Newsletter August 8th, 2023
- Principal's Message
- A Step Back in Time at St Brigid's by Pete Mullane
- SZapp Mobile Application - St Brigid's communication in one place!
- Parents & Friends Pie Drive - orders by Friday 16th August
- Thank you Community Bank Ballan & District
- Book Week
- Key Dates 2023
- Teeth on Wheels - this Thursday 10th August
- Foundation 2024 Enrolments
- Father's Day Celebration
- Hot Lunches Roster
- School Uniform
- Assemblies
- KidsCo - Week 3 & 4 at St Brigid's
- Preschool Storytime at St Brigid’s
- Birthdays
- Gordon & Bungaree Parish News
- Community News & Events
- Change of Details
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 respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Dear Members of our St Brigid’s Community,
‘Never see a need without doing something about it’
Today, Tuesday 8th August is the Feast of St Mary of the Cross (Mary MacKillop) - Australia’s first saint of the Catholic Church. Mary MacKillop’s legacy continues today in countless ways. Education in its many facets is still a strong ministry for the Sisters of Saint Joseph – Josephite Nuns.
New ways of living the charism have emerged through chaplaincy, pastoral work and a myriad of ways of bringing healing and hope through spirituality, counselling, supervision and mentoring.
Mary MacKillop has shown us how to forgive and how to be compassionate; she teaches us about sanctity and is a saint for all of us today.
St Brigid’s connection to the Sisters of Saint Joseph stem back to 1964, where the new St Brigid’s school building was blessed and officially opened. The Josephite Nuns from Gordon and Springbank school, Head teacher, Sister Jerome (Patricia Williams) and Sister Margaret Maria (Culhane) were permanently appointed to St Brigid’s to carry out the teaching responsibilities. 1976 was the final year in which the students at St Brigid’s were taught by the Josephite Nuns, over a 12 year period. Their work continued at St Michael’s Springbank until 1986, and St Patrick’s Gordon until 1993.
Performing Arts teacher, Pete Mullane was a student at St Brigid’s during this time and has provided an insightful reflection titled, ‘A Step Back in Time at St Brigid’s’ (below).
To celebrate the Feast of St Mary Mackillop, our school captains facilitated the serving of ice cream at first break today and distributed Mary MacKillop bookmarks to all children.
Have a wonderful week everyone.
Take care and God bless,
Jayne Bosworth
'Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all God has made.'
Excerpt from St Brigid's Prayer
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.
St Brigid's Parents and Friends are again organising our Pie Drive fundraiser. Orders can be made via the Spriggy Schools App and need to be placed prior to Friday 16th August. Delivery to St Brigid's will be on Thursday 29th August, 2024.
Hard copies of order forms are available from the school office if required.
A big thank you to our Parents and Friends for organising this pie drive.
To order please go to Spriggy Schools using the Events Tab.
A massive thank you to the Community Bank Ballan & District for their recent generous grant enabling us to purchase flagpoles and outdoor furniture. We are so grateful!
2023 CBCA Book Week is being celebrated from Saturday 19th August to Friday 25th August. This year's theme is, ‘READ, GROW, INSPIRE’.
On Thursday 24th August, our students are encouraged to dress up as their favourite book character and participate in our parade at 9am. Parents are welcome to attend. We are excited to celebrate our children’s love of reading and imagination with 2023 CBCA Book Week!
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.
Key dates 2023
Term 3…
|
Tuesday 8th August |
3 Way Conferences from 1:30pm-5:00pm |
|
Thursday 10th August |
Teeth on Wheels visit |
|
Tuesday 15th August |
School Advisory Council meeting 3:15pm |
|
Thursday 24th August |
Book Week Parade 9am |
|
Tuesday 29th August |
Enrolment 2024 school tour 9:30am |
|
Friday 1st September |
Father's Day event |
|
Thursday 14th September |
Foundation/One Stay Back till 5:30pm |
|
Friday 15th September |
Last Day of Term 3 – 2:20pm Finish |
Term 4…
|
Monday 2nd October |
Term 4 commences for all students |
|
Monday 6th November |
Professional Learning Day for Staff – Pupil Free Day |
|
Tuesday 7th November |
Melbourne Cup Day Public Holiday |
We are excited to have Teeth on Wheels visiting our school for a dental visit on this Thursday 10th August, 2023.
Bookings have now closed.
As we are now in the process of planning for 2024, please ensure that all Foundation 2024 enrolments are submitted as soon as possible via the ‘enrol now’ tab on our website - https://www.sbballan.catholic.edu.au/
Hot lunches are up and running via the online ordering system - Spriggy Schools on SZapp.
Volunteers
This term we have re-introduced a roster to help prepare and serve lunches on each Friday.
Thank you to those who have been added. Ideally 2 helpers are required each day. If you are available to help out on a Friday between 11.30am-1.00pm please contact the school office (valid Working with Children Check is required).
The children really enjoy hot lunches and this can only happen with the help of volunteers!
| Date | Parent Helper | Parent Helper |
| Friday 11th August | Alisha Dalton | |
| Friday 18th August | Natalie Byers | |
| Friday 25th August | Jo Muldeary | Elise Jreige |
| Friday 1st September | Rosanna Omogrosso | |
| Friday 8th September | Natalie Byers | Elise Jreige |
| Friday 15th September | Rosanna Omogrosso |
We have now transitioned to full winter uniform. Please ensure that your child is wearing the correct winter uniform to school each day including bringing the St Brigid’s school bag to and from school daily.
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.
This Semester, we are very excited to welcome families back to our fortnightly assemblies in the Multipurpose Room. Each fortnight a class will present a small item at assembly (please refer to timetable below). We look forward to seeing you at our assemblies!!
Assembly Schedule Term 3
Week |
Date |
Time |
Class |
| 6 | Friday 18th August, 2023 |
2.30pm |
|
| 8 | Friday 1st September, 2023 |
2.30pm |
Year 3/4 |
Assembly Schedule Term 4
Week |
Date |
Time |
Class |
| 3 | Friday 20th October, 2023 |
2.30pm |
|
| 5 | Friday 3rd November, 2023 |
2.30pm |
F/1R |
| 7 | Friday 17th November, 2023 |
2.30pm |
Year 2/3 |
| 9 | Friday 1st December, 2023 |
2.30pm |
F/1C |
KidsCo are here at St Brigid’s! KidsCo facilitate Before School Care, After School Care and in the September holidays, Vacational Care - we are so excited!
Preschool Storytime at St Brigid’s commenced last week - all welcome!
August 2 - Ruby TatchellAugust 2 - Eleanor Shanahan
August 5 - Sophie Barton
August 7 - Angus Muldeary
August 11 - Layton Steiner
August 11 - Bonnie Mae Bettie
August 15 - Oscar Conlan
August 16 - Archer Whitelaw
August 18 - Jacob Cabrie
August 25 - Charlotte Letcher
August 27 - Jaxon Elton-Bott
August 30 - Angie Paolini
August 30 - Alice Yearwood
| 1st Sunday | 2nd Sunday | 3rd Sunday | 4th Sunday | 5th Sunday | |
| Saturday 6.30pm | Dunnstown | Springbank | Dunnstown | Clarkes Hill | Springbank |
| Sunday 8.45am | Gordon | Bungaree | Gordon | Gordon | Bungaree |
| Sunday 10.30am | Ballan | Ballan | Ballan | Ballan | Ballan |
Korobeit Sat 5.00pm ~ Creswick 8.45am ~ Daylesford 10.30am
RCIA for Children: We are inviting expressions of interest from parents who seek baptism for their children who are 7 years and older who have not yet been baptised. Expression of Interest Forms have been placed in the churches or ring the Parish Office on 0492903409.
SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM 2023 PARISH OF GORDON: Please see attached flyer for more information.
