Newsletter Term 2 Week 5 (Wednesday 29th May 2024)

Our Front Page with Year 2

Year 2 has been reading the book Mallee Sky. This book is about the Mallee area and the droughts they experience. The book uses wordplay and figurative language to help the audience visualise what is happening in the story. Year 2 had their own turn at writing some alliterations and personification to add figurative language to their own writing

• The car creaks on the road. - Igziah 
• The tree waves. - George 
• The scrap melt sighs. - Raph 
• Dry dust storms. Crusty crops die. - Abi
• The green grass grows. - Aurelia 
• Healthy happy trees. The mud makes a mess. - Kendrick
• The shimmering sun shines. Parched paddocks. - Eliza 
• Messy mud makes a mess. - Harper 
• Crusty crops die. - Liam

Don’t forget Year 2 Showcase tomorrow, 2:15pm in the Hall. We can’t wait to show you our amazing work.

Our Gospel Reflection

This week is the second Sunday after Pentecost, where we celebrate a second solemnity, which marks our return to Ordinary Time in the liturgical calendar. This Sunday is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. At one time, this day was called Corpus Christi, the Latin words for “the Body of Christ.”

In the beginning of Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus instructs his disciples to make preparations for the Passover meal. Like most meals, the Passover meal required planning and preparation. Our celebration of the Sunday Eucharist also requires planning and preparation. Certainly the ministers at the Eucharist prepare for their roles: the person presiding prays and prepares the homily; the prayers of petition are written; the music ministers prayerfully select music and practice it before Mass; Eucharistic ministers, lectors and altar servers prepare carefully for their roles. As the worshiping assembly, we can also prepare for the Mass through our prayer during the week, by reading the Scripture before Mass, and by making ourselves present to the Eucharistic celebration.

As you gather as a family, talk about some of the things that are required to prepare for your family meals. Plan together a special Sunday meal by choosing the menu, preparing the shopping list, and assigning duties for cooking, setting the table, preparing decorations, leading the prayers, and cleaning. Read together Sunday’s Gospel, Mark 14:12-16,22-26. Notice how Jesus instructed his disciples to prepare for their Passover meal. All meals require some kind of planning and preparation; so, too, our Sunday Eucharist requires planning. What might we do as a family to better prepare for our celebration of the Eucharist? Choose one or more ideas to begin to implement together as a family. Pray together that God will help your family make your celebration of the Eucharist the highlight of your week. Pray together the Lord’s Prayer.

From Our Principal

Congratulations to our Year 3 students who received the Sacrament of Confirmation last Wednesday evening. This is the last of the Sacraments of Initiation and an opportunity for our students to publicly acknowledge their faith and to be confirmed and strengthened in the Holy Spirit. We are proud of our Confirmands and will continue to keep you in our prayers. We thank Fr Erick for stepping in to confer the sacrament due to Bishop Greg being unwell. Thank you to Mrs Jansen and Mrs Shedden for their work in organising the ceremony and the Spirit Retreat day last Wednesday. Thanks to our parents and carers for their work in forming their children to receive the sacrament. It was such a beautiful evening for all who came along to support our newest Confirmands. 

Kindergarten 2025 Information Sessions

With Ready4Learning now into full swing it is time to host our Kindergarten Information Sessions for those parents who have a child or children ready to start school in 2025. There will be 2 sessions offered on Monday 3rd of June at 10am and then repeated again at 6pm. There will be a tour of our school following the 10am session. If you are intending on enrolling your child into St Brigid's for 2025 or looking for further information on our school please come along to one of the sessions.

Proclaim Staff Professional Development Day

Yesterday our staff joined with all other staff from schools in the Richmond Region to come together for our Proclaim 2024 Staff Day. All up this brought together approximately 820 people to the Magis Centre at Xavier Catholic College, Skennars Head. The day was a mixture of praise and worship with Wildfire, mass celebrated by Fr Peter Slack along with the 2 guest speakers Dr Maeve Heaney and Roby Curtis. Dr Heaney is renowned for her expertise in theological aesthetics, spirituality and the arts having written and performed many songs. Roby is the Director of Emmanuel City Mission in Brisbane and brings a wealth of experience in advocating for the homeless and the marginalised. He passionately addresses pressing societal issues and advocates for practical solutions inspired by the Gospel and Christian Service.

It was a wonderful day of gathering with other staff from our Catholic schools along with hearing the inspirational addresses of Maeve and Roby. They are wonderful examples of the Gospels alive in our society today.  

St Brigid's School Review

During Week 8 of this term, our school will be having our three-yearly school review. This is a positive and affirming process for our school and will help to shape the agenda for our next 3 Year Strategic Plan from 2025-2027. This is a process which all schools in the Diocese undertake as a part of their registration process to provide a quality education following all National, State and Diocesan guidelines. The review will be chaired by Dr Graeme Hall and he will be supported by Jenny Triglone (DLCSL School Improvement Lead) and Daniel Gubby (Principal, St Francis Xavier Primary School, Ballina). We are very fortunate to have Dr Hall chairing our School Review as he is a very experienced educator having worked as Principal in a number of schools in Queensland and more recently was Manager of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL). The School Review for St Brigid's will take place on Wednesday 19th, Thursday 20th and Friday 21st of June.

We would love some parents who are able to meet with reviewers to discuss how our school is progressing. Parents will meet with the three reviewers in small groups on Wednesday, June 19, from approximately 2:45pm - 3:10pm. To indicate your availability to take part please fill out this form to register.  Your voice will help us to shape the future directions of our school. 

Representing Our School

There are many times when students from St Brigid's are required after school to make their own way to parents places of work, sports training or just to complete a routine task like getting a haircut. Our school is located very close to the business centre of town and it is a timely reminder that we expect all students when walking down the street after school to be respectful and model representatives of our school. These students are wearing our school uniform and are easily identifiable to the wider community members. I ask all families to remind their children to be respectful and demonstrate good behaviour at all times when representing St Brigid's Primary School.

Take care and have a wonderful week ahead,

Tony

Assistant Principal News - Teaching and Learning

What are Key Learning Areas?

A Key Learning Area (KLA) is a subject within the primary education field. Teachers at St. Brigid’s teach the KLA’s of English, Mathematics, Religious Education, Creative Arts, Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE), Personal Development, Health & Physical Education (PDHPE) and Science & Technology. We often educate parents on what is happening in English, Mathematics and religious Education but don’t touch on the other KLA’s as much. Below is a breakdown of what the other KLA’s mean and what is studied within this subject area.

Creative Arts - Involves the four art forms of dance, drama, music and visual arts. All four art forms have their own learning experiences and outcomes for each stage from Early Stage 1 to Stage 3. Each artform involves unique practices for students to develop subject-specific knowledge, skills and understanding.

Human Society & Its Environment (HSIE) -The study of how humans interact with the world, how society operates and how it is changing. Through the study of HSIE, students develop the skills to prepare them to actively and responsibly participate as informed citizens in the contemporary world.

Personal Development, Health & Physical Education (PDHPE) - Through the study of Personal Development, Health and Physical Education courses, students develop the knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes needed to take action to protect and enhance their own and others' health, safety and wellbeing in varied and changing contexts.

Science & Technology - Through studying Science and Technology students explore scientific and technological concepts and gain knowledge and understanding of the world. They develop skills in conducting scientific investigations and designing and producing solutions through learning about the Living World, Material World, Physical World, Earth and Space, and Digital Technologies.

Vanessa Walters                                                                                                                                                                                        AP Teaching and Learning

Assistant Principal News- Mission

What is MJR?

You may have heard your child talk about MJR or bring home an MJR award and wondered what exactly MJR is? MJR is an acronym for Making Jesus Real. Each fortnight, we have a different focus here at St Brigid's of how we can be the face of Christ in our school and community. 

This week's focus is Having a Positive Attitude and not being a Moaner or a Groaner. Our Year 6 students, put together our MJR radio where they make links between our MJR focus and the Gospel teachings. Teachers are always on the look out for students who demonstrate the MJR focus and these students receive recognition on the radio and with an award. 

Parish Family Mass:

What a wonderful morning we had last Sunday at our Parish Family Mass. It was wonderful to see the Church full of parishioners, families and our students. Children's Liturgy was very popular with over 20 children learning a game that taught them about the Holy Trinity. We thank the Parish community for hosting and celebrating our newly confirmed members of the Church. 

Kelli-Ann Shedden                                                                                                                                                                                      AP Mission 

School Community Forum

Please see attached the minutes from our last meeting. our next meeting is 11th June 3.30pm, all welcome to attend.

Stars of the Week

One of our school goals this year is to have an average weekly attendace of 90% and above. The class with the best average each week receives the  “Stars of the Week” trophy and certificate to display in their classroom.

For term 2 week 4 the class with the best average attendance was Year 3 with 94.5% and the whole school average was 88.46%. We had 5 class with over 90% attendance. Well done 

Remember our whole school goal is 90%. The whole school average weekly attendance for last term is as follows:

Week 1: 86.06% - Yr 4  (91.14%), Year 5 (89.76%), Kinder (87.55%) 

Week2: 86.06% - Yr 6  (94.62%), Year 4 (92.17%), Year 3 (92.05%) 

Week3: 87.88% - Yr4  (91.6%), Year 2 (91.18%), Year 3 (90%) 

Week4: 88.46% - Yr3  (94.5%), Year 6 (93.31%), Year 4 (92.14%) 

It is essential that every student is at school every day as attendance matters to support your child's learning.

Attendance Matters

Student Awards Week 4

Congratulations to the following students who have shown tremendous effort and were presented with their awards at our assembly.

• Kindergarten - Angel J, Logan A, Satkar G
• Year 1 - Sebastian H, Tessa S
• Year 2 -  Harper F, Abi A
• Year 3 - Djalai C, Blair L
• Year 4 - Caileb H,Morgan S, Fletcher C-K, Nerida P
• Year 5 - Alyanna C, Braithen H
• Year 6 - Eloise S, Brooklyn S
• Principal Awards - Harrison G, Charlie S-G

Positive Behaviour 4 Learning (PB4L)

Term 2 Week 5 Focus:

I know the rules of the games I play and I’m a good sport. 

Happy Birthday to You

Sending warm wishes to all the children who celebrated their birthdays in the coming week. May your special day be filled with joy and memorable moments! 

Upcoming Dates Term 2

Week 5

• Fri 31st - year 2 Show Case 
• Sunday 1st - The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ 

Week 6

• Mon 3rd - Kindergarten Parent information Sessions 10am & 6pm 
• Fri 7th - NORPA production for Stage 3 
• Sun 9th - 10th Sunday Ordinary Time 
  

Week 7

• Mon 10th - Public Holiday - King's Birthday
• Tues 11th - School Community Forum Meeting 3.30pm, School Library ALL WELCOME 
• Wed 12th - Dijeribone School Performance 

Community News