The year has flown, and we now find ourselves in Term 4!  

All our girls have grown personally and academically. We now have our Preppies looking towards Year 1, our Year 3 girls looking forward to the move to the lower level, a new uniform and laptops, our Year 5 girls looking forward to being the Barbreck Leaders in 2024, and our Year 6 girls preparing for their first year in the Senior School. There will be changes for everyone! The one constant in our lives is change and adapting to those changes with resilience and preparation is the key to success. 

For most girls, a change in teachers, expectations, and class composition for next year is a change they can expect and be able to plan for, and adjust to, over the course of this term. 

At Barbreck, we carefully consider the composition of each class to ensure every girl has at least one friend with them. We ensure classes are balanced in terms of numbers, academic ability, and levels of need to name a few. Making and keeping friends are key skills for changing classes. 

Social skills such as making new friends, collaborating, negotiating, compromising, teamwork, and working with and getting along with a wide range of people are essential for our girls’ future development and success. These skills have been identified as 21st-century skills and were prominent in the Years 5 and 6 Careers Day Program discussions with guest presenters. These are skills they need to begin developing from an early age. 

Friendships always play a big part in our girls’ school lives. In Barbreck, we work hard to encourage our girls to have a wide circle of friends, not just ‘one best friend.’ Having a wide circle of friends has many advantages and makes for a well-adjusted girl.  

A number of good friends help develop: 

• Great social skills 
• Different perspectives 
• A well-rounded view on what are acceptable behaviours and opinions 
• An understanding of the need for compromise,  
• Negotiation skills.  

We need to adopt the phrase ‘Why have one friend when I can have more!’ 

2024 Student Leaders 

Our Year 5 girls are keenly looking towards changing their roles within Barbreck and accepting greater responsibilities with the upcoming leadership election. However, this process can be a difficult time when every girl at Barbreck has such enormous potential. Handling disappointments is difficult for everyone, particularly when children are still learning to cope when their expectations are not met or realised. Whether it is winning a race, getting a great mark on a test, or being elected for a leadership position, disappointment can be hard. However, it is something everyone needs to experience and learn to deal with.  

Conversations Help 

Preparing girls beforehand can be of benefit. Point out that there could only be one winner and talk about what they will do or how they might feel if it is not them. For many, the idea that they might not be successful/win or be chosen has not crossed their mind. By talking of the possibility, it begins to prepare them and puts the situation into a broader perspective. There will always be other competitions, races, and elections, particularly at St Catherine’s – this just might not be the right time for them now, but it can be in the future. 

Beyond Boundaries Camps 

This term we have girls embarking on the following camping programs: 

Year 1: A late night at school 

Year 2: An overnight camp in the Barbreck Auditorium 

Years 3 & 4: Sunnystones Camp 

Years 5 & 6: Golden Valley Lodge 

Important Dates in Term 4 

It is going to be an extremely busy term, but we know our girls thrive on the excitement, and are active participants in all events and activities. 

We have International Day of the Girl Child (11 October), GSV Sports, Music Recitals, our Junior School Concert, PFA Christmas Fair, Year 6 Celebration Dinner, Carol Service, Final Assembly, and so much more. 

I encourage families to note the dates provided below for a wonderful final term for 2023.  

IMPORTANT DATES