Our 2021 Leadership committees have been announced for Academia, The Arts, Leadership, Service and Sport. We wish these committee’s well over the coming year and that they can engage with the students to make BDC an even better place.
Although we have celebrated NAIDOC week early in the year, the official date has been changed to the second week in December due to COVID-19. Our secondary assembly this week will also recognise the importance of our first nations people and NAIDOC week. This is timely as our Goori students completed a field trip on country last week with Rev Cooke, Kristy Hart, Rachel Watson and Brett Bennet. We are also excited that Kristy and Jonah Bedford (Valedictorian 2020) have been nominated for a Yandaarra Aunty Grace Roberts Community Award.
It is that time of year where we welcome Year 7 from BDC and approx 50 Year 6 students from other schools to their orientation days for Year 7 2021 (or the Class of 2026). The importance of orientation days is to allow students to form connections with their classmates, get to know the secondary school and demystify some of the high school adventures. It is an important part of the rite of passage onto the secondary campus. We wish Mrs Bruggerman and her Tutor team well as they welcome our new Year 7.
Staffing updates for 2021 include the retirement of Mrs Alison Hollier from Science, leave for Mr Troy Sodeau, the appointment of Mr Stephen Barrow for Semester 1 in Music, Mr Daniel Lang across Science and Technology and Mrs Amber Baldwin for English. Mrs Sandra Smith will be the acting Head of Faculty Performing Arts for all of 2021. There are still further appointments for Science to occur for 2021. As usual, where there are staff changes the Heads of Faculty work closely for any changeover required and allocation of classes across their teams.
Congratulations to our Year 11 students who have completed a HSC examination this year. Some students have completed two exams from Studies of Religion 2, Mathematics and Mathematics Extension and Business Studies. This is such an advantage heading into next year and we are fortunate to have the expertise of these staff in guiding Year 11 through these courses.
The sport academies have been completing trials for next year. Football had their trials last week and is joining the netball and golf academies for 2021. We welcome Mr Ben Andrews coordinating the Football Academy to the team of Mrs Meegan Bruggerman (netball), Mr Craig Lang (golf) and Miss Natalie Titcume High Performance and Athlete Development Program Manager.
Further details will be provided within the next two weeks for the following key events where required. Our current health and hygiene requirements have not changed (for example parents cannot be onsite at this stage).
Please consider these important dates for Term 4 and the start of 2021 below:
- 13th November, Year 12 Formal Dinner (details have been shared by Mr Klipin).
- 17-18th November, Year 9 Peer Support Days with Mrs Brown.
- 20th November, Year 9 Rites of Passage to senior school assembly, then to the Big Banana to celebrate with Mrs Brown.
- 23rd to 27th November, Year 10 Work Experience with Mrs Driscoll and Mrs Matthews.
- 25th November, Year 8 Pastoral Day with Mr Sodeau.
- 27th November, crazy hair day to support World Vision. Gold coin donation.
- 30th November CPR, Anaphylaxis and aquatic updates and training commence for the relevant college staff.
- 2nd and 3rd December, carols and Christmas service details TBC by Rev Cooke and Rev Morgan.
- 4th December, 2021 Musical auditions for School of Rock with Mrs Gudgeon.
- 7th December, secondary presentation assembly.
- 8th December, college picnic and last day of school for students with Year Coordinators and Mrs O’Connor.
- 9-10th December, Staff Professional Learning Days -Schoolbox.
- 18th December, HSC and ATAR released. Class of 2020 are invited to attend our traditional morning tea at the ROC at 10.30am with Mr Verbruggen and staff.
- 27th January 2021, Year 7 and Year 12 commence (Year 10 Peer support assist Year 7).
- 28th January 2021, Year 8-9-10-11 commence.
Please note our nonuniform day on Friday the 13th for World Vision should follow our guidelines:
In particular, we remind students that they must bring and wear appropriate clothes/footwear for all practical classes on that day. When participating in a nonuniform day there should be no midriff tops. Shoulders should not be exposed and logos or text on clothing cannot be of an inappropriate nature. Very short skirts and shorts are not to be worn. Students wearing clothing too revealing will be asked to remedy the situation or be sent home to change when this is not possible. Please read the guidelines for further details.
Over the last week with cool mornings, some students have worn noncollege jumpers. These are not permitted to or from school. Please remind your children when it is cold that the softshell jacket, blazer or blue jumper are the only acceptable items. In middle school students, chewing gum has also been noticeable for some groups. Gum is not permitted at school. Thank you for your assistance with following college uniform guidelines.
Most students will now be preparing and finalising Term 4 assessments. Please discuss this at home, what is required and when, can they do some preparation work in the library? These important behaviours do need gentle reminders from time to time. We wish all students well as they finalise their courses for 2020.
Many of us would know families who are very excited this week about the border reopening to Queensland. The number of people I know with family members that they have been isolated from is in my thoughts this week. If this is also you and your family and friends, it is a time of celebration and recognition of how important each of us are to our friends and families. We hope this time brings great relief, but also the happiness we know of talking with each other face to face and a sense of gratitude for the many people who have made sacrifices to get to this point in time. Safe travels.
Simon Doyle
Assistant Principal (Head of Secondary)