Dear St. Brendan's School Community,

As we reach the end of another incredible year, I want to take a moment to reflect on all that we’ve achieved together.

This year has been filled with growth, learning and friendship. Our students have embraced challenges, celebrated successes, and demonstrated resilience and kindness every step of the way. It has truly been a privilege to witness their progress and the strong sense of community that continues to thrive in our school.

While the year may be drawing to a close, we certainly haven’t been winding down! In recent weeks, we’ve been as busy as ever. Swimming lessons wrapped up in Week 9, and today we enjoyed a fantastic whole-school Fun Day at Aquamoves. Students had a blast in the outdoor pools and splash park before returning to school for a well-deserved Zooper Dooper.

We also held Orientation Day, giving students the opportunity to meet their new teachers and explore their classrooms for 2026. This important step helps set the stage for a smooth and exciting start to the new year.

For our Year 6 students, this week has been one of reflection and celebration. They participated in a retreat day, sharing special memories from their primary school years with their teachers and friends. Their Graduation Mass was a beautiful occasion to officially recognise their achievements. During the ceremony, I spoke to our graduates about carrying our school motto, with “Faith and Courage” into the next chapter of their lives. These words are more than just a motto; they are a compass. With faith, you will believe in yourselves and trust in the journey ahead. With courage, you will face challenges head-on and seize opportunities to do amazing things. We are so proud of you and excited to see the incredible impact you will make in the world.

Our End-of-Year Mass was another highlight, a wonderful way to wrap up 2025 as a community. A heartfelt thank you to Mrs Pellegrino and all staff who worked tirelessly to prepare this special celebration. We are also deeply grateful to Fr Adi for leading the Mass and to Fr Ronald for the ongoing support you both provide; not only to our school but to our parish. Your presence and guidance enrich our faith community in countless ways.

In this week’s newsletter, you’ll find key updates and reminders, including:

Christmas Concert Information
2026 School Information & School Fees
Free Public Transport for Under 18s

Thank you to our dedicated staff, supportive families and wonderful students for making this year so special. I wish you all a joyful Christmas and a safe, restful holiday break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2026 for another year of learning and growth.

Warm regards,

Joel Brian (Principal)

2026 Information

The 2026 school fee schedule is now available. We ask that families please finalise their 2025 fees by the end of the term. Carmel and Kim at the office are available to help with any questions or payment arrangements.

We also have our 2026 School Information Pack available for parents, which includes:

Staff list for 2026
Pupil Free Days 2026
Uniform requirements
Back-to-school stationery list for the beginning of the year

School Fees 2026

2026 School Information booklet

Christmas Concert

We are busy putting the on the final touches for our End-of-Year Christmas Concert on Monday, 15 December! The concert will be held on St Brendan’s Oval. Families who live nearby are encouraged to walk to the oval where possible. BYO camp chairs or picnic rugs for your comfort.

Student Assembly with Teachers: Basketball courts from 6:00 PM
Concert Begins: 6:30 PM

This special event will feature every student and bring the spirit of Christmas to life!

We kindly ask parents to reserve a ticket by clicking here so we can ensure enough programs are printed for everyone.

The weather is looking great at around 25°C — please bring a hat and sunscreen, as we’ll be on the oval for the concert.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Finalise School Fee Accounts for 2025

As we approach the end of the school year, we kindly remind all families to ensure their school fee accounts are finalised.

The last direct debit will be processed this Friday, so please check your account to confirm everything is in order. For any remaining balances, payments can be made via bank transfer or at the school office. You can find the school’s bank details at the bottom of your statement for easy reference.

We ask that all fees are settled by Tuesday, 16th December, to allow us to close off accounts before the holiday break. Thank you for your cooperation and support in helping us finish the year smoothly. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the school office.

Free Public Transport for Students Under 18

From 1st January 2026, the Victorian Government will introduce free public transport for all Victorians under 18 years of age. This change will impact the Conveyance Allowance Program (CAP) and the School Bus Program (SBP).

What does this mean for you? Students under 18 will be able to travel for free on trains, trams, and buses using a Youth myki card. Families will no longer need to claim public transport ticket reimbursements under the CAP. However, allowances for private car or private bus travel remain unchanged. Please note that Youth myki cards cannot be used on privately arranged or non-subsidised bus services—reimbursements for these services will continue as usual.

School Bus Program Changes

From 2026, students who are ineligible for transport assistance will no longer pay a term fare to use SBP services. Eligibility rules remain the same: students qualify if they attend their nearest non-government school (by denomination) and live 4.8 km or more from the campus. Ineligible students may still access a seat if available but must relinquish it if an eligible student requires it.

Getting a Youth myki Card

Youth myki cards are available online for $5 at transport.vic.gov.au/myki. Simply create or log in to a myki account, purchase and register the card, and wait for delivery. Due to high demand, delivery may take longer than the usual 10 business days, but printed or digital confirmation emails can be used as a ticket from 1 January while you wait. A registered Youth myki is valid until the child turns 18, and students must tap on and off each trip. From 27th December, staffed train stations will also sell unregistered Youth myki cards valid for four years.

Need More Information?

Visit Travelling to School for details on transport assistance.
Updates on free travel and Youth myki cards are available at Transport Victoria.

Questions?

Conveyance Allowance: 1800 060 970 (Option 1) or conveyance@education.vic.gov.au
School Bus Program: 7022 2247 or student.transport@education.vic.gov.au

Upcoming Events

Term 4

Monday 15th December – End of Year Concert
Tuesday 16th December – Students Last Day

Thank you for your continued support.

Joel Brian (Principal)

Middle Years Learning Community

Middle Years - Term 4 - Weeks 9 & 10