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Dear Parents and Carers
Wednesday’s Year Six Leadership Ceremony was also a lovely event recognising the work of our senior grade as they received their Leadership Shirts. The children will now undertake various leadership roles throughout their final year of primary school.
Staffing
Late last week our Front Office Receptionist, Mrs Mariana Rollgejser informed me that she will be leaving St Matthew’s to commence a new job early next term.
Mariana has been the very welcoming face of our school in our Front Office for the past two years. Whilst this is sad news for our school it is an exciting opportunity for Mariana.
Thank you and congratulations Mariana, we will miss you.
PUPIL FREE DAY-MONDAY APRIL 24TH
The Term One holidays will be extended by one day and will now link with the ANZAC DAY Public Holiday (which falls the next day). Children return to school on Wednesday April 26th.
Winter School Uniform
The start of Term Two marks the change from Summer to Winter uniform. All children should begin to wear this uniform from the first day of next term. We have attached a document, containing some images of the uniform with the newsletter, for your information.
I would like to wish you and your family a restful break and a happy and holy Easter. If you are travelling, I hope your journey is safe.
May God bless you and your families this week.
Graham Pollard
Principal
Dear Parents and Carers,
Last year, in Term 4, our Homework Committee distributed a survey to parents, students, and staff to gauge the ways in which our community engages in homework. Overwhelmingly, reading and numeracy skills were seen as a priority. Families who participated in the survey also let us know that they have limited time each night to dedicate to homework. The committee developed an agreed practice which considers these responses, and this was presented to staff and to the Community Council for their approval.
While research into the benefits of homework have produced mixed results, a recent study suggests that there is little evidence that the amount of homework time assigned to primary school children is related to their academic achievement (Jerrim, Lopez-Agudo, & Marcnearo-Gutierre, 2022). Hattie’s synthesis of five meta-analyses on primary and secondary homework (2009) found that, overall, the effect size for homework across primary and secondary schooling was not significant. Another systematic review of homework practices (Horsley, & Walker, 2013) concluded that homework has a positive, but minor, effect on student achievement overall.
However, we know that homework can be a positive experience for students if the tasks are achievable and can be completed independently. Further, homework can help to build skills in time management and organisation. It also assists students to retain information, improve their study skills and demonstrate learning outside of school. We also recognise the importance of family life and the need for children to participate in family and community activities.
At St Matthew’s, we believe that homework:
- creates an important link between school and home;
- develops personal responsibility, time management and organisational skills; and
- provides opportunities to consolidate classroom learning.
Families can now find a copy of our Agreed Practice for Homework on our school website. We’re very grateful to the members of staff who formed our Homework Committee for their research and expertise which was used to develop our new approach.
NAPLAN
Alongside our peers in all other schools in Australia, our Year 3 and 5 students completed four NAPLAN tests during the last few weeks. Our students should be congratulated for the focused and cooperative approach they brought to these tests. As it is now online, NAPLAN presents a range of challenges in terms of resourcing, timing, and technology, and I thank our Year 3 and 5 teachers and all of the students for their organisation, composure and good humour, which served us well when preparation and administration of the tests became a bit tricky.
Petra Cole
Assistant Principal
petra.cole@cg.catholic.edu.au
Good News
Thank you for all your support in raising money for Caritas Australia through our Project Compassion Lenten Appeal. It was so much fun to see all the students get involved and join in our Easter hunt. We raised $946.40 and thank you for your generosity.
Holy Week
Today the whole school community participated in a blessed celebration of the events of Holy Week. Each grade prepared a reenactment of part of our sacred Easter story to share. Congratulations to the teachers and students on such a wonderful celebration and all the hard work that went into preparing for the day.
Easter Blessings
Thank you for all your support of Religious Education throughout Term 1, 2023. We have had a very busy term with introducing our school focus ‘Walking together as people of action and hope’, the introduction of whole school prayer liturgies and some of our Year 3 students receiving their First Reconciliation. I wish you a very blessed Easter and a lovely holiday. May we continue to strive to be people of action and hope, fulfilling the words Pope Francis gave us at the beginning of lent on Ash Wednesday, "The Lord alone is God, and we are the work of his hands."
Happy birthday wishes to Angie M, Ava M, Sullivan B, Izak V, Ruby M, Levi M, Caludia L, Cecilia J, Emily M, Indiana S, Asees K, Maya R, who recently celebrated birthdays and to Yuchen L, Grace B, William M, Xavier T, Oscar C, Evelyn C, Katie H, Flynn R, Suhaai K, James G, Sara G, Cody D, Laura W, Stephanie E, Annabelle F and Matthew G who will celebrate their birthdays in the holidays.
2023 Mother's Day Stall and Breakfast
Mother's Day is getting closer and we will be running the stall for the children on Friday 12 May. Students will be able to purchase a gift for $5 from the stall.
The community council has generously provided the gifts for the stall, therefore, families are not required to donate a gift. For students wanting to purchase a gift, please bring $5 cash on Friday 12 May (Week 3, Term 2).
If you have any queries or are able to help out on the day with setting up the stall or assisting children with selecting a gift please contact Kristy Marks - krispymarks@gmail.com
In addition to this activity a breakfast will be held on the Junior Playground, before school for all mothers and their children. Please save the date, Friday 12 May on your calendar.
All families have received their log in details via email for our new Compass Parent Portal. The Compass Parent Portal is an online portal that allows you to interact with the school and access up-to-date information. Once you have your log-in credentials and download the app, you’ll be able to:
- Enter absence notes for your child
- Give consent for excursions
- View school reports
- Communicate with your child’s teacher
- Book parent-teacher interviews
- Receive communication from staff
If you didn’t receive log in details, please contact our Front Office (office.stmatts@cg.catholic.edu.au) or check your “junk” mailbox.
Click here to install Compass on Apple devices
Click here to install Compass on Android devices
When prompted: Search “St Matthew’s P” and then you’ll see “St Matthew’s Primary School – Page” as a drop down.
Dear Dr Justin,
"My husband and my 9 year-old son are constantly fighting. It’s little niggles here and there. But it is non stop. They are constantly talking past each other and he (my husband) has started getting really angry. How can we make things better between them?"
I have seven steps to really listen to your child that I think may be helpful for you. However, before we get there, let me share a few other things that may be helpful:
First, boys tend to be most willing to talk with us while participating in an activity – or just after one. Boys talk “side-by-side” while girls talk “face-to-face”. So I’m going to suggest that dad take some time out of life and spend it in activities with your son. Give up the Saturday game of golf, and get outside with his son. Put the screens away and ride a bike, go fishing, kick a ball, or doing something else that’s active. These are the opportunities for talking.
There are only 936 Saturdays in your child’s life before he turns 18. If he’s already 9, you’re past halfway. It’s time to invest in the relationship.
Second, get your husband to focus on your son’s positives and strengths every day for a week. No negative talk. Yes, there will be stressful moments, but manage them by letting them go. Your husband should talk to his son about what characteristics he sees in him that are admirable. Focusing on (and communicating about) strengths is powerful!
Third, let’s get really clear on how to truly listen to our kids. We don’t want to shut them down. We don’t want to turn them away. We want to turn towards them and see the world through their eyes.
Here are my 7 ways to really listen so your child shares more
- Begin with the end in mind. When your child wants (or needs) to talk, decide at the start what you want them to remember. Do you want them to remember your kindness and compassion? Do you want them to remember your listening ear? Unconditional love is shown by giving complete and unconditional focus.
- Minimise distractions . Stop, look, and listen. Stop doing anything else. Put screens away. Be still. Look into his eyes. Your child won’t be able to focus on you if you are a moving target. When they invite you into their lives, they want all of you.
- Be open to connection . You might say, “I really want to hear what’s on your mind. Tell me what you’re thinking.” This ensures you send a signal that you’re ready to listen.
- Have soft eyes . An elderly grandmother told me it was her favourite parenting advice. When she softened her eyes towards her children she noticed her voice softened, her posture opened, her words became more compassionate, and she stopped hurrying. Soften your tone, your posture, your words, and your timetable by seeing them through loving eyes.
- Channel your ideal parent. Think about the best parent you know and listen the way they would to their child – or to you. Think how precious this child is (normally) to you. This will help your child feel like their thoughts, experiences, and opinions matter.
- Aim to build. Regardless of whether your child has done something wrong, find something right and positive. Express appreciation.
- Be flexible. Sometimes there’s noise or other interruptions at home. Be willing to go for a walk (and take the dog for the exercise and companionship), grab some wedges and sour cream from the café, or do something together (plant something, water the garden, wash the car). Doing encourages talking.
Challenging emotions and behaviours can ruin relationships or become opportunities to connect and strengthen family ties and increase feelings of safety. At the moment your son is driving your husband bonkers. That happens sometimes. These tips will help strengthen that relationship and promote some positive conversations.