Dear Parents and Carers

50^th Anniversary Celebrations

Anniversary Mass
Our preparations for the celebration of our Anniversary Mass on Sunday March 27^th are proceeding well. Many former principals and staff members have indicated that they plan to attend. A joint parent-staff choir, including several musicians has also been formed.

Last week I sent out an invitation to our older children to assist with some of the duties on the day. All current St Matthew’s children are invited to attend this mass and will be included in a special hymn which the children have been practising in their music lessons. We simply ask that all children wear their full Summer Uniform and are accompanied by at least one parent.

Please keep this morning free, it promises to be a great celebration of our school’s short history. If you are able to attend, and your child is in Kindergarten, Year One or Year Two, would you mind letting our Front Office know in order that we keep within the COVID limit placed on such gatherings.

Building Refurbishments
We received word from the ACT Block Grant Authority that Stage Two of our refurbishment has been approved. Stage Two is essentially the Junior end of the building. This means that we now have funding to refurbish all classrooms including the corridor space during the next two years. As you can appreciate the Pandemic has caused significant delays in the starting time for Stage One. We remain hopeful however, that the refurbishment will commence mid-year and that the second stage will begin immediately after the completion of the first stage.

I would like to acknowledge the ACT Government which has generously provided one million dollars in funding for Stage Two of this project.

I will pass on further details the moment we have a starting date.

Principal’s Retreat
I will be spending Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week on Retreat with the principals of the Canberra Goulburn Archdiocese. The Retreat will be led by Archbishop Christopher Prowse. The first day, a System Leaders day will focus on the most recent initiatives surrounding the roll out of the Catalyst Program which is now underway in all schools across our archdiocese.

Pupil Free day
The Catholic Education Office has stipulated that Tuesday April 26^th is a Pupil Free Day to allow staff further opportunities to undertake Professional Learning regarding the catalyst Program.

Our Out of School Care Provider, OshClub has indicated that they will provide child care on this day.

May God bless you and your families

Graham Pollard

Principal