Dear Parents and Carers

I hope you had an opportunity to rest during the holiday break, like all people though, you would have been mindful of the growing concerns surrounding the most recent COVID outbreak in Greater Sydney. At this point in time we should count ourselves as blessed that Canberra is remaining virus free.

Could I ask you to support our existing protocols by continuing to use the CBR app if you enter the school building? We have also received the following advice from Catholic Education regarding recent developments:

• The ACT Government has now imposed tighter restrictions for ACT residents returning from COVID-19 affected areas. These new restrictions mean that anyone who has entered the ACT after 11.59 pm on Friday 9 July 2021 from Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour is required to quarantine for 14 days.

• Quarantine is a more stringent requirement than the ‘stay at home’ order that is in place for people already in the ACT from these areas. Being quarantined at home means these persons need to stay at home. They cannot go to work, school or public areas such as shops, cafes, or restaurants. ‘Stay at home’ arrangements remain unchanged for those who arrived before 11.59 pm on Friday 9 July 2021.

I am a firm believer that is not the right or responsibility of the school to check if these restrictions are being followed by our families, I publish them for your information only.

I would like to thank you most sincerely for your support during the past two Pupil Free days (Day One of Terms Two and Three). I appreciate that for many families this is an additional financial cost in childcare or an impost on a family member. Both days have been used very productively as we roll out a System-based initiative entitled, Catalyst, which is designed to improve our teaching practices in the areas of Literacy and Numeracy.

Welcome

On Monday we welcomed thirteen new or returning children to our school. I believe that is the largest single mid-year intake at St Matthew’s since my arrival. Welcome to the following families:

Singh, Garner, Affleck, Fraser, Lawson, Goyal, Marshall, Lane and Bhardwaj.

School Vision and Registration
During Week Eight of this term our school will undergo its five yearly reregistration. This is a significant audit which will run over three days and involves all aspects of school life including teaching and learning, financial and building compliance.

As part of this process we have rewritten our School Vision Statement. The statement has been through a significant consultation process involving our staff and Community Council. We are very proud of the outcome and we intend to display the Vision proudly around our school and in our documentation. I have included it below for your information.

Our vision is of a Christ-centred school

in the Catholic tradition

where students learn to engage fully with society

and serve their communities as people of action and hope

through

creative and compassionate problem-solving

critical thinking and

purposeful and powerful collaboration.

St Matthew’s is turning 50

As many of you are aware our school will celebrate its 50th year of operation next year. I have already had several parents express their interest in forming a committee to plan how we might celebrate this important occasion. As a starting point I am keen to hold a meeting to commence our planning. Given the uncertainty surrounding the COVID restrictions, and our capacity to meet in person, I am proposing that we meet via Zoom next Wednesday evening 21^st July at 7.00pm.

If you are keen and available to be a part of the planning meeting could you email me directly by next Tuesday and I will send you an electronic invitation.

Rostrum
We would like to wish Scarlett (Yr 6M) every best wish this Thursday evening at Hawker Primary as she participates in the Regional Rostrum Public Speaking Final. Scarlett will repeat her winning speech from the St Matthew’s Final.

Graham Pollard

Principal