2026 Term 3 Week 4

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

I hope you are all travelling ok.  I can’t believe it, but we are pretty much at the halfway point for Term 3 and I am sure you are all back into the routines of school life.  I hope that you continue to be gentle on yourself and your kids when things don’t go to plan.  Being gentle is a challenge in itself, especially during the mad morning rush but I encourage you to cut yourself some slack if things don’t go to plan.  That is the one thing I have managed to understand a bit more about life during my time off, that the messiness of life can stop us showing kindness and compassion to ourselves.  Instead, we must learn to embrace that messiness!

Being back here at school is so refreshing.  I have had some pretty in depth conversations with students asking me what I did and why did I take time off.  The what I did is pretty easy, I simply found time to stop and enjoyed many hours sitting on the couch!  The why?  Very simply, I was getting caught up in small things and the need to try and be perfect.  I just needed some time to stop, reflect and reconnect with the earth, loved ones and my faith.  As a personal goal, I wanted to grow in self-awareness and focussed on my mind, body and soul as the driving force to do this.  Trying to be perfect and getting caught up in the small things has meant I stopped looking after myself a bit so I held myself accountable to these three areas.

The mind stuff was taken care of by listening to a podcast called The Imperfects.  The message of this podcast is to embrace our imperfections and build resilience through gratitude, empathy and mindfulness.  If you ever find yourself looking for something to listen to try this podcast.

The body stuff was taken care of with better eating and exercise and I am hoping to make this a more regular thing in my routine.  The soul stuff was what I was most excited about as I set out to reconnect with the earth and my faith more.  Going to Mass is something that I do as a way of saying thank you to God for all the good I have and for strength for the challenges that lie ahead, however, I wanted to do something more, a bit out of the box in terms of my faith so I set out to start doing a weekly hike.  By now you should know me!  So, before I even hiked I ensured I had not one, but two pairs of Nike hiking boots (lame I know!!).  I have only done a few hikes and am no expert, however, I have felt this sense of connection and realisation that God is by my side.  I tend to do my best thinking and dialogue with God during these times and the thing I keep coming back to is what is my purpose through the work I do.  This is something I hope to share more with you about later in the term and am also hoping to find the opportunity to share it with our staff.

I was briefly talking about purpose and my experiences over my break and a friend of mine who is also a Principal gave me this St Francis prayer.  I think it sums us what we are called to be as people and something I hope for our students during their time at Matthew Gibney.  Our community would flourish in the care we give to one another if we lived this out.  The human part though, is that we will fail at living this prayer out all the time, especially in our moments of difficulty but how inspiring for us to know that God works through us.

In terms of what I have discovered about myself, it is best summed up in this quote, again given to me by a friend.  This thinking is pretty freeing as we are all vulnerable.  Accepting our flaws is quite empowering.  The first half of this year has been a bit of a struggle for me but the struggles are actually a blessing as they have led to me rediscovering my purpose, self-worth and happiness and all the good that exists out there.  There may be things that haven’t panned out the way I wanted them to which can be extremely disappointing, however, I am very much aware that the bloke upstairs has got a plan that I must have faith in.  I am excited to share this with my daughters as they grow into young adults and all those I am connected to.

Gratitude is also any area of growth for me and is something that I want to get better at.  I also wanted to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for our community here at Matthew Gibney.  The way I have been welcomed back by the kids, parents and staff has been such a blessing for me.  The impact you all have on me as a person and Principal is something I am so grateful for.  As we move to the middle of the term, I wish you all the very best and encourage you to be gentle on yourself and those around you.

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our P&F Quiz Night Team

Speaking of purpose and gratitude, on behalf of our school community, I would like to extend a sincere thank you to our P&F Executive members, Michelle Steward, Meagan Collins, Kacey Waddington and Tessa Meegan, along with the many volunteers who helped make our Quiz Night such a tremendous success.

The evening was not only a fantastic fundraiser but, more importantly, a wonderful opportunity for families, staff and friends of the school to come together, have fun and strengthen the connections that make our community so special.

Throughout the night, many attendees commented on how well organised, welcoming and enjoyable the event was. These sentiments are a testament to the planning, enthusiasm and countless volunteer hours invested behind the scenes to ensure everything ran smoothly.

Events like the Quiz Night remind us of the strength of our school community and the shared commitment we have to providing the very best opportunities for our students. The dedication and generosity of our P&F and volunteers play a significant role in making these opportunities possible.

Thank you to everyone who attended, supported and contributed to the success of the evening. A special congratulations and heartfelt thank you to our P&F Executive and volunteer team for creating such a memorable event.

Thank you for all that you do for our students, families and school community.

Quality Catholic Education School Review

Next week, our school will participate in a Quality Catholic Education School Review conducted by CEWA.  The review will consist of a panel spending time at the school, meeting with our Leadership Team, staff, students, the P&F and our CSAC members to gain an insight into our school, allowing us to celebrate all we are achieving as well as providing direction for future improvement.  I look forward to the process and to hosting the panel.  After the review, I will meet with our Executive Director to develop a personal growth plan that I look forward to sharing with the community.

Car Park Safety Reminder

The safety of our students, families and staff remains a priority, and we would like to remind all community members of the importance of following our designated traffic management procedures during drop-off and pick-up times.

Recently, we have observed an increase in vehicles entering the car park in the wrong direction, including through the Munday Road exit and via the Kiss and Drive lane. These actions create significant safety risks for both pedestrians and other motorists. We ask all drivers to please follow the clearly established traffic flow at all times.

We also remind families to adhere to the following expectations:

• Observe the posted speed limits within the school grounds.
• Follow the designated one-way traffic flow.
• Move as far forward as possible in the Kiss and Drive zone before stopping.
• Avoid dropping students at pedestrian crossings or outside designated areas.
• Remain patient and courteous to other drivers, staff and families.

We understand that busy mornings and afternoons can be challenging; however, a safe and orderly environment depends on everyone working together and following the established procedures.

We have received suggestions regarding additional signage within the car park and appreciate the community’s proactive approach to safety. While any new permanent signage requires approval through Catholic Education Western Australia processes, we are continuing to explore options that may further support safe traffic flow and reinforce expectations.

Thank you for your ongoing cooperation and commitment to keeping our school community safe. Every family’s efforts make a difference. Together, we can ensure that our students arrive at and leave school safely each day.

Listening and Improving Together

At Matthew Gibney Catholic Primary School, we greatly value the partnership we share with our families and appreciate the feedback that is provided throughout the year. Your insights help us to continually reflect on and improve the experiences we offer our students and community.

Recently, a number of parents have shared concerns regarding the quality of this year’s school photographs and the length of time it took for photo orders to be delivered. We understand that school photos are treasured family keepsakes, and we acknowledge the disappointment some families experienced. We will be reviewing the feedback received and exploring options for the future, including engaging with alternative photography providers to ensure we continue to meet the expectations of our community.

We have also received feedback regarding the staining and durability of some of our yellow faction shirts. We recognise the frustration this has caused for families and appreciate those who have brought these concerns to our attention. As part of our review, we will investigate the issue further, taking into consideration the current stock we hold, replacement requirements, and possible alternative suppliers and products moving forward.

We are grateful for the respectful and constructive way our families continue to share their feedback. By working together, we can make informed decisions that support the best outcomes for our students and strengthen our school community.

Thank you for your ongoing support, trust and partnership.

Planning for 2027 – Please Let Us Know if Your Child Will Not Be Returning

As we begin planning for the 2027 school year, we ask families to please notify the school as soon as possible if their child will not be returning to Matthew Gibney Catholic Primary School next year.

Accurate enrolment information is essential in helping us plan class structures, staffing, specialist programs, and resource allocation. Early advice from families enables us to make the best possible decisions to support all students and ensures a smooth transition for those moving on to new schools.

If your family is relocating, transferring to another school, or has already made alternative arrangements for 2027, please contact the school office in writing at your earliest convenience. This information will be treated with care and assists us greatly in our preparations for the coming year.

As a Catholic school community, we value the partnership we share with our families and thank you for your support in helping us plan effectively for the future.

Should your circumstances change, or if you have any questions regarding enrolment for 2027, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

Thank you for your assistance and cooperation as we prepare for another successful year of learning and growth at Matthew Gibney Catholic Primary School.

Our next Pupil Free Day is Friday, 21 August 2026.  Please mark this day in your calendar.

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead.

Goodness your way,

Clinton Payne