We have really hit the ground running in term 2. Welcome back! 

College Year Book - Etcetera

The 2022 Year Book has been published and will be distributed shortly to all families through the classroom teacher in primary and the tutor teacher in secondary. Thank you to all who contributed to the Year Book. You can see we have really returned to a normal school calendar as 2022’s edition is quite a few pages thicker than the 2021 edition.

Exceptional Musicians

Congratulations to Olivia Hoare and Connor Nathan who have been successful in gaining positions in the Regional Youth Orchestra program for 2023. Olivia and Connor will travel to Sydney and participate in the first camp from Saturday through to Thursday where they will also play with the London Symphony Orchestra. The RYO is an audition based youth orchestra program for talented music students. Students have to submit a video audition to be considered for the program so congratulations to Olivia and Connor on their successful positions. 

ANZAC Day Service 

The college recognised ANZAC Day with a K-12 service on Monday 24 April and then represented the region in more than six districts with over 250 students participating in a variety of services and parades.  Our Service was thoughtful, respectful and very professional and was supported by three local servicemen: Lance Corporal Rickie

Batchelor (our guest speaker), Corporal Codey Anderson and Private Isaac Hovermann. I wish to thank them for their support and their service to our country. Thank you also to our student leaders who participated in the service this year. 

I was proud to see so many of our students in uniform at the various services on Tuesday. In particular, I had an opportunity to speak with Jack Easter, Zoe Cooke, Alex Munro, Max Masson, and Andrew Rhodes who represented the Air Cadets at the Coffs Harbour ANZAC Day Service. 

PRINCIPAL'S LIST RECIPIENTS 2023

View the Principal's List recipients for 2023. 

Open Days 

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 two-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. 

Adventure Playground

The final steps of Phase 1 of the Adventure Playground are being added in the coming days and we are hoping to open this new playspace for the start of week 3. I wish to thank you for your patience in this project.

Scholarship Opportunities 2024

Thank you to the families who have submitted a scholarship application. We had over 180 applications both internally and externally this year. I will be in contact over the next two weeks regarding these decisions. Please note that the college supports the equivalent of 12 full scholarship places annually with the majority being partial scholarships.

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, 2026, and beyond to do so as soon as possible. If you have family or friends wishing to join the college, please encourage them to organise a tour with me so that the enrolment process can be organised in a timely fashion. Kindy and Year 7 classes for 2024 are now full and Kindy and Year 7 classes for 2025 are close to full already.

College App

The new BDC App is now available in the Google Play and Apple App Store. I encourage all parents to download the app to improve your communication experience. 

Limited Edition 30th Anniversary Book

Bishop Druitt College is proud to release a Limited Edition 30th Anniversary Book, which will be available for purchase at the BDC 30th Anniversary Gala Dinner on Friday 19 May from 7 pm. This book is a must-have for anyone who has been a part of the BDC community over the past 30 years. The book includes articles from alumni, where they are now, and a bit of their college experiences. The longest serving family, the Daymonds, are also featured in the book. The limited edition book showcases milestones and memories over the 30 years, our first graduate, 3rd generation families, 30 years of service staff, artworks around the college and artist stories, BDC house patrons and values and more. The book is a perfect way to reminisce about the past and celebrate the present of the Bishop Druitt College community. To book your tickets for the Gala Dinner and secure your copy of the Limited Edition 30th Anniversary Book, visithttps://www.bdc.nsw.edu.au/events/30th-anniversary-gala-dinner. Ticket sales close on 11 May at 12 pm, so be sure to book your tickets soon.

Nick Johnstone
Principal