A message from our Principal
Dear St. Brendan's School Community,
We have made a wonderfully positive start to the term, helped along by some beautiful weather that has certainly lifted spirits across the school. It has been lovely to see students settling back into routines so smoothly and engaging enthusiastically in their learning.
Over the past two weeks, our leadership team has been spending time in classrooms conducting learning observations. This has provided a valuable opportunity to see first-hand the outstanding learning taking place across our school. As always, I am incredibly proud of how engaged our students are in their classrooms and of the commitment, care and hard work shown by our teachers each and every day.
We are also delighted to share some joyful news within our school community. Both Miss Seccull and Mrs Hutchins are preparing to welcome new additions to their families later this year. Miss Seccull is expected to commence maternity leave in early Term 3, while Mrs Hutchins will begin her leave in late Term 3. This is a very special time for them both, and we know our community will join us in celebrating this wonderful news. We have already begun the process of appointing suitable replacements to ensure a smooth and supportive transition for students.
Finally, as the weather during the day has been warmer, students are welcome to wear their summer uniforms. Please note, however, that mornings can still be quite cool, so jumpers are encouraged. We kindly ask that all jumpers are clearly named to help us return lost items to their owners.
ANZAC Day
On ANZAC Day, we were incredibly proud of Armaan and Neve who, alongside Mrs Baldacchino, Mrs Pellegrino and myself, represented our school community with great respect by laying a wreath at the 11.00 am service in Shepparton on behalf of our students, staff and families.
This service provided a meaningful opportunity to pause and honour the courage, sacrifice and enduring spirit of all who have served our nation. Our students’ respectful presence reflected the values we hold as a community and ensured this important tribute was made with dignity and gratitude.
In addition, on Friday last week, our school community came together to pause and reflect during a special ANZAC prayer. I extend my sincere thanks to Mr Andronaco and Year 3 Andronaco for leading us in prayer and guiding us as we acknowledged and honoured all those who have served in times of war.
Together, these moments of remembrance remind us of the importance of gratitude, respect and remembrance.
~ Lest we forget ~
School Care Clinics
I am pleased to share that we have recently partnered with SchoolCare Clinics, a community focused GP service providing bulk‑billed healthcare for students across the Greater Shepparton area.
SchoolCare Clinics offers child‑focused doctors who work with students from Prep through to Year 12, supporting both physical and mental wellbeing.
We are fortunate to have Dr Jimmy Tseng supporting our school community. Dr Tseng is a GP with a strong focus on children’s health. He trained for many years at the Royal Children’s Hospital and now works as a senior lecturer at the University of Melbourne. He also leads nationally recognised asthma research based here in Shepparton.
As part of this partnership, Dr Tseng will be offering two morning clinics at our school on:
- Tuesday, 5th May (Fully Booked)
Tuesday, 2nd June (Limited Spaces Available)
All appointments are bulk billed.
If you wish to make a booking, please contact me via email at principal@sbshepparton.catholic.edu.au, and I will provide you with an appointment time. Please note that places are limited.
Services available through SchoolCare Clinics include:
- Flu vaccinations for students at no cost
- Asthma action plans
- Referrals for ADHD assessments
- Allergy management plans
Mental health care plans, if required
We look forward to offering this valuable service to further support the health and wellbeing of our students and families.
2027 Foundation Enrolments Closing Soon
A reminder to all families that Foundation (Prep) enrolments for 2027 will close on Monday, 22nd May.
If you have a child starting school in 2027, please submit your enrolment application as soon as possible to secure a place and assist us with planning.
You can Submit an Enrolment Application here. We look forward to welcoming our newest learners to our school community later this year.
School Attendance
Regular school attendance plays a vital role in supporting your child’s learning and wellbeing. Being present in class every day ensures students can fully engage in core learning and build strong routines and relationships.
We kindly ask families to schedule holidays and appointments outside of school hours or during school holiday periods whenever possible. This helps minimise disruptions and ensures students do not miss important learning opportunities.
If your child does have an appointment during school hours, we ask that parents provide a note for the teacher outlining the reason for the absence and the time your child will be collected from the front office.
Thank you for your continued support in making attendance a priority and helping us provide the best learning environment for all students.
Before‑School Library Opening & Volunteer Reading Program
Many thanks to the parents who have already signed up for the library reading program. It has been a delight to see families calling in each morning to support reading at our school.
Parents and carers are warmly invited to drop in with their children so they can borrow books or enjoy some quiet reading time to begin the day.
We would love to see even more parents get involved in supporting this valuable program. If you are interested, please complete the Volunteer Registration Form available at: https://www.sbshepparton.catholic.edu.au/how-to-be-involved
Once your registration has been reviewed, you will be provided with access to the online school volunteers module, which must be completed prior to volunteering. The program is overseen by Heather Woodman, who will also provide group training for parents participating in the before‑school reading sessions.
Smart Devices – Phones and Watches
As a reminder, we ask that students do not bring smart devices such as mobile phones or smart watches to school. We understand, however, that some families may feel a device is needed for after‑school travel arrangements.
If a student does bring a smart device to school, the process is simple: devices must be handed in at the school office at the beginning of the day and can be collected from the office at 3:00 pm.
We ask parents and carers to please have a conversation with their child about this expectation and the importance of keeping devices safely managed during the school day. Your support helps us maintain a focused learning environment for all students.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Upcoming Events
Term 2
Friday, 8th May - Mother's Day Cuppa and Assembly
Friday, 8th May - Year 1 Excursion to Bendigo
Friday, 15th May - St Brendan’s Feast Day
Thursday, 21st May to Friday, 22nd May- Year 4 Camp Alexandra Adventure Resort
Monday 1st May - Tuesday, 9th June - Scholastic Book Fair
Friday, 5th June - Staff Professional Development Day (Pupil Free Day)
Monday, 8th June - Kings Birthday Long Weekend (Public Holiday)
Friday, 12th June - Year 3 Excursion Billabong Ranch Echuca
Friday, 12th June - Feast of the Sacred Heart Mass and Liturgies
Friday, 26th June - Last Day of Term 2 – 2:20pm Student dismissal
Thank you for your continued support.
Joel Brian (Principal)