Filter Content
- Principal's Report
- Non-government schools census collection notice 2025
- Enrolments
- Assistant Principal's Report
- Director of Learning & Wellbeing
- Director of Learning and Curriculum
- Religious Education Report
- Director of Learning & Inclusion Update
- Business Manager's Report
- Polding Sponsors
- Star Spot
- Year 7 Report
- Technology Group
- Science Report
- PDHPE Report
- Sports Report
- Pathways and Partnership News
- Library News
- Wellbeing
- NSW Health Resources
- Attendance
- Parent App Summary - Compass, Canvas and QKR Apps
- BYOD
- Uniform Shop
- Teaching Staff List and Emails
- Canteen Menu
- Busways
- Opal Card
- School Zones & Parking Rules
- NSW Fire & Rescue
- Safer Driver Course
Dear Parents and Families,
Polding Week is the premier week on our school calendar and this week did not disappoint!
Polding Mass was celebrated by Fr Adam and he engaged our students through a beautiful homily and he joined us again on Friday as he gets to know our students. At our Mass on Wednesday we took time to present our prestigious Polding Awards to students, alumni and staff who demonstrate the qualities of out patron John Bede Polding.
There is no greater honour than to receive an award in the name of our Patron. Indeed, the thousands of young men and women who have passed through our College have gone into our world and made a demonstrable difference.
These awards are one of the most prestigious awards in the College. The following recipients have been nominated by their peers and staff, as people who demonstrate the legacy and qualities of John Bede Polding, as followers of Christ, through their daily interactions with peers, staff and guests in our community.
|
Year 7 Polding Award Recipients |
Tyler Carrigan |
Harrison Dabinett |
Chase Hutchings |
Anna Rijke |
Zara Willemsen |
|
Year 8 Polding Award Recipients |
Abigail Chapman |
Indigo Kenny |
Bradley Lovelace |
Travis Lyons |
Lucas Markoski |
|
Year 9 Polding Award Recipients |
Nadia Ahmad |
Rowan Hargrave |
Violet Querruel |
Max Tischler |
Gea Tuguinay |
|
Year 10 Polding Award Recipients |
Joshua Baffo |
Darine El Dirani |
Rachel Hay |
Eamon Kendall |
Ian Thorneywork |
|
Year 11 Polding Award Recipients |
Montana Beattie-Charles |
Brendan Bugeja |
Charlotte Cauchi |
Chelsie Jurd |
Gurisher Sekhon |
|
Year 12 Polding Award Recipients |
Ava Dirou |
Logan Korte |
Natalia Lupi |
Kurt Schaffarczyk |
Jack Soriano McKinnon |
|
Alumni Polding Award |
Aprille Lim (HSC Class of 2004) |
||||
|
Staff Polding Award |
Jenny Woods |
||||
Today we held our Polding Walk. This is a fundraising event for our school and our students have raised over $50,245. These funds are going directly to providing more shade around our beautiful school to further enhance our environment for students. Our dunk tank raised over $440 and these proceeds will be presented to local charities to support those in need in our community. The day was a huge success and students enjoyed the fashion parade, walkathon, BBQ, battle of the bands and of course the rides.
A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful school community for your generous support of our recent fundraising efforts during Polding Week. Your contributions—whether through time, donations, or encouragement—have made a real difference and reflect the spirit of unity and care that defines the Bede Polding College community.
We also extend sincere gratitude to our dedicated staff who worked tirelessly over many months to create a meaningful and memorable Mass and engaging activities for our students. Your creativity, planning, and commitment ensured that these events were not only enjoyable but also deeply enriching experiences for all involved.
These moments—of faith, celebration, and service—strengthen the bonds within our College and remind us of the powerful impact we can have when we work together. Thank you all.
Host Families Wanted – Cultural Exchange Opportunity!
We are seeking warm and welcoming families to host a group of Chinese students visiting
Bede Polding College (Rifle Range Road, South Windsor) from 28 July to 1August 2025. This is a fantastic chance to share Australian culture, build lasting friendships, and provide students with an unforgettable experience in Australia.
Program Details:
- Homestay Dates: 27 July – 2 August (6 nights)
- Student Age: 14–16 years
- Host Family Payment: Provided. Host families will receive financial assistance.Hosting Requirements:
- Must hold a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) clearance
- Treat students as part of the family and offer a caring home environment
- Provide one bed per student (maximum of 4 students per household)
- Prepare breakfast, dinner, and packed recess and lunch on school days
- Arrange transport to/from Bede Polding (either by drop-off/pick-up or with your own
children)
Interested in hosting?
Please contact:
Dr Bob Zhao (Principal, Huaxia Chinese School)
0410 630 357
huaxiapenrith@gmail.com
Let’s build bridges between cultures—your hospitality can make a lifelong difference!
Swimming between the digital flags: helping young Australians navigate social media’s dangerous currents
The relationship between social media and children’s mental health is one of the most important conversations of our time. That's why, from mid-December, the Australian Government will require certain social media services to take steps to prevent under 16s from having accounts.
This week, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant outlined how Australia plans to take this bold action forward, in a speech delivered at the National Press Club.
Here's what parents need to know right now:
- It’s not a ban, it’s a delay. We’re giving kids more time to build digital skills and resilience before facing the pressures of social media.
- The responsibility lies with the platform. There are no penalties for children or parents—only for platforms that fail to take reasonable steps to prevent under 16s from having accounts.
- You’re not alone. eSafety offers trusted resources for parents and carers, educators, young people and kids. We’ve got the flags, the swimming lessons, and the safety tips to help you support your kids. And our protective powers in areas such as cyberbullying and image-based abuse will still be there to help if things go wrong.
Australia is building a culture of online safety—just like we’ve done on our beaches. Because the internet, like the ocean, is not going away – and our kids are already dipping their toes in. To stay up to date on social media age restrictions, visit eSafety.gov.au.
God Bless,
Greg Malone
College Principal
Upcoming Dates
|
1 July |
Year 8 Subject Information Evening for Year 9 2026 (compulsory event) 6-7:30pm |
|
3 July |
Year 7 Incursion |
|
4 July |
Last day of Term 2 |
|
22 July |
Year 7-10 Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences |
|
23 July |
Term 3 commences for all students |
Attendance Data Update
A letter was emailed to all parents/carers in Week 6 and 7, Term 2, 2025 to provide an attendance update for the year-to-date. The information contained in the letter was not intended as a judgement, rather, as a piece of attendance information to this point in Term 2, 2025.
As has been previously outlined, every day of attendance at school and every minute in class adds to your child's chances of success and achievement. We would like to congratulate every student who has an attendance rate above 95%.
In terms of attendance requirements and what will set a student up for success, I wanted to re-share some important points.
100% Attendance
We would like to congratulate every student who has attended school every day so far in 2025. This is an outstanding achievement. These students have displayed perseverance and given themselves the best possible foundation for their learning for the remainder of 2025.
95% = College Goal
90% or higher
The College staff would like to congratulate those students with 90% or higher attendance. This is a good achievement, your child’s learning is being maximised by being present each day.
70% to 90% (= Emerging and Chronic Absence)
While we realise some absences are unavoidable we also know that when students miss too much school, no matter the reason, it can cause them to fall behind. The more absences your child has, the harder it is for them to catch up on missed work and stay connected to their school community.
Below 70% (= Complex Absence)
If your child’s percentage was less than 70% it should be noted that if this level of absence continues, it may negatively impact your child’s learning and social development and lead to poor attendance in the future. Students that miss too much school, no matter the reason, may cause them to fall behind. Please take this opportunity to work with your child to make improvements in the latter part of Term 2. If there is no significant improvement in attendance in Term 2 and 3, you and your child will be asked to attend a meeting with their Leader of Wellbeing and may be referred to the CSPD Attendance Team. It is important to note that we will check-in with families regarding any student experiencing extenuating circumstances this term. We thank the families who have children who fall into this category who have already responded and proactively engaged with the school already.
|
The year group attendance percentages as of 22/6/25 are: Year 7 - 93.4% Year 8 - 90.7% Year 9 - 90.5% Year 10 - 90.4% Year 11 - 91.4% Year 12 - 92.2% WHOLE SCHOOL 2025 = 91.3% (GOAL = 95%) WHOLE SCHOOL same time 2024 = 91.6% |
Dr Andrew Fuller
All College staff participated in a Staff Development Day on Friday 6th June. The purpose of the day was to continue to develop our teachers 'toolkit’, to improve the teaching and learning experience at BPC and support our young people to continue to grow and mature. There was a focus on the adolescent brain and understanding at what developmental stage our students are at so we can tailor our lessons to meet their needs.
To give you an insight into what took place, I have shared the Professional Learning overview below:
|
Overview of Staff Development Day 8:45am welcome and prayer 9am Session 1: The Learning Brain and The Ideal Lesson - Provides the latest research on neuroscience as it relates to learning outcomes. Teachers are equipped to utilise this knowledge in planning effective learning experiences that maximise academic results and learning outcomes. - Duration: 1.5 hours 10:30am MORNING TEA 11am Session 2: Powerful Ways to Improve Student Engagement and Behaviour - The aim of behaviour management is not for you to manage their behaviour but for students to manage their own behaviour. Teachers will be equipped to: * Increase skills in shifting their students along a continuum from attack to avoid to agitate to activate to approach to attach. * Apply mindset methods to assist anxious and avoidant students. * Apply stagecraft, anchoring and calming strategies to their classrooms. * Apply knowledge of neurochemistry as to engagement and behaviour * Group dynamics and how they relate to different issues at specific times of the year. - Duration: 1.5 hours. 12:30pm LUNCH 1:15pm Session 3: Staff Resilience and Wellbeing - Educators need a lot of energy to perform at their best. We also want our staff to be great role models about how to live wonderful lives. - Based on extensive research, this workshop helps people to increase their own wellbeing. - The main gains from the workshop are for people to: * Understand human energy, what increases it and how to use it best * Circadian and ultradian rhythms and how they impact on learning * Manage their time and energy and more effectively to minimise stress and worry. * Identify the most powerful ways of promoting personal well-being. - The staff wellbeing session includes: * a mood review, * switching off at the end of the day in order to rest and sleep better * using their kitchen to build the neurochemicals that underpin optimal functioning. * foods, strategies, and supplements to consider in increasing wellbeing * mitochondria and mental wellbeing. - Duration: 1.5 hours. 2:45pm Review, prayer and conclusion Day concluded 3pm |
Fair means everyone gets what THEY need to be successful
Fair vs Right - What’s the Difference? It is always a challenge to deal with over 1100 teenagers and manage their varying perspectives and maturity levels to determine what is fair vs what is right. Sometimes in life, things that feel fair aren’t always right, and things that are right don’t always feel fair. Here are some perspectives to think about.
Fair means everyone gets the same.
- It’s about equality.
- Example: If a teacher gives everyone in class the exact same amount of homework, that’s fair—everyone is treated equally.
Right means doing what is morally or ethically correct.
- It’s about justice and doing the good thing, even if it's not equal.
- Example: If one student has been dealing with a serious family issue and the teacher gives them less homework to support them, that might not feel “fair” to others, but it’s right because it shows compassion and understanding.
A Real-Life Example: Imagine you're on a team in PDHPE and one student gets extra time to rest because they have asthma.
- Is that fair? Not really - others don’t get the same break.
- Is it right? Yes - because it helps that player stay healthy and safe.
Bottom Line:
- Fair = equal treatment.
- Right = just, kind, and sometimes unequal for a good reason.
In life, it’s great to aim for fairness, but sometimes being right - and standing up for what’s good - is even more important.
I’ve attached a link to a great clip that is used to explain to young people the similarities and differences between ‘fair’ and ‘right’. LINK
BPC College Uniform & Presentation
CSPD Bullying of Students Prevention & Response
CSPD Student Attendance Procedures
CSPD Student Use of Digital Devices & Online Services Policy
Bede Polding College Merit System
Brendan Jansz
Director of Learning & Wellbeing
Year 7-10 Reports
Year 7-10 Reports will be published on Monday 30 June. These provide valuable feedback and information on your child’s progress in Semester 1. These reports will be accompanied by a letter on Compass that explains all of the key terms.
Year 7-10 Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences
Year 7-10 Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences will take place on Tuesday July 22 from 8.45 to 7.30 pm. This is a valuable opportunity to discuss your child’s learning progress and reports from Semester 1.
There will be a dedicated Zoom session in the middle of the day to allow more options for parents to attend.
Bookings for these conferences will close on Wednesday 2nd July at 5.00 pm
Year 9 2026 Elective Information and Selection
The Year 9 2026 Elective Information evening will take place on Tuesday July 1 from 6.00. All current Year 8 students are expected to attend. On the evening, students will receive the subject information handbook, and instructions about how to select their electives.
Year 11 Subject Selection
The selection portal for Year 11 Subjects for 2026 has now closed. In the coming weeks, students will be informed of the subject lines and which subjects may or may not be running in 2026. In Week 3 next term, all students will have the opportunity to meet with College leaders to discuss their selections and finalise the process.
Michael Milgate
Director of Learning and Curriculum
Peacemakers Youth Group
During Weeks 8 and 9, the BPC Peacemakers Youth Group gathered on Wednesdays at lunch in the MLC, welcoming all staff and students for engaging, faith-filled sessions. In Week 8, we marked the Solemnity of Pentecost with activities reflecting on the Holy Spirit’s presence and guidance in our lives. In Week 9, we explored the great mystery of the Most Holy Trinity through prayerful and creative reflection. This is an important opportunity for faith, fun, and fellowship as we relate the Gospel to our everyday lives. Thank you to those who came along. The Youth Group will return again in Term 3.
LIFTED Breakfast with the Bishop
On Thursday, the 12th of June, four students from the SRC proudly represented Bede Polding College at the annual LIFTED Breakfast with the Bishop held at West HQ, Rooty Hill. While Bishop Vincent was sadly unable to attend due to the recent passing of his mother Maria, the morning remained a meaningful occasion for student leaders from across the Parramatta Diocese to gather in faith and community. Please keep Bishop Vincent and his family in your prayers during this time of loss.
Chisholm Encounter Day
As part of the Chisholm FIAT Encounter Day, Mr McNally and Miss Samson visited Chisholm Catholic Primary School in South Windsor to share the mission of St Vincent de Paul and the Gospel call to serve those in need. Students were able to learn about the St Vincent De Paul Society, and their works to show love and compassion to those in need, highlighting the works of the ‘Vinnies Van’, which brings comfort, dignity, and hope to people experiencing homelessness, poverty, and in need of support.
With open hearts and generous hands, the Chisholm community donated snack packs, sandwiches, winter clothing, handmade cookies, fruit, and prayers, all of which will be distributed through the Vinnies Van. A sincere thank you to everyone at Chisholm for being the hands and heart of Christ through your kindness and support.
Encountering Jesus - New Curriculum
The Diocese of Parramatta has released a new RE curriculum titled ‘Encountering Jesus’. BPC has started to teach the new curriculum in Years 7 & 9 this year. We will then teach the new RE curriculum in Years 7-10 in 2026. The students in Year 7 this term have been exploring the question ‘What is Truth?’ and have been learning about how our Catholic Faith brings us closer to the Truth as Jesus says ‘I am the way, the truth and the life’ Jn 14:6’. Our Year 9 students have been exploring the question ‘If God is good, why is there evil in the world?’ looking at suffering and how we can understand the connection between God’s love and suffering in our lives. The death and resurrection of Jesus is a wonderful example of how we see God bringing goodness out of evil situations or situations when people suffer.Bligh Park Community Services
During every second Thursday, we have around ten Year 10 students volunteer at Bligh Park Community Services (BPCS). They help to unload, sort, pack and organise donations that BPCS receives. They help to get these ready for distribution on Friday morning for any people in our local community who are struggling. Unfortunately the donations are running low and members of our community who really need it are missing out. Therefore, we are asking if you could please donate any of the following items and leave it in a box that will be in the Student Foyer: - Pasta (including instant pasta sides like Alfredo, Mac & Cheese etc)
- Jar sauces or recipe bases (e.g. butter chicken, bolognese, simmer sauces)
- Rice
- Long-life milk
- 2-minute noodles
- Gravy
- Tinned goods (baked beans, spaghetti, vegetable soup)
- Cereal
- Microwave popcorn
- Chocolate, biscuits or other treats
- Pancake mix
- Spreads (vegemite, peanut butter, nutella, jam, honey)
- Jelly
- Tea, coffee, hot chocolate or milk additions.
They kindly ask that the donated items have no expiry earlier than September 2025.
Mr Joshua Rodricks-Testa (REC)
Director of Learning and Religious Education
Mr Michael Aure (Assistant REC)
Ms Therese Samson (FIAT Leader)
RE Leadership Team
Recently, I was chatting with a family about their experiences of home schooling during the Covid-19 lockdowns. We were remembering how difficult it was for many students, particularly those with disabilities and diverse learning needs. Yet together, we were able to draw up a rough list of the things that seemed to make learning from home easier. Our conversation seemed to move seamlessly into discussing what and why we haven’t maintained or kept doing, since the hard lockdowns of the Covid-19 pandemic. As a parent of high-school aged children at the time, I’m well aware of the demands parents were faced with, especially when working from home. We were forced, by necessity, to at least try to implement some strategies to assist our children in connecting school with home, while school was at home. Whilst, thankfully, students returned to schools, and we seem to have mostly recovered from what is sometimes referred to as the Covid-19 hangover, there are a few salient points that we were encouraged to adopt during home-schooling, that could really help our kids out, and perhaps we haven’t maintained them. Here are some things that helped students with their learning at home, that perhaps could be revised and re-applied today:
- Set up a learning space - Create an area in the house for your child to be able to focus on learning/assessments/homework/study routines. There are no clear guidelines on what a learning area should look like. In fact schools have found creating learning areas or spaces to be a challenge. This is because every child has individual ways of learning, so what works for one may not work for another. But having one is key!
-
Think about the technology you’ll need - Students are well-equipped in a BYOD school system, so considerations in a post-covid-lockdown would be best to focus on the Learning Management system - Canvas. Locate information about the Bede Polding College Parent Apps here.
-
Create a structure - while schools live and breathe by bells and timetables, sometimes it is not that easy at home, with busy families. However, having structured routines that factor in some time for students to complete homework and assessments, provides predictable routines. Try publishing your home routines on a weekly calendar, white board, or fridge board, and see what a difference it makes to routines and student organisation at home.
-
Get to know what your child should know - unlike learning from home, this doesn’t necessarily mean trying to learn Stage 4 Maths quadratic equations again (phew!) But it does mean that parents who are well informed about the 2025 Assessment Schedule, get regular Compass updates, check and sign their child’s diary at the end of each week, and check emails regularly, are far more likely to be in a position to support their child and help them to be successful in increasingly mature and adult ways, and by consequence set them up for success in the future.
For additional reading on this topic, I suggest Children with autism may use memory differently. Understanding this could help us teach them. If you would like further information or support on how to meet your child’s educational needs, please contact your child’s Inclusion Leader or G.E.M. mentor.
Angela McEnearney
Director of Learning & Inclusion
School Fees General Information
CSPD is sending out Instalment 2 Statements. If you would like to set up an arrangement for the whole year please choose one of the options provided and notify the College via email bede-wndsfees@parra.catholic.edu.au
School fees can still be paid for in cash at your local post office. These post BillPay details are noted on your school fee statements.
Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta (CEDP) has a policy in place which states that a Term's notice (10 weeks) must be given in writing to the Principal before the removal of a student. Failure to do this means that the full 10 weeks’ fees will be payable. A Leaver's form can be collected from the front office and completed for each departing student.
Further information regarding school fees can be found here.
bede-wndsfees@parra.catholic.edu.au
Parking around the College
Hawkesbury City Council (HCC) Rangers have recently conducted inspections around the College and neighbouring streets, distributing flyers and reminding motorists and residents about parking regulations.
As a result, we anticipate that HCC will begin issuing parking infringements to those who fail to comply. Parents are reminded that it is illegal to park across/in driveways, even if waiting in their car to collect students, and residents have the right to local authorities contacted regarding violations.
Students have also been reminded of their responsibilities when parking and driving near/around the College, including not moving waste bins to create parking spaces and always being courteous and respectful to our neighbors.
Sean McNally
Business Manager
Northwest Equestrian Expo
Makynli Holt and Maya Sarkis recently represented Bede Polding College at the Northwest Equestrian Expo in Coonabarabran. With over 400 horses and riders at the event, which was held over 5 days, the girls had incredible results!
Makynli:
Reserve Champion Combined Training 65cm
3rd and 8th in Preliminary Dressage
4th overall Working Horse
5th in Key Hole
Reserve Champion Hunter Hack
1st Best Junior Mount
Overall Girl Age Champion
Maya:
Champion Combined Training 80cm
Reserve Champion Hunter Hack
Together they achieved:
4th in Pairs
4th in Team of 4
Team Barrels
With Bede Polding winning: Best Presented Small School
The CMAA Academy Of Country Music
Junior Class of 2025
LACHLAN CWOJDZINSKI
Lachlan (year 11) has been selected to attend The CMAA in Tamworth (Country Music Academy) in the July school holidays. This is a fantastic personal achievement for Lachlan, he applied in February after performing at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, he was selected in May.
Lachlan was raised listening to country music and now has a passion for playing guitar and singing. He’s been playing guitar since he was 8 and started singing just over a year ago.
As we reach the end of Term 2, it’s wonderful to reflect on the growth and enthusiasm of our Year 7 students as they continue to settle into high school life at Bede Polding College.
This term has seen Year 7 really come into their own—developing friendships, routines, and a greater sense of belonging within our College community. Classrooms have been buzzing with energy, with students engaging in exciting lessons across all subjects. From creative writing pieces in English to hands-on experiments in Science and dynamic group work in History and Geography, our students have shown curiosity and a strong willingness to learn.
One of the highlights of the term has been the build-up to The Polding Walk and Bede Polding Week. Students are excitedly preparing for the events, which are a special celebration of our College’s identity and patron. The Polding Walk, in particular, is a favourite among students, giving them a chance to come together in community spirit and show support for the College.
Outside of the classroom, many Year 7 students have embraced the opportunity to participate in a wide range of extra-curricular activities. The Agriculture Club continues to grow in popularity, with students enjoying hands-on learning experiences while caring for the animals and gardens. Our Debating Team has shown excellent critical thinking and teamwork, while students in the Eco Group are taking real initiative in promoting sustainability around the school. The Chess Club is also thriving, offering students a space to challenge themselves and sharpen their minds in a fun and inclusive environment.
A special moment this term was the presentation of the Bede Polding Awards. These awards are a significant part of our College culture, recognising students who exemplify the values of our patron: compassion, justice, and commitment to learning. For Year 7, this was an important milestone as they witnessed, many for the first time, how excellence in character and service is celebrated at Bede Polding College. These awards not only honour individual achievements but also set a meaningful example for all students about the kind of community we strive to be. Our recipients are Tyler Carrigan, Harrison Dabinett, Chase Hutchings, Anna Rijke and Zara Willemsen. We are so proud of these students.
As Term 2 comes to a close, we are proud of the way Year 7 has embraced high school life—with joy, dedication and a growing sense of purpose. We look forward to what Term 3 will bring as we continue to support and celebrate each student on their journey.
Miss Morgan Wearne
Leader of Wellbeing Year 7
The Digital Technology Specialists are working on a range of different projects to enhance their skills for special interest projects as designers of tomorrow. The group ranges from students in years 7 - 10 that come together every Thursday B at recess for a chat about digital technology and design. For those students that have registered with Mrs Baker they can attend a Sport time session where they can work on bigger projects, including internal and external competitions. Currently we have 2 groups of year 10 students that are working on submissions for the CSPD STEM - MaD showcase that are being presented in Term 3 at CathWest. There are also other students that have interest in 3D modeling softwares and printing capabilities, they are working together to improve their own design knowledge and creative solutions to projects. The TAS Department will also be running the annual competition iDesign for the duration of term 3, students who enter this extra-curricular school based competition are strongly encouraged to reach out for support with their projects. More details to come about the 2025 iDesign competition soon.
Mrs Baker
TAS Teacher Design and Digital Technologies
This term our year 7 students have been studying the topic Forces, part of which included studying the forces acting on a paper aeroplane.
Year 8 studied the topics Energy and Physical and Chemical Change, whilst year 9 is studying the topic Disease. Year 10 studied Non-contact Forces and Newton’s Laws of Motion.
In the disease topic, year 9 students attempted to maintain homeostasis in a cup called Homer (hence the name of the activity, Homer-o-stasis) by adding electrolytes and hot or cold water to keep him at the right temperature, fluid level and concentration of electrolytes.
Our senior classes have performed a variety of experiments, field trips and practical lessons, Including:
- 11 Earth and Environmental Science - overnight field trip to the Blue Mountains
- 11 Physics - investigating electricity
- 11 Biology Dissection
- 11 Chemistry chemical dilutions
- 12 Earth and Environmental Science - three day field trip to the Central West
- 12 Science Extension - setting up research projects
- 12 Biology Microbiology
Steven Lans
Leader of Learning Science
This term, our PDHPE students have been engaged in some excellent learning activities, across all year groups. Junior classes have been learning about Mental Health Topics (including R U OK Day) and the relationship between nutrition, the body and physical performance. In practical lessons, they have been refining skills in ‘kicking’ and ‘hitting’ (AFL, soccer, softball, tennis, table tennis, volleyball) plus many small, sided games to develop these skills.
Our Stage 5 PDHPE students have been learning about food and nutrition, specifically, how our bodies obtain energy via food choices and how to read food labels. Year 10 have begun looking towards their future by investigating how to search for a job advertisement, the purpose of resumes, cover letters, preparing for a job interview and how taxation works in the workforce. In practical lessons, Year 9 have undertaken activities associated with ‘run and jump’ skills, including some fitness testing and Year 10 have been catching, passing and throwing, refining their skills in those areas.
Specifically in Year 9 Child Studies, the class has been learning about preparations and adaptations in pregnancy and newborns. For their second assessment task, they were to care for a chicken egg as if it were their very own newborn. The experience aimed to model the challenges and area of personal responsibility/growth that a newborn parent may experience. Some individuals organised play dates with their fellow ‘class mums’ and some even had to organise babysitters for their egg babies, while they completed a shift at work. Some images are below:
Our senior courses have been hard at work this term also. Year 11 HMS and SLR have completed their Senior First Aid Certificates. This is a huge achievement, being that it’s a nationally recognised qualification, they are now more attractive to prospective employers but above all, they join a group within our community who know how to provide immediate care and potentially save lives. Thanks to Mr Sluiter, Mrs Bickford, Mr Marshall and Mr Bertenshaw for joining us on the day.
ACU ‘BEST’ Excursion - Layla Donnelley (Yr 11 HMS)
On the 2nd of May, 11 Health and Movement Science visited the BEST centre (Blacktown Exercise and Sport Technology hub) to assist us in our collaborative Investigation assessment task. Together, our classes took part in various tests such as reaction time tests, lactate tests and wingate tests. We also got to hear demonstrations led by a Professor on the new high technology kinematics showing the evolution of testing in sport. Year 11 also got the opportunity to see the rehabilitation facilities used for recovering athletes and opened eyes to new possibilities in the future after school. Thank you to Mr Sluiter, Mr Marshall, Mr Jansz and Miss Finch for organising and attending the event with us.
Finally, our Year 12 PDHPE and CAFS students have also been very busy getting through their course content and developing habits to set themselves up for success in Year 12. The finish line is fast approaching and we encourage them to continue their focus and commitment as they wrap up their final assessments before their trials!
Marc Sluiter - Leader of Learning PDHPE
Sarah Bickford - Assistant Leader of Learning PDHPE
BPC Cross Country Success at PDSSSC!
We’re proud to announce that the following students have made it through to the next round of the PDSSSC Cross Country:
Chelsea C – 2nd Place
Isla P – 5th Place
Luke B – 6th Place
Bella C – 6th Place
A huge shoutout also to:
Darcy B – 9th Place
Vincent S – 10th Place
Fantastic effort by all our runners – your determination and hard work paid off!
Week 5 Netball results
Juniors defeated St Luke's 62-0
Inters defeated St Luke's 42-1
Week 6 Netball results
Juniors defeated St Columbas 48-6.
Inters were defeated by St Columbas 27-22.
Congratulations to our teams.
PDSSSC - Inter Girls Soccer
The girls defeated Caroline Chisholm 5-1.
Jezebel 2 goals
Olivia Saliba 1 goal
Darine El Darini 1 goal
Xoey Pascoe Butterworth 1 goal
Jnrs - Loss Vs Penola 22-6
Inters - Win Vs Penola 14-12
A close opening round of the season versing Penola. The juniors competed but costly turnovers hurt their result.
The inters played well holding the ball in critical moments and digging deep to get a hard fought win.
Round 2 Rugby League Results
Jnrs - Win vs Marian 30-10
Inters - BYE
The juniors had their first win of the season against Marian completing their sets to a much higher level. Great games from Tom Tabet and Callum Sammut led the team to victory. Harrison Moulton (captain) put the icing on cake with a great sideline conversion.
Round 3 Rugby League Results
Both VS st pats Marist
Juniors won 24-10
Inters won 26-6
Another great round for the Bede rugby league program. With both teams having injuries to a number of players, the sides were short staffed but fought hard for victories. Early mistakes invited the opposition into the games but the boys were able to earn the right to win and prevail. Man of the matches to Cade Smith and Sitani Ikamui.
Round 4 Rugby League Results
Both vs st Columba’s
Juniors loss 18-16
Inters win 22-10
A beautiful afternoon for rugby league saw both sides play great tough games. The juniors had a slow start but came home with a flurry. Unfortunately they ran out of time and just fell short.
The inters followed suit and found themselves down 6 in early. But a quick reset and back into their game plan saw them stretch out to a good lead. Off the back fence running from Leo Farrugia, great shape and direction from the two halves (Hunter S and Charlie T) and solid defence from Sam Place, Sete Manu and Sitani Ikamui got the team home with a dominant win.
Panther Trophy Success
On Tuesday 3rd of June, our Under 13 and 15 boys Rugby League sides attended the Panther Trophy Gala day at Whalan reserve.
Our Under 13s played brilliantly throughout the day, winning all 4 of their pool games before going down in the semi final 38-0 against Chifley College Dunheved. With most of the team being in year 7, this was the boys' first opportunity to play Rugby League for the College, and we are confident they will have many great games in the future.
Our Under 15s were small in stature, but big in effort and skill, winning 2 out of 3 pool games. Thankfully, this was enough to get them into the semi-final where they beat Kingswood High 10-8. This led them to the Grand Final playing against Riverstone High. After a couple of outstanding solo runs from Joel Galea and Cody Bird, and fantastic goal-line defence, the boys dug deep and carved out a 16-0 win. This awarded them the Panther Trophy and will now see them progress to the Western Sydney City Cup at the end of July.
Aaron Campbell, Adrian Chapman and Belinda Pickert
2025 Cochrane Cup
On Wednesday, the 18th of June, our Senior Boys Rugby League team attended the 2025 Cochrane Cup at North Parramatta. The boys were excited to pull on the Bede jersey once again and ran out with plenty of gusto.
First up was MCHF, who were a bigger opponent, but the team was able to come away with a 10-6 victory. Strong running from Blake.V in the middle and desperate defence from Jesse.H at the back were crucial in this tight contest.
Next was a formidable opponent of Gilroy College, and the boys came away with a 10–6 win with a try on the buzzer. A short side raid from Kye.P, Noah.B and Harry.L led to a beautiful game-winning try in the dying seconds.
This got the boys into the final against MCHF once again, where they quickly got out to a 6-nil lead. Thanks to some tough goal-line defence, the team was able to hold on and come away with a 6-4 win.
The boys advance to play in the Sydney City Cup later in July.
Aaron Campbell and Belinda Pickert
If you would like to share your career journey with our current students, by speaking at our next Careers Breakfast, please email Margaret Dawson: mdawson2@parra.catholic.edu.au
Would you like to share your career journey with our community? We'd love to hear from you!
https://forms.gle/vdGNWehtapf7ETLs8
Follow our BPC Pathways Instagram page for more information and updates in regards to post-school Pathways and Partnership opportunities: https://www.instagram.com/bpcpathways/
Parent Line NSW
Parent Line NSW is a free telephone counselling, support and referral service for parents and carers with children aged 0 to 18 who live in New South Wales. Parent Line is also an information service for professionals working with children and families.
- Child and adolescent mental health
- Friendship issues and bullying
- Social media and increased screentime
- Anxiety in children
- Child and behaviour development
- Managing stress and anxiety
- Support during family separation
- School transitions
- Family violence.
Call Health Direct campaign – campaign resources found here
NSW Health is pleased to share with you the new call health direct Campaign toolkit. The campaign aims to promote the health direct number as the first step to access health advice, care and treatment for non-life threatening conditions. When you call health direct, you’ll speak to a registered nurse who will help you get the care you need. They can find you a nearby doctor, pharmacist, urgent care service, or even connect you to specialist virtual care. We’re encouraging people to save this number, 1800 022 222, for free, easy access to health advice and care whenever they need it.
The key links are:
- For more information about health direct: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Hospitals/Pages/healthdirect.aspx
- Campaign launch Ministerial media release: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/20250521_01.aspx
Vaccination education campaign – campaign resources found here
NSW Health is pleased to share with you the 2025 Vaccination Campaign toolkit. This campaign aims to raise awareness, support and encourage proactive information-seeking so individuals can make informed decisions about immunisation. These materials are evergreen and can be used throughout winter and beyond.
The key links are:
- For more information about vaccinations: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/vaccinationinfo
- Translated information about vaccinations: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/vaccinationinfo#translations
2025 Influenza Vaccination campaign – campaign resources found here
NSW Health is pleased to share with you the 2025 Influenza Vaccination Campaign toolkit. This campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of flu vaccination during winter, to help increase uptake of the flu vaccine among all of the population in NSW, particularly at-risk audiences. The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and over and offers the best protection from getting really sick.
The key links are:
- Book a flu vaccine: www.healthdirect.gov.au/nswfluvaccine
- For more information about influenza: www.health.nsw.gov.au/flu
- For more information about respiratory illness: www.health.nsw.gov.au/respiratory
2025 Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) campaign – campaign resources found here
NSW Health is pleased to share with you the 2025 Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Campaign toolkit. This campaign, which runs until the end of winter, includes budget-friendly and accessible ways for families to:
Eat healthily – tips to eat healthily and drink water, including free low-cost winter recipes and lunchbox ideas
Get active – ideas and tips to help you stay active during winter such as at-home exercises or connecting with nature
Support – free programs to help you and your family keep up healthy habits.
The key links are:
- NSW Healthy Eating Active Living website: Healthy Eating Active Living - Getting healthy starts with small steps
Thank you for your ongoing support to help protect the NSW community.
Absence Explanation in Compass
Parents/Carers are to note that all absences for a student must be explained within 7 days or they legally are required to remain as Absent Unjustified. This may have an impact on some students and families accessing Government support payments and tertiary enrolments (if the training provider requires attendance data as part of the enrolment process).
Attendance leaving early:
To add a note on Compass: Please click below Compass Education Guide.
To add a note or approval, select one or more of the absences listed, then select the "Explain with Note/Approval" button. Parents have a modified list of the options that the school has when adding a Note/Approval. Please click on Compass Education Guide to our website for a guide.
Extended Leave
Please click here to go to our website for leave forms.
Family details
If your family’s details change, it is important that you contact the office to get a student details form, so that our system reflects your contact information accurately.
Or or alternatively you can edit them in Compass.
Please see attached letter detailing select bus service changes that will directly impact students attending your school commencing Monday 30th June 2025.
NEW Busways timetable attached that comes into effect Monday 30 June 2025.
|
|
Please click on Opal card to Transport NSW
Please click on link to Replace a OPAL card
