This is the final newsletter for the school year and an opportunity to thank our families for your support throughout 2019 and to wish our College community every blessing for the Christmas season.

Christmas Liturgy and Awards Evening 11 December

Last Wednesday evening, our College community gathered with invited guests including representatives from the CEDWW and the Presentation Sisters for the Christmas Liturgy and Semester 2 Awards Ceremony. The Peace Garden courtyard was a perfect venue to gather before a beautiful celebration of our Advent journey to Christmas. The evening was also an opportunity to congratulate our students on their efforts and achievements this year. A report has been included in this edition of the newsletter.

HSC Results

Congratulations to our Graduating Class of 2019, who received both their HSC examination results and their Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) today. While the HSC results are provided to the College, ATARs are only issued to individual students and not directly to schools.

An overview of the HSC results has been included in this newsletter and will also be published on social media, together with details of high ranking ATARs that we receive from students.

Outstanding achievement in the HSC will be recognised in the Academic Assembly, which will be held on Friday, 31 January 2020.

We are very proud of the achievements of all our Year 12 students and wish them every success in their future endeavours.

Farewell to Students and Staff Leaving Mater Dei

We gathered last Friday for our final College Assembly. An important focus was the presentation of the St Vincent De Paul Christmas Hampers to the local Conference. I would like to thank Mrs Bright for coordinating the appeal and staff who have encouraged student involvement. Thank you to all our families for your generous response to this vital appeal. This supports the extraordinary work done by the local members of St Vincent De Paul to allow Wagga families in need to celebrate Christmas.

The Assembly was a last opportunity to prepare for Christmas together, and to farewell staff and students who are leaving the College. We wish them every blessing for 2020 and beyond.

Farewell Staff Departing the College and Commencing Leave

The following staff who are leaving Mater Dei were acknowledged and thanked at the Assembly on Friday:

Ms Georgie Leahy
Ms Ebony Neal
Mrs Diana Ganapathy
Mr Ben Masterson
Mrs Catherine Banks

Mrs Gill will be on Parental Leave next year. We wish Beck and Ian every blessing for the birth of their second child next month. I also thank Mrs Higgins and all our casual staff for their contribution during 2019.

New Staff for 2020

Congratulations to each of the following new members of staff for 2020. We look forward to welcoming them to our College community:

Ms Ashlee Fennell has been appointed as a PDHPE teacher in 2020, replacing Ms Curran who is on leave.
Mr Jonathon Scanu will be teaching Visual Arts/Technology for Semester 1, replacing Ms Thomson who is on leave.
Ms Catherine Lamb will join the staff as an English and TED teacher in 2020.
Ms Anna O’Brien has been appointed as a TED and Humanities teacher for 2020.
Ms Ashleigh Eldridge will be job sharing with Mrs Lutze in Semester 1.

Conclusion of the 2019 School Year for Staff

I would like to remind our families that all staff members are engaging in Professional Learning this week. The College Office will be closed from 4.00pm today (Tuesday 17 December) for staff training. It will reopen from Friday 17 January 2020.

Commencement of 2020 School Year

The Uniform Shop Opening Hours during the holidays have been published in this newsletter.
Year 7, Year 11 and Year 12 return on Wednesday 29 January.
Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10 join them on the following day, Thursday 30 January.

Christmas Blessings

I wish all our Mater Dei families a Happy and Holy 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.

A CHRISTMAS PRAYER

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.

Mrs Val Thomas | Principal

"Mater Dei Matters"

Issue 20 · 17 Dec 2019

In this issue