Newsletter September 8th, 2020
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Principal's Message
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Parent Teacher Interviews
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Individual Check In with Each Child - Term Four
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Outdoor Area
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Catholic Education Week
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Australia’s Biggest Safety Lesson for 4-7 year olds - 10 September 2020
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School Closure Day
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Public Holidays
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2021 Prep Enrolments
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Family Fee Assistance
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2022 Year 7 Enrolments
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Birthdays
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Gordon & Bungaree Parish News
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Change of Details
If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit says to the church. I will let everyone who wins the victory eat from the life-giving tree in God’s wonderful garden. Revelation 2:7 (CEV)
Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth. Bless and unite all your people in Australia and guide us on the pilgrim way. Give us the grace to see your face in one another and to recognise Jesus, our companion on the road. Give us the courage to tell our stories and to speak boldly of your truth. Give us ears to listen humbly to each other and a discerning heart to hear what you are saying. Lead us into a hope-filled future, that we may live the joy of the Gospel. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth. (Adapted from the Plenary Council Prayer)
Dear Parents and Friends,
The announcements made by the Premier Daniel Andrews on Sunday were certainly very mixed and in some ways very confusing. One thing I do know is that I am very relieved I am living in Regional Victoria at the moment as although we still have significant restrictions we are closer to 'COVID normal' than our counterparts in Greater Melbourne. I think we are all struggling in different ways to come to terms with the long roadmap that has been laid out for us. The fabulous news however is that our students will return to school in Term 4.
Plans for return to school
The Victorian Government has released the following plan for easing Covid-19 restrictions. It includes the following decisions about school operations:
All schools will continue to provide remote and flexible learning for the remainder of Term 3, except specialist schools in rural and regional Victoria, consistent with current settings.
The following changes remain subject to the advice of the Victoria’s Chief Health Officer:
5-9 October (First Week of Term 4)
Remote and flexible learning will continue for all students.
On-site supervision for children of essential and eligible workers and vulnerable students will continue to be provided consistent with existing guidelines. Please note: that the on site supervision form must be completed each week before your child can attend either school or After School Care.
12 October onwards
All students from Prep to Year 6 will return to full time onsite learning on Monday 12th October. This will be under the same guidelines as our previous return to school (e.g no parents allowed on site, hand sanitisation and physical distancing where possible).
The staff at St Brigid’s are extremely excited by the prospect of all our children being back at school - we can’t wait to see your smiling happy faces.
For your information the roadmap for Regional Victoria is attached.
Take care,
Gabe
As has been outlined in our school calendar next Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th September, has been earmarked for our Parent Teacher Interviews. Although not necessarily the best time for these activities we have decided that they will go ahead, not as face to face events, but rather via Google Meets or phone calls. In the next day or so you will receive an invitation from your child’s teacher to undertake these discussions. It will be important to be aware that the teachers will not have undertaken any recent face to face assessment of your child’s learning, however we want to share with you our plans for Term 4 and the best way to assist your child's learning.
As part of our return to face to face learning the teachers will, in Week One of Term Four organise an opportunity to meet with your child/ren - face to face and one to one with a view of checking in with your child and to undertake some formal assessment to gauge where they are at with their learning. Our plan is that this process will be similar to the Individual Interview Days we have conducted at the end of the school year in the past. Each family will be provided with a time for their child to attend school and meet with their teacher. This will be both a well being check and an opportunity for re-connection with your child, as well as an assessment time. Further information about this process will be provided next week.
Finally our outdoor project has gone to tender and hopefully it will be very soon that we can finally commence the redevelopment of our outdoor areas. This will include the removal of our old playground and replacing with a new one. This is a requirement in regard to safety issues, but also the cost factor in removing and returning the playground to it’s original position. It is more cost effective to install a new adventure playground. With that in mind, below are a number of playground websites. We would love your family to have a look at these and let us know if there are any particular playgrounds that are of interest to you and your children. Email us at administration@sbballan.catholic.edu with your suggestions and advice. The area the playground will sit in is 197 metre squared, and we have budgeted approximately $25,000 to $30,000 for the purchase and installation.
The theme for Catholic Education Week 2020 is Listen to what the Spirit is saying. This theme focuses on listening and discernment which is borne from rich dialogue. Pope Francis defines discernment as more than intelligence or common sense: ‘It is a gift which we must implore. If we ask with confidence that the Holy Spirit grant us this gift, and then seek to develop it through prayer, reflection, reading and good counsel, then surely we will grow in this spiritual endowment.’ Gaudete et Exsultate 166
This week is Catholic Education Week in the Diocese of Ballarat. Hopefully, like our staff, you feel a great sense of pride at being part of a Catholic school. Our school and parish community has much to celebrate when we consider our facilities, our amazing children, our traditions and the learning opportunities and challenges that are offered to us daily. With the theme of Catholic Education Week this year being ‘Listen to what the Spirit is saying’, consider recognising those moments in our day when we are called to act or speak in a certain way. Am I trying to be the best person I can be in my daily encounters with others?
The Daniel Morcombe Foundation invites parents, carers, and educators across Australia to register to participate in the lesson. Australia’s Biggest Child Safety Lesson (ABCSL) is an annual initiative of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation now its fourth year. In a live-streamed online format, ABCSL is an engaging, educational video aiming to teach age-appropriate personal safety strategies in an empowering manner. Registered participants will be able to access an exclusive preview of the lesson prior to the event. More information is available here. Register now to watch the livestream here.
St Brigid’s has been planning to work with two other schools (St Alipius, Ballarat East and St Michael’s, Daylesford) on a range of professional learning activities entitled 'Visible learning'. Due to COVID 19 restrictions we have changed the planned dates for this event on a number of occasions. The latest date we set for this event is Friday 9th October (Week One of Term Four), however, once again it is very unlikely that this event will go ahead. We will keep you informed as to any further update regarding this potential closure day.
Please be aware that both Friday 23rd October and Tuesday 3rd November have been declared public holidays in Victoria, for AFL Grand Final and Melbourne Cup Day respectively.
Please refer to the attached information regarding the Family Fee Assistance Scheme. I encourage any parents/carers to contact Gabe or Emma if the current COVID situation is impacting your family’s financial capabilities.
The Victorian Government has reintroduced Stage 3 restrictions in regional Victoria. Unfortunately for us it means that our churches will be closed with no masses until at least September 13. There are exceptions for funerals and weddings. We hope all
parishioners are keeping safe and connected to our parish as we work our way through this very challenging environment.
The Parish Leadership Team are still meeting via zoom every fortnight. We’re not making any major decisions, just ensuring that the Parish is running smoothly, and addressing any pastoral needs within our community. We hope you are continuing to
keep connected, safe and healthy. Hopefully we can gather together as one community soon. Take care and stay well.