With less than a month of the school year remaining the college is taking the time to both celebrate some student achievements and to enjoy the end of year processes in what has been a most unusual year. Please enjoy this fortnight’s College Knowledge newsletter which recognises both.

Senior Formal 2020

Despite all the changes to our college programs throughout the year of COVID-19, we were able to experience some normality with our formal Valedictory Dinner last Friday night at Pacific Bay Resort. The students, parents and staff were thrilled to share a night of stories and smiles. Thank you to Mr Klipin, Mrs Dancey-Spain, Mrs O’Connor, Mr Doyle and Mr Driscoll for their organisation of this event.

Next Steps for Class of 2020

As of last Friday, 77.5% of our Year 12 cohort have applied for university for 2021 with 77.4% of these students receiving early offers through various university programs such as Headstart, STAR, or direct application early offers and 1st round of Schools Recommendation Schemes. The national figure is about 44% of school leavers move to university but in regional Australia this percentage is usually much lower. A figure of 77.5% is quite incredible.

A further 6.25% of the cohort have had confirmed apprenticeships or traineeships for next year. A big thank you to our Careers Pathways Coach, Mrs Gina Driscoll, for all of her hard work and innovation in this area.

NAIDOC Week Awards

Congratulations to Jonah Bedford as the 2020 Coffs Harbour Youth of the Year, and to Kristy Hart who was a finalist in the Grace Roberts Memorial Community Development Award.

Jonah and Kristy were honoured at the Yandaarra Aunty Grace Roberts Community Awards held on Friday 13 November marking the end of NAIDOC week celebrations.

Adventure Playground Update

Thank you for the hundreds of feedback items for our adventure playground. This project will now go to the civil stage followed by a tender process, with construction to start in early 2021. The project will be developed over a couple of stages.

Performing Arts Update

All of the BDC ensembles are now up and running during Term 4. Lunchtime concerts are being held each Wednesday at lunchtime outside the Primary Performance Space. Choir is now allowed to sing again, which is fantastic. The Concert Band is entering a competition being run by Musica Viva for all ensembles affected by COVID this year and the Performance Choir and strings have been busy rehearsing for Carols.

Superstrings, the choir and the middle school band will perform at the Primary Presentation Day events with the Concert Band, Orchestra and Highly Strung to perform at the Secondary Presentation Day.

I wish to announce that the 2021 Whole School Musical will be ‘School of Rock’. We are already looking forward to this event in the second half of the school year.

Student Achievements:

Visual Arts

Ebony Casagrande has been selected for inclusion ARTEXPRESS for 2021 with her exquisite series of drawings titled 'Release'.

Performing Arts

Sam Goodwin, a pianist, has been nominated for the HSC Music Showcase ENCORE. 

Jonah Bedford, Meg Denman, Mitchell Hodges and Emily Pavey were nominated for the HSC Drama OnSTAGE.

Sport

Now that sport has recommenced a number of our students have excelled in a variety of fields:

• Vereniki Duarara has been selected into the Gen blue U18 NSW rugby team
• Rosie Smart (HP) won the State surfing titles
• Keira Williams (HP) has been selected into the NSW Country U18 basketball team
• Natalie Giri (HP) was a Gold medallist in the Adult International Grande Aerobic Team category at the Sport Aerobics National Championships 
• Asher Fawle (HP) had a winning weekend in Singleton - Ash and his Rauland U19 Teammates took the win in the ‘Singleton Challenge’ 30km. They completed the weekend with a win in the Hunter Chrono Cup.
• Rebecca Newman has been selected into the NSW netball emerging talent squad, one of 20 selected for U17’s
• BDC primary basketball teams had outstanding wins at the NCIS gala day on Tuesday last week. 

Dance Studio Update

The plans are now complete for our new Dance Studio. These plans will be presented to College Council and will go to tender prior to Christmas with construction to commence as early as possible.

P&F Association AGM 

The P&F Association AGM on Monday 16 November was an online event. I wish to thank the Parents’ and Friends’ Association and collectively all of our parents and carers for their support and understanding during what has been the most unusual year of schooling in our college’s 27 year history. I wish to express particular thanks to the 2020 P&F executive committee of:

• President - Krystal Morris
• Vice President - Katie Millar
• Secretary- Di Thompson 
• Treasurer - Steph Abbott
• Governance- Leisa Nilsson

Welcome to the incoming P&F executive committee of:

• President - Krystal Morris
• Vice President - Katie Millar
• Secretary - Natalie Sexton
• Treasurer - Steph Abbott
• Fundraising - nominations welcome
• Governance - Leisa Nilsson

Enrolments for 2021 and 2022

As you may have heard, the college is experiencing some positive growth at present with waiting lists in most year levels for 2021. If you are planning on enrolling another child for 2021 or 2022 or you know of friends or family in this situation please contact the enrolments department as quickly as possible to avoid disappointment.

Timetable rollover

On the 8th of December, Bishop Druitt College will be ending their 2020 Timetable and rolling over to 2021. This will result in records for students who no longer attend BDC to go into archive in accordance with NSW regulations.

All students in Year 12 will be placed into archives and you will no longer be able to access their details through Parent Lounge. This includes all their school reports.

We ask that over the coming weeks that you log into Parent Lounge and start to download all reports and save to your personal devices. We are finding that past students are requiring reports dating back as far as Year 10 for their university applications and so forth.

Once students are archived there is a delay in retrieving reports and we would hate for your child to miss out due to this process.

Parent Lounge can be accessed through BDC Website. If you are having trouble accessing parent lounge please email parentlounge@bdc.nsw.edu.au.

Presentation Day Events

At the time of writing this article we are not permitted to allow parental access for our primary and secondary presentation day events. While this is very disappointing for all of us, please feel reassured that we will be recording and/or live streaming these events for parents to watch. This service was well received by our Year 12 parents during the recent Valedictory Assembly. The links will be shared with parents in the near future.

Nick Johnstone
Principal 

This coming Sunday is Christ the King Sunday which is celebrated on the last Sunday before the season of Advent and the beginning of a new Church Year. Christ the King Sunday is the climax and conclusion of the Church’s liturgical journey through the life of Christ and the Gospel message. It is an opportunity to reflect on the things past as we look with anticipation to the future.

The purpose of this Sunday is to celebrate the coming reign of Christ as King of the Earth and his completion of the renewed creation that marks the fullness of the Kingdom of God. That hope is born from the entire life of Christ and his teachings. 

Over the past twelve months we have travelled through the Christian Church Year. We have followed in the steps of Jesus as he was birthed in a stable, as he walked the dusty hillsides of Galilee, opened blind eyes and made the lame to walk again, as he taught the multitudes and the disciples, as he was crucified, and rose again. We have celebrated the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, reflected on the mission of the Church. 

The following Sunday we celebrate Advent as we once again begin that journey to remind ourselves of who we are and whose we are. It’s a time to reflect on the things we hope for, and the honesty and integrity needed to fulfil our hopes mindful of all of humanity.

Reverend David Morgan
Chaplain 

Holiday Anxiety

While older students look forward to the school holidays, many of their younger counterparts are more anxious and fearful before the spring break.

Preparatory children are often tired, exhausted and needing more attention leading into the holidays.

Dr Justin Coulson, a psychologist and father of six, said December/January was a time when many students showed anxiety towards routine disruptions that could be around the corner.

"It is the time when most kids get excited for school holidays, but younger kids can get anxious around school holiday time," he said.

"Also, with the busy world we now live in, many of them know it's not more time with parents but more stress for parents as they have work commitments."

Children are often tired and bad behaviour escalates or meltdowns may occur, but Dr Coulson said it was not just "end-of-term tiredness" but a combination of factors.

"We do hear from teachers that at this time many are running on empty," he said.

"Thinking about doing the practical things during the term like making sure they're getting enough sleep and shielding young kids from things like NAPLAN results all helps."

How a parent's feelings can add to stress

Dr Coulson said that as parents, radiating their own anxiety or worry could make this difficult. "It's a great challenge as our emotions are contagious," he told ABC Radio Brisbane's Katrina Davidson. "Kids will catch our calm but they will also catch our crazy if we're a little over the top, angry, frustrated or stressed."

He said it was best to go back to cognitive behavioural therapies like mindfulness to combat anxiety. "If we can bring ourselves back to the present, then we can't be worried about the future as we're focused on the here and now," Dr Coulson said.

"Focus on the breathing, what we can see, smell and hear — by doing these things it can help reduce anxiety quickly."

Looking forward to something, feeling hopeful and having an exciting event or outing coming up are all ways to help. "If we're anxious, then we're living into a fearful future and we think that something negative or something bad will happen soon," he said.

"But by being curious and excited about the future, that can alleviate anxiety.

The best way to get children excited, he said, was to invite them to consider the best possible future that's in front of them and to try and think positively.

"You can pull out the paper calendar and write down what they're looking forward to and you can count down the days; this helps the kids look forward in anticipation, not fear."

A compassionate approach

Dr Coulson said watching how children responded and reacted to their day-to-day could help gauge their emotions. "When kids play up, parents often get annoyed at their behaviour and sometimes they're sent to the naughty corner, but these strategies don't help children become less anxious or less fearful," he said.

"That usually only exacerbates these feelings."

He urged parents to look at the underlying behaviour. "The feelings that underlie the behaviour are the things that matter the most."

For young children, he said the focus was on reducing pressure while at school.

"In their primary school years, we want to help them feel relaxed and calm as well as being accepted for who they are," Dr Coulson said.

"A compassionate and understanding approach, while still letting them know there is an expectation and a limit to what behaviour is allowable, is probably the best way forward.

"What matters most is that we spend time understanding and working with our children and friends to know that they do matter and we are here for them."

Sue O'Connor
Director of Student Wellbeing

Completing the Trilogy

Over the last two weeks we have had the opportunity to witness some amazing transition programs at our great college.  All of these special days are a rite of passage for students and families.  They are also a reminder of the importance that the relationship between the student, the teacher and the parents play through the life of a child.

Over the last two weeks, we welcomed our 2021 Kindergarten students for their first formal orientation days in the ELC.  Whilst it can be a nervous time for our students, it is often a very teary time for their parents too.  It is the first time for many, and the first step into school life.  

As we welcomed our Kindy students for next year, we walked our Year 6s to their orientation day for Year 7.  Welcoming new families to the college, our Year 6s got their first taste of secondary school life and what changes will be in store for them next year.

As the leaders of the Primary became the ‘little kids’ again, we said goodbye to another cohort of Year 12s who embark on life beyond formal schooling.  As our graduating class of 2020 have their sights firmly fixed on the future, their parents and teachers reflect on their firsts.  

At the Year 12 formal last week, Mr Johnstone spoke about the importance of relationships in raising a child and succeeding at school.  The relationships between the student, their parents and their teachers complete the trilogy and have a very real impact of not only the success of our children, but their wellbeing too.    

Whilst the author is unknown, the poem below is a wonderful reminder to us all that relationships are the key in our world, from the first day, to the last.  

Richard Smith
Assistant Principal (Head of Primary)

This week in KE in Investigations our Post Office turned into Santa’s Workshop! We set up our Christmas Tree and it looks Fantastic! We also celebrated our first Book Week Parade! We loved dressing up as our favourite characters and reading our books together in class.

Last week we received the wonderful news that Kristy Hart in our LRC and Jonah Bedford from the Class of 2020 were nominated for the Yandarra Grace Roberts Memorial Community Development Award as part of the Coffs Harbour City Council NAIDOC celebrations. Jonah who has been a fantastic model for students received his award for Youth of the Year. Congratulations Jonah and Kristy. Just before we moved into remote learning at the start of the year we celebrated NAIDOC week at the college. However, the dates were also moved to Term 4 and we recognised this at our secondary assembly last week. Thank you to Rev Cooke, Kristy Hart and Peter Barron for your preparation for the assembly as we acknowledge the 2020 NAIDOC theme Always Was Always Will be acknowledging our nation's story began at the dawn of time and not just with documented European contact.

Imogen Grebert in Year 10 was a participant in a global online Round Square event and the only Australian participant. Another amazing engagement considering the restricted world we live in at the moment. Congratulations Imogen. 

2020 is drawing to a close in a very few short weeks and our staff would like to thank all families for your support throughout 2020 in a sometimes difficult environment and one that was often changing. As a community we have demonstrated our care for each other across the year in many different ways and we can be proud of the efforts we have seen in our students across Year 7 to Year 12. The world as we know of has changed dramatically and is still changing. This will continue to bring challenges across 2021 and at this time of year we give thanks for the community we are part of on the Coffs Coast and at Bishop Druitt College.

The college is proudly sharing our news that the Class of 2020 have already received 5 apprentices and traineeships and that the incredible rate close to 80% of HSC students are in university already. This accomplishment is just unheard of at this time of year. The college works diligently to provide the best educational outcomes each year and this year we should celebrate loudly. University offers are actually before the first round that will happen in December. This is a fantastic legacy for the Class of 2020 to demonstrate. Significantly this is a whole college success, families who guide and advocate a good education for their children, our primary teachers in their foundation years and the whole campus wellbeing approach across secondary schooling. The expertise of HSC teachers at BDC is second to none and this combined with our Careers Pathways guidance creates a very clear advantage for our young adults.

Our campus is finishing the year with active student leadership committee’s that are very energised to make a difference. The Class of 2021 are busy in their HSC courses, drama and music are recommencing performances, Year 10 on Work Experience, Kaizen and World Options completing projects and performances and sporting students becoming involved in competitions again. The college is finishing at a busy pace. Students in Year 10, Year 8 and Year 9 should have received their World Options or Year 11 course information for 2021. Please contact Mr Craig Verbruggen if you have any further questions. We are also asking families to support our Christmas appeal and send in goods to our Tutor Teachers for inclusion in the different hampers over the next week. Everything is very welcome.

Unfortunately at this time of term we are preparing for students and staff only at the awards presentation and Christmas service events. 

We would like to thank and wish the following staff well in 2021: Mrs Alison Hollier (Science) who is retiring, Mr Troy Sodeau (Science) and Mrs Rosey Lang (HSIE) on leave for 2021. Recent announcements include welcoming Mrs Meegan Bruggerman into the Year 7 Coordinator position, Mrs Nicole Matthews as acting Year 9 Coordinator and Ms Kate Butcherine as acting Cottee Head of House. Thank you to the following staff who are completing contracts this year or semester: Mrs Kristy McDermid, Mrs Nadene Flick, Rachelle Daniel and Mr Adam Newman.

The Valedictory Formal Dinner was incredibly successful. 80 young adults entered in style and dressed for the occasion to acknowledge their final transition into BDC Alumni. Many families were finally able to meet up with each other and celebrate at Pacific Bay for the first time this year. Congratulations to an incredible group and thank you to Mr Klipin and Mrs Dancey Spain for coordinating the special evening.

Please refer to our website for the uniform guidelines when you are shopping for the new year. We ask that you re-check the polishable shoe guidelines and hairstyles guidelines. Nose rings are not permitted and jewellery has specific requirements as general reminders. https://digistorm-websites.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/bdc-au-nsw-333-website/documents/Policies/Uniform-Policy.pdf?mtime=20191122035350 

There will be a letter for secondary families emailed out this week with further details for the end of the year and start of 2021. Thank you for your support throughout 2021. On behalf of the secondary campus, we wish everyone a holy and family filled Christmas season.

Please find the key dates below:

Simon Doyle
Assistant Principal (Head of Secondary)

We have started Wednesday lunchtime concerts this term. Our first concert was a guitar duo Finn Reedy and Piper Rieth. 

Last week we had Highly Strung and the Ukelele group performing. 

In the following weeks we have Middle School Band, Concert Band and Strings Unattached.

We had our first Secondary Assembly with Year 7 to Year 12 last Friday. The Concert Band opened the assembly and it was so great to see them being able to perform again. It was the last time for some of our Year 12 students from 2020.

We wish them well for 2021.  Stephen Chang has been offered a place at Monash University in Composition.

I have attached a performance for this week’s newsletter with Joshua playing Chopin Etude Op.25 no.12, which he is working on for his LMusA.

Also a performance by the Concert Band on Friday in Assembly.

That’s all for this week.

Sandra Smith
Acting Head of Performing Arts

Sport administration phone number – 0417859252 or 66515644 ext 295.
Please do not use any other mobile number you may have to contact the sport administrator.

Important Information

2021 Swimming carnival dates

For everyone trying to plan for 2021: 

BDC swimming carnivals are booked

• Secondary Monday 8 Feb  
• Primary Tuesday 9 Feb
• NCIS Swimming Wednesday 24 Feb
• CIS Primary Thursday18 March / Secondary Monday 26 & Tuesday 27 April

General Sport

Permission for sporting events is done via Parent Lounge. Parents will receive an email when their child has been invited to participate in an event.  

Attached to the invitation is a note, you must open the note to agree to the terms and conditions before permission can be given. The note contains all relevant information, time, cost, travel, what to bring or to wear and venue etc.

This can vary between events, please check these details carefully before giving your child permission to attend.

If your child will not be attending please decline the invitation, this will save you receiving reminder emails and give staff a clear indication of who is definitely attending.

If you require any more information regarding sporting events please call the Sport Admin office on 66515644 ext 295 or email bhilton@bdc.nsw.edu.au 

NCIS Primary Basketball

A great day of basketball at BDC, there were 15 teams from across the NCIS area.

The students were just happy to be on the courts playing sport again.  Thank you to Martin Kelleher for organising a great event for NCIS, Karina Rothacker and Rachel Caesar for coaching the BDC teams on the day.

We started the day off with nerves and excitement as we went into our first game versing EAC. They tried hard but not hard enough because In the end we won 29 - 0. After that we had a 2-hour break which helped our nerves slowly slip away. Next we versed SMSS and what a coincidence we won 29 - 0 again. Then we faced BHC, we thought the game would be tough but the score showed otherwise with us winning 30 - 2. Being first in pool A

Erin Kelly – Girls captain

A day of basketball, what more could a team ask for! A round-robin was played and the boys went into the grand final undefeated. The team displayed great skill and sportsmanship leading to a win, making them champions of the boys competition. Congratulations to 

Sonny, Koby, Lachie, Miles, Ollie, Isaac and Declan. Many thanks to Mrs Caesar for coaching on the day.

Declan Matthews – Boys captain

Swimming

The Year 2 and Year 4 swimming programs have come to an end. The final days were focused on water safety, with students learning some new skills on how to rescue someone in trouble. This does not mean they should attempt it on their own if they are putting themselves at risk. Hopefully they can pass this knowledge onto parents and carers who will also be able to gain valuable knowledge that may help if they are ever in a situation where someone needs help. 

PLEASE REMEMBER SUPERVISION AROUND WATER IS A MUST AND WE MUST NEVER BE COMPLACENT. SWIMMING LESSONS DO NOT REPLACE SUPERVISION. SUPERVISION IS 100% ATTENTION.

Year 6 have also had their annual surf safety days. They have participated in simulated board rescues, learning to surf, learning to body surf and CPR demonstrations. Coffs Harbour City Council/Apollo Lifeguards run these programs and they are a valuable part of the schooling at BDC.

Thank you to our Year 9 & 10 helpers that make this day possible.

Our water programs are progressive throughout the years at BDC, starting in Year 2 up to Year 10. They are part of our students being World Prepared

Futsal

Unfortunately due to COVID there has been no futsal pathway this year. However, BDC are putting 9 teams on courts in Port Macquarie this week as part of the Eastcoast Eagles Futsal day and all the players have been looking forward to some competition again.

Full results will be in the next newsletter.

Upcoming Events

Beth Hilton
Sport and Outdoor Education Coordinator K-12

Year 2

The Year 2 students had a great morning of outdoor education activities, they made bird feeders, koala masks, floral murals, played outside bingo etc etc. Finishing the morning with some team building games on the ovals.

Fingers crossed in 2021 we will be back to our camp out on the ovals with our parents as part of their Rites of Passage into stage 2.

Thank you to Annette Campbell, Karla Nightingale, Ty Gillon and Kelly Gray for their help on the day.

Beth Hilton
Sport and Outdoor Education Coordinator K-12

Kids Christmas Workshop

Elite Summer School 2021

Back to School 202I The Uniform Shop 

Important changes due to COVID-19 . Please make an appointment to avoid disappointment The Uniform Shop will close for the college vacation on Thursday 10th December at 4pm and reopen Monday 11th January 2021 at 8am. The hours of trade are 8am -3pm, Monday to Friday up to and including Monday 25th January. In order to deliver a personalised service and to adhere to the current COVID -19 procedures, all visits to the Uniform Shop during this period, are to be strictly by appointment only. In previous years some latitude was available, unfortunately, this is not the case in Back to School in 2021. This is essential for the safety of all customers and our staff. The Uniform Shop has a maximum capacity of 12 customers. We therefore ask, if at all possible, the numbers of people who enter the Uniform Shop, be limited to those directly involved in the fitting and purchasing of the uniform. Please note that the Uniform Shop is not currently accepting cash, but all major cards are accepted. Online purchasing is also available at www.midford.com.au To arrange an appointment for Back to School in 2021 please contact the Uniform Shop by phone, email or you can make your own appointment by the clicking on the link below: https://MidfordBooking.as.me/BishopDruittCollege As a note: It is also possible to purchase items this year with the view of exchanging if a growth spurt occurs. Term 4 hour of trade: Tuesday to Thursday 8am to 4pm.
P: 026651 5644 E: bishop.druitt@midford.com.au

For news on our Alumni, check out the BDC News or our Facebook page Bishop Druitt College Alumni.

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