Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Happy New Year. I hope you all had an enjoyable and relaxing holiday season, and were able to spend quality time with family and friends. Yesterday we welcomed back all the staff and held a staff information morning followed by Faculty planning meetings to ensure a smooth start to the new academic year. Today we have had a whole-staff retreat hosted by our Province Director for Mission from Sydney Mrs Maree Hamilton and our own Mission Support coordinator Mrs Catherine Everitt. This Retreat is a special time for staff to pause at the beginning of a busy year and reflect on the charism of the Sacred Heart and remind ourselves of the legacy of St Madeleine Sophie Barat – one that we endeavour to continue.

I am very much looking forward to welcoming your daughters back to Baradene next Tuesday, and hope that they are refreshed and eager to learn. Quality in-class time is crucial for the academic success of our students, and we are looking to maximise this in 2012. Your support in ensuring that your daughter is at school, unless there are exceptional circumstances, would be greatly appreciated.

Our first family event is the New Parents and Families BBQ which is hosted by the PTA and will be held on Tuesday, February 7 at 6.30pm, by the Baradene pool. This will be preceded by a short meeting for Year 7 parents regarding the Year 7 and 8 Activity Week at 6pm in the Auditorium. We hope all Year 7 families will be able to come along to both these events, and families new to Years 9 – 13 to the BBQ.

The Opening Mass for 2012 will be held at 6.30pm on Thursday, February 9 in the Baradene Auditorium. School will close at 1.20pm that afternoon to allow students the afternoon off, and it is expected that they return to school for the Mass in the evening. We ask if students could please arrive at 6pm to line up in the Gymnasium prior to processing into the Auditorium. Our Opening Mass each year is a very special occasion at Baradene and I look forward to seeing many of our Baradene families at this event.

My best wishes to all our staff and students for good start to the new academic year.

Mrs Sandy Pasley
Principal