From the Principal's Desk

Week 1 

Welcome back to all our beautiful students and families and welcome to our new students. This term sees another very busy term ahead.  Students will be involved in visits to Thalgarrah, PSSA knockouts, debating, multicultural speaking, spelling bee, Check In assessments, Eisteddfod and school photos to name a few.

School Photos

Next Tuesday we will be having our school photos, where students will need to be in full school formal uniform, including a tie if you own one. If not we have ties in the front office.

State Swimming

Congratulations to Nixon and Lia who competed in the state PSSA swimming events in the last week of term.  We are so proud of your achievements and it was great to watch and see you achieve some personal bests!

ACOS

Last term 33 students participated in the "Evening with ACOS" Massed Choir at Ben Venue Public School.  Over 400 students from our Network participated in the first practice as we steam ahead to many more before our Armidale Community of Schools (ACOS) Evening.

This will be held in term 3 on Thursday 28 August at Armidale Secondary College. Our Stage 2 and 3 students will also perform a dance/drama item that Miss Randall and Mrs Townsend have been working hard to choreograph with our students.

Congratulations Bubba Tunde

We would like to congratulate Bubba Tunde on becoming an Australian citizen.  Bubba is such a worthy recipient and valuable asset to not only our school but to the wider community.  Congratulations!!

Eating Times

Just a reminder of a change to our eating times for this term.  Times will continue to be from 11:05-11:35 where students are encouraged to eat their lunch. They have a 20-minute sitting time so that food can be eaten before they go to play.  Our second break time is then from 1:05-1:50 where students will sit for 10 minutes to eat something before being allowed to go to the playground to play.  Fruit break still occurs daily when students enter the classroom, and we encourage a fresh piece of fruit or vegetable to be brought every day. 

Anzac Day

Thank you to everyone who came and marched on Anzac day.  It was wonderful to see so many students and families take the time to remember and respect such an important day for our country.  I was very proud of our students representing MGPS.

Easter Hat Parade

The K-6 Easter Hat parade was held on the last Friday in term 1.  We loved seeing so many of our family and friends come and watch the parade.  The Easter raffles were drawn after the parade and there were many happy students and adults.  A huge thank you to the P&C for the organisation of the lunch orders, hot cross buns and raffle.

High Potential Gifted Education Initiative for Term 2

Staff returned for Term 2 on Monday 28th April where we spent two staff development days with a focus on High Potential Gifted Education (HPGE). This focus area highlights the Department of Education's commitment to high potential and gifted education across NSW public schools.  

We look forward to implementing new HPGE initiatives , where we will get the opportunity for both teachers and students to work with others across the school and network.  As Mrs Polson said last term, our MGPS initiative will focus on creating cross-stage learning opportunities that foster collaboration and encourage peer learning in areas across four domains: intellectual, social, emotional, physical and creative. We look forward to delivering these opportunities to provide enriched educational experiences that challenge and engage our learners, looking for potential in everyone, students and teachers.  

PSSA State Tennis

A huge good luck to Olivia O'Neill who heads away next week to represent NW at the NSWPSSA State Tennis Championships. We can't wait to hear how you go!

Mother's Day Stall and Open Classrooms

On Friday 9 May, the P&C will hold their Mother's Day Stall.  Orders can be done via the QKR! app.  We will also be inviting our mums, aunties, grandmas or friends in to share our learning by reading a story, or sharing our work on Friday at 12:30 - 1pm on the same day. Parents are then invited to stay and share lunch with a sausage sizzle. These can also be purchased through the QKR! app.

Parents PAX Session and DISCO

On Wednesday 14 May, we will hold a whole school disco from 5:30pm-6:30pm.  Mrs Pennington will be running a parent and carer workshop for PAX and how PAX can be incorporated at home.

Lunch Orders

Lunch orders will continue with Pearl Perch this term on a Thursday. This will start tomorrow for those who wish to order. Although we are changing back to first break eating at lunch time, we will keep the lunch orders coming at recess as we find most of our students eat their lunch then.

Attendance

When school communities have high expectations of their students, they achieve greater outcomes. 

High expectations are creating a place where students want to be, parents/carers are happy to send them, and teachers/staff have a desire to excel. 

High expectations for attendance are:  a 95% attendance rate, which is 10 days or less absences a year.

Currently our MGPS attendance rate is ******. Let's work together to keep this great!

Have a wonderful week. 

Peta Deiderick