Installation of Rev Naomi Cooke as the 9th Dean of Grafton

Rev. Naomi has been our school chaplain since 2016 and has offered outstanding leadership within the school, as well as being a beloved and pastorally caring priest. While we will miss her, we are happy that she will be supporting and leading the Cathedral parish’s commitment to compassionate action for the common good.

Rev. Naomi will be installed as the 9th Dean of Grafton on Saturday 12 August at 11am at Christ Church Cathedral Grafton. If you would like to attend please call the Grafton Parish Office on 02 6642 2844 by Friday 4 August.

Coffs Harbour Bypass information session

Bishop Druitt College hosted a Coffs Harbour Bypass information session on Tuesday 1 August. There were ten members of the Coffs Harbour Bypass team in attendance, with maps, videos and data to share with our community. Thank you to the parents, students, staff and BDC Council members who attended. Please see the list of Q&As here.

College’s AI Response 

As we embark on another exciting semester, I am thrilled to share with you our college's unwavering commitment to embrace the possibilities of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing teaching, learning, and various administrative tasks while upholding our ethical principles.

The world around us is evolving rapidly, and so is the landscape of education. As a forward-thinking educational institution, we believe that integrating AI into our practices can revolutionise the way we engage with knowledge and nurture young minds. AI has the potential to personalise learning experiences, identify individual learning gaps, and provide valuable insights for educators, enabling them to tailor their approach to meet every student's unique needs.

While we enthusiastically explore the potential of AI, we are also acutely aware of the ethical considerations surrounding its implementation. Our college is committed to thoroughly understanding and evaluating the implications of AI in education, ensuring that it aligns with our values and does not compromise the safety, privacy, or wellbeing of our students and staff.

Transparency and openness are central to our approach. We will keep parents informed about any AI-driven initiatives, sharing our intentions, methodologies, and outcomes. Moreover, we actively seek feedback from our community to address any concerns and continuously refine our practices. Incorporating AI responsibly also involves preparing our students to navigate this technologically driven world ethically and responsibly. We will prioritise digital literacy and ethical AI education to equip our students with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions.

Our commitment to understanding how AI can positively impact education while upholding ethical standards exemplifies our dedication to providing an exceptional and future-oriented learning environment. Together, let us embrace this transformative journey as we strive to empower our students to become compassionate, intelligent, and ethically responsible global citizens.

Beyond the Classroom

One of the key strengths of Anglican Schools is their commitment to developing each child beyond the classroom walls. At Bishop Druitt College, the last fortnight has been a wonderful example of these opportunities. Our Netball boys and girls attended the North Coast Independent Schools gala and selection day in the Tweed with our Open Girls winning all games and our Under 15 boys and girls finishing second overall. A host of BDC students will now be selected to represent the North Coast at the CIS competition in Sydney.  Our Football Girls had an inspirational visit from some past Matildas and then went on to defeat Tamworth and progress to the round of 16 in the state-wide Bill Turner Cup competition. Our Da Vinci Decathlon team who dominated at the regionals progressed to the state competition at Knox Grammar in Sydney and came second in one of the key disciplines and first in a creative competition that sides alongside the main competition. This is a huge achievement considering the calibre of the competition. I wish to acknowledge my dedicated staff for their commitment to our co-curricular program at BDC.

Community celebrations

At the end of August we will have our Father’s Day Celebration. This event usually attracts over 400 dads and kids and I’m looking forward to catching up with as many dads as possible at the breakfast. Mr Joel Blythe will be a speaker this year and I am looking forward to him sharing some personal stories as well as the work he is doing with our dads in the Fathering Project. 

100 Days of Kindy

Last week, our Kindy students celebrated a key milestone - the first 100 days of our Kindy students’ life in their school. The Kindy and ELC teachers celebrated this event with some fun activities and some “really really old teachers”. 

Book Week

Mark your calendars! BDC Book Week will take place in August (Week 6). Don't miss the student dress-up parade on Friday, August 25 at the Branson Centre, starting from 9.15am. Time to get creative! Start rummaging through your dress-up box and come up with a fantastic costume of your favourite book character! Let's celebrate Book Week and Australian children's literature with the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA). It's all about Read Grow Inspire this year.

eSafety 

The eSafety Commissioner has a new Term 3 webinar for parents and carers of primary students. Online boundaries and consent supports parents and carers to recognise online consent situations, explain consent in an age-appropriate way and to discuss boundaries online.

Register for this 30-minute bite-sized webinar offered at lunchtime, afternoons or evenings. 

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars

Awards

• World Options Commendation Awards. Semester 1 2023
• Years 7 - 10 Principals List Recipients. Semester 1
• Years 7 - 10 Scholars List Recipients. Semester 1

Seen Ya’s On Show 2023: Celebrating the class of 2023's remarkable talents

I am thrilled to share that Seen Ya's On Show 2023 has been a success for the class of 2023 at Bishop Druitt College. This event served as a remarkable platform to showcase the incredible talents of our Year 12 students across various disciplines. The night was filled with an air of excitement, admiration, and appreciation for the hard work put in by both the students and their dedicated teachers.

The event was a celebration of the students' creative and academic accomplishments in a diverse range of fields. Our young artists impressed the audience with their thought-provoking pieces in Visual Art, while the future engineers and designers showcased their innovative projects in Industrial Technology and Textiles and Design. The construction exhibits displayed the students' practical skills, and the software projects exemplified their prowess in the realm of technology.

It was heartening to witness the literary flair of our English Extension 2 students, the historical insights brought forward by those in History Extension, and the compelling performances in Drama and Dance. The evening was brought to life with mesmerising musical performances by our talented musicians.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Class of 2023. Your hard work, dedication, and passion for your chosen fields have left an indelible mark on our school community. 

School Improvement Plan 2023 - Semester One Review Completed

In recent weeks, we have reviewed our 2023 School Improvement Plan and started to cast our eyes towards the planning for 2024. To give you an overview of what has already been achieved at the college in 2023 please take the time to read through our SIP:link

HSC trial examinations 

I wish all Year 11 accelerated students and the Class of 2023 all the best for their Trial HSC examinations. 

This month on SchoolTV - Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity emphasises the natural variation in how an individual’s brain functions and how they perceive and interact with the world, leading to diverse ways of learning and communicating. While most young people are neurotypical, some exhibit variations in brain development, such as ADHD, autism or dyslexia, making them neurodivergent.

Here is the link to this month's edition https://bdc.nsw.schooltv.me/newsletter/neurodiversity

Exciting Announcement: Dogs Connect Program Coming Soon!

I am thrilled to share some amazing news. The Dogs Connect Program is set to be launched at our college, bringing a new dimension to our whole school wellbeing initiative. As part of this wonderful program, we will be introducing a wellbeing dog into our community, who is sure to become a beloved and cherished member of our school family. Read the letter sent to parents about the program and the college dog here.

30th drone footage whole school

Picture this: our college ovals coming alive with a burst of colours, as our vibrant learning community gathers to create a massive "30" in honour of our 30th Anniversary! It's all about capturing the essence of our amazing school and celebrating in style! View the video burst via the link below.

Nick Johnstone
Principal