The Bridge Issue 2 2021

THE BRIGIDINE COLLEGE ST IVES

bridge

ISSUE 2 2021

The Bridge, the Brigidine College St Ives biannual magazine Editor Aleisha Ford Graphic Design Darren Rochford Proof Reading Di Lawrence Cover and feature Photography Cameron Bloom Photography Cameron Bloom Michael Hennessy Anthony Khoury Brigidine staff and students Printing Worldwide North Ryde Brigidine College 325 Mona Vale Road St Ives NSW 2075 +61 2 9988 6200 office@brigidine.nsw.edu.au brigidine.nsw.edu.au

WHAT WE LIKED The College community wrapped their arms around our Year 12 girls as they embarked on their HSC Trials in an ‘at home’ format unlike ever before. Year 12 were encouraged along with a small care package and personal message from Ms Richmond. Highest praise to Year 12 for their persistence and resilience during a challenging back end of their final school year.

CARE TO SHARE? We are always grateful to receive photos and stories that we can share on our social media pages. Please send content to communications@ brigidine.nsw.edu.au

Contents

Issue two 2021

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LATE ST N E WS

Highlights from the Classroom 2021 curriculum highlights

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Spotlight on Staff Brian Riordan, Property Manager Judith Allan, Music Department

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Planning for the future Implementation of our Strategic Plan 2021–2025

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Introducing our 2022 Senior Leaders 9 Congratulations to our newly elected Senior Leaders Inspirational insights on our women of the future 2021 Study Grant recipients

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Accelerated Learning in Mathematics 12 The benefits of undertaking an accelerated course

We couldn’t get together but we certainly rallied!

Annual Giving 2021 A Model of Hope Cocurricular update from our Director Cocurricular

26 ALUMNI

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EVENT S

2021 Snapshots

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Rising to the Occasion From the P&F President

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The Golden Ticket Year 11 Play

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House Spirit on display Cross Country Carnival Athletics Carnival

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Latest News From the Alumni and Community Relations Coordinator Alumni Initiatives Weddings and Births Manly’s Local Woman of the Year 2020

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Events Celebrating our Pioneers and Golden Girls Welcome back Class of 2020

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Where are they now?

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AR CHIVES

Delany Relics

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Latest News

Highlights from the Classroom

In this edition of The Bridge, we celebrate what our students have been learning in a range of disciplines, along with initiatives which inspire our students to develop a passion for critical and creative thinking.

Despite the extended lockdown, we have been able to continue delivering education that is engaging and inspiring, and introduce tailored and innovative learning experiences. All the learning opportunities you will read about serve to provide our girls with space for growth and creative collaboration.

Our students have become more agile, independent and resilient and have produced works which reflect our educational philosophy: that we don’t want learning to be a ‘cookie cutter’ experience. On the contrary, the diverse nature of what our students have produced this year reveals that we are a learning community that makes the most of every opportunity to grow and change.

Our teaching staff have been able to reinvent learning experiences so that our girls can continue to develop intellectual and spiritual growth.

In many ways, the 2021 academic year has provided students with some of the most interesting learning adventures they have ever seen!

Most importantly, at the heart of all our learning experiences lies our commitment to inspiring our girls to value learning, seek wisdom, act with integrity, and to honour their spiritual heritage. Our core values will allow us to continue to progress towards their learning goals, during COVID-19 and beyond.

ELIZABETH WEBSTER D E P U T Y P R I N C I PA L , T E A C H I N G A N D L E A R N I N G

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INFORMATION AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY Brigidine’s accelerated Information and Digital Technology (IDT) class is soon to complete their dual qualification. This talented group of students commenced the course as an elective while still in Year 9.

Currently in Year 11, these girls will be sitting the HSC examination in November as well as qualifying for the nationally recognised Certificate III in Information and Digital Technology.

Our IDT students have had the chance to identify and develop the key transferable skills that employers seek most – such as communication, creativity and innovation, project management, problem solving, critical thinking, teamwork and digital literacy – in addition to being able to professionally navigate their way around commonly used hardware and software applications.

Covid unfortunately prevented the students from completing their mandatory work placements in the traditional format but we were very lucky to have a number of opportunities where industry leaders like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cisco and Accenture came to us online!

The girls had a full week with AWS leaders, learning about the Amazon business model and the webtools they have used to assist thousands of companies around the globe achieve success. They developed webpages that utilised artificial intelligence and chatbots and worked as a team to develop a website that focused on assisting their peers with mental health issues. The girls really enjoyed the week as they got to work with and

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compete against students from a number of schools across the state. They were asked by their Amazon mentor to make a presentation to all participants on their group project, 1000 Reasons, because of its high standard. We were also very proud to have the winner of the state-wide Kahoot, Olivia Roche, in our class!

Cisco and Accenture also ran sessions where the girls were able to hear firsthand about the many amazing opportunities and pathways there are for meaningful careers using technology across a wide range of industries.

VET courses like IDT are becoming increasingly recognised for their value in providing students with direct pathways to employment and further study. The skills our students have gained will empower them throughout their working lives, even as workplaces change.

The girls have greatly appreciated the head start this course has given them in understanding the world of work.

LEONE SMYTH I N F O R M AT I O N A N D D I G I TA L TECHNOLOGY

SCIENCE The Science Department at Brigidine is diving into the deep end – and going for Gold – with girls in Year 12 Science Extension undertaking real scientific research for their HSC projects. Areas of science being engaged are as diverse as “The Bioremediation of Soils Contaminated by Oil” (Elizabeth Thomson), “Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy” (Bianca Bezinovic) to “COVID-19 isolation requirements may predispose elite tennis players competing at the 2021

Australian Open to injury” (Jennifer Cummins).

Scientists working in these areas provide data to our girls or the girls themselves collect their own data firsthand. This data is then analysed to find trends and cause and effect evidence, and the results published, sometimes as a co-author in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

For their Term 3 project, our Year 10 girls chose a female scientist and researched the work that she did or is currently undertaking, and how that is contributing to our society.

Specifically, the obstacles placed in the scientist’s way simply by being a female in her field, and how those obstacles were overcome by sheer tenacity, hard work and having a brilliant mind makes for a very interesting and eye-opening project for our girls. It was not that long ago that a female scientist was expected to resign upon getting married, and in many university courses, it was frowned upon to be a female student in a male-dominated world!

Our Year 11 Physics students have collected data from the real-world experience of having time on a telescope for their Depth Studies, which they controlled and operated remotely, to collect and analyse data from the spectrum of stars. Such projects included “The Age, Metallicity, Extinction and Distance of Open Cluster NGC 6791 using Isochrone Software” (Natasha Williams), reported as a scientific paper to a standard that would be able to be published as research in a journal.

R O B FA R R HEAD OF SCIENCE

ENGLISH Our two main focus areas in the English faculty this year have been to develop a stronger reading culture and to offer more opportunities for creative writing. To this end, we have worked closely with our Library staff to create tailored wide reading lists for students in Years 7–10 based on the topics they are studying in English each term and we have also redesigned our assessments in a way that encourages reading widely.

In Term 1, Year 8 students studied the play version of The Diary of Anne Frank and were encouraged to read a range of books about World War II as part of their wide reading program. Their assessment task required them to compose their own short story set in World War II. In Term 2, Year 9 studied Gothic fiction. Their prescribed texts were either The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde or Coraline. They were also encouraged to read a range of other gothic fiction texts to extend their reading. Their assessment challenge was to write an introduction to a scary Gothic story and record themselves reading that story as though they were telling it around a campfire! The quality of the student work was very high and effective.

For our keen creative writers, we now have a Creative Writing group that meets each week in the Library. In Term 2, the students learned about and wrote ekphrastic poetry – poetry inspired by artworks. Although we have taken a bit of a break since we have been in lockdown, when we return to school, our next focus will be on ‘retelling’ classic myths, legends and fairytales. Students will be encouraged to rewrite well-known stories

in different contexts and to play with the conventions of genre.

One positive outcome from home-based quarantine in Term 3 is the increased opportunity and time to read! We are very grateful to our wonderful Library staff who organised a special Book Week event on Zoom hosted by Paul McDonald of The Children’s Bookshop Speakers’ Agency for Years 7 and 8 English classes. Paul’s enthusiasm for reading is infectious and the girls were very excited to hear all about the new books being published.

Finally, it would be remiss not to congratulate the students who were this year’s winners in the Staff vs Students debate on the contentious topic, that ‘English should not be compulsory’. However, after watching the students passionately and convincingly argue why English should be compulsory, it is fair to say that English was really the winner on the day!

use high-tech equipment to produce quality projects. This includes CAD/CAM production, robotics, 3D printing for rapid prototyping, Virtual Reality (VR) software, laser cutting and sublimation printing processes.

This year for the first time we have incorporated the use of virtual reality (VR) into our DT program. With the help of industry experts the girls were able to design their own VR presentation and then use VR headsets to immerse themselves into their own world of virtual reality. This exciting emerging technology will open up some amazing immersive experiences from around the world for the girls to enjoy from our own classroom spaces.

PA M E L A M A L O N E H E A D O F TA S / V E T

JANET WALKER HEAD OF ENGLISH

DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY Design and Technology (DT) aims to stimulate originality, enterprise, practical capability in designing and making, and the adaptability needed to cope with a rapidly changing modern society.

At Brigidine DT is available from Year 9 through to HSC level. Our girls engage in a range of challenging real-world design projects that are relevant and interesting. We foster links with professional designers and

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Latest News

Spotlight on Staff BRIAN RIORDAN PROPERTY MANAGER

When did you start working at Brigidine College?

At the end of Term 2 we farewelled Brian Riordan, our Property Manager who has been with the College for 16 years.

July 2005. In those days I’d had my own business, a marine boat trimmings workshop down at Kirribilli, on the harbour foreshore. However, I had a nasty fall from a ladder when working on the roof of my brother in-law’s house and couldn’t work for six months, while my hand recovered.

The Brigidine position was advertised in the local paper and my wife thought I should apply, not that she didn’t want me around the house, but because it was a job where I wouldn’t need to be “on the tools”. But I didn’t even get an interview.

In his role, Brian helped transform the grounds, learning spaces and facilities for staff and students. His generosity of spirit was truly appreciated by all at Brigidine.

He exemplified our motto of ‘Strength and Gentleness’ in his everyday dealings with all who he met and worked with. We wish him all the very best in his retirement and thank him for all he has done.

Recently our Business Manager, Richard Luxford, reminisced with Brian on his time at the College.

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However, by sheer coincidence, some weeks later I bumped into the then Principal’s wife, Pattie Bowie, when we were both called for jury service. I told Pattie I’d applied for a job at Brigidine but wasn’t successful. To my amazement, she told me the job was never filled. A week later, I was offered it.

What projects were happening then?

Construction of Bowie Hall was nearing completion and we needed to fit it out with lighting, carpet, electrics, etc. It opened in September 2005.

We would renovate classrooms when a teacher moved or left.

The Canteen quadrangle was the first full project, involving the installation of the shade structure in 2008, together with ground softfall and the centre garden.

In 2009, just before Jane Curran’s arrival as Principal, we did a major renovation of the Synan building.

The College also received funding from the Building Education Revolution (BER) to construct the entrance features at each of the five entry points.

We installed five 45,000 litre wastewater tanks enabling recycling of the roof runoff to be used for watering gardens and some WC flushing.

What are your most enduring memories of your time spent at Brigidine?

I very much enjoyed turning a problem into a solution. Having a background in hands-on application, I naturally felt at ease with utilising and adapting whatever resources we had.

I worked closely with many of the Heads of Department in those days, especially in helping the drama and music events, such as building props and operating the lights.

The construction of the Anita Murray Centre in 2013–2014 was a big project, which could only start once a Land & Environment court matter had completed.

I was at Brigidine for all of Jane Curran’s principalship, and I worked closely with her on many projects.

What are you most looking forward to now?

I hope to do some volunteer work now that I am retired, and spend time playing golf, kayaking and walking.

I have six grandchildren (five grandsons and one granddaughter) and attending their school and other activities will now be possible.

I am content to potter around, with time to read the paper, and have a cup of tea.

Thank you, Brian. You can now enjoy a thoroughly deserved rest… not that I think you will ever really slow down.

JUDITH ALLAN MUSIC DEPARTMENT

Last year Judith completed her Master of Special and Inclusive Education. Here she gives insight as to why she chose that area of study and how it can be applied to her teaching role.

I love learning. On any given night there are at least three books on my bedside table and currently ten bookmarked on my desk. One memorable read 15 years ago was The Man who Mistook His Wife for a Hat – neurologist Oliver Sack’s fascinating accounts of patient stories and subsequent diagnoses. Following this was the popular Norman Doidge book, The Brain that Changes Itself, which sparked my curiosity around neuroplasticity and neurodiversity.

As a teacher I am constantly reminded that no two human brains function the same and therefore I am compelled to look for ways to engage students in ways that will work best for them. On a personal note, I have two incredible sons who are very intelligent young men. It was intriguing and surprising to see their capacity to engage (or in some cases disengage) in school subjects pursuant to the way teachers were presenting their material. If learning can so easily be switched on and off through the delivery of content, our role as educators becomes critical.

Both factors propelled me to undertake my Master of Special and Inclusive Education from which I graduated last year. My undergrad study was a Bachelor of Music Education at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, days I look back on with incredible fondness and memories of joy, laughter, and some incredible music-making.

In those days (I’m old enough to use that

phrase now!) researching and garnering source material was time-consuming and somewhat limited. Years on, much has changed regarding the availability of and access to journal articles and reference material, so I was geekily excited to grab my trusty highlighter (stationery is my love language) and plough through the hundreds of papers from highly-regarded researchers unpacking the emerging, undeniable proof of the importance of teaching from a platform of recognising the diverse learner within every student.

The term neurodiversity is important.

It acknowledges the individual without singling out one as less than another.

Though we have more in common with one another than we have differences, it is those differences, those unique colours to our character and interests, which make us distinct. More often than not, those parts of us which are deeply ingrained propel us forward. We are creatures of our own passions and are innately geared to maximise those qualities, outworking them in our careers and life-settings. As a teacher, my role is not only to help students learn about the world around them, but to discover their own distinctive colour, leanings and capacity for growth. I have an (unresearched and unproven) theory that everyone eventually ends up ‘becoming’ what they are meant to be, and when I look at a student I often think of the adult-to-be in front of me. How can I best help them get to that place? That is what propels me forward.

Benjamin Franklin noted “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest”.

I feel incredibly blessed to have had the occasion to expand my own education and deepen my personal learning. To have the opportunity to pay that forward in the rich and nurturing environment that optimises Brigidine makes it all the more worthwhile.

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Latest News

Planning for the future

We are proud to produce graduates who are “Women of Strength, Women of Gentleness” embodying the Brigidine values: Courage Speaking and acting with integrity.

Confidence Upholding our beliefs by living and leading with our values.

Compassion Walking with and having empathy for all.

Excellence Striving for our personal best in all we do.

Hope Bringing a sense of purpose and optimism to every endeavour.

Hospitality Placing community and dignity at the heart of our interactions, welcoming all.

Justice Acting always with fairness and justness, creating equity in the world in which we live.

Wonder Celebrating all that is good with curiosity and gratitude.

Our new Strategic Plan 2021–2025, Courage, Confidence and Compassion in a Changing World is being launched in our College community during Term 4, 2021. Imagining life at Brigidine and indeed the world in five years’ time is a challenging task, but we are confident the consultation and development process for our new Strategic Plan has ensured all aspects of school life have been unpacked, with meaningful and aspirational challenges set.

When the consultation for our strategic planning began in late 2020, we were emerging from a year where COVID-19 had changed the social and education landscape.

We did not know of course that entering 2021, this challenge would continue and shape aspects of school life and social interactions in significant ways.

Our Strategic Plan does not sit in isolation as a ‘final’ blueprint. Informed by annual review and goal setting, it becomes a living document in the lives of our students and staff. Courage, Confidence and Compassion

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in a Changing World recognises the need for continuous school improvement and growth, underpinned by our commitment to excellence and opportunity for all students.

Planning for the future ensures we are positioned to respond to challenges in the changing society our students will need to navigate. As a Catholic school, we recognise our focus provides our students not only with an understanding of their faith, but also the moral courage and integrity required to take on the challenges of the world. Our aim always, is for Brigidine graduates to be women of the future, exemplifying our motto of ‘Strength and Gentleness’ in all aspects of their lives and dealings with others.

Our forward-looking plan ensures we will be well positioned to respond to innovations in education and technology, to equip our students for successful life pathways beyond the school gates. Anchored to our Mission statement ‘We inspire our students to value learning, seek wisdom, act with integrity, and to honour their spiritual heritage. We challenge young women to act as global citizens, with strength and gentleness in their own lives and the lives of others’, reaffirms our contemporary approach to Catholic education, empowering our students and staff to engage courageously, confidently, and compassionately in our rapidly changing and challenging world.

These values are reflected in the work and mission of Kildare Ministries. As a member of Kildare Ministries our College is guided by its Vision and Mission. The strength of this common worldview enlivens the connection Brigidine students have with each other, other Kildare ministries and those who they support and seek justice for.

Our Strategic Plan is firmly centred on our students. Rigorous planning and review will ensure that we continue to respond to and meet the needs of all Brigidine students both in and out of the classroom. The strength and growth of our wellbeing programs will continue to give every Brigidine student the opportunity to be known well, highlighting that she is valued and respected by her peers and staff.

Having our students at the centre of our focus acknowledges the support and guidance from parents, alumni and committed staff that surrounds and enables them to embrace all that an education at Brigidine has to offer.

We are excited by the challenges and growth ahead for our community that this plan offers. I am confident that we will have much to share and celebrate throughout the life of our Strategic Plan 2021–2025, Courage, Confidence and Compassion in a Changing World.

LAETITIA RICHMOND P R I N C I PA L

Latest News

Introducing our 2022 Senior Leaders

(Left to right) 2021 Captains, Stella Hall and Flora Tucker, with Ms Richmond and 2022 Captains, Lucienne Cuda and Genevieve Kelly

Term 4 marks the transition in College student Leadership from Year 12 to Year 11. We thank our outgoing leaders for the gifts and talents that they have brought to their roles.

Our College Captain, Flora Tucker, and Vice Captain, Stella Hall, have led their team of Senior Captains and the school with such grace and leave a strong legacy for our new leaders to follow.

Congratulations to our newly elected Senior Leaders who will shape the next year with their ideas and hopes for our community.

College Captain Lucienne Cuda Senior Vice Captain Genevieve Kelly Senior Captains Keelin Beyers Georgie Bickerton Zoe Ellis Molly Fileman Ella Hemens Aisling Tutaan Monique Vassallo Lara Veidners Year Ambassadors Alani Barros Zoe Casey Lulu Dixon Tina Evanian Hisae Garonne House Captains FATIMA Lola Eagleton, Anna Harris KILDARE Lucine Galoustian, Olivia Tommerup LOURDES Holly Hunt, Emma Rous PRAGUE Isabella Binns, Abbey Shaw

Cocurricular Captains AFL Samara Russell ART Tallulah Dawe, Sophia Furtado ATHLETICS & CROSS COUNTRY Lisa Weingartner BASKETBALL Areni Kortian DANCE Madeline Keyser, Coco Yamaguchi DEBATING Eva Ossowski, Lara Veidners DRAMA Alexandra Stacey, Natasha Williams DEA Sarah Walbank, Lauren Smith FOOTBALL Gemma Lacey HOCKEY Sofia Szelid HONOURS Eva Ossowski MUSIC Gemma Curry, Clarisse Tsang MUSICAL Alannah McGrath NETBALL Hannah Grice SOCIAL JUSTICE Olivia Bortolussi, Danielle Drewitt-Smith SOFTBALL Ilana Day SPORTS AEROBICS Ashleigh Croft, Nicola Vaccarella STEM Mia Tasker, Emily Whiteoak SWIMMING Aysha Mallaby TAEKWONDO Alyssa Wong TOUCH FOOTBALL Coco Guberina VOLLEYBALL Kate Lovell WATER POLO Emma Rous

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Latest News

Inspirational insights on our women of the future The challenge and reward for some of our senior students has resulted in fascinating insights into Brigidine’s academic studies.

Students in Years 11 and 12 were invited to put their case forward to receive one of five Study Grants for Business Studies, Economics, Geography/Science, History Extension and Maths Extension provided by some of our donors, National Australia Bank (NAB), Margaret Cook and the Trussell Family. The competition was strong from 20 students and the submissions and their achievements were so impressive. The successful recipients will receive a grant for $500 which we hope will assist in furthering opportunities for these young women who are bound to have an impact in their chosen field of study. The following are short excerpts from their submissions where the girls expressed their interest in the subject and hopes for the future.

If you would like to support an initiative for students please contact Di Lawrence and talk about your interest either by email dlawrence@brigidine.nsw.edu.au or phone 02 9988 6278.

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NAB BUSINESS STUDIES AWARD WINNER

NAB ECONOMICS AWARD WINNER

Jasmine Guyot, Year 12

Mia Teuma, Year 12

Over the course of my senior years I have thoroughly enjoyed studying Business Studies as it has allowed me to gain a deeper understanding into real world applications of business and add a practical scope to a subject that I am passionate about studying.

I have been able to flourish in my studies at Brigidine due to the support of my teachers and the learning environment, and this has made my passion for business develop as I continue my studies into tertiary education and a career in business. Business Studies allows you to relate the content learned about in class to real world situations. With the case studies on actual businesses and through my own studies, it has helped me to think more deeply about the products I am buying and the deliberate choices made by businesses in relation to their products.

Economics to me is more than a subject to learn, it is a passion that always holds my interest. With each statistic release noted down in my calendar and articles read each morning and afternoon, economics has naturally fit itself in to my life … My passion has resulted in me looking to enjoy and learn more than what is offered in the HSC Economics course. As a result, I have attended multiple webinars run by economic institutes and universities such as the Grattan Institute and University of Technology Sydney.

In addition to this, at the beginning of 2021 I enrolled in and completed an online Modern Monetary Theory economics course held by Newcastle University.

I plan further study at a tertiary level and have applied for several scholarships, cadetships, and courses that will further my study in business. I have also applied for a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Education (Secondary) and am keen to pursue this passion with a possible career path of secondary teaching to share my love for this area of study with future students just like me.

I hope to learn more and to question more of what economics has to offer, with the intention to complete further tertiary study in economics, majoring in econometrics.

GEOGRAPHY/SCIENCE AWARD WINNER

TRUSSELL HISTORY EXTENSION AWARD WINNER

NAB MATHS EXTENSION AWARD WINNER

Elizabeth Thomson, Year 12

Cam Pryor, Year 12

Charlotte Price, Year 12

My passion for the study of environmental sciences has led me to completing a research paper on the use of microbial bioremediation in crude oil polluted soils for my Science Extension major work. Within the paper I explore the ability to apply microorganism to the breaking down of toxic substances and how this is used within a theoretical and practical field. This area of research is important as increased frequency of oil spills and the destructive nature of oil extraction has caused severe environmental damage and has left behind pollution that is near impossible to reverse.

I have loved the process of getting to research and explore a topic in-depth. My focus has been Cold War history, and the developments of how it has been written and constructed, and ultimately what its historiographical process has had on our understanding. This particular aspect of history has always interested me and completing this project has made me want to continue my investigation, even after handing in the major work. This experience really helped to develop my writing skills, and my ability to self-conduct an investigation.

I hold a firm belief that the world around us can be mostly explained by mathematics.

We can model the rise and fall of the tides, predict the risk and reward of events and see patterns all around us in nature, like the fractals existing within ferns and the Fibonacci sequence spiral that makes up many seashells. But what I find even more amazing is the gaps that exist within knowledge, such as the infamous Collatz Conjecture, a math question that anybody past Year 3 can understand but nobody has ever been able to prove. It is for this reason that I am passionate about maths; it seems to be flawlessly complete, yet there is still so much to explore.

Bioremediation is one of the safest and most effective ways of sustainably clearing this pollution and scientific research in the area is booming. Through this research I furthered my understanding on biotechnology while exploring a topic that I am highly interested in.

My future intention for studies is currently focused on university … either a Bachelor in Ancient History or a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Secondary Education as a double degree. It has been my dream career to teach my passion for history at some point in my life. I want to pass on not only what I have learned, but also all the skills that come with historical investigation within the classroom that can be used for other aspects of study.

I have made applications for courses such as actuarial studies, engineering and computer sciences at universities including the University of New South Wales, University of Technology Sydney and the University of Sydney. Despite being drawn to the high levels of maths, and the appeal of being able to major in pure maths in a degree of actuarial studies, I believe that these courses will all challenge me to apply the problemsolving strategies that I have learned in mathematics so far at Brigidine.

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Latest News

Accelerated Learning in Mathematics Many of our students at Brigidine aspire to be one of our mathematicians who undertake studying mathematics at an accelerated level. This program commences in Year 9 where students who have been accepted to study Mathematics Accelerated choose Mathematics as one of their elective subjects in addition to their normal Year 9 lessons. This means these students are effectively studying the equivalent of two subjects of Mathematics. In Year 9, they complete both the Year 9 and Year 10 Mathematics 5.3 courses in one year, allowing extra time to be given in later years to the Preliminary and HSC Mathematics Advanced and Extension courses.

The accelerated students complete their HSC Advanced course and sit their HSC examination in Year 11, and continue with the extension course(s) into Year 12.

Our accelerated students love mathematics and enjoy absorbing themselves in solving mathematical problems. For most, the program heightens their understanding and the benefit of problem solving, critical thinking and having a self-challenging attitude. They quickly learn to accept that it is more important to be curious and explore their thinking to deepen their understanding to get to an answer, rather than concentrate on the answer (right and wrong) itself.

The ultimate goal of acceleration is not just to get our students through the Advanced Mathematics course by the end of Year 11 but to have developed a deep conceptual understanding, coupled with procedural fluency and the ability to reason and apply mathematics which will enhance whatever course of study interests them when they go to university. Many of our students go on to follow STEM pathways at university but our accelerated students have not limited themselves to this more traditional pathway. Law, business and economics, actuarial studies and teaching are other choices, to name a few.

Of particular interest is the esteem that universities hold for students who challenge themselves to do more than just the minimum required for entry to a course. The UTS Bachelor of Accounting Cooperative Scholarship is limited to about 30 students each year and comes with a substantial financial offer. Our accelerated students have been very successful at obtaining positions in this course and they have said that the ability to think and reason as well as the tenacity to work through difficult problems, skills they developed as part of the accelerated program, have enabled them to feel confident in this very challenging course. Whilst this degree is an accounting degree it equips students to become business leaders of the future.

JACQUI BRIDGES H E A D O F M AT H E M AT I C S

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Our current Year 12 Accelerated students have found the Accelerated Mathematics course and the skills they have learned to be valuable in their other subjects as well as having the potential to assist them in their life after high school.

I completed the Accelerated course so I could do Extension 2 Mathematics in Year 12. This will help me with my future studies because I am planning on doing Computer Science and Advanced Maths in university, and the content that we learn in Extension 2 overlaps with the content in these university courses, which will make it easier for me in the future.

SARAH WANG

Learning the Accelerated course in tandem with the Physics and Chemistry courses has been extremely beneficial in helping me cement my skills and knowledge in these subjects. Completing the Advanced Maths HSC course a year early was also enormously helpful in relieving some of the pressure in my final year of high school, as I had one less subject to worry about.

I chose to take Accelerated Maths in Year 9 because I had genuinely enjoyed Maths in Years 7 and 8 and felt that I would be interested in pushing myself further. Being able to do both Years 9 and 10 in a single year and then moving on to complete my HSC in Advanced Maths a year early definitely made me work hard and engage with the subject, but also gave me a lot more freedom in my final year. As a senior student, being able to take Extension 1 and 2 Maths has shown that it was definitely worth it.

I chose acceleration because I really wanted to push and challenge myself academically and saw the benefits of finishing two HSC subjects early. The Accelerated Maths course has enabled me to grasp a deeper level of thinking and the ability to attain and apply knowledge which has been invaluable. This course has led me to completing the Extension 2 course, and has made me realise my appreciation for and potential in the subject. Now I want to pursue a career in the accounting/ financial sector after university.

COURTNEY WILKINSON

M AYA P R E Z I U S O

The best thing about this course is the friendships that I have made with the other girls in my class. They are all so accepting and supportive of each other and have made this course so enjoyable. By being part of this class, my career aspirations of being an actuary or engineer feel more achievable. The skills I have learnt have helped build my confidence in my capability of overcoming future challenges associated with these professions.

I initially chose to take on the Accelerated Maths course as it gave me a rare opportunity to challenge myself and to move at a pace that I felt better suited me as a learner. I have loved that the class remained together over four years.

This allowed us to work well as a group, and to formulate strong friendships. The Accelerated Maths course has inspired my love of maths and will definitely assist me on my path to becoming a Mathematics teacher in the future.

CHARLOTTE PRICE A B B I E G AT E S

D YA N D R A P R I N S

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Latest News

We couldn’t get together but we certainly rallied!

We did manage to get together at our Cocktail Party, ‘Brigo goes Underground’, but it was not much later that all events and gatherings stopped. We launched ‘Change Her Life’ at this event and were so happy with the response. This was certainly the year when the importance of bursary support for the College was clearly understood, and our community responded.

Perhaps it was that our lives and focus were somewhat narrowed by circumstances this year that gave us such clarity. As a community, and sometimes as a family, it was not really possible to gather physically.

Through a suite of activities across our College community, donations to bursary support this year have totalled $50,870 – our best year for Annual Giving ever! The combination of gifts from the community, an impressive ‘Row for Brigo’ effort by our Business Manager, Richard Luxford, sponsorship from College suppliers and the wonderful efforts of our Parents and Friends, will provide funds which will ‘Change Her Life’.

This bursary support from donors will help us to help girls by providing a Brigidine education which is out of reach due to their families’ loss or hardship. We are so grateful to those who were able to give their support, including those listed here and those who have chosen to remain anonymous.

‘CHANGE HER LIFE’ DONORS Julianne Abercrombie Barbette’s Feast Nadia Batchelor Bowesman Family Karen Calleia Cardinale Family Chakravorty Family Wai Tse Chen Coakes Family Leanne Cunningham Vera Evanian Don and Heidi Ferguson (Take a Seat) Loukas Gatzoulis Gillard/Boyse Family Philippa Goddard John and Jenny Gordon Heal Family Ingrid Heintz Graham Hughes

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On a personal note, as I will be retiring in December 2021, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Brigidine community and staff for my time at the College. It has meant so much to me to combine work that I love, in a place that I believe in, and a purpose that confirms so many of my personal values.

How fortunate I have been, indeed blessed!

There are far too many people to thank but consider yourself on my list because as a community, a parent, a staff member and a student you have all played your part in adding to my courage, confidence and compassion for life and for Brigidine. Go well, my friends. I will always be so grateful.

DI LAWRENCE DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT AND C O M M U N I T Y R E L AT I O N S

Donations can be made to the Scholarship and Bursary Fund on the College website. If you would like to make a gift to support Bursaries at Brigidine please scan the QR code and click ‘Give here’.

ROW FOR BRIGO DONORS Janoyan Family Di Lawrence Li Family Maher Family Marx Family May Family Anne Mayoh McGain Family David McGrath Dr Kerry-Ann O’Sullivan Ann Paton Christine Pickering Julitta Ponniah Preziuso Family Rolfe Family Leone Smyth James and Kristy Stewart Tregale Family Wilson Family

THE BRIDGE ISSUE 2 2021

Austin Family Riju Bhatia BRASV Group David Buley Craig Carroll Cornes Family Michael Christie Cliff Cowdroy Jane Curran Scott Finn Focus Uniforms Steven Graham Kitty Guerin Kimmorley Family Richard Luxford Brett and Marina McLennan Nicole McLeod Nexia Sydney Pty Ltd Dr Kerry-Ann O’Sullivan Rosemary Ramage

Brian Riordan Anthony Rous Becky Salter Craig Segaert Somerville Group Michelle Szelid

A PARENT PERSPECTIVE

In conversation with a parent this year some significant reflective thoughts were exchanged. This parent generously agreed to put thoughts to keyboard on “Why we support”. You may well enjoy this sentiment.

“It is never easy to select a school for your children. There are so many considerations, not least the effect on the family budget.

We were prepared to make an informed investment in Brigidine to provide a supportive learning environment for our girls so they could discover their strengths and pursue a direction of their choosing beyond high school.

We decided early in our high school journey to consistently support the Brigidine Bursary Fund because we recognised that while our girls would benefit from schooling at Brigidine, others could not. We wanted to provide access to our experience for an individual or individuals whose circumstance did not allow for the same choice we made for our girls. We are convinced that given the right environment and the right motivations, anybody can see past circumstance and prosper.

The Brigidine Scholarship and Bursary Fund is an important cause.

It has the ability to remove a significant barrier to getting a start in secondary education. We view the fund as a wonderful opportunity for families to support Brigidine with its compassionate reach.”

C U R R E N T A N D PA S T PA R E N T 2 0 2 1

High school has been a journey of discovery for all of us. Brigidine has consistently demonstrated its focused academic approach coupled with a recognisable spirit. I consider our investment in our girls’ education as one of the most important contributions we as parents have made.

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Latest News

A Model of Hope softball all giving our girls the opportunity to study-up, compare to, and cheer for, the world’s best. At the time of writing, some eight weeks has passed since the Games, and while there were many amazing performances and learnings from the traditional Brigo sports represented and listed above, for many young Australians the lasting impression from this event came from less traditional sources.

Semester 2, 2021 is most definitely a challenging time to report on the area of cocurricular. Yet, we need to mark and share this Covid lockdown moment in time, for all its challenges, and because it was the catalyst for creative thought, different experiences, reflection, determination, teamwork, appreciation and change.

When the 2021 Covid Delta strain lockdown commenced, the Brigidine community had just settled into the mid-year holiday break. The initial reaction and messaging at the time was one of postponement, amidst a wait and see hold-tight optimism. After all, 2020 had shown us all the way out of lockdown. Unfortunately the messaging quickly changed, as the case numbers rose, and for much of the cocurricular program, the news of postponements shifted to statements of cancellation.

An early glimmer of relief for many of us in lockdown was the long-awaited Japan Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. Of some consolation for many of us was the rationale that while we weren’t allowed to play we had the chance to watch, and better still watch the best in the world in a time zone that didn’t keep the dedicated up all night. The Brigidine Sports Program was certainly well represented in Tokyo, with water polo, basketball, football, rugby sevens, volleyball, tennis, hockey and

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The young women in Tokyo who competed in skateboarding and BMX in particular, brought a powerful and youthful free spirit, courage, creativity, compassion, joy and friendship to their events. These young women placed the joy of competing, the bonds of friendship, and a shared passion for their sport, above medals and nationalism. Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the International Olympic Committee and the man widely regarded as the farther of the modern Olympics, would surely have been inspired.

“I can’t wait to compete again where my team and I are able to have a laugh while working hard and efficiently to win each game and play our best. It’s the balance of fun and competition that I love about cocurricular, especially sport!”

Hannah Grice (Year 11), Netball “Since the beginning of online learning, the Brigidine Robotics Club has found a new way to stay connected! Using Minecraft Education Edition, we’ve set up a server that allows us to work together in real-time, just like we would in the classroom. It has been a great way to socialise and stay entertained after a hard day of lockdown.”

Natalie Bowesman (Year 12), Robotics

Pierre de Coubertin’s quoted vision certainly rings true in these challenging times for all of us. That, “the most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well”. And that “joy and good fellowship reign, and in this manner, may the Olympic Torch pursue its way through ages, increasing friendly understanding among nations, for the good of a humanity always more enthusiastic, more courageous and more pure.”

Those who watched can probably agree that the Tokyo Games were triumphant and a true 2021 highlight. If we consider that this event was postponed a year, and that these incredible athletes patiently waited five years for their opportunity, then the 2021 Olympics were a model of hope for all of us involved in cocurricular. And with all of this in mind, we recognise, value and celebrate the current triumphs amongst the struggles. We recognise student courage, student voice, and the behind the scenes determination that keeps us all moving forward in whatever way we can. Here is just a small sample of such.

O W E N VA L E DIRECTOR, COCURRICULAR

“I was really looking forward to a great start to Rugby Sevens this year, and although I’m so disappointed we missed out, I hope this break between now and next season gives us even more time to learn and improve in preparation for next year’s season. I can’t wait to start training and I’m pumped to get on the field again. I promise there will be power and passion in our new Brigidine jersey.”

Annaliese Chan (Year 9), Rugby Sevens

“When Sydney went into lockdown and we started looking at the effect that might have on our students continuing their Duke of Ed journey, I knew Brigidine girls could adapt and reimagine their activities, to continue their progress and achieve their award despite Covid setbacks. Not only have Brigidine students taken advantage of the many community service activities on offer, they have come up with even more. Our girls have shared ideas amongst their peers, and it has been humbling to see so many girls recognise and serve those in need at this time by continuing to cook for ‘Dignity Dishes’, engaging in peer tutoring, supporting the Smith Family’s ‘Buddy Reading Program’, knitting for ‘Wrapped with Love’ and supporting the ‘Days for Girls’ program.”

Skye Wacher, Duke of Ed Coordinator “Week after week I’m blown away by the students’ energy and the community commitment to our Dance Program.

Over 200 Zoom dancers take to the ‘stage’ in loungerooms, bedrooms, back decks and kitchens alike. House to house, suburb to suburb, screen to screen these amazing girls connected, danced, laughed and shared in themes such as ‘Pyjama Week’, ‘Silly socks’ and ‘Party Week’. Massive thanks to all involved!”

Shannon Riley, Dance Convenor

“I’ve been cooking a lot, with only a few minor burns and cuts. I’ve been getting fit with the online challenges and activities from sport. I’ve also been playing trivia and learning how to ride a skateboard.

My dance lessons have been heading in an alternative 80’s direction, as I’m working on my ‘moonwalk’ and ‘worm’ moves.

I miss everyone and can’t wait until we can all compete together again!”

Brigid the Bear, All Things Brigidine

“The thing I miss most about cocurricular sport is being able to do it with friends. It’s easy to do exercise by yourself, but after a while it gets boring and I think that’s a reason why a lot of girls, such as myself, participate in many sports – for the social side of it!”

Samara Russell (Year 11), AFL “What I have appreciated most about lockdown is the opportunity to participate in virtual debating alongside amazing girls, our amazing coaches and competitors from an array of Sydney schools. I cannot wait to recommence debating competitions in person.”

Lara Veidners (Year 11), Debating

“Missing out on the 2021 Sports Aerobics National Championships was without doubt a disappointing casualty of the Covid lockdown. However, it has been an incredible year for the program and for all involved.

Brigidine College had 103 girls selected to represent NSW at the Nationals – 11 teams and one individual – which is outstanding by any measure.”

Joshua Holmes, Sports Aerobics Convenor

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Events

2021 Snapshots

Year 12 breakfast

Founders Day

Duke of Edinburgh

Father’s Day

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International Women’s Day

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Homelessness Week, Jessica Gantvoort, Year 7

Cut for a Cause, Ryka Chakravorty, Year 8

Shrove Tuesday

Spirit Week

Reconciliation Week

Pink Week

Founders Day Mass

Year 12 Charity launch

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Events

Rising to the Occasion Every year the P&F looks forward to delivering several events for the school community, as well as raising funds for the College.

The P&F events allow us all to get together in different ways, seminars, the Welcome Cocktail Party and the Trivia Night. Of course, like everything else, we had to reimagine some of our offerings, whilst some we were able to hold with slight modifications. The annual Cocktail Party was delayed and then went ‘underground’, with Covid space limitations moving the event to the basement car park which provided the perfect setting for a 1920’s underground Jazz Club theme.

The dedicated team transformed the space, creating an atmosphere that ensured everyone had a wonderful evening. Delicious food cooked by Barbette’s Feast was served by our very own Hospitality students and we were entertained by our Alumni Band and Bruce Allan and his band with some great jazz sounds. Most importantly, it was terrific to finally bring everyone together again after such uncertain times, providing an opportunity for the community to relax and look forward to the year ahead.

At the beginning of the year the P&F committed to raising money for bursaries at the College. The bursaries provide a safety net for those families who are struggling for various reasons – a worthy cause for the P&F to support and put our fundraising efforts behind. And so, planning began for the traditional Trivia Night held in August, our major fundraising event for the year.

It soon became obvious however, for the second year in a row, that the Trivia Night was not going to be possible. The committee was determined to find a way to honour our pledge of support to the bursaries.

As a group the P&F needed to think outside the box to come up with a new way to raise money – a way to raise money in a time of uncertainty. The P&F had to consider ways that would not only reach everyone during lockdown but would also provide everyone an opportunity to be part of the fundraiser and offer involvement in a manner that was

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appropriate to their individual circumstances.

Despite these obstacles, the P&F was driven to reach our goal and to ensure our support to such a worthy cause would be realised.

One thing we were certain of was that those within our community who could help would rise to the occasion. And so, the ‘Change Her Life’ Raffle was born. With the ongoing help and support from the Director Development and Community Relations, Di Lawrence, Alumni and Community Relations Coordinator, Pip Inman and the College’s Finance team, a new Brigidine fundraiser was developed. This took the form of an online raffle that not only raised money for bursaries at the College but also had pretty good odds at winning an amazing prize. It was a fundraiser we are hoping will become an annual event. Who wouldn’t want the chance to win $15,000?

The P&F is overjoyed to report in these extraordinary times our community came together allowing us to donate an extraordinary $35,000 in support of bursaries at the College, helping to ensure that no Brigidine girl is left behind.

The P&F are so thankful the whole Brigidine community supported the initiative – current parents, staff, alumni and sponsors dug deep and supported our efforts. Thank you to everyone who bought tickets in the raffle (either for the cash prize or the community raffle), as well as those who made generous donations. Thank you to our amazing Gold Sponsors, ACER, providers of our College laptops and Exetel, College internet providers and to our Silver Sponsors, BRASV Group, the College’s cleaning contractors. And thank you for the support of the College.

Huge congratulations to the winners of our raffles: David Chant, winner of the $15,000 Cash Prize Draw and Grant Scott, Angela Oppen, David Heal, Li Rong, Rory Nyssen and Monique Darcy, all winners in our Community Raffle.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS Gold sponsors:

Along with the funds that were raised at the Welcome Cocktail Party, the P&F is overjoyed to report in these extraordinary times our community came together allowing us to donate an extraordinary $35,000 in support of bursaries at the College, helping to ensure that no Brigidine girl is left behind.

K AT R I N A T U C K E R P&F PRESIDENT

Silver sponsor:

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Events

The Golden Ticket In June the Murray Theatre was magically transformed into Charlie Bucket’s house and the Wonka Chocolate Factory as we welcomed audiences to the marvellous and fantastical world of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.

Sixty-four incredibly enthusiastic and talented Year 11 students presented for auditions for this production in February, creating the largest cast we have ever had for a Year 11 Play at Brigidine! The production allowed us to tap into the extraordinary talents of our Year 11s – whether it be acting, singing, working behind the scenes helping backstage, with costumes or makeup, creating choreography or composing original music specially for the production. It gave many students the opportunity to perform on a stage for the very first time and I hope it left them with a lifetime love of the stage, and of course, chocolate!

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Sincere thanks go to Mr Gareth Edey, who created the video projections and incredible lighting designs for the show, and Mr Chris Rutherford, who designed the promotional poster and supported the technical rehearsals with detailed feedback on each of our performers.

A huge congratulations to our amazing cast and crew. A sold-out season ensured that so many of our College community were able to witness the joy and colour of our talented Year 11 students. A show full of delicious memories for the cast, crew and audiences alike.

DIANNE MCDONALD DIRECTOR/ADAPTER

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Events

House Spirit on display CROSS COUNTRY CARNIVAL The annual Brigidine Cross Country was held Friday 23 April at St Ives Showground. It was wonderful being able to hold our carnival again after having to run last year’s event virtually due to Covid. The weather provided perfect conditions for running cross country!

It was great to see so many girls participating and earning house points.

Congratulations to the following girls who placed in their age group and our overall Cross Country Champion and House winners.

RESULTS Age Champions Multi Class 1st Jessie Walsh 2nd Lisa Weingartner 12 years 1st Chloe McGuire 2nd Jasmine Siddall 3rd Imogen Cochrane 13 years 1st Tasha Lillycrop 2nd Charlotte Bensley 3rd Amber Ratcliff 14 years 1st Jana Weingartner 2nd Lily Halpin 3rd Alyssa Goodall 15 years 1st Amelia Thornthwaite 2nd Zoe Shirdon 3rd Zannah Dixon

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16 years 1st Keeley Holmes 2nd Ella Marks 3rd Sophie Osborne 17 years 1st Olivia Tommerup 2nd Magali Ogg 3rd Ashleigh Kuznetsoff 18 years 1st Emma Lowry 2nd Ariel Belger 3rd Julia Manias Cross Country Champion Keeley Holmes House Champion 1st Prague 2nd Lourdes Joint 3rd Kildare and Fatima

ATHLETICS CARNIVAL After missing a year, we were able to hold our annual Brigidine Athletics Carnival on Tuesday 8 June at Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation, Narrabeen. The weather was fine, although a little chilly! Participation was high – joining in was a way to keep warm!

House spirit was on display with plenty of colourful outfits and loud displays of war cries. There were some excellent results and three records were broken on the day.

C L A I R E H AT H E R E L L HEAD OF SPORT

RESULTS Age Champions Multiclass 1st Lisa Weingartner 2nd Katie Booth 3rd Sayaka Nishide 12 Years 1st Dylan Searl Joint 2nd Imogen Cochrane and Billie Wadling 13 Years 1st Charlotte Bensley 2nd Tasha Lillycrop 3rd Gracie Daddo 14 years 1st Claire Cornes 2nd Olivia Belger 3rd Indie Smith 15 Years 1st Leila McDougall 2nd Sophie Lowry 3rd Sophie Hoppett 16 Years 1st Zoe Ellis 2nd Sienna Wilson Joint 3rd Giuliana Panozzo and Sarah Hudson

17+ Years 1st Emma Lowry 2nd Ella Johnson 3rd Olivia Tommerup Open Invitation 100m Champion Leila McDougall 13.67s School Champion Charlotte Bensley New Records 200m Para Lisa Weingartner 33.49s (old record 34.60s) 17–19 Shot Put Holly Hunt 12.06m (old record 10.30m) 15 Years Javelin Isabel Harris 41.36m (old record 34.17m) House Champion 1st Fatima 2nd Prague 3rd Kildare 4th Lourdes

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Alumni

Latest News FROM THE ALUMNI AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS COORDINATOR as a community. As I write for Issue 2 I realise that whilst this is not how we expected 2021 to go, in true Brigidine spirit we remain a vibrant school, and despite lockdown the College is continuing to work together to ensure our staff, students and its wider community stay connected.

I’ve always loved reading The Bridge, flipping through its pages, delving into the stories of our students, the College, and our Alumni.

When I wrote my message for Issue 1 earlier this year, we were a vibrant school with students on campus, learning in classrooms, competing in sports and together, in person,

On the following pages you will read how members of our Alumni community have come together with our Honours students to help and guide them with their research projects, how one member of the community is living by the College motto, Fortiter et Suaviter, helping others during the pandemic, and how one family’s tradition of a Brigidine education continues. You can also read about one alumna’s passion for music, how it led her to study at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and even listen to a piece she composed.

It’s important to remember there are so many opportunities for you, our Alumni, to stay connected with the College or to reconnect with us. Whether it be on our Wall of Inspiration, as a partner in our Alumni and Honours Program Partnership, by sharing your news with us or by simply updating your contact details, in the words of American author, disability rights advocate and political activist, Helen Keller, “Alone, we can do so little, together we can do so much”. Let’s stay connected!

PIP INMAN ALUMNI AND COMMUNITY R E L AT I O N S C O O R D I N AT O R

ALUMNI INITIATIVES Alumni and Honours Program Partnership Term 3 saw the launch of an initiative linking our Alumni community with our Honours Program students, creating a partnership between them where both are enriched by their sharing and learning.

Many of you will be familiar with the Brigidine Honours Program. It is an enrichment opportunity offered to students in Years 7 to 12. The Program’s structured activities are designed to encourage lateral thinking, creativity and depth of analysis. Divided into three levels, Junior, Intermediate and Senior, each level requires students to undertake a research project, attend regular Honours Tutorials and submit a portfolio containing examples of academic successes to establish future learning goals.

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Recently some of our Alumni have been helping our Honours students with their Research Projects by sharing the experience and knowledge they have gained in their chosen career field, particularly those with experience in Sociology, Psychology, Politics, Science and Medicine. We are now looking to extend this working relationship between our Alumni community and our Honours Program with the launch of the ‘Alumni and Honours Program Partnership’. We hope that members of the Alumni community will consider imparting their knowledge and experience on our students by becoming ‘Partners’ in the scheme.

Our current students are part of a growing community of Brigidine women, who are keen to learn and wish to follow in the footsteps of those who have gone before them. This partnership is a great way for Alumni to stay connected with the College or to reconnect with us and at the same time make a difference.

The Research Projects’ topics are many and varied and cover a multitude of occupations, so if you would be willing to chat to our Honours students about their Research Projects we would love to hear from you.

Please get in touch with Pip Inman, Alumni and Community Relations Coordinator, at alumni@brigidine.nsw.edu.au. Include your job title/occupation and why or how you would like to be involved.

Alumni Wall of Inspiration

BIRTHS

Next time you are passing Bowie Hall pop inside and take a look at the ‘Alumni Wall of Inspiration’. This was the message shared with students earlier this year.

Henry Charles Major Henry Charles Major was born to Alana Major (Conlay) Class of 2004 and Erik on 24 June 2021. He weighed 3.015kg and was 51cm tall. Alana and Erik are absolutely smitten!

Our current students’ aspirations come in many shapes and sizes just like those who came before them. The girls often seek inspiration in the form of a role model, evidence that their goals are achievable, courage to keep going when the road seems tough, or put simply that ‘girls can do anything but Brigo girls can do everything!’.

Abigail Elizabeth Burke Abigail Elizabeth Burke, daughter to Tess Burke (Hayman) Class of 2004 and James, was born 10 June 2020 at 4.57pm, weighing 3.34kg, and 49cm tall. Tess and James have settled into parenthood and are loving it!

JULIET LIDDY CLASS OF 2017

Spe c ial Ol y m pic s Since leaving Brigidine College at the end of Year 12 in 2017, I have continued to be engaged in sport and enjoy participating in basketball and tennis with Special Olympics Sydney Northern Beaches.

My favourite sport is basketball and I love competing for my club regularly throughout the year at state-wide competitions, which are mixed men and women, and held over a 2-day weekend. In 2018 I was selected to compete at the Special Olympics National Games in Adelaide. My team, NSW Women’s B Grade, achieved a silver medal at the Games.

Besides keeping busy with sport, I have found employment in hospitality after completing some café and kitchen skill courses at Northern Beaches TAFE. I have worked at Bupa Aged Care as Catering Assistant and later at Dee Why RSL as Food & Beverage Attendant.

I am currently working at Packforce, part of Cerebral Palsy Alliance, and particularly enjoy working in the warehouse.

The following year I was encouraged to try out with Basketball NSW and was selected in the NSW Metro Women’s team to compete in the Ivor Burge Tournament. This is a tournament for young men and women with an intellectual disability and is held annually in conjunction with the Under 20 Australian Championships. The Championships were held in Canberra in February 2019 and the Ivor Burge Tournament was won by the NSW Country Women’s team. My team, consisting of new and younger players, came 4th in the competition.

L O U I S E S M I TH C L ASS O F 1 9 9 2

Fi lm & TV Pr oducer I was the College Captain at Brigidine College in 1992 and I was one of those people who loved school but had no idea what I wanted to do for a career, I just knew I wanted to work with people and do something creative. I decided to study Media and Communications at Macquarie University and that led me to a career in the film and television industry.

Career choices can feel daunting, but one thing I discovered when I started working in the arts, was there were so many jobs I had never heard of before, and once you start in the industry you can find your niche. There is no one way, no right way, just take one experience at a time – it is amazing where the path will lead you if you are open to the adventure.

My favourite part of being a film and TV producer is that I get to tell stories. I love working with creative people like writers, directors, and actors, and I love bringing teams of creative people together to tell a story and create a vision. I love entertaining people – which is something I developed a love of while I was at Brigidine, through playing the trombone in the school bands, the annual musical performances, and the year 11 play.

I began in the industry producing television commercials, music videos and short films, which is where I learnt “how” to produce. A lot of my short films and music videos were very low / no budget, so while they did not give me financial stability, they gave me invaluable experience and were often my most bold artistic projects.

Over my career I have had the opportunity to work with some amazing people, both in front of, and behind the camera. The first short film I produced, TULIP, was written and directed by Rachel Griffiths and starred the wonderful Bud Tingwell.

WEDDING

In 2003 I co-produced the movie THE RAGE IN PLACID LAKE starring Rose Byrne and musician Ben Lee in his first acting role; in 2007 I produced THE SQUARE written by Joel Edgerton (who also starred in the film) and Matthew Dabner, directed by Nash Edgerton; and in 2016, I executive produced DANCE ACADEMY: THE MOVIE. I produced the telemovie RIOT for the ABC in 2017, and I was honoured to interview many of the activists known as the “78ers” who were instrumental in organising the first Mardi Gras parade in 1978. I produced THE END in 2018, a ten-part drama / comedy TV series on Foxtel, about how to make life count and how to die with dignity. I’m really proud of making shows that stimulate tough conversations in an entertaining way.

The life of a producer is a roller coaster. Like many creative careers, it’s full of both rejection and triumphs - but when the lights dim in the cinema, or you tune in to watch a show you’ve made – nothing compares to the thrill of sharing stories together with family and friends.

The College has had over 7000 Alumni pass through its gates, all of whom have gone on to succeed in their chosen field, achieved great things, or made a mark on the world in their own way. They are outstanding examples of the generations of strong and gentle women the College has helped to shape. It is these women, our alumni, who represent the College in the wider community, who can provide inspiration and courage to our girls.

The Alumni Wall of Inspiration located in Bowie Hall will be a permanent display of our alumni providing inspiration to our current students, whilst at the same time acknowledging the achievements of our alumni.

Anna Pentelow Class of 2008 Anna Pentelow celebrated her marriage to Nathan Bullock in Bowral at Centennial Vineyards on 13 March this year.

She wrote, “The day couldn’t have been more perfect; the sun was out and we had all the people that meant the most to us there. Of course, the silver lining of a delayed wedding meant that our beautiful son, George, was part of the day. It was a day we will never forget.”

All except one of Anna’s bridesmaids were Brigo girls including her two sisters, Lucy Pentelow Class of 2016 and Sophie Pentelow Class of 2012.

Anna and Nathan with their son, George

If you are an alumna who has an interesting or unusual job, who has been involved in social justice, who has made their mark in the world of sport, art, music, etc, or perhaps has been on an amazing adventure, please get in touch. Your story may just help to inspire one of our current students and we would love to include you on the wall.

Contact Pip Inman, Alumni and Community Relations Coordinator, at alumni@brigidine.nsw.edu.au

(From left) Sally Jenkins Class of 2008, Angelique Bosman Class of 2008, Rachel McIntosh Class of 2008, Anna Pentelow Class of 2008, Lucy Pentelow Class of 2016, Sophie Pentelow Class of 2012, Rachael Buxton

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Alumni

Latest News

MANLY’S LOCAL WOMAN OF THE YEAR 2020

We often refer to the College motto Fortiter et Suaviter, ‘Strength and Gentleness’, and how Brigidine girls go on to live their lives by it. The story below is a wonderful example of how Samantha McCourt Class of 1992 showed strength and gentleness at a time when many were faced with loss, hardship and uncertainty.

In March this year James Griffin, Member for Manly, announced Samantha McCourt as Manly’s Local Woman of the Year. Sam, previously an oncology nurse at Manly Hospital, has been a long-time supporter of various Manly charities and is quoted as being “an all-round community legend”, launched the Northern Beaches ‘Viral Kindness’ initiative during last year’s COVID-19 restrictions to assist people across the Northern Beaches during the pandemic. The group now has over 3000 members and has supported people in a variety of ways. It connected the community at a time of crisis and demonstrated the positive impact the actions of one person can have.

Since the launch of the Viral Kindness initiative in March 2020, Sam has formed ‘Kindness Coffees’, an innovative and accessible way for people to offer support to Manly’s rough sleepers and those in need of assistance.

Sam joined Mr Griffin and Minister for Women, Bronnie Taylor at the Woman of the Year Awards, hosted at the ICC, where she

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received her award among other women celebrated including NSW Woman of the Year, Dr Kerry Chant.

On receiving her award Sam said, “It is a real honour to receive this year’s Manly Local Woman of the Year award and be recognised alongside some huge champions of 2020, like Dr Kerry Chant. I am pleased to have made an impact on the lives of some the people in our community hardest hit by Covid last year. It has been an absolute privilege to be able to help those in need.”

Mr Griffin commended Sam’s work within the community. He said, “She is a true inspiration to women who want to get involved in their community and launch their own programs of support. When Sam founded Viral Kindness, it was a demonstration of someone starting a movement that made a huge impact when it was needed the most. I think she is truly deserving of this year’s award.”

Congratulations, Sam, on a fabulous achievement, we couldn’t be more proud.

Alumni

Events

CELEBRATING OUR PIONEERS AND GOLDEN GIRLS On Saturday 15 May we welcomed 30 of our Pioneers and Golden Girls to the College.

Our Pioneers, an important group of women, were the very first pupils of the school when it opened in 1954. It is the first time in almost two years we have been able to host the group at the College, after last year’s event was cancelled due to Covid.

It was a wonderful day where our Pioneers and Golden Girls were able to catch up with one another over lunch, be introduced to College Principal, Laetitia Richmond and go on a tour of the campus so they could see how things have changed since their school days.

The Classes of 1960 and 1961 were presented with a gift to mark 60 years since graduating from the College and the Classes of 1970 and 1971 were welcomed to the group fondly know as the Golden Girls, celebrating 50 years since graduation.

WELCOME BACK CLASS OF 2020 On Wednesday 2 June we were excited to welcome back to the College the Class of 2020. The first time on campus as part of our Alumni community, they were able to catch up with one another and teaching staff, collect their 2020 Yearbook and tell us about what they have been doing since their graduation. After such an uncertain year last year it was great to see them all together again and hear their news.

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Alumni

Where are they now?

Barbara told us “now I am retired, I am enjoying family, exercise and Mah-jong.”

Anita Halpin Class of 1961 shared her story too: “I attended Brigidine between 1957 and 1958, Year 7 and 8 and I remember there being only 30–40 girls at the College during that time. While there, I had friends from Corpus Christi, Christine Nemes (Collins) and the late Julie Robinson (Floyd). Christine and I have remained friends. On leaving the College in 1958 I completed my education at boarding school.”

When Anita left school, she worked in a bank.

She was married at Corpus Christie Church in 1969 and has two children. She told us, “When I returned to work, I had a wonderful career in Aged Care Administration. I loved talking with the residents and hearing their stories, which meant I had to bring a lot of work home with me!”

(Left to right) Anita Halpin (Brooks), Alice Halpin and Barbara Driscoll (Brooks)

THE BROOKS SISTERS

In 1954 the College opened its doors to its first students, now fondly known as our Pioneers.

Two of them, the Brooks sisters, Barbara Driscoll and Anita Halpin, tell us about their lives and how the tradition of a Brigidine education continues in their family today.

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Barbara told us “Sixty-seven years ago, Ruth Bridger (Gardiner), Angela Hendy (O’Connor), Maureen McCallum (Dalton), Tessie Quinn (Lynch), and I began our secondary education at Brigidine College St Ives. We were among the ‘Pioneers’ taught

by Mother Romuald and the lovely Mother Adrian. During our first year, we were joined by the late Geraldine Slattery (Links) and the late Marie Duff (MacNamee). We were all members of the Class of 1958.”

After the ‘Leaving’, Barbara trained at the Mater General Hospital and then joined the staff at the Mater Private Hospital as a Registered Nurse. In 1964 she married Michael Driscoll and shortly after, they purchased The Urunga Pharmacy and made the wonderful ‘sea change’ to the North Coast. In 1994 Barbara studied Social Welfare and says she was fortunate to be employed by Coffs Harbour Legacy as Field Officer, assessing the needs of War Widows in the surrounding districts.

Barbara and Michael have been blessed with seven children, 20 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Anita now has four grandchildren, one of whom is Alice Halpin. Alice joined the College in Year 7 this year. Anita said “I was thrilled when Alice’s dad told me he was sending Alice to Brigidine. It is a beautiful school and I know Alice loves it.”

Barbara also spoke of Alice, “I know my grand-niece Alice is very happy and proud to be at Brigidine College and I know she will make many lifelong friends, as I have.”

And what of Alice and continuing the Brigidine tradition in her family? Alice’s mum said, “Alice is thrilled to have joined the Brigidine community and has been overjoyed at the wide range of extracurricular activities, both academic and sporting. She has loved making new friends at the school and is looking forward to the Brigidine adventures to come.”

We are looking forward to hearing all about those adventures and how Alice continues the family tradition.

Whilst at Brigidine I was heavily involved in music, both in academics and cocurricular.

I completed HSC Music 2 and Music Extension (Composition), and performed in many groups, including the concert band, stage band, brass band, rock band and musicals. I was the Music Captain and the recipient of the Marie Duffy Service to Music Award in 2019.

ZOE GOUGOUSIDIS CLASS OF 2019

Young Alumni, Zoe Gougousidis Class of 2019, tells us about studying at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Since graduating from Brigidine, I’ve been working towards my Bachelor of Music (Composition) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, which has been an incredible experience so far. I have been lucky to study under some of Australia’s most accomplished composers, which has helped me refine my skills and understanding of compositional practice, as well as find new ways to think about how music is written.

In my almost two years studying here, I have written for a variety of ensembles, from solos, homogeneous ensembles, and jazz ensembles to a full-sized brass band.

My most recent works include a large-scale piece for brass band, a solo trumpet work

using mathematical processes gleaned from a chocolate milk carton, as well as a jazz quartet focussing on the unlucky number 13.

I have also been able to continue my study in euphonium, performing with the Conservatorium’s excellent ensembles, and refine my skills in sound recording, including being the head audio engineer of the half-yearly composer’s concert.

Outside of University, I have been participating in competitions, most recently being selected for the Artology Fanfare Composition Competition, in which my piece was workshopped with professional composers and will be premiered by the Sydney Youth Orchestra later this year. With two more years to go in my degree, there is plenty more to learn (and much more music to write), and I’m looking forward to seeing where it takes me.

You can listen to Zoe’s jazz quartet composition “Better Luck Next Time” by scanning the QR code.

VALE ANNETTE SIDGREAVES In 2020 we sadly farewelled one of the Brigidine Pioneers, Annette Sidgreaves (Thompson) Class of 1959, who died peacefully on 11 June following a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Annette was the 13th student to be registered at the College in our pioneering years and in 1959 was our third College Captain.

Her mother, Winifred (Win) Thompson (Manders), had a long and close association with the Brigidine Sisters following her years as a boarding student at Brigidine Randwick. Living at Roseville, Annette was educated by the Brigidine Sisters at Holy Family Primary School, Lindfield, so the new Brigidine College at St Ives was the natural choice for her secondary education. Like Win, Annette maintained lifelong friendships with her school friends, the Brigidine Sisters and College staff, many of whom attended her funeral at St Joseph’s College Chapel on 24 June 2020.

Annette was the embodiment of a Brigidine girl. She lived our values of integrity, courage, and compassion.

As a Pioneer, Annette truly embraced our motto of ‘Strength and Gentleness’, undertaking her education at a time when girls’ education was not as rigorous but had the benefit of the Brigidine Sisters

commercial designers and shopfitters.

Annette and Bryan’s second daughter, Louise Sidgreaves, designed these items and they were made by one of the Sidgreaves’ furniture makers.

Annette as College Captain

who recognised that quality education and academic pursuit was an essential element for each girl’s future.

As the first anniversary of Annette’s death passes, the College treasures having her friendship and the memories and legacy of her time as one of our first student leaders.

As a community we hold Annette and her family in our hearts and prayers, and we give thanks for her life and dedication to family and the Brigidine community.

After leaving school, Annette trained to be a primary school teacher and later taught at Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Forestville, and Our Lady of Perpetual Succour School, West Pymble.

She married Bryan Sidgreaves in 1964 and together they raised nine children and became the proud grandparents of 22 grandchildren. Their eldest daughter, Donna, is the wife of former staff member, Richard Quinn who was Director of Mission in the 1990s. The links with Annette’s family continue, with the main furniture items in St Brigid’s Chapel (altar, ambo and presider’s chair) designed and manufactured by Sidgreaves & Co., Annette and Anne Lomas

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Archives

Delany Relics As the College Archivist, I am often asked by the Brigidine community, “What is your favourite object in the Archives?”. There are so many amazing objects it’s almost like picking your favourite star in the night sky, but there are objects that stand out in my mind which have interesting appearances, curious origins, or mystery surrounding them.

This was certainly the case with the oldest collection items in our archive: the relics of Dr Daniel Delany. A mystery from the beginning, we didn’t know where they came from, who they once belonged to, or how they ended up in our collection. But I always knew they were meant for more than being hidden away in our archive, and with the support of the Patrician Brothers, our little relics connected our community in a whole new way.

A relic is an object of religious significance from the past, which usually consists of the physical remains of a saint or admired person preserved for purposes of veneration as a tangible memorial. There were two relics in our collection. The first was a lock of hair inside a silver pendant, which was worn by one of our Brigidine Sisters.

The second was a little more confronting – a small, brittle envelope enclosing pieces of hair, cloth and wood fragments from the exhumation of Dr Daniel Delany’s body. The following is an excerpt from the memories of Mother Margaret Mary: I was professed in 1905. Early in that period, a guess at 1911 or 1912, I was a young nun and I remember the mosaic being put down in the Sanctuary. Dr Delany was buried inside the Sanctuary.

His remains were taken up and the coffin was put on chairs before he was re-buried outside the sails opposite the epitaph.

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Framed relics of Dr Daniel Delany

I was a very young nun and an old nun asked me to go and see the remains. All the nuns were going out. I went. But I had no interest at the time, in fact I was afraid of the dead. Now I see how wonderful it was to have seen the remains. He was nearly one hundred years dead at the time. Being buried in the Church, the ground about the coffin was very dry. While the mosaic was being laid down the lid was taken off the coffin. When the air got in, I remember seeing the vestments falling into dust. The skeleton was there and his hair. Nuns took pieces of his hair and vestments away.

Some of the hair went out to Australia.

The relics were distributed throughout the world to the members of the Brigidine and Patrician Orders associated with Dr Daniel Delany. Our records indicated that the relics were transferred from the Brigidine Provincial Collection by Archivist, and our past Principal, Sr Anita Murray, to our College Archives in 2007. It is unclear how these came into Provincial Archives

however they were most likely donated by a Brigidine Sister.

The relics in the envelope are over 100 years old and are severely degrading so the Archives needed to put some preservation methods in place. It was time to reach out to our Brigidine community for guidance.

We first spoke with Sr Anita Murray, and the current Provincial Archivist Sr Kathleen Butler, and then contacted our associated Patrician Brothers Archivist, Br Stephen Sweetman. In our meetings, Br Stephen suggested the relics could be placed on display at the Delany College in Granville; a fitting home for Dr Daniel Delany’s remains to be honoured.

These small pieces of history were finally coming out of their box after decades and into the light to be known and appreciated. The relics were beautifully framed together with the history of their origin and presented to Delany College on Delany Day, 16 June 2021.

Delany Day celebrates Dr Daniel Delany as Founder of Delany College and the Patrician Brothers. Delany College invites students from Sydney-based Patrician associated schools to participate in the event.

The students are divided into mixed school groups and attend workshops to learn about Delany’s life and symbols, sing hymns and Irish songs, and prepare for the liturgy.

Students from each College were chosen to participate in the liturgy, reciting the Prayers of the Faithful and the Gospel readings.

This liturgy reflected on the connections and spirit of our community linked through our congregation Founder, Dr Daniel Delany.

The relics were presented by Brigidine College Year 10 students, Erin Rothemund and Sabina Arianayagam, to representatives of Delany College.

We are so often looking forward, but on this day we all took a moment to look back; to find out who we are, where we came from and why we are here today. We found where we belong in the world and united two stories creating a connection with not only the present, but all that came before, and set a foundation for all that will come next. As an archivist, I now truly appreciate that, while much of my work is in the background, it does make a difference.

JESSICA MOORE ARCHIVIST

DR DANIEL DELANY Dr Daniel Delany is the Founder of the Brigidine and Patrician Orders in Tullow, Ireland.

In 1747, Daniel Delany was born in Paddock, Ireland to a staunch Catholic and wealthy farming family. Intellectually brilliant and with a sensitive disposition, at the age of 16, Delany decided to become a priest. Ireland had a turbulent social and political climate at the time, so he was smuggled out of the country to a college in Paris to begin his studies. In 1770, Daniel Delany was ordained a Priest and returned to Ireland where unrest and crime was still rampant. His first appointment as priest curate was to Tullow at the end of 1777. He organised Sunday school for adults as well as children. He tried sermons and house-to-house visitation.

He enlisted the help of the wives and mothers in trying to remedy some of the deplorable behaviour in the parish. Daniel gathered some children and started a choir, teaching them to sing at Mass and at Vespers. From hymn singing he progressed to prayer and religious instruction. As the youth learned to sing and read, they acquired a new sense of dignity and classes were formed. The numbers increased so much so that Daniel Delany had to enlist the help of young women and men whom he trained with great care. The parish of Tullow was slowly being transformed. Daniel Delany was curate for only six years when he was appointed coadjutor to Bishop O’Keeffe in 1783.

Brigidine College St Ives presenting the relics to Delany College

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THE COLLEGE THANKS OUR GOLD SPONSORS, ACER AND EXETEL, FOR THIS YEAR’S FUNDRAISING FOR COLLEGE BURSARIES.

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