Welcome back to Term 2!
As we returned to school this week, we reflected on the significance of ANZAC Day, particularly with ongoing global conflicts filling news reports each day.
At our first formal assembly for this term, we commemorated ANZAC Day and acknowledged the service of men and women serving their country and pursuing peace. ANZAC Day goes beyond the anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli in 1915; it is the day on which we remember Australians who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The spirit of ANZAC, with its human qualities of courage, mateship, and sacrifice, continues to have meaning and relevance for our sense of national identity and the values of our Brigidine community.
Our Assembly included music, reflections and prayers delivered by students followed by the Last Post. Students shared stories of women and men who served in the armed forces and these stories brought to life the human element of courage in the face of conflict. Many thanks to Mrs Bremner and students – Natasha Townley, Indie Smith, Caroline Cuda, Emilea Wallis, Amelia Hague, Josephine Crocker.
Thank you too to Mrs Allen and the Chamber Choir (Sophie McGrath, Emily Lovelock, Ailee Campbell and Millie Janoyan) for their performance of a beautiful and stirring rendition of How Great Thou Art. Thanks also go to Mr Edy and the Girls in Black who supported this event.
As a community we offer this ANZAC prayer:
Grant all servicepersons who sacrificed health and life for the good of all, the gift of your deep peace.
May we who inherit the freedom for which they fought and become instruments of your peace in our homes, workplaces and world.
We ask this prayer through Christ our Lord.
As the recent holidays ended staff members accompanied our girls on the Duke of Edinburgh Silver expedition. Special thanks to Ms Carroll and Mrs Arnott who worked with the students over three days in the Hawkesbury Nepean region.
Congratulations to our Music students who undertook and performed in an enriching Music Tour to our sister school, Brigidine Indooroopilly in the holidays. Thank you to Mr Lovelock, Mrs Goodwin, Mrs Allan, Ms Ridgeway and Mrs Casiglia who accompanied the students.
Our Rugby 7s and Football players enjoyed a wonderful sporting and cultural trip to Fiji and Canada during the holidays. Thank you to Mr Vale, Ms Smyth, Mrs Lovett, Mr Donlan and Mr Tansley for accompanying these students on tour.
This term we welcome Ms Jess Steyl who is joining the Counselling team and Ms Samantha Neader who is joining the Diverse Learning team.
We farewell Mr Malcolm Stevens who will be finishing at Brigidine today, Friday 3 May. Mr Stevens has been on the property team at Brigidine for 12 years and has contributed much to the College over that time in both his role as Maintenance Officer and Assistant Property Manager.
As the Term begins, our staff look forward to meeting with parents and sharing your daughters’ achievements. Students have returned, energised and engaged in their studies, as they work towards various learning goals, including the upcoming assessment blocks.
I am proud of the way Brigidine students always strive to achieve their absolute best in the wide range of activities available to them. I am also confident they will balance their busy cocurricular life with the energy and focus needed to engage effectively in the rich classroom learning experiences that our teachers offer.
I look forward to seeing you at one of the many opportunities to connect in person during the term.
Laetitia Richmond
Principal
