As we near towards the end of the 2021 year, we've got some great achievements to mark, some exciting upcoming events, and important information for parents regarding COVID-19. 

Vaccination Bus - 1 December 

The College has been working with the Mid North Coast Local Health District Outreach Vaccination team to provide an opportunity for students in secondary years (ages 12 to 15 years) to receive the Pfizer vaccine.

Please note this is a parental decision, parent consent is required and is purely voluntary. No child will receive the vaccine without a written consent form.

Please refer to more detailed information distributed via email this week. 

If you would like your child/s to participate in this voluntary program please contact Rachel Cornale via email - secretary@bdc.nsw.edu.au by 12.00pm Tuesday 30 November.

Rapid Antigen Home Tests (RAHT)

The Minister for Education announced the state-wide rollout of the use of rapid antigen home tests (RAHT) for school students identified as close contacts due to a positive COVID-19 case in a public school within NSW. 

As an independent school, Bishop Druitt College has chosen to provide this as an option for our families. The college has ordered a large number of RAHT kits and will provide these to staff and college families if needed.

Please note that the college will not administer the test as part of our duty of care, we see this as a parental responsibility to decide when to use RAHT. As always, the college recommends that you seek your own medical advice from your family GP. 

The use of RAHT means that students can return to school after 7 days rather than 14 days. The use of daily RAHT is optional and could be conducted at home under adult supervision. 

Students using RAHT will still need to follow NSW Health advice on isolation requirements outside of school including not attending before and after school care facilities and activities. 

We expect the kits to arrive in school either in the last week of term or the first week of term in 2022. This is another strategy the college has implemented to support our families.

P&F MEGA Raffle Winners and 2022 Executive Announcement

On behalf of the 2021 P&F, I’m pleased to announce that the MEGA RAFFLE 2021 raised more than $2500 for the BDC Music Recording Studio. We plan to start this project in the new year after our college library renovations have been completed. Thanks to everyone who supported this fundraising exercise, and to the P&F who dutifully delivered this great program. Congratulations also to our winners, Todd Hart and Paul Spicer. 

The incoming 2022 P&F Association Executive were accepted on Monday 15 November and are as follows:

• President - Belinda Musgrave
• Vice President - Krystal Morris  
• Treasurer - Amy Hodson
• Secretary and Governance Officer - Kylie Cameron
• Publicity Officer - Hermein Mostert
• Fundraising Convenor - Natte Sexton
• Sustainability Officer - Lorraine Gordon 

We are excited to welcome the new Executive to the P&F team, welcoming back some very familiar faces, and some new faces too. We look forward to working with the P&F in 2022 and beyond on an exciting fundraising and events calendar. A huge thank you also to our 2021 P&F executive committee for their efforts during the year. 

Golf Academy 

Congratulations to all the members of the BDC Golf Academy as they played in their final event for 2021. A special thank you to Coffs Harbour Golf Club and Coffs Harbour Driving Range for their support throughout the year and also to Mr Lang (our Golf Academy Coordinator). 

Barracudas bounces into basketball 

BDC is excited to announce that basketball will be played under the BDC Barracudas playing strip in 2022 and beyond, for both junior and senior competitions. Today, we launched the new basketball playing strip for what is expected to be around 20 teams next year. Thank you to our partners, O’Keeffe Engineering for supporting BDC Barracudas basketball. And thanks to our students who participated in the launch: Jet Kelly, Laura Fox, Liam O'Keeffe, Mia O'Reilly, Oliver Bond, May Crook, Anna Crawley, Joseph Moran. 

Read more about the BDC Barracudas Basketball team and competition expression of interest here.  

LFC Academy NSW Limited player sessions and parent information evening 

Liverpool FC International Academy is giving a small number of players the chance to have a free training session with Liverpool FC International Academy Technical Director, Kevin Grima, Tuesday 14th December at Bishop Druitt College playing fields.

Only 3 sessions will be available, and places are limited so please register via the link below:

https://www.lfcacademy.com.au/surveys/2811/

Parents are invited to attend an information session on the workshops offered in 2022 and beyond on Tuesday 14th December at Bishop Druitt College. Register here: https://www.lfcacademy.com.au/surveys/2809/

Year 12 Movember 

Our Year 12 2022 students are on a fundraising mission to raise funds for men's mental health this Movember. I encourage you to support their efforts, and to take a look at the work in progress that our staff and students have achieved so far. Click here to see the team progress and donate - https://au.movember.com/team/2407642 

Supporting charities through the World Options Market Day 

Each year, World Options students participate in a market day to raise funds for their local charity. Here’s how they went - click here to read more 

Funds raised have supported the Soup Kitchen in town and they were extremely grateful for our support during what will be a business Christmas season for them.

Find out more here 

Music Celebrations - Josua Walraven 

Joshua Walraven (Year 7) has been awarded 1st place at the prestigious Sydney Piano Eisteddfod for the 13 years Piano Recital Award. For this section Joshua had to prepare 2 contrasting pieces by different composers. He was awarded a score of 96/100 for his performance. Sydney Eisteddfod attracts some of the most talented young pianists from all around Australia. Congratulations Joshua on this outstanding achievement. Watch the performance here 

Watch Joshua Walraven perform for his Sydney Eisteddfod submission here

Primary & Secondary Presentation Assemblies 

The primary and secondary presentation assemblies will be held on 2 and 3 December, respectively. 

Unfortunately, as you know, resulting from the current COVID restrictions on campus, we are unable to welcome parents to site to experience the primary and secondary presentation assemblies. However, we will be recording these, and sharing with parents within 48 hours of the events taking place. Please keep a look out for your email directing you where to watch this important recognition video. 

HSC exams 

Our year 12 students are edging towards the light at the end of their HSC and schooling years as they edge towards the final week of their exams, and the ever important Valedictory Dinner Celebration. This group of students has withstood the final two years of their schooling under exceptional circumstances, embracing home-learning for what is arguably the most important study period of their schooling, and demonstrated a resilience like no other BDC cohort before them. 

So to you, Class of 2021, well done, and congratulations. I wish you every success in the future, and look forward to hearing your next steps as you move to the next phase of your lives. 

Nick Johnstone
Principal