From the Principal
Dear Parents & Carers,
You may be looking at the above quote from Michael Jordan wondering why I decided to use it in this fortnight’s Newsletter. I was inspired to use this quote for a number of reasons. Firstly, I was inspired by watching and hearing about all the major sporting events that have been on TV over the last few weeks. I was especially inspired when I watched Adelaide beat West Coast this week. I have always been a West Coast supporter. This year however, it has been hard to watch them play. I look at the very young and inexperienced West Coast team, and for many of them their one shot at AFL glory, I discovered that failing is okay because that is what leads us to success. While they did not win on the weekend, they seemed different, they played different. Disappointment is a part of life and in a way is good for us, as it builds character and resilience.
This is what Michael Jordan is talking about. When we fail, we are left with a heavy heart and feelings of disappointment especially if it is something we are putting a lot of effort into one particular area. What is motivating however, is that you get the opportunity to go at it again, you get another chance! Failing therefore, can be seen as a good thing, as it will be the driver for success, whether it is winning a premiership or something else in life.
I have also been motivated to use this quote by one of the Year 5 students. In my job I get the opportunity to hang out with children each and everyday. In my many years of teaching I have never met a more humble student as this young person. Over the year this student has experienced many set backs with their reading results. They have been a real life example for me of what disappointment feels like. Nevertheless, this young person put the disappointments and setbacks behind them and recently achieved one of their reading goals. Failure led him to set goals, work hard and achieve them. What an inspiration to us all!
May Christ encourage us to use our setbacks and disappointments to strengthen who we are.
Confirmation
I would like to congratulate our Confirmation Candidates on receiving the Holy Spirit through the Sacrament of Confirmation. We pray that they use the gifts of the Holy Spirit throughout their lives. I would like to thank Temeka Curley for preparing the students and to our Parish and Karen Keddie for the organisation of the Parent Workshops and Mass.
Teaching and Learning
Next week our Leadership Team will have the opportunity to meet with all our classroom teachers to discuss their programs and assessments for Term 3. These meetings provide a snapshot of what learning is taking place in each classroom. I would like to congratulate our classroom teachers on their planning and meeting the needs of the students in their classrooms.
Bishops Religious Literacy Assessment
The Religious Education Assessment in Years 3 and 5 took place last week. Formal school and student reports are produced by Catholic Education Western Australia and will become available to schools and parents in Term Four.
Parent Survey
We extend our sincere thanks to all families who took the time to participate in our recent school survey. Your insights are invaluable and help guide our ongoing commitment to excellence in education and community engagement.
The data collected will be unpacked in collaboration with our Catholic School Advisory Council, and will inform the next steps in our Annual School Improvement Plan. Together, we aim to ensure that our planning reflects the needs and hopes of our school community.
This process is deeply connected to our school’s vision—to nurture a Christ-centred learning environment where every child is known, valued, and inspired to grow.
Thank you for walking this journey with us.
Evacuation Drill – Practising for Safety
This week, our school conducted a planned evacuation drill as part of our ongoing commitment to student and staff safety. These drills are an important part of our emergency preparedness, helping everyone to understand the procedures and respond calmly and confidently in the event of a real emergency.
By practising regularly, we ensure that our school community is well-prepared and that our response is both efficient and safe. We thank all students and staff for their cooperation and calm participation.
This aligns with our school’s vision to provide a safe, supportive, and Christ-centred environment where every child can thrive.
Book Week
Excitement is building for our Book Week celebrations in Week 7. We will have the Dress Up Parade on Thursday 4 September and our theme this year is ‘Book an Adventure’. Please also take the time to visit our Book Fair in Week 7.
As we prepare to celebrate Book Week 2025 with the theme “Book an Adventure!”, I’d like to share a small but meaningful change to our annual Book Character Parade.
This year, we will be removing the prizes for best-dressed costumes. Our intention is to ensure that the parade remains a joyful and inclusive opportunity for all students to simply celebrate their love of books by dressing up as their favourite characters—without the pressure of competition.
We still wholeheartedly encourage families to enjoy the creative process together. Whether it’s crafting a costume from scratch or repurposing items from home, these shared moments are often the most precious—filled with laughter, imagination, and connection.
Instead of costume prizes, we’ll be focusing our energy on promoting a deeper love of reading through our Read-A-Thon. This initiative will encourage students to read both individually and as part of their class, fostering a sense of achievement and community around books and storytelling.
Thank you for your continued support in nurturing a culture of reading and creativity at our school. We look forward to seeing the wonderful characters your children bring to life and to celebrating the adventures that await us in the pages of a good book.
Dancing into Matthew Gibney Week!
Our students have been thoroughly enjoying their dance lessons with Ms Mucciarone, and it’s been wonderful to see their enthusiasm and energy shine through each session. The joy and engagement in every class is a testament to the fun and creativity that dance brings to our learning environment.
These lessons are all part of the exciting lead-up to our school concert, which will be held on Wednesday, 29 October at 2:15pm during Matthew Gibney Week. We can’t wait to see our students showcase their talents and celebrate together as a community.
This joyful experience reflects our school’s vision of nurturing confident, creative learners in a Christ-centred environment.
🎉 Save the Date – Matthew Gibney Week Open Afternoon 🎉
We’re excited to invite all families to our upcoming Open Afternoon on Wednesday, 29 October at 2:15pm, as part of our celebrations for Matthew Gibney Week!
This special event is a wonderful opportunity to come together and celebrate the amazing work our students have been doing across all year levels. From creative projects to classroom achievements, our students are proud to share their learning journey with you.
We look forward to welcoming you into our school and sharing the joy, growth, and community spirit that reflect our school’s vision of nurturing confident, compassionate learners in a Christ-centred environment.
We hope to see you there!
Enjoy your week. May you be encouraged by some of your failings and disappointments to keep going. When things go wrong remember they are opportunities for further learning and that it is OK. And while you do, remember there are people around you to provide that extra support, that is one for thing for certain about the people here at Matthey Gibney.
Take care,
Clint
School News
Good News
During NAIDOC Week the YEAR 1 children listened to the story, “Nobody’s Land” and created beautiful artwork to show how the sky tells stories.
This term in Pre-Primary we have been learning about Dreamtime Stories. One story we learnt was the ‘Rainbow Serpent’ and in collaboration with one of our MGCPS Indigenous families we created an artwork with them. The other story was ‘Tiddalick the Frog’ which we created our own frogs using paper mache. We have had so much fun! Well done Pre-Primary!
Counsellor's Corner
P&F News
The P&F Bunnings Sausage Sizzle will take place on Saturday 1st November 2025 at Midland Bunnings. (Term 4 Week 3)
Look out for further information!
Community News
Children’s Liturgy at St Francis of Assisi Parish
The Children’s Liturgy Program at St Francis of Assisi, Maida Vale, has started for the year. Children from Pre-primary to Year 4 are welcome. Please bring your children to the old Parish Hall before the 9.30am Mass on Sunday. The children sing and pray and listen to the Gospel at their level. They then do an activity about the Gospel, before coming over to the church after the Homily.
For enquiries please contact Philomena on 0417 936 757.
Book a La Salle College Tour Today!
La Salle College Tour dates are now available for Term 1, 2026.
Join us on a student-led tour of the school and get to know the amazing people that make up our
vibrant Lasallian community.
You will explore our incredible facilities, expansive outdoor spaces, modern learning environments
and have the opportunity to speak with our senior leaders about our dynamic academic pathways
that inspire our students to be lifelong learners.
At La Salle, we believe that education extends beyond the classroom and through our innovative
teaching and learning, we aim to transform tomorrow’s hearts, minds and lives in all that we do.
With limited spots available, visit our website today at www.lasalle.wa.edu.au/book-a-tour/ and
book a spot on our next College Tour.
If you would like more information about our tours or enrolment process, please contact our
Enrolments Registrar Ms Susan Firth at enrol@lasalle.wa.edu.au.
