Newsletter March 1st, 2022

A very warm welcome to Fr Justin who has joined the Parish of Gordon as our Parish Priest. On Sunday we welcomed and celebrated mass with Fr Justin at St Brigid’s church. As a school community, we look forward to working with and learning from Fr Justin.   

Ash Wednesday is one of the most popular and important holy days in the liturgical calendar. Ash Wednesday opens Lent, a season of fasting and prayer. Ash Wednesday takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday, and is chiefly observed by Catholics, although many other Christians observe it too. Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. 

The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head. The ashes symbolize the dust from which God made us. Learn more about Ash Wednesday and Lent here: https://bustedhalo.com/video/watch-lent-3-minutes

On Wednesday students and staff will participate in an Ash Wednesday liturgy in their classrooms to mark the start of Lent and learn more about the meaning of Ash Wednesday.

On Sunday, a number of our students attended mass at St. Brigid’s to enrol in our Parish Reconciliation program.

Kiara Grigg, Chloe Muscat, Ned Conroy, Maya Filo and Esther Seketa

are commencing their at home preparation in order to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation on the 22nd March. Please keep the children in your thoughts and prayers as they commence their sacramental journey this year. Many thanks to Therese Winter for preparing and organising the sacramental program. 

A reminder that Wednesday 9th March is the final ‘rest’ day for our foundation children. As from Tuesday 15th March Foundation children will be attending school full time.

On Monday 21st March, 2022, our school will be participating in the Annual Moorabool and District School Sports day. This will be a wonderful opportunity for us to connect with other schools as there will be four schools competing in several activities. This day will be facilitated by school staff and volunteer helpers who will organise and run each event. This is the 25th year that this sports day has been organised at Mason’s Lane, Bacchus Marsh. It would not happen without the dedication and efficiency of the staff and parent helpers from each school to administer each event. More information will be circulated via PAM this week.

Please note school photos will be taken on Tuesday 29th March.  Full summer uniform is required to be worn.

Order forms will be sent home with children within the coming weeks.

This year, we are hoping to form a St Brigid’s Parents and Friends (P&F) Committee.  A P&F committee plays an important role within a school community. An active P&F committee allows families the opportunity to play a valuable part in providing social and fundraising activities.  If you are interested in attending a meeting to find out more about possibly joining our P&F committee, please indicate your interest by clicking on the following link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc4tQtTHXnyIpBFLRWtTCuhDp8btPcIJ1pkn3uEg6wVX7Z-yw/viewform

As in past years we will once again be conducting our Annual Easter Egg Raffle. All families are asked to donate an Easter related item for our raffle. Raffle tickets for the Easter Raffle will be sent home with the eldest in the family next week. The raffles will be drawn in the last week of term.

Throughout the last 4 weeks, as a staff and school we have followed and implemented the measures as stated in the Schools Operation Guide. This has included but is not limited to, online meetings, classes and staff working in ‘bubbles’, mask wearing, etc. At this stage, at St Brigid’s, we have not had significant staff numbers impacted by COVID and therefore, we have been able to minimise disruptions to classes – this has enabled the continuity of learning and teaching in all classes. 

On Friday, the updated School’s Operation Guide was circulated, indicating the easing of some school-based restrictions. School community events are now permitted. Schools and event organisers should still apply a risk assessment and implement required risk mitigation measures.

As advised, I will continue to complete a risk assessment on each school-based event taking into consideration current context to maintain the safety of students, staff and community.

As school community events are now able to occur, we have started making plans for a welcome picnic at St Brigid’s to take place outside and will include an official opening of our new play space! Further information will be circulated within the coming weeks!

A reminder that St Brigid’s parents are invited to complete the ECSI Survey online which will assist us in better understanding how our Catholic identity is expressed in work and practice here at St Brigid’s. Keeping a record of individual user codes and passwords will allow parents to complete the survey over two or more sessions.

Please refer to the following instructions to access and complete the survey:

1. Access the surveys at https://www.ecsi.site/au/user/
2. Enter the case-sensitive password Ghj654 and click login
3. If you’re a new user: Click the New user button 
4. If you wish to continue a previous session: Enter your User-ID and Password. 
5. Enter your school’s Survey Access Code D241pG so that your input will be linked to your school 
6. You are now logged in. Displayed on the screen is your unique User-ID and Password (case sensitive)
7. Save this information (write, print, or email it) to access the website at a later time
8. From this point forward, please follow the on-screen instructions to complete the surveys

A reminder that Thursday 24th March and Friday 25th March are set aside for staff Professional Learning Days. Throughout these days, staff will participate in learning focusing on Catholic Social Teachings, Catholic School Identity and comprehensive First Aid training. 

Term One – Key Dates

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.

Term 1:

• Please note; Foundation students will not attend school on Wednesdays until Wed 16th March

Issue 2 of Book Club for 2022 is out now. If you wish to order please do so online via loop, no cash orders are being accepted through the office at the moment. Order cut off date is 19/3/22. Thank you!

Mass Times:

Korobeit Sat 6.30pm ~ Creswick 8.45am ~ Daylesford 10.30am

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