Newsletter Term 4 Week 6 (Wednesday 20th November2024)

Front Page with Year 3: Writing.

In English this term we have been learning about the importance of imagery. We were asked to write a narrative based on this image of a forest. We were asked to describe the setting using figurative language. Mrs Jansen, Mrs Ahearne and Dan are very impressed with our writing and so are  so are we! Who knew describing trees could be this exciting?

Our Gospel Reflection

OUR GOSPEL REFLECTION  
Mark 13:24-32 - Watch for the signs of the coming of the kingdom.

As Pope Francis points out, the story Jesus tells in this week’s Gospel passage is ‘not a discourse on the end of the world, but rather an invitation to live the present well.’ We are told ‘to be vigilant and ever ready for when we will be called to account for our life.’

The Pope reminds us that Jesus is speaking about more than specifics. The dimming sun, darkening moon or falling stars need not be taken as literal descriptions of the future. Rather, Jesus is giving us a true prophetic insight: all created things will pass and Christ will gather his people in glory.

The key to this passage, as the Pope explains, is that human history has meaning through Christ. ‘Human history, like the personal history of each of us,’ he says, ‘cannot be understood as a simple succession of meaningless words and facts.’

What Jesus wants us to know, the Pope suggests, is ‘that the history of peoples and that of individuals have a purpose and an aim to fulfil: the definitive encounter with the Lord.’

Therefore, as the Pope puts it, we should reflect on ‘whether the Word of the Son of God has illuminated our personal existence, or whether we turned our back to it.’ After all, it is when things seem gloomiest that we should turn towards the light.

From Our Acting Principal

As per the notification sent through Compass on Monday, our school community will be without Mr. Hunter for the remainder of the year as he supports St. Francis Xavier in Ballina. We are incredibly grateful for his leadership and dedication throughout the year. In his absence, the school will continue to operate smoothly under the guidance of our Leadership team, classroom teachers and support staff. We welcome Mrs Samantha Lynch as Acting Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching while I am stepping into the Acting Principal role. Mrs Lynch is well known by our staff as she has previously been our Education Officer from the Catholic Schools Office. I thank you in anticipation for the continued support while we continue to support our students for the remainder of the year.

2025 - It is at this time of year when we look towards next year with the placement of teachers and support staff across the school. I wish to announce the 2025 teachers, aligned with classes in preparation for transitions and the upcoming step up day. Support staff will be finalised in the coming weeks.

Ascent Dance Concert

As a school, we have been invited to attend the Ascent Dance Concert at the Memorial Hall next Wednesday 27th November at 9.30am. An event has been set up through Compass and all students will need permission to walk down to the free concert. This is a compulsory event as we will not have staff at school to stay behind with students.

Forum AGM

Our School Forum is a wonderful place to meet with other parents and be involved in the decisions that take place at school. Our AGM meeting is being held next Tuesday 26th November in the school library.  This is an important event for our school community and we encourage parents to come along. While parents are participating in the meeting, the students will enjoy a movie, pizza and popcorn in the hall. A compass event has been sent to all families with the details of the night.

We look forward to seeing you at our AGM.

Christmas Hamper Appeal

Thank you to those families who have already been generous in sending in items for the hamper appeal. Any donations are greatly appreciated. Service is an important aspect of our Catholic faith and we reach out to those in need and offer the fruits of our own labour in generosity.

School Fees

Thank you to those who have responded to our recent communication regarding outstanding school fees. Please note that I ask that outstanding fees or payment arrangements be finalised by Monday, 2nd December to avoid external collection processes overseen by the Catholic Schools Office.

If you wish to discuss your account and explore possible solutions, I request that you make an appointment with me at your earliest convenience. Appointments can be arranged by contacting Jo in the office. I understand financial challenges can arise and I am here to assist you in any way I can. We value your ongoing commitment to our school community and appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.

Lastly, I wish Stage 2 all the very best at Camp Tallebudgera. Thank you to the teachers and support staff who have accompanied the students. We look forward to hearing about their adventures when they return.

Have a wonderful week ahead!

Vanessa Walters,
Acting Principal.

Assistant Principal - Mission

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal

This year, our school is proud to support the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal by creating hampers filled with food and gifts to brighten the season for local families in need. We invite all families to participate by donating items each week, following our collection schedule.

Your contributions will help make Christmas a little more special for those in our community. We thank you in advance for your generosity and support as we work together to bring joy to others during this season of giving.

This week, we’re collecting bottles like long-life milk, cordial, long-life juice, pasta sauce etc.

Whole School Family Parish Mass

All Families and friends are invited to attend the Whole School Parish Family Mass on Sunday the 24th of November at 9 am. The St Brigid’s staff will be reading and there will be a Children’s liturgy. After the Mass, there will be a delicious morning tea. All are welcome!

Courtney Hyde,
Assistant Principal - Mission

Wellbeing Team

Work Out Your Mental Muscle

Most of us know what it means to be physically “fit”. But what is “mental fitness”? And why is it important?

Being mentally fit means being able to function at our best each day, navigating challenges as they arise, having healthy relationships, making effective decisions, and maintaining a (mostly) positive mental state.

However, just like physical fitness, mental fitness doesn’t simply happen. If we want strong muscles we need to work hard at it. And if we want a flexible, resilient mental state, we need to work on that too. The wonderful news is that it’s never too late – or too early! – to get with the program.

According to Smiling Mind’s State of Mind 2024 report, there are five main components that help us to create and maintain optimal mental fitness:

LIVE MINDFULLY
Having the skills to live mindfully means being present, paying attention, and responding appropriately to the things that happen around us.

EMBRACE FLEXIBLE THINKING
Flexible thinking skills assist us to make good decisions, solve problems, and use our creativity to cope with challenges as they come up.

GROW CONNECTION SKILLS
Developing skills of connection facilitates the building of good relationships with others and, importantly, with ourselves.

ACT PURPOSEFULLY
Acting with intention deepens our understanding of our strengths, what’s important to us (our values), and how and where we would like to make a difference.

RECHARGE YOUR BODY
Taking care of our physical selves is strongly linked to good mental health. Supporting our body with sufficient rest, nourishment, relaxation and sleep, supports our mind too.

To read Smiling Mind’s State of Mind 2024 report, go to: https://www.smilingmind.com.au/state-of-mind

Stage 2 Camp: Off to the Gold Coast!

Today, our Stage 2 students embark on an exciting adventure at the Gold Coast Sport and Recreation Centre! This camp offers a wonderful opportunity for students to develop important social skills, including teamwork, communication, and active listening. They will have the chance to build new friendships and connect with their peers in a fun and supportive environment.

In addition to these valuable personal growth activities, the students will also engage in water activities, further enhancing their teamwork and resilience in an exciting and engaging way.

With the venue’s top-notch facilities and successful track record from previous years, we’re confident this will be an unforgettable experience for our students. We wish all Stage 2 campers a fantastic time, and we look forward to hearing all about their adventures!

Have a great trip, Stage 2!

Start Strong: Arrive on Time for a Successful Day!

As we move into the busy final weeks of Term 4, it’s more important than ever for students to arrive at school on time. The school day officially begins at 8:50am, and arriving before the first bell ensures students don’t miss out on valuable literacy instruction.

Teachers are on duty from 8:30am, and we also offer breakfast for students from Tuesday to Friday starting at 8:30am. Arriving early gives students the opportunity to enjoy breakfast and get settled in before the school day starts.

Regular attendance and punctuality are essential, especially as we approach the end of the year. Let's make every school day count – we encourage all students to arrive on time, ready to learn and take full advantage of these opportunities!

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 4 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 in Week 5.

Calendar

Breakfast Club

Breakfast Club Now Available 4 Days a Week! Breakfast Club is now offered Tuesday through Friday during term times! Students can grab breakfast from 8:30 AM at the school canteen, featuring delicious cereal and toast options. A 50 cent donation is appreciated to help keep the program running. Start your day right and set a positive tone for the day ahead!

Parish News

Parish Information
Our Lady of Sorrows Parish established 1916. Our Parish Family includes the town of Kyogle and the villages of Urbenville and Woodenbong.
Administrator: Fr Erick Quinteros | Phone: 0438 196 944 | Parish Office Phone: 02 6632 1074 | Email: kyogle@lismore.catholic.org.au | Facebook: @OurLadyofSorrowsCatholicChurch

Service Times
Kyogle Weekday Masses: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 9 AM. Please note that this schedule is subject to change. Saturday Vigil 6:00pm | Sunday 9:00am.
The Woodenbong Communion Service and Mass alternate every Saturday at 9 AM. The Sacrament of Reconciliation begins 30 minutes prior to Mass. Morning tea is served every Sunday after Mass, hosted by the parishioners. Everyone is welcome!

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

Community News

Kyogle Christmas in the Country

Don't miss out on this festive community celebration this Saturday 23rd November.
Purchase your tickets here!
For all the latest updates and event information, be sure to follow the Kyogle Show on Facebook here!

St Brigid's Christmas Pageant

This annual tradition celebrates the reason for the season with school performances, Santa photos and delicious food, drinks and ice cream! More details coming soon on how to book Santa photos and the program for the evening. We can’t wait to celebrate with you! Save the date Wednesday 11th December.

Christmas Colouring In Competition with PRD

PRD Northern Rivers has amazing prizes up for grabs! Simply print the template, color it in, and drop it off. If you don't have a printer, PRD also has pre-printed copies available for pick-up.

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