A message from our Principal
Dear St. Brendan's School Community,
Over the past fortnight, we have had much to celebrate as a school community. Last week, we marked Catholic Education Week, which was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on and celebrate all that a Catholic education offers. I had the pleasure of conducting several school tours for prospective families, proudly showcasing the amazing learning, strong sense of community and opportunities available to our students.
A particular highlight was our whole-school Peace Chain. We hope you had the opportunity to see this meaningful display, connected to our school theme, “Seek Peace and Pursue It.” Our Catholic Identity Leader, Leanne Pellegrino, together with our Year 6 leaders, worked closely with students to explore the importance of peace and our shared responsibility in nurturing it within our community. The drone image of our entire school gathered on the oval, linked together in solidarity, was a powerful and symbolic reminder of what we can achieve when we stand united.
We also enjoyed a very successful Mother’s Day celebration. It was wonderful to welcome so many of you for a morning cuppa and classroom visits. A personal highlight was the beautiful prayer assembly led by our Foundation students; what talented and confident young singers we have at our school! We hope all mothers, grandmothers, aunties, and mums-to-be enjoyed a special and well-deserved weekend.
At last week’s assembly, I spoke with students about the importance of strong routines and positive classroom culture. Our teachers have been working diligently, engaging in professional practice and rehearsals to ensure we are maximising learning time and creating the best possible environment for all learners. I look forward to sharing our progress in this space, as recognising our weekly Class Cup winners continues to be both exciting and a very challenging task given the high standards across the school.
School Care Clinics
I am pleased to share that we have recently partnered with SchoolCare Clinics, a community focused GP service providing bulk‑billed healthcare for students across the Greater Shepparton area. SchoolCare Clinics offers child‑focused doctors who work with students from Prep through to Year 12, supporting both physical and mental wellbeing.
We are fortunate to have Dr Jimmy Tseng supporting our school community. Dr Tseng is a GP with a strong focus on children’s health. He trained for many years at the Royal Children’s Hospital and now works as a senior lecturer at the University of Melbourne. He also leads nationally recognised asthma research based here in Shepparton.
As part of this partnership, Dr Tseng has offered two morning clinics at our school. Our second Clinic being on:
- Tuesday, 2nd June (Limited Spaces Available - All appointments are bulk billed).
If you wish to make a booking, please contact me via email at; principal@sbshepparton.catholic.edu.au, and I will provide you with an appointment time. Please note that places are limited.
Services available through SchoolCare Clinics include:
- Flu vaccinations for students at no cost
- Asthma action plans
- Referrals for ADHD assessments
- Allergy management plans
Mental health care plans, if required
We look forward to offering this valuable service to further support the health and wellbeing of our students and families.
2027 Foundation Enrolments Closing Soon
A reminder to all families that Foundation (Prep) enrolments for 2027 will close on Monday, 22nd May.
If you have a child starting school in 2027, please submit your enrolment application as soon as possible to secure a place and assist us with planning. You can Submit an Enrolment Application here
We look forward to welcoming our newest learners to our school community later this year.
School Attendance
Regular school attendance plays a vital role in supporting your child’s learning and wellbeing. Being present in class every day ensures students can fully engage in core learning and build strong routines and relationships.
We kindly ask families to schedule holidays and appointments outside of school hours or during school holiday periods whenever possible. This helps minimise disruptions and ensures students do not miss important learning opportunities.
If your child does have an appointment during school hours, we ask that parents provide a note for the teacher outlining the reason for the absence and the time your child will be collected from the front office.
Thank you for your continued support in making attendance a priority and helping us provide the best learning environment for all students.
Before‑School Library Opening & Volunteer Reading Program
Many thanks to the parents who have already signed up for the library reading program. It has been a delight to see families calling in each morning to support reading at our school. Parents and carers are warmly invited to drop in with their children so they can borrow books or enjoy some quiet reading time to begin the day.
We would love to see even more parents get involved in supporting this valuable program. If you are interested, please complete the Volunteer Registration Form available at: https://www.sbshepparton.catholic.edu.au/how-to-be-involved
Once your registration has been reviewed, you will be provided with access to the online school volunteers module, which must be completed prior to volunteering.
The program is overseen by Heather Woodman, who will also provide group training for parents participating in the before‑school reading sessions.
Smart Devices – Phones and Watches
As a reminder, we ask that students do not bring smart devices such as mobile phones or smart watches to school. We understand, however, that some families may feel a device is needed for after‑school travel arrangements.
If a student does bring a smart device to school, the process is simple: devices must be handed in at the school office at the beginning of the day and can be collected from the office at 3:00 pm.
We ask parents and carers to please have a conversation with their child about this expectation and the importance of keeping devices safely managed during the school day. Your support helps us maintain a focused learning environment for all students.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Upcoming Events
Term 2
Friday, 15th May - St Brendan’s Feast Day
Thursday 21st to Friday, 22nd May - Year 4 Camp Alexandra Adventure Resort
Monday 1st to Tuesday, 9th June - Scholastic Book Fair
Friday, June 5th - Staff Professional Development Day (Pupil Free Day)
Monday, June 8th - Kings Birthday Long Weekend (Public Holiday)
Friday, 12th June - Year 3 Excursion Billabong Ranch Echuca
Friday, 12th June - Feast of the Sacred Heart Mass and Liturgies
Friday, 26th June - Last Day of Term 2 (2:20pm Student dismissal)
Thank you for your continued support.
Joel Brian (Principal)