I sincerely believe that being a student at St Brigid’s is a real privilege. I understand that most parents that choose a Catholic education for their children feel the same way. My hope is that over their time at St Brigid’s all our students will come to realise what a privilege it is, granted that some realise this the first time they walk through the front gate, others realise it as they walk through the clap-out as they’re graduating from Year 12. Either way, I’m very confident that at some point they all come to know that St Brigid’s is a safe place, a community that cares for them, a place that challenges them with high expectations and its more than just a school, it’s a big family that you remain a part of forever.
With almost all privileges in life comes responsibility. This is no different at St Brigid’s. The school and its staff have responsibilities, parents who choose St Brigid’s have responsibilities as do our students. When we all honour our responsibilities, we can be a truly amazing educational community. Sure, there will be ups and downs but if we all play our part, I have no doubt in my mind that we are only scratching the surface of what we can be as a genuinely committed community.
When a family selects St Brigid’s as the school for their child it is typically followed by application paperwork, information evenings, taster days, enrolment interviews, transition days, etc. We understand and respect that parents have choice in where they send their child to school, and it is a real honour for us when they choose St Brigid’s.
It’s very important that we are transparent with families so that they know what a Catholic education at St Brigid’s means. We provide a holistic Catholic education that promotes faith, learning and wellbeing. As a school we need to ensure that our expectations are clear, and we need to deliver on our promises. As parents and students, you agree to commit to all components of a St Brigid’s education.
We fail when we start to pick and choose which components of a Catholic education we’ll engage with. It can never be that I’m here to learn but I’m not going to attend liturgies. It is not acceptable for a student to behave poorly yet expect they should have the privilege of representing the College. It’s not OK to go to the Athletics Carnival because you like running but fail to attend the Swimming Carnival because you’re not a great swimmer. There are countless examples, but the bottom line is simply this, by choosing St Brigid’s you choose everything St Brigid’s represents.
It’s a privilege but it comes with responsibility.
Paul Lynch
Assistant Principal
