Remote Learning

Recent News

This page will be updated as we know more, and the most recent update was made on Friday 17 September at 11:15am. We will keep you informed. Regularly check your emails, SZApp, Compass Parent Portal and this webpage.

On Tuesday, the Chief Minister updated advice about lockdown and remote learning. In short the following applies:

Remote Learning will continue for all students from Kindergarten to Year 10 during the first four weeks of Term 4. For these year levels, the Government advises they will continue to work on plans for a phased return to school over the coming weeks.
Year 12 students will return to on-campus learning from the start of Term 4, which begins on Tuesday 5 October.
The intent is for Year 11 students to return to on-campus learning from Week 3 (Monday 18 October), as long as health conditions hold.

Thank you for your many kind expressions of support and thanks during the past five weeks. Whilst we appreciate that limitations will continue for the foreseeable future, we hope your family is able to spend some time together relaxing during the upcoming school holidays. If circumstances change during the holiday period, we will communicate these changes to you via our normal channels.

School Holiday Communication

Teams Conversations are being muted for the holidays, and teachers will not be monitoring Teams during stand down so that they can rest, recharge and prepare for Term 4.

The Front Office email and phone may not be regularly attended during the holidays. Please contact Graham Pollard (graham.pollard@cg.catholic.edu.au) or Petra Cole (petra.cole@cg.catholic.edu.au) via email for urgent matters.

School Counsellor

The pandemic has brought many changes and challenges for children, young people, and families all around Australia. There are so many questions about the impacts and how we can best support those in our care.

Our school counsellor, Rachel Corcoran, has indicated that she will be making contact via phone with many of the families who already have sought her assistance. If you would like to make contact with her via email she can be contacted on rachel.corcoran@catholiccare.cg.org.au.

Supervision in Term 4

Thank you, parents and carers, for advising if your child/ren require supervision. This assists us to keep minimal staff on the school site at any time on a rotational basis. Another email will be sent to all families in the second week of the school holidays to inquire about your needs.

The guidelines set out below have been developed by Catholic Education Canberra and Goulburn to support our students to continue remote learning.

Schools will remain open for students of parents/carers who are essential workers. Schools will also remain open for vulnerable students.
There is to be one mode of learning employed: the remote learning model. This is where the same learning is delivered to students both at home and on site at school.
Schools must ensure there are only minimal staff on the school site at any time on a rotational basis.

Teachers who are rostered for supervision may not be available to answer emails and phone calls between 8.30am and 3.30pm. Staff who are not on the roster are required to work from home to keep everybody safe in accordance with directions fro ACT Health and the Catholic Education Office. Please email Petra Cole (petra.cole@cg.catholic.edu.au) if you have any questions.

Remote Learning Terms 3 and 4 2021

Families can use the St Matthew's at Your House! document if they don't have reliable access to the internet.
Having trouble logging in? Please make sure that you enter the usernames and passwords exactly as recorded on the sticker provided with your Goodie Bag. These passwords are case sensitive!
Scroll down for more detailed information about how remote learning works at St Matthew's, and how to set up, login and join a Teams Meeting on your iPad, laptop or desktop or Chromebook.
All virtual meetings on Microsoft Teams will be recorded by the teacher to be archived via Microsoft Stream, and stored in compliance with safety and child protection standards. During this recording students who have their camera on or who use the microphone to ask a question will have their image and voice captured. Once the Meeting is stored on Microsoft Stream the teacher will change permissions on this video to restrict students from reviewing the content unless permission has been granted. If you do not want your child to be recorded in a Team Meeting, please notify the school, and the student will be supported by allowing them to have their camera off and microphone muted during a Meeting. This will limit student participation to the use of Chat and Emoticons to respond to peers and the teacher during a Meeting.

We ask you to follow the advice of ACT Health at all times.

We understand that this is a challenging time for families and this situation is new for all of us. If you have questions specifically about your child/ren’s remote learning, contact your child’s teacher in the first instance.

All other questions can be directed to the front office between 8.30am and 3.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Our students deserve the best remote learning we can offer. That's why we've taken time as a teaching community to carefully consider a rationale for our practices. Our vision is to deliver learning that is equitable, balanced and sustainable.

Equitable

Our remote learning has been designed to serve the needs of our community.

Balanced

We offer opportunities for students to learn in front of a screen and away from it.

Sustainable

Our plan is sustainable and takes into consideration our diverse parent population.

You can read more about our rationale for remote learning here.

We have updated our key document to support learning at home. This document is called St Matthew's at Your House. You can view the document here.

Information about your child's login details and access to online literature can be found here.

Online Remote Learning

Families will be contacted with information to help you and your child to log onto and navigate inside your remote learning classroom.

Having trouble logging in? Our usernames and passwords are case sensitive. Enter them exactly as they appear on the sticker provided with the Goodie Bag!

If you have any questions, please contact your child's class teacher.

The information below was last updated on 26 August 2021.

	See Saw is the key platform being used by Kindergarten, Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3. Timetables and activities will be available here. Teachers will provide you with information regarding how to access and log into Seesaw.
	Google Classroom is your child's virtual classroom in Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6. Students in these year levels are very familiar with this platform. This is your first port of call.
	We waited, and researched the video conferencing platforms that were being used overseas and here in Australia. We're glad we did! The safety of our students is important to us. Students, families and teachers will be able to use Microsoft Teams to communicate with one another in a secure environment. Instructions for how to set up, login and join a Teams Meeting: iPad laptop or desktop Chromebook
	Imagine the best stories being read aloud to you by our favourite storytellers – well that's Story Box Library! We get kids excited about reading, inspire their imaginations and let them have fun with stories, improving their language and literacy skills along the way. With an ever-growing library, suitable for preschool and primary aged children, it really is Storytime, Anytime! Log in: https://storyboxlibrary.com.au/login Viewer Username: StMattys Viewer Password: SM2614
	Can't borrow from the library? Never fear! SORA is here! Students can now borrow ebooks and audio books using a new app called SORA! Here are the instructions to get you there.

Other Websites That May Be of Interest

	Say 'Hi!' to Father Simon, and stay connected to the Parish. For Protocols in the Archdiocese of Canberra-Goulburn re: COVID-19 go to https://www.catholicvoice.org.au/ Catholic Voice https://www.catholicvoice.org.au/mass-online/ Mass for you at Home https://massforyou.com.au/ Mass On Demand https://www.youtube.com/user/cathnews
	A wonderful page for kids about COVID. You'll find a message for Canberra kids from Jodie Griffiths-Cook, our Commissioner for Children and Young People. Jodie explains some things about COVID and the lockdown, and who to talk to if you’re worried or unhappy. There's also a great newsletter with 'lockdown lingo' and information about how to stay safe.
	Tips on how to stay safe online during the COVID-19 pandemic
	Be You and Beyond Blue. Look after your mental health. Relationships are central to education and we need our families to be connected to the school. Please stay in contact with your child’s teacher. We at St Matthew's will support your family as best we can in these difficult times.