Newsletter – Week 4

Dear Families,

Welcome to Week 4 and what a busy few weeks we have had already.

At the end of Week 2, our R/1 Drewett class lead us in a beautiful liturgy for the whole school and what a treat it was to have so many of our Mums, Grandma’s, Nanas, Aunties and mother figures at our Mother’s Day Liturgy and Morning Tea. Blessed with a perfect morning we enjoyed coffee and cakes, chatting and sharing stories. We give thanks for our Mums, grandma’s, stepmums, foster mums, maternal figures such as sisters, aunties, teachers, mentors and friends who provide guidance and support, we are grateful for the role that they play in all our lives. We pray for those who have been blessed with the wonderful mystery of being a parent or parent figure – you are all doing a great job!

Catholic Education Week

Last week we celebrated Catholic Education Week. The theme this year was “Shine with Open Hearts”. Every day at St Mary Magdalene’s we witness our staff and students shining. We are grateful for the many talents our students bring to school each and every day. Come through the office and see our ‘Shooting stars’ display celebrating how we all shine!

This year’s celebration is significant as it marks 180 years of Catholic education in South Australia—a remarkable milestone that aligns with the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year. The 2025 Catholic Education Week theme, #ShineWithOpenHearts, reflects the heart of Catholic schooling—where students are encouraged to shine through kindness, compassion, learning and leadership.

The week also coincides with the Catholic Education Awards South Australia, honouring the outstanding teachers, leaders, staff and volunteers working in our Catholic schools. We give thanks for our incredible and dedicated staff who go above and beyond to help our students be ‘the best versions of themselves”. Make sure you check out our Facebook page for a snapshot of what our students had to say!

Student Progress Meetings

What a busy week it was last week as we met for Parent Teacher Interviews. These meetings are a critical part of any child’s education. Thank you for being proactive in booking a time and for meeting with the teacher in such a positive way. Parent-teacher meetings can happen at any time so please continue to reach out if you were unable to book or needed to reschedule your time. Further feedback regarding your child’s learning will come at the end of this term in their school report.

Winter Warmies Day

This Friday our school will acknowledge the beginning of the cooler months with our Winter Warmies Day. On this day we invite your child to wear something ‘cozy’ to school. This could be in the form of pyjamas, trackies, or a scarf and beanie. Students are not permitted to wear slippers or ugg boots due to WHS requirements. At second lunch, our student leaders will be selling warm milo for 50cents a cup/ or $1 with an added marshmallow. Please see your child’s teacher if your child requires a certain type of milk for dietary reasons.

New Staff

Last week we welcomed Ms Domenique Saraceno to our school. Dom is our new student counsellor and will work to support our students on Wednesdays. Dom also works at St Michael’s College and comes to us with a wealth of experience. Please make sure you say hello to her if you see her in and around the school yard. We also welcome Ms Olivia Chambers who is working a few days as a week as a Co-educator.

Attendance

As a school we continue to monitor and track student attendance. As the cooler weather sets in we acknowledge the arrival of coughs and colds. If your child has flu symptoms or needs a day off due to ill health we completely understand and appreciate your correspondence. Please remember that any extended time off school (2 or more days) requires a medical certificate.

PBIS

As part of our PBIS work, we continue to educate our students about the importance of being safe, respectful, and responsible in our toilets. Recently, our students watched a video created by our staff and student leaders, which highlights both positive and negative behaviours in the toilets.

As part of our commitment to fostering a safe and hygienic school environment, we encourage students to:

• Use the toilets responsibly—respecting others’ privacy, not playing in the toilets, and ensuring the space remains clean for everyone.
• Follow hygiene practices—washing hands thoroughly with soap and water, cleaning up after yourself, leaving the toilets tidy and never eating in the toilets.

Shaping our future together,
Leadership Team
St Mary Magdalene’s School