Mel Maria Catholic Primary School

Dear Parents and Caregivers

This is a good place for us all. This is a nourishing place for us all. This is our school, and we are proud of it.

As we arrive at the midpoint of Term Three, I am delighted to share that our school community continues to thrive. Students and staff are working with energy and dedication, and it is evident across all year levels that wonderful progress is being made. Classrooms are alive with enthusiasm, collaboration, and achievement, and it is particularly encouraging to see students so eager to share their learning with pride and joy.

The partnership between home and school remains one of our greatest strengths. Parental encouragement and affirmation provide the foundation for a learning environment that is both supportive and inspiring. As the saying goes: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” These words of Helen Keller truly reflect the spirit of Mel Maria—where staff, students, and families walk alongside one another in building a community of excellence and care.

I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the tireless commitment of our School Advisory Council and our P&F Executive Association, so ably led by Mr Anthony Chillino and Mrs Rebecca Foster. Their work, along with the dedication of their committees, ensures the continued growth, sustainability, and vitality of our school.

As winter comes to an end and our sporting seasons conclude, I extend sincere thanks to the many individuals who have supported our students in their activities. To our parents within our community who are coaches, assistant coaches, managers, umpires, and committee members etc., your generosity of time and spirit has provided students with invaluable opportunities to grow, not only in skill, but also in teamwork, perseverance, resilience and confidence. The experiences you have given the students will remain with them long after the final whistle.

Well done to all for the unity, dedication, and spirit that make Mel Maria Catholic Primary School such a vibrant place of learning and community.

Success of the New Model and Improvements We Are Seeing

The full implementation of our innovative two-campus model has now been in place for three terms, and we are delighted to share the many positive outcomes we are witnessing across our school community. This model, which places students at the very centre of our planning and vision, is already demonstrating significant benefits:

· Purposeful Learning Environments – Our students are thriving in age-appropriate settings designed to support their developmental needs. The ECE Campus nurtures our youngest learners with play-based, inquiry-driven learning, while the Primary Campus offers a rich environment for independence, collaboration, and leadership development.

· Staff Collaboration and Excellence – Teachers now work more closely in year-level cohorts, fostering professional dialogue, consistency in teaching practice, and shared responsibility for student learning outcomes. This collaborative approach is translating into stronger programs and improved learning opportunities for every child.

· Stronger Campus Identity – Families and students alike are embracing the unique identity of each campus, with a renewed sense of pride, belonging, and community spirit. Our school charters are living documents, guiding our culture and providing a clear vision for learning and engagement.

· Enrolment Growth – We are especially pleased with the increase in early years enrolments. This growth is a strong affirmation of parent confidence in the direction we are taking, and it reflects the wider community’s recognition of the high-quality education offered at Mel Maria.

The success of this new structure is being acknowledged not only by our school community but also across Catholic Education Western Australia. It highlights Mel Maria as a leader in educational innovation and strengthens our point of difference within the Catholic education system.

We are proud of the progress achieved in such a short period and remain committed to building on this momentum as we continue to make a difference every day.

Quality Catholic Education Awards 2025

We are delighted to share that Mel Maria Catholic Primary School has nominated for the Quality Catholic Education Awards 2025, which celebrate excellence, innovation, and outstanding practice across Catholic Education Western Australia.

This year, our school proudly entered in the Education section of the QCE Awards in recognition of our new dual-campus model and the transformative journey that has positioned Mel Maria as a leader in Catholic educational innovation. Our nomination highlights the strength of our community, the dedication of our staff, and the many ways in which our students are flourishing academically, spiritually, socially, and emotionally. These awards are an opportunity to showcase the outstanding work happening at Mel Maria and to acknowledge the commitment of our staff, parents, and students who continue to live out our school motto, “Unity is Strength,” and our guiding mantra, #MakingADifferenceEveryday.

As part of the awards process, there is also a People’s Choice Award, which allows members of the wider community to vote and support their school. We warmly encourage all families, extended relatives, and friends to show their support for Mel Maria by casting a vote.

Innovative New Model for Primary School (Mel Maria Catholic Primary School)
Mel Maria has restructured into two specialised campuses: Early Childhood and Primary Years. This bold model deepens faith formation, enhances wellbeing, and provides dynamic, inclusive learning environments that inspire curiosity and creativity. Read more & vote.

Thank you for standing with us and celebrating the success of our wonderful school community.

Father’s Day

On Sunday, 7 September, we celebrate Father’s Day, a time to pause and honour the fathers, grandfathers, and all father-figures who play such a vital role in the lives of our children and families. It is a day that invites us to reflect on the extraordinary impact that these men have through their love, guidance, and presence.

At Mel Maria Catholic Primary School, we are deeply aware that fatherhood takes many shapes. Some fathers show their love through quiet encouragement and gentle wisdom; others through their hard work, their selfless sacrifices, or the simple but powerful act of being present. Whether it is tying shoelaces, helping with homework, cheering from the sidelines, or offering reassurance in difficult moments, these everyday gestures are often the ones our children treasure the most. Collectively, they build the foundation of confidence, resilience, and faith that our students carry with them throughout life.

In our Catholic tradition, we look to the example of St Joseph, a man of strength, humility, and unwavering devotion. His faith-filled care for Mary and Jesus reminds us that the true measure of fatherhood lies not in grand gestures, but in the quiet constancy of love, patience, and guidance.

Like St Joseph, our fathers and father-figures are models of generosity, integrity, and hope, qualities that shape not only their families, but also the wider fabric of our school community.

As a school, we are blessed to see so many fathers actively engaged in the life of Mel Maria, whether it be through supporting their children’s learning, volunteering at events, coaching teams, or simply sharing their presence at school activities. These contributions enrich our community and remind us that education is strongest when home and school walk hand in hand.

We pray for fathers past and present, for those who can be with us and for those who are remembered in our hearts. May all fathers and father-figures feel valued and cherished, not just on Father’s Day, but every day.

On behalf of our staff and students, I wish you all a joyful, blessed, and love-filled Father’s Day. May it be a celebration of family, gratitude, and the special bond that only a father’s love can bring.

Paul Hille

Principal

#MakingADifferenceEveryday

Prayer for the Week

God took the strength of a mountain,

The majesty of a tree,

The warmth of a summer sun,

The calm of a quiet sea,

The generous soul of nature,

The comforting arm of night,

The wisdom of the ages,

The power of the eagle’s flight,

The joy of a morning in spring,

The faith of a mustard seed,

The patience of eternity,

The depth of a family need,

Then God combined these qualities,

And then there was nothing more to add,

He knew His masterpiece was complete,

And so, He called it—Dad.

Thought for the Week

We all live under the same sky, but we don’t all have the same horizon.

Innovate and Create!

We are excited to announce a wonderful opportunity to create together as a community! In preparation for Open Night, we invite all parents and children to collaborate on a stunning Lego art piece for our Lego wall starting next Monday.

Each day, families can work together to add their unique touches to the wall, showcasing your creative and innovative ideas. This is a fantastic way to bond with your children and inspire their imaginations!

To ensure a positive experience for everyone, we kindly ask parents to supervise younger siblings before and after school. Let’s all work together to RESPECT the creative process by leaving the artwork untouched, allowing it to flourish and evolve as more contributions are made.

If you have any spare Lego pieces you'd like to contribute, please feel free to bring them along. We appreciate your generosity in helping us build a collaborative masterpiece!

We can’t wait to see the amazing creations that come to life on our Lego wall. Thank you for your support and participation!

Year Two Leadership

Year Two Leadership has been vibrant and impactful this term! Our Year 2 students have taken on significant roles by leading SHARE assemblies, calculating faction tokens, and participating in readings during our Feast Day masses. Their contributions have been outstanding, and they are doing an amazing job guiding and inspiring our community. Keep up the fantastic work, Year 2!

Faction Friday!

Faction Friday is a special event where our students gather every Friday to participate in skipping activities with their faction mates. The students have thoroughly enjoyed this chance to bond with friends while being active. Additionally, we celebrate those who exemplify our school values, Respect, Service, Compassion, and Justice by awarding them Faction tokens.

Science Week

Science Week was a tremendous success on the Early Childhood campus! We kicked off the week with our Year 1 students proudly representing Mel Maria at the MAD STEM Showcase, showcasing their "All-in-One Sleeping Bag" designed for the homeless. They creatively recycled materials to build their prototype and thoroughly enjoyed sharing their ideas with students from other schools.

The week concluded with Science Friday, transforming our campus into innovative spaces where children could explore a variety of scientific concepts and think like real scientists. They delved into topics such as space exploration, observed patterns in nature, conducted chemical reactions, and appreciated the beauty of the natural world. It was an incredibly fun day for everyone involved!

Jo Scouler

Vice Principal - EC Campus

Year 2 has had a busy and exciting term! We explored positive nutrition through our Fruit and Vegetable Tasting Day and celebrated our love of reading during Book Week Dress Up Day. In the classroom, students have been writing imaginative narratives, experimenting with foam printing in Art, and tackling Maths through problem-solving rotations, exploring division with concrete materials, learning about money, and beginning to tell the time. We also visited the church to learn from Deacon John about the rites and rituals of Baptism. Beyond the classroom, students have shown great leadership by helping to run Share Assemblies and leading the Faction Token collection and counting.

Year Six Service Learning is Thriving on the Primary Campus

Our Year Six leaders are working collaboratively to create community at our Primary Campus.

Friday is when the students hold meetings and plan, this allows for students to come up with ideas and activities to involve all members of our school community.

Our Wellbeing Ministry are focused on a fun fitness event to help us all to participate in the outdoors and to enjoy the beautiful nature surrounding our campus.

Watch out for TOASTIE THURSDAY which our Christian Service Ministry will be starting next week. The money raised will go to Shop Front for life link which is run in the city to provide warm food for people living on the streets and cannot prepare warm food during the winter months.

Congratulations to our Community Service Ministry for the smooth running of our SHARE ASSEMBLIES.

FACTION FRIDAY TOKENS are counted to reward the faction with the most tokens for displaying

Mel Maria values and positive behaviour observed by teachers and staff around our campus!

This week blue faction has extra play on the oval after lunch. Congratulations Frayne Faction!

Ros Nichols
Vice Principal - Primary Campus

Our Year 4 students and teachers worked hard to bring history to life through their class performance. They went back to life in 1700s England, followed the journey of the First Fleet and explored the challenges they faced. Through story, song, and drama, the students highlighted how these events shaped our nation, while celebrating the diverse and inclusive Australia we are proud of today. It was lots of fun, enriched our learning, and included plenty of teamwork along the way.

In Japanese this term, our Year 3 students have been exploring culture through a hands-on learning experience. As part of their studies, they created their own kendama—a traditional Japanese cup-and-ball toy that has been enjoyed for centuries by children and adults alike.

This project offered more than just creativity. Making kendama helped students connect language with culture, showing how traditional pastimes reflect Japanese history and values such as perseverance, craftsmanship, play with purpose, and community. Along the way, they developed persistence, coordination, and collaboration as they supported each other, strengthening both cultural understanding and practical skills.

The eSafety Guide from the eSafety Commissioner

Find out how to protect your personal information and report harmful content on common social media, games, apps and sites. Entries are for information only and are not reviews or endorsements by eSafety.

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10 Tips for Building Emotional Growth

Promoting emotional growth in our children is an ongoing and sometimes difficult process. Most would agree, your mission as a parent is to help your child build a strong, stable launchpad from which they can rocket into their future.

In creating that launchpad, you will partner with your child’s school to provide education and socialisation opportunities. You and your extended family will teach life skills as challenges arise. Many parents will have a whole list of things they think their child should know before lift-off. What is less obvious are the emotional skills a child will need throughout life. These are arguably the most important elements of the launch pad. Building those skills takes time and the assistance of parents who are considered in their approach.

Here are the 10 tips for building emotional growth:

1. Let emotion happen.

2. Let children learn.

3. Don’t catch their emotions.

4. Connect.

5. Focus.

6. Allow physiology to settle.

7. Breathe.

8. Try not to rescue.

9. Listen.

10. Be fair on yourself.

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