16 November 2020 (Term 4, Week 6)

CEO/PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Dear Parents and Carers,

Gratitude is a wonderful virtue and so important to our wellbeing and ability to live life to the full. We all know people who seem to lack gratitude and are overcome with bitterness and negativity. The great mystic Eckhart Tolle said, “acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.”

There are is so much happening in the world at the moment that reminds me to be grateful for what I have and for where I live. The unrest and drama unfolding in the United States with disputed elections makes me feel grateful that I live in Australia where our democratic processes are generally civil and respectful of due process. The just completed NAIDOC week reminds me to be grateful for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contribution to our country, and to continue trying to further the cause of reconciliation. COVID-19 running rampant throughout the world gives me some perspective on how fortunate we are in Australia. Remembrance Day was commemorated last Wednesday and reminds me to be grateful for all those who lost their lives in war, and for the freedoms we enjoy in Australia because of their sacrifice.

The most poignant reminder for me to be grateful, though, happens every day when I see the students arriving at school. What a wonderful place to work each day, made all the better by their smiling faces and sheer joy at coming to school to be with their friends in such a beautiful environment. It is something to be truly grateful for, and in doing so I am reminded to thank the Sisters of the Good Samaritan who created this community we now enjoy. As the Vietnamese proverb says, “when eating fruit, remember the one who planted the tree.”
Kind regards

Mark Raue

CEO/Principal

NOTES AND REMINDERS

END OF YEAR EVENTS

As we approach the end of the year, we have had to adapt and modify our End of Year events to meet COVID-19 guidelines which has included making the majority of them student only events.  Although this is not ideal, it does mean we can continue to recognise students efforts.   The following events will be recorded and uploaded on our school website as soon as possible  (aiming for within 24 hours).  

The following STUDENT ONLY events will now take place:

7 December – Year 12 Principal’s Lunch

10 December – 2021 Student Leadership Assembly

11 December – Years 7-10 End of Year Awards Ceremony (parents/carers of Years 7 to 10 students are able to collect students from school from 1pm if they wish).

17 December – Kindergarten – Year 6 End of Year Awards Ceremony (parents/carers of Kindergarten to Year 6 students are able to collect students from school from 11am if they wish).

Year 12 Specific Events:

Strict COVID Guidelines around Year 12 events remain in place, however the following is allowed to occur:

11 December at 9:30am – Year 11 & 12 Graduation Liturgy immediately followed by 11 & 12 End of Year Awards Ceremony.  Two parents per Year 12 student will be allowed to attend but RSVP's will be essential.  A separate communication will be sent to Year 12 parents with specific details. Parents/carers will be able to collect students from school from 11am.

14 December at 5.30pm – Year 12 Formal will proceed with each Year 12 family being invited to purchase up to 6 tickets (including their student's). Year 12 staff, Mark Raue, Kylee Laugesen and Jake Elvin will also be in attendance.

2021 STUDENT LEADERSHIP TEAM

The Student Leadership Team announcement will now occur at a special Whole School Assembly for students only on Thursday, 10 December.  As visitors are unable to attend, the event will be recorded and edited with the intention to post on the school website and Facebook before 3pm.

END OF YEAR AWARDS

As Mater Dei continues to reflect on all facets of school life, this year we made the decision to modify some of our End of Year Awards to better reflect our school values and focus on Quality Teaching and Learning. All major awards remain unchanged, however all Students will now receive a Learning Award which highlights an academic achievement.

Each class will choose one student for the following Awards

• Commitment to Benedictine Values: presented to one student who has displayed the Benedictine Values of Love of Christ and Neighbour, Prayer, Discipline, Stewardship, Hospitality, Community and Justice and Peace throughout the year.  
• Commitment to Learning Award: presented to one student who has displayed effort and persistence in all curriculum areas, a positive attitude towards learning, even when faced with challenging circumstances and has strived to achieve all personal learning goals. 

MATER DEI'S GOT TALENT

Don't forget MDGT is going live ON FRIDAY, 20 November 2020! We encourage you to purchase both the link and USB from https://www.trybooking.com/BMJDL to join the fun in the moment and have a keepsake for years to come!!!

Remember USB's won't be out until Week 9.

Ticket sales close at 3pm, Wednesday 18 November.

Grab the family for a party or watch it solo over a cup of tea and be part of our Virtual Studio Audience. Don’t forget to let us know how you’re watching by using #MaterDeisGotTalent

Keep an eye out on our Facebook page for teasers

PAST EVENTS

MUFTI DAY

Thank you for the fantastic toiletries donations for the Santa Teresa Community.   Our families’ generosity is wonderful to see.

INFORMAL GOLF DAY

On Friday, 13 November we had the opportunity to catch up with some of our Golf Day supporters at an Informal Golf Day, held at Campbelltown Golf Club.

Circumstances didn’t allow for our traditional Mater Dei Annual Golf Day to be held this year, however the Golf Day Committee felt the timing was now right to get together for an informal game of golf, socially distancing of course!

It was a relaxed day on the course which included sharing some highlights from the classrooms with everyone over lunch. It also gave School Captain Ben and CEO/Principal Mark Raue the opportunity to meet our supporters, some for the first time this year. It was also wonderful to be joined by our event patrons, Camden Police Area Command, who kept an eye on everyone.

Congratulations to the My Property team who claimed victory in the team event and to Peter Coles from Wests Group Macarthur who won the male NTP prize.

Special thanks to our dedicated Committee led by Paul Wakeling, Michael Lavorato, Leigh Furnari, Neil Williamson, Roger Cubitt, Scott Martyn, Kurt Kordovolos and Ben Shortridge for their energy to ensure the success of the day.

We look forward to next year’s event returning to early 2021!

100 CLUB RAFFLE

With none of Mater Dei’s fundraising events being held this year, there hasn’t been a lot to get excited about. That was until the Foundation Dinner Committee joined forces with the Golf Day Committee. They collaborated to create the 100 Club Raffle, which gave ticket purchases a 1 in 100 chance to win a $30,000 credit towards a dealer cost price vehicle.

100 tickets priced at $1,000 a ticket were sold - astonishingly - in the space of a week with the prize drawn at Friday’s Informal Golf Day. Rachel, a NextPath Young Adult who has been doing work placement with the MD Development team, drew the winning ticket, which went to Mike Scarce from Camden Hire. Congratulations to Mike, who was very excited to be told he was the winner! 

Particular thanks must go to the Chairs of those committees, Jim Marsden (Foundation Dinner) & Paul Wakeling (Golf Day) for their enthusiasm and drive, and to the Macarthur car dealers for sponsoring the raffle: Wakeling Automotive, Macarthur Automotive, Clintons Toyota, Lexus Macarthur, Macarthur BMW, Audi Alto Macarthur and Macarthur Nissan/Mazda. Thank you all for your support. We have finished the year on a high!

UPCOMING EVENTS

PUPIL FREE DAY

A reminder that a Pupil Free day is schedule for this coming Friday, 20 November. Staff will engage in organisation and collaborative planning for 2021 to prepare our school teams with knowledge and support to ensure a smooth transition will occur for our students when they return in 2021.

CANTEEN - SPECIAL CHRISTMAS MENU

Can you help by making a donation to the Canteen for their Special Christmas Day menu?  See flyer below.  Orders forms were sent home with students last Friday and must be returned by 9am on Wednesday, 25 November.

PRINCIPAL'S ASSEMBLY

Our next Principal’s Assembly will be held on Friday, 27 November. As per previous communications, due to COVID guidelines, this will be a student-only event. No visitors. The assembly will be limited to 15 minutes and there will be no class presentation for prayer and learning. Photos of award recipients will be published to the school Facebook page.

P&F CHRISTMAS DINNER

See below invitation to the 2020 Mater Dei P&F Christmas Dinner.  Please note that RSVP is essential due to COVID restrictions.

COMMUNITY NEWS