Newsletter Term 2 Week 5 (Wednesday 24 May 2023)

Our Gospel Reflection

This coming Sunday, we mark the end of 50 days after we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus and the end of the Easter Season. This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, the moment when Jesus, after ascending to heaven, sent forth the Holy Spirit into the world. The disciples, cowering in a small upper room in Jerusalem, fearful for their lives after Jesus’ sorrowful end, encountered a rushing wind. The Holy Spirit had arrived, gifting them with the courage and wisdom to take Jesus’ message out into the world. This, therefore, marks the birth of the Church, as the church goes out to the people, encountering them where they are and sharing the joyful and hope-filled Gospel of Jesus. 

We remember as a school community, the importance of our role in the mission of the Church. As a Catholic education community, we seek to share the gospel through our words and our actions, making Christ known and loved to all who enter our walls. We pray that we too are filled with the Holy Spirit as we seek to live this mission in our daily lives.

From Our Principal

This week marks 2 very significant occasions in our Nation's history - The Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians, today Wednesday 24th May and the commencement of National Reconciliation Week from the 27th May to 3rd June. 

Our Lady Help of Christians

The Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians has been celebrated in Australia since 1844. The infant church in Australia had a special reason for turning to Mary. No priests were sent to the colony in its early days and Mass was not allowed except for one brief year until 1820. It was largely the Rosary in those early days that kept the faith alive. Catholic Australia remained faithful to Mary and was the first nation to choose her under the title 'Help of Christians', as Principal patroness.

St Mary’s Cathedral was dedicated in her honour by the Irish pioneer priest, Fr John Therry, who arrived in Sydney in 1820 and assumed responsibility for the planning and initial construction of the Cathedral. When Australia became the first country to have Mary Help of Christians as Patroness, it became the first country to have a mother-cathedral under the same title. 

National Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. The dates for NRW remain the same each year;  27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey:

• 27 May 1967  - On this day, Australia’s most successful referendum saw more than 90 per cent of Australians vote to give the Australian Government power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and recognise them in the Census.
• 3 June 1992  - On this day, the Australian High Court delivered the Mabo decision, the culmination of Eddie Koiki Mabo’s challenge to the legal fiction of ‘terra nullius’ (land belonging to no one) and leading to the legal recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of lands. This decision paved the way for Native Title.

 The National Reconciliation Week 2023 theme, Be a Voice For Generations is a challenge to all Australians - individuals, families, communities, organisations and government to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives – where we live, work and socialise. 

Sorry Day - Friday 26th May

National Sorry Day (26 May) is the day when we remember and acknowledge the hurt and damage caused in the past by our governments when they forcibly removed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, communities and cultures.

It is a day when we reflect on the sad and painful stories of the Stolen Generations, recognise the resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and acknowledge the power and importance of saying we are sorry for these wrongs. It’s also a day when we recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to suffer from the effects of these policies.

This Friday 26th of May 2023, all members of our school community are invited to attend our Sorry Day Liturgy at 12:30pm to acknowledge all those affected by the intergenerational trauma of the Stolen Generations.

Sorry Day Mufti Day

All students are invited to take part in our Sorry Day Mufti Day where students can wear clothes in the colours of the Aboriginal flag - red, black and yellow. Or they may wear Indigenous themed clothing. There is no cost at all for wearing mufti on Friday

Kindergarten 2024 Information Sessions

With Ready4Learning now inot 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 2024. There will be 2 sessions offered on Monday 5th of June at 9:30am and then repeated again at 6pm. If you are intending on enrolling your child into St Brigid's for 2024 or looking for further information on our school please come along to one of the sessions.

Stars of the Week

This term we have introduced a new award, Stars of the Week which will be presented to the class with the best average attendance for the week. Last week the winning class was Year 3 with a weekly attendance average of 91.4%. This award will be presented each and every Friday.

Remember our whole school goal is 90%. The whole school average weekly attendance for this term is as follows:

Week 1: 90% - Year 6 (96.1%), Year 1 (95.6%), Year 3 (93.6%) 

Week 2: 87% - Year 1 (95.3%), Year 6 (92.7%), Year 2 (90.4%)

Week 3: 89.2% - Year 4 (94.3%), Year 3 (92.3%), Year 1 (91%)

Week 4: 86.4% - Year 3 (91.4%), Year 1 (89.7%), Year 4 (87.8%)

It is essential that every student is at school on every day as attendance matters to support your child's learning.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Assistant Principal News - Mission

Students are to be empowered to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in today’s world and a culture of student discipleship formation is embedded at St Brigid’s  through peer to peer ministry. Some retreats are based at school and other retreats are offsite. When retreats are offsite, a small group of students are nominated and selected to attend. These students then bring back their experiences to share with the whole class. Below is our 2023 Retreat Sequence at St Brigid’s. We are very much looking forward to the upcoming Confirmation Retreat where all students will participate here at school.

Whole School: TenTen Experience 

Year Three: Reconciliation Confirmation 

Year Four: Reconciliation Eucharist  and Accendre’ (off site) 

Year Five: Exuro (off site) 

Year Six: Year 6 School Leaders Retreat and  Incitare’ (off site) 

Year Five  and Six Mini Vinnies Members: Mini Vinnies Retreat 

STAGE 2 MASS:

All are warmly invited to join our Family Mass on Sunday at 9am. Stage Two students will be leading the mass. This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost celebrates the fullness of the Spirit and the great gathering of nations. It brings the Easter season to its conclusion. The Risen Lord has been exalted to his rightful place next to God and he has sent his Spirit to fill the earth with God's power. Pentecost is often referred to as the Church’s birthday. What better way to celebrate the Church’s birthday than with cake? Join parishioners and our school community for a cuppa and some birthday cake after Mass. 

CONFIRMATION PARENT MEETING: 

A reminder that there is an information meeting on Wednesday, 24th May. This meeting will commence at 5.30pm and finish by 6.00 pm. Please email kelli.bugden@lism.catholic.edu.au if your child is making the sacrament and you are unable to attend.

CLASS MASS:

Yesterday, Year 6 were visited by Fr Erick. Fr Erick is leading a class mass on Thursday and joined the class to prepare Prayers of the Faithful, decide who is reading and to discuss what they've been learning in Religion. The children enjoyed the chance to chat to Fr Erick and he explained the meaning behind his vestments to them. We are looking forward to the mass in Year 6 on Thursday. 

National Simultaneous Storytime

Today we joined a million other readers as we participated in the National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS). This is an Australia-wide group reading and literacy event, where schools, libraries and other institutions gather school-age children together to read the same chosen picture book at the same time. 

Ever since its inception, the aim of NSS has been to promote the value and fun of books, reading, and community storytime activities, as well as the work of the featured author and illustrator. 

2023's chosen book is The Speedy Sloth by Rebecca Young and Heath McKenzie ; a story about a sloth that loves to run around FAST! He goes on an adventure in the rainforest, challenging other animals to a race. He learns some important lessons along the way. 

Kindergarten 2024 Enrolment Session

Parent Forum Meeting

The next meeting of our School Community Forum will take place on Tuesday 6th June at 3:30pm in the School Library. A reminder that there will be a student session of the Forum to allow parents to attend and know that their children are being looked after.

An agenda for our next meeting will be sent out in next week's newsletter. Look forward to seeing as many as possible to support St Brigid's students.

Position Vacant - School Cleaner

As outlined in our newsletter last week, Sandra Ibbertson has decided to retire from her position as our School Cleaner, a position she has held for 15 years. 

We are now in the process of advertising for this position. It is 14 hours per week and can be applied for by 1 or 2 people to make the role easier. Please refer to link to access job advert. Applications for the position close next Monday the 29th of May.

Positive Behaviour 4 Learning (PB4L)

Focus for Week 5:     I know what the expectation is when the bell goes and we line up in the weather shed.

Weekly Focus Awards- Week 4: Congratulations to the following students who demonstrated our weekly PBS focus last week:

Harper Grieve  - Kindergarten

Annabelle Parker - Kindergarten

Emily Kennelly - Year 2

Piper Marychurch - Year 4

Olivia Alvos - Year 4

Mia Glover - Year 4 

Millea Rixon - Year 4

Eamon McCormack - Year 6

Brett Argall - Year 6

From the Wellbeing Team...

This week’s strength is GRATITUDE.

Gratitude describes the strength of being thankful for the good, expressing thanks, and feeling blessed. What do you have gratitude for this term? This month? This week? This day?

Gratitude encompasses all the things we are grateful for, big and small, fleeting and enduring. Is gratitude a particular strength belonging to you or someone close to you? How does gratitude feature in your day-to-day life, and how does it help you or your loved ones to grow and tackle challenges? Take a moment to acknowledge the strength of gratitude in yourself and others, and consider how this strength enriches life for you and the people around you.

Seasons For Growth

Dear Families,

Just a reminder that St. Brigid’s is offering the Seasons For Growth Program to students in 2023. This is a small group program based on the belief that change, loss and grief are a normal and natural art of life.  If you feel that your child might benefit from Seasons, please nominate your interest via the link below. If your child is nominated, a Permission Form and Information Letter further outlining the Program will be sent home with your child. 

https://forms.gle/cJw7HxTNfdUigkuMA

Please note, it is recommended that anyone affected by bereavement wait 6 to 12 months before participating in the Seasons For Growth Program. 

Kindly,

Sereena Zanuso                                                                                                                                                                            Student Support Worker. 

Happy Birthday to You

Wishing the following children all the very best for their special day this week and over the school holidays:      

It doesn't happen often - but we have no birthdays this week!

Student Awards - Term 2 Week 4

Congratulations to the following students who have shown tremendous effort and were presented with their awards at our assembly last Friday afternoon:

Kindergarten:- Evie Musicka, Ruby Walker

Year 1:- Nicholas Stubbings, Eliza Knight

Year 2:- Louise Calvey, Ella Walters

Year 3:- Nate Jones, Chance Flanagan, Fletcher Cameron-Keed

Year 4:- Harry Nugent, Mia Glover, Charli Godfrey-Scofield

Year 5:- Eloise Stephenson, Ruby Wright, Hannah Kennelly, Yari Howes

Year 6:-  Brett Argall, Loretta Faulks

Upcoming Dates

May

28th - Parish Family Mass - led by Stage 2

June

2nd - Year 2 Showcase 2.15pm

6th - Parent Forum Meeting @ 3.30pm

12th - King's Birthday Public Holiday