Principal's Message

The College during this last four weeks has been alive with activities, many of which showcase the wonderful talents of our girls.

We have taken opportunity to conduct Zoom information evenings with the parents from each year group. The chance to engage with parents is always valued and your views, respected. I understand that not all parents are able to make each commitment we have and ask that should an issue arise, please contact the relevant coordinator or a member of the College Executive.

On Wednesday 2 March we had a very special moment at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, during which the College Student Leadership Team received their blessing for the year ahead. As I relayed in a recent parent email, ordinarily this event would be held at the end of last year, but we were prevented from doing so because of the restrictions on gatherings and events. It was a truly wonderful occasion to witness the Leadership Team receive their badges of appointment and take their pledge to guide and lead the student body in a respectful and responsible manner. That we could have parents and guardians share this moment made it all the more special. The memories of this moment, and photos taken, will remain valuable reflections of their education journey in the years to come. Congratulations to all girls. We thank you for your commitment and look forward to observing your influence within the student body during this year. It was also wonderful for two of our Brigidine Sisters to witness this event, Sisters Margaret and Anita. The spirituality brought to the College through this community of dedicated Sisters is extraordinary and we value their presence at College events.

On Monday 7 March, I witnessed the College participating in the Conference 1 Swimming Championships. Brigidine College proved to be extremely competitive and brought home three trophies, namely, the Junior Girls Champions, Senior Girls Champions and the All-Round Girls School Champions. Our appreciation is extended to Maeve Hurley (Sports Coordinator) and Beth Meldrum (PDHPE Teacher) for their organisation and enthusiastic support for our girls. Tuesday 15 March will see Brigidine College compete in the SCS All-Conference Championships. We wish all those girls well. 

On Tuesday 8 March we celebrated as a College St Brigid’s Feast Day. It was a beautiful occasion to be able to celebrate as an entire College community. The weather was terrible, but the spirits of all who participated – parents and students alike – demonstrated the wonderful spirit that exists within this College. I wish to extend a special thanks to the student leadership team who worked with the staff to inspire the girls in moments of enjoyment and appreciation. On this same day, we celebrated International Women’s Day, on which we celebrated St Brigid our strong patroness as well as our community of strong women. Sister Anita represented the Brigidine Sisters at this event. As well, we formally commissioned our new House, Delany, in honour of our Founder, Bishop Daniel Delany. Newly struck Delany badges were received by the students. For bringing all this together, I wish to extend a very special thanks to Jamie Lee Wood (Director of Religious Education & Mission) and Monica Atlamaz (Youth Ministry Coordinator).

On 8 March, we also convened the High Achievers Assembly, during which the Distinguished Achievers of the HSC Class of 2021 were officially acknowledged by the Brigidine community. The 2021 girls overcame many distractions to achieve the results they did, and we congratulate them all. We wish them well on their future journeys and know that they will walk with strength and gentleness. Very special thanks are extended to Natasha Fox (Director of Learning and Innovation) and Eleonora Agazzi (Director of Curriculum).

To cap off a remarkable day, we also held the Year 7 Welcome Mass at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church. This provided a wonderful opportunity to formally welcome Year 7 students and their families into the Brigidine community. During the Mass, students were presented with their College Bible, College badge and House badge. Although the weather was atrocious, we had a wonderful representation and a small clear window at the end, which enabled a Year-Group photo to be taken. Special thanks are extended to Jamie Lee Wood and Rebecca Monohan (Year 7 Pastoral Care Coordinator).

During the last three weeks, students also participated in the Catholic Schools Public Speaking Championships. The College was well represented, and all students should be immensely proud of their efforts. The girls were articulate, and eloquently presented their thoughts on a selected topic. Three students moved into the semi-final round, with one student, Klara James from Year 7, moving further into the Championship round.

Finally, we offer prayers for all those suffering as a result of floods and war. Please take a moment to reflect on the hardship being experienced by others at this time through forces that many cannot control. It is a very sad time and I consider moments such as this enable us to give thanks for our safety and good fortune. It is with a committed heart that we pray for a humane resolution to both these unfolding tragedies.   

Mrs Sharyn Quirk

Principal