Mary Immaculate Primary Newsletter

Welcome back everyone to Term Four!

2020 has certainly had its complexities for everyone and many continue. We are endeavouring, as our parents are also, to continue to make this year as successful as possible with much collaboration and creativity.As restrictions are eased we are looking at the things we can do from now until the end of the year to capitalise on all opportunities. We will now be able to proceed with a covid modified Kinder 2021 Orientation. We are trying to enable our Year 5 students to still go to camp as intended. We are also looking into what is possible to properly send off our graduating Year 6 students. Other things are also in the pipeline but dependent on applicable restrictions. I want to thank everyone for their support as we try to make the best of things. Reports will be returning to the usual format for the end of year, reporting on the outcomes that were able to be taught with the disruptions to attendance. We have purchased and set up an extra reading scheme for our younger grades which we will be rolling out very soon. 

There's a lot happening at MIPS! Together we will make this also a great term for our amazing students.

With appreciation for your ongoing support,

Stephen Dowd

Principal

Congratulations to our Year 6 Debating Team on a great season! We celebrated in Week 10 of Term 3 with a pizza lunch and Award Ceremony. It was a terrific way to acknowledge the hard work of all students involved! Mrs Behrens

During debating, I have learnt many things like co-operating with my group, writing a speech and even public speaking. Public speaking has really helped me. As it has boosted my confidence in speaking to a group of people. Co-operation has helped me work with different people and learn what they are good at and what they are not. My most favourite debate was probably the first one because it was new and because I won. Debating is really fun and everyone should try out for it as you could find a skill that you never knew you had like I did. - Campbell S

During this debating season I have learnt that to be a good public speaker you have to be resilient and confident in yourself and your teammates.  Chanel Z

My debating experience was one of the best primary school experiences ever. My favourite part of debating was that when we had chosen our teams we would get our topics and start to get some ideas on what we could do. I also loved the researching and the preparation of speeches then presentation day was the best because you never knew what was going to happen. During the debating season it helped me gain confidence and better public speaking abilities. This was amazing and I would totally do it again. Samantha J

My debating reflection overall was that I had a very funny, hard working and an amazing time. In my opinion I thought that it was a great experience for everyone who was in the debating team. We learnt a lot of new things including how to do public speaking and how we can work together in a different way. Gemma P

From debating I gained confidence through public speaking, I learnt how to write persuasive speeches in just 3 weeks and to collaborate with others. It was hard collaborating with others and writing speeches but in the end we got through it, and  it was really fun overall and challenging. Divya P

This debating season was a very unprecedented one. The format of the season and the rearrangements made were extraordinary. Before I continue, I have to say thank you to Mrs Behrens, Mr Matulewicz, as well as my fellow debating team members. Without them, we couldn’t have made this happen. Moving on, the biggest thing I took away from this year’s debating season was communication. COVID-19 brought a lot of challenges for us this year, including the lack of attendance. Within our teams, we had to find other ways to communicate and get the job done before the debate day. If you asked anybody who has participated in debating throughout the past few years what their experience was like, you will never get an answer similar to ours. This debating season was a challenge, but we tackled it, it was hard, but we made a great achievement. Lucas W 

During debating this year I have learnt many new things. These things include, learning how to work better in a team, improve my writing ability, make new friends, work with new people and more. I have enjoyed learning how to become a better writer as it also improved my writing skills in class. I have improved my confidence with public speaking and presenting new things to an audience. Working with new people has helped me understand different perspectives of the way people think and write, this also helped me to improve my writing skills and confidence because I have all different ideas to help me. Mr Matulewicz and Mrs Behrens have also helped me alot to improve this year in debating. Summer S.

During our debating term I learnt a lot about, collaboration and teamwork. As my time in debating was not as long as others, since I missed the first debate and joined for the second one. It was still good, my most favourite debate was my first one. I was clueless but my team filled me in, I was speaker one and felt scared. Though my team was collaborating with me and helping me. In this debate we lost, it was my most favourite debate because it taught me my mistakes and I learnt from them. From that debate forward, I never lost one again. It has been the best time of this term. Jacob G

Congratulations to Joshua J and James S, in Year 1, for recently graduating from the Reading Recovery program. They have worked very hard and we wish them all the best with their reading. 

Mrs Cooper and Mrs Francis

During Week 2, MIPS will be celebrating BOOK WEEK!We have an abundance of activities planned to celebrate reading. One of the highlights of Book Week is our Book Parade, which will be held on Wednesday, 21st October. Due to Covid restrictions, parents are unable to attend the parade this year. However, photos of the parade will be shared on the school’s Facebook page. 

Students are to come dressed in their “Curious Creatures, Wild Minds” costumes (which can simply be homemade!) to celebrate creativity and imagination during Book Week. 

Other events such as Readers’ Theatre, read alouds by teachers and students, Peer Support reading and Buddy Reading will celebrate Book Week. We will also be presenting the Wushkathon and Readathon awards on Friday, 23rd October to students. We look forward to this exciting event!

Thank you for your support,

Mrs Behrens

Kindergarten 2021 families received an email in the holidays from Mr Stephen Dowd regarding the announcement by the State Government that covid-modified Kindergarten Orientation sessions can go ahead from Week Three of Term Four! We are so delighted to welcome our wonderful new students for 2021.

A further email will be sent to Kinder 2021 families soon with details of how the morning will run. 

Students who wish to celebrate their birthday with their class are permitted to bring pre-packaged snacks to the school such as an ice block, packet of chips, wrapped lollies. Staff will ensure these are shared with students safely. Please note, Mary Immaculate Primary remains ‘allergy aware’ and food products containing nuts should not be brought to school. 

As part of our annual system and legal requirements, Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta (CEDP) is asking families to ensure all relevant contact and student information is up to date and accurate for the purposes of communication and providing relevant support to students. 

On Monday 19 October, households will receive an email or SMS from CEDP with a link and login details to the Student Data Validation (SDV) form. 

Once you have logged in you will be able to verify existing information from the school database and update if necessary. The process should not take more than 15 minutes and will need to be completed by 5:00pm on Friday 6 November.

If you have any questions about the Student Data Validation form, please contact our Community Liaison Team on 9840 5796.