Principal's Address

Dear Mater Dei Community,

Today’s newsletter correlates with the last week of formal schooling for our Year 12 students. It has been an action packed last week for our Year 12 students. Instead of engaging in out-dated ‘muck up’ activities, our Year 12 students have focused on ‘finishing well’. On Monday evening they held a Games Night and yesterday was a great day of celebration which saw a two‐fold farewell for the Class of 2018.

During the day, all staff and students gathered for our annual Farewell Assembly. College Captains, Bridgett Dill and Jackson Holmes recalled memories of by-gone days and also expressed the future hopes of their peers.

In the evening staff, Year 12 students and their families celebrated the Eucharist with Fr John and Fr Plunkett presiding. Details of the Graduation Mass are included in the Mission page of this edition of the newsletter.  After Mass, we “broke bread” by sharing a delicious supper that had been expertly prepared by Ms Amy Hazelwood and the Year 11 Hospitality students. The cutting of the beautiful Graduation Cake, which had been lovingly created by Ms Hazelwood was a highlight of the supper. This was followed by a mixture of speeches, reflections, prize giving and performances. A final highlight to the evening was the news that Bailey Bowyer has been nominated for possible inclusion in ENCORE, a selection of performances and compositions from Higher School Certificate Music students to be held in the Sydney Opera House in February. Congratulations, Bailey!

All in all, the evening  was a most fitting conclusion to thirteen years of schooling.

One highlight of yesterday was the manner in which the students received their “Mater Dei Cross”. The cross serves to remind our Year 12 students what it means to be a member of the wonderful community at Mater Dei Catholic College; that Jesus is a constant source of forgiveness, hope and compassion; and, to be a disciple of Jesus and to live their lives marked by the words and deeds espoused in the Gospels. Also, the Mater Dei Cross is a symbol that epitomises what the prophet Micah encouraged us all: ‐ “To act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with our God.”

Reflecting upon their time here includes reflecting upon their student leadership of the College. The Class of 2018 has been an excellent example to those students who will follow their pathway. There have been many highlights this year and the way in which they have risen to the challenges whilst also enduring the unique challenges of this year will be a lasting legacy. They avoided the temptation to engage in silliness and maintained a strong focus on the primary purpose of learning. They “finished well” and in doing so have provided an excellent example for the students who follow in their footsteps.

On behalf of the College community I thank Year 12 for their unique contribution to the College. Year 7, 2013 has all too quickly become the leaving class of 2018. In recognising the efforts of our Year 12 students I also thank their parents and families for all they have done, with and for the College, over their time as part of the wider College Community. 

I ask you to join me in praying that our loving God will be a source of comfort and calm for the Class of 2018 as they approach the impending Higher School Certificate examinations, and another step into the future:

Bless our Year 12 students as they prepare to sit for their exams

We ask that they especially feel your closeness during this time

Surround them with love and hold each one in the palm of your hand

Give them calm hearts and quiet confidence in these final weeks

Holy Spirit send them your gifts of wisdom and knowledge.

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen

Announcement of 2019 College Captains and House Captains

An important part of farewelling our Year 12 students is the handing on of the “light” from the Class of 2018 to the Class of 2019. At the commencement of the Year 12 Farewell Assembly, I announced the College Captains and the House Captains for 2019.

It is with pleasure that, after an extensive appointment process which involved applications, presentations, voting by both staff and students, and consideration by the College Leadership Team, I confirm the following appointments for the 2019 school year.

Carroll House Captains – Claudia Pertzel and Tom Richardson

Kennedy House Captains – Kate Wighton and Kolby McMahon

Rosarie House Captains – Molly McCrone and Sam Luff

Sherrin House Captains - Rebecca Myers and Ben Pollack

Webber House Captains – Sara Langfield and Simon Templeton

Mt Erin Boarding School Captain – Molly McCrone

2019 College Captains … Gabrielle Shaw and Harris Mitter

Congratulations to the student leaders for 2019.  The incoming College Captains began their duties at the Awards Evening, where they assisted with the presentations. and  the new House Captains will begin their official duties next term. I also thank all students who nominated for a leadership position. We are blessed with a talented and generous year group in Year 12 next year and while not all could be successful in being appointed on this occasion, I know that all our nominees will go on to lead in other ways next year at the College.

Government Funding of Non-Government Schools

School funding is very topical in the media at the moment and in response to interest by parents/carers and one or two misunderstandings about the nature of funding to non-government schools, I am offering the following factual information to our Mater Dei community: An article published on the ABC earlier this year, provides a simple summary of the funding arrangements:

The Federal Government funding is based on the amount it would cost to educate a child.

In 2018, that is $10,953 for a primary school student and $13,764 for a secondary school student, with extra loadings for disadvantages.

Government schools get the full amount and non-government schools get a percentage based on how much the government thinks the school can raise for students' schooling from parents and other sources.

Catholic schools get the majority of their funding from the government, whereas other private schools get most of their funding from school fees and other private income.

The Commonwealth gives the total amount to the state and territory governments and organisations like the Catholic education system.

Funding comes to each Diocese to administer their Catholic Schools, and is distributed by them to individual schools on a needs basis, taking into consideration factors such as remoteness. Further information about funding for Catholic Schools is available below.

Term 4 – Commencing on Monday 15 October for Staff and Students

A final reminder that students commence on Monday 15 October, as the Staff Professional Learning Days are held at the end of the term. Please note that full summer uniform is to be worn from the beginning of Term 4. The Uniform Shop opening hours during the holidays have been advertised in the newsletter.

Congratulations

We send our congratulations to Mr Steve McCormack and his wife Tara, on the safe arrival of their daughter Lucy and to Mrs Fran Ward and her husband Chris on the safe arrival of their son Sloan last week.