Social Media Concerns

Dear parents and carers,

We hope this message finds you and your family well. As we navigate the ever-evolving world of technology, I want to express my growing concern regarding the increasing number of social media incidents that are occurring outside of school hours. These issues permeate into the school day and are disruptive and are impacting on our core business of teaching and learning.

As a community, it is important that we work together to ensure that our children are using these devices and platforms in a safe and responsible manner. We urge you to be vigilant and take an active role in supervising, mentoring, and supporting your children when they are online. We know that it can be challenging to keep up with the latest trends and applications, but we are here to support you.

At Esafety online, you can find a wealth of resources and information to help you navigate the online world with your children. From online safety guides to webinars and workshops, they provide you with the tools you need to keep your children safe. We encourage you to visit the Esafety website athttps://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/resources for more information.

I also want to take this opportunity to highlight one particular social media platform that has been identified as potentially harmful for young people: Snapchat. While Snapchat can be a fun way to communicate with friends, it can also be a toxic environment where cyberbullying, sexting, and other inappropriate behaviours can occur. As a result, I strongly advise parents and carers to remove Snapchat from student devices. For more information on how to keep your children safe on Snapchat, please visit the Esafety website at https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/big-issues/snapchat.

The college is also being proactive in this process within our PDHPE curriculum and our pastoral care programs. A special Optus Digital Thumbprint Workshop will also be held for students in Years 7 to 10 on 30 March - https://www.digitalthumbprint.com.au/workshops/

As always, please don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have any concerns or questions. 

We value your partnership in creating a safe and positive learning environment for all our students.

World's Greatest Shave

My pride of our Year 12s has been full to the brim over the last two weeks. They have been actively involved in our annual fundraiser for the Leukaemia Foundation. Our Year 12 World's Greatest Shave team, including a number of staff, have raised almost $17,000 this year. 

If you still wish to donate, please visit ->https://worldsgreatestshave.com/

Adventure Playground for Margaret’s Field

Construction has started on the Adventure Playground with the first part of the earthworks being completed. I’m looking forward to sharing images as the project progresses over the next month.

Enrolments for 2025 and 2026

Enrolments are open for the years beyond 2025 at present. I encourage families who have not yet informed the college about their plans for 2025/6 to do so before the end of Term 1. If you have family or friends wishing to join the college, please encourage them to organise a tour with me next term so that the enrolment process can be organised in a timely fashion. Kindy and Year 7 classes for 2024 and 2025 are close to full already.

Open Days - Date Claimer 

Our college Open Day is always a highlight in our calendar and if you missed it last year I would encourage you to find the time to visit and maybe bring a friend as well. We will be showcasing our signature teaching and learning programs as a key part of the program for 2023. 

BDC 30th anniversary Gala Dinner 

It is time to have a night out!

Tickets are on sale now and tables are booking up fast! 

Join us in celebrating Bishop Druitt College at our 30th Anniversary Gala Dinner held in the Branson Centre on 19 May. The Branson Centre will be transformed into a beautiful dinner venue where you will enjoy a delicious 2-course (main and dessert) dinner by the amazing Spare Chef Catering Company. 

We are excited to announce that local breweries King Tide Brewing and Woopi Brewing Co will be featuring their beers at this event. We will also have a signature cocktail by Emerald Island Distillery who are providing their gin as well as creating the cocktail recipe, especially for this event. 

Get up and have a dance to the lively music played by HipMama (includes band member Ollie McGill from The Cat Empire) and step outside to enjoy the incredible fireworks display later in the evening. Attire is formal, so wear your best. Adults only. You won't want to miss it. To view your invitation and book tickets (adults only) visit https://www.bdc.nsw.edu.au/events/30th-anniversary-gala-dinner

You can book a table of ten and save $100. 

Statement from the Bishop 

Please view the Statement from the Bishop concerning the Voice to Parliament here. 

BDC App 

I am pleased to announce the launch of our new BDC App for families, now available on both Android and iOS platforms. This app is designed to provide families with a convenient and easy-to-use platform to access Schoolbox, your children's calendars, due work, any relevant news, and learning resources.

The BDC App allows families to access quick web links, school contacts, and the BDC Business Directory. With the app's quick link to the college calendar, families can stay up to date on any upcoming college events.

We believe that the BDC App will be an invaluable tool for families to stay informed and engaged with their children's education. Whether you are at home or on the go, you can easily access all the information you need to support your child's learning.

The BDC App is free to download and easy to use, with a user-friendly interface and intuitive navigation. You can access your Schoolbox account, view their calendar, and stay up to date on any due work, all from your smartphone or tablet.

I encourage all families to download the BDC App today from the App Store or Google Play. Please use your parent Schoolbox login details when logging into the BDC App. You may reset your schoolbox password via the Schoolbox login page using your registered email address. For support please email onlinesupport@bdc.nsw.edu.au 

We believe that this app will be an essential tool for families to stay connected with the school community and to support their children's education.

Thank you for your continued support of our school, and we look forward to seeing you and your children thrive with the help of the BDC App.

Nick Johnstone
Principal