Principals Report

Dear Parents and Friends of St Brendan’s,

Welcome to Week 6. The term is flying by and the forward planning for 2025 is running along in the background of what is already a very busy school.

Communication

I believe that communication is the key to any successful relationship. It is important to realise that communication, at its best, is a two way experience. I was disappointed to learn from several sources yesterday afternoon that there has been an outpouring of opinions  and feelings expressed on at least one Class Group Facebook page. The comments relate directly to the post I issued on Audiri yesterday afternoon.

In this post, I once again explained that parents could not be on the school grounds after 9.00 am and before 3.00pm without signing in at the office. My reasons for this are that school and school related programs are still running at this time. These programs must be allowed to run uninterrupted and without distraction. This is vital to the students, teachers, therapists and others who work in our school. 

I also explained the reasons why our students and their younger siblings are not permitted to play on the play equipment or in Brendan’s garden before and after school. 

There are a number of reasons for my stance on this. 

They include:

• The safety of all children
• The possible insurance claims that may be made by parents if there is an accident
• The ‘blurring of the lines’ between what children are allowed to do during school hours (school rules) and what their parents allow after school
• The damage recently caused to the centrepiece in Brendan’s Garden

Please let me be very clear, we are NOT discouraging families from connecting and socialising after school. In fact, we encourage it. We think it is wonderful to see the strong bonds and friendships that are being formed in our community. The children are free to play on the oval, basketball courts or in the sandpit if they wish. It is simply the playground equipment and Brendan's Garden that are out of bounds.

It is also important to mention here that all students must gather at the front of the school when dropped off in the morning. If parents wish to catch up with each other, that is fine, but children cannot play games before school while others wait for Bernie Turner to supervise them. Thank you for your support in this matter.

Disabled Parking

Please be aware that the two disabled car parking spaces are not to be used by parents unless directed by a staff member. These spaces are to be left vacant for those who require them. We have a very young student who currently requires the use of this space and it is unfair if it cannot be accessed by parents who require them.  

I respectfully ask that all families follow these directions. I also ask that if parents wish to discuss matters such as these that they make an appointment to see me. The Facebook ‘class group’ pages have been permitted and encouraged so that communication of school information and matters relating to each classroom may be shared in a friendly and positive manner. I respectfully ask that this is the type of communication we will see from now on. Thank you for respecting these safety rules and for encouraging your children to do the same.

I wish everyone a safe and happy week ahead.

Sue.

Heavenly Father, 

I pray for the flourishing of our community — spiritually, socially, and economically. May we work together to create a place where all are valued, where justice and righteousness prevail, and where the needs of the most vulnerable are met. 

                                                                                                   Amen