UMatter Day 2025

Dear Parents and Carers,

My name is Carole Upton, and this year I’ve had the pleasure of teaching Year Two at ENPS. As we head toward the end of another busy term, I wanted to take a moment to share something close to my heart -  UMatter.

UMatter began a few years ago, during a time when so many of us were feeling isolated and uncertain. Like many parents and teachers, I saw first-hand how those challenges affected our children -  their friendships, their confidence, and their sense of belonging. What really struck me was how powerless they felt to help each other. A simple conversation with my daughter about letting people know they mattered became the spark that started UMatter.

At its heart, UMatter is about kindness, connection, and gratitude - reminding one another that what we say and do truly makes a difference. It’s built around a simple idea called “UMattitude”: an attitude of honest gratitude that helps build self-worth in others.

Over the past few years, UMatter has grown thanks to the wonderful support of our school community. With the encouragement of Kate Barletta and the ENPS staff, it’s become part of who we are as a school - a reminder that positivity and respect can ripple far beyond the classroom.

You might have noticed a small yellow and green character popping up in classrooms - that’s UMatter Man! He’s our cheerful reminder to show kindness, notice others, and help everyone feel that they matter.

Each year, we celebrate UMatter Day on the first Friday of November, taking time as a school to recognise and appreciate the people who make a difference in our lives. It’s a special opportunity to pause, reflect, and remind ourselves how powerful even the smallest act of kindness can be.

The 21/90 rule says it takes 21 days to make a habit and 90 days to make it part of your lifestyle. Imagine if we all made UMatter part of ours - one small act of gratitude or kindness each day.

To help your child get started, we’ve included the UMatter Man 21-Day Challenge page with this newsletter. Your child can also ask their teacher for a copy. Each page features UMatter Man with 21 rings to help track their acts of kindness and gratitude. Every time they show kindness, help someone, or make a positive choice, they can colour in one of the rings. By the end of the 21 days, they’ll have a visual reminder of how small actions can make a big difference - and how easy it is to make kindness a daily habit.

Together, we can continue to build a culture where every child, every family, and every person knows that they matter.

Warm regards, 

Carole Upton