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In the story of Holy Week, we witness the journey of Jesus to the cross. We see Jesus in all humility, choosing to surrender himself for the good of all creation. In walking the path he did, Jesus entrusted himself completely into God’s loving care and mercy. He shows us how to fall into the arms of God, trusting in God’s absolute goodness.
The Liturgies of Holy Week are intended to be a public profession of belief in Jesus and His mission, however, COVID-19 restrictions prevent us from going to Church. Therefore, the Vatican has asked Catholic bishops around the world, both in the Latin rite and the Eastern Catholic Churches, to provide congregations with resources to support personal and family prayer during Holy Week and Easter. This will be the first time in my life that I will not be attending the Liturgies of Holy Week. The ceremonies of Holy Week will be celebrated privately by Bishop Brian Mascord and made available on the Diocesan website so they can be viewed and prayed.
REMOTE LEARNING
We all find ourselves in extraordinary times with the outbreak of COVID-19 in Australia. This has meant that for our health, safety and to minimise the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NSW Government has encouraged parents to keep their children at home and access the school's remote learning programs.
This new reality has turned many parents in Australia and around the world into 'homeschoolers'. This transition is daunting. It's unfamiliar. Be assured that we are in this together. Our school, its teachers and our resources are here to support you. We can only do our best, whether we are teachers, parents or working professionals. There's no map for this journey that we're on. Stay hopeful and have some fun along the way- that's important.
We have been following the remote learning journey of all the students. Here is a little snapshot of what has been happening in the homes of the St Brigid's community.
Sarah is boogie boarding her way through the learning!
also... check out our new signs!
up the epidemic in a way that will be reassuring and not make kids more worried than they already may be. Parents shouldn’t avoid talking about it, because not talking about something can actually make young people more anxious. As a psychologist I'd encourage parents to use the conversation as an opportunity to convey the facts, with simple messages, all the while setting a positive, optimistic emotional tone. Parents should be purveyors of hope. The 6 main points to make are:
1. Reassure your child this is a virus not the plague, the fact is that most people only get a mild illness and fully recover within a few weeks
2. Remind them that children very rarely get sick and when they do it is usually just like a cold.
3. Describe what the main symptoms are and encourage them to let you know if they feel unwell.
4. Reassure them that their pets are not affected.
5. Tell them that we all have to change our behaviours, wash our hands more, practice not touching our face as much, learn coughing etiquette, and a foot tap instead of handshake.
6. Let them know about all the scientists across the world who are working together to find vaccines and treatments. If they are concerned about grandparents or others, validate this as a sign of how caring and loving they are and focus on positive messages about the medical care and support available.
REMOTE ONLINE DIGITAL LEARNING
Thank you to all the St Brigid's families for their support as we move forward with our online remote learning. This has been a steep learning curve for us all and we continue to navigate this new approach.
For the remainder of Term 1 we will continue to provide online learning in the following ways:
- Day plans for each class will be sent to families via Compass at 8:00pm each evening
- Day plans will be uploaded to the students' digital platforms at 9:00am (Google Classroom or Seesaw)
- Class lesson activities will be uploaded to the students' digital platforms at 9:00am
- Teachers will interact with the students on digitial platforms in the form of comments, feedback and likes throughout the school day.
We acknowledge that many parents are also working from home at the moment and encourage all families to complete the tasks that are possible. Please do not get stressed or worried if the students are not able to complete all tasks. We do not expect students to be sitting in front of their device for five hours working on activities. Encourage the students to take breaks, engage in play and imaginative activities.
We remind all students that they are to continue following the CEDoW Student Responsible Users Of Technology Agreement as they work from home.
Please find linked below a resource that may help support your mental and emotional wellness through this time.
LENT
This week I offer a prayer:
Creator God,
Sometimes I feel I can not face tomorrow, it is hard to keep going with such anxious thoughts running through my mind.
I ask for your peace to flood my being, that each moment I would surrender these worries, fears and anxieties to you.
I ask for your presence to walk with me through each part of my day, that I would not feel alone but know that I am loved.
And I ask for your strength to wake me each morning and keep me going. May I trust in you to see me through, lead me to calmer seas, balance and rest in heart, mind, body and soul.
You are all I need.
Amen.
APPIN MASSACRE
Remembering, Healing, Reconciliation
I ask that you take the time to read the account of the massacre that took place at Appin, April 17, 1816
And so we pray:
Give us the courage to accept the realities of our history so that we may build a better
future for our Nation.
Teach us to respect all cultures.
Teach us to care for our land and waters.
Help us to share justly the resources of this land.
Help us to bring about spiritual and social change to improve the quality of life for all groups in our communities, especially the disadvantaged.
Help young people to find true dignity and self-esteem by your Spirit.
May your power and love be the foundations on which we build our families, our communities and our Nation, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
SUNDAY REFLECTIONS
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Sunday 5 April  Hosanna in the Highest
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6th week of Lent PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD Peter is devastated when he hears the crowing of the rooster. It is as if the rooster watched him, heard his denials of Jesus, and cried out for justice to be done. Imagine the earth witnessing and suffering with every act of injustice: the night stars seeing Judas betray Jesus, the grasses being crushed as Jesus falls to the ground carrying the cross, all the trees feeling the awful pounding of the nails of crucifixion, and the earthquake trembling when Jesus dies. Is this point of view far-fetched, or does it contain some truth? Can you imagine the organic planet at unrest with all the violence done to people and to nature? Or do you view most of nature as unfeeling, inanimate matter, more or less disconnected from us? So often we think it is ‘okay’ to do something if we ‘don’t get caught’. If you see that your decisions affect all of nature, how would it change the attitude of ‘try to get away with whatever you can’? |
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Sunday 12 April  Alleluia, Alleluia
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EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD Jesus’ tomb was empty. It had even been cleaned up. The linen burial cloths were folded and rolled up neatly. Everything was left in order and taken care of. Jesus was clearly finished with this grave. No more of this ‘death business’ for him. He left it totally behind, and was fully alive, never to know the sufferings of death again. Have you ever made a transition in life? Did you ever take a step and know that a part of your former life was totally behind you? What happened? How did you feel? Did you find yourself trying to take care of things or leave things in order in any way? Obviously Mary, Peter and the other disciple were close friends with one another and with Jesus. It is easy to picture the three of them running to the tomb together to be sure of what actually happened. Who are the Marys and Peters in your life? Have you ever hurried to get to some important place? Have you ever struggled with someone else to figure out what was really happening in an important situation that affected you or a friend of yours? What happened and how did that affect your relationship? |
Happy Birthday to the following students.
We hope you have a great birthday!
| Kinder | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 6G | Year 6W |
| Finn D | Raphael I | Tayla R | Amelia E-B | Abby H | Sienna F | Alex H |
| Mia M | Alice M | Emma L | Christopher M | William C | Erin R | Leki D-B |
| Ilena P | Eve A | Tully D | Alina L | |||
| Iva O | Zita H |
| SIZE | HEIGHT | WAIST |
| 4 | 108cm | 56cm |
| 5 | 115cm | 57cm |
| 6 | 120cm | 58cm |
| 7 | 125cm | 59cm |
| 8 | 130cm | 60cm |
| 10 | 140cm | 62cm |
| 12 | 150cm | 64cm |
| 14 | 160cm | 66cm |
| 16 | 165cm | 70cm |
Lawn Mowing Roster - Call for Volunteers
Do you want to help keep the school grounds looking great?
The P&F are asking for your help. All it takes is a regular mow and tidy up – a small job we share as a community. It’s very easy, simple and quick and if we get enough volunteers then you only need to commit to twice a year (if that….the more that sign up, the less frequently you are rostered on)
Please email John Harman with your details. A roster will be organised for the year and sent out to all volunteers.
If you would like to know more about what is required, don’t hesitate to contact John Harman on dabeers@bigpond.com or 0419 993 133
St Brigid’s Gwynneville
HOLY WEEK LITURGIES
The ceremonies of Holy Week will be celebrated privately by Bishop Brian and made available on the Diocesan website (dow.org.au) so they can be viewed and prayed.
MASS TIMES - TEMPORARILY CANCELLED
| Saturday | 5:30pm Vigil - cancelled |
| Sunday | 9:00am - cancelled |
| Thursday | 9:30am - cancelled |
For Parish information, please visit the Parish website.
Please visit the Catholic Diocese of Wollongong website for further information.
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CatholicCare Courses 2020
Strengthening Relationships
Enrolments for CatholicCare's Term 1 Wollongong groups are now open. We offer a range of group work courses for adults, parents and carers, children and couples.
We offer courses to strengthen relationships, support children's development and build resilience within a supportive environment alongside others who share similar life experiences. All of our 2020 courses are listed on our website.
Keiraville and Gwynneville Access and Movement Study - join the conversation
Keiraville and Gwynneville will experience significant growth in the coming decades as a result of the expansion of the education and health precinct. Council has worked with Neighbourhood Forum 5, the University of Wollongong, Transport for NSW and community members to study the existing and future access and transport issues in the area.
The Study outlines strategies to improve the transport system, reduce impacts on surrounding suburbs, promote the use of sustainable travel modes and ensure that the transport network can accommodate future development.
You can provide feedback online https://our.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/keiraville-gwynneville-access-and-movement2 or via email to engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.au
All comments from the community will be considered, in finalising the set of actions to address access and movement issues.
Feedback is due by 7 April 2020.