Thursday June 19

Dear Families,

Last Friday night, SBW hosted a Trivia Night in the Hall. This was a great evening that was incredibly supported by our school community and we are grateful for this support. We have raised $4200 from this evening and all funds raised will go towards updating school sporting apparel and equipment. These nights do not happen without a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes. Thank you to Miss Kylie Lockett for her work in organising the evening, sorting RSVP's, liaising with catering and for her work on the night. Thank you to Jen Atkinson for her work in organising the night and for taking the lead from a school board level. Thank you to Ashlee Shaw who liaised with businesses for donations, to Amanda Sharman for her work in MC'ing the evening and to all the individuals, families and businesses who supported the evening with donations. Evenings such as Friday night are not just about raising funds. They are about connecting as a community, developing relationships and having a fun time. This links in strongly to our school values and vision and mission as a school:

Mission

As Heart People at St Brigid's Catholic School Wynyard, we are a community dedicated to nurturing our Catholic Faith, pursuing educational excellence and building a future where all children thrive and succeed.

Vision

To provide high quality education within a connected community that inspires students to grow holistically, in faith, love, virtue and knowledge. 

As a school we are incredibly fortunate to have a committed staff who work tirelessly to provide the best possible learning environment and opportunities for our students. Each year, the Australian Council of Educational Leaders (ACEL) awards educators who have made a significant contribution to the understanding and practice of educational leadership. We are proud to announce that Ms Erin McCormick has been recognised and will receive a Teacher Leader Award at the ACEL ceremony in Hobart on Thursday June 26. This is a well deserved achievement and highlights the dedication, commitment, expertise and leadership that Erin brings to her role as Student Support Coordinator. Congratulations Erin!

Thank you all for your ongoing support,

Nic

Within the Catholic Church the Sunday after Pentecost is known as Trinity Sunday (last Sunday). This day shines a light on one of Christianity's deepest beliefs: that God exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is also known as the Trinity.  I have taken the following extract from the Catholic Archidoecese of Melbourne to give more information about Trinity Sunday.

"The Christians who believed that Jesus was lesser than the Father then forced their opponents to address another central question. If Jesus, the Son of God, the Father and the Spirit are all God, how can they be the One God to whom Abraham and Jesus prayed, and not two or three gods. The Church called to resolve the disputes did not explain how God is three and one, but used the language of one God in three Persons to assert both that God is one being and that Father, Son and Spirit share fully in divinity. The prayers and sermons on the feast of the Trinity make that point again and again. It is not an explanation but a way of speaking that respects the full mystery of God’s love for us.

Unless we know a little about the history behind the words we use to describe God as Trinity, it is easy to dismiss the belief as concerned with divine mathematics. It really celebrates something much deeper: the depth of God’s involvement with us in the salvation that Jesus brought us. It insists that when Jesus spoke to us, God speaks, when Jesus dies on the cross, God dies in him, that when Jesus rises and ascends to God he takes us with him, and that when the Spirit works within our lives and Church, God works within us."

We do ask that families collecting students in the front carpark, park INSIDE  the lines of the TWO designated parking spots at the front carpark pickup. This allows TWO families to be collected simultaneously, making for a quicker flow. Thank you in advance for your support with this. 

Our Grade Five students had a wonderful opportunity to spend time with Father Jessie, our Parish Priest. It was a special occasion for the students to get to know him better in a relaxed setting. They had a fantastic time asking him all sorts of questions, from his daily routines to what inspired him to become a Priest. Father Jessie was incredibly generous with his time and shared some insightful and often humorous answers that truly resonated with the children.

Following their engaging Q&A session, our Grade Five students had the privilege of attending and actively participating in a Parish Mass held in our school church. It was a beautiful experience for them to be part of the wider parish community. Their respectful participation was truly commendable, making it a memorable Mass for everyone present. We're so grateful to Father Jessie for dedicating his time to our students and strengthening the bond between our school and the parish.

Our Grade Three students are doing a fantastic job in Technologies lessons! With their new keyboards, they're becoming touch typing champions. It's wonderful to see their focus as they learn to type without looking at the keys, building both speed and accuracy.

Why Early Touch Typing Matters

You might wonder why we teach touch typing at such a young age. Here's the science:

• Young brains are great at learning new motor skills. Learning to touch type now helps them build strong "muscle memory" that lasts.
• When kids don't have to search for keys, their brains can focus entirely on what they're writing. This means better stories, reports, and ideas!
• Typing is a must-have skill in today's world. Teaching it now sets them up for success in school and beyond.

We're incredibly proud of their hard work and look forward to seeing their typing skills grow!

Mr Saltmarsh, Mrs Donnelly and Ms McCormick will be away Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of Week 9 for Professional Learning. Mrs Ella Plapp will be available Tuesday and Ms Baade Thursday and Friday for any compliments or queries.

Please note that Term 2 will conclude on Friday July 4. Term 3 will commence for staff on Monday July 21 and students will return to school on Tuesday July 22. 

A vacancy exists on the SBW Advisory Board. Responsibilities of the SBW Advisory Board include supporting the Principal in the leadership of the school and assisting in partnership building across the community.   The commitment is for 6 meetings per year and meetings are held on Thursday evenings from 6.00pm. If you would like to know more about this role, please speak to Mr Saltmarsh. If you feel you could contribute to the school in this way and have the time available, please email nicholas.saltmarsh@catholic.tas.edu.au with an expression of interest that covers the following information:

- A brief letter outlining the motivation for joining the school board

- Attach a brief CV outlining background

Applications are forwarded on to the Executive Director of Catholic Education for his consideration.

Teaching staff have been working dilligently on mid-year reports. Mid-year reports will be released through COMPASS on Friday June 27 (end of week 9). Parent Teacher will be held in Week 10 on Tuesday July 1 and Wednesday July 2. Further information regarding this will be made available on Tuesday June 24 where the booking system for Parent Teacher will be opened. 

We have been very impressed with the efforts and creativity our students have displayed through the Brixhibition Competition! Students from Kindergarten to Grade Six entered their best original design, and the school voted for their favourite. Winners of this competition will be announced at our next Whole School Gathering in Week 9, and our overall winner will be invited to showcase their work at the Brixhibition Exhibition in Ulverstone on the 12th and 13th of July. 

Congratulations to all students who entered! 

What is a Digital Footprint… and Why Does It Matter?

Did you know your child leaves little “footprints” every time they go online?

Just like muddy shoes leave marks on the floor, we leave a digital footprint every time we search, click, post, or share online. These footprints record what we’ve done online, and they can last a long time. Understanding this early on is an important step for our primary school students in becoming safe, respectful digital citizens.

So, what can parents do?

Here are some simple tips to help guide your child:

Talk about it: Ask your child what apps or websites they use. Chat about how the things they post or like can be seen by others.

Set family guidelines: Work together to create some simple online rules, like “Only post things you’d be proud to show Grandma!”

Check privacy settings: Help your child set accounts to private and understand who can see what they share.

Be a role model: Children learn from what they see. Share thoughtfully, and show them how to pause before posting.

Remind your child that their digital footprint is like their online reputation—it tells a story about who they are. Let’s help them make it a positive one!

If you're looking for great family resources, visit esafety.gov.au or thinkuknow.org.au.

Together, we can teach our kids to be safe, kind, and smart online.

Mallory Priest 

Acting Digital Technologies Key Teacher