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- PRINCIPAL'S REFLECTION
- NEWS FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK
- NEWS FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL'S DESK
- NEWS FROM THE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COORDINATOR'S DESK
- PRINCIPAL'S AWARD
- ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL'S AWARD
- WEEKLY AWARD RECIPIENTS
- HAPPY BIRTHDAY
- NEWS FROM THE OFFICE
- NEWS FROM THE PARISH
- NEWS FROM THE PARENTS AND FRIEND'S ASSOCIATION
- COMMUNITY NEWS
Celebrating the Year of Welcome - 2020
Next week, Australia joins with the world in celebrating Refugee Week, this year culminating in World Refugee Day on Saturday June 20. During this week, we are asked to reflect on and, if possible, contribute to creating a ‘better understanding between different communities and to encourage successful integration enabling refugees to live in safety and to continue making a valuable contribution to Australia.’ This year, as we celebrate ‘the year of welcome’, we continue to celebrate the positive contributions made by refugees to Australian society.
As we welcome and foster refugees in our community, including here at St Brigid’s, we are living out two of the Catholic values that are embedded in our school life: Compassion - We are moved by God’s grace to be accepting, empathetic and merciful by embracing the dignity of each person so that they are loved and valued; and Service - We are called to respond actively to God’s mission as servant leaders by reaching out to others, especially the needy, as Jesus did.
In these troubled times, let us never forget those who are in need of our compassion and service in order that they might experience the basic rights and dignity of the human person. The future of a world of peace and harmony, equality and safety for all, is truly in our hands and those of our children. In celebrating Refugee Week, we are called to be Christ in action - to reach out in care and appreciation to those who have come to our land and our community for shelter and new beginnings.
In God’s name, and through the example of Jesus,
we seek to love the neighbour who is different
and welcome the stranger in our midst. Lord, hear us
PARENT - SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank each family most sincerely for the wonderful support you have shown us this last week as we enacted Phase 3 of our Learning Continuity Transition Plan - fulltime face to face teaching.
Not only was it an absolute joy to see the beautiful smiling faces of the students last Monday, it was reassuring to know that parents had taken the time to read and follow our new school procedures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all in our community. We ask for your continued support as we navigate our way around a ‘new normal’ during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In recent months the partnership demonstrated between home and school has been extraordinary. You assisted the great work of the teachers in so many ways, taking on a huge responsibility for your child’s learning, wellbeing and faith development - we are truly appreciative.
SEMESTER 1 INTERIM REPORTS
All CEDoW schools will provide parents with a Semester 1 Interim Report (Years 1-6). In these unprecedented times in education, traditional direct instruction has been altered due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Determining academic mastery is challenging in remote learning environments as conversations, observations and assessments are limited.
The Interim Report will reflect the effort and engagement in learning undertaken during classroom and remote learning over the course of Term 1 up until the middle of Term 2, 2020.
The Key Learning Areas that will be reported on in this Interim Report will be
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- Religious Education
- English
- Mathematics
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The first part of the Interim Report will report on a student's effort taking into account both classroom and remote learning. The second part will report on a student's learning engagement. This will reflect the level of competence a student displayed in engaging in the learning experiences. In addition, there will be 5 comments that reflect the learning experiences the student engaged in fort each Key Learning Area.
Reports will be made available to parents through the Compass portal on Friday 19 June 2020.
The Common Grade Scale (A-E) will not be used on the Interim Report, instead the following scales will be used across the diocese.
| Extensive |
The student consistently demonstrates a positive attitude to learning and always strives to produce work to their potential. |
| Moderate |
The student often demonstrates a positive attitude to learning and sometimes produces work to their potential. |
| Needs Improvement |
The student occasionally demonstrates a positive attitude to learning and is beginning to produce work to their potential. |
LEARNING ENGAGEMENT DESCRIPTORS
|
Exceeded Expectations |
The student has displayed a high level of competence in active thinking, questioning, investigating, developing solutions and managing their work. |
| Met Expectations |
The student has displayed a sound level of competence in questioning, investigating, developing solutions and managing their work. |
| Working Towards Expectations |
The student has required guidance and support in questioning, developing solutions and managing their work. |
SEMESTER 1 PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS
These will be held in Week 10 of this term. Teleconference interviews can be booked on COMPASS from this afternoon. A compass alert will be sent to you and there is some more information in News from the Assistant Principal.
SCHOOL FEE INFORMATION AND COVID-19
Announcing the COVID-19 Fee Concession Application
As a community of Catholic schools, we care deeply about the dignity and wellbeing of each of our students and you—their parents, carers, and family members.
We recognise the sacrifices parents and carers made to support their children to learn remotely and we know that financial pressures added to what was for many an already stressful situation. While we are pleased to have students back in classrooms, we are aware that many families continue to face ongoing financial impact because of COVID-19.
With that in mind, CEDoW is providing an opportunity for families to apply for fee concessions related specifically to COVID-19 (applicable to 2020 fees). To make this process as smooth as possible, we have developed:
- A simplified COVID-19 Fee Concession Application form
- A centralised process involving a single application per family, regardless of the number of different CEDoW schools attended by children and siblings
- A clear and simple Frequently Asked Questions document available on the CEDoW website
- An opportunity for families to opt in to a streamlined process by providing CEDoW with permission to access relevant Centrelink information
The application form and additional information is available from the CEDoW website, and of course directly from the school office.
Additionally, we will be publishing Fee Statements early in June, so that all families are aware of the current status of fee accounts.
LOOK SAFE, FEEL SAFE
1. CAR DROP OFF AND PICK UP FOR THE REMAINDER OF TERM 2
- Arrive between 8:35 - 9:00am (students to remain in car until teacher is on duty)
- Departure from 3:00 - 3:20pm
- Adults to remain in the car at all times
- Follow directions of the supervising staff regarding stopping, moving and students entering and exiting the car
- School bags to be inside the car with the child (not the boot)
- Goodbyes should be done prior to leaving home
- Car family name must be on the passenger visor not the dashboard
- If the car zone is full please do not queue - you must drive around the block
- No u-turns or 3-point turns to be made in Vickery Street - approach via Acacia Street
- When exiting the car zone please leave in car order (do not overtake or enter the line in front of another car)
2. OFFICE PROCEDURES FOR TERM 2
- Parents are encouraged to contact the St Brigid's Office via phone or email. Only visit the Office if essential or picking up a child who is sick
- If you need to pick your child up early please phone the school Office ahead of time and wait at the school gate in Vickery Street to collect your child
- To access the Uniform Shop please phone the Office prior to your visit. Ensure you are social distancing, wash and sanitise your hands prior to entering the Uniform Shop.
- Sign in via the contactless iPad in the office foyer
Parents and carers should not be walking students to and from school (unless prearranged due to the age of the student). The St Brigid's procedures require the use of the drop off zone for the safety and well being of all. We appreciate your support with this.
COVID-19 – WHEN A STUDENT IS UNWELL AT SCHOOL
Firstly, if a student is unwell they should remain at home until they have fully recovered from all symptoms. However, if your child presents unwell at school then the following processes apply:
- Your child will be cared for at school in the sick bay by a qualified first aid officer, while they await collection from a parent or carer.
- The student will be provided with a medical mask to reduce the risk of transmitting droplets or respiratory fluids.
- The first aid officer who is assisting the student will also be wearing a medical mask and gloves.
- The student’s temperature will be taken using a non-contact thermometer to assess severity of presenting symptoms (note that, regardless of the child’s temperature, all students who present unwell will be sent home).
- When the parent or carer of the student collects the student from school, a letter will be provided to you, which outlines the steps required for the student to be able to return to school.
- The Government is encouraging all Australians to get tested even with the slightest of respiratory symptoms. Please either get your child tested or visit a health professional to ensure your child is not positive for COVID-19.
- Once the student has fully recovered, a medical clearance certificate should be submitted to the school office or if they have had COVID-19 testing they can return immediately following a 'negative' test result.
If your child has any of the following symptoms they will be sent home to rest, recover and get tested:
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- Fever
- Cough
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Sore throat
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Aches and pains
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Please discuss these measures with your child in the event this situation arises.
BOOK CLUB
Please note that Scholastic Book Club Issue 4 due date is Monday 22 June 2020.
SEMESTER 1 INTERVIEWS
The portal will close on Friday 26 June at 5:00pm.
All appointments MUST be made through the portal before the closing time.
COMMUNICATION WITH TEACHERS
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
Friday 5 June 2020 is World Environment Day, which is a United Nations led event that is celebrated each year.
Since it began in 1972, it has grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated across the globe.
World Environment Day is a day for everyone around the world to take ownership of their environment and to actively engage in the protection of our earth.
It is a day that strives to raise awareness and encourage action for the environment, offering an opportunity to reflect on accomplishments and renew our resolve in overcoming the environmental challenges facing the world today.
This year’s theme is all about nature and celebrating Biodiversity.
Biodiversity is vital to the survival of all life on earth, providing us with food, water and resources as well as services such as climate control and pollination.
The foods we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the climate that makes our planet habitable all come from nature.
The theme of biodiversity is a concern that is both urgent and timely. Recent events, from bushfires in Brazil, the United States, and Australia, to locust infestations across East Africa – and now, a global disease pandemic – demonstrate the interdependence of humans and the webs of life, in which they exist.
And so we pray..
Generous God, who gave us this beautiful world for our enjoyment, help us to value and appreciate it.
With your help, may we become people of action, ready and willing to do all we can to understand the importance of biodiversity and how it keeps our planet alive.
May we strive to make the environment we live in a healthy and life-giving place for all.
May we take seriously this task and take action to repair and revive our ailing planet.
Help us to understand the importance of biodiversity for the life of our Earth and work together to restore the balance we so urgently need.
We ask this prayer through Jesus, your Son.
PODCAST SERIES - RIPPLES
In response to COVID-19, a significant initiative has been developed for staff and parents to support their ongoing personal spiritual formation. It is a new podcast series entitled ‘Ripples: Inspired Voices, Treasured Stillness’.
Ripples seeks to offer a space where people can draw on the wisdom of a series of guest speakers and can experience some treasured stillness through meditation. On Tuesday of each week a new Episode and Meditation will be offered. Practices like these create a ripple effect. They have the potential to impact the way we respond to family, friends, colleagues, to others in our world, to creation and to our loving God.
The Ripples Podcast is now available on the Continuity of Faith and Learning website, on Podbean and Apple Podcast.
SAVE THE DATE
|
Sunday 7 June 2020 |
THE MOST HOLY TRINITY The simple and profound truth is that God is Love. God is three persons in a relationship of perfect unity. In our individualistic society, the Trinity calls us to ask not, ‘Who am I?’ but rather, ‘Whose am I? To whom do I belong?’ Through our relationships of love, we discover God. |
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Sunday 14 June 2020 |
THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST - CORPUS CHRISTI Corpus Christi is latin for ‘the body of Christ’ which focuses on the Eucharist as the symbol of unity. St Augustine said that we should say a double “Amen” to the ‘body and blood of Christ’. “Amen - Yes I believe that this is the living presence of Jesus” and “Amen -Yes I choose to belong to the body of Christ” |
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Sunday 14 -20 June |
REFUGEE WEEK The celebration is to create better understanding between different communities and to encourage successful integration enabling refugees to live in safety and to continue making a valuable contribution to Australia. |
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Friday 19 June 2020 |
SACRED HEART OF JESUS The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus recall Christ's love for us. |
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PRINCIPAL'S AWARD FOR WEEK 6
Considered an honour of the highest order, the Principal's Award celebrates outstanding achievement by a student in faith, learning and other contributions to school life. Congratulations to:
| CLASS | STUDENT |
| Year 3 | Eliza Petre |
| Year 4 | Andy Phung |
Congratulations to the students who have received the Assistant Principal's Award in Week 5. Well done!
| CLASS | STUDENT |
| Year 3 | Eliza P |
| Year 3 | Anthony St A |
| Year 4 | Andy P |
Congratulations to the following students on receiving their awards during the last fortnight.
Week 5 - Term 2
| CLASS | FAITH AWARD | LEADER OF THE WEEK |
| Kindergarten | Jonas T | Isla R |
| Year 1 | Leo O | Sachi B |
| Year 2 | Emma L | Briella I |
| Year 3 | Sofia S | Bailey C |
| Year 4 | Tayah A | Luke S |
| Year 5 | Dara A | Edwina J |
| Year 6G | Mia A | Hudson S |
| Year 6W | Leki D | Atticus C |
Week 6 - Term 2
| CLASS | JUSTICE AWARD | LEADER OF THE WEEK |
| Kindergarten | Abigail B | Logan A |
| Year 1 | Christian J | Ella D |
| Year 2 | Ilena P | Ruby T |
| Year 3 | Christopher M | Nahla O |
| Year 4 | Raen G | Vincent H |
| Year 5 | Luca D B | Ariel L |
| Year 6G | Emily S | Piper L |
| Year 6W | Marcus M | Alina L |
Happy Birthday to the following students.
We hope you have a great birthday!
| Kinder | Year 1 | Year 4 | Year 6G | Year 6W |
| Aria J | Darren Y | Noah S | Harrison M | Ryan F |
| Ruby K | Millie A | Justin D |
SCHOOL FEE STATEMENTS
School Fee Statements were issued on Wednesday 3 June 2020 by the Catholic Education Office. A number of statements produced had an incorrect BPay reference number.
The statements affected were reissued late yesterday with the correct codes, therefore, the first email and statement received should be disregarded.
Please note if you were to inadvertently use the wrong BPay Code, the banking system would not let you proceed with the payment.
The Catholic Education Office extends its apologies to both schools and families for this error.
OFFICE PROCEDURES - Term 2 Weeks 5 - 10
For the remainder of Term 2 please note the following:
- Parents are encouraged to contact the school Office
via phone or email. Only visit the Office if ESSENTIAL - If you need to pick your child up early please phone the school Office ahead of time and wait at the school gate in Vickery Street to collect your child
- To access the Uniform Shop please phone the Office prior to your visit
- Ensure you are taking notice of the social distancing requirements
- Wash and sanitise your hands prior to entering the Office and when leaving
- You will be signed-in via the contactless iPad by Office staff
We thank you for your support of the school in implementing these procedures for the safety and well being of our community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Australian Parents Council
Please find below a link to the online newsletter for the Australian Parents Council.
THE CHURCH IS THE PEOPLE OF GOD- PASTORAL STATEMENT BY BISHOP BRIAN MASCORD
To my Sisters and Brothers in Christ
The Book of Sirach (38:12–13) reminds us that there will be times when we have to place our trust in experts such as physicians. I am so grateful that you have supported me and my fellow clergy whilst we have implemented the guidelines recommended by Australian health authorities to minimise harm to those most vulnerable.
Our initial decision to suspend public Masses, and later to temporarily close churches, was made after much prayer and consideration, and was in keeping with decisions made by dioceses around the world, including in Rome. Please know that we did not take this course of action lightly. We are deeply saddened by the circumstances that drove it and the effect it is having on all Catholics and people of faith.
After prayerful consideration, I am pleased to advise you of our diocesan response to the NSW Government’s latest COVID-19 restriction changes. Effective Sunday 31 May 2020 Masses, Weddings, Funerals, Baptisms and Reconciliation may be held at the discretion of the Parish Priest in consultation with their Pastoral Council or Leadership Team.
Further details can be found in the latest directives at www.dow.org.au/covid-19, which have been developed in accordance with the latest NSW Government guidelines.
ST BRIGID'S PARISH GWYNNEVILLE
PROVISIONAL MASS TIMETABLE
For the next two weeks we will provide for ten worship- pers at any one Mass in the Lumen Christi region. We will need time to perfect a system of monitoring the number of those present and registering the details of those who attend.
A further complication is that after every Mass the church must be sanitized, including the toilets. All of this limits our ability to leave the church open for any length of time and it limits how many times we can offer Mass. We will increase the number of times Mass is offered and the number of worshippers allowed in any one Mass when we can do this properly.
For the sake of due order and fairness, if you would like to attend Mass, please notify the parish office by phone or email Monday—Friday 9am to 1pm. Only those who have notified the parish office and have been allotted a place on the list for each Mass will be allowed to attend.
For the present, there is no obligation for you to attend Mass. Your Sunday obligation is satisfied by such prac- tices as observing livestreamed Mass or prayerfully reading Sacred Scripture.
ST BRIGID'S MASS TIMES
| Saturday | 5:30pm Vigil - Please ring the Parish Office to register |
| Sunday | 9:00am - Please ring the Parish Office to register |
| Thursday | 9:30am - Please ring the Parish Office to register |
SUNDAY MASS ONLINE
PARISH WEBSITE
WEEKLY PARISH BULLETIN
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF WOLLONGONG WEBSITE
CANTEEN NEWS
The canteen will remain closed until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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
SELECTIVE SCHOOL INFORMATION
Information for Year 5 entry into opportunity class for 2021 can be found below.
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All enquiries will be attended to promptly: info@tasmanediting.com.au
CatholicCare
NEW Group Work Dates for Term 2
CatholicCare are excited to announce that they will be providing interactive ZOOM sessions for the following group sessions in Term 2:
- 123 Magic and Emotion Coaching
- Bringing Up Great Teens
- No Scaredy Cats
- Mindfulness Sessions
If you have any questions or would like to book into one of our courses, please call 42549295 or email IntakeService@
* Eligibility criteria applies.
To view the courses please click the link below
Catholic Care Interactive Zoom Courses Term 2