On Tuesday all our teaching staff from both campuses participated in a Professional Learning Day with Dr Michael McDowell. This day was planned, organised and supported by our Catholic Education Office in Bathurst and teachers all across our diocese have had the opportunity to hear from Michael at various sessions this week. Michael is an experienced educational leader and published author who advises schools and school systems on innovative methodologies in classroom instruction. Michael’s work aligns beautifully with the St Matthews approach to learning and teaching as he has a passion for building rigorous learning experiences for all students across all subjects. During the Staff Development Day, Michael emphasised practical strategies that can challenge students to not only learn surface content knowledge but to also develop depth in their understanding and enhance their ability to apply what they learn to new tasks and different situations. In our school context we refer to this as Surface, Deep and Transfer Learning. Our teachers walked away feeling inspired and ready to immediately test out some of the learning strategies in our classrooms. 

In 2018 the NSW Government announced a comprehensive review of the school curriculum from K-12 with the intention of ensuring that students are being properly prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st Century…. This was the first major review of the NSW Curriculum since 1989! There are extensive mandatory curriculum changes occuring now & over the next few years as a result of this review. These changes provide an exciting opportunity to improve the learning experience for all students and the learning framework we have developed at St Matthews see us perfectly placed to make the most of this opportunity.  The staff development day with Michael this week was one important component of how we are preparing our staff for these changes.

We know that student free days can present significant challenges for families, and we are incredibly grateful for the support you provide that enables our staff to engage in continuous learning and improvement which ultimately benefits our students.

I look forward to sharing more with you about our learning journey over the course of this year.

Mrs Angela Myles | Executive Principal

It has been a wonderful start back to school this year. The students are to be congratulated on the way that they have begun 2024. It has been a busy start to the term with a number of variations to school routine which the students have participated in well including the Welcome Mass and Commissioning, the swimming carnival and Ash Wednesday Liturgies. 

This Tuesday, staff participated in Professional Development initiated by the CEDB with Dr Michael McDowell leading the day. It was valuable to have time to focus on learning in our classrooms and very timely given the curriculum reform which is being rolled out.

Our Year 12 students are at their retreat from Wednesday to Friday. This is a very special time for them and a very peaceful time before they start preparing for their Half Yearly Examinations. I ask that you keep them in your prayers.

Have a great week,

Justin McCarney | Head of Campus

Ash Wednesday

I would like to congratulate all of the St Matthew’s students on the reverence and respect they displayed during the Ash Wednesday liturgy. Our school and ministry leaders did a wonderful job of facilitating the service. Special thanks to Reverend Cong for his attendance and his sharing of his story about karate and its link to Lent..

Project Compassion 2024

On Friday February 16, the eldest child in every family received a Project Compassion box to support Caritas Australia this Lenten season and help support vulnerable people around the world, now and for all future generations.

With your support, Caritas Australia has been able to support communities around the world to tackle poverty, food security, education, water and sanitation and disaster risk reduction. 

Project Compassion 2024 reminds us that the good that we do today will extend and impact the lives of generations to come. Together, we can help vulnerable communities face their challenges today and build a better tomorrow for all future generations. 

You can donate through Project Compassion donation boxes or through the QR or link code shown.

https://schools.projectcompassion.org.au/st-matthews-catholic-school-mudgee 

This year, Project Compassion brings you the stories of three resilient women from three different corners of the world. They are facing vastly different challenges, but are all united by one dream: to create a better tomorrow for all future generations. ​ 

The first woman we will meet is Ronita.

Meet Ronita from the Philippines. Ronita is a mother of two young boys living in a slum in Quezon City. She went back to school to finish her education so that she could earn income to support her children.

Click here to view Ronita’s story. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89bJV-w_wXk&list=PLVHHKQym6_WMt94R0nrSU7-DKBiLU-K_4&index=2 

Belinda Redden | Leader of Mission 

Dillon Price | Leader of Wellbeing 

The NSW Premier Reading challenge is up and running for another year. 

The students have the opportunity to participate by reading a total of 20 books. The entries for the challenge close on the 23rd of August. The students can read 10 free choice books and 10 Premier reading challenge books to make their total. There are a number of Premier’s reading challenge books at the Learning Resource Centre to borrow.

Students who complete the challenge will have the opportunity to attend a movie afternoon with snacks in the learning resource centre to recognise and celebrate their efforts at the end of term 3. You can pick up your personal reading log from the Learning Resource Centre. Once the students have completed the challenge they will need to hand in their reading log into the Learning Resource Centre.

If you have any questions please ask!

Happy reading!

Mrs Sugden | Teacher Librarian

Secondary School Canteen 

Online ordering is via Flexischools easily to set up Via the flexischools App.

A reminder to parents to please update your childs year group to the correct one for this year before placing an order online. This will help alleviate confusion when your child collects their order. 

To be guaranteed an item it is best to order on line. We have a smaller menu that is available over the counter every day but our more comprehensive menu is online. For over the counter purchases we accept cash and Eftpos.

All our food is freshly made on site and we are committed to use locally sourced ingredients.

Mary Holdsworth | Secondary Canteen Manager