This week we officially began to welcome our new 2023 Kindergarten students and their families to the first playgroup sessions. During the last two years our Playgroup and Readiness sessions have been severely interrupted by COVID and we are excited to be able to recommence these important sessions, designed to provide the best possible start to the important first year of formal education.

In a sense, our school has a double staff; the staff that performs within the school and the very important staff that perform within the home. Recent research evidence indicates that a child’s education can be greatly enhanced by involvement at home, but also through involvement in school activities. It is parents’ enthusiasm, support and involvement that will inspire children to do their best. Children frequently adopt the attitudes and opinions held by the important adults they look up to; and enthusiasm for learning is no exception. If children sense that parents consider education to be a high priority, they are likely to view it in a more positive manner themselves. Positive reinforcement will help children to adopt a more enthusiastic attitude towards the processes involved in their own learning.

Certainly, we aspire to develop in our students a love of learning, a passion that will hopefully become a lifelong aspiration for all our students. Our relationships are governed by love. This week, as our Kindergarten cohort for 2023 attend school for their first playgroup sessions, the sense of deep parental love will be evident and on display. The love within families is inspirational and lies at the core of our community. The journey of learning about the great gift of love begins in the family and moves outward. Love is not a one-dimensional concept.

In learning about love we also learn lessons about being disappointed, misunderstood and hurt. We are also reminded that none of us is totally innocent of hurting others. It is here that we learn to forgive, as well as to ask for and accept the forgiveness of others. We learn that despite our best intentions we usually fall short of being the person God intends us to be. But God, just like a loving parent, reminds us to ‘come as we are’ and that we are loved even when we are at our least lovable. 

Inspirational love also exists between teachers and their students and between the students and their friends. The daily work of our school and our staff and students is an expression of this love. Underpinning all our actions and emotions is the pre-eminent response of Jesus - to love our God with all our heart and all our being. It is this desire to seek oneness with our God that makes a Catholic school such as Mary Immaculate truly different.

Our school motto ‘Christ Our Way and Life’ speaks of our search to bring to life our relationship with our God and with others. At Mary Immaculate, we so regularly find evidence of our God in action, in work, in learning and in thought. We find our God with, and through each other. In doing so we give ourselves the grace to love our God above all else and to love our fellow neighbours as ourselves.

Who will be the neighbour in your midst this week?

Who will be the vehicle to bring you closer to your God?

Wishing you a week embraced in the love of Christ.

Tina Murray

Principal

  P&F TERM 4 GENERAL MEETING

The Term 4 General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 2 November at 7:00 pm. Parents are warmly invited to attend this in-person event that will be held in the Library.

To register your attendance and to add any items to the agenda please complete the form via the link below. Please add any agenda items by COB on Monday 31 October to allow time for meeting documents to be finalised and distributed.     

CLASS FORMATION FOR 2023

Thank you to the many parents who have provided input into the class formation process that will commence shortly.

Parents are invited annually to contribute to the process of class formation by informing us in writing of any special needs that may affect class placement. Please complete the linked form to provide input regarding the class placement of your child in 2023. This survey will close on Friday 28 October, 2022

PARENT INPUT SURVEY

Each year we seek parent, staff and student input to prepare aspects of the Annual School Report. This year all parents have the opportunity, via an anonymous on-line survey, to provide input into areas affecting the education of their children and the general functioning of the school. All feedback is greatly valued and will assist in contributing not only to the preparation of the Annual School Report but also to future directions and school improvement initiatives.

We greatly value all feedback and suggestions from our community members as contributions will assist in the preparation of the Annual School Report and planning for 2023. The survey will be available for the next 3 weeks until Wednesday 2 November 2022 and can be accessed via the following link: