PRINCIPAL - PAULA MACKENZIE

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Martin Luther’s quote reminds us of how quickly Easter is approaching and the new life associated with the risen Christ. This Sunday, we celebrate Palm Sunday, when Jesus made his entrance into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-9), palm branches were placed in His path, before His arrest on Holy Thursday and His Crucifixion on Good Friday. It marks the beginning of Holy Week, the final week of Lent and the week in which we celebrate the mystery of their salvation through Christ’s death and His Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

On Thursday our amazing Year Five students led us in our Passion play being well supported by our whole school. The comments that I heard after the play were heart-warming. It is wonderful when our community really feels part of this story and join with us in retelling the story of Jesus. Our students never fail to tell this this special story with reverence and joy. Our Year Five students really managed to tell the story of Jesus that helped make it alive today.

Having Father Benny and Deacon Liam was a true blessing it is amazing when we are so well supported by our Parish leaders.

It was wonderful to be so supported by our awesome P & F who provided a scrumptious morning tea for our parent and extended parent body. The range of food was wonderful and enjoyed by many.

START DATE TERM TWO

Students resume school for term two on Tuesday 30 April 2019.

 

PUPIL FREE DAYS TERM TWO

A reminder that Monday 29 April and Friday 31 May are Pupil Free Days.

 

STAFF CHANGES

This term we have wished two of our staff good luck and well wishes as they prepare their maternity leave. Mrs Giorgiante and Mrs George have been our amazing Year Five teachers and we will look forward to their return in the near future. While they are both on leave we welcome Miss Hibben and Miss Anderton into Year Five to work alongside Mrs Gooch.

We thank Miss Wise for all her good work with our Year 3A class this term and we welcome back Miss Taddie in Year 3A next term. Miss Wise will take on our HASS classes next term while Miss Anderton takes on Year 5A. Mrs Motherway will be on leave for next term and Mrs Paull will continue to work alongside Mrs Frediani for Term Two. Mrs Yeo has kindly taken on our Opti MINDS classes for Term Two.

We would like to welcome Mrs D’Agnone-Doyle as our new Three Year Old Kindy Teacher to our school next term. Our Pre-Kindergarten class will commence in Week Two next term with an orientation on the first Wednesday from 10.00am to 11.00am. A letter will be sent home explaining all this information.

CHANGE OF ASSEMBLY TIMES

As a school we have been reviewing our assembly time of Friday morning at 8.50am. While this is convenient for our parents it is the optimum time of learning for our students. During the week we hold our literacy and numeracy lessons first thing in the mornings except on Fridays. This is when our students are at their best and take information in more readily. We are changing the assembly time from Friday morning to Friday afternoon so that we can continue to hold these vital lessons in the morning when teachers have the added bonus of having educational assistants to assist with student learning. This change will begin from Week One. If it is a normal assembly with certificates only we will begin at 2.30pm if it is a class assembly we will begin at 2.15pm. We apologise for any inconvenience to parents but this is in the best interests of the children.

KINDERGARTEN INTERVIEW

We are busily preparing interview times for children who will be entering Kindergarten for 2020. If you are intending to enrol your child for Kindergarten 2020 please make sure you have filled out the enrolment forms and handed them into the front office so that times can be given for the interviews.

If your child has a birthday that falls: between 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016 they are eligible for Kindergarten 2020.

THREE YEAR OLD PROGRAM

St Brigid’s are beginning their three year old program next term in week two. It will run on every Wednesday until the end of term. We will be holding an orientation in week one on the Wednesday so that children may meet their teacher Mrs D’Agnone-Doyle and become familiar with the room and program.

EASTER

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday and comprises the last seven days before Easter. Holy week tells us of Jesus’ journey when he returned to celebrate the Passover with his disciples in Jerusalem. Palm Sunday is when Jesus returned to Jerusalem with his disciples to celebrate the Passover. He sent two of his apostles into the town to find a donkey that would be waiting for them and asked them to bring it to him. Jesus entered Jerusalem on the back of the donkey and the people were shouting “Hosanna God bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Holy Thursday was when Jesus began the evening by washing the feet of his disciples. At that time peoples feet would be dirty and dusty from hours of walking. Normally only a servant would wash the feet however Jesus who was their teacher stopped and washed each of their feet. It was a sign that they should serve and not wait to be served.

The Last Supper on Holy Thursday was a special meal. It was celebrated with a view of the coming of the Kingdom of God. By giving the bread and wine as his flesh and blood, Jesus gave his disciples a share in the power of his death to make atonement and to establish a new covenant. When we celebrate Mass we share in this special meal.

Good Friday recalls the Passion of Jesus. He was arrested and sentenced to death. No crime could be found against him but still the people yelled for him to be crucified. Jesus was taken away, beaten and then given his cross to carry to Golgotha. Along the way he met his mother and the people who just days before had welcomed him into the town. Good Friday tells of the journey and the special moments that occurred on that walk until his death.

Easter Sunday is full of joy because Jesus rose from the dead as he foretold. He is risen and he is now with us as we lead our daily lives.

 

May all our families enjoy the spirit of Easter and be at peace during this happy time of holidays. Remember to relax and enjoy each others company and we look forward to your safe return next term.

God Bless you all

  

Paula MacKenzie
PRINCIPAL

 

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL - MIKE SIBBALD

REFLECTION – HOLY WEEK

This coming week, we remember Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection. This provides the opportunity to reflect on what this means for us in our lives today. The empty cross is the powerful, hope renewing message of Easter, for each of us as Christians. While He died for us He has also risen for us. Throughout the centuries this truth has motivated Christians to try to die to their darker side and rise to the new life of Christ. May this Easter give us all a greater realization that Christ is indeed risen for us all. Each year Jesus passes over from death on Good Friday to life on Easter Sunday.

I wish you all a Happy and Holy Easter and may Christ be with you and your family during this important celebration.                                                                                                

The Easter Triduum…

Begins with the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday.

(This is the only mass allowed on Holy Thursday.)

It recalls the suffering and death of Christ on Good Friday

and celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus in the Easter Vigil. It concludes

with Evening prayer on Easter Sunday.

Liturgical Colours of Lent & Easter

Ash Wednesday        Violet (Penance)

Lent                             Violet  (Penance)

Good Friday              Red     (Suffering) (Spirit)

Easter                          White (New Life)

FREE DRESS FOR PROJECT COMPASSION

Thank you to all children and their families for supporting our Free Dress, Gold Coin Donation, for Project Compassion.

 

SACRAMENTAL DATES 2019

Year 3 RECONCILIATION – Tuesday 7 May 2019 (5.00pm)

Year 4 FIRST EUCHARIST – Sunday 23 June 2019 (11.00am)

Year 6 CONFIRMATION – Sunday 8 September 2019 (11.00am)

 

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL - LUKE SHAW

NAPLAN

Our Year Three and Five students sat a NAPLAN Online Practice Test on Wednesday. The purpose of this test was to provide the students with an opportunity to famililarise themselves with the NAPLAN Online environment and to test our system. This practice test went very smoothly.

Students in Years Three and Five will sit for various NAPLAN tests from Tuesday 14 May to Wednesday 22 May. Our NAPLAN timetable is below. It is important to note that all testing will take place prior to recess. It is very important that students are here on these days. Please make certain that there are no dentist, doctor or other appointments at this time.

While NAPLAN does not measure everything that is important about a student’s literacy and numeracy development, it does provide each school with valuable data and every school is expected to pay close attention to trends over a number of years.

13 May	14 May Writing (Years 3 & 5)	15 May Reading (Year 3)	16 May Reading (Year 5)	17 May Language Conventions (Year 3)
20 May Language Conventions (Year 5)	21 May Numeracy (Year 3)	22 May Numeracy (Year 5)	23 May	24 May

 

EXTENDING MATHEMATICAL UNDERSTANDING (EMU)

I am excited to announce that the Extending Mathematical Understanding (EMU) program will begin early next term. This program offers intensive learning opportunities for students who are experiencing difficulty in learning mathematics in the early years. The group consists of three students from Year One and one teacher and runs for 30 minutes Tuesday-Friday (8.30-9.00am). The program consists of a variety of group, paired and individual activities, clearly targeting individual student’s specific mathematical learning needs.  The EMU program focuses on the areas of Counting, Place Value, Addition and Subtraction and Multiplication and Division.  It also engages children in mathematical problem solving and investigation.

This research based intervention program aims to improve students’ knowledge and confidence with mathematics. Students are given the opportunity to question, test and extend their understandings in a small group, student directed environment.

Mr Sam Harris recently commenced his EMU Teacher training and will begin EMU lessons with small groups of Year One students next term. The selection of these students has been informed by recent data and the parents/caregivers of the first EMU group have been informed.

 

FACEBOOK / TWITTER

Thank you to the parents who have already followed us on Facebook and/or Twitter. If you are yet to follow us, please do so!

https://www.facebook.com/stbrigidsms/

@stbrigidsms

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

I wish you a wonderful Easter break with your family and friends. I look forward to seeing you again next term.

SCHOOL NEWS

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 Parents and Caregivers

If you are having a clean out of your board games over the holidays I would gladly like to take them off your hands.

In Term Two I will be visiting Matrix Illam Orphanage in Tamil Nadu India and would very much appreciate to take some games over to the children in the villages.

A labelled box will be in the office for your kind donations of complete games.

Many thanks

Cheryl Harris

 

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DONATIONS FOR PP

Pre Primary are seeking recycled goods for their tinkering trays. Items needed include margarine containers with lids, ice cream containers , bottle tops from milk bottles and orange juice bottles, lids from any type of jars, old computer keyboards, small cuts of plastic pipe , cuts of a hose, off cuts of material, the rolls found inside glad wrap/alfoil and sticky tape, unwanted CDs, 600ml and 300ml bottles. Your trash is our treasure. Thank you.  

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PLAYGROUP

Just a reminder Playgroup has started and it is every Friday 9am – 11:30am. Breakfast is offered in the morning. We are operating in the Early Childhood Room (next to Kindy). We have had a lot of kiddies join us in the past two weeks and that is lovely to see. So if you are a parent, grandparent, aunty or uncle of a child aged 0-4 yrs please come and join us.

Remember to bring a water bottle, a piece of fruit and a hat!

 

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CANTEEN ROSTER

Monday 29th April          PUPIL FREE DAY

Tuesday 30th April         H VRANJES

Wednesday 1st May       S SOEMYA

Thursday 2nd May        S WILLIAMS

Friday 3rd May               HELP NEEDED PLEASE

 

 

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR CANTEEN MENU                                                

 

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ST BRIGID'S SWIM SQUAD Come along and join the St Brigid's Swim Squad.  Training takes place every Thursday morning at Swan Active, Morrison Road, Midvale, commencing at 7am.  Entry is $3.30 (no spectator fee for parents).   Swim Squad is for students in Yrs 2 to Yr 6 whom are at swimming level 5 or above.  Students can then take advantage of Breakfast Club at school which commences at 8.15am in the MacKillop Hall.  If you have any queries, please contact Deanna (DJ) on 0419 943 901.  

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FOR SALE

Extra Large Trampoline.

Vuly 14ft Classic. Good Condition.

Can be delivered and assembled locally for a family of the school.

Only $250-  over $1000- New.

Please call Mr Peter Constable 0412 980 004.

 

 

SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS

FAREWELL MRS GEORGE & MRS GIORGIANTE

 P & F EASTER RAFFLE

               

 

                                                    

 

STAFF PASSOVER MEAL

 

 

 

                  

                                     

                            

                                                    

 PASSION PLAY

 

                                                       

 MRS MACKENZIE'S SPECIAL BIRTHDAY

 

 

P & F NEWS

St Brigid’s Parents and Friends Association

Dear Parents and Carers,

The P and F would like to say a big THANK YOU to all of our families who donated so many yummy eggs and Easter themed gifts for our Easter Raffle, and to all those families that brought tickets or guessed (or tried to guess) how many eggs were really in that jar!!!

We ended up with an overwhelming amount of prizes that we raffled off last week at assembly. Safe to say, there were lots and lots of winners, and we were also able to donate a prize to each classroom for an in-class raffle, as well 4 prizes for Mrs Yeo's colouring competition. It was wonderful to see all the students colouring in expertise on display around the school.

We are so extremely blown away with the results from our fundraising efforts - which we chose to put towards new literacy resources and take home readers for our classrooms. The P and F are ever so grateful to all of you, and are proud to say we raised just over $1300 which will contribute towards these much needed books. A fantastic effort from all of our school community.

Thank you also to all the parents that committed their time to help sell the tickets and put the prizes together, and a big thank you to the Easter Bunny, who kept the children entertained in the afternoons. It's so awesome to have such dedicated and passionate members representing St Brigid's Parents and Friends. 

We hope you all have a wonderful and safe holiday and a very Happy Easter.

SAVE THE DATE

Mothers Day Stall and Raffle: 7 – 10 May

P&F Meeting Tuesday 14 May at 9am  
Disco: Friday 24 May 

Cross Country Coffee & Cake Stall: 26 June

Mary McKillop Feast Day Sausage Sizzle: 8 August (to be confirmed) 

Disco: Friday 13 September (to be confirmed)  
Bunnings Sausage Sizzle: 19 October 2019  

NEXT PARENTS AND FRIENDS MEETINGS

The next P&F meeting will be held on Tuesday 14 May at 9am. If you are able to attend or have anything you would like to share or suggest it would be wonderful to see you there. Young children are very welcome to come along if that makes it easier to attend. 

P & F CONTACT INFORMATION

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Karryn - 0409 293 198

Joanne - 0418 954 821

 

SCHOOL COMMUNITY NEWS

NETBALL NEWS

Last Tuesday our St Brigid’s Netball Club Players participated in a skills clinic given by specialised Swans coaches.

The girls had an awesome afternoon learning new skills and drills.  It was a great team and club building exercise and the perfect way to start preparing for the up and coming Winter Competition commencing on Saturday 4^th May.

 

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HELPING HANDS

 BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL CARE 

 

 

UNABLE TO MAKE IT IN TIME TO PICK UP YOUR CHILDREN? 

BOSS ASKED YOU TO STAY LATE OR COME IN EARLY? 

NEED TO HAVE SOME TIME FOR YOURSELF? 

Parents, we are here to support you and your children in before and after school hours! We offer a secure, safe and exciting environment for your children to thrive and be a part of a socialized group while you are busy. 

Please note an enrolment form and 1 days' notice is to be given to make your casual bookings for your children. 

We are here to help! Enrolment forms are available from the Education Support Room.  During out of school hours and weekdays. 

Vacancies Available Now!

P: 0484302073

E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

COMMUNITY NEWS