From the Principal
Dear Parents & Carers,
While I was going through some folders on my OneDrive, I recently came across the below quote at the right time! I was feeling a bit ‘under the pump’ on various things that are due by the end of the term. It’s funny though. I used to joke around with my old Principal who is a very good mate of mine and say Principal life is easy!! Meetings, coffees and cake! However, I am very much aware that leading a school and moving it into that next era can be challenging and at times overwhelming. Lucky for me, I have an amazing bunch of people with me on this journey, and let me tell you, the pressures they face in their role here at MG drive me to be the best I can be as a person and Principal.
Something that takes my mind off the tasks is visiting some of the classrooms. I always look forward to going in the classrooms and seeing the kids and teachers. I get a buzz in there, not only from the kids but also from seeing the amazing things our staff are doing in there! I did find the time during the day to just stop for a second and I got the sense of just how important all of us are in the children’s lives and how we impact them. I am sure you are the same; we all want the best for the ones we care about. I look at my two girls at home and all the students here at MG and wonder about the dent they are making in our universe each day and the impact they will make in our world.
The quote is also very meaningful as we move into the middle stages of the Lenten period. Jesus was a great man and what I like about him is his thinking outside the box and how he challenged peoples’ values in order to spread the Word of God. He sure did achieve a lot during his short time on earth, the most important is his commitment to placing our life before his, what a dent! By living as Jesus did we, as parents and teachers, aim to do this each day with our children and those close to us. This is our dent in the universe. We have the ability to do something special and leave a dent through each interaction we have!
This week our Leadership Team arranged for a huge stash of chips and cold soft drinks as a bit of a thank you to the staff for their hard work this term. These are the simple things in life that make the biggest dents. Just sitting back and watching the staff chat and eat chips and drink cold soft drinks is very rewarding. They do have a great bond as a new staff and I hope that I have made a small dent during my time with them!
The highlight of my term is visiting the classrooms and saying hello to all the children. A hello soon turns into chaos as I end up telling stories or a dad joke or two! Some teachers give me that look, the one that says ‘you can go now’! Sometimes however, our humour is the greatest impact we have on others. The world, and schools, are becoming very serious places. One thing I have learned from time as an Assistant Principal and now Principal is that relationships can create high levels of impact, which in turn can create high levels of learning. Sounds simple. I think humour is one of those things that helps build solid relationships.
Therefore, these dents are about us placing priority on others, something that our community has done exceptionally well this term with our social justice fundraising through Project Compassion. What an amazing effort from our community and how humbling to know we have all made a huge difference in the lives people we do not even know. I encourage our students and families to continue to bring in spare coins as this plays a big part in impacting those less fortunate.
As the Easter season moves into its final stages, may we all take the message of ‘new life’ to create places of JOY. My Parish Priest in Ballajura discussed on the weekend the meaning of joy and how it relates to Easter. J is for putting Jesus first, O is for others second and Y is then for yourself. With this understanding of joy, the dents we make in this universe will be enormous. Every moment and interaction is a time for impact.
School Values – Discernment at MG
Over the past weeks, our staff, parents, and students have taken part in a rich discernment process to help shape our new school values for Matthew Gibney Catholic Primary School. I want to thank everyone who contributed their time, voice, and thoughtful reflections. Your input has been invaluable in helping us understand what truly matters to our community.
This collaborative process aligns beautifully with Catholic Education Western Australia’s vision for Integral Human Development, which calls us to nurture the whole person—spiritually, academically, socially, emotionally, and physically—so that every individual may flourish in right relationship with God, self, others, and creation. The CEWA framework emphasises the dignity of every human person, the importance of seeking the common good, and the call to solidarity and care for creation—principles that guided us throughout our values discernment
In the spirit of subsidiarity and community engagement, we listened closely to the voices of students, families, and staff as we explored what qualities and virtues should shape our culture. This process helped us identify the values that best express who we are and who we aspire to be as a Christ‑centred learning community. Our new school values—which we hope to launch in 2026—reflect the hopes and aspirations shared by our whole school and align closely with CEWA’s vision for forming people of faith, character, and purpose.
These values will guide our relationships, our learning, and our decision‑making. They will form the foundation of how we support the flourishing of every child and adult in our community. In the coming weeks, we look forward to sharing more about how these values will be embedded across the school in classrooms, liturgies, celebrations, and daily interactions.
Thank you for your partnership and for helping shape the future direction of our school. Together, we continue to grow as a community that is truly Christ‑centred and child‑focused.
Good luck to our wonderful Year 3 and Year 5 students as you begin NAPLAN!
This week, our Year 3 and 5 students commenced their NAPLAN assessments. We are all so proud of you already. Remember—just try your best, stay calm, and show what you know. NAPLAN is only one small part of your learning, and what matters most is your effort, your attitude, and the way you believe in yourselves. You’ve got this! ⭐
We are cheering you on every step of the way.
School Drop Off Time
At Matthew Gibney Catholic Primary School, the safety and wellbeing of every child is always our first priority. With this in mind, we would like to gently remind families that our school gates open at 8:25am each morning.
This opening time is guided by our Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) regulations, which ensure that students enrolled in OSHC are safely supervised until the start of the school day. Because school staff are not on duty before 8:25am, any students arriving earlier are unsupervised, which places them at risk. During this time, responsibility remains with parents and caregivers.
To support families who need care earlier than 8:25am, we encourage you to make use of our OSHC Before School Care service, where children are supervised in a safe, welcoming environment.
Thank you for your partnership in keeping all our children safe. Your cooperation helps us uphold our commitment to creating a secure, caring community where every child can learn and thrive.
Term 1 Learning Updates
Commencing this year, Matthew Gibney will not be issuing a paper Term 1 Interim Report. While there will be no formal interim report, please be assured that communication with families remains a priority. Teachers — both classroom and specialist — will continue to be proactive in sharing information with parents and caregivers about student learning and wellbeing. In particular, families will be contacted directly this term where:
- A student is working from an Individual Education Plan (IEP), or
- A student may be at risk of not meeting the satisfactory standard in a learning area
We strongly value open and timely communication and encourage parents to also reach out to teachers if they have any questions or would like to discuss their child’s progress.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we work together to support the learning and development of every child.
Staffing and Continuity of Learning
Throughout this year, families may have noticed a higher number of relief staff working within our school. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge this and provide some context.
Many of these absences have been for valid and necessary reasons, including teachers undertaking mandated CEWA assessments and data collection as part of our school’s compliance and accountability requirements. From time to time, staff also need to access their leave entitlements for personal or family reasons, just as in any profession.
When these situations arise, please be assured that teachers provide thorough planning and clear handover information to ensure that the teaching and learning program continues as smoothly as possible. Our Leadership Team is also actively involved in supporting students, maintaining routines, and ensuring consistency and care within classrooms.
We recognise that changes in staffing can be unsettling, particularly for children who thrive on routine. Our priority at all times is the wellbeing, learning, and stability of our students, and decisions are always made with this at the forefront.
We are grateful for the understanding, patience, and partnership shown by our families as we work together to support every child in our care.
Many blessings to you all over the last weeks of Term One. Enjoy your children and look for those moments of impact, the simple things in life like going for a walk or playing with the kids! Thank you for your support in making our community such a special place
Have a blessed fortnight.
Clint
School News
🍀 St. Patrick’s Day is coming! 🍀
Our Year 5 Mini Vinnies students are running their famous St. Patrick’s Day Stall on Tuesday the 17th of March at recess in the undercover area.
There will be lots of delicious treats to enjoy, with prices ranging from 20c to $2.00 — so bring along some coins!
Don’t forget to wear something green to join the celebration and spread a little luck around the school. ☘️
We can’t wait to see you there!
Canteen End of Term Special – Mexican Fiesta – Friday 27th March
Order forms for the end of term canteen special were sent home with students on Tuesday.
Please return the orders, with correct money (or in-person EFTPOS Payment) to the office by Tuesday 24th March. LATE ORDERS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED.
Please note, normal menu items will be available on the day. Refunds are not available if your child is absent on the day.
Spare forms can be collected from the office or printed from here.
Term 1 2026 Parent Planner
Please click here for the Term 1 Parent Planner.
IF YOU HAVE COLLECTED ANY PRINTED TERM PLANNERS FROM THE OFFICE BEFORE TUESDAY 10TH FEBRUARY, PLEASE AMEND THE P&F MEETING DATES AND TIMES AND SACRAMENTAL DATES AS PER THIS PLANNER, THANK YOU.
Good News
The Year 4 students have been learning about the Stations of the Cross as part of our Lenten reflection. Throughout this time, students have explored the journey of Jesus Christ to the cross and discussed the messages of courage, sacrifice and compassion that the Stations teach us. A highlight for the class has been learning about Mary’s Way of the Cross, which invites us to reflect on these events through the eyes of Mary, mother of Jesus. The students have also decorated their own set of the 14 Stations, which are now displayed around our classroom to help us reflect and commemorate this important part of the Lenten journey. The class has engaged thoughtfully in prayer and discussion as we continue to deepen our understanding of this sacred tradition.
Counsellor's Corner
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.
