From the Principal's Desk

We have had another very productive week at Martin’s Gully.

Congratulations to Jake Simpson being selected in the Northern PSSA cricket.  Jake will now attend the Northern vs Southern trials for the North West cricket team.

Year 5 students will hold speeches for election for leadership roles in 2023 on Tuesday 29 November 2022 in the hall at 12pm.  Captains need to remember all the ‘Keys to Success’ that contribute to being a good leader and our K-5 students will begin talking about this also. 

Students in years 3-6 began the life saving program, providing water awareness, skills and strategies to save themselves and others and extend their swimming skills.  We were so proud of the maturity and persistence of our students, showing such commitment to the program.  They were complimented several times on their behaviour and their excellent participation. Swimming for Stage 1 students continues this week.

The P&C Christmas Party is on Friday 2nd December 5-7pm. 

If you can assist at the Christmas Party, please fill in the form sent home with students  and return it to the school office by 25th November 2022 or contact the school.

Unfortunately at this stage the P&C will struggle to cover all stalls.  Without the assistance from our school community this event can not be run.

On 25th November, we will be holding an out of uniform day and students will be asked to donate a jar filled with goodies to go towards the Tombola Stall.

On Monday 28 November at 9am,  our local member Mr Adam Marshall MP will open our newly completed playing court.  We look forward to using this excellent resource.  The project was funded through joint funding with the Department of Education and school and community funds plus the grant from NSW State Government. 

It was wonderful to have the opportunity to hear the excitement about learning as we visited classrooms during the week.

Kindergarten were buzzing about the wonderful time they had at the Teddys Bear picnic at Thalgarrah.

Stage 1 have been learning lots about how to be persuasive writers and producing wonderful puppet shows as part of their drama unit.

Stage 2 shared some amazing writing with sizzling starts and tightening tension rewriting a paragraph from  Robinson Crusoe - Robinson on the ship in the storm.  Students chose a section (one sentence or more), and rewrote it to give their audience a really great picture in their minds using words.

Stage 3 have been presenting poetry they wrote related to a theme of their choice. These presentations have been outstanding giving the teachers goosebumps.

We received a lovely thank you certificate from A Day in the Garden for supporting their recent fundraiser for the Armidale Womens Shelter. Martin's Gully provided sponsorship in the form of gazebos and tables allowing the fundraiser to save on hiring resources. The event raised approximately $27,000 for the Armidale Womens Shelter.  Well done to the organisers of A Day in the Garden.

Attendance Matters:  

We have set our school a target to achieve 90% attendance 90% of the time for the remainder of 2022 and continuing in 2023. 

Have a lovely week!

Felicity Pennington and Peta Deiderick