Term 1, Week 5

St Mary Magdalene’s School Board and the Finance Committee have been working with the Catholic Education Office to develop a school fee structure that recognises the financial burdens faced by families in our local community.

We want to ensure all families can access our high-quality, caring school and are pleased to offer the following fee structure:

Tuition Fee:     
$0

Resource Fee:
$250 per student per year (for students commencing in Term 1)
$195 per student per year (for students commencing in Terms 3 or 4).

Uniforms, excursion fees and extra-curricular activities are not included in this fee.

Our 2021 Fee information is available HERE.

Shrove Tuesday & Ash Wednesday

Students enjoyed pancakes served by students in our 5/6 class on Shrove Tuesday.

Students in Year 5/6 led our Ash Wednesday Service. In the Gospel Reading on Ash Wednesday we were all reminded that fasting, prayer and giving to others are very important during the season of Lent and that we should not do them to show off or gloat about it to others. Instead, when we take the time to pray, fast and give to others, we should do it because we know we are doing the right thing for others and by God.  

Lenten Initiative

This year we will support Year 2/3 students at St. Thomas More School in their Lenten initiative as they join with Aussie Bread tags for wheelchairs organisation. They would like us to collect as many bread tags as we can over the next 6 weeks of Lent.

Aussie Bread Tags for Wheelchairs collect bread tags nationally and in Australia. The tags are recycled locally, raising funds to buy wheelchairs for disadvantaged people in South Africa.

All bread tags brought in from home can be placed in the Project Compassion boxes in each classroom. These will be emptied at the end of each week. As we near the end of Lent, Scarlett and Michael as our Eco Justice Leaders will deliver the bread tags to the Year 2/3 students at St. Thomas More School.

This is a small thing we can do to make a big difference to those in need.

Elizabeth Catholic Parish Sacramental Program

The Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist form the Sacraments of Christian Initiation. On Friday February 26 from 5.30pm – 6.30pm, the Elizabeth Catholic Parish will hold a Parent Information session for the 2021 Sacrament Program. If your child is 9 years of age (or older) and would like to be involved in this program, please contact Melissa Musolino for more information on mmusolino@smm.catholic.edu.au

All parents and caregivers will soon receive a link to a survey. It is called the IDEAS Survey (Innovative Design for Enhancing Achievements in Schools) and will inform school improvement.  The survey is completed by parents/caregivers, staff and students.

IDEAS is a whole school revitalisation project developed by the members of the Leadership Research International (LRI) at the University of Southern Queensland. Based on extensive research in school improvement, this project has developed over more than 20 years in conjunction with teachers, school administrators and school systems. The project aims to enhance school success through enabling school communities to work together to clarify direction, develop a shared pedagogy and attain school alignment.  This unique professional partnership is captured in our vision:

• To inspire IDEAS schools to engage in a journey of self-discovery which will ensure that they achieve sustainable excellence in teaching and learning.
• IDEAS has been implemented in schools throughout Australia and three schools in Singapore and a school in Sicily.

Each term, Catholic Education SA will undertake a Classroom Pulse Check In.  The purpose of the Classroom Pulse Check In is to find out how students are feeling about their experience of school. Students will each be asked some simple questions about: Identity, Learning, Relationships and Belonging.  The aim is simply to “check in” with our students and measure how they are feeling. Your child’s responses will help us to identify any potential social, emotional or learning needs that they may have so they can be addressed.  They will also be used by Catholic Education SA to help highlight trends across Catholic Schools that may need to be addressed.