From the Principal's Desk

Martin's Gully staff have enjoyed some wonderful opportunities to collaborate through professional learning with each other and colleagues from other schools over the last few weeks. 

This year guided by our School Improvement Plan, we are focusing on High Expectations, Explicit Teaching and Learning Culture.  We are looking forward to learning new things through research based practice and putting it into practice in the classroom. 

Our big rock's this year are PAX, Attendance and Numeracy.

We look forward to having our first assembly this week where we will announce our Age Champions and Runners Up from the swimming carnival and introduce our new friend Gullie the Gumnut.

Word of the Week: Punctual

• To be punctual you are arriving or doing something at the right time.
• Being punctual means being ready for learning and is a crucial skill not only for academic success but for life. 
• Being punctual means you don’t waste time, or keep people waiting.
• Discussion points: Have you ever been late for school?  How did it feel to arrive late? Did you miss out on anything? How can we help others to be punctual? 

Congratulations to Kai who has been selected to play for the 14 year boys Armidale Bushranger team to play at the NSW State Cup which is being played in Dubbo next week. He first tried out for the 12 year boys, but was selected to play for the 14 year old boys.     

Kai has also trailed for the Northern NSW Eagles team and is yet to hear as to whether he has made this team.  Well done Kai!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our volunteers who help out throughout the year.  Mrs Clenndinning has volunteered her time again this year to run 3-6 choir on a Thursday lunch time.  All 3-6 students are welcome.

We were also lucky enough to have Erin Fisher visit Kindergarten last week with University of Newcastle students to share their knowledge about healthy eating for healthy lunchbox week.

Just a reminder that we ask students to leave personal belongings such as Pokemon cards at home.  Students will not be allowed to play with these at school.

Attendance Matters:  

We have set our school a target to achieve 90% attendance 90% of the time for 2023. 

Can you help us do this? Can you make appointments or attend extra curricular activities outside school hours?  Coming to school each day before 9:00am and leaving at 3pm is just a simple way we can achieve this together.

Staff Spotlight:

Jenny Atkin:  I love my position of Assistant Principal Curriculum and Instruction (APC&I) as I get the best of both worlds.  I work alongside staff and with students to develop Literacy and Numeracy skills. Previous to Martin's Gully, I have been at Guyra Central School as APC&I, Instructional Leader, Assistant Principal and Classroom teacher.  My other teaching experiences have been at Tingha Public School, Life Education and Cobar Public School.

I have 3 children.  Maddie who is 25- and 22-year-old twins Ella and Lucas.  I live on a property in Wandsworth with my husband Mark.

My interests are jewellery making, reading, cryptic crosswords and swimming.  I also like to laugh lots and hear and tell good jokes.  I am so excited to be working at Martin's Gully and look forward to meeting the community.

Holly Newman:  Hello MGPS community!  How lucky I am to be back for another year on the 3/4 Bilbies.  I am very excited for this year as I head into my third year of teaching. I am a born and bred Armidale girl who attended Duval High School.  When I am not making the most of my weekends by heading to the coast, I am spending time with family and my Golden Retriever, Fleur.  I did make the move to Newcastle a couple of years ago, but like Felicity said, I soon realised little Armidale wasn’t so bad after all.  I love to travel and explore.  One of my favourite things to do is go camping. There’s nothing better than waking up in a swag just metres from the ocean.  Often people ask why I love teaching so much, but with the smiles you receive, and the little and big successes you witness each day, it makes it all worth it.  I love the happiness the children bring to the classroom, and how our job also allows us to learn from our little mates and their creative selves.

I look forward to the fun we are yet to have.

Felicity Pennington and Peta Deiderick