Dear Parents, Friends, Staff and Students
Our fundraising for Project Compassion has had a wonderful start with our St Patrick’s Day celebrations today. The students and staff arrived at school looking very Irish indeed dressed in all shades of green. The green cookies were a hit in the classes and the students enthusiastically participated in the colouring competition. Sincerest thanks to the Year 5 Mini Vinnies, and their teachers, for preparing the day for us. All money raised will go towards supporting our Lent fundraising efforts for Project Compassion. Photos from the day will be included in next week’s newsletter.
It was my pleasure to join Mrs Nickels and the Year 1 class as they participated in their class prayer liturgy this week. Fr Joseph came along to join in with the students as they reminded us how we can be like Jesus as we help others. This is relevant especially during Lent as we help others through Project Compassion.
Our individual student photograph day was held earlier this week. A number of students missed out due to COVID related absences. Please be assured that all students who missed out this week will be offered another opportunity for their individual photograph when our photographers return in June for the class group photos.
The P&F are currently preparing for a family car rally to be held on Sunday 3rd April. Registrations are required by 28th March. Details about the rally are available in the flier attached to this newsletter. Please consider coming along to join the fun with other families. We have few opportunities to come together as a community during this term. The car rally is an event that encourages the safe coming together of our families for a community event.
A letter was sent home yesterday explaining the Catholic Education WA Covid Self-Reporting Portal. The portal is simple to use. Parents are strongly encouraged to use the portal to self-report positive cases of COVID-19 to the school. The portal is an efficient way for parents, and the school, to fulfill their requirements to report cases. It continues to be mandatory that positive RATs are reported to WA Health.
At the time of preparing this newsletter we have only 10 positive cases throughout the school. Class parents are always notified of positive cases in their children’s class. Parents will be notified if their child/children are a close contact. The whole school will be notified if a particular class has to isolate, as class members are close contacts. I am grateful to our parents for notifying me when their children are tested and when results are returned. Our community has been relatively spared from significant positive case numbers, thus far. Our prayers and thoughts are with those members of our community who are sick or are having to isolate because of COVID-19.
As we continue to work together to minimise the effects of the challenges our community is faced with, I am conscious of how different school life looks at this time. Our staff, students and parents have been wonderful in supporting each other and making sure the children feel safe and secure at Matthew Gibney Catholic Primary School. However, things are not the same. It doesn’t feel quite right not having opportunities to gather as a community, not having opportunities to celebrate our students’ achievements together and not having our parents at school events. We need to be mindful about the language we use in front of the children. As challenging as it is, we need to continue to be Christian people of hope and reinforce a sense of hope and optimism for the future. We look forward to welcoming our community back as one at some time soon. We will have to start thinking about how we can really celebrate our unity when it occurs, hopefully in Term Two.
Heavenly Father, I am your humble servant,
I come before you today in need of hope.
I need hope for a calm and joyful future.
I need hope for love and kindness.
I pray for peace and safety.
Help me to walk in your light, and live
my life in faith and service.
In your name I pray, Amen.
I can’t believe the AFL Season has commenced. I hope your team has a win this weekend.
Enjoy the week ahead.
Warmest regards
Therese Hussey
Principal
This week, we are learning more about the value of being POSITIVE. Thinking positive thoughts and trying to see the best in a situation is called having a positive attitude. If we think positively, we are able to solve problems more quickly and learn to look at various aspects of life with positivity. Positivity assists children in being more resilient.
Second Sunday of Lent 13th and 14th March
Biru 30, lives in a rural village in Jharkand State in India’s east. He lost mobility in one of his legs, after contracting polio as a child, which makes it difficult for him to walk. With your generous support, Biru was able to access an entrepreneurship and livelihoods development program, run by Caritas Australia’s partner, Caritas India. He gained the skills, support and encouragement he needed to establish his own bicycle repair business.
Click on the QR code to donate to Project Compassion