Dear Parents, Friends, Students and Staff,

This Sunday is the beginning of Advent. Advent marks the start of a season of preparation that looks forward to the celebration of Christmas and the second coming of Christ. It is a time of reflection in preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ—we remember how Jesus humbled Himself to be born as a baby and live among those He would save. This season invokes feelings of expectation and hope!  It is a time of great joy and excitement for our children.  We see signs of Christmas everywhere.  Each year the signs and symbols of Christmas seem to arrive earlier and earlier.  However, we should not lose sight of Advent as a time of preparation for the coming of Christ.  We should prepare our hearts, and our relationship with Jesus and with each other, just as much as we prepare our homes and families for the celebration of Christmas.  This year especially, Advent should be a time of great hope in a future that we hope is brighter than this past year, especially for those people living with such hardships that the challenges of 2020 have provided.

Loving God,

I sense that all is your creation

and everything, and all of us,

are being drawn back toward your loving heart.

Help me to be a person of peace,

to speak about it in an uneasy world,

and to live it among the people

you have put into my life every day.

Light in me a desire to prepare for your coming

to stand in the darkness, waiting, eager and filled with joy.

 

 

Once again, parents are reminded to keep a close eye on events planned for the final two weeks of the term.  It is a busy run up to the end of term. Next week we have the final concert and the final assembly for our Year Six students.  In the final week of the term we have the Graduation Mass and ceremony.  It is a busy time for our staff as they prepare reports and organise the students for the final events of the year.  Thank you for keeping an eye on the calendar to make sure you are as prepared as possible for the final weeks of the term.

 

Annual Community Meeting

I am most grateful to our parents and staff for their attendance at the Annual Community Meeting this week.  We were delighted to receive a number of nominations for class representatives for each year level.  It is particularly heartening to see so many new parents volunteer for these roles.  The P&F executive will be announced in next week’s newsletter.  My sincerest thanks to Jodie Capobianco, Natasha Alleyway, Esther Robinson and Sharna Zinella for their work on the P&F Executive in 2020.  Sincerest thanks to the School Board, led by Chairperson Gavin Hogg, for their exceptional work in guiding and assisting me with decision making processes during this very unusual year.  The School Board members for 2021 will be announced in next week’s newsletter. The School Board, P&F President and Principal’s reports for 2020 will be attached to the newsletter next week.

 

SEQTA Semester Report Parent Log In

Semester Two Reports will be available to parents, via the SEQTA portal, on Wednesday 9th December.  Parents must access the portal with their personal log in details.  Please check that you have your log on details available and, if not, please contact the administration office to have details re-set.  Please organise your log on details prior to  Wednesday 2nd December to allow plenty of time for new details to be organised.

Scholarship Congratulations

Congratulations to Julian Siena for receiving an academic scholarship at La Salle College for 2021.  Julian is a talented and hard-working student who is a worthy recipient of the scholarship.  Congratulations to Julian, his family and his teachers who have all contributed to Julian’s academic success.  We are very proud of you, Julian!

End of Year Concert Friday 4th December

The end of year Nativity and Edu Dance concert will be on Friday 4th December commencing at 6.00pm in the undercover area.  The gates will open at 5.00pm for parents who wish to come earlier and enjoy a picnic dinner together in the grounds.  The P&F are preparing dinner orders of hamburgers and drinks.  Order forms have been sent home. Information about costume requirements for the concert have been sent home from each class.  Please see your class teacher should you have any queries. The evening will proceed as follows:

• 5.00pm Gates open
• 5.45 Bell rung for students to move to their classrooms.
• 5.55pm Everyone seated for the concert to begin.
• 6.00pm Concert begins with the Kindy nativity followed by Edu Dance items.
• 7.00pm Concert concludes and students move back to class.

Parents are requested to collect their children from their classrooms, beginning with the youngest children first. We look forward to an enjoyable final concert evening at Matthew Gibney Catholic Primary School.

Uniform Shop Orders and Opening Dates

Orders for the new year will be available for collection from the uniform shop on the following dates:

28th January: 2.00-3.00pm

29th January – 9.00-11.00am

The Uniform Shop will also be open during these times for any last-minute emergency purchases.

 

Thank You to IGA Wittenoom Road

Our local IGA store has continued to support our school in a variety of ways during 2020.  We are most grateful to them for their support and partnership during the year.  IGA were very generous to the school during NAIDOC Week, in particular, providing us with a variety of food for the students to experience.  We look forward to a continuing relationship with IGA Wittenoom Road in 2021.

 

Enrolments 2021

We currently have wait lists for a number of classes for 2021.  In order to cater as best we can for new families please inform the office as soon as possible if you will not be returning to Matthew Gibney Catholic Primary School in 2021.

 

I know parents are eager to know who their class teachers will be in 2021. A full staff list will be made available to parents in next week’s newsletter.

 

Best wishes for the week ahead.

Therese Hussey
Principal