Principal’s Message

Term 2, Week 8

Dear Families, 

 

It has been a vibrant and enriching fortnight across the school community. 

Keena attended the Deputy Principals’ Conference in Melbourne, which focused on strengthening Catholic identity in schools and deepening understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives. She also took part in a Literacy Network meeting, collaborating with colleagues from across the region to explore best practices in early literacy instruction. 

Petrina continued progressing through her Pathway to Principalship course, further developing her leadership capabilities and strategic planning skills. 

Genetta Arthrell attended professional learning on Explicit Instruction in Mathematics, gaining insights into high-impact teaching strategies that support student achievement in numeracy. 

Jessica Glasson participated in a Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) network meeting, where she collaborated with other school leaders on supporting student wellbeing and resilience. 

Meanwhile, Mel Daly enjoyed a well-earned break during her long service leave, relaxing in the warmth and beauty of Bali.

 

We continue to support the growth of future educators, currently hosting a number of student teachers, high school work experience students, and a university psychology placement student, all of whom are contributing positively to the life of the school while developing their skills. 

 

Our school netball teams represented us proudly in interschool competitions, showing great teamwork, sportsmanship, and determination throughout the day. 

 

Despite the recent heavy rainfall leading to the temporary closure of the grass area, our students have shown commendable maturity and flexibility. They’ve embraced the opportunity to play in different areas of the yard, try new activities, and demonstrate care and respect for the environment as it recovers. We trust everyone enjoyed the long weekend and look forward to the exciting learning and events still to come this term.


Supporting Student Safety and Learning for All

At St Brigid’s, the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of every student is at the heart of all we do. As part of our commitment to inclusive practices and the care of the whole person, our staff regularly engage in professional learning and planning to ensure we respond appropriately and consistently when students are experiencing moments of emotional dysregulation or heightened behaviour.

 

These situations are managed with calm, clarity, and compassion - always prioritising the safety and dignity of the student involved, while also ensuring minimal disruption to the learning of others. While such moments can occasionally be confronting or spark curiosity, we are working deliberately to reduce the visibility of these challenges to other students. Our aim is to preserve the dignity of those involved, while maintaining a peaceful and predictable environment for everyone.

 

It’s also important to note that the presence of additional students or adults - including well-meaning parents observing from a distance - can add unnecessary pressure and complexity to the situation. We kindly ask parents to trust our trained staff to manage these moments with professionalism and care, and to avoid remaining nearby or sharing information with others that may compromise the dignity of the student involved.

One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is to model trust and respectful dialogue. The language we use when speaking to or around our children, and the way we speak about others in the community, helps shape how they respond to difference, challenge, and compassion.

 

We are so proud of the way our students continue to grow in empathy and understanding - learning lifelong skills of inclusion, patience, and appropriate responses to challenge. These are the real foundations of community, and we thank you for walking alongside us in nurturing these values.

 

If you ever have questions or concerns, we welcome open and respectful conversations. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s classroom teacher or to me directly.


Newsletter 

We will continue to send this newsletter for important dates and my principal’s message. However, data shows limited parent engagement with the later pages of the newsletter. We welcome your feedback on the newsletter’s relevance as we aim to streamline communication across these platforms in a way that suits our families best.


NCCD fact sheet


Advisory Council – Parent Voice Matters

At St Brigid’s, we value the strong partnership between home and school, and one of the key ways we foster this connection is through our School Advisory Council. The Council plays an important role in strengthening communication between families and school leadership, offering a parent voice in key areas such as school planning, community engagement, and strategic direction.

 

We currently have positions available on the Advisory Council and warmly invite expressions of interest from parents who are passionate about contributing to the future of our school. If you’d like to know more or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 25 June, and we’d love to welcome new members to the team.


Mental Health in Primary Schools update

Exciting Partnership: MHiPS Team Joins the Macedon Ranges MHPN

We are pleased to announce that our Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) team has officially joined the Macedon Ranges Mental Health Professionals Network (MHPN). This is a fantastic step forward in strengthening the support we provide to our students, families, and school community. 

 

The Macedon Ranges MHPN brings together a network of local mental health professionals, educators, and allied health services, all working collaboratively to improve mental health outcomes for young people in our region. By joining this network, our MHiPS team will gain greater access to local expertise, professional development opportunities, and coordinated care pathways.

 

What does this mean for our school?

  • Stronger Support for Students: Closer connections with local mental health services means faster, more effective support for students in need.
  • Professional Collaboration: Our MHiPS team can now collaborate directly with a wide range of specialists, ensuring our strategies are well-informed and up-to-date.
  • Whole-Community Benefits: A more connected support system means we can work more closely with families and carers to ensure consistent, community-based mental health care.

We’re excited about the positive impact this partnership will have on student wellbeing, and we look forward to seeing the benefits of this collaboration grow throughout the year.


Warm regards, 

 

Mel Daly

Principal

 

Petrina O’Grady 

Deputy Principal 


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