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The Lord shall sit King forever. The Lord will bless His people with peace.
This Sunday, our liturgical year concludes with the celebration of the feast of Christ the King. The Gospel reading will proclaim the great mystery of our faith: in the moment of his crucifixion, Jesus is shown to be King and Savior of all.
As we begin to anticipate the great feast of Christmas, with Advent beginning the following week, we recall that Jesus reminded us that he was not a king of this world, rather king of creation, of our hearts and lives, and of all those who believe in his ways and truths. During Advent, we will await the coming King, and at Christmas we will celebrate not just the ‘child of Bethlehem’, but ‘the King of peace, gloriously reigning’. With the eyes of faith, we will recognise Jesus, the crucified One, as King.
… that He might fulfill the pledges of man's redemption; and, having all creatures subject to His power, might deliver to Thy sublime majesty an eternal and universal kingdom, a kingdom of truth and life; a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace. (Preface of Jesus Christ, King)
Yours in Faith, Justice and Learning
Chaplains deliver a range of non-therapeutic welfare, spiritual and emotional support to students, families and staff at the school, including:
- Social skills groups
- Grief and loss
- Individual support
- Mindfulness
- Parent workshops
- School community support initiatives
- Social Justice groups
- Support for the spiritual needs of the school community
KINDERGARTEN TRANSITION PROGRAM FOR 2020
Yesterday, the 2020 Kindergarten cohort joined us for the second transition to schools morning. They spent time engaged in many creative activities, listening to stories, writing, socialising with one another, counting and meeting their Year 5 buddies.
Our final formal transitional to school morning will be held next Thursday 28 November 2019 from 9:15am - 11:15am. This session is for both students and parents.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION LITERACY RESULTS FOR 2019
Last week the Year 4 parents received their child's report for the 2019 Religious Literacy Assessment.
The Religious Literacy Assessment provides information about the ways each student is processing and expressing religious knowledge and understanding of the religious tradition, which is experienced daily in the Catholic school environment.
St Brigid students showed a high level of performance in their knowledge of the religious tradition. This high level of performance was particularly noticeable in their knowledge of:
- the objects of the church
- the correct order of the parts of the Mass
- the sacraments
- Mary’s response to the Annunciation
- the events of the Emmaus story
- Pentecost
- the Commandments
- formal Prayers
- Creation
- the key times of the Liturgical year and the associated symbols.
SUPERHERO DAY FOR ST VINCENT DE PAUL
A huge thank you and congratulations to our Justice leaders, Harper D and Milli G for organising our Super Hero Day to kick start our Vinnies Christmas appeal. We raised $240. Well done.
PRINCIPAL'S AWARD
| Year 6 | Zane M |
UPCOMING EVENTS
| 24 November 2019 | Working Bee and BBQ | 10:30am |
| 29 November 2019 | Year 6 Day of the Notables | All day |
| 3 December 2019 | Sacramental Enrolment night for Year 3, 2020 | 6:00pm |
| 10 December 2019 | Year 6 Graduation | From 5:30pm |
| 13 December 2019 | Reports made available on Compass | From 3:30pm |
| 13 December 2019 | Transition Day - Meet your teacher | 12noon - 3:10pm |
| 17 December 2019 | Thanksgiving Mass, final assembly, Christmas Carols and Ringing of Bell | From 9:30am |
ICAS ASSESSMENTS
Last Term, a group of Stage 3 students participated in the ICAS Assessments. Congratulations to the following students on the wonderful results they achieved:
MATHEMATICS
|
PARTICIPATION |
MERIT |
CREDIT |
|
Piper L Henry J Breanna K Noelia S Luca S Nathan A Keira B Atticus C Daniel D |
Zara B Harrison Mac |
Celeste C Harper D |
ENGLISH
|
PARTICIPATION |
MERIT |
CREDIT |
|
Keira B Luca S Nathan A Noelia S |
Daniel D Henry J |
Harrison Mac Celeste C Harper D Atticus C |
DIOCESAN SPORT
Congratulations to:
- Leki D, Luca D and Max D who have been selected in the Diocesan Basketball Team
- Hudson S who has been selected in the Diocesan Cricket Team.
VINNIES VAN SUPPORT
“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.” Proverbs 19:17
Another wonderful effort by our school community in fundraising for the Vinnies Van. Kelly collected the items today and was impressed by the amount she was able to take back to Coniston in preparation for the Christmas Hampers to be distributed. We have helped to add some ‘sunshine’ to someone’s ‘gloomy’ life.
And so we launch into our ...
ST VINCENT DE PAUL CHRISTMAS APPEAL
This Christmas, our school community, is committed to helping those people experiencing disadvantage.
Listed below are food items allocated to each class for the annual Vinnies Christmas Appeal.
Teachers will be collecting the food items in the classroom and then a representative from our local St Vincent de Paul Society will pick them up for distribution to the most disadvantaged in our immediate area.
Please ensure that all food items are at school by Friday 6 December 2019 for collection and please check the use by date on the items.
The items listed below have been requested by our St Vincent de Paul conference president, Peter Cooney.
| CLASS | FOOD ITEM |
| Kindergarten | Long life custard / Tinned ham |
| Year 1 | Christmas puddings / Tea bags (small packets) / Small jars coffee |
| Year 2 | Christmas cake / Cottees cordial (1Litre) |
| Year 3 | Assorted nuts / Long life milk |
| Year 4 | Pasta sauce / Cereal (Vita Brits, Muesli, Corn Flakes) |
| Year 5G | Tinned fruit / Sweet plain biscuits (Milk Arrowroot, Scotch Fingers) |
| Year 5W | Toothpaste / Toothbrushes / Deodorant (Male & Female) |
| Year 6 | Lollies / Chocolates / Tinned vegetables (mixed, peas, beans) |
| Staff | Gift Vouchers |
Your generosity has been appreciated with all our fundraising this year. Please make this our last big effort for 2019.
SACRAMENTAL ENROLMENT FOR 2020
The enrolment night for the 2020 Reconciliation and Eucharist Sacramental Program is Tuesday 3 December 2019. The meeting will be held in the Xavier Centre at 6:00pm. The Xavier Centre is located in the grounds of St Francis Xavier Cathedral. Your presence at this meeting is required for enrolment into the Sacramental Program.A copy of each candidate’s Baptism Certificate is required to be handed in with the enrolment form on this night, even if your child was Baptised in one of our Lumen Christi Pastoral Region Churches. We do not have the facilities to copy any certificates on the night. Enrolment forms with the attached certificates can be dropped off to the Pastoral Region office no later than Friday 20 December 2019 as the school term concludes that week.
If you wish to make a payment of fees, we accept cash, credit card or EFTPOS on the night.
The fee is as follows:
Reconciliation and Eucharist $45 (this includes a Mass book for each candidate)
Contact: Cathy Zamroz
36 Harbour Street, Wollongong NSW 2500
Tel: 1300 162 855
SAVE THE DATE
| Sunday 24 November |
FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING Lord, you give us Christ the King fo all creation. May he reign forever and ever. Amen |
 |
| Thursday 28 November |
Parish Mass 9:30 am |
Year 1
|
|
Sunday 1 December |
STAY AWAKE Lord, wake us up! Shake us out of our laziness. Get us ready to welcome Jesus into our lives. Amen |
 |
|
Tuesday 3 December |
Sacramental Enrolment Night - Reconciliation & Eucharist 2020 |
6:00 pm |
|
Thursday 5 December |
Parish Mass 9:30 am |
Year 6 & Kindergarten |
|
Sunday 8 December |
REPENT Father in heaven, soon the Glory of your Son, Jesus will make the night radiant with light. Prepare our hearts and minds. Amen |
 |
|
Tuesday 10 December |
Graduation Mass 5:30 pm |
Year 6 |
|
Thursday 12 December |
Parish Mass 9:30 am |
Year 3 |
|
Tuesday 17 December |
Thanksgiving Mass 9:30 am |
Whole School |
St Brigid's has continued to develop the use of the Compass portal. We have trialed the online permission for our recent Year 3 and Year 5 Excursions and nominations for Dragon Tag Gala Days. Thank you for embracing this technology and for your patience.
Access to the website is https://sbgdow-nsw.compass.education/
Please ensure you have the latest version/update of the Compass App on you phone. The App is available for iPhone and Android phones. Search for Compass School Manager, then search for "St Brigid's Catholic Parish Primary School - Gwynneville".
A few reminders:
Parents can enter absences and explanations for the absence directly into Compass via the Parent Portal. Parents do not need to enter Partial Absences, the office staff will enter this.
Children who arrive after 8:50am need to present at the office for a late pass. If they are not accompanied by a parent/carer they are marked as a partial unexplained absence.
When possible, please email (info@sbgdow.catholic.edu.au) or phone to let the school know that your child is being dropped of late or collected early.
School fee balances can be checked via the Parent Portal on Compass.
To do this on your phone:
- Open the Compass App
- Open the menu button in the top left hand corner (3 lines, also commonly refered to as the hamburger)
- Find and click 'Open in Browser'
- Click your name in the top right hand corner
- Click billing tab (fourth tab along)
To do this on your computer:
- Open the Compass Portal (httpss://sbgdow-nsw.compass.education/)
- Click your name in the top right hand corner
- Click billing tab (fourth tab along)
BIKE SECURITY
Parents and students, please do not forget to secure your bike with a lock in the bike rack when you arrive at school.
Congratulations to the following students on receiving their awards during the last fortnight.
Week 5 - Term 4
| CLASS | LEARNING AWARD | LEADER OF THE WEEK |
| Kindergarten | Ruby G | Ryder M |
| Year 1 | Florence M | Zlata K |
| Year 2 | ? | Matthew C |
| Year 3 | Luke S | Samuel A |
| Year 4 | Ben C | Edwina J |
| Year 5G | Hudson S | Max D |
| Year 5W | Ava S | Mondre G |
| Year 6 | Ruby J | Milli G |
Week 6 - Term 4
| CLASS | VALUES AWARD | LEADER OF THE WEEK |
| Kindergarten | Christian J | Arthur R |
| Year 1 | Enzo H | Neave M |
| Year 2 | Rosie S | Eliza P |
| Year 3 | Alexis S | Cameron B |
| Year 4 | Aryan T | Paige H |
| Year 5G | Alex H | Zita H |
| Year 5W | Meki T | Atticus C |
| Year 6 | Breanna K | Ayesha M |
Congratulations to the students who have received their Assistant Principal's Award. Well done!
| CLASS | ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AWARD |
| Year 2 | Hamilton Y |
| Year 2 | Matthew C |
| Year 3 | Abby H |
| Year 3 | Samuel A |
| Year 3 | Grace D |
| Year 4 | Dalton Y |
| Year 4 | Edwina J |
| Year 5G | Daniel D |
| Year 5W | Marcus M |
| Year 6 | Zane M |
Happy Birthday to the following students.
We hope you have a great birthday!
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 6 |
| Rhiley A | Willow M | Georgia F | Sally F |
| Nathan A | |||
| Milli G | |||
| Celeste C |
The 2019 St Brigid's Yearbook is now available to pre-order for $20.00 via Qkr! The Yearbook is a yearly publication which covers events throughout the school year. It is a great memento for the students to keep and look back on. Please place your order by Friday 6 December 2019.
CANTEEN NEWS - UPCOMING ROSTER
| WEEK 7 TERM 4 | |
| 25 November | Jim Armstrong and Gabrielle Micallef |
| 27 November | Daniel St Archangel |
| 28 November | Marie Linnehan and Lauren Woodcock |
| WEEK 8 TERM 4 | |
| 2 December | Kate Sciannimanica |
| 4 December | Elle Specogna and Naomi Gleeson |
| 5 December | Karen Birch |
| WEEK 9 TERM 4 | |
| 9 December | Maria Ianni |
| 11 December | Ainsley Eckerman and Fiona Carolan |
PLEASE NOTE: THE CANTEEN WILL BE CLOSED FROM THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER
WANT TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN THE LIFE OF THE SCHOOL?
Are you interested in volunteering for P&F events? Would you like to help out the wonderful St Brigid’s Community but don’t know where to start? We’d love to have you on board.
Drop the P&F a line and we’d be very happy to get you involved in events or as a coordinator. We can also team you up with an existing volunteer to help share the work and learn the ropes. Email us at pandf@sbgdow.catholic.edu.au
CAN YOU VOLUNTEER AN HOUR OR TWO?
Thank you to those who have already vounteered to help with our fundraising efforts at the Cathedral carpark for major events in Wollongong.
Thank you to Gary, Martin and Lam who covered the Australian Supercross, and to Andrew, Silvia, Dan, Marg, Anna and Martin for working the three Wiggles concerts last Saturday.
If you can volunteer for an hour or two for any upcoming events, please add your name to our Google document below.
CALLING FOR VOUNTEERS FOR NEW YEARS EVE
- 25 November 2019 - Illawarra Hawks v Cairns Taipans 7:30pm tip off
- 16 December 2019 - Illawarra Hawks v Melbourne 7:30pm tip off
- 22 December 2019 - Illawarra Hawks v NZ Breakers 3:00pm tip off
- 31 December 2019 - NYE and Illawarra Hawks v Sydney Kings 5:30pm tip off
The P&F Fete Committee would like to thank all our generous sponsors for contributing to a wonderful community event.
St Brigid’s Gwynneville
| Saturday | 5:30pm Vigil |
| Sunday | 9:00am |
| Thursday | 9:30am |
For the most current Mass times and Parish information, please visit the Parish website
COMMUNITY NEWS
Songs of Joy - 15 December 2019
Ss Peter and Paul Church Kiama - 2:30 pm
A combined chorus of over 180 singers from Sydney and the South Coast are joining together for a sensational afternoon of song.
Antoinette Raynal, Director of Katandra Womens A Cappella says “ The joy of singing has such an impact on both the audience and the singers, nothing beats the excitement and impact of such a beautiful big sound".
Sydneys’ Hummingsong Choir's Maribella and Senisuara, as recently seen on TV in Australia’s Got Talent, are the special guests for the event.
The Finale features the Kiama Youth Group 'The Sing Space Vocal Ensemble' leading the combined chorus in singing “One Voice”. Sure to create a moving highlight which will raise the roof and cheer in the season!
Entry to the concert is by donation with all proceeds going to the Charity “The Homestead of Hope”. A proud collaborative endeavour by Kiama churches to support those in need within our community.
Illawarra Hawks vs Cairns Taipans
The Illawarra Hawks would love to see you and your students at our next Illawarra Hawks game.
The Illawarra Hawks will take on the Cairns Taipans on Monday 25th November and we’re offering Illawarra Schools a massive 20% off tickets.
To purchase tickets:
Wollongong City Council - Help create our Cycling Strategy
Whether you're a weekend warrior, a novice with training wheels or someone who never hops on a bike. We want to hear about your cyclying experiences.
Council is updating our bike plan - let's continue to make Wollongong cycle-friendly for all. Please visit our website as https://www.haveyoursaywollongong.com.au/help-shape-the-wollongong-cycling-strategy and complete the survey.
We welcome feedback from all members of the community by Monday 9 December 2019.
Australia Day Aquathon
Australia Day is a fun day at Wollongong Harbour and it all kicks of with the huge all
age fun of the Australia Day Aquathon and Funrun-walk.
The Kids Aquathon distance is just for kids 6-12 years, and is all about participation.
The 140m swim (7-9 years) or 200m swim (10-12 years) is held in the safe confines of the Wollongong Harbour, with lifesavers galore and parents can even accompany
their child (if you can swim of course). The run for both ages is 2km along the coastalblue mile.
Kids receive a finisher medals and with everyone cheering on, they will feel like
superstars!
Longer distances for older children and adults, along with the popular 4km Warrigal
Funrun and walk the whole family can do.
Sunday 26 January 2020. Info: http://aquathon.com.au