Dear Father in heaven,
We thank you for our School, our families, our friends and our environment.
Help us make our School a better place, by being more like St Brigid, who loved, helped, cared and shared.
Thank you for all the people who do things for us.
Bless us all today and everyday. We ask this prayer through Jesus Christ, our lord. Amen
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LOVE 
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Today we had our first assembly and it was wonderful to see our new student leaders receive their badges at the assembly in front of their peers and parents. They have already begun to take on their roles responsibly and this is a great way to begin the year. I’m proud of our students and the way they are prepared to help the school. Our Year Six teachers, Miss Footman and Mr Pendlebury, are working well with our students and providing great assistance as the students take on their new roles.
IMPROVEMENTS
During the holidays Mr Constable and Mr Hewton were busy preparing the school and working on a number of jobs to improve our school. At the end of the year we saw the Special Education Unit move down to the former multipurpose room. It was a very smooth transition thanks to the work of our wonderful staff. The room looks amazing and is working really well for our students. The Board has been working hard to ensure the room is well resourced for our children. During the holidays a fence was installed at the back of the room and artificial turf was laid so the children had a colourful outdoor area to play in. We also purchased a trampoline as part of our outdoor play. Mr Constable was jumping for joy. Later in the term we will be holding a ceremony as we rename the Special Education Unit from Special Education to the Jean Ellison Centre.
At the end of the year we noticed that our students in the younger years were struggling to hang up their bags on the hooks provided. They needed to step onto the benches to hang their bags. As a board we saw fit to remove the old hooks and provide child safe hooks at a lower level for children to reach. Over the holidays, Mr Constable removed the old seats and rehung the new hooks in Kindergarten, Pre Primary, Year One and Year Two. As well as hanging new hooks Mr Constable also laid paving outside of the Year Two area so they could reach their bags without walking in the garden. I think you will agree it really has improved the areas.
During the holidays we also saw new sand placed in the Kindergarten and Pre-Primary sandpits. A lot of time is spent, maintaining our sand pits, by replacing sand and shifting through sand to ensure it is safe for our students.
P & F DANCE ON THE GREEN
This Saturday we are hosting our first P & F event of the year. This event is always a highlight of the year and begins our year so well. The ladies have been busily preparing this event for weeks and now this Saturday we open our gates at 5.00pm for families to come and enjoy themselves. This year we have come as your favourite movie screen character as our theme. Please come and join us and get to meet other families in our community.
GATES OPEN
A number of parents have been asking about the times of the gate opening at school. As you would be aware, five years ago the school gates were opened at 7.45am in the morning to provide breakfast for the children. Other children also came to play games and be with their friends. This service was provided free to parents and staff volunteered their time. This continued for three years and parents became used to the service.
In 2018 the schools opening times changed. Instead of school beginning at 8.40am it began at 8.50 and there was a shift of ten minutes. Accordingly breakfast club began at 8.00am instead of 7.45am. I am aware a number of parents were not happy with the change as it affected the time they could drop their child off to school. However, the service of providing breakfast for our students continued as was the original purpose of the service when it was first introduced.
In 2018 at the end of the year we revised the service and discussed the purpose of the service and it was still to provide breakfast for our students. Our students finish eating normally after ten minutes. So we decided, as this is a free service, we would change the time from 8.00am to 8.15am. Breakfast Club still finishes at 8.30am so that children can go to their classrooms and prepare for the day. Staff still volunteer their time to ensure that children are cared for and enjoy a healthy breakfast. The gates have always opened 20 minutes before school begins and this timing has not changed.
As a school we do have Helping Hands who run a before and after school service because we are aware that many parents need to work. I am aware there is a cost involved and that many parents are able to receive a rebate. Leaving children outside the gate from 7.30am is not a safe practice as there is an alternative. Please parents consider the safety of your child and drop children off at 8.30am or to breakfast club at 8.15am or make use of the Helping Hands service.
AGM
Our AGM for 2018 will be held on Wednesday 27th February which is in two weeks. All parents are invited to attend, it will be held in the hall at 7.00pm. It is a wonderful opportunities for parents to come and see what was achieved in 2018 and the school plans for 2019. If you are available please place it in your calendar and join us.
FIRST SCHOOL MASS
Last Friday we celebrated our first school Mass. It was a beautifully prepared celebration in our hall and special thanks go to Mr Mike Sibbald and our Year Six leaders and teachers for the preparation of the Mass. Father Benny was our celebrant and really made this celebration special for our students.
UNIFORM COMPLIANCE
I would like to thank all the families who had really taken uniforms and haircuts on board. I have really been impressed with the number of students who have come to school and had their hair cut in the style of short back and sides. I must say our students are looking fabulous. There are still a number of boys that need to revisit this as they have had their hair cut but have left the long fringes draping over eyes. We have requested that fringes be short and above the eye brows. We have a school policy and I ask parents please to conform. I have asked teachers to send a note home to students that still require a haircut to comply with the school policy. If this is still a problem I will be happy to speak with you in the very near future. Just a reminder that school dresses must be worn just above the knee.
I would like to thank all the students tucking in their shirts there has been a marked improvement in this area. I am delighted when I walk around the school and see shirts in so congratulations children. Thank you also to the girls who were wearing long fringes hanging down for clipping them back away from eyes. I really appreciate your sense of conformity with school policy.
PARTNERSHIPS ARE ESSENTIAL
It is well known that when home-based educational objectives clash with school-based objectives, the student normally resolves the conflict by rejecting the school. Research sends out a very clear message about the importance of partnerships in education. When parents express confidence in the school and teachers, and are involved in some way, their children are more likely to be happier and perform better academically.
At St Brigid’s we actively seek partnerships with our parents. This is done deliberately, because once forged, these partnerships have been found to result in;
Conscientious parents all around the world are concerned about the education of their children. They want them to get the most they can from their schooling and to grow up as happy, caring and useful citizens. They also know that the school cannot do this on its own; they need strong parental partnerships. Partnerships are the ‘educational glue’ which assists children to have a happy and productive time at school.
God Bless
Paula MacKenzie
PRINCIPAL
ST BRIGID’S PARISH SACRAMENTAL COMMITMENT MASS
One weekend is set aside for ALL children who are making any of the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Eucharist and/or Confirmation. The weekend will be Saturday 23 & Sunday 24 February. This means, those families of children making a Sacrament, may choose to attend any one of the three (3) masses (Sat 6.30pm, Sun 9.30am & Sun 6.00pm) to make their Sacramental commitment.
A letter from our Parish Priest, Fr Benny, along with the necessary Sacrament booklet and parent commitment form, was sent home today.
SACRAMENTAL DATES 2019
Year 3 RECONCILIATION – Tuesday 7 May 2019 (5.00pm)
Year 4 FIRST EUCHARIST – Sunday 23 June 2019 (9.30am)
Year 6 CONFIRMATION – Sunday 8 September 2019 (11.00am)
BEGINNING OF YEAR TESTING
You may have noticed teachers beginning to do specific testing on students, across all year groups. These tests, both for literacy and numeracy, are to help the teacher understand exactly where your child is at in these subject areas and how best to program for individual needs. They also reinforce our commitment as a school to differentiate the curriculum and meet each learner’s needs.
All Pre-Primary students in Western Australian will participate in an On Entry Assessment Program to provide teachers and schools with information about the skills and understandings that a child brings to school. Conducting this assessment early in the year ensures that your child’s teacher has information about the current skills and understandings of each child to assist with the planning and development of targeted learning programs that address the needs of each individual and identify children who may require early intervention or extension. This approach is supported by national and international research into the early identification of students’ literacy and numeracy skills. The assessment period is during Weeks 3-6 of Term One. At the conclusion of the assessment parents will be provided an overview of their child's results.
Our junior primary classroom teachers will soon begin administering Observation Surveys and Mathematics Assessment Interviews (MAIs) to a number of students. The Observation Survey includes six literacy tasks, all of which are necessary for describing a child’s emerging reading and writing behaviours. The MAI is a one-on-one assessment carried out in order to obtain information about students’ strengths and challenges in the areas of place value, counting, addition & subtraction and multiplication & division. This information enables teachers to meet learners at their point of need and to build upon Number skills that are fundamental to learning new concepts.
PLAYGROUP
Previously we have had two separate Playgroups however this year we will be running just one. All parents/guardians and community members with children aged 0-4yrs are more than welcome to come along.
We will be up and running within the next few weeks. A flyer will be posted soon with official start date.
Monday 18th Feb S THOMAS
Tuesday 19th Feb H VRANJES
Wednesday 20th Feb K PURCHASE
Thursday 21st Feb S SOEMYA
Friday 22nd Feb L PETERSON
PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR CANTEEN MENU
ST BRIGID'S SWIM SQUADStart training now for this 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). 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 8.00am in the MacKillop Hall. If you have any queries, please contact Deanna (DJ) on 0419 943 901.
St Brigid’s Parents and Friends Association
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
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 Classroom next to Kindy rooms during out of school hours, weekdays.
PILATES CLASSES
Commencing Tuesday 19th February in the MacKillop Hall
Then every Tuesday thereafter
From 5.15pm to 6.15pm
$12.00 per session or $60.00 for 5 sessions
All proceeds go to Cambodia
All equipment supplied, just bring a water bottle
Enquiries to Elaine 0433 900 703
