Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Carers
I recently met with fellow principals and members of the Catholic Education Office to be briefed about a plan for our schools should an outbreak of COVID 19 occur. In short, the plans would mirror the program which was rolled out during last year’s outbreak. Teachers will provide a Remote Learning package using Microsoft Teams as the online platform while children study from home.
In order to minimise the risk of transmission of this especially virulent version of the virus, our staff, including the Leadership Team will be encouraged to also work from home whilst the school maintains a skeleton staff. This will be in keeping with the stated public policy to limit the movement of all adults during this time.
It is for that reason I am asking you to strongly consider your capacity to keep your child at home in the advent of an outbreak. I fully appreciate however that some parents will be regarded as essential workers who are unable to work from home and as such must ask the school to supervise their child’s Remote Learning program on site.
Thankfully at this point in time these are simply plans which hopefully will not need to be implemented. I did feel however it was important to alert you to Catholic Education’s planning should the need arise.
Concert
We are completing the final preparations for next week’s Senior School Concert. The concert is (necessarily) a COVID compliant performance, meaning that most of our audience will be located off site viewing the performance virtually.
regarding the performance. This was forwarded home late last week. If you have missed this note you can find a copy on our school’s website.Congratulations to Mrs Ellis who has once again produced the performance, this year however under quite trying circumstances. Thank you also to Mrs Jay Pozzi who used her extraordinary skills as a seamstress to produce some fabulous costumes.
Staffing
Congratulations to Mr Daniel Hunt and Ms Sally Judd who have been appointed to the position of Acting Coordinator during Term Four. Daniel and Sally will share the role during next term acting in their new position in five week stints.
A message from our 50th Anniversary Committee
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We have lots of terrific celebrations planned for this fabulous occasion so keep your eyes out for more news. Our Committee was wondering if you, or a member of your extended family are in contact with a St Matthew’s ex-student? If so, would you mind asking them to write a short passage about a St Matthew’s memory? The passage can be something of significance or just a memory that they might have. One of our current parents, Sarah Kelly has started the ball rolling with the following memory: In 1972, building works for St Matthew’s commenced, Weetangera was still a sheep paddock surrounded by newly constructed houses. The following year, my parents, Murray and Judy Williamson, having moved from Sydney, built their house in Springvale Drive and went on to have 5 children and 3 grandchildren all of whom were students of St Matthew’s. One grandchild, Sophie is still attending St Matthew’s! In 1977 St Matthew’s Kindergarten students were required to be bused to Rosary School at Watson because the school was too full to house everyone. Hopefully that gets you thinking……. It does not need to be long, just a paragraph or a few lines. We would love your contributions to make a regular feature in our newsletter over the next six months, in an effort to raise awareness of the upcoming anniversary and our history. Please identify yourself or the author and perhaps provide the names and years that the children attended our school. Email your contribution to Graham Pollard for publication in the school newsletter: graham.pollard@cg.catholic.edu.au
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May God bless you and your families
Graham Pollard
Principal