Mel Maria Catholic Primary School

Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome back to Term Two. I hope you all enjoyed a joyful and peaceful Easter with family and friends, and that the holiday break provided an opportunity to rest, recharge, and reconnect. As we begin what is always a busy and productive term, I look forward to all that we will achieve together as a school community.

A Personal Note of Gratitude

I would like to sincerely thank our entire community for the prayers, messages of support, and genuine care shown to me during my recent health journey. Your kindness and faith have been both humbling and uplifting, and I am deeply grateful. I am pleased to be back and reconnecting with our students, staff, and families.

I also extend my heartfelt thanks to Mrs Ros Nichols, who so capably led the school as Acting Principal in my absence. Ros demonstrated outstanding leadership, commitment, and care for our community, ensuring that the school continued to operate with clarity, purpose, and strength.

In addition, I acknowledge and thank our Leadership Team for their dedication and support during this time:

· Danielle Damjanovic – Head of Early Childhood Campus

· Roman Popadynec – Assistant Principal: Administration

· Teresa Marra – Assistant Principal: Catholic Identity, Wellbeing & Learning Diversity

· Stephanie Figueira – Assistant Principal: Curriculum & Communication

Together, they ensured continuity, stability, and ongoing progress across both campuses. I am very grateful for their leadership and commitment to our school.

Easter – A Season of Hope

We now rejoice in the glory of Jesus and the joy of His Resurrection. Easter is not simply a single day, but a season of fifty days that continues through to Pentecost; a time that calls us to reflect deeply on the meaning of new life and hope.

The Resurrection of Jesus is at the heart of our faith. It is a powerful reminder that even in moments of challenge, uncertainty, or failure, there is always the promise of renewal and new beginnings. Jesus’ triumph over death calls us to live with hope, to show love for God and one another, and to be people of faith in action.

I hope that over the Easter break you were able to spend meaningful time with your children and families, celebrating this message of hope and recognising in our young people the very essence of new life, joy, and possibility.

A Strong Start to Term Two

It has been wonderful to see how positively our students have returned to school. There is a strong sense of purpose across both campuses, with students settled, engaged, and ready to learn.

Our Early Childhood Campus continues to provide a nurturing, play-based and inquiry-rich environment, while our Primary Campus is focused on deepening learning through explicit instruction, inquiry, and increasing student independence. The alignment across both campuses continues to be a strength of our model.

Called to Excellence – Our Focus for 2026

As we continue our journey this year, our theme “Called to Excellence” remains central to all that we do. This is more than a phrase; it is a shared commitment to continually strive for improvement in every aspect of school life.

A key priority for us is to continue lifting student achievement standards. This work is being supported through:

· High-impact teaching practices

· Targeted use of data to inform teaching

· Consistent expectations across both campuses

· Implementation of the Learning Diversity Model

· Ongoing staff professional learning

We are committed to ensuring that every child is challenged, supported, and given the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Faith in Action

Our Catholic identity continues to be at the heart of our school. Throughout this term, students will have opportunities to actively live out their faith through:

Class and whole-school prayer
Liturgical celebrations and Masses
Social justice initiatives and Christian service programs
Participation in parish life

We are proud of the way our students demonstrate compassion, service, and care for others in their daily actions.

Student Wellbeing

Student wellbeing remains a priority at Mel Maria. A positive and inclusive school culture underpins all learning, and we continue to focus on:

· Building strong relationships

· Supporting social and emotional development

· Promoting resilience and a sense of belonging

When students feel safe, connected, and valued, they are far more likely to thrive academically and personally.

As we move through Term Two, we remain focused on our shared vision of Excellence in Catholic Primary Education. I look forward to working in partnership with you to ensure every child continues to grow, learn, and flourish.

ANZAC Day

As a school community, we recently came together to commemorate ANZAC Day, pausing to remember and honour the men and women who have served, and continue to serve, our country.

Traffic

Please be mindful of our neighbours and traffic when travelling down Evershed Street. We kindly ask that you keep driveways clear and adhere to the 40 km/h speed limit.

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.

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.

Through prayer and reflection, we acknowledged the sacrifices made for the freedoms we enjoy today and reminded our students of the importance of courage, service, and community.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our wonderful school.

Best Wishes

Paul Hille

Principal

#MakingADifferenceEveryDay

Prayer for the Beginning of the Term

Loving God,

We thank You for the gift of a new school term
and for the opportunity to begin again with hope and purpose.

As we journey through this Easter season,
fill our hearts with the joy of the Risen Christ.
Help us to recognise the gift of new life in each day
and to live with faith, courage, and compassion.

Bless our students, that they may be curious, confident, and resilient learners.
Bless our staff, that they may continue to inspire, guide, and nurture with wisdom and care.
Bless our families, that they may feel connected, supported, and valued within our community.

May we each be called to excellence—
striving to do our best,
showing kindness to one another,
and using our gifts in service of others.

We ask this through Jesus Christ,
who brings us hope and new life.

Amen.

Thought for the Week

“Easter reminds us that even in our most challenging moments, new life and hope are always possible. Each day is a fresh opportunity to grow, to begin again, and to make a difference in the lives of others.”

Welcome back to Term Two at the Early Childhood Campus. It is wonderful to see our campus bustling with activity and the students have settled seamlessly into their class routines. I wish to extend my sincere thanks to the staff for ensuring that our students’ care, wellbeing, and learning have remained a priority at the start of this new term.

Our Innovation Space has been a hive of activity for our students before school and during break times throughout the day. With the additions of a Puppet Theatre Area, felt story board, soft counting targets and a large snakes and ladders game, students are provided delightful opportunities to interact with their peers whilst they explore and discover their environment.

Extending to the many investigative and innovative in‑class and outdoor learning experiences offered, our students’ curiosity and purposeful questioning is fostered, and deeper understanding, critical thinking, and learner agency is developed. Contemporary research shows that inquiry‑based approaches, when supported by effective guidance, deepen conceptual understanding and engagement, while psychologically safe learning environments enhance student wellbeing, agency, and achievement (Alfieri et al., 2015; OECD, 2018; Hattie, 2023).

ANZAC Day

Last Friday our students participated reverently in the ANZAC Day service, demonstrating respect, gratitude, and understanding as they commemorated the sacrifices of our service men and women. Their thoughtful conduct reflected the significance of the occasion and their appreciation of the values of service, courage, and remembrance. Lest We Forget.

Uniforms

As we head into the cooler months and uniforms are layered, we kindly remind families to ensure all uniform items are clearly labelled with your child’s name. This helps us return misplaced items promptly and keeps our lost property to a minimum. Thank you for your continued support.

Drive‑Through Traffic Update – Evershed Street

We would like to clarify a recent communication regarding the drive‑through exit. Please note that vehicles using the drive‑through must turn left only onto Evershed Street.

We sincerely apologise for an earlier communication which incorrectly stated a right turn. Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work together to ensure the safety and smooth flow of traffic for all members of our community.

As we come to the end of the second week at the Early Childhood Campus, it has been a joy to see our youngest learners thrive with confidence, curiosity and enthusiasm. As A.A. Milne (in Winnie the Pooh) so beautifully reminds us, “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

We look forward to a term filled with growth, learning and joyful moments, and we thank our families for their continued partnership and support.

Danielle Damjanovic

Head of the Early Childhood Campus

Excellence in Catholic Primary Education

As Term Two begins, our students are setting new learning goals for the term ahead.

Our staff actively support and promote the school’s vision of Excellence in Catholic Primary Education.

At Mel Maria our commitment to being in partnership with parents is strong. Parent-teacher interviews play an important role in this relationship and are an important part of the reporting process.

Knowing where each learner is placed in achieving learning outcomes and collectively setting new goals for a new stage of learning is valuable for students' agency and continued progress.

Work sample portfolios are one way we share snapshots of each student’s learning and progress, providing insight into how your child is developing.

Our portfolios, which include work samples and assessments, provide a valuable opportunity for you and your child to engage in meaningful conversations about learning. They help build a shared understanding and language around what successful learning looks like and feels like for your child.

Our staff are committed to providing learning experiences that are well-planned, purposeful, and aligned to the Australian Curriculum and our school-wide pedagogical practices, which provide opportunities for differentiated learning experiences.

Competencies for student leading and learning and leading include:

Curriculum Engagement

Transforming how we learn

Critical Thinking

Fresh insights and durable solutions

Collaboration

Partnerships that work

Communication

Making sense and expanding perspectives

Creativity and Innovation

New ideas and bold possibilities

'We have an unconditional belief that every child can succeed.'

Ros Nichols

Head of Primary Campus

It has been a huge first two weeks of the term, with swimming lessons taking place across both weeks and the Interschool Swimming Carnival held on Thursday. Mel Maria enjoyed a highly successful day, winning the Boys Shield, the Girls Shield, and the Overall Shield in a clean sweep of the trophies. Congratulations to all students who participated in their events, with Mel Maria students placing in every event across the day.

A special thank you to our unsung heroes, the reserve students, who cheered enthusiastically throughout the day and provided outstanding support to their teammates. Thank you also to the parents who came along to support their children; your time and encouragement are greatly appreciated.

As one event concludes, our attention now turns to the next. Preparations are underway for the Cross Country Carnival, which will take place in Week 9 on 17 June. Running Club began today with a fantastic turnout of 88 students, who arrived early in the cold to begin training. These sessions will continue until Week 8, with students from Years 3 to 6 welcome to join every Friday morning from 7.50am.

Cross Country distances are as follows:
Year 3 – 1 kilometre
Year 4 – 1.5 kilometres
Years 5 and 6 – 2 kilometres

Owen Connolly
Physical Education Teacher
Primary Campus

Mel Maria has just entered our Year 4 students into the Catholic Performing Arts Festival for 2026.

We will be participating in the Instrumental Ensemble (Other) section on 31 July (Week 2, Term 3) at Orana Catholic Primary School.

Our classes will perform alongside both primary and secondary students from Catholic schools across Perth. Each Year 4 ensemble is required to present two pieces, each with a duration of up to three minutes, and our rehearsal schedule is already well underway.

The performances will feature a variety of instruments, including xylophones, ukuleles, percussion, and a range of other instruments.

We are really looking forward to presenting our items at the festival. It’s so exciting!!!

Luke Murphy

eSafety Guide

The eSafety Commissioner has created an online guide to help protect your personal information and report harmful content on common social media, games, apps and sites.

Click on the link below for more information

https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-topics/esafety-guide

How to Help Your Child Get Motivated in School

Many children experience periods of low motivation at school. Sometimes this is connected to factors such as anxiety, social challenges or a specific learning difficulty. At other times, children may still struggle to reach their full potential at school. Here are a few ways parents can support and encourage their child.

Take time to check in with your child about how their classes are going and remind them that you’re always there if they need help with homework. Ask what they’re learning and what they enjoy (or don’t enjoy) about their assignments. With older children, it’s just as important to give them space; feeling supported rather than pressured helps them stay motivated and open.

Using positive reinforcement helps. You don’t need to give children big rewards, but even small ones like a high five or a few extra minutes of screen time can make a difference. It’s also important to praise effort, not results. For example, praise your child for finishing an assignment they found challenging.

Talking with your child’s teacher can offer valuable insight into their behaviour and help you work together as a team to support and encourage them.

For the full article click on the below link:

https://childmind.org/article/how-to-help-your-child-get-motivated-in-school/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=pub-ed-nl-2026-01-20&utm_content=how-to-help-your-child-get-motivated-in-school-read-more

Reference

Child Mind Institute. (2025, Dec 15). How to Help Your Child Get Motivated in School. https://childmind.org/article/how-to-help-your-child-get-motivated-in-school/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=pub-ed-nl-2026-01-20&utm_content=how-to-help-your-child-get-motivated-in-school-read-morehttps://childmind.org/article/how-metacognition-can-help-kids/

Sharlene Epis

Social Worker

BEd, MSW

sharlene.epis@cewa.edu.au