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■ 2020 ■ Term 3 ■ Week 7 ■ Matong Public School Newsletter
Principal’s News
I was excited this week to be able to announce that I
have recently been appointed to Matong Public School
as the permanent principal. I have learnt so much and
enjoyed my time here at Matong Public School and look
forward to many more wonderful future learning
experiences with the students, staff and the school
community. As a school we continue to share the
wonderful achievements of our students. I am proud to
teach and lead in a small rural school and will continue
to promote MPS with much pride across our network of
schools.
This week Year 5 students sat the Numeracy and Reading
check in assessment. This quick assessment will provide
the teaching staff with some valuable information on
how our students are progressing in these subject areas.
Many students across NSW in Years 3 and 5 will be
completing these assessments this term.
Students last week got to experience some educational
lessons with Healthy Harold. We would like to thank the
P&C for their kind donation for every student to be able
to attend the Life Education program. Friday Sport has
also involved students participating in athletic skills as
they prepare for a mini school athletics carnival at the
end of the term. Many thanks,
Kerri McPherson Principal
Thank You
Thank you to our wonderful P&C for the lovely surprise in
welcoming me to the principal position. The support and messages
from our MPS families has been overwhelming and is greatly
appreciated.
Important Reminders
When dropping off and picking up your children from
school, you may walk them into and out of school
grounds while maintaining social distancing. Maintain
social distancing by avoiding gathering outside of
school gates.
It is important that any students who arrive late or
depart early must be signed in and out at the office
with a parent or carer.
To minimise risks and to keep the children safe during
this difficult time please keep visits to the school to a
bare minimum unless essential. Communicate with
school via School Stream, email and phone wherever
possible.
Parents/carers are asked to please not go to the
classrooms. Staff will bring children up to the office.
Follow the health advice and keep your child/children
at home if they are unwell. Please inform the office if
they are not well.
Keep up-to-date with school communications such as
Facebook, School Stream and email to make sure you
receive important messages about future changes.
Stage One News
Our Stage 1 students presented some incredible ‘Paddock
to Plate’ projects this week. The students and staff have
learnt so much. Thank you to everyone who helped put
these together.
Matong Public School
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Community News
Coolamon Library
The Library is opened for business- call in for a browse.
New stock arriving weekly, books, DVD’s and
magazines. We are still offering our FREE home
delivery service to our borrowers within the town limits.
All programs and events such as Story time are
cancelled at this stage. Story time is live on our
Coolamon Library Facebook page every fortnight for
children to enjoy.
Brain Games Booklet
Come and pick up a brain games booklet from the
Library. This will be a monthly activity booklet
containing puzzles and brain-teasers to keep your
mind active. Suitable for all ages and is available now
– Cost is a gold coin donation.
Library promotion
During the month of September the library will be
running a promotion to encourage children to read
and borrow from the Library. Each time a child
borrows a book they will enter a draw to win book
vouchers. Join your child/children today – its FREE.
August winners will be announced shortly.
Community Recycling Station
The Library has a Recycling Station for your household
wastes. Bring in your unwanted household batteries,
fluoro globes, smoke detectors, mobile phones and
accessories. This is permanently stationed at the
Library – lets protect our environment and health of
our community.
A Message from Father Darlow – Sacrament
of Confirmation
The Sacrament of Confirmation is one of the Sacraments
of Initiation and confirms and strengthens baptismal
grace. We are in the process of finalising, as much as is
possible in the current situation, what the preparation
programme will look like this year. The weekend of 14
and 15 November has been chosen as the date for the
Confirmation celebration. It looks likely that the number
of participants in the Mass (excluding liturgical ministers)
will be restricted by the 4 square metre rule. For this
reason I am proposing that there be 2 Masses for
Confirmation: 6.00 p.m. Saturday and 9.00 a.m. Sunday.
However, in order to allow as many people as possible
to participate, both Masses will be held in St. Brendan’s
Church Ganmain and there will be no Mass at St. Patrick’s
Matong for that Sunday.
As usual, those children who register to receive the
Sacrament will need to participate in one of the Sunday
Masses each week as well as the catechesis session
associated with the Mass. This year, because of
distancing requirements, the presbytery meeting room
is of insufficient size. Hence, the catechesis sessions will
be adapted somewhat and held instead in the church. I
am suggesting that the following times would probably
work best: Saturday 5.15 p.m. and Sunday 10.15 a.m. It is
anticipated that each session will go for 30-45 minutes
with sessions commencing the weekend of 10 and 11
October.
For participation in the programme, please register the
following details by this Sunday by texting or calling me
on 0407734747.
Child’s Full Name:
Parents’/Guardians’ Full Names:
Email Address:
Mobile Phone Number:
Once the number of children for the preparation
programme is known, we will be able to determine how
many persons may be invited to participate in the
Confirmation Masses. At this stage, at least the child,
sponsor and 2 parents/guardians should be able to
come. For more information feel free to call me at any
time.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Justin Darlow
