Newsletter January 31st, 2024

Dear Parents and Families,

It is with great excitement that we begin our 2024 school year.

Today, we welcomed children from Foundation - Year 6 to St Brigid’s. It was wonderful to see happy faces enter the school grounds. Excitement filled the air at recess and lunchtime as the children explored the new play spaces. I wish all children a happy and productive year of learning.

A very warm welcome to our many new children who will commence at St Brigid’s this year. We are really looking forward to fostering connections with you.

This year, we welcome the following new staff members to St Brigid’s – Ms Rachel Simmons (Year 1/2), Ms Ruby Anderson (Year 4/5), Ms Bridget Cashin (STEM teacher) and Mr Joseph O’Farrell (Learning Support Officer).

Thursday is the feast day of our patron saint, Saint Brigid. Saint Brigid was born around 451 AD in County Louth, Ireland. Brigid was renowned for her generosity and compassion to the poor and the sick, often giving them the food from her own table. Brigid, and some of her friends who also wished to devote their lives to Christ as nuns, chose the Beatitude ‘Blessed are the Merciful’ when they took their vows.

Brigid built a convent settlement and continued her work from that base, travelling about the district caring for the poor and converting many to the Church. She is renowned for her leadership and faithfulness to the Church.

We look forward to recognising St Brigid at our beginning of year Mass tomorrow at 11:30am.

Have a fantastic week everyone and please don’t hesitate to call in and see me if you have any questions.

Take care and God bless,

Jayne Bosworth

Principal

'Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all God has made.' Excerpt from St Brigid's Prayer

St Brigid's Primary School Ballan wishes to acknowledge respectfully the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live, work, learn, play and gather. We pay respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

All of the timetabled events (to date) for the school year can be found on our school calendar which can be accessed through PAM and via this newsletter.

This year we will be participating in a swimming program from Foundation - Year 6 at the new Salt Water Swim School in Bacchus Marsh. This will consist of a 5 day intensive swimming program, where children will participate in a 30 minute lesson each day.

Swimming and water safety is included in the Health and Physical Education Curriculum from Foundation to Level 10. This means that schools must ensure that they are implementing a swimming and water safety program that meets the requirements of the curriculum. Development of knowledge and skills relating to survival swimming and basic water safety can significantly reduce a child’s drowning risk and enhance community safety.

Class groupings attending are as follows:

• Year 3/4W; Year 4/5A; Year 5/6B - Monday 26th February - Friday 1st March
• FC; Year 1/2R; Year 1/2S - TBC

Further information regarding times of lessons and travel details will be sent via PAM.

Please ensure that your child is wearing the correct summer uniform to school each day including bringing the St Brigid’s school bag to and from school daily. A navy wide brim hat is also required, which stays at school for the Term. If your child does not have a hat to wear they will need to play in the sheltered area only during breaks. 

Children are able to wear sports uniform each Wednesday and on classroom nominated sports day as directed by your child’s classroom teacher. Given the nature of Physical Education lessons, on Wednesday’s children can wear either correct sports shorts or pants.

We are currently exploring options regarding tracksuit pants, sport shorts and rain coats. More details to follow regarding these items.

Parents and families will be provided with the opportunity to touch base with their child’s classroom teacher through our Parent/Teacher conversations that will take place on Tuesday 13th February and Wednesday 14th February. The conversations will take onsite at St Brigid’s.

Booking details including interview times will be circulated within the coming week.

All children are expected to be at school ready to begin by 8:55am. Arriving on time for school is important. The first 10 minutes of school is a vital time of the day when the day's routine and structure is established. It is a time for ‘tuning in’ and focusing on the learning intentions for the day. It is very difficult for children arriving late to ‘catch up on this missed information. Parents are expected to phone through to the office the child’s absence on the day, or through our school Parent Access Module (PAM). If there has been no contact from the family in the morning of the absence, a sms from the office confirming the child’s absence from school will be sent.

School fees will be invoiced to families next week via email with direct debits commencing on February 15th, 2024.

An early payment discount of $100 is offered where the family fee account is paid in full by 15^th February, 2024.

A fee payment plan must be completed by all families and returned to the school office by Friday 9^th February 2024.

Fees/Levies are due and payable in full by November 29^th 2024 unless a direct debit is in place or a payment plan has been otherwise arranged.

SZappp Mobile Application is a fantastic way for communicating and making information or resources available to our St Brigid's school community. 

Please follow the instructions in the below guide on how to install the SZappp and register an email account for communication.