13 September 2021 (Term 3, Week 10)
CEO/PRINCIPAL'S ADDRESS
Dear Parents and Carers,
This is the last week of what has been an unprecedented term. The staff are looking forward to having a break for a couple of weeks to help them recharge their batteries and renew their energy for the rest of the year. It has been a long term for them and weariness and fatigue is common.
I acknowledge that the looming holidays may not be as inviting for many families as they are for staff because children have been at home doing remote learning for so long and there are so many restrictions on where we can go and what we can do. It is a very surreal time I hope we never have to experience again.
The wise Benedictine, Sr Joan Chittister, has often written about the struggles of life and how we can make meaning from them. Sr Joan writes, “we fear the storms of life but we fail to realize the strength they create in us, the insight they develop in us, the call they are to us to make a better world.” The difficulties of life may make no sense when we are in the midst of them, but as time passes and we look back with a greater sense of perspective, we may see that it was not all negative or destructive. I pray that Mater Dei and our broader community will come through this time all the better and be stronger on the other side.
Kind regards
Mark Raue
CEO/PRINCIPAL
COVID AND REMOTE LEARNING UPDATES
HOLIDAY MESSAGE FROM MRS LAUGESEN
Dear Families,
We have made it (well almost) to the end of Term 3 and we are more excited than ever to be at school holidays. I would personally like to thank every single member of our school community for their efforts and support during these times. The word challenging cannot begin to describe what we have all been through these past ten weeks, but we have made it through and we are getting closer to welcoming many smiling faces back through the doors at Mater Dei School from October 25. I know families are excited for this day to occur, but I can also say staff are just as excited to get back to what they love doing – teaching and learning.
- Thank you to the families for stepping in when we couldn’t be there and juggling working and teaching at home
- Thank you to the teachers for stepping outside their comfort zones and adapting to this changing environment
- Thank you to our Teacher Assistants who have learnt so many new things and supported their teachers and students in whatever way they could while also supporting our onsite students
- Thank you to the Parents/Carer’s of essential and authorised workers, we understand it hasn’t been easy sending your child to school each day, but we thank you for all you have been doing for your communities.
There are only a few more weeks to get through when we return in Term 4, so thank you in advance, to everyone for sticking with our Return to School Roadmap so we can see everyone’s smiling faces when they can return.
Enjoy your holiday break from remote learning and hats off to the families teaching at home – we know this hasn’t been easy for anyone. We encourage you all to switch off technology (where you can), enjoy those precious moments with your loved ones, stay safe and fingers crossed we can see you all soon.
COVID UPDATE
The beginning of Term 4 will continue with current restrictions and our current plan for remote learning, which requires students to learn from home wherever possible and remind families to keep children of all ages home if they can. If there is a significant change in student attendance, we will modify these plans and families will be advised of the changes via Compass. We understand this is a challenging time and are extremely aware this will not be easy, but to ensure student and staff safety and wellbeing, we strongly encourage all families to follow the time frames of our staggered return including those families with siblings across different grades.
Today we have shared our plan for the student’s return to Face to Face learning from October 25, based on draft guidelines issued by Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW). These are subject to change but we believe it’s important to share with our community, even though it is still so far away, so we can all prepare accordingly. This plan will ensure as smooth a transition for all after the longest period many children have been away from school. There is a substantial amount of detail on the Compass post, so we ask you read through carefully as there are many changes which affect all students and families. These changes will be in place to provide a safe learning environment for students, to minimise opportunities for transmission and to ensure the most effective containment measures in the event of a COVID exposure in our community.
Please see Compass Post for detailed information and don’t forget to complete the Compass Insight survey when it is released. As always, if families’ circumstances change due to changes in work commitments, the Insight can be updated until 4 October, but after this date we ask that the school be advised via email to schooladmin@materdei.org.au.
ZOOM SESSIONS
We hope to continue to have the supports listed below during Weeks 1 to 3 of Term 4. However, if there are any changes, we will advise families at the end of the School Holidays.
Optional Zoom Sessions
- Class Zooms will occur for all classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week (see attached image for times)
- Stage Zooms will occur on Wednesdays (see attached image for times)
Remote Learning Package (RLP) Collection
For families who opt to collect their child’s RLP each week, collection will now occur via Reception. When you arrive at Mater Dei, please drive down the taxi road and call Reception to let them know you are here to collect your child’s RLP. A staff member will then bring the RLP out to you. A friendly reminder to please remain in your car and remember to wear a mask. Collection times will remain between 9:30-10:30am and 1:00-2:00pm.
Technology Free Packs
Each week during Remote Learning, Stage Leaders will mail out some ‘Technology Free Activities’ to all students who are learning at home which they may like to complete. These are completely optional and are provided to give students something to do to help with balancing technology vs. non-technology time.
Pastoral Check Ins
Teachers will now be making pastoral check in phone calls on a fortnightly basis. If you have any questions, concerns or would like to speak to your child’s teacher you can still contact them via email as you have been.
Fridays
To support staff wellbeing, we will be initiating Zoom Free Fridays for our teachers. We ask families if they require any urgent support to contact the school directly and a member of the school executive team can assist. Staff will spend this time planning an preparing learning, resources and videos for the following weeks.
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 request a pack and currently reside in the LGAs or suburbs of concern, will have packs mailed until these restrictions change. When speaking with your classroom Teacher, if you request a pack please advise if you would like to have it posted or collected.
Collection Times for Remote Learning Packs
For families who opt to collect their child’s RLP each week, collection will now occur via Reception. When you arrive at Mater Dei, please drive down the taxi road and call Reception to let them know you are here to collect your child’s RLP. A staff member will then bring the RLP out to you. A friendly reminder to please remain in your car and remember to wear a mask. Collection times will remain between 9:30-10:30am and 1:00-2:00pm.
COVID SAFETY AT MATER DEI
Mater Dei continues to have a strong focus on safety and wellbeing during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Our daily cleaning and hygiene practices onsite continue to ensure our small number of staff and students on site remain healthy while at Mater Dei. The following is currently in place:
- All non-essential staff are working from home
- Minimised staff onsite for student supervision whilst maintaining student safety and wellbeing to attend to remote learning tasks
- Service NSW QR code sign in for all staff and essential visitors onsite
- Regular communication with staff on current government guideline
- Staff are required to always wear masks. They can only remove them to communicate with students who are having difficulty understanding instructions.
- Staff and students practise good hygiene including physical distancing where possible
- Regular hand washing and sanitising
- Onsite students are supported to sanitise on entry to school
- Non-essential visitors are not allowed on school grounds
- All staff and students encouraged to stay home if unwell
Thank you for continuing to keep your child home if they are unwell. Any student who comes to school unwell may need to provide a negative COVID test.
STUDENT ATTENDANCE
We understand some families must send their child to school due to work commitments, and thank you for continuing to support our community during the pandemic. Thank you to families who are in constant communication with their class teacher regarding their changing attendance, this allows us to continue to minimise staff onsite and provide support to families at home as best we can.
Attendance Notes
Any student who is attempting to access remote learning can be marked as present as they are learning at a different location. Families can continue to use the self-isolation code via Compass when adding an Attendance Note.
If you require an Attendance Note to be changed, please email schooladmin@materdei.org.au. School Executive and Administration staff are regularly checking Compass communications and emails and are updating as required.
ADDING AN ATTENDANCE NOTE IN COMPASS
You can enter Attendance notes in Compass in advance for single or multiple days.
Steps for adding an Attendance note in Compass
- Click on Add Attendance Note
- Select reason from drop down menu (Self-isolation for remote learning during COVID)
- Description - Write brief reason
- Change start date to first day of leave
- Change end date to last day of leave
Once added families are unable to make changes so if you need to modify or delete an attendance note please contact the school via phone or email schooladmin@materdei.org.au
GENERAL
MR ELVIN'S NEW ADDITION
We would like to congratulate Mr and Mrs Elvin on their beautiful new addition to their family, Isla Mae Elvin born last week. The entire family are overjoyed and are all healthy doing very well. Isla is absolutely gorgeous and Jake is taking this week off to spend with his family.
Mr Elvin will return next term. Should you have questions, your first contact is the class teacher, alternatively please email kyleel@materdei.org.au for assistance.
MATER DEI SCHOOL FAMILY FACEBOOK GROUP
We are excited to announce that we will soon be launching a closed Facebook Group for current families of Mater Dei School students. The aim of this page is to create a sharing space where the school and families can work in partnership to support each other. More information will come out early next term with how to join.
MATER DEI SOCIALS
Don’t forget to like our Mater Dei School’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MaterDeiSchoolCamden
Plus, also subscribe to Mater Dei’s YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8zkUMfXc5EtdAZAuoOsIyg
EVENTS
MOVE IT 4 MATER DEI
Move It 4 Mater Dei is back!
Sign up now and join us as we get moving this October. It’s easy to get started, and you can join as an individual or team for free.
Set a daily 'moving' goal, create your fundraising page and share with the friends/family/colleagues who support you.
Get moving from 1 – 14 October any way you like and together we will make a difference for Mater Dei.
Sign up today at the following link:
IMPORTANT DATES FOR 2022
Please see below Important Date for 2022.
CANCELLED EVENTS FOR TERM 4
Unfortunately, due to the current COVID situation, the following events and activities have been cancelled for Term 4:
- PAN
- St Benedict’s Feast Day
- Leadership Day
- Senior Retreat
- School Assemblies (until further notice)
- Canteen (until further notice)
- Swimming and Sport (until further notice)
We are hoping to organise voting and speeches for our 2022 student leaders once all students have returned to school. Information will be sent to families in Years 10 & 11 as soon as detailed are confirmed.
End of Year Events
We are awaiting advice on end of year assemblies, graduations and masses and the Senior Formal from NSW Health and Catholic Schools NSW. We understand these events are extremely important for our students and families and will endeavour to update families as soon as we receive this information. Advice is unlikely to be issued before all students return and we may have very short notice to officially organise these events. Please be assured we are planning and preparing multiple options behind the scenes that can be put into place quickly.
INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY
Wednesday, September 8, was International Literacy Day. UNESCO reminds the global community of the value of being able to read and write in a world where nearly a fifth of adults still lack those basic skills. Literacy has long been regarded as a human right, a tool that empowers and enriches individuals, communities and nations, and as a fundamental part of education, is essential in eradicating poverty and ensuring peace. Luke’s Gospel tells how, in the synagogue of his home town of Nazareth, Jesus stood up to read from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’
We thank you, Lord, for the provision of literacy and all educational opportunities in this country. We ask you to bless children and adults around the world, who strive to learn in order to build a better future. Help us, as members of the global community, to be part of their journey out of poverty. Amen.
SISTERS OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN FOUNDATION EDUCATION GRANTS
Applications are now open for the Sisters of the Good Samaritan Foundation Education Grants for students attending Good Samaritan Colleges in 2022. These grants are available for families with students in Years 7-12 to support those in need, including young people suffering as a result of poverty or particular hardship. All applications received will be subject to strict confidentiality so If you are interested in applying please complete the attached application and forward to markr@materdei.org.au by Monday 20th September.
AASE NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Mrs Jen Twine represented Mater Dei School at the recent Australian Association of Special Education (AASE) National Conference which was conducted as a virtual event this year. Mrs Twine presented on Universal Design for Learning and Problem Solving and how this is implemented at Mater Dei School. Mater Dei are very proud to share our research, knowledge and expertise with other educators across the country.
COMMUNITY NEWS
