Dear families and friends of St Brigid's,

In response to the Church’s 2025 Year of Jubilee, here at St Brigid’s we havean exciting lineup of projects and activities planned throughout the year. The first of these will be held this coming week: the Jubilee of Artists.

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

This passage highlights the call for each of us to use our gifts, including artistic talents, to share the light of Christ with the world. Just as artists create works that illuminate the beauty and truth of God's creation, we too are called to let our gifts shine brightly for others to see and be inspired, ultimately bringing glory to God.

In recognition of the importance of artists to Christians, past, present and future, in living a life of Hope, we are called by the Vatican and in turn by Australian Bishops to join in the world wide celebration of the arts during the week of February 15-18. 

As we exercise our own talents and interests in the arts next week and the weeks beyond,  we should become more aware of how artists can take inspiration from God to “offer us the possibility of entering more deeply into the meaning and purpose of all that exists” (the National Liturgical Architecture and Art Council). We will reflect on the importance and joy of art and artists in our lives - how artists begin with their materials “so that clay becomes a ceramic, stone becomes a sculpture, pigment becomes a painting, and sound becomes a song.”

We hope that your children will come home with inspiring and joyful accounts of their artistic experiences, over the next few weeks and that they might be awakened to their own talents, thoughts, or new interests in the world of art. 

The grand reveal of our commuity artwork project, The Jubilee of Artists, will be on showcased after the Friday assembly on March 28, 2025. We warmly invite all parents and friends to join us for this exciting celebration!

Prayer of Artists

Lord, Creator of the Universe,

We come before you as humble artists, inspired by Your boundless creativity. We thank you for the gift of imagination, the ability to see beauty in the world around us, and the power to share that beauty with others.

Grant us the courage to express ourselves fully, to create with honesty and integrity, and to seek your truth in every stroke, every word, every note, and every movement. May our work be an offering of our love for you and a reflection of your divine light.

Guide our hands and hearts so that through our art, others may feel your presence, find inspiration, and be moved to deeper understanding and compassion. Help us to use our talents not for vanity, but for the service of others, to lift them up, to heal, to encourage, and to bring joy.

In times of doubt, remind us that you are the Master Artist, and in our creations, we are merely instruments of your love. Keep our spirits free from fear and filled with hope as we continue to create.

We ask this in Your name, Amen.

COMMENCEMENT MASS 2025

At yesterday's Commencement Mass, we prayed for our student leaders, who were officially inducted into their roles for 2025. We honour their important responsibilities as mentors, guides, and role models, recognising the leadership qualities they will bring to our school community. Their dedication and commitment to serving others will inspire their peers and help shape a positive, inclusive environment for all.

Congratulations to all our student leaders. I'm confident you will excel in your roles and make a meaningful impact. As Principal, I look forward to supporting you throughout this year and witnessing the growth of your leadership.

A heartfelt thank you to Mrs Checkley (REC), Mrs Arthur-Worsop, and the Year 6 class for leading such a reverent and prayerful Mass. The readers proclaimed with confidence, and the cantors sang beautifully. Every student actively engaged in the Mass, contributing with their wonderful singing, clear responses, and prayerful gestures. Well done to everyone involved!

LEADERSHIP POSITION FOR 2025	RECIPIENT
School Captain - Leader of Faith and Liturgy	Ella D
School Captain - Leader of Stewardship and Environment	David M
School Captain - Leader of Service and Wellbeing	Kip M
SRC Chairperson - Leader of Student Voice and Advocacy	Allaria D
House Captain - Leader of Samaritan, Justice and Learning	Aaliyah
House Captain - Leader of MacKillop, Justice and Learning	Darren
House Captain - Leader of Evans, Justice and Learning	Alice M

Senior School Leaders	Lachlan C	Sachi B	Hunter M
Senior School Leaders	Ireland C	Rafael I	Tom S
Senior School Leaders	Charlie EB	Ned L	Pedro F
Senior School Leaders	Ryder M	Aaroz P	Arielle
Senior School Leaders	Ryan T	Kerry T	Samuel G

SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION 2025 

If your child has been baptised in the Catholic Faith, you have already begun preparations for their reception of the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation. From the moment of their birth, you have shared your Faith with your children in your love, words, actions and prayers. This is an essential component in their faith formation.

Receiving the Sacraments is a very blessed time in our journey of faith, and it is the means by which baptised children can complete their journey into full membership of the Catholic Church. They are community events, which remind us of the role of the parish community in the development of our life of faith, hope, and love. 

Students in Year 6, who have received the Sacrament of Baptism, Reconciliation and First Eucharist are eligible to enrol in the Sacrament of Confirmation. 

SAVE THE DATES

• Parent Information Night  - Tuesday 29 April 2025 at 6:30pm
• Candidate's Commitment Mass - Saturday 3 May 2025 at 5:30pm
  
• Retreat Day - Thursday 12 June 2025 from 8:50 am - 3:00 pm
• Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation  - 14 June 2025 at 2:00pm

PANCAKES FOR SHROVE TUESDAY 2025

On Shrove Tuesday, we come together to reflect on the start of Lent, a time for renewal and preparation. It is a day of tradition, where we remember the practice of using up rich foods before the fasting season begins. This year, we invite all students to celebrate by ordering a delicious pancake through the canteen. Let this simple treat remind us of the importance of reflection, sacrifice, and the opportunity for growth as we journey through Lent together. 

INDUCTION OF OUR NEW ALTAR SERVERS 

Congratulations to all the following Altar Servers who were inducted into their roles yesterday. As Altar Servers, they are entrusted with the important responsibility of assisting the priest during Mass and other liturgical ceremonies. They are called to be thoughtful, prayerful, and attentive, knowing that the entire community relies on their service.

As they handle sacred things and stand close to Jesus, who came to serve, they are reminded to perform their duties with care, humility, and love, always guided by prayer and understanding.

Congratulations to Ella D, Ari O, Grace H and Veronica S

A heartfelt thank you to Alice Bunder for the exemplary training she conducted for our Altar Servers. Her dedication and guidance have helped equip them with the skills and understanding needed to serve with care, humility, and love. Through her efforts, our Altar Servers now have a deeper appreciation for their important role in assisting the priest during Mass and other liturgical ceremonies.

UPCOMING ROSTER FEBRUARY - APRIL

VINNIES VAN COLLECTION

Vinnies Vans are outreach services that provide meals and snacks, blankets, toiletries, hot beverages, and, most importantly, companionship and referrals where needed to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

In 2025, St Brigid’s will conduct a week-long drive in Week 5 of each term to support this outreach service. 

Each HOUSE will be given a choice of requested items to bring in. These items will rotate each term. The items listed are essentials for the van to continue to operate in the capacity that it does.  Please find your child’s/children’s house below with the list of requested items. 

• The following items would also be appreciated:
• Tinned tomatoes
• Rice and/or Pasta
• Tinned vegetables
• Sauces
• Tinned tuna
• Men's roll-on deodorant
• Soap
• Toothbrushes
• Toothpaste
• Shampoo and conditioner (travel size)

We kindly request that all donations are brought to school from Monday 24 February 2025 -Friday 28 February 2024. 

WEEKDAY PARISH MASSES

St Brigid’s is part of the wider Catholic community. In our context, Religious Education is shared by home, parish and school, with each having its own distinct contribution. The relationship between the Religious Education program and the religious life of our school within the Lumen Christi Parish community is deeply interconnected. 

While our students actively participate in prayer – be it silent, meditative or traditional within the school day, we also come together for school liturgies and whole school Masses to celebrate significant events in the school and Church's calendar. As we have our church onsite, classes attend parish Masses on Thursday mornings.

We would like to extend an invitation to all families to attend our Parish Masses alongside our students and parishioners. We know how much this means to your children and our parish community.

In Sacrosantum Concilium, Pope Francis declared active participation in Mass is “the primary and indispensable source from which the faithful are to derive the true Christian spirit.” 

In order for you to plan your involvement in our school/parish Masses, please see the attached 2025 Parish Mass Calendar for families. Each grade will attend Parish Mass each term and we request that parents use the calendar provided to schedule attendance for the Whole School Masses as well as one of the Thursday parish masses each term. Please note that our Whole School Masses are led by students from Year 2 -Year 6.

From 2025, we would also like to extend an invitation for parents to become involved in the parish Mass on the dates shown (and with their child’s class) : please fill in the attached form if you would be interested.

After each Mass, there will be an opportunity to enjoy a ‘cuppa’ with our parish community followed by a visit  to your child’s class.

Reconciliation and First Eucharist

This program will begin in the latter part of Term 3, 2025, and continue into Term 4. Enrolments for eligible students will open at the start of August. The Sacrament of First Communion will be celebrated during the 5:30pm Mass. To ensure a smooth experience for all, we kindly ask that you keep both November 15 and November 22 free at this stage. The parish has requested that candidates be distributed evenly across the Masses to accommodate our entire parish community. 

VINNIES VAN COLLECTION

Vinnies Vans are outreach services that provide meals and snacks, blankets, toiletries, hot beverages, and, most importantly, companionship and referrals where needed to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

In 2025, St Brigid’s will conduct a week-long drive in Week 5 of each term to support this outreach service. 

Each HOUSE will be given a choice of requested items to bring in. These items will rotate each term. The items listed are essentials for the van to continue to operate in the capacity that it does.  Please find your child’s/children’s house below with the list of requested items. 

• 
  Tinned tomatoes
• Rice and/or Pasta
• Tinned vegetables
• Sauces
• Tinned tuna
• Men's roll-on deodorant
• Soap
• Toothbrushes
• Toothpaste
• Shampoo and conditioner (travel size)

We kindly request that all donations are brought to school from Monday 24 February 2025 - Friday 28 February 2024. 

MEET THE TEACHER - PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming Parent Information Night, a great opportunity to meet your child’s classroom teacher and learn more about what’s ahead this year. This evening is an important chance to gain insights into your child’s learning environment, the curriculum, and how we can work together to support their growth and success.

We highly encourage all parents to attend, as it will be a valuable occasion to ask questions and connect with teachers. Your involvement makes a significant difference in your child’s educational journey, and we look forward to having you with us!

Additionally, we kindly ask that you take a few moments to complete the Parent Questionnaire that was sent via Compass earlier this week. This helps us better understand your child's needs and your expectations for the year ahead. A big thank you to those who have already filled it out!

We look forward to seeing you at the Parent Information Night and working together to make this year a wonderful experience for your child.

The times for your parent session is as follows: 

• 5:00 pm - 5:40 pm - Kinder, Year 1, Year 4 and Year 6
• 5:50 pm - 6:30 pm - Year 2, Year 3 and Year 5

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

NAPLAN 2025

Why Do Students Do NAPLAN?

NAPLAN, the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy, is an important assessment that all students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 take part in each year. It is the only national assessment for Australian students and helps track their progress in key areas: literacy and numeracy.

As students move through school, it's important to check how well they are learning essential skills like reading, writing, and maths. NAPLAN measures these skills and shows how students are performing against national standards. It’s not the only way teachers assess progress, but it provides extra information to help them understand where each student is at.

NAPLAN also helps schools and education authorities understand how well educational programs are working and whether Australian students are achieving important goals in literacy and numeracy.

What Does NAPLAN Assess?

NAPLAN looks at four key areas:

• Writing
• Reading
• Conventions of language (spelling, grammar, punctuation)
• Numeracy

The questions in the test are based on content from the Australian Curriculum for English and Mathematics.

NAPLAN Online

This year, NAPLAN will be completed online for students. The online format is engaging and tailored, which means the difficulty of the questions adjusts based on a student’s previous answers. This helps keep students engaged and ensures the test is suited to their individual ability level. If a student finds a question challenging, they may be following a more complex pathway. All Year 3 students will still complete the writing assessment on paper.

What can I do to support my child?

Students are not expected to study for NAPLAN. You can support your child by letting them know that NAPLAN is a part of their school program and reminding them to simply do their best. Some explanation of NAPLAN is useful to help students understand and be comfortable with the format of the tests; however, it is not necessary for parents/carers to do this. Teachers will ensure students are familiar with the types of questions in the tests and will provide appropriate support and guidance.

St Brigid's Test Schedule for Year 3 & 5

Final Thoughts

NAPLAN is just one part of the school’s overall assessment process. It doesn’t replace ongoing teacher assessments but adds to the information teachers already have about your child's learning. If you want to learn more about NAPLAN, visit nap.edu.au.

NEWS FROM THE LIBRARY

ST BRIGID'S LEARNING MERIT AWARDS

Congratulations to the following students on receiving their awards during Week 10 of Term 4 2023 and weeks 2 and 3 of Term 1 2024.

Week 2 - Term 1

Students from Kinder to Year 6 will receive the Strong Foundations Award.  This award recognises those students who create a safe, supportive and friendly environment.  They are active participants in their faith, learning and outreach.

CLASS	STRONG FOUNDATIONS AWARD	LEADER OF THE WEEK
Kinder	n/a	n/a
Year 1	Miles Y	Angus B
Year 2	Mun Seng D	Roxanna O
Year 3	Kana B	Myra C
Year 4	Mila J	Samuel J
Year 5	Jude C	Hayde R
Year 6	Ella D	David M

Week 3 - Term 1

Students from Kinder to Year 6 will receive the Building Partnerships Award.  This award recognises students who work collaboratively with other students and their teachers to enhance their learning.

CLASS	BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS AWARD	LEADER OF THE WEEK
Kinder	Mikayla G	Orlando J
Year 1	Parker M	Lucy G
Year 2	Ariel E	Kane F
Year 3	Emily Y	Ishaan C
Year 4	Ari O	Ava Y
Year 5	Grace H	Lucas S
Year 6	Allaria D	Aaroz P

  

  

 

SILVER MILESTONE AWARDS - ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

Congratulations to the following students who have received an Assistant Principal's Award. Well done! 

CLASS	STUDENT
Year 2	Kai R
Year 1	Angus B
Year 6	Allaria D

    

  

          

GOLD MILESTONE AWARDS - PRINCIPAL

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	Logan A
Year 4	Liana D
Year 6	Ella D

        

Happy Birthday to the following students who celebrated a birthday Week 1,2,and 3 of Term 1. We also wish our January school holidays birthday students a great birthday! 

Kinder	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6
Betty T	Isabel T	Ellen O	Ishaan C	Aarav J	Flynn D	Christian J
Edison T	Jacob G	Rhea E	Myra C	Sebastian T	Hayden R	Tom S
		Joshua R	Della M	Isitha N	Veronica A	Sachi B
		Zachary R

  

  

  

NEWS FROM THE SCHOOL OFFICE  

2025 School Fees

You will have receive your school fee statements from the Catholic Education Office for 2025.  These are due in full by 28th February 2025 unless you have an instalment agreement in place. We are listing the fees here for your convenience.

• Tuition Fees:  $1898.00 per family
• SEDSO Fees:  $1320.00 per family

In addition to the above family fees, the following are school based fees per student for each grade:

• Kindergarten $266.00
• Year 1           $254.00
• Year 2           $284.00
• Year 3           $275.00
• Year 4           $275.00
• Year 5           $520.00
• Year 6           $456.00

These fees cover classroom resources, school carnivals, printing, licences and excursions. Further information regarding school fees can be found on our school website under the parent tab.

Attendance - Arrive to Thrive

Arrive_to_Thrive_Extended_Absence_Fact_Sheet_Feb_2025.pdf

Arrive_to_Thrive_Extended_Absence_Fact_Sheet_Feb_2025 _pdf 892.25 KB

Arrive_to_Thrive_My_Child_Won_t_Go_to_School_Fact_Sheet_V2_Feb_2025.pdf

Arrive_to_Thrive_My_Child_Won_t_Go_to_School_Fact_Sheet_V2_Feb_2025 _pdf 195.29 KB

Arrive_to_Thrive_Responsibilities_of_Parents_Fact_Sheet_Feb_2025.pdf

Arrive_to_Thrive_Responsibilities_of_Parents_Fact_Sheet_Feb_2025 _pdf 691.98 KB

   

  

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.

CATHEDRAL CAR PARKING - CAN YOU HELP?

    

 

If you can assist at some of the upcoming events, please add your name to the google spreadsheet.

Carparking volunteer https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jcKggLkGa1u31NkiKntecZPWbpK5-7qO_08nD5qu5vY/edit?gid=0#gid=0

  

   PARENTS  & FRIENDS NEWS

Welcome to 2025 we are excited to be back for another great school year ahead and share the updates from the P&F.

 

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Lawn Mowing Volunteers

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Simon Young, who has so generously coordinated our lawn mowing roster. He has stepped down from the position in 2025 due to work commitments.

A huge thank you also goes to the parents who continue to volunteer their time and energy to maintain the grounds. Your efforts create a welcoming and inspiring environment for our students, enhancing their learning experience and fostering a strong sense of pride in their school.

We are extremely grateful for your ongoing commitment to stewardship and appreciate all the time and energy you invest in this important task.

The Term 1 roster is listed below. Thank you once again for your support!

Lawn Mowing Roster 2025   

Weekend of	Mower #1	Mower #2
01/02/2025	Adam Fredericks	Shane Gilbert
22/02/2025	Zac Beeten	Nathan McBriarty
08/03/2025	Fabrizio Curcio	David Hurrell
22/03/2025	Vasko Jovanovski	Nigel McDonald
5/04/2025	Mitchell O’Dwyer	Ben Young
19/04/2024	Darrell Mitchell	Mark Holgate
03/05/2025	Ryan O’Connor	Thomas Mortlock

 

    

  

P&F AGM & General Meeting 

We hosted our AGM and Term 1 General Meeting on Tuesday evening, thank you to all who attended both in person and via zoom, it was a great turn out! 

We are excited to continue to offer a remote dial in option to allow families with work and childcare restraint to still be able to be involved. 

We are thrilled to have appointed a new Exec team to lead the P&F for 2025 along with committees to support the P&F to work closely with the school and families to bring a lot of fun throughout the year.

 

Annual_General_Meeting_2025_Minutes.pdf

Annual_General_Meeting_2025_Minutes _pdf 119.50 KB

 

   

The 2025 P&F Executive Team

• President - Lauren Beeten (Mum to Emmett Y3 and Angus Y1) 
• Vice President - Romina Rondinell (Mum to Tommy Kindergarten) 
• Secretary - April Jovanovski (Mum to Leo Y3 and Archie Kindergarten) 
• Treasurer - Mark Holgate (Dad to Georgina Y3)

There will be plenty of opportunities for you to get involved throughout the school year so please keep an eye on the Bulletin and Compass for updates.

  

 

Welcome BBQ - Sunday 23 February 2025 from 1:00pm 

This is our first event to start the new school year and bring all of our families together in a relaxed setting for a BBQ and a play. Please see details on the flyer below. 

We will be putting a call out for the first volunteering event for this event early next week so if you can assist with setting up, cooking the BBQ or serving food please add your name to the list. Remember - many hands make for light work! 

    

 

Updating QKR 

Please be sure to update your children on the QKR app. You should get a prompt when you first open the app though if you don’t it is just 2 simple steps: 

1. Click PROFILES 
2. Click on your CHILD’S NAME and select the correct year for 2025. 

This stops confusion of orders being misplaced or sent to the wrong at events throughout the year.

   

    PARISH NEWS

COMMENCEMENT MASS

KINDER 2025

ST BRIGID'S SCHOOL UNIFORM 2025

Summer Uniform - Girls

Summer Uniform - Boys

Unisex Sport Uniform

UNIFORM_POLICY_2024_.pdf