Mater Dei Catholic College has a brilliant Pastoral Care team who pride themselves on providing a supporting and nurturing environment. We are here to support your child and if you have any concerns please do not hesitate to contact the relevant House Leader to discuss how we can best do this.

Carroll House - Mrs Virginia Baggio Kennedy House - Mr Peter Simpson

Rosarie House – Mr Ruth Fraser

Sherrin House – Mr Steve McCormack

Webber House – Mrs Amelia Bright

College Photos

Catch-Up Day is Wednesday 29th April. Any students absent on this week’s photo day are to get the photo taken during Lesson 1.

Year 12 Photo will also be taken on Wednesday 29th April. Please bring your order forms on the day.

Peer Support

This week Year 11 led the second-last Peer Support session for this year. Year 7 have displayed their maturity, enthusiasm, teamwork and cooperation throughout the duration of these sessions. Positive relationships have been formed between group members and their leaders which is evident in the wider school setting. As part of next week’s session, Year 7 and their Leaders will enjoy some Hot Chocolate together to celebrate the success of this program. We look forward to sharing more photos after the final session.

From the Desk of Our School Wellbeing Practitioner: Louise de Bruin:

“Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be.” - Karen Ravn.

If you need help all you have to do is ask. Your House Leader can assist in setting up an appointment with me or you can access any of the following resources:

Kids Helpline: 24 hour/7 days week telephone and online counselling: 1800 55 1800

Reachout – information and support: Au.reachout.com

eheadspace/headspace: www.eheadspace.org.au

Youth beyond blue – on line counselling: www.youthbeyondblue.com

myHomework Student Planner app

Make Bullying History Workshops – BRETT MURRAY

Parents and friends of the Mater Dei and Kildare communities are invited to attend the Parent Workshop on Tuesday the 19th May at 7pm in the Mater Dei College Hall. All parents who attend will receive a free trial of SafeKidsPro software. We look forward to your attendance.

As part of this initiative Mater Dei will be running a staff workshop on Monday the 18th May followed by the student Workshop on Tuesday the 19th May. The following information is helpful in providing background information to parents regarding the workshops:

‘Make Bullying History’

As we all know, the scourge of bullying has been steadily on the increase in our schools and at home, both nationally and globally. The rapid advancement of technology means that social media is now a common feature of children’s lives and is a key factor in the problems that arise ever more frequently when kids become involved in anti-social and potentially dangerous activities.

To tackle these issues the Federal Education Department has mandated that schools be compliant with a "Holistic school community approach in dealing with Bullying", as set out in the National Safe Schools Framework.

Prominent anti-bullying ambassador and author of Make Bullying History, Brett Murray delivers engaging seminars, workshops and keynote presentations for students, teachers and parents providing the knowledge and tools to understand, tackle and eradicate bullying in its various forms.

Technology plays such a prominent role in the problems that exist and Brett has spent a long time investigating how it can also form part of the solution. After reviewing for years many possible solutions, Brett is delighted to announce that he is now a proud advocate of SafeKidsPro, a world’s first software designed to enable parents to keep their kids safe on social media by unobtrusively monitoring their social media accounts. It provides the information needed to protect against cyberbullying, whether their child is the victim or perpetrator. It also warns against interactions with strangers and potential predators, online reputation damage and much more.

All parents who attend a seminar will be given a free trial of SafeKidsPro.

Please note that Brett has no business links to or commercial interest in SafeKidsPro. His recommendation is impartial and based purely on the benefits that he believes the product can bring.

If you would like to find out more information on Brett, visit www.brettmurray.com.au

For information on SafeKidsPro, visit – www.safekidspro.com

Miss Emily Paul

Assistant to the Principal – Students

"Mater Dei Matters"

Issue 6 · 24 Apr 2015

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