As we close another extraordinary academic year it is worth reflecting on how we have managed to navigate coming in and out of lockdowns and experiencing extended Remote Learning challenges in 2021. I would like to thank the students for their resilience and commitment to their studies and I would like to thank all families for your support during this testing year. The St Brigid’s motto is “Strength and Gentleness” – this year we have shown we can be strong, next year is a time for Gentleness – to each other.
Yesterday we welcomed our newest students to the College, the future class of 2027, for their Orientation day. I am deliberate in calling them the class of 2027 as we want to maintain high retention rates in our school community. The students had a wonderful day and appear eager to join us in 2022.
Late Friday we held our Awards Assembly for the Year 7-11 students and it was wonderful to see many parents attending and taking pride in the achievements of their sons and daughters. Congratulations to the many award winners and for putting themselves out there this year. In addition, a number of our current students have received opportunities to go into traineeships or other paid employment in 2022, so we also express our pride in them and wish them well.
St Brigid’s staff will continue to plan for 2022 over the next week and a bit so that a quality learning program will be in place for the start of next year. We are also excited for next week as we relocate the staff work stations and lounge into our newly refurbished wing. I am pleased that we can provide comfortable and attractive facilities for our hardworking staff and know that this will assist in us retaining and attracting quality teachers and support staff to St Brigid’s.
It is also the time of year when we farewell some staff who are either leaving the school for a permanent change, or are taking leave in 2022. I would like to wish all the best to the following staff:
Peter Gutteridge – alternate employment
Sue Rigas – alternate employment
Kate Wade – SMJ
Tom Magee – on leave
Les Butler – on leave
Geordie Butler – on leave
Daryl Wren – on leave
Ebony Hobbs - maternity leave
Rodney Kennett – alternate employment
Mark Rowe - on leave
And I look forward to introducing you to our new staff at the beginning of next year.
Tonight is the long awaited Presentation Ball for the Year 11 cohort. After a few false starts and COVID related delays, it is with much anticipation that the students are finally ready and excited for the evening to occur. We wish all of our students a wonderful evening and we can share the photos on our Facebook page. I would also like to add that the school’s involvement ends at the conclusion at 10:30pm approximately, we do not in anyway endorse parties planned for after the event. These are not sanctioned by the College.
To conclude, I would like to offer my prayers and best wishes for all St Brigid’s families over the Christmas break and I ask you to take care of one another. We have many exciting changes planned in 2022 and we look forward to seeing you all in February. The first day for Year 7 and Year 12 students is 1 February (St Brigid’s Feast Day) and the remainder of the students will return on 2 February.
Merry Christmas everyone,
Gerard Raven
