Term 4, Week 2 (17 October 2022)
CEO/PRINCIPAL'S ADDRESS
Dear Parents and Carers,
It has been a very busy year and looks like it is going to get even busier in coming weeks. There always seems to be something happening at Mater Dei. This coming weekend is the Country Fair and I hope to see lots of our families there enjoying the experience. I have never been to a Mater Dei Country Fair but I have been told it is a wonderful event. Fingers crossed for a rain-free weekend!
Similarly, I will finally get to experience my first PAN (Performing Arts Night) in a couple of weeks and I know the staff and students have been hard at it rehearsing their acts. I look forward to this great celebration as I have also heard it is an event not to be missed.
We are in the midst of planning staffing and classes for 2023 and next year will be here before we know it. We had a great evening for new parents last week and at the other end of our school life it will not be long before we farewell our senior students. Some move on, others start their journey with us. The circle of life continues and Mater Dei remains the constant in between, a place where potential is unlocked and growth is celebrated. May you all enjoy a wonderful Term 4 as we head towards our Christmas break.
MARK RAUE
CEO/PRINCIPAL
COVID-SMART MEASURES
SCHOOL NEWS
2023 NEW STUDENT TRANSITIONS
New Student Tranistions are aimed to make our new students for 2023, comfortable and familiar with the facilities and staff at Mater Dei. The transition days are held across two weeks and involve the students in a variety of different activities based on the curriculum. Throughout the transition process the children will experience what it is like to be at Mater Dei.
We welcome all of our new families to our school community and we look forward to meeting with you in Weeks 2 and 3 of this term.
MISSION & VISION
Six St Patrick’s girls, will be visiting Mater Dei again this term on Tuesday afternoons. The students engage with our students K-12, involving themselves in a range of activities and lessons.
PBIS FOCUS
This term PBIS will focus on our school rule ‘Be Kind’. The students will learn what it means to be kind, why being kind is important and how to be kind at Mater Dei.
Samaritan Awards are awarded to students during recess and lunch, transitions, on the playground or during community access. Once Samaritan Awards (wristbands) are awarded, they are cut-off on return to the classroom and placed in the class jar. The class with the highest number of awards is rewarded with a perpetual class trophy.
We would like to congratulate 12 Gibbons on winning the PBIS class trophy at the end of last term.
WORK PLACE LEARNING (WPL)
WPL continues this term! Our MOW will finish after Wednesday 23rd November. All other WPL will finish up after Week 5. Our students are back out in the workforce achieving their goals!
SPORTS NEWS
PRIMARY REPRESENTATIVE ATHLETICS:
On the 21st September, Maria I, Marco I, Corrado I, Ian H, Austin D, Nate F and Joshua M represented the Wollongong Diocese at the MacKillop Athletics Championships. The students performed to the best of their ability and walked away with some amazing results.
Austin, Ian, Maria, Corrado and Marco have been selected the represent the MacKillop team at the NSW PSSA Athletics Championships in October at Homebush.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
2022 SCHOOL PHOTOS
School photos for 2022 have now been sent home to families. If you would like to order copies, please get in touch with The School Photographer via the link below:
https://www.theschoolphotographer.com.au/contact-us-2
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.
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:
Recent professional development time was spent by teachers collaborating on programs for Term 4. This term our teachers will be participating in professional development focusing on Working Mathematically. This will involve many worked examples of how teachers can implement a variety of tasks that specifically encourage problem solving and reasoning skills.
Y7-12 SECONDARY CELEBRATION OF LEARNING
Thank you to all the family visitors to Mater Dei for our Secondary Celebration of Learning day held on Friday, 23rd September. Our students and staff enjoyed the opportunity to showcase the great learning in classrooms as well as enjoying a picnic lunch before a wonderful assembly hosted by our Year 7 and 8 Students.
The assembly also celebrated many Principal’s Awards.
CONGRATULATIONS TO SECONDARY AWARDS WINNERS!
* Daniel B * William G
* Maya B * Deegan C
* Sylvia T * Chartotte W
* Jackson GH * Jayden G
* Etienne P * Zachery L
PRIMARY ASSEMBLY
The Primary Assembly was held on Friday 14th October. Our youngest students from K/1 Benedict, K/1 Samaritan and 2 Gregory lead us in prayer followed by their sharing of class work. Some students were also recognised for their achievements at Wollongong Diocese Primary Athletics Championships:
Marco, Maria, Matthew, Corrado, Nate, Ian, Austin, Jayden F, Joshua.
FUTURE EVENTS:
MATER DEI COUNTRY FAIR
2023 STUDENT LEADERSHIP ELECTIONS
The Mater Dei Student Leadership model for 2023 provides the new school leaders with an active, responsible role and creates opportunities for positive role modeling for the other students at Mater Dei.
The Student Leadership Positions:
Two School Captains (male and female) from Year 12 in 2023
Four Secondary House Captains (male or female) from Years 11 or 12 in 2023
Four Primary School Leaders (male or female) from Years 5 or 6 in 2023
Appointment of Student Leaders:
Leadership elections will commence with students presenting a speech or answer interview questions with their class teacher, on Friday 28 October at the Secondary Assembly, from 2pm.
Parents are welcome to attend this assembly.
Following the Assembly, students (in this year’s Year 6 to 11) and staff will vote in an advisory election for their preferred nominated students for the School and House Captains. Students in Years 5 and 6 in 2023 (i.e. this year’s Year 4 and 5 students) and staff will also vote for Primary School Leaders at the same time. The CEO/Principal will then discern the results of each of these advisory elections to make a decision about who our next year’s leaders will be.
PERFORMING ARTS MATINEE & NIGHT PERFORMANCE
Our 2022 Performing Arts Matinee and Night Performances will take place at the Camden Civic Centre on Thursday 3rd November (matinee) and Friday 4th November (night performance).
Tickets will become available for booking for the night performance on Wednesday, 19 October 2022. Due to venue size, there will be a limit of 4 tickets per students only.
Keep an eye out for more information to come this week!
PRINCIPAL'S LUNCH (Year 6 and Year 12)
Mr Raue will be again hosting our Year 6 and Year 12 Principal’s Lunches this year. This is a student only event for Year 6 and Year 12 students along with their Teachers and Teacher Assistants.
Year 12 Principal's lunch will take place on Monday 28th November.
Year 6 Principal's Lunch will take place on Monday 5th December.
Lunch for these students will be provided on the day.
END OF YEAR AWARDS ASSEMBLY
End of Year Awards Assembly will be held on Friday 2nd December (Secondary) and Friday 9th December (Infants and Primary) in the school hall. All classes will celebrate student achievements with a variety of awards to be presented.
During these special assemblies we will recognise our Year 6 students who will be moving on to secondary next year and our graduating Year 12 students.
Guests are warmly invited to attend.
HELPFUL REMINDERS
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
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
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.
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.
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