Welcome back to all families. Term 4 has started well with our students excited about a number of events taking place during the next 10 weeks. I remind families that information has been shared about one of our favourite events, with Grandparent’s Day coming up in Week 3, Monday 27th October. This is always a well attended event and showcases the amazing school community we have at St Matthews. The day will start with a beautiful liturgy in the Gym at 10:50am before visits to classrooms and lunch in the playground. We look forward to seeing as many families as possible on the day.

The school term calendar has been shared with families to assist with the various activities taking place throughout Term 4.

Extended Leave

Parents who wish for their child to take an extended absence from school for more than 10 days must provide reasonable advance notice to the school. If your child is going to be absent for more than ten school days for any of the following reasons, you will need to contact us via the school office and complete a ‘Notification of Extended Absence’ form. You may also be required to attend a meeting with a member of our Senior Leadership Team to discuss the potential implications of your child missing school.

• Misadventure or unforeseen events
• Participation in special events not related to the school
• Domestic necessity (e.g., serious illness of an immediate family member)
• Attendance at funerals
• Travel within Australia or overseas
• Participation in recognised religious festivals or ceremonial occasions

If your child is going to be absent from school for 50 days or more (one or more school terms) then either the Principal or Head of Campus will need to discuss alternative arrangements for your child’s education during that time.

If you have any questions or concerns about our diocesan extended absence procedures, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Justin Yeo