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Amy receives a place on the Dean’s List
We are so proud of Amy Thomasson, a St Brigid’s 2013 graduate, for her outstanding achievement in receiving 7th place on the 2021 Juris Doctor Dean’s List (Academic Excellence) from the University of Western Australia. The Juris Doctor is a challenging Master’s level professional law degree, requiring significant commitment over several years. To complete the Juris Doctor is an accomplishment, and she has done it outstandingly by being…
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From the Principal
From the Principal
Since our last eNews, we have certainly seen many changes as COVID-19 finally arrived in our community. I thank you all for your support and understanding. Our Leadership Team members are now experts in contact tracing, reporting to the Health Department, and managing the ever-changing conditions that have been updated nearly every second day. Further, our staff are having to cope with the change to numbers in their classrooms, whilst having to cater to all the needs of students forced into isolation. Our numbers have continued to increase, but we are managing the situation well. I thank the many of you out there who have acknowledged the wonderful work our staff are doing for the care, health and education of our students. As I write to you, we are aware of, but not yet officially informed of, new community requirements and changes to school restrictions. I am sure that like us, you are all keen for our students to once more be involved in extra-curricular activities that are normally on offer. As restrictions ease and we have the official ‘go ahead’ from the Department of Health, these activities will be reintroduced. We were thrilled to be able to offer our students their ‘Fun Day’ as a respite from their daily classroom work. Our thanks are extended to Ms Hepi and our Student Leaders for their comprehensive planning, ensuring that all activities complied with COVD-19 guidelines. That was no mean feat, but it was a joy to see the students letting off steam in a fun, safe way. Staff have spent recent weeks finalising the Term 1 Interim Reports which have now been made available via SEQTA. Families would also have received information regarding the Parent / Teacher / Student Interviews. These interviews will be conducted via TEAMs video conferencing, and I encourage you to take the opportunity to discuss your child’s progress with the teachers. Over this last month or so, we have been changing our Internet and Phone platform. Unfortunately, this has disrupted our phone and email facilities at various times. We are hopeful that the process is now complete and the ‘bugs’ have been sorted. Thank you for your patience as I know how frustrating it can be when ease of communication is interrupted. Attached to this eNews is a Fact Sheet from the Australian Government regarding vaccinations for students aged 5 to 11. Whilst Australia’s coverage rates are high by international standards, it is important for us to share this information with you so that our children can be kept as safe as possible. During the remaining days of this term, we are looking forward to our Spirit of Mercy Assembly and the Stations of the Cross. Our fundraising has focussed on Project Compassion and I encourage you to talk to your children about the important work Caritas does. I am also hopeful that you will be able to help your child support this very worth cause, either via the Easter raffle or the Project Compassion boxes in each classroom. School recommences for students on Tuesday, 26th April. Students are to return in their winter uniforms. We ask you to spend some time over the coming holiday to ensure that your child’s winter uniform is in good order. Uniform Shop hours are available on the College website. ANZAC Day falls within the school holiday break, so the College will acknowledge this special day during the last week of this term. As we near Easter Sunday when our Lord is risen, may we remember Jesus’ sacrifice and give thanks for what He has brought to our world. May we feel the warm embrace of God’s love at this special time and may the glory of Jesus’ resurrection remind us that, with God, nothing is impossible or without hope.   God Bless, Carmen Cox Principal
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From the Deputy Prinicpal
From the Deputy Principal
It has been an incredible first term at the College, with a hive of activity occurring in the classrooms! A positive of the current restrictions have been that our teaching staff have been able to focus on giving our students the best start to the year possible.  They have focused on classroom innovations, implementing new programmes and upskilling our students using a variety of online platforms (a huge congratulations to our primary students who mastered this in record time!). I want to congratulate all of our students, from our littlest learners in the pre-kindergarten through to the Year 12s, who have again shown true resilience and are determined to get the most out of the first term.  So many milestones have been achieved; from writing names for the first time in the early years, to mastering TEAMs in the middle years of primary, hitting the kitchen in Year 5 to embracing to preparing for NAPLAN and OLNA in the Secondary and commencing a variety of certifications and WACE subjects in the senior years … no matter the year level we are so proud of what you have achieved. The Term One Report provides a snapshot of a student’s academic progress and application across this first term. It is in the process of being uploaded to SEQTA Engage for students in Pre-primary to Year 12. On Thursday, 7th April (9.00 am – 6.00 pm), interviews will be held for Kindergarten to Year Twelve families, allowing for families and their child(ren) to meet online with teachers (students must have a parent present).   In some cases, Boarding families may still be travelling on the scheduled date; Boarding families only will have an additional opportunity between 1.30 pm – 3.30 pm for a TEAMs meeting on the 8th April.   Whilst we would prefer to hold our interviews face to face, the Term One meetings will occur only via Microsoft TEAMs.  Where teachers have requested a meeting with parents and guardians, please consider these requests essential. We look forward to meeting with our families. We want to extend our gratitude to our Parent Forum for continuing to support our Lexile Reading programme, which is accessed by students up to Year Eight currently.  We have purchased over 500 books for the library, and we love our students joining us to extend their reading skills and, significantly, comprehension.  Our students from across the College enjoy the new resources as they arrive. As we move into Term Two, it is looking to prove to be again a busy term, with the following dates of note: NAPLAN in Years 3,5,7 and 9 [Commencing Week 3] Year 12 General Externally Set Task [Commencing Week 3] Year 11 and 12 Examinations [Commencing Week 6] Year 10 Examinations [Commencing Week 7] Year 11 2023 Subject Selection Evening [29th June] K – Year 12 Parent Teacher Interviews [30th June] Plus, Career Presentations at lunchtime will continue into the second term. We are looking forward to a full and energised Term 2. Have a safe and blessed Easter holiday.   Janine Walsh Deputy Principal
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Secondary School
Secondary News
Hello everyone,   I am not sure where the ten weeks have gone! I hope this e-news finds you and your family all safe and well and you are doing your best in keeping COVID out of your house. This does seem to be getting more challenging each week. Still, I know the majority of the young ladies attending school are doing their best to keep it out of College by wearing their masks correctly and following the safety steps regarding social distancing and hand sanitiser. The break from school means that they can keep their mask off a little longer during the day and enjoy breathing fresh air while having some downtime.   This term was a little tricky when it came to running events, so with the help and support from the SRC Leaders, they reinvented some activities to give everyone some fun time while also keeping everyone safe at the same time. The girls could celebrate Mass in the College Chapel while streaming it to other Homerooms. They wore their masks during their dance, art and science classes.   We managed to celebrate International Women’s day by holding a breakfast picnic on the grass area outside the cottage for the Year Twelve young ladies. While we were enjoying the serenity of the College, some of the College Student Leaders stood up and shared stories of women from around the world who inspired them. The Year 12 Leaders and Reps held a COVID safe House Activity day. The students competed against the clock to either get the fastest time or the highest number while competing as a Homeroom completing seven activities within 40 minutes. One activity was getting changed out of their bathers back into their school uniform, and it was pleasing to know that the girls could change within 5 minutes. So, there is no excuse now when they say it takes them too long to get changed.             The young ladies are looking forward to Term Two with their fingers crossed that they will be able to start participating in extra-curriculum clubs (Maths, English, Science, dance, Choir, Sewing, Computing), to name a few. The teachers are also looking forward to running the clubs as they know that they are helping student consolidate their learning.   Term Two is winter uniform; this means blazer, tie, skirt, blouse, jumper and socks or stockings. The only time the students officially need to wear their stockings is on photo day or when they represent the College. Last year some students started wearing different jumpers and hoodies under their school uniforms. We ask that you please monitor this as they will be asked to remove them. As it gets colder, I recommend wearing a skivvy/singlet under their blouse to keep them warm.   The Link for SchoolTv this newsletter is about The Conflict in Ukraine  https://sbcl.wa.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-conflict-ukraine-au   Fiona Hepi Head of Secondary
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Junior School
Primary News
It is the end of term one, and we have managed to embrace the new normalcy for students from Years 3s to Year 6s wearing masks during instruction time in the classroom. The college is built upon being resilient, and our core activities and learning were never compromised.   The students soldiered on with Spelling Mastery, and we also followed the Talk for Writing pedagogy for our writing execution. Using oral language as the cornerstone, students learnt to recite a famous story. By doing so, they become fluent in retelling a story. This frees up their working memory to incorporate elements that help create a higher quality writing by working on many in-depth literacy tools to heighten their writing pieces using examples like similes, idioms and powerful adjectives. They then innovate from a familiar story platform, and from there, they independently write their version of the stories using the many writing tools taught. Surrounding the classrooms are washing lines of sample writing which they have brainstormed the ideas together. These become instruments to scaffold our emerging writers to the next stage of their development.    Talk for Writing inspired the Year 5 Green to re-enact the story of “Beowulf” for their virtual assembly. Students narrated the story with clear diction and expression. They also innovated the story by changing the characters and the settings in their Writing. The learning is continuous, and students enjoy every moment of their day in school. For example, year 6s are learning about percussion instruments in music. Pre-primary students are making crosses in preparation for Good Friday. Kindergartens are learning about letter sounds.   We had to delay a few events due to COVID and inject some play and fun into our term, and we had an hour of House events. Students were grouped according to their year level and participated in activities that required cooperation and collaboration and some activities that required strength and skills. However, the main thing was the students had so much fun and laughter.   The Mercy Values shone brightly on the primary campus. Some students initiated and volunteered to tidy up the school during Friday lunch as they walked around and picked up rubbish. They provided “service” and showed “respect” to the school property. Social media and chatrooms are often used to entertain and communicate in this current day and trend. However, it can be deemed unsafe for young children, putting themselves vulnerable to possible dangers because the person’s identity can easily be masked. I would encourage parents to be vigilant when their children use such communication modes and monitor the form of language they are exposed to. The lesser time they spent on devices would propel more extraordinary face to face relationships with family members. Pope Francis’s message for Lent stated, “One sign of such weakness is digital media, which impoverishes human relationships. Lent is an opportune time to cultivate healthy communication and face-to-face encounters”.   With the fear and anxiety over COVID, let us continue to practise kindness and love to our community by supporting and being patient with one another.   God of all life May your love and light shine in and through me today In a way that no mask can hide. May my eyes dance with the laughter and joy Replacing my hidden smile. May my actions of care and concern Speak louder than my muffled voice ever could. And may the generosity of my heart Radiate out through who I am And how I respond to the world around me So that others may not see my mask But your image shining out Moving in and through me today. Amen  (Br Michael Herry FMS_   God Bless, Anne Tan Head of Primary
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Boarding
Boarding News
Whilst Term One has offered many challenges for our Boarders and staff, it has also been a term with many highlights! One of the biggest things I have noticed this year is that the Boarding community truly is a second family for our students. The girls look after each other as they would a sibling, with occasional arguments, but they eventually always make up and become friends again in no time. It is so lovely to watch the girls care for each, tell staff when they are worried about someone and generally be there for each other.  This has been so important in what has been an interrupted and sometimes stressful term. [easy-image-collage id=18165] We have managed to do some activities out and around Perth, and though, at times, these have been limited, the girls have still had fun.  We went to the beach, had ice-creams, visited the Kalamunda night markets, been shopping and visited the sculptures by the sea.  There has also been plenty of weekend activities at boarding – including all things craft, making a Brownie in a mug, a movie night and finishing off the term with Karaoke.  Thanks to all the regulars who participate, I encourage students to stay in occasionally on the weekend and join in on what is on offer.  Hopefully, the variety of what we can do will open up more in Term Two. It has also been imposing watching the exercise and sports that many students are doing.  When I get to boarding early in the morning, I am passed by students going for their morning run or going to the gym.  Many in the afternoon visit the gym or the swimming pool.  We also have girls participating in Basketball, horse riding, gymnastics, callisthenics, kickboxing and more.  And once we get into Term Two, it feels like most of the Boarding House will be playing Netball, Hockey or Football. “In your brain, exercise stimulates chemicals that improve your mood and the parts of the brain responsible for memory and learning” (healthdirect.gov.au). If your daughter would benefit from more exercise or sport – please speak to a House Mum about what to get involved with. I hope you all have a lovely holiday together, and here’s hoping to lessen restrictions and more fun for the girls in Term Two! Judith Cumpsty Head of Boarding
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Ministry
Ministry News
LENT Most of this term has been spent in the Church season of Lent. The forty-day season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes on Holy Thursday evening with the celebration of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. It is a time for Christians to commit to strengthening their faith through the three pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. SBC has raised vital funds regarding almsgiving via Project Compassion Boxes and the Easter Raffle. We are most grateful for the generosity of our College families, who supported and donated items for the raffle. All money raised will support projects coordinated by Caritas in Australia and neighbouring countries. We appreciate your support! Stations of the Cross We will conclude the term with a prayerful reflection on the Stations of the Cross led by our primary school students (live-streamed via Teams). We remember the path Jesus took on Good Friday. On the way to his death, Jesus showed us how to live and how to die. We cannot rise with Christ unless we walk the path with Him. “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen.” [Luke 24:5] Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, in his Easter Message 2022, reminds us that the risen Jesus of Easter “…enables us to be the instruments of healing, of hope and of new beginnings which we, our families, our communities, our country and our world so desperately need.” Happy Easter to all SBC families!   Mr Adrian Martino Head of Faith & Mission
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