Term 4 Week 9 December 1 2021

Our Front Page - Year 3 Celebrate Advent

On Monday we celebrated the beginning of Advent. Mrs Jansen and Year 3 prepared the Liturgy. We were celebrating the First Week of Advent, the beginning of the church year and the countdown to Christmas. It is the time for us to prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Our Gospel Reflection

There is something beautiful about all the lights that we now see around us in the streets and shop windows. As they shine and sparkle they are trying to catch our eye and get our attention.

In our Gospel this Sunday, John the Baptist is trying to do the very same thing; he too is trying to get our attention because he has a message for us as we take another step on our Advent journey.

John comes as a messenger in the wilderness not just with any news, but with ‘good news’ for all to hear. He comes to us with a message of hope. John tells us that someone (Jesus) is coming and that he is far more powerful than John. He reminds us today as he did in the desert that God has not forgotten us or the promise that was made to generations before us; Jesus the Messiah is coming. Jesus is coming not just into our world, but into our homes, lives, and our very hearts. This most definitely is ‘good news.’

John came with a new message in a new place. Normally people went to the temple or the synagogue to hear the word of God. But John is in neither of these places. He appeared and spoke in the wilderness of the desert and as the Gospel tells us, all the people of Judea and all the people of Jerusalem made their way to him.

John asks us to ‘prepare a way for the Lord and make his paths straight.’ What does this mean for us today? When the people heard John speak, ‘they were baptised and confessed their sins.’ An important aspect of our Advent journey and preparation is acknowledging that there are parts of our lives that need straightening!

Perhaps one way we could prepare a way for the Lord during these weeks of Advent is to consider celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation. As we focus our attention on so many other things during the lead-up to Christmas, let us not forget to prepare a place in our hearts to welcome Jesus.

From Our Principal

As we draw closer to the end of what has been a very unusual year I can't help but feel like we have only just begun again! We are all very aware that much in our "normal" lives changed during the many weeks of lockdown and I know that all staff worked tirelessly to ensure that all was as "normal" as possible for our students but there were a few things that we just could not avoid. One challenge that we have been faced with is the Semester 2 Reports.

Usually, at this time of the year, teachers have worked closely with each and every one of their students for close on six months, since the last report. They would have had personal encounters each and every day with the children in their class. They would have collected assessment data, taken anecdotal notes, made detailed observations, and been a part of their students' everyday interactions. All teachers would be highly informed and confident to report on their students' independent learning achievements and effort across all seven Key Learning Areas. Unfortunately, due to remote learning whilst in lockdown, teachers have missed many weeks to collect this valuable information and thus teachers are now limited on what they can professionally report on accurately and precisely.

Therefore the 2021 Semester 2 Report will look different to other years. Teachers will report on Religious Education, English, and Mathematics. There will be comments that describe aspects of the learning your child has demonstrated throughout the semester for each aspect of these three Key Learning Areas.

The 2022 Semester One Reports will go back to normal, be more extensive, and include grades and efforts for all Key Learning Areas.

Our Semester Two Reports for this year will be distributed on Monday 13th December. I thank you in advance for your understanding and support as we continue to navigate these challenges together.

Tony Hunter,
Principal

Staffing Announcements

Following advertising, shortlisting and interviewing, we are pleased to announce that Mrs Bronwyn McNulty has accepted the position of Counsellor here at St Brigid’s to replace Wendy Saini. Bronwyn is currently employed with the Department of School Education and is a school psychologist based at Kyogle High School, Woodenbong Central School and several other smaller primary schools in the area. 

Prior to completing her Master of Professional Psychology degree at UNE, Bronwyn was a journalist and worked in England and Australia contributing works to major newspapers and magazines. From 2012 to 2019, Bronwyn completed a Bachelor of Psychological Science and a Master of Professional Psychology, graduating with First Class Honours. She has experience in the cognitive, emotional, behavioural and functional assessment of children as well as in case formulation, treatment planning, delivery of interventions and supportive counselling.

We welcome Bronwyn to our St Brigid's community and look forward to having her work with us in 2022.

Final Day of Ready 4 Learning

Thanks so much to Mrs Walters, Miss Macdonald, Mrs Emma Rixon and Ms Stacey Newman for the way in which you gave our newest students a fantastic introduction to school life here at St Brigid’s via our Ready 4 Learning Program. They looked so ready on Friday as they were presented with their Library Bags wearing their enormous smiles. Even though the program was shortened due to obvious restrictions it just showed how important it was to enable these children the opportunity to experience and spend time here at school. I know that so many children are disappointed now that there is no more R4L until next year. We look forward to seeing you all in 2022.

MAI and Kindergarten Best Start Interviews

As advertised previously all students will be involved in numeracy and literacy assessments to commence the 2022 school year. Students in Years 1 to 6 will have an MAI on either Tuesday 1st, Wednesday 2nd, or Thursday 3rd of February 2022. The first day of school for students in Years 1 to 6 will be Friday 4th February.

Students in Kindergarten will undergo their Best Start and Maths Assessment Interview on one of the following days: Tuesday 1st, Wednesday 2nd, Thursday 3rd, or Friday 4th February. The first day of school for Kindergarten will be Monday 7th February.

These bookings are now open for all students (Kindergarten to Year 6) from 8:30 am on Wednesday 1st December.

Each assessment for students in Years 1 to 6 has been allocated a 45 minute timeslot. The Kindergarten Best Start Assessment has been allocated a 60 minute timeslot.

To book online please follow the following steps:

1. Go to schoolinterviews.com.au
2. Enter the code: nddde
3. Enter your details
4. Select your child’s class teacher
5. Select the appointment times that suit you best
6. When you click FINISH, your interview timetable will be emailed to you automatically. If you do not receive your email immediately – Check your junk mail folder AND make sure you have spelled your email address correctly

You may change your bookings, any time prior to the closing date Friday 4th February 2022, by re-visiting the www.schoolinterviews.com.au website, and using the event code. Remember to use the same name and email address you used when you made your original booking. Parents and carers who do not have access to online facilities can ring Di in the office at school (6632 1988) and she will make the bookings for you.

2022 Student Leaders' Speeches

On Monday 6th December our Year 5 students will deliver their speeches to our school community on why they would be a good school student leader in 2022. Unfortunately due to Covid Level 3 Restrictions, parents are not permitted to attend to watch these speeches being delivered. The speeches will commence at 10am and our School Leaders for next year will be announced at our End of Year Liturgy on Tuesday 14^th December.

Year 6 Graduation and Dinner

This year’s students in Year 6 are a wonderful group and it will indeed be sad to see them leave St Brigid’s. Their Graduation Liturgy will be held at Our Lady of Sorrows Church at 6 pm next Monday the 6th of December. This promises to be a very special occasion. The liturgy will be followed by dinner at the Kyogle Bowling Club commencing at 7 pm where families, students, and staff can relax and celebrate the end of their Primary School journey with our Year 6 students.

2021 Swimming Carnival

Our Swimming Carnival for 2021 is set down for Friday 10th December at the Kyogle Pool. Should the Carnival be postponed due to poor weather, the back up date is Wednesday 15th December (last day of school).

All students from Year 2 to 6 will proceed down to the pool after the rolls are marked on the Carnival Day. Students in Kindergarten and Year 1 will go down to the pool at 11:30am in time for their novelty events and BBQ lunch.

All students were issued with information on Tuesday 30th November, outlining all the details of this year's event. Students will need to nominate for their respective events and return the nomination form back to school by this Friday 3rd December so that the program can be finalised. It is important to note that children enter the age group events that they will be turning next year. That is, if a child is turning 10 next year, they enter the Under 10 events. All students will be competing to represent St Brigid's Primary School at the Richmond Zone Carnival to be held at Lismore Pool on Monday 14th February 2022.

Also attached is a BBQ lunch order note and these are to be returned to the school by this Friday the 3rd of December with the correct money. Your assistance in getting these orders back to school as soon as possible will be very greatly appreciated.

During 2021 we have had so many events that families have been unable to attend but the carnival is an exception as it is off school grounds. Please come along and support all the students in their respective events. If you are able to assist on the day please refer to the notes attached and put your name down for a particular role. All hands on deck make it easier for all to enjoy the day.

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Collection

We extend a big thank you to all who have been so kind and generous in donating towards our St Vincent de Paul Christmas Hampers. Every year as a school community we like to support our local Vinnies with items for their Christmas hampers. These hampers go to people in the local area who are experiencing hardships during the Christmas period. Please note the specific items that we are calling for this week and next week.

We will present the collected goods to the Kyogle branch of St Vincent de Paul at our end of year liturgy. 

Returning Library Books

Thank you to all the families that have returned library books or contacted us about overdue notices. Please continue to encourage children to actively look for any books they still have at home and return them to the library as soon as possible.

Holiday Road Safety Message

During the school holidays remind your children of key road safety messages. Help them to regularly practise their road safety skills whenever you are out and about. Check out these learning resources on Safety Town.

2022 Uniform Shop Dates

Children must be in correct school uniform at ALL times. This supports us in maintaining the tone of the school and can develop in children a sense of pride in their appearance and in their school. All items of our school uniform are available from the school uniform shop. When looking into purchasing new school shoes for 2022, we ask that you purchase the full black leather school shoes. There are many substitutes on the market that are popular and carry well-known brand names, however, for student safety, comfort and adherence to our uniform policy we ask that you refrain from these brands and purchase the correct black leather shoes. Scarborough’s here in Kyogle has an excellent selection of proper school shoes.

Uniforms can be purchased from school on the following days

• Any Monday this term from 2pm to 3pm
• Monday 24^th January 2022 from 9:30am to 11:30am
• Friday 28^th January 2022 from 11am to 1:30pm
• Wednesday 2^nd February 2022 from 9am to 12 noon

Happy Birthday

We extend big birthday wishes to:

• Isaac Beetge 21st November
• Normy Presbury 26th November
• Jayden Floyd 1st December 

PBS Focus For This Week

We play fair and follow the rules during outdoor games and speak respectfully to our friends because Jesus always treated others with kindness and mercy.

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