We are so excited to welcome students, staff and families as we commence the 2023 school year. This year marks a significant milestone in the story of our community as we begin operations across our two campuses. Staff have been busy at both the Primary and Secondary campuses getting everything ready for the arrival of students this week and we are eager to get into what I am sure will be a wonderful year.

Many people have asked me where I will be located now that we have two campuses to run. My day to day schedule will look a little different, but I will still be present and leading as Principal across the whole school, from Kindergarten to Year 12. I will, therefore, be endeavouring to divide my time between the two sites as equitably as possible whilst our Heads of Campus will be based full time on their respective sites.

This year will be a time of change, growth and renewal and there will be a renewed emphasis on some of the most important components of our school culture - Student Wellbeing & Engagement, Excellence in Learning & Teaching, and the centrality of faith to our ability to live life in all its fullness. High quality professional learning opportunities for staff are essential for us to be able to bring about meaningful change and improvement in these areas. This year, some of these professional learning days will also provide an opportunity for our staff to come together as a K-12 community , an important part of maintaining our connections as one school. 

For your information and planning, please note the following STUDENT FREE DAYS have been scheduled for this year to enable us to provide these professional learning opportunities for our staff:

• Monday 27 February 
• Monday 24 April
• Friday 18 August
• Monday 9 October

More information on the purpose and content of these days will be provided as we engage in each important learning opportunity.

All the best for the year ahead.

God bless

Angela Myles

Executive Principal

A very exciting start to the year was experienced by all this week. Many families were in attendance on the first day and it was great to see the enthusiasm of the students as they entered the playground for the first time since the holiday break. This continued into the classrooms with teachers reporting the positive manner in which the students arrived. 

Much work and a few changes were completed over the break with Years 5 and 6 moving to the upstairs McAuley Building, occupied last year by Secondary classes. This change was well received by students on the first day and we look forward to sharing these spaces with families during our welcome and Parent Information Nights coming up in Week 3 this term. 

We began Thursday with our first Mass for the year. Our students were beautiful during this time and it was a great opportunity to have students together for the first time as a Kindergarten to Year 6 school. This welcoming Mass was also an opportunity to commission our school leaders for 2023 with Captains, Vice Captains, Prefects and House Captains all receiving their badges.

Justin Yeo

Head of Campus - Primary

Hit the ground running…

Welcome back to school and the 2023 school year!

As always, there is a very busy start to the school year occurring across both campuses. We ask that you please encourage and involve yourself in your child’s learning journey in religious education throughout the variety of opportunities presented at SMCS be it a grade mass, Sacramental Program, Retreats, Home prayer opportunities or simply via the learning in the classroom. 

Our role is to meet our students, staff and family where they are on their journey and share experiences that allow them to develop in the call to be more, guided by the St Matthews Way and our Patron St Matthew. 

This term our St Matthews Way value is Compassion. Compassion is described as providing support and enhancing the wellbeing of others and ourselves. What are some ways you and your family can show compassion in their everyday lives? 

Some key dates approaching fast include our Ash Wednesday Liturgy on the 22nd February. An invitation is open to all families to attend these services, something we have not been able to do in recent years.

As we begin this new year and new stage in our school journey let us be mindful of what binds us. While we may be across two campuses it is the one light of Christ which unites us. May this coming year be an opportunity for us all to be enlightened by the love of Christ in our lives. 

“We must reflect the light of Christ through lives of prayer and joyful service to others.” - John Paul II

Alexander Abbey and Ross McKeown

Leaders of Mission K-12

Congratulations to our first Duke of Edinburgh International Award Recipients 

Congratulations to Lara and Mingyeon for being the first St Matthews students to complete their Duke of Edinburgh-International, Bronze award. 

Lara and Min have worked hard throughout the year to complete the Skill; Service and Physical activity components of the award, and completed their Adeventurous Journey over 2 days in the Colo River during the Christmas holidays. 

The Duke of Edinburgh-International Award is an internationally recognised qualification that allows students to develop their leadership skills and push themselves beyond their comfort zones. Both Lara and Min are fantastic examples of the Award in action displaying their committment, perseverance and leadership to set goals, work hard and achieve their goals. Well Done girls we are proud of you!

Mingyeon & Lara on their Adventurous Journey

    

Year 7 Students start their Secondary schooling

It was wonderful to see our new 2023 Year 7 cohort arrive at our new campus on Tuesday. 

Blaney McCarthy - English

Leader of Transition & Pathways

Welcome to our Senior Students and their Families

We would like to take this opportunity to welcome back our HSC Class of 2023, along with welcoming our incoming Year 11’s to the commencement of their senior studies.

To help our seniors adjust to the first week of Stage 6 I have shared to their ADMIN Classroom a copy of the document below: 

2023 Return to School for Year 11/12

Reminders have been put in place for:

• School Uniform (see School Diary that was distributed on Tuesday this week for further understanding)
• ‘Application to Drive to School’ Forms
• Year 11 Leadership Luncheon (Friday 3rd February commencing at 1pm at the Mudgee Racecourse)
• Year 12 Retreat (15th, 16th, 17th February at Winbourne Retreat Centre, Mulgoa).

Year 11 Leadership Luncheon

Our School is very excited about our incoming Year 11 students. Over the course of this week our new senior students have embraced the change and transitioned quite smoothly into their senior classes.

We are looking forward to seeing Year 11 with a family representative at this Friday’s Annual Leadership Luncheon. Details include:

• Students will be transported from the Secondary Campus to the racecourse to meet their family member/s arriving at 1pm
• There will be some light refreshments with students seated with their family member by 1.20pm
• The afternoon will include having a keynote speaker and Year 11 students being presented with their senior badge with support of a family member
• Following the ceremony students go home with their family

Over the next few weeks there are other events that involve our Senior Students in some way. These include:

• Elective Drama excursion to Sydney on the 7th and 8th February 2023
• HSC Fundraising Activity at the mandatory SMCS Secondary Swimming Carnival on Friday 10th February. This is compulsory for all our senior students.

If you have any further questions regarding the upcoming events for our senior students please do not hesitate to contact me at school.

Mrs Cass McCarney

Stage 6 Coordinator 

Welcome back to a brand new school year in our new secondary campus. My name is Jacinda Sugden and I am the new Teacher/Librarian in the learning resource centre. I am here to help with all your library needs and we have many wonderful books and resources to borrow. The resource centre will be open every lunch time for borrowing as well as card and board games and puzzles for the students to enjoy during their break.

Looking forward to meeting all the wonderful students

Best wishes

Jacinda Sugden

Teacher/Librarian

Welcome back to a new school year in the Primary Campus Library.

My name is Annie Mort and I’m the Teacher/Librarian in the Library at the Primary Campus. If you have any questions or concerns about the library, I am here to help with all. The Library has taken on a different feel this year as we no longer have the Secondary students using the space as a place to study. I’m looking forward to offering new opportunities that this change has created.

The library will be open before school and at first break to give students an opportunity to browse and read books as well as an opportunity to participate in some passive play activities that we have available on the Library Terrace.  

We will be running our Birthday Book Club this year as well. The notification for this will be sent to you very soon.

Looking forward to a new era for our Primary Library.

Warm regards,

Annie Mort 

Teacher/Librarian

Flexischools

Flexischools will continue in 2023 to be the schools preferred method to order from the canteens at both Primary and Secondary.

Please see the below flyers with some helpful tips from Flexischools.

Remember all orders need to be placed before 9am. If you have any issues when ordering, please call the Parent Help Line Number - 1300 361 769 - 8am - Noon daily.

Primary Campus

Secondary Campus