Welcome back

Welcome back to what promises to be an exciting and productive final term of the school year. I hope everyone had a restful break and is feeling refreshed and ready for the busy weeks ahead.

Term 4 is always a special time as we celebrate the growth and achievements of our students throughout the year while also preparing for the festive season and important events like the end-of-year concert and graduation. It’s a wonderful opportunity to reflect on our journey as a school community and look forward to what lies ahead.

This term, we are delighted to welcome Jason and Evander in Kindergarten, Jiva in Year 1 and Z'Lyla in Year 5, and their families to the St Matthew’s School Community! We are thrilled to have them as part of our school family.

We are also excited to welcome Savahna O'Donnell, who is joining the St Matthew’s team as a Classroom Support Assistant this term. Savahna brings a passion for supporting students and a commitment to helping every child succeed in their learning journey.

This term, we welcome back to St Matthew's Charlotte in Year 6 and Alexander in Year 3. Charlotte and Alexander had a wonderful cultural experience in Japan for Term 3.

Please join us in making our new and returning students and staff feel welcome and supported.

Parish News: Farewell to Fr Simon and Welcome to Monsignor John Woods

After many years of dedicated service, our Parish Priest, Fr Simon Falk, will be moving to South Tuggeranong Parish in January. His presence at St Matthew’s has been a source of guidance and leadership, and while we are deeply saddened to see him go, we are grateful for the contributions he has made to our school and parish.

To honour and celebrate Fr Simon, we will gather later in the term as a community and show our appreciation for his time with us. 

At the same time, we are excited to welcome Monsignor John Woods, who will be joining us from North Woden Parish as he takes up his new role at South Belconnen Parish. Monsignor Woods brings a wealth of experience, and we look forward to the new journey ahead with him as our Parish Priest.

Please keep both Fr Simon and Monsignor Woods in your prayers during this time of transition.

Grandparents and Special Grand-Friends Day – Friday, 25 October

We are delighted to invite all grandparents and grand-friends to a special day of celebration at St Matthew’s Primary School on Friday, 25 October. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to share their school experience with the special people in their lives who mean so much to them.

The day will begin at 10.00am on the Junior Playground, where we will come together for a prayer celebration and some musical performances. This will be followed by classroom visits, giving our guests a chance to see the wonderful learning happening in our school. Afterwards, we invite our visitors to enjoy a morning tea in the School Hall. 

In addition, from 9.30am, there will be a Book Cow book stall set up in the hall, where grandparents and grand friends can purchase and donate a book to our school library. This is a meaningful way to contribute to the joy of reading for all our students.

We look forward to seeing you on this special day as we celebrate the cherished role our grandparents and grand-friends play in our students lives.

Event Details:
Date: Friday, 25 October
Time: From 10.00am
Location: Junior Playground (Book Cow Stall from 9.30am in the Hall)

We can’t wait to welcome you!

The School Explorers - School Transition Program

This term, we are excited to welcome our future 2025 Kindergarten class through The School Explorers – School Transition Program. This initiative will offer our new starters a wonderful opportunity to experience a variety of Key Learning Areas. Not only will it introduce them to classroom activities, but it will also help them become familiar with our school facilities, staff, and their fellow students.

The program is designed to ease the transition into school life, ensuring our new Kindergarten children feel confident and comfortable as they take their first steps into primary school.