Dear Parents, Friends, Students and Staff,
It has been a monumental effort for our staff to squeeze all the events that have been postponed, due to COVID 19, into Term Four. We are almost there! We have had the Confirmation Mass and NAIDOC Week celebrations this week and we have the Year Six Camp next week. These are the final events that have been re-scheduled for Term Four. Thank you to our staff for their dedication in ensuring that the various events have been able to go ahead and thank you to our parents for their patience and support as we ploughed through these past few busy weeks.
Pupil Free Day
Parents are reminded that we have a pupil free day on Monday 9th November. We have five more weeks of the term with the final day of Term Four on Friday 11th December.
NAIDOC Week
This week students and staff have been participating in a variety of activities to celebrate NAIDOC Week. The theme for NAIDOC Week this year is; Always Was, Always Will Be. The theme recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 60,000 years. We are most fortunate to have Mrs Candy McKay with us at school this week to organise and facilitate the range of activities the children have had the opportunity to be involved in; including, Rainbow Serpent Mural painting, storytelling, bush tucker food tastings and rock painting.
May the God of creation warm your heart like the campfires of old.
Bring wisdom and peace as shown to the first peoples of this land.
Shake off the dust from the desert plains by the refreshing rains
followed by the glow and warmth of the sun.
Let the light of God show us the right path
and stand tall like the big river gums
drawing life from the ever flowing waters.
(Source: Uncle Vince Ross)
Year Six Camp
The Year Six students are getting excited about their camp to Busselton next week. It has been a long time coming! It looks as though we are in for fine weather for the students to enjoy the range of outdoor activities that are planned for them. My sincerest thanks to Miss Zurzolo, Mrs Keddie and Mrs Tormey for organising the camp and for giving up time with their own families to look after the Year Six students whilst on camp. I hope the parents can have a quieter week and make the most of having one less child at home.
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day will be commemorated at Matthew Gibney Catholic Primary School this year on Tuesday 10th November with a ceremony commencing at 10.30am. The timetable demands of next week have driven the decision to acknowledge Remembrance Day a day earlier than usual. At 11 am on 11 November 1918 the guns on the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month attained a special significance in the post-war years. The moment when hostilities ceased on the Western Front became universally associated with the remembrance of those who had died in the war.
The Sacrament of Confirmation
On Thursday evening we gathered with our Year Six students and their families to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation. We were most fortunate to welcome Emeritus Archbishop Hickey to administer the Sacrament for the students. Emeritus Archbishop Hickey visited the students during their retreat earlier in the week. He commented upon their knowledge and enthusiasm for receiving their Sacrament. We were very proud of the reverence with which the Year Six students conducted themselves on Thursday evening. Sincerest thanks to Fr Joseph, Mrs Thiessera, Miss Zurzolo and Mrs Keddie for their work in preparing the students to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Thank you to Mrs Aldred and the students from other classes who came along to sing in the choir.
Social Media
Parents are respectfully reminded about privacy concerns when posting photographs of students, other than their own, on social media accounts. Parents provide us with permission to post photographs of students on school social medial accounts. A number of parents choose to not allow their children’s photographs to be posted. We always respect parent’s choice in this matter. For this reason, it is never appropriate to post photographs of children at school events, other than your own children, on social media. Please be mindful of this privacy issue concerning our students.
Date Change
Please note that the Pre-Primary 2021 orientation date advertised on the school planner for 25th November has been cancelled. This date was for parents only. A note explaining the process for the parent orientation for Pre-Primary in 2021 will be sent home to parents shortly.
Interstate or Overseas Travel During the Holidays
Parents who wish to travel interstate or overseas during the December/January school holidays will need to follow some procedures, as directed by the State and Federal Government. A letter explaining the procedures is attached to the newsletter. Please come and see me should you have any queries about the process.
I will be away with the Year Six students on camp next week. Please direct any queries to Mrs Scriven during my absence. This weekend is a long weekend for our students. Students do not attend school on Monday 9th November.
Best wishes for the week ahead.
Therese Hussey
Principal