Newsletter Term 2 Week 4 (Wednesday 21st May 2025)

Front Page with Year 2

As part of our English unit this term, our Year 2 students have been working incredibly hard on crafting persuasive texts focused on a very important topic – how we can help protect the beloved koala. The students have explored the many challenges facing koalas and suggested meaningful ways we can all make a difference.

We are so proud of their efforts and can’t wait to share their wonderful writing with you.

Click below to read all of our class's amazing writing pieces.

Year 2 Koala Artwork

Our Gospel Reflection

Gospel Reflection - John 14:23-29

Reflecting on Jesus’ gift of peace, so eloquently expressed in today’s Gospel passage, Pope Francis encouraged us to think about the context. This beautiful message is given in what Francis characterises as ‘a moment that is anything but serene. Judas has left to betray him, Peter is about to deny him, and almost everyone else to abandon him.’ What Jesus shows us in that moment is that ‘he remains kind until the end.’ ‘Jesus demonstrates that meekness is possible’, Francis says, by revealing his own peacefulness ‘precisely in the most difficult moment’. Through this, Francis suggests, Jesus ‘wants us to behave that way too, since we are the heirs of his peace.’ We are called to be ‘witnesses of peace.’ Understanding that ‘this meekness is not easy’, Francis intimated that this is where Jesus’ gifting of his peace to us is so important. As he explains, ‘Jesus knows that on our own we are not able to keep peace, that we need help, that we need a gift.’ This gift, Francis says, is ‘the presence of God in us’ – the Holy Spirit – helping us to forgive, to begin again, to set out anew because we cannot do this with our own strength.’

From Our Acting Principal

This weekend we have our Whole School Family Parish Mass combined with a farewell and thank you for Fr Erick . Please join us on Sunday 25th May at 9:00am at Our Lady of Sorrows Church for this special occasion. The parish is hosting a BBQ after Mass and a special celebration morning tea to acknowledge and farewell Fr Erick.

Kindergarten 2026 Information Sessions

With Ready4Learning now into full swing, it is time to host our Kindergarten Information Sessions for those parents who have a child or children ready to start school in 2026. There will be 2 sessions offered on Tuesday 3rd of June at 10am and then repeated again at 6pm. Following the 10am session there will be a tour of our school with a special emphasis on our Kindergarten class and accompanying areas. If you are intending on enrolling your child into St Brigid's for 2026 or looking for further information on our school please come along to one of the sessions.

Tell Them From Me Surveys

A reminder that we have invited parents and carers of students in Years 4-6 to provide feedback on their experience of our school using an online survey. The surveys are an important part of our whole-school evaluation and planning process.

The information you provide will be used to continue our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and wellbeing at St Brigid's. The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. The survey can be accessed through the link on the Compass message sent out to parents.

I appreciate your support; your voice is important.

Have a wonderful week ahead!

Vanessa Walters,
Acting Principal.

Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching

WRITE ON

The WriteOn Workshops are underway. We had 20 students from Years 1-6 join me on Friday 16th May to understand the challenge and start to brainstorm their ideas for the Write On Competition. 

The stimulus is ‘Could they be changing?’. Students are asked to write an imaginative text of up to 500 words that addresses this stimulus.

If your child has decided to enter the competition, can you please encourage them to develop their ideas over the next week and come with a plan to the next workshop.

ICAS Academic Challenge – Let Students Shine!

St Brigid’s is excited to offer students the chance to showcase their talents in the world-renowned ICAS competition. ICAS is an online challenge in English, Maths, Science, Writing, Spelling Bee, and Digital Technologies, designed to stretch thinking and celebrate achievement. All participants receive certificates and reports, with top performers eligible for medals.

Click the Important Information box below to learn more.
Visit: icasassessments.com/products-icas

Important Teaching & Learning Dates

Warm regards,

Samantha Lynch,
Assistant Principal – Learning and Teaching

Assistant Principal - Mission

Sacrament of Confirmation 

Please keep the Confirmation Candidates, Kendrick, Abigail, Harper, Jovi, Jiana, Harlow, Milla and Eliza, in your prayers as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on Thursday, 22nd May. May the Holy Spirit guide and strengthen them on their faith journey, and may this be a joyful and grace-filled moment in their life.

Next week is Week 5, and we will be holding our National Sorry Day liturgy on Monday. Weather permitting, it will take place at our Yarning Circle at 12:20pm and all are welcome.

We also acknowledge that National Reconciliation Week begins on Tuesday, 27 May, with the theme “Bridging the Gap: Now to Next”. It’s a time to reflect, learn, and walk together toward a better future.

Courtney Hyde,
Assistant Principal – Mission

Making Jesus Real (MJR)

Positive Behaviour 4 Learning (PB4L)

Wellbeing Team

Have you heard of Bucket Filling?

In my time in the classroom one of my favourite books was - Have You Filled A Bucket Today?

Bucket filling boosts everyone's overall wellbeing and it is something that we are all able to do.  It benefits us all in may ways such as

• Enhances resilience
• Improves general well being
• Supports development of positive relationships
• Improves communication
• Reduces stress

The concept is simple - use actions or words to uplift, support, encourage or simply acknowledge another person. It requires nothing more than kindness and thoughtfulness in the small moments that fill our lives.  The best part is that filling someone else's bucket is actually filling your own.  It will release all of those feel good hormones that science tells us about.  Take a moment today to bucket fill just by telling them something you appreciate about them and watch their eyes light up!  Best feeling!

Stay golden,

Megan Ritchie,
School Counsellor - megan.ritchie@lism.catholic.edu.au

Sports News

Calendar Dates

Please familiarise yourself with the Compass App, as it will be used to provide consent for participation in sports events.

Late Arrivals & Early Departures

All students must be signed in at the office if they arrive late to school after 8:50am. Please do not drop your child off at the school gate without signing them in at the office. This is essential for student safety and accurate attendance records. 

If your child is leaving early, please go to the school office to sign them out. Please do not go directly to the classroom, the office staff will contact the classroom once you have arrived and have your child sent to the office. Please ensure you leave enough time for this process.

These procedures help us ensure the safety and well-being of all students. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

COMPASS - Entering Attendance

Submitting an Absence Note via Compass

1. Open the Compass app and tap the blue Shortcuts button (+) on the bottom of the homepage.
2. Select the child (submit a separate note for each child if needed).
3. Tap Submit Attendance Note and choose a reason (6 options available).
4. Enter details (minimum 10 characters in the comment field).
5. Set the start & end date of the absence.
6. Attach any relevant documents (if needed).
7. Tap Add Attendance Note to confirm—you’ll receive a notification.

Where possible, submit attendance notes before the absence or lateness occurs.

School Canteen Roster

We now have a canteen roster set up for the rest of the year! A huge thank you to all the parents and grandparents who have already volunteered their time on Mondays – it’s been amazing to see so many happy faces in the canteen during recess and lunch. The kids absolutely LOVE canteen days, and it wouldn’t be possible without your support!

We still have spots to fill, so if you’d like to add your name or help out at any point during the year, please contact M’Leigh our canteen coordinator on 0422 337 952 or come by the office to sign up.

To volunteer, you’ll need a Working With Children Check. It’s free for volunteers and easy to apply for through the Service NSW website.

When applying, you’ll need to provide several forms of ID, including:

• A primary document such as a current Australian passport or birth certificate

• A photo ID, such as a current Australian driver’s licence

• And two additional forms of ID (e.g. Medicare card, bank card, utility bill)

If you need help with the process, please drop by the office on a Wednesday or Thursday – we’re happy to assist.

Thank you again for supporting our canteen – it’s a valued part of our school community!

Stars of the week

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 2 Attendance

Celebrations

May God bless you with joy, good health, and His loving presence today and always. May your faith continue to grow and guide you through every step of the year ahead. Have a truly blessed day!

Congratulations to the following students who have shown tremendous effort and were presented with their awards at our assembly in Week 3.

Calendar

School Calendar Access

You can find the school calendar in the Compass app by tapping the calendar icon at the bottom of the homepage. Click on the button below for how to access your calendar.

Please always refer to the calendar for updates, as changes may occur.

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, Wednesday, and Friday at 9am. Please note that this schedule is subject to change. Saturday Vigil 5pm | Sunday 9am.
The Woodenbong Communion Service and Mass alternate every Saturday at 9am. 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  

To receive The Soul newsletter by email, please use [this form] to subscribe as an additional reader to The Soul mailing list.

Healthy Eating Active Living Team

Want to build a healthy lunchbox? Aim for a balance by including foods from each of the 5 food groups.See below for an idea on how to craft the perfect lunchbox using each of the 5 food groups:

• Grains – a small serve of rice or pasta salad
• Vegetables – create a quick side salad to serve with the rice/pasta
• Protein – include a boiled egg or some chickpeas in the salad
• Fruit – pack a banana or a small tub of diced fruit in natural juice as a snack
• Dairy – add a slice of cheese or a tub of yoghurt as a snack as well
• And don’t forget a water bottle!

For more information on how to build a visit healthy lunchbox, visit www.healthyliving.nsw.gov.au/healthy-lunchboxes

Catholic School Parents: Free Events

Community News

Dear community, we’re excited to announce that starting Term 2, we’ll be offering a Taekwondo class every Thursdays as part of our Rainbow Region Kids after school care program!

 Location: Kyogle Public School
 Time: 4 - 5pm
 Day: Every Thursday in Term 2

This exciting new activity is open to all children enrolled in primary school in the community. **If your child attends Kyogle Public School, they can be picked up directly from their classroom by our educators and taken to the class.**

As a CCS-approved provider, eligible families can receive Child Care Subsidy to help reduce the cost of care. If you're not sure whether you qualify or need help applying, we're happy to assist! 

100 Year Celebration of care at Kyogle Memorial Hospital/Health

To purchase tickets in person please visit Scarborough's Shoes on the main street OR the Hospital Office. Alternatively you can pay online details below.

Parent Resources

Free online resources available that provide support year-round, even when other services are closed during the holiday period:

For Parents

Triple P Parenting is an evidence-based program and all parents and carers of children under 12 can access one year of support for free here: https://www.triplep-parenting.net.au/au/free-parenting-courses/triple-p-online-under-12/

Choose from general parenting support or support specifically for parents/carers of anxious children.

Parentline NSW is a free telephone counselling and support service for parents and carers of children up to 18 years of age. The phone line – 1300 1300 52 – is manned by a team of trained professional counsellors from 9am to 9pm Mondays to Fridays and 4pm to 9pm on weekends. https://www.parentline.org.au/

For Children and Young People

Kids’ Helpline – 1800 55 1800 – is a free, 24/7 service available to children and young people aged from five to 25. Support is available via telephone or webchat. There are also a variety of resources online: www.kidshelpline.com.au

Headspace – 1800 650 890 – is Australia’s national youth mental health foundation, and provides mental health services to 12 to 25-year-olds in person, online and via phone. There are also a lot of resources available on the website https://headspace.org.au/

For Mental Health Crises

The NSW Mental Health Line – 1800 011 511 – is a free, 24/7 phone service that you can call if you are worried about your own or someone else’s mental health. The number is staffed by trained professionals who can offer mental health advice, complete brief assessments, make recommendations for appropriate care, and refer callers to other NSW Health mental health services. Some of the reasons that callers may contact the Mental Health Line include (but are not limited to):

- changes in mood that are worrying to you or others
- significant changes in personal hygiene or motivation
- difficulties with concentration
- confusion about what is real and what is not
- feelings of panic or intense anxiety
- thoughts or actions of hurting yourself or ending your life
- thoughts of harming someone else

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

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