Newsletter Term 4 Week 5 (Wednesday 9th November 2022)

Our Front Page with Kindergarten

Kindergarten have been working very hard this year on their spelling. Each day students review the sounds that they know and practise reading and writing words and sentences. We thought we would share with you what we have learnt about words and sentences so far this year!

We have learnt that:- sentences need a capital letter at the beginning and a full stop at the end - we need to put finger spaces between our words - names always start with a capital letter - a digraph is two letters that go together to make one sound - we write the base word first and then add the suffix - plural means you have more than one - we add an 's' to the end of a word to make it a plural - we can use our karate hands to help chunk words up - we can use our fingers to stretch words out to make it easier for us to spell them.

Kindergarten love learning new things and they have all learnt so much about reading and writing this year. Keep up the amazing work Kindergarten!

Kindergarten at Work

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Our Gospel Reflection

In our Gospel reading this Sunday from Luke, Jesus predicts the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and warns his followers that persecution will come before the end time.

Children, while innocently naïve about most world events, are also profoundly sensitive to the concerns felt by adults. We can help children interpret adult concerns by sharing information about current events in appropriate ways. We can also put these concerns in the light of God's kingdom and the assurance of God's care for us.

Discuss with your children one or more current events or a situation in your family that shows difficulties that may challenge our trust in a God who cares for us. Then read together Sunday's Gospel, Luke 21:5-19. Notice how Jesus said that even when his disciples are persecuted, God would be with them.

Together with your children, talk about ways in which God might bring good out of the difficult events you discussed. Talk together about some actions you might take as a family to make better the situations you discussed. Conclude by praying for the needs of the people involved in the events you named. In prayer, place each of these difficult situations into God's hands.

From Our Principal

Last week all students were issued their school photos for this year. It was wonderful seeing the photos arrive after such a drawn-out affair this year. We hope that you are happy with your child's school photos as these are beautiful keepsakes of their school years.

Goodbye to Aanaminda

Regrettably, I’m informing you that Aanaminda Makeing, our Family Support Worker, will be resigning from her Family Connect in Schools position at the end of this term due to family commitments.

I’m sure that you will join me in wishing Min the best in her future endeavours and thank her for her contributions to our school community in supporting positive outcomes for families here at St Brigid’s. We will get the opportunity at the end of the year to thank Min officially for her wonderful work here at St B’s.

Social Futures will now start the recruitment process for a new school worker in Casino and Kyogle with a view to the new person starting at the beginning of Term 1 2023. Any families that are in need of continued support following Aanaminda's resignation over the Christmas holiday break will be supported by either Wendy Jansen or another FCS worker until the new worker is in place. Aanaminda will ensure that a warm handover of support is offered to the families that she is currently working with in our school community.

On Camp with Year 4

Today I will be heading up to Tallebudgera to spend the next 3 days and 2 nights with our Year 4 students accompanied by Mrs Esslemont and Ms Aherne. This is a wonderful experience for the students and I am sure that they will have a great time taking part in all of the activities and adventures that the staff has planned for them. Wishing all a terrific time away and looking forward to seeing the photos that capture the experiences.

Intensive Swimming

Many thanks to Lee Love for her organisation of this important program for our K-2 students and for reinforcing the need for our young ones to be water aware. Thanks also to the instructors, Joy, Julie, Kylie, Amanda and Kayla for their expertise in the pool when taking their swimming groups. A huge vote of thanks to all of the Kindergarten to Year 2 staff who were so vital in ensuring that all went smoothly and to plan, especially around the flexibility of times and getting the students down to the pool and back again for the past 2 weeks. A job well done by all. Thank you.

Remembrance Day

We have been invited by the Kyogle RSL Sub Branch to attend the Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Kyogle Cenotaph this Friday the 11th of November. It is important that all of our students from Kindergarten to Year 6 attend to show our support and recognition of this important date in our history. Our School Captains, Lilly and Billy, will lay a wreath on behalf of our school. All parents and friends are invited to join us on this special day. We will be leaving school at 10:45 am.

Staff Professional Learning Day

Staff will be undertaking a professional learning day this Monday the 14th of November. The focus of this day will be to look at our 2022 NAPLAN results and how as a school we can improve outcomes for student learning. We will also focus on the results from the recent Tell Them From Me Survey and look into our 2023 School Improvement Plan. Students WILL NOT attend school on this day.

Family Fun Night

At the last Parent Forum Meeting it was decided to have a Family Fun Night at Kyogle Pool on Thursday 17th of November from 5pm to 7pm. There will be a big inflatable slide in the pool and a sausage sizzle going all the time. Families are invited to come down and spend the evening with other families from our St Brigid's community. The inflatable slide will be open to the public until 6pm and then from 6pm to 7pm it is for the exclusive use of St Brigid's families only. This should be a fun social evening for all. The only cost is to get into the pool. A reminder that glass bottles are not permitted into the pool grounds, only plastic containers and cans. Please also note that the supervision of children is the responsibility of parents and carers. Looking forward to seeing as many families as possible on the 17th.

Crazy Hair & Sock Day

On Tuesday, our students came to school with the craziest, whackiest and most b-e-a-utiful hairstyles. Throw in some wildly odd socks and we had loads of fun, giggles and the odd sore scalp. Through your gold coin donations we raised $136 for the Catholic Mission. Thank you so much.

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Library Help Needed

We would love some extra help in the Library before the end of the term so that we can cover some of the new books that have been purchased. If you can offer some time either by coming to the Library for a session or by taking a bundle of books home to cover, please contact our Library Team representative, Rebecca Walters, on 0408328773, to offer your assistance. Lee Love and Steph Barsby can also help by answering any questions you may have regarding this task. Many thanks for your anticipated support.

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal

Every year as a school community we like to support the Kyogle branch of the St Vincent De Paul Society with items for their Christmas hampers. These hampers go to people in the local area who are experiencing hardships during the Christmas period. Please refer to the list below and many thanks for your support again this year.

Bus Travel Information

Transport for NSW information and application portal at transportnsw.info is designed to help families find all their travel information in the one place.
SCHOOL TRAVEL APPLICATIONS FOR 2023 ARE NOW OPEN: Parents are asked to plan ahead and make sure their child has a valid School Travel Pass from the start of the 2023 school year.
 A new application will need to be submitted if students are applying for a school travel pass for the first time or if they are requesting an additional travel entitlement as a result of a new shared parental responsibility situation (eg joint custody). Students who need a school travel pass for 2023 can  apply now.
 Students who change address or school, should update or renew their details before the end of Term 4, (eg progressing to Year 7). This will ensure that schools can endorse applications and current entitlements are updated and remain valid. All students in Kindergarten to Year 2 are eligible for free bus travel. If a student’s distance eligibility has changed based on their Year, (eg progressing to Year 3), the system will automatically update their entitlement if they meet the new criteria. If they do not meet the new eligibility criteria, they will receive an expiry notification via email.
 Students who have an entitlement approved under a medical condition that is due to expire will receive a notification advising them to re-apply.
 Students living in rural and regional (R&R) areas should receive their travel pass at the start of the new school year from their nominated transport operator. Note: some R&R operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.
 For some families, last minute changes to school enrolments mean they may not have a Travel Pass for the start of the new term. In this instance, parents should contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs. Bus operators are flexible and understanding, particularly at the start of the school year, and will ensure students can travel safely to and from school. To best support bus operators, we encourage all students to have a valid travel pass, as early as possible, from the start of the new school year.

Compass Tips/Tricks

Canteen Orders: Monday Recess - Add item/s to cart - View Cart (If you don't view cart and just use back button, it does not seem to create the order in Recess)- Create another order - Monday Lunch - Add Item/s to cart - Proceed to Checkout.

Compass Credit - If you have had to cancel a canteen order - the amount can not be refunded to your card, but stays within your compass wallet. When you go to pay on the next occasion, where your credit card details appear, use the drop-down arrow, which should bring up 'Compass Credit' and the available amount.  If this doesn't appear and you know you should have credit, please contact the Office. 

To enter a student absence or pay for an event - go to the home screen and press the shortcuts button (the + symbol at the bottom). 

Sport Swimming Event - Thank you to those who have provided their season pass details. Some still need to consent through the app. Please check.  

Year Book Magazine Cover Competition

It is getting closer to the time when our 2022 Year Book will be released. Once again there is a competition for students to design the front and back cover of the Year Book with great prizes to be won. We encourage all of our students to put their artistic flair into full swing and get their entries into the office. All entries are to be on a piece of A4 paper with their name on the back of the entry, please. Three green tickets will be issued for entries received.  Entries need to be in at the school office by Tuesday 15th of November.

Positive Behaviour 4 Learning

Focus for Week 5:   We speak respectfully to teachers and our friends at all times because we follow the 4 SERS at St Brigid’s.

After-School Program

Kyogle Family Support Services is excited to announce that they will be facilitating an after-school program every Wednesday from 3.30 to 5 pm at the Neighbourhood Centre. 

2023 Enrolments

Enrolments for any class for 2023 are currently being finalised. Please, if you know of anyone intending to join the St Brigid's community for 2023, ask them to get their enrolment applications in now! 

Our staffing allocation is based on our enrolments at Census, taken at the start of August. Please do not hesitate to contact our Principal, Mr Hunter, if you have any questions or would like to enquire about enrolling here at St Brigid's for 2023 or even sooner.

Sports News

Last week we had two students attend the summer sports cricket trials in Lismore. Both students had a great afternoon. Noah Laarhoven was successful in making it through to the Diocesan cricket trials in Lismore on Friday 25th November. Lawson Alder also trialed for tennis in the summer sports trials two weeks ago and was also successful in making it through to the Diocesan tennis trials being held in Lismore on Tuesday 22nd November. We wish both of these students all the best at the next level.

For the last two weeks we have been running our Intensive Swimming Program for students from K-2. We would like to thank our swimming instructors for their time with these sessions. All students will receive their certificates at the Kindergarten Showcase Assembly on Friday 18th November at 2.15 pm. All parents are welcome to attend. 

Yours in Sport 

Lee Love 

Happy Birthday to You

Wishing the following children all the very best for their special day this week:-

11th November - Mabel Standfield

12th November - Harold Allen

14th November - Georgia Pratt

16th November - Michael Walker

Student Awards

Congratulations to the following students who have shown tremendous effort and were presented with awards at last week's  assembly:

Kindergarten:- Zion Dowd, Liam Bowden

Kindergarten Transition: Cooper Goebel, Niarah Walker

Year 1:- Louise Calvey, Emily Kennelly

Year 2:- Morgan Studd, Caius Dowd, Shekinah Howes

Year 3:- Olivia Alvos, Alyanna Clark

Year 4:- Ruby Wright, Eloise Stephenson

Year 5:- Noah Rixon, Savannah Durrant

Year 6:- Ruby Witchard, Jarrod Rixon

Principal Awards: Billy Kennedy, Parker Kennedy, Danny Kennedy, Noah Schneider and Harlow Schneider

MJR Awards: Ryder Newman, Angus Wright

Upcoming Dates

NOVEMBER

Monday 14th - Pupil Free Day

Thursday 17th - Family Fun Night - Kyogle Pool

Wednesday 30th - Year 6 Graduation Liturgy & Dinner

DECEMBER 

Thursday 8th - School Swimming Carnival

Tuesday 13th - End of Year Mass & Awards

Friday 16th - Last day of the year for students