Term 4 Week 7 2023

A Message from the Principal

Dear parents and friends,

As the end of our year draws near, we have many events coming up on our calendar. I would like to draw your attention to some key dates:

• Monday 20^th November: Our Year 6 students will visit LSHS for the whole day as they prepare for their transition to high school. Information was emailed home to all Year 6 families this week.
• Tuesday 21^st November: Our school will celebrate Presentation Day. Presentation Day is where we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple. We will begin this day with mass at 9am in the Bush Chapel followed by exciting activities throughout the day. Mrs Arthur has included more information about Presentation Day in her APRE News. Tuesday will also be a Free Dress Day as we raise funds for Outback Independent Living – please bring a gold coin donation!
• Wednesday 22^nd November: We will acknowledge our students’ academic, sporting, and cultural achievements at our Awards Evening. All families are encouraged to attend, and students are to wear full formal uniform on the night. The presentations will begin at 6pm.
• Friday 24^th November: Thomson Pelicans will be challenging the Kennedy Kangaroos for the Annual Swimming Carnival bragging rights. Parents are very welcome to come and cheer the students on throughout the day. Mrs Neuendorf has been busy preparing the program for what should be an exciting day of competition in the pool!
• Monday 27^th November: Year 6 Graduation Evening. A beautiful liturgy will be held in the Bush Chapel followed by dinner.
• Tuesday 28^th November: I can hear the sleigh bells jingling….. All classes will perform two carols to entertain the community and spread some Christmas cheer. The morning will begin at 9am in the MPC. Everyone is most welcome to attend!
• Wednesday 29^th November: Our Prep class will lead us in the story of the Nativity at 9am in the MPC. We will formally gather one last time at 2:30pm in the afternoon to farewell our Year 6 students and departing families.

I look forward to seeing our families at some or all of these special events.

Booklists have been included in this week’s newsletter. This will give families time to prepare for next year. A great tip is to put aside reusable items from this year when students bring their equipment home at the end of the year. Growing up in a large family, my parents found this a great way to limit costs on booklists.

The School Board reviewed our Uniform Policy at the beginning of this year. It has been included in our newsletter throughout the year. Our students have looked amazing at community events and at assemblies, wearing it with pride. Next year, we will be monitoring shoes and earrings closely as they seem to be troublesome aspects of our Uniform Policy. Please take a moment to review the policy and correct any aspects of the uniform before 2024.

Reflection – Sr Kym Harris OSB

It was like a text from Jesus…

A text from Jesus…think about it.  If I received a text from Jesus what would it say? I haven’t yet worked out what he would say in a pithy manner but I know there would be things in it that I truly need.  It would definitely include support.  I know I beat myself up too much for not meeting unrealistic expectations.  Which leads me to ask what are these expectations and are they really what God wants of me?  Quite often not.  I think Jesus would tell me to be myself – the unique person he wants to dance with in the crazy music of life.  I think he would tell me to dampen the negative voices, enter into myself, be the person he wants me to be…and love and serve others as that person.

And what would I send in reply?  It has to be ‘Thank you!’, in one of the myriad ways in which ‘thank you’ can be said. But what else would I say?  I think ‘joy’ should be in there and maybe a commitment to be creative with the person he calls me to be. 

And, you know what, unique as I may be, I think the things he would say to me would not be much different to what he would say to most of you.  God wants to delight in the person he has made and who is making in you.  When we realise that, a lot of the rubbish in our lives can be dealt with, even falls away, and we have the capacity to say ‘Thank You’ and let joy loose in our lives.  So what text would you like to receive and how would you reply?

Loving God, my life gets cluttered with all sorts of unrealistic expectations.  Give me the wisdom to listen to what you truly want to say to me and the insight and courage to respond from the depths of my heart.  I ask this in Jesus’ name confident that you will hear me.

APRE News

Next Tuesday, the 21^st of November we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  This is our school’s feast day – a deeply Religious Feast dedicated to Mary and adopted by the Order of the Presentation Sisters who founded our school in 1900. This is not to be confused with our school’s Award’s Night where we recognise the achievements of our students from throughout the year (Wednesday 22^nd November).

The Feast of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple is a special time for the Presentation Sisters and Presentation communities around the world as it offers the opportunity to reflect upon the significance of this day for the spirituality of Presentation people.

The name “Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary” was in fact the second given to the religious congregation founded by Nano Nagle.  The Order was originally known as the Sisters of Charitable Instruction of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  It is no accident that these two names reflect Nano’s personal devotion and her spiritual vision that is represented by two images: the heart and the temple.  While we are quite familiar with the heart spirituality of Nano Nagle, today I would like to explore the significance of the lesser-known symbol of the temple for the Presentation charism.

The Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary celebrates the story of the presentation of Mary in the Temple. This story does not appear in the Christian Scriptures but in another text written by Christians in the 2^nd Century.  The story begins by describing the grief of an elderly couple, Joachim and Ann, who had been disappointed that they were unable to have children.  In her prayers Ann promised God that, if granted a child, whether male or female, she would dedicate it as a gift to the Lord.  To her joy, soon afterwards she conceived and bore a child whom they called Mary.  When the child reached the age of three, Ann felt that the time had come to carry out her promise, and so she and Joachim decided to take Mary to the temple.  Zacharias the high priest welcomed Mary at the entrance to the sanctuary, making her sit ‘upon the third step of the altar’ then, later, in the Holy of Holies. 

That’s the story, more or less: a childless couple give birth to a girl and, to thank God for this blessing, take her to the temple.  Now, you may think that it sounds fairly straightforward; no big deal.  Well, you’re wrong.

The temple in Jerusalem was the centre of religious worship for Jewish people.  It was a holy place and, in the holiest place of all – the Holy of Holies – dwelled the Divine presence – God.  This sanctuary was so sacred that only the High Priest could enter it.  Women weren’t allowed.   

So, what is really happening in this story?  Mary is symbolic of a new way of understanding God and God’s action in the world.  Mary represents a new temple who brings God out of the Holy of Holies, out from behind the walls where women weren’t permitted to go, out of the temple where the Jews worshipped and into the world, our world.  She does this by accepting God’s blessing to be the mother of Jesus.  She responds to God with complete fidelity: “Let it be with me according to your word.” (Lk 1: 38)  She gives life to Emmanuel, which means, literally, “God is with us.” (Mt 1: 23) 

As Presentation people, we are called to a new understanding of God and God’s action in the world.  We are called to be like Mary: “a temple of the living God” (1 Cor 6:19). 

We can live our temple spirituality by being witnesses to the Gospel in all that we say and do.  May the words we speak to each other be words of love.  May the deeds we do be gentle and generous.  May our attitude to our world and the people who live within it be respectful.  Love, gentleness, generosity, respect: less of the ME and more of what builds community, the WE.

This is a way of life – a spirituality – that was modelled by our founder, Nano Nagle, and the generations of women who have continued her mission.      

I would like to take this opportunity to extend our prayers and best wishes to the Presentation Sisters as they prepare to celebrate their Feast day.  May they, like Mary, experience the blessings of God and, like Nano, be for others, the presence of God - the source of life and love.   

Next Tuesday morning we will celebrate with Mass in the MPC at 9am lead by Father Kinglsey and our Year 5 Class. This will be followed by the cutting of our Feast Day Cake lovingly prepared by Mrs Lisa Neuendorf – all are very welcome to share this occasion with us.

As this is our Feast Day and we are quickly approaching the end of school year, we are planning to have some fun! Rather than our general swimming lessons, we have asked Alpha Learn to Swim for the use of their inflatable slide. Our Year 3 – 6 students will visit during the middle session (approximately 11:30 – 1:30pm) while our Prep – Year 2 students will have their chance to impress on the slide in the afternoon.

May the blessings of the Feast of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple be with you,

Ange

2024 Preps Transition Visit

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Student Protection

Student Protection is taken very seriously within our school and Diocese. Each year all staff undertake mandatory student protection training at the beginning of the year. This year our School Student Protection Officers are Mr Peter Thurecht and Mrs Angela Arthur. If you have concerns, please do not hesitate to contact one of our officers.

Book Lists 2024

As we come to the end of another year, we begin our preparations for the following year. A change that will occur in 2024, will be that families are responsible for purchasing all items on their child’s booklist. In the past, we have been fortunate as a community to have access to various grants which have subsidized the resources needed to be purchased by families. However, this year there are no grants available to cover these costs. As a school, we will endeavor to keep book list costs to a minimum. The book lists will come out as soon as they are ready, so that families can spread purchases across a period, rather than buying everything at once. There may also be resources from this year that students can use next year as well.

Families who experience economic hardship relating to the purchase of the ‘Book List’ should contact the school to request support for any costs that are not affordable, as we do not want any child to be disadvantaged.

Annual Awards Evening

ANNUAL AWARDS EVENING - Wednesday 22nd November

To assist with catering for the Annual Awards Evening please complete the following google form. Orders are open now and will close on Friday 17th November at 3:00pm. Payment can be made at the School Office prior to Awards Evening or on the night by cash or eftpos.

As we cannot store food over the holidays, we need numbers for catering.

Awards Evening google form: https://forms.gle/r3CLoxuwYNTp7Bk96

Swimming Carnival

SWIMMING CARNIVAL - Friday 24th November

To assist with catering for the swimming carnival please complete the following google form or alternatively you can place your order via Quickcliq. Orders are open now and will close on Friday 17th November at 3:00pm. If not ordering through Quickcliq payment can be made by eftpos or cash at the school office before the carnival or at the tuckshop on carnival day.

PLEASE NOTE: menu only available for 1st lunch.

Swimming carnival google form: https://forms.gle/4nKSdSdL8nf1vDYF6

If placing an order via Quickcliq – instructions are as follows:

-Select your child’s name

-In the calendar select date 24/11/2023 (a notice will pop up “special event menu”)

-Make your item selection

-Add to cart and continue to checkout as normal

Christmas Carols

Prep Nativity Assembly

Year 6 High School Transition

The full transition day will be held on Monday 20^th November parents/caregivers will be required to drop their child off and collect them from the highschool.

Mr. Kopacz will meet students at the High School on this day.

NOTES:

• Full formal school uniform including hat are required to be worn.
• Students will take their school bags.

Mobile Phone & Wearable Technology Policy

Uniform Policy

Tuckshop

Key Dates

2024 School Dates

The school office will close on Wednesday 6th December at 3:30pm and will reopen on Monday 15th January at 8:00am.

TERM DATES
Term 1 - Monday, 22 January to Thursday, 28 March
Term 2 - Monday, 15 April to Friday 21 June
Term 3 - Monday, 8 July to Friday, 13 September
Term 4 - Monday, 30 September to Wednesday, 27 November

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
• Monday, 1 January – New Year’s Day
• Friday, 26 January – Australia Day 
• Friday, 29 March – Good Friday 
• Monday, 1 April – Easter Monday 
• Thursday, 25 April – ANZAC Day 
• Monday, 6 May – Labour Day
• Monday, 7 October – King’s Birthday 
• Wednesday, 25 December – Christmas Day
• Thursday, 26 December – Boxing Day

The Cathedral College Rockhampton

Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton

Caritas Australia

St Brigid’s Parish News

Please follow us on Facebook for up to date information on what’s happening in the St Brigid’s Parish.

Take 2 with Jesus

Daily Reflections on the Sunday Gospel

Jesus challenges us to be alert.

This week’s reflections are based on the Gospel reading for the 32^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A Mt 25:1-13. Further reflections on this Gospel can be found at https://prayasyoucan.com.au/sunday_programmes/32nd-sunday-a/.

Sunday

Jesus told this parable…

‘The kingdom of God will be like this:

Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.’

(Mt 25:1)

Weddings!  We love weddings.  They show the beauty of love, offer hope for the future, and usually are a good celebration.  No wonder a wedding is one of Jesus’ favourite images for the Kingdom of God.  It epitomises the fullness of life and we are meant to be ready to enjoy it.

 Loving Jesus, let me realise that your kingdom is about the fullness of life and love. Give me a ready heart to enjoy it.

Pray the words that Jesus taught us…Our Father, who art in heaven…

Continue your prayer through this day by pondering on the good things of life that prepare you for God’s kingdom. 

Monday

Jesus continued,

‘Five of them were foolish and five were sensible: the foolish ones did take their lamps, but they took no oil, whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as their lamps.’

(Mt 25:16)

Traditionally, the oil has symbolised love – both of God and people.  Love is the only thing we can offer to God when he comes.  Riches, wealth, honours are meaningless but with love, we enter right into the divine heart.  How foolish would we be to enter the presence of God bereft of the only gift God desires? 

Loving Jesus, let me recognise and respond to the opportunities for love that you constantly offer me. 

Pray the words that Jesus taught us…Our Father, who art in heaven…

Continue your prayer through this day by pondering how central love is in your habitual actions. 

Tuesday

Jesus continued,

‘The bridegroom was late, and they all grew drowsy and fell asleep.  But at midnight

 there was a cry, “The bridegroom is here! Go out and meet him.”’

 (Mt 25: 21)

The initial reaction of all the bridesmaids to the bridegroom’s late appearance was the same:  all were asleep on the job!  It is difficult for us to live consciously ‘alert’ to the presence of God all the time.  Hence our need to practise acts of loving-kindness frequently so that when God does arrive unexpectantly we are ready to respond in love.

Loving Jesus, help me to practise in daily life those acts of love that will prepare my heart to recognise your coming. 

Pray the words that Jesus taught us…Our Father, who art in heaven…

Continue your prayer through this day by noting what acts of love you habitually do. 

Wednesday

Jesus continued,

‘At this, all those bridesmaids woke up and trimmed their lamps, and the foolish ones

said to the sensible ones, “Give us some of your oil: our lamps are going out.”’ 

(Mt 25:24-25)

Some things can’t be transferred.  If that were so, I know many parents who would willingly give their common sense, their love, their wisdom to their wayward children.  Tough as it is, there are times when we, and only we, are made to take responsibility for our actions. 

 Loving Jesus, make me aware of how I need to take responsibility for my actions and give me the courage and sense to do it. 

Pray the words that Jesus taught us…Our Father, who art in heaven…

Continue your prayer through this day by naming the areas in your life where you avoid being responsible.

Thursday

‘Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding hall and the door was closed.’

 (Mt 25:25)

What’s it like to be on the wrong side of the door of a celebration?  Well, that loneliness and alienation is what we inflict on ourselves when we fail to enter into the life that God is constantly offering us.  But entering into the small moments of beauty and giving praise, responding to the little opportunities for love that come, these open the door of our heart to the celebration of God. 

Loving Jesus, the Kingdom of God is breaking into my life even now.  Give me the eyes to recognise it and the heart to celebrate it. 

Pray the words that Jesus taught us…Our Father, who art in heaven…

Continue your prayer through this day by naming the places where you see the Kingdom of God breaking into your life.

Friday

The other bridesmaids arrived later. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us.’

But he replied, ‘I tell you solemnly, I do not know you.’

 (Mt 25:26-27)

In this part of Matthew’s Gospel, in at least seven different ways, Jesus teaches us to be alert and ready for his coming because we do not know when it will be.  This time he even underlines the warning with ‘I tell you most solemnly’.  The mercy of God is no excuse for complacency.  Indeed, it should make us even more alert and ready. 

Loving Jesus, let me be alert for your love and mercy in my life and may I share it with others. 

Pray the words that Jesus taught us…Our Father, who art in heaven…

Continue your prayer through this day by pondering how appreciating God’s mercy makes you even more aware of his coming – both now and at the end of time. 

 Saturday

Jesus continued,

‘So, stay awake, because you do not know either the day or the hour.’

(Mt 25:29)

The Bureau of Meteorology website is one of the most popular in Australia, witnessing to our expectation to be warned on any coming dangers.  It is just one of the many warning systems that are part of modern life.  God offers no such thing.  His ‘warning’ is: Stay Awake!

Loving Jesus, let me practise attentiveness to your presence so that when you come to me at death, I may be ready and waiting. 

 Pray the words that Jesus taught us…Our Father, who art in heaven…

Continue your prayer through this day by pondering how you would like to be ready for God when you die. 

‘Take 2 with Jesus’ is an initiative of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton. This material is written by Sr. Kym Harris osb.  © All material is copyright but may be freely used in free publications with acknowledgement of source and the author.

Community Notices

NRL - League Stars 23rd & 24th November 2023

League Stars is a non-contact skill-based participation program. The program is designed to cater for Primary School students of all ages and ability levels. League Stars is the perfect introduction to the Rugby League world, with lots of fun games and activities delivered by NRL accredited deliverers.

Dates: Thursday 23^rd November & Friday 24^th November

Session Times: 3:15pm – 4:45pm (1.5hrs)

Venue: Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School Oval (Please use Kite St entry)

Cost: $49

Participants receive: Bag, hat, ball, stickers, bag tag.

AGFORCE Northern Forum

Longreach Regional Council

Lifestart - Speak Up Program

About Lifestart

SpeakUP is delivered by Lifestart, a non-profit organisation established in 1996 that provides a range of programs and services for children and young people living with disability, as well as their families and carers, with the aim of helping them live their lives to their fullest potential through increased social inclusion and participation. Our organisation is made up of a range of allied health professionals and experts, including speech pathologists and occupational therapists, and is a registered NDIS provider. Explore our website to learn more.

What do we offer?

• SpeakUP is for students aged 7-16 years with a disability who attend a mainstream school in NSW, ACT, VIC, or QLD.
• It is free of charge and open to young people with or without an NDIS plan.
• It is run online, via video sessions, out of school time. Most young people do their sessions when they get home from school.
• Each young person will have 6 online video sessions with a SpeakUP facilitator. During the sessions, the facilitator will lead the young person through different activities, talking about what is important to the young person, what they like about school and what they would like to change so that they can participate more fully at school.
• The facilitator will support the young person to identify and express a small, achievable goal related to participation at school, and then work through challenges they might come up against.
• A key part of SpeakUP is that the goal comes from the young person and isn’t about the parent/ carer’s goal for them, it’s not a therapy goal or an education goal.
• Another key part of SpeakUP is the involvement of parents or carers (we call them allies). We have 2 learning online modules for them to watch and 2 group zoom sessions for them to attend during the term.

Click here to watch a short video to explain SpeakUP to young people.

Click here to register your expression of interest for participation

Selectability

Non State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme (NSSTAS)

Applications for the Non State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme are now open and will close on Tuesday 31st October.

Are you eligible to apply? Visit the website to find out: https://www.schooltransport.com.au/ 

Don’t miss your chance to apply here: https://www.schooltransport.com.au/

Central West Health