From the Principal's Desk

Week 4

I hope all our mothers had a wonderful Mother's Day on Sunday.  A huge thank you to our P&C for organising the Mother's Day stall again this year and to the army of volunteers who came in to help our students pick the perfect gift.  We appreciate you!!

Drama Workshops

On Friday, 11 Stage 3 students attended Drama workshops with the Creative Arts unit and Mrs Bull.  Hannah from the Department of Education Arts Unit was wonderful at the Drama Worksop with some Year 6 students today.  Students had a great day trying drama games, learning to build characters, telling wordless stories, acro-balances and doing a special performance for Dolly.  For Do It For Dolly Day.💙💙💙 

Year 1 Number Screening Check

Over the next 2 weeks Year 1 will be participating in a number screening check. The Year 1 Number Screening Check is a short state wide assessment that tells teachers how your child is progressing in early number sense. Some children find developing number sense challenging, so it is important these children are identified quickly. The main purpose of the screener is to provide your child’s teacher with information which will allow them to plan for your child’s learning and any specific support they may need. Your child will sit with the class teacher or Mrs Polson and will be asked to answer 30 questions. The screener normally takes up to 15 minutes. If your child is struggling the teacher will stop the screener. The screener is carefully designed not to be stressful for your child.

What is number sense?

Number sense is the ability to understand, relate to, and work with numbers effectively to participate in daily life and make sense of the world. It supports your child to understand more complex mathematical concepts in the later years of primary school and high school.

If you have any questions relating to the Year 1 Number Screening Check, please speak to your child’s class teacher.

Disco

On Wednesday last week we had a fabulous evening of learning for our parents at the PAX information for parents and carers whilst our students got the boogie on.  We raised $557 for the Save our Sons Foundation.

Author Visit

Thank you Sophie Masson who visited Stage 2 last Fri.  Sophie shared her childhood stories of moving to Australia speaking only French and adjusting to school life in Australia.

Sophie explained how her story writing began with making up stories for her siblings when they were young which proved to be great training for  her writing career.

Sophie shared not only her writing ideas and inspiration but also some of her painting techniques.  It was a very special experience for Sophie to read her story 'The Giant' to us.

Thank you Sophie for being so generous with your time and sharing of your life stories. The children at Martin's Gully will enjoy reading the books that Sophie so generously donated to our school library.

Do It For Dolly Day

On Friday we supported the Do It For Dolly day by going Blue and raised $120 and awareness and make kindness front and centre across Australia.

Sibling enrolment

Commonwealth Games Day

On Monday we had a fabulous day at our mini Commonwealth Games alongside Kelly's Plains.  Students all got to participate in fun filled activities that encouraged us to be skilled and get fit.

NSW Public Schools Parent Survey

In Term 2, we are inviting parents and carers to participate in the NSW Public Schools Parent Survey. The survey gives you the opportunity to share your experience at our school, including communication, inclusion, wellbeing and how your child’s learning is supported.

Hearing directly from our parents and carers will help us understand what’s working well and where improvements can be made. Participation in the survey is optional, your responses are anonymous, and it takes around 10 to 15 minutes to complete. You can access the survey at https://surveyme.education.nsw.gov.au/sc/bGn1-ThDd_SF_QDSgbudEw2 

Further information about the NPSS Parent Survey is available at https://education.nsw.gov.au/npss. 

WELLBEING- You Can Do It! and PAX

The Power of Reset: Why Students and Teachers Need Breaks to Learn Best.

In the busy world of schools, it’s easy to believe that focus and engagement are all about willpower. But the truth is, no one, child or adult, can maintain sustained attention all day long. Periodic breaks are not just helpful; they are essential for learning, wellbeing, and engagement. Our You Can Do It! Education and PAX program embed meditation, mindfulness, and reset breaks directly into the curriculum, providing practical tools for our classrooms. 

Why Resetting Matters:

Brain science tells us that attention spans are limited, especially for children. Research suggests that resets every 20 minutes are needed to maintain focus and optimal learning. Without breaks, the mind wanders, fatigue sets in, and learning suffers. This isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s simply how we’re wired. For children, resetting is about more than just a quick stretch. It’s about restoring their energy, clearing their minds, and coming back ready to engage. For teachers, breaks can be a chance to observe, reflect, and adapt their approach, making each session more effective.

Have a great week.

Peta Deiderick