"Mater Dei Matters"

Principal's Message

Dear Parents/Carers,

 

While I thoroughly enjoyed my six weeks of Renewal Leave, I am very pleased to be back amongst our wonderful students and staff as Term 2 comes to a close. Mater Dei is such a special learning community!  I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Shaun Ellis for his leadership of the College in my absence and Mrs Millie Bright for her contribution as Acting Assistant Principal. Thank you to Mr Matt Hope who was Acting Leader of Curriculum and Mrs Courtney Dodds who replaced Mr Hope as KLA Leader of PDHPE, assisted by Mrs Virginia Baggio.

 

As Term 2 comes to a close, Semester Reports in the form of a Grade Release and a summary of each student’s Learning Habits, are being shared with families. At Mater Dei, the provision of feedback to students and parents on an ongoing basis through Canvas means that those Reports are just a summary of the detailed information about learning achievements and outcomes that has been shared over the past twenty weeks. I again remind parents of the value in them drilling down into that real time feedback, so that they are active participants in their children’s learning journey.

 

Our students have had so many wonderful opportunities to engage in College life during the term. During these last weeks, highlights include STEAM experiences for Year 7 with visiting student Engineers from QUT in Sydney, the Inquisitive Minds Workshop,  the Tracey Gunson Netball grand finals as well as and a number of sporting events, the exhibition of Year 12 Design and Technology and Visual Arts works, MaterVision and Beanies for Brain Cancer Day.

 

At this time of the year, there is a focus on planning for the following school year. Staffing needs are being explored and student leadership roles considered. The Student Leadership 2025 launch next Tuesday morning is an excellent opportunity for the current Year 11 cohort to learn more about the concept of leadership in a Catholic school. 

 

After their Reflection Day next Monday, they will gather to engage in a Leadership Program, inviting each student to consider the qualities of leadership and to reflect upon the reality that they will be student leaders at Mater Dei in a little over a term. Leadership is hard to define, but effective leadership is easy to see! Leading is not the same as Managing. Events and activities are managed but people are led. Therefore, leadership is about relationships, about empowering others, about developing the team and being able to say together “We did it!” As our Year 11 students reflect upon the contribution that they are called to make to our College community, we pray:

 

Lord God, you call us to life in all its fullness, 

following the path set out by Jesus your Son. 

 

As we reflect on his leadership as Servant, 

we ask you to deepen our desire to imitate his example. 

 

May we use the gifts you have given us as a faithful 

reflection of his presence at work in our lives. 

We make this prayer to you through Christ, our Lord. Amen

 

As one year group prepares to be the student leaders for next year, our graduating class is preparing for their Trial HSC Examinations early next term and Year 10 are looking ahead to 2025 as they consider their course options for Year 11. Their subject selection process will be undertaken early next term.

 

Feast of the Sacred Heart

On 7 June we celebrated The Feast of the Sacred Heart, which is a very significant day in the life of our College and in Sacred Heart Parish Kooringal. The Sacred Heart is a reminder of God’s unconditional love for us all and the importance of sharing that love, care and hope with those we meet in our everyday encounters. It is about giving our time to the anxious and the lonely, about putting people before things and using our gifts and resources for the common good. The Sacred Heart is also a reminder of the importance and value of faithful service to God. It held a special place in the faith life of Nano Nagle, founder of the Presentation Sisters, which is an important link with the College’s foundation. The Sacred Heart is a call to put aside our own prejudices and preferences and to work with all people selflessly to make a real difference in our own and the global community. 

 

At this time we remember with gratitude our beloved Fr Wilf Plunkett, whose funeral took place on this special Feast Day in 2020. His life and service epitomised all that the Sacred Heart represents.  We also take time to acknowledge and give thanks for the Clergy, Religious and Laity who have devotedly served the Church over many years and those who continue in this important work today. This spirit is captured in the Sacred Heart Parish Prayer:

We come together as Kooringal Parish under the patronage of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

We pray together with love and trust in the Sacred Heart.

 

May we listen to and understand Jesus' voice.

May the Holy Spirit give us strength and courage so that we can be as loving and outgoing as His heart.

 

We pray this and all our prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen

 

2025 Scholarships and Bursaries

Parents/carers of students in Year 7 and Year 11 in 2025 are reminded that applications for the following scholarships and bursaries are now open and close on Wednesday 7 August:

  1. Academic Scholarship for two Year 7 students in 2025 at 50% reduction in fees. This will apply for 4 years.
  2. Academic Scholarship for two Year 11 students in 2025 at 50% reduction in fees. This will apply for 2 years.
  3. Pauline O’Brien Bursary for one student in Year 7 2025 based on the Bursary criteria.
  4. Mater Dei Catholic College Bursary for one current student in 2025 based on the Bursary criteria.

Details of all scholarships and bursaries are available on the College website in the Scholarships and Bursaries sections of the Enrolment page. 

 

This is our final newsletter for Term 2 and I wish our students and their families a relaxing and renewing holiday break. This term concludes on Friday, 30 June. A reminder that Monday, 22 July is a Pupil Free Day, with staff working on incoming curriculum changes that have been mandated by NESA. Term 3 commences for all students on Tuesday, 23 July.

 

Best wishes,

 

Mrs Val Thomas | Principal