St Matthew's Catholic Primary School

Term 1, 29th March 2022, No.5

Parish Priest: Fr Florentino (Boy) Galdo

School Principal: Mr Bob Brown

Acting Deputy/RE Leader: Mrs Helen Howden

School Email: principal@smfawknernth.catholic.edu.au

School Phone: 0393595423 

St Matthew's Primary School is committed to creating an environment where the safety, wellbeing, and participation of all children within our care is paramount. 

Principal's Message

Hello to Students, Parents, Staff and Friends of St Matthew’s,

RAPID ANTIGEN TESTS

As you are aware the fourth 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 is the last lot we believe leading up to the Term 1 holidays.

From February through to March we went a whole month without a student having a reported positive case. Once again my sincere thanks to those diligent parents who have been testing their children. We have only a week and three days to go to the holidays, let’s hope we can stay on top of COVID until then.

PREP WELCOME MASS

Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond our control we have had to reschedule the Prep Welcome Mass /  BBQ / Picnic until the first Saturday back next term, which is Saturday 30th April. I do apologise for the late notice, but we have been hanging out to the last minute hoping it would be this Saturday.

NEW SCHOOL COUNSELLOR

Our new Counsellor Mrs Nazan (Naz) Yusuf commences with us this Friday and will be here next Tuesday and Friday as well. She will be using this time to set up her Counselling room and also go through the files of the students who were seeing our counsellor Filena last year.

YEAR PREP – 6 ENROLMENTS ARE OPEN FOR 2023

We opened 2023 enrolments for Prep-6 on Tuesday 15th March.  

We know that a number of families were unable to attend our school tours during Catholic education week, but we can arrange other times which suit both prospective parents and the school. So please call the office on 9359 5423 to book yourself in, ask Almoza and she will confer with myself and I am sure we can accommodate a mutual time for both parties.

DATES TO KEEP IN MIND

This Friday 1st April – Year 4B Assembly will be held in the hall commencing at 2:35pm. Only parents of Students in 4B and receiving Classroom Awards will be allowed to attend.                                              

Thursday week, 7th April – Our Easter Bonnet Parade will take place on the Soccer Field commencing at 9:15am. Parents will be allowed, only if they are wearing a mask and stay in the area designated for them on the soccer field. Parents can enter and leave through the Parish gate near the hall.

Thursday week, 7th April - Our Easter Raffle will be drawn in the office that afternoon. All winners will be announced via our SkoolBag App that afternoon.

Friday week, 8th April – End of Term Whole School Mass will be celebrated in the Church at 12:00pm. Only students and Staff will be in attendance.   

Friday week 8th April – Whole School Assembly will be held in the hall commencing at 2:35pm. Only parents of Students receiving Principal’s Awards will be allowed to attend.                                              

Once again please remember in your prayers the flood victims in NSW & QLD and also all the whole population in the Ukraine. Take care, stay safe and stay well everyone.

Yours Sincerely,

Bob Brown - Principal                                             

Dates To Remember

TERM 1, 2022

MARCH 

Monday 28th - Easter Appeal (St Vincent De Paul)

Thursday 31st – School Photos

APRIL  

Saturday 2nd – Prep Welcome Mass & BBQ (TBC)

Tuesday 5th - First Reconciliation evenings 7pm - 8pm

Thursday 7th -  CASUAL CLOTHES DAY  (gold coin donation) and EASTER BONNET PARADE at 9.15 on the soccer field

Friday 8th - End of Term 3.15pm dismissal

Good Friday - 15th 

Easter Sunday - 17th 

Monday 25th – Anzac Day - No school for Staff and Students

Tuesday 26th – Term 2 Begins 8.50am 


Sacramental Dates

First Holy Communion Year 4 Students 

Saturday 18th June 5.30pm

Sunday 19th June 12.30pm

Confirmation

Friday 29th July 6pm

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

LEARNING AND TEACHING

GARDENING CLUB

High School Applications for Gifted and Highly Able Students

Often parents ask about opportunities for students who are excelling at school especially in

Mathematics, English and Science. The government provides a program called SEAL.

SEAL programs are offered to gifted and highly able students. If your child is performing well above

grade level consistently over a number of years and enjoys problem solving and extending him or

herself then this is something to think about.

What is SEAL?

SEAL stands for Select Entry Accelerated Learning.

“Victorian Government secondary schools have been operating specific programs at authorised

schools for gifted students since 1980. These have been known as Select Entry Accelerated Learning

(SEAL) schools. The Academy of Accredited SEAL Schools (TAASS) has been established to

maintain this tradition to enable groups of like minded students to develop academically, socially and

emotionally.”

https://www.sealacademy.org.au/index.php/about-the-seal-academy

Students in a SEAL program usually complete years 7, 8, 9 and 10 in three years and then have the

opportunity to do one or two VCE subjects in year 10. This is a process called telescoping - where

students move through at a faster pace and also have the opportunity for other enrichment

experiences.

Which Schools Offer a SEAL Program?

The full list of metropolitan SEAL schools can be found here.

https://www.sealacademy.org.au/index.php/list-of-academy-seal-schools/school-list

In our local area both Gladstone Park Secondary College and Reservoir High School offer SEAL

programs.


Gladstone Park Secondary College

14-36 Taylor Drive Gladstone Park VIC 3043

Email gladstone.park.sc@edumail.vic.gov.au

Phone 9933 0500

http://gladstoneparksc.vic.edu.au

Contact Nola Evangelou

Brochure: Gladstone Park SC SEAL Brochure

GPSC_A4-Brochure_SEAL_2018-v2-email-changed-1.pdf (gladstoneparksc.vic.edu.au)


Reservoir High School

855 Plenty Road Reservoir VIC 3073

Email reservoir.hs@edumail.vic.gov.au

Phone 9466 0900

http://www.reservoirhs.vic.edu.au

Contact Marc Demaria

Brochure: Reservoir HS SEAL Brochure

2020-SEAL-Flyer.pdf (reservoirhs.vic.edu.au)


Applications are in early May and are followed by a Saturday testing day shortly after.

If you are interested (or curious) please read the brochures and feel free to contact me if you have

any questions.

Ms Katrina White

Mathematics Leader

WELLBEING

WELLBEING NEWS

At St Matthew’s we use the program You Can Do It as part of our Social Emotional Learning.

This program has 4 modules for each level to go through over the course of the year.

This year we have entered into the program slowly and really unpacked the 5 keys to success.

These being

Resilience

Confidence

Getting Along

Persistence

Organisation

                                                          

All levels have unpacked these skills and this is a common language around the school.

It is important that these skills are being practised and recognised in all areas of the school, whether it be in class during learning time, outside on the yard, during specialist classes, in achievement awards and reports.

Talk to your children at home about these skills and see how you can use it in your own home.

 

COMMUNITY NEWS

MEET THE TEACHER

Easter Bonnet Parade

CASUAL CLOTHES AND EASTER BONNET PARADE

Thursday 7th April on the Soccer Field at 9.15am

Easter Bonnet and Hat Competition

Share Your Easter Bonnet /Hat Creation and Win!

In celebration of Easter, we are running a fantastic Easter Bonnet/Hat competition. Everyone put your thinking caps on and start getting creative as there is a prize for each year level to be won. Parade will be held on the same day as casual clothes day, along with drawing of Easter Raffle in the afternoon.

Did you know by shopping at Ritchie’s IGA and scanning your loyalty card you can support St Matthew’s.

When joining the Ritchies Card program you are given the option to nominate your favourite club school or charity (known as Recipients). Each time you scan your card (either physical card or electronic card in the App) when making a purchase at any of our participating stores, the total is recorded to your chosen club, school or charity. At the end of each month, Ritchies will pay your chosen club, school or charity .5% of the total accrued directly into the Recipient’s nominated bank account*. 

The Parents and Friends are proudly supported by

BUNNINGS COBURG

Penola Catholic College

Mercy College

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