Pastoral Care and Wellbeing - Students
Mater Dei’s Academic Care and Wellbeing team welcome all our existing and new students along with their families to the 2019 academic school year. The journey of high school has just begun for our Year 7 students, but we also keep new students in Years 8 -11 close in our prayers as they transition and settle into our community.
Please refer to Mater Dei School TV for practical strategies to assist your child during the transition process and reduce stress and anxiety levels. For more School TV topics and new information, you may like to refer to more detailed newsletter articles from our College Psychologist Ms Anne Hodkinson, throughout the year.
Mater Dei’s House system is central to the pastoral care program at the College. Homegroup Teachers and House Leaders are arranged in vertical groupings of students across Years 7 through to 12, and teams work to ensure pastoral care is closely aligned with maximising learning and wellbeing outcomes. Parents and carers are encouraged to contact the their child's Homegroup Teacher or House Leader throughout the course of the year with wellbeing related matters if need be.
Welcome Year 7!
Thank you to parent/carers and staff who attended the Year 7 Parent Information Evening on February 5. Along with a number of informative and insightful sessions relating to the learning experience of Year 7 students, families also had the opportunity to meet their child’s Homegroup teacher and enjoy light refreshments with other parents in the College Hall.
Parents are encouraged to access the Think You Know resources from Senior Constable Troy Fisher’s cyberbullying and ‘staying safe online’ session here. Many thanks to Troy for his support and continued partnership in aid of supporting the safety of young people in our community.
Police Youth Liaison school visits in 2019
Stage 4 and 5 students will participate in presentations led by Senior Constable Troy Fisher and/or Senior Constable Tim Burke - Schools Liaison Officers from Wagga Wagga Local Area Command in Term 1, and throughout the school year. Students are prompted to consider the defining actions and behaviors that are considered to be forms of bullying and/or harassment and are introduced to the Stop Harassing Me program - a school based program that assists students with identifying, reporting and managing bullying or harassing behaviors.
Sessions with Senior Constable Fisher and Senior Constable Burke afford Mater Dei students the opportunity to consider useful strategies to identify, manage and prevent such behaviors, for both victims and bystanders. Many thanks to both Troy and Tim once again for their informative and relevant presentations, and for their continued support and valued community partnership.
Safe on Social Media Parent Information Evening
The Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Wagga Wagga, Holy Trinity Primary, Henschke Primary and Mater Dei Primary schools are hosting a free presentation by Cyber Safety experts from Safe on Social. All parents/carers from across the Diocese are invited to attend.
Where: Henschke Primary School Hall, Fernleigh Road Wagga Wagga
When: February 20 -21
Time: 6pm
For more information, please see this attached flyer.
Uniform and Appearance
As we return for the beginning of the school year please be reminded of the College Uniform and Appearance expectations. All students are expected to bring their hat each day and wear it when outside for learning or for recreation. We appreciate your support in regards to these matters.
The Mater Dei Wellbeing team look forward to working with Mater Dei families during 2019 in the care and support of your children. Please also join us for your child’s House Family Breakfast throughout the year, as it is a great opportunity to meet or re-familiarise parents with their child’s Homegroup teachers and House Leader. Dates for House breakfasts are listed below, with more information issued to families closer to the date.
All the very best for the year ahead!
Mrs Catherine Banks | Leader of Students