Principals Report

Dear Parents, Carers and Friends of St Brendan’s,

As we journey even further into the Lenten season, I would like to share my reflection on how we may choose to journey through Week 5. We are one week away from the holiest week of the year for Christians all over the world. We are preparing to follow the path that Jesus took to die and to rise again for our sake. 

How do I plan to make the most of this week?

• Pray - I will pray for God’s help so that I can be the best wife, mother, daughter, grandmother, sister, friend, colleague and principal I can be
• Practise self-regulation - I will do my best to measure my words, responses and reactions. I go without some of the luxuries that are not essential in my life this week.
• Practise Alms-giving - support Project Compassion - the special Lenten project of Caritas Australia that assists people who are facing significant struggles to survive in countries less fortunate than ours

During this Lenten season and closer to home in Somerville, I was absolutely delighted to join many families from our St Brendan’s community whose children are preparing to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation at our parish Mass on Saturday evening. I was joined by our Religious Education leader, Emma Chapple and one of our Year 3/4 teaching team, Kate O’Leary. To add even further to the sacred and sacramental feeling of Saturday evening’s Mass, Charles (Year 3) and Ethan Massey (Foundation) were baptised and welcomed into the Catholic community of St Brendan’s and to the wider Immaculate Conception Parish of Westernport. I would like to congratulate Charles and Ethan. I would also like to congratulate our Year Three students who attended Mass with their families. Finally, I would like to thank Father Shymon for his warm and inclusive celebration of the Mass.

As we journey further into Lent, hopefully we recognise the wonderful opportunity we have to use our character strengths and God given talents to make the world a better place. Please take a moment to slow down, to breathe and to reflect on the Lenten prayer for this week.

Loving God,

Lift us up and keep us faithful in friendship to one another, that your healing purposes may shine through this broken, beloved world. 

In your holy name we pray. 

AMEN. 

Term One Celebrations

As our first term of the school year draws closer to a conclusion, I feel blessed to lead a community such as ours at St Brendan’s. Please take the time to read some of the highlights of Term One:

• The wonderful way our newest Foundation students have embraced school life and learning
• The leadership shown by our Year 6 leaders and by all Year 6 students who have shown themselves to be exemplary buddies to our newest students
• Our Year 5 students who have stepped up into the senior school with courage and growing confidence
• Our Year 3/4 students who are engaged, connected and working really hard to learn and become further involved in opportunities that are being offered to them as they grow up
• All middle and senior school students for getting involved and ‘having a go’ at events such as swimming trials and further competitions beyond the trials
• Our middle and senior students for participating so willingly and enthusiastically in our House Athletics day
• Our Year 1/2 students who bring their energy and enthusiasm to all that they do. They are an absolute joy to visit. 
• Our St Brendan’s Learning Support Team and Teaching Teams for the magnificent way they are embracing new ways of working as we learn and grow together
• Our St Brendan’s community who supports us by helping out with school events and by being a committed and connected group. We truly value your engagement and connection.
• Our wonderful Their Care O.H.S.C  team led so capably by Vicki Carrigg. The children love attending the program and I know it goes a long way to supporting busy, working families.
• Our Little Explorers playgroup that is so capably led by Siubhan Brickwood. It is an absolute pleasure to visit the yoga room on Wednesday mornings.

Dogs on School Grounds

I respectfully ask that all parents, grandparents and visitors to St Brendan’s refrain from bringing dogs (on leads or otherwise) onto the school grounds. We have students who are frightened of dogs and encounters with them lead to these students and their parents having a stressful experience either at the beginning or end of the school day.

Dogs must remain in cars during drop off and pick up or not enter the school grounds even when on a leash.

Child Safety Standard No 5 states that we are required to ensure that all children are protected in both physical and online environments. We are called to ensure that our physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.

In light of this standard and all that it means for our students, I thank you for your cooperation and support in this matter.

Every Day Counts - Regular School Attendance is Essential

It is important to remind all parents and carers of the requirement that their child/children’s regular attendance at school is mandatory and essential. The Victorian Education Department and MACS (Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools) urge principals to remind parents of their obligations around school attendance. These obligations are as follows:

• Schooling is compulsory for children and young people aged from 6–17 years in Victoria unless an exemption from attendance has been granted
• Daily school attendance is important for all children and young people to succeed in education and to ensure they don’t fall behind both socially and developmentally

It is also vital for parents and carers to consider the following:

• Children and young people who regularly attend school and complete Year 12 or an equivalent have better health outcomes, better employment outcomes and higher incomes across their lives.
•  It is very important that children develop habits of regular attendance at an early age. 
• Students are expected to attend the school in which they are enrolled, during normal school hours every day of each term, unless:
•  there is an approved exemption from school attendance for the student, or
•  the student is registered for home schooling and has only a partial enrollment in a school for particular activities.

I urge all parents and carers to encourage and actively support their children to attend school each and every day. Through consistent attendance, your child/children will develop the following life skills:

• Awareness of the importance of routine
• Resilience
• Responsibility
• Age appropriate learning across the curriculum
• Social connection

I believe it is important to mention that all classrooms are air conditioned so there is no need for children to have the afternoon off due to hot weather. I strongly encourage all parents and carers to have their children at school on time each and every day. If you are planning holidays during the school term, please advise us the office of the dates for your travels. Thank you for your support in this matter as it is extremely challenging for students to feel calm and confident when they arrive late or have missed days for any reasons other than illness or family bereavement.

Please remember: EVERY DAY COUNTS!

Kaboom Sports Afternoon - Rescheduled to Thursday April 18 1.45pm - 3.15pm

We are looking forward to our rescheduled Kaboom Sports afternoon. It will be the first opportunity for our house leaders to put their leadership skills on display. All students will participate in a ‘tabloid sports’ event. The students will be grouped into multi-age (F-6) groups where they will enjoy a variety of team based games. The activities will be led by our house captains, and our older students will assist our younger ones to join in and have fun. All parents and grandparents, who are able to attend, are most welcome to join us. Please bring along a picnic chair or a rug, a snack and cool drink if you’d like.( Please note all events where children are present are strictly alcohol free).  We look forward to welcoming those who are available to attend. 

All students are to:

• Wear their sports uniform including runners
• Wear a touch of their house colour eg: tee shirt, ribbon, scrunchie, headbands, hats, coloured shoe laces etc 
• Bring a hat
• Wear sunscreen that has been applied at home 
• Bring their drink bottle filled with water - children will be able to refill their drink bottles at school

Term Two Resumes - Monday April 15

 We look forward to welcoming all students back to school for Term Two on Monday 15th April. 

Please be aware that students are required to wear their winter uniform from the first day of Term Two. This year, we are not offering a transition period from summer uniform to winter uniform because we have school photos scheduled for Friday 19th April. We require all students to wear full and correct school uniform including:

• the correct school jumper  
• school shoes
• navy socks with no logos
• hair tied back if longer than shoulder length
• school coloured ribbons, headbands and scrunchies
• no jewellery other than sleepers or studs and a watch 

Please ensure you support us in this matter so that our school photos look wonderful.

St Brendan’s is a Sunsmart School

Please be advised that all students require hats until April 30 2024. The children may continue to wear hats beyond this date if they wish.

This Week’s Assembly 

I would like to thank our beautiful Foundation students and their teachers, Mrs Coggin and Mrs Rossouw for delighting us all at assembly on Monday. The students proudly showcased their learning in front of many very proud parents and grandparents. It was an absolute delight to see our newest students so confidently share their learning experiences from the classroom.

Well done, everyone. You a superstars!

Lorne Conference

I will be away from St Brendan’s for the remainder of the week. I feel very privileged to attend the Victorian Association of Catholic Primary School Principals Conference in Lorne. The theme of the conference this year is ‘Think, Engage. Lead with Strength’. I thank Bernie Turner and our Leadership team for leading our school community in our absence.

Have a great week everyone.

Sue