This will be the final newsletter for this year. As such, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your wonderful support in what has been an extraordinary year. This week’s announcement that a vaccine for primary-aged children is imminent gives everyone great hope that life might soon be about to return to normal. Intriguingly though the Pandemic, despite all the interruptions to our normal life, has brought new learnings and opened our eyes to the possibilities of doing things differently. Last week’s hosting of the Parent Teacher meetings off site, is a case in point.

We will complete our school year next week with a series of concluding events. Next Wednesday our Year Five and Six children will participate in a ceremony where they pass on the Light of Leadership. This is a short ceremony where our older children ritually hand over a light to symbolize the handing on of leadership at St Matthew’s. This ceremony will be streamed live to our Year Five parents.

Next Wednesday you will also receive your child’s Semester Two Report and class grouping for 2022. This information will be conveyed via Compass.

Our Year Six Farewell Mass and Dinner will be held next Tuesday. Thankyou to the committee of Year Five parents, led by Kellie Brazier who coordinated this event. Thank you also to our Year Six teachers, Sam Hornby and Dillon Payne who have worked hard to provide a wonderful evening for the children.  Next Friday the Year Six children will complete their time at St Matthew’s with a COVID safe Walk of Fame, where they parade through the school and are farewelled by staff and students after they return from their Big Day Out at the Movies and Laser Zone.

Finally, I would like to wish our departing staff members and children every success as they begin new adventures next year. We will farewell everyone at a morning assembly on the final day of the year.

I wish you and your family a peace-filled Christmas and a restful summer holiday. Please feel welcome to join our community for Christmas Eve Mass which is being offered on our Junior Playground. School resumes for all children on Monday 31^st January.