"Mater Dei Matters"

Principal's Address

Year 12 Graduation and News

Last Friday evening’s Year 12 Graduation was a beautiful celebration of 13 years of school education. A full report is included in this edition of the newsletter.

 

We have received notification from NESA that five of our HSC Design and Technology Projects have been nominated for inclusion in Shape 2019, which is the annual exhibition of a selection of exemplary Major Projects developed by HSC Design and Technology, Industrial Technology and Textiles and Design students held at the Powerhouse Museum next year. This is an extraordinary achievement and we offer hearty congratulations to the students; Angus Dumeresq, Sam Luff, Harris Mitter, Ben Pollack and Aidyn Stephens, to the TAS team and their teacher Mr Kanck.

 

Blessed Nano Nagle

Yesterday we welcomed the Presentation Sisters to lunch, to celebrate the legacy of Blessed Nano Nagle. The Sisters celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple today. This is an opportunity for us to thank the Sisters for their service to our Wagga community over the years.

As we reflect on the Presentation charism and spirituality, we remember with gratitude the pioneering spirit of the early Sisters who brought the message of love and hope from Ireland and we give thanks for all those who continue their work in new ways in our contemporary world. We pray:

 

NANO NAGLE – WOMAN OF HOPE

In the face of fear, she chose to be daring,

In the face of anxiety, she chose to trust,

In the face of impossibility, she chose to begin,

To universal misery, she proposed ministry to persons;

To ignorance, knowledge; to disillusionment, tenacity of purpose;

And to multiple vexations, singleness of heart.

Faced with failure, she held fast to hope;

Faced with death, she believed in a living future;

A programme for the future she gave in one word;

LOVE.

Raphael Consedine, PBVM Melbourne.

 

Next August we will host the Nagle Education Alliance Australia (NEAA) Student Conference at Mater Dei. This will be attended by students and staff members from Presentation Heritage Secondary Colleges throughout Australia. Plans are already underway for this exciting opportunity to honour our foundation and traditions as a Presentation Heritage College.

 

Homegroup Consultation

Thank you to parents/carers who attended the Homegroup Consultation Meeting last Thursday. The feedback and suggestions around the most valuable conversations in Homegroup to support student learning and wellbeing will assist with future planning in 2020.

Any parents/carers who did not have the opportunity to attend the meeting may contribute to the process by emailing Mrs Cindee Mallise at mallisec@ww.catholic.edu.au by Friday 29 November.

Upcoming Events:

Celebrating Creative Arts and Languages

We look forward to welcoming families to the Creative Arts/Languages Exhibition, in the Hall from 3.30pm to 6.30pm on Tuesday 3 December. It will be a beautiful evening to enjoy the Art and Languages display and student musical performances in the Peace Garden Courtyard. I would like to thank Ms Keough and the Creative Arts/LOTE staff and our students for all their work in creating such a special Exhibition for our enjoyment.

 

Sports Awards Evening

I look forward to acknowledging the contribution of our students to the sporting success of the College in 2019 at the Sport Awards evening on Wednesday, 4 December.

 

Welcome to New Students and Families for 2020

Year 8 - 11 Orientation Day Friday 29 November

We welcome new students commencing in Year 8 to Year 11 2020 next Friday. This is an opportunity to meet staff, student leaders and to experience a day at the College together. We are all looking forward a very enjoyable day.

 

Year 7 2020 Parent Information Evening Tuesday 3 December

Parents/carers are warmly invited to attend the Information Night from 6.00pm to 7.00pm in the Hall. Come along to meet key staff and learn more about the commencement of Year 7 on Wednesday, 29 January 2020.

 

Year 7 2020 Student Orientation Day

On Friday 6 December, our Year 7 students in 2020 will join us for a day of fun, friends and fantastic learning. A great day has been planned and we are looking forward to welcoming them to the Mater Dei family.

 

The Uniform Shop will be open on both Friday 29 November and Friday 6 December to assist new families.

 

Staff News

  • We wish Ms Emma Thomson every blessing as she commences Parental Leave this week. Emma and Shane are expecting their baby next month and Emma will return from Leave in Term 3.
  • Ms Catherine Banks has accepted a teaching position at Kildare Catholic College from the commencement of 2020 and it is with sadness that we will farewell her from the role of Leader of Students at the end of this term. Catherine has made a very significant contribution to the College during the past two years will be greatly missed by us all. We wish her every blessing for her new teaching role.

 

Prayers Please

As we come to the end of our Liturgical Year with the Feast of Christ the King on Sunday 24 November, the words of Pope Francis offer us great inspiration. Speaking of this great Feast, he urges us forward in “our commitment to imitating Jesus, our King, making present his kingdom with acts of tenderness, compassion and mercy”.