Newsletter Term 4 Week 3 (Wednesday 29th October 2025)

Front Page Feature

Year 6 Travels!

Last week we travelled to Sydney and Canberra for our Year 6 camp. It was really fun and we had lots of lollies to keep us going. We had the best bus driver, Gordon and we experienced a lot of places that we would not normally get the opportunity to go to. Some Highlights were:

• Questacon's Free Fall Slide
• Earthquake House and the Lightning Coil
• The Seal Show at Taronga Zoo
• Pharlap's Heart at the Museum
• Trying different sports at the AIS
• Ten Pin Bowling
• Getting Macca's
• The War Memorial's sculptures and dioramas
• Running our own Parliament at Parliament House
• Cockington Green Gardens and seeing all the mini sculptures
• The Banana Bread on the plane ride
• Spending time with different people that we normally wouldn't get to!
  

Reflection

Luke 18:9-14

Pope Leo insists upon recognising ‘the close connection between Christ’s love and his summons to care for the poor.’ The Pope reminds us that ‘contact with those who are lowly and powerless is a fundamental way of encountering the Lord of history. In the poor, he continues to speak to us.’

Think about that for a moment: Here, now, our Lord is speaking. Where need is present, Christ is present.

The Lord of History is ever calling to us, summoning us to action. ‘In hearing the cry of the poor,’ the Pope says, ‘we are asked to enter into the heart of God, who is always concerned for the needs of his children, especially those in greatest need.’ We, therefore, should constantly seek to reenter ‘the heart of God’ by listening to those who cry out for justice.

It is ‘Christ himself’, the Pope reminds us, who suffers with the materially poor, the ‘socially marginalised’, and the culturally impoverished. To ignore the poor is to ignore Christ.

We must learn to see beyond any ideology or prejudice that justifies inaction or indifference – even those cloaked under the cover of pious affirmations. As the Pope declares emphatically, this is not optional for Christians because charity is ‘the burning heart of the Church’s mission.’

Written by Nick Brodie

Principal

What an incredible week we had with the St. Carlo’s Eucharist Miracles in our school. I would like to thank Kate Hobbs for allowing us to showcase these miracles in our school for our community to learn from and pray with. Thank you to everyone who was involved with the exhibition, especially our parishioners who volunteered their time during the week.

World Teacher Appreciation Day

I’d like to sincerely acknowledge the wonderful work that the teachers at St Brigid's do each and every day. Their dedication, passion, and tireless efforts in the classroom are what make our school community thrive. They don't just teach lessons; they inspire curiosity, provide care, and foster a nurturing environment where every student can grow and succeed. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated and hardworking team. Thank you, teachers, for everything you do!

Kindergarten 2026 Family Information Session

All families of children starting Kindergarten in 2026 at St Brigid’s are invited to attend our next Information Session which will take place on Thursday 13th November commencing at 5:30pm in our School Library. Looking forward to seeing our new and some of our current families at this event.

Enrolments for 2026

Enrolments for any class for 2026 are currently being finalised. Please, if you know of anyone intending to join the St Brigid's community for 2026, ask them to get their enrolment applications in now!

Our staffing allocation is based on our enrolments at Census, taken at the start of August. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or would like to enquire about enrolling here at St Brigid's for 2026 or even sooner.

Year 6 Camp

Many thanks to Miss Macdonald, Mrs Myers & Mr Smith for the planning and organisation that went into the Sydney/Canberra trip to allow such a wonderful learning experience for our students.

Have a great week ahead!

Vanessa Walters
Principal

APLT

Welcome to Week 3 of Term 4! It's a busy but highly productive time of the year as students consolidate their learning and celebrate their growth and achievements throughout the year. This is the perfect time for your child to reflect on their learning goals set at the Learning Conferences at the beginning of Term 3 and discuss their progress with you at home.

In Learning and Teaching, Term 4 includes:

• quality learning and teaching in every classroom
• formative, summative and diagnostic assessments
• student reports and optional learning conferences
• completion of intervention programs
• Ready 4 Learning transition to school
• transition to highschool
• teacher planning days
• teacher observation and feedback sessions
• Professional learning on the new syllabus’ - Science and Technology and Creative Arts

We are excited for all the things to come this term and thank you for your ongoing partnership in your child's learning journey.

Warm regards,

Samantha Lynch
Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching

APM

It has been a busy start to Term Four with lots of faith formation opportunities for our students. We have celebrated National Rosary Day, Socktober, the Eucharistic Miracles exhibition, seen the arrival of the Jubilee boat and joined together for our Parish Family Mass. Our Socktober initiative raised over $251.00, thank you for contributing to such a wonderful cause.

Get Ready for Advent! 🕯️

The Church’s season of Advent that prepares our hearts for the joy of Christmas, begins next month Sunday, November 30th. It is a special time of anticipation, reflection, and hopeful waiting as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Here are a few simple ways your family can make the most of this Advent season:

• Create an Advent Wreath: Light a candle each Sunday of Advent to mark the progression of the season. This is a wonderful visual reminder to slow down and reflect.

• Use a Family Advent Calendar: Instead of just chocolate, try one that encourages a daily act of kindness, a family prayer, or reading a short passage from the Bible.

• The Three P's: Prayer, Penance, and Presence:
  • Prayer: Take a moment each day to pray together as a family, focusing on gratitude and hope.
  • Penance: Look for small sacrifices or ways to simplify your schedule to create more spiritual space.
  • Presence: Focus on giving your time and attention to each other, instead of just gifts and busy schedules.

• Give to Others: Engage in a family service project, such as donating new toys, volunteering, or contributing to a local food bank. Helping those in need is a powerful way to live the true spirit of Christmas.

Want to Read More About Advent?

Discover the season and its beautiful traditions! Below are two great blog posts covering everything Advent!

The Complete Guide: Find it HERE
Traditions and More: Read it HERE

Warm regards,

Kelli-Ann Shedden
Assistant Principal - Mission

MJR & PB4L

Save The Date: Community Forum AGM

You are invited! Tuesday November 25th (Week 7) we are hosting the annual Community Forum AGM and we will also welcome Janita Thompson from Family Partnerships for a special session: "Community Conversations" which will be celebrating strengths, exploring challenges and planning together with parents. It’s a positive, community-focused event that celebrates what makes our school great while giving families an authentic voice in shaping what comes next.

(Information below on what to expect)

The official Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be a brief component held at the very start of the evening.

We want all parents to be able to participate fully in the discussions, so we have the kids covered! We will have a supervised movie set up in the school hall for all attending children.

This is a fantastic opportunity to have a positive, authentic voice in shaping our school's next steps. Look out for more detailed information on this great event coming soon!

Wellbeing

Transitions and Changes 

Change is the one thing in life that can not be avoided.  From the moment we are born changes are constantly happening.  In many ways we are no different to the Earth we live on, constantly evolving with the weather patterns and the seasons.  With each change there is opportunity for growth.  Within growth there are periods of stability and periods of uncertainty.  The key to life is learning to be fluid in the journey, being kind to yourself and seeking support throughout the journey.  

Transitions are moments in life which involve moving from one stage to another and dealing with the changes that come with them. These can include starting school, university or work; moving out of home, moving in with a partner or having children.

Today Year 6 participated in a workshop with Headspace about transitioning from primary school to high school.  They covered a number of things however I wanted to share with everyone how families can support their young people in the transition.

Families play an important role in preparing and supporting young people to make positive transitions. You can help equip your young person for the transition to secondary school by: 

• planning and getting organised
• visiting the school and encouraging your child to go to any secondary school orientation days/programs 
• doing a trial run with travelling to school, including taking public transport and using a travel card 
• inviting older siblings or friends to share information about the school system ie. timetable, changing classrooms 
• practising ‘what if?’ scenarios 
• establishing routines including relaxing and fun activities 
• stay connected and interested in your young person’s learning 

For more information on supporting your child or resources and strategies to assist you click on the link below.  

Transition from Primary to High  

Information sourced from headspace 29/10/25

PA

As we approach the season of Advent, the Parent Assembly warmly invites you to join a special Advent Prayer Group designed for parents. Advent is a beautiful time of waiting and preparation, and we hope this group will provide a meaningful way to pause, reflect, and share in the spiritual journey with other members of our school community.

Everything is Provided: You don't need to bring or buy a thing! The Parent Assembly will supply all the resources, readings, and materials. We'd love for you to join us! To express your interest and get the details, please complete this form

For more information about the Parent Assembly and our activities, please visit our Facebook page.

Awards

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.

Congratulations to the following students who have shown tremendous effort and were presented with their awards at our assembly in Term 4 Week 2.

Celebrations

Wishing all our birthday students a joyful day filled with God’s love and blessings. May the year ahead bring happiness, health, and many special moments.

Dates

Parish

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 6pm | 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!

Community

There's lots going on in our community!

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