Hello to Students, Parents, Staff and Friends of St Matthew’s,
Welcome back to you all, I hope you all had a most relaxing and enjoyable long weekend. Even though it is a shorter week back at school this week there is a lot happening. Yesterday, all grades from Prep to Six at two separate performances enjoyed Hugh and his show “Brilliant at Being Resilient.”
On Thursday, the year 5 & 6 students will be spending a whole day involved in a program called “Aspire Higher.”
On Friday the whole school will be doing quite a number of activities as it is “National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence – Bullying NO WAY!
Also on Friday we will be having Assembly in the Church once again so that the grades can be spread about. It is 3B’s Assembly so parents who have children in 3B are allowed to attend. During assembly we will be presenting all the new SRC Reps (Student Representative Council) for each grade. Their parents will be allowed to attend as well. Unfortunately, I am sorry but there is not enough room in the Church to, have a safe environment, to open Assembly up to all other parents.
My sincere thanks to Mrs Jackie Fleischmann for organising both yesterday and Friday and to Mr Simon McKenzie for organising Thursday’s event. Well done to both of you. Please find listed further into the newsletter the new SRC Reps.
NEW SCHOOL COUNSELLOR
Yes, we have been able through the services of Catholic Care appoint a new School Counsellor. This has been the agency that I have had the pleasure of working in tandem with for over some twenty years in both schools where I have been Principal.. Our new Counsellor is Mrs Nazan (Naz) Yusuf who comes to us very highly recommended by all her referees. Mrs Helen Howden (Acting Deputy Principal, REL and Learning Diversity Leader), Mrs Fleischmann (Student Wellbeing Leader) and myself interviewed Naz and were also very suitably impressed. Naz more than likely will commence at the start of term 2 as well as Mrs Rachael Spooner our new Deputy Principal.
RAPID ANTIGEN TESTS
As you are aware the third lot of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) came home with each student again yesterday and today. If your child hasn’t been at school then please call in and pick up your pack, one per child.
This week all students should have been tested on Monday morning before coming to school. For the remainder of this week please test your child/children on Wednesday morning before coming to school and Monday and Wednesday of each week. If your child tests NEGATIVE you DO NOT have to contact school. If your child tests POSITIVE then YOU DO CONTACT school.
My sincere thanks to those diligent parents who have been testing their children. We have had a low amount of positive cases so far (fingers Crossed) and hopefully it remains that way.
ENROLMENTS FOR 2023
Some families have been asking about when to enrol their children for 2023. We opened yesterday Tuesday 15th March enrolments in Catholic Education Week, which always has St Patrick’s Feast day in it. We also have tours during that week during both the day and evening as well.
The second two are on tonight, Thursday 17th March @9:30am & 7:00pm
Advertising Notice Boards will be going up around the perimeter fence in the coming weeks advertising that enrolments are open for 2023.
If one of these times suits you then please ring the office on 9359 5423 to book yourself in.
Also if families are unable to attend tours at this time we can arrange other times which suit both prospective parents and the school.
PREP WELCOME MASS (6PM) AND BBQ (7PM) WILL BE ON SATURDAY 2ND APRIL ALL GOING WELL. Stay tuned for a definite date.
Please remember in your prayers the flood victims in NSW & QLD and also all the population in the Ukraine. Take care, stay safe and stay well everyone.
Yours Sincerely,
Bob Brown
Principal
