St Bede's Catholic College Newsletter - Edition 9 - 20 June 2025

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE – AMBER CARTER

 PRAYER

Loving God,
In the midst of Winter, when the days are cold
and wind can pierce, remind us of the warmth of your love.
In the midst of Winter, when days are short,
dawn comes late, and dusk arrives early,
remind us that in the darkness your light still shines.
And when in our lives we feel as if we are experiencing
a season of winter,
reach out to us with the power of your resurrection
so that we may feel the warmth of your love
and see your light that alone
can take away the darkness of our soul.
Amen.
St Bede … Pray for us. 

Partnerships with Families – the foundation of St Bede’s

A significant part of the St Bede’s is our vibrant community which is built of the foundation of positive partnerships with families. A positive partnership with families is fundamental to the mission and success of Catholic schools. Intrinsically connected with Catholic social teaching, parents and carers are recognised as the primary and principal educator of children, with schools and the broader community called to support and collaborate closely with families in this vital role. This partnership reflects the Church’s commitment to the dignity of the human person, the common good, and a preferential option for the marginalised, ensuring that every child receives wholistic care and education.

At St Bede’s we honour parents and carers as ongoing nurturers and educators, fostering a life-giving relationship that enhances their child’s engagement, achievement, and wellbeing. When we work together in trust and open dialogue, children benefit academically, socially, and spiritually. Research has shown that parental involvement leads to greater academic achievement, better attendance, and a stronger appreciation for lifelong learning (Goodall, 2023). Beyond academics, engaged families play a crucial role in the spiritual development of children, guided by the example of the Holy Family as a model for faith and love. Read more of this research at the following link:

Effective family-school partnerships are built on mutual respect, shared goals, and clear communication. Catholic schools actively create structures, such as the Family And Community Engagement Forum, to ensure parents’ voices are heard and valued. These partnerships extend to include the parish and wider community, creating a supportive network that prioritises student learning and wellbeing.

Our partnership with families reflects the Church’s mission to form compassionate, capable, and faith-filled individuals. This mission is also embedded in the College Vision and Mission Statement. The Vision and Mission statement is a blueprint for a future society where young people thrive with knowledge, act with courage, connect with community and live with faith. This aspiration does not stop when St Bede’s students move onto their next adventure, it a vision we hope that, in partnership with our families, the young people entrusted into our care are able to take with them to live a flourishing life.

Year 11 2026 Senior Studies

There are key moments throughout the year where the impact of the partnership with families is highlighted. The process Year 10 students embark on to select their Year 11 courses is one of these moments. We thank all the students and families that attended this hugely successful evening. The theme of the evening is Imagining Possibilities where we encourage students to think about the possibilities for the next two years and beyond. St Bede’s students are the change makers and future shapers of our society. Our world needs audacious thinkers, agile problem solvers and critical and creative mindsets. The imagining of possibilities is about discovering passions, developing strengths, and preparing for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Our message to all our students is that they are not simply students – they are the architects of the world to come, and through a faith education steeped in excellence, our students begin to lay the foundation for their own vision for the future.

I thank Ms. Lauren McCafferty, Mr. Russell Jones, Mr. Samuel Rowlings and all the staff that were involved in making the evening a success. If parents, carers and students have any questions regarding the course selection process they can direct their enquiries to Ms. McCafferty and Mr. Jones.

Student Celebrations: Sporting Success

Congratulations to Year 7 student Isla Wawszknoicz who was part of the U14 Maitland Mustangs team who became the NSW Country Campions over the long weekend. Isla was also named Grand Final Most Valuable Player – well done Isla!

The Futsal teams had a successful day at the Regional Futsal Championships with four of the boys' teams and two of the girls' teams proceeding to the next round In Gosford to be held before the end of the term.

Several of our students who play Rugby Union with Hunter Wildfires Rugby let their light shine on the field over the long weekend, which included playing in the snow! The Country Championships were held at Orange, Dubbo and Maitland with the following results:

• U13s - Winners at a Snowy Orange: Matteo Tettamanzi, Finn Brownlee and Darcy Bendeich
• U14s - Winners at Dubbo: Samuel Burey and Coach Mr. Lachlan Vaughan
• U15s - Winners at Maitland: Bevan Hill

Well done to all our students who let their light shine!

7-10 Reports and Parent, Teacher, Student Interviews

As the semester is drawing to a close, teachers have been preparing student reports which will be issued through Compass on Friday 27 June. Bookings for PTS Interviews will also open in Compass. The PTS Interviews will take place on Thursday 3 July between 3:30pm and 7pm and during the day on Friday 4 July. As a result, the last day of term will be a Pupil Free Day.

Staff Development Day

A reminder we have a Staff Development Day schedule for the first day of Term 3. Teachers will be refining their knowledge of how the Positive Behaviour For Learning (PB4L) approach assists all students in engaging in developing prosocial behaviours both within the classroom and the yard. The foundation for PB4L is the cultivation of positive relationship between students and between students and teachers. This systematic approach brings together the whole school community to contribute to a positive and supportive learning culture.

UPCOMING EVENTS 2025

Assistant Principal Report – Rebel Clark and Lauren McCafferty

Screen time and study

As we move through Term 2, our students are engaging deeply with their learning and preparing for upcoming assessment tasks. This is a critical time for academic focus, and it’s also an opportunity to reflect on the broader factors that support student success—particularly the role of health and technology in learning.

One area that continues to be a growing concern for educators and families alike is screen time.

According to the Australian Institute of Family Studies, excessive screen time can have a range of negative effects on young people, including impacts on physical health, sleep, attention, and emotional wellbeing.

The national guidelines recommend no more than two hours of recreational screen time per day for children and young people aged 5–17 (excluding schoolwork). However, research shows that most Australian children exceed these limits, particularly during weekends and school holidays.

As a College, we are committed to supporting students in developing digital literacy and self-regulation skills. We encourage families to:

• Set clear boundaries around recreational screen use at home.
• Promote screen-free time before bed to support healthy sleep.
• Encourage physical activity and time outdoors as alternatives to screen-based entertainment.
• Model balanced technology use as adults.

We also ask parents to be mindful of smartphone use during homework and study time. Distractions from social media, messaging apps, and games can significantly reduce focus and productivity. Creating a quiet, technology-managed study environment can make a big difference in learning outcomes.

Important Reminder: Traffic Safety and Carpark Procedures

The College's administration staff have recently received 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

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

On Thursday 19 June, two staff and three students completed their Sacraments of Initiation and entered into full communion with the Catholic Church. Bree McCabe, Bella Avis and Caitlin Woodyatt completed the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, Luke Menzies was confirmed and received his first communion, and Olivia Stevens was confirmed. They have participated in a program of formation over the last six months, and it was wonderful for our College community to be able to support them on their journey and celebrate with them. Fr George and Fr Priyantha concelebrated the Mass in the Mary, Mother of Hope Oratory.

We will be providing this opportunity again for any staff or students who would like to become Catholic, or for those who have been baptised and would like to complete their Sacraments of Initiation. This will start during Term 4 2025. Further information will be communicated through Compass and the Newsletter in late Term 3.

Year 10 Reflection Day

The Year 10 Reflection Day will be held on Wednesday 2 July onsite at the College. Students will need to bring a pen and their recess with them; BBQ lunch will be provided.

LEARNING DOMAIN

Year 9 Leader of Wellbeing and Engagement – Connor Tamblyn

It has been a term with some changes for the students as Ms. Dawber going on leave meant Mr. Tamblyn moved into the Year 9 Leader of Wellbeing & Engagement role for the term.  

We have had a strong emphasis on respect, responsibility and developing a growth mindset during the term. Our Wellbeing Sessions this term have focused on developing study skills, managing procrastination, responding to peer pressure and establishing and maintaining healthy relationships. Our focus over the next few weeks will shift to What is Leadership as we begin to look at student leadership positions next term. 

A big thank you to the Year 9 students who have submitted Illness and Misadventure forms when unable to attend assessments due to valid reasons like illness, sport, natural disasters or other commitments. These forms help ensure fairness for everyone and can be accessed through Student Services or in the Year 9 Assessment Handbook on Compass.

We have also seen a number of Year 9 students in community events and showcasing their gifts and talents across many areas of College life. 

Despite their strong start to the term, students have been addressed about a few issues particularly surrounding social media and the image it can portrays of St Bede's and our students if used inappropriately. We have also reinforced the importance of showing kindness to each other. Our students are heavily impacted by the media they consume, including ‘trends’ from social media. Students have been reminded about speaking kindly to each other and being accountable for their words and actions.

We appreciate your support in maintaining the College’s high expectations, especially in relation to the Uniform and Grooming Policy. This includes appropriate hair colours and styles, minimal jewellery and safe joggers for PDHPE. All students should also 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 connor.tamblyn@mn.catholic.edu.au for the remainder of Term 2.

Digital Innovation and Learning – Sandra Hampshire

Year 10 Student Device Program 2026

In 2020 St Bede’s Catholic College undertook an investigation into a senior device program. This investigation involved students, staff, and parents. The proposal saw universal agreement that a “Bring your own specified device” (BYOSD) was the preferred mode for both junior and senior students. We have utilised this model since 2021 and will continue to follow this in 2026.

Our partner for the device program will continue to be Next Technologies. Next Technologies will organise a purchasing portal, finance options, etc. 

Following on from a Vendor Day that the school ICT Team attended in May, device options for 2026 are in the process of being investigated with Next Technologies. This process involves student feedback on the device options – for the 2026 device selection, we will get feedback from the Year 10 2026 cohort, as well as students from our feeder schools of St Aloysius and Our Lady of Lourdes.

Timeline Information

Our typical timeline is to communicate information and early pricing to parents by the end of Term 2 2025. This timeline is subject to change according to availability of device samples. As there are currently delays, we are anticipating this information will be communicated mid to late Term 3.

In 2025, we trialled a later delivery date for Year 10 students but found this was not suitable as students did not have their device for the start of Term 1. The projected delivery date for the Year 10 2026 device will be the last week of school holidays. This allows flexibility in payment options to ensure payment does not need to be finalised until after Christmas.

Pricing Guidance

In 2025 there were two options for the senior device. The lower spec model was offered at $1464 and the higher spec model was offered at $1634. This cost included the $119 Accidental Damage Protection warranty which allows for zero excess screen repairs. This price included the device, stylus, charger and a 3 Year Onsite Support and 3 Year Battery Cover (with $0 excess).

Once the 2026 Year 10 device has been finalised, we will then communicate ordering information to families. In previous years, ordering opened in September and payment was due in January. As mentioned, the previous timeline has been shifted to ensure device delivery before the start of the school year so there may be adjustments in these dates.

Information regarding the device program will continue to be released through the year. In the meantime, if you have any questions regarding the devices or the programs, please contact Sandra Hampshire via email at sandra.hampshire@mn.catholic.edu.au  

Sport – Belinda Watts

Rugby Union 

Congratulations to Harry Lidbury who has been selected in the Opens NSWCCC Rugby Union Team and will be attending the NSW All Schools Rugby 7's Championships. We wish him the best. 

CCC Cross Country 

On the 11 June, 13 students from Years 7-11 attended the NSWCCC Cross country carnival at the Sydney Equestrian Centre. This is an outstanding effort, and all runners are congratulated on their efforts. In the U16 years Boys Division, Lachlan Jones and Zachary Thomson placed 5^th and 6^th respectively and Caleb Hyslop (Year 7 Multi-Class Event) placed 1^st, qualifying them to represent NSWCCC at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre on Tuesday, 22 July. The event is a state-level competition for students from all sectors of the NSW education system. Good Luck boys! 

Futsal 

The girls Northern NSW futsal championship was held on 11 July. The girls proved to embody the hard work and determination already present at St Bede’s with the U16 and U19 girls making the Champion of Champions round in Gosford. The girls are to be commended for their spirit, determination, and dedication to the day. No matter the age group or who was playing, all the girls cheered each other on. Well done girls, we are all proud of you! Let’s win at Gosford!  

The Boys Northern NSW Futsal Gala Day was played on 12 June. The teams generally played 4 or 5 games throughout the day.  All teams showed a fantastic display of teamwork, resilience, and sportsmanship. We had an array of teams in the competition: U14's A and B, U16's A and B, and U19's team. 

Across all age groups, the boys played with tremendous spirit and determination. The skill level was outstanding and showed excellent technique and use of tactics. Their positive attitude and refusal to give up were standout features of the day. 

A special mention goes to the U16's B team, who triumphed in their semi-final match thanks to a gritty team effort and a standout performance from stand-in goalkeeper Caiden. His courage and composure between the posts were crucial to the team’s success. 

At the end of the day, the U16’s A and U19’s Team were winners of their respective competitions. Along with these teams the U16’s B and U14’s A teams will be progressing to the prestigious Champions of Champions tournament, set to take place in two weeks. We look forward to another exciting day of futsal and wish all qualifying teams the best of luck. 

Bill Turner Cup 

Congratulations to our Boys Bill Turner Squad who ran out 1-0 winners in Round 2 of the Bill Turner Cup against Maitland Christian College. A suburb run from LB to the 6 yard box from Jack Williams set up Lachie Winkelman to continue his goal scoring form and score what would be the only goal of the game. We now turn our attention to our Rd 3 matchup against St Jospeh’s Lochinvar which is expected to occur next week. Go on lads! 

In a fiercely contested Round 3 clash of the Girls Bill Turner Cup, the team delivered a spirited performance that had spectators on the edge of their seats. The match ended 2-2 at full time, with both sides showing determination and skill in equal measure.  

Extra time brought more drama but no change to the scoreline, as the teams remained locked at 2-2. With everything to play for, the game went to a penalty shootout. In a nail-biting finish, our girls narrowly missed out, falling 8-7 in the shootout.  

Despite the result, the team showed incredible resilience, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the match. It was a performance to be proud of, and they leave the tournament with heads held high. 

U13 League (Boys) 

After numerous changes due to weather, the St Bede’s Under 13s Rugby League team finally took the field on Friday 13 June at McKeachies Oval for the long-awaited Michael Hagan Premiership. 

The day kicked off with a hard-fought 10-4 loss to St Francis Xavier. After conceding two quick tries, the boys showed determination to fight back but ran out of time to complete the comeback. 

In their second match, the team hit their stride with an 18-10 win over St Joseph’s Lochinvar, displaying solid teamwork and improved execution. 

They saved their best for last with a dominant 36-0 victory over Kotara High, combining strong defence with some sharp attacking flair. 

A great effort all round—well done to the boys on a successful day of footy! 

U15 League (Boys) 

The U/15 team played 2 games at McKeachie's Sportsgrounds on Friday 6 June in the Newcastle Maitland Schools competition. Our first game was a close game against Kurri Kurri High school going down 16-4. Strong performances from Keith Mabodza and Dexter Richards-White. Our second pool game saw a shift in mentality with the boys coming out firing leading 10-0 against Irrawang High School. With some spirited runs by Oscar Hungerford and William Roeth, the team played some of the best football of the day. A few lapses in defense towards the end of the game resulted in a 10 all draw with Irrawang, finishing our pool in 3^rd position and outside the finals.  

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 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

Annual Fee Payments 

A reminder that if you elected to complete your school fees annually, they will become due on 30 June 2025. If this is incorrect and would like it changed to weekly, fortnightly or monthly, please contact us on 02 40888222 option 2 or email finance@chisholmsb.catholic.edu.au to have this completed for you. 

Other News

Canteen

Year 12 2023 – 2024 ALUMNI

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/