Newsletter Term 2, Week 2 2023

Principal's Welcome

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to Term 2! I hope you have all had a lovely Easter school holiday break.  Judging from this photo of our beautiful school protected by the rainbow we are being watched over, blessed and loved.  I hope you all feel that also.  This is an actual photo of the front of our hall taken by our staff member.

It was lovely to see so many St Brendan’s children and families at the Doyalson RSL ANZAC march.  Here are some memorable photos:

Over the Easter holidays we have appointed two new lovely, passionate and professional teachers to teach Year 3 Green and Year 6 Red.  I would like to congratulate both Miss Bevan and Mr Perry on their appointments.

Year 3 Green

Meet Miss Katie Bevan!

Hi, my name is Miss Bevan and I’m originally from Sydney which is where I completed my degree and began my career. After teaching Outdoor Education for several years, in 2020 I decided to move back into the classroom and have been teaching in the Maitland Diocese ever since.

I have a house in Newcastle that I have been slowly renovating and I share this with my two dogs (Rigsby and Rupert).

I enjoy sports, coffee dates and meals with friends and family.

I am very excited about being a part of the St Brendan’s Community and looking forward to meeting everyone, especially year 3.

Year 6 Red

Hello to St Brendan’s community,

My name is Christopher Perry and I'm excited to be joining St Brendan's and looking forward to teaching year 6 where I hope to bring lots of fun to the classroom. I'm also passionate about Sport and Technology so will look to bring that into our learning.

I am known for my excellent use of Dad jokes. I am a passionate Crystal Palace Football Club (soccer) fan, as it was where I grew up in south London. I moved to the Central Coast 7 years ago from England with my Australian wife and I am very grateful for everything it has to offer. I have a 5-year-old daughter Harriet and 4-year-old son Jenson.

Regards,

Christopher 

I would also like to welcome our new families to St Brendan’s including Harper, Evie and Ethan to our Year 3 classes!  We hope you are settling in being looked after by your new friends.

Our Year 6 Canberra excursion is fast approaching.  Please be sure you have started the preparation.  Our Year 6 students will be accompanied by our Year 6 teachers Mrs Beveridge, Mr Murphy and Mr Perry.  Also attending will be Mr Chandler (Year 5 teacher) and myself.  Canberra excursions are always a memorable event and we are hoping for a very positive and educational experience.  Pack your Winter woollies… your school sport uniform will also need to be packed for the visit to Parliament House please.

Our whole staff have been involved in professional development focused on 123 Magic Emotional Coaching for teachers which is our whole school discipline approach.  I will share with you very soon an opportunity for parents to be involved in 123 Magic for parents.

Our grounds update:

In the holidays our oval was supposed to have drainage issues rectified.  Due to the wet conditions during the holidays the machinery on our oval sunk and was bogged, therefore not able to undertake the works that was planned.  This will need to be rescheduled.  The playground equipment has been quoted and will look to be replaced in the near future which will be open up a playing area for the children.

Waking of a morning lately has been quite brisk, therefore we will review when the children will return to school wearing their Winter uniforms.  This could be as early as Week 4 or 5 depending on the weather patterns.  Please be sure to have your children’s Winter uniform ready to go!  Your children have obviously grown since last year, therefore please have a little dress rehearsal soon to check sizing.  If your child has grown out of their uniform please feel free to donate to our clothing pool and if your child needs a replacement uniform please check to see if our clothing pool has a suitable size.  Otherwise, our uniform supplier is Cowan & Lewis.  Please contact our office if you need assistance.

Lunch time clubs this term are  Dance with Mrs Beveridge on a Tuesday, Chess with Mr Murphy on a Wednesday and Garden club on a Thursday with Mr Hunter!

Our school improvement focus is researched based and will be looking at data on previous results on Multiplication and Division.  We will also be incorporating small group interventions lead by Mrs Betts focusing on phonemic awareness.  We also have Mr Chandler targeting small group interventions “Advanced Numeracy Groups” from Years 3-6 on a Friday during his coordinator release.

I am aware of many bus crowding issues and I am in constant communication with Mr Murdoch from St Brigid’s to find a way to keep children safe on the buses.  Please feel free to contact Busways direct.  Their complaints numbers are 131 500 and 1300 692 929.

I am sending a new bus route survey out to parents early next week.  Please complete this survey to supply us with relevant data.  I will use this data to lock in the need we have for Busways to supply us with a new bus route from Swansea, through Catherine Hill Bay, Nords Wharf, Murrays Beach and Crangan Bay. This is crucial information.

Our Year 5 and 6 students will be invited to be part of our debating team this year!  Our Year 5 and 6 teachers will be working with the children who are interested in participating.  We will keep you up to date with these results.

Our St Brendan’s cross country team are representing our school at the Central Coast Cross Country competition today (Friday, 5^th May) at Mariner’s Centre, Tuggerah.  Congratulations team, we look forward to hearing about your wonderful experiences.

Friendly reminder to please be safe in the carpark and approaching our carpark.  Our students are walking, on scooters, bikes etc approaching our carpark area.  I have noticed many cars entering our driveway at speed.  Please slow down!

Thank you to those who have completed the uniform options survey with regards to the girls’ shorts/culottes and the shirts designed to be worn outside shorts.

Our PAG (Parent Advisory Group) is approaching.  Please feel welcome to attend on Tuesday, 9^th May at 6pm in the Year 5 building.  If you have any agenda items please let me know.  We do follow an agenda and like to limit the meeting to one hour.  ALL WELCOME.

St Brendan’s Feast Day is fast approaching on Tuesday, 16^th May!  What an exciting day this is for our school community.  I hope you will all be involved in our celebrations.  We will send further details very soon hoping to see you at our 9am mass and colour run!

We are looking forward to celebrating Mother’s Day breakfast, open classrooms and mass with you on Friday 12^th May.  Please be sure to RSVP for catering purposes. 

God Bless,

Charlene Reid

Principal

Religious Education

Week 1 Award Recipients

Week 2 Award Recipients

Sports Column

Our children attended the Central Coast Cross Country Carnival today. Our children’s represented our school both on and off the track. Their behaviour was exceptional and they all did their very best.

Congratulations to Rain (4th) and Samantha (17th) AND to Charlotte (17th) and Ella (16th) who progressed to the next level representing our school at Broken Bay Diocese. We wish them the best of luck!

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Upcoming and Updates

NATIONAL WALK SAFELY TO SCHOOL DAY

We are encouraging all students and families to walk to school on Friday, 19 May 2023 for National Walk Safely to School Day. 

Did you know that children who are regularly physically active are healthier, perform better academically and are less likely to be obese or overweight.  Walking regularly is the best exercise  for your health because you can build it into your daily routine.

The Objectives of the National Walk Safely to School Day are:

• To encourage parents and carers to walk regularly to school with primary school age children 
• To promote the health benefits of walking and create regular walking habits 
• To help children develop vital road crossing skills and ensure children up to the age of 10 years hold an adult's hand when crossing the road
• To reduce car dependency and traffic congestion
• To reduce the level of air pollution created by motor vehicles
• To promote the use of public transport

If you walk to school, we have 210 "Walk Safely to School Day" tattoos that will be handed out when you arrive at Kiss and Drop.

Mother's Day Stall

On Thursday, 11 May 2023 we have a Parent Event Team who will be running our Mother's Day Stall.  On this day, students will be able to purchase gifts.  They attend the stall with their class and are able to browse and choose a special gift.  The gifts range from $1.00 to $8.00 in price.

Please ensure your child has an envelope with their money inside.  If you feel it is needed, you may want to specify on the envelope how many gifts they need to purchase. 

Class Parents

Our Class Parents have been finalised for 2023!

Each Class Parent will be across the whole grade either on their own or sharing the role with another from the same grade. The role of the Class Parent is to use the grade Facebook Page to communicate reminders and information, to be the parent/carer contact for the grade and to support the class teacher. All parents/carers have been sent their grade link via Compass.

Our Class Parents are:

Kinder: Term 2: Maria (child: Kassandra) & Nerissa (child: Brantley)

Term 3: Samantha (child: Hudson) & Bernadette (child: Xavier)

Term 4: TBA

Year 1: Allyse (child: Josimarie) & Anni (child: Jackson)

Year 2: Penny (child: Isaiah) & Bec (child: Koa)

Year 3: Dee (child: Jaxon) & Claire (child: Violet)

Year 4: Carly (child: Rain)

Year 5: Kristie (child: Anabella)

Year 6: Cassie (child: Keira)

Class Parents are an integral part of building a positive school community at St Brendan’s Catholic Primary School. We thank these wonderful volunteers for participating in this valuable role!

Asthma Guidelines

Please see below a copy of the Asthma Guidelines for CSBB Sporting Events.  If your child suffers from asthma, please make yourself familiar with these guidelines that are in place to support you and your child. 

It is important to note that it is recommended that your child should carry medication (in a zip pocket or inside running tights) at events.  

When we have school based activities, staff will take your child's asthma medication with them.  If the event is off-site and you are asked to take your child (such as the upcoming Central Coast Cross Country), we ask parents ensure that their children have their asthma medication with them.

COVID UPDATE

We continue to provide hand sanitiser and encourage Covid safe practices within St Brendan's.  Last term we distributed boxes of Rapid Antigen Tests (20 kits per box).  If your child has cold or flu like symptoms we ask that you keep them home from school until they are symptom free.  We will continue to notify families through Compass when there is a positive Covid case in your class.

Playgroup & Coffee and Chat

Do you have any little ones? St Brendan's has a FREE playgroup for newborn to school age children. Come and meet other parents in the community. Little ones will be guided through fun and engaging activities.

Playgroup is held in the school hall on Monday (during the school term) from 8.30am to 9.30am. Morning Tea is provided. 

Feel free to share the word and bring along family and friends. 

School student travel information for parents and students

Music Bus

The Music Bus is running weekly lessons at our school in term 2

Classes offered are:

·  Keyboard (prep/kindy-y6)

·  Ukulele  (prep/kindy -y6)

·  Drums (y1-y6)

·  Guitar (Y2-y6)

Lessons are:

*  be 30 minute duration - once per week

* be held in the hi tech music classroom on wheels on our site

* cost $20 per week ($22 drums) payable by the term on commencement

If you wish to take part in term 2 please complete this expression of interest form asap

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/ee4627a5204c46158e1ab17e7c8069c6

Community

The First Scientists Read Along

The Council of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT is excited to be able to continue to provide our families across NSW and the ACT with opportunities to build their capacity to support their child’s learning.

We are delighted to present Corey Tutt OAM, proud Kamilaroi man and the 2020 Young Australian of the Year for NSW to read a section of his book, The First Scientists to our children and young people.

Parents and carers are encouraged to register for this online event and, on the evening of 30 May, from the comfort of their home, they can connect with us online to hear Corey read to their children.

REGISTRATIONS OPEN MONDAY 8 MAY

The first 100 families to register will receive a FREE copy of the book “The First Scientists” to read along at home.

Gwandalan Scouts

Gwandalan Scouts are reaching out to community members with an interest in Scouting.

Unfortunately 1st Gwandalan Scout Group is currently in recess and in urgent need of adult leaders to enable interested youth in the community to benefit from Scouting experiences.

Scouting provides wonderful opportunities for young people to enjoy interesting and challenging learning experiences and develop lifelong skills.

There is an excellent and well resourced Scout hall in the community.

If you are interested and able to help to re-start Scouting for the Gwandalan/ Summerland Point communities please contact Dom Pirlo on 0413845810.

Keeping Kids in Mind

CatholicCare will be offering an online parenting program called Keeping Kids in Mind. It will start in Term 2, on Wednesday 3rd May, 2023. This valuable program is suited for separated parents who are experiencing ongoing conflict and is designed to provide some insight from the perspective of their child/ren.This course is designed to assist parents to see through their children’s eyes the experience of parental separation.

You’ll also develop a greater understanding about how to support your children. This course is only offered to parents with children experiencing separation.Topics include grief and loss after separation, the hidden world of children, rebuilding resilience, bridging the gap and looking back, moving forward. The cost is $150 or $50 concession. Register here https://tinyurl.com/4jpp9rwc. For more information visit http://www.catholiccaredbb.org.au/fami.../parenting-programs.

Supporting children to have a better in-game experience

This 45-minute webinar provides families with strategies for supporting children and young people to have safe, positive experiences when playing games online. It is designed for parents and carers of children aged 7 to 14.

It will cover:
- when gaming can be beneficial and strategies to promote better in-game experiences
- how to keep children safe online – using safety and privacy settings in games and platforms
- strategies to promote more balanced gaming and how to create smoother transitions from game-play to other activities
- the key online risks and where to find help for things like bullying and harassment in games.

Tuesday, 23 May 2023 7:30 PM-8:15 PM

Compass Calendar