Newsletter Term 4 Week 9 (Wednesday 11th December 2024)

Front Page with Year 6

Year 6 had a wonderful celebration last week to celebrate their final year of Primary School. It was a lovely evening spent with family, friends and staff to commemorate their time at St Brigid's. Congratulations Year 6 2024 and thank you for a wonderful year!

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Our Gospel Reflection

Gospel Reflection - Isaiah 6 - 1:1

When people asked John the Baptist what they must do, he responded with examples, as Pope Francis points out, ‘that are different for each group’ and situation.
As the Pope indicates, the Baptist ‘directs a specific word to each person that responds to their actual situation in life.’ People with two garments should give one to those who have none. Those with food should share with those without. Tax collectors needed to be fair, soldiers to be restrained, and so on.
This specificity, the Pope reflects, ‘offers us a precious teaching: faith is incarnated in concrete life. It is not an abstract theory.’
This Advent we might remember that we are called to practical service for the world. The Pope suggests that we should each consider: ‘what can I do concretely during these days as we draw near to Christmas? How can I do my part?’
We might therefore turn our efforts to doing something, however small, to serve our Lord. With actions suited to our own time and place and situation, our faith should take on some ‘concrete commitment’, and in doing so bring a little bit more justice into the world.

From Our Acting Principal

It is hard to believe that we are in the middle of Week 9 with only days before we close out, what has been a very busy year at St. Brigid’s. Next week we finish off the year with the End of Year Liturgy & Awards along with Rewards Day. The last day of school for the children will be Wednesday 18th December.

Swimming Carnival

Our swimming carnival is being held tomorrow, Thursday 12th December. Students will  come to school as normal and the teachers will mark the roles before walking the students down to the pool to begin at approx. 9.30am. A detailed program was sent out on Compass but please understand that times listed on the program are only a guide. Students are invited to wear house colours or their sports uniform.  A BBQ will be running on the day, with sausage sandwiches available for $3 each. I Would also like to thank all the volunteers who have nominated themselves as time keepers, marshalls, place keepers or on the recording table. Our carnival would not be possible without the support of our helpers. I would also like to acknowledge the Parent Community Forum who work in the background to support events like these, thank you.

All the very best to our house teams!

Year 5 Speeches

Congratulations to our Year 5 students who presented their leadership speeches yesterday. The confidence of the students was evident along with the quality of the presentations. The votes are being finalised and students will be told of their success as a leader for 2025 but not what position they were successful with. The actual positions will be announced at the End of Year Liturgy next Tuesday.

End of Year Liturgy

Next Tuesday 17th December we celebrate our End of Year Liturgy & Awards ceremony. This is a wonderful tradition to mark the end of the school year and the achievements of all students. Families and friends are invited to join us at 9.30 am in Our Lady of Sorrows Church to celebrate this special occasion.

Rewards Day

Next Wednesday 18th December will be the last day for students. This will also be our Rewards day for Term 4. Please ensure that you have given permission for  your child/ren to attend this special day.

Hampers

We have been really appreciative of the hamper items that have been donated. The food and gift donations will be made up into hampers and donated to St Vincent de Paul to support local families during Christmas. Thank you for supporting such a wonderful cause.

I look forward to our school celebrations over the next week.

Have a wonderful week ahead.

Vanessa Walters,
Acting Principal.

Assistant Principal - Mission

2nd Week of Advent

On this Second Sunday of Advent, we reflect on the peace that Christ brings to our hearts and to the world. Advent is a time to quiet our minds and prepare for His coming, embracing the peace that comes from trusting in Him and living with hope. As we light the second Advent candle, may it inspire us to become messengers of peace in our lives and communities, sharing Christ’s peace with all.

Celebrating the Opening of Our Yarning Circle

Last week, we were honoured to celebrate the opening of our Yarning Circle. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for this special occasion! Together, we came together for a beautiful liturgy and a meaningful smoking ceremony, marking the beginning of this important space for connection, storytelling, and community.

We look forward to seeing the Yarning Circle grow as a place where we can share, listen and learn from one another. Thank you again for being part of this memorable day!

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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 Present.

Courtney Hyde,
Assistant Principal - Mission

Wellbeing Team

Improve Connection Skills and Intentionality

In part three of our mental fitness special, we look at ways to deepen skills of connection and improve purposefulness.

GROW CONNECTION SKILLS

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

- In conversations, focus more on listening than on speaking. 
- Practise apologising. It’s not easy, but it can mean a lot to someone. And it feels good.
- Make a habit of trying to find the positive in any situation.

ACT PURPOSEFULLY

We can bring more purpose to our actions with simple steps:

- Identify what we would like to do more of, and schedule it into the calendar.
- Use our values as a guide to decision-making and planning.
- Set specific goals and work towards them.

Next week: How to recharge our physical selves.

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

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!

Community Forum

We would like to extend a big thank you to our teachers, support staff, and everyone who contributes to making St Brigid’s such a special place. Every day, we see the care, dedication and the little things you do that go above and beyond. Your hard work and commitment do not go unnoticed, and we truly appreciate each and every one of you for making our school a warm, supportive, and inspiring environment for all.

A special thank you from all the parents and caregivers of St Brigid’s students!

As a small token of our appreciation, we’ve purchased gifts for each of you to pamper, acknowledge, and recognise your outstanding efforts. Enjoy your gifts, have a Merry Christmas, and thank you for a wonderful 2024 school year!

Start Strong: Arrive on Time for a Successful Day!

With just a week 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!

Congratulations to the following students who have shown tremendous effort and were presented with their awards at our assembly in Week 8.

Positive Behaviour 4 Learning (PB4L)

Making Jesus Real (MJR)

Congratulations to the MJR Award Winners!

A big well done to the following students for embodying the spirit of collaboration and teamwork with the "Dreamwork Makes the Dream Work" Award:

• Lane
• Hamish
• Louise
• Kinsley
• Kobi
• Eloise
• All of Year 6

Your dedication to working together as a team is truly inspiring. Keep up the amazing work and continue to dream big together!

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

St Brigid's Christmas Pageant

TODAY! We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Rainbow Region Kids

Lismore Tennis Centre

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

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