Newsletter Term 3 Week 2 (Wednesday 26 July 2023)
Our Front Page with NAIDOC
Last Thursday we welcomed Vera Walker and Sheli Nagas into our school for our NAIDOC Liturgy. Thank you to Alethia Walker who made a delicious kangaroo gravy for the students to try, and Sam Ford who joined our students for indigenous themed arts and crafts. As you can see the students had a wonderful time face painting, making beaded bracelets and sketching indigenous symbols on scratch pads.
Our Gospel Reflection
Sunday’s Gospel concludes three weeks of readings from the 13th Chapter of Matthew’s Gospel. Throughout these three weeks we have heard Jesus teaching crowds about the kingdom of heaven, and we have heard Jesus interpret some of his teachings for the disciples. In this week’s Gospel, Jesus offers three more short parables.
The first two parables describe the great value of the kingdom of heaven. In the first parable, Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven is like a buried treasure that is worth possessing even if it means giving up everything else. In the second parable, Jesus proposes that the kingdom of heaven is like a pearl of great worth for which one will sell everything else to possess. These parables teach us that we are to place everything we value in the service of the pursuit of the Kingdom of God.
The third parable that Jesus proposes in Sunday’s Gospel is different from the first two, but it is reminiscent of the parable of the sower heard in last week’s Gospel. The kingdom of heaven is compared to fishing with a wide net. After the fish have been collected, the good fish are kept and the bad fish are thrown away; so too, in the final judgment, will the wicked and the righteous be separated.
Sunday’s Gospel concludes with a curious statement about the scribe who understands the kingdom of heaven. Here a metaphor is offered: this scribe is like the head of a household who “brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.” The scribes referred to here are experts of Mosaic law. It is possible that Jesus is here instructing the early Christian community on how to proceed in the interpretation of Jewish law with respect to Jesus’ “new” teaching. Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom of heaven does not replace the Jewish tradition; it interprets it in a different light.
Like the person who found the buried treasure and the merchant who acquired the pearl of great price, we seek to find the signs of the kingdom of heaven in our lives. In fact, we even work to bring about God’s kingdom in our actions and in our words. We pray that our family values reflect our pursuit of the kingdom of heaven. As Jesus’ disciples, we place everything we value in the service of the pursuit of the Kingdom of God.
As you gather as a family, talk about what your family values. Make a list together of those things that your family considers most important, such as family, friends, faith, trust, and love. Place this list before you as you read Sunday’s Gospel in its shorter form, Matthew 13:44-46. In these parables, Jesus teaches us that it is worth giving up even valuable things in order to possess the kingdom of heaven. Look at the list your family made and talk about how these things are important to the kingdom of heaven. What has your family given up to make these values important in your life? As Jesus’ disciples, we place everything we value in the service of the pursuit of the Kingdom of God. Pray together for God’s kingdom by praying the Lord’s Prayer.
From Our Principal
Dear Families of St Brigid's,
I am currently on leave this week following some minor surgery on my knee. It is very disappointing for this to take place this week as I have missed our school celebrations and acknowledgement of Grandparents Day. I just cannot express how much I love this day in the Church's liturgical year, when we honour the grandparents of Jesus, Saints Joachim and Anne. We celebrate Mother's Day and Father's Day, and Grandparent's Day is right up there in importance as we acknowledge and pay tribute to these special people. Being a grandparent myself, I can appreciate the importance of this day and how much love and joy that the gift of my grandchildren bring to the lives of my wife Helen and I.
100 Days of Kindergarten
This Thursday 27th of July we congratulate the students and staff of our Kindergarten class as they celebrate their first 100 days of school. The Kindergarten students and staff will be coming dressed as an ‘older person’, to highlight the fact that 6 is by far a smaller number than 60 or 70. There will be a gathering with students and their parents in the evening from 5.30pm - 7pm which will acknowledge this milestone and include games and a shared dinner.
The Kindergarten children are also collecting non-perishable food items that will be delivered to the Kyogle Food Bank. The goal is to reach 100 items to donate by this Friday. All members of our school community are kindly invited to add to this very important collection.
Stage 2 Camp to Tallebudgera
It will be a wonderful experience for our students in Years 3 and 4 as they head off next Monday for their camp at Tallebudgera Sport and Recreation Centre. 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 of Tallebudgera have planned for them. Wishing all a terrific time away and looking forward to sharing the photos that capture the experiences.
2024 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 their enrolment applications in now!
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 or Mrs Campbell in our School Office, 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
As we start the new term we will continue to promote the importance of student attendance at school. Year 3 were awarded the Stars of the Week for their attendance average of 97.6%. A very positive start to the term with three classes all registering attendance average above 90%.
Remember our whole school goal is 90%. The whole school average weekly attendance for this term is as follows:
Week 1: 89.6% - Year 3 (97.6%), Year 6 (93.6%), Year 1 (91.8%)
Assistant Principal News - Learning
NAPLAN RESULTS - Students in Year 3 & 5 will take home their Naplan Report in a sealed envelope tomorrow. The report will show four proficiency standards (Needs Additional Support, Developing, Strong and Exceeding) that are used across Numeracy, Reading, Writing, Spelling and Grammar & Punctuation. These proficiency standards describe what students are expected to know and should be able to do in Literacy & Numeracy at the time of NAPLAN. Please note there has been no change in what NAPLAN assesses, just the way in which it is reported.
If you have any further questions, please contact your child's teacher. Your child's teacher can provide insight int0 how your child's NAPLAN result relates to their other school-based assessments and classroom learning, and any additional support your child might require.
FORUM MEETING - The meeting scheduled for next Tuesday has been postponed until 29th August at 3.30pm in the library. All parents are most welcome to attend these Forum meetings.
Vanessa Walters Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching
Positive Behaviour 4 Learning (PB4L)
Focus for Week 2: I know I can make choices about the games I play at recess and lunch and that there are teachers on duty who can help me.
From the Wellbeing Team...
This week’s strength is HUMILITY.
Humility describes the strength of being modest and of letting one’s accomplishments speak for themselves. Humility is the opposite of bragging and showing off. Is Humility a particular strength that belongs to you or to someone close to you? Take a moment to acknowledge the strength of Humility in yourself and those around you, and consider how it enriches life for you and your friends and family.
Sports News
This Thursday 27th July, 36 students will be representing St Brigid’s Primary School at the Richmond Zone Athletics Carnival which will be held at St John’s College, Woodlawn. The bus will depart school at 8:15am sharp and will return in time for the school buses in the afternoon. Emma Davis, Kylie Myers and myself will be accompanying the students to the carnival for the day. Any student that will be travelling by private transport will need to email me at leanne.love@lism.catholic.edu.au to let me know of their arrangements.
All students are to wear their full sports uniform and will receive a shirt to compete in on the day, these will be handed back to the teachers when finished competing. Please pack a lunch box, water bottle and hat. There will be a canteen available on the day.
It is important that all 1500m students are at the venue 20 minutes before their event. The organisers will not be holding the races for students who are not there and we will not be allowing them to run at a later time.
8:30am - Jnr Girls
8:40am - Jnr Boys
8:50am - 11yrs Girls
9:00am - 11yrs Boys
9:10am - Snr Girls
9:20am - Snr Boys
We wish all the students the best for Thursday
Yours in sport
Lee Love
Social Futures - Family Connect
Welcome to Jessie Moulynox, who has recently joined the team as the Social Futures - Family Connect Program worker.
Jessie is from The New England region of NSW and moved to the Northern Rivers in 2016. Jessie studied Theology and Social Work and has worked in the community services sector for 14 years in rural and remote NSW communities.
Happy Birthday to You
Wishing the following children all the very best for their special day this week and over the school holidays:
July
27th - Braith Roberts / Noah Schneider
28th - Brett Argall
31st - Caius Dowd
August
1st - Eloise Stephenson
Upcoming Dates
July
27th - Zone Athletics
31st - Stage 2 Camp Tallebudgera
August
11th - Year 3 Showcase @ 2.15pm