From the Principal
Dear Parents, Caregivers, Staff & Students,
Welcome to Semester Two at Matthew Gibney Catholic Primary School! I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for welcoming me into our beautiful community.
As I sit here, I reflect on the efforts of Therese and the Leadership Team, the staff, School Advisory Council, P&F, our Parish, led by Father Joseph Ratnaraj, and all members of our school community in creating the special place we have at Matthew Gibney. The journey of where Matthew Gibney is at this present moment is a massive undertaking and one that you all should be extremely proud of.
I am extremely grateful to be your new Principal and appreciate the responsibility that comes with playing a part in leading our community into the future. The one thing that I have loved about my start so far has been meeting the amazing staff and our students. It is already so obvious the quality of students we have at Matthew Gibney. Their manners are impeccable and their ability to come and chat with me is impressive. They all seem to be naturals at engaging in a conversation. I am very much looking forward to getting to know our students, parents, and staff in the coming weeks.
The start of a new journey is always filled with excitement and anticipation for what is to come. Like so many of you, the past couple of weeks relaxing have now been replaced with organising uniforms, lunchboxes and so on. My wife and I seem to now be finding our rhythm once again as I am sure you all are after having the mid-year break. However, you must also remember to be gentle on yourself and your children. As you get into your routine it is important to remember that it is okay if things do not go perfectly to plan!
With that thought of being gentle on ourselves, I have also placed a personal focus on our school vision of learning successfully, living faithfully and respecting the dignity of others. This vision will play a major part in my role and time here at Matthew Gibney as I aim to provide our students with an environment and opportunities that encourage them to reach their full potential. Working in a school is an absolute privilege.
As you get to know me you will notice I love a good quote as it keeps me motivated and makes me reflect on who I am as a parent, husband, and staff member. When I approached the topic of a new journey on Google, I came across the following quote that really stood out to me. Can you imagine if we were all able to embrace this principle in its fullness across our school. As Mother Teresa says, it is not about how many, it is about starting with those closest to us. For me that is our students and staff. If we start small in Semester Two with simple things momentum will occur.
NAIDOC Week
This week at Matthew Gibney we celebrated NAIDOC Week. It is hard to imagine our school without the strong connections we have with our local Aboriginal Elders and community people. The significant contributions that they have played in our understanding of culture and tradition sits deep in our vision here at Matthew Gibney and our journey ahead. The pathways that you have laid for all of us and particularly our Aboriginal students is significant and life changing. It is a ‘way of being’ for each and every one of us.
Our NAIDOC theme for 2024, Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud. The theme honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture – with fire a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. To this day, Country still speaks to our First Nations people through rich traditions and ceremonies.
NAIDOC Week also reminds us of the need to Heal Country due to the injustices of the past, and while we cannot change history, we have the responsibility to tell the truth for future generations.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who have contributed to this special week at Matthew Gibney.
Firstly, to our students that have led us, witnessing your leadership and achievements, the happiness you live out, I am so grateful for your commitment in making Matthew Gibney the special place that it is.
To Uncle Nev, I thank you for your Welcome to Country and role you have played in helping to prepare this week and being here for us as a community. And to the lads that came out from Aquinas, we thank you for sharing your traditions through your dance. Our vision here at Matthew Gibney is to uphold our strong connections with you and other elders in our community. Your role in helping us understand the culture and traditions is crucial.
Finally, to the members of our Matthew Gibney Aboriginal Studies Team; Temeka Curley, Gina Nickels, Debbie Hawley and Therese Hussey, I thank you for preparing this week. The time and effort that goes into organising celebrations like this illustrates your commitment to our school and what we are trying to build. As a very new Principal, I am so grateful to be surrounded by people like you who continue to see the big picture.
Every time we come together as a community; we share our joys together. The connections of ‘holding hands’ with our community in a moment of joy, undeniably brings us all closer together. I look forward to our connection growing stronger throughout the journey ahead.
Keeping Safe Child Protection Curriculum Parent and Caregiver Workshop
This week, Chloe Grant presented a parent and caregiver workshop of the Keeping Safe Child Protection Curriculum.
It is a requirement of the Non-Government Schools Registration Standards that all students receive a protective behaviours and sexual abuse prevention education. The Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum (KS:CPC) is a child safety and respectful relationships curriculum for children taught in all year groups at Matthew Gibney Catholic Primary School. The program provides age and developmentally appropriate strategies to increase children’s safety.
I would like to thank Chloe on her continued efforts in keeping parents and caregivers up to date on how they can reinforce the Keeping Safe themes, focus areas and topics at home.
Meet & Greet / Coffee Van
Next Friday, 26 July all parents and caregivers are invited to grab a coffee or hot drink from the coffee van and say hello to the Matthew Gibney Leadership Team. At 8:45am, I will be presenting a little bit about myself as a person and Principal and sharing my hopes for Matthew Gibney. If you are free, it would be great to meet you. We look forward to seeing you all there.
Enjoy the week ahead! Goodness your way.
Clinton Payne
Principal
School News
Our MGCPS Focus: Friendship is… Empathy
At URSTRONG, we look at social-emotional wellbeing through the lens of friendship. This time, we’re zooming in on EMPATHY, the ability to truly understand how another person is feeling.
Empathy is the intersection where self-awareness meets social awareness.
Brene Brown, shame and vulnerability researcher, defines empathy as “feeling with people”. Within friendship, teaching children how to carefully consider another person’s feelings helps them strengthen their relationships and develop a deeper sense of self. Taking empathy one step further, we get children to also try to see the best and assume the best in others
Think about:
- How would you define empathy? What does it mean?
- Have you ever felt like an iceberg before? How? Can you give me an example?”
- Who remembers Friendship Fact #1? Get the students to think about a time when their friendship wasn’t perfect.
- Say to them, “What colour were you on the Friend-o-Meter when that happened?” Then say, “What colour was your friend?” Ask them, “How did you know?”
- Emotional Empathy (“I can feel what you feel!”) and Cognitive Empathy (“I can imagine how you feel!”).
Friendship Ninjas have empathy! They’re really good at considering how their friends are feeling – especially during Friendship Fires. When they Talk-it-Out with a friend, it’s important to really try to understand their friend’s perspective.
Term Three Parent Planner
Please click on the below link for the Term 3 Parent Planner. Hard copies can be collected from the admin office.
Scholastic Book Club
Issue 5 of Scholastic Book Club were sent home with the children this week. Please note that the closing date for orders is Friday 26th July 2025. Please order through the LOOP Website.
On Tuesday the cantten made Bush Tucker samples for the children including kangaroo sausage and lemon myrtle scones.
Good News
Year 2 NAIDOC Week Art
P&F News
Term Three P&F Bunnings Sausage Sizzle
Please keep in mind that the P&F Bunnings Sausage Sizzle is on Saturday 7th September. This is an important fundraiser date in our school calendar.
Community News
Now taking enrolments at La Salle College
La Salle College is now taking enrolments for students starting Year 7 in 2026 and 2027.
We believe that education extends beyond the classroom, encouraging our students to live out their
faith and values in the service of others, whilst making a positive impact on the world in which they
live. Through our teaching and learning, we aim to transform tomorrow’s hearts, minds and lives in
all that we do.
At La Salle College we offer a wide range of learning programs and academic pathways, as well as
opportunities in a multitude of areas such as skill-based and work-based learning, music, arts, sport
and extracurricular activities and clubs. Our wonderful facilities and generous outdoor spaces, which
includes Science Labs, Aquatic Centre with a 10-lane swimming pool, Performing Arts Centre with
orchestra pit, Chapel, Trade and Skills Centre and a double court Sports Centre, provide an
innovative and modern learning environment that inspires our students to be the best they can be.
With limited places available for Year 7 2026 and 2027, we encourage you to make an enquiry today or join us on a student led tour of the College
Term 2 and 3 Tour Dates:
• Tuesday 23 July at 4:30pm
• Tuesday 27 August at 4:30pm
Bookings can be made via the La Salle College website www.lasalle.wa.edu.au/book-a-tour/
If you would like to know more about our enrolments process please visit our website www.lasalle.wa.edu.au/enrolment or contact our College Enrolments team:
• Email lasalle@lasalle.wa.edu.au
• Phone 9449 0601
