Principal's Update

Congratulations

Our College Concert Band received a Gold Award at the Victorian Schools’ Music Festival, featuring school bands, orchestras and choirs from across Victoria. It has been a few years since the College has participated in this event, and it is pleasing for the band to be rewarded for months of hard work and before-school rehearsals. Thank you to instrumental teacher, Dave Hedges, who conducted the ensemble.

Our ACC Public Speaking Intermediate Team took the Premiership last night - a stellar effort from Henry, Aidan, Lachlan and Alexander. Our ACC Debating Team Division I finished second overall by one point (but finished equal first). Well done to Justin, Jackson, Isaac, Sebastian, George and Adam, and many thanks to Coach Kath Flynn for her support. 

Our House Captains and all students competed enthusiastically in the recent House Cross-Country events. The winning House was McCristal. Now, we prepare to regain our title in the ACC Cross-Country competition next month.

The Senior Division 2 netballers joined with Kilbreda girls to win the ACC Mixed Netball grand final and to the Division 1 boys who finished in 5th place. Well done to our players. Pavlos, Liam, Harland, Harrison, Sam, Jensen, Heath, Hudson, James and Tyson  

Orlando (Year 8) is making his screen debut in new SBS series, The Airport Chaplain this month. 

Ash, Benjamin (Year 9) and Sebastian (Year 10) are representing Rugby Victoria across three important competitions during September. There should be another student here as well.

Team Vitality has qualified for the 2026 State Finals in the Professional Class of STEM Racing.  Members of the team, Luca (Year 8), Ren, Larry, Samuel (Year 9) and Aaron (Year 11), already have State and National experience in this competition.

Thank you to parents and carers who have availed themselves of the opportunity to meet with teachers during these few weeks for Parent Teacher Student Interviews.

Staying Motivated (or is it staying focused?)

Students are most motivated when they have a clear sense of purpose, achievable goals, and confidence that their efforts will make a difference to the result. For our VCE students, as they move into this final phase of their academic year, motivation can be strengthened. But motivation is a variable thing for all of us. Are we all motivated to go to work each day? After a couple of bad rounds, do we maintain high motivational levels ahead of that next round of golf? If for some reason we have become tired, motivation will naturally wain. Maybe, it is really focus that keeps up going, come what may.

Focus (or motivation) can be aided by: 

1. Setting specific and realistic goals for the remainder of the year and breaking larger goals into smaller, achievable steps.
2. Establishing consistent routines for study, homework, and revision to build positive habits.
3. Celebrating small successes, recognising that progress is made through consistent effort over time.
4. Seeking support when needed from teachers, mentors, peers, or family members.
5. Maintaining a healthy balance between study, extracurricular activities, rest, and wellbeing.
6. Focusing on personal improvement, rather than comparing themselves to others.

Importantly, motivation is not something students need to feel every day.  Success often comes from persistence, discipline, and commitment (focus) particularly during challenging periods.  y staying focused on their goals and taking small steps forward each day, students can build momentum and confidence throughout these coming weeks.

For our Year 12 students, completing their final SACs and preparing for the Trial VCE Examinations and our Year 11 students completing their Unit 2 Courses, now is the time to remain purposeful, trust in the work you have done, and embrace the opportunities ahead. Consistent effort, coupled with a positive mindset, will be the key to achieving your personal best. Much can be achieved over the next few months. At this stage of the year, practising past examination questions must be a regular part of the study routine of Year 12 VCE students. Research shows a very high correlation between Year 12 success and the practicing of past examination paper.

2026 NAPLAN

The release of 2026 NAPLAN data has renewed debate surrounding the test's scope and impact. While research notes concern over student stress and curriculum narrowing, NAPLAN remains a diagnostic snapshot of foundational literacy and numeracy rather than a full measure of school quality or holistic student abilities. Daily teacher assessment remains the primary driver of student support, while broader socioeconomic factors continue to be the main driver of overall achievement gaps. 

Nationally, Numeracy improved in Years 5, 7, and 9, but overall Reading and Writing performance declined. Victoria maintained its lead over other states across all domains. 

St Bede’s College Performance Summary

NAPLAN evaluates student achievement against national and state benchmarks using four proficiency levels: Needs Additional Support, Developing, Strong, and Exceeding. Individual test scores are independent and cannot be directly compared across different domains. 

Key Findings by Year Level

Year 7: Performance remains strong, exceeding State and National averages across all domains with continued year-on-year growth. Numeracy results are particularly high. However, low growth in Writing since Year 5 remains a key focus area. 

Year 9: Achievement and proficiency remain above State and National averages, though Reading and Writing scores dipped compared to 2025. While Numeracy growth between Years 7 and 9 slowed, relative growth across other domains was steady.

Year 7–2026 averages for St Bede’s College (compared to National/State) 

Year 9-2026 Averages for St Bede’s College (compared to National/State) 

Feast Days in this month of August

August 8: We celebrated Australian, Saint Mary MacKillop. Mary’s legacy has gone well and truly beyond the humble beginnings in Penola. The Sisters of St Joseph today is a robust group of women working in Australia, New Zealand, East Timor, Ireland, Peru and Brazil and follow in Mary’s footsteps doing a wide variety of works, revealing to all the hospitable heart of God.

Long after her death, St Mary MacKillop's vision for Catholic education continues to shape teaching and learning. Her belief that every child deserves dignity, opportunity, and access to quality education resonates strongly with contemporary educational research and practice.  Her educational legacy aligns very strongly to that of our own St John Baptist de La Salle, who transformed schooling for young people, especially the poor.

August 12:  Was the Feast Day of St Benildus, 1805-1862, one of our Lasallian House Patrons (Benilde). Canonised in 1967, Brother Benildus was Principal of a country school in France. As a result of his influence, over 250 boys from his school became priests or brothers.  His kindness and teaching of the faith won him great respect. After his death, many miracles and favours were granted through his intercession.

August 15: The Feast of the Assumption recognises the Catholic belief that at the end of her life on earth, the body and soul of Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken (assumed) by God into heaven. Students are encouraged to pray to Mary as an intercessor, meaning she prays to God on our behalf. This practice is established in her special role as the Mother of Jesus and her closeness to Him. Just as we might ask a friend to pray for us, we ask Mary to pray for our needs. Her "yes" to God at the Annunciation shows her deep faith and willingness to help others follow God's will. By turning to Mary in prayer, students learn to grow in faith, humility, and trust in God's love, while also strengthening their relationship with Jesus.

Per Vias Rectas

Deb Frizza

Principal