LEARNING
NAPLAN 2025 STARTS THIS WEEK
I would like to remind everyone that the NAPLAN tests will commence this Wednesday. As a school, we are fully committed to supporting our students through this process and encourage all students to approach the tests with confidence and a positive mindset.
NAPLAN plays a key role in tracking the progress of students in literacy and numeracy, providing valuable insights into how well students are mastering essential skills in reading, writing, maths, and language conventions. Although NAPLAN results are not the sole measure of student progress, they help us better understand each student’s learning and the effectiveness of our educational programs.
I would also like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to all our teachers for their thorough preparation in the lead-up to these tests. Their dedication to ensuring that students feel supported and prepared is truly appreciated.
As we move forward with NAPLAN, I encourage families to reassure students that there is no need to worry. Simply remind them to do their best, as our teachers have ensure that they are familiar with the test format and will offer guidance throughout. NAPLAN is just one part of their educational experience, and we are here to support them every step of the way.
I wish all our students the best of luck during this important time.
St Brigid's Test Schedule for Year 3 & 5
| Writing Test | Wednesday 12 March 2025 |
| Reading Test | Thursday 13 March 2025 |
| Conventions of Language Test | Monday 17 March 2025 |
| Numeracy Test | Wednesday 19 March 2025 |
STUDENT- LED OPEN HOUSES AND OPEN CLASSROOMS
Student-led open houses are an essential part of fostering genuine parent engagement and creating a collaborative learning environment. These events provide a unique opportunity for parents to witness firsthand the growth and development of their children.
We value the feedback we have received from some families regarding the timing of these open houses and are committed to ensuring that they are as accessible and beneficial as possible. We are finalising a draft of proposed dates and times for 2025 and will publish them in the next newsletter.
We look forward to authentically welcoming you into the learning spaces and continuing to work together as true partners in your child’s education. Your involvement and feedback are invaluable to us as we strive to create meaningful connections.
"Partnership in Catholic education is a shared journey of faith, where parents, teachers, and students come together to nurture the whole child: mind, body, and spirit—creating a foundation for lifelong learning and Christian living."
Step into Learning Before the Race Begins
Parents will have the opportunity to visit their child's classroom for a general guided learning walk and talk before the Cross Country Carnival on Thursday 3 April 2025. Classrooms will be open from 8:40am until the carnival begins at 9:30am. We look forward to welcoming you and sharing this experience together!
STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAYS IN 2025
There are eight such days scheduled for 2025, where our teachers, school leaders, and administrative support staff engage in targeted professional learning. These days are crucial in enhancing the skills and knowledge of our staff, ultimately leading to better outcomes for our students.
On these days, students do not attend school. This allows our staff to focus on professional development, planning, and enhancing their capabilities. Professional learning is an essential part of our commitment to building a highly skilled and professional workforce.
- Day 1 - Friday 31 January
- Day 2 - Friday 11 April
- Day 3 - Wednesday 4 June
- Day 4 - Wednesday 2 July
- Day 5 - Monday 1 September
- Day 6 - Friday 26 September
- Day 7 - Thursday 18 December
- Day 8 - Friday 19 December
SWIMMING NEWS
The Swimming Carnival that took place on Thursday 20 February 2025 was a day filled with excitement and team spirit. Some enthusiastic students arrived early at 8:00am to compete for individual medals, while the rest of the students gathered at school and boarded the buses.
Despite the drizzle that greeted us at the start of the day, it didn't dampen our swimmers' spirits, and everyone dove into the events with energy and enthusiasm.
Evans, Samaritan, and MacKillop Houses were all lined up beside the pool, cheering on their teammates and rallying for their houses. After completing the main events, we enjoyed a brief break before diving into the fun 25m Splash events, which allowed eager students to try their hand at a race in a more relaxed, enjoyable setting.
The following day, back at school, we held our ribbon ceremony where Evans House was proudly announced as the 2025 winning house for the swimming carnival.
Congratulations to all the students who won ribbons at our carnival! A special shout-out to our Junior and Senior Age Champions: Ted, Evie, Alice and Kip. Your hard work and dedication truly shone through, and we are incredibly proud of your achievements. Well done!
Our 22 strong St Brigid’s Swimming Squad made an incredible showing at the South Coast Regional Swimming Carnival, braving extreme weather conditions with determination and enthusiasm! Despite the challenging rain and wind, our swimmers gave it their all, demonstrating exceptional skill and sportsmanship. It was an exciting day, full of energy and fierce competition, and we couldn't be prouder of how our squad represented the school:
| Emmett B | Ted F | David M |
| Kana B | Elliot G | Alice M |
| Sachi B | Georgina H | Hayde R |
| Ireland C | Korban H | Tom S |
| Ella D | Della M | Jacob S |
| Freya D | Kip M | Evie W |
| Remi D | Archie M | |
| Kane F | Mia M |
A huge congratulations to Hayde, Della, and Kip for their outstanding performances at the South Coast Swimming Selection Trials.
A huge thank you to Mrs Carey-Barr and Mrs Lavelle for their outstanding coordination of this event and the swimming pathway event. There was a lot of organising involved, and their hard work paid off. I also want to extend a special thank you to the staff who assisted throughout the day, as well as to the parents for their continued support. It was a true team effort, and your collective contributions helped ensure the carnival went as smoothly as possible.
ST BRIGID'S LEARNING MERIT AWARDS
Congratulations to the following students on receiving their awards during Week 4, 5 and 6 of Term 1 2024.
Week 4 - Term 1
Students from Kinder to Year 6 will receive the Making Connections Award. This award recognises who use their knowledge, skills and learning opportunities to connect to real world experiences and learning. These students seek to make meaning and connections to the world beyond the classroom.
| CLASS | MAKING CONNECTIONS AWARD | LEADER OF THE WEEK |
| Kinder | Leo I | Austin I |
| Year 1 | Stella B | Jacob G |
| Year 2 | Luke W | Milani S |
| Year 3 | Max N | Teni A |
| Year 4 | Lynn E | Elliot G |
| Year 4 | Learning Award - Liana D | |
| Year 5 | Jacob M | Nisindu N |
| Year 6 | Hunter M | Ned L |
Students from Kinder to Year 6 will receive the Learning Pathways Award. This award recognises students who show high engagement and motivation in their learning. They co-construct their learning tasks, demonstrating and use voice and choice to become self directed learners
| CLASS |
LEARNING PATHWAYS AWARD |
LEADER OF THE WEEK |
| Kinder | Esme M | Archie J |
| Year 1 | Sofia M | Taj W |
| Year 2 | Kai R | Alana E |
| Year 3 | Emmett B | Chris T |
| Year 4 | Oliver W | Jaxson M |
| Year 5 | Sparsha V | Aria J |
| Year 6 | Ireland C | Ryder M |
Week 6 - Term 1
| CLASS | DEEP THINKING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD | LEADER OF THE WEEK |
| Kinder | Jaxon M | Betty T |
| Year 1 | Nixon G | Pia R |
| Year 2 | Ellen O | Noah M |
| Year 3 | Sophia N | Jayden M |
| Year 4 | Gisele M | Mila J |
| Year 5 | Flynn D | Veronica a |
| Year 6 | Ryder M | Lachlan C |
| CLASS | STUDENT |
| Year 6 | Aaroz P |
| Year 3 | Teni A |
| Year 5 | Grace H |
| Year 3 | Emmett B |
| Year 4 | Aarav J |
The Principal's Award celebrates outstanding achievement by a student in Faith, Justice and Learning including other contributions to school life. Congratulations to:
| CLASS | STUDENT |
| Year 5 | Grace H |
| Year 6 | Hunter M |
| Year 4 | Elliot |
SPORTING PATHWAYS
We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to David on his outstanding achievements in sport. David has been selected for both AFL and cricket pathways, a remarkable accomplishment that showcases his dedication, skill, and hard work. We are incredibly proud of David and look forward to seeing him continue to excel in these sports. Keep up the great work, David!
We are pleased to announce that David will be representing our school at the MacKillop AFL trials, which will be held in Wagga on March 24th and 25th. We wish him the very best of luck as he competes at this exciting level. We are proud to have him represent our school.