School Vision
St Matthew’s School empowers children to embrace life-long learning, and grow and develop as God intends.
Today’s prayer is in recognition of St Joseph’s Feast Day:
O God, you gave Joseph the awesome joy of joining Mary in caring for the child, Jesus.
Through Joseph’s intercession grant us the grace to remain always close to Jesus,
to be protective of the little ones, to be concerned about the poor and the marginalized and to live
our charism through our various ministries.
Help us, as Joseph did, to live justly and walk humbly with our God.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, your Son
Amen
Dear Parents & Carers,
Welcome to Term 2!
Interschool Swimming Carnival
The re-scheduled Interschool Swimming Carnival will be held on Friday 5 May at the Narrogin YMCA Leisure Centre. The schedule of events will be the same as the information sent out last term, however, should you require an additional copy, please see the school app.
Faction Reward Day – Gibney & McFall
Congratulations Gibney and McFall on reaching your minor faction award. This Wednesday (3 May) students in Gibney and McFall may wear free dress to school. Well Done!!
Play Cafe
We are very happy to welcome back Mrs Claire Graham for Play Café this term. Play Café is open to all families in the Narrogin and surrounding community. Children between 0-5 years are welcome to attend. Children must be accompanied by a parent, grandparent or guardian.
Sessions: Term 2 – 2023
11 May, 18 May, 25 May, 1 June, and 8 June.
Time: 8:30am – 10.30am
Where: Kindy Room (enter from Fathom St)
Cost: Free
For more information, please check the school app.
Term Overviews & Parent Letters
Each term teachers provide our families with a term overview and parent letter to outline the content of each subject area and prepare parents for the term ahead. These documents will be available via the school app by Monday 8 May.
Important Dates:
1 May P&F Meeting 6pm
3 May Gibney and McFall Free Dress Reward
5 May Interschool Swimming Carnival
10 May Kindy Mothers’ Day 1:30pm
12 May Pre-Primary Mothers’ Day 11:45am
18 May Ascension of Jesus Whole School Mass
25 May Year 3 & 4 Class Mass 9:30pm
26 May Year 5 Performance Assembly
31 May Cicada Music Workshops
1 June First Holy Communion Parent Workshop 3:30pm
2 June Interschool Cross Country
5 June Public Holiday
6 & 7 June Pupil Free Days
9 June First Holy Communion Retreat Day
11 June First Holy Communion
12 – 14 June Book Fair
22 June Winter Carnival Yrs 4 – 6
30 June Last Day Term 2
Please be aware that all important dates can be found on the calendar on the school app. This is the most up-to-date source of information.
Cultural Celebrations
In Term 3, St Matthew’s would like to celebrate many of the different cultural backgrounds of our students and we would love to have parent input into these events. We will commence the term by acknowledging NAIDOC Week and in doing so celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. We would then like to organise learning activities based on the Asian, Indian and African cultures. We would like to set up parent planning committees to help develop learning activities. If you are interested, or would like to share any ideas, please email susan.milton@cewa.edu.au.
Principal Focus – Tween Time
As a parent, we go through many different developmental stages with our children. We all fondly remember the terrible twos, but do we really understand the needs of our tumultuous tweens? Children between the ages of approximately 9 and 12, go through a period of emotional and physical growth which presents its own challenges for both you and them. Healthline.com explains:
You might notice the following behavioural changes in your tween:
- increased risk-taking behaviours
- a more rebellious nature or perhaps an interest in “bending the rules”
- sudden disinterest in hobbies they once loved, where they trade them for newfound interests
- an attempt at trying multiple types of sports, arts, and other activities until they’ve found the right “fit”
- increased need for sleep, especially on weekends and during school breaks
- stress over the need to “fit in” with their peers
- increased fears of feeling “embarrassed” in front of others
- more emotional ups and downs due to hormone fluctuations in puberty
- increased attention over body weight and physical appearance
Your tween may also start spending more time on technology by watching videos, playing games, or perhaps engaging with their peers on social media.
Over the next couple of months, I will be meeting with our tween girls to give them an opportunity to talk about friendship issues and how to deal with conflicts in a positive way. Maggie Dent explains in her article Helping your teen girl with volatile emotions:
Our girls need a safe place to vent their big ugly feelings and irrational thoughts and this is why they can be seen to change from an angel to a ‘nasty pasty’ in a micro-second once they get home! Much of the venting is merely a projection of their own insecurities, frustrations and hurts, even if they direct it at you. They are striving to release the emotional tension that makes them feel crabby, dumb, useless, stupid or ugly – this is what we do sometimes with our partner or best girlfriends.
So how could you help this basic emotional need to be a little more pleasant for you and your daughter? … Remember that emotions are triggered by our thoughts that are often irrational – however, being heard often allows us to realise that we may have made an incorrect assessment or choice and it simply releases the pressure in our nervous system. The more stress our girls are experiencing the more they will struggle with big ugly feelings (BUGS) or ANT attacks (ANT = Automatic Negative Thoughts) and the more they will need to vent/discharge those emotions. It may help to be mindful of other triggers in her day-to-day life. A good cry and a good laugh also release tension too!
Happy listening,
Susan Milton
Principal
