St Brigid's News and Events

e-Safety - Family Tech Agreement

A family tech agreement is a set of rules about how devices, like smartphones, tablets, computers, TVs and gaming consoles are used in your home.

Start the chat with your family and develop an agreement that will suit the age and needs of your children. 

Create an agreement for 5 to 8 year olds

These guidelines are designed for children aged 5 to 8 years. Creating a family agreement together at this age will help you to have a smoother time with technology in your child's late primary and early secondary school years. 

Talking with your child about tech rules will develop their digital intelligence and build good habits around technology. 

Create your own family tech agreement that you can print out and display. Download eSafety's guidelines and poster for parents to start the conversation.

Click here to download template

www.esafety.gov.au

RE News

Second Week of Lent 

(Week beginning Monday 14th March)

This week through Project Compassion we learn about Biru who lives in a rural village in India’s east. He lost mobility in one of his legs, after contracting polio as a child. Biru worked as a shepherd, looking after other people’s cattle, to support his wife and four daughters. Keeping up with the cattle was a challenge.

Biru taught himself how to repair bicycles by watching other people, but he never dreamed of using those skills to start his own business. With your generous support, Biru was able to access an entrepreneurship and livelihoods training program, run by Caritas Australia’s partner, Caritas India. He gained the support and skills he needed to start his own bicycle repair business. Now, Biru earns enough money to support his family.

Watch a short film about Biru’s story click here

Splash of Yellow for the Ukraine

• Friday 18th March is “Wear a splash of yellow for Ukraine” and bring a gold coin donation. The money raised on this day will go to Caritas to support all the people in Ukraine. Our splash of yellow could be a ribbon, badge, socks or hair tie.  

From Caritas: 

It is of course the start of Lent which means it is also the beginning of Project Compassion. Crises like the one unfolding in Ukraine put a harsh spotlight on the critical need for ongoing assistance and development work around the world for vulnerable communities. Caritas Australia is committed to providing support before, during and after humanitarian crises, conflicts and natural disasters to ensure that the impact of your donation is enduring and sustainable. 

It is important for us to acknowledge the shocking crisis unfolding in Ukraine. Many of us have seen images and accounts coming from the conflict that are overwhelming and devastating. Caritas Australia has a long-standing partnership with Caritas Ukraine, who is currently working on the ground providing emergency support to internally displaced persons. We have launched an appeal to provide support to Caritas Ukraine as they work tirelessly in tremendously difficult circumstances to provide essentials to vulnerable and displaced people in Ukraine, including:

 • Emergency food and water

 • Shelter 

• Hygiene kits

 • Psychological counselling

As a school we will be donating the money raised on our Splash of Yellow for the Ukraine day directly to the Caritas Australia Ukraine Crisis Appeal.

Literacy News

It is with great excitement that we have the return of the Story Dogs program at St Brigid’s. This is a great initiative whereby a dog and there handler visit the school to hear students read. Terry and Nell and Lea and Georgie will be working with students in Yr 1/2 and Yr 3/4.

This week’s newsletter looks at ways to promote listening to reading.

Help Parents Promote Independent Reading and Writing at Home by Janice Such

Home Fun That Promotes Listen to Reading

Parents can use these ideas to give children the opportunity to listen to reading:

1. Schedule a nightly read-aloud of a child-selected bedtime story.
2. Have children’s books on tape available for longer car rides.             
3. Set up a corner of the house with a tape recorder and books on tape.
4. Tape-record nursery rhymes or poems for children to read along with.
5. Invite a mystery reader (relative, neighbor, or babysitter) to share a story.
6. Find out how to download children’s ebooks from the local library.
7. Invite children to follow along with song lyrics as they listen to music.
8. Register children for weekly story time sessions at the local library.
9. Use different character voices as they read children their favorite stories.
10. Plan a poetry night and read fun poems aloud to their girls and boys.

Reference:

Boushey, G., & Moser, J. (2014). The daily 5 (2nd ed.). Portland, ME: Stenhouse.

National Treasures Writing Competition 2022

ATTENTION!! ATTENTION!! The 2022 Poetry & Short Story Competition, 'National Treasures', is NOW OPEN!! Enter your best 16 line poem OR 500 word or less story to be in the running to WIN the great cash and prizes on offer! Closes 30 April 2022.

News from Foundation

Our Foundation Students had a very special visitor last week - our very own Firefigher Nate Foster (Matilda and Che's Dad).  Nate very kindly gave up his time to come and talk to Foundation about being a Firefighter.  We learnt all the wonderful things the Fire Brigade do to keep our community safe.

News from Performing Arts

We came across the following information from Play School and thought some of our St Brigid's Families may be interested.

Mrs Hampton

Play School "Lights, Camera, Action!" Through the Windows Callout!

Would you like to be Play School?

We’re going ‘Through The Windows’ with kids across Australia. Share your home videos with us to appear on the show!

Is your child 3-8 years old and a budding theatre performer, costume designer, special FX makeup artist, film maker, TV host or animator? Calling all children who love to play, imagine and create!

We want to see what your kids love creating at home for a special Play School series shining the spotlight on Theatre, Film, Radio, TV and Animation. If your video is successful, we'll be in touch!

Submissions close 3:00pm (AEST) on Monday April 4.

Please click on here  for more information 

Sustainability

2022 Catholic Education Guide

To assist your decision making in relation to your child's education for 2023 and beyond, please find below a link to the 136 page 2022 edition of the Catholic Education Guide.

CLICK HERE  for the link to the Catholic Education Guide