Mater Dei Fortnightly Newsletter 10 December 2015

CEO/Principal’s Message Dear Parents and Carers,

Tuesday 8 December begins the Jubilee Year of Mercy. The logo is a fitting

summary of what the year will be all about. To be “Merciful like the Father”

serves as an invitation to follow the merciful example of the Father who asks

us not to judge or condemn but to forgive and to give love and forgiveness

without measure. And I could think of no better time of the year than Advent

for each one of us to not only seek expression of this through our interactions

with each other but also with oneself.

In this busy world we all try to do everything. We want to be the best

mother or father, the best wife or husband, the best teacher or worker, the

best cook, the best sportsperson…. We just can’t do it all. We just can’t be

everything to everyone. We are not perfect….. We don’t have to do it all on

our own. We are a part of a community, a part of a family and a part of

God’s family. The challenge is to acknowledge that we don’t have to have all

the answers, do everything and do it perfectly, that we need to give ourselves

permission to accept help and accept support from those around us. Humility

involves the need to recognise our limitations, without losing hope, and

accept our gifts without becoming arrogant because the measure of our lives

is not found in ourselves alone. There is always room for additional personal

growth and for giving one’s self for the good of others. Everyone has gifts –

and they are not all the same. As a community and as individuals we must be

tolerant and rejoice in the gifts of others. So, in saying this, I would like to

thank all of the staff across our wonderful organisation for the continued gifts

that they bring to Mater Dei each day.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of our Year 12

graduating students and their families for sharing their educational journey

with us. We hope that our Graduation Mass, Assembly and Formal are fitting

tributes that provide a great confidence boost, a strong network base and

affirmation for all year 12 students, with the hope that their memories of

Mater Dei reaffirm their lives when things may not be so positive. Each of

these events will be a wonderful culmination of faith, worship, recognition of

student achievement and sharing of students’ talents and a fitting way to

mark the transition of each student from school to a new world of

opportunities.

Finally, thank you to all our Year 12 students for your candour, your efforts

and your wonderful friendships. My greatest wish for you all is that you have

every happiness in life and that you succeed in what you set out to achieve –

whatever that may be.

Best wishes,

Sam Giles, Acting CEO/Principal

Pictured above - Magdalene students with our students on a visit to Mater Dei on Tuesday.

Mater Dei Fortnightly Newsletter 10 December 2015

Pastoral Care Report Secondary Sports Report by Mathew Osborne (Camden High

School Yr 10 Work Experience student) Hi, my name is Mathew and I am reporting to you on

some of the sports that the Mater Dei students do

every Tuesday afternoon during their sport lesson.

My first week, I watched Gym. For their warm-up they

had to get in a circle and hold the parachute up in the

air and walk around without coming out of their circle.

Another activity was the students had to get into two

lines and skip through a hula hoop down to another

two hula hoops on the ground and run all the way

back to their friends again. Belinda, the gym

instructor, had lots of fun activities to keep the

students moving and exercising.

On my second visit, I watched dancing. They started

with some stretches to warm up. For dancing they

had a smart-board that was playing some ‘Just Dance’

video clips and the students were following the dance

moves. The students and the staff were dancing and

had lots of fun. At the end, I got to give out some

awards to the best dancers.

On my last visit, I went to yoga. The students

followed along to the ‘Cosmic Kids’ yoga lessons. The

lady on the screen would show them the different

yoga poses they needed to do. As they are doing their

yoga, it follows a fun story.

I want to thank all of the students and staff at Mater

Dei for making me feel so welcome and for giving me

this great work experience opportunity. Thank you.

MATER DEI CHRISTMAS CARDS Packs of 12 Christmas cards are for sale for $5.00 per

pack by calling in to Reception, ringing Alison McManus

on 4654 8712 or completing an order form.

2015 has provided many pastoral opportunities for

students to develop their whole selves and to complement their curriculum-based learning. Students

have experienced classroom-based pastoral learning programs, participated in lunchtime clubs, engaged

with peers at neighboring schools, ventured out on

Community Access, Excursion and Structured Work Placement (SWP) opportunities, plus there have been

innumerable informal learning moments where social modeling, micro-challenges and encouragement have

all been expertly provided. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank the excellent

team of teachers and assistants who have worked

with students throughout the year – their care and priority for your sons’ and daughters’ well-being has

been evident in every minute detail of their planning, implementation and the support that they have

provided.

With the new year, our pastoral program will see some changes - either through evaluation of existing

initiatives or with the introduction of new ones. For example, a rejuvenated awards structure that

supplements our School-Wide Positive Behaviour plan (‘The Mater Dei Way’), new relationships with

neighboring schools, an expanded SWP program, and

a renewed assembly format and timetable. Lots of factors and stakeholders’ input and feedback have

been considered at all planning stages. But the same core goal has been central to all of it:- will this

improve the wellbeing, and therefore the learning

outcomes, of our students? I am confident that, even if that improved well-being is not immediately

evident, the answer to this question is ‘Yes’.

Wishing you all a safe, restful, happy and holy

Christmas.

Alison Meani Leader of Pastoral Care

Mathew Osborne meeting students in a Mater Dei sports group.

P&F Message

Orders for Mater Dei winter blazers through Yeronga

Uniform Shop are required very early in the new year

as in previous years (usually February). All students

in Years 7 to 12 are expected to wear Mater Dei

blazers throughout Terms 2 and 3.

Very best wishes to all families and staff for a joy-filled

Christmas and a healthy, happy new year.

A Reminder

Mater Dei Fortnightly Newsletter 10 December 2015

BEGINNING OF THE 2016 SCHOOL YEAR: All students in Years 1 to 12 in 2016 are expected

to return on Thursday 28 January at 9am.

All new students (Year 5 and Year 7) in 2016 are

expected to commence on Thursday 28 January at

the later time of 9:30am.

All new Kindergarten students in 2016 are expected

to commence on Thursday 28 January at the later

time of 10am.

ALL STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO

RETURN IN THE MATER DEI

FULL SUMMER UNIFORM.

Graduation & End of Year Mass tomorrow—Friday 11 December

Priority seating will be given to the following visitors for

the limited seating downstairs in the Hall:

Year 12 families (2 family representatives only in VIP

seating)

Families of Secondary and Primary students who are

receiving a leadership badge (2 family

representatives only in VIP seating)

Those individual visitors who cannot access the

mezzanine level due to mobility issue or bringing

infant/young children.

Thank you for your kind understanding in this matter. We

have a particularly large cohort of Year 12 Graduating

Students again this year, so seating arrangements

downstairs for this event will be extremely limited.

Infants and Primary End of Year Awards Assembly

– Thursday 17 December

All Infants and Primary families are warmly invited to

attend the End of Year Infants and Primary Award

Assembly. The assembly commences at 9:30am in our Sr

Carmela Ritchie Hall on Thursday 17 December. Each

student will be presented with awards with their class

group. Our four Infants/Primary Major Awards will also be

presented to four outstanding students. The students will

also perform two Christmas songs. Morning tea will be

available for families and guests from 10:30am to

11:15am.

Diary Dates Friday 11

December

Last day of school for Year 11

and Year 12 students

Monday 14

December

Year 6 Principal’s Morning Tea

Monday 14

December

Year 11 and 12 Formal

Eschol Park House (6pm start)

Thursday 17

December

INFANTS & PRIMARY END OF

YEAR ASSEMBLY 9:30am in Sr Carmela Ritchie

Hall Parents and Carers Welcome

Thursday 17

December

Last day of school for K to

Year 10 students

Information For Parents and Families:

Do you wish to buy or sell a second-hand uniform? Mater Dei has a Second-Hand Uniform Noticeboard.

There are many winter and summer items listed for

sale at present. We have many new families

enquiring about purchasing second-hand uniforms.

Please let Reception know if your items that

have been posted on the website have been

sold so that Katrina can be remove them from

the site.

To make it easier for parents to sell and buy items,

please follow the instructions below:

To sell a uniform item:

Simply email Katrina Sims on

katrinas@materdei.org.au or contact her on

4654 8713. Katrina will add the items you wish

to sell.

To buy a uniform item: 1. Log onto the Mater

Dei Second-Hand Uniform address:

http://www.materdeicamden.org/uniforms

2. When you know which item you would like

to purchase, click on “show number” under the

“contact” column.

3. Copy the security number displayed in the

picture into the text box and press enter. The

full phone number of the contact person selling

the item will appear.

4. Contact the person selling the item to

privately arrange payment and pick up of item.

Mater Dei Fortnightly Newsletter 10 December 2015

Living Skills Program

Term Dates for 2016

Pupil Free Dates for 2016

Dear Parents and Carers

On behalf of the 2015 team of Social Educators, Rhonda and I would like to thank the Mater Dei families who have

entrusted their daughters and sons into our program during the year. It has been our pleasure and privilege to

work for you and walk with you as we have witnessed and celebrated our young people attaining new skills,

achieving greater proficiencies and realizing additional independence in so many aspects of their lives.

I also take this opportunity to sincerely thank the LSP team for their commitment, dedication and professional

loyalty to the Mission of the Mater Dei Living Skills Program to provide individualized living skills programs for

young people with a disability, in partnership with their families, carers, advocates and Mater Dei School, in order

to prepare the young people for independent and interdependent living in their local communities as contributing,

participating and responsible citizens.

Christmas blessings to everyone and a safe, relaxing and happy holiday from the LSP team.

Pamela Templeton

Director of Services

Term One Australia Day Public Holiday – Tuesday 26 January

First Day of Term One – Thursday 28 January

Easter – Fri 25 March to Mon 28 March (inclusive)

Last Day of Term One – Friday 8 April

Holidays – Mon 11 April to Fri 22 April (inclusive)

Term Two ANZAC Day Public Holiday – Monday 25 April

First Day of Term Two – Tuesday 26 April

June Long Weekend – Monday 13 June

Last Day of Term Two – Friday 24 June

Holidays – Mon 27 June to Fri 15 July (inclusive)

Term Three First Day of Term Three – Monday 18 July

Last Day of Term Three – Friday 23 September

Holidays – Mon 26 Sep to Fri 7 Oct (inclusive)

October Long Weekend – Monday 3 October

Term Four First Day of Term Four – Monday 10 October

Last Day for Year 11&12 – Friday 9 December

Last Day for Years K to 10 – Thursday 15 December

Term Two– Friday 27 May Term Three—Friday 26 August Term Four—Thurs & Fri 3 & 4 November

Camden Parish (St Paul’s Church) Christmas Eve Services are being held at 5pm, 7pm, 9pm (each is a

Vigil Mass) plus a Midnight Mass and 9am Christmas Day Mass. ALL MOST WELCOME!

Is your child missing a new pair of prescription glasses (FCUK frame)? Please contact Helen or Carmen in Reception.

A flyer re Macarthur Gymnastic Studio is being emailed. Special needs class is Thursday 4.30pm.