Department News

Language Department

 Language shapes the way we think, and determines what we can think about.

 – Benjamin Lee Whorf

News from the Language Department

Our students have started off the year very well. Year 8 students are currently continuing their second year of either Italian or Chinese Mandarin. Our Italian classes have been learning about personal descriptions and how to describe themselves and others. This has involved learning lots of new adjectives including colours. Students have been grappling with adjective and noun agreements and are doing exceedingly well.  Our Chinese students have been learning how to describe their school routines including the ability to tell the time.

Our Year 9 Italian Elective class has started learning how to talk about their health and daily routine. They are learning many new verbs and how to conjugate them. They are using a new text called Ecco Due and are really enjoying meeting new characters and reading about their adventures.

Our Year 10 Italian students have been learning about the weather and writing and performing their very own weather forecasts! Che divertimento!

Our Year 12  Italian Continuers students are currently exploring the topic of Mass Media and Technology and learning to discuss their ideas about the various positive and negative aspects of mobile phones, the internet and social media as well as the impact Italy has had on the world of Technology throughout history.

One of our Year 12 students, Ginevra Aiello is currently studying Extension Italian through the NSW School of Languages. She has kindly shared some of her experiences thus far:

At the beginning of Year 12, I started my Italian extension program, due to COVID-19 I was not able to meet my classmates at the NSW School of Languages, however, it was great to meet my peers via zoom. The program consists of analysing the book Bianca come Il latte e rossa come il sangue (White Like Milk and Red like blood) and responding to questions based on this book. In Term 1 I was assessed on my Personal Research Project, which was an assessment that went from Week 1 to presenting it in week 2 of Term 2. In this task I was able to research an issue that fell under the topics of the book: Role of education, Evolving nature of relationships and Quest for identity. I researched the topic: Qual è l'effetto del ruolo delle amicizie durante l'adolescenza? (What is the role of friendships during adolescence?). As I am a teengeer attending highschool, I believe that I was able to relate to this question and provide my own experiences/ point of view. 

It has been very interesting and it has allowed me to deepen my skills in writing and speaking. Every week I zoom once with my teacher and then once with one of my classmates. In these lessons we practise our speaking and go over the week's work. It was a bit challenging at the start as I had to get used to only seeing my teacher on zoom and it is a very independent subject. However, it has gotten better, my Italian is improving and I can't wait to see what will come next.   

 Below I have included the introduction to my oral presentation about my research project:

Quanti di noi sono ancora in contatto con gli amici delle elementari? Quanto importanti sono queste amicizie adesso che siamo adolescenti?  Queste sono le domande che mi sono fatta quando ho iniziato la mia ricerca sull’importanza  delle amicizie durante l'età adolescenziale. Per me questo tema è molto importante, perché le amicizie hanno sempre avuto un ruolo fondamentale nella mia vita. Essendo parte di una famiglia expat non ho che i miei genitori e mia sorella, quindi, le mie amicizie sono diventate la mia famiglia allargata. 

We are very pleased to see the enthusiasm with which our language students engage in their language acquisition experience. From writing and performing role-plays to writing extended texts to learn grammar points to using Education Perfect to improve their vocabulary, students are constantly aiming to learn and improve their skills. In an ever-changing world, it is satisfying to know that our students are gaining many valuable skills that they can take with them when they finish school.

 Remember, there are countless well researched facts and commonly held ideas about the many and varied benefits of learning a second language, but here are just SIX to consider: 

When you learn a second language…….

1. You can truly experience new cultures
2. You have more of an opportunity to get to know more people
3. You learn to communicate better in general
4. You are exposed to new ideas
5. You can boost your confidence
6. You can boost your academic achievement

Janine Christofides

Head of Language

Music Department

Matilda is a story about a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence, and psychokinetic powers. She's unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey. Over the course of her first term at school, Matilda and Miss Honey have a profound effect on each other's lives, as Miss Honey begins not only to recognize but also appreciates Matilda's extraordinary personality. Matilda's school life isn't completely smooth sailing, however – the school's mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don't abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils' saving grace!

Rehearsals are now in full swing for our upcoming show- Matilda The Musical. The Orchestra and Choir are working hard to learn all their parts, the leads are working on their songs and script and last week we auditioned the dancers.

Congratulations to the following students who are the cast for the show:

Jacqui Hanniffy   

Head of Music       

PDHPE Department

There has been movement in the PDHPE Department this year. We farewell Mrs Elder in her role as sports coordinator and thank her for her 27 years in this position. Her passion for sport and mastery in this area has been invaluable to our girls here at the College. Luckily we are not saying goodbye and we wish her all the very best as she moves to a part-time role within our PDHPE faculty. The PDHPE department is excited to welcome new members to the team in 2022. Ms Maeve Hurley our new Sports Coordinator and PDHPE teacher Ms Beth Meldrum. We wish both staff members every success in their new roles here at Brigidine. 

We are lucky to have a very vibrant and dedicated PDHPE staff who work with great energy to deliver lessons that are engaging and challenging for our students:

Mrs Kate Elder, Ms Kathy Mazzeri, Mrs Jodie Gordon, Mrs Jen Kehati, Mrs Pauline Coleman, Mrs Culhane, Ms Maeve Hurley and Ms Beth Meldrum. 

Senior Courses

We are immensely proud of the achievements of our 2021 HSC students. This can be attributed to the hard work and perseverance of our Year 12 students as well as the dedication and commitment of all PDHPE staff to the teaching of this cohort since year 7. PDHPE and Community and Family Studies performed well above the state average and we congratulate the students on their excellent results. 

• PDHPE - 11.83% above state average
• Community and Family Studies - 5.85% above the state average.

Years 7-10 PDHPE

PDHPE students across Years 7-10 have now started the various health topics in their theory lessons. 

Year 7 have been studying a unit called ‘Eat Right, Live Strong’, which examines the dynamic nature of health and the factors that influence attitudes and behaviours towards health and wellbeing. Students have been reviewing the Australian Government dietary guidelines and evaluating the influence of nutritional value and sustainability on personal food choices. 

In the unit  ‘Positive Choices’, Year 8 have been exploring the issue of drug use, with a focus on alcohol and cannabis and their relevance in the lives of young people. Students will have opportunities to develop help-seeking skills and protective strategies in relation to drug use and recognise the barriers to accessing support. 

Year 9 students are studying the unit ‘It Couldn’t happen to Me’. In this unit, students explore the impact of illicit drug use on individuals and the community and investigate a range of strategies to protect themselves and others in unsafe situations. Students also evaluate the available support services should they or others need help. 

Year 10 are completing a unit on Sexual Health where they investigate a range of issues that impact their sexual health. They develop their self-management and interpersonal skills to enable them to lead healthy, safe lifestyles. 

In the practical component of the subject, Years 7-10 are participating in Volleyball. Students are developing competence in executing the basic volleyball skills, including the serve, dig, set, spike and block.  Focus is also given to rules and making good decisions based on clear communication for the purpose of developing good team play.  Students will also engage in games of Volleyball to learn about movement skills for lifelong fitness and strategies for encouraging lifelong activity. All students are currently preparing for their upcoming volleyball practical assessment task which commences in Week 7 of Term 1. 

Years 9 and 10 PASS Electives

In the theory component of the 9 PASS elective, students are learning about the different body systems and energy for physical activity, with a focus on the skeletal, muscular, circulatory and respiratory systems. In the practical component, the girls are preparing for their first assessment task where they will be demonstrating their coaching skills as they deliver and present a team sport coaching session to their peers. 

In 10 PASS, students are learning about physical fitness and its components. Through practical participation, students have been applying physical activity concepts to improve their fitness levels and that of their peers. In their upcoming assessment task, our Year 10 PASS students will apply their knowledge of the fitness components as they design and facilitate a fitness session for the class. We wish them the best of luck with their practical presentations.  

Our major focus in PDHPE is to make physical education classes as engaging, inclusive and enjoyable as possible. Integrating this into assessment as well as PE lessons can set students up for a lifetime of future physical activity and healthy living. We look forward to incorporating this focus into our lessons in 2022.

Vanessa Culhane     

Head of PDHPE