Mary Immaculate Primary Newsletter

Term 4 Week 7: Monday 15th November 2021

Principal's Message

Dear Parents/Carers, 

We started receiving our new furniture last Friday. Kinder and Year 1 now have their new furniture. Years 2 and 3 will have theirs delivered this Friday. This is hugely exciting for our students.

The new furniture provides various seating and gathering opportunities for the students. This is directly in line with the refurbishment practices in Catholic, State and Independent schools to have their learning environments suited to kids and not the other way around as has been the case for many years.

Over the next few weeks, the rest of the school furniture will also be replaced. I will share with you images from the new spaces as they are set up. BFX is a well-known educational furniture design and supply company. They have several articles here that are easy to read about improvements in classroom design.

 Here is a picture of the classroom design that we continue to move away from towards a design that is student-centred.

With appreciaition for your ongoing support, 

Stephen Dowd

Principal

Counsellor's Message

The idea that children are only ‘attention-seeking’ when they behave in certain ways may not be the whole story. If we move ‘attention-seeking’ to ‘need-seeking’, we may be able to understand more about what our children need and are trying to express through their behaviour. I’ve attached a flyer for a well known parenting course known as Tuning in to Kids. There are quite a few options available for parenting courses and this one focuses mostly on improving communication. The course commences this week and is free for parents and caregivers .

Justin Denes 

School counsellor

 Mary Immaculate Primary School 

Learning at MIPS

MIPS Read-a-Thon Winners!

Congratulations to all MIPS students who participated in the Holiday Read-A-Thon (which continued throughout the lockdown period). It was wonderful to see the energy and enthusiasm that reading brought to our students while they were learning remotely!

Congratulations to the Read-a-Thon winners:

Kindergarten: Imogen Z, Fiona Z, Ashton R

Year 1: Patrick T, Jaxon B, Jamie M

Year 2: Mason F, Richmond S, Levi C, Ethan L

Year 3: Yavniel F, Travis M, Mariah C

Year 4: Ruby B, Ruby PYear 5: Dominic D, Samantha S, Angelina S

Year 6: Shenaya N, Aarya N, Chelsea S

Mrs Kylie Behrens

Literacy Leader

Latest News

Gingerbread House kit Fundraiser

The P and F are holding a Gingerbread House kit Fundraiser.  Its all online and gets delivered to your door. It's allergy friendly and has a gluten free option. Its even a great gift idea.The Fundraiser ends 30th November at Midnight.https://rebrand.ly/MaryImmaculatePS_gingerbread_house_fundraiser

SCHOOL FEES 2021

Statements have been sent out by CEDP, please note those with a nil balance will not receive a statement. If you have not received your statement as yet please contact the office for a copy. For many, this statement will be for information purposes only if you are on a payment plan or awaiting the outcome of an assessment.

We are aware of the financial strain that COVID-19 is having on some families and its impact on your capacity to pay school fees. If you have any queries regarding your account or your payment arrangements, please contact Liz Padlan on 02 9933 7800 or via email on imac-qkhlfees@parra.catholic.edu.au to discuss what options are available to you.

All information is kept strictly confidential.

Leaving Student Form

If you intend to withdraw your child from Mary Immaculate Primary School please download, complete and return the leaving student form as soon as possible.

Note that there is a 10 school week notice period otherwise a full term's fees will be payable.

One exception is that notice in writing will be accepted at any time during Term 4 in relation to the following year's enrolment. 

Download

Uniform Shop

Delivery to the school is every Tuesday and Friday during the school term. Orders must be placed using the QKR app by 4:00pm Monday for delivery on Tuesday and 4:00pm Thursday for delivery on Friday. Please refer to the delivery dates on the QKR app before ordering for any changes.

Please choose carefully as we do not refund if you simply change your mind or make a wrong selection. However, we gladly exchange within 14 ( school term) days.

Returned merchandise MUST be in its original condition with all tags still attached and accompanied by proof of purchase otherwise the exchange will not be honoured. Any item that has been worn will not be exchanged.

Please email all exchanges to elle@ozfashions.com.au

Please note that Oz Fashions warehouse in Granville DOES NOT sell the Mary Immaculate Uniform in store.

If you have any enquires please contact Elle elle@ozfashions.com.au or 0421 216 414

Please place your uniform order before November 19 to ensure you will be able to exchange uniform sizing if necessary and to guarantee students receive a uniform to start school. Alternatively, orders placed in December will be received when school resumes.

 

School Canteen

Paula's Pantry is open Monday to Friday: before school from 8:25am, lunchtime and recess.

All orders for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea are to be placed online via QKR app. Please note that the cut off time is 7:50am. Therefore it is advisable to plan ahead and place your order the night before. Please be mindful that you are selecting the correct date/day/child(class) when placing the order. 

Breakfast food can be collected from the canteen window. All other orders will be sent to your child's classroom in their lunch tubs. 

Cash is acceptable ONLY for frozen goods (eg ice cream/ice blocks).

The following items will not be available in Term 4:

  • Rice paper rolls
  • Fried rice
  • Frozen Yoghurt

Upcoming Dates

Tuesday 16th-

Friday 19th 

November 

Kindergarten Orientation Session 1: 2022 Kindergarten Tours (9am-10am and 10am-11am).

One parent per family will be able to book to bring their child for a 50 minute tour of the school run by our Student Leaders. Parents will need to provide proof of full vaccination, wear masks and use our QR code to sign in and out. Book for one session. You can book for this at:https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/ngbu2 

Tuesday 23rd - Thursday 25th

November

Kindergarten 2022 Orientation Session 2  (9am-11am).  

 Parents can book in for a two hour morning session for children enrolled in Kindergarten 2022  to go with Kinder teachers into class to begin meeting their new friends. Book for one session.You can book for this at:https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/hax2t 

Thursday 2nd December Kindergarten Orientation Session 3.  All Kinder 2022 students will come to school from 9am to 11am. No need to book. 
Thursday 9th December Kindergarten Orientation Session 4 (9am-11am). All Kinder 2022 students will come to school from 9am to 11am to meet their 2022 teachers. No need to book. 
Frday 10th December Year 6 Graduation Mass and Award Ceremony 2021 (11am-12pm)
Wednesday 15th DecemberLast day of school year for students
Friday 17th December Last day of school year for staff

Community News

Message from Sister Valerie (Sacramental Coordinator)

Greetings to all of you.  As you are aware, the Sacramental program for Confirmation and First Reconciliation had to be postponed in 2021 due to the long lockdown that we all have experienced.

 Sacrament of Confirmation

Those who applied for the Sacrament of Confirmation have already received the information about the dates and times.  If you have not received any information from me, we have not received your application.  We will have the Sacrament of Confirmation in January/February for those who have applied.  There will be another Confirmation program in August/September for any children in Years 5 or older.  Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have not received the information and you have already applied.  The Confirmation ceremonies will happen twice in 2022 so if anyone missed out, you can receive the sacrament in September with the preparation in August 2022.

 Sacrament of First Reconciliation

 For those children who are now in year 3 or older who are seeking to make their First Holy Communion in June 2022, we will combine the Reconciliation and Holy Communion Program.  In Term 1 we will do the Preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation which the children will receive sometime before Easter.  After Easter we will begin the Program for First Holy Communion so the children can receive their First Communion during the month of June in 2022.  Since the Sacraments will be so close in time, we will have one application for both Sacraments.  We will endeavour to have the applications out in December 2021, but they will be due back to us by the middle of February 2022.  Another Program for the Sacrament of Reconciliation will take place in October 2022 with the children receiving their First Reconciliation in November 2022 and First Communion in June 2023.

 Feel free to call me or email me at any time if you have any questions or concerns.

 Kind Regards,


Sister Valerie csfn

Sacramental Coordinator

Mary Immaculate Parish – Quakers Hill – Schofields

Ph: 0414 638 884

School Banking Update from Commonwealth Bank

For 90 years, our School Banking program has helped children learn about money, reinforced the importance of regular savings and provided structure for parents to support their children to save. 

Though the program continues to have strong support from schools, parents and teachers, recent decisions by some state and territory governments because of a review by the corporate regulator mean we are unable to continue providing programs in schools, and we have had to make a difficult decision to close our School Banking program for all government and non-government schools across the country. 

Our School Banking program was established in 1931 at a time when having a bank account was not commonplace, and since then we have helped more than 15 million Australians take their first financial steps. This would not have been possible without the wonderful support we have received from schools like yours, including all the parents and volunteers, and for this we are deeply grateful. Thank you.

Even though this is a sad time, School Banking has taught so many young Australians, past and present, the value of money and we believe this should be celebrated. We have created a place for you to share your stories, fondest memories and lessons learnt through the program. To share your story and access our financial education resources, please visit commbank.com.au/scholbanking

Even though the CommBank School Banking program will not be returning to your school after this year, you can continue to make deposits into your child’s Youthsaver account through online transfers or at any CommBank branch. If you need further information please phone 132 221 or visit your local CommBank branch.

Keeping families and children well – COVID-19 Bulletin Issue 54: Thursday 11 November 2021

Please click here to find the latest COVID-19 bulletin from the western Sydney Munch & Move and Live Life Well @ School teams. 

Community Advertising

"Please understand we are happy to support local businesses and programmes. However, the following notices are supplied for community information.
This by no means surmounts to an endorsement by the school." (Principal, Mr Stephen Dowd)

Download the SkoolBag App

https://moqproducts.com.au/skoolbag/installation-instructions/

At Mary Immaculate we communicate with parents via the free Skoolbag app that is available from both the App Store and Google Play Store. Skoolbag can be installed on any iOS (iPad or iPhone) or Android device. Downloading the app means you immediately receive updates and reminders to your mobile phone or ipad. Remember to subscribe to your child's Year Group so that you will receive messages relevant to their year.  Instructions on how to download the Skoolbag App are available via this link.

Please refer to instructions provided by Skoolbag if you have changed your email address, so to ensure you still receive skoolbag notifications.

Mary Immaculate Primary Quakers Hill