Principal Talk with Mrs Lowe
Thank you!
I’m delighted to share that last week I returned from a refreshing long service leave, which included a short and memorable trip. It was a wonderful opportunity to recharge and broaden my horizons.
I’d like to extend my thanks to Petra Cole for stepping into the principal role during my absence. Her leadership ensured everything continued to run smoothly and efficiently. I’m also grateful to Sophie Murdock, Rachel Powell, and Daniel Hunt for taking on additional responsibilities and supporting the team so capably.
I would also like to thank our School Community Council and our wonderful parent volunteers — Greg Watman, Jean Giese, Brooke Town, Jaimi Pigrim, Mel Guyatt and Rachael Andreata — for preparing and serving a sausage sizzle lunch for our staff and students last Thursday.
It really is a privilege to be part of such a wonderfully supportive school community.
Congratulations!
We are excited to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our teams at the recent ACT Futsal School Titles. A special congratulations go to our 10 Boys teams, who have qualified for the prestigious 2025 Australasian Champion of Champions tournament!
This competition, taking place in November in Brisbane, brings together the top school futsal teams from across the country—including the leading teams from the Champion of Champions in Southern QLD and Northern NSW, as well as the top two teams from ACT, Tasmania, Victoria, Southern NSW, Hastings, and Whitsunday Regional School Titles.
We are incredibly proud of our students for their selection. Information has already been shared with the team members, and we will extend invitations to other boys from the 9s and 10s age groups if additional players are needed to complete the team.
Parent-Teacher Conferences – Book Your Session Now!
Our upcoming Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held from Tuesday, 24 June to Thursday, 26 June. These 10-minute sessions are a valuable opportunity to discuss your child’s progress, celebrate achievements, and work with their class teacher to set meaningful goals for the remainder of the year.
- Morning sessions will be held in the classrooms.
- Afternoon sessions will be held in the school hall.
We encourage all families to book a time that suits them. If you're unable to attend during the scheduled times, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher to arrange an alternative.
We look forward to connecting with you and continuing to support your child’s learning journey!
School Academic Reports
As part of our reporting process across Catholic Primary Schools, the Semester One 2025 student reports will include:
- Overall A–E grades for each subject in Years 1–6
- Indicators of progress in key learning areas such as English, Mathematics, and the Arts
Please note that written comments will not be included in this semester’s report. However, they will return in Semester Two.
Reports will be distributed via Compass on Monday, 30 June.
We encourage families to review the reports together and reach out to your child’s teacher if you have any questions or would like to discuss your child’s progress further.
Week 8 Open School Community Council Meeting
We also held our Week 8 Open School Community Council Meeting on Tuesday evening, and we’d like to thank all the parents and carers who attended. Your involvement and interest in our school community are appreciated.
A special thank you to Toni Pheiffer from SP Inclusion Services, who presented valuable information about their programs, including the Tuning in to Kids® program. This evidence-based program supports parents and caregivers of children aged 3–10 years, helping them develop emotion-coaching skills that foster emotional intelligence, resilience, and stronger parent-child relationships.
If there is enough interest, we are excited to offer this program to families at St Matthew’s. You can express your interest by scanning the QR code on the flyer linked below.
Program Overview – Tuning in to Kids® helps parents and carers:
- Notice children’s emotions before they become overwhelming
- Accept, validate, and empathise with their child’s emotions
- Help their child reflect on and name their emotions
- Support their child in working through emotions
- Assist with problem-solving when needed
This program has been shown to improve communication, reduce behavioural challenges, and support mental health and wellbeing in children and families.
Congratulations to Our Confirmation Candidates!
Congratulations to the students who received the Sacrament of Confirmation last night at St Matthew’s Church. This is a significant milestone in their faith journey, and we are so proud of their commitment and preparation.
Thank you to our Religious Education Coordinator, Sophie Murdock, and Year 6 teachers, Daniel Hunt and Hannah Beissner, for guiding and supporting the students throughout this special time. We also thank the students and staff from St Vincent’s for joining us and sharing in this beautiful celebration.
We are especially grateful to Monsignor John Woods for presiding over the Sacrament and leading such a meaningful liturgy.
May the gifts of the Holy Spirit continue to guide and inspire our newly confirmed students in all they do.
Winter Uniform Reminder
As we settle into the cooler months, a reminder that all students should now be wearing the full winter school uniform.
School Winter Uniform (not sports) (Monday, Wednesday, Friday):
- Tracksuit pants are not part of the winter uniform
- Students should wear dress pants or the tunic
- Joggers are not permitted with the regular uniform — these are for sports days only
Outerwear & Accessories:
- All students should bring their fleece jacket and wear long sleeves
- If purchasing a coat, please ensure it is navy blue
- Gloves, scarves, and beanies may be navy blue or maroon
Uniform plays an important role in creating a sense of belonging and pride in our school. Thank you for your support in maintaining our high standards.
Please refer to the image below for guidance on the correct winter uniform and acceptable school shoes.
