Newsletter 30th November 2022
Upcoming Dates
2nd & 9th December: Combined Schools Days at St Brendan's
8th December: 6:00pm Graduation End of Year Mass; 7:30pm Dinner for Families at the Robin Hood Hotel
14th December: End of Year Excursion to Xtreme Bounce & Waterpark
16th December: Last Day of Term 4 for students; Assembly at 12:00pm, followed by BBQ Lunch
30th January 2023: First Day of Term 1, 2023
Principal's News
Advent
This week we begin our first week of Advent. Advent is a Latin word that means ‘coming.’ Advent wreaths are set up in our classrooms and are part of our daily prayer during the season of Advent.
The first candle on the Advent wreath represents Hope. The first Sunday of Advent not only leads us to anticipate the birth of Christ, but celebrate the beginning of a new liturgical season. This candle is purple, the primary colour of Advent and a colour symbolising royalty.
Going up day / Orientation Day
Yesterday the staff and children got to have a feel of what our classes will look like next year. The Year 6 children experienced a day at their secondary schools and our students spent time in their 2023 class. This included welcoming our new potential Foundation children – Kingston at St. Brendan’s and Bernie at St. Mary’s. Coby will be joining the Senior class as a Year 6 child next year and is already spending time transitioning to St. Brendan’s.
Training
Today our staff spent time completing Emergency Control and Incident Management training. We are also booked in to do our CPR and anaphylaxis training early next year. These sessions are just a couple of examples of the number of compulsory courses we regularly undertake as a way to ensure that everyone stays safe at our schools.
End of year things
There is a lot going on in the next few weeks. Graduation, End of Year Masses, excursions, Christmas rotations, assemblies and general end of the year things that need to be done. Everyone – staff, children and parents - all appear to be getting tired. The end of the year is not far away, but we have a lot to get done before Friday, the 16th. I urge everyone to rally together and support each other so we can get to the end of the year in a positive, optimistic and hope filled way.
Please be kind, patient and tolerant as we move together as a united team towards the finish line. We are almost there. Let’s finish the year on a high!
Stay calm, go gently and look after yourselves and each other,
Inez
What is "Little Feet, Big Footprints"?
Little Feet, Big Footprints (LFBF) is a group of Year 6 students from local primary schools who get together at least once a term to interact and learn leadership skills. It allows us to meet people we may go to high school with. The name means we are young people with little feet but we can make big impacts in our lives and the world we live in. (Stella)
Who was involved?
The schools that were involved in Little Feet, Big Footprints were: St. Augustine’s Creswick, St. Brigid’s Ballan, St. Michael’s Daylesford, St. Patrick’s Gordon and, of course, St. Mary’s and St. Brendan’s. I met some of my old friends as well as some new people along the way. (Liam)
Things we did on Little Feet Big Footprint days:
- At St Augustine's Creswick, we got to talk to the captains from different high schools and asked them questions about leadership and their roles as school captains.
- We had a fun, social day at Major league and played different sports.
- At St Brigid's we started a leadership project to help the community.
- On our last LFBF day we went to Vic Park and had fun. (Sienna)
How has it been beneficial?
I found it very helpful as a way to meet and get to know others going to high school with me. Before LFBF I was a little bit concerned about how many people I was going to know at high school, but after meeting so many other people it made me feel more excited about high school. (Bonnie)
What I liked and what could be improved for next year?
I think that the Little Feet, Big Footprint group helped us to meet new people, however, I think that we could have had a few more days just to help us to get to know people better. We had the opportunity to start some social justice projects, but unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance to finish them so I think we could have had a few more chances to work on those. Hopefully next year's Grade 6 students get the same opportunities because it was great. (Kade)
Asthma & Anaphylaxis Plans 2023
Before your child starts school in 2023, all health details will need to be updated in PAM. Asthma Plans and Anaphylaxis documents will need to be uploaded. As per the Asthma and Anaphylaxis Policies, a new plan is required at the commencement of each school year.
Please only upload documents under the designated area in PAM. Anaphylaxis documents are the only documents to be uploaded under the Anaphylaxis section. This must be an Anaphylaxis plan completed by a GP.
Students with an Allergy plan are uploaded into the Allergy area of PAM not the Anaphylaxis section.
Legally your child cannot attend school without this information.
Please ensure that on the first day of the 2023 school year, that you supply the school with pharmacist labelled asthma pumps, epipens and medications in a suitable labelled plastic container. You must also complete a medication form. Link is below.
If you have any questions please see Claire in the office.
Senior Room News
The senior children have been learning about various things relating to growing up and dealing with relationships. They also discussed many of the issues that become important as they get older and so they have written a letter to their teenage self. Pat and Sullivan have been willing to share their letters with you.
The children will all take their letter home in an envelope, which will hopefully be handed to them again when they become a teenager and their words of wisdom may be a helpful reminder of what an amazing person they are.
Dear Teen Sull,
Do not listen to people's opinions, just be yourself and do not doubt yourself - you can do anything .
Tell a parent if you have a problem so they will fix it
Do not take a brick out of your friendship - show up for your friend and always ….
Conflict is normal in friendships
crossing the boundary
do not talk about people behind their back and two wrongs do not make a right.
Sullivan
To Patrick,
Your opinion is the only thing that matters, not other peoples, yours. Choose trusted adults to talk to. Friends may not always be your friends and words matter too. Friendship is about showing up for each other and conflict is normal in friendships. Be honest no matter what and know everybody screws up sometimes. Own up and apologize and ask if something is wrong if you see someone upset.
When there is an argument don’t try and get involved, it will turn on you. If someone is acting strange, ask if they're okay and help them out. If someone isn’t being kind to you don’t start fighting back - two wrongs don’t make a right.
Don’t cut what you can untie. For example if someone is being annoying don’t go off at them just ask them to stop, it can be as simple as that.
Love yourself no matter what.
Sincerely,
Little You (Patrick)
Junior Room News
My School Stayback Sleepover
On Thursday after school we went to St Brendan's for the Year 2 sleepover. I was really, really scared and nervous at the same time. First we played musical chairs. Clare played and stopped the music, it was lots of fun. After the games we had dinner. All the kids had poppers and some pizza. My favourite was the cheese pizza! Next we got bubbles and we all ran around and popped some of the bubbles. Then we ate ice cream with sprinkles. The Year 1 and Foundation kids went home. Finally we went on a night walk and then we watched a movie. The movie was Back To The Outback. We watched the movie in bed. In the morning we had breakfast before everyone else came back to school. Kamden
Bee Lady Visit
Last Friday Angela visited the CSD at St Brendan's. I learnt that Australian bees love blue flowers. I saw the bees wax and held it, it was smooth. I held the honeycomb too. I found it interesting to try to find the queen bee. Kaezia
On Friday the Bee Lady visited us at the CSD at St Brendan's. I learnt that the Queen just laid eggs instead of helping the other bees. I saw the Queen Bee in the hive and she had a blue dot. I did feel the wax and it was weird, but it was cool. It was interesting when the bees got the pollen from the daisy. The best thing was trying the honey. It was delicious! Quinn
Authority for Student's Photo Permission and ICT Permission for 2023
Moving into 2023, the Student Photo and Recording Permission and the Student ICT Permission will distributed and approved through the PAM accounts. When we rollover the PAM accounts at the end of the semster you will receive an email. Before your child starts school in 2023 all health details will need to be completed. Asthma plans will need to be uploaded and any anaphylaxis documents attached.
The Student ICT Permission form will need to be authorised by a parent before students can use computer equipment. Also, the Student Photo Permission will need to be authorised or delcined.
You will no longer receive these documents in paper form at the start of the school year.
Please don't hesitate to contact the office if you have any questions regarding these forms.
Many thanks, Claire
Gardening & Tidying Roster 2022
22nd November - 5th December: Singline Family
6th December - 19th December: Prendergast Family
30th January - 12th February: Rafter Family