Mel Maria Catholic Primary School

Dear Parents

Term One continues to provide a busy and engaging learning space for our students on all levels of community life.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. “(Romans.)

Through the season of Lent, our students get to dive more deeply into social justice issues, and how communities like Mel Maria can respond, locally and globally to have impact on the lives of those less fortunate that our own.

Fundraising for CARITAS, and participating in other service projects gives our students a

way to participate and experience the power of collective impact.

Caritas is a world leader in emergency responses. They coordinate with the international Caritas network and partners on the ground to bring emergency relief in the form of food, clean water, emergency shelter, hygiene kits and cash assistance. They share resources and technical expertise to help communities receive long-term support to recover and rebuild stronger.

Carita boxes can be returned to school during week nine of term when HOLY WEEK

Liturgies will be taking place on each campus and children can present their boxes.

We invite you to be present with your children for these liturgies if you are available.

Our swimming carnival at Perth HPC was an excellent example of unity and great team spirit being celebrated. It was great to see our students with all levels of skill having a go and enjoy getting into the spirit of participation.

Thank you to parents and family members who were able to join us at the pool to cheer for our teams.

Thank you to Mr Owen Connolly for leading our staff in a well-organised and efficient event. Mel Maria school spirit was evident throughout the day.

Harmony Day is celebrated at Mel Maria with great respect and acknowledgement of all members of our school community. Mel Maria’s strength and unity is testament to what everyone contributes. Our commitment to supporting our students to become lifelong learners is embedded in events that create spaces for conversations and reflection on how each of us can #MakeADifferenceEveryDay. Thank you for supporting your children in celebrating such events.

Our Parents and Friends committee held their first meeting for 2026 on Tuesday, 10 March. It was great to see a large turn out of class representatives supporting our students and community. Linnette Devigan was elected president for 2026. We thank Linette for her commitment, and we are looking forward to supporting our parents and friends committee as we build community together at Mel Maria.

Yours Sincerely

Ros Nichols

Principal

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. “(Romans.)"'

Dear Families

It has been another joyful week across the Early Childhood Campus, with many moments of engagement and celebration taking place. Our Pre-Kindergarten -Year 2 students continue to grow in confidence, and it is such a privilege to be part of their learning journeys.

Learning at our Early Childhood Campus

“Play is the highest form of learning.” — Inspired by Friedrich Froebel

In our early years classrooms, play is not a break from learning—it is the learning. Through hands‑on exploration, curiosity, and imaginative play, our children develop essential skills such as problem‑solving, collaboration, emotional regulation, creativity, and language. When children play, they make sense of their world, build confidence, and form the foundations for lifelong learning.

At Mel Maria, we deeply honour and value the power of play across our Pre-Kindergarten to Year Two learning environments. Play is where children grow in their being, belonging and becoming, as described in the Early Years Learning Framework. It is through rich, hands‑on experiences that children make sense of their world, develop confidence, and learn to connect with others.

Guided by a Christ‑led lens, we ignite each child’s uniqueness as capable, curious learners ready to flourish. Through intentional, play‑based learning, we nurture the whole child—their heart, their spirit, their relationships, and their learning journey.

Play Spaces

It has been wonderful to see students enjoying the play spaces before school. Staff are supporting students to move quietly and safely indoors, and we appreciate parents reinforcing this message. Once this routine is established, we will continue to introduce more varied intentional learning provocations.

A gentle reminder that the covered equipment is not available for student use after school. We kindly ask parents to remain with their children and keep the area clear during pick‑up time. With parent supervision, children are welcome to use the playground opposite the hall while transitioning from school to home.

Our shared outdoor spaces offer opportunities for building connections through organised games and explorative play. In our weekly feedback session after lunch play, many students shared that playing with friends from their own year level helps everyone feel safer. Our staff were incredibly proud of the thoughtful way the students and responsible way the recognised the importance of safe, age-appropriate and respectful play.

St Patrick’s Day

In celebration of St Patrick’s Day, students across the Early Childhood campus dressed in green, were delighted to watch a wonderful Irish Dancing performance led by our talented students; Eoin Lazzari, Saoirse Lazzari, Isabella Iwanowski, Zoe Palmer, Charlotte Colgan and Ella Colgan. Under the guidance of Ms Niamh Champion, the troupe showcased their dedication to this vibrant dance style and finished with a fun, interactive session for our PP–Year 2 children.

Harmony Day

At Mel Maria Catholic Primary School, we are delighted to recognise Harmony Day as a meaningful celebration of inclusivity, respect, and belonging for every member of our community. Today, our Early Childhood Campus joyfully celebrated Harmony Day with a vibrant parade, where students proudly showcased colours, costumes, and cultural symbols that reflect our diverse community. In the afternoon, the children took part in inclusive tabloid activities that encouraged teamwork, belonging, and shared fun. It was a wonderful day of connection and celebration, reminding us that ‘Everyone Belong’s.

Carpark Reminder

As the term continues, we would like to remind families of carpark etiquette on the Early Childhood campus, especially at school pick up. Please note, when exiting the Parish carpark, no left turn is permitted as this impacts the school bus collection zone. Thank you for your support in keeping all students and families safe during this busy time.

Community Partnerships

Thank you to our dedicated staff for the time and care given to parent–teacher interviews with our families. These conversations strengthen our partnership and ensure our students enjoy the best conditions to learn, grow, and thrive. Moments like these truly reflect the strong, connected community we are proud to be part of. As we continue our Lenten journey, we invite our students and families to pause and reflect on simple ways we can show kindness, generosity, and care for others in our everyday lives.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we settle into Term One. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving as Head of the Early Childhood Campus for the remainder of the 2026 school year. I feel blessed to share this journey with you all and remain committed to nurturing a caring, connected, faith‑filled environment for every child and family at Mel Maria.

Yours faithfully

Danielle Damjanovic

Head of Early Childhood Campus

Our Pre-Primary students have been busy exploring the life cycle of plants as part of our new Science unit. Working collaboratively in mixed groups across all three classes, the children planted seeds and have been carefully observing the changes as they begin to grow. They have loved watching their plants develop over time and discussing what plants need to survive, including sunlight, water and care.

We also enjoyed celebrating St Patrick’s Day with a fun and creative Design and Technology activity. After reading How to Catch a Leprechaun, students worked in groups to design and build their very own leprechaun traps. There was plenty of excitement as some of the traps appeared to have “caught” leprechauns, leaving behind a little bit of mischief in the classroom!

As we journey through Lent, our students have been learning about the Easter story of Jesus and its importance in our faith. Recently, the children had the opportunity to try a hot cross bun while learning about the meaning behind the cross on top, helping them to make connections between this tradition and the story of Easter.

Our Year 5 students recently enjoyed a fantastic excursion to Sculptures by the Sea, and it was truly a highlight for all involved. The day provided a wonderful opportunity for students to experience art in a unique outdoor setting, surrounded by stunning coastal views.

Students explored a wide range of creative sculptures, sparking curiosity, imagination, and thoughtful discussion. It was pleasing to see them engage so positively, asking questions, sharing ideas, and appreciating the different artistic styles and messages behind each piece.

The excursion also allowed students to enjoy time together outside the classroom, strengthening friendships and creating memories. Their behaviour throughout the day was exemplary, and it was wonderful to see so many smiling faces.

A sincere thank you to our parent helpers who generously gave their time to support this excursion. Your assistance ensured the day ran smoothly and safely, and we are very grateful for your ongoing support.

Overall, it was a fantastic experience that enriched our students’ learning and appreciation of the arts.

Social Media

As of 10 December 2025, many social media platforms are not allowed to let Australians under 16 have an account. The information on the link below is from the eSafety website and will help you understand why, and how you can support under-16s to understand the change.

Find answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs), tools to help you work through it together, and links to resources you can explore.

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

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.

Let Them Lose at Uno: Why “Doing Less” Builds Kids Who Can Do More

When my eldest was about to start kindergarten, the school principal, thirty years in the job and steady as they come, gave all the new parents a single piece of advice. Over summer, she said, teach them to play Uno, and sometimes..... let them lose.

She added this: in a class of thirty children and one yellow pencil, disappointment is guaranteed. Someone will not be picked. Someone will be tipped in a game of tag. If a child arrives at school with no practice at frustration, the first year can feel impossibly hard.

Today our children never even have to feel the frustration of an ad break on telly. They are living in an 'on demand’ world, and many of us also parent in a way that tries to remove every bump in the road. We do it with love. We do it because we care about feelings. But when we smooth every edge, children miss the chance to build the muscle that matters most: frustration tolerance.

The Double Win of Stepping Back

Here is the best news. Building frustration tolerance usually requires us to do less, not more. When we stop doing the extra bits that spare children discomfort, two lovely things happen.

1. Children learn they can handle hard feelings and solve problems and come to us when they truly need help.

2. Parents feel less frantic and more present for the moments that matter.

The Heart of It

The children are alright. They already know how to feel. The trickiest part of parenting is not their reactivity; it is managing ours. When we step back just enough, when we let them lose at Uno, when we stop counting blueberries, we give our children the gift of struggle inside the safety of our relationship. That is where confidence, creativity, grit, and real resilience grow.

And when they fall, we do not rush in to fix it or phone the school to make it go away. We listen. We steady ourselves. We pause. And we say the words that build brave humans. "I am so glad you told me."

For the full article click on the below link:

https://www.connectedparenting.com.au/blog/let-them-lose-at-uno-why-doing-less-builds-kids-who-can-do-more

Reference

Muir. G. (2025). Let Them Lose at Uno: Why ‘Doing Less’ Builds Kids Who Can Do More. https://www.connectedparenting.com.au/blog/let-them-lose-at-uno-why-doing-less-builds-kids-who-can-do-more

Sharlene Epis

Social Worker

BEd, MSW

sharlene.epis@cewa.edu.au