Newsletter No. 33 | Term 4 Week 6 | Thursday 10th November 2022
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you said,
'Peace I leave with you,
My peace I give you.'
Help us to be peacemakers in our world today.
Amen
Principal's Message
Dear Families and Friends,
There are lots of days throughout the year where we celebrate special events or sentiments such as Remembrance Day, Harmony Day, World Teacher’s Day and even, National Cappuccino Day, National Hug a Bear Day, and World Tuna Day! Some days have more significance than others. This Sunday 13th November is World Kindness Day. Imagine a world where everybody was kind, what a beautiful world it would be!
I was talking to the SRC about how we could celebrate this day and one of the girls said, “Shouldn’t it be kindness day every day?” Too true! We then discussed how we see many acts of kindness on a daily basis at St. Brendan’s and decided to mark the day by focusing on what we already do. There is a lot of kindness being sprinkled around!
Upcoming School Events
Remembrance Day - Friday 11th November
This Friday is Remembrance Day - we remember all those whose lives have been torn apart by war. Those who have served their country in the armed forces and those on active duty. We remember those whose lives have been changed forever by the experience of war in their lands and especially those who have died. We remember the people of Ukraine and the many parts of our world who have lost their lives innocently in the immense tragedy of war. We recommit ourselves to peace on occasions such as Remembrance Day.
There will be a short Remembrance Day Ceremony tomorrow at 10.45. The ceremony will be led by our senior students.
ALL WELCOME
Mission Day
Mission Day - Friday 18th November
This year for Mission Day we walk hand-in-hand with the Church of Ethiopia and the local communities towards providing life-changing opportunities to those most in need. Pope Francis, in his 2022 World Mission Sunday message, invites everyone to answer the call to be missionary, sharing that "Mission is carried out together, not individually...".
Our fundraising efforts will go to supporting a range of mission development programs in Ethiopia addressing malnutrition, the lack of access to education for young children, and the vulnerable position of women in society.
In the rural region of Emdibir, where 70 percent of families struggle to put food on their tables, Catholic Mission are working towards providing them with a sustainable source of nutrition by building a goat rearing centre. This project is led by Fr Habte, a local priest who is dedicated to raising the local community out of poverty by creating employment, providing sustainable food resources, and bringing hope.
We would like to invite all families, grandparents, friends and parishioners to join us for Mission Day. The children have been busy planning their stalls and there will be a bbq lunch available.
The timetable for the day is as follows:
10.00am - Liturgy
11.45am - Cake Auction
12.30pm - Children’s stalls are open for business
1.00pm - Bbq Lunch
2.00pm - Finish
This will be the first time since 2019 that we have been able to invite everyone to Mission Day. We hope you will be able to join us. It should be lots of fun!
Cake Auction
The infamous Cake Auction will once again be going ahead. Our year Six students are excited to be running the auction.
If you are able to make a cake for the auction please drop it into the hall at 9am on Friday 18th November. Thank you.
Trinity Band
On Monday, we were very fortunate to be treated to a performance from the Trinity Junior Band. Our students learnt about sections of the orchestra and different instruments within those sections. The Trinity students were very talented and it was clear that the favorite pieces for our children were from the Adama Family and Star Wars soundtracks. A big thank you to Kelly Kerr and the Trinity students for putting on a wonderful performance for us.
Pre-Prep Program
It has been great to see some of our 2023 Preps in our school on Friday. By all accounts they have had lots of fun getting to know Allira and becoming comfortable with being in the school environment. We will have a few more joining us this week so Allira will need to be on her toes!
Swimming
This Friday will be the last day of Swimming. The children have been really enthusiastic, have done a great job of being responsible for looking after their belongings and have, not unexpectedly, behaved beautifully at the pool. It is a pleasure to take St. Brendan’s children out of the school as they always do us proud.
Wellbeing
As mentioned in last week’s Newsletter, our students have been working on tour guide books for new arrivals to our country. To deepen the children’s understanding of what it is like to move to a new country with a totally different culture, we were fortunate to have Agnes (mother of Cuba in Prep) come in to talk to the students. Agnes told us about her life coming from a big family in Uganda and what it was like to leave her family and culture behind to move to Australia. Agnes's story was fascinating and made a big impact on the students.
Thank you for sharing your amazing story with us Agnes.
“I enjoyed listening to Agnes speak because she was inspiring. She said when she first came to Australia she felt alone but would find her way” - Tilly Scott
"I like that Agnes told us things that she didn’t need to. It was good to hear those things from her and I really appreciate it.” - Maverick Lenehan
“I thought about how I would feel in Uganda with neighbors starving. I admired how Agnes’ family traveled to different countries and I liked the way that she explained her life. I learned how tricky it was to make a living in Uganda.” - Audrey Rock
“I admire how strong Agnes has been throughout her life and I learned that there are many countries that are not as fair as our country.” - Jasmine Bourk
“I liked that Agnes was so happy even though she was so lonely when she first moved to Australia.” - Cassie Day
“I learned that if you didn’t have enough money in Uganda you would not be able to go to school. I liked how grateful Agnes was for what she had. I admired how brave Agnes was. I didn’t expect that she would be as brave as she was.” - Lexie Johnson
“I loved how Aggie’s parents adopted 6 kids but they didn’t say they were adopted, they said they were family. She was talking a lot about family. I loved that. Aggie moved to Australia and she felt lonely at the start but happy, safe and loved now.” - Samiyah McLeod
Prep/1 Liturgy
Thank you to the Prep/1s and Miss Kluver for presenting such a beautiful liturgy on Celebrations:
When we celebrate, we feel joy and good feelings.
There are big celebrations that bring great joy however everyday we can experience joy and excitement at small celebrations happening around us.
Finding joy and celebrating the small moments in our lives helps us to be grateful and appreciate what we have.
Leanne Eastman
principal@sbcoragulac.catholic.edu.au
Our Diocesan Community
The 'Our Diocesan Community' Magazine is a publication that shares the good news stories of our schools, parishes and agencies across the Ballarat Diocese. To read the latest edition of the magazine please click on the below link.
If you have a good news story that you would like to share in the magazine, the Editorial Committee welcome articles and photos for publication and ask that you please forward them to odc@ballarat.catholic.org.au .
Prep/1 Classroom News
Week 6
This week is Prep/1 there has been lots of productive work and exciting learning. Congratulations to all students for their focus and engagement.
Literacy: This week we have been writing persuasive texts. The students have done a wonderful job of writing their opinions and adding in arguments. Its safe to say that the Prep/1’s are budding environmentalist - the topic of littering brought about some strong feelings and opinions!
Maths: For Maths this week, the Corgulac Vet Clinic arrived in our classroom. Students have been exploring the concept of measurement through practical opportunities to measure and weigh their own patients.
Religion: Today, the Prep/1’s are running the school liturgy. The theme is “Celebration.” Students have been practising their reading and are looking forward to this opportunity.
Integrated Curriculum: The success of students’ dioramas have been just incredible! As a result, we are now creating a big map of the school using boxes and paper. Through this experience, students are learning about the features of maps, directions and location.
Allira Kluver
akluver@sbcoragulac.catholic.edu.au
2/3/4 Classroom News
Welcome to Week 6!
Thank you to Alice and Liz for caring for the 2/3/4’s over the last 2 weeks. I enjoyed a lovely holiday but I did miss my beautiful class!
Mission Day is fast approaching and our groups are as follows:
Group 1: Jackson, Caleb and Jordy
Group 2: Archie, Jerry, Charlie, Brennan and Brianna
Group 3: Grace, Harriet, Nellie and Kaitlyn
Group 4: Ava, Melody, Samiyah and Aden
Group 5: Matilda, Claire and Eden
I have asked the children to check that parents are O.K. with what they are planning to do with their stalls. If you have any questions, please contact me.
In Literacy we have been investigating conjunctions which are joining words.
The class have shared their games with me and I am truly impressed by the creativity and design they have employed to devise their games. They are really proud of their final results as am I. We have been trialling the games in small groups and everyone has shown great respect and enthusiasm playing them. Congratulations on a fantastic effort 2/3/4’s.
In Maths we have completed our post - test for shape and are beginning a short cycle on Chance and Data.
Homework has been sent home with new spelling words to learn and revision of basic mathematical concepts.
In Integrated Curriculum we are exploring Africa. We are learning facts about the country and where it is situated in the world.
In R.E. we are unpacking the Scripture from Luke about the birth of Jesus and what it meant for the community then, and what it means for Christians today.
The Star of the Week award goes to Jackson Scott. Congratulations on your excellent work and effort!
Mandy Sutherland
msutherland@sbcoragulac.catholic.edu.au
5/6 Classroom News
Welcome to Week 6 of Term 4! What a nice and sunny week we are having!
Homework: Homework was sent home on Monday and this is due back at the end of next week.
Mission Day: Mission Day is coming up very quickly. Just a reminder that students need to begin creating their product or gathering their equipment so they are organised and ready for the day.
Writing: This week in Writing we have started our next learning cycle for Narrative. We have introduced our focus text ‘Girl on Wire’ written by Lucy Estela. To begin our learning cycle we have been analysing the grammar in some sentences of the book.
Maths: In Maths this week we have been working on Time. Year 5 students have been converting between 12 and 24 hour time and Year 6 students have been calculating the elapsed time between events.
Religion: This week we have been learning about the Catholic Social Teaching, Care for our Common Home. We have been discussing why we need to care for the earth and how we can do this.
Integrated Curriculum: This week in Integrated Curriculum we have been learning about the continent of Europe. We have been discussing features of Europe, including the population, currency and geographical features. Students have also been investigating famous landmarks in Europe, such as Buckingham Palace, the Eiffel Tower and St. Basil’s Cathedral.
Have a great week and please don’t hesitate to email me if you have any questions or concerns.
Tahlia Whytcross
twhytcross@sbcoragulac.catholic.edu.au
Birthday Corner
Happy Birthday to everyone who has celebrated their special day this week! Especially...
8th November - Annabelle Carlon (12)
12th November - Eden Robb (8)
12th November - Jackson Scott (9)
Important Dates
NOVEMBER
11th - Remembrance Day
11th - Swimming Session 5 - Final Session (12 - 1pm)
11th - Pre Prep Program
18th - Mission Day
18th - Pre Prep Program
25th - Pre Prep Program
29th - Trinity Small Schools Transition Day beginning 8.45am
DECEMBER
1st & 2nd - Year 4 Bike Camp
5th - Prep/1 Night
6th - Orientation Day at St Brendan's (All students move up to their 2023 classroom for the day)
6th - Trinity ALL Schools Transition Day beginning 8.45am
6th - CSC Small & Catholic Schools Transition Day 8.55am - 3.15pm
7th - Year 2/3 Night
9th - Graduation Mass & Christmas Carols Night
13th - Wide Smiles Dental Visit
13th - CSC ALL Schools Transition Day 8.55am - 3.15pm
13th & 14th - Learning Conversations
16th - Whole School Excursion & Last Day of Term for Students
20th - Last Day for Staff
Cororooke Market
Cororooke Hall is having a market on Saturday 19th November from 9am until 1pm. Stalls inside are $15 and stalls outside are $10. Families and/or children are invited to run a stall. Food stalls will need to hold a StreaTrader Certificate from the Colac Otway Shire.
Garden DesignFest
Garden DesignFest is a series of Open Gardens that showcases privately owned, professionally designed gardens and will be held on 19 & 20th November in regional Victoria (Ballarat, Euroa, Macedon area and Geelong).
Open Gardens in our area include:
Bronte Payne Inverleigh, Christian Jenkins Newtown, Stephen Read South Geelong, Anne King 'Black Lake' Scotsburn, Janene Byrne Ballarat, Mark Bickerdike Buninyong, Nicky Barnett Buninyong, Paal Grant Buninyong, Paddy Milne Ballarat & Creswick, Ricky McLeod Buninyong and many more. For more information visit: https://gardendesignfest.com.au/gardens/2022-gardens/
The 'Kylie Rose Blake' Garden at Scarsdale will be a particular highlight of the showcase: https://gardendesignfest.com.au/garden/kylie-rose-blake-garden/
For tickets to the Open Gardens visit: https://gardendesignfest.com.au/tickets/ Funds raised support the Youth Suicide Awareness Charity.
Christmas by the Lake
Mixx FM and Red Door Dance and Theatre Co are joining forces for Colac's inaugural Christmas by the Lake to fundraise for Colac Area Healt Foundation's new Wellbeing Centre Long Road Appeal. On Saturday 3rd December from 6pm until 9.30pm Mixx FM is running a CHRISTMAS BONANZA on Colac Lake's Foreshore. Live music, performances, food vendors, fireworks and of course... Santa will be there!
Acknowledgement of Country
At St. Brendan’s Primary School we pay our respects to the traditional owners of the land, the Gulidjan people and pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.
We will respect the land, animals and waterways, from the roots of the earth to the tops of the trees. Through the example of our first Australians, we understand that if we look after the country, then the country will look after us.
About Us
School Vision: 'For you I have a destiny and a hope.'
PARISH PRIEST: Fr Michael O’Toole PRINCIPAL: Mrs Leanne Eastman
SAC CHAIRPERSON: Ms Gayle McNabb CHILD SAFETY OFFICER: Mrs Leanne Eastman