Dear Parents and Friends,

School Fees

Due to the current economic climate and in discussion with the School Accountant the fees and levies will not be increased. Therefore, the 2021 fees and levies will remain the same as 2020.

School fees are now overdue unless you have a specialised payment plan in place. Families on direct debit payments please review your last statement to ensure that your fees are paid in full by end of year. Thank you to those families who have made recent payments.

Currently the school is in transition to a new accounting and student data software program. During this period receipts will not be generated and automatically emailed to you. Please contact Michele Wain 95804518 or email mwain@sbmord.catholic.edu.au if you have any queries regarding outstanding amounts or payments.

Class Placements

The staff are working together on class lists for 2021. The children have completed their 5 friend hands and I have had correspondence from parents (last term) regarding 2021 placements. The process will be completed with careful consideration given to social cohesion, friendship groupings, placement of siblings and positive academic influences. Other factors to be considered include keeping a ‘balance’ of children with social, emotional, physical, behavioural and academic needs, and an even spread of year level numbers and genders in multi-age classes. This is an opportunity for students to either further develop existing friendships or an opportunity to develop new friendships. We see the ability to create new friendships each year as a valuable opportunity to further develop personal life skills for all children. Please remember our staff are very confident and competent in the placement of your children and like you, have the best interest of the children in mind as well.

St Brigid's Advisory Board Nominations

We had the last Board meeting for 2021 (and my first!) before the AGM. If anyone would like to join the Board please let me know as Jim Poussard has finished his term on the board. Jim has been a wonderful member of the Board and a great contributor to our conversations.

World Teacher's Day

Just a reminder that tomorrow is World Teachers Day and I think you will all agree that our Teachers have done an AMAZING job this year. It would be lovely is if you could make the time to message, make a card, greet/say thank or send in a little treat to recognise the wonderful work our Teachers and support staff do here at St Brigid's.

Enrolments

We continue to welcome enrolment applications for all levels F-6 for next year. If you are aware of friends or family members wishing to enrol at St Brigid's please advise them that enrolment forms can be found on the school website or available from the school office. Please email Tracey at tstackpole@sbmord.catholic.edu.au and she will be more than happy to send you out the relevant information. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call me on 9580 4518.

Reflection

The month of November is Remembrance month. During this month we acknowledges those who have died within the previous 12 months as well other loved ones.

Sundays Mass is the Feast of All Saints. The following reflection I wrote for the Parish Bulletin.

Saints are sometimes regarded as ‘Catholic superheroes’. Stories of miraculous and remarkable deeds abound, though more in the vein of conversions and cures than speeding bullets and tall buildings. The Church celebrates a certain number of Saints whose lives provide a glimpse of God for the rest of the Church. But just to look at our Saints on the stained glass windows and the ones we pray to is to overlook the vast majority of saints. However, a saint is anybody whose soul is in heaven and there are many, more saints whose glimpse of God was only experienced by their family, friends and those with whom they worked. The feast of ALL Saints is an opportunity to remember and reflect on the lives of those saints who’ve been known and loved by just a few and whose sphere of influence was such that they will never be recognised as Saints by the universal Church.

St Brigid’s school community was saddened by the passing of our own ‘lower case s’ saint last weekend, Michelle. Michelle certainly responded to God’s call through her love of her family, extended family, her work family and her St Brigid’s family. Please keep Michelle’s husband, Mal and children Lily (5/6BW) and Hugo (1/2LY) in your prayers and may we all know she is with our God in his loving arms.

School Closure Days Next Week

Just a reminder that school is closed on Monday 2 November and Tuesday 3 of November. School resumes as normal on Wednesday 4 November. Enjoy the extra long weekend.

Yours in partnership,

Wendy Sullivan

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