St Brendan's Catholic Primary School Coragulac eNewsletter

Prayer

Dear Lord,

As the school doors close and the holidays begin, we ask for your loving presence to be with each member of our school family - our students, staff and their loved ones.

We pray for the safety and protection in all their travels and adventures. Watch over them on every journey, whether near or far, keeping them from harm and guiding their steps.

May these holidays be a time of rest and rejuvenation. Help them to find joy in simple moments, laughter with family and friends, and the peace that comes from taking a break from routine.

Inspire them to make wise and responsible choices, always considering their well-being and the well-being of others.

We give thanks for the blessings of the past term and look forward to the new opportunities that await us. Bring us all back together safely, refreshed and ready for the next chapter.

Amen.

Principal's Message

Dear Families and Friends,

What an incredible term it's been. Our students have truley embraced every opportunity for learning, growth, and community spirit.

One of the standout memories for our Year 5/6 students was undoubtedly the 5/6 camp, where they tackled challenges, built stronger friendships, and made lasting memories. We also enjoyed a fantastic whole school Goat Farm Excursion, offering a hands-on learning experience that captivated everyone.

Our school community shone brightly during Catholic Education Week, celebrating our faith and values with various special events. We then came together to honour our patron saint on St. Brendan's Feast Day, a truly special occasion filled with joy and reflection.

It's been a term packed with rich experiences, and we're so proud of all our students' enthusiasm and engagement!

Unfortunatley I have had to take unexpected Leave over the last two weeks so I have not been here for a very busy end of Term!

I would like to thank the teachers for all of their work with the Reports and Learning Conversations. I am sure that you are all very proud of the your child's effort and achievements. We look forward to seeing more growth, both personally and academically, in Semester Two.

I would like to acknowledge Tahlia's contributions to our school over the last 4 and a half years and wish her and Jesse all the best for this new chapter in their lives. You will be missed Tahlia! Once again, thanks to Kate and Liz for stepping into the classroom next Term.

I congratulate Gerard on being announced as the new Principal of St. Brendan's. I must admit, I had my fingers crossed that he would be successful! Gerard has made a big impression in his short time here and I am sure will do a wonderful job of leading the school.

Thank you to all students, staff and parents for all that you have done this Term. Enjoy the break. May you all have a very safe and happy holiday and we look forward to seeing everyone at the beginning of Term 3.

Leanne

Leanne Eastman

Farewell Tahlia!

The St. Brendan's school community collectively would like to acknowledge and thank Tahlia O'Keeffe for everything she has brought to our school over the last 4 and a half years. Tahlia has been an extremely dedicated and highly organised teacher who approaches her role with immense passion. Her genuine care for her students has been evident in every interaction, making a profound and positive impact on thir learning and well-being.

Tahlia, we cannot thank you enough! Wishing you all the best at your new school, they're very lucky to have you, and we wish Jesse and yourself all the best for this new chapter in your lives.

St Brendan's will miss you!

Trivia Night - Save the Date!

A friendly reminder that our school Trivia night will be held on Friday 25th of July at 7pm.

This is a wonderful opportunity for the St. Brendan's community to come together, strengthen connections, and enjoy each others company, all while raising vital funds for our school.

All families should have received some raffle tickets to sell, if you need anymore please see Grace in the office and ensure you are returning them to the office once you've sold them.

If anyone is able to help out with the event please contact Adele. She has lots of jobs that need doing in the lead up to the event, week of and day of. You can give her a call on 0439 437 811 or email her on adele_0073@hotmail.com.

Lastly, if anyone has any spare christmas napkins that they would be willing to donate that would be amazing. Thank you!

We hope to see as many of you as possible there on the night!

Bush Excursion

Due to unforeseen poor weather conditions, our planned bush excursion was cancelled for Term 2. We are actively working to reschedule this valuable learning experience for Term 3 and we will inform you of the new date as soon as confirmed.

5/6 Winter Sport

Get ready for Winter Sports! They'll kick off in the first week of Term 3. This season, we're excited to announce that we'll be teaming up with Colac West Primary School.

We'll share further details, including schedules and teams, in the first week back!

Building Project

Our major Building Project is moving along and we are still on track to begin in Term 4!

School Attendance and Absentee Notification

Just a reminder that PAM is a platform where we are able to communicate between our School and our Families. This is the easiest way for us to ensure all of our students are safe and accounted for. You can find it at the link below:

https://pam.sbcoragulac.catholic.edu.au/Login

If your child is absent for any reason please log it in PAM. This ensures that your child is home safe and hasn't had anything happen to them on the way to school in the morning.

If we have sent out a permission on PAM for an excursion, please respond with either a yes or no, we need to know either way.

Please remember students are not permitted to leave school unless permission has been granted. In these circumstances, the student needs to be signed out in the register at the Office.
If your child is late to school, please also ensure they are coming to the office on their way in, as often the rolls have already been done and we need to sign them in.

If your PAM isn't working please let us know. You can also send the office a quick email or a quick call to let us know of anything changing.

Thank you for your support in all these school matters.

Enrolments

2026 Foundation enrolments are now open. We have upscaled our Social Media output to spread the word about our wonderful school. It has been really positive to see people responding positively to the advertisements.

A reminder that one of the best ways to advertise a school is by word of mouth. Spread the word!

Child Safety

At St. Brendan’s, we know that every child is unique - and so are their needs. Some children may face extra challenges in their lives, whether that’s at home, in friendships, with emotions, or in learning. It is our role as a school to notice, support and care for these children. What does this mean?

A vulnerable child might be:

Going through a tough time at home

Finding it hard to manage emotions or behaviour

Missing school regularly

Feeling isolated or disconnected

Showing changes in mood, learning, or friendships

We work as a team - teachers, support staff, wellbeing leaders and families - to gently identify these signs and put support in place. This might include:

✔ Checking in regularly with a trusted adult at school

✔ Involvement in small wellbeing or social groups

✔ Working with families to find the best way forward

Why do we do this?

Because every child deserves to feel safe, valued and supported—no matter their circumstances. Early support can make a big difference in helping kids build confidence, improve learning, and feel connected at school.

If you ever feel your child is going through a hard time or needs extra support, please reach out.

We’re here to listen, help, and work with you to make sure your child feels safe, happy and supported every day.

Bike Wheels Wanted

In our ‘Bike Wheel Drive’ we have currently collected one bike wheel - thanks to Pat O’Shea! We need at least 20, so if you have any spare bike wheels it would be appreciated. A variety of sizes would be great!

As mentioned in the previous Newsletter we will be using them for an Art project. The painted bike wheels will be used to decorate the front of the sports shed.

Please note: We do not need the whole bike, just the wheels.

However, if you happen to have any bikes in good working order, we are always looking for bikes for the children to ride.

Social Media

A reminder that you can follow us on the following social media platforms to stay up to date with all of the happenings in our vibrant school community.

@stbrendansprimary

Prep/1 Classroom

Welcome to Week 11!

We made it! What a massive term it has been. We’ve achieved so much and engaged in so much learning. I’m incredibly proud of the growth every student has made.

Learning Conversations: It was lovely to speak with so many of you and share the wonderful learning and work samples from this semester. If you weren't able to attend, your child’s portfolio has been sent home. Please ensure it is returned to school next term. Thank you!

After four and a half wonderful years at St. Brendan’s, next term I’ll be moving on to a new chapter in my teaching journey. As my very first school, this community has played such a significant role in shaping me as an educator, and it will always hold a special place in my heart. I feel incredibly grateful for the experiences I’ve had, the friendships I’ve made, and the amazing students and families I’ve had the privilege to work with.

Thank you to the students, families and staff who have made my time here so special, it has truly been a joy to be part of this school.

Wishing you all a lovely and restful break,

Tahlia

Tahlia O'Keeffe
tokeeffe@sbcoragulac.catholic.edu.au

2/3/4 Classroom News

Welcome to Week 11!

We have made it through a long and busy term.
The 2/3/4's are looking forward to sharing their dioramas with the P/1's this week.
A lot of thought has gone into creating these amazing worlds and they look fantastic!

Thank you Trinity Year 10 students who have visited our school this week, Billy, Rharni and Treah. We appreciate your time and participation. The children have loved having you here!

We say a sad farewell to Tahlia who who is re-locating to Geelong. We wish her all the very best in her new school and thank her for the dedication and love she has given to St. Brendan's.

I know she will shine in her new role, and he a huge asset to St. Catherine of Siena.

I wish everyone a safe and rejuvenating break and look forward to the adventures of Term 3!

The Star of the Week award goes to Declan Ellen. Congratulations on your excellent effort!

Warm Wishes,
Mandy Sutherland
msutherland@sbcoragulac.catholic.edu.au

5/6 Classroom News

What a truly fantastic term it's been at our school!

Our students have embraced every opportunity with enthusiasm, from exhilarating adventures at camp to competitive and fun sporting activities. Beyond these highlights, there's been so much great learning happening in our classroom, with students demonstrating wonderful growth and engagement across all subjects.

We hope you have a wonderfully safe and happy holiday, filled with rest, rejuvenation, and memorable moments. We can't wait to welcome everyone back, refreshed and ready for an exciting start to Term 3!

gdouglas@sbcoragulac.catholic.edu.au