Term 2, Week 9

As the chill of winter settles in and we near the end of term, we're excited to bring you the latest updates and happenings from our community. Despite the frosty weather, our spirits are warmed by the stories of resilience, creativity, and connection that abound within our school. In this edition, discover how our students are embracing the season of renewal, hear about our recent achievements and events, and learn how we're fostering a vibrant learning environment even in the midst of winter's embrace.

This weekend’s Gospel

Mark 4:26-34 (NIV):

He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

Reflection

The parable of the mustard seed teaches that even the smallest beginnings can lead to great outcomes. Just as the mustard seed grows into a large tree, our community can flourish and grow through small acts of kindness, faith, and dedication. Each contribution, no matter how small, helps in nurturing and expanding our community, creating a strong, supportive environment for everyone. What small action can you take this week to contribute to our flourishing community?

Farewell Brena

Farewell to Brena, who joined us this year and is now expecting her first child. Wishing her and Tim all the best, Brena made a significant impact in a short time and will be greatly missed by staff and students. She had a lovely farewell send-off by our community, and even a birth blessing with her class. We are confident that Annie is ready to continue the learning journey with middle BF, and look forward to meeting baby Fennelly in the coming months.

Victorian School's Garden Program Turf Grant

Student leadership in action empowers students to take initiative on issues they care about. Our students demonstrated this by writing and producing a successful grant application for turfing our grassed area, standing out among 810 applications. This achievement showcases their dedication, creativity, and ability to effect meaningful change. Check out our socials for the announcement from our Student Representative Council!

Networking

Networks among schools, leaders, and teachers are crucial for fostering continuous learning, upskilling, and collaboration. By connecting educators, these networks enhance the sharing of best practices, innovative strategies, and resources, driving the betterment of our schools. This collaborative approach ensures the maintenance of high educational standards, supporting teachers, leaders, principals, and deputy principals in their roles and ultimately benefiting student outcomes. Recently I attended a two-day principal networking event, Chek attended a learning diversity network and Petrina, Jayde, Hayley, and Michelle attended the Science of Reading professional development day.

Science of Reading Professional Development

Members of our staff attended “The Science of Reading” professional development day led by Dr Lorraine Hammond. As part of the MACS 2030 Vision for Instruction, St Brigid’s acknowledges the importance of explicit instruction, best practice teaching and embedding professional growth in our leadership and teaching teams.

Feast of the Sacred Heart

Last Friday, the whole school celebrated the Feast of the Sacred Heart Mass, a cherished tradition honouring the love and compassion of Jesus Christ. Our students embodied the spirit of the feast by raising money and collecting non-perishable items for the Gisborne Food Bank. Their efforts demonstrate the Catholic faith in action, addressing important community needs and showing true commitment to helping others.Prep Enrolments

We are thrilled to announce that our Prep enrolment tours have successfully concluded, and we are receiving an impressive number of enrollments for 2025. The feedback from prospective families has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the strength of our community, the quality of our learning environment, and the love, friendship, and happiness shared among our staff and students. It is heartwarming to see the connectedness that defines our school, making it a wonderful place for all.

Year 6 Family Faith Night

We felt so privileged to welcome our Confirmation Candidates and their parents at our Family Night in preparation for their upcoming Confirmation. We are excited to build upon this start in the coming weeks to explore our Catholic Faith together.

Round 2 of Maths Olympiad

The middle and senior students competed in round 2 of the Maths Olympiad program. This is a paid partnership with the school and https://apsmo.edu.au/ Australasian Problem Solving Mathematical Olympiads APSMO (not-for-profit) supports teachers to develop their students’ Maths problem solving skills from early primary through to junior high school. The competition created many discussion points about how to solve complex problems. The group loved the challenges!

Annual Report to the Community

We are thrilled to present this year's Annual Report, a comprehensive overview of the remarkable achievements and milestones reached by our community. Over the past year, our collective efforts have driven significant progress, underscoring our commitment to excellence, innovation, and community impact.

This report not only reflects our achievements but also sets the stage for future endeavors. We are grateful for the unwavering support of our community and look forward to continuing our journey towards sustainable growth and shared prosperity.

Thank you for being an integral part of our success.

Guinea Pig Adoption

Mr Twinkle is still looking for a loving new home. If you are interested in adopting Mr Twinkle, please get in touch with Gen at gserong@sbgisborne.catholic.edu.au

More Updates

Please check out our Learning & Teaching page for more news from around our school.

And check us out on our socials!

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Parish News

St Brigid's Catholic Parish