St. Brendan's Primary School Newsletter

A message from our Principal

Dear St. Brendan's School Community,

We are now well into Term 1, and both our students and teachers are settling into new routines and embracing the learning opportunities that lie ahead.

Congratulations! 

We are thrilled to announce the safe arrival of a beautiful baby girl, Willa Stephanie Kelly, to Kasi and Tim Kelly and their family!  We couldn’t be happier for them during this special time. Congratulations to the growing family!

Principal’s Show ‘n’ Tell (News) 

Last Tuesday evening, I had the privilege of attending the Commissioning Mass for Sandhurst Leaders at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Bendigo, where I joined Bishop Shane Mackinlay. It was a beautiful Mass and a wonderful opportunity to connect with Diocesan leaders and principals from across the Sandhurst region.

 

The following day was spent reflecting on the start of the year, discussing the early implementation of Magnify across the diocese, and planning for the next steps. I was incredibly proud to share with these leaders how well our students and staff have adapted to the new initiatives. It truly is an exciting time to be a part of Catholic education — for every student, every teacher, every school, every day!

 

Later in the week, I travelled to Melbourne to continue my studies for my Master’s in Instructional Leadership at the University of Melbourne. This course is an excellent opportunity for personal growth, and I look forward to applying the knowledge gained to further support our school community.  I’d like to thank Johanna Baldacchino (Deputy Principal) for her leadership during my absence.

National Apology 

13th February marked the 17th anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations.  Each year, the Shepparton Region Reconciliation Group hosts the Apology Breakfast at Queen’s Gardens. Our school was well represented at this event, with many of our students and school leaders in attendance. We were especially proud to see our very own Yurri Atkinson-Briggs conduct the Welcome to Country for this important occasion. Well done, Yurri!

Microsoft 365

We have recently transitioned from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365. Our staff are currently learning how to navigate this new platform, and we are excited to roll it out to our

students in the coming weeks. Microsoft 365 offers a range of excellent tools that will support our learning and teaching programs.

 

As part of this transition, we no longer have access to our family email group. Going forward, all communications will be sent through PAM. If you are not receiving these emails, please contact our office to ensure we have your correct contact details.

Hello Night

Tonight, we are excited to welcome families to our Hello Night. This is a wonderful opportunity for your children to show you around the school and introduce you to our staff. Classrooms will be open from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm, after which we invite all families to the courtyard for a chance to mingle with staff and other families. 

Azem from People Supporting People will be on hand, selling sausages, a rice dish, and drinks. Families are also welcome to pack a picnic dinner. We hope to see you there!

Decodable Texts

This year, we purchased over 3,000 decodable texts for take-home reading to support our literacy programs across the school. Decodable texts are stories or passages designed with words that children can easily sound out based on their growing knowledge of letters and sounds. These texts help students practice decoding skills and boost their confidence and fluency.

 

We ask that students and parents take great care of these texts by following these steps:

  • Handle Books with Care:  Always hold books gently by the spine, and avoid bending or folding the pages. Be careful not to tear or rip any part of the book.
  • Keep Books Clean:  Keep your books away from food and drinks to prevent spills. If you need to mark your place, use a bookmark instead of folding the corners of pages.
  • Store Books Safely:  When not in use, store your books in a safe, dry place. Keep them in your school bag or on a shelf where they won’t get damaged or bent.
  • No Drawing or Writing:  Do not write or draw in the books.
  • Check the Condition Before Taking:  Before taking a book home, check its condition. If you notice any damage, let your teacher know right away so we can fix it.

Thank you for supporting the care of our resources and ensuring the success of our students.

 

Warm regards,

 

Joel Brian.