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- Principal's Report
- Year 7 2026 Enrolment Applications
- Assistant Principal's Report
- Religious Education Report
- Director of Learning and Curriculum Report
- Director of Learning & Wellbeing
- Business Manager's Report
- SRC News
- Sports Report - Swimming Carnival
- 2025 eSafety Webinars
- News from Year 7
- Year 8 Report
- Pathways and Partnership News
- Library News
- Free Pathways Webinar for Parents of Primary Students
- Wellbeing
- Attendance
- Parent App Summary - Compass, Canvas and QKR Apps
- BYOD
- Opal Card
- Teaching Staff List and Emails
- Uniform Shop
- Canteen Menu
- Busways
- School Zones & Parking Rules
Dear Parents and Families,
The first three weeks of the school year have gone by so quickly - students are settled in their classes, Year 7 now know their way around most of the school, we’ve held our Opening College Mass and inducted our new SRC. I am proud to say that we are fully staffed, meaning all classes have qualified expert teachers who are passionate about helping each young adult to grow in their learning. I am grateful for their presence in our school and value the time and effort they apply to their vocation. We are blessed at Bede Polding to have the very best of students, teachers and families.
Top Tips to Start the Year
Forming good habits at the start of the school year can help students to feel settled and confident about managing their day. Here are 5 quick and easy tips to help set good habits in 2025.
- Get a good night’s sleep. Teenagers need 8-10 hours per night. Source
- Arrive on time and prepared for the day. Being late or unprepared doesn’t feel good.
- Charge your laptop overnight. Like our brain, the laptop also needs to recharge.
- Give all tasks your best effort. If you try your best, you’ll never let anyone down, yourself included.
Our Shared Focus for 2025
The College Executive has analysed a range of data and developed a very clear School Improvement Agenda for 2025.
- To implement the new Religious Education Curriculum, Encountering Jesus. We will also continue our work with the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium to refine our approach to evangelisation and ensure that we respond to the Pope’s call to engage in dialogue with all people.
- To apply explicit teaching as a core pedagogical approach. All KLAs have plans to improve the writing skills for all students. In Mathematics we will continue our involvement in the Leading Excellence in Mathematics Program.
- To improve students’ sense of belonging at Bede Polding College through improving pro-social behaviours to support learning. The teachers will also track and monitor attendance.
Whilst these are our three main areas of focus throughout the year, you will also notice that we will continue our efforts to work closely with you, our families, so the partnerships we have are genuine and support the young people at the College. Hopefully many of you will be able to join us throughout the year at a range of events.
GEM Changes
This year, GEM is occurring at the beginning of the day. The focus is on student wellbeing, whilst ensuring consistent and fair standards for all students. This gives students an opportunity to connect with their peers, learn about their wellbeing and read important daily announcements. We are also placing a focus on diary use so that students can learn to manage their time and responsibilities well. Expect your child to show you their diary regularly so that you are aware of what is happening in their day.
BPC Connect
The first BPC Connect meeting for 2025 was held on Tuesday night, and we had a great group of parents attend along with special guests, Mrs Susan Templeman, Federal MP for Macquarie, and Mrs Liz Scully from CSPD. Parents were able to talk to Mr Sullivan, Assistant Principal, Mr Sean McNally, Business Manager, and myself about a range of topics, and we had a tour of the recently completed Good Samaritan Learning Centre. The next BPC Connect meeting will be held 13 May, 6-7pm. All parents are welcome and I look forward to meeting MANY more parents at the event.
God bless.
Greg Malone
HSC High Achievers' Assembly
Last Wednesday, we welcomed back to Bede Polding those students from the Year 12 Class of 2024 who achieved outstanding results in the Higher School Certificate.
We acknowledged a large number of students:
- Those who received Band 6 results in a range of courses
- Those who were nominated for exhibitions for the major works associated with their HSC courses.
- Those who placed in the state in their courses
- Those who achieved ATARs over 90
- Those who received scholarships for Teaching degrees
And of course, we celebrated our Dux, Mikaylah Dimech, who achieved an ATAR of 98.25.
At our High Achievers' Assembly, we invited Mikaylah to offer her reflections to our community and I would like to share her speech with you below:
Good morning, Mr Malone, Teachers, Students and Special Guests.
My name is Mikaylah Dimech, and it is a privilege to be here today to celebrate the achievements of the class of 2024. I am proud to represent such a vibrant class who have demonstrated hard work and dedication throughout our six years of school.
I would like to begin by welcoming Year 7 into the Bede community. I hope that, with the support of Miss Wearne, you’ve settled in and have enjoyed your first few weeks here. However, with any new beginning comes nerves and uncertainty; trust me, we are going through it all over again starting university this year. But if there’s one thing that allows us to stand here today reassured for this new chapter, it’s the lessons we’ve learned over our time at this college. Having graduated 141 days ago, one of the key takeaways I’ve come to value is that school teaches us in many ways beyond the classroom. To those of you in Years 7 to 10, make the most of the everyday moments and the opportunities ahead. We often overlook how the friends we make, the challenges we overcome, and the confidence we build along the way, are just as valuable — if not more so — than academics alone.
To this year’s senior students, while it is important to make the most of your time left here at Bede, now is the perfect time to start working towards your goals for prelims and the HSC. Doing so will give you plenty of time to figure out what works best for you before exams come around. What I found helpful was staying consistent with my study notes throughout the year. This allowed me to find gaps in my knowledge early and approach revision with greater confidence and focus. I also always tried to expand my vocabulary by exposing myself to band 6 example responses. Adapting to this language can help you sound confident and is versatile in making your work stand out across all your subjects. Ultimately, your teachers are your greatest resource; use their feedback as a tool to rewrite, improve and resubmit your work. The more effort you put in, the more you will improve; it is all about having dedication, applying feedback and showing consistency.
On that note, I would like to acknowledge those who invested their time and effort to make these collective achievements possible. To our teachers, thank you for your unwavering support and guidance. I feel grateful to have learned from so many of you, particularly Mr Kneller, Mrs Abbotts, Mr Lazaroo, Mr Rodricks-Testa, Mrs Kennedy and Mrs Clark during the HSC. Thank you for demonstrating both dedication and patience throughout the year. I’m grateful for the lenience and trust you had in me as an independent learner.
I would also like to thank our Leaders of Wellbeing, Mr Campbell and Miss Wearne, for the understanding and interest you showed in the wellbeing of year 12 throughout a challenging and stressful year.
To my parents, there was never a day you pressured me to study, instead, as the first high school graduate in our family, you have shown me that true success comes from both believing in myself and working hard to achieve my goals. To my sister Jaylah and brother Michael here today, thank you for being a constant source of encouragement and support. I’ve set the bar pretty high for Mum and Dad, but I know you are both capable and up for any challenge. Just remember, I'm always a few doors down if you ever need any help.
As my speech comes to a close, I want to remind you that achievements don’t look the same for everyone and that being Dux is just one of many different accomplishments you can achieve from your time at Bede. Our school does a great job in recognising this and acknowledging the premise of success in its many facets, whether it’s academic achievements, leadership roles, sports teams, or simply being an active part of the school community.
Above all, the most invaluable asset you can gain from your time at Bede are the friendships, lifelong skills, and personal values you find along the way. These will stay with you and form the foundation for the bright future each of you have the potential to achieve.
The little things matter!
Every year I stand before the parents of our incoming students and unapologetically talk about our rules and guidelines. We clearly state they are relatively conservative in nature, and parent/carer support is essential. All too often the school is called upon by parents/carers to be the source of discipline or structure for our students. If I had a dollar for everytime a parent responded to the school with “I told them the school wouldn’t allow it", I would be a wealthy individual. A parent/carer's proactive support in these matters is appreciated.
If for some reason a student does not want to follow our rules in regards to uniform and presentation, we will not be offended if they choose to continue their education at another school.
Attendance
Student attendance percentages in 2024 increased slightly from previous years. However, our students on average still are absent one day per fortnight. There aren’t too many workplaces that would be comfortable with their employees taking off one day per fortnight!
Punctuality is also a concern, with senior students in particular arriving late with a McDonald’s coffee in hand. It is all about organisation and priorities.
Shaving
If your son arrives at school unshaven, they will be directed to the Student Foyer and given some shaving cream and a new razor to have a shave. If you are concerned about your child being asked to shave at school, please proactively address the matter at home prior to it being an issue. Students are spoken to regularly about this matter and always given warnings both as individuals and within their cohort Wellbeing meetings. Our boys are making it a habit in particular in regards to grow the hair on their top lip (i.e. moustache).
If your son has skin sensitivities, please liaise with your GP and ensure an alternative plan is implemented (e.g. electric shaver, specialised razer, etc).
Piercings
Facial piercings, in particular nose rings, are increasing in popularity with both boys and girls. Please note that facial piercings are not permitted under any circumstances. From this point on, facial piercings and additional ear piercings will be addressed like mobile phones, and they will be handed ot the front office (sealed in an envelope) and confiscated for the remainder of the day.
‘Clears’ (clear piercings) are not permitted at school.
If a student does not comply with these rules, they will need to be collected by a parent/guardian and not able to return until the matter is resolved.
Tattoos
Tattoos are becoming increasingly prevalent in teenagers. Teenagers under the age of 18 legally require parent consent.
Sneakers are not school shoes!
Most school shoe brands (e.g. Clarkes) offer a variety of widths and comfort levels that can’t be matched by other types of shoes. They can be customised with orthotics easily and are durable and long lasting.They are also considerably cheaper in most instances ($100-$160) than sneakers such as Nike Air Force (RRP $170).
There has been an increase in 2025 of students attending school in black sneakers/runners (e.g. Black Nike Air Force or Air Max). Sneakers/runners are not school shoes at Bede Polding College. This rule has been in place since BPC’s inception and it has never changed. If a student has special orthotic needs, we encourage you to speak to a podiatrist and make arrangements to wear the appropriate school shoes with orthotic inserts to ensure their health needs are met.
Sneakers are not to be worn to school on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday. It is also strongly suggested they are not worn on Thursday (sport day), due to the fact they are not appropriate for most sports. Some Clarks school shoes come with full leather outer and sports mesh lining with extra padding (more than Nike Air Force Max), are more durable, last longer and cheaper.
Assistant Principal
David Sullivan
On Friday February 7th, we celebrated our Opening College Mass as a whole school community in the Good Samaritan Hall. We were blessed to have Fr Raning from St Matthew’s Windsor come to celebrate the Mass with us and deliver a pertinent homily on the Parable of the Sower, encouraging the students’ receptibility to learning to be like the fertile soil.
After communion, we inducted our new SRC members from Year 8 - 11, 2025.
Fr Raning then blessed the Year 7 2025 candle and, as a whole College community, we blessed and welcomed our new Year 7 students.
At the conclusion of the Mass, our Year 12 students formed a guard of honour for our Year 7 students as they processed out of the Good Samaritan Hall to our College song.
We would like to thank the many staff and students who helped make the Opening College Mass a very fitting way to start the school year.
New Religious Education Syllabus - Encountering Jesus
This year, we will be implementing the new CSPD Religious Education syllabus, “Encountering Jesus” to our Year 7 and Year 9 classes. Next year, we will rollover to also implement it with Year 8 and Year 10.
The following is a quote from Bishop Vincent’s endorsement of the new syllabus:
“Encountering Jesus” speaks of “the hope that is within,” with a focus on educating the head, heart, and hands to engage with Jesus Christ’s radical teaching. With Pope Francis and the whole Diocesan community, we strive to ensure that every young person experiences a joyful, blessed, transformational, and transcendent education.
“Encountering Jesus” inspires conversation and learning among students of diverse cultural and faith backgrounds, helping them grow in faith and freeing them to live their lives in service of others.
School Improvement Plan Mission Goal
Our 2025 School Improvement Plan Mission Goal is to:
Improve students’ understanding of the Catholic approach to engaging with Scripture with the new curriculum ‘Encountering Jesus.’
Therefore, throughout the year, there will be an extra emphasis on practising the skill of analysing scripture through a hermeneutical lens in our Religious Education classes. We will also endeavour to expose students to more scripture through various school events.
Jubilee Year 2025
Pope Francis has declared that 2025 is a Jubilee year.
A Jubilee year is held every 25 years and is focused on dedicating more time for prayer, pilgrimage and conversion.
The theme for this year is “Pilgrims of Hope.”
For more information, see https://parracatholic.org/jubilee2025/
Lent
This year, Lent begins on Term 1, Week 5, Wednesday 5th of March.
The Lenten season will commence with Ash Wednesday which is where we, as a Catholic community, will have ashes marked on our foreheads with the sign of the cross, reminding us of our human mortality and calling us to repentance and humility.
On Ash Wednesday, no meat will be served at our school canteen to correlate with our Catholic observance to fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday.
Shrove Tuesday - 4th March
Prior to Ash Wednesday, we celebrate Shrove or Pancake Tuesday. It was custom that Catholics would use up as many food ingredients that were traditionally forbidden to consume in the lead up to Holy Week and Easter. This year, our college will be selling Pancake muffins on that day. The reason for this slight variation is to help with the cooking and to be able to cater for more students wishing to purchase them and support the cause. Whilst this is not the traditional flat pancakes, it still reflects the meaning behind Shrove Tuesday which is to consume or indulge in ingredients which could be sacrificed during Lent. The proceeds raised will be donated to Project Compassion. Parents may pre-purchase pancake muffins via the QKR App up until Week 4, Thursday 27th of February, 12pm. Otherwise, students may purchase tokens via the EFTPOS machines going around during lunchtimes in Week 4 and Week 5 Monday 3rd of March.
SRE volunteers needed please
We have been blessed to have approximately 20 Year 10 students volunteer to do scripture teaching this year.
Every Tuesday afternoon, two groups of 3 scripture teachers will teach Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 students at Windsor Park Public School.
If you are free from 1:30pm to 2:40pm on Tuesday afternoons and would like to help drive and supervise the students, please let me know via email on maure@parra.catholic.edu.au
You do not need to go every Tuesday afternoon, as a roster will be created, so you may only be needed twice or at most thrice a term.
Olivia Brown and Georgia Denham preparing to teach the Year 2 students last year about the Holy Spirit.
Mr Michael Aure
Acting Director of Learning and Religious Education
On Wednesday, 12th of February, we celebrated the achievements of our Year 12 2024 HSC students. As a college community, we were extremely proud of our HSC students and their results, but the common message that we heard from the Year 12 students and their teachers was that the results they have achieved in Year 12 are not just the result of 12 months of hard work, or exemplary performance in a single exam, but the culmination of years of hard work.
As a community, we encourage all of our students to begin the school year by setting learning goals to allow them to achieve success. The great college basketball coach, John Wooden defines success as “peace of mind that is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.” How do we know that we have succeeded? To Wooden, despite winning countless titles, he believes winning is irrelevant. Having attempted to give our all is all that matters and we are the only ones who know the truth about our own capabilities and performance.
What success looks like to each individual student varies, but that success is built on the back of being organised, and working hard to improve just a little each day.
Year 11 and 12 students have been issued with their Preliminary and HSC Assessment Handbooks. Year 7-10 will be issued these Assessment Handbooks in the coming days. These handbooks are the foundation of students developing their organisation, and planning for the year ahead.
The handbooks outline the dates of all formal assessment, and the rules and procedures for absences during assessment.
The underlying principal of these rules is that students should aim to do their best at all times, be present for all assessments and attend school as regularly as possible. These are the building blocks of success.
If a student is absent during assessment or having difficulty with it, they should always communicate with their teachers and complete the appropriate documentation through the Canvas Wellbeing pages.
Beyond these formal assessments, students need to be conscious of the fact that everything they do, everyday, is an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills to their teachers, and teachers use all of this informal data to determine Semester assessment grades along with those formal assessments.
We look forward to working with all students to help them improve just that little bit each day, and helping them achieve whatever it is that they believe to be success.
Michael Milgate
Director of Learning and Curriculum
Student Wellbeing Links and Policies
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
OPAL Cards
Some of our buses are very close to maximum capacity.
What can you do about it?
It's essential for all school students to travel with a valid school travel pass. If you are using a School Opal card, you must tap on and tap off every time when using public transport to travel to and from school. This allows the bus company to better understand customer travel patterns and adjust the services provided if necessary.
How can you get a new Opal pass?
https://transportnsw.info/school-travel-apply
School Fees General Information
CSPD sent out statements on 17 February 2025, please note that Installment 1 is due 19 March 2025. 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 Rules
Hawkesbury City Council (HCC) reached out early this year and have provided the flyer below as a Community Service Announcement. HCC Rangers will be patrolling in and around the College and if they believe a vehicle does not comply they will leave this flyer as a warning for the owner/driver. Should they return several days later and find the same vehicle breaching the rules as per the flyer they will then be issued an infringement notice.
Sean McNally
Business Manager
The Swimming Carnival was a fantastic day full of energy and school spirit. Everyone gave their best in the races, and the support from the crowd made it even more exciting. It was a great mix of friendly competition, fun, and teamwork. There was heaps of colour on the day and the Valentine Hearts were a big success.
The Lizard Lane was constantly full, with many kids making their way up the full length of the pool 10 times on the day!
It was such a a close race for the major prize on the day, and it came down to 9 points - the closest Carnival in history! Congratulations to Yarang for winning for the 2nd year in a row!
Congratulations to Deerubbin for winning the Cheer Shield.
With such a great start to the year, we can’t wait to get stuck into the Athletics Carnival!
See you all on the track!
Courtney Kitching - Sports Prefect
Term 1 2025 eSafety Webinars for Parents/Carers
Dear Parents/Carers
At Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) we see parents and carers as partners in your child's learning journey. In partnership with the eSafety Commissioner, CSPD would like to invite you to join the following free webinars for parents and carers:
- Supporting healthy tech use as your child transitions into high school
- Algorithms and adolescents: the rewards and risks of recommender systems for young people
About the webinars
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Supporting healthy tech use as your child transitions into high school Available Sessions:
Explores the social pressures, peer influences, and technological challenges young people face as they transition into high school. It also offers practical strategies for navigating online friendships and connections to help minimise negative experiences. It's suitable for parents and carers of children in upper primary school (ages 11 to 12) and Year 7. What you need to do Please register for the course on the secondary site via the following link: Register here |
Algorithms and adolescents: the rewards and risks of recommender systems for young people Available sessions:
This webinar explores the role of algorithms and AI and how parents and carers can support safer and more positive interactions in the digital world. It's suitable for parents and carers of young people in upper primary and secondary school. What you need to do Please register for the course on the secondary site via the following link: Register here |
Welcome to our new Year 7 Students and Families.
It is with great pleasure that I introduce myself and welcome you to the College community of Bede Polding.
The first few days of high school have been filled with energy, enthusiasm, and new experiences. It has been wonderful to see our newest students settling into their classes, making new friends, and embracing the routines that will set them up for success. Establishing good habits early, such as being organised, following a structured routine, and demonstrating respect and responsibility, will serve them well throughout their school years. This marks the beginning of an exciting journey filled with new opportunities, friendships, and experiences.
To introduce myself, my name is Morgan Wearne and I have the great pleasure of looking after Year 7 Wellbeing with Rebecca Smith for 2025. Both Rebecca and I have taught in all boys and all girls education, and have many years of experience in cooeducational settings. It is our goal this year to make sure students feel welcome and excited to come to school. At Bede Polding College, we are committed to ensuring a smooth transition into high school. Our second goal for this year is to foster a love of learning, build confidence, and help every student develop their unique strengths. We aim to create a supportive and inclusive environment where students feel safe, encouraged, and motivated to reach their full potential.
A key part of our school life is our school Masses, which bring our community together in faith, reflection, and celebration. These gatherings allow students to deepen their spiritual journey, strengthen their connection with God, and embrace the values of compassion, respect, and service that are at the heart of our college. Through prayer and participation, we foster a sense of unity and belonging, reminding us all of the importance of faith in our daily lives. Our Year 7s were absolutely phenomenal in their first Mass of the year last week, where they celebrated Eucharist for the first time at the College and were Blessed by our local Priest, as well as the students and staff of our community. They also received a Guard of Honour showing how welcome they are. Year 7 will continue this tradition and create one in return for our year 12 students when they graduate the College in Term 3, completing this cycle and the symbol of beginnings and endings.
One of the most exciting events of the year is the upcoming Year 7 Camp! This is a fantastic opportunity for students to bond, challenge themselves, and create lasting memories. Camp is not just about fun, it’s also about developing teamwork, resilience, and independence, all of which are essential skills for success in high school and beyond. Our camp this year is at CCC on the Central Coast. At the camp, students will undertake many different activities some of which may give them a sense of joy and success. After camp we will also be undertaking our Leadership voting for house captains and we hope that Camp is an opportunity for them to showcase their leadership skills.
Later in the term, Year 7 will undertake NAPLAN. The NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) exams for Year 7 students in Australia are standardised tests designed to assess essential skills in reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar, and punctuation), and numeracy. These exams provide valuable insights into a student's progress and help schools and educators identify areas that may need additional support. While NAPLAN is not a pass-or-fail test, it plays a role in tracking academic development and informing future learning strategies. Parents can support their children by creating a positive and stress-free study environment, encouraging regular reading and problem-solving activities, and reassuring them that NAPLAN is just one part of their education. Providing a balanced routine with proper rest, nutrition, and relaxation can also help students perform at their best without unnecessary pressure.
We look forward to working closely with parents and carers to support our students throughout this important year. Together, we can ensure that Year 7 is a positive and rewarding experience for every child.
Welcome to the Bede Polding College family, we can’t wait to see what this year brings.
Morgan Wearne
Leader of Wellbeing Year 7
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/
DREAM BIG WEBINAR
We are delighted to invite all parents and carers to the first in a series of free online webinars on helping children find their passions, pathways and careers. This is in collaboration with BEYOND, who offer a free, highly personalised careers that helps students discover their interests and pathway.
For our first session we kick off with DREAM BIG, a webinar for primary school parents and carers that will help you nurture your child's interests and imagination.
Don't miss this chance to empower your child's future! Grab a sandwich and a cup of tea and sit down to listen and get some great tips at this lunchtime session:
Wednesday 5 March 2025
12.30pm - 1pm
Use the QR code to register:
Regards,
Cath Garrett-Jones
Executive Director
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).
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.
Attendance
If a student is unable to attend school for any reason or is late, please ensure that a note is submitted via Compass, in paper form or via a phone call to the office administration staff as soon as possible (legal requirement is within 7 days).
To add a note on Compass: Please click below.
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.
Please click on Opal card to Transport NSW
Please click on link to Replace a OPAL card
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