Newsletter Term 1 Week 4 (Wednesday 21st February 2024)

Our Front Page with 6

Year 6 have had a very busy start to the year. We have been learning about reading with fluency and expression, analysing characters in texts and writing narratives with effective orientations. In Mathematics, we have been learning to read, write and organise really large (billions) and really small numbers (decimals). We have been inquiring about prayer and looking at Australia's history from 1901. We are enjoying being leaders and taking on the roles required of our Area of Responsibility within the school. 

Our Gospel Reflection

On the second Sunday of Lent in each Lectionary cycle, the Gospel reading proclaims the story of Jesus’ Transfiguration. This event is reported in each of the Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This year, in Lectionary Cycle B, we hear Mark’s report of this event.

In each case, Jesus takes three of his disciples—Peter, James, and John—to a high mountain. While they are there, Elijah and Moses appear with Jesus. Elijah and Moses are significant figures in the history of Israel. Moses led the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and received from Yahweh the Ten Commandments. In appearing with Jesus at his Transfiguration, Moses represents the Law that guides the lives of the Jewish people. Elijah is remembered as one of the most important prophets of Israel who helped the Israelites stay faithful to Yahweh. Some Jews believed that Elijah’s return would signal the coming of the Messiah for the Jewish people. This belief is evidenced in the question posed by Jesus’ disciples after they have witnessed the Transfiguration. The appearance of these two important figures from Israel’s history with Jesus signifies Jesus’ continuity with the Law and with the prophets and that Jesus is the fulfillment of all that was promised to the people of Israel.

Every family has special moments that they remember and share again and again. In sharing these stories, the meaning and importance of these events develop and deepen 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 they told other believers about this event and recorded the story for us in the Bible, our understanding of what it means to call Jesus God's own Son has also deepened.

As you gather as a family, think about some special family memories that your family tells over and over again. Talk about why these memories are important to you. Recall that in the Bible we find many important memories about Jesus that have been recorded for us so that we can believe that Jesus is God’s Son. Read Sunday’s Gospel, Mark 9:2-10. What do we learn about Jesus from this Gospel? (He fulfills the promises God made to Israel through the Law and the prophets. God glorified Jesus in his Resurrection. Jesus is God’s Son.) Conclude in prayer together that as we continue to read the Bible, we will deepen our understanding of and our love for Jesus. Pray together the Lord’s Prayer.

From Our Principal

On Tuesday at our Opening School Liturgy in Our Lady of Sorrows Church, we joined together as a Catholic community in prayer to both mark the commencement of another school year and to commission our new Year 6 Leaders and Student Representative Council.  Many thanks to all those families who were able to join with us on this special day. Thanks also to Mrs Shedden for her work in preparing our Liturgy.

We wish all of our 2024 Leaders all the very best as they fulfil the role and responsibilities bestowed upon them by their peers. Our Year 6 students have already demonstrated themselves to be fine leaders in the way they have commenced the new school year, the effort they are putting into their classwork and the amazing way they are setting an example to the rest of the school community.

Congratulations to our new leaders:-

•  School Captains - Belle Clarke and Parker Kennedy
  
• Colahan Sports Captains - Hannah Kennelly and Yari Howes
• Doyle Sports Captains - Brooklyn Stubbings and Carter Hudson
• Sutton Sports Captains - Indigo Dowd and Noah Schneider
• Year 2 SRC - Harlow Schneider and Raph Hudson
• Year 3 SRC - Frankie Lindsay and Angus Wright
• Year 4 SRC - Summer Duley and Byron Cameron-Keed
• Year 5 SRC - Jacqui Smith and Ayce Harley
• Year 6 SRC - Tahnesha Walker

Like your parents, we are very proud that you are leaders in our school and that you are here to support all students here at St Brigid's.

We also welcomed our newest students in Kindergarten and other students in other grades who have joined the St Brigid's Primary School community this year.

Pupil Free Day

A reminder to all families that next Friday the 1st of March is a Pupil Free Day for our school community. All of our staff will be joining with the staff of Our Lady Help of Christians, South Lismore to work with the recently retired Executive Director of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Sydney, Dr Dan White OAM. He has served on many Educational Authorities and in 2022 was the recipient of an Order of Australia medal for his services to education. We are very much looking forward to working with Dr Dan and how his work can support the learning of our students.

It is important to know that as we will be having this Professional Learning at Alstonville, there will be no-one at school on Monday. 

All Are Invited to Our Friday Awards Assemblies

A timely reminder that each Friday we hold our Weekly Awards and MJR Radio Assembly at 2:50pm in the Undercover Area. All parents and friends are kindly invited to this very informal presentation before we end our school week. This Assembly is held each and every Friday except if there is a Showcase Presentation when it will be held in the Parish Hall.

Have a wonderful week ahead,

Tony

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Assistant Principal News- Mission

PARISH FAMILY MASS:

This Sunday, 25th February is our Parish Family Mass at 9.00 am. All students K-6 and their families are encouraged to join us. There will be a Children's Liturgy where younger students can hear the Gospel story in a child friendly way. Celebrating mass is an important aspect of faith formation for the students, teachers and families of our school community. We look forward to seeing you all there. 

ANDREW CHINN CONCERT: 

We are very excited to have Andrew Chinn here at St Brigid's on Thursday, March 14. Andrew Chinn is an Australian religious songwriter and singer. Students will spend the day in small workshops with Andrew and we will finish the day with a whole school concert. The concert will take place in the school hall from 1.50 -2.50 pm. We invite parents, grandparents and younger siblings to join in the fun. 

Kelli-Ann Shedden 

Assistant Principal, Mission. 

Stars of the Week

One of our school goals this year is to have an average weekly attendace of 90% and above. The class with the best average each week receives the “Stars of the Week” trophy and certificate to display in their classroom.

Last week the class with the best average attendance was Year 6 with 95.5%. A fantastic effort from the leaders of our school and augers well for a great start to their last year of primary school. The whole school average was 89.7%. 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 2: 91.1% - Kindergarten (98.3%), Year 3 (96.4%), Year 1 (94.5%) 

Week 3: 89.7% - Year 6 (95.5%), Year 1 (93.3%), Year 4 (92.9%) 

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

Attendance Matters

Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school and themselves. Ensuring that students arrive at school on time every day is crucial for their academic success and wellbeing. Parents play a crucial role in instilling the importance of punctuality in their children. Here are some strategies for parents to make getting students to school on time every day a top priority:

• Establish a Consistent Routine. Set a daily routine that includes specific times for waking up, getting ready, having breakfast, and leaving for school. Consistency helps children develop good habits.
• Model Punctuality. Children often learn by example. Demonstrate the importance of punctuality by being on time for family events, appointments, and other commitments. 
• Limit or Have No Screen Time in the Morning. Minimise distractions such as excessive screen time in the morning. This helps your child stay focused on getting ready for school without unnecessary delays.

From the Wellbeing Team

The Power of Mindfulness

Why is everyone talking about mindfulness? And what exactly is it?

The Greater Good Science Centre* describes Mindfulness as the ability to maintain “moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment”. Basically, being present in the here and now.

But what does being mindful do for us?

Mindfulness has been studied a lot, and research suggests that it is beneficial for a host of different reasons, among them:

• Reducing anxiety, depression and stress
• Improving attention, focus, creativity and memory
• Reducing addictive and/or self-destructive behaviours
• Improving mood, physical stamina and resilience

Meditation is a great way to help us become more mindful. But we don’t need to sit in a challenging cross-legged position on a hard floor for hours on end to meditate. In fact, meditation can be done in many different ways.

A nice way to try meditation with family or friends is with the guided Chocolate Meditation by the mindfulness experts at www.franticworld.com

Reconnecting with our senses is one of the core benefits of practicing mindfulness. And what better sense to reconnect with than the sense of taste!

Visit the following link for a five-minute Chocolate Meditation, led by Professor Mark Williams** from Frantic World (make sure you have a small piece of chocolate or a wrapped chocolate for each participant):

https://franticworld.com/free-meditations-from-mindfulness/

* The Greater Good Science Centre studies the psychology, sociology, and neuroscience of wellbeing and is based at the University of California, in Berkeley, America.

** Oxford University professor Mark Williams is the co-author of Mindfulness: An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World (Harmony/Rodale, 2011).

The Wellbeing Team

School Community Forum News

It was really exciting to see some new faces at the Parent Forum Meeting yesterday, thankyou for coming along. 

Excitingly, the Forum adopted the long awaited, but much the same 'NEW' 'School Community Forum Constitution'. Basically, this document supersedes the 'Parish School Forums Manual' - together these documents relate to the decisions and governance over the relevant time periods as our constituting documents. 
The Constitution document outlines the purpose, requirements and rules as governed by the Catholic Schools Office, The Diocese of Lismore and other regulatory bodies such as the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and the Australian Taxation Officer (ATO).  

SCHOOL COMMUNITY FORUM CONSTITUTION

Importantly, the School Community Forum will be seeking nominations to fill all available roles at our Annual General Meeting (AGM), held in the School Library on Tuesday, 12 March 2024.
Please see attached nomination form for self nomination or if you think someone would be good for these roles, please have a conversation with them and encourage them to apply either through this form  SELF NOMINATION FORM or collecting a nomination form from the school office.

Regards

Claire Knight

Chairperson

Class Parents

Calling all enthusiastic parents! Are you ready to bring some extra fun and flair to your child's class? We're looking for energetic volunteers to become "Class Parents" and help make our school community even more vibrant! This role is all about building connections, organizing exciting events like park playdates, coffee mornings, and even parents' nights out. You'll be the go-to person for welcoming new families, celebrating special occasions, and fostering friendships among parents and kids alike. If you're keen to spread some joy and laughter, contact your child's teacher or Mrs. Kelly in the office to sign up. Let's make 2024 a year to remember!

Kindergarten:  Krystal White & _____________

Year 1: Belinda Grieve & ____________

Year 2: ___________ & _____________

Year 3: Natasha Allen & _____________

Year 4: ___________ & _____________

Year 5: ___________ & _____________

Year 6: ___________ & _____________

Student Awards Week 2

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

Kindergarten - Rickelle H, Khianne G, Silas W 

Year 1 - Leonardo H, Tessa S

Year 2 - Eliza K, Milla F 

Year 3 - Hamish L, Frankie L 

Year 4 - Caius D, Ruby H 

Year 5 - Elsie L, Alaska A

Year 6 - Kobi N, Parker K 

Principal Award - Elvii E, Lexie 

MJR Awards

MJR Weekly Focus Term 1 Week 3 & 4: Bucket fillers!

We can fill people’s bucket by saying hello, smiling at them and giving a helping hand. Jesus taught us to treat each other as we would like to be treated. It feels good when someone fills our bucket so let’s try fill other peoples buckets too.

Positive Behaviour 4 Learning (PB4L)

Term 1 Week 4 Focus: I use people’s names when I speak to them because Jesus knows each and everyone of us. 

Happy Birthday to You

Wishing the following children all the very best for their special day this coming week.

Upcoming Dates

February

22nd - Zone Winter Sports Trials Lismore (Soccer, Netball, League)

25th - Parish Family Mass and Morning Tea (2nd Sunday Lent)

27th - Incitare (Year 6)

March

1st  - Pupil Free Day - Staff Development 

4th - First Communion Parent Information Meeting 

Position vacant

Catholic Schools Office

The Catholic Schools Office (CSO) provides a range of services to support approximately 2,500 staff in 45 vibrant and dynamic Catholic school communities that serve more than 18,000 students. The CSO assists schools to build teaching and leadership capabilities in communities of professional educators who share responsibility for school improvement and for achieving the best outcomes for our students.

______________________________________________

Parent Assembly Coordinator

This position will be located in Lismore

Part time (3 days per week) position for a period of 12-months

Working school terms only, and not during school holidays

______________________________________________

The Rewards:

• Salary: Attractive salary dependent on skills and experience + 11% superannuation 
• Additional benefits: Access to salary packaging including vehicle leasing, laptop, mobile phone
• Working hours: 7-hour working day
• Flexibility: Achieve both work-life balance and the benefits of face-to-face collaboration with your peers with our hybrid working model 
• Staff wellbeing: An absolute focus on our peoples’ safety and wellbeing, and access to free counselling sessions through our Employee Assistance Program
• Growth: Learning and career development opportunities.

Work Requirements:

• hold a valid NSW Working with Children Check, or willingness to obtain
• a current/valid Australian Driver’s License and eligibility to work within Australia for the period of the appointment
• requirement to travel between locations.

Qualifications:

• High School Certificate, or equivalent.

Experience:

• Experience within a school system as either a staff member, or parent is preferable.

Key Capabilities:

• Committed Catholic who witnesses to Catholic beliefs and practices
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the Parent Assembly
• Demonstrated ability to lead and facilitate presentations and workshops
• Proficiency in computing skills and relevant software programs
• Proven ability to work collaboratively and independently
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality.

Plus the following general criteria:

• Knowledge of WHS and equity principles in the workplace
  
• Respect for the teachings of the Catholic Church and by conduct and lifestyle, ability to give witness to the Church’s mission.

Your cover letter must address the key capabilities listed above.  

Additional information:

• Position Description Position Description 
• Click this link for information on our Diocese and region.

Enquiries: recruitment@lism.catholic.edu.au

Applications close: 3.00pm, Thursday 29 February 2024.

  Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Limited is committed to creating Child Safe Schools

For identified child related roles, Child Protection legislation requires preferred candidates to hold a valid NSW WWCC

An equal opportunity employer

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Trinity Catholic College Open Night