Last Friday I had the joy of attending our Year 12 Graduation Dinner. It was a special opportunity to acknowledge the contribution made by the wonderful young people in this Year 12 cohort and to celebrate the end of their time at St Matthews. In farewelling this group of students, I heard many people speak highly of the way they had embraced their time at school and genuinely lived out the St Matthews Way. Those who had seen some of them grow from Kindergarten students into amazing young adults commented on how ‘they had always been a beautiful group’. 

It is a proud moment for those of us who work in education to see the young people we teach flourish as they begin to find their individual gifts and passions. I know that for parents, that joy is multiplied immeasurably. No doubt there have been hurdles along the way, but the young people who graduated from our school last week have grown to become respectful, courageous, compassionate human beings who are striving for excellence and who understand the importance of serving others. This is our ultimate goal as a school community - to help our students develop the skills and attributes needed to live life in all its fullness and to build in them a desire to keep making a difference in the world. No matter what they go on to do beyond school, they each have something special to offer the world. Along with their families, I hope we have been able to play some part in helping them to see this giftedness in themselves and that, in knowing that they are loved unconditionally, they have the confidence to go out and bring that love to others.

God bless

Angela Myles | Executive Principal

Success Stories

There have been many successes over the past fortnight in all areas of our school. 

Sporting Excellence

One absolute highlight was the Year 9/10 boys netball team being crowned State Champions at the NGS Super Schools State Cup championship in Sydney last week. This is such an amazing effort and example of teamwork in action. As I said to all students at the Monday Assembly, maybe even more importantly than being the number one boys team in the state for their age group was being awarded the “School Spirit Team Award”. This award recognises a team that behaved with ‘sportsmanship’ and cooperation throughout the day. Such a fantastic achievement by the boys and Mrs Jacinda Tink who coached them throughout the year.

Striving for Academic Excellence

Another success was seen in the way our Year 9 and Year 10 students conducted themselves throughout their exam block. Teachers are busily marking papers and I look forward to hearing about the growth in learning of our students.

Service in Action

Last week I had the privilege of attending the Year 12 graduation dinner. It was a wonderful celebration of a fantastic cohort who has contributed to our school community so positively. Additionally on their ‘sign out’ day they presented Mark from Barnodos with a cheque for $9000. This is a phenomenal effort from our leaving Year 12 class and demonstrates beautifully the value of Service - giving back to their community. The Mudgee Branch of Barnodos were very grateful, explaining that the money will be used for a youth program designed to reconnect disengaged youth. 

Working Hard until the last day

It is important that everyone understands that whilst the formal exam block and assessment tasks for many students may be coming to an end - the learning and high expectations of students is ongoing to the last day of term - December 18.

There seems to be some chatter from students that all work is over. May I reassure you and confirm that this is not the case. Students will be engaged in either revision and consolidation lessons or learning new content for the new school year. School therefore as normal is compulsory and attendance should remain a priority for all students and families.

Ms Blaney McCarthy-English | Head of Campus - Secondary

Year 7 Students Join “Praise and Worship” Day with Fr Rob Galea

On Thursday, December 14, our Year 7 cohort travelled to Wellington to join students from across the diocese for a day of “Praise and Worship” with Fr Rob Galea. The event was filled with lively singing, dancing, and inspiring testimonies from Fr Rob. Students shared that they thoroughly enjoyed the experience and are hoping for more opportunities like this in the future.

Our Year 7 students received praise for their exceptional behaviour throughout the day, which was dedicated to bringing students and teachers centering everyone on the love and mercy of Christ.

Fr Rob Galea 

“Fr Rob Galea is an ordained Catholic Priest and is currently serving in Sandhurst Diocese, Victoria after moving to Australia from Malta, his home country. He is the founder and executive director of ICON Ministry, a charity organisation that ministers to over 2,000,000 people each year across the world.

Fr Rob is an internationally acclaimed author, singer, and songwriter with eight album releases and  a debut book (Breakthrough) accompanied with a companion journal. After being selected to sing and write the English and International versions of the official 2008, 2016, and 2019 World Youth Day songs, Fr Rob entered the realm of the cast of musicians, having performed in some key events before an estimated single live audience of over 1,200,000 people. He has been featured in newspapers, magazines and TV shows worldwide and was a contestant in Australia's 2015 The X Factor.  

Fr Galea has a significant evangelistic and outreach ministry as a speaker to students and teaching staff, as well as speaking and singing at conferences and churches around Australia and the world.  

In all this, whilst greatly appreciating his gifts, he recognises that before everything he is a follower of Christ, a priest and only then, a speaker, musician and artist.”

Fr. Rob Galea

Student Leaders Embrace Formation at iRISE

On Friday, November 15, our newly elected student leaders joined other leaders from across the diocese at iRISE for a special day of leadership formation. They had the privilege of spending time with Bishop Michael and enjoyed inspiring music and insights from Fr Rob Galea.

iRISE offers a unique opportunity to empower senior student leaders in our diocese, guiding them to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in today’s world. The day drew on the gifts, talents, and values of each student, offering rich experiences in prayer, worship, and activities designed to help them lead like Jesus in our Catholic schools.

Congratulations to our wonderful St Matthews Year 12 students on completing their HSC exams.

Mid-Western Regional Council position available - Trainee Building Surveyor Opportunity

Attention 2024 School Leavers!

Kickstart an exciting career as a Trainee Health & Building Surveyor with Mid-Western Regional Council!

Imagine a career where you’re not just sitting at a desk but actively shaping and safeguarding your community! As a Health and Building Surveyor, you’ll:

• Ensure buildings are safe and meet regulations
• Inspect and assess public health standards in local businesses
• Support environmental initiatives to keep our region healthy

This isn’t just a job – it’s a pathway to making a real difference in one of NSW’s fastest-growing areas. And the best part? We’ll cover the cost of your university degree!

 What’s in it for you?

• Full-time role with a day off every 4 weeks
• Council-funded university studies
• Hands-on training with experienced mentors

If you’re motivated, ready to learn, and want a fulfilling career in community planning and health, apply now!

 Apply Today!  #CareerStart #MudgeeCouncil #BuildingYourFuture

NSW HEALTH Virtual Careers Fair 2024 

The Fair has three stages and we are now up to Stage 3 - 4th to 25th November

Register now. Scan the QR Code

Multiple Live Zoom sessions, each focussing on a unique profession.

Hear early career professionals talk about their job. Learn more about training pathways and supports. Ask our panel questions.

For more information please see Mrs Tink or email on j.tink@bth.catholic.edu.au

AUC Information

Early bird application deadline has been extended to Saturday 30 November 2024. The processing charge will then increase to $215.

EAS: Closing date for EAS applications for December Round 2

Apply and provide documents for EAS by midnight to have your application considered in December Round 2.

Undergraduate: Change preferences for December Round 1 offers

Change your preferences by 11.59pm. All undergraduate applicants will then be unable to change preferences for future rounds until 7.30am on 5 December.

UAC Website

Work Experience

Will C- Year 10

We would like to thank the staff at Chill-Rite Mudgee for

hosting our St Matthews Work Experience student.

Year 7 2025 Orientation Day 2

Our St Matthews Year 7 2025 Orientation Day 2 will be happening on Thursday 28th November. We are so excited to welcome back our future students.

  

Student Admin Classrooms 

If you have students in year 9, 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

  

Jacinda Tink | Transition Coordinator 

Year 12 Fundraising 2024

Last Thursday, Stella and Ella (on behalf of Year 12 2024)  had the opportunity to present the final Year 12 Fundraising Certificate to the Manager of Barnados - Mudgee Branch, Mr Mark Hoare.

Mark has kindly written some words he would like to share with Year 12 and the St Matthews community:

In 2021, there were more than 45,000 children and young people in Australia experiencing homelessness. This figure has increased in recent years, and people aged 0 to 24 years old now make up just over a third (37%) of the total number of people experiencing homelessness. Not only are the numbers increasing, but Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) data suggests that these young people are presenting to support services with multiple and complex needs – often citing housing crisis, family and domestic violence, and/or a relationship or family breakdown as the reason they seek support.

Reconnect is an early intervention and prevention service designed to reduce the risk of 12 to 18-year-olds (or 12 to 21-year-olds for newly arrived youth, from disengagement with family, culture, education and social connection. All of these support reasons make a Young Person particularly vulnerable to the potential future of lifelong homelessness .

Young people living in rural and remote areas of NSW face even greater disadvantages in finding their feet and thriving in life. Isolation, limited educational and employment opportunities and transport disadvantages, are often what Young People, who engage in our service here in Mudgee, express to us as barriers to them achieving goals and really 'finding their feet' as young adults in the world. 

The extremely overwhelming and generous donation by the SMCS Class of 2024 is both humbling and inspiring and will go directly to supporting their peers within the community.

Well done Year 12. The total amount of funds raised was $9,000- a record amount thus far, which is really indicative of all the hard work the school leaders and their fundraising team of peers put in to achieve this figure. AMAZING!

Mrs Cass McCarney | Stage 6 Coordinator 

On Wednesday the 13th November, our 9/10 boys competed in the NGS Super Schools Cup run by netball NSW. This elite level competition is just for the best netball teams from across NSW.

The journey: Our 9/10 team first competed at the local Netball carnival held in Dubbo earlier this year. They played against all schools from the Western region including Catholic, Independent and Private schools from areas such as Dubbo, Wellington, Forbes and other regional towns. After successfully winning that day, the boys then progressed through to the Regional Finals held in Orange. Here they played against all the winning teams from the other regional carnivals. Our boys again dominated against schools from Bathurst, Orange, Cowra, Lithgow, Broken Hill, Nyngan and more. This allowed our boys team to progress through to the State Final held at Netball Central at Olympic Park.

This is an amazing achievement. This carnival is only for the best of the best teams from across NSW. Representing Central West NSW, our boys faced the winning team from each area across NSW: Sydney Metro, Hunter and Central Coast, Far North Coast, North Coast, North West, South Coast and Riverina. 

The boys started their first round against Nowra High School. Fighting hard to overcome their nerves, the St Matthews team finished the game with a 14 all draw. The second game against Xavier High school was a tougher battle, but our boys were starting to find their groove. Even though the team lost, they were starting to show flashes of their amazing skills. We lost the game 10-17. In our last round game, teamwork was meshing together and the boys won against an undefeated St John Paul College. Our for and against points were strong enough to secure a spot in the semi finals where they came up against an undefeated Emmanuel Anglican College. In a nail biting game, the St Matthews team showed their true colours- grit and determination helped them secure the win 11-9.

Now the ultimate challenge began. The Grand Final match against Xavier High. Having previously been beaten by this team in the rounds, coming in as the underdogs, our St Matthews boys showed no fear. They had belief in their own skills, ability and teamwork. From the very first whistle, St Matthews blew Xavier High out of the water with 3 quick consecutive goals, leaving Xavier High panicked and in chasing mode. Xavier's team dominant size was no advantage to them. Our dynamic and agile midcourters, Logan and Jordan Geddes and Bill McCarney used their speed and drive down the court to lose their opponents. The accuracy in which they fed the balls to our ever reliable shooters helped St Matthews score easily. Our amazing shooters, Riley Durrant and Lochie Doran put on a display of skill and accuracy. Their brilliant game sense was the key to gaining the winning edge over their much larger, defensive players. Our ever reliable mid court defenders, Jack stoddart and Oscar Diprose completely shut down the attacking end. Where Xavier High were used to scoring with ease, Jack used his dynamic change of direction to cover the play, disallowing his opposing WA to receive the centre pass. As our opponents got more and more frustrated with not being able to take the lead, we hit them hard with our brilliant defensive line. Thomas Briggs continually intercepted the ball and created turnovers for his team, not allowing the shooters to get the ball into the circle. Zach Nipperess and Charlie McKid used their skill to block shots over their much taller opponents. With 30 seconds left on the scoreboard and Xavier High fighting hard to gain the lead, Lachie Doran stepped up with nerves of steel and nailed the last goal, stealing the win for St Matthews.

St Matthews 9/10 boys are now the best netball team in NSW! This is a major achievement. We are so incredibly proud of them all.

Congratulations and so very well deserved.

Mrs Jacinda Tink | Netball Coach

School-age children might seem independent, but they still need a hand. Young children learn how to safely use the road from you. The habits they learn stay with them when they’re old enough to travel alone. 

Please see the link below for valuable information for familiues regarding road safety for our younger and older children.

Road Safety 

Under legislation, smoking, alcohol and drugs are prohibited on school grounds. This includes the use of e-cigarettes

This includes staff, students, visitors and those parties hiring school facilities. 

Please contact the school office if you have any queries.