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Dear Parents and Friends,
Next Thursday is R U OK? day. This day is a reminder that every day is a day to empower people to meaningfully connect, start a conversation, and lend support.
R U OK? Day is our national day of action dedicated to reminding everyone that every day is the day to ask, “Are you OK?” and support those struggling with life's ups and downs. It is a day to look after ourselves and one another. To practice being healthy, safe and active and to ensure we are communicating and interacting with others for well-being. It is particularly pertinent to look after our well-being and to reach out to others to check they are 'ok' during a pandemic where people can experience many challenges in their lives. Having a supportive friend, relative or just a caring person who is willing to listen can make a difference to a person's well-being.
In support of R U OK? Day CEDoW Ripples podcast, offers two resources for individuals to access. These can be experienced at any time of the day.
The first is a conversation with Paul Field, exploring the R U OK? Day theme of 2021, "Are they really OK? Ask them today". Paul Field was the lead singer of the band The Cockroaches and the manager of the Wiggles for almost 25 years. Paul shares his own story highlighting how his music, family, friends, and faith have all played such an important part in his wellbeing. It is a moving and authentic story and reminds us of the value of a single conversation.
Take a moment to listen to Paul Field below, as he sends a message of support and encouragement to our diocese. The full conversation with Paul Field will be available on the Ripples podcast next Thursday, 9 September 2021.
The second is a Guided Meditation for adults to accompany this episode, entitled 'A Meditation for Centering and Connection'. These will be sent to parents next Thursday so that you can take some time for your own wellbeing.
Please take care and look after your loved ones.
Yours in Faith, Justice and Learning
DEEPEST CONDOLENCES
Our love, thoughts and prayers are with Judith Hurley and her family at the sad passing away of her younger brother, Gerry Dwyer, in Canada.
Eternal rest grant to him, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY
Father’s Day is celebrated worldwide to recognise the contribution that fathers and father figures make to the lives of their children. This day celebrates fatherhood and male parenting. Fathers’ Day is a day of honoring fatherhood and paternal bonds, as well as the influence of fathers in society.
Pope Francis reminds us that “a good father knows how to forgive from the depths of his heart. Certainly, he also knows how to correct with firmness: he is not a weak father, submissive and sentimental. The father who knows how to correct without humiliating is the one who knows how to protect without sparing himself.”
Dear Lord,
Bless every father and every grandfather with the best of your spiritual blessings today. Let him know he is not alone in the tasks you have given him to provide for and support those under his care. Show him how much you delight in his work, and affirm the value of whatever You have given him to do—both as a father or grandfather and as a child of Yours. Confirm his worth daily so he has no reason to doubt whether he is loved in the eyes of his Heavenly Father.
Create in him a deep sense of trust in You, knowing that He can count on You to help him lead and protect those dependent on him. Let him know that every unselfish act of love and encouragement he has offered has been a gift that You receive gladly. Amen
COVID-19 UPDATE
The escalating numbers of COVID-19 cases in Wollongong is very concerning. Two students at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish Primary School, Warrawong, have tested positive for COVID-19 and the school is closed today for deep cleaning.
I urge all families to please follow the Public Health Orders and to stay at home. This is not a time to be complacent as the health of our St Brigid's community is paramount. It is not time for going to public places to play and meet people.
To our parents who are essential workers and rely on the staff at St Brigid's to supervise your child to complete their online remote learning, please DO NOT send your child to school with even the mildest of the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Sore throat
- Loss of smell or taste
- Headache
- Muscle or joint pain
- Runny nose
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Loss of appetite
During this current outbreak we urge you to please keep your child at home if you are working from home. Our students, who are not vaccinated, are vulnerable and we must do everything we can to protect them.
The 2021 theme for National Child Protection Week is calling all people to play their part to build communities that support every child and young person to thrive.
A lot of great research is helping us understand more and more about what children need to thrive. Children and young people need to both ‘feel safe’ and ‘be safe’. National Child Protection Week 2021 will be an opportunity to translate this knowledge into action. All skillsets, all people, and all communities are assets in this important endeavour.
Many of you are already playing your part every day – as individuals, as community members, as volunteers and as workers – to help create safe and supportive communities for children and young people. When we do this together we can give ‘every child, in every neighbourhood, a fair go’.
What is CEDoW’s approach to Child Safety Education and building Safe and Supportive School Environments?
CEDoW Life to the Full - A Framework for Respectful Relationships, Child Safety and Human Sexuality in a Catholic Context acknowledges the importance of a ‘big picture' approach towards creating safe and respectful school environments across our CEDoW schools.
As part of this framework, we acknowledge the importance of a sustainable approach towards explicit child safety (child protection) education, as well as creating safe and empowering school environments. National Child Protection Week is a great opportunity for schools to play their role in maintaining child safe environments through teaching and culture.
This week, schools are called to reflect on their implementation of sustainable child protection education and review how their role can be fulfilled in this space. National Child Protection Week can be used as a catalyst for meaningful planning and conversations at a school level to support the implementation of CEDoW Life to the Full - A Framework for Respectful Relationships, Child Safety and Human Sexuality in a Catholic Context.
SCHOOL ROADMAP
The NSW Premier has revealed the state’s return to school roadmap, which outlines when students will be able to safely return to school for face-to-face learning in a COVID-safe way.
The most important details of the roadmap are:
- All schools in NSW will follow the same roadmap.
- The return to face-to-face learning will be staggered, with different years returning at different times from 25 October 2021 (see timeline below). The start of the staggered return to face-to-face learning depends upon at least 70% of the state’s eligible adult population being fully vaccinated.
- If stay-at-home orders are lifted in an LGA or region before 25 October 2021, all students living or learning in that area will return to face-to-face learning at that time with a level of COVID-safe restrictions in place.
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Present |
All schools in NSW at Level 4 restrictions (remote learning). |
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25 October 2021 |
Kindergarten and Year 1 will return to face-to-face learning with Level 3 COVID restrictions on school sites. |
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1 November 2021 |
Years 2, 6 and 11 will return to face-to-face learning with Level 3 COVID restrictions on school sites. |
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8 November 2021 |
Years 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10 will return to face-to-face learning with Level 3 COVID restrictions on school sites. |
ALL SCHOOL STAFF TO BE VACCINATED
The NSW Government has announced that a TGA-approved COVID-19 vaccination will be mandatory for all school staff from 8 November 2021. Put simply, if we work in schools we must be vaccinated.
The St Brigid's staff are on track to all be fully vaccinated this deadline. I thank the staff for their committment to the health and wellbeing of all the St Brigid's community.
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.
TERM 3
| Thursday 9 September | RU OK Day? |
| Friday 17 September | Term 3 Concludes |
VIRTUAL BOOK WEEK CELEBRATIONS
Our students and staff engaged brilliantly in Book Week activities last week. Thank you to our parents and carers for supporting your children to get dressed up and enjoying reading lots of fantastic quality books over the course of the week. Please enjoy a showcase of our wonderful students and staff dressed as their favourite book characters.
ZOOM MEETINGS
Teachers and students have enjoyed the three Zoom meetings per week over the past two weeks. They have given teachers an opportunity to do some explicit teaching which is great. Stage 3 have started additional small group Zoom meetings as well.
From Monday, Kindergarten will be placed into smaller groups for their Zoom meetings so their meeting times will be different. There will be two simultaneous groups occurring with Mrs Cuff and Miss McMahon. Parents and carers of Kindergarten students need to check Seesaw on Sunday night for their child's Zoom meeting time.
Whole school Zoom Meeting Times
Mondays: Zoom Weekly Welcome Meeting. Teachers will share prayer with students, announce the weekly awards and provide one instructional lesson or focus.
Wednesdays: Well-being 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.
THIS WEEK AT THE WEDNESDAY WELL-BEING ZOOM WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO WEAR YELLOW TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT OF R U OK? DAY.
Fridays: Zoom Meeting with one instructional lesson or focus.
| Years 5 & 6 | 9:00am |
| Kindergarten | Group 1- 9:15am, Group 2- 9:45am |
| 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.
SHOWCASING NON-DIGITAL TASKS DAY
Below are some snapshots of the works students have completed during a Non-Digital Task Day. We hope the students are enjoying a break from screen time with these days. Our next Non-Digital Tasks Day is:
| Week 9 | Tuesday 7 September |
| Week 10 | Thursday 16 September |
Year 5
Xavier
Sophie
Year 4
Eliza
Sofia
Year 2
Kip
- Parents and carers are encouraged to take the day off from supporting their children with remote learning and let our Year 6 Leadership Team do the teaching for the day.
- Year 6 Leadership team have been busy creating fun, active, engaging and exciting videos for our students on this day.
- Students in K-6 will be able to watch and participate in story time sessions, artful sketch sessions, yoga, cooking and fitness sessions throughout the day.
- Parents and carers can put their feet up, grab a cuppa and listen to a meditation for R U OK? Day which will be sent out on Compass next Thursday morning.
- Teachers will be using this day as a planning day for Term 4 Remote Learning as for the first 4-5 weeks that we are still in remote learning in Term 4, there will be some changes to all classes.
- Students are welcome to post a photo of themselves engaging in the learning on their Seesaw or Google Classroom accounts for their teachers to see. There will be no teacher feedback provided on this day.
THE SEASON OF CREATION
This week we take this opportunity to recognise and celebrate the ecological conversion journey of our school community through the awarding of Level 3 Certification from Catholic Earthcare. The community of St Brigid’s has been recognised as a Catholic Earthcare School. This certificate acknowledges that our school is demonstrating a strong commitment to ecological conversion and dialogue through a documented journey of environmental change actions.
This is a wonderful acknowledgement of the many environmental actions that we engage in at our school and it inspires us all to continue doing what we can to care for our common home.
REFLECTIONS
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23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time 5 September 2021
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Jesus opens our eyes to the reality of God's presence in our midst, in the goodness of people and in the tenderness of life, even in its vulnerability. He opens our ears to hear the word of God spoken to us by others, revealed to us through the created world. There is an eschatological dimension to being open to the word of God, because we are opened to hear something from the future. The prophets always speak about this future in the present tense. They see it happening already. Isaiah proclaims, ‘Here is your God!’ and the world is transformed. Jesus says ‘Be open.’ The good news always opens us to future possibilities, to personal and communal transformation, to a new creation. With the word of God, the future invades our present. Although the eschatological future is already present to us, it is only unfolding, it has not yet opened completely. We still judge each other by appearances. We still miss the presence of God in the poor and the dispossessed, in those who suffer from disease or war or loneliness. We still shun those of another race, or those who have been shaped by another culture, or those who worship God in a different way. Although the eschatological future is already present, we have not yet put aside all of the biases of the past, we have not yet been fully transformed. But God has spoken, God has come to save us. God is trustworthy; God keeps faith forever. © Dianne Bergant CSA |
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24th Sunday of Ordinary Time 12 September 2021
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“The Lord has opened my ear.” Despite all the suffering that he is forced to endure, the author is confident that God is on his side. This is a remarkable statement since suffering was generally thought to be deserved recompense for some transgression. There is no suggestion that God will take the suffering away. Instead, God is present with the afflicted one, and the suffering itself is no cause for shame. In fact, suffering actually strengthens the one who laments. The righteous one knows that even in suffering, God is there as an advocate. The psalm is an individual prayer of thanksgiving. The ancients believed that death was an elemental force that could take possession of people, undermining their lives and draining them of vitality. Any ailment was considered some form of death. After the psalmist's suffering is reported, the mood shifts from one of despair to one of grateful praise. God is acclaimed as gracious, just and merciful. These covenant qualities are the very qualities that inspired the psalmist's confidence and devotion. The psalmist illustrates God's power in three ways: the soul or life force is freed from death; eyes are freed from tears; feet are freed from stumbling. It is no wonder that the psalmist breaks out in a song of thanksgiving. The author of the Letter to James addresses a misunderstanding regarding the nature of true faith. He insists that genuine faith is not simply orthodox doctrine. It must be practical, expressed in action and authentic worship. The people involved are referred to as brothers and sisters, indicating that the conflict is taking place within the community. Some members are in dire need of food and clothing, and others simply tell them to ‘Go in peace’. This is not the lively faith called for by Jesus who spent himself for all people even unto death. James' opponents want to separate faith and works. James insists that faith that does not manifest itself in action is dead. In the gospel, Jesus asks what people are saying about him. Some believe he is John the Baptist; others that he is Elijah; still others that he is one of the other prophets – all religious figures who have already died. Speaking in the name of the others, Peter proclaims that he is the Christ, the Messiah, the anointed one of God. Hearing this, Jesus elaborates on the character of his messiahship. He will be a messiah like the Son of Man, the enigmatic figure who will come on the clouds at the end of this age. To this he adds that he will suffer and die, an aspect not part of the ancient messianic traditions. Peter's rebuke exemplifies this. Jesus persists, adding that his followers will also suffer. This is indeed a hard saying. © Dianne Bergant CSA |
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The Exaltation of the Holy Cross 14 September 2021
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Today we concentrate on the power of the cross in our lives. It is the ultimate demonstration of the nature of God. Christ gave of himself even to death on the cross. This is characteristic, not only of the man Jesus, but of the Godhead. Creation is the first example of divine emptying; redemption is the ultimate example. Unlike Good Friday when we stand before the stark cross and mourn the death of our innocent messiah, today we stand before the glorious cross and praise God for God’s incomprehensible goodness toward us. God’s graciousness is poured out indiscriminately, prodigally as only profound love can be given. Such is the nature of our God, and the cross is the symbol of this nature. Jesus compares the pole in the wilderness on which was fixed the serpent to the cross which becomes the source of our healing. It was through the cross that Jesus conquered sin and death and won for us access to God. It is through the cross that we die to sin and rise to new life in Christ. As painful as life’s crosses may be, they serve to transform us. It can be our hope in the midst of pain and suffering and brokenness, because it promises to carry us into new life. Through the goodness of God, which has been poured out for us, we have been granted eternal life. It is incomprehensible to think that death is the way to life, but that is the message of this feast. The cross, which is a sign of shame and misery, is now a symbol of glory and exaltation. © Dianne Bergant CSA |
Congratulations to the following students on receiving their awards.
Week 6 - Term 3
| CLASS | LEARNING AWARD | LEADER OF THE WEEK | |
| Kindergarten | Sofia M | Samuel J | |
| Year 1 | Hayde R | Maya I | |
| Year 2 | Ryder M | Darren Y | |
| Year 3 | Florence M | Ryan T | |
| Year 4 | Eve A | Shennah L | |
| Year 5 | Iva O B & Xavier C | Evie B | |
| Year 6 | Edwina J | Natalia R-T | |
Week 7 - Term 3
| CLASS | LEARNING AWARD | LEADER OF THE WEEK | |
| Kindergarten | Boone L | Levi C | |
| Year 1 | Josiah M | Sophie R-M | |
| Year 2 | Raphael I | Ella D | |
| Year 3 | Molly S | Isabella S | |
| Year 4 | Rafael M | Bailey C | |
| Year 5 | Georgia F | Isobel F | |
| Year 6 | Thomas S | Matthieu C | |
Happy Birthday to the following students.
We hope you have a great birthday!
| Kinder | Year 4 | Year 6 |
| Andre C | Anthony S A | Addison W |
| Liana D S | Luca D B | |
| Evanna T |
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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6 Nov 2021 |
Working Bee and BBQ Lunch 10:30am – 12:00 tbc |
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2 Dec 2021 |
Christmas Concert and family picnic- tbc |