Term 1, Week 4 (27 February 2025)

PRINCIPAL'S ADDRESS

𝗔 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗢 𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗣𝗢𝗣𝗘 𝗙𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗜𝗦 

As I commence my newsletter article, I do so with thoughts of Pope Francis as he continues to remain in Rome's Gemelli Hospital to receive treatment for various health concerns. From the very beginning of his papacy, having chosen the name Francis after “the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation”, his radical message of peace and rejection of war, his embrace of the marginalised and the poor, and addressing the climate crisis through a call to environmental stewardship in his encyclical Laudato si’; his influence and impact has been felt well beyond the Catholic Church. We have much to give thanks for Pope Francis and continue to pray for his recovery to good health. 

Bishop Brian Mascord has called on all in the Diocese of Wollongong to be united in prayer for our Holy Father Pope Francis:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I invite you to join me in praying for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, who is currently facing health challenges. The Vatican has shared that Pope Francis has been diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs and is receiving treatment. While his condition has led to the cancellation of some public engagements, the Vatican has assured us that he is under close medical care, and his faith and commitment to shepherding the Church remain steadfast.

As a diocese, we stand in solidarity with Pope Francis, offering our prayers for his healing and strength. May the Lord, the Divine Healer, grant him comfort and a swift recovery, and may Our Lady, Help of the Sick, intercede for him during this time.

Let us lift our hearts in prayer:

"Heavenly Father, we entrust to you our Holy Father, Pope Francis.
Grant him strength in body, mind, and spirit, that he may continue to guide your Church with wisdom and love. Through the intercession of Mary, our Mother, bring him healing and peace. Amen."

Pope Francis has always asked us to pray for him—let us answer that call with faith and love.

+Bishop Brian Mascord

On Tuesday evening I attended the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong Education Mass at St John Vianney Co-Cathedral, Fairy Meadow.  The Mass was attended by staff from Catholic schools across the Diocese of Wollongong, celebrated by Bishop Brian Mascord. Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong Director of Schools Mr Peter Hill gave an inspiring address on Hope, reflecting on Pope Francis’ theme, ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, for the Year of Jubilee. Both Bishop Brian and Peter Hill referenced Catholic schools as places of Hope for our students and families in a world where this message is not always reflected. We see this very message clearly stated in the Good Samaritan Education ‘Philosophy of Education’ Statement: 

Catholic education in the Good Samaritan Benedictine tradition is committed to developing students who will engage with today’s world as grounded, hope-filled young people who are equipped to lead wisely, to listen deeply and to treat their neighbour and their environment with justice, love and the compassion of Christ.

Over the past fortnight we have welcomed prospective students and families looking to enrol their child at Mater Dei. Our parent information session was well attended and a particular highlight was hearing from 2 of our current parents, Mrs Amanda Abou-Rjeili (Matthew in Year 6) and Mrs Natasha Boullosa (Aria in Year 1),  who shared their own experiences of having a child at Mater Dei. We held our Open Day last Saturday where families attended for a tour of the school and our various facilities. The feedback about our school was, not surprisingly, resoundingly positive. Applications for our 2026 Kindergarten intake will be accepted up until Monday 7 April via the School Office. 

Our first Parent Teacher ‘meet and greet’ BBQ in the school playground yesterday was a great occasion to bring families together. While some students appeared slightly apprehensive about being back at school after hours, their concerns were quickly allayed by the realisation that they could see their friends, teachers and TAs enjoying a sausage sizzle and playing in the playground. The atmosphere was lively and full of activity. Thank you to all who were able to attend and I look forward to repeating this event next year. 

I am looking forward to our Opening School Mass this coming Friday which is always a highlight in the school calendar for me as we come together for the first time in this new year as an extended Mater Dei community and welcome visitors from GSE and local Catholic schools, our Mater Dei Leadership Team and Board, our parent body and local community in a celebration of the Eucharist, the very heart of our Catholic Faith.  

The COLA (Covered Outdoor Learning Area) is getting great usage by our classes K-12 and is definitely a welcomed addition to the playground during break time where it becomes a hive of activity with ball games, or simply a place to sit with friends. There will be an official blessing and opening of the COLA in due time and details will be communicated once finalised.

We received confirmation from Yeronga Uniforms that the new school bags are now available from their Camden store. I also take this opportunity to remind all parents and carers that the school hat is the only hat to be worn with the school uniform. Different style or themed hats are not to be brought to school as an alternative.

COMPASS PAY IS GETTING CLOSER!

You may have noticed some recent additions and/or activity in the Compass Portal (both on the App or web browser) with reference to School Fees. This may be in reference to outstanding fees or credit carried over into 2025. Disappointingly we had anticipated this function to be fully operational as of today, however we have experienced further delay with the full migration of fees over to Compass. I can assure you that any delay has not been caused by Mater Dei staff and/or processes and I appreciate everyone’s patience as this, hopefully final, hurdle is reached. Compass has advised that everything should be ready to ‘go live’ next Wednesday 5 March and we will communicate this to all parents and carers. In preparation, included with this newsletter is a handy step by step guide to take you through paying your school contributions through  the Compass Portal.

An important reminder for all families that Thursday 6 March and Friday 7 March are Pupil Free Days. It is unusual to have consecutive Professional Learning Days, however this is indicative of the current NSW educational climate with the reformed curriculum and the requirement for educators to be up to date with these changes and provided time to plan accordingly. All staff will be engaged in professional learning across these two days related to the reformed NSW Curriculum aligned to our 2025 school priorities. I thank parents and carers for making the necessary arrangements to accommodate these two pupil free days. 

As we prepare for the season of Lent commencing on Ash Wednesday, I invite you to consider how you might highlight the Lenten practices in your own family to reflect what our students will be learning about in their classrooms:  Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. 

I offer a simple prayer to use with your family throughout this important Liturgical Season: 

God, may Your light guide our day, and your spirit bring us peace. Amen.

JENNIFER FOLDES
PRINCIPAL

FROM THE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL'S DESK

Taxi Awareness Week

Last week Mater Dei recognised Taxi Awareness Week. This coincided with the NSW Government Bus Safety Awareness Week. In their classrooms, students focused on these 4 key messages:

1. At Mater Dei, when the flag is up it means it is safe to go near the taxis. (vehicles)
2. At Mater Dei, when the flag is down it means it is unsafe to go near the taxis. (vehicles)
3. At Mater Dei, students enter the taxi (vehicle) on the passenger side of the taxi. (vehicle)
4. At Mater Dei, students say ‘thank you’ to the driver when they get out of the taxi. (vehicle)

The word ‘vehicle’ was used to indicate that safety needs to be used on taxis as well as parent/private vehicles.

In addition to teaching the students about safety around taxis and vehicles, the opportunity was taken to remind all drivers of the importance of safety during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal. 

Key messages for drivers are:

• Engines off at drop off and pick up
• Vehicles do not move while students are moving
• Drivers, passengers and students remain in vehicles until the flag is up
• Follow staff instructions

At Mater Dei student safety is our priority and we all need to work together to keep students safe.

Celebrating Student Birthdays

Each student’s birthday is a special time of celebration. In order for all students to enjoy one another’s birthdays, we ask parents and carers to send along a small party bag of treats - preferably individual wrapped. The party bag will be sent home following the class acknowledgement of the birthday. 

Please do not send in cakes or the like to be shared amongst classes. Lolly / Treat bags are much easier to manage.

Personalised Plans for Students with Disability (PPSD)

The process of personalised learning, through PPSD, aims to ensure that effective personalised support measures are provided in learning environments that maximise academic and social development.

Throughout 2024, Mater Dei undertook a review of the PPSD process. This coincided with the launch of the revised PPSD tool by Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW). The process we will now undertake is a strengths based process that identifies the student’s individual strengths whilst recognising the functional impact of their disability. 

Following this, a collaborative meeting is organised where the student, class team and parents/carers meet to discuss achievable goals for the student. Goals can be academic, social or well being focused.

Collaborative PPSD meetings are scheduled for:

• Primary Grades: Monday 31 March - Wednesday 2 April

• Secondary: Monday 7 April - Thursday 10 April

Each meeting is scheduled for 30 minutes and parents are encouraged to attend in person. However, if this is not possible, a zoom meeting will be offered.

Next Monday, 3 March, parents/carers will receive a TryBooking link to reserve a time for their child’s PPSD meeting. All parents/carers are asked to reserve a timeslot.

Please note that these meetings will now run throughout the school day.

NAPLAN: Years 3, 5, 7, and 9

The NAPLAN test window starts on Wednesday 12 March and finishes on Monday 24 March. 

Teachers have indicated those students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 who would be able to participate in all, or selected assessments, of NAPLAN. AT Mater Dei adjustments are put into place in order for the students to have a successful experience and to encourage maximum participation. These adjustments might take the form of extra time or additional rest breaks. 

Parents/Carers are asked to consider their child’s capacity to participate in NAPLAN. If Parents/Carers decide that their child will not participate in the assessment, an exemption must be completed.

Where the class teacher has indicated possible participation, you will receive a letter to collaboratively decide upon your child’s participation. 

Further information for parents regarding NAPLAN is attached.

School Dismissal

Parents and Carers are reminded that school dismissal is via the Taxi/Carline starting at 2:55pm. The school day does not conclude before this time. 

Parents are asked to ensure that any changes to pick up arrangements are communicated with the school as well as other carers eg: taxi drivers prior to 2:30pm.

Please be mindful that dismissal time at Mater Dei is an extremely busy time for administration staff, who all have a role in ensuring that students are dismissed safely. This then allows taxis and vehicles to leave the premises in a timely fashion.

TONI SILLIS
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

P&F INFORMATION

Pre-Loved Uniforms - P&F Second Hand Uniform Sale

Donation Week: Monday 10 to Friday 14 March

• Do you have items you'd like to donate to the send hand uniform stall? These can be sent to school any day between Monday 10 March to Friday 14 March.
• All items must have no rips, tears or stains and be in good used condition.
• Please remove all names and labels before sending in.

Sale Day: 

 Friday 21 March between 9:30am and 10:30am 

• All sales are tap and pay or direct transfer into the P&F bank account. No cash can be accepted.

Prices:

• General uniform items are priced at $5 and $10 per item and blazers are $50 (very limited quantity). Sizes and ranges varies greatly and depends on donations received.

P&F Easter Raffle needs your help!

How can you help?

• We are seeking donations of easter eggs to make up our prizes. You can purchase anytime (keep an eye out for half price specials) and request that you send them into school between Monday 3 and Monday 10 March. Any donations big or small are very much appreciated and will all be used to put together the amazing prizes. Please remember we can not accept any donations containing nuts.

Raffle Tickets

• Raffle ticket sales will go live on Friday 14 March 2025. All tickets are purchased online and can be done via this link - https://www.raffletix.com.au?ref=utfe5 or scanning the QR code on the attached flyer.

Please be aware that the link will not work until Friday 14 March.

• Tickets start at $2 and the more you buy the cheaper they get.
• Feel free to share it with your family and friends.

Raffle Draw

• The raffle will be drawn on Friday 4 April. All prize winners will be contacted via phone and prizes can be sent home with students via taxis, parent pick up or collected from the administration office.

If you have any questions please email - pandf@materdei.org.au

P&F Volunteers

Are you interested in becoming a volunteer and supporting events hosted by P&F either occasionally or on a regular basis?

If so, we'd love for you to join our team of volunteers.

An example of some of the events you would be able to assist with include - Canteen, Easter Raffle, Mother's Day Stall, Second Hand Uniform Stall and Father's Day Stall.

All volunteers require a Working With Children Check (WWCC) that can be applied for via this link - https://wwccheck.ocg.nsw.gov.au/Apply

WWCC's are free for volunteers. Once you have received your approval can you please email a copy to - pandf@materdei.org.au 

Your WWCC lasts for 5 years and allows you to volunteer during this time or until it expires in which time you will need to do a renewal. If you already have one please send us an email. (pandf@materdei.org.au )

Once received these are verified and approved by school and we will confirm when you are able to start volunteering.

Please reach out via email if you have any questions and we are looking forward to having you on board.

P&F Annual General Meeting

When: Monday 17 March 2025

Time: 7pm

Where: Sister Camilla Ritchie Hall (School Hall) just inside the administration building

Listed below is how the evening will run.

• 7pm: Gathering with light refreshments 

• 7:30pm: Meeting begins. Reports tabled from 2024 P&F Executive Team and School Principal.

• AGM General Election: All positions are declared vacant and a new 2025 executive team will be selected through a nomination and voting process. This process will be overseen by Ms Jenny Foldes - Principal, Mater Dei School.

• The P&F Executive Team consists of the following - President, Treasurer and Secretary.

• Other roles and groups to be involved in are - Canteen including a Canteen Coordinator, Mother's Day and Father's Day Stall, Easter Raffle and the Second Hand Uniform Stall.
• Support from parents and school is given to anyone new to a role.

If you would like any information prior to the meeting or have any questions please email - pandf@materdei.org.au  and someone will be in touch.

STRONGER TOGETHER: Parent Learning Hub

This section of the Mater Dei School Newsletter has been created following many parent conversations and the role the school is able to provide as parents navigate their child through school.

The Stronger Together: Parent Learning Hub is intended to build a sense of community whilst providing guidance and knowledge for parents and carers as students progress through school. 

SCHOOL NEWS

MISSION & VISION

As we gather next Wednesday to receive the cross of ashes on our foreheads, we begin one of the most significant seasons in our Catholic faith. Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent, a 40-day period of reflection and preparation before Easter. This time holds special meaning for our school community as we walk together in faith.

The ashes we will receive remind us of our own humanity and mortality. When a priest or colleague marks our foreheads with the sign of the cross, saying "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return," we're called to humility and an awareness of our dependence on God. These ashes, made from the blessed palms of last year's Palm Sunday, symbolise our commitment to our faith’s renewal.

Lent invites us to follow Jesus's example when he spent 40 days fasting in the desert. During this time, we focus on three spiritual practices: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Through prayer, we strengthen our relationship with God. Through fasting, we practise self-discipline and make room in our lives for spiritual growth. Through almsgiving, we extend Christ's love to others, especially those in need.

Students will participate in Lenten activities that help them understand these practices. From classroom prayers, we hope to make this season of the Catholic Church meaningful for every student. We encourage families to continue these conversations at home, perhaps by setting aside special prayer time, practising meatless Fridays, or finding ways to help others as a family.

As we journey through these 40 days together, let us remember that Lent is not just about giving things up. It's about creating space in our lives for God's grace and transforming our hearts to be more like Christ's. When Easter morning arrives, may we all experience the joy of resurrection with renewed faith.

Mater Dei School will continue with our tradition of supporting Caritas Australia through Project Compassion during the Lenten season.  Students will be able to have two mufti days this term! Students can donate gold coins to come out of uniform! 

Week 7 Friday March 21st and Week 10 Friday 11th April - Gold Coins donation

Mission Leaders Conference

I recently had the privilege of gathering with my fellow Leaders of Mission from the other ten Good Samaritan Education Colleges at The Hermitage in Mittagong. There was thoughtful discussion and deep reflections on Stewardship, Conversatio and Justice through the lens of Integral Ecology, which made it an enriching experience. It was a privilege to share this time with my colleagues and to learn more about Pope Francis's Laudato Si’.  Latin for "Praised Be," Laudato Si' is the name of Pope Francis's encyclical on caring for our common home — planet earth. The letter is addressed to "every person living on this planet" and calls for a global dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet through our daily actions and decisions.  At the conclusion of the conference, the Leaders of Mission visited St Mary’s Star of the Sea College in Wollongong. A beautiful school that indeed practises Stewardship and Hospitality throughout all elements of the school. 

CURRICULUM

Learning in Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) is the foundation for lifelong engagement in physical activity. Through PDHPE, students learn to value movement through the acquisition and application of movement skills, concepts and strategies across a range of physical activities. Students practise, develop and refine the physical, cognitive, social and emotional skills that are important for engaging in movement and leading a healthy, safe and physically active life. 

The aim of PDHPE K–6 is to empower students with the essential knowledge, understanding, skills, values and attitudes to promote wellbeing and lead a safe, active and healthy life.

This year at Mater Dei School our teachers are programming and teaching from the new PDHPE Syllabus. Every class from Kindergarten to Year 6 will participate in 90 minutes of PE and 60 minutes of PDH each week. 

Our students are fortunate now to have our new COLA completed and ready to use for PE lessons. The COLA is a purpose built outdoor environment where our students can engage in a variety of PE experiences with an abundance of new sporting equipment. 

In Term 1, K-6 students are focusing their PE lessons on Athletics skills in preparation for the school athletics carnival early Term 2.

Secondary:

At Mater Dei, we are committed to delivering a high-quality PDHPE program that aligns with the new syllabus, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education 7-10 and Health and Movement Science Life Skills Stage 6 ensuring students develop essential skills for lifelong health and well-being. The updated syllabus places a stronger emphasis on practical learning, critical thinking, and real-world application, empowering students to make informed decisions about their health, safety, and relationships.

By following the new framework, students engage in contemporary topics relevant to their lives, including mental health, physical activity, respectful relationships, and personal development. This approach not only enhances their knowledge but also builds resilience, confidence, and the ability to navigate life's challenges.

Just like Primary, Secondary students will use the COLA for PE lessons but also participate in external opportunities to further develop skills within the framework.

SPORTS & EVENTS

Weekly Swimming Program:

• Parents and carers are reminded that students are unable to swim when they have been or are sick, have open wounds or are menstruating. If a student has had diarrhea or vomiting they are unable to swim for two weeks.
• Students need to wear a rash shirt and either board shorts or swimming shorts.

Today William and Jack represented Mater Dei at the Wollongong Diocese Primary Swimming. Both boys competed in the senior boys multi class. Jack came first in both freestyle and backstroke and William came second in both events.

Swimming Carnival:

Reminder our annual Swimming Carnival for Years 3-12, is coming up on Friday 14th March.

Consent is due on Compass. All students must arrive at school, as normal and travel with the school. Students cannot be dropped straight to the pool.

WORKPLACE LEARNING

Workplace Learning has now commenced for this year.

Students will attend first day orientations of their new work environment over the coming weeks.

We look forward to a very exciting year ahead of learning exciting new transferable skills at WPL.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

EVENTS

VACCINATIONS

Vaccinations will be held on the 13th of March 2025 for students in Year 7 and Year 10.

In 2025 the following vaccines are offered for free:

• Year 7 students are offered a single dose vaccine for diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (whooping cough) and a single dose vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV).
• Year 10 students are offered a single dose vaccine for meningococcal ACWY vaccine.

Vaccination will only be given at school if consent has been received.

If your child is in Year 7 or Year 10 this year, you can now give consent online for these routine school vaccinations. Parents/guardians can consent online at any time. However, to help our school vaccination team with clinic planning, we kindly ask that you do the online consent as soon as possible.

How to provide consent for your child’s school vaccinations:

1. To complete online consent, visit https://nswhealth.service-now.com/school_vaccination 
2. 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 the instructions on this website to create one: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/services/myservicensw-account/how-to-create-an-account   
3. Update or confirm your personal details in ServiceNSW, if needed.
4. Complete the School Vaccination Consent Form for your child. 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
• give separate consent for each recommended vaccine.
  
  

For detailed steps on how to provide consent, visit https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/online-consent-school-vaccination.aspx . 

The benefits of providing consent online:

• easily update your child’s details
• receive SMS and/or email notifications when vaccinations are given
• faster upload of vaccination records to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

If you or your child do not have a Medicare card or internet access, ask reception for a paper consent form. Please complete and return the form as soon as you receive it. This is important for the Immunisation Team to plan for the clinics and for you to receive an automated text message 72 hours before, to remind you about the clinic. 

STAFF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MAISY'S CORNER

2025 IMPORTANT DATES (Revised)

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 2025, please download the Application for Leave Exemption form on Compass, complete and return to schooladmin@materdei.org.au 

2025 SCHOOL DROP OFF / PICK UP PROCEDURES

COMMUNITY

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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