St Bede's Catholic College Newsletter - Edition 5 - 11 April 2025

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE – JOHN MURPHY

A PRAYER FOR LENT

I will Turn Lord, I will turn, Turn my face towards you.
I will lay before you the desert areas I hide and turn to soak in your refreshing words of life.
I will cast aside the barren, selfish pursuits and turn to rest in the tranquil warmth of your love.
I will draw back from the harsh pull of media and turn to bathe in the gentle power of your Spirit.
Lord, today I turn my face towards you.
St Bede … Pray for us. 

END OF TERM 1

Thank you to our entire college community for such a happy and successful term. Students have been positively engaging in their learning and enjoying our wonderful facilities. Throughout the term and as communicated via our social media platforms and fortnightly newsletters, we have had many successes and celebrations of the outstanding achievements of our students.

At the start of the year, I set the challenge for learning to go to the next level with a greater focus on writing and students completing homework and submitting tasks to a higher standard. With the leadership of our staff and support of parents/carers, our students have responded brilliantly to this challenge. This is noticeable when walking through classes where classes are settled, and students are positively engaging in their learning. I commend students on this and thank our staff and parents/cares for challenging all students to achieve to their potential.

Thank you also to our Student Leaders, led by our College Captain, Bella Avis, and Vice-Captain, Sayeva Fragar, for their outstanding leadership. The commitment and hard work of our student leaders, in providing authenticity to our aim of students sharing in the partnership with our staff and parents/carers, is a key reason for St Bede’s evolving into an excellent school.

STAFF NEWS

With Pope Francis having chosen the theme of ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ for this year’s 2025 Jubilee focus, I have decided to take leave next term from Week 5 until the end of the term. I will be travelling overseas which will include two religious pilgrimages.

The first pilgrimage, titled ‘Footsteps of St Paul,’ will include visiting sites in Greece and Türkiye where St Paul wrote his letters. The second pilgrimage, titled ‘Mary & the Saints,’ will visit sites in Portugal, Spain, and France where some of the Church’s most renowned saints, including St Teresa, St Dominic, St Ignatius, and St Bernadette, lived. I look forward to sharing my insights and reflections on these pilgrimages upon my return at the start of Term 3.

Whilst on leave, Ms. Amber Carter will step into the Acting Principal’s role. Ms. Carter is a highly experienced and high-performing Assistant Principal who will do an excellent job during my absence. Ms. Lauren McCafferty, our Human Society in its Environment (HSIE) Leader of Learning (LOL) will step into the Ms. Carter’s vacant Acting Assistant Principal position to work alongside our other Assistant Principal, Ms. Clark. Ms. McCafferty is an experienced middle leader with a strong commitment to student wellbeing and learning.

Congratulations to Ms. Carter and Ms. McCafferty on their temporary appointments into these higher leadership positions. The vacant HSIE LOL position will be announced in the first newsletter of next term when the appointment has been finalised.

CHISHOLM PLAZA

Please see below a Notice of Commencement for the Chisholm Plaza where works commenced on the 26 March. It is expected that the total construction will take just over 20 months, meaning an opening time at the start of 2027.

ANZAC DAY SERVICE

As per the correspondence from our Defence Force Mentor, Leesa Moore, a reminder that of the invitation to teachers, students, and families to attend the Morpeth Anzac Day March and Commemorative Service on Friday, 25 April. The Commemorative Service commences at the Cenotaph, corner Swan and Northumberland Streets, Morpeth at 11.00 a.m. The march will commence at 10.45 a.m. from Campbells Store, corner Tank and Swan Streets, Morpeth.

Upon our return next term, a service will be held here at school to pay our respects to the sacrifices and service of those who have served and are servicing in our defence forces.

THANK YOU

I take this opportunity to wish our College community a happy and Holy Easter. I encourage the attendance at a local Parish Easter service, where irrespective of one’s religious backgrounds all are welcomed. Best wishes to our students over the holiday period. We look forward to seeing them all back on Wednesday 30 April.

UPCOMING EVENTS 2025

Assistant Principal Report – Amber Carter and Rebel Clark

‘The greatest courage is the courage to learn something new.’

Living the Pillar of Courage in the Classroom

Courage, as one of our four College pillars, has provided a meaningful opportunity for everyone in the St Bede's community to embody and celebrate this value throughout Term 1. This pillar has encouraged students in all year groups to embrace challenges, step outside our comfort zones and support one another in their growth. During a recent visit to a Year 9 HSIE lesson, students were continuing their study of World War I through the ‘Lest We Forget’ unit, exploring the impacts of bravery and sacrifice during one of history's most defining conflicts. As part of the lesson, students read Gallipoli by Alan Tucker aloud to their peers, bringing the emotional and historical significance of the novel to life.

This act of reading aloud exemplifies courage, as it encourages students to step out of their comfort zones and share their voices, reflecting the courage we aimed to develop this term. Through this collaborative effort, students are not only gaining a deeper connection to the content but are also developing the resilience and empathy needed to understand the sacrifices made by those who came before them. We encourage all students of St Bede's to continue to be courageous in their learning, embracing new challenges, growing through them and supporting one another along the way.

Courage: Living the Spirit of Service

We would like to express our appreciation to the students who volunteered their time and support at the recent Year 7 2026 Information Night. Over 35 students acted as servant leaders, welcoming families and leading College tours with enthusiasm and pride. As the scripture reminds us, "Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant" (Mark 10:43). These students truly embodied this calling, offering their time selflessly to help others and create a welcoming environment for new families. Mr. Murphy and the entire College community are incredibly proud of their contributions, which made the event a great success.

We encourage all students to follow their example and be generous with their time, as acts of service not only support our community but also help us grow as individuals and leaders. Through service to others, we build a stronger, more compassionate community.

Year 7 Camp: Courage in Action

The Year 7 camp at Point Wolstoncroft Sport and Recreation Centre was a resounding success, providing students with a valuable opportunity to learn a variety of new skills. From kayaking and paddle boarding on the serene waters of Lake Macquarie to testing their precision with archery, students were able to challenge themselves and develop both physical and mental resilience. Many also participated in team-building exercises that required communication, cooperation and problem-solving—skills that will serve them well both in and outside of the classroom. Throughout the camp, students truly embraced the College's pillar of Courage, stepping out of their comfort zones and tackling new challenges with enthusiasm and determination. A big thank you goes to all the staff who attended the camp, as well as those who remained at school to ensure that our St Bede’s community continued to function smoothly. Their dedication and support were essential in making this experience a memorable and enriching one for our Year 7 students.

Time to Rest, Reflect and Prepare

As we approach the school holidays, we wish all students and their families a safe and restful break. Holidays are a time to reset, recharge and prepare for the challenges and learning that await in the next term. These holidays are also a time to reflect on the significance of Easter, a season of renewal and hope, reminding us of the importance of faith and compassion in our lives. Likewise, as we mark Anzac Day during the holidays, we honour the bravery and sacrifice of those who served our country. May these meaningful occasions inspire reflection and gratitude. We look forward to welcoming everyone back next term, ready to embrace new opportunities for growth and learning.

Let us always shine in the glory of Christ.

Catholic Formation and Mission – Jasmine Simmons

Mary, Mother of Hope Oratory

With the Mary, Mother of Hope Oratory now in use, our Year 11 and 12 students have had an opportunity to learn about the space and spend some time there in prayer and reflection. The students have enjoyed taking some time out of the busyness of school life and enjoy a moment of quiet and stillness. A special thank you to our College Chaplain, Fr Priyantha and our School Family Engagement Coordinator, Beverly Bailey for their facilitation and support of these visits.  

The Sacred Paschal Triduum 2025 and Carlo Acutis Mass

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 11 Leaders of Wellbeing & Engagement – Eleanor Martin and Rebecca Haines

As we wrap up Term 1, I wanted to take a moment to share just how proud I am of how our Year 11 students have approached the start of their Stage 6 journey. It’s never easy to transition to the demands of senior schooling, but our students have really risen to the occasion. They've shown great resilience in managing their workloads, balancing their responsibilities, and adapting to the increased expectations of Year 11.

As we move forward into Term 2, I’d like to offer a few tips for supporting your child at home. One of the most effective practices is to have a shared understanding of upcoming assessment tasks. Consider printing out a calendar of assessment dates together and keeping it in a visible spot at home. This will help your child manage their time and stay on top of deadlines. Regular check-ins are also key. Take time to ask about how they are using their organisational habits—whether they’re sticking to a study schedule or using their planner effectively. It's also important to gauge how they’re feeling about their workload and whether they’re finding it manageable. Having open conversations about their stress levels and workload will help them feel supported and allow you to step in if they need any additional help.

A big thank you to all the families who took the time to attend the Parent, Student, Teacher Interviews last week. It was wonderful to see so many of you engaging in meaningful conversations about your child’s progress and the high expectations we all hold as they begin this next stage of their learning. Building strong relationships between students, parents, and teachers is at the heart of what we do, and your support is invaluable as we work together to help our students succeed. Please continue to check in with both me and your child’s classroom teacher if you have any questions or concerns.

One of the most heartwarming things to see has been the way so many of our students have embraced leadership roles, particularly through Peer Support and mentoring Year 7 students. It's clear that our Year 11 cohort is not only focused on their own success, but also eager to guide and support younger students as they navigate their own high school experiences. The maturity, compassion, and responsibility they've shown is truly inspiring, and I know this will continue to strengthen our school community.

Looking ahead to Term 2, we’re excited for the upcoming Senior Retreat. This is a fantastic opportunity for our Year 11s to build deeper connections with one another and to reflect on their personal growth and goals for the future. More details will be shared soon, but for now, please note that students have been asked to submit their rooming preferences. The retreat is a compulsory event, and we’re looking forward to the positive impact it will have on both their wellbeing and sense of community.

I’d also like to take a moment to acknowledge Mrs. Graetz, who will be heading off on maternity leave. We want to wish her all the best during this special time.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, or simply want to touch base, please do not hesitate to contact either myself, or Rebecca Haines who supports Year 11 on Thursday/Friday.

English News – Tamara Powell

To celebrate our term in English, we want to share some of the incredible writing we have privilege of reading from our Stage 6 students. Putting pen to paper, especially in this day and age, has become almost counter-cultural and we want to acknowledge their wonderful voices and thoughtfulness about our world. As we say to them, we write to make sense of our world, and we think the world is in good hands when we witness their craft.

Wellbeing Committee – Abby O’Connor and Madeline O’Connor

Zero Discrimination Day

This year is the tenth anniversary of Zero Discrimination Day and the theme is “To protect everyone's health, protect everyone's rights”.

We celebrate the right of everyone to live a full and productive life—and live it with dignity and free from discrimination. In short, this day highlights the need to take action to end inequalities surrounding income, sex, age, health status, occupation, disability, gender identity, race, class, ethnicity and religion that are prevalent around the world.

As stewards of God’s creation, the St Bede’s community are committed to act with respect, compassion and justice to uphold the dignity of all in our ‘common family’.

Students dressed un unique socks, a representation of our unique identities. They served as a conversation starter to consider the range of identities which make our community unique, and the importance of acceptance, inclusion and celebration. Students donated a gold coin to Project Compassion for wearing unique socks on this day.

Project Compassion works tirelessly to end inequity and provide funding and resources for the poor, upholding their rights and dignity so they can reach their full potential in health, dignity and wellbeing.

Benedict were the leading fundraisers, and the College raised nearly $200 in total!

Harmony Week

This year, Harmony week was celebrated between the 17-21 March at the College. This event recognises and celebrates Australia's cultural diversity, promoting inclusiveness, respect, and a sense of belonging for all Australians.  The ongoing theme for Harmony Week is "Everyone Belongs," emphasising the importance of embracing cultural diversity and fostering unity within our communities.

Throughout Week 6, each homeroom decorated a hand with words and symbols that they believe represents Harmony Day. The Wellbeing leaders collated the hands and created a display which represents the diverse backgrounds, cultures and traditions of students and staff at St Bede's. The committee’s display recognises the inclusiveness and uniqueness of every individual and how we all belong to our community, Australia.

The Harmony Day canteen initiative was a hit at the College as it celebrated cultural diversity through food. Offering a special menu featuring international dishes such as beef mince nachos, cheeseburgers, scones, sushi bowls, and butter chicken, this initiative allows students to experience and appreciate different cuisines on Harmony Day. This event fostered inclusivity and unity, highlighting the rich multicultural community we have here at the College.

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Sport – Belinda Watts

Diocesan Opens Boys Football

Our Senior Boys Football Team participated at the Diocesan Football Gala Day on Thursday the 20 March. Our first match was a frustrating 0-0 draw with St Paul's Booragul, with St Bede’s having a number of great chances but St Paul's stood strong and held out for a point a piece. Any worries of scoring goals were soon put to rest as we beat St Joseph's Aberdeen 2-0 and St Catherine’s Singleton 3-0, courtesy of goals from Tatenda Goora (3), Louis Mason and Liam Campbell.

Our final match of the day was a classic Maitland Derby vs All Saints. A win for St Bede’s would progress them to the Grand Final and a draw was all that All Saints needed. St Bede’s took the lead early in the second half thanks to a great team goal finished off by Lachlan Jones. St Bede’s were the better of the sides, but All Saints found an opportunity and made no mistake, levelling the score at 1-1 just before half time which would then turn to the full-time score. This was a tough pill to swallow considering that St Bede’s were undefeated all day and didn’t find a place in the finals.
 
Mr. Dalton and Mr. Sevil are extremely proud of all the playing groups efforts, with a number of Year 9 and Year 10 students rising to the occasion and not looking out of place whatsoever. Congratulations to our Players Player of the day Koby Warland who stepped up when needed and put in a serious shift through the middle of the park. Onwards and upwards.

Touch Football

Congratulations to Harry Lidbury selected in the Under 18’s Australian Touch Team, which will compete in the Asia Pacific Youth Touch Cup being held in Queensland in May. We wish him all the best in the upcoming Championships.

Under 14s Cochrane Cup

Our Under 14s Rugby League team represented St Bede’s with pride and passion at the Cochrane Cup Gala Day in Cessnock.

The boys got off to a flying start with a dominant 36-0 win over St Paul’s Booragul. Their energy continued into Game Two, where they held off a tough St Joseph’s Aberdeen side

16-14, conceding a late try on the final siren but still securing victory. These strong performances saw St Bede’s finish first in their pool and advance to the semifinals.

In the semi, the boys faced off against a strong St Mary’s Gateshead outfit. St Bede’s led 12-4 at halftime with excellent defensive pressure and well-structured attack. Despite their early lead, they were unable to hold off a late surge from Gateshead and went down 22-12 at full time.

Across all games, our players showed outstanding determination, teamwork, and sportsmanship. They represented the school with distinction and should be incredibly proud of their efforts.

Well done to all involved – a fantastic day of footy and a brilliant display of St Bede’s spirit!

Under 16s Girls Rugby League – Special Training Session with Georgie Roache

On Friday, 28 March, our Under 16s Girls Rugby League team had the incredible opportunity to train with Georgie Roache from the NRLW Newcastle Knights. Georgie shared her expertise, guiding the team through skills, drills, and game strategies, inspiring our players with her experience at the elite level.

We wish our girls the very best as they take the field on 10 April 2025 in the NRL Schoolgirl Trophy.

Fast Fives Netball Carnival

On Monday the 31 March, our Year 11 and 12 girls Netball team represented St Bede’s at the Fast Fives carnival at Westlakes against mixed teams. Throughout the day, the girls showcased some impressive skill and determination with both teams experiencing a mix of wins and losses throughout.

Our Year 11 team put on an outstanding performance, despite playing with one less player due to injury and having only one substitute throughout the day. Their resilience and teamwork shone through, allowing them to secure an impressive second place in their pool—a remarkable achievement!

A standout moment came during a power play segment when Janali Haynes scored a 3-pointer winning Year 12 their final game- a showstopper of a shot!

A big thank you to our wonderful umpires, Imogen Brownlee and Emity Beeching. You both did an outstanding job and held yourself with professionalism throughout the tournament.

It was a fantastic effort from all the players, demonstrating resilience and teamwork throughout the competition. Well done girls!

Diocesan Netball Trials

On Wednesday 9 April, eight students represented St Bede’s Catholic College at the Diocesan Netball trials at Maitland Basketball Stadium.  An amazing effort by Annie Lidbury, Charlotte Palmer, Gracie Martin and Addison Elbourne to progress through to the ‘possible and probables’ for the U15 team.  Congratulations to Addison Elbourne (Year 9) on her selection into the Diocesan Team. In the Opens trials Eve Power was also selected in the Diocesan Team.  This is an outstanding effort and we wish the girls all the best in the upcoming competitions.  A BIG shout out to Taneisha Twitchin who did an amazing job refereeing these diocese selections!

Northern NSW Rugby League Trials

Ava White (Year 10) travelled to Southwest Rocks on 9 April to represent the Maitland/Newcastle Diocese at the Northen NSW Rugby League Trials. Congratulations on being selected in the U16’s girls Northern NSW team.

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.

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.

Canteen News

We hope this message finds you well. We are reaching out to inform you that, due to recent increases in supplier costs, we will be adjusting the prices on some of our items. These changes will take effect on 28th April 2025

We understand that price changes can be challenging, and we remain committed to providing the best possible service and value to your family. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

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/