Welcome to our 159 new students who entered the college last week and welcome back to our ‘old’ students and families for what will be an exciting year for our community. In my section this fortnight, I outline some of our student achievements over the holiday break, officially launch our new sporting club, welcome the  Rector of the Nambucca Parish, remind our community of our exciting Scholarships program, and provide an update about our Dance Studio.

Student achievements over the holidays

I have already written to parents regarding our amazing HSC and ATAR results from the class of 2020 but as a representative of this grouping I did want to make special mention of our college Dux, Megan Ussher. Megan excelled in all her subject areas through her consistent effort, inquisitive nature and her thirst for knowledge. Megan followed her own path studying English Advanced, Mathematics Advance, Physics, Science Extension as well as French Continuers and Italian Beginners. She gained HSC marks in the 90s in 4 of these classes.

I also wished to focus on effort and organisation. We had many students in the 2020 graduating class who did not get scores in the 90s but the majority of these students worked to their potential and at the start of the year our teachers shared these stories with their fellow colleagues. Stories of students who finished with a Band 4 given when they started the course were probably headed for Band 2 or 3. It is these students we are also proud of - the students who displayed ‘inspiration through perspiration’.

Coffs Harbour’s Citizens of the Year Awards were announced on Australia Day and our own Rosie Smart was recognised as the region's Sports Person of the Year. Rosie excelled in 2020 winning state club and schools championships.

Arlia Portus Keen has won two major youth art prizes in the region late last year. She won the Coffs Harbour Art Award - Youth Division (for 12-21-year-olds) and the Young Archies 13-15-year-old division, which is currently hanging in the Coffs Harbour Art Gallery. 

Well done to Michael Spinoglio and Vereniki Naureure who competed at the NSW Rugby 7's U17s State Championships. Michael and Niki did an outstanding job of representing the Mid North Coast Axemen team. Following this event, Niki was selected in the Waratahs Under17 7s rugby squad. Niki is now moving to Sydney to play for Easts in order to pursue his dream of becoming a Wallaby. In other rugby related news, the 2018 BDC School Captain and Bond University John Eales Scholarship recipient Jack Winchester has been signed to play professional rugby with the Western Force in this year’s Super Rugby competition. 

Congratulations to Madison Parkes who has been selected in the North Coast Academy of Sport – Elite Netball Squad. Madi is a member of the BDC Netball Academy and has been improving throughout the last 18 months and is well-deserving of this opportunity.

Congratulations to Lilly Geddes who competed at her first 5km NSW Open Water Championship last weekend. Lilly won the bronze medal and will now compete in the individual and relay events at the two Nationals Championships in March and April respectively.

Staff news

The college community is extremely proud of our Chaplain, the Reverend Canon Naomi Cooke, who conducted her first service at the Cathedral in Grafton last Sunday. 

BDC Barracudas Sporting Club - get involved!

The BDC Barracudas Sporting Club Inc. was founded in December 2020 with the vision of being an inclusive club focussing on:

• Active participation
• Promoting a positive self
• Developing positive social interactions; and 
• Developing improved game play through skill acquisition and development 

The BDC Barracudas are also aimed at providing additional opportunities and pathways for our community. 

The first sports in this endeavour are rugby union and basketball.

The BDC Barracudas Rugby teams have now officially joined both the local Friday night Crusaders competitions with under 8s, under 10s and under 12s and the MidNorth Coast Rugby Competition with under 14s and under 16s age groups. 

The BDC Barracudas Club wish to thank Paul Butcher, President of Coffs Harbour Crusaders Junior Rugby Union, and MidNorth Coast Rugby’s Executive Officer Bruce Worboys for their support in allowing rugby union to grow in our college and our region. 

You are able to register your interest in playing:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdr3Uagog4qZTX8bmLO5GOiXrhiH8UnbazobO1XiVEq3H6vtA/viewform

We are also seeking more players and coaches for our BDC Barracudas Basketball teams. This competition starts very soon with under 8s and 10s playing on Saturdays and under 12s, 14s and 16s playing on Friday nights. This competition starts on 12 February.

You are able to register your interest in playing:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdVbbDCiKjSQ9boIz7KRT7ZzhwgJsscfkPs9ZlAErzR77OeAg/viewform

Interested coaches can also contact our High Performance and Athlete Development Program Manager Ms Natalie Titcume ntitcume@bdc.nsw.edu.au

I wish to thank staff, parents and community volunteers for supporting the basketball and rugby teams with coaching expertise and a commitment to their sports and to the positive benefits that sports can bring to young people.

BDC Barracudas will be looking for Foundation Sponsors for this new club structure and if you are interested please contact the Club Treasurer and college Business Manager, Mr Shane Oxley soxley@bdc.nsw.edu.au for more information.

Swimming carnival

Senior Primary and Secondary swimming carnivals will be occurring next week and while this is very exciting for the students it is disappointing we will be unable to allow spectators into the venue. This is due to government advice on physical distancing in venues that are off campus. I wish to thank you for your understanding in this matter and I look forward to returning to some sort of normality with our sporting carnivals for 2021.

Dance Studio

The Dance Studio construction is starting to take shape over the next few weeks with the pouring of the concrete slab. We are excited by this project and we are still confident that it will be ready in early Term 2.

Bus information

The two BDC bus runs that service the Coffs Coast Northern Beaches are now full. Applications are still being accepted however they will be placed on a waiting list.

For any bus-related enquiries please contact our receptionist, Rachel Cornale, on 6651 5644.

New Rector of Nambucca Parish

I am pleased to share news from Bishop Murray that the Reverend Peter Shayler-Webb has accepted the position as Ministry Leader (Rector) of the Parish of Nambucca Valley.  Rev’d Peter comes to us from the Diocese of Brisbane. Please pray for Peter and his wife Claire as they make this transition. Once Peter has been commissioned, the Rev'd Clyde Appleby will become the Associate Priest on a part-time basis until his retirement later this year. Bishop Druitt College wishes to welcome Rev’d Peter and Claire to our region.

Academic Scholarships for 2022 (entry to Years 7-11)

Applications for 2021 Academic Scholarships for students entering Years 7-11 are now open and will close at midnight on 8 February 2021. The scholarships are awarded on the basis of a competitive examination conducted by ACER, which will take place on Saturday 27 February at Bishop Druitt College. Scholarships are awarded by the Principal. 

Please see our website for further details: https://www.bdc.nsw.edu.au/join-our-school/academic-scholarships

Please indicate to the college, via secretary@bdc.nsw.edu.au if you wish to have a principal’s tour on that day from 8.45am.

Scholarships with a special focus

The Scholarships with a Special Focus are now open and close at the end of Term 1. Please see our website for further details:

https://www.bdc.nsw.edu.au/join-our-school/specific-focus-scholarships

CVAS and BDC partnership continues to grow

Our partnership with Clarence Valley Anglican School continues to grow with a Real Schools professional development session with both schools being hosted at BDC on 22 January. This session focused on the work done by researchers in Restorative Justice Practices. There will be some parent sessions to explain these practices later in the year.

Nick Johnstone
Principal

Over the next weeks, the Diocese of Grafton is encouraging each ministry unit to reflect on vocation. Exploring what we might discern as ‘vocation’ and how that relates us as individuals, and corporately as a community. Vocation in a spiritual or religious sense is the invitation or calling our Creator has for each of us and how that is expressed. All vocations should entail encouraging and guiding others through love and wisdom. Theologian and spiritual writer Frederick Buechner says, 'Your vocation in life is where your greatest joy meets the world’s greatest need'. We all need an authentic and realistic vocation in life if we are to fulfill the potential that lies deep within us. In the context of college life, there is a significant illustration of vocation through the lives of teachers who shape the learning experience of students on a daily basis. Their vocation meets the needs of young people through dedication by sharing knowledge and wisdom. Our vocation in life needs to be fluid to allow us to be formed by creativity and inspiration. Life and circumstances may change bringing the opportunity for a new vocation or in different areas. (Covid-19 is a testament to that!)

Spend some time to reflect on your vocation, where and what might your next calling be?

Here is a link to the video on vocations we are watching in Chapel time over the next 2 weeks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mja8K4FYxcA

Blessings,

Rev David Morgan
Chaplain

How wonderful it was to see all of our students and friends bounding into school on their first day after a long break. Welcome back to all of our families who are returning and a special welcome to all of our new families. I trust that these first few weeks are the first of many happy and exciting weeks to follow.  

Thank you to all of the parents who have organised their children for the first few weeks of school. Our primary students look immaculate in their uniforms, with their shoes shined and worn with pride. There is already a great ‘buzz’ around the primary school as our Investigations Centre begins again and classrooms get into their weekly routines.

We have already had the opportunity to meet some parents at our Parent Information Orientation session Wednesday night, and look forward to doing the same on Thursday.  Our students are excited for the primary swimming carnival next week, and it will be our first opportunity to really get back into the House spirit that we all missed last year.

Our primary staff are really excited to be back and are looking forward to a positive year ahead. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have any queries about the start of the year.  As parents, we are all aware that the routines we set now will help us as the year progresses.  

Richard Smith
Assistant Principal (Head of Primary)

2021 has started well and truly and we wish to warmly welcome our new students across secondary and especially Year 7. The excitement is building through our house spirit for the swimming carnival next week. Our Heads of House and student House Leaders have been practicing chants, signing students up for events, and building that competitive spirit since last week. We wish all students well in the competitive events and thank you to Mrs Hilton and the PDHPE team for coordinating carnivals throughout the year.

HSC for the class of 2021

Our Year 12 students have settled into their final high school year quickly. Although, the first day did seem a little challenging to focus at our first meeting last week. Some key reminders by Mr Close and Mr Verbruggen are to talk with teachers often and ask for support when needed, keep your notes up to date and put all due dates on a calendar (and let mum and dad know). We encourage our HSC students to make use of the college library throughout the week, available before school and until 5pm on weekdays and 4.45pm Friday.

Over the coming weeks, Year 11 and Year 12 will be involved in study skill workshops and wellbeing activities. It is the small steps along the way, starting again now after the holidays and consistently working forward that will ease some of the workloads and assist in meeting busy deadlines throughout the year. Mrs Gina Driscoll, our Careers Pathways Coach has already been discussing options with HSC students.

Year 7 2021

Mrs Bruggemann and her Tutor Team have been working very hard across the year group so that people feel welcome and are getting to know each other, our environment, and the high school daily activities. This week we have had the Kaizen electives start, talks about the swimming carnival, and our Year 7 Camp information. Year 7 is very exciting and just a reminder to please check Parent Lounge for information such as for the camp.

Start of Year??

There have been a number of forums and announcements about the magnificent HSC Class of 2020, 78 successful young adults that we would like to acknowledge. We can be proud of our college and these BDC Alumni as we celebrate the number of apprenticeships and traineeships these young adults have entered (5 at last count), 96% of our university applicants have received an offer at a university (yes 85% were early entry), our Dux Meegan Ussher 97.45 ATAR was only one of 12 who achieved at 90 or above and to assist our alumni further we are commencing a Year 13 where we explore ideas to support valedictorians in the first part of their journey beyond high school.

At this time of year in the secondary campus, timetables are finalised and classes have been formed after some fine-tuning. Sometimes on viewing these, parents or students write to various Year Coordinators, Heads of Faculty or the Director of Learning and Teaching to request a particular class or teacher. However, our position and processes are clear, unfortunately, we cannot accept requests for particular teachers or friendship groups etc. Year Coordinators and the Heads of Faculty have been through an extensive process during Term 4 2020 that create classes that are dynamic and also provide a balance across a number of areas simultaneously such as, pastoral notes, academic, relationships, and our college resources. Our staff believe that the start of a year is an exciting opportunity for your children and that there are many opportunities for friendship groups to meet throughout the day. Friends are never far away from each other and the opportunity to meet and mix with new people in some classes is an important part of our life, not just at school.

Every year we develop different areas across the college and this year, our focus on wellbeing includes embedding rites of passage further, an increase in staffing for more days for another Student Counsellor to improve wellbeing programs. In particular, we are developing our new learning management system called Schoolbox for Year 7, 8 and World Options. We aim to include parents for the start of Term 2. Learning and Teaching include our innovative Kaizen and World Options programs (Year 10 in 2021), Math Pathways into Year 8 and Dance will join our curriculum. 

We are fortunate that there is some new seating in the middle school area, the Year 10 kitchen has had a repaint, air conditioning throughout D Block has been completed and the Dance Studio is under construction (we apologise for the short term changes in the car park). 

Inspiring Staff -Welcome to Returning or New Secondary Staff

• Amber Baldwin -English 2021
• Peter Barron -HSIE 2021
• Joel Blythe TAS, Year Co Year 11 from LSL
• Stephen Barrow -Performing Arts -Music Semester 1
• Kate Butcherine acting HOH Cottee
• Rachael Case -Wellbeing Student Counsellor Thurs/Fri
• Patrick Collopy -ICT Assistant
• Tiffany Easman -HSIE 2021
• Melinda Eckford -HSIE
• Leah Ham -PDHPE 2021
• Hannah Johnson Performing Arts -Drama, Dance 2021
• Daniel Laing -Science, Technology 2021
• Nicole Matthews -acting Yr9 Coordinator 
• Kate Murray -Sport Assistant 2021
• Sam Cawood - Sport Assistant 2021
• Karla Nightingale -LRC 2021
• Mark Norberry -Science 2021
• Rebecca Smart -Science
• Shelley Spagnolo -PDHPE (return from maternity leave)

We look forward to 2021 at BDC with a full and diverse program that we hope your children will be able to enjoy as they follow their interests and passion.

Simon Doyle
Assistant Principal (Head of Secondary)

Firstly I would like to welcome Hannah Johnson our Dance/Drama Teacher to the Faculty. If you are wondering what is going on down by the Branson Centre and kiss & ride, this is where our new Dance Studio is being built. Fingers crossed no rain on Friday as they are meant to be pouring the concrete slab.

 Welcome to Stephen Barrow who is teaching Year 7,8 and World Options in the secondary music faculty.

New recording studio

We have had some alterations done in the Music Department over the holidays, which is very exciting. The downstairs room under M1 is now our recording studio. Changes to this room will be made over the next few months.

We now have a larger storage area for our timpani, bass drums and percussion instruments.

A big thanks to Highly Strung who played at the Church Service for our school staff. Thanks to Imogen Daymond who sang the hymns and Mrs Stuart who played the piano.

School musical

We have our school musical The School of Rock this year with rehearsals happening on Mondays. The students have already auditioned for the different parts so we are ready to begin. 

Our instrumental teachers start next week and will be in touch with you about days and lesson times.

All the music ensembles will start next week from the 1st of February. They are all in the school calendar so please check this for days and times.

Staff news

• Cathryn Burgess has taken leave this year and will be back in 2022. 
• Nadene Flick has accepted a full-time teaching job at CVAS in Grafton. We wish her well and thank her for all the work and dedication she has shown her students over the years.

I’m currently looking for a new voice teacher and will let you know as soon as I have one. Thank you for your patience.

If you have any questions about the Performing Arts program please contact Ms Sandra Smith ssmith@bdc.nsw.edu.au

If you wish to learn an instrument go to the BDC website and click on My BDC area. Then click on Music and then Instrumental lessons. Fill in the form and then it will come through to the Music Department and be passed onto the teacher who will contact you.

Our wonderful guitar teacher Tony Rowley has asked me to let students know that he is running a composing workshop at the Conservatoire in Coffs Harbour on a Tuesday night at 5pm. Anyone interested please contact the Con and find out more details. I highly recommend this for any inspiring composers.

Wishing everyone a wonderful start to the Year.

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

As BDC follows the NSW Health Department Covid-19 Guidelines, unfortunately, spectators are not permitted at school sporting events until further notice.

General sport

Please contact Nat Titcume for information regarding BDC basketball and rugby teams. ntitcume@bdc.nsw.edu.au

Secondary and Primary swimming carnivals

All nominations have now been finalised. Please do not make changes on the day and please turn up for the events you have nominated to go in.

Please remember to pack water, hat, sunscreen and plenty of food for your child. There will be a BBQ on the day and limited canteen access. No students are permitted to order food from outside the pool or leave the pool area on the day.

Girls MTB day 

We are hoping to run a girls-only MTB day for students in Years 5-12. Please ask your daughters if they are keen, they will need their own bike at this stage.

Beth Hilton
Sport and Outdoor Education Coordinator K-12

Year 7 will head off to camp on Monday of Week 4 (15 Feb). This is a great bonding time and part of their rite of passage into secondary school. They will be well supported by their tutors and also Year 10 peer support leaders.

If you haven’t completed permission in Parent Lounge yet, please do so as soon as possible. 

You can access your Parent Lounge by clicking on the below link
https://tass.bdc.nsw.edu.au/parentlounge/login.cfm   

Beth Hilton
Sport and Outdoor Education Coordinator K-12

We’ve had feedback about some great outcomes for our class of 2020.

60 students applied to study at university and all that applied received offers, some received multiple offers and scholarships!

7 students have secured traineeships or apprenticeships in:

• Commercial Cookery
• Automotive
• Electrical / Refrigeration
• Hairdressing 
• Optical Dispensing
• Plumbing

Others are busy working, having a gap year, or are preparing to travel. I wish this wonderful group of students every success for a bright future.

Year 13 Support

BDC is pleased to offer ongoing career services to our graduates and I have reached out to the Class of 2020 to offer extra assistance if required. 

University Roadshow

Southern Cross, New England, Newcastle and Charles Sturt Universities are coming to BDC with their fabulous University Roadshow. Year 12 will attend a session on Wed 17th Feb in Period 5 and will gain some great information about applying to uni, accommodation, courses, etc. A must-attend for all Year 12. 

Individual career planning appointments

Only 2 weeks into school and many students and parents have already asked me about having a career appointment. This is fantastic! I will be seeing Year 12 all individually this term to update their career transition plans and begin to explore how I can best assist them this year. Booking sheets for appointments will be sent out soon. 

TVET (TAFE) classes

TAFE classes commence next week for those students who elected to study them during Years 11 and 12. We have students enrolled in Automotive, Child Care, Animal Studies, Electrotechnology, Maritime Operations, Tourism, Screen and Media, and Information Technology. Students who successfully complete these courses will finish with a nationally recognised qualification to kick start their careers.

Gina Driscoll
Career Pathways Coach

Our college partnerships are collaborative relationships with businesses and organisations aimed at enhancing the educational journey of our students and contributing to making them world prepared.

Click here to view our partnerships. 

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