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Mater Dei School Newsletter
20th Nov 2014
Parish Office: Ph. 3300 6099 PARISH MASS TIMES— MATER DEI: Tuesday 9.00 am and Friday 9.00 am (Healing Mass)
ST PETER CHANEL: Wednesday 9.00 AM AND Thursday 9.00 AM (Healing Mass) Tuesday—Friday 8.30-3.00
O.S.H. Care 3366 7138
IN THIS EDITION
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
APRE REPORT
P & F NEWS
COMMUNITY NEWS
IMPORTANT DATES
Nov
Sat 22
Mater Dei Dance Concert
Wed 26
Yr 6/7 retreat Day
Fri 28
Yr 1/2 Swimming Carnival
End of Year School Disco
Dec
Mon 1
Yr 6 Graduation
Tues 2
Yr 7 Graduation
Fri 5
Last day of Term
Whole School Mass 9am
Congratulations and thank you
to the following people who
nominated for the P & F
executive positions for 2015
President- Nicole Quinn
Vice President – Beth Toon
Secretary – Shelleigh Pallister
Treasurer- Belinda Power
Thank you too, to all other parents who have already
volunteered for 2015 in the many committees within the P&F.
Come along next Tuesday
morning before school
(8:10-8:30am) to see our
fabulous band perform in
the school hall.
All children and families
are most welcome.
Remembrance Day essay winners
A LETTER FROM MRS NULLEY
20th November 2014
Dear Parents, Caregivers, friends, boys and girls, and all associated with Mater Dei,
St Augustine had a great insight when he wrote: “When people choose to withdraw far from a fire, the fire
continues to give warmth, but they grow cold. When people choose to withdraw far from the light, the light
continues to be bright in itself but they are in darkness. This is also the case when people withdraw from God.”
And withdraw from God we all do, mostly out of forgetfulness, because we are just too busy with the rest of life.
Take for example the Bethlehem Innkeeper who told Mary and Joseph that there was no room for them in his
inn. This did not mean that he was a bad person; he was just very busy taking care of his customers, providing
for their needs and keeping the peace. Unfortunately, when the most important birth in history took place in his
backyard, he missed it entirely, not because he was a bad person, he was just too busy.
With Christmas only a matter of weeks away, we might be too busy to give attention to what we are actually
commemorating. Those who live “by the cash register” will do everything they can to keep our attention on our
wallets and purses. The Three Wise Men seem to have had the true understanding of the Christmas event. They
spent many weeks in anticipation as they travelled from their homeland to Bethlehem. When they arrived, their
purpose was to honour the newborn child and out of courtesy they brought one gift each.
We, too, have the opportunity for a period of anticipation in the Season of Advent. Of course, Advent is a
constant season for, within our own lives, we are continuously waiting to become, to discover, to complete, to
fulfil. Hope, struggle, fear, expectations, are all part of our Advent experience. God does not come to us from
the sky, he comes to us in the daily story of our lives in people, places and events.
Advent invites us to prepare for the commemoration of God’s coming by taking time to have a closer look inside
ourselves away from the busy outside. This looking inside is not about remorse or regret, nor about listing ways
life over the past year could have been different; it’s not about wishing we were better people. It’s about
forward movement, getting new bearings, relying more on God for directions. It’s about a fresh start, getting
closer to the “fire” and the “light” that are God’s love and compassion.
Administration Relocation – We are on the move!
Tomorrow is moving day for our Admin facilities. We are relocating upstairs for the duration of the building
program commencing on Monday 8th December. It is likely that we will be up there until Easter. The tendering
process is now complete and I am pleased to report our building project has come in on budget. The successful
company who will undertake the work is Ordanga Properties. We look forward to having Pat Manahan and his
team working with us on this project. The plans for our refurbishment and the new toilet block are currently on
display on the noticeboard outside the front office and on the hall windows. It is a very exciting time for our
school but also very hectic as we try to wrap up the year and relocate offices and class spaces. There may be
some teething problems with our usual efficient operations as we relocate and so ask for your support as we
move into the last couple of weeks of the year.
Next Thursday, we will be moving classrooms (Year 3 – 7) so there will be some interruptions to the normal
teaching program for this day as we undertake this task.
You may notice that there is a large container placed in the playground near the Prep building. This will be
storing furniture and resources whilst the building works occur.
End of Year Celebrations
By now, you should have received a letter regarding our ‘End of Year Excursions’ for the children in the last week
of school. Please ensure that you return the permission slip and money as soon as possible.
P&F AGM
Thank you to all of the parents who attended the annual P&F AGM on Monday evening. It was great to have this
opportunity to thank all of the parents who have been involved in supporting our school during 2014.
Collectively, when you listen to the various reports from the committees, the enormous amount of energy, time
and commitment from so many people becomes very apparent.
School Fees
Our school fees have been set for the 2015 school year with an increase of 2% on our tuition fees. All existing
levies will remain the same with the only change in this area being the introduction of a 1:1 laptop levy in Year 4
and 5. We hope that this increase will not be too burdensome on families already coping with many financial
challenges at this time. The tuition fees include an amount remitted centrally, the Archdiocesan Education Levy,
which provides shared resources to all schools within the Archdiocese. Also included is a levy of $20 per student
to provide for the purchase of land for future school development within the Archdiocese. This is a vital
investment in the future provision of catholic schooling within the Archdiocese of Brisbane.
In an effort to streamline the billing process for school fees and provide clarity as to what each family is required
to pay, we have condensed some of the existing one off charges ( for example, Life Education fee, into the
overall total tuition fee).
School Fees
$1628 per annum for one child ($407 per term)
$2524 per annum for two children ($631 per term)
$2672 per annum for three children ($668 per term)
$2812 per annum for four children ($703 per term)
Capital Levy
$600 per family /per annum ($150 per term)
Prep Resource Levy
$296 per annum per child ($74 per term)
Yrs 1 – 6 Resource Levy
$130 per annum per child
Yrs 4 & 5 1-1 Laptop Program
$450 per annum per child ($112.50 per term)
Celebrations Next Week
We wish our Year 6 and 7 students a wonderful end of year retreat day next Wednesday at Taylor Range. This
will be a great opportunity for the children to reflect on their achievements this year and indeed, their entire
time at Mater Dei. The children should be very proud of the way they have conducted themselves this year and
lead the other students by great example and with such maturity.
Staff News
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs Sciobhan Bingham to the role of IT support from the
beginning of the 2015 school year. Sciobhan will be replacing Mike Cahill who is retiring at the end of the year.
Sciobhan brings a great level of IT skills to this role, along with a passion for learning and problem solving. We
congratulate Sciobhan on this appointment. Sciobhan will be supported in this role by Fawmatt IT Solutions who
will be onsite on a regular basis in the New Year to assist with technical support.
I also announced at the P&F meeting on Monday night that we will be farewelling the following staff members
at the end of the year. You will already be aware of some of these announcements as I have previously
communicated these in recent newsletters. We will hold a special gathering in the Church on Monday 1 st
December at 9:30am to farewell the following people:
Jenny Rolph, Katrina Hammond, Reffeech Chalmers, Bernadette Tomlin and Rosie Harrison will be finishing
in their current capacity as support teacher, class teacher and APRE as the end of this year. We thank each
one of these staff members for the gifts and talents they have shared with us during their time at Mater Dei.
Our school community, and most importantly, the children, are all the more richer having had experience
and the opportunity to work with these dedicated educators. We wish them many blessings as they go forth
from our community.
Mike Cahill is also resigning from his position as IT support technician at the end of the year. Mike has
worked for BCE for since 1996 and in this capacity at Mater Dei for 2 days a week since 2002. Mike has
provided a secure and robust IT platform in conjunction with BCE and Fawmatt IT solutions to ensure access
to IT services is seamless. We wish Mike every blessing as he not only resigns, but also retires and makes the
move to the Gold Coast to be closer to
family.
LIBRARY
REMINDER
Best wishes for the week ahead.
Kind regards
Kathryn Nulley
PRINCIPAL
Please return all library books to the Library immediately
or let me know if they can't be located.
Congratulations to Year 5 who were the first class to
return all their books to the Library.
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Jacky
Reach out this Christmas with a 'Life-Giving Gift'!
Catholic Mission Christmas Appeal
Australians are expected to splash out more than $35
billion on Christmas gifts for loved ones and friends this
year. While most of us are thrilled with some of the
presents we receive, there are many that end up in the
bottom drawer, being recycled or discreetly thrown out a
week or two after the Christmas break.
In fact, almost every adult if asked admits that when it
comes to Christmas, they would be just as happy with a
donation or gift made in their name that goes towards
helping a child or family in need.
So for Christmas 2014 instead of the usual frantic last minute rush to buy overpriced gifts for friends and family,
Australians will be able to pledge to make a real difference and change people's lives through supporting
Catholic based charities like Catholic Mission's Life-Giving Gifts and Caritas Australia's Global Gift program.
Last week I featured two Catholic agencies The Trading Post and Caritas and their relevant Christmas appeals.
This week we look at ways we can support the work of Catholic Mission and the St Vincent de Paul Society with
their Christmas appeal work.
With the festive season fast approaching, Australians are being called to reach out to those in need this
Christmas with a Life-Giving Gift.
Catholic Mission has launched its Life-Giving Gifts Christmas catalogue, featuring sixteen gifts that support
children, communities and Church leaders across the globe.
Available both online and in hard copy, the new-look catalogue features options ranging from as little as $9 to
provide a Peruvian family with a laying hen, to a very generous $13,340 to build a new church in a remote area
of the world that will bring a community together in faith.
Other Life-Giving Gifts include such things as:
• $17 provides textbooks for one year for two primary school children in the Philippines
• $28 provides a nourishing daily meal for twenty-five children in Mongolia
• $40 provides a pig so a family in Madagascar can become self-reliant
• $118 provides the annual tuition fees of two seminarians in a developing country
• $220 provides a wheelchair for one child with a disability in Zambia
• $1,258 provides a water tank for a pastoral outreach centre in Papua New Guinea.
Catholic Mission National Director Martin Teulan says a Life-Giving Gift is the perfect present. "Often we only
feel like we are making a difference when we give," says Mr Teulan. "A Life-Giving Gift also allows our family and
friends to support the less fortunate when they receive a present this Christmas."
Every purchase of a Life-Giving Gift will come with a beautifully designed printed card featuring an image
indicative of the project the gift supports. With space for a personal message, the card can be placed in
stockings or sent to loved ones. Alternatively, if the gift is purchased online, an e-card can be sent either
immediately or on a specified date.
You can order your Life-Giving Gift at www.catholicmission.org.au/gifts, or through a printable PDF catalogue.
Alternatively, you can place your order or request a copy of your printed catalogue by phoning freecall 1800 257
296.
St Vincent de Paul Society is another agency that helps provide Christmas cheer to families in need and at
Vinnies' Matthew Talbot Homeless Services one way a family group or eight or more friends can help is to chip in
and provide a healthy, nutritious midday meal for 400 of those who have no home or regular shelter.
Vinnies 2014 Christmas Gift Appeal assists people in need who may not experience
all that Christmas has to offer.
The St Vincent de Paul Society Christmas Gift Appeal assists people and families in
need who, without their support, may not experience all that Christmas has to
offer. Australians are invited to contribute by holding a gift appeal at your school,
workplace or community group. Alternatively you can donate a 'virtual gift', such
as a movie ticket for someone in need, or treating a family to a day of Christmas
shopping, at www.vinnies.org.au/donate#!state=vic&appeal=66
Rosie
Unfortunately the side gate near
the hall is broken AGAIN due to
children swinging on this after
school. Please supervise your
children at all times to avoid
damage to our school property.
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P&F
news
P&F AGM 16th February
School band performance
Tuesday 25 November
8.10-8.30am in the hall.
Everyone is welcome to come along
and listen to our wonderful school
band or find out further information
about our instrumental music
program.
Instrumental Music - 2015
Drums, Keyboard, Guitar, Brass and Woodwind
Available through Creative Kidz
If there are any students at the school who would like to be part of our fantastic Extra Curricular
Music Program please pick up an enrolment form from the school office or download an
enrolment form from www.creativekidz.com.au and send it back to us directly. Alternatively, if
you have any questions please call Kathleen Smith on 0421022818 or email
info@creativekidz.com.au
Instrument Hire
A large range of brand new instruments are available for hire for $25/term.
Please find the roster below.
Tuckshop Roster Term 4 2014
Please let Sheleigh or I know if you are unable to make your shift - last one for the year! Amy & Sheleigh
Mon
Morning
8.30-11.00
Lunch
11.00-2.00
Wed
Morning
8.30-11.00
Lunch
11.00-2.00
24 Nov
Fiona Woodard
Libby Gallahger
Karen Thomas
Catherine O’Rourke
26 Nov
Marg Reed
Sandra Kurowski
Louise Stark
Libby Gibson
Emma Mattiazzi
END OF YEAR Disco
AT
MATER DEI
When:
Friday, 28 November
Time:
6:00 – 8:00pm
Cost:
$10 per family
(Price includes DJ, Sausage Sizzle & Zooper Dooper Ice-block for
every Mater Dei child*)
Please pay $1 extra for every non-Mater Dei child who would like to
purchase a sausage. Zooper Dooper ice-block for everyone!
There will be some food & drink items for sale :
Chips $1.50
Beer & Soft Drink $2.00
Mixers $3.00
“Pay on entry”
Soft drinks, poppers, chips and glow sticks will be available for purchase
on the night.
*Sausage sizzle from 6pm. Ice blocks available at 7:15pm
Parents: Please BYO drinks and nibbles.
Hope to see you there!
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COMMUNITY NEWS
St John’s Wood/The Gap Parish
Sacramental Program - Reconciliation
Our Parish coordinates a family-centred Parish-based SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Any baptised Catholic child who is in Year 3 or above is eligible to enrol and participate in the RECONCILIATION PROGRAM.
There will be a compulsory information and enrolment night on Tuesday 10 February 2015 from 7pm to 8pm at St Peter
Chanel Church for parents wishing to enrol their children for First Reconciliation.
The program will run over four weeks with a workbook being emailed to you every week. There will be a compulsory
retreat night for parents and children at St Peter Chanel Church on Friday 20 March 2015 from 6.30pm to 8pm. Children
will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the week following.
St John’s Wood/The Gap Parish Sacramental Program – Confirmation and First Eucharist
Any baptised Catholic child in Year 4 or above who has made their First Reconciliation is eligible to enrol and participate in
the SACRAMENTS OF CONFIRMATION AND FIRST EUCHARIST PROGRAM.
There will be a compulsory information and enrolment night on Tuesday 12 May 2015 from 7pm to 8pm at St Peter Chanel
Church for parents wishing to enrol their children for the Sacraments of CONFIRMATION AND FIRST EUCHARIST.
The program will run over five weeks with a workbook being emailed to you every week. There will be a compulsory
retreat night for parents and children at St Peter Chanel Church on Friday 24 July 2015 from 6.30pm to 8pm.
The Archbishop will administer the Sacrament of Confirmation over four dates of which you will choose
one:
Wednesday 29th July 2015, at Mater Dei Church, 5pm or 7pm
Friday 31st July 2015, at St Peter Chanel Church, 5pm or 7pm.
Sprout Drama Evening Showcase
Thursday 27th November 6:30pm
Mater Dei McKillop Centre Hall
It’s Showtime
We welcome family and friends
of Sprout Drama to share in this
exciting event. Tea, Coffee and
cold drinks will be available from
6pm.
Following on from last week’s newsletter, in the lead up to Christmas, you may wish to
support the ‘Give- a- Hamper Drive’ to support PICABEEN and COMMUNIFY, two
fantastic organisations who support families.
Santa Sleigh returns to The Gap
7th to 13th December
escorted by
The Rotary Club of Ashgrove/TheGap
Coordinate your street party with Santa’s visit
Send us an email at
secretary.ashgrovethegap@rotary9600.org
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ACT NOW PERFORMANCE GROUP
PRESENTS
THE THREE CHRISTMAS COOKS
Directed by Lynn Martin & Glenda Hogg
Everyone knows that the food we eat at Christmas time is the best
food of the year. That is because Santa’s cooks sprinkle it with
magic dust, but the magic dust should only be sprinkled on food.
When the Three Christmas Cooks accidentally sprinkle the magic
dust on the toys in Goodies toy shop, the toys all come to life.
What will happen now?
Find out in this Christmas production that is fun for all the family.
3 PERFORMANCES ONLY.
DATE: MONDAY 15TH DECEMBER – 10:00 a.m.
TUESDAY 16TH DECEMBER – 10:00 a.m.
WEDNESDAY 17TH DECEMBER – 10:00 a.m.
PLACE: Chelmer Community Theatre, cnr Halsbury &
Queenscroft Streets, Chelmer
COST: $10 per ticket/ $36 for 4
BOOKINGS: LYNN MARTIN 3371 0497/0412 742 632