Mel Maria Catholic Primary School

Mel Maria 2025

We're thrilled to announce that starting in 2025, Mel Maria Catholic Primary School will be showcasing new school colours! These vibrant new tones, along with a redesigned logo, were unveiled at last week’s School Advisory Council Meeting and P&F Meeting, where they were warmly embraced by all attendees.

Before diving into the details, here’s a little background on this exciting change.

Mel Maria was established in 1973 by the rationalisation of St Joseph Pignatelli Catholic Primary School, Attadale; Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School, Myaree; Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary School, Willagee; and the Primary School of Santa Maria.

All of these schools existed separately in their own right. However, because of their size and limited resources, they struggled educationally to meet curriculum requirements. Following a series of meetings in 1972 involving the community of each of the schools, it was decided to amalgamate all the schools and Mel Maria came into being.

The building of the new church on the Corpus Christi site was seen as an opportune time to rename the parish due to confusion with local parishes of the same name. Following due consideration, the parish and school site was renamed Pater Noster.

The name Mel Maria was chosen because all three campuses are in the City of Melville. ‘Mel’ comes from the first three letters of Melville and has Irish derivation meaning ‘place’. ‘Maria’ comes from the link with Santa Maria. The McAuley campus was originally the Primary School of Santa Maria. As such, Mel Maria means ‘the place of Mary’.

The patroness of Mel Maria is Our Lady of Mercy, and her feast is celebrated on September 24th.

THE SCHOOL CREST

The crest depicts the School’s Catholic identity through the Omega Symbol, which in Christianity symbolises, God's eternity. In the Book of Revelation in the Bible, Jesus refers to himself as the Alpha and the Omega, signifying the beginning and the end. The ‘M’ symbol also represents the Mitre headgear worn by the bishop.

The ‘M’ symbol references the Mel Maria school name, and its twin peaks represent the school’s two campuses.

Motto

‘Unity is Strength’

The school motto is incorporated into a banner bringing our two campuses together.

School Vision

School’s Hashtag

#MakingADifferenceEveryday.

The original logo (pictured above on the left) and crest for Mel Maria Catholic Primary School up until 2022. This logo looks very similar to Santa Maria and did not identify Mel Maria Catholic Primary School in any way, as our name was not identifiable.

In 2022, the logo (pictured above on the right) was redeveloped. Notably, the emblem now proudly showcases the distinguished words "Mel Maria Catholic Primary School," strengthening its identity. The “M” became red symbolising the Mercy connection. Additionally, the green and red colours were made more richer and deeper giving the logo more of a presence and meaning.

Proposed New Colour for Mel Maria Catholic Primary School

As previously mentioned, during last week's SAC and P&F meetings, we introduced our new school colours and logo for 2025 and beyond. This marked an exciting moment for the school community. The fresh colours were selected to honour our heritage while revitalising our identity and brand. This update breathes new life into our logo and school colours, ensuring they remain vibrant and relevant.

This significant occasion marks a thrilling chapter in our school's history, as we embrace a fresh palette that honours our past while propelling us into a vibrant future. The carefully selected colours not only maintain our cherished connection to tradition but also inject new vitality into our emblem and school spirit.

With the upcoming transformation of our school structure into an Early Childhood Campus and a Primary Campus, the timing couldn't be more perfect to reinvent our image and brand. This evolution offers us a golden opportunity to craft a distinctive identity, separate from our previous ties with Santa Maria College. It's our chance to script an inspiring narrative that echoes throughout our community and embodies our forward-looking vision.

Revamping our colours isn't just about aesthetics; it's about rejuvenating our brand to resonate with students, parents, and the wider community. A refreshed appearance can elevate our school's prestige and attractiveness, paving the way for a sleek and sophisticated uniform design that stands the test of time.

Furthermore, this bold move signals to the world that Mel Maria Catholic Primary School is embarking on a thrilling new journey filled with boundless opportunities. It's a declaration to our community and beyond that we're stepping into a new era, brimming with innovation, growth, and endless possibilities.

Together, let's embrace this exciting change and march forward proudly as we unveil a fresh chapter in the rich tapestry of Mel Maria Catholic Primary School's history!

The School Crest

The crest depicts the School’s Catholic identity through the Omega Symbol, which in Christianity symbolises, God's eternity. In the Book of Revelation in the Bible, Jesus refers to himself as the Alpha and the Omega, signifying the beginning and the end. The ‘M’ symbol also represents the Mitre headgear worn by the bishop.

The ‘M’ symbol references the Mel Maria school name, and its twin peaks represent the school’s two campuses.

The school motto ‘Unity is Strength’ is incorporated into a banner bringing our two campuses together.

Navy Blue (replacing the Santa Maria green connection)

Religious Symbolism

The navy blue colour is associated in Christianity generally and Catholicism in particular, with the Virgin Mary. Symbolically, blue represents life, purity and cleansing.

Universal Symbolism

The colour blue carries with it the symbolism of peace, intelligence, loyalty, strength, security, stability, wisdom and unity. These qualities are critical to the formation and ongoing development of Mel Maria Catholic Primary School.

White

Religious Symbolism

In Christianity, a white lily represents the Madonna, our Mother Mary, who is the patron saint of Mel Maria Catholic Primary School. In the New Testament, white represents the colour of light (Christ) and symbolises the divine. In Baptism, white represents a ‘new beginning’ and belonging to the Christian faith.

Universal Symbolism

White universally signifies peace, an indication that an agreement between two parties has been reached. White is associated with goodness, innocence, and clarity. It is considered to be the colour of perfection.

The colour white was chosen because it projects purity, cleanliness and neutrality - a very important aspect of the new model.

Red

Religious Symbolism

In our faith traditions, red is the colour of that symbolises the presence of God and is considered the colour of the Church. It is the liturgical colour of Pentecost, the celebration that marks the birth of the Christian Church. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles – the same Spirit which we call upon to guide our journey at Mel Maria Catholic Primary School.

Universal Symbolism

The colour red was chosen because it adds life and vitality to the dominant colours of Navy Blue and White. The colour red is vibrant, eye-catching and powerful. This colour also has strong links to the Mercy Sisters, the founding order of our school.

The strength and pioneering spirit of the school and each individual is reflected through this colour.

Making A Difference

Each day it is great to see the enthusiasm and engagement of the students as they become life-long learners. At school, we always striving to #MakeADifferenceEveryday and this applies to our students learning and our teachers teaching, as well as in all activities and interactions we each have every day. At Mel Maria Catholic Primary School this mantra is demonstrated in our work and endeavours across all the learning areas which include Religious Education, English, Mathematics, Visual Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Technologies, Health, Japanese, Science, Music and Physical Education.

There is much to learn, to remember and to use in our journey as

life-long learners. As a school we work collaboratively to foster the children’s spiritual, cognitive, physical, social and emotional learning and growth.

At Mel Maria School Catholic Primary School, children are taught to become life-long learners by focusing on information literacy skills, inquiry and research processes. Children are encouraged to identify, locate, evaluate, organise and effectively create, use and communicate information to expand their interests, knowledge and skills. We give children opportunities to construct their knowledge in a positive relationship with others and for each child to be open to different ways of learning.

At Mel Maria Catholic Primary School, we believe that learning is life-long and therefore:

· implement a pedagogy that is purposeful, meaningful and relevant

· challenge the intellectual, imaginative and spiritual capacity of all learners

· recognise the importance of problem solving and thinking strategies and provide experiences where skills are further enhanced develop skills of collaboration, communication and creativity

· plan the environment so that young children can experience the world

· encourage children to take risks and persist with their learning

· engage children in meaningful and purposeful tasks

· allowing children to be active in the learning process challenging children to aspire #MakeADifferenceEveryday

Pupil Free Day

A reminder to all parents that Tuesday 4 June is a Pupil Free Day.

Uniforms

I bring to your attention the School Uniform Policy once again. The uniform at Mel Maria Catholic Primary School is a symbol of the school’s community and it assists children to develop a sense of unity and belonging. Wearing the uniform encourages a sense of personal pride in the school. Whenever the uniform is worn at school or public places it must be worn in accordance with the school policy.

Children at Mel Maria Catholic Primary School are expected to wear the full school uniform at all times. A Uniform Schedule and Guidelines are available on the school Web page or the school office.

Mel Maria School Uniform Policy

Some areas where we are lowering our standards as individuals in the wearing of the school uniform. Of particular concern are some of the following:

Student’s Hair

For health reasons, when a child’s hair is of collar length or longer, it must be tied back off the face. The following regulations also apply to hair:

· Hair that touches your child’s collar must be tied up. It should be pulled away from the face and secured. Hair to be tied back with plain red, green or white hair elastics, ribbons, scrunchies (to match summer dress or winter tartan skirt/pinafore) or headbands.

Hair Colour/tint is not permitted

The school colours of red, white and green should be used when using ribbons or other hair accessories and must not be too large.

· Children’s haircuts need to be conservative and appropriate to uniform expectations. Radical haircuts and colour are no acceptable. This includes spiked hair, rat tails, tracks, mullets or cut-ins or any other hair style that would be considered radical.

The Principal reserves the right to decide the acceptability of hairstyles at Mel Maria Catholic Primary School.

Make-Up

· No Make-up is not to worn to school.

· Fake eyelashes are not permitted.

School Shoes and Sport Shoes

· Students are expected to wear Black lace-up shoes or Mary-Jane’s

· Sport Uniform – Students are expected to wear predominantly ‘white’ sandshoes for sport.

Reconciliation is a journey for all Australians – as individuals, families, communities, organisations and importantly as a nation. At the heart of this journey are relationships between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.

The National Reconciliation Week theme for 2024, Now More Than Ever, is a reminder to all of us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will —and must —continue.

There have been many moments in Australia’s reconciliation journey that make us want to turn away. But when things are divisive, the worst thing we can do is disengage or disconnect.

Now more than ever, we need to tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation. We know that the 6.2 million Australians who voted YES are committed to better outcomes for First Nations people, and are with us.

Reconciliation supporters must stand up to defend and uphold the rights of First Nations peoples. To call out racism wherever we encounter it, and to actively reinforce the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across this continent.

Now more than ever, the work continues. In treaty making, in truth-telling, in understanding our history, in education, and in tackling racism. We need connection. We need respect. We need action. And we need change.

Now more than ever, we need reconciliation.

Kindergarten 2025 – Applications are Now Due

In 2025, we will have a whole new Early Childhood space for students from Pre-Kindergarten to Year Two. This is going to be very exciting for the students, teachers and parents.

Enrolments are now being taken for siblings and new students wishing to commence Kindergarten at Mel Maria Catholic Primary School in 2025. Families with children eligible for Kindergarten in 2025 are required to fill out a Kindergarten Enrolment Application Form. These can be collected from the office or please follow the link provided. https://melmaria.wa.edu.au/assets/Uploads/General/Application-for-Enrolment-Form.pdf.

Kindergarten places are limited so it is important that parents within the Mel Maria Catholic Primary School community submit their applications as soon as possible.

Pre-Kindergarten 2025 – Applications are Now Due

Enrolments are now being taken for siblings and new students wishing to commence Pre-Kindergarten at Mel Maria Catholic Primary School in 2025. Families with children eligible for Kindergarten in 2025 are required to fill out a Pre-Kindergarten Enrolment Application Form. To attend Pre-Kindergarten a child must be three years of age.

Mel Maria Catholic School Primary School will continue to operate full day Pre-Kindergarten groups next year with the days of attendance being Thursday. There will also be the option of a second or possibly even third day depending on numbers Pre-Kindergarten places are limited so it is important that parents within the Mel Maria community submit their applications as soon as possible. Application forms can be obtained from the office or please follow the link provided. https://melmaria.wa.edu.au/assets/Uploads/General/Application-for-Enrolment-Form.pdf.

Kind regards

Paul Hille

Principal

#MakingADifferenceEveryday

The Value of Practice

Emphasising the value of practice for our children's mental well-being and learning is crucial. Research indicates that cultivating "grit" - the blend of passion and perseverance towards long-term goals - is a vital predictor of success in all areas of life.

Encouraging our children to practice regularly in academics, sports, or hobbies helps them develop qualities such as discipline, perseverance, and resilience, which are key components of grit. Regular practice not only hones their skills and knowledge but also reduces stress, boosts self-confidence, and enhances cognitive abilities, ultimately leading to improved mental health.

Let's continue to support and empower our children in practicing diligently, as it is essential for their overall growth and development. By nurturing grit in them, we are guiding them towards success.

Transition Days

Creating transition days between campuses is crucial for developing student well-being as they prepare to move to a new environment. These days provide students with the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the new campus, meet teachers and classmates, and alleviate any anxieties about the transition.

So far this term, our Year 5 students participated in Young Vinny activities and were awarded leader badges, fostering a sense of responsibility and leadership. Meanwhile, Pre-Primary students enjoyed a Teddy Bears Picnic, exploring the nature playground and building new friendships. These activities help students feel more comfortable and confident in their new surroundings, ultimately supporting their emotional and social well-being.

Class teachers will continue to update you on these activities through their teacher correspondence.

Keeping Safe Program

Child Protection Curriculum from Western Australia emphasises the importance of children recognising their own body signs and warning signs to stay safe. Body signs are the physical and emotional cues that children experience when they feel uncomfortable, scared, or unsafe. These may include a racing heart, sweaty palms, feeling sick in the stomach, or wanting to cry. Warning signs go beyond just physical symptoms and highlight situations that make children feel uneasy, such as certain places, actions, or people.

By teaching children to identify these signs, parents can empower them to react appropriately in challenging situations. Encourage open discussions about feelings and ensure they know it's crucial to trust their instincts. Providing this knowledge helps children understand their body's signals, fostering a proactive approach to their safety and well-being.

Staff Photos

Staff photos will be taking place on Tuesday, 28th May at 7:45am at Pater Noster Campus. Due to this important event, no staff members will be on campus until 8:15am to supervise students.

We appreciate your understanding as we fulfill our duty of care requirements during this time. Rest assured, teachers will notify families of their photo day well in advance to ensure smooth coordination.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in making this a seamless process!

Mel Maria Playgroup

Embark on a new adventure with Mel Maria as we introduce our family-operated school-based playgroup! Emphasising hands-on learning, creativity, and play-based activities, our program provides a dynamic and engaging space for children to develop and thrive, while offering mums a chance to connect and work together.

Expressions of interest are now being accepted. For more information, contact Joanne Scouler at joanne.scouler@cewa.edu.au or call us on (08) 6330 0550.

Do not miss out on this fantastic opportunity to be a part of our wonderful playgroup community!

Ros Nichols and Jo Scouler

Head of Campus

On the 15 May, we held our Confirmation ceremony at St Joseph Pignatelli Parish, it was a wonderful occasion filled with reverence, reflection, and the reaffirmation of their commitment to the Catholic faith.

Throughout their preparation, the students demonstrated extraordinary dedication and enthusiasm. With the support and encouragement of their teachers, parents, and the parish community, they embarked on a profound spiritual journey, enriching their understanding of the sacrament and its significance in their lives.

During the ceremony, each student was personally called forward by Archbishop Timothy Costelloe to receive the sacrament. They were accompanied by their sponsors who stood as beacons of support and guidance. The presence of the Holy Spirit filled the sanctuary as prayers were offered and blessings bestowed upon each candidate.

As they received the gifts of the Holy Spirit – wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord – these students embraced their newfound responsibilities with grace and humility.

Congratulations to each of the Year 6 students who received the Sacrament of Confirmation. May the light of the Holy Spirit continue to illuminate your path, guiding you with love, wisdom, and strength as you journey forth in faith.

Let us keep these students in our prayers as they embark on this new chapter of their spiritual lives, empowered by the gifts of the Holy Spirit to live out their faith boldly and joyfully.

Last Wednesday our Year Six students at SJP made their Confirmation and this weekend our Year Six students at Pater Noster Campus make their commitment to receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. Very special times in their live indeed. The following prayer keeps these children and their families in our thoughts.

Father

We ask you to send the Holy Spirit into our lives.

Open our ears to hear what you are saying to us in the things that happen to us, and in the people, we meet.

Open our eyes to see the needs of the people around us.

Open our hands to do our work well and to help when help is needed.

Open our mouths to tell others the Good News about Jesus, and bring comfort, happiness and laughter to other people.

Open our minds to discover new truth about you and the world.

Open our hearts to love you and all people as you have loved us in Jesus.

Amen.

Thought for the Week

If you see someone without a SMILE, give them one of YOURS

We have been having a wonderful time learning and growing in Kindy at SJP.

MOTHER’S DAY

Celebrating Mother’s Day in Kindergarten has been a huge highlight of our term with an invitation to our Mums into Kindy for an extended entry. Mums were invited to come and have a play with their child, make some special things together and see the amazing work the Kindy children have been doing. The children had been working hard on a portrait of their Mums and were so excited to reveal them on this special day. When it was time to go, we gave our Mums a special keepsake bowl and card we had made and which everyone loved. We made special memories on this day which we will all treasure forever.

AUTUMN & DJERAN

We have been making the most of this amazing May weather, playing outside with our Kindy friends and experiencing the changes in the natural environment all around us. Our learning focus has centred around Autumn, with the children observing changes in our environment and the weather and linking them with the Noongar season of Djeran.

We learnt that while lots of leaves fall off trees in Autumn, during Djeran some native flowers blossom, and they are often red! We also learnt that you will see more frogs and turtles coming out as the weather cools so we are on the lookout for them!

We read the story Leaf Man and used natural materials and loose parts that we collected to make transient art, which is art that is not permanent and can be moved and changed. The purpose of this is to express our creativity and work on spatial skills, where things can be placed in space. We selected materials to make our very own leaf men, then once a photo was taken, we returned our materials back to nature… just like “Leaf Man” in the story.

Every day is an exciting learning adventure in Kindy where we are growing in our understanding about the world around us and having so much fun learning through play.

We are having a magnificent time in Kindy and are constantly learning from one another and exploring all areas of our environment!

Outdoor Learning is a large focus for us each day and we are making the most of our Early Years playground as we choose to start our day inside or outside. We have lots of different spaces to ignite our creativity, enhance our collaboration with others and develop our motor skills.

Throughout the day we are continuously exploring with different natural materials in the sandpit either by making different concoctions in the kitchen or creating rivers with the water pump. We spend our time climbing up and over ropes, having races down the slides before most afternoons finishing our outdoor time with dance parties on the grass. Each week we have an obstacle focus helping to grow our gross motor skills and coordination as we jump, balance, and move in different ways.

In the classroom we have been reading some incredible literature this term, as Kindy Red have started with ‘The Gingerbread Man’, looking at retelling the story in their own role play area, making and baking our own gingerbread biscuit and using a variety of loose parts to decorate playdough gingerbreads. Kindy Green have started with ‘The Little Red Hen’ as they have baked their own bread, made hens, drew pictures of a farm and are learning how to be good friends to each other.

We are looking forward to seeing where our learning takes us for the rest of this term!

Library News – Is all about Celebrations this term.

The Library team have been celebrating all things READING in the library this term.

We have been promoting:

· Premier’s Reading Challenge where children can win prizes for themselves and the school. The children have been given a bookmark with a QR code with details on how to participate. Here is the Premier promoting this wonderful reading initiative.https://youtu.be/9gIQujqTkeQ

· Scholastic National Family Reading Month – Read More in May. The children have been challenging themselves to read a variety of Genre’s with different people and in different ways. They have loved it.

National Simultaneous Storytime

On the May 22nd the children of Mel Maria had the opportunity to participate in the National Simultaneous Storytime annual event. This Year’s book was the Bowerbird Blues written by Aura Parker . Over 2 million children around the world celebrated and participated listening to the story read by Aura Parker, at the same time.

The children have been invited to bring in something recycled that is blue, that they no longer use and that a bowerbird could carry in its beak, to add to the Bowerbird displays on both campuses.

The children enjoyed listening to the story and receiving a special Bowerbird Blues bookmark to take home.

Noongar Kaartdijin

On Sunday 26 May we will be celebrating National Sorry Day. The children will be engaging in a variety activities sharing respect for our First Nations People, through viewing programs, singing Noongar songs and of course reading many First Nation Stories.

The celebrations of our First Nations People will continue with National Reconciliation week beginning on Monday 27 May.

The Library will showcase Fist Nations Peoples and their stories and artwork. All are welcome anytime.

Year 3 WASO Excursion: Friday 10 May 2024

Nicholas Buc conductor
Dan Golding host
Andrew Pogson host

On Friday 10 May, all the Mel Maria Year 3 students were lucky enough to see ‘The Music of Hans Zimmer, Art of The Score’ at the Perth Concert Hall.

The students experienced some of the greatest modern film music as WASO and conductor Nicholas Buc paid tribute to one of the most influential film composers of all time: Hans Zimmer.

From the epic worlds of Interstellar, Inception and Batman’s Dark Knight Trilogy, to unforgettable themes from Pirates of the Caribbean and The Lion King, we all felt the power of the full State Orchestra in flight as they took us on a journey through Zimmer’s iconic scores.

“What you remember is more than music. You remember the power of the soundtrack and the overwhelming emotion of Zimmer’s score. You remember music that is bigger than you are, that is bigger than the moment. You remember music that is bigger, even, than Hans Zimmer”

This framework of nine elements combine supporting a child safe culture, healthy and respectful relationships and extended guardianship in school communities, based on the latest research and recognised best practices. Teachers are responsible for delivering this curriculum to students. Please view the video below for an introduction to the framework.

https://childsafe.cewa.edu.au/introduction-key-concepts/

Online Safety Basics – eSafety Commissioner

Help your children safely navigate their digital world and educate them to avoid harmful online experiences. Explore websites, games, apps and social media together and set some rules.

Your support and guidance can give your children the confidence to make sound decisions online – and ask for help when they need it.

Please read the article on online safety from the eSafety Commissioner below:

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice/online-safety-basics

School Term Dates for 2024

Term 1: Wednesday 31 January - 28 March

Term 2: Monday 15 April - Friday 28 June

Term 3: Monday 15 July - Thursday 19 September

Term 4: Tuesday 8 October - Friday 6 December

Pupil Free Days for 2024

Term 1: Monday 11 March

Term 2: Tuesday 4 June

Term 3: Friday 16 August, Friday 20 September

Term 4: Monday 7 October

Sacramental Dates for 2024

Confirmation:

SJP - Wednesday 15 May at 6:00pm

PN - Friday 9 August at 6:00pm

Eucharist:

SJP - Sunday 10 November at 11:00am

PN - Saturday 8 June at 3:00pm and Sunday 9 June at 2:00pm

Reconciliation:

SJP - Wednesday 18 September at 3:30pm

PN - Wednesday 18 September at 9:45am