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Dear families and friends of St Brigid's,
As the world celebrates the election of our new Pope, Leo XIV, the successor to our beloved Francis I, I was especially moved by a particular part of his first address to the people of the world. He said:
“Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and among ourselves, we move forward. We are disciples of Jesus. Jesus precedes us. The world needs his light. Humanity needs him as the bridge that allows it to be reached by God and by his love.”
How powerful it is that, from the very beginning of his papacy, Pope Leo calls us back to the heart of our Faith—Jesus. We often remind ourselves, and teach our students, that Jesus is our model, the foundation on which we build our lives and values.
In these words, Pope Leo echoes our school’s core values. His call to move forward together, without fear, speaks directly to the value of courage, stepping forward in faith even in uncertain times. His image of Jesus as the bridge of God's love is a reminder of compassion, reaching out with empathy and care to those in need. When we follow Jesus' example, we live lives of service, seeking the good of others, and stewardship, honouring the gifts we have been given and using them to build a better world.
May the peace of Jesus, which he so often offered “Peace be with you” truly enter your hearts, reach your families, and all people, wherever they are, all of the people, all over the earth (Pope Leo). If that peace finds a home in hearts around the world, especially among those in power, then surely our shared hope for peace and justice can grow, bringing about new possibilities and deep joy for so many who currently suffer under the weight of conflict and injustice.
This week, we join Pope Leo in prayer that Jesus may truly become the bridge for humanity, especially for our leaders, that they may bring God’s love into the world. May our new Pope continue to speak with courage, integrity and compassion, so that all people might hear the voice of Jesus and be drawn ever closer to his example.
PARENT ENGAGEMENT - HAND IN HAND
At St Brigid’s, we recognise that meaningful learning happens best when school and home work hand in hand. When parents are actively engaged in their child’s learning journey, it strengthens connections, deepens understanding, and builds a shared sense of purpose. Research consistently shows that students thrive—academically, socially, and emotionally—when their families are involved in school life.
This term, our 'Hand in Hand' program continues to build on this partnership by inviting parents into a variety of authentic learning experiences. From participating in classroom activities, attending community events, and contributing to special projects, to simply being present and encouraging, your involvement matters. These shared moments help your child to see that their learning is valued and that we are united in supporting their growth.
We look forward to walking hand in hand with you throughout Term 2, as together we nurture curious minds, compassionate hearts, and a strong sense of belonging.
Following Mass, we welcome you to join us for a delightful morning tea, a wonderful opportunity to relax, connect with others, and enjoy a delicious donut treat. You’ll also be invited to step into our classrooms to see the vibrant and engaging learning taking place across the school. And don’t miss our Book Fair, a perfect chance to discover new stories to enjoy at home with your child.
We look forward to celebrating this joyful occasion with you, 'hand in hand' as a faith and learning school community.
ANIMALS IN SCHOOL
We know many families love dogs, and we do too. However, following a couple of parental complaints, I would like to reminder families that under the Companion Animals Act 1998 (NSW, Section 14), dogs are not allowed on school grounds unless the principal grants permission. Exceptions include assistance/service dogs, farm working dogs, organised visits, and school support dogs.
This rule is in place to keep everyone safe and comfortable. Some students have allergies, others may be fearful of dogs, and even well-behaved dogs can be unpredictable in busy environments.
If you bring your dog when dropping off or picking up your child, please keep them outside the school grounds, either waiting on a leash at least 10 metres from the gate or offsite, before entering the school.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and comfortable environment for all students.
ARRIVE TO THRIVE - ATTENDANCE
As the year progresses, we are seeing an increasing number of students arriving late to school. Just yesterday morning, a record 25 students arrived 8–10 minutes after learning had already begun.
Please remember that the school gates open at 8:30 am, and learning begins promptly at 8:50 am. Arriving even five minutes late means your child misses important instructions and the opportunity to settle in calmly for the day ahead. This can affect their learning and may disrupt the class.
We also ask you to be mindful of the Diocesan attendance policy, which encourages students to attend school at least 90% of the time to thrive academically and socially. Punctuality is a vital part of meeting this expectation and supporting your child’s success.
Thank you for your continued support in ensuring your child arrives on time, ready to learn and engage fully each day.
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Regular Attendance: 90% – 100% Targeted Intervention: 71% – 89% Intensive Intervention: 70% and below |
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
GET READY - BOOK FAIR IS COMING
Exciting news, book lovers! The Scholastic Book Fair is rolling into St Brigid’s, bringing shelves full of amazing reads for every young reader.
Students will enjoy a special sneak peek on Tuesday 27 May 2025 and will come home buzzing with their wish lists and details on how to shop, either online or in person.
Families are warmly invited to browse and buy after our Jubilee of Families Mass on Thursday 29 May 2025.
All purchases can be made online or by credit card—easy, convenient, and fun!
Every book you buy helps support our school and grows our love of reading. Don’t miss out on the stories waiting to be discovered!
VINNIES VAN COLLECTION
We and the St Vincent de Paul Society representatives were so appreciative of the donations received in Term 1. This term, we are requesting that you provide the suggested items that are so needed by our local community members doing it tough and/or experiencing homelessness.
Each HOUSE will be given a choice of requested items to bring in. 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. Please note these are different to our Term 1 list. Please donate the items listed between MONDAY 26th May- FRIDAY 30th MAY
Thank you in advance for your support.
| SAMARITAN HOUSE | MACKILLOP HOUSE | EVANS HOUSE |
| 2-minute noodles and Small packets of Chips/Pretzels | Muesli Bars | Poppers |
Other items would also be welcome if you are able:
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SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
The Sacrament of Confirmation is a profound moment in a Catholic's spiritual journey, marking a deepened commitment to faith and a strengthened bond with the Church. During this sacrament, individuals receive the Holy Spirit, empowering them to live out their faith more fully and become witnesses to Christ's love.
Last week, 15 of our students made a sincere commitment to deepen their faith as they prepare to receive this sacrament. This commitment was not just about taking part in lessons, but about opening their hearts to the Holy Spirit and embracing a lifelong journey of spiritual growth. This moment marked a meaningful step toward a more personal and mature relationship with God.
We kindly request that you keep our students and those within the Lumen Christi Parish community, who are preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation, in your prayers.
TELL THEM FROM ME PARTNERS IN LEARNING SURVEY
Over the next 2 weeks we are inviting students, teachers and parents to provide feedback on their experience of our school using an online survey. The surveys are an important part of our whole school evaluation and planning process.
We would like to invite you to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning survey. As we value the role of parents and carers within our school community we would greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and wellbeing at St Brigid's.
The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. You are able to access the parent survey on your computer or mobile device CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY
ANZAC DAY
On Friday, 2nd May 2025 students from St Brigid's attended the Combined Schools ANZAC Assembly at the cenotaph in MacCabe Park, Wollongong.
A number of students were given specific roles to perform throughout the ceremony. Allaria D recited "The Ode" for the gathering whilst Kip M and David M lay a wreath beneath the monument for the "fallen".
A group of students from Year 2 attended the ceremony to represent their class specifically and our school in general. This was in recognition of the wonderful work students in Year 2 have done this year learning about the sacrifices and contributions of men and women of our armed services. The culmination of their work was a moving ANZAC Day assembly, conducted at school by Year 2, on Monday 29 April.
MARY AND MOTHER'S DAY MASS
On Thursday 8 May 2025, our Year 3 students led the whole school in a special Mass to celebrate Mary, the Mother of God, and to honour all mothers in our community. This heartfelt service was held in the lead-up to Mother's Day, a time when we reflect on the love, care, and sacrifices of mothers and maternal figures.
The Mass was thoughtfully prepared by Year 3, who took on roles such as readers, cantors, liturgical dancers and offertory bearers. Their participation not only showcased their growing understanding of the liturgy but also their deep respect for the sacredness of the occasion. The students' commitment to leading the Mass was a testament to their spiritual growth and their readiness to serve the school community.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the mothers, grandmothers and mother figures who joined us for this special celebration. Your presence made the occasion even more meaningful, and we hope you had a joyful and blessed Mother’s Day, surrounded by love and appreciation.
More photos in the gallery
WINTER UNIFORM
We have now transitioned into our winter uniform, and it is important that all students adhere to the uniform policy. Please also note that St Brigid’s requires all students to use the compulsory school bag.
As we move into the cooler months, students should wear the full winter school and sports uniforms. Boys and girls may wear long pants, girls may wear stockings, and all students will wear their winter sports uniform.
Please take a moment to familiarise yourself with our uniform policy to ensure students are dressed correctly at all times.
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GIRLS |
BOYS |
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Bottle green tartan culotte/tunic or long bottle green slacks with SBG emblem White collared over shirt with crest (short or long) Green school hat with crest Green school cardigan or jumper with crest Short turn over white socks or grey tights Black leather shoes Red or bottled green hair ties In Winter or on cooler days, the weatherproof school jacket may be worn over the top of the school cardigan / jumper. Bottle Green School bag with emblem |
Long grey trousers with SBG emblem or grey stubbie shorts with green SBG emblem White collared over shirt with crest (short or long) Green school hat with crest Green school cardigan or jumper with crest Grey socks with school stripes Black leather shoes In Winter or on cooler days, the weatherproof school jacket may be worn over the top of the school cardigan/ jumper. Bottle Green School bag with emblem |
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
ST BRIGID'S LEARNING MERIT AWARDS
Congratulations to the following students on receiving their awards during Week 1,2 and 3 of Term 2 2025.
Week 1 - Term 2
Students from Kinder to Year 6 will receive the Deep Thinking award. This award recognises those students who use critical and creative thinking to become independent life-long learners. They use a variety of thinking strategies and take responsibility for their learning.
| CLASS | DEEP THINKING AWARD | LEADER OF THE WEEK |
| Kinder | Mateo Y | Ava C |
| Year 1 | Abigail Y | Charlotte T |
| Year 2 | Leo S | Joshua R |
| Year 3 | Della M | Leo G |
| Year 4 | Andre C | Evelyn A |
| Year 5 | Sparsha V | Jude C |
| Year 6 | Ireland C | Tom S |
Students from Kinder to Year 6 will receive the Catholic Values Award of Courage. We are challenged to be authentic people and respond to the Holy Spirit by being advocates for truth and justice.
| CLASS |
CATHOLIC VALUES AWARD - COURAGE |
LEADER OF THE WEEK |
| Kinder | Dylan I | Artemisia K |
| Year 1 | Luna W | Gracie B |
| Year 2 | Roxanna O | Bohdyn L |
| Year 3 | Ayesha O | Roman G |
| Year 4 | Theodore F | Hudson I |
| Year 5 | Hannah J | Hkum Seng D |
| Year 6 | Arielle N | Alice M |
Week 3 - Term 2
| CLASS | STRONG FOUNDATIONS AWARD | LEADER OF THE WEEK |
| Kinder | Ellie T | Vihaan A |
| Year 1 | Isabel T | Lia F |
| Year 2 | Salman R | Beau B |
| Year 3 | Leo G | Favourgrace T |
| Year 4 | Jacob S | Marta O |
| Year 5 | Veronica A | Jacob M |
| Year 6 | David M | Kip M |
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 4 | Maggie M |
| Year 6 | Kip M |
Happy Birthday to the following students who celebrated a birthday Week 1,2,and 3 of Term 2. We also wish our school holidays birthday students a great birthday!
| Kinder | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 6 |
| Archie J | Lucy G | Millicent F | Favourgrace T | Juliette I | Mia Mc | Raphael I |
| Parker M | Noah M | Chris T | Theodore F | Grace H | Alice M | |
| Tami A | Ryan R | Ryder M | ||||
| Annabelle G | ||||||
| Jayden M |
SPORTING PATHWAYS
DATES FOR TERM 2
| 19/5 | Edmund Rice College Band performance | 9:00am |
| 21/5 | National Simultaneous Story Time | In class time |
| 26/5 | Book Fair starts this week | All week |
| 29/5 | Jubilee of families, children and grandparents | from 9:30am |
| 9/6 | Public Holiday for the Kings Birthday | All day |
| 12/6 | Confirmation Retreat Day | All day |
| 13/6 | Jubilee of Sport - House challenge, walk-a-thon & BBQ | from 10:30am |
| 14/6 | Sacrament of Confirmation | 2:00pm |
| 20/6 | P&F school Disco | |
| 25/6 | Athletics Carnival | from 8:00am |
| 4/7 | Break Up | 3:00pm |
PUPIL FREE DAYS IN 2025
- 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
ALTAR SERVER ROSTER
MAY - JUNE
|
DATE |
SATURDAY 5:30pm |
SUNDAY 9:00am |
| 17/18 May | Ari | Grace |
| 24/25 May | Ella | Veronica |
| 31 May/1 June | Simon | n/a |
| 7/8 June | Ari | Grace |
| 14/15 June | Ella | Veronica |
| 21/22 June | Simon |
Grace |
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.
| DATE | CELEBRATION | LED BY |
| 22 May at 9.30am | Parish Mass |
Year 6 |
| 29 May at 9:30am | Whole School Mass for Jubilee of Families, Grandparents, the Elderly |
Year 5 |
| 5 June at 9:30am | Parish Mass & Reconciliation |
Year 6 |
| 12 June at 9.30am | Confirmation Retreat Day & Parish Mass |
Year 6 |
| 14 June at 2pm | Confirmation Mass |
Year 6 |
TERM 3
| 24 July at 9:30am | Parish Mass |
Year 2 & 4 |
| 7 August at 9:30am | Parish Mass |
Year 3 |
| 21 August at 9:30am | Parish Mass |
Year 5 & 1 |
| 4 September at 9:30am | Parish Mass |
Year 6 & K |
| 25 September at 9:30am | Whole School Mass - Jubilee |
Year 4 |
TERM 4
| 23 October at 9:30am | Parish Mass - First Communion prep |
Year 3 & 2 |
| 30 October at 9:30am | Parish Mass - First Communion prep |
Year 3 & 1 |
| 6 November at 9:30am | Parish Mass - First Communion prep |
Year 3 & 5 |
| 21 November at 9:30am | Whole School Mass - Benedictine Saints |
Year 2 |
| 21 November at 9:30am | Parish Mass |
Year 6 & K |
| 11 December at 9:30am | Whole School Mass - Graduation |
Year 6 |
PARENTS & FRIENDS NEWS
Thank you to those who joined and contributed to last weeks Term 2 P&F Meeting. We love seeing new faces join whether in-person or online. All parents are carers are always welcome. See minutes below.
Mother's Day Breakfast
What a beautiful morning shared with our mothers, grandmothers, and the special women in our lives at the Mother’s Day Breakfast. It was lovely to see all the smiles and love around the room. Thank you to everyone who came and contributed to such a special morning, and we hope you loved the gift chosen by your child. Such thought and care was put in by each child to select a gift that was just right. Happy Mother’s Day!
P&F Disco
Get those little dancing shoes ready for the School Disco! Friday 20 June 2025 at the school hall. Tickets $15 includes entry, lolly bag and glow sticks. Dinner will be available to purchase also. Stay tuned, will be live on QKR soon.
Winter Pie Drive!
Yes, it’s here – Winter Pie Drive! Back by popular demand. Stay tuned, more information to come.
Join our Facebook Community
If you haven’t already, remember to join our Facebook group. Search for ‘St Brigid’s
Gwynneville P&F Association’. Stay up to date by keeping across Compass notices.
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:
- Click PROFILES
- 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
St Brigid's Parish Mass Times
| Saturday | 5:30pm Vigil |
| Sunday | 9:00am |
| Thursday | 9:30am |
Lumen Christi Parish Bulletin
Lumen Christi Website
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.
