From the Principal's Desk

The start of the school year is always an exciting one as our school comes alive again with returning and new students and the beginning of our term has been no different at MGPS. While goals can be set at any time, the beginning of a new school year is an opportunity to start afresh and we hope all of our students take the opportunity to challenge themselves, to set some worthwhile goals and to start as they mean to go on. There has been a wonderful sense of excitement and anticipation for what 2023 will bring and the students and teachers enthusiasm and positivity is certainly infectious. 

On Friday last week, we welcomed our new Kindergarten students to our school.  We had a fantastic day, and we are all so excited about the year ahead. 

Congratulations to Connor S (Bandarooi), Jack G (Burra Burra) and Charlotte Mc (Cheropin) for being voted in by their individual house groups as house captains for 2023.  You did a great job at the swimming carnival!

Yesterday we had our swimming carnival.  It was a beautiful day and all of the students had a great time both participating and cheering for their friends.  We would like to extend a huge thank you to the parent time keepers who donated their time. Age Champions and the winning house will be announced at our next assembly after we have collated the results.

Across our school from Stage 1 to Stage 3 we are continuing with our open classrooms and co-teaching and planning in 2023.

Co-teaching is when teachers are present together in the classroom and they work together through the teaching process:  planning, teaching, and assessing progress. Students frequently have different learning styles and preferences.  Co-teaching allows those different needs to be more easily met.  Co-teaching allows teachers to collaborate on lesson design and capitalise on the experiences and expertise of all.  This way, students receive additional help when needed or they receive extension activities led by a teacher. 

Co-teaching enables teachers to create a collaborative, safe and joyful classroom community in which adults can teach and students can learn at their best.  If you are interested in learning more information, please click on the link below: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ytVqmE4eJH07_0YmkjztlP7jDertdCmw/view?usp=sharing

                          Our PAX word for the fortnight is HAPPINESS.

Happiness is an emotional state characterised by feelings of joy, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfillment.   

Some ideas you can discuss at home include: 

*What are some ways we can spread happiness?

*Did you notice anyone spreading happiness this week?

*Music makes lots of people feel happy.  What are some of your favourite songs that make you feel good?

Attendance Matters:  

We have set our school a target to achieve 90% attendance 90% of the time for 2023. 

Can you help us do this? Coming to school each day before 9:00am and leaving at 3pm is just a simple way we can achieve this together.

Staff Spotlight:

Felicity Pennington: 

I have been teaching at Martin’s Gully PS for almost 10 years and a teacher for over 20 years and I love it!  I am continuing in my role this term as Relieving Principal and I also co-teach Kindergarten with Ellie Barraclough.

I am married to Jim who is also a teacher and we have 3 children, Grace, Harry and Annabelle. Outside of school I like to garden, read and spend time with my family. I grew up in Armidale, and after living away for a few years in Sydney, overseas and starting my teaching career in Mungindi, I decided that perhaps Armidale isn’t such a bad place to live after all! 

For most of my life as a child and then teenager, I wanted to be a vet just like my dad with whom I spend countless hours helping in his surgery and out on jobs in the country around Armidale. In Year 10, inspired by some amazing teachers who had taught me at Armidale City PS, I went back to ACPS and did my work experience. I then changed my mind and decided to become a teacher as I just loved being around children and watching and supporting them to grow and learn.

My other lifelong dream is to become a presenter on Playschool. Since I am not a celebrity or a famous actress, I think I will just have to continue to be extremely contented with teaching and making everyday just as exciting as an episode of Playschool! I do like to be silly and loud, animated and to play games, so I think (know) I am doing the right thing in my career. 

Finally, Ian Reeves will return to MGPS in Term 2. We are really looking forward to welcoming Mr Reeves back and we know all the students will be excited to have him back again too. Peta and I have enjoying working as the relieving Principals while he has been away. We will return to our Assistant Principal roles in Term 2, and with the help of our staff and the kids, we will settle Mr Reeves back into life at MGPS!

Felicity Pennington and Peta Deiderick