Welcome to Term 1 everyone. Mrs Pennington and I are very excited to be holding the fort for Mr Reeves this term. We look forward to participating in many exciting opportunities this year including our School Centenary in September.

A special welcome to our new families, staff and Kindergarten students that have started or are starting at Martin’s Gully this year.

We love hearing from you if you have celebrations or concerns, however we do ask that you either make an appointment with your child’s teacher, email or call the office to ask for a return call.

Please allow us to be the best teachers we can be by giving us the time we need in the mornings, where possible, to prepare for a great day. Please let your child’s teacher know if there is anything that may be happening for them that may affect their learning so we can provide the best support possible.

Our MGPS swimming carnival is to be held on Tuesday 7 February 2023 for students turning 8 in Year 2 (who can swim 50m competently) to Year 6 and notes have been sent out on COMPASS.

We are aware that picking up after school and parking is tricky for parents. This is the parking sign outside our school.

Please be aware that you may only park in the 5 minute parking area for 5 minutes between 8:00-9:30am and 2:30-4pm. It is nice to park right out the front but it is a pull in and pull out area during these times.

Cars may not stop in the no stopping area at all to pick up children. It is a $272 fine for stopping in a no stopping zone, and fines apply for parking longer than the signed time.

Please be aware of the signage and follow the rules for your child’s and other children’s safety. Thanks!

The attendance of most students, most of the at our school is excellent. We are trying to improve it even more.

Just having a day off makes a huge difference to what your child may miss. Please take the time to have a look at the information about attending school and what just one day missing school can mean overall.

This year each week we will be adding information in regard to our PAX and You can Do It focus for the fortnight. This is so families can also share and use our PAX focus at home. Our PAX word for the fortnight to begin our term is HAPPINESS.

Happiness is about being nice and spreading love all around. When family and friends are playing and engaging in fun activities, it makes our hearts sing and gives us that inner glowing feeling. Being one with nature and forming a connection with the environment, stimulates happiness as well. Some ideas you can discuss at home include:

When do you experience happiness at school and at home?
Sometimes we don't know the struggles another person might be going through. How we talk to them and share our happiness and be understanding of them?
At Martin’s Gully and in the community, PAX Leaders spread happiness to those in need. What are some ways we can spread happiness?
Did you notice anyone spreading happiness this week and filling up other people's buckets?

Our School captains have hit the ground running learning about their new roles.

We are also introducing the Gully Gumnut as the new MGPS mascot. “Gummie” will be looking for classes showing PAX leadership and demonstrating the word of the fortnight.

Each week this term we will be sharing a little insight into our staff here at Martin's Gully. We know that some of our beautiful students think we sleep at school, so we thought it would be nice to share some insight into our other lives.

Staff Spotlight

Just to share a little about myself: Peta Deiderick. I love teaching and learning. I like to be

challenged and am very excited about the year ahead at Martin’s Gully as Relieving Principal this term and teaching on Stage 3.

I love an opera Happy Birthday and being a little crazy. I have lived in Armidale most of my life apart from several years I spent living in Indonesia, whilst my parents were working over there. I have 2 daughters, Molly and Lucy and love the outdoors and sport.

I love hockey and am passionate about my involvement in Armidale Primary School Sports Association. I look forward to meeting new students and parents and continue being involved in the Martin’s Gully School Community in any way I can.

Felicity and I are very much looking forward to working with the staff, students, families and community members here at Martin’s Gully.

Felicity Pennington and Peta Deiderick

P&C Information