St Bede's Catholic College Newsletter - Edition 3 - 14 March 2025

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE – JOHN MURPHY

PRAYER  

God of endless kindness and mercy,
Open our hearts in this time of Lent.
Give us courage to look at our lives with honesty;
Give us strength to deal with what we find;
Help us to forgive ourselves and each other,
so that we may return to you with all our hearts,
We make this prayer through Christ Jesus.
Amen.
St Bede … Pray for us. 

2025 STRATEGIC IMPROVEMENT PLAN (SIP) 

As a follow-up to my previous correspondence, below is a summary diagram of our 2025 Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP). The left-hand side of the diagram outlines our School Vision and Mission Statement. On the right-hand side are the three overarching goals for the year. Each year we will have a targeted goal in the three areas of Catholic Identity/Curriculum, Learning, and Wellbeing. Within these broad goals, we will have specific objectives, targets, and strategies that drive us on our journey of continuous improvement. As we work through these three goals in giving authenticity to our Vision and Mission, we will continue to communicate to you how these are being lived out in our practice. The newsletters are a key medium in communicating this to our parent/carers.  

FAMILY & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (FACE) FORUMS

Thank you to the parents and carers who attended our first termly Family & Community Engagement (FACE) Forum, previously referred to as Parent Forums, at 6.00pm Monday 3 March in the College Library. The one-hour meeting included short presentations from our Parent Representative, myself, our newly appointed Priest Chaplain (Father Priyantha Fernando), the re-election of Michelle McDonald and Kristy Muxlow as our 2025 Parent Representatives, and a Compass navigation training session. Sample St Bede’s scarfs were also tabled 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 and will proceed with quotes on our preferred option. We also had a quick walk at the back of the College to the newly opened passive area, which is now being well utilised by our students.

Please refer to the summary notes of the meeting below.

STAFF NEWS

It is with much pleasure that I announce the appointment of Mr. Connor Tamblyn as the Temporary Year 9 LOWE for Term 2, to cover Ms. Rebecca Dawber who will be taking long service leave. Mr. Tamblyn is currently in the role as 0.2FTE Wellbeing Coordinator and has had previous leadership experience here at St Bede’s as Temporary Vocational Education and Languages Leader of Learning. Mr. Tamblyn knows the Year 9 cohort well, which will assist in the smooth transition to and from the Temporary Year 9 LOWE.  

UPCOMING EVENTS 2025

Assistant Principal Report – Amber Carter and Rebel Clark

Learning at St Bede’s

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it." – Nelson Mandela 

Last Friday's assembly was dedicated to our College Pillar of Courage, a value that holds great significance in our community. During our address to students, we took the opportunity to reflect on the true meaning of this pillar and recognise the individuals within our global community whose courage continues to inspire and uplift us.  

We shared the stories of two extraordinary individuals, Malala Yousafzai and Carlo Acutis. Malala’s fight for girls’ education, despite being shot by the Taliban, demonstrates incredible bravery and reminds us of the transformative power of education. Similarly, Carlo, who faced leukemia with joy and unwavering faith, used his talents to document Eucharistic miracles, showing us how courage and purpose can guide us through adversity. 

Both Malala and Carlo inspire and remind us that courage is not the absence of fear but acting in spite of it. As we reflect on how we can show courage, let’s remember that we are never alone in our journey. Just as Joshua was encouraged to be strong and courageous, we too are called to walk confidently, supported every step of the way. 

At the close of our address, we invited our community to reflect on the following questions: 
• When have you shown courage, either quietly or boldly? 
• Can you recall a time when you needed courage but weren’t sure whether to act? 
• How can you demonstrate courage in standing up for others in your community? 
• How can you show courage in your learning, especially when facing challenges? 

As we reflect on the courage of Malala and Carlo, let us remember that courage comes in many forms—whether speaking out, confronting challenges, or supporting others. Let’s move forward with strength and purpose, knowing that we are never alone on this journey. 

NAPLAN Update  

We are pleased to report a successful start to NAPLAN for our Year 7 and Year 9 students. The students have approached the tests with focus and dedication, arriving prepared and ready each day. They have demonstrated excellent strong time management skills throughout each session.  

However, it is important to acknowledge that a significant amount of work happens behind the scenes to ensure the smooth running of the testing process. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Jones, the College’s Curriculum Coordinator, for his meticulous coordination of the tests, as well as all staff involved in the preparation and administration of NAPLAN. Their hard work and attention to detail have been instrumental in ensuring that everything runs seamlessly. We are proud of the students' efforts and deeply appreciate the ongoing support from staff and parents in contributing to a successful start to the testing period. 

Prioritising Student Safety: Tips for Safe Travels to and from St. Bede's College 

At St. Bede’s College, the safety of our students is our top priority, especially for those walking to and from the school. As students cross Heritage Drive, we encourage them to stay alert and be mindful of their surroundings. To ensure their safety, students are strongly encouraged to:  

• Keep earphones out – Stay alert and aware of your surroundings. 

• Look both ways before crossing the street. 

• Use designated crosswalks for safe crossings. 

• Never run while crossing the road; walk calmly. 

• Avoid distractions – Stay focused and avoid using phones while crossing. 

• Be aware of traffic – Wait for traffic to fully stop before crossing. 

We strongly encourage all parents and carers to discuss the importance of safety with their child. By remaining vigilant and adhering to these guidelines, we can collectively safeguard our community and ensure that safety remains a shared responsibility. We sincerely appreciate your continued support. 

Catholic Formation and Mission – Andrew Slater

Ash Wednesday 

The St Bede’s community commemorated Ash Wednesday with a before school Mass and a whole-College liturgy. Ash Wednesday is the first day of the Lenten season, which is a 40-day period leading up to Easter.  

Staff from St Bede’s and St Aloysius, parents, students and parishioners gathered in the Mary, Mother of Hope Oratory for Mass at 8am. It was wonderful to see representation from both schools and the wider Catholic community. The whole College then gathered in the Hall for a liturgy at 9am. At both liturgical events, Fr. Priyantha reminded us that Lent is a time for people to turn back to God through fasting, charity and prayer. 

Mass will next be celebrated in the Oratory at 8am on Wednesday 19 March (Feast of St Joseph). Everyone is welcome to attend.  

Blessed Carlo Acutis Exhibition 

On Thursday 6 March, student leaders from Years 8-11 travelled to the Diocesan Offices in Newcastle West to visit the Blessed Carlo Acutis Exhibition. Blessed Carlo was born in London to Italian parents in 1991, and throughout his life was known for devotion to his faith, his support for those in need and an interest in Eucharistic miracles. He had a passion for computers and the internet, and launched his own website in 2004, which was devoted to Eucharistic miracles. He died in Italy aged 15, after a short illness. In 2020, he was beatified by Pope Francis. On 27 April, Blessed Carlo will be canonised, making him the first millennial to be made a saint. A special Mass will be celebrated in the St Bede’s Hall on the evening of 27 April (in lieu of the regular Mass which occurs at East Maitland on a Sunday evening). Further details about this Mass will be provided in the newsletter and on our socials.  

Feast of St Benedict 

The College will celebrate the Feast of St Benedict on Thursday 20 March. Students are invited to dress in YELLOW and make a gold coin donation in Homeroom towards Project Compassion. 

Project Compassion is an annual Lenten fundraiser for Caritas Australia, which is the Catholic Church’s international aid and development agency. Since 1964, Caritas Australia has been implementing locally led programs focusing on sustainable development, emergency relief, and social justice. They work to end poverty and promote justice in over 36 countries throughout Africa, Asia, Australia and the Pacific. Caritas Australia’s work tackles global issues like food and water insecurity, national disaster readiness and gender-based violence. 

Thanks to generous supporters across the nation, Caritas Australia can: 

• Reach approximately 1.5 million people across 36 countries; 
• Deliver 108 long-term development programs and humanitarian emergencies with 90 partners; 
• Focus on education, healthcare, food security, and water access in vulnerable communities worldwide; 
• Advocate for social justice and support Indigenous communities here in Australia. 

LEARNING DOMAIN

Year 9 Leader of Wellbeing & Engagement – Rebecca Dawber

I cannot believe that we are more than halfway through Term 1. For the most part Year 9 have started the year well, engaging with their studies and are particularly enjoying their electives. Some of the activities that students have been working on include pool visits for Marine Studies, painting skateboard decks in Visual Arts and creating dioramas in Child studies.

As part of our wellbeing program this year we have created a series of questions that we will be getting students to regularly answer through a survey, to track individual and cohort wellbeing. We will then be able to respond timelier to individual needs and bigger issues that are affecting the cohort by developing wellbeing sessions that are designed to give students strategies as needed. The results of the 1^st survey are below. Students rated how they generally felt on a range of aspects from 1 to 5 stars with 5 feeling the best. Apart from a few individual students on the lower ends of the scale, most students fall into the categories of above average. Students also have an option to mention anything that is causing worry to them at the time. The question that demonstrated the highest rating was regarding how well the students are engaging with their learning, and the lowest rating was in relation to how well the students slept over the previous fortnight.

If your child is having trouble getting to sleep and staying to sleep, here are some helpful strategies that may help.  

• Get some exercise each day.  
• Allow natural sunlight to filter in their rooms each morning which helps with their circadian rhythm and reduce artificial light in their rooms, including technology power buttons.  
• Avoiding stimulants like the caffeine in their favourite energy drink or vaping nicotine because as well as many other harmful aspects, stimulants are bad for sleep.  
• Avoid screen time, and in particular social media, for approximately an hour before sleep time.  
• Create a regular schedule, including a realistic bed and wake time. The more often you stay in that schedule, the more the body yearns for sleep at that time.  
• Just like removing yourself from screen time, give yourself time to unwind and relax. Meditate, play some calm music or read a book in the time leading up to sleeping.  
• Avoid laying and sitting in bed when you are not sleeping. Your body loses sense of the connection to sleep in the bed when you are sitting and watching TV, doing homework or other activities.  
• Clear the clutter out the bedroom and make it your sanctuary. The more clutter and mess in your room, the harder it is to relax and enjoy the space.  

Getting this extra sleep is obviously even more important as we approach the busy assessment time. Please reach out if you have any concerns moving forward.  

Sport – Belinda Watts

Dio Touch Football 

On Wednesday 28 May eight of our students trialed, in extremely hot conditions, at the diocesan touch selections in Tarro. Congratulations to Eve Power, Harry Lidbury, Annie Lidbury, Addison Elbourne, Kale White and Charlie Burey who were selected in the Maitland/Newcastle representative team to compete at CCCNSW touch trials later in the term. 

NSW Schools Triathlon 

On Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 February our students competed in both the Individual and team events at the NSW All Schools Triathlon. Lachlan Jones competed in the Intermediate competition and placed second out of 19 students in NSWCCC schools, only missing selection in the National Team by seconds. Braith Punton also raced in the Intermediate competition and placed seventh out of 19 students in NSWCCC Schools.  

Braith Punton, Lachlan Jones and Zachary Thomson also competed in the School Based Competition and finished eighth in NSW and first out of 16 teams in NSWCCC Schools! Congratulations boys. 

All the boys should be extremely proud of their efforts as this competition includes students from all over NSW and is highly competitive. 

School Cross Country Carnival 

The 2025 School Cross Country will occur on Monday 24 March at Morpeth Oval. Whilst this is NOT a compulsory event, students who wish to participate for fun or house points, or who would like to be considered to represent SBCC at Diocesan Cross Country, are required to nominate themselves via the FORMS link on COMPASS or Teams.

Non-competitors will attend classes as normal.  

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 | 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. John 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 30^th November. 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

Year 7 2026 Parent Information Evening

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.

Canteen News - Harmony Day 21 March 2025

Morpeth ANZAC Day March – 25 April 2025

Students, families and staff from St Bede's are invited to attend the Morpeth ANZAC Day March and Commemorative Service on Friday, 25 April 2025. 

The march commences at 10:45am from Campbells Store, Corner of Tank and Swan Streets, Morpeth. Students and staff are welcome to march behind our school banner. Students are required to wear formal uniform (no sports uniform). We are asking that staff and students gather at 10:30am (near Miss Lily’s Lollies) ready to start the march at 10:45am.

The Commemorative Service commences at the Cenotaph, corner of Swan and Northumberland Streets, Morpeth at 11:00am.

Volunteer Registration Link

School student travel information for parents and students
School Travel Passes

Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply or update their details as soon as possible.

In the Opal network, students should travel with a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card. If outside Greater Sydney, parents should contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs.

Students living in rural and regional areas will receive their travel pass from their nominated transport operator. It may be issued via their school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some rural and regional operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.
 
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/