Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

School Closure

We sincerely thank all families for their patience and understanding regarding the recent school closures on Thursday, Friday, and Monday due to Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

We regretfully inform you that we experienced technical difficulties with our communication system on Monday. While notices regarding Tuesday's school reopening were sent from our system at 2:32 PM, we discovered at 10:48 PM, from Telstra, that these communications were not delivered to 77 families with Bigpond email accounts due to Telstra email service rejections. The college is working with Telstra to resolve this issue.

We apologise for any inconvenience this communication failure may have caused to affected families. Normal school operations have resumed as of Tuesday, March 11. As a reminder, we also utilise Schoolbox and social media as our backup to whole school emails.

Ash Wednesday

Our Ash Wednesday service last week was truly blessed by the presence of returning friends who helped lead our congregation in this sacred tradition. We were honoured to welcome back Rev. Zoe, Rev. David, Rev. Kevin, Mr. Reeko, and Mr. and Rev. Carol Ford, whose support and participation enriched our observance immensely.

I am continually moved by the deep respect our community demonstrates for this important tradition. The reverence and thoughtfulness shown throughout the service reflects the genuine spiritual commitment of our congregation. As we began our Lenten journey together, the meaningful participation of everyone present reminded us of the strength we find in our shared faith.

The dedication our community shows to observing these sacred traditions speaks volumes about our collective Anglican values. It is precisely this type of commitment to honouring our faith practices that makes our college community so special.

Year 6 Canberra Excursion

I had the privilege of seeing off our Year 6 students on Monday as they departed for Canberra. This marks our first Canberra excursion in over 15 years, and I'm delighted to reestablish this valuable tradition within our school camp program.

I extend my sincere gratitude to Mrs. Stokes' Year 6 team and particularly to Mr. McNeil, who orchestrated this year's tour after two years of meticulous planning. I wish to also recognise Mr. Smith, our previous Head of Primary, who was also a big supporter of this excursion as not only a curriculum imperative but also as a rite of passage opportunity. My appreciation also goes to all staff members accompanying the students this year.

We have heard numerous touching stories about the efforts families made to ensure their children could participate in this camp, and we deeply appreciate how much you all value this opportunity. As I write this newsletter, our students are exploring Parliament House—truly an exciting educational experience.

Heron Island Excursion

We are delighted to announce that next Thursday, a select cohort of Year 11 students accompanied by staff will depart for the prestigious Heron Island as part of our annual research expedition. This educational journey will be hosted at the University of Queensland Research Station, where participants will immerse themselves in advanced scientific methodologies and environmental analysis techniques.

Throughout this scholarly venture, students will cultivate an array of scientific competencies, including:

• Advanced field research protocols and precise data acquisition methods
• Comprehensive marine ecosystem evaluation and coral reef biodiversity identification
• Sophisticated environmental sampling strategies and laboratory analytical procedures
• Professional scientific documentation and research reporting frameworks
• Collaborative scientific inquiry within an authentic research environment.

This remarkable educational opportunity enables our students to bridge theoretical classroom knowledge with practical scientific application under the guidance of established researchers. The expertise developed during this experience will significantly enhance their academic foundation as they progress through their HSC coursework.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the University of Queensland for their continued partnership in facilitating this exceptional learning experience, and to our committed faculty members who coordinate this expedition annually. We are additionally relieved that Tropical Cyclone Alfred has now dissipated, ensuring safe travel conditions. A special acknowledgement to Mrs. Fisher for her meticulous organisation and dedication in making this valuable research opportunity accessible to our students.

NAPLAN Underway

NAPLAN testing has commenced for students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9. This standardised assessment provides additional insights into student performance across literacy and numeracy domains.

Once completed, teachers will analyse the resulting data to enhance their teaching and learning programs. This information helps educators identify areas where students excel and where additional support may be needed, allowing for more targeted and effective instruction.

The Directors of Learning and Teaching will also utilise the NAPLAN results to evaluate the effectiveness of current teaching programs. This data-driven approach ensures educational initiatives are delivering the intended outcomes and helps identify opportunities for improvement.

The assessment results form an essential part of the school's ongoing commitment to educational excellence and the continual improvement of teaching practices to best support student learning and achievement.

ACER Academic Scholarship Exams

We are pleased to report that 60 students participated in the ACER Academic Scholarship Examinations held on Saturday, February 22. Thank you to the organising staff Mrs. Nealon, Mr. Doyle, Mrs. Philips, Mrs. Murcott, and Mrs. Martin who came in on their Saturday to support this process.

The assessment process for these ACER Academic Scholarships typically requires several weeks for a thorough evaluation. Results are expected to be available to parents from ACER directly by April 4. We will promptly notify all families once this data and the special focus scholarship recipients have been determined. Mr. Doyle will write to all families in the first few weeks of Term 2 with the outcomes of the process.

Scholarships with a Special Focus

Applications for scholarships commencing in 2026 are now open and will close on 31 March 2025.

There are a number of opportunities available in the following categories:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scholarships
For students in Years Kindy to Year 12

Future-minded Endeavour Scholarships for Years 5 and 6
All Rounder

Future-Minded Pursuit of Excellence Scholarships for Years 7, 8 and 9
All-Rounder Scholarship
Branson-Ackland Scholarship for the Study of Language Arts and Humanities
Performing Arts Scholarship – Dance / Drama / Music
Sporting Performance Scholarship
Science Technology Engineering Mathematics Scholarship - for new students only

The Excelsior Pathway Scholarships for Years 10, 11 and 12
All-Rounder Scholarship
Branson-Ackland Scholarship for the Study of Language Arts and Humanities
Performing Arts Scholarship – Dance / Drama / Music
Sporting Performance Scholarship
Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics Scholarship - for new students only
Textiles & Design Scholarship
Visual Arts Scholarship

I encourage you to apply for a scholarship for your child. Scholarships are generally awarded for a two or three-year period, provided all conditions upon which the scholarship was awarded are met. Scholarships close at 4pm on 31 March 2025.

Invitation to the BDC Easter Service

The BDC community invites all students, families, and community members to join us for our Easter Service on Friday, 11 April, at 9:15 AM. This service marks the beginning of the Easter season - a special time of reflection, celebration and new beginnings.

Featuring performances by BDC Performing Arts groups. Holy Communion will be offered for those who wish to partake. All members of the community are warmly welcome to attend.

As part of Hope25, we seek to share the hope of Jesus from Easter to Pentecost. 

We are also honored to welcome Bishop Murray to this service.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Nick Johnstone
Principal