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Dear Parents and Carers
I am delighted to report that after almost two terms of construction, work has now been completed on the Stage Two site. During the next two weeks, the teachers will begin to slowly move their resources into the new building. We anticipate that the children will be moving into their new classrooms during Weeks Seven and Eight (20 November-1 December). Hopefully, the brand-new classroom furniture (thank you once again to our Community Council for their financial support) will also arrive during this period.
I would especially like to thank the teachers who have taught in trying circumstances during this period. Our Learning Support Team, which was located on the Hall stage, continued to support children. Kindergarten Maroon worked in the hall, Kindergarten Blue from the Demountable Classroom and our two Year One classes relocated to the library.
Out of Hours Care generously worked in a much smaller space in the hall for almost eighteen months.
Special thanks to our Librarian, Sally Judd who has been hosting “visitors” in her Library for 18 months. Mr Sam Hornby, though, wins the patience award, having been out of his classrooms (2022 and 2023) for the entire period of both building projects.
I imagine that the remaining three classrooms, loosely termed Stage Three, will be renovated during the next few years. The funding for this project will be reliant upon another successful Block Grant application.
Despite the disruption and dislocation, we now have a magnificent state of the art building which is a worthy reward for our staff, children, and their families.
Kindergarten OrientationLast Tuesday our school welcomed the 2024 Kindergarten cohort for an Orientation Morning. Twenty-five children spent the morning with Mrs Campbell and the Learning Support team. Whilst this was taking place their parents attended an information session presented by myself and Mrs Cole.
I would like to welcome all new families to our school. Our staff look forward to a long and fruitful relationship.
May God bless you and your families this week.
Graham Pollard
Principal
Dear Parents and Carers,
URSTRONG: Friendology 101
This week, Mr Pollard and I had the privilege of meeting the families of our Kindergarten class of 2024. During that meeting, I mentioned how proud I was that St Matthew’s is a URSTRONG School. This term we celebrate one year of membership of the URSTRONG community. URSTRONG’s whole-school friendship strategy has improved our school’s social climate, providing our students and teachers with a common language of friendship and empowering students with skills to create a culture of kindness at our school. We are committed to empowering your children with the skills, language and confidence to be better friends and develop healthier relationships.
At St Matthew’s, teachers understand that good quality friendships and relationships are critical to child development. Healthy friendships help forge skills like negotiation, cooperation, and conflict resolution. They teach our children how to be supportive and show empathy. They also stimulate independent thinking and open children up to new ideas.
I’d like to remind you to take advantage of FREE Parent Membership to access hundreds of resources that will allow you to learn the same language and strategies being taught in our classrooms through the Friendology 101 curriculum. We hope that, as a URSTRONG Family, you will reinforce the important messages of empowerment, self-compassion, & kindness at home.
Petra Cole
Assistant Principal
petra.cole@cg.catholic.edu.au
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.
Happy birthday wishes to Violet M, Nathaniel D, Jemma H, Parinaaz K, Mariana P, Tyler C, Maithili B, Udochi O, Eloise D, Aarav U, Arshiya J, Daiwik S, Prikshit P, who recently celebrated birthdays.
