I recently read an article by Jennifer Oaten entitled, ‘How Much is Too Much”. It was an interesting discussion about how busy our children’s lives can be and the impact that overtiredness can have on their learning. Jennifer posed the question, ‘What do the weekends look like for your children? Water polo Friday night, followed by a sleepover with a friend. Pick up at 8.00 am for athletics, dance, or netball, followed by a birthday party. Sunday starts more gently for some families, with Mass followed by a family lunch and then a BBQ with friends. Everyone rolls in the door at 8.00 pm, exhausted, emotional and tense with others due to exhaustion.’ This is without even considering the potential escalation that can occur when one child remembers that they have forgotten about an upcoming test or an assignment that is due the next day.

Like many of you, I want my child to have fun, explore different interests and develop their talents. I am also conscious of the importance of helping her to find a bit of balance and ensure there is enough time for rest during the week. Sometimes it is not an easy balance to strike.

Being overtired can affect a child’s ability to concentrate, remember, and process information. In her article, Jennifer outlined some tips for helping your children find some balance:

1. Set realistic boundaries. Saying no is one of the hardest parts of being a parent. Let them choose the activities but develop a realistic schedule with limits, which leaves room for spontaneous activities and events.

2. Monitor their workload and stress levels. Check-in with your child regularly and ask them how they are feeling and coping. Look for signs of fatigue, such as headaches, insomnia, mood swings, loss of appetite, or lack of enthusiasm. If you notice any of these, help them reduce or adjust their commitments.

3. Encourage them to prioritise and manage their time. Teach your child how to plan ahead, write to-do lists, and organise their tasks. Help them create a balanced schedule that includes time for schoolwork, activities, family, friends, and hobbies.

4. Emphasise the importance of rest and relaxation. Make sure your child gets enough sleep, at least eight to ten hours a night. Help them establish a regular bedtime routine that involves winding down and avoiding screens. Also, encourage them to take breaks throughout the day and do something relaxing, such as reading, listening to music, meditating, or breathing exercises, all of which help with the rejuvenation of our bodies.

5. Model the behaviour you want to see. Children learn from observing and imitating their parents and teachers. If you want them to find the balance between activities and rest, you need to do the same. Show them that you value your own wellbeing and that you take care of yourself. Share with them your own struggles and strategies for coping with stress and fatigue.

God bless.

Angela Myles

Last week was an amazing celebration of the important role Catholic Schools play in our community. ‘Experience the Spirit of Community’ was the theme for a very busy Catholic Schools Week and as a school we were encouraged by the large number of families who attended our Open Classrooms and liturgy to start the week. The sporting pathways were experienced at Cross Country and the Rugby Gala Day for students in Years 3 - 6. Our whole school watched on as our teachers were victorious in a game of touch football on the grass against a very determined and skillful Year 6 cohort. Concluding the week, our mothers and carers were invited in for a beautiful Mother’s Day High Tea and Year 1 Liturgy. A special mention to Mrs Mort, our Year 6 students and the Secondary Hospitality students and teachers for working tirelessly to organise this unbelievable event.

Next week we hold our annual Infants and Primary Athletics Carnivals. We remind families of recent information shared about the change to this year’s format.

Years 3 - 6 are to hold their carnival next Thursday at Walker’s Oval starting at 9:10am. Buses will drop off and pick up from the Walker’s Oval.

For our infants, their Athletics Carnival will take place on the Friday of next week, and parents are invited to attend. The students will participate in a range of activities during our middle session, from 12:15 - 1:40pm.

For both carnivals, I encourage you to check emails for further information.

Justin Yeo

Compassion is defined as compassion implies pity coupled with an urgent desire to aid or to spare. The gospels are full of Jesus expressing compassion for the outcast, the poor, the sick, and the oppressed. His compassion was unconditional, it was complete and it reflected the very nature of God.

The challenge this week is to have a conversation around compassion and what it means for you and your family:

• When have you served someone else?
• How did it make the other person feel?
• How did it make you feel?
• What happens if I help 1 person?

Leaders of Partnerships

Our Leaders of Partnerships had a wonderful Term 1 with the introduction of initiatives to promote the 6 areas of focus for them and our Year 6 students. This term they are looking to further their involvement in the school life and promoting the important areas of our school to the community.

• SMW - The St Matthews Way partnership will continue to promote the call to be more and explore how Compassion, the value for Term 2, can be brought to life in our school.
• ART - Our art partnership has selected artworks from across the classes for display within our school and promote the important things we do through art competitions and displays. 
• SPORT - Playground initiatives for all students including obstacle courses and the upcoming Athletics Carnivals.
• SJ - The upcoming SVdP Winter Appeal will be the main focus for our Social Justice group. This will include a Can Appeal and also Winter Sleep out for years 5-12.
• ENVIRONMENT - After successful paper free days, our Environment group want to continue this promotion and also include looking at ways we can reduce plastics in our lunchbox and build new garden beds.
• SRC - Our SRC will establish and look for ways to work with all partnerships around improving student buy-in to the betterment of our school including the continuance of the suggestion box.

Parish News

The St Matthews Community would like to congratulate Fr Cong on his recent ordination to the priesthood.

He was joined by family (from Vietnam), friends and members of St Mary's Parish at the Cathedral of Bathurst as Bishop Michael spoke of the generosity he has offered in his life to share in the work of the Good Shepherd.

Ross McKeown

Leader of Mission

"The use of affective statements are one of the ways we work restoratively with students at school. Our staff will be learning more about restorative practice and how to implement it in our school with Sheila Bollard from Real Schools at our next professional learning day on the 7th June."

Polding Winter Trials: Tamworth

Polding Soccer Team

Arthur, Heidi, and Carmelina attended a 2-hour training session on Thursday, and on Friday, they played five games against teams from Wilcannia/Forbes, Broken Bay, Maitland/Newcastle, Armidale, and Lismore.

Heidi made it through to possible and probables and was successful in securing a spot on the Polding team. All three students showed great sportsmanship.

Polding Rugby Team

Years 3-6 Rugby 7s

Primary School Photos

Primary photo day tomorrow: Thursday 16th May

Sibling Photos

Primary Siblings: These photos will be taken at the Primary Campus on Thursday 16th May

Primary and Secondary Siblings: These photos will be taken at the Primary Campus on Thursday 16th May. Families must be present from 8:20am for their photo. Secondary students will then need to make their way to the Secondary Campus. A bus will be available to transport secondary students if required.

Photo Day Information

Full winter uniform must be worn by all students, no sport uniform. The uniform should be neat and tidy. Long sleeved winter shirts should be tucked in, top button and ties properly done up. Students do not wear jumpers or jackets in their individual school photos, so please ensure they wear the correct winter shirt. Shoes must be black leather school shoes.

Boys hair should be neat and tidy and off the face. As a general rule, if the style attracts attention or comment it is not appropriate. The following jewellery is permitted to be worn: a watch and a cross on a chain. Boys are not permitted to wear an earring.

Girls with shoulder length hair or longer are allowed to wear their hair out on photo day. Hair should be of a natural colour. Hair accessories such as elastics and ribbons should be maroon and/or blue. The following jewellery is permitted to be worn: a watch, a cross on a chain and one plain stud or sleeper earring per ear.

Cindy Freeman

Head of Campus Assistant - Primary

This is to advise there will be service changes involving four school buses in the Mudgee network commencing Monday 20th May 2024. These changes aim to eliminate continued overcrowding on the Gulgong and Totnes services. 

The following link will shows details of all services in the network, updated for the changes. 

There are no changes to the afternoon bus order, but please note below bus name changes.

Wilbetree – To be renamed Gulgong East

• There will be significant changes to the route and stop arrival and departure times. The route will operate in the opposite direction on Henry Lawson Dr and in Gulgong town.
• No longer services Wilbetree Rd or Drews Ln, operating via the Castlereagh Hwy instead.
• Name change to Gulgong East.

Gulgong – To be renamed Gulgong West

• No change to any current stops or stop times.
• Interchanges with Gulgong East at Gulgong Cemetery to provide additional capacity when leaving Mudgee in the afternoon.
• Name change to Gulgong West

Pyramul

• Route will now go via White Circle (Bellevue Estate) in both morning and afternoon, stopping at three additional stops in each direction.
• Bus will depart 5 mins earlier in the morning at all stops from Windeyer to the end of Hill End Rd. There will be no change to departure times for stops between Pyramul and before Windeyer.
• Bus will arrive 5 mins later in the afternoon at all stops from the start of Hill End Rd to Pyramul.

Totnes

• No changes to route or stop times.
• Stops on White Cricle north of Palmer Ave, will be serviced by Pyramul in both the morning and the afternoon. Totnes will operate past but will not stop.

Ogden's Coaches - Mudgee

(02) 6372 2489

Registrations are now open for our "Bright Beginnings" Playgroup.

Please use the QR code of follow the link

Please email Bernie for any questions or enquiries.

Bernie Atkinson

Kindergarten Transition Coordinator

St Matthews has a Smartwatch and Mobile Phone Policy that was produced through consultation with parents, staff and students. This policy is in place to protect all students at St Matthews with regards to privacy, child protection and limiting distractions whilst in the learning environment of our school.

For our students, Smartwatches are any wearable device that is able to receive and/or send messages, receive and/or make phone calls or have access to the internet.

Unfortunately, multiple issues have arisen this year with children wearing or bringing these devices to school. We have been made aware of students contacting or being contacted by parents during the school day, recording conversations in the playground and taking pictures of other students.

This email is to remind families of our policy and the consequences our students face if failing to adhere as we work in a challenging online world to provide a safe, nurturing environment for our students.

Primary Students:

• Students in Primary are not to bring personal mobile phones or smartwatches to school unless permission from the Executive Principal has been successfully sought by parents who have outlined the health, safety or personal reasons that justify the student being in possession of a mobile phone or smartwatch. In this instance, unless instructed otherwise, mobile phones and/or smartwatches should be handed in to Student Services at the start of the day and collected at the end of the day.
• Students using mobile phones and/or smartwatches outside of this policy will have them turned off, confiscated, and delivered to Student Services where they will be stored securely. Students are responsible for collecting them at the end of the school day. Repeat offenders will not have devices returned until a parent/carer comes to collect it. If a student’s device is confiscated after 1:40pm, it will remain at the office until the end of the next school day. If you need to speak to your child at any time during the school day, please contact the front office.

Alternatively when children collect their phone or smartwatch at the end of the day, they will be able to use it for messages or changes to afternoon plans.

Justin Yeo

Head of Campus - Primary

To support the busy start and end to our school day, we remind families of a number of strategies put in place that reduce the impact to traffic along Lewis Street and also provide a safe environment for our students. We are currently experiencing issues with the impact on traffic and reinforce with families the need to abide by the processes we have in place. The strategies are supported by Mudgee Police and the Mid-Western Regional Council (MWRC), therefore we ask all families to be aware of the following in the Drop Off & Pick Up Zone:

• Family names displayed on the dashboards of cars in the afternoon.
• Parents and guardians remain in their cars at all times, no exceptions. If you child needs help entering or exiting the car, or needs a hug to say farewell in the morning, please park and support them away from the zone in front of the school.
• If your child is late to pick up in the afternoon, please do a lap and join the end of the queue.

Flexischools is St Matthews Catholic Schools preferred way to order from our canteens. The cut-off time is 9am, please allow yourself enough time to complete an order. An order can be placed the night before or even days in advance.

Orders that are phoned through via reception after 9am will be offered a simple sandwich, a drink and snacks only. No Hot Food will be offered. Credit Card details must be provided at the time, no exceptions. This ensures no further follow up for payment is required.

If parents are experiencing issues with Flexischools, please contact Flexischools directly using the Parent Help Line Number- 1300 361 769 (8am-12pm)

1. Introduction to Flexischools
2. How to Register with Flexischools
3. How to Place an Order (Canteen)
4. How to Place an Order (All Services)
5. How to Top Up Your Flexischools Wallet

Please let your child know if they are having a lunch order and what they are having. Some of our younger students are accidently throwing out their “tokens”. They need the token to redeem any frozen item/ slushie/ special that may have been ordered for them.

Breakfast Menu

Birthday Bucket & Classroom Cupcakes

Alicia Cowden

Primary Canteen Manager

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.

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

Parents and Carers of new or existing students enrolled in St Matthews can apply for free school bus travel with Ogden's Coaches for every route (except Botobolar and Cudgegong which is serviced by Booth's Bus Service)

• free school travel is available for Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 students no matter how close or far away they are from school.
• if students are not eligible for free bus transportation they can still ride on the bus by paying a fare or by purchasing a book of 10 tickets or a term/annual pass from the Ogden's Coaches office.
• students who changed address or schools must update existing details through the NSW Transport online portal
• if you are unsure whether or not your child has a current bus pass, please contact our office on 6372 2489.
• to travel on our bus service, students must present their bus pass to the bus driver morning and afternoon.

Apply for student bus passes through the Ogden's Coaches website

Select ‘Schools’ tab in top header then select ‘Apply for a New Pass'

Fill in the application form for each child and you will be notified of eligibility via email from Transport NSW. Bus passes will be distrubuted by post to students home address.

Ogden's Coaches - Mudgee

(02) 6372 2489