Term 1, Week 4 (21 February 2022)
CEO/PRINCIPAL'S ADDRESS
Dear Parents and Carers,
As we prepare to hold our School Open Day this coming weekend, I have had a chance to reflect on the school and what makes it unique and so well-respected in the wider community. I love standing up and talking about Mater Dei, and I do so with enormous pride and affection. An Open Day, where prospective parents and newcomers get, perhaps, their first taste of what we have to offer, is always an exciting day. The pride and enthusiasm amongst the staff is tangible as they prepare to host new families. They are always eager to show off the facilities and to talk about what we do. I also look forward to seeing the impressed parents as they begin to imagine what it would be like to have their child become part of our community.
The Sisters of the Good Samaritan talk of the importance of greeting guests with the upmost hospitality and welcome. Sr Verna Holyhead sgs once wrote, “hospitality begins in small ways with people of easy approachability: with warmth rather than polite boredom, with friendly words rather than officiousness, with graciousness rather than rudeness.” I trust that this is your experience of Mater Dei, and if it is ever not like that please let us know!
Kind regards,
MARK RAUE
CEO/PRINCIPAL
FROM THE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL'S DESK
STAFF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Term One focus for our staff is Compliance. Staff are ensuring completion of mandatory trainings, including updates on Asthma, Anaphylaxis, Epilepsy and Child Protection.
Term 1 Pupil Free Day is dedicated to Child Protection training facilitated by the Association of Independent Schools NSW.
STAFF UPDATE
CAROLINE OOI has resigned from her position as School Psychologist at Mater Dei School. Caroline has held an integral role at Mater Dei School, working alongside our staff and students with a kind smile, a gentle approach, meticulous attention to detail and always willing to share her wealth of knowledge and expertise. Caroline’s contributions to our school went well beyond general Psychology. Caroline was heavily involved in significant systemic change to the way in which Mater Dei approaches wellbeing, pastoral care, and supporting staff to utilise psychoeducational assessments to inform approaches to learning in the classroom. Caroline and her family are moving home to Ireland after several years here in Australia. Mater Dei will certainly miss Caroline and all that she has contributed to our school.
A PRAYER FOR ETHAN S
Please join our community as we pray for our student, Ethan S, and his family. Ethan is currently in hospital recovering from a significant medical emergency.
Best wishes,
Eryn Lonergan
Deputy Principal
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL'S UPDATE
PARENT COMMUNICATION
If a Parent/Carer has a matter of concern regarding their child, naturally this should be directed to the Classroom Teacher. Should this not be resolved, contact with the Stage Leader assigned to the child's stage should be sought. Should this not be resolved, and at that point, the matter will be directed to either the appropriate Middle Leader (e.g. The Middle Leader - Wellbeing if the matter is regarding this topic) or other senior staff member dependant on the matter. Please continue to make contact using 4655 7481 or schooladmin@materdei.org.au so the communication can be directed to the appropriate staff member (e.g. Class Teacher).
STUDENT ATTENDANCE
We thank families for continuing to follow the NSW health advice by keeping the child home if they are unwell. Any students who present unwell at school, will be isolated in the first aid room and families contacted to come collect.
Please continue to add an Attendance Note if your child is unwell. 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.
UNIFORM REMINDERS
Mater Dei’s prescribed uniform, as outlined in the Parent Handbook, is a condition of enrolment. Parent/Guardian(s) must ensure their child has each item of officially required uniform, clean and in good condition. Students must wear the School uniform as prescribed including when travelling to and from school and abide by the Grooming Guidelines (also located in Parent Handbook). If a Parent/Guardian has a particular concern in regards to uniform compliance including particular needs or financial distress, they are requested to contact the school to discuss.
SECONDARY STUDENTS BLAZER ORDER
All students in Years 7-12 are required to wear their Mater Dei Blazer as part of the daily winter uniform. Any new students, or students who have outgrown their blazer should contact Yeronga Uniforms to organise a fitting. The closing date for orders is …. So please ensure your booking occurs prior to this date.
COVID-19 UPDATE
Mater Dei school awaits further advise form Catholic Schools NSW in relation COVID-smart Measures for Week 5 onwards. The following guidelines remain in place until the end of Week 4.
COVID-SMART MEASURES
As per Compass Communication Term 1, 2022, Mater Dei is operating as per Catholic Schools NSW advice with a layered approach to COVID-smart measures that have been developed in partnership with NSW Health to help to minimise transmission of COVID-19 while keeping our schools open for teaching and learning.
These key measures include:
- Rapid Antigen Testing
- Mask Wearing & Checking In
- Vaccinations
- Cohorting of Staff & Students
- Limiting Visitors on-site
- Cleaning, Hygiene, Distancing and Ventilation
- Staying home if unwell
POSITIVE COVID CASE – ACTIONS
Notify the School
Any staff (including contractors) or student who tests positive to COVID is required to follow NSW Health requirements under the Public Health Order for testing positive including:
- Immediately notify the school of any positive result to a COVID test (PCR or RAHT) by emailing schooladmin@materdei.org.au or contacting School Reception on 4655 7481 during school hours.
- Ensure an attendance note is then added to Compass as “Medical – Illness”
- Report a positive RAHT result to Service NSW
Self-Isolate
Currently, the requirement is:
- isolate for 7 days following the positive test
- leave isolation after 7 days (and can return to school) unless symptoms are still present (including, a sore throat, runny nose, cough, or shortness of breath).
- If symptoms are still present, remain in isolations until 24 hours after symptoms have resolved. If a person continues to have symptoms, they are able to leave isolation with a medical clearance.
School Actions
A generic letter is distributed to alert the school community that there has been a case and to monitor for symptoms. Depending on circumstances, and the movements of a positive individual in the two days prior to the positive test or symptoms, this notification may go to the entire school community or to particular cohorts. Upon notification of a positive case who attended the school within the two days prior to positive test or systems, an additional regular clean will also take place.
If those in contact with the positive case (e.g. staff and students in the same class) have no symptoms, they can continue to attend school in line with NSW Health advice.
CLOSE/HOUSEHOLD CONTACTS – ACTIONS
Close contacts are now household contacts only. A household contact is a person who lives with someone who has COVID-19. Household contacts are required by NSW Health to isolate for 7 days unless the person has previously tested positive to COVID and ended their isolation for this in the past 28 days.
If a student is absent from school due to isolating as a close contact, ensure an attendance note is added to Compass as “Other explained absence”.
Further details regarding each measure are available on Compass.
SCHOOL NEWS
WORK PLACE LEARNING
Although not at full capacity, we are very excited for the first semester of Workplace Learning to commence in Week 5 of this term. Students will have the opportunity to participate in this important community service and learn new skills and experiences first-hand, in the working world!
We are extremely grateful for our local and School community who support this valuable program.
PBIS UPDATE
Positive Behavioural Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an approach that Mater Dei are using to promote school safety, wellbeing and positive behaviour. In 2020 a PBIS Committee was established to ensure that this approach could be implemented. Staff and students are referring to this as ‘The Mater Dei Way’.
INTRODUCING.... SAMMY!
Sammy the Kookaburra, the NEW PBIS School mascot, has landed at Mater Dei! Sammy is here to help students follow the Mater Dei Way! Students are meeting Sammy today and will see numerous signs around the school on how they can be kind, be safe and be a learner in all areas.
ASH WEDNESDAY
WEDNESDAY 2 MARCH 2022
What is Ash Wednesday?
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. It always falls six and half weeks before Easter, beginning the Lenten season of preparation for Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Why is Ash Wednesday important?
As the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday awakens us to Jesus’ entry into the desert preceding his death. Before Easter, however, we must prepare our hearts for his Resurrection. We begin our season of preparing our hearts for Easter by recognizing our brokenness and need for conversion,a turning of our hearts to God.
Where do the ashes come from?
Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter. It symbolises Christ’s return to Jerusalem after spending 40 days in the desert. In the Catholic tradition, we receive palm leaves, which have been blessed, to hold onto during Mass and bring home. The leftover palms from Palm Sunday are then burned and saved for the next Lenten season. So, this year’s ashes are from the palms of Palm Sunday of 2021.
Where do the ashes go?
It is typical to receive ashes on your forehead in the Sign of the Cross. Similar to taking communion at Mass, you usually process toward the altar to get ashes. The priest will make the Sign of the Cross and say one of two things:
- “Remember that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.”
- “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
Mrs Jacqueline Gorey
Middle Leader of Mission and Vision
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES
Parent Teacher Conferences are occurring this week from Monday 21st February to Friday 25th February from 3:30-6:30pm. Due to current COVID requirements it is preferred that Conferences take place via online Zoom Meetings otherwise phone calls.
Please check your booking day and time to make sure you can join your zoom with the class teacher.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact school between 8:30am and 4pm.
Our Mater Dei Teachers are looking forward to meeting you.
NAPLAN
A letter and information regarding NAPLAN and exemptions has been sent home to students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.
Please prioritise the return of these forms by Wednesday 23rd February 2022.
SWIMMING
A reminder to families that Students are not allowed to wear their swimming costumes underneath their school uniform for hygiene reasons. This includes any classes who have swimming in Session one. For each swimming session, students must bring their swimming gear in a separate bag with every item clearly labelled with your child’s name. Swimming gear should include:
- female students to wear a one-piece swimming costume, board shorts and a rash shirt
- male students to wear speedos, board shorts and a rash shirt
Students are provided with assistance and support to dress and change. If you have any concerns or specific needs, please contact your stage leader directly to discuss.
STUDENT BIRTHDAYS AND SPECIAL EVENTS
A reminder to families, we are currently not able to share any food at school including birthday cakes. If your child is celebrating a special event, we kindly ask families not to send in homemade treats or birthday cakes. In additional we are unable to sing happy birthday due to COVID guidelines.
We understand these are important milestones and are more than happy to distribute individually wrapped, pre-packaged items such as lollipops, freddo frogs and cake bars.
EVENTS
PAST EVENTS
STAFF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
This week for Staff Professional Development the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Committee introduced our new mascot to all staff. Sammy is here to help us all with being Kind, Safe and a Learner. Staff were also shown a wellbeing matrix which is currently in construction and will be ready for week 6. The PBIS Committee has developed two matrix’s, one for Kindergarten to Year 6 and one for Year 7 to Year 12. Each term the matrix will have a different set of activities based on a wellbeing theme. The theme for this term is ‘Emotional Wellbeing’.
FUTURE EVENTS
YEAR 7 & 8 SPORTS
We are still hoping to commence in Week 5. In the mean time Year 7 & 8 students have been participating in sport on site with their class.
ENROLMENT OPEN DAY
Saturday 26 February 2022
This weekend is our first Open Day for 2022. Please share this event with your families and friends who may be interested in attending Mater Dei in 2023 or beyond.
POST SCHOOL INFORMATION NIGHT
Wednesday 16 March AT 6pm in the Carmela Ritchie Hall. There will be representatives from NDIS and NextPath present to speak and provide important information about life after Mater Dei and everything Post School, including transition. All families with students in Year 12 must attend, and families with students in Year 10 & 11 are strongly encouraged to attend.
MATER DEI, WOOLWORTHS & FUJITSU WORKING TOGETHER
YEAR 6 POLO SHIRTS
This year, our Year 6 Students have the opportunity to purchase a School Polo. Students will be allowed to wear the Polo during 2022 as an optional part of their sport uniform. A note will be sent home via the diary shortly for all Year 6 students with instructions on how to purchase.
MATER DEI CHARITY GOLF DAY
HELPFUL REMINDERS
STUDENT DROP OFF / PICK UP
PARENT FORMS AND SCHOOL DOCUMENTATION
Just a reminder that Compass now has a range of forms and Compass support documents for parents to access. Parent Forms are now 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
AFTERNOON ARRANGEMENTS 2022
In the event of either of the following:
- Student to be collected by a different family member or family friend over 18 years of age
- Student to be collected INSTEAD of usual taxi arrangement for specified day
Parent/Guardian is required to advise the school of the change, and MUST include the full name of person collecting, PRIOR to 2:30pm on the day of the change. This may be done via one of the following options:
- Noting change in student diary
- Phoning School Reception on ph. 4655 7481
- Emailing schooladmin@materdei.org.au
If your child needs to be collected by a service provider, a Parent/Guardian is required to complete a Collection by a Service Provider form (available on Compass) and email it to schooladmin@materdei.org.au
This form must be received PRIOR to 3pm on the day before the new arrangement is to take place.
If unable to provide the full name of the staff member collecting, the Parent/ Guardian is required to arrange the Service Provider to notify the school via schooladmin@materdei.org.au email by 2:30pm on the day the student is to be collected.
IF YOUR CHILD IS ABSENT
If your child is not well and will not be attending school, please jump onto Compass and add an Attendance Note before 9:15am. 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 email schooladmin@materdei.org.au or call school reception.
MEDICAL CERTIFICATES
Compass has added a new feature for families to attach their medical certificate to the attendance note, however this is currently only for web browser users only. Alternatively, you can send in via the diary or email schooladmin@materdei.org.au
MEDICATION AT SCHOOL
Mater Dei School’s Medication Management Framework can be viewed on Compass. The Parent Form – Medication Agreement is now the only documentation required when a student requires medication to be administered at school, including for transport. A new Medication Agreement is also required if there is any change in medication to be administered at school. This form is located and accessible on Compass under ‘School Documentation’.
Please contact the school if you require any further information via schooladmin@materdei.org.au
ATTENDANCE EXEMPTION FORMS
Any families who wish to apply for attendance exemptions to attend therapy services in 2022, please download the Application for Leave Exemption form on Compass, complete and return to schooladmin@materdei.org.au
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.
SECOND HAND UNIFORMS FACEBOOK PAGE
Mater Dei School also has a Buy Swap Sell Second-hand Uniform Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/uniformsmaterdei/. Parents and carers are encouraged to submit and respond to their own listings if they wish to sell, buy or give away pre-loved uniforms.
JOIN US ON OUR SOCIALS
IMPORTANT DATES
COMMUNITY NEWS
A MESSAGE FROM THE ATHLETE'S FOOT
The Athlete’s Foot have partnered with Autism Spectrum Australia to offer autism friendly fittings. Aspect has been working in collaboration with The Athlete’s Foot staff for a number of months, providing training to help them understand autism and other hidden disabilities and to help create a space where everyone can feel relaxed and well supported. The Athlete’s Foot have introduced Quiet Appointments which allow individuals with special needs to make an appointment through The Athlete’s Foot’s booking platform, SocialQ, and plan their visit in-store.
Please visit https://www.theathletesfoot.com.au/quiet-appointments to find out more and book your Quiet Appointment, or call your local store to chat to our friendly staff.
