Welcome to Term 4!  

It is hard to believe that after this term, the girls will be moving to their next Year level. While time seems to have flown, you can see the girls have all grown, not just in height but also in their knowledge and skill development. We are proud of them all. 

In the last week of Term 3, the girls engaged in painting some pieces of artwork guided by First Nations artist, Merindah-Gunya (Bayley Mifsud). These artworks look fabulous, and I know the girls are very proud of their input. The pieces will soon be hung in the stairwell next to the STEM Lab in Barbreck leading to the ground level. Please keep an eye out for these, as they are very striking and a wonderful addition to the extensive range of quality artworks the girls see in the building every day. 

This is a very busy term with many events and activities in place to send the girls off in good fashion. Currently, our Years 3 and 4 girls are on camp, our Years 1 and 2 girls will be either staying back late at Barbreck one afternoon for dinner, or staying overnight in the Music Room in their magical tents as part of their camp experience. It is all so very exciting for them! 

International Day of the Girl

Next week, we will be acknowledging International Day of the Girl, a day when we recognise all of the girls in the world and how fortunate Barbreck girls are in comparison to many girls around the world in underdeveloped countries.  

Some of the activities the girls will participate in will depend on their age and ability. These are included in the table below. 

The morning will begin with all the girls listening to Jemima Montag, an Australian racewalker, who won Bronze Medals at the 2024 Olympics earlier this year in Paris. Jemima is an inspirational speaker and a wonderful female to start this special day for our girls. 

Fire Safe

Next week, our girls in Years 1 to 3 will be learning about the need to work out escape routes in their homes in case there is a fire. This is a timely reminder for us all to do this, and I encourage all Barbreck Families to have a roundtable discussion with their children and develop a plan, and have it displayed prominently for them to see regularly. While adults will remember, in times of high stress and panic, children will not, so a constant reminder in the form of a map will embed this plan in their long-term memory. Hopefully, they will never have to use it, but in the case of an emergency, it is good to know they are well prepared. 

Sun Protection in Term 4

As we move towards the summer months, I remind parents and children of the need to wear sun protection. Being someone who has had a number of skin cancer-related surgeries, I cannot stress enough the need for daily protection. I will be talking to the girls about this in the coming weeks and will be playing the following video.

Unfortunately, most sun damage happens from daily exposure with many adolescents already showing signs of sun damage. So, if there is a request for sunscreen, you will know where it is coming from. 

I look forward to this exciting term ahead. Please find below an outline of key dates for our Barbreck community in Term 4. 

Term 4 – Important Dates