Student Stories, Achievements & Community News

National Reconciliation Week 

It was our privlege to attend Tuesday's Reconciliation Week event at Derrimut Weelam Gathering Place on beautiful Bunurong Land in Mordialloc. A group of our students were invited to attend a poignant Welcome to Country delievered by Indigenous Elder Uncle Mark, participate in the traditional smoking ceremony, and raise the flags with elders. 

This significant event allowed our students to strengthen their cultural awareness and bond with the local community, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous. It was a pleasure to chat with Isaiah Columbine - Melukerdee Man of the South-East Nation of lutruwita (Tasmania), DWGP Program Officer and reconnect with Kalie Kent, Bidjara Woman from a Eastern Queensland, Rainforest Country.

The National Reconciliation Week theme for 2025, Bridging Now to Next, reflects the ongoing connection between past, present, and future. At a time when Australia faces uncertainty in its reconciliation journey, this theme calls on all Australians to step forward together. Bridging Now to Next urges us to look ahead and continue to push forward as past lessons guide us. 

"Attending the DWGP Flag Raising Ceremony as a St Bede’s student was an honour. I had the privilege of raising the Australian flag, marking the start of Reconciliation Week. A Bunurong Elder, Uncle Mark, led a powerful smoking ceremony and welcomed us to Country, deepening our connection to the land. The presence of Kingston Mayor, local police, and neighbouring schools showed strong community support. The day strengthened my respect for First Nations culture." Christopher Svilar,  Ecological Captain

"The Reconciliation Ceremony was special. Beginning with a welcome to country from Uncle Mark, we bathed ourselves in the smoke in a traditional ceremony celebrating reconciliation and all things Aboriginal. Speeches from the mayor and head of indigenous relations from Kingston moved everyone involved. It was an honour to raise the flag at the end along with an indigenous elder. The whole ceremony from the beginning to end was something special and will stay with me for a long time to come." Xander C, Year 10 

"Attending the Reconciliation Ceremony filled me with pride and privilege. Witnessing and being a part of the welcome to country led by Uncle Mark was very special and made me feel honoured. This experience will stay with me for a very long time." Jack W, Year 10 

Indonesian School Visit

Our Mentone Campus hosted a group of 14 students from Indonesia of the school Sekolah Progresif Bumi Shalawat, in Sidoarjo, East Java for cultural immersion and social engagement with our own students. They were warmly welcomed during all classes, Founder's Day Mass, events of Careers Week, and during recess and lunch. 

Our students enjoyed the opportunity to interact and socialise with the visitors in class and outdoors, and a Year 7 class shares their highlights. 

"I enjoyed meeting the Indonesian students because I love to see how people live life across the world, and I was able to have their lives explained to us, we even told them about our lives in Australia! We played games including Uno and an Indonesian game, but our favourite thing was learning about them! We were able to practice our Indonesian with them and they practiced English with us, they were really good at speaking English. The experience broadened my perspective on how lucky we are to go our school, to live life the way we do, yet we take most things for granted. I learned all about the world outside Australia, how these students live their life, and I’m really grateful for the experience of meeting them." Ben S 

 

"I enjoyed meeting the Indonesian students because we can learn new things. The activities were Uno and a game with plastic coffee beans. I practiced some Indonesian. This experience has broadened my perspective because we got to interact with new students!"  Isa L

 

I enjoyed doing all sorts of activities and games with the Indonesian students. I liked playing Uno Flip and Sushi Go. I practiced my Indonesian by trying to converse with them. I learned all sorts of new things, like where they were from and how to say different things in Indonesian. I also got to know about what the Indonesian students liked and the things we had in common." Zander E 

 

"I enjoyed the visit from the students. I played a traditional Indonesian game with them and Uno. I did practice my Indonesian, but it was amazing how fluent there English was. The experience was fun and weird to talk to other people in another language. I learned a lot about the experience but what the best thing I learned was that people from other countries are really alike." Declan R 

VCE Theatre Studies - Cosi 

Our VCE Theatre Studies class comprises our boys and also students from Kilbreda College, making for an inclusive and diverse creative space. The group recently performed Louis Nowra's Cosi, the darkly humourous story of a young director who tries to direct Mozart's opera, Così fan tutte at a psychiatric hospital, with a lovable cast who can't sing, act or speak Italian. 

Performing Arts Captain, Tane Rewi-Wetine loved bringing the play to life. 

“Cosi is such a rich script for study in VCE Theatre Studies; it features compelling and multi-faceted characters framed within a fascinating setting: an abandoned theatre. To bring it to the audience, we as a class followed the three conventional stages of the Production Process. 

This is a process of Planning, which involves researching and exploring the scripts to plan out our ideas and concepts; Development, which involves rehearsing, refining and engaging with the creative process of trial and error to realise the concepts and ideas we set out in Planning; and Presentation, that exciting final step of finally performing our hard work and reflecting on how it all went. Across the stages we consider the way we can incorporate key ideas, themes and elements and the way our interpretation suits the audience. 

I hoped to capture my character Roy's energetic and hyperactive moments and his panicked and jittery moments to create a dynamic and entertaining character that also embraces the key elements that make him as a character so dynamic. Holistically speaking however, the highlight of the process was finally getting to perform it to the audience!"

Instrumental Recital Evening

 Our students held a fantastic performance at our College Instrumental Music Recital. Their appreciative audience of family and friends was a wonderful celebration o fthe students' hard work and musical growth throughoutthe year.

Performing solo pieces and in small ensembles, students showcased their developing skills across arange of instruments and styles. For many of our Year 7 students, it was their very first time performing in front of an audience- a significant and exciting milestone. Congratulations to all the performers for their courage, preparation and enthusiasm. It was a delight to witness such musicality and dedication on display.

"I really enjoyed performing at the instrumental evening, it allowed me to see all of the up and coming talent at this school. I have been attending and performing at these nights since Year 7, and it is truly a highlight of my time at St Bede's." Liam C, Year 12 (French Horn)

 

"It was a great experience, I loved the drum line at the start, and I got the chance to play a song in front of my family and friends. It was overall great, and you should do it next year if you play an instrument.

Sam McC, Year 8 (Piano)

 

"It was really good getting to perform in front of family and friends at the Instrumental night. It’s great to get better at playing in front of crowds. The guitar ensemble played and it was great to see Year 7's and new people preforming solo in front of a crowd for the first time."Jack G, Year 10 (Guitar)

Celebrating Student Achievement

Congratulations to Freddy H (Year 7) who was nominated by family, friends and teachers as a finalist and MC at the 2025 Bayside Youth Awards for his contributions to the community. 

"I’m passionate about giving back to my community through creativity, kindness, and connection. Over the past 18 months, I’ve been volunteering with Bayside Council in their Youth Ambassador program. We meet fortnightly to discuss our perspectives, experiences, and ideas on issues affecting young people and advocate for change. I help run fun activities and entertainment for children who are doing it tough in my neighbourhood. I love bringing smiles to their faces and creating a safe space where they can just be kids. I also assist in local art classes, supporting my art teacher during school holiday workshops. It’s a great way to combine my love for creativity with helping others.

 

One of the highlights of the Bayside Youth Awards was emceeing. With over 130 attendees, it was an exciting challenge that helped build my confidence in public speaking - something I know will help me at school and in my future career.

I always try to bring a positive, can-do attitude to everything I do. I’m open to learning from others and enjoy working with people of all ages. Being involved in the Bayside community is something I’m really proud of, and I was honoured to be nominated for this award and be a finalist."

Congratulations to our running crew, Christian B, Hugo M, Will C & Eoin J who finished second in the latest round of the All Schools XC 3km Run Relay at Jells Park. 

There were 44 teams entered from all over Victoria, making their silver medal podium place very impressive indeed.

Congratulations to Year 8s Christian B and Hudson M, and Year 9s Eoin J and Marcel I on winning their relay event at the 2025 Victorian All Schools Road Relay Championships 

Community News

In Memoriam

Our thoughts are with the family of Theresa Lochery (former staff) with the passing of her mother, Patricia on 7 May. Patricia was a longstanding member of our Lasallian community, with over 30 years of service to the Lasallian Brothers. The Brothers were her Australian family that she maintained strong bonds with until the end. 

May God's love be a comfort to you at this time. 

Men's Health Week 

For Men’s Health Week 2025, the City of Kingston is hosting a range of activities and events including the Men’s Health Matters event on Wednesday 11 June from 6 – 8.30pm at Mentone Life Saving Club.

Positive Masculinity Webinar - Tue 10 June 

Men's Health Matters Event - Wed 11 June 

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Simply get in touch with our team at marketing@stbedes.catholic.edu.au