Mel Maria Catholic Primary School

Dear Parents

The history of Holy Week shows us that during it, Christians have always gathered to pray, to reflect and to act out the heart of our faith.

This is Jesus’ death and rising.

It invites us to enter imaginatively and through our actions as well as our thoughts the story of Jesus’ last days.

Holy Week is a time for praying with our legs, eyes, and heart as well as with minds and words.

It is heart time.

As we come to the end of the term, it has been a privilege to watch our students’ journey through the Lenten season and form a contemporary response to Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving.

Each year level has participated in an aspect of church doctrine specific to their learning stage and apply it to life that it is lived for each of us.

Our Year Six leaders in the Christian Ministry organised a very successful fundraiser for Caritas and Life link. Our students have had opportunities to raise awareness of our Church’s commitment to sustainability by collecting containers for change. Their enthusiasm was contagious and their leadership skills well used. They raised $402.10. Thank you for supporting their initiative.

Year Sixes also organised a pyjama day as a whole-school event. Year Fives have held a rice day. Year Four students reached out to family and friends to do works of Mercy. Year Three students donated a special outfit that makes them feel happy and confident so that another child in need can wear it and feel special on Easter Sunday. This was a beautiful act of kindness and generosity.

Our Early Childhood Campus was led by our Pre-Primary Students in a liturgy which took us through the Easter story with much prayerfulness and joy. Gathering as a prayer community each day has given us all a sense of how the Easter Traditions of our Church informs our daily actions and interactions as a Christ- centred community.

Parent – Teacher interviews were a successful way to conclude a busy term of learning. Working in partnership with parents supports our students to realise their learning potential and to set new goals for the new term.

We farewell Mrs Rhiannon Shemeld who leaves our Mel Maria Learning community. Thank you to Rhiannon for her many years of service. We wish her all the best for her next chapter.

On behalf of Mel Maria staff, I wish you and your families a blessed and Joyful Easter.

Your sincerely

Ros Nichols

Principal

A Prayer of Hope for Holy Week

Lord Jesus Christ,

This Holy Week, I follow you on your sorrowful and glorious journey.

When I face suffering, disappointment, or fear,

may your Cross be a sign of hope and strength.

Help me to believe that even when the road is rocky,

you are steady and sure.

Turn my eyes away from despair and toward your promise of new life.

In the silence and the waiting, teach me to trust that you are at work.

May this week of Passion bring me to the joy of the Resurrection.

Amen.

We have had a wonderful and positive start to the year in Kindy, with the children settling in beautifully and engaging enthusiastically in their learning.

To finish the term, we enjoyed celebrating Easter together, which was a meaningful and joyful experience for everyone. As part of our activities, the children have been developing their fine motor skills by practicing their cutting. They did a fantastic job carefully cutting out branches in preparation for our Palm Sunday learning.

Using these branches, the children took part in a reenactment of the Easter story, focusing on the events of Palm Sunday. This hands-on experience helped bring the story to life and supported their understanding in a fun, interactive, and memorable way.

We are so proud of the children’s efforts and the wonderful start they have made to the year.

Our Year 6 students recently enjoyed a memorable and enriching camp experience on Rottnest Island, filled with adventure, laughter, and personal growth. Although their journey began with a rough ferry ride, they showed resilience and positivity as they arrived ready for the experience ahead. Throughout camp, the Year Sixes took part in a range of exciting activities including snorkelling, beach games, the Oliver Hill gun tour, a cycle to the West End, and a fun‑filled disco. These shared experiences encouraged students to step outside their comfort zones while building confidence and independence. Camp life also provided valuable opportunities for them to take responsibility for themselves, develop daily routines, and support one another. The Rottnest Island camp was a truly rewarding experience that strengthened friendships and created lasting memories as students prepare for their transition to secondary school. We extend our sincere thanks to Mr Connolly, Miss Logan, Mrs Massimi, Mr Kelly, and Mr Gribble for generously giving up their time to attend camp, and to Mrs Cowcher and Mrs Nichols for their incredible support and hard work in planning such a successful experience.

Kindergarten 2027 – Applications are Now Due

Enrolments are now being taken for new students wishing to commence Kindergarten at Mel Maria Catholic Primary School in 2027. If your child/children are currently in Pre-Kindergarten at Mel Maria, there is no need to enrol for 2027.

Mel Maria Catholic Primary School will continue to offer three, four or five days of Kindergarten in 2027.

Kindergarten places are limited, so it is important that parents within the Mel Maria community submit their applications as soon as possible. Forms can be obtained from the office or on our website.

5 Powerful Ways to Build Resilience in Children

Resilience is the ‘it’ word of the decade when it comes to kids and their wellbeing. And so it should be. In the past, we have focused on problems one at a time. Bullying, peer pressure, self-esteem, cyber-safety…we’ve tried to address them all.

The fact is, bad things happen and we can’t shield kids from them all. What we can do is build their ability to cope with adversity and challenge. That’s resilience. Resilience in an unpredictable world is one of the greatest gifts you can give your children. A measure of great resilience is if they can:

Feel confident even when things are not going their way and know that the bad things will end.
Recover from loss while still acknowledging and experiencing it.
Accept happiness and high points without worrying about when their good ‘luck’ will end.

What are the factors that build resilience in children?

1. Safe adults

2. Ritual

3. Involvement in communities

4. Mindfulness

5. Model resilient behaviour

Children should see that it is normal to experience ups and downs in life. They need to see and hear you recognise that the bad times will get better and the good times won’t last forever.

For the full article click on the below link:

https://lindastade.com/five-powerful-ways-to-build-resilience-in-kids/

Reference

Stade, L. (n.d.). 5 Powerful Ways to Build Resilience in Kids. https://lindastade.com/five-powerful-ways-to-build-resilience-in-kids/