Dear Parents, Friends, Staff and Students
During this week, Assistant Principals, Diane Scriven and Karen Keddie, and I have attended an Evangelisation Planning Workshop facilitated by Bishop Gerard Holohan. Evangelisation Plans are documents that capture an understanding and purpose within the faith, culture and life of the school community. All leadership teams are required to come together to commence Evangelisation Planning every three years. It has been an opportunity for us to reflect on the way we nurture the faith of our staff, students and families. The Evangelisation Plan guides our journey over the next three years of how we provide lived witness of Christ’s presence and love.
We are so fortunate at Matthew Gibney Catholic Primary School that we have the Making Jesus Real values program at the centre of our witness of Christ. MJR provides a valued scaffold for us to show witness in the same way that Jesus did, through word and example. From time to time, students have difficulty in being inclusive and welcoming to each other. With guidance from the staff, this is something that the students learn at school. We find that our students respond most positively to reminders about Making Jesus Real in their actions to others. As we further embed the values into our day to day culture, we should find that over time, our students will use the language of the values naturally to discern good relationship and behaviour choices. We do find, however, opportunities each day to be proud of the way our students witness Jesus in their words and examples, both to their class mates and teachers.
Prayer is an essential component of our evangelisation, it is the most significant tradition of our Catholic school. Today we recognise that we have members of our community who may be suffering in a variety of ways. We keep all our community members in our prayers.
Prayer for our School
Loving Father, Thank you
for all who are part of our school. Please grant them your encouragement, wisdom and peace.
Strengthen teachers
with heavy workloads. May they be firm, yet patient, expecting excellence but forgiving mistakes.
May they support their students, playing to strengths, helping with struggles and motivating them to do their best.
Comfort and restore our students and families
those living under shadows of unhappiness, pain, loneliness, grief or fear. May they find comfort in faith and the knowledge that You, God our Father, provide comfort, love and grace in their lives.
Please pour out Your blessings
upon our whole Matthew Gibney School community.
In Jesus name.
Amen
30th Anniversary Sundowner Invitation – Spread the Word!
A Sundowner invitation was sent home to all families last week. Copies can be found in the document rack in the administration office. Please come along to the sundowner and join us as we celebrate our 30th year. We would love as many past parents, students and staff to join us for this celebratory event on Friday 23rd July at 6.00pm. Please spread the word so we can have a great turn out. Please note that this is an over 18 event. Please inform Mrs Kays or Mrs Renzullo in the office if you can attend.
Quiz Night 19th June– Last Minute Tickets!
The Quiz Night is fast approaching. The committee have done an exceptional job in securing prizes and donations for the night. It promises to be a fun event. A few tables are still available for parents, friends, neighbours and relatives to purchase. Please come along and join in the fun as we raise money for our 30th anniversary nature playgrounds project.
Online Absentee Form
Parents are reminded that a notice of absence is required for students who are not attending school, for any reason. An SMS is sent to parents if we have not been notified of an absence by 9.15am. Absentee forms are no longer available on the Skoolbag App. An online absentee form can be accessed via the website at the following link: https://www.gibney.wa.edu.au/online-absentee-form/
I will be taking some long service leave and will be away from school next week. I will return in time for the Quiz Night and will be back to school on Monday 21st June. Please direct any queries to Mrs Scriven or Mrs Keddie, in my absence. I thank Mrs Scriven and Mrs Keddie for looking after things while I am away.
I look forward to welcoming parents to the Merit Award Assembly on Friday 11th June.
Best wishes to the Year 4 class for their Class Mass next Wednesday and please don’t forget to come along to the Year 5 Class Assembly next Friday, 18th June. The Year 5 class are looking forward to entertaining their visitors.
Keep warm and safe during this wild winter weather.
Warm regards
Therese Hussey
Principal