Principal's Report
Dear Parents, Carers and Friends of St Brendan’s,
The 2023 school year is rushing towards its conclusion and I can’t quite believe it is happening so quickly. There is so much to celebrate, to plan for and to share. Please read this important newsletter carefully and take in all the information contained here.
Indigenous Garden Official Opening
Last Thursday, we were very proud to celebrate the opening of our Indigenous Garden. We proudly welcomed Father Shymon, representatives from the State and Federal governments, members of Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools, our landscape designer, members of the St Brendan’s School Advisory Council, former St Brendan’s staff and parents and friends of St Brendan’s.
Under the leadership of Father Shymon and Mrs Jenny Riddell, our Indigenous Education Leader, we blessed, prayed, sang and joyfully opened our garden in a spirit of reconciliation and respect.
It truly was a moment where I felt so proud to lead such a beautifully respectful and cohesive school community. Please enjoy the beautiful photos of our opening.
End of Year Assembly and Christmas Carols - Thursday 14th December 12.15 pm
This year, we are delighted to hold our final assembly, Christmas Carols and Christmas Raffle draw at Padua College Tyabb. The reason for this change is that each year so many parents arrive to attend the event, only to find that they cannot see and cannot get a seat. Padua has kindly offered us the use of their assembly hall for the final school event of the year.
The day will go as follows:
- Students will be transported by bus to Padua Tyabb at 11.30 am after eating their lunch at recess time
- They will assemble and be ready to start at 12.15 pm
- Parents and grandparents are warmly invited to attend and are encouraged to arrive at Padua at 12.00 pm
- We will have our final assembly where we will announce the student leaders for 2024, farewell families who are leaving St Brendan’s and where we will present Year Six award winners for 2023
- We will all enjoy our Christmas Carols presentation from the children from all the levels in our school
- Finally, we will draw the Christmas raffle
- All students will board the buses and return to school where they we eat their recess snack and have a play until dismissal at 3.15 pm
- Please note that children will not be dismissed from Padua into the care of their parents. They are all required to return to school by bus. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you there.
Meet the Teacher Session
On Thursday 7th December, all St Brendan’s students will meet their new teachers for the 2024 school year. At 9.30am, the students will assemble with their new classmates and their new teacher for an introductory ‘get to know you’ session. I would like to acknowledge the parents who felt they needed to express a concern they have regarding the placement of their child/children’s into a class grouping for 2024. I thank them for doing so in accordance with timeline I outlined in a previous newsletter. Please note that considerable effort has gone into placing all students into their respective class groupings and that these groupings are final.
Class Structure for 2024
Year Level | Teacher/Teachers |
| Foundation C | Belinda Coggin and Trish Taranto |
| Foundation R | Camille Rossouw |
| Year 1/2 B | Ms Sigourney Barber |
| Year 1/2 G | Mrs Meagan Greenland and Mrs Erica Hudson |
| Year 1/2 T | Ms Julie Thomas |
| Year 3/4 M | Mrs Kim McKeown and Mrs Julie Kloppenborg |
| Year 3/4 O | Ms Kate O’Leary |
| Year 3/4 V | Mrs Marg Van Der Peet |
| Year 5/6 B | Mrs Nicole Reed |
| Year 5/6 R | Ms Nicola Ristrom |
| Year 5/6 W | Ms Holly Waldock |
| Specialist Teachers | Teacher |
| Visual Art | Mrs Jenny Riddell |
| Music | Ms Emma Chapple |
| Auslan Language | Classroom teachers |
| P.E | Ms Tess Haddock |
| Science/STEM | Mr Justin Barry |
| Yoga | Mrs Cassie Black |
| Library | Mrs Kay Donovan |
| Student Intervention/Support | Teachers |
| Junior | Ms Catherine Hare |
| Middle | Mrs Jenny Riddell |
| Senior | Mrs Cassie Black |
| Learning Support | Staff |
| Foundation | Mrs Lorna Heath Mrs Sharon Christensen |
| Year 1/2 | Mrs Jenny Cahill Mrs Andrea Connors |
| Year 3/4 | Ms Sandra Smith Ms Sarah Bagshaw |
| Year 5/6 | Mrs Siubhan Brickwood |
| School Teams | Teachers |
| Social Justice Action Team Leader | Ms Emma Chapple |
| Mini Vinnies Leader | Ms Emma Chapple |
| Green Team Leader | Mrs Belinda Coggin |
| iSeaiCare | Mrs Belinda Coggin |
| Indigenous Culture Leader | Mrs Jenny Riddell |
| School Leadership Team | Leaders |
| Principal | Mrs Sue Carr |
| Deputy Principal | Mrs Bernie Turner |
| Religious Education Leader | Ms Emma Chapple |
| Learning and Teaching Leader | Mrs Bernie Turner |
| Literacy Leader | Ms Erica Hudson |
| Mathematics/Science/STEM | Mr Justin Barry |
| Diversity Leader | Mrs Daniela Ruberto |
| Student Wellbeing Leader | Ms Tess Haddock |
| Other Leaders | Staff |
| O.H.S.C | Ms Vicki Carrigg |
| Playgroup | Mrs Siubhan Young |
| School Finance/Administration | Staff |
| Finance | Ms Wendy Ziino |
| Administration | Mrs Louise Street |
Please note that we will farewell Mrs Ange Seaburgh and Mrs Tracey Clark. We most sincerely thank Ange for being an outstanding P.E teacher who has lifted the profiles of both Physical Education and Sport over the years of her employment at St Brendan’s. Ange will be greatly missed by students, staff and parents alike. Ange, we wish you the very best in your full time role at your other school. We also thank and farewell Mrs Tracey Clarke for the love and dedication she has shown to both the staff and students of St Brendan’s over many years. We thank you most sincerely for your outstanding work Tracey with so many of our students. Both Ange and Tracey will be greatly missed and we send them off with our love and best wishes.
Please note an exciting change to the specialist program at St Brendan’s. Mr Justin Barry will teach Science as a specialist subject across the school from Foundation to Year 6. Justin will also teach S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) from Foundation to Year 6. During Semester 1, students from Years 3-6 will attend a weekly S.T.E.M session with both Mr Barry and their classroom teacher. During Semester 2, students from Foundation to Year 2 will have similar learning opportunities.
During 2024, in the absence of Mrs Lauren Koziol, students will learn Auslan, the art of sign language. This will provide a stimulating and engaging program for all students. This special program will be taught by the children’s classroom teachers.
Welcome to New Staff
We are delighted to welcome Ms Kate O’Leary and Ms Sigourney Barber to St Brendan’s staff. Kate will join the Year 3/4 team and Sigourney will join the Year 1/2 team. We look forward to welcoming both teachers when they join us on Thursday 7th December.
Have a wonderful week.
Sue Carr