Mater Dei Fortnightly Newsletter 24 March 2017

CEO/Principal’s Message

Dear Parents and Carers, Recently, my eye was drawn to the headline on a magazine that read; Winds of

Change. I could not help but think of how unsettling the times in which we live

are. There is uncertainty of leadership around the world, the refugee crisis

continues to unfold in catastrophic proportions, the economic foundations of our

national and international economy appears to be increasingly tenuous and social

dislocation is increasingly exacerbated by the widening gap between the rich and

the poor. Amidst this, those values upon which many of us were raised;

perseverance, tolerance, sacrifice, thrift, respect, gratitude, diligence, humility and

modesty are at risk of being usurped by the values of the social media world in

which we increasingly live; self-centeredness, impatience, intolerance and an

inclination to be judgemental, simplistic and even offensive. Life at Mater Dei, by

contrast, has a very grounding effect. Here, through the example of the students

and their families, we are constantly reminded about the giftedness of each person

and about the abundance of the blessings that come from community.

Consequently, we live and work in partnership and in community immersed in

values that are counter cultural to those values of the broader community. How

much better would the world be if more people were able to experience the

richness of daily life at Mater Dei.

Thank you in anticipation of the support for our annual golf day today. It is being

held at Twin Creeks and brings both awareness for our work as well as much

needed funds. Thank you to the Organising Committee: Paul Wakeling, Brendan

Kinsela, Michael Lavorato, Neil Williamson, Danny Chauvin, Emily Pascoe-Thomas

and Sharon Pascoe-Thomas. Thank you also to our major sponsors: Campbelltown

Catholic Club, Paul Wakeling Motor Group, Clinton’s Motor Group, Macarthur

Automotive and Macarthur Nissan and the parents who are helping out today:

Tamara Jackson, Caroline Bambagiotti, Jennifer Dowdy–Pitt, Natalie Richardson

and Karen Witherspoon.

I look forward to our celebration of Stations of the Cross on the last day of Term

Friday, 7 April. I am sure it will be a poignant and prayerful reflection on the

significance of Good Friday in our tradition. Best wishes,

Tony Fitzgerald,

CEO/Principal

Pictured above - Staff supporting Phelan –

McDermid Syndrome Day

Mater Dei Fortnightly Newsletter 24 March 2017

Faith in Focus At the beginning of March was Ash Wednesday, the

beginning of Lent. The little known history of Ash Wednesday is rich in biblical symbolism. It originated in

the tenth century and marks forty days before Good Friday. When the ashes are applied, we are called to turn

away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel, remembering

that we are born of dust and shall return to dust (Genesis 3:19). The ashes traditionally come from the burnt fronds

of the palms used in the triumphal processions from the previous year’s Palm Sunday and have been blessed by a

priest.

Lent can be a wonderfully humbling time, when we focus

our energies on ‘other’ and to think of our problems in the context of a world so challenged by war, poverty, disease

and personal and community hardship in many forms. Please see the attached information on Project

Compassion. We will be having our one and only

fundraiser for this wonderful charity on Thursday, 30 March. More details will follow next week.

Stations of the Cross will be on Friday, 7 April at

11.30am. This is a respectful and sorrowful time in the Catholic Church. The students will present the Stations in

a different format this year that will reflect these feelings.

What’s in a name? 3/4 McCabe and 9/10 McCabe.

In 1957, the Catholic Bishop of Wollongong, Bishop Thomas McCabe, approached the Sisters of the Good

Samaritan to commence a school for girls with intellectual

disability, instead of the orphanage continuing to operate. The Sisters took on this enormous challenge and so a new

chapter in the history of Mater Dei began.

Jacqueline Gorey

Leader of Mission and Vision

Parents and friends are warmly invited to attend

Stations of the Cross in the Sr Carmela Ritchie Hall at Mater Dei on Friday, 7 April. Morning tea will be

provided from 10.30am with the Liturgy commencing at 11.30am. This year our Liturgy will

be a combination of recorded and live re-enactments

of The Stations. Students are to wear their school uniform as for every Friday. Year 12 students taking

part in a live re-enactment will have separate costume requirements written in their diaries.

An Invitation to Stations of the Cross—Friday, 7 April

On Friday, 31 March, Mater Dei students in Year 1

to 12 will be visiting the Camden Show with their class groups and Mater Dei staff. Attendance and duration

of the visit will be based on risk assessments conducted for each class grouping. Students are to

wear their Mater Dei sports uniform on the day, as for

every other Friday.

Community Access to Camden Show

Mark this on your calendar – School Photos will be

on Friday, 19 May. Photo envelopes with details on prices and packages will be coming home Term Two.

Students will need to wear their full winter school uniform this day as for every Friday in Terms Two

and Three.

School Photos

This evening is coming up in Term Two on

Wednesday, 17 May at 7pm in the Hall – invitations will be coming soon to parents and carers of all Year

10, 11 and 12 students. It is an ongoing expectation that a family representative from each of our Year 12

families attends this important evening as Year 12

parent/carers will be able to book in for their student’s PSP Assessment timeslot. We once again have a large

number of service providers in attendance and hope to see as many families as possible from Year 10 and 11

as well.

Early Notice—Mater Dei Post School Program (PSP) Information Evening

At the last P&F meeting I was nominated and then

appointed the new Canteen Co-ordinator for Mater Dei. I look forward to undertaking this role for 2017.

The Canteen is an important part of our school and will re-commence early in Term Two. A menu will be

provided asap. Volunteer forms are attached to this

newsletter and your assistance will be greatly appreciated. If you have any questions please contact

me via my email address (see Volunteer form). Tamara Jackson (mother of David in 1/2 Polding)

Canteen

Mater Dei Fortnightly Newsletter 24 March 2017

Student Supports at Mater Dei This fortnight’s newsletter looks at student supports for

students who have been diagnosed with Down Syndrome. International World Down Syndrome Day was celebrated this

week on Tuesday, 21 March. It is celebrated every 21st March to represent the 21st pairing of chromosomes being in triplet

(March is the third month of the year).

Down Syndrome

Down Syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder characterised by

an extra chromosome on the twenty first pair of chromosomes, which is why Down Syndrome is also

sometimes known as trisomy 21. Down Syndrome is the most common chromosome disorder that we know of. People with

Down Syndrome have some characteristic physical features, health and development challenges and some level of

intellectual disability. Because no two people are alike, each of these things will vary from one person to another. People

with Down Syndrome may have mild to severe hearing loss;

vision problems; mild to severe speech delays; may be overly sensitive to sensory stimuli; may engage in self-stimulating

behaviours such as rocking, waving objects or their hands; have increased incidence of heart and respiratory problems;

lowered immunity and increased susceptibility to infection; as well as low muscle tone and sleep apnoea.

Supports in place at Mater Dei to meet the needs of our students with a Down Syndrome diagnosis are (but are not

limited to):

Limiting the number of physical transitions that students

make through the day and week from one place to another

Using different augmentative communication devices in

the classroom (including proloquo2go) for enhancing

communication as well as supplementing verbal language with key word signing and visuals

Having various safety equipment and procedures to assist

and support students with various risk taking behaviours (eg. well defined permitted play areas and access zones

on the playground)

Limiting the number of planned disruptions that may

change a class’s daily routine in a typical session, day or week including limiting the number of visitors we have on

site or in a classroom on any one particular day

Having predictable daily routines for in class and various

reward systems in place to encourage positive behaviours

and following of routines

If any families would like further information on Down

Syndrome, then the following reference points are recommended:

Down Syndrome Australia - www.downsyndrome.org.au

Down Syndrome NSW – www.downsyndromensw.org.au

Samantha Giles

Assistant Principal

An important reminder that ALL students will need to

be in the Mater Dei winter uniform, including ties for both boys and girls, long sleeved Mater Dei shirts and

blazers for all secondary students for the commencement of Term Two. Girls are to wear

navy socks or tights – not grey. For a more detailed

list please refer to the 2017 Parent Handbook. If families have any questions regarding the wearing of

the winter uniform, please contact your class teacher.

Uniform Reminder

Girls 7 -12 Boys 7 - 12

A new health warning has been issued following a

record number of people being infected with the crypto-sporidium bug, with Campbelltown being one of

the suburbs hardest hit. Cryptosporidiosis is caused by a parasitic infection of the intestine that is easily

spread in swimming pools. The most common

symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and sometimes fever, nausea and vomiting.

Mater Dei School is committed to providing a safe and supportive swimming program and recognises the

importance of minimising potential health risks to staff and students by maintaining pool water that is free

from contamination. For this reason the Mater Dei

Pool Guidelines state that students and staff are not to swim for 2 weeks after a case of diarrhoea resolves.

To minimise the risk of infection and serious illness to staff and students, Mater Dei parents/guardians have

a responsibility to inform Mater Dei staff if their child

has presented with diarrhoea.

Pool Guidelines & Recent Health Warning

Girls K – 6 Boys K – 6

Mater Dei Fortnightly Newsletter 24 March 2017

NDIS Update As families prepare for their daughter’s or son’s NDIS First Plan Meetings it is recommended that you consider

requesting Support Coordination be included in your child’s NDIS First Plan. Support Coordination can be linked to a Participant ie. your daughter or son, so that the Participant receives immediate support to implement their

NDIS First Plan.

The NDIA (Agency) defines Support Coordination as ‘Assistance to strengthen the Participant’s ability to coordinate and implement supports, strengthen their informal network and coordinate a range of both funded and mainstream supports’ and this may include: (i) identifying and selecting Service Providers; (ii) monitoring Plan

outcomes and expenditure; and (iii) strengthening the Participant’s abilities to self-direct their own supports and participate in their local community.

If your child is older than 7 years of age and does not yet have their NDIS ID Number families may either (i)

phone 188 800 110, ask to speak with the National Access Team (NAT) and apply for an Access Request

Form or (ii) go into Centrelink Campbelltown and ask for an Access Request Form that must be completed

and lodged with relevant documents attached to determine your child’s eligibility which will then be confirmed (or

not) in a letter to you.

Pamela Templeton

Director of Services

Diary Dates Friday, 31 March Camden Show Community Access

Years 1 to 12 More details to come

2018 Mater Dei Enrolment Applications Close

Friday, 7 April Last Day of Term One

Term One Holidays

Tuesday, 25 April Anzac Day Public Holiday

Wednesday, 26 April First Day of Term Two

All students return to school 9am WINTER UNIFORM

Friday, 28 April Principal’s Assembly ANZAC Liturgy and Golf Day Thank You

Parents and families welcome 1.30pm in the Hall

Tuesday, 2 May P&F Meeting

7.00pm All Welcome

Pupil Free Dates Term Two – Friday, 26 May Term Three — Friday, 4 August AND Friday, 25 August Term Four — Friday, 3 November

CAMPBELLTOWN TERM 2, 2017 WORKSHOP BOOKINGS: 4628 0044 or 4227 1122

ROLLERCOASTER (8-12 YEARS) Assisting children who are experiencing change and loss as a result of family separation. Helps children to understand and develop strategies for anger management, problem solving and understanding feelings and emotions.

Tuesday afternoons: 4pm - 5pm May 9, 16, 23, 30 & June 6, 13, 20 & 27

Workshop Fee: $15 per session

BRINGING UP GREAT KIDS This course is designed for parents who are seeking to learn more about their child's needs and how to better respond to behaviours. Participants will learn mindfulness techniques to increase awareness of thoughts and feelings .

Tuesday mornings: 10am -12:30pm May 16, 23, 30 & June 6

Workshop Fee: $15 per session

SEEING RED Explores ways for parents to deal with feelings of anger within them-selves and their children. Participants will learn to recognise their own feelings and needs and those of others, communicate and listen to these feelings and needs, be assertive & express anger in a more constructive way.

Tuesday mornings: 10am - 12:30pm June 13, 20 & 27

Workshop Fee: $15 per session

KEEPING KIDS IN MIND A post-separation parenting program which helps parents learn how to deal with the emotional and practical issues of parenting after separa-tion. The program helps explore grief and loss and the impact separa-tion has on parents and their children.

Tuesday evenings: 6pm - 8:30pm May 9, 16, 23, 30 & June 6

OR

Thursday mornings: 10am - 12:30pm April 27 & May 4, 11, 18 & 25

Workshop Fee: $20 per session

MY KIDS AND ME A program for parents who have had their children removed from their care. It explores grief and loss and the impact on parents and children. Helps participants to develop strengths and build support networks.

Monday afternoons: 12 noon - 2:30pm May 8, 15, 22, 29 & June 5, 19 & 26 Workshop Fee: $15 per session Campbelltown Office

OR

Thursday mornings: 9:30am -12 noon April 27 & May 4, 11, 18, 25 & June 1, 8

Workshop Fee: FREE Claymore Community Centre Cnr Dobell Rd & Gould Rd, Claymore

123 MAGIC AND EMOTION COACHING Learn to be present and consistent as a parent. This time tested program provides parents with easy to use disciplining techniques for their children, without letting emotions get the better of them. Wednesday mornings: 10am - 12:30pm May 3, 10 & 17 OR Friday afternoons: 12:30pm - 2:30pm May 19, 26 & June 2

Workshop Fee: $15 per session

CIRCLE OF SECURITY ® Parenting™ Helping parents understand their child’s world by learning to read their emotional needs. Secure children have empathy, greater self esteem, better relationships and increased capacity to handle their emotions. This program is a must for all parents.

Tuesday evenings: 6pm - 8:30pm May 9, 16, 23, 30 & June 6 OR Friday mornings: 9:30am– 11:30am April 28 & May 5, 12, 19, 26 & 2 June

Workshop Fee: $15 per session

All workshops are at our Campbelltown Office: 35A Cordeaux Street Campbelltown unless stated otherwise.

Concessions may apply dependent on financial

circumstances.

Limited childcare may be available, bookings

Project Compassion 2017

Each year, Caritas Australia uses Project Compassion to generate awareness of and funds for their vital programs conducted in partnership with some of the world’s most disadvantaged communities. Project Compassion began on Ash Wednesday and runs through Lent. The theme for Project Compassion 2017 is “Love your neighbour”. “This year, Project Compassion demonstrates how love for our neighbours can transform lives. For more than 50 years, Caritas Australia has been privileged to work together with our neighbours – our most vulnerable sisters and brothers in First Australian communities and in many other countries. Working with our partner agencies in those communities, we have developed the strength to combat poverty, promote justice and uphold the dignity of every person.” http://www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion/easter-lent-appeal

To Register, please contact:

SNAPP: 0419 698157 / Ron: 0404 496555

Email: snappsport@hotmail.com

Registration dates: March 2017

Cost: $120.00 - inclusive of; 15 weekly sessions,

uniform, presentation & insurance

SOCCER PROGRAM

CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS & ADULTS WITH A DISABILITY

INCLUSIVE SOCCER PROGAM:

Increased soccer and gross motor skills

Personal fitness training

Player Development in social skills & self confidence

Community & Recreational access

Sportsmanship

Program commences: 22nd April 2017

SNAPPaROOS AMBASADOORS

A LEAGUE PLAYERS: NICK CARLE & DEVANTE CLUT