Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope this Holiday Circular finds you well and rested after a wonderful Christmas and New Year break.

I am excited to commence as the Principal of St Matthew's and to be part of this warm and welcoming school community. I look forward to meeting and working with you to ensure your child experiences a nurturing and enriching learning environment.

I would like to tell you a little bit about myself. I love being a School Principal, and I also love teaching. I am passionate about education and have been an educator in the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn for twenty-eight years.

My passion lies in inclusive education. All children deserve equal opportunities to succeed as learners. I enjoy examining evidence-based practice and learning about high-impact teaching strategies. I am thrilled to have the chance to lead a strong team that embraces new learning and strives for exemplary practice.

I hold a Bachelor of Teaching (Primary), a Master of Religious Education and a Graduate Certificate in Information and Communication Technology in Education. 

I grew up in Yass and went to College and University in Canberra.

I have been blessed with four children, now adults, and a supportive husband. We live on a sheep and cattle farm near Crookwell. The property has been in my husband's family for five generations. 

I am very excited to work in Canberra. I will live here with my eldest son and split my weekend between Canberra and Crookwell. Aside from the fact that I am looking forward to getting to know the St Matthew's School Community, I am also delighted to work with Fr. Simon and be a participant in St Matthew's Parish.

Term One

We eagerly await our students' return on Wednesday, 31 January. Please mark this date in your calendars and ensure your child is ready for another exciting academic year.

Upon return, you will notice that there have been many school improvements over the break. The Kindergarten and Year 1 playground is currently a construction zone with new equipment and rubber softfall being installed. We hope this will be finished and ready to use on our first day back.

I would like to invite our Kindergarten families to join us for a 'Meet and Greet' and a cup of tea/coffee in the staffroom on the first day of school after the morning assembly. This will provide an excellent opportunity for you to connect with fellow parents and familiarise yourselves with the warm and welcoming atmosphere of St. Matthew's.

For the rest of the parent body, I look forward to meeting you at the 'Meet the Teacher' event in Week Three, on Tuesday, 13 February, and the Community Council Picnic in Week Four, on Friday, 23 February. Details about these events will be shared in our upcoming newsletters.

The first event for the year is the Swimming Carnival, to be held in Week 2 on Tuesday, 6 February. Details about this event (for our Years 1 - 6 students) will be sent out via Compass early next week. Please complete the online consent form as soon as you can.

We are committed to making the transition into the new school year as smooth as possible for students and parents. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out.

I look forward to a year filled with achievements, growth, and memorable experiences.

2024 Term Dates

Upcoming Term One Dates