Mary's Mount Primary School
Term 1, Week 7 - 18 March 2022
Prayer for Hope
Heavenly Father
I am your humble servant,
I come before you today in need of hope.
I need hope for a calm and joyful future.
I need hope for love and kindness.
I pray for peace and safety.
Some say that the sky is at its darkest just before the light.
I pray that this is true, for today seems stormy and dim.
I need your light, Lord, in every way.
I pray to be filled with your light.
Help me to walk in your light, and live my life in faith and service.
In your name I pray,
Amen
PRINCIPAL'S NEWS
Dear Parents and Carers
I cannot believe we are in Week 7 of Term 1. I would like to thank you for your ongoing support and patience at this tricky time for us all.
LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
A common phenomenon in schools during the pandemic can be ‘toxic positivity’ – statements like Look on the bright side. It could be worse. Think about the good things you’ve got. Teachers are heroes. You’ve got this. Everything happens for a reason.
The problem with these upbeat statements is that they fail to acknowledge very real fears and anxieties that students and educators are experiencing – and can actually make morale worse. People can be made to feel guilty for not being more positive.
Ignoring negative emotions doesn’t make them go away. They become like a debt inside you. They show up somewhere, whether it be in a depression, or an eating disorder, or in aggression, or in physical health problems.
Anxiety might even be helpful, because it prompts people to keep their masks on, stay socially distanced and wash their hands.
The best approach for parents and teachers may be to be as positive as possible and reassure children that the pandemic won’t last forever, but acknowledge that right now, things are tough for all of us.
SOME POINTERS
· Acknowledge emotions.
· Acknowledge that people who use these upbeat statements mean well.
· Monitor your own self-talk.
· Model a range of emotions and how to handle them.
· Don’t ignore negative emotions.
· Don’t pressure people to be optimistic all the time.
· Don’t give pep talks without meaningful support.
· Don’t make being happy all the time your goal.
Acknowledgement: “When Toxic Positivity Seeps Into Schools, Here’s What Educators Can Do” by Arianna Prothero in Education Week, January 6, 2020
OVAL
I spy some green grass! The oval sprinklers and piping have been repaired and extra wetting agent and fertilizer has been applied. It is starting to look like an oval again. I thank the children for their patience during the repair time.
PARKING NOEL RD
I invited Brett Jackson, from the City of Kalamunda to view the traffic flow at Noel Rd. We have had an increased number of complaints from our neighbours. Brett spent time with Mrs Muscat to discuss how we can minimise the congestion and impact on our neighbours.
Tips for those who park in this area;
- Please make sure that you make use of the parking on Davies Cres. The gate at the top of the Harmony Garden is unlocked, to encourage easy access into the school grounds.
- The area between the Early Years Kiss and Drive and the main carpark is a no stopping area. It is also important to remember that parking on the verge of peoples property is discouraged.
Please remember that the council could potentially fine cars for parking in this manner.
As a school, we will continue to have conversations with the City of Kalamunda to reinforce the need for a pathway along the boundary for a safe transition from car to school.
PARENT/CARER and TEACHER INTERVIEWS
As we journey towards the end of Term 1, you will receive an invitation to parent-teacher interviews to discuss your child’s social and emotional wellbeing and how they have started the school year. It is a time of reflection and also a time to acknowledge the great partnership we have with our families to provide the best learning outcomes for all students. We would like your feedback on the communication we have shared with you regarding the whole school approach to behaviour education. The initiative was shared with families in the Parent Handbook, which can be found on our school website or click HERE to view.
God bless
Emma Bell
Be the best part of someone else's day - Ben Crowe
TERM 1, WEEK 8 PLANNER
- Harmony Week
Tuesday 22 March
- 1.30pm P&F Meeting Via TEAMS
- 6pm School Advisory Council Meeting via TEAMS
Wednesday 23 March
- Make a Move Week 8
Thursday 24 March
- NAPLAN Practice Test Year 3 & Year 5
Friday 25 March
- 9am Year 2 Merit Assembly
- Harmony Day - Dress up in Orange (gold coin donation for Project Compassion)
Saturday 26 March
- 6pm Sacramental Enrolment Mass Holy Family Parish
Sunday 27 March
- 9am Sacramental Enrolment Mass Holy Family Parish
INTERSCHOOL SWIMMING CARNIVAL
Teresa Curulli
Physical Education Teacher
P&F NEWS
Our next P&F meeting is scheduled for Week 8 Tuesday 22nd March @ 1.30pm. This meeting will also be held online and a link will be sent out to everyone to join. We encourage all committee members, class coordinators and any parent looking to get involved to please attend. All are welcome!
Subway Lunch
Subway Lunch Day is scheduled for Tuesday 29th March. Enjoy the morning free from lunch box making and let Subway Kalamunda do all the work. The cost is $7.50 and includes a 6inch sub, cookie + drink. Orders must be placed by Thursday 24th March and you can order online via Quickcliq.
P&F Easter Fundraiser
It’s almost that special time of the year when families and friends come together to celebrate Easter. This year we’re getting into the Easter spirit by supporting our MMPS families as well as those less fortunate in our community. We’re kindly asking each family to donate a small Easter item for our Easter baskets - Easter eggs or any other Easter item (book, soft toy, Easter activity set etc), which will then be made into raffle items for our school or Easter baskets for local children in need. Please drop these items into the Easter Raffle Box in your classroom by Thursday 31st March. We’ll make up 8 Easter baskets so there will be 8 great prizes on offer, which will be drawn on Thursday 8th April. Good luck!
Tickets just $2 each or 3 for $5 – sold tickets and money to be returned to the school office by Thursday 31st March 2022.
MMPS P&F Committee
SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER CORNER
I wanted to share with you a simple parenting strategy, developed by Maggie Dent, which that may be helpful as we navigate the current environment of uncertainty, anxiety, and constant change. It is called the ‘Parental Pause’.
It is a simple grounding technique that can help us in times of high-tension in our homes or when we are navigating through parenting challenges and feeling overwhelmed ourselves.
The Parental Pause
1. You stop moving. You ground your feet.
2. Gently bend your knees.
3. Place your right hand on your heart.
4. Take a deep slow breath. Maybe another two deep breaths.
5. Then you slowly move to stand close by or kneel near your child.
Be present.
Be still.
Observe calmly the world through your child’s eyes.
Inwardly- repeat these words silently.
“My child/ teen is not bad or naughty, this is not a crisis, but rather they are struggling to cope with their world. This is normal developmentally. Let me be what they need right now- a safe base."
You can read an article on the ‘Parental Pause’ by Maggie Dent at the link below https://www.maggiedent.com/blog/power-parental-pause/
Mrs Julie Merrells
Social Worker
CANTEEN NEWS - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We are very light on for helpers and volunteers this term, so if you can help out on any of the Fridays below, please either contact Angeline or email admin@mmps.wa.edu.au and we will pass your information on.
Friday 25 March
Friday 1 April
Friday 8 April
Be sure to check out the online menu each week when you order, as the items will change. There are lots of new drinks, and some new food additions too which will change over the term.
Thank you.
Angeline Biggin
COMMUNITY NEWS
HOLY FAMILY PARISH
Mary’s Mount Primary School is the parish school for Holy Family Church in Kalamunda.
Fr Suresh celebrates mass at the beginning of each term, for solemnities and special feast days and offers reconciliation to students who are preparing to receive their Sacraments.
Parish Priest : Fr Antony Suresh
Parish Secretary : Mary Syme
Current Parish Bulletin : https://holyfamilykalamunda.org.au/?page_id=132
Email: kalamunda@perthcatholic.org.au
Website: www.holyfamilykalamunda.org.au
Location: 2 Burt Street, Kalamunda WA, Australia
Phone: 08 9293 1646
Facebook: facebook.com/holyfamily
MARY'S MOUNT PRIMARY SCHOOL
Email: admin@mmps.wa.edu.au
Website: www.mmps.wa.edu.au
Location: 47 Davies Crescent, Gooseberry Hill WA, Australia
Phone: 08 9290 5200
Facebook: facebook.com/marysmount