Term 3, Week 6 (29 August 2024)
PRINCIPAL'S ADDRESS
During the recent pupil free day, our staff spent the day together in prayer, reflection and learning as we were led through a spirituality day facilitated by Gabrielle Sinclair, Director of Formation and Mission Integration from Good Samaritan Education (GSE). Our day focussed on the story and legacy of St Benedict and the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, framed by the Parable of the Good Samaritan. An important aspect of belonging to a Good Samaritan School and Community is ongoing formation in the Benedictine Tradition, which we have also named as a priority area. Over the past 12 months several Mater Dei staff have experienced the various GSE Pilgrimages in Glebe and Sydney, as an opportunity to be immersed in the story and influence of St Benedict and the work and commitment of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, that ultimately led to the establishment and continuing work of Mater Dei today. We will be forever grateful for their courageous ‘Yes’!
You would have recently received an invitation to join a new support network facilitated by Sr Gerry, where parents and carers can come together to enjoy a cuppa, socialise and support one another in a warm and welcoming environment. We recognise the importance of providing opportunities for parents and carers from the various programs across the Mater Dei Organisation, including the School, to connect with each other and share their experiences and knowledgeable advice. The group meets each Monday from 9:30am-11am at Wivenhoe House (Next to the Chapel). Sr Gerry can be contacted on 0438 465 668 or geraldinek@materdei.org.au.
By now you would have received information for PAN 2024. Please keep a watchful eye for all Compass notices as we rely on this as the main source of information and communication for our parents and carers. As we move towards the last part of our school year, this is particularly important for end of year events, arrangements and parent/carer consent.
I am looking forward to joining family and friends of Mater Dei for the Sacramental Mass this weekend where our students will receive the Sacrament of First Holy Communion and Confirmation from Bishop Brian Mascord. I acknowledge and thank Mrs Gorey and Mrs Dzevlan for preparing the children in their Sacramental lessons over the past weeks. Please keep these children in your prayers.
"Loving God, You are the giver and source of all of our blessings.
We thank you and praise you.
Thank you for the gift of our children.
Help us to set boundaries for them, and yet encourage them to explore.
Give us the strength and courage to treat each day as a fresh start.
May our children come to know you, the one true God,
and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
May your Holy Spirit help them to grow in faith, hope, and love,
so they may know peace, truth, and goodness.
May their ears hear your voice.
May their eyes see your presence in all things.
May their lips proclaim your word.
May their hearts be your dwelling place.
May their hands do works of charity.
May their feet walk in the way of Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord."
Amen.
(Taken from Loyola Press)
JENNIFER FOLDES
PRINCIPAL
FROM THE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL'S DESK
As we enter the second half of the term, the ‘busyness’ of the term becomes a reality each day. Our students demonstrate such commitment to all they are involved in including preparing for Father’s Day, Foundation Dinner and PAN. It is a privilege to watch our students being involved in school life - they do it with such enthusiasm and a real sense of being present to the moment.
Sometimes it seems to us that being present to others can be difficult and being present to ourselves can be even more so. This week I offer you a spiritual practice that supports being present to yourself in order to be present to others.
Can you be present to this little bit of now?
Get curious: see if you can be present in a positive way, knowing that, reading these words, you're likely carrying the day's events, the day's memories, the day's hurts, and the day's disappointments.
We can let go of these right now, if we choose, because we're going to move into a different kind of knowing, one that the ordinary mind with its ordinary cares simply isn't up for. The students of Mater Dei are a blessing to the present moment in which we have the pleasure of enjoying if we allow ourselves to.
Mild Head Injury/Concussion at School:
From time to time students may have mishaps at school which result in mild head injuries. All head injuries must be reported to parents and carers and, in most cases, parents/carers will be asked to collect the student from school as a precautionary measure. Below is a fact sheet Mild Head Injury and Concussion for your information.
Getting a Good Night’s Sleep:
Research is starting to show that children’s sleep patterns are affecting their learning and general functioning throughout the day. The high use of technology and screens, including television, is being attributed in part to this concern. Having regular sleep routines is extremely important for all school age students and this includes having a regular bed time. The Sleep Foundation recommends that school age children (6-13 years) have 9-11 hours of sleep every night and teenagers (14-17 years) have 8-10 hours sleep every night.
Headspace gives further information about the importance of sleep in the attachment below.
TONI SILLIS
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL
SCHOOL NEWS
MISSION & VISION
Last Tuesday, we welcomed Father James from St Paul’s Parish to officiate the Sacrament of Reconciliation for our Sacramental students. The students used their visual prompts to assist with their discussion with Fr James. It was wonderful to see the number of parents and other family members attend to support their child in this special Sacramental milestone.
Reading is Magic!
Well it sure is! Book Week activities! How wonderful to receive a visit from our friends in Year 5 at St Gregory’s College! The Year 5 students embraced the goal of reading and engaging our Kindergarten, 1/2 Gregory and 1/2 Benedict students. The connection was meaningful and purposeful and no doubt rewarding for both cohorts of students. This occurred during Weeks 6 & 7.
Book Week Parade
The K-6 classes always enjoy the annual Book Week parade! Students and staff showed off their costumes and books with a stroll down the red carpet! We had a wonderful variety of characters from all the classes! Maisy and Prue stole the show with their Witch, the Lion and the Wardrobe costumes! We love reading at Mater Dei because Reading is Magic!
PEDAGOGY
Learning Conversations
This term school staff have been involved in Learning Conversations with their stage leader. The Learning Conversations have been an opportunity to discuss the learning data teachers have gathered about student progress. These conversations have been most valuable as teachers delve deeply into the learning needs of their class overall and individual students within the class.
Learning conversations are allowing staff to take a ‘student-centred’ approach to planning and programming by exploring data sources that inform best practice in teaching and learning at Mater Dei.
SPORTS & EVENTS
Soccer Gala Day
On Friday 23rd August, we had two teams participate in the Wollongong Diocese Primary Soccer Gala Day at Liquidamber Reserve, Narellan Vale. The students played against students from St Clare’s and St Paul’s in a round robin competition. The day was focused on participation and fun. Our students and staff had a lovely day and made lots of memories.
Wollongong Diocese Primary Athletics
On Friday 9th August, five primary students represented Mater Dei at the Wollongong Diocese Athletics Championships at Campbelltown Sports Stadium. The students competed in the 100m, 200m, shot out and long jump. The results were fantastic, with Rosie being awarded Senior Girls Champion, Marco being awarded Senior Boys Champion, Lilly-Rose 2nd place, Nariah 3rd place and Hayden 2nd place.
WORKPLACE LEARNING
Another workplace learning semester block has commenced for our senior students.
Students are settling in well to their new work environments, participating in orientations around the workplace, meeting staff and learning some exciting hands-on tasks. We look forward to watching the students gain independence and build on learned skills over the coming months. Thanks to our amazing business hosts within the community who support the Mater Dei workplace learning program and provide students with these valuable opportunities.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Summer Uniform Transition
Our summer uniform transition normally takes effect this coming Monday 2 September (following Fathers Day); but given the warm weather, students are welcome to wear their full summer uniform starting tomorrow Friday 30 August.
From the commencement of Term 4, Monday 14 October, all students must be in full summer uniform.
30 August - Our Father’s Day Liturgy will be held in the Carmela Ritchie Hall at 9:30 am. All male figures in our students’ lives are welcome to attend.
31 August - On 31 August, there will be eighteen students making their Sacrament of First Holy Communion and /or Confirmation, in our beautiful Mater Dei Chapel, with Bishop Bria and Fr James. What a special time for these students and their families /carers. Students have continued with their preparation, including visits to the Chapel and structured lessons and will continue to do so, up until the end of August. Families are encouraged to continue reading with their child, to assist with their preparation for the Sacramental Mass.
2 September - P&F Meeting - All Welcome
4 September - Secondary Assembly
6 September - Foundation Dinner Rehearsal
7 September - Foundation Dinner
13 September - Country Fair Mufti & P&F School Canteen
19 & 20 September - PAN Filming: Students must be in school attendance on these days to be involved in filming. If your child is absent on these days they will not appear in this year’s PAN production.
2024 SCHOOL DROP OFF / PICK UP PROCEDURES
EVENTS
National Science Week
The theme for National Science Week for 2024 was Species Survival.
Our students engaged in a lesson to increase their awareness and need for species survival. They explored some key vocabulary to learn some relevant language including species, biodiversity, survival, extinct and threatened. The Big Idea was that species survival is needed to keep biodiversity to provide food, clean water and the air we breathe.
The science lesson introduced some extinct native plants and animals including the thylacine and Bennett’s seaweed. Reasons why they are now extinct were discussed such as fire, pollution, disease and hunting. We then looked at some native threatened plants and animals including the hooded plover, koala and the Wollemi Pine. These native species are threatened due to fire, drought, road kill and disease. So the question asked of the students was: What can we do to help with species survival? With discussion and referring back to needing clean water and air it was decided to plant more trees in the school playground and to conduct an experiment to clean dirty water by filtration.
Each class was tasked with completing a water filtration experiment, plant their seedling and to water it in with their filtrated water.
Another suggestion that classes could complete at a later time was for students to design road safety signs to warn car drivers about native animals crossing our Mater Dei driveway and to be careful not to run over any animals who might be crossing the driveway.
It's always a good idea to identify possible problems that we can try to help with, especially from a scientific point of view.
Country Fair Mufti Day – Friday, 13 September
To support the Mater Dei Country Fair on Sunday, 27 October 2024, our next Country Fair Mufti Day is Friday 13 September (Week 8).
- Donations of Stationary or Arts & Crafts are being requested.
- Students can wear casual clothing to school on this day for making a donation. They are still required to wear closed in shoes and should wear appropriate clothes for accessing normal school activities.
- All donations are used to make our baskets for the Chocolate Wheel.
Thank you for your amazing support of our donation days!!!
Carols at Mater Dei – Thursday, 21 November
We are delighted to share that we will be hosting Carols at Mater Dei again in 2024.
This wonderful family event is confirmed for Thursday, 21 November (Week 6) at Mater Dei School (A date of Friday, 22 November was previously communicated to some families).
Carols at Mater Dei is a chance for families across all Mater Dei programs to come together, relax and socialise while also listening to some gifted performers sing your favourite Christmas hits.
More information is to come, so please lock it in your diaries. We hope to see you then!
Mater Dei Caregivers Connect – for Parents and Carers
Dear Parents and Carers of Mater Dei,
We are excited to introduce Mater Dei Caregivers Connect – a new support network designed just for you. This group is a relaxed space where parents and carers can come together to enjoy a cuppa, socialise and support one another in a warm and welcoming environment.
Whether you're looking to share experiences, gain insights, or simply connect with others who understand your journey, Mater Dei Caregivers Connect is here to help.
Facilitated by our own Sister Gerry, and with the support of Mater Dei parents Verity, Kate and Jenna, this group will gather each Monday from 9:30am-11am at Wivenhoe House (Next to the Chapel).
There is no need to pre-register, feel free to join us for a cuppa, we would love to see you there!
STAFF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Our next Staff Development Day / Pupil Free Day will be on Monday 11 November.
MAISY'S CORNER
We’re thrilled to share a fun and meaningful update about Maisy, our beloved school support dog. You may have noticed something new about Maisy recently—a bandana! This small accessory has quickly become a big hit around the school.
The bandana isn’t just for show; it represents her important role in our school community in the same way her vest did. As a working dog, Maisy plays a vital role in providing comfort and support to our students. The bandana was introduced to make her even more approachable and to signal her readiness to assist whenever needed. When students see her wearing the bandana, they know she’s there to help, offering a sense of reassurance and warmth. The students have expressed that they enjoy Maisy wearing the bandana as it has created a larger petting area, providing a better sensory experience.
The response from students has been overwhelmingly positive. Many have commented on how much they love Maisy’s new look.
2024 IMPORTANT DATES FOR PARENTS
FORMS & PROCEDURES
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 2024, please download the Application for Leave Exemption form on Compass, complete and return to schooladmin@materdei.org.au
2024 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.
COMMUNITY
NextPath Continuous Learning Teen Holiday Program (For ages 12 & up)
NextPath Continuous Learning Holiday Program (For ages 16 & up)
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