Merit Award Winners
Optiminds
Last Saturday, students in the Year 5 and Year 6 Enrichment Program travelled to Curtin University to participate in the Optiminds Competition. Optiminds is an international competition involving over 170 schools and thousands of students. Participants are given an open-ended challenge six weeks before the day, and, using collaboration, team work and ingenuity, have to produce a 10 minute presentation to a panel of judges showcasing their solution to the problem. Both St Matthew’s teams chose the Science-Engineering Challenge, which meant they had to construct a ‘loop’ that carried an object without being touched. Students also were given a ‘Spontaneous Challenge,’ where they had to think on their feet and produce a solution with minimal preparation time. Both teams performed admirably and enjoyed the experience fostering their problem-solving, lateral thinking, and creative skills.
Mark Tenney
Assistant Principal/ Enrichment Co-ordinator
One Big Voice
After weeks of preparation, students from St Matthew’s Choir travelled to RAC Arena to participate in the One Big Voice Concert. Over 7000 students sang a variety of songs, from John Farnham’s ‘You’re the Voice,’ to Birds of Tokyo’s ‘Unbreakable.’ Joining with East Narrogin Primary School and Narrogin Primary School, students performed both classic and modern tunes to delight the 15 000 strong audience. Guest performers from ‘The Voice’ Grand Final also sang to the students, and even the teachers got to sing a section of ‘A Million Dreams.’ Amid the camera and TV crews, the smiles of the students shone brightest. Well done, to all students for their fabulous efforts.
Mark Tenney
Assistant Principal/ Choir Teacher
Sport Colours Day – Friday 27 September
On Friday 27 September we will be having a Sport Colours Day. This will be the last day of term and the day before the AFL Football Grand Final. On this day, students may wear the colours of their favourite football, soccer or basketball team. Please send along a gold coin donation to raise money for Mini Vinnies.
Pre-Primary-Year One Fathers’ Afternoon
On Friday, the Year 1 and Pre-Primary classes welcomed our dads, grandads and uncles to school to celebrate Fathers’ Day. We enjoyed performing Fathers’ Day songs before completing games and activities with our dads. We hope all our dads, grandads and uncles had a wonderful Fathers’ Day. Thank you for celebrating with us.
Fathers’ Day Breakfast
It was lovely to see so many dads and grandads attending Fathers’ Day Breakfast on Friday 30 August with their families. A big thank you to our P & F Committee for organising this event.
Term Dates 2019 for Students
Term 3 Tuesday 23 July to Friday 27th September
Term 4 Monday 14th October to Friday 13 December
Pupil Free Day Friday 1st November
Please note: The last day of the school year for students is Friday 13 December and the last day of the school year for staff will be Friday 20 December.
Back Care & Safety
ear 6 students were visited by Madeleine Petchell from Narrogin Hospital this week to learn about back care and safety. With many adults experiencing debilitating back pain and related health issues, it was important for the Year 6 students to hear about appropriate maintenance, correct posture, and basic spine anatomy. Thank you Madeleine for your time and expertise teaching our students.
