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‘For All Future Generations’
As we begin the second week of Lent, this Sunday, we are reminded in the Gospel reading of the Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain. Here, some of Jesus’ disciples were witness to the experience of seeing Jesus changed in appearance: His face shone like the sun and his face became ‘as white as the light.’ This experience is the beginning of the disciples’ understanding of their own role, grounded in their faith in Jesus, for the future.
During Lent, we are invited to take up the call to fast, pray and give alms. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the many crises that have struck the world over the past twelve months, mean that many communities are in great need of our support.
In class, students will learn of the ways in which they can make a difference for the futures of those in need in Australia and around the world. Through various stories of real people and encouragement to respond with compassion and action, students will continue to hear the message of Lent, through the example and teachings of Jesus: that they are also called to transfigure the world, to change it and make a difference.
And so we might pray:
Loving God,
May we stand in solidarity with all our brothers and sisters around the world who are suffering. May we be united in your love, and may we work together to build your kingdom here on earth.
| 12:30pm | Liturgy in St Brigid's Church |
| 1:10pm | Family lunch in the playground |
| 2:10pm | Guided learning walks in the classrooms |
LAUNCH OF THE NEW DIOCESAN STRATEGIC PLAN
At last night's Education Mass, Bishop Brian and our Director of Schools, Peter Hill officially launched our new strategic plan, Lighting The Way 2023+.
The plan is now available to view on any device. (https://ltw.dow.catholic.edu.au/) LTW2023+ names the priorities we see when we examine the contemporary challenges and opportunities before us. Bringing these priorities to life will require our collective heads, hearts and hands working towards a common purpose.
Mr Hill wishes to thank the thousands of staff, students, and others members of our school communities who contributed to the development of LTW2023+.
There is now an additional section for mufti days to ensure the attire of students is conducive to their learning, activities and safety.
We thank you for supporting the St Brigid's uniform policy.
Students (girls and boys) who have received their First Holy Communion are invited to train and become an Altar Server. Altar servers assist the priest in the Mass, and greatly improve the smoothness and solemnity of divine worship, facilitating a celebration which enables everyone to enter more deeply into its mysteries.
Children who are altar servers are guided by senior (adult) altar servers as they learn their roles. Altar servers often express that they feel much more invested in the Mass, have better knowledge of what they are doing, and experience a sense of contributing and belonging to the wider Catholic community.
The St Brigid’s scheduled training sessions for Altar Servers will be held during class time each Wednesday during the month of March.
Why become an altar server?
- Altar serving is a way of actively participating in the Mass.
- Altar servers have a privileged place in the Mass, it is not only a duty but a great honour.
- By volunteering to become an Altar Server, you are entering a ministry of service where reverence, dedication, attentiveness, quick-thinking, and commitment are needed in order to perform the role properly.
What is required?
- Altar servers must have received their First Holy Communion.
- Altar servers will be rostered on to serve during school Masses, the regular weekday Mass at St Brigid’s (Thursday 9:30am), and once confident, join the roster of weekend Masses at St Brigid’s Church.
- Altar servers will attend 4 x 30-minute training sessions held in the St Brigid’s Church with Fr James Arblaster and Ms Sarah O’Donnell (REC). These will be during school hours.
If your child is interested in this program for St Brigid’s, please fill in the expression of interest form by clicking on the link. CLICK HERE
RESPIRATORY ILLNESS PROCEDURES - GOOGLE FORM
Please continue to fill in the reporting google form if your child has even the mildest of respiratory symptoms or has tested Positive for COVID-19.
The information contained in this form gives me very good data about prevailing illness in the school which I can communicate to parents to help us all work together to ensure the health and safety of our community.
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 news-feed.
Your support in ensuring the health and safety of the St Brigid’s Community during this global pandemic has been greatly appreciated.
Please complete it any day or time of the week, including weekends. The information will automatically come to Ms Uroda and Mrs Benoit.
| 7/3 | P&F AGM and General meeting in the Library | 6:30pm - 8:00pm |
| 14/3 | PP teleconferences commence | By Appointment |
| 15/3 | NAPLAN Starts for Year 3 & 5 | |
| 17/3 | Project compassion Mufti Day and Special food | Order Via Qkr |
| 6/4 | Cross Country Carnival | From 9:30am |
| 6/4 | School term ends | |
| 24/4 | School commences for Term 2 | |
| 25/4 | Pupil Free Day - Anzac Day Public Holiday | |
NAPLAN
Every year the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) assesses the literacy and numeracy skills of students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.
NAPLAN tests complement the wide range of formal and informal assessments already conducted in schools. The NAPLAN test window starts on Wednesday 15 March.
Year 3 will do a paper based writing assessment and Year 5 will complete an online writing assessment. The following schedule of assessments are being planned:
| Wednesday 15 MAY | Year 3 & Year 5 Writing Assessment |
| Thursday 16 MAY | Year 3 & Year 5 Reading Assessment |
| Monday 20 MAY | Year 3 & Year 5 Conventions of Language Assessments |
| Tuesday 21 MAY | Year 3 & Year 5 Numeracy Assessment |
| Thursday 23 & Friday 24 MAY | Catch up Tests |
The NAP locked browser is used by the students to access the NAPLAN tests. Any previous versions of the NAP locked down browser must be removed prior to installing the latest version. This can be downloaded from the online assessment platform www.assessform.edu.au
All students are required to bring a pair of headphones to complete the tests. Plug in headphones are recommended for all students in Year 3 and 5 sitting the NAPLAN tests.
A public demonstration site is available for students to use at home, to practice using the online platform. It can be accessed here. The students will have ample opportunities in class to feel at ease and comfortable with the assessment and to practice using the online platform.
https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/public-demonstration-site
Please refer to the attached document for further parent information.
CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY
Today we participated in Clean Up Australia Day. We are very fortunate that our students care for our school environment extremely well. We thank the students for supporting this event.
DIOCESAN SWIMMING TRIALS
On Tuesday 7 March 2023 the following students will be travelling to Corrimal Pool to participate in the Diocesan Swimming Trials. We wish these students all the best as they compete against students from the southern region Catholic schools.
Good luck to Logan A, Rhiley A, Sachi B, Reed B, Bailey C, Zac C, Finn D, Zara H, Kip M, David M, Alice M, Maggie M, Rafael M, Willow M, Hunter M, Rosie S, Anthony S and Evie W.
REPRESENTATIVE SPORT
Best of luck to Hugo S who will be participating in the Dicesan Footbal Trials on Wednesday 8 March 2023. We wish Hugo all the best at the trial.
COMMITTMENT MASS
Last Saturday night, Bishop Brian celebrated a wonderful Parish Mass, where the students in Year 6 made their commitment promise in front of the Lumen Christi parish community.
This commitment promise symbolised the beginning of their Sacrament of Confirmation journey. Over the next two months, the students will develop a deeper understanding of the Sacrament of Confirmation.
On Saturday 29 April 2023 at 2:00pm Bishop Brian will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation upon them, recognising them as adults of the Church community.
On behalf of our St Brigid’s school community, I would like to congratulate each student and wish them every blessing on their journey.
ST BRIGID'S AWARDS
Congratulations to the following students on receiving their awards during Week 4-6.
Week 4 - Term 1
Today, students from Kinder to Year 6 will receive the Deep Thinking award. This award recognises those students who use critical and creative thinking to become independant life-long learners. They use a variety of thinking strategies and take responsibility for their learning
| CLASS | DEEP THINKING | LEADER OF THE WEEK |
| Kinder | Ariel E | Ryan C |
| Year 1 | Leo J | Jayden M |
| Year 2 | Liana D | Andre C |
| Year 3 | Vita K | Jude C |
| Year 4 | Millie A-B | Ryder M |
| Year 5 | Zlata K | Simon C |
| Year 6 | Zachariah C | Rosie S |
Week 5 - Term 1
Today, students from Kinder to Year 6 will receive the Learning Pathways Award. This award recognises students from Kinder to Year 6 who show high engagement and motivation in their learning. They co-construct their learning tasks, demonstrating and use voice and choice to become self-directed learners.
| CLASS | LEARNING PATHWAYS | LEADER OF THE WEEK |
| Kinder | Roxanna O | Kane F |
| Year 1 | Ayesha O | Wilson Z |
| Year 2 | Aarav J | Drew G |
| Year 3 | Finn D | Sparsha V |
| Year 4 | Allaria D | Hugh S |
| Year 5 | Zara H | Briella I |
| Year 6 | Nicolo M | Matthew C |
Week 6 - Term 1
Today, students from Kinder to Year 6 will receive the Building Partnerships Award. This award recognises students from Kinder to Year 6 who work collaboratively with other students and their teachers to enhance their learning.
| CLASS | BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS | LEADER OF THE WEEK |
| Kinder | Milani S | Leila G |
| Year 1 | Ben F | Magnus A |
| Year 2 | Joshua M | Mila J |
| Year 3 | Lucas S | Charlotte F |
| Year 4 | Allaria D | Ella D |
| Year 5 | Bethany M | Tayla R |
| Year 6 | Eve A | Willow M |
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:
Congratulations to the following students who have received an Assistant Principal's Award. Well done!
| CLASS | STUDENT |
| Year 4 - Week 5 | Hunter M |
| Year 3 - Week 6 | Sparsha V |
Scholastic Book Club Issue 2 Orders due online by
23 March 2023
Twice a term, Scholastic Book Club catalogues will be sent home with your child. There are no cash or EFTPOS payments, parents can order and pay online for their child’s Book Club purchases using a credit card via LOOP (Linked Online Ordering and Payment platform). The books are then delivered to school and distributed to the students.
Every order helps earn free books and teaching materials for the library and classrooms however there is never any obligation to order. St Brigid’s has earnt thousands of dollars worth of resources through this scheme.
How to order using LOOP?
- Sign in or register an account at: scholastic.com.au/loop
- Click on ORDER and select school and child’s class.
- Add your child’s first name and last initial (for book distribution).
- Enter product item number from the Book Club catalogue.
- Make payment via credit card
- All orders are attached to the school account until ready to be submitted to Scholastic by the school. A due date will be published in the Brigid Bulletin. No late orders can be processed.
Our second-hand uniform stock has been moved to the Kildare Conference Room (behind the Hall building) and will be open each Friday from 8:35 am – 9:00 am. In addition, you can order the school hat, cardigan, and school bag via Qkr! Mrs Mitrevski can also fill phone orders with payment taken over the phone.
At the beginning of the new school year, we would like to remind parents to check and update any details for your children and yourself in the Compass portal.
School fee balances can be checked via the Parent Portal on Compass.
To do this on your phone:
- Open the Compass App
- Open the menu button in the top left hand corner (3 lines, also commonly refered to as the hamburger)
- DO NOT USE THE SCHOOL FEE OPTION IN THIS MENU
- Find and click 'Open in Browser'
- Click your name in the top right hand corner
- Click billing tab (fourth tab along)
To do this on your computer:
- Open the Compass Portal (httpss://sbgdow-nsw.compass.education/)
- Click your name in the top right-hand corner
- Click the billing tab (fourth tab along)
2023 NSW PREMIERS READING CHALLENGE
Happy Birthday to the following students.
We hope you have a great birthday!
| Kinder | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 6 |
| Isaac B | Temi O | Levi C | Mia W | Sachi B | Fab M | Rafael M |
| Ben F | Sophie R-M | Harper L-D | ||||
| Kana B |
NEWS FROM THE P&F EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
|
ROSTER 2023 |
||
|
Weekend |
Mower #1 |
Mower #2 |
|
04/03/2023 |
David Hides |
Adam Fredericks |
|
18/03/2023 |
Mark Erkermann |
Thomas Mortlock |
|
01/04/2023 |
Fabrizio Curcio |
Jason Shoebridge |
|
22/04/2023 |
Jeremy Crook |
Paul Brogan |
|
13/05/2023 |
Matthew Duggan |
n/a |
|
03/06/2023 |
Chris Burrows |
Darrell Mitchell |
|
24/06/2023 |
Russell Bailey |
Grant Stylianou |
|
05/08/2023 |
Bobby Greenfield |
Ryan O’Connor |
|
26/08/2023 |
Juan Marcano |
Brett Shrimpton |
|
16/09/2023 |
Anthony Petre |
Louise MacDonald |
ST BRIGID'S CHURCH MASS TIMES
| Saturday | 5:30pm Vigil |
| Sunday | 9:00am |
| Thursday | 9:30am |
PARISH BULLETIN
PARISH WEBSITE
Sunday 5th March, 2023 | 12-3pm | Edmund Rice College, Wollongong
Celebrate International Women’s Week at the Illawarra Women’s Day of Dance and Culture! All women are welcome to come together to hear inspiring stories from our guest speakers, share delicious food, experience traditional dance and music from different cultures, and access free women’s health checks and information from the Multicultural Health Service.
The ISLHD Health Promotion
Cancer Council’s Healthy Lunch Box website
Healthy Back-to-School lunch boxes made easy!
Developed by dietitians, healthylunchbox.com.au is a one-stop shop for everything you need to know about packing a healthy lunch box. It’s a great resource to promote to parents, even the canteen. On the website there is an interactive lunch box builder, a wide range of nut-free recipes, an ‘Inspiration and Ideas’ section that includes healthy snack alternatives and informative blogs to help kick start the year.