Term 4 Week 10 NEWSLETTER 13th December, 2017

Dear Parents,

“Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus!”

Neal A. Maxwell

We will be entering the Third Week Week of Advent and it will be a week we are filled with joy for the Lord is near. It is timely to reflect on the quote above and decide if we have room for Jesus in our lives. Are there places where you do not have room in your inn for Jesus and what door needs to be opened or what space needs to be cleared to welcome a baby Jesus?

‘Teach the Children the True Meaning of Christmas’ reflection is a powerful reminder to us to not lose sight of what the true meaning of Christmas really is. If you listen to the advertisements on television it is Santa who makes Christmas. This commercialism is in direct contrast to what we celebrate at Christmas and as Christians we have a role to teach our children the true Christmas story. As we celebrate all that is magical about the festive season ensure that Jesus Christ is at the centre of all our celebrations and the blessings and joys of the

season spread love and goodwill to all.

Our next Advent Liturgy will be held on Monday, December 18th at 8.45 a.m. and will be led by the Junior Learning Community. Thank you for your generous donations of festive food and support of the Senior Learning Community Market Day to assist the St. Vincent de Paul Society in supporting the vulnerable and those in need over the Christmas Season and New Year. The donation of money is always most welcomed as this gives their representatives a variety of ways to support those in dire need.

Our Annual Christmas Carols will be held this evening from 6.30 p.m. All students have a role to play and are expected to attend. If you wish to purchase food provided by the Social and Fundraising Committee before the carols, please arrive after 5.00 p.m. but before 6.30 p.m. Please be aware that the playground equipment is out of bounds tonight. NO CHILD is to be using the junior or senior playground at all, as all attention will be focused on the Carols. The Playground equipment will be roped off. Please ensure your children do not go anywhere near the playgrounds as there will be no supervision.

ST. BRIGID’S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL 25 Bayview Road, Officer Vic. 3809

Telephone: (03) 5943 2447 Fax (03) 5943 2579

Email: principal@stbofficer.catholic.edu.au Website: www.stbofficer.catholic.edu.au

R

Inside this issue: Carols Night – Wednesday, December 13th 6.30 p.m. Advent Liturgy – Monday, December 18th 8.45 a.m. Graduation – Tuesday, December 18th at 7.00 p.m. End of Year Mass – Monday, December 19th at 9.00 a.m. followed by a thank you morning tea

Teach Children the REAL Meaning of Christmas Author Unknown

I had a visitor, it was Santa. I saw that he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. He whispered quietly, ‘TEACH THE CHILDREN!’ I was puzzled: What did he mean?

Santa then brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind his back. As I stood there bewildered, Santa said, ‘Teach the children! Teach them the true meaning of Christmas.’

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it on the mantle. Teach the children that the pure green colour of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind. All needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man’s thoughts turning toward heaven.

He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Saviour for the world, and the star was a sign of fulfilment of that promise.

He then reached into the bag and pulled out a CANDLE. Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world.

Once again, he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the eternal nature of love. Real love never ceases.

He then pulled out an ornament of HIMSELF. Teach the children that Santa Claus symbolizes the generosity and goodwill. He reached into his bag again and pulled out a HOLLY LEAF. Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Saviour. Next, he pulled out a GIFT from the bag and said, ‘Teach the children that God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son. Teach the children that the wise men bowed before the holy babe and presented Him with gold, frankincense and myrrh. We should give gifts in the same spirit as the wise men.’ Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherd’s crook that helps the shepherd to bring back strayed sheep from the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother’s keeper. He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Saviour’s birth. Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL. Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of a bell, it should bring people to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return. Santa looked at the tree and was pleased. ‘Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and don’t put me in the centre, for I am a humble servant of the ONE WHO IS, and I bow down to worship Him, our Lord, our God.’

As a Catholic School we are a community, which celebrates our Catholic Story and traditions and recognise Christ is at the centre of our lives:

There stands among you, unknown to you, the one who is coming after me.: John 1:6-8.

19-28 How do you recognise someone whom you have not seen before? We may be able to recognise them if we have been told about that person by someone who already knows them. John the Baptist was called to help make people of his time ready to accept Jesus. He was showing them the way to Jesus. He came as a witness, someone who knew Jesus and was willing to speak for the light, so that everyone might believe through him.

A man came, sent by God. His name was John. He came as a witness, as a witness to speak for the

light, so that everyone might believe through him.

He was not the light, only a witness to speak for the light. This is how John appeared as a witness. When the Jews sent priests

and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’, he not only declared, but he declared quite openly, ‘I am not the Christ.’

‘Well then’, they asked him, ‘are you Elijah?’ ‘I am not,’ he said. ‘Are you the Prophet?’ He

answered, ‘No.’ So they said to him, ‘Who are you? We must take back an answer to those who sent

us. What have you to say about yourself?’

So John said, ‘I am as Isaiah prophesied—a voice that cries in the wilderness: “Make straight a

way for the Lord”.’ Now these men had been sent by the Pharisees, and they put this further

question to him, ‘Why are you baptising if you are not the Christ, and not Elijah and not the

Prophet?’ John replied, ‘I baptise with water; but there stands among you—unknown to you—the

one who is coming after me; and I am not fit to undo his sandal strap.’ This happened at Bethany,

on the far side of the Jordan, where John was baptising. (John 1:6–8, 19–28)

Jesus was there but was not recognised because he was not what the people were looking for nor had this time come. Over two thousand years later, there is still one among us whom we often fail to recognise, yet he is here.

The Third Sunday of Advent is one of joy. We rejoice because Jesus Christ came to live among us and be one of us. Over the past weeks we have been preparing for the coming of Jesus, the Saviour of the World, are we prepared to see him, and hear him today, in others and in ourselves?

There are so many people today that live in darkness, those who feel lonely, rejected or marginalized and those who do not celebrate Christmas because it increases their pain and sadness. These are the people who are waiting for us to show them the light of Christmas and turn their lives into experiences of joy. We will truly feel the joy of Christmas when we let Jesus work within us to bring joy into the lives of others.

How can we give witness to the love of God in our daily actions? Do we bask in the mercy of God yet do not offer the same mercy to others?

Come Lord Jesus, call us into the Light.

Alleluia, alleluia! The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; He sent me to bring Good News to the poor.

Alleluia! Is 61:1 (Lk 4:18)

Carols Night Our annual Carols night will be held on TONIGHT from 6.30 p.m. We have advertised this date for many months and each student is expected to attend together with their families. Please be advised that the junior and senior playground equipment is out of bounds for the evening.

Families are invited to arrive at 5.00 p.m. if they wish to purchase food provided by the Social and Fundraising Committee. There will be sausages, hamburgers and drinks on sale. The Carols will be held on the decking outside the Senior Learning Centre and will commence with the Christmas Story, followed by carols sung in levels and an invitation for everyone to join in singing much loved Christmas carols.

This is an extra curricula school activity that is designed to engage our families in the preparation and celebration of the coming birth of Jesus.

End of School Year The school Year comes to a close for students on Wednesday, December 20th and students will be dismissed at the earlier time of 1.00 p.m.

Commencement of the 2018 School Year

The 2018 school year commences for students on Thursday, February 1st. The usual assessments that students undertake at the commencement of the year will be done at end of the year. The two days allocated for assessment at the beginning of the year will used for assessment analysis to direct teaching.

Through our newsletters we had asked for overdue library books to be returned to school by last Thursday, December 7th. Overdue notices have now been sent to those who have not returned their books. At present we have 85 books still overdue and this amount is unacceptable. We urge you to chase up your child’s overdue books as a matter of urgency,

An invoice for replacement costs will be sent home.

Whole School Orientation Students will have the opportunity to visit their Learning Community for 2018 on Monday, December 18th. They will meet with their teacher and class mates to assist them in their transition to their new Year level. Teachers have been very thorough in the discussion process and ultimately their decisions to place students in their classes for 2018. Every effort has been made to accommodate written requests and friendships, however, the final decisions have been made taking into account student needs and where we feel each student is best placed for their learning.

Year 6 Graduation

Our Year 6 students will be graduating from primary school and we will celebrate this milestone on Monday, December 18th beginning at 7.00 p.m. You are invited to join us as we recognise the contribution these students have made to the life of St. Brigid’s School and wish them every success in their future.

End of Year Mass Our End of Year Mass to praise and thank God for the wonderful year we have had together will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 19th at 9.00 a.m. in our Chapel. At the conclusion of Mass there will be a Rite of Passage ceremony handing over our Year 6 students to St. Francis Xavier College and symbolic of other schools the students will be attending. Our Year 6 students will hand over leadership to our current Year 5 students for 2018.

Student Leadership On Monday, students in Years 3-5 and staff voted for our School Captains and House Captains. Applications have also been received for the Student Leader positions. The elections took place in a democratic manner. Captains and Student Leaders for 2018 will be announced following the Advent Liturgy on Monday, December 18th 2017. Parents are most welcome to attend. We will have an announcement in our last newsletter for the year on Wednesday, December 20th 2017.

Leaders of Wellbeing Further to our announcement of staffing for 2018 we wish to advise the position of Leader of Wellbeing has been appointed to both Miss Lauren Sutherland and Mr. Matthew Dileo. We thank them for taking on this important role and wish them every success.

We value all the contributions, your connectedness to St. Brigid’s and your support throughout the school year and wish to sincerely thank you for all the ways you have assisted us by hosting a Morning Tea following Mass on Tuesday, December 19th.

In this world that we are passing through

we sometimes forget to say thank you.

So before this moment slips away,

there is just one this we would like to say

Thanks a Million!

With you there to lend a hand

we were able to get a head start.

So we would like to say a thank you

from the bottom of our heart.

As the years go by we will look back

and kindly remember you.

Your kindness we will never forget

as it helped to pull us through.

Thanks a Million!

Whether you have helped out in a more formal way as part of the Social and Fundraising Committee or the School Board or assisted by being classroom helpers, in library, excursions and camps attendees, school garden helpers, Foodie Friday organisers, cooking for our food bank to help those through sickness or grief, donating items and money to our charity appeals, helped with costumes for Book Week and Japanese Day or support your child or children’s learning and greeted us with a smile we welcome you to our Morning Tea and would be delighted to see you there.

Our Social and Fundraising Committee Thank you to the Social and Fundraising Committee for organising our Bunnings Sausage Fundraiser last Saturday and everyone involved in it. It is a busy time of the year and we greatly appreciate everyone’s time and effort put into this fundraiser. We would like to Thank Worthy Events for providing the Cool Room for the Bunnings event at a heavily discounted price.

VINNIES CHRISTMAS

APPEAL This year for the St. Vincent de Paul Christmas appeal we ask each

student to please collect canned food, some examples are Christmas pudding, mince pies and other summer non-perishable canned food.

Today is the last day to donate items, all donations will be passed on to

St. Vincent de Paul this evening.

So Remember To Bring Christmas Food

In For A Good Cause!!!

Staffing for the 2018 School Year Junior Learning Community Foundation/1 A Mrs. Dianne Ahern Foundation /1 T Mrs. Elyce Thomson Year 1/2 L Miss Kristina Loritsch Year 1/2 S Miss Lauren Sutherland

Middle Learning Community Year 3/4 D Mr. Kyle Denton Year 3/4 M Miss Jenn McMahon Year 3/4 L Mr. Nathan Larkins

Senior Learning Community Year 5/6 A Miss Michaela Anderson Year 5/6 D Mr. Matthew Dileo Year 5/6 F Mrs. Melissa Ferris/Mrs. Ashlea Carey Year 5/6 O Mr. Damian O’Bryan

Specialist Areas Physical Education Mrs. Dianne Wilkinson Japanese Mrs. Megumi Ichikawa Science and Sustainability Mrs. Allison Winder Performing Arts Mrs. Theresa Ray

Library Mrs. Louise Mettes and Mrs. Melissa Summers

Student Support Personnel Mrs. Melissa Shaw Mrs. Melissa Summers Mrs. Kylie Logan Mrs. Jane Arnett

Positions of Leadership (POL) Religious Education Leader Mr. Damian O’Bryan Leader of Teaching and Learning and Mathematics Mr. Nathin Larkins Leader of Literacy Ms. Leanne McCall (Mr. Kyle Denton - Week 5) Leader of Student Adjustment Mrs. Catherine Murray Leaders of Wellbeing Miss Lauren Sutherland and Mr Matthew Dileo Leader of ICT Mr. Simon Greely

POL Release Mrs. Julie Williams

Mrs. Dianne Wilkinson

Administration

Office Mrs. Julie McKenna

Mrs. Donna Devine

Deputy Principal: Mr. Simon Greely

Principal: Mr. Ken Gale

Parish Priest: Fr. Jeff Kleynjans

Assistant Priest: Fr. Hilarion Fernando

We wish the children who have celebrated or are celebrating a birthday shortly all the best for a great day.

DECEMBER Eden – 1st Jordan – 3rd Robert – 4th James – 11th

Abby – 13th Holly – 16th Eden – 16th Clara – 17th

Thomas – 17th Jayla – 18th Owen – 21st Evie – 22nd

Ari – 22nd Cameron – 23rd Brayden – 24th Brooke – 24th

Camp Australia

Before and After School Care Provider

Before and After school care have introduced some further options to make care easier for families, please see an explanation below: Flexible Booking Options:

Three options for annual memberships offering a sliding scale of flexibility and cost

More options for casual bookings offering reduced cost options through the introduction of a 10 pack 'punch card' as well as a sliding scale of cost for last minute bookings

The most important factor is that parents who are happy with their current arrangement can choose to use the service in exactly the same way as before. All we have done is give them the ability to have greater flexibility for those that wanted it.

For further details, please contact Camp Australia on 1300 105 343.

News from the Office– Mrs. Julie McKenna

and Mrs. Donna Devine

SCHOOL FEES Please be reminded that any remaining school fees are now overdue, all accounts are to be finalised by THIS FRIDAY, unless prior arrangements have been made.

2018 DIRECT DEBIT FORMS All school fees in 2018 are to be paid via direct debit. Please complete and return the direct debit form that was sent home last month, no later than this FRIDAY, 15th December. Copies are available to download on our website or can be collected from the school office.

St Brigid’s HAIR ACCESSORIES

ALL PRODUCTS REDUCED

TO $1.00 EACH

Available to purchase from

the school office

CASH ONLY

$4.00 each NOW $1

Headband

Single Hair Bands

$6.00 each NOW $1

Double Hair Bands

$8.00 each NOW $1

Double Hair Clips & Fabric Headbands

ONLY AVAILABLE WHILE STOCKS LAST

ALL STOCK REDUCED

Leader of Learning and Teaching - Inquiry and Innovation and Mathematics – Mr

Nathan Larkins

Mathematics Item

For the last mathematics item for the year, the focus is going to be placed on little activities you can do at home. Although these aren’t really activities, they are more to do with mindset.

Golden Rule - Whatever you do, make sure your children enjoy it.... If they struggle to understand, make mistakes, or get bored:

- keep calm, make it easier, change the subject, tell them a joke, play football, go to the park …. - but please don’t get cross or impatient – do not say you were no good at maths when you were at school-you could put them off maths for life.

Generally the advice is; - Talk about and involve children in the situations in which you use maths in everyday life.

Play games involving numbers and/or logic, such as card games, dominoes, darts, draughts, chess etc.;

Stimulate their thinking at times of boredom, (such as when travelling), with mental activities;

Also check the methods they are teaching with your child’s teacher. The following gives a very rough idea of appropriate activities but any number games that the children enjoy are great

Remember!

Be positive even if you don’t feel it.

Ask your child to explain to you how they are doing their

maths. (It may be different to the way you were taught)

‘Talk’ to them about and involve them in everyday maths.

Some simple activities to work on over the holidays include…

Mental activities: • A good knowledge and quick recall of times tables is essential to children’s mathematical progress. The children are taught up to 12 x 12. The target is for all children to know their tables by the end of year four. It is very important that children practice their times tables daily at home.

When learning their tables, children are taught to look for patterns such as odd and even number answers, or patterns made by adding together the separate digits in the answers.

Children are also taught to recognise the reversible effect so that they know 6 x 2 is the same as 2 x 6. They are also taught the relationship with division so that knowing 6 x 2 = 12 means they also know that 12 ÷ 2 = 6 and 12 ÷ 6 = 2. For each known times table fact, they also know three others: 6 x 7 = 42 so they know that 7 x 6 = 42 42 ÷ 6 = 7 42 ÷ 7 = 6

To help children with their multiplication, one of the ways we use is to find all the factors that are used to make up a number. For example, the factors of 18 are 1, 18, 2, 9, 6, and 3 because 18 x 1, 1 x 18, 3 x 6, 6 x 3, 9 x 2, 2 x 9 all equal 18.

Practicing and developing knowledge of addition and subtraction facts within 20 (7+8, 13-5 etc.) and multiplication and division facts to 10 x 10 (6x7, 35/5 etc.) Make it into a game if possible, e.g. have a set of cards numbered 1-10, pick a number such as 4, say 4 times the number on the card as each is turned over, keep all the cards you get right. Beat the

calculator as above. On a journey, adult passenger times response, try to beat your own time.

Ask ‘progressive’ calculations, e.g. 7 + 6, 17 + 6, 27 + 6, 47 + 6, 147 + 6; 5 x 2, 50 x 2, 500 x 2, 500 x 20.

Working out 2-digit additions and subtractions, multiplying and dividing 2digit numbers by 1 digit numbers mentally. Talk about how to make it easier, e.g. for 28 + 15, call it 30 add 13 and that’s easy; for 16 x 4, double 16, then double 32.

Open- ended activities, e.g. the answer’s 25, what’s the question? How can you use combinations of 3 and 6 to make different numbers? (Use each number as many times as you like with addition, subtraction, multiplication or division).

Learning Item

In the last newsletter item, we focused on how failure is important when developing a growth mindset.

The main reason for exploring the Growth Mindset and while failure is an important part of learning. This is because mistakes, problems and issues students have when learning help to shape their thinking over time. A Growth Mindset fits within most analogies where we see teams like Richmond won the premiership, but we don’t get to see all the hard work etc… they did behind the scenes.

All students want to see instant results when they are learning, and the obvious thoughts are of successfully completing a task, but it doesn’t always happen the first time. Like in all cases problems need to be thought through and these once worked through allow growth.

The image below of the iceberg explores the growth mindset well. Success is what everyone sees, but the layers of the iceberg are the parts that build the learner.

Once we explore the iceberg we see several parts of what is required to build a growth mindset, show grit and be a successful learner.

This is what we aim to get the students in our school to do this year and beyond. The big questions we have to get the students to think about is which step are we on…… and which step are they going to reach today.

Dates for your 2017 Diary School Carols Night Wednesday, December 13th

6.30 p.m. Whole school

Advent Liturgy Monday, December 11th at 8.45 a.m.

Whole School led by the Senior Learning Community

St Francis Xavier College Year 7 Orientation Day

Monday, December 11th Year 6 students enrolled at St. Francis Xavier College for

Year 7 2018

Advent Liturgy Monday, December 18th at 8.45 a.m.

Whole School led by the Junior Learning Community

Whole School Orientation Session

Monday, December 18th Students visit their new classroom for 2018 and meet their teacher and classmates

Year 6 Graduation Monday, December 18th 7.00 p.m.

End of Year Mass and Rite of Passage

Tuesday, December 19th 9.00 a.m.

Whole School St. Brigid’s Chapel

End of School Year for Students

Wednesday, December 20th 1.00 p.m.

Early Dismissal for students 1.00 p.m.

Term Dates for the 2017 School Year Term 4 2017 Monday, October 9th – Friday, 22nd December

2017 Last day for students Wednesday, 20th December 2017 at 1.00 p.m.

Term Dates for the 2018 School Year Term 1 2018 Monday, 29th January – Friday, March 29th

2018

All Students begin: Thursday, February 1st Easter: 30th March – 2 April

Assessment Analysis – Tuesday January 30th and Wednesday, January 31st

Term 2 2018 Monday, April 16th – Friday, June 29th

Term 3 2018 Monday, July 17th – Friday, September 21st

Term 4 2018 Monday, October 8th – Friday, 21st December 2018 Last day for students to be advised.

Closure Days and early dismissals will be advised throughout the course of the year.

Dates for your 2018 Diary School Closure Day Friday, March 23rd 2018 No School for Students

School Photographs Tuesday, March 27th 2018 All Students and Staff

Phillip Island Adventure Camp April 16th – April 18th 2018 Year 5/6 students

NAPLAN 15th – 17th May 2018 Students in Years 3 and 5

School Closure Day Friday, July 20th 2018 Diocese of Sale Religious Education Closure Day

Bi-annual Whole School Concert

Thursday, September 13th Bunjil Place, Cnr Princes Highway and Magid Drive Narre Warren

Allambee Adventure Camp Monday, October 15th to Tuesday October 16th 2018

Year 3/4 students

St. Brigid’s Playgroup

Playgroup is held every Tuesday morning during the school Term from 8.45 a.m. in the multipurpose room. A gold coin donation is charged per family attending. Playgroup is a great way for pre-school children to interact with other children in a relaxed environment.

If you are attending, please park your car on the St. Brigid’s side of Bayview Road to avoid being locked in when the gates close at 9.30 a.m.

School Hats – No Hat No Play Rule In accordance with St. Brigid’s SunSmart Policy the wearing of a school hat is compulsory during Term 1 and Term 4 for all outside activities. Please ensure your child has a school hat at school at all times. This policy was put in place for the safety and health of your children.

School Uniform Our School Uniform is available for purchase from Noone Imagewear Beaconsfield Hub, Shop 4, 52-62 Old Princes Highway, Beaconsfield 3807. Online ordering is available, at https://www.noone.com.au/shop/at/stb/

Telephone: 03 9769 9093.

Trading Hours are: Monday to Friday 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. and Saturday 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. https://www.noone.com.au/noone-beaconsfield/

ST BRIGID’S START AND

FINISH TIMES

School classes commence at 8.45 a.m. and finish at 3.15 p.m. Students should arrive prior to this, but not before 8.30 a.m. The first bell goes at 8.35 a.m. when students may enter their classroom. Students will be supervised from 8.30 a.m. in the morning and until 3.30 p.m. in the afternoon. Please be mindful that staff are committed to meetings and classroom planning outside of these hours and supervision becomes difficult.

As supervision does not commence until 8.30 a.m. Students are not be dropped off unsupervised before 8.30 a.m.

For families who require their child to be at school earlier or later than this, before and after school care is available at St. Brigid’s through Camp Australia. They can be contacted on 1300 105 343 or via their website www.campaustralia.com.au for further information.

We understand that there will be days when for one reason or another, you may be running late in the afternoon. Please contact the school office prior to 3.15 p.m. if you think this will be the case so that a message can be sent to your child/ren and they can be supervised in the office.

BEFORE AND AFTER

SCHOOL CARE

Before and After School Care is available at St Brigid's School. Camp Australia is the provider and can be contacted on 1300 105 343 www.campaustralia.com.au Please note Before and After School Care is not run by staff employed by St. Brigid’s School.

SHOPPING AT RITCHIES

BENEFITS ST. BRIGID’S

SCHOOL

When shopping at Ritchies and by using a community benefit card/tag linked to St Brigid’s Primary School then Ritchies will donate money back to us. These cards/tags can be used at ANY Ritchies store throughout Vic, NSW

and Qld by staff, students and their families. If you would like to support our school and you don’t

already have a CB card/tag please collect one at the office which is already linked to our school and ready to use or

alternatively collect one at the registers next time you shop at ANY Ritchies store to use every time you shop. All you do is nominate St Brigid’s Primary School, it’s that easy! This is an easy way for us to raise funds for our school

with no costs involved.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

WORKING WITH CHILDREN

CHECK Parent help is most welcome and appreciated in your child’s learning community at suitable times throughout the year, however you will be required to have a current Working With Children Check.

Applications can be downloaded online at http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/home/ and then completed and lodged at a participating Australia Post Office. From December 5th 2016 Victorian applicants will no longer need to supply their own photo. Australia Post will provide a digital photo free of charge. Further information can be obtained at the above link. There is no cost involved if you complete the form as a volunteer only and not for employment purposes.

News from St. Michael’s Parish Berwick

Community Noticeboard

Caritas Global Gifts - We are One Human Family

Send a Christmas message to those you love, and support those in need.

When you choose a Global Gift this Christmas, you are bringing a moment of joy

and helping create a lifetime of change for some of the world’s most vulnerable

people.

This year you can help bring the gift of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love to our one

human family around the world. Each Global Gift will go towards supporting our

most important work; from responding to emergency situations to supporting

education programs and training farmers with new sustainable livelihood

techniques.

Share a message of compassion this Christmas – Simply select one of our

beautiful Global Gift cards. When you send a Global Gift card to your friends or

family, you also share a gift with the world and help support our one human

family.

Order Global Gift cards online at: www.globalgifts.org.au or call us on 1800

024 413

$10 $25 $50 $100

Looking ahead...

Sun. December 17th Third Sunday of Advent

Mon. December 18th Advent Liturgy 8.45 a.m. led by the Junior Learning Community

Announcement of Captains and Student Leaders

Whole School Orientation Year 6 Graduation 7.00 p.m.

Tues. December 19th End of Year Mass and Rite of Passage 9.00 a.m. Followed by Morning Tea

Wed. December 20th End of School Year for all students

Early Dismissal 1.00 p.m.

St. Michael’s Parish

119 High Street, Berwick 3806 Parish Priest: Fr Jeff Kleynjans

Assistant Priest: Fr. Hilarion Fernando Pastoral Associate: Elizabeth Overdyk

(03) 97071355 Weekend Masses

Saturday: 6.00 p.m. Sunday: 9.00 a.m., 10.30 a.m. and 6.00 p.m.

http://www.stmichaelsparish.org.au Pastoral Associate email:

associate@stmichaelsparish.org.au

Brainteaser The answer to last week’s brainteaser was ‘Odds and ends.’ This week’s is:

Healing God,

Soften our hearts to make

room for you.

Detach us from our brokenness.

Give us the courage to participate

in your healing work

wherever we are hurting.

Having been set free from even the

smallest of our sins,

turn our hearts outward

to be agents of your healing

and new life in our homes and

communities.

Amen.

Yours in friendship and unity, Ken Gale Principal