St Bede's Catholic College Newsletter 20 - 15 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. 

END OF YEAR PRESENTATION AFTERNOON AND EVENING

Thank you to all those who attended last Thursday’s End of Year Presentation event. The event was broken into two parts, with the afternoon session for Years 7 and 8 and the evening session for Years 9 – 11. Next year when the final of the four buildings is completed, we will have this as a single event with the indoor basketball court catering for assemblies and whole school community events.

Congratulations to all students who received awards. As per my stage assembly addresses to students last week, I also commend all those students who did not receive an award but have worked to the best of their ability. Unfortunately, not all students can receive an award, but all students can demonstrate the attributes we want from each student. These students can be equally proud of their achievements this year. 

Please refer to the Assistant Principal Reports for details of this event. 

AURORA ARTICLE 

Each term, the Maitland Newcastle Diocese publishes a magazine titled ‘Aurora’. This term’s publication is titled ‘A Time to Reflect’. Included in this term’s publication is a story on the Graduation Assembly of our first Year 12 cohort at the end of last term titled ‘The Trailblazers’. A copy of this article is below for you to see how our first cohort are trailblazing their way into the future.  

PRINCIPAL’S AWARDS 

Congratulations to Caleb Lines (Year 7) and Hayley Read (Year 8) who are this year’s recipients of the Principal’s Award. Both Caleb and Hayley recently received these awards at an assembly. Receiving a Principal’s Award is difficult to achieve, with recipients needing to have received fifteen merit awards to receive an Assistant Principal’s Award and then another fifteen merit awards to receive a Principal’s Award. Caleb and Hayley are both outstanding students and thoroughly deserve receiving their respective Principal’s Awards. 

HSC RESULTS 

Our Year 12 Graduation Class received their HSC results yesterday. To celebrate their success, we had an HSC lunch today that was attended by the Year 12 graduates and staff. We are extremely proud of all our first HSC graduates, and we look forward to hearing of their successes in their chosen careers. We will do a comprehensive analysis of the HSC results at the start of next year. 

STAFF NEWS 

Next year, Ms. Debra Pullen, our Canteen Operator, will only work two days a week on Thursdays and Fridays. To facilitate this flexible work arrangement.

Ms. Veronica Rigelsford has been appointed as the Temporary Canteen Operator for Monday to Wednesdays next year. Ms. Rigelsford is a current and well-regarded part-time Canteen Operator in one of our other Diocesan schools and is one of our current canteen casuals. We congratulate Ms. Rigelsford on her appointment. 

Typical of a school of this size, we farewell some staff who are moving onto the next chapter of their careers. Thank you and best wishes to the following full-time staff members who are leaving St Bede’s. 

Ms. Ai Zhong: Moving to Sydney and will be teaching at Barrenjoey High School. Ms. Zhong has been at St Bede’s for the last two years as one of our language’s teachers. 

Mr. Robert Copas: Moving to St Paul’s Booragul as their Religious Studies Leader of Learning. Mr. Copas has been at St Bede’s for the last three years as one of our Religious Studies teachers. 

Mr. Michael Eccleston: Moving to St Paul’s Booragul as a Leader of Wellbeing & Engagement (LoWE). Mr. Eccleston has been at St Bede’s for four years as one of our LoWE’s. 

Mr. Nicholas Marsh: Moving to St Pius X Adamstown as a Leader of Wellbeing & Engagement (LOWE). Mr. Marsh has been at St Bede’s for the last four years as one of our LOWE’s. 

Mr. Brett Donohoe: Moving to St Mary’s Gateshead as Principal. Mr. Donohoe as the Foundation Assistant Principal has been at St Bede’s for all six years since the College opened in 2018 and commenced in Term 4 2017. 

In addition, we farewell and thank our temporary teachers who have all made valuable contributions to St Bede’s this year.  

Without diminishing the unique contributions of all the above staff, it would be remiss of me not to highlight the outstanding contribution of Mr. Brett Donohoe as our Foundation Assistant Principal. Mr. Donohoe has been an outstanding Assistant Principal in every aspect and when required to step into the Temporary Principal’s position has been equally outstanding. Every aspect of Mr. Donohoe’s leadership has been an embodiment of our four Gospel values of Love, Justice, Truth, and Compassion that underpin our strategic planning and visual identity. He has worked tirelessly and generously to lay the foundations of a Catholic secondary school that will serve this community for years to come. Mr. Donohoe will forever remain a friend of the College and he will now lead his own school community at St Mary’s Gateshead. Thank you, Mr. Donohoe, for all that you have done for St Bede’s Catholic College and good luck with your exciting new challenge. 

2024 LEADERS OF WELLBEING AND ENGAGEMENT 

The appointments for the Leaders of Wellbeing & Engagement (LoWE) for next year have been confirmed. They are: 

Ms. Emma South will be the Assistant Principal overseeing Years 8, 10 and 12, and Ms. Amber Carter, as the incoming Assistant Principal, will oversee Years 7, 9, and 11.  

THANK YOU AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS 

Thank you to all members of our wonderful school community for making 2023 a year to remember. There have been many achievements and highlights. Good luck to all those families and staff who are leaving St Bede’s, including our first Year 12 Graduation Students. You will all be missed. 

Thank you to all parent/carer volunteers and to Michelle McDonald and Nadine Yager for being our Parent Representatives again this year. Their work has been invaluable in ensuring our parents/carers have a voice in the direction of the College. 

As we commence our end of year school holidays, I encourage families to attend one of the local parish Masses over Christmas. Christmas Masses provide an opportunity to deepen one’s faith or to experience what our Catholic faith is about. Irrespective of one’s faith, all are welcome at these Masses over Christmas. Please refer to the document below for details of Mass times. 

Merry Christmas and all the best for the school holidays. 

UPCOMING EVENTS 2024

Assistant Principal Report – Emma South

2023 Awards Presentation Evening 

On Thursday 7 December we celebrated our sixth annual Awards Presentation Evening where we recognised academic, sporting, and cultural achievements across the year. 

We presented Academic Excellence awards which acknowledge consistently high levels of academic accomplishment and Academic Achievement awards acknowledging consistent effort and application over the course of the entire year. 

In the sporting arena, there were three categories of awards, the Sporting Commendation Award, presented to any student who has been selected in a Maitland/Newcastle Diocesan team to compete at Combined Catholic Colleges carnivals and the NSWCCC award, presented to students who were selected in the Combined Catholic Colleges Team and/or competed at NSW All Schools carnivals. There was also the presentation of the Sporting Excellence award, presented to any student who was selected in a NSW All Schools Team to compete at a national level.    

Following the academic and sporting awards, came the presentation of our perpetual awards. These are the most prestigious awards we present each year, and we are delighted to name the winners for 2023. 

Sportsman of the Year Award: Harry Lidbury - Year 9 
Sportswoman of the Year Award: Lily Sutton – Year 8 and Eve Power – Year 9  
The St Bede’s Shine Award for Performing Arts: Tamara Redcliffe – Year 11 
The St Bede’s “Artem” Award for Visual Arts: Clancy Oldfield – Year 11 
The St Bede’s Careers Award: Lilly Manyweathers - Year 10 
ADF Future Innovators Award: Tajveer Gill - Year 10 
ADF Long Tan Youth Leadership Award: Bella Avis - Year 10 
Jenny Aitchison MP “Young Achievers Award”: Maahi Ram - Year 9 
The Dominic Award for Knowledge: Toby Burg - Year 8 
The Benedict Award for Courage: Sayeva Fragar - Year 10 
The McAuley Award for Community: Abby Dibley – Year 8 
The Marian Award for Faith: Olivia Blanshard - Year 10 
The St Bede’s Citizenship Award: Cobi Young - Year 11 

We are very proud of all these award winners and know their families and our broader community join us in this pride. It is important at this time of the year that we acknowledge and commend all students at St Bede’s, whether they are award recipients or not, on the positive, mature, and industrious way they have approached learning this year. They have displayed resilience, commitment, curiosity, and an enthusiasm to keep learning. We commend all in our student community on this. 

Farewell to Mr. Donohoe 

I could not conclude my last article for the year without acknowledging Mr. Brett Donohoe. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Mr. Donohoe for the last three years at St Bede’s. His work as Foundation Assistant Principal has laid a firm groundwork and has helped to make this school the very special place that it is for students, staff, and families. You will be missed, and we wish you all the best in your new journey at St Mary’s Gateshead. 

A last note 

Wishing all in our community a happy and safe Christmas. We look forward to another amazing year in 2024, where we will continue to build strong connections, find love in faith, and embrace every learning opportunity that comes our way. 

Assistant Principal Report – Brett Donohoe

In my final newsletter for my time at St Bede’s I want to take the opportunity to acknowledge and thank the community for the wonderful memories and opportunity I have had in being part of their lives.  I leave St Bede’s with a heavy heart and mixed emotions. I am both humbled and excited to be appointed as Principal of St Mary’s Gateshead, but also saddened to leave the vibrant and welcoming community of St Bede’s.

The timing of this opportunity seemed so right. I was always committed to seeing the first cohort of students arrive in 2018 and finally graduate. Our Awards Presentation Evening was such a fitting occasion to say goodbye to our parents as it is occasions like these where I, like the parents, look to our students with such pride as we acknowledged and celebrated their marvellous efforts and achievements. This exemplifies why I took on a teaching profession; to educate.

The word educate is derived from the latin word ‘educare’ which means to ‘lead out’ or ‘bring up’. The essence of the word in the sense of a catholic education is to be both nourishing and guiding in each child’s intellectual and faith formation and we do this in a spirit of partnership with parents. What an immensely satisfying vocation to witness our vision become a reality as we witness our senior students leave as young men and women, confident, resilient, and reflective, embracing learning, and living their faith in action.

I take this opportunity to thank Mr. Murphy for his leadership and friendship, I have such respect for Mr. Murphy, who from our first introductions, through a clear vision, has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to building a college which strives for students to develop their God given talents and become the best version of themselves. Mr. Murphy has been such a support and source of inspiration for me over the past six years. Thank you to Mrs. South, an outstanding, diligent, and hardworking Assistant Principal and now close friend. Mrs. Amber Carter will be an excellent Assistant Principal working alongside Mrs. South and I wish her every success. I also especially thank Mr. Andrew Slater for being a beacon of faith, his friendship, and for contributing so significantly to our school's Catholic identity.

I also take this opportunity to thank our amazing collective staff. I have never experienced such a positive, collaborative, energetic and dynamic staff dedicated to the individual care of our students. Finally, thank you to the families and students for such fond memories that will be with me always. You are such an important part of our St Bede’s community. I wish everyone a bright and happy future ahead.

Catholic Formation and Mission – Andrew Slater

Merry Christmas 

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all members of our College community a happy and holy Christmas. Christmas is a time of great celebration; not just for the birth of Christ more than 2000 years ago, but for the continuing impact of this event in our world today. The birth of this baby has shaped the world in which we live, as well as impacting on the way we view our world and live our lives. 

I encourage you to consider joining with the wider Parish community for the celebration of Mass this Christmas. Mass will be celebrated on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day. Please arrive early to avoid congestion.  Please see the Principal’s Report for Mass times.  

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception  

Friday 8 November was the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the patronal feast day of the Morpeth Parish. This is a day when the Church celebrates the sinless life of Mary. Some of our senior Student Leaders joined with the Parish community for the celebration of Mass on this significant occasion.  

LEARNING DOMAIN

Year 10 Leader of Wellbeing & Engagement – Jasmine Simmons

Year 10 have had a strong finish to 2023 with our End of Year program. They have been so focussed through events such as Stage 6 Subject Seminars, guest speaker Mr. Chris Doyle who worked with them on relationship building, mental health and wellbeing seminars, study skills and team building at Treetops. The feedback that we have received from presenters has been that this Year 10 cohort is absolutely incredible in terms of their behaviour, participation and support and encouragement of each other – and I couldn’t agree more. They have had a fantastic year and I can’t wait to see what their senior years have in store for them. To our leavers who will be moving on through various other pathways, we wish you every success and happiness. 

As the Year 10 Leader of Wellbeing and Engagement, I must take the opportunity to publicly show my appreciation to my team. A brilliant year group doesn’t happen without a brilliant team, so a huge thank you to Ms. Bec Dawber and Ms. Lauren Hillier who have been the most wonderful Assistant LoWEs this year. And to my Homeroom team – Ms. Sarah James, Mr. Stephen Lumley, Mr. Andrew Steinbeck, Ms. Maddie O’Connor, Ms. Ashley Unicomb and Mr. Rob Copas – the care and support that you show our students each day is phenomenal and greatly appreciated. A special mention to Mr. Rob Copas as he moves to a new school as Religious Studies Coordinator next year – we wish you all the very best and thank you for being such a special part of our team. 

To all of the Year 10 students, have the happiest of Christmases and I am excited to see you back in 2024. 

Humanities – Kiralee Bradley  

Maitland City Council’s Visit- A Student’s Perspective 

In Humanities this term, students have been learning about different topics to do with livability issues in their area or on a national scale. Students picked a subject that interested them from the topics of infrastructure, environment, crime and stability, sport and recreation, healthcare, and then created speeches about an issue they have encountered. 

During Week 6, Maitland City Council came to visit the college to listen to the Year 7’s present their livability speeches. Students Ivy O’Callaghan, Confidence Olie, Eden Brownlee, Lucas Fernandes-Sweeney, Emily Gregory and Hamish Dibley were chosen to present their speeches. Caleb Lines, Madeline Emmett, and Rose Whiteley were chosen to be MC’s (hosts) for the event. Council representatives listened to these speeches to take feedback on the Maitland area. They talked about coming back to the school to work with us to help improve the livability of Maitland’s suburbs. 

Rose Whitely 

Below are some thoughts from our wonderful presenters on their experience: 

I did my speech on the issues with Thornton Netball Courts, I chose this issue because I am a netballer, I play for Thornton Netball Club and find the courts are inadequate for training. I found that giving my speech in front of council representatives was very beneficial for my public speaking and presenting skills and opened me to new experiences. 
- Ivy O’Callaghan

I presented my speech on the fact that roaming cats are harmful to the environment because they murder local native wildlife. I am passionate about this issue because my neighbors’ cats endlessly slaughter local native fauna and leave the carcasses all over my front yard. Presenting my speech in front of the year 7 cohort, the three council representatives, Mr. Murphy, and the Humanities teachers showed me how challenging and nerve wrenching public speaking is. I gained valuable experience in public speaking and persuasive speaking. 
- Hamish Dibley

I did my speech issue about cost of healthcare; I chose this issue because I would always hear on the news or people talking about why is healthcare cost increasing so much and I really want to make a change so it's an equal cost for everyone because some people might not have enough money to pay for a GP appointment which isn’t fair. When I performed my speech in front of the Maitland City Council and the whole year 7 cohort, the Humanity teachers showed me how to challenge myself and how I can bring awareness to this issue, which I'm so grateful that I presented my speech because it hasn’t only boosted my public speaking skills it also brought new opportunities and new experiences. -
- Emily Gregory

I did my speech on the infinitely long wait times at Maitland Hospital in the Emergency rooms because nobody should be sitting in line for their health. I am extremely passionate about this issue because many of my family and friends have had to wait long hours for treatment in emergencies while in pain. Performing my speech in front of Maitland City Council and my Year 7 cohort was a challenging and scary experience but I learnt a lot from it such as resilience and how to present when I am nervous. With the help of my amazing teachers, I gained new confidence in public speaking skills and got to experience new opportunities. 
- Eden Brownlee

Sport – Belinda Watts

Sports Awards 

Congratulations to all our recipients of Sporting Awards at our 2023 Presentation Night held 7 November. The following students received these awards: 

Sports Man of the Year: Harry Lidbury 

• • Represented the school in cross country, Bill Turner Cup (Football), Diocesan Football carnival, Futsal, Rugby League U15’s and 16’s), Rugby League 9’s, Rugby Union 7’s, Touch Football, T20 Cricket and the Berg Shield and Downie Trophy for Cricket. (Let's not forget to mention that he scored 100 runs off 38 balls and lead to SBCC winning the T20 Competition)
  • Age Champion at our School Athletics carnival and Runner Up Age Champion at our school cross country carnival.
  • King of the Track at our School athletics carnival (which means he is the fastest 100m runner in the school) 
  • Represented the Maitland/Newcastle Diocese Team for Touch Football and Athletics  
  • Selected in the NSWCCC Touch Football Team
  • Selected in the NSW All Schools Barbarians Touch Football team that competed in the Australian Championships in Darwin.

Sports Woman of the Year: Eve Power

• • Represented the school team in Swimming, Cross Country, Athletics, Touch Football, NSWCCC Sydney Netball Championships, Hunter Cup Netball, Bill Turner Cup (Soccer), Diocesan Football Carnival and the Rugby 7's
  • Selected in the Maitland/Newcastle Diocese Team to compete at CCCNSW in Touch Football and Athletics
  • Age Champion at our school swimming carnival and Runner Up age Champion at our Cross Country Carnival 

Sports Woman of the Year: Lily Sutton 

• • Represented the school in Swimming, Cross Country, Athletics, Bill Turner Cup, Football, Touch Football, Futsal and Tennis
  • Selected in the Maitland/Newcastle Diocese Team to compete at CCCNSW in Cross Country and Athletics (1500m, 800m, 400m, 200m) 
  • Aged Champion at the Diocesan Athletics Carnival 
  • Aged Champion at the Dio Cross Country Carnival 
  • Age Champion at our school Cross Country and Athletics Carnival. 

• Sporting Excellence Certificates and Trophy (students were selected in a NSW All Schools Team): Harry Lidbury (Touch) 

• NSWCCC Certificates (students were selected in the Combined Catholic Colleges Team):
  • Lachlan Jones (Triathlon) 
  • Harry Lidbury (Touch) 
  • Coen Morgan (Cross Country) 
  • Zac Thomson (Cross Country) 
  • Braith Punton (Triathlon)  
  • Phoenix Borja (Cross Country) 

• Sporting Commendation (students were selected in a Maitland/Newcastle Diocese team):
  • Max Ferris (Athletics)
  • Phoenix Borja (Athletics and Cross Country) 
  • Shelby Griffis (Athletics) 
  • Johan Bobby-Samuel (Athletics) 
  • Lachie Winkelman (Athletics) 
  • Aloysia Edwards (Athletics) 
  • Lily Sutton (Athletics and Cross Country) 
  • Oliver Gorton (Cross Country) 
  • Lachlan Jones (Cross Country) 
  • Charlie Burey (Touch Football) 
  • Zac Thomson (Athletics and Cross Country) 
  • Lilly Vella (Cross Country) 
  • Zane Edwards (Athletics) 
  • Eve Power (Athletics and Touch Football) 
  • Harry Lidbury (Athletics and Touch Football) 
  • Brookyln Darcy (Athletics and Cross Country) 
  • Anita Olie (Athletics) 
  • Imogen Brownlee (Athletics) 
  • Bowen Hine (Football) 
  • Chelsea Bartolo (Rugby League) 
  • Kale White (Touch Football) 
  • Coen Morgan (Athletics and Cross Country) 
  • Brooklyn Rooney (Netball) 

Upcoming Events: Term 1 2024 

NSWCCC Important Dates for Registrations: 

As we prepare for 2024, we have a NSWCCC representative pathway sports selections for individual entry sport early in Term 1. The closing dates for registrations are very soon after returning to school. Please note all close dates are firm dates. No registrations will be permitted after the close dates. 

All individual sports registrations are completed on the CSNSW.SPORT website. Parents must have an account and add their child to have access. (Sport Registration HELP available on sport info page) 
More details are available on the csnsw.sport website 

• NSWCCC Softball Selections:
  Close date 7 February 2024
  Selection date 13 February at Stanhope Gardens
  https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/softball

• NSW All Schools Triathlon:
  Close date 7 February 2024
  Championship date 21 February at Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith
  https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/triathlon 

• NSWCCC Baseball Selections:
  Close date 22 February 2024
  Selection date 5 March at Castle Glen 1 & 2, Castle Hill https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/baseball

• NSWCCC Tennis Selections
  Close date 22 February 2024
  Selection date4 March at North Parramatta Tennis Courts https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/tennis

• NSWCCC Golf Selections
  Close date 29 February 2024
  Selection date 11 March at Belmont Golf Club https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/golf

• School Teams - NSW All Schools Triathlon Schools Relays
  I need to register teams for you so see me asap if you're interested. Close date 7 February
  Championship date 22 February at Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith
  https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/triathlon

In 2024, 3 new pathways will be introduced. NSWCCC will be opening an Expression of Interest registration for these next week to assist in conducting selections to finalise NSWCCC teams:

• 15 Years and under Cricket - boys and girls     
• 15 Years and under Volleyball - boys & girls
  https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/volleyball
• 18 Years and under Bowls - boys & girls 

SERVICE & GOVERNANCE DOMAIN

School Fees – Kylie Murray   

Please be advised that the Final School Fee Statements were emailed on Monday 4 December 2024. 

It is a requirement of your signed enrolment agreement that all fees are paid by 30 November each year. If you have not paid all the fees to date, please ensure this is done as soon as possible. 

For those families that have completed payment plans or paid your account in full we wish to say thank you for your continued support of our school requirements. 

If you have a current Health Care Card, please email me a copy of the front and back with the supporting forms so we can verify and prepare your 2024 school fees with the correct credits applied. 

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

From the Finance Team, we wish you all a safe and very Merry Christmas. 

Other News

Next Technologies

Year 7 2024 devices will be ready to collect from the St Bede's Catholic College administration building on Wednesday 24 January 2024, between 9am and 4pm. 

Please ensure any outstanding payments are finalised with Next Technologies to avoid delays.

If you require any assistance, please contact the IT Department via email ray.burg@mn.catholic.edu.au

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/

Immunisations – NSW Health

School Student Travel 2024

Volunteer Registration Link