Dear Parents, Students and Friends,

With a very short Week 1 comprising only a Staff Learning Day, we are now officially in Week 4 of this ten week term. Those first three weeks have been filled with College events including the Academic Assembly, Commencement Mass, College Photographs, the Swimming Carnival and the Deanery Mass, as well as other House, Year and Class activities and events.

The Commencement Mass was a beautiful celebration of “new beginnings” by Fr John, assisted by Fr Plunkett and Archbishop Carroll, who gave a very stirring homily on this theme. Invited guests representing the Presentation Sisters, the Catholic Schools Office and College Council joined us for this special occasion, which began with a Welcome to Country by Aunty Mary Atkinson. Highlights of the Mass included the Year 7 Candle Ceremony, which looks forward with hope to our new students growing as members of the faith community; and the installation of the Student Leaders for 2017. I congratulate them all and encourage you to read all about the Commencement Mass in this edition of the newsletter.

A Prayer for the New School Year

Lord,

Whether I leave behind

a year of joy or of trials and difficulties,

I pause to give thanks.

Thank you for being with me

every day of every year.

Thank you for making all things new

And for giving me the grace of

fresh starts and new beginnings.

Remind me of your presence

in the days to come,

Even when I feel pushed and rushed by busyness.

Be glorified in my life this year. Amen.

Other events last week included College Photographs and the College Swimming Carnival on Thursday evening. Despite extremely high temperatures, the carnival ran like clockwork under the very capable leadership of Mr Nathan Irvine, assisted by Mr Tom and Mrs Kayleen Murphy, Mrs Margie Devries, Mr Ged Horsley, College staff, and supported by the Wagga Wagga Swimming Club. The Swimming Carnival was very successful, I would like to thank all who contributed – staff, parents/carers, students and friends of the College for sharing your expertise and supporting our students. Congratulations to our Age Champions, those who broke records and the winning House Rosarie, on a job well done.

Deanery Opening Mass

Staff celebrated the commencement of the school year at the Deanery Opening Mass which was held on Thursday 9 February at Sacred Heart Parish.

Staff across the Diocese were also recognised for their contribution to Catholic education and were honoured in a years of service presentation.

Mater Dei years of service recipients Mrs Jackie Walker, Mrs Ann Sullivan, Mrs Jackie McEwen with Principal Mrs Val Thomas and Catholic Schools Director Mr Alan Bowyer (absent Mr Mark Gleeson)

Year 12 Retreat

This week is a special time for our Year 12 students as they take time away from their studies to reflect on their lives and their relationships; please keep them in your prayers. I will join the students and staff this evening at Warrambui after attending Principal Meetings in Albury this week.

As this term gets underway, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight that education is a partnership between the College and parents where a positive relationship is established. This enables the growth of all students while attending a school such as Mater Dei. Involvement in your child’s education is very important and I encourage all parents to involve themselves with each event that is presented throughout the year to see and witness what is occurring at the College. In particular, Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews and Information Evenings are an essential forum for information to be presented and discussed. I hope to see many parents take up the various opportunities to be involved that are offered during the year.

The relationships we establish throughout life enable positive growth to occur. It is the same with education – to flourish, schools and children need to develop good relationships where each of us are challenged and supportive of one another. In permitting the development of such relationships, students are aware of expectations as teachers and parents are in dialogue and supporting one another in terms of consistent and firmly reinforced expectations. In other words, the adults in a child’s life are on the same page and the message is being constantly reinforced with students.

Holiday Projects

As is usual over the holiday break and early weeks of this term, there were numerous projects completed at the College to ensure staff and students were able to start the academic year in a successful way. Many staff were also involved in activities to ensure the new students were ready for the first day with their technology devices, uniforms and a myriad of other requirements. Thank you to the staff who oversaw each of these aspects of College life. As well, our building project commenced in January and the preliminary site works are almost completed, ahead of the concrete slab being poured later this month. We are all looking forward to seeing the classrooms take shape. As well, the plans for the Chapel/Religious Learning space are about to be signed off, as well as the cricket/hockey nets and beach volleyball court, which will be located on the oval.

Year 7 2017 ConnecTED Learning Presentation and New Parent Information Evening

The Year 7 Transition Program has been very successful and I congratulate Miss Paul and staff who have led this valuable initiative. An important element is the Year 7 Parent Evening to be held next Thursday 23 February, commencing at 5.00pm in the Glasshouse, with a presentation about learning led by Miss Cramp and the ConnecTED Learning Team. Refreshments in the Hall will follow, ahead of a meeting for new parents of students in all year groups with Homegroup Teachers and House Leaders at 6.30pm. Students are not required to attend the evening. We hope to see all our Year 7 and new parents there. The flyer in this newsletter provides further details.

College Council AGM

The College Council will hold its AGM on this same evening, Thursday 23 February, followed by a regular meeting. The form and function of College Councils has changed and Mr Kerry Mowett, who is the Bishop’s representative on the Mater Dei College Council, will be working through the new Constitution at the meeting. A report of the meeting will be included in the next edition of the Newsletter.

College Open Night 28 February –

All Welcome!

The enrolment process for next year’s Year 7 is about to begin with school visits to our local Catholic primary schools scheduled for next week, ahead of our Open Night on 28 February. Several of our current Year 8 students will join me for the schools visits, with many returning to their own primary school to share something of their Year 7 experience.

If you have a child in Year 6, or have family/friends in this situation, please invite them to come to our Open Night, commencing with College tours at 6.00pm and concluding with a Parent Meeting in the Hall at 7.30pm. It promises to be a great night to see learning in action and we hope to see you there.

Student Sponsorship Policy

From time to time our students represent the College away from Wagga in sport, cultural and community events and activities. A student sponsorship program is in place to support a number of these activities and offers a financial contribution towards costs for travel, accommodation or registration fees. Details of the Sponsorship Policy can be found on the College Website.

"Mater Dei Matters"

Issue 2 · 16 Feb 2017

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