From the Principal's Desk
Week 10
Congratulations to all our students for their persistence, resilience, passion and love of learning.
This term has been an extremely busy and rewarding term, with excursions to Thalgarrah, ACOS preparation, High Potential and Gifted opportunities in Creative Arts, Public Speaking, Drama, Spelling Bee, Da Vinci Decathlon, Debating and Sport.
Thank you to our parents, carers and P&C for your ongoing support of our students.
We hope everybody has a wonderful break and we look forward to next term. Students return on Tuesday 22nd July.
NAIDOC Week
This week marks the 50th Anniversary of NAIDOC Week. This marks a powerful milestone: 50 years of honoring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience.
The 2025 theme, "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy," celebrates not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities, and the legacy of our ancestors.
We have had a great time with Mima Dave participating in dance, language and culture activities across the week. Stage 2 will share their learning at the assembly on Friday at 12:30pm.
Multi Cultural Speaking Competition
Billie, Olive, Olivia and Lucinda attended the Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition at Drummond Memorial PS on Tuesday. The girls competed against many other speakers with a prepared and impromptu speech.
This competition encourages primary school students to explore ideas of multiculturalism in Australia while they practise their public speaking skills and improve their confidence.
I loved how everybody returned buzzing with excitement of how well they did and how they can't wait to do it again. Congratulations to Billie who came second in her Stage group.
One-Off Excursion Payment Reminder
At Martin's Gully we have a one-off excursion payment for all students. This payment covers all local Armidale extra-curricular trips such as Excursions, Visiting Performers, Sports and Creative Arts Events as well as Intensive Swimming Program and Gymnastics Program.
This reduces the need for parents to be paying small amounts every time something is on.
The one-off cost for Kindergarten to Year 2 students is $80.00, and for students in Years 3-6 it is $110.00, and remains the same as last year.
Please note, this payment does not cover overnight excursions or extra opportunities that may be offered to selected students.
If this payment is not made, you will have to pay for individual activities as they arise.
Payments (full or part) can be made through School Bytes.
Sporting News
Well done to Nixon, Oliver, Beau Matthew and Olivia who attended the Northwest Touch trials last week in Inverell.
Everybody played extremely well. Congratulations to Beau Matthew who has been called into the PSSA Touch Football State Championships in Dubbo in the Northwest team.
Creative Arts News
Last week 9 students attended a dance workshop at Ben Venue, learning all about the fundamentals of dance.
Seven of our dancers also attended a 4 day workshop run by the Creative Arts Unit out of Sydney this week. Here is what they had to say about the experience.
The best part of the four day workshop was meeting tons of new people and friends who were all working with us. We all enjoyed dancing even more when it was with them. We learnt a lot at the workshop like having a rhino sphere all around us, which is all of our reaching distance around us. Xanthe
I learnt how to use sharp movements to make my dancing better. My favourite part was making new friends and working with amazing choreographers. Indy
My favourite part of the dance workshops were meeting and dancing with new people as well as making new friends. I had lots of fun learning new dances. I also liked how energetic the dances were but they were also very tiring. Olivia B
My favourite part of the dance workshop was making new friends and just dancing. I learnt to use extra strong movements. Abbie
I loved learning the dances and being pushed to my limits. I learnt new moves that I did not know I could do. Lucinda
My favourite part about the dance workshop was learning new things and making new friends, dancing with my friends and having lots of fun. I learnt that putting so much energy into a dance makes them look so good and also that dance is hard work. Emalie
Enrolments for 2026
Enrolments for 2026 are open. Please complete an online application or come into the office for a paper copy. Notification of successful Kindergarten placement offers will go out at the end of Term 3 for all in zone, out of zone and sibling applications.
All students in zone will receive an offer.
You Can Do It!
What is peer pressure?
Peer pressure is all about fitting in, acceptance, and conforming to a specific dress code, behaviour, or preference. Kids of any age can apply peer pressure or be influenced by their peers. Some kids want to fit in, others want to do what others are doing, and others want what other kids have.
Some kids don’t recognise peer pressure for what it is, and others are so sensitive that they crumble under the weight. As parents, we must teach our kids what peer pressure is and isn’t. It is especially important for younger kids to know how to recognise it and how to react.
Ways to help our kids handle pressure
When kids are coached on how to stand up to negative peer pressure, their confidence soars. They can recognise peer pressure for what it is and have the courage to say no.
We can help our kids by :
- Building their self-esteem
- Offering genuine praise when it’s appropriate
- Role modelling responses
- Teaching ways to say no and feel comfortable
- Encouraging independence, including developing sound decision-making skills
- Keeping home communication lines open
- Talking about our own experiences
Customarily, kids who are comfortable within themselves do better at resisting peer pressure. They know their opinion matters, that true friends can take no for an answer, and that walking away from risk-taking behaviour is good thinking. They’re also the kids who know how much they mean to us and how much they matter.
Our PAX word of the fortnight is EMPATHY.
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person.
Being empathetic is part of our PAX Visions at Martin’s Gully PS.
Have a lovely break!
Peta Deiderick