Newsletter April 2nd, 2025

May the glory and the promise of this joyous time of year bring peace and happiness to you and those you hold most dear.

And may Christ, Our Risen Savior, always be there by your side to bless you most abundantly and be your loving guide.

Dear Members of our St Brigid’s Community,

As we reach the end of Term 1, I would like to take a moment to reflect on what has been a wonderful and enriching start to the school year. It has been a joy to see our students making connections and engaging in their learning.

This term has been filled with exciting learning opportunities and celebrations. From our recent Station of the Cross prayer gathering to the many classroom and school events, we have witnessed our students demonstrate our school values with kindness, curiosity and compassion. I especially commend our students for their dedication to their learning, their enthusiasm for school life and their willingness to support one another.

As we prepare to celebrate Easter, we are reminded of the hope and renewal that comes with Christ’s resurrection. Easter is a time of joy and new beginnings, and I encourage all families to take this opportunity to rest, reflect and rejoice in the love and grace of this season.

I extend my sincere gratitude to our staff for their dedication, our parents and guardians for their ongoing support and again our students for their hard work and enthusiasm. May the Easter break bring you peace, joy and time to enjoy with loved ones.

A reminder that Term 1 concludes at 2:20pm this Friday 4th April, and I extend my warmest wishes to all of you.

Wishing you all a blessed and happy Easter. I look forward to welcoming everyone back for Term 2!

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

I am pleased to inform you that Kevin Cummins has been appointed to the role of STEM teacher (weekly on a Friday) at St Brigid's commencing in Term 2.

Kevin brings extensive experience as a classroom teacher and leader within a school setting and has previously worked at Catholic Education Ballarat for many years as Head of e-Learning & Digital Innovation, Videography & School Promotion. Kevin now runs two companies - Modular Media and Innovative Teaching Ideas, further showcasing his expertise in technology, education and innovation.

With his wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of STEM, Kevin will be a fantastic addition to our team and we look forward to the insights and creativity he will bring to our STEM program.

Term 2 commences for all students on Wednesday 23rd April, 2025 at 8:55am.

Please register using the following link:

bit.ly/CommunityWebinarMay15

This month on SchoolTV - Cybersafety

Young people today are growing up in an increasingly connected world where technology is part of their everyday lives –– for learning, socialising, and entertainment. While the digital world offers enormous benefits, it also comes with serious risks. From cyberbullying and online predators to inappropriate content and screen time concerns, navigating the online environment can be challenging for young people and their families.

Cybersafety is not just about blocking access –– it's about empowering young people with the knowledge and skills they need to use technology responsibly and safely. This includes understanding privacy settings, recognising scams, and developing healthy digital habits. At the same time, it's important for parents and caregivers to stay informed, have open and judgement-free conversations with their children, and lead by example through positive online behaviour.

In today's digital age, safeguarding a child's wellbeing must also include protecting their online life. This edition of SchoolTV will help you better understand the digital landscape your child is navigating and offer practical strategies to help them stay safe, confident and in control online.

Please click on the following link to access the latest Edition:

https://sbballan.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/cybersafety-au

As per the email sent on 17th March, please find attached School Photo order forms. 

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 have been sent home. Please return raffle tickets and any donations to the office by tomorrow. 

The raffles will be drawn on the last day of Term 1, Friday 4th April, 2025.

Suzanne Beaver will again be at St Brigids every Tuesday this year. 

Suzanne is available for individual sessions with children. Common issues addressed are managing strong emotions, self esteem, friendship issues, anxiety, and family challenges such as illness, grief and separation.

Suzanne is also available for individual sessions with parents. Topics can include a range of parenting challenges, i.e. managing strong emotions, school reluctance, helping your child form strong friendships, and helping your child to navigate family separation.

Suzanne can also assist you in finding the right external support for your child and family.

This is a great service provided right here at school. Please don't hesitate to contact Suzanne with any concerns you might have. Contact Suzanne by phone on a Tuesday or by email any day sbeaver@sbballan.catholic.edu.au.

You can also access the service through the office or your classroom teacher.

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.

Hot lunches will recommence Friday 2nd May via the online ordering system - Spriggy Schools on SZapp.

Volunteers

We have re-introduce a roster looking for volunteers to help prepare and serve lunches on each Friday. Ideally 2 helpers are required.

If you are available to help out on a Friday between 11.30am-1.00pm please contact the school office with your dates (valid Working with Children Check is required).

The children really enjoy hot lunches and this can only happen with the help of volunteers!

Please find below an updated menu.

Whole School Prayer/ Assembly will take place on a fortnightly basis at St Brigid’s Church. To ensure uninterrupted Literacy time and as specialist classes will take place each Friday, we will need to move assembly to Monday afternoons from 2:30pm.

Term 2 dates:

• Monday 28th April, 2025 @ 2:30pm 
• Monday 12th May, 2025 @ 2:30pm
• Monday 26th May, 2025 @ 2:30pm
• Monday 23rd June, 2025 @ 2:30pm

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.