Welcome back to Term 2!

We are excited to welcome all our families back for another action-packed term of learning and community life at St Matthew’s. Term 2 is already off to a great start, with students, staff and families engaging in a wide range of events that showcase the spirit of our school.

In the first weeks of term, we had some senior students take part in the Da Vinci Decathlon, supported by Mrs Powell and Miss Murdock. Families also came together in great numbers for our Election Day BBQ and Bake Sale, where over 1,000 sausages were served, and generous (and delicious!) contributions to the bake stall and raffles raised vital funds for our student wellbeing programs. Thank you to Michael Shelton and his huge team of helpers who made this event so successful.

On 26 April, our ANZAC Day Commemorative Service was reverently led by the Youth Ministry Team, honouring the sacrifice of service men and women. Our Confirmation candidates in Year 6 will commence their preparation journey very soon, and Catholic Schools Week is currently underway, marking a time of gratitude for Catholic education and welcoming prospective families as part of our daily school tours.

Looking ahead, students will participate in exciting excursions and camps, including the Year 5 Camp at Tharwa, Kindergarten’s visit to the Art Gallery, and Year 6’s exploration of STEM at Questacon. We're also launching key resilience and wellbeing programs such as Fearless Women and Active Attitudes - Gritty Kids, each designed to nurture confidence, resilience, and perseverance.

Other highlights this term include National Simultaneous Storytime, a Kindergarten Museum excursion, and Prayer Celebrations led by Year 5, Year 3 and Year 2. Year 6 will also take part in the NAPLAN ICT trial, supporting future improvements to assessment systems.

We’re grateful for your continued partnership and look forward to another wonderful term together!

2026 Enrolments Now Open

Our official enrolment period has commenced for children starting Kindergarten in 2026. If you have a child ready to begin school, or know of a family who might be considering St Matthew’s, we warmly encourage you to get in touch.

Please contact Brooke in the front office on 6254 2653 to arrange a tour or for further information. We are offering daily school tours throughout May, and we would love to showcase all that our school has to offer.

Enrolments close at the end of May, so don’t miss this opportunity to join the St Matthew’s community.

School Fees

Term 2 School Fees will be distributed via email this week.

Term 2 2025 Fees are due by week 4 (23 May 2025) unless payment is being made by regular instalments.

Please contact the front office if you haven’t received your fees or have any questions.

New Direct Debit Payment Option

Over the holiday break, you would have received information about BPoint Enterprise Solution. This is a mechanism that manages direct debit arrangements for the payment of school fees.

What is BPoint, and What Do You Need to Do?

BPoint is a secure Commonwealth Bank payment processing platform designed to facilitate online payments while ensuring the highest security standards. This system safeguards your financial information using industry-leading security measures.

Our new direct debit platform will allow you to pay school fees using either a bank account or a credit card (excluding AMEX). Please note that payments made via credit card will incur a 0.5% surcharge.

Establishing Direct Debits

You would have received an email outlining estimated weekly, fortnightly, and monthly repayment options calculated to ensure all fees are paid by the end of the year. These amounts will also include any outstanding 2024 balances.

While using the direct debit payment option is not compulsory, many families find it helpful in staying up to date with their financial obligations.

For any questions or further assistance, don't hesitate to get in touch with Chris, our Finance Manager.

Happy Mother’s Day

This weekend, we take a moment to recognise and thank all the mothers, grandmothers, and carers in our St Matthew’s community. Your love, care and dedication play an essential role in the lives of our students—and in the life of our school.

Thank you for all that you do, seen and unseen.

We wish you a joyful Mother’s Day filled with love and moments of rest.

Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at St Matthew’s!

Third Sunday of Easter (C)

The matter-of-fact scene of breakfast by the lakeshore in weekend's Gospel reading, John 21:1-19, has deep theological and pastoral significance. The experienced fishermen are to become fishers of people. It is noteworthy that, as they were first called from what they knew best, fishing, now, despondent after the demise of Jesus and a fruitless night of fishing, they encounter the Risen Lord. Jesus directs them to a super-abundant catch as if to prefigure their new mission. The catch is numbered at 153 fish. Why the detail? Scholars suggest that this is to emphasise the mission of the Church will go out to all nations; 153 being the then calculated number of independent political entities. Peter has a particular role as leader of this community, which in the physical absence of Jesus will hereafter be renewed in the hospitality of God by the celebration of the Eucharist/Mass. But first, Peter’s faith is tested, mindful of his earlier threefold denial by another charcoal fire. “Only if Simon loves Jesus ‘more than these others’ will he be suitable to take up the pastoral role which Jesus has exercised to the point of death . . . In fact, as Jesus goes on to foretell, Peter too will end his pastoral office by laying down his life in imitation of his Lord” (Brendan Byrne). If faith is not lived, it is a mere philosophy of religion (Richard McBrien). To speak the truth in love has been and continues to be the mission of the Church. Committed Canberra Catholic and former businessman and senior Commonwealth public servant John Menadue has written in unequivocal terms about the tragedy of the war in Gaza. So too did Pope Francis on many occasions, addressing the issue in his last public address hours before his death. Menadue is unstinting in his criticism of Israeli politicians and the actions of the Israeli Defence Force. Many Israelis and others around the world are, too. I encourage you to pick up a copy of Menadue’s article in the foyer and decide for yourself. While bishops have a particular responsibility to lead and engage in the light of Scripture and the living tradition of the Church, leadership is not restricted to the ordained. To speak the truth in love is at the heart of our Jubilee Year of Hope. Bishop Vincent Long, Parramatta Diocese, recently reflected that the Jubilee is grounded in the Jewish sabbatical tradition. He spoke of it as a time “of radical reset: debts forgiven, slaves freed, land returned. It was a vision of restoration for communities fractured by greed and inequality. Long went on to say, “We are not naïve. But we are not resigned either. We believe in the possibility of transformation not because we are strong, but because Christ is present, even in the ruins. . . . And so the Church must embrace its calling to be critical in critical times; to model a different way of being human, grounded in justice, animated by mercy, and sustained by hope. Let us go forward then, walking with and for the poor, and building a world where no one is left behind. That is our task. That is our witness. That is our hope.”  

 Fr John

South Belconnen Parish Priest

Child Safeguarding Corner

The Child Safe Standards were proposed in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (the Royal Commission), which shone a spotlight on thousands of cases where organisations in Australia failed to protect children in their care from abuse.

The Child Safe Standards provide us with tangible guidance about how to create cultures, adopt strategies and act to put the interests of children first, to keep them safe from harm. Each fortnight, we’ll present one of the standards and ask you to reflect on how you think we’re addressing the recommendations. 

Child Safe Standard 1: Child safety is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture

A child-safe school is committed to child safety. This is demonstrated in its leadership, the way the organisation is managed, and the day-to-day activities it carries out. A child-safe school culture drives the way things are done and how issues and risks are managed. Our aim is to prioritise child safety in what we say and do:

• We have made a public statement on child safety and champion a child-safe culture. 
• We recognise that child safety is a shared responsibility across our school. 
• We ensure that staff understand and comply with your organisation’s Child Safe Code of Conduct, which sets out clear behavioural standards when interacting with children. 
• We ensure that staff understand their obligations in reporting, sharing information and keeping records.

Child safety is everyone’s responsibility. Our staff have an important role in following all our school policies and procedures, immediately raising concerns, and being proactive in managing child safety risks. The code of conduct is signed by all adults who work in the school; it is part of our induction processes and revisited at the beginning of each year.

If we are addressing this standard, we would expect children to say: 

• Teachers at my school ask my opinion and listen to me.
• I feel safe at St Matthew’s.
• I feel respected and trust the adults who are looking after me. 

If you have any questions or feedback about this Standard, please email me (petra.cole@cg.catholic.edu.au).

Petra Cole

Assistant Principal

Welcome back to Term 2! I hope the Easter season has brought peace, renewal, and the joy of the Risen Christ into your homes. As a Catholic school community, we are reminded that Easter is not just a single day, but a season of hope that continues to inspire us to live out the message of Christ’s resurrection in our daily lives.

As we begin this new term, may we carry forward the light of Easter, embracing each day with faith, compassion, and a renewed commitment to walking together as people of God. Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership in nurturing the spiritual growth of our students.

Wishing you and your families every blessing for the term ahead.

ANZAC Day Prayer Reflection

On Tuesday of Week One, we took time to reflect on ANZAC Day. This meaningful reflection was led by our Youth Ministry Team, a group of Year 6 students who volunteer in our school ministry to spread the love of Jesus. They worked diligently at the end of Term 1 to prepare for this important occasion. Their efforts were commendable as they honoured those who have sacrificed their lives for others, following Jesus' most important commandment: "Love One Another" (John 15:9-17). We were also delighted to welcome back Tivani, a former student, who shared his experiences and enjoyment of being part of the cadets.

  

Sacramental Programs

At the end of last term, we celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Thank you to our families, parents, teachers, priests and Parish Priest, Fr John, for the support of our students during this program.

This term, we look forward to the Sacrament of Confirmation. This sacrament is for our baptised Year 6 students who have participated in all the prior sacraments. It offers them an opportunity to deepen their faith and experience the Holy Spirit at work within their lives.

Parents of applicable students will receive an invitation to enroll their child for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Enrolments will be open through QKR till Tuesday, 13th May. 

Rock and Water at St Matthew’s – Building Strength, Confidence and Connection

This term, Year 5 students at St Matthew’s Primary School will be taking part in the internationally recognised Rock and Water program during Term 2. This highly engaging program uses a combination of physical activity, reflection and discussion to help students develop inner strength, self-control and respectful communication.

Originally developed in the Netherlands, Rock and Water began as a martial arts-based strategy to support children who were being targeted by bullies. Rather than relying solely on adult intervention, which can often be less effective in the long term, the program teaches children how to recognise, respond to and manage difficult situations themselves. It builds confidence by showing students how to remain strong without being aggressive, and how to walk away from intimidation with a sense of dignity and pride.

The program’s central metaphors — rock (representing strength, firmness and setting boundaries) and water (representing flexibility, empathy and cooperation) — help students explore different ways to respond to social situations. They learn that both qualities are valuable, and that the key is knowing which one to use and when.

Why Rock and Water for Year 5?

Year 5 is a critical stage of social and emotional development. Students are learning how to navigate friendships, manage emotions and handle increasing responsibility. Rock and Water supports this growth by helping students to:

• Recognise body signals and emotions, especially during stress or confrontation
• Develop strong posture, eye contact and assertive communication to build confidence
• Establish and defend personal boundaries in respectful ways
• Respond to bullying or peer pressure using calm, powerful strategies rather than aggression
• Reflect on their own behaviour and build empathy through discussion and partner work

The martial arts foundation of the program provides students with a hands-on way to explore concepts such as self-discipline, awareness of space and grounded movement. It is especially effective for kinaesthetic learners and those who benefit from physically active learning.

By the end of the term, students will have a deeper understanding of how to navigate challenges with resilience, respond to conflict with calm confidence and build strong, respectful relationships with their peers.

If you would like to learn more about Rock and Water or how it will be delivered in Year 5, please feel free to contact me.

Rachel Powell

Curriculum Coordinator 

rachel.powell@cg.catholic.edu.au

Welcome to another edition of Sports Talk with Mr Payne

We’re diving into Term 2 with some fantastic achievements in our school sports community!

Congratulations to Our ACT Swimming Champions!

A huge congratulations to the three outstanding students, Maya and Allegra in Year Four and Isaac M in Year 6, who proudly represented our school at the 12 & Under ACT Swimming Championships this week. Their dedication, sportsmanship, and talent were on full display as they competed against the best young swimmers in the territory. Well done—we’re incredibly proud of your efforts and the way you represented our school!

Regional Cross Country Carnival

Get ready—our school is gearing up for the Regional Cross Country Carnival, happening on Thursday, 22nd May at the Stromlo Walking Track! A group of our students will be taking to the course, proudly representing our school. 

Volunteer Needed – Can You Help?

We are currently seeking a volunteer to assist with transporting and setting up the school marquee at Stromlo. The marquee provides a crucial base for our students and staff throughout the day, offering shelter, rest, and school pride. If you are available to help out, please contact the school office or email dillon.payne@cg.catholic.edu.au. Your support makes all the difference! 

Sports Superstars!

St Matt’s Stars Shine at the ANZAC Round!

Congratulations to four of our talented Year 2 students – Harry, Grayson, Finn, and Romeo – who had the amazing opportunity to play at the ANZAC Round Raiders v Dolphins pre-game on Saturday, 27 April.

The boys, part of the Under 8 White Belconnen United Sharks Junior NRL team, had already kicked off their season with a great win earlier that morning before taking the field again at GIO Stadium.

They represented their team and our school community proudly – and even came prepared for fame, with Harry bringing a pen ready to sign autographs!

A big thank you to their coaches, Murray (Romeo's dad) and Adam (Finn’s dad), as well as team manager Jess, for supporting the team. Well done, boys – we are so proud of you!

Congratulations to Hunter, who won player of the match for his first NRL game over the weekend and scored a full-field try. Well done, Hunter!

If your child has any good news stories or any accomplishments in their sporting endeavours, please feel free to email me a blurb and a picture to be featured in the school newsletter.

Dillon Payne

Mr. Dillon Payne
Sports Coordinator

 Top tips to help protect your children online

• Build an open, trusting relationship around technology — keep communication open and supportive so your child knows they can come to you if something goes wrong or does not feel right online.

• Co-view and co-play with your child online. This will help you understand what they are doing and why they enjoy an app, game or website, as well as providing a great opportunity to start conversations about online safety.

• Build good habits and help your child to develop digital intelligence and social and emotional skills — such as respect, empathy, critical thinking, responsible behaviour and resilience — and practice being good online citizens.

• Empower your child — wherever possible, help them make wise decisions for themselves, rather than telling them what to do. Try to provide them with strategies for dealing with negative online experiences that will build their confidence and resilience.

• Use devices in open areas of the home — this can help you manage and be aware of who your child interacts with online through phones, tablets, smart TVs, gaming consoles and other connected devices.

• Set time limits that balance time spent in front of screens with offline activities. A family technology plan can help you manage expectations around where and when technology use is allowed. Search online for templates or examples.

• Know the apps, games and social media sites your kids are using — make sure they are age-appropriate and learn how to limit messaging or online chat and location-sharing functions within apps or games, as these can expose your child to unwanted contact and disclose their physical location. The eSafety Guide includes information to help parents and carers choose safer apps and report and block unwanted contact.

• Check the privacy settings on the games and apps your child is using and make sure their profiles are turned on to the strictest privacy setting. Restrict who can contact your child or ask them to check in with you before accepting new friends.

• Use available technologies to set up parental controls on devices that can filter harmful content, monitor your child’s use and limit or block their time on connected devices or functions (e.g. cameras, in-app purchases).

• Be alert to signs of distress and know where to go for more advice and support.

Upcoming webinars for parents and carers

The Australian Government eSafety Commissioner has a wide range of online FREE online webinars to give parents and carers the knowledge, skills and tools to support their children to have safe online experiences.

The first free online webinar focuses on understanding and using parental controls to help protect your child online. 

Parental controls can help protect children and young people by preventing access to harmful content, as well as helping manage time spent online and who they communicate with.

Join the 45-minute webinar to find out about:

• the types of parental controls available and how to set them for your child’s safety including smart devices, in apps, gaming platforms and computers
• using parental controls with other online safety strategies to help your child build digital and critical skills to have safer experiences online.

Details:

Wednesday, 14 May, 12.30pm

Tuesday, 3 June, 3.30pm

Click here to register: https://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/5611584535644410976 

Kids Lit Quiz

On Tuesday, April 8, eight Year 6 students competed in the Kids Lit Quiz at Merici College. Working as two teams, they answered a variety of questions based on children’s books. One of the teams won the first round of questions, earning themselves a book prize! Both our teams performed well (finishing 9th and 29th overall) and represented our school admirably!

The Book Cow Book Club for Term 2 is open!

To order, go to https://schools-bookcow.square.site/ or scan the QR code below. Please order online, remembering to choose ‘St Matthew’s’ under ‘Store Pick Up’ and add your child’s name and class details in the order notes/message section. Your order will arrive packed and labelled to our school when your order is ready. Unfortunately, we are not able to accept cash payments.

Some titles are upcoming releases, so they will be dropped off as they are released (in the weekly deliveries). Please check carefully for release dates.

Families will receive 5% in credit on any purchases you make, which can be used in store, online or on book clubs.

If you need any assistance with the ordering process or have questions about Book Cow Book Club, please email their Education Team at schools@bookcow.com.au.

Thank you,

Sally Judd

Teacher Librarian