The Brigidine Blog – Friday 28 July 2023

From the Principal

Prayer

Ever generous God,

You inspired Saint Maty MacKillop

to live her life faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ

and constant in bringing in hope and encouragement

to those who were disheartened, lonely or needy.

With confidence in your generous providence

and joining with Saint Mary MacKillop

we ask that you grant our request……..

We ask that our faith and hope be fired afresh by

the Holy Spirit

so that we too, like Mary Mackillop, may live with

courage, trust and openness.

Ever generous God hear our prayer.

We ask this through Jesus Christ. Amen

2023 Catholic Education Week celebrations

It was wonderful to witness the 2023 Catholic Education Week (CEW) State Launch in the Diocese of Townsville on Tuesday. Thank you to Bishop Tim Harris, Executive Director Jacqui Francis and their team who worked behind the scenes for the past 12 months to plan and host the launch celebrations.

The event incorporated 150 year celebrations by the diocese through a pilgrimage from St Joseph’s School at The Strand to Mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral and culminated with the Spirit of Catholic Education Awards presentation to the seven recipients of the 2023 Awards. This is a great opportunity to recognise deserving members of the Catholic education community.

Social media pages have seen an overwhelming amount of activity this week with schools and dioceses all showcasing their own unique CEW celebrations as communities of Faith, Hope and Love.

 

Cancer Research Fundraising Project 2023

Congratulations to the Year 12 students in leading a wonderful initiative for our Annual Cancer Research project. With well over $60,000 raised through the ‘Ponytail Project / Rock the Chop’ the efforts of so many is warmly received.

 

Alfie Williams Funeral

As I mentioned at the funeral for Alfie Williams at Holy Family Parish Church this afternoon, ‘as a member of our community for over 40 years, Alfie’s passion for students and staff meant he not only committed to the enterprise of providing a safe and nurturing environment, but his focus on the well-being of students in the Senior School was his gift to us all.’

May Alfie rest gently in the hands of our God, for his spirit will remain in our hearts forever.

 

Brendan Cahill

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From the Dean of Student Formation

We may only be three weeks into Term 3 but there has already been many exciting events and opportunities for our Brigidine Community to come together.

NAIDOC Day was a wonderful celebration of significant First Australian voices and was great to see the whole college community have the opportunity to engage the activities of the day. Week 2 was busy with Year 10 Courage to Care Day, Technologies Day, Open Morning Visitations and Delany House Patron Mass. All wonderful events that make Brigidine such a wonderful place learn and work.

On Friday 21 July, the Brigidine College community held its annual Spirit Squad Fundraiser for Cancer, Disco for Discovery. Led by Year 12 Spirit Squad Students the College participated in the Ponytail Project. The students have raised over $69,000 for cancer research. With approximately 60 students ‘rocking the chop’ it was a wonderful community event. This student run event truly embodies the Brigidine values and shows what young people are capable of. Thank you to all students involved as well as the staff, parents and wider community members of gave of their time and money for this worthy cause.

Dani Sprenger

Principal for the day – Alma Theodorakopoulos

On Tuesday 25 July, I was given the opportunity to be Principal for the Day. I got to experience what it’s like to live like a Principal. This included talking to Year 5s and 6s from Holy Family, looking over plans for the introduction of Year 5 and 6 at Brigidine, and doing a few classroom visits, which were the Library, Year 7 Compass French, and Year 7 Japanese. I also got to speak at assembly a little, and I got free morning tea, which was delicious!

Thank you to Mr Cahill and his amazing team for making this possible and choosing me.

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Sock it to you! 

At the Tuesday Vinnies meeting it was suggested that we tie dye some socks for disco dress ups on Friday at the Rock the Chop fundraiser. Tilly, Rosie, Chloe and Lily leapt into action. We advice from Art we used spray paints and made some really great designs. Then it was on to selling them on Thursday. No two socks were the same – part of their folks charm. As Mrs Jeffcoat said – really takes her back tot he 70’s when she was a party girl! All funds raised go to cancer research.

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@BrigidineSpirit update

Last term, the captains and I launched a student-run Brigidine spirit Instagram account (@brigidine.spirit). To involve students in its design, we put out a competition to design the account’s profile picture. This week, we were pleased to announce its winner, Cat Monaghan! Cat’s design beautifully pictures our school Mascot Fiana surrounded by colourful symbols representing various aspects of the college in a fun and exciting way.

Congratulations Cat and thank you to everyone who submitted a design, we loved them all!

Abbey Adams

College Captain

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What’s Coming Up?

Sunday 30 July 2023 – Community BBQ Breakfast and National Tree-planting day! 8am – 11am

Location: Handel Street Park

 

 

 

 

Pooch Party – 6 August 2023 | 10:00 – 12:00pm
Location: Robertson Park, Indooroopilly

 

 

 

 

8 August – Mater Parent Aide Unit Information sessions

We are currently recruiting experienced mothers and grandmothers who have some time available during the week and are interested in offering support to another family in their community.  Referrals to the Parent Aide Unit come from midwives and social workers at Mater Mothers Hospital, as well as from child health nurses and other community services.

Interested volunteers are provided with six days of initial training, with catering and parking included, at no cost.  An information session will be held on Tuesday 8^th August 2023 from 10am to 11am and the six-day training course begins on Tuesday 22 August 2023.  Parent Aides are then matched with a family in a surrounding suburb and supported by experienced social workers.  They are asked to spend a minimum of two hours per week with their assigned family, until the child turns 2, or the support is no longer required.

We are currently recruiting experienced mothers and grandmothers who have some time available during the week and are interested in offering support to another family in their community.  Referrals to the Parent Aide Unit come from midwives and social workers at Mater Mothers Hospital, as well as from child health nurses and other community services.

Interested volunteers are provided with six days of initial training, with catering and parking included, at no cost.  An information session will be held on Tuesday 8^th August 2023 from 10am to 11am and the six-day training course begins on Tuesday 22 August 2023.  Parent Aides are then matched with a family in a surrounding suburb and supported by experienced social workers.  They are asked to spend a minimum of two hours per week with their assigned family, until the child turns 2, or the support is no longer required.