This edition of the newsletter, our last for 2025, celebrates the end of an action packed year and includes an overview of the Year 12 Graduation on 14 November, which was a glittering and joyful celebration of 13 years of education. Full details are included in the newsletter.

Another high point was our College Assembly on 26 November, which was an opportunity for the College community to come together to acknowledge the Feast of the Presentation, with the Sisters. This is especially significant as we support the 250th year of Presentation Education.

On Friday 28 November, we welcomed new students in Years 8 to 11 in 2026 to the College for their Orientation Day and last Friday our incoming Year 7 students had their introduction to College life with a very successful Orientation Day program. Thank you to new families for 2026 who attended the Parent Information Meeting on Tuesday 2 December, which provided some general information about the Mater Dei and offered an opportunity for families to meet their House Leader and other College families.

Our Christmas Assembly for students today marked their last official day of attendance. This final assembly for 2025 was an opportunity to acclaim students who have excelled academically and worked conscientiously during Semester 2, as well as to present the Major Awards for 2025. Congratulations to all our award winners!

This morning we also farewelled staff and students departing from the College.

The following members of staff are leaving Mater Dei at the end of this term and I thank them for their contribution and wish each one very blessing for the future:

Ms Paris Pardon has resigned her teaching position and is returning to Townsville in 2026. We thank Paris for her contribution to the College as an English and Humanities teacher and wish her every blessing for the future.
Ms Jess Brasnett joined the teaching staff mid year and is moving to Queensland where she has secured a permanent position at Chisholm Catholic College. Congratulations, Jess!
Ms Meredith Lewis, who joined us in 2025 has submitted her resignation as a TAS teacher. We thank Meredith and wish her every blessing for the future.
Mrs Chris Fisicaro has completed her temporary administration role as a member of the Support Staff this semester and I thank her for her invaluable contribution to the College during this time.
Mrs Millie Bright has been appointed as Principal of Mater Dei Primary School, a role she commenced in November. Since she joined the staff as a permanent teacher in 2005 Millie has held a number of middle and senior leadership roles, most recently as Acting Assistant Principal at Kildare Catholic College this semester. We congratulate Millie on her well deserved appointment and wish her every blessing for her leadership of Mater Dei Primary School.

Staff Updates for 2026

Mr Matt Hope will continue in 2026 as Leader of Curriculum.
Ms Anna O’Brien has been appointed as Leader of Pedagogy and Data from 2026.
Mrs Sophie Munro will be on Parental Leave in 2026. During this time, her role of Assistant KLA Leader of English will be filled by Mrs Catherine Lamb.
Ms Millie Owen has resigned her Teacher Assistant role and will join the staff for 2026 as an English teacher.
Mrs Courtney Dodds, who returns from Parental Leave in 2026, has been appointed as Acting PDHPE KLA Leader for next year and Mrs Stacey Curran will take on the role of Acting Assistant KLA Leader of PDHPE. I thank Virginia Baggio, Stacey Curran and Rebecca Marien who have led the PDHPE KLA during 2025 while Mr Hope has been Leader of Curriculum and Mrs Dodds has been on leave.
Lachlan Harland has been appointed to the new role of Assistant KLA Leader of Science from 2026.
Ms Shonna Meurant, who has been working in the Office, has been appointed as a Teacher Assistant from next year.
Mrs Marnie Grogan and Mrs Rebecca Marien will remain on staff in part time teaching roles.
Mrs Christine Jolley will remain in the role of CAPA/STEAM/Hospitality Assistant in an ongoing capacity.

New Staff Appointments

Congratulations to the following new members of staff for 2026. We look forward to welcoming them to our College community:

Mrs Jenna Larkin, who has previously been a teacher at the College, is returning in 2026 after several years on staff as an English teacher and Middle Leader at Kildare Catholic College. Jenna brings her expertise as a Year 7-12 English teacher, experience as a Middle Leader and her knowledge and passion for strengthening student literacy skills.
Mr Joe Maitland will join the TAS staff in 2026. Joe is currently teaching at Echuca and brings his expertise in the areas of wood and metal technology to the role.
Mrs Maryanne Voss has been appointed as a HSIE/RE Teacher, commencing in 2026. As well as being a member of our casual teaching staff, Maryanne has previously worked at TRAC and The Rock Central School and brings her extensive experience as a teacher and a Leader of the HSIE KLA to the position.

I thank the teaching and support staff and our casual employees for their contribution throughout this year.

As well, we will acknowledge with gratitude the contribution of Fr Grace as Parish Priest of Sacred Heart, Kooringal during the year. We also thank Seminarian Patrick Drum who has again supported our teachers in the classrooms.

At the Assembly we officially farewelled our departing students, many of whom are leaving Wagga. Please keep those staff and students leaving our community in your prayers. We wish them every blessing in the next phase of their life journey.

2025 College Yearbook

Thank you to Mrs Meg Narouz for preparing the Yearbook for publication. It will be made available as a soft copy to Year 7-11 students and families. Parents/carers will be advised when it can be downloaded from the College website. Year 12 will receive a hard copy of the Yearbook.

2025 School Fees

A reminder that all 2025 fees are due and must be paid in full prior to the end of the school year. The 2026 School Fee Schedule has been released by CEDWW and was shared via Compass this week with families.

Next Week

The College Office will close at 11.00am on Monday, 15 December as staff will be involved in professional learning after that time. Any contact will be best made via email or phone to the College, if needed.

The HSC results and ATARs will be released on Thursday, 18 December. An overview of the HSC results will be captured on social media and outstanding achievement in the HSC will be recognised in the Academic Assembly, which will be held on Friday, 6 February.

We can share the news that many Year 12 students have already been offered places in university courses for 2026 ahead of the release of their HSC results. We are very proud of the achievements of all our Year 12 students during this challenging year and wish them every success in their future endeavours.

The College Office will reopen on Monday, 19 January 2026.

Student Commencement Dates for 2026 School Year

Monday, 2 February - Year 7 and Year 12 commence
Tuesday 3 February - Year 8, Year 9, Year 10 and Year 11 return
Friday 6 February – Year 12 2025 High Achievers’ Assembly
Monday 9 February – College photos – Students wear full College Uniform
Wednesday 11 February - New Parents’ Information Meeting at 6pm - Canvas and Compass

Full details of College events are available on the College Calendar.

The Uniform Shop Opening Hours during the holidays are published in this newsletter.

Christmas Blessings

As our school year comes to a close, our focus shifts from Advent to Christmas:

I said a Christmas Prayer for you because the season’s near.

I didn’t ask for riches but for gifts so much more dear.

I asked for joyful gatherings with your family all around,

and for carols to inspire you with their old familiar sound.

I asked for quiet moments in your heart on Christmas morn,

for a special time to celebrate the Saviour who was born…

I asked for friends to send their best that you might know they care.

I asked for peace and love and hope, and I know God heard my prayer. Amen.

Thank you to our families for your support throughout the year. On behalf of the Leadership Team, I wish our College community every blessing as we prepare for Christmas.

I pray that this season of joy brings peace and happiness to all. May Mary, our Good Mother and patron of our College, continue to guide and inspire us in all we do and wish a Happy and Holy Christmas to all. Families are warmly invited to attend the Christmas Masses at Sacred Heart Church and details and times are included in this newsletter.

Mrs Val Thomas | Principal

"Mater Dei Matters"

Issue 11 · 12 Dec 2025

In this issue