On Friday 25 October we will celebrate World Teachers Day in Australia, providing us with an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the immense effort, passion and dedication that teachers put into their work.

Join us as we celebrate Australia’s teachers for their skilled work in educating, inspiring and supporting our young people. The theme for this year is ‘Hats off to teachers’.   You can share a “hats off” selfie  on social media, either on your own or with family or friends. So, grab your hat, beret, beanie, bucket or bowler and remember to tag #WorldTeachersDay2024 @aitsl

More importantly, make sure you take the time this week to tell your child’s teachers what they mean to you and your family. A nice note or an email giving them some well-deserved positive feedback is easy to do and can make a massive difference to the wellbeing of our teachers. You can find cards, selfie frames, gift tags and more on the website https://worldteachersday.edu.au/

Let’s take the opportunity to celebrate our teachers and thank them for all the wonderful work they do.

God bless

Angela Myles | Executive Principal

Welcome Back to Term 4

Welcome Back to Term 4..We welcome back all students and families to Term 4. It is hard to believe we are here -  with our Year 12’s having started their HSC exams; Year 6 students getting ready for their move to secondary school and their final Orientation Day; and teachers starting to plan for 2025. We have certainly hit the ground running with many extra events happening for our students. Last week we hosted a Diocesan Music Teachers meeting which was a lovely opportunity for teachers in the Dio to visit our wonderful new campus. This week is busy with the Diocesan Learning Hub (DLH) students meeting with their teachers - again being hosted here at our Secondary campus. On Wednesday there are nearly 70 students going to Forbes for the Dio Touch Gala Day, and on Thursday we have Girls League Tag teams heading to Bathurst for a ‘hit out’. There are certainly a lot of opportunities for our students in many areas of their development.

Monday Morning Tutor Group Assembly

Half way through Term 3 a Monday Assembly was introduced in Tutor Group time. This provides an opportunity for us to ‘touch base’ with students and ‘set them up’ for the week ahead. During this time a brief outline of some successes of the previous week are highlighted as too are areas needing improvement. Last Week students were congratulated on the wonderful effort and contributions of many in making Mission Frolic, celebrated on the last day of Term 3 a big success - with over $5000 raised for Catholic Missions.

Areas requiring improvement were outlined using the model of The St Matthews Way. I challenged students to make an authentic effort to move away from the rhetoric of the 5 values (Excellence; Respect; Compassion; Courage and Service) to a mode of ACTION instead. 

The St Matthews Way can only be achieved when students are demonstrating examples of these values in their daily interactions with each other, with their teachers, and beyond the school gates. It would be a great support if these similar conversations were being discussed at home.

Take your hat off to Teachers!!

On Friday Students are encouraged to support ‘Pink up Mudgee’ by dressing in pink. Additionally staff will be celebrating World Teachers Day by wearing a crazy hat aligned with this year’s theme - Take your hat off to Teachers!. I would personally like to thank all the teaching staff of St Matthews for their dedication, compassion and professionalism they bring each day to this wonderful vocation. We are truly blessed at St Matthews!

Ms Blaney McCarthy-English | Acting  Head of Campus - Secondary

Mission Frolic: A Day of Fun, Community, and Support for Catholic Mission

This year's Mission Frolic was enjoyed by all. The event brought together students, staff and families for an afternoon filled with all sorts of fun activities including games, food, dancing and music. We began the afternoon with a shared liturgy focussing on the St Matthews Way and our core values – respect, excellence, service, courage and compassion.

It was great to see both campuses together and the spirit of giving and community alive and well. Every dollar raised will go directly to Catholic Mission. Catholic Mission is the Pope’s Mission agency in Australia. An international organisation that partners with communities, helping them to flourish by supporting grassroots projects, including healthcare, education, and spiritual care. This year, the focus is on providing essential resources like education, healthcare, and infrastructure to children and families in need in Mongolia. By participating in Mission Frolic, our school community not only enjoyed a day of fun but also made a lasting impact on the lives of those less fortunate.

A special thanks goes out to all parents, students and staff who generously donated their time and resources to make this event possible. Together, we've raised over $5000 to help Catholic Mission continue its important work.

Catholic Mission Ambassadors

Well done to Maggie Bodycote, Grace Myles and Oliver O’Brien for speaking on behalf of Catholic Mission at our Parish Masses. The students met several times with Mr David McGovern the Diocesan Director of Catholic Mission to prepare their speeches.  The students were well prepared and spoke very clearly about the importance of giving to Catholic Mission.

Pope’s Prayer Intention for October

For a shared mission:

We pray that the Church continues to sustain in all ways a Synodal lifestyle, as a sign of co-responsibility, promoting the participation, the communion and the mission shared among priests, religious and lay people.

 

 

Prayer for Year 12 HSC students

God, we ask that our students feel your closeness during the HSC exam period. Give them calm hearts and quiet confidence in the knowledge that you hold them in the palm of your hand.

Bless them with keen understanding and retentive memory. Give them the ability to grasp things correctly, be exact in their explanations and an ability to express themselves clearly.

Point out clearly the beginning, direct their progress and help them in the completion of each of their responses. Holy Spirit send them your gifts of wisdom and knowledge.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Belinda Redden | Leader of Mission 

Breaking Point Webinar 

On Wednesday October 30 Dr Justin Coulson is running an important webinar called Breaking Point. 

The webinar will commence at 7pm and will run for 1 hour. The topics discussed will be the Mental Health Crisis of Australian Youth and how we can help our kids flourish and thrive.

Please see the video below as an introduction to the webinar. 

Dillon Price | Leader of Wellbeing 

Work Experience

St Angela's Primary Castle Hill

For my work experience, I travelled to a primary school located in Castle Hill called St Angela's. I worked through many classrooms and worked with many teachers to get a feel of what it would be like to teach at a Primary school.

This experience gave me the reassurance that I want to follow this career through university and for the rest of my life.

I am so grateful to my school for providing this experience and to St Angela's for welcoming me into their school community.

Lizzie S - Year 10

Mudgee Veterinary Hospital

Jobs I did: Dog walking, cleaning cages, preparing cloths for surgery, helping out with equipment preparation for surgeries, filling food bowls, putting a rabbit under anaesthesia

Favourite thing: Learning different jobs throughout the clinic

Valuable skills I learnt: Animal care, teamwork, communication skills, surgery procedures

Ada L - Year 10

We would like to thank the staff at St Angela’s Primary and

Mudgee Veterinary Hospital for hosting our

St Matthews Work Experience students.

Events for Senior Students

UCAT NIE Free Webinar – Pathways into Medicine, and All About UCAT UCAT NIE:

Free webinar ‘Pathways into Medicine, and all about UCAT on 23 October 2024. The National Institute of Education will be presenting a webinar about UCAT, Interviews, Pathways into Medicine & Dentistry. The session is packed with invaluable information. Register via: https://www.nie.edu.au/ucat-free/free-ucat-information-sessions.

Macquarie University - Free HSC Preparation Seminars

Students and Parents

Sunday 3 November 9.30am-12.15pm - Learn the secrets of success from Senior HSC markers and counsellors. Designed specifically for students and parents currently in Years 10-12, these free sessions cover a range of topics to help students achieve their best in 2024.

Space is strictly limited so book a place here: https://events.inspired.edu.au.

Year 11 and 12 Students Medical School Entry Interview Preparation

Considering a career in Medicine or Dentistry? Medical interviews preparation November workshop dates are nearly full. To register please visit https://www.nie.edu.au/medical/umat-interviews/medical-interviews-workshop.

For further enquiries please contact NIE at enquiries@nie.edu.au or call (02) 4367 0404 / 0404 197 178 / www.nie.edu.au.

NIE CAREERS: Medicine, Engineering, Business, Creative Writing, Psychology, Veterinary Studies

A unique opportunity to experience 11 Days of Residential Career Program, 5 – 15 January 2025 at the University of Sydney, for students 13-18 years of age. TEL. 1300 974 187 or 0412 439 115 enquiries@nie.edu.au

Details via the link: https://www.niecareers.com.au/academic-insights.

NIE CAREERS: Future Doctors Australia Program

(Age: 14-18) 10 – 13 July 2025: A high-impact 4-day program that provides young people (Age: 14-18) with a unique opportunity to explore medicine as a career. TEL. 1300 974 187 or 0412 439 115 enquiries@nie.edu.au

Program details via the link: https://www.niecareers.com.au/future-doctors-australia.

NIE CAREERS: Medicine, Engineering, Business, Creative Writing, Psychology, Veterinary Studies

A unique opportunity to experience 11 Days of Residential Career Program, 5 – 15 January 2025 at the University of Sydney, for students 13-18 years of age. TEL. 1300 974 187 or 0412 439 115 enquiries@nie.edu.au

Details via the link: https://www.niecareers.com.au/academic-insights.

NIE CAREERS: Future Doctors Australia Program (Age: 14-18)

10 – 13 July 2025: A high-impact 4-day program that provides young people (Age: 14-18) with a unique opportunity to explore medicine as a career. TEL. 1300 974 187 or 0412 439 115 enquiries@nie.edu.au

Program details via the link: https://www.niecareers.com.au/future-doctors-australia.

Work Opportunities, SBATS and Apprenticeships

Skillset Glencore Ulan School Based Apprenticeships 2025

On Tuesday 22nd October, some students from years 9 and 10 attended the School Based Apprenticeship program that was run by Skillset and Glencore Ulan.

It was a very informative session, where students learnt about the upcoming positions available, what’s involved in the Apprenticeship and how to apply.

For anyone in year 10 who may be interested in applying for the 2025 intake, please see the flyer below.

Student Administration classrooms

If you have students in year 10 or 11 all students in the year level have access to their  school administration classrooms for their year level. This is a place where all up to date information is posted frequently.

For examples, in regards to careers each classroom has information on:

• Jobs available in the Mudgee region
• TVET/SBAT information and forms
• Work experience
• Apprenticeships
• University admission, scholarships, early entry
• Showcases visiting St Matthews and much, much more

We also have our school careers page which you can access 24/7

St Matthews Careers

Year 9 and 10 Commerce students finished the Term 3 topic ‘Law in Action’ by showcasing their knowledge of the Australian Legal System through constructing their own crime scene or participating in a mock criminal trial. Throughout term 3 students developed their understanding of personnel involved in the legal system each with their distinctive role and responsibilities. Students thoroughly engaged in these activities and enjoyed being able to see how the law operates within society. 

During the mock criminal trial, it was fantastic to hear the students using legal terminology to convince the jury of the accused’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Fantastic sketches were completed by the court sketch artist who captured each student throughout the court proceedings. 

The collaboration and creativity from students in constructing their own crime scene was well executed. Students showcased their problem solving and analytical skills in ensuring they had victims, motive, witnesses and actus reus present in their crime scene. It was wonderful to see the enthusiasm from students throughout this activity. 

Mrs Coleman, Miss Presland and Mrs Croake | Commerce Teachers 

Welcome back to term 4 and the Learning Resource Centre has turned pink to celebrate Pink up Mudgee. Pink up Mudgee creates awareness of breast cancer throughout the month of October. 

NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge

The NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge is over for another year. The Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely. This year we had a number of students that completed the challenge at the secondary campus. Certificates for completion of the challenge will be issued at the end of the term. 

Spotlight on Manga books

We have recently purchased a number of new manga books that have been flying off the shelves. Manga is an umbrella term for a variety of print comics and graphic novels originating from Japan. Unlike western comics, Manga is read from left to right; even when translated to English, to maintain the original art and flow; It feels weird to read this way when you first start, but we are very adaptable, and before long you will hardly notice.

Come and read a Manga book for yourself - available to borrow from the Learning Resource centre.

Mrs Sugden | Teacher/Librarian

This Friday 25th October, St Matthews will be showing support for 'Pink Up Mudgee' by holding a Mufti Day.

We ask all students in K-12 to wear appropriate clothing including fully enclosed shoes (no crocs). Sleeveless shirts, singlets, revealing clothing and inappropriate logos/slogans will not be permitted on this day.

The Midford Uniform Shop is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8.00am to 4.00pm.

EFTPOS only, no cash.

Enjoy the convenience of online shopping. Save time and energy by ordering your uniforms online in six easy steps:

1. Go to midford.com.au
2. Select St Matthews Catholic School from the Online School Shops tab
3. New users to click the ‘Register New Account’ button
4. Start the registration process by selecting St Matthews Catholic School from the drop-down menu and add the unique school pass phrase: “Matthews1912”
5. Add your personal information, create a username and password
6. Order the items you need, select pick-up in store/deliver to school.

Online orders for Primary will be delivered to the school office on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1:30pm. Cut off time for ordering is 1.00pm.
Online orders for Secondary will be delivered to the school office on Wednesdays and Fridays at 9.00am. Cut off time for ordering is 3:30pm the day before.
Online orders for shop pick up - pick up only within the shop hours, please allow 1 hour after ordering for collection.

If you have any queries please contact the uniform shop directly:
Phone: 0439 442 509 or Email: st.matthews@midford.com.au