2024 Term 3 Week 7

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

The past week has been pretty full on.  I am sure you all know what I am talking about, you’re literally on the go from the moment you wake up.  You tend to be so busy that you miss the simple things in life that can bring so much joy.  In fact, in the busyness of the last week I struggled to find some motivation in what to write about, however, there was one day last week where some of the staff worked together to complete a job that needed to be done and while the work was being done, boy did we have a laugh.  So, I have decided to simply stop and focus on the joy of laughter.

I am very blessed in my role here at Matthew Gibney but the one thing that brings me complete gratefulness is when I see the students and staff happy.  Not just happy, but truly happy like when you achieve something for the first time or get to share a funny story or joke with someone you care about.  In today’s world laughter probably does not get the recognition it deserves.  A bit like the quote by Charlie Chaplin that if we don’t find the time to laugh, our day is wasted.

Laughter is pretty important in my life.  There are times I need to be serious, but for those that are close to me, they know that I truly enjoy making others laugh or have a good laugh myself.  But in the busyness, we sometimes forget how laughing is actually good for us.  Like when you have that real belly laugh you can feel it is good for your mind and body.  With my two daughters, some of my best memories is to do with laughing.  My oldest, Izabella, always attempts to tell jokes but messes them up which has me in stitches.  Then there is Sienna who is a natural with her impersonations.  I hope these two never lose this joy they bring.

When I see our kids here at MG laughing and having the best time I also experience that same sense of joy.  In my role I love getting out on the oval or in Kindy and Pre-Primary when I get to chat to the kids.  Just look at last Thursday last week, a very busy day and that realisation that I was late for duty!  As I walked past the Pre-Primary students playing, I was met by a student who was holding one of the pebbles and making reference to it being smooth like my head!  Then there were the Year 5 boys digging tunnels in the sandpit.  Their sense of happiness being engaged in something they love.

We can learn so much from theories about laughter.  With the busyness of life or worrying about the what if, we can tend to let moments of true happiness slip by and not appreciate them.  We all face so many pressures, including our kids, that are so different from the past but we must embrace those moments of joy and store them away for tough times as they empower us to be resilient.  The studies I have looked at on laughter all reveal that success is more likely for someone with a positive self-image.  Therefore, what matters is how we perceive ourselves and I marvel at how you as parents and staff encourage our kids to help them develop this positive self-image and resilience.

So how can we take this idea of laughter and success into our lives as Christians?  Well Jesus tells us there are two very easy things we can do; love God and love our neighbour.  When we love others we help them develop that positive self image.  I know when I am encouraged by others, I feel a sense of being valued and that I belong.  Also, the Bible tells us we are all made in the image of God, that should be enough to treat others with respect, love and kindness.

I know I tend to go on a bit in my posts, I am reminded of that by some staff regularly, but each week finding some time to reflect on my experiences and my faith brings me sense of calmness and grounding.  Maybe you agree with them or maybe you get something out of it.  Who knows, maybe my reflections may lessen, but for now, they are here at MG!!

Enjoy the next week with your kids and look for those little moments of laughter that show true joy and happiness.  These are the things we will look back on as some of our fondest memories.

Happy Father’s Day!

To all our dads I couldn’t resist wishing you all an early Happy Father’s Day. When I think about my own two girls it reminds me of all the crazy ideas I am able to get away with, like using them as an excuse to get extra dessert or going to Maccas for a Happy Meal and also trying out my amazing dad jokes like the ones above! Sienna, my thirteen year old finds them hilarious but Izabella now gives me that look ‘you’re lame dad’!! I am sure many of you out there can relate to this. I hope you all had a great day!

Athletics Carnival

Our Athletics Carnival will be held here at school tomorrow, Friday 30 August.  I would like to acknowledge the hard work of Mrs E in preparing our carnival.  With our recent weather it is likely that the morning will be cold so please ensure your child has their school jacket.

As part of our risk management, no adults will be permitted to enter the faction bays, however, students will be able to sit with their parents during the lunch break.  Please do not be offended if staff ask you to leave a faction bay, student safety is paramount for us as is fairness of parent expectations.

If you are taking photos or videos, no images are to be placed on social media or shared externally.  Please respect that some of our families have asked for images of their child not to be used outside of MG.

Finally, if your child is absent on the day, please advise the office early for our absentee records.  At the end of the day parents are able to take students home directly from the carnival, however, you must see your child’s class teacher first to be signed out for the day.

We are hoping to see as many dads as possible as we will also be celebrating Father’s Day with a special breakfast from 7:30am.  RSVPs were essential for this.

 Matthew Gibney Code of Conduct

At Matthew Gibney Catholic Primary School, all staff, parents and visitors adhere to our school Code of Conduct which can be found on our website.  The Code of Conduct stipulates the standard of behaviour we expect at all times from staff, parents and visitors.  If you see any breaches of these Code of Conduct statements, you are asked to report it to the Principal and not try and deal with it yourself.

Conduct Statements

1. You act safely and competently.
2. You give priority to students’ safety and well-being in all your behaviour and decision making.
3. You act in accordance with the values of the Gospel as defined in the Code of Ethical Conduct.
4. You conduct yourself in accordance with laws, agreements, policies and standards relevant to your relationship with the school community.
5. You respect the dignity, culture, values and beliefs of each member of the school community.
6. You treat personal information about members of the school community as private and confidential.
7. You give impartial, honest and accurate information about the education, safety and well-being of students.
8. You support all members of the school community in making informed decisions about students.
9. You promote and preserve the trust and privilege inherent in your relationship with all members of the school community.
10. You maintain and build on the community’s trust and confidence in Catholic schools and the Church.
11. You act reflectively and ethically.
12. You allow students to have a voice in their education, safety and well-being.

Student Code of Conduct

Next week, I will be revisiting our Student Code of Conduct with all classes and the expectations I have for them when they are at school.  As a staff, reinforcement of positive behaviours that represent what we stand for is non-negotiable.

As Principal, my expectation is consistency around student engagement and dealing with inappropriate behaviour that is not aligned with our Student Code of Conduct.  It is essential that home and school work in partnership to reinforce the Student Code of Conduct.

As a staff, we will unpack our school’s Student Wellbeing Plan and Procedures over the coming weeks, including positive behaviour and intervention for inappropriate behaviours.

Enjoy the week ahead.  Goodness your way.

Clint

Our MGCPS Focus: Friendship is… Honesty

At URSTRONG, we look at social-emotional wellbeing through the lens of friendship. This time, we’re exploring the importance of HONESTY in friendships. Through our Friendology 101 curriculum, it teaches students how to be brave and have open, honest conversations with their friends. They are encouraged to ‘speak their truth’ and stand strong in their values. Creating a culture of kindness in schools allows children to feel safe, cared for, and accepted for who they are… which ensures all children feel a sense of community and belonging.

While we do want to encourage children to tell the truth, it is important they learn that they can be kind & honest at the same time. Rather than “honesty is the best policy”, we believe that “kindness is the best policy“.

Think about:

• Do you think honesty is the best policy or kindness is the best policy?
• How can you politely tell someone their socks smell? Is it even possible? Is it necessary?
• Can you think of a time that someone was a little too honest with you & it hurt your feelings? Do you think it was being too honest or Mean-on-Purpose?
• Have you ever found it difficult to be honest with someone? Why? Was it because the friendship was not quite in the green safe zone?
• If we are having trouble being honest, what can we do to help? Is there anyone we can go to and ask for help?

Canteen News

Tomorrow, on Sports Day, our annual cake stall will be available again this year with freshly baked scones, slices, muffins and faction jelly cups. Please note that payment for these items is CASH ONLY.

Please come and support your school canteen!

All made in our canteen by our wonderful supportive volunteers

Scholastic Book Fair

Scholastic Book Fair is Friday 30th August until Tuesday 3rd September held in the Library, before and after school.

Year Four have been enjoying the novel “Storm Boy” by Colin Thiele. Their artwork represents the main character, Mr Percival, the pelican.

FREE eSafety Parent and Carer Webinars

Have you ever had a good look at the eSafety Commissioners website?

There is a wealth of resources for families and professionals about maintaining safety online.

“eSafety is Australia’s independent regulator for online safety. We educate Australians about online safety risks and help to remove harmful content such as cyberbullying of children, adult cyber abuse and intimate images or videos shared without consent.”

You can report suspected abuse, and get advice on how to manage this at home.

Each term, they offer a range of webinars for families – see the flyer below for more information on Term 3 webinars.

eSafety Term 3 2024 Parent Carer Webinar Flyer