Message from the Principal

This year, we have continued to engage with a company called 'The Workshop' to work with our middle and senior girls and boys around their wellbeing. 

Having missed two years of important opportunities of their social development due to COVID, we have noticed some of our young people are struggling with their resilience, communication, problem solving, help seeking behaviour and friendships. 

Kate Wilde and Jane Shannon from The Workshop have continued to work with and support our girls in Years 3-6 who participated in the 'Girlosophy' program and our boys in Years 3-6 who participated in the 'Cool Guys' program. 

Our work in this space to support our students will continue as the year progresses including opportunities for parents to be involved.

During Term 2, we held two chess tournaments open to all schools in Victoria including a Primary Open and a Prep to Year 3 tournament. 

In the Primary Open, we placed 5th out of 14 schools and our highest placed student was Sophie L in 23rd position who received a silver medal for her efforts. 

In the Prep to Year 3 tournament, we placed 3rd out of 18 schools and our highest placed student was Jaden Q in 16th position who also received a silver medal for his efforts. Congratulations to all of the students who participated.

Thank you to Kellie McNeil and those who volunteered their time to run TuckInn during these tournaments, as a way to raise additional funds for our school.

Our annual Mother's Day dinner is always a highlight we look forward to in our calendar. Thank you to Sharon Cowan who organised this year's dinner at Dawson Eatery and Bar in Kew. It was lovely to see not only our current mums in attendance but also staff, grandmothers and past parents. 

During the term, Mr Cirillo our Year 4/5/6 and PE Teacher, organised a soccer match for some of our students in Years 3 and 4 against St Anne's East Kew who is part of our affiliated parishes. While St Bridget's were victorious on the day, all students on both sides enjoyed the experience and we look forward to another match against St Anne's during the year. 

As part of our ongoing marketing strategies, we continue to strengthen our relationship with our local kindergartens through our frequent visits. 

As a new initiative, we now offer as part of these visits, music and performing arts sessions with our teacher Mr Bode. We currently offer this to Balwyn East Kindergarten as well as Goodstart Minifie Park Early Childhood Centre. These sessions have been well received and we now look forward to expanding this to other centres in our local area. 

On the 4th June, a number of our students who volunteered this year to be part of our Mini Vinnies team of St Vincent de Paul, were commissioned and received their badges. 

This Mass also recognised the service of a retiring member, Peter Adkins of the Greythorn Conference of St Vincent de Paul who received a Emeritus Award. 

Our Mini Vinnies team work to bring awareness to particular charities and lead our school in meaningful ways in which we can help those who are less fortunate than ourselves. 

On the same day, we celebrated our Family Fun Day to demonstrate our strength as a community and commitment to our future. 

Thank you to Talia Loarson who organised the event at very short notice and to those who attended including our Parish Priest Father John Salvano and assistant Father Vyn. As well as, staff from the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools and our local Federal and State Members of Parliament, Monique Ryan and Jess Wilson. 

Also, thank you to Merlyn Reuter, parent and photographer for capturing the day with his camera and Shad Watson from Assertive Media in conjunction with Digital Schools for developing our new promotional video. 

Finally, thank you to our volunteers noted below, who continue to give up their time to support our school for the benefit of our children. The support is greatly appreciated and is one aspect of our community that makes it so special.

Parents and members of our Parents and Friends Committee who organised and ran our annual Mother's Day Stall.

Volunteers from the Balwyn North Rotary Club who support our weekly Reading Program for our middle and senior students.

Staff and members of the Balwyn North Rotary Club who volunteer their time to support our weekly Breakfast Club.

Parents who helped relocate our shed.

Staff, parents, grandparents and students who volunteered their time to run our monthly BBQ at Belmore Butchers which helps to promote our school in the local community as well as raise funds for our school.

To conclude the term, the staff of the three schools of our affiliated parishes attended a professional development day on Catholic Identity. The day was organised by our Parish Priest Father John Salvano in conjunction with Father Brendan Reed. It was a great opportunity for the staff of the three schools to come together as one. The purpose of the day included: 

• To Explore the foundations for a Catholic Dialogue School
• To review the context in which Catholic Schools exist today
• To consider pedagogies for the Recontextualising DialogueSchool:
  • What does this look like?
  • What does this mean for educators?
  • For students?
  • For families?
• Consider our planning for learning and teaching
• Share some data and look beyond the data

Just a reminder that Monday 10th July is a pupil free day so that Parent Teacher Interviews can be conducted. 

We look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday 11th July for the beginning of Term 3. 

Kind regards

Robyn Thomson

Principal