UMatter

Welcome back!

It’s been a wonderful start to 2025 with so many students being kind, caring and safe.

If you’re a new student at our school, you would have noticed UMatter man around - on doors, in windows and in classrooms. You might be wondering ‘Who is this?’.

Let me give you some background information, and hopefully you’ll join us in making everyone feel like they matter.

My name is Carole Upton and this year I’m teaching Year Two at ENPS.  I wanted to take this opportunity to welcome new families to our community and UMatter.

Year 2020 was a difficult year for everyone; being locked down, remote learning, and dealing with an inability to see friends and family. Although there was a profound impact on every person’s mental health during this period it particularly affected our younger members of the community. This became more obvious to me when my daughter spoke to me about the impact it was having on her friends... but what was more important was her perceived inability to do anything about it. I suggested that maybe she just needed to tell people that she was thinking about them and that they mattered to her, and that got me thinking…

What if I could do something to help others in the community? To make them understand that what they do does matter. That’s when I came up with the idea of UMatter. 

UMatter works on the premise of UMattitude (verb): an attitude of honest gratitude that builds self-worth in others. We should all be working together to create self-worth in others. Let's treat everyone with respect, build positivity and always incorporate kindness. UMatter is about being there for others so that they realise their worth when they need it most.

My idea started small but has grown with the help of support from others. I now have a logo which was designed by an amazing graphic designer named Katerina Tsaroumis who has willingly provided her talents to capture the essence of UMatter. She matters so much to me because she believed in my idea and has made it a reality. The ENPS staff, led by Kate Barletta have wholeheartedly taken the idea on board and we are in our 5th year. They matter to me because they believe in me and support me in my goals.

And now it’s time to join us to make a difference too… 

The 21/90 rule states that it takes 21 days to make a habit and 90 days to make it a permanent lifestyle change... Commit to your goal for 21 days and it will become a habit. Commit to your goal for 90 days and it will become a part of your lifestyle. I’m asking you to make UMatter a lifestyle change. (https://www.activeiron.com/2020/01/10/the-21-90-rule-make-life-better/) 

1. Use the UMatter notes attached below to write a short note to anyone who needs to know that they do matter.

2. Finally, make a commitment to making a difference to others self-esteem and self-worth by ticking off the checklist to track how you are going.

Remember that you don’t have to write it down, you can just tell someone, “UMatter to me because…” or “I just wanted you to know how much UMatter to me…”.At least, it starts a conversation.

Thank you so much for your support, we can make a difference to others and build a positive community. UMatter in making this a possibility and I’d love to see you join us.

Additionally, if you have any ideas, or can assist me in any way, including promotional items such as stationery, banners, badge making, t-shirt printing etc. I’d love to hear from you.

Warmest regards,  

Carole Upton

Mrs U