Our History:
St Brigid’s Catholic School opened in 1926 under the care of the Sisters of Charity. For the next 25 years they were to shape the form of Catholic Education in the Derwent Valley. The School initially catered for Primary grades and extended into secondary education for girls. In 1950 the Presentation Sisters assumed responsibility for the School and managed the School until 1993 when the first lay Principal Mr Seán Gill was appointed. The School now caters for primary co-education classes from Kindergarten to Grade Six.

The present school principal is Ms Joy Matar

Our School Motto, upon which the St. Brigid's Catholic School Vision Statement is based, is 'Virtue and Knowledge'.

School Population:
St Brigid's Catholic School has an enrolment of 220 students from Kindergarten to Grade 6. Slightly more than half of the student population lives in New Norfolk whilst the remainder come from townships or farms in the surrounding areas.

Location:
St Brigid’s Catholic School is situated on the banks of the Derwent River at New Norfolk overlooking the Derwent Valley. The 3 hectare site provides a very picturesque and practical setting with spacious outside play areas.

2009 Information

Special Programs:

CATHOLIC LIFE AND MISSION

At St Brigid's Catholic School Catholic Ethos and the extensive Religious Education Program are seen as the defining aspects of the School. Our school shares in the Mission of the Church, which is based on a rich heritage of culture and tradition. A comprehensive Religious Education program based on ‘Good News for Living’ is taught throughout the school. Student growth in faith is encouraged through activities such as regular celebration, prayer and liturgy.

Christian Outreach

St Brigid’s has a long history of support for missionary and charitable activities such as Project Compassion, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development ‘Caritas’ and St Vincent de Paul.

Program Achieve

The Self Esteem/Resilience program ‘Program Achieve’ a part of the school curriculum as a support for Religious Education and Personal Development programs.

Making Jesus Real

Upper primary grades make extensive use of the program ‘Making Jesus Real In Our Lives’ (MJR) developed by Mr Peter Mitchell from the Catholic Education Office.

Community Involvement

Students from St Brigid’s take part in a number of activities throughout the year that are initiated in the local community.

OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY

Pastoral Care

Pastoral care is an expression of the philosophy and vision of St Brigid’s Catholic School. Pastoral care permeates all aspects of school life. The Christian ethos of the school is reflected in Gospel values and these values provide the foundation of the school community’s members’ pastoral care for one another. Gospel values are characterised within the environment of genuine care, compassion and love for all members of the school community.

Buddy Program

St Brigid’s has a Buddy Program incorporated into the school structure. Visits from the older buddies are eagerly awaited by the younger classes and provide opportunities for the development of a support network, friendship and learning opportunities for both the younger children and their special buddies. Very often this support continues within the playground.

Student Leadership

The St Brigid’s Student Council consisting of School Captains and House Captains from Grade 6, and Class Councillors from Grade 3 - 5. The council members organise and take on responsibility for student activities, led at celebrations, represent St Brigid’s in the broader community and represent their peers at council meetings. Positive student leadership is encouraged and nurtured at all Grade levels. Responsibilities suitable to age and stage, the setting of realistic expectations and the growth of trust and understanding underlay the promotion of leadership skills for all students.

School Board & Parents and Friends

These parent groups make significant and valued contributions to the life of St Brigid’s Catholic School.

Parent Help Programs

All classes involve parents in student learning in some way. Some classes regularly call on parental (and grandparent) assistance for excursions and activities. Parental assistance is an integral part of school carnivals and the school camp program. Other classes run comprehensive classroom parent help programs, which give students further adult support in literacy, numeracy, motor skills and craft.

OUR LEARNING COMMUNITY

Curricula

The school has adopted for school-wide use, the New South Wales Board of Studies Curricula in Mathematics and English. The NSW curricula are the supporting documents for class scope and sequences in both areas. A comprehensive St Brigid’s Catholic School Spelling Scope and Sequence was launched in October 2008.

Good News For Living is the primary planning and supporting document for Religious Education.

Curricula policies and scope and sequences for all KLAs utilise wither the New South Wales Board of Studies Curricula and/or the Tasmanian Curricula. Science is supported by the Primary Connections program.

Kindergarten Program

The Kindergarten aims to provide a supportive and caring atmosphere where children feel comfortable, acknowledged and appreciated and where they are able to learn and develop various skills whilst having FUN!!! It is recognise that children enter school with a wide variation of experience, knowledge, values and attitudes and that each child is unique and learns and develops at a different pace. Kindergarten aims to foster school and home partnerships which nurture the development and well being of the children. Open communication between home and school is recognised as extremely important.

The Kindergarten program of activities and experiences is designed to engage and support children’s learning in a variety of ways. Primarily it aims to foster the child’s positive feeling of self-worth, to support and extend their innate disposition to learn and to actively promote the development of various necessary skills, and positive attitudes and values.

Targeted Programs

A number of initiatives have been established to support Special Learning Needs students at St Brigid’s. Consistent monitoring of the educational development of all students provides a focused approach for educational support. Special Learning Needs programmes are co-ordinated by the Special Learning Needs Teacher,

Parent Learning

At St Brigid’s Catholic School parents are offered opportunities to extend their knowledge of school practice and thus further support the home school partnership and the learning of their children.

Reporting on Student Performance

At St Brigid’s it is believed that accurate and comprehensive reporting of student achievement, development and performance assists in establishing open communication, improving student learning, assists in establishing future direction, and helps to identify areas of exemplary student performance, as well as areas in need of support and assistance. As such St Brigid’s teachers are responsible for reporting on student achievement to the students themselves, to parents, to other teachers and schools, and to the Catholic Education Office and other statutory education authorities.

Specialist and Extra Curricula Subjects

At St Brigid’s Music, Drama and Physical Education and short courses in Languages other than English are the timetabled specialist subjects. All specialist subjects are taught by suitably qualified teachers.

They attend the annual Tasmanian Cross Country Championships at Symond’s Plains and the Southern Catholic Carnivals for swimming, athletics and cross country, participate in the Grade 5 & 6 round Robin Sports Day and when possible (distance allowing) play closer Catholic schools in netball and football. Grade 6 to Prep students participate in an annual Water Safety program at the New Norfolk Pool. Students also join in local art and cultural events.

Choir, Extension French, Running Club and hockey are subjects taken on site during non-class time.

An Outdoor Education Program is offered in Grades 4 to 6. This programme consists of grade camps to various locations throughout Tasmania. Many of the activities of the camp are directly related to the curriculum and important aspects of each camp are leadership and Christian Living.

School excursions and incursions enrich the curriculum. This year, historic, environmental, artistic, scientific, cultural and social experiences have been shared by classes undertaking excursions both locally and in the wider Hobart area and incursions have brought musicians, a wild-life photographer and author and actors to the school.

Transport:
St Brigid’s Catholic School is serviced by contract buses from the following areas: Magra, Gretna, Plenty, Lachlan, Ironstone Gully and Lower Swamp Road. A designated drop off and pick up point within the School grounds is provided for parents using private transport.