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Dear Parents and Friends,
I was inspired to reflect on, read and write about 'Belonging' in this newsletter following a piece of work that was completed this week by one of our Year 3 students, Zara H (see at the end of my message).
It’s been well over a year now since we’ve had varying levels of social distancing and lock-down to keep us all safe. All of us have had a range of reactions and it is understandable that we’re missing each other and losing a sense of belonging.
Connection, belonging, and togetherness are vital for positive mental health. When we feel lonely or isolated it sends a message internally that we’re not OK. It’s not as easy to stay connected while physically distanced but let us seek creative, safe ways to reach out and connect to others.
“We are created to belong, and our greatest fear is that we will not belong.” Dr. Brene Brown, a social scientist from the University of Houston
The ultimate belonging, of course, is the belonging of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, whose belonging is so intimate that they are one. Belonging is a central theme and the scriptures speak repeatedly of us as adopted sons and daughters, and that we are co-heirs with Christ.
Jesus clearly knew the power of belonging, of connecting, and in one of the most puzzling and contrary interactions recorded in the Gospels, illuminates the amazing power that can be released by belonging and connection.
The fourth chapter of John’s Gospel details the well-known story of the woman at the well. This story is a case study in the power of belonging and of connection. To truly grasp the importance of belonging as a central theme in the story, we must appreciate the cultural setting in which the gospel account occurs.
Under first century rabbinic law, the interactions between Jewish men and women were strictly limited. Women were largely relegated to the home and private life, rarely going out in public unless accompanied by others, particularly their husbands. Men did not speak to women in public places.
In addition, there was a deep disdain between Jews and Samaritans. The Samaritans, while descended from Jews, had intermarried with the gentiles of the region.They were, in a very real sense, viewed as traitors and deserters of the faith. Jewish prejudice toward Samaritans were deeply ingrained.
As we know, the Gospel account tells us about Jesus, who was travelling through Samaria and stops at the well for a rest. There he meets a Samaritan, a woman at that, who comes to draw water.
Jesus, though, seems to have a laser focus on connecting with this woman. He speaks to her, violating all convention, asking her for a drink of water. Her response to Jesus is off-putting, designed to let him know that she is nobody’s fool. Essentially, she says to Jesus, “You Jews want nothing to do with Samaritans, and you don’t even talk to your own women! Why are you asking me for a drink?”
The outcome of Jesus effort to connect with this woman is stunning. She goes directly into the city, preaching Jesus to the very people she was trying to avoid by going to the well at noon. Her passion and testimony are so compelling that the Samaritan residents come out to see the Jewish rabbi Jesus. Many came to believe because of her testimony, and much more because of what Jesus said.
- What does it mean to you to belong?
- What do you gain from belonging?
- What is the cost of belonging, and which currencies do you pay it in?
- Can you gift belonging?
- What can you invest in belonging to our St Brigid’s community?
Yours in Faith, Justice and Learning
MESSAGE FROM HER EXCELLENCY HONOURABLE MARGARET BEAZLEY AC QC - Governor of NSW
Her Excellency the Governor of New South Wales, has prepared a video message to thank and encourage the St Brigid's school community during this difficult time.
STAY AT HOME ORDERS EXTENDED
Today, the New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian announced new COVID-19 restrictions including compulsory outdoor mask wearing across the state and a curfew in 'local government areas of concern'. Greater Sydney's lock down is extended until 30 September 2021 but Shellharbour and the Central Coast are now considered regional NSW.
This means that remote learning will continue at St Brigid's. As soon as I hear from Catholic Schools NSW I will let you know what this means for schools and the plan for online remote learning
You can read the full guidelines for Level 4 (remote learning) schools here.
PARENT RESOURCE
Thank you to a Year 5 parent who wanted to share this fabulous resource with families. This free online toolkit includes videos, fact sheets, podcasts and guides to help your family navigate the pandemic. Scan the QR code to get started.
WHAT A TREAT!
Thank you to the Gruber family for the scrumptious morning tea that arrived for the staff yesterday. We appreciate your thoughtfulness.
COVID UPDATE
As we enter the second half of Term 3, I would like to thank you for how understanding and supportive you have been during this incredibly difficult time.
The vast majority of students continue to learn from home and we are deeply grateful for your contribution to supporting the safety of our students, staff and school families. However, the number of students attending school for supervision is still a little high across the Diocese.
The information below has been prepared by the Catholic Education Office COVID-19 Response Team and is intended to help you understand the reason schools are urging all families to keep their children home at this time if they are able to.
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Is COVID-19 affecting children and young people? |
Yes. NSW Health data shows that cases in children aged 10-19 are higher than all other age groups except for those aged 20-39. The NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant, has said “we are seeing more infections from children spreading, which is not the characteristic we had observed with previous strands.” A recent Sydney Morning Herald article explained that “children aged under nine are increasingly testing positive to COVID-19 in NSW, with 44 cases of the contagious Delta variant detected in one day and young children accounting for almost 15% of infections in the past fortnight.” (Source: Forty-four children test positive to COVID-19 in a day in NSW, 12 August 2021) |
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What COVID-safe measures are in place to protect students and staff? |
We continue to follow all the recommended COVID-safe practices for a Level Four school. However, NSW Health continues to remind us that any time anyone leaves their home and comes into contact with people from other households, their risk of contracting COVID-19 is increased. NSW Health has confirmed that more than 70% of COVID-19 transmission in the current outbreak occurs within households. This means that if one person in a household contracts COVID-19 there is a very high probability that the rest of the household will also become positive. To keep yourself and your family as safe as possible, you should only send your child to school for supervision if it is absolutely not possible for them to learn from home. |
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Why are schools open for supervision if it’s safer to keep children home? |
The decision by NSW Health to allow schools to remain open for supervision is to ensure that those students who have absolutely no option to learn from home (e.g. the children of front line health workers and others in similar circumstances) can continue learning while the stay-at-home order is in place. The NSW Government continues to reinforce the message that the safest option for everyone in the current circumstances – and the best way to avoid contracting COVID-19 and passing it on to your loved ones – is to stay home except when you absolutely must go out. |
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When can I send my child to school for supervision? |
The current Public Health Order makes it clear that it is only acceptable to “leave home for education if it is not possible to do it at home”. In line with this government directive, families are only able to send their children to school at this time if there is absolutely no option for them to learn from home. There are four reasons this may be the case:
Students have access to the same learning materials and experience whether they are at school or at home, and there is no advantage for students who are supervised at school. |
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What if my child wants to go to school? |
We understand that many students are missing school and their friends. However, their safety and the safety of all students, staff and school families must be our shared priority right now. It is also important to remember that normal school activities are not taking place, the vast majority of students are learning from home, and very few teachers are on site each day. Schools are required to only have the minimum number of staff on site to provide supervision for students. This is to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission and protect the staff and students who have no option but to attend school. |
If you are planning to send your child to school for supervision, but have the option to keep them home, I am asking you to reconsider for the safety of your child, the members of your household and for our extended school community.
Thank you again for your support and the effort each family continues to make in the interests of public health. Many of the staff working in schools have school-age children at home and they are very aware just how challenging it can be to balance working from home while supporting a child’s remote learning.
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.
TERM 3
| Monday 23 August | Book Week Begins |
| Tuesday 31 August | P&F Meeting 6:30pm - 8:00pm. Cancelled |
| Friday 2 September | Father’s Day Breakfast/Prayer & Stall 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 CHANGES FROM WEEK 7
Starting on Monday 23 August 2021 we will be implementing the following changes to our delivery of remote learning tasks. Please be aware of the following changes:
There will now be THREE Zoom Meetings for all classes each week that we continue with remote learning.
Mondays: Zoom Weekly Welcome Meeting. Teachers will share prayer with students, announce the weekly awards and provide one instructional lesson or focus.
Wednesdays: Wellbeing Zoom Meeting. This will be our regular well-being catch up via zoom, except teachers will also introduce an engagement activity such as a kahoot, a quiz, a challenge, a word or number hunt to open up and encourage conversation and connection.
Fridays: Zoom Meeting with one instructional lesson or focus.
Please join your teachers for these three Zoom meetings starting on Monday as these are a great way to connect with classmates and teachers and also to receive explicit instruction in either reading/writing/maths. The Zooms will occur at the regular times on Monday, Wednesday and Friday eg.
| Years 5 & 6 | 9:00am |
| Kindergarten | 9:15am |
| Years 1 & 2 | 9:30am |
| Years 3 & 4 | 9:45am |
REMINDER OF PB4L EXPECTATIONS ON ZOOMS
Students are expected to abide by our school rules during remote learning and when accessing the Zoom platform. Our school rules are Be Respectful, Responsible and Safe. In line with the CEDoW Social Media Policy and CEDoW Responsible Use of Technology Agreement, the following expectations apply when accessing Zoom:
- Wear your school jacket/jumper or sport shirt to show you are a part of the St Brigid’s community and are ready to participate
- Turn your video ON so your teacher and classmates can see you
- Have your microphone on MUTE until your teacher asks you to speak
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Wait your turn - teachers will give you a signal to use to speak, such as raising your hand
- Always listen and be respectful when others are speaking by staying focused and not speaking while another person is speaking
- Find a quiet place without distraction, bedrooms are not recommended
- Be on time for your scheduled Zoom meeting
- Be mindful that all Zoom meetings are recorded so adhering to the school rules and expectations are very important.
What remains the same:
- Completing the Daily Attendance Google Form everyday
- Completing the Well-being Check In Google form (when teachers request this)
- Remote Learning Tasks available on either Seesaw or Google Classroom
- Non-digital Tasks day on alternate Tuesdays and Thursdays
We await advice from Catholic Schools NSW as to the nature of learning for Weeks 8,9 and 10 of Term 3, however, if we are still in remote learning the Non-digital Tasks Days will be on the following days:
| Week 7 | Tuesday 24 August |
| Week 8 | Thursday 2 September |
| Week 9 | Tuesday 7 September |
| Week 10 | Thursday 16 September |
CELEBRATING REMOTE LEARNING
Below are some snapshots of
Kindergarten Well-being Wednesday Zoom
Year 5 Well-being Wednesday Zoom
Non-Digital Tasks Day
Jude from Year 1 reflecting on how he can show his love for God by the way he treats others
THE SEASON OF CREATION
Each year from September to October the Christian community celebrates the Season of Creation by praying and acting together to protect our common home. During this time Catholics unite with others in the global family to pray and protect every creature in God’s beautifully complex web of creation. The theme of this year’s Season of Creation celebration is “A Home for All? Renewing the Oikos of God”
The Season of Creation begins on September 1st, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, which we celebrate today. This annual day, established by Pope Francis in 2015, is an opportunity to pray, reflect and act to care for God’s creation. All of us, both those who most contribute to climate change and those whom it most affects, pray today for better stewardship of the Earth.
Pope Francis in his announcement for the World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation said,
"The annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation offers to individual believers and to the community a precious opportunity to renew our personal participation in this vocation as custodians of creation, raising to God our thanks for the marvellous works that have been entrusted to our care, invoking God’s help for the protection of creation and God’s mercy for the sins committed against the world in which we live."
And so we pray ...
That the global Church and other faith communities respond with love and action to the signs of the times expressed in the cry of nature that has been wounded by humankind’s selfishness, carelessness and recklessness. We pray to our Creator
That we more fully appreciate our Earth, upon whom we walk and who supports us and nurtures life in all its forms. We think of the minerals, the fungi, and bacteria that give life to soil, bodies and systems. We pray we can learn to walk on Earth with more respect. We pray to our Creator
In the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic, hear our cries of compassion, and heal our world and all creatures. Inspire our hearts with a holy imagination, to rise, freed from the demands to produce and consume to imagine a just, sustainable way of living, where all have enough, and all may be restored. We pray to our Creator
That we think of the whole human family whose livelihood and well-being depends on the well- being of the Earth. We lift up the men, women and children who are displaced from their homes. We pray to our Creator.
That we turn our minds to the sacred waters of the world, the great oceans, aquifers, lakes, rivers and streams, the life that lives in the waters and all animals that crawl, walk, swim and fly. We give thanks for those that provide food for us, that sustain cycles in their work and living and provide companionship and beauty. We pray to our Creator.
During this Season of Creation, grant us the courage and will to truly care for the oikos – the earth community. Inspire us with creativity to re-imagine the way we live as a global community and share what we have been given. We pray to our Creator.
We make all our prayers through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord.
All: Amen
REFLECTIONS
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21st Sunday of Ordinary Time 22 August 2021
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The decisions called for in today's readings are life decisions. The people at the time of Joshua had to decide which god they would worship. The disciples of Jesus had to decide if he was the one who would fulfil their messianic expectations. We have life decisions to make as well. How will we choose? The choices we make determine the character of our union with God. God called us out of the slavery of sin and protected us throughout the journey of our lives. Jesus walked with us through the challenges of life and performed wonders for us. Why should we look elsewhere? Because we face new challenges. The new demands placed on us may be so great, or the commitment required of us may be so demanding that we feel that we can no longer walk with him. The church may be changing in ways we do not appreciate, or it may not be changing in the ways we believe it should, and so we may feel that we can walk with him no longer. If we decide to commit ourselves, we will enter into a union with God that is deeper than anything we have previously known. However, this union will be based on faith. We may understand no more than we did in the past, things may be no more to our liking. But, ‘to whom shall we go?’ Jesus is God's holy one; he has the words of eternal life. © Dianne Bergant CSA |
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22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time 29 August 2021
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The overarching theme of the readings for this Sunday is ‘words spoken in truth’. On one level, the laws are the words of the covenant. They are part of the contract that was drawn up between God and the people. They are words of truth, because they are the reliable revelation of God and because they genuinely reflect righteous living. The biblical covenant laws are truly humane. Obedience to the words of the covenant leads to life and blessings, while disobedience results in the opposite. Our religious customs always carry some profound religious meaning, but we may not know or care what it is – and yet we perform them. Do people know or care why we stand or sit or kneel during liturgy? Do people have a ‘church’ wedding because it is a religious event, or because ‘that's the way we have always done it”? Religious practices do not always flow from a deep religious conviction. But once we realise our need for God, these practices become genuine expressions of religious sentiment. When the word of God has taken root in us, everything becomes a religious practice. This word can come to us through the teachings of our faith, through the example of good people around us, through the wonder and mystery of creation. When it does take hold of us, our inner eye is opened, our hearts are softened, and we turn instinctively to God like a flower turns to the sun. When we are brought to birth in this way, covenant law becomes sacred, religious practices are cherished, and we are filled with the power that saves. © Dianne Bergant CSA |
Congratulations to the following students on receiving their awards.
Week 4 - Term 3
| CLASS | LEARNING AWARD | LEADER OF THE WEEK | |
| Kindergarten | Juliette I & Mila J | Oliver W | |
| Year 1 | Hkum Seng D | Sparsha V | |
| Year 2 | Christian J | Kip M | |
| Year 3 | Tayla R | Briella I | |
| Year 4 | Hamilton Y | Rocco G | |
| Year 5 | Tayah A & Sophie J-T | Grace D | |
| Year 6 | Addison W | Paige H | |
Week 5 - Term 3
| CLASS | LEARNING AWARD | LEADER OF THE WEEK | |
| Kindergarten | Aurora M | Andre C | |
| Year 1 | Abigail B | Orlando S | |
| Year 2 | Ned L | Arthur R | |
| Year 3 | Fabrizio M | Ilena P | |
| Year 4 | Emerson E | Christopher M | |
| Year 5 | Luke S | Abby H | |
| Year 6 | Sophia T | Dalton Y | |
Happy Birthday to the following students.
We hope you have a great birthday!
| Kinder | Year 4 |
| Marta O'D | Eliza P |
| Drew G | Bailey C |
St Brigid’s Gwynneville
PARISH WEBSITE
DIOCESAN WEBSITE
Please visit the Catholic Diocese of Wollongong website for further information.
LAWN MOWING ROSTER
| Date | Mower 1 | Mower 2 |
| 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
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DATE |
EVENT |
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3 Sept 2021 |
Father’s Day BBQ breakfast - TBC |
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3 Sept 2021 |
Father’s Day stall- TBC |
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6 Nov 2021 |
Working Bee and BBQ Lunch 10:30am – 12:00 |
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2 Dec 2021 |
Christmas Concert and family picnic |