WELCOME TO OUR NEW FAMILIES FOR 2022

We extend a very warm welcome to the following 16 new families who have enrolled in St Brigid’s and commenced at the start of the 2022 school year: Apro, Beeton, Chalana, Ganassin, Gilbert, Gorgievski, Jovanovski, McDonald, Menyanu, Miller, Nahlous, Nicholson, Oryungorn, Owoeye, Pecere, and Sherley.

Our beautiful Kindergarten class of 2022 has settled in magnificently to daily life at St Brigid’s. Thank you to the parents who have been so supportive of our teachers in preparing for this special time. The first day of school is always an exciting time and seeing the Kindergarten students begin their school days is indeed very rewarding for us all.

STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL (SRC)

The SRC works as an advocate for the needs of the school community, and as a point of contact between the student body and the school leadership team. It addresses relevant issues and sets achievable goals which support the school.

The SRC aims to:

• develop leadership skills
• provide opportunities for students to create and to implement
• give students a greater voice in decision-making processes,
• empower students to contribute to a positive school culture and
• strengthen the school community through active participation.

It is with great pleasure that I announce the Semester One Student Representative Council for 2022:

SRC Chairperson	Cameron B
Year 6	Samuel S
Year 5	Zachariah C
Year 4	Bethany M
Year 3	David M
Year 2	Vita K
Year 1	Maggie M
Kindergarten	Semester 2 only

The students were presented with their leadership badge today.

 

IN LOVING MEMORY

We remember Mr Joe Davidson (grandfather of Tully in Year 6) who peacefully passed away on Wednesday 15 December 2021. As a committee member of the Returned Services League City of Wollongong RSL Sub-Branch, he became a great friend to the St Brigid's community. Prior to COVID-19 restrictions, Joe attended St Brigid's each year to help us commemorate Anzac Day and Remembrance Day. 

We also keep in our prayers, Rafael and Gisele M and the Bush family on the recent passing of their dear uncle, brother and Son. 

In addition, we remember Antonio Frino, the father-in-law of Mrs Frino who passed away last weekend. 

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. 

BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE SAVINGS FOR FAMILIES

The NSW government will give families a $500 voucher for every primary school child in an effort to ease the childcare burden.

As students returned to classrooms, Premier Dominic Perrottet said parents could apply for the vouchers through Service NSW from February 28.

The vouchers – similar to the Dine and Discover program – will cover the parent gap fee, which is the portion paid by families after the Commonwealth-funded child care subsidy is applied. 

“Before and After School Care services are more important than ever as families return to work following the holidays,” said Mr Perrottet.

“It’s been a challenging past couple of years for parents of school-aged children. Many have had to juggle the demands of supervising their kids’ education at home while working remotely, or even forgoing paid work.

“These vouchers for before and after school care will help alleviate some of the financial pressures on NSW families and provide greater flexibility and more options for those who need to work.”

RESPIRATORY ILLNESS PROCEDURES - GOOGLE FORM

Please continue to fill in the reporting google form if your child has even the mildest of respiratory symptoms; is a close household contact, or has tested Positive for COVID-19.
 
The information contained in this form gives me very good data about prevailing illness in the school which I can communicate to parents to help us all work together to ensure the health and safety of our community. 
 
This google form can be found on the St Brigid’s website, as a link in the Brigid Bulletin and by clicking the link in the COMPASS news-feed.

Students and staff who have undergone testing and have been directed to self-isolate can return to school when: they have received a negative test result, completed their 7 day isolation period AND are not displaying symptoms of illness.

Your support in ensuring the health and safety of the St Brigid’s Community during this global pandemic has been greatly appreciated. 

REPORTING FORM

Please complete it any day or time of the week, including weekends. The information will automatically come to Ms Uroda and Mrs Sammut.

TAEKWONDO PROGRAM STARTS NEXT WEEK FOR K-6

The Taekwondo Kickstarters program is a modified taekwondo program, developed by Australian Taekwondo, for delivery in schools. It is a fun, safe and inclusive program that teaches kids about all of the benefits that Taekwondo has to offer.

Taekwondo is the safest martial art and the best at developing a child’s physical literacy. The program is designed to create a level of consistency with respect to curriculum and content to provide schools and participants with a quality taekwondo experience that can be delivered and enjoyed nationally.

Features of Taekwondo Kickstarters includes:

• A nationally accredited framework to help delivery in the school system.
• A safe, fun and inclusive program for all school students.
• Learning for children from K-6 in the fundamental skills and values of taekwondo, specifically those with minimal experience in the martial arts.
• Alignment with the Australian Curriculum.

Thank you to the P&F for paying for 2 weeks of the 6 week program. 

SCHOOL MERIT AWARD POLICY

The purpose of our weekly school-based merit award system is to recognise and celebrate student achievement and success in a variety of learning and leadership areas.  As the title suggests, it is based on merit for achievement and is not designed as an encouragement award or given out so everyone in the class will receive an equal amount of awards each term or year. The classroom teachers have a myriad of ways of encouraging and recognising the growth of the students at a class level. 

THE STRUCTURE OF MERIT AWARDS K-6

• Step 1 - 5 Merit awards = First Assistant Principal Award+
• Step 2 - 5 Merit awards = Second Assistant Principal Award+
• Step 3 - 5 Merit awards = First Principal Award
• Step 4 - 5 Merit awards = Third Assistant Principal Award+
• Step 5 - 5 Merit awards = Fourth Assistant Principal Award+
• Step 6 - 5 Merit awards = Second Principal Award+
• Final Step -  2 Merit Awards = St Brigid Medal

THE PROCEDURE

1. When students achieve a milestone they are required to submit the actual relevant merit awards to the school office for validation
2. The awards are verified by the Assistant Principal and/or Principal and signed, stamped and dated 
3. The next milestone award is presented at the assembly on the Friday after all the documentation is presented. 
4. The Assistant Principal and Principal will sign and date the back of the awards when they are presented.
5.  The final awards of the year are presented at the final assembly in Week 9 (if it is a 10 week term) and Week 10 (if it is an 11 week term). No awards will be presented after this assembly.

LETTER FROM THE PREMIER OF NSW TO FAMILIES

COVID-19 PROCEDURES STILL IN PLACE

Parents and carers are not allowed on school sites or at off-site school events held during school hours except for the following purposes only:

1. • Essential parent and carer meetings with teachers and/or school executives with a scheduled appointment.

   • Parents and carers who attend a school administration building or another defined location for the purpose of picking up their child if they are unwell or where they have been asked to arrange for a COVID-19 test after their child has displayed flu-like symptoms while at school.

   • Parent or carer volunteers required in educational support roles for activities essential to the delivery of the curriculum such as reading groups, music, dance and kitchen garden areas. Schools are required to have scheduled programs in place and remind parents and carers that they must not attend school unless it has been previously arranged.
     
     

CAR ZONE PROCEDURES FOR COVID-19

Please follow all  the school procedures and traffic rules to ensure the smooth operation of our car zone but even more importantly, for the safety and well being of all our families.

Please do not queue and block the traffic in Vickery Street. You must do a lap of the block or time your arrival when the zone is not so congested. Please do not use technology and be on your phone in the car zone. 

The car zone has a 2 minute limit. As we commence calling names from 2:55pm-3:10pm please do not enter the zone until 2:53pm. Heavy fines can be given as a result of parking in this zone.