Newsletter Term 3 Week 9 (Wednesday 18th 2024)

Front Page with Year 6!

This term in English, we have been learning about Poetry. We have read the text, 'Worse Things' by Sally Murphy which explored Free Verse Poetry and Definition Poems. It used poems to tell the story of three different characters; Jolene, Amed and Blake who all felt like they did not belong. These characters found a way to connect with each other, even though they all came from different contexts and backgrounds. We found this type of poetry quite difficult to read as the author didn't use traditional punctuation to show us when to pause, which made it difficult for us to make meaning from what we were reading at times. 
We have started to have a go at writing our own Free Verse Multimodal Poems. Here are some of our attempts where we had to illustrate an event from the text and create our poem to describe the event and character's feelings. 

Our Gospel Reflection

In our Gospel Reading this weekend, we hear how Jesus teaches his disciples that the greatest are those who serve all. Conversations such as the one described in Sunday’s Gospel are common in family life. Perhaps these examples are familiar: “I should get the first piece of cake because I am the youngest;” “I did the dishes yesterday; someone else should do them today.” How might we respond if Jesus asked about our family arguments? What would Jesus say to us in reply? All of us need the reminder found in Sunday’s Gospel from Mark: To be great in God’s Kingdom is to be the servant of all.

As you gather as a family, recall a recent family argument about household tasks or an example of bickering among family members. Talk about what was at issue in the argument. Together imagine that Jesus entered the room just as the argument ended. What would you tell Jesus your argument was about? What might Jesus say in reply? Read together the Gospel, Mark 9:30-37. How was your family argument like the argument among Jesus’ disciples? What might your family do to remember that those who are great in God’s kingdom are those who willingly serve others? Pray together that your family life will reflect your commitment to serve one another with love.

From Our Principal

Welcome to Week 9, second last week for Term 3. I can’t believe I’m writing about it nearly being the end of the term already; it feels like it was just a few weeks ago that we were welcoming everyone back from holidays! As you look back on the term, I hope it has been as settled and smooth as possible, and that you continue to enjoy that calmness as we approach the next school holiday period. 

Staff Movements:

This week we are pleased to welcome Mrs. Courtney Hyde who will be stepping into the role of Acting Assistant Principal Mission (APM) for the next 12 months while Mrs. Kelli Shedden is on maternity leave. Mrs. Hyde brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to our Catholic values, and we are excited to have her leadership during this time.

Please join us in welcoming Mrs. Hyde to her new role and keep Mrs. Shedden and her family in your prayers as they prepare for this special time. We look forward to the year ahead as we continue to work together, living out our mission as a faith-filled school community.

I would like to inform our school community that Mrs. Vicki Jansen will be taking Long Service Leave starting this Friday, 20th September and will return on Monday, 4th November. We wish her a restful and rejuvenating break.

During Mrs. Jansen's absence, I am pleased to announce that Mrs. Ashling Aherne will be stepping into the role of Year 3 class teacher. Mrs. Aherne is very excited and looking forward to working more closely with the students and parents of Year 3.

We appreciate your support during this transition and wish both Mrs. Jansen and Mrs. Aherne all the best in the coming weeks.

I would like to inform our school community that Mrs. Loretta Morabito will be taking Long Service Leave for the entirety of Term 4. We wish her and her husband John, a well-deserved break and hope they enjoy their time exploring Europe.

During Mrs. Morabito's absence, we are delighted to welcome Ms. Tilly Beetge, who will be taking on the teaching aspects of Mrs. Morabito's role. Additionally, Ms. Majella Draper will be stepping into the role of Acting Inclusion Teacher for next term.

We are confident that Mrs. Beetge and Ms. Draper will provide excellent support for our students, and we thank them for their commitment during this time of transition.

Please join us in wishing Mrs. Morabito a restful term, and in welcoming Ms. Beetge and Ms. Draper to their new roles.

Richmond Zone Poetry and Public Speaking Competition

We are excited to wish all our students participating in the upcoming Poetry and Public Speaking Competition at St Carthage's this Friday all the very best of luck! This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to showcase their talents, confidence, and communication skills, and we are proud of each one of them for taking on this challenge.

Please keep our entrants in your thoughts and prayers as they represent our school community with pride. We are confident they will shine in their performances, and we look forward to hearing all about their experience.

Good luck to all our participants!

Proud of Our Talented Students in Oliver!

We are incredibly proud of our wonderful students—Belle, Neridah, Nyimah, Eloise and Lola—who have been performing in the local Village Hall Players production of Oliver. Their dedication, talent, and hard work have truly shone through, and they have done a fantastic job performing on stage.

This weekend is the last chance to see this outstanding local production, so we encourage everyone to get along and support our talented community performers. It’s a great opportunity to witness their creativity and passion in action. Let’s show them how appreciative we are of their talent!

Congratulations again to Belle, Neridah, Nyimah, Eloise and Lola on their fantastic performances!

A Heartfelt Thank You to Mrs. Jan Seymour

We would like to extend our deepest thanks to Mrs. Jan Seymour, who has been generously taking some of our students for Art and Craft every Tuesday for the past 18 weeks. The students have absolutely loved their time with Mrs. Seymour and under her guidance, they have created some beautiful and very creative pieces.

Beyond the crafts themselves, the students have formed long-lasting friendships with Mrs. Seymour and her presence has been a highlight of their week. We are so grateful for her time, dedication and the joy she has brought to our students through this program.

Thank you, Mrs. Seymour, for sharing your creativity, kindness and talent with our school community. You will always be a cherished part of our school family!

A Reminder About Hair Guidelines: We would like to remind all students that if your hair is longer than your shoulders, it must be tied up while at school. This is an important guideline to help us maintain a clean and healthy environment for everyone.

Keeping hair tied up helps to reduce the risk of spreading head lice, which can quickly spread through close contact. We can all work together to minimise the chance of outbreaks and keep our classrooms as healthy as possible.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us keep our school community safe and comfortable!

Year 6 Excursion Parent Meeting: With the end of term quickly approaching, we are excitedly counting down to the first week of Term 4 when our Year 6 students will embark on their trip to Sydney and Canberra.

A final meeting for families will be held tonight Wednesday, 18th September at 6pm in the Year 6 classroom. It is essential that at least one family member attends this meeting to receive important information about the final preparations as we will be departing on the very first day of next term.

If a family member is unable to attend, please notify Miss Macdonald so that the necessary information can be sent to you.

Tony Hunter,
Principal

Assistant Principal - Teaching & Learning

How Can I Help My Child with Reading?

When listening to a student read, it is important to provide them with the right feedback. Reinforced Reading is a strategy for providing guidance to a student as they read aloud.
Reinforced Reading uses Pause, Prompt, and Praise (PPP).

The PPP procedure supports and encourages a student’s reading. It provides feedback and error correction in a positive way, instilling good reading habits with minimal disruption to the reading flow, which reduces the student's frustration.

It is found that: the reader is positively reinforced for good reading by means of highly specific and contingent praise; and the learning of tricky words and word attack skills is reinforced by the supported reading of real words in real text in context.
You can use reinforced reading as a strategy when listening to your child read at home. 

Vanessa Walters,
Assistant Principal - Teaching & Learning

Assistant Principal - Missions

Mercy Day

We are excited to invite you to a special event as we celebrate the Feast of the Sisters of Mercy, also known as Mercy Day. This significant occasion will take place on Monday, September 23rd, at 12:20 pm in the Hall.
Mercy Day is a time to honour the legacy of the Sisters of Mercy who founded St Brigid’s School and have been a guiding light in our community ever since. Their commitment to service, compassion, and education has shaped our school and continues to inspire us today.
Join us for an uplifting gathering filled with reflections, gratitude and community spirit as we celebrate the values and impact of the Sisters of Mercy. It’s a wonderful opportunity to come together and honour the enduring legacy of our founders.
All parents, students and community members are warmly invited to attend this meaningful event. We look forward to seeing you there and sharing in this special celebration!

Whole School Parish Mass

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for the Whole School Parish Mass on Saturday night. It was truly wonderful to see so many of you there, and we hope you enjoyed the activities during the Children’s Liturgy and the pizza dinner that followed. Your presence made the evening special and we look forward to seeing you at future Masses.

Courtney Hyde,
Assistant Principal - Missions

Wellbeing Team

Sleep Hygiene – what is it and why do I need it?

Sleep hygiene is the technical term used to describe a bunch of behaviours that help promote a peaceful, restorative night’s sleep – something that comes with a bounty of benefits for all!

How to ensure you and your family get the best sleep possible:

Wellbeing Team

Year 6 PACER Rebate

Year 6 students will soon be undertaking an education tour of the national capital. Students will be given the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs with a focus on Australia's history, culture, heritage, and democracy. 
The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their civics and citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government is contributing funding to our school in the amount of $135 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate Program (PACER) towards these costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion.

Attendance Matters

Building Respect for School Routines

Teaching your child the importance of attending school and arriving on time reinforces their respect for school rules and routines. It helps them:

• Value Education: Understanding that every moment in school is important encourages a positive attitude toward learning.
• Develop Time Management: Regular punctuality helps children learn to manage their time effectively, a skill that benefits them throughout life.
• Contribute to a Positive Environment: When all students arrive on time, it ensures a smooth start to the day and fosters a respectful and organised classroom atmosphere.

How You Can Help

• Model Punctuality: Set a positive example by being ready on time and making punctuality a family value.
• Address Obstacles: Identify and address any reasons for delays, whether they’re related to morning routines or other issues.

Every day counts, and arriving on time helps set the stage for a successful and respectful school experience. Thank you for your continued support in making the most of every school day for your child.

More info bit.ly/AttendanceInfo

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

Congratulations to Emma and Sam!

We’re overjoyed to announce the arrival of beautiful twin girls! Dolly Sue made her debut at 8:33 pm, weighing 2.67 kg, and Millie Robyn arrived shortly after at 8:35 pm, weighing 2.7 kg. May your family be blessed with joy, love, and countless treasured moments as you embark on this wonderful new chapter. Wishing you all the best!

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 8.

Calendar

With just ONE week left in term 3, please take note of the following key dates.

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. 
Vigil Mass will move to 6 pm from Saturday 5th October (Daylight Savings).

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

We are on Facebook! Click here for Our Lady of Sorrows Facebook Page  

Community News

“Consider Yourself” Set for a Fabulous Production of Oliver!

Join us for a captivating production of Oliver Twist, featuring five talented St Brigid's students. Experience the magic of Dickens’ classic as young Oliver seeks love and family in Victorian London.

Tickets: Available at villagehallplayers.com, Clay Corner, and at the door (if not sold out).
Follow us: Facebook.com/villagehallplayers for updates and more!

Parent Assembly: The holidays are upon us, and while the extra free time can be a wonderful break for our kids, it's also a perfect opportunity to help them grow in character, virtues, and important life skills. Here are some fun and meaningful ways to use this holiday time to nurture your child's development and contribute to the family unit.

Buy tickets here https://bit.ly/kyogleshowtickets

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