Thursday 13 February 2025 (Week 2)

A note from Mr Pardini

Dear Families

Even though we are already in week 2, let me start by saying, welcome back to all families for the start of 2025!

Welcome back Mrs Muir - A warm welcome back to Mrs Mandie Muir who resumes her role as Assistant Principal this year. Mrs Muir has been very busy over the holidays to prepare the staff for the year ahead, coordinating 4 days of professional learning for the staff over the past week. I am sure you will join me in welcoming Mrs Muir back to St Brigid's.

Uniform - I have been very impressed with how all students look in their uniforms. Thank you to all parents for preparing your children to make the transition to our smart play uniform. I also thank you for your patience for stock of some items to be replenished - we will keep you informed when new stock arrives.  There is currently a shortage of socks, in the interim, we have a supply of generic navy socks available to families (free of charge), who missed out on purchasing a pair or were limited to 1 or 2 pairs.

We are committed to maintaining the policy which includes all St Brigid's branded items, our uniform policy is included in this newsletter.

Parent Information sessions - Thank you to the staff for hosting the parent information sessions last week. If any parents missed their session, please make contact with your child's teacher to receive the classroom handbook which was distributed at these meetings. 

Holiday maintenance & improvements work - A number of things happened around the school over the holiday period:

• Thank you to the P&F for their work over the weekend before school returned, to reinstate some soft fall around the bicycle track and snake playground as well as install some much-needed shelving in the sports shed.
• Following the busy bee, the very talented (and dedicated Bruce Beesley) spent two days installing the new water pump in the Kindy/PP playground area. With only the raised section left to complete, it is beginning to look much more functional. 
• Limestone blocks were added to the playground area of the Kindy/PP sandpit to make the wall a little higher for some boundary definition.
• The Year 6 classroom received a 'mini makeover' with some fresh paint and carpet. 
• The large tree alongside the basketball court was removed. This was a much-loved tree in our school, as it provided enough shade for most of the children to sit under. Unfortunately, the root system was beginning to invade the basketball court and we predicted that once the cover is installed over the court, the canopy would cause further issues. The tree also was beginning to be unsafe around with the risk of falling limbs becoming an increasing risk due to the health of the tree. 
• Unfortunately, the beautiful tree in the K/PP area succumbed to the strong winds and lots a limb which was half the tree. The decision to remove the last remaining side was made. We know this area is now very exposed to the sun, so we have another challenge to plant something in its place for some future shade.
• Some trees were removed around the snake playground. Again in the interests of safety, they were removed. Soon we will invite a stump grinder in to remove the last part of these. 

With a lot less shade around the school, we are committed to planting new trees in these spaces, which can tolerate the wetter soil (alongside the creek line) that will give us some summer shade and perhaps some autumn leaves to play in.

P&F Welcome Sundowner - We look forward to meeting you tomorrow afternoon (from 3.30pm) in the Kindy / Pre-Primary play area for the P&F sundowner. Thank you to the P&F for providing a free sausage sizzle for the children and a smoked beef roll for the adults. If you would like to share a drink, please BYO. The afternoon is an opportunity to catch up with existing families, but also to make establish connections with some new families. 

Commissioning Mass - This coming Tuesday 18 February, the Years 3-6 classes will be participating in the start of school Mass. At this Mass, the Year 6 student leaders will receive their badges. A letter has been sent to all year 6 families as a separate invitation to this Mass which will take place in the church at 11.30am. 

I am pleased to be around everyone once again as we start another school year, enjoy your weekend.

Carlo Pardini

Principal

School Uniform 2025

RE News from Mrs Barber

Look at what's coming up!

• Tue Feb 18 - Commissioning Mass 11.30am
• Fri 21 Feb - Assembly 8.45am
  
• Mon 3 Mar - Pupil Free Day / Public Holiday

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