Newsletter Term 3 Week 5 (Wednesday 21st 2024)

Front Page with Year 4

Our Year 4 students have been diving into the world of poetry, exploring the beauty of couplets and the power of figurative language. Inspired by Jackie French's Fire, they've been crafting their own poems, using vivid imagery and creative expressions to bring their writing to life.

It’s been wonderful to see how their words can paint pictures and evoke emotions, making their poems truly special. We’re so proud of their hard work and creativity!

Here are some of our examples from the students.

Our Gospel Reflection

In last Sunday’s Gospel we heard how Jesus referred to himself as the “bread of life”. Some type of bread is part of the basic diet of almost every culture. Thus, in a symbolic way, Jesus is telling us that he is part of the basic diet for spiritual life.

Just as bread is shared and valued in every culture, Jesus shares himself with all people who are willing to believe.

Many of Jesus’ early followers were troubled when he taught that they must eat his flesh and drink his blood in order to have true life. The confusion and arguing among his listeners are understandable; his words must have sounded strange. Yet, this teaching about the Body and Blood of Christ is central to the Catholic faith.

Catholics believe that Jesus is really present with us and nourishes us when we celebrate the Eucharist together, the bread and wine being changed into the Body and Blood of Christ.

How are you called to be the Body and Blood of Christ to the people around you?

From Our Principal

Staffing Updates

Following a process of advertising, shortlisting and interviewing I am very pleased to announce that Mrs. Kelli-Ann Shedden has been appointed to the permanent position of Assistant Principal Mission (APM) for our school. Mrs. Shedden has held this role for the past 2 years whilst Mrs. Jan Condon has been on leave. Regretfully Mrs. Condon relinquished the position of APM but not her teaching position and we look forward to seeing Mrs. Condon back at St Brigid’s in some capacity in 2025.

Kelli-Ann has been a member of the St Brigid’s school community since commencing her teaching career in 2012. In that time, she has taught all year levels and has held various Positions of Leadership including Acting Assistant Principal: Learning and Teaching, Leader of Curriculum, Leader of Catechesis Leader of Additional Needs and Acting Pastoral Care Co-ordinator.

Kelli’s day to day interactions with students, staff, parents and members of the Parish reflect the seven values of Mercy charism. She is proud of her Catholic faith and constantly reflects on how she is contributing to the mission and vision of our Catholic Diocese. Kelli strives to embody and embed the counter cultural message of the gospel in all aspects of her life.

As a school community we congratulate Kelli on her appointment to this significant role of Leadership within our school. We also wish her and husband Jimi all the very best as they prepare for the arrival of their little one in the coming weeks.

With Mrs Shedden going on Maternity Leave shortly, it is with great joy that I announce the appointment of Mrs Courtney Hyde to the role of Acting Assistant Principal Mission whilst Mrs Shedden is on leave.

Courtney is a highly skilled educator with nine years of experience working in Catholic Education within the Diocese of Lismore. Her experience aligns well as she has taught at various schools and has held teaching and leadership positions. Courtney currently holds the position of Leader of Mission and Engagement at St John’s Primary School, Mullumbimby, apposition she has held since 2019. We look forward to having Courtney sharing her skills and experience with the St Brigid’s Community. Courtney’s appointment will commence on Monday 16th September and run for 12 months.

We congratulate both Kelli-Ann and Courtney on their respective appointments to the role of Assistant Principal Mission here at St Brigid’s Primary School.

Professional Learning Day 

A reminder that this Monday 26th August is a Professional Learning Day for the staff of St Brigid's. This also means it is a pupil free day. On this day the staff will be starting to develop our next 3 Year Strategic Plan to take us to the end of 2027. This is a vital piece of planning as we draw on the commendations and recommendations from our recent School Review held at the end of Term 2. A reminder also that the last day of this term, Friday 27th September is also a pupil free day. 

School Fees

With this newsletter, please find attached a letter from Adam Spencer, Director of Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools, regarding 2025 school fees. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Tony Hunter,
Principal

Assistant Principal - Teaching & Learning

DIBELS Assessments

During Weeks 1-4 this term, each student from K-6 completed reading assessments to support teachers with where to go next with their reading development. Below are frequently asked questions for parents about the DIBELS assessment. If you have any questions or would like to know how you can further support your child with their reading at home, please contact your child’s classroom teacher.

What are DIBELS?

DIBELS are measures that help teachers and schools determine how students are performing on important reading skills. DIBELS stands for Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills. These measures are designed for students in grades K-8.

What skills are measured by DIBELS and why are they important? The critical skills necessary for successful beginning reading include: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. The DIBELS measures assess students on four of these five critical skills, which are often referred to as the “Big Ideas” of reading.

Which tests will be given to my son or daughter? Each student will complete the tests depending on his or her grade and the time of year. All students in school are given the DIBELS test three times each year; usually this occurs at the beginning of the year, a check in in the middle of the year and the last at the end of the year.. This school-wide testing is called benchmark assessment.

How will the results be used? A student’s scores on the DIBELS measures give the school information about whether or not a student is on track for grade-level reading success. A school can quickly identify students who do not meet the goals on each DIBELS measure and provide extra help to ensure your child is on track to become an accurate and fluent reader.

Vanessa Walters,
Assistant Principal - Teaching & Learning

Assistant Principal - Mission

PARISH FAMILY MASS

Thank you so much to those families who supported our Parish Family Mass on Sunday. It was lovely to see children with big smiles enjoying the Children’s Liturgy activities. A reminder to save the date for our next Parish Mass which is Saturday 14th September. There will be pizza provided for families afterwards. 

FATHER’S DAY

There will be breakfast and tea/ coffee from 7 am on Friday 30th August. Come along and have breakfast with your children and chat with other Dads and father figures. Breakfast will be served from the school canteen area. 

SONGS OF PRAISE

A reminder that our school choir will be participating in Songs of Praise on the 6th September, 10.30 am. We would love for you to come along and support our choir. This is a wonderful event held in our church where people from all faiths come together and worship through music. 

Kelli-Ann Shedden,
Assistant Principal - Mission

Sports News

Congratulations to Hannah Kennelly, Brooklyn Stubbings, and Eedie Batson!

We are incredibly proud of your performances at the Diocesan Athletics Carnival in Coffs Harbour.

• Hannah placed 7th in the long jump, showcasing your impressive skill and dedication.
• Brooklyn finished 12th in the 800m, demonstrating your strength and endurance.
• Eedie achieved 4th place in the junior shot put, an outstanding result that reflects your hard work and talent.

You all represented St. Brigid’s with pride and did a fantastic job. Well done!

Wellbeing Team

It’s great to be grateful!

When we practice gratitude – explicit appreciation of the positive things in our lives – we are actually taking steps to boost our mood.

But that’s not all! Studies indicate that making a point of being regularly thankful can make us happier, increase our social connection, improve our relationships and even lead to better physical health. All of which are extra things to be grateful for!

Here are some ideas about how to incorporate a gratitude practice into your family’s routine:

• At mealtimes, one by one, go around the table and ask each family member to share three things they are grateful for from their day.
• As above, but this time ask each family member to share the best thing that happened in their day.
  
• Family gratitude journal: Keep a journal in a shared space, open and with a pen nearby. Start the habit of noting down positive things that have happened in your day that you are grateful for. You may be surprised at how quickly the kids start adding to the journal too.
  
• Keep a gratitude jar: Take an ordinary jar and re-purpose it as a Gratitude Jar – a spot for family members to post notes of thanks to others in their family. Remember that ordinary events (e.g. “Thanks to ???? for letting me have the first shower tonight”) qualify just as much as more extraordinary ones (e.g. “Thanks to ???? for taking me to Fiji on holiday”)! And don’t forget your furry friends (e.g. “Thanks to Fido for always cheering me up!”)

And while we’re in the spirit of being grateful, thank you for reading this post!

Wellbeing Team

Head Lice

We want to inform you that head lice have been reported at school. While these pests are not a health hazard, they are easily spread through close contact and can be quite itchy.

Head lice can’t jump or fly, so they spread only when people are in close contact – for example, when heads are close together, when you wear an affected person’s hat or scarf, or when you use an affected person’s comb or hairbrush.

This means head lice spread very easily among household members and children at school and child care. It’s very common for children to get head lice. Some children get head lice several times a year.

Further Reading and Resources below.

External link

Community Forum

We Need Your Help!

Bunnings BBQ Fundraiser is Sunday 25th August! We will be running the BBQ from 9am-4pm to raise funds for the School Community Forum, and we are seeking your support to make this event a success. We require helpers who can assist us in 2-hour time slots.

If you can help, please sign up using this form: https://forms.gle/Jp89pUBF6kCMyhfaA

Community Forum Meetings are held in the school library Week 3 and Week 7 during the school term from 3:30pm.
Term 3 Week 7 date: Tuesday 3rd September 3:30pm | Email: stbrigidsforum@gmail.com

Attendance Matters

One of our school goals this year is to have an average weekly attendance 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.

Term 3 Attendance Results

Positive Behaviour 4 Learning (PB4L)

Making Jesus Real (MJR)

Celebrations

You shine with the Light of the Lord —the kind of Light that grows brighter and warmer and more radiant with time. God bless you with a very happy birthday!

Congratulations to the following students who have shown tremendous effort and were presented with their awards at our assembly Week 4.

Calendar

Book Week Parade Announcement

Parents and caregivers are warmly invited to join us on the decking next to the library from 8:30 am Friday 23rd August.. Enjoy a coffee, hot chocolate, or tea while we wait for the students to prepare for the parade.

Once the preparations are complete, we can all walk down together to the parade. Everyone is welcome to join in the fun! We look forward to seeing you there!

Celebrate Father’s Day with Us!

Join us for a special Father’s Day breakfast on Friday, August 30th, starting at 7:00 AM. We warmly welcome all dads, stepdads, grandfathers, uncles, and favorite friends to come and enjoy a delightful breakfast as we honor and celebrate you!

Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to enjoy good food and great company. See you there!

Wednesday 28th August Father’s Day Gift Stall at School. Students can pick out special gifts priced between $2 and $5 for the special day!

Breakfast Club serves assorted cereal & toast options EVERY Wednesday |  Thursday | Friday during term time for a 50c donation.

Parish News

Our Lady of Sorrows Parish established 1916. Our Parish Family includes the town of Kyogle and the villages of Urbenville and Woodenbong. Our Parish Priest is Fr Erick Quinteros.

Mass Times are Saturday 5:00 pm | Sunday 9:00 am.
Morning Tea is served every Sunday after Mass hosted by the parishioners. 

Parish Office Phone: 02 6632 1074 | Email: kyogle@lismore.catholic.org.au

Whole School Parish Mass Dates

Community News

Local Support Services

Kyogle Together is a local organisation focused on supporting youth and community wellbeing. They run the Laneway Community Space at 161 Summerland Way, Kyogle, next to the pool, where you can find Youth Drop-In sessions, the Fair Share Kitchen, and various other programs.

Kyogle Family Support Services Neighbourhood Centre Inc
Are you needing support? We have a range of free services available to support you

Youth Group at Christian Life Church, 5 Geneva Street, Kyogle.
Website
Facebook Page
Instagram Page

The AA Casino Fun Run is on Sunday 15th September this year., featuring a 10k, 5k and 2k distance.

Anyone can enter! Run, Jog or Walk.

Casino Fun Run Facebook Page

Parent Resources

Because we value the critical role parents and carers play as partners in educating and forming young people, we have compiled some helpful resources to support families at home.

Educational Games

Toy Theatre | Educational Games for Kids
Math Games
Hidden Pictures Games and Puzzles

Quick Links

St Brigid's Facebook Page
Parent Assembly Facebook Page
Supporting Learning - Primary
Faith and Family
Tips for Parents – Supporting your Childs attendance at School
NSW Government Facebook Page