Dear Parents, Friends, Staff, and Students
There has been a great deal going on at school over this past week. We have celebrated St Patrick’s Day and Harmony Day and we have enjoyed a wonderful Cool Pool Day. In addition, the P&F have had a successful meeting and the School Advisory Council have met. Finally, Paul Litherland from Surf Online Safe presented an informative and engaging workshop to a large crowd of receptive parents last Thursday evening. This is indeed a busy school with plenty of exciting things going on for our students, parents, and staff. I am most grateful to our staff and parents for organising all the “extras”. The “extras” make school exciting and fun for our community. When speaking to the Year 6 Student Leaders last week, they commented on how grateful they are to their teachers for making school life fun. There is still plenty more going on in the run up to the end of the term. Please keep an eye on Seesaw notices and this newsletter to keep on top of the busy calendar.
This Week at Matthew Gibney Catholic Primary School
Lunch on the Lawn
Please join us for Lunch on the Lawn on Wednesday 29th March. Parents and Grandparents are invited to come along and share a picnic lunch with their children. Kindy and Pre-Primary lunch will be 12.40-1.10 and Year 1-6 lunch will be at 1.10-1.50. The students will play, as normal, after lunch and stay for the afternoon activities. Please note that this is not an early close and students are not permitted to go home with parents following lunch.
School Photos: K-6 Monday 27th March. Pre-Kindy Tuesday 28th March.
School Photos will be held next week. Please return the envelopes and payment options as soon as you can. Please make sure all students come to school looking clean and tidy ready for their photos.
Keeping Safe Curriculum Parent Workshop – Thursday 30th March
Parents are advised that the date for the Keeping Safe Child Protection Workshop has changed. The workshop will be on Thursday 30th March at 9.00 am in the library. Parents of children from all year levels are welcome to attend. The workshop will be facilitated by school Social Worker, Chloe Grant.
Pre-Kindy to Year 6 Parent and Teacher Interviews – 4th April
Parents are reminded that we have an early close at 12.00 pm on Tuesday 4th April for parent and teacher interviews. A booking information form has been sent home. Please contact the administration office if you have not received a form and cannot make your online booking. Interview bookings are for 10 minutes only. If you feel as though additional time is required, please see you child’s teacher, and make an interview time for another day.
Holy Thursday Parent and Parishioners Morning Tea
Parents, Grandparents, and parishioners are invited to join us for an end-of-term morning tea on Thursday 6th April, the last day of the term. The morning tea will follow the Easter Liturgy which will commence at 9.00 am. Please stay and join other parents to celebrate the end of the term. Please register your attendance using the form link: https://form.jotform.com/230810884310853.
Winter Uniforms Term Two Delayed Start Option – 15th May
At the commencement of Term Two, we can continue to have warm weather. Although we traditionally require Winter Uniforms to be worn in Term Two, we will have a phase-in period of three weeks for those who find it too warm for the Winter Uniform. This applies to all students but may be more applicable to the boys who are required to wear long trousers. The phase-in period from Summer to Winter Uniform will be for the first three weeks of the term. All students will be required to wear their full Winter Uniform from Monday 15th May. Please note that pre-orders for girl’s trousers need to be placed by the morning of Thursday 30th March so they can be ordered in time from the suppliers. Also, payment for the sleeve inserts is cash only.
Winter Long Trouser Option for Girls and Winter Jumper Sleeve Inserts
Parents are reminded that commencing in Term Two there will be an option for the girls to wear Winter trousers for their school uniform. Parents are also reminded that we have sleeve inserts available for the school jumpers for students who find the jumpers itchy. Please see Lisa in the Uniform Centre for ordering both the girls’ trousers and the jumper sleeve inserts.
After-School Sports Term Two
MBA Sports is offering an after-school sports club, commencing in Term Two. The club will be for students from Year 1-6 and will be on Monday afternoons, 3.10-4.10 pm. MBA will allocate coaches to the school to run the sports sessions. Registration is required and numbers are limited. Please register using the contact details available on the flier that is in the newsletter.
Holy Week Liturgies
Parents and friends are encouraged to come along to the Holy Week Liturgies during the final week of Term One. Each year level, Pre-Primary to Year Six, will present a liturgy for the whole school community, commencing on Monday 3rd April. Parents and friends are encouraged to come along:
Monday 3rd April 9.00am – PP and Year 1: Palm Sunday Liturgy.
Tuesday 4th April 9.00am -Year 2: Jesus in the Temple
Wednesday 5th April 9.00am – Year 3 and 4: The Last Supper
Thursday 6th April 9.00am – Year 5 and 6: Stations of the Cross.
The Liturgy on 6th April will be followed by morning tea for all parents and visitors.
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
On March 25th we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation. The feast celebrates Mary saying “yes” when the angel announced to her that she would be the Mother of Jesus. Mary would have been confused and bewildered by the angel’s announcement to her. But Mary’s faith called her beyond what she could understand to respond, “let your will, not mine, be done.”
Faithful God,
I give thanks for Mary’s intercession,
and her inspiring, “yes.”
Help me to respond with a wholehearted yes, even when I don’t understand.
Help me to follow Mary’s example, looking to your will in all things.
Amen.
Best wishes for an enjoyable and relaxing weekend. Let’s hope the Eagles and the Dockers have a more successful result than last weekend!
Warm regards
Therese
