s name and correct class are written clearly on bags. Separate bags must be written for recess and lunch. PLEASE DO NOT USE STICKY TAPE OR STAPLES TO SECURE LUNCH BAGS.

All lunch/recess orders must be placed in classroom baskets before the class commences. They will then be taken to the canteen. If your child is late, they are to take the lunch order directly to the canteen.

All prepaid drink orders from Yrs 1-6 are to be collected by your child at the canteen with their lunch order bags as proof of purchase.

Ice creams are then sold after the students are dismissed from eating their lunch. If ice creams are pre ordered, the bag must be shown at the canteen when picking up the ice cream.

Please note, your child can purchase a drink or icecream without pre ordering if they have money. Parents, please do not allow your children to buy icecreams for their friends and no large amounts of money should not be given to them. Thank you for your co operation in this matter. There is also a price increase with the twisted frozen yoghurts to $2.20.

If you wish to volunteer in the canteen please come and see me, we would love your help.

If you have any queries, please come and see either myself or Kath and we will be happy to help.

Regards,
Sylvia Iggleden.

Uniform Shop

Tuesday
Morning 8.00am-10.30am
Thursday
Afternoon 2.30pm-4pm

EFTPOS AVAILABLE

Julie
Uniform Shop Manager

Second Hand Uniforms

If you would like to purchase any second hand uniforms, please contact Mrs Anita Andrews 0412 866588.