2026 Term 2 Week 2

Dear Parents & Caregivers,

Welcome back to Term 2 and to what will be a full and busy 11‑week term. As we return to the rhythm of school life, I encourage our whole community — students, staff, and families — to be gentle with ourselves as routines are re‑established. Long terms can feel demanding, and taking time to settle, reconnect, and find our rhythm again is an important part of a successful start.

As a staff, our shared commitment is to provide an education that is engaging, nurturing, and responsive to the needs of every child in our care. For this to occur, student engagement and clear behavioural expectations are essential, as they set the tone for our classrooms and our wider school community. Teachers are noticing more frequently that some students may say “no” to learning tasks or find it challenging to follow simple instructions. In response, staff have been asked to continue maintaining high expectations, to follow up consistently when behaviours do not align with our shared values, and to communicate with parents and caregivers when additional support is required. These expectations are outlined in our Matthew Gibney Student Engagement Procedure, which is available on our school website.

At times, this may involve teachers initiating conversations with families about expectations, effort, or behaviour. These conversations are always approached with care and with your child’s wellbeing at heart. This is where the strength of our school–home partnership is so important. When expectations outlined in our Student Engagement Procedure are reinforced at home — through conversations about respect, responsibility, and giving one’s best effort — students are better supported to thrive. Working together sends a strong and consistent message to children that the adults in their lives are united in guiding them.

As Scripture reminds us, “Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14). Thank you for your ongoing support, trust, and partnership as we journey together through Term 2, committed to nurturing each child’s growth as a whole person.

As a staff, we will continue to refine our procedures in this area to ensure we are providing our students with the best environment to learn and grow.

Happy Mother’s Day

May is the month we tend to focus on the life of Mary.  It is during the month of May that many people say the rosary or simply say a Hail Mary as a way of giving thanks for the good things in their lives.  This week, as I was saying the Hail Mary, I was thinking of the list of things I needed to do.  The meaning of the words was lost.  That day I made it a priority to say the words slowly and to focus on what I am grateful for in my life, and boy did that make a difference.  My mum always made us say that prayer and it tends to make me relax when I find things getting tough.  I have even heard the Hail Mary while I have been walking around the school this week and thought what a special environment I work in where we can stop and pray!

Over the past week and a bit I have thought a fair bit about my mum and how the busyness of life stops me from seeing her.  In all seriousness it’s not hard to find the time but it seems impossible to get there.  I know if I was to drop in unexpectedly my mum would be so excited and the curry puffs would keep on rolling out of the oven!  This is something I am going to try and do more often as it is the simple things in life that mean the most! When I think about my mum I realise just how special they are.  Mums just seem to stop what they are doing and give.  We all know dads do this also, but the relationship between a mother and her children is something beyond our understanding.

So, happy early  Mother’s Day!  I hope your family spoil you rotten.  It might be the best opportunity to just spend some time together. Remember, mums (and dads) don’t need all that fancy stuff.  Make her a nice card and give her your ‘presence’.  Treat her very special this Mother’s Day (and everyday) and she won’t need anything else.  I am sure I will also see those curry puffs make an appearance and am certain they will not last long!

Staff Updates

We would like to share a couple of staff updates with our community. Ms Donaldson in Year 2 has made the decision to take leave for the second half of the year due to family considerations. We fully support her in this decision and thank her for the care and commitment she brings to her students. We very much look forward to welcoming Ms Donaldson back to Matthew Gibney in the future.

Additionally, Mr Richards from Year 3 will be concluding his time with us at the end of Week 7, as he and his partner prepare for the exciting journey into parenthood. We are grateful for the contribution Mr Richards has made to our school community and wish him and his family every joy and blessing during this special time.

We have begun the process of appointing two new staff members to ensure continuity of learning and care for our students. Thank you for your ongoing support and understanding as we walk alongside and support our staff through these important life moments.

Understanding the NCCD

The NCCD is a nationwide data collection that counts the number of students receiving adjustments due to disability and the level of support they receive. This data helps schools, education authorities, and governments better understand the needs of students with disabilities and how they can be best supported at school

A disability is broadly defined as any condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world around them (participation restrictions).  This includes physical, mental, sensory, and intellectual impairments that substantially limit one or more major life activities

Each year, our school follows a systematic process to complete the NCCD:

1. Identifying Students: We identify students who have a disability and require adjustments to participate in education on the same basis as their peers.
2. Determining Adjustments: Teachers, in consultation with parents and guardians, determine the level of adjustments needed. These can range from supplementary to extensive support and are documented on a student’s IEP (Individual Education Plan).
3. Collecting Evidence: We gather, and document evidence of the adjustments provided, such as individualised learning plans, teacher notes, and medical reports.
4. Submitting Data: The collected data is then submitted to the relevant education authorities, ensuring it is accurate and comprehensive.  It is important to note, the data submitted consists of the student’s year level and adjustment, and they remain anonymous.

The NCCD is crucial for several reasons:

• Improved Support: It helps schools and governments understand and meet the needs of students with disabilities more effectively.
• Funding Allocation: The data collected informs the allocation of funding for our CEWA system and school, ensuring that resources are directed where they are most needed e.g. MiniLit & MacqLit Intervention Programs, staff professional learning, resourcing.
• Inclusive Education: By participating in the NCCD, we are committed to creating an inclusive educational environment where all students can thrive.

We believe that every student deserves the opportunity to succeed, and the NCCD plays a vital role in achieving this goal. Your support and cooperation in this process are greatly appreciated.

Attendance Procedure

Next week, Ms Zurzolo will be conducting attendance checks for students whose attendance falls below 90%, in accordance with CEWA’s attendance procedure. Ensuring regular attendance is crucial for our students’ academic success and overall wellbeing. Any student falling below 90% will have a standard letter sent home regarding the importance of attendance at school from Ms Zurzolo. Please note, even if the absences are explained due to illness, we are obligated to send these letters home.  We thank you for your understanding around this procedure. Together, we can help our students stay engaged and achieve their full potential here at MG.

Early Close

A reminder that school will close at 11:50am on Wednesday, 3 June for Parent Teacher Interviews.  Please ensure you plan accordingly for the upcoming early Close.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Our upcoming Parent-Teacher Interviews will be held on Wednesday, 3 June from 12:30-6:00pm. These meetings are a valuable opportunity for you to engage with your child’s teachers and discuss their progress, strengths, and areas for growth.

Research consistently shows that strong partnerships between schools and families significantly enhance student outcomes. When parents and teachers work together, students benefit from a more cohesive and supportive learning environment. Effective home-school partnerships can improve students’ academic performance, behaviour, and overall engagement in their education. By collaborating, we can ensure that each child receives the support they need to thrive both at school and at home.

To make scheduling your Parent-Teacher Interviews more convenient, we will once again use an online booking system. This system will allow you to easily book a time to meet with your child’s classroom teachers as well as specialist teachers (Performing Arts, Phys Ed, Science, Italian, Health). The online platform is user-friendly and accessible, ensuring that you can find a time that fits your schedule without any hassle. Information around this will be sent to the community next week.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in your child’s education. We look forward to seeing you at the Parent-Teacher Interviews and working together to support your child’s learning journey.

 

Reporting Across All CEWA Schools

The School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) has established a comprehensive reporting policy to ensure consistent and transparent communication of student achievement across Western Australian schools. This policy mandates that all schools implement the Western Australian Curriculum and Assessment Outline, which sets out the required knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes for students from Pre-primary to Year 10.

The policy emphasises the importance of plain language reports, which are provided to parents and carers at the end of each semester (Mid-Year Report and End of Year Report). These reports include information on student progress, including an overall general teacher comment and descriptions of their personal and social learning development. Importantly, the policy states that one overall grade (A–E) is provided for each Learning Area. In line with the policy and directives from CEWA, at Matthew Gibney teachers will be providing an overall grade for each Learning Area including English and Mathematics.

To foster a collaborative environment, schools must also share their Assessment and Reporting Procedure with the school community. We are currently updating ours in line with CEWA’s directive which will be available via the school website. This transparency helps parents and carers understand how their children’s progress is being measured and reported, ensuring that everyone is on the same page regarding educational goals and outcomes.

Should you have any questions around reporting, please see a member of the school’s Leadership Team.

Sacrament of First Eucharist

Please keep all our students making their First Eucharist this term in your prayers.  May the gift of the Body and Blood of Christ help guide you in your life.  Extra special thanks to Fr Benny, Mr Rafferty and Ms Zurzolo for preparing our students.

Uniform

I would like to thank all our students for their commitment to wearing their uniform with such pride.  I will continue to monitor the students wearing the correct uniform on the correct days and send home reminders to parents if their child is in the incorrect uniform.  Thank you all for your efforts in this area.  Please note, our new soft shell jacket will replace the wool jumper and sports jacket.  It is great to see some students already wearing this jacket.

School Pick Up Time

A reminder that school finishes at 3:05pm each day and our Kiss and Drive is open until 3:25pm.  It is an expectation that all students are collected by their parents or caregivers by this time.

Our Extend OSHC service is available for families to enrol in if you are unable to get to school by this time.  Please see Mrs West in our Administration for information regarding Extend.

Please continue to look after yourselves throughout the term.  We look forward to journeying with you.

Take care.

Clint

Term 2 2026 Parent Planner

Please click here for the Term 2 Parent Planner.

Please click here to access the Term 2 Parenting Program from the South East Metro Parenting Support Service.

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.