Maree's Message

Week 1, Term 4

May the Lord bless each of us as we continue to journey through these Covid restrictions. We are now preparing for our Middle and Senior students to return, part-time, to on site learning. I am extremely proud of our students, parents and staff and our united resilience in continuing to remain engaged and positive during these challenging times.

Return to Onsite Learning

Middle students will return to school for Week 2: Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th October, and the following week, Week 3: Tuesday 19th and Wednesday 20th October, entering and leaving the school through their usual top gate.

Senior students will return for Week 2: Thursday 14th and Friday 15th October, and the following week, Week 3: Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd October, entering and leaving the school through the Brantome St gate OR the very top gate in the Aitken Street service road.

Foundation and Junior students will continue to be onsite Monday to Friday, and enter and leave the school as per current practice.

Students who need to enter or leave with siblings may exit from the gate closest to their family meeting location.

These arrangements are designed to minimise the mixing of students.

In order to further minimise potential exposures, it is imperative that parents, carers and students do not congregate at entrance/exit points, maintain social distance and wear correctly fitted masks at all times.

The Chief Health Officer has also announced today new rules on masks in schools, with all school children in grade three and above required to wear masks indoors at school, and strongly recommended but not compulsory for students in prep to grade 2. (Please note, this is yet to be confirmed by MACS).

Before and After School Care

Due to the latest Covid restrictions for schools, students must not mix at out-of-hours school-based care facilities. We are actively working with the Schools Out Program to have an interim program established at St Brigid's. While this program is being established, I am prepared to provide before and after-school supervision for permitted students, here onsite. This will be for students whose parents are unable to make any other arrangements. Please call me directly to discuss.

Student Free Days

After careful reflection, input from our St Brigid’s Advisory Council and St Brigid’s Consultative Committee and in discussion with Joe Scerri, our MACS Regional Leadership Consultant, we have made the decision to continue with the upcoming student free days on Monday November 1st and Wednesday November 3rd, as advertised in the parent calendar.

Monday, November 3rd - Report Writing Day

Wednesday November 5th - Curriculum Audit and 2022 Planning day. On this day staff will be working in teams to assess the 2021 teaching foci and developing strategic teaching plans for the coming year.

First Eucharist

As per my recent emails, First Eucharist ceremonies scheduled for this weekend have been postponed, due to Covid restrictions. We will notify parents and carers with new dates as soon as possible.

MACSSIS - Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools School Improvement Survey

All schools across the diocese are completing the above survey in order to understand where we currently are as a school, our strengths and challenges and how we can plan to move forward in the future.

I am asking all families to please complete the survey - your contributions will help us to understand and plan for the needs of our incredible community.

Details and pin codes have been sent to you from Jackie Schober yesterday.  Please contact her on jschober@sbgisborne.catholic.edu.au if you require your pin code to be re-sent. Thank you to those who have already completed the survey.

2022 Class Groupings

As part of our Class Grouping Policy, your child will nominate 3 students they would like to be in class with in the coming year. Your child will then be grouped in their 2022 class with at least one of these students. In the coming weeks, parents will be sent an Operoo form which requires you to discuss this with your child and complete the form together.

Middle School Camp

We are hoping that Covid Restrictions lift in time to allow us to proceed with the Middle School camp, scheduled for week 6, November 8th to 10th. We will keep you informed of any changes.

Parish Mission

Please see the Parish Information section for information regarding these very important proposals.

Soccer Goals

Thank you to our amazing PFA for the incredible soccer goals they have purchased through their fund raising activities. The students are so excited to be using the goals. Building Aussie Soccer Reps of the future!

Jasmine - Scrunchies

Over lockdown, Jasmine Matthews has been busy continuing to work on her Genius Hour project, creating and selling scrunchies with profits going to support Gisborne Foodbank. Jas will be selling the scrunchies at school (depending on availability of stock) when we return and would love your support. Well done Jas on this generous and caring action. We are very proud of your efforts, making a difference in our local community.

2022 Foundation Enrolments

We commenced our 2022 orientation program last Wednesday evening with an online forum. Thank you to all those who joined the meeting, asked questions or dropped in for a chat. Our next event will occur Wednesday, October 21st with the distribution of a St Brigid’s sample bag for each 2022 Foundation student.

Building Update

After the recent building workshop, our architects have enacted suggestions and are completing refined drawings. An onsite visit has been organised to occur in the coming weeks.

Fr Noel Oliver

Please remember in your prayers, Fr Noel Oliver, a former parish priest at St Brigid’s who recently passed. May he be in the comforting arms of our Lord.

Let’s continue to spread kindness and support throughout our community, lifting others up and celebrating together.

Blessings and prayers

Maree