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Dear Parents and Friends,
Sometimes, without knowing it or even being aware of it, we can get locked into our own world and our particular situation. We can forget about or lose sight of the fact that we are part of a much bigger community and world.
In the Gospel for today’s Feast of the Transfiguration, Jesus takes some of his friends away from the business of the village and market place. He invites them to travel with him as he makes his way up the mountain. This is not unusual as we know from the Gospels that Jesus often went off by himself to the mountains to pray. While they were there praying something extraordinary happened. Jesus was transfigured; he was changed; his face shone like the son, and his clothes became as white as light. Imagine how surprised, shocked and taken aback those with Jesus were. Once composed, Peter utters the famous words, ‘Lord, it is wonderful for us to be here’. But more importantly than what was said, is what they heard; ‘This is my Son, the beloved, he enjoys my favour, listen to him’.
The word and message that Jesus speaks to us and offers is life-giving and life-changing. The words of Jesus, nourish, nurture, and sustain us, if we open our hearts and lives to hearing it.
The Transfiguration gives us a brief and fleeting glimpse of Jesus in all his glory. It is a taste of what is to come. It is offered to us to encourage and challenge us in our daily lives. It reminds us that our lives are far more than what we see, hear and experience every day. It is not just a matter of getting through the day. Being a follower of Jesus is about living with meaning, purpose and hope. The transfiguration not only offers us a glimpse of Jesus in all his glory, it also offers each of us a foretaste of what God promises each of us in the fullness of the Kingdom.
We may never experience anything as powerful as the Transfiguration. But every day in countless and seemingly small ways God does break into our world and our daily lives. Every time we experience a moment of peace, joy, reconciliation or forgiveness, God is with us. Every time that we reach out to help another person is a moment of transfiguration both for ourselves and for those we help. Each time somebody shows care and concern for us is a moment when God reaches out to us.
This week, let us open our hearts so that we may hear Jesus speaking to us. May we slow down and look for moments of small but important times of transfiguration in our own ordinary daily lives.
Yours in Faith, Justice and Learning
FAMILY WEEK
Role of parents and families highlighted during the bicentenary of Catholic education in Australia
Catholic schools across Australia will celebrate Family Week from 8 – 14 August 2021, to recognise the significant contribution parents, carers and families have made to the foundation, growth, and continuity of Catholic schools in Australia over 200 years.
Family Week coincides with the Feast Day of Australia’s First Saint, Mary MacKillop, who was a passionate educator and advocate for children and families, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
COVID-19 - STAY AT HOME UNLESS IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY
The number of COVID-19 cases continues to present a serious risk to the community, with the Delta strain impacting young people and children more significantly than previous strains of COVID-19. The Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant, continues to strongly encourage parents and carers to keep children home unless it is absolutely necessary for them to attend school.
Any student who is unwell, even with very mild symptoms, must stay home. Any student who attends school with any COVID-19 symptoms will be sent home and must present a negative COVID-19 test and be free of symptoms before they return. Thank you for understanding the importance of these measures in keeping our students, staff and school community safe.
ESSENTIAL WORKERS IN THE COMMUNITY
Parents who are essential workers and need to leave home to work are required to register their child/ren for attendance at school each day using the google form sent out on COMPASS. It is absolutely crucial that registration occurs in the 12 hour time frame (7:00am-7:00pm). At 7:00pm each evening, staffing decisions are made for the following day based on student numbers and our supervision obligations. Please do not phone or email after 7:00pm to register. If your circumstances change after you have registered your child/ren and they will be able to learn from home, please communicate this via email or phone message.
You are required to have your child at school between 8:40am-8:50am. If you arrive after this time, you and your child must wait in the car and phone the office. A member of staff will come out to walk your child safely into school as the office door and gates are locked at 8:50am.
COMMUNICATING WITH CLASSROOM TEACHERS
If you have any questions regarding your child’s online learning, please contact the classroom teacher using the preferred mode of communication at the following times. Teachers will be engaged in planning online learning tasks, feedback and supervising students of essential workers at other times during the school day.
PANDEMIC FATIGUE - CARE FOR YOURSELF AND THOSE AROUND YOU
Everybody is experiencing pandemic fatigue differently. Some of us may not even be aware it is affecting us. It is important to be aware of pandemic fatigue in ourselves and in those around us, so we can take proactive opportunities to maintain our well being.
While we can all experience pandemic fatigue in different ways, it is possible to counter its effects. Look out for some of these signs in yourself and those around you and take practical steps to be kind to yourself, stay connected, check in with each other, and seek professional support when needed.
The National Mental Health Commission has developed resources to help individuals lookout for some of the signs of fatigue, and shares steps that people can take to be kind to themselves and overcome these feelings.
VACCINATIONS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED
The NSW Government is strongly encouraging teachers and school staff, along with all NSW citizens, to be vaccinated as soon as possible, with all adults now able to access the Astra Zeneca vaccine.
TERM 3
| Monday 9 August | Family Week Begins |
| Monday 16 August | Science Week Begins |
| Monday 23 August | Book Week Begins |
| Tuesday 31 August | P&F Meeting 6:30pm - 8:00pm. TBC |
| Friday 2 September | Father’s Day Breakfast/Prayer & Stall TBC |
| Monday 6 - Tuesday 7 September | Year 5 and 6 Camp TBC |
| Thursday 9 September | RU OK Day? |
| Thursday 9 - Friday 10 September | Basketball Gala Days (Junior & Senior) TBC |
| Friday 17 September | Term 3 Concludes |
TERM 4
| Tuesday 5 October | Students return for Term 4 in summer uniform |
| Friday 8 October | Gymnastics Program begins TBC |
| Friday 8 October | Kinder 2022 Playgroup 1 TBC |
REMOTE LEARNING TIPS AND TRICKS FOR PARENTS
As we complete four weeks of remote learning we want to thank our parents and carers for their support of their children. Without your presence, guidance and positivity it would be even more difficult for your child to learn from home. We know this can be a very challenging time for many families, with many different circumstances, and we appreciate all that our families are doing, to continue the learning from home. Please remember to prioritise family time away from devices, fun and physical activity during lockdown. Encourge your child to have regular breaks away from their device and to engage in some physical activity. Below are some physical challenges you could do as a family to break up your learning and working from home days. Roll a dice and have some fitness fun!
WELLBEING WEDNESDAY ZOOMS
This week we began some new initiatives that focus on student wellbeing. Thank you to our parents and carers for supporting your child to fill in the Wellbeing Check In Google form and getting onto the Zoom meeting on Wednesday. The teachers, school support officers and students absolutely loved connecting with each other albeit online through zoom. Please enjoy some snaps of Wellbeing Wednesday.
Year 6 Wellbeing Wednesday
Year 3 Wellbeing Wednesday
Mary MacKillop is not only the first Australian to be recognised by the Church as a Saint, she is truly a very Australian saint. She characterises the spirit of the Australian mythology. She was a prodigious hard worker who put the needs of others before herself. She exhibited something of the larrikin spirit: constantly in dispute with authority but pressing on, regardless. She used the strengths of others but also didn’t tolerate those who were not genuine. Her commitment to the schooling of children from poor and rural communities established a model of Catholic education that continues to today. A Saint for and of Australia!
And so we pray ...
Ever generous God,
You inspired St Mary MacKillop to live her life faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and constant in bringing hope and encouragement to those who were disheartened, lonely or needy.
With confidence in your generous providence and through the intercession of St Mary MacKillop, we ask that you grant our request to keep the families of St Brigid’s community safe, healthy and happy during this difficult time.
We ask that our faith and hope be fired afresh by the Holy Spirit so that we too, like Mary MacKillop may live with courage, trust and openness.
We ask this prayer through Christ our Lord,
Amen
THE ASSUMPTION of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15), is a very old feast of the Church, celebrated universally by the sixth century. It commemorates the death of Mary and her bodily assumption into Heaven, before her body could begin to decay--a foretaste of our own bodily resurrection at the end of time. Mary's assumption into heaven is the most important of all Marian feasts, a holy day of obligation.
And so we pray…
Father in heaven,
All creation rightly gives you praise, for all life and all holiness come from you.
In the plan of your wisdom she who bore the Christ in her womb was raised body and soul in glory to be with him in heaven.
May we follow her example in reflecting your holiness and join in her hymn of endless love and praise.
We ask this prayer through Christ our Lord,
Amen.
REFLECTIONS
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Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop 8 August 2021  |
God’s Saving Justice The Gospel reading for today is, at first glance, an odd choice to pair with the feast of St Mary of the Cross. Mary MacKillop faced more than a few financial challenges, after all, especially in her youth. The burden of supporting her poor family fell to Mary in her teenage years, and surely no one held it against her for worrying about money, food, or clothing. But the pairing of saint and Gospel makes sense in the context of Mary’s vocation. Rather than worrying about herself, she cared for others. In this, Mary MacKillop lived the Gospel very effectively. First caring for her immediate family, then for wider relations, soon enough Mary was focused on meeting the many needs of the communities in which she and her fellow Sisters of St Joseph lived. Through aid, education, and example Mary offered her contemporaries and us an example of faith through works. From quietly and unobtrusively teaching in a stable in 1866, to founding a religious order that spread throughout and beyond a continent, Mary’s spiritual journey was truly focused on “God’s saving justice”. Tending to Australia’s Aboriginal peoples, prisoners facing execution, children requiring education, the homeless, the orphaned, the sick, indeed anybody she saw in need, Mary shows us how God seeks to answer the day’s troubles: through us. © Nick Brodie |
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The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 15 August 2021  |
In the Western church this feast celebrates the assumption of Mary into heaven; in the East it commemorates her dormition or her falling asleep. The readings invite us to reflect on the role that she plays in the mystery of our redemption. Whatever we honour in Mary in some way points to her son. Over the centuries devotion to Mary has been expressed in forms taken from the culture out of which it developed. Sometimes she is pictured as a humble peasant girl. At other times she is depicted as a queen robed in gold of Ophir who rules from heaven. Probably the most familiar pose is that of a mother with her child. Perhaps the most dramatic of these themes is that of the celestial woman from the vision found in the Book of Revelation. It is because of the cosmic significance of Jesus that this tradition has been applied to Mary. Though the first reading depicts a cosmic woman, the Gospel reading characterises Mary as a simple peasant woman intent on offering service to another. However, the words that are placed in her mouth are words of prophetic challenge. She announces the great reversals of God’s good news. The greatness of Mary is a reflection of the greatness of the Son of God whom she bore. He was the first fruits of salvation. He was the victor who won the kingdom. Her part in this victory was to bring him to birth and into maturity. © Dianne Bergant CSA |
Congratulations to the following students on receiving their awards.
Week 2 - Term 3
| CLASS | LEARNING AWARD | LEADER OF THE WEEK | |
| Kindergarten | Sofia H & Valentino D | Hudson I | |
| Year 1 | Flynn D | Jacob M | |
| Year 2 | Macy G | Tom S | |
| Year 3 | Josh S | Zara H | |
| Year 4 | Rosie S & Eliza | Sofia S | |
| Year 5 | Samuel S | Shay A | |
| Year 6 | Lila J | Ariel L | |
Week 3 - Term 3
| CLASS | LEARNING AWARD | LEADER OF THE WEEK | |
| Kindergarten | Ivy F & Ted F | Drew G | |
| Year 1 | Isla R | Mia M | |
| Year 2 | Charlie E | Allaria D | |
| Year 3 | Bethany M | Neave M | |
| Year 4 | Lachlan E | Rio M | |
| Year 5 | Ash A & Emily V | Oliver E | |
| Year 6 | Luca D | Charlotte | |
Happy Birthday to the following students.
We hope you have a great birthday!
| Kinder | Year 2 | Year 4 | Year 5 |
| Jaxson M | Ireland C | Matthew C | Grace D |
| Samuel J | Lachlan C | ||
| Hunter M |
LAWN MOWING ROSTER
| Date | Mower 1 | Mower 2 |
| 8 August 2021 | Max M | David H |
| 12 September 2021 | Anthony P | Matt D |
| 10 October 2021 | Thomas M | Adam T |
We are still looking for a few more volunteers. If you can help please contact John Harman on 0419 993 133 or dabeers@bigpond.com
SAVE THE DATE - P&F EVENTS
|
DATE |
EVENT |
|
6 August 2021 |
Cocktail Dinner Party - Postponed |
|
3 Sept 2021 |
Father’s Day BBQ breakfast - TBC |
|
3 Sept 2021 |
Father’s Day stall- TBC |
|
6 Nov 2021 |
Working Bee and BBQ Lunch 10:30am – 12:00 |
|
2 Dec 2021 |
Christmas Concert and family picnic |
St Brigid’s Gwynneville
PARISH WEBSITE
DIOCESAN WEBSITE
Please visit the Catholic Diocese of Wollongong website for further information.