2025 National Assessment Program NAP Information and Communication Technology Literacy

In 2025, as part of the National Assessment Program, a sample of Year 6 and Year 10 students from across Australia will take part in an online sample assessment in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) literacy.

What is the NAP–ICT Literacy sample assessment?

The NAP–ICT Literacy (NAP–ICTL) sample assessment is a test in Information and Communication Technology Literacy that is given to a sample group of Year 6 and
Year 10 students.
The assessment monitors and reports on the overall progress being made towards achieving high standards of ICT literacy in Australia.

Why is NAP–ICT Literacy undertaken?

The purpose of the assessment is:
• to inform schools, education ministers and the community about levels of achievement in ICT education among Year 6 and Year 10 students
across Australia
• to support improvement in teaching and learning of ICT literacy.

Who will be assessed and when?

A random sample of schools in each state and territory across Australia is selected, and a sample of students within each of these schools take part. Around 12,800
Year 6 and Year 10 students from approximately 640 government, Catholic and independent schools in metropolitan, rural and remote locations participate in the NAP–ICTL main study. Our St Matthew's Year 6 cohort has been selected to sit this assessment.

The main study will be held between Monday, 5 May, and Friday, 23 May 2025. 

Information Flyer for Parents and Carers

Enrolment & Publicity

If you’re able to help, please call the Office 6254 2653 and we will send home some flyers for you to distribute. 

In Week 2 next term, we will hold school tours. Please encourage anyone interested in learning more about St. Matthew's to come along. Tour bookings can be made by calling the office on 6254 2653.

ANZAC Day – Lest We Forget 

This year, ANZAC Day falls during the school holidays on Thursday, 25 April. While we won’t be at school to mark the occasion together on the day, it remains an important time for all Australians and New Zealanders to reflect and remember those who served—and continue to serve—our countries in times of war, conflict and peacekeeping.

ANZAC Day commemorates the landing of Australian and New Zealand troops on the shores of Gallipoli in 1915 during World War I. It is a day of national remembrance where we honour the bravery and sacrifice of those who have fought for our freedoms and values.

Attending a Local Service

We encourage our families to consider attending one of the ANZAC Day services held around Canberra. Some significant events include:

• National Dawn Service at the Australian War Memorial – commencing at 5:30am

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans and Services Association Commemorative Ceremony at 7.30 am

• National Commemorative Service at 9.30 am

• Last Post Ceremony at 4.30 pm

These services offer powerful opportunities for children and families to reflect on our shared history and show gratitude for those who serve.

https://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/anzac-day

St Matthew’s ANZAC Commemorative Service

Our school will hold a special ANZAC Day Commemorative Service on Tuesday, 30 April, at 2:15pm in the school hall. This service will be led by Miss Sophie Murdock and our Youth Ministry Team and will include prayer and reflection in remembrance of those who have served and sacrificed.

We warmly invite all families to join us for this time of community reflection as we say, together, “Lest we forget.”

Understanding DIBELS – Literacy Assessments 

At St. Matthew’s, we are committed to ensuring every student is supported on their learning journey—especially in the critical area of literacy. As part of this commitment, all students from Kindergarten to Year 6 participate in DIBELS assessments three times each year.

What is DIBELS?

DIBELS stands for Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills. It is a research-based assessment system used across our Catholic Education system to measure the development of early literacy and reading skills.

These short, one-on-one assessments help us identify:

• How students are progressing in key literacy skills such as phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency and comprehension

• Which students may need additional support or extension

• How to target classroom teaching and interventions more effectively

How We Use the Data

The data collected from DIBELS assessments allows our teachers and support staff to:

• Monitor student growth over time

• Plan and adjust intervention and extension programs

• Ensure all students receive the right support at the right time

This system-wide approach is an important part of how we provide high-impact, evidence-based literacy teaching across all year levels.

Parent Information Evening

This session will explain how DIBELS works, what the results mean, and how we use the data to support your child’s learning. There will also be time for questions and discussion.

After the session, you will receive a copy of your child's Term One DIBELS results and a take-home activity that can support their development.

Please RSVP to the Information Session here. 

We look forward to partnering with you as we continue to support every child’s growth in reading and literacy.

Election Day Fundraising Fun – Join Us on Friday, 3 May!

St Matthew’s will be a polling place for the upcoming election on Saturday, 3 May, and our School Community Council, led by Mick Shelton, is organising a fantastic fundraising event to make the most of the day!

We’ll be running a Sausage Sizzle, Cake Stall, Raffle, and Book Stall right here at school—and we’d love your support to help make it a big success!

Here’s how you can get involved:

Bake for the Cake Stall

We welcome donations of homemade cakes, biscuits, muffins, slices and cupcakes.
Please ensure:

• Items are clearly labelled with ingredients

• No fresh cream or items that require refrigeration

• Baked goods can be dropped off on Friday, 2 May, or the morning of the election

Donate a Raffle Prize

We’re collecting items for our raffle—gift vouchers, hampers, small goods or experiences are all welcome! If you can help, please send the items to the front office.

Browse the Book Stall

There will also be a pop-up Book Cow stall coordinated by Miss Judd and hosted by our staff on the day.

Volunteer Your Time

A huge thank you to those who have already offered to help—we’re so grateful!
If you’d like to lend a hand on the day, please sign up here. 

Thank you to Mick Shelton and our School Community Council for coordinating this event.

New Direct Debit Payment Option Coming Soon!

We are pleased to announce that St. Matthew's has recently introduced the BPoint Enterprise Solution to manage direct debit arrangements for the payment of school fees.

What is BPoint, and What Do You Need to Do?

BPoint is a secure Commonwealth Bank payment processing platform designed to facilitate online payments while ensuring the highest security standards. This system safeguards your financial information using industry-leading security measures.

Our new direct debit platform will allow you to pay school fees using either a bank account or a credit card (excluding AMEX). Please note that payments made via credit card will incur a 0.5% surcharge.

Establishing Direct Debits.

Families will receive an email outlining estimated weekly, fortnightly, and monthly repayment options to ensure all fees are paid by the end of the year. These amounts will also include any outstanding 2024 balances.

What next?

You will receive an email that will provide a start date for direct debits and options for selecting your preferred payment frequency. Once a payment frequency is selected, you will be directed to enter your bank/credit card details. Once the information is entered, you will receive an email from no-reply@bpoint.com.au . The email will contain two links,

1. The first link requires confirmation of the direct debit arrangement. Please note that the link will expire within 7 days.

2. The second link provides a copy of the eDDRSA for your records.

While using the direct debit payment option is not compulsory, many families find it helpful in staying up to date with their financial obligations.

For any questions or further assistance, please contact our Finance Office.

The Power of Showing Up: Attendance Matters!

At St Matthew’s, we know that every day at school counts — and we’re excited to share that our school attendance rate has risen to 93% this term, a big improvement from 89% at the end of last year. Thank you to all our families for your support in making this happen. Together, we are building strong habits for learning and success.

Regular attendance is one of the most important factors in your child’s education. Research shows that students who attend school regularly are more likely to succeed academically, build strong friendships, and develop a positive attitude towards learning. Missing even one day of school a fortnight adds up to more than a month of lost learning over the year!

Our Goal: Keep Attendance in the 90s

We are aiming to keep our attendance rate well above 90%. As we move into the cooler months, we absolutely encourage you to keep your child home if they are unwell or contagious. However, if they are at the tail end of an illness and are no longer contagious, they are very welcome to return to school. Every day of learning and connection matters!

How You Can Stay Informed

Parents and carers can check their child’s attendance at any time through the Compass app. It's a great way to stay aware and keep track of how your child is travelling.

As part of our duty of care and school protocols, families will receive a letter if a student’s attendance falls into the chronic absenteeism category (below 80% - e.g. more than 10 days of absence in a term or 40 absences in a year) without a prior discussion about the reason for the absences. This is not a punishment but a way of keeping communication open and working together to support your child’s learning.

Winter Uniform Reminder – Term 2

As we prepare to welcome students back for Term 2, a reminder that all students are expected to return wearing their winter school uniform.

The winter uniform includes:

• Long pants for both boys and girls or the winter tunic for girls

• Broad-brim hats are still required during Terms 2 and 3, in line with our SunSmart policy. During cold weather, beanies can be worn instead of the school hat.

If you are purchasing any additional warm items for your child, please ensure they are in line with our uniform expectations:

• Beanies, scarves and gloves must be navy blue or maroon only

• Winter coats must be navy blue only

Please ensure all clothing items are labeled with your child's name.

We understand the weather can be unpredictable at the beginning of Term 2. For this reason, students will have a two-week transition period to move into their full winter uniform if the weather remains warm.

Thank you for your continued support and the many ways you contribute to the life of our school. May your Easter break be filled with rest and joy!