Term 1, Week 6 (6 March 2023)
CEO/PRINCIPAL'S ADDRESS
Dear Parents/Carers,
The past few weeks have been very busy, with our Opening Mass, the school Open Day last weekend, our Swimming Carnival this week and we have also had a number of students attending other Diocesan sporting events.
Firstly, I would like to thank all those parents who attended these events, and I know there would have been many more parents at these functions to support the school and their sons and daughters if other commitments would have allowed. Remember parents there is the opportunity to come to the P&F meeting this coming Monday evening.
Secondly, I would like to thank and congratulate staff members who had particular responsibilities in the planning and organising of these events for their commitment and leadership. I would also like to thank all the staff who contributed in many ways to make these functions so enjoyable and successful. A particular thank you to Father Victor for presiding at our Opening Mass.
Speaking of the business of life, the pressure of work, supporting a family, especially where there are children with particular needs, and many people having to travel considerable distance through traffic to get to and from work, there seems little time to ‘smell the roses’. Even in the short amount of time available, we seem to be caught up with our iphones and other devices, and there is little face to face contact and sharing the personal presence of others. How many times have you seen people out with others, sitting at a table and on their iPhones?
In the booklet put out by the Wollongong Diocese for Lent there are some comments by Fr Graham Schmitzer on this issue. Fr Graham reminds us that we are very cherished sons and daughters of our God, who loves us more than we can imaging. Fr Graham encourages us to set aside some quite time to speak to our God in prayer this Lent. We might also set aside some time during this Lent from the business of life and our electronic devices, to spend some time face-to-face in presence of friends and family, whom we have not seen face-to-face for some time with our lives being disrupted with COVID. This could also extend to contacting and meeting up with others, may be from our neighbourhood, who we know are lonely or who are living alone and have little contact face to face with others.
Regards,
PAUL McCANN
INTERIM CEO/PRINCIPAL
FROM THE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL'S DESK
Earlier this term, three Mater Dei staff were presented with their NSW Teacher Accreditation Certificate having successfully achieved the mandatory accreditation level of Proficient Teacher. All teachers enter the profession provisionally or conditionally accredited and develop their teaching practice as they work towards achieving proficiency. The accreditation process supports teachers to develop their practice aligned with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, in a structured school-based process, supported by colleagues to develop their practice throughout their daily work at school and by participating in a range of professional activities.
Congratulations to Miss Kayla Crawford, Miss Jordan Duffy and Miss Jema Hielman on successfully achieving accreditation as a Proficient Teacher.
Attending my first Mater Dei swimming carnival was certainly a highlight last week. The enthusiasm of the students dressed in their House colours as they cheered from the stands was absolutely joyous to see. The level of commitment and encouragement from staff, both in and out of the pool, to ensure that every student had the opportunity to participate and enjoy the day was something that I can honestly say I have not witnessed before at such an event. Carnivals are always exhausting days for staff and I thank everyone for contributing to such an enjoyable day where a celebration of community was so very evident. It was also great to see so many family and friends cheering from the sidelines as well.
Our Mater Dei Open Day on Saturday 25th February welcomed many visitors through our doors. Open Day preparation and set up is the result of many hands across Mater Dei School and Organisation. Our visitors were very impressed by what they heard and saw on the day. Along with the many staff who were present on the day, our Year 12 students did a wonderful job of welcoming, answering questions and accompanying staff on the guided tours of our school and facilities. The feedback from the families was very positive.
For each of us, it is very easy to get caught up in both the busyness and celebration of life and work, and, at times, feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the fast pace of life. In particular during Lent, I try to recognise the times when my focus is more on the demands of work or family or life in general, and to remind myself of the importance to pause and to weave moments of spiritual awareness and service into even the busiest of schedules.
I recommend this short article How to Find Time in the Day for Lent as a way to refocus and as a way to include the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as part of an ordinary hectic day.
The Fast Life
Fast from judging others; Feast on Christ dwelling in them.
Fast from fear of illness; Feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute; Feast on speech that purifies.
Fast from discontent; Feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger; Feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism; Feast on hope.
Fast from negatives; Feast on encouragement.
Fast from bitterness; Feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern; Feast on compassion.
Fast from suspicion; Feast on truth.
Fast from gossip; Feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from problems that overwhelm; Feast on prayer that sustains.
Fast from anxiety; Feast on faith.- Author Unknown
JENNIFER FOLDES
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL
SCHOOL NEWS
MISSION & VISION
YEAR OF NEIGHBOUR
The invitation to this Year of Neighbour is summed up in two quotes; firstly, the familiar opening from the Rule of Benedict; “listen and attend, incline, with the ear of the heart”. This attentiveness is the first movement of encounter to engage and incline ourselves to the other, to see as the Samaritan saw Christ. From Thomas Merton, “our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy... What we are asked to do is to love, and this love itself will render both ourselves and our neighbour worthy.”
Let us dare to take the Trinity as our model this year as we contemplate a more authentic way to be present and active in the complex relationships of love and neighbour. The mystery of the Trinity, perfect community, each member is whole and undiminished by the company of others but complemented and somehow more authentically whole. “Whatever is going on in God is flow, a radical relatedness, a perfect communion between Three – a circle dance of love. And God is not just the dancer but dance itself”2
1 Pratt,L. Radical Hospitality: Benedict’s way of love, 89 2 Roher, R. The Divine Dance, pg 27
OPENING SCHOOL MASS
On Friday 24th February, our Mater Dei Community celebrated our Opening School Mass. We were fortunate enough to have families, friends and special guests join us in our Eucharistic Celebration. It was a very joyous gathering, where students prayed reverently and sung enthusiastically. We welcomed new staff and students, and celebrated the Benedictine spirit alive in our School Community. We look forward to many more holy celebrations this year with our school community.
CURRICULUM
Year 11 and 12 have started Work Placement and Community Based Instruction. They started with an introduction with Project 5 from Mrs Robinson and looked at the importance of developing Self Determination Skills. The young adults have developed personal goals that they will reflect on after each work placement session.
STAFF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Recently our teachers engaged in professional learning presented by Alexandra McCarthy. Alex is the Director and Senior Psychologist at Wildflower Holistic Services. Alex is very experienced at implementing and interpreting psychometric assessments, and our teachers had the opportunity to ask questions and increase their understanding and interpretation of the completed written assessments. This professional learning helps to support our teachers and in turn our students in the classroom.
Thank you Alex for an informative session.
WELLBEING
Why Attendance Matters
When your child misses school they miss important opportunities to learn, make friends and build skills through fun.
A day here and there doesn’t seem like much, but…
A couple of minutes here and there doesn’t seem like much, but…
PEDAGOGY
Please see below an exert from NSW Education Standards Authority, NSW Government.
Supporting your K–2 child at NSW schools
A parent and carer guide for the K–2 school years
You have an important role in your child’s learning in the early years of schooling. This guide provides information about the curriculum reform, NSW syllabuses and how to support your child at primary school.The role of NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA)
The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) is responsible for setting and monitoring quality teaching, learning, assessment and school standards across NSW public, Catholic and independent schools.
NESA also develops Kindergarten to Year 12 syllabuses for NSW schools. The NSW syllabuses incorporate the Australian Curriculum.
NSW syllabuses:
- identify the essential knowledge, skills and understandings that students are expected to develop at each stage of learning
- contain outcomes and content which are intended to be inclusive of the learning needs of all students, including:
- Aboriginal students
- students with disability
- gifted and talented students
- students learning English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D)
- communicate and guide connections between the learning outcomes, content and teaching practice.
Stages of learning
NESA sets the learning requirements for each stage of primary school. The 4 stages are:
- EARLY STAGE 1 – Kindergarten
- STAGE 1 – Years 1 and 2
- STAGE 2 – Years 3 and 4
- STAGE 3 – Years 5 and 6.
Syllabuses for learning
NESA develops syllabuses for these learning areas:
- English
- Mathematics
- Science and Technology
- Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE) (History and Geography)
- Creative Arts
- Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE)
- Languages – optional for schools.
Adjustments for children with disability
All students are entitled to access and progress through the NSW curriculum. NESA syllabuses have been developed to be inclusive of the learning needs of all students.
Schools are obligated to provide adjustments to teaching, learning and assessment activities for some students with disability. The Disability Standards for Education 2005 describe the legislative requirements of schools to support students with disability. Decisions about adjustments are made through a collaborative planning process that involves the student, parent and carer, teacher and other professionals. Further information can be found in the Diversity in learning section on the NESA website.
Access content points to support learning
Access content points have been developed to support students with significant intellectual disability who are working towards Early Stage 1 outcomes. These students may communicate using verbal and/or nonverbal forms.
In Early Stage 1, access content points provide content that help students with significant intellectual disability to work towards each outcome. The access content points are not additional content, but act as a supplement to support students’ learning of the curriculum. Teachers can use the access content points on their own, or in conjunction with other syllabus content. If students are able to access outcomes in the syllabus they should not require the access content points.
SPORTS NEWS
REPRESENTATIVE SWIMMING
On Wednesday 1st March, Joshua M and Nate F represented Mater Dei at the Wollongong Diocese - Western Region Swimming Carnival at the Gordon Fetterplace Leisure Centre at Bradbury. The boys competed in the senior boys multi class events. The boys swam extremely well, with Nate finishing first in the freestyle and backstroke and Joshua finishing first in the breaststroke and second in the freestyle and backstroke.
SECONDARY CROSS COUNTRY
On Thursday 2nd March, Jack C, Nakeita, Cooper and Ian joined with students from St Benedict’s Catholic College to participate in the cross country, at the Mount Annan Botanic Gardens. The course was a challenging 3km track with long steep climbs, the students were outstanding with each of them pushing themselves to do their best.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
PRIMARY AND SECONDRY ASSEMBLIES
Primary Assembly
Week 6 - Friday 10th March starting at 2pm
Secondary Assembly
Week 7 - Friday 17th March starting at 2pm
P&F EASTER RAFFLE
YEAR 7 VACCINATIONS
Year 7 Vaccinations are on the 15 March.
If your child is in Year 7, can you please ensure that you provide online consent for your child’s routine school vaccinations.
In Year 7, students are offered free vaccines for diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTpa) and human papillomavirus (HPV).
Vaccination will only be provided at school if consent has been received.
How to provide consent:
- To complete online consent for your child’s school vaccinations, visit: https://nswhealth.service-now.com/school
- Follow the steps to log in to your existing ServiceNSW account. This is the same account you may already use to renew your driver’s licence. If you don’t have a ServiceNSW account, refer to ServiceNSW to create one.
- Update or confirm your personal details in ServiceNSW as required.
- Complete the School Vaccination Consent Form for your child/ren. You will need to:
- Enter your child’s personal details
- Provide the Medicare card details for you and your child
- Read the linked Parent Information Sheet and privacy statement
- Provide consent
2023 SCHOOL DROP OFF / PICK UP PROCEDURES
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.
MAISY'S CORNER
What’s Maisy been up to?
As we enter the halfway point of term one, we thought it would be timely to update everyone on how Maisy has been excelling within her training. Alongside her trainer, Prue, Maisy is working tirelessly. She is being exposed to novel situations to prepare her for the support she will offer the Mater Dei School community.
As you can see by the photos Maisy is gaining the skills required to commence her role with confidence in the Mater Dei School Community.
How have we been getting ready for Maisy?
New spaces have been created to encourage a sense of tranquillity and calm for when the students spend time with Maisy.
Cornerstone Companions have been meeting regularly on site with key staff to lay the foundations for the wellbeing dog program being created for Mater Dei.
Students ongoing education as to responsible pet ownership will commence as we begin to expose them to the reality of Maisy becoming a part of their school day.
EVENTS
Past Events
INFANTS WATER FUN DAY
On Tuesday 28th February, Mater Dei Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 students started their day with craft in their classrooms. They created a skeleton fish by threading a pipe cleaner through straws to make the fish bones then attached their head, tail and fins which they had coloured in.
The middle of the day was spent outside exploring the many water fun activities including blowing bubbles and getting a bit wet with the fun water sprinklers. The students also explored the many water tubs filled with slime and bubbles and all sorts of water animals to find and boats to float.
After lunch was time to join altogether for some colouring in, playing inside games and a movie, Finding Nemo. The students enjoyed some popcorn, chips and a drink during the movie time.
A great water fun day for all K-2 students and staff.
SWIMMING CARNIVAL
On Tuesday 28th February, students in Year 3 to Year 12 travelled to Mount Annan Leisure Centre to participate in our Annual Mater Dei Swimming carnival. The students participated in the 25m Freestyle and 25m Backstroke. It was a great day, filled with smiles, colourful outfits and lots of cheering. Students from Magdalene Catholic College assisted at the event both in the pool and on pool deck. The highlight of the day, was the introduction of the staff vs students race.
Future Events
REMINDER: P&F AGM
WORLD MATHS DAY
Mater Dei School will be celebrating World Maths Day on Wednesday 8th March. This will be a student only occasion where Mrs Twine will lead the students in some fun mathematics number talks and activities
POST SCHOOL INFORMATION NIGHT
Mater Dei will be hosting a Post School Information Night on Wednesday 15th March. We have invited James Fletcher Community Development Officer to provide information to support the young adults NDIS plan and future opportunities. Families will also have the opportunity to learn about Work Placement from Catherine Smith Workplacement Coordinator, Project 5 from Mrs Robinson Stage 6 Leader and external agencies including Nextpath who also support the young adults.
GOLF DAY
TREK FUNDRAISER
LIPSTICK LUNCHEON
IMPORTANT DATES
HELPFUL REMINDERS
COMPASS PARENT GUIDE
PARENT FORMS AND SCHOOL DOCUMENTATION
School documentation and common forms are stored in Compass for parents to access at any time. Parent Forms can be found by following these steps on your Compass App:
(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 2023, please download the Application for Leave Exemption form on Compass, complete and return to schooladmin@materdei.org.au
2023 AFTERNOON ARRANGEMENTS
In the event of either of the following:
- Student needs to be collected by a different family member or family friend over 18 years of age
- Student needs to be collected by parent INSTEAD of usual taxi arrangement for a 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 2:30pm 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.
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