MATTHEW GIBNEY CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL

30 Munday Road, High Wycombe WA 6057 Phone: 6216 8400 Email: admin@gibney.wa.edu.au Website: www.gibney.wa.edu.au

NEWSLETTER No. 29 19th September 2019

Dear Parents, Friends and Students

On Monday afternoon and evening, Dr Tony Curry,

Director of Leadership and Employee Services from

Catholic Education WA, briefed the staff and the School

Board on the process for the appointment of the new

Principal for our school. The position will be advertised

this coming Saturday with the new Principal announced

early November. The school community will be informed

of this decision as soon as is practicable.

Congratulations to Mrs Keddie and the students from

Year 5 for their excellent assembly last Friday. They

entertained us with songs, poems and bush dancing as

well as sharing with us some of the things they had learnt

in their history unit. They should be very proud of their

achievements. Congratulations, also, to the students who

received merit awards, as well as the classes that were

recognised for their work in Digital Technology and

Physical Education. This was our last assembly for this

term.

Two weeks ago, a letter was sent home to all families

inviting them to participate in the School Climate survey.

It is extremely important that all families participate in this

in order for us to have valid data. The survey will give us

an indication of our families’ perception of what happens

at our school. The data collected will assist us to

organise programmes and activities in order to meet the

needs of our students and their families. The web

address to access the survey is:

www.NSIPartnerships.com.au and the code is

MG2019P. When we carried out this survey last year we

only had 10 families out of 140 participate. We are

looking forward to a much higher participation rate this

year. The survey closes this coming Friday 20th

September.

On Wednesday 25th September the Parish will be holding

a parent/child workshop in preparation of those children in

Year 3 who will be receiving the Sacrament of

Reconciliation for the first time. The workshops will be

held here at our school. A note has been sent home to

Year 3 families about this and I encourage you to return it

as soon as possible so final preparations can be made.

Please keep these children in your prayers as they move

through this preparation period, culminating in them

receiving the Sacrament on Tuesday 22nd October. If

any parents have any questions on this, please see either

Ms Martinz or Mrs Keddie.

Thank you to the parents who were able to attend the

P&F Meeting last night. It is always good to hear the

work that the P&F is carrying out to help support our

school. At the meeting last night, the P&F Executive

shared with the meeting their plans for fundraising events

for 2020. This will be shared with the school community

very soon. They have also planned to hold a cake stall at

tomorrow’s Interschool Athletics Carnival. I know a

message was sent out requesting help, particularly with

assisting in preparing lunches, so if you have the time I

know they will appreciate your help. The next P&F

meeting will take place on Wednesday 23rd October. It

will begin at 7:30pm and it will be held in the library. All

are invited to come along and show their support of the

P&F.

The Interschool Athletics Carnival will take place on our

school oval on Friday 20th September. If you have the

time and you are able to, please come along to support

our interschool team. Thank you to Miss Andersen for the

work she has carried out to prepare the team. We look

forward to a very successful day.

Continued

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (1 John 5:13-14)

Arianna

GOOD NEWS GOOD NEWS GOOD NEWS GOOD NEWS GOOD NEWS GOOD NEWS GOOD NEWS

The Year Twos made fabulous felt animals!

Arend Willow Francis Madeline Clarice

BATTERY RECYCLING We are very pleased to “do our bit” for

the environment by offering recycling

collection for household batteries. You

can drop your batteries off in the metal

collection bin in the hallway opposite the

Year 3 class room.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Fri 20th Sept Interschool Athletics Carnival

Mon 23rd Sept PP & Yr 2 Excursion to Kalamunda

History Village

Wed 25th Sept Reconciliation Workshop for

students & parents 4pm or 5.45pm.

Thurs 26th Sept END OF TERM 3 FOR STUDENTS

Fri 27th Sept PUPIL FREE DAY

Mon 14th Oct STUDENTS RETURN TERM 4 2019

YEAR 5 NEWS

This week we had our Year 5 Gold Rush! The Year 5

students explored the playground in search of gold

nuggets. There was excitement, jubilation and delight as

many struck it rich. However, it was also accompanied by

despair and frustration, as some did not find anything,

despite their frantic searching. Then we learnt about the

Eureka Stockade and played a simulation game, where

the Troopers (often quite corrupt) made the miners pay

over and over for their mining licenses. It was a great

way to learn more about life on the Goldfields and why

the miners were so angry that they felt they needed to

have an armed rebellion. It was great to act out our

history and get a real feel for what it must have been like

to be part of the Gold Rush.

Karen Keddie & Jess Bettridge

YEAR 3 NEWS

We have all been working extra hard writing our reports

on one of Australia’s neighbouring countries and putting

together our media arts project to present to our parents

and families at our Year 3 HASS Presentation Day next

Tuesday (24th). We have also been reading and

investigating the Parable of the Lost Son while we

prepare ourselves to receive the Sacrament of

Reconciliation early next term. Next Wednesday (25th)

we will have our Parent Workshop in the evening, please

make sure you have returned your ‘request for time slot’

slip to the office so that we can organize the groups.

Thank you.

Felicity Martinz

PUPIL FREE DAY

FRIDAY 27th

SEPTEMBER

Assistant Principal’s

Religious Education News

TEAM COLOURS DAY

On Thursday 26th September (last

day of Term 3) we have our Team

Colours Day! All students are

encouraged to come in whatever

sporting team colours they like for

GOLD COIN donation. All monies

raised will go to the Catholic

Missions.

We will also have two Lolly Jar Raffles

K-2 and Years 3 -6.

Tickets will be: 50c each or 5 for $2.00.

Tickets will go on sale on Monday

16th September outside the ADMIN

BUILDING from 8.30 - 8.45am.

RECONCILIATION WORKSHOP

Thanks to all the families who have

returned their notes, regarding he

Reconciliation Student/Parent Workshop

on Wednesday 25th September. We look

forward to sharing this time with you, as

you prepare to receive the Sacrament in

Term 4.

Karen Keddie

Assistant Principal RE

I would like to remind our families that all play equipment

is out of bounds both before and after school, particularly

in the Pre-primary/Kindy playground. We would

appreciate it if you could remind your children to not go

on any of the play equipment at these times.

A reminder to all our families that the last day of school

for this term is Thursday 26th September. Friday 27th

September is a pupil free day. The staff will be spending

the day working with the Aboriginal Education Team

developing an Aboriginal Education plan for our school.

I wish you all a safe week.

Mark Powell PRINCIPAL

An Invitation to Have Your Say

The Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia (CECWA) is reviewing our system policies supporting our

75,000 students and 12,000 staff in 162 schools.

We invite all students, parents, CEWA staff and members of your community to help by telling us:

What makes a good Catholic school?

Facilitated sessions will take place at our Leederville office. You can book your preferred session time online

and choose from:

* Early Years LOFT Sessions (for Pre K - Year 4 Students and their Family)

* Open LOFT Sessions (Years 4 - 12 Students, Families, Staff and Community)

During the school holiday sessions, participants will also help to create a mural alongside local artist Linzi

Carter. This is an evolving creation, whose form will develop with each session.

We welcome you to participate in this unique opportunity to have your say on the future of our schools.

For more information and to register for a session, see: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/loft-catholic-education-

western-australia-20262532767

The Council for Australian Catholic Women

The Council for Australian Catholic Women (Perth) invite

you to hear New Testament lecturer, Dr Michele Connolly

RSJ at two free events in Perth.

Michele is a Sister of St Joseph of Lochinvar NSW and

has studied in Melbourne, Chicago and Berkeley.

She has taught at the Catholic Institute of Sydney since

2001.

Friday 25 October 6-9pm

WOMEN in the CHURCH: REFLECTIONS FROM THE

NEW TESTAMENT - men and women invited.

Light refreshments served from 5.30pm.

Saturday 26 October 9.30 - 4pm

WOMEN and the GOSPEL OF MARK: INSIGHTS FOR

TODAY - a day for women.

Light refreshments served from 9am. Light lunch

included.

Both events will be held at James Nestor Hall,

Catholic Education Office 50 Ruislip St Leederville.

RSVP by 21st October.

Email: kerrymacfarlane2@gmail.com

Phone: 08 9397 5988

SMS: 0400 886 835.

A WEEKEND FOR YOUR MARRIAGE:

Are you looking for a weekend where you can spend time with your spouse, free from the usual distractions and

focus on just the two of you. Remember the early days of your marriage when just being together was most

important.

The Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend has the same focus. The weekend centres entirely on your

relationship.

There is NO GROUP sharing on the weekend.

We invite you to join us at Marriage Encounter Weekend 18th - 20th October 2019 at Mandurah

Or 28th - 29th March 2020 at Bateman

For more information or booking contact:

Valerie & Brendon on 0424 220 625 Email: WAbookings@wwme.org.au

Website: www.wwme.org.au