Dear Parents and Carers

At St Matthew’s, teachers understand that good quality friendships and relationships are critical to child development. Healthy friendships help forge skills like negotiation, cooperation, and conflict resolution. They teach our children how to be supportive and show empathy. They also stimulate independent thinking and open children up to new ideas.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the way in which our children socialise and communicate with friends, peers, teachers and family on a daily basis. As a result, our students are sometimes struggling to use the skills they need to have healthy, feel-good friendships.

We are proud to announce that we have become a  URSTRONG School and are committed to empowering your children with the skills, language and confidence to be better friends and develop healthier relationships. URSTRONG’s whole-school friendship strategy has improved the social climate in schools around the world, teaching a common language of friendship and empowering students with skills to create a culture of kindness at our school.

You are invited to take advantage of a FREE Parent Membership that will allow you to learn the same language and strategies being taught in our classrooms through the Friendology 101 curriculum. We hope that, as a URSTRONG Family, you will reinforce the important messages of empowerment, self-compassion, & kindness at home.

Inquiry Exhibition 4 November
Where will you be at 2pm on Friday 4 November?

At St Matthew’s Primary School, we hope!

Finally, following two years of COVID-19 restrictions, we’re able to invite parents, carers and families to our Inquiry Exhibition. Our Exhibition is a celebration of our learning and teaching in Humanities and Social Sciences. Students will present their inquiry journey to our visitors and speak about their learning.

Classrooms will be open from 2.00pm to 2.45pm and entry is through the Front Office. You are encouraged to maintain social distance wherever possible, and to stay home if you’re not feeling well. Feel free to wear a mask. Parents are welcome to take their children home after their visit.

Day for Daniel 28 October
Day for Daniel is a National Day of Action hosted by the Daniel Morcombe Foundation to raise awareness of child safety, protection and harm prevention. Held on the last Friday of October each year, it is about educating children and adults about keeping safe through child safety and protection initiatives. The key objective of the day is to educate children about their personal safety, and empower them to 'Recognise, React and Report' when they feel something is not right. Next Friday, we ask that students wear something red in recognition of the day. Parent helpers are being sought to bake cupcakes. Please contact your child’s classroom teacher if you can help.

Clothing Pool Coordinator
We have been blessed to have the assistance of Liz Susic as our Clothing Pool Coordinator for the last few years, as well as several wonderful parent helpers who opened up the Pool when COVID-19 restrictions allowed. The school is now seeking the assistance of a volunteer Clothing Pool Coordinator (or Co-ordinators - you could join with a friend!) for 2023. This would involve opening the Clothing Pool once-a-week, or once-a-fortnight, at a time that suits you, and helping other families find the perfect school uniform items. It’s a great opportunity to get to know other parents, make new friends, and be an essential part of our St Matthew’s community. If you think you can help, please contact Chris or Mariana in the Front Office (office.stmatts@cg.catholic.edu.au).

Staff Development Day 16 December
Following communication from Ross Fox, Director of Catholic Education, a pupil-free, staff development day has been set for Friday 16 December. This day will allow our staff to be involved in professional learning and planning to improve our curriculum delivery and our implementation of the Catalyst teaching and learning approach that will benefit all the students at St Matthew's in 2023.

Afternoon Pick Up
Afternoon Pick Up is a time when great patience and courteous driving is crucial. Teachers are on duty at the drive through area from 3.00pm to 3.20pm. Consider arriving at 3.10pm, when traffic congestion has eased. We had a visit from a Detective Sergeant from ACT Road Policing earlier in the week, who spoke with parents who are parked illegally on Stutchbury Street in the afternoons. School bus drivers are having difficulty turning into the street and driving safely to the bus stop outside the school because cars are parked in a no parking zone. Please follow all road signs and expect a visit from the parking inspector in the coming days and weeks.

May God bless you and your families this week. 

Petra Cole
Principal (Acting)