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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
- WEEKLY AWARD RECIPIENTS
- ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL'S AWARD
- NEWS FROM THE OFFICE
- RESPIRATORY ILLNESS REPORTING FORM
- HAPPY BIRTHDAY
- NEWS FROM THE PARISH
- NEWS FROM THE PARENTS & FRIEND'S ASSOCIATION
- COMMUNITY NEWS
We Take Refuge in The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
As the cycle of Masses continues throughout the liturgical year, we listen to the many readings and gospels that guide us and remind us of God’s great love. This week, the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus provides us with a timely and beautiful reminder of the refuge we might seek in the love that Jesus has for each one of us. Especially in these troubled and uncertain times, we might find comfort in these familiar words of Friday’s gospel:
"Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Matt 11: 25-30)
As Refugee Week 2020 concludes, the feast day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus reminds us of the strength and refuge from our own worries and trials that we can find in the love of our God and the example for living that Jesus set for us. Today, we might pray on our own behalf:
Jesus, guide us through this life of great challenges, sadness and joy. We seek refuge in your sacred heart, full of compassion, to give us the strength and wisdom to love as you showed us.Help us to meet each day with courage and goodness that flow from your love for us. Lord, hear our prayer.
PRAY SCHOOL
Pray school is the re-imagining of RE teaching and learning for a children's television style program. It imitates programs you would watch on ABC Kids such as Playschool, Wiggles World, Mr Makeretc. It aims to deliver RE content that is engaging for a child's spirituality.
St Brigid's was very lucky to be asked to participate in Season 2 - Sunday, Spaces, Symbols and Faces. In Episode two, our very knowledgeable and talented students help teach Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 students across the diocese about the Liturgy of the Word and all the spaces, furnishings and symbols that go with this part of the Mass.
Watch Episode 2 below. St Brigid's features from 7:33min.
Thank you to Mrs Arthur-Worsop, Stage Manager extraordinaire; our hosts, Robbie L and Piper L; Psalmist Leki D; the Year 5 choir, including Paige H and Edwina J; and Daniel D, as our Cantor.
EASING OF SOME RESTRICTIONS AND ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE PROCEDURES
Following the letter your received earlier this week (copy below) regarding the easing of some restrictions, we are making a slight change to our arrival procedure from next week.
Throughout Term 2 we have been providing supervision at our car drop off zone from 8:35am until 9:00am to accommodate our Phase 3 procedures during COVID-19 and the ongoing social distancing measures for adults.
Students have walked calmly to class and teachers have greeted them from 8:35am. Our Phase 3 plan is working extremely well and we thank you for your ongoing support.
We will continue to provide supervision at the car zone as the entire school still needs to use the zone for drop off and pick up. However, from next week, supervision will cease at 8:55am to encourage a few more students to arrive at school closer to the commencement of the school day. Therefore, teachers will mark the roll at 8:55am. Any student who arrives after this time will be marked absent and will need to go to the office for a late pass.
We will continue our dismissal procedures with all students leaving via the car pick up zone. The Leadership Team will be on duty from 2.50pm until 3.15pm. Please ensure you don't block traffic on Vickery Street and that you drive around the block if the car zone is full.
I’d like to sincerely thank the Leadership Team who assist me at the car zone. This is not an easy job during Winter and on days with rain. Having said that, the joy for me has been the opportunity to greet all the students every morning and say goodbye each afternoon.
In addition, a big thank you to the staff who have been volunteering for extra duties in the afternoon to ensure the safety of all students entering cars. Thank you to the parent body for your ongoing support … it really has been a great team effort.
SEMESTER 1 INTERIM REPORTS
The Semester 1 Interim Report (Years 1-6) will be made available today, Friday 19 June 2020, after 3.30pm on the COMPASS parent portal.
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.
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. |
KINDERGARTEN CLASS OF 2021
We have had an overwhelming number of applications for enrolment for the Kindergarten class of 2021. Having finished the interviews, we are please to offer 32 places to families from our local community. Of these 32 families, we have 16 siblings and 16 new families joining St Brigid's. Letters of offer will arrive in the post from Monday 22 June 2020 and are due back at the school office NO LATER than Friday 26 June 2020, as we currently have other families on a waiting list.
JULY VACATION CARE
Thank you to the families who filled in the CatholicCare survey expressing interest in July Vacation Care. Please note that spaces will be filled on a ‘first in’ basis. Please refer to the flyer below for information about the service being offered at Good Samaritan.
COVID-19 – WHEN A STUDENT IS UNWELL
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 or home with any of the following symptoms: cough, sore throat, fever, shortness of breath, aches and pains, headache, runny or stuffy nose, we support the government’s testing protocols and encourage you to get your child tested for COVID-19. Please do not send your child to school with any of these symptoms.
STEPS TO FOLLOW:
1.Parent or teacher of child identifies symptoms
2.Patient commences isolation or gets tested for COVID-19
3.Parent immediately rings the school (even on the weekend as voicemail is diverted) to notify us of steps 1 and 2 before you go for COVID-19 testing or the GP
4.Principal or Assistant Principal (in absence of Principal) immediately completes Case Reporting for CEDoW
5.Principal or Assistant Principal (in absence of Principal) awaits the test results and clearance date
6.Parent notifies the school of the test results and clearance date for return to school
7.Parent emails a copy of the test results to info@sbgdow.catholic.edu.au
8.If negative, the child returns to school the following day or remains at home until completely well.
9.If positive, the Principal will be notified by the Public Health Unit (PHU) and will commence the Incident Response Plan.
It is very important that we are notified of your child symptoms as soon as possible including when the symptoms started. This will be of great assistance if we have a positive test case for contact tracing.
If you know that your child’s symptoms are related to a medically diagnosed allergy or another chronic medical condition, please contact the school office to discuss this and submit a doctor’s certificate with clearance and a medical plan.
BOOK CLUB
Please note that Scholastic Book Club Issue 4 is due on 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.
Could all parents please check that their contact details are current in Compass as these will be the numbers teachers will call for teleconferences. If your details need updating please contact the Office.
HOME READERS
Attached are a set of parent instructions for you to support the use of the app.
SILENCE, STILLNESS AND SOLITUDE
This week the staff of our school was given an opportunity to take ‘wellbeing’ time for contemplative and meditative prayer in the hope to be reacquainted with our God and refreshed to continue the journey.
As a world we have been through so much, as a community and country we have had to come together. We have had to go without our everyday luxuries, even some essentials like religious services. Some of us may have been sick or affected by the virus firsthand with our family and friends. Others have had to deal with ongoing anxiety, unknowing, waiting. Isolation has hit many, as teachers we have had to change our way of teaching and working. It has not been easy for anyone, each of us has had to sacrifice something.
Never, in my lifetime, has our country endured so much, from drought to fires and floods, to a worldwide pandemic leading to economic unrest, and recently the effects of the death of George Floyd. And never has there been more need for Silence, Stillness and Solitude - time to reconnect with what matters most. Through prayer, we lean on each other and on our faith to confront this moment, and to learn, listen and grow.
ST VINCENT DE PAUL FUNDRAISER
Following recent conversations with Vinnies, there seems to be an increased need for warm garments this winter, in particular beanies, scarves and blankets.
The Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong has been challenged to knit or crochet these garments, and because my skills in this area are ‘primitive’, I am extending the challenge to any of you that may be able to help me out.
All you need to do is knit or crochet a beanie, scarf or blanket and send it in to me and I will make sure that it is passed on to the organisers of the Vinnies Van to be given to those most in need.
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 21 June 2020 |
TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME A Jesus today tells his disciples just how much they are loved by God. Jesus is asking us to trust in God through our life. Even when we have difficulties, he is with us through it all and is there to comfort us and help us. |
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| Sunday 28 June 2020 |
THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A Today’s readings talk about the importance of welcoming God’s disciples. Elisha was welcomed by the woman, above and beyond her obligations, without expecting anything in return and she was still rewarded for her kindness. Jesus also teaches that God sees our kindness to others and magnifies it. |
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Congratulations to the following students on receiving their awards during the last fortnight.
Week 7 - Term 2
| CLASS | LEARNING AWARD | LEADER OF THE WEEK |
| Kindergarten | Angelina R | Jacob M |
| Year 1 | Stevie R | Arielle N |
| Year 2 | Zlata K | Theo D B |
| Year 3 | Rio M | Amelia E-B |
| Year 4 | Alessia S | Georgia F |
| Year 5 | Addison W | Thomas S |
| Year 6G | Oscar M-J | Erin R |
| Year 6W | Daniel D | Max D |
Week 8 - Term 2
| CLASS | VALUES AWARD-COURAGE | LEADER OF THE WEEK |
| Kindergarten | Grace H | Hkum Seng D |
| Year 1 | Ruby G | Darren Y |
| Year 2 | Ali S | Sarah M |
| Year 3 | Philippa L | Lucas T |
| Year 4 | Raen G | Noah S |
| Year 5 | Starrsi D | Niya M |
| Year 6G | Ayla J-T | Caelan S |
| Year 6W | Thomas W | Robbie L |
Congratulations to the students who have received the Assistant Principal's Award in Week 7. Well done!
| CLASS | STUDENT |
| Year 3 | Rafael M |
| Year 4 | Tayah A |
| Year 4 | Raen G |
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.
GOOGLE FORM
Your support in ensuring the health and safety of the St Brigid’s Community during this global pandemic is evident in the growing number of students who are either staying home with respiratory illness and/or being tested for COVID-19. We really appreciate your vigilance with this.
It is compulsory for us to keep a detailed register of the process from symptoms to medical clearance, and so, it is crucial we know when your child develops symptoms BEFORE they are tested for COVID-19. To make this easier for you to communicate all the information that we need, we have developed a google form that will only take 30 seconds to complete and submit.
This google form can be found on the St Brigid’s website, as a link in the Brigid Bulletin and by clicking the link in this COMPASS newsfeed.
PARENT FORM
This form is now ready for use if you have a child with respiratory symptoms. Please complete it any day or time of the week, including weekends. The information will automatically come to me and Mrs Benoit.
Happy Birthday to the following students.
We hope you have a great birthday!
| Year 2 | Year 5 | Year 6W |
| Ryan T | Charlotte W | Zara B |
| Matthieu C |
ST BRIGID'S PARISH GWYNNEVILLE
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
SACRAMENTAL UPDATE FROM FR BERNARD
PARISH WEBSITE
WEEKLY PARISH BULLETIN
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF WOLLONGONG WEBSITE
MOVING ROSTER
A huge thank you to the parents who volunteer to keep our grass mowed and the outside of the school tidy. Your efforts not only add to the overall presentraion of St Brigid's but save the school lots of money, which is diverted back into the purchasing of learning resources.
UPCOMING DATES FOR THE MOWING GROUP
| UPCOMING DATES | MOWER ONE |
MOWER TWO |
| 11 July 2020 | John Harman | Louise Macdonald |
| 8 August 2020 | Matt Duggan | |
| 12 September 2020 | Anthony Petre | Paul Rustomji |
| 10 October 2020 | Jason Shoebridge | Fabrizio Curcio |
| 24 October 2020 | Mark Eckermann | Darrell Mitchell |
| 14 November 2020 | Gary Humphrey | Mick Zanella |
| 28 November 2020 | Brett Shrimpton | Neo Arian |
| 12 December 2020 | Daniel St Archangel | Paul Brogan |
| 19 December 2020 | Jeremy Crook | TBC |
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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