Dear Parents, Carers and Friends of St Brigid’s,

Can you believe that we are in Week 9! We only have 12 days left of school for our students - how this year has flown!!.

STAFF CHANGES FOR 2023

I would like to take this opportunity to inform our school community of the staffing changes for 2023.

Staff Farewelling St Brigid's

It is with a heavy heart that I announce that the following staff will not be returning to St Brigid’s next year:

Carolyn Yass has taken up a position at St Joachim's Primary School in Carrum Downs. She will be Literacy Leader 3 days a week and 2 days a week classroom.

Ellen Behrendt is going to work with a friend in a CRT agency.

Yasmin Allaf is taking 12 months leave to travel overseas.

Jules Oudshroom is continuing her work with the Navy and will be spending some more time with family, in particular her son Jack, as his primary school years come to an end.

Lucy Jones’s contract concludes with us at the end of this year.

I wish them all the very best in their new ventures and I know they will keep in touch with us.

Bec Hampton is taking leave from Term 2 to travel around Australia with her family. Bec will be returning mid Term 4.

New Staff for 2023

It is with much excitement that we welcome 3 new staff members to our St Brigid’s community:

Kate Sleeth will be taking up a classroom position. Kate has been working at St Brigid’s throughout the year as a Casual Relief Teacher.

Lauren Eccles who is a graduate teacher and has been working in an Early Learning Child Centre.

Bianca Gilling will take on Performing Arts for 12 months.

We look forward to working with them in 2023.

SCHOOL SHOES

It has come to that time of the year where some of our students' school shoes are showing significant wear and tear. I totally understand that it is not practical to buy new ones at this late stage of the year, however, I do ask that a note be sent to the classroom teacher to let them know.

YEAR 4 CAMP

Wow! What an exciting time we have had at camp. The Year 4’s will have lots to talk to you about tonight!

I have to say how exceptionally proud Ange, Loretta, Glenn and I were of the children in how the represented the school. They were so respectful to not only us, but to all the places we visited.

ST VINNIES COLLECTION

Tomorrow is the last day to bring in your food and other goods for the annual St Vincent Christmas Food Appeal. On Friday you will be able to wear casual clothes on the day (maybe with a splash of christmas colour). Remember that you must wear closed toe shoes eg runners.

SEMESTER TWO REPORTS

We are currently finalising Semester 2 Student Reports. If you have changed your email address since June can you please email acochrane@sbmord.catholic.edu.au with your updated details, your child's name and class.

COVID REMINDER

We do still have a few active Covid cases within our school community. We ask that parents please monitor cold and flu symptoms and that you keep your children home if they are unwell. If families require additional RATests, we have a them available for collection from the office.

ST BRIGID'S CAROLS NIGHT & CHRISTMAS MARKET - FRIDAY 9 DECEMBER

This year we are holding our first ever combined Christmas Market and Christmas Carol night on Friday 9th December. Our Market will run from 4:00pm until 5:00pm. Christmas Carols will commence at 5:00pm. The children have been practicing their singing in Performing Arts with Mrs Hampton and are making a prop in Art with Mrs Kimball.

Families are welcome to bring a picnic (and a chair or rug) to enjoy during our Carols and we will also have sausages in bread $3.00 and choc tops $ 5.00 for sale - Cash Only.

Students may wear their Christmas Concert Clothes to school on Friday 9 December (closed toe shoes please).

ST VINCENT de PAUL - CHRISTMAS FOOD APPEAL

Our annual Christmas Food Drive for St Vincent's is on again. We will be collecting food for the Mordialloc Branch of St Vincent de Paul culminating in a 'Christmas Dress Up Day' on Friday 2nd of December! This year more than ever St Vincents have record numbers of people in need.

Some suggested donations are:

Foundation - Toiletries - shampoo, toilet paper, toothpaste, tooth brushes, nappies, deodorant

Year 1/2 - Chocolates and Lollies for Christmas, pantry staples

Year 3/4 - Tinned Fruit, Sweet and Savoury Biscuits, pantry staples

Year 5/6 - Tea Bags, Coffee, Milo, sugar, pantry staples

Or anything that you could use on a Christmas Table - Christmas pudding, mince pies, serviettes, bon bons.

Please check the 'use by' date on all items donated. Could all donatations please be brought in tomorrow.

KRIS KRINGLE - CATHOLIC MISSION

Kris Kringle is a tradition that occurs in many places. In the past, students purchase a small gift ($5.00) for another student in their class or level. We will not be participating in this tradition this year.

Instead we ask that families support this initiative by donating $5.00 per family to raise the money for 5 goats. The extra money will be used to purchase toys for the families St Vincent de Paul is supporting for Christmas.

In Ethiopia, food insecurity and malnutrition remain key issues today. $117 can help to purchase one goat at the Dewberry Farm to provide nutritious milk for infants. With more goats raised the right way, mothers will be able to provide milk which has all the right nutrients that a baby needs. This will help to prevent malnutrition and ensure babies will grow to be big, strong, and happy, and have the best chance in life.

We ask that families send in their $5.00 donation by Monday 12 December. This will give us the opportunity to purchase the goats and christmas presents for local families in need.

GOOD LUCKY SOPHIE

Congratulations to Sophie D 5/6C for progressing to the State Finals of the SSV Golf Competition. Sophie will play in the finals at Gisborne tomorrow. We wish you the best of luck Sophie.

IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

As we approach a very busy end to Term 4, I would like to take this opportunity to remind families of important upcoming dates:

Friday 4 December - Christmas Dress Up (Closed toe shoes please) Day/St Vinnies Food Drive
Monday 5 December - Tabloid Sports
Friday 9 December - 3:30pm-5:00pm - Christmas Market; 5:00pm-6:00pm - Christmas Carols - Students may come in their Christmas Concert Clothes today (Closed toe shoes please).
Wednesday 14 December - 10:00am - End of Year Mass - St Brigid's Church - All Welcome
Thursday 15 December - 2:00pm - End of Year/Farewell Assembly - Brigid Hall - All Welcome; 5:00pm - Year 6 Graduation Mass - St Brigid's Church
Friday 16 December - Year 6 Big Day Out; 2:45pm - Year 6 Farewell - St Brigid's Playground - All welcome; Last Day of Formal Classes for Students
Monday 19 December - No formal Classes - Students supervised with Christmas Activities - finish time 3:15pm
Tuesday 20 December - School Closure Day - Staff Planning 2023

See Dates for your Diary for 2023 dates.

Take care and stay safe.

Yours in partnership

Wendy Sullivan

Principal

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