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Dear Parents and Carers
To say that the data has varied during the past ten years is to understate the changing face of St Matthew’s. I have listed below several facts which I believe give strong insights into the composition of our school population.
Where we live
- Our children reside in 32 ACT suburbs
- 17 children reside in NSW
- Far flung suburbs include Narrabundah, Calwell and Moncrieff
- 10 children now reside in Strathnairn
Population
- The school now has a population of 335 children comprised of 164 boys and 171 girls.
English as a Second Language
- 19 children have a language other than English as their first language
Religious Background
- 57% of children identify as belonging to the Catholic faith.
Indigenous background
- 11 children identify as being from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage
Personalised Plans
- 66 children are working from a Personalised Plan which includes adjustments so that the child can access the curriculum more equitably.
By any measure the composition of the school population has changed dramatically since its formation 50 years ago. Clearly the large number of locations poses an ongoing challenge in our capacity to build community.
I believe however that in many respects the data reflects a more inclusive school which aims to meet the needs of children from many varied backgrounds. Our school is undoubtedly richer as a result of their inclusion.
May God bless you and your families
Graham Pollard
Principal
What a difference two weeks can make! Thank you, parents and carers, for encouraging and teaching your children to greet others politely. Not one student passes me in the morning without greeting me in some way. Our days at St Matthew’s are beginning on the right foot!
This week, I thought we might all concentrate on reminding our children to say ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’. My office is very close to the school’s reception area, and it’s wonderful to hear students speaking to our Front Office staff and using their good manners. Likewise, it’s good to hear older students saying thank you to teachers for a great lesson, or to one another as they complete a task together.
Let your child know why we use these words. Saying please shows consideration for others. Saying thank you demonstrates appreciation and gratitude.
Practice at home. Make your expectations clear, and model saying ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’ yourself. Your children are watching and noticing, even if you think they’re not.
Gentle reminders help to cement good practice. When they forget, you might say: ‘Let’s try that again’, or ‘Oops! You forgot something’.
Reinforce great behaviour with ‘You have such good manners!’. Because social norms are new to many children, it's important to praise them for all the steps they're taking. Remember that this new skill might take a long time to learn. Some children will pick up this skill easily, while others may need more practice until they get it right. Be patient but be sure to share your appreciation and pride.
Good manners is the fabric that holds the community together.
DAVID ESABWA
Petra Cole
Assistant Principal
Family Connection
Jesus’ parables in this week’s Gospel are a reminder of the importance of continued learning, prayer and reflection, and humility in our discipleship. We shine God’s light in the world when we are “lit from within” with God’s grace, willing to examine our own conscience and recognise our own need for transformation through Jesus. As busy parents responsible for our children’s physical, emotional, and spiritual growth, you may sometimes be challenged to find time and energy to care for yourselves and attend to your own spiritual growth. Yet doing so can improve your family relationships and help you to guide your children in their faith. We can be reminded of the simple safety instruction we hear when flying: to put on our own “spiritual” oxygen mask before helping others.
Gather as a family and spend some time discussing ideas about what it means to be a good disciple. What do we need to learn? How are we to act? How do we treat others? Read aloud Sunday’s Gospel, Luke 6:39–45. Discuss what Jesus means when he asks, “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?” Talk about how we might be tempted to focus on one another’s shortcomings without noticing our own and how this might lead to conflict. Point out that part of being a good disciple is focusing on our own behaviour. As a family, share ideas for responding as a disciple when you are upset with another family member’s words or actions. (For example, taking a cooling off break before talking to the person or praying for help to see if our actions contributed to the conflict and we need to apologise.) Pray that you will grow together in your discipleship and then pray the Lord’s Prayer.
Lent
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. This is a period of preparation in the Church’s Liturgical Year that orients the community towards Holy Week and the Season of Easter. It’s a time for Catholics to slow down their lives and focus on prayer, fasting and good works. During Lent, students are invited to give up or take up something that will benefit the lives of and positively enhance their relationships. We invite students to make age-appropriate decisions; this could be emptying the dishwasher (without complaint or without being asked!) or reducing time spent playing video games.
Next Wednesday, all classes will celebrate an Ash Wednesday Liturgy in their classrooms. Teachers will lead the students in prayer and reflection, administering ashes to each student.
Project Compassion
The Season of Lent also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allows Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to alleviate poverty, hunger, oppression, and injustice. Each year we raise student awareness of people around the world who need support and encourage giving to this cause. Your child can take donations to school at any time throughout Lent and place it in the donation box in their class.
Daniel Hunt
Religous Education Co-ordinator (Acting)
Kindergarten Healthchecks
An envelope was sent home to parents via the notebags for kindergarten students with a questionnaire that must be returned by Friday 25 February at the latest.
The School Health Registered Nurses will visit St Matthew’s primary school during 2022.
School Chickens
If you would like to look after the chickens over the Easter school holiday period I would love to hear from you.
All families have received their log in details via email for our Compass Parent Portal. The Compass Parent Portal is an online portal that allows you to interact with the school and access up-to-date information. Once you have your log-in credentials and download the app, you’ll be able to:
- Enter absence notes for your child
- Give consent for excursions
- View school reports
- Communicate with your child’s teacher
- Receive communication from staff
If you didn’t receive log in details, please contact our Front Office (office.stmatts@cg.catholic.edu.au) or check your “junk” mailbox.
Click here to install Compass on Apple devices
Click here to install Compass on Android devices
When prompted: Search “St Matthew’s P” and then you’ll see “St Matthew’s Primary School – Page” as a drop down.
Happy birthday wishes to Valentina A, Laura M, Terri M, Jonathan G, Eva J, Grace M, Sophia A, Aysha S, Jaxon D, Payton M, Eliana D, Audrey P and Lucy M who recently celebrated birthdays.
