14 December 2020 (Term 4, Week 10)
CEO/PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Dear Parents and Carers,
We have finally reached the last week of school after the strangest year most of us can remember. Even amidst all the disruptions and disappointments of 2020, there have been some wonderful moments of joy and blessing. Last week we farewelled our Year 12 students with a graduation ceremony – not the kind we would normally do because of all the restrictions, but still a beautiful occasion. In less than a year I have come to know this group of young adults fairly well, and I am so very proud of what they have achieved. The beaming smiles on the students, their families and the Year 12 staff told me everything about Mater Dei. They will move on from our school but be forever connected to the Mater Dei family.
Last week also gave me a chance to belatedly present the Benedict Community Award to Jim Marsden in his offices in Campbelltown. This prestigious honour is given each year to a person who has made a significant contribution to the life of Mater Dei over many years, and it would normally be given at our St Benedict Day celebrations earlier in the year. This year we took a group of students to the Marsdens Law Group offices in Campbelltown and surprised Jim with the award. It was a magical moment where we honoured a great man who has been an incredible support for Mater Dei for well over twenty years. The beautiful facilities and resources we now enjoy would not be possible without the networking, professional advice, fundraising and promotion of our cause that Jim has engineered for so long. We owe him a huge debt of gratitude and it was pleasure to honour him in this way.
And finally, we had a small but delightful dinner with the Parents and Friends Association last week. I am grateful to our president, Karen Witherspoon and the executive for their ongoing support in this disrupted year. We all look forward to returning to normal in 2021 and having greater parental engagement in our school for the ultimate benefit of our students. May you and your families enjoy a wonderful Christmas break and I look forward to seeing you all next year.
Kind regards
Mark Raue
CEO/PRINCIPAL
NOTES AND REMINDERS
2021 IMPORTANT DATES
Dear Families,
We hope you have a safe and happy holiday and enjoy some quality times with your loved ones. I’d like to personally thank you for your ongoing support of Mater Dei during a very difficult year.
Please see attached our Important Dates document for 2021 which has start and end of term dates plus keys events including Principal's Assemblies. We are hopeful that in 2021 events may return to some form of normality, however until we receive official COVID guidelines, we are unable to provide any advice. At this stage, Week One will remain student only unless otherwise advised. COVID advice will be provided to families as early as possible in Term One.
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
A Christmas Message: “The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a saviour has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.”
Have a Holy and Safe Christmas.
UPDATE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION
Any families who have not yet completed their Personal Details Update 2020 Insight or Form, please complete as soon as possible and return to the school. Additional copies of the Personal Details Update Form can be located on Compass using the following steps (Steps 1-3 are for App users only):
- Click on the student
- Click on the 3 lines in top left corner
- Click Open in Browser
- Click on Community Icon (2 heads)
- Click on School Documentation
- Click Parent Forms
- Select Personal Details Update form
MATER DEI'S GOT TALENT - USB ORDERS
Back by popular demand! Please use the following link to purchase your Mater Dei's Got Talent USB: https://www.trybooking.com/BNIAB
Please note that USB's will not be sent home until early 2021.
UPCOMING EVENTS
SEMESTER TWO REPORTS
K-10 Semester Two Reports, Personalised Plans, Swimming Reports (participating students only) and In-Class Therapy Reports (participating students only) will be issued via Compass on Thursday 17 December (Term 4 – Week 10). A Compass post will be sent to advise when they are available with instructions on how to access them.
SOCIAL STORIES
On Friday, 18 December, Compass will roll over to 2021 classes and social stories, and will include classes and staffing. This will be posted on class newsfeeds.
MAGDALENE CATHOLIC COLLEGE YEAR 7 ORIENTATION
Unfortunately, this time, our 2021 Year 7 Students will be unable to attend Magdalene Catholic College Year 7 Orientation Day on Friday 29 January, as Mater Dei students commence on Monday 1 February, 2021.
2021 STUDENT RETURN DATE
All students return to school on Monday 1February 2021. New students who are not arriving on taxi are asked to arrive at 9:30am via school reception.
BLAZER ORDERS - TERM 1, 2021
Blazers orders open on 22 February 2021, with the final day for ordering 13 March 2021. Blazer fittings take place instore at Yeronga Camden. No phone orders can be accepted as blazers are made to order.
AFTERNOON ARRANGEMENTS FOR 2021
We have modified the Changes to Afternoon Arrangement form for 2021, so there is now one form both families and/or services providers must complete. Anyone needing to advise the school of changes to afternoon arrangements 2021, please download the Changes to Afternoon Arrangements form on Compass, complete and return to studenttravel@materdei.org.au
Parent Forms can be located on Compass using the following steps (Steps 1-3 are for App users only)
- Click on the student
- Click on the 3 lines in top left corner
- Click Open in Browser
- Click on Community Icon (2 heads)
- Click on School Documentation
- Click Parent Forms
- Select Changes to Afternoon Arrangements
EXEMPTION FORMS FOR 2021
Any families who wish to apply for exemptions for therapy services in 2021, please download the Application for Leave Exemption form on Compass, complete and return to admin@materdei.org.au.
Parent Forms can be located on Compass using the following steps (Steps 1-3 are for App users only)
- Click on the student
- Click on the 3 lines in top left corner
- Click Open in Browser
- Click on Community Icon (2 heads)
- Click on School Documentation
- Click Parent Forms
- Select Application for Leave Exemption form
PAST EVENTS
2021 STUDENT LEADERSHIP
On Thursday, 10 December we welcomed our 2021 Student Leadership Team. Congratulations to such an exemplary group of students. We are very proud of our upcoming Student Leaders and thank the 2020 Student Leadership Team for setting such a high standard for us all to follow. You can view the Leadership Assembly on our website at: https://www.materdei.org.au/galleries-news-events/latest-news-upcoming-events/congratulations-student-leaders/
YEAR 12 GRADUATION
School's out for Year 11 & 12. Congratulations to all for a great year filled with individual achievements and wonderful friendships. Sadly, this is farewell to our Year 12 students hopefully just for now though, and not forever. As Mr Raue said during the liturgy on Friday, students who leave Mater Dei never truly leave. There will forever be a home and a place for all our students at Mater Dei long after they have graduated, and we are so very proud of that.
Our filmed Graduation Liturgy and photos will be available on our website this week.
COMMUNITY NEWS
NARELLAN TOWN CENTRE SCHOOL CHRISTMAS COMPETITION
Don't forget you can still vote for our Grinch-themed tree in the Narellan Town Centre's School Christmas Competition. Voting closes on 23 December 2020 so be sure to get your vote in. Head on down to Narellan Town Centre and you will find the trees near the information desk outside H&M. Alternatively, you can vote online here: https://www.narellantowncentre.com.au/school-christmas-competition
