Dear Families

Welcome to Week 4. November traditionally marks the beginning of a very busy few weeks as we charge towards the end of the school year. There are a range of events happening (almost weekly) within our school community. We warmly extend an invite to you all to come along and share these celebrations with us. Please keep an eye out for key dates which are already on our website and in recent newsletters.

Tomorrow, Friday 7th our Year 2 class will celebrate the start of Advent with a special Liturgy at 9:15am. Advent is a period of preparation that lasts for four weeks leading up to Christmas. Due to the timing of the school term, we start celebrating early!  Advent means ‘coming’, and in the church we prepare for the Coming of Christ on Christmas Day. For some, this countdown to Christmas is marked by an Advent Calendar. This can be a very helpful and purposeful addition to assist in preparing for the Coming of Christ.

Next Tuesday, 11^th November we commemorate Remembrance Day. It is a day on which we honour the men and women who have served in the military. We also honor those who have died for the cause of freedom. It is a time for us to say “Thank you” for the sacrifices they have made. It is a time to think about the freedoms we enjoy because they were willing to serve. It is a time to think about love – the love they showed for their country and for their fellow human beings. We welcome all families to join us for our Remembrance Day Liturgy on Tuesday at 2:15pm.

World Teachers Day

Last week we celebrated our wonderful teachers and co-educators on World Teachers Day. We are so blessed to have an amazing staff here at SMM. A mix of truly genuine and compassionate people who strive to give your children the best day possible each and every day. If you haven’t already, why not say “thanks” to them next time you see them. They will appreciate that.

Athletics Carnival

On Wednesday, a large number of our students from Years 3-6 went to SA Athletics

Stadium in Mile End to compete in the Catholic Schools Athletics Carnival. Our students represented our school with pride and determination. We thank Mr. Morgado for preparing our students which included conducting trials in his spare time.

Children’s University

We congratulate our students who have been working very hard this year within the Children’s University Program. This innovative program encourages students to engage in out of school learning experiences where they

can take responsibility for their own learning. We thank Ms Kathy Keough for supporting these students. We can’t wait to see them all graduate at a special ceremony on Tuesday night, 11^th November in the city at the university.

Supporting Real-World Growth: Social Media Ban and Screen Time Balance

As educators and caregivers, we all want our young people to grow, flourish, and reach their full potential. Research continues to show that excessive screen time can affect the developing brain—impacting attention, emotional regulation, sleep, and learning. While technology has its place, too much time in virtual spaces can disconnect students from the real-world experiences that help them thrive.

In response to growing concerns, the South Australian Government will introduce a nationwide social media ban for children under 16 starting 10 December 2025. This landmark initiative aims to protect young Australians from the developmental risks associated with excessive social media use and promote healthier habits.

Aligned with this, our school will be reviewing the amount of screen time provided during the school day and implementing measures to ensure a better balance. We want our students to flourish in the real world—not just in digital or AI-driven spaces. Encouraging outdoor play, creative hobbies, and face-to-face interaction is key to helping young people build resilience, curiosity, and meaningful relationships.

We invite families to use this moment to talk with children about the reasons behind the change. Together, we can help them rediscover the joy of real-world experiences and support their growth into confident, capable learners. Let’s guide them toward a future built on real relationships, real skills, and real joy—not just digital consumption.

Building Positive Connections at Our School – PBIS Focus for the Term

At our school, we are continuing our journey with PBIS (Positive Behaviour Interventions and Supports) — a whole-school approach that helps us create a safe, caring, and respectful learning environment for every child. This term, our focus is on how we interact with each other — building strong, kind, and respectful relationships.

• Each year level will be exploring a specific skill to help strengthen these positive interactions:
  -Using people’s names kindly and correctly.
  -Saying sorry in a way that helps rebuild friendships.
  -Using good manners in words and actions.
  – Showing respect through the way we speak and listen to others.

These skills might seem small, but together they build a strong, caring school community — one where everyone feels seen, valued, and safe.

How parents can help at home:

• Encourage your child to use people’s names when greeting or thanking others.
• Talk about what a real apology sounds like and why it helps make things better.
• Model and praise polite manners — simple words like please, thank you, and excuse me make a big difference.
• Chat about what respect looks like at home, school, and in the community.

When school and home work together, children learn that kindness, respect, and responsibility are part of who we are — not just what we do. Thank you for helping us grow a community where everyone belongs.

2026 and beyond

Thank you to all families who have returned their 2026 intention and updated details forms. If you haven’t yet submitted yours, we kindly ask that you do so as soon as possible.

Our staff are currently reviewing class placements and preparing for smooth, positive transitions into 2026.

If there’s any information your child’s teacher should be aware of for next year, now is the ideal time to share it. We invest significant time and care into creating balanced class structures, taking many factors into consideration.

If you know of any families interested in enrolling for 2026 or beyond, please encourage them to get in touch promptly—spaces are filling quickly.

As we head into a busy few weeks we thank you for your patience and kindness. It is the time of year where students can get tired and need our support to stay focused. We welcome conversation about your child’s well being and how we can best support them as we round out 2025 and start preparing for our transition into the new school year.

Shaping our future together,

Belinda and Gareth