JUNIOR NEWS

COLOUR RUN RECOUNTS

On Friday we got to have a colour run at St Mary’s. We did it to raise money and Bryden and Amelia organised it.

First we had a water fight and the water was cold.  I got Inez the most.

Before the water fight we got shown around the track.  Then we got to run around the track and I got colours on me and I accidentally ate some.

Then we got the teachers.

After they gave out some prizes.

It was so fun.

         By Lucy Ryan


On Friday we had a colour run at St Mary’s.  We did it to raise money.  Amelia and Bryden set it up.  

First we had a water fight to get wet or else the colour would not stick to you and oscar got me the most.

Then Bryden showed us the track so we knew the track.  We went around the track and the teachers and mums sprayed us with the colours.  When we finished we got the teachers with the colours and Majella was covered in colour.

Next we had an icy pole and I won a fishing rod.

It was really fun.

          By Aiden Sarra

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

This term we have talked about our own joyful experiences. Many people around the world have their own special places and experiences that bring them joy. They love to celebrate with their families too.

  • Do you know any special places around the world?
  • Do you know any special celebrations around the world?

This week we looked at Hanukkah.

  • Hanukkah is the Hebrew word for dedication.
  • It is celebrated by Jewish people all over the world. 
  • It is a Jewish holiday to celebrate the rededication of the 2nd temple and it goes for 8 days and 8 nights.
  • During the rededication there was only enough oil to keep the lamp lit for one day, but by a miracle it lasted for 8 days and 8 nights.  
  • The hanukkiah is a lamp with nine branches.  A candle is lit each night for 8 nights and the 9th candle (the Shamash) is lit on the last night.
  • As the candles are lit the Jewish families say blessings and sing songs.
  • Money was given to children during Hanukkah but now presents are exchanged EVERY night.  
  • The dreidel game - each side of the dreidel has a word on it.  It secretly teaches them that a great miracle happened.  
  • Special foods eaten during hanukkah are cooked in oil.  They are Latkes (potato pancakes), donuts stuffed with jam and fritters.  

RHYMES

This week we have been reading at some rhymes like Dr Knickerbocker, Hi, My Name is Joe and Miss Mary Mac.

After reading Miss Mary Mac we worked on creating our own poems.  We hope you like them……

Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack

All dressed in black, black, black

With silver buttons, buttons, buttons

All down her back, back, back.

Mr Nifty Ned, Ned, Ned

All dressed in red, red, red,

He always chewed, chewed, chewed

When he ate his bread, bread, bread.

Miss Daisy Drew, Drew, Drew

All dressed in blue, blue, blue

She never wore, wore, wore

Her old shoes, shoes, shoes.

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Reports

Reports will be sent home on Monday the 11th of December. They will be available through PAM and we will send home a hard copy as well.

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Lunch Orders

Lunch orders will be available for the next two Wednesdays, up until the 29th of November and then will stop for the remainder of the year, due to various events on the following Wednesdays.

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Going Up Day on the 28th

On Tuesday, the 28th November, we will have our Going Up Day from 9:00am–1:00pm. For most of our Year 6 children, it will mean a day at their new secondary school. It is parents' responsibility to organise transport for this day.  For St. Mary’s, the F-5 will have school as normal experiencing what 2024 might be like.  This will include the new Foundation children for 2024 – Genevieve and Skyla.

The Years 2–5 form St. Brendan’s will go to St. Alipius from 9:00am–1:00pm and can then return to St. Brendan’s if that is what parents prefer. Could the parents please organise their own transport for this day? If pick up from St. Alipius is problematic, please let me know.

Any children not involved in any of these transitions are welcome at school.


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Graduations

The Year 6 Graduations will take place in a few weeks. It is an opportunity for everyone to come together to farewell our Year 6 children and give thanks for the year that has been. I would like to see all of our families at these events.

St. Brendan’s Graduation is on Tuesday, the 5th December at 6.30pm in the Church. Supper will follow at the school. This year, the Graduation and End of Year Mass will be separated, with the Mass taking place on the last day of school for the children – Thursday, the 14th of December at 10am. Bishop Shane McKinlay will say Mass on this day

St. Mary’s will have both the Graduation and Mass together on Thursday, the 7th December, starting at 6pm.  This will be followed by a meal at the Robin Hood Hotel at 7pm for all families.  

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Dates until end of the year

Please remember to refer to the school calendar for all of the upcoming events. The dates are listed at the start of this newsletter and most of the time you will be reminded through a See Saw message or text.

The main ones to look for are Graduation, Going up / Orientation days, Masses, excursions and last days for the children – 14th December for St. Brendan’s and 15th December for St. Mary’s with assembly at 12.30pm.

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LFBF conclusion

Next Monday, the Year 6 children will join with St. Michael’s Daylesford, St. Brigid’s Ballan, St. Pat’s Gordon and St. Augustine’s Creswick to conclude our LFBF program. Many of our children have built relationships with a number of other Year 6 children, some of which they may go onto secondary school with. The children have enjoyed the program and look forward to catching up with old and new friends.

This program will continue next year.

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End of an Era Event

A reminder that we are celebrating ‘An End Of An Era’ at St. Brendan’s on Saturday. All are welcome! A huge thank you to everyone that has put in hours of work to get this event organised. Hopefully the weather will be warm and sunny and everything goes off without a hitch.

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Memories from 2014

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St Brendan's Celebration 25th November


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In the spirit of Reconciliation, we acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land in which we sit, the Wadawurrung people, who have cared for this country for thousands of years.  We would like to pay our respects to the Aboriginal Elders past, present and future for they hold the traditions, memories and wisdom of Mother Earth on which we place our feet upon today.

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Child Safe – all on website

As is stated on our Vision and Mission, our schools ‘…are committed to the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all children and young people.’ Our procedures and policies are now in line with the 11 child safe standards and can be found on our schools’ websites under the tab – child safe.

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Principal's News

Colour Run

Thanks to St. Mary’s P and F for organising the Colour Run last Friday and to all of the families from both schools for supporting it. Amelia and Bryden did a power of work to get to it all organised and everyone had a fabulous time. Besides raising money, it was a wonderful event to get people together and build relationships. Well done everyone!

The year is fast approaching and things are busy. Please ask if you have any questions and clarify things if you are unclear about what is happening.

Go as gently as possible and take care,

Inez

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Upcoming Dates

24th November - Visit to Loreto to see musical 

27th November - LFBF  Final day year 6 

28th November - Secondary School Transition Day & Going Up Day

5th December - St Brendan's Graduation  6.30 pm

6th December - No combined schools day or lunch orders 

7th December - St Mary's Graduation  6.00 pm 

13th December - End of year excursion for St Mary's and St Brendan's 

14th Decemeber - End of an era Mass and celebrations 10.00 am 

14th December - Last day of school for children St Brendan's 

18th December - Last day of school for staff


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HOT ROD COMES TO ST BRENDAN’S

Last Wednesday we were very lucky to have Anthony Sarra and Mitch visit our school to show the kids Mitch’s dad’s 1936 Roadster. All the students were outside with their eyes closed as we listened to the sounds of nature, when we all heard a really old car.  When we opened our eyes, there was Ahlia and Aiden coming to school in the Roadster.  What a treat! We all got to walk around the car and have a good look.  Clare couldn’t believe it even had a CD player!!!!!

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News from the Junior Room

TRANSITION TO ST ALIPIUS

Aiden and Lucy have been to St Alipius School for 3 visits now.  They have already made new friends and participated in some different lessons - spelling, sport and maths. Aiden and Lucy commented that it’s fun playing games in maths with more than 2 people. Aiden enjoyed being the soccer goalie at playtime and Lucy said it was fun in the playground doing different things, like the climbing wall.

Last week Lucy and Aiden had some wonderings which they found the answers to when they visited St Alipius.

I wonder…… how many students are in the school? 242

I wonder…… how many children will be in the grade 3 class next year? Maybe 20 or 21

I wonder …… do they have a bell? They have an electric one that sounds like an alarm.



Transition to St Alipius

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Uniforms

It is lovely to see the children in their summer uniforms. A reminder to check the policy for each school about what the requirements are. If there are concerns around any of this, please see your child’s teacher or myself.

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Annual General Meetings

We have had our Annual General Meetings for each school. Thank you to those that were able to attend. It is a time to reflect on the year that has been and plan forward for the next year.

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Transitioning to St. Alipius

Our St. Brendan’s children have begun to transition to St. Alipius in the past few weeks. The teachers from both schools have organised a number of visits for the children so that the start of 2024 goes smoothly for the children and their families. Thank you to St. Alipius for being so welcoming and supportive of the St. Brendan’s children.

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