1st February 2019

Our School Prayer

Christ has no body now but ours.

No hands, no feet on earth but ours.

Ours are the eyes through which Christ looks.

Ours are the feet with which Christ walks to do good.

Ours are the hands with which Christ blesses all the world.

So let nothing disturb you,

Let nothing frighten you,

All things are passing,

God never changes,

Patience obtains all things,

God alone is enough.

Amen.

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK – CHRIS BARTLETT

A warm welcome back to all members of our school community as we commence the academic year for 2019. I trust everyone enjoyed time with loved ones and friends over the Christmas break and reflected on the story of Jesus and how that is important in our lives.

There are some exciting changes moving through our school this year, with a focus on marketing the wonderful learning and life experiences that occur at Mater Dei. We will also focus on what good learning looks like at Mater Dei through our engagement in the Visible Learner Project. Central to this learning is providing greater opportunities for parents to understand what learning looks like in our

classrooms. Throughout the year we will provide more updates on these initiatives.

Last week our staff gathered to be part of many workshops in readiness for the school year. Central to our work, the staff focused on personal values and beliefs and the people and experiences in life that formed these values. Part of our deeper reflection challenged us to explore how these values drive our current behaviours. We also revisited the story of the Good Samaritan Sisters who founded the school. We listened to the values and beliefs that grounded their actions to build schools. The culminating reflection for staff was to identify how we link our values and beliefs to that of the Good Samaritans and what does our behavior and actions at school look like to reflect the synthesis of these visions.

We will also celebrate the commissioning of the Yr 6 school leaders next week, where they will be presented to the broader community. This leadership is symbolized by students receiving a badge and shirt. The journey for our students is to find ways to take this responsibility and use their talents in ways to give back and serve our school community. Such exceptional actions in our school community are noted by our teachers and recorded, resulting in a small number of students receiving an “exemplary leadership award” at the end of the year. We wish all of our Yr 6 students all the best for their final year at Mater Dei.

I am looking forward to 2019 and have enjoyed a great couple of weeks with the staff preparing for the year and the first few days with our students. I wish for a year of great learning for all.

FROM THE AP’S DESK – JULIE HENDERSON

We welcome back our continuing families and extend a warm welcome to all new families joining the Mater Dei learning community in 2019. It was lovely to observe the excitement and joy of our new Prep students and their families this week as they embarked on their highly anticipated primary school learning journey.

The year promises to be an exciting and dynamic one as we move into the second year of our

Toowoomba Catholic Schools (TCS) sponsored Visible Learning journey. The essence of Visible

Learning is about “When teachers see learning through the eyes of the student and students see

themselves as their own teachers”. Our specialist and class teachers recently attended an Effective Feedback workshop

which is part of the Visible Learning professional learning program. We were reminded of the importance of students

knowing what they are learning and why and the role of the teacher in clearly articulating learning goals (intentions) and

what successful learning looks like (success criteria) for students.

We also continue our focus on embedding consistent instructional approaches for the teaching of Reading through our ongoing involvement in the TCS Reading Improvement Strategy. Our 2019 coaching focus moves from small group Guided reading teaching to whole class Shared reading instruction. We begin the year with teachers spending the first two weeks establishing class routines and expectations to enable the effective and expected practices of Modelled, Shared, Guided and Independent reading to run efficiently in class rooms.

FROM THE APRE’S DESK – VANESSA HORTON Welcome to the beginning of a new school year!

The Mater Dei staff joined our parishioners at St Theresa’s last Friday to celebrate the Eucharist and welcome our four new teachers. Fr Brian blessed their school badges and commissioned all staff to begin their teaching and learning this year with spirit and passion, to ignite the love of learning for all.

Alice Kenny & Pam Wells (Prep), Kimberley Collett (Year 2) & Fiona Penfold (Year 4).

Opening School Liturgy Next Friday we will gather together as a whole school community for our opening school liturgy. This will be held in the William Morris Centre at 10am. Parents, parishioners and friends are warmly welcomed to join us for this special occasion followed by morning tea in the tuckshop area, hosted by our parents and friends.

Important Dates: Term One Friday February 8th @ 10am Opening School Liturgy Friday February 8th @ 1.45pm First School Assembly Friday February 15th @ 1.45pm Year 6 Retreat Day Wednesday March 6th Ash Wednesday

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION STAFFING UPDATE Please keep Joanne Cavanagh and her family in your prayers and thoughts. Her mother passed away recently and her funeral will be held early next week.

Over the break we have had to manage a couple of changes to staffing at Mater Dei. Further information is summarised for you below:

Miranda Murray was successful in applying for a Middle Leader position at Our Lady of Lourdes over the break. In her place we have appointed Miss Fiona Penfold to Yr 4 Kauri. We wish Miranda all the best in her new venture and warmly welcome Fiona to our learning community.

Glenys Ridgway has decided not to take up her 2019 contract and will resign after 26 year of service to Mater Dei. Glenys has been a corner stone of support for teachers, students and parents at our school during her time in the prep / preschool areas. We wish her many blessings in her future endeavours and sincerely thank her for the generous, caring and enduring support she has offered so many people in our community. We are using casual relief staff to fill the hours short term. This will primarily be filled by Pamela Leggat who has worked for a number of years at Holy Name Primary School. We welcome Pamela to our learning community and wish her an enjoyable Mater Dei experience.

Joanne Cavanagh has had to take 4 weeks leave for family reasons. Paula Maguire has taken on Yr 5 Kingfisher during this time. Paula is a regular supply and short term contract teacher at our school and is well placed to fulfil the needs of our learning community.

Kellie Pritchard has taken a new role in the school as Visible Learner Impact Coach. She replaces Miranda Murray in this role and will be released for additional duties each week. Tabitha Lloyd-Jones will teach in Yr 1 Flame for one day per week to enable this.

Please note the current overview of staffing for 2019:

P Garnet Pam Wells Aide – Julia Hunt

1 Banksia Karen Newton

P Topaz Alice Kenny Aide – Kellie Alexander

1 Flame Kellie Pritchard Tab Lloyd-Jones

P Jade Bec Logan / Kara Wann Aide - Rosa Wolbers

1 Grevillea Chloe Lobegeier

2 Wattle Kimberley Collett 3 Melaleuca Vanessa Horton Tegan Jones

2 Jacaranda David Redinger 3 Azalea Danielle King

2 Eucalyptus Nicola Crank 3 Camellia Heidi Robinson

4 Magnolia Kath Golightly Tab Lloyd-Jones

4 Kauri Fiona Penfold

5 Currawong Dylan Philp 5 Kingfisher Joanne Cavanagh

6 Lorikeet Shauna Coren 6 Rosella Angela Martlew Katie Mills

Teacher Librarian Meredith Thompson Learning Support Jackie Cash Clare Perkins

Physical Education Donna Prestridge Art Marg Dornbusch

Speech & Drama Amanda Holzheimer Music Ebony Rosier

Japanese Jayne Greenhalgh Instrumental Music Joe Goodman

School Counsellor Anne Woodcroft-Brown APRE Vanessa Horton

AP Middle Leader Julie Henderson Principal Chris Bartlett

Admin Operations Trish Jenkins Administration Jo-Anne Noye

Aide - Education Libby Duggan Aide - Education Pamela Leggat (relief)

Aide - Education Michelle Williams Aide - Education Kelly Cummins

Aide - Education Fran Gregory Aide - Education Kym Murray

Aide - Education Jenny Ryan Aide - Education Laurinda Hinder

Aide - Education Andrew Ryan Tuckshop Convenor Anne Denman

Aide - Library Sharon Manteit Aide - Library Sharyn Quinlan

SCHOOL FEES Please note you will receive a statement of annualised fees for the 2019 by Friday 8 Feb. Please advise the school if you

do not receive this via your nominated email address.

School fee 2019 schedule and notations were posted at the end of term last year, with the link provided in our last

newsletter. For your reference the link is provided in this newsletter as well: 2019 School Fee Schedule

STUDENT UNIFORMS AND PRESENTATION Please note a number of boy haircuts have appeared that are not suitable for school. A guide for appropriate uniforms

and presentation is below:

All children are to dress in the correct school uniform at all times. Hats must be worn when students are in direct

sunlight. Boys are to have shirts tucked in during class times. Sport uniforms shirts are to be tucked in during class times.

Hair is to be cut or managed to be out of the face / eyeline and secured at the back if longer than the collar. Undercuts,

shaved tracks or other irregular hair cut lines are not permitted.

Please support the consistent application of this guide across the school.

PICK UP ZONE A reminder to families to please display your family name on the dashboard or behind the visor as you drive through. This

enables our staff to keep the line moving smoothly. All new families will get a family name card next week to store in your

car for any time you use the pick up zone after school.

PROMOTIONAL VIDEO SHOOT Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office (TCSO) and Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC) are developing a

promotional video for Catholic Education in Queensland. Mater Dei has been selected to be part of the promotion, with

a production team present in the school on Thursday 6 February.

The team will be specifically interviewing the principal and APRE as well as small groups of students to talk about learning

and what it means to be part of a Catholic School. There will also be some incidental classroom and playground footage.

We will be selecting a representation of students from targeted year levels for the interview component.

All footage will be viewed in the editing process to ensure children without media consent are not included.

ALLERGY MANAGEMENT ADVICE As we begin the new school year, it is necessary to remind parents and caregivers that we currently have several students within our school community who are at risk of anaphylaxis. These students are enrolled across the school: Holy Angels (Prep), PJ Doyle (Years 1-3) and Good Samaritan (Years 4-6). Mater Dei follows a whole school management plan to reduce the risk of these students being exposed to the allergens that have the potential to trigger a severe allergic reaction.

All Mater Dei parents and caregivers are asked to closely read the Anaphylaxis information which is located on our Mater Dei School website as we work together; school staff and parents to implement daily management strategies to minimise the risk of a reaction for these students while at school. Find the link below:

http://www.mdpstwb.catholic.edu.au/documents/2019ParentAdviceReAnaphylaxis.pdf

Mater Dei Primary School - 1:1 Program Please find an updated version of our 1:1 Program Handbook on the following link – 1:1 iPad Program Handbook

SPORT BY DONNA PRESTRIDGE Communication All information regarding sport at both Mater Dei & Toowoomba Zone will be distributed to the parent body via the

Skoolbag app. Please monitor this app regularly, particularly when there are upcoming carnivals.

Mater Dei Swimming Carnival The sporting year kicks off next Tuesday 5 Feb with the swimming carnival at Milne Bay for students born 2007 – 2010. All

students from Years 4 – 7 will attend the carnival for the day and the Year 3 students born 2010 who are swimming will

also attend. An interim program was posted on the Skoolbag app on Wednesday so please check it carefully with your

child and email me by Friday with any changes. The final program will be posted on the app on Monday. We also require

the assistance of parents to assist with timekeeping (even for a short time) at the carnival. Please email me –

madonna.prestridge@twb.catholic.edu.au – if you are able to help.

Mater Dei Swimming Program There has been a lot of discussion in the media over the summer about the high incidence of drownings in Australia, which

in turn created a huge push to increase ‘learn to swim’ in schools. The swimming program offered at Mater Dei is very

comprehensive and we are completely satisfied that is fulfills all criteria set out by the Government, although we manage

it in a different manner to most schools. The Year 3 students receive 24 x 60 minute lessons, incorporating learn to swim,

survival swimming and stroke improvement. The program has been aimed at Year 4 students for many years but this year

we have changed to Year 3 as we believe they are more age appropriate for the program. Therefore, for this year only we

will have Years 3 & 4 participating in the swimming program at Fairholme. The school is able to partially fund this highly

successful program and parents will be notified of the exact costs in the communication to be sent home in the next few

weeks. Swimming for Years 3 & 4 will begin in term 2 after the athletics carnival.

Representative Sport Students born 2007 – 2009 are eligible to trial for Toowoomba Zone teams to attend Darling Downs trials. This is generally

for team sports with a few exceptions (e.g. golf, orienteering). The application form and further information was sent on

the Skoolbag app. Please read the age and selection criteria carefully before nominating your child.

Students are now required to wear mouthguards when participating in all contact sports. The revised guidelines for

contact sports specify students are required to wear a mouthguard when participating in Australian football, rugby league,

rugby union, hockey, water polo and handball (the Olympic version – not the playground game). Medical permission forms

for these sports will include a declaration about mouthguards that parents must sign.

Education Qld strongly recommends that students wear custom-fitted mouthguards and have also provided links to Sport

Medicine Australia - Dental Injuries and the Australian Dental Association recommendations.

TUCKSHOP

A huge THANK YOU to the people that have volunteered for a day or more, in the tuckshop in 2018. This has made it

possible to run the Tuckshop like a well-oiled machine.

Tuckshop is a fun filled day drinking coffee, eating muffins, packing lunches, supporting your lovely children and our

wonderful school. It is a great way to meet other parents if you are new to the school. We would love to see some of the

new parents as some of our regulars have finished up with their last child. Everyone is welcome, Mum’s, Dad’s,

Grandparents, etc.

In 2019 we will need VOLUNTEERS to carry on this great service to the school. So if you can help out, you are able to put

your name on our On-Line Rostering System which makes it easy to pick the day and date you are available. If you can’t

make a whole day maybe work out with a friend to share a day.

Simply follow the link below and sign up:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0e45a9a629a1fc1-mdps4

Please see the following link to access our Volunteer Declaration Form

If you have any questions, please feel free to call me on 0408 986 383.

Many thanks

Anne Denman

P&F News & Date Claimer!

We take this opportunity to welcome Hugh Bradshaw as our President of the Mater Dei P&F Committee. He joins Trish

Jenkins (Vice President) and Tony Beverland (Treasurer). The position of Secretary remains vacant, if you are interested,

please don’t hesitate to contact the School.

Whilst we are welcoming, it gives a great opportunity to announce the Annual Mater Dei Welcome BBQ!

We invite all families to join us for a BBQ on Saturday, 16th February 2019 from 4:30pm to 6:30pm! More details to

follow.

PARENT REPRESENTATIVES FOR 2019

Each year the Mater Dei P&F asks parents from

the school community to volunteer as

representatives for each class. These parents act

as a support, source of information and a contact

point for the families in their class. The aim is to

keep everyone in touch with the routines,

happenings and events going on throughout the

school year. This is an important channel for

generating positive communication between the

staff, families, admin and the P&F. It’s a great way

to support each other, and make new families

feel welcome in our community.

Thank you to the 2019 volunteers as listed below.

There are still a few classes that we need reps for.

If you are interested I would love to hear from

you. The role isn’t time consuming and it is a great

way to be involved with your class and the

school.

Marissa Irvine - 0427732425

Class Parent Representative

Prep Jade Katie Mills

Prep Garnet Liz Fusae

Prep Topaz

Year 1 Banksia Nichola Martyr

Year 1 Flame

Year 1 Grevillea Natasha Pascoe

Year 2 Eucalyptus

Year 2 Jacaranda Tracka Lutton

Year 2 Wattle Anna Singleton

Year 3 Azalea Kelly James

Year 3 Camelia Nenie Hick

Year 3 Melaleuca Emily McManus

Year 4 Kauri

Year 4 Magnolia

Year 5 Currawong Michelle Vanzella & Margy Lane

Year 5 Kingfisher Amy Dampney

Year 6 Lorikeet Sally Sheppard

Year 6 Rosella Libby O’Connor

FROM THE SCHOOL COUNSELLOR

“Welcome back! It has been so nice to see so many familiar faces and meet many new ones this week. I hope that everyone had an exciting summer and are feeling refreshed to start a new school year.

It is my hope that this year is full of successful experiences for all students. To start us off, my focus for the first few weeks of Term will be for the students to ‘get to know the school counsellor’. It’s important for them to know who I am, what I do, and the types of things they can talk to a counsellor about.

Additionally, this term we’ll be working on the 9th annual ‘Bullying. No Way!’ day, which gives schools the chcance to take action and empower young people to be part of the solution when addressing bullying in their school community. The National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA) is on Friday 15 March 2019.

If you’d like to get in touch with me to chat about my term plans, to discuss my referral process or just have a yarn, please don’t hesitate to contact me via email: anne.woodcroft-brown@twb.catholic.edu.au

See you around the school.”

MATER DEI VISIBLE LEARNING

Mater Dei started its Visible Learning journey in 2018.

What is Visible Learning?

The background behind Visible Learning

Visible Learning is based on research conducted by Professor John Hattie. According to Hattie, while

most things happening in education influence student learning, some provide greater success than

others. Visible Learning is all about focusing our efforts on what has been proven to provide the most

success in learning.

So what does that look like?

Visible Learners are students who can:

Articulate what they are learning

Explain the next steps in their learning

Set learning goals

See errors as opportunities for further learning

Know what to do when they are stuck

Seek feedback

With Visible Learning, teachers become evaluators of their own teaching and students become evaluators of their own learning. According to John Hattie, Visible Learning occurs when teachers see learning through the eyes of students and when students see themselves as their own teachers.

This short youtube clip gives a quick summary of Visible Learning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKbKWURY9iU

OUTSIDE HOURS SCHOOL CARE AT MATER DEI PRIMARY SCHOOL

Weekly Recap: Hello and welcome back parents, caregivers and children.

During the last week of school holidays the children at Extend participated in a range of activities

including: go karting, mini golf, visiting Lion’s Park, a superhero costume party, stress ball making,

zucchini brownies and more!

On Friday we said goodbye to Trinity the team leader as she is now off to do some exciting

travelling!

It was lovely to meet and interact with the children prior to school starting this week and I am really looking forward to

meeting and getting to know the rest of the children at Extend.

As we are now back at school, we will start off the term with a focus on collaborative partnerships with families and

communities.

For any questions or queries, please email: materdeitoowoomba@extend.com.au

- Holly, Team Leader

What’s on this week: Monday January 28th: Public Holiday

Tuesday January 29th: Community Links Wreath and Banana Palm Trees

Wednesday January 30th: Guess My Occupation

Thursday January 31st: Family Tree

Friday February 1st: Lego Building Competition

TRIPLE P POSITIVE PARENTING PROGRAMS

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Our office staff have created a page on our website to post notices that appear at the end of our newsletter. To view these notices parents are encouraged to follow the link:

http://www.mdpstwb.catholic.edu.au/documents/communitynoticeboard.html

These notices can now reach a broader audience as they are not restricted to our parent portal. All notices are to be related to activities that benefit Mater Dei Students, support Catholic schools and are suitable for our Catholic school ethos. West Wanderers Football Club Tigers Junior Rugby League