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- PRINCIPAL'S REFLECTION
- NEWS FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK
- NEWS FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
- NEWS FROM THE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COORDINATOR'S DESK
- WEEKLY AWARD RECIPIENTS
- PRINCIPAL'S AWARD
- ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL'S AWARD
- SPLICED STUDENT WORK
- SPORTS NEWS
- NEWS FROM THE SCHOOL OFFICE
- HAPPY BIRTHDAY
- RESPIRATORY ILLNESS REPORTING FORM
- COMMUNITY NEWS
Dear Parents and friends,
Pope Francis, launched his new encyclical on Fraternity and Social Friendship on 3 October 2020.
Titled 'Fratelli tutti', it is inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi and is a proposal for a way of life marked by the flavour of the Gospel.
The letter is based on questions about fraternity and social friendship that have concerned the Pope in recent years. It is a call to love others as brothers and sisters, even when they are far from us; it is a call to open fraternity, to recognising and loving every person with a love without borders; it is a call to encounter others in a way that is capable of overcoming all distance and every temptation to engage in disputes, impositions, or submissions.
At the heart of the new encyclical’s appeal to Catholics is a meditation on Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan and particularly on how Jesus takes a legal scholar’s question, “Who is my neighbour,” and turns it into a lesson on being called not to identify one’s neighbours but to become a neighbour to all, especially those most in need of aid.
Pope Francis said, “The parable eloquently presents the basic decision we need to make in order to rebuild our wounded world. In the face of so much pain and suffering, our only course is to imitate the Good Samaritan, any other decision would make us either one of the robbers or one of those who walked by without showing compassion for the sufferings of the man on the roadside.”
Let our life with each other at St Brigid's be inspired by this encyclical. May it give us inspiration to focus on our local needs, our daily reality and to build a culture of peace at every level.
A Prayer to the Creator
Lord, Father of our human family,you created all human beings equal in dignity:
pour forth into our hearts a fraternal spirit and
and a more dignified world,
to all the peoples and nations of the earth.
May we recognise the goodness and beauty
that you have sown in each of us,
and thus forge bonds of unity, common projects,
and shared dreams. Amen.
Yours in Faith, Justice and Learning
SPECIAL FOOD DAY AND VINNIES RETURN AND EARN
We had another successful Return and Earn campaign last week, collecting 1,680 containers, followed by a scrumptious Subway lunch. Thank you for your ongoing support of our mission efforts. The students thoroughly enjoyed their lunch and cookie. On Wednesday 25 November 2020 we will have the final special food day of the year, feasting on a sushi lunch.
UPDATED COVID-19 DIRECTIVES AS OF 5 NOVEMBER 2020
Following updated COVID-19 guidelines provided by NSW Health this week, the CEDoW COVID-19 Directives for Schools for Term 4 have been updated.
Gatherings of students
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Whole-school assemblies and liturgies may be held from 12 November 2020, with students seated in their stage groups. Where possible they should be held outdoors and limited to the minimum necessary duration. Parents/carers are still not permitted to attend.
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Schools may hold Masses for students, subject to the following conditions:
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The Mass must not exceed 60 minutes
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Masses must be limited to students and staff only
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All DOW parish directives must be adhered to and the total number of students and staff must not exceed the 4sqm limit
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Gatherings of staff
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Schools may conduct staff development days and spirituality days with up to 100 staff members, subject to meeting the Term 4 Guidelines for Physical Distancing.
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Staff professional learning outside of staff development days should not be conducted face-to-face unless it is absolutely necessary.
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Where professional learning activities must be conducted face-to-face, they must be limited to 30 people from the same school.
Student learning, extracurricular activities and end-of-year events
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Schools can proceed with award ceremonies, speeches, presentations and graduation events from 12 November 2020. These events must follow the new Term 4 End of Year School and Community Activities guidelines.
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Schools may organise an end-of-year event for their school community to celebrate the achievements of the school year. These events may proceed subject to the following requirements - Outdoor end of year events involving community participation (e.g. end of year morning teas, BBQ’s or picnic events with parents) can proceed with a maximum of 30 people (including staff, students and parents) consistent with the current public health advice relating to public gatherings.
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Carols by candlelight events remain on hold. NSW Health is currently developing specific advice for carols events. Further advice will be made available once NSW Health advice is published.
Excursions, field trips and camps
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Schools can conduct field trips, excursions and overnight activities within NSW and in the ACT. All other interstate and international excursions and travel remain suspended.
Parents and carers on school grounds
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From 12 November 2020, P&F meetings can proceed on school sites after school hours, but P&F social events and functions are still not permitted.
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Parents/carers can enter the school to purchase or pick-up uniforms from the uniform shop. Schools should make arrangements to minimise gatherings of people to collect uniforms.
BOOK WEEK INCURSION - BY YEAR 6G
Perform Education once again delivered a spectacular educational play directed at primary school aged students.
The Greatest Discovery – 2020’s Book Week theatrical event – is about two students fighting over which book is better. We follow Claire and Jonno through a musical adventure including, inspiring educational songs and an engaging, often comedic, storyline.
The audience gains a new perspective and understanding of real-life issues and how they can be dealt with. For example, Jonno learns that an opinion is not always right or wrong and you don’t always have to be a winner to be successful.
UPCOMING DATES
| 13 November 2020 | Kindergarten Transition 1 |
9:15am-10:45am 1:00pm - 2:30pm |
| 20 November 2020 | Kindergarten Transition 2 |
9:15am-10:45am 1:00pm - 2:30pm |
| 25 November 2020 | Sushi Special food day and Vinnies return and earn |
All day |
| 8 December 2020 | Farewell for Mrs Evans |
9:45am |
| 15 December 2020 | Graduation/Thanksgiving liturgy and luncheon |
From 12noon |
| 16 December 2020 | Last day of the year for both students and staff |
3:00pm |
WRITING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
Vocabulary refers to the words children need to know to comprehend and communicate.
Oral vocabulary are the words children recognise or use in listening and speaking, this area is a precursor to reading vocabulary.
Reading vocabulary are the words children recognise or use in reading and writing.
Acquiring and using words in oral and written contexts is a life-long process that begins critically during the early years. It plays an important role both in learning to read and in comprehending texts. If students know the meaning of a word, they are far more likely to be able to read it and make meaning of it within the context of the text.
Children learn the meanings of many words through everyday experiences, however, explicit instruction helps students learn difficult words that represent complex concepts or are not a part of everyday experiences.
An important part of vocabulary instruction is choosing appropriate words to teach.
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Tier one words are familiar, everyday words that are not conceptually difficult (e.g. cat, happy, baby). These words are often learned through everyday experiences.
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Tier two words are more complex but are used regularly across a variety of contexts (e.g. coincidence, admire, portable). These words should be taught directly with priority given to words that students will have many opportunities to use.
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Tier three words are used less frequently in everyday conversation but are essential to engage fully with specific topics. These words should be taught when a specific lesson requires knowledge of the word and underlying concept.
As part of the professional learning, staff are using data to form small groups with specific vocabulary focuses. These groups will run during the writing session to support students vocabulary development.
CONFIRMATION
This week, the Year 6 students will present themselves to be confirmed by the Holy Spirit. Weeks of preparation and learning will culminate in the four Sacramental Masses, beginning Thursday night to Saturday evening.
And so we pray:
Lord, you send out Your Spirit to touch the hearts of all people, so that they may believe in You and in Jesus whom You sent. Look kindly on all candidates for Confirmation as they listen to Your voice. Open their hearts to Your Spirit and bring them to fulfilment the good work that You have begun in them. We pray this through Christ our Lord, Amen.
This year we held a Crazy Sock Day and sold ice blocks.
Thank you to everyone for your generosity and compassion, because we have raised $366.00 for Catholic Mission, with the proceeds of the ice block sales to be counted. This will help the Arrupe Centre which provides vital care for those who would otherwise have limited opportunities or support to lead a fulfilling life.
RETURN and EARN
Another fabulous effort from our community with a total of 1,680 containers collected. The winning house for the Week 3 collection was RED house.
REMEMBRANCE DAY
Remembrance Day, November 11, marks the end of World War 1 over a hundred years ago. Although it was a long time ago, it is an opportunity to remember all those who have died in wars and conflicts since then. We pray that we commit ourselves to creating peace in our world by recognising that peace begins in our own families, schools and communities, and it begins with us. Each one of us can make a peaceful world.
Let us pray:
Loving God, you call us to be people of peace. We are grateful to those who have given their lives in times of war and conflict, and we ask that you help us to make the world a better place by living in harmony, peace and unity.
May we treat others as we would like to be treated.
We make our prayer in Jesus' name. Amen
NAIDOC WEEK
This year's NAIDOC 2020 theme is Always Was, Always Will Be.
This theme recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years.
The very first footprints on this continent were those belonging to First Nations peoples.
SUNDAY REFLECTION:
| Sunday 8 November 2020 |
32 SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME The early Christians thought that all their questions about death had been answered with the resurrection of Jesus. Therefore, when loyal Christians began to die, not only did their old questions come back, but also they were plagued with new and difficult ones. Was it possible that those loyal Christians had not been loyal after all? Or worse, were the promises made by Jesus empty promises? No! Paul assures us. It is all true. Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again, and all the faithful will be joined with him. How it will happen, we do not know. When it will happen, we do not know. That it will happen, we are sure. The wisdom that we have culled from life becomes the treasury from which we draw the prudence and insight needed to negotiate life’s paradoxes. It throws light on our strengths and on our weaknesses; it enables us to discern what is important and what is not; it directs us to bring extra oil in our lamps. Life and the wisdom that we have acquired through it, have taught us that we can indeed trust the promises of God. They have been fulfilled in the past, and wisdom assures us that they will be fulfilled in the future. It is wisdom that cautions us to be vigilant, to be ready to adjust our plans. It is wisdom that prepares us for the night watches of life. It is wisdom that instructs us to be ready at all times. © Dianne Bergant CSA |
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| Sunday 15 November 2020 |
33 SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME It is not enough that we wait patiently. We are expected to be industrious as we await the advent of the reign of God. We have all been entrusted with talents that really belong to God, and we must use these talents to the best of our ability in the interim between the Lord’s departure and his final return. The ideal wisdom figure in the first reading is a model of such industriousness. Fidelity to the reign of God requires that we be willing to take risks. We do not know the time of the Lord’s coming, and so there will have to be a kind of tentativeness to all of our plans. We will never be able to be certain that they will be brought to fruition. We must spend and be spent without the assurance that we will be able to reap the rewards of our investment. To refuse to risk is to refuse to trust. If we have been wise and have industriously employed the Lord’s talents, which were entrusted to us, we will be richly rewarded. However, if we have not realised the potential that is possessed by our talents, and if we have not employed them as they were meant to be employed, we will be punished. The foolish man in the Gospel knew that the householder was exacting. He had some idea of what to expect. He made his choice and he had to accept the consequences of that choice. © Dianne Bergant CSA |
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PODCAST SERIES - RIPPLES
Ripples is a PODCAST developed for staff and parent's on-going spiritual formation. It 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.
Practices like these create a ripple effect. They have the potential to impact the way we respond to family, friends, colleagues, to creation and to our loving God. Come and enjoy some Inspired Voices and Treasured Stillness.
The Ripples Podcast is now available
Congratulations to the following students on receiving their awards during the last fortnight.
Week 3 - Term 4
| CLASS | LEARNING AWARD | LEADER OF THE WEEK |
| Kindergarten | Logan A | Isla R |
| Year 1 | Alice M | Darren Y |
| Year 2 | Sarah M | Tayla R |
| Year 3 | Rosie S | Eliza P |
| Year 4 | William C | Grace D |
| Year 5 | Natalia R-T | Quentin M |
| Year 6G | Mondre G | Oscar M-J |
| Year 6W | Zara B | Zita H |
| CLASS | VALUES AWARD - SERVICE | LEADER OF THE WEEK |
| Kindergarten | Luna-Belle G | Sparsha V |
| Year 1 | Tom S | Raphael I |
| Year 2 | Joshua S | Briella I |
| Year 3 | Nahla O | Bailey C |
| Year 4 | Cameron B | Tayah A |
| Year 5 | Aryan T | Eden S |
| Year 6G | Ava S | Ilija G |
| Year 6W | Sebastian S | Luca S |
PRINCIPAL'S AWARD FOR WEEK 4
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 2 | Neave M |
Congratulations to the following students who have received an Assistant Principal's Award. Well done!
| CLASS | STUDENT |
| Year 1 | Millie A |
| Year 1 | Allaria D-S |
| Year 1 | Alice M |
| Year 2 | Neave M |
| Year 6G | Harrison M |
| Year 6W | Marcus M |
This week we will feature the work of two of the SPLICED students - Leki and Daniel from Year 6.
ST BRIGID'S SCHOOL CARDIGANS
The new school cardigans have been very well received by the parents and children who ordered them in our first round. They look amazing on the children.
If you would like to order a cardigan, they are available on QKR! for $45. We will be placing an order at the end of November for delivery early Term 1 2021.
AUSTRALIAN PARENTS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
SCHOOL TRAVEL 2021
Happy Birthday to the following students who are celebrating in Weeks 3 and 4.
We hope you have a great birthday!
| Kinder | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 5 | Year 6W |
| Logan A | Molly S | Reed B | Aryan T | Robbie L |
| Jonas T |
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 the COMPASS newsfeed.
Please complete it any day or time of the week, including weekends. The information will automatically come to Ms Uroda and Mrs Benoit.
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UOW LEARNING LABS
The University of Wollongong would like to invite students to LITTLE and EARLY LEARNING LABS, an academic enrichment holiday program. UOW is targeting students from Year 1 to 6 during 2020, who are passionate, self-motivated and curious learners.
Dates:
Little Learning Labs (Years 1 and 2): 13th-15th January 2021
Early Learning Labs (Years 3 to 6): 19th-21st January 2021
Venue: University of Wollongong (Wollongong campus only)
Applications close: 9th November 2020
WOLLONGONG CITY COUNCIL OUTDOOR MOVIE
Next Friday the 13th November, bring your picnic rug to sit on the green at The Vale Golf Course, Russell Vale to see this outdoor movie.
Circles will be on the grass to ensure each group is physically distanced. Each viewing circle is $15 which can accommodate 6 people.
We hope to see you there!
https://www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/my-community/events/events/outdoor-movie-hotel-transylvania
