Cohort News

Year 7 Pastoral Care

As Term 3 draws to a close, we reflect on a vibrant and productive period at the College. It has been wonderful to witness our students' continued growth, both academically and in their co-curricular pursuits.

Year 7 Thriving in Our College Community

We are particularly proud of our Year 7 students, who have continued to immerse themselves fully into the college community. Their enthusiasm, willingness to participate, and the positive energy they bring to school life are truly commendable. It's fantastic to see them settling in, forming new friendships, and taking advantage of all the opportunities the College has to offer. We look forward to seeing them continue to flourish in Term 4 and beyond!

Celebrating Outstanding Sporting Achievements!

A huge round of applause goes out to our incredibly talented athletes for their recent outstanding achievements:

• Charlize Elder for her remarkable success in making the prestigious NSW Oztag Team! This is a fantastic accomplishment, reflecting her dedication, skill, and hard work. We are immensely proud of Charlize and wish her all the best as she represents New South Wales.
• Carina Ng for her exceptional performance at the NSW CCC Junior Athletics Carnival, where she won the 1500m event and secured an impressive 3rd place in the 800m! Carina's dedication and athletic prowess are truly inspiring. Congratulations, Carina!
• Junior Tennis Team- Carmen Mackey, Iris Xu and Evelyn Yick- for winning the Sydney Catholic Schools Tennis Gala Da.

Important Dates and Messages for the Term Break and Beyond:

Please make note of the following key dates as we transition between terms:

•  
• Monday, 13 October: Years 7-10 Parent Teacher Conferences will be held via Zoom. Further details regarding booking times will be communicated shortly.
• Tuesday, 14 October: This marks the first day of Term 4. All students are reminded to return dressed in their summer uniform.

Term 4 Sport Information:

We are excited to announce our Term 4 sports activities, designed to get students active and enjoying the warmer weather!

• Weeks 1-5:
  • Students from Aquinas, Brigid, and Delany will be enjoying Surfing at Maroubra Beach.
  • Students from Regina Mundi, Winifred, and Xavier will participate in Beach Games at Maroubra Beach.
• Week 6: Activities will be swapped, allowing all students to experience both surfing and beach games. More specific details regarding transport and requirements will be provided at the start of Term 4.
• Please note that students will be dismissed from the venue.

We wish all our students and families a safe, restful, and enjoyable term break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for a fantastic Term 4!

Jon Campbell

Year 7 Pastoral Care Coordinator

Year 8 Pastoral Care

Dear Parents and Guardians of Year 8,

It’s hard to believe we’ve already reached the end of Term 3! This term has been full of energy, achievements and plenty of memorable moments. From the classroom to the sporting field, and in all the little day-to-day interactions, it’s been great to see our students continuing to grow, challenge themselves and support one another.

Pastoral Care - Term 3 Recap

This term in Pastoral Care, Year 8 have been working towards their Semester Two goals, with a strong focus on both personal growth and supporting one another as a year group. We marked R U OK? Day by raising awareness around mental health, encouraging students to check in with their peers and a cohort poster competition. Our ongoing theme of Respect has been explored through activities and discussions that challenge students to reflect on how they treat others both inside and outside the classroom.

Students also participated in an Elevate Education workshop on Mnemonics, learning practical strategies to strengthen their study habits. To build on their interpersonal skills, we delved into Conflict Resolution, giving Year 8 the chance to practice ways to communicate effectively, manage disagreements, and maintain positive relationships.

Year 12 Graduation 

This term, our Year 8 students had the opportunity to farewell the Class of 2025 at their Graduation Ceremony. In a spirit of gratitude and celebration, Year 8 hand-crafted thoughtful gifts for the graduates, showing their support and appreciation. It was a special moment of connection between the year groups, and a chance for our younger students to reflect on the journey ahead. We wish our Year 12s all the very best as they prepare for the HSC and step into the exciting new opportunities that lie beyond school.

Summer Uniform

As we head into Term 4, students will be required to wear the College summer uniform. Please ensure skirts are hemmed to at least knee length, as some students may have grown since last summer. Additionally, we’ve also noticed some students wearing makeup, mascara and double piercings. As a reminder, clear piercings to cover second holes are not permitted. Before the start of next term, please ensure that your daughter does not return with false acrylic nails, nail polish or false eyelashes, as per the school expectations as outlined in the diary. Your support in adhering to these guidelines is greatly appreciated to maintain the College’s standards.

Key Events for Year 8 Term 3:

• Week 1: Monday 13th October - 7-10 Parent Teacher Interviews
• Week 1: Tuesday 14th October - Term 4 commences 
• Week 6: Tuesday 18th November - Year 8 Farm Excursion (Food and Agriculture)  
• Week 6: Friday 21st November - Digital Discernment Workshop (Pastoral Care) 
• Week 7: Tuesday 25th November - Swimming Carnival
• Week 7: Friday 28th November - End of Year Showcase (Music & VA)
• Week 9: Friday 12th December - Year 7-11 Presentation Day
• Week 10: Monday 15th December - Community Day

Wishing you and your families a wonderful and safe holiday! 

Kathy Phetrasi 

Year 8 Pastoral Care Coordinator

Year 9 Pastoral Care

Dear Year 9 Parents,

It is my pleasure to write my first newsletter as Year 9 Pastoral Care Coordinator. It has been a busy few weeks with assessments and activities at the college. 

NEWS:

August 29th: Sun Safety Presentation

In an effort to provide our students with a powerful, real-life perspective, we had a fantastic opportunity to welcome back an old girl of Brigidine, Anne Gately (Class of 1983). Anne shared her personal story with our Year 9 students regarding her skin cancer battle. Her presentation informed and educated students on how important it is to be sun safe, as two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime, and as we know, skin cancer is easily preventable if we take the proper precautions.  

Anne is the author of the memoir, Sunburnt: A Memoir of Sun, Surf and Skin Cancer, which chronicles her life growing up in the Randwick Coogee area and her subsequent stage IV melanoma diagnosis. 

September 5th: Commerce Market Day

Congratulations to the Year 9 Commerce (200hour) students who ran their annual market day as part of their unit, "Running a Business": Students learnt the fundamentals of planning, creating, and operating a small business. Students ran a range of exciting stores, including viral Dubai strawberry cups, scrumptious cinnamon scrolls, gooey cheese sticks, and many more! 

September 12th: The Drug Education Project 

Year 9 students recently participated in an important talk about drugs and alcohol, a key component of their health education. 

Sharon Torpey, founder of Drug Education Australia, joined us for a presentation on drug and alcohol education. Students were very engaged and asked questions to help understand the importance of being safe and understanding the risks associated with taking drugs and alcohol. 

Reminder:

Summer Uniform Expectations

I would like to remind all parents and students about our uniform policy to ensure that all students present themselves in a manner that reflects the values and standards of Brigidine College. Please ensure that your daughter is wearing the correct uniform each day, including the appropriate footwear, accessories, and outerwear. All students should adhere to the following guidelines:

To ensure students uphold College expectations, we ask for your support in reminding them to:

• Wear the correct summer uniform, ensuring the dress length is appropriate.
• Remove any nail polish, false nails, false eyelashes, and makeup before returning.
• Wear only one pair of small studs or sleepers in the lower earlobe (no additional piercings)
• No long sleeve shirt to be worn underneath sports uniform 

• The College green school bag is the only bag permitted to and from school. College Tote bags can be used whilst moving to and from classes but not beyond the College.

   

Term 4 Key Dates

• Monday, October 14th: Parent-Teacher Conferences 🗓️
• Tuesday, October 15th: First day of Term 4 📚
• Tuesday, November 25th: Swimming Carnival 🏊‍♀️
• Thursday - Friday, December 4th-5th: Year 9 Camp 🏕️More details to follow next term.
• Friday, December 12th: 7-11 Presentation Day
• Monday, December 15th: Last day of school

Happy holidays! Hope you have a wonderful and restful break. Looking forward to seeing you recharged and ready for Term 4!

Kind regards,

Lauren McKillop 

Acting Year 9 Pastoral Care Coordinator

Year 10 Pastoral Care

The past few months have been filled with opportunities for growth, learning, and community engagement.

The Marcellin/Brigidine dance was a huge success! Our students had a wonderful time with their peers from Marcellin, enjoying a night of dancing, delicious pizza, and fun with the photobooth. The atmosphere was incredibly positive, and it was fantastic to see so many students connecting and having a great time. We hope to see more collaborative events like this in the future, providing more opportunities for our students to build friendships and community.

The talk by Paul Dillon in week 3 was a truly valuable experience for our students. His presentation offered insightful and practical advice on a range of important topics on safe partying and risk taking behaviours. Many students were particularly shocked to learn about the hidden dangers of vapes. This talk served as a powerful reminder of the importance of making informed and healthy choices.

A huge congratulations to Klara James for her outstanding achievement in the R U OK? poster competition. Klara’s winning design was a powerful and thoughtful message, and we are incredibly proud of her creativity and contribution to such an important cause.

Our Year 10 students have enthusiastically started planning for their year wide project: Operation Christmas Child. This initiative is a wonderful opportunity for them to bring joy to children in remote and impoverished communities overseas. The girls have each chosen a specific age group and gender to create a thoughtful gift box for. We have been so inspired by their generosity and genuine excitement for this project. Each class has a goal for the number of boxes to make, and we are confident they will rise to the challenge. The boxes are due in Week 2 of next term, and we encourage you to ask your daughter about the gifts she is putting together. This is a truly rewarding and exciting initiative for all involved.

We wish all Year 10 families a safe and restful holiday break. We look forward to seeing our students refreshed and ready for an exciting new term!

Rebecca Monohan

Year 10 Pastoral Care Coordinator

Year 11 Pastoral Care

As Term 3 comes to a close, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the incredible efforts, growth, and spirit shown by our Year 11 cohort. This past week, our students completed their Preliminary Exams with focus, resilience, and grace. Each day brought new challenges, and the girls met them with maturity and quiet determination. Whether it was navigating exam rooms, supporting one another, or simply showing up with a positive attitude, they truly embodied the values we strive to nurture at the College. We are proud of them and hope they take time to rest and reflect on all they’ve achieved.

🎓 Student Leadership Team for 2025/2026

We are delighted to announce the newly appointed Student Leadership Team for 2026. After a thoughtful and thorough selection process, these students have been chosen to represent the voice of their peers, lead with integrity, and contribute meaningfully to our College community. Each brings unique strengths, fresh ideas, and a shared commitment to making a difference.

Please join us in congratulating the following students:

PROFILE CAPTAINS

• Aurelie Salim – College Captain
• Joely Menzel – College Vice Captain
• Jacqueline Liao – Faith and Charism Captain
• Amelie Thistlethwaite – Social Justice Captain
• Priya Carpenter – Arts and Culture Captain
• Emily Reid – Sport Captain
• Ajelen Castillo – Sustainability Captain
• Valerie Kurniawidi – SRC Captain

HOUSE CAPTAINS

• Blaise Atkinson & Jasmine Glasgow – Aquinas
• Sofia Choromanski & Sienna Simons – Brigid
• Sophia Wolfram & Eva Tsonis – Delany
• Emma Haley & Evie Bowie – Regina Mundi
• Niamh Lynch & Caitlin Ma – Winifred
• Sam Stewart & Amelia Byrne – Xavier

We look forward to celebrating their commissioning at the Leadership Mass next term and watching them grow into their roles with courage and compassion.

📅 Key Dates for Term 4, 2026

• Monday 13th October – Pupil Free Day
• Tuesday 14th October – Year 12 Information Evening (5pm, Cullen Hall)
• Tuesday 21st October – Year 11 Parent Teacher Meetings (Zoom)
• Tuesday 28th October – Leadership Commissioning Mass
• Tuesday 25th November – College Swimming Carnival
• Monday 8th–11th December – Year 11 Geography Excursion
• Monday 8th–10th December – Year 11 Paddock to Plate Excursion
• Friday 12th December – Years 7–11 Presentation Day
• Monday 15th December – College Community Day (Last day for students)

🌸 Wishing You a Restful Holiday

Thank you for your ongoing support, encouragement, and partnership throughout Term 3. May the upcoming holiday period be filled with rest and renewal, ready for the start of the HSC in Term 4. 

Nikki McWhirter

Year 11 Pastoral Care Coordinator

Year 12 Pastoral Care

Saying Farewell to the Class of 2025

It is with a mixture of pride and nostalgia that we reflect on the farewell of our incredible Year 12 students. This week was a significant and emotional one, marking the end of their final school lessons and the beginning of their HSC journey.

The final days for the Class of 2025 were full of important milestones. Their last whole school assembly took place on Tuesday, 23rd September, a final chance for the entire Brigidine community to gather and celebrate their achievements. It was a poignant moment, and the school community showed immense support for this remarkable group of young women.

The main event, their graduation, was held on Wednesday, 24th September. The day was a beautiful and significant occasion, beginning with a farewell Mass followed by the official Graduation Assembly. These events were a perfect opportunity to reflect on their time at Brigidine, honour their dedication, and officially send them off as they prepare for the next chapter of their lives.

To cap off their school journey, the Year 12 Formal will be held on Friday, 26th September.  It will be a wonderful opportunity for them to create one last lasting memory together before the serious work of the HSC began.

As the formal ceremonies concluded, the true work for our Year 12 students has now begun. The HSC exams are on the horizon, a challenging but rewarding period that will test their knowledge, resilience, and determination. They have worked incredibly hard to reach this point, and we have no doubt that they are ready to face the challenge head-on.

The Brigidine College community will be keeping the Year 12 students in our thoughts and prayers as they embark on this final stage of their schooling. We wish them the very best of luck not only for their exams but for all the adventures that lie ahead. The sisterhood of Brigidine is a bond that lasts a lifetime, and while they have left the school gates, they will always remain a part of our community. We are excited to see the amazing things they will accomplish in the future.

We will miss them dearly, and we are so proud of the intelligent, compassionate, and resilient young women they have become.

Lastly, we are extremely grateful to Louise Doyle and the local primary schools who gifted each Year 12 student with a prayer pack as they embark on their HSC journey. It is a great reminder of how our wider community is also supportive of our girls. 

Tony Munguia

Year 12 Pastoral Care Coordinator