Thank You to Our School Community

We would like to thank the entire St. Matthew’s school community for your support and generosity during our recent fundraising efforts.

A special thank you to Mick Shelton for coordinating the Election Day BBQ, and to all the volunteers who assisted on and before the day. 

We are also grateful to Cheryl Toussaint and her team of volunteers for organising the delicious cake stall.

A big thank you to Nadia Butler for her coordination of the raffle hampers, and to everyone who donated items—your contributions were appreciated.

We also want to acknowledge Kylie McNamara and her helpers for their organisation of the Mother’s Day Stall. Thank you to all the families who paid for gifts for their children to purchase, and for those who generously paid for other students to pick a gift for their mother.

Thank you, everyone - all your support and contributions make St. Matthew’s a very special place!

Reflections from the ACPPA Meeting in Melbourne

Earlier this week, I had the privilege of spending two days in Melbourne attending the Australian Catholic Primary Principals Association (ACPPA) national meeting. ACPPA brings together Catholic primary school principals from across the country to discuss matters of national importance in Catholic education.

The meeting provided an opportunity to engage in conversations about school leadership, the challenges schools face, and the shared mission we uphold in nurturing faith-filled, high-quality learning environments for our students.

A particular highlight was hearing from Stephen Gniel, CEO of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), who spoke about the evolving landscape of curriculum and assessment. His insights into how national curriculum developments will shape teaching and learning in the years ahead were both timely and thought-provoking.

We also heard from Jacinta Collins, Executive Director of the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC), who shared updates on national advocacy efforts and the importance of maintaining a strong Catholic voice in educational policy and planning.

These discussions reaffirmed the importance of our collective work and the strength of our Catholic education network. 

I would like to extend my thanks to Petra Cole, our Assistant Principal, for stepping in and taking care of my duties during my absence. 

Semester One Reports and Parent-Teacher Interviews

At the end of this term, you will receive your child’s Semester One Academic Report via Compass. These reports are part of our formal reporting process and are aligned with the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) requirements.

For students in Years One - Six, student achievement is assessed using a five-point scale, which in our system is represented by the A–E grading format:

A: Outstanding
Demonstrates outstanding achievement of the standard. The student has extensive knowledge and understanding of the content and can readily apply this knowledge. In addition, the student has achieved a very high level of competence in the processes and skills and can apply these skills to new situations.
B: High
Demonstrates a high achievement of the standard. The student has a thorough knowledge and understanding of the content and a high level of competence in the processes and skills. In addition, the student is able to apply this knowledge and these skills to most situations.
C: At Standard
Demonstrates achievement of the standard. The student has a sound knowledge and understanding of the main areas and has achieved an adequate level of competence in the processes and skills.
D: Partial
Demonstrates partial achievement of the standard. The student has a basic knowledge and understanding of the content and has achieved a limited level of competence in the processes and skills.
E: Limited
Demonstrates limited achievement of the standard. The student has an elementary knowledge and understanding of a few areas of the content and has achieved a very limited level of competence in some of the processes and skills.

Please note that a ‘C’ grade indicates that your child is achieving at the standard expected for their year level.

Before reports are released, we invite all parents and carers to attend a Parent-Teacher Conference in Week 9 (24–26 June). These interviews are held in lieu of written comments on the report and provide a valuable opportunity to discuss your child’s progress, celebrate their successes, and set goals for Semester Two.

Bookings for interviews will open in Week 7 and can be made via Compass.

We encourage all families to take part in these important conversations.

Long Service Leave

I would like to inform you that I will be taking Long Service Leave during Weeks 5 and 6 of this term. I’m looking forward to the opportunity for a short trip with family.

During my absence, Mrs Petra Cole, our Assistant Principal, will be stepping into the role of Acting Principal. I have every confidence in Petra’s leadership and know that the school will continue to run smoothly under her guidance.

Thank you for your ongoing support, and I look forward to reconnecting with you all upon my return.

2026 Enrolments

Our official enrolment period for Kindergarten 2026 is now open and closing soon!

If you have a child ready to start school in 2026, or know a family who may be considering St Matthew’s, we warmly invite you to get in touch. We would love to welcome new families into our vibrant and nurturing school community.

We are offering school 'Walk & Talk' tours throughout May, providing a wonderful opportunity to see our classrooms in action and learn more about what makes St Matthew’s such a special place to learn and grow.

To book a tour or find out more, please contact Brooke in the front office on 6254 2653.

Enrolments close at the end of May, so don’t miss your chance to be part of the St Matthew’s school community.

Term 2 School Fees were distributed via email during Week 2 of this term.

Term 2 2025 Fees are due TOMORROW, Week 4 (23 May 2025) unless regular instalments are being made.

We are pleased to announce that St. Matthew's has recently introduced the BPoint Enterprise Solution to manage direct debit arrangements for the payment of school fees.

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, or if you haven’t received your fees, please contact our Finance Office 6254 2653.

17—18 May Fifth Sunday of Easter (C)

WE COULD BE SO MUCH MORE

‘Disenchancement’ was a description given to our times by journalist, author, television presenter and Wiradjuri man Stann Grant. He made the comment on Tuesday evening in his reflective and thought-provoking ‘Marian Lecture’. The latter is an annual occurrence sponsored by the Marist Brothers. Drawing on his own experience (he returned recently from writing a novel in the English countryside) and philosophy (cf. the ‘death of God’ movement), literature (T.S Eliot and Dostoevsky amongst others) and theology (with particular reference to Mary) he made a compelling case for the contemporary reduction of meaning and purpose to the claims of the individual, science and reason. He affirmed the great value of each, but not at the expense of our true individual and communal good and the greater mystery of which we are all a part.

On Thursday evening, parents of children preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation next month gathered online to reflect on the significance of the sacrament they will soon celebrate with their child. In part inspired by Grant’s talk, I shared that the first of the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit received in Confirmation are Wonder and Awe. Grant spoke of observing young people getting up
before dawn to experience the magic of a sunrise. Life is a gift to be marvelled at.
Maths and science reflect our discovery of order, not our creation of it.
We are part of ‘something more’. Indeed, time is how we presume to situate ourselves in the presence of God, who self-describes as: “I Am who I Am” (Gen 3:14). Revelation is in time and place and to that extent our understanding is limited. As we draw to the end of the Easter Season, our First Reading today reminds us that it was not until Antioch that the followers of Jesus were first called ‘Christians’. Jesus was a Jew; he would not have had any concept of being a ‘Christian’. Christians initially understood themselves as akin to a sect within Judaism (cf. governance structure that Paul and Barnabas established). Only later did they break away. However, both Jews and Christians are waiting: Jews for the promised Messiah, Christians for his return. We look forward as ‘pilgrims of hope’. In our Second Reading from the last book of the bible, we see an appreciation of the fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecies of Ezekiel and Isaiah in wedding imagery and that of a new Jerusalem, affirming the passing of the old order in Christ. As we move to celebrate the birth of the Church at Pentecost, we see Jesus in today’s Gospel not as a distant figurehead but as present amongst his disciples in the love they have for one another. Michael Leunig points out that there is either openness in love or withdrawal in fear.
The one is ground for enchantment, the other anything but: There are only two feelings.

Love and fear.
There are only two languages.
Love and fear.
There are only two activities.
Love and fear.
There are only two motives, two procedures, two frameworks, two results.
Love and fear.
Love and fear.

 Fr John

South Belconnen Parish Priest

Our Commitment to Child Safety

St Matthew’s is committed to child safety. 

We want children to be safe, happy and empowered. 

We support and respect all children, as well as our staff and volunteers. 

We are committed to the safety, participation and empowerment of all children.

We have zero tolerance for child abuse, and all allegations and safety concerns will be treated very seriously and consistently with our robust policies and procedures.

We have legal and moral obligations to contact authorities when we are worried about a child’s safety, which we follow rigorously. 

St Matthew’s is committed to preventing child abuse and identifying risks early, and removing and reducing these risks. 

St Matthew’s has robust human resources and recruitment practices to reduce the risk of child abuse by new and existing board members, staff and volunteers.

St Matthew’s is committed to regularly training and educating our board members, staff and volunteers on child abuse risks. 

We are committed to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children, the cultural safety of children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, and to providing a safe environment for children with a disability.

We have specific policies and procedures in place that support our board members, staff and volunteers to achieve these commitments. 

Child Safe Standards

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 2: Children participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.  

The aim of this standard is for students to speak up and be believed. Children are safer when schools teach them about their rights to be heard, listened to and believed. A child-safe school actively seeks the opinions of children and when doing so, considers their age, development, maturity, understanding, abilities and how they communicate. Students are encouraged and supported to regularly contribute to decisions that affect them. Our aim is to prioritise this standard for child safety in what we say and do:

• Students express their views and participate in decisions that affect their lives.
• The importance of friendships is recognised, and support from peers is encouraged, helping children feel safe and less isolated.
• Students from Kindergarten to Year 6 participate in programs that assist them to deal with unsafe situations. 
• Staff are attuned to signs of harm and facilitate children-friendly ways for children to communicate and raise their concerns.

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

• Teachers at my school listen to me and ask my opinion about things that affect me. 
• I have friends I can talk to.
• I can talk to my teachers if I feel unsafe, even if the conversation is difficult.
• I know that teachers sometimes need to tell someone else if I need extra support. 
  • 

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

CONFIDENT BODIES, GRITTY MINDS – Building Stronger Kids Inside and Out

We’re excited to be delivering the Confident Bodies, Gritty Minds program to students in Years 3–6 across Terms 2 and 3. Presented by Active Attitudes and Build GRIT, this program—Build GRIT: KIDS—focuses on developing confident, resilient, and emotionally strong young people through the four foundational pillars of GRIT:

• Gratitude – Encouraging a positive mindset through recognition of everyday blessings.
  
  
• Resilience – Equipping students with the inner strength to navigate challenges.
  
  
• Inspiration – Igniting creativity and a passion for personal growth.
  
  
• Teamwork – Building a supportive community that values collaboration.
  

At the heart of the program are Steven Baker and Jordan Doering, two industry veterans who both played first-grade AFL and bring with them years of experience at the elite level—playing, training, and coaching. Their approach combines best practice from the world of professional sport with a deep commitment to nurturing emotional intelligence and resilience in young people.

Today’s students face increasing pressure in academic, social, and sporting environments. This program integrates high-energy, movement-based activities with practical strategies to support resilience, focus, and emotional regulation—helping students become not only physically strong but mentally tough.

Year 5 and 6 students had their first session on Friday of Week 3, and we’ll keep you updated with a start date for our Year 3 and 4 students. We look forward to watching our students grow in confidence and character through this dynamic and inspiring experience!

Rachel Powell

Curriculum Coordinator 

rachel.powell@cg.catholic.edu.au

Protecting your information

Personal information is anything that identifies you. This might include your first and last name, address, date of birth, workplace or financial details.

Why is it important to protect personal information? 

• It is important because it can be easy for someone to use it to pretend to be you. This is called identity theft.
• Personal information can be revealed in images and videos as well as text. 

How can I protect my information?

• Privacy settings: Check the ‘help guide’ for the website or app you are using to change privacy settings. 
• Location settings: Avoid sharing location information. Turn the GPS off on your device if you don’t need to use it.
• Use a strong password: Use upper and lower case letters, numbers and keyboard symbols.
• Know how to spot a scam: Criminals may try to steal money or personal details using scams. Visit www.scamwatch.gov.au to learn more about how to spot a scam.
• Only shop on secure websites: A secure website will have “https” or a padlock symbol at the start of the web address.

 ThinkUKnow’s top tips for protecting your personal information

• Read the terms and conditions carefully before agreeing to anything. 
• Be careful not to click on links in suspicious emails – delete them straight away. 
• Don’t give out your email address or phone number unless you know how that information will be used. 
• Make sure you use a strong password. 
• Remember – if it looks too good to be true, it probably is! 

Visit www.thinkuknow.org.au for more information and tips!

Upcoming webinars for parents and carers

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

The next free online webinar focuses on exploring the online experiences of boys and young men.

For boys and young men, the internet can be a place where they seek connection, validation and guidance as they explore what it means to be a man today. However, it also exposes them to risks like harmful content, online exploitation and the growing influence of misogynistic ideologies.

This 45-minute webinar will help parents understand:

• the social and cultural influences shaping boys and young men
• how boys engage online, build relationships and how they may be vulnerable to manipulation or exploitation
• the impact of social media, gaming, and influencers on their attitudes, behaviours and sense of identity.
• This presentation will share practical strategies to build critical thinking, challenge harmful narratives, and create open conversations that empower boys and young men to navigate the online world safely and respectfully.

Exploring the online experiences of boys and young men:

Tuesday, 27 May, 12.30pm
Monday, 30 July, 12.30pm

Click here to register: https://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/3097197158603562592 

Belconnen Regional Cross Country Carnival

Firstly, congratulations to all St Matthew’s students who represented our school at the Belconnen Regional Carnival this week. All of us here would like to commend these students on their remarkable achievements!

St Matthew’s Athletics Carnival

I am currently in the process of organising the annual Athletics (Track and Field) Carnival. The date is set for the 19th of June. All parents are welcome to come along and support their children by cheering them on. If you are interested in helping out, please feel free to email Mr. Payne. 

Year 6 Pickleball 

Year 6 had the pleasure of participating in a social session of Pickleball. Students were introduced to the core skills of the game and enjoyed a social hit around. Here at St Matthew’s, we are always trying to broaden the scope of sports taught here during sports sessions.

Sports Superstars

Just a reminder to send in any sporting achievements of your child for it to be featured in the school newsletter.

Yours in sport,

Dillon Payne 

Budding Authors

Did you know that some of our students are writing book reviews for The Book Cow? Check them out at https://www.bookcow.com.au/the-book-cow-kids - scroll down the page a little and you’ll find them on the right!

Visiting Author

In Week 8, we will have our first author visit for this year. Tim Harris, author of the ‘Ratbags’ and ‘Exploding endings’ series, will be visiting our Year 1-6 students. Information about how to order his books is included in this newsletter.

Book Fair

Also, later this term, we will have the Lamont Book Fair visiting our school. It will be open before and after school, as well as during Parent-Teacher Interviews in Weeks 9 and 10. Please come and check out the selection of books - every sale helps us to buy new books for our students. Hope to see you there!