Newsletter December, 1st 2020

Over the past few weeks time has been dedicated to planning for the teaching structure for next year. During this process the learning needs of students has been the highest priority in conjunction with strong teams and the skills of our teaching staff. Today was our “Step Up Day” and the students all spend the morning in their new groupings for 2021. 

The  class structure and teaching teams for next year is as follows:

On Thursday our Year Six students will celebrate the conclusion of their primary school years with their graduation ceremony.  This year this event will be celebrated in a somewhat unusual and different way.  The event will be conducted at school, and will be live streamed to their families.  Our congratulations to the following students:

Ciaran Boland, Leo Card, Noah Condona, Tom Connally, Emmy Fidler, Kayden Heafield, Cambrai Hodge, Jack Hollitt, Cora Houston-Connellan, Will Lewis, Nadia Marinovic, Abi Mulgrew, Oliver Nuner, Quinn Pearce, Joseph Seketa and Bailey Zeestraten.

Congratulations to April Yearwood and Chelsea Winter who last week were awarded the Catholic Women’s Association Awards.  This award is selected from our Year 3 and 4 girls for the manner in which they model the key values of our school. Congratulations to each of these girls, as they both have demonstrated they have a very strong work ethic and are great role models in our school.  The girls each win a $125.00 voucher. 

As can be seen as soon as you drive by the school things are really moving along in regard to our outdoor project!!! As we know this project is being overseen by David Hay from Thompson Hay Architects. They are working in conjunction with Shape  Landscape to ensure each part of the project is managed carefully and according to a tight timeline. It is envisaged that the workers from Shape Landscape will be only taking a brief holiday break and plan on being back on site by January 4th. This timeline is in place to try and minimise the interruption to playground use for the students of which we are most appreciative. The children have obviously taken a keen interest in all of the happenings are are very excited and naturally, some what impatient for their playground to be transformed.

Staff continue to work on the reports for this semester - quite a challenging task considering the year we have experienced as a learning community. This semester will again see a report that is different as determined by the VCAA (Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority), the Victorian Department of Education and the CECV (Catholic Education Commission of Victoria). These directions are a result of the extraordinary circumstances during the semester. Reports will be available for parents via PAM on Friday 11th December.  Attached please find a letter from our CEO Director, Tom Sexton regarding the reports.

As you may be aware, the Governance of schools in the Diocese of Ballarat is transitioning to DOBCEL (Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Limited) - a company formed to oversee the legal and compliance requirements of schools in our Diocese. The Bishop is the company and the Board conducts the work. This means that schools will no longer have the Parish Priest as their governing authority. Over time the demands of governing (OH&S, legal obligations and responsibilities, insurance, compliance) have become larger while the number of priests and their capacity to ‘run’ schools has decreased. It was also a recommendation from the Royal Commission that parish priests no longer be responsible for the governing of schools.

Tomorrow (Wednesday), St. Brigid’s will be ‘signed over’ to DOBCEL. The official signing of documents will include Tom Sexton (Director of CEOB), a member of the DOBCEL Board, and Fathers Ed Moloney and Gary Jones, along with Laura Sims (as a member of our School Advisory Council) and Lin Bowers (as a Parishioner).  This signing marks a significant and new era in Catholic Education in the Ballarat Diocese.

We sincerely thank and acknowledge all families who have ensured that their school fees are paid in a timely manner, especially at a time when we have had so many other financial challenges as a result of COVID 19. Later this week all families will receive details of our school fees for the 2021 school year.  Again, we ask anyone who is having difficulties meet their school fee commitments to please contact us to discuss the situation. Avoiding a conversation does not make the situation go away, rather it just postpones the inevitable. We welcome a discussion with any family regarding their capacity to pay their fees.

Recently we welcomed Riley Dunne and his parents Ebony and Matthew to St. Brigid’s.  Riley has joined our Prep class and we extend a very warm St. Brigid’s welcome to them as they join our school community.

Several parents have asked about what they should do if their child is unwell. The advice is quite clear:

• If a child is unwell, even with the mildest of symptoms, they must stay at home. If a child becomes unwell during the day, they must be collected from school as soon as possible.

• If a child has any of the symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) outlined below, however mild, they should get tested and they must remain at home until they receive their results:
- fever
- chills or sweats
- cough
- sore throat
- shortness of breath
- runny nose
- loss of sense of smell or taste
In certain circumstances headache, muscle soreness, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea may also be considered symptoms.

• A child must stay at home until they are symptom free, even if their coronavirus (COVID-19) test is negative. If a person has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) they must isolate until they receive clearance from the Department of Health and Human Services.

• Children do NOT need a medical certificate before returning to school. Once symptoms have cleared, there is no requirement to have a medical certificate before they return to school.

Thank you for your support in following these steps, together we can all stay safe.

Parish Update

As you have seen, the Victorian Govt has announced new provisions for religious gatherings. Indoors are now capped at 150 with a density quotient of 1 person per 4sq metres. At this stage, there is no need to pre-register or book for each mass, but you will still be required to register on entering the Church. Masks are still required indoor but may be removed for reading the Scriptures or receiving communion.

Cemetery Visits

Thank you to Fr Sajan for the visits to the Gordon and Ballan cemeteries over the past two Sundays. . It was a special time of remembrance for our loved ones and we appreciate you enabling us to participate.

Parish End of Year Dinner – Gordon & Bungaree

Once again, we are inviting you to gather as a combined community to celebrate the past year. Details are on the next page – it would be great if you are able to join us.

  CHRISTMAS COLLECTION

The Moorabool Shire CASI’s Local Support Network including Neighbours Place, BM Rotary, local community groups and charity organisations are collecting donations which will be distributed to Moorabool residents in need this Christmas. 

Donations of non perishable food items, Christmas items such as Christmas cake or plum pudding, Christmas crackers, lollies and chips as well as toiletries and essential items would be much appreciated.

You can donate at:

• Moorabool Libraries Bacchus Marsh, Ballan and donations will be accepted by the Mobile Library
• Neighbours Place 77 Main St, Bacchus Marsh
• Foodworks Bacchus Marsh (donation bin for Neighbours Pl)
• Bendigo Community Bank Bacchus Marsh - 2/137A Main St Bacchus Marsh 3340 
• Ballan and District Community Bank – 135 Inglis Street Ballan.

Financial donations can be made also, please call Neighbours Place (03) 5367 6222 if you need their bank details to make a direct deposit. 

COVID-19 is causing financial hardship for many, if you need any support or need some extra help in preparation for the Christmas season please contact the CASI Community Connector at Moorabool Shire on 0437 704 397.