Term 1 Week 2 2024

A Message from the Principal

Dear Parents and Friends,

Last week marked the beginning of routines and the settling in of all our students, and it's been truly heartwarming to witness the interactions in classrooms and friendships forming across the school. One standout highlight has been the fantastic connection between our new Year 6 Leaders and their Prep Buddies. It's been a joy to see them share lunchtime moments, creating bonds that will undoubtedly make this school year special.

This Friday, the 2nd of February, we eagerly anticipate the announcement of our Student Representative Council (SRC) representatives from Year 3 to 6. To support our SRC representatives in their new roles, Mr KD will be working closely with them throughout the year. Mr KD has already outlined exciting plans that will empower our SRC members to take on larger leadership roles in various capacities around the school. It's an excellent opportunity for these students to develop crucial skills and make a positive impact on our school community. The official announcement of our Year 6 SRC representatives will take place at their Leadership Assembly on Friday, 9th February. We look forward to celebrating their achievements and leadership qualities during this special event.

Looking ahead to later in the year, our Year 6 class is gearing up for an unforgettable school camp to Brisbane during Term 4. This immersive experience will take them to iconic places such as Parliament House, Australia Zoo, and the Queensland Museum. To assist with the associated costs, we'll be organizing fundraising activities throughout the year. Our first fundraiser is the $1000 board, where tickets cost $20 each. Don't miss your chance to win big – contact Miss Wall at the office to secure your tickets!

We're excited to announce our upcoming Parent Information Night/Disco scheduled for Thursday, 15th February. This event serves as an opportunity for you to gain insights into your child's learning and routines. The evening will kick off with teachers providing a brief overview of the learning activities and daily routines in their classrooms. Following this, you'll have the chance to peruse your child's work samples and engage in a brief meet and greet with their teacher. Please note that this is not a formal parent-teacher meeting but rather an informal opportunity for you to familiarize yourself with the teaching staff and the learning environment.

While parents are engaged in these meet and greet sessions, our Year 6 Leaders and staff will be hosting our first disco for 2024 in the MPC. This promises to be an entertaining and lively event for our students. The proceeds raised during the disco will directly contribute to supporting the Year 6 Camp, a much-anticipated highlight for our Year 6 students. Closer to the day, Mr KD will be seeking support from Year 6 parents and friends to assist with the sale of food and drinks on the night. We believe this evening will be a fantastic way to foster a sense of community, as well as provide an opportunity for parents, teachers, and students to connect in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. I encourage everyone to join us for what promises to be a great evening.

In an effort to streamline communication, we've made a change regarding classroom reports in the newsletter each fortnight. Starting this year, classroom reports will be available on Seesaw instead of the newsletter. Teachers will use this platform to share all classroom-related information, and details on how to join your child's 'classroom' have been sent home. We strongly encourage all parents to utilise this platform in 2024 for a more efficient and interactive communication experience.

God Bless

Mr Peter Thurecht

Reflection – Sr Kym Harris OSB

Changing Expectations

The Church isn’t finished with Christmas yet.  This coming Friday, we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.  Forty days after his birth, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple to present him to God – somewhat akin to our baptism ceremony.  Like all young parents they had hopes for their child.

In the Temple they were met by two elderly devout people – Simeon and Anna. These, too, had hopes – that they would see the promised Messiah, the Saviour of Israel before they died. And when Jesus was bought in, it was revealed to them that their hopes have been fulfilled - just not in the way they were expecting: a strong, mighty leader, yes, a sweet innocent baby, not really.  But they shifted their expectations quickly to take in and accept what God had offered…and they rejoiced.

That is one of the advantages of growing older: we learn to shift our expectations to live and grow in the reality which is presented to us.  In the years, you have had your child/ren, you have discovered this. You had hopes when he or she was a baby but now, the child is a wonder to you – different to what your expected or even wanted but none the less, and probably even more, loved.   In loving that unique person that each of your children are, you grow as a person yourself.  In a real way, your child becomes a revelation of the wonder of God in your life.

Loving God, let me live in wonder before the child/ren that I have.  May I love the mystery that unfolds as they grow, and even challenge me.  In the love I give them, may I know your love strengthening and guiding me.  I ask this in Jesus’ name, confident that you will hear me.

Sr Kym Harris osb

APRE News

As February approaches, we prepare to celebrate St. Brigid's Feast Day (Thursday 1^st February), a cherished occasion that holds special significance for our local parish. St. Brigid, the patron saint of our community, is a beacon of light, embodying virtues of compassion, generosity, and unwavering faith.

St. Brigid's Legacy: St. Brigid, a luminary figure in Irish Christian tradition, is renowned for her acts of kindness and her profound impact on the communities she served. Her legacy is woven into the fabric of our parish, inspiring us to emulate her virtues in our daily lives.

Feast Day Mass: This Thursday morning at 9am, our Year 4, 5, and 6 students will join the parish community for Mass. This gathering will be an opportunity for our community to come together in prayer, expressing our gratitude for the blessings St. Brigid has bestowed upon us.

Year 4 Presentation: Additionally, Year 4 will lead a prayer assembly on Friday morning at 8:35am, delving into the life of St. Brigid and the lessons we can draw from her example. We encourage everyone to attend and be enriched by the insights shared by our young students.

Community Reflection: Let us take this opportunity to reflect on St. Brigid's teachings and consider how we can embody her spirit of love, hospitality, and care for others. As a parish, let us strengthen the bonds that unite us, inspired by the enduring legacy of our beloved patron saint.

Join us in celebrating St. Brigid's Feast Day as we come together as a community, embracing the values that make our parish a haven of compassion and faith. May St. Brigid's blessings continue to illuminate our lives and guide us on the path of love and service.

God Bless,

Ange

Student Protection

Student Protection is taken very seriously within our school and Diocese. Each year all staff undertake mandatory student protection training at the beginning of the year. This year our School Student Protection Officers are Mr Peter Thurecht, Mrs Angela Arthur and Ms Sarah Wall. If you have concerns, please do not hesitate to contact one of our officers.

Scholastic Bookclub

Bookclub is back for 2024!

Orders are due online or to the school office by Thursday 15th February.

The school office can accept payment by cash or eftpos.

Mobile Phone & Wearable Technology Policy

Uniform Policy

Tuckshop

Key Dates

St Brigid’s Parish News

Please follow us on Facebook for up to date information on what’s happening in the St Brigid’s Parish. https://m.facebook.com/people/Central-West-QLD-Catholic-Church/100080215845014/

Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton

Community Notices

Responsible use of digital devices - Webinar with Susan McLean

CSPQ is wanting to support schools with mobile phones. We want parents to know and understand their role in responsible use of digital devices.

We have engaged Susan McLean from CyberSafety Solutions to provide a webinar on the topic on February 7.

Clean up Australia Day

School zone safety – advice for motorists, parents and carers

With school back for 2024, we need to keep safety top-of-mind when travelling through active school zones and around our school community.

School zone times have been standardised in Queensland to help motorists remember when to slow down. The standard operating times for most school zones in Queensland are 7–9am and 2–4pm, with some operating all day between 7am–4pm.

Speeding remains a significant concern, contributing to fatalities and injuries, and police will be on the lookout for speeding motorists. Keeping below the signed speed limit in school zones helps keep everyone safe. This simple adjustment may have minimal impact on travel time but has the potential to significantly contribute to saving lives.

Children's crossings are identified by children's crossing flags, displayed near crossings before and after school hours. 

When the crossing is supervised, you, as a motorist, must:

• Wait until all pedestrians, bicycle riders, or personal mobility device riders have crossed the road and the crossing supervisor has returned to the footpath.
• Abide by the direction given by the School Crossing Supervisor.

Please keep our children safe by staying alert, slowing down and obeying our school crossing supervisors who are there to help kids cross the road safely.  

You can also help children become more road safety aware by:

• Showing them how to look for vehicles coming in and out of driveways and discourage them from playing behind parked cars, or with toys or balls when walking to school. 
• Ensuring your child knows the safest route to and from school. This is usually the way with the least traffic and the fewest roads to cross and teach your child to always walk on footpaths. 
• Showing your child how to cross at traffic lights when the green 'walk' sign is showing at pedestrian crossings when vehicles have stopped and at supervised school crossings when the supervisor has signalled it is safe to do so. 
• Accompanying children when walking or riding to school until they are old enough to understand road safety (usually around 10 years or older). 
• Teaching your child if they catch the bus to never cross in front of or behind a bus; wait until the bus goes before crossing the road. 
• Making sure wheeled devices (bicycle, scooter, skateboard, or rollerblades) used to travel to school are well maintained and that the appropriate protective and safety gear (for example, helmet, visible clothing, knee and elbow pads) are used. 

Visit the Street Smarts website for more information about what to do at pedestrian and children crossings.

Central West Hospital & Health Services

Longreach Playgroup

Australian Camps Association (ACA)