Newsletter Term 2 Week 7 (Wednesday 7 June 2023)

Our Front Page with Year 5

Year 5 had a visit from Fr Erick yesterday to prepare our class mass on Thursday. Fr Erick explained what his vestments were and helped us prepare for the mass. While he was here, Year 5 got the opportunity to have some of their questions answered. Take a look at the questions we asked Fr Erick and his responses. 

Year 5: Why did you want to become a priest?                                                                                                            Fr Erick: I wanted to become a priest because I wanted to learn more about God. 

Year 5: Do you believe that there was actually tongues of flames on their heads at Pentecost?              Fr Erick: Of course! 

Year 5: Why are there different colours for different seasons?                                                                           Fr Erick: To really represent different seasons and to make it easy for people to identify different seasons. 

Year 5: Why do the bells ring during mass?                                                                                                                  Fr Erick: To really get people’s attention that something important was happening. 

Year 5: What do you think purgatory is like?                                                                                                                   Fr Erick: It is where people get saved and they learn more about God while they are there. It feels like your heart is burning in anticipation for God’s acceptance and forgiveness. It is like when you are waiting for something you really want =, for example- Christmas. But the burning is multiplied by hundreds and hundreds more. 

Our Gospel Reflection

This Sunday we celebrate a second solemnity during this period of Ordinary Time in the liturgical calendar. Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. This day was once called Corpus Christi, which is Latin for “Body of Christ.” In the revised Lectionary the name for this day is expanded to reflect more completely our Eucharistic theology.

Sunday’s Gospel is taken from the Gospel according to John. The reading is part of a discourse between Jesus and a crowd of Jews. The discourse comes shortly after the miracle of Jesus’ multiplication of the loaves and fishes. In John’s Gospel, miracles such as this are identified as “signs” through which people come to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. These signs are followed by dialogue, or discourse that interprets and explains the miracle. In John’s Gospel, Jesus’ multiplication of the loaves is said to have occurred near Passover, thus linking it to the Exodus story and God’s saving action toward the Israelites.

Having seen Jesus multiply the loaves and fishes, the crowd pursues him, perhaps seeking more food but also looking for another sign. Jesus tells the crowd that he is the bread of life. He explains that just as God gave the Israelites manna to sustain them in the desert, so now God has sent new manna that will give eternal life. It is in this context that Jesus repeats those words in today’s Gospel and tells them again that he is the living bread that came down from heaven.

Jesus’ words are not well understood by the crowd; they argue that Jesus is not from heaven but born of Mary and Joseph. The crowd also has trouble understanding how Jesus could give them his flesh to eat. Jesus tells them that when they eat his flesh and drink his blood, they will remain forever connected to him. These are difficult words, but they are important because they seek to show us our intimate connection with Jesus.

This is the mystery that is at the heart of our Eucharistic theology. In the elements of bread and wine, Jesus’ Body and Blood are truly present. When we share in the Body and Blood of Christ, Jesus himself comes to dwell within us. This communion with the Lord makes us one body, brings us eternal life, and sends us forth to be Christ’s Body in the world.

From Our Principal

Far too many students say they don’t like Maths! It is a universal problem. As a result they grow into adults who don’t like Maths and the cycle perpetuates when we then tell our children, “I was no good at Maths at school and I don’t use it anyway”. Growing up I always remember my mum saying that “Dad does Maths, I do the reading.”

We need to stop this cycle and view maths differently.

Jo Boaler is a world renowned Leader in Mathematical Thinking. She wrote a great book called ‘The Elephant in the Classroom’. The elephant in the classroom is the idea that many children feel they are no good at Maths. When we teach Maths we don’t want children to ever have this idea. We need them to approach Maths with a growth mindset. The subject actually involves problem solving, creating ideas, representing items and thinking, exploring puzzles, discussion about methods used and the many ways a problem can be solved. Unfortunately too many people think Maths is solving algorithms, remembering formulas or names for angles, shapes and procedures. The way to kick the elephant out of the room is to teach Maths as a challenge, throw the students into a Learning Pit and let them struggle, discuss, try, fail and try again to come up with a solution. All supported by good teaching.

It isn’t a problem like 6 x9 we should be doing but how many ways could 6 children evenly sort their lollies/ pencils/ books if they had 18, 54 or 228?
It isn’t a problem like how far did I walk if I walked 6, 8 then 9 kilometres. It is a problem like, I covered 28 kilometres today in 3 sessions. What length could I have walked each session?
We need to bring real Maths into classrooms and our homes.

This takes a few changes: No more saying ‘I am no good at Maths’ / ‘I don’t like Maths’ No more trying to teach an algorithm to solve a problem. See Maths as an everyday experience - using money, measuring for cooking, estimating time and distances, counting by 2’s, 3’3 instead of by 1’s. There are many ways to teach the Maths in the everyday.

2024 Kindergarten Enrolments

Enrolments for any class for 2024 are currently being finalised. Please, if you know of anyone intending to join the St Brigid's community for 2024, ask them to get enrolment applications in now! Applications for Kindergarten in 2024 are due in by Thursday the 29th of June. If you are intending on enrolling your child into Kindergarten next year or know of someone who is intending or would like to, please ensure that applications are lodged by the end of this term.

Our staffing allocation will be based on our enrolments at Census. This occurs at the beginning of August. Please do not hesitate to contact myself if you have any questions or would like to inquire about enrolling here at St Brigid's for 2024 or even sooner.

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 4 with a weekly attendance average of 90.1%%. It is clearly evident that we have hit the cold and flu season and this is evident in our attendance for the past week. 

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%) 

Week 5: 85.9% - Year 1 (92%), Year 4 (90.5%), Year 3 (89.3%)

Week 6: 83.2% - Year 4 (90.1%), Year 6 (89.8%), Year 2 (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 - Learning

2024 KINDERGARTEN PARENT INFORMATION SESSION

We were delighted to welcome prospective parents to our 2024 Parent Information sessions on Monday morning and Monday evening. During our tour of the school, parents had the opportunity to see our contemporary learning spaces and the teaching practices within the K-2 spaces.  

If you missed the information evening please contact the school office to get an enrolment application and book a tour with either our Principal or Assistant Principals over the coming weeks.

Vanessa Walters                                                                                                                                                                             Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching                                                                                                                                     

Assistant Principal News - Mission

Confirmation Retreat:

Today our Year Three students engaged in a Confirmation Retreat. The retreat began with all students engaging in meditation and prayer. As a part of the day they explored how the Holy Spirit is stirred up within us. Even though we may not look any different after being sealed with the Holy Spirit, we feel different. This concept was explored through an analogy where chocolate syrup was mixed through milk. The retreat was a fantastic way for students to conclude their classroom learning about Confirmation. A reminder that the Sacrament of Confirmation takes place tonight at 5.30 pm in the Church. Everyone is welcome to come along and support the students on their special night.

My New Gallery

Positive Behaviour 4 Learning (PB4L)

Focus for Week 7:  I know how to treat others respectfully during outdoor games and remember that I have to keep my hands to myself.

 Weekly Focus Awards- Week 6: Congratulations to the following students who demonstrated our weekly PBS focus last week:

Ella Walters, Angus Wright - Year 2

                                                          Noah Schneider - Year 5

                                                          Rachel Ellis, Noah Laarhoven, Carter Dowd - Year 6

From the Wellbeing Team...

This week’s strength is HONESTY.
Honesty describes the strength of being authentic, trustworthy, and sincere. How good does it feel when you know that what someone says, or how they behave, is honest and authentic? 
Is honesty a particular strength that also belongs to you or someone close to you? Take a moment to acknowledge the strength of honesty in yourself and those around you, and consider how this strength enriches life for you and many others.

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. 

Sports News

Athletics Carnival

Our Athletics Carnival will take place on Friday 16th June at the Kyogle High School Oval (Soccer Ground). A compass event will be published shortly. Parental permission will need to be provided, as the event is outside school grounds. 

If you are available to assist in any capacity on the day, please nominate your preference within the compass event. 

Happy Birthday to You

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

10th June - Dominic Bennett

13th June - Ruby Wright

Student Awards - Term 2 Week 6

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

Kindergarten:- Annabelle Parker, Eli Wimble, Chloe Ellis

Year 1:- Kendrick Cameron-Keed, Igziah Anthony

Year 2:- Gloria Rogin, Raziel Aquilina

Year 3:- Shekinah Howes, Alyanna Clark, Caden Brown

Year 4:- Adam Bryant, Elsie Laarhoven, Jacqui Smith

Year 5:- Hannah Kennelly

Year 6:-  Tess Cannington, Syra Halt

Principal's Awards:- Blaire Lucas, Mabel Standfield

Upcoming Dates

June

12th - King's Birthday Public Holiday

16th - School Athletics Carnival

29th - Applications for Kindergarten 2024 due