Term 2, Week 10

Dear Families,

As we come to the end of another vibrant and fulfilling term at St Brigid’s, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our students, staff, and families for the energy, care, and commitment you bring to our community each and every day. From learning achievements and student growth to faith celebrations and community connection - there is so much to be proud of.

This term has been a powerful reminder of what makes our school so special: a culture of kindness, professionalism, and shared purpose. It’s in that spirit that I’m delighted to share some exciting news that reflects not only the work we do with students, but the way we care for and value one another as a staff team.

St Brigid’s Recognised as a 5-Star Employer of Choice

I’m excited to share some wonderful news with our school community - St Brigid’s has been recognised as one of The Educator’s 5-Star Employers of Choice for 2025!

This national recognition celebrates schools that go above and beyond to support, develop, and retain their staff. It is a true reflection of the culture we’ve built together—one grounded in collaboration, professional growth, wellbeing, and a shared commitment to the students in our care.

The awards assess key areas including:

Leadership and support
Workplace culture and environment
Professional development opportunities
Staff wellbeing and recognition
Career progression and job satisfaction

To be acknowledged in this way is a testament to the incredible work of our staff - teachers, support staff, and leaders - who bring their passion, energy, and expertise to St Brigid’s every day. It also reflects the strong sense of belonging and unity we strive to create not just for students, but for every member of our school team.

As we wrap up the term, I want to thank our amazing staff for everything you do - your dedication is the heart of our school. Let’s all take a moment to celebrate this achievement together. It’s a powerful reminder that the work we’re doing matters and is being recognised far beyond the walls of our classrooms.

Staffing Update – Semester 2

As we wrap up the term, I’d like to take a moment to share some important staffing updates with our school community.

Firstly, we farewell Luke Carter, who has made the decision to step away from his role in Middle LC due to the long commute from Geelong. We thank Luke for his contribution to our school and wish him all the very best in this next chapter. While we were looking forward to Luke and Brena sharing the class in Semester 2, we’re pleased to welcome back Brena Fennelly from maternity leave. Brena will now partner with Sam Glenister, who has already formed strong relationships with many of the students through his time with Kids Ink tutoring. Together, Brena and Sam will lead MLC with enthusiasm, care, and a strong transition plan in place.

In Senior JT, we also prepare for the upcoming maternity leave of Jayde Turner. We congratulate her and wish her all the best as she prepares for this exciting new chapter of motherhood. Stepping into the classroom will be a wonderful teaching partnership between Justine Garcia and Leah Xerri, who bring warmth, experience, and energy to the senior team. They have already begun a thoughtful transition process with Jayde to ensure consistency and support for all students.

We also send our love and best wishes to Gen Serong, who is preparing to welcome her baby very soon. Gen has been a valued member of our team and will be missed by students and staff alike.

We look forward to hearing and sharing all the baby news in term 3.

Ashley Hill, who joined us this year to begin her journey in the education sector after ten years in another field, has secured a teaching role starting in Term 3. We wish Ash every success in her new role and thank her for the care and enthusiasm she brought to our school community.

To all staff stepping into new roles or beginning new journeys - we are incredibly grateful for your commitment and care. Thank you for all that you do to make St Brigid’s such a wonderful place to learn and grow.

Congratulations to Mr Luke Carter – Full Teacher Registration

We’re thrilled to share that Luke Carter has recently achieved his full registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT)!

This is a significant milestone in a teacher’s professional journey, marking the transition from provisional to fully registered teacher. It reflects Luke’s dedication to his professional growth, the development of his teaching practice, and his positive impact on student learning.

Achieving full registration requires teachers to demonstrate their effectiveness in the classroom over time and provide evidence of their impact on student progress. It’s a rigorous process that involves reflection, documentation, and endorsement by school leadership.

We’re so proud of Luke for reaching this milestone and thank him for his contributions to St Brigid’s during his time with us. Well done, Luke!

Regional Cross Country

Congratulations to Piper and Steph for their exceptional efforts at the Regional Cross Country competition on the 19th of June. Piper just missed out on professing to the State race by one place.

Blessings on Your Confirmation

To our wonderful Confirmation candidates, I want to acknowledge the significance of the sacred step you have taken in receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. Although I was unable to be there in person due to a medical emergency with my son, my thoughts and prayers were with you.

It was truly heartening to see the photos and slideshows afterwards — your joy and sense of reverence were evident, and it’s clear this milestone was deeply meaningful for each of you.

We are witness to the beautiful way in which these students conduct themselves in our school community, using their gifts and talents and unique personalities to live, love and serve as Jesus did. May they continue to carry this light and kindness of Christ with them in their hearts as they journey forth throughout their lives in each new relationship, encounter, experience and endeavour.

A big thank you to Bishop Rene, Father Vincent for celebrating our Sacrament and to Emma, Gen, Jayde and Hayley and our families for helping prepare our students for this special celebration.

Feast of the Sacred Heart

Today we celebrated our whole school Feast of the Sacred Heart Mass. it was so lovely to have our families and parishioners with us to celebrate. Thanks to all our students who joined in so reverently, contributed to our homily with ways that they can live like Jesus with a kind, loving and respectful heart.

Our School Leaders were also privileged to attend Sacred Heart Kyneton's Feast Mass which was a lovely celebration to be part of. We especially enjoyed hearing the choir and their band sing and play throughout and their school song.

School Reports and Optional Parent-Teacher catch ups

This afternoon your child’s semester report will be sent to you.

If you have any questions about this report, please contact your child’s teacher to arrange a time to meet next week. Teachers will have availability before and after school in week 11.

Term 3

School Closure Day: Monday 21 July

Catholic Mission & Identity Conference (MACS Closure Day)

On Monday, staff will join colleagues from across the Outer North Western Zone for a MACS-led Catholic Mission & Identity Conference. This day has been approved in consultation with Dr Nigel Zimmermann (Director, Catholic Mission & Identity) and Helana Goldsmith (Manager, Faith Leadership), and supports both staff accreditation and our shared commitment to Catholic education.

The day will cover:

The purpose and aims of Catholic schools
Religious Education, faith formation, and curriculum
Catholic identity, culture, tradition, theology, liturgy, and social justice

With more than 800 staff expected to attend, this is a major regional event that allows us to grow in our understanding of the mission we are all part of — no matter our role in the school.

School Closure Day: Tuesday 22 July

Team Teach (Whole Staff Professional Development)

On Tuesday, all staff will take part in a full day of professional learning with Team Teach, a nationally recognised training program that supports a whole-school approach to behaviour, safety, and inclusion.

This training strongly aligns with our school’s Positive Behaviours for Learning (PBL) framework, which focuses on explicitly teaching and reinforcing expected behaviours across all settings. Team Teach complements PBL by providing practical strategies to respond safely and respectfully when behaviours of concern arise, especially in moments of escalation.

While PBL helps prevent challenging behaviour through clear expectations, routines, and reinforcement, Team Teach equips staff with skills to manage and de-escalate behaviour when prevention is not enough. Together, they ensure we are addressing behaviour proactively, supportively, and safely.

Key principles of Team Teach include:

Promoting positive relationships built on trust, consistency, and connection
Understanding behaviour as communication, and responding without shame or punishment
Using trauma-informed, low-arousal, and respectful de-escalation strategies
Ensuring staff confidence and student dignity in moments of challenge
Supporting inclusion and wellbeing for all students

This day reflects our dedication to whole-school consistency, safety, and inclusive practice — strengthening our ability to meet the diverse needs of every learner.

Warm regards,

Mel Daly

Principal

Petrina O’Grady

Deputy Principal

Parish Information

St Brigid's Catholic Parish