Dear Families,

Yesterday, we celebrated the feast of Mary’s assumption into heaven, body and soul. This solemnity is commemorated around the world on this day in prayerful recognition of the role that Mary, the mother of Jesus, played in his great mission on Earth. 

Pope Pius XII, who decreed the dogma of the Holy Day of the Assumption in 1950, declared that Mary was such an intricate part of the birth and lifetime mission of Jesus that she would be united with him again in the next life. Pope Pius, and the Church since, was prepared to declare that the goodness, devotion and selfless love that she demonstrated throughout her life, as well as her role as mother of Jesus,  must surely place Mary securely beside her son in the next life. 

We are reminded on this day to look to Mary as a model for our own lives. Her willingness to follow the instincts of her faith-filled heart sets her apart for us as someone who faced the joys, responsibilities and difficulties of life with God’s will as her guide. Upon reflection, it is a positive aspect of our Church that a woman, so predominant in the life of Jesus, has been granted such a high level of recognition and respect!

Hail Mary, full of grace, The Lord is with you.

Blessed are you among women,

And blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

Yours in Faith, Justice and Learning

New Families

We extend a very warm welcome to the following 18 new families who have enrolled in St Brigid’s and commenced at the start of the 2019 school year: Subotic, Oluwadara, Neill, Arce, Brennan, Curtis, Davies, DiStasio, Gleeson, Jokela, Jordeski, Mackey, Micallef, Mussared, Richter, Rizzo, Berridge and Specogna.

Commencement Mass

Yesterday we celebrated a beautiful Mass with Fr Bernard to start our new school year. This year we are called to reflect upon true discipleship. Jesus is ever-present and always calling us into closer relationship with him, inviting us into closer caring relationships with one another, and inviting us into closer caring relationships with the world. Our response to Jesus needs to be an active one where we listen and respond to his call through the lens of our Catholic values of compassion, courage, service and stewardship.

In our Mass our elected student leaders were also inducted into their new leadership positions for 2019. On behalf of our school community I would like to congratulate each student and wish them every success in these leadership positions for 2019.

School Support Staff for 2019

Cathedral Car Parking- $50,000 has been raised!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MNIdEBargkwccQzeQjoMmJ-wDjTuoynjbRG9fu_u-bk/edit#gid=1863000764

Meet and Greet Appointments

During Week 3 (Monday 11 – Friday 15 February 2019) parents and carers will be provided with an opportunity to meet with class teacher/s to inform them of their child’s needs. This will involve a 10 minute appointment that will allow you to share any information that will support your child’s learning. We ask that you complete the Meet and Greet Reflection Sheet and return to your child’s teacher/s by Friday 8 February 2019 to help support these appointments. All appointments will take place in the Hall.

Days and times will differ per each individual class. In order to book an interview time you will need to log onto the Parent Portal

http://sentral.sbgdow.catholic.edu.au/portal

This is the same portal that you would have registered for interviews last year. Once logging on you will be prompted to enter your username (email address) and the password you created. New families to the school, including Kindergarten students, will receive a separate email outlining how to register for the first time.

Please note that registration for appointments will close at 5pm on Saturday 9 February, so please book prior to this date. No online bookings will be able to be made after this date. If you have any difficulties booking your appointment please contact the office or myself.

Swimming Carnival

Our annual Swimming Carnival will be held on Monday, 20 February 2019 at Unanderra Pool. This carnival is for primary students only (Years 3-6). The carnival will commence at 9.00am and conclude at approximately 12.00pm. All children will be transported to Unanderra pool by bus, leaving St Brigid’s at 8:20am.  Buses will be unable to wait for students who are late. If your child is in Year 2 and turns this year they may attend if they are a VERY COMPETENT swimmer. Please collect a permission note from the office. Please ensure your child has the following items for the day:  costume, towel, sunhat, sunscreen, morning tea and drinks.

ICAS Assesments

This year the children in Stage 3 (Year 5 and 6) are invited to take part in the 2019 International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS), conducted by the Educational Assessment Centre. These assessments are all going to be held in September and information will be sent home closer to registration dates.

St Brigid’s Feast Day and Welcome BBQ

Thank you to the many families that came along to Mass last Saturday night to celebrate the feast of our Patron, Saint Brigid. It was a wonderful way to start the school year as a faith community, committed to Gospel values and spreading the love of God.

The students have been learning about St Brigid in class and the charism of St Brigid - hospitality, generosity and kindness, all qualities that we strive towards.

Thank you to Caterina and Anna M and the Year 1 parents who gave up their precious weekend time to set up, serve and clean up for the Welcome BBQ. What a wonderful community to be a part of.

Sacraments 2019

Sacramental program for 2019 enrolments must be finalised as soon as possible. If you have not enrolled your child for Reconciliation, Holy Communion or Confirmation, please see Cathy Zamroz at the Lumen Christi Pastoral Region Office, 36 Harbour Street, Wollongong for enrolment forms or email cathy.zamroz@lumenchristi.org.au

Please note the dates and times for the Reconciliation Program (Year 3)                    beginning in week 6

Parent Meeting/Workshop 1                  - 5/3/19 (Tuesday)

Parent Meeting/Workshop 2                  - 12/3/19 (Tuesday)

Workshop 3 (children)                             - 19/3/19 (Tuesday)

Workshop 4 (children)                             - 26/3/19 (Tuesday)

Retreat Day/Reception of Sacrament   - 29/3/19 (Friday)

National ‘Apology Day’ – 13th February 2019

On February 13th 2019 we commemorate the Australian Parliament’s Apology to the Stolen Generations. This marks a day of great significance in the history of our nation. On the 13th February 2008, the Australian Federal Labor Government made an apology to the Stolen Generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. It was a moment of solidarity and empathy that could be shared by everybody who heard it.

National Apology Day is a day to remember and pray for the children who were taken away from their families and homes. This apology was a step on the path to reconciliation. It is a commitment to right the wrongs of past injustices and is about building a bridge of respect between all people.

And so we pray….

Creator Spirit, God of the Dreaming, God of this ancient land, you see the good in all your people; we thank you for the gift of our many cultures. We come to you with our hearts open to your Spirit of peace and healing. We ask you to fill us with the love and understanding that can help us to accept the wrongs that have been done to our brothers and sisters. Help us to do all we can to be one in your love and peace. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus who is our hope of healing.

Amen

SAVE THE DATE

Maths Olympiad

Students from Years 5 and 6 are invited to participate in the 2019 Maths Olympiad. The Australasian Problem Solving Mathematical Olympiads (APSMO) is a not-for-profit, professional organisation that offers a range of mathematical competitions for students. The programs are unique in that they focus on the students' ability to solve mathematical problems in a creative manner - as opposed to simply reaching a solution using a prescribed method.

The main aims of the competitions are to:

• Introduce students to important mathematical concepts
• Teach major strategies and develop flexibility for problem solving
• Foster creativity and ingenuity and strengthen intuition
• Stimulate enthusiasm and enjoyment of mathematics
• Provide for the satisfaction, joy and thrill of meeting challenges

Mr Boss will be working with the students in preparation for the five Olympiad challenges, which are scheduled across the year.

DIOCESAN SCHOOL FEE MANAGEMENT POLICY

It is advisable that all parent/carers have knowledge of the Diocesan School Fee Management Policy, available on the school’s website.  A Frequently Asked Questions document is also provided to assist families with interpretation.

INVOICING & DISTRIBUTION OF SCHOOL FEE STATEMENTS

Annual school fee Statements for this year were  sent home with your eldest child on 31 January 2019.    If you have not received this correspondence please contact the school office to request a replacement.  Accounts are due 30 days after the date of invoice unless you have either a School Fee Agreement OR Fee Concession arrangement in place. 

SCHOOL FEE AGREEMENTS

Families who wish to take advantage of the flexibility of paying their school fees over the school year, rather than pay within 30 days, must have in place a current School Fee Agreement to advise their preferred method of school fee payment, amount and frequency.  For your convenience, this Agreement has been  included with your statement. Agreements are also accessible from the school’s administration office and their webpage. 

Please note:  If you have an existing School Fee Agreement you are required to provide an amended version as soon as possible to update your details.  In the case that you are paying by Direct Debit or Centrepay, you may also need to provide an amended authority which will be lodged by the school on your behalf.

• The School Fee Agreement should be returned to the school office as soon as possible with any applicable payment authorities.
• Families who do not return agreements will be subject to full payment within 30 days.
  • Methods of payment offered include: BPay, EFTPOS, Cash, Credit Card, Centrepay & Direct Debit with the preferred method being BPay Payments – Please refer to the School Fee Agreement for further information regarding each type of payment.
  • Frequencies offered include: Weekly, fortnightly, monthly or intervals that suit the family budget
  • To determine your payment amount, an online ‘School Fee Calculator’ is available on the school’s website.

IF YOU HAVE AN EXISTING OR WISH TO APPLY FOR FEE CONCESSION

If your family requires consideration for Fee Concession due to financial hardship, it is necessary to submit an Application for Fee Concession, providing evidence of your financial situation and have an interview with the Principal.  This process will be undertaken by the school annually.  Parent/Carers should be assured that these situations will be treated with the utmost confidentiality, respect and empathy.

If you have an existing Fee Concession, we will contact you during the year to conduct an annual review.

Please do not hesitate to contact the school office if you require explanation or assistance in relation to school fee matters.

Parents and carers reminded that in regards to the administration of medication at school, the Catholic Education Office policy states the following:

• A 'Request to Administer Medication Form' MUST be completed for all medication (prescription or Other-The-Counter)  at any time
• Prescription medication is to be provided to the school in the original container with the pharmacy label attached to the container with a completed Request to Administer Medication Form which has been signed by a doctor and includes a practice stamp  
  
• Over-The-Counter medication (eg Panadol) should only be administered if it is provided by the parent/carer in the original container with a completed Request to Administer Medication Form which has been signed by a doctor and includes a practice stamp  
• Action Plans (Asthma and Anaphylaxis) MUST be updated on an annual basis, or following a medical episode, or as requested by the school
• For medical conditions that meet the Student with Disability Criteria under Nationally Consistent Collection of Data definition and/or where there are safety concerns for the student regarding their health (such as diabetes, chronic asthma, epilepsy, cystic fibrosis) the school is to engage with School Improvement Services - Specialist Support (SIS-SS) to ensure that appropriate supports and plans are in place to meet the individual needs of the student. 

Please ensure that all students who have asthma or allergies have returned their medication and CURRENT AND SIGNED BY YOUR DOCTOR plan to the Office, along with a completed Request to Administer Medication Form. It is essential that we have all the required documention in order for us to treat the students medical needs accordingly.

All copy of the Request to Admininster Medication Form is attached along with the Diocese of Wollongong's Policy Documents.

Thank you for your assistance.

All school permission notes were sent home last week. Please ensure they are all completed, signed and returned to the Office as soon as possible. A copy of each note is available to download below. These notes are all essential and compulsory for all children in each family.

General Permission

A general permission note covers students for local walking excursions, such as our School Cross Country and other school activities within the local community. This note is valid for 2019 and you will not be required to return a signed permission note for each local activity.

Consent Form for Use of Student's Image and/or Work

Photographs are taken and used for the school newsletter, website, social media platforms and in a variety of school and Diocesan publications. This form is a Diocesan form and covers your children for 2019, along with their work which may be used in a digital setting. It must be completed for each child in your family. Please ensure all names of your children are listed if you have more than one child in your family.

Medical Assistance

In case of an emergency, these forms are required to be completed so we can attend to any medical requirements that are needed at the time.

Afternoon Pick up Arrangements

To ensure your children are picked up according to your request, we require an indication of how they are going home each afternoon. This form can be amended in the Office at any time if your circumstances change.

Sunsmart Sunscreen Form

The Sunsmart Suncreen Permission note is an annual note allowing teachers to administer sunscreen to your children. With the weather being so hot and the sun very stong, we require this permission note to be completed. If you do not give premission and would prefer your child to use a different sunscreen other than the Cancer Council Sunscreen provided, please note this on the permission note and provide the type of suncreen you would prefer them to use.

Verification of Details Form

Please take time to read through the details we have on our records system. If there are any changes required, please make these on the form provided and return to school for updating.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

HEADING

Food allergies can be quite serious and affect some of our students at St Brigid's. As an allergy aware school, we aim to reduce the risk of exposure to students, as  in some cases exposure may result in life-threatening anaphylactic reactions.

Therefore, no nuts, peanut butter (including “dippers”), “Nutella” spread (on or off sandwiches) or nutty muesli bars are permitted at school.

Thank you for your understanding.

Skoolbag is one of our main sources of communication.  Downloading the App will allow you to keep up to date with school news, check dates on the school calendar, read the school newsletter and receive alerts concerning last minute cancellations and important messages. The App also links you to the school website.

Please ensure you have the latest version of Skoolbag downloaded onto your device. Click on the link attached for full instructions.

Skoolbag Instructions

QKR! The online ordering system for the school Canteen and P&F Events.

Don’t forget to download the Qkr! App onto your phone so you can order recess, lunch and special food day opportunities for your children online. The P & F Association also use the Qkr! App for their online ordering system for events.

Happy Birthday to the following students.

We hope you had a great birthday!

Congratulations to the students who have received their Assistant Principal Award. Well done!

The Canteen will be closed until Monday 18 February 2019. Please ensure that students bring all their food to school until this date when orders will be available again.

It will also be closed on Wednesday 20 February 2019 that week due to the Swimming Carnival.

Qkr! will reopen next week to take online orders.

This year the Canteen is open on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

A roster for all parent volunteers will be emailed next week and sent out via Skoolbag. The Canteen Menu has undergone some new and exciting changes. It will be available next week and will be advertised on Skoolbag.

If you are placing an order, it must be ordered 2 WORKING DAYS IN ADVANCE.

This means if you were to order a lunch order on:

Monday 18 February 2019 you would need to have placed your order BEFORE 5pm on Wednesday 13 February 2019.

Wednesday 20 February 2019 you would need to have placed your order BEFORE 5pm on Sunday 10 February 2019.

Thursday 21 February 2019 you would need to have placed your order BEFORE 5pm on Monday 18 February 2019.

The Canteen Committee will also be holding various special food days through the year and these will be advertised in advance.

We look forward to embracing these changes with you.

Congratulations to the following students on receiving their awards during the last fortnight.

Week 2 - Term 1