Acting Principal’s Message
Here we are!!! After two and a half years of lockdowns, masks, restrictions, vaccinations, and RAT tests, COVID has finally entered our community. It is comforting to hear that most people are experiencing mild symptoms and tend to recover quickly after a few days of rest.
For our kids, a mixture of emotion is to be expected. For some, they may experience anxiety, fear, or nervousness, for others, they may not even bat an eyelid. Our kids are sponges to the world around them and are learning to navigate this period by watching and mimicking how adults react. It’s important to remember that life will throw your child all sorts of curve balls and developing tools and strategies to process the world around them will place them in good stead for the future.
At school, despite some significant challenges, our staff have continued to strive ahead with professionalism and positivity, and continue to provide your child with a safe, stimulating, and enriching learning environment. The routine and structure of school provides a sense of normalcy and certainty that encourages continual learning.
Meetings
Now that parents are welcome back on-site, you are more than welcome to email your class teacher to arrange a meeting to discuss your child’s learning progress. The morning can be a busy and active place as teachers greet and prepare students for the day ahead. If you have something to discuss, the morning is generally not the best time, so arranging an after-school meeting is preferred.
Remote Learning
Thank you to all parents for showing such understanding for our rapidly changing landscape. As a staff, we discussed the possibility of providing remote learning to students who have contracted COVID; however, it became quickly evident that this would not be practical or effective due to the large number of staff isolating and unwell. With remaining teachers having to combine classes and teach multiple year levels, I have asked class teachers to focus their time and resources on delivering the best in-class learning they can, considering the circumstances. If students are still isolating at home, they are more than welcome to engage in any of the online learning programs such as Reading Eggs, Matific, MathsPathway (Year 5/6), Code.org, Literacy Planet (Yr. 6), Typing Club, and SeeSaw.
NAPLAN
Well done to our Year 3 and Year 5 students who have completed their NAPLAN assessments. They have approached the assessments with a sense of calm and should be commended on their superb work. This week (week 4), I will be busy catching up students who have been absent for certain tests. As always, students and parents are reminded that NAPLAN is just another assessment of student learning and students are encouraged just to do their best.
Fathom St Kiss and Drop
We have received numerous complaints from community members in regard to traffic around the Fathom St Kiss and Drop. Parents are reminded not to queue on the Glyde St/Fathom St intersection. Please loop around the block and the line should be clear. Can parents also speak to their children who walk or ride home and remind them of road safety awareness.
COVID Reporting
A reminder that all CEWA Staff and Students are encouraged to report Positive RAT and PCR tests on the below portals:
- https://cewa-collections.powerappsportals.com/COVID-19-Self-Reporting-Form/
- https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/ratregister
Please note parents only need to register a positive test through the ‘HealthyWA’ portal.
RATs
We have received a further shipment of RATs from the WA Government meaning we can increase our allocation to 20 tests per child. These cannot be sent home with your child and need to be collected. Please visit the front office to collect your tests.
St Matthew’s School Advisory Council
We welcome Mrs Claire Coffey, Mr Mark Sewell, and Mrs Zeta O’Rourke (P&F Representative) to the School Advisory Council and look forward to their insights and wisdom. While the Principal is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the school, the School Advisory Council supports the principal with special skills or knowledge and brings the voice of the community into the school. The Council has no formal legal responsibilities for the performance and well-being of the school. Claire, Mark, and Zeta join Mrs Michelle Batt (Chair), Mr Keith Guest (Vice-Chair) Mrs Jodie George (Secretary), Mr Joseph Nyemba (Treasurer), and Mrs Claire Shepherd.
School App – absentees
Just a reminder that our school app: “Connected” is perfect for submitting students’ absences as class teachers and admin staff are automatically notified. A direct email to a class teacher may be missed during the busyness of the day or that teacher may be absent, so using the “Connected” app ensures everyone receives the communication and satisfies our legal obligation of recording absentees.
Sacraments 2022
Please note the following Sacramental Dates for this year:
| Commitment Mass for all Sacraments | Sunday 22nd of May – 9:30am |
| Confirmation Parent/Child Workshop | Sunday 22nd of May – 11:00am |
| Sacrament of Confirmation | Sunday 19th of June – 9:30am |
| Sacrament of Holy Communion | Sunday 18th of September – 9:30am |
| Holy Communion Parent/Child Workshop | TBC |
| Reconciliation Parent/Child Workshop | TBC |
| Sacrament of Reconciliation | Wednesday 9th of November – 6pm |
- Please complete the below form to enroll your child in a Sacrament this year:
https://forms.office.com/r/utWaEme0BT
Once again, thank you for your support of St Matthew’s School. We are blessed to have such amazing staff, students, and families.
Mark Tenney
Acting Principal
Community News
A poem from Fr Geoff Aldous
The warmth of the sun, though so far away
Brings life to all creatures on a cold winter’s day.
Then it’s the heat of the sun that warms up the sand
As we lie on the breach, when summers at hand.
Then into a lovely warm bed, on a cold winter’s night.
Or in the sleeping bag when camping, under the stars so bright
Then the warmth in our friendships, in handshake or kiss
With our families and loved ones, when nothings amiss
But the warmest of all, is the Hart of the lord
With the Father and Spirit in full accord
In our prayer and reflection, we rest in His love
And open our hearts to the warmth from above