Term 4, Week 1 (17 October 2024)

PRINCIPAL'S ADDRESS

Welcome back to Term Four! In reaching this time of the year I am sure that you also find yourselves wondering where the year has gone and reflecting on the fast paced nature of our lives. I am hopeful that with the information we have focused on in our first newsletter for the term,  you may feel a sense of organisation and preparedness for this term and the following 2025 school year. There will of course be opportunities to focus on the celebrations and achievements within our school community over the coming newsletters, however the purpose of this newsletter is mainly for information sharing and, in particular, to inform parents and carers about important dates for 2025 to assist with planning. While every effort will be made to avoid making any changes to these published dates, please be aware that, at times, competing agendas or events may require the need to adjust the calendar and this will be promptly communicated to parents and carers. Please note the dates for Staff Professional Learning that are “Pupil Free Days”.

Information for our much anticipated upcoming PAN event, including details for purchasing tickets to the screenings at Events Cinemas Macarthur, will be communicated via Compass. I am looking forward to seeing our stars shine at this red carpet event! 

With the Mater Dei Country Fair just around the corner next weekend on Sunday 27 October, let’s hope the sun continues to shine for this fabulous community event. Thank you for your very generous donations and contributions that have been sent in with the children for the Country Fair over the many mufti days last term and our final one this Friday. I also thank you for any time that you may have been able to give to assist with the preparations in the lead up, or helping in a stall on the day. Regardless, the Country Fair is about our community and the best outcome is your presence on the day.

Term Four School Fee statements will be sent home shortly. As always, I urge any parents or carers who may require assistance with outstanding fees to please contact me via Ms Natalie Kinder to arrange a convenient time to discuss this.

Last Sunday, Fr David Catterall, Parish Priest of St Mary MacKillop Catholic Parish Oran Park, shared the heartbreaking news that he has been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. Along with this news, Fr David announced that he had made the difficult decision to resign as the Parish Priest following the advice of his medical teams requiring him to remain under medical supervision. Fr David and the parishioners at St Mary MacKillop Parish are wonderful friends and supporters of Mater Dei and we join them in prayer, through the intercession of St Mary MacKillop and Servant of God Eileen O’Connor, for healing and guidance during this most challenging time. A special novena prayer for Fr David has been shared by the Parish Office NOVENA PRAYERS FOR FR DAVID CATTERALL

Ever generous God, 

You inspired Saint Mary MacKillop to live her life faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
and to be constant in bringing hope and encouragement to those who were disheartened, lonely or needy. 

With confidence in Your generous providence and joining with Saint Mary MacKillop we ask that You grant our request for the healing of Fr David Catterall.

We ask that our faith and hope be fired afresh by the Holy Spirit so that we too, 
like Mary MacKillop, may live with courage, trust and openness. 

Ever generous God hear our prayer. 

We ask this through Jesus Christ. 

Amen.

Semester Reports & 2025 Class Social Stories:

Year 12 Semester Two Reports will be available to parents via Compass on Friday 8 November. 

We would highly recommend that you download a copy of your child’s report/s before the end of term as your Compass access will no longer be active once your child has left Mater Dei.

Years K - 11 Semester Two Reports will be available to parents via Compass on Friday 29 November.

Please note, you will be able to access your child’s reports via the Compass  app/website at any point while they are enrolled at Mater Dei however we recommend that you download a copy of the report as you will no longer have access to the app/website once your child has left Mater Dei.

If you have any issues accessing Semester Reports, please email schooladmin@materdei.org.au

A Class Social Story, which will include your child's class and staffing for 2025, will also be provided on Compass on Friday 29 November 2024.

End of Year Schedule of Events & End of Year Activity Days:

2025 Important School Dates for Parents:

JENNIFER FOLDES
PRINCIPAL

FROM THE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL'S DESK

Kindergarten 2025 Orientation:

This term we begin the formal orientation process for our 2025 Kindergarten students. This begins with the Parent Information afternoon on Wednesday 23 October and is followed by 4 orientation sessions for both parents and, soon to be, students.

It is an exciting time for all as these young boys and girls begin their school journey at Mater Dei. As we watch our Year 12 students graduate this term it is a reminder to cherish each milestone the children make as they grow so quickly.

October is Mental Health Month!

This is a time marked across Australia to raise awareness and promote better mental health for all. The Month also provides us the opportunity to understand the importance of good mental health in our everyday lives and encourages help seeking behaviours when needed. 

The Mental Health Month theme for 2024 is  'Let’s Talk About It'. This theme emphasises the significance of open dialogue and communication regarding mental health across various platforms and settings. The theme’s 'Talk' aspect highlights the importance of inclusive discussions, considering diverse needs and utilising different mediums for conversation. Meanwhile, the 'It' component, is open-ended, allowing individuals to choose the topics they want to discuss. This could encompass conversations of lived experience stories, navigating mental health systems, or seeking resources and support.

The attached resource explores 3 steps to ‘Talk About It’ - Connect, Deep Listening & Continued Support. 

World Teacher’s Day - Friday 25 October:

World Teachers' Day is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the immense effort and dedication that teachers put into their work. 

Why ‘Hats Off to Teachers’?

The term ‘hats off’ has a long history of being used to show respect, admiration and offer congratulations. It can be traced back to medieval times when knights would remove their helmets to show respect. Today you don’t have to be wearing a hat, you can simply say ‘hats off’ and as well as being respectful, it can be used to celebrate achievement. So, hats off to you for learning about hats off!

Below are some cards you can download for your child to write a special message to their teacher.

eSafety:

The changes in the technology landscape can be difficult to keep up with. As a school community we try to be conscious of all that our students may be exposed to. The eSafety Commissioner has some terrific resources for parents and teachers all aimed to support students as they navigate life online.

One element of the site is an explanation of the various social media apps. It’s a guide to help you find out how to protect your personal information and report harmful content on common social media, games, apps and sites. It is important to remember that the entries are for information only and are not reviews or endorsements by eSafety.

TONI SILLIS
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

SCHOOL NEWS

CURRICULUM

Curriculum Reform:

The Curriculum Reform across New South Wales will see the redevelopment of all syllabus documents from Kindergarten to Year 12. Learning at Mater Dei starts by identifying each student on a learning continuum and then continuing the learning with the guidance of the NSW Syllabus. 

The curriculum reform has come about as a response to addressing the global challenges facing schools. The reform is more than just a new syllabus - it is a transformation in the way we think about learning and teaching. 

Currently, we are implementing the reformed English and Mathematics syllabus. As we look to 2025, we will be planning the implementation of the other syllabus across Kindergarten to Year 12. This is an exciting time in education, particularly for our Mater Dei students.

SPORTS & EVENTS

Performing Arts Night - Mater Dei at the Movies

With just over three weeks to go to the premier of “Mater Dei presents, I’ve Got the Music in Me”, we are busy finalising the editing of the movie and preparing the red carpet for opening night.

Families will be able to purchase tickets from Wednesday 23rd October on the Event Cinemas website. Detailed instructions and an access code will be sent out via Compass on Wednesday morning.

Everyone will be required to purchase a ticket to view the movie, tickets are $10 each.

There will be two viewings of the movie, Friday 8th November 6pm (Opening Night, Red Carpet) and Sunday 10th November 10am.

All families will receive a copy of their child's photo. Copies of the Movie and Digital photos will be available to order after the viewing.

Representative Sport

Good Luck to Rosie, Marco, Lilly-Rose and Hayden who will represent Mackillop at the NSW PSSA Athletics Championships next week at Homebush.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

P&F | Canteen Reusable Lunch Bags

Order your Stickybeaks reusable lunch bags!!! 

• Range of colours to choose from.
• Preferred option for canteen orders.
• Lasts for years, safe zip pocket for money, easy for students to manage, environmentally friendly.
• Get one for recess and lunch.

Orders and payment via direct deposit into the P&F bank account close Friday 25 October.

EVENTS

Country Fair Mufti Day - Tomorrow, Friday 18 October

Mater Dei Country Fair

Mater Dei Ex-Student Reunion

Mater Dei Caregivers Connect

Dear Parents and Carers of Mater Dei,

Mater Dei Caregivers Connect is a new support network for parents and carers across all programs at Mater Dei. This group is a relaxed space where parents and carers can come together to enjoy a cup of tea, socialise and support one another in a warm and welcoming environment.

Facilitated by our own Sister Gerry, and with the support of Mater Dei parents Verity, Kate and Jenna, this group gathers each Monday from 9:30am-11am at Wivenhoe House (Next to the Chapel).

All parents and carers are welcome – please come and join us for a chat and a cuppa!

If you have any questions or would like to chat, please feel free to reach out to Sister Gerry directly.

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!

STAFF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

2024 TERM 4 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)

1. Click on the student
2. Click on the 3 lines in top left corner
3. Click Open in Browser
4. Click on Community Icon (2 heads)
5. Click on School Documentation
6. 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 SCHOOL DROP OFF / PICK UP PROCEDURES

COMMUNITY

Assisted School Travel Program - ATSO Recruitment Campaign

Western Sydney Wanderers Weekly Inclusion Program 

School Student Concession Cards

If you're a student aged 16 years or older and eligible for concessions, the Transport Concession Entitlement Card serves as proof of entitlement when using a Child/Youth Opal card within the Opal network or when traveling on child or concession fares in NSW. 

The Transport Concession Entitlement Card replaces the following cards:

1. Senior Secondary Student Concession Card (16 years and over) – also issued to Mature Secondary Students (18 years and over), Distance Education Students and Home School Students.
2. Proof of Age card (when a student under 16 years of age looks older)
3. Boarders Rail Pass

To travel on a Child/Youth Opal card or a child/concession ticket, students must carry a concession entitlement card.

Children aged between 4 to 15 years do not require a proof of entitlement for concession travel. However, if they look more mature, they can get a Transport Concession Entitlement Card to verify to authorised officers that they are under 16 years old.

Please contact Mater Dei School Admin on schooladmin@materdei.org.au if you are interested in applying for a Concession Entitlement card.

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