Mel Maria Catholic Primary School

Dear Parents and Caregivers

The Feast of Corpus Christi

This weekend, our Catholic community celebrates the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, a feast that lies at the very heart of our faith. It invites us to pause and reflect on the profound mystery of the Eucharist, Christ fully present with us in the form of bread and wine. The Eucharist is more than a ritual; it is the nourishment that sustains us, the grace that strengthens us, and the bond that unites us as one Body in Christ.

For our school community, the Feast of Corpus Christi is a beautiful reminder of our mission to place Christ at the centre of all that we do. As we gather each day to learn, grow, and serve, we are called to embody the love, compassion, and self-giving that the Eucharist represents. It challenges us to see Christ in one another, to act with kindness and justice, and to live with gratitude for the blessings we share as a community.

May this sacred feast inspire our students, staff, and families to deepen their relationship with Jesus, participate meaningfully in the sacramental life of the Church, and continue building a community where faith is lived with authenticity and joy. Let us allow the spirit of Corpus Christi to guide our hearts, shape our decisions, and remind us of the hope and unity we find in Christ’s enduring presence.

After this weekend, we enter the Season of Advent, a period we prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus.

Annual Community Meeting – Tuesday 25 November (3:30pm at the EC Campus Hall)

Our Annual Community Meeting will be held on Tuesday, 25 November, and all members of the Mel Maria Catholic Primary School community are warmly invited to attend. This important event provides an opportunity to reflect on our collective achievements, celebrate our progress, and share strategic priorities as we move into the next phase of our School Improvement journey.

During the evening:

The Principal’s Annual Report will be presented, outlining key accomplishments, challenges, and future directions aligned with our School Improvement Plan.

Mr Anthony Chillino, Chairperson of the Catholic School Advisory Council, will present the CSAC Report, highlighting governance, stewardship, and financial oversight across the year. Mrs Tanya Wood will present the Treasurer’s Report for the year.

Mrs Rebecca Foster, President of the P&F Association, will deliver the P&F Annual Report, acknowledging community engagement, fundraising initiatives, and the strong partnerships that enrich the educational experience of our students.

An overview of the Stage 18 Building Program will also be shared, providing families with insight into the ongoing development and future planning of our dual-campus model.

We sincerely thank all members of the Catholic School Advisory Council (CSAC) and the P&F Executive for their unwavering commitment, generous service, and ongoing partnership with our school community. Their dedication, wisdom, and support play an integral role in strengthening the governance, culture, and future direction of Mel Maria Catholic Primary School. We remain deeply grateful for the countless hours they devote, the expertise they share, and the spirit of collaboration they bring to all that we do.

We look forward to an evening of transparent communication, community celebration, and continued collaboration.

Welcome

It gives me great pleasure to welcome Mrs Danielle Damjanovic to the Mel Maria Catholic Primary School community. Danielle will be joining us as the Head of Campus – Early Childhood commencing in 2026.

Danielle brings extensive experience across early childhood, primary, and K–12 settings, and comes to us from Corpus Christi College, where she served as a member of the Leadership Team. Her strong pedagogical knowledge, commitment to Catholic education, and passion for cultivating nurturing, high-quality learning environments in the early years make her a wonderful addition to our school.

We look forward to the leadership, expertise, and joyful energy Danielle will bring to the Early Childhood Campus and to the wider Mel Maria community.

Enrolments

It is pleasing to share that enrolments across Mel Maria Catholic Primary School—particularly in our Early Childhood classes, continue to show strong and steady growth. We are receiving an increasing number of enquiries and applications each week, and families consistently express their appreciation for the vibrant learning culture, nurturing environment, and innovative practices taking place across both campuses.

The positive feedback from prospective and current families highlights the strength of our dual-campus model, the quality of our teaching and learning programs, and the dedication of our staff who make Mel Maria such a welcoming, dynamic, and faith-filled school community.

As we continue to grow, we remain committed to expanding opportunities for our students—academically, spiritually, socially, and creatively. Our ongoing improvements, future-focused structures, and emphasis on excellence ensure that every child is known, valued, and provided with rich pathways for success.

We encourage all families to continue sharing the “Good News” about Mel Maria within the community. Your support and advocacy play a significant role in shaping the future of our school and strengthening the strong reputation that Mel Maria has enjoyed for many decades.

Parent Information Afternoon

This week, we held our Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Information Session, and it was wonderful to see such a strong level of attendance and enthusiasm from our families.

The afternoon provided an excellent opportunity to welcome new families to Mel Maria, introduce our staff, and outline our school’s vision, mission, and educational philosophy. Families also gained insight into our early years approach, which focuses on play-based, inquiry-rich learning, strong foundations in early literacy and numeracy, and the development of confident, capable, and compassionate young learners.

We thank all families who attended and look forward to partnering with you as your children begin their learning journey at Mel Maria Catholic Primary School.

Paul Hille

Principal

#MakingADifferenceEveryday

Prayer for the Week

Jesus, Body and Blood, we are grateful for

the gift of your life and the way it

strengthens us to live ours. Teach us to

draw on the gift of your Body and Blood for

energy, renewal, strength and grace.

May we never take the gift of your

presence for granted.

Amen

Thought for the Week

In the Eucharist, Jesus draws close to us. Let us not turn away from those around us, those who

hunger for food and dignity, those without work, and those who struggle to carry on.

Year 2 students enjoyed an exciting visit to the Primary Campus, where they watched the amazing Year 3 Performance. The show captivated their attention and gave them a glimpse of what learning and school life will look like next year. After the performance, they took part in a range of activities across the school, allowing them to explore new spaces, meet teachers, and experience the routines of the Primary Campus. The visit helped build their confidence and excitement as they prepare to become Year 3 students.

On Friday, the Year 5 students took part in a Bike Education Day at school to support our Health curriculum, where they brought their bikes, helmets and wore their sports uniforms. Before recess, they focused on gear changing, basic repairs, group-riding expectations and safety. Students then rode in the church car park and oval to practise safe riding, communication and team challenges. It was a fantastic way for them to prepare for their Year 6 Camp next year.

Our Year 6 cohort have been busy over the past fortnight. As part of our speaking and listening focus we have been diving into the world of debating and reminiscing on our favourite Mel Maria Memories. Students are prepping speeches for structured debating, learning how to form clear arguments, and rebut with confidence. Their preparation with mock debates were lively and well-thought out, showing the reasoning skills they have developed throughout their primary school journey. Many have surprised themselves with how they can think on their feet, collaborate and speak in front of their peers. These are skills they can carry into high school and beyond.

The Mel Maria Memories project is a reflective activity which invites students to share favourite moments from their primary school years, including special friendships, class quirks, and milestone achievements. Their presentations have been thoughtful and heartfelt, offering a chance to look back on and celebrate the many memorable moments that have shaped their time at Mel Maria. From camps to carnivals, it has created beautiful opportunities for appreciation and laughs, as well as reminding teaching staff just how far each student has come.

The eSafety Commissioner has created a guide for parents to help under-16s prepare for the social media age restrictions and stay connected with the people and things they enjoy.

From 10 December 2025, many social media platforms won’t be allowed to let Australians under 16 create or keep an account. This is to protect them from design features that encourage them to spend too much time online and over-expose them to content that can harm their health and wellbeing.

This 8-step guide will help you support under-16s to get ready – including finding other ways they can stay connected, express themselves, find out about things and have fun. The guide covers the following:

Understand what’s changing and why
Start the chat
Help them map their digital world
Encourage them to keep connecting with friends
Explorer safer ways they can belong to communities
Help them save their digital memories
Start reducing your social media use together
Know where to find support

Click on the link below for more information

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/social-media-age-restrictions/get-ready-guide

Webinars explaining the restrictions for parents and carers are available on the eSafety website from the 14 November.

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars

Persistence

What is persistence?

Persistence means not giving up, even when things are challenging. It can be hard to do this without guidance and practice. Parents and carers play a key role in helping children develop this skill over time.

Why is persistence important?

We all want to keep our children safe. However, this can end up becoming a ‘bubble-wrap’ approach, where parents or carers try to protect their children too much. In reality, you can’t shield your child from every hurt and disappointment. Instead, you can support them and help them learn to cope.

Being upset and disappointed when something goes wrong is a very natural reaction. However, as children get older, they can learn the value of learning from failures and mistakes, and how to improve as a result. They can also become more confident at handling difficult situations.

So how can you get the balance right?

Let children know that feeling stressed, upset or angry is healthy and normal. Help them understand that feelings like this will pass.
Your child might not be sure how they’ll perform at the sports carnival or in a test. Encourage them to step up to the challenge and do their best. Help them understand that their effort is what matters, more than the result. If your child does come home disappointed, let them know that’s okay too.
Remember that you are a role model for your child. They will have hope if they see you talking through your problems and taking steps to move forward.
They’ll grow up knowing that challenges can be overcome and disappointment can be resolved.

Reference

Persistence. (n.d.). Triple P Parenting. https://www.triplep-parenting.net.au/au/hot-parenting-topics/helping-kids-develop-persistence-and-confidence/

Sharlene Epis

sharlene.epis@cewa.edu.au