Principal's Update

In Memoriam - John Rhoden

It is with great sadness that I report the passing of Old Collegian, esteemed teacher and mentor to many, John Rhoden. John attended St Bede’s College and was equal Dux in the Class of 1956. After graduating, John became a well-respected and dedicated teacher at the College for nearly four decades from 1961–1999. Through his tenure, John worked tirelessly to educate and inspire countless students, leaving a lasting impact on our College Community.  

In addition to his teaching duties, John also served as an assistant to the principal, further demonstrating his commitment to the College’s success. John returned to the College as an active member of the Old Collegians Association and spent many years as part of the committee and as a valued advisor.

He will be remembered as a true gentleman, a friend to many, a significant mentor and an inspirational teacher to generations of St Bede’s Community members.  As we reflect on his life and contributions, we are reminded of the values he upheld, faith, service, and integrity.  His commitment to these principles enriched our school, and we are deeply grateful for the mark he left on each of us.  May he Rest in Peace and may God’s blessings encompass his family and our community during this time.

Welcome To Term 2

I hope your recent break has been both restful and enjoyable. We have another busy term ahead of us with a multitude of activities, culminating towards the end of term with mid-year examinations for Years 9, 10 and 11 and the 2025 College Production of Treasure Island. 

I add my congratulations to the boys of the College swim team and their coaches, Gavin Brown, Jess Kirk and Greg Roberts. To have won the ACC Swimming Championships for the past six years is an outstanding achievement. As part of the overall success, the team placed in 41 of the 55 events, were the U15 and U16 age group champions and won the Intermediate Cup. The most pleasing aspect of the success was its reward for the many hours of training that have been put in, even going back to last school year.

Our student leaders and all students excelled on Mission Action Day. It was day of participation and community spirit as students and our families raised funds for students in developing countries who need clean drinking water, safety from life-threatening diseases, safe, secure and comfortable classrooms, and more inclusive education, especially for female students. At the time of publishing, funds raised are in the order of $85,000. In another act of Community Service, several of our Senior Years Students took a turn volunteering with John Paul College's Companion Van in Frankston. This essential service serves donated goods, clothes, hot drinks and toasted sandwiches to people in need. 

The recent 80’s Vocal Showcase saw the audience was tapping and jigging in their seats at the performance at the end of Term 1. Well done to all performers and teachers on a very entertaining evening.

During this week it has been a pleasure to host many mums for our Mother’s Day Morning at each Campus. Thank you again to our Parents & Friends Association for arranging these events. While it is said that “every day is Mother’s Day”, we do hope that this Sunday is a very special day for all mums and the important women in our lives who take care of us like a mum does.

David Cracknell, Deputy Principal - ICT has been invited as panellist and speaker at this month’s ICT in Schools Summit at Marvel Stadium. David will be speaking on Collaborative Strategies for maximising the impact of technology in education. 

Congratulations to our History teachers, Meaghan Ryan and Kirk Thomson who are receipients of the HTAV Award for Excellence in History Education. This award recognises secondary teachers of History who demonstrate enthusiasm and inspiration in undertaking teaching and promoting student learning, innovation, commitment to professional learning in history education. Our warmest well wishes to Meaghan and Kirk on this outstanding honour.

We are proud to have two of our teams qualifying for the 2025 STEM Racing National Finals (formerly F1 in Schools).  The College will be represented by Team Vincere made up of Year 8 students Christian A, Hugh J, Sam S and Oliver S and Team Vitality which includes Christian B (Year 8), Jasper F (Year 12), Charlie H (Year 10), Thomas L (Year 12), Nicholas S (Year 11).  

Our teams will be competing for the opportunity to represent the country at the World Finals in Singapore this September. St Bede’s College will be hosting the STEM Racing National Finals from 30 May to 1 June, and 34 teams from across Australia and New Zealand have been invited to compete at the event to be judged by panels of independent industry experts. Program Coordinator - and F1 In Schools World Record Holder - Peter Russell, alongside fellow coaches Brenda McCullagh and Donald Ngo are to be congratulated.

Anzac Day provided an opportunity to remember and honour the courage, sacrifice and service of all Australian and New Zealand service people. A small wreath-laying ceremony was conducted at school and on Anzac Day students and staff participated in the dawn services conducted by the Bentleigh and Mentone RSLs. On Anzac Day, our European Tour Group represented the College at a Dawn Service in Villers Bretonneux, France. This included The Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres. A wreath was laid on behalf of our College Community.  Thanks to all in our College who demonstrated faith, service and community. 

Checking Progress and Looking Ahead

The very good level of participation in the recent Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews was evidence of a strong collaboration between student, home and our College. This collaboration supports and builds on a strong learning culture and enhances our students’ learning outcomes.  

The commencement of the new term, with examinations to come in a few weeks for our students in Years 9 to 12, provides opportunity for a check-in. 

• How well have our boys established their daily and weekly routines and their schoolwork habits? 
• What key messages came out of the parent-teacher interviews and reports provided to date?  
• Is home learning completed and reviewed?  
• Does schoolwork receive the importance it deserves, and how balanced is the weekly program of activities? 
• Is time given to reading? NAPLAN testing consistently shows that boys do not score highly in reading skills. This can be improved simply by increasing the frequency of reading, whether for enjoyment and for study.  
• Are good meal routines and plans for the many housekeeping tasks in place?  
• What about their sleep routine?  (Revisit our article on Sleep Hygiene here.)

It is essential that by now, students have settled into a good routine so that they can meet increasing class demands, be well-prepared to manage the assignments and assessment tasks that will be set and continue to maintain those other activities that provide a balanced life. 

Parents can help their sons establish a good routine. While many of you will have your methods that work, it is useful at this time to discuss and reflect with your son on how he thinks that the year has begun. Ask him about his daily and weekly routines, what he might need help with, and what he can do to improve his routines. 

Commencing June 10, Year 9 to 12 students have their mid-year examinations. Our philosophy is to give students gradually increasing opportunities to sit formal exams as they move into the higher levels of their education. With this practice, students learn to better prepare for such formal assessments and develop techniques to reduce any exam-related anxieties.  While ‘practice’ (study and revision) may not necessarily “make perfect,” practice certainly increases the likelihood of improved outcomes. Reward tends to follow hard work and commitment.

Teaching and learning are at the core of our College, and we look to our students to set themselves high expectations and constantly strive for their “personal best.” Striving for a “personal best” requires our students, particularly those in Year 11, to prepare and train for examinations NOW. 

Our complete Exam Preparation Guide is available here

Pope Francis 1936 - 2025

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio

The death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, following a cerebral stroke and subsequent heart failure, was met with mourning around the world and went well beyond Catholics or Christians. Numerous world leaders spoke so positively on his contributions to the world.  Pope Francis had been pontiff and head of the Catholic Church since 2013. On Easter Sunday, he had given special blessings to a large, cheering crowd in St Peter’s Square.

From Argentina, Francis was the first Catholic pontiff from the Americas and the first Jesuit pontiff. From a humble background, with his Italian parents being refugees from Fascist Italy in the 1930s, he would often say that “My people are poor, and I am one of them.” He continued to live a modest life in the Vatican. He chose Francis as his papal name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi—a man of poverty and a lover of nature. He was generally regarded as taking a more informal approach to the papacy than had been the custom and was determined to be among the people. 

Before entering the priesthood in 1958, he trained as a chemical technician and had obtained degrees in philosophy and theology. He also taught at universities. He loved soccer and the San Lorenzo Football Club, pizza and worked as a nightclub bouncer in his youth.

Throughout his public life, Francis worked to the point of exhaustion. He was noted for his humility, emphasis on God's mercy, international visibility as a pope, concern for the poor, a fighter for the rights of refugees, damnation of the futility of war and had a commitment to interreligious dialogue. He made action on climate change, a leading focus of his papacy. He spoke out on a range of important social and political issues. 

Francis convened the Synod on Synodality, aimed at increasing the role and voice of lay people in the workings of the Church, which has been described as the culmination of his papacy and the most important event in the Catholic Church since the Second Vatican Council. His progressive views did meet with opposition within the Church; others felt he could have gone further.  Francis has planted many seeds, the fruits of which will not be fully realised until later. The billboards at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport carried pictures of the late Pope with the one-word message: Grazie.

Deb Frizza 

Principal

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, the Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation, whose ancient wisdom nurtured these lands and waters for millennia. 

We pay our respects to their elders, both past and present. 

May we always walk together by right paths.