Confident Girls 

I often receive comments about how confident our Barbreck girls are, particularly from parents touring our School and considering Barbreck for their daughters. For many of these parents, the difference between their daughters, and our Barbreck girls, is striking – enough for them to comment on. I also hear it from our current parents who love how much confidence their daughters demonstrate. 

At Barbreck we teach more than just the prescribed Australian curriculum. Our academic, co-curricular, and wellbeing programs, along with our educators and learning environment draw many families to our School. They are also the key to developing the self-confidence of each of our Barbreck students.  

On Wednesday evening at our Junior School Concert, we witnessed one such example. Through our fabulous Performing Arts Program, girls from Prep to Year 6 are taught music and performance skills to participate in this end-of-year Concert. What is wonderful is that each Barbreck girl has an opportunity to perform in front of a large audience of family and friends. 

Throughout the year, girls develop their skills, rehearse together, and experience a dress rehearsal the night before. Each year, all our girls perform, including our Prep students – ensuring from their earliest time in Barbreck, that performance is a normal occurrence in their school lives.  

From this foundation the girls build their self-confidence, surrounded by their peers all experiencing the same nervous excitement for the first time. As the girls journey through Barbreck their confidence continues to grow as they embrace more opportunities to step outside their comfort zones. 

In Prep, confidence is also developed during Show and Tell and continues through the Year levels as our students present their projects, group work, explain how they worked something out to the class from the whiteboard, and present their public speaking speeches to their class. During these times, they are encouraged and taught how to speak publicly, how to project volume and clarity, and how to pace their speaking. All these things help girls become more assured. 

Confidence continues to be gained through performances at assembly, and participation in events and sporting activities. The girls also build confidence with their teachers and fellow students as they interact and collaborate. Having someone believe in you is a strong motivator, and as more and more success is achieved, self-confidence and self-esteem continue to develop and grow stronger. 

Confidence is also gained when you are asked for your opinion, and have your voice heard, understood, and acknowledged as being valued for what you have to say.  

Congratulations to every Barbreck girl who performed at our Junior School Concert this week. I am so proud of them! I know that each performance started with learning new skills and that as these skills developed in complexity, so did the rehearsals and support provided to the girls.  

Our amazing Music staff worked closely with each of the girls so they could all achieve their personal best in their pursuit of excellence. Thank you, and congratulations to Ms Kristen Dhono Isworo, Mrs Lisa Cook, Ms Julianna Kay, and Mrs Kate Denmead for helping our girls perform so well.  

It was wonderful to see the girls walk proudly out onto the stage, with the self-belief that they could do it – such are our Barbreck girls! 

Transition Day

Today, our Barbreck girls in Prep to Year 5 transitioned to their next Year level. This included meeting their teachers for 2024 when possible (we are still interviewing for some positions) and finding out who will be their classmates.  

The teachers have spent a great deal of time creating these classes, which are well-balanced, with every girl having a friend with them from the friendship slips they completed a few weeks ago. We ask all parents to support our class decisions. When there is more than one class in a Year level, it is important to note that classes mix often during reading, spelling, and maths groups, so all girls will have good contact with all their friends across the Year level. 

IMPORTANT DATES