St Matthew’s Primary School

Principal Talk with Mrs Lowe

Celebrating St Matthew’s Feast Day and a Fantastic Trivia Night

Last Friday, we celebrated St Matthew’s Feast Day, and from all accounts, it was a wonderful day! The students enjoyed a variety of fun activities, as well as a meaningful prayer celebration, honouring the life and legacy of St Matthew the Apostle. St Matthew, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and the author of the Gospel of Matthew, serves as a wonderful example to us in following and living the teachings of Jesus.

A special thank you goes out to our Religious Education Coordinator, Louisa Mitchell, for her organisation of the day. Thank you also to the parents who generously contributed cupcakes to help the students celebrate this special occasion.

In addition to the Feast Day celebrations, we’d like to express our gratitude to the School Community Council Organisation Committee—Cheryl, Larissa, Nadia and their team of helpers—for organising the fantastic 'Spring into Fun' Trivia Night. The event was a lot of fun, and funds were successfully raised for St Matthew’s Primary School. We appreciate the support from everyone who attended and contributed.

Both of these events highlight the incredible community spirit at St Matthew’s, and we are grateful to everyone involved for their time, effort, and dedication.

First Holy Communion Celebration

We would like to congratulate our Year 4 students who made their First Holy Communion over the weekend of 14th and 15th October. A special thank you to Father Simon, Mrs Louisa Mitchell, our Religious Education Coordinator, and our dedicated Year 4 teachers, Miss Levi and Mr Payne, for their support and guidance. We are also grateful to Trish from the School of Religion and the staff and students from St Vincent's, Aranda, for their participation and contributions to this memorable occasion.

Trans Tasman Primary Principals Conference

Last week, I had the privilege of attending the Trans Tasman Principals Conference in Aotearoa, The Land of the Long White Cloud, specifically in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was an incredible experience filled with inspiration, learning, and connection.

The conference featured several outstanding speakers who brought unique perspectives and ideas to the table. Among them were Dr. Jordan Nguyen, Iain Taylor, Dr. Hana O'Regan, Sophie Renton, and Gilbert Enoka. Each speaker offered something fresh and thought-provoking, encouraging us to think deeply about the future of education and leadership.

One of the standout moments for me was visiting Marian College, a remarkable school that was rebuilt inside a 1000m² industrial warehouse after their original school was destroyed in the 2011 earthquake. The resourcefulness and resilience of the Marian College community were both inspiring and humbling. It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen and a reminder of how we can adapt to the most challenging circumstances.

The conference also gave me the opportunity to reconnect with some of the Principals from our Archdiocese. Sharing ideas, reflecting on our shared experiences, and discussing future collaborations was truly enriching.

Christchurch itself was a delight to explore, with its unique blend of old and new architecture. The people were incredibly warm and welcoming, and the views were simply breathtaking. It’s a city that beautifully showcases both the old and the new.

I return to St. Matthew's feeling energised and filled with new ideas, eager to continue leading our wonderful school community.

I would like to thank the St Matthew's Leadership Team, Mrs Petra Cole, Mrs Mitchell and Mrs Powell, for their exceptional leadership and for taking on an additional workload in my absence.

Term 4 School Uniform

Next term the students are to wear their summer uniform. If, however, the weather is cold, the students may continue to wear their winter uniform for the first two weeks.

Uniforms can be purchased from Lowes in Belconnen or second-hand items from our Clothing Pool, open each Friday from 2.45 pm.

I would like to thank our parent volunteers who run the Clothing Pool for their time each week and for assisting our new families.

Wearing a school uniform serves many purposes. It instils a sense of belonging and pride in the school, and it levels the playing field for students. I would appreciate your support in ensuring your child is neatly presented in our school uniform.

Thank you!

If you have visited St Matthew's recently, you may have noticed the beautiful facelift the front of the school has received.

I would like to thank Nigel from Dragonfly Mowing and Maintenance, and the father of Oliver in Year One, for the exceptional job he has done on our garden.

Save the date!

We look forward to welcoming all of our Grandparents and Grand-Friends to St Matthew's on Friday, 25 October from 9.30am (commencing with a 10.00am Prayer Celebration) to 11.30am. Further details will be shared closer to the date.

Thank You for a Fantastic Term Three!

As we wrap up Term Three, I would like to extend my thanks to our amazing staff and students for their hard work and dedication throughout the term. From engaging classroom learning to our special events, everyone has contributed to making this a success.

Wishing you all a safe, restful, and well-deserved holiday break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for Term Four.

A reminder that school resumes on Monday, 14 October, for staff and students.

Enjoy the break!

Yours in truth, goodness, unity and love,

Mrs Sarah Lowe

Principal