Term 2, Week 6 (30 May 2023)
SCHOOL NEWS
MISSION & VISION
SHOW ME WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
Like the Samaritan we are to love God and neighbour with all our strength by using our inner and external resources. The Samaritan had the strength of soul to lay aside his own agenda in favour of the other, the enemy.
He calls upon the strength of earth’s resources. He doesn’t exploit, but uses earth’s gifts of oil and wine for soothing, healing, and strengthening. Let’s not forget the donkey, whose strength enables the Samaritan to remove the injured man from danger.
Together with a strong compassionate heart and keen strategic thinking, he develops a plan, and then employs the strength of collaboration and partnership with the Inn- Keeper to implement the plan.
Loving God with all our strength can never mean loving God in isolation. Pope Francis often tells us that there is no future for humanity without collaboration. St Benedict concurs, it is only together that we go to everlasting life. We love God with all our strength when we honour the differing gifts within our group, and when we realise our interconnectedness with, and our dependence upon, the living and material resources of our beautiful home of planet Earth.
We are to love God and neighbour with all our mind. The Samaritan was on a notoriously dangerous road. I have travelled that road and would hate to have a flat tyre on it. It is remote and winding, the perfect scenario for a highway robbery by an Australian ‘bushranger’. The Samaritan used his mind to calculate the real existential risk of stopping to help a wounded man. Martin Luther King says that the second learning he takes from the parable is that it’s reasonable to ask, “If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?” I might get mugged, I might get contaminated, I might be late for that important appointment in Jericho. But the motivating question that enables the Samaritan to become the enduring Good Samaritan is: “If I don’t stop to help this person, what will happen to him?”
- Patty Fawkner sgs
Extract from Good Oil article (edited version from Benet address), 2019
PROPHETIC VOICES
This year, our House and School Captains are participating in a gathering of Year 12 Good Samaritan Education students to discuss Social Issues amongst our society. The students gather online and discuss a number of challenges; Mater Dei students will be focussing on Homelessness.
SHARED LEARNING
During Term Two, Year 5 students from St Gregory’s College Junior School, will be visiting with our Years 5 and 6 students. The visits will be fortnightly and the students will be joining to do some maths and gross motor activities together. No doubt, the students will have a wonderful time getting to know each other! Keep an eye on the Facebook page for some photos!
HAPPENING NEXT WEEK
NATIONAL SORRY DAY AND RECONCILLIATION WEEK
Last week on Friday 26th May, National Sorry Day began our Reconciliation Week Commemorations. On that day, we remembered the events in our country’s history that led to the forced separation of indigenous children from their families, as well as the impact of those events on the Stolen Generations. We acknowledged the strength of Stolen Generations Survivors and reflect on how we can all share in the healing process. We acknowledged the unspeakable sorrow and suffering that the stolen generations had caused families and communities. We cannot fix the problems of the present without accepting the truth of our history.
This week, we continue to reflect on the pain and sorrow suffered by the Stolen Generation, and walk united with our Indigenous Peoples on a path of Reconciliation, Acknowledgment and Reflection during Reconciliation Week. Students will be learning about the events in our Nation’s history, and reflecting on the impact of such events on our Indigenous Peoples, both past and present. All classes will be participating in various activities in their classroom, as well as on the playground in social contexts.
Lastly, our commissioned Mural Wall began its planning in 2022. We are proud to begin its journey with our students as of Wednesday this week. Different classes will be involved in bringing it to life throughout the rest of the year.
WELLBEING
LIFE EDUCATION VAN VISIT
The students loved being able to met him and learn about our feelings and emotions.
Miss Duffy, Kindergarten
1/2G visited the Life Education van and met the one and only Healthy Harold. During our session with Healthy Harold we were taught:
- What our body needs to be healthy (nutrition, water, sleep)
- The benefits of physical activity
- How our body reacts to new situations
- Managing emotions and
- Safety strategies we can use in different situations.
At the end of our lesson, the students were able to give Harold a gentle pat.
Mrs Keepence, 1/2 Gregory
We had a PDH lesson with Healthy Harold! During our time there, we learnt all about the digestive system and the types of food that help our bodies stay healthy and strong. We also learnt about all the different ways we can keep our bodies fit and how we can stay active.
We loved the interactive activities and getting to see Healthy Harold again.
Mrs Langham, 3/4 McCabe and 3/4 Polding
We visited the Life Education Van with Healthy Harold. The focus was on friends and feelings. We learnt about respect, conflict, consent and empathy.
Mrs Sullivan, 5/6 Gibbons and 5/6 MacKillop
The class visited Healthy Harold at the Life Education van to participate in the important curriculum subject of decisions, peer pressure, responsibility and consequences. Students investigated a range of drugs, the laws around these drugs and the different ways they impact the body and brain.
Mrs Anderson, 7/8 Gregory
PEDAGOGY
LITERACY IN CLASS 3/4M
Mrs Fogarty implements small group rotations in her class to ensure all students are receiving explicit literacy instruction at their level. Literacy skills are developed and built upon through regular targeted tasks. Some of the tasks Mrs Fogarty implements along with Kim D, class teacher assistant, include; guided reading of levelled texts, sight word recognition, phonological and phonemic awareness including letter/sound relationships, vocabulary understanding, reading comprehension and grammar such as contractions. 3/4M are becoming confident readers.
SPORTS NEWS
REPRESENTATIVE CROSS COUNTRY
On Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd May, six students from Mater Dei represented the school at the Wollongong Diocese Cross Country Championships in Nowra. The students ran a challenging course and achieved outstanding results.
- Jack C 1st place (Senior Secondary Boys)
- Cooper C 3rd place (Junior Secondary Boys)
- Maria 1st place (Senior Primary Girls)
- Marco 2nd place (Senior Primary Boys)
- Corrado 3rd place (Senior Primary Boys)
- Lilly-Rose Willingham 1st place (Junior Primary Girls)
All six students have been selected to represent the Wollongong Diocese at the Combined Catholic College Championships next month.
ATHLETICS CARNIVAL
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
PRIMARY & SECONDARY CELEBRATION OF LEARNING
COVID - CURRENT MEASURES IN PLACE
Given we are a high risk, disability setting, we wish to remind families of the mandatory 7 day isolation requirement remains in place at Mater Dei for all staff and students who test positive to COVID (including if you are a close contact).
Students should not attend Mater Dei if unwell or displaying COVID symptoms and only return after completing isolation and/or when symptom free.
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
Maisy has been busy meeting all of our primary students. The students have been very excited to spend time with Maisy and show her all of their hard work.
EVENTS
Recently our Teachers engaged in Professional Development focusing on reading. The NSW Education Standards Authority have already released a new syllabus for Kindergarten to Year 2 for English with Year 3 to 10 coming out in 2024. The new English Syllabus has a strong focus on teaching reading to students through the research and implementation of Scarborough’s Reading Rope Theory. Scarborough's Reading Rope contains two main sections: Word Recognition and Language Comprehension. Each of these comprises several smaller strands. Woven together, these strands become the rope that represents complete skilled reading. Our teachers have been upskilling their knowledge and implementation of how to teach reading to students.
ST PATRICK'S COLLEGE CAMPBELLTOWN CAREERS AND ALUMNI INCURSION
Written by Invited guest Mrs Jema Langham
On Tuesday 16th May, I visited St Patrick’s College Campbelltown as an Alumni guest for their Careers & Alumni Incursion for students in Year 10. We began the day with a college assembly with all of the staff and students. Following this, during morning tea I had the opportunity to mingle with some of the senior students who were able to come up and ask questions. I actually had one Year 10 student come up to me, remembering me from when I taught her on one of my University Placements back in 2019. The rest of the day consisted of three seminar sessions where the students had the chance to listen to our career pathways, and then they had the opportunity to ask us any questions. It was lovely to be back in a familiar environment and being able to share my story and wisdom with the St Pat’s girls.
NATIONAL SIMULTANEOUS STORYTIME
On Wednesday 24th May, our Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 students joined many other young Australian students to participate in National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS). This reading event is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). The annual event aims to promote the value of reading and literacy.
This years book was, The Speedy Sloth by Rebecca Young.
“It was finally time for the event of the year, Spike couldn’t believe it The Great Race was here! The other sloths said it couldn’t be done, but Spike didn’t care, she was ready to run! From award-winning creators, Rebecca Young and Heath McKenzie comes this inspiring story to celebrate all winners ...”
Mater Dei K-2 Teachers and Teacher Assistants organised a fun session that involved reading the book as well as watching the video reading. They then enjoyed colouring in and making bookmarks, painting and constructing a sloth craft as well as participating in sloth yoga.
McDONALD's CHARITY FUN NIGHT
It was so good to see families drive through or drop in to their local stores for their dinner, with some big smiles on the students faces for a treat night!
With the support of McDonalds in Macarthur, we raised $5,724.40, which is our best ever result.
We are so appreciative to everyone in our generous community who participated in this year’s McDonalds Charity Fun Night.
WESTS TIGERS COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
Local NRL team, the Wests Tigers, recently announced a Community Partnership with Mater Dei through the kindness of a local family.
The Kirk family own and operate a family business, and are a current Wests Tigers player sponsor. At games days, instead of promoting their family business, they have nominated Mater Dei to receive the promotion, to help generate greater community awareness.
To be the beneficiary of this partnership is very unique, and Mater Dei is grateful to both the Kirk family and the Wests Tigers for the opportunity.
To watch a short video by the Wests Tigers, please click here:
Keep your eyes peeled for the Mater Dei logo at home games, and make sure you cheer the Tigers for many more wins this season.
AUSTRALIAN TEACHER AIDE OF THE YEAR AWARDS
This year Mater Dei has nominated our Teacher Assistants for the Australian Teacher Aide of the Year Awards. As a group they have been nominated in the Team category, let’s wish them luck for a well deserved recognised result.
G DAY: GRATITUDE DAY - Where we celebrate the great people in our lives.
Friday, 23 June, we will start by celebrating Mass in the school hall and then families and friends are welcome to join the students on the playground for a picnic.
IMPORTANT DATES
HELPFUL REMINDERS
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.
JOIN US ON OUR SOCIALS
COMMUNITY NEWS
