Newsletter Term 4 Week 8 (Wednesday 4th December 2024)

Front Page with Year 5

It has been an incredibly busy time in year 5! 

We have been working with our peers to solve challenging mathematical problems and we even discovered it is possible to create a cubic metre using tape and paper! The challenge was to estimate how many students could fit inside and then test it out!

We have had some student's attend Exuro to learn about Faith and Leadership and these students will support Year 5 with activities during our class retreat in Week 8. Recently, our Kindergarten buddies popped in to record something very important for their showcase and we were so happy to help them. Lastly some of our Year 5 students had the opportunity to become recording stars for our Road Safety song. Year 5 is fun!

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Our Gospel Reflection

Gospel Reflection - Luke 3:4. 6

In Sunday’s Gospel, John the Baptist encourages his followers to be patient, as the wait for salvation will soon be over. The Israelites longed to see the day when the Messiah would come. Each generation hoped and prayed that they would be the one to witness the appearance of God's anointed. The Jewish people still hope and pray for this event in every generation.

But Jesus did not come as many expected. Some thought he would arrive in a dramatic event and the end of the world would occur. Others expected a regal entrance or a political overthrow of the Romans. Luke's Gospel repeatedly points out that the very people who longed for the day to see the Messiah missed out because they were looking for the wrong signs.

John the Baptist is the first to see Jesus for who he really is for the world. He recognises that Jesus' sacrificial love can fill our valleys, lay mountains low, make crooked paths straight and rough ways smooth.

Advent is not a season where we have to pretend that we do not know Jesus is coming and then put on a mock surprise at Christmas. Advent is the season which celebrates a 'patient yes'. Every year all of us in the Church stand in a queue and remind ourselves of how blessed we are to have seen our salvation in Jesus. We remember the faith of those who longed to see what we see and to know what we know. And we cultivate our patience for life's valleys, mountains and crooked paths where sometimes we can feel Jesus' absence more than his presence, where only when we look back we can see he was with us all the way.

So, as we all wait together in line this Advent let's say yes to all that salvation holds for us: yes to God's personal love; yes to Jesus' kingdom of justice and peace; yes to every opportunity to serve the Gospel and yes to knowing that our God is a companion to us at every step of our journey, even in the most unexpected ways.

From Our Acting Principal

Step Up Day

As we start to finalise events for 2024, it is important to prepare for 2025. On Friday 6th December, students will have the opportunity to take part in our ‘Step Up Program’.  This will begin at 11:10am and continue until lunch at 12:50pm. This gives our students an opportunity to spend time with their teacher in their classroom for next year.

As outlined in a previous newsletter, class teachers for 2025 are as follows:-

Leadership Speeches

Year 5 are busy preparing and polishing their Leadership Speeches which will be held in the Parish Hall on Tuesday 10th December from 9.30am. Family and friends are invited to come along to these speeches and share this special time with Year 5. Students will be informed of their Leadership success in the days after the speeches with the actual positions announced at the End of Year Liturgy on Tuesday 17th December at 9.30am.

Kyogle Carols by Candlelight

It’s almost time again for the Lions Community Carols!  This year they will be held on Sunday, 8 December starting at 5.30pm at the amphitheater at the bottom of town. Our students from K-6  have once again have been invited to perform at this community event. The students are encouraged to wear Christmas colours and they will be singing some of the songs that will be in our Pageant. Mrs Kennedy & Mrs Anderson will be there to support our students.

I know the next two weeks of school are extremely busy but I am excited to join in with the school celebrations and special events that the students have worked so hard on. I also look forward to connecting with families at this special time of year.

Have a wonderful week ahead.

Vanessa Walters,
Acting Principal.

Assistant Principal - Mission

First Week of Advent 

The word ‘Advent’ means ‘coming’. Advent is a special time in the church year when we prepare and get ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus. This week is the first week of Advent. On Monday, we came together as a school to light the first candle. The first candle also known as the Prophets candle symbolises Hope. This tradition recalls the hope God's people clung to through the generations of anticipating the first coming of the Messiah, and the hope we have as we watch for Christ's second coming. 

Spreading Christmas Joy at Whiddon Residential Aged Care

This week, students in Years 3-5 took a special walk to Whiddon Residential Aged Care, bringing with them the spirit of Christmas! The children performed a selection of joyful Christmas songs and handed out beautifully crafted Christmas cards to the residents.

The event was a heartwarming success, with smiles and laughter shared between our students and the residents. The experience highlighted the importance of building meaningful connections within our community, and it was a wonderful reminder of the joy that comes from giving and sharing with others.

We are so proud of our students for their enthusiasm and kindness. Thank you to the staff at Whiddon for welcoming us and to everyone involved for making this such a memorable celebration of the season!

Year 6 Graduation Liturgy & Dinner 

This week, we gathered for the Year 6 Graduation Liturgy and Dinner, a truly beautiful evening celebrating the incredible journey of our Year 6 students as they complete their primary school years.

The liturgy was a heartfelt reflection on their growth, achievements, and the strong bonds they have formed during their time at St Brigid’s. It was followed by a joyful dinner where students, families, and staff shared memories and looked forward to the exciting adventures ahead.

Our Year 6 students shone brightly, and we are so proud of their maturity, kindness, and accomplishments. Congratulations to our graduating class—you will always have a special place in the St Brigid’s community!

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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 for a Christmas Surprise like a Christmas Pudding, Biscuits, Bon Bons, Christmas Decorations.

Courtney Hyde,
Assistant Principal - Mission

Wellbeing Team

HOW TO BE A MORE FLEXIBLE THINKER 

In part two of our Mental Fitness workout special, we look at three ways to increase the flexibility of our thinking.

FLEXIBLE THINKING

Being a flexible thinker means being able to switch your perspective or approach when faced with new or difficult situations.

- Play a word game. Games like Scrabble, Bananagrams and Wordle call on us to think quickly and creatively in order to succeed. They’re fun too!

- Switch up routine (holidays are a great time to do this). Have something different for breakfast; change a room around; try a different type of exercise. Doing everyday things a little differently improves cognitive flexibility.

- Stand in someone else’s shoes. How might someone else approach a task that needs doing? How might they think about it/engage with it/solve it?

Next week: how to improve skills of connection and act more intentionally.

Help Us Win: Vote for St Brigid's!

Exciting news – St Brigid's Primary School has been selected for this month’s Greater Northern Rivers Community Funding Program! As one of just three entrants, we’re already guaranteed $500 in funding, but with your help, we could secure an even bigger share of the $3,000 monthly prize pool.

How do we win the bigger prize? It’s simple – the final funding amounts are determined by a public vote. That’s where you come in! You can vote for St Brigid's Primary School once per day, so please take a moment each day to cast your vote and help us get as many votes as possible.

Here's how to vote:

1. Click the link below to visit the voting page.
2. Scroll down to find St Brigid's Primary School.
3. Click VOTE!

👉 Click here to vote now!

Voting closes at 5:00pm on Wednesday, 18th December, so don’t miss out on your chance to help us win. And remember, you can vote once each day – every vote counts!

We would be so grateful if you could share this link with your friends, family, and anyone else who would like to support our cause. Let’s spread the word and make sure our school gets the recognition and funding it deserves.

Thank you for your support!

Santa Photos at the Christmas Pageant!

Join us in the Parish Hall from 4:30 pm for a festive photo opportunity with Santa! Capture the magic of the season by having your picture taken with Santa and a beautiful Nativity Scene.

📸 Pricing

• 2 Photos for $10
• 5 Photos for $20

Digital photos will be emailed to you. Please allow 10 minutes for your booking. We have 2 photographers on hand to make sure the line moves quickly, so come early and get your festive family pictures!

Pick-up and Drop-off Zone

Please remember, the pick-up and drop-off zone at the Grooms Street entrance is for student pick-up and drop-off only, not for parking. To ensure smooth traffic flow, kindly remain in your car if possible, and continue moving once your child has been picked up. Avoid parking or leaving your car in the area, as this blocks the flow and causes delays for other parents.

Start Strong: Arrive on Time for a Successful Day!

With just two weeks left in Term 4, we know how busy the end of the year can get. There’s a lot happening as we wrap up the school year, and it’s easy for routines to slip. However, maintaining our daily routines is more important than ever, especially when it comes to arriving at school on time.

The school day begins promptly at 8:50am, and arriving on time ensures students don’t miss out on valuable learning time. Teachers are on duty from 8:30am, and breakfast is available for students from Tuesday to Friday, giving them the opportunity to start the day with a nutritious meal and be ready to learn.

As we enter these final weeks, let’s stay focused and finish the year strong. Consistency in attendance and punctuality helps set the tone for a productive day, every day. With only three weeks to go, let’s continue to arrive on time and start each day right!

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

Congratulations to the following students who have shown tremendous effort and were presented with their awards at our assembly in Week 7.

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!

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

Rainbow Region Kids

Lismore Tennis Centre

Upcoming Tennis School Holiday Clinics in December 2024 & January 2025. 

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! . 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.

Online Safety Basics (From www.esafety.gov.au) 

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