Dear families,

What is distinctive about Catholic Education?

As mentioned in today’s prayer, this week is Catholic Education Week, where we focus on what are the unique offerings that Catholic Education can bring to our community. I have copied the paragraphs below from the Catholic Education Ballarat’s weekly newsletter that explains this in detail:

This week is an opportunity for us all to celebrate the life changing work of Catholic Education. Every day each of us contributes to this incredible hope filled work that is taking place in every school in our Diocese and beyond. For this we are extremely proud and give thanks. What is it though that is distinctively Catholic about the education taking place in these schools? In reality, all education systems and schools should be transformational, providing hope or making a difference in their communities. What is so particular about Catholic Education & schools?

Catholic schools are Christ-centred communities committed to educational excellence.

Every Catholic school exists to propose to their students the religious and moral beliefs underlying a life-giving Catholic vision about what it means to be human and have a loving relationship with the living God and the world in which they live.

Catholic schools form individuals to flourish – to live good lives in this world and contribute to building a just and healthy society, and in eternal life with God.

Catholic schools are “called upon to offer an educational service appropriate to the present times”.

They are communities of welcome, forgiveness, equality, inclusion and encouragement to experience, live and proclaim the joy of the Gospel. They are nourished by prayer, liturgy, witness, social justice, service and pastoral care.

The mission of Catholic schools is centred around the integration of faith, learning, life and culture. This does not just happen in the classroom, but through the witness offered by teaching and non-teaching staff, and through the experience of the student being part of a community which models this integration in a life-giving way.

Catholic schools work in partnership with parents and parishes, as they accompany students on a journey of personal and spiritual growth: to think well, to feel well and to do good.

Other news

We congratulate Mrs Fiona Combe, our amazing Deputy Principal, who has been nominated for an award at this evening’s Spirit of Catholic Education Awards night in Ballarat; regardless of the outcome tonight, we value Fiona’s contribution to our school every day.

This week I was fortunate enough to have spent three days with our Year 11 cohort in Melbourne on their street retreat. In addition to visiting the Big Issue Classroom where the students heard the stories of homeless people and the various causes of this plague, we also visited the Magistrates’ Court, RMIT and the Art Gallery. The students participated in a CBD Orientation scavenger hunt, where they independently navigated the public transport system around Melbourne. While there were a few wrong turns, every student managed to explore the city and then return to Flinders St clocks as planned. I was so impressed with the growth in confidence that was evident in our students and their ability to adapt and take responsibility for their own city experiences.

Also, this week, our Year 10s have been on work experience and I am hearing very positive reports from staff who have visited them in the work place. Well done for representing our school with pride.

On Monday morning, (8:50am on June 1), we have a College assembly at which we will celebrate a number of awards and success our students have had in recent times, including our Year 10s winning the regional Science and Engineering Challenge against all other local schools and the students who are living are school values and have received commendations for positive behaviour. All parents and family members are welcome to join us.

The successes and reputation of our College continues to grow and we are currently finalising our enrolments for 2027, which are nearing capacity as families recognise the value proposition of Catholic education.

I have been asked to mention a few matters that parents will need to be aware of:

The country buses will not be running on 5 June due to the Department of Education schools being closed on this day. St Brigid’s College will operate as normal on that day.
The current ban on mobile phones in classes will be extended to ear buds and smart watches next year in all Victorian schools. This will continue to apply at St Brigid’s College. Here is a link to the legislation for your perusal.
Too many of our students are arriving at school without their laptops charged, which impacts on their learning. I ask all parents to assist your child in building a routine to daily charge their laptop each night so that it is ready for learning.

Stay safe,

Gerard Raven

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