The BDC Way exemplified through community

BDC Alumni Matilda Watson from our Class of 2023 graduated last week from 1RTU Australian Air Force training Base in Wagga Wagga. She is now on her next placement at East Sail.

From one uniform to another! Proud parents are Rach (on staff) and Jeremy. Congratulations Tildie, it is always wonderful to hear of BDC Alumni.

2024 Kokoda Challenge

This challenge gives Year 5 to 8 Kaizen students and staff the opportunity to be a part of something great. Last weekend marked the culmination of many months of training at school and on weekends in Kaizen. Last year, Mrs. Martin coordinated our first Kokoda Challenge teams, and we had four teams. This year, we have grown to 10 committed teams. For this dedication and service, it's an achievement that every student, teacher, and family should take pride in.

Regrettably, just a week before the challenge, we found ourselves short of two team leaders. However, unbelievably, five teachers stepped forward to join the experience. With the support of their families and BDC, students raised just under $11,000 for disadvantaged youth. Our teams trained and gained insight into the significance of the Kokoda battle in World War II, one of the most significant battles fought by Australian soldiers.

Mr Galvin's 48km team secured the 4th position among school teams, while the girls' team placed 9th. Our inaugural 30km team, led by Mr Ty Gillon, claimed the 7th spot among school teams at the finish line. Notably, every student and teacher crossed the line together, reflecting the core essence of the event. Many teams failed to finish with all their members due to the event's challenging nature. Once again, the dedication shown by both teachers and students was remarkable, exemplifying qualities of grit, tenacity, perseverance, and resilience throughout the Kokoda Challenge. This embodies the ethos of the BDC Way and our commitment to serving our community and supporting youth in need.

Student Op Shop volunteers

Engaging in community service by assisting at the St John's Anglican Opportunity Shop is an embodiment of the BDC Way in action for the Year 10 students every Friday. Mrs Bruggemann works alongside Mrs O'Connor to coordinate a volunteer team from Year 10 to support the shop's operations. Additionally, students have the opportunity to volunteer their services on weekends and during holidays.

The BDC Way is Embodied in our Human Rights Group

After raising $1000 through fundraising at Harmony Day, members of the Human Rights Group, and other student volunteers put together 200 birth kits. A lifesaving initiative through ZONTA, these kits will be sent overseas to help women give birth at home in remote regions of the developing world.

The Class of 2026 Career Pathways

Year 10 Career Pathway discussions are well underway this term with Mrs Meegan Bruggemann, Mrs Janine Ryan and Mr Craig Verbruggen. The team will lead Year 10 into the final week of term and issue the Stage 6 Excelsior Journey Curriculum Handbook for 2025-2026. Term 3 then commences with Career Days, HSC taster lessons and interviews to assist Year 10 in making subject preferences for 2025. We wish them well through this time and recommend exploring careers through our careers website and these discussions.

Future Learning and Teaching Opportunities

Last week our College Council provided further direction to assist Mr Craig Verbruggen, our Director of Learning and Teaching Secondary, to further research a strategic approach for offering some online courses, a new BDC horizon. Planning for and establishing an online or distance education capacity is an innovative space for the college to investigate. While this is being investigated further, we believe a true online learning option would benefit students who are frequently absent from school, to provide flexibility for elite music performers, high performing athletes or students who have ongoing illness through flexibility and access to a course designed for online learning. Further information will become available across Terms 2 and 3.

Open Day 2024

Last week we built upon the Kindy Pop-in on Saturday and celebrated our diverse opportunities at BDC during the 2024 Open Day. We had over 60 families join us throughout the day. This also included a welcome visit from the Sercombes who were parents for their sons in the Class of 2002 and 2004. Thank you to our Parent Ambassador helpers on the day.

View the Wind Ensemble performance via this link.

View the Secondary Dance Academy performance via this link.

View the Open Day video via this link.

Alumni families are always welcome at the college

The college Alumni Officer Mr Scott Rodham is the person to share all alumni news with, and you can contact him via email at srodham@bdc.nsw.edu.au

We thank our Parent Ambassadors and student leaders for assisting during the tours on our Open Day.

Student Success Stories

We often have information or images shared of students excelling in different areas outside of college activities. If you are sharing the success of a child please also be inclusive of other BDC students if they are present such as in an ensemble or sporting team. Celebrating the diverse range of college and external success is wonderful when we see this across the campus.

Recent success included:
Under 16 Girls Runners Up NSW State Basketball Championships, coached by Miss Zara Baldwin.

Coffs Harbour Eisteddfod has included drama, dance and music and in the Schools Secondary Choir Section of the Eisteddfod BDC achieved First Place. Well done!

The Eisteddfods continue; congratulations to all sections for your rehearsals across primary and secondary and the many hours that staff dedicate so our students can participate, grow and excel.

Arlia Portus Keen Year 11 has been accepted into the National Art School HSC Intensive Studio Practice course. This is a highly competitive state-wide intensive course with very limited numbers of students accepted each year into their nominated discipline of art practice. Arlia has been approved to participate in the Painting studio course and the intensive runs over the next two holiday periods at The National Art School in Sydney.

We are so thrilled as this course does make a big difference to a student's approach to the body of work.

Lachlan Jameson Year 9 has been appointed to the Country Rugby Union Referees Panel to referee U13 championships in Orange.

Daniel Williams, Year 11 student and athlete, came in first place in his 1500m race in the Oceania Champs in Fiji! A HUGE achievement, congratulations!

Squash results include Jillian Gibson (7M) and Ella Gibson (5SK) travelling to Newcastle to represent the North Coast at the Green Shield Event which is the largest Junior Squash teams competition in NSW.

Jillian's team of 4 won both the Under 13 and Under 15 Girls Events (the only divisions that were not won by Sydney!) and Ella Gibson (5SK) competed in the Under 11s in a team of 1 and placed runner-up out of 5 regions competing!

Year 11-12 students Thomas O’Connor, Seb Ruiz and Flynn Hyndman were selected for the NSW Country Rugby squad, congratulations.

Year 11 Principal List Recipients Semester 1

Year 11 Scholar List Recipient Semester 1

2025 Recruitment on the Secondary Campus

We have commenced recruiting for 2025, including Head of Primary, Head of Faculty English, Performing Arts - Drama focus. Please share these roles across your networks and with your friends and direct them to our employment page on the college website.

Winter Uniform commenced this week, please see our uniform guidelines or recent information from Mr Richard Smith or Mrs O’Connor.

Lockin and Evaluation Drills

Each year as part of our WHS and site safety processes, the college completes a number of Lockin and Evacuation practices. One will occur after the long weekend and we remind families that at these times, there is no access to the Student Services or to sign a student in or out. Thank you for your assistance during these times.

Recent dates of Significance for our First Nations People Across the Theme of Reconciliation

26th May National Sorry Day (remembers and acknowledges the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities, which we now know as ‘The Stolen Generations) https://www.reconciliation.org.au/national-sorry-day-2020/

27th May National Reconciliation Week (a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia) https://www.reconciliation.org.au/our-work/national-reconciliation-week/

3rd June Mabo Day (marking the anniversary of the historic Mabo decision) https://www.indigenous.gov.au/eddie-mabo-the-man-behind-mabo-day

NAIDOC Week (celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples). https://www.naidoc.org.au/

The college celebrates NAIDOC Week in Week 9 this term including our NAIDOC Assembly Thursday, 27th June.

The college staff are preparing Semester 1 reports and the last week of Term 2 includes our NAIDOC assembly and Foundation Day service and fair for students.

NAIDOC assembly will be on Thursday 27th June and Foundation Day is Friday 28th June. There will be further details shared about these important signature events.

Mr Johnstone’s Return

We welcome Mr Nick Johnstone's return after a well-deserved sabbatical and I encourage you to read his reflection “on the way and Ancient path for a modern pilgrim” https://www.bdc.nsw.edu.au/news/the-way-an-ancient-path-for-a-modern-pilgrim

“The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly alive” by Thích Nhất Hạnh, a Buddhist monk and also a peace activist that wants to make us think deeply about the luck of enjoying a world full of beauty. Precisely, the routes of the Camino de Santiago have a big amount of natural locations where it is possible to enjoy the diverse landscapes and the essence of life.

I thank Nick and the College Council and the support from our BDC community for the opportunity I have had as acting Principal and welcome Mr Johnstone back and hope that he has experienced many “moments in the present” during his sabbatical and where he “felt truly alive”.

God bless,

Simon Doyle
Acting Principal

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