PRINCIPAL - PAULA MACKENZIE

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

On Thursday we saw poppies that had been made by our students placed on the lawn outside the hall. These poppies had been placed by our students to show that we still think about, and pray for, the men, women and children who died in the first and second world wars, and all wars around the world – including ones that are still going on.

The poppy was chosen for a very special reason. In the First World War, a lot of fighting took place in France. For four, terrible years, people fought and died in the fields of northern France. The war finished, at 11 o’clock on the 11th of November 1918. The next spring, the fields where the fighting had taken place had grown over with millions and millions of red poppies. The poppy was chosen as a symbol for people to show that they had not forgotten the dead – of both sides.

Laurence Binyon (1869-1943) became famous all over the world because of four lines of poetry that he wrote. Imagine that! Famous for just a few words – 36 words to be exact.

Laurence was born in Lancaster, in the north of England, in 1869. He went to university in Oxford where he began writing poetry and later got a job working at the British Museum in London: a very important job looking after very old prints and drawings. He married Cicely, a woman he worked with, and they had three daughters. During his lifetime he wrote many books, taught in several universities and even wrote some plays. But he is mostly remembered for just four lines of poetry.

His poem is read out during Remembrance Day services all over the world. It’s called For the Fallen and remembers all those who have died in wars all over the world. The poem is our prayer today found above.

I think you can see why these words are so powerful. Let’s just look at that first line for a moment: “They shall grow not old.”
When someone dies, we remember them as they were the last time we saw them: they don’t change but are fixed in our memories. And it’s like that with the men, women and children who have died as a result of war all over the world. To their friends and families who are left behind, they will never change.

On Thursday Mr Robin Dalziell and our Year Six leaders led our school in a Remembrance Day Assembly. It was a memorable and moving assembly that really captured the feeling of Remembrance Day. I would like to congratulate Mr Dalziell and the Year Six leaders on a very reverent and well thought out tribute to the fallen soldiers, past and present.

 

 

P & F SAUSAGE SIZZLE

Congratulations to Karryn Purchase our P & F President and her amazing team as they cooked up a storm at Bayswater Bunnings last weekend. This was one of our fundraising events of term four and they really took it to another level. The organization and team work was sensational and throughout the day they made sure that everyone had plenty to eat. Top effort team and thank you on behalf of our school. Thank you to parents and staff who went down and helped out on the store and bought the sizzling sausages.

READING AND THE CUEING SYSTEM

Proficient adult readers use three cueing systems in order to decode what we read. We often do this subconsciously! What are the three cueing systems?

Syntactic Knowledge: This is your knowledge of how the language is structured.
It……….across the grass. Our syntactic knowledge tells us that the missing word has to be a verb (a doing word).

Semantic Knowledge: This is your knowledge of the meaning of the language (what makes sense, what goes with what logically, what you know about the subject).
John let his pet frog go. It ……..across the grass. Our semantic knowledge tells us that the missing word has to be either hopped or jumped.

Grapho-phonic Knowledge: This is your knowledge of letters and sounds.
John let his pet frog go. It h……. across the grass. Our grapho-phonic knowledge tells us that the missing word has to be hopped.

When we come across difficult text we often rely on our grapho-phonic system at the expense of the other cueing systems. This then can result in us ‘losing meaning’. Read the following example:

Chlorecyclizine hydrochloride is an antihistamine which is related structurally to cyclizine and meclizine. A combination with hydrocortisone acetate provides anti-inflammatory, antipruritic and anaesthetic properties.

Relying on ‘sounding out’ words often means the reader will lose meaning as they are so preoccupied with getting the right sound combinations. Did you really understand what you just read above?

The following story excerpt has been cleverly devised to place a proficient reader into struggling reader mode. You have to use all your cueing systems to understand the story. See how you go! (Hint: Use an Italian accent!)

 

God Bless and keep safe

 

Paula MacKenzie
PRINCIPAL

 

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL - MIKE SIBBALD

ST VINCENT DE PAUL CHRISTMAS NON-PERISHABLE FOOD DRIVE

Over the next four weeks, we are asking the children to bring in non-perishable food items that can be donated to the St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal. Every Class will have their own basket where donations can be placed. Our Year Six Christian Ministry will be coordinating this very special and important Christmas Tradition. Thank you for your support.

REMEMBRANCE DAY

After recess yesterday, our whole school assembled just after 11.00am for a short memorial service to commemorate Remembrance Day (this Sunday), including the recital of the ‘Ode’ and one minute silence. A special thank you and congratulations to our Year Six School Leaders for preparing this important Australian Tradition and giving our fallen soldiers the respect they deserve. Special thanks to Mr Constable, Mr Fowler and the students who dressed in their Scout/Service Uniforms and assisted with the ceremony.

YEAR SIX PRESENTATION

Our Year Six Students participated in a Human Development presentation on Wednesday offered by the Natural Fertility Service as part of their focus in Religious Education this term. We thank their class teachers, Mr Scattini and Miss Footman, along with the team from CMFS for their valuable and timely contribution to our Year Six Educational Program.

YEAR FOUR CAMP

The Year Four children are now very excited as their camp is this coming week, on Thursday 15 November and Friday 16 November. Thank you to the parents for your support and especially to the staff involved, for your generous time to make this a very special event for these children.

 

ACTING ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL - COLETTE WAYNE

SWIMMING LESSONS

The first week of swimming lessons for Pre Primary to Year 2 ran smoothly this week and continue in week 6. During this time the students are able to wear their sport uniform as this is easier when changing out of their bathers. Children must wear their full sport uniform and they are required to bring their thongs to wear to and from the pool not for the entire day.

Bus driver Ian from Carilla Bus phoned the school during the week to tell us how impressed he was with the behaviour of the students on the bus. Well done students!

SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS

                                         REMEMBRANCE SERVICE                          

 

 

 

 

 

 

STAFF MELBOURNE CUP

 

 

 

 

 

SCHOOL NEWS

 

CANTEEN ROSTER

Monday 12th Nov           S THOMAS

Tuesday 13th Nov          H VRANJES

Wednesday 14th Nov     HELP NEEDED

Thursday 15th Nov         L SARICH

Friday 16th Nov              K PURCHASE

 

CANTEEN VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED URGENTLY

OTHERWISE THE MENU WILL BE ALTERED TO TUESDAY'S MENU

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR CANTEEN MENU                                                

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SEQTA ENGAGE FOR STUDENT REPORTS: PRE-PRIMARY TO YEAR 6

To access your child's report, you need to go to the following site: https://stbrigidsms.coneqt-p.cathednet.wa.edu.au and use your current username and password.

If you have remembered your username but have forgotten your password, please click on the ‘Forgot your Password?’ link and an immediate email will be sent to you. THIS EMAIL WILL EXPIRE WITHIN ONE HOUR, so please action this immediately. Please note that for security reasons, the school does not have access to parent passwords.

If you have any issues, please contact the school by sending an email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Kind Regards,

Mr Steve DuncanSeqta Coorindator

 

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ST BRIGID'S SWIM SQUADStart training now for next year's Swimming Carnival.   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).  All are welcome!  Students can then take advantage of Breakfast Club at school which commences at 8.00am in the MacKillop Hall.  If you have any queries, please contact Deanna (DJ) on 0419 943 901. 

 

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ST BRIGID'S SCHOOL BATHERSComing Soon!  Please direct all your enquiries to Mrs Jo Vellis in the Uniform Shop.

 

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P & F NEWS

St Brigid’s Parents and Friends Association

 

BUNNINGS SAUSAGE SIZZLE UPDATE

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who made the Sausage Sizzle on the weekend such a great day!! The day may have started off slow with sales, but with some quick witted personalities - there was a lot of laughs and fun!! We had a great team of helpers that came for the day or popped in when they could. Firstly - we must thank the staff from our school that took time out to help support St Brigids. What better way to start the day than with our awesome principal who turned up for the first shift at 6.30am. Thanks for your positive attitude and constant support!! Also, a massive thank you to Mr Sam Harris who also came and gave a few hours of his time to help, and to Mrs Dickenson from the canteen who came and offered her expertise while letting her husband loose in Bunnings to shop!

But events like this aren't possible without the amazing support and help from the families within our school. So the most heartfelt thanks to John Grover, Lee and Joanne Johnson, Karen and John Bondi, Naomi and Craig Caldwell, Steve Carter, Jenelle, Erica, Emma Chessell-Keevers, Bec Dennison, Angela Patrizi, Mel Seegers and the A-Team leader - Helen Vranjes. The day couldn't have run any better thanks to Jenny Separovich who put in so much hard work to make sure that we had everything we needed. Thank you so much Jenny.

Lastly, we wouldn't have been able to raise as much as we did without all the generous families who couldn't donate their time, but donated funds instead. A very grateful thank you to the following families - Van Geest, Magumise, Della-Santina, Basa, Illes, Clarke, Seema, Parveen, Jain, Bickers, Anderson, Dhiya, Flack, De Rizzo, Sarich, Lambly, Bondi, Tengonciang, Kenchington, Mott, Vranjes and Garing. With all of your support we have been able to raise a whopping $1590. Amazing!!!

Please feel free to join in on the next P and F meeting which will be held next Tuesday 13th November at 9am.

Thank you, have a fantastic weekend.

 

 

 

P & F CONTACT INFORMATION

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

Karryn - 0409 293 198

Emma - 0431 896 213

 

SCHOOL COMMUNITY NEWS

  SCHOOL BANKING

 

 

 

Our school banking day is Wednesday morning from 8am until 8.50am. Come along and see us if you would like to join up and start saving!

WE ARE IN URGENT NEED OF A BANKING VOLUNTEER!

We urgently require one or two people to become banking co-ordinators for our school. What’s involved you ask?

We need someone to be available for about 1 hour on a Wednesday morning between 8am and 9am to take the banking money and slips from the children. After the children bank we enter the deposits in via the banking portal, and balance the money. This is all done on the school grounds. After we balance the school banking money, we drop the money bag off at Commonwealth Bank.

School banking benefits the school and our children and if we don’t get a volunteer or two we may not be able to continue school banking next year.

If you would like to know more, please come and see either Nicole or Kelly on a Wednesday morning or feel free to give Kelly a call on 0447 051 641.

 

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 Kindy B Classroom during out of school hours, weekdays. 

THIS WEEK AT HELPING HANDS

Yarn craft: the past two weeks the children have enjoyed using yarn and wool in art and craft. Our first activity was making wool animals using hand and eye coordination to wrap the wool and then use scissors to cut the wool into the shape of the animal, then we followed up the children's interest in sewing, making pillows, love hearts and a dog house. We further extended their interest in making yarn balloons and People.
Catapult craft: we have been incorporating stem activates (STEM is science, technology, engineering, and math. STEM is hands-on learning that applies to the world around us. STEM builds and teaches creativity, problem solving, life skills, ingenuity, resourcefulness, patience, curiosity. STEM is what shapes the future as our world grows and changes. This afternoon we used pop sticks and other materials and followed instructions to make a catapult
Building house with cards: the educators gave the children a challenge to make a house using cards, this activity involved steady hands, eye and hand coordination, self-control and to persevere even when they find a task difficult while using different strategies to problem solve. This was a challenging activity, but the children did not give up and gave it all.

5 SECONDS RULES: game boards are very popular in the afternoon, this week the children played a new game called 5 seconds rules. This game involves where players are in a hot seat, a question is read out you need to provide 3 answers within 5 seconds. Can you keep you cool; can you beat the timer? This is a fun game.

Vacancies Available Now!

P: 0484302073

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

 

COMMUNITY NEWS

 

 

 

 

 

With swimming pools and beaches a big part of the Western Australian lifestyle, ensuring your children can swim competently and safely is essential.

You can now enrol your children in VacSwim swimming lessons during the summer school holidays. VacSwim programs are held at pools and beaches all across the State. No matter where you are planning to spend these summer holidays, your children can take part in VacSwim.

VacSwim is for all children - from beginners to more advanced swimmers. Your children can start as young as five years old.

Enrol your children in VacSwim now at education.wa.edu.au/swimming