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 Mothers’ Day:
Dear Lord,
I approach you to give thanks to all women who so generously and freely give love, comfort, and guidance to children every day.
I ask you, Lord, to give them the strength to continue their work. Give them patience and let them see that they are loved, appreciated, and respected.
I thank you for the sacrifice they make every day. And I pray you to bless them and touch them with your Grace.
I pray this in your mighty name.
Amen.
Dear Parents & Carers,
Happy Mothers’ Day to all of the amazing women who love and care for our beautiful students. I hope you have all enjoyed burnt toast in bed, bouquets of home-made flowers, cards full of glitter and smelly-perfumed candles! Most of all, I hope you all feel the love and appreciation of your gorgeous kids.
I can’t believe it is Week 4 already!! We have had a fantastic start to the term with opportunities for students to experience academic, artistic and sporting opportunities. Over the next few weeks will continue to offer opportunities for both parents and children to expand their learning in many different ways.
Camp Quality
We are very lucky to have the Camp Quality team coming to visit St Matthew’s:
Show date: Thursday 25th of May, 2023
Show times: The Big Score – 11:05 am (Year 3 – 6) approx. 60 mins including post show Q and A
The Big Party – 12:15 pm (PP – Year 2) approx. 30 mins
Camp Quality’s cancer education program has been teaching kids about cancer with a fun and interactive puppet performance, for over 33 years. The program focuses on telling the broader cancer story, including how to support someone who is facing their own cancer diagnosis or that of a loved one. Please see the school app for more information.
Barking Gecko’s Cicada
Years 4, 5 and 6 will be attending the Barking Gecko performance of Cicada at the Town Hall at 10am on Tuesday 30 May. Winner of the Children’s Book Council Award for Best Picture Book in 2019, this new adaptation brings master-storyteller Shaun Tan’s much-loved Cicada to life in a stunning puppet show by some of WA’s leading theatre-makers and most exciting emerging artists. A small story of epic proportions, Cicada is an allegory of difference, resilience and the light we all have inside ourselves. An enchanting tale for children finding their place in the world.
On Wednesday 31 May, these three classes will continue their learning by taking part in workshops at school. Delivered by highly experienced Barking Gecko Teaching Artists, these fun-filled drama-based workshops are designed to provide the opportunity to further explore the themes and ideas that exist in the world of Cicada whilst providing students (and their teachers!) an opportunity to learn more about the theatre making process. Engaging in drama processes and techniques such as improvisation and devising, students will be inspired to discover new ideas, celebrate the unusual and get curious about the endless possibilities of creating worlds, exploring character, and discovering story.
Sacrament Commitment Mass for 2023
This Sunday, 21st of May at 9:30am, St Matthew’s Parish will host the Sacrament Commitment Mass for 2023. As per diocesan requirements, this Mass is for parents and students receiving: First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation this year. In preparing for their child to receive a Sacrament, parents are also committing to developing and supporting their child’s faith journey. Parents and candidates will be asked to read a small pledge during the Mass. Please email Mr Tenney (mark.tenney@cewa.edu.au) if you have any concerns.
Cultural Celebrations Parent Planning Committees
Thank you to those community members who have volunteered to be on planning committees for our Cultural Celebrations in Term 3. We will commence the term by acknowledging NAIDOC Week. We would then like to organise learning activities based on the the Asian, Indian and African cultures.. Ideally, I would like us to have our first planning meeting in Week 5. If you are interested in being involved or would like to share any ideas, please email susan.milton@cewa.edu.au
Play Cafe
We held our first Play Café for this year last Thursday and it was so lovely to see so many little people enjoying their time together in the Kindy area. Play Cafe 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.
Remaining Sessions:
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.
Neurodiversity Parent Information Session 1 June 5:30pm
We are organising a Neurodiversity Parent Information Session for the 1st of June. While everyone’s brain develops similarly, no two brains function just alike. Being neurodivergent means having a brain that works differently from the average or “neurotypical” person. This may be differences in social preferences, ways of learning, ways of communicating and/or ways of perceiving the environment. Individuals with autism, ADD, ADHD, dyslexia and/or sensory processing disorders are commonly referred to as being neurodivergent. The aim of this information session is to:
- provide information about neurodiversity
- explain some of the challenges neurodiverse children may face
- explain how these children can be catered for in primary schools
This session will be for any community member who would like to know more about neurodiversity. This includes parents of neurodiverse children, or parents who want to know how to educate their neurotypical children to ensure that they are inclusive and demonstrate empathy.
I have invited several guest speakers, including our CEWA Special Needs Consultant, Jake Sheaf. If you would like to attend, have any suggestions on topics or would like to be involved, please email susan.milton@cewa.edu.au Babysitting will be available.
Principal Focus – What is Neurodiversity?
In preparation for our Neurodiverse Parent Information session on June 1, I would like to direct parent’s attention to the website raisingchildren.net.au, Apart from lots of relevant parenting information on a range of topics, this website contains Neurodiversity and neurodivergence: a guide for families. I would particularly like to highlight how acceptance and understanding of neurodiverse children in schools and communities have positive outcomes for all children:
Why it’s important to embrace neurodiversity
When families and communities embrace neurodiversity, it’s good for neurodivergent children’s mental health, wellbeing, sense of self and identity.
Embracing neurodiversity takes away the pressure for neurodivergent children to behave in neurotypical ways, hide behaviour like stimming, mask or hide who they are, or cope with sensory overstimulation. This kind of pressure can be physically and mentally exhausting. And it can make it hard for children to focus on schoolwork and take part in social activities.
Embracing neurodiversity is also good for society. Just like the planet needs a diversity of plants and animals to survive, society needs neurodiversity to thrive. Neurodivergent people bring many strengths to society. These include strengths in creative, innovative and analytical thinking and expertise in areas of special interest.
How to embrace neurodiversity in family life
You can embrace neurodiversity as part of everyday family life. You don’t have to be neurodivergent yourselves. Here are some ideas:
- Talk with your children about neurodiversity, neurodivergence and acceptance. For example, you could say, ‘Some people’s brains work differently from other people’s. This means they learn and make friends differently too’.
- Use books to learn and talk about neurodiversity and neurodivergence. For younger children, try Some brains by Nelly Thomas, The brain forest by Sandhya Menon or Just right for you by Melanie Heyworth. For older children, try The spectrum girl’s survival toolkit by Siena Castellon or The autism and neurodiversity self advocacy handbook by Barb Cook and Yenn Purkis.
- Find meaningful ways to include neurodivergent children in your social activities. For example, if you’re inviting an autistic child to a birthday party, you could ask the parents how you can accommodate their child’s needs. Or you could include some ‘What to expect’ information with the invitation.
- Look for appropriate ways for your child to communicate with neurodivergent friends. For example, you could help your child use pictures and drawing to communicate with a friend who doesn’t use words.
How to embrace neurodiversity in the community
Here are some ideas for embracing neurodiversity in the community:
- Be aware of the language you use. It’s OK to ask if you’re not sure. For example, ‘Do you prefer ‘autistic child’ or ‘child with autism’?’
- Challenge unhelpful attitudes. For example, you could speak up if you hear someone criticising a parent whose child is having a meltdown in the park.
- Avoid assumptions. For example, there could be many reasons why a child is eating only packaged snacks at a picnic or wearing headphones at the supermarket.
- Look for ways to make your community more inclusive. For example, you could be part of a petition encouraging the local supermarket to opt into one ‘quiet hour’ a week, when lights are dimmed and no music is played.
- Talk respectfully about neurodiversity and neurodivergence. You probably know people who are neurodivergent, even if they haven’t told you.
How schools can embrace neurodiversity
Schools can adjust things so that neurodivergent children can participate fully in learning and socialising at school. For example, you might notice that your child’s school has made changes like these:
- Changes to the environment for children with sensory sensitivities or high levels of anxiety – for example, perhaps the school uses quiet spaces, adjusts lighting, allows children to use sensory items like squishy balls in class, or allows variations to the uniform.
- Use of diverse teaching methods to suit diverse learning styles or needs – for example, perhaps the school lets some children create video presentations instead of doing class presentations, or participate in sports day by planning rather than competing. Perhaps teachers give both written and verbal instructions.
- Support for all children to include neurodivergent children in interactions and play – for example, perhaps the school includes lessons on neurodiversity in citizenship lessons or has games clubs for all children interested in a game like chess.
Along with the Parent information Session, St Matthew’s has also recently purchased several picture books to help our families understand neurodiversity. Please let me know if you would like to borrow these books for your family.
I hope to see many of our parents and community members attend this session to help our school to further develop its acceptance of our wonderfully diverse school.
God Bless,
Susan Milton
Principal
