Learning & Teaching
Seeking parent helper support
This term in Middles and Seniors we will be relaunching our Mathematics Extension group. Children will work on challenging and rich tasks that will be in line with classroom learning. The groups will meet with me twice a week with the hope that with parent helper support they will meet for a third time as a check-in point. If you are interested in supporting the successful running of this group please touch base with me (Petrina) to arrange a time that works for you. Email pogrady@sbgisborne.catholic.edu.au
Inquiry - Our projects
This term in our Inquiry students across Prep - 6 will be immersing themselves in Design Technology as their focus for learning. Students will follow the design process to empathise (identify a need), define (the problem), plan & ideate (drawings), create prototype (build), test and improve (adjust). Our world requires designers, further thinkers, creators and builders. Our world is every changing and our students are changing with it, evolving into innovators of a new world. We can’t wait to see what they come up with.
Staff Professional Development
Following on from the launch of MACS Vision for Instruction and staff professional learning sessions, the Years 3-6 team are excitedly attending the Teaching for Impact in Mathematics for Years 3-6 in May, just like their P-2 counterparts!! The team is thrilled to be a part of this professional development.
Professional team meetings - This term teachers will be delving deeper into “Explicit Instruction”, School Review, High Impact Wellbeing Strategies and being supported by our invaluable partnership with Traces of Learning. Teachers will be guided in their learning and planning by Jarryd to plan for amazing design technology experiences.
Easter Reflection
Our Catholic Faith and religious learning at St Brigid’s is a point of difference for our school and students within our community. Late in Term 1, in preparation for Easter, our Senior students engaged in learning about the journey Jesus undertook that has become our Catholic Easter Story. They produced artworks or sculptures that reflected different elements of His journey of sacrifice and suffering and then the miracle of his resurrection. We then combined images of these creations into both a video and a physical visual display in the Learning Street so that students, staff, families and visitors alike could all share in our learning and be reminded of how incredible Jesus’ sacrifice was. It also helped provide insight into the way he influenced people at the time and all of us now, thousands of years later. Thank you Senior students for sharing your creative learning with us and providing us with such a powerful visual interpretation to share with our community as we reflect on what our Catholic Faith means to us at Easter. We did share this video with you all on Easter Sunday via seesaw and our socials but if you didn’t see it, here it is again to share with your family. Seniors Jesus' Journey to the Cross
ANZAC Day
St. Brigid’s will once again be joining our community at the ANZAC day service at Howey Reserve (in front of the Mechanic’s Hall and library) at 10:30am on Thursday 25th April.
Students are invited to join us at the service in school uniform, where we will meet in front of the library at 10:15am to join in the march. An OPEROO form has been sent out if you would like to take part please complete this to let us know you are attending. Students need to be signed both in and out of the service by a parent or guardian.
Please also be aware that parking is difficult with so many people attending and there will be road closures and traffic management in place from about 10.00am.
The Resilience Project
This week’s presentation from The Resilience Project focuses on Empathy.
Working on empathy helps us to identify, understand and feel what another person is feeling. When we show empathy or we do something kind for someone else our brain releases oxytocin. This leads to increasing our self-esteem/confidence, energy levels, positivity and overall happiness.
Whole Family Activity:
Neighbourhood Kindness Challenge
As a family, choose an act of kindness from the list below that you would like to do for a neighbour or family friend. Each family member can select one to commit to, or you can choose to do one together.
• Cook them something delicious like a cake, hot bread, or cookies.
• Write a note to put in their letter box thanking them for being a great neighbour or friend.
• Design them a Thank You card.
• Pick or buy some flowers to deliver to them.
• Choose a little plant from your garden to give them.
• Make them a gift from things around your house.
• Offer to do a job for them, like wash their car or water their garden.
• Offer to take their pets for a walk.
• Invite them over for afternoon tea.
• Invite them on a walk.
• Recommend one of your favourite books to borrow and read.
• Ask them if they need anything from the shops next time you buy groceries.
• Say hello next time you see them and ask them how their day is going.
• Feel free to do more than one and spread the kindness even further!
• Report back to each other in one week and share how your acts of kindness were received,and how doing them made you feel.
Family Habit Builder:
Every night at dinner, have each person thank another family member for something they’ve done or said today or give another family member a compliment.
For mental health resources and support information, visit The Resilience Project’s Support Page.
Cross Country
The Cross Country team took to the track on the 19th of April. The top 10 finishers from the House Cross Country were invited to represent St Brigids at the Macedon Ranges District competition. The 11 year old and 12/13 year old competitors tackled the 3km course, while our 9/10 year olds ran the 2km course. Well done to all our runners, we had several students who finished in the top 10 and will now progress to the Western Metropolitan Division race day later this term.
Congratulations to Piper Van de Velde (1st), Stephanie Sarac (2nd), Anakin Van de Velde (3rd), Max Jennings (3rd), Lila Gallagher (4th).
