Cohort News

Year 7 Pastoral Care

Dear Parents and Guardians of Year 7, 

Student Representatives

Congratulations to the following students who have been elected to represent their Pastoral care class in the College’s Student Representative Council.

These students will be working with our College leaders on a range of initiatives as well as supporting the Year 7 Pastoral Care program by running our weekly year meetings and sharing communications to their homeroom peers.

Assessment Task and Homework

Currently the Year 7 students are working towards completing a number of assessment tasks in their subject areas. These tasks my be in-class tasks or hand-in tasks. Please spend some time with your daughter to check how she is progressing with her tasks and other coursework commitments. If you have any concerns, please reach out to the classroom teacher for assistance.

If your daughter is absent on the day an assessment task is due, please contact the classroom teacher and complete the Illness/Misadventure Form. The classroom teacher will liaise with their Head of Department to set up an alternative time to complete the task or another due date.

Year 7 Achievements

So many of our year 7 students have had success and personal bests over the course of the past few weeks. We had some amazing results in the College athletics carnival, representative dance, soccer and netball as well as excellent results in class task and school work. While we have seen the success of some students, I am aware others have had some personal best moments such as meeting their academic goal, understanding a difficult concept or receiving a merit. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of our Year 7 students who have had success over the past few weeks and encourage them to keep striving.

Uniform and School Expectations 

This a reminder that students need to be wearing the school winter uniform to school including the College blazer and hat. Students are also reminded that items of uniform are not interchangeable and they need to be wearing the specific items of the Winter uniform and the sport uniform when required.

Thank you again for your ongoing support. Please reach out if you have any wellbeing concerns.

Brenda Doran 

Year 7 Pastoral Care Coordinator

Year 8 Pastoral Care

As we approach the end of a busy assessment period for all our students, I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the Year 8 cohort. They have demonstrated remarkable resilience and commitment during this busy time and have done so with a smile on their faces....(mostly!) 

Engaging with Feedback:

Over the past few weeks, our Year 8 students have been engaged in a series of assessment tasks designed to challenge their academic abilities and promote their personal growth. We understand that this period can be demanding for both students and parents, and we commend the efforts of our students in rising to the occasion. It is important to recognise the significance of feedback in the learning process. Feedback offers valuable insights into areas of improvement and helps students build on their strengths. We encourage you, as parents, to actively engage with the feedback that will be provided over the next few weeks to support your daughters' progress and facilitate their development. 

Thursday Sport:

In addition to their academic pursuits, our Year 8 students have also actively participated in swimming lessons, AFL, and cricket. These sports activities play a crucial role in their holistic development, promoting physical fitness, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Swimming lessons have provided our students with the opportunity to enhance their swimming skills, build confidence in the water, and maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. We applaud their enthusiasm and commitment to this essential life skill.

I wish to remind you that Week 6 will see the swapping of sports locations for Year 8.

• Aquinas, Brigid and Delany will commence swimming lessons at UNSW pool.
• Regina Mundi, Winifred and Xavier will participate in Cricket or AFL at Paine Reserve.

Friday Mass:

I would like to extend a special thank you to the parents who took the time to join us for Mass on Friday, Week 5. Your support and encouragement of your daughters' spiritual development are invaluable. By attending this Mass, you have shown your commitment to fostering a strong connection between home, school, and faith. Your dedication is deeply appreciated. 

We are incredibly proud of our students for their respectful and active participation throughout the Mass. Your reverence and engagement demonstrate the depth of your understanding and your commitment to your faith. It is heartening to witness your continued growth and maturity as individuals and as members of our Brigidine College community.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities:

Looking ahead, we have an exciting array of events and opportunities planned for our Year 8 students. On Tuesday of Week 7, the TAS Department will be engaging Year 8 in an Incursion called 'Cow in the City". Year 8 will hear valuable information from a couple of Australia's leading Dairy Farmers on how the Dairy Industry has been revolutionised by the role of Technology. Please make sure you ask them about the day as it will be an exciting one! 

You are also invited to join the Good Food and Design Show on Thursday of Week 7. Year 8 who have been studying Digital Technologies this semester, will be showcasing their Robotic Unicorns.

We encourage you to stay informed about these events and actively engage with the school community via your Compass portal. We value your presence and involvement as it plays an instrumental role in your daughter's educational journey.

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to sharing more updates and successes with you in the coming months.

Warm regards,

Rebecca Monohan

Year 8 Pastoral Care Coordinator

Year 9 Pastoral Care

Dear Year 9 Parents/Guardians, 

We hope this newsletter finds you well and that Term 2 has been successful for your daughter. As we reach the midpoint of the year, we would like to provide you with essential updates and highlight some key events and achievements from our Year 9 students. 

Academic Progress

We are immensely proud of our Year 9 students' academic progress. Their dedication, hard work, and engagement in their studies have been truly commendable. I encourage parents to continue supporting their child's learning by regularly reviewing their academic progress, communicating with teachers, and maintaining open lines of communication. 

Excursions

Our Year 9 students have been actively involved in various enrichment programs and exciting excursions. As part of our Pastoral Care program, Year 9 and 10 students have attended an address by Dr Wayne Warburton at Marcellin College. Dr Wayne Warburton is an Associate Professor of Developmental Psychology at Macquarie University and will focus his presentation on screen addiction. 

Wellbeing Support

We understand that the middle years of schooling can be a time of significant personal and emotional growth for our students. Our dedicated support team is always available to provide guidance, counselling, and assistance whenever needed. If you have any concerns or require support for your child, please do not hesitate to reach out to the school. Thank you for your ongoing support and collaboration. We are excited to continue this journey with our Year 9 students and look forward to a successful remainder of the academic year.

Kind regards, 

Nikki McWhirter

Year 9 Pastoral Care Coordinator

Year 10 Pastoral Care

Dear Brigidine Community,

We hope this newsletter finds you all in good health and high spirits. The past few weeks have been filled with exciting events and noteworthy accomplishments for some Year 10 students. From engaging talks to impressive performances, our students have showcased their talents and enthusiasm across a few areas.

Dr. Wayne Warburton's Enlightening Talk on Screen Addiction

This week, our Year 10 students had the privilege of attending a captivating talk by renowned psychologist, Dr. Wayne Warburton, focused on screen addiction. With technology playing an increasingly prominent role in our lives, it is vital to understand its impact and cultivate healthy relationships with digital devices. Dr. Warburton shared eye-opening insights into the potential dangers of excessive screen time and the effects it can have on mental health, social interactions, and overall well-being. He also provided practical strategies to develop a balanced approach towards technology usage. Our students actively participated in the discussion, demonstrating their eagerness to explore this pertinent issue. We encourage parents and guardians to engage in meaningful conversations with their children about responsible screen usage and implement strategies Dr. Warburton discussed. Together, we can foster a healthy digital environment for our young minds.

Celebrating Dance and Performance

Our school community continues to shine in the arts, and this time, it's our talented dancers who stole the limelight! A team of dedicated and passionate students from across-the-year groups recently represented our College in dance at the 2023 Eisteddfod, hosted at Mount St Joseph’s College Milperra. Year 10 was proudly represented by Gabriella Taipari, Ava Kapo, Kyra Cooper, Charli Dodd, Isla Dindial and Maya Hamilton. Their graceful movements, synchronised routines, and vibrant expressions mesmerised the audience. I would like to commend them on their countless hours of practice and unwavering commitment. Our students showcased their artistic prowess, embodying the spirit of teamwork and creativity. We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the entire dance team, and their coach for their exceptional efforts. Your dedication and hard work go on to inspire future generations of dancers here at the College.

Additionally, we had a group of Indigenous students who, through Souths Cares, participated in the NRL Indigenous round by performing before the Souths Sydney Rabbitohs and Parramatta game at Allianz stadium in Moore Park. We had our very own Lillie Loveridge from Year 10 who was part of this group and showcased their skills in front of a huge audience. We applaud our students for their exceptional performances and extend our appreciation to all those staff members and parents who have nurtured and encouraged their growth with dance and performance.

Thank you for your ongoing support and involvement in the growth and success of our Year 10 students. We look forward to more exciting endeavours in the coming weeks.

Kind regards,

Tony Munguia

Year 10 Pastoral Care Coordinator

Year 11 Pastoral Care

We are already halfway through what has been a very busy Term 2 for Year 11. There have been many Year 11 students contributing to the wider College community in a variety of capacities. This has included a large number of girls representing the College in netball and soccer this term and our Year 11 musicians performing in the Year 9 and 11 Recital Night. Special mentions must go to  Molly Menzel and Harper Lynch who put on excellent performances in the Drama Eistedford that occurred recently, as well as Emily Smith, Olivia Daly and Amelie Bald who are stepping up and representing the College in the Year 12 Debating Team this term. Well done girls!

The following are upcoming events for Year 11:

• Year 11 Retreat at The Benedict XVI Retreat Centre (more details to follow shortly). Students will be working remotely when not at the Retreat.
  • Group 1: June 21-June 23
  • Group 2: June 26-June 28
• Founders Day: Thursday 29 June.
• Last day of school: Friday 30 June.

I wish all families of Year 11 students all the best for the rest of Term 2.

Jon Campbell

Year 11 Pastoral Care Coordinator

Year 12 Pastoral Care

Dear Parents and Carers,

“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra”  

  ( J Johnson)

This gives our Year 12 cohort a reason to really extend their active learning this term. It is their reasoning skills, commitment to each subject and their willingness to reach out to their subject teachers for that extra knowledge that is required for success in the HSC. Each day requires personal stamina, set goals and a reason to achieve one’s personal success. The innate satisfaction one receives from reaching their goals is the most meaningful achievement one can reach. On a daily basis, there needs to be in place a time for reflection, meditation and personal exercise. One needs to realise that a true balance needs to be present so we all feel the essence of the direction and meaningfulness of our lives. Finding a true balance between studies, family and well-being is the key to success.

Our Athletics Carnival on the 5 May was a successful one. It was a day when our amazing students participated both in field and track events.

It was the Year 12 students' final Sports Event and it was nice to see that so many of our girls dress up for the occasion. It was a fun-filled day whereby all students had the opportunity to show their physical ability and to show some fantastic spirit for their individual houses.

Our Student leaders are preparing well for their Push Up Challenge. It is an initiative to raise awareness for mental health across all age groups. Yasmeen, Emily and Sarah are organising this important event whereby all students will be involved in some physical exercise in a variety of events during the month of June. It will be interesting to see how we all, as a community, actively participate in some fun activities!

 This a reminder that all Year 12 are required to wear their blazer to and from school as the jersey is not to be worn separately. 

On Thursday 1 June, all Year 12 attended the Careers Expo at Randwick Racecourse. This was an amazing opportunity for all students to obtain information from the various Universities, TAFEs, and other private institutions that offer courses in 2024.

I wish every family a happy and safe term,

Adriana Parsons

Year 12 Pastoral Care Coordinator