Newsletter Term 3 Week 3 (Wednesday 2 August 2023)

Our Front Page with Stage 2

Stage 2 have had a wonderful time at the Gold Coast Sport and Recreation Centre - Tallebudgera.  We are sure they will all sleep very well tonight. See you all at school tomorrow, we can't wait to hear about your adventures!.

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Our Gospel Reflection

This Sunday's Gospel invites us to celebrate the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. This feast calls to our attention the importance of this event in Jesus’ life, further affirmed by its report in each of the Synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. In Cycle A, the reading for this feast is taken from the Gospel of Matthew. The Transfiguration occurs after Peter confesses his belief that Jesus is the Messiah and after Jesus predicts his Passion. In each of these Gospels, a discussion of the cost of discipleship precedes the Transfiguration.

Every family has special moments that they remember and share. In sharing these stories, the meaning and importance of the events develops and deepens over time. This is how it was with the disciples’ remembrance of Jesus’ Transfiguration. The full significance of what they had seen and experienced could only be understood after Jesus’ Death and Resurrection. As Peter, James, and John reflected on the event and told other believers about the Transfiguration, their own faith deepened. Because Matthew, Mark, and Luke recorded the account of the Transfiguration in their writings, we too can deepen our faith in Jesus, the Son of God and our Savior.

Gather as a family and think about some special memories that your family recalls over and over again. Talk about why these moments are important to you. Remember that in the Bible we find many important stories about Jesus. They have been recorded so that we too can learn about him and his teachings, so that we too can come to know and love Jesus, God’s beloved Son. Read Sunday’s Gospel, Matthew 17:1–9. Discuss as a family how Jesus fulfills the promises that God made to Israel and how God glorified Jesus after the Resurrection. Talk about your family and the promises you have made to one another. Conclude by praying together the Lord’s Prayer so that as a family you continue to grow in faithfulness to one another and to your heavenly Father.

From Our Principal

This week I have had the wonderful opportunity of joining with Mrs Jansen, Mrs Schneider and Stacey Newman accompanying the students of Stage 2 on their Camp to Tallebudgera. The students have had a wonderful 2 night camp, experiencing the facilities and activities that the Tallebudgera Sport and Recreation Centre have to offer. 

One of the most pleasing things to witness is the way in which the students stepped out of their comfort zones to participate in activities that they have not experienced previously. To see students conquer fears on the rock climbing wall, scale the high ropes course and experience the giant swing amongst a myriad of high pitched screaming and yelling was just fantastic. It is great to see the children having a go and the excitement and exhiliration they feel when they have achieved something they thought may have been beyond their young age.

The staff and facilities of Tallebudgera are exceptional and it has been so good to hear the students whinging and whining that they wish they could stay at camp all week. No-one can complain that they have gone hungry as the meals and snacks prepared for us are delicious. The only complaint is that there is too much food, though better to have this complaint than the alternative where there is not enough. I can honestly tell you that getting the children off to sleep didn't take as long on Tuesday night as it did on Monday night. I dare say that all who attended the camp will sleep well on Wednesday night and arrive at school discussing and recalling the many positive experiences of their Stage 2 Camp on Thursday. 

Staff Development Day

A reminder and as per our Term 3 calendar, this Monday the 7th of August will be a Professional  Development Day for the staff of St Brigid's. In other words it is a Pupil Free Day as staff of our school continue to work on the improvement of student writing in our school through our Learning Collaborative initiative. A reminder that the next Staff Development Day will be Friday 22nd September which is also the last day of Term 3.

School Attendance

Our School Annual Improvement Plan includes strategies for improving school attendance for our students. The CSO sets an aspirational goal that 90% of our students attend school 90% of the time. In order to reach this goal, 90% attendance is an average of one school day away every fortnight, or five school days per term. We know that low attendance rates impact negatively on student achievement in the classroom. However, we also know that it is a balancing act in terms of keeping your child at home if they are unwell. This makes it all the more important to encourage your child to attend school when they are well and able. Having days at home unnecessarily will have a negative impact on your child's learning. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like some help in devising a plan to support your child's attendance at school. 

Stars of the Week

The Stars of the Week is 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 97.6%. It was wonderful to see that there were three classes who each achieved higher than our school target of 90%. Keep up the great work everyone and thanks so much to families for the way in which you are encouraging your children to attend school.

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%)  

Week 2: 87% - Year 3 (%), Year 6 (92.7%), Year 2 (90.4%)

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

Public Speaking & Poetry Competition

This term we will be offering a Public Speaking & Poetry competition starting at a school level. Students will be supported by having poems provided to them so they can practise their poem at home as part of their reading homework. Speeches can be written at school or home and topics can be chosen by students.  Kindergarten and Stage 1 will only be involved with the poetry and students in Stage 2 and 3 can choose whether to do public speaking or poetry or enter both. Classes will hold their own competition in their rooms with finalists competing at a school level on Thursday 7th September in our parish hall.

The finalists from our school competition will then compete in the Zone Finals which will be held at St. Carthage's in Lismore on Friday 15th September. Our school finalists will also be invited to compete in a Kyogle final at the Kyogle Show on Saturday 7th October. I am coordinating the finals in Kyogle at the annual show and can be contacted if you have any questions.

Please encourage your children to have a go within the classroom at poetry or public speaking as it is an important life skill to develop.

Vanessa Walters                                                                                                                                                                              Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching

Assistant Principal News - Mission

Mini Vinnies Acts of Mercy

This term Mini Vinnies members of Stage 2 and 3 will be participating in fortnightly visits to Whiddon Care, Kyogle as a part of their Acts of Mercy. Last Friday the first groups of students visited the residents and enjoyed a game of golf. Students then assisted with handing out afternoon tea. Another group of students will visit this Friday. 

Grandparents Day Celebrations

Thank you to all the grandparents, parents and families who attended our Grandparents Day Celebration. It was wonderful to see so many in attendance and I know students were appreciative of those who were able to attend. Students also enjoyed browsing and purchasing at the bookfair. 

Mary Mackillop Feast Day

Mary Mackillop is Australia's first and only saint. MacKillop died in Sydney on August 8, 1909. She was canonised as Saint Mary of the Cross on October 17, 2010. Together with Julian Tenison-Woods, she founded Australia's first religious order, Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart (the Josephites).  The Josephites were a congregation of religious sisters that established a number of schools and welfare institutions throughout Australia and New Zealand, with an emphasis on education for the rural poor.  

St Brigid’s will celebrate the feast day of Mary Mackillop with a liturgy on her feast day. The school community is warmly invited to attend our liturgy at 12:20pm in the Hall. 

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World Youth Day News - Miss Bugden

Ola’ from Portugal! 

World Youth Day has officially commenced with opening mass in Lisbon today. After journeying through Madrid, Burgos, Avila and Salamanca I arrived in Portugal yesterday. Over the past week or so I have been so very fortunate to celebrate mass each day in some absolutely amazing Cathedrals, churches and chapels. I’ve gotten to know my fellow pilgrams and shared reflections, learnings, God moments and prayer intentions with them. 

Today we had our Australian gathering where we sung, prayed and danced. Our Lismore Diocese was well represented in this event with two of our pilgrams being the MCs for the event and another leading the Rosary. Fr Rob Galea performed and he sang a St Brigid’s favourite- My Lighthouse. This event got us all really excited for the week ahead. 

Tonight we had our commencing mass in Lisbon. The crowds were HUGE and it was a wonderful sight to see people from all over the world celebrating mass and uniting as one Church. The students, their families and staff of St Brigid’s are in my daily prayers and I can’t wait to share more about my experience when I return. 

Have a great day!

 Miss Bugden

From the Wellbeing Team...

This week’s strength is FAIRNESS.
Fairness describes the strength of being just and of not letting our feelings bias our decisions about others. We might display fairness by following the rules when we play games, by treating others in the way
in which we would like to be treated, or by being charitable and kind in how we think or talk about the people in our lives.

Is Fairness a particular strength that belongs to you or to someone close to you? Take a moment to
acknowledge the strength of Fairness in yourself and those around you, and consider how it
enriches life for you and your friends and family.

Positive Behaviour 4 Learning (PB4L)

Focus for Week 3:  I know how to be self-responsible and follow the safety rule in my classroom and out on the playground.

Sports News

Last Thursday Miss Davis, Mrs Myers and myself took 37 students to Richmond Zone Athletics held at Woodlawn College Lismore.The weather was amazing, the carnival ran smoothly and all students did an amazing job representing St Brigid’s Primary School.

On the day we had the following students make the finals in the following events.

Elliarna Devenish in the 100m dash finishing in 8th position overall, Peyhton Bateman in the 100m dash finishing in 4th position overall. Hannah Kennelly in the 200m finishing in 8th overall and Normy Presbury in the 100m dash finishing 8th overall. All other results for the day are in the attachment provided.

A big congratulations to Beau Dever who finished in 2nd place in the 11yrs shot put and will now represent at Diocese level in Coffs Harbour later this term. Best of luck Beau.

Thanks again to all students for your amazing efforts on the day.

Yours in sport

Lee Love

Library News

Last Wednesday we celebrated Grand Parents day and held our annual Scholastic Book Fair. Thankyou to all families that came along and that purchased books for either their own children, Grand children or a donation to our library. These purchases are greatly appreciated and will help our amazing little library make some new purchases for all of our students to enjoy.

Keep reading,

Steph and Lee 

Happy Birthday to You

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

August

3rd - Niarah Walker

4th - Chelsea Hyde

6th - Zhepplin Fear

7th - Eamon McCormack

Upcoming Dates

August

7th - Staff Development Day / Pupil Free Day

11th - Multi-sports Day Stage 3

September

21st - Last day of term for students

22nd - Staff Development Day / Pupil Free Day