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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
- PRINCIPAL'S AWARD
- ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL'S AWARD
- WEEKLY AWARD RECIPIENTS
- HAPPY BIRTHDAY
- NEWS FROM THE SCHOOL OFFICE
- RESPIRATORY ILLNESS REPORTING FORM
- NEWS FROM THE PARISH
- COMMUNITY NEWS
Dear Parents and friends,
“Take and eat, this is my body, given for you!”
Over recent weeks, the students in Year 3 and their families have been preparing for the Sacrament of First Eucharist through the Parish Sacramental program and during class time through engagement in the Religious Education Curriculum. From tomorrow, the children will begin receiving the Sacrament of Eucharist in our Parish churches.
When we receive Holy Communion, Catholics believe that in a mysterious and unique way we are sharing in the body and blood of Christ. It is an encounter of the heart and we believe that Jesus is truly present. This is a very special occasion in the faith life of the children.
During the week I was speaking to a group of Year 3 students in the playground about first Eucharist when one of the students said, ‘Ms Uroda how do we know Jesus is real if we can't see him? I was reminded of an explanation that Pope Benedict XVI gave about the mystery of Jesus in the Eucharist. He said,
‘It is true we can’t see Jesus but there are many things that we do not see but they exist and are essential in our lives. For example: we do not see our reason, yet we have reason. We do not see our intelligence and we have it. In a word: we do not see our soul and yet it exists and we see its effects, because we can speak, think and make decisions, etc. Nor do we see an electric current, for example, yet we see that it exists; we see this microphone, that it is working, and we see lights. Therefore, we do not see the very deepest things, those that really sustain life and the world, but we can see and feel their effects. This is also true for electricity; we do not see the electric current but we see the light.
So, it is with Jesus: We do not see him with our eyes but we see that wherever Jesus is, people change, they improve. A greater capacity for peace, for reconciliation and for healing is created. Therefore, we do not see Jesus himself but we see the effects of his presence in our lives. And as I said, it is precisely the invisible things that are the most profound, the most important.”
Yours in Faith, Justice and Learning
SPLICED PROGRAM 2020
This year, six of our Stage 3 students have been involved in the 'Contemplating Connections' SPLICED (Stretching Potential through Learning in Interactive Challenging Environments in the Diocese of Wollongong) program.
The program is designed to allow for gifted students from different domains to engage in critical, creative and reflective thinking processes. The students showed tremendous commitment, deep thinking and creativity as they responded in individual ways to the abstract concept of ‘Contemplating Connections’.
The work of only 25 students has been selected from the Diocese to be included into the 86-page book publication. The fantastic news is that ALL the St Brigid student entries were selected for inclusion. A big thank you to Mr Boss who mentored the students throughout the year and a huge congratulations to the following published authors:
Leki D, Luca D, Daniel D, Sienna F, Paige H, Devrim T
The SPLICED 2020 Launch will be zoomed live on Tuesday December 8 at 7:00pm.
PRAY SCHOOL
The Big Advent Show: A time of waiting and preparing
Are you ready to sing? Are you ready to move? Let's hope so because it's Pray School time.
This Advent, help Tim, Beth and the Toys prepare for the birth of Christ as they present to you "The Big Advent Show", a time of waiting and preparing.
Featuring a heavenly host of helpers, there'll be singing and moving, art and craft, and time to pray.
You can watch some of our Year 2 students with Beth and the animals from 35:50mins
KINDERGARTEN TRANSITION
Starting school is an exciting milestone and it was wonderful reconnecting with the 32 children and families who will begin next year.
Today, the 2021 Kindergarten cohort joined us for the second transition to schools sessions. They spent time engaged in many creative activities, listening to stories, writing and socialising with one another.
STAFFING FOR 2021
At the end of an educational year we often welcome new staff and say farewell to others who move on for many and varied reasons.
As previously communicated, we welcome Mrs Amy Sammut to our leadership team as Acting Assistant Principal; Ms Stacey Thatcher and Mr Nicholas Cerverano to the teaching staff for 2021.
Classroom Teachers for 2021
| CLASS | STAFF | DAYS |
| Year 6 |
Mr Nicholas Cervarano Mrs Alysha Lavelle |
Monday - Wednesday Thursday - Friday |
| Year 5 | Mrs Arthur-Worsop - REC |
Monday - Friday |
| Year 4 | Mr Mark Boss - Middle Leader |
Monday - Friday |
| Year 3 |
Mrs Claire Shrimpton Ms Brooke McMahon |
Monday - Wednesday Wednesday - Friday |
| Year 2 | Mrs Stacey Thatcher |
Monday - Friday |
| Year 1 |
Mrs Michelle Wilson Mrs Donna Arjona |
Monday - Tuesday Wednesday - Friday |
| Kindergarten | Mrs Cathy Cuff |
Monday - Friday |
Specialist Teachers for 2021
| Instructional Coach | Mrs Amy Sammut - AP | Monday - Friday |
| PDHPE | Mrs Nicole Carey-Barr | Monday - Wednesday |
| Music | Mrs Melissa Sommerville | Thursday |
| Indentured Casual | Mrs Louise Richardson | Monday - Tuesday |
| Diverse Learning Teacher | Mrs Alysha Lavelle | Wednesday |
| Middle Leader Release | Mrs Alex Boss | Thursday |
| REC release | Mrs Tess Roche | Tuesday |
| Large Class Support - Yr 5 | Mrs Tess Roche | Wednesday |
| Large Class Support - Kinder | Ms Brooke McMahon | Tuesday |
| Literacy Coach | Mrs Margaret Panozzo | Monday - Thursday |
Support Staff for 2021
| SSSO - Finance and Admin | Mrs Nicole Regan | Monday - Friday |
| SSO - Admin Office | Mrs Anita Mitrevski | Monday - Friday |
| SSO - Classroom | Mrs Toni Frino | Monday - Friday |
| SSO - Classroom | Mrs Lisa Paton | Monday - Thursday |
| SSO - Classroom | Mrs Yvonne Tasker | Monday - Thursday |
| SSO - Classroom EALD | Mrs Amanda McAlary | Tuesday - Thursday |
| SSO - Library | Mrs Karen Campbell | Tuesday - Wednesday |
| Executive Assistant | Mrs Suzanne Clark | Friday |
BABY NEWS
Congratulations to the Stojanovski family on the recent birth of Liam, a little brother for Lucas in Kindergarten. Also, to the Van der Werf family on the birth of Alice May, a second little sister to Emily in Year 4.
UPCOMING DATES
| 20 November 2020 | Kindergarten Transition 2 |
9:15am-10:45am 1:00pm - 2:30pm |
| 21 November 2020 | First Communion Masses |
11:00am |
| 25 November 2020 | Sushi Special food day and Vinnies return and earn |
All day |
| 28 November | First Communion Masses |
11:00am |
| 25 Novmeber | Year 5 Leadership day |
All day |
| 8 December 2020 | Farewell for Mrs Evans and Mrs Baker |
9:45am |
| 11 December 2020 | Leaving families liturgy |
9:15am |
| 11 December 2020 | Meet Your Teacher 2021 |
12:00 - 2:30pm |
| 11 December 2020 | Christmas blessing from Fr Bernard |
2:30pm |
| 15 December 2020 | Graduation liturgy and luncheon |
From 12noon |
| 16 December 2020 | Year 6 graduation excursion |
9:30am-2:00pm |
| 16 December 2020 | Break Up for 2021 |
3:00pm |
| FEATURES OF SEMESTER 2 REPORTS |
WHY? |
| Omission of an overall grade for each Key Learning Area (KLA) |
In line with the flexible curriculum requirements as outlined by NESA, schools addressed all Key Learning Areas, however, not all outcomes and content were taught, assessed and reported upon. Therefore, the overall grades in each KLA have been omitted from the Semester 2 Report for 2020. |
| 5 Point scale for Effort Descriptors |
Previous Academic Reports contained Commitment to Learning Descriptors, these have been replaced with a 5 point scale outlining the effort demonstrated by the student during learning activities. |
| Positive Behaviours for Learning (PB4L) Description |
The format used to report on PB4L has been modified to reflect a more comprehensive range of students’ social skills and behaviours. |
| Inclusion of descriptions for each Key Learning Area (KLA) and Content Strands |
Additional detail has been added to describe the |
Reports will be made available on Compass on Friday 11 December.
HOLY COMMUNION
Over the next two weekends, students from Year 3 will be receiving their First Holy Communion. Weeks of preparation and learning will culminate in the Sacramental Masses being celebrated in our Lumen Christi Catholic Parishes. Congratulations to all our children as they continue their journey in their Catholic Faith.
And so we pray:
Lord Jesus
Bless the children coming forward to receive Holy Communion for the first time. May this day be an initial step into the lifelong love of the Eucharist. Give them a hunger for this sacred food so that they turn to you for comfort, wisdom and guidance as they grow into full discipleship. We ask this through Christ our Lord,
Amen
VINNIES VAN APPEAL
The St Vincent de Paul Society's members and volunteers reach out to the most vulnerable in our community through their Conferences, Special Works and Vinnies shops. Members and volunteers assist people in need and do not discriminate against cultural, religious or political beliefs.
Each year St Vincent de Paul Homelessness Coordination Services and the Illawarra/Shoalhaven Vinnies Van based at 12-16 Miller Street, Coniston, provide over 240 hampers filled with pantry items, Christmas goodies, small toys and other items.
So this year, our St Brigid's community will be contributing to two hamper drives.
The first one, for the Vinnies Van will take place next week. I have indicated in the table below the items that each grade will need to bring in, however any donation will be appreciated.
The second fundraiser will take place in Week 9 and this will be for our local conference of St Vincent de Paul. More information regarding this will be in the next Brigid Bulletin.
I understand that this is a big ask for this time of the year, but we are the fortunate ones!
All items MUST be at school by Friday 27 November 2020.
Thank you in advance, for your support and generosity.
| GRADE | ITEM |
| Kindergarten | Large packet chips / Packets of jelly crystals |
| Year 1 | Canned fruit |
| Year 2 | Packets of lollies |
| Year 3 | Shortbread biscuits |
| Year 4 | Men's toiletry items (deodorant, soap, shaving cream etc) |
| Year 5 | Fruit mince pies / Christmas cake |
| Year 6G | Long life custard |
| Year 6W | Puddings |
| Sunday 22 November 2020 |
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING of the UNIVERSE We have now come to the end of the liturgical year, the point that marks the transition from one period to another. Today we see that the kingdom of God is inclusive. Its embrace is as comprehensive as is the embrace of God. Criteria for membership are not based on obedience to the commandments or on conformity to ritual obligation, but on the bonds of love and concern. What we do for others, we do for Christ, because Christ is identified with those in need. We very seldom see the face of the glorified Christ in the faces of the needy; it is more often the face of the disfigured Christ that is turned to us. We see his fear and his shame, his brokenness and sense of loss. As difficult as it may be to look into such eyes, it is precisely the needy with whom Christ is identified. Having entered into the frailty of human nature, identified himself with the needy, and handed himself over to death, in the end Christ will have conquered all. It is a curious kingdom that he has won, a kingdom of the weak rather than the strong. He has turned the standards of the world upside down. He has shown that it does not take strength to ignore or to exploit the needy, but it does take strength to overcome our own selfishness in order to serve them. The kingdom that Christ hands over to God is a kingdom of love and care. © Dianne Bergant CSA |
 |
| Sunday 29 November 2020 |
FIRST SUNDAY of ADVENT Waiting is a prominent image this Sunday. Some people wait to be released from suffering, others await the second coming of Christ. Waiting saps our energies and stifles our enthusiasm. Yet wait we must, and as we wait, we wonder: ‘What should I be doing?’ The readings suggest that we should wait with patient expectation for the day of reconciliation and peace; we should wait in joyful hope that what is to come will come soon. While we wait, we should faithfully fulfil our responsibilities. We believe that we have a future worth waiting for, that there are promises that God will keep. And so we look expectantly to the Day of the Lord, that future day of ultimate fulfilment. © Dianne Bergant CSA |
 |
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
PRINCIPAL'S AWARD FOR WEEKS 5 and 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 2 | Briella I |
| Year 3 | Nahla O |
| Year 6G | Harrison M |
Congratulations to the following students who have received an Assistant Principal's Award. Well done!
| CLASS | STUDENT |
| Year 1 | Raphael I |
| Year 1 | Tom S |
| Year 2 | Briella I |
| Year 4 | Mason M |
Congratulations to the following students on receiving their awards during the last fortnight.
Week 5 - Term 4
| CLASS | FAITH AWARD | LEADER OF THE WEEK |
| Kindergarten | Jude C | Amelia D |
| Year 1 | Rafael S | Arielle N |
| Year 2 | Theo D-B | Florence M |
| Year 3 | Emerson E | Nohan M |
| Year 4 | Mason M | Cameron B |
| Year 5 | Edwina J | Niya M |
| Year 6G | Max H | Mia A |
| Year 6W | Leila P | Leki D-B |
| CLASS | JUSTICE AWARD | LEADER OF THE WEEK |
| Kindergarten | Vita K | Jacob M |
| Year 1 | Ireland C | Christian J |
| Year 2 | Daniel M | Ryan T |
| Year 3 | Hugo S | Lachlan E |
| Year 4 | Vincent H | Grace D |
| Year 5 | Addison W | Dara A |
| Year 6G | Hudson S | Emily S |
| Year 6W | Justin D | Atticus C |
Happy Birthday to the following students who are celebrating in Weeks 5 and 6.
We hope you have a great birthday!
| Kinder | Year 3 |
| Lucas S | Willow M |
| Nathan S | |
| Orlando S | |
| Jacob M | |
| Rita-Rose F | |
| Isla R | |
| Hkum Seng D |
SCHOOL FEES
Parents are reminded that school fee accounts need to be finalised before the end of the school year. All school fee balances can be found in the Compass Parent portal and payments can be made through this portal as well.
If you will not be in a position to finalise your school fee account before the end of the year, it is imperative that you contact the school office so a discussion can be organised with the Principal and a plan put in place.
Your immediate attendance to any outstanding school fees is appreciated.
EXPLAINING STUDENT ABSENCES IN COMPASS
A reminder to please logon to your parent portal and provide a detailed explanation for any full day absences for your child/children. If you have completed the Respiratory Illness google form, you will still be required to enter an explanation into Compass.
Please do not email the school office with your absence explanation as a detailed explanation in your Child's Compass portal will be sufficient.
You do not need to enter partial absences in Compass as this will be done from the school office when the student arrives or departs.
LATE ARRIVALS - if your child arrives after 8:50am the partial absence will be entered as unexplained. As parents are not coming on site of a morning you will need to send an email or phone the office to explain the late arrival.
If you have any questions regarding any of this information please contact the school office.
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
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 be sent to Ms Uroda and Mrs Benoit.
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 |
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