Schools are bustling hubs of activity, and this term has been particularly hectic for teachers, parents, and students alike. The abundance of learning opportunities, activities, and contributions has kept everyone fully engaged. We commenced the term on a positive note and have since maintained steady progress in both academic pursuits and student development. 

Her Voice 

Fostering girls’ empowerment and initiative lies at the heart of our ethos at Barbreck. As advocates for girls education, we take pride in nurturing their voices and empowering them to transform ideas into reality.  

This term, we witnessed the fruition of this ethos with the creation of the Kindness Board by Audrey Crosbie-Goold and Emilia Keogh, prominently displayed opposite the red steps on the lower level of our Barbreck building.  

The Board serves as a repository for heartwarming messages of kindness and appreciation, showcasing the girls’ compassion and empathy. It’s inspiring to observe the girls regularly engaging with the Board, its contents continually evolving as it fills up with new expressions of kindness.  

At Barbreck, kindness isn’t just a value we uphold; it’s a tangible force driving positive change, as evidenced by the profound impact of the Kindness Board.  

Year 5 students, Alexa and Julia Wong spoke to the girls at assembly encouraging students to join them in the Run for Kids, a community event raising funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.  

It is voices such as these that demonstrate how girls can be empowered, show leadership and a real sense of working to develop an inclusive and caring community. 

Talking the Talk Program 

At Barbreck, our curriculum adheres to the guidelines of the Australian Curriculum, which includes a dedicated focus on Health education. Within this framework, crucial topics such as consent, protective behaviours, respectful relationships, and physical changes are addressed. The curriculum is thoughtfully designed to be both sequential and developmental, ensuring that students are introduced to these concepts at appropriate stages of their growth and maturity. 

Recently, Vanessa Hamilton, the creator of ‘Talking the Talk – Healthy Sexuality Education,’ conducted sessions for both Barbreck staff and parents. Her presentation shed light on the importance of teaching our girls about their development, consent, and respectful relationships within the structured environment of both home and School, rather than leaving it solely to informal sources like the playground, the Internet, or social media platforms. 

The Talking the Talk Program was selected for its robust research foundation, offering strong evidence supporting its effectiveness. Its structured and sequential lesson progressions facilitate developmental learning. Benefits of the Program include: 

• Providing a wealth of resources, enhancing its versatility and adaptability. 
• Its inclusion of staff and parent information sessions fosters a collaborative and supportive learning environment.  
• The provision of resources accessible to parents further strengthens the Program’s holistic approach to communication development.  

Here at Barbreck, our Health educators, Mrs Jenny De Nardis (Prep to Year 4), Miss Olivia Cody (Year 5), and Ms Samantha Basford (Year 6), have collaborated with Vanessa to tailor a Program specifically for our students. This bespoke Program takes into consideration the unique nature and needs of our Barbreck girls, ensuring they receive comprehensive and age-appropriate education in these vital areas. 

For parents interested in finding out more about the health component of the Australian Curriculum or the Talking the Talk Sexuality Education Program, the following websites will be useful: 

F-10 Curriculum | Health and Physical Education – Foundation Year (australiancurriculum.edu.au) 

Talking The Talk Healthy Sexuality Education (talkingthetalksexed.com.au) 

TERM 2 IMPORTANT DATES