Mel Maria Catholic Primary School

Dear Parents

A Wonderful Start to the Year

As we complete the first four weeks of the school year, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has been an exciting and uplifting beginning at Mel Maria Catholic Primary School. The transition into our two-campus model has been met with great enthusiasm, and it has been heartening to see students, staff, and parents embrace this new chapter with a shared sense of purpose and pride.

One of the highlights so far has been the Commissioning Mass and Liturgy (respectively) for our Year Six and Year Two students. These ceremonies were not only a celebration of their journey ahead but also a powerful reminder of the values and responsibilities that come with being leaders within our school community. Our Year Six students, as the senior leaders of the Primary Campus, and our Year Two students, who became the first leaders at the Mel Maria ECE Campus, demonstrated a real sense of commitment and excitement for the year ahead.

Beyond these significant moments, what has truly stood out is the strong and positive atmosphere that fills both campuses. There is a genuine feeling of connection and belonging—a sense that we are all part of something special. This is a testament to the strength of our home-school partnership, which is at the heart of everything we do. When families and educators work together, we create an environment where children feel safe, supported, and inspired to reach their full potential.

The role of parents in a child’s education cannot be underestimated, and I extend my sincere thanks to all of you for your ongoing support, involvement, and encouragement. Whether it’s through attending school events, supporting learning at home, or simply fostering a love for education, your partnership plays a vital role in shaping our students’ success and well-being.

A special acknowledgment must also go to our incredible Administrative Team—Cathy, Mardi, Sylvia, and Lyn—who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly. Their dedication, organisation, and care make such a difference to our daily operations, and we are truly grateful for all that they do.

As we move forward in the term, I look forward to continuing this journey together, strengthening the bonds within our community, and ensuring that Mel Maria remains a place where every child feels valued, supported, and inspired to grow. Keep spreading the Good News!

At Mel Maria Catholic Primary School, we believe that preparation, punctuality, and organisation are essential habits for all students to develop. These skills not only support their learning but also help them begin each school day with confidence and a sense of calm. As parents, you play a crucial role in guiding your children in these areas, setting them up for success both in and beyond the classroom.

Ensuring that your child arrives at school on time and ready for the day is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to support their learning. A smooth, well-prepared start allows them to settle in, engage fully with their lessons, and make the most of the opportunities each day presents.

At Mel Maria, we are also fostering a sense of independence and responsibility in our students. Just as teachers are expected to come prepared for their lessons, students too have a responsibility to be organised and ready to learn. Encouraging children to take ownership of their school routine—packing their own bag, organising their belongings, and managing their time—builds confidence and resilience.

Of course, independence looks different at each stage of development, and it’s important to provide age-appropriate support. However, when we step back and allow our children to take on small responsibilities, we empower them to grow. Children will rise to the expectations set for them, and they take great pride in meeting challenges both at home and at school.

By fostering these habits early, we are giving our children valuable life skills that will serve them well throughout their schooling and beyond. Thank you for your partnership in ensuring that our students are well-prepared, responsible, and ready to thrive each and every day.

Next Wednesday, 4 March, we celebrate Ash Wednesday, which in the Catholic Church marks the beginning of the season of Lent. It is a season of reconciliation, reflection and prayer, which prepares us for Easter Sunday.

This period we call LENT means ‘spring’, and we celebrate it in memory of the forty days Jesus spent alone praying in the desert. Lent is a time for strengthening our faith, a time to reflect on who we are and where we are going. It is a time for quietness and prayer, a time of penance and meditation, a time to become aware of our strengths and weaknesses.

The season of Lent is one of those times when the Church gives us the opportunity to address the important elements of our life in a practical way. For example, there would be little point “giving up” sugar in our coffee if we continue to speak unkindly about people. Nor is there much value in giving up lollies and sweets if we are going to be real ‘grumps’ to the rest of our family.

Lent provides many opportunities for people to choose to do renewing activities, such as visiting someone who is lonely, giving up something on television, remembering to say our prayers daily and/or as a family, attending Mass as a family regularly or perhaps even making the Stations of the Cross throughout the period of Lent. We need to remember that if we are choosing to do some- thing this Lent it needs to lead us to a positive change, which in turn has a positive effect on the people who are daily in our lives.

Lenten Thought

Remember the concept of not only giving up during Lent, but taking up. What can we take up that will improve our lives and the lives of others this Lent?

Congratulations and sincere thanks to Mrs. Rebecca Forster and the entire P&F Executive for your outstanding efforts in organising the Back-to-School Picnic – A Day on the Green. It was a fantastic event, filled with positivity and a wonderful sense of community.

It was truly special to see so many families, staff, and students coming together, reconnecting, and enjoying the afternoon. Events like these play a vital role in fostering the welcoming and inclusive culture we cherish at Mel Maria.

A special thank you to Rebecca for all her organisation, and also to her husband, Alexander, for his support as President of the Melville Sporting Club. We thank the Melville Sporting Club for allowing us to use their facility. It was certainly the ideal location for this event. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a supportive and engaged P&F.

The first P&F Meeting is next Wednesday, 4 March commencing at 5.30pm at the Primary Campus.

This year, we are committed to keeping parents up to date with current and upcoming school events. Follow us on Instagram to stay informed and engaged with our school community.

Enrolments are now being taken for new students wishing to commence Kindergarten at Mel Maria Catholic Primary School in 2026.

Mel Maria Catholic Primary School will continue to offer three, four or five days of Kindergarten in 2026.

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.

There have been some updates to the Term Calendar for 2025. This is available on the school website.

Paul Hille

Principal

#MakingADifferenceEveryday

Prayer for the Week

Renew yourself in CHRIST

Receive the cross on your forehead.

Learn to know Christ and follow him.

Receive the sign of the cross on your ears,

that you may hear the voice of the Lord.

Receive the sign of the cross on your eyes

that you may see the glory of God.

Receive the sign of the cross on your lips,

that you may respond to the Word of God.

Receive the sign of the crossover your heart,

that Christ may dwell there by faith.

Receive the sign of the cross on your shoulders,

that you may bear the gentle yoke of Christ.

Receive the sign of cross on your hands,

that Christ may be known in the work which you do.

Receive the sign of cross on your feet,

that you may walk the way of CHRIST.

Thought for the Week

The next time you are feeling down, think about all the

terrible things that didn’t happen to you.

Dear Early Childhood Families

At our school, we build strong mathematics foundations by guiding children through three stages: concrete materials, pictorial representations, and abstract symbols. Research shows that mastering these stages early leads to success with more complex math concepts.

Children begin by using hands-on objects like blocks or coins to understand basic math operations such as addition and subtraction. You can support this learning at home by using everyday items like fruit or buttons to practice counting and simple operations, helping your child visualise the concepts. Once they are comfortable with objects, children start using pictures or number lines to represent problems visually. Encourage your child to draw pictures or use a number line to solve simple problems, like adding or subtracting objects in a fun, engaging way. As they progress, children begin to use mathematical symbols like +, –, and = to solve problems independently. You can support this transition by practicing simple equations with your child, such as “5 + 3 = ?,” and guiding them through the process.

We will introduce the Australasian Problem-Solving Mathematical Olympiads (APSMO) to develop problem-solving skills through real-world challenges on Mystery Math Mondays, where we all engage in these tasks. These activities encourage children to think critically and creatively, much like professional mathematicians. You can support this by presenting simple, real-world math problems, such as figuring out how many crayons are in a set of packs and discussing different ways to find out.

A key part of our teaching is helping children see themselves as confident mathematicians. A positive attitude towards math is crucial in developing their curiosity and persistence. You can reinforce this mindset by pointing out how math is part of everyday life—whether it’s cooking, shopping, or even playing games. Encouraging effort, not just correct answers, helps foster a growth mindset. Praise your child’s problem-solving process, and model a positive attitude when faced with challenges, showing them that persistence and effort lead to success.

When parents actively engage with their child’s math learning, children develop stronger skills and a more positive attitude towards the subject. You can integrate math into everyday activities, like measuring ingredients while cooking or sorting objects during clean-up time. Keep math books, games, and tools accessible, turning learning into an enjoyable part of daily life.

Thank you for partnering with us to support your child’s math journey. Together, we can help them become confident, curious mathematicians, ready to take on new challenges!

The Early Childhood Campus began the week with our first SHARE assembly for 2025. It was great to have families present to share in our students’ achievements in all aspects of school life.

Thank you to our Year Two parents for bringing morning tea to share after our assembly. It was great to see Mel Maria hospitality in action.

Our Year Two Leaders were proudly presented to Mr Hille and to our Mel Maria school community. Our students pledged to use their gifts and talents to #MakeADifferenceEveryDay at our school and to be good role models for our school value of respect to all.

Their very presence and attitude and good manners are evident as they move around our campus.

Ros Nichols

Vice Principal - ECE Campus

It’s been fantastic to see enthusiasm and positivity of the Year One children of school this year.

The children have been inspired each day with the many opportunities to collaborate, ask questions, develop their curiosity and problem solving and take risks in their learning.

The children have shared their knowledge about the many people who help them to learn;

shared their ideas and opinions about the actions of the characters in the books we have read;

written recounts to help us all learn about what we, and our friends and families, do on holidays and on weekends; listened carefully to make and write words we already know and have-a-go at writing some new words; shared equipment and ideas and played games to develop number and counting skills; planned and presented news and answered (nearly all the) questions; shared our wonderment and curiosity to find out more about our world including recognising our feelings, being safe and keeping everyone safe; and using our skills to share, to ask questions and to investigate change.

The Year One children have also shared that some of the most amazing things about school just now are…

• playing together with friends
• investigating and learning new things
• reading all the books in the class
• creating stories
• writing about our life
• learning about numbers because I don’t know high numbers and counting
• maths – it gets harder and harder and my brain gets smarter
• using the ipads
• making things in art with paints
• the nature play area – especially the monkey bars
• the oval where there is lots of room to run

Dear Families

At Mel Maria, we know how important it is to build a strong foundation in basic mathematics skills, as these are essential for success in more advanced topics. Research consistently shows that mastery of fundamental math facts, such as multiplication tables and number facts, helps students better understand complex concepts and develop important problem-solving skills.

From an early age, developing fluency in these basic skills allows students to move more easily into higher-level math, such as algebra, as they progress through their education. For example, mastery of multiplication facts by the end of Year 4 is often seen as a key milestone for future success in mathematics.

Math fact fluency is the ability to quickly and accurately recall basic math facts. This comes from repeated practice that helps students commit these facts to long-term memory, making it easier for them to focus on more challenging problems. Research suggests that students who are fluent in basic math facts can better handle complex mathematical concepts and reduce their cognitive load, allowing them to concentrate on higher-order skills.

To support our students in reaching this important milestone, we have introduced fun and engaging ways to practice math facts. Last year, we trialled the Times Tables Rock Stars (TTRS) program across all year levels. This interactive platform has been a great success, helping students improve their fluency in multiplication while tracking their progress and setting personal goals.

Additionally, we are excited to introduce Formula Friday, a whole-school initiative starting this year. Every Friday at 9:00am, students will engage in hands-on activities designed to develop their math skills and encourage problem-solving. As part of Formula Friday, students will also participate in Australasian Problem-Solving Mathematical Olympiads (APSMO) activities, where they will work on real-world, challenging problems that stretch their thinking and foster a love for math. Teachers will be there to support students, demonstrate strategies, and encourage creative problem-solving.

With initiatives like Formula Friday, Mystery Maths Monday, and Times Tables Rock Stars, we are giving students the tools they need to continue building a solid mathematical foundation. Teachers will continue to support and guide students through these engaging learning opportunities. We encourage you to assist your child's learning by tracking their progress and practicing math skills together.

Cathleen Massimi
Vice Principal - Primary Campus

What an exciting start to the year in Year 5! We’ve had a wonderful time getting to know our new classmates, teachers and learning spaces. We’ve started exploring the theme of journeys through a Master Minds project, linking it to the Jubilee Year theme of being a Pilgrim of Hope. It’s been an eye-opening experience as we examine different contexts of journeys, both personal and collective. Our creative side has also flourished in creating collage portraits inspired by the artist Deb Weiers, allowing us to express ourselves in vibrant and imaginative ways.

In Mathematics, we’ve been mastering place value, gaining a deeper understanding of numbers and how they work together. We've also been exploring different forms of government and the core principles of democracy, learning about the values that guide decision-making in our society. With so many enriching experiences already behind us, this year is shaping up to be one to remember!

This year’s Faction Swimming Carnival is nearly upon us! This year we are back at Perth HPC, Mount Claremont (formerly HBF Stadium) in the Indoor Pool. The aim of the carnival is to encourage healthy competition across a range of events and get as many students in the pool as possible to help their faction. Students will need to be at school by 8:30am for a prompt departure to allow us to start events at 9:30am and finish by 2:00pm. Any students using the Bus Service between campuses will not be affected.

There are a number of changes due to the addition of Year Threes to the program for the first time which are highlighted below.

- Only 50m events will be held for Freestyle, Breaststroke and Backstroke for each year group, except for Year Threes who will be able to participate in 25m events.

- Novelty events to encourage participation for those who are less confident in the water or not willing or able to swim 50m. This includes a pool deck-based activity for those who don't want to enter the pool.

- Champion and Runner Up Girl and Boy points can be accrued from competing in individual 50m and 100m events.

Thank you to those parents and students who completed their Event Nominations Forms promptly. This will allow me to get the heat lists and the program out early next week via SeeSaw.

If you have any questions please get in touch via email (david.john@cewa.edu.au) or SeeSaw.

Sincerely,

David John

Physical Education Teacher

This year, we are thrilled to introduce a dedicated Japanese classroom to our Primary Campus for the first time! This vibrant new space provides an immersive environment where students from Years 3 to 6 can actively engage with Japanese language and culture. The classroom is filled with colourful displays, interactive resources, and hands-on activities that bring the richness of Japan to life.

Having already begun their Japanese learning journey on our Early Childhood Campus, students now have the opportunity to deepen their understanding in this dynamic new space. From Year 3 students expanding on their foundational knowledge to Year 6 students developing more advanced skills, the classroom fosters curiosity, enthusiasm, and a meaningful appreciation for Japan’s traditions. We look forward to seeing our students continue to thrive in this engaging learning environment!

Please follow the link for further communication for the P&F - https://linktr.ee/MMPNF?utm_source=linktree_admin_share

The new bus service between campuses began on the first day of the term, and students have adapted well to the change. There has been a noticeable increase in demand for certain routes, with some runs, like the 3pmbus from Attadale to Myaree, reaching full capacity. To meet this demand, we are now offering a second run departing from Attadale at 3:30pm, with available seats.

If you would like to inquire about your child using the service, please send your request via email to

Lynette.Dowie@cewa.edu.au

Use parental controls on your child’s iPhone or iPad

With Screen Time, you can turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions to manage content, apps and settings on your child’s device. You can also restrict explicit content, purchases and downloads, and changes to privacy settings.

Apple’s parental controls are important tools that allow parents to choose how — and how often — their children can use their devices. Parental controls are built right into each iPhone, iPad and Mac.

Allow built-in apps and features

You can restrict the use of built-in apps or features. If you turn off an app or feature, the app or feature won’t be deleted, it will just be temporarily hidden from your Home Screen. For example, if you turn off Mail, the Mail app won't appear on your Home Screen until you turn it back on.

1. Open the Settings app, then tap Screen Time.

2. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.

3. Enter your Screen Time passcode.

4. Tap Allowed Apps & Features.

5. Select the apps that you want to allow.

Restrict Games

These restrictions only apply to games that use Game Center features.

· Open the Settings app, then tap Screen Time.

· Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions, then tap App Store, Media, Web & Games.

· Scroll down to Game Center, then choose your settings.

For more information. click on the link below:

https://support.apple.com/en-au/105121

https://vimeo.com/936519406

Good mental health is important for everybody in our school community, children, adults and families alike. The link above from the Emerging Minds site (emergingminds.com.au) is a short video that may help parents explain this important topic to their children.

There is always help available at our school including your child's teacher and the school social worker, to assist your children in this important area if need be.

Christine Pittman

christine.pittman@cewa.edu.au

School Term Dates for 2025

Term 1: Wednesday 5 February - Friday 11 April

Term 2: Monday 28 April - Friday 4 July

Term 3: Monday 21 July - Friday 25 September

Term 4: Tuesday 14 October - Friday 12 December

Pupil Free Days for 2025

Term 1: Friday 28 February

Term 2: Tuesday 3 June

Term 3: Monday 25 August, Friday 26 September

Term 4: Monday 13 October