Teaching and Learning - Spotlight on Spelling

Next term, students in Years 2 - 6 at St Matthew's will learn to spell using Spelling Mastery, a differentiated six-level direct instruction program supported by the Australian Council of Educational Research (ACER). It is widely used in Australia and other countries. 

Spelling Mastery is an effective, research-proven spelling program that teaches
students the strategies they need to become successful, life-long spellers.
Spelling Mastery helps students understand the relationship between
sounds, word parts, and spelling patterns, which, in turn, assists in developing their writing proficiency. 

Through Spelling Mastery, students learn to spell in three ways:

1. Students learn words using a phonemic approach. This sound-symbol method teaches students predictable spellings for different sounds.

2. Students learn using a whole-word approach. This whole-word method
teaches students common, irregularly spelled words. For example, words like
friend, answer and people, whose spellings can’t be figured out.

3. Students learn rules about how to put different word parts together. These
word parts are all called morphographs. Once they have learned to spell a few
morphographs, students can mix them up to spell many words. They also learn
the rules of putting morphographs together.

This term, each student has been given a placement test. This initial test evaluates students' skills and determines which program level suits them. 

Each level consists of up to 120 short lessons delivered using Direct Instruction. This system is based on the works of Siegfried Engelmann and uses the approaches below:

• Sequenced Curriculum: It involves gradual development to ensure a thorough development of necessary skills.
• Grouping: Students are grouped with students of similar spelling ability to receive the exact level required for skill development. Students will be grouped with cohorts in Years 2/3 or 4/5/6 unless they are younger students who need to access the top two levels; in this case, they will move up to the older group. 
• Mastering: Students aim for mastery (85% or above) of the content through practice and repetition. After mastering the rules and content at their current level, students move on to the next spelling stage.

The Spelling Mastery Program will be taught at the beginning of the school day on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday each week. We ask that students be punctual at the start of the school day to avoid missing their lessons.

Congratulations!

As we gear up for the upcoming school holidays, on behalf of the School Community, I would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Miss Norris and Mr Payne as they prepare to 'tie the knot' to their fiancés in the coming weeks! Remarkably, two staff members are getting married over the same holiday break. 

As they embark on this exciting journey with their partners, we wish them all the best and can not wait to hear about their special days when they return next term. Miss Norris will be returning as Mrs Leggett.

Here's to a lifetime of love, laughter, and endless happiness!

Congratulations also to our students who received the Sacrament of Reconciliation this week. May the grace of this sacrament guide them, providing comfort, guidance, and strength in their lives.

I would like to thank our Sacramental Team, including Fr. Simon, Miss Murdock, our Year 3 teachers, and the families who have supported and guided the students through this program.

May their hearts be filled with peace as they continue their faith journey.

Smart Watch Request

We would like to clarify our policy regarding the student's use of personal internet-connected devices, such as smartwatches, during the school day.

At St Matthew's, our policy is that student internet-connected devices, such as smart watches, are prohibited during school hours. This includes all sessions in the school day, including breaks and lunchtime.

If your child possesses a smartwatch or similar device, we kindly ask that it remain securely stored in their school bag throughout the day. Under no circumstances should these devices be taken out, accessed, or used during school hours. Students may access their smart devices at the end of the school day to check for changes to travel arrangements if required. 

Maintaining this policy will help cultivate a focused and respectful atmosphere, allowing students to maximise their learning potential while adhering to important privacy laws. 

It's important to note that we provide internet-connected technology for educational purposes when needed. Our teachers carefully program and monitor these devices to enhance the learning experience and facilitate academic progress. 

We appreciate your cooperation and support in enforcing these policies. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact us. Together, we can ensure that our school remains a place of focused learning.

ANZAC Day

As ANZAC Day approaches, families in Canberra are preparing to commemorate and pay tribute to the brave men and women who served our nation. This year, ANZAC Day falls on Thursday, April 25th, and families can participate in this important day of remembrance in several meaningful ways.

Dawn Service at the Australian War Memorial: Begin the day by attending the poignant Dawn Service at the Australian War Memorial. Starting at 5:30 AM, this solemn ceremony provides an opportunity for reflection and gratitude as we remember the sacrifices made by our ANZACs. If you plan on attending this event, you will need to arrive early as the crowds are usually very large.

ANZAC Day March: Join the ANZAC Day March in the city centre, where veterans, their families, and community groups come together to honour those who served. The march typically starts around 9:30 AM..

ANZAC Day is a time to honour the memory of those who have served and continue to serve our country. 

For more information and updates on ANZAC Day events in Canberra, visit https://www.anzacday.net.au/canberra/ 

The 2024 school photos will be taken on Friday, May 10th. 

On this day, students are kindly reminded to wear their full winter school uniforms to ensure a polished and cohesive look in the photographs. 

Information about how to order has been sent out by MSP, and are now ready to order through the Compass Portal. Once you have placed your Individual Photo order, you can place your Sibling photo order. These MUST be ordered before midnight on the day of the photo.

If you have any questions regarding the photography service or packages available for purchase, please contact the MSP team on 02 6255 9208 or by email canberra.office@msp.com.au.

Catholic Schools Week

Catholic Schools Week is scheduled for Week 2, Term 2, 6 - 10 May. During Catholic Schools Week, we invite prospective families to come in and take a guided tour of St Matthew's with a member of our Leadership Team and a senior student. Following this, we have an information evening on Wednesday, 15 May, at 5.30 pm.

If you know of any potential enrolments, please share this information. Please help us communicate with others what a wonderful school St Matthew's is.

Tour bookings can be made by calling the Office on 6254 2653.

If you have a child ready to start school next year, don't hesitate to get in touch with the office, and an enrollment pack will be sent home.

Information can also be found on our school website:

https://www.stmattsps.act.edu.au/thinking-of-enrolling  https://stmattsps.act.edu.au/enrol/how-to-enrol  

Enrolments can be made online https://enrolments.stmattsps.act.edu.au/primary-act/start