Welcome to the 2023 school year!  

We have a wonderful year planned for our Barbreck girls. 

It has been a week of reconnecting with our community as we catch up with continuing families and welcome our many new families to Barbreck. The girls have started the year with great energy and a real commitment to starting their school year well. 

It was wonderful to see families arrive carrying their school books on Tuesday. As girls and their parents began to arrive, a real buzz of excitement was created throughout our Barbreck building.

The girls were eager to get back to School to reconnect with friends and talk about their holidays. Our returning Barbreck parents had the chance to catch up together again as well. We also welcomed our many new families and assisted them in finding classrooms, meeting teachers, and helping the girls find their desks and lockers.

The excitement of a new school year was tangible. The possibilities are endless at the start of a new year! 

Wednesday saw the girls arrive, dressed beautifully in their uniforms, eager to start the year with high expectations of themselves. We especially welcome our new preppies to Barbreck as they start their primary school journey with us. They all looked so adorable! I know they will be looked after well by all their Barbreck big sisters! 

Wednesday unfolded with introductions and conversations amongst class members, reading new diaries, navigating timetables, and touring the School grounds to help find their way around. A packing list for each day was developed with the help of both classroom teachers and specialists to assist girls with their organisation for each school day.  

The Junior School staff have been working hard preparing for the start of the year and are eager to build on the wonderful achievements of last year’s NAPLAN results. Over the past four years, Barbreck girls have consistently achieved well above the state and national averages across all subjects, and in comparison, to other girls’ schools. Our small size, teacher expertise, and programs of learning and academic care are key to this continued success. Please note that NAPLAN for Years 3 and 5 is moving to an earlier date this year on 15 to 24 March.  

A strong foundation of learning and skill development is built within Barbreck and continues into St Catherine’s Senior School. This was again evidenced with the tremendous academic achievements of our Class of 2022, which has placed St Catherine’s, for the second year in a row, as the number one girls school in Victoria. Congratulations to the girls, many of which commenced their school journey within our Junior School. 

Term 1 is shaping up to be a wonderful celebration of learning and community with many events planned across the 10-week term. To assist parents in navigating the term ahead please find key dates for your diary. Up to date calendar information is available on the myStCatherines portal.  

Term 1 Dates 

9 February ELC 3 to Year 3 Parents’ Coffee Morning 

13 February School Photo Day 

14 February Years 4 to 6 Parents’ Coffee Morning 

21 February JS & ELC Parent Information and Social Evening 6.00pm to 8.00pm 

24 February School Photos (Absentees from 13 February) 

2 March ELC 3 to Year 6 Teddy Bears Twilight Picnic 5.00pm to 7.00pm 

8 March Junior School House Cross Country 

13 March Labour Day Holiday 

15 – 24 March NAPLAN testing for Years 3 and 5 

16 March Parent-Teacher Interviews 1.30pm to 7.00pm 

23 March Years 4 to 6 Parents’ Social Evening 

29-31 March Year 5 Sovereign Hill Study Tour 

6 April Junior School Easter Service @ St Johns Anglican Church 2.00pm to 3.00pm 

6 April END OF TERM 1 3.20pm 

The Barbreck staff and I look forward to working with you in partnership this year to achieve the best outcomes for your daughters.