St Bede's Catholic College Newsletter - Edition 6 - 9 May 2025

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE – JOHN MURPHY

PRAYER

All-loving God,
we give you thanks and praise for all mothers;
May they be blessed with patience and tenderness
to care for their families and themselves with great joy.
We pray for our own mothers who have nurtured and cared for us;
May they continue to guide us.
We remember mothers who are separated from their children;
May they feel the loving embrace of our God.
We pray for the mother figures who love and shape us
with motherly care and compassion.
We remember mothers who are no longer with us
but who live forever in our memory and nourish us with their love.
Amen.

St Bede … Pray for us. 

PRAYERS FOR POPE FRANCIS

As a Catholic school community, we rejoice in the news of the announcement early this morning that Pope Leo XIV has been elected by the conclave as our new Catholic leader. With over 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide and with many more being supportive of the Catholic ethos, the announcement that Cardinal Robert Prevost has become the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church is significant international news.

Pope Leo XIV is the first American Pope in the history of the Catholic Church. Born in Chicago 69 years ago, he is a dual American and Peruvian citizen and has not lived in the USA for the last four decades, having spent most of his ministry in Peru and Rome. Being fluent in five languages, Pope Leo delivered his address to the excited crowd in the Vatican in Spanish and Italian. His message of love, peace, and inclusivity has already provided much optimism of the positive impact he will provide in continuing the great work of Pope Francis at a time of intense global conflict and division. We as a College will be guided by his leadership, values, and vision. As mentioned by Bishop Michael in his letter below, 'we pray that he may be given wisdom, courage, and grace as he undertakes the immense responsibility of leading the universal Church'.

In the coming weeks we will be educating our students on the enormity of this moment which will be integrated into classes, year meetings, and assemblies.  

Despite the joy of the announcement of the election of Pope Leo XIV, please continue to remember in your prayers the late Pope Francis who passed away on Easter Monday. As outlined in Bishop Michael's letter below, the late Pope Francis 'will be remembered for his unshakable faith in God’s mercy, his invitation to us all to live the joy of the Gospel, and his strong commitment to justice, particularly when it came to advocating for the poor and calling on us to be a Church of mercy’. Thank you to all those who attended the Memorial Mass for him at Sacred Heart Cathedral last Monday, 28 April and for your ongoing prayers.

Please continue to pray for Father Maurice Cahill who passed away on Saturday 19th April. As stated by Father George, 'Fr Maurie was a much-loved priest in this region, and his faithful and generous priestly service has deeply enriched the lives of many of our parishioners. His gentle presence and pastoral care have left a lasting impact on our community'. Thank you to those who attended the Requiem Mass for Father Maurice on Thursday 24th April at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Hamilton and for your ongoing prayers.

ANZAC DAY

Thank you for all those who attended an Anzac Day Ceremony on Friday 25 April to pay respect to our past and current defence force personnel. St Bede’s was well represented in the Anzac Day Service at Morpeth, where approximately 50 students and staff were part of the street procession. Our College Captain, Bella Avis, and Vice-Captain, Sayeva Fragar, each completed a reading at the service and Olivia Veermann and Matilda Miller laid a wreath on behalf of our College community. St Bede’s has a significant number of parents currently serving in the Defence Forces. We acknowledge and thank them for their ongoing service in keeping Australia safe.

The College gathered for an Anzac Day Service last Thursday 1 May. As a school, we proudly paid our respects and acknowledged the sacrifices of current and past defence force personnel. Thank you to all those who contributed to this important ceremony, including representatives and parents from the Defence Forces. A special thank you to our military parents Warrant Officer David Thomson, Flight Sergeant Daryl Gracie and Sergeant Darren Hobbs for being involved in the service and to the Australian Army Band Newcastle – Warrant Officer Rebecca Wiggins, Musician Blaine Stubbs and Musician Luke Harvey.

Our Defence Force Mentor, Leesa Moore, is available to support families who have a parent/carer who has or is currently serving in the Defence Forces.

BUILDING UPDATE

We are fast approaching the completion of the final stage of our building works, which is the outside work at the back of the school. At the start of the year four basketball courts, one of which is covered, and beautiful landscaped gardens and covered seating areas were handed over. An additional section of the College that is almost completed, named the Central Boulevard, is a landscaped pathway with covered seating that connects the back of the buildings to Settlers Boulevard. The covered seating along and near the Central Boulevard, along with other covered outside areas, means that all students can be protected from the sun when required. In the coming weeks, the handball courts and cricket nets will be handed over and available for use. The large playing field that will have outstanding drainage will also be handed over to the College, but not available until the turf has taken and is ready for use later in the year.

St Bede’s can now boast of having first class facilities that provides our students the best opportunity to achieve to their potential. I commend our students on their care, pride, and utilisation of these facilities and their commitment to achieving to their potential.

Below are some photos of the recently opened areas.

PARENT ENGAGEMENT

Parents and Carers are warmly invited to attend our Term 2 Family & Community Engagement (FACE) Forum, previously referred to as Parent Forums, on Tuesday 27 May from 6.00 – 7.00pm in the College Library. These forums are optional but are an important avenue of parent engagement. Attending these meetings is a great way for families to connect and to be part of the St Bede’s community.

Please see below some free upcoming webinars provided by reputable providers, free of charge. Please see the link below for a snapshot of Term 2 webinars featured on this is included below.

Online safety-focused sessions:

• Understanding and using parental controls to help protect your child online, hosted by the eSafety Commissioner
• eSafety 101, hosted by the eSafety Commissioner
• Exploring the online experiences of boys and young men, hosted by the eSafety Commissioner
• Sexual extortion: What parents and carers need to know, hosted by the eSafety Commissioner
• The Social Media Guide: What Every Parent Needs to Know in 2025, hosted by The Cyber Safety Project

Mental health-focused sessions:

• Anxiety and Depression in Children and Adolescents, hosted by Learning Links
• Teen Mental Health Matters, hosted by The BlackDog Institute

Senior schooling years and post-school pathways sessions:

• Supporting your child through the HSC, hosted by CCSP NSW/ACT and Beyond
• A parent’s roadmap to careers and pathways, hosted by CCSP NSW/ACT and Beyond
• Navigating post-school pathways, hosted by MyFuture

Parenting sessions

• What kids need now, before the teenage years, hosted by CCSP NSW/ACT and Michelle Mitchell

More information about these webinars, including registration links, can be found on the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle’s Catholic Schools. 

Please note that the webpage will be updated regularly with news of additional webinars, and you can visit the site at any time.  Please click on the link below.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

Happy Mother’s Day to our wonderful mothers. We acknowledge and thank all our past and present mothers for their unconditional love and support of their children. Thank you to all our mothers who play such an important role in our school community. Our best wishes for a happy day on Sunday.

UPCOMING EVENTS 2025

Assistant Principal Report – Amber Carter and Rebel Clark

Welcome Back to Term 2!

A warm welcome back to all our students and families as we begin Term 2 at St Bede’s. We hope the Easter break was a time of rest, renewal and connection, and we are excited to begin the new term with energy and purpose.

At St Bede’s, we continue to hold high expectations across all areas of school life. These include wearing our uniform with pride, meeting academic responsibilities such as homework and contributing fully to co-curricular and sporting commitments. These standards reflect our shared values and help create an environment where every student can thrive. Please be mindful that with the colder seasons approaching, we will transition to our Winter uniform from Week 3. Students are expected to wear the correct uniform neatly and consistently, and we appreciate the support of families in maintaining these high standards.

POSITIVE PEER RELATIONSHIPS

This term, we are also placing a strong focus on the importance of positive peer relationships. Respectful interactions and inclusive behaviours are at the heart of a healthy school culture. Reports of bullying or harmful behaviour will be addressed swiftly, thoroughly, and with the seriousness they deserve. St Bede’s is a community where every student should feel safe, welcomed and valued, and we ask all students to contribute positively to this environment.

YEAR 7 CoGAT

Week 1 has already seen a strong start, with our Year 7 students completing their CoGAT (Cognitive Abilities Test). This assessment provides valuable insights into students' learning profiles, helping teachers personalise their approach and ensure each student is appropriately supported and challenged. Well done to Year 7 for their focus and effort throughout the testing. Thank you also to the College’s Gifted Education Mentor Mrs Dickson for facilitating this.

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING FOR STAFF

Staff engaged in rich and purposeful professional learning across four dedicated days at the end of Term 1 and beginning of Term 2. A major focus was student wellbeing, with teams refining our existing support structures and initiating the implementation of Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) to create a more consistent, positive and proactive culture throughout the school. Learning sessions explored practical scaffolding strategies designed to reduce cognitive load and enhance engagement, supporting better outcomes for all students.

Our staff Spirituality Day was a special one as it offered a meaningful opportunity to gather in faith, reflect on our Catholic identity, and consider the role of hope as a guiding theme in our community. To further strengthen our commitment to student safety, all staff also completed the Advanced Safeguarding Course.

As we begin Term 2, we remain committed to a positive, high-expectations environment where every student is valued, safe and inspired to succeed.

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 the glory of Christ.

Mrs. Carter and Mrs. Clark

Catholic Formation and Mission – Andrew Slater

May Mass

Mass will be celebrated in the Mary, Mother of Hope Oratory at 8am on Wednesday 21 May. All members of our community are welcome to attend. Please park in the St Bede’s College carpark.

Year 7 Reflection Day

The Year 7 Reflection Day will be held on Wednesday 14 May. Please ensure that permission for the day is provided through the event in Compass.

As part of the Reflection Day, Mass will be celebrated at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, corner of George and James Streets, Morpeth, at 10am. Parents, carers and family members of Year 7 students are welcome to join us for Mass.

Year 11 Retreat

The Year 11 Retreat is being held from Wednesday to Friday of Week 6 (4 – 6 June). It is a College expectation that all students attend the Retreat.

The theme of the Retreat is Journey, which enables students to explore the idea that we are all on the journey of life. There will be a range of large and small group activities, along with free time.

Students are required to bring the following items with them:

• 2 sheets OR 1 sheet and a sleeping bag (if students choose to bring a sleeping bag, they MUST still place a sheet on the mattress)
• Pillow
• Towel
• Drink bottle
• Enough clean clothing (that meets College expectations) for the three days
• Toiletries

The Retreat is fully catered. As such, students are not to bring any additional food or snacks with them. You will receive an email regarding the retreat and dietary requirements. Please ensure that this is completed and returned by the due date.

St Bede’s Feast Day

St Bede’s Feast Day will be celebrated on Thursday 22 May. As in previous years, Homerooms will operate stalls selling a range of foods and organising a range of activities. There will also be a Battle of the Bands. Details about the selling of tokens for use at the stalls will be released closer to the day. This year, we are raising money for Catholic Care. Catholic Care is the official social services agency of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. They work together with local communities to build a stronger, fairer and kinder society that values children, young people, families and individuals. Further information about Catholic Care can be found at:

LEARNING DOMAIN

 Year 12 Leader of Wellbeing & Engagement – Jasmine Simmons

Year 12 commenced the school year of 2025 with both quiet confidence and a desire to achieve their goals. Students were encouraged to consider their attendance, behaviour, study habits, wellbeing and work/life balance as choices which play a part in determining what the remainder of their HSC journey will look like and the extent to which they will achieve their goals. The theme for the year ahead was established as ‘No Regrets’ – to leave nothing behind and to have no ‘if onlys’ remaining when they graduate. Throughout the year, we have focused on how students can make strategic choices which give them as many options for the future as possible as they transition into their final year of their secondary education. We have continued our Study Sprints, where students have had the opportunity to gain valuable study skills to consolidate their learning and prepare for exams. It’s been fantastic to see students embedding these strategies in their study periods and to see the outstanding outcomes they are achieving as a result.

Fast forward to Term 2, and we have a year group that have grown and risen to the challenges placed before them, both individually and as a group. Collectively, Year 12 are working tirelessly to become the best possible versions of themselves and are hurtling towards the finish line with such dignity and grace. They continue to build positive relationships with staff, and friendships with their peers that are blossoming. It is a great privilege to witness this cohort ‘shine’ both as a group and individually as they develop their resilience, embrace kindness, grab opportunities, and practice gratitude throughout the year.

This year, our Year 12 students and I are truly blessed to have a remarkable and committed team of people to support both our students and their families on this journey through high school. Our Homeroom teachers display such generosity of spirit, encouragement, and kindness. Teachers who often see the needs of students before they are spoken and are quick to go above and beyond to offer their time and support. Teachers who in the words of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop ‘never see a need without doing something about it’. Please remember that as a team, we are the first port of call of you have any concerns about your child that you would like to discuss with us.

Homeroom 1 - Mr Stapleton
Homeroom 2 - Mr Steinbeck
Homeroom 3 - Ms O’Connor
Homeroom 4 - Ms Unicomb and Ms Buckley

Year 12, you are a remarkable group of young people and I’m excited to see where the future takes you. You are continuing upon your year of lasts, and I encourage you to make the most of every opportunity – continue to work to become the very best, authentic version of you. I am incredibly grateful for each of you – you continue to teach me so much.

Wellbeing Co Ordinator – Lachlan Vaughan and Jordan Holland

Attendance

School attendance plays a vital role in supporting students to achieve their educational potential and increase their career and life options. Every day of attendance adds to a student’s academic and social achievements at school, and conversely, every absence can impact their learning and progress. Schools in partnership with parents are responsible for promoting the regular attendance of students.

This year St Bede’s Catholic College has introduced the new role of Wellbeing Coordinator to support student attendance, along with a range of other responsibilities. The two staff members and the cohorts they support are as follows:

• Mr Lachlan Vaughan supporting Year 7, 9 and 11
• Mrs Jordan Holland supporting Year 8, 10 and 12.

While absences are sometimes unavoidable, we want to ensure parents and students are aware that even occasional absences can quickly add up and that attending school every day is important to their child’s education.

What if my child must be away from school?

On occasion, your child may need to be absent from school. Justified reasons for student absences may include:

• Being sick, or having an infectious disease
• Having an unavoidable medical appointment
• Being required to attend a recognised religious holiday
• Exceptional or urgent family circumstance (e.g. attending a funeral).

Following an absence from school, please ensure that you provide the school with a verbal or written explanation within seven days. However, if the school has not received an explanation from you within two days, the school may contact you to discuss the absence.

If a student needs to have recurring or long-term absences due to sickness, a medical certificate must be provided to the school.

What if my child is running late to school?

In the case of an absence from school, parents should notify the school via Compass. Parents must enter the reason they are late, for example, sickness, traffic congestion, could not find shoes, slept in. We will be able to track and monitor the reason and offer any suggestions to help if this becomes a chronic issue.

Arriving at school and class on time is important because it:

• ensures students do not miss out on important learning activities scheduled early in the day
• helps students learn the importance of punctuality and routine
• gives students time to greet their friends before class
• reduces classroom disruption

What do I do if we are going travelling?

Families are encouraged to travel during school holidays. If travel during the school term is necessary, please discuss with the school first. An Application Form for Extended Leave or Exemption may need to be completed for absences of 10 or more school days. Absences relating to travel will be marked as leave on the roll and therefore contribute to your child’s total absences for the year.

Where can I find out more information?

Sport – Belinda Watts

Rugby League Northern Division Trials

Congratulations to Ava White who was selected for the Northern NSW Rugby League team. Ava will be trialing at the NSWCCC selections at Charlestown on the 19 and 20 May.

Dio Netball Trials

Congratulations to Eve Power (Opens) and Addison Elbourne (U15’s) on their selection of the Maitland Newcastle Diocesan Netball team. They will be travelling to Penrith on the 29 May to attend CCC Selections. 

Taneisha Twitchin volunteered to umpire at these selections for both the open and U15 age groups. The conveners and selectors on the day commended her efforts.

CCCNSW Touch Carnival

On the 29 and 30 April Addison Elbourne, Annie Lidbury, Harry Lidbury, Eve power, Ava White, Kale White and Charlie Burey represented the Maitland/Newcastle Diocese at the NSWCCC championships.

Congratulations to Harry Lidbury and Kale White on their selection in the CCCNSW Open’s Boys Touch Team. They will compete at the National Youth Championships later in the year. The Maitland/Newcastle Opens Boys Team were overall champions on the day (Charlie Burey, Harry White and Kale White) defeating all other CCC Teams in NSW. This is an outstanding effort.

Diocesan Football (Soccer) Trials

Congratulations to the following students for their selection in the Maitland Newcastle Football team to attend the NSWCCC Selections on Tuesday 27th - Wednesday 28th May at Valentine Sports Park: Lily Sutton (Girls), Tatenda Goora, Theo Law and Payton Wheeler (Boys).

Congratulations to Harry Lidbury and Kale White on their selection in the CCCNSW Open’s Boys Touch Team. They will compete at the National Youth Championships later in the 

Cadbury Cup – Year 7 Friday Sport

Sixteen teams, consisting of students in Year 7, competed in a variety of games each week as part of our Cadbury Cup Sports competition held during Friday afternoon sport.

Our Bonus Point winners for their sportsmanship, effort and participation throughout the competition. Congratulations to the Winners of the CUP for 2025 - 'The Twirls'.

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 

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

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

School Student Travel 2025

School student travel information for parents and students

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

Terms of Use

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

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

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

Williamson International – Uniform Queries

All uniform queries are to be directed to Williamson International.
Williamson International Contact Details:
Phone: 1800 815 571
Email: greg@williamson.com.au
Online Uniform Orders: https://shop-williamson.com.au/