Cohort News

Year 7 Pastoral Care

Dear Year 7 and Parents and Carers,

We hope you and your families are having a wonderful term so far! As we move further into the school year, our Year 7 students continue to settle in, grow, and take on new experiences with confidence and enthusiasm.

I would like to share some key details about upcoming events for our cohort; as well as an important reminder regarding our school uniform standards.

Upcoming Year 7 Events:

• NAIDOC Art Workshop: Tuesday, 25th August
  • On Tuesday 25 August, we will run a special NAIDOC art workshop for Year 7. This engaging cultural experience will take place at school in four sessions over the course of Periods 1–4.
• Science Excursion to the Zoo: Friday, 28th August
  • Organised by our Science Department, this excursion promises to be a fantastic hands-on learning experience for the students. An event has been created on Compass to give permission for your daughter to attend. Please ensure you have completed this in anticipation of the excursion.
• Father’s Day Celebration: Friday, 4th September starting at 7:30 am
  • We invite all fathers and father-figures to join us at the College for a special morning celebration. It is always a wonderful event and we look forward to seeing many of you there!
• Enlighten Education Workshop: Friday, 11th September
  • This workshop will take place at school during the day, focusing on empowering our young women, building resilience, and fostering positive relationships.

Important Uniform Reminder:

As our Year 7 students continue to grow throughout the year, we kindly ask that you take a moment to check the length of your daughter’s school skirt. Skirts should comfortably reach the top of the knees. We appreciate your support in helping us maintain high standards of pride in our school uniform.

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership so far this year. 

Tony Munguia

Year 7 Pastoral Care Coordinator

Year 8 Pastoral Care

Dear Year 8 Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome back to Term 3! We hope you and your families had a restful and rejuvenating break. The winter term is always filled with energy, purpose and rich opportunities for our students to learn, grow, and shine.

Here is a look at what our Year 8 cohort has been engaged in, along with some helpful resources for navigating the teenage years at home.

Digital Wellbeing: Insights from Nick Kenny’s “Youth Unplugged”

As your daughters navigate the online world, supporting their digital wellbeing remains a shared priority. Recently, our community engaged with key concepts from Nick Kenny’s “Youth Unplugged” presentation, which offers valuable perspectives on teenager screen habits.

One of the key concepts highlighted in the presentation is intermittent rewards, the psychological mechanism behind phone notifications, likes, and endless scrolling. Because the reward (a message, a view or a notification) arrives at unpredictable intervals, the brain stays constantly on alert, making it challenging for teenagers to put their devices down. Understanding these dynamics empowers us as parents and educators to set healthy boundaries together.

To support you at home, Nick Kenny provides a range of free downloadable parent guides. These cover the Youth Unplugged presentation, strategies for digital wellbeing, managing online usage, and navigating the broader journey through high school. You can download these helpful resources here.

Year 8 in Action: Co-Curricular & Community Highlights

Our Year 8 students have shown wonderful enthusiasm across a broad spectrum of college life:

• Shrek The Musical: Cast and crew members worked tirelessly, bringing energy, creativity, and theatrical flair to this year’s production. Well done!
• Representative Netball: Congratulations to all our Year 8 players representing the College in local and regional competitions, your teamwork and sportsmanship are fantastic!

• Sydney Catholic Schools Jubilate Deo Program: Our Year 8 vocalists involved in the Jubilate Deo program continue to lift our community through their participation in this wonderful choral initiative.

   

Honouring NAIDOC Week

Our Year 8 students played a vital role in our recent NAIDOC Week celebrations:

• NAIDOC Week Painting: A dedicated group of Year 8 student volunteers worked alongside Mr Gant to complete our stunning school NAIDOC Week painting, contributing their time and artistic talent to a lasting piece of community art.
• NAIDOC Assembly: A special thank you to our Year 8 First Nations students, who assisted with the careful preparation and seamless running of our NAIDOC Assembly. Their leadership and pride in culture enriched the experience for the entire school.

Sporting Excellence

We are thrilled to celebrate a remarkable achievement by one of our newest Year 8 students, Audrey P!

Over the past week, Audrey traveled to Victoria to compete in the All Schools AFL Australian Championships. Not only was she selected for the state squad, but she was also named co-captain of the NSW team.

The NSW side fought valiantly all the way to the final, narrowly going down to a tough Victorian team in a thrilling match. Co-captaining your state at a national level is a magnificent achievement. Well done, Audrey!

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support. We look forward to another vibrant and successful term working together with your daughters.

Jon Campbell

Year 8 Pastoral Care Coordinator

Year 9 Pastoral Care

Dear Year 9 Students, Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to Term 3! I hope everyone had the opportunity to enjoy a restful break and has returned feeling refreshed and ready for another exciting term. It has been wonderful to see students settle back into their routines so positively.

Pastoral Care

As part of our ongoing commitment to student wellbeing, Year 9 students participated in an important presentation delivered by the Optus Digital Thumbprint program. The session explored cyber safety, cyberbullying, and the growing issue of deepfakes, helping students develop the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the online world safely and responsibly. The presentation prompted thoughtful discussion about digital footprints, respectful online behaviour, and strategies for protecting themselves and others in an increasingly digital world. 

Later this term, Year 9 will attend a Sun Safety presentation, which will focus on understanding the importance of protecting their skin, reducing the risk of sun damage, and developing lifelong healthy habits as we move towards the warmer months.

Intermediate Netball Team

Year 9 had the exciting opportunity to travel to Sydney Olympic Park as a year group to support our Intermediate Netball Team in their Championship match. The game was a thrilling contest, with the score remaining close throughout. Our girls demonstrated outstanding determination and teamwork, finishing strong in the final quarter to secure a well-deserved victory. 

It was wonderful to see the Year 9 cohort come together to cheer on and support their peers, creating an incredible atmosphere of encouragement, school spirit, and a strong sense of community. 

Congratulations to our Intermediate Netball Team on a fantastic achievement and thank you to all of our Year 9 students for representing the College so positively through their enthusiastic support.

Term 3 Key Dates:

• Friday, 21st August: 9 Commerce Market Day
• Tuesday, 25th August: 9 PASS Task
• Wednesday, 26th August: 9 Commerce Task
• Friday, 28th August: Anne Gately Sun Safety Presentation, Extra-Curricular Group Photos & Sydney Athletics
• Tuesday, 1st September: 9 Food Technology Task & 9 Maths Task
• Friday, 4th September: Father's Day Mass & Breakfast
• Monday, 7th September:  9 Food Technology Task (Practical)
• Tuesday, 8th September: 9 Food Technology Task (Practical), 9 PASS Task (Practical), 9 Textiles Task & 9 Italian Task
• Wednesday, 16th September: 9 Design & Technology Task
• Thursday, 24th September: Last Day of Classes
• Friday, 25th September: Year 7-10 Parent/Teacher Interviews

Kathy Phetrasi

Year 9 Pastoral Care Coordinator

Year 10 Pastoral Care

Once again, we've had a busy start to the term. The girls have returned willing and ready to work towards their Semester 2 goals. Their final subject selections were submitted in Week Two, and I know many parents and carers have been assisting with these conversations at home. Our VET students are due to sit their trial exams in the coming weeks, and we wish them all the best.

In Week 2, the Year 10 students, along with students from Marcellin College Randwick, engaged in a talk with Paul Dillon, which offered valuable insights into decision‑making and wellbeing. As a former teacher, Paul regularly delivers drug education sessions and workshops to students across Australia. His Fact Sheets provide accurate, relevant, and up‑to‑date information to keep teenagers safe and ‘in the know’. 

Our biggest news as a cohort has been the addition of our newest member to the BCR Year 10 family, Finn, our cohort pet. He has already become a much‑loved presence. Finn’s feeding schedule is Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Just a reminder of the upcoming dates below:

• Friday, 14th August: Elevate Education session during the school day (focus on study)  
• Thursday, 20th August: Brent Saunders Talk (Former Police Officer, Brent discusses Sexual Assault Awareness, Consent, Age, Alcohol, and Law Definitions with teens) 
• Friday, 4th September: Father’s Day Mass 
• Friday, 25th September: Flexible Learning Day  (9am - 5pm Parent/Teacher conferences) 

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me by phone or email. 

Jessica Harper 

Year 10 Pastoral Care Coordinator

Year 11 Pastoral Care

It has been an incredible few weeks for our Year 11 students as they navigate major milestones and prepare for the final stretch of their preliminary year.

In Week 2, Year 11 welcomed back guest speaker Paul Dillon, continuing his vital conversation with our students from last year. Paul’s presentation offered down-to-earth, highly informative insights into the real risks of drug taking; and practical strategies for staying safe in social settings and while partying.

Paul highlighted the Emergency Plus app, a free, life-saving app that uses GPS data to pinpoint a user's exact location in an emergency, allowing emergency services to find them quickly even if they aren't sure where they are. We strongly encourage all students to download this app on their mobile devices.

Building on these vital safety conversations, our Year 11 cohort attended bstreetsmart on Tuesday of Week 4. This event provides an eye-opening, realistic look at the consequences of road crashes through crash simulations, real-life stories, and interactive exhibits. As many of our Year 11s are currently getting their driver's licences, learning to drive, or travelling as passengers with friends, this experience was invaluable. It served as a powerful reminder of the responsibilities that come with being behind the wheel, making safe choices, and looking out for one another on the roads.

The 2027 Student Leadership process is officially underway! A huge congratulations and well done to all the brave and dedicated students who applied to be part of next year’s leadership team.

Our applicants have poured immense time, effort, and heart into creating their leadership videos, which were recently shared with staff and the Year 10 cohort. To top it off, they stepped up to the podium last week to deliver their leadership speeches directly to their peers. It takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there and the level of maturity and vision shown by all candidates has been inspiring.

With positions being announced soon, we also want to acknowledge that not everyone who applies will receive a formal title. Putting yourself forward for leadership is an enormous achievement in itself and handling potential disappointment with grace is a true test of character. Regardless of the outcome, every applicant has shown exceptional initiative. Leadership isn't just defined by a badge, but by how students continue to support, inspire, and lead their peers every single day.

It's hard to believe, but the finish line for Year 11 is in sight! Students are gearing up for a busy final term of the year. It’s an exciting time as they prepare to officially kick off their Year 12 journey next term. We encourage all students to stay focused, support one another, and finish Year 11 strong.

Thank you to our Year 11s for their ongoing positive attitude and commitment. Let’s keep up the great momentum!

Rebecca Monohan

Year 11 Pastoral Care Coordinator

Year 12 Pastoral Care

Our Year 12 students are currently in the midst of their HSC Trial examinations, and we are pleased to share that the assessments are progressing very well. Students have demonstrated incredible dedication, maturity, and focus as they tackle these crucial milestones.

The HSC Trials will officially conclude on Tuesday, 18th August. While these assessments carry significant weight, their primary value lies in what comes immediately after: feedback. The results and teacher annotations from these exams will serve as a powerful diagnostic tool, helping students identify key strengths, pinpoint areas for improvement, and fine-tune their revision strategies heading into the final HSC exams in Term 4.

Following the pressure of exam block, Year 12 will participate in their Reflection Day on Wednesday, 19th August. This special day offers students the time and space to pause, connect with one another, and process their journey so far before entering their final weeks of formal secondary schooling.

Remainder of Term 3 Timeline

Please review the critical dates and events for the final weeks of Term 3 below:

• Wednesday, 19th August: Year 12 Reflection Day
• Thursday, 20th August: Year 12 return to classes
• Friday, 21st August: Cap & Gown Day (Periods 1-2)
• Friday, 28th August: Beyond Brigidine
• Monday, 14th September: Last day of formal classes, students wear their decorated uniforms
• Tuesday, 15th September: Senior Breakfast (8:00 am - 8:45 am) & Year 12 Meeting/Practise for Graduation
• Wednesday, 16th September: Graduation Day
• Thursday, 17th September: Normal school day for Years 7 - 11 (no Year 12's on site)

• Friday, 18th September: Year 12 Formal (6:00 pm start)

   

Nikki McWhirter

Year 12 Pastoral Care Coordinator