M A G D A L A - St Mary Magdalene's Primary School

TERM 1 DIARY DATES 

September 

5 – Just for Fun ‘Remote Control 

Vehicle Day’ 

7 – Premier’s Reading Challenge 

closes 

7 – Grandparents’ Day 

9- Child Protection Sunday 

10 – Early Years Excursion 

14 – Walkathon 

14 – Indigenous Dinner 

18 – Choir rehearsal and 

performance 

20 – Last day of Term 

21 – School Closure – Staff T&D 

October 

8 – Term 4 commences 

TRAFFIC MONITORS 

Week 7 – Natasha, Jevette & 

Ekrem, Aaron 

Week 8 – Aiesha, Chloe & Ben F. 

Samantha 

Week 9 – Tara, Lara & Enos, Ben 

M 

ELIZABETH CATHOLIC PARISH 

St Ann’s: 

Mass Sat 6.00p.m. & Sun 8.30a.m 

Thurs 7.00a.m. 

St Thomas More: 

Mass Sun 10.00a.m. Mon 

9.15a.m. 2 nd and 4 th Tues 9.15a.m. 

Wed 9.15a.m. 

Magdala Chapel 

1 st & 3 rd Tues 9.15a.m. 

Contact the Parish on 8255 1191 

for more information 

ASSEMBLY 

Every Friday 9.00 – 9.30 am 

Tea and Coffee 

ALL WELCOME 

MASS/LITURGY OF THE WORD & 

HOLY COMMUNION 

Tuesdays 9.15 -9.45 a.m. in 

Magdala Chapel 

OSHC 

Contact Lisa Dickson on 

8255 6144 or 0487388166 

ELIZABETH COMMUNITY 

CONNECTIONS 

For more information phone 

Tammy - 0407617977 

Connecting Life, Faith and Learning in the Mercy Tradition 

We acknowledge the Kaurna people as continuing custodians of this land 

pay our respects to the Elders past, present and future and are committed to Reconciliation. 

Literacy/Numeracy/Science Open Morning 

As a part of our Literacy and Numeracy Week celebrations, parents and 

friends were invited to attend an Open Morning at school last Thursday. We 

would like to thank those who shared in the celebration of student learning. 

We began with morning tea and a meeting in the school hall to give parents and 

friends a chance to hear about the developments of Literacy and Numeracy in 

Education. Then parents and friends had the opportunity to visit the Early 

Years, Primary Years and Middle Years classrooms to see some of the fantastic 

learning in action! 

Below are some of the learning tasks that parents and friends had the chance 

to see: 

MIDDLE YEARS 

Script Writing and Rehearsing 

and Editing 

M A G D A L A 

Story Boarding 

29 August2012 

Issue No: 14 

ST MARY MAGDALENE’S SCHOOL - 82 FAIRFIELD RD ELIZABETH GROVE SA 5112 - PH: (08)8255 6144 - FAX: (08)8287 2201 

WEBSITE: www.smm.catholic.edu.au EMAIL: [email protected]

Primary Years 

Literacy Rotations with a focus on Guided Writing and Pro-nouns 

Keep up the wonderful learning everyone! 

Paula Giugliano 

Key Literacy Teacher 

NEWS FROM TRISH AND 

MELISSA 

Dear Families and Friends 

LITERACY AND NUMERACY WEEK 

Last Thursday students and teachers were delighted to 

share their learning and teaching in literacy, numeracy and 

science with families and friends. To start the day, families 

and friends gathered in the hall to listen to and share their 

experiences and to ask questions about classroom set up, 

groupings, literacy, numeracy and science. This discussion 

continued as parents were escorted to the Early, Primary 

and Middle Years classes to observe what literacy and 

numeracy teaching and learning looks like today. A teacher 

was available to answer any questions raised by parents. 

Thank you to all parents that attended our celebration of 

Literacy and Numeracy Week. Congratulations to students, 

teachers and staff for your ongoing dedication to high 

quality learning. 

Early Years 

Time Investigations 

READING, ENJOYING, LEARNING – 2012 AUSTRALIAN 

BOOK WEEK WINNERS 

Last week was also Children’s Book Week! 

Students have been viewing many of the shortlisted books 

for 2012 and giving many the thumbs up. Winning book 

sections include books for older readers, young readers and 

early readers. One of my favourite sections is the picture 

book of the year. You might like to consider some of the 

winning books as a gift for your child sometime. You can 

find the list of winning books and authors further on in this 

newsletter. 

2013 CLASSES 

Please contact Linda Nottage if you have not requested a 

place for your child at the school next year. Thank you to 

the families that have indicated that their child will be 

returning in 2013. 

CHILD PROTECTION WEEK 

GREAT WEBSITE 

A great activity for the family to view together to celebrate 

literacy, numeracy and science is to view the Youtube: 

Power of 10 (1977). 

Enjoy! 


PRINCIPAL: TRISH JONES - RELIGIOUS EDUCATION & STUDENT WELL-BEING COORDINATOR: MELISSA RENSHAW 


On every level everybody has a responsibility to help keep 

children safe. Levels of responsibility are broad including 

global, governments, the Adelaide Archdiocese, South 

Australian Commission for Catholic Education, Catholic 

Education SA, schools, parents and caregivers. At St Mary 

Magdalene’s child protection is a high priority so we ensure 

• safe and secure learning facilities 

• compliance with all policies and procedures that 

address child safety 

• curriculum explicitly teaches children how to keep safe 

• professional learning is provided to all staff 

Resources for Parents and Caregivers: 

• South Australian Catholic Child Protection Charter 

 

 

• National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse 

and Neglect (NAPCAN) 

 

NAPCAN has some fantastic information available to 

schools and local communities including the following 

pamphlets: 

• Domestic violence hurts children too. 

• Listening to children 

• It’s not ok to shake babies 

• Alternatives to smacking 

• Listening to babies 

• Listening to young people 

• Keeping children safe from sexual abuse 

• 30 ways to boost a child’s confidence 

• Use words that help not hurt 

• When a child feels sad 

• The importance of play 

• Being a dad 

Please contact the school if you would like further 

information. 

BUDDY BEARS PLAYGROUP 

It was great to see student siblings, some pre-schoolers, 

toddlers and parents join together with Kendall Schenk to 

explore Early Years Learning last Wednesday. Kendall has 

designed Playgroup sessions based on the Early Years 

Learning Framework to give all children a language rich 

preparation for Kindy/school. We welcome all families 

whether they have children at the school or not. 

REC NEWS 

Our Monday morning prayer 

and welcome this week 

focused on Bullying. Some 

MY students helped to 

spread the message about 

bullying through the use of 

promotional posters that 

have recently been sent to all 

schools. Poster captions included: 

• Calling Someone Names – Yes! This is bullying 

• When your fun is upsetting someone else – Yes! 

This is bullying 

• Ignoring me and making me feel left out or talking 

trash about me behind my back - Yes! This is 

bullying 

• Threats of violence or actual violence - Yes! This is 

bullying 

Our goal at St Mary Magdalene’s is to make this message 

loud and clear to all students, staff and community 

members. 

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM 

We have eight students who are interested and have 

enrolled in the Sacramental Program for 2012 / 2013. 

If you would like your child to be involved in the program 

and celebrate the Sacraments of Reconciliation, First 

Eucharist and Confirmation you can see me or call the 

Elizabeth Parish on 8255 1191 for more information. 

If you have already enrolled your child in this program, 

some dates for your calendar are: 

• Saturday November 17th Enrolment Session and 

Commitment at St Thomas More Church – 

Laverstock Rd, Elizabeth North 

• Sunday November 25th Advent Workshop and 

Practice for the Nativity Play and Carols – St 

Thomas More Church 

• Monday December 24th Nativity Play and Carols 

at the Christmas Eve Mass St Thomas More Church 

– 7pm 

STUDENT VOICE 

Our first group of students helped to prepare and cook 

soup for Fred’s Van yesterday. A big thank you goes to Mr 

and Mrs Chea for donating all vegetables this week. 

Sophie, Nathan, Kelsie, Issac, Natasha, Phillip, Billy and 

Hayley from MS McCarthy were a great help. 

EQUIPMENT FROM HOME 

For extra lunch play on Tuesday’s this term, Ms Elliott has a 

‘bring your own toy to play with in the Hall’ session. We 

ask that ALL home equipment stay at home on any other 

school day, unless requested by the class teacher. This 

includes sporting equipment and toys. 

THE FUTURE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDING TO CATHOLIC 

SCHOOLS 

You may have seen recent media articles highlighting South 

Australian schools at risk under the new model of funding 

from the Australian Government. It is important to be 

aware that the Government has not yet released its school 

funding model in response to the Gonski Report. The 

figures quoted in the media are based on presumptions of 

what the Government may possibly implement. We would 

like every school community to know that until the 

Government presents a funding model to us, we will not 




know what the implications are for our schools. Upon 

release of this model our response will be informed by the 

impact of the model on our schools. 

The Prime Minister has said that the Governments new 

funding plan “will lift school standards, not school fees.” As 

Catholic schools operate on average, with approximately 

90% of the average funding available to government 

schools, this is vital to the future of our schools. It is vital 

that students in Catholic schools are treated fairly in the 

new funding system and I will be providing you with further 

information about the Government’s plans for school 

funding as they are announced in the coming weeks. 

UPCOMING EVENTS 

• Grandparents / Special Person Day invitations should 

have been delivered by your child this week. 

• Naplan Results for Years 3, 5 and 7 will be sent on in 

the week beginning 17 September 2012 

• Walkathon – more information – should have received 

this today 

• Pupil Free Day – Friday 21 September – OSHC facilities 

available on the day. To book your child in please 

speak to either Lisa Dickson or Linda Nottage. 

Wishing all fathers a Happy Fathers Day on Sunday, 

Connecting life, faith and learning, 

Trish and Melissa 

VACATION CARE 

Yes, it is that time in the term again. The Vacation Care 

Program was sent out to all families who have previously 

used the service on Monday 27th August. Our places are 

once again filling up very fast, so if you wish to have any 

choice in the days you book your children into VAC, it’s a 

good idea to fill in your booking forms, pay the $20 deposit 

and confirm your places quickly. The $20 deposit and any 

other associated program costs must be paid when 

returning your forms to confirm your places. Families can 

also make arrangements to pay these costs with Linda or 

Lisa. However, all accounts must be up to date by the end 

of Term 3 to utilise care for VAC. 

The daily fee is $43.00 per day, however with Child Care 

Benefit; this cost can be reduced to as little as $3.35 

(families with 108.75%). If you are interested in sending 

your children to Vacation Care, please see either OSHC staff 

from Friday the 31st August to pick up a program and ask 

questions. Lisa is available until 9.00am every morning, and 

from 2.30pm every afternoon to make enquiries about 

Child Care Benefit, and the costs of the program after this 

has been deducted from daily fees. Alternatively, programs 

for Vacation Care can be picked up from Linda in the school 

front office. 

ESO PROFILE – Graham Kiely 

Hi, I’m Graham and I work as an ESO doing 

maintenance work around the school. I 

have been working at St Mary Magdalene’s 

School for nine and a half years. 

I enjoy the children asking me questions about the tasks I 

do around the school and the interest that they show in my 

work. I also work at Thomas More College in a similar role. 

My outside interests are cars, repairing anything, 

electronics and tractor pulling. 

A BIG THANK YOU 

A bit thank you to Melissa Bottroff and family for the 

donation of a keyboard to the school music program. 

Paula Giugliano 

Performing Arts Teacher 

PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE 

Just a reminder that the Premier’s Reading Challenge closes 

September 7. Please make sure your forms are returned by 

this date. 

UNIFORMS AVAILABLE FROM LOWES AT ELIZABETH 

Our uniform stocks have now been transferred to Lowes at 

Elizabeth City Centre. Price lists are available from the 

front office of the school. We are currently still holding 

stocks of the larger sizes (small, medium and large), so if 

you wish to purchase these please see Linda or Anne in the 

Front Office of the school. 

LOST PROPERTY 

Please make sure that all items of clothing, drinks bottles 

and lunch boxes are marked clearly with your child’s name. 

We have quite a big pile of jumpers in lost property with no 

names on them. If you are missing a jumper please check 

out the lost property box in the front office. 

SCHOOL BANKING 

Just a reminder 

that School 

Banking is 

available to 

students every 

Tuesday. Please 

make sure that 

bank books come 

to the office first 

thing on Tuesday 

mornings. 

Opening accounts for School Banking – great news! 

School Banking accounts can now be opened at any 

Commonwealth Bank. You no longer need to complete 

application forms and return them to school. Just go into 

any branch and ask to open a Youthsaver account for 

school banking. 

Take in identification for you and your child (such as drivers 

license and birth certificate) and you will receive your 

Dollarmites wallet on the spot – it is that easy! If you are a 

Commonwealth Bank customer with Netbank you have the 

option to open the account on line as well! 

CANTEEN NEWS 




A reminder that credit is not available in our school 

canteen. All lunch orders must be paid for at the time of 

ordering. 

If a child arrives at school without lunch/recess we will try 

to contact the parent. If unsuccessful the child will be 

provided with a sandwich and a piece of fruit. The parent 

will be charged $1.70 for the sandwich and 60 cents for the 

piece of fruit. 

All lunch orders must be received by the canteen before 

9.30 a.m. After this time a sandwich will be provided and 

charged appropriately. 

Unfortunately due to health regulations were are also 

unable to reheat food for children. 

HEAD LICE 

There have been cases reported cases of head lice across 

the school. Please check your child’s hair regularly and 

treat if necessary. 

LATE ARRIVALS & ABSENCES 

Please remember that all late arrivals must be signed in at 

the front office by a parent or caregiver. If your child is 

absent please notify the front office by 9.30 a.m. that 

morning. We now have an answering machine for you to 

leave messages on outside of office hour. 

MONEY TREE 

PROGRAM 

Just a reminder that 

to help the 

environment our 

school is involved in 

a recycle program 

that will also help 

raise some money 

for the school. 

It’s very simple, all you need to do is send your unwanted 

newspapers to school. Newspapers can be brought to 

school to be put in the Money Tree bins. These are located 

in Beckett Court by the hall. 

Newspapers collected will be recycled and reused as cereal 

boxes, egg cartons and pencil barrels to name just a few 

examples. 

ENROLMENT INTERVIEW FOR 2013 AND BEYOND 

Enrolment interviews are now being conducted by 2014. 

Applications are also still being taken for 2013. Please 

contact Linda Nottage in the Front Office if you wish to 

make a time for an enrolment interview. 

SECOND HAND UNIFORMS FOR SALE 

4 short sleeved polo shirts size 14 or small 

3 windcheaters size 14 

2 shorts size 14 

3 track pants size 14 

If you are interested please phone 8255 5246 or 

0417856253 

We are having a Remote 

Control Vehicle day! 

If you have a remote control vehicle, ask if you 

can bring them to school on Wednesday 5 th 

September for some fun! 

Each class will have some time to use their item 

through the school yard to show their skills 

All remote control vehicles will be safely kept in 

your child’s classroom on this day. 

These items will not be used during 1 st or 2 nd 

Lunch breaks. 

Your child can ONLY bring a battery powered 

remote control item. 

Please make sure your child’s item is clearly 

labelled with their name. 

Thanks 

Triple M Student Voice Group 

MUNNO PARA LITTLE ATHLETICS 

• Venue: Kooranowa Reserve, Vincent Road, 

Smithfield Plains 

• Come and Try: Sunday 16 & 23 September 2012 

• When: Sunday mornings 

• Season Start: 30 September 2012 

• Start: 9.00 a.m. registration & 9.30 a.m. start of 

competition 

• Ages: 3-17 years old 

• Come & Try Fee $5 per child 

• For more information please contact Karon on 

0431 992 309 




Student Student Voice Voice Group Group - News and New Families 

St Mary Magdalene’s Feast Day Liturgy On 

Monday morning on the 23 rd of July we had a whole school 

Liturgy; it was to celebrate the Feast Day of St Mary Magdalene. 

We had people who read about St Mary Magdalene and 

students who brought objects to the prayer space. These items 

were the Australian flag, the Aboriginal flag and Torrens Straight 

Islander flag. There were also pictures of St Mary Magdalene 

and a Bible. We sang 2 songs. Before the liturgy we had a little 

reflection time. It was a fun Liturgy. ☺ 

By James and Jamie!!! 



WEBSITE: www.smm.catholic.edu.au EMAIL: [email protected] 

Salaka African Drumming 

On Friday Wk 1 Term 3 we had Salaka 

drumming come to our school. It was very 

good the whole school enjoyed it. They 

played the drums and did some dancing. It 

was so funny because they made the 

Teachers dance. Some of the kids, Teachers 

and even some parents got to play the 

drums. Thanks Miss Giugliano for organising 

this! By Natasha Shrubsole

St Mary Magdalene’s Feast Day Activities 2012 

These kids are playing on the computers with Ms Argenio. 

“Today was really fun I decorated cookies with Miss Elliott” says 

Savannah 

”I played table tennis with Mr Guerin and it was fun” says Tallis 

Netball with Ms McCarthy 

By Milli and Savhannah 

Art with Miss Bandini 

Playtime on the Oval

M A G D A L A - St Mary Magdalene's Primary School

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