Reconciliation Week 2025

Child Safe Standards

The Child Safe Standards provide us with tangible guidance about how to create cultures, adopt strategies and act to put the interests of children first, to keep them safe from harm. Each fortnight, we’ll present one of the standards and ask you to reflect on how you think we’re addressing the recommendations. 

Child Safe Standard 3: Families and communities are informed and involved

The aim of this standard is that the school actively engages with our families and community to support children. This standard is important because children feel more valued when schools involve families and community members in decisions that affect them. 

Our aim is to prioritise this standard for child safety in what we say and do:

• Families have the primary responsibility for the upbringing and development of their child, and participate in decisions affecting the child
• The school engages in open, two-way communication with families and communities about our child safety approach.
• Relevant information is accessible.
• Families and communities have a say in our policies and practices.
• Families and communities are informed about our operations and governance. 

If we are addressing this standard successfully, we would expect our children to say: 

• My family is welcome here.
• The adults at school talk to my family about me.
• The special days of my community are celebrated. 

If you have any questions or feedback about how we are addressing this Standard, please email me (petra.cole@cg.catholic.edu.au).

Stranger Danger

We encourage you to promote Stranger Danger safety tips with your children about travelling to and from school. Talking about stranger danger with your child can feel tricky, but it’s an important conversation to have—one that helps keep them safe while building their confidence to trust their instincts. 

Keep the message simple and age-appropriate: Explain that a stranger is anyone they don’t know, even if they seem friendly. Have your child list or draw a picture of their safety network/ safe adults.  Encourage your child to always check with a trusted adult from their safety network before going anywhere, accepting gifts, or speaking with someone they don’t know. 

You might like to role-play different situations at home by playing the ‘What if…?’ game. What if you were walking home and someone told you they were sent to pick you up? What if you were approached in the park?   Help your child to practise how to say "No", move away, and find help if they ever feel unsure or unsafe. Remind them that they can always talk to you or another trusted adult if something doesn’t feel right. These chats don’t need to be scary—just calm, regular reminders that help children feel prepared and supported.

Petra Cole

Assistant Principal

Child Safe Advocate

Fundraising

This term, our Social Justice focus is on supporting the Vinnies Winter Appeal. As the weather cools, we are called to think of those doing it tough this season. We invite all families to contribute by donating new winter items such as beanies, scarves, gloves or blankets. These items can be brought in by your child or donated in the buckets at the front office. Your generosity can bring warmth and comfort to someone in need.

On Friday of Week 8 (20th June), we will also be holding a Pyjama Day fundraiser! Students are encouraged to wear their pyjamas to school and bring along a gold coin donation. All funds raised will go directly to Vinnies to help support their vital work in our community. We thank you in advance for your support.

Sacramental Program

This year has been full of important sacramental milestones for our students. Last term, we celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation with many of our Year 3 students — a special moment of reflection and grace. This term, we turn our attention to Confirmation, as our Year 6 cohort prepares to receive this sacred Sacrament on Wednesday, 18 June at St Matthew’s Church. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue their spiritual journey.

Looking ahead to Term 3, we are excited to celebrate the Sacrament of First Holy Communion with our Year 4 students. If you have any questions about the Sacramental Program or have a child who needs to catch up on any sacraments, please don’t hesitate to contact Sophie Murdock at: sophie.murdock@cg.catholic.edu.au.

Make Jesus Real Groups

We are also excited to launch our MJR (Make Jesus Real) groups this term! These groups bring students together in vertically grouped classes, with representatives from every grade led by our Year 6 Youth Ministry students. Through MJR, students reflect on their faith and explore how we can all live out Jesus’ teachings in everyday life. Our first session begins this Friday, where we will explore our school-wide theme for 2024: Pilgrims of Hope. We look forward to sharing this meaningful journey with all students.

Sophie Murdock

Religious Education Coordinator

Establishing a Healthy Digital Balance

There is no magic figure. The right amount of screen time can depend on a range of factors like your child’s age and maturity, the kind of content they are consuming, their learning needs and your family routine. 

It can be easy to focus only on the clock, but the quality and nature of what they are doing online, and your involvement, are just as important.

Consider your child’s screen use in the context of their overall health and wellbeing. For example, is online time getting in the way of their sleep and exercise? Is it impacting their face-to-face connections with family and friends? The answers to these questions will guide you and help strike the right balance of online and offline activities for your child.

Increased connectivity may have negative health impacts. Signs to watch for include:

• Less interest in social activities like meeting friends or playing sport
• Not doing so well at school
• Tiredness, sleep disturbance, headaches, eye strain 
• Changes in eating patterns
• Reduced personal hygiene
• Obsession with particular websites or games
• Extreme anger when being asked to take a break from online activity
• Appearing anxious or irritable when away from the computer
• Becoming withdrawn from friends and family.

What to do if you are concerned

• Some of the behavioural changes described above are a normal part of growing up but, if you are concerned your child is struggling, try to find out why — there may be underlying issues such as cyberbullying, friendship difficulties or mental health issues. 
• As part of your conversation, ask your child about how much time they spend online and explain why it is worrying and what they could be missing out on. 
• Try not to show that you disapprove or they might shut down communication altogether. 
• Talking to your child’s school may also reveal academic or social issues, and the school may also be able to provide support.

Some helpful tips to support a healthy digital lifestyle:

• During non-school hours at home, establish time limits around when and for how long your child can be online.
• Use the available technologies — parental controls and tools to monitor online time allow you to measure and set time limits on device use or internet access. Be honest and open about why you want to use these technologies.
• Turn off notifications for social media apps to help minimise distractions.
• Depending on your child’s age, you can establish a family tech agreement that balances time spent in front of screens with offline activities. You can find templates by searching online.
• Include ‘offline’ activities in your routine at home — this can include family exercise, reading time or board games.
• Reduce your own time online to model positive behaviour.

Daniel Hunt

ICT Coordinator

Term 2 School Fees were distributed via email during week 2 of this term.

Term 2 2025 Fees are now overdue, unless payment is being made by regular instalments.

We are pleased to announce that St. Matthew's has recently introduced the BPoint Enterprise Solution to manage direct debit arrangements for the payment of school fees.

While using the direct debit payment option is not compulsory, many families find it helpful in keeping up with their financial obligations.

For any questions or further assistance, or if you haven’t received your fees, please contact our Finance Officer, Chris Answerth.

Visiting Author

In Week 8, we will have our first author visit for this year. Tim Harris, author of the ‘Ratbags’ and ‘Exploding endings’ series, will be visiting our Year 1-6 students. Information about how to order his books is included in this newsletter.

Book Fair

Also, later this term, we will have the Lamont Book Fair visiting our school. It will be open before and after school, as well as during Parent-Teacher Interviews in Week 9. Please come and check out the selection of books - every sale helps us to buy new books for our students. Hope to see you there!