A message from our Principal
Dear St. Brendan's School Community,
As we settle into Term 3, it’s been lovely to see signs of spring arriving a little earlier than expected, bringing with it a renewed energy across our school.
As always, there are many wonderful things happening in our community, but last week’s special assembly stood out as a truly moving and heartfelt moment.
Together, we acknowledged the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to be peacemakers in our world, our country, and here at school.
I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to Wood Sensai, Leanne Pellegrino, Ange Collins, and the students from 5/6 Poppa and the 3/4 Choir for creating such a memorable and meaningful assembly that touched us all.
This term, we’ve also introduced new routines as part of our behaviour curriculum. You may have noticed students practising how we move through our school and exploring the types of voices we use in different settings. We’ve been incredibly proud of the way our students and teachers have embraced these changes, making the weekly Class Cup decision a very tough one! We’ve even received parent nominations, which are always welcomed and appreciated.
In this week’s newsletter, you’ll find important updates and reminders, including:
- Staff Spirituality Day
- StepLab Instructional Coaches Training
- Register Now for the second Parent Information Night
- Using our school crossing safely
- Supporting your children at home
- Sport uniform expectations
- Before and After School Care
And a look ahead at upcoming events
We’re looking forward to a productive and engaging Term 3 together!
Staff Spirituality Day
On Wednesday, our staff joined colleagues from all across our dioceses for our annual Staff Spirituality Day.
This special event provided a meaningful opportunity for school and office-based staff to pause, reflect, and reconnect with their personal and shared spiritual journeys.
Throughout the day, our staff engaged in two enriching workshops: St. Francis of Assisi and Everyday Spirituality. These sessions encouraged thoughtful reflection and offered practical ways to integrate spirituality into daily life.
The plenary and workshops were held online, while the afternoon session was facilitated in person. Leanne Pellegrino (Catholic Identity Leader) and I had the privilege of leading the final session, guiding staff through a process of reflection and a call to action inspired by the day’s insights.
We look forward to continuing this journey together as a faith-filled learning community.
StepLab Instructional Coaches
As part of the Magnify implementation, Rachael Weber (Junior Years Learning & Teaching Leader), Ted Lindon (Senior Years Learning & Teaching Leader), and I recently attended a two-day coaching intensive at The Woolshed, joining over 130 Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd. staff from across the Diocese. The experience was both energising and insightful, offering a deeper understanding of StepLap, a framework designed to support instructional coaching and enhance teaching practice.
We’re excited to bring this learning back to St Brendan’s as we begin embedding instructional coaching into our school. This initiative will help us continue to grow confident, capable, and highly effective teachers, enriching the learning experience for every student, every teacher, every day at St Brendan’s.
Parent Information Night with Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath
We were delighted to welcome over 40 parents and carers to our first parent session with Educational Neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, where he explored the important topics of sleep, stress, and technology.
Dr. Horvath’s insights sparked meaningful reflection and offered practical strategies to support wellbeing and learning.
We encourage families to join us for Session Two, as these sessions continue to be both engaging and highly beneficial. We hope to see you at the next session!
Session Details
Session 2: Surviving Study - Monday, 26th August at 6:30pm
Location: St. Brendan's School Hall, 143-149 Knight Street
Please register your attendance here: https://forms.office.com/r/4juiLsnMUp
Have seen our dedicated Learning Area Pages in the Newsletter?
We’re excited to introduce a new feature in our school Newsletter dedicated Learning Area pages for our Junior, Middle, and Senior Years Learning Communities.
These pages provide families with a snapshot of what is happening in the core areas of learning across each part of the school. You’ll also find short activities and optional tasks that you may wish to explore at home to support your child’s learning.
If you have any questions or would like additional support, please don’t hesitate to speak with your child’s teacher before or after school. Alternatively, you can contact the School Office and we’ll be happy to arrange a suitable time to discuss.
We hope this new addition helps strengthen the connection between home and school learning!
Friendly Reminder About Using the School Crossing
To help keep our students safe, we kindly remind all families to use the designated school crossing on Barker Avenue. This area becomes especially busy during drop-off and pick-up times, and walking children between parked cars poses serious safety risks.
Please take a moment to walk down to the crossing and say hello to Trish, our wonderful crossing supervisor, as you enter the school grounds. Shepparton City Council has provided us with helpful posters encouraging safe and respectful behaviour, including:
- Always using the crossing, even if it means a short walk.
- Treating crossing staff with kindness and respect.
- Parking legally and avoiding stopping in unsafe or restricted areas.
Let’s work together to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all our students and families.
Upcoming Events
Term 3
Friday, 15th August- Feast of the Assumption Mass Years 3-6 at 9:15am
Friday, 22nd August- Book Week Dress up parade at 9:00am Shelter shed.
Tuesday, 26th August- Parent Session 6:30pm in School Hall (Surviving Study).
Friday, 29th August - Father's Day Morning Tea from 8am-10am
Friday, 5th September- Athletics Day (Weather Permitting)
Thursday, 11th and Friday, 12th September- Year 4 Camp Alexandra
Friday, 12th September, Year 3 Excursion- Murray Life Adventures
Friday, 19th September – Footy Colours Day - 2:20pm finish.
Thank you for your continued support.
Joel Brian (Principal)