Issue #29 - 19 September
Transcription
Issue #29 - 19 September
BDC BISHOP DRUITT COLLEGE FAITHFULNESS IN SERVICE COFFS HARBOUR www.bdc.nsw.edu.au Issue # 29 19 September | 2014 College News From The Principal Yesterday was the last school day for our Year 12 students. It was a day of celebration, laughter, and a few tears. Tonight at the Novotel, Pacific Bay, we will hold their Valedictory Dinner. It will be the culmination of 13 years of schooling. For thirteen of those students those thirteen years have been here at BDC. Those ‘Foundation Students’ who started here in 2002 are: Xavia Bennett-Hill, Clarice Berry, Alanna Fraser, Lauren Fraser, Lillian Gordon, Emily Halling, Caitlin Hely, Mahalia Kinsela, Eleanor Leal, Samuel Lynch, Elizabeth Nevell, Joel Rutter and Aaron Singh. What follows is my farewell address to our Year 12’s at their Valedictory Assembly yesterday: Today marks a very special time in your life’s journey. You are about to move from childhood to adulthood, from dependent to independent. It is a journey for which you have been very well prepared, and a journey that we have enjoyed walking with you. You are ready for the next phase of your lives – where new learning and new relationships beckon. It is a time of great excitement and anticipation. The prophet Isaiah, when speaking to the Israelites about their pending journey out of bondage, says: “Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing: now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” He tells them not to dwell on the past and their bondage, and offers God’s promise of a safe passage back to Israel. Faith in God will ensure their salvation. Let me take take those colourful biblical metaphors and apply them to your journey forward. Ahead of you lies a wilderness. It is a wilderness typified by uncertainty, fear, excitement, success, failure, sadness and joy. Negotiating this wilderness successfully is your challenge. You will need your wits about you. You will need to follow careful advice from your parents and those that care for you. Negotiate the wilderness ahead cautiously. There will be many pitfalls along the way, and many will seek to exploit you and play on the vulnerability and naiveté of your youth. You have been given a wonderful gift by your parents - the gift of an education at this school. For them, your progress through school has been a source of great pride. They invested in us to help mould you into the fine young men and women you have become. Here, you have developed invaluable educational capital that will be a great enabler in the years that lie before you. Pause for a moment in these last days of school to thank those who have loved you and guided you to this point. Understand too, that their love and guidance will not disappear, it will simply manifest itself in many subtler ways. They won’t be there to cajole you out of bed, and many of your stresses will now be played out on the telephone. Remember though, that those who have nurtured you to this point in your lives will remain a constant source of support. What is indisputable is the fact that the imprint of your parents on your lives will be reflected in the people you will become. Always honour them and be grateful for the gift they have given you. If your immediate metaphorical wilderness includes the world of the HSC, of university, apprenticeships, the ADF, HECs debt, unscrupulous employers and maybe even the tristesse of young love lost, what might your rivers in the desert be? Ahead of you are paths to forge. I am mixing my metaphors now, but it is okay, I am an English teacher. Ahead of you lie study, training, further learning and career choices. Your ability to develop who you are within that scaffold will see you create those rivers in the desert. Ahead is a blank canvas – a desert if you like. What is fascinating is the way your rivers will form and how they might look. Once you have settled on a career, statistics tell us that you will change jobs between 12-15 times in your working life. Already, we can imagine you tracing 12-15 different streams. Quite apart from that, many of you will change your minds when you get to university, or start work somewhere. Some of you will find that university degree you always thought you wanted to study is the dullest thing in the world, and you’ll change faculties or may even drop out and think again. The would-be dentist could become a pro-golfer, and so on. Mapping your rivers in the desert would be an interesting task. Whilst for some, you would map a raging torrent that flowed ambitiously and confidently to the sea, so many others would be chart maps showing rivulets, oxbow lakes, billabongs, intermittent streams, each tracing the very different lives you will forge yourselves. One size does not fit all. There is no homogenous route through life. I mentioned the gift of education your parents gave you. You have given a gift to us. It lies in the fascinating kaleidoscope of personalities that defines your class. You are typified by confidence; a welcoming heart; resilience; achievement; perseverance; honesty; and generosity. You are young men and women of poise and dignity who are well-prepared to forge your rivers in the desert. You sit here with some trepidation. In your immediate future is a measurable obstacle, the HSC. See it for what it is. It is simply a construct for you to display what you know, and nothing more. I guarantee you that when it is all over, and you get your ATAR, for those going to university, nobody will ever ask you about it again. You will wonder what all the fuss was about. I encourage you to go forth now as confident men and women who will take your place as leaders in your world. You will vote in our next elections. You will help us Recognise our indigenous brothers and sisters in our constitution. You will decide what sort of country Australia will be in years to come. You will decide whether we are a country of humanity, liberty and equality. Isaiah also spoke of people who showed outward signs of godliness, but who had corrupt hearts. You must determine that this does not define your Australia. Wilderness and deserts lie before you. Stride confidently ahead and define your own world. Go well, Year 12. Dynamic • Caring • E C I V R SE Optimistic | Page 1 BDC BISHOP DRUITT COLLEGE FAITHFULNESS IN SERVICE COFFS HARBOUR www.bdc.nsw.edu.au Issue # 29 19 September | 2014 EYE Festival College News This last week of school has also been a week of celebration for our Primary students. Themed ‘Out of the Box’, we have been treated to some great music, acting, dance, aerobics, craft, and song. The EYE Festival of our youngest students juxtaposes superbly with the formal celebrations of our oldest collegians in this busy last week of Term 3. Special thanks to Mr Gillon, Mr Freeman, Mrs Sullivan, Mrs Dixon, Mrs Phillips, Mrs Wood, Mrs Crismale, Mrs Stuart, Mrs Morgan, Mrs Ireland, Mrs Booth, Mr Egan, Mr Clarke, Mrs Judi Isles and Mrs Maree Spencer (parents) for all of their hard work in making this year’s EYE Festival such a success. As with any event, an extra special thanks must go to the indefatigable Mr Stu McIntyre for all of his work in setting up the Branson Centre for the moveable feast of events that were held there this week. New Student Leaders Announced Congratulations to the following students: Student Executive Joel Anderson Toby McCann Connor Spokes Zac Freuden Zoë Burgess Lara Martyn-France Alice O’Shea Naomi Howe House Leaders Cottee - Wayyln Turner Hollows - Mitchell Dixon Kngwarreye - Harrison Phillips Murray - Anna Kaczan O’Shane - Jesse Robinson Sutherland - Samuel Holland Assistant House Leaders Cottee – to be elected in Term 4 Hollows – Clare Brauer Kngwarreye – Angus Chaffey Murray – Beau McAuley O’Shane – Mustafa Afraz Sutherland – Katie Henman Fundraising Focus My challenge to the new student leadership team is that we raise enough money to donate ten wall-mounted blood pressure monitors to the Coffs Harbour Health Campus. The surgical unit requires forty such machines. They cost $185 per unit. If you would like to help our student leaders raise funds for this very worthy cause, please contact either Mrs Sue O’Connor or me at school. Start of Term 4 Monday, 6 October is a public holiday. School resumes on Tuesday, 7 October. Reminder One term’s notice is required if your child is going to leave the College. As outlined in the enrolment contract, to avoid being charged Term 1 fees for 2015 if your child is not returning to BDC, notice must be received before Tuesday, 7 October. E-mail or call Mrs Lyn Mercer: [email protected] Congratulations this week to: • Madeleine Gough (9) who won a silver medal in the 800m freestyle at the NSW state short course swimming championships at Homebush last weekend. • The following students who competed at the NSWCIS athletics carnival held at Homebush on 10 September - Kaleah Doherty (3) won Bronze in the Junior Girls 100m; Harry Ward (4) won Gold in the Junior Boys Discus and Shot Put; Tom Sweeney (6) won Bronze in the Senior Boys High Jump • Secondary NSWCIS athletics results will be acknowledged in the next newsletter Facebook Like us on Facebook! Facebook will be another forum for updating BDC news from now on. facebook.com/bdccoffs Alan Ball Principal Dynamic • Caring • E C I V R SE Optimistic | Page 2 BDC www.bdc.nsw.edu.au Issue # 29 BISHOP DRUITT COLLEGE FAITHFULNESS IN SERVICE Chaplain’s Chat College News 19 September | 2014 COFFS HARBOUR view the current edition of the North Coast Anglican Newspaper Last week I read a thought-provoking article in the Sydney Morning Herald by journalist Richard Glover on the subject of ‘saying sorry’. Glover observed that over the past weeks “many prominent Australians have been forced to apologise.” He says, “The only problem: in both public and private lives, is there are so many different forms of saying sorry.” He continues describing the following ways of apologizing: ‘The Muttered Sorry’ expressed so rapidly and at such low volume that you may well miss it, never delivered while looking at its intended recipient, instead being directed out the window. ‘The Conditional Sorry’ this is where a person is sorry - deeply sorry - but only because their words have been so egregiously misinterpreted by others. ‘The Sing-Song Sorry’ a domestic favourite particular among children, this form of sorry has two syllables – ‘sor-ry’ – the first chimed in a high note, the second note rather lower. ‘The Shouted Sorry’ often seen in a domestic setting, the shouted sorry involves bellowing, ‘OK…I’m sorry! ‘The Shifting-the-Field-of-Battle Sorry’ this sorry involves the word sorry followed rapidly by the word ‘but’… all in the cause of shifting the topic of debate to a new battlefield. ‘The Patronising Sorry’ this sorry is said with feigned sweetness and an oily charm: ‘I’m really so sorry’. ‘The Sarcastic Sorry’ may be the worst sorry of them all, designed to imply that whoever requested the apology is the real problem. ‘The Sincere Sorry’ it does exist, but it’s enormously rare. In both private and public life, it goes like this: ‘I’m sorry. I did the wrong thing. My one hope is that people find the heart to forgive me’. Saying sorry is something that is not easy and doesn’t always come naturally. Elton John reminds us of this in his song “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word to Say”. However forgiveness is one of the great themes of the Christian faith. Jesus tells us that God has forgiven our wrongdoings and that we are expected to pass along that same forgiveness to others. Forgiveness, though sometimes very hard to do, is absolutely necessary in order for our personal relationships. It grows us into the image of Christ and frees others and ourselves from the bondage of bitterness and resentment. The only thing in this world more difficult than forgiving someone is asking someone to forgive you for the hurt you have caused either singularly or collectively. After recognising his need for forgiveness and the desire to move into a more fruitful and authentic relationship with God, humanity and creation the Psalmist David offers the following prayer, Create in me a clean heart, oh God And renew a right spirit within me Create in me a clean heart, oh God And renew a right spirit within me Cast me not away from Thy presence, oh Lord Take not Thy holy spirit from me Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation And renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51: 10-12) Singer Keith Green recorded this Psalm as a beautiful song that speaks to the heart; you may enjoy listening to it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM7UAM0xsN4 Blessings, Rev David Morgan Assistant Chaplain secondary school from the head of secondary Thursday marked the final day of school for our Year 12 students. At Bishop Druitt College we mark this achievement through a formal assembly to acknowledge the wonderful contribution of the group and individuals and to celebrate an end and a beginning. Our Year 12 students with parents and teachers also have a Valedictory dinner on Friday evening to celebrate their achievements and the possibilities for the future. This group of students has been wonderful and have given generously to younger students and members of the community. There are many leaders in the group, many more than those who had positions of leadership in the college this year. As a group, they have a strong sense of social justice and have worked to support others as well as raise awareness. They have supported the Tabitha Foundation in Cambodia, worked to help the Red Cross on a regular basis, supported the work of Zonta International and promoted tolerance and understanding in many aspects of school life. Unfortunately I have missed these occasions this week and have not had the opportunity to say farewell and thank you to these young men and women. I have been impressed by their enthusiasm, resilience, creativity, intellect and concern for others. I wish them well in their HSC examinations and beyond. I am confident they will realise the college goal for departing collegians to be well rounded, life long learners who become, or continue to be, active members of the communities they live in. Dynamic • Caring • E C I V R SE Optimistic | Page 3 BDC BISHOP DRUITT COLLEGE FAITHFULNESS IN SERVICE COFFS HARBOUR www.bdc.nsw.edu.au Issue # 29 19 September | 2014 College News In his play Hamlet Shakespeare gives the following lines to his character Polonius as he farewells his son, Laertes. This above all: to thine ownself be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man. Farewell: my blessing season this in thee! This is excellent advice for our Year 12 students to follow (and probably the only thing anyone should copy from Polonius). I am grateful to the Year 12 students for their significant contribution to Bishop Druitt College, I wish them well for the future and look forward to hearing about their challenges and successes. Carmel Spry Assistant Principal (Head of Secondary) MONDAY SPORT Week 10 saw all Year 7 participate in an AFL competition. This gave the students the opportunity to put into practice some of the skills they have developed over the term. Some great sills and teamwork were in action as were some marking skills. Thanks go to the staff Mr Sodeau, Miss Thomson who have been with them all term as well as student helpers on the day Andre Pocilujko and Max Kornhauser. Term 4 sport starts the second week back at school. Kellie Reinhold Teacher-in-Charge of Monday Sport ON THE WAY FROM ‘GATE TO PLATE’ Plans are well underway for our Future Chef challenge to be held next term. The team has been working hard to secure their theme and recipes for the event. Inspired by reality TV and their food technology classes the team has been very creative and enthused about this experience. We would like to thank Bellingen Butchery and Mother Nature’s for their sponsorship of this event. We look forward to showcasing the fantastic local produce we have available to us here on the Coffs Coast. Our plan is to get the recipes finalised by the end of this term. So to the parents and families of Future Chef participants, be prepared for lots of cooking in the holidays. Joel Blythe Food Technology Teacher VISUAL ARTS The Visual Art staff, including Rebecca Brown, Natasha Foggiato and Fiona Minto, dedicated some time to the Eye Festival with Year 5 Primary this week. It was a fantastic time in which the students painted a portrait of themselves on board using an array of colours. An added skill they were introduced to was stencilling. Rebecca Brown Visual Arts Teacher Mathematics As I mentioned recently in the newsletter, the Mathematics Faculty has been working on its alternate assessment tasks to allow for multi-modal learning styles and illumination of student understanding through explanation and reasoning. Here is a fantastic video by Lucy Spain in Year 7 showing her deep understanding of the content in a lecture style presentation. This is viewable only from the link below via googledocs. https://docs.google.com/a/bdc.nsw.edu.au/file/d/0B7E81XrI2mrza1hWY0w1Q0stbW8/edit What an impressive student, one of many at this lucky school. The Mathematics Faculty have been so proud to view and watch the tasks that our students have created. Craig Verbruggen Head of Mathematics | E-Learning Coordinator Dynamic • Caring • E C I V R SE Optimistic | Page 4 BDC BISHOP DRUITT COLLEGE FAITHFULNESS IN SERVICE COFFS HARBOUR www.bdc.nsw.edu.au Issue # 29 19 September | 2014 primary school College News from the head of primary What a wonderful end to the term, EYE week. I would like to thank all the teachers involved, they often don’t get thanked for the great work they do, and this was such a magical week that wouldn’t have happened without them. Have a great holiday with your children, and please stay safe. Dynamic • Caring • E C I V R SE Optimistic | Page 5 BDC BISHOP DRUITT COLLEGE COFFS HARBOUR Issue # 29 19 September | 2014 College News FAITHFULNESS IN SERVICE www.bdc.nsw.edu.au Karin Lisle Assistant Principal (Head of Primary) Musical Notes • Japanese Tour 2015 - Thank you for your attendance at the Japan Tour information evening. For those who are planning on attending this excursion, please bring the permission forms back by Friday 17th October 2014. • Congratulations to the HSC music students who recently undertook their HSC performance examinations last week. It seemed as though you all played as well as you had hoped. Thanks to everyone who accompanied, and there were many of you! My thanks to the instrumental teachers of the HSC students who have done a terrific job working with you over the years. • EYE Festival Ensembles morning - My thanks to everyone involved in Wednesday morning’s ensembles assembly in the Branson Centre. It was a terrific celebration of what we have been working on during Term 3. It has been such a busy Term. Bravo! • HSC Music Workshops for Year 12 students – please remember to attend the holiday workshops planned below: Music 1 - Thursday 25th September from 10.00am to 2.00pm in M2. Music 2 - Friday 26th September from 9.00am to 2.00pm in M1. • Leanne Swanson is our new piano teacher and currently has a few vacancies left. Leanne has received many accolades and prizes and has become much sought after as a teacher and accompanist. She has toured widely throughout New Zealand and Australia, performing chamber music, accompanying, teaching and giving master-classes. Leanne is passionate about classical music. If you’ve ever wanted your child (or yourself) to learn or continue learning piano, please call Leanne on 0417748521 or email [email protected]. • Phill Stitt, a renowned local percussionist who teaches at BDC on Mondays and Wednesdays, has a few vacancies left. Why not consider your child learning drum-kit. It is not necessary to own a drum-kit to start! If you are interested please contact the music office on 6651 5644 ext. 218. Dale Condon Head of Music K-12 sport & outdoor education PRIMARY ATHLETICS Last Wednesday 10th September, twenty-seven primary students travelled to Homebush, Sydney to represent Bishop Druitt College and the North Coast in the NSW Combined Independent Schools (NCIS) State Athletics. Three students finished on the podium: • Kahleah Doherty picked up Bronze in the girls 9 years 100m. • Tom Sweeney soared high to also collect bronze in the senior boys High Jump. • Harry Ward flexed his muscles to collect gold in both the junior boys Shot Put and Discus. Dynamic • Caring • E C I V R SE Optimistic | Page 6 BDC www.bdc.nsw.edu.au Issue # 29 BISHOP DRUITT COLLEGE College News FAITHFULNESS IN SERVICE 19 September | 2014 COFFS HARBOUR Notable mentions also go to: • Michael Spinoglio who placed fourth in the 11 years Discus. • Senior boys relay finishing fifth. • Junior boys relay finishing fifth. • Junior girls relay finishing seventh. • Senior girls relay narrowly missing the final It is a massive effort to reach this level of competition and a big congratulation goes to all students that competed. SECONDARY ATHLETICS The NSW Combined Independent Schools (NCIS) State Athletics Championships were held Wednesday 17th September in Homebush, Sydney. A full report will be included next term as we receive all the results. SQUASH On Tuesday 16th September, Coffs Harbour Squash Centre hosted the Coffs Coast Secondary Schools Squash Challenge. Due to many other sporting and end of term commitments, we were only able to enter a team in the Open division. Brad Harrison (Year 10), Lawson Tinmouth (Year 10) and Sam Crampton (Year 8) were competitive all day against Woolgoolga and Coffs Senior College teams that contained multiple senior students. Unfortunately, the boys were unable to make the final, with Woolgoolga taking out the title. PRIMARY Years 2 & 4 swimming notes have gone home and are now overdue. Could you please make sure these are returned as soon as possible. Payment can be made via Trybooking on the college website before Friday 10th October. Year 3 & 5 gymnastics notes have gone home and both the note and payment are now overdue. Payment is via Trybooking on the college website. OUTDOOR EDUCATION Year 11 camp is on Tuesday 7th October to Friday 10th October. Please remember to check the gear requirements for the camp. Year 5 camp is on Tuesday 14th to Friday 17th October. Payment for year 5 camp is due by Monday 13th October via Trybooking on the college website. Martin Kelleher Assistant Sports Administrator college community important dates and events 7 Oct 7-10 Oct 13 Oct 14-17 Oct 15 Oct Term 4 Commences Year 11 Camp HSC Examinations Commence Year 5 Camp BDC Open House GEOFF KING you are invited to attend the HOLDEN BDC More on the College Calendar BISHOP DRUITT COLLEGE FAITHFULNESS IN SERVICE Parents And Friends BDC Annual Golf Day The Bishop Druitt College Annual Golf Day 2014 is here again! This is a social day for members of the BDC community, friends and our business partners. Bonville Golf Resort will be again hosting the Annual Golf Day. It is a four person ambrose competition with a shotgun start at 1.00pm on Sunday 26 October. COFFS HARBOUR Annual Golf Day Sunday 26 October Bonville Golf Resort 1:00pm Shotgun Start 4 Person Ambrose Event If you’re interested in playing or sponsoring the day, please fill out the Entry Form/Sponsorhip pamphlet and return to Bonville Golf Resort by fax 6653-4005, email [email protected] or post - PO Box 9 Bonville 2450. E C I V R SE Team Entry Form and Sponsorship Form Dynamic • Caring • Optimistic | Page 7 BDC www.bdc.nsw.edu.au Issue # 29 BISHOP DRUITT COLLEGE FAITHFULNESS IN SERVICE 19 September | 2014 COFFS HARBOUR College News Calling for Expressions of Interest! Want to be involved in your child’s schooling? The P&F currently have an email group that is often used to inform parents of upcoming P&F/College events, news, volunteer requests etc. You do not have to be a P&F member to be included, so if you want to help out every once in a while or just want to hear about upcoming events or information please email [email protected]. Contact Us For more information, to view our Constitution or read our latest meeting minutes, click on “Our Community” then “Parents and Friends” on the College Website. We look forward to your support. President: Allan Williams 0408 332 082 [email protected] P & F email: [email protected] Next Meeting: 13 October, 6.30pm, Roger Oates Centre, refreshments provided The Bishop Druitt College Parents and Friends Association is an organisation that supports the aims and objectives of the College. It does so through the promotion of fundraising, fellowship, friendship and fun. FLIPPABALL Come ’n’ Try Days: 4pm Sunday 12 & 19 Oct — only $5 ea Flippaball is a non-contact, fun, water polo game for primary school kids (girls and boys) in standing water 6 wk training program starts Sunday 26 Oct in shallow end at Coffs Harbour War Memorial Olympic Pool, Coff St: 4-5pm Sundays 6 wk program Cost $70 inc. rego, all games & pool entry Contact: Claire on 0415 495 010 or visit Coffs Harbour Water Polo Club at: www.chwp.com.au Join PCYC - first 2 lessons FREE Learn how to defend yourself and fall safely while having fun in both recreational and competitive judo. Judo is a martial art and Olympic sport, ideal for males and females. Meaning ‘the gentle way’ in Japanese, judo has a strong emphasis on safety. Improve: flexibility balance posture co-ordination Build: confidence self esteem discipline self control Classes Tuesday and Thursday school terms Phone: PCYC on 6651 9961 Free dental care for children The Child Dental Benefits Scheme (CDBS) provides up to $1,000 every year for two consecutive years in dental treatment for eligible children aged 2 to 17 years. Eligibility • IfyouareafamilywhoholdsaHealthCareCard,receivesaCentrelinkpayment orFamilyTaxBenefitA,yourchild(ren)maybeeligiblefortheCDBS • CallMedicareon132011toconfirmyourfamily’seligibility If your eligibility is • Makeanappointmentwithadentistofyourchoice confirmed • A skyourdentistaboutadditionalcostsandpaymentmethods (mentiontheCDBS) At the appointment • Thedentistmustdiscussyourchild’streatmentandassociatedcostsbefore startingtreatment • Youwillneedtosignaconsentformbeforetreatmentbegins • S omedentistsmaybulkbillORyouwillhavetopaytheaccountandclaim therefundthroughMedicare Beneficial treatment could include: • examinations • x-rays • cleaning • fissuresealing • fillings • rootcanals • extractions Dynamic • Caring • E C I V R SE Optimistic Make your child’s smile shine! | Page 8
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