Welcome to our 2022 Brigidine Year in Review. After years of disruption brought on by Covid-19, the reports and photos in this publication celebrate this year delivering the promise of a return to normal for teaching, learning, school events and sense of community.
We were grateful for a busy and productive year for the students and staff at Brigidine College. As always, our students have been involved in a range of initiatives that encompassed all areas of College and cocurricular life.
Thank you to our outgoing College Captain Lucie Cuda and Vice-Captain Genevieve Kelly, the Senior 10 and our Year 12 leaders for their participation in the life of the College, their outstanding leadership and unwavering school spirit throughout 2022.
As we welcome our incoming leaders, College Captain Sarah Hudson and Vice-Captain Daisy Daddo, the new Senior 10 and Senior Leaders for 2022/2023, we wish them good luck in their mission and offer them our utmost support. We are excited for their energy and ideas as they lead Brigidine into the coming year.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge our staff for their ongoing care, commitment and the high expectations of the students at Brigidine. Our dedicated teachers celebrate with you the successes and achievements of your daughters this year. The morale of our community is buoyant and focused. We are fortunate indeed to have passionate and accomplished staff.
It is with much gratitude that I thank the College Leadership Team for their shared values and ongoing support during 2022 at Brigidine: Deputy Principals Ms Leone Smyth and Mr Brian Loughland; Directors – Mrs Mandy Loomes, Mrs Pamela Malone, Ms Sia Mastro, Mrs Liz May, Mr Owen Vale and Business Manager Mr Richard Luxford. My sincere thanks to the Staff for all their support this year too. Thank you to the Brigidine Sisters and Kildare Ministries, the College Board, our Parents and Friends Association and families of Brigidine College for your continued support in all that we do.
The Year in Review is the Brigidine story at a glance for 2022. It is a celebration of our work with our students and our community and we trust you enjoy the highlights of the year contained in this publication. We look forward with anticipation of a new school year in 2023!
Ms Laetitia Richmond Principal“
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge our staff for their ongoing care, commitment and the high expectations of the students at Brigidine.
In our Commencement Liturgy in February, we prayed together:
In this new year of 2022, we are encouraged to be our best and to do our best. May God give us the courage to be true to ourselves. We pray that we take the benefit and gift of our education and be advocates for others less fortunate, bringing them hope and love in our actions and words.
Each new school year provides a chance for a renewed approach to learning, to wellbeing and to life. All we ever expect from our students is their best effort, to get involved in a range of aspects of College life, and to appreciate, with humility and respect, the great opportunity given to them to make the most of their education at Brigidine. Beyond the College gates, we hope they use their gifts to enhance the lives of those less fortunate and be advocates for others who have no voice. Being a Brigidine student is also about discipleship and strengthening our connections with Jesus as a foundation for living a good life.
In 2022, the Kildare Ministries core value in focus was ‘Compassion’. At a time when the world needed this value in abundance, we aimed to develop this within the hearts and minds of the students, to enable them to be more compassionate with others both within and beyond our community. Some initiatives for 2022 included spending our Chapel time focusing on personal stillness and reflection and creating a sense of self-compassion and awareness through themes like humility, unity and compassion. We expanded the Community Involvement Program, or outreach, to Years 7-10 in a staggered and developmental program that gives each student the opportunity to reach out in support of others and to find a
sense of perspective and purpose in doing this voluntary work. Moving into the senior years they will have this background of working with people and developing a sense of empathy and compassion for the world around them.
We hoped that 2022 would be a year for everyone to find some balance and cohesion after a few years of unprecedented disruption and restriction at school. However, the year continued with some limits placed on our gatherings due to Covid-19 safety requirements. Our Commencement Mass was adapted to a Liturgy to minimise movement and the sharing of the Eucharist as potential safety problems. Our Ash Wednesday Liturgy focused on giving a personal written pledge for Lent rather than the use of ashes, and our Easter Liturgy did not take place at the end of Term 1 with the College closed due to significant and widespread illness across the community.
Despite these continued setbacks, we were able to celebrate our Founders Day Mass together at the end of Term 2 followed by a whole school Mass at Corpus Christi Church St Ives, for the Feast of the Assumption in Term 3. At the end of Term 3 we were grateful to celebrate a Graduation Mass and Dinner with our Graduating Class of 2022 and their parents. After a few years
of unfortunate cancellations of graduation events, it was a real joy to celebrate these milestones once again with the community.
The staff were involved in a Spirituality Day at the start of Term 3 that focused on Indigenous Awareness and building our own capacity for acknowledging our First Nations people and to create a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) that will deepen our connections and understanding as a community of educators. It was well received by all staff and will be a sound foundation for future connections and the completion of the RAP in future years.
We were excited to celebrate our Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Liturgies in person this year. Both were well attended by the parent community who were grateful to be back on site and taking a minute to reflect on their special relationship with their child.
Our Liturgical celebrations and Chapel time draw us closer together as a community with a common purpose and focus. We were grateful for the opportunity in 2022 to be able to celebrate together again and build an even stronger sense of unity within the College.
Brian Loughland Deputy Principal – Faith and Mission
In Week 7 of Term 1, we attempted to run our normal Camps and Retreats program for all students in Years 7-12. We had our Covid-19 protocols organised but what we hadn’t counted on were the weeks of torrential rain and therefore the potential risks to students and staff. Due to safety concerns, the difficult decision was made to cancel the camps and reschedule them later in the year. Thankfully, the Year 11 Retreat held onsite and the Year 12 Retreat at Elanora Heights went ahead.
Year 7 enjoyed a Camp Day at Clifton Gardens in Term 2 (it rained all day!). This was an opportunity for some camp experience and bonding together. The Year 8, 9 and 10 Camps were held in Term 4 although in different weeks. The College believed it was important run the Camps in 2022 to give students the opportunity for personal growth, outdoor experiences and
time together with their cohort after a few years of isolation and interruptions due to Covid-19.
In 2022, we also conducted Spirituality Days for Year 7 and Year 8 students. In October the Year 7 cohort enjoyed a day at the St Pius X College facilities at Oxford Falls. With a focus on ‘Brigidine and Me’, the students celebrated our Brigidine story and heritage as well as continuing the story through their own journey at the College.
Year 8 had an interactive day with an external provider, Chris Doyle, exploring friendship, discipleship, connection and faith through music and movement in the College Chapel. It was a fun and noisy day for the students who enjoyed the day immensely.
The Retreats program for Years 10-12 are a student-centred experience allowing them to explore and discuss their own spirituality
and connection to each other over the years. This year the Year 10 Retreat was combined with two days of Camp. It gave students the opportunity to honour themselves, others and God in a short two-day Retreat experience. In Year 11, the Retreat was a ‘Street Retreat’ where the focus was less on self and more on the marginalised, outcast members of Australian society. It aimed to open the hearts and minds of our students to a world beyond their own experience and to work on ways of changing this world through action, awareness and advocacy. In Year 12, the Retreat focuses on oneself with an exploration of their own journey of life. At this critical time of change and movement beyond school, it creates a space for discernment over both the past and future with consideration of key values and qualities learned and embedded along the way.
Despite Covid-19 disruptions and persistent poor weather in 2022, we have maintained our Camps and Retreats program. This program remains a key aspect of our holistic education plan at Brigidine. It is a significant and essential platform for the creation of a grounded, connected and purposeful young woman. A young woman who emerges from the College with a strong sense of self, a sense of humility and an appreciation for the breadth and depth of her education at the College.
Brian Loughland Deputy Principal – Faith and MissionThe purpose of outreach is for each member of the community to be courageous and compassionate in giving dignity to all people, respecting their human rights and their full participation in society. The College commits to acts of charity, outreach and advocacy with a preferential option for the poor, to care for creation and to work in solidarity with all people.
In 2022, the College expanded the Community Involvement Program (CIP) to include all students in Years 7-10. The program requires all Brigidine students to contribute to community service in their own area or community and complete the required hours. This is an important educational and social endeavour that fits with our spiritual focus as a community of faith and as a community that educates in a holistic way.
Students embraced the CIP 7-10 and saw the large impact small acts of kindness have a on the wider community. By deepening student capacity to give time to others, it is hoped Brigidine students will continue to develop empathy and compassion for those who are less fortunate.
Whole school Social Justice initiatives have returned to pre-Covid engagement with our students ably led by the 2022 Social Justice captains Danielle Drewitt-Smith and Olivia Bortolussi. They have enthusiastically and
passionately led Brigidine in many initiatives for Social Justice supporting marginalised people and raising awareness in our community to enable change. From the winter sleepout, Pink Day, Cut for a Cause, the Vinnies Winter Appeal, Homelessness week, support for Tonga, Lismore and the refugee crisis in Afghanistan to organising speakers at assembly, Brigidine students have been encouraged and empowered to work for change and advocacy.
Mrs Skye Wacher Social Justice Coordinator
The Wellbeing Program at Brigidine College has welcomed and embraced the post-Covid return of an array of wellbeing opportunities to support the growth and development of each student. Throughout the year, our commitment has primarily focused on promoting social and emotional skill sets through many carefully planned and targeted programs. We recognise that an integral element of an adolescents’ formation is through the development of greater selfawareness, self-control, self-management and interpersonal skills. Our intention is to prepare and educate our students to be equipped with effective competencies and life-skills to endorse positive and healthy wellbeing.
Within the context of a Brigidine education, we also recognise the interdependency between learning and wellbeing. Learning in a contemporary lens extends beyond academic outcomes and provides an opportunity to support the wellbeing of the ‘whole person’, an approach highlighted in the Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians. Research indicates that students who have higher levels of wellbeing are more likely “to have higher achievement
outcomes at school and complete Year 12, better mental health and a more prosocial, responsible lifestyle” (L Waters 2019). The purpose of providing a supportive and structured Wellbeing Program is so every student feels supported to reach their full potential and strive to develop the necessary skills to help overcome difficult times through safe and appropriate measures.
As a community that embodies ‘courage, confidence and compassion’, we strive for each student to feel known, understood and recognised for their unique gifts and talents.
Our Wellbeing programs this year have continued to address relevant issues during Pastoral time which is structured between Year group and House group opportunities.
To support our vision, we have engaged with effective and highly inspiring presenters, organisations and workshops for each year group to cultivate effective protective factors, whereby “health is created and lived by people; where they work, play, learn and love” (World Health Organisation, 2006).
Ms Sia Mastro Director Wellbeing
“Our role with wellbeing education is to provide the opportunity, access, choices, resources and capacities from individuals and communities to aspire to their unique sense of wellbeing whilst contributing to a sense of community wellbeing” (F McCallum & D Price, 2016).
Being the House Captains of Fatima for 2022 was a privilege and an honour. Leading Fatima through a challenging year gave us an opportunity and an experience that we will cherish forever. Every involvement in House activities was met with enthusiasm, smiles and laughs. Being able to lead the House gave us skills we will carry through our lives. From carnivals to sing-offs, there was a new challenge every step of the way but nothing we would have changed. Dancing on stage for the sing-off and the fun of being met with hundreds of girls singing back at us, or competing in a 100m piggy-back race, is something we will never forget. To race, sing or chant alongside our fellow Fatties will be one of our greatest memories at Brigidine and we are so grateful to have had the opportunity to lead Fatima throughout our last year at Brigo.
Lola Eagleton and Anna Harris
Being a House Captain has been filled with laughter, cheers and most of all FUN! We started our Year 12 journey together as a little crew of eight, very excited for the year ahead and keen to look after a House of our own. We began to learn ways to get people involved and how to get the engagement of the younger years with the re-launch of themes. Our theme for Kildare for the Swimming Carnival was Kildare Kardashians resulting in some amazing costumes and prizes for the best dressed. This House spirit continued into the pool where we won gold in the House relay, a great start to Kildare’s year. The Athletics Carnival soon approached, unfortunately without the whole school, we were still able to promote spirit for the competing athletes, pulling in many House points for our overall tally. Founders Day was definitely a highlight for all of us, performing a whole House talent show act to Justin Bieber’s most famous songs, and getting the whole House involved in something we worked extremely hard on. To end the year we competed in the interhouse netball tournament, finishing in 3rd place. This was still enough for Kildare to be awarded the Spirit Cup and the House Points Awards at the end of year presentation, as well as being presented with a leadership award for our efforts over the past year. Overall, it has been the most amazing experience to be able to contribute to the College and the students, making their Brigo journey one that they will remember.
Olivia Tommerup and Lucine GaloustianWe have absolutely loved being Lourdes Captains in 2022! Starting our leadership in Term 4 2021, we organised Christmas activities for the whole school which went extremely well. Our leadership days in February this year allowed us to brainstorm initiatives where as House Captains we decided to bring back themes for carnivals which was highly successful at the Swimming Carnival! The Lourdes theme was Cops and Robbers and everyone in our House was fully dressed according to theme! Our House sing-off on Founders Day was another amazing event, we danced with heart and soul on stage to encourage our House to sing as loudly as they could! Also on Founders Day, Lourdes won the House Talent Show for our energetic dance to Timber. Overall, being a House Captain has been one of our highlights from our time at Brigo, as we have both poured our heart and soul into enhancing House spirit and encouraging Lourdes to participate and get involved in as much as possible! We are going to miss being a part of Lourdes so much, but we can’t wait to see what next year’s captains have in store for our amazing House!
Holly Hunt and Emma Rous
Working as a 2022 House Captain for Prague this year was nothing short of extremely rewarding, immensely enjoyable and a truly unforgettable experience. We had to harness our teamwork skills, as well as leadership skills as we navigated through the fun activities we partook in whilst also balancing our Year 12 study. There were so many highlights we experienced including the fun Swimming Carnival when Prague’s theme was Princesses and Princes. The House sing-off was also definitely a memorable part of 2022, as the whole school filled the hall and chanted to hit songs! Another big highlight was participating in Brigo’s Got Talent as a whole House. Together with many Prague girls we worked hard on making it a fun and exciting performance and truly believe we achieved that. Other highlights from this year were Spirit Week, the Athletics Carnival, Book Week and Christmas activities.
We were beyond grateful to be a part of it all and will miss being a House Captain more than words can describe. It was fulfilling to feel like we made a difference in the school in many exciting ways with lots of House spirit and smiles. Working together with the other House Captains was always so much fun too, we always had a good laugh together. We wish Alana Reddy and Sienna Wilson the best as 2023 Prague House Captains, we know they will be beyond amazing!
Isabella Binns and Abbey Shaw
The beginning of 2022 saw a continuation of the disruption that was the hallmark of the Covid-19 pandemic but the experiences of 2020 and 2021 meant our students and staff were very well equipped to handle this.
The first week back saw us celebrating the successes of students in the junior years who were unable to have an Academic Awards Assembly at the end of 2021. Although this was an unusual event to start the year, it was a great way to set the tone for our students to see the rewards of hard work and persistence and created a renewed energy for study in 2022.
Covid-19 infections and seven-day isolation requirements meant that for many staff and students, Semester 1 was a hybrid of inperson and remote learning environments, with the College being forced to return to full remote learning for the last week of Term 1. In these circumstances, we were very grateful to have a well-established, effective online learning environment that allowed teaching and learning to carry on seamlessly.
On top of Covid-19, Term 2 brought a rampant flu epidemic that seemed to hit just in time for half yearly assessment blocks. We were very proud of our staff, who worked tirelessly to make sure students did not fall behind, and who set, supervised and marked unprecedented numbers of makeup
tasks for students who were unable to complete assessments due to illness. We also commend our students, who showed resilience, determination and courage to maintain their positivity and commitment to learning during this period.
Thankfully, Semester 2 saw a return to a more ‘normal’ school life. We were very excited to welcome parents back onsite for information evenings and parent/teacher interviews, particularly our Year 7 and 8 parents who had not yet had the opportunity to attend any school events. Students were also pleased to once again be able to supplement their in-class learning with excursions, including trips to Luna Park and Palm Beach. Our senior Vocational Education and Training (VET) students in Hospitality and Business Services were able to complete their work placements in industry organisations, which is an invaluable way of gaining an insight to the skills and attitudes required in the workplace.
A particular highlight was the Year 12 Academic Awards Assembly, where families were able to join us in Bowie Hall to celebrate the considerable achievements
of this outstanding cohort of students, all of whom worked hard throughout the year to reach their academic goals. Our creative arts students received early recognition for excellence, with major works from Textiles and Design, Visual Arts, Music, Dance and Drama being identified as some of the best in the State.
2022 has been a year of growth and success for us all. The following pages of this Year in Review clearly demonstrate the breadth and depth of achievement when our students are encouraged to extend themselves, do their best and to take advantage of the myriad of opportunities available at the College to explore where their interests and strengths lie. The measures of success are many and varied. The achievement of excellent results in academic subjects takes its place as just one important part of a rich and holistic Brigidine education.
Ms Leone Smyth Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning
In a world of information overload and spin, the catch cry for the Year 7 Critical Thinking Course is “I think for myself!” Our new Brigidine pupils were empowered to use a range of thinking tools to enhance their learning and to launch themselves confidently into high school.
They examined the kinds of questions to ask in order to reach a deep conceptual appreciation of an issue, and confronted their own cognitive bias to avoid superficial, habitual thinking.
This year our Honours students in Years 7-10 elected to investigate their own topics which fascinated and enthralled them. These included:
• The Future of Books – Technology and the world of reading
• Whitewashing Jesus – Colonisation and Christianity
• The Speed of Darkness – Negativity and Veracity
• Politics – North Korea and Ethics
• Green Architecture – Security and the Future
The Honours students’ findings were presented during the Viva Voce and a panel of College Pioneers were captivated by the range of topics explored.
The Brigidine da Vinci Decathlon team members, who represented the College in the State round of this Intellectual Competition, demonstrated the value of working collegially and collaboratively to enhance brain power!
Congratulations to the Year 7 team who came 3rd in the English challenge!
The European philosophical tradition was brought to life when the Café de Flore, our Philosophical meeting house, opened for business in our very own Kinkead Library. In between savouring slices of delicious cake, our students evaluated 21st Century issues. They were enthralled by visiting lecturers from Macquarie University and appreciated the value of thought experiments to assess ecological and moral conundrums.
Ms Catherine O’Flynn Head of Academic EnrichmentClockwise from above:
Year 7 da Vinci Decathalon Team
Year 8 da Vinci Decathalon Team
Year 9 da Vinci Decathalon Team
Year 10 da Vinci Decathalon Team
include:
• 13 Callback nominations from 15 HSC Dance performances, an outstanding effort
• Year 12 Dance HSC Showcase drew a large crowd happy to be back in the theatre supporting the girls
• Many students had the opportunity to be composition dancers for HSC major works
• Curriculum dancers performed at whole school assemblies
• Year 10 completed their first solo compositions
• Year 9 completed their first group compositions
• Many curriculum dance students continued to hone their skills with their involvement in cocurricular dance and participation in eisteddfods and performance competitions
• Live performances at the Curriculum Dance Showcase Evening featured outstanding work from our Year 9, 10 and 11 curriculum dance students
A special thank you to the fabulous team in the department – Miss Cinzia Marrocco, Miss Chelsea McCarthy and Mrs Katrina Rennie who all contributed to the incredible success of our curriculum Dance program!
Ms DiAnne McDonald Head of Drama and Curriculum DanceBrigidine has long been acknowledged and valued as an inclusive school; readily welcoming students with a range of diverse learning needs, gifts and talents, to find their way to shine.
Working alongside other departments we have continued to identify student’s individual strengths and areas of challenge which may require specific additional supports in place to redress persistent issues. Some of the areas requiring intervention include handwriting legibility, typing skills, social skills, time management strategies, as well as targeted literacy and numeracy programs.
Accessing technology continues to be a pivotal tool in enabling us to deliver targeted support in a less obtrusive manner which
can be tailored to each students’ individual needs. This technology helps our team gather data on the effectiveness of our programs and to measure individual student progress.
Transitioning students from their primary setting to Brigidine, or even beyond, to the world of work or further study, is another significant aspect of our work. We are incredibly proud of the calibre of our graduates who have often faced significant obstacles along their path to get there and consequently provide inspiration to all of our Brigidine community.
Mrs Helen Thomas Head of Diverse LearningWe started 2022 with the fantastic news that Tara Thai from the Class of 2021 had topped the state in HSC Drama and the successes kept coming:
• 26 OnStage nominations for our outstanding Year 12 HSC Drama students – more than any other school in NSW
• A sold-out season of the Year 11 play Pride and Prejudice featuring many of our Drama students
• Live performances of our Drama Showcase Evenings featuring outstanding work from our Year 9, Year 10 and Year 11 drama queens which enabled audience members to return to our theatre for the first time in three years
• Drama Group Performances in all year groups presented at whole school assemblies
• The Cocurricular Drama Club continued to provide junior students with creative activities during lunchtimes
• Our Year 11 Drama Group Performance came 4th in the highly competitive IGHSA Festival of Speech
• Miss McDonald was recognised with the World Teacher’s Guild Award for her significant contribution to teaching Drama
A special thank you to the fabulous team in the department: Mr Chris Rutherford, Mr Gareth Edey and Mrs Michelle Casiglia. Congratulations to all the amazing drama queens who we work with every day, you truly make us believe that, as Shakespeare once said, “all the world is our stage”!
DiAnne McDonald Head of Drama and Curriculum Dance
It was wonderful in 2022 to provide some opportunities for students that were not possible during 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In Term 1, our Year 8 students studied The Play Version of the Diary of Anne Frank and had the privilege of listening to a talk by Emeritus Professor, Dr Konrad Kwiet, Resident Historian at the Sydney Jewish Museum about his involvement in the Anne Frank story. We were also very pleased to welcome back Paul McDonald from the Children’s Bookshop, who spoke to our Year 7 and 8 students about the latest books for teens. Paul’s visit generated a great deal of enthusiasm about the many new stories, voices and perspectives being published at the moment.
Our Creative Writing groups have been a hive of activity this year, with students focusing on elements of writing, such as setting, character and genre. The students also participated in a range of short, fun activities, including blackout poetry and Halloween haikus.
We were delighted that two of our students had success in external writing competitions.
Congratulations to Abigail Mills (Year 11) who was awarded second prize in the Senior Secondary Prose section of this year’s Mosman Youth Literature Awards and to Isabella Brooker (Year 11) for being shortlisted in the 2022 What Matters?
Competition. We also ran an internal creative writing competition with the topic, Stranger Things. The places were as follows:
1st place: Roseanna Huang (Year 10)
2nd place: Amelia Way (Year 7)
3rd place: Veronica Scully (Year 7)
Highly Commended: Josephine Crocker (Year 9) and Poppy Kopelke (Year 9)
Ms Janet Walker Head of EnglishThis was the year in which Canvas became our Learning Management System, all classes used this new platform. Assignments were set on Canvas, submitted online and marked by teachers online, saving a lot of printing and avoiding the long queues beside the school printers the day a task was due.
Students from Years 7 to 12 engaged in a rich variety of learning experiences including source analysis, research and writing. These activities build student capacity for critical and creative thinking which are essential skills in today’s and tomorrow’s world.
Congratulations go to Courtney Wilkinson, Class of 2021 whose History Extension essay was awarded a Certificate of Excellence by the History Teachers Association of New South Wales. The award was announced at the end of 2021.
Whilst our History students were busy developing their historical analysis skills, there were some momentous events happening in the world. Such events include:
• Sydney’s record year of rainfall, which resulted in our Year 7-10 camps cancelled in Term 1 and postponed to Term 4.
• The election of the ALP government with Anthony Albanese as Prime Minister
• The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, which is, at the time of writing, a tragic event with millions of people displaced, and hundreds of thousands killed or wounded. Millions directly affected by the devastation of the war, which shows no sign of ending soon.
• The death of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession of Charles III as King. Some of the Year 10 History students wrote about her reign as the topic for their major History assessment task in Semester 2.
Mrs Sherryl Bremner Head of HistoryAt the beginning of 2022, the Languages Department welcomed the very innovative Ms Elle Carroll to their team. As well as being a highly competent educator of French, Ms Carroll’s new and dynamic teaching strategies have been invigorating our Languages students.
We were fortunate this year to get our Languages Club up and running. It was an opportunity for our linguists within the College to come together to share their passion for language and culture, participating in engaging activities and discussions. Ms Caruso also introduced Scopa Club, a fun Italian cultural card game that was embraced particularly by the Year 9 Italian students.
Year 9 and 10 Italian students had the opportunity to attend the Italian Film Festival for a special screening of The Legend of the Christmas Witch 2 The Origins (La Befana Vien di Notte 2: Le Origini). This experience allowed the students to gain a deeper understanding of Italian cinematography,
language and culture. The topic of the film was aligned with Christmas in Italy, a topic we study in Term 4.
The Year 12 Italian Continuers class attended a Mock Speaking Day presented by ILTA at Mercy College, which was excellent practice in preparation for their HSC Oral examination. This was followed by an intensive Speaking Day at school for French and Italian Year 12 students, when the students shared a delicious morning tea of cannoli and croissants.
In Term 3, Years 9, 10, 11 and 12 French and Italian students participated in the Assessment of Language Competence Certificates. The results were outstanding and the 33 students who achieved High Distinctions or Distinctions were presented with their certificates by Ms Richmond and Elodie Mouret, the 2022 Languages Captain during Assembly.
Ms Maria Jackson Head of LanguagesOf all the many events held in the Library during the year, the biggest and best was probably Write a Book in a Day, where we had 100 participants from Years 8-11, organised into 10 teams. This was a record number for the College. Offices were vacated, furniture rearranged, and every available spot was taken to allow teams to set up camp in the Library for the long day of creative writing and illustrating. After looking at the photos taken that day, the lasting impression is that students were completely absorbed and engaged in the creative process. Facial expressions show concentration on a task, listening, speaking, painting, drawing, eating and smiling. Everyone had a role to play in ensuring their team didn’t fail to meet their deadline. The casual, warm and non-threatening environment was conducive to the creative process, and students thoroughly enjoyed the experience of writing and illustrating a story for the Kids Cancer Project. Completed stories were submitted and also printed into books and retained by the creators. It is a tribute to all participants and their families for not only supporting the intensely creative process but for the sponsorship of the teams. It is hoped that Write a Book in a Day will continue as an annual event in the Library calendar.
Mrs Leanne Miller Head of Library Services
This year has been a quiet year for Mathematics. Our normal annual events were put on hold, except for Pi Day. We were fortunate to be able to run a very successful Pi Day on 14 March. The day began with a Trivia quiz in Mentor. At lunchtime the girls, excited to test their skills, came to the Colonnade bursting with enthusiasm to win a pie by reciting the first 30 digits of Pi. With the help of Year 11 Accelerated Maths students, we were kept very busy handing out pies to the successful girls. Then the serious challenge began. Lulu La Ganza, Bailey Haynes and Rosemary Lu battled for the title – Queen of Pi. It was a nail-biting contest and the winner was Lulu La Ganza who recited 1404 digits of Pi.
It is important for success in Mathematics to establish good routines of practice. Regular completion of homework is a habit we are working hard to re-establish after two years of disrupted learning.
The first comprehensive curriculum review in over three decades has been completed by NESA. The world has changed, and the curriculum has grown very crowded over this time. The focus of the review has been to streamline the curriculum, concentrating on essential facts, concepts and principles. A new syllabus has been implemented this year for K-2 in English and Mathematics. Next year the Mathematics department will prepare for the implementation of the new Mathematics syllabus in 2024 for Years 7-10. All syllabuses of the NSW Curriculum Reform will be released on a new Digital Curriculum platform that will provide clear information on the skills and knowledge associated with each key learning area. This is a significant change which should allow for more flexibility and clearer guidance for teachers.
Mrs Jacqueline Bridges Head of MathematicsAfter two years of restrictions for class lessons and performances due to Covid-19, it has been extremely rewarding to be slowly returning to live performance work in Music this year.
Highlights of the year include:
• Jam hubs installed for Junior Music classes in Year 8 to create mini rock bands and learn songs to perform for each other. Quite a few new stars have been discovered!
• The Year 12 HSC Music Performance evening. This was a special celebration of six years of hard work for our students, entertaining our audience with such a variety of instruments and music styles.
• A special congratulations to Stephanie Tran, Year 12, who has been nominated for the HSC Music Encore Concert.
• More congratulations to three of our Year 12 students Gemma Curry, Calin Hall and Stephanie Tran. These girls have passed their audition and been granted early entry to study at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music next year.
• The Year 12 Final Chapel service where our Creative Arts students joined with the Year 12 Music students to present a song using Auslan signing was a beautiful farewell for our Year 12 cohort.
• Our Music Camp at Collaroy was very successful. The girls and staff spent two days preparing for the Festival of Music Concerts in Term 3. These concerts featured strings, followed by a night of band performances, then a night of choir and vocal performances. All were enjoyed by large audiences of parents and friends.
• The return of our Christmas Carols concert at the end of the year. As always this was a festive occasion shared with our musicians and community.
Mrs Roslyn Boyd Head of Music
2022 was back to business for the PDHPE department with excursions and guest speakers once again possible. There were many opportunities made available to our Stage 6 PDHPE and CAFS students and our Year 9 and 10 PASS classes to experience learning in a practical setting.
Senior PDHPE students completed a fully accredited First Aid qualification to complement their studies and attended a practical sports science lecture under the guidance of a university professional. Year 11 and 12 CAFS students attended a Ten Pin Bowling excursion where they worked with the 4titude group assisting adults with disabilities as part of their study of Groups in Context. Year 10 PASS students had the opportunity to take part in a learn to surf course as well as attending golf instruction with a professional. Year 9 PASS students studied training principles and developed a training program which was put into practice through their assessment and completed with a biathlon held at Curl Curl Beach.
In Year 7-10 PDHPE several additional experiences have been provided for Brigidine students with our Year 8 and Year 10 students being taught a challenging, yet fun Jazz routine as part of their Dance unit. Year 9 and 10 PDHPE classes also had the opportunity to participate in a Ceroc dance day with students from St Pius X. Year 10 also took part in boxing fitness and Zumba classes as part of their recreation studies. Year 9 PDHPE had the opportunity to practice the skills of AFL under the instruction of GWS Giants players. The year ended with the annual Year 7 Aquatics excursion. This year we went to Palm Beach where the girls were able to take part in a surfing lesson, practise their water survival techniques and gain a greater understanding of beach safety.
Mr Joshua Holmes Head of PDHPE
The Religious Education department’s vocation is to enrich the spiritual lives of our students, deepen their knowledge of the Catholic faith and widen their understanding of the diversity of religious beliefs and practices in Australia and the world. We were delighted with our HSC results in 2021, with 70 percent of our Studies of Religion students achieving marks in the top two bands.
We are also extremely proud of our 2022 Year 12 students, including our Year 11 accelerated class who have shown consistent dedication to their studies in preparation of their final HSC examination.
After several years disturbed by Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions, it was exciting to welcome guest speakers to the College including Studies of Religion expert Helen Smith, who concluded our series of HSC post trial revision masterclasses.
Another highlight this year was the beautiful smoking ceremony performed by Leslie McLeod at the end of Term 3 with our Year 12 students. This was a powerful way to farewell the cohort and wish them all the best in their HSC and beyond.
Finally, the year ended on a high note with Year 10 transition week. As an insight into the Nature of Religions, the Year 10 cohort were offered an experience of Yoga as a spiritual practice with Yoga instructor Michelle Papa. They were also invited to create new connections with First Nations People’s spiritualities through the guidance of Susan Moylan Coombes, from the Gaimaragal Group.
We are grateful for the devoted staff of the Religious Education Department for their unfailing enthusiasm, care and expertise.
Marine Choquenet Acting Head of Religious EducationYear 12 2022, Smoking ceremony, Leslie McLeod, Term 3 2022.
There was a collective sigh of relief when we were able to get back to learning in the College’s Science laboratories this year. There are only so many ‘kitchen chemistry’ investigations that can be accomplished during remote learning before limits are reached!
With our first Earth and Environmental Science senior class up and running in 2022, students were given an even broader choice of Science courses to pursue at Brigidine, encompassing Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Science Extension. When attending university open days, our senior students are repeatedly told that they will need to know about statistics and how to write scientific reports. The Science Extension course does this brilliantly and is a sure benefit to those applying for early entry for their tertiary studies.
We have been fortunate to have held several excursions this year. Year 10 and Year 11 Physics students had a fun day of physics at Luna Park, while Year 7 braved the soggy weather to explore the rock platform ecosystem at Palm Beach, fitting in nicely with their PDHPE aquatics day.
Our Science Club meets regularly, where the group members get to experience strange and sometimes spectacular phenomena, including exploding cans, elephant toothpaste and rocket launches. Too much fun is never enough when you are learning science at the same time!
In all, 2022 has been another very successful year for our students, with reports of past students gaining their PhDs, excelling at a range of university courses and forging exciting careers using their knowledge and love of science that Brigidine instilled in them.
Mr Rob Farr Head of Science
2022 has felt something more like normal. Students have been back onsite, classes have run, exams have taken place and students were able to move back into a wide range of learning experiences that no longer had to be online via Zoom.
Year 11 students accompanied by Mrs Kilshaw and Mrs Ballesty braved terrible weather conditions to complete their Biophysical Interactions fieldwork at Bantry Bay. Year 12 students experienced the wetlands at Homebush to explore ecosystems at risk, Green Square for Urban Dynamics and Tamburlaine Vineyards in the Hunter Valley to conduct fieldwork for the People and Economic activity topic.
This year, things have been far from normal in the world of Economics. The current Year 12 cohort were fortunate to attend the inaugural Budget Breakfast at St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill to hear an analysis of the May budget from Joanne Masters, Chief Economist at Barrenjoey Capital.
She not only broke down the Budget but also highlighted the importance of women in Economics and the importance of understanding key economic concepts. Our Commerce and Junior Geography students have engaged in a range of different classroom learning activities. From online Canvas quizzes to promotional campaigns for businesses. Fieldwork and school life has returned to normal.
A huge thank you to the wonderful Social Sciences department for making the year run smoothly and for the care they show for the girls to implement so many different learning opportunities.
Ms Amie Clark Head of Social ScienceTop: The Year 12 Economics class with Joanne Masters.
Bottom: The attendees at the Budget Breakfast.
Technological and Applied Studies (TAS) is an exciting and vital part of life at Brigidine and the strength of the department is a credit to the quality, dedication and enthusiasm of the staff and students involved. As a department it is our goal to ensure each student has the opportunity to learn as much as possible about their chosen subjects and to achieve their maximum individual potential. The TAS program provides students with the skills, knowledge and interest to successfully work and respond within a rapidly changing world. Some of the amazing experiences and opportunities offered in our TAS learning environments this year have included use of the laser cutter, 3D printing, CAD drawing, coding, video editing, website design, food styling and photography, cake decorating, electronics and continued development of the edible garden. Areas of study within the TAS faculty include Technology Mandatory, Design and Technology, Food Technology and Textiles and Design.
This year has been a productive and successful year with a nomination for the TEXSTYLE exhibition for 2023. Rose Wood created a theatre costume for the character of Titania, Queen of the Fairies in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Some particular highlights for 2022 are:
• Year 9 Food Trucks, where Year 9 students created new food products in the form of a sweet snack or treat for the youth market using a biscuit or cake as the base. Year 8 students were the taste testers and judges. The People’s Choice award: Cookie Monster and Most Creative Concept: Sweet Burger Sliders.
• Year 9 Textiles and Design used Japanese decorative techniques of Shibori, Sashiko and screen printing to make versatile and functional bags.
• Year 10 Food Technology learnt cake decorating and styling skills to make cakes for a special occasion. The results were of the highest quality and would be the highlight at any special occasion.
• Year 10 Design and Technology took advantage of the use of the workshop along with the laser cutter/printer and digital fabric printing. Using the principles of mechatronic engineering design, they created a lamp that incorporated the biomimicry of one aspect of nature in its illumination.
• Year 11 Textiles and Design found inspiration from various sources and learnt new textile manipulation and decorative skills, applying them to the corsets they were making. The end results were stunning.
Mrs Robyn Collins Head of Technological and Applied Studies
2022 delivered the biggest year to date for Vocational Education and Training (VET) at the College, now offering elective classes in Years 9-12.
Industry partnerships remain a focus in both Business Services and Hospitality frameworks. Our students attended various work placements for their industry experiences which provided the opportunity to develop skills and expectations that are required in the workplace. The competencies the VET program provides equips students with a skillset that meets current and future labour markets enabling them to enter and retain meaningful employment.
Business Services was offered at Brigidine in 2022 for students working towards achieving a Certificate III in Business. Students have thoroughly enjoyed the teamwork and collaborative nature of this skills-based course. Students have gained valuable experience completing their work placements through the support of Hockeys Property Real Estate, Newport Veterinary Hospital and ADCO Constructions, who are doing great work in promoting opportunities for women in the construction industry.
Ms Rebecca Hill Acting Head of Vocation Education and TrainingThe Hospitality students and staff are to be commended for their excellent work with the food preparation and service provided throughout the year for various College events. The professional approach and enthusiasm of the students has been very well received by the College community.
Throughout 2022 the emerging young chefs and baristas completing the Hospitality course worked on a range of service periods and skill development exercises. The highlight of the year was our involvement in the Annual Diocesan ‘Battle of the Chefs’ competition where our team won first place and were commended for their skills, consistency and teamwork.
This year we offered Stage 5 Hospitality for the first time which was well received. The enthusiastic Year 9 students worked towards achieving a Certificate I in Hospitality. They contributed to both the Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Breakfasts.
Our main goal this year was to design authentic and engaging learning experiences to increase our Visual Arts student’s capacity to think and act the way artists do in our world today. With this in mind, we designed various conceptually driven programs that offered students from Years 7-12 the full spectrum of artmaking and studying experiences. We also began an initiative to seek more significant connections with contemporary artists by finding opportunities for them to be part of the learning. This year we reached out to artist Sharon Field, who accepted our invitation to visit Brigidine College in Term 1. Her botanical art workshop with Year 9 students proved to be a valuable experience that opened students’ minds to the critical role of artists in today’s world and extended their artmaking skills. We hope to continue seeking opportunities like this in the future.
As we reflect on this year, one of the most rewarding experiences has been witnessing the remarkable talent of our Visual Arts students. The walls of the gallery space at Brigidine were never short of art to display throughout 2022. This year we welcomed the return of the HSC Showcase to celebrate the success of all our Year 12 students as they completed their HSC body of work.
To our Visual Arts students of 2022, we thank you for the opportunity to teach you and for being willing to open your minds to learning new skills and approaches to seeing the world and expressing yourself.
Ms Alison Finnerty Head of Visual Arts
2022 has been a resurgent year of energy and action for the Brigidine Cocurricular Program, with most activities returning to normal after the Covid-19 restrictions and frustrations of previous years.
2022 has been a unique year. We held two Dance Spectacular events, the first for the 2021 showcase and then the regular 2022 event in September. Both Dance Spec’ showcases were sell-out events and truly outstanding. The Year 11 Play Pride and Prejudice and Musical Review I Can Hear Music were both engaging and beautifully directed shows, including many incredible student performances in acting, music and movement. The Brigidine Music Showcase evenings for bands, strings and voice were also incredible events, where our musicians collaborated with Loreto Normanhurst students and worked with alumni and professional players. Music highlights included the return of music camp and many memorable performances, two of which were an evening at St Augustine’s College and a concert at Warringah Mall.
The wettest Sydney year on record, made sport cancellations the new norm in Term1. However there have been many sporting highlights including exceptional performances and premierships in Netball, Softball, Water Polo, Touch Football, AFL, Football and
Basketball. The Brigidine Hockey and Volleyball programs experienced a year of significant growth, with our Hockey teams training relocated to the Ku-ring-gai Hockey Centre. This year marked the beginning of the Brigidine College Rugby 7s program, with five teams competing in this challenging and dynamic new sport for the first time.
Our Sports Aerobics teams had their most successful year to date with five groups placing at the national championships, including three gold medals. It was a year when our Duke of Edinburgh expeditions got back on track, and when our debaters and public speakers emerged from Zoom screens to transition back to face-to-face encounters with wonderful success. The Girls in Black had a busy year with the return to live performances, so there was plenty to light, record, film, plug in, mix and to live-stream.
Thanks to all the students, staff, coaches, directors, group leaders and families who contributed to the 2022 Cocurricular year.
Mr Owen Vale Director Cocurricular
Drama Club was run by our senior Drama leaders and Captains. It is open to anyone who wants to learn more about being confident, creative, cooperative and a better communicator. We met every Friday at lunchtime in the Drama studios to:
• Create improvised scenes using space jump
• Participate in Drama improvisation and warm-up games including space jump, bang, murder wink, party quirks, what are you doing?
• Create characters and groups for small performances based on either stimulus or original ideas
• Direct performances
• Learn performance skills and techniques from older leaders
• Become familiar with elements of drama
• Participate in activities to get to know fellow peers and drama enthusiasts
We reminded everyone they didn’t have to be a drama queen to be a drama club member! Everyone was welcome. As Miss Mac often says, “all the world is our stage!”
Alex Stacey,
(Drama Captains 2022); Grace Uther, Bailey Haynes (Drama Captains 2023)
We began the year in Girls in Black with preparations for I Can Hear Music, our musical revue concert for 2022. As many of us were unable to be there for the final filming day, the students who remained dealt with the ever-changing circumstances with amazing calmness and professionalism.
With most of our productions over the last three years being live-streamed, the Year 11 Play was for many the first time they had been a part of producing a live theatrical show. This was certainly a highlight of the year for many.
In Term 3, the Festival of Music was a great chance for the Girls in Black to support the three showcase evenings. Students were able to use their skills across a range of production elements as we concurrently worked on the live and recorded versions of the show.
Mr Gareth Edey Girls in Black CoordinatorStudents from Years 7-12 made up the 2022 Science Club. We met once a week at lunchtime on Fridays and enjoyed the opportunity to talk all things Science and do interesting, fun experiments. Science Club is a great way for girls to explore how things work doing investigations as varied as making butter to blowing up metal cans and launching rockets. Every session was different but always fun.
Mr Robb Farr Science Club Coordinator
We had two teams competing in the FIRST Robotics League Competition for 2022. The competition brief was released in August and since then the students have been busily working during their lunch breaks in the Robotics Room.
For this competition, the two teams, Year 10s and Year 8s, had to build a robot capable of completing several of the challenge missions designed by the FIRST Robotics League. In addition, the teams had to collaborate on innovation project which solved an authentic problem matching the competition theme of “Energy Sustainability”.
Mr Byron Usmar Robotics Club Coordinator
Cocurricular dance is one of the College’s largest programs with an array of talent, enthusiasm and passion that unites our dance community. We achieved great results with our Eisteddfod troupes, the highlights include our Company Jazz receiving third place and our Company Contemporary Troupe receiving first place at the prestigious Sydney Eisteddfod. Our Company Contemporary troupe was also invited to perform and compete at the Extreme Gala Showcase against other schools and dance studios from across the North Shore and Northern Beaches.
Our Cocurricular dance classes rehearsed weekly throughout the year so students learnt how to immerse themselves in all styles of dance and unite on stage for their final showcase, Dance Spectacular 2022. Our dancers showcased a strong sense of inclusivity, creativity and exploration of movement. It was amazing to see our students and teachers create such beautiful pieces with their own unique style, interpretation and choreography. Their pieces ranged from Jazz to Hip Hop, Musical Theatre to Tap, Lyrical to Contemporary and Ballet to Salsa.
Shannon Riley Cocurricular Dance Coordinator
It’s quite amazing to think back and consider we started the year having to do rehearsals by year group only. What a wonderful year it became, getting back into a normal rehearsal schedule and of course performing, the best part of our area.
For the first time in many years, we held a music camp in Term 3 at the Collaroy Centre. Our two days proved to be an amazing experience of gathering together and focussing our ensembles on the enjoyable camp talent show.
The following week two busloads of theatre goers went to see Mary Poppins at the Lyric Theatre which was a great evening.
We held the Festival of Music, a new initiative at Brigidine. The Festival was three showcase evenings: strings, band and vocals. Each performance featured different groups and special guest performances, including our Alumni performers and the Loreto Normanhurst strings.
In the final week of Term 3, our girls assisted at the Year 12 Graduation Mass and ceremonies, which was a great highlight.
Term 4 was busy with performances at the Pioneers and Alumni Day, and our Junior Rock Band performed in Battle of the Band competitions. Our Junior Concert Band, Junior Choir and Junior Strings performed an amazing 3-hour concert at Warringah Mall, and these same groups also entertained the new 2023 Year 7 girls at their Orientation Day at Brigidine. Finally, we had our Carols on the Green and were excited that music students from St Ives North Public School performed with us. Thank you to our Junior Leaders and Captains who have worked tremendously hard all year. Bring on 2023!
Mr Charlie Lovelock Coordinator Cocurricular Music
In Term 1 an enthusiastic cast of students from Year 8 to Year 12 participated in our College Musical which was a concert revue filmed and distributed to our community. I Can Hear Music: A 1960s Jukebox Revue comprised of 13 hit songs from the 1960s including the Beach Boys’ Good Vibrations, Little Eva’s Locomotion and Frankie Valli’s Can’t Take My Eyes Off You. Amidst a backdrop of a larger-than-life jukebox and an oversized vinyl record, the students connected with these timeless tunes that have become ingrained in pop culture. The production numbers were choreographed by Class of 2020 alumni Chloe Jackett. These songs were accompanied by scenes that brought the real-life voices of record producers, radio disc jockeys, performers and 1960s teenagers to the stage for an authentic reflection on this significant period in time. We hope the experience of the College Musical generated strong memories for our students of their time at Brigidine as they too journey forward.
Mr Chris Rutherford College Musical
In 2022, the Year 11 Play transported audiences back to Jane Austen’s Regency for Pride and Prejudice. I wrote my adaption of the novel trying to imagine what this story would be through the lens of our Year 11 students who study it in English at the College. I also wanted our audience to look at this classic from a fresh viewpoint.
We had 46 incredibly enthusiastic and talented Year 11 students on stage in this production and three dedicated and talented choreographers working behind the scenes! This production was able to tap into the extraordinary talents of our Year 11 students in a myriad of ways, including performing, working behind the scenes and helping backstage with costumes and makeup, or creating choreography especially for this production. It gave many students the opportunity to perform on a stage for the very first time. I sincerely hope it left them with the universally acknowledged truth that it is a joy being part of the Year 11 Play!
Ms DiAnne McDonald Director/Adapter of Pride and Prejudice and Head of Drama
Brigidine College competed for the first time in this year’s 2022 Interschools Theatresports Challenge, Senior Division. The senior team of Genevieve Kelly, Natasha Williams, Ivana Ponniah and Rosemary Lu were placed in the difficult position of competing for the first time in a new competition where most of the competitors had many years of experience.
The Brigidine College Theatresports team performed exceptionally well in their first competition event, performing a range of entertaining and memorable scenes and narrowly missing out on progressing to the regional finals.
Brigidine College students competed in in the CSDA, Rostrum and IGSA Festival of Speech public speaking competitions in 2022. The CSDA speaking rounds were held very early in Term 1 so were conducted via Zoom. The Rostrum and Festival of Speech were staged under regular conditions before a live audience. Lara Veidners had outstanding success in the Rostrum Voice of Youth competition where she made the Regional final.
IGSA Festival of Speech was held in Term 4. Brigidine was represented by 23 students over the two-day festival in Debating, Public Speaking, Readings, Poetry, Current Affairs and Drama. Of the 27 schools competing Brigidine placed 12th overall. We were 5th in Drama Improvisation, 5th in Senior Readings (Charlotte Sim) and 4th in Drama. Our thanks to Ms McDonald and Ms Boyd for the team preparation and organisational support and to Ms Boyd for being with us on both days.
The Law Society’s Mock Trial competition is open to students in Years 10 and 11 at the College in which students work in a team of six and play the roles of barristers, solicitors, court officers, magistrates’ clerk and witnesses in a mock court case.
The 2022 Brigidine team included Koey Chow, Sophie Hemens, Roseanna Huang, Sarah Hudson (Captain), Jessica Hildebrandt, Eve-Lily Kelly, Chloe Nemeth de Bikal, Genna Papaioannou and Vivien Shakespeare. We started the competition strongly securing a win over Cheltenham Girls High, acting as the Prosecution. In Round 2 against Barker, we acted as the Defence in a civil case involving theft. After a tough contest and very close trial, Barker was awarded the win. After our loss in Round 2 we bounced back, securing another win in Round 3 against Ravenswood. Unfortunately, we did not earn enough points to proceed to the final rounds.
The competition is a great way to learn about our court system and develop skills including advocacy, debating and problem solving.
Sarah Hudson
2022 Mock Trial Captain
The students involved in the Duke of Edinburgh program have persevered and overcome many challenges this year.
From multiple postponements, Covid-19 restrictions and bad weather, they have excelled and completed their awards.
Special congratulations to the Year 12 students who completed their Gold award, an amazing achievement given the restrictions and challenges of the past two years. They defeated the odds and succeeded due to their dedication and enthusiasm. The Duke of Edinburgh Gold students are an inspiration to the younger students, to keep motivated and enthusiastic about their award, because it really is a once in a lifetime experience with their peers. Many of these girls have created memorable moments and developed skills that they will carry with them in their future endeavours.
Brigidine students have hiked and canoed many mountains, lakes and rivers this year and enjoyed being back completing expeditions. Climbing to the top of Mt Kosciuszko to watch the sunrise was just one unforgettable experience during the many hiking and canoeing expeditions our Bronze, Silver and Gold students achieved this year.
As students finish their awards from the year, Year 8 students look forward to the challenge of joining the Brigidine program and the Year 10 students the challenge of the Gold award and the possibility of a Fiji experience in 2023.
Thank you to the passionate Duke of Edinburgh Captains, Sarah Walbank and Lauren Smith for their leadership and support of all the students involved this year. You have been a smiling face of support at all times.
Mrs Skye Wacher Duke of Edinburgh CoodinatorDebating at Brigidine is bigger than ever with over 65 students now participating in three prestigious competitions: Independent Debating Schools Association, IGSSSA Archdale Debating Competition, and Schools Debating Network. 2022 also saw the added bonus of Debating at the annual Festival of Speech. Students were excited to return to face-to-face debating in 2022, travelling to different schools across Sydney and representing the College with some amazing results. Congratulations to all the girls who participated throughout the year.
ISDA:
• Year 12 – Octo finalists
• Year 7 – Semi Finalists v PLC Sydney
Archdale:
• 7A – Quarter Finalists v Queenwood
SDN:
• Year 8 – Semi Finalists v Wenona
• Juniors – Semi Finalists v Abbotsleigh
• Year 9 – Grand Final winners defeating Roseville
Festival of Speech:
• Year 9
• Year 10 and 11
Debating Coordinator
The Year 9 SDN Team after winning their Semi Final debate and progressing to the Grand Final. These students would go on to win the SDN Grand Final against Roseville.
Our amazing Year 12 Senior A debating team. These students have been debating together since Year 7!
The Year 7 ISDA team before their Quarter Final debate. Such an amazing team of new debaters.
After two years without National competition due to Covid-19 our Brigidine teams had their most successful year ever! We had 12 teams competing and came away with three National Championships and two silver medallists!
AFL continues to grow with seven teams entered in the Independent Girls Schools AFL competition and a brand-new uniform to kick the year off in style! Our Inter A and Open B teams progressed to the grand finals after a very weather disrupted season and our Open B were premiers after kicking a goal as the final siren sounded to win the game!
We sent 33 athletes to BBSSSA this year, finishing 1st in the Senior Division and 3rd in the Intermediate and Junior Divisions. Lisa Weingartner was awarded Para Athlete Champion and Amelia Thornthwaite was the 16 Years Champion. We then had 15 athletes selected to represent BBSSSA at the NSWCCC.
This year Brigidine won four age divisions at the BBSSSA carnival and had 14 runners selected to represent BBSSSA at the NSWCCC Cross Country. Lara Hathorn, Amelia Thornthwaite and Keeley Holmes then went on to represent NSW All schools and NSW Athletics at the National Cross Country Championships.
This year we had 13 teams entered in the IGSA competition which was a big leap in participation for Basketball. We had three teams win their IGSA divisions – special mention to our Year 7 team, Brig 11 who went through the season undefeated. Congratulations to Alana Reddy who was selected in the IGSA Opens team, the NSWCIS team and the NSW All Schools team, who won the All Schools Championships. Alana was also selected in the NSW Metro U18 team and competed at Nationals in April.
Brigidine had eight Football teams in the IGSA competition. Brig 2 and Brig 6 went through the competition undefeated and both won their divisions.
Brigidine had four Hockey teams entered in the IGSA Hockey competition, with our Senior Firsts progressing to the semi-finals.
This was our first year of Rugby 7s at Brigidine. We entered five teams in the Chloe Dalton Secondary Schools 7s competition. The girls enjoyed a season of development and fun, learning new skills and about the game of Rugby 7s.
We had six girls selected to represent IGSA at the NSWCIS Challenge – Kirra Gilchrist, Bethany Lever, Poppy Howlett, Sienna Newbery, Josie Howlett and Georgia Benson. Kirra, Bethany and Georgia went on to be selected for the NSWCIS team. Kirra was also a member of the NSW U16 State team and represented NSW at the Australian Softball Championships.
Brigidine finished 2nd in the Senior and Intermediate divisions and 3rd in the Junior division and had 13 swimmers selected to represent BBSSSA at the NSWCCC Championships. We then had 12 Swimmers and Divers selected to represent NSWCCC at the NSW All Schools Championships.
Zannah Dixon went on to the Australian Schools Championships where she won a silver medal in the 15-16 years 200m Backstroke and Hannah Smith was selected to represent NSW All Schools in Diving. At the IGSA carnival, Brigidine won the Division 2 Schools Diving trophy, Most Improved School for Diving and Hannah Smith was named the Senior Diving Champion.
Brigidine had 14 teams entered in the IGSA competition in Term 1, with many teams unfortunately missing out on several games due to a very weather affected term. We sent 19 players to the Tildesley Tennis Championships, with Maria Nicol making it through to Round 3 in the singles draw and Chloe and Mia Nemeth De Bikal going through to Round 3 in the Doubles.
Brigidine had five students selected to represent IGSA – Keeley Holmes, Alana Reddy, Mia Links, Tasha Lillycrop and Charlotte Bensley. Alana and Mia were then selected to represent NSWCIS. We have 18 teams in the IGSA competition and a new home venue at Narrabeen where we are able to have more Brigidine teams playing together each week!
This year we had eight teams entered in the Santa Sabina competition which was a welcome return after two years of no competition due to Covid-19. The girls enjoyed being back on the court and improving their skills.
We had eight teams in the Pymble Water Polo Competition, where we won the Junior A division. Our Open A and Intermediate team then won the NSSWPA competition, both going through the season undefeated. After a few years of no competition due to Covid-19, our Open representative team won the BBSSSA Championships and finished 3rd in the NSWCCC Championships. Isabella Brooker, Albee McInnes and Sophia Cooper represented NSWCCC at the Interstate Challenge in July and we had several players selected to represent NSW at various National tournaments throughout the year – Albee McInnes, Sophia Cooper, Ciara Magee and Lilah Ogg. Congratulations to Chloe Cogan who was selected in the Cadet Australian Squad after representing the ACT at the Nationals in September.
Alana has been awarded the Ruth Hackney Award for the second year in a row, after being the first Brigidine student to achieve this last year. Alana once again was selected in three IGSA representative teams – Netball, Touch Football and Basketball. She was then selected in NSWCIS teams for Basketball and Touch Football and the NSW All Schools for Basketball.
The Trivia Night was held onsite again after a two-year break due to Covid-19. It was a great success. Over 300 people attended and joined in with the theme of Around the World, decorating their tables and arriving in some fabulously created costumes. There was great excitement surrounding the launch of the Wheel of Fortune game. We were very grateful to Anania Jewellers who generously donated an amazing prize valued at $10,000.00. The total fundraising effort resulted in a donation of $55,000.00 to the College to provide resources that will benefit every student.
The Cash Prize Raffle was launched in November and drawn at the Christmas on the Green event. The Cash Prize Raffle raised $15,000 in support of the Scholarships and Bursaries fund.
• The long-standing tradition of Lunch and Supper Groups continued this year, with 100 of our Year 7 mums joining a lunch or supper group in March.
• Brigo Dads is a new tradition at the College enabling Dads to come together providing an opportunity to get to know one another over a drink and a bite to eat. In March 40 Year 7 Dads gathered at the College.
• In May 400 parents attended the Winter Wonderland Welcome Cocktail Party. Entertained with live music, it was a chance for the College community to gather together to catch up with old friends and to make new ones.
• Combining the Brigidine tradition of Carols by Candlelight with Christmas Markets on the last Friday in November, the College opened its doors and welcomed the local community to join them for a wonderful festive evening.
• In October we welcomed 28 of our Pioneers and Golden Girls to join us for High Tea. Members from the Classes of 1962 and 1972 were presented with their Golden Girl pins to celebrate and recognise 60 and 50 years since their graduation from the College.
• On a sunny day in late October 350 Alumni gathered at the College for our annual Alumni Day. For many this event had been cancelled more than once due to Covid-19 so it was nice to be together again.
• In November five of our Pioneers attended the Honours Program Viva Voce where Brigidine students presented their Research Projects.
