2024 Term 2 Week 1

Dear Parents, Staff and Students

It has been wonderful to welcome our students, staff and parents back to start the new term.  I am sure the warm weather has added to the spring in the step and enthusiasm of our return.  I hope you all enjoyed a lovely school holiday break. My sincerest thanks to Karen Keddie and Christina Zurzolo for looking after the school in the final few weeks of Term One, while I was away walking through Portugal and Spain.  It is great to be back.

Dear Father God,

Thank you for holiday times

 For freedom, family and friends.

Help me to keep these happy times in my heart. 

Help me to settle back into this new term!

 Help me to learn, to grow in confidence.

Amen

Building Program and Verge Greening

The brick work for the Year 1 and 2 toilet block has gone up quickly during the holidays.  There has, however, been a delay with the roof building materials.  I am most grateful to Mrs Nickels and the Year 1 students for re-locating to the Library for the next few weeks whilst the roof can be safely installed.  Thank you to our Year 1 parents for their understanding.

You may have noticed that the lawn on the verge is looking lush and green.  We are attempting to green the entire verge area to make the front of the school more attractive.  Thank you to our families for not driving vehicles on the lawn.  Your cooperation with this is greatly appreciated.

P&F Bunnings Cake Stall

The P&F have organised a cake stall to be held outside Bunnings Kalamunda on Saturday 20 April.  Please come along and purchase some of the lovely homemade treats on offer.  Thanks to Kacey Waddington for coordinating the cake stall.  Thanks to the parents who have volunteered to bake for the stall and help out on the day.

Cross Country Carnival

We have been blessed with beautiful weather for the Cross Country Carnival that was held at school this morning.  The students put in a mighty effort and many surprised themselves with their results.  It was terrific to see so many parents and friends come along and offer their support.  Results from the carnival will be published in next week’s newsletter.

Physical Education Teacher

Next Friday we farewell Chrsitina Davies and wish her and her family all the best.  We are pleased to welcome new PE Techer, Ms Alysha Emanuele.  Alysha is an experienced PE techer and she joins us from Helena College, Darlington.  Alysha will commence at Matthew Gibney on Friday 26 April.  Please make her welcome.

Congratulations!

During the holidays we were pleased to congratulate Jordyn Sheldrick, and her new husband Mitch Dalton, as they celebrated the special occasion of their marriage. We wish them all the best for a wonderful future together.

We were delighted to hear the news that Shannon Hewitt and her family welcomed their new baby son, Ezra into the world.  We have had a sneaky visit with baby Ezra and I can confidently report that he is absolutely beautiful.  Congratulations Shannon!

Bust out in Blue for Asthma

Thank you for supporting our Bust in Blue fundraiser for Asthma WA.  We have a large number of students who manage their asthma on a daily basis.  it can be a challenge for many families.  Asthma WA provides a wonderful service to support families and individuals living with asthma.  The staff participated in a professional development session with a representative from Asthma WA on Wednesday afternoon to refresh us in our asthma management skills.

Asthma WA runs a Kids Club as a free service to support primary school aged children with asthma.  Please consider signing up.  The service provides each member with a free welcome pack and fund resources.  The club provides valuable newsletter to keep parents up to date with what is happening in the world of asthma.

https://asthmawa.org.au/services/kids-club/

Open Day and School Tours

We look forward to welcoming prospective families to our school tours day on Tuesday 23 april.  School tours will be conducted from 9.00am in the morning and from 3.30pm in the afternoon.  The tours will be guided by our Year 6 students.  Please encourage family, neighbours or friends who may be interested in the school to come along and join in a tour next Tuesday.

Extend out of School Hours Care

I have been pleased to see the increase in numbers for the out-of-school hours care program at Matthew Gibney.  The service operates both before school, commencing at 6.30am and after school until 6.00pm.  Parents are encouraged to register their children, via the website.  Details and fliers are available from the administration office.  Our educators, Diana and Katrina, provide an excellent level of care for the children and are available should you have any questions or queries.

School Photos

Parents are reminded that students from Kindy to Year 6 will have school photographs on Monday 22 April.  Students need to be smartly dressed with their hair neatly done and their shoes cleanly polished.  Please be reminded that the boys need to wear blue school shorts, and the girls wear plain blue skirts for the photo day on Monday.

MBA Sports

MBA Sports were hoping to provide an after-school sport program in Term Two.  However, due to staff shortages, the company is unable to provide the service at this time.

ANZAC Day Service

We look forward to welcoming parents and friends to the ANZAC Service next Wednesday 24^th April commencing at 9.00am.

It is a shorter week next week as we have the ANZAC Day holiday on Thursday 25^th April.  Don’t forget to come back to school on Friday though.  It is not a super long weekend!  We have a Merit Award Assembly on Friday 26 April and all are welcome.

Have a lovely weekend and enjoy this glorious weather while it lasts.

Therese Hussey

Principal

Our MGCPS Focus: Friendship is… Courage

At URSTRONG, we look at social-emotional wellbeing through the lens of friendship. This time, we’re zooming in on COURAGE… We believe courage is when we feel butterflies but do it anyways – because it’s the right thing to do. This might look like inviting a new friend to join the football game, letting our friend know they hurt our feelings, or apologising to a friend for not listening to their ideas.

While courage can feel easy for some children and incredibly difficult for others, the great news is that it is a skill that can be taught. Like a muscle, courage can grow when we practise – through little moments of bravery in our friendships.

As our favourite anxiety expert, Karen Young, describes: “Courage isn’t about something magical that happens inside us to make us ‘not scared’. It’s about something magical that happens inside us to make us push through fear, self-doubt, anxiety, and do the things that feel hard or risky or frightening. Sometimes, courage only has to happen for seconds at a time – just long enough to be brave enough.”

Think about:

• What does it mean to grow up & become who you really are?
• Can you think of a time that you needed courage in your friendships?
• How would you define courage? What does it mean?
• Friendship Ninjas are courageous! Can you think of a time you had to apologise to your friend? That took courage! Can you think of a time you stood up for a friend? That really took courage!

Open Day for Prospective 2025 Students

Our Open Day for prospective 2025 students will be held on Tuesday 23rd April and have two sessions; 9.00am and after 3.30pm – 5.00pm. Interviews for Kindy and Pre Kindy will be held in the month following the Open Day.

If you are a current family wishing a sibling to start attending MGCPS next year, please supply the Enrolment Paperwork to the Admin Office and arrange a time for an interview in the first week of Term 2.

Canteen News

Due to supply issues, flavoured milk is currently unavailable.

Book Club News

Scholastic Book Club Catalogue #3 was sent home with students yesterday. Please ensure any orders are placed before the cut-off date of Friday 26th April.

Please place any orders online via the Loop website; https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/parent.aspx

Important Dates for Term 2

Kindy to Year 6 School Photos: Monday 22nd April.

Open Day: Tuesday 23rd April.

Public Holiday (ANZAC Day): Thursday 25th April.

Kindy 2025 Interviews: 29th April – 10th May.

Pre Kindy 2025 Interviews: 13th May – 24th May.

Pupil Free Day: Friday 31st May.

Public Holiday (WA Day): Monday 3rd June.

Pupil Free Day: Tuesday 4th June.

Term 2 Parent Planner

Please see the link below for the Term 2 Parent Planner.

Term 2 Parent Planner

Hard Copies are available from the office.

In Religion Year 5 have been learning about what a community is and how we can welcome people to our family, school, parish or other communities like a sport club. These posters were very persuasive indeed with all of their reasons why their community is the best!

QR Code for P&F Cadbury Fundraiser:

Link to the Fundraiser Order Form:

https://forms.gle/vSBdrH55ToE6o1Pv9