ICAS 2025

From the Leadership Team - Term 2 Week 7

From the Leadership Team Term 2 Week 5

Dear Mater Dei,

I have recently returned from a four-day Catholic Leadership Forum held in the beautiful town of Goondiwindi, and I wanted to take a moment to share some reflections with you.

The theme of this year’s forum was “Salt of the Earth and Light of the World”, drawn from Jesus’ words in the Gospel of Matthew. These powerful images reminded us of our calling as Catholic educators to bring flavour, vitality, and light into the lives of those we serve. Just as salt enhances and preserves, and light reveals and guides, we are invited to be a presence of hope, truth, and love in our school communities.

Throughout the forum, we explored what it means to lead with authenticity, humility, and faith. We were challenged to reflect on how we can be a source of encouragement and inspiration, especially in times of uncertainty or change. It was a time of deep spiritual nourishment, professional growth, and connection with fellow leaders who share a passion for Catholic education.

Goondiwindi was a welcoming community and provided the perfect setting for this time of renewal. I return with a renewed sense of purpose and a deep gratitude for the incredible work being done in our school community every day. I am especially thankful for our dedicated staff who continued to lead with excellence in my absence, and for our students who remind us daily of the joy and hope that education brings.

As we journey through the month of May, we are especially mindful of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, who is honoured throughout this month in Catholic tradition. As a school named Mater Dei—Mother of God, this devotion holds deep meaning for us.

Regards,

Michael Ball

Term 2 Week 3

In recent weeks, we’ve shared some truly special moments together.

Our Fun Run and 800m events were a celebration of energy, perseverance, and school spirit. It was inspiring to see our students encouraging one another and giving their best with such enthusiasm.

We also gathered in prayer and gratitude for our Mother’s Day Liturgy and Breakfast. It was a beautiful morning of reflection and community as we honoured the incredible women who nurture, guide, and love so generously. We thank all the volunteers who helped cook and prepare breakfast for the mothers. A special thank you to the Kath Family and the wonderful volunteers who ran the Mother’s Day Stall—your time, creativity, and generosity helped make the day even more memorable for our students and their families.

We are pleased to share that Prep 2026 enrolment interviews have now been finalised. Of the 75 available positions, 59 were allocated to siblings and current families. We are grateful for your continued support and look forward to welcoming new Prep families into our school family.

In academic news, our preliminary NAPLAN results have arrived, and we are encouraged by the early indicators. These results reflect the dedication of our students and staff, and we are proud of the progress being made. Final results will be shared with the community as soon as they are received.

In the wider Church, we mark a historic moment with the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born and Augustinian pope. His deep commitment to missionary work and service to the poor offers a powerful example of leadership rooted in humility and compassion.

Please take a moment to read the Sport Week 3 section in this newsletter. It’s filled with wonderful achievements from our Mater Dei students who continue to shine in their sporting pursuits. Their efforts, teamwork, and sportsmanship are truly something to celebrate!

A reminder that our Spring Fair will be held on Saturday, 25 October. This is always a highlight of our school year and a fantastic opportunity to come together as a community. We are still looking for a coordinator to help lead the planning and bring this exciting event to life. Most of the major bookings and arrangements have been made by the PEN but someone to bring it all together would be amazing. If you’re interested or would like to know more, please contact the school office—we’d love to hear from you!

Regards,

Michael Ball

ICAS Assessments

Dear Parents and Carers, 

Once again Mater Dei will be offering ICAS assessment tests for students in Years 3-6 in the subject areas of Mathematics and English. These tests are a great opportunity to challenge and extend students, and I would encourage you to discuss taking part in these tests with your child. The ICAS assessments will take place in August and participation is optional. To find out more information about the ICAS assessments, how to register your child and for costs, please see the attached flyer. 

Should you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact me via the school office. 

Mr Lawson Short. 

Assistant Principal Administration and Curriculum 

Leadership Team Term 2 Week 1

Dear Mater Dei,

As we begin this new term, I am delighted to share some exciting news with our school community. We are pleased to welcome Suzanne de Kroon, our new School Officer Assisting Student Learning, to our team. Suzanne will be working closely with our Prep and Year 6 students, providing valuable support and enhancing their learning experiences.

We are also thrilled to have Elizabeth Foley back with us. Elizabeth returned to the staff late last term as a School Officer Assisting Student Learning and is working across most year levels. Her return has been a tremendous asset to our school community.

I would also like to ask you to keep Kerri Snyders, Vanessa Crouch, and Kym Murray in your prayers as they are currently on leave, traveling or doing missionary work. We pray for their safety and a speedy return. Their presence is greatly missed, and we look forward to welcoming them back soon.

Our school community continues to thrive, as evident in our recent Easter and ANZAC Day liturgies, as well as our Ladies Night. These events showcased the strong sense of unity and spirit within our community, and I am grateful for those who coordinated the events and everyone's participation and support. We are also grateful for all of those families that found the time to attend the Student Learning Conferences last term. These conversations are the foundations for the strong partnership between school and home.

At Mater Dei we have been deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Pope Francis. His teachings continually reminded us of the importance of being kind and caring individuals. His legacy inspires us to show compassion and love in our daily interactions, reflecting the core values of our Catholic faith.

Thank you for your continued commitment to our school. We look forward to a busy and productive Term 2.

Regards,

Michael Ball

At Mater Dei, we are all ‘Life Long Learners,’ and our teachers truly reflected this on Tuesday when we gathered together for a full day of professional development. This day was spent honing and refining our practices within our English block. This has been a school priority since the beginning of 2024, and we are really seeing the benefits in student learning. A large focus of our professional development on Tuesday was the teaching of vocabulary and how we can effectively ensure that all students experience success in their learning around vocabulary.

Why is vocabulary important?

Vocabulary is key to reading comprehension. Readers cannot understand what they are reading without knowing what most of the words mean. As children learn to read more advanced texts, they must learn the meaning of new words to help build their understanding. A broad vocabulary allows students to express themselves more articulately both in writing and speaking and helps students access much a much richer variety of quality texts.

Teachers left their professional development day with a variety of resources and an action plan on how to enhance the teaching of vocabulary in classrooms.

Here are a few simple things you can do to help build your child’s vocabulary at home:

• Read Together: Reading books aloud to your child exposes them to new words and contexts. Discuss the story and ask questions to engage them.
• Encourage Curiosity: When your child encounters unfamiliar words, encourage them to ask about their meanings. Discuss what the words mean, other words that have similar meanings (synonyms), and words that mean the opposite (antonyms). This helps build a deep and rich knowledge and understanding of words.
• Use Rich Language: Incorporate a variety of words into everyday conversations. Explain new words and use them in different contexts.
• Storytelling and Questioning: Encourage your child to tell stories and answer a variety of questions. This helps them practice using new vocabulary in context.
• Writing Activities: Have your child write stories, letters, or journal entries. Provide feedback and introduce new words they can use.

Lawson Short
Assistant Principal, Administration and Curriculum

2025 NAPLAN

Dear Community,

I am thrilled to extend a massive congratulations to all the students and staff involved in the recent NAPLAN tests at Mater Dei. After careful preparation, I am pleased to report that the 2025 NAPLAN tests went exceptionally smoothly. This included the successful submission of over 400 individual online tests and 60 paper tests. The dedication and hard work of everyone involved truly paid off, ensuring a seamless testing experience.

2024 NAPLAN Success

Many of you may have seen recent articles in the Toowoomba Chronicle and the Courier Mail listing the top 150 primary schools in Queensland based on the 2024 NAPLAN testing. I am delighted to announce that Mater Dei is one of only five Toowoomba primary schools to make the top 100 list. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the hard work of our staff, the rigor of our teaching and learning, and a true reflection of our school's vision: ‘Illuminating the Range of Possibilities.’

This accomplishment highlights the collective effort of our entire school community. Our students have demonstrated outstanding dedication and perseverance, and our staff remain commitment to providing high-quality education. The support from parents and guardians has also been invaluable, contributing significantly to our success.

As we celebrate this achievement, let us continue to strive for excellence in all areas. 

Leadership Term 1 Week 7

Student Learning Conferences

Student Learning Conferences will take place in Week 9 and 10 of this term.  You will have the opportunity to book a time with your child/children's class teacher for a 10 minute interview.  

Our teachers and students have been busily preparing for our student learning conferences and are looking forward to sharing their learning journey with you. We frame our conferences around 'glows' (things that we do well) and 'grows' (the next steps in learning) in the key areas of literacy, maths and student wellbeing. In Years 3 - 6, teachers have been working with students to prepare interviews that will be led by the students. If you do have a need to discuss something without your child present, please contact your teacher.

We ask you to note the following points:

• All interviews will be held in classrooms.
• The school bell will be rung to signal interview intervals.
• If you are booking multiple interviews, please do not book them back to back to allow yourself time to travel between classes

A link to the bookings will be sent out early next week. 

Principal’s Summative Review

Thank you to all the parents who completed the survey to provide me feedback as part of my Summative Review. The feedback will be summarised and form part of the feedback process after the formal day of interviews on Wednesday 19 March. I will share the findings and future directions with the community once the official report is created.

Leadership Term 1 Week 5

Cybersafe

Last Tuesday, the Leadership Team and a handful of Mater Dei parents attended the Cybersafe Solutions Information Night, presented by Susan McLean, a leading expert in the field of cyber safety and keeping young people safe online.

Although confronting, challenging, and at times distressing, this was a powerful session that highlighted the importance of keeping children safe online. The information and statistics presented were certainly eye-opening and underscored the need for parental involvement in young people’s online environments and the necessity of implementing safety measures.

All in attendance left the night far more aware of the dangers our young people face online and the measures that can be taken to keep them safe. Some of the topics included:

• Risks in the online environment
• Current trends, applications, websites, and how these can be used inappropriately
• Potential for contact/interaction with strangers in a variety of online contexts
• Exposure to harmful/inappropriate content
• Cyberbullying
• Tips to assist the children in your care to stay safe online with rules, parental controls and restrictions

Susan has produced a number of free-to-access videos around cyber safety and protecting young people in a digital world. I highly encourage all parents to access these resources, watch these important videos, and take on some of the tips and suggestions to keep children safe.

Keeping Safe in Cyberspace Top Tips

“Kids today have access to and are accessible to many millions of people worldwide via the vast array of websites, applications, and online games. The unprecedented amount of personal information available on these sites makes them a perfect place for people who would happily identify their victims and gain their trust. Other identified dangers include exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and harassment, exchange of inappropriate images, and identity theft. Teens are often not aware that their words and/or photos, which may have been intended for a small audience, sometimes find their way to a larger one, often with both unexpected and undesirable consequences.” —Susan McLean

NAPLAN Schedule

Principal Summative Review

All parents have been emailed a survey to assist Michael with his review. It consists of 3 questions and the responses are collated to help shape the final report which will identify affirmations and areas of growth. If you have not already done so, could you please check your emails and complete the survey. 

From The Principal

Open Classes – Tuesday, 18 February 2025

On Tuesday afternoon, we invite families for a guided tour of their child’s classroom. The students are asked to show you their learning environment, their resources, and give you some insight into their day-to-day school routine. Once you have visited the classrooms, we invite all families to join the Leadership Team for a free sausage sizzle, donated by the Parent Engagement Network (PEN).

A reminder for all our Parents/Guardians - all playgrounds and sandpits are not to be used by students before or after school.  This is a safety issue and we would appreciate your help.

Term 1 Week 3

Dear Community,

We have had a very busy start to the school year and it is great to see learning in full swing across the school. This year marks the second year of our synthetic phonics implementation through our PLD literacy program. It has been wonderful to see the success of this program last year with , and witness the learning of students that has already taken place this year. 

This year, we are pleased to announce the continued implementation of the Version 9 curriculum. As part of this rollout, we have introduced decodable readers in the lower school. These readers are designed to support early literacy by providing texts that align with students' developing phonics skills, ensuring a strong foundation in reading.

Additionally, we would like to remind you that NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) is approaching. NAPLAN is an annual assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 that tests skills in reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar, and punctuation), and numeracy. It provides valuable insights into your child's progress and helps us tailor our teaching to meet their needs. Please refer to the attached flyer for detailed information about NAPLAN.

The NAPLAN testing dates for this year are from Wednesday, 12 March to Monday, 24 March. If you know your child will be absent for the tests, or if you wish to discuss adjustments or withdrawing your child from the tests, please contact your child's classroom teacher as the first point of call to begin these discussions. We understand that some parents may have concerns and we are here to support you.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We look forward to a successful and enriching school year ahead.

Warm regards,

Mr. Lawson Short
Assistant Principal Administration
Mater Dei Primary School

2025 Term 1 Week 1

From the Principal

Off to a Glorious Start

We have been blessed with a truly magnificent beginning to our school year. In just three days, the students have returned with enthusiasm. As we walk through the classrooms, there is a palpable energy and a sense of excitement as both staff and students settle into their routines and embark on their 2025 learning journey.

A couple of early highlights include a heartfelt compliment from our Grounds and Maintenance Person, John, who congratulated the students after founding only three pieces of rubbish after the first day of school! This speaks volumes about the respect and care our students have for their environment. Another standout event was our Swimming Carnival held today. The students performed exceptionally, and the carnival was organised brilliantly, thanks to the meticulous planning of our Sports Coordinator, Danielle King!

Pupil Free Days

While our students enjoyed their final days of the holidays last week, the dedicated staff of Mater Dei were immersed in learning and preparation for the year ahead. Our focus was on refining our practices in our English Blocks and exploring a Multi-Tiered System of Support for our students. During this week, we also participated in a spirituality day centred on this year’s theme, "My Head, My Hands, and My Heart." You can see the icon representing this theme in the Catholic Identity Section of Latest News.

As part of our Spirituality Day, staff engaged in two outreach projects to give back to the community. One group of staff members prepared multiple meals for our Samaritan Table, which provides meals to families in our community facing challenging times. Another group volunteered to prune and tidy up the parish gardens. Both groups found these acts of service deeply rewarding and a joyous way to contribute to our community.

Changed Traffic Conditions

As previously communicated, there are new traffic conditions on Curzon Street that directly impact our drop-off and pick-up times. These changes include new stop signs at the corners of Curzon and Campbell, and Curzon and Arthur, as well as a raised crossing on Curzon Street outside the school. If you are a resident or have any feedback regarding these changes, please email the school. Michael will compile this feedback to report back to the council.

We also kindly ask that, despite the changes to Curzon Street, parents using the Pick-Up Zone in the car park refrain from turning right from Campbell Street into the line of waiting cars. This action forces other cars to drive on the opposite side of the road, creating a hazardous situation. 

Let us continue to work together in the spirit of community and faith, ensuring the safety and well-being of all.

From The Principal

Class Structures 2025
Our teaching staff have gone through a thorough process of allocating students to classes for 2025. Whilst we consider all parent requests, it is the decision of the school to place children in classes based on their academic, social emotional and behavioural needs. We are pleased to announce which teachers will be teaching which grades. We will be sending out class allocations next week as well the Semester 2 Reports. 

Semester 2 Reports   

Next week we will be publishing the Semester 2 reports to the Sentral Parent Portal. This is the time of year that we remind parents to ensure they can log into the Sentral App to access student reports. We also need to remind any families who are leaving Mater Dei, to download the PDF of your children’s reports as your access to Sentral will cease on the 31 December 2024. 

Drama 2025
In 2025 Mrs Amanda Holzheimer will be taking Long Service Leave. We wish her all the best for next year, and she will be very much missed. We are currently in the recruitment process to appoint a Drama teacher for 2025. 

From the Assistant Principal

As I wrap up my first year as the Assistant Principal Administration at Mater Dei Primary School, I am filled with gratitude and pride. This year has been a journey of growth, learning, and community building. Together, we have celebrated many achievements, faced challenges, and created a nurturing environment for our students.

I would like to congratulate all students on their growth and achievements throughout the year, academically, culturally, socially, and in their respective athletics achievements.

I look forward to continuing this journey with all of you, striving for excellence and fostering a love for learning in every child in 2025. I wish everyone a very happy and restful Christmas period with friends and family.

Mr Lawson Short

Assistant Principal 

2024 Learning Excellence Awards

Congratulations to all our students that received Learning Excellence Awards.

Learning Excellence Award for Learning the Mater Dei Way 

Our award recipients from Prep are: 

• Elsie Carrigan 
• Georgie Green 
• Sophie Pascoe 
• Abigail Pope  
• Eliza Still 
• Grace Palmer 
• Eleanor Kirk 
• Byron Taiki 
• Arlee Willis 
• Hannah Martin 
• Daisy Quilty 
• Hattie Hawkins 
• Patrick Roberts 
• Mac Wehlow 
• Lucette Dunn 
• Oscar Dattinger 
• Harper Acquisto 
• Millie Brunner 
• Grace Brennan 
• Maggie Walsh

Our award recipients from Year One are: 

• Savannah Bennett-Walker 
• Elsie Buckley 
• Scarlett Carr 
• Grace Dias 
• Magnolia Ryan 
• Edward Finn  
• Ruby Kath 
• Samuel Odger 
• Lydia Radunz 
• Lilia Rees 
• Theodore Roux  
• Douglas Mansfield 
• Isabella Bino 
• Joyce McCarthy 
• Heidi McDonnell 
• Flynn Connors

Our award recipients from Year Two are: 

• Asha Phoenix 
• Dilshaan Kaur 
• Mira Deglawe 
• Adeline Walters 
• Elsie Brunner 
• Edward Kirk 
• Sally Palmer 
• Florence Bernstone 
• Rosalie Hilton 

Our award recipients from Year Three are: 

• Norah Davenport   
• Rylee Hunt  
• Dakota Koschel  
• Lila Oliver  
• Niamh O’Sullivan  
• Eve Salomon 
• Lachlan McKeiver 
• Maggie Roux 
• Ellen Hann 
• Eden Spry  
• Penelope Craggs 
• Lucy Rickuss 
• Lily Herbert 
• Milla Staib 
• Iyla Cubby 
• Mia Logan

Our award recipients from Year Four are: 

• Janet Manibe 
• Gracie Bennett-Walker 
• Layla McLoughlin 
• Myah Hoad 
• Annabelle Brown 
• Ruby Coughlan 
• Lucinda Gleeson 
• Charlotte Green 
• Ella Schmidt 
• Clara Winterbotham 
• Reginald Mansfield 
• Grace Bradshaw  
• Elke Carroll 
• Maggie Davis 
• Humphrey Hay 
• Rylee Phoenix  
• Charlotte Pope 
• Sam Walsh  
• Nara Willis 
• Lucy Colthup 
• Camilla Davey 
• Lucinda Edge 
• Willow Mackie 
• Linet Manibe 
• Olivia Nairn 
• Jessica Selby 
• Ella Stevenson 
• Edith Wood

Our award recipients from Year 5 are: 

•  Jack Spry 
• Abigail Webster 
• Allegra Pascoe 
• Hudson Koschel 
• Matilda Devey 
• Zara Frame 
• Grace Weller 
• Addelyn Andrews 
• Henry Pascoe

Learning Excellence for Achievement  

Our award recipients from Prep are: 

• Chloe Melia 
• James O’Neill 
• Alex McCullough 
• Poppy Maunder 
• Eleanor Kirk 
• Vincent Leddy 
• Edward Harris 
• Harvie Lees 
• Mac Wehlow 
• Patrick Roberts

Our award recipient from Year One is: 

• Lilia Rees 

Our award recipients from Year Two are: 

• Edward Kirk 
• Sally Palmer 
• Thomas Stevenson 
• Adeline Devey 
• Owen Pascoe 
• Asha Phoenix 
• Dilshaan Kaur 
• Joshua Lax

Our award recipients from Year Three are: 

• Margaret Carr 
• Rylee Hunt 
• Maru Jee 
• Niamh O’Sullivan 
• Eve Salomon 
• Jace Saroa 
• Lachlan McKeiver 
• Maggie Roux 
• Eden Spry 
• Jackson Baker  
• Mia Logan 
• David Rees 
• Lucy Rickuss 
• Samuel Weller 
• Amelia Henry 
• Hamish Grady

Our award recipients from Year Four are: 

• Charles Angus 
• Lucinda Gleeson 
• Janet Manibe 
• Reginald Mansfield 
• Layla McLoughlin 
• Grace Bradshaw 
• Penelope Egan 
• Rylee Phoenix  
• Charlotte Pope 
• Olivia Nairn 
• Ella Stevenson 
• Lucy Colthup 
• Camilla Davey 
• Eli Walker

Our award recipients from Year Five are: 

• Maximilian Bracey 
• Jack Spry 
• Everett Davenport 
• Zara Dampney 
• Oscar Rickuss 
• Henry Pascoe 
• Matilda Devey 
• Zara Frame 
• Patrick James

Our award recipients from Year Six are: 

• Charlie Bradshaw
• Ella Colthup
• Edward MacManus
• Gemma Montgomery
• Adelaide Wilson
• Gabriella Dull
• Blake Logan
• Cormac Lowry
• Neve Oliver

Learning Excellence Award for Academic Growth 

Our award recipients from Prep are: 

• Harry Volz 
• Hector Balsillie
• Sullivan Larter 
• Alex McKenzie 
• Amelia Kereczko 
• Archibald Craggs  
• Olivia Lloyd 
• Ettore Reynaud Martinez 
• Israya Matthews 
• Maggie Still 
• Darcy Johnston 
• Verity Hay 
• Piper Pettet 
• Oliver Pettman 
• Hattie Hawkins 
• Oscar Dattinger 
• Yuta Ishikawa 
• Patrick Roberts

Our award recipients from Year One are: 

• Elsie Buckley 
• Savannah Bennett-Walker 
• Patrick Broadbent 
• Lucy Byrne 
• Scarlett Carr 
• Edward Finn  
• Lilia Rees 
• Julian Rendle-Short 
• Blake Richardson 
• Aria Scarinci 
• Francesca Teys
• Rupert Carrigan
• Carter Neuendorf 
• Jackson Duggan
• Avery Harber 
• Freya Walker 
• Douglas Mansfield 
• Hannah Mathieson 

Our award recipients from Year Two are: 

•  Harrison Towler
• Cosima Ferry 
• Jack Grady  
• Ronan McInnes 
• Sally Palmer 
• Archer Richardson 
• Macey Shinohara 
• Owen Pascoe 
• Lucy Brennan 
• Rocco Carlon 
• Harvey Gray  
• Walter Hay 
• Patrick Leddy 
• Theodore Metzroth 
• Louisa Scotney 

Our award recipients from Year Three are: 

• Lucy Donaldson 
• Pax Howden 
• Georgia Roper
• Maggie Roux
• Eden Spry 
• Chloe Ebzery 
• Lachlan McKeiver 
• Ellen Hann 
• Penelope Craggs 
• Samara Dyer 
• Jackson Sheather  
• Bianca Svendsen 

Our Award recipients from Year Four are: 

• Lucinda Gleeson 
• Myah Hoad 
• Reginald Mansfield 
• Patrick Towler 
• Flynn Bowdler  
• Penelope Egan  
• Travis Milligan  
• Isla Buckley 
• William Dau 
• Jack Gabler 
• Leo Giuffrida 
• Willow Mackie 
• Linet Manibe 
• Olivia Nairn 
• Arabella Venter 
• Lucinda Edge 
• Isla Kath 
• Narah Weier 
• Eli Walker 

Our award recipients from Year Five are: 

• Eva Alsop 
• Emily Longmire 
• Eden Cubby 
• Ruby Byrne 
• Allegra Pascoe 
• Angel Dias 
• Joshua Paterson 
• James Primus 
• Nell Rennick 
• Hudson Koschel  
• Jackson Smyth 

Our award recipients from Year Six are: 

• Flynn Spry 
• Charles Edge 
• Samuel Mullins 
• Graziella Augusto 
• Adelaide Wilson 
• Gabriella Dull

Illuminating Possibilities Framework

This week, we had the pleasure of meeting the Prep families for 2025. During our presentation, we introduced the exciting “Illuminating Possibilities Framework.” This framework is the result of our dedicated efforts this year to reflect on our Strategic Improvement Plan 2021-2024 and draft the new Strategic Improvement Plan 2025-2028. 

The framework is built on the core pillars of our school: our Vision and the Teaching and Learning Framework. It also incorporates our new Wellbeing Framework, which will significantly influence how we engage students in their learning, address their social-emotional needs, and provide behavior support. 

Our Wellbeing Framework is designed to inspire hearts and minds within a connected learning community. It underscores our commitment to the holistic wellbeing of our students, staff, and community, ensuring that we all grow and thrive together. 

Stay tuned for more information as we roll out this framework in 2025, alongside the launch of our Strategic Improvement Plan 2025-2028. Exciting times are ahead! 

School Events

Firstly, we would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who volunteered their time and talents to make our Kids in Space Musical a spectacular success. The dedication and enthusiasm of our students, teachers, and parent volunteers were truly inspiring.

Additionally, our Mater Dei Long Lunch was a remarkable event, thanks to the tireless efforts of our volunteers. Your commitment to organizing and executing such a delightful gathering is deeply appreciated. The Long Lunch not only provided a wonderful opportunity for fellowship but also helped raise funds for our reading resources.

To all our volunteers, please know that your contributions do not go unnoticed. Your willingness to give your time and energy makes a significant difference in the lives of our students and the overall vibrancy of our school.

Term 4 Week 3

Staffing 2025

We are thrilled to announce the completion of our recruitment process for classroom teachers for the 2025 school year. It is with great pleasure that we introduce Jessica Smith to our community. Jessica is a highly experienced primary educator, joining us from her recent role at St John Vianney’s in Manly. She, along with her family, will be relocating to Toowoomba, with their children enrolling at Mater Dei in 2025. Please join me in extending a warm and enthusiastic welcome to Jessica and her family.

We are also delighted to confirm Tom Dowden, Gabby Brac, Kerri Synders, and Justine Francis in classroom teacher roles for the upcoming school year. Additionally, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Phebe Slager and Jane Batham for their invaluable contributions to the Mater Dei community. We wish them all the best as they embark on their new journeys.

Class Structures

In 2025 our class structure will be:

3 x Prep to Year 3 classes;

2 x Year 4 to Year 6 classes.

The detailed list of teacher allocations to year levels for 2025 will be shared in the coming weeks.

Term 4 Week 1

Staffing 2025 Update

As we work towards the end of the 2024 school year, we begin to place our focus on preparing for the 2025 school year.

It is with mixed emotions that we announce the retirement of Leigh Lucht after an extraordinary 40-year career in Catholic education. Leigh has spent the last three years as our beloved Art Teacher, during which time our children have created truly amazing artworks. Leigh’s coordination of our 2021 Art Show was a remarkable success, showcasing over 1,000 pieces of student art. We wish Leigh all the best as she embarks on her well-deserved retirement.

We are pleased to welcome Marleisa Connors, who will be taking over the art lessons from 2025. We are confident that Marleisa will continue to inspire and nurture our students’ creativity!

Additionally, we are excited to announce that Rebecca Jones has been appointed as a classroom teacher for 2025 through the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Graduate Teacher Program. Rebecca is well-known to our school community as both a School Officer and a parent. We are thrilled to have Rebecca transition into this new role and continue her professional journey with us.

We also bid a heartfelt farewell to Libby Duggan, who has made the difficult decision to resign from her role at Mater Dei. Libby has been a long-serving School Officer, adored by students and staff alike. We wish Libby all the best as she focuses on her family and health at this time.

Thank you for being an integral part of our school community. Your support and involvement are invaluable to us.

From the Principal

Staffing and Classes for 2025

Preparations for the 2025 academic year are well underway. Our staffing and budget allocations are based on student enrolments. If your family is relocating from Toowoomba or if your child will not be returning to Mater Dei in 2025, please inform the school via email at your earliest convenience. This information is crucial for finalizing class sizes and assigning staff to specific grades.

Additionally, a reminder to parents of Year 3 and Year 5 students: you should have received information regarding the Year 4 1:1 Devices and Year 6 Leadership Shirt orders.

ICAS Assessments

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to  the students of Mater Dei who participated in the ICASS assessments.  We are incredibly proud of the effort you have put into preparing for and completing these assessments. By taking part, you have not only challenged yourselves, but also contributed to a culture of academic excellence within our school. Thank you for your commitment and for striving to achieve your best. Your perseverance and determination are truly inspiring. Results will be received within the coming months, and awards and certificates will be presented at assembly.