Dear Families,
As the St Brigid’s community enter 2021, we can look back with pride at how resilient we were throughout 2020 and give thanks that we live in a fortunate country. This year will be one of new beginnings for St Brigid’s College. Many students will be joining us for the first time and we also welcome Ashlee Grace as a graduate Health and Maths teachers as well as welcoming back Jess Giampaolo from maternity leave. I myself am excited at the prospect of leading the St Brigid’s community as Principal in 2021. I have had the fortune to have benefitted from five quite different schools in my career and I can already sense that this school has great potential, a welcoming spirit and is well resourced.
We enter the new year under a new governance structure – this means we are now part of a network of schools under the umbrella of the Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Limited (DOBCEL). In the words of our Bishop, The Most Reverend Paul Bird, now is time for
‘strategies to enhance the partnerships between students, teachers, parents, priests and parishioners in our local communities; affirming effective methods of teaching and learning and also promoting fresh methods that respond to new needs and opportunities’.
This year will be all about partnerships. New and old partnerships. I will be looking forward to meeting families at the upcoming College events and hearing your stories and ideas. The College is looking to build strong relationships with Parish primary schools here in Horsham and in the outlying towns so that we can offer a great Catholic education to those seeking it. Partnerships are also being formed with industry, community groups and tertiary education providers, so that the learning at St Brigid’s will prepare our students for the life they will lead.
On Monday, 1 Feb, we celebrate the Feast Day of St Brigid. Many images of St Brigid show her holding a lamp which is the symbol of learning and wisdom. There is much we can learn from her example in valuing learning. I believe strongly in Life Long Learning and I know I have much to learn about life in Horsham.
While we have been fortunate in evading much of the impact of COVID 19, I would like to remind families that we are still required to adhere to the DHHS guidelines regarding gatherings and hygiene protocols. If any student feels unwell, please stay home and inform the College. People over 12 are expected to carry a mask for occasions when they cannot socially distance.
As a representative of our college community, I would like to pass on our deepest sympathy and prayers to Indiana Weaver (student) and his family, including Jeni Allen (teacher), on the passing of his Grandmother in Adelaide over the holiday period.
Next week the Year 12 students will participate in a three day Retreat in Halls Gap which will be an opportunity to reflect on their journey so far and to consider who they want to become. This opportunity always creates life-long memories and become one of the highlights of the year. The students will be joined by our new Parish Priest, Monsignor Glynn Murphy, for a mass on Wednesday night, so I take this opportunity to extend a warm welcome to Monsignor Murphy.
Kind Regards,
Gerard Raven
Interim Principal
