FROM THE PRINCIPALS DESK
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
I hope the holidays were a wonderful opportunity for rest and to recharge, in preparation to begin a new semester of learning at Mary Immaculate.
On behalf of the staff, I offer my thanks to all parents who were able to attend the Parent/Teacher Conferences at the end of Term 2. These meetings were an important opportunity to set learning goals for the second semester of the year. Goals are a wonderful means of focusing effort and improving motivation. What is important though, is that children are empowered with the support of parents to come up with their own goals. Children will be more motivated to achieve their goals if they’ve set them themselves because these goals will be important to them. An important part of this whole goal-setting exercise is celebrating your child’s success whenever a goal is attained. Parents generally know what best motivates each of their own children and often rewards or enticements are not as effective in helping children achieve goals as the gift of personal attention and words of affirmation from their parents.
I would like to sincerely thank those who have extended their best wishes on the news that I will be concluding my time as Principal here at Mary Immaculate to commence the new adventure of retirement. I am truly grateful to have served this community and to have had the opportunity to work alongside so many dedicated clergy, religious, staff, students, and parents. One of the greatest professional joys of my career has been my long association with the Mary Immaculate community and having the privilege to be a foundation staff member and then returning to our school as Principal.
On the last day of Term 2 our Year 4, 5 and 6 students and staff successfully moved to our beautiful new classroom block. I am so grateful to the teachers who have expended many hours during the holiday break to ensure that learning could commence immediately in Term 3. On the last day of Term 2, once the move was complete and everyone had left for the day I had the chance to walk through the building that was the first one built on our school site. Looking at the largely empty building I was flooded with memories of bringing our foundation students to visit the building site, of our moving day when the whole community gathered to move our original four classes from our first home at St Gregory’s College to our new permanent school site during the weekend before the start of Term 2 in 1986. Our school has certainly grown and changed since those early days, and I am pleased that the sense of a family that was so important to the foundation community continues today. I know that I will be leaving at a time when the school continues to be highly appreciated and valued within the local community. The next stage of our building project continues to move ahead, and the construction of the sensory playground has begun. The school will be in a wonderful position to welcome a new Principal once the recruitment process has been completed.
As we commence a new term of learning I pray that we can personally and communally seize every opportunity to make Christ our way and life.
Tina Murray
Principal
Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Biviano who welcomed a beautiful baby boy named Harrison to their family during the holiday break. We wish them all every blessing.
As we commence Term 3, we are very pleased to share the following staff changes.
We welcome Mrs. Tracy New who commences in the role of PPT PE teacher replacing Ms Tenealle Hay who resigned at the end of Term 2.
Mrs. Vianney Mae will be assuming the PPT Creative Arts role.
The PPT Library/Health role will be shared by Mrs. Elizabeth Chapman, Mrs. Melissa Karkour and we welcome Ms Dianne Winarczyk to Mary Immaculate.
Mrs. Lillian Del Giudice will be taking extended leave during Term 3.
Term 3 Class Leaders will receive their badges at a presentation ceremony on the morning of Thursday 27 February.
Parents of the Class Leaders will receive an invitation inviting them to be present during this special occasion at the end of this week.
CANBERRA EXCURSION - PACER
Last term students from year 6 an attended educational tour of the National Capital. Students were given the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs with a focus on Australia's history, culture, heritage and democracy.
The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government contribues $30.00 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion.
Tina Murray
Principal
