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Dear Parents and Carers
I hope you are keeping well.
Regarding staff absences, St Matthew’s has not escaped completely unscathed, however thus far we have generally been able to cover gaps from within our own staff. I remain hopeful, but not certain, that this will continue. The pool of relief teachers who are available to cover classes however is worryingly small. This is an issue across all sectors, and one that is not easily fixed.
In the meantime, we hope and pray that circumstances surrounding the Pandemic continue to improve. I also ask for your support if you notice that your child has had a range of teachers during the past few weeks. The regular, consistent education of your child remains our priority.
Building Update
Last Monday our Assistant Principal, Petra Cole and I met with representatives of Catholic Education and the architectural and building firms to finalise details for the start of the building project. I am pleased to announce that, following a tendering process, Pier Building Group has been selected as the successful builder of Stage One.
During the next few weeks, we anticipate that you will observe visible signs of the project commencing. Equipment such as safety fencing, builder’s sheds, toilets etc will begin to appear around the site. I will endeavour to keep you abreast of any required changes to our parking or dismissal arrangements as soon as we are made aware.
Enrolling Now
Our second Enrolment Walk Through was held yesterday. We intend to hold one more opportunity for parents to view the school building, including plans for our proposed refurbishment. This will occur next Wednesday May 25th from 4.00-5.00pm. If you would like to attend or know of someone who is considering enrolling their child at St Matthew’s, please make them aware of this opportunity.
Finally, if you are considering enrolling your child for next year, it is important to complete an enrolment form as soon as possible using this link https://cg.catholic.edu.au/parents/enrolment/
May God bless you and your families
Graham Pollard
Principal
In Weeks 2 and 3, our students held their in-house exhibition, presenting their inquiry journey to other students, and speaking to their peers about their learning.
Each student had two-to-three artefacts to show. These included artworks, posters, written texts, and digital presentations.
Students asked and answered the following questions during the day:
- Tell me about your inquiry.
- What was most successful about your learning/ the inquiry?
- What was challenging about this inquiry?
- What would you do differently?
- What new skill/s did you learn?
One question I feel is most important is: Now that you have learned what you’ve learned, how can you make a difference in world? How will you take action?
There were many thoughtful responses to that question by our students:
I’ve changed my mind about……
I’m going to be brave and….
I’m going to try to….
I’m smarter now, so I’ll….
I’m going to tell my family to….
When I’m an adult, I’m going to join….
When I’m older, I’m going to own a business that….
Congratulations to our students, and to their teachers, for a successful exhibition and for their engagement with inquiry learning this year!
Another Call for Translatorsਅਨੁਵਾਦਕਾਂ ਦੀ ਲੋੜ ਹੈ Traducteurs nécessaires Traductoras necesarias വിവർത്തകരെ ആവശ്യമുണ്ട്
We are blessed to have a school community represented by so many different nationalities and languages. There are many families in our community who are still learning English and would benefit from having key information and messages translated in their home language for parish and school newsletters, notes home and social media. For this voluntary position, you’d only be called upon a few times a year to help. You would translate just a few sentences or check our translation – because Google translate isn’t very good!
If you think you’d be able to help us translate a few sentences for us in Punjabi, Hindi, Nepali, or any other language that you know is spoken by families in our school, please get in touch with Petra Cole, our Assistant Principal (petra.cole@cg.catholic.edu.au) who will put your name down in our register of valued volunteers!
Tell Them From Me Survey
During the next few weeks, all students in Years 4 - 6 will be given the opportunity and time to participate in this survey during regular school hours. The survey will provide us with valuable feedback on what our students think about school life, how engaged they are with school and the different ways that teachers interact with them. Students who agree to complete the survey will be given a random username and password to access and complete the survey online. Students’ names cannot be linked to their responses which allows it to be completely anonymous. Results will show all student scores combined – it is not possible to single out individual students in the results.
The survey takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. The survey measures include such topics as emotional and social well-being, physical health, and behaviours and attitudes linked to student success. The survey also allows students to give their thoughts and feedback in open-ended question responses.
Participation in the survey is entirely voluntary. Your child in Years 4 - 6 will not take part if either you or your child do not wish to. If, during the survey, your child is uncomfortable answering any question, he/she should leave it blank and move on to the next one. Your child can stop the survey at any time.
If you do not want your child to take part in the survey, please contact Petra Cole (petra.cole@cg.catholic.edu.au).
Very soon, parents and teachers will also be invited to participate, and we look forward to hearing from you.
Petra Cole
Assistant Principal
Gospel Reading for Sunday 22 May
John 14:23-29
Jesus promises his disciples that the Father will send the Advocate, the Holy Spirit.
This portion of John's Gospel comes near the end of the first of four chapters that make up Jesus' long farewell discourse at the Last Supper. It explores the idea that Christian's life is not shaped by Jesus' absence but by God's abiding presence; God's presence overcomes anxiety about God's absence; and the present holds in it the seeds of a fresh future shaped by love, not fear.
Jesus is preparing his disciples in advance for his absence so that they will continue to believe in him and not feel all alone after his return to the Father.
As our celebration of the Easter season is coming to an end, the liturgy reminds us that Jesus remains with us through the Holy Spirit, who teaches us everything we need to know, reminds us of all that Jesus taught, and brings us peace.
Family Connection
Parents are always helping their children prepare for something, whether that consists of getting ready for school, preparing for an exam, or making preparations to go on a holiday. In today's Gospel, Jesus prepares his disciples for his Passion, death, and Resurrection. He promises his Holy Spirit, gives them the gift of his peace, and tells them not to be troubled.
As a family, talk about the kinds of events that you have prepared for together; parties, holidays, and first days of school are some examples. Talk about why it is important to prepare for important events in our lives.
Talk about how, as a family, you can prepare for Pentecost, when we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, our Advocate.
Staff Twilight
On Tuesday 10 May, the staff took part in a 2 hour spirituality twilight. The twilight was focussed on our personal story. Through prayer, reflection and meditation we explored how we can live authentically as ourselves to develop relationships and experience true belonging. In order for our staff to walk with our students on their faith journey, they too must be nourished in their spirituality and faith. We will finish the second part of our spirituality professional learning in Term 3.
Confirmation
Please continue to pray for our Year Six students receiving the sacrament of Confirmation later this term. Students along with their parents have begun learning about and exploring the sacrament in more detail. They will also be attending a second commitment mass this weekend at either St Matthew’s 6pm Saturday 21 May, 8.30am Sunday 22 May or St Vincent’s 10am Sunday 22 May.
Louisa Mitchell
Religous Education Co-ordinator
Term 2 School Fees were distributed via email last week.
Fees are due by week 5 (May 27) unless payment is being made by instalments.
Please contact the front office if you haven’t received your fees or have any questions.
All families have received their log in details via email for our 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
- 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 Abigail B, Tristan D, Jarrah W, Skylar G, Zara M, Esa J, Archer P, Gabriela P, Nina L, Sibella A, Olivia O, Jaskirt S, Jethniyel W, Ilario C, who recently celebrated birthdays.