St Bede's Catholic College Newsletter 19 - 1 December 2023

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE – JOHN MURPHY

PRAYER  

Lord, Jesus Christ, our Sovereign King, 
 the beginning and end of all things. 
You have made your Church to be a people 
that bears witness to the goodness  
and beauty of your kingdom. 
By your Holy Spirit,  
you have united us as one body, 
called to live as one family of God. 
Fill our hearts with your grace, 
that we would be close to you 
by being close to the vulnerable and marginalised. 
Give us the patience to share one another’s burdens, 
and give us the courage to always be friends of the truth. 
May we remain with you always. 
Amen. 
St Bede … Pray for us. 

BISHOP MICHAEL KENNEDY 

Last Friday, we had the privilege of hosting Bishop Michael Kennedy, who was accompanied by Father Camillus, to St Bede’s for the first time. Highlights of their visit included a tour of our campus, morning tea with the staff, and an inspiring address to our students. Our students were highly engaged due to the powerful and personal nature of Bishop Michael’s address. Included in his address was the story behind his childhood upbringing and his calling to the priesthood, and his work as our Maitland Newcastle Diocese Bishop.  

Below is a summary of Bishop Michael’s background: 

• The youngest of nine children, he was born and educated in Wagga Wagga. 
• He studied at the Sydney Catholic College of Education and taught for several years at Xavier Catholic College.
• In 1992 he commenced seminary studies at Vianney College in rural New South Wales and studied in Rome during 1994. 
• Ordained as a priest in 1999 and held various positions in the Diocese of Wagga Wagga, including Apostolic Administrator of the Wilcannia Forbes Diocese. 
• Served on various Bishops Commissions and Councils. 
• Bishop of Armidale Diocese from 2012 – 2021. 
• Installed as the ninth Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle on Friday 17 March 2023 at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton. 
• Member of the Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission, and Service. 

We thank Bishop Michael for his visit, and we look forward to more visits in the future. 

RETIREMENT OF MRS HENDERSON, PRINCIPAL AT OUR LADY OF LOURDES TARRO 

After 50 years of dedicated service to Catholic education, Cheryl Henderson has decided to retire and complete her role as the Principal of Our Lady of Lourdes Tarro at the end of 2024. Ms Henderson commenced her time at Our Lady of Lourdes, Tarro in 2009 as the Assistant Principal in 2009 and then as Principal in 2011. 

With Our Lady of Lourdes Tarro being one of our primary feeder schools, many of our students and parents/carers have had their lives enhanced by the extraordinary hard work, dedication, generosity, and wisdom of Ms. Henderson. When I commenced my role as Foundation Principal here at St Bede’s in 2017, I was warmly welcomed and assisted as a new Principal to the Diocese by M.s Henderson. Since that time, a close bond has developed between our two school communities. 

On behalf of our school community, I congratulate Ms. Henderson on her incredible career and the immeasurable positive impact she has had on students, colleagues, the Diocese, and the school communities she has served. We wish Ms Henderson all the best for retirement. 

MEDIA STORY 

Last Wednesday, a media story was published in The Telegraph, which featured St Bede’s. The story tilted ‘Hunter: Fastest growing school in region, St Bede’s Catholic College in Chisholm’ was based on an analysis of federal government data over the past five years with St Bede’s being ranked number one. From 2018 to 2022 our enrolments grew by 506%, followed by Pacific Brook Christian School with 324 and All Saints College Maitland with136%.  

Being a new school with additional year cohorts being added each year and given the increasing local population, high enrolment growth rates were anticipated but have exceeded expectations. Enrolment numbers again increased this year and will continue over the next few years. The higher-than-expected enrolment growth is another indicator of success of St Bede’s. Thank you to our community for our ongoing success. A particular thank you to our Parent Representatives Michelle McDonald and Nadine Yager for their work this year and thank you to Michelle McDonald for the media interview we did together. 

STAFF NEWS 

The process for teachers in the early years of their career in demonstrating and documenting their proficiency as a teacher is a comprehensive and demanding one. This process involves supervision, mentoring, evidence gathering over their first few years of teaching, and the submission of a detailed report and log to the NSW Education Standards Authority. This process nurtures new teachers and ensures that only teachers suitable to the profession are retained. To date, all teachers who have been through this process at St Bede’s have had their submissions approved and their status upgraded from graduate to proficient accreditation. Teachers are awarded their proficient accreditation certificates at our staff weekly briefings. Last week, we had the unusual occurrence where three of our teachers were presented with their proficient accreditation certificates at the same time. Congratulations to Ms. Ai Zhong, Mr. Beau Dalton, and Ms. Ashlyn Richards for receiving their proficient accreditation certificates.

In other news, I am happy to announce the following appointments: 

Ms. Tamara Borkowski as the Curriculum Coordinator for 2024. With the rapid growth in our student enrolments, we are piloting this new position for next year. Ms. Borkowski will work closely with the College Executive in assisting in curriculum planning, assessment, reporting, and subject selections. Ms. Borkowski has been our Technologies & Applied Studies (TAS) Leader of Learning since St Bede’s opened in 2018 and will bring a wealth of experience and skills to position. 

Ms. Kristine Hanrahan has been appointed as the Temporary TAS Leader of Learning for 2024. Ms Hanrahan has been with us for the last three years and is highly respected within our school community as an excellent teacher and a supportive member of the TAS Faculty. Ms. Hanrahan brings to the position proven long-term teaching and leadership experience. Ms. Hanrahan has been a secondary school teacher for over 18 years and included in her leadership positions have been a TAS, VET & CAPA Coordinator.  

Ms. Sophie King has been with us for all this year in the temporary Diocesan funded position as a Catholic Care’ Beyond the Gates’ Caseworker. This program is targeted towards providing additional individualised wellbeing assistance and care to students and families, over and above what schools can ordinarily provide. Ms. King’s work this year has assisted our students and families, and I am happy to announce that she will now remain in the role in a permanent capacity. 

Ms. Millen, our PDHPE Leader of Learning (LOL), has been in a job-sharing arrangement in both her teaching and leadership position since returning from parental leave earlier this year. This will continue into next year with Ms. Millen being the PDHPE LOL for Mondays to Thursdays. Mr. Wade Warren, who earlier this term had been appointed to the position of a three-day a week Temporary PD/H/PE Teaching Position, has been appointed to this position for Fridays next year. 

Ms. Cherie Kearney has been appointed to the permanent position as a School Officer. This position will involve working with our Office Team and will be based in Student Services. Ms Kearney brings to the position a wealth of administrative expertise along with working in the public sector with students and adults.  

SENIOR LEADERS RETREAT 

On Wednesday 15^th November, I had the pleasure of joining our eight Senior Student Leaders and Mr. Slater at the Mass and dinner which was part of the Diocesan Senior Students Leaders Retreat, for selected senior student leaders from the Diocesan Secondary Schools. The Mass was delivered by Bishop Michael Kennedy, which was followed by a dinner and as usual, our students were outstanding ambassadors of the College. 

WILLIAMTOWN (NEWCASTLE AIRPORT) AIRSPACE AND CIVIL FLIGHT PATH REVIEW 

Please see below a letter and fact sheet the College has received from Airservices Australia who has been working with the Department of Defence on a new airspace design for the RAAF Base Williamtown (Newcastle Airport).  

UPCOMING EVENTS

Assistant Principal Report – Emma South

College Awards Ceremonies  

We hope this newsletter finds you in good spirits and high anticipation for the release of Semester 2 reports for Year 7 to 10 and the upcoming College Awards Ceremonies where we will celebrate the successes of all students in Year 7 to 11. As we approach these exciting events, we would like to emphasise the significance of celebrating the success of our students across various domains – academic, sporting, and cultural. 

The cornerstone of any school is academic achievement, and our students have been exceptional in this regard. The upcoming awards ceremony is an opportunity for us to acknowledge and honour the hard work, dedication, and intellectual prowess of our students. From outstanding grades to innovative projects, we have a myriad of achievements to celebrate. 

Along with awards recognising academic excellence and achievement, we will also present a range of sporting awards and the 2023 Perpetual Awards. The Perpetual Awards are the most prestigious awards on offer each year and are an opportunity for us to celebrate our college commitment to the four pillars of Courage, Knowledge, Community and Faith.  

Celebrating the success of our students is more than just a ceremony; it is a reaffirmation of the values we hold dear. Recognizing and appreciating accomplishments fosters a positive and motivating environment. It encourages students to strive for excellence, promoting a culture of continuous improvement and growth. 

As we gather for the College Awards Ceremonies, let us not only applaud the winners but also appreciate the collective effort of the entire student body. Each student contributes to the rich tapestry of our academic community, and their successes, big or small, deserve acknowledgment. 

Save the Date:  

When: Thursday 7^th December 2023  
Where: Level 1 of the Peregraine Trail
Time:  We will hold two separate ceremonies this year, one for Stage 4, and a second for Stages 5 and 6. 

• Stage 4 (Years 7 and 8) Awards Presentation Ceremony
  • 4.00pm - 5.30pm
• Stage 5 and 6 (Years 9, 10 and 11) Awards Presentation Ceremony
  • 6.30pm – 8.00pm

Who: The ceremonies are attended by students receiving awards and their families. All families have been notified late last week of the award recipients.  

Make sure to mark your calendars for this special annual event. It promises to be an evening filled with pride, joy, and a shared sense of achievement as we come together to celebrate our students.  

Year 10 End of Year Program 

Our Year 10 students have again been participating in an End of Year program aimed at providing them with opportunities to expand on their study skillset, join in a range of team building, wellbeing and youth health initiatives and prepare for Stage 6 at St Bede’s. Those who are going off to complete apprenticeships or to the workforce will complete First Aid training. All of this will culminate in a farewell to those who are moving on to the workforce, apprenticeships and traineeships and a fun day out to finish their year. We thank Ms. Simmons and Ms. Hillier for their efforts in arranging this special program for our Year 10 students. 

Assistant Principal Report – Brett Donohoe

Year 7 2024 Orientation Evenings 

On Tuesday 28^th November the college held an orientation session for current students at St Aloysius who will be attending St Bede’s in 2024. The afternoon commenced with a presentation by Mr. Murphy, Mrs. South, and Mrs. Lauren Power. Mrs. Power will be the Year 7 Leader of Wellbeing and Engagement in 2024. Following the presentations all students were broken up into smaller groups where Student Leaders and volunteer staff led them on a tour around the college so they could see the contemporary learning spaces and hear the exciting news about the building works which will be completed not long after they commence. St Bede’s look forward to hosting students from Our Lady of Lourdes and other schools next Tuesday at the same time. 

Year 7-10 Semester Reports and PTS (Parent, Teacher, Student) Interviews 

Year 7-10 Semester reports will be released online on Friday 8^th December. After this time parents will be invited to book Parent Teacher Student (PTS) interviews with their child’s teachers.

These interviews will be face to face and take place on the following dates and times: 

• Thursday 14^th December 3.30pm – 8.30pm 
• Friday 15^th December 9.00am – 12.30pm 

Student Leave Procedures 

Leave will ordinarily not be granted for, or during, scheduled school examination periods, as these assessments play a crucial role in a student's academic progress and HSC performance. In cases where families anticipate a compelling need for leave during assessment periods, we request that they submit a written request to the principal. Furthermore, if deemed necessary, families are encouraged to schedule an appointment or engage in a discussion with the Principal or Assistant Principal to outline the extenuating circumstances. It is essential that this appointment is arranged at least ten school days before the intended absence from school to ensure due consideration and appropriate planning. This approach helps us maintain the integrity of our academic program while addressing the unique needs of our students. 

Please note that leave forms are no longer required where intended leave is less than ten school days. Should leave become a necessity, families are requested to submit an attendance note through Compass. We ask parents/carers to be aware of student’s formal assessment responsibilities in their request for leave submission and in any case where the student is absent, an Illness/Misadventure form needs to be completed and submitted.  

Where leave for a duration of ten or more school days is intended, parents are required to complete the Application for Extended Leave – Travel (Form A1), which can be found on the College Website. This form must include a detailed explanation for the extended leave request. This form must be completed and submitted to the school at least ten school days before the intended period of travel. Upon approval from the principal, the school will issue a Certificate of Leave, allowing for the necessary absence. 

Please note that all the necessary forms are now available on Compass, please click on the School Documents folder in the main menu.   

Catholic Formation and Mission – Andrew Slater

Mass at OLOL Beresfield 

On Saturday 25^th November, staff and students from St Bede’s joined with the parish community of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Beresfield, for the celebration of Mass for the Feast of Christ, King of the Universe. Bishop Michael was the presider, as part of his visitation to the Chisholm Region. Mrs. Burgess, Mr. Thornton, and a group of students provided the music, students were readers and altar servers, and staff participated in the presentation of gifts. Everyone came together for a BBQ after Mass.  

Vinnies Christmas Appeal 

As part of our ongoing fundraising for the Vinnies Christmas Appeal, there will be an out of uniform day on Tuesday 5^th December. Students are encouraged to dress in Christmas colours (red, green, white) and make a gold coin donation. All money raised will be donated to the East Maitland St Vincent de Paul Society, to support people in our local community. When we work together as a college community, living out the Catholic social teaching of ‘The Common Good,’ we can improve the lives of people within our society. Your donation this Christmas can help provide desperately needed food, clothing, living expenses and crisis support, along with long-term assistance to get through this ongoing cost-of-living crisis. 

Sacraments of Initiation 2024 

If your child has been baptised Catholic and is interested in completing their Sacraments of Initiation, please read the attached letter for further details.  

LEARNING DOMAIN

Year 9 Leader of Wellbeing & Engagement – Lauren Power     

It is with immense gratitude that I write to you for the last time as the Year 9 Leader of Wellbeing and Engagement!  

What an amazing year we have had together, again. I have been so excited and privileged to watch as Year 9 have all demonstrated their extraordinary gifts and talents in a variety of areas - musical performances, public speaking, art exhibitions, sporting events, cake decorating, wellbeing sessions and giving back to our St Bede’s community through volunteering. All Year 9 students should be proud of their achievements and celebrate their successes – as we have done, throughout the year, at our Year Meetings.  

We have also experimented with making our Wellbeing Sessions more active, developing connections and competitiveness in Homerooms. Our Homeroom Teachers really shone in these sessions, guiding their Homerooms through a variety of mentally and physically challenging activities. A massive thanks to our awesomely amazing Homeroom Team for 2023 and special shout out to Mrs. Haines, my Assistant Leader of Wellbeing and Engagement!  

I hope all our Year 9 families enjoy a well-deserved break over the upcoming holidays and can rest and spend quality time together.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year.  

Careers – Jennie Nemeth

SBAT Site Visits 

This week our School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBAT) students were visited at their workplace. These dedicated Year 11 students are undertaking an SBAT program as a component of their HSC studies. They work one day a week and attend TAFE or online training. Successful completion of the training and required work hours results in a Certificate III qualification in their respective fields. SBATs are a fantastic way to ease into the workforce and for students to try a career in order to ensure their preference for a particular vocation.  

Cobi Young - SBAT in Baking at Euro Patisserie 

Cobi thoroughly enjoys all things baking at Euro Patisserie. He even likes the early workday, being a seasoned competitive swimmer, working as a baker fits well within his existing schedule. Cobi loves the hands-on experience he gains from his apprenticeship, and he is driven to learning and mastering his craft from experienced professionals in the baking industry. Cobi’s passion for baking will continue to develop as he gains more experience and expertise through his apprenticeship. At the completion of his HSC, Cobi will graduate with a Certificate III in baking which equates to the first year of his apprenticeship. He will then continue the apprenticeship full time after he completes his schooling. One advantage of beginning an SBAT is the opportunity to complete school at the same time as starting your chosen career.  

Alloriah Lee - SBAT in Early Childcare at Tilly’s 

Alloriah thoroughly enjoys her time at Tilly’s Early Education Play and Development Centre! Completing a Certificate III in Early Education and Care as part of her Higher School Certificate (HSC) is a fantastic achievement. This certification will equip her with valuable knowledge and skills necessary to work effectively with young children in an educational setting. By engaging in activities that involve play and creativity, Alloriah is contributing positively to the development and education of children at the centre. Her dedication to helping and teaching demonstrates a passion for early childhood education and a commitment to fostering and nurturing a supportive environment for children to learn and thrive. This experience will serve her well in her future endeavours within the field of early education and care. Alloriah states that what she loves the most is taking care of the young children and her favourite room at Tilly’s is the pre-school aged children.  

Charlotte Abdoo - SBAT in Human Services (Nursing) at Maitland Hospital 

If you happen to end up at Maitland Hospital, you may come across our enthusiastic nursing student, Charlotte. Charlotte’s dedication to caring for people through nursing is evident in her application to providing specialist care to members of our community. When I arrived for an SBAT site visit, Charlotte was taking observations of her patients. She stated that the importance of nursing, in addition to looking patients medically, is to take the time to talk to her patients. She also shadows the registered nurse on duty to learn and assist as required. Charlotte really enjoys the change of pace from school, working one day per week at the hospital. The experience has confirmed her career pathway as she really enjoys the physical fast paced environment and caring for others when they are at their most vulnerable. Charlotte has experienced working on a ward and is shortly moving to the maternity ward to gain valuable insight on another specialist area of the hospital. She will have many more opportunities to experience the different fields of nursing when she continues her education with a bachelor's degree after the completion of Year 12 next year. At the end of Year 12 Charlotte graduates with her ATAR and a Certificate III. 

Well done to our SBAT students.  

Science – Liane Buckley

Nuclear-Powered Submarine Propulsion Challenge 

During Term 3 a group of students from Years 8-10 seized an exciting opportunity to open their eyes to new possibilities around STEM. The Department of Defence and STEM Hub presented the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Propulsion Challenge, a project-based learning experience. 

The Challenge aimed to encourage young minds to think like engineers and scientists by engaging them in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills, inspiring innovation, self-confidence, communication, and teamwork. The Challenge also aims to develop students’ interest in STEM subjects, the Australian Defence Force, and submariner careers in the Navy. 

Students met during the term to explore the technology involved in nuclear-powered propulsion systems used in submarines. 3 teams submitted a presentation. 

St Bede’s senior team WON!!!!!!

• Campbell Hill 
• Matilda Miller 
• Leo Seaton
• Anton Vannini 
• Liv Veermann 

The winning team have been invited to an all-expenses paid trip to Western Australia on the 10/12/2023 – 12/12/2023 for a behind-the-scenes tour of HMAS Stirling and immersive experience with the Royal Australian Navy. 

Hunter Valley Wildlife Park 

A fantastic day out with Year 7 exploring animal diversity at Hunter Valley Wildlife Park.  

Superstars in STEM 

Superstars in STEM is a game-changing Australian initiative to smash gender assumptions about who can work in science, technology, engineering, and maths. Since it was created by Science & Technology Australia in 2017, it has made a powerful contribution to start to tackle the serious gender inequity of visible diverse role models featured in the media as experts in STEM. 

Karen Livesey, a Physics Professor at UoN, recently won a Superstar of STEM award. She has also won numerous teaching awards across two continents, and her PhD students have won Three Minute Thesis competitions. We were fortunate to have Karen speak to a group of students recently at St Bede’s and share her own experiences, and guide students through various university and career opportunities in the field of Physics. 

Sport – Belinda Watts

TOP 10: Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year Awards 

Congratulations to all our students who have been named in the top 10 list of sportspersons of the year for 2023. These students were acknowledged at our school assembly in Week 6. The Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year will be announced at our Presentation Night on 7^th December. This is a tremendous accomplishment and all these students have proven themselves to be talented athletes and deserving of this award.

Sports Participation Awards 

In last week's Stage Assemblies, all students who represented St Bede’s received a certificate and were acknowledged for their contribution to our sporting community and successes throughout 2023. We had a record number of teams and students representing SBCC this year in a variety of different sports and look forward to another successful year in 2024. 

Berg Shield  

St Bede’s travelled to Tenambit to take on All Saints, Maitland in the 3^rd round of the Beg Shield. The team was playing for 9 wins in a row. All Saints batted first and compiled a steady 125 runs off their 20 overs. All Bede’s bowlers did their job and kept the runs to a target we were comfortable chasing. Despite losing regular wickets, the run chase started well with the run rate higher than required. All players committed to the team philosophy of “taking the game on” which translates to taking positive options at all stages of the game. Whilst the attitude of the boys was the overarching reason for the win and something we are extremely proud of; special mention must go to Lenny Hungerford (22 not out) and Kurt Quinlan (8 not out) who got the team home in a pressurized situation. Well done boys and all the best in the NSW CCC Berg Shield quarter finals. 

Team: Nick Hair, Logan Hodges, Liam Campbell, Lenny Hungerford, Theo Law, Bailey Hunter, Ashton Clack, Harry Lidbury, Riley Miller, Koby Warland, Ben Nicholls 

Diocesan Golf Championships

On 13^th November 4 students represented SBCC at the Diocesan Golf Championships at Pacific Dunes, Medowie. Brodie Taggart placed 7^th out of 16 students in the Opens Championship Division and Izaac Hoult, Charlie Burey and Daniel Callingham placed 3^rd out of 21 teams in the Ambrosse Competition. All the boys are commended for their efforts and sportsmanship on the day. 

Kacey Drummond Shield U16’s Rugby League 9’s 

On 17^th November, the SBCC U16’s Girls Rugby League team competed in the Kacey Drummond Shield at Lakeside Sporting Complex. Congratulations to all the girls on their phenomenal efforts, especially in wet conditions. The team has improved considerably throughout the year in all aspects of the game. The girls played St Paul’s Booragul, St Frances Greenway and Mount View High and finished the day with one win, one draw and one loss.  

Team: Addison Drewery-Tillman, Keely Sutton, Mackenna Sutton, Isha Monkley, Georgie Punch, Chelsea Galpern-Fetterplace, Caitlin Ballard, Matilda Burke, Samantha White, Ava Roeth, Shaylee Black, Chelsea Bartolo 

U14’s Kacey Drummond Shield: Rugby League Nines Carnival 

On Friday 27^th November, SBCC Under 14’s Girls Rugby League Team also competed in the Kacey Drummond Shield at Lakeside Sporting Complex. The girls played against Rutherford High, Hunter River, and St Pius. Throughout the day, the girls improved considerably and became more competitive and stronger. The girls finished the day with a draw against Hunter River, proving themselves to be resilient, determined, and capable players. An outstanding effort considering that, for many of the players, this is their first year playing rugby league.  

Team: Eve Power, Ava White, Ava Church, Gracie Martin, Bella Punch, Maddison Willingham, Layla Kelekelio, Addi Elbourne, Molly Sadlier, Halle McDonald, Hallei Chegwigen-McGregor (Coach: Mr. Jason McRae – PDHPE Teacher) 

SERVICE & GOVERNANCE DOMAIN

School Fees – Kylie Murray  

A gentle reminder that all accounts are required to be finalised as soon as possible as they are now considered overdue. 

If you require an update statement to check your balance, please call or email Finance or alternatively this is available in the Compass portal in the payment centre.  

The last statement will be issued next week but please note if you have a nil balance, you will not receive a statement. 

We encourage families experiencing any financial hardship to please contact Finance as soon as possible to arrange a confidential meeting. 

For any queries regarding your account please call 02 4088 8222 or email finance@chisholmsb.catholic.edu.au 

Other News

Canteen Helpers Needed

Next Technologies

Immunisations – NSW Health

Road Safety

School Student Travel 2024

Volunteer Registration Link

Williamson International – Uniform Queries

All uniform queries are to be directed to Williamson International.

Williamson International Contact Details:

Phone: 1800 815 571

Email: greg@williamson.com.au

Online Uniform Orders: https://shop-williamson.com.au/