Dear Parents and Carers

I hope you had an opportunity to enjoy a break with your family.

My apologies for the flurry of communication you have received at the beginning of this term.

As you would no doubt appreciate, the worrying increase in COVID infections has prompted Catholic Education to outline new restrictions and protocols to keep schools operational.

Sadly, this has meant that, for the foreseeable future, schools are no longer allowed to attend events which may expose staff and children to the virus. These events were outlined in Tuesday’s correspondence.

In a similar way we are asking that parents do not come on site unless prior permission is granted. Parents are still welcome to join our children and staff at Morning Assembly each day.

If you have not already done so, please take some time to read Tuesday’s correspondence from the Director of Catholic Education it will give you an increased understanding of the new procedures.

Building Update
If you have had an opportunity to glance at our building site, you would notice that significant progress has now taken place. The building containing Stage One is now a shell ready for the refurbishment to commence.

The Transportable Building located in the Junior Playground is now on site and undergoing a fit out ready for occupation by Mr Hunt’s class in around three weeks’ time.

Pupil Free Days
During the final days of Term Two the Director of Catholic Education, Mr Ross Fox indicated that all Catholic schools will be holding two more Pupil Free days in Term Three. These days are Friday 5^th August and Friday 9^th September. The Director mentioned in his letter that the days are in anticipation of further staffing disruption due to COVID. We have endeavoured to minimise the disruption to classes at St Matthew’s by backfilling staff absences using other St Matthew’s teachers. You can appreciate however that this means teachers are “short changed” in their allocated preparation and planning time. The additional pupil free days are intended to redress this issue.

During Semester One St Matthew’s teachers covered over 60 days on the occasions when we could not find a Relief Teacher. This figure would not be unusual across all Government and Independent schools.

Anniversary Celebrations
During this term we intend to continue our celebrations marking the 50^th Anniversary of St Matthew’s School. The Commemorative Wall orders will be forwarded to the manufacturer in preparation for the construction of the wall in the gardens between the school Netball Courts and the Church.

As advertised in our school newsletter on Friday 2^nd September our school will host an Anniversary Dinner at Pialligo Estate. Tickets for this event will be on sale during the coming days for all members of our community.

Wednesday 21^st September has been designated as our Anniversary Day for children. This marks the feast day of St Matthew and will be a day of fun, dressing up and celebration for our entire school.

May God bless you and your families.

Graham Pollard

Principal