Mary's Mount Primary School
Term 3, Week 6 - 27 August 2021
PRINCIPAL'S NEWS
Dear Parents and Carers,
What is joy? What is happiness? And what is the difference between joy and happiness?
The difference between joy and happiness lives in the mind and heart.
- Joy is a little word. Happiness is a bigger word.
- Joy is in the heart. Happiness is on the face.
- Joy is of the soul. Happiness is of the moment.
- Joy transcends. Happiness reacts.
- Joy embraces peace and contentment, waiting to be discovered.
- Joy runs deep and overflows, while happiness hugs hello.
- Joy is a practice and a behaviour. It’s deliberate and intentional. Happiness comes and goes blithely along its way.
- Joy is profound and Scriptural. "Don't worry, rejoice." Happiness is a balm. "Don't worry, be happy."
- Joy is an inner feeling. Happiness is an outward expression.
- Joy endures hardship and trials and connects with meaning and purpose.
- A person pursues happiness but chooses joy.
HOW DO I MAKE JOY A HABIT?
Good habits seem hard to come by. It's the bad ones that take no effort at all. That's because habits form via the path of least resistance.
- Choosing to make joy a habit requires you to turn your focus outward. Repetitively.
- Shift your attention away from your problems, your difficulties and yourself, and think about others. Repeatedly.
- Connect with the feelings of those also affected. Regularly.
This process is quite possibly one of the hardest things a person can do. It's not something that will come quickly or easily. But considering others before yourself is a definite ticket to joy.
Let us work together to develop a mindset here at Mary's Mount where we actively choose joy.
BOOK WEEK
What a week we have had to explore the joy of reading. Thank you to Mrs Smith for sharing the wonderful shortlisted books with our community. The children were treated to a magnificent performance on Wednesday by Perform Education.
Don't forget we are having our Bookweek Dress Up day on Tuesday 31 August at 9am. Parents are most welcome to join us for the parade in the hall on this day.
PERFORMING ARTS
Congratulations to the wonderful Year 2 and choir groups that represented Mary's Mount Primary School this week. Not only did they perform superbly on stage, but their behaviour was spectacular with members of the public making special mention to our teachers to commend the students. Mrs Skrzypek has written a report which you can view below.
STAFF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY
Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) is managed at our school by Mr Chris Smith, Mrs Belinda Henderson, Mr Derek Gair, Mrs Leech and myself. On Monday Mrs Henderson and Mr Smith lead the conversation around OH&S with the staff. Providing safety for everyone is a priority at MMPS. The process of identify hazards (something that may cause harm or injury), assess the risk (factors), have a conversation (workers know their workplace best), and implement some controls or fix it (as formal or informal as necessary), ongoing review (whatever we think is reasonable). That is what is going to keep everyone safe in our workplace. On Monday staff worked on key areas of the school that required immediate attention.
Throughout the day Miss Thresher held mini-workshops where the teaching staff spent time reviewing our current 'Teaching at Mary's Mount' documentation. This is a document that guides the pedagogical choices we make as a whole school. It was an energising and informative session with the final documentation being shared with the community members in Term 4.
RECONCILIATION SACRAMENT
The Year 3 students have been preparing for their Reconciliation Sacrament. They have been learning about Reconciliation/Penance in religious Education. We congratulate all our Catholic students for receiving the Sacrament of reconciliation last night and we thank you for holding them in your prayer intentions during this special time.
CONGRATULATIONS
Throughout this week interviews have been held for a permanent teaching position at Mary's Mount Primary School for 2022. There was a high caliber of applicants and exceptional candidates who interviewed. I am proud to announce that Mrs Sinead Muscat was offered the position of a permanent staff member of Mary's Mount Primary School. Congratulations Sinead!
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend.
God Bless
Emma Bell
Principal
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4;13
TERM 3, WEEK 7 2021 CALENDAR
Tuesday 31 August
- 7.30am - Mazenod Tutoring
- Book Week Dress Up Day - Theme 'Old World, New World, Other Worlds'
Wednesday 1 September
- P&F Father's Day Stall
Thursday 2 September
Friday 3 September
- 7.30am Father's Day Breakfast
- 9am Year 3 Father's Day Assembly and Merits
Saturday 4 September
- 6pm Community Mass - Pre-Primary, Year 1, 4 & 5 at Holy Family Church
Sunday 5 September
- Father's Day
BOOK WEEK - 23 AUGUST to 27 AUGUST
BOOK WEEK DRESS UP DAY - Tuesday 31 August
Come dressed up as your favourite character from a book. Students can decide which world to dress up in -
Old World - People from the past
New World - People from current day
Other Worlds - People from the future
Angela Smith
Librarian
CHOIR NEWS
ONE BIG VOICE
Wow, what a busy week it has been for our Mary’s Mount Choir students. Last Friday we participated in the One Big Voice, the largest Choir event in Australia held at the RAC Arena. Over 7,000 students from over 120 schools participated on the night. One Big Voice was the most amazing, moving, and incredible experience. I know our Choir students had a wonderful night, sharing their passion of singing with other students from different schools.
A huge congratulations to Isabelle Haley (Yr 6) and Raya Zarris (Yr 6), these two girls were part of the Vocal Group for One Big Voice. Isabelle was part of the ‘Storming’ Vocal Group and Raya was part of the ‘One Big Voice’ Vocal Group. The girls were fantastic getting up onto the stage, I am sure it will be a memory that will last forever.
A huge thank you to Mr Smith, Miss Thresher for being on the floor and all their help on the night. A massive thank you to Mrs Leech who has been a huge support with our MMPS Choir rehearsals and performances, Mrs Leech has a wonderful voice, and we love the passion she brings to the Choir every week.
If you would like to purchase professional photos from the night head over to: https://onebigvoice.com.au/information/2021-photo-downloads-prints/
PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL
On Tuesday 24th August, Year 2 class performed at The Vasto Club. The students performed two songs, ‘Dem Bones’ and ‘Hakuna Matata.’ The adjudicator was most impressed with the way the Year 2 class kept up with the Rhythm and Tempo of the two songs. The Year 2 class have worked really hard during their classroom and Drama time to memorise the songs and actions and we are all so proud of the students. Well Done Year 2!
On Wednesday 25th August, Mary’s Mount School Choir performed at the Vasto Club. The Choir performed two songs, ‘Kokoleoko’ and ‘Count on Me.’ The adjudicator was most impressed by the way the Choir used expression and rhythm with each of the songs. MMPS School Choir have worked extremely hard over the past 6 weeks and both Mrs Leech and I are immensely proud of their efforts. Well Done MMPS Choir!
Sarah Skrzypek
Drama Teacher
P&F UPDATE
Have you RSVP'd for our special Father's Day Breakfast yet? All dads, step-dads, Grand-dads, male caregivers and their children are invited to join us next Friday morning 3rd September any time between 7.30-8.45am for a yummy hot cooked breakfast near the Canteen area. Please RSVP here https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Iy-FxTM2KU-zhlHaU-NeI2p8S0-nvx5PvjRpmWDpgg5UOFgwWVk2VURRQTRIOEtXVldEUkdQUVEyWC4u .
Next Wednesday our wonderful 4YO Kindy parents will be coordinating our annual MMPS Fathers Day Stall, with all students invited to choose a special gift for dad throughout the day. Each class has been allocated a time to attend the stall so please ensure you send your little one in with up to $5 in change on the day. Please feel free to bring a small bag in to keep dad's item safe too.
It was great to see a little band of merry helpers come together to finish the last few jobs required to finally finish our Nature Playground. Special thanks to those wonderful volunteers and a huge thank you to Kate McRae for her dedication and leadership in managing this project for so many years. We can't wait to have our children play freely in this wonderful space!
Yours in education,
MMPS P&F Committee
CANTEEN NEWS
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Every Friday in Term 3 - Volunteers Needed. Our canteen cannot run without helpers, so please contact Michelle Sanderson if you can help out on a Friday.
Please also note, the cut off time for orders is 8.40am on the Friday morning.
Michelle Sanderson
Canteen Manager
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 : Louisa Sizer
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