Newsletter Term 3 Week 4 (Wednesday 9 August 2023)

Our Front Page with Year 2

Year 2 have been exploring the place value of larger numbers. They have been finding different ways to organise and represent numbers using concrete and interactive materials. Here are some examples of the amazing work they have been doing. 

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Our Gospel Reflection

This Sunday our Gospel reading comes from Matthew and it is at this stage that different groups are beginning to line up for or against Jesus. The Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes do not trust him. The disciples still follow Jesus, but they do not yet understand who he really is. In chapters 14 - 17, through several signs and wonders, the true identity of Jesus is revealed to the disciples. Peter in particular is being preparedfor his role as leader.

Of the 4 gospels, only Matthew includes the story of Peter's walking on the water. If you have gottenacquainted with Peter, it will not surprise you that he was willing to take the risk. But why does Peter start to sink? When he is focused on Jesus, everything is fine. It is when he takes his eyes off Jesus, noticing the fierce wind, that he begins to sink.

Jesus invites you to risk a relationship with him. You have to step out in faith, maybe leaving some old ways of life behind. Learn from Peter to keep your focus on Jesus. As the disciplease learned, this is no ordinary man but the Son of God! Following Jesus might get scary or difficult at times, but all great adventures involve some risk.

From Our Principal

Feast of St Mary of the Cross

Yesterday, Tuesday the 8th August we celebrated the feast of Australia’s first saint, St Mary MacKillop. Many of you are very familiar with the story of Mary MacKillop and the amazing qualities she demonstrated to the people of her era. 

The life of St Mary MacKillop is as significant today as it was to the people of her time. She taught us that life is precious and the impact we can have on our world is in essence only brief. Using her wise words, ‘We are but travellers here’, let us work together to make a positive impact on those around us each and every day.

Outside School Hours Care

For many years now when I have been conducting enrolment interviews, many families have asked about Before and After School Care. This has even resulted in families not enrolling due to the fact that we cannot offer this service. NOT ANY MORE!!!!

I am so pleased to announce that we now have access to Rainbow Region Kids Outside School Hours Childcare. This will be run from the Kyogle Public School Hall and offer before school care (6:45am to 8:45am) and after school care (3pm to 6pm). Staff of Rainbow Region Kids will drop the students to school in the morning and a teacher will accompany them to the KPS Hall for handover to RRK in the afternoon. 

Please refer to the leaflet below. This is an old leaflet and new ones are being printed indicating Kyogle as a centre for before and after school care. For enrolment forms or any further information please do not hesitate to contact Rainbow Region Kids on 6621 7397, emailing rrkassist@nrcg.org.au or visiting their website www.nrcg.org.au

2023 NAPLAN Results

Last week, parents and carers of students in Year 3 and Year 5 received their child's 2023 NAPLAN results. The NAPLAN assessments were completed earlier than usual in 2023, taking place in March rather than the usual date in May. The purpose for the earlier assessment time was to allow teachers a greater opportunity to use the data from these assessments to inform teaching and learning practices for the remainder of the year. 

In reality, the NAPLAN data collected in Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar & Punctuation and Numeracy forms just one aspect of our school's greater data profiling. We correlate the NAPLAN data with other ongoing summative assessments conducted throughout the year, plus a wide range of formative assessments conducted in class. All of this data combined contributes to our planning and implementation of targeted teaching and learning activities for your child. Whilst it is good to be able to draw reference to state and national averages, it is not the only form of tracking student achievement utilised at St Brigid's.

This year, the NAPLAN assessment reporting system has changed. Student achievement in the past has been presented in bands - either working above, at or below age expected levels. This year, the achievement scale is represented in four categories; Exceeding, Strong, Developing and Needs Additional Support. 

A high percentage of our students received scores in the Exceeding or Strong categories in 2023 in both Year 3 and Year 5. In terms of specific assessments, our Year 3 and Year 5 Writing data reflects very well in regards to the percentage of children in the top two achievement categories, with 83% (Year 3) and 75% (Year 5) of our students receiving Exceeding or Strong results. In every other category across both year groups, more than 65% of our students were placed in the top two achievement categories. 

We encourage parents and carers to reach out if you have any questions in regards to your child's specific NAPLAN data. 

2024 Term Dates

For those wishing to plan ahead please note the Term dates for next year:-

Term 1 – Tuesday 30 January to Friday 12 April
2024 Easter Break: Good Friday 29 March to Easter Monday 1 April
School holidays – Monday 15 April to Friday 26 April

Term 2 – Monday 29 April to Friday 5 July
School holidays – Monday 8 July to Friday 19 July

Term 3 – Monday 22 July to Friday 27 September
School holidays – Monday 30 September to Friday 11 October

Term 4 – Monday 14 October to Friday 20 December
School holidays – Monday 23 December to Thursday 30 January 2025
Final day of 2024 school year for students is Wednesday 18th December.

Dates for our Maths Assessment Interviews at the start of the school year and Professional Learning Days throughout the year will be advised when they have been agreed upon. There will be eight (8) Professional Learning days which have been allocated for all schools in 2024. This includes the two (2) additional days for curriculum implementation of the new Curriculum for Years 3 to 6. Please note htat Thursday 19th and Friday 20th December are included as a part of the 8 Professional Learning Days for 2024.

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 2 for the very first time this year with a weekly attendance average of 93.7%. 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 (97.6%), Year 6 (92.7%), Year 2 (90.4%)

Week 3: 87.5% - Year 2 (93.7%), Year 3 (93.4%), Year 6 (90.1%)

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

ICAS Assessments 

Over 10 million school students from 16,000 schools across 41 countries have been inspired, celebrated and challenged since the annual event began over 40 years ago.

This week we begin the ICAS Assessment in Writing and Digital Technologies at St Brigid's. Students who have registered through the online parent portal will complete these assessments over the coming weeks. Below is the assessment window for all the different disciplines.

Writing & Digital Technologies     7th-11th August

English    14th-18th August

Science & Spelling Bee   21st-25th August

Mathematics    28th-1st September

ICAS recognises academic performance in a way others celebrate achievements in sport or the arts. The questions are engaging and fun and have been designed by psychometricians, education measurement experts and experienced teachers to push students to their academic limits, as well as test higher-order thinking and problem-solving abilities. Results will be released later in the year along with certificates. 

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. We have had two groups so far visit the residents and enjoyed a game of golf. Students then assisted with handing out afternoon tea. Another group of students will visit next Friday. 

Feast of the Assumption of Mary Mass 

The Feast of the Assumption of Mary is Tuesday 15th of August, this holy day marks the occasion of the Virgin Mary’s bodily ascent to heaven at the end of her life. The school community is warmly invited to our school Mass to celebrate Feast of the Assumption of Mary at 12pm in Our Lady of Sorrows Church. Our mass will be led by Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett whilst Fr Erick is away on his annual holidays.

Emma Davis                                                                                                                                                                                                  Acting Assistant Principal Mission

From the Wellbeing Team...

This week’s strength is BRAVERY.
Bravery describes the strength of speaking up for what’s right and not shrinking from fear. Being brave does not have to be expressed in extraordinary feats of courage or strength. Rather, bravery is about facing up to our challenges, threats and difficulties. Being brave is to value a conviction or goal and act upon it, whether this is a popular choice or not.
Brave people face up to, rather than avoid, their fears.

Is Bravery a particular strength that belongs to you or to someone close to you? Take a moment to
acknowledge the strength of Bravery 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 4:  I know how to speak and treat my teachers and friends respectfully.

Before & After School Care Kyogle

We are so grateful to have Rainbow Region Kids conducting Before & After School care at Kyogle Public School. Their hours of operation are 7am-9am and 3pm-6pm. Educators/Teachers will walk children between care and School. If you wish to enquire about this fantastic service please contact them on 66217397 or email rrkassist@nrcg.org.au  

Sports News

This Friday 11th August, our Stage 3 students will be spread across 2 different locations to participate in a sports Gala day. The Compass event with all information, costing and permission has been sent out to families; please action this ASAP for your child’s attendance. 

Students will be taking part in a Soccer Gala Day at Thistles Ground and accompanied by Mrs Myers and Mr Hunter. The rest of Stage 3 will be taking part in a MultiSports Skills Day at Hepburn Park and will be accompanied by Miss Macdonald and Mrs Griffiths.

All students are to be in sports uniform and at school ready to catch the bus which will be leaving at 8:20am. They will need to bring hats, water bottles and food for the day. Any further information, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Love at school. 

Parent Assembly News

Family Faith Retreat

The Catholic Schools Office Parent Assembly Team will be facilitating a retreat for parents and families on Saturday and Sunday 9th & 10th September. The retreat is held at Tyalgum Ridge Retreat Centre and is open to all families with children in Catholic schools in the Diocese of Lismore. The retreat is fully funded by the Catholic Schools Office and is a terrific opportunity for families to connect with each other and to enliven their faith lives. Please see the flyer below with details for registering.

Online Webinar

The Diocese of Lismore Parent Assembly is advertising the upcoming webinar hosted by the NSW Council of Catholic Schools Parents in collaboration with eSafety as noted on flyer below. The Online relationships and consent: Sending nudes and sexting will be held on 15 August 2023. This 30-minute webinar is designed for parents and carers of young people in secondary school.

It will cover:

• the impact of sharing nude images without consent.
• practical suggestions for starting the chat about respectful relationships, consent and pressure to send nudes.
• where to get support for a young person who has experienced abuse.
• the impact of sharing nude images without consent.
  

Happy Birthday to You

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

August

12th - Djalai Charles

16th - Jahlissa McCormick

17th - William Argall

Upcoming Dates

August

11th -  Multi-sports Day Stage 3

24th - Book Week Parade

September

21st - Last day of term for students

22nd - Staff Development Day / Pupil Free Day