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Dear Parents and Carers
After almost a year of planning our school will hold its first function to celebrate its 50th anniversary. As you may be aware mass will be celebrated this Sunday at 10.00am at our church. We are excited to be welcoming back many former principals, staff, parents, and students to the celebration. I am also delighted with the support we have received from our “musical parents” who have combined with several staff members to form a joint choir.
Following mass Morning Tea will be served in the small hall, adjacent to our Church. We will also be providing a separate Morning Tea for our children which will be served on the Junior Playground after mass.
All children will participate in a liturgical gesture towards the end of mass, some of our older children will also assist in other aspects of the mass.
Finally, just a reminder that all children should wear their full Summer Uniform on this day.
Thank you in anticipation for your support of this important event for what should be a wonderful morning for our school.
School Photographs
Just a reminder that school photographs will be taken tomorrow. We are hopeful that this will occur on our school grounds, but naturally this will be dependent on the weather.
Children should come dressed in their full Summer Uniform.
Sacrament of Reconciliation
The reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation will take place next Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at St Matthew’s Church. Today the children participated in a Retreat to assist their preparation.
Thank you to all staff and parents who have helped prepare the children for this next step in their sacramental journey.
Pupil Free Day
The Catholic Education Office has stipulated that Tuesday April 26th is a Pupil Free Day to allow staff further opportunities to undertake Professional Learning regarding the catalyst Program.
Our Out of School Care Provider, OshClub has indicated that they will provide child care on this day.
May God bless you and your families
Graham Pollard
Principal
Managing Interrupting
Interrupting usually happens when children can’t control their urge to talk. But unless it’s an emergency, it’s important to help your child learn to wait. Letting others finish what they’re saying or doing is part of positive communication and helps children get along with others.
The way you manage interrupting will depend on your child’s age and stage of development. For example, younger children and children with additional needs might find it hard to understand that they should say ‘Excuse me’ and wait for you to respond. Pre-schoolers might be able to cope only with a quick ‘Just a minute’ before you give them your attention. School-age children should be able to wait for longer.
These general tips for managing interruptions will help most children:
- Let your child know when it’s OK to interrupt immediately. For example, if something dangerous or urgent is happening, they should be allowed to interrupt.
- Teach your child to put their hand on your arm if they need to say something while you’re talking. Then you can put your other hand on top of theirs to let them know that you’ve understood.
- At school, most adult conversations are very brief. Children can be taught to wait until the conversation is over before approaching a teacher.
- In the classroom, they simply need to say, ‘Excuse me, Mrs Cole.’ And then wait for eye contact or a response before they continue to ask their question or make conversation.
When your child gets older and you know they can wait, you can try some or all of these ideas to manage interruptions:
- Remind your child of your family rule about interrupting. Then continue your conversation until your child says ‘Excuse me’ or uses the nonverbal cue.
- When your child says ‘Excuse me’, try to reward your child with your attention quickly. Your child will see that if they do the right thing, they get what they want.
- Praise your child when they say ‘Excuse me’ and wait for you to give them your attention. This encourages your child to keep speaking this way. For example, ‘You waited until I finished my call before you asked for help with your doll. Well done!’
- If you have an important call or activity that really can’t be interrupted, try distracting your child with some special toys or an interesting activity.
Petra Cole
Assistant Principal
Family Connection
“Hey, that's not fair!” How many times have you heard this spoken in your family? Family members challenge one another's generosity, operating from the perspective of limited resources. If we have given to one, perhaps there won't be enough for the other. Jesus wants us to understand that this is not how it is with God's mercy and forgiveness. God offers his love to all of us in abundance. The forgiveness of the father in the parable is an image of God's love for us, generous beyond measure in his love for both of his sons. Can we truly believe that God acts this way towards us and accept his mercy without jealousy, knowing that God's love for another does not diminish his love for us?
As you gather as a family, talk about the words and phrases you speak to one another when angry. Identify words or phrases that reflect jealousy towards one another. Talk about why we sometimes feel jealousy towards one another. Read aloud today's Gospel, Luke 15:1-3,11-32. Talk about why the older brother is jealous of the younger brother. Identify words that the family members in the parable might say to one another to begin to heal their broken relationships. Make a family commitment to say these types of words and phrases to one another with greater frequency. Pray together with the Lord's Prayer.
Harmony Day
It was wonderful to see an orange flare of students light up St Matthew’s on Tuesday. Thank you for your generous donations towards Caritas Project Compassion. We raised $459!
Year 3 First Reconciliation Retreat
Today, our Year 3 students gathered to prepare to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This retreat, run by Maddie and the Youth Ministry team, gave students the opportunity to reflect in prayer. In class, the students have been learning about the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Next Tuesday and Wednesday evening, the students along with their families will gather in the Church to celebrate receiving this Sacrament. Please keep them in your prayers.
Daniel Hunt
Acting Religious Education Coordinator
In Term Two on Friday 29 April, students will participate in the Cross Country Carnival at St Matthew's Primary School.
In preparation for this event, class cohorts are going to begin training in Week 9 around our school site, on Tuesday and Thursday.
This year, each cohort is also going to participate in a friendly competition! The class with the most accumulated laps, within their age-appropriate course / distance, will win an extra sports lesson in Term 2 Week 3.
As such, can you please ensure your child comes to school on sports days (Tuesday / Thursday) with appropriate footwear for running, as well as their full sports uniform.
Permission notes for the Cross Country Carnival will be sent via Compass in Week 9. As always, we greatly appreciate parent helpers! Please indicate if you can help on the day on the permission form and forward to michelle.dempsey@cg.catholic.edu.au
Thank you for your continued support!
Michelle Dempsey
Parent Talk Newsletter
Parent Talk newsletter is distributed electronically twice a term by the Council of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT (CCSP). The newsletter aims to provide parents and carers with relevant and timely information about developments in education, wellbeing, CCSP advocacy program and significant Catholic news and events. Find the latest online newsletter here.
Photo Day
MSP Photography will be taking our photos this Friday, March 25. Online orders can be made through Compass. We ask that students are in their summer uniform and bring a smile!
If your child is not able to attend on Friday please rest assured that there will be another opportunity, date to be advised.
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 Zoe S, Charlie O, Jethro L, Dorthoy P, Michael L, Charles M, Liam W, Seth G, Myah K, August C, Dan P, Oliver W, Harrison F, Emma Z and Samuel M, who recently celebrated birthdays.
