Deputy Principal’s News
Loving God, you created all people in your image and likeness
and call us to be one in the Body of Christ, your Son.
We pray for all of us gathered here, that we may grow in courage.
It is courage that helps us to be people of inclusivity, charity, forgiveness, justice, peacemaking, compassion, honesty, respect and humility,
all the days of our lives.
We ask these prayers through your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Amen
Welcome to the 2023 school year at Brigidine College
This year the school year commenced on Tuesday 24 January with our Year 7 and 10 students. This was a time to acknowledge the transition of our Year 7 students to our Middle School. The Year 10 students transition to the Senior School was acknowledged with their Tie Ceremony, as each student was presented with their senior tie. The Year 10s have also taken on the role of Home Room Buddies for the Year 7 students. We are confident that this will be the start of valuable relationships.
Wednesday 25 January was a day where we welcomed all our students and families. There was certainly a lot of energy on this day, as friend reconnected, home rooms welcomed their new students, new teachers were introduced and our community quickly started to settle into some familiar routines. Our Year 12 student leaders welcomed the students back as they enthusiastically set some goals and challenges for our community to be courageous.
This year the College will focus on the Kildare Ministries value of Courage – Speaking and Acting with Integrity. Our College community is challenged to consider how they can act with Courage by – taking action, being inclusive of all in our community, listening, connecting with others, working on positive relationships, speaking and acting with integrity.
There are many forms of courage – physical, mental, moral. Courage can be seen in many different forms, included in our everyday interactions with each other that are based on kindness, inclusivity and respect.
Our Courage logo was created by staff member, Michelle Sharkey. The image is representative of leaders in our community demonstrating courage by being a light and a voice for those in our community. The image is representative of both the courage and leadership demonstrated by St Brigid and the Brigidine Sister and Nano Nagle and the Presentation Sisters.
Our community continues to work with the Kildare Ministries Living Justice, Living Peace Charter. This year our community will focus on Leading with Courage by:
- Walking in solidarity
- Seeking change
- Inviting and welcoming all and
- Healing creation
Jesus inspires and challenges us to act with courage, to invest in right relationship, to be a voice for those who need it, to speak and act with integrity. He challenged his apostles to overcome fear of physical danger or spiritual trial.
St. Thomas Aquinas holds that courage is not the absence of fear. Rather, it is the ability to overcome fear. It is the strength of character to persevere in doing the right things despite being afraid.
St Brigid’s Day – Lá Fhéile Bríd – 1 February
As her feast dawns across the globe and Brigid spreads her cloak o’er all the world,
We grasp its folds together and, as one, lay it down gently, where there is want,
Desolation and crisis.
We cannot help but go at this sacred moment: so much – so many – needs our hands, our
Hearts and our love.
We whisper peace, We dream together, We Hope
Amen
The feast of St Brigid, our patron saint is celebrated on the 1 February each year. According to the Ancient Celtic calendar in Ireland, this is the first day of spring and heralds in the beginning of new life and warmer weather after the long cold winter. It is apt therefore that Brigid’s feast day occurs at the beginning of the new school year.
Brigid’s spirit lives in our beginning. It is reassuring that characteristics of the St Brigid we know from the ancient stories are part of the everyday at Brigidine College. The warm welcomes, the laughter, the cheerfulness remind us of the beautiful, intelligent, quick and lively St Brigid whose kind heart and generosity were legendary.
Over the past week, we have acknowledged our 2022 Graduates and our student on their academic achievements at our Graduate’s Award Ceremony and our Academic Assembly.
Tomorrow, we welcome our community with the College’s Opening Mass and the Commissioning of our 2023 Year 12s.
Staff Changes in 2023
| Category | Name | Position |
|---|---|---|
| New Teachers | Mrs Anna Pianta | Junior School Program Leader |
| Mr Jonathon Staples | Religious Education Leader of Learning | |
| Ms Lucia Varela | Humanities Leader of Learning (Acting) | |
| Ms Justine Horton | Teacher - Humanities and English | |
| Ms Jennifer Matheson | Teacher Languages – French | |
| Ms Teresa Seminara | Teacher – Visual Arts | |
| Ms Kathi-Ann Hill | Teacher Languages – Japanese and English | |
| Ms Mandy Way | Teacher – Mathematics and Science | |
| Returning Teachers | Mr Paul Bennett | Teacher – Design |
| Ms Clare Nelson | Teacher – Religion and Technologies (Fixed Term Contract) | |
| Ms Alexina Bishop | Teacher – Humanities and Religion (Fixed Term Contract) | |
| Mrs Mareva Christopher | Teacher – French (Fixed Term Contract) | |
| New Teachers Fixed-Term Contract | Mr Patrick Todhunter | Teacher – Physics, Science & Mathematics (Fixed Term Contract T1) |
| Mr David Price | Teacher – Humanities and Religion (Fixed Term Contract T1) | |
| New School Officers | Ms Sarah Patterson | Administration and Support St Brigid’s Student Reception |
| Ms Linda Hollier | Curragh Café Convenor | |
| Ms Tara Price | Technologies Aide (Fixed Term Contract) | |
| Returning School Officer | Mrs Lara Giunta | Tullow Middle Leaders Administration Aide (Fixed Term Contract) |
2023 Staff Role Changes
| Category | Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| College Leadership Team | Ms Melissa Dever | Deputy Principal |
| Ms Korryn Swindail-Hill | Dean of Learning (Acting) | |
| Ms Nidean Dickson | Dean of Professional Teaching | |
| Middle Leadership Team | Ms Domenica Strachan | Senior Years Program Leader (Acting) |
| Ms Amelia Cameron | Formation Program Leader | |
| Mrs Michelle Boots | Access and Diverse Learning Program Leader (Acting) |
2023 Staff on Leave
| Name |
|---|
| Mrs Phillipa Holtz |
| Ms Catherine De Vos |
| Mrs Donna Martin |
| Ms Allison Johansen |
| Ms Helen Douglas |
Congratulations
| Staff Member | Celebrating |
|---|---|
| Ms Allison Johansen | Birth of a baby girl |
| Ms Helen Douglas | Birth of a baby girl |
Melissa Dever
Deputy Principal
News from our Dean of Learning
Courage is the College theme for 2023. Many are daunted by the idea of courage, as by definition it is the ‘ability to do something that frightens oneself ’ or the ability to ‘have strength in the face of pain’. Each year as a College, teachers and staff work to develop resilience and a growth mindset within our students. We ask students to take risks in their learning and move out of their comfort zone to extend their knowledge. The staff started the year being inspired by Pretris Lapis from the Artisan of Change, that often we find ourselves in the comfort zone, our strength zone, a place where we enjoy success. However, to grow we need to challenge ourselves to move out of our strength zone into our courage zone, as it is in the courage zone that growth occurs. This does not come without significant resistance at times, but we must move through this, so that our strength zone increases.
As we start 2023, we challenge our learners to work to expand their strength zone, challenging them to have courage to move through the line of resistance.
College Events:
Graduate’s Award Ceremony
The 2022 Graduate’s Awards Ceremony was held on the 25th of January. We welcome our alumnae back to the College to celebrate their subject results and outstanding achievements. We announced the Sr Patricia Whitby Award (2nd Academic place) awarded to Charlotte Cattell and our College Dux for 2022, Cate Brown. Both these students excelled in their individual subjects results and participated in the College’s acceleration program completing one of their General QCE subjects in 2021.
Charlotte was awarded first place in:
- Accounting
- Chemistry
- English
- Biology (2021)
Cate was awarded first place in:
- Mathematical Methods
- Physics
- Specialist Maths
- Chemistry (2021)
Academic Awards Assembly
On Tuesday 31 January, we celebrated the academic achievements of students from Year 7-11 from Semester 2, 2022.
Year 11 Information Evening
- 6 February 6pm Kildare Hall – all student and guardians to attend.
Year 12 Parent Teacher Interviews
9 February 4-6:30pm Online
Korryn Swindail-Hill
Acting Dean of Learning
News from the Director of Sports
Good luck to our 13- 19 years Metropolitan West Triathlon representatives who are competing at the QSS State Triathlon Championships from Thursday 2 to Saturday 4 February in Hervey Bay:
- Emma Neish (Y12)
- Maree Stringer (Y11)
- Alicia Neish (Y7)
- Kristina Jackson (Y7)
2023 Brigidine College Interhouse Swimming Carnival
The Interhouse Swimming Carnival will be held on Wednesday 8 February at The Valley Pool. Information regarding the Carnival has been sent to all College families. Our Interhouse Carnivals are always filled with fun, excitement and plenty of House Spirit!
Students can be selected to represent the College at the Catholic Secondary Schoolgirls’ Sports Association (CaSSSA) and Greater Brisbane Conference (GBC) Carnivals. A squad will be selected after the Interhouse Carnival and will be announced on Thursday 9 February. It is important for members of the squad to attend CaSSSA Lead Up Meets, dates below:
- Meet 1- Friday 3 February at Valley Pool
- Meet 2- Friday 24 February at Valley Pool
- Meet 3- Friday 3 March at Newmarket Pool
CaSSSA, GBC and Water Polo
Our CaSSSA, GBC and BWPI fixtures recommence this week. All draws have been posted to the College App and we look forward to seeing our teams back on the sporting field and in the pool! Good luck!
Futsal
Futsal registration is open via the Community Portal and will close on Sunday 5 February. Please visit the Futsal tab on the College App for detailed information regarding the Futsal season.
Rebecca Horne
Director of Sports
Community News
Save the date – Moggill Marathon – 21 May 2022!
The Moggill Marathon 2023 event is shaping up nicely and Early Bird entries are open offering a 10% discount for a limited time only.
In the 5k event, we are offering one prize of $500, for the school or community club with the highest number of entries finishing the race in UNDER 28 minutes.
In the 2k event, we are offering one prize of $250 for the primary school with the most competitors.
It’s a great way to get your school active and have something to aim for in 2023. If you can promote this within school communications, newsletters and social media, that would be great. We have attached an image you can use and the link to register is here:
Complete either a half marathon, 10km, 5km or 2km fun run.
