BISHOP DRUITT COLLEGEFAITHFULNESS IN SERVICE

COFFS HARBOUR

BISHOP DRUITT COLLEGECOFFS HARBOUR 1 November | 2013

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view the current edition of the north coast anglican newspaper

It’s ‘Movember’ and the gauntlet has been laid down!

At this week’s Secondary Assembly, boys in Years 10 - 12 were issued a ‘Movember’ challenge by the teaching staff. Sanctioned facial hair will be encouraged for the month of November.

Mr Van Dartel will coordinate the teams of students and staff today, November 1st, with photos of clean-shaven faces taken for the before and after shots. At the end of the month, we will have a ‘judgement assembly’ where some of our senior girls and women staff will rate the best (and dare I say, worst) mo’s that have been cultivated over the month of November.

The participants will be known as the ‘BDCMOMEN’. This team can be found on the official Movember website: http://au.movember.com and the team page http://au.movember.com/donate/list-team-members/?id=1268441

I am sure our hirsute army would greatly appreciate any donation you could make to this worthy cause.

‘Movember’ is devoted to raising awareness of men’s health issues, particularly prostate cancer, testicular cancer and depression. I hope that our community both at school and at home will have some fun with this charity drive. It is a good thing for our young men and women to develop an understanding of these particular men’s health issues.

Five of our Year 10 students set off from Coffs Harbour airport on Wednesday morning on an exciting exchange to Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf in Montreal, Canada. They will spend the next month at Brébeuf immersed in the French language, experiencing one of the most cosmopolitan cities in North America. As I write this piece, they are ‘trick or treating’ en français.

Thank you to all who have downloaded our App. As that number grows, so too does its efficacy as a communication medium.

Yesterdays’ K-12 mufti day in aid of the recent NSW bushfires was a happy event at school. With no particular theme, there was an eclectic mix of casual clothes, sports clothes, and one or two ‘onesies’. The Primary School disco rounded off an exciting day for our young students. Gold coin contributions for the day raised $1490 for the Salvation Army’s bushfire appeal.

The end of the school year will be upon us very quickly. Please note the changes to our Presentation Day assemblies as broadcast by Mr Egan and Mrs Lisle.

Both will be held in the Branson Centre on Tuesday, 3 December. The Primary Presentation assembly will be held at 10am; the Secondary event will be held at 12.45pm.

Congratulations this week to:

London Hawke (8) who recently received a Distinction in her RAD Classical Ballet examination. As a result, she has been accepted • into the Pre-Senior Level of the QLD Ballet 2014 Summer SchoolLachlan Smith (10) who played in the Coffs Harbour ‘Week of Golf’ festival and finished 2nd in the men’s Stableford Medley • eventSean O’Reilly (8) who won the U14 swim and iron man in the first Nippers carnival for the season at the Jetty last weekend•

Principal’s App of the week: Movember Mobile

We bring the season of Advent a little earlier to celebrate whilst we are still at school. We wait in the hopeful expectation that what we need will come to pass. Peace is indeed the promise of God for humanity, however what we think we need and what God thinks we need can be quite different.

The struggle to live with our sisters and brothers globally, in ways, which bring wholeness of life and is non-destructive to our human existence on this rich planet that we share, is a challenge of grave importance to us today, and will be for generations to come. Our idea of peace is the absence of conflict and trouble from outside ourselves. God’s idea of peace is the reconciliation of those who have been separated. This can mean that making peace within ourselves can often be a problem for us.

World peace whether in our own corner of the world or the whole world means making peace among those who are separated by all kinds of differences.

Our way of achieving absence of conflict is to stay away from those who are different. God’s way is a plea for love that is willing to be reconciled with those who are different. That’s where we realise there is a difference between God and ourselves. Jesus never said it would be easy, loving people who are like us for most part is not always easy, but for some loving reconciliation with those who are obviously different is easy at all, but in Pauls epistle to the Romans, he advises us to return to the ancient writings to discover our true needs and avoid misplacing our hopes.

The ancient Prophet Isaiah says that our need is for peace, and hope for it lies in following the way that makes for peace.

from the principal

chaplain’s chat

Alan BallPrincipal

BISHOP DRUITT COLLEGEFAITHFULNESS IN SERVICE

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BISHOP DRUITT COLLEGECOFFS HARBOUR 1 November | 2013

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from the head of secondaryBYOTIn the lead up to holiday time and in preparation for next year, it might be pertinent to look at the option of purchasing a device for your child. The college will be increasing the focus on digital technologies over the coming year, particularly in terms of accessing valuable information that assists learning. The kind of device chosen will not matter as long as it has a web browser. The Secondary school uses such learning platforms as the Google suite, Edmodo and BDC moodle. I would encourage as many families as possible to consider purchasing a device for children in the Secondary school. If you wish to view our policies on electronic devices and responsible internet use, they can be found by visiting the following links.

YeAr 10 fAmilieSI have been made aware of a group of students and families in Year 10 who plan to organize a farewell of sorts at the end of the year. The college response to this is simple and as follows:

There is no Bishop Druitt College Year 10 formal• Bishop Druitt College does not sanction any such event that may be organised for Year 10 students by parents of the college• Bishop Druitt College cannot guarantee adequate adult supervision at any such event• There is an element of risk (ie personal liability) if you nominate yourself in a supervisory capacity and the school has not • sanctioned the event

The reasons why we do not have an end of Year 10 celebration anymore are again quite simple:Year 10 at Bishop Druitt College is not an end point it is a beginning. Students commence senior schooling in this year, hence • there is no need to organise a formal leaving celebrationOur formal occurs at the end of Year 12• Students are required by law to remain at school until the age of seventeen and Year 10 is no longer viewed as an end point• The college identifies that there is a high level of risk associated with the organisation of a celebratory event for students in the • Year 10 age groupThe school has appropriately organised end of year functions for Years 7-11 students•

PreSenTATiOn CeremOnYAs I have mentioned in past newsletters, the presentation ceremony at the end of the year will be here at BDC on Tuesday 3 December commencing 12:45pm. The dress code for students at this ceremony will be as follows. Students who are receiving awards (they will be notified), must wear their white shirts and ties. When they move to the stage to receive their award they must

secondary school

Rev Marion TanfieldChaplain

Isaiah describes the hope for peace that went with the anointing of a King in Judah in Isaiah Chapter 11 “He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth.”

Appearances can be deceiving in Isaiah’s warning. But there is a big difference between promising peace and achieving it, whether we are talking about peace among the nations, or peace within our hearts and minds. We cannot have peace while treating people unjustly, while holding different standards for some than for others. I believe that this warning holds true for us today, in the way we treat ourselves as well as for our treatment of one another.

Whether it be peace among peoples, or peace within ourselves, a first step on the pathway is to recognize our quality of worth with all people and that each of us is worth the same in the sight of God. The pathway to peace within or without begins with the equal value of all of us. Appearances may deceive us at that point, but God loves us all regardless of how we look to others or even to ourselves.

A vital step on the pathway to peace is to want peace above all the desires that we think will bring peace. The way to peace within us is to be at peace with one another. The way to peace with one another is to be at peace with ourselves, so that we have no desire to outdo others. The way of the world is to look for peace by winning a war. The way of God is to make peace so that war can be avoided.

In Isaiah 9, a child to be born will be called “The Prince of Peace”. It points ahead to Matthew Gospel and to Christ’s promise, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” How much peace we get depends on how much peace we want. Our need is for peace, within and without. Such hope is not misplaced. It is the gift of God whenever we are ready to receive it. When we read the words of Jesus in John’s Gospel Chapter 14 verse 27

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”

The Christ we await during Advent came not to fulfil our desires but to fulfil Isaiah’s vision of the pathway to peace. If that is our hope, what are we doing to promote peace within our families, our community? May we all be the bearers of peace to others and help to be the change in a not so peaceful world.

Throughout our journey may we grow and reap the good harvest as we too discover Jesus together.

Shalom my friends

BISHOP DRUITT COLLEGEFAITHFULNESS IN SERVICE

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Rebecca BrownVisual Arts faculty

Brett Bennett and Rosey Lang Student environment Group

put their blazer on. Students in the audience and not receiving awards can wear their summer uniform. There is no air conditioning in the Branson Centre so we aim to make it as comfortable as possible for all students.

Enjoy your week.

visual arts

student environment club

Year 7 students have completed a drawing and painting portfolio concerned with the study of Still Life artworks and artists. Here are the students at work and a wonderful example of a resolved painting.

During assembly last week the Student Environment Group were pleased to welcome two representatives from the NAB to make an official presentation of our NAB Schools First Seed Funding Grant. Taj Dosanjh and Tracy Yarnold from the bank were on hand to present a BIG cheque for the sum of $15000. As we have written about in the past, these funds will be used for our partner project with Mick Andren from the Department of Environment and Heritage for bush regeneration. He will assist us along the schools waterways to monitor the presence of the endangered Giant Barred Frog. This work will begin later this term, although we are desperately hoping for some rain soon in order to get the frogs up and about!

Student Environment Group members Jack Nesbitt, Jesse Hopper, Josh Wilson-Douglas and Josh Jeremy have been selected to attend the Youth Leading the World National Summit in Sydney in late November. This is an excellent achievement for these students and deserved reward and recognition for the enthusiasm and energy they have brought to the Youth Leading the World project this year.

Artwork by Tara Lintner

from the head of primaryWhat an exciting night we had last night! Ghouls, ghosts, witches and other creepy crawlies greeted us as the Halloween disco started. I was amazed at the variety of costumes and some parents went to a lot of trouble to dress up their little ones. Much fun was had by all and I would like to thank Mrs Maretta Wood for helping the Student Leadership Team organise the event and a special thanks to Mr Penny, our DJ for the night. Altogether almost $500 was raised for our Bikes for Cambodia appeal.

primary school

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Karin LisleAssistant Principal (Head of Primary)

Lorelle NewtonBook Club Coordinator

Linda MorganChess Coordinator

We also sold quite a few tickets in our beautiful quilt raffle, where the money will go to the same appeal. Tickets will be sold in the playground until Carols night, when the raffle will be drawn. I hope I win! Many thanks to the Klenk family for donating this amazing quilt.

Talking of fundraising, $588 was also raised yesterday in the primary via Mufti Day for the Bushfire Appeal. How quickly news recedes but we know it will be months and years before people in the Blue Mountains have recovered from their latest tragedy. I am constantly surprised by the warmth and generosity of the Bishop Druitt College community and I know that is one of the reasons why you send your children to our wonderful school.

Don’t forget that next Friday is the cut off day for parent requests for classes. Please understand that a large amount of time goes into designing well balanced classes and every attempt will be made to ensure children are placed in a class that best suits them. Parents who believe there is a significant factor that should be considered in relation to their child’s class placement for 2014 should forward this confidential information in writing to me (not the class teacher) at klisle@bdc.nsw.edu.au by 8 November. After this date it will not be possible to consider any further requests. As I am sure you can understand, it is impossible to satisfy all requests and design well balanced classes, but please be assured that all genuine requests will be considered.

Please put in your diaries the Presentation Day assembly that will be held on Tuesday 3 December, starting at 10am. If your child will be receiving an award at this assembly, you will be contacted via email on 27 November. Of course as every year, Kindergarten students will all be presented with an award for their hard work in their first year of school.

We will also be holding a special Sport Assembly on Thursday 21 November, starting at 2.15pm. If your child is to receive an award at this assembly, you should have been notified via email this week.

It is important that the school is kept up to date with contact details. This semester we will again be sending reports home via email, and this time with an e-portfolio attached. If you have changed your email address or your home address since last semester, please notify lmercer@bdc.nsw.edu.au so she can update records. It would be a shame if you did not receive your child’s school report until we return to school in 2014 because we do not have the correct contact details.

scholastic booK club

inter-school chess competition

The Book Club Issue No. 8 booklets have been distributed (last one for the year). Orders will close on Thursday 21 November. Orders may be sent to school and handed to your child’s teacher at any time before that date. For parents who are new to Book Club as well as a reminder to those who have placed orders in the past, the following things need to be noted when filling out a Book Club order:

Fill out your child’s full name and class on the order form, clearly mark all items to be ordered.• Credit card/debit card payments are made by telephone or online BEFORE you send the order to school. The information slip on • the bottom of the order form is sent to school with the Book Club order.

Please note that all payments for Book Club is now to be done by telephone or online with your credit or debit card. You will receive a receipt number after you have paid and this is to be written in the space provided at the bottom of the order form. Orders are then sent to school as usual.

Online payment: www.scholastic.com.au/paymentPhone Payment: 24 hours free call 1800 557 908

Thank you for your support of Book Club. Your orders enable us to receive extra books for our classrooms, library and teacher resources by way of a rewards system. Most importantly, it is a great way to keep our children reading.

Last Tuesday, some of our Primary students travelled to Sawtell Primary School to take part in the 3 Person Chess Tournament. Around 150 children participated, coming from most of the public and independent schools in the Coffs Harbour region, from Urunga in the south, Saint Francis Xavier in the north and Nana Glen in the west. This tournament provided the opportunity for children from all the schools to come together and interact in a positive way, playing chess for the day. This is quite a unique opportunity in our area!

The BDC ‘A’ grade team was Jeff Deng, Fletcher Scott and Spencer Burnet. These boys played against some very stiff competition and just missed out on a place, coming in fourth. The ‘B’ grade team was Alex Spry, Tyler Widdowson and Hunter Black with Tyler and Hunter playing in their first chess tournament. Tyler had a very good run of 7 wins in a row before missing out on the final 2 games. The ‘B’ grade team came fifth over all in a very large pool of teams. The ‘C’ grade team was Mitchell Maloney, Charlie Verguizas and Oscar Caldicott with Oscar playing in his first tournament. This team came first in their grade, again in a very large pool of teams. Congratulations ‘C’ grade team! Special mention needs to be made of Charlie’s achievement, as he was undefeated all day. Congratulations to all the players – they represented our school exceptionally well.

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BISHOP DRUITT COLLEGECOFFS HARBOUR 1 November | 2013

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ensembles concert

grade of the weeK - elc

community carols

presentation day rehearsals

presentation day

The Bishop Druitt College Music Department invites parents and friends to enjoy musical performances by our wonderful students at the annual Ensembles Evening on November 6 in the Branson Centre.

The cost of entry is by donation. All proceeds will be used towards a planned Music Tour to the Sunshine Coast in 2014 and new instruments for the students.

There will be raffles, a sausage sizzle, cold drinks, tea/coffee and snacks from 5:00pm.

Performance commences at 6:00pm sharp and will conclude at around 7:30 pm.

Please ensure that your child arrives by 5.15pm for tuning and direction and so they have plenty of time to eat. All students are required to wear full summer uniform. Your child will need to bring his/her music and instrument (if applicable).

This term the ELC are on a Schoolyard Safari. We are learning about the insects that might live in our school. Mr Mac helped us to set up the worm farm and taught us how to look after it. We have had fun looking at insects with the magnifying glasses and the microscopes.

The Community Carols night is fast approaching and will go ahead on Tuesday 26 November 2013, in the Green Room. Some classes have been rehearsing performances for this event and all others are invited to join in on the night, no rehearsing necessary, just fun and friendship.

Choristers are required to meet Mrs Stuart at 5:30pm in the Green Room for warm up. ELC are performing a nativity scene (character costume requirements will be advised in class), Kindergarten students are asked to dress as an Angel, the Performance Choir and Year 1 to Year 4 are asked to wear green, white or red shirts (Christmas colours) with dark coloured pants/skirts.

Please ensure that your child arrives by 5.30pm, ready to commence the evening at 6:00pm. Food, drinks and novelty items will be available for purchase from 5pm or of course BYO picnic!

Rehearsals for Presentation Day are as follows:

Monday 2 December in the Branson Centre:Secondary from 9:00am -11:30amPrimary from 12:00pm – 1:30pm

Those students in the Orchestra, Monsoon, Concert Band, Superstrings, Performance Choir and Performance Band are reminded to bring their instruments and music on that day.

Secondary – Branson Centre, Tuesday 3 December 12.45pm – 3.10pmAll secondary musicians performing on stage are required to wear full winter uniform (including tie and blazer), may take blazers off for performance but must wear for receipt of any awards.

Primary – Branson Centre, Tuesday 3 December 10.00 am – 11.30 amAll primary students are required to wear full summer uniform.

Those students in the Orchestra, Monsoon, Concert Band, Superstrings, Performance Choir and Performance Band are reminded to bring their instruments and music on that day.

musical notes

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Laughton

KingMSocSci, Dip Ed Psych

Taking his life-time experience as a ‘dyslexic learner’ and his thirty years as an educational, child and family psychologist, Laughton has spent the last three years offering short seminars to teachers, parents, specialist educators and those working with children and young people around issues of dyslexia.

Laughton has become an expert in his area of weakness (language and dyslexia) and in his seminars, he looks at developing an understanding and pictorial definition of ‘dyslexia’, the implications for the child and also for their parents and teachers.

No parent of a student that struggles with learning should miss this.

“As a dyslexic person myself, I have a fair understanding of the nightmare that many of these children are living through… there are probably five or more in every classroom in the country.”

$15 for BDC Parents$35 for non-BDC Parents

TiCkeTs

Light refreshments availableTo book tickets, visit www.bdc.nsw.edu.au/events

This is aN aDulT oNly eveNT

Educationist • Author • Mediator • Counsellor • Trainer • Public Speaker

DyslexiaDismantled

4 November 2013 6:00pm - 9:00pmBishop Druitt College

Dear Bishop Druit College Staff and Students,

You’re invited to our exclusive Community Event!The Kathmandu Community and Corporate offer is a fantastic opportunity to purchase clothing and equipment for your personal and professional use at corporate prices.

Offer valid: Thursday 24th October – Sunday 10th November.

Please distribute this offer to all Students and Employees. All they need to do is present proof of involvement at their nearest Kathmandu store to take advantage of some great prices.

Please note, this offer is only valid between 24/10/13 – 10/11/13 and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers. Purchases are strictly for personal use only, not for resale of any kind. Kathmandu reserve the right to refuse purchase.

Don’t forget to check out some of the great deals on offer on the following page. We look forward to seeing you in one of our stores soon!

Matthew Watts, Retail General Manager, Australia

Dale CondonHead of music K-12

assembly performanceThank you to Charlie Egan and Olivia Blythe for their terrific performances at assembly this week!

important dates and events

parents and friends

Kathmandu - bdc deals

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 parentsandfriends@bdc.nsw.edu.au.

COnTACT USFor 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 akwillo@live.com.auP & F email: parentsandfriends@bdc.nsw.edu.au

next meeting: monday 18 november, 2:00pm, Senior Common Room, 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.

college community

bus passesAll students who are currently in Year 2 and going into Year 3 (2014) need to complete a new Bus Pass Application.

Likewise all students who are currently in Year 6 and going into Year 7 (2014) will also have to complete a new Bus Pass Application.

Busways have sent out letters to existing students attaching new Bus Pass Applications for 2014, but if you travel with another transport operator eg: Ryans or Sawtell Coaches, you will need to obtain a new Application from the front admin office as soon as possible.

Dyslexia Dismantled presented by Laughton King. More...Ensembles Concert in the Branson CentreYear 10 ExaminationsNNSW Philosothon

4 nov6 nov7-8 nov14-15

Kathmandu corporate sale is on again from Thursday 24 Oct until Sunday 10 Nov. This will be the last corporate sale before Year 7 camp in February 2014. The sale is open to all friends and family of Bishop Druitt College staff and students, but remember to take some BDC ID with you.