St Bede's Catholic College Newsletter - Edition 4 - 28 March 2025

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE – JOHN MURPHY

A PRAYER FOR LENT

You call us to service; 

To be your eyes and ears, hands and voice in this world.
To open our eyes not only to the beauty and love which you create, but the injustice, hate and suffering that mankind generates.
To open our ears not only to the chattering of this coming week, but the searching, fears and questioning of those we meet.
To open our hands not only to those we choose to share our lives, but in welcome, love and fellowship to all who you draw near.
To open our mouths not only to speak triviality and simple words, but the truths you lay upon our hearts.
Help us to serve You, to be Your eyes and ears, hands and voice in this world.
St Bede … Pray for us. 

BENEFITS OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION

Below are two recent articles that highlight the lifelong benefits of a Catholic education. Along with reinforcing the benefits of learning opportunities offered by Catholic schools, they speak to the personal, social and spiritual growth that are supported in our schools.

• A study in The Australian that highlights how Catholic school graduates outperform their peers in key areas such as life satisfaction, work success, and overall health. Please click on the link below for the full article:

• The Victorian Catholic Education Authority has published a resource outlining the extensive lifelong benefits of attending a Catholic school, including the development of values, resilience, and a strong sense of community. Please click on the link below to access the resource:

Thank you for your on-going support of the standards that we expect of our students and the values we live by in enabling the benefits of Catholic education to become a reality for our community.

LEARNING IMPROVEMENT

The targeted approach of learning improvement, with a greater emphasis on writing and homework, is resulting in observed patterns of increased student engagement and performance. The diligent approach of our Year 7 & 9 students was evident during the recently completed NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) tests. NAPLAN is a series of tests focused on basic skills that are administered to Australian students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.

We were extremely impressed by the focus and commitment of our students before and during these tests. In knowing that students gave a 100%, our staff will be able to confidently engage with the results data. This will include identifying individual and cohort areas of strength and areas for improvement. The demonstrated practice of students being conscientious and determined in their approach will also assist them in their preparation for future exams, including the Year 10 Religious Literacy Test and the Higher School Certificate.

FAITH LIFE:

Thank you to those who attended last Wednesdays before school Mass in our magnificent ‘Mary Mother of Hope Oratory.’ Our Priest Chaplain, Father Priyantha, celebrates Mass at 8.00am on the third Wednesday morning of each month. We will send reminders out before each Mass, but we welcome anyone to attend these Masses, including neighbours, parishioners, and family members. We also welcome any enquiries from those who would like to know more about possibly becoming a Catholic. Please click on the link below to contact the College if you would like to know more.

UPCOMING EVENTS 2025

Assistant Principal Report – Amber Carter and Rebel Clark

Stage 6 Parent-Teacher Interviews 

We warmly welcome all parents to make a booking for the Stage 6 Parent-Teacher Interviews for Year 11 students, which will be held next Tuesday 1 April, from 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM. These interviews provide an important opportunity for you to speak directly with your child’s teachers about how they are managing the academic demands of their courses, including workload, time management and overall wellbeing. 

The aim of these discussions is to ensure that your child is on track to meet their academic goals, while also identifying any areas where they may need additional support or guidance. Teachers will share insights into your child’s strengths and areas for improvement, and together, explore strategies to help them succeed. 

We strongly encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to stay informed and involved in your child’s educational journey, as ongoing communication is key to their success. 

NAPLAN 2025  

Congratulations to all Year 7 and 9 students who have successfully completed their NAPLAN testing. We are proud of their proactive approach and commitment throughout this process. Thanks to the students' focus and responsibility, we experienced minimal disruptions during the testing period, with all instructions being followed diligently. 

Catch-up tests for students who were absent during the original testing window were completed last week. 

As parents and carers would be aware, NAPLAN is now administered during March. This adjustment allows for quicker processing of results, enabling schools and teachers to access valuable data much sooner, which will help to inform teaching and learning moving forward. 

Thank you again to Mr. Jones, our Curriculum Coordinator Thank you to Mr. Jones, our Curriculum Coordinator, for ensuring a smooth NAPLAN testing process. We appreciate everyone's dedication to making this year's testing a success. 

Year 7 Peer Support Program Underway 

On Friday 14 March, the College introduced the inaugural Year 7 – Year 11 Peer Support Program, an initiative designed to promote connection, personal growth and resilience among students. The program pairs Year 11 Peer Support Leaders with Year 7 students to guide them through the transition into high school, while simultaneously providing Year 11s with opportunities to develop leadership skills and act as positive role models within the school community.  

Already, the program has made a significant impact, with two successful sessions completed. These sessions have focused on building rapport between the students and addressing important topics particularly those relating to starting school.  

This initiative not only supports the Year 7 students in their high school journey but also forms a sense of responsibility and provides opportunity for the Year 11s to grow as leaders and role models within our school community. We look forward to the continued growth and success of this program throughout the year. 

Students Out of Bounds  

We’d like to kindly update parents that staff are reminding students about the importance of staying within designated areas during our school hours, including not being on the Peregrine Trail before or after school, or during break times. We appreciate your support in helping reinforce these boundaries for the safety and wellbeing of all students. 

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like to discuss the learning and wellbeing of your child.  

Let us always shine with Christ’s glory.  

Catholic Formation and Mission – Jasmine Simmons

St Benedict’s Feast Day

On Thursday 20 March, the College celebrated the Feast of St Benedict, patron saint of Benedict House. The atmosphere was festive, and the fun was contagious! It was wonderful to see so many students dressed in yellow. Mrs. Shaw and the Benedict House Leaders ran competitions to win House points that included:

• Best Dressed Competition: The most creative and school-proud yellow outfit will be crowned winner in the Best Dressed Competition, earning house points and a special prize. Show off your style and school spirit for your chance to win!

• Gold Coin Donations: For Project Compassion. During homeroom time, your homeroom teacher will be collecting gold coin donations for Project Compassion, a wonderful cause that helps those in need. House points will be awarded to the house that raises the most money on the day, so rally your housemates and give generously!

• Dodgeball House Competition: Get ready to dodge, duck, dip, and dive! Each house will battle it out in the Dodgeball Competition, playing for house points. Bring your A-game and let’s see which house dominates the field!

• Family (House) Feud: It’s time for some fun trivia and friendly rivalry in the Family (House) Feud! Compete against the other houses in a battle of wits, playing for house points and earning bragging rights as the ultimate trivia champions!

A huge thank you to Ms. Shaw – your organisation, enthusiasm and dedication is greatly appreciated. Thank you also to the students and families who generously donated to Project Compassion. Our support of Project Compassion is vital to the work that Caritas carries out with disadvantaged people around the world.

Carlo Acutis Mass

On Sunday, 27 April, you are invited to attend the Carlo Acutis Mass to be held at 4pm in the St Bede’s Catholic College Hall in the Hall.

Project Compassion

During this time of Lent, we continue to support Project Compassion. During this time, we encourage students to bring donations. This year, as we focus on building House identity, students can also earn points to contribute to their House competition. For more information, please click on the link below.

LEARNING DOMAIN

Year 10 Leader of Wellbeing & Engagement – Sam Rowlings

As we move further into the school year, I would like to take a moment to commend all Year 10 students on a successful and settled start. Your positive attitude and commitment to your studies have been evident, and I truly appreciate the warm welcome and support I have received in this role.

Year 10 is an exciting time, as it marks a key stage in your academic journey. This year, you have the opportunity to take control of your future by selecting subjects that align with your potential career pathways. These choices can shape your senior school experience and beyond, so I encourage you to consider them carefully and seek guidance when needed.

With the term progressing, assessment tasks are now coming thick and fast. It is crucial that you stay on top of your workload by developing strong time management skills. Planning ahead, setting priorities, and maintaining a balanced approach to study will help you manage the increasing demands of your coursework effectively.

Alongside assessments comes the inevitable challenge of fatigue. To support your wellbeing, I encourage all students to focus on healthy habits, particularly around sleep hygiene. Establishing a consistent sleep routine, minimizing screen time before bed, and ensuring adequate rest will help maintain energy levels and cognitive function during this busy period.

A key focus in Year 10 is future planning, and Mrs. Nemeth has been consistently communicating valuable information about work experience and career opportunities. I encourage all students to engage with these opportunities, as they provide invaluable insights into potential career paths and help build real-world skills.

Our wellbeing sessions this term have been centered around Goal Setting, Study Skills, and Support Networks. These sessions are designed to equip Year 10 with practical strategies to navigate challenges and stay motivated throughout the year. I hope you find these skills useful as you continue to develop academically and personally.

Let’s continue making this a successful and rewarding year together!

Gifted Education – Kim Dickson

Congratulations to Our High Performing Students!

We are thrilled to announce that several of our students have been accepted into the prestigious University of Newcastle High Performing Students Program. This remarkable achievement reflects their dedication, hard work, and commitment to academic excellence.

Please join us in congratulating the following students on their successful applications:

• Angelique Currey (Year 11) – Foundations of Health and Disease
• Hamish Dibley (Year 9) – Foundations of Health and Disease
• Isabella King (Year 10) – Foundations of Health and Disease
• Joss Black (Year 10) – Foundations of Health and Disease
• Lucy Richardson (Year 10) – Foundations of Health and Disease
• Olivia Taylor (Year 10) – Foundations of Health and Disease
• Henry Carpenter (Year 10) – Discrete Mathematics
• Max Hartigan (Year 11) – Discrete Mathematics

The University of Newcastle High Performing Students Program offers a unique opportunity for high-achieving students to enrol in first-year university courses while still in high school. Through this program, students experience university life firsthand by participating in lectures, tutorials, and coursework alongside undergraduate students. This experience not only extends their learning but also helps them develop valuable skills in time management, independent study, and critical thinking.

We commend these students for their ambition and dedication and look forward to hearing about their successes throughout this exciting academic journey.

Congratulations once again to all our students on this outstanding accomplishment!

House Coordinator – Beau Dalton

It is an absolute pleasure to write this report as the House Coordinator of St Bede’s. This is a new position at our College that focuses on building house spirit and pride in all aspects of what we do at St Bede’s Catholic College.

In light of this, I am extremely excited to announced that as of this year, all four houses will be competing for the “House Cup”. The House Cup works as a points-based system, with a number of different challenges/activities to earn house points. The winner of the House Cup may not necessarily be the house that dominates the Athletics and Swimming Carnival, but the house that shows up to school and succeeds academically, socially, spiritual and physically.

There are a number of ways that students can earn points for their house that contribute to the house cup. Some of these include:

• Merits, LOWE awards, Assistant Principals awards and Principals awards.
• Representing the school creatively, through performing arts, academically and competing in sport.
• Helping out teachers and helping out other.
• Wearing uniform with pride and dressing up on Feast Days.
• Speaking/performing at school assemblies, liturgies and masses.
• Participating in school-based clubs such as chess club and book club.
• Engaging in lunchtime novelty activities and games.

A live link is accessible to all students on compass throughout the year. They are able to see real time updates and changes to see how their house is going. Please click on the link below:

With Dominic running out winners at the swimming carnival, the House Cup is truly in their favour.

• Will Benedict’s 3-year streak come to an end?
• What house will rise to the challenge to take this from Dominic?
• Is it finally Marian’s Year?
• Will McAuley cause one of the greatest all-time upsets?

We will have to wait and see.

Sport – Belinda Watts

Diocesan Swimming Carnival

On Tuesday 11 March, 23 dedicated students proudly represented SBCC at the Diocesan Swimming Carnival at the FORUM Newcastle.

From the opening event to the final relay, the swimmers showcased their talent and commitment, competing fiercely in a range of strokes and distances. The atmosphere was electric as teammates cheered one another on, fostering a strong sense of school spirit.

Several standout performances highlighted the day, with many swimmers achieving personal bests. The relay events were particularly thrilling, with St Bede’s teams working together seamlessly to deliver impressive results.

Special thanks to the Staff for their organisation and to Angelique Currey, Janali Haynes and Taneisha Twitchin for volunteering on the day.

Special mention to Charlize Eldridge, Chelsea Dilley and Sienna Dilley who placed 3^rd overall in their respective age groups. This is an outstanding achievement!

The following students qualified to represent the Diocese at CCCNSW Swimming carnival at Homebush on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 April.

• Caleb Hyslop:

50M Breastroke, 50M Freestyle, 50M Backstroke and 100M Freestyle

• Charlize Eldridge:

14 Girls 50M Breastroke and 50M Freestyle

• Lucy Doohan:

12/13 Girls 50M Backstroke

• Oceah Nancarrow:

12/13 Girls 50M Butterfly

• Chelsea Dilley:

Junior Girls Relay – 50M Freestyle

School Cross Country

On Monday 24 March, 130 students from SBCC participated in the school cross country at Morpeth Oval and Surrounds. In wet conditions, students demonstrated resilience, determination, sportsmanship and a positive attitude. In between events students took the opportunity to engage in other activities on offer including volleyball and the partner “rebound cricket” competition. A shout out to all the student volunteers, teachers and the Year 11 Sports Coaching class who assisted with timekeeping, checkpoints, recording and novelty events. The carnival would not have been possible without you. A special shout out to Mr Mulhearn who assisted with the carnival organisation and ran over 12km to encourage, guide and motivate our students throughout their event. Congratulations to our Age Champions and to all students who have qualified to represent SBCC at the Diocesan Cross Carnival at Lake Glenbawn next term. Further information regarding the Diocesan carnival will be communicated to parents/students via COMPASS.

Overall house winners for the day were MARIAN in a very close finish.

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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 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

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

Year 7 Thursday 29 May. Catch-ups for Year 7 and Year 10 are scheduled for Thursday 11 September.

 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 students’ online consent. The Procedure for Withdrawal of Consent is available on the NSW Health website http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/withdraw_consent.aspx.

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.

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.

Canteen News

Volunteer Registration Link

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/