It is difficult not to love this time of year in a K-12 school such as Bishop Druitt College. Students are enjoying their culminating activities and celebrating their learning journeys with a variety of rites of passage and signature events. 

Anglican Schools Country Week

This week, we added another event to our calendar that we have been planning for since 2020 with the inaugural Anglican Schools Country Week event. Our initial plans in 2020 were to have 8 to 10 Anglican Schools involved in up to 10 events across two or three days and we started on that journey today with five schools in seven sports across five venues. Our starting events were Chess, Golf, Netball, Rugby 7's, 6 aside Football, Volleyball, and Tennis. I wish to thank the four other Anglican Schools for supporting our first event with Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School, Emmanuel Anglican College, Clarence Valley Anglican School, and St Columba Anglican College involved this year. The winning school will be awarded The Bishop’s Cup for that 12-month period. I wish to thank all our BDC staff and Mr Martin Kelleher in particular for his determination in getting this first carnival completed successfully.

We expect the winning school to be announced on Monday.

eSafety

eSafety has several resources, including videos and information sheets for parents to assist them in navigating the online environment with their children. In particular, the videos about Digital Technologies and Mental Health, as well as Cyberbullying and online drama may be of interest.https://tinyurl.com/esafetyparentresources

New and departing families' information

The college has almost completed the enrolment process for 2023 and to avoid waiting lists in select year groups I would appreciate it if you could advise the school if you are going to withdraw your child at any stage in Term 4 this year. 

I also encourage families who have younger children that have not yet enrolled to complete their application as soon as possible for 2024 and 2025.

Academic Scholarships for 2024 (entry to Years 5-11) 

Applications for 2023 Academic Scholarships for students entering Years 5-11 in 2024 are opening in the coming days and will close on Monday 6 February 2023. The scholarships are awarded based on a competitive examination conducted by ACER, which will take place on Saturday 25 February 2023 at Bishop Druitt College. The Principal awards these scholarships. Please see our website in the coming week for further details:https://www.bdc.nsw.edu.au/join-our-school/scholarships

Other specialist scholarships for 2024 will be advertised prior to the end of Term 4. 

Presentation Day ceremonies 

• Primary Presentation Ceremony will take place on 8 December.
• Secondary Presentation Day will take place on 9 December

Christmas Appeal

The annual BDC Christmas Hamper Appeal has begun, and all families have been sent a copy of this letter Christmas Appeal Letter to Families

In summary, the items we are inviting families to bring in go to the Coffs Harbour Soup Kitchen and Warrina Women and Children's Shelter. Here is a list of the items:

• Tins of ham
• Small Christmas puddings & cakes 
• Tins of fruit / Jelly cups
• Soup in cans and packets 
• Poppas / cans of soft drink 
• Tins of stew 
• Tins of salmon or tuna
• Pasta / noodles
• Small jars of coffee / Tea bags
• Long life milk and custard                             
• Lollies / Nuts / Chocolates / Biscuits 
• Vegetables in cans 
• Variety packs of breakfast cereal
• Jam, honey, vegemite, peanut butter
• Tins diced tomatoes
• Tins baked beans or spaghetti 
• Pasta sauce
• Instant meals 
• Matchbox/toy cars
• Barbie or other dolls
• Beach towels/buckets etc
• Notebooks and pens
• Scented gift Candles
• Summer pyjamas for mums
• Colouring pencils/textas and books
• Playsets that are easy to transport (vet playset, doctors kit, small kitchen things etc.)
• Toiletries (not the tiny hotel ones) eg. shampoo, conditioner, body wash, moisturiser.

Please note cans and tins need to have ring pull tops.
Please ensure all donations are unused (brand new) - including toys.
Please check that the used by dates on all food items are well within use.

Community Christmas Carols

Our annual Carols Service will be held on Monday 12 December from 4:30pm - 7pm. This year we will be holding the activities on Oval 1 and the Carols Service in the Branson Centre. Please join your children on Oval 1 from 4:30pm to enjoy a picnic (BYO rug, chairs and basket of goodies), a jumping castle and face painting. This is their opportunity to run around and have some afternoon nibbles before the service.

You can order platters via Flexischools for your picnic, there is a cheesy, crunch and dip platter and a deli meats platter and gluten free option available, orders need to be placed before 9:30am on Monday 12 December. 

From 5:45pm you will be ushered into the Branson Centre for the Carols Service. There will be some space in front of the stage for picnic rugs and there will also be seating available. At the service you will enjoy the fantastic Kindy nativity play, performances by the Orchestra, Choir, Dance Academy, the BDC Community Chorus Choir’s Hallelujah Chorus and sing-a-long Christmas Carols. Our Christmas Hampers will be presented to representatives from the Uniting Church Soup Kitchen and Warrina Women and Children’s Shelter. Students have been working hard on their performances so please come along and show your support, gathering as a school community in this season of Advent as we prepare for Christmas.

We look forward to seeing our families for this exciting event.

Nick Johnstone
Principal

A day In Our life 

Experience a day in the life of one of our amazing teachers Mrs Rachel Caesar and family as she lives and works at Bishop Druitt College in Coffs Harbour.
Coffs is an amazing place to live and BDC is a vibrant place to work with many exciting opportunities and a strong sense of community.
Check out our employment page for opportunities via > https://www.bdc.nsw.edu.au/join-our-school/employment and make sure you view the 'taste of our BDC culture' videos - this is your sneak peek before all 12 testimonial videos are launched in 2023 - our 30th anniversary year. Many exciting things are ahead!

Thank you to BathTime Productions for producing these videos.

A Business@Dusk year-end celebration with special guest Elissa Keenan, CEO Ecotourism Australia

Bishop Druitt College is pleased to invite parents and business owners to a free upcoming Business@Dusk event on 29 November at the Link Pavilion. 

The event is an opportunity to network with like-minded parents and businesses while learning more about the Coffs Coast’s ECO destination certification, an eco-friendly destination for work and play. 

The event will feature BDC musicians, Imogen Daymond and James Rothacker, who recently finished their HSC. 

Even if you don’t run a tourism business, you can still celebrate and benefit from the Coffs Coast being an ECO destination.

One year ago, the Coffs Coast became NSW’s first ECO destination, certified by Ecotourism Australia growing the city’s green-credentials for ecotourism and sustainable protection of our cultural heritage and renowned national treasures. Nature-based tourism operators have jumped on board and are already reaping the benefits of attracting the eco-tourist.

One year on, this certification means so much more to the Coffs Coast region – this is now an opportunity for the whole business community to champion and benefit from our growing reputation as an eco-friendly destination.

Whether you directly operate in the visitor economy, or are working towards hiring talent interested in working in our beautiful city, come along to this Coffs Coast Business@Dusk event and find out more about how your business can support, leverage and benefit from the Coffs Coast ECO destination certification.

This event includes:

From 4:15pm for a 4:30pm start – Business Community update on the Coffs Coast’s ECO destination certification, featuring:

-  A year of certification, in retrospect and looking forward

   Special guest, Elissa Keenan, CEO Ecotourism Australia

-  Our stories: What certification has meant for my business

   Featuring local eco-certified businesses

-  How you can get involved and the digital eco toolkit

From 5:30pm: shake hands and make plans – meet other local business operators and exchange ideas. Enjoy complimentary canapes, delicious tapas and refreshments, plus live music.

This event is brought to you by Bishop Druitt College, in partnership with Coffs Chamber of Commerce, Destination Coffs Coast, Ecotourism Australia and sponsored by NSW Small Business Month.

Registrations are essential, and this event will sell out - register here: https://bit.ly/3fnsiVV