School Vision

St Matthew’s School empowers children to embrace life-long learning, and grow and develop as God intends.

This prayer is chosen to acknowledge our students who are receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time this term:

O God, your dream for us is that we might be made whole
through the reconciling power of Jesus.
Free us from impediments to the healing power of forgiveness.
Open us to transformation that we might be the
compassionate, wounded healer your world needs.
Bless us all.

Dear Parents & Carers,

Welcome to the first newsletter for Term 3. It is going to be a very busy term with lots of opportunities for our students to shine.

Berry Street Education Model

On Monday 15 July, the entire school staff travelled to Mandurah to attend Day 1 of the Berry Street Education Model. We joined over 100 other CEWA staff members from 4 different schools to learn practical, classroom-based strategies to increase the engagement of all students, including those with complex, unmet learning needs. The education model enables schools to support students’ self-regulation, relationships and wellbeing to increase student engagement and significantly improve academic achievement. Some of the strategies that St Matthew’s will be focusing on this term are:

• Structured morning routines
• Positive primers – used at the beginning of a day, or lesson to encourage the flow of positive emotions.
• Ready to learn plans
• Proactive de-escalation

St Matthew’s staff will attend Day Two on 7 October.

Winter Woolies Winter Appeal Wednesday 31 August

This Wednesday, 31 August, our staff and children are invited to dress in their Winter Woolies. This is to raise awareness of, and resources for, those families that are going cold this winter. Families and staff are invited to bring to school jumpers, blankets, jackets, beanies, boots etc. to donate to various local and state charity organisations.

At 2:10pm, we will be entertained by students showcasing some of their learning from their Languages classes. Students from Year 3 to 6 are asked to wear their gumboots/farm boots for this performance. They may wear these to school as part of their Winter Woolies, or change into them just prior to the performance. Parents are welcome to attend.

One Big Voice 22 August

Our beautiful choir students will be performing at the One Big Voice concert on 22 August at the RAC Arena. Parents can go to the One Big Voice website to see where St Matthew’s will be situated, and which tickets will be best for them to purchase. Ticketing information can be found in the “Welcome to Term 3” letter on the school app.

Choir students will receive more information, via the school app, this week. This includes travelling to and from the event.

Athletics Carnivals

The St Matthew’s School Faction Athletics Carnival will be held on Tuesday 27 August (Jumps and Throws) at school and Thursday 29 August at Thomas Hogg Oval on Bannister Street, Narrogin. On Thursday, students from Years 1- 6 will arrive at the carnival by bus at approximately 9:10am, with the carnival starting shortly after.

Parental assistance on both days is essential for the carnivals to run smoothly. If you would like to help, please contact Mr Muto at school. We will need helpers for both Jumps and Throws on the 27 August and the main events on the 29 August.

Morning Fitness

In preparation for our Athletics Carnivals, and to increase general fitness, all of our students from Years 1 to 6 will be taking part in A Running Challenge once a week from 8:45 – 9:05am; Yrs 1 – 3 on Tuesdays, Yrs 4 – 6 on Thursdays. Staff will record the cumulative distance and rewards will be given to students as they reach different milestones.

Book Week Dress-Up Tuesday 13 August

St Matthew’s will be celebrating Book Week from Monday 12 August to Friday 16 August (Wk 5). The theme for this year is “Reading is Magic”.

On Tuesday, 13 August, we will be celebrating by holding a whole school dress-up day. Children are invited to dress as their favourite book characters. Children are asked to please bring along the book or a printout of the cover page to help our secret judges choose several award winners. This year’s prizes are:

• Best dressed
• Most creative
• Best group/family
• Best characterisation

Parents are most welcome to join us for our parade at 9:00 am in the Sr Isabel Hall. You can even dress up if you like!

Formal School Shoes

Last term, concerns were raised about the difficulty in purchasing formal school shoes in Narrogin. We are pleased to report that both leather-look and leather shoes are able to be purchased from both Parrys and Sports Power. Parents are asked to please refer to the uniform guidelines (available in the handbook and on the website) or to check with their class teacher, if there are any concerns about school uniform requirements.

Play Cafe

I would like to thank Mrs Graham for volunteering her time to host Play Cafe last term. Unfortunately, however, she will be unavailable this term, so there will be no Play Cafe until Term 4.

Auslan with Mrs Maartens

This semester, classes from Year 1 to Year 6 will be learning Auslan during their Language lesson each week with Mrs Maartens. Auslan is the language of the deaf community in Australia. Auslan aims to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to enable students to:

• communicate in Auslan
• understand language, culture and learning and their relationship, and thereby develop an intercultural capability in communication
• understand themselves as communicators
• develop a knowledge and an understanding of the diversity of Deaf experience and the nature of identity.

2024 Non-government schools census collection notice

The Australian Government Department of Education (the department) would like to advise all staff, parents and guardians that it will collect certain information about your school, its staff and student body as part of the 2024 Non-government schools census collection (the census). Please see the school app for more information.

Attendance

Unfortunately, this is the time of year that many of our staff and students suffer from coughs, colds, viruses and flus. We obviously do not want students attending school when they are unwell. However, it also appears that many families are taking time off from school to head somewhere warm. Although I appreciate that family holidays are very important, I would like to remind our community that time away from school can have a significant effect on a child’s learning and educational outcomes. As partners with you in the education of your child, it is important to point out that reduced attendance has a large impact on academic learning. In order to access the full curriculum, and give your child the best chance of success, Catholic Education WA recommends the rate of 90% – 100% as ‘Regular Attendance’. When attendance falls below this level, it indicates a student may be at risk of not reaching their full potential. The chart below gives a breakdown of the amount of time missed in a year, and if maintained, how it impacts on the future education of your child.

Once a student falls below the classification of ‘Regular Attendance’ their weekly attendance in monitored. If the absenteeism continues, I will contact you by phone to discuss any problems with getting your child to school. Parents will then be required to attend a meeting at the school to discuss ways we can support you to improve your child’s attendance.

Cleaner Wanted

We will require a cleaner for Week 9 and Week 10 of Term Four whilst Jeff Slattery is on well-earned Long Service Leave. Please contact the Office if you would like any further information.

First Reconciliation

On the 7 August, several of our Year 3 students will be making their First Reconciliation. Parents are reminded to please check the Sacramental Schedule on the school app for important dates. Parents are also required to enrol their children for this sacrament by clicking the link on the school app (see Sacrament of Reconciliation by selecting Year 3).

Fathers’ Day Breakfast 2 September

Our wonderful P&F are once again inviting all of our father-figures to join our students for a yummy Fathers’ Day Breakfast before school on Monday September 2. More information will be provided closer to this date.

DOJO Rewards – Years 1, 2, 4 & 5 Free-Dress Reward 7 August

This year, we are acknowledging positive student behaviour by awarding DOJO points. Students earn points for:

Correct uniform
Good manners
Helping others
On task
Positive participation
Persistence
Quiet walking
Showing respect
Teamwork
Working hard

I am pleased to announce that students in Years 1, 2, 4 and 5 have earned enough points for for a free dress day and 10 minutes additional playtime on Wednesday 7 August.

Term Overviews and Parent Letters

Term Overviews and Parent Letters for Pre-Primary to Year 6 were uploaded to the school app last Friday. These documents contain information that is specific to your child’s year level.

Lock Down Drill

Last Thursday, we practised our Lockdown procedures. Lockdown is to be used in active threat situations involving perpetrators on school grounds. Although we all pray that we will never have to use this procedure, for the safety of our staff and students, it is very important that we practise our responses. As this is a new procedure for St Matthew’s School, we will hold another practice in the next few weeks to ensure we have streamlined the process.

NAPLAN Results

This Wednesday, students in Years 3 and 5 will receive their child’s NAPLAN Student Report for 2024. Parents are invited to discuss these results with their class teacher should they have any concerns.

VacSwim

VacSwim provides children aged 5 to 17 years with the opportunity to develop and progress their swimming and water safety skills during the October and summer school holidays. They offer programs for beginner, intermediate and advanced swimmers at over 175 locations across Western Australia. Please see the school app for more information.

Children’s Liturgy

It has been so lovely to see several of our gorgeous students join me for Children’s Liturgy on the second and last Sunday of every month of the school term. Children’s Liturgy of the Word is an age-appropriate Liturgy of the Word offered for ages 4 to 10. During this special time, the volunteer teacher leads the children through prayers and readings that are simplified for children.

The remaining dates for next Term 3 are:

11 August
25 August
8 Sept

Important Dates

All important dates can be viewed on the St Matthew’s app calendar. Of particular note are:

Stay warm!

Susan Milton

Principal