SCHOOL NEWS
ATHLETICS CARNIVAL
Our annual Athletics carnival was a huge success with perfect weather and spirits high. Our superstar athletes showed dedication, sportsmanship, and incredible performances. Whether they received a ribbon, achieved t a personal best, or simply participated with courage and determination, they each made us all incredibly proud. I’d like to thank the parents who kindly offered their time supervise and help run the events, take photos and support the students in general; your generosity is so very much appreciated. A special acknowledgement goes to Mrs Carey-Barr and Mrs Lavelle for their tireless planning and preparation for the wonderful event. Please enjoy some snaps from the day.
Congratulations to the 2025 Age Champions for our athletics carnival.
Junior female - Remi D
11 years female - Aaliyah O
Senior female - Alice M & Arielle N
Junior male - Ted Flynn
11 years male - Hayde R
Senior male - Ryder M
A big congratulations to MacKillop House (red) who were the overall point winners.
NEWS FROM OUR REC
Religious Literacy Assessment (RLA) - Year 4 students
On Monday 4th August, our Year 4 students completed the Religious Literacy Assessment. This important assessment gives our students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of key concepts in our Religious Education curriculum and to reflect on how they live out their faith in everyday life.
The RLA not only aims to gauge student knowledge, but also provides valuable data that informs teaching and supports professional learning across our schools in the Diocese of Wollongong.
We are incredibly proud of the effort, focus and reverence our students showed during the assessment. They approached the experience with maturity and a genuine commitment to sharing what they have learned about Scripture, tradition and Catholic values.
Thank you to our Year 4 teachers for preparing the students so thoroughly, and to our families for your continued support in nurturing your child’s faith journey.
Well done, Year 4!
Whole-School Vigil Liturgy– Feast of the Assumption of Mary
We warmly invite all parents and carers to join us for our Whole School Vigil Liturgy to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation in the Catholic Church. While the feast is celebrated on the 15th August, due to the gymnastics program, we will be marking this solemnity on the 14th and then praying the Angelus together as a community on the 15th at the morning assembly.
Date: Thursday 14th August 2025
Time: 2:00pm
Location: St Brigid’s Catholic Parish Church
The Assumption of Mary is a significant feast that reminds us of Mary’s faithful “yes” to God and her place in Heaven as a sign of hope for all believers. Our school community looks forward to coming together in prayer and reflection, and we would be delighted to share this moment with you.
We hope you can join us for this special occasion.
Sacramental Program
We are pleased to invite families of baptised Catholic children in Year 3 and above at St Brigid’s School to participate in the 2025 Lumen Christi Parish Sacramental Program for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Eucharist.
This is a significant step in your child’s faith journey and an important milestone in their full initiation into the Catholic Church. These Sacraments offer children the opportunity to experience God’s mercy and grace, and to be more deeply united with Jesus through the Eucharist.
The celebration of these Sacraments is not only a personal moment for your child but also a shared celebration of our parish and school community, who support and nurture the faith of our students.
Enrolments for the 2025 Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Eucharist are now open and will close on Friday 31st August 2025.
Please refer to the following information for details on how to enrol your child in the program. We look forward to accompanying you and your child on this special journey of faith.
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Enrolment Period |
Register online between 1 July - 31 August 2025 |
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ST BRIGID’S SCHOOL |
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Parent information Evening |
Tuesday 23 September at 6:30pm |
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Candidate's Commitment Mass |
Saturday 18 October at 5:30pm |
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School Program St Brigid’s and Good Samaritan |
5 weeks Monday 13 October to Friday 14 November 2025 |
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Parish Mass Attendance |
Thursday 16 October at 9:30am Thursday 23 October at 9:30am Thursday 30 October at 9:30am Thursday 6 November at 9:30am Thursday 13 November at 9:30am |
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Sacrament of Reconciliation after the weekday Mass |
Thursday 13 November at 10am |
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Retreat Day |
Thursday 13 November |
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First Holy Communion Mass |
St Brigid’s Church 15 November at 5:30pm 22 November at 5:30pm |
St Brigid’s Parish Mass - SCHOOL TIMETABLE
You are warmly invited to join your child as his/her class attends Parish Mass.
As a Catholic school, we value and celebrate the strong bond between family, school, and parish. Coming together to share in the Eucharist strengthens this connection and shows our children the importance of faith lived out in community. Your presence at Mass not only supports your child’s faith journey but also nurtures the sense of belonging that is at the heart of our Catholic tradition.
We hope you can join us in this special celebration of faith.
We hope you can join us in this special celebration of faith.
Please note changes* from previously advertised
* Jubilee Mass 25 September: cancelled
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Term 4 2025 St Brigid’s Parish Mass Thursday 9:30am |
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16 Oct |
Year 3 Year 4 |
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23 Oct |
Year 3 Year 2 |
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30 Oct |
Year 3 Year 1 |
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6 Nov |
Year 3 Year 5 |
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21 Nov  |
Whole School Mass All Benedictine Saints (and Y3 First Reconciliation) Led by Year 4* |
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27 Nov |
Year 6 Kindergarten |
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11 Dec  |
Whole School Mass Year 6 Graduation Led by Year 6 |
Vinnies Van collection - Week 5,Term 3
We are once again seeking your support to provide much-needed items for members of our local community who are doing it tough or experiencing homelessness.
Each HOUSE has been allocated a selection of requested items to contribute. These essentials are vital for the Vinnies Van to continue operating and supporting those in need.
Please find your child’s/children’s house below for the updated list of requested items.
Please donate the items listed between:
MONDAY 18th August- FRIDAY 22nd August
Thank you in advance for your support
Feast of St Mary MacKillop
Today our whole school came together to celebrate the Feast of St Mary MacKillop, Australia’s first saint. Each class gathered in our church for a special prayer celebration to remember and honour her life.
We listened to stories about how Mary MacKillop helped others, especially those who were poor or in need. We prayed together and reflected on her famous words: “Never see a need without doing something about it.”
The students showed great respect and reverence during the celebration. It was a peaceful and prayerful time for everyone to think about how we can follow Mary’s example by being kind, helpful, and loving towards others.
Thank you to all the teachers and students for making the celebration so special. St Mary MacKillop, pray for us!
Year 6 Mass with The Bishop
"On Wednesday 6th August 2025, Year 6 left school to make the long walk up to St Therese, West Wollongong. We were greeted at the gate before eating our recess.
Shortly after, we entered the church to commence the mass. There were nine schools altogether and we each played our part. Hunter read a tricky First Reading with confidence.
In Bishop Brian’s homily, he talked about what the Feast of the Transfiguration meant for us as we prepare to move into Year 7 next year. He discussed that, “we as pilgrims may not know where we are going, however we can trust in God, who will guide us”.
We received individual prayer cards from Bishop Brian who blessed them and asked us to keep them somewhere sacred.
After mass, we had lunch in the forecourt and enjoyed handball and live music with a karaoke special. Some of us even got to lead the singing and dancing!
It was a day of reverence and fun, meeting new people and seeing old faces (and we are not talking about the teachers)".
Ella D & and Aaroz P
See gallery for more photos
NEWS FROM THE LIBRARY
Library Borrowing
The day to return books is THURSDAY each week. New books are then borrowed on FRIDAY. Please remember to bring a library bag to protect books on the way to and from school.
BULLYING NO WAY DAY
St Brigid’s will celebrate Bullying No Way Day on Tuesday 19th August. The 2025 theme is Be Bold, Be Kind, Speak Up! On this day students in all grades will engage in fun activities to help build their awareness and understanding of the types of bullying, including cyberbullying and how to respond and stand up against bullying. All classes will create kindness chains and learn all about respect and resilience. The SRC will organise fun sporting activities where students can practice being kind, respectful and calling out disrespect. We are encouraging everyone to wear BLUE mufti clothes on this day as blue is the colour of kindness. We are looking forward to taking a stand against bullying and creating a kindness culture at St Brigid’s.
2025 CCSP CONFERENCE
The Council of Catholic Schools Parents (CCSP) has announced that tickets to the 2025 CCSP Parents and Carers’ Conference on 25 October are now on sale!
This year’s conference celebrates 30 years of CCSP supporting and advocating for parents and carers of children in Catholic schools. It also marks the 20th anniversary of the formation of the Council’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Committee.
The conference theme for 2025 is SUPPORTING FAMILIES: WORKING TOGETHER IN A MODERN WORLD.
Keynote speakers at the one-day conference include:
- Dr Justin Coulson - one of Australia’s most trusted parenting experts. He is the co-host and parenting expert on Channel 9’s Parental Guidance, the founder of happyfamilies.com.au.
- Michelle Mitchell - author and speaker, sought after for her compassionate and grounded advice for parenting tweens and teens.
- Daniel Principe - passionate youth advocate and educator. Through his work, Daniel encourages young people to recognise and resist distorted attitudes towards bodies, relationships and sex.
The conference which is being held at the Novotel, 350 Church Street, Parramatta is a one-day event and is only $30 to attend. It is a wonderful opportunity to hear and engage with some of Australia’s leading experts on raising young people in our complex society.
YEAR 5 EXCURSION TO STANWELL PARK
Students in Year 5 attended an excursion to Stanwell Park as part of their Geography unit about Factors that shape places. Students were immersed within a range of natural settings, explored and learned about how people and environments influence one another, and the interactions and connections between people, places and environments. Here are a few of their accounts!
"On Thursday the 24th of June we went on a trip to Stanweel Park with my class of 17 students, 2 teachers and 1 parent. The way there took longer than expected but it was worth it. As we arrived we were greeted by our Rangers Kia and Sophie, also hangry screeching Cockatoos, hungry as hippos ready to take our lunch. First we sat down on a smooth tarp and learned a whole heap about native and introduced animals. Then we hit the beach for a walk by the waves. Then we started to create habitat to protect animals that are at the lagoon, some people tried to save turtles or crabs. Afterwards, we ate some tasty lunch to get some more energy. We then did some fishing at the creek using nets. We didn't find much but a kid found a bug and coin. So after we got jars and hunted some bugs, under a log we found an old chest. Nothing was inside but it did have a name on it... PS it was Adam. After that small adventure, the bus came to pick us up. On the way back to school I sat at the very back of the bus with my friends Mia, Logan and Grace.
It was very bumpy and it felt like a roller coaster going extremely fast. I was sad Nisindu didn't make it but we will share our memories with him as soon as he gets back".
Jude C
"In the morning I got ready,we were going on an excursion to Stanwell Park. My mum,Mrs Williams and Mrs Tasker were all helping. We went to Stanwell Park to learn about sustainability, we learned about many interesting things including iron deposits which cause the mountain to rust. We went there on the 24th of June,it was a lovely cool but sunny day, perfect for all the amazing activities. It was an exquisite day with lots of fun adventures. I liked the beach habitat making,the sand was as soft as wool and the water was as clear as glass".
Hayde R
see galley for more photos
NAIDOC WEEK
On Wednesday, St Brigid's students participated in a vibrant cultural incursion
facilitated by Adam, Tye, and Mandy, who shared their knowledge and traditions with
great enthusiasm.
Adam guided the students through a range of Aboriginal artefacts, sharing their
significance and traditional uses. Mandy explained the meaning behind Aboriginal
symbols, which were then used to decorate boomerangs. Tye energised the group
with traditional Aboriginal movements, accompanied by the sounds of the didgeridoo
and clapsticks. It was an engaging and educational experience, helping everyone
deepen their understanding and appreciation of the culture of the Aboriginal peoples
of our land.
"Every time we teach, at least one child is hearing the word “Aboriginal, Dharawal, Yuin, Dhurga, Wiradjuri” for the first time, “ochre” for the first time, “totem animal” for the first time, or hearing a “yidaki” (didgeridoo) for the first time.” Adam Towney
See gallery for more photos
PARENT ENGAGEMENT
We’re excited to be offering an 8-week gymnastics program for all students throughout Term 3. Delivered by qualified instructors, the program will support students’ physical development, coordination, balance and confidence in movement.
This initiative aligns with the NSW PDHPE syllabus, particularly in the area of "Movement Skill and Performance", helping students develop competence and confidence to participate in a range of physical activities.
We sincerely thank our parents and carers for taking the time to participate in the recent school survey. Your feedback provides valuable insights into how we are supporting students and families, and helps shape our ongoing efforts to improve. We are encouraged by the strong results and also mindful of the areas that call for further attention.
Strengths in Communication and Engagement
St Brigid’s continues to demonstrate strong results in the area of two-way communication with parents, with a school mean of 7.9 compared to the regional average of 7.2. Parents feel welcomed when they visit the school (8.9), find it easy to speak with their child’s teachers, and are well informed about school activities (8.3). Written communication is clear and accessible (8.1), and parents generally feel listened to by teachers. The approachability of the principal and the scheduling of events at convenient times also support strong partnerships with families.
Supporting Student Learning and Behaviour
The domain of support for student learning received a school mean of 7.7, again exceeding the regional mean of 7.2. Parents highlighted the encouragement students receive to do their best (8.5), and noted that teachers maintain high expectations (7.7) and take an interest in their child’s learning (8.0). Classroom management and behavioural expectations are clear and consistent, with students being expected to pay attention (8.4), and rules for school behaviour clearly communicated (8.9).
In addition, behavioural support and student wellbeing emerged as key strengths. St Brigid’s achieved a school mean of 8.7 in this area, well above the regional mean of 7.6. Parents expressed high levels of confidence in the safety of their children at school (8.6) and travelling to and from school (8.8). They also reported minimal concerns regarding gangs (9.5) or racial tensions (9.0), and believed behaviour issues were addressed in a timely manner (7.7).
We also received strong feedback in how the school supports diverse learning and inclusion, with a mean of 7.9 in this area (regional mean 6.8). Parents acknowledged the school’s commitment to helping students who need additional support (8.0), creating opportunities for slower-paced learners (7.9), and supporting students with special needs (7.9). Staff were also recognised for their efforts to include all students in school life (8.2) and to help foster positive friendships among peers (7.4).
Areas for Continued Growth
While these results are affirming, your feedback also draws our attention to some important areas for reflection and improvement:
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Homework expectations (6.8) were the lowest-rated item in the learning domain, suggesting a need for more clarity and consistency across year levels.
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While parents feel informed, we see opportunities to enhance communication about academic progress (7.1), timely feedback when students are not progressing (7.6), and consistent reporting of behaviour, both positive and negative (7.2).
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Lower scores in understanding a child’s future opportunities (6.7) and social and emotional development (6.2) indicate a need for greater focus on holistic development and future planning, in partnership with families.
ARRIVE TO THRIVE - ATTENDANCE
St Brigid's Attendance Procedures
The following table outlines the procedures that will be followed to ensure every student at St Brigid’s has the opportunity to thrive. Regular school attendance plays a key role in each child’s academic progress, wellbeing, and social development.
Every fortnight, the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) provides us with updated attendance data. This allows us to monitor patterns and respond early to any concerns. Our staged approach ensures that appropriate support is offered in partnership with families to promote consistent attendance for every learner.
| Attendance Level | Percentage | Follow up |
| Regular | 90% – 100% |
n/a |
| Targeted | 80% – 89% | Stage Leader/ Parent phone call |
| Targeted | 71%- 79 | Parent F2F meeting to discuss strategies |
| Intensive | 70% and below | Parent Meeting - Individual student plan writtten |
Please find below a link to the form used to apply for Extended Absence in excess of five days. Notification of extended absence in excess of 5 days form
SPORTS DAYS IN TERM 3
| CLASS | DAYS |
| Kindergarten | Tuesday & Friday |
| Year 1 | Tuesday & Friday |
| Year 2 | Thursday & Friday |
| Year 3 | Wednesday & Friday |
| Year 4 | Wednesday & Friday |
| Year 5 | Thursday & Friday |
| Year 6 | Thursday & Friday |
LITERACY WEEK DRESS UP
St Brigid’s will be celebrating Literacy Week on Thursday 28 August, with a special focus on encouraging and celebrating both literacy and numeracy across our school community.
The day will begin with a 'Read to Your Child' morning, followed by our regular Friday assembly. After the assembly, students will take part in our Dress-Up Parade, where they are invited to come dressed as their favourite book character. Whether it’s a classic storybook hero, a magical creature, or a character from a beloved novel, we’re looking forward to seeing all the wonderful and creative costumes!
It promises to be a joyful celebration of reading, storytelling, and imagination.
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
Canteen
All canteen enquiries can be directed to Nicole Bonar - if your child is absent on the day you have organised a lunch order please text Nicole Bonar on the below mobile number and let her know before 8.30am - she will organise a credit for you.
Please note the canteen will be open on Thursday 25 September instead of Friday 26 September!
