FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK
CONGRATULATIONS EMERITUS BISHOP PETER INGHAM
Emeritus Bishop Peter Ingham was named a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the Catholic Church in yesterday's Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
As Marilyn Rodrigues writes in the Catholic Weekly:
He said he was “so surprised” to receive the honour and wanted to dedicate it to the people of the Diocese of Wollongong.
“I usually think of myself as a very ordinary horse in this human race, I didn’t see that I did anything spectacular but I’ve basically just tried to be there for people,” he said, adding that a lot of his work as a bishop was “loitering with intent”.
“The loitering is the hanging around after Masses and school functions, Confirmations and whatever. And the intent is the witness to the Gospel; getting to know people and mixing with them and treating them as equals so that when they did have something they wanted to talk to you about they didn’t have an inhibition about approaching you.
“Basically what I’ve tried to do is to put ‘fresh heart’ into people and to encourage them to persevere in their faith in Jesus Christ and the consequent goodness then that flows from that so as to make a positive social contribution to the common good of everybody.
“If we have positive values to live by we strengthen the moral fabric of our nation. Particularly among our Catholic people if they really try to live our faith they’re a great force for good in the community.
“There’s an old French proverb that says 'Gratitude is the memory of the heart’ and in a sense, I’m grateful for the goodness of so many people across the Illawarra, the Shoalhaven, the Macarthur, in the parishes, schools, CatholicCare, our Bishop Brian Mascord and clergy, religious congregations and the wonderful volunteers and co-workers."
We have been advised that CEDoW leadership has made a decision that all gala days set for the near future are cancelled. The levels of staff and student absenteeism are at extreme levels so all non essential professional learning including non pathway sport is suspended until further notice. The aim is to ensure that teachers are available for classroom teaching in this time of excessive staff shortages.
Therefore, the soccer gala days set for Friday 29 July 2022 (including the backup on Friday 12 August 2022) have been cancelled. This will also apply to the soccer gala day in Tahmoor in August. There are 7 gala days in soccer all up, which all take out a large number of staff at each venue and also a significant number of secondary students who act as our referees.
The postponed Netball Gala Day is also cancelled.
This is unfortunate as the gala days, as you know, are so valued and enjoyed by our students in a time when exercise and activity are so important. It is, however, most important to consider the widespread nature of current illness and absenteeism and the predicted forecast that this pattern will continue over the next month or so. In addition, many schools are finding it increasingly difficult to continue to recruit staff for casual and temporary positions.
We will continue to invite a cohort of parents each week to the Friday assembly. The staff really appreciate your support as you continue to follow our existing COVID-Smart measures. We are in a very fortunate position that the staff are remaining healthy and can continue to deliver quality education and work towards achieving learning continuity for the students.
| WEEK | DAY/TIME | CLASS PARENTS |
| Week 9 | Friday 24 June 2:30pm | Year 6 and Kinder |
| Week 10 | Friday 1 July 2:30pm | Year 1 and Year 2 |
COVID SMART PROCEDURES FOR COMING ONTO SITE
Despite many restrictions being lifted, the St Brigid’s staff have elected to continue to wear face masks to keep healthy and to achieve learning continuity for the students by avoiding sickness and absenteeism. Therefore, I ask that you show your support for the staff by adhering to the 4 COVID-smart procedures below when you come onto the school site as a volunteer or visitor.
WONDER RECYCLING REWARDS
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.
Please complete it any day or time of the week, including weekends. The information will automatically come to Ms Uroda and Mrs Sammut.
2022 SAVE THE DATE
| 28 June | Athletics Carnival |
| 1 July | Term 2 concludes |
| 18 July | Term 3 commences |
| 23 September | Pupil free day - SDD |
| 10 October | Pupil free day - SDD |
| 9 December | Christmas Carols Concert and dinner |
| 15 December | Year 6 Graduation Mass / luncheon / prize giving / ringing of bell |
| 16 December | Final awards assembly of 2022 |
| 16 December | Year 6 Graduation Excursion |
| 19 December | Christmas fun day and special food day |
| 20 December | Pupil free day - SDD |