Dear Families

What a big week it has been here at St Brigid's.

Opening/Blessing of our new building

It was wonderful to be able to share our Opening and Blessing ceremony with everyone yesterday. A very proud day for our school. Many thanks to Fr Andrew and all involved in producing this event. A huge thanks to Mrs Jodie Marziano who was the producer and director – a fantastic achievement. For those who missed the premiere, the link is here for you in this newsletter.

Thoughts and prayers from afar…

This week I received an email from Matt Mackinlay, the Principal at St Paul’s PS Woodridge QLD

Dear Michael

I hope you are well. Our Cluster 4 group of Principals at Brisbane Catholic Education have been keen to connect with our Principal colleagues in Victoria to pass on our support and best wishes during this difficult time of lockdown in Melbourne. It has been a year like no other and you and the other Principals working in schools in Victoria have had an extended and unrelenting period of stress and pressure. We have mentioned you and your school community at our school assembly and in our newsletter and we have asked our community to send some positive prayers and thoughts your way.

We hope things continue to improve for you Michael and all the best for the remainder of the term and Term 4.

Kind Regards

Matt Mackinlay

It is heartening to know that not only are we supporting each other throughout this pandemic response, others in our country are thinking of us too.

Classes 2021

It is that time of year when we seek feedback from families in relation to your child’s needs for class placement in 2021. This information is one of many which helps us to construct our classes for next year. These are not to be requests for teachers nor seen to be binding once sent. Your feedback combined with staff and student feedback will ensure a fully informed decision making process for 2021 class formation. If you wish to provide feedback, it must be done via email and sent to our Deputy Principal Mrs Wendy Sullivan wsullivan@sbmord.catholic.edu.au by Friday 18 September. Please do not do this via your child’s classroom teacher. All correspondence is managed in confidence.

A final word…

During my time here at St Brigid’s, I have always put the students front and centre of my decision making - from resource purchasing, building design or staffing decisions, our students and their needs have always been of prime importance. I have enjoyed our family community and watched it grow and galvanise into a warm, welcoming, connected and generous community. There have been many changes over the last 6 years too: buildings, staff, resources, teaching approaches and programs on offer. I have always looked for ways to respond to our community needs and further develop and enrich the learning outcomes for all.

I am immensely proud of our students, watching them grow and mature into fine young adolescents ready to take on the rigours and opportunities of the secondary education. Year on year our students continue to build on the legacy of the students who go before them.

I thank the School Board for their commitment, members past and present. The work done throughout; through your involvement in our post review work, capital project, policy consultation, OSHC/Uniform survey work which has set in place a strong foundation for the future of our school. Personally I would like to thank the Board for the tremendous support they have given me over the past 6 years. I appreciate their interest, expertise and dedication.

The P&F continued to be an outstanding support to the School Community. The role of P&F is to provide the Parent Community with social functions and in the process any money raised support initiatives and resourcing in the school. Events such as the Dinner Dance, Mother’s Day Stall, Father’s Day Breakfast and Stall, Sausage Sizzles and their support of many class activities have again proven to be successful. Unfortunately 2020 has seen their work heavily restricted due to COVID-19 however I’m sure they will be back bigger and better than ever once restrictions are lifted.

I would particularly like to thank and acknowledge the outstanding support I received from our Deputy Principal Wendy Sullivan. She has put in an enormous number of hours to the role and contributes so much to our community here at St Brigid’s. Wendy has driven great change over the last 4 years in the area of learning and teaching and covered many other tasks when I have been drawn away by the building project, not to mention completing an Executive MBA over the last 3 years at ACU - a fine achievement. Congratulations to Wendy on her appointment as Principal for the next 8 years – St Brigid’s is in great hands.

I also want to acknowledge the outstanding work of the School Improvement Team - members past and present. Our current team: Jodie Marziano, Gabe Sheahan, Carolyn Yass, Suzie Ripp, Wendy Mertens, Belinda Wendt, Arch Cochrane, and Wendy Sullivan have been a wonderful support to me but also tremendous leaders in their own area of expertise as well as being seen as leaders in the school community. The additional time they give to their role is very much appreciated and as many are classroom teachers it becomes a balancing act that impacts on their own personal time to ensure this does not affect the children in their care. I thank them sincerely for the support they give me, the honesty they provide in discussions and the wisdom they bring to our Team.

Our staff have been through and adapted to major changes over the last 6 years and have worked tirelessly to implement these and continue to learn, grow and innovate during this time. I look back with pride on the direction the school has taken and the current trajectory looks exciting for continued improvement and future success.

I could not do what I do if not for the wonderful support and expertise I receive from Tracey Stackpole and Michele Wain. Nothing is too much trouble when asked by everyone who needs something yesterday! Often visitors will comment to me what a ‘lovely feel’ the school has and that begins with the way people are greeted and made to feel welcome from the time they first walk through the door. Tracey and Michele are the face of our school and I thank them for all that they do. Coming to work each day they never know what is going to happen in the day – dealing with sick children, emotional parents, deliveries, busy teachers as well as all they need to do to ensure the school operates smoothly. I highly value their commitment, generosity of time, willingness to help with whatever I ask or need.

The role of Principal in a Parish Primary School is a complex and rewarding one that I thoroughly enjoy doing. Each day/week/term presents new challenges and new rewards and I am so fortunate to have Fr Andrew Jekot as our Parish Priest who provides me with outstanding support and confidence. He is always available to discuss issues and even though he has a huge responsibility with our new formed parish of St Mary of the Cross, Mordialloc and Aspendale, he is very interested in the staff, children and families. I keep him informed of what is occurring in the school and he becomes involved when needed to support or help. He is a visionary leader and together I believe we made a great team. Fr Andrew took a punt on a rookie 6 years ago, for this I will be eternally grateful.

In closing, I would like to wish you all the best for the future, may you continue to enjoy our school and prosper as a community in the years ahead. St Brigid’s will always remain as a special place for me - I will look back very fondly on my time with you all. Good Luck and Farewell.

Go Pies!!!

Kind Regards

Michael Russo

Principal

And now a word from Mrs Sullivan

Dear Parents and Students,

I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for the lovely emails I have received with your well wishes and support of my appointment as Princpal of our wonderful school.

I would like to thank Fr Andrew for the faith he has in me by giving me the opportunity to lead St Brigid’s. I am honoured to take on the role. I am thankful for the friendships, support and experiences we developed over the four years I have been here. I believe we will continue on the journey that Michael has started us on of learning and discovering together.

I would like thank Michael, who has been a wonderful mentor and support to me. He has given me every opportunity to learn from him and share his wealth of experiences. Michael’s legacy is endless and I hope I can follow in his footsteps and continue to lead our school in his example.

Kind Regards,

Wendy Sullivan

Mr Russo's Farewell