Dear Parents and Friends,

WELCOME

Today is the first page of a new book—let's make it a good story! We are thrilled to welcome you to a year of growth and discovery at St Brigids! In this newsletter, we will tell you about some exciting things we are preparing for at our amazing school, such as our upcoming swimming carnival, as well as our wonderful Welcome BBQ tomorrow. Now that our backpacks are on, our shoes are tied, all that's left is to go inside! We're so delighted to have you back!

Leadership and what it means to me.

Hi, I am Louis, and I am a Year 6 leader who will be in the Community and Environment Leadership group for St Brigids Primary School, which will be taking care of the school.

Hi, I am Alek, and I am in the STEM/ICT leadership group. Leadership means being a good role model for Foundation students and helping other students when they need it.

Hi, I am Briar. Being a Year 6 leader is very good because I get to be a role model not just for my buddy but also the whole school, and I am in the Arts and Culture group.

Hi, I am Alfie, and I am in the Liturgy leadership role. Leadership means to be a role model to the younger students in this school, and it will help me in my older life.

Hi, my name is Ché, and I am the Red House Sport Captain. To me, leadership is being respectful to everyone, leading people in the right direction, doing the right things and helping others.

Hi, my name is Asher. I'm a leader at St Brigids Primary School. For me, being a leader means representing our school and helping people who look up to me, like the Foundation students. I want to be a good influence on the students so they know how to behave and lead when they are older. Being a leader also means I can help out teachers with younger students during normal class time. I'm in the Community and Environment leadership group which means helping people like Mrs Sullivan with the tours and other important jobs.

Hi, my name is Matt. I am a Year 6 leader of 2026 and I'm in the STEM group, personally i think being a leader means to be a role model and to make sure all the juniors have a great time at school and grow up well, especially with my buddy, me and jye always make sure Tadgh has an awesome time at school. :)

Hello, my name is Jess, and I am a Blue House Sports Captain. Being a leader is really awesome and fun, with lots of important jobs that help others and lead them in the right direction.

Hello, I’m Juliet, one of the Liturgy group leaders. To me, that means I will always try my hardest to live up to expectations and, alongside my classmates, lead our amazing school to the best of my ability.

Hello, I am Georgina, and I am an Art and Culture leader. To me that means I will try my hardest to make everyone happy like my classmates and my teacher, and I feel honoured to be a leader of this beautiful school.

Foundation Buddies

Lily

What have you enjoyed most about your first week at St Brigid’s?

I have enjoyed the colouring and playing with my friends.

What are you most excited to learn this Term?

I am really excited to learn to read a book.

What are you most excited to do with your new buddy (ies)?

I am most excited to do colouring with my buddies.

What did you most enjoy about our last buddy session?

I liked reading the book about a dog who said he was clever and wouldn’t eat a bee.

William

What have you enjoyed most about your first week at St Brigid’s?

I most enjoyed the obstacle course in PMP.

What are you most excited to learn this Term?

I am most excited to learn about Arts and Crafts.

What are you most excited to do with your new buddy (ies)?

I am really excited to play on the playground with my buddy.

What did you most enjoy about our last buddy session?

I really liked reading the books with my buddy, I read four!

Evelyn

What have you enjoyed most about your first week at St Brigid’s?

I like it because I like to make a lot of friends.

What are you most excited to learn?

I am excited to learn about Math with my friends and learn all about numbers.

What are you most excited to do with your new buddy and what did you most enjoy about our last buddy session?

I like to read books with my bubby. I am excited to play with my buddy more throughout the year.

Jack

What have you enjoyed most about your first week at St Brigid’s?

I have enjoyed playing games with my new friends.

What are you most excited to learn?

I am excited to learn about reading throughout the years.

What are you most excited to do with your new buddy and what did you most enjoy about our last buddy session?

I am excited to read with my buddy, and I enjoyed talking with my buddy.

Alice

What have you enjoyed most about your first week at St Brigid’s?

My favourite thing has been playing with my friends.

What are you most excited to learn this term?

I am most excited to learn loads more about art. I love art.

What are you most excited to do with your new buddy?

I’m most excited to play on the playground with my buddy.

What did you most enjoy about our last buddy session?

I really loved reading books together.

Benny

What have you enjoyed most about your first week at St Brigid’s?

My favourite thing has been the first PMP session.

What are you most excited to learn this term?

I am most excited to learn more maths.

What are you most excited to do with your new buddy?

I’m most excited to play on the playground with my buddy.

What did you most enjoy about our last buddy session?

I liked reading 3 different books.

Holiday Recap

What was a really good thing you did during your holidays?

Holly went to Gumbuya World.

Louis played in the Grand Final of his basketball and won!

Allegra went to the Harry Potter exhibition.

Lucas went to Austria and loved playing in the snow

Toby enjoyed spending time with his family.

Joel went to the city and ate chips.

What was the best thing you did on the holidays?

Louis went to Cairns and Port Douglas

Holly went on the “funnest” roller coaster called TNT.

Toby loved it when he went to a cool dinosaur park.

Jordan went to the Philippines and enjoyed eating Potato Korma.

Allegra liked it when she went to her friend's house.

Meet our new LSO's

Chloe

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Chloe. I am twenty two years old and I have a brother and sister at Parkdale Secondary School.

How are you finding St Brigids Primary School and why?

I love it here because it is a small school, which gives me a chance to meet and know everyone better. The staff are also extremely lovely, welcoming and accepting me to the school.

Tania

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hi, I'm Tania, and I'm a Mum of 3. One is still at St Brigids, one at St Bedes, and the other just graduated. I also enjoy going for beach walks.

How are you finding St Brigids Primary school and why?

All the staff are friendly, and I love getting to know the students more.

Abbie

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hi, I’m Abbie. I’m a mum of three kids. My kids are 13, 11 and 8. We travelled Australia for a year in 2023 and still love getting away in our caravan.

How are you finding St Brigids Primary school and why?

I live in the local community and love working at St Brigid’s so far. It’s like a little family of its own.

Swimming Trials

Vincent: What made you want to participate in swimming trials?

To try my best, and have fun.

What did you feel like, before participating?

Excited, and nervous

What is your favourite stroke and event, and why?

Freestyle, because it is easy to learn the action.

Billie What made you want to participate in swimming trials?

Just for fun and the experience.

What did you feel like, before participating?

Excited, and ready to swim.

What is your favourite stroke and event, and why?

Butterfly because it's a challenge.

Levi: What made you want to participate in swimming trials?

I like swimming and having fun.

What did you feel like, before participating?

Nervous but wanting to swim in the pool.

What is your favourite stroke and event and why?

Breaststoke because it's fun, and is really challenging.

Ava: What made you want to participate in swimming trials?

I did it last year, and made it to District, and want to do it again.

What did you feel like, before participating?

Nervous, but it was very exciting

What is your favourite stroke and event and why?

Breast stroke because every Tuesday I do it for a lesson and find it very fun and easy.

Torin: “What made you want to participate in swimming trials?

I like swimming, it is fun and challenging and I really like it.

What did you feel like, before participating?

Nervous but positive about the future.

What is your favourite stroke and event and why?

My favourite stroke and event is breaststroke and freestyle, which is really basic and really fun.

FAMILIES PLEASE NOTE THERE WILL BE NO RUNNING CLUB ON TUESDAY 10th OR TUESDAY 17TH DUE TO SWIM SQUAD TRAINING.

Welcome Afternoon

We invite you all to join us at our Welcome Afternoon BBQ starting at 2:15 tomorrow afternoon. From 2.15 - 3.15, we are going to be playing games in our family groups, run by the Sports Leaders, followed by an open playground.

Children are all going to get a super dooper and sausage, and families are welcome to come until 4.30 pm. You are more than welcome to bring a picnic on the grass area as well.

Feast of St Brigid's & Beginning of Year Mass

February 1st is the Feast of St Brigid’s. We celebrated the Feast and the Beginning of the Year Mass in our hall on Friday. It was a fabulous celebration where we met our new great Priest, Father Michael, who is a very kind and curious Priest. We followed up with some St Brigid fun activities as a class.

Thank you for reading the first student-made newsletter for 2026, by the Year 6 leaders. We hope to see you at our next General Assembly on Friday 13th February at 2:15 pm, where the Foundation students will receive their purple buddy bears. We will be introduced to our new Wellbeing Reps and the Year 6 leaders will receive their leadership badge. We hope to see you at tomorrow afternoons welcoming BBQ.

Jessica, Georgina, Juliet, Alfie, Alek, Matt, Ché, Louis, Briar and Asher

NEWS FROM MRS SULLIVAN

Get to Know You Interviews

Our "Get to Know You Interviews" will be taking place on Wednesday 11 (2:00pm to 8:00pm) and Thursday 12 (3:45pm to 6:00pm). ALL STUDENTS WILL FINISH AT 1:3OPM ON WEDNESDAY 11 FEBRUARY. TheirCare will be available from 1:30pm - bookings are now open.

These sessions form an important step in your child’s transition to a new class, level and for some families a new school. The relationship between home and school is vital and one we encourage families to develop with their child’s teacher throughout the year. These Get to Know You sessions are about parents giving some insight into your children. Please note these sessions are not teacher feedback to families about academic performance.

Click here to book your meeting - the booking code is fwfdy. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact Tracey in the Office. Bookings will close at 3pm on Tuesday 10 February.

Change of Date for School Photos

Due to a change in our calendar for Term 1 our School Photo day has been moved. Our photos will now take place on Friday 13 March. All students will need to come in their full summer uniform on that day. More details will follow shortly.

Very Sad News

Over the last 5 days we have suddenly lost two valued members of the St Brigid's community.

Michael Hurst was a student at St Brigid's from 2004-2010 before moving on to St Bedes College where he became College Captain in 2016. Michael tragically passed away in a skiing incident in Japan on the weekend. We send our sincere condolences to Michael's Family - Cathryn, Peter, Tom, Madeleine and Patrick and the Leeds Family, Rob, Anne, Toby, Jess (5/6F) and Matilda. Michael is fondly remembered by the staff at St Brigid's.

Michael Zackic was a Parent and Student Advisory Council Member for a number of years whilst his children attended St Brigid's from 2009 to 2018. Michael passed away suddenly last Saturday night. Our thoughts and prayers are with Michael's family, Sharon, Monique, Hayley and Will.

Wendy Sullivan

Community News

Community Bank - Parkdale

Mentone Hockey Club

Kingston Hockey Club