Newsletter Term 2 Week 10 (Wednesday 2nd July 2025)
Celebrating NAIDOC Week at St Brigid’s!
This week, St Brigid’s came together as a community to celebrate NAIDOC Week 2025 — a special time to honour and recognise the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Throughout the week, students have been immersed in a rich array of cultural activities. Our front deck area was transformed into a vibrant and interactive space, decorated in Indigenous colours and filled with activities for all classes to explore. Students enjoyed face painting and traditional Indigenous games during lunchtime, adding to the fun and connection.
On Tuesday, we gathered for a meaningful student-led liturgy, followed by a day of hands-on cultural experiences including clay art, beading, boomerang painting, and pencil case decorating. The week ended on a delicious note with kangaroo stew and a beautifully decorated cake enjoyed by all.
A heartfelt thank you to Stacey, our Aboriginal Education Worker, Mrs Griffiths, and to all the students and families who contributed to making this a joyful and respectful celebration of culture and community.
Our Gospel Reflection
This gospel is often used to make a point about the need for vocations to priestly and religious life. Jesus makes the comment that ‘the harvest is rich but the labourers are few’. This image of labourers in the harvest is often applied to the work of priests and other religious vocations. However apt the image may be, when we read it in the context of the whole passage we can see that this sending out of the 72 was a general challenge to live out the call to discipleship – to go out into the world and bring about the kingdom. the disciple proclaims that true fulfilment is only found in God! In reality, it is the world that is upside down, not the life of discipleship. And it is the cross that sets things right.
From Our Acting Principal
We have had another wonderful week of celebrations with the Athletics Carnival, Parish Family Mass, One Night - One Stage Performance, NAIDOC Week and Rewards Day tomorrow to end our term. I would like to thank students, families and staff for your continued support throughout the term.
One Night, One Stage
Last Saturday night, the Kyogle community was treated to the talented performances by students from three dance studios; LACRO, McAuliffe School of Dance & Ascent Dance. I would like to thank the teachers of the dance schools and their students for performing to support the students from St. Brigid’s school with their Wakakirri journey.
This night would not have been possible with the organisation from Ali Goldthorpe who was also supported by Hayley Catlin and many of our parents who sold drinks, food, raffle tickets or helped backstage. Another shout out is needed to Dave’s Bakehouse and Statik Disco for their donations towards this event. We are so very blessed to be within such a supportive community. Thank you all so much!
Athletics Carnival
The Athletics Carnival last Thursday was a fantastic day of school spirit and friendly competition. It was so lovely to see so many families enjoying the time in the sunshine with their children and other families. A huge thank you to Mrs Hayley Catlin for organising the carnival along with the students and staff from Trinity who supported with time keeping and the running of events throughout the day. Results are below in the Sports News.
Semester One Reports
Our Semester 1 Academic Reports were released to families last Thursday 26th of June. I would like to acknowledge the significant work of our teachers to assess and compile these reports. To provide clarity for our parents on the nature of the reports, a document outlining how to understand report grades and the changes to the reports was added as an attachment within the Compass notification last week.
3 Way Conferences
Our 3 Way Conferences involving parents/carer, student and teacher will be held in Week 3 of Term 3. Your child's attendance at these meetings is encouraged. It is an opportunity to share successes and engage in discussions about the students' improvement in learning. This active involvement is a key part of making these conversations productive and meaningful. Bookings will be open from Thursday 3rd July from 3.30pm.
Term 3 Calendar
A hard copy calendar outlining all of the important dates for Term 3 will be sent home tomorrow with all children. Please place it in a prominent place in your home and refer to and to it as we move through the third term. Please note the change of date for Grandparents Day as we had a clash with the Zone Athletics. This document is correct at the time of printing and there could be some slight changes as we move through the term.
School Uniform
With holidays approaching, some families will be looking to freshen up haircuts, uniforms or perhaps even school shoes. Please remember that any new school shoes purchased should be an all black soft polishable leather or leather like.
We appreciate your support in helping your child understand the importance of wearing their uniform with pride.
A friendly reminder that the students will finish Term 2, on Thursday 3rd July (tomorrow) as staff are participating in the Bishop's Reflection Module’s on Friday.
I wish you all the very best for a restful holiday with your children and I look forward to having students return to school on Monday 21st July.
Vanessa Walters,
Acting Principal.
Assistant Principal - Mission
Family Parish Mass
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Family Parish Vigil Mass on Saturday evening. It was so lovely to see families come together in faith and community. Sharing a warm pizza dinner afterwards made it even more special, a perfect way to end a winter evening!
Courtney Hyde,
Assistant Principal - Mission
Wellbeing Team
Holiday Fun Time!
School’s out, and the holidays are in! That means it’s time to have fun, explore, and try new things. Whether you’re at home, at the beach, or visiting grandma, here are some awesome ideas to make your holiday AMAZING⚡:
Outdoor Adventures
Go on a backyard safari! Pretend you're an explorer finding rare bugs, magical rocks, or even dinosaur bones (aka cool sticks). Build a fort or a fairy house. If you're near a park or a forest, take a nature walk and collect leaves or pinecones!
Get Crafty
Rainy day? No problem! Grab paper, glue, glitter, and whatever you can find and start creating. Try making holiday cards, puppets, or even your own board game. Bonus points if you can invent a crazy holiday monster!
Mini Movie Day
Make popcorn, build a pillow fort, and have your own movie marathon. Pick a theme: superheroes, animals, cartoons—or mix it up! You could even put on your own play or film a silly skit with your brothers, sisters or friends.
Kitchen Fun
Ask a grown-up to help you bake cookies, cake, make funny-faced pancakes, or try your hand at homemade pizza. Taste-testing is the best part! (Just don’t forget to help clean up.)
Book and Blanket Time
Grab a cozy blanket, a snack, and dive into a good book. Try a mystery, a fantasy adventure, or something that makes you laugh out loud. Reading is like time travel—no passport needed! You are never the same person after you have read a good book!
Game On!
Play board games, card games, or invent your own games. Try “backwards day” where everything you do is in reverse, or challenge your family to a talent show or trivia night!
Be a Holiday Hero
Do something kind everyday! Make a card for a neighbor, help clean the house, give out compliments, or donate a toy to someone who needs it. Being awesome feels good.
Don’t forget you can always check out what is happening down at Rainbowregionkids tonnes of fun excursions to be part of!! And they are growing kindness down there!
So go on—laugh, play, explore, and make the most of every holiday moment. You won’t get them back!! The only rule? Have fun!
Stay golden,
Megan Ritchie,
School Counsellor - megan.ritchie@lism.catholic.edu.au
Sports News
Athletics Carnival Wrap-Up
What a fantastic day out! Thank you to all the families who came along and supported our students — your presence made the day even more special.
Congratulations to Doyle House, who took out the win with 453 points, followed by Colahan on 426 points and Sutton with 327 points.
We also celebrated four new records being broken, an incredible achievement!
A big thank you to Kyogle Rotary for joining us for the first time and to Alfred’s Coffee Cart for keeping everyone warm and well-fed with delicious food and drinks.
Results - Girls
| Division | Champion | R/Up |
| 5 yr | Everleigh | |
| 6 yr | Freya | Rickelle |
| 7 yr | Harper | Callie & Annabelle |
| 8 yr | Milla & Elvii | Ayla |
| 9 yr | Emily | Jiana & Abi |
| 10 yr | Elliarna | Frankie & Ruby |
| 11 yr | Lola | Peyhton & Ruby |
| 12/13 yr | Alaska | Emma & Millea |
Results - Boys
| Division | Champion | R/Up |
| 5 yr | Hugh | |
| 6 yr | Naythan | Thomas |
| 7 yr | Harvey | Lenix |
| 8 yr | Sebastian | Angus |
| 9 yr | Zion | Raph |
| 10 yr | Hamish | Djalai |
| 11 yr | Danny | Caden |
| 12/13 yr | Ted | Braithen |
Broken Records
A huge congratulations to our incredible athletes who smashed long-standing records at this year’s Athletics Carnival:
- Hamish (800m Junior Boys) – 2:38.03, breaking his own record he broke last year in the junior boys of of 2.46.01 from 2024
- Caden (800m 11 Years Boys) – 2:51.15, breaking Wyatt's record from last year.
- Ted (800m Senior Boys) – 2:43.69, breaking Kirk's 2005 record of 2.56.00
- Eedie (Shot Put 11 Years Girls) – 7.57m, breaking Ellie's 2016 record of 6.39m
What an outstanding achievement — your hard work and determination have made history!
Sports Dates Term 3
| Thursday 31st July | Zone Athletics |
| Friday 29th August | Multisport - Stage 3 |
Community Forum
Parent Voice Matters!
We’re planning some exciting additions to enrich our students’ school experience, and we’d love your input. Some great suggestions already include:
New sports equipment for recess and lunch
Additions to the Wellness Mat
Prayer boxes for classrooms
We’ll be reviewing all ideas and preparing costings over the break, ready to discuss at our first Term 3 meeting on Tuesday 5th August at 3:30pm in the school library.
Please complete the survey or send through your ideas by the end of term so your voice is included!
👉 Share your suggestions here: [Click here to submit your ideas].
MJR & PB4L
Stars of the week
One of our school goals this year is to have an average weekly attendance 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.
Term 2 Attendance
| Week | School Average | Top 3 Classes |
| Week 1 | 90.53% | Kinder 94.6% | Year 5 87.82% | Year 2 87.34% |
| Week 2 | 89.07% | Year 5 94.73% | Year 3 90.11% | Year 6 90.08% |
| Week 3 | 83.38% | Year 5 94.13% | Year 1 86.78% | Year 4 83.44% |
| Week 4 | 86.42% | Year 5 96.04% | Kinder 91.28% | Year 6 86.12% |
| Week 5 | 88.19% | Year 1 96.78% | Year 6 90.32% | Year 5 88.13% |
| Week 6 | 86.81% | Kinder 4.44% | Year 5 91.48% | Year 4 87.06% |
| Week 7 | 93.47% | Year 5 96.87% | Kinder 96.04% | Year 3 93.59% |
| Week 8 | 89.85% | Kinder 93.28% | Year 5 92.39% | Year 2 90.86% |
| Week 9 | 88.86% | Kinder 91% | Year 5 90.61% | Year 2 89.85% |
We’re at 88.7% attendance — just 1.3% shy of our 90% goal.
Celebrations
Congratulations, Sereena!
A big congratulations to Sereena on the arrival of her beautiful baby boy — Dustin Joe Aitken-Zanuso (Dusty).
Born on Sunday 22nd, Dusty weighed in at 3.7kg and is a happy, healthy little bundle. Sereena and Curtis are now home and soaking up every moment with their new little family. We’re so happy for you all!
May God bless you with joy, good health, and His loving presence today and always. May your faith continue to grow and guide you through every step of the year ahead. Have a truly blessed day!
| 13th July - Thomas |
| 20th July - Milla |
| 21st July - Eliza |
Congratulations to the following students who have shown tremendous effort and were presented with their awards at our assembly in Week 9.
| Kindergarten | Nai & Isabelle. |
Year 1 | Khyanne, Rickelle & Callie. |
Year 2 | Jahlissa & Chloe. |
Year 3 | Braith, Harper & Kaya. |
Year 4 | All of Year 4. |
Year 5 | Caius & Ella. |
Year 6 | Alaska & Isaac. |
Principal | Hugh, Ella & Raz. |
Calendar
Staff Development Day Term 2 - Friday 4th July
School Calendar Access
You can find the school calendar in the Compass app by tapping the calendar icon at the bottom of the homepage. Click on the button below for how to access your calendar. Please always refer to the calendar for updates, as changes may occur.
Parish News
Parish Information
Our Lady of Sorrows Parish established 1916. Our Parish Family includes the town of Kyogle and the villages of Urbenville and Woodenbong.
Parish Priest: Fr Joe Holloway | Parish Office Phone: 02 6632 1074 | Email: kyogle@lismore.catholic.org.au | Facebook: @OurLadyofSorrowsCatholicChurch
Service Times
Kyogle Weekday Masses: Tuesday 5.15pm, Wednesday & Thursday at 9am. Friday is at 12:30pm. Please note that this schedule is subject to change. Saturday Vigil 5pm | Sunday 9am.
Adoration and The Sacrament of Reconciliation begins 30 minutes prior to Mass on Friday's & Saturday's. Morning tea is served every Sunday after Mass, hosted by the parishioners. Everyone is welcome!
Quick Links
Catholic Life Latest Edition - April 2025
The April edition of Catholic Life is filled with stories and news that captures the vibrant life of the Diocese of Lismore.
The Catholic Diocese of Lismore YouTube Channel
School Holiday Fun!
Rainbow Region School Holidays
We’re excited to offer a fun-filled schedule of activities for the upcoming school holidays!
PONY FUN DAY!
Bring your little ones for a day full of horsey fun, friendship, and unforgettable memories! Do your kids love animals and the outdoors? Join us for a Pony Fun Day where children can get up close with our gentle ponies and experience the magic of horses in a fun, relaxed setting.
What’s Included:
- Hands-on pony grooming
- Lead-line pony rides
- Fun horsey games & activities
- Learn basic horse care
- Make new friends (human AND pony!)
- Great photo moments for parents!
Perfect for ages 3–12 – No riding experience needed. Just bring a smile and a sense of adventure!
Whether your child is horse-mad or just curious, this is a wonderful way to build confidence, learn new skills, and have loads of fun in a safe, friendly environment. Spaces are limited – so saddle up and book your spot today!
Winter School Holiday Fun with Mr Brad!
Wednesdays, July 9th & 16th 3:30 – 5:30pm Casino RSM Club, Bowls Green. Let Mr Brad lead high-energy, active play with obstacle courses, games & teamwork. Perfect for burning energy and making this winter break extra fun!
What to bring: Warm & comfy clothes, shoes & a water bottle. What better way to spend an afternoon, take a break and enjoy a coffee or snack in Monte's Cafe while the kids run wild...thanks Mr Brad!
Parent Resources
Educational Games
Toy Theatre | Educational Games for Kids
Math Games
Hidden Pictures Games and Puzzles
Quick Links
St Brigid's Facebook Page
Parent Assembly Facebook Page
Supporting Learning - Primary
Faith and Family
Tips for Parents – Supporting your Childs attendance at School
NSW Government Facebook Page