Thank you for a wonderful night at our Junior School Parent Information and PFA Social Evening on Thursday 15 February. It was great to catch up with parents to share stories of our summer break and discuss the highlights of their daughter’s first few weeks back at School.

During the evening, the St Catherine’s Wellbeing Program was outlined, with a special emphasis on The Resilience Project. In light of the challenges posed by the global pandemic, we recognised the paramount importance of nurturing the girls’ health and wellbeing. Introduced in both the Junior and Senior Schools in 2022, The Resilience Project at Barbreck aims to cultivate positive mental wellbeing, empowering our girls to navigate life’s challenges with strength and optimism.

Looking ahead to 2024, we are committed to continuing our support for the wellbeing of our students and the broader school community through The Resilience Project. Central to this endeavour are our School Values of Gratitude, Empathy, Integrity, Perseverance and Curiosity, which serve as guiding principles in fostering a culture of resilience and compassion within our school community. Our Wellbeing Program demonstrates ways to integrate these values into our daily lives, enriching the experiences of our students and reinforcing the sense of belonging that defines St Catherine’s.

The Resilience Project delivers emotionally engaging programs and provides evidence-based, practical strategies to build resilience.

Our Partnership Program consists of online presentations and weekly lessons for students, professional development for staff, and a Parent & Carer Hub, which includes digital presentations for Barbreck families to access.

For those of you that are new to The Resilience Project please explore the Parent Hub and familiarise yourself with GEM: Gratitude, Empathy & Mindfulness. GEM is a key feature of The Resilience Project and supports our children in learning and developing these important life skills.

I highly recommend viewing the first presentation in the Parent Hub series linked here. Parents can hear from Mr Hugh van Cuylenburg founder of The Resilience Project. In this presentation, Hugh shares a personal experience about his sister’s battles with mental illness. Please note this presentation contains a story about eating disorders that may be triggering. Please consider this before watching. For mental health resources and support information, visit The Resilience Project’s Support Page.

The BEE-Kind Initiative

In 2023, Audrey Crosbie-Goold identified a remarkable opportunity to cultivate a culture of kindness within Barbreck. Partnering with Emilia Keogh, they embarked on a journey that has culminated in the launch of the BEE-Kind Initiative in 2024. This initiative invites Barbreck girls to pledge their commitment to fostering kindness in every aspect of their school days.

Upon signing and upholding this pledge, students earn a special badge for their blazers, symbolising their dedication to spreading positivity and compassion. Remarkably, within just one week of its inception, over 50 kindness warriors have emerged in Barbreck, embodying the spirit of the initiative with enthusiasm and sincerity.

Audrey and Emilia have further enriched this endeavour by establishing a ‘Kindness Wall,’ providing a platform for students to express gratitude by sharing messages of appreciation for acts of kindness they have experienced. It’s heartening to witness the seeds of kindness sown by this initiative taking root and blossoming within our school community.

As we continue to nurture and support the BEE-Kind Initiative, we eagerly anticipate its growth and the ripple effect of kindness it will undoubtedly inspire.

Barbreck Upcoming Events

Date: Friday 15 March
Venue: Village Green, Barbreck Junior School
Time: 4.00pm till 6.30pm

Girls from Prep to Year 4 can dress up their teddy bears, while our girls in Years 4 – 6 can showcase their graphic and photographic design skills as part of the afternoon’s activities. Please find a schedule of proceedings below.

4.30pm – Teddy Bear Parade ELC to Year 4 (siblings welcome)

5.30pm – Teddy Bear Photo Competition (Year 4 – 6)

Families are invited to pack a picnic, BYO food and drink (plastic wear only please) and to bring a picnic rug/folding chair. The PFA will have a BBQ and soft drinks available for purchase on the night. There will also be delicious ice-cream available, proudly sponsored by LICKt Ashburton (Ktenavos family).

House Cross Country Carnival – Years 3 to 6

The Junior School House Cross Country is next week.

Date: Wednesday 28 February

Venue: Kooyong Park

Time: 9.45am to 11.00am

House Cross Country is a fantastic opportunity for students to run, compete, display their determination, and cheer on their fellow House members. Parents are welcome to attend. We would love to see as many as possible to support the girls.

Please note that Miss Cody has provided a detailed explanation of the event for parents and carers via the mystcatherines parent portal.

I look forward to seeing everyone at the upcoming events.

Have a great weekend!