St Bede's Catholic College Newsletter - Edition 2 - 28 February 2025

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE – JOHN MURPHY

PRAYER  

Almighty and Eternal God,
you are the everlasting health of
those who believe in you.
Hear our prayers for your sick servant Francis
for whom we implore the aid of your tender mercy,
through Christ our Lord. 
Amen.
St Bede … Pray for us. 

PARENTS/CARERS SUPPORT OF STUDENT LEARNING

An important priority at St Bede’s is maximising the learning potential of all students. Irrespective of student ability levels, we want each student to learn to their potential. By doing this, students develop the type of work habits that will set them up for success in whatever career direction they decide to take. We want students to leave St Bede’s with maximum post-school options, having demonstrated evidence of the desirable qualities that they can offer to tertiary educational institutions or employers. As a staff we are very committed to achieving this priority for all students, noting that students learn differently and at different rates and have vastly different interests. 

To assist us in achieving this priority and in working together in partnership, there are two important ways that you can help us to achieve this.

• Completion of homework: As previously mentioned, a regular pattern of homework supports students in developing positive learning behaviours, including study habits and time management, and leads to improved learning outcomes. Years 7 & 8 should be doing approximately 1.5 hours a night from Monday to Thursday and on a weekend, Years 9 & 10: 1.5 - 2 hours, and Years 11 & 12: 2 - 3 hours.

• Attendance: Like what employers are looking for from their employees, we want students to attend school unless they are sick. Irrespective of if it is the last day of the term or if it is a community day such as a Reflection Day or Sporting Carnival, the attendance of students at school is a key driver of leaning improvement and developing positive work habits.

UPCOMING FAMILY & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (FACE) FORUMS

I warmly invite parents and carers to attend our first termly Family & Community Engagement (FACE) Forum, previously referred to as Parent Forums, next Monday at 6:00pm in the College Library. We will be restricting the length of these forums to one-hour to minimise the time impact on attendees. These forums are optional but are an important avenue of parent engagement. Attending these meetings is a great way for families to connect and to be part of the St Bede’s community.  

Included in the agenda for next Monday’s Meeting will be a short presentation from our Parent Representatives, myself, and our newly appointed Priest Chaplain, Father Priyantha Fernando. We will also be tabling three sample St Bede’s scarfs for consideration to become an optional extra for students who may prefer a St Bede’s scarf to a plain scarf during the colder months.  

We will have a staff member at the large glass doors to the College Office from 5:45pm to direct attendees to the Library. There is signposting to the Office but if you have any concerns to its location, please feel free to ring the Office on 4088-8222 before 4:00pm on Monday. If you are attending, please register by clicking on the link below.

Assistant Principal Report – Amber Carter and Rebel Clark

Learning at St Bede’s

‘Education is not preparation for life, it is preparation itself.’ ~ John Dewey
We would like to extend our congratulations to all students on their successful transition back to school for Term 1. Our visits to learning spaces have highlighted students' commitment to being fully engaged in their learning. Even though it is only Week 4, students are demonstrating strong focus, critical thinking and self-regulation, remaining task-oriented and motivated. Clear entry and exit routines are reinforcing a calm and focused classroom environment, helping students transition smoothly throughout the day. In addition, our Leaders of Wellbeing and Engagement have spoken to their respective year groups about the importance of being prepared and organised. Students have been encouraged to adopt an effective organisational system to better manage their homework, prioritise tasks and balance the demands of assessments. Such high expectations set by staff further contribute to maintaining a focused and respectful learning environment, ensuring students are motivated to meet their academic goals. Parents and carers play a crucial role by engaging in meaningful conversations at home about their child's learning, reinforcing the importance of their studies and encouraging a strong commitment to academic achievement. We look forward to seeing continued growth and success throughout the term. 

NAPLAN 

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students undertake. At St Bede’s, students will sit the tests on the following dates: 

• Wednesday 12 March – Writing
• Thursday 13 March – Reading
• Friday 14 March – Conventions of Language
• Monday 17 March – Numeracy
• Tuesday 18 March – catchup tests

It is crucial that students are not late to school, have their device fully charged and have plug-in headphones. 

The public demonstration site (https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site ) is available to see the types of questions, tools and functions used in the NAPLAN tests. 

Please refer to the attached brochure for further information or visit www.nap.edu.au 

 Important Reminder: Traffic Safety and Carpark Procedures 

The College's administration staff have recently received numerous reports of unsafe driving and violations of road rules in the school zone and carpark. We kindly remind all parents and carers to adhere to the traffic management policies, including the maximum speed limit of 5km/h in the carpark and always watching for pedestrians. Please follow the designated lanes for pick-up and drop-off as outlined in the College’s Parent Handbook. The safety of our students and the wellbeing of our community is paramount, and your cooperation in supporting these efforts is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your continued support.  

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you wish to discuss your child’s learning or wellbeing needs.  

As always, let us shine with Christ’s glory.  

Catholic Formation and Mission – Andrew Slater

First Mass Celebrated in the Oratory    

On Wednesday 19 February, Mass was celebrated in the Mary, Mother of Hope Oratory for the first time. Staff and students from St Bede’s were joined by staff from St Aloysius for this historic occasion. Our Chaplain, Fr Priyantha, was the presider. 

Mass will be celebrated each month on the third Wednesday at 8:00am (excluding when these fall in the school holidays). In addition to this, Mass will also be celebrated on Ash Wednesday. 

The remaining morning Masses to be celebrated in the Oratory during Term 1 are:

• Ash Wednesday, 5 March, 8:00am
• Feast of St Joseph, 19 March, 8:00am

All members of the community are welcome to attend.  

Diocesan Launch: Pilgrims of Hope 

The Diocese is launching the Jubilee Year: Pilgrims of Hope this Sunday 2 March. The day will begin at Foreshore Park (Nobbys Beach) at 8:00am with a prayer. Those gathered will then walk along the harbour to the Cathedral, where Mass will be celebrated at 10:00am. Following Mass, there will be a festival in the grounds of the Cathedral. Everyone is welcome to attend.  

LEARNING DOMAIN

Year 8 Leader of Wellbeing & Engagement – Lauren Power

As we move towards the midpoint of Term 1, Year 8 have settled into their new classes and learning environments, developed connections with their teachers and begun putting their best foot forward, with upcoming assessments.

A strong focus for us, as a cohort, has been on organisation. Our amazing team of dedicated Homeroom teachers have been instrumental in this, checking in with students daily, as well as providing invaluable care and support. Please feel welcome to contact your child’s Homeroom teacher directly - any questions relating to day-to-day operations (including uniform), College learning platforms, organisation and general concerns should be directed to your child’s Homeroom teacher via email.

To further assist with organisation, please see the Year 8, Term 1 Calendar

Additionally, I encourage you to check in with your child regarding their Year 8 Team – here, they will find weekly organisation posts and specific information for their Homeroom, including the days they are permitted to wear their sport uniform.

Despite a relatively strong start to 2025, I addressed students at our recent Year Meeting about a few concerning issues regarding hands-on behaviour, sun safety, as well as uniform and grooming, more broadly. I appreciate your support in maintaining the College’s high expectations, especially in relation to the Uniform and Grooming Policy, and note all students should have a school hat to wear on the yard.

As always, if you have any concerns or questions about your child’s progress and/or wellbeing, please do not hesitate to contact me at the College on 4088 8222 or via lauren.power@mn.catholic.edu.au

Library – Bronwyn McKinnon

The NSW Premier's Reading Challenge is now open and St Bede’s Catholic College is excited to be once again participating! 

What is the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge?  

The PRC is a statewide Challenge that encourages students to develop a love of reading for leisure and provides them with the opportunity to experience quality literature. It is not a competition, but a challenge to encourage each student to read, to read more, and to read more widely.  

All students who complete the challenge and have their reading record validated by the school’s PRC coordinator will receive a certificate signed by the Premier of NSW.  

How many books do students need to read?  

Students in Years 7 to 10 are challenged to read 20 books independently. At least 10 of these books must be from the relevant Challenge booklists, and up to 10 books can be personal choice books.  

More information on the rules of the Challenge can be found on the

Books must be added to a student’s online reading record by Friday 22 August 2025 so their reading record can be validated, and they can receive a certificate.  

How do students log their reading? 

Before logging their reading, students will need to see Mrs. McKinnon in the Learning Hub to organise their login details. 

Students can access the PRC’s

using their DoE username and password, or can log into the site via the link on their Compass homepage. A video guide explaining how to use the Student Experience site can be found here.  

How can students find books on the NSW PRC challenge lists?  

Students can locate approved books via OLIVER, the library catalogue, by searching ‘Premier’s Reading Challenge’ using the ‘list’ option. Students can also find e-books using SORA. Regular displays of PRC books will also be in the Learning Hub throughout the challenge. 

Sport – Belinda Watts

St Bede’s Swimming Carnival   

Congratulations to every member of the St Bede’s Community that attended the Swimming Carnival on Monday 17 February. We were blessed with beautiful weather and great participation, particularly in the continuous relays. “School spirit” was on show with students and teachers decked out in their house colours from head to toe. There were many students demonstrating the “have a go” attitude, joining in numerous novelty events both in and out of the pool. Let’s NOT forget the 8 teachers that formed 2 relay teams to compete in the annual teacher verse student relay. Whilst Chelsea Dilley made a fantastic comeback in the last leg, it was the teacher's team that took back the title. The day was filled with PB’s and numerous records broken by our elite swimmers which were brilliant to watch. SBCC raised over $500 for Project Compassion on the day via our Sausage Sizzle. Thanks for all that supported the cause. 

Congratulations to Dominic who finally broke Benedict’s winning streak and are the carnival winners for 2025.

While our carnivals are a community event, it is important to recognise both the House Champions and the Individual Age Champions. These students will be acknowledged in the next sports assembly.

Congratulations to all these students and a big shout out to the students who broke numerous swimming records on the day.

Good luck to all students who were selected to represent SBCC at the Diocesan Swimming Carnival on Tuesday 11 March at The Forum, Newcastle.

King & Queen of the Pool

Congratulations to Charlize Eldridge (Yr8) and Kale White (Yr12) who won the highly contested, king and queen of pool. They are officially the fastest female and male swimmers at SBCC for 2025.

Acknowledgment of Achievement

We also acknowledge the efforts of Angelique Currey who officiated at NSW Country Swimming Championships in Sydney last week. While there, the Swimming NSW technical official invited her to be an official at the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese Carnival on Tuesday 11 March at the Forum.  

Diocesan Rugby League

Congratulations to Ava White (Yr10) who has been selected in the Diocesan U16 Girls Rugby League Team. We wish her all the best in her upcoming Northern Division Trials.

SERVICE & GOVERNANCE DOMAIN

School Fees – Heidi Robertson  

2025 School Fee Information

School Fees comprise of Resource, Tuition, Diocesan Family School Building Levy (DFSBL) and camps/retreats. These are the responsibility of parents/carers of students at the school.

Diocesan Family and School Building Levy (DFSBL) $1794.00

The DFSBL is charged to the eldest child for each family. The levy is pooled to contribute towards past, present and future costs for building projects across all existing schools and for the development of new Catholic schools within the Diocese.

Tuition Fees Year 7-10 $2189.00 Year 11-12 $3245.00

The Diocesan Tuition Fee is set each year by the Diocese.

Family Discount on full rate Diocesan Tuition Fees is available to parents who may have more than one child attending a Catholic School in this diocese.

• 1 child family 0%
• 2 child family 15% for each child
• 3 child family 25% for each child
• 4+child family 50% for each child

Concessions on Tuition Fees are also given to account holders of current Health Care/Pension cards. Please complete link below and attach a copy of current card.

Resource Fee Year 7-8 $1165.00 Year 9-10 $1270.00 Year 11-12 $1005.00
The resource costs are set by each individual school. Fees are used to pay school resources, educational activities, student textbooks, various low-cost excursions/incursions, photocopying, computer technology and amenities.

Retreats/Camps

The Year 7 camp and Year 11 retreat are compulsory, and it is expected that all students attend as per conditions of enrolment in a Catholic school. Costings are calculated based on all students attending, venues and buses have to be paid when booking is first made. Your understanding of this would be greatly appreciated.

Support

The Catholic Schools Office declares that genuine inability to meet tuition and other fees, does not exclude access to a school within the system by a child of a family genuinely committed to Catholic faith and practice.

For families experiencing genuine Financial Hardship or wishing to discuss other payment arrangements please contact the school to make an appointment to talk to Mr Murphy. These discussions and arrangements are strictly confidential.

Account Statements

All fees are billed yearly in February, and it is recommended a regular weekly, fortnightly or monthly instalment is made from February to November to ensure the account is fully paid by 30th Nover. Payments via BPay, CompassPay, Direct Debit, EFTPOS over the phone, Cash or Centrepay. If you require assistance in calculating your preferred instalment amount, please contact finance@chisholmsb.catholic.edu.au. Updated statements are emailed at the beginning of each month.

Payment Arrangements

If you require a payment arrangement this is required to be actioned annually. Please contact Finance to organise a meeting. Please email finance@chisholmsb.catholic.edu.au for any queries.

Other News

Immunisations – NSW Health

Each year NSW Health works in partnership with schools to offer the vaccines recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for adolescents as part of the school vaccination program.
In 2025 the following vaccines will be offered: 

• Year 10 – Meningoccocal ACWY.
• Year 7 – diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTpa) and human papillomavirus (HPV). 

2025 Consent Process: 

Parents to provide consent online for your child’s routine school vaccination. Online consent URL https://engage.health.nsw.gov.au/engage or QR Code

Enter the URL into your browser, select the School Vaccination Program tile and follow the instructions:

• read all the information provided.
• complete the online consent form and give consent for the vaccine/s you would like your child to receive.
• ensure your child eats breakfast on the day of the school vaccination clinic.

To improve vaccination completion, students whose parents/guardians have provided consent while in Year 7 or Year 10 and who miss vaccine doses at any clinic, will be opportunistically offered these vaccines at each clinic visit throughout 2025 (Year 7 or 10) & 2026 (Year 8 or 11). 

Parents/guardians who wish to withdraw their consent for any reason may do so by amending their student’s online consent. The Procedure for Withdrawal of Consent is available on the NSW Health website.

A Record of Vaccination will be provided to parents by SMS once a student has been vaccinated. Parents/guardians should not assume that their child has been vaccinated if they do not receive this SMS notification.

NOTE: If you experience difficulty accessing the online consent package, please speak with the School Vaccination coordinator at your school.

School Student Travel 2025

School student travel information for parents and students

Applications are now open for 2025 School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS)

Terms of Use

Students using School Opal cards must tap on and tap off  in line with the Opal terms of use.

This includes travel within the approved times between 6.30am and 7.00pm from Monday to Friday on school days only. Students must use their Child/Youth Opal card for any travel outside these times.

All students are required to comply with the Student code of conduct. The code of conduct aims to ensure the safety and well-being of school children and other passengers. It is important that parents ensure their child is aware of this, as failure to comply with the code of conduct can result in a suspension from travel.

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/