19 July 2021 (Term 3, Week 2)
CEO/PRINCIPAL'S ADDRESS
Dear Parents and Carers,
Not so long ago, I thought we would be well past the COVID-19 health crisis by now and revelling in the return to normality and freedom. Alas, no such luck! I write this newsletter from my office in the school in virtual isolation, accompanied by a skeleton staff who are here to attend to the children of essential workers. It is a very strange environment, but probably no stranger than the ones you are all experiencing in your home and neighbourhood.
I want to thank you for your ongoing support of the teachers and teaching assistants. They report a high level of understanding and cooperation with families in these difficult times. The staff are now well versed at remote learning, and I have been nothing but impressed by the way they have rallied professionally to ensure continuity of learning and support for families. Remote learning is never going to be a better alternative to face-to-face learning but, in the current circumstances, it is all we have and we need to embrace it as best we can; but it would be naïve to say that it is not difficult for all of us. Thank you for your resilience and understanding.
Unfortunately, due to the ongoing Greater Sydney lockdown, we have no option but to postpone our St Benedict’s Feast Day celebrations that were scheduled to be held on Friday, 30 July. We are planning to celebrate our feast day in Term Four when restrictions will hopefully have eased. Decisions on the new date, and other events will be considered as we gain more information about the length of the lockdown, but there is no doubt that this term will face ongoing disruption. In the meantime, I keep all of you and your children in my thoughts and prayers and look forward to a future time when we can gather again safely and experience Mater Dei at its best.
Kind regards
Mark Raue
CEO/PRINCIPAL
GENERAL
COVID UPDATE
As you are aware, over the weekend the NSW Premier announced increased restrictions in Greater Sydney, and the advice given by Department of Education and Catholic Schools NSW has now been revised. They have requested school communicate with families the importance of keeping their children at home wherever possible, and to minimise mobility to stop the spread of the virus. Parents must keep children - of all ages, across primary and secondary schooling and early childcare - home if they can. Students will be supported to learn from home. In addition, Schools have also been asked to further minimise staff on site where possible.
Thank you to the families who have already emailed the school to advise they will now be keeping their child home and would like a Remote Learning Pack posted or collected. Any family who was planning on sending their child and is now able to keep them home is asked to email schooladmin@materdei.org.au as soon as possible.
Please also see the below Important Dates calendar for Term 3 regarding cancellations and postponements of events. We will continue to update and provide this document as we receive more information from the NSW Government regarding restrictions.
FAMILY AND TEACHER COMMUNICATIONS DURING LOCKDOWN
Firstly, can I thank you for your ongoing support during these challenging times and continue to reiterate we are here to support you also in any way we can. Teachers and our support staff are working extremely hard to create learning activities and resources which can be used both at home and in the school environment. The remote learning tasks set are optional for families at home and there is no requirement for you to submit work to the classroom teacher. We understand these times are extremely difficult for a range of reasons, and are providing these to support you, not cause any additional stress for students and their families.
During the period of remote learning, I have asked teachers to touch base with families weekly to see how they are going and also check how their child is coping during the lockdown. Feel free to discuss any issues or concerns you may have. While we hope this will end on Friday 30th July, at this point there is much uncertainty in the community.
If you have any questions, please email your class teacher directly. Teachers will be checking and responding to emails with their families between 9am- 3pm. However, we ask families to be mindful teachers have other tasks and commitments and aim to respond within 24 hours. For anything urgent please contact your stage leader or myself via email or contact school reception.
Kylee Laugesen Acting Assistant Principal – kyleel@materdei.org.au
Gemma Croft (Kindy-Year 2) – gemmac@materdei.org.au
Jake Elvin (Years 3-6) - jakee@materdei.org.au
Jen Twine (Years 7-8) - jennifert@materdei.org.au
Jacqui Gorey (Years 9-12) jacquelineg@materdei.org.au
REMOTE LEARNING PACKS
Staff continue to prepare Remote Learning Matrix and resources for one mode of teaching, whether it be at home or onsite. As per current Government restrictions, families who currently reside in the Fairfield, Liverpool or Canterbury/Bankstown LGA and request a pack, it will need to be mailed unless these restrictions change. When speaking with your classroom Teacher, if you request a pack please advise if you would like it posted or collected.
Collection Times for Remote Learning Packs
We kindly ask families to remain in their vehicle during collection times which will continue to be Mondays between 9:30am – 10:30am or 1:00pm - 2:00pm.
THANK YOU TO MATER DEI STAFF
Thank you to our amazing team at Mater Dei School. We are very lucky to have such a kind, caring and committed group of people working to support our students and their families. Currently many of our staff, just like yourselves, are juggling the complex tasks of working from home whilst supporting their own children during remote learning. We understand this is not easy and we are grateful to each and every member of our community for their support during these challenging times.
I would like to specifically thank Teachers who have been so positive throughout this time. Their commitment to providing support to students and their families, while being flexible to the ever changing environment, is to be admired.
NEXTPATH UPDATE
In light of the increased restrictions imposed on greater Sydney over the weekend, NextPath Assessment & Therapy has made the difficult decision to cancel face to face therapy services until Friday July 30. Unfortunately, this means students who are attending school over this two week period will not be able to see their therapist in person. If this impacts your child, your therapist will be in touch early this week to offer alternative service options. We encourage you to speak to your therapist about other ways they can support your child and family during this time. Many families have already opted for telehealth therapy sessions or have engaged their therapist to develop resources or home programs. For primary students participating in in-class therapy, your therapist may also be collaborating and planning with your child’s teacher during this time. Therapists are also available to offer support to parents and carers to help with managing routines, setting up activities and keeping children engaged during lockdown. Please contact Assessment & Therapy reception on 4654 8727 or email your therapist if you have any questions.
PBIS FORTNIGHTLY FOCUS
This fortnight, our PBIS Focus is looking at how we can use our three rules; Be Kind, Be Safe and Be Learner, in the playground. Lessons are being created for students to access at home via class Remote Learning Matrix’s. They are exploring all the areas of both our Infants Playground and our Year 3-12 Playground.
ANNUAL REPORT
Please find attached our 2020 Annual Report at the following link:
MARY MAGDALENE FEAST DAY - 22 JULY 2021
She is a figure shrouded in mystery, portrayed for more than 2,000 years as a prostitute, an adulteress, an object of veneration and even as Christ's wife, but the most enduring detail is always her sin. Yet there is no reference to Mary Magdalene being a prostitute or a sinner in any of the New Testament Gospels. Why, then, has the notion of Mary as a fallen woman proved to be so popular, and who was she really? Mary Magdalene is presented in the New Testament gospels as a mourner at the Crucifixion of Christ and witness to his resurrection. She was at the crucifixion of Jesus, she was at his burial, and before that she was with Jesus throughout his ministry in Galilee. As a woman and companion of Jesus she was the only person close to him at the critical moments that defined his purpose; that described his fate, says Michael Haag. And it was Mary Magdalene who went to the tomb of Jesus on the third day and found that it was empty.
According to the gospels Mary Magdalene was with Jesus in Galilee where he preached the kingdom of God to people in their thousands and healed the sick and lame. And she accompanied Jesus as he journeyed to Jerusalem and entered the holy city in accordance with the Old Testament prophecy, “humble and mounted on a donkey”. Mary Magdalene was there when the multitudes greeted Jesus, waving palm branches and casting their garments before him and calling out “hosanna” [an exclamation used to express adoration, praise or joy]. When the Romans nailed Jesus to the cross, abandoned by his disciples, and he cried out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”, Mary Magdalene was there. And when it was finished, Mary Magdalene followed as they carried his body to the tomb and she watched as the stone was rolled into place.
It was Mary Magdalene who went to the tomb of Jesus on the third day and found that it was empty. The earliest version of Mark, the oldest gospel, says no more than that. It says nothing of the resurrection, and it says nothing of Jesus appearing to his disciples.
https://www.historyextra.com/period/roman/the-mysteries-of-mary-magdalene/
SCHOOL DOCUMENTATION
Just a reminder that Compass now has a range of forms and Compass support documents for parents to access. These are available through the Community Icon (2 heads) then by clicking on School Documentation. This will be updated with additional information over time. Forms currently include:
- 2021 Parent Handbook
- Update of Personal Details
- Consent to Obtain/Release Information
- Application for Leave/Exemption
- 2021 Changes to Afternoon Arrangements
- Photography/Video Permission
- Health Care Plan examples
- Parent Form - Medication Management
COMPASS CALENDAR TO YOUR PHONE
Any parents or carers wishing to sync the School Compass Calendar to their iPhone will need to set up a Google account and then following the below steps:
You can sync Google Calendar with the Calendar app that comes on your iPhone or iPad.
- On your iPhone or iPad, open your device settings.
- Scroll and tap Passwords & Accounts.
- Tap Add account Google.
- Enter your email address Next.
- Enter your password. If you don't have the latest operating system and you use 2-Step Verification, enter an app password instead of your regular password.
- Tap Next.
- Emails, contacts, and calendar events will now sync directly with your Google Account. To sync only your calendar, turn off the other services.
- Open the Calendar app on your iPhone to find your Google Calendar events.
To sync with an existing account, tap the account and turn on Calendars.
COMPASS INSIGHTS TIP SHEET
See the below Compass Tip Sheet for accessing Insights from the Parent App.
PAST EVENTS
WOOLWORTHS CRICKET BLAST GALA DAY
On Wednesday, 16 June Years 5 to 8 went to Raby Sports Oval to participate in an all-abilities Cricket Gala Day. The event was a big success with three other schools attending too. The students actively engaged in rotating small group skill activities including catching, throwing, hitting and running. We were blessed to have ideal weather for outdoor cricket. Well done to all the students who were not only well behaved but had fun learning new cricket skills.
G'DAY MASS AND ATHLETICS CARNIVAL
On Friday, 18 June, Fr Michael from St Paul’s Parish Camden celebrated a wonderful Mass with us in the Sr Carmela Ritchie Hall. The Mass acknowledged that we all have and need - Great People in our lives. Grandparents, godparents and other great people are more essential than ever in our day to day lives. The students were very reverent during the Mass and the staff were very proud of them all.
Staff were also very proud of the efforts of our students at the Athletics Carnival - participating and cheering on their fellow students trackside. It was so wonderful to be able to have our families attend this day. Thank you to everybody for your effort, team spirit and participation on the date. Mater Dei Website.
A big thank you to our P&F Committee for running the canteen on the day and providing us with tasty, warm treats, as well as organising the Krispy Kreme fundraiser.
Galleries are up on the Mater Dei Website found at the link below.
FUTURE EVENTS
P&F MEETING - MONDAY, 2 AUGUST
Details to be advised closer to the date via Compass, however it is likely this P&F Meeting will move to a Forum similar to last year, to be conducted via Zoom.
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES UPDATE
Parent Teacher Conferences will continue for this Semester during Week 4, Monday 2 August to Thursday 5 August. However, due to current COVID restrictions, we will be offering phone or zoom conferences only. Families will be notified via Compass when bookings will be open. Bookings will be made via Compass as well.
SACRAMENTAL MASS
This special event is yet to be cancelled by Bishop Brian’s Office. When Mater Dei receives information from the Bishop regarding the Sacramental Mass, we will pass on the information to families as soon as possible. This information will of course be depending on the Department of Health’s COVID recommendations.