Term 1, Week 6

Principal's Report - Newsletter Week 6

Thank you for everyone who was able to join us to celebrate Shrove Tuesday, it was wonderful to share in our first school event together.  As we moved into Ash Wednesday, it provided the perfect opportunity to stop and evaluate. During this Lenten Season, a time of Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving for Catholics, we reflect on what we might give up or what we should do more of. My Lenten Promise is to listen more and speak less, God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason. God bless us all during this Lenten Season.

School Uniform

After a long wait, our school trousers have finally arrived. Thank you for your patience. Please visit the school office if you need to update your child’s uniform.

Now that every part of the school uniform is available, I want to reemphasize the importance of wearing the correct uniform. Wearing the correct uniform fosters a great sense of belonging to our community and pride in one’s appearance. Let’s work together to ensure this is sustained.

A reminder that students need to wear their school hats during Term One and from 1 September (including for after-school sports and OSHC).

School Board and Annual General Meeting

The School Board AGM will be held on Thursday 20^th March, at 7:00 pm. Doors will open at 6:30 pm for some nibbles and the chance to look through our reports and upcoming policies. This will also be the first opportunity to have your say about the future direction of the school.

We are also calling for nominations for the school board. The school board does not require a huge commitment. It involves two meetings each school term (7:00 – 8:30 pm, on a Thursday evening). The school board is important for hearing parent voices and is a great chance to meet other parents, offer ideas, and discuss school planning and future directions.

We are looking for parents who represent our school community, can think strategically, and support St Brigid’s School into the future. Please contact us either by telephoning the front office or by email at info@stb.catholic.edu.au.

School Fees

The first invoice for school fees went out in Week 5. Thank you for those families who have paid and or set up regular payment options, your school fees does contribute to the essential running of our school. Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact myself or our bursar, Damien Emery. Damien works at St Brigid’s on Monday, Thursday, and Friday if you wish to arrange a meeting.

Thank you for your continued support, I look forward to seeing you at the AGM and working together to make this a wonderful year! 

Leading from the Heart- Student Leadership Workshop

Last Tuesday, the Year 6 students participated in the Leading from the Heart: Student Leadership Workshop.  Our school, St Brigid’s School was founded by The Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and because of this, our school is an integral part of the OLSH story.  Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College (OLSH), St Gabriel’s Enfield, St Martin’s and Immaculate Heart of Mary were involved in Leading from the Heart Student Workshop

 Key aim for the day

By coming together as schools connected through the OLSH Charism, this Leadership workshop helps students to:

- Better understand the story of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and their story

- Recognise that despite having our unique school contexts, we also have similarities that are connected through the OLSH pillars.

- Recognise the relevance of the OLSH pillars to all aspects of their lives.

- To identify how they can live out the OLSH pillars as leaders in their own school communities.

The day began with prayer and a getting to you activity, followed by a presentation on the History and OLSH Charism. Students from all schools then shared their school community, History and stories before we unpacked the OLSH pillars. In this session, students reflected on their understanding of the pillars, how they are lived out in their schools and how they can live them out as leaders. The day concluded with a liturgy.

Shrove Tuesday

We thank everyone for coming along and celebrating Pancake Tuesday with us on Tuesday 4th March.  We shared the pancake feast together as we learned of the tradition of emptying your cupboards of treats before the start of Lent.

Ash Wednesday

On Wednesday the Year 3 to 6 Students joined in the Parish Mass for Ash Wednesday as we were invited to receive our Ashes as a symbol of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Ash Wednesday is also the beginning of Lent, the time in the Catholic calendar of repentance as we pray, fast and give Alms in the lead up to Easter.

Project Compassion

During lent we support the work of Caritas Australia by raising money for Project Compassion.

Lent is a special time of year. It is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. As individuals we can help others, but when we come together though Project Compassion, our good becomes great. This year’s theme is Let’s all Unite Against Poverty! This year students will be hearing stories from people from around the world and how Caritas supports them through our giving during Project Compassion. Next week all students will be learning more about Project Compassion through Heart Learning and your child will have received a Project Compassion box. Please put any loose change in these and then return to school in week 11 where we will celebrate the joy of Easter with a Caritas Carnival in early term 2. Stay tuned for more information.

Children's Liturgy

 St Brigid's Church in Kilburn, offer Children's Liturgy of the Word during the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass and is organised by staff members of St Brigid’s School. This program provides children with an age-appropriate understanding of the day's Gospel and helps them appreciate the structure and richness of the Liturgy of the Word.

Family Bingo Night

All families are invited to attend the Parish Family Bingo Night. It is a great night full of fun, lots of laughs and some great prizes to be won. All money raised will go towards purchasing a defibrillator for the church. Please see the flyer attached or please come and speak with me about coming along.

OSHC Newsletter Week 5-6, 2025 

We welcome back Mr Albert from his Long Service Leave. 

Week 5: 24th – 28th of February 

This week in OSHC, we explored the use of watercolours! Experimenting different techniques to create patterns, shapes and more! By blending and layering colours, the children got to design our new OSHC sign! This fun and creative activity helped develop and refine their collaborative and cooperative skills. It was awesome to see the children be so experimental with mixing colours, using splatter techniques and thinking outside the box! Students were so creative by using splatter techniques to add a more exciting element to the new OSHC sign (Learning Outcome 4.1) 

Week 6: 3rd – 7th of March  

This week in OSHC, we were celebrating Shrove Tuesday and for this day, the children attempted to make ‘pancake slime’. Although it did not turn out the way they hoped, the children were nonetheless enjoying the time to get a little messy and creative (Learning Outcome 4.2). In the following days, the children also got to design their own ‘birthday circle’ which provided them to opportunity to showcase their individuality and autonomy – harnessing their interest and transferring that on their design (Learning Outcome 1.2). 

Reminder 

Due to ongoing renovation projects at the school, we have had to make some changes to the transition of the students and staff to and from OSHC and School. This is due to the OSHC (Out of School Hours Care) facility no longer being accessible via the gate that links it directly to the school grounds. As a result, OSHC students and educators will need to cross the Church car park to travel between the school and the OSHC facility. This route will also be used for accessing toilet facilities. 

A comprehensive risk assessment, including a step-by-step procedure, has been compiled to ensure the safety and well-being of OSHC students and staff. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or wish to see a copy of the risk assessment and procedures in place. 

Yours in Love, Peace, and Learning 

Ritz Ardenete