"Mater Dei Matters"

Principal's Address

Year 12 Graduation and News

Last Friday evening’s Year 12 Graduation was a beautiful celebration of 13 years of school education and a full report of the 2020 Graduation is included in this edition of the newsletter.

 

Sadly COVID restrictions did not allow families to be in attendance at The Range but I would like to take this opportunity to publicly acknowledge and thank all our Year 12 families for their support and contribution to the College both this year and during the time of their child’s enrolment at Mater Dei. In a special way I acknowledge the families whose last child has graduated this year. We are always sad to say good bye to families, especially when the partnership between home and school has been in place for many years. Thank you for the opportunity to journey with you and your family during these precious years. I wish all our departing Year 12 families every blessing for the future. 

 

Venerable Nano Nagle 

This year COVID restrictions have forced us to break with our traditional invitation to the Presentation Sisters to join the staff and student leaders on site for lunch to celebrate the legacy of Blessed Nano Nagle. The Sisters will celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple on 21 November.

 

In recognising this special day we acknowledge and thank the Sisters for their service to our Wagga community over the years. As we reflect on the Presentation charism and spirituality, we remember with gratitude the pioneering spirit of the early Sisters who brought the message of love and hope from Ireland and we give thanks for all those who continue their work in new ways in our contemporary world. We pray:

Nano Nagle – Woman Of Hope

In the face of fear, she chose to be daring,

In the face of anxiety, she chose to trust,

In the face of impossibility, she chose to begin,

To universal misery, she proposed ministry to persons;

To ignorance, knowledge; to disillusionment, tenacity of purpose;

And to multiple vexations, singleness of heart.

Faced with failure, she held fast to hope;

Faced with death, she believed in a living future;

A programme for the future she gave in one word;

LOVE.

Raphael Consedine, PBVM Melbourne.

 

Welcome to New Students and Families for 2021

Year 8 – Year 11 Orientation Day Friday 27 November

We look forward to welcoming new students commencing in Year 8 to Year 11 2021. This is an opportunity to meet staff, student leaders and to experience a day at the College together. We are all looking forward a very enjoyable day.

 

Year 7 2021 Student Orientation Day

On Friday 4 December, our Year 7 students in 2021 will join us for a day of fun, friends and fantastic learning. A great day has been planned and we are looking forward to welcoming them to the Mater Dei family. Unfortunately, the usual parent meeting for the incoming Year 7 cohort is unable to be held at this time but information will go home in the Student Booklet provided on the Orientation Day.

 

The Uniform Shop will be open on both Friday 27 November and Friday 4 December to assist new families.

 

College Council 

The College Council has met for the final time for the year by Zoom. This year we farewell Mr Kym Holbrook, member from the past six years and Chair in 2019 and 2020. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Kym for his strong leadership and commitment to the College. While we have had limited opportunity for attendance at face to face meetings and at official functions during the year, Kym’s support and advice as a parent voice has been absolutely invaluable during the challenges of 2020.

 

I also acknowledge the contribution of the remaining members of the College Council - Mr Andrew Leigh-Cooper, Mrs Angela McGill, Mrs Lisa Simpson, Mrs Liz Kelleher, Mr Jason Jolley and Mr Vincent Powell during 2020 and thank them for their support and commitment to Mater Dei. The Council plays a vital role as representatives of our College families and embodies strong the partnership of home and school in the education of our students.

 

Staff News

We have a number of staff leaving the College:

  • Mrs Sharon Chandler has accepted a teaching position from 2021 at Waverley College in Sydney where she will also be Assistant Leader of Maths.
  • Ms Jacinta Hyde has accepted a position as a Maths teacher at Kildare Catholic College.
  • Mr Ian McGrath has announced that he is retiring at the end of 2020.
  • Mr Pat Noonan has accepted a teaching position at St Anne’s College in  Kialla next year.
  • Mrs Krystie Gibbs, who has been a Catering Assistant at the College since 2018, has relocated to Bateman’s Bay, departing the College this term.

We wish these members of staff every blessing as they leave the College and thank them for their contribution to Mater Dei. 

 

Mr Scott McAuliffe will be on leave in 2021, undertaking an immersion in a remote area of the Northern Territory. Scott will return to the College in 2022. 

 

Prayers Please

As we come to the end of our Liturgical Year with the Feast of Christ the King on Sunday 22 November, the words of Pope Francis offer us great inspiration. Speaking of this great Feast, he urges us forward in “our commitment to imitating Jesus, our King, making present his kingdom with acts of tenderness, compassion and mercy”.

 

We pray for all members of our College community that each of us may live this message every day in our words and in our deeds.

 

Mrs Val Thomas | Principal